Tuesday, October 28

Wellness

Why do I keep getting cold sores?
Wellness

Why do I keep getting cold sores?

Cold sores can be tiny and painful, and for some, they keep appearing over and over again. “Many people are infected with this virus but most have no symptoms at all. We spread the cold sore form of this disease through saliva and close personal contact to the saliva of others,” the infectious disease specialist explained. The appearance of a cold sore can feel slightly embarrassing, especially in social gatherings or work, but Zoutman says the infection is very common. “They affect your appearance on your lips and face, which may lead to feeling self-conscious. If they recur frequently, they can be very distressing and a reason to seek the help of your doctor.” “We used to think of HSV-1 as classically the more common, above-the-belt type [that caused cold sores], and HSV-2 wa...
Stages of cold sore development: What to know
Wellness

Stages of cold sore development: What to know

Cold sores, also known as herpes labialis, are caused by nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1. People can develop a cold sore on their lips or in their mouth. Transmission of the nongenital herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) occurs during childhood through nonsexual contact, but adults can contract the infection through sexual activity. HSV-1 hibernates inside skin cells and neurons under the skin until a trigger stimulates it. Stages of a cold sore A cold sore develops in five stages and will typically last between 9 and 12 days. Stage 1 Initially, people will feel a tingling, itching, or burning sensation underneath the skin around the mouth or base of the nose. Doctors call this the prodrome stage. Other symptoms that may occur during this stage include: malais...
2020 Health & Wellness Trends to Know About Now
Wellness

2020 Health & Wellness Trends to Know About Now

This year, the health and wellness world was all abuzz with oat milk lattes, elderberries and, of course, the ultimate at-home luxury fitness accessory: the Peloton Bike. Wellness is a market that is constantly growing and evolving, and according to the most recent study by the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness market is valued at $4.2 trillion, up 12.8 percent from 2015. And with no sign of the market slowing down, we got to wondering what will we be trying, sipping and lathering on in 2020 to keep feeling our best? We did some digging and compiled a few of the biggest health and wellness trends that the coming year the new decade will bring. More ZZZ’s We’ve all hit the snooze button one too many times, and according to the National Sleep Foundation, 45 percent of Amer...
Does Too Much Vitamin C Cause Side Effects?
Wellness

Does Too Much Vitamin C Cause Side Effects?

Vitamin C is a very important nutrient that's abundant in many fruits and vegetables. Getting enough of this vitamin is especially important for maintaining a healthy immune system. It also plays an important role in wound healing, keeping your bones strong, and enhancing brain function. Interestingly, some claim that vitamin C supplements provide benefits beyond those that can be obtained from the vitamin C found in food. However, many supplements contain extremely high amounts of the vitamin, which can cause undesirable side effects in some cases. This article explores the overall safety of vitamin C, whether it's possible to consume too much, and the potential adverse effects of taking large doses. Vitamin C is Water-Soluble and Not Stored in Your Body Vitamin C is a w...
Do You Have a Cold or the Flu? Here’s How to Find Out
Wellness

Do You Have a Cold or the Flu? Here’s How to Find Out

Each year Americans could be hit with an estimated 1 billion colds and 8% of us will get slammed with the flu. That’s a whole lot of cough drops, tissues and sick days. No worries: We’ve got you covered with the info you need to feel better fast, including doctor-approved natural remedies and products that will make riding out symptoms easier — as well as facts about staying one step ahead of germs so these viruses will know better than to mess with you again. The first thing is first though, do you have a cold or the flu? Cold symptoms: Things typically start with a scratchy throat or runny nose and gradually get worse. Symptoms tend to be mild and include sneezing, nasal congestion, a sore throat, slightly swollen glands, and coughing. Treatment: Take it easy, rest up and...
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Wellness

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes pain in the heel. A thick, strong band of tissue called the plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot. This tissue can become damaged or inflamed, causing pain and difficulty moving the foot. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, plantar fasciitis accounts for about 80% of cases of heel pain. An estimated 10% of people will experience this problem during their lifetime. What causes plantar fasciitis? The function of the plantar fascia is to absorb the impact of standing, walking, and running on the foot. This part of the body gets a lot of use, and too much pressure can damage the plantar fascia. Women are more likely than men to experience plantar fasciitis. It is not clear why, but it may ...
Is Emotional Intelligence Key to Improving Health & Wellness?
Wellness

Is Emotional Intelligence Key to Improving Health & Wellness?

In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve started to see a major focus on health and wellness in the last few years. That makes sense since many people sit at a desk for eight hours a day—or longer. Work-life balance is a struggle for many people in our 24/7 work culture and the stress of constantly focusing on our professional lives is leading to burnout, health problems, and other issues. So what can be done? Some people turn to yoga and meditation, fitting in sessions before they head into the office. Others turn off electronic devices at night or keep to a strict sleep schedule. In order to make meaningful changes for our health and well-being, we may need to turn to an unexpected facet of our personality: our emotional intelligence. What is Emotional Intelligence? Introduced a...
Wellness Weekend: Healing with Food
Wellness

Wellness Weekend: Healing with Food

Do you suffer from chronic conditions like heart disease, depression, diabetes, allergies or arthritis? And have you been told there is no cure, but instead, your symptoms have to be managed with medication for the rest of your life while your health slowly worsens? What if you could be empowered to take charge of your health and reverse or even eliminate your condition? All chronic conditions have one thing in common: inflammation. This common denominator leads to an overactive and at the same time weakened the immune system. Inflammation makes your blood stickier, depletes your body and brain of precious nutrients and causes pain. Inflammation is also a major cause of weight gain or inability to lose weight. Many people I work with do not overeat calories but still were unable to l...
Diet Affects The Breast Microbiome In Mammals
Diet, Wellness

Diet Affects The Breast Microbiome In Mammals

Diet influences the composition of microbial populations in the mammary glands of nonhuman primates, researchers report October 2 in the journal Cell Reports. Specifically, a Mediterranean diet increased the abundance of probiotic bacteria previously shown to inhibit tumor growth in animals. Diet has been extensively studied as a lifestyle factor that could influence breast cancer development. Breast cancer risk in women is increased by consumption of a high-fat Western diet full of sweets and processed foods but reduced by a healthy Mediterranean diet consisting of vegetables, fish, and olive oil. Intriguingly, a recent study in humans revealed that malignant breast tumors have a lower abundance of Lactobacillus bacteria compared to benign lesions, suggesting that microbial imbalances ...
Addressing Emotional Wellness In the Workplace
Wellness

Addressing Emotional Wellness In the Workplace

When it comes to employee wellness, a lot of the discussion centers on physical wellness: encouraging employees to increase their physical activity levels, develop healthier eating habits, getting more sleep, etc. In addition to being easier to relate to, these kinds of wellness initiatives produce results that are not only easier to see and quantify (weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, etc.), but also easier to link to business outcomes, such as reducing insurance costs and absenteeism. Ignoring emotional health – both on a personal level and on an organizational level – can have consequences that are much more concerning than a few moments of awkwardness, such as higher rates of employee burnout, interpersonal conflicts, and decreased productivity. “Emotionally unwel...