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Even if you think you can go to work when you have a cold or flu, you need to think about others, an infectious disease expert says. “I see a lot of patients whose jobs and stress make them feel torn between staying home and going in when they’re sick,” said Dr. Robin Wigmore. She is a primary care physician and infectious disease specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “But viral infections like the common cold and flu are contagious. It’s important to consider your co-workers’ health as well,” Wigmore said in a medical center news release. To make an informed decision, first consider how long you’ve been feeling ill. “You are most contagious in the first 48 hours of a viral illness,” Wigmore explained. “This is often even before you begin feeling symptoms.” This means you should stay home at the first sign of symptoms. That will avoid spreading your illness and allow you to rest, stay hydrated and take care of yourself. Ask yourself if your symptoms are contagious. Viruses can be passed through the air by coughing or sneezing, and some cold and flu germs can survive on surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs and phones for up to 24 hours. “As a general rule, if you have a wet cough, a runny nose, fevers or aches, you should probably… read on >

A lot of importance is placed on developing self-esteem to create emotional well-being and to quiet the inner critic that causes people to doubt themselves. But even more essential to emotional wellness might be self-compassion — extending to yourself the same feelings of empathy and concern that you show others. Self-compassion leads to contentment and offers a kind of immunity against negative influences like fear, according to researcher Kristin Neff, associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. More than self-esteem, self-compassion can soothe you when you’re upset, help you gain perspective, and allow you to accept your faults. With that mindset, you can flourish. Neff has identified three important elements of self-compassion: Self-kindness: This simply means being understanding with yourself, rather than judgmental. Feeling connected with others in life: This is what Neff calls “common humanity.” Mindfulness: This is often described as viewing a situation in real time without coloring it with “what ifs?” Self-compassion doesn’t depend on your reaching ideal and possibly unrealistic goals, but from caring for yourself as you are, with your own balance of weak and strong points. People with self-compassion experience less anxiety and are more comfortable in their own skin. What’s more, if you’re a mom or dad, having self-compassion can help you feel more at ease with your parenting skills, which will benefit… read on >

When it comes to cooking veggies, fresh from the farmer’s market always tastes best. But when you’re cooking produce out of season, head to the freezer section of your favorite store. Veggies are typically frozen at the height of freshness, making them a great winter staple. Dense vegetables in particular are ideal for freezer storage, because they retain their texture when reheated. Put peas, edamame, Brussels sprouts and artichokes at the top of your list. As long as you don’t overcook them, they’ll also retain their nutrients. Microwaving can dry out some vegetables. To defrost them quickly, place them in a colander under cold running water for a few minutes. Then add them to green salads or fold into any cooked dish. One of the easiest ways to use frozen vegetables is to add them straight from the freezer to soups, stews and chilis during the last few minutes of cooking. Frozen vegetables also are great in breakfast smoothies: Simply blend frozen edamame — a protein powerhouse — along with your fruits and yogurt. Frozen artichokes are far less expensive than fresh, plus all the prep work has been done for you. Here’s a simple recipe that’s both a crowd pleaser and a great alternative to bottled dressings when you want a dip for carrot sticks. Artichoke Dip 1/2 cup frozen artichokes, defrosted 1/2 cup… read on >

When kidney failure patients undergoing treatment at dialysis clinics suffer cardiac arrest, the clinic staff usually jumps in to perform lifesaving CPR, but not always, a new study finds. “It is reassuring that bystander CPR was associated with improved outcomes in dialysis clinics just as it is in other settings, but it is concerning that the rate of dialysis staff-initiated CPR isn’t closer to 100 percent, considering that all staff should be CPR-trained,” said study author Dr. Patrick Pun, from Duke University, in Durham, N.C. More research is needed to determine why this is so, the study authors said in a news release from the American Society of Nephrology. For the study, Pun’s team examined the cases of 398 kidney failure patients who suffered cardiac arrest at outpatient dialysis clinics in the southeastern United States between 2010 and 2016. The study did not include patients with “do not resuscitate” orders. Before emergency medical services arrived, dialysis clinic staff started CPR in 81 percent of the cases and used defibrillators in 52 percent of the cases, the findings showed. Clinic staff-initiated CPR was associated with a three times higher chance of survival and a favorable brain result when a patient left the hospital. There was no association between staff defibrillator use and patient outcomes, according to the report. Staff were more likely to start CPR if… read on >

Time spent on Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook probably isn’t driving teenagers to depression, a new study contends. In fact, Canadian researchers found the relationship worked in the opposite direction — teenage girls who were already depressed tended to spend more time on social media, to try to feel better. These findings run counter to a series of recent studies that said teens and young adults were more likely to grow depressed if they used social media more often. But those studies only looked at adolescents’ depression and social media use at one point in time, taking a single survey “snapshot” that couldn’t assess which factor influences the other, explained Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center in Santa Barbara, Calif. The new study looked at people over time and tried to make sense of their behaviors over time, said Rutledge, who was not involved in the research. “To me it makes a lot of sense, because we also know that social media can have a lot of benefits,” she said. “With anything, there is positive and negative. Social media is this great big thing, and there are all sorts of ways to use it.” Beginning in 2017, researchers led by Taylor Heffer from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, surveyed nearly 600 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in Ontario once a year for two… read on >

