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Health

Common Health Issues That You Should Try To Avoid

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If you are worried about experiencing health issues, then you need to get on top of your lifestyle, and fast. It’s true to say that there are some things that you are not going to be able to avoid as you have no control over them. But, there are others that you can avoid if you make some lifestyle changes and be careful with what you are doing. In this article, we are going to be looking at some of the common health issues that you should try to avoid, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

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Back Pain

The first thing that we are going to talk about is back pain. Now, there are some cases where back pain is not avoidable, but in others it is. For example, your back can start to hurt if you turn into somewhat of a couch potato, and don’t do any regular exercise. This happens because the muscles aren’t being used, so they end up becoming stiff. As such, when you do decide to move again or do something that is slightly more strenuous than usual, your back is going to hurt. There is no need to go to a chiropractor for this as there isn’t going to be much that you can do, and these professions are for more serious issues than stiff muscles.

All you really have to do is continue to exercise gently and build up your strength again. Your muscles will become less stiff over time, and the pain will go when this happens.   

Obesity

Another big problem is obesity. It’s a huge problem right now and it needs to be stopped because it is extremely dangerous for the health of the individual. You are at greater risk for things like diabetes and heart disease, neither of which are pleasant and should be avoided at all costs. If you think you are obese, you can weigh yourself and check on a BMI chart, or consult your doctor. 

Don’t worry, because there are ways to manage this. All you have to do is be careful with the food that you are eating, the portion sizes you are having and how much you are exercising. If you are dedicated to sorting the problem, it can be done.

Tobacco Use

Finally tobacco use is terrible for your lungs, and has been linked to issues such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other breathing conditions. If you have never smoked tobacco, or you don’t now, don’t start because all it takes is once. If you are smoking, then we recommend seeing your doctor about some of the options you have when it comes to quitting. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the common health issues that you should try to avoid. It’s not always easy to do so, and it might require quite a dramatic lifestyle change, but if you are determined enough, you will get there. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you end up seeing the results that you are looking for.

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Health

From Downward Dog To Downward Don’t

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Yoga has been a staple of western exercise and wellbeing for over 5,000 years; starting in India before migrating across the world. Now, yoga is synonymous with workshops, wellness, and disconnecting from the always-on world. The trouble is that, for countless individuals, downward dog often becomes more like “downward don’t.”

Like meditation, we would all love to get around to a yoga practice that sticks, securing a foundation for our fitness and mental wellbeing that few other pursuits can touch. Only when we sit on our yoga mats to get started, we find that even the best intentions in the world don’t create a habit that sticks. So, we put that yoga mat in a closet and forget about it, convinced that yoga ‘isn’t for us.’

The reality is, however, that yoga’s wide and long-lasting impact worldwide is a testament to the fact that, actually, it’s accessible to all. So, if you’re failing to get your practice off the mat, something’s standing in your way. Here, we’re going to look at a few of the most common blocks and what you can do to remove them for a yoga practice you love at last. 

Failing to address aches and pains

Yoga stretches can work wonders for joint pain, bad backs, and even neck issues. But, before you can enjoy those benefits, you need to ensure that you can safely manage the poses you’re attempting. A trained yoga teacher can help here but, if existing aches prevent you from embarking on yoga at all, then seek help from someone like a chiropractor who can loosen those kinks enough for you to get started pain-free. Used alongside this treatment, yoga can drastically enhance recovery and guarantee that you fall in love at long last. 

Practicing intermittently

Intermittent practice is bad news with any form of exercise, but with yoga, especially, getting your mat out once every month is never going to lead to results. After all, yoga rests primarily on key focuses like balance and flexibility. These are things you build over time, and even sessions of just ten minutes each day are a crucial part of that. Fail to turn your attention to this often, and you’ll be knocking on that yoga door without ever feeling the benefits. 

Skipping the ‘spiritual stuff’

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Yoga began as the preserve of priests and monks, and it includes what a lot of people consider to be ‘spiritual stuff.’ ‘Om’ practices and the incorporation of meditation can certainly feel far from the gym, but never underestimate their importance. After all, yoga is as much about your mind as your body, and these practices help us to achieve some of yoga’s best benefits, such as the ability to combat stress or feel at one with our bodies. Take these out of the equation, and all you’re doing is throwing shapes on a mat. Add a little reflective time to the end of your practice, and you’re suddenly on the path to an inner transformation that stands to make you healthier than regular running ever could. 

