Category Archives: Health

Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition

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Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I hope that all of you had a fantastic and relaxing weekend. So, technically, this Monday Update should be called Take A Walk/Run Edition (a rawk?) but Take A Walk sounds a bit more snazzy so we’ll just go with it. ANYWAYS, this past week, my mom decided that she would like to give walking at the nearby middle school track a go and asked if I would like to join her. Because I am a loving daughter and also because I’m trying to get my beach body in check I said, albeit a little grudgingly, “sure”. ALSO, the “comfort” few pounds gained when I was still with my ex-boyfriend are no joke so, I repeat, I really want to get my beach body in check.

So, my mom and I made our way to the track and because simply walking bores me, I thought that I would try to run as much as I could before taking a walking break. And LET ME TELL YOU, the ol’ smoker’s lungs were on FIRE. Despite this, I walked/ran (rawked) a mile and a quarter and felt pretty happy about it. Granted, it felt like pure and utter torture, but it was sort of fun? Can torture be fun? I guess the answer is YES.

My mom and I have gone to the track five times within the week during the evening and each time, I’ve been able to run a little bit longer than I was able to the last time. This is exciting to me. For those of you who don’t know, I was a competitive figure skater for a long time but gave it up when I was about sixteen (I’m 22 now). I miss doing things that involve athleticism (even though shopping is a sport, damnit), so it felt really good to be able to do something to get the blood pumping again and put my legs of steel to use.

Am I going to be the next Usain Bolt any time soon? Absolutely not. But I would be ecstatic if I could make it around the track once (which is a quarter mile) at a run without stopping to walk. It’s nice to have goals to accomplish even if they’re small and it’s also fun being able to be with my mom even if we’re just waving at each other from our different locations on the track.

I never thought that I’d say that I was actually looking forward to going for a rawk and getting sweaty, but I definitely find myself looking forward to it during the day. I even want to start hitting the ice again, although it would be just for fun. Being motivated in an athletic way for the first time in a long time feels good and I know my beach body goals will be achieved sooner or later. So here’s to bikini shopping not being a total pain this year!

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this song or video (I wish I did!!).

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Take A Walk Edition! How do you plan on achieving your perfect beach bod this year? Who else enjoys a good walk, run, or rawk? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Health Tips Successful People Follow To Start Their Days

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The Health Tips Successful People Follow To Start Their Days

Success is one of those objective terms that can be used to measure an array of things. For example, when we say that someone is successful, we could mean that they are wealthy. But, success isn’t just about one’s net worth. It’s a way of measuring how often you get things right, regardless of the subject.

To a lot of people, success is all about leading a balanced lifestyle and one that feels fulfilling. If you’re someone that feels like they struggle to do just about anything in their life, chances are you aren’t feeling very successful as a person! What you may not realize is that the successful outcomes you want to achieve always depend on how you’ve started your day!

If you begin the day with a negative outlook, chances are you aren’t going to see any positive opportunities that come your way. With that in mind, you might want to know how to start each day fresh and in tip top form. As you can probably imagine, how you’re feeling from a health point of view will vastly influence your outlook on the day. The following health tips are ones that many successful people (wealthy or not) follow each day. Check these strategies out and try them for yourself:

Get Plenty of Sleep the Night Before: One of the secrets to having a successful day actually starts the night before! As you know, getting the right amount of sleep will help you feel fresh and get energized for the day ahead. Some people suggest seven hours of uninterrupted sleep, while others recommend eight. Try both and see which length of sleep suits your body clock better.

Surround Yourself With Soothing Lights, Colors, and Scents: When you wake up in the morning, you don’t want to be greeted by a miserable-looking bedroom. Make sure that you have soothing lights, colors, and scents enveloping you as you wake up. You may even wish to set your alarm radio to play your favorite music when it’s time to start your day.

Cleanse Your Mind and Body With Water: Having a shower first thing in the morning will further awaken your senses and leave you feeling cleansed and refreshed. It’s also a welcome ritual if it’s the middle of summer and you’ve been sweating all night from the heat!

Cut Out the Bad Morning Habits: Drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette are two bad habits that people frequently indulge themselves in to “wake up” in the morning. Coffee isn’t good because it will leave you feeling dehydrated, while smoking can leave you with a lingering tobacco aroma that some might find off putting.

