Category Archives: Health

Mar13

Sleep Trouble: What’s Keeping You Awake At Night?

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Sleep Trouble: What’s Keeping You Awake At Night?

There’s been a growing trend in the wellness, health, and fitness industries towards helping people get a better night’s sleep. Given that around 45 percent of all individuals in the country are struggling to catch enough sleep every night, that can only be a good thing. Regular readers of my blog might remember my struggles with getting good sleep, and there’s every chance that almost half of you reading this will be experiencing something similar. And it’s a huge issue. You end up being less productive in the day, it affects your general health, and it can even result in conditions such as obesity, depression, and diabetes.

Scary, right? And it’s no surprise that many of us want to fix out sleep problems! The key to that is, of course, working out why you can’t get to sleep properly, which will give you the chance to address the issue. So, in today’s guide, we’re going to go through some of the most common factors that are lying behind many people’s sleep problems. Let’s take a closer look:

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Zzzzz

Physical Pain: First of all, do you have pain problems? If you have a bad back or suffer from regular headaches, for example, it can be affecting your sleep. Try taking a warm shower or bath before going to bed – it will relax your muscles and give you the chance of getting a better quality of sleep than you are having right now. See your doctor, too, and talk to them about some basic pain management tips. Your doc might recommend heat pads or even painkillers on a temporary basis. Long-term care might involve physiotherapy which can help ease pain sans surgery. If this is the route you’d like to take, simply enter a search for “Best Physiotherapy clinic near me”. Be sure to read reviews to ensure that patients are satisfied with the care and voice any concerns you might have to your doctor too before making a final decision.

Mental Anguish: Other common causes of poor sleep are stress and anxiety. In an increasingly busy and stressful world, many of us battle against active brains that prevent us from getting some shut-eye. Most people will experience this at some point. The mind goes into overdrive, going through all of your problems in fine detail, and the more you think, the more your anxiety levels increase – meaning you slip into a vicious feedback loop. Yoga can help with this issue, as can mindfulness – the key to getting over your problem is to try and turn off your brain and prevent those intrusive thoughts from occurring in the first place.

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Admittedly not the best place to fall asleep!

Environmental Issues: There is a vast range of environmental issues that can prevent you from sleeping properly. Internal factors include bed bugs, which can keep you up at night and cause intense itching, according to the Pest Control of Alabama. There are also external factors such as noise pollution and noisy neighbors, too – could the outside world be keeping you up at night?

Think about installing double – or triple – glazed windows if you want to reduce the impact of the former. For the latter, you have to play it carefully,. Talk to your neighbors first and most will tone it down a little. However, you can also contact your local EHP practitioner to act on your behalf if they continue to cause you problems.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar8

How To Improve Your Physical, Mental, And Spiritual Health

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How To Improve Your Physical, Mental, And Spiritual Health

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can seem almost impossible to find the time to look out for Number One: Yourself. Creating a healthy lifestyle not only for your physical well being but for your mental and spiritual self, as well, can only benefit you in the long run. In this article, we will explore some simple changes that you can employ for a better, healthier you:

Your Physical Health

Start Eating Well: There’s nothing better for your health than making sure that you eat good food cooked from scratch. Convenience foods may be handy but they often contain more sodium and sugar than you should be eating, which can affect your fitness and moods. Start meal planning so you don’t get stuck for what you should have for lunch or dinner and make sure that you eat breakfast so you aren’t tempted to snack on candy and junk food during the morning at work.

Get Physically Fit: If you don’t feel as though you’re at peak physical condition, now is the time to change that. You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym every day after work – instead, start walking more and make sure that you start to take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can. Start a class like yoga or Zumba – you could even take a friend along with you for moral support and a good laugh!

Take Care Of Your Senses: As much as we may rely on them, we often overlook our senses when it comes to making positive changes for our health. Ensure a routine hearing check to get the full scope of your hearing health, and to see whether you might need hearing aids or not. Make appointments for eye tests, as well. As we get older, the chances of changes to these senses increase exponentially, so we have to be proactive in addressing them.

