5 Risky Behaviors That Can Harm Your Health

Many people are searching for ways to live healthier. Most know that this can easily be achieved through proper nutrition and regular exercise. However, there are also other factors that have an effect on your health, and some are maybe easily overlooked. Here are 5 risky behaviors that can harm your health.

Smoking

It’s no secret that smoking kills. Despite the fact that people are aware of all the health risks associated with smoking, many still do it. It is without a doubt one of the unhealthiest habits in today’s society. This habit can literally cost you your life.

While lung cancer is often associated as the most significant risk with smoking, in fact there are many other conditions that are caused by cigarettes that can debilitate and result in premature death.

Some of the most notable health risks associated with smoking include respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis, kidney cancer, leukemia, infertility, stomach cancer, oral cancer, throat cancer, and an increased risk of stroke and heart disease.

Excessive Drinking

Alcohol is a substance that is meant to be consumed in moderation. Did you know that alcohol is actually considered poison by the body? This is why the body prioritizes its metabolization before anything else. 

Having a drink with your friends once in a while or a glass of wine with dinner is totally acceptable and actually good for the heart. However, if you start drinking in excess and especially as a coping mechanism for problems in your life, then you’re going to be facing a much bigger problem. 

Many people overlook the risks that go along with excessive drinking, even though there are a lot of them. Some of the best known health risks of alcoholism include dementia, colon cancer, liver disease, stroke, depression, liver cancer, hepatitis, anxiety and premature death, just to name a few.

Eating In Front Of The TV

This is something that many people do, but while it can greatly contribute to poor health maybe easily overlooked. Instead of taking the time to really enjoy their food, most people would rather wolf it down while watching a movie or TV show. However, there are several health risks that are associated with this activity.

First off, it will draw all your attention to the TV instead of your food, which will make you eat more than you should or normally would simply because you do not pay attention to how much you have eaten.

You will be so distracted by what you’re watching that you won’t even see how much you’ve eaten until it’s all gone. If you enjoy eating junk food while watching TV, then you will most likely form a habit of doing this, which means that you will bring a few snacks with you every time you want to watch something, even when you’re not particularly hungry.

Drinking Calories

Nowadays, many people find water to be boring, so they avoid drinking it every chance they get. This has been made worse with many companies now making flavored water. Nevertheless, soda is still the most famous substitute for water, even though it is loaded with calories, sugar, and chemicals.

Not only are these beverages filled with sugar and unhealthy chemicals, but they will also make you drink your calories instead of eating them, adding inches to your waistline, and getting nothing in the way of nutrients for your body. The next time you want to buy a can of soda, make sure to think twice about whether you really need those extra calories.

Having Too Much Junk Food

Having too much junk food in your house is a bad idea. Simply by knowing that you can get a junk food snack anytime you want will make it hard for you to resist the temptation to indulge in unhealthy foods. 

It’s always easier to grab a bag of chips than to cook a healthy meal in order to satisfy your hunger. However, this will only make you lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Instead, you should throw away all of that junk food and keep healthy stuff on hand. 

5 Medical Uses For Hypnosis

 

Before we get into how hypnosis can help you improve your overall health, it’s important to note that most people have the wrong idea about hypnosis. When it comes to medicine, hypnosis refers to helping the patient reach a deep state of relaxation. The role of hypnosis in medicine is still evolving, but is being considered in various uses much more than a few decades ago.

 

Despite what you may think, hypnosis doesn’t involve the patient simply following a set of instructions. An encounter with a hypnotherapist does not involve any swinging pocket watches, and you won’t be made to quack like a duck. Instead, it focuses on actually changing the perception in your brain. It makes your mind more open to suggestions. Basically, you learn to start using your brain and thought to help yourself feel better.

 

The biggest myth surrounding hypnosis is that it is used to get someone hypnotized. In fact, if you examine it closely, you see that hypnosis can actually be considered self-hypnosis, since the patient will always be in control. The main goal of this type of treatment is to help you realize that all you need to fight your condition is already within you.

