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Welcome to the Community Health newsletter, brought to you by McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital. Twice a month, Community Health brings to your mailbox timely medical news and health and wellness information that matter to you and your family. To visit the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Web site, >> click here.
The right way to take medicineA spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but a recent study from Cornell University suggests that, when it’s time to pour the medicine, you may want to put the spoon back in the drawer. In the study, participants were asked to pour one teaspoon of nighttime flu medicine into different-sized kitchen spoons. Depending on the size of the spoon, participants poured an average of 8 percent too little medication to 12 percent too much. The subjects typically underdosed when using medium-sized spoons and overdosed when using larger spoons. These differences may not sound like a big deal, but cold medicines are often taken several times a day for several days in a row. That could add up to ineffective medicine (if you underdose) or dangerous overdosing—especially for kids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says you should always use a proper medication measuring device, such as a measuring cap or dosing syringe, when dispensing medication. Don’t have one? Your pharmacist should be able to provide one. |
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Teens need more shut-eyeIn an ideal world, your high-schooler would sleep a little more than nine hours a night, and would wake up feeling refreshed, but according to research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, less than 8 percent of the 12,000 high school students questioned get the zzzs they need. In the study, girls got less sleep than boys and 11th and 12th graders were more sleep-deprived than 9th and 10th graders. Help your child make sleep a priority, as a lack of shut-eye can limit his or her ability to learn, lead to aggressive behavior and contribute to illness and driving drowsiness. (More than 100,000 car crashes each year are caused by drowsiness and falling asleep at the wheel.) Start establishing a bed- and wake-time routine and make sure your teen sticks to it. While catching up on sleep on the weekend can help, your child shouldn’t sleep more than two to three hours past his or her usual wake time. Have him or her make an effort to not eat, drink or exercise within a few hours of bedtime; avoid leaving homework for the last minute; and turn off the television, computer and the telephone an hour before bed. For more ideas, visit the National Sleep Foundation’s Web site. |
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Can your computer help you eat better?You can add better eating habits to the list of benefits technology provides. That’s what a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) study indicates. Previous research has shown that the vitamins, minerals and fiber found in fruits and vegetables may offer protection from chronic diseases including diabetes, stroke, heart disease, hypertension and some cancers. Even with this knowledge, many Americans aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables. In the NCI study, 2500 people were divided into three groups: Some logged on to a Web site that gave them general nutritional information; others received tailored nutritional information online and a third group received tailored nutritional information and motivational e-mails. Participants reported their fruit and vegetable intake at the beginning of the study and every three months afterward. A year later, participants across all three groups were eating more than two additional servings a day, and those who received the motivational e-mails had the biggest increase. The bottom line: Keep an eye on your inbox and stock up on fruits and vegetables! |
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Itch today, stress tomorrow?For those who must cope with eczema, hives, psoriasis or other skin conditions, itchy skin is more than an irritating side effect of dry winter weather. And with new research suggesting that chronic itchiness can seriously increase stress levels, sufferers should take note. In a study published in the Archives of Dermatology, more than 2,200 people were asked to keep health diaries for one month and to complete questionnaires that measured how often they felt nervous or stressed during that time. The results: Those who complained of itchy skin reported significantly higher stress levels than those who didn’t itch. And the more sufferers itched, the higher their stress. Previous research has shown that stress can actually aggravate skin disorders, so work with your physician to gain control of that irritating itch and keep your stress levels down. You’ll feel better from head to toe. |
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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.
