Wellness

Wellness - Senses and Sensibility

October 23,2012


Ever have one of those days when everything is going along in a calm and predictable manner and you feel that all is right with the world..... well , at least all is  tolerable in your own little world. You actually feel that your day is progressing and accomplishments are... well, being accomplished.
If  your emotions were to be rated on a  gradient scale of 1 to 10   you would rate them at a healthy  but somewhat unremarkable 5!!!!   Not a thing wrong with that, neutral, or perhaps another description would be  the over used "O.K."!

Now... let's interject a couple of variables here. Perhaps  there is music playing in the background... and what had hither to,been merely "white noise" is now an emotional  rendition of  a song that was playing the night you met your spouse, friend or some one  special. Or, perhaps it is just a great piece of music that inspires you. Take a minute... alright a few seconds... and think of such a tune.
Suddenly  your spirits are lifted, you find yourself smiling and maybe you even had to resist the  urge to use the channel selector as a microphone and sing along with it!!!

Positive change brought on by the sense of hearing.


Continuing on in your hypothetical day, which now is rated ,hmm, 8.5-9 on the 1-10 scale.

Feeling energized and uplifted you decide to tackle the infamous "back closet" that has been haunting you for months now. You begin by digging out all that junk that has accumulated over the past ?? years. These are the  bi products of  3 children  5 grand children and various and sundry others who have inhabited that room over the years. With your trusty puncture proof garbage bag handy you initially  toss articles recklessly in an attempt to calm it's voracious appetite. However, when you pick up a folder  marked "Keepsakes", your momentum goes to 'heck in a hand basket'!!  Lovingly, you sort through cards, pieces of paper with squiggly lines that were meant to say "I love you, Mummy". Then there are the pictures..... you can see where this is going, can't you?? By the time you have it all spread out on the floor , you have painted... no, I mean, pictured yourself in the middle of the room and tears are streaming down your cheeks.

Melancholy change in mood initiated by the sense of vision or sight.

The good news is... it can, and will change again, and all of this is normal, but  very interesting how our senses can affect out mood. Will save the others for another day.

The music I like depends on my mood... but I am always  calmed and relaxed with these artists.

See how this works for you at the end of a stressful day, or the beginning of a wonderful morning!



Video of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli courtesy of You Tube
Image courtesy of Google Images

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

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Wellness --

October 16,201



                                                     Tis the season for sneezin'


 If you,  like many of us, either have children, or are around children, or in my case grandchildren, then this is for you!!
 Colds, flu, and other viruses are rampant this time of year. Just take notice of the sneezing  and coughing. Many try to suppress these sudden spasmodic expirations of breath through their noses and mouths by covering  these parts with their hand. The next object that the hand touches is an automatic benefactor of the offending "bugs"!!

I try to be vigilant when it comes to cleanliness, but with little ones around ,there is no such thing as too clean!! Now, I am not talking about attempts to keep a shiny floor or not have the occasional spill or not even an appearance of a dust free living area..... I refer to the super efficient , highly visible appendages at the ends of your forearms....your hands!!!

Just as busy colonies of bees fly from flower to flower pollinating with each  landing, our hands, and especially the hands of children fly from surface to surface polluting them with each touch ..with germs!!

At this time of year, and actually all times of the year, classrooms  are filled to capacity with lively, energetic young people who just can't wait to explode out the doors of their warm, climate controlled environment. The last thing on their mind is the number of surfaces they have touched and where the next unsuspecting surface awaits.

There are many "common" areas that all the children use , for example, teacher's desk, computer screens and keyboards,  door handles, pencil sharpeners ( do they still use those?) and  bathrooms, just to name a few. The result is that all of these areas have become "infected" with whatever germs traveled with  last set of hands that touched them.

Now, I want to be perfectly clear here, that the younger people in our lives are not the only culprits involved with the spread of infections like cold viruses, flu bugs and gastrointestinal diseases! We, who are adult are equally responsible.... perhaps even more so ,as we should know better!!!!

O.K., so enough of the finger pointing, let's move on  and learn that the single most important activity  that you can do to help stay healthy and well is Hand Washing!!! Despite all the high tech, fancy schmancy solutions available, plain running water and soap is the best. It is, however, necessary to wash ALL the surfaces of the hand. The palm, back of hand, between the fingers , and of course the thumb. Dry with a disposable paper towel if possible, when not at home.

There are over 100 different cold viruses ( rhinoviruses)that have been identified so far, as being the cause of the common cold. Each and every one of these can be spread in the ways that have been described above, so it is up to us..... yes, you too, to practice competent hand washing and to supervise those who are not yet aware of the impact that such a simple act can accomplish.

Here is a short demonstration of the proper technique... and yes, after all these years, I ,too am still learning how to wash my hands!!!!

Oh, yes, I would be remiss if I did not show the "new" proper way to sneeze when caught off guard and without a tissue.  Use the crook of you elbow!!!

