Category Archives: health and fitness

Families of all kinds, no matter how wealthy, can experience significant problems in the event of a serious injury. It can be a life-changing event which is hugely expensive and could impact a whole array of different areas of your family.

A severe injury in your household is not something you can plan for, either – it’s just one of those unfortunate things that can happen to anyone at any given moment.

With this in mind, I have pulled together some of the biggest impacts experienced by families when a severe injury or accident affects their lives. You might not ever need it – hopefully – but foreknowledge can help you all pull through what will be an incredibly difficult time.

source

Physical impacts

First of all, the most visible result of a severe injury on anyone in your household is that it could lead to all kinds of physical issues. Anything from severe scarring to amputation or paralysis is possible, and the impacts can be enormous for families. When a member of your household suffers from mobility issues, it can change everything, from their ability to work to your need to live in a specially adapted house. And in many cases, lifestyle choices that you took without thought beforehand will become impossible.

Immediate financial issues

Serious injuries are expensive in more ways than one. The primary earner of your household may not be able to work anymore, and there could be enormous medical bills to face. To fight for compensation, you will need the services of a lawyer, too, and with serious injuries, you might have to pay for home alterations. Payment will come, hopefully, but make no mistake about it, a severe injury will change your finances in many different ways in the long-term – and maybe even permanently.

Ongoing financial issues

According to this UBS Financial Services Inc. structured settlement review, it’s worth pointing out that not all compensation payments will end up in your pocket. What happens if the company you are suing goes bust, for example? You might benefit from using the structured settlement as although you will receive less money, at least your future payments will be guaranteed by the insurer.

source

Psychological impact

Being fit, healthy and contributing to your household one minute and then being reliant on others the next can have a dramatic impact. The psychological distress is often one of the hardest parts to deal with – and not just for the injured party, for everyone else in the family, too. Counseling is often advised by doctors to address the trauma and mental scars of getting injured, but also for support for the rest of the household. Even when the physical scars clear up and heal over, the impact on the mind can be devastating.

Relationship troubles
Finally, of course, all these issues can put an enormous amount of pressure on relationships within the household – and beyond. It is not uncommon for marriages to start breaking down, and you will also find out who your real friends are when something dramatic like this happens. That said, with the right approach – and perhaps a little marriage or relationship counseling – you will hopefully be able to work through your problems and come out of the other side.

Being diagnosed with an illness is something that many of us dread on our various visits to the doctor. If you have suspected that you have certain symptoms for a while now, you may have even been putting off going to visit a health professional for fear of what you may hear. But what many of us tend to forget is that it is, in fact, possible to continue to live a happy life despite having a chronic illness. Sure, it won’t always be easy, and you and your family may have to make some pretty huge adjustments in order to cope. But it is possible, and that diagnosis certainly does not symbolize the end of your life in any way at all. Here are some of the ways you can manage your condition, and life can carry on despite what it is you suffer from.

Image source

Seek out the best medical support

Having a lifelong illness is stressful enough – you shouldn’t have to put up with medical care that is anything short of exceptional. If you don’t feel comfortable with your current doctor or you feel as though you are not being taken seriously, visit a new one. You are not obliged to remain with the same health professional for the rest of your life, so if your’s isn’t helping you, find someone who will! It can also be worth seeking out specialists who will be able to offer you in-depth and precise care. For example, you may want to find a doctor whose main focus is orthopedic tumors, or a surgeon whose primary field is neurology, depending on what your condition is. It might take a while to find the doctor who is right for you, but once you do, it will make your journey far more comfortable.