Pain Management: If your aches and pains feel constant, it is not only a huge deterrent to your physical health but mental health too. This is not something that you should simply live with but find a way to improve. Clinics like next pain management roswell (or something similar in your local area) can provide personalized treatment plans to help you get back to feeling your best. With excellent pain management, you will notice a boost in your energy levels and overall sense of well being.

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Namaste!

Deal With Your Chronic Conditions: If you have any chronic conditions, then it’s important that you deal with them carefully and that you get healthy to whatever extent that you can. If you have asthma, make sure that you use a preventative inhaler to stop yourself from getting tight chested and suffering from asthma attacks – Ventolin can be ordered online. If you suffer from chronic pain, make sure that you stay active and do gentle exercises to help ease the tension in stiff joints.

Your Mental Health

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Learn Coping Strategies: If you suffer from panic attacks or depression, then it’s important that you try to learn coping strategies that will help get you through every day. Learn to identify issues that will affect you – perhaps you don’t like crowded trains or there are certain things that your boss says that rattles you – and focus on how you can better deal with them. Breathing deeply often works wonders as well as giving yourself plenty of time to deal with anything that might arise.

Go To Your Doctor: If you think that you may be suffering from mental health difficulties, then go to your doctor. It’s an illness like any other and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you’re affected by a condition like depression or anxiety. They can negatively affect a lot of areas of your life, which means that you need to get them sorted out as quickly as possible. Therapy can help a lot of people, as can medication. Remember, you’d medicate a physical health ailment so why not your mental health, too?

Sleep Better: It’s very difficult to get much done during the day if you aren’t sleeping well. If the light comes into your bedroom in the morning and wakes you up, then why not invest in blackout blinds? You should also make sure that you turn off all of your technology like your laptop and phone before you go to bed, because they can keep you awake. Instead, use the hour before you go to sleep as an excuse to have a lavender scented shower, read a book, or light some candles and meditate.

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Zzzzzz…

Your Spiritual Health

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 Pexels Image

Learn To Be Alone: If you don’t spend much time by yourself, now is the time to start. Learning to love yourself begins with realizing that you’re an interesting person to be around. Make sure that you indulge yourself in your hobbies – you can go to see movies alone, you can go to galleries, to shows, to concerts. Take a solo vacation and luxuriate in the joy of having only your own whims to attend to.

Be Around Good People: One of the battles of everyday life is instantly won when you’re around good people who truly listen and want the best for you. If you have any old friends who don’t make you feel good anymore, it’s okay to gently phase them out of your life. Friends who challenge you and make you think are great but if your friends don’t support you, they might not be a healthy fit for your current lifestyle.

Be Kind To Yourself: Finally, you need to make sure that you treat yourself with as much kindness as you treat others. Cut yourself some slack – make sure that you have a night in by yourself if you feel tired and worn out by other people and don’t beat yourself up too much for any little embarrassing moments. We often tend to treat ourselves a lot less kindly than we would treat others so try to remember how supportive you’d be for someone in your situation and treat yourself the same way. And remember: You’re one hundred and fifty percent totally awesome.

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Take some you time!

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Mar7

Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

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Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

Do you wake up from a refreshing night’s sleep only to find that your morning has been ruined before it’s even got started as you feel that familiar pain when you swallow? Having a sore throat in the morning is a fairly common complaint and although it’s irritating, it is rarely a cause for concern. Of course, just because a sore throat isn’t going to kill you doesn’t mean that it can’t be really annoying when it happens, which is why you need to know what you are dealing with so that you can put your morning sore throats to bed once and for all. Here are some of the most common causes of sore throats upon waking:

Snoring: When you snore, your mouth is open and your throat can get quite dry because of all the air that you are taking in. If you wake up only to find that your throat is hoarse and dry, it could be that you are snoring and should try to record yourself sleeping for a few nights or ask your sleeping partner to listen out, if you have one. If you are snoring a lot, take a look at http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/easy-snoring-remedies#1 to sort the problem out and start waking up pain-free.

Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough fluids before you hit the hay or if your room is too dry, you could become dehydrated through the night. This, like snoring, can cause your throat to dry up and become sore.

Acid Reflux: If you wake up not only to a sore throat but also to an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, there is a good chance that acid reflux could be the problem. Acid reflux is a condition in which the acid in your stomach partially comes back up through the esophagus. It can cause stomach pain, heartburn, and sore throats (and bad breath!!). You can deal with acid reflux by following the steps at https://chriskresser.com/get-rid-of-heartburn-and-gerd-forever-in-three-simple-steps/. If reflux continues to be a problem after this, see a doctor

A Swollen Uvula: The uvula is that small bit of skin that hangs down at the back of your mouth. It can become inflamed and swollen when you are sick with a virus or infection, or when there is too much bacteria in the area. Although you are likely to experience throat pain all day when you have a swollen uvula, it could be the case that some of the other factors mentioned in this post can increase your throat pain when you wake up in the morning. You can find out more about the uvula at https://safesymptoms.com/swollen-uvula/ .

Upper Respiratory Infection: If your upper airway is infected, your nose will begin to produce more mucus than before as a form of defense against the invading virus. Sometimes, this mucus trickles down to the back of your throat when you’re sleeping and it can inflame, irritate, and dry out the area – meaning that your throat will be pretty sore in the morning.

If you continue to experience a sore throat upon waking for a prolonged period of time, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor. Chances are it’ll be nothing serious, but it’s always best to know. And waking up ache free at the start of your day will also be an added plus!

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Mar6

PMS? Or Just Pissed?

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PMS? Or Just Pissed?

Heyy everyone and happy Monday. So thanks to a not so subtle title, I’m sure you guys can all gather that it’s my “time of the month”. TMI? Maybe. But, it is my page which sometimes doubles as an online journal for when I just want to shout out to the void of the world wide web and be petty. So, let’s play out this new game show style segment and see what happens…

Sarah’s Bad Mood:

Is It PMS Or Just Pissed?

The Symptoms:

Well…Let’s see:

  1.  For a snack last night I ate three pancakes, two squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, a bagel and butter, a bowl of fettuccine noodles, and a delightful couscous salad.
  2.  I just told my dog who offered me a toy to “go away”.
  3.  My stomach feels like somebody is Mortal Kombat punching it.
  4.  I am SO freaking irritable that I seriously think I could Mortal Kombat punch a hole through the wall.
  5.  Did I mention that all I want to do is eat?
  6.  I literally think that if somebody looked at me the wrong way right now that I would scream and then immediately start crying.

Now, I’m no Web MD specialist but my conclusion to this riveting (admittedly TMI) new segment is…

PMS!

You know, when I was a teenager, my periods never bothered me. They were more of a monthly annoyance than anything and that was it. No pissy moods, no cramps, no wanting to eat everything in a twelve foot radius, no mood swings, no nothing. But now, as a twenty-two year old, my periods are the biggest pain in the ass on the planet. Cramps like a mother, my mouth turns into a vacuum that consumes literally ALL the food, and mood swings that would make Ohio weather seem normal.

I’ve mentioned this to a lot of my girlfriends and about three fourths of them have similar sentiments to mine. As if being a young twenty something pathetically floundering her way through life wasn’t hard enough already, mother nature gives me a week of torture monthly. I swear guys, I legit feel like I’m going crazy and it’s just exhausting! I don’t know why but today is just wearing me out and I’m already so ready for a drink and Netflix in bed.

Sorry to the people who read this that are grossed out by periods or whatever but sometimes being a girl really sucks and mama needed to vent. Besides, now we can all rest easy in knowing that it’s PMS rather than Just Pissed! 😉

Okay, now for some questions. Ladies, how do you deal with PMS? Gentlemen, what do you do when a lady in your life is PMSing (Staying away is not an acceptable answer!!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb27

You Are The Butterfly, Think About The Effect You’re Having

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You Are The Butterfly, Think About The Effect You’re Having

From Fichte to Lorenz, many meteorologists and philosophers have acknowledged the effect the present can have on the past. We’ve seen the butterfly effect in literature and movies time and time again. You know the scenario; the main character travels back in time and makes a small change with catastrophic results. But, have you ever thought of applying the butterfly effect to your life? Of course, you aren’t going to be traveling back in time. But, the effect can be simpler than that.

