SPECIAL SECTION: HEALTHY LIVING
Keeping tabs on your oral health is critical for warding off bad breath and poor health. It is important to brush at least twice a day, floss, eat a healthy diet, replace your toothbrush every three to four months, and avoid tobacco use to maintain a healthy mouth. Visiting your dentist for regular cleanings can also ensure that oral hygiene is at its best.
Heart Health
We are all aware that it is important to eat healthy and stay fit for heart health. A diet rich in plant foods and low in processed food and animal products lends itself to a happy heart. Paired with cardiovascular exercise, you’ ve got it made for a healthy body. But have you ever thought of staying positive as a way to keep your heart healthy? A research study being done at the University of Illinois shows that people with optimistic attitudes have higher odds of having ideal cardiovascular health when compared to pessimistic people. The study analyzed“ the mental health, levels of optimism, and physical health of 5,100 adults ranging from 45 to 84 years of age. Heart health scores— based on American Heart Association-approved metrics, including blood pressure and body mass index— increased right alongside optimism levels.” So when you’ re feeling down, remember that staying positive affects more than just your day, so keep your head up and your heart happy.
Digestion
Digestive issues affect all of us at one time or another. From upset stomach, gas, and heartburn, to constipation and diarrhea, digestive problems are painful and embarrassing. Some of the most common digestive problems are: u Food Intolerance – Often confused with a food allergy, food intolerance allows you to eat a small amount of the offending food without any issues( a food allergy could be life-threatening). Causes include celiac disease, sensitivity to food additives, food toxins, and absence of an enzyme needed to fully digest a food. u Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease( GERD) – A chronic digestive disease, GERD is defined as experiencing acid reflux and heartburn at least twice a week. GERD affects 20 percent of Americans and can cause persistent bad breath, tooth erosion, nausea, pain in chest or upper abdomen, or it can make swallowing and breathing hard to do. u Hemorrhoids – Hemorrhoids are inflamed blood vessels found at the end of your digestive tract. Often painful and itchy, they are caused by chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a lack of fiber in your diet. Seventy-five percent of Americans over the age of 45 suffer from hemorrhoids. Staying hydrated, eating more fiber, or over-the-counter creams may provide relief from hemorrhoids. u Irritable Bowel Syndrome( IBS) – Affecting 15 percent of Americans, IBS is characterized by stomach pain or discomfort at least three times a month for several months. Symptoms vary widely with IBS, making it hard to determine the exact cause. Treatment focuses mostly on diet, eliminating common trigger foods such as dairy, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and beans. Doctors also recommend a diet high in fiber and consumption of probiotics found in yogurt.
Chiropractic Care
Back pain is one of Americans’ most common medical ailments and chiropractic care is a natural, drug-free way to combat pain. The nervous system controls all of the cells and organs in your body, which is why chiropractors focus on the health of the spine being properly aligned.
Chiropractic care can be a resource for patients suffering from a variety of different conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, spinal stenosis, ear infections, neurological conditions, or scoliosis. Patients with these types of issues often seek professional chiropractic therapy to relieve the pain they are experiencing rather than taking medication to relieve their ailments. Chiropractic care can start by addressing general wellness or looks directly at disease prevention.
Making an appointment to visit a chiropractor can provide several health benefits including:
u Improved sleep u More energy u Better mood u Reduced need for medication u Relief from pain
Foot Health
It is important to stay healthy from head to toe, including your feet. There are 26 bones and 33 joints in your foot and ankle, making the possibility for issues very high. From sprains and fractures, to ingrown toenails, bunions, corns, and athlete’ s foot, we may find ourselves hiding our foot problems in a pair of shoes. But overlooking foot health can lead to greater problems if left untreated. Taking a few simple steps to ensure foot health is easy to do:
u Keep feet clean and dry. u Make sure to trim toenails regularly and straight across. u Wear shoes that fit properly. u Don’ t ignore discolored or cracking toenails. u Wear shoes in public places to avoid fungal infections.
Overall Health
Overall health and well-being starts from the inside out. Begin by providing your body with the nutrients it needs to work properly. You will have more energy and feel better every single day that you eat healthy, nutritious foods, drink plenty of water, and get in some exercise. While physical wellness is crucial for a healthy life, it is important not to overlook mental wellness. This includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is important throughout all stages of life from childhood to adulthood. While good physical health directly affects mental health, you should care for your mental health in different ways.
u Love yourself and treat yourself with kindness and respect. u Surround yourself with people who make you happy. u Meditate and / or pray to provide yourself with time to silently reflect on all of the positive aspects of life. u Try something new to break away from the daily grind. u Get help when you feel like you cannot help yourself. n
Greensburg-Salem | Winter 2016 | icmags. com 21