Top Five Diseases That Affect Women’s Health

ALTN May corp(1)As women race through their days, many don’t stop to focus on their own health and well-being. For this reason, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health has designated May 8-14 as Women’s Health Week. This marks the 17th time the week has been recognized in an effort to encourage women to take ownership of their health.

While women’s health concerns may change as they age, five of the top health concerns faced by women include:

Heart disease. Heart disease accounts for more than 22 percent of female deaths according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are multiple contributing factors to heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your risk of heart disease.

Cancer. The Susan G. Komen foundation shares that one in eight women who lives to the age of 85 is at risk for breast cancer. Fortunately, with early detection, survival rates can be quite high. To protect themselves, women regularly should be completing self-breast exams, scheduling routine mammograms and seeking testing to see if they have any markers that could signify malignant tumors in any area of the body.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases. This is often more recognizable as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. While pollutants and chemical toxins may contribute to the development of these diseases, smokers get COPD nearly 12 times as frequently as non-smokers.

Stroke. Strokes are caused by blood clots that prevent blood from reaching the brain. According to Harvard Medical School, high blood pressure is the No. 1 risk factor for developing blood clots. Be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly, especially if you are a smoker or using oral contraception. In addition, having a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, can help reduce the chance of developing a blood clot.

Alzheimer’s disease.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Age, family history and heredity are the most common risk factors. While there is still much to learn about the disease, scientists are looking at the impact of exercise, diet and brain-engaging activities as potential ways to help keep the disease at bay.

So, ladies, celebrate Women’s Health Week by becoming more informed about the state of your own health, working with a doctor to address any issues and making lifestyle changes that will help you live your healthiest life yet!

February is American Heart Month. Take Care of Yours.

Did you know that approximately 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year? Reported to be the leading killer in both men and women, heart disease currently accounts for 1 in every 4 deaths. While it is a major threat to the health of many, there are actions you can take to prevent it from becoming a threat to yours.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines the following steps to take in planning for prevention of cardiovascular disease:

  • Receive an annual checkup to get tested for high blood pressure and diabetes; two common conditions linked to the disease.

  • Take part in daily physical activity to help you manage your weight and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check.

  • Maintain a healthy diet by avoiding foods high in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. By having a well-balanced meal plan consisting of protein, fruits and vegetables, you can lower your risk of developing high blood pressure and becoming overweight; an additional risk factor associated with heart disease.

  • Limit your alcohol use to avoid an increase in your blood pressure. The CDC recommends that men should have no more than two drinks per day and women have no more than one.

  • If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely and talk with your healthcare team about treatment options.

Visit your local Any Lab Test Now® to see if you may be at risk of heart disease. Receive a Heart Health Panel to understand your overall heart health or choose a test specific to your personal risk factors such as one of our Cholesterol Tests or Diabetes Lab Tests. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you Take Control of Your Health®.

Ladies, Say ‘I Love You’ This Valentine’s Day in a New Kind of Way

With Valentine’s Day soon approaching, many women are planning out the perfect way to show that special person in their life just how much they appreciate them. Ladies, instead of choosing to treat your other half to the always popular, romantic, candlelight dinner, show your love to them this year in a way that can last a lifetime…by taking care of your heart.

Did you know that heart disease is the No.1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year? Yet, what’s even more startling is that it is 80% preventable. By receiving a regular heart health screening, learning your risks, and managing those risks accordingly, you can avoid this deadly disease that impacts the lives of so many every day.

Go Red for Women is a nation-wide campaign created by the American Heart Association, designed to bring attention to the risk of heart disease in women, encourage women to receive heart health screenings and “lead the charge to end this deadly foe once and for all.” As an effort to raise awareness in the fight against this disease, all supporters of the Go Red for Women movement are asked to wear red on National Wear Red Day.

To show our support, participating Any Lab Test Now® locations will be decked out in red decorations throughout their store on National Wear Red Day, this Friday, February 6th. On this day only, the participating stores will also be offering 50% off various heart health lab tests including a Lipid Panel, VAP® Test, and PLAC® Test.

