Category Archives: Health

Looking After Your Joints – Practical tips

03/27/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As we get older joint pain becomes more common. Sometimes we push on and ignore it, but that could be the reason you end up with a hip replacement, shoulder surgery or long term issues.

Typically joint pain will start due to an injury, which is easy enough to get when you’re in the yard playing with the kids. Other times it is the onset of arthritis. Whatever happens, there are plenty of ways that you can take care of your joints.

joints, health, aging, healthy living, pain — **Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash**

Salmon

Or more precisely – most oily fish. Tuna, sardines, or mackerel are all perfect choices. Depending on your preferences, you can find high-quality and cheap fish to eat. Additionally, fish is a healthy and nutritious source of protein. Eating fish can also help to reduce cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of certain diseases. Besides, eating fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, alongside them being packed out with antioxidants, could as much as half the risk of arthritis.

It has long been noted the positive impact of fish oils on joints. If you don’t particularly like fish, then you might want to try a cod liver oil supplement. If you’re vegan, then flaxseed supplements are going to be your choice.

Move It Move It

If you sit for most of the day because of work, it might be time to work with a Pomodoro timer. This little trick will make sure that you get up and walk for at least five minutes every hour. There is also the added bonus that they make you more productive.

If you are simply at home and have more control over what you do and when you should stand up and stretch at least once every 15 minutes.

While you are standing and waiting for something, you likely (like most people) lean to one side. This causes excessive pressure in one area. Try to spread your weight across both legs for a more even distribution.

Regular exercise will also help you protect your joints. It will keep your weight in check for a start, and following on from that it will keep your energy levels up – which will avoid pain and swelling.

Joints are designed to move and move often. Try to stick to things that won’t put them under any unnecessary stress. Swimming, yoga, pilates and walking are all great places to start. Even cycling is great!

Don’t Play Hero

We all like to think that we can carry the weight of ten men from the car to the house, but in reality, that train of thought will land you in a lot of trouble. Try not to overload yourself and carry too much at once.

It might be the food shop, or it might be the big Christmas shop, whatever it is, take shorter trips or use the shopping cart all the way to your car.

Simply put? Avoid overloading yourself, and you’ll avoid pulling a muscle or damaging your joints.

Don’t Ignore Pain

One of the quickest ways to end up with permanent damage is to ignore the initial pain. We often put things off, being absolutely sure that it is nothing serious. But, unless you’re a doctor, then you simply don’t know.

If you have a recurring pain, or an injury recently that has taken a while to feel better – get it checked out.

The quicker you are to get it checked out the sooner you will be able to treat it – if you need to.

Watch Your Weight

It might not really need to be said, but the more extra weight you carry, the more work your joints will need to do. The additional stress can cause damage over a period of years.

So work on shaving a few pounds off when you can.

Footwear

What you wear on your feet chances your posture. They should be comfortable and supportive in all the right places. When you can, head to a reputable shoe store and get your feet measured. Over the years, and even during a single day your feet will swell and change shape. Buy shoes that will accommodate that.

If you intend to run, or even walk for long periods, you should go to a specialist sports store. They will analyse your gait and instep and show you the exact shoes that will provide you with support in the arch of your foot.

It doesn’t take too much to look after your joints, small changes in your daily life and plenty of water can keep your joints in good working order for years to come. Of course, a little extra helping hand in the form of a capsule supplement is never a bad thing either! Take care of your joints, and they will take care of you too.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting

Serious Health Symptoms Dads Should Never Ignore

03/20/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Dads are typically incredibly busy people. In between driving our kids to school, helping them with their homework, dealing with our own work, and much more, there’s very little time to do much else. However, that doesn’t mean that you should start skipping your doctor’s visits. Despite the macho facade many of us take on when we learn that we’re going to become fathers, no man is invincible. With that in mind, here are nine symptoms no dad should ignore.

symptoms, health, dads, parenting, wellness — **Source**

1. Trouble Sleeping

When you bring home a new baby, many things in your life begin to change, one of which is your sleeping pattern. With a little person screaming throughout the night, it’s going to be difficult to get as much kip as normal. That being said, if you struggle to sleep, but have no clear reason why, this could be a sign of a larger issue, such as sleep apnea, stress, or even depression.

2. Hair Loss

Hair loss is a fairly common concern for men, especially when we hit middle-aged or older. However, while this issue can be a natural part of aging, it may also be a warning sign of a more serious condition. Many different diseases, including ringworm and lupus, can be spotted by a loss of hair. If you ignore this symptom, though, you won’t get the treatment that you seriously need.

