MUSC Health’s Post

Armed with pedometers, blood pressure monitors, and step diaries, a team of researchers and study participants set out on foot to see if adding 3,000 daily steps would make a meaningful difference in high blood pressure. 👟 On average, participants’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by an average of seven and four points, respectively, after the intervention led by UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources researchers. Other studies suggest decreases of these magnitudes correspond to a relative risk reduction of all-cause mortality by 11%, and 16% for cardiovascular mortality, an 18% reduction in the risk of heart disease, and a 36% risk reduction of stroke. #uconnresearch #highbloodpressure #bloodpressure #hypertension #dailysteps #elderhealth https://lnkd.in/e2h8DkSm

Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases such as dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. These are the nation’s leading drivers of illness, disability, death, and health care costs. Read the CDC's approach to helping elders with dementia: https://buff.ly/3bCUKBr . . #Healthcare #HealthcareTrends

September is Healthy Aging Month This booklet can help you and your allies identify strategies to improve older adults’ oral health. It’s called Older Adult Oral Health Resources for Collaboration: https://bit.ly/3Q1DnvK #HealthyMouthHealthyAging

Planning for aging involves more than just thinking about the future—it's about taking proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition into older age, which includes preparing for potential crises. Statistics show that critical health situations for seniors are more common than many might realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, with one out of four Americans aged 65 and older experiencing a fall each year. Additionally, chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are prevalent among seniors, requiring careful management and planning for potential emergencies. In episode two of our podcast, "What's Your Next Move," Addie and I delve into the importance of having open discussions with your parents about their wishes and preferences in critical situations. It's not always an easy conversation to have, but it's a crucial one. Knowing your parents' desires regarding medical treatment, end-of-life care, and other important decisions can provide peace of mind for both them and you during times of crisis. By creating a plan together, you can ensure that your parents' wishes are respected and followed, even if they cannot communicate them themselves. This might involve setting up advance directives, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare, appointing a healthcare proxy, or discussing preferences for hospice care or life-saving interventions. Furthermore, having a plan can help alleviate stress and confusion for family members during emergencies, allowing for more efficient decision-making and care coordination. It also empowers seniors to maintain control over their lives and medical care, promoting dignity and autonomy in their later years. So, take the time to sit down with your folks and have these important conversations. It's a proactive step that can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and supported journey through aging and any potential crises that may arise along the way. #planning #health #caregivers #olderadults

Planning for aging involves more than just thinking about the future—it's about taking proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition into older age, which includes preparing for potential crises. Statistics show that critical health situations for seniors are more common than many might realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, with one out of four Americans aged 65 and older experiencing a fall each year. Additionally, chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are prevalent among seniors, requiring careful management and planning for potential emergencies. In episode two of our podcast, "What's Your Next Move," Addie and I delve into the importance of having open discussions with your parents about their wishes and preferences in critical situations. It's not always an easy conversation to have, but it's a crucial one. Knowing your parents' desires regarding medical treatment, end-of-life care, and other important decisions can provide peace of mind for both them and you during times of crisis. By creating a plan together, you can ensure that your parents' wishes are respected and followed, even if they cannot communicate them themselves. This might involve setting up advance directives, such as a living will or durable power of attorney for healthcare, appointing a healthcare proxy, or discussing preferences for hospice care or life-saving interventions. Furthermore, having a plan can help alleviate stress and confusion for family members during emergencies, allowing for more efficient decision-making and care coordination. It also empowers seniors to maintain control over their lives and medical care, promoting dignity and autonomy in their later years. So, take the time to sit down with your folks and have these important conversations. It's a proactive step that can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and supported journey through aging and any potential crises that may arise along the way. #planning #health #caregivers #olderadults

🆕 📰 Yesterday eClinicalMedicine launched our first Series, led by Bianca Brandon, on #WHO recommendations for care of #preterm or #lowbirthweight infants This Series follows the publication of the World Health Organization's “Recommendations for Care of the Preterm or Low Birthweight Infant” on World Prematurity Day in November 2022. New evidence has emerged on the effectiveness of interventions for care of these infants since previous guidelines were published in 2015. Across two Health Policy pieces, the Care of Preterm or Low Birthweight Infants Group provide details on the 25 WHO recommendations and research prioritisation. These new recommendations stress the importance of keeping preterm and low birthweight infants and mother together and the need to integrate families to care for their babies. The next steps are for adaptation to the needs of different countries and local contexts. WHO is also working to scale-up care for small and sick newborns, which includes updating derivative tools - including the WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) chartbooklet and the WHO Pocket Book of Hospital Care For Children - and the development of implementation guidance for global, regional and country levels. As with all our content, the Series is free to access and you can find it here: https://lnkd.in/eEMAN54y

Need for more social change and attention... maternal & child health | CDC reports largest infant mortality increase in more than two decades | On November 1, the CDC released sobering new data that showed a 3% increase in infant mortality in 2022. This is critical as infant mortality has steadily decreased over the last several years and this data shows the largest year-to-year increase in more than 20 years. Maternal and infant health is fundamental to all health. [CDC and March of Dimes] One of the leading factors in infant mortality is preterm birth. Now, more than ever, it's critical that we do all we can towards ending preventable preterm birth. This November is the 20th anniversary of Prematurity Awareness Month. Please join us to raise awareness of the maternal and infant health crisis our country is facing. More> https://lnkd.in/gF3cVhy8 #maternalhealth #healthcare #publichealth #socialchange #populationhealth #communityhealth

What is attunement? How is it related to inclusion? Why is it essential that clients with diabetes feel seen and heard? If any of these questions got you curious, check out the newest article for Inclusive Diabetes Care. https://lnkd.in/gUiS9n27

A #BrainInjury (TBI) or concussion may be missed or misdiagnosed in older adults when symptoms overlap with another health condition. Learn the symptoms to help you spot a concussion and know what steps to take: https://lnkd.in/e5JefvF7 #tbi

We know it is possible to improve a nation's maternal and infant health outcomes, we have seen countries do it. So why can't the U.S.? The preterm birth rate is stagnant, leaving us was D+ grade and newly-released early data on infant mortality signal troubling trends in the intersection of maternal and infant health, especially among communities of color. I know it might seem like an uphill battle but I get up every day believing we will see change if we work together. Learn more about how you can create change by visiting, https://lnkd.in/eQYz8FUq.