Parish Nurse Notes

By Jean A. Krueger, RN, FCN

The Journal of Christian Nursing contains CEs and other useful information. The following is from the July-September 2010, Vol 27, No. 3, page 276:

“Cheating Death: Stats Stack Up

Geneticists report that nearly 70% of longevity factors are linked to behavioral and environmental factors within one’s control. Where are you gaining or subtracting years from your life?

+5 if you are a married man, or regularly play puzzles and games that stimulate the mind; +2 if you floss daily and eat nuts on a regular basis; -1 if you get less than 6 to 8 hours of sleep; -5 if you are stressed out or are slowly gaining weight; -15 if you smoke or use intravenous drugs.

Data from Archives of Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.”

Five Practices for Happiness

In a TED talk, statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation’s success by its productivity—instead of by the level of happiness and well-being. You can watch his presentation on Happy Planet Index: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/nic

In his talk he outlines 5 practices for happiness, which also are actions for good health. They are the following:

1. Be connected – social relationships are the most important connections.
2. Be active – don’t be a passive by-stander to life, but take action.
3. Be mindful – take notice of things around you and in the world.
4. Keep learning – let your curiosity be a motivating force in your life.
5. Be generous – giving promotes happiness.

Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite

They’re here! A survey of respondents from all over the country sponsored by the National Pest Management Association found that bedbug related calls to exterminators have risen by 81% over the last decade and by 57% over the last five years. Bedbug expert Louis Sorkin, who is an entomologist with the American Museum of National History in New York, says that the bedbug infestations are clearly on the rise because the bugs have developed a resistance to many of the commonly used chemical pesticides and because people are traveling more. The bugs are difficult to eradicate because they can live for up to a year without feeding, according to Sorkin. When they do start biting, some people don’t notice because they are not allergic. When traveling check bedding and mattresses in hotel rooms before unpacking and look not just for the bugs but also for evidence of their existence in the form of tiny brown or red specks on sheets. Sorkin even recommends looking behind headboards and picture frames and inspecting upholstered furniture. Upon returning home, dry clean or wash all clothing in hot water, even clothing not worn. Suitcases should also be inspected thoroughly and vacuumed with a hose attachment if evidence of infestation is seen.

New Parents and Depression

Many parents experience depression during the first 12 years of their children’s lives and the risk is highest during the first year after birth, according to a United Kingdom study of 86,957 families. More than one-third of mothers and about one-fifth of father’s had an episode of depression between their child’s birth and their 12^th birthday. Those parents between ages 15 to 24 at the birth of their child were especially at risk. “The highest rates of depression in the postpartum period are not surprising owing to the potential stress associated with the birth of a baby, such as poor parental sleep, the demands made on parents and the change in their responsibilities and the pressure this could place on the couple’s relationship,” wrote Shreya Dave, of the Medical Research Council in London, in an online report that will be published in the November issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Consistent with other studies, parents experiencing social or economic deprivation are more vulnerable to depression. The authors of the study suggest “younger parents may be less prepared for parenthood with more unplanned pregnancies and may be less able to deal with the stresses of parenthood compared with older parents.”

Shingles May Increase Stroke Risk

The journal, Stroke (v. 40, p. 3443), reported on a study of 7,760 people which found that those who had suffered from shingles were 31 percent more likely to have a stroke within a year of being treated than those who had not developed the disease. The shingles vaccine is recommended for everyone over 60.

“Longevity Facts,” The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50, 22(2), 1.

Mood Disorders and Obesity

A study published in the BMJ (vol. 339, p. b3785) which looked at 4,000 people found that those who scored high on a depression questionnaire were 33 percent more likely to be obese, with a BMI over 30. Anxiety disorders were also found to increase the likelihood of obesity.

“Longevity Facts,” The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50, 22(2), 1.

Link for Diabetic Foods and Diets from the Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes-diet/DA00027/?utm_source=FeaturedTopic&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HouseCall&pubDate=September%2027,%202010

Link for exchange lists for diabetic foods-

Did you Know. . .? That both cigars and pipes produce more secondhand smoke than cigarettes?“Wellness made easy” UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, 26(8), 8, May 2010 My Family Health Portrait web tool (https://familyhistory.hhs.gov) helps you organize family history information and then allows you to print it out for your doctor. It also allows you to save your family history on your computer and even share it with other family members. No information is saved on any computer of the U.S. federal government.