Community Association for Research and Education, Inc.

06/20/2023

Everyone Should Use Lotion

Lotion is a topical moisturizer for the skin. Although there are many kinds of lotions, most are used to smooth, moisturize, soften and, sometimes, perfume the skin. Also, lots of people think lotion is mostly made to be used by women. However, this could not be further from the truth! Men can also use lotion and they SHOULD use lotion. Keep reading this blog to find out just some of the important reasons why.

June in Men’s Health Awareness Month, and the health and care of the skin is an important topic for men and women. Skin is the largest organ of the body as it covers all parts of the body. It is also an organ that is a part of the immune system. The immune system in the human body is a network of biological processes that protects the body from diseases. It detects and responds to pathogens and distinguishes them from the body's own healthy tissue. As a covering for the body, skin is the body’s first line of defense from external factors. When the skin is damaged or becomes dry, cracks and scars due to injuries or dryness can create small openings in the skin that will allow for pathogens to enter the body. These can be the causes of infections and viruses that make you sick.

For most people, the skin needs to be hydrated and moisturized on a regular basis. Those who have oily skin may be better off just hydrating the skin without applying additional moisturizer. When you bathe on a regular basis, this helps to hydrate the skin. Lotion helps to maintain the health of the skin by also keeping it moisturized.

In the following video, dermatologist Dr. Alyssa Lunder, of Dermatology Partners in Wellesley, Massachusetts, provides information about using lotions and creams for dry skin on different parts of the body. She also mentions Cerave as a good choice of a skin care product. Although I am not endorsing any particular product that I think is best to use as a lotion or a moisturizer/cream, lotions and heavier moisturizers or creams should be applied on the skin on the parts of the body that tend to become driest the most. This includes the hands and the feet and also the elbows, knees, and ankles. Hydrating and moisturizing these parts of the body strengthens the skin that covers those joints. This also means that when you moisturize these areas, your body receives the added benefit of a short massage during which time you can feel the joints and become familiar with the structure of them. Vaseline for Men Healing Moisture Body Lotion is a good lotion and moisturizer that also has a light scent for men.

Watch more How to Have Beautiful Skin videos: http://www.howcast.com/videos/485894-How-Are-Skin-Cream-and-Lotion-Different-Beautiful-SkinA: Hi, I'm Dr. Alyss...

05/20/2023

What are Out-of-Pocket Costs?

Out-of-pocket costs or expenses refer to payments that must be paid by consumers for products and services that may be reimbursed through another source or for the cost of those products and services that are over and above what will be paid through a third-party source. This is a phrase often spoken of in regard to medical prescriptions and services. It may also be discussed in reference to travel costs/expenses by employees who travel for business. In many cases, costs/expenses incurred by an employee when traveling for business purposes are reimbursable.

A prescription copay and a copay that is paid by an individual when they visit a doctor’s office for medical services is considered an out-of-pocket cost/expense. In most situations, most of the costs/expenses of that office visit are paid (or covered) by that individual’s medical insurance plan, which may or may not also require that person to pay a copay. In those instances when a copay is not required, it does not mean that the individual is receiving the services or the prescriptions for free. It only means that the person is not required to pay a copay, which is considered an out-of-pocket expense to him/her.

(Source – Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

Having insurance helps your finances, but not all your healthcare will be free.

03/22/2023

Using A Glucose Meter

March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. Although diabetics often check the glucose levels in their blood as a way to control the negative effects of diabetes, it is not a bleeding disorder or a disorder of the blood. Diabetes is an endocrine disease characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels.

Blood is a body fluid that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to organs and muscles throughout the body. Healthy blood consists of water, proteins, hormones, carbon dioxide, and glucose in proportionate amounts. This means that if too much of one substance is contained in the blood, it hinders or reduces the amount of another necessary substance to circulate throughout the body. Healthy blood includes those things that are necessary for all organs and tissues. However, when these substances are disproportionate or “off balance,” it effects different parts of the body, different organs, and different tissues in different ways.

As was stated before, diabetes is an endocrine disease characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. The endocrine system is a messenger system made up of feedback loops of the hormones released by glands within the body directly into the circulatory system. It regulates the organs in the body and maintains the proper function of organs such as the heart and lungs.

As a substance contained in human blood that circulates throughout the body, glucose is an important source of energy in the body. However, again, too much glucose in the blood hinders or reduces the amount of other necessary substances to circulate throughout the body. In diabetics, this is particularly problematic for the individual’s pancreas. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It regulates the metabolism of certain nutrients by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood into the liver. Too much glucose in the blood disrupts proper functioning of the liver. This is also the case with other organs and tissues in the body.

