HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Family Life

6 Ways To Be A Good Houseguest

FAMILY LIFE

Each year, millions of Americans travel and visit friends and family members for the holidays. And with so many overnight visits this time of year, being a courteous houseguest is a skill that may come in handy. If you’re staying with a friend or family member, remember these tips:

*Make plans well in advance.Don’t expect family members to drop everything at the last minute for your visit. Give them several weeks notice of when you will be coming (if possible) and don’t arrive earlier or stay longer than planned.

*Consider a small gift.A bouquet of fresh flowers, a book, or an attractive fruit bowl are good host gifts to consider.

* Pay attention to house rules. Are there shoes by the door? Then you should take yours off when you enter.

*Offer to pitch in.Ask if you can pick up some groceries at the store, or offer to pay for meals when going out.

*Clean up after yourself.Don’t expect the host to do it all. Help clear the table after meals and wash dishes. The day of your departure, strip the sheets off the bed and offer to throw them in the laundry. Wipe off the bathroom counters after you use them. Put things back where you found them.

*Send a note afterward.When you return home, send a short but sincere thank you note to your host.

Source: The Emily Post Institute

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cold Hearts (Why Shoveling Snow Is Extra Dangerous)

WELL-BEING

While you may be used to battling frigid temperatures and the inevitable snowstorms that arrive every winter, are you aware of the dangers these pose to your heart?

“When the temperature outside drops, our blood vessels narrow to prevent our bodies from losing heat. This is a natural response that can also put people with heart conditions and those involved in strenuous exercise at greater risk of having a heart attack,” says Dr. Holly Andersen of the Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Shoveling snow is one of the most strenuous and dangerous winter exercise activities. It can raise blood pressure, and coupled with the effects of colder temperatures, shoveling can increase heart attack risk drastically. Take these precautions:

*Warm up.Warm up with stretching and light activity before shoveling, exercising or beginning more strenuous physical activities.

*Bundle up.When going out to shovel, always wear a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm the air before you breathe in, and dress in layers. Layering clothes underneath a windproof and waterproof outer shell helps maintain body heat.

*Push the shovel.It is less strenuous to push the snow rather than lifting it, and this reduces the risk of overexerting yourself.

*Take breaks.You should take frequent breaks while shoveling to give your muscles, especially your heart muscle, a chance to relax. You may also consider sharing the work with a friend to make the workload lighter and ensure that you are not alone in the event of an emergency.

*Consult a doctor.If you are over the age of 50, overweight, out of shape or have suffered a heart attack, you should consult a doctor before shoveling snow or starting any exercise routine.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Make The Grade This School Year

FAMILY LIFE

Start talking about the upcoming school year. Listen closely for fears or concerns, advises Dr. Amie Duncan of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “It is important that parents listen to and respond to their child’s potential anxieties about the new school year, especially if they are making a big transition such as from an elementary school to a middle school. It is perfectly normal to experience first day jitters,” she said. These feelings can be relieved with some of these suggestions.

Preschoolers and kindergartners need to know what will happen.

* Visit the school together. Let them play on the playground, walk through the classroom, and meet new teachers.

* Go on a school shopping trip for a backpack and supplies. Assign a school prep area at home for supplies and lunchboxes.

* Tuck a small family picture in a backpack or lunch.

* Set bedtime and wake-up routines 4 weeks before school starts.

* Be positive and excited for the new school year.

Elementary and middle-school children will need to adjust to new beginnings.

* Expect that your child may want trendy or “cool” school supplies.

* Take a quick trip to school before classes start to help find classrooms, lockers, the cafeteria, and the bus drop-off location.

* Right from the start, help your child get and stay organized. Choose places to store their backpack and a distraction-free area to complete homework.

* Talk to your child about high-risk behaviors, such as drinking, drug use, and sexual activity. Have this talk early and often.

* Encourage your child to choose to take part in at least one school club, sport, or other activity outside of school hours.

* Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the school counselor right away if you have concerns about how your child is adjusting to school. Keep the lines of communication open.

High schoolers need and thrive on positive reinforcement.

* Help your teen set realistic goals on how to earn the best grades and complete assignments.

* Stay organized. Buy a daily planner and teach your teen how to use it correctly or teach them how to organize their schedule with a tablet computer or laptop.

