With the Covid lockdown many delayed or postponed their normal preventative care including the periodic screenings by a Dermatologist. 

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans is projected to develop skin cancer by age 70. Be safe, get checked.

Summer is here and stores are stocked with sunscreens of all shapes and sizes. Sprays, lotions, creams, powders: there have never been more ways to safeguard your skin. But with so many options on the market, what is your best line of defense?

Sodium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in maintaining fluid balance in the body, transmitting nerve impulses, and supporting muscle function. However, consuming too much sodium can have negative effects on cardiovascular health, including increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Let’s explore the impact sodium has on cardiovascular health, including the effects of different types of salt, and whether or not there are benefits to eating sodium.

When consumed in excess, sodium can increase blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure can damage the arteries, causing them to become narrow and stiff, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, with an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults.1

Research has also shown that reducing sodium intake can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that reducing sodium intake by 25% could lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease by up to 9.5%.2 Another study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that reducing sodium intake by 1,000 mg per day could lower systolic blood pressure by 5.5 to 6.6 mmHg.3

The Type of Salt Makes a Difference

Not all salt is created equal. There are several diverse types of salt, each with their own unique characteristics and nutritional profiles. Some of the most common types of salt include:

Table Salt: This is the most common type of salt found in most kitchens. It is heavily processed (which is not ideal) and typically contains additives such as iodine and anti-caking agents.

Sea Salt: This type of salt is harvested from evaporated seawater and contains trace minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

Himalayan Pink Salt: This type of salt is mined from ancient salt beds in the Himalayan Mountains and is known for its distinctive pink color. It contains trace minerals such as iron, potassium, and calcium.

Kosher Salt: This type of salt is less processed than table salt and is often used in cooking because of its coarse texture.

While some types of salt may contain trace minerals that can be beneficial for health, it's important to keep in mind that all types of salt are high in sodium and should be consumed in moderation.  <Read More>

Rest is essential to exercising in a healthy way, and there are many ways to recover from a workout. Each way has a benefit, so how should you rest and recover after you've exercised?

A positive attitude toward exercise and a well-rounded fitness routine can do wonders for your overall health. A key factor in that routine is rest and recovery. It’s a balancing act, though, because if you rest too often, you’re not getting the full benefit of exercise, either. Adding the right amount of recovery, as well as recovering effectively, is critical.

Achieving this balance can be even more difficult if you’re a senior when your body can tire more quickly and can take longer to recover.

Even though they’re separate programs, Medicare, and Social Security work together to serve their beneficiaries. This cooperation influences everything from how you pay for Medicare to enrolling in it for the first time. So, how exactly do these programs work together to benefit you?

What Each Program Covers

First, let’s recall what each program was brought in to do. Social Security was created by the Social Security Act of 1935 as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to combat the Great Depression. It acts as a form of economic security for Americans and as a type of national retirement and, eventually, disability pension. Several concepts had been floating around the country and internationally for some time, but Social Security made it so that, if you qualified, you’d receive a monthly payment from the government. This benefit changes in relation to inflation (the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA) so that rising costs won’t cut down on the help Social Security can provide.

If you’re a regular reader of Medicareful Living, you’ll be pretty familiar with Medicare at this point. You’ll know that Medicare covers an assortment of inpatient and outpatient health services, including some of the most basic and commonly needed health care services. You’ll also know that you can become eligible by turning 65 or having a qualifying condition. You should also understand that Medicare was initially created in 1965, but that the roots of the program go much deeper. If you’d like to learn more about Medicare, you’re in the right place.

Medicare Enrollment and Maintenance

So, how do these programs work together? Social Security helps in the enrollment and maintenance of your Medicare coverage. One of the first ways most people will encounter this cooperation is through enrollment in Medicare. See, if you’re receiving Social Security benefits when you become eligible for Medicare, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B only). Since you must pay premiums for Part B, you can still choose not to enroll, though there may be a late penalty added if you choose to enroll after you first became eligible.

The other way the Social Security Administration (SSA) helps with Medicare is by replacing lost or damaged Original Medicare cards. You can get a new card through Medicare.gov, but you can also get it through the SSA. Simply by navigating to the my Social Security website or going to your nearest SSA office, you can start the process of replacing your Medicare card. Once the request is in, you should have your new card within 30 days.

Costs of Medicare

The other most common way Medicare and Social Security interact is with the costs of Medicare. For example, if you’re enrolled in both Social Security and Medicare, you can choose to pay for your Medicare Part B premium by having it come directly out of your Social Security check each month. Not only is this convenient for many, it also allows you to be held harmless if your Part B premium would otherwise increase more than your Social Security check.

Speaking of being held harmless, that’s just one way the Social Security COLA can influence Medicare. It also factors into the Part B premium. When deciding on next year’s Part B premium, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) account for the Social Security COLA. Depending on the COLA, CMS may raise the Part B premium to cover costs.