Q: How much exercise do I need each week? 
Perhaps, like most people you have suffered from the pains of a sore muscle or cramps. To alleviate this pain, you crave nothing more than to place something warm against the pained area. What are your options?
1. You could purchase an electric heating pad. Of course, that means you need to sit somewhere near an outlet.
2. You could purchase a package of adhesive heating pads. However, most of these have a strong odor. Also, they are single use items, making them rather expensive.
3. You could purchase a microwavable heating pad. Reusable and no need for an outlet, makes this a good choice. . .
But for the best choice:
4. You could make your own microwavable heating pad. All you need is 2 cups of rice and a clean knee-high sock.
Direction:
Carefully pour rice into sock.
Tie a knot to prevent rice from escaping.
Place heating pad in microwave for 1 minute*, and it’s ready for use!
*Heating times may vary. Start with 30 seconds, and check the temperature of the heating pad, adding more time if needed.
If your skin feels taut after washing and shows signs of flakiness, you probably have dry skin. Some people suffer from dry skin all of their lives because they have smaller than normal pores that are almost invisible. Changes in geographical location and climate also can affect the condition of the skin, and the usual effect is drying. Change in lifestyle, stress, and aging are also factors that may contribute to drying of the skin.
Dry skin needs gentle cleansing, regular stimulation, and generous amount of oils and moisturizers to keep it looking its best. People with dry skin must avoid toners and skin fresheners that contain alcohol. Alcohol removes skin oils, our skin’s natural moisturizers. If the soap you are using leaves your skin feeling tight, stop using it and change to a mild and creamy cleanser, which is better for dry skin. It is also advisable to cleanse only in the evening and use only natural moisturizers. You can make your own natural moisturizer from homemade mayonnaise or avocado pulp. These are good examples of natural moisturizer that really help soften dry skin. Another option for a moisturizer is vitamin A-rich margarine. The vitamin in it and its natural oils and fats will help lock the moisture in you skin and keep it soft. P
When you take a shower, make it as quick as possible. Water dries the skin, so avoid taking more than two baths a day. Avoid antibacterial or deodorant soaps because they have ingredients that are harsh and contribute much to the drying of the skin. Never rub your skin with the towel after bathing, just pat it dry. It is good to apply moisturizers while the skin is still damp.
You also should look into your diet. A good and balanced diet is the key to healthy skin. Foods that are rich in vitamin E are good for the skin, so be sure to include them in your diet.
Anger is a natural part of being human, and it is normal to lose one’s cool every once in a while. But when you constantly explode like a bomb with the least of provocations, it is no longer natural. Anger eventually could take a physical and emotional toll. Anger causes your blood pressure to rise and your heart to beat faster. Anger causes stress, which causes your blood vessels to constrict. This is why heart attacks are common to people who are angered easily.
If you are easily angered, here are some tips that will help you manage your anger:
When we think of diabetes, we think about insulin shots because most of us are only familiar with type 1 diabetes, which is caused by the inability of the body to make insulin. But there is another type of diabetes that is very harmful, which is why you need to know if you are at risk for it.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by the inability of hormone insulin to work properly. The pancreas of people with type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but the insulin produced cannot properly transport glucose from the bloodstream to the cells. This will lead to a build up of blood glucose and blood fat in the bloodstream, which can damage tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. Type 2 diabetes is linked to increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.
So, how do you know if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes? You are at risk if you are overweight or obese. Your age is also a risk factor; people who are 65 years or older are more at risk than those who are younger. People with hypertension are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. And, of course, it is genetic; if there is history of type 2 diabetes in your family, you should take extra precautions.
The first line of defense against type 2 diabetes is by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. Be on the move, take time to exercise, weave exercise into your lifestyle. Your risk will be lowered by always eating foods that contain carotenoids like carrots, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, corn, and apricots. Foods rich in chromium can help protect your body against type 2 diabetes. So start including in your diet foods like mushrooms, shellfish, brocoli, and whole grains. Vitamins D and E are also known to help prevent type 2 diabetes. The best way to get vitamin D is through exposure to the sun. Morning sunlight is also good for your skin, so don’t avoid the sunlight during the morning. Vitamin E, which is also a good antioxidant, can be found in nuts, avocado, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
Even though the common cold and the flu may have similar symptoms they are two very different conditions. It is very easy to mistake one from the other. However, the cold is much milder than the flu. Although the common cold is mild, it is the leading cause of doctor’s visits, missed days off from school and work.
The common cold is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. You can catch a cold from another person (members of your family, friends, co-workers, people you have never meet before in a restaurant or supermarket) or objects such as a keyboard, mouse, doorknob, or eating utensils.
The symptoms of a cold develop slowly, usually two or three days after a person has been infected with a cold virus. Colds, which usually about two weeks, include these symptoms:
The flu is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. You can catch the flu during the winter months and early spring. The flu virus attacks both upper and lower respiratory tract.
Flu symptoms might be similar to that of a cold, but with the flu you are more likely to run a high fever for several days. Usually, complications from colds are minor, but with the flu they can become a life-threatening illness, such as pneumonia. Flu symptoms can appear suddenly and can include:
The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract, but the flu is worse than the cold. The cold can drag you down but with the flu you don’t even want to get out of bed!
