Stay Safe and Healthy This Winter

Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, but if you plan ahead, you can stay safe and healthy. Here are some tips to help you stay warm and safe.

· Winterize your home.

· Check your heating systems.

· Install a smoke detector.

· Check and clean fireplaces and chimneys.

· Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water.

· Keep an up-to-date emergency kit including: a flashlight, extra batteries, a radio, a first-aid kit, extra medicine, and cat litter or sand for icy sidewalks.

· Keep your gas tank full to avoid ice in tank.

· Keep an emergency kit in the car in case you get stranded: blankets, food and water, booster cables, flares, bag of sand, compass and maps, flashlight, battery powered radio and extra batteries, and a first aid kit.

No one can stop the onset of winter– be prepared!

The ABCDE’s of Melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing an estimated 8,650 people in the U.S. this year alone. It is often mistaken for benign moles. To help identify potential melanomas, follow the ABCDE’s.

A  The mole is asymmetrical; the two sides do not match.

B  The mole is irregular in outline or border.

C  The mole changes color or appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multi-colored.

D  The mole is bigger than 6 mm in diameter, or the size of a pencil eraser.

E  The mole evolves or changes in any way.

Also be on the lookout for moles that appear after age 21. Any new skin growth, beauty mark, mole, brown spot, wound or sore that doesn’t heal can be cause for concern. Contact your physician if you have questions.

Safety and the E-Cigarette

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated products designed to deliver nicotine, flavor, and other chemicals. They turn nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user.

E-cigarettes may contain ingredients that are known to be toxic to humans and may contain other ingredients that may not be safe. Additionally, these products may be attractive to young people and may lead kids to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death.

Because clinical studies about the safety and efficacy of these products have not been submitted to the FDA, consumers currently have no way of knowing:

 - Whether e-cigarettes are safe for their intended use,

 - What types or concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals are found in these products,

 - How much nicotine they are inhaling when they use these products. 

              

 Source:www.smokefree.gov

*Submitted by Lisa Bohrer, RN, BC, Community Health and Wellness Manager for The PharmaCare Network

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Be Kinder to the Environment

Below are some tips to help you and your family become more environmentally conscious:

1. Recycle and buy minimally packed goods when possible.

2. Wash clothes in cold or warm water.

3. Install low-flow shower heads to use less water.

4. Run the dishwasher only when full and don’t use heat to dry dishes.

5. Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

6. Plug air leaks in windows and doors.

7. Replace old appliances with energy efficient models.

8. Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation whenever possible.

9. Adjust your thermostat - lower in winter, higher in summer.

10. Share these simple steps with friends and family and increase awareness.

Source:  Environmental Defense Fund

When to Eat...

Weight Watchers, Atkins, and South Beach Diets have all told dieters to limit the food they eat at night.  For generations, people have believed that food eaten at night when they’re less physically active is more likely to be stored as fat. 

This is not true!

Researchers tracked the eating habits of 7,400 U.S. men and women for ten years.  The percentage of daily calories that they ate after 5 pm had no bearing on their weight.

If you eat extra calories because you are tired or bored or stressed (and nighttime is when you are more likely to do that), expect those to eventually show up on your waist.

Remember: calories not used for energy are stored in the body as fat.  If you eat more than you burn off, you will gain weight.  That’s the bottom line.

Source:  www.cspinet.org

Benefits of Berries

One cup of strawberries contains over 100 mg of Vitamin C, almost as much as a cup of orange juice.  We need Vitamin C for immune system function and for strong connective tissue.  Strawberries also add a bit of calcium, magnesium, folate, and potassium. Eating a diet rich in blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries may help reduce your risk of several types of cancers.