Smoking and Other Negative Lifestyle Habits You Need to Kick to the Curb This Year

Published on: 11 November 2020 Last Updated on: 23 November 2020
Smoking

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us more cognizant of our mortality. Many people are starting to become more aware of the importance of healthy living. Smoking are responsible for up to 90% of all lung cancer diagnoses, as well as many other types of cancer.

One of the most important steps towards a healthier lifestyle is identifying and breaking self-destructive habits. You almost certainly have at least one bad habit that is threatening your health and well-being. Your quality of life and life expectancy will drastically improve if you take the correct action.

Here are some highly unhealthy habits that you should avoid at all costs.

Smoking Tobacco

Cigarettes are probably the least healthy mainstream habit in the United States. They are responsible for more preventable deaths than anything else. Although the prevalence of smoking has dropped drastically since the 1970s, 480,000 people still die of cigarette use every year. Cigarettes are responsible for up to 90% of all lung cancer diagnoses, as well as many other types of cancer.

In addition to causing premature deaths, cigarettes also hurt your quality of life in numerous ways. They cause vision problems, depression, anxiety, impaired lung function, and many other serious issues.

If you are a regular smoker, your number one priority should be to quit. This is the single biggest change in your life that will benefit your health. You can try using tobacco free dip to move away from cigarettes.

Consuming Food Late In The Evening

You might be tempted to have late-night snacks. There might be a number of reasons for this. Perhaps you didn’t get enough protein with your dinner. You might have eaten dinner too early in the evening, which leaves you feeling hungry an hour or two before bedtime. You might simply feel like snacking to alleviate anxiety.

Regardless of the reason, eating snacks late at night creates multiple health risks. It is a precursor to weight gain because your body can’t process the food as efficiently as late at night. Late-night snacks also tend to disrupt your sleep patterns. You might have trouble falling asleep at all and struggle to reach deep REM sleep when you finally doze off.

Eating Too Much Meat

Hot dogs, hamburgers, and ham sandwiches are major staples in the western diet. Meat isn’t just tasty. It also is a rich source of protein.

Unfortunately, many people consume meat excessively. You may develop a number of health problems if you eat too much of it, especially red meat.

What health risks can it create? Regular consumption of processed and red meat increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and multiple types of cancer. A research team from the Harvard School of Public Health found that eating one serving of processed red meat every day increased the risk of death from cardiovascular disease or cancer by 20%.

You don’t need to become a vegan. However, you should minimize your consumption of meat and reserve red meat for special occasions.

Using Your Smartphone Too Often (Especially In The Evening)

Smartphones are the newest addition that is taking over our lives. Unfortunately, they are so widely accepted that most people refuse to acknowledge the toll that they are taking on our health.

Excessive smartphone use can be debilitating in a number of ways, such as:

  • People that use smartphones regularly are more likely to suffer from back and neck problems. Every time that you look down to use your mobile device, you are putting around 60 pounds of pressure on your spine.
  • You have a higher risk of developing vision problems. The light from your smartphone screen can cause long-term damage to your retina. Your eyes might also start to suffer from nearsightedness since you aren’t spending enough time looking out long distances.
  • Your mobile devices might also disrupt your sleep patterns. If you are using them late at night, then you might be throwing off your circadian rhythms. You will have a harder time falling asleep and get less restorative REM sleep as well.

You can’t be in denial about the problems that your smartphone is causing. You need to use it in moderation to prevent back, neck, and sleep problems.

Read Also:

  • Good Reasons to Stop Drinking in your 40’s

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Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory

Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory In Adult Gerontology Nursing

