Author: melissa

One critical aspect to anyone’s health is how they were raised and nurtured while they were young.

This article will discuss why it is so important to promote healthy brain development in kids. It will also include a list of ways to help their brains develop healthy and properly.

Why youth brain development is important:

1. In the first few years of life the brain develops its “wiring” or neural pathways. They develop quickly and the health of these pathways depends on the baby’s environment and the people around them.

2. How well their neural pathways form will affect their ability to learn languages, solve problems, and do well in life overall. If they aren’t properly nurtured it can hurt them physically and emotionally. It can cause them to have trouble getting along with other people.

3. Severely neglected or abused children will most likely grow up with brain wiring that causes them major problems later in life. Trauma has been known to drastically change how people can live their life. The consequences can include drug and alcohol abuse, abusing others, lifelong mental illness, or actions that hurt themselves. They can become unable to work a job or care for themselves.

Now that the importance of healthy brain growth has been explained here are ways you can help your kids (or other people’s kids) grow up with healthy minds and emotions.

How to promote healthy brain development in children:

1. Positive experiences – Be responsive to the child, be nurturing to them, give them positive experiences, and make them feel loved and safe. Give rewards and praise often, respond to them with warm and kind voices, and try to keep a stable emotion when interacting with them. Don’t behave unpredictably with them, as it can scare them. For example don’t yell when you usually talk to them with a normal volume.

2. Fun activities – You can talk, read, or sing to your child. You can get on the floor with them and explore their world at their level. Encourage any new learning moments and reward them.

3. Balance human interaction with toys – Don’t just let your child learn everything from the TV, phones, tablets and toys. It is critical to their development to be constantly engaged with other humans and learn from them. It is more natural for kids to learn from adults in face-to-face interactions and conversations. They can pick up on social cues, learn gestures, learn facial expressions, and learn social skills.

4. Build a community – Allow your child to interact with many of your friends, family members, and even coworkers. As long as you feel safe around others it is good for your child to come into contact with many other people and to learn diversity and social skills.

Although these are just a few of many good tips they should help your child’s brain development. Even if you had a less than perfect past, your child has a fresh start and you can help them succeed.

Throughout your life, your exercise options will change to fit your age and body. It is a good idea to exercise at any age, but seniors should make activity a priority.

The health benefits of exercise in seniors are very substantial. It not only helps you live longer, but your life quality will be better and you’ll enjoy it much more. Seniors value their independence, and exercising can help them maintain their independence much longer. In addition, exercise that includes balance can help reduce falls by up to 23 percent in seniors. Other benefits include more energy, less diseases, improved brain function, and more.

Here are some exercise ideas for older adults to try:

Water Aerobics – Ideal for those with joint pain because it is low impact and the water helps take weight off of your joints. This exercise improves balance, strength, and flexibility with low stress.

Chair Yoga – This kind of exercise helps with muscle strength, flexibility and balance. Chair yoga takes pressure and stress off of muscles and joints. Many seniors aren’t able to do traditional yoga without getting hurt, so chair yoga is much more appropriate.

Resistance Bands – This option is not only user friendly and low cost, but you can do it anywhere. They don’t take up much space, so you can take them and use them when you need. Resistance bands can improve posture, balance, mobility, and core strength.

Pilates – Pilates is low impact and popular with seniors. Focuses on breathing, body alignment, core strength, and concentration. This improves flexibility and balance.

Walking – Avoid walking up steep hills or anywhere with uneven ground where you can trip and fall. Try walking on sidewalks or on trails. Try listening to music while walking, or go with a friend.

Hand Weights or Dumbbells – Using smaller and lighter weights is ideal for seniors who need to build up strength. This allows them to train small muscle groups at a time and only work on the muscles they need to work on. This will help you gain more ability to pick up and carry some items in your daily life. It also helps balance and flexibility like the other ones mentioned above.