* Encourage your teen to get involved in at least one extracurricular activity or sport because it will help them meet people.

* Continue to support and encourage good study habits with regular homework/study times. Search for ways to offer positive support.

* Ask about what’s going on in your child’s life. (Use open-ended questions, rather than those that require only a “yes” or “no” response). Be an active listener without judging your child.

* Stay involved in your child’s school life and you will know what is going on, and how they are doing.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Pack A Travel First Aid Kit

WELL-BEING

Traveling? Make a little room in your luggage for a travel first aid kit. It won’t cost much or take up much space. Once you reach your destination, you won’t need to reach any further than your suitcase to relieve those minor aches and pains that can put a major damper on your plans.

A basic travel first aid kit should include a handful of over-the-counter remedies you can buy just about anywhere, said Caroline Sullivan, DNP, assistant professor at Columbia University School of Nursing.

Here’s what should go in the kit:

* Tylenol or Advil to ease a headache or fever

* Cortisone 10 cream to soothe an itchy, swollen insect bite

* Antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Bacitracin to prevent infection from minor cuts, scrapes, and burns

* Band-Aids to cover up blisters, or for those minor cuts and scrapes

* Pepto-Bismol tablets to relieve diarrhea, upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion, and nausea after too much food and drink. Note: This is for adults only. Pepto-Bismol has salicylates which have been linked to Reye’s syndrome.

* Benadryl to relieve allergies, and also to help you sleep

* Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol

* Tissues to sneeze, dab cuts, and clean hands in a pinch

* Pack your prescription medicines in their original bottles in your carry-on bag.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Start A Conversation About Domestic Violence

FAMILY LIFE

Everyone knows a victim of domestic violence, but most people don’t know what to do to help.

“If someone comes to you and tells you they’re a victim of domestic violence, the most important thing you can do is offer your support without judgment,” said Vicky Dinges, vice president of corporate responsibility at Allstate. “There are 1,300 deaths and two million injuries related to domestic violence each year. Odds are we all know someone who’s in an abusive relationship. Knowing how to help might just save a life.”

Here are some easy ways to start a conversation:

*Offer support without judgment or criticism.There are a lot of reasons why victims may stay in an abusive relationship, and many reasons why they may also leave and return to the relationship multiple times. Let them know it’s not their fault and that they are not alone.

*Don’t be afraid to tell them that you’re concerned for their safety.Help your friend or family member recognize the abuse while acknowledging that they are in a very difficult and dangerous situation.

*Avoid confrontations.There are many reasons why people experiencing abuse don’t reach out to family and friends. It’s important to recognize when they are ready to talk about their experiences while still offering support.

*Encourage them to get help.Suggest ways they can get additional support. Help them look into available resources, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline number – 800-799-SAFE (7233) or website atwww.thehotline.org. This resource also finds local support groups and provides information on staying safe.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Scoop On Shoveling

WELL-BEING

Push the snow, dress in layers, and warm up first are sensible rules for shoveling snow. Here are some guidelines you may not know:

* Avoid caffeine or nicotine before shoveling, especially if you have a history of or are at high risk for a heart attack. These stimulants may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict, which places extra stress on the heart. If you have a heart condition, respiratory issues, or back problems, check with your doctor before doing any shoveling.

* Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

* Try to shovel fresh snow, before it becomes packed or refrozen. It may be helpful to shovel a few times during a snowfall rather than waiting until the storm ends when the snow is deeper and heavier.

* Switch hands periodically and alternate the side to which you are throwing snow to more evenly distribute the work load and repetitive muscle use.

* Use a sturdy snow shovel that has open ends to allow you to easily toss the snow off to the side.

* Pace yourself. Be sure to take frequent breaks to rest and avoid overexertion. Exhaustion can make you more susceptible to injury, hypothermia, and frostbite.

Most important:

If you begin to experience any pain in your chest, arm or neck, shortness of breath or profuse sweating, stop shoveling immediately and seek emergency medical attention.

[Source: Kessler Institute]

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
3 Keys To A Virtual Family Gathering

FAMILY LIFE

While there is no true replacement for being with family & friends, the option to connect virtually is sometimes the best available. To get the most out of your virtual time, consider these tips.

Have the right technology and try it out in advance

You need a quality device setup for video chats, such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. You also need a good internet connection.

