Posts Tagged ‘Health’

When a new year rolls around, one of the first resolutions so many people make is to get healthier during the new year. Whether it’s eating better, working out, losing weight or simply taking vitamins, it’s the top resolution. Sadly many don’t stick with it because it can be very frustrating and disappointing.

I have never really been big on taking vitamins. This is a little funny considering my eating habits are atrocious. I have tried in the past a few times but I never felt any different taking them and it seemed like a waste of money.  For 2012, Centrum has released a new line called ProNutrients.

ProNutrients is a new line of dietary supplements launched by the makers of Centrum multivitamins, and is formulated to naturally work with a multivitamin. The line includes Omega-3, Probiotic, and Fruit & Veggie—three supplements that support health and well-being.  Each supplement is backed by the nutritional expertise of Centrum, identifying the right ingredients to take consumers’ nutrition to the next level. Here is a little bit about each one.

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I have never really been a “take medication” type of person. Unless it is prescribed to me by a doctor, (and even then I don’t always listen) I tend to suck it up most of the time or find another way to deal with the pain. After my first son was born I started to get really bad Migraines. They were not frequent but they were the knock you on your butt for the day, grab a bucket kind. They have become worse in the past year because of some heath issues BUT I truck on If you get migraines, you know how difficult this can be at times.
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We try to keep out homes clean and germ free. We wash, we bleach and we scrub. Ever sit and wonder what things you over look? The small things you don’t really think about? Despite our best efforts, young children end up chewing on toys, putting their dirty fingers in their mouths, and touching, tasting and breathing things that can be potentially harmful. But because their organs and respiratory, immune and neurological systems are still developing, they may be more sensitive to harmful substances such as certain chemicals, particles and allergens.

Some of the things we used to do to ensure our home was a little more clean was to change the air filter in our furnace every 3 months. One time we were shopping and out local store had a fantastic deal on filters. We bought an entire box to stock up! People watched us like we were insane.  It was great

When I turned 30 I developed allergies. Mine are winter ones and I really have no clue what I am even allergic to but they are terrible! It lasts most of the winter for me. Most people with allergies develop them during childhood, Dr. Alanna Levine, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP), shares the ABC’s to help maintain a healthier home environment for children:

• A is for Avoid: Whenever possible, avoid irritants that often trigger allergies, such as products made of feathers or down. Use hypoallergenic pillows on your child’s bed, and limit exposure to perfume, talcum powder, hair spray, air fresheners, fabric softeners or other strong odors or sprays. Strong fragrances and odors may aggravate allergy symptoms.

• B is for Balance: Maintain a consistent balance in the home to help minimize allergens. Keep the windows shut and use central air conditioning during high pollen seasons to help protect children from pollen particles that trees, grasses and weeds release into the air.  These particles can harbor in the eyes, nose, and airways, causing allergy symptoms to flair for those allergic to pollen. Also, give children washable, non-allergenic stuffed toys when possible, and be sure to wash the ones played with the most on a weekly basis, in hot water at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

• C is for Change: Change items that are easy to neglect but are important for maintaining a healthier home, such as leaky faucets, pipes and other high moisture areas that are common places for mold growth. Don’t neglect their air in the home either. Change your filter every three months, and use a high performance filter, such as a Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter from 3M.

I recently discovered the Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter from 3M. It captures 94 percent of large airborne particles, such as household dust, pollen and mold spores, from the air passing through the filter. It also captures up to 40 times more microscopic particles, such as smoke, smog and particles that can carry bacteria and viruses, than ordinary fiberglass filters. HOLY COW! This filter outperforms all 1″ filters. It attracts and captures microscopic particles like bacteria and particles that can carry viruses and large particles like mold spores and pollen.

You can also sign up for Filtrete’s Clear Advantages program, which offers healthy home living tips, money saving offers, filter change reminders and more via a seasonal e-newsletter. You can manage your air and water filtration needs.

