Cascia Talbert's Blog, page 13
May 27, 2022
Standard Time and First Day of School
by Rosie Moore
Most recently I was walking my son to school and noticed after I dropped him off how very hurried everyone was to drop off their precious little ones, But something happened on the way back to the car, parents and family members were all on their phone. Some were texting and walking, others talking to someone, and no one looked at the beautiful sunshine around. I thought to myself that as parents this is the example we are leaving for our kids. But today something was different. Today was the first day of school after the time change for fall back. The sun was out earlier today, the weather was warm, and everyone got an extra hour of sleep. Some of the same parents that had been on the phone during daylight savings time were strolling to and from school. They had pleasant smiles on their faces, they greeted me with a good morning. I wondered did I go to the right school as these families were different, they were calm and relaxed.
What is so different between daylight savings and standard time? When you have standard time it is dark earlier right before dinner. With daylight savings time the days are longer allowing us to do more things and stay up late. Our lives will pass before us if we continue to run the so-called “rat race” of work. We do need to work for a living, however, we should choose how we spend our time with our children and family. The kids are little only for so long and before you know it they are graduating high school and parents are becoming empty nesters. The feeling of having just one more day with them being little and the things we would do stays in our hearts. Take a moment today to read a book with your child enjoying the afternoon time before dinner. Share what you did in your day and ask your child what did they do today.
The article Standard Time and First Day of School by Rosie Moore appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.
Ease Your Insomnia and Get a Better Night’s Sleep
One thing I can not get enough of is sleep. The average adult needs 6-8 hours of sleep a night. But in our stressed out, busy, fast paced culture sleep has become a luxury. Millions of people suffer from sleep problems since they don’t get the proper Sleep apnea therapy treatment.
Before the light bulb was invented adults slept on the average of 10 hours a night. But that has dropped significantly. A poll was conducted in 2002 that found that the average American gets fewer than 7 hours of sleep on a week night. These hours of lost sleep, called a sleep deficit, can not be made up on the weekends or holidays.
Compare a sleep debt to a financial debt. The longer you keep the debt the more it will grow and the harder it is to pay it off. This can wear your body out. Not enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes, reduced immunity, daytime drowsieness, poor performance, traffic accidents, falls, memory problems, and cognitive impairment.
Have you ever been so stressed out that when you laid in bed you were wide awake and your brain was going a mile a minute? I’ve had several nights like the above. Sometimes it is hard to let go of all the worries from the day. This can keep you up and the longer you think about the past day and how much you want a good nights sleep the more anxious you become.
Sometimes you get so anxious that the only thing you believe will help you sleep is popping that forbidden sleeping pill. Many Americans take their, “just in case” sleeping pill every night. Some people fall into a trap. If they don’t take their sleeping pill they have what is called, “rebound insomnia.” This makes them worry even more about not being able to fall asleep. Which in turn causes them to take another round of pills. What else can you do to get a better night’s sleep?
Here are a few great tips to help you get a better night’s sleep.
1. Cut Down on the Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you up at night. Some people have a stronger reaction to caffeine than others. You could be sensitive to caffeine. The best way to find out is by decreasing your caffeine intake. If you usually drink 3 or more cups of coffee in the morning cut back to two. Don’t drink any caffeinated beverages after 12pm. This includes, coffee, tea and soda. Don’t switch to decaffeinated coffee. Coffee is known to trigger heart burn which can cause you to be awake at night.
2.Medications that can keep you up at night
There are several prescription and over the counter drugs that are known to cause sleeplessness. Beta blockers which are prescribed for high blood pressure or heart trouble may cause insomnia and nightmares. The osteoporosis medicine Actonel can interfere with sleep. Many antidepressants, such as Effexor, Prozac and Zoloft can also cause you to toss and turn at night.
3. Avoid Alcohol
Some people believe that a glass of wine or one beer is enough to relax them and help them sleep. In fact alcohol is known to do the exact opposite. Alcohol can effect your melatonin levels and may even cause you to wake up too early. If you are having trouble sleeping stay away from that evening cocktail.
4. Exercise
Exercise is not only good for your physical health it is also a good stress reliever. Your level of anxiety will be a lot less if you take a walk, jog, or play an outdoor sport. It is best to exercise in the afternoon so you can get a little sun on your face. Light combined with exercise has been known to improve depression and insomnia. The sun exposure can also increase melatonin levels and prevent breast cancer in women.
5. Take a bath
A hot bath or shower at night can help you fall asleep. The trick is to take your bath about an hour before bedtime. A hot bath raises your core body temperature. When your body temperature drops it signals to your brain that it is “sleepy time.” During the first part of a night’s sleep your body temperature drops. Taking a bath an hour before you go to bed can trick your body into thinking that it is already asleep. This can help if you make it part of your bedtime ritual each night.
