IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Winter 2019 | Page 25

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
continual consumption of processed
foods. Keep a healthy diet full of
nutrient-rich foods including healthy
fats, dark leafy greens, and fish and you’ll
be on your way to radiant hair.
HEAR ALL ABOUT IT
but the effects are ultimately hurting
their ability to fully function during the
day.
The National Sleep Foundation
recommends that children between
the ages of 6 and 10 get 10-11 hours of
sleep per night, while 11 to 17-year-olds
should get 8.5 to 9.5 hours. A poll done
by the foundation last year revealed that
children were falling short and losing out
on the benefits of a good night’s sleep.
Research shows that less sleep leads to
learning and behavior problems, directly
affecting cognitive ability, concentration,
and problem-solving skills. Many
families have seen the negative effects
and often assume they are symptoms
of ADHD, when these distracting
behaviors could likely be reduced or even
eliminated by an earlier bedtime.
Make Sleep Matter
• Set bedtimes and wake times.
You can start to make sleep a higher
priority for your kids by setting a good
example and getting enough sleep
yourself. Start by setting bedtimes and
wake-up times that you can adhere
to on both weekdays and weekends.
Creating a pattern will help your body
understand its sleep cycle, allowing for
more restful nights.
• Create wind-down activities before
bed. The half-hour before bed should
be free of high-energy activities. Start a
bedtime routine that includes calming
activities like bathtime or reading.
• Make a bed sanctuary. As adults,
nothing is better than a comfortable
place to sleep at night. Make your
children’s beds the same for them. Add
extra pillows for comfort and a favorite
stuffed animal to keep them company
at night. Keep lights down to a dim
lamp or nightlight to make the room
dark enough for sleeping.
• Keep electronics out or off.
Electronics produce a blue light that
sends a signal to your brain to stop the
release of melatonin, making it harder
to fall asleep. On top of wanting to text
with friends or check social media,
children and teens will give any excuse
to stay awake. Electronic devices are
best left in the dark at bedtime.
BAD HAIR DAYS?
If you seem to be having a stint of
bad hair days, maybe your body is
trying to tell you something. Poor hair
condition could be a sign of physical or
psychological issues.
Keeping an Eye on Your Hair
• Increase water intake. Dehydration
becomes evident in many forms, but
one lesser known form is brittle hair.
Increasing water consumption has
many benefits, including improving
the look and feel of your hair.
• Hair loss may be a sign of bigger
issues. It is normal to lose 80-100
hairs per day. Feel like you are losing
more than that? Stress and anxiety
could be the cause. If you can’t identify
specific stressors, talk to your doctor.
Excessive hair loss could be a sign of
other health problems.
• Eat well for luscious locks. Think
your diet has nothing to do with the
way your hair looks? Think again. Hair
quality can change over time with
Although hearing loss is most
commonly associated with aging, it could
happen at any time and can be caused by
environmental conditions like working
in a noisy environment, earwax buildup,
or inner ear damage. According to the
National Center for Health Statistics, the
average person waits six years after the first
signs of hearing loss to get checked by a
doctor. Hearing problems are considered
an undertreated issue for reasons including
patient denial, vanity, and less awareness
of issues associated with hearing loss. With
the oldest Baby Boomers entering their
70s, an age at which many individuals only
start seeking medical attention for hearing
ailments, it is important to take charge at
the first signs of trouble.
A study on the psychological effects of
hearing loss was done for the American
Psychology Association and focused on
mental health in patients who suffer from
hearing loss. The National Council on
Aging study found that 2,304 people who
suffered from hearing loss but used no
form of treatment were 50% more likely
to suffer from sadness or depression than
individuals who wore hearing aids. It
revealed that individuals not using hearing
aids showed more signs of anger, anxiety
and frustration, causing them to be less
involved in social activities than those
who wear aids. The risk for dementia
also increases in patients who suffer from
hearing loss, due to sensory loss and
growing social isolation, pointed out in
a study conducted by the Archives of
Neurology.
Start becoming aware of the signs of
hearing loss, and consult your doctor or
audiologist if you start to notice some of
the symptoms:
• Trouble hearing over the phone
• Vertigo, causing dizziness, pain, or
ringing in the ears
• Mumbled voices
• Having to ask others to repeat
themselves often
• Avoidance of social situations
Continued on page 25 >
BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL
❘
WINTER 2019
23