Living with Arthritis
Arthritis is the most common cause of disability and the third leading cause of work limitation in the United States. Daily aches and pains seem inevitable for the millions of people living with the disease, as arthritis robs its victims of the freedom to do many of the activities that they used to enjoy. Fortunately, good news is on the horizon. There are proactive steps you can take to increase your quality of life while dealing with arthritis.
Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
The average American gains one to two pounds during the holiday season. The issue isn't just the weight gain, but the fact that this weight is never lost. Americans gain weight each holiday season, maintain that weight throughout the year, and then put on more pounds the next holiday season. Gain two pounds every winter, and that equals 20 pounds in ten years.
Strength Train Your Brain
Bicep curls to strengthen your arms, stomach crunches to tighten your abs, cardiovascular drills to improve your endurance, and crossword puzzles to power-up your brain.
It's actually possible to exercise your brain. In fact, the latest research indicates that your risk for dementia, and perhaps even Alzheimer's, can be minimized with focused efforts to engage your brain.
A Healthy Trick-or-Treat
Halloween is traditionally a day of indulgence, and a few sweet treats are certainly not going to ruin a lifetime of healthy habits. Unfortunately, one day can often turn into a few days – or even a few weeks – of noshing on candy and cupcakes. This Halloween, empty calories, sugar, fat, and tooth decay aren't the only things to consider. Now, experts report that the H1N1 virus and other germs can be transmitted through grabby goblin hands sifting through the candy bowl.
Sleep Like A Baby
Dozing off during your mid-morning meeting at work? Rushing off to coffee house for a jolt of java during an afternoon slump? You're not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a whopping 68 percent of women report difficulty sleeping at least a few nights per week. Sleep deprivation is rampant, and according to recent research, it can wreak havoc on your health.
Speak Up!
Ever leave your doctor's office feeling dazed and confused about your diagnosis? Or walk out of the hair salon wishing your stylist hadn't cut your tresses quite so short? If so, you're one of countless women who report that they have difficulty speaking up when it comes to talking with health, wellness, and beauty professional.
Tips for a Lighter Lunch
Lunch time is a danger zone if you're watching your waistline. Whether you're ordering from a fast food drive-thru, eating with co-workers at the local bakery, or munching off your kids' plates at home, lunch can be a pound-packing culprit, if you're not careful. Many dieters are conscientious about starting the day with a healthy breakfast and cooking up plenty of veggies for dinner. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett challenges you to lighten up your lunch as well.
Skin Safety – Surprising New Methods
Some of the newest means to ward-off skin cancer may surprise you. Eating blueberries, working up a sweat, and regular exfoliation are just a few of the new tactics proclaimed by sun experts to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Take a look at these late-breaking shields of armor in the battle against skin cancer. Perhaps there are a few new habits that you can incorporate into your daily life to keep you safe in the sun.
Check Your Health at Home
You see your doctor for an annual physical. Your visits to your dentist, optometrist, and gynecologist are all up-to-date. You exercise, you eat healthy foods, and you don’t smoke. What more can you possibly do to protect your health?
How about performing regular self-exams at home? Do you know what self-checks you can do to keep tabs on your personal well-being? Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett suggests these self-checks at home to catch medical issues before they develop into life altering problems.
Surprising Culprits of Back Pain
Back pain. More than three-quarters of Americans experience it at some point in their lives. Back pain can be a muscle ache, stabbing pain, limited range of motion, shooting pain down the leg, or an inability to stand straight. Regardless of how back pain manifests itself in each individual, it can be debilitating and hinder your daily life activities. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett points out that there are other surprising causes of back pain.
Hard Habits to Break
Breaking bad habits. It’s easier said than done. Whether it’s nail biting, teeth grinding, or throat clearing, most of us have an annoying habit that we’d like to ditch. And in some cases, ditching bad habits may have a remarkable affect on our overall health and well-being. A groundbreaking study just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine documents how individuals with healthy lifestyle behaviors look and feel 12 years younger.
So, You Think You Have Willpower?
Willpower. It’s that ability to deny yourself a slice of homemade apple pie or a new pair of Lucky jeans that you really don’t need. It’s also that drive that forces you to crawl out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to attend your workout class.
How is your willpower these days? According to experts at Northwestern University, most of us greatly overestimate our willpower. And when we mistakenly believe our willpower is ironclad, we don’t put measures in place to fight off temptation.
Show Those Pearly Whites
You eat right, exercise regularly, and you don’t smoke. You’ve taken all the right steps to minimize your risk for heart disease. Or have you? The newest recommendation by American heart experts may surprise you. The American Academy of Periodontology has conducted several studies during the past two years to identify the connection between gum disease and heart disease. Studies show that oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and connect to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries.
Social Networking Spreading Medical Myths
Inaccurate medical advice is rampant online. Dozens of online sites, masquerading as helpful sources for health and wellness, are spreading misinformation. According to a recent study, Internet users are passing along these medical falsehoods at record speeds.
Take Charge of Your Health
Women are more likely than men to suffer from heart disease, osteoarthritis, obesity, and depression. The U.S. National Institute of Health reports that women tend to focus on their partner’s and children’s health, neglecting their own well-being in the process. Tight budgets and busy schedules make it even more tempting to forego preventative medicine. Yet, early detection is vital when it comes to most health concerns.
Turn a Frown Upside Down
Women seem particularly prone to bouts of depression. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that depression impacts twice as many women as men, regardless of age, ethnic background, and income level. If you can’t seem to shake the blues, try making a few changes in your daily life to help lift your spirits.
Looking for Dr. Right
Finding the right doctor for you is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make regarding your health. Many of us will look for a new doctor at least once in our lifetime, if not multiple times. How do you go about finding a doctor who meets your needs?
Straight From the Heart
The American Heart Association reports that 35 percent of all deaths in America are as a result of heart-related illnesses. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of American women, taking more lives annually than the next five causes of death combined. Take a proactive approach to heart health. The next time you visit your doctor, ask important heartfelt questions.
It’s Time for Small Change
Ring in the New Year! It’s time to set resolutions, determine goals, and make small changes. If you’ve decided that weight management is one of your goals this year, then it’s best to start with small changes. |
