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Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Science of Winter Blues and How to Manage It

Posted by Mary Thompson

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is linked to the change in seasons, with symptoms typically emerging during the fall and winter months when daylight hours decrease. Unlike general depression, SAD follows a seasonal pattern, causing significant disruptions to both mental and physical health during the darker months. Why It Matters SAD isn’t just about feeling a bit down during winter. Its symptoms can impair your daily life, affecting work performance, social interactions, and overall quality of life. By recognizing and addressing SAD early, you can prevent a cycle of recurrent depressive episodes and improve your resilience against the winter blues. Understanding the biological and environmental underpinnings of SAD can help demystify why it occurs and pave the way for effective treatment strategies. Biological Causes Circadian Rhythm Disruption: The human body operates on an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm, which is...

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The Science Behind Aging: What Happens to the Body Over Time and How to Age Well

Posted by Mary Thompson

Aging is a natural, inevitable process that every living being experiences. But while it is often associated with gray hair, wrinkles, and reduced energy, the biological science behind aging reveals much more complexity. Understanding how our bodies change at the cellular level, how major bodily systems are affected, and how we can slow down the negative effects of aging allows us to age with grace and vitality. In this blog, we’ll dive into the science of aging and how to adopt strategies that help maintain health, longevity, and well-being. Aging is a gradual, biological process that occurs over time as our bodies face wear and tear, exposure to environmental stressors, and genetic changes. While it’s unavoidable, the rate and manner in which we age can be influenced by a combination of genetic factors and lifestyle choices. By understanding the science behind aging, we can make informed decisions that promote better health and slow down the negative effects associated...

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Fresh, Clean Classroom to Start the School Year

Posted by Dr. Julia Tortorice

As the new school year begins, the excitement of welcoming fresh faces and new beginnings fills the air. But before the bell rings on the first day, there's one important task to tackle – giving your classroom a good old-fashioned deep clean. Imagine walking into a sparkling, organized space where creativity and learning can thrive. With a little elbow grease and a dash of fun, you can transform your classroom into a pristine haven that both you and your students will love. So, let's dive into the ultimate guide to deep cleaning your classroom and start the year off right. Creating an Optimal Learning Environment A clean and organized classroom can significantly enhance student focus and engagement. When the environment is clutter-free and well-arranged, students are more likely to feel comfortable and ready to learn. Incorporate flexible layouts that allow for different teaching methods and activities. Movable furniture can be adjusted based on the day's les...

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Beat the Heat: Your Guide to Beating Exhaustion and Staying Cool

Posted by Mary Thompson

As we get ready to bask in the warmth of summer sunshine and embrace the beauty of the great outdoors, it is essential to remember that the risk of heat exhaustion comes with all that fun in the sun. However, with some know-how and handy tips, we can stay cool, calm, and collected even on the hottest days. So grab yourself a refreshing drink, find a shady spot to relax, and dive into everything you need to know about beating the heat with summer right around the corner. Understanding Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion is a condition that occurs when the body becomes overheated due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures and inadequate hydration. It typically occurs when the body cannot cool itself efficiently, often due to excessive sweating and dehydration. Heat exhaustion is a serious condition that can lead to more severe heat-related illnesses if left untreated, so it is essential to recognize the symptoms and take appropriate action. Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion ...

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What are Hiccups and Why Do They Happen?

Posted by Mary Thompson

It's the middle of the day, and you've just finished eating lunch with your friends, and suddenly you hear yourself go, "Hic!" and you think to yourself, "Oh no, I've got the hiccups again?" and you try every secret way to stop them because sometimes it feels like they will never go away. But have you ever wondered where those funny noises come from? And why do they happen? This blog will explore the symptoms, causes, and home remedies for hiccups. To understand why you sometimes make random, funny noises, you should know that everything your body does has a reason behind it. Hiccups are caused by your diaphragm, a part of your body responsible for many of your bodily functions. Why do Hiccups Happen? The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle in charge of respiration at the bottom of your chest, right below the lungs. It works by contracting itself rhythmically and continually. So, every time you breathe in air, the diaphragm contracts and flattens,...

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Where in the U.S. Have Drug Overdose Deaths Increased the Most?

Posted by Dr. Julia Tortorice

Drug overdose deaths are an epidemic in the United States. In 2021, more than 106,000 Americans died from a drug-involved overdose, and more than 75% of these deaths involved opioid drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of drug overdose deaths overall in the United States increased by 14% between 2020 and 2021. While the United States as a whole is seeing an increase of drug overdose deaths, some states' death rates are rising more quickly than others. The NYRequirements.com team examined data from the CDC through the years to determine which U.S. states have seen the biggest increase in drug overdose deaths through the years. See which states' drug-related deaths have increased the most between 2017 and 2021. Click here to download the printable PDF version of the chart. Which States Have Seen the Biggest Increase in Drug Overdose Deaths? Based on the data from the CDC, the state that has seen the biggest incre...

