November Health Focus: Lung Cancer

Taking breath is so fundamental and automatic a function

that most of us are apathetic to proper care of

our lungs until a problem develops and we

are already suffering from symptoms.

But becoming aware and acting to improve our

environments and habits are a good start to

besting the disease.

Did you know that lung cancer strikes more women

than breast cancer?

Did you know that hidden toxins in your home

can hurt your lungs?

Did you know that prolonged exposure to

second-hand smoke can be deadlier than being

a smoker yourself?

November is lung cancer awareness month,

and this is my chance to remind you to care

for your lungs before problems develop, and

do everything you can to heal if you've

already developed lung cancer.

Don't take it lying down!

For more information, assistance, referrals,

and support go to

Lung Cancer Alliance

And do your part to learn more and share the

information with friends and family today.

Avoiding the conversation won't cause anyone

to heal, and there are many steps you can take

to prevent worsening of conditions or stave off

the onset.

For help in stopping smoking, contact

Smoke Free

Help With Cravings and Tough Spots

Support for Stopping

The earlier you quit, the better your lungs' chances

of healing, as well as extending your life span.

It takes what it takes...

keep on trying!

***

November Health Focus: Diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

and November 14th is World Diabetes Day.

Diabetes is more serious than most  people

realize, and is affecting more and more Americans

of all ages every day as a result or more sedentary

lifestyles and decreased nutritional value of our diets.

Processed sugar is in nearly every manufactured or

packaged food product on the market.

So be sure to get acquainted with the symptoms for diabetes,

such as

*Excessive thirst

* Frequent urination

* Night sweats

* Extreme hunger

* Light-headedness from blood sugar changes

* Great weight loss or weight gain

*Sores and bruises slow to heal

and others...

For complete information on symptoms,

treatment, dietary information, and more,

check out

American Diabetes Association

It's easy to detect, easier to control, and doesn't

have to horribly alter your life. But the key

is early detection and control, before the

disease advances and harms your body more.

And if you aren't properly taking care of already

diagnosed diabetes, check out

10 Ways to Avoid Diabetic Complications

I lost my adoptive father to diabetes,

my birth mother and birth grandmother suffered

from it, and I have struggled to keep it in check.

This is a serious business, and you have to stay

on top of it.

***

"Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time On Women"

Holiday Protection for the Fur Babies

With the holiday season right around the corner, it never hurts
to make known just how many everyday items can be less than
festive to our fur babies. If you have pets and want to look out
for them, and especially if you plan on taking them visiting into
unfamiliar territory, be sure and read up on these typical and
often unknown hazards.

ASPCA list of House Plants Toxic to Dogs & Cats, etc.

Likewise, with all the additional food that tends to be available
in a household over the Winter season, there are precautions
to be reminded of regarding foods that not unhealthy and toxic
for cats and dogs.

Dog Whisperer List of Dangerous/Deadly Foods

Make sure you look out for your little (and not-so-little) guys
since they love to put anything and everything in their mouth
without a lick of forethought or discrimination!

Keep a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide available since giving
some to a pet can make them vomit up any plant or food they may
have ingested.

And keep your personal vet's--and all local vets'--emergency
phone numbers posted where you can find them in a hurry.

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The Bottled Water Debate

What's your eco-footprint?

You hear a lot about the Plastic Bottle Monster, and how the
discarded plastic bottles for drinking water make up an insane
amount of landfill and other waste every year.

But I continue to use the convenient bottles, buying a case a month
for only $3, for health reasons. I dislike re-using an existing plastic
bottle because plastic holds germs and is difficult to clean (I don't
own a dishwasher.) Plastic bottles reused, even when washed well
by hand, can be a germ factory.

Like many, I live in an area where good clean water is not readily
available when you go out. And taking water with me means I have
it whenever I need it, which is always! (I'm constantly thirsty because
I am diabetic, I sweat profusely all the time, and I have meds which
cause severe dry mouth.)

Rather than leave it to chance or put up with bad water, I like to
take it with me. You also avoid touching water fountain handles,
other people's glassware (and I have seen some nasty, unclean junk in
my day--ugh!,) and it's always self-contained. (Again, the problem with
a reusable bottle of your own is needing to constantly clean it, and do
so thoroughly.)

So, to be responsible and conscientious, I simply recycle. I don't see a
problem with that. It's easy to do. There is no recycling in my area, so
I have a large, clean cardboard box under my sink, and I rinse out all my
plastics and drain them, then store them til I go to 'the Big City,' and cart
them with me to the recycling center.

A reusable container is great if you have a dish-washing machine.
A filter is great if you're going to be stationary throughout the course of
the day. But if you travel a lot and are concerned with the germs, I say
just use the bottled water, and make sure you maintain responsibility
for not adding to waste.

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Mental Illness: What's worse--the Cure or the Disease?

For those whom medication is a necessity in order to be able
to combat debilitating mental illness, it can take forever to find
correct types and levels of medications. During this ongoing
experimentation with mind and body, a person can be sorely
tested of patience and faith.

And, after finding a medication that works, life events can change
up the score, or metabolism changes and throws everything out
the window. People lose connection to a good doctor. Drugs
become too costly or unavailable. Patients develop a resistance
to even the highest levels of the drug.

Or, as often is the case, the horrible side-effects of the drugs seem
less palatable that the illness symptoms themselves. The choice
of taking medication to combat illness issues versus staying off to
avoid sluggishness, weight gain, and a host of other problems that
equally make life less joyful, becomes a real hardship. Choosing
becomes an untenable task.

This is all a moot point for millions who live in an area where there
is no access to any--or decent quality--doctors and psychiatrists
to begin with. Along with schools and assistance for the poor, funds
for mental health services are among the first cut, and their budget
was negligible to start with.

The stigma associated with mental illness prevents many from
self-identifying, seeking help, or taking medications to begin with.
Many try and amble through their days, attempting to convince
those around them there are no symptoms or issues. Hardly anyone
wants to stand apart from others, or be looked on as different.

If someone is dealing with the aftermath of a life of untreated illness
(joblessness, loss of family and friends, suicidal tendencies, lack
of awareness about their issues, misdiagnosis, imprisonment, drug
and alcohol addiction, ruined reputation, etc.,) they may feel as if
even seeking help for 'whatever' their problem is would be a hopeless
endeavor.

These are just a few of the hurdles to overcome to seek help for
a problem that is shadowy, difficult to properly diagnose, and hard
to treat. But that isn't to say "Don't try."

Check out the following links for different methods of online assistance
and referral!

Information on Mental Health Counselors

Mental Health America: Finding Treatment

Mayo Clinic; Treatment & Drugs for Mental Illness

Healthy Place: Online Support & Information

You don't have to go through it alone!

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Tali Sharot: The Optimism Bias