Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Why Exercise Won\'t Make You Thin

Why Exercise Won\'t Make You Thin

Friday, September 11, 2009

How to Talk to a Doctor

The success of a doctor’s appointment is very crucial for a patient. Wrong diagnosis due to wrong information may cause a patient’s life.

Here are expert tips for keeping your appointment meaningful and efficient written by Pamela F. Gallin, MD at the Reader’s Digest, August 2009. She writes:

“It's one of the sorriest stats in modern medicine: The average doctor's appointment lasts 15 minutes or less. No wonder you feel rushed! That doesn't leave much time for chatting about the weather or your mood. What you don't realize -- but what I see very clearly as a physician -- is that in this era of in-and-out appointments, what the patient says is more important than ever. In fact, your comments can help me give you great care or make it much harder for me to figure out what's going on.

Medical schools teach a specific way to conduct an office visit. Part one is the complaint, aka your description of your problem. Part two is the physical exam. And part three is when the doctor gives you a diagnosis and prescribes tests or a treatment. Chances are, you focus on part three, but the patients who receive the best care are those who master part one. The key is to describe in detail what you've been feeling -- not just "bad," but what kind of bad, for how long, and after what kind of activity.

Of course, that's easier said than done. Even though I've been a physician for many years, I tend to be a little nervous when I'm the one sitting on the exam table; if I haven't prepared, I lose track of the details I intended to share. So I take a few minutes at home to write down some crucial specifics. This is sort of like medical Mad Libs -- just choose the right words to fill in the blanks. For instance, say you've been bothered by back pain:

I have had __________ [problem: back pain] for __________ [time: days, weeks, months, years]. It is worse when I __________ [context: awake, bend down, at the end of the day]. The pain is __________ [type: sharp, dull]; it's __________ [severity: mild, severe, intolerable] and __________ [duration: constant, intermittent]. It began __________ [when: with an injury, spontaneously, when taking a medication]. When I take __________ [medication: aspirin, ibuprofen, narcotic], it makes it __________ [effect: all better, partially better, doesn't affect it at all].

The doctor will then ask questions, but you've done much of the work already. Your examination will be more specific, and the diagnosis and treatment will be more accurate. You'll have bought yourself time at the end of the visit to ask questions. And there may even be a few minutes left over for a little pleasant conversation!“

Barbara Ficarra of the Healthin30.com gives this advice on doctor’s appointment:

It’s important to partner with your doctor or health care provider. By being proactive and an empowered patient you can help get the care and treatment you need. Trust, mutual respect and communication are vital for the doctor/patient relationship. Be honest and open and allow yourself to be in charge of your health.
Before your appointment with your doctor, it’s important to be prepared.

Here are some of the tips:
• Take your medical history form with you which includes a list of your medications. You can download a free personal medical history and medications form here.
• It’s always a good idea to have someone with you. A trusted family member or friend can help make sense all the information that is given.
• Keep a journal of your symptoms, and bring it with you. Write down symptoms you may be experiencing. When did the symptoms start? Are they triggered by some activity? How long do the symptoms last? Are they constant?
• Write down any questions. Writing a list of questions in advance can help you stay focused and it will allow you to make the best use of time.

Get the conversation started. Here are a few questions to ask your doctor:
• What are the causes of my symptoms?
• Will the symptoms go away? How long will they last?
• What tests are needed to determine the ailment?
• How is the ailment diagnosed? What are the criteria for diagnosis?
• What is the treatment?
• Are there alternative therapies? Over-the-counter medications? Prescriptions? What are they? Will my present medications interfere with any of these new medications?
• Should my diet change? Are there certain foods that I should be eating?
• What lifestyle changes should be made?
These are just a few ideas to help make the most of the office visit. Remember to speak up and take charge of your health. If you don’t understand something, ask to have the information repeated and it’s okay to take notes during your visit.


