HEALTH RELATED TOPICS: Caring for an Aging Relative: How to Ease the Transition (ARA) - According to U.S. Bureau of Census data, the number of Americans age 65 and over will increase from 34 million to over 70 million in the next 30 years. The aging baby boomer generation will soon be more than a prediction, and family members, who often provide at least a portion of care to their aging relatives, are often unprepared to deal with the many issues facing the senior and themselves. From planning a change of residence to communicating effectively, there are many simple, yet overlooked ways to ease care giving for the elderly and their family members. Although the thought of placing a parent or relative in an assisted-living facility is not something many people like to think about, it is important to be prepared for the occasion. Take advantage of resources such as the Internet and local elderly advocate groups in your area. .

A small amount of research can greatly benefit both parties and lessen the stress level for this often difficult transition

Dealing with an aging relative in the midst of other fast-paced life activities can frazzle nerves and leave the care giving family member burnt out. In order to remain positive with your aging relative, realize that you can only do so much, especially if you have young children of your own and a full-time job. Many family caregivers have no health care training and require help from an outside source in order to provide the appropriate care. Asking for help from an outside source is not something to feel guilty about.

Many organizations are realizing the sudden urgency and demand for care giving assistance. There is more and more material being published not only for family caregivers, but also for volunteers. New training manuals such as "Caring to Help Others" have been produced specifically for volunteers who will be working with senior citizens in need of care. The manual, created in cooperation with groups such as AARP and The National Council on the Aging, Inc., and sponsored by Eisai Inc., a research-based pharmaceutical company in Teaneck, New Jersey, is designed to educate and prepare volunteers to assist caregivers of older adults. As the number and need for qualified volunteers rises, manuals and programs such as this are invaluable tools that assist family members in caring for their elderly relative.

The amount of quality time you spend caring for an aging relative can be greatly increased when you keep a few thoughts in mind:

1. Plan with your aging family member if possible, and not for them. Maintaining a sense of dignity and control is important at any phase of one's life. Involving them in the decision making is one way to allow them some control over their immediate future.
   

2. Listening is imperative. At times, it can be difficult and time-consuming to comprehend an aging family member's wants and needs. But if you take the time to listen actively, it can save you much more time than wondering and assuming what the person is trying to communicate. It is equally important to slow your speech down and speak distinctly. This will help older persons to more easily hear what you are saying.
   

3. Encourage independence. It's easy for aging seniors to rely on others for their every want and need, and very often it is a necessary aspect of an aging person's life. But when their mental and physical health allow for a life with a certain amount of independence, it can discourage them from becoming inactive and help them fully enjoy the later years of their life.

The "Caring to Help Others" volunteer manual is available free of charge to qualified organizations for training volunteer support caregivers. Organizations that meet the established qualification criteria may request free copies of the training manual by sending requests on their letterhead to Caring To Help Others, P.O. Box 5376, New York, NY 10185-5376. The manual also will be available on a web site in 2001.

Courtesy of ARA content, www.aracontent.com, email: info@aracontent.com

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How to Improve Your Health: Small Changes Get Big Results (ARA) – Health experts say that making small changes to your lifestyle is the most effective way to achieve long-term good health. Rather than taking on big goals that are difficult to reach and often result in frustration, integrating slight but key adjustments into a daily routine can create lasting improvements in fitness and well-being. “What many people don’t realize is that they don’t have to completely overhaul their lifestyle to see the benefits of change. There is a greater chance of success if adjustments -- such as increasing exercise and changing how you eat -- are made slowly,” says Dr. Liz Applegate, a nationally recognized expert on nutrition and fitness, and the director of sports nutrition at the University of California at Davis.

Here are some ideas on how to help improve your health with small changes that will have an impact:

• Take a few 10-minute breaks throughout the day. If possible, take a short walk outside or to the other side of your office building. It will clear your head and help to improve your metabolism, get the blood flowing and rejuvenate you during the workday.
  

• Stay hydrated. Today, people of all ages are looking for hydration options to support their active lifestyles, but they’re not willing to sacrifice taste or incur added calories. Make your water multitask for you by choosing a water beverage that hydrates while also providing essential nutrients. Thanks to DASANI Plus – a new line of great tasting, vitamin-enhanced, flavored water beverages with zero calories per 8 fluid ounce serving – you can stay hydrated and get important nutrients at the same time. And it’s easy to drink because it tastes good. The product comes in flavors such as kiwi strawberry, pomegranate blackberry and orange tangerine.
  

• Take time to laugh. Studies show that deep laughter can greatly benefit our health by lowering levels of stress hormones, relaxing muscles and reducing anxiety. Take a break during the day to check out an entertaining Web site or unwind before bedtime with your favorite late night show.
  

• Cut restaurant meals in half. The portion size at restaurants has increased during the last decade and eating out can be a big factor in weight gain. Split your entrée with your dining partner or divide your serving in half and take it home for lunch the next day.
  

