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Remedy

Cucumber Remedy

Want to know how to get rid of under eye wrinkles then try this very effective remedy containing cucumbers.
Cucumber is a good skin cooling and soothing agent which helps in hydrating the delicate skin around the eyes for making fine lines less visible.
Try this 1 ingredient easy remedy now for instant results.
Things you need

• Cucumber- ½ piece

Process

1. Firstly cut 2 thin slices of cucumber and refrigerate it for 10 minutes.
2. Then place this chilled slice of cucumber over the eyes.
3. Close your eyes and relax for 10 to 15 minutes for allowing the cucumber to work its magic on the eyes.
4. Later remove the cucumber slices and rinse the eye area with plain water.
5. This process must be repeated every day once for reducing wrinkles, lightening the dark circles under eyes.

Rosemary Oil Remedy

Worried about how to get rid of eye wrinkles then try this herbal oil for treating early signs of aging around eyes.
Rosemary oil contains antioxidants, which strengthen the capillaries and tightens the skin for making it appear smooth and youthful. Treat the signs of aging under eyes with this miraculous herbal oil.
Things you need

• Rosemary oil- ¼ tsp
• Muslin cloth
• Lukewarm water- ½ cup

Process

1. Take ¼ tsp of rosemary oil on your finger tips.
2. Apply this oil with finger tips under the eye area.
3. Massage the eyes area gently with ring finger in circular motions for 30 to 45 seconds.
4. Leave on the eye area with the  rosemary oil application as it helps in nourishing and moisturizing the eye area deeply.
5. If the eye area feels greasy or sticky saturate the muslin cloth in lukewarm water and squeeze the excess water.
6. Then wipe off the excess oil with this muslin cloth.
7. This process must be repeated once daily for preventing formation of wrinkles under eyes.

Cabbage Juice Remedy

Stressed about how to reduce forehead wrinkles then switch to this natural remedy using cabbage juice.
Cabbage is a good source of anti-oxidants, phytochemicals and vitamin C which helps to prevent the signs of premature aging of the skin.
Reach out to this easily available ingredient to banish deeper lines in the forehead.
Things you need

• Cabbage- ½ cup
• Blender
• Strainer

Process

1. Take ½ cup of cabbage and add it into the blending jar.
2. Then grind the cabbage on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until cabbage forms a smooth paste.
3. Pour the cabbage paste on the strainer and extract the juice.
4. Apply this cabbage juice on face and neck well.
5. Allow the cabbage juice application to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Later wash off the application with warm water and pat the skin dry.
7. This process must be repeated thrice a day to prevent wrinkles.

Mint, Lemon Juice, Cucumber, Egg White Remedy

Preventing the signs of aging with home remedies is one of the most preferred alternatives by many individuals.One of the most effective home remedies for wrinkles includes natural ingredients like mint, lemon juice, cucumber and egg whites.
Mint contains medicinal properties which help to tone the skin and minimize the pore size for a more even appearance of skin.Lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C which encourages the production of collagen for maintaining a smooth and supple skin.
Cucumber nourishes the skin deeply for preventing the appearance of fine lines. Egg whites are a rich source of proteins and albumin, which helps to tone the skin and promote a healthy supple skin.
Try this nutrient rich face mask to instantly combat the early signs of aging.
Things you need

• Mint juice- 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice- 1 tbsp
• Cucumber juice- 1 tsp
• Egg white- 1
• Blender

Process

1. Take a blending jar and add in the mint juice, lemon juice, cucumber juice and egg white.
2. Blend all the ingredients for 30 seconds till all the ingredients are well combined.
3. Remove these combined ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate this mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Apply this cool natural mask on face, avoiding the eye area.
5. Allow the mask to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Later wash off the mask with plain water thoroughly and pat the skin dry.
7. This process must be repeated twice a week for preventing wrinkles and to maintain a youthful supple skin.

