Healthbeat by Deirdre Cox Baker

I once had a boss who gave me a stomachache.

It got so I changed jobs within a year because I literally got sick from the stressful environment. It was a job that I needed, but not so badly. The next boss I had was located miles away from our office so the tension level was much lower than it had been.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week on a Swedish study which shows that those who have passive, inconsiderate or uncommunicative bosses are more likely to suffer from heart attacks. Those who thought better of their bosses were less likely to get heart disease.

The recent study was published in the journal, Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Other research, done earlier, shows a higher level of burnout, depression and high blood pressure among those who have poor managers.

A couple of thoughts: First, the Peter Principle, which says an individual rises to a point in an organization where he does the poorest job of all. That would explain the deficient bosses in this world.

Second, work is where most of us spend the majority of our waking hours, for about 40 years. The workplace is logically the source of any or all health concerns.

I did food shopping on Tuesday, a day after my husband did food shopping. It now appears we’ll have much more food than is needed for tomorrow’s holiday supper.

Some of the visitors at our house will be watching their calorie input. Here are a couple of diet-friendly suggestions, generated by the American Medical Association, that would work for any family:

N Don’t linger near the appetizers. It makes it too easy to mindlessly eat while chatting with friends.
N Limit your desserts. Take just a taste instead of a full serving.
N Drink alcohol in moderation. Not only are alcoholic beverages full of empty calories and sugar, but drinking may lower inhibitions and cause you to eat foods you otherwise wouldn’t.
N Fill your plate with fruits and veggies, instead of fried foods and creamy dips.
N Take a walk. It’s a great way to catch-up with family and friends while getting exercise.

For more tips and resources on how to improve diet, get more exercise and reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors, visit this Web site operated by the American Medical Association.

Family members who gather on Thanksgiving may wish to talk about their genetic health history. At least, that’s the suggestion of the acting Surgeon General of the U.S., Dr. Steven Galson.

Genetic influences are a big reason behind one’s health, and Grandma or Grandpa may lend some insight into what ailed previous generations that help guide today’s family members.

My paternal grandmother, for example, died after complaining of a sudden and painful headache. She went to sleep and never woke up, my father reported. When I told this story to a neurologist, he suggested I get myself to a hospital if I ever develop a sudden, painful headache. That’s probably a stroke, he said, and my grandmother proves that strokes in my family can be fatal.

A carefully constructed family health history may thus identify disease risks that can be inherited, lifestyles that may affect disease risk, environmental factors and patient health concerns.

“Tracing the illnesses your grandparents, parents, and additional blood relatives have suffered from can help your health care provider predict diseases and disorders from which you could be at risk,” Galson said.

The Web-based tool, “My Family Health Portrait,” provides consumers with a free and easy-to-use way to assemble their family health information. Find it right here

Years ago, popular singer Anne Murray’s music filled our house. When my father liked a particular artist, like Murray, he’d buy several albums and listen to them quite often.

One song he very much liked was Murray’s rendition of “Everything Old is New Again.” Dad died 19 years ago, but I still think of that song title every so often.

Today, for example: I received an e-mail message from The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It featured tips on how to prevent or treat heartburn during the upcoming season, when we tend to over-eat rich foods. Take a look at the advice which follows and let me know if you are surprised or not at the original source. I’m not.

Looking forward to some big feasts this season? Here are a few ways to avoid heartburn:
1. Eat slowly and chew thoughtfully.
2. Wear loose clothing. Loosen your belt to prevent pressure on your stomach.
3. Avoid overeating. Fill your plate only once, with a reasonable amount of food.
4. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolate, fatty or fried foods, mint, tomatoes, and spicy foods.
5. Avoid bending over just after the meal.
6. Take a walk or undertake some other light exercise an hour or two after eating.
7. Wait at least 3 hours before lying down. Before you fall asleep, elevate your head with an extra pillow.
For heartburn, take a teaspoon of carbonate of soda dissolved in sweetened water.

— Source: Mrs. E.A. Howland, The American Economical Housekeeper and Family Receipt Book, 1852.

Our household will be pretty full for Thanksgiving this year as offspring, friends and children are expected for the early-evening meal.

