The 25 Most Germiest Places
Here is a great article from Michelle Brown I hope you love!
Catch her here.
Thanks Michelle!!!
The 25 Surprisingly Germiest Places you Encounter Everyday
Whether germs, bacteria, or straight out viruses, they can be found everywhere in common daily life. Most are harmless, but some can actually cause anything from a runny nose to a life threatening infection. Below are the top 25 most common places you can find germs and tips on how to avoid them.
- 1. Sponges and rags. When you wipe down a dish or counter, you’re really just transferring bacteria from one place to another. Those who don’t regularly wash or throw out these items can amass an enormous amount of germs. Try using disposable wipes whenever necessary and make sure to wash your hands after touching these items.
2. Cutting boards. These can be especially dangerous when used for cutting different types of food. Salmonella, ecoli, and other viruses are commonly transmitted this way. Raw meats, poultry, fish, etc. should never be cut on the same board and they should be washed thoroughly before used again.
3. Airplane bathroom. No one is surprised that an airplane bathroom makes for one of the dirtiest places you can encounter. Although they do get cleaned, the volume of passengers using and reusing them can be staggering and lead to many germs. Toilet seat covers, soap, and caution are advised when using.
4. Kitchen surfaces. Just because the countertop looks clean doesn’t mean it is. Viruses and bacteria are invisible to the human eye, and must be dealt with using an antibacterial cleaner. Make sure to do the faucet, sink, and knobs as they can also be harmful.
5. Doorknobs. Hands can contain the most germs on the outside of the human body and when you touch a doorknob, you touch the hand of everyone who was there before you. Make sure to wash your hands after touching a public doorknob and regularly clean your own with antibacterial spray.
6. Toothbrushes. When you brush several times a day, you transfer plaque, bacteria, and more to your toothbrush. Make sure to replace it every three months for your health, along with the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.
7. Shared phones. Whether a land line or cell, this is one of the most common ways to get germs from hands to mouth. Many cleaners are safe to use on electronic devices, and be sure to thoroughly clean the mouthpiece, as this is the germiest part.
8. Washer and dryers. Even those who stay away from public laundromats can still host a load of germs in their own machines. Most clothes are cleaned in cold or warm water and without bleach, which fails to kill the germs. These germs are also transferred when moved into the dryer. Whenever possible, use hot water on your clothes, or try running some bleach through an empty cycle.
9. Money. You never know where it came from, who touched it, and what they did with it, but people rarely wash before touching money. This makes it all the more essential to wash after you handle it to combat possible bacteria, drugs, and even fecal matter.
10. Purses. Setting a purse on the ground is on of the most common ways to pick up and spread germs. Leave your purse on your shoulder, hang on a chair or hook, or set it down on a purse or table to avoid this common germy place. If possible, have your purse cleaned regularly.
11. Wallets. Men also have something to fear in what they carry around. Money is often carried here and keeping it in your pocket only adds to an ideal temperature for germ breeding. Try removing unused items or taking it to a cleaner.
12. Buttons. Not the kind used on shirts, but the kind on ATM’s, soda machines, elevators, or any public facility, especially outdoor ones. Rain, common usage, and the lack of regular maintenance makes these buttons a hot spot for germ activity. Make sure to wash or use antibacterial gel after touching these.
13. The car. According to this study, the average automobile can play host to hundreds of bacteria, some of which can be dangerous. They are found on the seats, shift knob, door handle, trunk, and more. The dirtiest part was found to be the carpet in the trunk, so make sure to wash after handling bags of groceries or anything else that might have touched it.
14. The remote. Often used, but rarely cleaned, this object can be full of germs, especially if you have kids constantly grabbing for it. Make sure to use extra caution when handling a public remote, such as in a hotel or hospital.
15. Water fountain. Yet another argument for bottled water. The constant use, occasional cleanings, and standing water make these an ideal place to transfer germs, bacteria, and viruses. If you must use one, try putting a handkerchief or sleeve when pressing the button and don’t touch with anything else.
