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Look and feel better with these inexpensive natural treatments

Do you have trouble sleeping? Does your skin look tired and dry? Then it might just be time for a spa getaway. But don’t despair if you’re not flush with cash — we’re not talking about a weekend at a desert ranch.

All you’ll need to look and feel refreshed are a few minutes to yourself and a handful of ingredients that may already be in your pantry or refrigerator. These easy home remedies will boost the health of your hair, nails and skin — and likely your mood, as well.

Remember that natural remedies are not cures, says Dr. Barbara Reed, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Always check with your doctor to make sure your symptoms are not related to an underlying health condition.

Discolored Nails

As we age, nails grow at a slower rate and may become dull or yellowed. Consider stopping nail polish use or smoking if those practices could be contributing to changes in your nail color. In some cases, discolored nails could be a symptom of a serious condition, so it’s important to talk to your doctor, especially if you see a dramatic change in nail color.

If you’re healthy but your nails are discolored, try lightly scrubbing nails with equal parts lemon juice and baking soda, Dr. Reed says. The acidic and antimicrobial properties of the lemon combined with abrasion from baking soda will lighten discolorations.

If a fungal infection is to blame, try “tea tree oil or medicated vapor rub, applied around and squished under the nail twice a day for at least 6 months,” says Reed.

Cortisone Shots Provide Short Gain, Long-Term Pain

Although cortisone injections provide short-term pain relief from tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, their use produces worse long-term results than other treatments — or no treatment at all.

So concludes a new study that analyzed 41 previously published reports over the past three decades on the use of various treatments on nearly 2,700 patients with tendon injuries — such as tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries and aching Achilles — where tendons become painful or torn, often from overuse.

The study’s take-home message on the use of popular corticosteroid injections: Expect “short-term gain but long-term pain,” lead author Bill Vicenzino of the University of Queensland, Australia, tells the Bulletin. “These injections have a high chance of success within three to six weeks.” But six to 12 months after injection, patients in those studies had a 62 percent higher risk of relapse than those who initially did nothing, adopting a “wait-and-see” approach. And cortisone proved no better for tendon injuries than non-steroid-based treatments such as Botox, platelet-rich plasma and sodium hyaluronate.

The review study, published in the Lancet, did not analyze how age impacts injury relapse in those getting cortisone shots, a powerful anti-inflammatory. But tendinopathy “is generally a condition of middle age,” notes Vicenzino, a professor of sports physiotherapy. “For example, tennis elbow occurs on average at age 45″ and can last well into the 50s and 60s.

Sports medicine specialist Frederick Azar, M.D., says even though this review of studies suggests cortisone shots might do more harm than good, he finds they are an effective therapy when used prudently. “When used properly, in combination with physical therapy, bracing and activity modification, cortisone is very good — and in allowing time for proper healing, helps keep some people out of the operating room,” says Azar, chief of staff at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

“But no doubt, some people get a shot and use it as a license to get right back into what they were doing [that triggered the injury]. There is certainly room for abuse.”

He acknowledges that cortisone shots — especially in weekend warrior boomers — can produce a false sense of security that could lead to later relapse.

His advice: “I like to see patients be pain-free for at least a week or two before they resume their activity, but it usually takes eight to 12 weeks to fully recover.” After about two weeks of no pain, it’s best to “modify activity,” such as playing doubles rather than singles tennis.

Cortisone also causes an immediate spike in blood sugar levels — important for obese and diabetic boomers. And, notes Azar, team physician for the Memphis Grizzlies professional basketball team, no more than four injections should be administered within six months because multiple injections can weaken cartilage or tendons.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb County or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

What You Need to Know About Medicare Plans in 2012

Save money by taking the time to comparison shop

If you have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the chances are very high that this year you’ve been paying a lot more for your medications than you needed to.

Sign up for AARP’s Health Newsletter.

That’s because so few enrollees bother to compare the Part D drug plans available to them. As a result, in 2011 fewer than 7 percent are in the Part D plan that offers them the lowest out-of-pocket costs, according to a recent analysis.

Comparing plans during open enrollment is the best way to ensure that you don’t miss out on your best deal for 2012, which could produce savings of several hundred dollars next year, especially if you take a lot of medications.

But be warned: This year’s seven-week open enrollment period begins Oct. 15 and ends at midnight on Dec. 7 — a deadline three weeks earlier than in previous years.

If you enroll in a different plan during this period, coverage in your current plan will automatically end at midnight on Dec. 31 and your new coverage will begin Jan. 1.

If you choose to keep your current plan (and it is still offered in 2012), you don’t need to take any action — your enrollment automatically continues next year.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2012

All Part D plans can change their costs and coverage each calendar year. So pay attention to the “Annual Notice of Change” you should have received from your current plan in September. This spells out any changes for 2012 — in premiums, deductibles, copayments or coverage — and may contain good news or nasty surprises.

Among “stand-alone” Part D drug plans — the kind you have if you’re enrolled in traditional Medicare rather than a Medicare Advantage plan — a few that operated in 2011 will no longer be available in some states in 2012.

