SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
the pockets between. Due to the infection and inflammation, your
body’s natural reaction is to fight the bacteria, which can lead to
breakdown of the bones and tissue around your teeth.
Studies also suggest that poor oral health is related to systemic
diseases including diabetes, oral cancer, stroke, and heart disease.
Routine visits to your dentist can identify oral problems before
they become painful and more serious. So how can you protect
your pearly whites against long-term health concerns?
• Schedule routine checkups with your dental professional.
• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Floss daily (you may not see immediate benefits, but you’ll be
saving your gum health in the long run).
• Eat a balanced diet to get the proper nutrients your teeth and
gums need to stay strong.
• Drink lots of water!
• Quit smoking; it is one of the most significant risk factors in
developing gum disease.
• Replace your toothbrush every three months.
NO BONES ABOUT IT
Is your job a pain in the neck? If you work in a sedentary
environment, your response is probably yes. Musculoskeletal
pain is caused by excessive sitting throughout the day, leading to
slouching, hunching over, and muscles in your body going without
use for hours. Studies are finding that although a regular workout
routine helps, it won’t combat the constant weight on your rump.
Although some offices are moving toward healthier options, such
as convertible stand up/sit down desks or treadmill desks (if you
have the skill to think and walk at the same time), most of us have
to face our chairs every day. What a pain!
There are ways to prevent the negative effects, such as stiffness
and poor circulation, of constant sitting:
• Get up and move! If you find yourself sitting for extended
periods of time, you need to break the habit. Schedule an
alarm for every 30 minutes to get up and take a lap around
your office. Manage your time effectively by going to pick up
your paper from the printer or grabbing a glass of water. Even
better? Visit a co-worker to talk about a project instead of
sending an email.
• Establish proper sitting habits. Keep your back straight, feet
at 90 degrees, and eyes level with the top of your computer
screen. Make sure your shoulders aren’t hunched when resting
your elbows on your desk to type.
• Stretch in place. Adding stretching to your daily routine is
beneficial for anyone. Stand up and do a few stretches at your
desk to get your muscles loosened up and moving. Feeling
spunky? Add a few jumping jacks in to get your heart rate
pumping for some extra energy.
• Realize how much sitting you do. Sitting for eight hours at
your job has negative effects on your body, but going home
and sitting on the couch for the rest of the night doubles those
effects, increasing cause for concern. If you have a sedentary
job, make a point of taking a walk when you get home or
spend some time on your feet with your kids or at the gym.
Keeping active during breaks and on the weekends will help
combat negative effects from the workweek.
HEART HEALTH—SKIP THE SUGAR!
Heart disease is the number-one killer of all Americans, but
awareness of the disease and its causes has allowed for a decrease
in the number of deaths associated with it in recent years. Eating
Continued on next page >
MURRYSVILLE ❘
WINTER 2019
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