Don’t let your illness define you

It can be very easy to slip under the grasp of your illness, to the point that you sometimes forget who you were before you developed it. Sure, you may feel sick – but that does not define you as a ‘sick person.’ There is so much more to you than your illness, and once you start seeing it as something entirely separate from you, it can turn your life around. Make a point of discussing things other than your health when out with friends and family to bring some normality back into your life, and try and keep a positive outlook.
Image source

Seek support from other sufferers

Even if you have the best outlook on life possible, it can sometimes feel lonely when you don’t have people around you who can truly understand. Empathy is very undervalued for people living with an illness, and sometimes it can simply be reassuring to know that you are not alone. Consider joining a local support group and discussing your feelings with other sufferers away from your home environment. This will allow you to leave your health-related issues at the door, and many people find this kind of thing very cathartic.

Image Credit

When we get ill or injure ourselves, we can really start to panic. Pain and the sight of blood tend to have that effect. So our immediate response is to call for an ambulance, or drive straight down to the ER or our doctor’s clinic. In actual fact, a lot of illnesses or injuries can be treated at home, which could save you significant money if you don’t have a health insurance policy. So, here are some common symptoms and complaints, and whether you need the doctor, the ER, or whether home treatment should suffice.

ER

We tend to rush to the ER when we panic, but often we don’t need emergency medical care, at least not of that caliber. The ER is for true emergencies only. If you have chest pains, possible concussion, difficulty breathing, sudden and severe headache, difficulty speaking or using hands or arms, or sudden vision changes, a trip to the ER is definitely in order. High fevers, or fevers occurring simultaneously with a rash, should also go to the ER. For young babies, if they develop a fever or become inconsolable, take them straight to the ER. Any serious injury on a person of any age, such as burns or broken bones are better treated the the ER too. If you’re ever unsure, call 911 and ask for advice – it’s what they’re there for, and they’d prefer you to be safe than sorry.

Doctor or urgent care

If your symptoms have occurred over a longer period of time, or they’re not so severe, urgent care or you doctor would be more appropriate. From here, you’ll be given advice on steps after an injury occurs, and what treatment would be appropriate. A fever without a rash, stomach complaints, ear and throat ache, vomiting, or a mild to moderate trauma such as a sprain or a graze is better treated in this way. At an ER, you could be taking up a bed for someone whose life is at risk. If your doctor is concerned about yours or your child’s condition they will be able to refer you to the ER.

Home Treatment

If you ask an urgent care doctor what their biggest gripe is, it’s usually people coming in with colds and viruses, expecting magical treatment. Yes, colds can be really horrible, and yes, you can feel too ill to work, but unfortunately, there just isn’t a cure for the common cold. You’re far better staying at home, keeping warm and hydrated, and taking painkillers until the virus decides to leave you alone again. All that visiting the doctor does is expose more people to the virus, which isn’t a whole lot of use. Minor burns, cuts, and grazes can also be treated from home, just make sure you’ve got a fully stocked medicine cabinet and first aid kit, and away you go.
Just remember, if you ever become worried that an illness or injury is worse than you first thought, you should still seek out medical help. It’s far better to be safe than sorry.

It can be scary and stressful. But it’s something that every parent is going to experience at one time or another. That is the kids being ill or having an accident. But there are somethings that you can do that make it easier to cope with, and ensure that the kids get the best possible care that they need. Read on to find out what they are.

Don’t panic
One of the biggest things that you can do for the health and wellbeing of your child when they are ill or have been injured is to not panic. Of course, it’s the first thing your mind and body want to do, because the thing that is most precious to you in the whole world is in danger.

badge-686321_1280.jpg
Picture source

But by keeping a calm head, you will not only help keep your little ones calm but also maximise your chances of assessing the situation correctly. Thus helping your child to get the right treatment for them in the quickest way possible.

Do identify the seriousness of the problem
Sometimes it can be pretty tough as a parent to decide what is serious, and what isn’t when the kids are little. Of course it easier to think that everything is serious, and should be checked out straight away. But after a few emergency room visits where they don’t do anything, you may start to think that you are a little over precautious.

So how can you tell the difference between an emergency and something that you should just keep an eye on? Well, first of all, no one is going to know your child like you know them. So if you feel that there is something seriously wrong you should always follow up on this instinct.

