Step one: Understand the process
Children always want to sleep with their parents. This is because they feel loved and protected while also enjoying a snuggle. Most parents need privacy, but make sure you are emotionally ready before starting the sleep-ahead process.
If during this process you notice that the child becomes more irritable than usual, you should see a doctor.
When you change where your child sleeps, it also means you are changing the child's habit. Here are some tips to help the child change the habit to start sleeping alone:
The sleeping space has to be appealing. Nothing can replace you. A relaxed room makes it easier for the child to sleep. Decorate the room. Let the room represent the child's personality. Example: If the child likes angels or a particular character, let the wall paper be an artwork with their favorite character.
Add details that suit the child: if the child likes a bright room, use light curtains, but if they like a dark room, use light-blocking curtains. While the child is adjusting to the change, use white noise to help them sleep better. Avoid TV, iPad, or devices in the bedroom. These devices change their sleep patterns.
Create a consistent bedtime schedule. Avoid letting the child stay up late.
A consistent and calming bedtime routine is important. To help lower the energy level, give them a bath and snuggle with them while reading a bedtime story. This helps them wind down and end the day with you being the last face they see before they sleep off.
If your child finds it difficult to go to bed, you can sit in the room. Try to gradually shorten the time you are in the room.
If the child gets out of bed, take them back to bed. The child might not like it, but you need to not give in. Take them back to their room.
Let the child know you appreciate the progress. You can use a reward system, but be careful not to overdo it in order not to pass the right message.
If nothing is working and you notice the child getting really upset, it is advisable to talk to your doctor.
There’s no secret about it: staying fit is essential to maintaining good health. In today's fast-paced world, many people struggle to find time for themselves, leading to health challenges that can feel overwhelming. Various fitness pathways are being promoted, and while some offer quick results, many are unsafe or unsustainable. It’s important to be cautious—looking fit is not the same as being healthy.
Health statistics show a worrying trend: more people are experiencing serious health issues than ever before. Many in their 40s are starting to feel like they’re older. We cannot let this happen. Now is the time to take charge of your health. While it may be tempting to stay lazy or come up with excuses, remember this: if you want to enjoy your later years, you need to invest in your health now. And the good news is—it’s never too late to start.
Imagine transforming your overall health in just 12 weeks. You might be asking yourself, "Is this really possible?" The answer is yes, and Candour offers a proven fitness program to help make it happen.
With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to commit to a healthier, happier you. Imagine starting the new year feeling confident, energized, and in the best shape of your life. While most people think the "new year" begins on January 1st, a fresh start can happen any day you decide to make a change.
What is the Candour 12-Week Program About?This 12-week program is a personalized, one-to-one personal training sessions and online coaching plan designed specifically for individuals over 40 years of age who are ready to reclaim their health, fitness, and confidence.
Why Focus on People Over 40?As we age, maintaining fitness and healthy habits becomes more challenging. Our bodies change, energy levels fluctuate, and finding time to focus on health can feel impossible. This program is tailored for those who may have lost sight of their fitness goals but are ready for a lasting, meaningful transformation.
This isn’t just another workout plan—it’s a comprehensive wellness journey that blends fitness, nutrition, and habit-building for long-term success.
Here’s what makes it unique:
- Tailored to Your Life: Every fitness routine, nutrition plan, and habit-building strategy is customized to meet your personal goals and fit seamlessly into your daily routine.
- Real Human Support: The expert coaches at Candour guide you through every step, providing real-time feedback, encouragement, and motivation. Plus, there’s a dedicated Candour Facebook group where you can connect with like-minded individuals on the same journey. This supportive community helps keep you motivated and accountable, ensuring you stay on track.
- Convenience of Online Coaching: With Candour’s easy-to-use app, you can complete your workouts anytime, anywhere, making it a flexible option for even the busiest schedules.
- A Proven, Holistic Approach: This program isn’t just about losing weight or toning muscles. It’s about transforming your body, mind, and lifestyle. By the end, you’ll have healthier habits, more energy, and a renewed outlook on life.
Over the course of 12 weeks, you’ll follow a program designed to progressively build better habits, increase your fitness, and improve your overall well-being. Here’s what you can expect:
Personalized Fitness Routines: Each workout is crafted to address your specific needs. Whether you’re aiming to improve strength, flexibility, or endurance, the program offers a customized plan just for you.
