-
When we think of electrolytes, it’s often in the form of a bottle of a sports’ energy drink after a hard workout or drinking a rehydration beverage when we’re sick. Those are great methods for hydration, but keeping your electrolytes balanced is also a way to support your heart’s health and well-being. Here are five electrolytes that have been shown to boost heart health—no blue liquid required: Calcium regulates and maintains heart rhythm and blood pressure. Foods high in calcium include dairy, dark le...
Read More
-
The CDC reports that over 34 million American adults have diabetes. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause long-term health complications like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, gum infections and even eye problems. Hyperglycemia can also damage blood vessels, thereby increasing the likelihood of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Because 1 in 3 adults have pre-diabetes (most of which don’t know it), we all can benefit from lower glucose levels to help lose weight, reduce blood pressure...
Read More
-
The first thing that comes to mind for many when they hear diabetes is sugar. While sugar plays a big part in this disease, there’s much more to this chronic condition. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning it affects how the body breaks down food to create energy through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Food is converted into glucose when you eat. As the amount of glucose in the blood rises, beta cells in the pancreas trigger insulin release. This hormone acts like a key, unlocking and ...
Read More
-
We lead busy lives so it’s easy to understand why we feel a little guilty sometimes about not eating better, sleeping more soundly or getting more exercise. And, while we might think of New Year’s Eve as the time to set new goals or resolutions, another time to make a fresh start is when your children start the new school year. Here’s how to help your family focus on what’s truly important—your bond with each other and your collective health. Eat dinner as a family—without devices . Around 40% of adults...
Read More
-
As a new mother, it can be hard to find your footing. According to the Pew Research Center, 45 percent of moms with kids younger than 6 years say parenting is tiring all or most of the time. How can you make the adjustment easier? You took breastfeeding and prenatal classes, read every book you could get your hands on, and soaked up all the advice you could get from friends and family. However, all of that pales in comparison to the reality of caring for a newborn. How can you handle this new world of m...
Read More
-
You’re going about your day, working, exercising or spending time with family, when all of a sudden you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your abdomen. You’ve been nauseated and haven’t had much of an appetite all day. If you’ve ever felt this way, don’t just dismiss it as something simple as overeating.These are all signs that you have appendicitis or inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis occurs due to infection, parasites or when the tube that joins your large intestine and appendix is blocked by tr...
Read More
-
Maybe your significant other teases you about how cold your hands (or feet) are. Or perhaps you must wear socks whether it’s winter or not, and you’re still chilly no matter how many hot beverages you drink. If that sounds like you, maybe it’s time to figure out if there’s a reason why you are so cold. There could be a medical reason you’re feeling physically frigid and ways to treat the root of the matter, such as: Problem #1: Low Body Weight If you have a BMI of 18.5 or less or are 15% or more below t...
Read More
-
What’s That Sound? Clicking, cracking, grinding, popping, snapping — these are all common and generally harmless sounds our joints can make. It’s a natural part of aging, and the sound could be the result of one of these conditions: As cartilage wears away, your bones grind or rub each other. This causes the sound you are hearing. Tight muscles and tendons can make sounds when moving over bone or as it returns to its original position. When you pop or crack a joint like your knuckles, you’re releasing n...
Read More
-
Even simple actions such as getting out of bed or bending over to tie your shoelaces – can put you at risk for injury far more easily than you may realize. Learning to move properly can reduce your risk for accidents and injuries. Bending Bending forward to tie your shoes or pick something up off the ground can stress your spine and potentially cause injury. To avoid this, squat down to reach your feet. Also, when picking items up off the floor, squat or kneel rather than bending at the waist. Lifting I...
Read More
-
Whether you’re a professional athlete or an amateur, one wrong move can cause an injury that throws your fitness regimen off track. It’s important to protect yourself, but when you can’t, here are some ways to identify common injuries. Common Injuries There are three common types of injuries— sprains, strains and tendonitis. Sprains – The stretching or tearing of ligaments in joints results in a sprain, such as an ankle. Symptoms include bruising, hearing a “pop” sound at the time of injury, limited mob...
Read More
|