Group URL:
http://groups.myspace.com/WomensHealthIssuesInTheUS
The purpose of this page is to make available the public information about health matters. The information you will see is not intended to be medical advice. It is general health information and does not take into account your particular health status nor is it a substitute for personal medical care.
You may be making health decisions based on incorrect or outdated information. Make sure that your sources for health information are current and accurate. Also, check with your health care provider if you have any questions about living a healthier life. You CAN take simple steps everyday to protect yourself against illness and disease. It is important to get appropriate health screenings to find potential problems early and get proper treatment to prevent more serious problems later. Know that the health choices you make can also impact on you and the health of others.
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3 Healthy Changes You Can Make Today!
Subtitute water for regular soda or juice. Do this once a day for a year and you'll cut out 127 cups of sugar and 91,250 calories.
Breathe deeply for five minutes; it may lower your blood pressure. Try this at your next doctor's appointment to prevent a false high reading.
Rearrange your pantry. Place a processed foods on a high shelf and stash whole grains, canned vegetables and other health choices at eye level so that they're more accessible.
6 Great At-Home Remedies
1. Baking Soda: Bacteria can't live in baking soda's acidic environment. Sprinkle it on smelly feet to get rid of odor.
2. Vinegar: It's acidity kills athlete's foot bacteria and fungi, and helps soothe dry, cracked skin.
3. Tea Bags: It is thought that the tannic acid in a cold tea bag helps draw the heat from a sunburn and cool the are while it heals. Tea bags depuff eyes, too.
4. Honey: The sweet stuff gives sore throats a one-two punch: It fights infection while also coating and soothing inflamed tissues.
5. Salt: A natural antiseptic, it'll soothe a sore throat is you mix with warm water and gargle.
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More At-Home Remedies
- Stiff Neck: Grab a warm washcloth. Applying heat to the increases circulation and loosens the muscles. The very slowly more your neck through it's full rangle of motion-first foward, then to each side and finally back-untile the entire area is less tense.
- Achy Muscles: Relax for 15 minutes in a soothing bath. After you fill your bathtub with warm water, add 2 cups of Epsom salt. The magnesium contained in the salt can reduce inflammation and ease pain. It's also an electrolyte that helps ensure proper muscle, nerve and enzymes function.
- Cramps: Apply some heat. Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel or grab a heating pas and place it on the lower abdomen. Heat relaxes the body and increases blood flow to the area where it is applied. You should feel relief within about 30 minutes.
- Headache: Take a nap. Pull the shades down, turn off any noise and give you brain a chance to rest. If you can't sneak in a few zzz's, apply Tiger Balm ( found in chinese or health food stores) to the temples and the back of the neck circular motion. The menthol, camphor and oils in the balm all increase blood flow and ease discomfort.
Ice or heat for healing?
Heat and cold have opposite effects that can aid the healing of muscle strains and injuries, depending on the timing and type of injury. Here are some self-care guidelines:
- COLD reduces blood flow to the injured area by constricting the arteries. This decreases bleeding, muscle spasm and pain. Cold is also a vital component of first-aid therapy: It reduces swelling, which can also reduce recovery time. Remember RICE – rest, ice, compression and elevation.
Ice or cold packs are generally used for the first several days after an acute injury. Keep a damp cloth between the cold pack and your skin. Apply for 10 minutes twice a day.
- HEAT increases blood flow to the injured area by dilating arteries. This can help promote healing in the sub-acute or chronic phases of an injury after swelling has subsided. Apply a heating pad or warm pack to the affected area for 15 minutes twice a day.
Whether using cold or heat, be careful to avoid frostbite or burns on your skin.