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Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Foods You May Not Have Realized Were Bad for Your Heart

With the way products are marketed, it’s sometimes confusing to know and understand what’s good for you and what may not be. When it comes to heart health, it’s all about the ingredients.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five foods that aren’t good for heart health, and some of them may surprise you.

  1. Margarine

When it comes to most fat and sugar substitutes, you’re generally better off eating the natural stuff in moderation. Margarine falls into that category.

While not as unhealthy as it used to be due to the use of artificial trans fats, the spread now uses palm oil, which isn’t terribly good or bad for your heart. But using healthy fats like avocado and olive oil are great for heart health.

  1. Fat-Free Salad Dressing

While you want to avoid unhealthy fats, it is a necessary part of the diet to absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and E, which have heart-healthy and antioxidant properties. So if you’re looking to cut back, a low-fat salad dressing or other product is okay, but otherwise, go for the full fat.

  1. Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are marketed for those who need an extra boost to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, but the reality is that some ingredients used in many of these drinks aren’t heavily regulated and can overstimulate the body to the point that it can cause heart issues when taken before or during exercise or mixed with alcohol. And even drinking alcohol regularly can cause elevated blood pressure.

  1. Specialty Coffee Drinks

While black coffee has plenty of healthy properties, fancy coffee drinks—whether hot, frozen, or iced—are not good for you at all. In fact, many of these drinks include more than an entire day’s allowance of sugar with syrups, caramel, chocolate, and whipped cream being used in abundance.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Campaign: Care that Moves You

Centers Health Care is moving forward, beyond the pandemic, leading the way into the future of post-acute healthcare. It is moving into a world of new possibilities and innovations.

We are moving our patients in our gyms and in their hearts.  Centers Health Care is all about touching lives, families, and communities—moving them all to a place that nurtures and sustains them, whether in rehab or in life.

Centers is moving our patients and our residents to get stronger, to improve their lives, and achieve their ultimate goals—physically, mentally, and emotionally. We’re making our move across healthcare. Let’s get moving!

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Investing in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)

If you’re a casual investor in the stock market, most of the experts agree: diversify your funds.

But what does that mean? It means to not put all your eggs in one basket—or even cherry-pick a few different stocks. Go with indexes or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that tend to grow over time.

You should always consult a financial analyst before investing, but if you’re interested in learning more about the types of ETFs available, Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has details on three of them that are called “no-brainer investments” by many.

  1. S&P 500 ETF

The S&P 500 is an index that includes around 500 stocks from some of the largest companies around the world in many different sectors. This ETF mimics the S&P 500, which holds up well against stock market volatility and may incur short-term losses but has been proven to grow over time.

  1. Total Stock Market ETF

Unlike the S&P 500 ETF, a total stock market ETF will invest across companies regardless of their size. Since the ETF will touch nearly every corner of the overall stock market, it tends to reflect the overall market, which has grown over time even if some individual stocks do not perform well.

  1. Growth ETF

If you’re one to carry more risk, try a growth ETF. These identify stocks that have the potential for rapid growth, but while you can get higher-than-average returns, they also contain more risk, as fast-growing companies can also see their bubble burst. Many who choose a growth ETF will also pair it with an S&P 500 ETF to balance out the risk in their overall portfolio.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Ways for Seniors to Make the Most of Their Doctor Visits

The time you have with your doctor gains importance as we get older, as it’s the best time to have an honest discussion about your health and to answer any questions you may have. But because this time is relatively brief, many people end up forgetting things that they wanted to bring up or still have questions after they return home.

The key is to be prepared before the appointment. With that in mind, Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has four ways for seniors to make the most of their doctor appointments.

  1. Make a List

You’ll want to have a list of questions for the doctor coming in. We suggest leaving a piece of paper (or use the notepad function in your smartphone) out a few days prior to the appointment, so you can add things to the list as you think of them. Also bring a list of medications that you take in order for the doctor to have up-to-date information in your chart.

  1. Be Honest About Yourself

If you’re over 65 and having any issues regarding falling or difficulty with balance, along with any bladder control or concerns about your fitness level, need to be brought up proactively with your physician. Also ask if there are any vaccines or screenings that your doctor recommends for you.

