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Guide toHealth WellnessandBeauty

a blank slate media/litmor publications special section • april 22, 2016

34 health, wellness & beauty • News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016

Natural ways to relieve chronic pain term pain, too often their usage leads to misuse and dependence, especially when they are used to treat chronic pain.

For long-term pain from arthritis, research suggests that nonopioid medications and even nondrug treatments often provide relief with less risk of addiction and overdose than opioids. Reducing pain using alternative methods with less risk can involve rethinking trips to the medicine cabinet. Doctors and naturalists may advocate for natural pain relievers as a first step to managing pain.

Massage

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hronic pain can be debilitating and interfere with daily life in various ways. Over-the-counter, antiinflammatory and analgesic drugs are some of the most widely used medications in the United States, but when such medications prove ineffective, prescription pain relievers, which can be addictive, are often a pain sufferer’s next choice.

Consumer Reports indicates that roughly 45 people per day in America die from overdoses of opioid-containing pain medications, which include methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Prescriptions for these drugs have climbed 300 percent in the last 10 years. Although opioids can be safe when used properly to treat short-

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There’s more to massage than working out the kinks of tight muscles.

Massage may help boost the body’s levels of endorphins and serotonin, both of which are natural painkillers and mood regulators. The Mayo Clinic’s Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program has conducted a number of studies on massage as treatment for pain following surgery, ultimately finding that massage significantly relieves pain and reduces anxiety.

Dietary changes Pain is often linked to inflammation in the body. When eating, choose foods that won’t worsen existing inflammation. Eating less sugar, dairy, and gluten products, which can contribute to inflammation, can help a person feel better. Increase consumption of foods that reduce inflammation, such as raw vegetables.

Hot and cold therapy Cold compresses can reduce inflammation quickly and also serve as a local anesthetic. Heat therapy can ease aches and pains and make muscles more flexible. Try applying a hot compress prior to stretching to make limbs more limber.

Take the sun A Boston University study that examined 221 men and women with knee osteoarthritis found that those who spent 15 to 20 minutes in the sun increased their body’s production of vitamin D and experienced less pain as a result. When the sun is scarce, it’s adviseable to get between 400 and 800 IUs of vitamin D daily through supplements and foods.

Brisk walking Fast walking is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that utilizes most of the body. Walking encourages blood circulation, removes toxins, burns calories, and stabilizes blood fats and sugars.

Plus endorphins released from exercise can help a person feel good. A great thing about walking is just about anyone can do it.

Mind-body exercises Exercises that combine focus with stretching can alleviate physical pain and improve mental clarity. Look for yoga, pilates and meditation classes and give them a try.

Chronic pain may be relieved with the use of natural remedies, which help pain sufferers reduce their reliance on overthe-counter or prescription medications.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016 • health, wellness & beauty

35

The benefits of reading

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any people are avid readers, feeling that a good book remains the most entertaining form of escapism. But reading provides more than just an opportunity to leave the daily grind behind.

While many people may read to immerse themselves in something other than a movie or a television show, they may not know about all the additional benefits they are enjoying when cuddling up with a good book.

Reading can improve brain function.

A recent study from researchers at Emory University discovered that reading a novel can improve brain function in various ways. During the study, researchers found that reading fiction improves connectivity in the brain. In addition, reading fiction improved readers’ ability to put themselves in other peoples’ shoes, which might help them relate better to people in both the present and future.

Reading can benefit long-term brain health. While readers engrossed

in a great book might only be worried about what’s coming on the next page, the benefits to reading are much more long-term than the next chapter.

Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that reading is one of a handful of mentally stimulating activities that can benefit brain health in old age. In their Rush Memory and Aging Project, researchers examined nearly 300 elderly men and women, giving them tests of memory and thinking throughout the final years of their lives. When participants, who were surveyed as to how often they engaged in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, passed away, their brains were examined for signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Researchers discovered that the participants who engaged in mentally challenging activities most often had slower rates of memory decline. In addition, even those who had symptoms of brain damage that are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia seemed to benefit from the stimulation that mentally challenging activities produced.

Reading can help reduce stress.

Another big benefit of reading is its relationship to stress. According to a 2009 study from researchers at the University of Sussex in England, reading can reduce stress by up to 68 percent. In addition, reading might help relieve that stress even faster than other forms of stress relief because it allows for a more immediate escape from the stress of daily life.

Reading can help you get a more restful night’s sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, engaging

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in a calming activity for an hour before going to bed can help your body wind down and ready itself for sleep. Some people may struggle to fall asleep after reading on an electronic device, such as a tablet or e-reader, as the light that emanates from such devices may be activating the brain. If need be, stick to reading traditional print books and magazines before going to bed.

Reading is not only a favorite activity for many people, but it’s also something that can benefit the body in myriad ways.

36 health, wellness & beauty • News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016

ACUPUNCTURE For Pain, Allergies, Diabetes & Weight Loss

by Dr. Dazhi Chen, PhD, NYS Licensed Acupuncturist

Pain Management immediately after discontinuing the Acupuncture is a program. Numerous factors convery effective tribute to weight gain and difficulty in treatment for pain losing weight, including stress and relief. It promotes metabolism. I have developed a self-healing, and healthy, successful treatment for loshas no negative ing weight with acupuncture. With side effects. In 70% of cases, back, my approach, you will see results as neck, knee, shoulder pain and sciati- early as the FIRST WEEK, food cravca, will be SIGNIFICANTLY ings and appetite will be reduced, REDUCED after 3-4 treatyou’ll have better self-conments trol and your metabolic Pain may be SEASONAL ALLERfunction will improve.

