US Media Studios Highlights Heat-Related Ailment Prevention

America is heating up, and not just from the presidential campaigns.  Temperatures across the country are reaching to 100 degrees with heat indexes, or the “feels like” temperatures above that. Heat-related ailments are common when this happens. US Media Studios highlights prevention steps everyone can take to have a safe summer wherever you are.

Your Body and Heat Illnesses

Heat illnesses happen when the body can’t keep itself cool through sweating. 

Heat illnesses are strongly related to days when the humidity level is high. High humidity hinders the body’s ability to cool itself.  On drier days, when there is less humidity in the air, body sweat evaporates more quickly than days when the air is heavy with moisture. If there is more moisture in the air, sweat takes longer to evaporate, therefore, making you feel hotter.

Heat-Related Illnesses and Prevention Tips

Heat rash or prickly rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating while clothing covers the body. If this happens, move to a shady area, and roll shirt sleeves up, roll pant legs up. Loosen clothing until the sweat dries.

Heat cramps are muscle pain or spasms which occur during heavy exercise in the heat. Gently massive the cramped muscle and drink plenty of water or sports drinks with extra electrolytes and salt.

Heat exhaustion happens when the body is depleted of water or salt. Fatigue, weakness, and nausea are common symptoms of heat exhaustion. Get out of the heat and into an air conditioned or shady area. Use cool, damp cloths to lessen the body temperature, if in public. At home, take a cool shower. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate.

Heat stroke is the most serious of heat-related illnesses. It is life-threatening. There are two kinds:

Classic – Develops slowly over a few days after repeated exposure to hot, humid weather. It is non-exertional. Small children and the elderly are most affected by it.

Exertional – Happens faster, usually in hours and affects healthy, active people such as those who work outdoors like construction workers and athletes.

The body temp rises above 105 degrees and the person may or may not be sweating. Confusion, severe headache, rapid pulse and possibly loss of consciousness are common symptoms.

Move the person to a cooler area and fan air over them. Apply ice to underarms, neck, back and groin. If possible, place the affected person in a tub of cool water, and call 9-1-1.

Prevention is First

US Media Studios urges readers to always be aware of the heat index in the area before making plans to be active outside. If the temperature is high, so will the “feels like” temperature. Stay indoors where it is cool. Venture outdoors in the morning or evening hours when the heat is not so oppressive. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing when outside. Take a hat or umbrella to keep the blazing sun from harming the head and body. Drink water or sports drinks to stay hydrated. 

Preventing heat-related illnesses should be the first step taken.

US Media Studios Reviews Information about Bacterial Meningitis

Young men and women seem to be affected by bacterial meningitis more often than others. Perhaps this is because they are young and feel invincible, or perhaps because it is just that they happen to spend more time with each other in close proximity (dorm rooms, for example) than other age groups. US Media Studios views some important facts about this infection, shares a few prevention tips.

Vital Facts

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear fast or over a few days. They usually develop within three to seven days of exposure. The symptoms may include sudden onset of fever, severe headache and a stiff neck. Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion are also symptoms. If any of these or even a few of these symptoms are present, visit a healthcare professional immediately for testing. Early antibiotic treatment is essential for recovery. Bacterial meningitis cannot be spread by breathing the same air as someone who has it. It is most often spread from person to person through saliva or spit (coughing or kissing). It is not as contagious as the common cold or the flu.

Prevention

The simplest way to prevent infection is to have children of all ages vaccinated against it. US Media Studios suggests asking prep school and universities for information regarding their policies on the prevention of infections and illnesses on campuses. Avoid sharing anything that involves the possible swapping of saliva, such as sharing drinking glasses or e-cigarettes. Cover the mouth when coughing or when someone else near you is coughing. 

US Media Studios Takes On Teen E-Smoking Topic

The good news is that rate of teen smoking is going way down. The not so good news is that e-smoking, or “vaping”, has increased.

Cigarettes versus E-cigarettes

The US Centers for Disease Control reports that about 11 percent of high school students said they smoke, and 24 percent of high school students admitted they used e-cigarettes during the 30 days before the Centers ran their report. Even though regular cigarette smoking is way down, there is a rise in vaping. Medical professionals credit the heavy marketing campaign about the health risks of smoking, the rise in age to buy cigarettes or show ID to prove age.

E-Cigarette Laws

Starting in August 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration will ban the sale of e-cigarette and e-cigars to anyone under the age of 18. Health warnings will not be added to the packaging as there are laws in place allowing manufacturers time to change boxes, etc. Other areas of concern regarding teen health are the uptick in hookah usage, and teenage boys smoking flavored cigars. US Media Studios notes that vaping is not all the healthy, and more so when the vapor contains nicotine.

Why Are E-Cigarettes Bad for Teens

A team from a leading public health school found that many e-cigarette flavors deliver diacetyl, a chemical that causes "popcorn lung" found in workers at microwave popcorn packaging plants. Other researchers found formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer, and is common is regular nicotine cigarettes. Vaping may be the next cool thing to smoking, but its health affect on teens is not so cool. 

US Media Studios Focuses on the Benefits of Senior Wellness

Senior wellness centers are located throughout the country in communities where their services are needed the most. The centers provide more than just exercise classes and group card games. Many older Americans find and reap the benefits of these gathering places.