Every choice that you make, good or bad, has an impact on your future. From what you choose to eat to how you act throughout the day, everything counts towards where you’re heading. If that’s the case, why do so many of us live each day as though it’s inconsequential? With the butterfly effect in mind, you should spend every day trying to make your future as good as it can be! If you’re anything like most people, you don’t do that as it stands. But, it’s time to make a change. If you need convincing, here are a few ways your actions now can affect your future self:

As your job takes up the majority of your days, we’ll start there. Your job offers the clearest evidence of the effect that your actions have. You achieved the job you have through your qualifications or lack of them. You got those qualifications by making choices in your early life and acting on them. Or, you made different choices that mean you don’t have the skills that you need.

It may be that you made the right decisions and are happy in your career. Or, you made the wrong ones and ended on a career path that doesn’t suit you. Either way, your past is what shaped where you are now. Think back to what caused you to make those choices. Was it where you were living, who you were friends with, or something that you saw on television? The smallest thing can shape the largest part of our lives. Often, a huge choice has the most inconsequential start. That goes to show how much of an impact the tiniest decisions can have.

Choices don’t only affect your career, either. Though the path of impact is harder to follow in other aspects of your life, it’s there just the same. Take your teeth, for example. The way you look after your teeth comes from your mother, who learned from her mother and so on. If you care for your teeth the way you were taught, you should have no dental problems as you grow older. But, if you choose to break from the path your mother set, you could run into problems. Say you skip brushing for one day. A piece of food lodges between your teeth and starts to rot them. That piece then causes weakness, which grows, even if you brush every other day. Then, you decide not to clean again, and the weakness gets worse. Before you know it, you’re faced with the task of finding an oral surgeon and having serious work done. All because you didn’t brush for one day! This may seem like an extreme example, but it’s a good way to show how important each decision can be.

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Flickr Image

This theory also applies to your health. Let’s be honest, we all make unhealthy choices more often than we would like. For the most part, though, we laugh them off as though they’re nothing. There’s no need to go into too much detail here because you get the gist by now. But, again, each wrong choice adds up. When someone is diagnosed with an illness, it’s often their unhealthy choices that got them there. Those choices can be anything as simple as eating the wrong foods or smoking for a year when you’re in your twenties. Remember, cause and effect. Everything you put into your body has an impact. It may be years before you see that effect, but that doesn’t mean that you should put it out of your mind.

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So tempting!

So, what’s the point in all this? In short, it’s time you started making the right decisions. Instead of laughing about your bad choices, acknowledge the effect that they could have. If you always keep your future in mind, you’re less likely to make unnecessary mistakes. Next time you’re faced with a choice, take the time to weigh up what it could mean for your future self. That’s not to say you need to live in the future. Living in the present is always best. But, the right choice for your future self is often the right thing for your present self, too.

And, you don’t have to wait for a choice to arise before you make a change, either. You have the power to make your own changes. If you’re in a job that you don’t love and are now thinking you’re stuck, think again. Look at where you are, and acknowledge if it doesn’t make you happy. That can be your moment of impact. Then, learn what you need to do to achieve the new job you want. Set your sights on a new job and do what you need to get it. Sign up for evening courses and send CVs to the right people.