My choice is to turn all the TVs onto football games and talk, talk, talk and munch, munch, munch. But the health regime of the past year also put me in a more nutritional frame of mind, and I imagine that’s the case with others as well.

The overweight and obesity levels in this community are still way too high. The latest Quad-Cities Community Vitality Snapshot shows that 6 of every 10 adults have a waistline problem. That’s more than the national average and pretty darn troubling to health professionals.

I was talking to a doctor the other day who said obesity and poor nutrition are leading causes for kidney failure, which is one of the top 10 killers of Americans. It’s also a leading cause for the nation’s top health problems — heart disease, diabetes, strokes — that also kill too many people or cause poor health situations.

There are many incentives to eat less and to use better decisions in the diet. The American Medical Association has some ideas on handling food during the holidays:

“Thanksgiving is the gateway to the holiday season, when many people ingest lots of calories in food and beverages and don’t get enough physical activity to burn those extra calories,” said Dr. J. James Rohack, president-elect of the organization. “By making a plan early to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the season, you can enjoy yourself without having to pay for it next year.”

Tips:
1. Use fat-free and low-sodium broths in soups and stews.
2. Replace the sour cream in dips with low-fat or nonfat sour cream or yogurt.
3. Add a green vegetable to every meal, like broccoli in your omelet, spinach on your sandwich and green beans on your dinner plate. It’s a great way to sneak extra vitamins into your diet.

“Thanksgiving isn’t usually a calorie-conscious holiday, but by swapping out a few ingredients with healthier alternatives, you can really help reduce calorie and fat intake while keeping great flavor,” Rohack said.

We Bakers may also choose to take a nice walk on Thursday night, a perfect way to end an event-filled day.

We are currently without a pet as the family cat, Callie, just passed away. There’s a resident orange beta fish whose fun to watch, but it’s not the same.

That’s one reason I’m watching progress of the First Dog purchase. The president-elect has famously said he’ll get his daughters a puppy in the next several weeks, and I and many Americans are following the topic with interest.

Word has it that one daughter has allergies, and that has caught the attention of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, or AAAAI, a professional organization based in Milwaukee.

Sadly, the organization says that all those allergic to dogs should stay away from them as the best form of treatment. But there are other ways to minimize symptoms, including:

1. Visit an allergist/immunologist to diagnose the allergy and discuss treatment, which may include maintenance medications or immunotherapy (allergy shots).
2. Keep the pet out of the allergic person’s bedroom. Animal dander will collect on pillows, leading to worsened symptoms at night and morning.
3. Bathe the animal weekly to reduce the amount of dander shed at home.
4. Replace carpeting with hardwood or other solid-surface flooring for easy clean-up.
5. Vacuuming may not be effective in decreasing allergen levels, but using a HEPA filter and double bags may help.
6. Wash bedding and clothing in hot water. While animal allergens are not easily removed by high temperatures, these measures may help.

Our local doggie expert is Stephanie De Pasquale (she writes the blog “To the Dogs”). She suggests that a poodle or poodle mix may be the best type of dog for the Obamas. The country of Peru has also offered the president-elect a hairless dog. We’ll just have to wait and see what they come up with.

For more information on animal allergies, see the AAAAI web site.

Today is Veteran’s Day, and I like to think to think of my dad, the World War II Navy man who was so proud of his country, to his dying day. He is buried on Arsenal Island and I just ordered holiday decorations to be placed on his grave later this month.

My brother, too, was in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, and now my 18-year-old daughter has friends who fight for us overseas.

Each generation is affected by the military in some way.

The holidays are approaching, and they may be rich for family talk time. Memories of veterans may be discussed over the turkey and stuffing.

More practically, Thanksgiving also means too much food and abundant alcohol. Heartburn may result, and is a common problem for many of us as we age.
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) says to seek medical attention if you have the following problems:

Your heartburn persists or becomes more severe.
Your heartburn occurs at night and wakes you from sleep.
Your heartburn occurs two or more times a week.
You have had heartburn or reflux for five years or more.
You have difficulty or pain when swallowing.
Your discomfort or pain interferes with your daily activities.

For more information check out its Web site, or call the toll-free Heartburn Hotline at 1-(888) 964-2001.