Exercises that seniors over 65 should avoid doing:

Weighted squats
Bench presses
Leg presses
Long distance running
Rowing upright
Dead lifts
High intensity training
Rock climbing

In conclusion, there are many fun and interesting ways for older adults to get their work-outs safely. Try some of these tips for a better quality of life.

Without warning, life can come with some pretty intense disaster situations. The pandemic aside, there are many things that can happen to people through their lives which bring them to a dark place.

Whether you suffer a house fire, a weather disaster, a car accident, or something else, there are ways you can get through these times. The following tips should be used to care for yourself emotionally after a disaster or traumatic experience.

1. Take good care of your body – Do your best to eat healthy, get some exercise, and try to sleep as much as you’re able to. Eating healthy will keep your body and mind more stable. Eating poorly can increase mental health problems and increase emotional instability. If you suffer from high anxiety, avoid caffeine if you can and make sure to get exercise. You are less likely to suffer panic attacks when you’re eating right, getting exercise, and sleeping well.

2. Connect with other people – Reach out to friends, family, or whoever you feel comfortable talking to. Keep your relationships healthy throughout life to maintain a strong system of support and help when you need it most. Relationships with others are your main defense when life throws a disaster your way.

3. Give yourself breaks – Let yourself stop and cry when you need it. Strong feelings will come and go, but keep breathing. Focus your attention on doing activities you enjoy. If you feel you are going too deep in depression, reach out for help.

4. Keep informed – If you need to know more details about the disaster that you were hit by, stay informed. When watching the news, be aware there could be some rumors or misinformation going around about it. Use critical thinking and rational thought when watching or listening to the news. Seek out official and reliable sources from experts.

5. Avoid too much news – As much as you want to stay informed, you don’t want to become swamped and overwhelmed with the news. It is important to take breaks from the news because you need an emotional break from it. Ask someone you trust to keep you informed so you can avoid getting too upset.

6. Get help – There are many different options for you to get help during a traumatic event or disaster. If you are suffering panic attacks, severe depression, numbness, difficulty making decisions, or increased drug or alcohol use, contact someone right away. Some options are to call your family doctor, call the local emergency room, call the police, or search online for phone numbers you can call for help in your circumstance. Reach out to a friend or family member and ask them to help you find more help.

During some of the most difficult times in our lives, it is hard to see the light. Hopefully these tips will help you get through and come out on top.

Pain serves a purpose in the human body most of the time. However, pain can be an unfortunate and unwelcome part of our daily lives. It is meant to signal to you that something is going wrong in the body and should be checked out. It can be sharp, burning, dull, or radiating.

Many people feel pain in their abdomen, pelvis, back, and chest. Many people get joint pain, headache pain, or muscle aches all over. Acute pain is sudden, but it can be diagnosed and treated. Chronic pain lasts for much longer, can last a lifetime, and can cause other severe health issues.

Wherever you experience pain, there are some things you can try to feel better.

The following 5 tips can help you reduce pain naturally:

1. Massage therapy – Can help by releasing tension, toxins and pain from the soft tissues of the body. Relaxation and stress reduction are essential to decreasing pain. There are many types of massage, so contact a massage center or therapist today.

2. Meditation – This technique works by getting you to focus your attention entirely on something other than your pain. Some things that meditation focuses on are your breathing words, phrases, or objects. Yoga helps you keep your mind on your body and position as you stretch and bend in ways you’re not used to. Sometimes, people use objects such as hula hoops to keep their mind off things.

3. Biofeedback – Electronic devices that measure your body functions (heart rate and breathing) is critical to helping you learn your body’s habits and responses. Biofeedback can measure how much tension is being held in your muscles, or how high your heart rate goes when you are feeling anxious. This will help you know when it is most important to relax and soothe your mind. This type of therapy can control pain in the back as well as chronic headaches.

4. Surgery – If your severe pain is coming from an injury or issue from inside your body, surgery may help. Depending on your cause and level of pain, you may or may not want to use this method for pain management. Ask your doctor what they think if they haven’t discussed it with you already.