                                               


Information  and video clip courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Photos courtesy of Google images

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

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Wellness --- Snoring

October 9,2012


                                                                Snoring        zzzzzzz    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   zzzzzzzzzzz!!

While mulling ideas around in my head  what topic to address for the Wellness post today and heading to the medicine cabinet to get a pain killer for the headache I woke up with, I realized that the cause of my discomfort was in fact ....snoring.
And the strange thing is, it was my husband's snoring that was the culprit.!! Now you have to realize that we have been sharing a bed for 40+ years and one would think that this noise would have gone unnoticed or at least over looked by now, but NO it does not!!



I have tried ear plugs, another bedroom down the hall, and several pillows piled high on my head,but nothing works! After realizing that the abominable noise is not all about me but is a result of a very unpleasant noise that my sleeping hubby is emitting. It is important to note that snoring is just that ..... a noise.... like talking is the result of vibrations from our vocal chords, stomach growling is a result of vibrations in the stomach and intestines, then snoring is a result of the turbulent air flow that causes tissue to vibrate during sleep.

Contrary to what I believed,  people of any body type snore. A thin lady or a large heavy necked man have that same chance to snore. About 45% of men and 30% of women snore.

During the day we breathe in and out with relative ease and little or no noise, but when we sleep the area at the back of our throat narrows and as a result the same amount of air still passes through, causing the tissues to vibrate, with the resultant sounds we lovingly call snoring!

What to do:

-There are behavioral changes that may help. Generally speaking, if you gain weight your snoring will increase.  This type of change is a lot easier to say than to accomplish.
- Dental devices may help when the area at the back of the throat becomes restricted, by keeping the tongue and palate from blocking the airway.These are individually made  by your dentist.
-Changing sleeping positions may help, at least on a temporary basis.Sleeping on your back causes the airway to be restricted more easily so side sleeping helps.
- Over the counter devices that  keep the anterior nasal passages open are another option. Fact: Did you know that the body automatically changes which nasal passage to be dominant,  about every 8 hours? ie, which side of the nose warms, filters and humidifies the air we breathe.
-If these basic changes do not help with persistent snoring, it is advised to seek professional help.

Now, to get my sweet hubby to read my post!!!  Sleep well!!


Drawings courtesy  Google Images
Information from: HELPGUIDE.org

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

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Wellness -- S.A.D.

October 2,2012

  With the onset of October we can pretty much bid a fond "Adieu" to  Lovely Lady Summer. The nip in the air during the afternoon and downright cold mornings and nights signal the arrival of Autumn. In this part of the Northern Hemisphere it also means each day is shorter than the last by about 3 minutes.
Now, you say, that's not much, but when you realize the the vernal equinox is June 21st and that was 102 days ago  that would be  about 306 minutes..... well, you get the picture and can do the math.
Bottom line is the day is significantly shorter and will continue  so until December 21st.

  With this shorter day and accompanying longer night many people notice a change in their mood, feel less energetic, less able to maintain a  focus,  and find they are a bit more irritable than usual.  If this is you, than you are not alone. A condition  called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD,  may the cause.

SAD is thought to relate to seasonal variations in light. A “biological internal clock” in the brain regulates our circadian (daily) rhythms. This biological clock responds to changes in season, partly because of the differences in the length of the day. For many thousands of years, the cycle of human life revolved around the daily cycle of light and dark. We were alert when the sun shone; we slept when our world was in darkness. The relatively recent introduction of electricity has relieved us of the need to be active mostly in the daylight hours. But our biological clocks may still be telling our bodies to sleep as the days shorten. This puts us out of step with our daily schedules, which no longer change according to the seasons. Other research shows that neurotransmitters, chemical messengers in the brain that help regulate sleep, mood, and appetite, may be disturbed in SAD.

What are the Symptoms?
SAD can be difficult to diagnose. Generally, symptoms that recur for at least 2 consecutive winters and may include:
change in appetite, in particular a craving for sweet or starchy foods

• weight gain
• decreased energy
• fatigue
• tendency to oversleep
• difficulty concentrating
• irritability
• avoidance of social situations
• feelings of anxiety and despair

Research in Ontario suggests that between 2% and 3% of the general population may have SAD. Another 15% have a less severe experience described as the “winter blues." SAD tends to begin in people over the age of 20 and is more common in women than in men. Recent studies suggest that SAD is more common in northern countries, where the winter day is shorter. Deprivation from natural sources of light is also of particular concern for shift workers and urban dwellers who may experience reduced levels of exposure to daylight in their work environments. People with SAD find that spending time in a southerly location brings them relief from their symptoms.
Light therapy is also a less expensive alternative, but a beach in ..say... Florida... yeah, I'd like a prescription for that!!!





Take care and be well.

--Information obtained from the Fort Frances Branch of the Canadian Mental  Health Association
-- Photos courtesy of Google Images.

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                            

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Wellness

September 25,2012

-Benefits of Having Pets-

Many of us have, or had pets at one time or another. Our reasons for getting them are as varied as the people and pets, but for this post I am referring to the rather generic form of pets and that is cats and dogs.