Any Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), or individual considering moving into this booming area, will probably be aware that it involves more than supporting patients through short term illnesses or meeting their needs in a hospital or nursing home. As a rule, the older a patient gets, the more likely they are to experience chronic health complications which interfere with their day-to-day tasks. For much of history, such patients were written off, encouraged to take to their beds and be supported entirely by others, doing very little. They often didn’t live very long. But all that changed on account of one remarkable nurse, Dorothea Orem, whose legacy continues to shape the nursing profession today. This article examines her groundbreaking self-care deficit theory and looks at how AGNPs might use it for their nursing career. Dorothea Orem Dorothea Orem was born in Baltimore in 1914 and studied nursing in the late 1930s. This was a time when nursing schools were still a new phenomenon and there was a lot of experimental thinking in the nascent profession. Though she spent time on the wards as a staff nurse, she also worked as an administrator and consultant over the course of her career, spending her later years focusing on theory. A naturally focused and attentive person, she soon began recording observations about the patients she worked with, leading to her self-care deficit theory of nursing, for which she strongly advocated for her entire life. It was theory which, in its early years, transformed the way nurses thought about patients and their duties. It laid the foundations for nursing today. Universal Self-Care Requisites Orem’s theory recognizes eight universal self-care requisites, or SCRs. Here, universal refers to things every human needs, regardless of circumstance. Air is needed for respiration. Water is needed to maintain a healthy level of hydration. Food is needed to maintain healthy energy levels and prevent starvation. Elimination or toileting, a polite way of referring to the expulsion of urine and feces from the body, is required too. In addition to these four things, Orem posits that every patient needs a balance of physical activity and rest. Everyone needs social interaction, but also some alone time. People need to manage their lives to avoid or remove hazards, and, finally, they need to promote normality. This means that they need to achieve and maintain a way of living and relating to the world which is normal for them as individuals and does not involve psychosis. Health Deviation Self-Care Requisites When patients are recovering from injury or illness, or living with a chronic illness or disability, they can be described as experiencing a health deviation. This is not pejorative – it simply establishes that they differ from the norm. Health deviations are more common in older demographics, as they have additional self-care requisites. These requisites include following doctors’ instructions (taking medicine on time), identifying problems caused by their conditions and attending to them effectively (sitting down until a dizzy spell passes), and knowing when and how to seek help from a caregiver or healthcare professional. It is also important that these patients can understand and accept that their bodies have changed and can adjust psychologically to cope with it. What Is A Self-Care Deficit? A self-care deficit occurs when people are no longer able to carry out basic tasks. This can be because a disability makes them physically impossible to perform, or a number of other reasons. For example, some people get so overwhelmed by the way their bodies have changed that they stop trying to live. This doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve sympathy – it is an understandable response to an extreme situation – but it might mean that there is potential for improvement. For some people, self-care deficits are permanent or are likely to worsen due to progressive illnesses. For others, however, they can be temporary, even in extreme old age. Self-care deficits stemming from a broken arm, for example, will normally dissipate after the arm heals, but this is less likely if the patient has learned to feel helpless in the meantime. Assessment, Diagnosis, And Implementation When using Orem’s theory, nurses have three steps to work through. The first is undertaken during the initial assessment of a new patient and involves identifying any self-care deficits. These are not always obvious from looking at a patient and the process may require gentle but persistent questioning. Some people may be embarrassed and hesitant to talk if they are unable to care for themselves. The second involves full diagnosis of the deficits, including establishing causes. The third step is to draw up a treatment plan based on these diagnoses. In her work, Orem stressed the importance of recognizing that every patient is a unique individual, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this type of planning. In each case, AGNPs will need to work with the patient to establish the most effective way forward. Five Ways Nurses Can Help There are five strategies nurses can use to address self-care deficits when establishing patient care plans: For the most severely incapacitated patients, it may be necessary to perform actions on their behalf, such as washing or dressing them. Patients struggling mentally or who lack confidence can be guided through actions, ideally to the point of independence. Patients can be taught new ways of approaching day to day tasks which make them easier to accomplish, such as taking a break to have a shower in the afternoon if it is too hard to find the energy at other times. AGNPs can focus on the patient’s environment, making it easier for them to carry out self-care activities, such as suggesting kitchen gadgets to reduce the physical effort involved in preparing meals. Finally, AGNPs can train a family caregiver to provide appropriate support. These