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Countries Around the World, Ranked by Suicide Rate

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Countries Around the World, Ranked by Suicide Rate Suicide is one of the leading causes of death around the world, attributing to one in every 100 deaths. Which countries suffer the most from this mental health epidemic, and which countries have taken action to lessen the suicide rate among their populations? The team at NYRequirements.com created a ranked list of countries by suicide rate to find the answer. The following suicide rates of countries are estimated by WHO and other health organizations as the true rate of suicides is often under-reported due to the stigma surrounding it in many countries. Deaths caused by suicide need to be recognized and treated as a public health problem that affects many people; research has shown that offering support to those in distress is necessary to reduce suicide rates around the world. The 183 countries listed below have been ranked on their overall suicide rate, but you’ll find that we have also highlighted the 10 countries with...

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Beating the Summer Blues

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Many picture summertime as this joyous time of the year, with the sun shining brightly and the days longer than ever; it's typically seen as a time for fun, outdoor activities, and social connections. However, only some people share this sunny outlook. Have you ever felt a wave of what's known as the "summer blues"? Although the blues are more commonly associated with the wintertime, the excessive heat in the summer can also bring about feelings of lethargy and isolation as we spend much of our time indoors. When a seasonal change happens, such as the onset of an intense heat wave during the summer, and it begins to affect your behavior, this is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Although the summer blues are a less common type of seasonal depression, it's still a very real issue that many deal with, especially when you live in an area with extreme heat conditions. Understanding the Summer Blues The summer blues is a type of depression that...

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Music Therapy: Healing Minds and Soothing Souls

Posted by Julia Tortorice

In a world where stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil live in abundance, finding effective methods and ways to promote well-being and healing is essential. Although New York City is known for its fast-paced living, it's also famous for its vibrant, thriving arts scene, where music fills the streets and has a remarkable impact on its community. Amidst the towering skyscrapers and busy streets, the growing field of music therapy has helped enrich the lives of many throughout the city. With its ability to engage emotions, stimulate cognitive functions, and foster a sense of connection, music therapy has gained recognition for its remarkable therapeutic benefits. In fact, it has been proven to help with various disorders, such as depression, autism, substance abuse, and Alzheimer's disease. And, as a bonus, you don't have to have any background in music to participate and benefit from its therapy. Throughout this blog post, we will explore what music therapy is and delve i...

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Health Impacts of Sleepless Nights in “The City That Never Sleeps”

Posted by Julia Tortorice

New York City – nicknamed “the city that never sleeps” – is known for its energetic atmosphere that continuously stays in motion throughout the day and night. The city's entertainment opportunities are endless, with its thriving nightlife scene and restaurants staying open until late into the night. However, this non-stop ball of energy and excitement could affect your health. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), getting the proper amount of sleep each night is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As a matter of fact, the NSF states that the quality and quantity of your sleep you receive each night strongly ties to your mental health and emotional well-being. When you go to sleep, your body and mind undergo a restorative process that helps you regulate your emotions and improve cognitive function. While it can be great fun to stay out late and dance the night away, research shows that too much of this late-night activity can be detri...

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Finding Work-Life Balance and Expanding Your Opportunities - Nursing in New York

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Nursing in the Big Apple can be overwhelming. Between the high volume of patients and the city’s normal hustle and bustle, it can be difficult to find a moment of relaxation and reflection. That being said, there are few places where doing so is more important. Surviving and thriving in New York means being intentional with free time - building a space to clear your mind and focus on self-improvement. Creating Space Amidst Chaos With long shifts where seemingly anything can happen, it may feel like the only way to settle down post-work is to flop on the bed and grab some shut-eye. While rest is incredibly important, there are a few ways nurses can transition from work to personal life without running themselves ragged. Enjoy the Little Things - find a smell or a snack that brings you joy, something that can calm you down and ease you into your personal life. Nurses deal with intense smells and experiences all day long. A small investment in self-care can make...

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6 Tips for Travel Nurses Apartment Hunting in the New York City

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Find the Right Big Apple Apartment to Fit Your Needs With nearly 9 million residents and broad-spanning hospital systems, it’s no surprise that scores of travel nurses make their way to New York each year. Beyond the challenge and opportunity of serving America’s largest city, there are plenty of reasons why nurses choose to work in New York. For one, it offers nursing wages that average 12.8% higher than the national average(1). It’s also an amazing opportunity beyond employment - access to incredible museums, fine dining, and Broadway shows... Nurses that have made the decision to move to New York likely have a lot on their minds. Regardless of where they are coming from, New York will undoubtedly be a change of pace. One of the biggest challenges for nurses first arriving in the city is finding the right housing. Where should I live? Can I afford an apartment for myself? Will I need to find roommates? To answer travel nurses’ burning questio...

