Category: Healthy Living

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (also known as RSV) cases have seen an uptick in Northern Nevada. To help keep both you and your family healthy this season, we want to share information you should know about the virus and the simple ways to stay healthy: RSV is highly contagious and spreads through large infectious droplets and contaminated surfaces RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness in babies and young children Through touch and kisses, RSV is primarily passed from adults and older children (with mild to no symptoms) to infants Fortunately, there are ways to prevent the spread: Wash hands often Clean surfaces and toys with a viral disinfectant everyday Do not allow individuals with cold symptoms around your child …

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More than 35 years of backpacking and mountaineering have given me a lot of time to think as I watch the miles go by under my feet. Here are some lessons I have learned from this time: PERSPECTIVE: Did you know that many of the giant Sequoia trees are over 1500 years old? When I think of all that has transpired in human history during that time, it boggles my mind. My troubles and worries pale in comparison to the depth of history that has passed while these trees have flourished. Each of my days is but a speck of time in comparison. TIME: It is a bank account under constant withdrawal, minute by minute, year by year with no …

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Exercise is important for a healthy heart all year long. But during the winter months, exercising in the cold can raise the risk of angina (chest pain) or even a heart attack for some people. HOW COLD CAN HURT HEARTS If you’re out in the cold—whether on a run or shoveling snow—the low temperatures cause your blood vessels to constrict. This means your heart gets less oxygen, just when you need even more of it due to exercise. And that can lead to dangerous results. STAY SAFE (AND IN SHAPE) If you’re heading outside for any vigorous activity this winter, follow these tips to lessen your risk: Dress in layers Always wear a hat Stay hydrated Warm up for 15 …

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If you want to eat healthier, you may want to consider when you are eating in addition to what you are eating, according to a recent study. The research from Journal of the American Heart Association shows that eating starchy sides with meals raised the risk of heart disease and cancer, while eating small servings of fruit in the morning and at lunch, and vegetables at dinner, lowered those risks. However, eating vegetables at lunch did not seem to have the same positive result. The study recommends: Eating fruit in the morning and vegetables at night Avoiding traditional lunches with refined grains, cheese and cured meat—i.e., sandwiches Sticking with whole grains, yogurt, fruit, and nuts for lunch Skipping starchy snacks …

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Soda, pop, or coke—no matter what you call them—contain high amounts of added sugar that pose risk to your health. And it doesn’t stop with soft drinks. Regularly drinking any sugar- sweetened beverages can cause adverse health effects. “Enjoying the occasional sugar-sweetened drink isn’t detrimental,” says Matthew Gordon, MD, Family Medicine Provider with Carson Tahoe Health. “It becomes problematic when you consume them on a regular basis.” One recent report published in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that drinking 12 ounces of sugary drinks more than once daily is linked to reduced levels of “good” cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides—a combination which increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Drink This, Not That Dr. Gordon suggests water …

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