For this year’s Valentine’s Day, show the person you love just how much you care for them by caring for your heart. Schedule your heart health lab testing at your local Any Lab Test Now® now and remember to wear red on Friday, February 6th. Share photos of you in your red via Twitter @ALTNCorp and check our Facebook page after the event to see how all of our Any Lab Test Now® locations showed their support in the stores.

Women, Don’t Let Your Holiday Season Turn into a Stressful Season

Whether it’s preparing a platter full of baked goodies for the end-of-the-year party at your child’s school or cleaning and decorating the living room in time for your Christmas family dinner, the never-ending list of holiday “to-dos” can easily become a hassle instead of a pleasure. It is important during the hustle and bustle that women especially, sit back and avoid the stress that is so often associated with this time of year. It could do more for your health than you may think.

In a study performed by Dr. Wei Jiang of Duke University’s School of Medicine, researchers noticed that stress, including mental stress, may be more taxing on women’s hearts than compared to men’s. Jiang’s team analyzed the data of more than 300 Americans that encountered a series of stressful tasks. Researchers found that when stress levels rose, women were far more likely to have an ischemic episode than men. Ischemia is known as a dramatic reduction in blood flow to the heart and a major contributor to mortality from heart disease. The study concluded that 57% of women experienced ischemia compared to 41% of men.

So now the question is how can one destress? According to this list published by Harvard Medical School, some ways to destress include focusing on self nurturing via eating healthy food, reading amusing books, or committing to slow down your schedule just once a week.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we encourage all of our readers to manage their stress in a healthy manner, especially during the busy season of the holidays. To evaluate your overall heart health, schedule to have a Heart Health Panel done at an Any Lab Test Now ® near you. This panel will provide you with a clear picture of how well you’re heart is working and if you may be at risk for heart disease.

The Number One Killer of Women Should Be Stopped

WHAT
Heart disease is the number one killer of women; yes, over any type of cancer. It kills approximately one woman, every minute. The prevention and treatment of this disease rests on awareness. For you to know how to beat and prevent heart disease, you must be aware of it and know what’s going on in your body.

HOW
Symptoms can range from chest pain to nausea to shortness of breath and more. A problem is that these symptoms are not uncommon; therefore many women who suffer from the disease don’t know they have it. According to the American Heart Association, over half of women who die from the disease experience little to no symptoms. Women sometimes look to more common issues like the flu or their age. That’s why it’s so important to Take Control of Your Health® and get tested.

WHY
Size and pumping abilities of the heart differ by gender, but there is no definite explanation as to why men and women are affected differently by heart disease. Shining a spotlight specifically on women’s heart health will raise awareness and encourage women to get their heart tested because they might not have thought about their heart’s health before.

Friday, Feb. 7, was National Wear Red Day by Go Red for Women. Check out our Facebook to see all that was going on!

WHEN
Ladies, now is the time to get tested to check your heart health. The Heart Health Panel gives you an idea of your overall heart health. The VAP test includes basic cholesterol tests and identifies abnormalities. The PLAC test measures your arteries and will assess your risk for heart attacks and/or strokes. These are the perfect tests to help you become aware of exactly what’s going on with your heart health. Get tested today and spread the word!

Raising Awareness for Health Centers During Health Center Week

Have you ever noticed that when you get sick you always feel the need to find out what’s wrong? Who wants to go another day with a tummy ache, a sore throat or the dreaded sinus headache and congestion? Believe it or not that’s one of the many benefits provided by health centers. You might start asking yourself… “But I don’t have insurance, so how can I get service?” The good news is you have options at your disposal that will empower you to Take Control of Your Health® whether you have high deductible insurance, a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, or if you are uninsured.

A great example of available options is ANY LAB TEST NOW®. Though ANY LAB TEST NOW® does not treat or diagnose, it does empower its customers to be proactive about managing their health by providing direct access to blood tests, DNA tests, drug and alcohol testing as well as other lab testing services.  After you get your lab test results, you can quickly call a physician with our AmeriDoc telemedicine services program.  The doctor is just a phone call a way, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can treat many non-emergent care issues by phone, video call, or chat.