Photo courtesy Google Images

For many, many years at our home we had pets.   The first was a Chocolate Point Siamese Cat  that always was a conversation  starter, and was easy for our children  to care for at that time. They learned that a pet had to be fed, cared for, and that her diet did not include  things like left-over turkey or cotton-candy, or there would be consequences!!!

When our youngest was starting school we became family for the first of two golden retrievers that we would have for the next 18 years.  By this time the "children" were almost grown , we all cared for  Chelsea and later Cody and also benefited from the love they gave us.  Sometimes the dog was the only ally the kids had when being confined to their room as punishment for some misdeed or another.She would  happily dash upstairs wagging her tail as she rejoiced in the fact that one of our daughters or son would  be her exclusive partner for the next few hours!!!

From my experience,  when I came home late at night after a grueling evening shift and was more in the mood to cry or be angry, our sleepy eyed yellow angel tumbled downstairs to greet me with such sincere happiness at my presence that the hardships of the last 8 hours was forgotten. It is common knowledge that you cannot pet ( ie stroke the hair of a dog or cat) a pet ( also a dog or cat minus the stroking thing) and stay angry. There is something about  the gentle caress that immediately has a calming effect on a person.... and probably does the same for the animal. Having  pets can reduce blood pressure, decrease anxiety, have a calming effect on people, especially children, and can you believe it, pets have beneficial effects on people with heart problems.

There is scientific documentation on the beneficial effects of having a  pet in your life. I have read several articles but think that this one by Teddi Dineley Johnson captures the idea best.

This is our daughter's dog, Shelby. She has to be special for my husband to let her jump into the vehicle!!! They both look pretty relaxed, don't you think??

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

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Wellness

September  18,2012

The All Too Common, Common Cold

As I sit here thinking about what would be a suitable "Wellness" post for this week's blog, I am also attending to my husband's very infrequent illness. The symptoms are "common", the effects are "common" and the treatment is also "common".
.... hence the illness from which he suffers is called.. what else but..the Common Cold.

In his case there was an incubation period of 3-4 days, meaning that the cold germs were joining forces and  developing a strategic plan of attack.  The attack occurred surreptitiously under the cover of night, and despite the valiant efforts of the thermal system ( elevated temperature) to dissuade them, he succumbed to the army of germs! They proceeded unscrupulously to invade the rest of his body leaving no muscle or sinus passage unscathed!!  Taken, unceremoniously, as a P.O.C ( prisoner of Colds!) he was  given only  water and tissue  for comfort!

I am presently in negotiations with the Allied Forces .....aka Pharmacy... to assist in his release.

In the meantime I came across an interesting questionnaire by  MedicineNet.com that I was unable to answer  all of the questions correctly..... and I have been a Reg. Nurse for 25 years!!

I'm sure you will do better than I did, but just for fun, give it a try!!

In the meantime, take care, wash your hands and develop bastions  in case the "army of germs" invades your territory!!

Wash, wash, wash!!







Pictures courtesy of Google Images

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

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TUESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2012

Wellness

Tempus fugit sed vita bonum est *

The annual ceremony surrounding the "first day of school and  "back to school" tradition continued again this year.
Our two older granddaughters started grades  6 and 4 respectively. Becky, 11yrs old, started her first day in Middle School. When I went to school grade 7 was Junior High School, but both signified a right of passage where the "little kids" were left behind and the first of many steps of the educational ladder had begun. Paige, 9 years old  and going to grade 4, is still young enough to enjoy primary school from the vantage point of seniority!

The "first day" of school, however, belonged to our youngest grandchild, Tyler. Entering school for the first time has to be one of those snapshot memory times when , 20, 40 or 50 years later you can recall the emotion and sense of pride and fear that goes with being tossed into a classroom of  contemporaries with not a single familiar face in the mix.!  Fortunately, his older sister, Ashlee, is in grade one and will be there to comfort and care for him at lunch time.

The purpose of this story  is that I have spent some time recently reflecting on how time has passed so quickly and not only has my "first time at school" become a thing of the past,( ancient past at that) so also, has that of the youngest son of our youngest son! ( bet you went back and reread that thinking I made a mistake!)

Time goes quickly and I, like many others, wish it was not quite so quickly, but in the end all is well.... and I guess that is what it is about.  This is my emotional wellness trip for this week, learning to deal with the inevitable.

 After a sunny summer, torrential rain the day school opens!

Be well!
* " Time flies, but life is good."

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Wellness

July 3 ,2012
                                                                                                     
Being "almost" retired means that I should have more  time on my hands, but lately I feel the time is on someone else's hands 'cause it sure hasn't been staying too long on mine!  Not that I  mind as it sure makes the time fly, but with summer finally upon us and the knowledge that we only have about 8 weeks of "summer-like" weather, I plan on making the most of it.