Try drinking a glass of orange or fruit juice instead of coffee. You should also eat a healthy breakfast to load your body up with essential vitamins. And instead of smoking cigarettes in the morning (or anytime for that matter), consider moving to e-cigarettes instead. https://www.lizardjuice.com has more information on what they are, and how they don’t emit any lingering tobacco smoke.

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Yum!

Go For a Run: Having a quick sprint around the block or in a nearby park before you eat breakfast can motivate your metabolism. That way, you’ll burn off fat faster and feel more mentally alert. You need not run a marathon each morning; just a mere five or ten minutes of gentle jogging is enough to kick-start your metabolism.

Try Not to Multitask at Work: Last, but not least, when you eventually get to work, try not to do several tasks at once. Doing so will leave you feeling mentally drained, and you’ll be less likely to have a successful and accomplished day. Take a look at https://www.liquidplanner.com for more information on how to prioritize and manage your work each day for maximum success.

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The Eyesight Plight: Are You Damaging Your Vision?

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The Eyesight Plight: Are You Damaging Your Vision?

Eyesight is pretty useful, right? So it’s a shame that so many of us are doing things that actually damage our eyesight on a daily basis. Here’s a quick guide to the most common ways that people harm their vision in the long term:

Not taking breaks from the screen: People will no doubt have told you at some point that sitting too close to the TV will damage your eyes. It was probably a parent. There’s no hard evidence that this is the case, but there is certainly a correlation between the time you spend focusing on a screen and the eventual degradation of the eyes.

It’s not so much to do with your proximity to the screen as it is how long you’re spending looking at the screen without breaks. When you look at a screen, you’re giving your eyes quite a workout. Not only that, but people tend to blink much less frequently when they look at screens. So make sure that you take a break for a few minutes every fifteen to twenty minutes.

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Break time!

Inadequate protection from the sun: It’s getting sunny out, now that winter is behind us. But it’s okay, because you just picked up a $5 pair of sunglasses from a nearby corner store, meaning that you don’t have to squint as much to get a good look at your surroundings. Unfortunately, a good pair of sunglasses is a little more complex than simply putting a black, shady overlay over your vision.

The sun’s rays need to actually be deflected or softened properly before reaching your eyes, which isn’t something cheap sunglasses usually do. Not only this, but your eyes may require sunglasses with particular specifications, same as with regular glasses. Picking the right sunglasses isn’t as simple as you might think, but it’s definitely necessary if you want to protect your eyesight in the long run.

When you are picking out a new pair of sunglasses, it’s so important to pick a pair that compliments the shape of your face. This will ensure that your eyes have all around coverage for protection from the sun. It can be helpful to try several different styles to find the right fit before purchasing in store or online. For example, if you have a larger face shape, then you will know to look for larger oversized size sunglasses online or in store. The best fit for you will offer the best protection.

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Get sunglasses stat!

Sleep deprivation: When people think about sleep deprivation, they usually think about… well, torture. They think about people forcing others to stay awake so that they feel dizzy, ill, and in severe danger. They don’t tend to imagine sleep deprivation as something they may actually be doing to themselves!

The fact is that most of us don’t get as much sleep as we really need. Among a plethora of other problems this exacerbates – stress, depression, skin problems, a degraded immune system – it also affects your eyes in big ways. Your eyes need to relax, and sleep is what gives eyes that needed relaxation. A big part of the headache people often get when they don’t have enough sleep is due to eye strain.

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This kid needs to catch some Zs!

Contact errors: More people than ever are using contact lenses. They’re amazing things, but a lot of people use them in ways that end up damaging their eyes in the long run. Thankfully, most of us know not to wear them when we go to sleep, but there are plenty of people out there who either ignore this advice or simply forget! Make sure you take them out before bed.

Not only that, but you need to take them out before submerging yourself in water. Pools, baths, showers, hot tubs – if your contacts make, well, contact with that water, it will pick up and retain a bunch of bacteria. #YUCK

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Sick Of High Medical Bills?

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Sick Of High Medical Bills?