This means that when the blood is disproportionate with regards to the amount of glucose in it, the proper functioning of the pancreas is hindered. This in turn also hinders or reduces the ability of the liver to function properly since its proper function is dependent on how the pancreas functions. And on and on and on.

It is this focus on glucose in diabetics that makes a glucose meter necessary.

A glucose meter, also referred to as a "glucometer", is a medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood. It is a key element of glucose testing performed by people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, or hypoglycemia. Anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes or knows someone who has been diagnosed with that disease is familiar with a glucose meter.

A glucose meter is a type of biosensor. A biosensor is an analytical device used to detect a chemical substance. The prefix bio- applies if the substance that is tested is blood, plasma, sweat, tears, or some other bodily fluid. The sensor can be whatever is built into the device to interact with the chemical substance such as an electrode, electronics or signal processors. The device is made to recognize the substance and includes a detector element that transforms the signal received to measure and quantify what the substance is made of. A digital reader is then employed inside the device to display the results in a user-friendly way.

The use of a glucometer to check the glucose levels in blood can be traced back to an oxygen electrode that was made by a man named Leland Clark in the late 1950s. According to Wikipedia.org, “in 1962, Clark and Ann Lyons from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital developed the first glucose enzyme electrode.” Through the use of the electrode, scientists were able to determine the amount of oxygen consumed during a reaction with a small amount of blood. This finding led to the glucose sensing for diabetes patients.

By the late 1970s, such devices were marketed for use in the home when home glucose monitoring was demonstrated to improve glycemic control of Type 1 diabetes. The Glucometer was marketed by Bayer in November 1981, and the Accu-Chek meter was marketed by Roche.

The attached video is available on YouTube from Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. It gives information on how to check the blood glucose level with a glucose meter.

(Sources – Children’s Mercy Hospital, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eZTDIOrp_

03/01/2023

March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month

A bleeding disorder is a condition that affects the way your blood normally clots. The normal clotting process prevents massive blood losses when we are injured. Bleeding disorders can cause abnormal (heavy or prolonged) bleeding. Bleeding is considered abnormal when it is heavy, prolonged, spontaneous, or sudden in the muscles, joints, or other parts of the body. Abnormal bleeding can affect vital organs and even result in the death of the individual.

Most bleeding disorders are inherited. However, some may develop as a result of other medical conditions, such as liver disease. Medications such as anticoagulants, or blood thinners, can also cause abnormal bleeding. Anticoagulants are medications that prevent or reduce coagulation (clotting) of blood, prolonging the clotting time. Warfarin (marketed as Coumadin) is a blood thinner often prescribed to prevent circulatory system blood clots that could lead to pulmonary embolisms and stroke. Heparin is also an anticoagulant that is used in the treatment of heart attacks and angina. A common side effect of these drugs is excessive bleeding when minor cuts or injuries occur.

The most common bleeding disorders are Hemophilia A and B, Factor II, V, VII, X, or XII deficiencies, and Von Willebrand’s disease. For more information, talk to your doctor or primary care physician.

(Source - Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

02/20/2023

Aerobics, Water and Healthy Fats

Losing weight and feeling good in February can still be a viable goal for the new year. Small consistent changes can result in better health over time. Just remember that changing what you eat will also change how your body functions. Give yourself time to get to know how the new healthy foods you decide to eat will change how your body functions.

This article provides a list of ways to lower your body mass index (BMI) by reducing body fat. Body mass index (BMI) is a value based on a person’s weight, or bady mass (muscle, fat, and bone), and height that broadly categorizes a person as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. The value can be a useful tool for those who would like to maintain a healthy weight or to lose weight. I like this article on this topic because it also includes inforamtion about healthy and unhealthy fats. It supports choosing to eat less processed or packaged foods and fast foods to improve health. Click on the photo below to read more.

Everyone has some hip fat. But if your goal is to shed weight in that area, here's how to get rid of hip fat through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

11/19/2022

Strengthening The Leg Muscles

When individuals want to improve or maintain good health, they usually start by participating in a regular exercise program. This should be done by first talking to a primary care physician so that anything planned will be done properly based on current health constraints. For example, anyone who does not regularly exercise or who has not exercised in a long time, should start slowly. Those who are more active and/or athletic, might consider modifying what they do to focus on certain areas of the body. In either situation, consultation with a physician is advised.

