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Practicing ‘self-care’ helps medical team keep illness in check

  When medical professionals provide information to their patients to help them practice “self-care,” individuals generally feel better and are more confident about managing their healthcare needs, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Such steps that healthcare professionals can take to promote self-care include planning preventive medical assistance, giving patients easily understood information and… Read more »

Address the emotional side of illness to treat the whole patient

If the caretaker of someone who’s recently had a stroke is optimistic, their attitude can lessen the patient’s depression, a condition that many stroke victims experience after their medical trauma. Similarly, people undergoing treatment for cancer have a better sense of well-being when their stress, fatigue and other issues affecting their outlook are addressed as… Read more »

Pay attention to changes in skin to detect disease

If people pay attention to changes in their skin, they may discover signs of disease before it becomes too serious, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The most common skin changes that could be warning signs of ill health are rashes, any growths such as tumors, skin discoloration and changes in texture. When it comes… Read more »

Less serious heart attacks seem to follow when chest pain occurs first

Having chest pain that warns of a possible heart attack seems to trigger a protective mechanism in the heart, a recent Minnesota study found. The result is that chest pain experienced during the 24 hours prior to an attack causes heart trauma that is 50 percent less damaging than in people who have no warning pain. Researchers… Read more »

Take stock of daily habits for better eyesight

Save Your Vision Month, which is observed throughout March, is a good time to take stock of how daily habits can impact the quality of one’s vision. Something as simple as keeping the windows of your car clean can make a difference in how hard your eyes have to work to provide the clearest sight…. Read more »

Calcium deposits in arteries seen as new threat for stroke

People who have calcium deposits clogging their arteries are more likely to have a stroke, even if they don’t have other health conditions that put them at risk, a long-term German study found. Over the course of eight years, researchers at the University Hospital in Essen assessed plaque that blocked the coronary arteries of nearly 4,200… Read more »

Migraine sufferers may find help in nerve stimulation and avoiding certain foods

Headache sufferers in a Belgian study showed only modest improvement after using electrical nerve stimulators to reduce their pain, but the results still offer hope to millions who experience migraines and other headaches on a regular basis. According to the National Headache Foundation, nearly 30 million people in the U.S. experience migraines frequently. Most are women, who… Read more »

Protect skin by adding moisture and nutrients to daily routine

Staying indoors to escape cold, wet weather is a good way to stay comfortable throughout the winter. However, drying indoor heat can take its toll on the skin by the time spring rolls around. According to the American Skin Association, the low humidity that exists in most homes during the winter depletes natural oils and moisture… Read more »

Health-wise, parents of baby boomers were better off

When their parents were the same age as baby boomers are now, one-third of them considered themselves healthy – and apparently were healthier – than the 78 million-strong boom generation has turned out. Those born between 1946 and 1964 who are in middle-age or entering seniorhood are experiencing more health problems than nearly one-third of their… Read more »