Visit a dentist regularly to ensure your teeth stay in good health. And, make sure to keep up with your brushing routine. Remember, even one missed brush can lead to problems! Think, too, of your health. Make positive changes by embracing a healthy lifestyle. Find out what foods you should be eating. Cut out bad habits, such as drinking and smoking. Think, too, about finally getting around to that exercise routine you’ve been avoiding. All these things will ensure that your health improves and stays good in the future. Anytime you feel your habits slacking, remind yourself how important it is to get it right. There’s no time like the present!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb22

Lose Weight But Don’t Diet

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Lose Weight But Don’t Diet

There are times in our life when we feel like we need to shed a few pounds. This could be just after Christmas and the holiday season or it could be a gradual thing. Over the months or years, we’ve found that the weight has crept on, and we feel that it’s now time to take action. The instinct may be to embark on a diet. But this might not be the best move. Research has shown that for many people, dieting doesn’t work in the long term. Instead, it causes a painful cycle of dieting and overeating. For most people, changing a few habits in their life is all that’s needed to obtain and maintain a healthy weight.

Identify Bad Habits: The first step to revolutionizing your eating is to identify some bad habits. What are yours? Some people find that they eat sugary snacks when they’re alone, at home, or in the car. For others, it’s those glasses of wine they’ve become accustomed to after a bad day at work. Whatever your bad habits are, identify them.

If you’re not aware of your eating habits, it’s useful to keep a food diary for a few days. Write down everything that you eat and don’t omit anything. This includes your morning coffee, those two biscuits you ate while you were making the coffee, and anything else you consume. When you read over your diary, you may be surprised at the results.

Know Your Labels: When you do the grocery shopping, make sure you’re familiar with food labels. Sugar appears in pretty much everything. In fact, it’s hard to find foods that it hasn’t been added to. This includes savory food such as ready made meals, soups, stews, hamburgers, etc. So, get into the habit of checking all food labels and become familiar with what goes into your meals.

It’s important to remember that it’s not just food that can contribute to your calorie intake. Drinks can also have a big impact. That morning smoothie you grab on your way to work, thinking it’s a healthy option, may not be as healthy as you think. Fruit juices tend to be full of sugar, and this can boost your calorie intake significantly. And did you check the sugar and fat content of your morning coffee? The creamers and sugar can really add up!

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Yummm

A Balance Of Vitamins & Nutrients: A healthy body performs healthy functions, and one of these is to regulate your metabolism. So the healthier your diet and lifestyle, the more able it is to burn fat. When we talk about a balanced diet, we mean a diet that includes a range of food types that will provide the necessary vitamins and nutrients that we need to live. Some people opt for supplements to enhance their diet with vital vitamins and minerals. For example, Garcinia Cambogia is often used to boost weight loss. But does Garcinia Cambogia work? The evidence suggests that it does. By boosting the metabolism, regulating blood sugar levels, and suppressing the appetite, research has shown that it has a positive effect on weight loss.

Establishing Healthy Habits: A healthy lifestyle is not about deprivation. If you fancy a cake, that’s fine, but just have one. Evidence suggests that a little bit of what we fancy once in a while is good for you. It removes the cravings. Adopting some simple, healthy habits can work wonders. If you have decided to forgo your regular, unhealthy, sugary snacks, replace them with something else. Treat yourself to something you like, so you don’t feel deprived. This could be a book, magazine, or manicure, etc. Another effective strategy is to make some small changes. If you’re averse to exercise, try getting off the bus one stop earlier and walking the rest of the way home.

It’s often the little things we change that have the biggest impact. This is because they are easier and more practical to maintain. Over time, you will notice that these small changes yield big rewards.

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Feb21

Little Changes You Can Make Today To Guarantee A Healthier Future

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Little Changes You Can Make Today To Guarantee A Healthier Future

We all have little things that we would like to change about ourselves. Health concerns that we really need to get diagnosed or concerns about our future health. but when they’re not pressing, it can be easier and less scary to just sweep them under the rug. They say that prevention is better than the cure and it’s a whole lot cheaper, as well. Here are a few changes or appointments that you can make today to put your mind at rest about your future health:

Go Green: Usually going green is about changing your lifestyle to a more environmentally friendly one, but in this case, we literally mean make your food greener. If you’re not eating a whole lot of fruits and veggies a day – at least five different pieces – you could be putting your body at risk of heart disease, digestive problems, and even cancers. Greens are full of all of the nutrients that your body needs to function at its best, but it also helps to ensure that you’re digesting everything properly and your metabolism is working efficiently. Introduce a load of leafy greens to your diet and see positive changes almost immediately, and further down the line too.

