There has been grave concern among American health officials recently after the first national case of a patient emerged in which they had an infection that was resistant to a last chance antibiotic. The case is an indication that there is a possibility that the superbug could pose a serious danger for regular infections if it manages to spread.

According to the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Thomas Frieden, there is a risk of living in a post-antibiotic world. The case concerned that of a 49-year old woman from Pennsylvania dealing with a urinary tract infection. The last chance antibiotic that was used was “colistin,” which is generally reserved for use against what is considered nightmare bacteria. According to a study, the superbug was infected by a small piece of DNA known as “plasmid”. The plasmid passed along a gene called “mcr-1,” which transmits a resistance to colistin. This instance was the first report of mcr-1 in the United States.

The patient first reported symptoms of a urinary tract infection on April 26th, when she visited a clinic. Her current condition was not described. According to the study, the true frequency of the mcr-1 gene needs to be determined and therefore continued surveillance is required. The potential speed of the gene’s spread cannot be known until more information is collected, such as how the patient was infected in the first place as well as what kind of presence the colistin-resistant superbug has — not just in the U.S. but throughout the world.

Antibiotic resistance has been the cause of roughly two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths every year in the U.S. The mcr-1 gene was discovered last year in China as well, where it was found in both people and pigs. The possibility that the superbug could spread from animals to people is a huge concern to health officials.

As of now, the best way to protect against the superbug and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria is by washing one’s hands thoroughly and preparing food appropriately. For more health-related news and advice, visit the Benefits Store today.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced an outbreak of the Listeria monogytogenes bacteria in frozen vegetables and fruits, which has led to the recall of over 350 products from 42 different brands. These brands were carried by a number of major American and Canadian grocers, including Trader Joe’s, Costco and Safeway.

What Is Listeria?

Listeria is a foodborne pathogen that is not as common as E. coli or salmonella, but that is more lethal than either. A healthy immune system should be able to withstand an infection caused by Listeria, but once the bug enters into the bloodstream it can cause listeriosis. Listeriosis kills 20 percent of its victims. People with weaker immune systems — such as older adults, newborns and pregnant women — are more at risk of infection. Adults over the age of 65 are four times as likely to get listeria than the common population, while pregnant women are ten times as likely. Although they may not develop listeriosis themselves, it can threaten their babies. Symptoms include fever, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and stiff neck.

The Current Listeria Outbreak

According to the CDC, there have been eight people affected so far. Six have contracted listeria in California as well as one each in Maryland and Washington. Both patients in Maryland and Washington died, although it was determined that listeria was not their ultimate cause of death.The CDC has stated that the frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods are the most likely source for the listeria.

What to Do

Consumers should inspect the vegetable packages in their freezer and check the UPC codes along with the “best by” dates against the FDA’s list. If there is a match, the package should either be disposed of or taken back to the store for a refund. Although listeria can be killed if the vegetables are properly cooked, they would need to reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit — and it’s not worth the risk.

Be aware of the recent listeria problem and visit us at the Benefits Store for more updates on important health information.

Physical health tends to deteriorate as a person ages, which is why it’s so important that senior citizens participate in physical exercise as a way to maintain and improve their health. It turns out that one of the most effective ways for older adults to improve their health is by walking dogs.

The Benefits of Walking

Generally speaking, adults of all ages should get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Walking happens to be one of the easiest ways to meet this benchmark. Walking can be done at one’s own pace, causes little stress on the body and requires no additional equipment.

This makes the health benefits of walking a dog all the more obvious. Recent studies have even shown that dog walking is one of the most effective ways for seniors to stay active and fit. The study used data gathered from roughly 20,000 Americans over 50 years of age for a period of two years. This data revealed evidence for the association between dog walking and physical health.

Dog Ownership Benefits Health

Research revealed that dog walking was not only linked to a lower BMI (body mass index), but that it was also linked to fewer doctor visits and more frequent exercise. Additional benefits of dog walking included an increase in social benefits and the reduction in limitations of daily living activities.

It’s not just that walking a dog allows for exercise, it’s that older adults are more likely to get out and walk more often if they have the obligation of a dog. The companionship that a dog offers provides more incentive as well — they want to spend more time with their dogs and therefore go on walks as a leisure-time activity and not just as a way to exercise or to take their dog to the bathroom.

Senior citizens can not only benefit from the companionship of a dog, but can also improve their physical health through the simple act of dog walking. For more up-to-date, health-related news, visit us at the Benefits Store today.

One of the biggest health fads over the last few years has been the juice cleanse. Juice cleansing has been advertised as a way to remove all of those terrible toxins from the body — and many people have bought into it, as evidenced from the pricey bottles of juice offered at grocery stores as well as the healthy juice shops that have opened up all over the country. However, there’s a giant misconception that has been feeding into the popularity of juice cleansing — it doesn’t actually remove toxins from your body.

Toxins

Most people who are in the process of cleansing their bodies of toxins with a juice cleanse actually have no idea what they are trying to get rid of. The term “toxins” might as well just be “bad stuff.” Everyone is exposed to toxins on a daily basis, that’s for sure. Common toxins include pesticides, alcohol and even acetaminophen, one of the active ingredients in Tylenol. But the thing is, the body is built to handle these toxins naturally — it typically doesn’t need the assistance of juice.

The kidneys and liver are organs designed to remove toxins from the bloodstream and to process them into feces and urine for removal. According to medical experts, there is no good scientific evidence that a juice cleanse can aid this process.

So Is It Worth It?

However, that doesn’t mean that there’s no benefit whatsoever to a juice cleanse. The juices used in a juice cleanse, which often consist of vitamin and antioxidant-rich vegetables, can be extremely beneficial in a number of ways. They provide the body with nutrients that can help improve its health, they can be an effective way to help lose weight and they can get people to pay more attention to their diet by eating healthier.

Juice cleansing can be extremely beneficial to the health of one’s body, but there’s a common misconception that it helps remove toxins from the body — it doesn’t. To keep up to date with all newest health-related fads and health insurance information, be sure to visit us at the Benefits Store today.