16. The gym. With lots of sweaty people using the same weights, machines, and facilities, this is a common breeding ground for germs. Surprisingly, some of the least common areas for germs are the toilet seats. The most common:
17. Yoga mats. Do you go to a class or gym that offers mats for stretching or yoga? You might want to rethink using them. According to this study, these mats are a common way to acquire athlete’s foot or plantar warts. Often used by sweaty patrons wearing thin clothes, avoid contamination by wiping them down with disinfecting wipes or bringing your own.
18. Shopping carts. This item involves three of the most common ways to spread germs: hands, faces, and foods. With kids chomping on the handles, adults who have just touched cars and door handles before touching the cart, and foods of varying type and age, shopping carts can gather a wide variety of germs. Thisstudy reviewed and listed some of the most common germs found on shopping carts. Many stores have antibacterial wipes available by the carts, so be sure to use them.
19. The candy bowl. Have one of these at your office? Then take care when choosing a candy. Others have been there before you, sifted through, and the jar is often replenished, yet seldom cleaned.
20. The classroom. Especially those containing young children. They put their hands on everything, then put their hands on everything else. Teachers should constantly clean hands, items, and show the children how to wash. Parents might want to get their kids to use antibacterial gel when the school day is over.
21. The gas station. Those pump handles get used dozens of times a day, are located outdoors, and are rarely cleaned. Stations with standing water on a hot day are also likely to have germs. If the pump has a lever, use it to minimize contact with the handle and be sure to take advantage of the many stations that offer antibacterial gel.
22. The lemon in your water. Or any drink garnish. They are often touched by various restaurant or bar personnel who have most likely touched the items of every patron they have served. This study found that 53 out of 76 lemons contained germs or bacteria.
23. The menu. Unless you see the hostess wash down each menu as she gets it, chances are yours wasn’t cleaned before you got it. If it is a paper menu, it has never been cleaned and contains the germs of every person who has touched it. Keep germs from spreading by keeping the menu away from plates, silverware, or glasses.
24. Your shower curtain. Vinyl, cloth, and other curtains don’t just contain soap scum. Bacteria and germs can also breed there, and the constant influx of hot water doesn’t help. Get some antibacterial spray to clean the ones you can, and wash the cloth ones at least once a month.
25. The vacuum. With hidden brushes, bags, and filters, germs can find many places to hide on a vacuum. Thanks to the food that is sucked into it, bacteria can survive for a long time inside these cleaning machines. An easy solution is to change the bags and remove the brushes and filters for a quick cleaning.
All though these 25 places and others come into contact every day, not all of them are bad. According to Philip Tierno, out of the 60,000 germs you can come into contact with, only one to two percent are actually dangerous. The lesson here is to panic less and wash more
Video News
Hi Everyone,
We finally heard about the rules for the contest we are in with MonaVie. There are 18 finalists, we are one of them.
Beginning January 16, 2010 at 12:01 am the process will begin. (to be honest, it will be ready to go before midnight, so begin looking early)!! Tonight!!!
Our video will be listed on www.monavieonthemove.com by the name EMV I get A Kick Out Of You. All 18 videos will be placed on one page. The video with the most views at the end of two weeks will be crowned the winner. Please help us get lots of views and make us a winner. There are 3 prizes.
First is a Smart Car
Second is a trip to Brazil and
Third is a $1000.00
Here is how to access it:
Directions for finding the Video on monavie on the move
1. Go to http://www.monavieonthemove.com/
2. Go to the Left Side of the screen
3. Click on: Click here to watch the MonaVie EMV You Tube Videos
4. Scroll down to Video 16 and click on it to watch.
Get all your friends and relatives to view it too.
We need all the votes we can get.
Thanks for your support we really do appreciate it.
Chuck and Gayle
A Special Prayer Request
This is a special prayer request for a soldier and his wife. They are from my hometown in Williamsport, PA. Please take time to send up a prayer.
Gayle
From:
Bobby S. Briggs, MSgt, USAF
823 ESFS/SFOC
Flight Sergeant
BAGHDAD AB, IRAQ
My name is Gary Hogman. Some of you receiving this know me, some do not.
My wife, Cindy, is 32 years old and has just been diagnosed with stage 4
Cervical cancer. Her chances for survival are very slim. She was
pregnant
with our second child and had miscarried recently at 3 Months; and now
we
know why. This is a request for you to forward this e-mail to everyone
you
know asking for prayer. The more people that pray for her to be healed,
the better. Pray and forward. It only takes a second to hit ‘forward.’