Visit Your Gynecologist Regularly: Many women are embarrassed to visit their gynecologist and discuss “women things”, but it’s a really important part of your general health. They check that everything is working as it should, that your fertility is fine, and that you won’t face any problems further down the line. For example, pap smears to check for abnormal cells which could lead to cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death in younger women in the USA, can catch problems before they escalate. All you have to do is pop down to your local family planning clinic or your gynecologist, and the exam will take just a couple of minutes. It could save you all sorts of problems in the future, so it’s far better to be safe than sorry.

Cut Your Meat Intake: Eating meat every day really isn’t necessary for our bodies to function – there is a whole load of protein in dairy, vegetables, and legumes which means it’s perfectly safe for us to go without meat at all. Red and processed meats are full of fats and salts which are terrible for our body. If you cut meat out of your diet for one day a week, such as Meat Free Monday, you can make a significant improvement to your health.

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Yummm

Get Your Cholesterol Checked: A poor diet doesn’t just affect our weight, it also puts a whole lot of pressure on our arteries and heart. Even if you’re not overweight, you could have high cholesterol. This is the stuff which helps to build new cells, but when there is too much it can clog arteries, which leads to heart attacks. If you have a family history of heart disease, ask your doctor for a cholesterol check and they will be able to advise on how to bring it down to a safe level.

There are so many changes we can make to our health today to guarantee our health in the future, so don’t put it off and you will begin to reap the benefits.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb9

The Lowdown On Recovering From A Major Health Scare

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The Lowdown On Recovering From A Major Health Scare

When serious illness hits, it can knock some of us out completely with shock. Many of us realize just how much we took our health for granted before we became ill, if it does end up happening to us. This is something a lot of people beat themselves up about, but really, it is just human nature – when everything is going well we take it all in stride, but as soon as something goes wrong it can put our whole world into free fall. The months or years which you deal with your illness can be very challenging and may even bring about some particularly dark times.

But what a lot of people are not prepared for is the period of recovery afterwards. Once you’ve been given the all clear, you may find that a lot of people expect you to simply be back to normal straight away. In reality, however, that is rarely the case. Most people go through all sorts of physical and emotional changes as they are recovering from serious illness, so it’s important that you know what to be prepared for.

Coming to Terms With The After-Effects: No one who has gone through a major health problem simply springs back to their old self minutes after being told that they are on the mend. Chances are, you will still have some physical signs of the illness on your body, which serve as a constant reminder and, in some cases, can prevent you from going about your daily business. This could be a large scar from the surgery you had, or maybe you are still suffering from joint damage or even the loss of a limb. Learning to live with any of these things doesn’t just happen overnight, and you are best off seeking the help of a professional – you can read about Dr. Allison for an idea of the kind of aid you may require.

Getting Back Into Normal Life: Going through a major health scare or trauma can easily change your perspective on many things. You may be more aware than ever of how short life is and it may spur you into taking the plunge into something drastic such as a round the world trip or a complete change of career. But initially, it’s all just about getting back into normal life – so living alone/with friends again and not having your life revolve around the illness.

Seeking Support From Friends: In those first few months after hospital discharge, you may find yourself leaning on friends and family more than you ever thought you would before. Being ill can be a lonely time, as everyone needs to still go about their own daily business regardless of whether you are sick or not. So, relish the chance to rekindle some old relationships when your time is your own again. Explain to your friends that you are still adjusting to ‘normal life’ again and that it may take you awhile to get back into the swing of things. But, by surrounding yourself with positive people, you will find that the whole thing is a lot easier for you.

