Health Matters Archives | Mommy's Hangout/Atlanta Mommy Blogger/Jen Williams

Tips for looking after your eyesight

December 11, 2019 by Jen Leave a Comment

Lots of us know about looking after our bodies through diet and exercise, and many of us make sure we practice good posture and ergonomics. Something that most people don’t know the importance of, however, is looking after their eyes. You use them for everything, and without them, life becomes a whole lot harder.

There are some simple tips and tricks to follow, like wearing good quality glasses (we like the range at EyeBuyDirect) and drinking lots of water, but there are some more unknown things you should be doing. We have rounded up a list of tips that will give your eyes the best chance at staying healthy for your whole life.

Eat Well

The first thing you should be doing to look after your eyes is dialing in your diet. Make sure you get enough of the important nutrients; these include omega-three acids, zinc, and lutein.

To make sure you get enough of the vital nutrients your body needs, eat lots of green vegetables, especially spinach and kale.

Eat lots of oily fish like salmon and eat eggs and nuts too. Another important nutrient comes from citrus fruit, so eat an orange or two a week to top that up.

Eating healthy also means you will be at a healthier weight; this reduces your chance of developing obesity-related diseases that can cause eye problems, like diabetes.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking will reduce the chance that you develop cataracts as well as macular degeneration. If you are struggling to quit, seek help, there are so many health benefits to quitting smoking as well as your eyes.

Limit Screen Time

Computers and phone screens are notorious for ruining eyesight. The blue light they emit causes immense strain on your eyes. To protect yourself from this, if you wear glasses or contacts, make sure they are in date and made for looking at computer screens.

You can also position the monitor, so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor; this puts your eyes in the optimal position looking down at the screen.

If you are using a computer in a room with a window, try and position your screen so that whilst you are working, the glare from outside does not reflect your off your monitor into your eyes.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to have a break every 20 minutes. During that break, look at a spot 20 feet away for about 30 seconds. Then every two hours, you should physically get up and take a 15 minute break away from your work area entirely.

Your eyes are one of your most important assets, make sure you follow these tips to make sure that they do not get irreparably damaged early on in your life. Unfortunately, most long term eye injuries have no early symptoms, so there is no way to know you are damaging your eyes until you realize it is too late.

Top 7 Tips to Keep Your Kids Healthy During the School Year

December 6, 2019 by Jen Leave a Comment

As parents, your main role and responsibility is to ensure your children are happy, safe, and healthy. Once your children reach school age, they will learn and develop all sorts of social skills that can help them become independent individuals, however, school can be a place where they pick up different kinds of illnesses and germs that they may bring into the home. With children spending a lot of time in a classroom, infections can easily be transferred to one another, so here are 7 useful tips on how to keep your kids happy and healthy during the school year.

Proper Hand Washing

When your children are away at school, there are lots of nasty bugs and illnesses that they can receive, so one of the most important things that you can do is teach your little ones how to wash their hands properly. Most importantly, you need to ensure they’re washing after blowing their noise, before eating, or after using the bathroom, as this can help reduce their chance of becoming sick, as well as reducing the risk of them infecting others if they catch an illness or infection.

Boosting their Immune System

As a parent, it’s important that you keep your child’s immune system strong, helping to ward off any illnesses throughout the school year, whether it’s by getting enough sleep, incorporating regular exercise into their routine, or maintaining a healthy diet. All of these tips can help reduce your child’s risk of getting a cold, flu, or other types of infections.

Preventing Cold and Flu

If your child is prone to getting a cold or flu, it can be heartbreaking to see them in distress, especially as you’re unable to take their pain away. Teaching your kids important healthy habits can help reduce the risk of them developing such infections. Some healthy habits that your kids should know include not touching their eyes, or not sharing utensils or cups with their friends. Knowledge is power, so the more you teach them and drill it into them, the more aware they will be.

Set Good Sleep Habits

If your child isn’t getting enough sleep before school, they may wake up feeling rundown and be cranky. Your child needs to have plenty of energy and motivation to excel at school, so if you have noticed a difference in their concentration levels, it could be because they’re not getting enough shuteye. Sleep is crucial for all of us, so whether it’s by limiting electronic stimulants, creating a comfortable room for them to sleep in, or curbing their caffeine intake (commonly found in chocolate and soda), your child’s sleep should begin to improve.

Look for Stress and Anxiety

With a mountain of homework, tests to revise for, not to mention all the social pressures that dominate them in the world we live in today, it’s no surprise that children are facing a lot of stressful situations which can bring on anxiety. If you’ve noticed a change in your child’s behavior, it could be because they’re feeling anxious and worried. As parents, we don’t want to see our loved ones struggle, so always make sure that you’re on hand to listen to their thoughts and feelings. Having your child open up to you can help when it comes to managing their anxiety better.