All the given home remedies are easy to use and provide noticeable results. You will be able to get flawless and glowing skin with the regular use of home remedies. Start using the homemade face packs for wrinkles free skin right from today! Use a natural way to look beautiful and young.

Get Rid of Wrinkles

Simple and Quick Remedies to Get Rid of Wrinkles

 The mirror seems to be our friend in young age, which share our good looks. But as time passes on, many women tend to avoid mirrors as they don’t want to see the signs of aging on their face. Fine lines and wrinkles are the common signs of aging, which snatch out your beauty.

Once you start seeing observable wrinkles on your face, you start searching for remedies to get rid of it. You can get wrinkles not only on the face but also the skin of the neck, hands and forearms are prone to wrinkles.
The prime reason behind wrinkles is loss of elasticity. One’s skin can lose elasticity due to many reasons such as stress, aging, lack of vitamin E, genetic issues, smoking, excessive sunlight exposure, pollution in the environments or sudden weight loss.
Let’s look in detail about what you can do to get rid of wrinkles quickly!

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Wrinkles

The conventional medicines and cosmetic creams are available to treat the wrinkle issues. However, one should avoid these methods due to the risk of side effects and harmful chemicals in the pills and creams.
The natural way to treat the wrinkles is the best option one should go for! The home remedies need simple ingredients from your kitchen in order to provide you the wrinkle free skin.

ere are some simple and quick remedies you should use to get rid of wrinkles.

Aloe Vera and Egg White Face Mask

People are often in an outlook for an easy solution for how to get rid of forehead wrinkles. For this concern home remedy containing potent ingredients like Aloe vera and egg white is very effective.
Aloe vera is known for possessing multiple skin beneficial vitamins and nutrients, which are advantageous for treating early signs of aging.
Egg whites are a good source of vitamin E which promotes the collagen production of the skin cells to make the skin appear plumper and smooth.
Switch to this quick remedy to make the skin appear youthful instantly!
Things you need

• Aloe vera gel- 1 tsp
• Egg white- 1 (from 1 egg)
• Fork

Process

1. Take a mixing bowl and add in 1 egg white.
2. Whisk the egg white with a fork.
3. Later add in the aloe vera gel and mix again till both the ingredients are combined well.
4. Then apply this egg white and aloe vera mask on the entire face and mainly concentrating on the forehead.
5. Allow the mask to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Later splash some lukewarm water first to loosen the mask.
7. Then massage the face in circular motions to remove the mask thoroughly along with splashing water in between.
8. This process to prevent wrinkles must be followed thrice a week for three weeks or until you notice fewer lines.

Banana and Papaya Face Mask Remedy

Looking for natural alternatives to fight the signs of aging, then opt for this banana and papaya face mask. Banana is a great fruit for making the skin soft and even firms the facial muscles for an even and youthful complexion.
Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C which works as antioxidants for promoting the collagen production in the skin. Opt for this natural anti-aging remedy to prevent wrinkles.
Things you need

• Ripe banana- 1
• Papaya pieces- ¼ cup
• Fork

Process

1. Take a mixing bowl and add in the banana and papaya pieces into it.
2. Then with the back of a fork, mash the banana and papaya into a smooth paste like consistency.
3. Apply this fruit mask on the face liberally and avoid the eye area.
4. Allow the face mask to dry for 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Later wash off the mask thoroughly with plain water and pat the skin dry gently.
6. This process must be repeated thrice a day as anti-wrinkle treatment.

 

Lemon for your skin

Additional Tips

Follow the tips that are mentioned below to make the acne healing process faster as well as more effective.

• Always maintain a good skincare regime to keep it healthy.
• Use pure lemon juice to prepare the home remedies as the bottled lemon juice may contain preservatives that may hurt your skin.
• If the acne is really bad then do not use lemon juice directly on the skin. It may give a burning effect to the skin.
• Avoid standing under the sun after the direct application of lemon juice on the skin as its UV rays may make the condition worse.
• You can also add 2 tbsp of lemon juice to 1 a glass of water. Stir it and drink the water to detoxify the body internally, which in turn will reduce the acne breakout.
• You can also add other ingredients like olive oil, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, raw milk, etc., to the lemon juice to make different home remedies for acne. However, you need to do proper research regarding the quantity of these ingredients to be added to the remedy.