Choose an app that works for everyone

There are so many video chat apps out there. The right one for you depends on the size of the group and the devices people are using. Shop around.

Plan virtual activities that everyone can enjoy

* Pictionary

* Charades

* Scattergories

* Talent show

* Trivia

* Get-to-know-you-better questions

* Jokes or riddles

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
8 Commandments For Living Long And Living Well

WELL-BEING

You won’t live forever, but you can’t live like there’s no tomorrow, because tomorrow is coming. You can prepare for tomorrow today by making smart lifestyle choices or changing poor health habits-it’s never too late to do that, says Dr. Edward Creagan in his book How Not to Be My Patient: A Physician’s Secrets for Staying Healthy and Surviving Any Diagnosis. Here are Dr. Ed’s eight commandments:

1. Form stable long-term relationships.

2. Maintain ideal body weight.

3. Eat a plant-based diet.

4. Be active.

5. No smoking.

6. Use alcohol in moderation, if at all.

7. Foster a sense of spirituality and a sense of connectedness to nature or your higher power or force.

8. Find meaning and purpose in life.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Coping With The Loss Of A Spouse

FAMILY LIFE

Losing a husband or wife is devastating. A whirlwind of intense emotions-overwhelming sadness as well as shock, fear, guilt, anger, and numbness-make the days and weeks after a spouse’s death agonizing and confusing.

It may be small comfort to know that these feelings are normal and will be temporary.

“Sadness may never go away entirely,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Hayley Hirschmann of Morris Psychological Group, “but the pain of acute grief becomes less intense over time as the good days start to outnumber the bad.”

Dr. Hirschmann offers this advice:

*Accentuate the positive:Studies have shown that those who are able to draw on humor and pleasurable memories are happier and healthier than those whose thoughts of the deceased are mostly sad and focused on their loss.

*Let others help:Don’t shy away from expressing your feelings to those close to you; you will feel less alone if you can share your grief with a sympathetic listener. Accept help with chores and legal and financial responsibilities. Consider joining a bereavement support group.

*Take care of yourself:Eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep. Be alert to falling into bad habits.

*Don’t make big changes right away:Wait a while before moving or changing jobs.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Recognize And Report Abuse

FAMILY LIFE

Child and elder abuse is a serious problem that affects people from all walks of life. One of the most important ways to protect victims from abuse is by making sure they get the help they need and by reporting cases to the authorities. Here’s how to recognize the different types of abuse and what to do in case you know someone who is a victim. This advice is from the General Services Administration of the U.S. government (www.USA.gov).

Child Abuse

Children who are victims of physical or emotional abuse often display mental and social development problems. In most cases, the abuse comes from their own parents or caretakers. Here are some of the signs of abuse:

*Physical abuse:A child who suffers from physical abuse might have bruises, burn marks, broken bones and scars. They are often fearful of adults or certain people.

*Sexual abuse:Victims of sexual abuse are forced to have sexual relations or engage in inappropriate physical contact with adults. Signs include feeling uncomfortable when changing clothes.

*Emotional abuse:Children who experience emotional abuse are often victims of private or public humiliation and neglect. A child might show sudden changes in behavior and act violently.

*Neglect:Children who are physically neglected show signs of lack of personal hygiene and bad health due to malnutrition, among other things.

If you know or suspect that a child is a victim of abuse and is in immediate danger, call 911. To report a case of child abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can occur in the victim’s home or at places such as assisted living facilities. People who abuse the elderly are usually people who know or take care of the victims. There are several types of abuse and all of them can have a profound negative impact on a person’s physical and mental health.

*Physical abuse:As with child abuse, elders who suffer from physical abuse also might show bruises or other signs of injury on their bodies.

*Sexual abuse:Elders who suffer from sexual abuse might become withdrawn.

*Emotional abuse:This occurs when the victim is humiliated and treated with disrespect. The victim might feel useless or inferior and might suffer from depression.

*Neglect:Elders show signs of physical neglect when caretakers fail to help them with their personal hygiene, food, clothing, and medications.

*Financial abuse:Elders are often targets of financial fraud. This usually happens when people who take care of elders steal their retirement.

If you know or suspect an elder is a victim of abuse and is in immediate danger, call 911. To report a case of elder abuse, call 1-800-677-1116 or visit the National Center on Elder Abuse atwww.ncea.aoa.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026