Athletes exercise for the benefits of good cardiovascular health, maintaining a healthy weight, and for strength and conditioning of the bones and muscles. Those with specific goals to improve performance may want to design an exercise regimen for that purpose. Exercising and lifting weights to focus on the development of specific areas of the body can be done at home with hand weights and a treadmill and/or in the gym on stair climbers and with weightlifting machines. The right exercises and weightlifting machines can be useful in these instances. In our research study about how football players improve their performance by focusing on strengthening and developing certain muscle groups and parts of the body based upon the position that they play in a game, we hypothesize that basic knowledge of how muscles work can help with this.

All football players use their legs for lower body strength no matter what position they play. The legs have strong muscles that enable movement and support the weight of the body. The legs are made up of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and major joints in the lower body. Legs enable movement for walking, running, and jumping, and stabilize the body to stand up straight and to remain balanced. Muscles in the legs include the gluteal muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and the calf muscles. The gluteal muscles are large muscles that connect to the hip joints and extend from the lower back to the hamstrings in the back of the leg. They enable the body to twist, turn, squat, and bend at the waist. The quadriceps (quads) are the front thigh muscles that extend down to the knee joint. The quads relieve pressure on the knee joint and support the movement that is enabled by the gluteal muscles. Along with enabling walking or moving forward and backwards, they also make it possible to lift, extend and turn the legs in and out. The calf muscles (gastrocnemius and the soleus) extend down the back of the leg from the knee to the ankle joint. These muscles enable inward and outward movement of the leg and foot, kicking, extending and flexing the foot.

Athletes who compete on organized sports teams usually work out in gyms that are owned and maintained by their teams. Those facilities usually have the equipment necessary for individuals to develop and strengthen their muscles. Other fitness centers like Gold’s Gym, Planet Fitness and LA Fitness, also have exercise and weightlifting equipment for use by members and others who want to work out. The equipment includes many machines that are useful for strengthening and developing the legs. Two of them, in particular, are the leg extension machine and the leg press machine.

Leg Extension Machine

The leg extension machine is good for beginners to strength training as it is fairly easy to use. However, always ask a professional trainer or someone who works at the gym to help you to use any machine when you use it for the first time. The leg extension machine is used to develop the quadriceps and the thigh muscles in the legs. These are the muscles that can be strengthened to relieve stress on the knee joint. The leg extension machine is good for those who have problems with back pain from working out. It can also help improve circulation in the legs. A beginner can start slowly and work up to heavier weights and/or an increasing number of reps on this machine.

Leg Press Machine

The leg press machine is used to develop and strengthen muscles in the lower body. It is a good machine for beginners to use as it is easy to use and it can help individuals build leg strength before doing other exercises such as squats and deadlifts. However, always ask a professional trainer or someone who works at the gym to help you to use any machine when you use it for the first time. The leg press machine enables weight-bearing exercises that are necessary to increase the pressure and stress on the bones which increases bone mass and density. Increased overall bone strength reduces age-related problems such as osteoporosis. As a weight-bearing machine, it simulates squats that can be done in a seated position and other such exercises. In fact, the leg press machine can be used in the place of broad jumps, step-ups, walking lunges, and wall sits that all work the same muscles.

The leg press machine primarily works the quadriceps, gluteal muscles, other thigh muscles (hamstrings), and the calf muscles. Strong gluteal muscles are useful when hiking, and also when lifting objects. Strong quadriceps are useful when the knee is extended while running, jumping and squatting. Strong hamstring muscles enable greater jumping ability and increased power and speed when running sprints. Strengthening the lower body by using the leg press machine can also prevent and reduce the incidence and severity of injuries such as pulled or torn hamstrings. Using the leg press machine can enhance flexibility and endurance necessary to avoid injuries.

A few reminders to go along with this information about strengthening the leg muscles are as follows:

• Stretch and warm up before exercising and cool down after a workout.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids before, during and after exercising and working out.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to enhance the exercise regimen.
• Weightlifting should enhance a regular exercise routine that includes activity to promote cardiovascular health such as walking, running, and/or aerobics.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Continue taking prescribed medications unless otherwise advised by your primary care physician.
• Talk to your primary care physician before beginning or modifying an exercise regimen.
• Ask your primary care physician if you have any questions about weightlifting activities, specific exercises, and changes in exercise regimens and routines.

