It’s hard to quit smoking.
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths every year in this country—or about one in every five deaths. More than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease. And yet, despite these severe impacts on life and health, 34 million Americans still smoke cigarettes.
Why?
Tobacco is both a physical and psychological … Read the rest
One in three American adults is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a serious disease that can lead to complications like kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and even amputations. But type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy changes to your lifestyle. The first step is learning your risk.
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health is participating in American Diabetes Association Alert Day®. On March … Read the rest
Each year, November officially kicks off the holiday season. November is also American Diabetes Month. Coincidence? Probably not, since the holidays can create challenges for those living with diabetes. So how can you enjoy all the holiday festivities while still keeping your diabetes in check?
These six steps can help you manage your diabetes through Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s:… Read the rest
Be honest with yourself. Are you over weight? Do you smoke? Do you have high blood pressure? Don’t exercise regularly? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are at a higher risk of stroke.
Strokes are the fifth leading cause … Read the rest
Pharmacists do more than just fill prescriptions. They can dispense advice on the medications prescribed, too. Many pharmacies are open late and on weekends, and you don’t need an appointment. You may not consider your pharmacist a vital member of your health care team, but you should—and you can find out why by tuning into Healthy Living for Life.
Join your host Beth Brown and her … Read the rest
While you may not qualify for senior discounts yet, you don’t have to wait to get older to start the fight against getting old. You can start at any age by taking a few steps now to take care of the skin you’re in, so it will last you your lifetime.
Your skin and you is the topic of our next episode of Healthy … Read the rest
Could you be heading for a stroke? Maybe—if you’re overly stressed, overweight or inactive—because these are just a few of the risk factors that could be setting you up for the biggest fall of your life.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted or severely reduced. Brain cells begin to die within minutes.
There are three main types of stroke: transient ischemic … Read the rest
It’s a tough decision. Moving your loved one out of his or her home and into a nursing home is not easy. But when you find a place that feels like a home away from home—a place where caring, compassionate staff have the heart and skills to provide your loved one the care he or she needs—it’s a huge relief.
And now is your chance to … Read the rest
Maintaining the health of the patients in your community is most likely a top priority for you and your staff. One of the greatest dangers to public health, however comes from something many think of only as a positive – antibiotics. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance is among the greatest public health threats today. It leads to about two million … Read the rest
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared antibiotic resistance to be one of the greatest public health threats today. According to the World Health Organization, up to 32 percent of patients receiving surgical care get a post-operative infection, of which up to 51 percent are resistant to treatment with antibiotics!
Good hand hygiene is the … Read the rest
Living with diabetes is not easy. But finding diabetes-friendly diets, recipes and meal plans are as easy as clicking on the links below.
The American Diabetes Association is a national expert on living with diabetes and offers a variety of education and services. Its website has hundreds of recipes and meal plans available. You can sort them by ingredient, gluten-free, budget-friendly and more. The … Read the rest
Part one of this two-part blog series focused on ways seniors can exercise their minds to improve their short-term memory. In part two, we will discuss how seniors can improve their brain health with these five simple steps.
1. Have a positive outlook.
Train yourself to focus on what is good or going well in your life. A bad … Read the rest
Have you recently walked into the kitchen only to forget why you went in there? Do you spend time every day trying to find where you set down your reading glasses or where you put your keys?
These … Read the rest
Paying for a nursing home or assisted living care can quickly drain lifelong savings. Thankfully, there is financial help for those who qualify through the Medicaid program.
To help you find out whether … Read the rest
One-third of cancers are preventable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
You have the power to prevent most types of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices like eating better and exercising regularly.
If you have not made your New Year’s resolution to live healthier, or if you are not sticking to your plan, remember that it is never too late. Below are five … Read the rest
Give yourself the gift of heart health this Valentine’s Day by seeing your doctor to find out if you are heart healthy. Following these five steps will help put you on the path to better health:
See your doctor.
The only way to truly know if you’re heart healthy is to see your doctor to get … Read the rest
Did you know the top New Year’s resolutions include losing weight and staying fit and healthy? Did you also know that only 8% of people who set goals for the new year succeed in reaching them?
Creating New Year’s resolutions are easier than sticking to them. So what is the best way to achieve your goals in the new year? Keep them … Read the rest
Pressure injuries can be serious wounds, and preventive care is one of the best ways to avoid them. As a care giver, that means knowing the signs and stages of pressure injuries, because like many conditions, the earlier you identify symptoms and treat them, the better the outcome.
Pressure injuries, also called pressure ulcers, bed sores, pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, occur when weight is continually put on a … Read the rest
I’ll be the first to admit that I ask a ton of questions when I see my health care provider: “Why is that? What is the cause? How should it look? Should I be concerned?”
And as soon as I walk out of my provider’s office all of that medical speak went in one ear and out the other; the whole experience seemed like a … Read the rest
Hands down (preferably under running water and with soap), one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and that of those around you is to wash your hands.
