The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/596385
C-4 Health and Wellness Wednesday, October 7, 2015 The Press-Dispatch H e alth & W e lln e ss A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THE PRESS-DISPATCH 2 PAGES SERVING PIKE AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4, 2015 AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH GETS COOKING By Fran Petit Press-Dispatch Staff fpetit@pressdispatch.net American Diabetes Month is during No- vember and brings awareness to a disease that affects numerous people. The goal is to help bring an end to diabetes and to pro- vide health management to those who have the condition. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease and other health problems if it's not treated. One in 11 people have diabetes and more than 85 million Americans are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The increase in diabetes is due to the number of people who are overweight and the number of people eating unhealthy foods. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is often seen in younger children and teen- agers. The body doesn't produce insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin. Type 2 dia- betes is when the body doesn't use the insu- lin that is produced in an effective manner. More than 90 percent of people who have di- abetes have Type 2 and there has been an increase in this type in children. American Diabetes Month hopes to make people aware of the various types, how to treat the condition without medication and how to help limit the effects of the disease on the body through exercise and proper care. The Association encourages people to make small changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. The 2016 theme is "Eat Well, America." The American Diabetes Association is pro- moting this with "America Gets Cooking," a program that encourages people to cook healthy meals. Tips are posted each week online, which include how to cook healthy, ways to exer- cise and how to manage the disease, on the American Diabetes Association website. Every week in November, the Associa- tion posts recipes for every meal, includ- ing snacks and recipes for holiday meals. This time of year can present challenges to healthy eating plans and the program will help give an extra boost to healthy eating. They have an eating guide for every meal of the day, with instructions about how to choose, prepare, serve and eat healthy food, with tip sheets and shopping lists. Their goals are to help those with diabe- tes and those looking to live a healthier life- style achieve health and wellness every sin- gle day. • Recent estimates predict that one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless steps are taken to stop the disease. • Every 19 seconds someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with diabetes. • Diabetes nearly doubles the risk for heart attack and for death from heart dis- ease. • Diabetes is the leading cause of kid- ney failure. • Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among working-age adults. • The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes. • Roughly 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion and nerve prob- lems. COST OF DIABETES • The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of di- agnosed diabetes is $245 billion. • Direct medical costs reach $176 bil- lion and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is more than two times higher than those without the disease. • Indirect costs amount to $ 69 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality). • One in 10 health care dollars is spent treating diabetes. • One in five health care dollars is spent caring for people with diabetes. Breathe better, COPD awareness By Fran Petit Press-Dispatch Staff fpetit@pressdispatch.net Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Dis- ease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases, includ- ing: emphysema, chronic bron- chitis, refractory asthma and some forms of bronchiectasis. November is National COPD Awareness Month. COPD is the third leading cause of death in America to- day. Half of the estimated 24 mil- lion who have it don't even know it. While there is no cure, many steps can help get people diag- nosed earlier so that COPD can be managed better. COPD permanently damages the airways and air sacs in the lungs. They lose elasticity and cannot retract into shape after each breath stretches them to fill with air. The airways can also be- come swollen or thicker than nor- mal and become blocked or ob- structed by increased mucus, making it even harder to exhale. COPD most often occurs in people age 40 and older who are or were smokers. While smoking is the most common cause, one in six people with COPD never smoked. Another cause is long-term exposure to lung irritants, such as certain workplace chemicals, dust or fumes and air pollutants, like secondhand smoke. Some may also have a rare genetic condi- tion. They can get COPD even if they nev- er smoked or were exposed to irritants or air pollutants. COPD comes on gradually and worsens with time. People get so used to living with COPD, that they aren't aware of their symp- toms and how the disease limits their quali- ty of life and ability to do things. Symptoms include: • Shortness of breath while doing every- day activities, such as light housework, tak- ing a walk or even getting dressed • Feeling unable to breathe • Not able to take a deep breath • Constant coughing, sometimes called "smoker's cough" • Wheezing. If you notice signs and symptoms, make an appointment with a health care provider. If you notice signs and symptoms in a loved one, remind them that the sooner COPD is diagnosed, the better they'll be able to breathe and live. Make the most of a doctor's visit by mak- ing a list of all breathing symptoms and ac- tivities that are no longer possible because of shortness of breath. Be sure to bring a list of all medications currently being taken. An estimated 24 million Americans suffer from COPD and half remain undiagnosed. With early diagnosis and treatment, people with COPD can improve their quality of life and begin to breathe a little easier.