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Health

Where To Turn When You’re Battling Addiction

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Being alive and coping through day-to-day life can be a constant battle, and for a lot of people, it is not merely a matter of putting on a brave face, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and facing the day head-on. As we have come to learn, many people turn to addictive substances to help ease their emotional, psychical, and psychological pain. This problem is endemic in our society. Many do not have or know for that matter, the resources for not only gaining the help they need in rehabilitation but to help them cope in a world that turned them to drugs, to begin with. 

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Whilst many people from all walks of life suffer from addiction, and their needs should not go unnoticed, the largest group affected by this are veteran soldiers. Many have returned from years of service, struggling through the worst horrors imaginable and carrying the traumas of war with little in the way of support. Many find employment after service impossible and many develop these addictions during their time in the service. With little support and little in the way of employment, it is no wonder this group is so massively affected by issues of substance abuse. 

The problem is wider-reaching with many groups being affected by similarly destructive behaviors. It’s not hard to feel sympathetic for these people and if you know anyone in your life that suffers from this, you know how painful it can be to go through. Treatment is hard to find and finding effective help is even harder. There are many bodies and institutes designed for this very kind of rehabilitation, however, the AAC or the American Addiction Centers claim to be the leading provider of inpatient substance use treatment services. Their work ranges from alcohol abuse to suicide awareness to tips to manage anxiety. 

This year with the COVID-19 crisis, the amount of people suffering from depression and anxiety has increased tenfold. And no wonder, with everyone stuck in their homes, many losing their support network or limiting the one little amount they had. It is not hard to see why people turn to these coping mechanisms in order to alleviate the stresses of an already stressful world. Combating these vices may be hard and many of us are fortunate enough not to have to face these struggles but for those that are there is help out there. Places like The AAC are here to help you if you find yourself in a position where you are struggling with addiction and cannot cope. Their Instagram page features a wealth of inspirational and useful posts many of which being videos of conversations with professionals as well as former addicts, stats, statistics, and helpful links to their articles. 

If you’re currently facing a battle such as this, their page is highly worth checking out. Finding help should be a priority and not something to feel shameful of or shy away from; it is a matter of urgency and there are people out there willing to help. 

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Health

How To Protect Your Ears From Damage

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Whether you listen to loud music, or go to concerts frequently, your ears can suffer over time. That is why having ear protection for concerts is so important and why you should always choose a good pair of headphones when listening to music at home or work. High-intensity and long-term exposure to noise is one of the leading causes of hearing problems. Exposure to loud, non-noise sounds in the classical sense, including music, can also cause hearing problems. Given this, it should be understood that exposure to loud music over time can cause, among other things, hearing loss and ringing in the ears, also known as Tinnitus. Sometimes, though, it will only be a temporary defect, but prolonged exposure to the damage, unfortunately, can be permanent and irreversible. 

Loud music

Naturally, the sensitivity to noise is not the same in the general public and there can be significant differences in each person’s definition of what is considered a loud sound in their ears, or what volume of music will be considered a loud volume. However, it is important to know that there is an objective measure that determines the volume and it is this that defines what is considered a strong volume. This index, called the decibel index, states that music that is above 85 decibels (units of measure for measuring volume) is loud music. In bars and clubs, where most of the population is exposed to loud music, the music can reach 100 decibels and even more and as immediately detailed, exposure to such noise intensities over time, can cause severe hearing problems. However, even listening to music at high volume regularly using a mobile phone or other device used with headphones, can cause no less damage. 

Nerve hearing loss 

When we talk about hearing problems caused due to exposure to loud music, it is usually a neurological hearing loss, which occurs in the inner ear, in the area which is responsible for our normal hearing. Nervous hearing loss can cause not only impaired hearing quality, but difficulty in deciphering various sounds as well as unpleasant symptoms such as Tinnitus.

How can hearing problems be avoided? 

You should never have the music too high. Make sure to wear quality headphones. It’s also better to wear actual headphones, as opposed to ear buds. There are a number of precautions that can be taken to avoid hearing damage in general and permanent damage in particular. First, you should try to reduce your stay in very noisy places. Second, when going out to places of entertainment where there is loud music, one should occasionally leave the place during the evening to give the ears a rest. Another means that can be very helpful is the use of earplugs which greatly reduce the exposure to the volume of the noise and on the other hand still allow you to hear the music well and enjoy the evening, without causing hearing damage. Finally, when it comes to regular exposure to loud noises, it is advisable to do frequent hearing tests to check the integrity of the hearing and if there is a problem, it can be treated during its development and prevent future damage.