If medical bills are starting to drive you into an unhealthy debt, don’t despair. You shouldn’t have to financially ruin yourself in order to care for your health. There are many sly ways of cutting expenses on your medical bills that could be worth taking advantage of. Here are just a few to take a look at:

If your boss offers an FSA – use it! More and more companies are supplying Flexible Savings Accounts as an option to their staff. Every contribution you make to these accounts is tax free and can be used to cover all manner of out-of-pocket medical costs including prescriptions, medicines, and dental care. You’re allowed to save up and spend a certain allowance each year – which should be fully taken advantage of. Even if you don’t have a medical problem throughout the year, FSA spendings can be used to buy over-the-counter drugs, baby products, bandages, crutches and in some cases eye wear such as glasses or contact lenses.

Ditch big brand medicine: Only buying medicine from big brands is a rip off. These brands may have enough popularity and money to advertise on TV, but they’ll have had to pass exactly the same quality tests as lesser known drugs from small brands. These small brands are likely to be much cheaper. If you’re on a prescription, shop around for other similar medicines that you could be saving money on. Ask your doctor and switch to generic brands to save a very pretty penny.

Tailor your insurance plan to you: Taking the time to really shop around for health insurance plans can save you a lot of money. Use comparison sites and check companies that are off of these comparison sites, too. Companies such as Health Insurance Innovations are known for being able to offer customized plans to suit your needs. You may also find a good family bundle somewhere that could also save costs. And remember that you can lower your premiums by raising your deductible.

Join a farm bureau: Every state has its own farm bureau – an organization primarily set up for farmers, although practically anyone can join (farmer or not!). Joining will cost a small monthly or annual fee, however, you usually will get all kinds of perks, a common one being huge medical discounts. Always check the incentives offered by your local bureau first before signing up, as perks do vary from state to state.

Get help from an advocate: Advocacy programs are largely in place to help those in need who may not be able to make a medical decision for themselves. However, advocates can also help out those that are financially struggling with healthcare. An advocate may be able to shop around for you, come up with alternative treatment plans, and negotiate better rates from hospitals and insurers. This isn’t a service that everyone can take advantage of – your financial situation may have to be assessed first to determine whether you really cannot pay off these medical bills.

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Why Sleep Is The Most Important Part Of Good Health

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Why Sleep Is The Most Important Part Of Good Health

People who regularly achieve a good night of sleep tend to be more healthy. Good sleepers have more energy, a better mood, and far more focus on their tasks. If you’re lucky enough to sleep well most nights of the week, you may also be better able to manage your weight effectively, as well as your relationships. Physical health and mental health rely on good sleep. Yet poor health can lead to sleep loss and exhaustion.

Should you try to sleep more if you are unwell? There are, of course, many benefits of sleeping more. During sleep, the body regenerates and fights germs and infections. Unfortunately, too much sleep outside of your regular routine can leave you feeling groggy. You may even struggle to get back into a good, healthy sleep pattern. It’s important that you sleep well, but sleeping too much at the wrong times may actually set you back.

Should you rely on prescription medications to help you sleep? A healthy, natural sleep is not always achievable once you have taken some of these drugs. Sleep should rest the body and all of your muscles. Some sleeping drugs do this well. Or, perhaps, should you rely on more natural approaches to help you get some shut eye if you don’t want to take prescription medication? Lavender, milatonin, and gaba and l theanine all help to promote a good night’s sleep.

Sleep should also permit the brain to reach REM sleep. There are five different stages of sleep. Not all sleeping aids benefit this process. A natural sleep is best if you are able to achieve it. Why do we need full cycles of sleep? We tend to sleep for about seven and a half hours a night. This is long enough for five cycles of sleep that last about ninety minutes each.

Each cycle is different and will go through the five stages of sleep in different ways. Some stages allow for dreaming, while others allow for a deep level of physical relaxation. Healing, regeneration, mental filing, and even preparation for the coming day happen during sleep. Interruptions can lead to confusion, memory difficulties, and a lack of focus.

There are plenty of things that you can do to promote healthy sleep. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to ensure that you can fall asleep at night. Fresh air outdoors and exercise play a big part in preparing your body and mind for sleep. Avoid screens just before you want to go to sleep, as they emit blue light that confuses the brain chemistry into believing it is daylight. Avoid caffeine, too, if you struggle to settle at night. You can also try CBD products, such as a hash concentrate piatella if you especially struggle with falling asleep. Potent THC products can induce a relaxing state which makes it much easier to fall into a deep sleep. Finally, make sure that you have a good, consistent bedtime routine.

