May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

In addition to the month of May hosting a number of special days to remember, in 2005 the entire month was deemed National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. The actual birth of this concept began in 1953 when a published report by Hans Kraus, M.D. created concern about the physical fitness of America’s children relative to their European counterparts.

In 1956 President Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness and schools across the nation were implementing testing, challenges and awards.

Fight the Flu: Don’t Wait to Vaccinate!

You know the symptoms: high fever, headache, aching muscles, runnynose, a cough and extreme tiredness. It’s a sign that Influenza – commonly called the “flu” - has caught up with you and is about to make several days of your life miserable! Since flu is spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who have the flu, your best defenses from this contagious respiratory illness are to wash your hands frequently and get a flu shot.

How to Eat Right

In the last issue I gave you the 10 RULES FOR EATING RIGHT, I highly recommend that you put a copy of that article on your refrigerator. I know that was a lot of information in a short article, so I would like to go back and discuss some of the ideas and information in more detail.

Your Health is in Your Habits

On the calendar this month are two important topics that affect a larger percentage of the population than we realize. The first week in November is Diabetes Education Week and the third week is Lung Cancer Awareness Week. These two horrendous diseases take the lives of thousands each year.

My education in both of these areas has increased as my father died of type 2 diabetes at age 64 and my mother of lung cancer at age 85.

Getting Safely Out

At least a half- million people have been forced out of their homes by wildfires throughout the Los Angeles and San Diego regions, the largest evacuation in California history. It’s a stark reminder that our state is constantly at risk for major wildfires in addition to catastrophic floods, earthquakes, and other natural and man-made disasters.

An Essential Ingredient for Your Health: Water

It’s certainly a lot easier to encourage people to drink enough water each day during the summer months.

Coronary Health Improvement

When people understand more clearly the cause/effect relationship between diet & exercise and disease, they become increasingly motivated to make changes. CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Project) informs, motivates and then supports the needed changes.

More than 20,000 graduates from four continents know how CHIP changes lives. A few simple, painless and deliberate lifestyle choices can make all the difference in the world.

What are the results of adopting the CHIP lifestyle?

• Reverses and normalizes diabetes

Skincare: Avoid Aging Prematurely

We talked to Stella Chung, Esthetician and Resident Beauty Expert at Modern Hair and Day Spa in Rocklin for her advice on looking your best at any age:

Question : What is the number one thing people can do for their skin to prevent premature aging?

Stella Chung: Definitely sunscreen – it’s a must!

Question : What SPF do we really need to use? 30, 40, 50? Does SPF 15 do anything to protect us?

Breast Cancer Beware

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and appropriately, we interviewed a community resident Karen Sapp. Karen battled with breast cancer and beat it.

Here is some of her story: I was 31 years old and I had 4 children. I diagnosed myself in the shower when I noticed a lump but because of my age, I wasn’t really concerned. In fact, I waited 3 months to tell my husband. He didn’t panic either. Another 3 months and I would finally see a doctor.

“Oh my patient is 31 years old. It’s likely just a cyst; she probably drinks too much coffee”.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Join Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and give hope to hose fighting this disease.

Because of early detection and better treatments, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. Yet, with 40,000 people expected to lose their lives to the disease this year, there is still much more to do.

Since 1993, three million walkers across the U.S. have collected more than $194 million to help fight breast cancer through Making Strides events.

Here’s how you can help: • Walk and raise donations. Go to www.cancer.org/stridesonline.