Please do it and don’t delete this. Your prayer can, and perhaps will,
save her life. Please pray and ask everyone you know to pray for the
HEALING of CINDY HOGMAN And the removal of all cancer from her body, so
she may enjoy all that life has to offer, and to continue to be the
wonderful mother to our 5-year-old son Michael. The power of Prayer is
unsurpassed. I want the whole world to have her in their prayers the
next
few weeks. God will hear our cry. Please do not be offended by my plea.
This is only a request for your help. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart for reading this and helping with our request for healing! No
words
can express the power we have when we each do a little to come together.
Regards, Cindy’s husband -
Gary
Thank you, and please send it to the far reaches of our world!
Alcohol and Aging
Most of us older individuals enjoy a glass of wine or something alcoholic now and then. The truth is that 60% of older people in the United States drink very little or not at all. The major problem is, the older we get, the effects of alcohol on the body become more toxic and potent. Older people do not metabolize alcohol as quickly as younger people. The same amount of alcohol has a greater effect on an older person than a younger one.
Older people are more likely to have additional health problems that are made worse by drinking alcohol. Did you know that drinking alcohol makes you more likely to develop osteoporosis? As we age the body takes longer to absorb calcium. Alcohol interferes with this process, causing brittle bones and other calcium deficiencies. Calcium loss leads to low density bone mass and the bent, frail physique we often see in the elderly. Alcohol is dehydrating and toxic. It causes wrinkles and lines on the face and is damaging to the liver, bladder, kidneys, stomach, throat, mouth and brain. Alcohol affects virtually every organ in its path. It can cause stroke, high blood pressure, memory loss and mood disorders. For those of us who are serious about looking younger and aging well, it’s important to understand and be aware of the many ways in which alcohol accelerates the aging process.
Skin aging is a concern as we grow older even without the alcohol. Alcohol is a major contributor to the aging effect on the skin. Alcohol causes the small blood vessels to widen, producing flushed, coarse skin, broken veins deep lines and wrinkles. Smoking accelerates skin aging even more. Combine alcohol and smoking and the effect becomes far worse.
Alcohol is full of dead calories. We have all heard the term”beer belly”. That is where the fat is stored, in your belly. Consuming a lot of alcohol results in stored fat around the abdomen. One drink every evening adds 15 pounds of fat to your stomach in a year. YIKES! Exercise is extremely important to keep this added fat at bay. Walking one mile will walk off the excess calories of one drink of alcohol. One can of beer, a single shot of liquor, or a small glass of wine or sherry equals one drink.
Women take much longer to process and eliminate alcohol than men. That is because alcohol is stored in fat and women have more fat than men. The older we become, especially after the age of 40, the more fat we store. How well I have learned that fact.
Another danger is in prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal remedies. Not only can they be dangerous but even deadly when mixed with alcohol. Always read the labels on all of your medicines. Many labels tell you, “Do not use with alcohol.” Taking aspirin and drinking alcohol can raise the chance of bleeding in your stomach. Cold and allergy medicines when mixed with alcohol can cause drowsiness. Check your cough syrups, many already have alcohol in them. Drinking alcohol while taking some sleeping pills, pain pills, or anxiety or depression medicine can be very dangerous. Acetaminophen, found in many painkillers when mixed with alcohol can be damaging to your liver. Always check the warning labels on prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies and of course always check with your doctor.
You are considered an “at risk” drinker if you drink over 7 (for a woman) to 14 (for a man) drinks per week. This amount of alcohol can result in adverse health and social consequences.
There are some good things about drinking alcohol if you drink in moderation. The French owe their increased resistance to heart disease largely due to wine consumption . Scientists have linked the protective effects of wine to an organic compound known as ‘resveratrol’ that’s found in red wine. British researchers found in a study of over 6,000 people over the age of 50, that alcohol can protect your brain, your mental health and your thinking abilities.
So go ahead and have a glass of wine. If you drink wisely the effects of alcohol on the body can be positive or at least not SO damaging. It could be good for your heart, your brain and your well being. Keep in mind if you drink more than you should your looks and your health will suffer. Just don’t overdo it.
