I passed down the aisle inserting needles… and yes, I was glad they were locked up. Then I approached an inmate with a big “Howdy Doody” smile. “You seem extraordinarily happy,” I said. “Doc, here I am lying flat on my back in the middle of the day, listnin’ to good music, and makin’ five dollars. I got it made!” For more than a half-century, when I feel a pity party coming on, I remember that moment, and everything straightens out. 

 Presently, there is a constant barrage of unpleasant information, part of which is news. One should limit exposure to unpleasant news. I hardly watch or listen to the news anymore, because it is easy to overdose. Especially on the news channels, reporters collect everything bad that has recently happened. News rarely reports the millions of good, self-sacrificing events, because humans are fascinated by tragedy much more than everyday good deeds. 

Regret is an emotion where we face the fact we could have acted differently and avoided an unfortunate outcome. It is reliving a bad time, with guilt superimposed. It is traveling through life looking through a rearview mirror (not wise). We need to learn from our mistakes,  then travel onward without suffering guilt by revisiting the situation with regret. If one learns from his or her past, the past is closed as a meaningful experience and does not need to be relived. 

 One of the principle venues for happiness is to look where there is meaning. Meaning, according to a modern philosopher Robert Nozick, requires communication with other intelligent beings. As mentioned, but worth repeating, the most valuable painting in the world according to Guinness World Records is the Mona Lisa. It is insured for over a half-billion dollars. It has a great deal of meaning (in addition to its value), but if it were preserved in a locked vault where no one could appreciate it, it would retain value but lose meaning. 

I had a good, remarkably resilient Jewish friend who, when disappointed, would shrug and say, “This too will pass”. AND IT WILL! 

Visit drjimshealthtips.com for more. 

The post Health Matters: Reassess to Possess and Bless Cheerfulness appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Depression is a shroud that makes everything seem worse than it is. Happiness is the flip side of depression, and both cannot coexist. Thus, depression must be mollified, and measures to do so are available. I don’t claim to have expertise in psychology, but there are a number of theories concerning the emotional state of happiness. Foundationally, they seem to focus on one’s perception of self-worth and present living conditions; these are mentally, mostly subconsciously, compared to expectations. The apparently unending disruptions of Covid are depressing, indeed! But to quote Lincoln, “This too shall pass.” And soon we shall be stronger and able to appreciate the good life we have had and will have again, maybe even better. 

A century ago, the world faced a much worse dilemma with the Spanish Flu over 10 times as many were sick, and over 40 times as many died as with Covid, so far. There was no medical care like we have now, and there wasn’t reliable vaccine technology. AND THE BEAST RESOLVED COMPLETELY, NEVER TO RETURN. 

 Foremost, we need to focus on accurate reasoning to put into perspective what faces us. Think back to the roughest times you have been through, how you persisted and arose stronger when the setback flipped on down the road. You persevered by dealing with the vexatious adversity, and good times soon returned. 

Periods of activity such as walking improve one’s mood, as shown in medical studies, by shrinking depression and anxiety (which is what we are facing now). Remaining regularly active for half an hour worked as well as antidepressants in mild to moderate depression cases. If just starting, consult your doc beforehand. Also, bright light therapy is used to treat depression, so ponder going outside when the sun is bright for 10 minutes and see if you feel better. 

 Studies have amazingly revealed that giving to others is a mood elevating practice. Kindnesses are especially effective when they are a surprise. Every once in a while, when I am down, I drive to Starbucks, order a double expresso, and hand an extra $10 for the next patron’s coffee. My mood elevates from just imagining how that simple gesture makes someone else feel. Unanticipated kindnesses are even more rewarding when given to a friend. 

Visit drjimshealthtips.com for more. 

The post Health Matters: Let Us Not Acquiesce and Depress with the Covid Mess–but Instead, Repossess Success appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

I do not want to alarm anyone excessively. Although, I strongly believe that in important matters, if one errs, it should be on the side of carefulness. What I am classifying as alerts are warning signs that possibly indicate manifestations of treatable diseases. It is wise to recognize and scrutinize all alerts your body dispatches. 