five strategies involve numerous actions, skills, and tools that nurses can use. Patients may need particular assistance with the following tasks. Helping With Eating Patients should always be encouraged to do as much for themselves as is reasonably possible. When it comes to eating, nurses should start with encouragement. Many older people lose their appetite and don’t feel motivated to eat, especially when it requires effort. So, an AGNP can point out that they have more energy when they manage to eat regular meals. If the patient can get food to their mouth by themselves, nurses should resist the temptation to assist, even if they sometimes drop the food. Instead, nurses can reassure them that this is not uncommon and all they need to do is take a little more time. Nurses should also be alert to the possibility of choking issues and arrange X-rays if concerned. If some food proves difficult to eat, they can discuss the possibility of dietary adjustments. Helping With Toileting Nurses should reassure patients that, awkward as they may feel, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The nurse must ensure they can transfer on and off the toilet safely and consider options like raising the height of the seat or installing grab. If there is a risk of falling, AGNPs may suggest bedpans for use when no caregiver is present. If adult diapers are needed, nurses should ensure that patients know how and when to change them (even if they are not soiled) and how to protect their skin against rashes or bruises caused by wearing them. Finally, nurses can also discuss medical options for softening stools or speeding up or slowing down digestive transit. Helping With Dressing And Grooming A balance must be struck between helping patients be more independent in dressing and grooming themselves and enabling them to maintain a style or standard of appearance that is natural for them. Some older men prefer to be clean shaven but end up growing beards because it is easier to trim a beard than it is to shave safely and neatly, for example. Some clothing options can be easier to get into than others, depending on a patient’s particular mobility difficulties. Simple devices such as a stick with a hook on the end can make adjusting the back of a garment or doing up a zip much easier. Nurses should pay particular attention to footwear to make sure patients can stand or walk safely. Reducing Hazards Whether a nurse is helping a patient to move around and complete self-care tasks in a hospital ward, a care home, or their own home, they must always pay attention to hazard prevention. Hazards can include mess, a layout created without regard for disability, or other people or pets moving around. Nurses can start by ensuring that the patient is aware of the risks and can recognize dangerous situations. They should discuss simple measures like installing handrails or changing routines to make it easier to keep the area tidy. Nurses can also ensure that the patient can summon help if something goes wrong, by persuading them to install an alarm system or carry a charged mobile phone at all times, for example. Care With Communication Often, older patients who have self-care deficits also have difficulty with communication, whether due to physical or cognitive disability. Depending on their lifestyle in recent years, they may also be unfamiliar with modern technologies, but shy about admitting this. It is important for nurses to make sure that when they are addressing issues around essential needs, the patient understand them properly and vice versa. It can be helpful to use pictures in communication, which are often available in support materials. When meeting a patient in the place they are going to be living, the nurse and patient can explore it together (in stages, if necessary) so both parties can directly identify issues. Seeing Each Patient As An Individual An essential tenet of Orem’s theory is that patients must be treated as individuals. This increases the chance that they will stick to treatment plans, as well as directly improving their psychological wellbeing. Any nurse that’s interested in Orem’s theory and is considering joining this field will be looking into gerontology nurse practitioner programs online. The best courses place a lot of emphasis on adaptability and on learning how to manage different types of patients in different environments. The program at the University of Indianapolis, for example, encourages students to develop the patience and listening skills essential to getting to know patients and making them a part of the process. This communication and relationship building is essential to developing plans which will really benefit patients over the long term. The course at the University of Indianapolis is an eight-semester program designed for working nurses, involving part-time study and an intensive clinical placement. The Nursing Profession Continues To Benefit Thanks to Orem and her self-care deficit theory, patients are no longer left to waste away as they begin to struggle with old age. Generations of nurses who have practiced this theory have observed that, even in later life, patients can often improve and regain their self- care abilities with the right support. Advances in assistive technologies continue to make this even easier. The right support, focused on facilitating and encouraging independence, enables seniors to go on living satisfying lives on their own terms for much longer. Even when they need extensive practical support, giving them more control helps to maintain their morale and ability to navigate the final chapter of their lives. In the process of providing this support, AGNPs also get what they really want; to see their patients thrive, no matter what they must overcome to achieve it. Additionals: 8 Awesome Health Benefits Of Dark Chocolate Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health Conditions How Does Children’s Health Impact Parental Lifestyle?