What can I do if I wake up at night? It’s a healthy part of the sleep cycle to wake up before the next one begins. We usually don’t notice or remember it, though. If you wake fully, it can be quite frustrating. Try not to let it bother you. Reset your sleep by performing the last two or three parts of your bedtime routine again. It doesn’t matter if you get out of bed for a glass of water first. If something woke you, consider making some changes to your room for tomorrow night. Earplugs to eliminate unwanted sounds and blackout curtains to remove excess light can be very helpful here.

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#Sleepygirlproblems

Should I be this uncomfortable in bed? There is no need to be uncomfortable in bed. Physical ailments can lead to discomfort from time to time. Try not to rely on painkillers as some can alter your sleep cycle. Instead, invest in the best bed that you can buy. Mattresses for great sleep are available from many leading brands. Some are made from memory foam that is designed to hold your body in a supportive posture. This is particularly helpful for people with aches and pains or those nursing an injury.

Is a lack of sleep harmful to my health? Poor quality sleep, or skipping a whole night isn’t just harmful to your health, it’s dangerous. As soon as you start to drive your car, you’ll know you’re tired. Your focus isn’t sharp, and you’re making mistakes. This can become fatal, yet many of us admit to driving while tired. Your relationships can suffer because a lack of sleep makes us moody and irrational. Simple things that wouldn’t usually bother you can become hugely irritating for you. This can lead to some out-of-character behavior.

Beyond the mood swings, your metabolism could also be upset. You’ll feel more hungry and may need an extra meal to get you through the day. This can quickly and easily lead to weight gain if it happens regularly. Your digestive system won’t be as effective, either, so you may notice bloating and indigestion quite quickly. Injuries won’t heal if you don’t sleep and that cold will drag on and on. Good health really does rely on good quality sleep every night.

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That looks so uncomfortable!!

Why can’t I sleep? There are so many causes of sleep problems. Falling asleep is quite hard to do if you’re not used to doing it. This is why many parents of newborns struggle to help their little ones get enough sleep. It isn’t quite as natural and instinctive as you might think, and being overtired can exacerbate the problem. Preparation is very helpful here. Set up a healthy approach to sleep and a good bedtime routine. This will ensure that your body and mind are both prepared for falling asleep.

During daylight hours, get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Try to avoid stimulants like chocolate, sugar, and caffeine from about 4 PM. Alcohol can also make it tricky to stay asleep, so avoid this for now. At bedtime, switch off your electronic devices and avoid having any in your bedroom. Good sleep hygiene guides recommend using the bedroom only for sleep. Have a warm bath each night and stick to the same tasks in the same order. Once you’re in bed, use a low light lamp to read a chapter or two of your favorite book. If you find that you’re lying awake, simply try the routine again.

Stress is a big problem for many parts of your life, including sleep. Write down what worries you if your mind is spinning at bedtime. Use waking hours to address one thing on that list each day. Over time, your ability to fall asleep will become more natural and you’ll rest well all night long. Sweet dreams!

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4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

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4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

It can often be quite surprising how many of us take our skin for granted. If you have never dealt with a skin ailment during your life, you may not have any idea of the kind of issues it can bring up for a sufferer. We all have our health issues, but usually, we can keep them private. Skin conditions, however, are much more difficult to hide – simply because quite a lot of our skin is out for show much of the time. Our skin is delicate, and it varies in many different parts of the body. For example, the skin on your hands has adapted to wrinkle when immersed in water, to give you more grip in poor weather conditions. You will also find that the skin on your body is much less oily than the skin on your face because the body has far less sebaceous glands. That is partially why we have different products for use on our face than we have for use on our bodies – it’s all about caring for and preserving your skin.

Having a condition, however, can make this whole process much more complicated. Some skin issues can be little more than an annoyance, whereas others can be serious and even life-altering. Here are a few that you may have heard of and some others that you may not be so familiar with, and what to do if you think you may be living with any of them:

Excessively Dry Skin: If you have very dry skin, you may just regard it as ‘one of those things’, much in the same way that you may have curly hair or have brittle fingernails. But if you are experiencing any discomfort from your dry skin, you could have a problem on your hands (quite literally!). Dry skin is one of the leading causes of itchy palms, a condition that can be incredibly frustrating for sufferers and something that can possibly interfere with your sleep.