I love posting my blogs each Tuesday on Wellness and  on Frivolous Friday  about what ever happens to tickle my fancy!. Wordless Wednesday is also a fav, but usually only requires a picture and not a lot of words. However, there is a certain urgency and pressure to maintain the quality of each post, and with that in mind I am giving myself permission to take a "vacation"from deadlines and pressures!
I plan on spending a few days camping with my two sisters , you probably know them, Monica, from Older Mommy Still Yummy   Kathy, from Oak Lawn Images
When the three of us get together, minus hubbies, kids, grand kids, computers,phones and such, it is pure relaxation. Walks on the beach..... yes, we really do that and we are not looking for "friends"!! Walks /hikes through the woods, and endless hours contemplating the flames of a campfire!!! The rest of the summer I will spend with my husband of many many  years and our wonderful family and friends, doing what ever the mood and the moment asks of us. It really doesn't get much better than that, does it??!!

I hope everyone that takes the time to read this post, takes the time to relax,  to enjoy the everyday pleasures and to be grateful for all that we have. As I wrote about in an earlier post it is all about perspective!  Will be back on track either later this summer or in early autumn ( with occasional posts in between). Have a safe  and happy summer!!

Be well and be safe!!
                                                                                                              
Patricia

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Wellness

June 26,2012



Congratulations to all the participants of the Biannual  Blogathon Bash! It was a fun week-end and a great learning experience.  But for now, back to what is "usual", and for me that is a post on  Wellness. After a brisk walk along a harbour front and the smell of sea air I feel rather invigorated. Also noticed that despite what you would think, I actually feel less tired,less stressed and better able to deal with  whatever this day has in store for me.

What  a  topic for  "Wellness" , says I!!!    Q. What causes this feeling of wellness?

A.  Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which function to transmit electrical signals within the nervous system. At least 20 types of endorphins have been demonstrated in humans. Endorphins can be found in the pituitary gland, in other parts of the brain, or distributed throughout the nervous system.
In addition to decreased feelings of pain, secretion of endorphins leads to feelings of euphoria modulation of appetite, release of sex hormones, and enhancement of the immune response. With high endorphin levels, we feel less pain and fewer negative effects of stress.

 Certain foods contain endorphins.  Chocolate..... that's right... and spicy foods, like  chili peppers, also release endorphins.The release of endorphins upon ingestion of chocolate likely explains the comforting feelings that many people associate with this food and the craving for chocolate. Endorphin release varies among individuals. You and I could both exercise the same amount, experience similar amounts of discomfort but not feel the same effects  of endorphins.

I came across this video  that discusses endorphins and  thought perhaps you might enjoy it.
Here's to chocolate, spicy foods, and....... feeling well!!  Cheers!

Take care !

Information for this post was obtained from MedicineNet.com

For  further information on this topic see: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=55001

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.

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Wellness

June 18,2012


Although I am trying to keep my blogs short and hopefully sweet, I cannot  contain them in one word, but if I could that word for today would be "appreciate".Now, this word covers a huge range of emotions and feelings.
From waking up each morning..... who doesn't appreciate that....... to being able to interact with those around us, and for that matter the appreciation of  those people around us that have influenced us and made us who we are today. To stay true to the "short" part as mentioned above, I will describe a very abbreviated version of appreciation.

With Father's Day just behind us, I would be terribly remiss if I did not let the world know how much I appreciate  the kind, gentle and very persuasive teachings and ministrations of my late father.  For those of you who probably have picked up on the fact that I used the present tense of the word for something that occurred in the past, this was deliberate and not a grammatical or typographical error. I appreciate now what he did then to make me the person I am today. I loved Dad then and I continue to love the memory of him and all the sacrifices he made so that his family( my mother, two sisters and two brothers) would feel cherished and special.  Ok, so I am getting a wee bit melancholy here so must move on.

Another group of people that  merit appreciation would of course be teachers. From the kindergarten
to college or university type of teacher, to the friend, co-worker or neighbor that taught you some valuable life lessons. All of these people are reflected in what you say and do, and how you think.

Let us raise a glass.... or mug, or china cup, or water bottle, in praise and gratitude of  people that we appreciate!!

I just have to show you the "thank-you" gifts that my daughter is giving to  her daughters' special teacher in appreciation of all that they have done !  What a great "Mommy" she is !!

Brightly colored planters with tags.

                    ~ Take care~

Close up of thank-you tag!!!

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June 5,2012




The MacMillan Dictionary defines the word "perspective" as:
1. [countable] a way of thinking about something

2. [uncountable] a sensible way of judging how good, bad, important etc something is in comparison with other things.
It is very interesting how a simple word like this can so profoundly affect how we live our day to day lives and how we interact with others.

Let's take a couple of scenarios.... nothing complicated or out of the ordinary.