After using all these home remedies of lemon for acne, if the condition does not improve, then you should consult a dermatologist to confirm whether it is the outcome of some other disease.
To get rid of acne is no more a pricey affair! You can use these simple remedies with lemon to gift yourself an acne-free and flawless skin.

Beauty for your Good Health

 Skin Care

Acne, which is a long-term and common skin disease, appears due to the clogging of the skin pores on which the acne-causing bacteria, known as propionibacterium acne thrive. It is estimated that nearly 80% of people between the age group of 11 and 30 get acne at some point in their life. Sometimes it also affects people in their 40s and 50s. Acne is not dangerous skin condition but certainly it makes the affected area look ugly with its unsightly scars. Gradually it also affects the self-esteem of the suffering person.

There are many natural ingredients that are used to treat acne effectively. One such ingredient is lemon, which is not only cheap but also easily available at your home. You can prepare wonderful natural remedies with lemon for acne.

Does Lemon Really Treats Acne

To know whether lemon really treats acne, you should know about the various acne-treating properties of lemon for all skin types. Let’s learn about those properties of lemon that are mentioned below.
Exfoliates the Skin: Lemon is a citrus fruit, which contains a good amount of citric acid in it, which helps to exfoliate the acne-affected skin. Skin exfoliation is one of the major steps to treat acne. Its application removes the dirt, dead skin cells, which in turn open up the clogged skin pores.
Kills the Bacteria: Lemon juice is anti-bacterial in nature, which means it kills the bacteria that cause acne on the skin. It contains Ascorbic acid, Vitamin P, and Phytoncides that kill as well as check the further growth of the acne-causing bacteria.
Heals the Acne-affected Skin: Loaded with healing properties, lemon juice reduces the redness and inflammation of the skin caused due to acne.

GOOD HABITS

Sleep Tight Every Night

According to a recent report from the National Sleep Foundation, 41 percent of people are tossing and turning at least a few evenings a week. And a lousy night’s rest does more than ruin your morning mood, it can wreak havoc on your health. A special report out of Harvard University notes that not clocking enough slumber time increases your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain and more. (Newborns and babies require up to 18 hours of sleep; toddlers up to 14; preschoolers 11 to 13; school-age kids need up to 11; 10-year-olds through teens need 8.5 to 9.25 hours a night; and adults should snooze between seven and nine hours nightly.)

To help meet your target Zzs, set up a consistent sleep schedule, including when you go down and when you wake up, and establish a relaxing bedtime routine that begins an hour or more before you hit the hay. Also key: Keep the bedroom dark, quiet and cool; boot sleep-stealers, like the TV and computer, from the room; eat dinner at least two hours before bed; and avoid caffeine and alcohol for four to six hours before bedtime. Although alcohol can make you sleepy and help you fall asleep more quickly, it disturbs the quality of your sleep (you sleep more lightly) and wakes you up earlier. So ultimately, you get less and poorer-quality sleep.

Make Hand-Washing a Habit

Do you want to know what’s likely the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family from sickness? It’s hand-washing, finds the AAP. “Just regular old soap is perfect,” says Dr. Asta. “The thicker the liquid soap, the better for kids, however. It’ll take them longer to wash it away and lead to a better cleanup.” (Ideal scrub-time: about 20 seconds.)

One of the best ways to get your kids to wash is for you to do it, too. Apparently, adults not practicing regular hand-washing is one of the biggest barriers to kids doing it, finds a report in the journal Health Education Research. Beyond sudsing up before meals and snacks, after using the bathroom and when coming in from the outdoors, it’s also important to keep good coughing and sneezing hygiene. When possible, use a tissue, not your hands, to cover your coughs and sneezes. “A dirty tissue can be thrown out and hands can be washed,” says Dr. Asta. Don’t have a tissue on hand? Sneeze or cough into the inside of your elbow. Just be sure to toss your shirt in the laundry when you get home. Viruses and bacteria can linger on clothing.

