National Diabetes Awareness Month

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. In the United States, 30 million adults aged 18 years and older are living with diabetes and 84 million with prediabetes. This is even more prevalent in older adults, with one in four people over the age of 65 estimated to have diabetes, and one in two has prediabetes. Persons with prediabetes are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. National Diabetes Awareness Month was established by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 to call attention to this worldwide epidemic. The date of Nov. 14 was chosen to honor Dr. Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin back in 1921 along with Dr. Charles Best. This month is of course a time when diabetes organizations of all sizes launch awareness efforts, initiatives and campaigns. There are a number of types of diabetes, type 1 and two are the most prominent. Diabetes can be debilitating, and it is the leading cause of blindness, amputations and kidney failure. As a chronic disease, it makes individuals more susceptible to further illness and health conditions. At Private Home Care, we support the fight against diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the carbohydrates you eat into blood sugar that it uses for energy—and insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, everyone can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives. Thankfully, this is a condition that can be managed. By living a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise and proper diet, you can live a normal life and do everything you set out to do.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes—and it means that your body doesn’t use insulin properly. This type of diabetes largely results from unhealthy lifestyle choices. The onset of this disease is caused by poor nutrition, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and so forth. There is a high comorbidity rate for chronic diseases such as heart disease. Once established, some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to help manage it. In fact, many times when someone who is obese loses a large amount of weight and maintains a healthy diet, their diabetes is significantly improved or may go away completely. That being said, a key part of managing type 2 diabetes is maintaining a healthy diet. You need to eat something sustainable that helps you feel better and still makes you feel happy and fed. This can be a challenge for some, especially after years of unhealthy dietary choices, but it is important to remember that it is a process. You can work with medical professionals, such as your PCP, endocrinologists, and nutritionist to find helpful tips and diet plans that best suit your lifestyle—and how you can make your nutritional intake work the hardest for you.

Fitness is another central component to managing type 2 diabetes. And the good news, all you have to do is get moving. The key is to find activities you love and do them as often as you can. No matter how fit you are, a little activity every day can help you put yourself in charge of your life.

Ways you can honor National Diabetes Awareness Month:

• Get a physical. Regular checkups let us know where we stand and what changes we need to make. Ask questions, too!
• When we make small changes, we are more likely to stick to them. So, add one or two small improvements at a time for a healthy lifestyle, instead of huge sweeping changes.
• Keep track of your dietary, fitness, and wellness goals. We are more likely to be honest if we write down our daily intake than if we just guess.
• Get a buddy. It’s more fun when we make changes together than if we go it alone.
• Learn more about diabetes from leading resources like American Diabetes Association and the CDC. 

World Psoriasis Day

Yesterday was World Psoriasis Day. World Psoriasis Day is celebrated annually as a way to raise awareness of psoriasis. It is dedicated to the over 125 million people globally with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis and healthcare professionals who help treat this condition.  National Psoriasis Day has been celebrated globally for over a decade. 

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease, meaning that a dysfunctional immune system is a key cause of the disease. In the case of psoriasis, an overactive immune system can cause a rapid increase in skin cell production that leads to raised, scaly patches on the skin. These patches can be red in Caucasian skin and purple in skin of color. Many people report that psoriasis itches, burns and stings. While most immune systems take 30 or so days to push new cells to the skin, those with psoriasis push new cells within two to three days. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that often comes and goes. On World Psoriasis Day, psoriasis associations strive to spread information about the condition and improve access to treatment.

Psoriasis is not just a skin disease but a systemic one, which means it affects your whole body. It is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. If you develop a rash that doesn’t go away with an over-the-counter medication, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Psoriasis is also associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). PsA is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints and the places where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Inflammation can lead to swelling, pain, fatigue and stiffness in the joints. Left untreated, PsA can cause permanent joint damage. Over 8 million Americans have psoriasis. Nearly a third of them will develop psoriatic arthritis. 

Diseases associated with psoriasis include:

-Type 2 diabetes

Psoriasis is often associated with type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the blood retains high levels of sugar.

– Heart disease

Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, can lead to psoriasis.

-Bowel disease

Those who suffer from psoriasis may also suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, an often painful condition that affects the digestive tract.

Halloween

Tomorrow is Halloween! Private Home Care wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe Halloween! This year may look a little different, (also because of the fresh snow on the ground!) but you can still enjoy Halloween. 

-Watch a Halloween movie: Get in the Halloween spirit and watch a scary Halloween film! Some good suggestions are: Hocus Pocus, Psycho, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Nosferatu, The Shining, Halloween, The Silence of the Lambs, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Scream, Ghostbusters, Edward Scissorhands, Rosemary’s Baby, and more! You can choose one depending on the level of fright that is right for you!

-Dress up! Who says that costumes are for kids? You can simply put on a mask or go all out with a detailed costume. Popular costumes include witch, vampire, cat, ghost, food (grapes are always a good choice!), or a character from a movie. You can also wear festive Halloween colors – black and orange.

-Candy and sweets! This one goes without saying! Indulge with your favorite Halloween candies and sweets like candy corn, chocolate bars, gummies, candy apples, caramel popcorn, hot chocolate, and more!

-Cards: Send a fun Halloween card! You can either make or buy a fun Halloween card to send to friends and family. People will appreciate that you were thinking of them.

-Halloween crafts! Create Halloween crafts like jack-o-lanterns and decorate your house and yard with scary Halloween decor such as spider webs. You can also bake Halloween-inspired treats such as orange and black cupcakes or cookies decorated like pumpkins.  