5. Psychotherapy – Many people are unaware of how much mental health affects their entire body’s health and pain levels. Therapy uses listening, counseling, discussion and talk to treat disorders of the mind and behaviors. This method will teach you skills to cope with hard life struggles. Coping with difficult circumstances is important to reducing pain levels. You’ll also learn to avoid or reduce negative thought patterns which can make pain worse.

If you live with pain, try some of these helpful tips. There is no shame in taking medication when you absolutely need it. However, some non-drug options should definitely be explored.

You may have heard of acupuncture, but how much do you know about it? Asian countries including China have been using it for many thousands of years. Acupuncture stimulates certain points of the body using thin needles that go into the skin. It helps change the functions of the body.

Research shows that it can reduce post-surgery and post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting. Although the researchers aren’t exactly sure how it works, it may activate the body’s painkiller chemicals. It also may improve your body’s regulation of blood flow and blood pressure. It can be used to manage stress as well. This may be a good idea for you if you do not like taking drugs for the conditions listed below.

Below is a list of the things that acupuncture can help with:

• Nausea and vomiting after surgeries and chemotherapy
• Tooth and dental pain
• Migraines, tension headaches, and other head pain
• Pain from going through childbirth
• Lower back pain
• Pain in your neck
• Cramps during your menstrual cycle
• Some respiratory disorders and allergy issues

Below is a list of possible risks with using acupuncture:

• Soreness
• Pain during insertion of needles
• Mild bleeding
• Bruising
• Stimulation of early labor in pregnant women
• Interference with pacemakers

You should avoid acupuncture if you are taking blood thinners and have a bleeding disorder. You should also avoid if you have a pacemaker or are pregnant. If you are not a fan of needles and it may cause you to pass out, you may want to avoid it as well. However, acupuncture has very few side effects associated with it.

If you think that you can handle the above risks and the possible pain, you should try acupuncture. It may not sound like much fun, but there is a good reason why it has been around for so long. The benefits may surprise you, so look into it.

Vacations are wonderful and healing for the soul and body. Some people are not so lucky and the traveling required to go on vacation can cause health problems they don’t expect to get. The best part is that most of these things can be prevented with proper thinking and planning.

Read below to find out what you may need to do while you are traveling to help yourself prevent any issues.

• Decreasing humidity levels in the airplane you are traveling in can cause dry noses and throats which can decrease your body’s ability to fight germs and illness. Be sure to stay hydrated through your flight and use a saline spray.
• High traffic areas with high numbers of people can put you at risk for catching the flu, a cold, Covid, or other infectious diseases. Wash your hands very often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as well.
• If not flying on a plane you may be at risk for a weakened immune system from drinking alcohol, staying up all night, or exhaustion from too much walking. To prevent this stick as close as you can to your typical daily routine when at home.
• If you have jet lag or you feel exhausted take some time to rest at your vacation spot. Take a nap at the hotel or where you are staying. If you do too much at once you might end up getting sick and ruining the rest of your time.
• When packing put your medications on the absolute priority list. Do not leave your home unless you are convinced you have your medications with you and inside your carry-on bag.
• If you are traveling out of the country notify your doctor at least 6-8 weeks prior so you can get any necessary vaccines you’ll need. Foreign countries have a variety of contagious diseases sometimes and you should protect yourself.
• Traveling often causes constipation due to the change in time zones and changes in your typical schedule of using the bathroom. If you are having a hard time you can take some precautions. Stay as hydrated as possible for a few days before you leave for vacation and do not eat heavy cheesy foods that may back you up. Try some stool softeners, eat prunes, eat something with fiber, eat some fruits, or try a mild laxative. Whatever usually helps you go is what you should try.

Hopefully this list of suggestions will help prepare you for an enjoyable and perfect vacation you will never forget. Take care of yourself wherever you go.