Secondly, it’s a good idea to keep a thermometer in the house. Preferably an electric one that can be used in the ear to get an accurate temperature reading. Then, remember that if you child has a fever of 104 F or over, it needs further investigation by a medical professional.

thermometer-1539191_1280.jpg
Image source

Thirdly, anything that is encumbering their breathing is likely to be something of an emergency. Particularly for small children. So asthma or chest infections need to get checked out the straight way. Remember too, that if they are having real trouble breathing or are turning an odd color take then straight to the memory room or call an ambulance.

Lastly, use common sense. Forget worrying about bothering the doctors, with your kid’s health is always better to be safe than sorry. So it’s common sense to get things that you are worried about sorted as soon as possible.

Don’t use the wrong service
If you have decided to seek professional medical help, it’s important to realise that there is not only one option for this that you can choose. For immediate emergencies like broken bones, cuts, or concussion it always best to go to the emergency room.
But for things that need attention, but not are an emergency, you can get immediate medical help by going to an urgent care centre instead.

ambulance-1005433_1280.jpg
Picture

This is a particularly good idea because you probably won’t have to wait as long to be seen. It also frees up the medical staff in the ER to deal with the more serious cases of trauma. Not to mention that it may be a lot cheaper for you.

Do keep you child as comfortable as possible
When your little one is ill or has had an accident it important to keep them as comfortable as possible before they are being treated. This is partly because being ill or injured makes them feel vulnerable, and they have fewer resources than an adult to deal with this type of trauma.

It is also because the body has a distinct way of dealing with a serious health issue that includes going into shock. If you don’t keep your little one warm and comfortable, it can result in shock, which can further complete their condition.

Of course, comfort is not to be thought more of than safety, though. That is why it is essential to remember that if they have been in a fall, or accident that affects the head, neck, or back, it is best to not move them. So wait until the medical team arrives at the scene and let them do it to prevent further damage to these areas.
xray-1129436_1280.jpg
Continue reading →

Tummy pain is possibly one of the worst pains out there. Mild tummy pain isn’t always bad, but severe pains and cramps can be immobilizing. It can make it impossible for you to get comfortable, and even impossible to concentrate on whatever it is you’re doing.

Sometimes, all you want to do is lie there and feel sorry for yourself. There are a number of reasons you might be experiencing this uncomfortable pain, but there are also a number of remedies. If a member of your family are experiencing tummy pain, then you’re going to want to help them in any way you can, too. Here are some tummy pain remedies for you and your family:

Use A Hot Water Bottle
A hot water bottle can help you to feel comforted, so it’s especially great for young children experiencing tummy pain. The heat helps to relax muscles in the stomach, too, lessening the pain. However, you don’t want it too hot or it can cause more discomfort than anything. You can also have a nice warm bath to help ease the pain.

Drink Chamomile Tea and Peppermint Tea
Chamomile is an anti inflammatory, so drinking a cup of this tea could help to reduce pain and swelling in the stomach. It also works to relax muscles in the digestive track, which is helpful if your stomach feels tight. You can buy these teabags in any store, and they don’t have much of a taste to worry about.

6586250633_b73db13c28_z.jpg
credit

Peppermint tea relaxes the muscles in the stomach too, and helps improve the flow of bile. You can make this fresh if you like; just steep fresh peppermint leaves for 5-10 minutes, and then drink the liquid. You can also chew on the leaves if you want further relief and you like the taste of them.

Drink Lemon Water
If you have indigestion, lemon water can aid the aches and pains associated with it. This is because the acidity levels help the body to break down your food easily and move your digestion along at a good pace. Lemon water is also really good for your skin and health in general. Just add some fresh lemon slices to your bottle or glass of water and enjoy. Children should find this pleasant to drink if they enjoy the taste of lemon.

