Seeing greenery reduces cravings for alcohol, cigarettes, harmful foods

There are numerous benefits of connecting with nature. New research showed that being able to see green spaces from your home is associated with reduced carvings for alcohol, cigarettes and harmful foods.

The study is the first to demonstrate that passive exposure to nearby green space is linked to both lower frequencies and strengths of craving.

It builds on previous research suggesting exercising in nature can reduce cravings, by demonstrating the same may be true irrespective of physical activity.

Researchers say the findings add to evidence that point to the need to protect and invest in green spaces within towns and cities, in order to maximise the public health benefits they may afford. They also suggested the causality of this link needs to be investigated further.

The study is the first to investigate the relationship between exposure to natural environments, craving for a range of appetitive substances and the experiencing of negative emotions or feelings.
It has been known for some time that being outdoors in nature is linked to a person's well-being. But for there to be a similar association with cravings from simply being able to see green spaces adds a new dimension to previous research. This is the first study to explore this idea, and it could have a range of implications for both public health and environmental protection programs in the future, said the lead author of the study.

Among other things, the study measured the proportion of green space in an individual's residential neighbourhood, the presence of green views from their home, their access to a garden or allotment and their frequency of use of public green-spaces.

The results showed that having access to a garden or allotment was associated with both lower craving strength and frequency, while residential views incorporating more than 25% green-space evoked similar responses. 

The study also measured physical activity undertaken within the same time frame that cravings were assessed, showing the reduced craving occurred irrespective of physical activity level.

Craving contributes to a variety of health-damaging behaviours such as smoking, excessive drinking and unhealthy eating. In turn, these can contribute to some of the greatest global health challenges of our time, including cancer, obesity and diabetes. Showing that lower craving is linked to more exposure to green spaces is a promising first step. Future research should investigate if and how green spaces can be used to help people withstand problematic cravings, enabling them to better manage cessation attempts in the future, added one of the researchers.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                      FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                     https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

8 Signs You're Taking Too Much Medication

Many people believe that drugs are evaluated by the government, and are therefore safe if taken under the guidance of competent doctors. However, even if you accept this, you should ask yourself – how might all that change if you take multiple drugs? For example, if you’re taking more than five different drugs, you’re risking dangerous interaction.
Below are 8 warning signs that you might be on to many medications.

 

1. You Have Access to Good Health Care

Just being a patient and growing old with good health insurance means that you could be at risk for over-prescribing. Prescription drugs are there to heal or manage chronic health issues, but some patients are victims of something that is known as polypharmacy – taking too many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication, plus supplements.
At this moment in time, nearly half of men and two-thirds of women over the age of 65 in the United States are on five or more medications, which is the accepted definition of polypharmacy. Sometimes patients get prescriptions that they don’t need, or two or more pills in their routine are interacting in dangerous ways.

2. You’re Seeing Several Doctors
People assume that their doctors are in direct and constant communication with each other and coordinating their care, but this is simply not the case, due to how busy doctors are now. For example, if a patient develops an issue with the stomach while being on a certain drug, he will need to be referred to a G.I. specialist. The G.I. specialist will then be obligated to run a number of tests. The patient subsequently might be placed on medication to treat the stomach issues. Suppose the patient then develops dizziness from the combination of the medication he is on, he will then be referred to a neurologist, who will also have to run a number of tests and might prescribe medication to treat the dizziness, and so on…!

3. You Recently Developed New Symptoms

A potential sign that someone might be taking too many medications is the onset of new symptoms that they might not have experienced in the past. Taking a number of different medications comes with the risk of dangerous interactions. These drug-drug interactions might lead to a number of various symptoms such as cognitive changes, gastrointestinal upset, weakness, heart palpitations, and even skin issues.

4. You Struggle to Keep up With Dosing
If you’re taking too many drugs, you might find it difficult to keep up with the scheduled dosing of each one. If it has started to become a huge unbearable onus to keep up with the frequency and timing of all your medications, that could be a signal that you’re on too many medications. If you think this is the case, schedule an appointment with your doctor to review your current list and determine what is necessary for your care.

5. Your Mental Health is Suffering

Given that taking multiple medications is a risk in itself for emotional troubles, knowing the warning signs of depression is crucial. A very common side effect or symptom of being overprescribed is a depressed mood. Many patients will also become extremely tired and sedate while taking too many prescriptions at once.

6. You’re Under Increasing Financial Pressure
Prescribed drugs are not cheap. Therefore, another sign that you might be taking too many medications is a notably increased financial strain. You might notice over time that the amount that you’re now paying for your medications has increased significantly, due to the sheer rise in the number of medications that have been prescribed to you.
Your first priority is to make sure that all the medications that you’re taking are necessary. If they are, you should ask your doctor about generic versions of the drugs, which are cheaper than the brand names.

7. You’re Worried about Addiction

With some prescribed drugs, there’s the risk of addiction. If you think that you might be addicted to drugs, you should get in touch with your local drug treatment center, which has addiction experts who are trained to recognize the signs and provide the necessary help.

