HealthyLife Articles

Tag: Personal Health & Safety

Say Goodbye To Bad Habits

WELL-BEING

Experts say that to stop an unhealthy habit, you must replace it with a healthy habit. Here’s how to get started.

*Set a date.Make a plan for when you intend to quit your bad habit. Put it in your calendar or planner.

*Stop the triggers.For instance, don’t eat in front of the T.V. if you tend to overeat while watching it. Eat at a table without distractions.

*Keep track.Anytime you avoid your unhealthy habit, write down your victory. You’ll see how far you’ve come. This can help you stay motivated.

*Be kind to yourself.Promise yourself a healthy reward when you meet a certain milestone. And, don’t focus on setbacks or mistakes. Instead, be proud of the things that you did well.

Source: National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
5 Wellness Factors

Personal Safety

Wellness is more than not being sick. It includes:

1. Your physical health

2. Your mental and emotional health

3. Your social and community health

4. Your financial health

5. Your spiritual health

Wellness goals include:

* Feeling healthy and having the energy to do your daily activities

* Having a purpose and being satisfied with your life

* Giving and receiving support from others with a sense that you belong

* Being able to manage your economic resources to support your health and well-being

Take Action: Think Positive

Studies have shown that optimism can significantly lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

1. Focus on solving problems, not being overwhelmed by them.

2. Train your thoughts to look at the glass as half full, not half empty.

3. Practice gratitude by writing down three good things you are grateful for that happen each day.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Six Things You Should Never Do In Your Car

Personal Safety

Driving takes total concentration. If you try to text message, talk on a cell phone, and do other things while driving, you risk having an accident.

* Adjust your child’s safety belt before, not after, you start driving.

* Don’t peer into the rearview mirror to comb your hair or touch up your makeup.

* Don’t drive with one hand holding the wheel and the other holding a hamburger. If you’re hungry, stop and eat.

* If a bee or flying insect distracts you or your passengers, pull off the road and get rid of it. Don’t swat at the bug while maneuvering through traffic.

* Don’t try to drive and read a road map at the same time. If you’re lost or need to get your bearings, pull off the road and look at a map, or have a passenger help you follow directions. Use a global positioning system (GPS), if you have one.

* If your children start to misbehave, don’t turn around to discipline them. Pull off the road and settle the problem, and teach your children how dangerous it is to misbehave in a car.

Note: You should always wear a safety belt, use approved child safety seats, and heed the warning for air bags given by your car manufacturer. Doing so can make the difference between surviving a car crash intact or not surviving at all, between walking away with just a scratch or never walking again.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
After-Dark Joggers, Heed This Advice

Personal Safety

If you walk, run, or jog after sundown, the following tips help motorists spot you.

* Attach reflective tape to the front and back of your clothes.

* Carry a lit flashlight.

* Don’t use the road; stay on the shoulder, or preferably the sidewalk. Move against (facing) traffic if you must use the shoulder.

* Be aware of your surroundings and plan to jump to safety if a vehicle veers toward you.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Reduce Environmental Risk Factors For Chronic Diseases

Personal Safety

Chronic diseases include arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, emphysema, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. An unhealthy diet, inactivity and overweight, and tobacco use are common risk factors for many chronic diseases.

* Live a healthy lifestyle. Be active. Walk. Rake leaves.

* Limit exposure to air pollution to reduce the risk for problems with asthma, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and other respiratory diseases.

* Choose organic foods. Pick apples at an apple orchard. Enjoy the fruits of your labor.

* Reduce exposure to pesticides. Chronic, low-dose exposure to pesticides has been linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD), brain tumors, lymphomas, asthma, and birth defects. Pesticides are in lawn and garden sprays, insect repellants, flea collars, and non-organic foods. Find out about earth-friendly fertilizers from a fertilizer specialist at your local Extension Office. Ask your vet how to keep your pet from getting fleas without the use of pesticides.