The benefits of eating fewer calories may go far beyond losing weight. Three decades of animal studies have found that eating fewer calories can extend lifespan and reduce the risk of chronic diseases and even some cancers. And some, though not all, of these benefits are starting to be seen in men and women taking part in clinical trials. For instance, in moderately overweight people, restricting calories by 25 percent over two years improved blood pressure and cholesterol counts, and resulted in weight loss. Participants also had a 47 percent drop in levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation linked to heart disease. A second study done by researchers from the same institutions focused on calorie restriction to see if it affected other important aspects of life like mood, sleep and sex. Not surprisingly, the participants who ate 25 percent fewer calories lost weight — about 15 pounds on average. What was surprising? Their mood significantly improved, and they experienced more vigor, less tension and better overall health. They also had an improved sex drive, better relationships and even greater sleep quality. Keep in mind that safe calorie restriction means reducing intake without depriving yourself of essential nutrients. So every calorie has to be carefully chosen. This is especially important if you’re already at a healthy weight without any fat stores to burn. Make… read on >

There’s bad news and good news in a study of lives lost to suicide around the world. In sheer numbers, more of the world’s people are dying by suicide each year than ever before, the new report reveals. In 2016, about 817,000 deaths worldwide were attributed to suicide, the study showed. That’s an increase from the 762,000 suicides calculated for 1990. However, after the researchers adjusted their numbers for changes in age and population size, they found that the suicide fatality rate actually decreased by nearly a third between 1990 and 2016. Only further study can determine whether the decline is due to better suicide prevention efforts or to general improvements in population health, the researchers said. The analysis of data from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study also found that the worldwide rate of suicide death was higher among men (15.6 deaths per 100,000) than women (7 deaths per 100,000). However, that wasn’t true for most countries with what the researchers called a “low sociodemographic index” — a measure of fertility, income and education. In those nations, women had higher suicide rates than men, according to the study published Feb. 6 in the BMJ. The researchers were led by Mohsen Naghavi, a professor of health metrics at the University of Washington in Seattle. He and his colleagues said the wide variations in suicide… read on >

(HealthDay News) — More than 160,000 people died in the United States of an unintended injury in 2016, the National Safety Council says. Unintended injury often happens when you least expect it, the council warns, such as while you’re on vacation, doing chores at home or driving across town. Here is the agency’s list of the top causes of unintentional injury and death: Poisoning. Motor vehicle crash. Falling. Choking or suffocation. Drowning. Fires and burns. Weather-related injury.

Two out of every three people will experience a shoulder injury or problem at some point in their lives. One reason: When it comes to training, the anterior, or front, deltoid muscle gets almost all the attention, while the medial and posterior deltoids get the cold shoulder. For a study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise, scientists from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse evaluated popular shoulder exercises to see which were most effective. Popular Deltoid Strength-Training Exercises Barbell upright row Battling ropes Bent-arm lateral raise, great for the medial deltoids Cable diagonal raises Dips Dumbbell front raise Dumbbell shoulder press, tops in training for the anterior deltoids Push-ups Seated rear lateral raise, excellent for the posterior deltoids 45-degree incline row, excellent for the medial and posterior deltoids While no single exercise can work all three parts, start building a shoulder workout with two that target most of the muscles. Build up to three sets of eight to 15 reps each. At first, you may only be able to lift very light dumbbells, but with consistency, you’ll develop strength over time. When you can complete three full sets, it’s time to increase your weight. For the seated rear lateral raise, sit on the edge of a bench, feet flat on the floor, a dumbbell next to each foot. Bend over to bring your torso… read on >

When cold weather hits, a hot bowl of chili is a great way to fuel up. High-protein turkey chili contains a lot less fat than traditional recipes, yet can deliver all the flavor. Turkey is lower in calories than beef — as long as you buy lean ground turkey breast. This recipe also uses low-calorie vegetables for additional flavor (and fiber). Turkey Chili 1 pound ground turkey breast 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon light olive or canola oil 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons sweet chili powder 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary 1 large onion, chopped 2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped 2 celery stalks, trimmed, peeled and chopped 1/4 cup tomato paste 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth 15-ounce can pinto beans Your choice of toppings Sprinkle the turkey with salt. Heat a large stockpot on high heat and add the oil. When hot, add the turkey, but don’t stir it. (Allowing it to brown in the pan for two to three minutes adds savory flavor without needing higher quantities of fat and salt.) Flip to brown on the other side for one minute and then start to break it up with a spatula. Sprinkle with the cumin, chili powder and rosemary. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook two to three minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, broth and beans.… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

How to Decide When You’re Too Sick to Work

Developing Self-Compassion: How to Show Yourself Some Love

Get The Most From Frozen Vegetables

CPR Not Always Given at Dialysis Clinics When Needed

Does Social Media Push Teens to Depression? New Study Says No

Cutting Calories Can Boost Your Sex Life and Your Sleep

Global Rate of Suicide Deaths Is on the Decline

Health Tip: Leading Causes of Unintentional Injury

Strengthen Your Deltoids to Help Prevent Shoulder Injuries

Warm Up to Turkey Chili