Pamela F. Gallin, MD, is a clinical professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center and the author of How to Survive Your Doctor’s Care.
Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, is host and executive producer of the Health in 30® Radio Show, a 30-minute program in the US that brings listeners the latest health and medical news and information with leading medical experts. The show streams live Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST on WRCR AM1300.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Simple Ways to Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Hello friends! Again, I'm sharing with you a very helpful article. I am confident that these simple ways will help everyone to stay healthy and fit. My blood pressure became normal after I shed off some pounds. - Nims

This article is written by Paige Waehner Source: About.com
Created: December 14, 2005

You hear a lot about living a healthy lifestyle, but what does that mean? In general, a healthy person doesn't smoke, is at a healthy weight, eats healthy and exercises. Sounds simple, doesn't it?
The trick to healthy living is making small changes...taking more steps, adding fruit to your cereal, having an extra glass of water...these are just a few ways you can start living healthy without drastic changes.

Exercise

One of the biggest problems in America today is lack of activity. We know it's good for us but avoid it like the plague either because we're used to being sedentary or afraid that exercise has to be vigorous to be worth our time. The truth is, movement is movement and the more you do, the healthier you'll be. Even moderate activities like chores, gardening and walking can make a difference.
Just adding a little movement to your life can:
• Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes
• Improve joint stability
• Increase and improve range of movement
• Help maintain flexibility as you age
• Maintain bone mass
• Prevent osteoporosis and fractures
• Improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Enhance self esteem
• Improve memory in elderly people
• Reduce stress

So, even if you opt for small changes and a more modest weight loss, you can see the benefits are still pretty good. One study has found that just a 10% weight reduction helped obese patients reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and increase longevity.
Simple Ways to Move Your Body

You can start the process of weight loss now by adding a little more activity to your life. If you're not ready for a structured program, start small. Every little bit counts and it all adds up to burning more calories.
• Turn off the TV. Once a week, turn off the TV and do something a little more physical with your family. Play games, take a walk...almost anything will be more active than sitting on the couch.
• Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more. When you get the mail, take a walk around the block, take the dog for an extra outing each day or walk on your treadmill for 5 minutes before getting ready for work.
• Do some chores. Shoveling snow, working in the garden, raking leaves, sweeping the floor...these kinds of activities may not be 'vigorous' exercise, but they can keep you moving while getting your house in order.
• Pace while you talk. When you're on the phone, pace around or even do some cleaning while gabbing. This is a great way to stay moving while doing something you enjoy.
• Be aware. Make a list of all the physical activities you do on a typical day. If you find that the bulk of your time is spent sitting, make another list of all the ways you could move more--getting up each hour to stretch or walk, walk the stairs at work, etc.
Learn about more ways to fit in exercise.

Eating Well

Eating a healthy diet is another part of the healthy lifestyle. Not only can a clean diet help with weight management, it can also improve your health and quality of life as you get older. You can use the new Food Guide Pyramid to determine how many calories you need and what food groups you should focus on or, if you're looking for smaller changes, you can use these tips for simple ways to change how you eat:
• Eat more fruit. Add it to your cereal, your salads or even your dinners
• Sneak in more veggies. Add them wherever you can--a tomato on your sandwich, peppers on your pizza, or extra veggies in your pasta sauce. Keep pre-cut or canned/frozen veggies ready for quick snacks.
• Switch your salad dressing. If you eat full-fat dressing, switch to something lighter and you'll automatically eat less calories.
• Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy. Switching to skim milk or fat free yogurt is another simple way to eat less calories without having to change too much in your diet.
• Make some substitutes. Look through your cabinets or fridge and pick 3 foods you eat every day. Write down the nutritional content and, the next time you're at the store, find lower-calorie substitutes for just those 3 items.
Find more ideas for healthy foods with this Healthy Foods Grocery List.

Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean drastic changes. In fact, drastic changes almost always lead to failure. Making small changes in how you live each day can lead to big rewards, so figure out what you can to be healthy today.