Germ warfare for heart patients during flu season

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 2 Comments

hands soap-waterby Carolyn Thomas   ♥  @HeartSisters

Did you know that eating refined sweets puts your body into an acidic state, just the way all those nasty pathogens and flu bugs like it?  Sugar can apparently weaken your immunity by suppressing the immune system’s macrophage cells, which act as an important defense shield by helping to remove unwanted substances from your blood  – like harmful bacteria and viruses.

handshaking buttonAnd speaking of harmful bacteria and viruses, shaking hands is a good way to spread those bugs from person to person. Although it’s a cultural no-no to refuse to shake hands, you can’t tell if those you’re shaking hands with have washed their hands properly after sneezing or coughing into them – or at all. Try a big smile instead.

With seasonal flu season in full swing, I was glad to find more healthy tips for fighting off viral attacks and surviving flu season from Janelle Sorenson, a senior writer at Healthy Child, Healthy World.  Her advice is not only good for children, but also for those – like heart patients – at high risk for serious health complications as a result of influenza.  A sampling here of just one of her 10 tips, Declare Germ Warfare:    Continue reading “Germ warfare for heart patients during flu season” →

What if other parts of life were like health care?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ Leave a comment

 

life collage 

Dr. Robert Lamberts is a doc whose Musings of a Distractible Mind: Thoughts of a Moderately Strange Primary Care Physician offers an insider’s view into the day-to-day life of a doctor who wears a size 10 1/2 shoe and does not like spinach.  What if, he wonders, other parts of our lives were run like our medical care is?  Starting from the time when school kids wake up in the morning, Dr. Lamberts and his distractible mind start musing:

“The first thing that happens in your day is that your alarm fails to go off,” he begins. “Although you have major things happening, nobody ever has explained to you exactly what you are supposed to do and when. You watch the morning TV show and it seems that some experts say you should go to school while others say you should avoid school at all cost.  You call a friend who says that she knows someone who went to school and it destroyed her liver.  Another friend goes to school every day and is just fine.  Continue reading “What if other parts of life were like health care?” →

This is your body on flu

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 3 Comments

flu pigs cartoon

by Carolyn Thomas  ♥ @HeartSisters

And speaking of the flu . . .   In case you need to be convinced to cough into your sleeve, watch this NPR film featuring the amazing medical animation talent of David Bolinski illustrating how influenza affects your body – and then forward this link to everybody you know. 

While you’re at it, consider NPR’s alternatives to shaking hands during the flu season too!

Heart disease brings higher risk for future hip fracture

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

 Swedish twin study reveals possible genetic link

Swedish twin study reveals possible genetic link

Sweden is apparently the place to be if you are a twin.  This country boasts the world’s largest Twin Registry, following over 70,000 pairs of twins born before 1985, with ongoing new studies of younger twins starting when they reach the age of nine.

Right now, over 30 ongoing research projects based on the Twin Registry cover a wide range of topics like aging, dementia, allergy, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Researchers are also looking at the effects of gender differences on health and life situations.

And the Swedish Twin Registry was recently part of a groundbreaking study to determine whether the risk for hip fracture is increased in people who have cardiovascular disease.  Continue reading “Heart disease brings higher risk for future hip fracture” →