Healthy Living Tips

MikeA April 7th, 2009

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Infancy

For three or four weeks after its birth, a healthy new baby usually sleeps all day and all night, waking only to satisfy its need for sustenance. However, at the end of this time, each waking period starts to last longer and sleeping bouts become shorter.

This inclination to sleep in the early weeks must not be interrupted but as the pattern changes over the following weeks, care should be taken to develop a certain regularity in hours of sleep. Otherwise too much can be had in the daytime, and restless and disturbed nights inevitably follow. It is best to train the infant in the habit of sleeping in the middle of the day at a certain time and then the actual period of sleep will gradually reduce down naturally to about two hours, more or less. If put to rest too late in the day, a bad night will likely ensue.

The baby should initially sleep with its mother. The low temperature of its body, and its weak heat-generating power make this the preferred option. If the child has disturbed and restless nights though, as sometimes happens for short periods, it is best transferred to the care of someone else and returned to mother early in the morning for nursing and feeding. This is for the preservation of the mother’s health which, through sleepless nights, can so easily be upset. The baby would then also suffer by the influence which such a health disruption could have upon the mother’s milk and her general demeanor.

After about six weeks the child, if healthy, may sleep alone in a cradle or cot, care being taken that it has comfortable clothes and covers appropriate for the room its in. This needs to be sufficiently warm (about 60F) and the cot itself shielded from any cold air currents. It is important to attend to these points since the child’s ability to maintain temperature is less during sleep than at any other time. Guard against subjecting the infant to too much heat though; just aim to keep it comfortably warm with a good circulation of pure air, especially around its mouth and nose.

Early Childhood

Up to the third or fourth year the child should be permitted to sleep for an hour or so in the morning and afternoon. After this it may gradually be discontinued; but it must always be remembered that during the whole of childhood more sleep is required than in adulthood. The infant should be put to bed every night between seven and eight and, if it’s healthy, will sleep soundly until the following morning. No definite rule, however, can be laid down regarding the number of hours of sleep to be allowed since one child might require more or less sleep than another. Regularity as to the time of going to bed is the chief point to attend to. Permit nothing to interfere with this, and then only let the child sleep without disturbance until he or she wakes of his or her own accord.

Later Childhood

The amount of sleep necessary to preserve health varies according to the state of the body, and the habits of the individual. Up to puberty children can sleep for up to twelve or fourteen hours a day; after that, up to ten. Upon awakening, they should be encouraged to rise and not lie in bed unnecessarily. This helps to bring about the habit of early rising, and reduces the tendencies towards idleness which all children have.

It is not a good idea to unquestioningly provide all the conveniences a child might demand in their bedroom (such as a television or computer) simply because “everybody else has one”. This inevitably gives them the idea that their room is exclusively their own domain and one to which all ‘interlopers’ are forbidden, even their parents! This is not healthy development. Parents should remain in charge of their offspring until such time as they leave home and any notion to the contrary should immediately be stamped out. As far as the topic of this article is concerned, such an attitude makes it impossible to monitor their sleep patterns which could, and almost inevitably would, eventually become extremely detrimental to their health and well-being.

Mike Alexander

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Tags: baby, childhood, infant, pre-teens, preventive care, sleep, teens, toddler

• 7. Healthy Juniors
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MikeA April 6th, 2009

Approaching Retirement

Many people approach retirement with a gloomy attitude. They treat it as if it were a surrender to a fate best avoided and debilitating to the spirit. So it is important to try and adopt a spirit of light-heartedness when talking to them, one that might help them face it as something to be accepted, enjoyed even, since it is an inevitable stage in one’s life. “But how?”, I hear you ask. It’s simple: poke fun at retirement!

Overcoming Emotions

Retirement jokes, like the ones said in speeches at retirement gatherings, are always popular. Unfortunately though, there is a tendency for many speakers to become so emotional that it sends everyone in the room into a state of gloom and sympathy. But if you are called upon to speak, you can lighten the atmosphere immediately by introducing a note of humor, without of course insulting the retiree concerned. The key is to ensure that you don’t overdo it, of course.

Fun Gifts

In addition to talking about the wonderful moments you have shared with the retiree, you can add something unique and humorous that will be appreciated by the subject of the gathering as well as by the audience. For example, you might present him or her with a fake headstone with the inscription, “in advance”. Or an appropriate bumper (fender) sticker. They are just examples, of course. You need to give it a little thought but there are no end of possibilities.

