What is Eczema

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that causes red itchy patches to appear on the skin. It is a chronic condition that can vary from mild to severe. Eczema has no cure, but it can be treated. Symptoms of Eczema include:

• Irritated red or grayish brown patches on the body
• Itching
• Small skin bumps
• Crusting or fluid-filled bumps
• Dry, cracked, swollen, and sensitive skin

Many factors can flare or aggravate symptoms of eczema, including cold weather. During the winter, to the cold air mixed with the heat of the indoors and wearing extra layers make it harder for the skin to maintain moisture. This aggravates the skin.  Of course, eczema can worsen based on many different factors. Here are a few to keep in mind this season: 

Hot baths and long hot showers

Some bath products claim to help eczema with special bath salts or mixtures that should be used in the tub. But, often, people tend to use these products in hot water. This is counter-intuitive, because spending long periods of time submerged in hot water dries out the skin, worsening eczema symptoms. Try using warm water instead of hot water, and limiting the amount of time you spend in the shower or bath.

Clothes, towels, and sheets

At almost all times, fabrics are rubbing up against our skins. So, it is important to keep in mind that certain fabrics can be causing your skin more harm than good. When dealing with eczema, softer fabrics like silk or cotton are better for the skin. Certain materials, like wool, should not be in direct contact with the skin. In the case of wool coats, the inside material should always be softer and more delicate than the outside.

When it comes to towels, they should be gentle on the skin, not rough. Avoid stiff or older towels. When using a towel, always pat the skin dry. Rubbing, especially on dry patches, can cause further damage.

Sheets should also be soft. Cotton and silk sheets (if you want to splurge) work best when dealing with eczema.

Scratching

Scratching or picking at skin with dry patches or raised bumps causes aggravation,crusting, and swelling. Scratching can also cause fluids to develop under the skin and the spread of bacteria. Instead, skin should be properly treated to diminish irritation. Gentle, unscented soaps without dyes or alcohol should be used when bathing. Use thick moisturizers everyday. When dealing with flare-ups, use specialized ointments recommended to you by your doctor. These ointments may contain hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone acetate, which help with itching.  

Is Organic Food Better For You?

Overall studies have found that organic foods are no more healthy than regularly grown and raised food.   

Organic food is food that is grown or raised without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics or hormones. Traditional foods are foods that include all of these additives. Studies have found that there is little to no nutritional difference between organically grown and non-organically grown food. In a 2012 study showed that there was little to no vitamin or nutrient difference between organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables. The biggest difference was pesticides. Organic food had little to no pesticides while non-organic food almost always used pesticides. But, all of the food passed the pesticide safety limits. Even meats showed little difference, both organic and traditional meat having similar risks of e coli virus.

But, Aren’t Pesticides bad?

A lot of people don’t trust pesticides, and they’re not without their reasons. Pesticides are used to keep harmful pests like insects from contaminating foods. They are made up of different compounds and chemicals that are generally safe for people to consume in limits, which is why pesticides that are over the safety limit cannot be consumed. So, why are so many people against them? Well, pesticides are man-made, and though there is no direct proof if pesticides cause any problems or illnesses, some chemicals used in pesticides are dangerous in larger amounts. A lot of people also like to point out that past synthetic chemicals that were thought safe at one point where proven to be harmful overtime.

So, why do we use pesticide? Pesticides make it possible to grow a lot of food with a much lower risk of contamination. But, not all pesticides are the same. Natural pesticides do not use any synthetic chemicals. And, as said before, a lot of organic foods are grown with natural or no pesticides.

At the end of the day, there is little danger in consuming foods made with pesticides. Whether or not you choose to eat organic or non-organic raised foods is entirely up to you. The main goal is to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Margarine

Originally, margarine was created to be a healthier alternative to butter. But, over the years, the spread has become so processed, that it’s hardly any better than butter. While significantly lower in cholesterol and fat when compared to butter, margarine is still not much better. It’s high in saturated fat, contains trans fat, and has very little nutritional value. But, margarine’s nutritional value varies, depending on the brand and type. One popular brand of margarine that many people don’t realize is margarine is I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Some margarines contain less trans fat and low salt, so always check the nutritional information before buying.

For an alternative, try using vegetable oils or olive oils on different foods and breads instead.   

Low-Fat Products

Many food products use catchy words to make them sound healthy; low-fat, fat-free, reduced-fat, light, etc. These words appeal to people who are trying to cut fat out of their diet. But, in order to make up for the lack of fat and lack of taste, these foods tend to stock up on sugar, salt,  and all other type of ingredients that drive up the calories. This is also why it’s important to always check the nutritional value before eating.

But, do these food descriptions all mean the same thing? Negative. In fact, each has a completely separate meaning:

Low-fat means a serving size of food has three or less grams of fat.