Nutrition Guidance: Say goodbye to confusing advice and diet trends. With so many misleading fitness videos on social media, it’s easy to get lost. Candour simplifies nutrition with realistic, sustainable meal plans tailored to your goals and lifestyle.
Habit Coaching: Real, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Week by week, the program focuses on helping you build better habits so that by the end of the 12 weeks, you’ve made life changes that stick for the long term.
Ask yourself:
- Do you struggle with low energy and constant fatigue?
- Have you tried other fitness programs but found it hard to stick with them?
- Do you want a personalized approach that fits into your busy life?
- Are you ready for a real, lasting transformation—not just a temporary fix?
If any of these resonate, this program could be the right fit.
Why This Program WorksThe success of "12 Weeks to a Better You" lies in its ability to meet you where you are, regardless of your current fitness level or lifestyle. Here’s what you’ll get:
- Expert Coaching: With years of experience, the trainers know exactly how to guide you toward success.
- Ongoing Support: Your coach will be with you every step of the way, helping you overcome challenges and celebrate your victories.
- Results That Last: The focus on habit-building ensures that the changes you make will stick long after the program ends.
This is your opportunity to start a fitness journey that goes beyond just looking good—it’s about feeling good inside and out. Imagine a future where you feel confident, strong, and energized every day. That future starts now.
Sign up for Candour’s 12-week program and take the first step toward becoming the best version of yourself. Don’t wait for change to happen—create it!
Use a bottle. Fill up a plastic water or soda bottle with water. Place the pill on your tongue and firmly shut your lips around the bottle opening. Take a drink, keeping the bottle in contact with your lips and sucking to take the water and medication. Do not let air into the bottle.
Tuck your head. Place the pill on your tongue. Take a drink of water and keep it in your mouth. Lower your chin towards your chest. Swallow the tablet and water with your head bent.
Make the pill look like something else. Put it in something that can be taken without chewing, like applesauce, yogurt, or a fruit or vegetable purée.
Modify the medication. Check with your pharmacist to see whether the tablet may be ground or broken into smaller bits that can be mixed with food to make swallowing easier. (This is not an option for coated pills, time-release formulations, combination drugs, or capsules, which are designed to be eaten whole.)
Try a different format. Consult your doctor to see if the drug can be taken as a drink, a topical treatment (such as a cream or patch), or an injection.
This phenomenon undoubtedly detracts from your enjoyment of meals. However, you should be aware that there are numerous reasons why food may taste too salty.
Do you experience seasonal allergies? Postnasal drip, as well as allergies to certain foods, can cause a salty sensation. Potential causes include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, certain autoimmune diseases, and vitamin B12 insufficiency. Even persistent dry mouth, which can be caused by a variety of drugs, can make food taste particularly salty.
Even if you have one of these disorders, don't accept having a salty tongue. It's a good idea to discuss the problem with your primary care doctor. Who will work with you to find solutions to your problems, which could be as simple as altering your prescriptions? they may request some basic blood tests to determine the cause.
Have you ever rode an e-scooter or e-bike? These "micromobility" modes of transportation are undeniably convenient, affordable, and fun to use. But did it feel a little dangerous?
Indeed, the number of accidents involving e-bikes and scooters is increasing. Given their remarkable rise in popularity, this may not come as a surprise. Then there's the way riders frequently use them: at high speeds, near automobiles and pedestrians, and on roads and sidewalks that weren't built for them.
Disruptive developments such as e-bikes and scooters are always associated with disadvantages. So, how can we reduce the danger of accidents?
Electric bikes, scooters, and injuries
Between 2018 and 2022, e-bike sales increased from approximately 250,000 per year to more than a million. E-bike and e-scooter rentals have also risen considerably. As e-bikes and e-scooters become more popular, emergency departments observe an increase in the number of persons injured while riding them.
A 2024 study in JAMA Network Open emphasizes this. The researchers used data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They compared emergency room visits between 2017 and 2022 for persons injured while riding an e-bike or e-scooter to those injured while riding traditional bikes and scooters.
What did the study discover?
During the six-year study period, approximately three million people riding e-bikes, e-scooters, or their conventional counterparts sought emergency room care, including approximately 45,500 e-bike riders and 190,000 e-scooter riders, as well as approximately 2.5 million conventional bike riders and 305,000 conventional scooter riders.
Several themes evolved regarding e-micromobility:
ER care has increased dramatically.
