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
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 your diet
unnoticed. Men should only consume
about 37.5 grams of added sugar (think
coffee drinks, sodas, yeast breads, cereals,
fruit drinks) per day, while women should
stay around 25 grams. Starting out the
day with a latte, frozen beverage, or soda
could add anywhere from 20 to 63 grams
of sugar in just 12 ounces! Make sure to
stop and think before you consume added
sugar for the sake of your heart health
because sugar isn’t as sweet as it seems.
BEST FOOT FORWARD
After hours of physical abuse from
constant pounding and tapping, your
feet deserve a break! Feet take a constant
beating every day and we often blame
foot pain on a long day on our feet or
shoes with poor support, but foot pain
may be caused by other problems in your
body that shouldn’t be ignored.
Keep tabs on your feet by:
• examining them regularly
• wearing comfortable shoes that fit
properly and offer plenty of support
• keeping your toenails trimmed
straight across
• allowing your feet to air out after
being in shoes
Talk to your doctor if you are
experiencing:
• joint stiffness
• tingling or numbness
• swelling
• discoloration or bruising
• inability or limiting of physical tasks
due to foot pain ■
G ood o rthodontics
Excellence is a GOOD choice!
Robert F. Good, II, D.M.D., M.D.S.
Ronald S. Good, D.M.D., M.S.
Board Certified Orthodontic Specialists
Washington
111 Washington Street
Washington, PA 15301
724-225-1114
Pleasant Hills
22 Old Clairton Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
412-655-4660
Mount Lebanon
677 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228
412-344-4663
www.goodorthodontics.com
Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of
specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper
way to align and straighten teeth. To learn more, visit
www.braces.org.
See More Than A Smile.
See An Orthodontist.
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS
❘
WINTER 2019
21