Ghostwriters

Some copy providers, known as ‘ghostwriters’, also write and sell personalized retirement speeches, complete with witty jokes, once they understand the personality and interests of the retiree. These people usually add a few jokes about the retiree’s profession. One way of finding someone willing to ghostwrite for you is to do an online search using Google, Yahoo or one of the other search websites.

Your Local Bookstore

If you can’t find any suitable retirement jokes and don’t want to pay for a ghostwriter, a visit to your local bookstore could help. There is an absolute plethora of joke books that cover every topic imaginable, including retirement. A little scan here and there could help inspire you even if you don’t have confidence or are sure you’re not a natural comedian. There may also be good retirement gift ideas there as well. Just remember, helping the retiree have a good laugh is your aim.

Retirement Online

There are also plenty of websites that provide a ton of jokes and and other humorous items such as anecdotes etc. One of the best of these for our purposes is The Retirement Quotes Café, a comprehensive collection of retirement quotes and retirement sayings for all occasions. It is run by Ernie J. Zelinski, author of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, which can also be purchased there. They offer a free ebook too called ‘The 237 Best Things Ever Said About Retirement’.

Good Wishes

If you know someone who is coming near to retirement, you might want to send an email or two which have retirement sayings like ‘Retirement is when everyday is Saturday’ and ‘Retirement: goodbye tension, hello pension!’ It is a nice gesture and gives off the sense that you know what the future retiree is going through. Again, relieve the tension as much as possible and encourage him or her to anticipate retirement with a smile and not with a sigh as much as possible.

Mike Alexander

Tags: elderly care, geriatric care, humor, retirement

• 6. Healthy Seniors
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MikeA April 5th, 2009

Prescribing For Pregnancy

It should come as no surprise that doctors sometimes find it difficult to prescribe medication for a pregnant woman. Before they can decide which drug can best treat a would-be mother’s condition, they need to consider any possible side effects that might affect development of the baby. This is over and above any consideration of the patient’s age, general health, number of months before delivery, tolerance for medications, and other drugs she may already be taking.

Similar such issues arise when considering an exercise routine for a pregnant woman. The intensity, frequency, type, and duration of the recommended exercises are all important factors to be taken into account. A healthy, vigorous workout for one person might be hazardous for another. This can particularly be the case with pregnant women due to the fact that their bodies are more likely to already be under strain in various ways that they are not used to.

However, if a course of exercises is recommended and implemented within a normal, moderate routine, it should have no adverse effects on the overall pregnancy.

Balanced Activities

A pregnant woman should not be compelled to do vigorous work but neither should she stay in bed or be inactive until she gives birth. Balance is the key. It is important that she remains active and continues her normal life as much as possible, at least in the first six months. This is not only for her own health but also that of the baby.

Physical conditions like blood pressure, weight and health status are usually monitored during regular visits to her doctor. Exercise can be a significant factor in keeping these indicators within accepted ranges. A pregnant woman’s condition varies in accordance with the growth and development of her baby and therefore it is necessary that any health guidance provided by her physician is followed carefully.

Health experts contend that adequate physical and emotional support and information is needed for a pregnant woman to prepare herself properly for delivery. She needs practical health messages and exercise guidance to keep herself and her growing baby healthy.

Therefore, mothers or would-be mothers who are not yet aware why they need to put some effort into a degree of moderate exercise, need to be advised of some of the benefits.

Avoiding Fatigue

As muscles become fatigued, it obviously becomes harder to apply the force necessary to accomplish given tasks. Simple things like doing housework, or climbing stairs, for example, may seem to require more units of energy than previously. Tired muscles are less efficient and less effective. They put more strain on the pregnant woman because her body is carrying more weight and that weight is increasing each day. Tired muscles can also contribute to leg cramps, a condition that most pregnant mothers-to-be have experienced. The correct exercises will keep these vulnerable muscles toned and more able to cope with the changes happening in her body.

Reducing Backaches

Even when you sit or stand, some muscles are still working and such relatively easy postures can sometimes be surprisingly taxing on particular muscles. Those of the lower back, for example, can quickly become fatigued by the effort of keeping erect when you stand still or sit upright for any length of time. They are under particular strain in the case of a pregnant female, not only because she is carrying an extra, and ever-increasing, load but also because the center of gravity of her body is changing. With exercise, a pregnant woman can correct this problem by developing the muscles that need to deal with this phenomenon.

