General Health Articles

Prevention 101: Soothe Your Sunburn

Let’s face it, no matter how lathered up you are or how cautious you are this summer, at some point you may slip up and end up with a pretty nasty (and painful) sunburn. Here are some easy ways for you to soothe the painful effects of sunburn:

• Take some aspirin to reduce redness and ease some pain.
• Cortisone creams, if applied within 6 hours of the burn, provide some relief.
• Pure aloe vera gel can help cool down your skin and relieve discomfort.
• Avoid additional sun exposure while your skin heals.
• Chill and blend cucumber slices to create a cucumber paste to apply to your burned skin.
• Apply an ice compress, but not directly to the burned area to help constrict your skin’s capillaries.

Healthy Living Healthy Pain Management

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. 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.

Contrast therapy – Another popular “anti-pill” method of pain management is contrast therapy, or “3,3,3.” This method consists of three minutes of heat and 30 seconds of cold, three times in a row. The heat dilates all the blood vessels, relaxes the muscle and lets in nutrients and oxygen. The cold does the exact opposite and pushes the fluid back out. The combination of heat and cold creates an “artificial pump” through the muscle – bringing in nutrients and pushing out the waste that causes the pain.

Foam roller –Pain can be caused by adhesions, scar tissue or even repetitive use, and the body needs collagen to heal. Foam rollers help to smooth out and realign fibers that are damaged in your tissue and promote healthy collagen growth.

Summer 101: Naturally Heal Your Sunburn

We have all been there before – a long day at the beach or outdoors turns our skin into a pretty bad case of sunburn! Instead of dealing with the affects for a few days or even a week after the burn, we offer these natural ways to help your skin heal and to help you feel better in no time.

Of course, there are plenty of sunburn treatment lotions out on the market, but anything that contains a high amount of vitamin E or contains aloe vera will help to alleviate the pain of sunburn. The vitamin E and aloe vera add nutrients to the skin that UV rays have unbalanced. The aloe vera also cools your skin, helping to reduce the pain.

You may also find some good sunburn treatments right in your kitchen cabinet. Vinegar, mustard, yogurt, tomatoes and avocado all contain that extra vitamin E that will help to cool your skin.

Healthy Living Top Reasons You Should Nap More

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."

In the News Proper Way to Apply Mosquito Repellant

Tis the season for mosquitos and other flying insects. 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.