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Health

Stress: What It Is and How To Combat It

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All of us feel stress at some point or another. It’s a natural human response that we’ve evolved to experience when facing immediate threat or danger. Stress is actually a positive thing in that it help to prepare our bodies to escape or tackle difficult and dangerous situations. However, nowadays, many of us experience excessive stress over issues we can’t do much about and that we really shouldn’t be stressing about. The bad news is that stress can cause all sorts of health concerns and issues, so if you’re experiencing excessive stress levels, here are a few things you should be aware of, as well as some advice when it comes to stress management.

The Potential Consequences of Stress

Stress isn’t enjoyable. It’s something that can make us feel uncomfortable and low. However, surprisingly few people understand the potential consequences of stress in regards to our overall health and wellbeing. Here are just some of the health conditions that stress can cause!

Physical Impact

  • Headaches
  • Muscle Tension
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep Problems

Emotional Impact

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Sadness
  • Procrastination or Lack of Motivation

Behavioral Impact

Identifying the Causes of Your Stress

As you can see, stress really needs to be tackled – for the sake of your physical and emotional health, as well as your social life, professional life and personal life. It can be difficult to know where to start out with combatting stress, but a good point is to determine what’s causing your stress. This can help you to remove causes of stress from your life, or accept the things that you shouldn’t be stressing about.

  • Health concerns – a big cause of stress can be health concerns. The pandemic has proven this. If you are worried that you may be unwell in any way, make sure to visit your doctor, who will be able to examine you and provide a diagnosis. This will get you on the road to recovery. If your doctor finds that you are suffering from anxiety or other issues that may exacerbate your stress, they may be able to recommend treatments or alternative treatments like products from CBD stores.
  • Money worries – another common cause of stress is financial difficulties (again, something that many of us are experiencing this pandemic). Make sure to set yourself a budget and work at chipping away debts that you may have. Consider alternative means of work that may help to boost your income.
  • Relationship worries – no relationship is perfect and, whether you believe it or not, we all have some sort of issues in our relationships. Make sure to be open and honest with the individual your having troubles with and communicate your issues in order to overcome them. If they can’t be overcome, the relationship may need to be distanced or cut off.

Stress can be really difficult to experience and face. But hopefully, some of the above information will help to let you see what you are up against and what you can do to resolve your troubles.

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Health

5 Tips To Help You Take Care Of Your Hearing

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Whether you have dealt with your fair share of ear infections or know a loved one with diminished hearing, there are many reasons as to why you have decided to try and take better care of your hearing. 

However, one thing is clear – the earlier you begin to take on healthy habits, the better – as this puts you in the best possible position when it comes to hearing health and can reduce the chances of you damaging your hearing. With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to start taking care of your hearing. 

Know the types of hearing damage

Whether partial or complete, hearing loss is not the only indicator that something has gone wrong within your ears. For example, you can also suffer from conditions such as tinnitus, which presents itself as a persistent noise within your ear that is not caused by anything going on around you. Knowing the different kinds of potential damage means that you are also more aware of the causes of tinnitus and similar conditions and can take the necessary steps to avoid them. As a result, you are also able to identify hearing problems early on.  

Practice volume control

Though it’s always going to be tempting to turn up the volume of your music and belt your heart out to your favorite song after a hard day, prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause permanent damage to your inner ears, resulting in tinnitus or hearing loss. Therefore, you should try your best to keep the volume at a suitable level – whether you are watching TV or a podcast. This is particularly important if you are wearing headphones or earphones. 

Keep the stress to a minimum

Studies have shown that high levels of stress can also impact your hearing. Therefore, you must find a way to reduce stress in your daily life. Whether that means you take up meditation or find another outlet for your frustration is up to you – but the lower your stress, the better you will feel overall. 

Make earplugs your new best friend

Though they may not seem exceptionally stylish, earplugs are a great way to protect your ears from loud noises – meaning they are the perfect accessory for concerts or festivals. They won’t stop you from enjoying the music – but will stop you from experiencing any negative side effects following the event. They are also particularly useful if you work in an area that is constantly noisy, such as a warehouse or factory.

Keep your ears dry & clean

Sometimes, whether you are in the bath or swimming, you can get water trapped inside your inner ear. What seems like a minor issue can quickly become quite painful and can lead to ear infections due to trapped moisture and bacteria. Therefore, you must find ways to keep your ears dry – by wearing earplugs. You should also ensure that you dry your ears thoroughly after being in the water, patting them dry with a towel and tilting your head to one side to remove any water if necessary. 