Chew On Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds can help the body to produce digestive juices, moving the digestion process along at a nice pace. They also reduce inflammation in the tummy and the pain associated with it.

When To See A Doctor
If your family are having severe tummy pain, it could be time to see a doctor. You may need medication for any tummy pains that come with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. However, if the tummy pain is recurring, it could be a sign of a bigger problem at work. IBS is commonly associated with tummy pain. It’s not something you should ignore!

These tummy pain remedies should be suitable for the whole family. Just make sure you don’t ignore serious symptoms!

Pregnancy and weight are two very contentious issues – even more so when they are molded together. So many women face huge pressure to lose weight right after they have given birth, whether this is from the media or at the hands of family and peers. It has become something of a contest: glossy magazines regularly pit new mothers against each other, in a battle to see who has got her ‘pre-baby-body’ back first. This is quite clearly ridiculous – after all, when you have a newborn on your hands, the absolute last thing you are thinking about is your weight.

Sure, carrying a bit of excess after the birth may get you down from time to time. But ultimately, there are usually much bigger fish to fry. That being said, a lot of women still feel the pressure, and often abide by strict diet and exercise regimes after having a baby in an effort to transform their bodies once again. If your baby weight is having a negative effect on the way you feel about yourself, don’t stress and don’t rush: here are some ways you can tackle it in a healthy way.

Image source

Go easy on yourself

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror – not as the person you were nine months ago, but as someone who has just given birth. Do you actually look that bad? The answer is probably not. Remember to bear in mind that all the celebrities who seem to snap back to a size six just weeks after coming out of the hospital, all have personal trainer and dieticians by their side. You, on the other hand, will probably be surviving on three hours of sleep a night and eating nothing but toast as you adjust to motherhood. Don’t sweat it: you’re doing just fine.

Try a quick fix

One of the things that can really bother women about their post-baby body is the excess skin they are left with, or perhaps a scar after a Cesarean section. Both of these things are incredibly hard to shift, despite all the various lotions and potions that claim to minimize the appearance of both. If you honestly can’t rest until you’ve had something done, you might want to book yourself into something like laser scar surgery or a tummy tuck. This also means that you will be in and out of the hospital in a matter of days so that you can be right back with your baby in no time at all.

Image source

Work out on the go

Think you have to dedicate at least an hour a day to the gym in order to stay fit and slim? Think again. Workout opportunities can be all around you in your daily routine, as long as you know where to look for them. Got a spare fifteen minutes while your baby naps in the afternoon? Find a workout video on YouTube and prance around your living room for a bit. Or walk to the store instead of taking your car. All these things are easy to fit into the average day and you can lose the weight while you do it too.

As I’m sure you know, the American pharmaceutical industry is huge, and carries on growing as everyone becomes more conscious of their health. Although modern science has done some great things, it’s understandable that a lot of people want to substitute all those pills and syrups for something more natural. Here, I’ve listed some common health problems with great natural remedies.

Menstrual Cramps

Traditional Chinese medicine, despite having more than a couple of holes in it, got a few things right that are still relevant to this day. Ginger has been used for pain relief in China for over 2000 years, and an increasing number of modern westerners are discovering why! A healthy dose of raw ginger can improve your body’s blood flow, and reduce inflammation in your muscles, including the ones in the uterus, which is where pesky menstrual cramps stem from. One study found that gram-for-gram, ginger can be just as effective as store-bought ibuprofen when it comes to relieving period pain. Brew up some warming ginger tea, and see if it makes your time of the month more bearable.

Ear Ache

From Flickr

Spring may be on its way, but a lot of us aren’t out of the woods yet! The cold weather, and all the coughs and sneezes that come with it, can often lead to painful ear infections and terrible pain. Luckily, this is one condition that has many home remedies. Applying heat is one of the most effective home remedies for relieving the pain that comes with an ear infection. Leaving a small throw pillow against a turned-up radiator for a while, and pressing it firmly against your ear until it cools, can do wonders for the pain. You can find some more great solutions through this video series from Home Remedy Shop.