Here is some fun Halloween trivia to play with friends!

What does the word “Halloween” mean?

1. Hall of October
2. ‘All Hallows Eve’ – Hallowed Evening or Holy Night.
3. It has no meaning
4. “Ghosts and Candy” in old English

Answer: B. ‘All Hallows Eve’ – Hallowed Evening or Holy Night. A ‘Hallow’ is a saint

Which country does Halloween originally come from?

1. Ireland
2. US
3. Mexico
4. Japan

Answer: Ireland

Did you know: Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain in Ireland. October 31 marked the end of summer and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year associated with human death. Irish Celts believed that on this night, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred and that the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth.

How many visitors come to Salem, MA for the Halloween season each year?

1. 500,000
2. 30,000
3. 2 million
4. 100,000

Answer: A. 500,000!

Which classic Halloween movie was filmed in Salem, MA?

1. “Halloween”
2. “Nightmare Before Christmas”
3. “Hocus Pocus”
4. “Scream”

Answer: C. Hocus Pocus!

What is the #1 Halloween candy in the US?

1. Sour Patch Kids
2. Skittles
3. Reeses
4. Candy Corn

Answer: B, Skittles

National Chocolate Day

It’s the day we have all been waiting for – National Chocolate Day is almost here! Tomorrow, October 28th, is National Chocolate Day where we celebrate everyone’s favorite cocoa treat! Private Home Care loves dark chocolate not only because it is delicious, but because it is a healthy treat!

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants. In fact, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants! Dark chocolate contains several compounds that possess antioxidant properties, such as flavanols and polyphenols. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress refers to the damage that excessive amounts of free radicals can inflict on cells and tissues in the body. Oxidative stress contributes to the natural aging process and can contribute to the development of disease. This is why it is so important to have a diet rich in antioxidants – to combat oxidative stress in the body. Dark chocolate contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties (antioxidants) that may help reduce inflammation in the body.

Cocoa is rich in plant chemicals called flavanols that may help to protect the heart. Dark chocolate contains up to 2-3 times more flavanol-rich cocoa solids than milk chocolate. Flavanols help to relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow, which lowers blood pressure. There is a link between high cocoa or chocolate intake of 6 grams daily (1-2 small squares) and a reduced risk of heart disease and mortality, possibly in part by reducing blood pressure and inflammation. Eating dark chocolate may improve brain function and help prevent neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

The findings of a small 2018 study suggest that the flavanols present in dark chocolate may enhance neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, particularly in response to injury and disease. Also, flavanols in chocolate can increase insulin sensitivity in short term studies; in the long run this could reduce risk of diabetes.

Choosing dark chocolate of at least 70% cocoa and eating modest quantities may offer the greatest health benefits. Private Home Care invites you to indulge your sweet tooth in the name of health for National Chocolate Day!

Respiratory Care Week

Breathe easy – it is Respiratory Care Week! Respiratory Care Week (October 25-31st) is a full week that is set aside each year in order to appreciate and acknowledge hard-working Respiratory Therapists around the world. It began in 1982 when President Ronald signed a proclamation declaring the third week of each October as National Respiratory Care Week. Respiratory Care Week is now a yearly event that is designed to promote and bring awareness to the field of Respiratory Care!

According to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), “Respiratory Care is the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health and wellness. “ As part of this work, respiratory therapists diagnose, manage and work to control illnesses affecting the lungs.

Typically, Respiratory Care Week is celebrated in all parts of the world, and is most notably recognized in the United States and Canada. Respiratory Therapists around the world use Respiratory Care Week as a way to celebrate their profession and dedication to high-quality patient care. Respiratory Care Week not only focuses on efforts to reduce disabling lung conditions like asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) but the week is also devoted to panel discussions and special events to help raise public awareness about what they can do to reduce lung conditions and illness.

Private Home Care extends a big thank you to Respiratory Care professionals who help take care of our breathing and lungs!

Healthy Vision and Aging

More about World Blindness Month:

Some age-related visual impairment is genetic (if your parents wore glasses as they aged, then you are likely to need them as well), but some is environmental and is determined by your lifestyle. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50. Macular Degeneration is an eye disease affecting the macula (the center of the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye), causing loss of central vision. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.8 million people have AMD and another 7.3 million are at substantial risk for vision loss from AMD. This eye disease occurs when there are changes to the macula, a small portion of the retina that is located on the inside back layer of the eye. In its early stages, the following signs of macular degeneration can go unnoticed: gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly, the shape of objects appearing distorted, straight lines look wavy or crooked, loss of clear color vision, dark or empty area in the center of vision. In it’s more advanced stages, Age-Related Macular Degeneration can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness. Causes and risk factors include heredity. UV light exposure, smoking, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise.

While there is no specific treatment for dry AMD, studies have shown a potential benefit from vitamin supplements, a Mediterranean diet, protection from the ultraviolet light of the sun and cessation of smoking. AMD is linked to oxidative stress, autophagy decline and inflammation. Research has revealed that the polyphenol (a plant-based compound) abundant in the Mediterranean diet is responsible for lowering inflammation. This confirms what Private Home Care knows – the Mediterranean Diet is at it again! There’s no substitute for the quality of life good vision offers. Adding certain nutrients to a diet every day—either through foods or supplements—can help save the patient’s vision. A large clinical study linked lutein and zeaxanthin, omega 3, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc to reducing the risk of AMD. Some foods in particular are important for eye health and preventing AMD, like green, leafy veggies, oily fish, and eggs.