Monthly Archives: April 2020

Do you regularly spend time on Facebook?

29 Wednesday Apr 2020

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You may live longer than people who don’t. That’s according to research from UC San Diego. But there IS a catch: The researchers found, you’ll only extend your life if most of your interactions are with people you’re already close to in real life. So, have a Facebook Messenger chat with your favorite cousin on your lunch break, or post old college photos on a friend’s page for “Throwback Thursday.” The longevity benefit you get from Facebook is the result of connecting with people in a real way. So, just like face-to-face socializing can reduce stress and help us live longer – so can REAL Facebook friendships.

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Kids and thumbsucking

24 Friday Apr 2020

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Kids who suck their thumbs for years can force their teeth out of alignment. But they’d probably need braces anyway. The good news is: It reduces their risk of developing allergies! That’s from a study of over a‑thousand kids in Pediatrics. Because kids’ fingers are disgustingly germy. And by regularly ingesting those germs in small amounts, kids build up a tolerance to pollen, pet dander, and dust. And kids who suck their thumb AND bite their nails get an even bigger immune-boosting effect!

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Here’s what to have and do, in case of an emergency at home:

23 Thursday Apr 2020

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Have a large plastic garbage bag in your emergency kit. Paramedic Peg Rosen says it can be a clean surface for someone to lie on while you’re dressing a wound. And plastic zip-top bags can be ice-packs, or makeshift gloves.

Next: Squeeze-top sports-bottles can help flush debris out of wounds.

One final tip: EMTs aren’t allowed to tell patients “Everything will be all right.” Instead, they use phrases like “You’re in good hands.” Or “We’ll take care of you.” Comforting phrases YOU can use during an emergency at home.

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Ladies, how healthy is your HANDBAG?

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

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According to Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Karin Michels, a lot of women don’t realize they’re lugging around health hazards in their handbags. For example:

Do you carry hand sanitizer in your purse? Dr. Michels says it’s great to kill germs on the go. But a lot of sanitizers contain triclosan – a chemical linked to tumor growth in animals. So, only use alcohol-based sanitizers, and ditch the ones made with triclosan.

Then, is your handbag stuffed with old receipts? Researchers say most printed receipts are coated with a chemical called “BPA”. And it rubs off on our hands and is absorbed through our skin. We can tell you that BPA has been linked to a higher risk of diabetes, cancer, and infertility. So, handle receipts as little as necessary… and see if the cashiers can email or text your receipts, instead.

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Do you floss your teeth every day? Here’s why you should!

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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brush-and-floss-every-day-wpHave you ever wondered WHY dentists recommend that we brush AND floss every day? Because they serve two distinctly different purposes. According to the American Dental Association, brushing cleans your teeth, while flossing helps protect you from gum inflammation, AKA gingivitis. And if you get gingivitis, you could lose your teeth. So, which should you do first? Floss AFTER you’ve brushed with a fluoride toothpaste. Because the fluoride that’s still on your teeth will get spread around even farther as you floss.

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Leave back cracking to the professionals!

20 Monday Apr 2020

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If a friend ever asks you to crack their back for them, don’t do it! Physical therapy professor Dr. Greg Kawchuk says unless you’re a chiropractor, you risk using too much force, which could damage ligaments or disks. But if you crack your OWN back by twisting your torso to get a satisfying “crack,” that’s OK! Dr. Kawchuk says people usually do it because of stiffness or pressure, and it does provide relief by moving joint surfaces away from each other. And just like cracking your knuckles, even regularly twisting your torso typically won’t cause lasting problems, including arthritis or lingering pain.

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All sorts of factors can affect our memory.

17 Friday Apr 2020

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For example: Using an unusual typeface. Odd fonts – especially those that are hard to read, make us look more closely at the text. This means, we pay more attention to the material, and are more likely to remember it. Looking at an attractive person can increase your ability to recall information, too. People do better on memory tests if they briefly gaze at an attractive member of the opposite sex, first. It puts us in “impress your potential mate” mode. And our brain switches into overdrive so we can prove how smart we are – and that we’d pass that on to our offspring.

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It’s all mind over matter!

14 Tuesday Apr 2020

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When it comes to enjoying exercise, it’s mind over matter. Researchers at Brock University tested competitive cyclists in heat and humidity. But half the group was taught to reframe negative feelings as positive ones. So instead of thinking “Man it’s hot; I’m dying!” they thought “I can handle it.” After 2 weeks, those with a positive mindset could pedal 25% longer. The other group saw NO improvement during hot, humid exercise.  And the technique can benefit ANY workout. Just ditch negative phrases like “This is tough” for positive ones, like “I’ve got this.”

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Don’t lose your temper!

10 Friday Apr 2020

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Did you know that if you’re trying NOT to lose your temper, you should forget about taking a deep breath and counting to 10? The reason? Because it can make you even angrier. Researchers at Ohio State University say that if you focus too much on how you’re feeling, it keeps the anger in the forefront of your mind – which makes you more likely to act aggressively. So, what’s the best way to tame a temper? So-called “self-distancing” – where you mentally remove yourself from the situation by pretending you’re seeing it from the point of view of a fly on the wall. Which has been shown to be more effective at eliminating anger – even immediately after the incident… compared to thinking calming thoughts, or trying to find your “happy place.”

Again the best way to control your temper is to practice “self-distancing” – where you mentally remove yourself from the situation by pretending you’re seeing it from the point of view of a fly on the wall.

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Don’t go to bed if you’re not tired. Try this instead!

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

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Next time bedtime rolls around and you’re not tired, don’t go to bed and lie there awake. You’ll just condition yourself to associate your bed with staring at the ceiling and frustration, instead of peaceful slumber. Instead, stay up half an hour – or an hour – later. But set your alarm to get up at the usual time the next day. According to the Annals Of Internal Medicine, that’ll help you get sleepy before you hit the hay. And then, because you missed 30 to 60 minutes of sleep the night before when you go to bed the next night, you should conk out right away.

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