 

Hypnosis has been used in healing for a very long time. It first started getting used in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece. It was popularized during the 18^th century when a man named Franz Anton Mesmer started noticing its therapeutic value. Hypnosis was starting to get used in medical applications during the 19^thcentury. At the time, it was only being used by Scottish and English physicians. Since then, countless major surgical operations were being performed using hypnosis as the only anesthesia.

 

Although hypnosis may seem like it’s too good to be true, it actually works. However, it’s worth noting that it won’t help you cure a huge number of different problems. Hypnosis is mostly used to address physical and mental illnesses associated with excess stress. Here are the five most notable medical uses for hypnosis.

 

Anesthesiology

 

In certain circumstances, hypnosis can be used as the only form of anesthetic for a surgery. It can even be used for serious surgical procedures such as amputation, removal of the gall bladder, and cesarean section. 

 

Sometimes, due to a patient’s hyper-sensitivity or allergy to chemical anesthesia, surgeons turn to hypnotherapists for help. Additionally, sometimes surgeons require conditions in which the patient is able to respond to their directives or questions.

 

Childbirth

 

It’s a well-known fact that medications can increase the risk of something going wrong during childbirth for both the mother and child. Nevertheless, not every woman is able to handle the pain during childbirth. When a woman doesn’t want to use medication but also can’t stand the pain, a hypnotherapist could provide some assistance. In fact, hypnosis can be the sole analgesic for labor.

It’s also worth noting that hypnosis can help reduce vomiting and nausea during pregnancy.

 

Chronic Pain

 

It doesn’t matter if you’re suffering from back pain, migraines, headaches, rheumatism, or arthritis, hypnosis can help you deal with the pain. It will also make it easier for you to perform everyday tasks without you paying too much attention to the pain.

 

Burns

 

If hypnosis is used quickly after a burn, it can help promote healing and reduce inflammation. More specifically, if hypnosis is used during the first few hours after a burn, it can help you deal with pain and increase the speed of the healing process.

 

Hemophilia

 

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that makes it harder for the body to make blood clots, which is a process it must do in order to stop bleeding. Patients suffering from this disorder are often taught to use self-hypnosis in order to control their vascular flow.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Other prominent and well founded uses for hypnosis include weight loss, and smoking cessation. It is important to use only a qualified therpatist who is reputable and well trained in the practice of hypnosis no matter the reason for choosing hypnosis.

5 Tips To Improve Mobility With Arthritis

 

For many people, espeically the elederly, arthritis is a debilitating illness. Arthritis causes increased inflammation around the joint that can lead to immobility and pain. 

 

While there are conventional medical treatments that are available for people with arthritis, many wonder what can be done along with medication to help improve mobility with their arthritis. In fact, there are many natural methods to help manage pain and improve mobility.

This article will show you five different alternative therapies and treatments that can help you manage your daily arthritis symptoms and mobility issues.

 

Hydrotherapy

 

Web M.D. recommends hydrotherapy as a form of exercise for those with arthritis. Hydrotherapy is similar to exercise and a pool, however, the pool tends to be warmer than a traditional swimming pool. With hydrotherapy, participants can get all of the benefits of regular exercise without any of the impact on joints.

 

This may be especially beneficial to those with arthritis because the joints are particularly affected. Having an option for exercise that has zero impact on the joints can increase mobility as well as range of motion. Many times hydrotherapy is considered a form of physical therapy and may be covered by insurance.

 

Range of Motion Exercise

Many sufferers of arthritis keep the affected joints in a tightened position to alleviate pain. Unfortunately, this has the unintended side effect of increasing pain because it shortens ligaments and muscles around the affected joint. This means that instead of decreasing pain over the long-term keeping the joints in a tightened position will increase pain.

 

The Cleveland Clinic recommends all arthritis sufferers participate in range of motion exercises. The rangeof motion exercises typically includes stretching and extending the joints to their full ability. Some range of motion programs may include yoga or tai chi.