 

 

GOOD HABITS

Prevent Household Accidents

The thing with accidents and injuries at home is that most of the time they can be prevented. Keeping a watchful eye on your child, inside the home and out, is the best way to ensure their safety. Still, there are some simple things you can do to safeguard your home. Be prepared with our stay-safe checklist:

• Keep cleaning and laundry supplies, medicines and anything considered poisonous out of a child’s reach. Poisoning is responsible for more than half of all home-related unintentional injury deaths, according to the National Safety Counsel. Know the national Poison Control Helpline number and post it visibly in your home: 1-800-222-1222.
• Keep choking hazards and hot or sharp items out of a child’s reach. Keep guns locked away and hide the key so kids can’t find it. Consider a biometric lock such as a fingerprint that is more secure.
• Have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home and outside bedrooms. It is especially important near furnaces — a broken furnace can leak carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion. Change the batteries once a year. And have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
• Never leave young children in the bath unattended.
• Got a pool? Fence it in: Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury or death for children and adolescents. A bubble cover is not enough — it only keeps the water warm and will collapse under a child’s body weight. A formal cover that is tethered down on both sides is another way to keep your pool safe, and has additional benefits of keeping the water warm and preventing chemicals from evaporating.
• In the U.S., about 140 children die from falls every years. Install safety gates at the tops of stairs, put guards on your windows and make sure your deck or balcony has 4-inch spacing between rails (anything larger is a fall hazzard, according to the AAP).
• Cover wall outlets.
• Have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home and car. Make sure your kids know when and how to call 9-1-1 and what to do in emergency disasters. Post emergency contact information in the kitchen or other common area. Make sure you and anyone looking after your child is trained and certified in CPR and first aid.

 

GOOD HABITS

 

Smoke Out a Bad Habit

It’s no shock that smoking cigarettes is an unhealthy habit. But here’s how bad it really is: Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death, disease and disability in America. Smoking and secondhand smoke kill about 443,000 people a year, according to the CDC. “If you’re a smoker, you’re increasing your chances of lung cancer, emphysema and other smoking-related diseases, all the while hampering the respiratory tract system of those around you,” says Dr. Asta. “Children of smokers are more likely to have respiratory infections, wheezing and ear infections,” she warns. “And exposure to secondhand tobacco is also linked with cancer.” While quitting isn’t easy, your health is worth it. Ask your doctor for help in making a quitting plan, which may include nicotine replacement gum or the patch, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Smokefree.gov, a resource from the National Cancer Institute and other federal agencies, offers text messaging services and other support to help you butt out for good.

 Make Your Mouth Something to Smile About

“It’s often said that the mouth is a window into a person’s overall health,” says Laura Jana, MD, a pediatrician in Omaha, Nebraska, and author of Heading Home With Your Newborn. “Oral health is commonly a reflection of one's overall health. And poor oral health can lead to cavities, infection, missed school days, missed work days and poor self-esteem.” Plus, gum disease has been linked with heart disease. The American Dental Association recommends flossing between teeth once a day and brushing your teeth (and gums and tongue!) for two minutes at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste. (Replace the brush every three or four months.) The organization also recommends that little ones start their regular visits to the dentist no later than their first birthday. “When brushing, it helps to let kids who want to be independent brush their own teeth, but it’s also important to realize that kids aren't really capable of doing a good job until usually around the age of 8,” says Dr. Jana. “Parents should stay involved and brush after their kids finish.”