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Keeping Your Skin Healthy in the Summer

Posted by Emily Pazel

The weather’s warming up, the family vacations are planned and the kids are nearly out of school for the summer – what could be better? As the sun becomes more intense throughout the summer months, you might start to notice that it takes less and less time for your skin to start getting sunburnt while participating in outdoor activities. And while it’s always nice to get some Vitamin D and have glowing, radiant skin, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be damaging to your skin if left unprotected. If you are planning a family vacation that involves traveling to a state where the sun’s ultraviolet rays are more intense, such as Florida, then you really have to think about young children and infants whose skin is at more risk for sunburn while outside. Being knowledgeable about how the sun and heat can damage your skin is the start of the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. How Can the Sun Damage Your Skin? Although it’s hard to think...

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Dealing with Allergies this Season?

Posted by Emily Pazel

It seems like we’ve all been there before — the weather begins to warm back up, the flowers begin to bloom and then something in the air starts to make us sneeze. Once we start sneezing, our nose starts to drip like a faucet and then we start dealing with the aftermath of seasonal allergies. And unfortunately, in this day and age, having a runny nose, watery eyes and a cough can sometimes be confused with being sick with an illness, such as COVID-19. When the weather begins to warm up and the pollen starts to take over, people that have severe allergies end up having some really long, bad days. Fortunately, there are ways to help make the allergies not be so bad and there are even ways to help avoid getting a bad allergy attack. But before we get into that, let’s talk about what allergies are and why we react to them the way we do. What are Allergies? Allergies can take on many forms and have several types. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foun...

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Different Ways to Stay Healthy this Winter

Posted by Emily Pazel

Each year, as the seasons change and the weather brings new and exciting transformations, such as the leaves changing colors and the weather dipping well below warm temperatures, we begin to also see a slight change in our health. With cooler, chillier temperatures, humans instinctively gather inside where it’s warm. But unfortunately, this means we tend to share spaces with one another a little more, which leads to us catching a cold, the flu or even catching a different airborne virus that’s spreading around. Thankfully, there are ways to help slow the spread of viruses and illnesses, which means we can help keep people a little more healthy. But why does it seem like the cooler weather always brings a string of illnesses along with it? Is it just a coincidence? Let’s dig deeper into this thought. What makes us get sick during the winter? Although it might seem like the cold weather causes illnesses to creep up on us out of nowhere, the weather is not direc...

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What Happens at Therapy

Posted by Emily Pazel

Even though we live in a time where going to see a therapist is commonly practiced among society, most of the time, there is still a negative stigma behind addressing mental health issues. In many cases, these bad stigmas can discourage someone who really needs help to seek out a professional. And when our mental health issues go unchecked, it can sometimes lead to creating even bigger, more serious problems, such as major manic episodes or long bouts of depression. So, maybe you have been recommended to talk to a therapist in the past or are interested in taking the initiative yourself. Either way, it’s good to research and find out what type of therapy is best for your situation and learn a little about what happens behind closed doors to help ease your nerves. What to Expect at Therapy If you have never gone to therapy before, it can sound intimidating at first. You might think that sitting in front of a total stranger, telling them very personal things is something y...

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A Guide to Lyme Disease for Parents

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors and lives in an area where deer ticks live needs to be aware and cautious of Lyme disease. Bites from deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease, which can have devastating effects if it's not diagnosed and treated quickly. Stay vigilant about tick bites, and watch for common symptoms of Lyme disease. If you notice early symptoms, see a doctor right away. History Lyme disease was recognized and classified in the United States in the 1970s. A group of people in Lyme, Connecticut, began experiencing serious health issues that included skin rashes, headaches, severe fatigue, swollen knees, and paralysis. Eventually, researchers found that all of the people with these mysterious symptoms had been bitten by ticks in the same region. By the mid-1970s, scientists had discovered and defined a new illness that they called Lyme disease. History of Lyme Disease History of Lyme Disease in North America Revealed With Bacterial Genomes Origin of...

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Internet Safety for Children and Families

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Kids are using the Internet more than ever before on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, especially as online learning has become more prevalent. Internet safety is an important topic to discuss with kids so they're aware of the potential dangers of Internet use. Parents should also use tools such as parental controls and privacy settings to keep kids safe. Digital Cleanse A digital cleanse is a process of detaching from electronic devices that are connected to the Internet. The purpose of a digital cleanse is to focus on in-person interactions and reduce sources of stress. If electronic devices have become too much a part of daily life, a digital cleanse can be useful for breaking negative behavior patterns. The extra time not spent on electronic devices can make it possible to focus on enjoying nature, exercising, meditating, and spending time with family and friends. Ten-Step Guide to Doing a Digital Detox Five Ways to Do a Digital Detox Five Signs You Need a ...