 

Lose Weight

 

Because arthritis causes pain and immobility many sufferers of arthritis have excess weight. The excess weight increases pressure and damage on the joints. The increased pressure and damage on the joints increases pain which causes decreased mobility. It becomes a never ending cycle of increased pain and decreased mobility.

 

Mayo Clinic recommends that if you have arthritis, you maintain a healthy body weight. If you’re currently overweight and have a difficult time moving a healthy body weight can be maintained through proper diet. 

 

A meeting with a dietitian can help you start a healthy diet if you are not sure where to begin. The dietitian or nutritionist may also have ideas on foods that can help decrease inflammation in the body and reduce pain from your arthritis.

 

Hot and Cold Therapy

 

One of the benefits of hot and cold therapy is that it can be done at home. The second benefit to hot and cold therapy is that it is very inexpensive. Heating pads and ice packs are easy to have on hand and don’t cost a lot of money. Healthline suggests that arthritis sufferers try alternating hot and cold therapy to affected joints to decrease pain.

 

You may find that some days cold therapy works the best on your arthritic joints while other days a heating pad may be better. Having both on hand to use is going to be the best way to ensure that this therapy is effective at increasing your mobility and decreasing your pain.

 

Massage

 

The arthritis foundation notes that one of the most beneficial treatments for mobility in arthritis patients is massage. Massage can help increase range of motion simply by relieving tension on stiff muscles and ligaments that surround the arthritic joints.

 

The arthritis foundation says that the best types of massage for people with arthritis are either deep tissue massage or Swedish massage. If you are having a high amount of pain deep tissue massage may be difficult to tolerate because of how deep into the muscle massage therapist will go. Either way, massage therapy is an easily accessible treatment to help increase your range of motion when you have arthritis.

 

While arthritis will not go away no matter how well you take care of your body, you can manage your symptoms and stop the progression of the disease. If you combine medication with these holistic approaches to treatment, you are sure to have a happier and pain-free life.

10 Reasons To Drink Coffee Every Day

Ah, nothing beats the sweet smell and taste of coffee in the morning. However, should we really be drinking a cup each day?

 

54% of Americans drink coffee daily; in fact, coffee is the most drank beverage in the world. While some people drink coffee for energy or because they love the taste, it actually offers numerous health benefits.

 

Let’s take a look at 10 more reasons you should drink coffee on the daily:

 

1.     Coffee Can Reduce Your Risk Of Developing Diabetes

 

Over 9% of American’s now have diabetes, and the number one factor behind its development is a poor diet and overall bad lifestyle choices. 

 

Although drinking too much coffee is itself a bad lifestyle choice, drinking a couple of cups daily is not only okay, it also reduces your risk of developing diabetes. 

 

Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health evaluated data from 128,000 healthcare professionals who were surveyed about their diet choices for more than 20 years. During those two decades, 7,300 of them were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but the ones who drank more than one cup of coffee daily, had an 11% lower risk for the disease.

 

2.     Coffee Can Prevent Cavities

 

One main health benefit of coffee is that decreases tooth decay. Several studies have shown that roasted coffee beans are antibacterial against the S. mutans, the bacterium that causes tooth decay.

 

Studies also show that roasted coffee prevents the absorption of such bacteria by the teeth. In the studies, various types of coffee beans were used, both roasted and unroasted, Arabia and Robusta and while all of them provided similar benefits, the roasted varieties seemed to be more active in preventing bacteria from sticking to the teeth.

 

3.     Coffee May Reduce Your Risk Of Developing Alzheimer’s 

 

The cases of Alzheimer’s disease are growing at a scary rate, but there are preventative measures you can take to lower your risk and drinking coffee is one of them.

 

4.     Coffee Improves Your Mood

 

Coffee contains caffeine, a nootropic that improves your mood and cognitive functioning. In short, it makes you more alert, but it also boosts your mood. 

 

This is especially noticeable if you’ve been drinking coffee each day for a year and suddenly stop. You might experience a downshift in your mood, and only by drinking more coffee are you able to raise your spirits. 

 

5.     Coffee Is Good For Your Liver

 

Avoid alcohol and drink more coffee is the advice here. While the former can damage your liver beyond repair, the latter just wants to protect it. 

