A New Year & Heart Health

Every new year, Americans are made aware that it’s a good time to be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack, adopt a healthy diet, or stop bad habits, all to help avoid heartdisease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Some of us make a true effort to change lifestyles, for others, it never really takes hold.  And while a cardiac event can temporarily slow a person of any age, it is particularly limiting for older adults.

Differences in activity level for those with and without heart disease are substantial. Adults with heart disease are much more likely to have difficulties with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking, etc.  A task as simple as walking out to get the mail, can become challenging for a person affected by heart disease.  Among those with coronary heart disease, about one-third of those age 51 to 61 and about half of those age 70 and older have difficulty with one or more of these activities, or what’s commonly referred to as ADLs.

We strive to help people remain in their homes by assisting them in a safe and compassionate way. If you know someone who is limited in their activity because of a cardiac event, or any illness, give us a call.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Health Benefits from Coffee

With so many things in our lives that seem to be bad for us, here’s a bit of information we came across this week that is very positive.  Like wine, chocolate and popcorn, coffee has joined the ranks of unlikely foods with health benefits!  Of course, with every endorsement there are caveats, and as with most foods, it’s moderation.  Excessive consumption can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and foster a dependence on caffeine.  However, if  you limit the cream and sugar, here are 5 benefits:
1. Memory Improvement.  Coffee can help with both long- and short-term memory. In a 2005 study presented at the Radiological Society of North America, researchers found that consuming two cups of caffeinated coffee improved short-term memory and reaction times.
2. Diabetes.  Studies suggest that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.  It’s attributed to compounds in coffee that block hIAPP, a polypeptide that can result in abnormal protein fibers, which are found in people with Type 2.
3. Decreases Cancer Risk.  Coffee consumption has been associated with decreased risk of breast, endometrial, prostate and liver cancers, and those linked with obesity, estrogen and insulin.
4. Antioxidant Properties.  Harvard researcher Edward Giovannucci, in research published in “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention,” noted that coffee has more antioxidants than most vegetables and fruits. In fact, a 2005 study found that coffee is the No. 1 source for antioxidants in the American diet.
5. Performance.  Coffee, and the caffeine in it, has been shown in multiple studies to increase both endurance and short-term performance.
So there you have it, 5 reasons to enjoy a good cup of coffee!

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!