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Health

Mental Health: Supporting a Loved One With Depression

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The past year that we have all had has taken its toll in many different ways. Physical health has been impacted, as well as family dynamics, finances, and not forgetting mental health. Anxiety, depression, and loneliness has been reported as being on the increase, with more people talking to a doctor about these issues. You may be even feeling them yourself. But today, it is all about how to help a loved one with depression. It can be a challenge, but if someone close to you has depression, then you may wonder what on earth you can do to help. Here are some of the things that you can do to help understand them, help them, and help them to be able to cope.

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Encourage Treatment

When someone has depression it can be hard for them to pinpoint it themselves. They might not recognize that they are depressed or be able to acknowledge that they are depressed. They themselves may not know what the signs of depression are, and if it has been going on for a while, may not realize that it isn’t normal to feel the way that they do. Many people can feel ashamed or embarrassed by being depressed, and if they do acknowledge it in themselves, may think that they can manage it by themselves. You can help them, though, as without treatment, it is rare to feel better. Encourage them to seek professional help and advice and be a support to them when they need it.

Help them to live a healthy lifestyle

Although most medical treatments can help those with depression, there are some things that people with depression can do to give themselves a fighting chance to feel better. When they move more and eat a balanced diet, it is going to give them the energy that they need to get through the day, even when they don’t feel like it. If you live with someone with depression, encourage them to exercise and work together to cook healthy foods and make healthy meal choices. Of course, you can’t get them to stop all of their negative habits. Stopping smoking when depressed could be too much for them, so you could support them with pink pre-rolled cones to make things easier until they are ready to quit and feeling like they have more willpower. Small, healthy steps can make a big difference.

Know the signs and symptoms to look out for

For a lot of people with depression, some of the signs and symptoms can be quite subtle, but for others, it can be quite obvious. If there are noticeable changes in how they go about their day-to-day activities, then it means that there is an issue. People can feel sad or low, but depression can mean lack of interest in anything, changes in appetite, anxiety, interrupted sleep, suicidal thoughts, physical ailments, and others. Being aware of what the signs and symptoms of depression are can really make a difference and help you to help them, perhaps before they even know that they need help.

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Health

How To Handle Alzheimers Using Direction And Routine

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Often, an Alzheimer’s patient cannot identify and remember where they are and may even see their environment as threatening because it is unfamiliar to them. They will feel confusion and fear and may even act violently towards others. Usually, the cause is not rooted in the environment but in a sense of disorientation, in both the place and sometimes even the time. These familiar feelings accompany the disease. It is not easy if you’re caring for a relative who is going through this. Therefore, you must formulate a plan to make things easier for all. 

Before implementing precautionary principles in the patient’s area of residence, the following points should be noted: Emphasize prevention rather than learning. Instead of trying to teach or “train” the patient to do actions safely, it is better to invest efforts in preventative activities. It is likely that hazards such as lighters or matches will need to be kept away, as the patient may forget about the risks involved in fire. Keep in mind that many accidents occur when speeding up a patient task that seems simple to us, taking the patient longer to perform because of the difficulty in understanding the task (where to go, what to do). 

As the disease progresses, the time it will take to perform the same task – easy and day-to-day as it may be – will be longer. It is important to simplify the process. Keep in mind that many accidents occur in the area of personal care, such as showering, toileting, dressing, or eating. Accidents can be prevented by simplifying processes, guiding the patient through a “step-by-step” process, and allowing enough time to complete the task. 

The importance of permanence

Strive for permanence in the patient’s life. Keep them in touch with reality through familiar objects, a familiar and beloved chair, a lamp, lovable clothing details (example: a bathrobe that the patient likes to wear), etc. Look at senior meal delivery  which takes the pressure off having to cook for them. 

Do what you think is right

Sometimes, an intermediate way needs to be found in the balance between patient safety, and respect for their privacy and desire for independence. We can never anticipate any risk and prevent any problem, and we can never experience the world as an Alzheimer’s patient does. Try to be sensible and use your best judgement in regards to what you think is best for your loved one. 

Build an emergency plan

A list of telephone numbers and emergency addresses should be prepared for family, carers, doctors etc. It is advisable to attach telephone numbers of hospitals in the immediate area. You should make sure that you know where their medication is kept and what their wishes are regarding end of life care. It’s necessary to also look at the possibility of your loved one needing full care. Being prepared is important because it gives you a full breakdown of what to do and how you can help them in the best way possible. 