 

6.     Coffee Could Prevent Skin Cancer

 

Skin cancer is now one of the fastest growing cancers in the world, and more and more people each year are being diagnosed with it. 

 

There are things you can do to cut your risk, and this includes drinking more coffee. Scientists have theorized that caffeine is responsible for this, though no final conclusion has yet been reached. 

 

7.     Coffee Improves Your Cardiovascular Health

 

We’re always being told that coffee is bad for our heart.

 

True, too much coffee is bad for your heart. If you drank 30 cups a day, as the great French writer Balzac was reported to have done, you are putting yourself at massive risk of having a heart attack. However, if you drink coffee each day in moderation, you can actually improve the health of your heart. 

 

8.     Coffee Strengthens Your DNA

 

You might be wondering why you’d need to strengthen your DNA. But why wouldn’t you?

DNA strands can break. To prevent this rather alarming thing from happening all too often, you could drink more coffee, as caffeine tightens DNA integrity. 

 

9.     Coffee Is Rich In Antioxidants

 

Antioxidants are your body’s first line of defense against rogue free radicals, and coffee contains more than many fruits, including oranges and grapes. 

 

10.  And, Yes, Coffee Could Help You Live Longer

 

Okay, let’s expand on that carrot at the top of this article. We’ll let Ming Ding, M.D. explain this one:

 

“Bioactive compounds in coffee reduce insulin resistance and systematic inflammation. They might be responsible for the inverse association between coffee and mortality. However, more studies are needed to investigate the biological mechanisms producing these effects.”

 

In short, there are many good reasons to drink coffee each day.

 

Where’s the barista?

5 Natural Ways To Improve Your Sleep

 

Getting a good night’s sleep can be refreshing and rejuvenating. For millions, though, a good night’s sleep seems just out of reach. People of all ages across the globe suffer from occasional to chronic insomnia.

 

Insomnia is a condition that interrupts your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep. If you are suffering from this sleep disturbance, you may be hesitant to turn to harsh medications to help you fall asleep. Here are 5 ways that you can help improve your sleep naturally.

 

Eliminate Caffeine 

 

The morning cup of coffee seems to be a staple beverage for many people. However, caffeine is not just in coffee. Caffeine can be hiding in the cola you drink, the tea, and even some of the foods you eat. While eliminating caffeine out of your diet 100% may not be possible, try to limit your consumption of caffeine to the mornings only. Prevention Magazine tells us that ingesting caffeine, even 6 hours before bedtime, can disrupt sleep. 

 

Exercise

 

Not only does exercise help you maintain a healthy body weight and better mental outlook but a Sleep Foundation study found that those who exercised were less sleepy during the day and slept better at night. 

 

While a new exercise routine may leave you a little tired at first, regular exercise will give you more energy and help you fall asleep at bedtime. This may have to do with the chemicals released by the body when you exercise. The neurotransmitters released by the brain during exercise have all sorts of beneficial properties and improved sleep is one of them. 

 

Meditate 

 

Meditation has a restorative effect on the brain. There are all sorts of benefits that meditation can have for a person. Many of the benefits of meditation include reduced stress and a better ability to cope with difficult issues in one’s life.

 

Meditation is also great for insomnia. A Harvard study found that mindful meditation helped combat insomnia. It invokes a relaxation response in those who participate helping them relax enough to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep through the night. If you are not familiar with how to meditate there are many guided meditation audio programs that you can buy or check out from your library.  

 

Sleep Hygiene

 

Sleep hygiene is a practice to help you sleep better at night. It has to do with environmental cues. Alaska sleep notes that these environmental cues should be taken into consideration if you aren’t sleeping.

 

·      Use the bedroom for sex and sleep only

·      No electronics

·      Keep the room dark and quiet

·      Keep your room cool

·      Have a good mattress

·      Set your alarm clock away from your bed

Get Up Every Morning

 

Getting up at the same time every day and avoiding naps helps your body follow a circadian rhythm. According to Verywell we need this to sleep well at night.  There are two really important elements to this step. 

