FEATURED ARTICLES

• food for healthy skin
• healthy skin tips

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Everyone wants to find the Fountain of Youth and keep their skin looking fresh, healthy, and clear of blemishes. 

Since there is no magical fountain, the best way to keep your skin looking clearer health experts suggest  is by   watching what you eat. What we eat effects our skin more than we realize, so here are a few foods to avoid and/or give up entirely for that youthful glow. 

• French Fries
• Fried Chicken
• Processed pastries
• White Bread
• Packaged sweets
• Pasta

• Pneumonia
• Understanding Pneumonia

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

(continued from Part I…)

What are the risk factors?

• Age - the most vulnerable are children below 2 years and adults above 65 years.
• Hospitalized in intensive care unit and if on support of ventilator for a prolonged period.
• Lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase the risk.
• Poor immune system - persons with weak immune system due to conditions such as HIV/AIDS, Cancer or undergone organ transplants. 

How is pneumonia diagnosed? 

Diagnosis is done by reviewing medical history, physical examination, and lab tests to confirm the condition.

What tests and procedures are typically run on someone who may have pneumonia?

X-ray: Chest X-ray is taken to check the presence of infection.

Blood culture: To check the presence of infection and identify the causative organism.

Sputum culture test: To confirm the cause of infection.

Urine test: Bacterial infection of streptococcus pneumonia and legionella pneumoniphila can be identified.

Pulse oximetry: To measure oxygen flow to the lungs.

CT scan: CT scan of chest is performed to detect the severity of infection.

Bronchoscopy: A camera fitted tube is inserted into the lungs to look into the airways and to sample out via bronchial wash helping in diagnosing the causative agent. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of pneumonia, please seek medical attention. Pneumonia can be fatal if left untreated.

• Pneumonia
• Understanding Pneumonia

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

While COVID and RSV are two conditions typically highlighted in the news and health reports lately, pneumonia is often overlooked but still just as prevalent, if not more, than the aforementioned.

This month we look at pneumonia and all of the things you need to know about this illness.

What is pneumonia?

An infection of the air sacs in one or both the lungs. Characterized by severe cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and difficulty in breathing. 

What causes pneumonia?

An infection caused by a bacteria or virus. 

How is it spread?

Bacterial and viral pneumonia spread through inhalation of airborne droplets by coughing or sneezing.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Symptoms may include:

• Cough with mucus or phlegm
• Fever usually of high grade with chills
• Fast breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain while coughing
• Fast heartbeat
• Feeling very tired or very weak
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Body pain
• Severely affected patients my cough up blood or show cyanosis (have a blue color around the mouth due to lack of oxygen) 

What is the treatment for pneumonia? 

Both viral and bacterial pneumonia are treated with antibiotics. 

(continued in Part II…)

• healthy heart
• Heart awareness
• heart awareness month
• Heart disease prevention

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

With February being Heart Health Month, we bring you this feature that highlights the innocent things that you may be doing daily that can be hurting your heart (among other parts of your body) and how to fix it! 

How you cross your legs…  Sitting with your legs crossed at the knees increases your blood pressure.  According to studies, leg crossing increased systolic blood pressure nearly 7% and diastolic by 2%.  Studies say that you should avoid crossing your legs for long periods of time, like 10 to 15 minutes, and get up every half hour or so to walk around and get the circulation moving. 

How you stand… If you are a person who frequently locks their knees when standing, you are no longer efficiently using the muscles that surround the joint.  Therefore, forces to the joint are increased.  Causing this additional stress to you knee joints isn’t helping your heart at all.

How you sleep… If you are a stomach sleeper, this puts your neck in a titled-back position, leading to pain or numbness in your upper extremities.  Nerves are also affected when people sleep on their stomach.  To avoid the pain, numbness and affect to the nervous system, people should avoid sleeping on their stomach. 

How you wear your belt… It sounds strange, we know, but the tighter your belt the more pressure you put on your intra-abdominal area, which can result in acid reflux.  Acid reflux could include a bitter taste in your mouth, burning or pain the upper chest and stomach, a chronic cough or even difficulty swallowing.  Doctors say that your belt shouldn’t be any tighter than your waistband.  You should be able to inhale and exhale comfortably.

• fit in exercise
• Fit in February

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

February is the month of LOVE... but this month we also focus on getting FIT!

Plus, with it being a leap year you get one extra day of exercising.

You can complete the February Squat Challenge in addition to your current workout or as a standalone workout. Break down the repetitions as many times as you need to do reach the daily goal.

Day 1: 50 squats

Day 2: 75 squats

Day 3: 100 squats

Day 4: REST DAY

Day 5: 75 squats

Day 6: 100 squats

Day 7: 150 squats

Day 8: 50 squats

Day 9: REST DAY

Day 10: 100 squats

Day 11: 75 squats

Day 12: 200 squats

Day 13: 50 squats

Day 14: REST DAY

Day 15: 75 squats

Day 16: 125 squats

Day 17: 200 squats

Day 18: 75 squats

Day 19: 150 squats

Day 20: REST DAY

Day 21: 125 squats

Day 22: 150 squats

Day 23: 175 squats

Day 24: REST DAY

Day 25: 50 squats

Day 26: 75 squats

Day 27: 125 squats

Day 28: 300 squats

Day 29: REST DAY