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Health

4 Tips That Will Help You Sleep Better

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Sources claim that 8 hours of sleep is essential per night. However, with the active and busy lifestyles that many claim, we do not always have enough hours in the day to accomplish this. Not only is it the time we don’t have, but sometimes the mental capacity to turn off and get the sleep that we need. When we don’t get enough sleep, we function slower, may get headaches, feel lethargic and drained. We may also feel shaky, nauseous and unsteady. Therefore maintaining a good sleep routine is in fact vital to health. So how do we accomplish this? Here are some quick tips to rescue you! 

1. Take supplements 

This may seem a simple solution but it may be one that you have dismissed. Supplements are not addictive. They do not harm the body and they are often very gentle on the digestive system. Therefore, you should consider lavender supplements, or perhaps even cbd for sleep which helps relax you. Afterall, it is often the ‘turning off’ part of sleeping that is the most difficult for us.

2. Eliminate the snoring

Snoring is a sleep problem that interferes not only with snoring, but also with those who share it with him or her. There is something known as the Philips device, which is a type of smart belt that is fastened around the center of the body at night, and it produces a gentle vibration to make you change position while sleeping and stop snoring. Whilst there are plenty of other gadgets on the market, it is worth researching them because the chances are that snoring will in fact inhibit you. Try playing some gentle sounds in the background to try and eliminate the heavy breathing also. 

3. Exercise a little before bed

Exercise, of course, raises body temperature so if you go for a run in the evening or go to the gym be sure to do it 4-6 hours before bedtime, so you don’t disturb the body’s cooling system. If you are too warm before bed then you won’t sleep as easily. You should consider gentle yoga also before bed and could also consider reading which will make your eyes tired. 

4. Quality or quantity

Not only quantity, but also quality – as mentioned, many people choose to sleep less than they need to sleep. In such cases, the quality of sleep should be improved rather than the quantity. If you know that longer hours of sleep just aren’t possible, then you must try to improve the quality of the sleep.

The deep sleep states, stages 3 and 4 of sleep which are closest to a state of coma, and they produce long and slow brain waves (these are incidentally different stages of REM sleep, which is also dream sleep). Research is still ongoing, but there is already an understanding that these stages have to do with memory quality, the immune system and cognitive performance. You can improve this type of sleep with magnesium supplements and going to bed at the same time every night. Try to stay positive! 

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Health

How To Get Rid Of A Stiff Neck

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Neck pain can occur for all kinds of reasons. It could be a repetitive strain injury caused by poor posture, it could be muscle tension caused by stress or it could be a tissue tear as a result of a car accident or sports injury (AKA whiplash). 

A stiff neck could make day to day activities like driving or turning around to talk to people difficult. It could also affect your ability to sleep. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to treat a stiff neck that can help reduce pain and help it to heal. Below are just some ways to get rid of a stiff neck.

Avoid sharp neck movements

It’s best to avoid any activity that may require you to make sharp neck movements. This could include driving or playing sports. Moving our head is something many of us do instinctively when talking to people or looking for things – for serious neck injuries, it is often worth wearing a neck brace to prevent you from turning your neck sharply by accident. 

Do stretches

While you should avoid sharp neck movements, you shouldn’t avoid moving your neck entirely. Doing some slow stretches could help any muscles or tendons to heal – keeping muscles and tendons active can stop them from seizing up. 

Apply heat and ice

Both hot and cold compressions can help to reduce inflammation, which in turn can reduce pain. Cold compressions are best for when an injury is still fresh – this could include pressing an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables against your neck. A compression could involve using a water bottle or a warm wet towel. Taking a hot bath can also be a way of relaxing muscles and reducing inflammation. 

Adjust how you sleep

Neck pain can often make it difficult to get comfortable while sleeping. It could be worth using a neck pillow and lying on your back. If you can’t sleep on your back, lying on your side is the next best option (avoid sleeping on your front).

Look into chiropractic treatment

It’s possible that you may be able to relieve some tension through the help of a chiropractor. This type of treatment involves manipulating muscles and joints. Only ever use a qualified chiropractor.

Try acupuncture

Acupuncture works for some people. It involves placing long thin needles into pressure points in order to relieve pain. Neck pain is one of the most common types of pain that acupuncture is used on. Always use a licensed practitioner. 

Know when to see a doctor

Neck injuries may not always heal by themselves. In some cases, there could be serious muscular or spinal damage. If you’ve recently had an accident and your neck is hurting, it’s worth seeing a doctor to check that there aren’t any serious injuries. If your neck pain is accompanied by strange headaches, loss of sensation to limbs, loss of coordination, nausea or dizziness, you should similarly consider seeing a doctor. 

I hope these tips help!

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