Summer 2007	Sound Off!
Just about everything in this world generates noise, and you encounter it everywhere — at school, in shopping malls, in the workplace and even at home. Listening to too much of the noise for too long or repeated exposure to loud sounds can damage the sensitive structures of the inner ear and ruin your hearing — and that includes listening to your iPod at high volume. Unfortunately, hearing loss can progress so gradually, you may not recognize it’s happening. To help prevent noiseinduced hearing loss, the American Academy of Family Physicians suggests these precautions: • Reduce your exposure to noise, especially if you work in a noisy environment. • Wear earplugs when you’ll be exposed to loud or prolonged noises. (You can purchase earplugs at your pharmacy or online at sites like Drugstore.com* or Amazon.com*.) • Don’t try to drown out unwanted noise with other sounds. • Don’t use several noisy machines at the same time. • Have your hearing tested every year, especially if you’re exposed to lots of noise at work or play. Fainting First Aid Would you know what to do if the person beside you suddenly fainted? Fainting, a brief loss of consciousness, can be caused by a number of things, including low blood sugar, anemia or heat stroke. Episodes can last from a few seconds to several minutes. If you see someone faint, you should: • Check to be sure the person is still breathing, is not injured or bleeding and regains consciousness quickly. If not, call for emergency medical services or 911 immediately. • Loosen clothing around his or her neck. • Prop up his or her feet about a foot above heart level. • If he or she has vomited, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking. • After regaining consciousness, have the person lie down in a cool, quiet place for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If the person can’t lie down, have him or her sit, head below the shoulders and between the knees. Even if it didn’t seem to be an emergency situation, encourage the person to call his or her doctor to be evaluated. Stay Sharp with Spinach Eating greens like dark lettuce, collard greens, spinach and kale may help protect against mental slowdown, according to a recent study at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Researchers there examined 3,718 people ages 65 and older over six years and discovered that participants who ate at least two servings a day of these varieties of vegetables had the slowest rate of decline on cognitive tests measuring memory and speed of thinking.
Summer 2007 Outstanding Health Care | Eye Do | HealtheVet | Healthy Trip Battle of Sexes | Relieve Dry Mouth | Mild Traumatic Brain Injury VA News and Updates | Health Beat | VA Wellness Programs

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