Category Archives: Going Healthy

Foot Detox: How Does it Work?

Foot detoxes are popular alternative health treatments that may help relax a person, soften the skin, and treat minor foot complaints. It’s important to note that children, pregnant women; people with pacemakers or electrical implants, diabetics and anyone who has open sores on their feet should avoid foot detoxes (or at least talk to a doctor first).

There are many reasons that people will look to having a foot detox. The main one, is that advocates claim that a foot detox can help remove toxins and heavy metals from people’s body through their feet. They can also help by balancing the body’s pH, reducing swelling; boosting a person’s mood, relieving stress; aiding weight loss and can help improve heart health. So, it’s no wonder that this is fast becoming a popular treatment.

How is an Ionic Foot Detox Supposed to Work?

The easiest way to explain it, is that a foot detox machine works by pulling the toxins out of your body through your feet. This is a safe and relaxing way to clear out the body of any harmful toxins that you might have. You are meant to soak your feet in an ionic foot bath before you go to sleep. The reason behind this is because this will help draw out toxins and heavy metals that you accumulate in the body whilst you’re busy living your life.

They make use of an electrically powered device that is said to produce positive and negative ions. Supposedly, the ions stimulate cells in the body. As a result, people claim that toxins are excreted from the body via pores in your feet. This can help relive all manner of physical complaints, from arthritis and joint pain; to headaches, fatigue; poor digestion, liver and kidney disorders. A foot detox is meant to be used for people with these ailments over a period of time (it is not just a one-off treatment).

What Does the Different Colors Mean?

Some people claim that the changing water color, shows that the foot detox machine is working. They say that this shows that the toxins are coming out of your body. However, this isn’t true. The foot detox is still working even if the water color doesn’t change. There are many reasons why the water might change color. However, the most common one is due to tap water being used, as there are (sometimes) impurities in tap water.

Not only that, but most foot detox machines will use special salts in the water, and this can interact causing the water to change colour. It is not something that people need to worry about, it is simply just a simple effect of the machine working and is not something that people should panic about. If there is discoloration in the water, it might be because some of the metal in the foot bath has corroded, or that tap water was used. It’s not something that you need to worry yourself about.

Who Should Consider a Foot Detox?

Pretty much everyone should consider getting a foot detox, unless you have open sores, an infection on your foot or have been told not to by your doctors (e.g. you are still a child or could be pregnant etc). Many people can benefit from the relaxation that occurs due to the warm foot soak. It can be incredibly beneficial for people, particularly those who are on their feet all day and can’t seem to relax properly at the end of it.

Many people will use foot detox machines to help them relax (and not just to remove toxins from the body). Some people struggle to relax after a hard day’s work, whilst others might just be interested in reviving circulation in their feet. When we live a very busy life, it can be tough to find the time to get the time off that you need. However, it is a lot easier than people realize, just check out this article here about how to make the most of your days off.

Age-Related Pains (And How To Ease Them)

Hey, none of us are getting any younger, right? Age creeps up on us all, and as it does, we can become more prone to aches and pains around our bodies. This might be of no surprise to you, of course, especially if you feel the old twinge in your back when you’re rising from the sofa, or if your knee starts playing up when you’re out on a run.

However, while the various aches and pains we experience can be frustrating and limiting, there are ways to ease them. In this article, we will discuss just two of them, and will suggest a few tips to help you live a more pain-free life.

#1: Lower back pain

pains, back pain, aging, old, health
(Pixabay CC0)

Back pain can often be caused by an injury, so if you have ever had an accident, this might be why you sometimes feel pain in your lower back. You might also feel back pain if you remain in a seated position for too long, especially if you tend to sit in slouching positions. On the other hand, if you are approaching retirement age, then it might be that you are starting to suffer from an age-related health condition, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Or it might be because, as you get older, your bones naturally lose strength, and your muscles lose their elasticity, so there is a greater potential for pain in your lower back.

Now, if the pain is persistent, you should seek medical advice. If something is seriously wrong, such as a slipped disc, then you will need the support of your doctors. But on a daily level, if back pain is becoming an age-related constant in your life, you can take steps to relieve it. For instance, services like those of RELATYV At Home Pain Management in Wisconsin (or elsewhere) may offer a convenient and non-invasive type of remedy, thereby allowing you to address chronic pain effectively without leaving your home. Additionally, a physical therapist can teach you exercises to help you move better and relieve your back pain. Cardio exercises and strength training are also helpful, as they build core muscles, which in turn support your spine and reduce pressure that causes pain. Heating pads can ease your discomfort, as can ice if you have sustained an injury. Exploring other supportive strategies like posture correction tools or ergonomic furniture can also complement your pain management routine. 