Scenario #1.
Mary P. has an allergy, let's make it to fruit...  apples or oranges perhaps. And  prissy Miss P. is out getting  her weekly groceries and  happens upon a lady handing out  free samples at the end of the aisle, you know, like they do at Costco or many other superstores. On the tray are lovely looking slices of fresh apples and oranges which are politely proffered to her.  Instead of accepting or declining as most do, Mary gets very upset, leaves her cart in the aisle and rushes away leaving the poor "sample handler" wondering what just happened and felt the "strange lady" was rude, and nasty. 

One perspective is that Mary was unnecessarily abrupt, perhaps even rude and should not have reacted the way she did...... and I must admit that would probably have been my initial reaction , had I been waiting in line for my free slices of fruit to get me through the shopping experience!!!

Another  perspective would be  one where we have knowledge that Mary and her sister almost died after being exposed to the flesh of fresh fruit, and fearing for her life she quickly and without explanation took herself  to safer place.

Scenario #2

Alright here is one that most women, and probably a lot of men can relate to.  There is always that person.... for the purpose of this post "that person" will be a female I will call Susie Q..... who seems to be always looking like she just stepped out of a  "before and  after" picture and was in her "after" state!!!  Always smiling she was eager to please everyone she meets and bestows  compliments and favors to all. Many thought Susie Q. was an angel in disguise, while others ......well suffice to say their remarks were not so complimentary!
Now it is not difficult to understand the perspective of most people. They saw ``good`and they felt ``good``. Simple and straight forward.

And for the ``nay sayers``  it would be beneficial if they were to know that Susie spent her whole life
looking after her father, Mr Q, and never learned how to make friends or develop a sense of self esteem.

Now this is the point where a  brilliant person would issue some profound and  enlightening statement of truths. I however, am just noting that things are not always as simple as they may appear,  then again sometimes they are, and there is no right or wrong way to experience a  situation.  It all depends on your...... you know  the word I am thinking of ......perspective.

Take care!


pictures courtesy of  Google Images.

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           
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May 29,2012

I am taking a little "detour"  to get to the health aspect of this post. Emotional and mental wellness is about how we feel about ourselves, and although there is a definite  plus to the experience and knowledge gained with aging, most of us don't anticipate looking like we have "aged".  I , for one, accept the fact that many years have gone by since I was in my teens and twenties, but that doesn't mean that am willing to accept that my body and skin have to reflect this number of years, if there are ways to help prevent it.  I recently came across this article in AFPA -American Fitness Professionals and Associates ,written by   Vivian Rivera  and thought I would share some of it with you.
The seven most common factors of  Premature Aging


1.Aging and Attitude-   The mind plays a significant role in how we age, whether it is a process that goes faster or slower than our chronological years  us for the most part up to us.  Hope, optimism, joy are positive factors. Quite simply, happy people are younger looking people. Perpetual anger and distress shows on your face and ends up causing wrinkles. How your face carries your expression more than 50% of the time can determine how prematurely you form wrinkles, where, and how deeply.

2.Aging-Smoking and Drinking-  We all  know that smoking and drinking in excess is not good for us and will lead to all kinds of detrimental health issues and deprives our bodies of essential nutrients.


3. Aging- Sun, Cold, and Moisture- We can easily accelerate the aging process by basking in the sunlight.Sun damage is the number one cause of wrinkles.Spending a life time in cold environments can have a similar effect. Rather than creating a tougher skin, the skin appears too thin and wrinkles develop. Moisturizing frequently can help counteract this damaging effect

4.Aging and Diet-One of the most commonly misunderstood aging factors is the effect that food has on the body. There are foods that you can eat that will help you retain a younger body and foods that will help age you faster. Choosing a diet that is high in fats, sugars, processed foods, and low in fresh fruits and vegetables creates an internal environment that is anything but youth friendly. Replacing a sugary diet with fried and fatty foods, even if you are not overweight, with one that is high in natural products can keep the whole body looking tighter and younger.

5.Aging and Weight-    Being too thin or too heavy can add to the aging process. Being underweight reduces the natural fats in the facial structure which allows the skin to sag and adds to the appearance of wrinkles. Simply adding five pounds to an underweight body can bring back a softer, wrinkle free face. Too much weight can make us look older by creating poor muscle tone.

6.Aging and Choices - We all make daily choices that either help or hinder the aging process. Regular work outs can help prevent premature aging and keep the entire body in great shape.Turn toward natural interventions when possible instead of chemical alterations for turning back the clock. These are simple choices that work with our bodies’ own natural rhythm and pay us back in dividends beyond belief.

7.Aging and Stress-  Chronic high stress lives are a recipe for early aging.A certain amount of stress is actually good for us, although stress that creates physical signs on the body should be handled in a pleasant and relaxing manner.

While we can’t keep those birthdays from rolling around in our direction, we can take affirmative action to keep the aging process from taking over our lives. With less stress, better diet and exercise, and a happier outlook, we can retain our youthful joy and keep our spirits much younger. The youthful joy on the inside will be noticeable on the outside.

I realize that these tips are indeed beneficial, but if we can't integrate  all of them  into our lives all the time, then perhaps one or two  tips once or twice a week.  Every little bit helps, and remember not to dwell on what we have NOT done, but instead focus on what we can do.