HABITS HEALTHY FAMILY

Store Medicines Safely

Do you stow your medicine in the bathroom? If so, it’s time to relocate. According to the National Institutes of Health, this popular storage spot is one of the worst places to keep your at-home remedies. The warm, humid environment speeds drugs’ breakdown processes and makes them less potent. Instead, store your meds in a cool, dry spot out of a child’s reach. (Since kids can climb step stools, keeping meds locked away is always smart.) Among children, ER visits for accidental medication poisonings are twice as common as poisonings from other household products, such as cleaning products, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Another key to drug safety is proper dosing: Use only the measuring device supplied; never give a child an adult medicine; don’t give cough and cold medicine to children who are 2 years old or younger; and consult your pharmacist with any drug-related questions — whether OTC, prescription or supplement.

Arm Yourself With a Flu Shot

 “All members of a family should get a flu shot annually,” says Lisa M. Asta, MD, a pediatrician in Walnut Creek, California, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Unfortunately, that’s often not happening. According to the CDC, less than half of all children ages 6 months to 17 years old received an influenza vaccination in 2011. And the number is even lower for adults: 27 percent. “The flu can be dangerous, especially in the very young and very old,” says Dr. Asta. “Not only can it translate to a week or so of fever, chills and coughing — it can also lead to pneumonia, a dangerous inflammation of the lungs.” And getting the flu shot is as easy as a trip to your local pharmacy or doctor’s office.

15 Habits of Healthy Families

Make Time for Family Meals

 

 A family who dines together, dines well together — and it encourages healthy communication, too. It turns out, children who have frequent meals with their family tend to consume more fruits, vegetables, fiber, calcium and vitamins — and less junk, according to resent research funded by the USDA.

“Eating meals together teaches children about healthy habits, and they carry that into their adult lives,” says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “What they learn at the dinner table sets them up for the rest of their lives.”

In addition, “eating together supports healthy interactions and fosters communication,” says Dobbins. What better locale to kick off your morning with a pep talk or catch up on the day’s events? Turn off all phones and the TV and it’s just about the most perfect, undistracted family time you can ask for — which also makes it a natural setting to talk about big issues, like peer pressure, cheating and bullying.

Check Off Your Checkups

While kiddos get their once-a-year, weighed-and-measured doctor’s appointment either for back-to-school or their birthday, it’s easy to forget that Mom and Dad need a checkup every few years, too. Regular health exams can detect medical issues before they even start — and help find problems early, when treatment is more effective and potentially less invasive.

 Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight are just a few of the things that should be measured on a somewhat regular basis depending on age. Women also need Pap smears and pelvic exams every two years starting at age 21 and mammograms starting at age 40 (some physicians say 50). If you smoke, are overweight or have a history of medical issues, your checkup may require additional screenings. Work with your doctor to determine how often you should get an exam, and what tests and screenings you may need.

 

What Packaging and Labels Can Tell You

Special Health Concerns

People with special health concerns need to pay particular attention to labels and packaging. Talk to your doctor or health care provider for more details specific to your condition. Here's what to look for and why if you:

• Have sensitive skin
  • Look for: alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, fragrance, menthol, eucalyptus oil, lactic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
  • Why: These ingredients can irritate sensitive skin or exacerbate certain skin conditions such as rosacea.
• Are on a gluten-free diet:
  • Look for: wheat, barley, rye, semolina, bulgur, durum flour, graham flour, kamut, and spelt. Gluten is also found in unexpected places such as soy sauce, beer, soups, and candies. Read all ingredient labels or look for the "gluten-free" label on the packaging.
  • Why: For those with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, eating gluten can cause troublesome symptoms.
• Are vegan:
  • Look for: casein, whey (comes from milk), gelatin, tallow, suet (comes from meat), and Natural Red 4 (also known as carmine, cochineal, or cochineal extract) – a food coloring taken from female beetles.
  • Why: Even foods that appear to be 100 percent vegan may have hidden animal derived products. Visit The Vegetarian Resource Group website for more information.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Look for: fish with a high level of mercury (tilefish, sword fish, king mackerel, and shark); unpasteurized cheeses, milk, or juices; sushi or raw shellfish. In general, while pregnant or nursing, talk to your healthcare provider about any food- or medicine-related concerns, or before taking any supplements. Pregnancy and nursing are especially vulnerable times, when what you eat affects not just you, but your developing (or nursing) baby as well.
  • Why: Certain foods may contain harmful parasites or bacteria, such as listeria and E. coli. Eating fish that's high in mercury has been shown to affect the fetus's nervous system development. Be aware that some topical ingredients – retinoids and hydroquinone – may pass through the skin to the fetus or into breast milk.
• Have a food allergy:
  • Look for: your food allergen listed in the ingredients list of all foods you plan on eating.
  • Why: Even eating trace amounts of the allergen can be deadly if you have a severe allergy. Be aware that some foods might unexpectedly contain the allergen. Milk protein, for example, can be found in canned tuna and medications. Check your cosmetics too, especially if you have a tree nut, soy, or peanut allergy. Soy and tree nut oils are often used in cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos and can be dangerous for those suffering from severe allergies when applied topically.

