“He who treads lightly goes far.” — Chinese proverb

Disclaimer: The following information should not be considered medical advice. For medical advice please speak with your personal physician.

Blood Clots

• Avoid prolonged immobilization. If you need to stay seated for long periods of time, take a break and walk around a bit as often as possible. If you cannot do this, at least do some leg exercises in the chair to keep the blood in your leg veins flowing.

Cancer

• Don’t ignore unexplained weight loss, pain, lumps or bleeding.
• Most important for many types of cancer: Don’t Smoke!
• Watch your weight. Obesity is linked to cancer of the breast, colon and stomach.
• Ask your doctor about screening tests such as mammography or colonoscopy.

Diabetes

• Keep your weight under control.
• Get adequate exercise.
• Get your blood sugar checked. One-third of people with diabetes in the US don’t even know they have it.
• If you have diabetes, checking your feet daily for signs of injury infections is the best way to prevent amputations.

Diverticulitis

• Eat a high fiber diet consisting of plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Don’t strain when having a BM.

Gastritis and Stomach Ulcers

• Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
• Avoid cocaine and other stimulants.
• Avoid or minimize use of anti-inflammatory pain medications.
• If you have been doing all of the above and used antacid medications and nothing is working, see your doctor. You may have an H. pylori infection or another disease.

Gout

• Limit intake of alcohol, meat and shellfish.
• Ask your doctor if new medications could worsen your gout.
• Increased intake of dairy products may be protective.

Heart Disease

• Stop smoking.
• Make sure your blood pressure is adequately controlled (many people don’t know they have hypertension).
• Make sure diabetes is adequately controlled (about a third of people with diabetes don’t know they have it).
• Get your cholesterol checked.
• Eat healthy. Obesity is predicted to soon overtake smoking as the number one culprit for preventable death.
• If you have unexplained chest pain, especially if it occurs with exertion, see a doctor immediately.

Infection

• Wash your hands.
• Don’t touch your face.
• Don’t scratch or pick your skin.
• Make sure your adult vaccines are up to date, especially the influenza and pneumovax shots.
• Never use injection drugs. Sharing needles results in HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and other serious systemic infections.

Kidney Stones

• Eat healthy.
• For certain types of kidney stones eat the following foods in moderation: berries & beets, chocolate & nuts, coffee & tea, soy & spinach - as they may contain high amounts of oxalates.

Lung Disease

• Don’t smoke

Migraines

• Avoid: ripened cheeses including cheddar and brie, herring, chocolate, pickled foods, nuts, sourdough bread, lima beans, snow peas. monosodium glutamate, aspartame, pissa, salami, pepperoni, pate.
• Limit: sour cream, figs, raisins, papaya, avocado, red plums, citrus, bananas, caffeine, alcohol.

Obesity

• Eat less junk.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Drink less soda.
• Drink more water.
• Excercise more.
• If you need to buy a book or get a trainer to accomplish the above by all means do so.

Reflux Esophagitis

• Avoid these foods: Citrus, Mint, Coffee, Tomato, Chocolate, Alcohol
• Avoid these meds: Nitrates, Calcium blockers, progesterones, beta blockers

Smoking

• Don’t start
• Quit. Make a plan. If you don’t succeed on your own keep trying or get help from your doctor or call 1-800-NOBUTTS

Stroke

• Keep your blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol under good control .
• If you have a “TIA” which is a warning for a stroke seek medical care. immediately. The most common symptoms of a TIA are a transient loss of vision, strength, balance or speech.
• Don’t smoke.
• If you have a heart arrhythmia called “atrial fibrillation” you probably will need to take blood thinners.

Trauma & Injury

• Head injury is the number one cause of traumatic death. Use a helmet.
• Be careful with knives.
• Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Beware of glass. Many serious lacerations are due to broken glass.
• Don’t drive drowsy. Get a good nights sleep. (Try reading a book).