Provide a Healthy Breakfast

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day (and for good reason too!). For your child to excel in their schooling, you should prepare a balanced breakfast that’s packed with low-fat protein and complex carbohydrates, which can help improve brain function and maintain a steady level of stamina and energy throughout the day. Kicking their day off to a good start can boost their mood and help them prepare for a day of learning. It’s just as important for your kids to be following a healthy, balanced diet too, so make sure that they eat plenty of fruits and vegetables which can provide them with tons of health benefits. No one is saying they can’t have a sweet treat from time to time, however, but all in moderation!

See a Pediatrician

No matter how much experience you have as a parent, there may be times when you’re struggling. If you need a helping hand, you may want to consider contacting a pediatrician who can stand by your side in helping to keep your child happy, safe, and healthy as they grow. When looking for the best pediatrician, look for reputable clinics. One example can be seen through the team at KMP who have 28 years of experience in helping parents and children in all avenues of life. You can learn more about their doctors and services on their website, which is always worth looking into before you book an appointment with a pediatrician.

Whether you’ve got toddlers running around the home, or you’ve just given birth, there are all sorts of stresses and worries that you will experience as a parent. Remember, it’s totally normal to want what’s best for your child and to feel anxious from time to time, so to give your kid the best start in life, using any of the tips listed can help them grow into happy, healthy, and responsible adults.

How to find the best dental service? Main factors affecting its cost

November 19, 2019 by Jen

Most people tend to neglect dental prices unless they have a serious procedure awaiting them.

This makes sense as you won’t think twice when it comes to your teeth. But, if you have regular procedures such as teeth cleaning, these prices tend to build up affecting your family budget.

Usually, we would all want to have an ideal service at the lowest price possible.
But to find that service, we need to understand what affects dental costs and how to recognize good from bad practice.

Main factors affecting dental prices

Like with any other service, there are lots of variables affecting the cost of dental procedures.

The first one I’d like to mention is marketing costs. Often, bad or mediocre practices will charge much higher fees due to the fact they need to cover their marketing.

And while marketing services such as dental SEO are primarily used to increase your market share, it also comes as a cost that you need to justify and ultimately cover.

Dental and medical offices also have high overhead costs. Salaries for staff can be quite high, especially if we’re talking about big dental offices with several practitioners. Of course, if you’re a dentist yourself, you might need just a personal assistant, but even then, this salary is something you need to consider.

Initial costs are particularly high for most dental offices. Equipment can be really costly, which is why most dentists will need several years to pay it off. There are also costs for medical supplies that you continuously need.

As you can see, all these items drive the price up, which is why even teeth cleaning can cost up to $200.

What to look for in a dental office?

First and foremost, I would recommend that you check online reviews.
Through these reviews, you can find out which offices are better-ranked based on star reviews. Of course, these reviews are not always right, and there is a lot of manipulation there. However, if a company has received numerous reviews, you can say with certainty that this grade has some merit. These reviews also provide some other valuable information, but you will have to read them to see what are the positives and negatives.

You should also check how much a company is advertising. As previously mentioned, dental marketing can be costly and tends to drive prices up. You have to consider this as a part of the cost. So, if a company is advertising heavily and still has the same prices as its peers, this might be a sign that they’re not that good or that they’re working with a loss.

Conclusion

Getting the right dental office isn’t that hard. Ultimately, you can always ask friends and family to give you some recommendations if you can’t find anyone suitable. Dentists are like your friends; you will have to keep yours close as no one knows when you will need assistance or quick fix.

Author’s bio: Top Rated by the American Dental Association, Medford Dentist Center is a leading dental care provider in Medford Oregon! Call today and let our experienced team help you and your family achieve a healthier & happier smile. New patients are welcomed!

How to Keep Varicose Veins Away

October 21, 2019 by Jen

Varicose veins occur in millions of adults each year, with recent estimates suggesting one-third of the population around the world experiences them. When varicose veins take place, they present as bulging, twisted veins that are visible beneath the skin’s surface. For many, varicose veins appear as a dark blue or purple thread throughout the lower or upper leg. Although many think varicose veins are cosmetic issues, they can lead to other challenges over time.