Do You Know What You're Putting On – And In – Your Body?

What Packaging and Labels Can Tell You

 

 





Whether you're counting calories, have a food allergy, or are a vegan, the nutrition facts label – that standard list of how many calories, carbs, sodium and other nutrients are in what you eat and drink – is one of your best resources for staying healthy and monitoring what you put in your body.

While reading the nutrition facts label is a good starting point to learn if an item is healthy or not, it doesn't tell you the full story of what's actually in the food. The same goes for lotions, makeup, and other products you put on your body.

But as we learn more about the adverse health effects of certain chemicals and environmental toxins, knowing the details of what goes on and in your body has become increasingly important.
Here's how to be a savvier label reader, and tips for people with special health concerns.

Right Amount of Sleep?

What Is Right for You?

Your body is wise and will send you signals if you're not getting the right amount of sleep. The trick is learning to recognize those signals — and not ignoring them. Some key signals that you might not be getting enough sleep include:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Making mistakes in your work or having difficulty concentrating
• Slow reaction time or reduced coordination
• Increased appetite
• Irritability, anxiety or moodiness
• Frequent colds or other infections

Addressing the Problem

Getting the right amount of sleep is an essential component of good health — every bit as important as adequate food and water. If you're experiencing symptoms that could be related to inadequate sleep, talk with your doctor.
For some people, conditions such as sleep apnea or menopause might be the culprit. These situations can be addressed with appropriate treatment. If a medical condition is ruled out, making changes in your habits might be all you need to get adequate sleep. Simple changes that can be greatly beneficial in getting enough sleep include:

• Following a regular bedtime
• Not keeping electronic devices nearby while you sleep
• Avoiding strenuous exercise in the hours before bedtime
• Not drinking alcohol or eating in the hours leading up to your bedtime

What changes can you make to get the amount of sleep you need?

Are You Getting the Right Amount of Sleep?

More sleep can restore you to normal.

 

In a fast-paced world filled with many demands on your time, sleep might well end up on the low end of your list of priorities. Though your body is physically at rest while you sleep, a flurry of activity is occurring that helps keep you healthy. Inadequate sleep does more than make you cranky, forgetful and accident-prone. It can also increase your risk for many serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and poor immune system function. While adequate sleep is clearly important to your good health, how much is enough?

Average Sleep Recommendations

While the question seems simple, how much sleep is the right amount is complex. Your age is an important factor, but there is also individual variability. The National Sleep Foundation convened a panel of renowned experts to review medical research and determine how much sleep is ideal for people in specific age ranges.
Their conclusions — published in March 2015 in the journal Sleep Health — made these recommendations for daily sleep requirements for adults:

• Age 18 to 64 years: 7 to 9 hours
• Age 65 and older: 7 to 8 hours

These recommendations represent averages. But the National Sleep Foundation panel also noted that the range of what might be acceptable and healthy for individuals is much broader.