Relax and forget about the stresses at work, or lack of work, family problems, or whatever is keeping you up at night. Consider these five tips and I hope they help you get a better night’s sleep.
The article Ease Your Insomnia and Get a Better Night’s Sleep by Cascia Talbert appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.
Minimize the Side Effects of a Keto Diet
by Guest Author
The extremely low-carb keto diet forces your body to burn fat for energy. Your body adjusts by asking your liver to create chemicals called ketones to fuel your energy. Switching to a diet very low in carbohydrates requires your body to adjust to the new way of eating. Some people experience side effects during the transition period.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary from person to person. People commonly report the effects as they begin the new way of eating, and last for about a week. It’s common enough for people to feel under the weather that the condition is sometimes called the keto flu. The good news is you can manage the symptoms and mitigate the side effects.
While some people may transition to a ketogenic diet without any side effects, others may experience gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Others suffer from headaches, irritability, and have trouble concentrating or sleep poorly. Lastly, some people struggle with muscle cramps, soreness, dizziness, and weakness. Almost everyone has trouble battling sugar cravings.
Make sure you’re eating enoughRestrictive diets can be difficult if you don’t consume enough calories. Almost everyone struggles with food cravings for sweets. Research shows that low-carb diets help reduce cravings for high-carb foods over time but be sure to eat enough fat to help reduce cravings and keep you from being hungry.
Stay hydrated and balance your electrolytesDrinking enough water is important to a healthy diet every day, but especially if you’re battling symptoms like fatigue and muscle cramping. Replacing fluids is critical with diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress because these symptoms can leave your electrolytes imbalanced. The keto diet restricts many high-potassium foods like fruits, beans, and starches, which can further contribute to the imbalance.
Staying hydrated and balancing your electrolytes may help reduce any symptoms experienced in the adaptation period of the diet. You can do this by including plenty of green leafy vegetables to maintain your electrolyte balance. Adding in foods high in magnesium can address muscle cramps, headaches, and issues sleeping.
Get plenty of rest and sleepFatigue and irritability are common in the first week of following a ketogenic diet, so it may be a good idea to give your body a rest. Avoid strenuous exercise until your body adapts to the new way of eating.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your stress hormones rise. The additional cortisol can make you irritable and worsen your keto flu symptoms. If you are having a difficult time falling or staying asleep, try reducing your caffeine intake and regulating your sleep patterns, so you go to bed and wake at the same time every day.
It’s a marathon, not a sprintTypically the effects of the keto flu only last about a week, but can make people uncomfortable enough to give up on making a big change. It’s a lifestyle, not a temporary diet, so think of your transition as a marathon, not a sprint. Cut back slowly on carbs while you increase the fat and protein of your diet to make the transition smoother.
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Thirdhand Smoke: The Dangers And How You Can Protect Your Family
by Tim Werth
November is Tobacco Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to learn about the dangers of firsthand smoke and secondhand smoke’s secret younger brother, thirdhand smoke. Thirdhand smoke refers to the residual contamination from tobacco smoke that lingers long after the smoking stops. While the smell of lingering tobacco may seem harmless enough, it is really an indication of the presence of dangerous toxins.
It may seem that as long as the tobacco-filled culprit isn’t in the room, you wouldn’t be in any danger. Research has already shown that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, with obesity following as the second leading cause. However, researchers believe that tobacco’s lingering chemicals, including nicotine, can be just as harmful as firsthand and secondhand smoke are.
According to pulmonologist Humberto Choi, MD, there has been an increase in lung cancer cases not directly related to firsthand or secondhand smoking. Researchers are looking into other possible causes and thirdhand smoke is at the top of their list. One study has found that exposure to thirdhand smoke may lead to damage and breaks in human DNA. Dr. Choi says that DNA damage can increase a person’s chances of disease.
How Can I Protect My Family From Thirdhand Smoke?While it is fairly easy to keep yourself and your children away from secondhand smoke by avoiding smokers and smoking areas, thirdhand smoke is much more difficult because it is practically invisible. Thirdhand smoke tends to stick to carpets, walls, curtains, clothes, hair, car interiors, and any other fabric in the room. This makes children most susceptible to the toxins of thirdhand smoke, as they tend to spend more time on the floor and touching these surfaces and then their mouths and noses.
Even deep cleaning won’t do much to get out the toxins that have sunk into the surfaces of your home or car. The only sure way to get rid of thirdhand smoke is to remove the contaminated fabrics and replace them. For a room that was often smoked in, you may need to scrape off the old paint and start a new coat from scratch.
