FitSugar

Do You Get an Annual Physical?

Susi May — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 07:30:05 PST

Way back in the 1920s the American Medical Association began recommending annual physicals: a yearly check-in with your doctor for some basic medical screenings. In that same decade the US Public Health Association launched a nationwide campaign promoting the physical, which was part of the early stages of institutionalized preventative medicine. The slogan was simple: "Have a Health Examination on Your Birthday." But is what was common practice still the status quo? From my arm chair, it seems the physical exam has gone out of fashion as insurance and medical rates have sky rocketed and the modern woman's free time has shrunk. Many women see a gynecologist annually, so why bother with a primary care physician too?

In theory, I feel a physical is great idea - thinking it's a good time to build some rapport with your doc. Should something dire happen in the future it would be nice to feel like you had a relationship with him or her. In practice, I tend to skip them - I am not saying this a good thing or that it's recommended. This is simply another way of dealing with the ever-shrinking amount of free time. I just tend to go to see my physician when I am sick. What about you?

New Health Insurance Rules For Free Preventative Care

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:30:18 PDT

According to the government, over half of Americans don't seek out the preventative care that most doctors and public health officials recommend. In an effort to reduce preventable and expensive long-term health problems, the White House has issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide access to routine preventative care at no cost to members. Included in the new rules are procedures like cancer screenings, diabetes and cholesterol tests, routine vaccinations, prenatal care, and well baby and child checkups. Additionally, the administration is working on a supplemental list of preventative care services for women. The new regulations, which will not allow deductibles or co-pays toward included procedures, apply to new health plans as of September 23, or existing health plans that make major changes to their policies. The new requirements could raise insurance premiums an average of 1.5 percent.

Exact details surrounding the included services are a bit gray. Even the official White House site doesn't contain a definitive list of included services, which leads me to believe that the exact list of procedures may be able to be determined by individual insurance companies within the guidelines set by the government.

DrSugar Answers: Daily Aspirin For Heart Disease? I'm Only 27

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:00:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I recently went to the doctor for a checkup. Because my family has a strong history of heart disease, the doctor ran some additional tests. The only test that came back abnormal revealed that I had high levels (4.9) of C-reactive protein. The doctor told me I should start taking aspirin daily to reduce my risk of heart attack. I'm only 27 years old and I have normal cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. Isn't daily aspirin a little drastic? Should I be concerned about serious heart problems?
- Heartily Concerned

To see what DrSugar has to say about this matter, just

First, I think it is great that due to your family history and you went and got a checkup. Heart disease, in the form of coronary artery disease (i.e. heart attacks), is the leading cause of adult mortality in the United States. There are multiple known risk factors for developing heart disease including: age, sex (men more than women), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and family history. The C-reactive protein test that you mentioned is a nonspecific test, but has been associated with higher incidences of heart disease in a limited number of studies. Its role in treating patients has not been defined. Given that you have normal blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol, the most important risk factors to discuss in your case are age and family history (assuming you don’t smoke). It would be exceedingly rare to suffer a heart attack at an age less than 40. Unless you have a female relative, i.e. sister or mother, who has had a heart attack before they turned 40 then your chances are close to zero.

Aspirin has been shown to reduce the incidence of heart attacks. It is generally used based on a person’s 10-year risk of having a heart attack. This can be calculated easily by using the Framingham Risk Score, which is based on a large-scale study of heart-attack risk. Assuming what you told me is accurate, your calculated risk would be less than 1 percent risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. Doctors generally recommend aspirin for anyone with greater than 6 percent risk over 10 years. This risk score does not account for family history, but your family history would have to be very strong to alter the risk. Also remember that men generally have heart disease at a younger age than women. So if your father had a heart attack at 40, you are unlikely to be at risk until later in your 40s or 50s. I think it is always a good idea to get a second opinion if you are unsure about your doctor's advice. In the meantime, the most important things you can do to avoid heart attacks in include regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, avoiding cigarettes, and regular checkups to makes sure you have normal blood pressure and cholesterol.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Long Commutes Are Detrimental to Your Health, Study Says

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:14:05 PDT

Working a nine-to-fiver is mandatory for most people, and unfortunately, a long commute often comes with the territory. According to a study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, those who travel 16 or more miles each way weigh more and have higher blood pressures than those with less than 10-mile commutes.