Be mindful of how you react to your itchy, dry skin. If you are absentmindedly scratching it, you might be breaking the skin without realizing it. This can be incredibly painful, and can put you at risk of developing infections. The best way to avoid the incessant itching caused by dry skin is to keep your skin full of moisture, so invest in a good hand cream and a body butter to keep your skin supple and itch-free.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a condition that relates to dry skin but in a much more serious way. Its main symptoms are red, flaky patches of skin across the body that are often covered with silver scales. These patches can be itchy or sore, and some people have more severe symptoms than others. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but there are things that you can do to ease the effects of it. If you think you may have psoriasis, visit your doctor, as they may be able to prescribe you medication or cream to ease some of the symptoms.

Vitiligo: Vitiligo is not a condition that tends to cause the sufferer physical pain, but it can have a big impact on a person’s self-esteem. This particular condition causes white patches to appear on the skin, which vary in size and shape. This can give the skin a ‘mottled’ effect, and it shows up more clearly on people who are naturally dark-skinned. It is a long-term condition, although it can start to develop at any time in life. As of yet, there is no cure, but you can minimize the appearance of the condition with makeup, steroid cream, or even phototherapy. (Notice that Converse and Gap are both using models with Vitiligo in their campaigns!)

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A good makeup brush is a must.

Scabies: Scabies is often considered to be an illness of the past, normally associated with pirates living on unhygienic old ships! In reality, however, scabies is caused purely by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrow into the skin, causing the itchy feeling. Scabies can develop and spread easily in environments where people are living in very close quarters with each other, which is partially why it is more common during the winter than the summer in most Western countries. It is not serious but can be uncomfortable, and can be worsened if you repeatedly scratch at the affected areas. So if you think you might have scabies, visit your doctor. He or she will most likely prescribe you a cream of sorts that contains insecticides, which will kill the scabies mites. Permethrin cream and malathion lotion are the two most commonly prescribed types.

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Technology To Keep You On Track

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When it comes to health and fitness we could all use a helping hand. Whether it’s counting calories or charting our progress, it can be difficult to keep on top of things when we’re trying to get in shape. Increasingly, the worlds of technology and fitness have been overlapping. Here’s how you could be using some clever tech to get fit just in time for summer:

Healthy Eating: There are plenty of tech gadgets that make eating healthily easier. Apps are particularly popular for those looking to lose weight. We’re told a lot about the importance of keeping a food diary and holding ourselves accountable. This is good advice but can be so difficult (and annoying!) in practice. When we cook at home or eat out it’s difficult to track our calorie and sugar intake. Not only that, but it’s a lot of work to carry around a food diary and fill it in every day.

Certain apps allow users to check their intake easily. These apps are pre-programmed with nutritional information from thousands of restaurants and recipes. Not only can you keep track of your calories, but these apps can also tell you how far away from your goal you are. They can even work out the right amount of calories you should be eating, based on your BMI. So if you’re wondering what your BMI is, then you’ll need to look into a BMI calculator online to try and figure that out (they’re free). Some apps also have features which allow you to input your workout and see how many calories you’ve burned. So handy!

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YUM!!

Quitting Your Bad Habit: It’s no surprise that people looking to increase their overall health and fitness try and cut back on any bad habits. Whether your indulgence is chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, it’s best to try and curb these less than healthy habits for good. The world of technology came up with vapes and e-cigarettes as an alternative aid for those looking to quit smoking. Vapes and e-cigarettes require liquid and chargers, like the ones found at Vaporesence. This aid to stopping smoking is usually used as a first step on the road to cutting down or cutting out cigarettes altogether for an ultimately healthier lifestyle.

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Lumo: Lumo is at the forefront of some pretty impressive fitness tech. Lumo Run, for instance, is a sensor that you clip onto your running shorts. The device links up to an app on your phone and gives you a post-run analysis. Along with the usual details, Lumo Run can advise you about your running form and even recommend specific personalized exercises. It measures your pelvic drop, rotation, bounce, and braking to come up with feedback on how to improve your technique for a better work out.