(Sources – Cleveland Clinic, Inspire Us Foundation, Lane 6 Publishing (Your Workout Book), Leg Press Headquarters, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

10/11/2022

The Definition of a Healthy Dinner

The methodology of the CARE Now research study about frozen dinners includes making use of an agreed upon definition of a healthy frozen dinner. As of September 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to update its definition of “healthy.” That includes the nutritional criteria food items must meet to put the claim “healthy” on the package.

The current definition of “healthy” on food packaging was established in 1994. It was based on the nutrition science and federal dietary guidelines at the time. However, federal guidelines and nutrition science since then has evolved. Today, we have a greater understanding of dietary patterns and their effects on health, and we recognize that people tend to build their diets around foods, which are made up of a variety of nutrients, rather than just individual nutrients.

An updated definition of the “healthy” claim will include the following:

A food has to contain a certain amount of a food group like fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy.
A food can’t contain too much saturated fat, sodium, or added sugars.
Food items should be consistent with recent changes to the Nutrition Facts label. For example, the Nutrition Facts label must now declare added sugars to help people maintain healthy dietary practices.

According to the information that has been made available by the FDA, updating the “healthy” definition is a step towards helping individuals identify food choices that can help lead to reducing diet-related chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It can also help to advance health equity. Additionally, updating the “healthy” definition could lead to more healthy foods in the marketplace if some manufacturers choose to reformulate or produce products that meet the new definition.

After reading about all of this, the good news is that we will not have to backtrack or start over with our research study. Since we gathered all of the nutritional food information that we will need for each frozen dinner, we will still be able to make an good determination of which dinners are healthy and which ones are not.

(Sources – U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

Wondering if that is healthy?The FDA wants to make it easier for you to make healthier food choices.We’re proposing to update the definition of “healthy” tha...

09/27/2022

Arches In The Foot

If you have ever heard anyone say that they have flat feet, they have indirectly provided you with some important information about them and their health. First, they are more than likely overweight. Second, they probably experience pain in their feet, legs and back particularly after standing and walking or running for an extended amount of time. Third, their shoes probably show wear and tear in ways that are not normal. Fourth, wearing shoes that are designed to support the arch in the foot or wearing arch support inserts hurt their feet tremendously, at least in the short term. Flat feet, or feet with fallen arches, are postural deformities in which the arches of the foot have collapsed. This results in the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground either when standing or when walking or running. The term flat feet or being flat footed is used to describe how the foot lies flat on the ground.

The human foot is supposed to rest with a slight curve in the middle of it. This is due how the foot is made with bones supported by ligaments and tendons that form arches and make movement possible. Problems typically associated with fallen arches can be reduced and even eliminated with shoes designed with arch supports or with arch support inserts, which are devices that you can place into your shoes.

The arches of the foot are formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones. They are strengthened by ligaments and tendons and allow the foot to support the weight of the body in the erect posture with the least weight. The arches are categorized as longitudinal and transverse arches.

The longitudinal arches of the foot can be divided into medial and lateral arches. The medial arch is higher than the lateral longitudinal arch. The chief characteristic of this arch is its elasticity, due to its height and to the number of small joints between its component parts. The portion of this arch that is most liable to yield from overpressure is braced by what is called a spring ligament. This ligament is elastic and is thus able to quickly restore the arch to its original condition when the disturbing force is removed. The spring ligament is strengthened by ligaments in the ankle and supported by tendons of the lower leg. Two notable features of the lateral arch are its solidity and its slight elevation. Strong ligaments, extensor tendons and the short muscles of the little toe, preserve its integrity.

Arches in the foot function to create a space for soft tissues with elastic properties, which act as springs passing from the heel to the toes. The elasticity of the arches helps to diffuse the impact from the force on the foot while positioning the feet to walk or run on the ground. This helps to reduce the stress on the bones and can also store the energy of this force to be used to propel the body forward with the next step.

Shoes that are designed with good arch supports are ideal for athletes. They provide the correct amount of support for the foot and make it so that the legs and the feet function efficiently for maximal physical performance. Individuals who lose a significant amount of weight should be sure to remember to include a focus on the health of their feet. As was previously stated, fallen arches is often a consequence of being overweight. Therefore, after the success of the weight loss regimen, these individuals should consider wearing shoes with arch supports or arch support inserts. Also, feel free to talk to your primary care physician if you have any questions and before making any medical decisions regarding your health.