- E-bike injuries have more than doubled each year, from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022.
- E-scooter injuries have climbed by more than 45% every year, from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022.
- 43% of e-bike and scooter riders wore helmets, compared to 52% of conventional micromobility users.
- 7% of e-bike riders and 9% of e-scooter riders had consumed alcohol before their accidents, compared to 4% of conventional bike riders and 3% of conventional scooter riders.
More accidents occurred in urban areas than in rural settings.
- 83% of accidents involving e-bikes and scooters
- 71% of typical motorcycle and scooter accidents.
All cyclists had similar injuries, with scrapes, bruises, broken bones, and head and neck injuries being the most prevalent.
As we age, our appearance changes along with our wisdom and experiences. These changes are most noticeable on our faces.
How the Face Ages
Over time, several changes occur:
Foreheads: They expand as hairlines recede.
Ears: They may get longer due to cartilage growth.
Noses: The tips may droop because the connective tissue weakens.
Behind the scenes, fat in the face, which is evenly distributed when we’re young, starts to lose volume, clump up, and shift downward. This can cause formerly round features to sink and smooth skin to sag. Additionally, the lower part of the face may gain fat, leading to a baggy chin and jowly neck.
Wrinkles also appear, with deep ones on the forehead and between the eyebrows caused by facial muscles continually tugging on the skin. Other folds deepen as fat decreases and moves around, while finer wrinkles result from sun damage, smoking, and natural skin degeneration.
Addressing an Aging Face
While aging gracefully is beautiful, some may want to slow down these changes. Here are some options:
Celebrate Aging: Embrace age-related changes as reflections of life’s joys and challenges.
Facelifts: surgical procedures that remove excess tissue and lift sagging skin. Though effective, they are expensive and may require additional procedures.
Nonsurgical Alternatives: These include rejuvenating treatments, which, while not cheap, can be effective.
Tips for a Youthful Appearance
Sun Protection: Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Creams and lotions: moisturizers can temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Prescription creams containing retinoids can reduce wrinkles and liver spots by promoting collagen production and altering melanin.
When we think about toxic chemicals and pollution, cancer or neurological issues often come to mind. However, these hazardous substances also play a role in the leading cause of death: cardiovascular disease.
“Recognizing that chemical pollutants can contribute to heart disease is a recent development, but it’s very real,” says Dr. Philip Landrigan, an adjunct professor of environmental health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He explains that the risk from environmental pollution has often been overshadowed by other classic heart disease risk factors.
“Cardiologists have made great strides in identifying and addressing these risks. Heart disease deaths are much lower now than in the 1950s. But with fewer people smoking and better control of cholesterol and blood pressure, environmental exposures are getting more attention,” he says.
Pollution Sources
Chemical pollutants include toxins in the air, water, and soil. Among these, air pollution is the biggest threat to heart health, according to Dr. Landrigan. Other concerning contaminants include heavy metals like lead, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and pesticides, as noted in an article from Circulation Research.
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During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, you might experience red, rough, raw, and itchy skin because of low humidity both outside and inside. The outer layer of your skin reflects the humidity around it. Luckily, there are many simple and inexpensive ways to relieve winter dry skin, also known as winter itch.
Even if you live in a warm place, most people will deal with dry skin at some point. These tips can help keep your skin soft and healthy, whether you’re in chilly New England or sunny Hawaii.
Keeping Moisture in the Skin
Moisturizers are the first step in fighting dry skin. They rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and lock in moisture. There are three main types of ingredients in moisturizers:
Humectants: Attract moisture (e.g., ceramides, glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, lecithin).
Occlusives: Seal in moisture (e.g., petrolatum, silicone, lanolin, mineral oil).
Emollients: Smooth skin by filling in spaces between cells (e.g., linoleic, linolenic, lauric acids)
Practicing self-care isn't just about your well-being—it's about your physical health, too.
Our post Physical Self-Care emphasizes that's especially crucial for women, who are often more pressured to follow societal beauty standards. That's why it's important to learn how to distinguish physical beauty from physical health. By nourishing your body, keeping it in good shape, and loving what it's capable of rather than what it looks like, you can better uplift both your physical and mental well-being.
Viewing physical self-care through this lens can be especially helpful for losing weight more sustainably. Shedding pounds for the sake of your long-term health rather than to look thinner can be especially vital given the increased risk of developing chronic diseases that comes with being overweight or obese. The above steps can help you start that journey. However, simply establishing a healthier lifestyle isn't a one-size-fits-all solution and won't work for everyone.