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Climate Change

The Effect of Climate Change on Human Health

Climate change has always been a prime topic of discussion all over the world. The world we are living in impacts our life in many ways. Yet, we never give much thought to the changing patterns of its climate and natural habitat. Most people think climate change is all about earth suffering from the advancement of technology and people. But in reality, climate change is real, impacting our lives that vary by age, gender, nation, and socioeconomic status. The extreme rains are causing an increase in sea levels and warming temperatures. The greenhouse effect has an everlasting impact on human health. Not just that, but climate change is sweeping rapidly across the globe. This change is significantly impacting the earth's ecosystem and disturbing human health. It is no wonder why United Nations continuously stressing over climate change endangering the food we consume, the air we breathe, and the interactions with nature. Moreover, the severity of these impacts depends on a variety of factors. Apart from the gender and socioeconomics determinants, access to public health and addressing the safety systems are top factors. For that, there is a dire need for both climate change solutions and reframing it as public health issues for the most vulnerable ones. Professionals are already encouraging the aspirants to advance and pursue public health programs to tackle climate change. However, many individuals never consider advancing their skills by earning a professional degree program because of priorities for full-time work. Fortunately, the dawn of online education is solving this concern and enabling the aspirants to grow in their careers by earning professional and accredited online programs. Aspirants can opt for MPH programs online by setting their schedules within the comfort of home. This way, public health professionals can respond to climate change by reducing the uncertainty, risk of disaster, and economic outcomes. With that said, let's discuss different ways climate change affects human health. 1. Increase in Temperatures One of the effects of climate change that is dominant around the globe is an increase in temperature. Over the last few years, the world is experiencing a significant temperature rise, causing greenhouse effects and scorching summer. Moreover, the rising temperature is also leading to heat strokes and deaths. This year, Canada's temperatures rose to 45C, setting a new record high. But it is worth noting that these temperatures fuel climate change, which directly impacts human health. Some of the notable factors are burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests and livestock. The reduction in the forests alone bumps the temperatures and traps greenhouse heat. On the other side, certain populations are more vulnerable to the global rise in temperatures. These include the societies that lack socioeconomic status, outdoor workers, athletes, and the homeless. For that instance, there is a dire need for policies to address the healthcare needs of these populations and ensure wellbeing for these groups. Research also reports that these extreme heatwaves are set to increase in the future. It raises the alarm to ensure better healthcare access to deprived societies and reduce exposure to abrupt climate change. 2. Air Quality Impact The air we breathe is no longer fresh. The changing climate is now proving the consequences of higher levels of pollutants leading to unhealthy air quality. That is also why there are higher rates of deaths related to air pollution than from car accidents. It might come as shocking that both indoor and outdoor air is harmful to human health. The prominent drivers of these diminishing air quality are burning fossil fuels, construction, and industrial waste. The increase in carbon dioxide emissions from the industries also increases the growth of plants that produce airborne allergens. Moreover, these emissions are also destroying the ground-level ozone layers, which allows the ultraviolet rays to reach the surface that infiltrates human health. Scientists project that carbon emissions are more likely to put vulnerable people into hospitals. Since carbon emissions impact the ozone layer, children and outdoor workers can suffer from chronic lung disease. There is still research required to identify the measures to curb the worsening air quality and reduce its impact on human health with these complex factors. You may go through: Is The World Shifting Fast Enough To Renewable Sources Of Energy? 3. Extreme Weather Apart from worse air quality globally, climate change also yields extreme weather patterns. According to experts, the increase in natural disasters and extreme weather significantly impacts human health. Especially, the young children, older adults, and disabled groups are exposed to these threats from climate change. The floods, droughts, and storms lead to unprecedented impacts like the availability of healthy food and healthcare. Moreover, the damages also leave the deprived groups in limited mobility, causing a variety of issues. Especially, post-traumatic stress disorders are pervasive in such extreme weather conditions. The evacuations and emergency aids indeed come in handy in such situations. The evacuations and emergencies also require medical assistance and equipment to meet everyone's needs. However, the everlasting impact of climate change can leave many human lives on the brink of collapse. 4. Vectorborne Disease Vectorborne diseases also come along with natural disasters that are fueled by climate change. These diseases are spread by disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes, fleas, and other hosts like birds. These vectors carry infectious pathogens of viruses, bacteria, and fungi that are transmissible to humans. The main factor that worries the organizations is the ideal weather conditions that lead to the transmission of this disease. For instance, the monsoon spells across Asia result in higher precipitation and humidity levels that promote the growth of dengue mosquitoes. These vectors spread severe dengue infections causing frequent epidemics burden on Asia. Final Words Climate change affects our health in one way or another. However, there is a lot of measures we can take to reduce its impact and prepare ourselves. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is already causing a cascade of consequences on the world. But it is also essential to act fast and reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. Read Also: Six Main Reasons Why You Need to Care for Environment How to start living off the grid