CHEERS!
Beautiful Story
Recently I received an e-mail from a great friend. I am attaching the content of that e-mail to this post. It is such a beautiful story and I love the prayer at the end. Hopefully you will enjoy it too.
This is a beautiful story…. It makes you understand that things happen for a reason and that there truly is a God watching over each and everyone of us.
A brand new pastor and his wife, were newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest – a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. ‘Pastor,’ she asked, ‘where did you get that tablecloth?’ The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there..they were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and he pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story – submitted by Pastor Rob Reid
Who says God does not work in mysterious ways?
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares you know He will see us through.So when the road you’re traveling on seems difficult at best.. Just remember I’m here praying and God will do the rest.
Father, God, bless all my friends and family in whatever it is that you know they may be needing this day! May their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power and HEALTH!!!!! as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you.
Amen
ZUMBA for Fitness Fun
Have you ever heard of Zumba? It is a latin dance-exercise that has been popular for several years. Just recently they brought in a trainer to our community here in Siena. I have been to several classes and just love the pulsating Latin rhythm and aerobic dance steps. The music itself makes you want to dance and have fun. I found out that I am using muscles that I don’t use in my regular workouts. It has a lot of core and oblique muscle work. Zumba burns 500-1000 calories in a one hour session, especially if you really “get down” with it. It is just plain FUN! If you hate exercising and love to dance this is for you. It will help you to stick to your exercise. The best part is you really don’t have to know how to dance at all. Anyone, young, old or in between can do it. If you like music and want to have fun, this is for you!
Our Zumba class starts with a warm-up session, then breaks into the main session and ends with a nice slow cool down. The hour just flies by. Annie, our instructor does different routines each time, so it is never boring and each class is fresh and fun. Zumba mixes it up with body sculpting movements and dance steps from cumbia, merengue, salsa, reggaeton, hip hop, mambo, rumba, flamenco and calypso. Zumba targets many areas of the body such as your legs, arms, glutes, abdominals and the heart. The routines are a mix of aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that help to tone and sculpt the body. Zumba is wonderful for your mind, body and attitude.
Zumba originated in Columbia, South America in the 90’s. The creator, Alberto “Beto” Perez, was a fitness instructor in Miami. One day he forgot his regular music for class. He took the Latin music tapes from his car and improvised with some dance steps for his class that day. Everyone loved it and the rest is history. It Is and has been a great success.
I found a few You Tube videos of Zumba classes, but since Annie is our instructor and even though this is not the best video for clarity, I thought you might enjoy it.
You can see for yourself Zumba is loaded with lots of red-hot dance steps, great Latin music that keeps you moving and grooving and even shaking the weight off. It is really bunches of fun. If you haven’t tried it I highly recommend it. If you live in Siena the classes are Monday and Friday mornings at 8:00 AM. Yep, 8:00 AM. It starts your day out right and you will be looking forward to the next class. Remember to bring a towel and lots of water. You will do some sweating!
Zumba Zumba Zumba
E To The Power Of Monavie “EMV”
Hi Folks,
Chuck and I have entered a contest to promote the new healthy energy drink from Monavie called EMV ( E to the power of Monavie). The video is posted on You Tube under the name: EMV I Get A Kick Out Of You. You all know, of course, that Chuck is the talent, crooner, and comedienne of our twosome. I can only boast from behind the scenes. I worked on the lyrics, directed, produced the video and played at being camera girl. We had a lot of laughs and silly moments while we put it together. We think most of you will get a “Kick Out Of Viewing”our production.
We need everyone’s support with this in order to win. If you think we are deserving then please go in and hit us on You Tube. The more people that view it the more points we rack up. It is important that you actually go to the You Tube site to view the video or we will not get the credit. I have inserted the video into this blog, however, NO points will be given to us for viewing it here.
If you want to learn more about EMV (E To The Power Of Monavie) and a great business opportunity you may contact Chuck and I at: grammies1@cox.net or visit our website: www.theactiondrink.com/chuckngayle.
Thanks everyone for your support and please wish us luck!