Eczema

If you or someone in your family suffers from eczema, you’ll have some idea of how irritating and painful it can be. Though a lot of people aren’t aware of it, you can soothe that reddened, flaky skin with a popular breakfast food! Oatmeal is packed with phytochemicals, which have great anti-inflammatory properties. To apply this solution, take about a 3rd cup of plain oatmeal, blend it into a fine powder, pour it into a bath of lukewarm water, and then stir it until it’s a thick, milky color. Lie in this for a while, and you’ll start to feel the soothing properties almost instantly.

Cucumbers for Puffy Eyes

From Public Domain Pictures

Yes, you’ll look a bit silly, but laying a couple of cold cucumber slices on your eyes is a miracle cure for sore, puffy eyes. This age-old beauty trick will cause your blood vessels to constrict, thereby reducing inflammation. Using an ice-pack might look a little less ridiculous, but cucumbers actually work better! Due to them fitting the contours of your eye sockets perfectly, they’ll be much more thorough at reducing the swelling, and getting your eyes back to their healthy, good-looking state.

If you’re suffering from any of these conditions, try using a home remedy instead of going to the drug store!

It can be a challenge to stop your child picking up bugs at this time of the year. After all, there are a wealth of colds and stomach flu around at the moment. And once a child has got it at school, it can easily be passed to the rest of the class. And while you can’t prevent your kid getting it at school (aside from advising them to wash their hands and not share belongings), you can make a difference at home. Therefore, here are some easy ways to ensure your darlings don’t get bugs this year.

Ensure they have a good diet
You might be surprised to know that food can make a big difference to your child’s health. For one thing, if your kid is consuming a good diet, they are less likely to pick up bugs. After all, healthy food will ensure your child has a strong immune system. Therefore, they are more likely to fight off bugs before it becomes a huge issue. Also, eating a proper diet will ensure your child is in great health which will prevent them picking up any bugs. Therefore, make sure they are consuming a well-balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables, protein and good fats. And make sure they are drinking plenty of water too to ensure they stay healthy.

Pexels

Keep the home at a warm temperature
The temperature of the home can also have an impact on the likelihood of your kid picking up bugs. After all, if they are freezing at home, their immune system will lower, and they will be more likely to pick up bugs. And when kids shiver, it can also increase their chances of picking up germs which might be in the air. Therefore, make sure your home stays at a good temperature for the sake of your kid’s health. If there is a problem with your heating, it’s best to sort it out quickly so that your family can stay warm. You can contact a company like Save Home heat who will come out and make sure it’s working effectively. That way, your kids will stay a warm temperature, and you won’t have to worry about bugs on the horizon.
Make sure they are dressed appropriately

Layers is one word you need if you want to keep bugs away from your child this year. After all, they need to maintain a good temperature to stay healthy. And the best way to do this is via their clothes. Therefore, make sure they have a top, jumper, and coat on before they leave the house. After all, if your kid goes out and starts shivering, they will likely pick up germs. Therefore, ensure your little one is nice and warm before they go out to face the cold weather.

Pixabay

And it’s so important to make sure everything is clean in the home if you want to keep bugs away. Therefore, ensure you do regular clothes washes and disinfect the sides in your home, so any traces of germs will disappear!

When you get older, your health always becomes more troublesome for you. That’s just the way it is. That doesn’t mean you should just give up and let go, though. It’s best to learn about some of the most important health issues of old age, and then find out how to manage or avoid them as best you can. Read on to find out more about this.

Try to Look After Your Skin to Avoid Further Problems
Skin problems are common among elderly people. This is because the skin loses a lot of its elasticity as we grow older, and this can make it more vulnerable in lots of ways. It’s never too early or too late to start looking after your skin better, though. Keeping it moisturised will certainly help. And you should be sure to use some sun cream when you are going to be outside for an extended period of time. This can block UV rays and help you to make sure that you don’t develop skin cancer later in life.

