Most of us start the new year in an overindulged state- full and lethargic from an 8-week bender of huge meals, holiday parties, cocktails, cookies, and pies. January marks a new beginning for most of us and it’s easy to want to quickly “undo” the last 2 months of rich meals and extra calories.
With the holidays in full swing, it feels like the pace of life has increased ten-fold. The last 3 weeks in December are packed full not only with Christmas parties and shopping excursions, but also last minute work deadlines, school commitments, and college finals. A doctor’s clinic is an especially busy place the last few weeks of the year, and I’m sure I’m not the only one at my office feeling a little less than Zen.
My husband John and I had been married less than a year when we decided it was time to expand our family- with a 4-legged addition that is. It was time to get a dog.
It’s that time of the year again. Flu season. The flu vaccine is central to preventing infection and spread of the influenza virus.
Here are 5 reasons you should get your flu shot this year:
Sugar. The latest buzz word when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating, and for good reason. We eat and drink waaaaay too much of it. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons/day of sugar for women and 9 teaspoons for men. That is 25 grams and 45 grams respectively. To put these amounts into perspective, 1 can of regular soda has about 8-9 teaspoons (or 39 grams) of sugar!
Well…maybe…for some people.
Alcohol is pervasive in our culture. Cocktails are synonymous with celebrations and holidays. A glass of wine can help us ease into the evening after a long day at work or calms us after a particularly difficult afternoon running errands with the kids.
I find other people’s schedules fascinating. Do they wake up extra early to prepare for the day? When do they work out? What is a typical meal like? I am often asking my patients these questions in order to guide them to better health. You can learn a great deal about people by taking a peek into their daily lives.
I am a strong believer in the power of exercise. Regular physical activity can help control your weight and prevent diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Exercise also has profound effects on mental health. It can improve your mood and lead to better sleep. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week to improve cardiovascular health. This averages out to 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Moderate exercise can be anything from brisk walking or jogging to swimming, biking or playing sports.
While I love to run, check out local yoga classes or sweat it out at the gym, you don’t have to stick to the traditional methods of exercise to see the same tremendous benefits. We just returned from a great weekend full of physical activity. After a long work week, my husband and I decided last minute that we were in need of a night out of town. He had just finished a stressful month of work and business school finals, and I was craving some time away from my normal routine. After a few phone calls, we had a plan in place- we were off to Wayne National Forest for the night.
Here is a round up of important and interesting medical stories in the news this week. Just click the links below for the full articles.
The CDC issued a travel advisory for a small community in Miami, Florida. A total of 14 people have been infected by Zika locally. Pregnant women and their partners are advised to avoid travel to the area.
It’s Friday afternoon. You have been fighting a cold for the past 3 days –runny nose, aching muscles, exhaustion, sore throat. You have fun dinner plans this weekend and are really hoping to feel better. Maybe a course of antibiotics is in order?