3. Chest Pains

Most of us associate chest pain with heart attacks, but there are many more reasons why you could be suffering from this symptom. It could be due to another heart problem, such as angina, a lung condition, like pneumonia, or even a gastrointestinal condition, such as a stomach ulcer. No matter how serious you believe these conditions to be, they each need professional attention.

4. Hearing Loss

Like hair loss, hearing loss is a symptom many associates with growing older. Thankfully, this isn’t necessarily the case. While there’s always a Miracle-Ear device for you to use, your goal should still be to prevent hearing loss if possible. For this reason, you should contact a doctor as soon as you start to spot signs of the issue. If an infection is the cause, then it can be dealt with.

5. Changing MolesAlthough us dads like to remind our kids of the importance of wearing sunscreen, very few of us remember to ourselves. This puts men at a much greater risk of developing skin cancer, including the potentially fatal melanoma. With that in mind, you should make sure that you check your skin regularly and see a doctor if you notice a change in shape, size or color of your moles.

Drinking plenty of water is crucial for good overall health, but that doesn’t mean that it’s normal or healthy to feel thirsty all the time. In fact, it’s a prominent symptom of many serious conditions, such as hyperglycemia, internal bleeding, and even organ failure. Regardless, it’s vital that you get this symptom checked out, especially when suffering from other symptoms, like nausea too.

7. Weight Loss

When you’re working on losing a few pounds, seeing the numbers on the scales begin to decrease can be a sign of success. However, if you’re not eating less, exercising more, or doing anything else to shed the weight, then this loss could be a sign that something isn’t right. In fact, it’s a symptom of many different issues. For this reason, your doctor will likely order a series of tests.

8. Feeling Down

Depression may be more common among women than men, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of guys that suffer from it too. Unfortunately, unlike women, these men are less likely to get help because of the pressures and expectations placed on them by society. Depression is much more than just “feeling down”, but, if you are, there’s nothing wrong with talking about it.

9. Vision Problems

Our vision naturally starts to deteriorate as we grow older, typically beginning in middle age. However, issues such as blind spots and blurry vision can indicate a serious eye or health problem. When you spot one of these issues, it’s crucial that you schedule an eye appointment as soon as possible. You should also stick to regular check-ups, no matter how busy you are.

You may be a superhero to your little ones, but that doesn’t mean that you have the powers to match. You’re not invincible, and, as such, you can get sick just like everyone else. To prevent potential health problems from getting any worse, you should contact a doctor as soon as you spot the symptoms listed above.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life, Parenting

Dads – How to Fit Exercise into a Busy Day

03/15/2019 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

It can be really hard to juggle fatherhood and a full-time job not to mention your hobbies, socializing and seeing other family members. But it is also really important to stay on top of your health and well-being, so we’ve made a list of some great tips on how to squeeze exercise into your daily routine.

The Gym

A good hour-long session at the gym may seem like a distant memory to you by now and with such a hectic schedule you’re probably more likely to be wondering how to get a six pack in 3 minutes. However, it is important to free up time for yourself to focus on your own goals as well as those of your family. Come up with a plan with your partner that includes scheduled times where you are both free to partake in your own hobbies and interests. Getting back to the gym even once a week will do wonders for your self-esteem and will give you a new lease of life that you can make the most of with your children.

Walk, Don’t Drive

As a father, you will probably find yourself spending a lot of time in the car taking your children here, there, and everywhere. Try to replace some of the shorter car journeys with walking instead. Not only will this be great for your health, it will also give you some bonding time with your children where you can fully focus on their conversations.

Commute

Like most of us, your morning commute is probably too long to be able to get there on foot instead. However, try parking a little further away from work and walking the last stretch. You’ll be amazed at what a positive impact such a subtle change to your routine can have.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

You probably won’t want to hear this, but a lot of parents eventually have to face the fact that getting up a little earlier can solve a number of time-related problems. By going to bed earlier you can set your alarm for a time that allows you to go for a quick morning run.

Socializing

Try to combine socializing with exercise by seeing if your friends would like to join you for a gym session, an exercise class or simply join you for a stroll rather than meeting up at a bar or coffee shop as you’d usually do. This way, you get to do both whilst saving some time.

Becoming a father doesn’t have to signal the end of a healthy lifestyle. It is important to make time to dedicate to your health and fitness and this will only have positive effects on your abilities as a father. You’ll have more energy to run around with your kids and it will teach them the importance of fitness too. For more tips on how to handle fatherhood, take a look at going-dad.com.