That's why demand for weight loss drugs, particularly Ozempic, is on the rise. Due to growing obesity rates worldwide, pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which supplies Ozempic, sold over $21 billion of these weight loss drugs in 2023 alone. But can Ozempic really aid physical self-care—or is it just a way for people to take a "shortcut" when it comes to weight loss?
When does Ozempic promote sustainable weight loss?
Ozempic is considered a GLP-1 medication. Originally designed to treat diabetes, it works by regulating levels of naturally occurring hormones in the body. In doing so, it sends satiety signals to the brain, helping you feel full faster and managing your appetite so you eat less. You may have first heard of Ozempic as a "celebrity drug." Its widespread use by big names has led to what's dubbed Hollywood's Ozempic epidemic, something that experts say may influence ordinary consumers to take the medication even if they don't need to. Though that may make it seem like an unhealthy way to streamline the process of losing weight in line with social pressures, the truth is that it can significantly aid sustainable weight loss—when it's in the right hands.Because Ozempic can result in significant weight loss, healthcare professionals only prescribe it to a key population: individuals who are overweight or obese and find it challenging to lose weight due to medical factors. That includes people who are genetically predisposed to obesity—as well as women diagnosed with pre-existing medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS. In these cases, an Ozempic prescription can help when these medical issues negate healthy lifestyle efforts like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
From this perspective, the weight loss drug can significantly promote physical self-care when your own biology hinders progress. That's especially true given the many health benefits Ozempic provides. Aside from helping prevent and manage conditions commonly associated with excess weight, like type 2 diabetes, it can reduce cell inflammation to significantly boost kidney and heart health. Ozempic can even prevent cognitive decline and lower your risk of developing conditions like depression and anxiety, meaning its benefits extend to your mental well-being.
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A positive outlook might help women slow down physical decline as they get older, according to a new study.
This research, led by Harvard and published in JAMA Psychiatry on March 20, 2024, looked at data from nearly 6,000 postmenopausal women, with an average age of 70, who were part of the Women’s Health Initiative. These women joined the study between 1993 and 1998 and were followed for six years. At the start, researchers measured their optimism using questionnaires. Their physical abilities were tested four times during the study, including grip strength, a timed walk, and how many times they could stand up from a chair in 15 seconds without using their hands.
The study found that women with higher optimism had better grip strength and could stand up from a chair more times compared to those with lower optimism. They also experienced slower declines in walking speed and chair stands over the six years. While the exact reason for this link is unclear, researchers think that optimistic people might be more active, social, and eat healthier.
The “fight or flight” response, also known as the stress response, is how our body prepares to face or avoid danger. While this response can help us tackle challenges, it becomes problematic when triggered by everyday issues like money problems, traffic, work stress, or relationship troubles.
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This constant stress can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. It can also weaken the immune system, making us more prone to colds and other illnesses, and contribute to anxiety and depression. While we can’t avoid all stress, we can learn healthier ways to respond to it. One effective method is the relaxation response, a concept developed in the 1970s by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School. This state of deep rest can be achieved through techniques like meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation.
A key part of these techniques is breath focus, which involves learning to breathe deeply.
Benefits of Deep Breathing
Deep breathing, also known as diaphragmatic, abdominal, belly breathing, or paced respiration, involves taking air in through your nose until your lungs are full and your lower belly rises. Many people find deep breathing unnatural due to cultural pressures to maintain a flat stomach, which leads to shallow “chest breathing” and increased tension and anxiety.
Shallow breathing limits the diaphragm’s movement, reducing oxygen intake and causing shortness of breath and anxiety. Deep abdominal breathing promotes full oxygen exchange, which can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.
Practicing Breath Focus
Breath focus helps you concentrate on slow, deep breathing and distracts you from stressful thoughts. It’s especially useful if you tend to hold it in your stomach.
First Steps:
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Take a normal breath, then a deep breath: inhale slowly through your nose, letting your chest and lower belly rise as your lungs fill. Let your abdomen expand fully.
Exhale slowly through your mouth (or nose if that feels more natural).
Regular Practice:
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, practice controlled breathing regularly. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, combine deep breathing with calming imagery, and use a focus word or phrase to help you relax.
