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Healthy Highlights

HEALTHY CHILD SUMMIT

When it comes to childhood obesity, NC is worse than all but four other states. And Caldwell County is even worse than NC’s average. That means our kids are at higher risk for diseases and disorders including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. That’s why Caldwell Memorial Hospital and our community partners invite you to attend A Summit for the Health of Our Children at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center. A Summit for the Health of Our Children is open to any Caldwell County teen or adult. The program is free but registration is required. To register or learn more, please visit www.HealthyChildSummit.com.

KEEP A STABLE WEIGHT TO PREVENT BREAST CANCER

Research has shown that obesity raises the risk for breast cancer after menopause. But does the timing of the weight gain affect risk? Nearly 100,000 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 71 were asked about their weight at ages 18, 35, and 50, and at the start of the study. Those who gained more than four pounds had up to twice the risk for breast cancer, compared with women whose adult weight stayed within four pounds. The larger the weight gain, the higher the risk. But this was only true among those who never used hormone therapy and former HRT users.

DID YOU KNOW? PHYSICAL FUNCTIONAL HEALTH INCLUDES BEING ABLE TO DO ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CLIMBING STAIRS AND CARRYING GROCERIES. RECENT FINDINGS SAY THAT THOSE WITH BETTER FUNCTIONAL HEALTH HAVE A LOWER RISK OF STROKE.

FOR HEALTH, PUT ON A PEDOMETER

Looking for an easy and low-cost way to increase your physical activity level? Try putting on a pedometer. An analysis of 26 studies looked at the effect of using these small devices to count and increase the number of steps walked daily. It found that pedometer use was linked with an almost 27 percent increase in physical activity. But before you begin, set a goal. Having a step goal was key to boosting physical activity levels. Other benefits included decreased body mass index and blood pressure.

FOOD & FITNESS

Government health experts recommend eating five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables. If this sounds like a lot, keep in mind that each of these amounts equals one serving: ¾ cup of orange juice, ¼ cup of dried fruit, ½ cup of cooked vegetables, a medium-sized orange or apple, and 1 cup of raw salad greens. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services