104 Years Old Lady Grandma Pensioner Old Age Hands

104-Years-Old-Lady-Grandma-Pensioner-Old-Age-Hands-1408480.jpg
Photo Source

Keep an Eye on Your Senses

Your senses can weaken and begin to slowly fail on you as you grow older. This doesn’t happen to all people, but it’s quite common. You might find that your hearing is getting worse or your eyesight is becoming weaker. It’s important to address these issues. There are always treatments and aids out there that can help you to see and hear clearly. It could be as simple as changing the lenses in your glasses. But burying your head in the sand and pretending that things are as good as ever won’t help your senses of your everyday life.

Getting Treatment for Problems at Home is Always Preferable

Sooner or later in old age, you’re going to have a problem that requires medical attention. You can’t escape that. You should look for ways to get as much care as possible as you can. This saves the stress and hassle of going to hospitals and clinics all the time. Homebound medical services can help you to make sure that you are treated at home when possible. It’s the sort of service that many people decide to opt for when they get older and maybe have more mobility problems than they did in the past. Give this some thought.

Your Bones Will be More at Risk, So Should be Protected

Another part of your body that is likely to suffer more problems as you grow older is your bones. They become weaker and thinner as you get older. This is a natural part of the aging process. Of course, there are some ways to battle this. You just need to think about how you can do this. It should start with your diet. If you can get more calcium into your diet, your bones will be in far better condition, which is exactly what you want and need. You should also make sure that you are always steady on your feet so to avoid falls.

glass-1379822_960_720.jpg
Photo Source

Health. It’s a funny subject. It’s a subjective subject, which is a tongue-twister in itself, but everybody has their own formed opinions on what is healthy for them, what they have to do to achieve the ultimate health goal and how to avoid being unhealthy. Some stick to it religiously, others are fine to pick it up as a general life choice. Then there are those who throw the book out of the window altogether and do whatever they want. It’s your prerogative; it’s your body.

There are some foods and drinks, however, that aren’t as healthy as they appear or are made out to be. Upon closer inspection, it is clear to see that some companies and their products aren’t all that they claim they are – even the water in your own home may not be the superdrink that you once thought it to be.

Image Source

The Good Stuff

All people know that water is great for you – it is something that cannot be disproven (unless you’re mithering about mitigating factors such as the cleanliness, purity etc). However, the water coming out of your taps may not be quite what you think it is. Hard water is common in a few areas, and while it is not inherently bad for you drinks-wise, it’s not doing good things for your hair and skin. If you have itchy, dry skin and your hair is feeling dry even with shampooing, it may be time to think about purchasing a water softener.

Image via Pixabay

Chocolate vs Energy

Probably less well-known than water being good for you is that most energy bars are not. While they may look to be a quick and healthy snack, studies show that in some instances, you’re better off choosing to chomp on a chocolate bar instead.

thevelvetbird at Flickr

The Smooth Life

You blend up some fruit, add a little yoghurt or juice and pack most of your daily vitamins and nutrients into something portable and smaller than carrying around everything pre-blend. Right? Well, partly; smoothies are not as healthy as they may look. You are actually better off eating everything individually throughout the day than whizzing it all up together, as a single smoothie can pack in as much as 1,000 calories. That’s half of the average daily allowance. When you spend a bit more time thinking about it, it is an extreme amount of fruit and vegetables used just to make one large smoothie, and although fruit is healthy, it is not exempt from sugar.

It is the age-old adage of everything being good in moderation which needs to take centre stage. Sure, certain food can have certain health benefits, and the same goes for drinks – but if you are overdoing it on the foods that you think are healthy and are not seeing any benefit to your body, mind or general well-being for doing so, it is more likely time to do a bit of research on what you are consuming than keep going at it and hoping for results.