Exercising is one of the most important things you can do for your health and the benefits are amazing. Being fit and preventing chronic diseases makes it easy to be motivated. You may not know how much is too much exercise. You may also wonder if you are doing too little exercise.

Keep reading to learn more about how long and intense your workout should be.

How much exercise is generally recommended:

Adults should get approximately an hour and a half of moderate exercise or an hour and 15 minutes of high intensity activity per week. For example, an hour and a half of walking at a quick speed or running for an hour and 15 minutes. Moderate activity means you can talk a little bit while doing it and vigorous intensity means you won’t be able to speak without stopping to take a breath. Remember this recommendation of time spent working out is for the week, not for each day. It is wise to spread out your activity through the week, rather than squeezing it all into a couple of days.

If you do not have time to exercise for more than 10 minutes at a time some days that is OK. You can split up your time exercising into sections of 10 or more minutes. Try to find at least 10-15 minutes to spend on each thing to get the maximum benefit.

It is a good idea to include strengthening exercise in your workout twice per week. Many people get out and do fun things for exercise, but totally forget to work on their strength. Some examples include weight lifting, exercise band resistance, push-ups, or leg-lifts. Pay close attention that you are evenly working out most of your muscles and not just a few. Include the hips, back, legs, stomach, chest, arms, and shoulders. Do these exercises for each muscle section about 8 to 12 times per exercise session to get the best results.

Children and teens should get one hour or more of moderate intensity exercise per day. Younger people have an easier time exercising often and for longer periods of time. Most public schools will include their exercise needs, but it may be good for them to do activities outside of school as well. Some examples are going to dance class after school or joining a soccer team.

Seniors and elderly individuals should ask their doctor about how much and how long they should be doing physical activity.

In conclusion it is important to know how long you should be active no matter your age. Finding time for working out is essential to your well-being. Good luck out there.

Simply being told that you should exercise to feel better isn’t quite enough. Many people aren’t convinced by a simple statement, and must be taught the why before they understand. This article will explain how and why it is important to exercise to keep your mental health in order.

There is a reason you see a lot of people find time for exercise, and even get excited about it. The benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of finding the time and energy to exercise.

Why exercise works for your mental health:

1. Exercise is free medicine – There are studies that prove exercise can treat mild and moderate cases of depression just as effectively as the medication you would take to treat it. However, there are no side effects of exercise, except you may feel soreness of your muscles. Running for just 15 minutes in a day can reduce your risk of depression by 26 percent.

2. Exercise fights depression in many ways – Working out promotes changes in your brain that include reducing inflammation, promoting neural growth, and creating new brain activity patterns which promote calmness and feelings of well being. In addition, powerful feel good chemicals called endorphins are released that will make you feel good and energized.

3. Working out is a positive distraction – Keeping your routine to go exercise and take time for yourself can give you the quiet and calm time you need to break out of your negative thoughts or circumstances which can cause and feed depression. Maintaining your exercise schedule can help you avoid relapses of inactivity, anxiety, and depression. If your life is stressing you out, take a moment for yourself to work out, feel good, and take a break from home.

4. Breaking the stress cycle – When you are stressed, the body responds in many unfavorable ways. You get tense, you get headaches, your gut is in knots, you may feel sick, or just overall terrible. Stress can make you sick, which then makes your mind sad that you are sick. Then, you are going to avoid working out because you feel sick. Then, more stress builds up and you are on a fast decline to the bottom. Acknowledging the cycle and breaking it is important. Everyone gets stuck in this cycle, but it is best to break free. There is a delicate balance between resting when you need to rest and breaking through feeling icky by exercising. Sometimes, too much rest while stressed can make things worse. Listen to your body.

In summary, working out is essential for a human body and mind to succeed. Humans weren’t made to sit around and watch television and eat snacks. Humans have been doing hard work, running, walking far distances, and exercising for survival for a very long time. It is natural to get that exercise as often as you can. Your body and brain will thank you.