Fat-free means a serving size of food contains less than 0.5 grams of fat.

Reduced-fat means a food product has 24% less fat than the regular food product.

Light foods either have one-third less fat than the original food or half the fat of the original food.

Salad toppings

Salad is seen as the ultimate healthy meal. But, when all those greens are covered in thick dressing, croutons and strips of meat, then it’s no longer as healthy as it once was. Beware of pre-made salads bought at restaurants and fast food places, where the salads can be over one third of your daily calorie intake. When making or buying a salad, be careful of what goes in it. These can include:

Dressings, especially thick, creamy dressings like ranch or russian; Instead, try oil or vinegar based dressings.  

Toppings, such as croutons, cheese, fried meats, fish, salted/roasted nuts, etc; Instead, opt for crunchy fruits and vegetables, grilled or baked meats-fish, and regular nuts and seeds.

The best way to know to whether a food is healthy or not is to check its nutritional label. But, what exactly should you be looking for when reading one?

Serving Size & Serving Per Container: Serving sizes are important because the nutritional label is based on the serving size. This can become confusing when you see something has only 100 calories but has 4 servings. This means that the entire package of food is actually 400 calories. Often times, people tend to eat well over the serving size, ignoring it all together. It is extremely important to check the serving size, since it could be the difference between 100 calories and 400 calories.

Calories: Calories counts help you keep track of how many calories you’re consuming as part of your daily intake. According to the FDA, anything with 40 calories or less is considered a low calorie food, 100 calories, a moderate calorie food, and 400 or more calories, a high calorie food.

Calories from fat: exactly as it says, these are the amount of calories that come from fat.

Fat: Generally, too much fat is a bad thing, especially saturated fats and trans fats, so you should always avoid eating foods high in those fats. But, not all fats are bad. Fats like polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats are healthy, and can be found in healthy foods such as oils, nuts, seeds, and avocados.

Cholesterol & sodium: Just like fats, foods high in cholesterol and sodium should be either avoided or eaten in moderation.

Total carbohydrates: Popular to contrary belief, carbohydrates are not bad for you. Both dietary fiber and sugar are carbs. Dietary fiber is essential for good health, and helps maintain healthy bowel movements, as well as making you feel fuller faster. Sugar, on the other hand, can be either good or bad, believe it or not. Natural sugars that come naturally from fruits, vegetables or milk is fine, while processed and added sugars are the sugars you should avoid.   

Protein, vitamin and minerals: These are important since they are essential for a healthy lifestyle.

DV%: DV% stands for daily value percentage, and is listed next to the nutrition facts. These percentages list how much of that nutrient you are receiving based on the daily recommended amount. These percentages are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, which may be either above or below your personal recommended calorie intake. When reading the DV%, remember that 5% or lower is low and 20% or higher is high. For healthy nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, you want to look for high DV%. And for unhealthy nutrients like saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and cholesterol, you want to aim for low DV%.    

What Is Asthma ?

Asthma is a chronic illness that affects the lung’s airways. The lung’s airways carry air in and out of the lungs. In people suffering with asthma, the muscles in their airways can become constricted and swollen, allowing less air to pass through. Symptoms of asthma can include:

• Wheezing
• Trouble breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest
• Chronic coughing

Symptoms of asthma most commonly occur in reaction to various allergens, irritants, activities, and surroundings. These triggers can cause a flare-up of symptoms, also called asthma attacks. These triggers can include:

• Allergens, such as animal dander, dust, mold, pollen, or cockroaches
• Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or sprays (hairspray, disinfectant spray, etc.)
• Certain medications
• Physical activity
• Sulfites in foods or drinks
• Changes in weather

Adult-onset asthma can be triggered by allergies. Other triggers include:

• Extended exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke or work materials
• Hormonal fluctuations in women, which can happen during and after pregnancy or menopause
• Certain illnesses (such as a cold or the flu)

Asthma can re-appear if you suffered with asthma as a child. In fact, people who suffered from asthma when they were younger experience more severe symptoms when developing adult-onset asthma.   

The exact cause of asthma is unknown, and there is no cure. But, when properly treated, asthma can be maintained.  

Asthma Treatments

Doctors who specialize in asthma work with patients to help control their symptoms. Since everyone experiences asthma differently, doctors will prescribe different medications and create different plans to fit each individual’s symptoms and triggers. Prescription asthma medications come in two types: long-term control and short-term control. Long-term control medications help prevent asthma symptoms while short-term medications give instant relief from symptoms.

Receiving screenings for breast cancer has never been easier in New York. New legislation has changed the way New York handles breast cancer, which is the leading cancer-related death amongst New York women. Here, we go over the biggest changes, and how you can take advantage of them.

Different Hospitals and Clinics Will Provide Extended Screening Hours

While not every hospital in New York has them, 210 hospitals and hospital extension clinics will now have extended screening hours, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday or Sunday.