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Preparing for the Flood

Posted by Emily Pazel

As Hurricane Ida came across the country it unleashed a powerful wrath of storms, wind and rain, dangerous flooding throughout the United States – particularly in New York and surrounding areas – and caused many people to go without power and experience flood damages. As the rains continued, flash flooding became a big problem and even caused deaths throughout the Northeastern region of the United States. Per Reuters News, “… Hurricane Ida unleashed torrential rains that swept away cars, submerged New York City subway lines and grounded airline flights... Across large swaths of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, residents spent the day coping with water-logged basements, power outages, damaged roofs and calls for help from friends and family members stranded by flooding.” Later that week, President Joe Biden even declared that New Jersey and New York were in a state of emergency and “ordered federal assistance to supplement lo...

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Fighting off the Cold or Flu

Posted by Emily Pazel

While vacationing at the lake house this summer with family, one of the last things you would expect to happen would be to get sick with a cold or flu. However, as mask mandates and social distances guidelines continue to lift, the spread of germs increases. A year ago when the pandemic hit, many people started working from home, practicing social distancing and wearing a mask to help slow the spread of the virus. And with that, cold and flu numbers became almost non-existent. More recently, however, “urgent care centers report an uptick in adults coming in with a number of viral infections that resemble a common cold or flu, but are not COVID-19,” according to WRGB CBS 6 News, Albany. Medical professionals are encouraging anyone that is experiencing cold and flu symptoms to go see a healthcare provider to rule out other respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19. Although cold and flu season is more prevalent during the winter and fall months, it isn’t uncom...

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Vacationing with Kids this Summer? Here’s what you need to Know

Posted by Emily Pazel

School is finally out for the summer, businesses and tourist attractions have opened up their doors back to the public and everyone is making their escape out of the house after being cooped up inside for over a year. After the pandemic swept across the country and the world, making it difficult to travel or even leave the house, it’s finally coming back to normal and people are traveling more than ever before. In fact, according to major news outlets, traveling for leisure has seen a big uptick in the past month or two and will most likely continue through the summer. If you have traveled before with young children, you understand that it takes a bit of planning ahead – and sometimes – even bravery to conquer getting to your final destination. Whether you are traveling by plane, car, train, bus or even a boat, there are typically rules and regulations you should know about before leaving the house and heading out. Sometimes, all it takes is talking to fellow paren...

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Common Foot Problems & How to Keep Those Feet Healthy

Posted by Emily Pazel

Your feet are an important part of your body. In fact, according to heathline, it’s estimated that people typically average walking around 75,000 miles by the age of 50. Between work, being at home, exercising or even on vacation, you are always using your feet. And because of all the wear and tear over the years, you might start to see your feet take on some damage. Luckily, there are ways to keep common foot problems at bay. And, if it’s something that requires a specialist, a Podiatrist – also known as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) – is someone who treats the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. Most common foot problems When your feet are in pain, it’s typically something you’ll want to address rather quickly – especially if you have a job that requires you to be on your feet often. Feet problems are pretty common since they get a lot of wear and tear, so it’s good to address the issue head on and get some he...

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School Health Information for Kids and Handwashing 101

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Teaching Kids to Wash Their Hands Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever for everybody to wash their hands, but sometimes, it can be difficult to get kids into the handwashing habit. It's crucial to help kids understand why it's important to wash their hands, when to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, and what to do if they need help staying healthy. When to Wash There are a few key times where you are more likely to get and spread germs, and washing your hands before or after those times can be beneficial in washing the germs away and decreasing the likelihood that you and your loved ones can get sick. These times include: Before eating Before touching your mouth, eyes, or nose Before touching any cuts or scrapes on you or another person Before, during, and after preparing a meal After going to the bathroom After playing with any kind of animal, whether they are your pet or another animal After touching any kind of animal...

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A Parent's Guide to Child Safety

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Children are some of the most vulnerable people and the least likely to be able to look out for themselves. That's why it's crucial that parents and caregivers do whatever is necessary to minimize the risk of harm to children. This may include changes to the home environment as well as teaching children about how they can stay safe while they are at home, in the water, on the roads, or online. Safety at Home According to Safe Kids Worldwide, every minute of every day, one child dies from a preventable injury. There are many ways that parents can prevent injury to children at home, starting as soon as they're born. Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep until they are 1. They need to sleep in their own crib and not beside a parent or guardian. The mattress chosen for an infant should be firm. No accessories should be on the mattress, as this may cause harm if the baby moves. Children are often at eye level with cleaning items and other household products st...

