Cold and flu season is going to be vile this year. How do I know that? Well, that’s simple. My younger daughter and I have been sick on and off since school started! What started as a cough with my daughter spread to me. Then one of us had bronchitis. After that the two of us got a cold. Actually, we got the flu, but we thought it was a cold. Yes, cold and flu season is here, and it has not been kind, already. That’s why I got excited when I heard about Cold-Q. Make Cold and Flu Season Easier…
Your period is a normal function of your body. How your reproductive system is functioning can be an indicator of a bigger health issue. So it’s natural to be concerned if your very regular cycle is sometimes thrown into chaotic late, or abnormal heavy or even extreme light flow. Of course the first thing you wonder if your cycle changes or a period ceases to happen, is whether you are pregnant. But you might also start wondering if you have an illness. The truth is that if your period is late or you missed it all together while traveling, it’s probably JUST the traveling.…
Oral health is so important to our overall health, and it’s vital that we make sure our children have good oral health habits like brushing and flossing 2 to 3 times daily. This is even more important when Halloween rolls around. All that candy coming in may be tasty, but it’s also terrible for the teeth. This Halloween help your kids remember their oral health with Philips Sonicare and Furball Pal Sparkly. Oral Health for Better Health Oral health is key to keeping our entire body healthy. Did you know that poor oral health can lead to damage of organs…
This week as we mark World Polio Day I wanted to share a few facts about polio and the vaccine that saves lives. Just one week ago I was in Zambia doing a fellowship with the UN Foundation’s global vaccine program called Shot @ Life. On our last day in Livingstone, we visited the Mahatma Gandhi clinic where moms and dads brought their babies to receive the appropriate vaccines needed for their age group. Many babies were receiving the oral polio vaccine, as shown below. It’s the type of global vaccination initiative that Shot@Life supports in many countries around the world.…
Are you having a hard time falling asleep at night? Do you toss and turn and still barely get any shut eye? Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to help improve this problem. Better sleep is pretty simple with a few changes of habit. Here are 5 tips to get better sleep at night: Turn off electronics an hour before bedtime. Using your TV, computer, e-reader, or cell phone may be making it more difficult for you to fall asleep. Shutting down all of your electronics an hour before bedtime may help you fall asleep…
Until very recently I had never even heard of Mesothelioma. It was one of those extremely sad rare cancers that didn’t seem to generate a lot of stories or news. In 2015 and 2016 I heard a lot more about mesothelioma when a good friend’s father passed away of the disease. Recently, a survivor reached out to me with her moving story and I thought I’d share a few facts for Mesothelioma Awareness Day. This week September 26th marks Mesothelioma Awareness Day (MAD). Heather’s Story Heather Von St James is a survivor of ten years. She was a brand new Mom,…
“I don’t care if this baby is a boy or a girl. I just hope he or she is healthy.” Almost every parent, or parent to be has uttered out loud, or thought to themselves, some version of this sentiment. Healthy baby first. Gender second. So what would you do to stack the deck in favour of having a healthy child? Eat better, exercise? Some of these changes are a no brainer. But what about genetic screening before you get pregnant? When does that make sense? Most of us know there are many things you do to help grow a…
My kids are both athletic young women. Staying physically active, playing sports and striving to do your best – well, that’s something we take to heart as a family. Whether it’s swimming, martial arts or track and field, sports matter to the health of both boys and girls. When kids get out on the field or the court, they learn teamwork, develop a better work ethic, get into better shape, and boost their self confidence. Unfortunately, girls are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to playing sports. With less opportunities and less variety, girls often have to take what…
GI upset is something I’ve had trouble with for almost as long as I can recall. Most of my readers know by now that I suffer from terrible stomach cramps if I’m not extra careful about what I eat. Although I’ve learned to live with it and I have a huge toolkit of strategies to help after 30 years, GI upset can still be a huge drain on energy and it can turn a good day upside down. While everyone else in the family can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, I have to worry about what goes into my…
Natural itch relief is something that’s always in high demand this time of year. Summer is prime season for flying beasts that bite and sting. They’re out there, waiting to feast on your blood or give you a painful sting if you accidentally make them feel threatened. You can try to avoid this uncomfortable part of summer, but chances are, you’re going to get tagged. So with that in mind, here are some natural itch relief methods that really work. Natural Itch Relief – 6 Ways to Ease the Itching and Burning Recently I returned from a travel writer trip, followed…