 Senior Community Center Benefits

There are 11,000 senior centers throughout the U.S., according to the National Council on Aging. Different centers focus on different goals, depending on the needs of the community. Senior wellness includes health and fitness awareness and activity, regularity in getting daily movement, healthy eating, and social activities which keep folks connected to other people in the community and their families. These centers also offer arts classes, free nutritious meals, free movies, and excursions to local sites such as museums, grocery stores. What’s to lose?

Community and City Support

Communities and cities which support senior wellness and/or community centers tend to have better attended centers. Work with area YMCAs, schools, and also with universities, community and four year colleges can yield better attendance, which leads to healthier seniors. US Media Studios notes the benefits of senior wellness are far greater than improved physical health. Social activities remind older people that they are valuable. A widow or widower that spends most of the time alone, feeling lonely, is less likely to take good care of their health. Imagine if that same person joined a wellness or fitness class, or perhaps went to a free movie with a friend once or twice a week. Senior wellness has many benefits which are measured beyond health and fitness. Find the nearest senior community center here. 

US Media Studios and PTO Left On the Table

Summer in the workplace can be a time of ease or a time of stress. Only one aspect of the business world can make a difference which one may occur.

Leaving It On The Table

More than fifty percent of employees don’t take all their paid vacation time, according to a report by Project: Time Off. Approximately 222 million of those days go to waste because they cannot be rolled over, banked or paid out. The main reason employees don’t use all of their time off: they are afraid they will not have a job to come back to. Blame this thought on the Great Recession. And now get over it. Most businesses give some vacation time to staff, and in most cases it is accrued. Even though some long time staffers accrue weeks and weeks of paid time off, some of it is left on the table to be swept in the proverbial garbage can at the end of the year. Take back the time you earned.

Vacation Takers

People who use their vacation time are more likely to return to work more relaxed, rested and focused than people who don’t use their vacation time. In addition, US Media Studios learns that the new policies of unlimited vacation days may do more harm than good. It’s a nice thought, but workers could take advantage of it, employees at all career levels may feel they are being monitored on the number of days off and how productive someone is in the office. Nonetheless, the unlimited days policies could be the panacea management and employees need to recharge and refocus, and in turn, become more committed to the job and the company.

Take It or Leave It

There will always be people on both sides of this fence. We all know colleagues who think they are too valuable to take time off, co-workers who think they will be canned if they take a long weekend, and those who believe if they clock longer hours that the reward will be greater. In fact, this is not true. Research shows that employees who took 11 or more vacation days a year were more likely to get a raise or bonus compared to those who less days off. So, get out of town, already!

US Media Studios and Top Five Healthiest Cities

Americans are taking up healthier lifestyles, getting more exercise and eating more nutritious foods. Also contributing to the uptick in healthier living is the number of cities which put more money into urging residents to get up and move.  US Media Studios takes a look at how the five healthiest cities in the United States made the American Fitness Index (AFI) list.

The Top Five and How They Got There

Washington, DC – Once again, the nation’s capital tops the list.  A whopping 96 percent of the population lives within a 10 minute walk of a park. The city spends $346 per resident on parks, and only 25 percent of residents are obese. Easy access to city parks encourages people to use them more often, and that means more people are getting exercise.

Minneapolis, MN – The second place city boasts a population that is keenly interested in better health, offers lots of parks and workout facilities for getting exercise.

Denver, CO – The Mile High City comes in third with a plenty of easy to access city parks, workout places, and residents who are active on a daily basis.

Portland, OR – A large, green and clean city with abundant bike paths and lanes, city parks and clean air which encourages people to go outside and take advantage of it.

San Francisco, CA – Another large American city with an ample number of parks, workout places, and outdoor activities sponsored by the city.

Washington, DC park (image:pixabay)

Overall Health Stats

US Media Studios notes from the AFI report that nearly 80 percent of Americans reported exercising within the past 30 days. This is great news as it shows an almost 70 percent increase since last year. The fitness report also states that less people are smoking, the diabetes death rate dropped, and there is an increase in the amount cities spend per resident on parks.

Now that summer is upon us, take time to find the best city parks in your hometown, and take advantage of the free exercise space.

US Media Studios and Top Five Healthiest Cities

Americans are taking up healthier lifestyles, getting more exercise and eating more nutritious foods. Also contributing to the uptick in healthier living is the number of cities which put more money into urging residents to get up and move.  US Media Studios takes a look at how the five healthiest cities in the United States made the American Fitness Index (AFI) list.

The Top Five and How They Got There

Washington, DC – Once again, the nation’s capital tops the list.  A whopping 96 percent of the population lives within a 10 minute walk of a park. The city spends $346 per resident on parks, and only 25 percent of residents are obese. Easy access to city parks encourages people to use them more often, and that means more people are getting exercise.

Minneapolis, MN – The second place city boasts a population that is keenly interested in better health, offers lots of parks and workout facilities for getting exercise.

Denver, CO – The Mile High City comes in third with a plenty of easy to access city parks, workout places, and residents who are active on a daily basis.

Portland, OR – A large, green and clean city with abundant bike paths and lanes, city parks and clean air which encourages people to go outside and take advantage of it.

San Francisco, CA – Another large American city with an ample number of parks, workout places, and outdoor activities sponsored by the city.

Washington, DC park (image:pixabay)

Overall Health Stats

US Media Studios notes from the AFI report that nearly 80 percent of Americans reported exercising within the past 30 days. This is great news as it shows an almost 70 percent increase since last year. The fitness report also states that less people are smoking, the diabetes death rate dropped, and there is an increase in the amount cities spend per resident on parks.

Now that summer is upon us, take time to find the best city parks in your hometown, and take advantage of the free exercise space.