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Foot Pain

Improve Your Feet Health: 5 Simple Tips For Preventing Foot Pain

We are likely to walk over 100,000 miles over the course of our entire lifetime. Yes, it's like circling the earth 4 times at the equator. Although our feet are really important, it is still one of the most neglected body parts. Have you been feeling foot pain recently? It is not always the result of you having over-walked or overworked. There can be a lot of reasons for that. The best news is that you will get a lot of podiatric solutions in Podologo Santo Domingo and soothe your foot pain. Simple Tips For Preventing Foot Pain And Improve Your Health Here, we are providing you with some great tips using which you will be able to prevent foot pain or improve the health of your foot. Let's start now. Tip No. 1: Stay At A Healthy Weight Well, your feet are bearing the weight of your entire body. To be honest, the more weight your feet need to support, the harder your feet need to work. So, you need to keep an eye on your weight, which means cutting down your weight. You necessarily do not have to carry a lot of extra weight in order to feel an impact on your ankles and feet. Only 20 pounds is enough to change the way your foot functions. It increases the force on your feet and eventually triggers pain. Tip No. 2: Boost Your Flexibility With growing age, your calf muscles might tighten. It always puts more stress on the balls of your feet. Here, what you can do is stretch your calves on a regular basis. It actually can go a long way when it comes to preventing foot pain. Here, in Podologo Santo Domingo, we will strongly recommend the following stretch at least 3 times a day. First, stand with your toes on a step and keep your heels off the edge.Slowly lower both your heels down and hold that position for at least 10 seconds and then lift your heels to the initial higher position.Now repeat this same thing 5 to 10 times. Never force your heels father what it wants to go. In case this particular movement is too much for both of your feet at the same time, do one foot at a time. Tip No. 3: Kick Your High-Heel Habit Wearing a pair of heels might upgrade your outfit, but at the same time, they also can wreak havoc on your feet. The study has found that it only takes 1 hour of wearing heels for the pain to kick in. That means you also do not need to wear them longer to suffer the pain. When you are squeezing your feet into those pointy-toed heels, you are actually attracting the risks for a huge number of things, from ingrown toenails, blisters, and bunions to back pain, deformed toes, and shortened calf muscles. If you are already suffering from ingrown nails and other issues, Podologo Santo Domingo can help you a lot. Tip No. 4: Wear Shoes That Fit There are a lot of people who wear the same size of shoes for a considerable amount of time. We never even thought of getting our feet measured. With your age, your feet are also changing shape, and that is why tightening footwear can lead to a lot of things, Ingrown toenails.Calluses.Corns.Bunions.Deformed toes.Heel pain. If you have to measure your feet recently, do not even think about buying shoes on the internet. Also, stop wearing those tight shoes now. It is damaging your feet. And To reduce foot pain contact Podologo Santo Domingo. Tip No. 5: Stay Hydrated Foot pain can always come on all of a sudden and be really painful. Apart from all the things that we have mentioned above, a dietary imbalance and dehydration can be two more reasons why you are feeling pain in your foot. So, always make sure that you are drinking plenty of fluids, especially when you are exercising. In addition to that, low potassium levels can be the reason for your foot pain. So, include spinach and bananas in your diet. Read Also: The Best Way In Relaxing Your FeetA Quick but Helpful Guide to Running With Flat FeetWhy Jumping on Trampolines is More Beneficial than Running or Jogging?

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