Thirdhand smoke toxins are also absorbed into dust particles. These particles and other air pollutants are then pulled into your home’s hvac system and re-circulated five to seven times per day. The particles build up in the ductwork and cause long-term harm to your health. To rid this space of thirdhand smoke, you would need a thorough cleaning of your ducts and HVAC system.
Being aware of the harmful effects of thirdhand smoke is the first step to fighting against it. If you think or know that your home was previously a smoker’s paradise, consider the ways that thirdhand smoke may still be lingering and start the work to rid your home of those toxins.
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Are Nursing Benefits the New Employee Perk?
As a physician, I watch so many of my patients struggle with the transition back to work after having a baby — the lack of sleep, the challenge of balancing career with a newborn, and of course, the demands of breastfeeding, which often requires juggling a work schedule around pumping sessions. Of course, this would be made comfier with the right apparel like that Black maxi nursing friendly dress.
So I’m excited to see some employers beginning to support new moms by providing a workplace environment that is not only conducive to breastfeeding, but encourages mothers to do so. Over 300 companies are now adding nursing benefits to their employment packages, and breastfeeding-friendly practices are becoming the new normal — a huge step in the right direction for women in the workplace.
Companies such as Hulu, Zappos and Zillow have taken note that only 59% of new moms return back to the workplace after childbirth, and are adding resources such as Lactation Lab, Milk Stork or Mamava Pod to encourage them to do so. Mamava provides freestanding private pods for pumping and breastfeeding mothers on the go. Milk Stork enables moms to get their breast milk home when they’re away on business. And Lactation Lab’s test kits help moms optimize the quality of their breast milk, enabling many moms to breastfeed their babies for longer when they’re faced with questions around milk supply or quality.
As a result of such initiatives, new moms don’t have to choose between their career and their commitment to breastfeeding. This in turn helps businesses keep some of their best and brightest on staff. Research shows that moms who work, especially full time, breastfeed their babies for less time than those who don’t, but adding lactation support boosts employee retention by 27%. As referenced in the study, some women who weren’t provided with private pumping areas resorted to pumping in toilet stalls at their place of employment, resulting in premature weaning. The study also showed that providing women with pumping equipment increases breastfeeding duration after they return to work.
I started my company, Lactation Lab, after feeling overwhelmed while trying to breastfeed my newborn while working full time in my busy family medicine practice. My daughter was failing to gain weight, despite an ample milk supply, and I didn’t have any way to test my milk to find out why. Working with top chemists and a world-class lab, I spent two years developing our kit, which tests for 17 key nutrients and fatty acids that are most important for a child’s development, with the goal of giving moms more confidence and information about their breast milk to keep them breastfeeding for longer. For working moms in particular, who often see more challenges in supply and milk quality, our product can help them to find solutions that enable them to breastfeed their babies for a longer duration.
The World Health Organization recommends babies consume only breast milk for the first six months of life and ideally up to one year after complementary foods are introduced. And studies show that when mom is less stressed and supported, she is more likely to breastfeed for longer. (studies here). Employers can do well by doing good: by taking steps to support breastfeeding at work, they can contribute to the health of their employees’ babies, improve their employees’ productivity and increase their loyalty.
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What to Look for In a Prenatal Vitamin
by Guest Author
Pregnancy is a very special time during a woman’s life. When a woman is pregnant, it is important that she pays very careful attention to her health. This will ensure that she is in the best of shape to carry her baby and that her baby will be born healthy.
It is important for a pregnant woman to maintain a healthy diet, but she should also cover any nutritional gaps by supplementing with a prenatal vitamin. But all prenatal vitamins are not created equal you should look for the one with the most natural minerals in it.
For optimal health, the prenatal multivitamin a pregnant woman chooses should be of high quality and contain the right amount of vitamins and minerals. Keeping that in mind, here are some things to look for in a prenatal vitamin.
Essential Nutrients for a Healthy Pregnancy
A good prenatal vitamin will contain the following:
Folic Acid: It is very important that a prenatal vitamin contains folic acid. This will help to prevent neural tube birth defects that can affect the brain and spinal cord.
Calcium: Calcium is also important for pregnant women. It helps in the prevention of bone loss as the baby uses calcium for its own bone growth.
Iodine: Iodine is essential to maintaining healthy thyroid functioning during pregnancy. An iodine deficiency can also cause stunted physical growth, mental disability, and deafness. In some cases, lack of adequate iodine may lead to miscarriage and stillbirth.
Iron: Iron helps the blood carry oxygen. This is essential in the growth and functioning of both mother and child.