Vital Processes

Physical exercise relies on glycogen, a substance produced by the body from complex carbohydrates in the liver. The supply of glycogen to the muscles can determine the limits and duration of any form of activity. When there is sufficient glycogen available, oxidation occurs which converts it into the energy needed to flex muscles. Exercise, of course, depletes the glycogen, which we then experience as tiredness. However, when glycogen is used up by strenuous activity, it is replaced in greater quantities than before, as if the body recognizes the need to store a larger fuel supply.

So regular exercise has an overall toning effect on the body and increases the efficiency of such vital processes.

These are just a few of the benefits regular exercise can bring to pregnant women. The important thing to remember is that before starting an exercise program, whether pregnant or not, it is best to consult your doctor.

Mike Alexander

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Tags: baby, backache, exercise, physical activity, pregnancy

• 5. Healthy Women
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MikeA April 4th, 2009

Our product reviews, or mini-reviews if you prefer, are an important part of ‘Healthy Living Tips’ and new ones are reported here as they are added to the site. (For more information, read the ‘Product Reviews’ paragraph in the Welcome To Healthy Living Tips article, which you will find in the Categories menu under Healthy Living.)

The following review was added today (simply click a link to read a review):

• ‘Penis Enlargement Techniques’, for those guys who want to feel better about themselves in this area but don’t want to resort to spam offers or to pills, pumps, weights or surgery.

Tags: erectile dysfunction, penis enlargement, premature ejaculation, safe sex, sex tips

• 4. Healthy Men
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MikeA April 3rd, 2009

Our product reviews, or mini-reviews if you prefer, are an important part of ‘Healthy Living Tips’ and new ones are reported here as they are added to the site. (For more information, read the ‘Product Reviews’ paragraph in the Welcome To Healthy Living Tips article, which you will find in the Categories menu under Site Admin.)

The following reviews were added today (simply click a link to read a review):

• ‘The Truth About 6 Pack Abs‘, for those who want to trim down their belly fat and improve their abs.
• ‘No-Nonsense Muscle Building‘, Vince DelMonte reveals how to work out and build a great body.

Tags: bodybuilding, health foods, keeping fit, nutrition, workouts

• 2. Healthy Bodies
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MikeA April 2nd, 2009

Our product reviews, or mini-reviews if you prefer, are an important part of ‘Healthy Living Tips’ and new ones are reported here as they are added to the site. (For more information, read the ‘Product Reviews’ paragraph in the Welcome To Healthy Living Tips article, which you will find in the Categories menu under Site Admin.)

The following reviews were added today (simply click a link to read a review):

• ‘Anxiety Relief‘, for people who suffer from general anxiety or who get panic attacks.
• ‘The Magic Of Making Up‘, which is for anyone who has been through a break up, a lover’s rejection or even a divorce.

Tags: anxiety, breakup, divorce, panic attacks, relationships, spouse

• 3. Healthy Minds
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MikeA April 2nd, 2009

Exercise

Regular exercise is an essential element for a long and healthy life. Not only that but a good exercise regimen will stay with you for the rest of your life and enhance your appearance, build self-confidence and improve your mind. People who are physically fit, regardless of their age, both look and feel good.

You should try to balance your physical activities with a reasonable amount of rest. Many experts in the field of aging now believe that regular exercise along with the proper amount of rest may actually add years to your life span. In fact, results from a number of tests indicate that agility and muscular strength, even in the elderly, can also be enhanced with the right balance of these two factors.

Do some kind of physical activity every day and complement it with some type of structured exercise, such as a 30 minute brisk walk, at least two or three times a week.

Stress Management

There are different types of stress: mental, emotional and physical. Emotional stress seems to take the greatest toll on the average person.

Not that all stress is bad. In fact, life would be extremely uninteresting if it were not for the challenges we face every day. However, too much, too often, with no effective or appropriate outlet, does not allow the body and soul to recuperate. You might consider a typical week and see if you can identify the things that might be causing you anxiety or stress. Once identified, they can more easily be attacked and eliminated.

Stress can be a killer. A life filled with stress can wreak havoc on your body and contribute to, if not cause, a number of serious illnesses such as heart attack, stroke, asthma, gastric problems, menstrual disorders, ulcerative colitis, angina, irritable colon, hypertension, ulcers, headaches, etc.

Stress relief in the form of relaxation therapy is probably the best way to manage the problem.

Sleep

Getting proper sleep and learning to relax are both valuable in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Sleep is an absolutely vital component in everybody’s life but as one gets older, the actual amount of time needed for sleeping tends to lessen (this is not the case for everyone, however).