As a woman who this year reached the age of 50, I’m trying hard to pay attention to good health habits that add to the quality of life.

I just got an e-mail from the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Source, a regular publication on health tips of immediate interest to the female public. The November issue includes a list of symptoms one of us might have, that really should be checked out by a doctor. I thought it would be helpful to pass them along, so read below if you are interested. You’ll also be able to view this online.

1. Trouble seeing, speaking or moving
Numbness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, and blurred or decreased vision are classic signs of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), a mini-stroke that sometimes lasts only minutes. More atypical symptoms are fainting, shortness of breath or sudden feelings of facial pain, tiredness or a racing heart. Women may have the traditional stroke symptoms less often than men but also may be more likely than men to experience atypical symptoms first.
For any stroke symptoms, immediate emergency medical care (call 911) is needed. Quick treatment for stroke can reduce the risk of brain damage or other complications.

2. A sudden excruciating headache
A headache that comes on like a thunderclap, with severe, excruciating pain could be caused by an aneurysm, bleeding in the brain, stroke, blood vessel inflammation, meningitis or a brain tumor. All require immediate medical attention. In addition, a headache that follows a head injury or is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or speaking difficulties is reason to seek care.

3. Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without trying can be cause for concern. A doctor’s appointment is warranted for a loss of 5 percent of body weight in one month, or more than 10 percent in six to 12 months. Underlying medical conditions could be an overactive thyroid, liver disease, depression or even some cancers.

4. Any breast change
A doctor should be consulted about a lump, nipple discharge or distortion, itching or skin changes (redness, scales, dimples or puckers), persistent breast pain or a change in breast size or shape.

5. Vaginal bleeding after menopause
Vaginal spotting or bleeding after menopause may be caused by changes in vaginal tissue, which can become thinner and more fragile as estrogen levels decrease. In some cases, however, postmenopausal bleeding can be a symptom of gynecological cancer. A medical evaluation is important.

6. Change in bowel habits
Mild diarrhea that lasts more than a week, constipation that lasts more than two weeks, or unexplained, sudden urges to have a bowel movement are reasons to consult a doctor. Also on the list are bloody diarrhea or stools that are black or tar colored. These symptoms could result from infection, medication side effects, a digestive disorder or colon cancer.

7. Feeling full after eating less
Feeling fuller than normal after eating less than usual could warn of gastrointestinal problems, ranging from indigestion caused by acid reflux to some cancers. If this feeling lasts for days or weeks, a physician should be consulted, especially if other symptoms are present such as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain or bloating, fever and chills or weight changes.

8. Persistent cough
A cough that lingers more than a month, is affecting sleep or brings up blood or sputum, is cause for a checkup. A chronic cough could be caused by asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a respiratory tract infection, chronic bronchitis or even lung cancer.

9. Sad or depressed mood
Feeling sad for weeks or months is a symptom of depression, a medical illness that’s treatable. Other signs might include a loss of interest in normal activities, feeling hopeless, crying easily, trouble concentrating, unintentional weight loss and thoughts of wanting to die.

10. Persistent or high fever
A doctor should be consulted when a low-grade fever (100.4 to 103 F) persists for more than a week. Fever can indicate a urinary tract infection or more serious illnesses such as immune disorders or cancer. A sudden high fever, greater than 103 F, requires immediate evaluation.

I don’t know about you, but I got my mental health fix this week by voting.

I am not kidding.

My husband and I went Monday to the Scott County Administrative Center in downtown Davenport and voted early. It was so simple, and I was absolutely filled with a sense of patriotism that has carried through today, during a time when I keep writing election stories for the Times Web site.

For example: We waited in line for about 10 minutes, and I noticed a group of well-dressed individuals. Two tall, handsome men were in suits, a woman in a beautiful African fabric print dress, and a little girl. One of the men got in line to vote ahead of us, and I overhead a little of his discussion with the precinct official. “You just became a citizen!” she said in surprise, and he said yes, over the weekend.

That means this individual immigrated to America and earned his right to vote just before this election, termed the most important in 48 years by some pundits.

What a wonderful country this is! We who live here and get to vote this week are among the luckiest people in the world.