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A Health and Fitness Guide for Kids

Posted by Julia Tortorice

Do you like playing sports with your friends? Staying active and eating healthy food keeps your body strong so you can have fun. There are lots of games and activities you can do to stay in shape. You'll feel happier when you keep yourself healthy, and your body will be ready to hit the ground running when it's time to play outside. When you don't take care of your body, normal activities like climbing the stairs or going for a walk can make you feel tired and out of breath. Kids' health problems can even follow you when you grow up. That's why it's important to start and maintain healthy habits now. Why Yoga Is Good for Kids: Calming yoga exercises discipline the mind and stretch your muscles. The Benefits of Dance for Kids: Turn on your favorite music and try out some new moves. Relay Races for Kids: Relay races are a fun and interesting way to run around and test your skills. Take a Walk: Even a relaxing walk through your neig...

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The Invention of Soap & How it Can Save a Life

Posted by Emily Pazel

From an early age, you are taught one of the most essential lessons of hygiene – washing your hands. You are taught to wash your hands before you eat, after using the restroom, after playing outside in the dirt, after petting animals, and especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands. When washing your hands, hopefully you are using soap and water, the two most vital ingredients for getting rid of germs and bacteria. But have you ever wondered when people started using soap? And what makes it so important to use? Washing your hands with soap and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can help you stay healthy and help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. As a matter of fact, government officials have advocated that simple hand washing techniques during the recent global pandemic could help save lives. Here are a couple of fast facts straight from the CDC: It is estimated that washing hands with soap and w...

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How Well Do You Deal with Stress?

Posted by Emily Pazel

One of the biggest complications that we face as human beings is dealing with stress. Stress affects everyone to a certain extent, but how well you learn to manage or cope with it can determine how it affects your overall health and your day-to-day actions, such as how well you handle stress at work, at school, or even with your loved ones. With April marking the start of National Stress Awareness Month, we are here to give you some pointers on ways to identify the stressors in your life and learn how to better manage them in a way that will let you resume your normal daily functions with ease. What is stress exactly? Although everyone experiences stress from time to time, everyone experiences stress differently due to the varying types of pressures involved. Depending on what the stressor might be, it could be just a one-time or short-term occurrence or it can happen repeatedly over a long period of time. Typically, stress can be broken down into three different categories...

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Keeping Your Pearly Whites Healthy & Happy

Posted by Emily Pazel

Your teeth are unique to you. So unique, in fact, that no two people’s teeth are the same – even for identical twins. For years, detectives have been able to use dental records to occasionally identify human remains due to this fact. An important part of being an adult and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is taking care of your pearly whites. After all, once you lose your baby teeth, you only have one set of permanent teeth to last an entire lifetime, so it’s important to keep them as healthy as possible. Plus, who actually likes getting their teeth drilled into for cavities and other procedures? It’s better to just nip it in the bud and take care of your teeth on a daily basis, the right way. National Dental Hygiene Month is celebrated in October, which means that before you get too deep into all the candy corn and pumpkin spice lattes, remember that taking care of your teeth is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Let’s start by...

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Childhood Obesity: Understanding the Growing Epidemic

Posted by Emily Pazel

In a world where we upload a picture of our food to social media before eating it, it’s no wonder that our fascination with food has dramatically increased over the years. In the United States alone, one thirdof children are now either overweight or obese. Although having extra weight as a child might seem harmless, the consequences come later in life when you face higher risks of health complications such as heart disease, diabetes, or even become more prone to developing mental disorders such as high levels of stress or depression. With this growing epidemic upon us, now is the time to recognize the symptoms of childhood obesity, be aware of the factors that can cause it and educate yourself on how you can best prevent it in order to keep you and your loved ones healthy and happy. Symptoms Diagnosing obesity can be tricky. While some children are clearly carrying around extra pounds, others might actually just have larger than average body frames. Another issue is ...

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Holistic Health and Burn Treatment

Posted by Sandy Thompson

You have no doubt incurred some sort of burn in your lifetime. Whether you’ve scalded your hand with boiling water while cooking, developed a blistering sunburn after a long day at the beach, or something worse, burns can range from slight annoyance to life-threatening. Thanks to advances in medicine and our overall understanding of what happens when a person gets burned, we are now more than ever better equipped to treat victims of burns. This has drastically decreased the mortality rate that we see from severe burns today—in 1952, victims of more than 50 percent total body surface area burns had only a 50 percent chance of survival. Today, victims of the same severity of burns have a 98 percent chance of recovering from their injuries. This is due in large part to changes in initial assessments and procedural actions in the time shortly after a burn takes place. While these advancements in conventional medicine have improved conditions on the more severe side of bu...