Other: Additional ingredients that are recommended in a prenatal vitamin include vitamin D, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and zinc. These are all supplements that can boost your immune system, keep you energized, and promote optimal health while you are pregnant.
If you are looking for a prenatal vitamin to take during your pregnancy, you will want to get yours from a source that guarantees that their products are pure and high quality. The Thorne Research company has a trusted reputation in the world of health and wellness. Each ingredient they use in their supplements is tested in advance and they guarantee that their products are safe and effective.
If you’re pregnant, you want to make sure you are putting your health first. You can do this by getting the right amount of exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and following up with a quality prenatal vitamin. We wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy with exciting years of parenting ahead!
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Are You Too Old To Think About Getting Braces?
by Guest Author
When you aren’t happy with the look of your teeth it can be tough to keep smiling. Many adults pass through their adolescence with fairly straight teeth when full braces are usually needed. But, with jaw growth and pressure from wisdom teeth, over time your adult teeth can become crowded and crooked. Trying to hide your smile because you hate your crooked or gapped teeth can be a thing of the past with the use of invisalign braces.
Maybe you just never had the time or the budget to afford traditional braces when you were younger, or you think that you are too old to wear braces now. You couldn’t be more wrong. You no longer have to end up with a mouth full of metal and wires that can be embarrassing and unattractive as an adult.
With Invisalign clear aligners, you can correct your smile in very little time and few people will even notice. The clear resin aligners are molded for comfort and can be used to correct gaps, align teeth and straighten your smile, and keep you looking great the whole time. Take a look at some of the advantages of using Invisalign to get your smile back on track.
Great Expectations
The science behind classic metal and wire braces can be a bit uncertain. With the excessive pressure behind braces combined with a growing adolescent body and jaw, it is hard to predict final results. But with Invisalign you can see a fully computerized module design of exactly what shape your teeth will be molded into and exactly what results to expect.
Length of Process
After a full oral examination, your doctor should be able to share a treatment plan with you, detailing your aligner schedule and how long you will need to have treatment. Invisalign is much faster than braces and can correct your smile in as little as a year depending on the corrections needed. Knowing exactly how long you will have to wear your aligners will let you easily plan any upcoming events like a vacation or a wedding.
Better Appearance
When you picture yourself in braces, seeing the traditional flashy and crowded mouth full of metal and wires can be disturbing. Many people don’t want to consider having their smile corrected because of the unattractive nature of braces as the solution. Invisalign molded aligners are made with clear materials and snap right over your existing teeth. They are very subtle and don’t draw a lot of attention.
Comfortable
Metal and wire braces can be very uncomfortable to wear. Not only can the pressure from your braces cause pain and discomfort in your jaw, but the rough cold metal in your mouth can be irritating and even painful. Invisalign smooth clear braces have no rough edges and fit smoothly and tightly over your teeth. They are also removable, giving you the freedom to take a rest and remove them when you eat.
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Teaching Children About Friendship
by Louie Lawent
Making new friends can be stressful for everyone, let alone children who through no fault of their own have to follow their parents to a new city due to circumstances such as a parent finding a new job. Fortunately, I was a very outgoing active kid who enjoyed sports and made people laugh. Making friends wasn’t a problem for me. However, that’s not the case for the shy one, the slow reader or the one who feels a sense of shame for one reason or another. These are the kids who need encouragement to bolster their self-esteem. Their fellow classmates can be part of the solution by going the extra mile to include them in get-togethers and treating them with respect. Making them part of the “group.”
When I was in elementary school, my parents hosted a party for their friends. While the party was in full swing,
one of the ladies came to see me before I went to sleep. She gave me a heartfelt thanks for inviting her son to my birthday party which took place a short while before then. Her son did not have many friends so she was thrilled that I included him. This episode stuck with me as to the importance of inclusion for those children who don’t seem to fit in. My hope is that my children’s picture book “Haley’s Friendship Challenge” will inspire children who
are popular to make an extra effort to become friends with kids who are having a hard time fitting in. A “new” friend for the new kid in town will not only make the new kid’s transition joyful but will also prove beneficial for the popular one who will gain a new perspective.
Many children who move from one city to another or to one school to another are distressed because
they miss their friends that they are leaving behind and believe that the new kids they meet will not
take the place of their “old” ones. Also new surroundings can be very intimidating. Familiarity is a huge comfort to children. Think of how many times kids want to have their parents read the same story over and over again or watch the same cartoon multiple times. Even though a story may be scary, the children know all will turn out well in the end so they are reassured. Also with so many uncertainties in their life, these stories and cartoons provide them with a sense of control. The loss of control is multiplied when a new city, new school and new children are thrown into the mix.
