Monthly Archives: August 2017

Tips for Back to School

Posted on August 28, 2017 by

School is approaching faster than we expected. How should we help our children protect their health as they go back to school?

Image result for kids wearing backpacks

Choosing the Right Backpack

First you should consider the backpack your child currently has. Does it seem like it is time for a new one? Here are some tips you may use to help your child find the right backpack without harming your child’s back.

Image result for kids wearing backpacks

How do you Know if it Fits

Now that you have considered the aspects of the backpack, how would you know if it is actually good for your child? It is time to ask them some questions.

Keeping the Same Level of Exercise 

With school comes homework and assignments. This can mean that your child will be inside and sitting more often. Encourage them to play sports with their friends, especially on a sunny day. If not, remind them to take a rest after an hour of sitting or laying down to walk around the house and do some stretches. Try to recommend these different levels of physical activity for your child’s active life. The 3 different types are: moderate aerobic exercise, vigorous aerobic exercise, and strengthening activities.

Image result for kids exercising

If you and your child follow these suggested tips, it can keep your lifestyle bad-posture free and healthy.

 

 

 

Why Do We Snore?

Posted on August 21, 2017 by

Snoring. This sound can be irritable to others however very often uncontrollable as you are sleeping when this occurs. First of all, why do we snore?

Image result for snoring

Snoring occurs when the air is passing through the relaxed tissues in your throat and produces vibrations, which is the sound you hear. In general, snoring is not harmful but it can also indicate serious health problems.

Causes for Snoring

  1. Alcohol consumption: drinking alcohol relaxes your muscles which can decrease your airway
  2. Sleep position: sleeping in certain positions can cause gravity to affect your airway
  3. Sleep deprivation: not having enough sleep can result in relaxation of the throat
  4. Obstructive sleep apnea: your airway is partially blocked which affects your breathing and snoring can occur due to decreased airway

Snoring Remedies:

  1. Reduce alcohol consumption
  2. Nasal strips
  3. Losing weight
  4. Sleep position
  5. Limit your smoking
  6. Treat chronic allergies

If you know a loved one who experience snoring, take into consideration that it can be a health issue rather than just an annoyance!

 

Tips for Neck Pain

Posted on August 14, 2017 by

We all experience a little bit of neck pain from time to time but there are many easy ways to avoid having that neck pain.

Neck pain can occur when the neck muscles are strained due to poor sitting posture and sleeping posture. Most neck pains gradually leave on their own but in rare cases, it can lead to numbness or pain that radiates down your arm, which is quite severe and you should seek medical care. Experiencing neck pain can mean your body is indicating that you are performing movements that is straining on the muscles.

Image result for neck pain

One common problem associated with neck pain is when you constantly look down on your cell phone. This is known as “text neck“. As you spend so much time looking down at your phone, your neck starts to bent forward and can lead to more problems such as pain on the shoulders and back.

Image result for text neck

Here are some tips you can try to ease your neck pain:

Image result for sleep

If these tips are not helpful, it is always safer to see a practitioner about your recurring neck pain!

Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?

Posted on August 8, 2017 by

Do you ever have trouble falling asleep? If yes, you are not alone! Many of us have trouble falling asleep once in a while and some of us experience insomnia quite often. Thankfully here are some tips to help fall asleep, stay asleep, or prevent from waking up too early.

Image result for trouble sleeping

First let’s reveal some reasons as to why you having trouble sleeping. This can be due to your diet, work lifestyle and your stress levels.

One reason could be your diet. If you tend to skip breakfast a lot then your hormonal level changes throughout the day which can affect your sleep schedule. Our bodies need the right nutrients to complete biochemical mechanisms which regulate our system, such as our sleeping pattern. Another reason is that your sleep schedule is inconsistent therefore you are unable to receive the suggested hours of sleep per day. A third reason is alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your sleep pattern because as your body is breaking down the alcohol level in your blood it can tend to wake you up in the middle of the night or interrupt your sleep by having you wake up earlier.

Here are some tips to help your regain your sleep pattern back to a healthy lifestyle!

Try to dim the lights in your room and prevent from going on your devices 30 minutes prior to the time you want to sleep. Having a consistent sleep schedule by waking up and going to bed at the same time everyday can help regulate your sleep and prevent you from waking up throughout the night. If you notice that your mind is always wandering at night, try to do breathing exercises to help calm your mind from stress. If these methods do not work for you and you have been awake in bed for 20 minutes, try to get up and do different activities then try going back to bed. If you are someone who consume caffeine during the day, try to avoid drinking caffeinated drinks after 2pm. Another strategy to try is to exercise regularly which can help you fall asleep easier.

Image result for exercises