There is more advice in the link below, so have a read and heed our advice.

#2: Knee pain

pains, back pain, aging, old, health
(Pixabay CC0)

Our knees absorb a lot of pressure every day, especially if we live active lifestyles. Over time, our muscles and ligaments become weaker, and the cartilage protecting the bones that join at the knee starts to deteriorate. When that cartilage is gone, we will start to feel aches and pains as our bones rub up against each other. The clinical term for this is osteoarthritis. However, it’s not an inevitable condition, as some people are more prone to it than others. Those who are overweight, for example, or those who are genetically predisposed to the condition. 

To delay the progress of Father Time, you should do what you can to reduce the chances of age-related knee problems happening to you. If you are overweight, losing a few pounds can reduce the pressure on your knees. If you can avoid squatting for long periods, you can also do yourself and your knees a lot of favors. And if you can accommodate exercises that strengthen your hip and core muscles, you can do much to stabilize your knee joints. A physical therapist will be able to tell you more. 

However, if you are experiencing regular knee pains, you should seek the assistance of a doctor. If you are suffering from an age-related health condition, it might be that surgery is needed. If surgery isn’t needed but you are still in pain, there are anti-inflammatory medications you can take. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you more. Heat and cold can also provide some comfort, so as with back pain, you could use a heat pad or hot water bottle, or ice wrapped in a cloth to reduce the pain you might be feeling. Self-massage can also be beneficial (unless you can find somebody to massage your knee for you), so check out the advice given here: https://www.thekneepainguru.com/massage-therapy-for-your-knees/.

You might also want to consider AposTherapy, a non-invasive way to treat the pain you might be suffering. It has been clinically proven to work and has helped a lot of sufferers. You can find out more here: https://www.apostherapy.com/medical-conditions/knee/ .

Finally

The aging process sucks, we know, but you don’t have to let it beat you. Follow the advice we have given you, and commit to further research for information on how to beat the age-related pains we discussed here.

5 Signs That You Might Have Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most difficult conditions to self-diagnose because it happens so gradually, and you usually don’t notice it even happening until you take a test. As a result, it can be challenging to identify hearing loss, and leaving it too late can result in some huge problems in the future. So to help you learn more about the condition, we’ve put together a couple of signs that will tell you that you might have hearing loss.

hearing loss, health, ears, life
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/QDPFWFCHes4 (CC0)

1. You find it difficult to make out sounds in a crowd

One of the most common symptoms that one faces with hearing loss is being unable to distinguish people speaking in a crowd. When there are lots of sounds around you, it’s difficult to identify a specific sound or person speaking because your ears are having difficulty processing all the noises. This will result in muffled speech and can be incredibly frustrating to experience.

2. You usually ask people to repeat themselves or speak louder

If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves fairly often, then it might be a sign that your hearing is already suffering. We highly suggest that you learn more about hearing loss and available solutions to help you recover from this as it can cause future problems if it’s not dealt with correctly. It can quickly lead to withdrawal from social settings and may make communication in your workplace difficult.

3. You feel tired after participating in conversations

If you find yourself straining to listen to conversations and follow with what someone is saying, then you might be suffering from hearing loss. As this can negatively affect your lifestyle, it’s a good idea to book yourself a hearing examination before it can cause issues in your life.

4. You have trouble listening to children and women

Hearing loss typically affects certain frequencies. In most cases, it tends to happen at higher frequencies, meaning you’ll have trouble hearing women and children. If you find this to be true, it’s worth having a hearing examination to see if you actually have hearing loss.

5. Someone else is commenting on your hearing

While it might sound like a bit of banter or a joke, you should really pay attention to other people, especially friends and family members, when they mention that your hearing might be weaker than before. A couple of key signs of this include making the TV too loud for others or even failing to hear the doorbell occasionally. These are all fairly clear signs that you might actually be facing gradual hearing loss, so it’s always good to take those comments seriously and consider having a hearing exam to ensure it’s in top condition.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s a good idea to learn more about hearing loss and also consider an appointment with your physician or an audiologist. It’s possible that another condition, such as an ear infection or clogged earwax, could be causing your hearing loss. If that’s the case, then it’s possible to treat your hearing loss if you let your physician know as soon as possible.