Disease Prevention Articles

Pain Management without Resorting to Pills

Food for Thought

If your most recent workout has left you with a case of aches and pains, you may find yourself reaching for the closest pain medicine that you have in your medicine cabinet.  But if you are looking to manage your pain without taking pills, fortunately there are plenty of other ways that you can do so.

Here are some ways to treat post-workout aches and pains without popping pills:

Go see your chiropractor : Chronic and nagging pain can be alleviated oftentimes by a trip to your chiropractor.  There are many different pain patterns and chiropractors are trained to handle these pain patterns.  They can best determine how to handle your pain from the most invasive to the least invasive way.

Ice bath : An ice bath is perfect for reducing inflammation in your joints and muscles.  The ice bath helps to constrict your blood vessels, pushing your blood to your core and then that blood returns to your muscles after you get out of the ice bath.

Anti-inflammatory diet : Inflammation causes much of the pain that people feel, so by eating an anti-inflammatory diet, with plenty of whole foods, this will help cut down on your discomfort.  Choose lean foods like chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.  By eating “real foods” you are giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal.

Foam rollers - Foam rollers help to smooth out and realign fibers that are damaged in your tissue and promote healthy collagen growth.

Top Reasons You Should Nap More

Healthy Living

Kids hate to take them and parents beg for one, what are they? NAPS!  If you are the type of person that takes a daily nap, then you are definitely already following what new research shows that we should be catching our zzzz's during the day.

Here are some of the top reasons why researchers say you should be taking a nap:

• Napping makes you a more enjoyable person. One researcher said, "Napping is a means to rejuvenate the mind and body and has a positive effect on quality of life. Resting the body for even a short period of time allows the body's systems to rest and rebalance. This translates into more efficient as well as more rewarding work, which in turn makes work more enjoyable."
• Napping increases your productivity on the job. "Napping improves alertness, sharpens memory, and reduces fatigue - all of which makes us more productive"

Napping can reduce stress and anxiety. "In working people who are stressed (physically and/or mentally), their bodies produce substances such as cortisol, catecholamines, and neuropeptides that aid them in getting things accomplished on a short-term basis without harmful effects. However, long-term, unopposed production of such substances can adversely affect the immune system and vital organs, causing many medical conditions - including anxiety, depression, and memory/concentration problems. Napping both decreases the production and negates the effects of these substances and helps prevent them from damaging tissues of the body."

Proper Way to Apply Mosquito Repellant

In the News

With all of the talk about the Zika virus daily on the news, we need to be more aware about mosquitoes. One way to protect yourself and your loved ones is by learning the proper ways to apply mosquito repellant.

• Apply repellants only to exposed skin or clothing. Never put it on underneath your clothes.
• Use just enough to cover your body and for the amount of time you need it, over applying will not protect you any more than typical application.

Do not use repellants AT ALL on infants under two months.

• Do not apply repellant on wounds, cuts or immediately after shaving.
• When applying to your face, spray the repellant in your hands and then apply it to your face. Use sparingly around your ears.
• Do not let young children apply the repellant themselves. Put it in your hands and apply it for them.  Children put their hands/fingers in their mouth too often.
• Do not use near food and wash your hands immediately after applying and before eating and drinking.

Do You Need a Cardiac Stress Test?

Heart Awareness

A cardiac stress test measures how well your heart is able to perform when it is under physical stress and it is used to help diagnose heart problems. While February was Heart Awareness Month, every month is important to take care of your heart.  That's why the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute list some of the following reasons why you may need a cardiac stress test:

• You have experienced symptoms of reduced blood flow to the heart, including shortness of breath and chest pains.
• You have arrhythmia symptoms during exercise, including a fluttering sensation in the chest, irregular heartbeat or feeling faint.
• You have shortness of breath without chest pain following exercise