To find a screening near you, call 1-866-442-CANCER (2262), text “Get Screened “to 81336.

Eliminates Either All or Added Screening Costs  

In eligible hospitals, annual deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance payments are eliminated. For women with no insurance, free screenings are available if they’re:

• 40 years old or over
• Under 40 years old at a high risk for breast cancer.

For uninsured women, the NYS Cancer Service Program offers free diagnostic testing and case management services. (find more information here)

Gives Yearly Four-hour Leave for Public Employees

Public employees in cities with populations exceeding one million are allowed 4 hours of leave per year for breast cancer screenings. All public employers are required to give this time by law.

Private employers are being encouraged to also give four-hour leaves. To see the list of current private employers who have adopted the leave, visit here.

No More Cost-Sharing For Diagnostic Tests

Women who require tests beyond regular mammograms, such as diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRI’s, will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket costs.

To learn more about New York State’s breast cancer services, visit here. To learn more about additional resources, visit here.

When cold weather arrives, pneumonia is never too far behind. Commonly mistaken for other illnesses (like the common cold or bronchitis), pneumonia can range anywhere between mild to deadly. Unfortunately, people over the age of 65 are at a much higher risk of developing complications when sick with pneumonia. Here, we go over the causes, symptoms, complications and the prevention tactics of pneumonia, along with some home treatments that can help lessen symptoms.

Causes, Symptoms and Prevention.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, which causes the lung’s air sacs to inflame or fill with fluid. Symptoms of the sickness include:

• Coughing (dry or with excess mucus)
• Fever
• Chills or aches
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Chest pain when breathing or coughing
• Shortness of breath (while exerting activities)
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea   

People at a high risk of developing serious or severe cases of pneumonia include:

• Children below the age of 2
• Adults over the age of 65
• People with existing health conditions (Asthma, heart disease, etc)
• People with lowered or weakened immune systems.

In serious cases, patients may be hospitalized due to severe symptoms, complications with additional conditions, age-related issues, if they are not able to treat themselves, or if the condition persists for over two weeks.

Pneumonia should always be caught early on. It is extremely contagious, caused by either airborne germs or viruses, and can be caught simply be inhaling the virus. Though it is easily spread, keeping clean and safe habits can help protect you from contracting the sickness. Prevention tips to follow are:

• Regularly washing your hands, especially after coming into contact with an infected person.
• Getting the flu vaccine (viruses that spread the flu can also spread pneumonia),especially for people with chronic conditions.
• Not smoking.
• Keeping a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising frequently.

If you’re over 65 and you are exhibiting signs of pneumonia, visit your doctor. Most cases of pneumonia can be treated at home with fever reducers like aspirin or ibuprofen, cough medicines or suppressants, or with doctor–prescribed antibiotics. For at–home treatments, try:

• Placing a warm wet washcloth over the nose and mouth to loosen mucus.
• Using a humidifier or breathing in steam (from hot, running water in an enclosed place) to loosen mucus.
• Drinking plenty of liquids (Water, tea, juice).
• Getting plenty of rest.
• Avoiding alcohol and smoking.

Although we may only dedicate one month a year to breast cancer, that doesn’t mean breast exams should only be administered once a year. In fact, self-given breast exams should be done at least once a month. Nearly 40% of breast cancer was first detected by women noticing a change in their breast(s). Here, we go through the proper way to do a self-administered breast exam.

1) Check your breast with your hands on your hips & your hands above your head

Standing in front of a mirror, remove your bra and place both hands on your hips. Check to make sure your breasts are their normal shape, size and color, with no distortion or swelling. Any change should be shown to a doctor as soon as possible. Changes can include:

• Any visible bulging, lumps, puckering or dimpling on the breasts.
• Changes to the nipple, such as displacement or inverted nipples.
• Any redness, soreness, swelling, or rashes.

Next, raise your hands above your head and look for the same symptoms. Be sure to look under your breast, as well. When raising your arms, check to see if either one or both of your nipples are excreting any fluids (such as watery, yellow, or milky fluids, or blood). If so, consult a doctor ASAP.

2) Conduct a self-examination.

While lying down, place a pillow under your right arm and lift your right arm over your head while using your left hand to feel your right breast. Using the pads of three fingers, move them in a tight circular motion to feel your breast. Keep your fingers flat and pressed together, applying down on your breast firmly and softly. Move your fingers all along your entire breast, from up to down and side to side, including inside and around the armpit. You should be feeling for any abnormal lumps, knots, thickening, or indents. Squeeze the nipple to check for any discharge. To ensure maximum coverage, try either moving your fingers up and down your breast, in rows, or starting from the nipple and circling outwards. The deeper the breast tissue, the more pressure should be applied. When done, switch the pillow to the left side, lifting the left arm and feeling the left breast with your right hand.    

