Improving Health

Next month is family health history month – a perfect time to discuss health history with your relatives! While discussing health and disease may not be a typical dinnertime conversation for you, arming each other with the power of knowledge can have huge impacts on your whole family’s health. Your family health history includes any chronic disease or condition suffered by blood relatives such as parents, siblings, grandparents, and your parents’ siblings. Specific conditions to note can include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, psychological disorders, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal disorders.

To Eat or Not to Eat … Organic!
Have you ever stood in the produce section at the grocery store, wondering if those organic blueberries are really worth the extra $2? If so, you’re not alone. Many consumers have questions about organic foods. Others just have general concerns about the presence of pesticides in our food, or the health impact of genetically modified foods (GMO’s).

August is National Immunization Awareness Month! This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. Most of us are not sure if we are current on our vaccinations, so this is a great time to check with your healthcare provider to see if you and your family are overdue for any immunizations. You have the power to protect yourself and your family against serious diseases, such as whooping cough, cancers caused by HPV, and pneumonia, through on-time vaccination. CareATC encourages you to talk to your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional to ensure that you, your child, and your family are up to date on recommended vaccines. We also encourage you to visit CDC’s Interactive Vaccine Guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and throughout your child’s life.

Stress can manifest itself in many ways in our body. Take a minute to focus on your shoulders: are they relaxed, stiff or strained? How about your jaw – is it loose or clenched? Tight or tense muscles, headaches, increased heart rate, uneven breathing, or a rise in body temperature are all common physical responses to stress. Stress may also be felt in the mind in the form of racing thoughts, worrying, sadness, irritability or anger. Chronic, unmanaged stress can lead to serious health issues, that’s why managing stress is essential to healthy living and improving your quality of life. Here are nine things you can do in your immediate environment to create a stress-free zone and manage stress effectively.

What if one letter in the alphabet could help you breathe better, jump higher, balance better, move without pain, and keep you lean?  As a Physical Therapist, I am always looking for ways to get my patients well faster. 

Do you experience decreased muscle mass?  Fatigue?  Frequent strains, sprains, or fractures?  Increased weight in your chest and abdomen? Mood swings or lack of motivation?  Any of these could be related to low testosterone-and not just in men.

Men’s Health month is a great opportunity to remind all men that good health lies in the hands of man. According to the CDC, on average, men die five years younger than women and are often more likely to be afflicted with chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. Statistically, men are less likely than women to seek medical care. Men also have unique health concerns related to prostate and testicular health. Here are a few simple things that men can do to improve health and well-being.

Don’t let sitting crumble your bones. It is said that “sitting is the new smoking”, and in our modern culture exacerbated by post-Covid business and social practices we are tethered to our phones and computer screens more than ever. Terms like “Tech Neck” have more than just an aesthetic impact on our musculoskeletal system. According to the Mayo Clinic, prolonged sitting increases your risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis means porous bones and by our mid-twenties, we have reached our maximum bone density. As we age, bone health maintenance is critical to our skeletal support system.

How do you know if you are truly stressed? Transitions to the home work environment and social isolation are the biggest culprits of this stress response. The result? Dramatic changes in cardiovascular health.

How many of us have calendars with more “To Do's” and events than hours in the week? I know this is how my calendar appears more weeks than not. I feel myself trying to juggle my calendar, my spouse’s, and my kids. Add to that managing school assignments for children in this new blend of virtual and "in-person" schooling, socializing on the many web based platforms, and attending doctor appointments. I feel like I can’t catch my breath. Am I alone?