Mobile Medicine Outreach

Forgive, but never forget these things...

Here are six habits that mattered: Don't smoke. Have a normal body mass index (BMI). Get moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 2.5 hours a week.... Watch 7 or fewer hours of television weekly. Drink one or fewer alcoholic beverages daily. Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables , whole grains, fish , or omega-3 fatty acids -- as well as limit sugary drinks, processed and red meats, trans fats, and sodium. See more

Cough Drops Just because cough drops are sold in the medicine aisle doesn't mean they’re healthy. Most are loaded with sugar. So after soothing your throat with a lozenge, be sure to brush well. Whether the sugar comes from a cough drop or a hard candy, it reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth. Then bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hello, cavities.

High blood pressure High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke so it’s important to know how to lower high blood pressure. Hypertension risk factors include obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and family history. While the cause of high blood pressure in most people remains unclear, a variety of conditions -- such as getting little or no exercise, poor diet, obesity, older age, and genetics -- can contribute to the development of hypertension.... The blood pressure reading is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is written as systolic pressure, the force of the blood against the artery walls as your heart beats, over diastolic pressure, the blood pressure between heartbeats. For example, a blood pressure reading is written as 120/80 mmHg, or "120 over 80". The systolic pressure is 120 and the diastolic pressure is 80. The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure has classified blood pressure measurements into several categories:

What Causes Food Poisoning? Many bacteria can cause food poisoning. People who are ill or infected can transmit staphylococcus bacteria to food they are preparing. People who eat or drink contaminated food or water can get travelers' diarrhea, usually caused by the bacterium E. coli. Salmonella poisoning can occur from eating contaminated poultry, eggs, and meat; though potentially fatal, most cases cause only mild symptoms. Harmful bacteria grow in cooked and raw meat and fi...sh, dairy products, and prepared foods left at room temperature too long. Canned goods, especially home-canned produce, can harbor a bacterium that needs no oxygen to multiply and is not destroyed by cooking. This bacterium causes botulism, a rare but potentially fatal food poisoning. Infants may develop botulism from eating honey because their immature digestive systems, unlike those of adults, cannot neutralize its naturally occurring bacteria. Raw seafood, especially contaminated shellfish, may bring on food poisoning. Certain mushrooms, berries, and other plants are naturally poisonous to humans and should never be eaten; potato sprouts and eyes also contain natural toxins. Toxic mold can form on improperly stored fruit, vegetables, grains, and nuts. Deadly toxins are contained in certain types of mushrooms. Chemical food poisoning can be caused by pesticides or by keeping food in unsanitary containers.

Do you have high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia? Abnormal cholesterol levels such as high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol are a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. An unhealthy diet can cause high cholesterol. Sometimes high cholesterol runs in families. A low-cholesterol diet can help improve cholesterol levels. If the low-cholesterol diet does not work to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medications

Investigations about Energy Product The 5-Hour Energy label and the product's web site spell out proper use: Drink no more than two bottles of 5-Hour Energy a day, spaced several hours apart.... People trying 5-Hour Energy for the first time should try half a bottle and wait 10 minutes before drinking the rest. People sensitive to caffeine should talk to their doctor before using it. Throw out any unused product within 72 hours of opening the bottle. The FDA offers additional advice. In its statement, the agency warns that: 5-Hour Energy and other energy shots or beverages are not alternatives to rest or sleep. Caffeine and other stimulants may make an unrested person feel more alert and awake, but judgment and reaction time still may be "severely impaired." Consult a health care provider before using these products to make sure you do not have a medical condition that might get worse if you take them.

Barrett's Barrett's esophagus is a serious complication of GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. In Barrett's esophagus, normal tissue lining the esophagus -- the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach -- changes to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine. About 10%-15% of people with chronic symptoms of GERD develop Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus does not have any specific symptoms. Patients with Barrett's esophagus may hav...e symptoms related to GERD. It does, though, increase the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is a serious, potentially fatal cancer of the esophagus. Although the risk of this cancer is higher in people with Barrett's esophagus, the disease is still rare. Less than 1% of the people with Barrett's esophagus develop this particular cancer. Nevertheless, if you've been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus, it's important to have routine examinations of your esophagus. With routine examination, your doctor can discover precancerous and cancer cells early, before they spread and when the disease is easier to treat.

Heartburn/GERD One in 10 Americans experiences heartburn symptoms at least once a week. Heartburn has different triggers, including certain foods, medications, obesity, or even stress. Knowing your triggers will help you design a prevention strategy. If you suffer from heartburn it’s important to find effective heartburn remedies to prevent the acid reflux from worsening. Heartburn treatment may include medications, home remedies, or diet changes.

Sleep Disorders Overview Need to learn more about sleep disorders? Sleep problems, including snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, sleep deprivation, and restless legs syndrome, are common among millions of Americans. It’s important to understand why sleep is necessary for optimal health, how the natural hormone melatonin affects sleep and wakefulness, and how the different states and stages of sleep impact sleep quality, quantity, and sleep dreams. The amount of sleep a person ne...eds depends on many factors, including age. For example, in general: Infants require about 16 hours a day Teenagers need about 9 hours on average Most adults need 7 to 8 hours a night for the best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 5 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day Women in the first 3 months of pregnancy often need several more hours of sleep than usual

Cholesterol Health Check Do you have high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia? Abnormal cholesterol levels such as high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol are a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. An unhealthy diet can cause high cholesterol. Sometimes high cholesterol runs in families. A low-cholesterol diet can help improve cholesterol levels. If the low-cholesterol diet does not work to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medications