Shady Grove Adventist Hospital - Health Tip

Water

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The human body consists of about 75 percent water and the brain about 85 percent. Water is essential to the functioning of every single cell and organ system in the human body. Dehydration is the No. 1 stressor of the human body; 75 percent of all people have mild, chronic dehydration. Studies show that the majority of healthy people meet their daily needs of water intake.

Reading & Music

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

It has been found that literary reading goes up with education and correlates with increased participation in communal life, but less than half of the American adult population now reads literature for pleasure. The musical techniques used by composers 200 years ago such as a 60 beats per minute pattern helps the brain organize incoming information. Learning potential can be increased a minimum of five times by using this music. Also, listening to music reduces the stress hormone, cortisol.

Hepatitis

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver, an organ that helps the body digest food, store energy, and remove poisons. Viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis. The infectious virus comes in three primary forms in the U.S. – A, B, and C. The other two less prevalent forms are D and E. There are vaccines available for hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV), but not for hepatitis C (HCV).

Lyme Disease

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

There are about 20,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in America annually. In the 10 states where the disease is most common such as in Maryland, the average is 30.2 cases per 100,000 persons. Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacterium that is carried by deer ticks. General symptoms include a circular rash, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle/joint aches.

Sunburn

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

About one-third of U.S. adults have a sunburn each year and about two-thirds of U.S. children have a sunburn every summer. Those at higher risk typically have fair skin, blue eyes, and red or blond hair. Severe sunburns can be serious in babies, small children, and older adults. Indications for medical attention include a severe sunburn that covers more than 15 percent of the body, extreme pain that persists longer than 48 hours, high fever, and dehydration.

Fatigue

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Around 20 percent of Americans claim to have intense fatigue that interferes with their daily living. Every year, about 10 million doctor visits are attributed to fatigue. It is a common health complaint; the physical causes are estimated at 20 to 60 percent and the emotional causes are the other 40 to 80 percent. Fatigue may be a sign of a serious illness, but experts say that most often it is caused by a minor problem with a relatively easy fix.

Working Fathers

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

There are an estimated 65.3 million fathers across the nation; about 159,000 are stay-at-home dads. Seven out of 10 fathers say they would take a pay cut if it meant they could have more time with their families. Studies show that about 70 percent of working fathers have difficulty balancing professional and family responsibilities. “Father stress” costs American business over $150 billion per year from increased absenteeism, reduced work performance, higher employee turnover, and greater workers’ comp benefits.

Resentment & Unforgiveness

Fri, 30 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

No Abstract available

Smiling

Thu, 22 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The smile is recognizable worldwide and is visible for up to 300 feet. Research shows that a baby smiles 400 times, an adolescent 17 times, a woman about 62 times, and a man 54 times daily. Smiling has been found to boost levels of serotonin, release endorphins, lower blood pressure, counteract the effects of stress, and produce less rapid breathing. Typically, it requires 12 muscles to smile and over 70 to frown.

Middle-Aged Americans

Fri, 16 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Americans in their early to mid-50’s report poorer health and more pain. One study found that middle-aged Americans were not as healthy as their English counterparts. Suicide rates for adults ages 45 to 54 have climbed to the highest level in 25 years. There are more middle-aged Americans dying of drug overdoses and involved in crimes. More than half of H.I.V./AIDS diagnoses in 2005 were given to middle-aged Americans.