GIES: Acupuncture relieved 50% after OTHER HEALTH BENE3 treatments. works very well in relievFITS: Acupuncture dimining symptoms like sneez- Allergy symptom ishes stress, insomnia, ing, runny nose, congesdepression, fatigue, hair relief in 1-3 tion and coughing quickloss, constipation, menotreatments. ly (in 1-3 treatments).

Blood sugar level pausal symptoms, headDIABETES: With down after 1.5 hr. aches and improves ED, acupuncture, blood fertility. You will experience treatment. sugar levels can drop an increased sense of wellmost of the time after Lose weight and being. Acupuncture is a do not gain it back. safe alternative treatment. only one to two hours.

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Save money and still get in shape

Committing to multiple personal training sessions as opposed to paying on a session-by-session basis is one potential way to save money when trying to get in shape.

T

he costs of getting fit can sometimes seem formidable. Men and women on tight budgets may feel that gym memberships, home exercise equipment or costly personal training sessions are simply beyond their means.

Such concerns can have long-term negative impacts on individuals’ health, which only highlights the need to find ways to save when attempting to get in shape.

While there is no shortage of ways to spend money when trying to get back in shape, there are even more ways to save when adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Buy in bulk. Many professional fitness services, whether it’s gym memberships or personal training sessions, offer greater discounts to individuals willing to make bigger commitments. Men and women who commit to a 12-month gym membership instead of going month-tomonth can typically save a substantial amount of money each month by making such long-term commitments. For example, a gym may charge $89 for a month-to-month membership, but only $69 per month for people who commit for a full year. That’s a savings of nearly 23 percent. Personal trainers also typically offer considerable discounts to clients who commit to a greater number of sessions than those who simply purchase one session at a time.

Join a gym at the right moment.

Many gyms capitalize on people’s New Year’s resolutions to get fit by offering steep discounts to men and women who sign up at the end of December or in January. Others may discount memberships in late winter when people want to

get in shape before the return of beach season. Signing up during the height of discount season or when gyms are offering special discounts, such as anniversary or holiday deals, can save you a lot of money over the course of the year.

Work out at home. If a gym membership is simply beyond your means, create your own workout area at home.

Visit a nearby sporting goods store and purchase some weights and go for jogs around the neighborhood to meet your daily cardiovascular exercise goals. If space is limited at home, embrace yoga.

Yoga provides both strength and balance training, and all you need is room for a yoga mat.

Investigate your health insurance.

Many health insurance providers offer gym membership rebates to their customers. If you have never had a gym membership in the past, you may not even know if your provider offers this benefit. Gym membership rebates typically require that policy holders visit their gyms ‘X’ number of times in a sixor 12-month span (i.e., 50 times in six months or 100 times in 12 months) in order to earn rebates. A $400 annual rebate on a gym membership that costs $69 per month cuts the yearly cost of that gym membership by nearly 50 percent. If your existing insurance plan does not offer such rebates, speak with your employer about including it when the time comes to renew the insurance offerings in the future.

Getting fit does not have to break the bank. Health-conscious men and women can find numerous ways to save on their journeys to living more active lifestyles.

News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016 • health, wellness & beauty

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38 health, wellness & beauty • News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016

Be smart about antibiotic use

W

hen used correctly, antibiotics and similar drugs known as antimicrobial agents can alleviate infections caused by various bacteria and some types of fungi and parasites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that these drugs have been used successfully for the last 70 years to treat patients with infectious diseases.

But antibiotics cannot treat

illnesses stemming from viruses, which include most colds and the flu.

As effective as antibiotics can be, antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. The CDC reports that at least two million people become infected with bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics, and roughly 23,000 people die each year as a result of these types of infections. An April 2014 report from the World

Health Organization stated, “This serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. It is now a major threat to public health.”

occurs, a stronger drug may be needed to treat an infection that was once taken care of by a milder medication.

The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics says antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic has lost its ability to effectively control or kill bacterial growth. The three main ways resistance develops include natural resistance to certain types of antibiotics, genetic mutation or through the acquisition of resistance from another bacterium. This resistance can occur spontaneously or through misuse of antibiotics or antimicrobials.

Prescription medications are not always the culprits, either.

Antibiotic use in livestock and food production also may contribute to resistance.

Become educated. The health resource Medscape, powered by WebMD, says in a recent survey of 796 clinicians, 42 percent of doctors have admitted to prescribing antibiotics 10 to 24 percent of the time even when they are not sure they are necessary.

Patient request is a large factor in such offerings. About 25 percent of patients ask their doctor or nurse for antibiotics. Patients who educate themselves about the proper application of antibiotics may be less likely to request them, and that can help prevent the development of a resistance.

When antibiotic resistance

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Adhere to dosage guidelines. When prescribed antibiotics for an infection, take them as directed, making sure you complete the dosage cycle. Do not stop simply because you feel better. Stopping early may not be enough to effectively kill the bacteria and may contribute to resistance in the future.

Antibiotic abuse and resistance are concerns that can be addressed by becoming informed and making smart medication choices.

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Confirm need. Only take antibiotics when a bacteria-,

Take a wait-and-see approach. Wait for lab results to come back for strep throat or other cultures to see if you need an antibiotic. Many viralbased illnesses will go away within two weeks’ time.

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Prudent antibiotic use can help prevent the recurrence of resistance. Individuals can help the process in a number of ways.

parasite- or fungus-based illness is identified. These illnesses may include strep throat, urinary tract infections or ear infections.

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40 health, wellness & beauty • News Times Newspapers, Friday, April 22, 2016 ADVERTORIAL

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