If you’re among the millions of people in the United States who suffer from a chronic illness, you may use “sharps” to manage your medical condition at home or on the go. Consider this information about sharps and steps for safe and proper disposal. Read the full Medium article here.
After a heart attack, as many as 1 in 4 survivors will have another one. Lifestyle changes and working closely with your doctor to manage your health can help minimize the risk of a repeat event. Talk to your doctor about a secondary prevention plan, and consider other steps like these.How to Reduce Your Risk for Another Heart Attack![]() (Family Features) After a heart attack, as many as 1 in 4 survivors will have another one. Lifestyle changes and working closely with your doctor to manage your health can help minimize the risk of a repeat event. “A heart attack is a life-changing event,” said Nieca Goldberg, MD, American Heart Association volunteer and medical director of NYU Women’s Heart Program. “What many people don’t realize is the hidden risks that led to your first heart attack can be managed and, by doing this, you may reduce your risk of having another one.” Because up to 80% of heart attacks are preventable, it’s important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for reducing your risk. Talk to your doctor about a secondary prevention plan, and consider other steps like these from the American Heart Association’s secondary prevention program, nationally sponsored by Bayer: Take your medications as prescribed. Certain medicines can lower your risk of another cardiac event. That’s why it’s important to understand your medications and take them correctly. Taking aspirin as recommended by a doctor is one way to help prevent another attack. No one should start, stop or modify an aspirin regimen without first speaking with their doctor. Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Manage your risk factors. After a heart attack, it’s important to manage risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes by taking medications as prescribed, quitting smoking, eating healthier and getting active. Attend your follow-up appointments. Attending your follow-up appointments helps your doctors keep track of your condition and recovery. You can make the most of your time with your doctor by preparing a list of questions and concerns along with a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements. Bringing a trusted friend or family member may help as well. Participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack. You should have received a referral to cardiac rehab when you were discharged from the hospital; if you didn’t, ask your doctor if this program is right for you. Get support. It’s normal to feel scared, overwhelmed or confused after a heart attack. Getting support from loved ones or people who have also experienced a heart attack can help you cope. Connect with other heart attack survivors and caregivers through local support groups or the American Heart Association’s free online Support Network. Take Charge of Your Heart HealthHeart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, but your lifestyle can be your best defense. Stop smoking. If you smoke, quit. If someone in your household smokes, encourage him or her to quit. It may not be easy, but it’s even harder to live with chronic heart disease or recover from a heart attack. Choose good nutrition. A healthy diet is one of the best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease. Research shows eating 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day may lower blood pressure over time. Lower cholesterol. Fat lodged in your arteries can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Reduce your intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and get moving. If diet and physical activity alone don’t get those numbers down, then medication may be the key. Lower blood pressure. Shake that salt habit, take your medications as recommended by your doctor and get moving. An optimal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Be physically active. Research has shown that at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and keep your weight at a healthy level. Reduce stress. Some studies have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress. This may affect the risk factors for heart disease and stroke. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would. Learn more about ways you can thrive after a heart attack at heart.org/oneisenough. Content courtesy of the American Heart Association’s secondary prevention initiative. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:American Heart Association KEYWORDS
If you’re among the millions of people in the United States who suffer from a chronic illness, you may use “sharps” to manage your medical condition at home or on the go. Consider this information about sharps and steps for safe and proper disposal.Understanding Medical Sharps and Safe Disposal Options![]() (Family Features) If you’re among the millions of people in the United States who suffer from a chronic illness, you may use “sharps” to manage your medical condition at home or on the go. For example, many people with diabetes self-inject at least two insulin shots every day, and conditions including allergies, arthritis, cancer, infertility, migraines and psoriasis, among others, may also require the use of a sharp to administer medication. A medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin, sharps may be used at home, at work and while traveling to manage medical conditions. Examples of sharps include: ![]()
However, disposing of those medical sharps safely may be a concern. In fact, in interviews conducted by SafeNeedleDisposal.org with sharps users, people who use needles and lancets to manage their medical conditions believe it is their responsibility to dispose of sharps safely, but lack clear, factual information on how to do so. Existing information does not always personalize disposal guidelines for people in every state or locality. “SafeNeedleDisposal.org helps people in the United States make sense of safe sharps disposal options nearest to their home, work or wherever is convenient,” said Larry Ellingson, vice president of the National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council. “This resource is much needed for people who regularly use needles to manage health conditions like diabetes and want to do the right thing with their used sharps.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, sharps not disposed of properly may cause injury. Consider these three steps for safe and proper sharps disposal: For more information on safe disposal of sharps, visit SafeNeedleDisposal.org.
