Q: My father and my aunt both have type 2 diabetes. Here are a few things you can do to lower your risks of diabetes. Lose 8 pounds …
General Prevention
Each article includes a brief question and answer To customize the
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one you think will be meaningful to your employees, and add it to the
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Q: Is there really any way to prevent getting cancer?
A: At least one-third of all cancer deaths are related to nutrition and
other controllable lifestyle factors Do all you can to reduce your cancer
risks, including the following:
Dont smoke or chew tobacco
Exercise regularly
Eat a healthy diet
Avoid excessive sun exposure
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
Have regular preventive health screenings
Know your family medical history and review it with your doctor
Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2005,
wwwmayocliniccom
Q: Ive heard that one of the top causes of death among women is accident-
related Is that true?
A: Yes Each year, more than 37,000 women die from accidents
unintentional injuries These top health threats for women may
surprise
you:
Motor vehicle accidents Traffic-related accidents were responsible
for more than a third of all accidental deaths of women in 2002 most
recent year for which these data are available You can reduce your
chances of a fatal crash by routinely using your seat belt, keeping
your speed within legal limits, and not driving while sleepy or under
the influence of drugs or alcohol
Falls One out of every three people over age 75 falls each year, and
about 7,800 women in the United States die from such falls Three-
fourths of all falls occur in the home
Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2005,
wwwmayocliniccom
Q: My father and my aunt both have type 2 diabetes Is there anything I
can do to prevent getting it myself?
A: In the past eight years, the onset of diabetes among people 30 to 39
years of age has skyrocketed by
70 percent, enough for the American Diabetes Association to call diabetes
an epidemic Rising obesity among young adults is one of the major causes
Here are a few things you can do to lower your risks of diabetes
Lose 8 pounds
To drop 8 pounds in a year, try one of the following:
Have flavored seltzer instead of a 12-oz can of soda four times a
week or about 150 fewer calories
a day
Have a 1-oz bag of pretzels instead of a doughnut for your coffee
break five days a week or about
120 fewer calories a day
Have a breakfast bar instead of a toaster pastry for breakfast or
about 75 fewer calories a day
Eat Less Fat
To cut total daily fat intake by 22 grams and saturated fat by 6 grams one-
half of the maximum fat for women; one-third for men, try one of the
following:
Have a turkey sandwich with two tomato slices instead of two cheddar
cheese slices
Have one cup of tapioca pudding instead of one cup of regular ice
cream
Have a six-inch roast beef sandwich instead of a fast-food burger
with cheese
Source: Holly McCord, RD, Three Diet Secrets That Block Diabetes,
Prevention Magazine, 2006, wwwpreventioncom
Q: Ive heard there are certain things you can eat to lower your risk of
breast cancer
What are some examples?
A: Eating an anti-cancer diet is a very important part of lowering your
risk Next time you are at the grocery store, keep in mind these items:
Olive oil Your most
favorable fats come from olives and nuts,
according to a Swedish study that also found that bad
polyunsaturated fats increase the risk of breast cancer
Leafy greens Fill your salad bowl with the darkest-green greens,
which contain folate, a B vitamin linked to the reduction of the risk
of breast cancer
Calcium-rich dairy products Consuming two or three servings of dairy
products daily is linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, according
to American Cancer Society research that studied postmenopausal women
only
Sources: Diane Di Costanzo, Your Breast Cancer Prevention Plan,
Prevention Magazine, 2006, wwwpreventioncom; American Cancer Society,
2006, wwwcancerorg
Q: If youve suffered from a stroke in the past, is there any way to
prevent it from happening again?
A: Yes A healthier way of life plays a big part in decreasing disability
and death from a stroke or a heart attack Here are the steps to take:
Dont smoke
Improve your eating habits
Exercise regularly
Take your medicine as directed
Get your blood pressure checked and control it if its high
Source: American Stroke Association, 2006,
wwwstrokeassociationorg
Q: What is the latest recommendation on taking aspirin to decrease your
risk of heart attack and stroke?
A: The American Heart Association recommends aspirin use for patients
whove had a heart attack, unstable angina, ischemic stroke caused by
blood clot, or transient ischemic attacks TIAs, or warning strokes
Studies show aspirin also helps prevent these events from occurring in
people at high risk
Studies have shown that aspirin helps prevent the recurrence of a heart
attack, hospitalization for recurrent angina, second strokes, and so on
You should not start aspirin therapy without first consulting your
physician The risks and benefits of aspirin therapy vary for each person
Source: American Heart Association, 2006, wwwamericanheartorg
Source:usmc-mccs.org