  1. Ask Follow-up Questions

Some doctors are better at explaining things than others. If you don’t understand what your doctor is saying or if you have a follow-up question, don’t stay silent. It’s also a good idea to repeat your doctor’s instructions back to them, just to make sure that you heard them and understood them correctly.

  1. Bring a Second Set of Ears

If you routinely have the feeling like you didn’t get the most out of your doctor’s visits or have a hard time remember instructions that were given, consider bringing a loved one with you to your appointment. You can also bring a pen and write down the doctor’s answers to the questions you wrote down on your notepad.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Bad Beverage Habits to Get Into

One of the sneakiest ways to take in more calories and sugar than you’re anticipating is by getting into bad habits when it comes to beverages that aren’t good for you. This can come from grabbing a drink from the vending machine at work, stopping for a sugary hot drink while you’re out running errands, or winding down with some of your favorite drinks at night.

Indulging occasionally is fine, but Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at the four worst beverages to get into the habit of consuming regularly.

  1. Soda

Soda may taste refreshing and provide you with an energy boost (depending on what you’re drinking), but it’s one of the worst things you can drink. In fact, sodas are one of the top sources of added sugars in the United States. A 20-ounce bottle of soda can have up to 50 grams of sugar in it, which is the same as 10 teaspoons of sugar. Now think about what you might put in your coffee, and you realize this is a lot of sugar.

  1. Diet Soda

Soda manufacturers realized that not everyone is able to consume so much calories and sugar, so diet soda was created. The problem with this is that the sugar substitutes that are used in diet soda can actually make it harder for you to lose weight due to glucose intolerance that these drinks can cause in the body. And these artificial sweeteners can also cause you to overeat by stimulating the part of the brain that controls your appetite.

  1. Specialty Coffees

A cup of black coffee is a great way to start your day, as it can boost your metabolism and help control your appetite. Adding cream and sugar, however, neutralizes that effect. Even worse are specialty drinks that load up on chocolate, caramel, and whipped cream. Some popular beverages on the Starbucks menu can exceed 600 calories and 60 grams of sugar.

  1. Alcohol

In addition to the calories that alcohol contains (especially beer and mixed cocktails), if you are consuming too much alcohol, your body can start burning that off as energy while storing fat.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Ramping Up Your Daily Walk

If you’re walking regularly, good for you! Walking for around 30 minutes five days a week has been shown to benefit nearly every aspect of your general health.

But if you’re been walking for a while and feel like upping the tempo a bit to provide a little more of a challenge, that’s even better!

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has four ways that you can ramp up your daily walk to get that heart pumping faster.

  1. Increase the Tempo

Give yourself about 10 minutes to warm up, and then increase the speed of your walk for 20 minutes. You’re going fast enough if holding a conversation is hard. After the 20 minutes are up, cool down at a slower pace for five to 10 more minutes.

  1. Entertain Your Ears

Studies have shown that listening to something while doing aerobic exercise gets people to do that activity more frequently and for longer durations. Music has been proven to improve performance, and listening to podcasts or audiobooks are also great ways to pass the time while walking.

  1. Find More Challenging Routes

Work hills and other natural terrain into your walk to increase the challenge, or you can head to your local running track (at either a park or a school stadium) and test how fast you can walk around the track. Mark your time and then shoot to beat it the next time you’re there.

  1. Don’t Let Rainy Days Stop You

As we start to transition towards winter, if you are a member of a gym or have access to a treadmill at home, be sure to harness the full power of it. You can increase the speed and incline of it at certain intervals or browse through pre-loaded routines that will vary in difficulty.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 6 Tips on How to Properly Pick Out Your Next Vehicle

Buying a new or preowned vehicle can be a stressful experience, and many people are glad they only have to do it once every few years (or even longer). But if you are prepared and go in with a plan, you can make this process as streamlined and as simple as possible for you.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has six tips to share that will help you pick out your next vehicle and make the process as stress-free as it can be.

  1. Prepare in Advance

Experts say the worst thing you can do is just show up at a dealership. It’s expected that you should know which vehicles you want to test drive and whether you are looking to buy new or used. Fortunately, dealers’ websites are a great resource, as they have information available for all the cars on their lot.

