Tag Archives: health

The 3 Biggest Health Problems We Face

06/15/2018 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

As our lifestyles and habits change, new health problems emerge all the time. There are a lot of health issues that we’re struggling with right now that simply didn’t exist 100 years ago but changes to our way of life have created them. Understanding what these problems are and what is causing them in the first place is the key to avoiding them and living a happy, healthy life. These are some of the biggest health problems we face right now.

health problems, healthy living, lifestyle

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Obesity

Weight issues are a huge problem amongst adults but more importantly, in children. Children are being classified as obese at a very young age which is incredibly worrying because it means they’re likely to maintain that weight in later life. There are a lot of different reasons why we’re struggling with our weight which makes it very difficult to tackle the problem. Food is increasingly confusing because, even if you avoid the mountains of fatty and sugary food you can still get caught out. Things that are advertised as low fat are often packed with sugar so they’re causing weight gain anyway and a lot of things like fruit juices that people use as healthier substitutes are high in sugar as well. The only way to really know what you’re eating is to make your own healthy food with fresh ingredients rather than relying on pre-made stuff.

As well as what we eat, the amount of exercise we’re doing is a big problem. When you’re competing with computers and phones it’s difficult to get kids outside and adults with a busy work life find it difficult to fit it into their schedules. Even if you’re just doing ten minutes of exercise and trying to be a bit more active generally, it’s better than nothing. Exercise has so many health benefits so you should try to make time for it where you can.

Opioid Crisis

Opioids have been in the news a lot over the last couple of years as doctors have come under fire for prescribing them too readily and the companies that manufacture them have been accused of downplaying the risks and using incentives to encourage doctors to prescribe them. This has led to the opioid epidemic which is having devastating effects. People that are prescribed these painkillers quickly develop an addiction to them and often turn to harder street drugs or illegally buy more pills once their prescription runs out. Now that the extent of the damage is known, opioids are controlled far more tightly but we still need to deal with the fallout from a period of over subscription.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a health problem that is often linked to weight gain. A bad diet, particularly one that is high in sugar, leads to type 2 diabetes which comes with a whole host of dangers. People often make the mistake of thinking that they’re not at risk if they aren’t overweight but you can still eat a high sugar diet without gaining loads of weight. As companies continue to produce high sugar foods, it’s getting harder to avoid. Always be mindful of what you’re eating and double check ingredients.

These health problems are beginning to spiral out of control so always be aware of the risks and make sure that you avoid them.

Life

Ways To Relieve Back Pain At Home

05/22/2018 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

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Back pain can be one of the most difficult types of pain to deal with on a day to day basis because we become tense and struggle to complete even normal daily tasks. If you have persistent back in which seems to plague you from day to day, there are plenty of things you can do to relieve it and allow yourself to stay healthy.

Chill it

The easiest thing you can do when you sustain an injury on your back is to put ice on it. In the first few days after a back injury, you need to think about touting some ice on the affected area for a while. Although you may think that heat is better for your back, it can actually make the area more inflamed in the first few days. Place ice on the area for about 20 minutes at a time to reduce inflammation and help you to heal the pain.

Get moving

Even though it might seem like the worst thing you can do when you have hurt your back, you need to keep it moving and stretch out your muscles as much as you can. In the first week after a back injury, you need to make sure that you try it move your muscles as much as you possibly can. Only do as much as is comfortable for you to avoid further injury, and this should help your back to heal quicker.

Keep your core strong

Your ab muscles are an important part of your overall health and fitness, and they play a vital role in the support of your back muscles during an injury. If you have hurt your back in any way, make sure that you still take the time to exercise your core with ab focused workouts. Some of the best exercises you do for your core without hurting your back are leg raises, flutter kicks and tabletop crunches. Keep your abs strong and your pain will be lessened.

Stay strong

Once your back pain starts to heal, you can prevent any injuries happening in the future by working on your back muscles and performing chest and back based exercises. Ideally, you will want to buy some 2 pound weights and use these to tone your shoulders and back and keep the muscles strong and resilient for the future.

Stretch

You can visit a Chirocare and Rehab center to help you stretch out any issues with your back, and once you have done this you can continue to stretch and strengthen your back to keep it healthy for the future. There are many ways you can stretch out your back to keep it healthier, and you can practice yoga for a couple of times a week for a stronger body overall. There are some yoga moves in particular which are great for your back such as downward dog, cobra, and warrior I.