Gayle Larson and Chuck Marone, Independent Distributors ID#1613472
Little League Baseball
This is the week for the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. South Williamsport is my hometown. Last year Chuck and I were back in South Williamsport for my class reunion. We visited the field and the museum for Little League. Chuck had never been there so it was a lot of fun showing him around.
When I was a young girl, in the late 40’s and early 50’s, it was a great place to be when all of the teams and young boys came to town. Years ago the field was located across the bridge in Williamsport. That first diamond, situated behind a minor league park known as Bowman Field, was initially used for softball. We had to sit on the dike to watch the games. My Uncle Lewis Browne was one of the first umpires for the Little League players. The first Little League game took place on June 6, 1939. Lundy Lumber defeated Lycoming Dairy 23-8. Little League Baseball grew from three teams in this Pennsylvania town to an international organization of nearly 200,000 teams in every U.S. state and over 80 countries all around the world.
This is a picture of the Howard J. Lamade field as it looks today. You can see the mountains surrounding the city. The view from the field is outstanding. August is a great time to visit Williamsport. The league headquarters are located in South Williamsport, directly across the Susquehanna River from the site of the original league. The Little League International Complex facility hosts the Little League World Series at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Little League Volunteer Stadium. It is also the site of the Little League Museum, which provides a history of Little League Baseball through films,interactive games and displays.
This is a picture of International Grove where all of the teams stay for the nearly two weeks during the World Series. There is an outdoor and indoor pool for recreation, a cafeteria and dining hall and a medical facility as well as dorms for the young boys. It is a beautiful setting among the trees. All the teams participating in the series receive room and board for free at the Little League International complex. Each of the 16 teams from around the globe in the Little League Baseball World Series are also provided transportation to Williamsport and back home at no charge. If you love baseball this is great fun to watch these young boys play ball and a wonderful place to visit. There is great recreation on the river all summer and beautiful scenery to enjoy. If you are a hiker, there are great trails nearby and a museum that provides the history of the lumbering era in Williamsport. We also boast of “millionaires row”where you can see all of the wonderful homes that were built during the “1800’s by the dozens of wealthy lumber barons. Williamsport is filled with history.
Enjoy!
Gayle
Energy Drinks and Your Health
How often have you felt like you need some energy? We could all use some extra energy through out the course of our busy day, especially in those afternoon hours after we have just eaten. No matter what your age a bit of an energy boost can keep us going through all of the demanding tasks we face each day and get rid of the tiredness we might be feeling. Energy is needed in order to get through the daily exercise we need, like taking a walk or going to the gym. It takes energy to solve a problem or finish a task. It is the enthusiasm or boost our bodies need to tough it out and get going! Does a lack of energy prevent you from accomplishing what you want or need to do? An increased level of energy can definitely contribute to a better quality of life. How do we get the energy we need? It is vital that you exercise regularly and consume the right diet. Getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, losing those unwanted pounds, cutting out junk food and stopping the smoking will all help in boosting your energy levels.
You may even use a drink, usually with caffeine, such as coffee or an energy drink, to stimulate your metabolism or eat a candy bar for a sugar high. Both of these provide a quick fix but often bring you crashing down or leave you with the jitters or a headache or even nauseated. There are tons of energy drinks on the market today that can provide that boost or high we are looking for. Many are extremely powerful. The most obvious benefit of energy drinks is, of course, the energy or power they provide. But are they all safe? Are they good for you?
Knowing what is in them and what you should be aware of before you purchase these drinks is very important to your health and well being. Powerful does not always mean they are good for you. The power they provide may raise your blood pressure and heart rate. Caffeine is one of the most common ingredients found in most of these drinks. The caffeine in these drinks is usually much higher than what is found in coffee or colas and other soft drinks. Caffeine can keep you awake at night, cause indigestion, anxiety, agitation and irritability. Sugar is also an ingredient that is common and loaded in most energy drinks. Sugar, as we know, is a quick source of energy. Too much sugar can cause you to be hyper or over active and can increase the possibility of dehydration. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic and promotes dehydration. Both sugar and caffeine can alter your mood as well as your performance.