 Note your general well-being daily. What is your energy level? Are you feeling more tired lately? Are you requiring more sleep? We all have intermingled good days and bad days, but when a pattern of decreasing energy becomes obvious, it indicates a major change in our body. Investigate any change in functioning. 

 Everyone should weigh themselves regularly. Unintended changes in weight are real red flags. Gains and especially unintended losses of over 5% within several months should result in a doctor visit. Especially during such times, it is wise to monitor blood pressure. Automatic BP monitors are reasonably priced and easy to use. 

Pain is our most common beacon of protection. Pain notifies us we have an injury or are being injured, and it also makes us withdraw and rest the injured part until it has recovered. Pain is unpleasant and teaches us to avoid behavior that could be harmful. 

 Going to see a doctor for pain is so obvious, you probably wonder why I would mention it. Well, there are several types of pain, which are regularly misunderstood as innocent when not. A good example is back pain located in the flanks—this is likely not spinal; it can be from kidney disease and needs to be checked. 

 Likewise, upper abdominal pain that radiates to the back often is an abdominal problem not a back problem. Newly onset back pain (or any pain) that continues for over a week should be evaluated. 

Everyone knows heart pain, termed angina, is life-threatening. Most don’t know that, in a substantial number, angina is atypical; it may appear as indigestion or jaw pain. In others, about a third, it may be silent. When exerting, if you note extra beats or shortness of breath, get checked out. 

Headaches are another common source of pain. One should become concerned when new recurring headaches begin in older adults, especially if severe enough to suspend daily activities. Headaches brought on with exertion or emotional stress should be investigated. Headaches located on one side of the head rather than general are worrisome. Sudden onset of the worst headache ever should prompt a call to 911. It could signal a weakened artery about to rupture. 

The post Health Matters: Look Ahead and Thwart Age appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

The word Dieting carries some distain, because it requires altering one of our most vital daily activities. It is always satisfying when a desired result can be achieved by doing something SMARTER rather than mindlessly following RULES. Counting calories can be monotonous at best. Regarding our appetites, we need to realize we have inherited the pondering of our ancient ancestors, which is survival. Prehistoric meals were opportunistic, occurring only when hunters had success. Those who ate more, especially fat, had more reserve when game was scarce, and they survived. We have survivor’s genes!

In the Mayo Clinic book Guide to Stress Free Living, Dr. Amit Sood mentions how to maintain a vigorous physique by adhering to the four S principles: slow, small, savor, and smart.

SLOW: means to relax your eating process. Initially, concentrate on taking more chews per fork portion, not just rushing with the fewest chews necessary to allow a swallow. Allow the act of mastication to provide mealtime fulfillment instead of the stuffing of your belly. Chewing satisfies (ergo, chewing gum). Also, after swallowing, allow a few seconds to expire before the next fork portion. There is no woe with going s-l-o-w.

SMALL: means to allow just a partial filling of your fork or spoon to serve yourself the next bite. It will be just as satisfying and will reduce your caloric intake considerably.

SAVOR: means to enjoy the tastes and texture of each bite. It is fun to relish the spices, varied flavors, the content’s essences, and the mouthfeel of what you are eating. Doing so provides added satisfaction in consuming what will become part of you.

SMART: means to choose what you consume according to its nutritional value, not according to its caloric content. Avoid foods that contain a lot of salt, are high in calories, high in saturated fat, or are processed. Fruits and veggies are a bonus for your body, especially dark green veggies and berries.

Adopting the four S principles will allow your brain to decide sooner that you are satiated with smaller amounts and that more enjoyment accrues, especially when you stand before a mirror. In addition, try to eat with others so it becomes a social time as well.

An added recommendation is that three meals a day is a convention from European settlers who focused on a 9 to 5 workday. The Bible has reference to two meals a day in the morning and evening. Romans ate one meal daily, and eating more was considered gluttony. Hello, fellow gluttons. It is hard to break what you were brought up doing, but consider whether you need to eat conventionally or smartly.