When on the topic of body systems that we take for granted, the kidneys and urinary tract come to mind.

Many people face some kind of urinary or kidney health issues through their life. Not only do the kidneys and urinary system help us keep a healthy level of hydration in the whole body, but the kidneys also regulate minerals and filter out toxins in our blood. So, it is important to make sure these systems are well taken care of.

Dr. Jeffrey Murawsky says “The most prevalent issues tend to be infections of the urinary tract, and other common conditions that include kidney stones, incontinence and kidney disease”

Although these conditions can be easy to manage, it can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and trouble if they are left untreated for long.

How to care for your urinary tract and kidneys:

1. Practice clean, safe sex. The main reason is that unclean hands and unclean private parts can cause some nasty Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women. Although rare due to the longer length of the urinary tract in men, it can happen to men as well. These UTIs can turn into bladder and kidney infections. Untreated infections like this can cause severe injury or death. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also cause problems with the urinary system. So, use protection such as condoms, and make sure both you and your partner are practicing good overall body hygiene. If you have a fever or chills, you may have a kidney infection and need to be treated.

2. Don’t hold your urine frequently. If you are in the habit of holding your urine in until later, this can be a bad idea. It is best and most healthy to relieve the bladder as often as you feel the urge to go. Your bladder and urinary tract can build up bacteria if you wait and hold it for too long. This is especially true for women. Holding your urine when you have bacteria in your urinary tract can cause life long problems and will cause chronic UTIs throughout your life. Take care of yourself now to avoid the consequences.

3. Stay well hydrated. Insufficient amounts of urine in the body can cause problems as well. Concentrated urine in the body caused by dehydration or poor choice of drinks can cause kidney stones. Drink lots and lots of water, don’t get dehydrated, and make good drink choices. Avoid sodas or sugary drinks that will use the water in your body to get rid of the excess sugars you’re drinking. Avoid caffeine, because it is a diuretic that will get rid of excess fluid in the body and bladder. If you must drink caffeine, drink lots and lots of water to replace the fluids.

In conclusion, a severe kidney infection can kill you, and many of these other issues are no fun at all. Use these tips to avoid a lot of pain and discomfort.

Summer is here and we are thrilled! One of the main obstacles between you and enjoying your summer is heat and dehydration. No matter how much you love the sun and warm weather, your body may not respond well to it. This article should help with how to avoid dehydration and over heating yourself.

1. Play in the water! – Regardless of how you feel your body looks in a swim suit, you need to stay cool in the heat. It is a smart decision to get wet and cooled off on very hot days. Let your kids spray you with the hose or get into their pool with them. If you are at the beach, splash around in the water. If only to get your legs cooled off.

2. Buy a shade canopy or awning – If the price of one of these is far out of your budget, consider going to yard sales, checking a local Goodwill store, or a Salvation army store. Some of them can be purchased for a low price, depending on how much shade you need. Check your local department stores in the outdoors section. These can be a very quick way to get shade wherever you go, and they come in carrying cases for easy travel.

3. Spray bottles and misters – Before going out somewhere that is going to be hot and miserable, fill a spray bottle with a mist setting with water. Bonus points if you keep one of these filled and in the refrigerator. Do not place in the freezer, because it will take hours for that thing to thaw and be usable! Have each member of your family keep one nearby!

4. Outdoor fans – Let’s say the wind is not blowing much and you wish it would. If you can run an extension cord to your outdoor location, you can use a fan to place nearby and cool you off. Maybe bring a collapsible table with you to place it on. Bonus points if you use the fan with the spray bottle!

5. Take breaks – If you have air conditioning available in your car or nearby in your home, you should take breaks inside. If you are camping or far away from a home or vehicle, consider the previous four suggestions. This is especially good for athletes to do, because they will overheat during intense activity in the summer.

The key to a happy summer is having the correct tools and procedures on your side. Make it a habit to have what you need, and things will run more smoothly.