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>>Welcome to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital's community newsletter. Twice a month, we bring timely health news and information for you and your family. Visit McCullough-Hyde's website today.
The most common cancer of allBreast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer get a lot of media coverage, but it is actually lung cancer that kills more people each year—more than all of those cancers combined. Smokers have the greatest risk of developing lung cancer, although the risk can also rise with exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, arsenic, chromium, nickel and tar; a family history of lung cancer; excessive alcohol use; and certain lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Unfortunately, you may not see symptoms of lung cancer until it has advanced. Signs include:
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New CPR guidelines emphasize chest compressionsIn a lifesaving situation, the average Joe should focus on chest compressions first, rather than mouth-to-mouth, say new CPR guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA). Chest compressions can help keep oxygenated blood flowing to the heart and brain, and recent studies have found the compression-only approach to be as good as or even better than compression plus mouth-to-mouth. Despite what you might think, CPR is not complicated to perform. If someone is not breathing, is gasping or is unresponsive, the AHA recommends calling emergency services, then starting chest compressions. (Compressions should be hard and fast, performed at least 2 inches deep and at least 100 times a minute; do not lean on the chest between compressions.) If someone else is available, he or she should also search for an automatic external defibrillator to shock the heart back into rhythm, the AHA says. |
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Exercise rewards for older womenIf you are an older woman with thinning bones, a little exercise may protect you from fractures. Researchers in Finland found that just 20 minutes of at-home exercise a day over five years—coupled with six months of supervised weekly training a year—could improve balance and reduce fracture risk by more than 30 percent. The protection lasted two years beyond the end of the exercise program. This study was a follow-up to an earlier trial involving 160 women who had osteopenia (a loss of bone density not severe enough to be classified as osteoporosis), who either exercised or did not. During follow-up, 17 female exercisers had fractures, while 23 nonexercisers experienced fractures. No hip fractures were reported among the exercisers, while the sedentary group had five. Overall, women who engaged in lifelong regular moderate physical activity were 78 percent less likely to suffer a fracture during the study period. What is the moral of the story? Ask your physician about safe and effective exercise programs—and get moving! |
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Food for thought: Obesity a national security threat?Bet you thought of obesity as strictly a personal health issue. Research, however, suggests the obesity epidemic can have a far-reaching impact—especially for national security and military readiness. It has been tough enough for the U.S. military to meet its goal of 180,000 new recruits each year. And now, according to Cornell University researchers, almost one in four applicants is too heavy to enlist, making being overweight or obese the No. 1 reasons for medical disqualification. According to researchers, 5.7 million American men and 16.5 million American women of military age were not eligible because of their weight (weight-to-height ratio and body fat percentage determine eligibility). Researchers say this analysis shows one of the lesser-known impacts obesity has on our nation. |
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McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital
110 N. POPLAR ST. / OXFORD, OH 45056 / 513-523-2111 / www.mhmh.org
Community Health is designed to provide general health news and wellness information. This information is not designed to, nor should it, be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or nutrition or exercise program.
