Age-Related Pains (And How To Ease Them)

04/02/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

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. 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 these exercises build your core muscles, which in turn support your spine to reduce the pressure that is causing you pain. Heating pads can also ease your pain, as can ice if you have been in an injury, so consider both those options.

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

Ways To Relieve Back Pain At Home

#2: Knee pain

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.

Going Green, Health, Life

Are We Recycling As Much As We Should Be?

03/29/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

There is no denying that we all know the importance of doing our bit in order to protect the planet. This is something that all businesses and individuals know; we have to do more if we want our world to not only survive but thrive.

At the most basic level, we know that we need to recycle items, rather than simply throwing them in the bin. But are we doing enough? Unfortunately, the statistics show that there is still a long way to go. In the U.S., 262.4 million tons of trash are produced per annum. However, only 67.8 million tons of trash gets recycled. This shows that there is a significant way to go when it comes to recycling the trash that we are responsible for. The quest to be sustainable is still far from being complete.

This is why we all need to do our bit and educate ourselves on recycling. Knowing what to recycle, and how to recycle it, is key. After all, you cannot simply throw everything in your curbside recycling bin. The likes of batteries, electronics, and aerosol cans can be hazardous, and so there are specialist processes in place for recycling items like this.

For more details about recycling and the right way to go about it, check out the infographic below. You will find out everything that you need to know about recycling and where we stand on the matter right now.

Infographic Design By educationconnection

Going Healthy, Health, Life

5 Signs That You Might Have Hearing Loss

03/27/2020 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

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.