Take care-




Further information on this article can be found at   http://www.afpafitness.com/articles/articles-and-newletters/research-articles-index/nutrition-wellness/the-seven-most-common-factors-in-premature-aging/

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           




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May 15,2012


I've spent the last wee while trying to decide what mental health wellness topic to peruse for today's blog.  With Mother's Day just behind us for another year I was thinking how that "day" made me feel. Many years ago when I was a child,  I would pick violets for Mum as they were the only wild flower in bloom at this time of year. They had their stems carefully wrapped in  dampened paper and presented to her as if they were made of gold!!And amazingly the gift was received with equal  admiration.  Now this is where the thought part comes in.
It is not the "gift" but the thought that was so special to both the "giver" and "receiver".

We all have mothers or mother figures in our life at one time or another so we can relate to this emotion.  What happens here is that  we spend time and effort trying to make someone we care about  feel  special.  Now, just for a moment imagine if that type of emotion  could be experienced  on a daily, or at least very frequent basis, how  it might cause a pleasurable ripple effect to those around us. We don't have to even know the person, just imagine that they too, could benefit from the gift of your concern or at the very least your acknowledgement.

Let's take an example:  Start with something simple, say a smile.  Walking down the street, glance up and smile at a passerby. This is particularly helpful  if you are engrossed by texting on your phone, as it also allows you to check your surroundings and prevent walking into a wall or falling off the curb!! If you are fortunate enough to receive a smile in return there is a tiny little spark in you that is happy. It's OK to admit it, others feel it too!!

Another example: Going into or out of a store, bank, or other building, hold the door open for the person behind you. So easy to do, and the effect it has on the shopper usually causes them to do likewise, in the "pay it forward" fashion. Now, you say this is "just being polite", and although  you are right, it does make the recipient of your manners feel just a little "special" for that moment. Correct me if I'm wrong but who do you know that does not like feeling "special"???

You get the point I am trying to make here. By treating others in a respectful and  compassionate manner  two wonderful events take place on a small but meaningful scale. You feel better about yourself and the  other person feels better about themselves..

I am not  naive enough to entertain the  idea that we  live in a Pollyanna world but come on, watch that lonely soul across from you and your friends at the coffee shop and see how they respond to  a smile or nod  as you pass by them.

Worse case scenario is no one retaliates in a positive fashion, but you tried . Maybe next time.

Be well!

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

Posted by Patricia at 1:00 AM 12 comments








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May 8,2012

Wow! Hard to believe that it has been  almost 5 weeks since the last time I posted on this page.  I have enjoyed the challenge  and  the work involved for the annual A-Z Challenge. Now it is time to get back to basics. For those of  you who may drop by and have not been here before, let me get you up to date.  Every Tuesday I try to post something that is relevant to .... you guessed it....wellness. In my case, as I am a Registered Nurse, and have spent that last eight years working on a Mental Health Unit...aka, Psychiatric Unit, I am unabashedly biased when it comes to what I post! If you have the time to go back and check the previous post, by all means do so, but if not, I will try to sum it up thus far.

I am trying very hard to  change, in my own little way, the manner that the general public perceives mental health. The negative connotations associated with anyone who has or  had an illness of their mind are  running rampant!  Therefore I am attempting to keep these posts upbeat and light with just a hint of  seriousness about  a disease or diseases that can, if not properly and timely treated, be very tragic.

On March 13th, we discussed how important good physical health is to proper emotional and mental wellness. There was a list of subjects that would help us to accomplish this and on subsequent posts , a couple were discussed in more detail. I hope to continue in that vein  starting next week.  For now, though I will be satisfied to just get back in the swing of things.  Keep in mind...ooops there's that word again.... that  this is a brand new blog  (aprox 2 1/2 months old) and I have a lot to learn and hopefully to pass on to you. Please let me know if there are any particular topics that would be of interest to you.
 Take care..
 

The following is an excerpt from a recent CTV video amd news clip, that explains how one man, Steve Stoesz, feels about his experience with mental health issues.

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Sun. May. 6 2012 10:56 PM ET