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The best ships are friendships! 😀

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Feb7

Steps To Take For a Toxin-Free Home

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The environment that we live in can set the tone for us and how we deal with things. If we live in a cluttered and messy environment, then the chances are that we will lead cluttered lives. If you find that you are always frantically looking for things at home and are regularly late for appointments, it could be that you need to look at your home environment first. Making it more organized can lead to living a more organized life. The same goes for our health. Our home can set the tone for how healthy we will be. There are other factors, like food and exercise that will play a role. But there are many toxic things that we bring into our homes that can have a knock-on effect. It can be hard to be healthy when the place that you spend most of your time isn’t a healthy place to be.

So what can be done? It can be nearly impossible to be completely free of toxins but these tips will help make your home that much safer:

Rethink Your Flooring: You might be surprised to hear that some carpets are made from toxic chemicals. Some conventional carpets are made from synthetic fibers, that quite often can be petroleum based – think about what they might emit. The chemicals and fibers could be responsible for breathing problems like asthma, as well as be responsible for allergies. It is important to look into this if you have carpet, or are thinking about getting carpeted floors.

You can still get carpet, just make sure that you look for a certain type. The best are cotton or wool rugs as they are natural fibers and not synthetic. They should still be cleaned regularly, though, as they can house mites and dust that can aggravate allergies. Natural wood flooring could be a good idea, too, as it doesn’t need toxic glues to keep it all together.

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Rethink your flooring!

Ditch Your Scented Candles: As much as we love them, scented candles can do us more harm than good. A lot of brands are made using paraffin wax, which is a byproduct of oil refinement. Which does really make you think; do you want that in your home? All is not lost, though. Just look for options that are non-toxic. Candles made from beeswax or soy are much better, toxin-free options. However, if you just like your home to smell good, then you could think about diffusing your favorite essential oils in the home. They are so good for the air quality in your home, which in turn, can be fantastic for your health. Candles add the element of coziness, though, so you might like to use a combination of both in the home.

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Flickr Image

Replace Old Roofing: Back in the day, a lot of homes were built with things like asbestos tiles in the roof. But it was all done before it was shown that asbestos can be detrimental to your health. It is crazy to think now that they even considered it a viable material. A lot of homes have had the tiles removed, but not all. So if you think you may have some in the roofing of your home, then now is the time to get rid of it. You need to dispose of it safely, though. There are recommended guidelines as to how to get rid of it all. Then you know that the fibers won’t be inhaled or linger in your home. If so, it could lead to ill health, including a type of cancer like mesothelioma. If you have had asbestos in your home previously and think that you might have become sick as a result, then there are options for you. Speak to your doctor, of course, but it could also be worth speaking to a lawyer to see if you could get any compensation. If you are interested in this, then you could look at the following link to see how to go about it: www.RobinsCloud.com/mesothelioma-lawsuits/choosing-a-mesothelioma-lawyer/.

Throw Away Plastic Bottles: We get told so much that we need to drink more water but there are plastic water bottles that can be bad for you. They can contain toxins that can leak into the water that you then go on to drink. This can be especially true when bottles are left in hot environments. It makes the plastic become softer which in turn can mean more toxins escaping into the water. Even some BPA-free bottles still contain other chemicals, though that is a better option than any old water bottle. But, better still, is the option to use glass or metal bottles. They can be harder to find, but they are going to be much better for you in the long run.

Along the same lines as plastic bottles, it is time to stop eating out of plastic containers too. If you use leftovers, then consider swapping out your plastic containers to glass ones. How many of us heat up leftovers in the microwave, still in the plastic container? Like with the water bottles, heat, especially from a microwave, can make the plastic softer and weaker. I think we’ve all noticed how flimsy a microwave meal package becomes after it has been in the microwave. But those plastics and toxins can leak into our food. So if you truly want to improve your health and quality of life, then you should think about eliminating plastic containers from your home. If you get ready made meals, then take them out of the packet before heating up. Heat them in an oven rather than a microwave, too.

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Trash these ASAP!