• Eat foods that are colorful. Healthy foods are usually those that have vibrant colors such as red and yellow peppers, blueberries, cantaloupe or spinach. By incorporating a variety of colors into your diet at home and while eating out, you are more likely to get your recommended daily nutrients.
  

• Incorporate moderate exercise into your routine. Studies have shown that moderate exercise such as walking for 30 minutes a day, five or more days a week, can improve your cardiovascular fitness. You will see even greater benefits if you increase the mileage, walk up an incline, or jog.

“Just remember to keep your goals realistic at the beginning. Once you start feeling the benefits, you’ll want to incorporate even more healthy habits,” says Applegate.

For more information, visit www.dasani.com.

Courtesy of ARA content, www.aracontent.com, email: info@aracontent.com

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Protect Your Dog and Family from Ticks This Fall (ARA) - Spring and summer are often thought of as peak tick seasons, but fall is actually when adult ticks are most active. Outdoor enthusiasts, hunters and pet owners who spend time outdoors with their dogs in the cool fall weather need to stay vigilant to ticks and tick-borne diseases until temperatures remain below freezing. This fall, new areas of the country will experience surges in tick activity as a result of climactic changes, wildlife populations and conservation efforts. Veterinarians across the country are citing an increase in tick-borne infections in recent years, according to Michael Dryden, DVM, a Kansas State University professor of veterinary parasitology.

Researchers attribute tick migrations to warmer temperatures, increasing white-tailed deer populations, reforestation and urban sprawl. Advancements in diagnostic screening have allowed veterinarians to easily track the rise in canine exposure to tick-borne infections around the country. Data compiled by the veterinary industry shows that dogs in 48 states already have tested positive this year for Lyme disease exposure.

“Whatever you considered about ticks, their location and tick-transmitted diseases five years ago, it is going to be different today and continue to be different in five years based on these factors,” says Dryden. “Reforestation, changes in agricultural practices and wildlife conservation efforts have contributed to an explosive growth in deer populations -- a key factor in the expansion of several tick species’ habitats.”

More Ticks, More Disease

As tick populations continue to migrate, new diseases are introduced and ticks become more likely to carry and transmit multiple diseases. Matt Eberts, DVM, who practices in the tick-endemic area of Brainerd, Minn., is seeing a rise in co infections, when dogs are infected with more than one tick-borne disease.

“Medical doctors and veterinarians are finding that co infections in both humans and pets are making treatment for tick-borne diseases more difficult,” says Eberts. “With more ticks carrying more diseases, screening your pet becomes all the more important.”

Elimination and Prevention

Tick-borne disease incidence also is rising because people and their pets are spending more time outside, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dogs are also a link between ticks and their human family members because dogs often play in wooded areas, increasing their exposure to ticks and the chances they’ll carry the ticks into the home environment.

“As family pets, dogs have followed a trend in moving from the backyard to the bedroom in recent years,” explains Eberts. “Dogs and their owners share more of the same space in the home, creating opportunities for ticks to move from pet to owner.”

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends year-round heartworm, flea and tick preventatives for the life of your dog, for all areas of the country. Eberts recommends tick checks each time your pet comes in from the outdoors, as well as yearly screening. Dryden adds that pet owners can help protect their families and pets by making sure their homes aren’t attractive to wildlife or ticks. Reducing animal harborage, such as keeping wood piles away from the house, can prevent a tick host, like a rodent, from being close to your home.

Dog Owner Tips

Dog owners can help protect their pets from tick-borne illnesses by taking these simple steps:

• Talking with their veterinarians about tick-borne diseases in their area;

• Becoming aware of the common signs of tick-borne diseases;

• Asking their veterinarians to make screening for tick-borne diseases routine during annual exams;

• Checking their dogs’ coats daily for ticks and removing them promptly; and

• Using a tick-prevention medication.

Pet owners can learn more about tick-borne diseases and their dogs’ risks at www.dogsandticks.com.

Courtesy of ARA content, www.aracontent.com, email: info@aracontent.com

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Top 5 Things to Consider When Looking for Health Information Online

(ARA) – A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates a growing number of Americans are seeking general health information from the Internet as a first source, rather than consulting their doctors. In 2003, 51 percent of those randomly surveyed said they turned to the Internet first for health information, according to the report titled, “Cancer Communication: Health Information National Trends Survey.’’ That number rose to 58 percent when the question was posed again two years later; even though another report shows the public’s trust in online material about health has declined. People may be concerned that Internet searches often end in frustration or the retrieval of inaccurate, even dangerous information. But turning to the Internet is not necessarily a bad thing, experts say. You just need to make sure the site you’re turning to is credible and trustworthy.

How do you do that? Here are the top five things to consider when evaluating health information online:

1. Always consider the source of information. Good sources of health information include government sites; university or medical school sites; many not-for-profit groups such as the American Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association where the focus is research and teaching the public about specific diseases or conditions; and organizations dedicated to providing health care services and sharing knowledge from their own medical experts, such as MayoClinic.com.
   