Make your workspace comfortable

If you think that the cause of your back pain might be your workspace, you need to make some changes to ensure that it is completely comfortable. For example, one of the main things you can do is adjust the height of your computer monitor and ensure that you have a comfortable and supportive chair to work at. Keep a cushion with you just in case you ever need some extra back support. It is a good idea to make sure you have enough leg room underneath your desk too, to keep stress off your legs and lower back muscles.

Improve your posture

If you constantly slouch at your seat and slump when you stand, it can out a lot of unneeded pressure on your spine and it will often cause you to struggle with your back. To help with your posture you can practice standing tall when you walk and make sure to always sit upright when working. You can also practice a yoga pose called standing forward forward with interlaced hands which is incredibly good for your posture and can make you look taller. Slumping makes it harder for your back to support your weight. Be especially careful of your posture when lifting heavy objects. Never bend over from the waist. Instead, bend and straighten from the knees.

Wear better shoes

Sometimes the issue you face with your back can be down to the shoes you wear. If you often wear heels to work or out and about, try trading them in for shorter heels or flat shoes for a more comfortable walk. It will make a big difference to your back and allow you to walk around in comfort all day long.

Stop smoking

Smoking might seem like a completely unrelated issue when talking about back pain, but it can be a big contributing factor to your back and its strength. Smoking increases the risk of your getting osteoporosis which can lead to serious spinal and bone issues. If you can quit smoking you cut the risk of osteoporosis down by a huge amount.

Watch your weight

If you think about it, this next tip is just common sense. The more you weigh, the more weight you are putting onto your back. When you have fat building up around your body you are losing muscle strength, and this can lead to you being at a higher risk of back pain and issues later in life. If you can eat a balanced, healthy diet and exercise regularly it will make a difference in your life and allow you to be much healthier overall.

Buy pain reliever

Sometimes the easiest way you can deal with persistent back pain is by buying some over-the-counter medicines to relieve your pain. There are plenty of different medicines you can use for your back pain such as Advil, Aleve, Panadol and even Paracetamol. If you want a quick fix for your pain this is the most simple thing you can do. Take a trip to the chemist and ask for the best solution to your back pain if you aren’t sure what to choose.

Going Healthy

4 Great Reasons Why You Should Have Regular Dental Check-ups

04/16/2018 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Most people think that if they brush and floss their teeth daily, then everything should be OK. However, this is not the case and regular visits to your dentist are required to keep your teeth in optimal shape. You should try to go see your dentist at least twice a year, to let him or her check for decay and plaque, and if necessary, remove it for you. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy protects you from further infections and a clean mouth is the key to good health. Make sure to search for a top dentist in your area to ensure a comfortable visit with a caring and knowledgeable staff.

In the past, the dentist was there to administer fillings and pull out rotten teeth if necessary, but now dentists are taking a more preventative approach, where they try to catch issues before they become problems. You may say that you are just too busy to visit a dentist Noosa locals go to, but going to visit your dentist means that you don’t have major problems further down the road. There are many reasons why regular dental checkups are essential and we will look at some of them here.

1. Poor Gums – Gum disease in Australia, and even in other countries around the world, is an ongoing problem. Just because you brush your teeth regularly doesn’t mean that you can avoid gum disease. When you go to see your dentist at your regular times, they will look for any changes in the structure of your gums. They will look for any large spaces between your teeth and your gums because this is a sure sign of gum disease. Poor gums can actually affect the rest of your body and lead to ill health.

2. Prevention Is The Key – Many of us already have cavities in our teeth, but because we feel no pain, we wrongly believe that everything is OK. The cavity may be hidden between your teeth and may not be in a prominent place where you chew, and so you feel nothing. Your dentist’s job and the purpose of your twice annual check up is to find these cavities in their early stage. This way, it can be treated early and with the minimum of fuss.

3. Well Equipped – Even though we brush well and we brush regularly, we never get everything totally cleaned. Plaque can build up behind the teeth in places that are hard to reach with the toothbrush. If the plaque continues to accumulate, it will create tartar and this will certainly lead to bad gum disease and most likely cavities. Your dentist has all the tools necessary to clear away the plaque and the tartar.

4. Early Discovery – When you attend the dentist, they just don’t look at your teeth and gums, they also look at other areas like your throat and tongue, to try to spot other potential issues with your health. If you get early treatment with some oral cancers that are spotted earlier, there is a better chance that treatment can address them.

Dental health checkups are an essential part of your dental routine and should always be undertaken twice yearly. Healthy teeth means healthy gums and a more confident smile.