IN Peters Township December 2019/January 2020 | Page 63

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
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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!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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
well and exercising are obvious ways
to prevent the onset of heart disease,
but a recent study by the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology looks
at another culprit that has damaging
effects on your heart: sugar (fructose).
According to the study, one to two
servings of sugary drinks per day raises
a person’s risk of heart disease by
35 percent.
It is important to be cognizant of
sugar intake, as it can often sneak into
PETERS TOWNSHIP
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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020
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