  1. Make Several Appointments

You should schedule appointments at more than one dealership on the same day. This will keep you from picking the first vehicle you try, and it helps you if dealers know that they have some competition for your business.

  1. Know What to Look for In the Test Drive

If it’s been a few years since you’ve purchased a vehicle, technology has come a long way. Understand all the features that are now available and figure out which ones you need before you pay for something you may never use.

  1. Drive the Car How You Would Use It

If you’re a highway commuter or a road-tripper, arrange for a test drive on the highway to see how the car feels. If you are primarily riding around town, take it for a spin on the city streets. Also check the room in the trunk and how the backseat feels if you are transporting friends or maybe even the grandkids often.

  1. Don’t Buy Today

After your day of test drives, go home and determine what you did and didn’t like about each car you drove, and whether you are ready to buy. It’s not a race, so if you’re not perfectly happy, go and try other models.

  1. Ask for a Longer Test

If you’ve narrowed down your choice, ask the dealer if you can take the car home for a night or a weekend. This can help you get acclimated to the technological and safety features as well as driving the car at night and in other conditions that you may not have experienced in the test drive.

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Memory Hacks to Learn

While memory lapses are a common sign of aging, we don’t have to accept our fate as such. No matter our age, there are things we can do to help improve both short- and long-term memory.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five simple life adjustments you can make give your brain a boost.

  1. Spend Less Time in Front of the TV

The activities that engage your brain are just about endless, from reading and traveling to playing a board game or an app on your smartphone or tablet. But research consistently shows that watching television does not engage the brain and is associated with memory concerns.

  1. Get a Handle on Your Cholesterol

High-cholesterol and high-fat diets have been linked to increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Medication may help lower the risk, but bringing down your cholesterol levels naturally will offer several other benefits without the potential for unwanted side effects.

  1. Take a Multivitamin and Focus on B Vitamins

Taking a multivitamin is great for overall health along with memory function, as several different vitamins and nutrients contribute to brain health, but if you have concerns, talk to your doctor about taking B-vitamin supplements that give you 100% of the recommended daily value of B6, B12, and folic acid.

  1. Take Up Yoga

If you haven’t tried yoga, now is a good time to start. Even partaking in gentle yoga two to three times per week can improve your brain health, as studies found there to be truth to the mind-body element to the practice.

  1. Add a Burst of Speed

If you’re physically able, add sprints to your cardiovascular regimen. A study found that performing two sprints of 3 minutes in duration each time you do a cardio workout allowed people to memorize new words 20% faster than those who didn’t sprint. Researchers believe this is because more vigorous cardio exercise increases blood flow to the brain, improving memory and verbal learning.

 

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on 5 Things Medicare Doesn’t Cover

When you’re planning for retirement, Medicare is one of the things you can count on to cover many of your health concerns, from routine exams to tests and prescription drugs. There are, however, procedures and visits that Medicare does not cover, so you will need to budget for those during your golden years.

Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five items that Medicare doesn’t cover.

  1. Eye Exams

Routine eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses are not covered by Medicare, but fortunately, vision insurance policies generally aren’t that expensive to buy privately. Also, some surgeries (like cataracts) are covered by Medicare.

  1. Hearing Aids

Like vision, ear-related medical conditions are covered, but routine tests and hearing aids are not covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans, however, do cover these items.

  1. Dental Work

Much like how regular health insurance doesn’t include dental, the same goes for Medicare. You can opt for private dental insurance or a dental discount plan offered by your dentist.

  1. Foot Care

Routine medical care, such as callous removal, is not covered, but Medicare Part B does cover foot issues that are related to nerve damage caused by diabetes.

  1. Overseas Care

If you spend time outside the United States, you should look into what’s called medevac insurance. This is a low-cost plan that can transport you to a medical facility or even back to America for further treatment at which point, your Medicare policy will kick back in.

 

To learn more about Williamsbridge Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://williamsbridge-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

According to the CDC:
– The vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19
– They will help keep you from getting seriously ill
– They help protect your family and community
– Vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorizations from the FDA

Talk to the facility administrator or social worker—and get vaccinated today.