Afghanistan war veteran Steve Stoesz survived multiple combat injuries, but his biggest fight was a psychological one -- and it was waiting for him when he returned home.
The Canadian soldier who has been battling anxiety and depression continues to defy what he said was a direct order from the Department of National Defence not to talk publicly about proposed cuts to mental health services for soldiers.
Three days after he spoke to CTV News about his own struggle with mental health issues and obstacles veterans face when looking for treatment, Stoesz appeared on CTV's Question Period Sunday, despite being under investigation for talking to the media.
"I was ordered not to do this interview," he told Question Period. "But at the end of the day, I have to live with myself, and I couldn't live with myself not getting this info out there and making a difference."
"This cause is more worthy than the cause in Afghanistan, and I was willing to die for the cause in Afghanistan to me, so it goes to show how much this means to me," Stoesz said.
He is critical of proposed National Defence job cuts and the proposed closure of a mental health facility in Ottawa, which opposition MPs say will make it harder for soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder to get help.
While Stoesz hasn't been diagnosed with PTSD himself, he said fighting in Afghanistan took an emotional and mental toll on him. Things only got worse when he completed his tour of duty and returned to Canada, Stoesz said.
"Most of my psychological injuries are coming from not getting the proper physical care," Stoesz said. "Since I've been home I've been fighting non-stop for my own kind of deal, and that's just brought such a psychological toll on me that it's been devastating to my whole life and my whole mental state. I have a battle with the medical system, and then as well one with Veterans Affairs."
Stoesz said he didn't meet the full criteria for a PTSD diagnosis even though he has "14 out of 15" symptoms of the disorder.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120506/steve-stoesz-speaks-out-120506/#ixzz1uEYPUQPx.

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

Posted by Patricia at 1:00 AM 8 comments

March 27,2012

Wellness - Why Exercise?

 On the post of March 13,2012, there was a list of suggestions that were helpful to maintain positive physical and emotional health. The "Sunshine Factor" was the topic of last week's post , so for this week the topic is "Why Exercise?"    

Now I don't know about you, but sometimes just the thought of exercising makes me tired!!! I picture changing into the latest gym-inspired attire, driving to a gym, ( which cost way too much money  and now I feel guilty) or grabbing on to some mechanical  equipment designed for Olympic champions!!!! If in fact this IS your routine than you are a better person than I am, and kudos to you!!! But the good news is, this does not have to be the case.  If you decide that the weather is not co-operating and you are staying indoors whether at work or at home, simple actions such as using the stairs helps. Carry items from one level to another  in small amounts, up and down several times, instead of loading up and making fewer trips! Bending down to pick up articles on the floor can also  be done one at a time... stand  and bend , stand and bend! Don't you just love it when your children  help out by leaving toys all over the place..... just to help  you exercise!!
If the weather is suitable, by all means take advantage of it and get fresh air while you ..... walk to the nearby store instead of taking the car. Walk around the block or just down the street and enjoy  the scenery, whatever it may be. If you want to ramp it up a bit, perhaps a jog is in order.  The main thing is to just start something and make the most of it. Swing your arms while you walk Hold your head up  and smile. What's the worst that could happen and what's the best that could happen?
 Now here is how it all works.

  Exercise essentially burns away the chemicals like cortisol and norepinephrine that cause stress. At the same time, vigorous exercise releases endorphins into the system. Endorphins are morphine-like hormones that are responsible for the feeling of elation, or well being that distance runners get from running. Other chemicals like dopamine and serotonin are also released in the brain during exercise. Together, these give a feeling of safety and security that contributes to off-setting some of the "internal" causes of stress, such as uncertainty, pessimism and negative self-talk.

Hopefully this has helped answer the question...Why exercise?   For me the answer is because it makes me feel better and what better reason than that to do it!!!. Now it's up to you and to me to get started!!
 



Some information  for this site was obtained from
 Natural News.com   Thursday, May 06, 2010 by: Fleur Hupston

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

Posted by Patricia at 4:00 AM





March 20,2012


How do you like the new title page? I asked and you gave responses and this is the result. I still plan to keep the focus on  Mind wellness or positive thoughts, but now there will be more freedom with a broader topic like the one "we" chose! Thanks to those that participated!!


Last week one of the suggestions to maintain a healthy mind and body  was to get outside in the sunshine.
With this being the first day of Spring.... at least in this part of the world... I thought it would be a good idea to have some actual facts to back up this theory. Of course I don't need any excuses to  go outside and enjoy the sunshine, but, in case you feel the need here we go!!

 
Howard and Hoffman (1984) had 24 college students keep track of their mood (by filling out a mood questionnaire) over 11 consecutive days. They found a significant effect on mood correlated with the weather, especially with regards to humidity (a component of weather not always measured):

Humidity, temperature, and hours of sunshine had the greatest effect on mood. High levels of humidity lowered scores on concentration while increasing reports of sleepiness. Rising temperatures lowered anxiety and skepticism mood scores. [...]
The number of hours of sunshine was found to predict optimism scores significantly. As the number of hours of sunshine increased, optimism scores also increased. [...]
Mood scores on the depression and anxiety scales were not predicted by any weather variable.

Now you know it's  not just  you that feels better  because it's sunny !! Now get this!!! Fine weather acutally  affects the stock market.. .. makes one glad that there is not a TSE or NYSE located at the North or South Pole.!!


David Hirshleifer, Ph.D., of the Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, and study coauthor Tyler Shumway, Ph.D., assistant professor of finance at the University of Michigan, found that when the sun shone on 26 leading global stock exchanges over a period of 15 years, market returns shot up.
"Sunshine is strongly positively correlated with daily stock returns," says Hirshleifer, who revealed that unseasonably sunny days in otherwise overcast seasons add up to an annualized excess return of 24.8 percent. In other words, stocks traded on sunny days yielded nearly 25 percent more money than those traded during cloudy periods. If transaction costs are assumed to be minor, it is possible to trade profitably on the weather.