At mealtime, my bride and I frequently ask each other, “Are you hungry”? If each of us answers NO, we thankfully skip and do not miss the unnecessary meal. The FAT cells ante up the calories we burn until the next mealtime and shrink. SHRINK, YOU FREELOADERS!

The post Health Connect: Sublime Back in Mealtime appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

The circulating soldier cells include three types of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes/macrophages. INTRESTING! When a foreign substance is discovered, the lookout immune cells sound an alarm. The combat group ingests the intruders and sounds the alarm to bring in more troops as well as alert the bomb (antibody) makers to get busy. It sensitizes some cells for the future, producing protection termed IMMUNITY. AMAZING! Injecting substances similar to a germ (that does not make one sick) producing antibody is a vaccination.

During this hazardous time of Covid-19, get personal immune systems honed and ready to protect. This is especially important in older folks and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Moderate regular exercise for 30 minutes will tune-up immunity. GET GOING FOR SAFETY’S SAKE!

Foods with especially high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity include phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols, which are in veggies and fruits. WebMD lists apples, apricots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, garlic, legumes, onions, red peppers, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes as being highest. They also list oysters (yum) as having zinc. Zinc is a mineral that BOOSTS the immune system. One of the best boosters is garlic. SO EAT UP.

Cold-Eeze OTC lozenges are a clinically proven tactic to reduce the detriment of colds. Cold-Eeze has not been tested with the novel COVID but could help. I start it whenever I begin to feel out of sorts.

Make your overall bodily functioning better with a healthy lifestyle which includes adequate sleep. Also, stress is not good for immunity. Reduce it by thinking positive thoughts: be gratified that you are well, and realize the odds are remarkably in your favor. If you are free from COVID, you are among 98%. BE CAUTIOUS, BUT RELAX.

There are some vitamins and minerals that boost immune systems, including vitamins C and D, among others. In one study, patients hospitalized for COVID with low levels of Vitamin D had more serious courses. STAY HEALTHY.

The post Health Matters: Let’s Catch Some Affection for Perfection of Our Body’s Protection appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

According to Professor Robert Nozick, one of the great modern philosophers, meaning by definition, requires crossing boundaries of other sentient beings (i.e. involving others). Love is generally considered the most important fulfillment, but it is nonetheless a subset of achieving meaning, and “love” that is without meaning is a worthless endeavor. A person can care enough for another to say they love them, but the importance of “love” as Spinoza opined depends on meaning being given to the loved by the loving one. AMEN! 

“One is the Loneliest Number” was a hit song by the Three Dog Night in 1969. By all available scientific data, the song is accurate. Recent multiple well-done studies have shown social integration has a significant benefit on health. In the Swedish Kungsholmen Project, social integration lengthened useful life even in those over 75 years of age. The study also demonstrated establishing a good social network reduces the chance of dreaded dementia by 60%. It deposits cash in your mental bank. MENTAL CASH is GOOD. 

Resilience is a personality characteristic that strongly promotes longevity. Being able to roll with the punches of life is important in reducing the harmful stress life imposes. Support from others, (friends in particular) is remarkably stress-busting, and friends are created and retained by socialization. Some of the unhappiest people I have encountered are those who believe life has been unfair to them; life is a stage, a medium for us to act our parts and at best learn. LEARN! To expect rewards and punishments in harmony with how good or bad we consider our behavior is absurd. As Shakespeare had Hamlet so ably observe, “For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” 

Appreciation of those you surround yourself with is important. How many of us wish we had voiced more appreciation to those departed? Don’t continue that mistake. Actively appreciate your friends and loved ones, especially those you have chosen as partners in life. Genuine appreciation is a coin of great value with two sides—contentment for the recipient and giver as well. Like an echo, kind words come back. The Bible instructs, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). Attentive, responsive, approachable, outgoing, and social are synonyms of friendly. 

