Beech Tree News Network

I’ve admitted before that I like to read, and recently my reading has included some health-related information. The following information is unrelated and is in random order.

•    In an article on Parade.com, Julie Bawden-Davis said that scientist B.C. Wolverton, author of How to Grow Fresh Air, had found that houseplants can greatly reduce indoor air pollution. The more houseplants one has, the cleaner the indoor air should be. Wolverton identified 50 of the best air-cleaning houseplants. Bawden-Davis listed nine easy-to-grow plants from his list: Arrowhead vine, Boston fern, Chinese evergreen, Croton, Dumb cane, Peace lily, Philodendron, Pothos, and Spider plant (ttp://communitytable.parade.com/216844/juliebawdendavis/the-9-best-houseplants-for-cleaning-air-and-filtering-toxins/). Having several houseplants – seventeen currently with peace lilies and spider plants among them, I was happily reminded of their benefits.

•    According to WebMD, triglycerides are the main form of fat in the body. For example, the fat developed and stored in the hips or belly are triglycerides. “Triglycerides are the end product of digesting and breaking down fats in meals. Some triglycerides are made in the body from other energy sources such as carbohydrates. Triglycerides are measured using a common test called a lipid panel. It's the same blood test that checks ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels” (http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/lowering-triglyceride-levels#1). Why be concerned about high triglycerides? “Many experts believe that high triglycerides may be a sign of other heart disease risk factors. That is, high triglyceride levels could multiply the bad effects of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes” (http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/lowering-triglyceride-levels...). Since I have high triglycerides, I was thankful to find some information on the topic that I could understand.

•    Good oral and dental health practices are more critical than I realized. WebMD reported that so far “scientists have found links between periodontal disease and a number of other problems, including: heart disease, diabetes, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and premature birth.” Researchers are searching for the causes, but “believe that oral bacteria can escape into the bloodstream and injure major organs. Inflammation is probably a common denominator, experts say” (http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/plaque-on-teeth). Additionally, “the presence of certain bacteria in the mouth may reveal increased risk for pancreatic cancer and enable earlier, more precise treatment” (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160419183932.htm). I had heard that one’s oral health could affect the heart, but I certainly did not know the other associated health problems.

•    A recent Internet article about mental illness in various states included the following observation about Kentucky:  “Throughout the state, 168,000 adults live with a serious mental illness. Not only does Kentucky have one of the highest poverty rates in the country (18.9 percent), more prescription drugs are used to aid mental health than elsewhere. Help for residents struggling with mental illness may not come soon enough. In the last two years, Kentucky has cut funding for its state’s mental health department (http://www.medicaldaily.com/mental-illness-largest-population-383469#big...). Although several states were mentioned in this article, Kentucky caught my attention. Obviously, we need to be more aware of this critical need.

•    The occasional feeling of anxiety is fairly normal. Some instances when people may feel anxious include problems at work, taking a test, or making an important decision. “But, anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders…. Researchers are finding that genetic and environmental factors…are risk factors for anxiety disorders. Specific factors include (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml):
* Shyness, or behavioral inhibition, in childhood
* Being female
* Having few economic resources
* Being divorced or widowed
* Exposure to stressful life events
* Anxiety disorders in close biological relatives
* Parental history of mental disorders
* Elevated afternoon cortisol levels in the saliva (for social anxiety disorder)
Thankfully, anxiety disorders are treatable, generally with psychotherapy, medication, or both.

Thomas Carlyle said, “He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything,” and Paul Walker said, “You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_health.html). Perhaps the greater our understanding of health issues, the greater our hope of a happy and healthy life.