The quality of the sleep one gets is equally important. Proper ventilation, a pillow of just the right height and consistency, an even and comfortable temperature and a minimum of interference in the form of sound or flashing lights is important. Clearing one’s mind of thoughts about tomorrow, or what you did today, or particularly of thoughts about your problems, can help you relax more easily and slip into sleep mode with a minimum of fuss.

Sex

Of all the instinctive desires that people are subject to, sex is probably the most consistently persistent. Yet it is only in recent times that this basic human need began to be fully understood and accepted. Now that it’s importance is at last recognized, at least by some, its rightful place in human affairs has been accepted. No longer are people expected to fight against its influence over their lives. Despite remnants of various religious, social, and moral misgivings, most people are no longer critical of others, or themselves, for the part it plays in their lives.

There can be no successful stress management regime without an understanding and acceptance of the need for satisfaction and control of this basic instinct. Indeed, it is now generally accepted that a healthy sex life is absolutely essential for a long and happy life. If the person does not have a partner, or they or their partner are in some way disabled, then masturbation is a perfectly acceptable and valid alternative for satisfying this need.

A healthy libido is one of the surest indicators of overall health. It ‘rears its head’ in childhood (much to many people’s chagrin), develops into a raging torrent of demand by early adulthood, then enters a slow decline over the following years. It never leaves though and, despite everything that was previously thought, many older people have a satisfying love life until the day they die of old age. Indeed, there is a train of thought developing among some health professionals that an active sex life, whether alone or with a partner, is a very important component of longevity.

Laughter

People are naturally attracted to someone with a good sense of humor. Everyone is capable of developing a good sense of humor by associating with and surrounding themselves with pleasant and light-hearted people. Laughter is now well known to be a tonic for the soul and can be one of the best ways of improving your mental outlook.

To get the most out of this facet of life, try to think with a positive attitude and see the funny side of things. Also, read humor, watch humorous entertainment and associate with funny and witty people as often as you can.

Food

Eating the right amount of tasty, nutritous food is really important to your health, as is the variety and the balance of different types of food. Eating healthy foods and avoiding those high in fats, sugar, sodium and cholesterol will help to lessen the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and other problems. Remember too, that we are what we eat, as the saying goes. What that simply means is that our intake of vitamins and trace elements etc, all of which are essential to health, come from the food we eat.

Mike Alexander

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Tags: anxiety, asthma, childhood, colitis, exercise, heart attack, humor, hypertension, keeping fit, laughter, libido, long life, mind and body, physical activity, positive thinking, relaxation, self-confidence, sleep, staying healthy, stress relief, stroke, ulcers

• 1. Healthy Living
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MikeA April 1st, 2009

Our product reviews, or mini-reviews if you prefer, are an important part of ‘Healthy Living Tips’ and new ones are reported here as they are added to the site. (For more information, read the ‘Product Reviews’ paragraph in the Welcome To Healthy Living Tips article, which you will find in the Categories menu under Site Admin.)

The following further reviews, this time covering weight loss, which is an evergreen health topic of concern to many, many people these days, were added today (simply click a link to read a review):

• ‘Fat Loss 4 Idiots‘, which purports to be an ‘Accelerated Fat Burning Program’.
• ‘Top Secret Fat Loss Secret‘, which takes a completely radical approach to the problem.

Tags: diet, low calorie, low carb, low fat, obesity, parasites, plaque, weight loss

• 2. Healthy Bodies
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MikeA April 1st, 2009

Our product reviews, or mini-reviews if you prefer, are an important part of ‘Healthy Living Tips’ and new ones are reported here as they are added to the site. (For more information, read the ‘Product Reviews’ paragraph in the ‘Welcome To Healthy Living Tips‘ article, which you will find in the Categories menu under Site Admin.)

The following reviews were added today (simply click a link to read a review):

• ‘Acne Free in 3 Days‘, which is more or less self-explanatory.
• ‘Easy Cure For Hemorrhoids‘, which will be of interest to anyone suffering from hemorrhoids.

Tags: acne, hemorrhoids, piles, skin care

• 2. Healthy Bodies
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MikeA April 1st, 2009

Laughter is always the best medicine so, to help you along, this site will feature a different funny cartoon every week. You will always be able to see the current one, and links to previous ones, by clicking ‘Cartoon Of The Week’ on the top menu bar. Enjoy!

Tags: funny cartoons

• 3. Healthy Minds
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