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Diabetes Breathalyzer Could Replace Need For Pricking Finger

Posted by Kristal Roberts

Most diabetics are familiar with the daily task of pricking their finger to draw blood, it’s something they must do to test their levels. But a new tool on the horizon will allow diabetics to ditch the pricking and it’s as easy as breathing. Oxford University researchers have developed an breathalyzer that replaces the need for drawing blood, according to ExtremeTech. As pointed out in the report, published in the American Chemical Society journal Analytical Chemistry, diabetics can have fruity smelling breath, which indicates acetone. It’s a natural byproduct of the metabolism. A strong presence of acetone signifies ketoacidosis. This could mean that there isn’t enough insulin in the bloodstream to handle glucose, which is a signal of diabetes. However, It’s important to keep in mind that fruity smelling breath doesn’t always mean a person is diabetic. There are so many other compounds in our breath that an accurate measure ...

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Study Finds Diabetes Can Damage Your Brain, Affect Daily Activities

Posted by Kristal Roberts

The damage diabetes can cause to important organs like the kidneys, heart and even eyes are pretty well known, but new research reveals that poor blood sugar levels can damage the brain as well. The study, published in the Neurology journal, found that brain damage from diabetes can result in lower cognitive function and the loss of ability to complete daily functions. Dr. Vera Norak, an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, led the research group in the diabetes study. Norak and her associates monitored 66 people who were on average 65-years-old, over the course of two years. About half of the group had diabetes while the other half didn’t, and in two years’ time, the group with diabetes received lower scores on cognitive tests than they did in the beginning of the research. Those without diabetes experienced little to no decline in cognitive function over the time period. So what&...

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Nurses Should Embrace a Little Chocolate

Posted by Kristal Roberts

The Easter holiday is now behind us, but one thing sure to be left over everywhere is chocolate. You may have already spotted a couple chocolate eggs or chocolate Easter bunnies at your hospital’s receptionist desk. Or maybe they were tucked in various areas near nurses’ admin area. Either way, professionals like you already know the fat, sugar and calories in chocolate is filled with threats to your waistline and overall health---like obesity, diabetes and a number of other complications. There’s no doubt that’s it’s easy to give into a craving and take a bite, but you may appreciate the fact that certain chocolate has some seriously redeeming health benefits. The cocoa bean used to make chocolate contains plant sterols and flavanols, which are very powerful antioxidants. Chocolate rich in plant sterols and flavanols have been linked to improved memory, blood circulation, prevent strokes, lower cholesterol and bolster heart heal...

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Why Love is Literally Medicine to the Body

Posted by Kristal Roberts

Every February, tons of chocolate is sold in heart-shaped boxes, adorable teddy bears are dressed up in top hats with “I Love You” messages, and millions of people hang out at the card section of the store as Valentine’s Day nears, trying to find the perfect words to express how they feel. Aside from the commercialism of it all, love is truly a splendid thing, but it’s more than just the euphoric high of falling in love or that safe, familial feeling people experience with friends and family. Love has a measurable impact on the heart and overall well-being. Here are just a few ways love makes you healthy. Heart Health A 2013 Finnish study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found cardiac events (both fatal and non-fatal) were 58 to 66 percent higher in unmarried men and 60 to 65 percent higher in unmarried women. Married people who undergo heart surgery are three times more likely to survive it compared to single people.&...

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The Night Shift Weight Gain: Why Pounds Creep Up on Night Nurses

Posted by Kristal Roberts

There are many reasons to enjoy working the night shift if you’re a nurse---many times you can earn more money, less management is present, the patient visitations slow down, less tests are being administered and fewer phone calls are being made. However, one of the most dreadful parts of working the night shift for many nurses is the dreaded weight gain. If you feel like you’ve gained weight since working at night, you’re not going crazy. Research Finds Weight Gain Trends in Night Shift Nursing Several nurses complain of weight gain when working the night shift, and over the years, plenty of research has shown that this is a real problem. According to a study published in the May 2012 issue Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, an experiment conducted with 2,000 Australian nurses found that nurses who switched from the day shift to the night shift gained weight over a two-year period, with their Body Mass Index increasing my 0.5 units. (http://...