2. Avoid sites that are obviously sponsoring a product or service or that want you to take action right away, like buying something or disclosing personal information. They will likely contain information that is biased or slanted. Look for a name that is a trusted source in the health care field, and make sure there’s a clear distinction between editorial and advertising content.
   

3. Make sure the site you’re turning to has the latest information. You can check this by looking at the beginning or end of any article to see if it has a date and time stamp on it. Health information changes constantly as new information about treatments and diseases becomes available, and you want to make sure you’re getting the latest.
   

4. Information should be presented in a clear and concise manner, and should be factual and verifiable. Check to see that the information includes attribution by an authoritative author or references legitimate sources.
   

5. Make sure the site clearly states who the intended audience is. Many professional sites have one section for consumers, another for medical professionals. If the site is only directed at professionals, it’s not for you.

More savvy searchers are likely to begin their search for health information at a site such as MayoClinic.com, affiliated with one of the premiere health care institutions in the country. Philip Hagen, M.D., a senior medical editor, points out that the content on the Mayo Clinic site is written by health writers and is reviewed by physicians, scientists and researchers who are experts in their respective fields to ensure medical accuracy and reliability.

“The information on the site is not influenced by anything other than the medical evidence as interpreted by practicing physicians here at Mayo Clinic, and people recognize the value of information they can trust,” he says. “We now reach about 10 million visitors each month.”

Whether you have a question about how to protect yourself from the flu, what to do about an injury that just won’t heal, a mysterious headache that comes on suddenly and won’t go away, or how to lose weight and stay healthy, log on to www.MayoClinic.com and begin the search for information.

In addition to a broad and deep collection of resources on medical conditions and lifestyle, there are interactive tools you can use to self-assess your health and a feature called “Ask a Specialist” where the answers to questions asked by users are posted. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, you can e-mail a question to a Mayo Clinic specialist.

Courtesy of ARA content, www.aracontent.com, email: info@aracontent.com

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How to Defend Your Home Against Winter Allergens
(ARA) – The Centers for Disease Control reports roughly 50 million Americans suffer from indoor or outdoor allergies. People may experience allergies throughout the year, but symptoms can worsen when the weather changes and temperatures drop. As we begin to spend more time indoors, it’s important to be proactive in preventing indoor allergens from taking over your home.

Common triggers of fall and winter seasonal allergies include:

1. Ragweed -- This plant with grayish-green leaves flourishes in dry, sunny areas. Highly allergenic, it produces large amounts of pollen that can affect allergy sufferers outside and inside a home.
   

2. Mold -- Indoor and outdoor mold counts thrive during humid months of late summer and early fall. Outdoor molds grow in fallen leaves and other vegetation. Indoor molds can be found in damp household areas such as basements, shower stalls and under the refrigerator.
   

3. Dust mites -- Dust mites thrive indoors and are often stirred up by dirty ventilation systems that are activated during the cooler season.
   There are many different things you can do to help defend your home from problematic allergens. Some steps include:

Deep clean carpets Carpet is a refuge for pollen, dust and mold and simply vacuuming does not solve the problem. The best way to get rid of dust and dirt that has settled into carpet fibers is to clean your carpets with a carpet cleaner. Renting a professional strength carpet cleaner from your local American Rental Association member rental store is more affordable than purchasing one, and roughly half the price of hiring a professional cleaning service. Clean and remove dust. Common household dust is found everywhere. On a flat surface, it will inevitably gather and irritate allergy sufferers. It is important to clean regularly so that dust doesn’t become more of an issue than need be. Use a damp cloth to remove dust from common surfaces such as windowsills and furniture, but don’t forget about the other areas that are not as apparent.

Clean your refrigerator’s seal and water pan underneath, air vents, areas under sinks, the ceilings of showers and all fan blades.

Consider different flooring
If you or a family member is sensitive to indoor allergy triggers, consider replacing carpet with tile or hardwood flooring. Tile and wood flooring is easy to clean and is less likely than carpets and rugs to gather allergens.

Tile is popular in bathrooms and kitchens for its stylish look and versatility. Wood flooring is another option. It brings warmth and elegance to large rooms. This sleek flooring has recently gained popularity in homes and comes in a variety of wood species including oak, pine and bamboo.

To install new flooring, you will need a variety of tools and equipment. Instead of buying expensive tools that you’ll use only for this project, rent them from your local ARA member rental store. Equipment you’ll need for tile flooring includes a tile cutter or wet saw. For the wood flooring you’ll need drills, wood saws, and nail guns. You can even rent tools to help you pull the carpet up to cut down on preparation time.

Keep it clean
Maintaining clean floors and carpet are first steps, but remember that dirt and airborne triggers are brought in each day so it’s best to establish a schedule and clean your home regularly.

For more ideas about how you can use rental equipment to reduce indoor allergy triggers, or to find the rental store nearest you, visit www.RentalHQ.com.

Courtesy of ARA content, www.aracontent.com, email: info@aracontent.com