According the National Association of Community Health Centers, there are around 44 million people in the U.S. that are currently uninsured with another 56 million with high deductible insurance. This often makes health take a back seat to cost, which stresses the importance of price transparency. Can you take more good news? ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s affordable, transparent prices fit into a person’s healthcare budget, providing a solution that continues to support overall health and wellness. Don’t let your health take a back seat, without it we are nothing.

During the week of August 11 – 17 the nation celebrates Health Center Week. Why not take the time during this week to stop by a health center near you, check in on your health and thank them for helping to empower you and your loved ones to Take Control of Your Health®?

To learn more about ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s lab testing options stop by an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you or visit www.anylabtestnow.com

Sports & Adderall Abuse

In the world of sports, an athlete deals with a number of pressures besides winning or losing the game. Not only does the athlete have to make sure that he or she is in optimal physical condition in order to perform, but they also feel the pressure from teammates and the expectations of those who follow them. In a day and age when there seems to be a medicine available for just about everything, it is not surprising that people, including athletes, start experimenting and discovering alternative uses for such prescriptions.

An example of this is the infamous prescription drug, Adderall. Known as the “study drug”, for those who actually need it the drug becomes a medicine that helps them focus on the task at hand. For those who don’t need it, the drug becomes a powerful stimulant that can be used as a performance enhancer or a pick-me-up.

Since studies have shown that the drug improves handeye coordination, strength and acceleration, there’s no surprise as to why this specific drug has gained popularity amongst athletes.  To an athlete, Adderall gives them an edge with an energy boost in order to “rock” the game and go for the big win. The drug itself has become so popular in the world of sports that even national leagues like the NFL and the MLB as well as the NCAA have been forced to take action against those who test positive for the drug and have not been prescribed by a physician, resulting in a number of suspensions.

On many occasions, whether it be the desire to hang onto one’s youth or the constant pressure of needing to stay on top of your game, these athletes forget about the long-term side effects that a drug like Adderall could have on their health especially in those who don’t really need this prescription. The long-term side effects include risk of cardiovascular problems and stroke, depression, hostility and paranoia. Since May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, why not take the opportunity to help your athlete Take Control of Their Health and take a peek at their current state of health. ANY LAB TEST NOW® understands that achieving peak performance and optimal results takes more than just physical fitness. It’s a matter of getting the inside facts about your body’s true state of health.  In addition ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be your partner in making sure your athlete stays in tip-top shape without any enhancers through one of our many drug testing options.

During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Take Control of Your Health® and your athletic career; whether you are an athlete or you manage one, having the opportunity to know what’s going on inside your body, empowers you to Take Control of Your Health® with a well-rounded, drug free, comprehensive health and wellness approach.  For more information visit www.anylabtestnow.com or stop by an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you. Also, take the time to learn more about The Partnership at Drugfree.org’s Medicine Abuse Project, and help stop the abuse of prescription medications.

Have a Heart to Heart with Yourself

Have you ever received that phone call letting you know that a loved one or a dear friend has suffered a heart attack or stroke? The reality is that 1 in 3 women lose their lives to heart disease every year, making it the number 1 killer of women.  Why not change those odds and fight the good fight against heart disease?

To fight against heart disease, first you must be able to distinguish between facts and myths. One of the major myths surrounding heart disease is that you are only at risk if you have family history of heart disease. Though family history plays an instrumental role into your risk factor, poor eating habits, inactivity, obesity, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure also put you at risk of developing heart disease.  Have a heart to heart with yourself and your loved ones. Create a buddy system to check in on your heart and hold each other accountable for doing the right things for your heart.

Check your cholesterol levels often. If you have diabetes make sure it is under control. Make the decision to lead a healthier lifestyle by developing healthy eating habits, adding activity to your day even if it means taking the stairs instead of the elevator and find a method that works for you in order to keep your stress level low to help maintain your blood pressure at a normal range.