If you’re in one of these plans, you may be automatically enrolled in another offered by the same insurance company, if available, or you can switch to a different plan. There are still plenty of choices in each state, ranging from 25 in Alaska and Hawaii to 36 in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Overall, monthly premiums for stand-alone plans in 2012 will range from $15.10 to $131.80. On average, premiums will fall slightly, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But some premiums will rise significantly.

For example, the country’s most popular drug plan, AARP MedicareRx Preferred, run by UnitedHealthCare, will increase its monthly premiums by an average of 14 percent, ranging from 20 cents in Arizona to $8.10 in California. UnitedHealthCare spokesman Matthew Burns says that the plan “covers more branded drugs than most of our competitors and has no deductible,” adding that on average “our premiums for 2012 are slightly lower than 2010 levels,” given that they fell in most states in 2011.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

People who drank the most coffee had the lowest risk

Are you pondering that third cup of joe? Go ahead!

According to a new study, coffee has been linked to a decreased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.

The study was conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

According to a Los Angeles Times article, researchers compiled data from two different studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, which followed nearly 73,000 people between 1984 and 2008; and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which followed nearly 40,000 people between 1986 and 2008. The results of both studies were surprising.

Women who drank more than three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 20 percent lower risk of developing the skin cancer than those who drank less than a cup per month. Men who drank the same amount had a 9 percent lower risk.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a non-melanoma form of skin cancer. Seventy-five percent of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas, according to the America Cancer Society.

“Given the nearly one million new cases of BCC diagnosed each year in the United States, daily dietary factors with even small protective effects may have great public health impact,” said researcher Fengju Song, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “Our study indicates that coffee consumption may be an important option to help prevent BCC.”

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb County or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Aging sometimes means reduced balance, coordination, vision, strength and agility. These factors, along with certain medications and even our home environment, can increase our risk of falling.

Ground-level falls are a major health problem for people 65 and older. An estimated 30% of people in this age group fall each year, resulting in hospitalization, permanent disability, and sometimes death. In fact, injuries related to falls are the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, and annual health care costs associated with falls are approximately $10 billion dollars. Once a person has experienced a fall, a “falls cycle” can begin in which the individual experiences an ongoing fear of falling, which can result in decreased activity, loss of strength and mobility, and an increased risk of falling.

Fall Predictors
Being aware of the common risk factors and taking precautions helps lower the overall risk. One or more of the following factors can place a person at a moderate to high risk for a fall:

• Prior fall history
• Poor, uncorrected vision
• Parkinson’s disease, untreated diabetes, and obesity
• Use of medications that can cause drowsiness, dizziness, low blood pressure and weakness
• Use of multiple medications
• Poorly fitting shoes and slippers
• A cluttered, poorly lit home with multiple levels
• Slick or wet floors, throw rugs, electrical or other cords in walk ways

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
A simple test called “Get-up and Go” can additionally help predict the risk of a fall by determining one’s mobility. ² It’s easy to perform. All you need is a straight-backed chair with armrests. Make sure the chair has a high seat. Then have the individual complete the following steps:

• Rise to a standing position from the chair, using the armrests
• Stand still momentarily
• Walk 10 feet
• Turn slowly
• Walk back to the chair
• Turn around
• Sit down

A successful test occurs if the person completes this in 20 seconds or less. Those passing this test may be considered at low risk when other risk factors are absent.

Some medications can place a person at risk for having a fall. The following are some of the most common fall-associated medications:     Sleep medications, pain medications, anti-anxiety medications, anti-allergy medications, high blood pressure medications, water retention medications, anti-depressants, overactive bladder medications, and tranquilizer medications.

How can you reduce your risk of having a fall that might be caused by medication?

• Take your time. Stop for a moment before getting up. Stand slowly to be sure that you have your balance and aren’t light-headed — then walk. This allows your blood pressure to normalize and helps prevent orthostatic hypotension (also known as a head rush or a dizzy spell).
• Use the bathroom before bed. If you are taking a diuretic, schedule your last dose a few hours before going to bed. Also, leave a soft light on that illuminates your pathway to bathroom in case you need to get up during the night.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages in excess.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise strengthens important muscle groups and improves your balance and coordination. Ask your health care provider about the best type of exercise for you.
• Make your home safer. Inspect each room of your home for safety hazards such as poor lighting, obstructed walkways, throw rugs, cords and other obstacles that could cause you to trip. Place regularly used items within reach so you don’t require a ladder or stool. Install anti-slip mats and grab bars in showers and bathtubs.
• Have your vision checked regularly. Get an up-to-date prescription and treat physical conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts that can weaken your vision.
• Get checked for osteoporosis. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the need for calcium and vitamin D.

Pure Home Care Services serves Macomb and the surrounding area.  Our helpful, caring staff is ready to help you and your family.  Give us a call! Our number is (586) 293-2457.

Source:  AARP.org