Why is hand washing so important? Germs are everywhere and on just about everything. They can be transferred to your body by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Since you can’t go through life with hands in … Read the rest
Flu is like a secret. It is best kept to yourself.
The flu, also known as influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. These viruses change yearly, so it is important to get a flu shot every year.
Did you know that more than 100,000 people are hospitalized every year because of the flu?
We often associate the holidays with food, which is a wonderful part of getting together with friends and family. But holiday food can also cause some havoc with diabetes management and weight control.
Don’t fret, though. You can still enjoy the holidays and the food by following six simple steps:
1. Keep your schedule and plan ahead.
Manage your diabetes just as you would … Read the rest
You know using tobacco is an unhealthy habit.
You know your loved ones keep asking you to quit.
So what are you waiting for? Quit smoking or chewing today!
Did you know: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Smoking is also … Read the rest
If you find yourself in need of services once you leave a hospital, or if you’re caring for a parent in need of in-home services, home health care or private duty nursing may be just what you’re looking for. It’s important to realize though that each service option offers different levels of care.
Home health care requires a … Read the rest
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health’s own Marci Butcher recently won the Diabetes Educator of the Year Award from the American Association of Diabetes Educators – a national award. November is American Diabetes Month, so Marci took some time to discuss the importance of diabetes awareness.
Question: What are the primary contributing factors of diabetes?
Marci: Diabetes is actually a group of diseases that have … Read the rest
When people need more care than they can get at home or in the community, a nursing home may be the best choice. However, choosing a nursing home for a loved one can be an overwhelming and emotionally challenging process. There are resources though that can help you find a nursing home that best meets your loved one’s needs and offers the best in quality care. … Read the rest
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among American women (outside of skin cancer) and more than 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year in the United States. Make sure you know the warning signs and how to conduct a breast self-exam.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that if you are 50 to 74 … Read the rest
If you are struggling with depression and thinking about suicide, you’re not alone. There is help. If you think a friend or family member may be depressed and suicidal, talk to them to see if they have the warning signs and get them help if needed.
No matter what time it is, help is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Calls to the suicide prevention hotlines below are … Read the rest
Mountain-Pacific Quality Health encourages everyone to take action to reduce prescription opioid abuse by properly disposing of prescription drugs and securing your medicine cabinet.
It’s Fall Prevention Awareness Week and Mountain-Pacific would like to remind seniors and their caregivers about the importance of preventing falls.
Every 15 seconds in the United States someone 65 or older is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury; every 29 minutes, someone 65 or older dies from fall-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most falls are preventable and individuals, caregivers, … Read the rest
Healthy aging is a hot topic and rightly so—more Americans are living longer than ever. This is due, in part, to advancements in medicine—but that will only take you so far—you also need to commit to “living” healthier. Below are a few ideas to help get you on your way:
If you’ve ever had the “flu” (influenza), you know just how miserable it can make you feel. Here are a few tips that may help you reduce your odds of getting the flu this year.
Vaccinate
Flu vaccinations rarely produce side effects and are the number one key to preventing the flu. To learn more about the flu shot please read our flu vaccine blog.… Read the rest
Each year in the United States more than 3.3 million people are treated for skin cancer. The data speaks for itself – take the necessary precautions to make sure you don’t get skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and occurs in the cells of the … Read the rest
People over the age of 65 and under the age of five are more susceptible and likely to acquire pneumonia. Thankfully, there are vaccinations that may help prevent you or your loved ones from acquiring this sometimes deadly disease.
Do you know if you have all the immunizations you need? Finding out which vaccinations you may need is quick and simple thanks to the Centers … Read the rest
Protect yourself from influenza and get your flu vaccine every season. Not only will you reduce your chances of getting influenza, but you’ll help stop the spread of the flu.
Even though “flu season” doesn’t officially start until October, mark your calendar now to get your immunization. The 2016/2017 influenza vaccine should be released near September.
Every year thousands of Americans suffer from diseases and sicknesses that vaccinations could have prevented.
Do you know if you have all the immunizations you need? Finding out which vaccinations you may need is quick and simple thanks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine quiz: https://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched/
Vaccinations are tested to determine safety and effectiveness before they are approved and serious, long-term side effects are rare. Having … Read the rest
Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States and the world. So ask yourself, “Am I heart healthy and how do I really know?” Visit your physician and get a definitive answer.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), also known as heart disease, prevents the heart and blood vessels from working properly. If your heart is not pumping blood properly or there is a clog in your … Read the rest
Hot weather can be dangerous, especially for seniors and those with certain medical conditions. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health and our partners remind you to prepare for the summer heat by hydrating, staying cool, and knowing the warning signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Most heat-related deaths in the United States were among people over the age of 65, according to a 2012 study from the Centers for … Read the rest
Eating healthy isn’t just about cutting out those foods you love, but living healthier through better nutrition and choices.
The age-old phrase “you are what you eat” was coined in the late 1800s with the notion that to be fit and healthy you needed to eat good food. More than 100 years later there is evidence that healthy eating does lead to better overall health.
Creating new habits … Read the rest
