For the past several decades, the standard quick-and-dirty test for obesity has been the Body Mass Index (BMI): Multiply your weight in pounds by 703, and divide the result by the square of your height in inches. A normal BMI is
Read the full story »The mind body/connection is undeniable. A healthy mind and positive focus can make a big difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.
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By Stacey Colino for Live Right Live Well
When it comes to summer bummers like splinters, scrapes and burns, the tricks your mother used may not be best. In some cases, old wives’ tales have been deemed ineffective; in others, doctors have simply found better, science-based ways to treat these injuries. Whatever the case, if your first-aid techniques aren’t on target, you could end up adding insult to your injury. Here’s the latest: You’re walking barefoot and get a splinter in your foot Why the switch: “Wood is an organic substance, and your body’s attack on [the splinter] creates a lot of problems with inflammation,” explains Robert Shesser, M.D., chair of the department of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. This can set the stage for an infection. Your best bet is to use a sterilized needle to open a little tract around the splinter, then pull it out with tweezers, Dr. Shesser says. Once it’s out, clean the area with soap and water and watch for such signs of infection as redness, swelling, increased pain or pus. If any of these develop or if you can’t remove the splinter on your own, see a doctor. You fall off your bike and scrape your knee Why the switch: While strong solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or an iodine preparation can kill bacteria in the wound, they can also “hurt normal tissue in the body, which slows the healing process and makes the damaged skin more vulnerable to infection,” Dr. Shesser explains. Instead, thoroughly clean the abrasion with water and soap, making sure you get all the dirt out. Since this can hurt, you may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) first. Once the wound is clean, apply an antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) and a no-stick bandage to keep it clean and dry. You’re grilling burgers and burn your finger Why the switch: “The first thing you need to do is cool it to stop the burning process and relieve the pain,” says Richard O’Brien, M.D., a spokesman for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and an emergency physician at Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton, Pa. To do this, put the area under cold, running water or apply cold compresses or a bag of frozen peas for five minutes at a time until the burn begins to feel better. Then clean the area with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment (vitamin E won’t kill bacteria). To help with the pain, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. “If you haven’t had a tetanus shot in the last ten years, get one within a day or two,” adds Dr. Shesser. And if the burn blisters, wait for it to pop naturally, then continue to keep the area clean and reapply an antibiotic ointment until it has healed. While tossing a flying disc, you twist your ankle Why the switch: Sure, it’s a good sign if you can walk, because if you can’t or if your ankle looks deformed, you should have it X-rayed to make sure it’s not broken. But to avoid aggravating the injury, it’s best to keep your weight off it. What else? “If it’s just pain and swelling, the RICE acronym [Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation] works beautifully,” says Michael Carius, M.D., chairman of the emergency department at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut and a past president of the ACEP. Rest your ankle (by staying off it), apply ice (for 20 minutes at a time for the next 24 hours), use a compression bandage (but not too tightly) and elevate the ankle (above your heart) to decrease swelling and pain. Ibuprofen can also help reduce pain and swelling, but if the pain gets worse or you have trouble moving your ankle after 24 hours, see a doctor. You got whacked in the nose while playing soccer, and now your nose is bleeding Why the switch: If you hold your head back, the blood will go down your throat. This could cause you to gag, or it could irritate your stomach and make you vomit. Instead, lean forward and apply pressure to the bridge of your nose for 15 minutes without stopping, Dr. Carius advises. “You can also apply an ice pack, which will constrict the blood vessels and decrease blood flow around the nose.” Most nosebleeds can be stopped without medical attention, but if it’s still bleeding after 20 minutes, head to the ER. So there you have it — the latest thinking in first-aid treatment. Now that you know how to keep summer bummers from turning into summer spoilers, go out and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts! Stacey Colino Stacey Colino has written for The Washington Post health section and many national magazines, including Newsweek, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parenting, Sports Illustrated and Ladies’ Home Journal. |
We will livestream our MomTV special Primrose Schools, Mommy & Me on Sunday June 27th from 2-4pm Mountain Time (4-6pm EST).
MomSelect and Primrose Schools will host a special Mommy & Me Mixer at Primrose School of Littleton 7991 SouthPark Way Littleton, CO 80120 and YOU will have the opportunity to learn more about “the Primrose Difference”. I’ll be interviewing the director, teachers, and parents.
Prepare this delightful combination of potatoes and vegetables on the grill or in the oven. It can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature or reheated when you’re ready to eat. Sweet potatoes are so rich in nutrients that everyone should eat them — but feel free to substitute your favorite potato if you like.
Whether they’re crunching and crackling, or buckling when they should bend, knees seem to reach their expiration date faster than does skim milk. If your knees feel older than you are, the culprit may likely be found between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to Erik Moen, a physical therapist and founder of Corpore Sano Physical Therapy in Kenmore, Wash. “Many people are at a computer for work, and all that time sitting makes you lose strength in the hip gluteus medius,” says Moen. He explains that this crucial muscle stabilizes your leg from your hip to your knee, and if you don’t keep them strong, your knees will weaken over time.
Another major knee problem can actually come from being too active — if it’s the wrong activity. Your knees are coated with cartilage, which provides a cushion when you move. “But there’s only so much [cartilage] available for a lifetime,” says Moen. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Activities such as running for long distances every day or jumping too much can eventually wear it thin.”
While you can’t quit your job or restore the cartilage already lost, there are steps you can take to minimize further damage and maximize knee health as you grow older:
Better late than never, they say! I haven’t done my update for last week because it sucked. I was so busy and I didn’t take the time to run. This week Fiona changed my routine …
Being an adult doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the favorite sports of your youth — or discover something new. Here, a few ideas to get you out of the gym.
Nothing says summer like picnics and barbecues. But if you’re one of the nearly 120 million Americans who suffer from heartburn or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a spread at a pool party or backyard barbecue can present a minefield of potential triggers for debilitating pain. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend summer gatherings doubled over in pain. Here, some tips to help you enjoy your next picnic or barbecue:
More and more women are joining our group and we’ve established an official forum on DailyMile.com – be sure to join us as we get the conversations in there flowing! We will officially be calling this endeavor My Life Run and you will start to see us using the hashtag #MyLifeRun, we’d love to have you join in so that we can cheer you on as well!
What’s in that bottle of water you just bought? Ads suggest it’s pure H2O, implying that it’s less contaminated by pollutants than what flows from the tap. But recent tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental organization based in Washington, D.C., show that 10 bestselling brands of bottled water contained “a surprising array of chemical contaminants…at levels no different from those found in tap water.”
In a recent study, 120 children, age 2 to 6 years, were invited to shop for play food in a play grocery store stocked with everything from fruits and vegetables to sodas and junk food. What did the kids purchase? The same stuff they see their parents buying and eating.
The big question on everyone’s mind: Can these new active video games help you, your spouse and your kids get (or stay) fit?
