For many Minnesotans, working from home has become a new normal in the pandemic.
Physical therapists say that if you haven’t converted your home office space to promote good posture, your body will start showing signs. Typing a work memo from your couch in comfy clothes might sound appealing.
Dr. Russell Amundson, UnitedHealthcare’s national senior medical director, countered that it’s important to maintain a home office environment that doesn’t involve constantly slouching or staring at a screen.
“There has been a shift towards telecommuting,” Amundson explained. “People have given up on, or been taken out of, more ergonomic workspaces with good office chairs, with good support, and of course, the appropriate height desk.”
He advised the ideal approach includes sitting up straight with knees at a 90 degree angle. And if you work on a computer, adjust the height of the screen to eye level. Being consistent can help avoid back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis.
A study 2016 found nearly 130 million American adults are affected by a musculoskeletal condition that can affect bones, joints and muscles.
Other health experts say working from home could also discourage people from being active during a break.
Paul Stokman, a physical therapist at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, said prolonged sitting stresses the body.
“We just don’t maintain tissue health as much over time,” Stokman pointed out. “We need that swing and that activity. We need to stress our bodies and relax. We need to get up and move.”
He suggested setting an alert on your phone or computer to remind you to move. Even if you have existing back pain, the medical community has said that low impact activities can still be helpful as opposed to resting.
Before the reopening of certain offices, state officials said last year that about 600,000 Minnesotans were telecommuting as the pandemic continued.
Disclosure: United Healthcare contributes to our health issue reporting fund. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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With the unofficial start of summer, pools in Ohio are opening this Memorial Day weekend, and when it comes to swim time, experts are encouraging parents to become “water watchers.” “.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children aged one to four years and the second leading cause in children aged five to 14 years.
Dawne Gardner, senior injury prevention specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, pointed out that 70% of drowning deaths occur between May and August. She said the most important pool safety measure is to make sure an adult actively supervises children at all times.
“If there are multiple adults around the pool, do 15-minute shifts so the adult knows: no phone, no book, no conversation; they’re watching all the kids,” Gardner recommended. “It’s their time, and it’s their only job while they’re there.”
With infants and toddlers, an adult should be in the water within easy reach. Most drownings involving children under the age of four occur in private swimming pools. Experts therefore encourage the use of alarms and secure swimming pool fences to keep curious little ones away.
Gardner noted that a drowning is traumatic, but doesn’t always look dramatic.
“Parents always think there’s a lot of splashing and screaming when a child is drowning, and there isn’t,” Gardner explained. “It’s not a loud event. It’s very quiet. It happens quickly.”
Gardner also encouraged swimming lessons for children as soon as they are developmentally ready.
“Just so they’re comfortable around the water, respect the water, and have those basic swimming skills,” Gardner pointed out. “We would like parents, or at least one of the adults around, to know about CPR. It’s just a great tool that could come in handy.”
There has been an approximately 38% drop in drowning deaths over the past two decades, which experts attribute to greater awareness and education about prevention and water safety.
Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.
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One of Connecticut’s largest health systems launched a new resource in Hartford this month, aimed at helping patients gain free access to healthy, nutritious food.
The Healthy Food Resource Center is located on the Hartford Hospital campus and is open to patients by referral from a physician. When they enter, they find a fridge and freezer, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, many of which are locally sourced.
Dr Jessica Mullins, director of gynecology at Hartford Hospital, said it’s about treating “food like medicine”, which can help patients deal with food insecurity.
“They can try these foods, they can try different ways of cooking them and really find that it’s delicious for them or prepare it in a way that incorporates it into their cultural backgrounds,” Mullins pointed out.
Mullins reported that half of the patients she sees report being food insecure. Better nutrition is linked to better infant, child and maternal health, a stronger immune system and a lower risk of diabetes. A nutritionist is also on hand to inform you about the doctor’s recommendations.
Greg Jones, vice president of community health and engagement at Hartford Hospital, said at the center patients will find pineapple, kale, papayas, healthy cereals, olive oil and much more. He said many food-insecure communities in Hartford and elsewhere are overexposed to highly processed foods high in salt, sweeteners and saturated fat.
“By providing produce and fruit, we can help people understand the health issues they face,” Jones said. “They’re starting to feel better, they’re starting to be able to supplement their diet with real food, and then they can start to see a big improvement.”
An estimated 12% of Connecticut residents are food insecurityaccording to a 2019 report from Feeding America.
With a referral, patients will have access to the Center for six months. Hartford Healthcare will also keep track of the foods patients take as part of their medical records, to see how it affects their health outcomes.
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As Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to an end, Arkansas health officials are reminding seniors of available resources, as the social isolation of the pandemic has hit them especially hard.
One in four seniors nationally reported anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.
Dr. Tammy Alexander, a licensed psychologist and assistant director of the Arkansas Department of Social Services, Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, said social distancing has cut off many seniors from support networks, which exacerbated mental health problems.
“That connection just helps regulate our mental health,” Alexander explained. “Having that connection and being involved and feeling supported by our friends and family. Such an in-person connection has been cut during COVID, that I think most people have had negative impacts.”
The state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) supports 12 community mental health centers capable of serving the uninsured or underinsured. For people without insurance who need “light” mental health counseling services, DHS supports therapy counseling in all 75 counties of the state.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, executive vice president and chief medical officer of employer and individual UnitedHealthcare, agreed that it was important to look for signs of mental health issues in loved ones. It can mean an unusual disinterest in activities they usually enjoy, a change in sleep patterns, or mention feelings of hopelessness. She added that it is important for people to seek help from a trusted medical professional.
“Mental health is part of our health,” Randall said. “It’s a conversation you should have with your primary care physician when you go for your annual medical checkups, especially if you already have an established relationship. And that can be a really good starting point, and also put it into context. your other medical conditions.”
According to the United Health Foundation’s 2021 America’s Health Rankings report, 23.5% Arkansans said they were told by a doctor that they had a depressive disorder.
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