SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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 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
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.
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
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HAMPTON ❘ WINTER 2019
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