If you want to be liked by others, sow each relationship’s soil with kindness. Kindnesses are especially effective when they are a surprise. Every once in awhile, when I am down, I drive to Starbucks, order a double espresso, and hand an extra $10 for the next patron’s coffee. My mood elevates from just imagining how that simple gesture makes someone else feel. Unanticipated kindnesses are even more rewarding when given to a friend. 

The post Health Matters: Make Your Foundation an Obligation for Socialization appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Animals are constructed to be mobile. Unlike plants, whose job is to be biological solar panels, animals need to forage for fuel.Until the arrival of agriculture and animal husbandry, our hominoid ancestors had to be physically active in acquiring food. Except for certain times of year and certain choice locations, those who caught more game ate more and had increased survival, likely because they traveled greater distances foraging.Now human’s greatest foraging problem is standing in line at the checkout stand.

Everyone knows exercise is beneficial, yet studies show only one third of Americans report they exercise regularly (and since duration in the quoted study was only ten minutes or more, probably half of those do not exercise with enough vigor or long enough to secure health benefits). Definite exercise benefits are seen when people moderately exercise for 30 minutes five times a week. GET BENEFIT.

The current and future rewards of physical activity are manifold. Especially now, a 30minute walk has been shown to be as calming as a tranquilizer! TAKE ONE TODAY! Regular exercisers not only live longer, they live better.

Aging is not a four letter word; it is mandatorily essential. People gain certain functions growing older, but other functions diminish. Regular exercise allows retention of our treasured functioning. YES, HANG ON.

Regular exercise is the best investment one can make toward a health-giving future. It not only allows enhanced living in the NOW; it reduces the chance the bad actors of health including heart attack, stroke, and cancer will visit. Suspensions of bad stuff foretell exercise’s wholesome effects on the overall aging process. Aging is molecular damage to living cells from “aging molecules” (free radicals).

The faster cells produce energy, the more “aging molecules” they produce. Thus, exercise should worsen things, but the body has a wonderful protective mechanism to produce“anti-aging molecules” which neutralizes the bad molecules. TAKE THAT, BAD STUFF!

Because of exercise’s overproduction of protective molecules, exercisers have less loss of function as they continue maturing.You can gain and retain better overall physical and mental performance. YEA Start slow, and see your doc if necessary.

The post Health Matters: Be Wise, Energize, and Realize the Exercise Prize. appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

Foremost, we need accurate reasoning for perspective. Recall your roughest times, how you persisted, and arose stronger afterward. As notable minister Robert Schuller said, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” AMEN

Carefully follow guidelines for avoiding COVID. Then take heart that, having done all you can, your chances of becoming sick are insignificant, and worrying will not help. It might even lower your immunity (which you do not want).

Laughter emits feel-good hormones (termed endorphins) which counteract harmful stress hormones. GO AWAY! Scientific studies revealed depression and stress were reduced after laughter classes. BENEFICIAL!

Scientific studies also show effectiveness from stress buster mindfulness. Find a quiet spot, sit upright, place hands on lap, close eyes, and concentrate on your body sensations. Feel your chest lifting as breath enters your nose then lungs and feel an unhurried exhale.

Feel your feet and proceed up the body concentrating on different areas. Try this for several minutes until your mind is at peace.

If your gym is closed, exercise regularly by walking, jogging, or bicycling in your neighborhood. Keep your core strong (which keeps posture decent) by plank exercises. See the web and start carefully. Do chores such as yard work or gardening. Read books or do puzzles. The mood is better when active. KEEP OCCUPIED!

Restrain the COVID news you read or watch; much does not apply to those remaining healthy by appropriate protective measures. CDC and medical schools are good info sites, but much other is often distorted.

Studies conclude religious participation has protective effects in times of stress caused by negative life events. STRESS BEGONE!

The post Health Matters: Let’s Address and Outguess the Stress of the COVID Mess appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

I have beheld a number of smart people who have become convinced the problem is a bunch of hullabaloos. “The news media has blown it out of proportion,” is a common renouncing. Other’s denial surmises, “It is no worse than the flu, and we don’t run from that.” WRONG.