Check Your Paints: If your home is painted, rather than wallpapered, then make sure that you look into what kind of paint you are using. The strong smell of paint can often indicate to us that it could be harmful, but we still all use it, right? I’m not saying don’t decorate your home, just that you need to be more wary about what paints you use. A lot of paints are described as containing VOC (volatile organic compounds). Doesn’t sound too drastic, does it? Wrong! It can wreak havoc on your breathing and aggravate asthma or respiratory issues. Make sure that you are looking for paints that are labelled as non-VOC. These are often water based paints, so they tend to need to be repainted after a little while. But it is a small price to pay for better health, isn’t it?

Cleaning Products: Cleaning products are intended to be strong to kill bacteria – we hear all about it in their advertisements. But as a result, they can be harmful to us. If you wipe your table using a chemical filled cloth and then eat something from the table, you are going to be ingesting all of those chemicals and toxins, so they need to be avoided as much as possible. You can still clean and get rid of bacteria in your home by using some simple and natural ingredients. You’ll be surprised at how well something like lemon, white vinegar, and baking soda can clean! Essential oils are great for cleaning, too. They can be used in a spray bottle with water and have even been shown to eliminate MRSA in hospitals. So you know you’ll still be making your home clean and safe, as well as healthier for all of you. This post has some information on the best oils to use if you’re not sure: www.helloglow.co/10-best-essential-oils-for-green-cleaning/.

Check Your Bedding: Have you ever thought about how much your bedding can affect your health? I’m thinking that is not very likely. First of all, when something is dyed unnaturally, it can have detrimental effects. The reason it can affect us so much is because it is so close to our skin and for such a long while. Anything that we put on our skin, including things like shampoo and makeup, has an effect on our body. Whatever we put on our skin goes into our skin cells and quite possibly, into our bloodstream. So if you are lying on sheets that have been bleached, that is touching your skin and could have a negative effect.

There is a whole range of things that can affect our health, from large home renovations to small cleaning projects. Have a think about your health and if any of these options would be a viable choice for you. When you make the effort, your body and overall health will thank you for it.

Jan30

Time To Take Care Of Your Body: Easy Ways To Show It Some Love

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Time To Take Care Of Your Body: Easy Ways To Show It Some Love

We are often so busy in our lives that we leave little time to think about ourselves. But for the sake of your health, you need to look after number one. Our body is so important and if you don’t make time to care for it, you will end up feeling so blah and run down. Here are some easy ways to take care of your body and show it the love it deserves:

Give Your Body a Chance to Relax: It’s often the case that we are on the go constantly. Whether it’s being busy at work or running after the kids, we are not left with much time to relax. But for the sake of our body, we need to make sure that we do have a chance for a little R&R. As we said before, relaxation is essential to lowering your blood pressure, clearing your head, and easing knotted muscles. Try and make sure to spend at least an hour in the evening relaxing. Whether it be with a bath or a good book, allow yourself the time to take a breather. And make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. It can be a challenge to get plenty of shut eye, but sleep is so important as it gives your body a chance to rest and rejuvenate to make sure that you’re ready for the next day.

Pamper Yourself Occasionally: You can also show your body some love by enjoying a pampering session every now and again. You could have a pampering session from the comfort of your home. Have a warm bubble bath and relax for a while. You can then use a great lotion or body butter to moisturize your skin and leave it in good condition. Also, take the time to give your hands and feet a massage and apply some creams to ensure that they are shown some love, too! If you fancy something even more relaxing, you might want to consider heading to a spa. Take your loved one or a good friend and go and relax in the pool and Jacuzzi. You could even book some treatments such as a massage and a facial to ensure that your body gets the pampering it deserves. You will come away feeling refreshed and ready to move forward with your life and all of the tasks you need to face for the week ahead.

Make Sure You Eat a Healthy Diet: It’s not just the outside of your body that you need to worry about. You need to make sure you are taking care of the inside, too. And one of the easiest ways that you can do this is by making sure that you are consuming a healthy diet. Make sure you are consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables to help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid high fat and sugar foods. If you start eating a healthier diet, your body will definitely love you for it!

Finally, make sure you exercise regularly to keep the rest of your body machine in working order. Here’s to the best you possible thanks to a little self love!

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