 

1.     Stop hitting the snooze and train yourself to get up at the same time every day. If you hit the snooze button once or twice (or 6 times), you are not really training yourself to get up at the same time every day. If you know you do not need to get up until a7:30, stop setting your alarm for 7. Save yourself the 30 minutes of interrupted sleep and set the alarm for 7:30, get up the first time it rings. 

 

2.     NO NAPS. If you are not used to getting up in the morning, then this may be the hard part for you. Napping can throw you off for sleeping at night because you simply are not tired enough to get to bed on time. Skip the nap (and the caffeine), and stay up so that you can get a good nights sleep. 

 

Now you have an arsenal of information that should help you fall asleep faster at night. Remember, finding what works well for you may take some playing around. So, if you don’t get it right the first night or two don’t give up. 

These sleep strategies are proven to work. They just take time. Give them a few weeks and you should be sleeping soundly. 

Learning To Say No As Part Of Better Self-Care

 

There are too many nice people in the world today…or so it might seem, with the number of “yes” folks you run into on a daily basis. However, what about the lesser heard “evil sibling”, the word NO? 

 

As a child, you were raised to be considerate to others, and to accommodate them as much as possible. 

 

How do you know exactly when enough is enough? And more importantly, are you saying no to yourself by saying yes to others every time? Chances are that is exactly what you are doing, even if only subliminally.

 

Wondering when is the time for you to use your no’s effectively? We’ve got you covered!

 

Piling On Stress

 

Not being able to say no can greatly contribute to elevated stress and real quick! Doing too much feelings of overwhelm cause and add to chronic stress, and people who cannot say no are usually the first to fall victim. 

 

It is important to understand your own boundaries and limitations, and while helping others is important, you have to take care of yourself first.

 

This means sometimes saying no to friends and family, in order to maintain an optimal level of health and wellness for yourself.

 

Feelings Of Obligation

 

This is by far the most common cause of resentment in persons, since they are basically “forced” to say yes whether or not they want to. Maybe the person asking did a major favor for you in life, maybe it is a family member. 

 

You feel a sense of obligation to always be on beck and call for whatever that person requests of you, but you need to ask yourself “when is my bill paid in full?” will you continue to feel a forced sense of obligation forever? 

 

This constant obligatory situation builds resentment, and resentment can literally make you physically ill! 

 

You need to let them know you have to put yourself first, by doing what you need to do. If an issue arises, it may be best to sever ties and remove a toxic person from your life.

 

Weekday Partying

 

We sincerely hope you are not one of those weekday party animals! Though we fully understand the need to unwind after a tiring week’s work, there is absolutely no justification for staying out late and drinking on a weekday when you have responsibilities to meet the next morning! It is more than likely the result of friends asking or guilting you out even though your better sense says no. 

 

You’re not doing yourself any favors as you will be sleep deficient the following day, not to mention likely hungover and miserable. Saying yes to that, is saying no to your well-being.

 

Enabling Bad Behavior

 

It has happened to all of us before, from a kid asking for something, hearing no and slowly breaking you down, to much worse influences on your life.

 

From friends begging you for a loan, to unnecessary spending, while it may seem ok or insignificant at the time, it enables bad behavior and disrespect over the long haul. 

 

When you say no, it needs to stay that way. You will gain infinite respect for having unbendable beliefs and will be looked at as a pillar of strength.

 

Not Speaking Up

 

There have undoubtedly been numerous times when you sit quietly while something (or someone) boils your blood to the point of an eruption, yet you show no outward emotions. This can range from a boss berating you in the office, a bully, or a random stranger who finds it appropriate to assert their dominance over you. 

 

By allowing it, you are doing just that, rolling over and assuming the fetal position. Open your mouth, demand your respect and speak for what you believe in.

 

Conclusion

 

NO is not a bad word. It has been criminalized via society and the illusion that things must be ok all the time. You will only end up resenting yourself for being weak, and not ever doing what you want to do by allowing others to always walk over you. You need to look after yourself before you look after anyone else after all, lead by example!