Information for this site was obtained from :
 

PsychCentral    Learn.Share.Grow

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/11/09/weather-can-change-your-mood/

 

www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200111/sunshine-wall-street

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

March 13,2012

You know, I was just thinking that a lot of you are tired out, after  the week-end Blogathon!!! I saw some amazing posts.

I would like this week's post to be interactive. I have noticed that the  title Mental Health seems to connote negative and kind of scary emotions in people and they tend to just avoid it. Now, here's the plan.  I would like to change the name and I need your help.  I will let you know some ideas I have but I would truly like to know what YOU think,,,,,,, can't help the play on words here!!!
I thought about Mind Health, Mind Musings, Thought Wellness....that's about it.  But I know you have great ideas. Just drop and idea in the "comment" box as I would really appreciate it.  Sorry, don't have a prize!

Taking care of your body is a powerful first step towards mental and emotional health. The mind and the body are linked. When you improve your physical health, you’ll automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being. For example, exercise not only strengthens our heart and lungs, but also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that energize us and lift our mood.
 
Some of  the things one can do to accomplish this are listed here.

• Get enough rest. To have good mental and emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body. That includes getting enough sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function optimally.
• Learn about good nutrition and practice it. The subject of nutrition is complicated and not always easy to put into practice. But the more you learn about what you eat and how it affects your energy and mood, the better you can feel.
• Exercise to relieve stress and lift your mood. Exercise is a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression. Look for small ways to add activity to your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going on a short walk. To get the most mental health benefits, aim for 30 minutes or more of exercise per day.
• Get a dose of sunlight every day. Sunlight lifts your mood, so try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun per day. This can be done while exercising, gardening, or socializing.
• Limit alcohol and avoid cigarettes and other drugs. These are stimulants that may unnaturally make you feel good in the short term, but have long-term negative consequences for mood and emotional health.

With spring almost here, or we hope it is anyway, it is a time of new beginnings and perhaps we can begin to put the time and effort ( yes, it does take effort) to be mindfully well.

Take care.



Information for this site was obtained from HELPGUIDE.org.  A TRUSTED NON-PROFIT RESOURCE

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                           

 

March 6,2012

In last weeks blog on Mental Health, a scenario was described where the issue of.... no, make that the actual words of "mental illness" were spoken  as if they were synonymous with words like "plague" or "leprosy"
It would be interesting to see if the terms "mental health" or "mind wellness", which ever you prefer, produced the same effect on the hypothetical "listener"!!!
.

Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

Being emotionally and mentally healthy doesn’t mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress.
 
The difference is that people with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience. People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good.
One of the key factors in resilience is the ability to balance stress and your emotions. The capacity to recognize your emotions and express them appropriately helps you avoid getting stuck in depression, anxiety, or other negative mood states. Another key factor is having a strong support network. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience in tough times.
Now, perhaps we can't change how others think, but we can TRY to change how WE think and who knows  where it will go from there???


Information for this site was obtained from HELPGUIDE.org.  A TRUSTED NON-PROFIT RESOURCE

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner.                                                        







 February 28,2012

The last eight years of my working career as a Registered Nurse have been spent on the Mental Health unit. It is also known as the Psychiatric Unit . During that time I have learned some remarkable things and met some amazing people. The one thing, however, that seems to stand out more than anything else  is the incredibly poor PR that this area has compared to the other units at our  regional trauma center.Think about it for a moment.  We have all been standing in line ups and overheard various and sundry conversations, while waiting to proceed to the check-out.  I've heard discussions about "gall bladder surgery", "double pneumonia" .... this of course is a "one-up" from your run of the mill pneumonia.... the ever present "flu" that has horror stories that vary as much as the individuals  telling them.  And then, of course we have the ultimate "triple bypass surgery", that  the tellers sister's  neighbor's best friend had. Now of course, these diseases and surgical procedures are very real and have long time consequences and I am not for one moment disputing the severity of any of them.
Now, really put your thinking cap on for a moment.  When was the last time you overheard a conversation about someone's loved one, or neighbor, etc, that was suffering from Depression,  Anxiety,  Bipolar Disorder, or any of the multitude of other Mental Health issues?? Perhaps if you are one of the few who has heard such things, I am willing to wager the voices were very subdued and the speaker was glancing furtively about to try and ensure that no one else could hear..
Very sad, isn't it??
I will end this week's post with a  definition and a hope that at least I have  piqued your interest.
 
The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".^[3] There are different types of mental health problems, some of which are common, such as depression and anxiety disorders, and some not so common, such as schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.^[5]

Disclaimer

The material provided on this site is designed for information and educational purposes only. The materials are not intended to be a self diagnostic and/or self treatment tool. I encourage you to use this information as a tool for discussing your condition with your health practitioner