Social media and stores are full of products that promise perfect skin. These products are increasingly marketed not just to adults but also to teens and tweens. While many are harmless, some can cause skin irritation and be expensive. Even if they are harmless, do they promote unhealthy ideas about beauty?
From a medical perspective, most teens and tweens don’t need specialized skin products, especially expensive ones. But let’s discuss when they might be useful.
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When should teens and tweens use specialized skin products?
1. When a doctor recommends it. If your child has a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, over-the-counter products might help. For eczema, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers are usually recommended. Always ask your doctor which brands to use and how to use them.
2. If they have dry or sensitive skin, Fragrance-free cleansers and non-irritating moisturizers (creams and ointments are better than lotions) are good choices. If you have questions or the products aren’t helping, consult your doctor.
What about acne products?
It’s rare to go through adolescence without a pimple. If your child is bothered by pimples, acne products from the pharmacy might help. Mild cleansers are better than those with alcohol. Look for cleansers for dry skin or eczema. Over-the-counter acne treatments often contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, or alpha-hydroxy acids. Adapalene can help with stubborn pimples. Avoid astringents or exfoliants,, as they can irritate the skin. Talk to your doctor about the best options, especially if over-the-counter products aren’t working. There are many prescription treatments available.
Many of us first learned of mpox (previously known as monkeypox) in 2022, when the largest known outbreak affected approximately 100,000 people across more than 100 nations. While mpox is commonly seen in central and western Africa, the 2022 outbreak expanded fast from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to previously unknown locations. Before the epidemic was contained, the United States alone reported over 32,000 infections and 58 deaths.
A new outbreak of mpox has brought it back into the spotlight. What should you know and do about the latest global health emergency? What are your risks? Are vaccinations available? How do you avoid spreading mpox?
What is unique about the 2024 mpox outbreak?
This time, the virus has a new variant known as Clade 1b that is spreading swiftly. That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a second global health emergency in August 2024.
More than 15,600 cases and 500 deaths have been reported so far, with the majority occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And mpox has been discovered in countries where no cases had previously been reported, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Recent instances in Sweden and Thailand have prompted public health officials to prepare for further international spread, potentially to Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Mpox: 6 Things You Should Know
What is mpox, and how is it transmitted?
Mpox is a viral infection caused by viruses from the same family as smallpox. Certain animals in central and western Africa, such as squirrels and rats, are prone to it. People can become infected by interaction with sick animals. Mpox can be transmitted from person to person via close physical contact, including intercourse.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
Mpox causes flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinct rash. The rash normally appears a few days after the infection, as little flat areas. Over the course of a week or two, the spots develop into little fluid-filled bumps (vesicles) similar to chickenpox, followed by bigger pus-filled blisters. The blisters will scab and recover over the next week or two. After then, a person is no longer contagious.
Although the condition is often minor, some patients have problems. Serious problems include pneumonia, eyesight loss from an eye infection, and sepsis, a potentially fatal infection.
What are your chances of having mpox?
Location and activities influence your risk of contracting mpox.
Risk rises if you
possess bedding, clothing, or other items or surfaces touched by an infected person; live in or travel to an area where the mpox virus is endemic, meaning it is present in the environment, such as in the soil; be a man who engages in frequent sex with men and has multiple sexual partners.
When patients develop mpox, the risk factors for experiencing more severe disease or consequences, including pneumonia, are:
Pregnancy, young age (particularly for children under 1), compromised immune system, and eczema can all weaken the skin barrier.
Why is the mpox outbreak so concerning?
The present outbreak of mpox is particularly concerning because the virus strain is more deadly than in 2022. The virus is spreading faster and reaching areas where mpox had not previously been discovered.
Furthermore, the current outbreak has disproportionately affected children and teenagers, many of whom are already malnourished or have other infections like cholera.
Are there any mpox vaccinations or treatments?
There are two vaccines available to prevent mpox in the United States:
- Jynneos is licensed for the prevention of smallpox and mpox. It requires two injections, four weeks apart.
- ACAM2000 is a vaccination that is authorized for the prevention of smallpox and is thought to be effective against mpox. It could be made available if necessary, but its probable negative effects make it a secondary option.
Tecovirimat, an antiviral medication, is approved to treat smallpox. Animal research indicates that it may be useful in treating mpox as well. The medication is now being studied as an mpox treatment and may be available by joining a study. A 2024 study indicated that tecovirimat did not shorten the duration of symptoms in adults and children with Clade 1 mpox. However, the death rate (1.7%) was half that what was predicted. However, it remains unclear if the low fatality rate was related to drug treatment.
