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Considering complementary therapy
Considering a complementary treatment? Follow these tips: 1. Gather information about the treatment. Look for websites that use qualified health professionals to create and review the information. 2. Find and evaluate treatment practitioners. Ask your doctor for a referral. 3. Discuss your choices with your doctor.
Create a home gym without breaking the bank
Want to work out at home? Pick up low-cost products from a local fitness or sporting goods store, such as dumbbells and resistance bands. If you'd rather not spend a penny on exercise equipment, use ordinary household items, such as a staircase for step training. Try pushups and squats. Round up friends or neighbors for regular group walks. Plan routes through your neighborhood.
Dandruff: Say goodbye to flakes
Is dandruff the only thing standing between you and a closet full of basic black? Follow these tips to keep dandruff under control: 1. Shampoo regularly. Use a medicated shampoo if necessary. 2. Learn to manage stress. It can trigger dandruff. 3. Get a little sun. Sunlight may be good for dandruff. But be sure to wear sunscreen.
Did you exercise today? Reward yourself!
After you exercise, take a few minutes to savor the good feelings that exercise creates. Reflect on what you've just accomplished. This type of internal reward can help you make a long-term commitment to regular exercise. External rewards can help, too. When you reach a longer range goal, treat yourself to a new pair of walking shoes or new tunes to enjoy while you exercise.
Do you drink enough water?
Don't use thirst alone as a guide for when to drink. By the time you become thirsty, you may already be slightly dehydrated. To ward off dehydration, drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables. Increase your fluid intake during hot weather, especially if you work or exercise outdoors. Vomiting or diarrhea can increase the risk of dehydration, particularly in young children. Older adults who take medicine that increases urination are also at higher risk.
Do you have a living will?
Life-threatening situations can happen to anyone, so it's important to have a living will or other advance directive. These documents spell out your preferences regarding medical treatments you would or would not want to keep you alive. You can also outline your preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. By planning ahead, you can get the medical care you want and save your family from having to make tough decisions in a crisis.
Do you respect the mind-body connection?
Feel stressed out? Try meditation and put the mind-body connection to work for you. During meditation, focus your attention on a single thought or phrase and let go of the jumbled thoughts that are crowding your mind. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can help you feel calmer and less frazzled.
Does flossing really make a difference?
Yes. You can't reach the bacteria in tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line with a toothbrush. Aim to floss daily. If you find it hard to handle floss, use an interdental cleaner — such as a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, a water flosser, or wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover. As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn't matter if you brush or floss first.
Does zinc work for colds?
The jury is still out on that question because many zinc studies, both those that find it beneficial and those that don't, are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc lozenges or syrup appeared to shorten a cold by one day and seemed most effective when taken within 24 hours of the start of symptoms. Taking zinc lozenges with food may reduce side effects, such as a bad taste and nausea. Steer clear of zinc nasal spray, however, which may permanently damage your sense of smell.
Don't believe shaving myths
Contrary to popular belief, shaving hair doesn't make it grow back thicker. And shaving doesn't affect how dark your hair is or how fast it grows. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip that can feel coarse as the hair grows out. During this phase, the hair might appear darker or thicker, but it's not.
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