 

Migraines

Typical Symptoms

There is no test to determine whether you have migraines. Your doctor makes the diagnosis based on your symptoms. Typical migraine symptoms that help distinguish them from other types of headaches include:

• throbbing pain on one side of your head, lasting four to 72 hours
• sensitivity to light and/or sound
• nausea or vomiting with the headache
• worsening pain with even simple activities, such as walking

Less than 25 percent of people with migraines sometimes experience what is known an aura before an attack. Auras are brain-triggered symptoms that come on gradually, intensify over five to 20 minutes, and then slowly disappear within an hour. A typical migraine headache develops immediately after the aura in most cases. Migraine aura symptoms may include:

• vision changes, such as blurriness, black spots or seeing flashing or wavy lights
• numbness or tingling, which usually starts on the face or tongue
• slurred speech

After a migraine headache goes way, you still might not feel well. Many people feel unusually tired, irritable or have trouble concentrating for a day or two after a migraine.

Managing Migraines

You can't control being prone to migraines, but you can take steps to prevent and treat attacks. Doctors typically recommend a multi-pronged management plan for migraines:

• Identify and avoid triggers. Keeping a headache diary helps you know what your triggers are so you can avoid them.
• Take preemptive action. If you are going to encounter a migraine trigger, taking medication beforehand might help you avoid an attack.
• Act quickly when you sense a migraine attack coming on. Medications taken at the first sign of a migraine can often stop an attack or limit the severity.
• Use preventive medicines as recommended by your doctor. For people who have three to six days monthly with limited activities because of migraines, daily preventive medicines are often recommended to reduce the number of attacks.

When to See Your Doctor

If you're having frequent headaches — especially if they disrupt your usual activities — see your doctor. Many people with migraines don't discuss the headaches with their doctor. But there is no need to suffer in silence because effective treatments are available.

Sometimes, a headache could signal a serious health problem that requires immediate medical treatment. Seek medical care right away if you experience:

• sudden severe headaches after age 50
• the worst headache of your life
• fever and/or neck stiffness with a headache
• headache after a recent blow to your head
• aura-like symptoms without a migraine

Have you talked to your doctor about your headaches?

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

Migraines

 The difference between a garden-variety headache and a migraine is like comparing a rain shower and a thunderstorm. While normal headaches are a nuisance, the pain and other symptoms that typically occur with a migraine often make everyday tasks impossible. At least 12 percent of the U.S. population — 38 million people — suffer with migraines, according to a March 2013 report in the journal Headache. Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men are.

More Than Bad Headaches

Migraines are a nervous system disease that usually runs in families. In fact, you may be three times more likely to get migraines if you have a close relative — such as a parent, sister or brother — who also has the condition.
The brains of people who get migraines are overly sensitive to certain environmental factors that can trigger a migraine. When you encounter such a trigger, a series of abnormal reactions occurs in your brain leading to a migraine. Although migraine triggers differ from one person to another, common examples include:

• stress or anxiety
• too little or too much sleep
• hunger
• alcohol
• strong odors
• bright light
• strenuous exercise or sex
• hormonal changes related to menstrual periods
• certain foods, such as hard cheese and chocolate

 

Diet and Fitness

Work out just once or twice a week. Research shows that a little bit of exercise counts. One study in the British Medical Journal found that less than an hour of walking once a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise (like running) twice a week, cut the risk of death from any cause — including diabetes — by 15% and 23%, respectively. While there is plenty of evidence that 150 minutes of exercise a week is a great goal, there are also plenty of benefits to be realized with less time.

Choose something besides cardio. Building — and maintaining — muscle mass helps improve your blood sugar control, too. Muscle is the biggest part of your body that is able to respond and react to blood sugar, then break it down into usable energy. In fact, one study of more than 13,000 adults found that each 10% increase in muscle as a proportion of total body weight was associated with a 12% reduction in diabetes risk and an 11% decrease in insulin resistance (that's when the body has difficulty working with the insulin it produces).

Sneak in a few quick workouts throughout the day. In fact, "exercise snacks" during the day may actually be more effective than longer workouts, according to a 2014 study from researchers in New Zealand. Exercisers who did three 12-minute sessions a day controlled their blood sugar over 24 hours more effectively than those who did a single 30-minute daily workout.

