Health And Fitness
Study: Benefits of quitting smoking outpace risk of modest weight gain
NIH-funded study finds post-cessation weight gain does not elevate cardiovascular risks for former smokers
The improvement in cardiovascular health that results from quitting smoking far outweighs the limited risks to cardiovascular health from the modest amount of weight gained after quitting, reports a National Institutes of Health-funded community study.
A Growing Problem: Childhood Obesity
What causes childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity is the result of eating too many calories and not getting enough physical activity. Why focus on food and physical activity environments?
There are a variety of environmental factors that determine whether or not the healthy choice is the easy choice for children and their parents. American society has become characterized by environments that promote increased consumption of less healthy food and physical inactivity.
Defining Overweight and Obesity
Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.
Definitions for Adults
For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI).
Cholestrol: What you Can Do.
High cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease. People at any age can take steps to keep cholesterol levels normal.
Get a Blood Test
High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. Only a doctor's check will reveal it.
Your doctor can do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol levels. The test is called a lipoprotein profile.
What Causes High Blood Cholesterol?
Many factors can affect the cholesterol levels in your blood. You can control some factors, but not others.
Factors You Can Control
Diet
Cholesterol is found in foods that come from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. Some foods have fats that raise your cholesterol level.
For example, saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level more than anything else in your diet.
Diabetes Support Group to meet June 18
Attend Virginia Gay Hospital’s
Diabetes Support Group
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
VGH Cafeteria 4:30–5:30 PM
Lower Level
Speaker:
Dr. Michael Orosz
Podiatrist
&nb
Understanding Cholestrol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your body and many foods. Your body needs it to work properly and makes all that you need. Too much cholesterol can accumulate depending on the kind of foods you eat and the rate at which your body breaks it down.
Extra cholesterol can build up in your arteries. Over time, cholesterol deposits, called plaque, can narrow your arteries and allow less blood to pass through.
Tips for using fresh herbs
Using fresh herbs
Herbs are a great way to add flavor to dishes without adding much sodium or calories. Growing your own herbs can be inexpensive as well; you can often buy herb plants for as much as one bunch at the store. When using herbs, you want to purchase or pick them close to the time you plan to use them. Indoor Tanning
Using a tanning bed, booth, or sunlamp to get tan is called "indoor tanning." Indoor tanning has been linked with skin cancers including melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer), squamous cell carcinoma, and cancers of the eye (ocular melanoma).
Dangers of Indoor Tanning
Indoor tanning exposes users to both UV-A and UV-B rays, which damage the skin and can lead to cancer.
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
When you're told that you have skin cancer, it's natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. The main risk factor for skin cancer is exposure to sunlight (UV radiation), but there are also other risk factors. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease.
People with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop skin cancer.