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National Diabetes Month: Great Tools For Diabetic Patients to Manage Disease

Posted by Kristal Roberts

When we think of November, we often think of Thanksgiving, turkey and our favorite rich meals and decadent desserts that families eat on the holidays, but November is Also National Diabetes Month. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, but thanks to advancements in modern technology, diabetic patients are literally taking their health issues into their own hands. Diabetes Type 1 usually develops in the average person by age 20, when the pancreas can no longer develop insulin, so patients have to be treated with insulin along with other medications. However, the most common type of Diabetes is Type 2, which causes excess glucose in the blood, and it can be controlled through diet and exercise, or in some cases, reversed. Whether you are concerned about becoming diabetic, have been diagnosed as prediabetic, or you have full blown diabetes, there are several gadgets out on the market people can use to monitor their blood glucose, provide s...

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Lack of Vitamin D May Lead to Premature Death

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Colin Dunn (Flickr)

Lack of Vitamin D May Lead to Premature Death People who are deficient in vitamin D may be twice as likely to die prematurely than those who have adequate levels of this vitamin. According to a recent study, a research team discovered, as observed over nine years, that people with less than 10 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D present in their blood levels are twice as likely to die early than people with at least 30 nanograms/milliliter of the vitamin. This is based on a review of 32 studies conducted on vitamin D blood levels and the death in 566,583 participants from 14 countries, including the United States, whose average age is 55. Their 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels, referring to the vitamin D present in blood, were studied. Based on the results of the study, people should try to increase their vitamin D levels, according to the study author and UC San Diego professor Cedric Garland. Three years ago, the Institute of Medicine has recommended 20 ng/ml as the mi...

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Chocolate May Help Solve Obesity and Diabetes Problems

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: John Loo (Flickr)

Obesity is a common health problem in the US, with more than a third of its population suffering from the condition. Obesity greatly increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. But recent study shows that both conditions can be prevented by eating the right type of chocolate. Cacao and cocoa powder, for instance, are among the types of chocolates with the highest levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. If you eat high levels of flavanols, it could reduce insulin resistance and enhance glucose regulation, effects which may protect you from type 2 diabetes. The research team of a mouse study was led by Andrew P. Neilson, a researcher from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Department of Food Science and Technology. They found out that cocoa, the main component of chocolate, restricted the mice’s ability to gain weight and reduce their sugar levels. This study was also supported by a study conducted earlier this year about ho...

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Preventing Diabetes with the Right Meal Size

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Nick Hubbard (Flickr)

Putting your meals of the day into two large meals instead of six smaller ones will give you the same amount of calories while controlling your blood sugar levels and weight among patients with type 2 diabetes. This is according to a recent study in the Czech Republic, which was published in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. The research consisted of 54 patients, 25 women and 29 men. They were under medication for diabetes. Many of them were between 30 and 70 years old. They were distributed into two groups of 27 members each. Each group had to follow one of the two diets with limited caloric content for 12 weeks. After such period has passed, the group switched to the second diet and continued it for 12 weeks. The diets were 500 calories less than the recommended daily intake. One diet consisted of six meals – breakfast, small snack, lunch, small snack, dinner, and small snack. The other diet consisted of two lar...

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Coffee May Help Prevent Retinal Damage

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: nadia nameless (Flickr)

Coffee has a compound that could lower the damage to your eyesight and prevent blindness often caused by aging, glaucoma, and diabetes, according to a study. Raw coffee contains 1% caffeine, but it has 7% to 9% chlorogenic acid (CLA), which is a strong antioxidant. When tested on mice, it lowers the effect of retinal degeneration. This is based on a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The retina requires a high level of oxygen, which puts it at risk of experiencing oxidative stress. If it does not get enough oxygen, it will be exposed to free radicals, which could cause blindness. During the research, which was funded by The Korea Institute of Science and Technology, the mice were exposed to nitric oxide, which led them to experience free radicals and oxidative stress. Eventually, the mice showed signs of retinal degeneration. However, those which were treated with CLA before they were treated with nitric oxide showed no signs of retinal damage a...

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Being Underweight Is More Lethal Than Being Overweight

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Jon Bell (Flickr)

People who are underweight are in more danger than obese people, according to a study. Researchers concluded that extremely underweight people have double the risk of dying, based on 50 studies that were previously conducted on the subject. Health campaigns have been so far focused on obesity, but it is also a must to ensure that there are campaigns aimed to prevent underweight problems among adults and fetuses alike. The anti-obesity campaign should be staged in a way that it would not lead to underweight problems. The dangers of being underweight were the subject of a study that was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health. The study was conducted on people who were monitored for five years or more. Their BMI and its relationship to fatalities were analyzed. Dr. Joel Ray, the head of the research team, also studied how weight among stillborns and newborns are related to their death. They found out that underweight people of any age with a BMI of 18...