8. You Feel Your Meds Are Beyond Your Control
If you’re taking a lot of different medications, it’s crucial to have a system in place. For example, you could get yourself a pillbox and a weekly medicine chart to use as a checklist. You should include each medicine that you need to take, when you need to take it, and how often you need to take it.
You should get to know your medications as each one comes with specific instructions. For example, some medicines can cause problems if they’re taken too closely together, so a chart can help you space out when you take them. It will also help you avoid taking medicine that you have already taken.
 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                              https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
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5 symptoms of stroke that could save lives

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and adult disability, but quickly recognizing the signs of it and seeking immediate medical care from specialists can minimize the effects of the disease or even save a life, say an expert .

Stroke is no longer a disease only of the elderly. Nearly 20 per cent of strokes occur in people younger than age 55, and over the past decade, the average age at stroke occurrence has dropped from 71 to 69. 

"Five Sudden, Severe Symptoms," that could signal the onset of a stroke. 

-Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body. 

-Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. 

-Sudden trouble seeing on one side. 

-Sudden, severe difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. 

-Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. 

Any of these symptoms can occur in a mild, fleeting way and not be worrisome, but if any one of them comes on suddenly and is quite severe, it could signal the onset of a stroke, which increasingly is described as a "brain attack," because like a heart attack, a stroke requires immediate action to improve the odds against disability and death. 

It is estimated that two-thirds of stroke survivors have some disability.

"Clot-busting" drugs make it possible in some cases to stop a stroke in progress and even reverse damage. But the crucial element is time. If given within three hours of onset, the drugs improve outcomes by about 30 percent. 

Not every hospital or stroke centre has the facilities, staff or resources to provide complete care for every stroke patient, but many hospitals and health authorities are collaborating to establish regional stroke-treatment networks to be sure that even the most complex cases are rapidly transferred to a centre with the needed level of care. 

Still, no amount of readiness can make a difference unless someone recognizes the symptoms and calls emergency medical service providers.

THE WARNINGS SIGNS OF STROKE

The Warning Signs of Stroke

A stroke occurs about every 40 seconds.

Do you know the warning signs?

If you do have stroke warning signs, this means your brain isn't 

getting the blood it needs. Damage may be temporary or 

permanent. For example, you might lose the ability to speak, 

but recover it with time. You might have partial or complete 

weakness, for example, in the use of an arm or leg.

The important thing is what you do if stroke symptoms occur. 

The sooner the treatment, the less chance of serious damage 

to the brain. And this means less chance of permanent 

disability.

Stroke Warning Signs

Sometimes symptoms of stroke develop gradually. But if you 

are having a stroke, you are more likely to have one or more 

sudden warning signs like these:

• Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially 
• on one side
• Confusion or trouble understanding other people
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble seeing with one or both eyes
• Trouble walking or staying balanced or coordinated
• Dizziness
• Severe headache that comes on for no known reason

Types of Strokes

Stroke symptoms may differ, depending upon the type of 

stroke, where it occurs in the brain, and how severe it is. A less 

severe stroke may be more difficult to recognize.

An ischemic stroke happens when a vessel supplying blood 

to the brain becomes blocked. It can occur for a variety of 

reasons. For example, fatty deposits in arteries 

(atherosclerosis) can cause blood clots to form. Sometimes a 

blood clot forms in the heart from an irregular heartbeat called 

atrial fibrillation. It then travels to a place where it blocks an 

artery supplying the brain.

A haemorrhoidalT stroke occurs when a weakened blood 

vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain. This can also occur 

for a variety of reasons.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a "mini stroke" from a 

temporary blockage. Although a TIA doesn't cause permanent 

brain damage, it may cause stroke warning signs, which may 

last minutes or even hours. Think of this as a warning sign you 

shouldn't ignore.

What to Do if You Have Symptoms of Stroke

Remember that a stroke is a medical emergency. Sometimes 

it is even called a brain attack.

• Don't ignore stroke warning signs – even if you have just 
• one or if symptoms are mild or go away.
• 
  
• Don't wait! Every minute counts.
• 
  
• Call 911 or emergency medical services (EMS) if you have 
• 
  
• one or more symptoms for more than a few minutes. An 
• ambulance can get you to a hospital without delay.
• 
  
• Check the time when symptoms begin. This is important 
• information to share when you arrive at the hospital.

What if you're with someone else who might be having stroke 

symptoms but you're not sure?

Take charge and call 911. Some people may deny that there is 

a serious problem. They don't want others to make a fuss. Or 

they might ask, "What's the big rush?" It may help to remember 

this: What's the worst thing that can happen if this isn't a 

stroke? An unnecessary trip to the hospital. But what's the 

worst thing that can happen if you ignore the problem and it 

turns out to be a stroke? The result could be much worse.

How to Prepare for a Stroke

Few people think a stroke will happen to them. But if you or 

someone you know has a stroke, taking these steps in 

advance may end up making a very big difference. Take 

action with these tips today or as soon as possible:

Ask a health care provider which hospitals in your area are 

primary stroke centres with 24-hour emergency stroke care. 

They are best equipped to care for people who have strokes. 

You may be able to find stroke care centres on line, too. 

Find out which hospital or medical facility is closest to your 

home or work. Your human resources department may be able 

to help you locate those near work. Your doctor may be able to 

help you with this, too.