Health Care

DRINKING ALCOHOL

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Does your drinking alcohol put you at risk? Guidelines for low-risk drinking are based on the average level of consumption that increases the chance of illness, injury, or death. Every human body is different but in general health risks increase at the following levels.
For men:

Excessive drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks in a short period of time, such as a 2-hour period, or

More than 14 drinks in a week.

For women and people 65 and older:

Excessive drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks in a short period of time, such as a 2-hour period, or

Antidepressant Risks

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Since the late 1980s, America and the world have been enjoying the benefits of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These antidepressants — fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro) — are among the world’s most widely prescribed medications. They are remarkably safe and effective. The range of their uses has expanded from depression to anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and many other psychiatric conditions.

HEALTHCARE MEASURES

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Consumers have a vast amount of information available to them at their fingertips by simply going online and doing some basic research. However, the time to choose the best hospital for you and your family is when you are healthy. When comparing hospitals, published reports can vary widely.

In an effort to help consumers gauge a hospital’s performance, there are multiple groups, nonprofit organizations and private companies offering ratings and comparisons.

ARE YOU PREPARING FOR AGING?

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According to research statistics compiled by Pew, over the next decade, more than 10,000 baby boomers will reach age 65. The aging of this huge cohort of Americans of which 26 percent of the total U.S. population are Baby Boomers will dramatically change the composition of this nation.

Currently, just 13 percent of Americans are ages 65 and older. By 2030, when all members of the Baby Boom generation have reached that age, fully 18% of the nation will be at least that age, according to Pew Research Center population projections. But don’t tell Baby Boomers that they are old. The typical Boomer believes that old age does not begin until age 72, according to a 2009 Pew Research survey. Also, while about half of all adults say they feel younger than their actual age, fully 61 percent of Boomers are feeling more spry than their age would imply. In fact, the typical Boomer feels nine years younger than his or her chronological age

Most folks are probably already doing a lot to ensure they stay in good health and are able to enjoy their golden years: eating right, exercising, getting checkups and screenings as recommended by your physician. But it also makes sense to have some contingency plans for the bumps in the road that might occur.

Adapt your home. Stairs, baths, and kitchens can present hazards for older people. Even if you don’t need to make changes now, do an annual safety review so you can make necessary updates if your needs change.

Prevent falls. Falls are a big deal for older people — they often result in fractures that can lead to disability, further health problems, or even death. Safety precautions are important, but so are exercises that can improve balance and strength.

Consider your housing options. You might consider investigating naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). These neighborhoods and housing complexes aren’t developed specifically to serve seniors — and, in fact, tend to host a mix of ages — but because they have plenty of coordinated care and support available, they are senior-friendly.

Think ahead about how to get the help you may need. Meal preparation, transportation, home repair, housecleaning, and help with financial tasks such as paying bills might be hired out if you can afford it, or shared among friends and family. Elder services offered in your community might be another option.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT...

Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry
Never sit around feeling sorry about circumstances or how others treat you. Instead, take responsibility for a role in life and understand that life isn’t easy or fair.
Don’t Give Away Power
Never allow others to control you, and don’t give someone else power over you. Don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because you are in control over your own emotions and have a choice in how to respond.
Don’t Shy Away from Change

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Useful Caregiver Services

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Being a caregiver for an ailing parent, spouse, child, or other loved one can feel like a lonely undertaking. It needn't, even if you don't have family nearby to pitch in. Help for caregivers is available from various organizations. Once you learn what's available, it may be easier to chart a less-demanding course toward meeting the needs of your spouse, relative, or friend.

Here are some types of services and professionals you might want to investigate.

PRACTICE POSITIVE ENERGY

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Intriguing research suggests that positive energy helps with routine ups and downs of life and it also builds resilience for times of difficulty.

These are simple steps to follow:

Say thanks. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what you have — from a roof over your head to good health to people who care about you. When you acknowledge the goodness in your life, you begin to recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside yourself. In this way, gratitude helps you connect to something larger than your individual experience — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.

Positive re-enforcement. Set aside a few minutes every day and think about five large or small things you're grateful for. Write them down if you like. Be specific and remember what each thing means to you.

Leverage your strengths. To reap the benefits of your strengths, you first need to know what they are. Unfortunately, according to a British study, only about one-third of people have a useful understanding of their strengths. If something comes easily, you may take it for granted and not identify it as a strength. If you are not sure of your strengths, you can identify them by asking someone you respect who knows you well, by noticing what people compliment you on, and by thinking about what comes most easily to you.

Certain strengths are most closely linked to happiness. They include gratitude, hope, vitality, curiosity, and love. These strengths are so important that they're worth cultivating and applying in your daily life, even if they don't come naturally to you.

Savor the "good." Most people are primed to experience the pleasure in special moments, like a wedding or a vacation. Everyday pleasures, on the other hand, can slip by without much notice. Savoring means placing your attention on pleasure as it occurs, consciously enjoying the experience as it unfolds. Appreciating the treasures in life, big and small, helps build happiness.

Multitasking is the enemy of savoring. Try as you might, you can't fully pay attention to multiple things. If you're scanning the newspaper and listening to the radio during breakfast, you're not getting the pleasure you could from that meal — or the newspaper or radio program. If you're walking the dog on a beautiful path but mentally staring at your day's to-do list, you're missing the moment.

QUIT SMOKING NOW

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City Island Images is offering Nicotine Transdermal System Patches for free. Contact admin@cimages.me

"Tips from Former Smokers," a series of ads was launched today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ads, funded by the Affordable Care Act’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, feature compelling stories of former smokers living with smoking-related diseases and disabilities. Beginning Monday, ads will run for at least 12 weeks on television, radio, and billboards, online, and in theaters, magazines, and newspapers nationwide.

WORTHWHILE INFORMATION

Event: Introduction to Tumblr
When: April 3, 2013, 9:30 – 11:00am
Where: National Press Club Journalism Institute, Washington D.C., Bloomberg Room
If you've been wondering just what Tumblr is and why everyone seems have one but you, sign up for this session. Tumblr is a blogging platform that lets you quickly and easily posts everything from photos, to text to video. Come find out more about its applications and create your very own Tumblr site. Registration is free for NPC members; $15 for non-members. Registration is required at http://www.press.org/events/introduction-tumblr

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HEALTH & WELLNESS SUMMIT

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On Saturday, April 6, at Fordham University, Bronx Borough President's Office will host a first ever Bronx Health & Wellness Summit. They have worked hard to put together a comprehensive agenda, one that we feel offers something for everyone.

At the summit, you can learn how your health coverage will change with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, how to effectively continue medical care for your adolescents, how mental health issues are handled to ensure public safety or what classes college students should take to pursue a career in healthcare, the borough's number one employer.

The main goal of this summit is to begin to set your work plan for the coming years, a work plan that will reverse your health indicators and ultimately lead to a better overall quality of life for those that live, work and raise their families in the Bronx. The agenda for the summit has been finalized, so please take a few minutes to register for our Health & Wellness Summit if you haven't already, and sign up for your preferred breakout sessions.