>>Forward this McCullough-Hyde e–newsletter to a friend and tell him or her to >> sign up today!
>>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.
Don’t skip out on daily exercise! Americans are failing miserably when it comes to one cornerstone of good health: regular exercise. Only about 5 percent of us engage in some sort of vigorous physical activity on any given day, reports a recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers looked at data from almost 80,000 people participating in the American Time Use Survey, a national telephone-based poll. When asked what they did the preceding 24 hours, some of the most popular answers were eating and drinking and watching TV or movies. The 5 percent of people who did exercise reported using cardio machines or running. The National Institutes of Health says that people who are active live longer, feel better, can better maintain a healthy weight and delay or prevent diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and heart problems. So get up and get moving—it’s just what the doctor ordered! Caregivers take care If you’re caring for someone who depends on you, you need to be at your best health. The Family Caregiver Alliance says that 65 percent of older adults who have long-term care needs rely solely on their family and friends, mostly women. If you’re one of those caregivers, here are five tips from the American Heart Association to help you stay healthy and refreshed: Get out weekly to a place you enjoy. Try a local craft fair, a movie with your spouse or friends or a stroll in the park. Eat right and exercise regularly. Consuming healthy foods like plenty of fruits and vegetables will give you energy and help prevent health problems. Exercise helps you reduce stress, keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels normal and maintain a healthy weight. Laugh! It accelerates the pulse rate, gets the blood circulating, increases oxygen intake and aids relaxation. Seek help, if needed. Talk with a professional if you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, including sadness, anxiousness or feelings of emptiness; loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed; concentration problems; trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; weight loss or gain; or having thoughts of hurting yourself. Keep your medical appointments. Stay in tip-top health by getting regular checkups and addressing problems when they arise. Fall for fruits and veggies Summer is long gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plenty of produce is available during this time of year: beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, eggplant, pumpkin, snow peas, spinach, winter squash, sweet potatoes, turnips, apples, bananas, cranberries, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranates and tangerines. For a little inspiration, try this winter squash pancakes recipe: 2 cups winter squash (acorn, butternut, hubbard or a mixture), cooked and mashed 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 cup fat-free milk ½ cup egg substitute ½ cup unbleached white flour 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg 2 Tbsp. chopped chives cooking spray Beat squash with the brown sugar, milk and eggs until smooth. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Combine the dry ingredients into the mixture. Fold in the chives. Heat a heavy skillet lightly sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat. Preheat the oven to 250° F. Drop the batter onto the hot skillet by heaping tablespoonfuls. Lightly oil a spatula and flatten the pancakes. When they’re golden brown on the bottom, flip them. As they brown on the other side, transfer them to a baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while you cook the rest of the batter. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 170 calories, 2 g total fat (1 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, 480 mg sodium, 30 g total carbohydrates, 9 g protein Recipe courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov Another reason breast is best The benefits of breastfeeding just keep adding up. Now, a report in the American Journal of Medicine says that breastfeeding your infant—even for just one month—can help stave off type 2 diabetes, which increases your heart disease risk. The study involved more than 2,200 women between ages 40 and 78, who either had no children, had children but never breastfed or had children and breastfed them. Researchers found that 26.7 percent of those women who didn’t breastfeed their babies went on to develop diabetes, compared to 18 percent of women who exclusively breastfed their infants for at least one month. The driving force behind breastfeeding’s benefits isn’t known, but animal studies have shown that lactation may reduce belly fat and trigger a sensitivity to insulin (type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells ignore insulin). Currently, only about 14 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the recommended minimum of six months. 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. Visit McCullough-Hyde's at www.mhmh.org and click on "Calendar" for a complete event listing, including our monthly Lunch & Learn series. 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.
	TO UNSUBSCRIBE CLICK HERE. | © 2010 McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital