Artist and activist Nikkolas Smith illustrates reality of patients living with sickle cell disease

In June 2023, the Red Cross and celebrated artist and activist Nikkolas Smith revealed exclusive artwork, entitled “Transfusion,” to raise broader awareness about the disease. Nikkolas worked with four sickle cell warriors of various ages — Tiereny Bell, Dr. Rubin Beaufort, Dreylan Holmes and In June 2023, the Red Cross and celebrated artist and activist Nikkolas Smith revealed exclusive artwork, entitled “Transfusion,” to raise broader awareness about the disease. Nikkolas worked with four sickle cell warriors of various ages — Tiereny Bell, Dr. Rubin Beaufort, Dreylan Holmes and Erica Hunter — to capture and represent their lived experiences in the artwork.

From 12-year-old Dreylan Holmes’ misunderstood experience at school that left him isolated from friends, to Tiereny Bell’s excruciating pain impacting her work as an epidemiologist, people with sickle cell disease have vast and common experiences, yet are widely still underrepresented in everyday conversation. “People will sometimes say to me, you don’t look sick,” Tiereny said. “And I respond, well, what does sick
look like?” 

One in three blood donors who are African American is a match for people with sickle cell disease.

The American Red Cross continued to build on the momentum of its Sickle Cell Initiative — doubling the number of first-time blood donors who are Black or African American since launching the initiative in 2021. This success is critically important as blood transfusions are essential in managing the very real pain and long-term health of those with sickle cell disease. 

• Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S., and regular blood transfusions are critical to manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications.
  
• Sickle cell disease distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped. As a result, blood has difficulty flowing smoothly and carrying oxygen to the rest of the body, which may lead to severe pain, tissue and organ damage, anemia, and even strokes.
• In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 100,000 people have sickle cell disease and may require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lifetime — as many as 100 units of blood per patient each year.
• One in three African American blood donors are a match for people with sickle cell disease. To help ensure patients have the blood products they need, the American Red Cross has been working with partners in the Black community to grow the number of blood donors who are Black.
• Together, they launched the Sickle Cell Initiative in 2021 to inspire support for patients. Since the launch, the Red Cross and partners have increased their first-time African American blood donors to more than 45,000, nearly doubling the number of new donors and essentially reversing the trend of declining donors overall for this group.
• Since launching its Sickle Cell Initiative, the Red Cross has provided more than 130,000 sickle cell trait screenings to donors. From those surveyed, they have learned that about 70% are unaware of their trait status. The Red Cross aims to provide sickle cell trait screenings to 250,000 donors as part of its initiative.
• Individuals with sickle cell trait are encouraged to donate platelets or plasma to help those in need of lifesaving blood including cancer patients and burn victims.

The blood that runs through our veins can ease the suffering of others — and patients battling sickle cell disease need your help now. Please schedule a blood donation appointment today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2023/artist-and-activist-nikkolas-smith-illustrates-reality-of-patients-living-with-sickle-cell-disease.html

In my late father's optimistic world view, 'sunshine is the default'

By Vincent O'Keefe

Some memories remain fresh for decades.

"My father was a model of optimism for nearly a century, from fighting for civil rights in the 1960s to joining a group called "Beyond War" in the 1980s to self-publishing an environmental newsletter in the 2010s."

When I took my first airplane flight as a child with my father, the sky was a blanket of dark gray. As we ascended through the layers of clouds, I was gobsmacked by what suddenly appeared outside my window: the sunny blue sky! It was the first time my child-brain realized a gray sky did not mean the sun was absent — it was just hidden.

I turned to my father to share this astronomical hide-and-seek revelation, and he was amused. Together we chatted about how yes, the sun is always "above" the clouds, even on the darkest and rainiest of days. Hence, in some ways "every day is a sunny day," I surmised, and he did not disagree.

This example of my father's gentle scaffolding of my childhood reasoning and budding optimism is one of my favorite memories of him. Sadly, he passed away a couple years ago at age 92, and what I miss most is his optimism about the world even in the face of our culture's penchant for pessimism.

Let's face it: Today's "bad news" media saturation can be overwhelming — environmental degradation, political rancor, civil and religious strife, etc. But my father was a model of optimism for nearly a century, from fighting for civil rights in the 1960s to joining a group called "Beyond War" in the 1980s to self-publishing an environmental newsletter in the 2010s. He would acknowledge the world's problems, but he would also take action with unflagging optimism for the future.

So imagine my solace when I was going through his beloved book collection after his death and found one titled "What Are You Optimistic About? Today's Leading Thinkers Lighten Up." Edited by John Brockman, the book asks a variety of scientists and commentators what they are optimistic about in today's world.

Among its many topics, the book conveys several of my father's

Themes for an optimistic life

 1) Start with gratitude

It's easy to forget all the scientific advances we take for granted. Examples include the democratization of knowledge via the internet and the significant improvements in infant mortality rates, gene research and healthy aging. When I was a kid, I fantasized about jet packs and video phones. While we're still waiting for jet packs, take a moment to appreciate FaceTime. (Indeed, my "sunshine is the default" moment would not have happened without the technological wonder of air travel.)

As Kai Krause notes in the book, every so often be sure to re-appreciate the smartphone. In our pockets we now have our "own diviner of answers to any question, finder of any fact, in minutes or even seconds, an advisor like no Sun King or emperor, kaiser or pharaoh, could ever buy with all the gold in his empire."

2) Take the long view

Sometimes using a wider perspective can help reframe today's problems. For example, even though large-scale issues like disease, war and poverty persist, when viewed historically our era has improved in many of these departments. In the book, Chris Anderson adds that most "reporting of trends shows a world that is getting better. We live longer, in cleaner environments; we are healthier; we have access to goods and experiences that kings of old could never have dreamed of."

The long view can also help remind us of the power of human imagination. As Alison Gopnik explains, "the greatest human evolutionary advantage is our innate ability to imagine better alternatives to the current world." She notes that "everything in the room I write in now . . . was once imaginary, no more than an optimistic pipe dream."

3) Remember to laugh along the way

Robert Provine advocates an unusual, humorous mindset to help stay optimistic: "Things could always be worse." In a counterpoint to Gopnik's celebration of imagination, Provine states: "We have all heard of the 'grass is greener' syndrome. This is its 'grass is browner' counterpart, the achievable antidote for broken dreams and bolsterer of the status quo."

Provine's amusing approach reminded me of another decades-old memory, this time from my teen years. While working at a grocery store, I saw two men who looked to be in their 80s approach each other slowly. They were obviously friends because the one greeted the other by saying with a smile: "I should just tell you what doesn't hurt today!" As they laughed, I thought: That's how I'd like to be at their age! It may not have been full-throated optimism, but their interaction modeled how humor and gratitude can "bolster" the status quo.

Speaking of the "status quo," however, it's important to note that optimism should never be a naïve, head-in-the-sand mindset. We are not, after all, "beyond war" as a species. And as my father's activism shows, he was usually in favor of improving the status quo. But the problems of the world can keep knocking us down if we don't find ways of picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves off, and optimistically continuing to try to improve the world.

I'll never forget one day in my 20s when I did not yet have children. I saw one of my wife's friends with her two young daughters. The mother was a very petite woman, and the older child was already approaching the same size as her mother. Suddenly, the girl implored her mother: "Pick me up!" 

The mother grimaced and looked at me. In my surprise, all I could think to say was "what do you do when your kids get too big to pick up?" She sighed, smiled, put out her arms, clumsily raised this daughter who was almost larger than herself, and said: "You just keep picking them up."

That is how I felt upon finding my father's book about optimism. There he was, parenting me from beyond the grave, metaphorically picking me up again and pointing me in a sunnier direction. Like light still traveling from an extinguished star, his guidance continues.

The story via NextAvenue

Her mission: encouraging women to be part of the conversation, with their health providers and others, and to not be afraid of asking questions

By Michele Wojciechowski

Women who are age 40 and up often feel like they're not being heard. Award-winning actress Jane Seymour is on a mission to change all that.

"In both my television and film roles and in real life, I've always tried to push back against the typical notions of aging and feeling unseen. Being older shouldn't mean you are no longer valuable or relevant," Seymour, 73, says in a statement announcing her new campaign, Speak Up In BE (BE stands for bronchiectasis, a disease that causes permanent widening of the airways which can make it difficult to clear mucus and bacteria), with Insmed Incorporated.

If you haven't heard of "Unseenism," Insmed states it's "enduring gender and age biases in the health care setting [that] can leave some patients feeling overlooked, unheard or ignored."

In a national survey conducted by Insmed, Unseenism is usually evident with women, as 62% of them said they feel more overlooked as they age, and 58% said they didn't speak up with their physicians because their health concerns were previously ignored.

Seymour, who has starred in several movies including "Somewhere in Time" and "Wedding Crashers" and the long-running television series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," took the time to speak with Next Avenue about Unseenism and how women can overcome it. What follows is our interview, edited for length and clarity.

Next Avenue: The average woman thinks that someone who is famous doesn't deal with gender/age biases. What are some of the experiences that illustrate the biases you have had against you because of your gender or your age?

Jane Seymour: Well, I mean, the obvious ones are you're too old for this role.

Or the fact that there comes a point usually after 40, where most actresses, even if they've had a career, are just not heard anymore. You're supposedly not relevant. Your story or women of your age are not what people want to watch or want to hear about or want to see. I, however, have been incredibly fortunate in that I have chosen to do projects, whether they're independent movies or the TV series like "Harry Wild," where I am playing somebody that is my age, and I am dealing with the issues that happen to people of that kind of age group.

I think in real life, it doesn't matter whether you're famous or not. I find that if I have somebody coming to fix something, if they see a man in the room, they won't even talk to me. I'll say, "Excuse me. I am the one who phoned you. I actually am the one who owns the house. I'll be paying your bill. So please, can you talk to me?" And then they say, "Well, you won't understand, so I'm going to talk to him." Do you even know who he is? Have you met him?

So one way of dealing with this is humor. I will pick up my phone and say, "While you are explaining it to him, do you mind if I just record it so I will know and remember it? Because clearly, I'm not supposed to be able to remember these things and to save you telling me that, I think I'll just record it."

With Speak Up In BE, we're talking about medical issues in the doctor's office and a lot of different things. We're told we are not supposed to be able to run as fast. We're not supposed to have as much energy. We're not supposed to be as viable, I suppose, in certain things. We're too old for that. And, of course, we're not supposed to remember anything.

I'm a great one for being practical, recording it and just in the nicest possible way, letting them know that I'm the person they should talk to.

Why do you think this is how women are viewed in society? It's changing, but still …

It is changing. But if you think about it biologically, when you are very young and you're a woman, and if you choose to, you could be having children (Seymour has six) and going through that kind of a cycle. When you get to an age where people feel, well, you're not useful for that anymore — you're kind of dismissed.

I think the problem is someone can try and dismiss you, but you have to not be dismissible. So you have to pivot yourself and just go, okay, so yep, I'm not useful for giving you babies, but actually I'm very useful in terms of an enormous amount of life experience. I actually have time on my hands now and an interest in a lot of different things. I'm not stuck with one career or one thing that I need to do.

And now it's exciting! Now it's your time. So I don't understand. I understand that that's what's happened and what does happen a lot. That's why I think this campaign of Unseenism is incredibly important; to give it a name, give it a face and give it a voice. I think being an advocate for it is really important. Encouraging the average person to have that conversation with their friends, with themselves, with their partners, with their kids, just like, "Hey, I'm not only still here, but I'm actually probably more valuable and useful now than I was before."

Explain in your own words what 'Unseenism' is.

I think Unseenism is when you are maybe too afraid to talk about it because you feel like you're not important to the conversation even when it's about your own health. I think it's when somebody half listens to you, they don't really hear you, and they dictate what they think is their throwaway —oh, well you are older, this is normal. You've just got to accept everything.

I think Unseenism is when you can't self-advocate and when you can't feel good about enough about your own self-worth that you can ask the proper questions, especially in the medical situation here and record the answers. That's what I do. I write down the questions before I go. I do some research beforehand so I know exactly what I'm going to ask the doctor about, and I'm going to absolutely self-advocate. I record because I may not remember it, not because I have dementia or I'm older, but there may be an issue with hearing and processing at the same time that I might miss something that I don't want to miss.

What types of advice are you giving to women?

Do your research, know your questions and listen to your body because no one else hears your body. You can say, "The doctor missed that." But did you tell the doctor that that's what you're actually feeling? Write down "These times on those days, this is what I felt."

Ask your doctor, "Please tell me what do you think. Because you've got the training, you've got the expertise."

There are lots of diseases like bronchiectasis where they can easily be brushed off as, "You have chronic cold," or "We've checked your lungs." You need to be able to ask the questions and say, "Can we dig deeper? Because what you're giving me that's supposed to be making me feel better isn't."

We're asking people to really listen to their bodies, make sure they know what the questions are, and the information they can give. If you're not going to remember it and you get nervous in the doctor's room, as we all do, write it down. And if you're not going to hear or understand or remember what they told you to do, record it or have an advocate with you.

What about women who have trouble self advocating?  What would you say to them so that they would speak up?

Get to the point saying, "These are my issues. These are my questions, and if you're going to give me some answers, is it okay with you if I either have someone else in the room listening with me or I take notes or I can use my recorder just so I won't forget it?"

I think you will be respected for doing that because you're not wasting time, and they're not going to have to tell you the same thing three times.

Sometimes the doctor may tell you things you don't want to hear. So take someone with you if you feel scared. Have somebody else come with you who can ask the questions for you that you may be afraid to ask.

Anything else to say about age? 

I honestly think that age is obviously linear, but different for everyone. I think if you have a young spirit, if you find joy, if you can embrace body, mind and spirit — you have purpose. And for me, being creative is really important. Just find what it is that makes you tick and live your best life.

Story via NextAvenue

Help Us Slam the Scam!

On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, we give you the tools to recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information.  Help protect your loved ones and people in your community this Slam the Scam Day by:  Educating them about government imposter scams. Let them know they shouldn’t be embarrassed to report if they shared personal information or suffered a financial loss. It is important to report the scam as quickly as possible.  Sharing our Scam Alert fact sheet and helping educate others about how to protect themselves.  Report Social Security-related scams to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Report a Scam Visit www.ssa.gov/scam for more information and follow SSA OIG on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest scam tactics. Repost #SlamtheScam information on social media to keep your friends and family safe.

https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/assets/materials/EN-05-10597.pdf?utm_campaign=oig-scam-24&utm_content=scam-alert-pdf-feb2024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

By Tim Leffel, a travel writer who edits the travel-story website PerceptiveTravel.com.

The cost of getting away can be daunting these days. Airfares, car rentals, hotel rates and restaurant prices all have increased sharply. But there is a way to get your travel expenses down to size—visit one of the countries where the US dollar is worth the most. As of mid-2023, the dollar remains relatively strong versus many currencies, and it’s likely to strengthen even further when America’s debt ceiling showdown is finally settled.

While selecting a foreign destination with a favorable exchange rate won’t help with every travel expense—it doesn’t lower the price of airline tickets, for example—there still are some exciting and unique countries to visit on a budget.

Where Is the US Dollar Strongest?

Argentina. In 2008, one US dollar was worth around three Argentine pesos. As of April 2023, it was worth more than 200. A nice dinner for two runs the equivalent of around $20 in Argentina. A ride on Buenos Aires’s subway system costs the equivalent of around 80 cents. Argentina’s hotels are more expensive than they should be, given the state of the country’s currency—four- and five-star hotels are in the range of $140 to $350 per night—but great deals can be found on vacation rentals. The vibrant and largely safe city of Buenos Aires is well worth a visit, as is Argentina’s wine region, Mendoza—the grape harvest begins in February and lasts until April. If stunning natural beauty is more what you’re after, consider journeying to Patagonia at the country’s southern tip—but don’t visit during the US summer, when many tourist services and businesses in the Patagonian region are closed for the Southern Hemisphere winter. Traveling to Mendoza and Patagonia will require an internal flight, but if you have time, consider going by bus. Argentina’s “Super Cama” bus system (“cama” means “bed” in Spanish) offers food, drink, rolling vistas and lie-flat seating if you need a nap.

Colombia. In mid-2014, one US dollar was worth around 1,900 Colombian pesos…versus around 4,700 recently. That might not match the dramatic drop of the Argentine peso, but it’s enough to make Colombia a very affordable destination. Its beautiful beaches, lush rainforests and interesting history make it well worth a visit. Admission to the historic San Felipe Barajas Castle costs less than $5.50 at recent exchange rates…and a cross-town taxi ride in Bogota or Medellin typically costs about the same. Hotel prices vary greatly, but nice vacation rentals can be found for well under $100 per night—including ocean-view rentals in the historic walled city of Cartagena, which has interesting restaurants, friendly cafés and beautiful Caribbean beaches. Flying to Colombia doesn’t cost much either—round-trip airfares often are less than $500 from many American cities, and sometimes even under $400. Note: For many Americans, Colombia may conjure up memories of drug violence, but that image is decades out of date—these days, it’s no more dangerous than most tourist destinations.

Albania. One US dollar was recently worth about 100 Albanian lek—that’s more or less what it’s been for most of the past decade. Unlike many countries on this list, Albania isn’t a bargain because its currency recently collapsed—it’s a bargain because it’s one of the last remaining corners of Europe that remains largely undiscovered by tourists. Very nice hotel rooms and vacation rentals can be booked for $50 to $100 a night. Admission to the National History Museum and historic castles tends to be around $5 or less. Albania has delicious Mediterranean food…ancient and historic towns—Gjirokaster and Berat are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites…Roman and Byzantine ruins…plus wonderful beaches with smaller crowds and lower prices that rival ­better-known beach destinations in neighboring countries. Examples: Albania’s Dhermiu beach is right across the water from Italy…and the Sarande District at the southern tip of Albania is just 20 minutes away by ferry from Corfu, Greece, where lodging costs about twice as much.

Turkey. In 2014, one US dollar was worth just over two Turkish lira…today it’s worth more than 19, making this beautiful country a bargain for travelers. Rooms in highly rated hotels are available for less than $100 per night, and vacation rentals are even better deals. A tram ticket in historic Istanbul costs around 80 cents—be sure to visit the city’s famed Grand Bazaar. Greek and Roman-era ruins abound in Turkey. Example: The city of Ephesus is among the best-­preserved ancient cities in the world, and at current exchange rates, the 200-lira entry fee is barely more than $10. If you’re looking for relaxation, the Turkish beaches on the Aegean Sea equal those found on the pricier Greek islands just a few miles away.

Egypt. One US dollar was worth around seven Egyptian pounds a decade ago, and around 16 pounds at the start of 2022…but as of April 2023, one dollar traded for around 31 Egyptian pounds, transforming a country that already was a bargain into one of the best travel deals in the world. You can find a room in a five-star hotel in Luxor or Cairo for less than $100 per night or a perfectly acceptable three-star hotel for less than $50. That would be a bargain anywhere, but Egypt isn’t just anywhere—it is among the world’s most iconic travel destinations, with ancient pyramids and temples, Nile cruises and not-to-be-missed museums. The admission fee to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, one of the world’s great museums, is the equivalent of around $6.50 at recent exchange rates.

Thailand. The Thai baht hasn’t plunged in value versus the dollar in recent years the way some other currencies have, but at a recent exchange rate of 34 baht to the dollar, Thailand remains a tremendous travel bargain. A wonderful dinner for two can cost less than $20. Rooms in four- and five-star chain hotels are regularly priced under $100 per night. If you’re making an extended visit, you’ll discover appealing rental properties for $1,000 per month or less. In addition to the vibrant city of Bangkok, the tropical island paradise of Phuket is well worth a visit. It has a lively downtown with great food and culture as well as incredible beaches. If your schedule and budget allow, consider exploring multiple southeast Asian countries during the same trip to help justify the admittedly high cost of flying halfway around the world—Vietnam and Malaysia are travel bargains as well.

Other Ways to Cut travel Costs

Take one long trip per year, instead of several shorter ones, so that you need only one round-trip flight.

Consider vacation rentals on Airbnb.com or VRBO.com. Prices of these usually are affordable in countries where the local currency is weak.

Use credit cards or withdraw the local currency to make purchases when visiting these destinations. Merchants in countries that have weak currencies often are happy to let travelers pay with US dollars—but shoppers who do so are almost inevitably charged higher prices.

https://www.bottomlineinc.com/life/travel/travel-bargains-2

For most people, their blood-pressure-related concerns have to do with hypertension, meaning blood pressure that is dangerously high. But some people have to worry about the opposite problem, hypotension, meaning blood pressure that is dangerously low. The classic symptoms of hypotension are fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, depression, breathing problems, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, nausea, and sometimes excessive thirst. People with hypotension are at significantly increased risk of falls and accidents, and they’re much less likely to be able to function in their workplaces or handle family responsibilities.

While doctors usually encourage patients to keep their blood pressure below 120/80, simply having a pressure lower than that “magic number” does not mean someone has hypotension or is any danger. Because the ideal blood pressure is highly individualized, there’s no exact cutoff between high and low blood pressure that applies universally. Many people spend their entire lives with what looks like low blood pressure on paper while experiencing no symptoms from it, while others, at similar levels, would begin to notice ill effects.

Hypo vs. Hyper

High blood pressure is known as “the silent killer” because most people can’t tell that they have it just from the way they feel. Doctors need to rely on blood pressure readings to know if someone has hypertension. With hypotension, it’s just the opposite. It’s not so much the number that counts as whether or not the patient is experiencing symptoms.

Unlike with hypertension, the dangers of hypotension are not related to long-term damage to the cardiovascular system and are instead closely tied to the symptoms and signs of low blood pressure. That makes hypotension a serious condition worth diagnosing and treating. Any time you experience an episode of dizziness or lightheadedness, let your doctor know. They’ll want to rule out other potential causes such as nervous system problems, inner ear disorders and diabetes.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension has many potential causes. Excessive dehydration could bring about a drop in blood volume and thus blood pressure. You could also lose blood volume through undetected internal bleeding. Other possible causes are long-term bed rest, pregnancy, fever, hypothyroidism, heart valve disease, Addison’s disease, abnormally slow heart rate, low blood sugar, severe infection, parathyroid disease, and disorders of the autonomic nervous system. A frequent cause of hypotension is prescription drugs, especially blood pressure medications, antidepressants and erectile dysfunction drugs.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Some people experience a type of low blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension (sometimes called postural hypotension). This occurs when a person has a sudden drop-off in blood pressure, with its attendant dizziness, fainting or lightheadedness, when they stand up from a seated or prone position. These patients face a serious risk of falling, since the symptom comes on so quickly. Physiologically, what’s happening is that the blood has pooled in the legs. The heart, rather than speeding up to carry blood to the brain, continues beating at an insufficient pace and the brain is deprived of oxygen. A similar process can occur when blood pools in the gastrointestinal tract after a meal.

Orthostatic hypotension becomes more common with advanced age. Counterintuitively, many people who experience it also have high blood pressure. Such patients should talk to their doctors about the ideal hypertension medicine dose that will lower their blood pressure without increasing the risk of orthostatic hypotension.

Unfortunately, people with orthostatic hypotension have been found to be 54% more likely to develop dementia and twice as likely to experience ischemic stroke over the next 25 years. This may have to do with the fact that the blood pressure is changing significantly with great frequency. In a separate study, patients 55 and older underwent much more rapid cognitive decline if their blood pressure readings varied greatly between doctor visits over a five-year period.

If you experience orthostatic hypotension, there are two tricks you can try to avoid an episode.

First, before you stand up, tense your leg muscles for a few seconds. This literally “gets the blood pumping” and will keep your blood pressure from dropping so dramatically when you stand. The second method is to cross your legs before you stand, compressing the muscles, and to rise up with the legs still crossed and still compressed. That’s even more effective for staving off orthostatic hypotension symptoms.

Finding the Ideal Blood Pressure

With hypotension at one extreme and hypertension at the other, each individual likely has a blood pressure “sweet spot” that isn’t necessarily pinned to the broadest guidelines. A 2021 study suggests that certain blood pressure ranges are associated with better outcomes for people with particular cardiovascular risks. For example, heart attack risk was lowest for people whose blood pressure was between 110/85 and 120/90, while the ideal range for heart-failure risk was between 125/70 and 135/75. Meanwhile, stroke risk dropped evenly as both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were lowered. If someone has a higher risk of heart failure than heart attack, the study seems to suggest, then they may wish to target their blood pressure toward the range found to be associated with the best heart-failure outcomes.

But while such fine-tuning may be advisable for certain people, the basic goal for most patients should be to try to keep their blood pressure as low as possible. Lifestyle changes such as a low-sodium diet, exercising and quitting drinking are unlikely to cause your blood pressure to fall to dangerous levels. And if it should drop too low because of a medication or health condition, you’ll be able to recognize it by the symptoms and take steps to correct it.

https://www.bottomlineinc.com/health/cardiovascular-disease/signs-of-low-blood-pressure

Much of the United States is bracing for more extreme winter weather, with a

bomb cyclone and polar vortex set to wallop the Midwest, severe

thunderstorms forecast in the South and snow expected along the East Coast.

Jay Bonafede, communications director for the American Red Cross, spoke to Yahoo News about how people should prepare for extreme winter weather.

Items to have ready in your home

“You want to be prepared in case you can’t get out or don’t want to go out,” Bonafede said, “I think the most important thing is to have that food, water and medicine available before the storm in case the stores close or it’s unsafe for you to travel.”

Bonafede suggested stocking up on the following items.

• Non-perishable food: In the event of a power outage, food can be kept safe in the refrigerator for consumption for up to four hours, while keeping the door closed as much as possible. Food in the freezer can last for 24 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is, according to foodsafety.gov.

• Drinking water: Set aside at least one gallon of drinking water per person in the household, per day.

• Medications: It’s good to have a one-month supply on hand, if possible.

• Blankets and warm clothing: Have on hand enough blankets and layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing for everyone in the household. This includes mittens, hats and coats.

• Charged cellphones and electronic devices: With the possibility of power outages, you should have cellphones and other electronic devices charged, including battery-powered lanterns and flashlights.

Power and heat loss

“If you lose power, you lose your ability to heat the house and that cold air is coming in. You need to stay warm, and you need to stay warm safely,” Bonafede told Yahoo News. Here are some things the American Red Cross advises if you lose power and your main heat source:

• Only use generators, grills and camp stoves that are placed outdoors and away from windows in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Never use a cooking oven or stove to heat your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and home fires.

• Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights instead of candles due to the fire risk.

• Close off any rooms you don’t need.

• Use care when using fireplaces and space heaters. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet away from the heat source.

Staying safe if you have to go outdoors

“If you have to go outside, or if your house gets so cold that it becomes an issue inside the home, try and keep as much of your skin covered as you can,” Bonafede said.

Wear layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing, a hat, and mittens snug at the wrist are better than gloves, he added. Wear a ski mask or a scarf to help cover your face and water-resistant boots, if possible, to keep your feet dry.

Avoid overexertion, which could bring on a heart attack or other serious medical condition.

Items you’ll need if you’re stranded in your car

“You want to be prepared in case you get stranded, and we've seen that a lot here in Buffalo, where maybe the New York State Thruway closes and you're stranded for a while in the car,” Bonafede told Yahoo News. He recommends that those who live in areas where severe winter weather is a possibility have an emergency kit for the car.

This might be a backpack-sized bag that includes non-perishable canned food, high-energy snacks, drinking water, a first-aid kit, car cellphone chargers, blankets, extra dry clothes, and plastic bags for sanitation.

What to do if you do get stranded

Before heading out on a wintertime car trip, check weather reports for all areas of your travel route and tell someone of your plans ahead of time.

If the weather takes an unexpected turn and you get stranded, stay in your vehicle, Bonafede said, unless help is within, say, 100 yards of your vehicle.

Turn on your flashers, and hang a bright cloth on the antenna where it can be seen to let people know you have an issue.

Make sure the exhaust pipe of the vehicle is clear to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and only run the engine for about 10 minutes every hour to heat up the vehicle.

What to know about carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frostbite

Carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Just like gas-powered cars, gas-powered generators produce carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless, and is deadly when breathed in high enough concentrations.

• If you feel sick, dizzy or weak, get fresh air immediately.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends calling 911 or a poison control center at 800-222-1222 if carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected.

Hypothermia:

• Prolonged exposure to very low temperatures causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce it, a potentially deadly condition known as hypothermia.

• Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia, and can be followed by signs of confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech.

• If any of those signs are present, seek emergency help right away and move to a warm place. Remove any wet clothing and slowly warm the body.

Frostbite:

• The nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes are the first to be affected by frostbite, which occurs when a part of your body freezes.

• Signs may include pain, numbness and a change of skin color.

• If you experience frostbite symptoms, move to a warm place if possible. Gently soak the affected area in warm, not hot, water, until the skin feels warm to the touch and appears normal, then seek emergency medical care.

  Full Article in Yahoo!News

Your health check-ups plan

Use the check list to find out what tests, screenings and shots you need for your age, and then start making appointments to get them. Ask a Doctor columnist Trisha Pasricha is an internal-medicine specialist and gastroenterologist, and she’s compiled a list of key checkups you need at every age.

Why you should try this

It’s easy to lose track of the medical appointments you need. When you do remember, getting an appointment with your doctor or specialist can take months. But routine screenings are important — even when you think you’re healthy — because they can detect conditions early or prevent future ones. To catch up on missed maintenance and needed checkups, use our list to motivate you to make those appointments.

Take a body tuneup quiz

How much do you know about the medical checkups you should be getting? Here’s a short quiz to test your knowledge. Answer True or False, and then find the correct answers in the next section.

1. Blood pressure: Blood pressure is considered abnormal if it goes above the threshold of 140/90 mm Hg.

2. Eye health: Regular eye exams for glasses and contact lenses can preserve eye health as you age.

3. Cervical cancer: Women don’t need an annual Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.

4. Breast cancer: Women should begin screening mammograms at age 40.

5. STDs: After the age of 65, screening for sexually transmitted disease is no longer needed.

6. Colorectal cancer: Everyone should get their first colonoscopy at age 50.

7. Aging: As you enter your 70s, many routine screenings may end.

8. Prostate cancer: Universal screening for prostate cancer is recommended for men in their 40s.

Answers

1. Blood pressure: False. Recent guidelines state that blood pressure at or above 120/80 mm Hg is abnormal.

2. Eye health: False. A complete eye exam typically involves dilating the pupil to get a closer look at the retina and optic nerve. Routine vision checks for glasses or contact lenses don’t count.

3. Cervical cancer screening: True. Most women don’t need annual Pap tests. A schedule of every three to five years, depending on the test, is typically recommended.

4. Mammograms: True. Recent guidelines lowered the age to start routine breast cancer screening from 50 to 40.

5. STD testing: False. Age doesn’t protect you from STDs. Sexually transmitted infections among adults age 65 and older more than doubled from 2007 to 2017.

6. Colorectal cancer: False. Get your first colonoscopy at age 45, or sooner if you have a high-risk history, such as inflammatory bowel disease or a first-degree relative with early-onset colorectal cancer. Some medical groups advise African Americans to start screening at age 40.

7. Aging and screenings: True. As you enter your 70s, many routine screenings may end. After a certain age, screening is unlikely to prolong life; follow-up testing and treatment is often invasive and carries risks.

8. Prostate cancer: False. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not officially recommend a widespread screening program for prostate cancer. Discuss the risks and benefits of screening with a PSA blood test with your doctor.

So how did you do? Whatever your score, there is always more to learn. Use the link to read the full check list for your age group.

More tips to be a better patient

Come 15 minutes early to your visit. That means you’re checked in, paperwork is filled out, and vitals are checked, so that when your appointment officially starts, you spend more of your allotted time face-to-face with your physician and not getting your height measured.

Plan your story ahead. Lead with your most pressing problem, and get the timeline of your symptoms straight with as many specifics as possible (it makes a big difference to your doctor if your cough has been going on for several months instead of two weeks).

Write down your questions. If you’ve got a few things on your mind, write them down. Your doctor has limited time, so start with your most important questions first.

Don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting the help you need. “I perform colonoscopies every week, so believe me when I say that words such as flatulence or farting won’t make me blush,” Pasricha said. Whether it’s bowel issues, burping or sexual side effects, don’t be shy. Your doctor has heard it all.

Take a picture. In the age of smartphones, don’t hesitate to snap a picture if something seems amiss. That means pictures of poop, a weird rash, a bruise or a bite. If you find a tick on your body, take a picture so the doctor will be able to determine what kind it was.

Bring a medicine list. Doctors need to know about your medications. If you’re seeing a new doctor or specialist, write down all medications, including birth control and vitamins. List the name, dose and frequency. If you don’t have time, snap some pictures of the pill bottles.

Schedule appointments on Friday if you can. Researchers in Britain have identified a “weekday” effect for doctor’s appointments. Patients are more likely to miss appointments on a Monday, and show up on time for Friday appointments.

The holiday season is here, and the American Red Cross wants everyone to stay safe from home fires as they decorate their homes for the upcoming festivities.

Decorations like trees, lights and candles increase the risk of home fires during the holidays—with Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day being the top three days for home candle fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Red Cross wants people to stay safe from home fires—the nation’s most frequent disaster—by testing their smoke alarms and practicing their home fire escape plan with free resources at redcross.org/homefires. In addition, you can follow these 10 simple safety tips as you put up lights and ornaments:

1. Check all holiday light cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together—no more than three per extension cord.
2. If are buying an artificial tree, look for the fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat.
3. If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and water it to keep it fresh. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
4. If using older decorations, check their labels. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
5. When decorating outside, make sure decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
6. If using a ladder, be extra careful. Make sure to have good, stable placement and wear shoes that allow for good traction.
7. Don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.
8. Don’t forget to turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
9. Keep children, pets and decorations away from candles.
10. If hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel, don’t light the fireplace.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Every eight minutes, donations to the Red Cross help someone affected by a disaster—most often, home fires. Sadly, these events take more lives each year than all other natural disasters combined in the U.S. To prevent these tragedies, the Red Cross launched the national Home Fire Campaign in October 2014, working with volunteers and community partners to install free smoke alarms and help families create escape plans.

Through the campaign, the Red Cross and its partners have reached more than 1.6 million people and helped save at least 474 lives across the country by:

• Installing more than 1.5 million free smoke alarms
• Making 623,000 households safer from the threat of home fires
• Reaching more than 1.2 million children through youth preparedness programs
• You can help save lives by making a financial donation to support our mission, signing up to become a volunteer or taking steps to protect your own family from home fires. Visit redcross.org to learn more. 

If you haven't gotten your annual flu shot yet, there's still time. The flu shot is the best way to protect you and your loved ones against flu and its potentially serious complications.

For better protection, the CDC recommends people 65 or older get a higher-dose flu vaccine, if available.

It's important to stay up to date on all your vaccines this winter. Remember, Medicare covers the flu shot and the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines. 

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Flu  D (drug coverage) can also get vaccines for shingles, whooping cough, and more, at no cost.