When varicose veins are left untreated, individuals may start to feel uncomfortable symptoms. Pain, swelling, itchiness, and overall heaviness of the legs can and frequently does occur. These issues can make it more difficult to complete everyday tasks or continue a routine of physical activity at the same level as before the vein issues were present. For these reasons, many people want to know what they can do to prevent varicose veins from happening in the first place. The reality is there is no surefire way to stop varicose veins from occurring, due to the wide range of causes detailed below. However, specific steps can reduce the potential for varicose veins in certain people.

Understanding the Causes

According to specialists at a varicose veins clinic in the UK, when veins are working correctly, the blood flows throughout the body and back to the heart without any interruption or slow down. However, over time, vein walls can weaken, leading to blood flowing in the wrong direction as it is intended. When this happens, veins are larger than average, and this leads to varicose veins.

The causes that create vein issues and weaknesses are not entirely known, but there are a handful of risk factors that lead to varicose veins over time. These include:

• Being born with weak vein valves

• Hormonal changes that take place during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause

• Blood volume increasing due to pregnancy

• Aging

• Obesity

• Injuries to the legs

• Prolonged periods of standing

Although not everyone who faces these challenges will develop varicose veins, the risk factors can make it far more likely that vein weakening will take place over the course of one’s lifetime. Fortunately, simple activities can help with the prevention of vein issues, even when risks are high.

Tips for Prevention

Preventing varicose veins often starts with lifestyle choices and changes. The most notable of these shifts involve the following tips:

Focus on diet – improving blood flow to help prevent varicose veins can be done by the foods we eat. Swapping out white flour bread for whole wheat can make a difference, as can reducing sugar intake over time. Some experts also suggest including foods with flavonoids from rutin, such as apples, grapes, buckwheat, and apricots, can help with inflammation that can lead to varicose veins.

Physical activity – getting the blood pumping with at least 30 minutes of physical activity is incredibly beneficial to keeping varicose veins at bay. This may involve walking each morning or evening, or taking a low-impact aerobics class. No matter the source of physical activity, experts agree that this helps promote healthy circulation throughout the veins as well as keeps weight down to a healthy level.

Compression stockings – for those who are at higher risk of developing varicose veins or individuals with poor circulation, wearing compression stockings may be helpful in the fight against vein weakening. Compression allows for a greater flowof blood throughout the body, helping reduce the potential for vein issues down the road.

Treatment Options for Varicose Veins

Although there is no singular method for preventing varicose veins among adults, the tips provided can be the first line of defense against developing painful, frustrating vein issues. However, if varicose veins do form, there is hope for managing the discomfort and treating broken veins effectively. The treatments available for varicose veins range widely, from at-home remedies like compression therapy and leg elevation to non-invasive surgeries like endovenous laser treatment, or EVLT. A vein specialist can provide the best-fit treatment for individuals with varicose veins after an examination of the veins in question.

Once the veins have been evaluated for severity and potential treatment plans, treating varicose veins is a straightforward process. If surgery is required, most individuals are home the same day as the procedure, and without much downtime for recovery. Before getting to this point, though, taking the simple steps above to heart can help keep varicose veins away.

Get Health Care That Won’t Break the Bank

August 19, 2019 by Jen

Heath insurance is one of those things that seems as if it has become more and more complicated over the years. Depending on your situation, weathered her you are unemployed or your employer does not offer insurance that works for you, it can be very difficult to find health insurance that is both affordable, but also keeps you covered. Searching for the right health insurance can feel overwhelming at times, and can even put some people off of getting health insurance altogether, but it doesn’t have to. Affordable health insurance can be more attainable than you might think.

Health Insurance, a Necessity

When faced with the challenges of finding cheap health insurance, some might decide it is easier to simply go without. While it can be possible to get by this way, it is likely not a good idea. As unpleasant as it can be to think about, the truth is you never know when an unexpected health emergency is around the corner. Being caught unprepared for a health emergency could not only hurt your finances in a big way, but affect your credit as well, which could make it even more difficult to get back on track financially.

Check Online

There are so many things you can do online now, from grocery shopping to finding a new house. Nearly anything you want to buy or do can be found online, and affordable health insurance is no exception. In your search for health insurance, the Internet can be a good place to begin. There are websites and resources with helpful information that can give you direction when you’re uncertain where to start.

Let Professionals Help

If you have looked online but are still feeling uncertain how to proceed with getting affordable health care coverage, there are professionals online who can help. Many of these professionals are specially trained to asses your specific situation and direct you to the health care coverage that will work best for you and your situation.

So, while finding the right health care for you, especially when you are on the hunt for affordable health care, can at times feel so complicated and overwhelming you think it might be easier to go without, there are options out there. Not only are there websites with information that can help guide you in the right direction, but there are trained professionals available as well, who can help you make the best decision for you and your family.