The medical authorities, including CDC and WHO, have listed measures that are essential in the prevention of COVID, and they should be committed to memory.

But, while scientific information is important, it is always shrewd to bring in common sense and use both to achieve the best results. Having medical treatment primed and ready is essential, but it is the backstop, not the firewall, of viral epidemics. Prevention is the vital firewall, and each of us is on the front and essential line for our own health and that of family, friends, and the entire community.

All of us must realize that specific actions done in specific ways are essential to protect everybody. Knowing something like frequent handwashing is important, but is not enough.

People need to be informed about how and when to wash hands. Washing should concentrate on fingers, especially tips and nails. Clipping nails gives COVID less room to hide. Wash before and after going to public places, after touching items that have been touched by others from outside your home, before eating, and (if washing is not possible) use sanitizer. Consider a number of people touched the door you opened and the chair you moved for seating.

Move and stay at least ten feet from someone coughing or sneezing, and move away from anyone appearing sick. When you or loved ones don’t feel well, STAY HOME! Take tissues or a hanky to temporarily cover your nose and filter air when appropriate.

Get stocked up necessary items so you can sequester when indicated. Which items are necessary and how much?

Common sense on subjects like those mentioned is essential. And efforts must concentrate on areas that are likely to suffer the most, ones with crowding living and concentrations of older, sicker people.

With health issues such as COVID, it is important to establish healthful actions as a routine to be followed regardless. Deciding there is little danger here, so I do not need to do what I normally do, is a dangerous variation–because how do you know whether someone infected has passed through?

Is this punctilious? Perhaps, but in important health and life-or-death matters, it is best to overact on the side of safety!

The post Health Matters: Let it be Said it is Crucial to Dread and Not Spread COVID appeared first on Postcards Magazine.

As we age, our arteries age by developing rough spots called plaque, where the smooth Teflon-like inner vascular surface roughens. The inner surface cells are the only cells in the body that won’t cause blood to clot. Small clots can form where there is plaque. If this happens in the neck vessels, the clots can detach, get swept along, and lodge in brain arteries, depriving a specific brain area of blood flow. If the area injured is big enough, the result is a DREADED STROKE.

Strokes are major causes of death and disability. Three-quarters of a million Americans have strokes each year! Strokes are dreadfully abrupt; as such, we should be aware of how to recognize and deal with them. Sudden, completely unexpected onset of symptoms is a very important clue. Many patients with a stroke know the exact time it started. WOW. In an instant, defects happen. Physical problems such as weakness of the facial muscles or an arm or leg, dizziness, or trouble walking should alert. Also, slurred speech, blurred vision, trouble thinking or other sudden mental deficiencies are warnings. When they cry out, rapidly seek help! Time is of the essence because brain cells are dying, and therapy is needed to stop the damage. People having strokes who are treated earlier have less disability.

Dial 911 immediately when any possible stroke symptoms appear. The paramedics will give you a brief exam and determine if a stroke is the problem. They will also notify the emergency room to be ready to treat a stroke.

There are many emergency rooms widely scattered throughout America; however, for people having strokes, there are a number of innovative treatments offered which are available in only a few places providing state-of-the-art stroke therapies. All healthcare institutions, including hospitals, need to be certified by a regulatory organization called simply the “Joint Commission”. The “Joint” makes sure medical care being delivered meets strict standards.

The “Joint” has designations for superior stroke treatment centers and it titles them “Comprehensive Stroke Centers.” These centers are staffed by specialists in the expert treatment of strokes. They are set up to rapidly get a scan of the brain in less than 30 minutes, and a radiologist is always on duty. Physicians capable of administering the medicine to rapidly dissolve an obstructing clot and re-establish critical blood flow are available. The need for speed is critical because brain cells are suffering; if blood flow is restored before they die, they will recover. Be aware and don’t hesitate to go into critical stroke mode if there is any suspicion of a stroke. To be sent additional health blurbs, send your name and email address to jwjones@bcm.edu.

The post Health Matters: Do Not Choke When it Comes to a Stroke appeared first on Postcards Magazine.