Diet and Fitness

A Secret Benefit of Exercise: Better Blood Sugar

Sure, you know exercise is good for you. It can help you lose weight, sleep better and ward off ailments from back pain to heart disease. But did you know that it can also steady your blood sugar, helping to prevent diabetes and to manage the disease if you already have it

Research shows you don't have to lose much to make a difference: According to diabetes prevention studies in the European Union, participants who lost 5% of their body weight over one year had a 65% lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

And it's not so hard to get blood sugar benefits when it comes to exercise, either. Here's what you can do:

 

7 Risky Exercises and Better Bets

Best Ways to Reshape Your Body

 

Cardiovascular exercise will torch calories, but resistance training is a big part of the equation if you want to burn fat. Boosting your muscle mass increases your metabolism, so you burn more calories all the time, even when you're not working out.

 

Can Bad Shoes Trip Up Your Workout?

Even if you're doing everything else right, your efforts can be undermined by improper footwear. Working out with the wrong shoes increases pounding on the joints, and can lead to injuries like plantar fasciitis or tendonitis.

 

Shoe Solution

The key, experts say, is to choose a shoe that is specific to your activity and that suits your particular foot. They recommend shopping at stores specializing in athletic shoes, where you can seek advice from a knowledgeable salesperson. And don't forget to replace your shoes when they show signs of wear.

Fitness Risky Exercise

No. 5: Squats on the Smith Machine

The problem: The bar on the machine doesn't give, which can force the body into risky positions. Plus, people tend to put their feet farther in front of their bodies when doing squats on the machine, which makes matters worse.

 No. 6: Bad Form on Cardio Machines

The problem: Hunching over or using a death-grip on the handrail cheats your body and can throw off your alignment, jarring your spine, shoulders, and elbows.

 

 

No. 7: Exercises for Spot Reduction

 People who do strengthening and toning exercises in an effort to trim fat from a certain area -- thighs, hips, stomach, or arms -- have the wrong idea. Although these exercises can help firm muscles, if the targeted area still carries an extra layer of fat, it won't look much different. You can't isolate fat loss to one part of the body.

Risky Exercise

No. 3: Upright Row

The problem: Pulling weights, a barbell, or a weighted cabled bar up under your chin can compress the nerves in the shoulder area, impinging the shoulder.

No. 4: Leg Press with Cramped Knees

From a reclining position, you push the plate up and bring it down in this common exercise to work the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. The problem comes when you bend your legs too far -- past a 90-degree angle -- which can hurt your back and knees.

Risky Exercise

A Safer Lat Pull-down

On the pull–down machine, lean back a few degrees, use a wider–than–shoulder grip, and bring the bar down in front of your body to the breastbone, pulling shoulder blades down and together. Contract your abdominals to stabilize the body, and avoid using momentum to swing the bar up and down. The lat pull–down works the muscles of the upper back.

No. 2: Military Press Behind the Head

 This shoulder move, in which you lift a barbell up and down behind the head, can cause the same problems as the lat pull–down behind the head.

A Safer Military Press

A safer shoulder alternative: When doing the military press, keep the bar in front of your head. Stand with the weight no lower than the collarbone and keep your upper body upright. The exercise can also be done seated. Always sit straight against a back support, and keep the natural curve in your spine, with upper back and glutes pressed to the chair.

Fitness & Exercise

7 Risky Exercises and Better Bets

Workout Not Working?

 Who has time to waste on ineffective, risky exercises? Not you. So ditch these seven moves that won't deliver the results you want -- and may even cause injury.

 

 

No. 1: Lat Pull-down Behind the Head

 The problem: Only people with very mobile shoulder joints can keep their spines straight enough to do this exercise properly. So the move — done wrong — can lead to shoulder impingement or worse, a tear in the rotator cuff. And if the bar hits the back of the neck, it could injure cervical vertebrae.