Lumo Lift, on the other hand, is all about great posture. Again, you attach a clip to your shirt and it will gently vibrate when you slouch or have bad posture. It can track your posture, calories burned, steps, and distances too. So get those shoulders back, but if not, let Lumo remind you! Now, straighten up!

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Go, go, go!

What’s Giving You A Headache?

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If you look down a list of the symptoms for pretty much any illness in the world, you’ll see “headache” listed as one of the symptoms. From the mundane through to the catastrophic, it seems that where there’s an illness there’s an associated headache with it. Then there’s the fact that headaches themselves can be idiopathic, occurring for no other reason than you’re a human being with a head – and sometimes, they just hurt because they feel like it. It’s actually considered fairly standard to suffer from a headache every day, especially the muscular, nagging tension headaches that we’re all so familiar with.

However, if you have a headache outside of the “norms”, how do you go about figuring out the cause? Or even if there is a cause? While no means exhaustive, below are some of the reasons why you might be experiencing a persistent and nagging headache. Some are for simple reasons, while others are more of a cause for concern. Have a glance over them and remember to always speak to your doctor if you have headaches that are concerning you. It’s almost certainly nothing to be worried about, so don’t panic, just be proactive about scheduling an appointment.

Dehydration: It seems that a glass of water is the cure for all illnesses these days, but that’s largely because… a glass of water can cure all illnesses. Water is fundamental for a human body that’s made up of 80% water, so if you’re not drinking enough, then it’s a cause for concern. Dehydration is speculated to be a primary cause of all headaches that don’t have an underlying condition. So your first step at the sign of throbbing temples should be to drink a few glasses of water and increase your intake of water-rich vegetables.

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H2O!!

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a stealth killer. The symptoms begin slowly and with no detectable cause, as the gas is odorless and undetectable without special monitoring equipment. If your headache is always at its worst when you’re at home, then it’s worth considering this as a cause. Always make sure that your gas supply is properly maintained by a plumbing service that you trust and ensure that you have carbon monoxide detectors both fitted and working at all times. It’s one to take seriously because carbon monoxide kills around 500 people per year. (Yikes)

Medication/Supplement Side Effects: If you take any medication or supplements on a regular basis and are experiencing headaches, then you should suspect them as the cause. Even the most benign of over-the-counter supplements can cause head pain, while prescribed medications are even more likely to be the culprit. This is especially true if your headaches have only started after beginning a new medication. Talk to your doctor to rule medication in or out. If it’s found to be an issue, there are usually alternatives that you can try to keep your headaches at bay.

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Smile With Confidence

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Smile With Confidence

Are you one of those people who feels too shy to smile with an all out toothy grin? Do you try to hide your teeth behind your own lips out of embarrassment for how they look? There’s something particularly heartbreaking about a person who doesn’t feel able to show the most basic of emotions because of self-consciousness about the state of their teeth. But all is not lost – if your teeth makes you shy, give some of these things a go:

Embrace Imperfections: If you think your teeth are too big, too crooked, or your smile is too gummy, it can be really difficult to grin with abandon. But we are our own worst critics – what we see in the mirror is almost a caricature of ourselves, with bright spotlights focused in on the aspects of our image that make us feel self-conscious. What everyone else sees is an overall picture. They don’t focus in on the spot on our chin or the slightly wonky front tooth like we do.

If the imperfection is having a tremendous impact on your self-confidence, it could be worth speaking to an orthodontist about restorative work. Now, you can straighten teeth with Invisalign so you don’t have to worry about a mouthful of metal. Invisalign is offered as a treatment by most orthodontic practices, so simply search something like “tandreglering göteborg” (Orthodontics Gothenburg) to find an orthodontist near you. If it makes you feel better about smiling, then it’s totally worth it.

Go Bright White: Everywhere we seem to look in the media there are women with huge, bright smiles and pearly white teeth, and it can be difficult not to compare ourselves to them. But those smiles are completely available to everyone with the use of veneers or even home teeth whitening kits, depending on how permanent you want the change and how much cash you have to throw at it. Some women swear by just rubbing baking soda on their teeth regularly to remove staining caused by coffee, wine, or smoking.