* Use a digital or ear thermometer. Find out what to do about mercury spills, disposal, and cleanup fromepa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Steer Clear Of Drunken Drivers

Personal Safety

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a common cause of auto accidents. If you can spot a drunken driver and stay out of his or her way, you may be able to avoid an accident. Watch out for drivers who:

* Drive too fast or too slow.

* Make jerky starts or stop abruptly.

* Overshoot stop signs.

* Ignore traffic signals.

* Follow cars too closely.

* Pass other cars too quickly or too slowly.

* Change lanes frequently.

* Drive without their lights on after sundown.

* Drive with their windows rolled down in cold or wet weather.

* Are obviously partying and having a good time with their passengers when they should be paying attention to the road.

© 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
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
Unexpected Ways To Be Happy (And Healthy)

WELL-BEING

*It’s easy being green.Make vegetables a central part of your diet. Dark green foods provide essential vitamins and nutrients to your body that protect you from many of life’s worst diseases. The FDA recommends 3 to 5 servings a day for pristine health. This is not as hard to accomplish as it sounds. Examples of one serving include 2 broccoli spears, 3 tablespoons of green beans, or 3 sticks of celery.

*Brush your teeth.Brushing and flossing your teeth not only prevents tooth decay but gum disease, which has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Healthy gums are one more way to keep that heart pumping strong.

*Hear ye, hear ye!Pick up your local newspaper once in a while. There is more information out there than you can imagine. Sift through the bounty of news because when it comes to your health and health care, no one is more responsible than you are. Take time to understand what’s going on in the world.

*Be a small fry.Order smaller portions. Even the small fries at fast food drive-throughs.

*Give yourself a break.Not only are vacations an important part of maintaining your sanity, but there are many other positives about getting away. Studies have shown that employees come back to work post-vacation more creative and more productive.

*Scrub a dub dub.The easiest way to avoid infectious diseases-a common cold, the flu-is by washing your hands often.

*Then lend a hand.A study at Vanderbilt University found that volunteer work was good for both mental and physical health. People of all ages who volunteered were happier and had better physical health and less depression. Think about something you like to do in your spare time and find a match atwww.volunteermatch.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Banish Biting Bugs

SELF-CARE CORNER

Insects like mosquitoes and ticks may annoy you during a summer barbeque or camping trip. But an effective bug repellent does more than avoid an itchy inconvenience. It may help prevent you from getting sick. Mosquitoes and ticks may carry diseases that are dangerous to humans. Many ticks carry Lyme disease and mosquitoes may spread the West Nile and Zika viruses.

To help keep mosquitoes away, use a repellent that’s been proven safe and effective by the CDC. Look at the label and choose a repellent with one of these active ingredients:

* DEET

* Picaridin

* IR3535

* Oil of lemon eucalyptus

* Para-menthane-diol

The CDC recommends tick repellents that have one of the following active ingredients:

* DEET (20 to 30 percent): use on skin and clothing, but not under clothing.

* Permethrin: use on clothing and gear only.

In addition to a repellent, there are other ways to avoid bugs:

* Avoid wooded and brushy areas when possible.

* Walk in the center of trails.

* Wear clothing that covers arms and legs.

* Minimize time outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

* Throw out standing water in tires, buckets, birdbaths or other outdoor items at least once a week.

* Do a full-body check for ticks after spending time outside.

What to do if you spot a tick

If you find a tick on your skin, it should be removed as soon as possible. Here’s what to do:

* Don’t panic.

* Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

* Pull upward on the tick slowly and evenly. Don’t twist the tick or try to yank it out quickly.

* If parts of the mouth remain after you’ve tried to remove it, use the tweezers to try and get them out. If you can’t get them out, leave it alone so the skin can heal.

* After you’ve removed the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or an iodine scrub.

* If the tick is alive, don’t try to crush it. Instead, put it in alcohol or an airtight bag or container. You can also wrap it tightly in tape or flush it down the toilet.

* Ticks can also be removed by your doctor if you can’t get it out yourself.

* If you’ve been bitten by a tick, contact your doctor for follow-up care.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026