project 402 (newsletter)

October 2016 Promoting Health. Enhancing Life. Reducing Costs.

Healthy Letter®Life

Inside This Issue:

Self-Care Corner .................2

Medical News ......................3

Are fitness trackers worth the hype? Fitness bands, also called wearable health trackers, have become a popular trend in the last few years. Millions of these devices have been sold, but can they help you get healthy?

What they do Most fitness trackers have features that act like a pedometer, counting your steps and other physical activity. Their features vary widely, however. Some trackers simply tell you how many steps you take in a day. Others are designed to be worn during exercise, such as running, and may track your distance and show your route. Other trackers are waterproof and designed to be worn when swimming.

Many trackers also record quality and length of sleep. Because they have a movement sensor, they can determine how many times you woke and when you were in deep sleep.

Most of them are designed to be used with an app on your smartphone, where you can see how you’re doing and make improvements where needed.

Improving health with a tracker It can be helpful to know how many steps you take and how well you’ve slept. But keep in mind that these devices aren’t perfect. For instance, if you walk while pushing a stroller, a tracker worn on your wrist may not count your steps because your arms aren’t swinging.

Sleep tracking can also be helpful, but won’t be a magic fix. Some trackers assume you’re in a deep sleep because you don’t move around. But, some people just naturally move less during the night, even if their sleep quality isn’t great. This may lead to incorrect information that makes you think you’re sleeping better than you actually are.

Your body may be the best gauge when it comes to your health. When you don’t sleep well, you’ll feel sluggish. And you can easily keep track of any exercise you do with a fitness diary or a simple notebook. As for step counting, these devices are helpful, but an old-fashioned pedometer can work just as well.

ALTERNATIVES TO FITNESS TRACKERS If you don’t have — or want — one of these devices, there are still ways you can get healthy with technology. Many apps that work with a smartphone can help you track movements and sleep, and others help you manually record things like mood, stress levels, and menstrual cycles. These require you to carry your smartphone with you, but don’t use any wearable devices.

SAM PLE

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Self-Care Corner

Hope for migraine headaches Migraine headaches are more than an inconvenience. Migraine pain is severe and can interfere with a person’s life. Fortunately, today’s migraine treatments can help many people get the relief they need.

There are two types of medicines for migraines: abortive and preventive.

Abortive medicines Abortive medicines, also referred to as acute, are designed to stop, or abort, a migraine. They should be taken as early as possible when a person feels a migraine starting. Some of these medicines include:

• Pain relievers. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other common pain relievers can be used to treat mild migraines. But, for many people, these aren’t enough to get rid of a migraine. Experts say people shouldn’t take these medicines more than twice a week. Overusing these medicines can lead to stomach problems and can even cause more headaches.

• Prescription migraine medicines. Your doctor may prescribe special medicines that are designed to relieve migraine pain and other symptoms, such as nausea. These may work well for people who don’t find relief from over-the-counter pain relievers.

Migraines usually have the following symptoms:

Preventing migraines Some of the medicines available today are used to prevent migraines before they happen. These are called preventive treatments. These types of medicines are recommended for people who:

• Get four or more migraines a month

• Have migraines that last 12 hours or longer

• Haven’t found relief with abortive medicines

• Can’t take abortive medicines

There are different types of preventive medicines available. Sometimes a person needs to try several different medicines before finding the one that works best for them. Keeping track of how many migraines you have and their severity can help you see how well a medicine is working.

In addition to medicines, you and your doctor may discuss migraine triggers and how to avoid them. Certain foods, stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, and many other things can cause migraines. Learning your own triggers and how to avoid them is an important part of preventing migraines.

WHAT MAKES A MIGRAINE

Severe pain and intense pounding

in the head that makes it

impossible to do daily tasks

Nausea and/or vomiting

Sensitivity to light or sound

Some migraines also start with an aura. An aura may be vision changes, like seeing flashes of light or lines. Some people have trouble seeing clearly and cannot focus on objects. An aura may also cause tingling in an arm or leg. Only about 20 percent of people who get migraines will have an aura.

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SAM PLE

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Medical News

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will get breast cancer during her life. One of the best things you can do for yourself is learn when and how to get screened for breast cancer.

A mammogram can help save lives. Mammograms do not prevent breast cancer. But, they are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Mammograms can detect breast cancer before you can see it or feel it. Finding breast cancer in its early stages may reduce a person’s risk of dying by 30 percent or more.

THE FACTS ABOUT

Breast self exams alone aren’t enough. Experts say that breast self-exams (BSEs) cannot take the place of a mammogram. Although women should see their doctors if they notice any changes in their breasts, studies say that BSEs alone are not enough to catch breast cancer early.

breast cancer screening

Each woman’s mammogram schedule may be different. Women who have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors may need to start getting yearly mammograms at a younger age. Women who don’t have risk factors may begin getting mammograms in their 40s or later. It’s important to talk with your doctor to find out when you should start getting mammograms.

If you’re not sure when you should get a mammogram, talk with your doctor. Together, you can create a breast cancer screening schedule that is right for you.

3

SAM PLE

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How music can relieve stress Listening to music you love can make you feel great. Research also shows that it can help you cope with stress. Several studies have shown that music has a clear effect on how the body responds to stress.

The University of Nevada, Reno says the best kind of music is the kind you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be considered “relaxing” to help you feel better. Try different types such as Celtic, Native American, jazz, classical, or music with nature sounds.

Music has been shown to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases key cells that fight off viruses and illnesses.

Copyright 2016, American Institute for Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved. 30445 Northwestern Hwy., Ste . 350 Farmington Hills, MI 48334

248.539.1800 • [email protected] • www.HealthyLife.com

The littlest

listeners

Premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) showed improvements in sucking patterns and heart rate while listening to music.

In addition, children who listened to music while getting an IV inserted said they felt less pain than those who didn’t listen to music.

SAM PLE

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