Of the almost 4,300 residents from Dallas and Austin involved in the study, researchers discovered that for every 10-mile increase in driving distance, the commuter's BMI (body mass index) rose .17 units. People with lengthy commutes are nine percent more likely to be obese, either because they didn't exercise as much, are eating fast food while driving, or they're not getting enough sleep because their long commute forces them to wake up early.

Weight isn't the only thing affected by a long drive to work. Spending that much time in the car, especially stuck in traffic, also makes a person tired, moody, and stressed out, which is one reason 52 percent of those in the study with a longer commute suffered from high blood pressure.

So what's a commuter to do? Quitting your job is obviously not an option, and if working at home part-time isn't feasible and neither is finding a job closer to where you live, keep reading to learn what commuters can do to avoid weight gain and other health issues.

3 Tips For Germ-Free Travel

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:17:50 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Whether you're going by boat, plane, train, or automobile, travel bugs are bound to greet you. Here, some cringe-worthy stats on germs and traveling - and tips on how you can take a trip unscathed.

Stay Hydrated

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the air inside planes has anywhere from 10 to 20 percent humidity, which can dry out mucous membranes and make people more susceptible to germs. Staying hydrated throughout the trip can prevent nasal passages from being irritated, so load up on water and skip the carbonated beverages and booze. "Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks should be followed with water or fruit juice to rehydrate because they are diuretics and can cause water loss," advise Ray Fillmore Garman, MD, MPH, and Susan Spengler, MD, both associate professors with the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Sipping on water assists with immune function - and in some cases even helps with jet lag. For longer, international trips pack electrolyte-friendly snacks like GU Energy Chomps, a banana, nuts, or a small bag of fortified cereal to keep drowsiness at bay.

Keep reading for two more healthy travel tips after the break.

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:40:56 PDT

You went for a gorgeous two-hour hike in the woods, brought back some great photos and uh-oh - you also brought back some poison ivy. When you accidentally brush up against this plant, the uroshiol oil rubs onto your skin, and can instantly create redness, raised bumps, blisters, and an insatiable itch. First and foremost, get out of the clothes you were wearing on the hike and wash the oil off your skin using soap and cold water (warm water opens your pores) to prevent the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, now you're left with an itchy, bubbly rash. Topical creams like Calamine lotion and hydro-cortizone can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better. Reach for the remedy, pure tea tree oil. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores. Thoroughly wash and dry the affected areas. Sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the rash and use a Q-tip or cotton ball to spread it around. Apply a few times a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, and drying properties, which is why it's so effective against the dreaded poison ivy. This natural remedy can also be used to treat acne, minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections so it's great to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet.

Source: Flickr User frotzed2

Two Home Remedies That Zap Away Acne

Jaime Richards — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:03:00 PDT

The next time a breakout decides to crash your clear skin party, no need to run straight to the store for a quick-fix cream (or, not to mention, tube after tube of concealer). What you need is probably already in your medicine cabinet or kitchen pantry. Find out what two common household ingredients will assist you in banishing spots on the spot when you read on.

Sugar Shout Out: Turn Old Jeans Into Cute Cutoffs!

Katie Henry — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:55:22 PDT

Women Exercise Less Than Men, Study Says: How Long Do You Work Out?

Leta Shy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:33:37 PDT

How often do you work out? A new study has concluded that women don't exercise as much as men, and the inadequate amount of exercise women are getting per day may be contributing to conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and heart conditions.

The Preventative Medicine study tracked movements of over 1,000 men and women for at least four days and found that on average while men exercised at least 30 minutes a day at a moderate to vigorous intensity (which means your heartbeat is raised and breathing is difficult), women only clocked in at 18 minutes a day at the same intensity. However, the women had generally healthier habits overall.

While the researchers aren't exactly sure why women exercise less than men, they think that learned habits from childhood and raising kids has something to do with it. What do you think of the findings? Share your thoughts in comments and tell us how often you exercise at moderate to vigorous intensity every day!

The 3 Weight-Loss Strategies That Actually Work

Leta Shy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:20:52 PDT

A recent study from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that there are tried-and-true strategies to losing weight - and yes, they are exactly what you expect.

The report tracked 4,000 obese adults for one year to see what worked and what didn't on their quest to lose weight. After a year, 40 percent of those on the study had lost over five percent of their weight, and 20 percent had lost over 10 percent of their body weight.

So, which strategies worked and which ones didn't? Read on to find out the three that worked for the study participants and how you can employ the right weight-loss strategies in your own diet.