Understanding Bronchitis and Its Treatment
Bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, often lasts longer than a common cold but usually doesn’t need antibiotics or medical treatment. While adults get several colds each year, bronchitis, or “chest colds,” are less common, affecting about 5% of adults annually. The persistent cough that comes with bronchitis makes it seem more serious, leading many to visit their primary care provider.
What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi, the tubes that carry air from the windpipe to the lungs. It often starts as an infection in the nose, sinuses, ears, or throat and then moves to the bronchi.
The main symptom is a cough, which can be dry or produce phlegm that may be yellow or green, indicating your body is fighting the infection. Other symptoms include fatigue, sore throat, chest discomfort, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Like a cold, bronchitis usually resolves on its own, but symptoms can last up to three weeks. You might feel better in a week, but the cough can linger for another two weeks or more.
Treating Bronchitis
Treat bronchitis similarly to a cold: rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take acetaminophen for pain. Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or hot water, or taking a hot shower, can help loosen phlegm. Over-the-counter cough suppressants can help you manage symptoms during the day and sleep better at night.
Don’t wait until you’re overheated to cool down. Be aware of high temperatures throughout your day and try these 14 tips to stay cool:
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- Check the weather: Use a weather app to track hourly temperatures and plan your day around the hottest times.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to replace what you lose through sweat. Women need about 11 cups (88 ounces) and men need about 15 cups (120 ounces) per day. If you’re outdoors a lot, you’ll need even more.
- Seek air conditioning: Spend time in air-conditioned places during the hottest parts of the day. If you don’t have AC, visit a mall, library, movie theater, or cooling center.
- Use fans wisely: Fans can help cool you down by blowing heat away from your body. If the air is hot, wet your skin with a spray bottle or wet wipe to promote evaporative cooling.
- Take breaks: Pace yourself during outdoor activities. Physical work generates heat, so be active for short periods and rest in between.
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Q: I’m 55, and a friend my age just got the shingles vaccine and urged me to do the same. But I’ve heard the shots can cause severe arm pain for days. Is it really worth it?
A: Yes, it usually is. The shingles vaccine, given in two doses over several months, helps prevent a much bigger problem than a sore arm or other side effects like fatigue, fever, and achiness.
The vaccine called Shingrix is very effective against shingles, which is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus that stays dormant in your nerves. Shingles can cause a very painful skin rash and may lead to a complication called postherpetic neuralgia, which is severe nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the rash disappears.
It’s smarter to prevent these issues rather than avoid the shingles vaccine because of temporary side effects. Shingrix is FDA-approved for adults 50 and older. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and get her advice.
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Photo credit: Fluxfactory
Cocktails at cruising altitude come with potential serious health risks.
When we have had a long day before the flight, we tend to want to relax during the flight. Some relax by drinking alcohol. While it might sound like a fun way to celebrate the start of a trip, there’s something important to consider: drinking alcohol on a plane could actually be risky. If you’re planning to catch some sleep on a long-haul flight, you might want to think twice about ordering that champagne.
What happens to your body when you are in the air?
Once you’re cruising at high altitude, the lower atmospheric pressure means your body gets less oxygen. Normally, your blood oxygen levels hover around 96% to 100%, but up in the sky, they can drop to about 90% or even lower.
To adjust, your body kicks into high gear: you start breathing faster to get more oxygen, and your heart pumps quicker to circulate blood throughout your system. This works for most people, but heart conditions can make it difficult.
Things get even more complicated when you throw alcohol into the mix. According to Dr. Matthew Mosquera, a medical expert from McLean Hospital, alcohol can mess with how your red blood cells pick up oxygen. It disrupts hemoglobin, the molecule responsible for carrying oxygen, making it harder for your body to stay oxygenated.
So, if you've got your boarding pass and a drink order in mind, here are some things you might want to think about. There are a few factors that can make your blood oxygen levels drop even more on a plane:
Aging: As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at adjusting to changes in oxygen levels.
Sleeping: Our breathing naturally slows down while we sleep, and this can be even more pronounced on a plane.
Underlying conditions: If you have lung disease, sleep apnea (where you briefly stop breathing while you sleep), or heart issues, less oxygen will reach your lungs.