| Just pretend you went out for drinks with friends. Three martinis later (but who’s counting?), you’re queasy and uneasy. Now what? If you’ve had a little too much to drink, hand your car keys to a sober friend. It will be hours till your judgment and reflexes return and there’s no way to speed up detox.
Have you thought about hiking this fall? How do you prepare for the adventure? Hiking means different things to different people-- could be 1 hour or 1 week. Whatever the distance, you need to be sure your body is ready to handle it. What kind of shape are you in? Before you hit the dirt, do some cardio work—jog, walk bike. Also, make sure you break in all your gear with one or two trial hikes —especially the shoes and the clothing. This will help ensure everything fits okay. And finally bring a compass so you know where you’re going. Remember, it’s only useful if you know how to use it. Washcloths are not a healthy idea for your face. Why? If you’re using a washcloth, your face might not be as clean as you’d like. The washcloth never gets 100% dry when you hang it in the bathroom, so it becomes a breeding ground for breakout-causing bacteria. Don’t toss your cloth; just use a clean one very time you wash, or you can use one of those new single use cloths that have a cleanser in them. Your face will feel and look squeaky clean and beautiful…of course. What do researchers consider a normal sex life? The researchers, not you? The normal frequency for sex ranges from twice a week to twice a month, research shows. But don’t be bound by the numbers, especially if you have sex less often say psychologists—it’s quality over quantity. If sex satisfies both of you and the frequency or infrequency isn’t an issue, then you don’t have a problem. If, on the other hand, sex causes arguments or hurt feelings, then’ it’s hurting your relationship. Your house could be causing your allergies. What are some triggers? Time to go on allergy patrol at your home:
Ladies, do you know what your greatest health risk is? Most women don’t? According to a recent national survey, more than a third of women think breast cancer is the greatest health problem they face. They are way off. While breast cancer is responsible for the deaths of 44,000 American women a year, heart disease kills half a million, making it the number one cause of death among women. And here’s another thing to note- While breast cancer is something you can’t prevent, heart disease is. February is heart month- a good time to take this message to heart. Why does a broken heart hurt so much? A rejected lover’s broken heart may cause as much distress as an actual physical injury. Social exclusion of any sort—divorce, not being invited to a party, no one coming to your party—cause distress in the SAME part of the brain that is associated with the pain of a physical injury. So emotional pain is just as tough as physical pain. We can fix this. Tell someone you love them. Happy Valentine’s Day. Do you think the term fat-free on a food label means that the product has no fat? Foods that are labeled fat-free are allowed to contain up to half a gram of fat per serving. Those grams can add up quickly. For example, those five small, zero-fat cookies you ate yesterday may pack an invisible 2.5 grams. And remember nonfat foods often have just as many calories as the full-fat counterparts, so you still need to keep track of your portions, because you can still get fat. Read the whole label. Fat-free is not calorie-free. If you have chest pain, should you have someone take you directly to the hospital or should you wait for an ambulance? Those who waited for an ambulance received care faster, even though those who drove reached the hospital a few minutes quicker. That’s because emergency-medical technicians can begin treatment as soon as the ambulance arrives and they can coordinate your arrival with the emergency room. If you have sudden chest pain or other signs of possible heart attack do this: Call 911. Chew an aspirin. Unlock the door, and lie down. This is one of those times when waiting is the right thing to do. If you pick up a cookie from the floor within five seconds of dropping it, you can still eat …right???? The five-second rule has been tested and no! You cannot eat the cookie off the floor. Dangerous germs can adhere to the cookie instantly. And who is more likely to eat floor-food? Research found that women are more likely than men. And just in case you’re interested, it’s not the broccoli and brussel sprouts that’s being picked up. It’s the cookies and candy. Your doctor keeps a complete list of the medications you’re taking. Right? Don’t assume that doctors have up-to-date information about you. They do their best to be accurate, but you’d be surprised how easily errors can creep into your medical chart. Each time you visit your doctor, bring along an up to date list of your medications with dosages. Don’t skip over-the-counter drugs, herb supplements and vitamins. Doctors are human and they’re not psychic! If you don’t tell them, they may not know. Loud noises can cause hearing loss…but how loud is too loud? Prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss---every day noise like city traffic is 80. But a lawn mower or motorcycle is 90, and chainsaws, snowmobiles, hair dryers, firecrackers and rock concerts can range from 110 to 140 decibels. Regular exposure of more than one minute can cause permanent hearing loss. Thanks for listening! What’s the best thing you can do after dinner? Instead of lapsing into a food coma on the couch after diner, take that short walk. A 10-minute walk after eating gives you a double boost of energy and increases your metabolism. Research indicates that three- 10 minute walks a day have the same benefit as one 30 minute walk—improving cholesterol, shrinking your middle and lifting your mood. Think of taking a walk as really finishing off your meal. Bad cholesterol is the result of two factors. Do you know what they are? You probably know that cholesterol comes from food, but what you might not know is that it also has a lot to do with your family history. In other words, the cholesterol your body produces naturally is based on heredity. If you’ve been having a hard time lowering your cholesterol in spite of diet and exercise, don’t blame yourself. Blame your family and then call your doctor. Like the ad says…”It’s not just the Virginia ham. It’s also Aunt Virginia. If you want the right running and walking shoe, it’s important to know not just your foot size but your foot type. How do you figure it out? Most feet fall into three categories-normal, flatfoot or high arches. You can figure yours out by getting your feet wet and standing on a surface that will eave a mark. Take a look at the imprint. If it’s normal, there’s a nice space where your arch curves off the sole. If you’re flatfooted, it looks like one big blob. That’s me. And high arch feet show a very thin band between your forefoot and heel. Tell the sales person when your shoe shopping so you get the right shoe. With the right shoe you’ll have more fun when you run. |