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“Haley’s Friendship Challenge[image error]” is a beautifully illustrated story about a girl who moves to a new town. Unfortunately, she isn’t fitting in and she misses her old friends. For her birthday, Haley receives a much-coveted surprise that she shares with no one. However, her feelings change when she feels empathy for a neighborhood dog that has also lost her pals. After weeks of loneliness, Haley realizes that things are not getting better for either of them; it’s time to make new friends.
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Is it Time For a New Car Already?
When I started up our old 2001 Dodge Neon this morning I noticed that it just didn’t sound quite right. This has been our trusty car for a few years now but I think it is finally wearing out. I am not ready to replace it, but I might not have a choice either.
We could take it in and get it fixed but on our limited budget that might not be the wisest thing to do. I decided to look around on the Internet and see what other options I have. Chris needs a car to get himself to and from work, so I started looking into trucks for sale in our area.
Before we decide to purchase a new car I’d like to read customer reviews of different makes. We’d like a mid sized sedan that gets good gas mileage. Safety is also a big concern of ours.
Recently I came across a website that has rated several different makes and models based on consumer reviews. They have information on just about every make from infiniti to 2010 chrysler review.
My brother has a Kia and according to a 2010 kia review that I read they get good gas mileage and are pretty safe. The 2010 Lexis IS review is pretty nice too although I don’t think I’ll be able to afford a luxury car like that.
Maybe some day when our little Dodge Neon totally dies we will be able to purchase a newer more reliable vehicle. In the meantime I think I am going to continue to read consumer reviews on other vehicles and just think about getting a new car. Hopefully we will be able to drive it for a few more years.
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Parents’ Guide to Wisdom Teeth Removal: What You Need to Know
by LouAnn Moss
Wisdom teeth removal is an outpatient procedure performed on 5 million Americans each year, but many people still have reservations when it’s their turn. This is especially the case for some younger patients — and their parents. Wisdom teeth can come in as early as age 17, and if your teenager needs to undergo the procedure, then you should understand the best ways to provide support before, during, and after the surgery. With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to help parents know what to expect during their teenager’s wisdom tooth removal procedure.
Before the procedure is scheduled, you and your teen’s dentist will discuss the type of sedation to be administered. Patients typically receive an injection of localized anesthetic in addition to nitrous oxide; however, there are a variety of sedation options. For more complicated procedures, IV sedation or generalized anesthesia may be the best choice. The global specialty gases market is forecast to surpass $14 billion by 2026, and while some forms of sedation don’t involve specialty gases, so-called “laughing gas” is usually administered before widsom tooth extraction.
Unfortunately, everyone reacts differently to anesthetic. A few hours after the procedure, most people will feel lingering drowsiness and hazy memories. However, some young people respond very negatively to anesthetic. Your son or daughter may feel intense nasuea, headaches, confusion, and other troubling side effects. Talking to your teen and their dentist is the best way to form the right sedation plan.
After the ProcedureOnce the procedure is over with (the average surgery usually takes approximately 45 minutes), you’ll have to drive your teen home and let them rest for several days. During this period of time, they should only consume foods and beverages approved by their dentist. There are also several activities that should be avoided during the recovery period because they can irritate the surgery site. Even something as simple as using a drinking straw can cause the blood clots in the removal site to loosen, which is a painful condition called a dry socket.
When it comes to pain management, many dentists provide opiates like Vicodin or Oxycodone. While these drugs are effective, they can also come with their own set of side effects, like nausea. Make sure to monitor your child‘s intake of any prescription drugs to ensure they’re taken properly.
Risks of Non-TreatmentEven though dentistry is considered one of the 10 most trusted and ethical professions in the United States, you may be surprised to hear that there is some conflict surrounding the necessity of the procedure as a whole. Not everybody needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, but for those who do, failing to get the procedure performed in time can have seriously negative effects on dental health:
“Instead of growing in like a normal tooth, wisdom teeth get trapped or impacted in your jaw, which often makes them grow in at odd angles and press against your back molars, causing pain and swelling. It also forms a narrow crevice between the teeth, creating the perfect food trap. This makes the tooth difficult to clean, which attracts more bacteria and can cause infection and tooth decay, eventually leading to gum disease, if left untreated,” write Gene Kim and Shira Polan on Business Insider.
According to the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, 51 million school hours are lost each year due to a dental-related illness, and even though wisdom teeth removal isn’t a 100% risk free procedure, experts agree that it’s better, in most cases, to undergo it in order to prevent these potential future repercussions.
Ultimately, communicating with your teen and their dental professional is the best way to form the right treatment plan when it comes to wisdom teeth removal.
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