Be sure to read the ingredients carefully on the energy drinks you purchase. Look for healthy energy drinks that have no sugar added are not artificially colored or flavored and contain no caffeine. Be sure there are antioxidants included to promote health and well being and all natural ingredients. Stay Healthy Everyone!
ChucknGayle
Pancreatic Cancer, A Deadly Disease
My Wife’s Battle With Pancreatic Cancer
My wife, Betty, of 47 years passed away March 25th, 2005 as a result of pancreatic cancer. It is one of the most deadly aggressive cancers,sometimes called the silent disease. It spreads rapidly and most often is not diagnosed until it is in it’s advanced stage. Often there is a lack of specific symptoms until it is too advanced for surgery. Unfortunately Betty was not eligible for surgery when she was diagnosed. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiation for over a year. She lost a lot of weight, was nauseous and vomiting most of the time. The radiation and chemo treatment itself, I felt, was what killed her. It drained her body of all the remaining healthy cells she had. My son and daughter-in-law, both chiropractors, both understood how serious her stage of pancreatic cancer was. They advised me not to put her through this treatment. Of course Betty and I were desperate and wanted to do whatever it took to help her beat the disease. At this point we would try anything. We made three visits to an alternative medical hospital in Mexico and three more visits to a hospital in San Francisco that specializes in the pancreas and liver. The doctors had us return after the many tests were completed even though they knew Betty was terminal and they could not operate.
Betty managed to stay with us longer than most pancreatic cancer patients. From the time she was diagnosed until she passed it was one and a half years. The last six months of her life was hideous. Her courage was awe inspiring and her suffering heart wrenching. During her illness and after, my family and I have learned a great deal about this disease and just how horrible it is. We learned and know how important it is to pay attention to our health and maintain our bodies healthy immune system. The body must be able to fight a disease as lethal as pancreatic cancer. Eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise, and not smoking can really make a difference in your life. About 31,800 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and about 31,200 of these people die from it. In spite of the challenges this deadly and aggressive disease poses, there are now many new advances in diagnosis and treatment. Betty met those horrific challenges with courage and determination. She was 67 years old. Betty will remain in my heart and thoughts forever.
Live long and stay healthy everyone!
Chuck
5 Ways to Keep Pancreatic Cancer at Bay
If you’ve ever seen a loved one suffer from cancer, you’d know that it is one disease you hope you never fall prey to. Cancer can eat you away, literally. However, because of the vagaries of nature, none of us are immune to this disease, and the wisest course of action is to try and prevent it the as best as we can. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth-largest cause of cancer related deaths in the USA. It’s an aggressive form of this disease that is asymptomatic until it’s too late – by the time you start feeling the symptoms, it is often too late for treatment and you’re given only five or six months to live. If you want to keep pancreatic cancer at bay, you need to:
• Stop smoking: Smokers are more prone to this disease, so if you need another reason to quit, this is it. The longer you smoke, the more susceptible you are to both lung and pancreatic cancer. The best way to quit is cold turkey, where you don’t look back at all. It may be hard at first, but think of all that you stand to gain and all that you stand to lose if you don’t do so.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle: The more you exercise, the more you eat healthy food, the more vegetables and fruits you include in your diet, the more your chances are of not contracting pancreatic cancer. In short, the healthier you are and the more normal your weight is, the better your chances of keeping this disease at bay.
• Supplement your diet with aspirin: A study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health found that women who had their diets supplemented with aspirin or products that contained aspirin were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who did not take the drug. The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin were thought to help in preventing the onset of this form of cancer.
• Keep your gums healthy: A study conducted by researchers at the Harvard University and those from the University of Puerto Rico reports that keeping your gums healthy and preventing periodontal disease may help in reducing your risk of pancreatic cancer. This is because gum disease could cause inflammation related disease in your pancreas and increase the risk of cancer.
As with any kind of cancer, the earlier it is detected, the better your prognosis and chance of survival. So if your family has a history of cancer or if your lifestyle makes you prone to this disease, it’s best to get yourself checked periodically.
By-line:
This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of pharmacy tech certificate at her blog The Pharm Tech Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.
Hi there and welcome to our blog. Chuck’s background is from the music field and mine was in education. Chuck and I are both retired now and living our best healthy lifestyle.
Contact us at: chuga3140@gmail.com