(Sources – The Good Feet Store, The Healing Sole, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

Your feet carry your entire body every day. When you introduce additional weight, your feet not only work harder, but they also undergo unnecessary stress and damage that can lead to serious issues. How can the condition of your feet improve as you shed the extra pounds? 1. You will experience less....

09/21/2022

Infant Formula

The infant formula shortage became a nationwide crisis earlier this year after at least two infants died from a rare infection from bacteria that could be traced to the formula they had consumed. In February 2022, Abbott Laboratories, a major manufacturer of infant formula, recalled baby formulas from the market and shutdown their Michigan plant, which led to the shortage. An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered traces of pathogens at the plant. The FDA then initiated the recall of several brands of formula, and consumers were advised to not buy or use formula produced at the plant. During the shortage, stores in most states sold out and went for weeks with formula out of stock. Retailers had to resort to limiting purchases by consumers because parents of toddlers began to stockpile cases of formula as they heard about the growing problem. News reports regularly provided updates about available supplies of formula for parents who needed it for newborns and babies with medical conditions that required specialized formulas. Abbott has since met FDA requirements to resume operations at the affected facilities and although supplies are still low, the shortages are no longer at crisis levels.

Parents of young children understand the severity of an infant formula shortage in a way that others do not. This is because they know that infant formula, also known as baby formula or baby milk, is defined as a manufactured food especially designed and marketed for feeding to babies and infants under 12 months of age. It is at this age in the development of the child that new mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies. Human milk provides a baby with the essential vitamins and nutrients necessary for good health while reducing and preventing allergic reactions that tend to develop early in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding infants until 12 months of age. However, not all mothers are physically able to breastfeed or choose to breastfeed their infants. Infant formulas in these situations are manufactured to simulate as a complete or partial substitute of human milk.

Milk made from infant formula is usually prepared for bottle-feeding or cup-feeding from a powder (mixed with water) or a liquid (with or without additional water). Its composition is designed to be roughly based on a human mother's milk at approximately one to three months postpartum. Although formulas differ slightly depending on the manufacturer, they usually contain protein, iron, essential fatty acids including DHA, a vitamin-mineral mix including Vitamins E, C and D, antioxidants, and prebiotics. Abbott Laboratories is an American multinational medical devices and health care company that also manufactures and sells nutritional products. Located in Abbott Park, Illinois, some of its well-known nutrition products include Pedialyte, Similac, BinaxNOW, Ensure, and Glucerna. Similac, a brand of infant formula marketed by Abbott Laboratories, is named for "similar to lactation." It is sold in 96 countries worldwide. Enfamil, which is said to be a play on words of “infant meal,” is a brand of infant formula made by Mead Johnson, a subsidiary of Reckitt.

(Sources - The Atlantic, Enfamil, Hello Motherhood, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia)

When it comes to infant formula, follow these safety tips: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-takes-final-step-infant-formula-protections

09/09/2022

What are Clinical Research Trials?

CARE Now is a non-profit organization currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. Our Mission includes facilitating research projects in medical and educational fields and sharing information regarding clinical research trials. According to Wikipedia.org, clinical trials are defined as follows:

Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel vaccines, drugs, dietary choices, dietary supplements, and medical devices) and known interventions that warrant further study and comparison. Clinical trials generate data on dosage, safety and efficacy.

Not everyone understands this highly technical definition. Defining some of the words frequently used when discussing clinical trials helps with comprehension on this topic. If we start by first making it clear that clinical trials are a type of tool used in the medical community, I think that helps. A clinical trial is not a trial like one that takes place in a court of law. A clinical trial is a type of test conducted by individuals or a group in the medial community in which the basic functions of the scientific method are used to find new medical interventions for living participants. To further explain, we can look up what an intervention is and specifically define living participants. A medical intervention, when discussed in regard to clinical trials, is an action taken to help treat or cure a condition. Examples include medications, consultations, and medical devices (including eyeglasses). Living participants can include live biological organisms such as bacteria, animals such as mice and sheep, and human beings. Of course, we know that it is now required by law that human participants in clinical research trials be provided with sufficient information about the clinical trial to be able to make their own decisions about the medical interventions they will receive during that trial. This is formally referred to as informed consent.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research. It is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH conducts its own scientific research and provides funding to non-NIH research facilities through its Extramural Research Program. NIH defines a clinical trial as “A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes” For more information about clinical trials and the NIH, click on the photo below to visit the website.

https://www.nih.gov/research-training/clinical-trials

Clinical trials are research studies that involve people and test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. Many medical procedures and treatments used today are the result of past clinical trials.