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Honey Can Help Resolve Issues With Antibiotics Resistance

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Peter Shanks (Flickr)

Honey may be a solution the medical community is looking for to help them resolve problems brought about by antibiotics resistance. Honey has the ability to attack bacteria causing infection on various levels, hindering bacteria from being resistant to drugs. That’s because this natural sweet food is equipped with weapons of its own, such as osmotic effect, hydrogen peroxide, acidity, polyphenols, and high sugar concentration. All these natural weapons can eliminate bacterial cells. Its osmotic effect alone dries the bacterial cells out and kills them. Another attribute that makes honey effective in killing bacteria is that it prevents the formation of any biofilm, which refers to the bacteria communities that cause diseases. This is due to the fact that the honey prevents quorum sensing, the bacteria’s method of communicating with each other that could possibly lead to biofilm formation. Without quorum sensing, some bacteria cannot even produce toxins, which could ha...

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Caffeine Beneficial for Memory

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Lindsey Turner (Flickr)

Caffeine has long established to have health benefits. However, a new study has shown that it may improve long-term memory when consumed after studying. This is based on a paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The study was led by Daniel Borota from Baltimore’s John Hopkins University. He considered how previous research has looked into caffeine as a cognitive booster, but not its effects on long-term memory. The team studied 160 participants who are 18 to 30 years old. They were all shown photos to be classified as indoor or outdoor. Half of the subjects were administered a caffeine pill after they are asked to classify the photos, while the other half were given a placebo. The next day, they were shown the same photos and some new ones. They were asked which photos were old, new, or similar to the ones shown before. Although both groups were able to identify new photos from the old ones, the group that was given caffeine pills knew which photos were first...

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Not Enough Sleep Among Kids Lead to More Food Consumption

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Paul Schultz (Flickr)

Kids who don’t get enough sleep tend to make up for it with food, according to research. The study was conducted on 16-months-old kids. It showed that those who only slept for less than 10 hours at night ate 150 kcal more than those who slept for 13 hours or more. The research studied the children of 1,303 UK families, particularly their sleeping patterns at 16 months old and their diet at 21 months old. Figures showed that there is a difference of in the kcal consumption between the two groups, as the kids who sleep more only consumed 982kcal, while the kids who sleep less consumed 1087kcal. This was the first research that showed the relationship between sleep and energy intake among kids younger than three-years-old. The study was targeted towards this age group when weight gain is still uncommon, helping establish the possibility that kids this young gain weight from increased energy intake due to lack of sleep. However, the research could not explain the chang...

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How to go International with Your Home-cooked Meals and Why

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: atlai (Flickr)

Are you tired of eating the same meals day in and day out? Why not spice it up a little and experiment by trying some international foods at home. Some new flavors may be a little overwhelming at first but there’s a world of culinary possibilities waiting for you to explore. For starters, international recipe books, such as David Joachim’s “Cooking Light Global Kitchen” can give you healthy and absolutely tasty foods straight from your kitchen. The good news is that many international foods are effortlessly healthy. According to Joachim, many of their recipes are made of a reasonable amount of meat with plenty of vegetables. But his cookbook isn’t intended for vegetarians alone. The delicious Thai curry, for instance, uses ingredients such as antioxidant-rich mashed chili peppers, shallots, and lemongrass. These are then mixed with shrimp or any other food that you might want to try. There are a number International foods that do a good job of ...

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Is Vegetarian Diet Effective in Lowering Blood Pressure?

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Stacy Spensley (Flickr)

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease. But according to the latest research findings in Japan, this doesn’t seem to be a problem for vegetarians, who have lower blood pressure than those who have a largely omnivorous diet. Then, is vegetarian diet good for preventing high blood pressure? The Osaka research findings that are published in JAMA Internal Medicine have a meta-analysis based on the millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) of the participants who are divided into vegetarians and omnivores. The study found that vegetarians have lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than omnivores in both clinical trials and observational studies. This reduction is consistent with that of a 11lb weight loss or a low sodium diet. Even a 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure can shave 14% off your risk of dying from stroke and 9% off your risk of dying from coronary heart disease. But the researchers also consider several other factors ...

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How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

Posted by Norlyn Golez

Photo by: Esparta (Flickr)

Having trouble conceiving? It can be quite frustrating having to wait for months or years for some good news, while it seems too easy for other couples to get pregnant. It’s still hard for experts to determine what could be the reason behind this. However, there are some tips that may increase your chances of finally having a baby, including the following: Get over your soda addiction. Two or more servings of soda reduce women’s ability to conceive by 16%. Take better care of your teeth. Women with gum disease may delay your conception by two more months. Dental health should be maintained if you want to get pregnant fast. Reduce TV time for him. Spending over 20 hours watching TV can reduce your man’s sperm count as much as 44%. Sleep better. IVF treatments are best supported with seven to eight hours of sleep every day. Control chronic anxiety. High stress levels prevent women from ovulating. Lose we...

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