Photos courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:NeedyMeds
KEYWORDS
![]()
Not all strokes can be prevented, but making healthy lifestyle choices, like exercising, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and treating conditions such as high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure can help reduce your risk of another one. Consider following these tips to achieve ideal health.
Don't Let Stroke Strike Twice![]() (Family Features) Not all strokes can be prevented, but making healthy lifestyle choices, like exercising, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and treating conditions such as high blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure can help reduce your risk of another one. While there are about 7.2 million stroke survivors in the United States, people who have had a stroke are at high risk of having another one. In fact, about one in every four stroke survivors will have a second one. Efforts like Together to End Stroke, an American Stroke Association initiative, nationally sponsored by Bayer Aspirin, work to educate stroke survivors and caregivers about how they can avoid a second occurrence. Because the consequences of a second stroke can be more detrimental than the first, it’s important to recognize the signs, which come on suddenly, and act quickly. An easy way to remember the most common warning signs is the acronym F.A.S.T., (F – face drooping, A – arm weakness, S – speech difficulty, T – time to call 911). Talk to your doctor about medications that may help you with your stroke prevention efforts. For example, taking aspirin regularly or other blood clot prevention medications can help reduce the risk of another ischemic stroke. Consider following the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s “Life's Simple 7” to achieve ideal health: Don't smoke. Smoking puts you at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Quitting is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and add years to your life. You’re more likely to quit for good if you prepare for your last cigarette and the cravings, urges and feelings that come with quitting. Eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating starts with simple, healthy food choices. You don’t need to stop eating your favorite meals, just use substitutions to make them healthier. Learn what to look for at the grocery store, restaurants, your workplace and other eating occasions so you can confidently make healthy, delicious choices whenever and wherever you eat. Maintain a healthy weight. The benefits of maintaining a healthy weight go beyond improved energy and smaller clothing sizes. By losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight, you can also reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. There’s no trick to losing weight and keeping it off, but the majority of successful people modify their eating habits and increase physical activity. Control cholesterol. Having large amounts of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, in the blood can cause build up and blood clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Reducing your fat intake, especially trans fats, often found in fried foods and baked goods, can help reduce your cholesterol. Adding more foods with omega-3 fatty acids like fish and nuts, as well as soluble fiber and whey protein, helps in managing cholesterol. Manage blood pressure. Nothing causes more strokes than uncontrolled high blood pressure. Of the 116.4 million people in the United States who have high blood pressure, fewer than half have it under control, putting them at increased risk of stroke. Lowering your blood pressure by 20 points could cut your risk of dying from stroke by half. Control blood sugar. By managing your diabetes and working with your health care team, you may reduce your risk of stroke. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the United States is hospitalized for stroke. At age 60, someone with type 2 diabetes and a history of stroke may have a life expectancy that is 12 years shorter than someone without both conditions. For more information on how to prevent stroke, and a complete list of warning signs, visit strokeassociation.org/americanstrokemonth. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:American Stroke Association
KEYWORDS
![]()
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffers from a chronic illness that requires using needles or sharps outside of the doctor’s office, you may question how to dispose of them safely. There is plenty of information available, but the proper disposal method may be different depending on where you live, work or travel.How to Safely Dispose Needles and Medical Sharps![]() (Family Features) If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffers from a chronic illness that requires using needles or sharps outside of the doctor’s office, you may question how to dispose of them safely. There is plenty of information available, but the proper disposal method may be different depending on where you live, work or travel. To help ensure people who use needles and sharps at home or on-the-go know how to dispose of them easily and safely, NeedyMeds, a national non-profit organization that provides health care information to consumers, developed tools at SafeNeedleDisposal.org. “Most people want to do the right thing, but they need specific, succinct information on safe sharps disposal,” said Richard J. Sagall, MD, president of NeedyMeds. “For local guidance presented in a way that is easy to follow, our website is a one-stop-shop.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, sharps that are not disposed of properly may cause injury. In order to increase awareness and minimize risk, people who use sharps are encouraged to learn more about local regulations and disposal options. In many states and communities, people who use sharps may dispose of them by following these three simple steps:
“Some locations have different disposal regulations, which may require people in those areas to take used sharps to special collection points,” Sagall said. “SafeNeedleDisposal.org helps people learn how to get rid of used sharps safely, wherever they happen to be.” To learn more about disposing used needles and sharps safely, visit SafeNeedleDisposal.org. SOURCE:NeedyMeds KEYWORDS
Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke are among the most common causes of illness, disability and death in the United States. These chronic conditions and the factors that lead to them can be more common or severe in minorities, including Hispanics, but there are services available that can help people living with chronic conditions coordinate care services and lead to better outcomes and higher satisfaction.Chronic Conditions More Common in Hispanics![]() (Family Features) Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke are among the most common causes of illness, disability and death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These chronic conditions and the factors that lead to them can be more common or severe in minorities, including Hispanics. For example, 4 out of 10 Hispanics die due to heart disease or cancer, and they are 50 percent more likely to die due to diabetes than Caucasians, according to the CDC. If you are a Medicare beneficiary with two or more chronic conditions, ask your doctor about CCM and see if you’re eligible for connected care, including services such as:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Health Resources and Service Administration introduced the “Connected Care” campaign to help raise awareness about the benefits of CCM. The campaign has free resources, including an animated video in English and Spanish that can help you learn more. Talk to your doctor to see if CCM is available to you and visit Medicare.gov to learn more about the benefits of the program. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
If you or a loved one are struggling with the expenses of diabetes, here are some useful tips to control the cost of supplies and treatment. (BPT) - For the over 29 million Americans living with diabetes, striking a balance between managing diabetes and controlling the cost of treatment can be challenging.[i] According to a Wakefield Research survey of 500 adults with diabetes, 62 percent of respondents said they felt they could do a better job managing their diabetes if supplies were more affordable, and 58 percent admitted to cutting corners in order to save money. If you or a loved one are struggling with the expenses of diabetes, here are some useful tips to control the cost of supplies and treatment: Affordable and simple testing Testing your blood glucose regularly is very important for people with diabetes as it assists with the management of their condition and helps to prevent serious complications.[ii] Check out the Accu-Chek Guide System, which includes a new blood glucose meter to help simplify the most frequent tasks needed to manage diabetes. Updated features include test strips in a new spill-resistant SmartPack vial to help ensure you won’t spill any strips when you take one for testing, a larger application area on the strip so even a small drop of blood anywhere along the end will yield results, and the meter’s strip port light to allow you to easily test at night as well as during the day. An addition to the Accu-Chek Guide System is the SimplePay program which provides consistent low prices on test strips.[iii] Simply download the free SimplePay Savings card on the Accu-Chek website and hand the card to your pharmacist, along with your Accu-Chek guide meter and strip prescription to start saving. Visit accu-chek.com/guide to learn more and to download the savings card. Manage medications for savings Medications can be expensive, but several strategies can help you cut back on costs. First, always ask your doctor if a generic version is available for any diabetes medication he or she prescribes for you. Generic medications typically cost much less than name brands, and the FDA requires generics to be the same as their brand-name equivalents in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.[iv] If your doctor advises you to stick with a brand-name diabetes medicine, try contacting the manufacturer to see if they offer discount programs for patients. Many do. Another tip is to purchase your diabetes medications in bulk to save money. Some online prescription supply companies offer savings for purchasing medicines in bulk. Just be sure you’re purchasing from a reputable supplier. Use online resources and communities When it comes to managing a disease like diabetes, knowledge really is power. A wealth of information is available for people living with diabetes from sources such as: * The American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org. * The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Education Program (www.cdc.gov/diabetes). * The Children’s Diabetes Foundation (www.childrensdiabetesfoundation.org). * The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes). * Your local health department. Support organizations can also help you manage your disease. You’ll not only receive guidance from others who share similar experiences and concerns, but community members may be able to share ideas, tips and practical advice. To learn more about diabetes management and controlling the cost of testing supplies, visit accu-chek.com/guide. Survey Methodology The Roche Diabetes Care Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 500 U.S. adults with diabetes, between April 11th and April 19th, 2017, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. [i] https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/images/diabetes-infographic.jpg [ii] http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/factors-affecting-blood-glucose.html [iii] The card is not insurance; it is a cash discount program and cannot be combined with any form of health insurance. Those insured by any government healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid, are NOT eligible for this offer. Some insurers may offer a lower cost option. [iv]https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/understandinggenericdrugs/default.htm KEYWORDS:
Living with diabetes is no laughing matter, but as many would say, laughter is often the best medicine. This is certainly true for comedic actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who offers these five tips for a healthy smile and managing diabetes with a touch of humor.
5 Tips for Managing Diabetes
This is certainly true for comedic actress Yvette Nicole Brown, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2013. In partnership with the American Diabetes Association and Colgate Total through the “Laugh Out Loud” campaign, Brown offers the following tips for a healthy smile and managing diabetes with a touch of humor. Get Moving ![]() Give Your Smile Some Extra TLC Befriend Your Dentist Find Your Tribe Live Confidently When Brown was a kid her mom would say, “Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.” That’s sometimes what people do when they get any kind of health diagnosis. The first response is, “Oh no,” and then you find a way around it. For more information about the connection between oral health and diabetes, visit OralHealthandDiabetes.com or search #OralHealthDiabetes on social media. Photo courtesy of Getty Images (women walking) SOURCE:Colgate
|
Archives
January 2021
Interested in Publishing on The Health IDEA?Send your query to the Publisher today! Categories
All
|