3) Examine yourself in the shower.

Checking your breast in the shower is a great way to move your fingers around your breast smoothly. Lifting the right arm, use the left hand to check the right breast. Use the instructions in step 2. Repeat with left breast.

Of course, you should always be checked by a doctor  and receive mammograms every year, regardless of whether or not you are seeing any signs or symptoms of breast cancer. For more information, visit the sites down below:

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps

(Image Sources: breastcancer.org)

Confused as to why you’re suffering from allergies during the fall? It’s not as uncommon as you think. While most people think of the spring as the peak allergy season, the fall contains just as many allergens in its air. Here, we breakdown one of the most common reasons for fall seasonal allergies and some of the different ways to treat them.

Fall Allergies

So, what about the fall is causing so many people to suffer from allergies? It’s ragweed. Ragweed is a plant that grows all across America, especially on the east coast and the Midwest. It’s pretty much impossible to avoid. Ragweed plants produce a lot of pollen, and bloom primarily between August and November, with pollen production peaking around mid-September.  Symptoms of ragweed allergies include:

• Sneezing
• Runny / stuffy nose
• Irritated – itchy eyes
• Itchy throat
• Headache
• Coughing or wheezing (Most common in people with asthma)

(Source: acaai.com )

Treatments

Ragweed allergies can be treated with regular over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications. For severe cases of ragweed allergy, an allergist can either administer allergy shots to build up your immune system or can prescribe special medication.

Ways to help avoid ragweed includes:

• Checking the pollen count in the morning. (it’s usually available on weather reports. It can also be found here at pollen.com)
• Keeping windows closed, if possible, especially in the mornings, when ragweed pollen count tends to be the highest.
• Changing your clothes after being outside, taking showers at night, and washing your hands after petting an animal that has been outside. This is because pollen tends to stick to clothing, people, and animals.
• Wearing a filter mask when doing outdoor chores like mowing the lawn or raking leaves.

Other treatments:

• Drinking a lot of fluids, especially if you feel congested. Fluids help loosen mucus in the nose and throat.
• Use steam to help clear a stuffy nose or head. Steam from a hot shower,  a store-bought steamer, or holding your face close to a steaming bowl of water all work well. Even drinking hot tea (especially peppermint) can help, being a natural relief from congestion, as well as providing a bit of steam.

Ever wonder what exactly a calorie actually is? Or whether there is such thing as good cholesterol? For National Healthy Aging Month, we’re celebrating by breaking down three of the most misunderstood and important health misconceptions and questions.

What Are Calories, and Why Do They Matter?

A calorie is a unit of energy. While calories vary in types and measurements, the calories we are all most familiar with are the ones we use to measure nutrition. Calories are measured by a food’s basic nutrients. The three main nutrients calories are measured off of are:

• Carbohydrate = 4 calories per gram.
• Protein = 4 calories per gram.
• Fat = 9 calories per gram.

This is why foods high in fat have higher calories than foods high in protein or carbs. This is also why many people find it useful to count their daily intake of calories. It gives them more control in making sure their daily intake of calories is not consumed by empty calories, which are calories gained from foods high in fat that have little to no nutritional value.

What Are Carbs, and Should You Be Eating Them?

It’s not uncommon to hear people talk about cutting out carbs as a way of losing weight. But, what most people don’t know is that carbs are found in the majority of foods, and they’re not bad for you. According to the USDA, 45% – 65% of daily calorie intake should be carbs. This is because carbs are our body’s main source of fuel. Carbs are broken down by the body into glucose, which the body then uses for energy. Carbohydrates are also essential to maintaining function in the central nervous system, kidneys, brain, muscles, and heart. Certain carbs are also fiber, which is essential to the body’s intestinal health and waste elimination

So, why do carbs have a bad reputation? Many foods that are high in carbs are refined and processed, which strip away the food’s nutritional value. Foods like white rice and white bread have plenty of carbs, but are lacking in fiber and other important nutrients. While most people know that refined foods are generally bad, many incorrectly blame the food’s shortcomings on its carbs.
How Can There be Both Good and Bad Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty-like substance that can be found in all of the body’s cells. It is necessary in helping the body produce hormones, Vitamin D, and other substances that aid digestion. So, why is it so bad for us? While we do need cholesterol to remain healthy, the body actually produces all the cholesterol it needs. Too much cholesterol can lead to higher risk in heart disease.

There are two types of cholesterol:

LDL cholesterol, which in high levels causes buildup in the arteries.

HDL cholesterol, which carries other cholesterol in the body to the liver, where it is then removed from the body.

LDL is often described as the bad cholesterol and HDL as the good. This is because high levels of LDL cholesterol can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to coronary heart disease. High levels of HDL help lower your risk of coronary heart disease.