Holiday Stress? 3 Tips to Keep You Sane During the Holidays

The holiday season is now in full gear and special family time is always appreciated. The presents you’ve carefully wrapped are ready to be torn open.  Then, you receive that phone call from distant relatives announcing… “Surprise, surprise we’re visiting for the holidays!” Anxiety kicks in, and panic-riddent thoughts immediately start running through our minds. We have all been there with surprise guests – you’re trying to tie the Super Cape back on for last minute holiday shopping combined with overcrowded stores that can make anyone’s head explode. As hard as it is to stay calm during these surprises, leave Stress Avenue and take a detour to The True Meaning of the Season Drive.

Holiday Stressor: Last Minute Shopping

De-stressor: Do you have a long last minute gift list that you can’t seem to trim down? Do you dread going to the crowded mall? Make gift-giving simpler by remembering that the season is about being with your loved ones and not material things. Perhaps purchasing gifts that are more focused on people, such as tickets to that game or concert they have been dying to go to but have not been able to get tickets themselves, gift certificates to their favorite restaurant or a certificate for a day at the spa. When all else fails make it even simpler for you – online shopping! If ordered before the store’s cut-off date, the gifts will make it on time.  Even better, they will wrap them for you!

Holiday Stressor: Entertaining

De-stressor: So the whole family has designated your house as the gathering place, and you will be the host for all holiday events. Great! Now you are worried about doing all the cooking and making sure the house is squeaky-clean and ‘flawless’ for each event.  You may become preoccupied with whether you have enough room for guests to mingle or sit, and playing hostess. Relax and give yourself a break!  Try a different approach to entertaining. Have everyone bring a holiday favorite while you supply the beverages, hot cocoa and holiday desserts. Entertain one another; take turns sharing family stories about way back when; and later on sing along concert of holiday songs.  Make it all about family time and not so much about the ‘perfect’ party.

Holiday Stressor: Following Traditions

De-stressor: We understand that every family has its own traditions. These often mean doing specific things in a certain way all in the name of tradition. Perhaps you want to please elders and carry on with the traditions they know, or maybe you want to follow the same traditions you did when you were younger in order for your children to learn them and carry them on as well. As adorable as it sounds to have these traditions happen, making sure they occur in the ‘perfect’ way often creates more stress. You can choose to make it a team effort and ask your loved ones which part of the traditions they really like. Keep the winners down to a few and go all out on just those. This way the traditions will not only be more relaxed, but they will also be easier to keep for future holidays. If you are a spontaneous person, another option is to make ‘winging it’, a tradition in itself. Why not do whatever feels festive in the moment? It will keep it mysterious and fun for holidays to come.

This holiday season don’t let holiday stress put a damper on your health. Remember that the season is about spending time with the ones you love and enjoying each other. Take Control of Your Health® and stay stress free this holiday season with ANY LAB TEST NOW®.

Smoking + Quitting = Healthier Lifestyle

We all have guilty pleasures that we enjoy. Many times we give in to these pleasures because it relaxes us and makes us feel better. But sometimes the same guilty pleasures that we enjoy become hazardous to our health. Smoking is a vice that not only affects your health but it also affects the health of those around you.

It has been reported that tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. According to the CDC not only does smoking cause heart and lung disease, stroke as well as cancer; but it also shortens the smoker’s life on average by 13 to 14 years. Making the choice to quit is never easy, but sometimes quitting doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

You must be wondering when should I quit smoking? How do I even start? You can start by listing your reasons to quit, putting your health at the top of your list. Choose your quitting date, make a plan, cut back on usage and monitor your progress. Having a support system of course always helps. Recruit a family member or a trusted friend to become your quit coach.

ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be part of the support system you need. Establish a baseline as your starting point with a nicotine/cotinine test that will help you check the levels of nicotine/cotinine in your system and can help you monitor your progress during the various stages of the quitting process. Start living a healthier lifestyle by knowing what is going on inside your body.

Visit an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you for more information on how we can help you Take Control of Your Health®.