Floss: There is nothing more reassuring than knowing you have dental floss in your handbag, especially when you’re going out for a meal. Not being sure if everyone can see the food stuck between your teeth is a surefire way to put you off smiling. When you’re feeling self-conscious, nip off to the restrooms and give yourself a quick tooth checkup. The handbag floss is a lifesaver, especially when you have a huge piece of lettuce lodged between your two front teeth!!!

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I definitely need to floss more -___-

If In Doubt, It’s All About The Lippy: Certain colored lipsticks have an amazing ability to either detract from teeth or to make them seem far brighter and whiter. If you choose a lippy with a more blue-based formula, rather than orange reds, they detract from any yellowness in teeth. In a way which seems more like magic, the blue forces the eye to balance the two colors out, whereas orange colors flag them up like a beacon. According to Elle magazine, MAC Ruby-Woo is the ultimate tooth-flattering lip shade. And it’s a beautiful color and consistency to boot. A must buy!

The key to smiling with confidence is realizing that nobody notices your imperfections quite like you do. But there are also ways to diminish things which you deem to be problem areas, like staining or dull teeth. The most important thing to remember is to hold your head up high, and feel fabulous in who you are. A smile is worth a thousand words, after all.

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Living With A Disability: Overcoming Everyday Challenges

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Living With A Disability: Overcoming Everyday Challenges

Disabilities can be very hard to come to terms with, even if you were born with one. No disability or long-term health condition is the same, and they each come with unique challenges that sufferers have to overcome on a daily basis. Even though there can be major differences between them, there are still some similarities. Here are some things that everyone who has a disability will have to face on a daily basis, as well as some ideas for how to deal with them:

It’s OK To Get Assistance: Some people who suffer from long-term disabilities try to be more independent than what they should be, and try to get by without the assistance of wheelchairs and walking sticks. This often does more bad than good, as it can be ever so easy to end up falling or having an accident when you try to avoid equipment that can assist you. The main reason why people try to get by without the likes of wheelchairs is that, then, their disability isn’t so visible. But, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t care what people think about you and your illness. It is much more important to get the help and assistance that you need to keep yourself in good health.

The same goes for support at home or considering assisted living. If your disability is preventing you from safely completing household tasks like cooking or cleaning, you are putting yourself in danger every day. Programs like Sunnysights disability support (or something similar in your local area) can provide help while maintaining as much independence as possible. This can include assistance at home or with accessing the community for appointments, errands, and fun.

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And That Goes For Financial Assistance, Too: With the cost of doctor appointments, medications, and different therapies, a disability can be expensive. Thankfully, there is plenty of support from the government that you can claim in benefits. You can also find details here about how to claim compensation after a personal injury that might have caused your condition. Make sure that you are clued up on all of the financial help that you are eligible for as these can make your life a lot easier to manage as you will be able to afford a lot more help and support.

If your disability is a result of an accident or personal injury, now is the time to start researching law firms that can help you like Long & Long Injury Attorneys (or a similar practice in your local area). You can assist in this process by keeping meticulous medical records and all documentation related to the incident. Do not be afraid to shop around to find the best fit for you as you will want a lawyer who is easy to work with, trustworthy, and well reviewed.

Self Advocacy: One of the most important things you can do as a person with a disability is learn how to advocate for yourself. This will ensure that your rights are protected at all times and enhance your quality of life and relationships. Self advocacy can be easier said than done, especially if you have never done it before. You can find disability help here that can provide self advocacy workshops as well as teaching skills in negotiation, problem solving, and coordination assistance. These are all valuable skills and can offer a whole new lease on life.

Lean On Your Friends And Family: I’m sure that your friends and family will all be there for you to help you live your life to the fullest. Their offers to help and assist you are made because they love you, and is something that there is no shame in accepting. Your friends and family will all want to help you improve your quality of life, and they will also be able to keep your moods up in the process. So, let them help you rather than ignore the offer or feel embarrassed over it. That really is what friends and family are for!

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Push Yourself Every So Often: It’s also good to challenge yourself and push yourself every now and then. You might be surprised at what you can do even with your disability! These challenges can be as big or as small as you need them to be. The main thing is that you keep them personal and achievable. For instance, the first challenge you might set for yourself could be to take five steps unaided, if that is something that you struggle with. Once you ace this, you might want to take this to the next level and aim for ten steps.

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