Health Pulse Bone Blunders to Avoid What does binge watching have to do with bone health? When you spend hours sitting in front of a screen, you miss opportunities to strengthen your bones by working them against gravity. More bone no-nos: ▶ Avoiding weight-bearing activities: Cycling and swimming may strengthen your cardiovascular system, but they do nothing for your bones. Be sure to include weight-bearing activities such as tennis, hiking – or actually lifting weights – in your regimen. ▶ Ignoring your vitamin D needs: While protecting you from skin cancer, sunscreen can make it harder to get enough vitamin D from sunlight. Include vitamin D-fortified cereals, juices and milk products in your diet, and ask your doctor if you need a supplement. ▶ Overdoing the alcohol: Alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium, which your bones require. Limit alcohol intake to one drink per day if you’re a woman, and no more than two if you’re a man. ▶ Downing too much caffeine: Some studies have linked the caffeine and phosphorus in colas to bone loss, and too much coffee or tea can also drain the calcium from your bones. Moderation is your friend. Finally, if you have a small or very thin frame, you run a higher risk of bone loss and fracture. In addition to doing weight-bearing exercises, ask your doctor if you need more calcium. Sources: WebMD Love Your Liver We’re bombarded with information about how to protect the heart and the lungs. The liver, not so much. The fact is, we depend on our liver for our very survival – one week without it and our life would end – so it makes sense to take care of it. Just a few ounces of hard liquor per day can scar your liver, so keep the hard stuff for special occasions, if you drink it at all. Also watch for toxic substances which can lurk in medications or supplements. For example, more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen per day could hurt your liver. Moderate coffee consumption, on the other hand, can protect you from liver cirrhosis or cancer. Go figure. Getting vaccinated offers strong protection from hepatitis A and B, both viral liver diseases. Wash your hands for added insurance against hepatitis A, transmitted through contaminated food or water. And practising safe sex can shield you from hepatitis B and C, which spread via bodily fluids and can destroy your liver if they turn chronic. To reduce your risk of fatty liver disease (which can become serious), avoid obesity. Nobody said that it was easy. Sources: hopkinsmedicine.org, WebMD Skin Problems to Take Seriously The skin takes a constant beating. Bacteria, toxins, sun rays… it’s no wonder that it gets damaged so easily. While most skin irregularities need not concern you, certain signs and symptoms could indicate a more serious condition. Here’s a short list: ▶ Rough patches: Often due to eczema, rough patches could denote squamous cell skin cancer if they don’t improve with doctor-recommended eczema treatment. ▶ Severe sunburn: Also known as sun poisoning, sunburn that causes blistering may increase the risk of premature aging and skin cancer. ▶ Returning moles: When a benign mole grows back after removal – especially beyond the scar line – it could signal a change toward a cancerous growth. ▶ Persistent wounds: Wounds that don’t heal with home care make you vulnerable to infections and could indicate skin cancer. ▶ Redness, swelling and/or pain: If these occur near an opening in the skin, such symptoms may signal cellulitis, which requires prompt medical attention and antibiotic treatment. ▶ Rapidly spreading rash: Especially if accompanied by hives, such a rash could be a manifestation of anaphylaxis (very severe allergy). Seek medical attention right away. Sources: jeffersonhealth.org, WebMD CSANews | SPRING 2025 | 35
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzMzNzMx