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Vitamin use is common among Americans Got vitamins? If you’re like most Americans, the answer probably is yes. More than half of Americans now take vitamins, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For most, this means a daily multivitamin. But other supplements are becoming more common. Women ages 60 and older, for instance, are increasingly taking calcium supplements. And use of vitamin D supplements has increased among both men and women in all age groups.    Are vitamins and other supplements really necessary? Some experts say no. For most people, it’s best to get nutrients from food. But they can be a wise choice for people who have difficulty eating a balanced diet or have special dietary needs. This includes people who eat fewer than 1,600 calories per day, pregnant women, vegans and vegetarians and those with certain health conditions. Not sure if you need one? Your doctor can help determine if supplements are a good idea for you. If you choose to take them, keep these guidelines in mind: Read labels carefully. Check to see what’s in a supplement, and keep an eye on expiration dates. Avoid megadoses of vitamins. Choose a vitamin that contains about 100 percent of the daily value (DV) rather than one that has, for example, 1000 percent. Calcium is the exception to this rule: a vitamin containing 100 percent of the DV would be too large to swallow. Be aware of government advisories. The Food and Drug Administration posts alerts and issues on their website.    Remember, a vitamin supplement is not a substitute for a balanced diet. Women more likely than men to have sleep disorders If you’re a woman who spends a lot of nights lying awake, you’re not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, women are more likely than men to have problems sleeping. Issues may include trouble falling asleep, waking during the night or feeling groggy during the day.    Despite the fact that women are more likely to experience sleep problems, 75 percent of research on sleep disorders used male subjects, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. And often doctors looking at sleep disorders consider the male experiences to be the "norm," even though there are numerous differences between men and women when it comes to sleep. For example, women can have their sleep disrupted by menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.    Regardless of the cause, get back to sleep with these healthy sleep habits: Establish regular waking and bed times. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol. Turn your bedroom into an optimal environment for sleep. Think dark, cool and quiet. Exercise in the morning instead of at night.    If these steps don’t get you back to sleep, the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorders Center may be able to help. Talk with your doctor about your sleeping problems and decide if a sleep study at the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorders Center is something you should have. Physician referral is required. Keep germs at bay during summer swims Few things are as refreshing as a cool swim in a pool on a hot day. But if you’re not careful, a quick dip can lead to more than just swimmer’s ear. If a pool isn’t treated properly, germs can spread through the water, causing recreational water illness in swimmers who swallow or breathe in the mist of contaminated water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).    How can you protect yourself? The first step is to make sure that your favorite pool is maintained properly. According to the CDC, free chlorine levels should be 1 to 3 parts per million, and the pool pH should be 7.2 to 7.8. Water that’s used by numerous swimmers should be tested at least twice daily to ensure chlorine levels are high enough to kill waterborne germs. To identify a healthy pool, use your senses: Sight: Water should be blue, clean and clear. Touch: Pool tiles should feel smooth and clean. Smell: Make sure there are no strong odors. Sound: Listen for pool cleaning equipment, like pumps and filters. Weight loss good for your heart ... and mind Carrying around extra weight not only makes it more difficult to climb a flight of stairs, but it may have your brain huffing and puffing as well. A Kent State researcher discovered that when individuals underwent bariatric surgery and lost weight, their memories improved. He got the idea for the research when he noticed potential surgery candidates kept making similar mental errors. These mistakes suggested brain function issues might be at play. It turns out that once people lost weight, their brain function went from the slightly impaired to normal range when tested 12 weeks after the surgery. Researchers say that losing weight reverses a number of conditions that could affect mental function, such as diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.    This study isn’t the first to show this effect. Mental function improvement has also been seen in young adults who start new exercise programs. As their fitness improves, their memory and concentration get better as well. Researchers plan to continue to track the individuals in the study for two years to see how their cognitive function changes over time.    So what does this mean for you? It’s just one more bit of encouragement to get moving to drop extra pounds if you have them. Check out McCullough-Hyde's hospital happenings! McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital has a new, updated website. Check out our work in progress at www.mhmh.org. McCullough-Hyde offers vascular ultrasound screenings Monday through Friday. Vascular ultrasound screenings could help you avoid possible stroke, heart disease or death. Call 513-524-5400 to schedule your appointment. A physician's order is not required, and test results are sent to you and your physician. Cost for all three ultrasounds (abdominal, carotid and legs) is $75. Read Hot Health Topics on McCullough-Hyde’s Web page and click on HealthWise.
	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.
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