Category: Wellness

After a Stroke the Clock Starts Ticking

When someone has a stroke, the clock starts ticking. If medication is given within the first three hours, it may help reduce the damage caused by the stroke. After three hours it is too late. This is why it’s so important to be able to recognize a stroke.  Signs of a Stroke include the sudden […]

Avocados are Good for Your Skin

Avocados, also known as alligator pears, are nutrient rich, high fat fruits that grow on trees in tropical and Mediterranean climates. Avocados contain Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from  damage by free radicals. Vitamin E is also anti-imflammatory and helps protect your skin from sun damage.  They contain Vitamin C, which […]

5 Tips for Drinking More Water

We may not look like we’re floating through life, but to a certain extent we are. 50 to 70% of the human body is made of water. When half or more of your body is made of water, it’s important to make sure you’re drinking enough.  If counting comes naturally to you, drink 8 to […]

Do Weighted Blankets Work?

Weighted blankets are the latest thing in DIY insomnia cures. These blankets are heavier than normal, commonly ranging from 7 to 20 pounds in weight. They cost between $100 and $300 and come in standard king, queen and twin sizes.   But do they work?   Given how recently they have become available, there has been little […]

Healthy Aging: Strength Training and Osteoporosis 

Many of us associate strength training with weightlifting bodybuilders working on their six-packs. Strength training, however, can be beneficial for almost everyone. When people stick to it, strength training can help prevent multiple chronic illnesses, including osteoporosis.   Osteoporosis, which causes a decrease in bone mass and an increase in the rate of fracture, or […]

How to Avoid Athlete’s Foot

The itchy red rash or dry, scaling skin of Athlete’s foot isn’t serious by itself, but it can certainly be annoying, especially if it comes back again and again. In some cases, it can also lead to a more serious bacterial infection.   Like many healthcare issues, it’s easier to prevent athlete’s foot than it is to get rid of it. […]

How to Avoid Vacation Weight Gain

Vacations and diets never seem to mix well, with good reason. Who would want to miss out on cinnamon rolls in Shipshewana? Or funnel cakes at the state fair? Would Chicago be the same without Chicago deep dish pizza?   Even when travel food isn’t part of the destination, it can still be a big part of the budget. […]

CT Scan vs MRI – What’s the Difference?  

If you’ve ever had a CT scan or MRI done, it’s easy to realize that these two tests are very different, even from the patient’s point of view. An MRI is done with a machine that makes a lot of noise (Patients are typically offered ear protection and music) and a CT scan does not. […]

Static vs Dynamic Stretching

If your idea of stretching is to stretch out a muscle and then hold it in position for 30- to 40 seconds, you are not alone. ‘Static stretching”, as this is known, is the most common form of stretching exercise. In recent years, however, “dynamic stretching”, or stretching combined with movement, has begun to replace static stretching in many pre-workout routines. […]

6 Tips for Medication Safety  

When taking a medication, if you miss one dose, don’t double up on the next one. In some cases, more can be worse than not enough.  If you don’t take all of a prescription, don’t save the rest for “later”. This can cause all sorts of negative consequences that only your healthcare provider or pharmacist can foresee.  […]