For more healthy home living tips, money saving offers, filter change reminders and more, Moms can register to receive seasonal e-newsletters through the Clear Advantages program by visiting www.Filtrete.com. You can also get these and more by following them on Twitter at @Filtrete.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

One of the things that definitely changes you is living with someone who has any kind of an illness. I have watched my brother battle with a seizure disorder for many years. As to not invade his privacy, I will just say that I have see him through some pretty bad lows, injuries and just the life results to having Epilepsy. There are 3 people, to my knowledge, in our family is live with this everyday.

Usually being the caregivers in the home, we as Moms seem to do it all. From making the lunches to making the beds, we have the majority of the household decisions. We often stress about these things but, for women with a disability or who care for someone in their household with a disability, it seems that everyday responsibilities can become hurdles as they deal with diagnoses, treatments, and other issues alongside their daily lives. This goes for all woman deal with personally or providing care for someone else no matter what the illness. Someone I was very best friends with for a very long time gave me a different out look on something her son was going through in his life. It really changed my outlook on many things. I was always asking her questions about him because I wanted to know more and she was always willing to explain things in great detail for me. I am extremely grateful for that experience.

On the heels of National Epilepsy Awareness month in November, HealthyWomen.org created a video series called “Women Succeeding with Epilepsy” to educate and inspire women dealing with the challenges of living or caring for someone with epilepsy. In this series, a woman tells her story of caring for her son with epilepsy while another woman shares her experience of living with epilepsy since she was a teenager. You can find the videos from HealthyWoman.org

10 Tips for Supporting  Someone Living With Epilepsy
Supporting a child …
Mom often takes on many roles in the family—caretaker, health care decision maker and cheerleader. If you have a son or daughter living with epilepsy, you’ll often take on all three. Laying a strong foundation for your child, while still taking care of oneself, can be challenging. These tips can help:
1. Communication is key. Nurture an environment of openness. It’s important to have a candid dialogue about your child’s condition, so they feel comfortable coming to you with any feelings or concerns. Talking about what it means for them is important, as is talking to others about what it means for you. Also, letting neighbors, coaches, teachers, school officials and other important people know is key to fostering a team approach.

2. Make informed decisions. Start by choosing the right health care professional. Give your child the best possible chance for success by seeking
care from a specialist who is familiar with epilepsy, such as a neurologist or epileptologist. Do your research and ask lots of questions. If you don’t feel comfortable from the beginning, keep looking.

3. Guide your child toward activities where success is most likely. It’s easy to see your child’s strengths. Encourage them to participate in activities where their skills will be best utilized. For example, partaking in an individual sport rather than a team one may offer significant benefits. Also, by giving your child responsibilities and allowing him or her to make or contribute to important decisions, you’ll be empowering your youngster to be his or her own advocate one day.

4. Remember: To care for someone else, you need to take care of yourself first. You know when you’re on an airplane and they say to secure your
oxygen mask first? Same idea here—you can’t help your family if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Make sure to schedule some time for self‐care,
relaxation and nurturing other important relationships in your life. Also, it helps to have a support network of other parents caring for children with epilepsy. You can find resources for this at www.EpilepsyAdvocate.com.

5. Always be prepared. Create an action plan so that you’re ready if a seizure occurs. That includes always carrying important phone numbers and any necessary medications.

Supporting another adult …
Do you have a friend, coworker, spouse, parent or sibling living with epilepsy? Maybe you want to be supportive but aren’t sure how. These tips can help:

6. Talk openly. By normalizing conversation about epilepsy and seizures, your friend or loved one will feel more comfortable talking about their concerns and fears. Also, don’t be afraid to express your own feelings as well. Witnessing a seizure can be scary—if it happens to you, talk about it.

7. Do your homework. Learn what you can do in the event of a seizure by asking a medical professional, doing research and talking to the person who has epilepsy. Visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/firstaid to read their tips on first aid for seizures. Also, it helps to understand terminology and to know what resources and support options are available.

8. Be a cheerleader and advocate. Stay optimistic and celebrate seizure control and important milestones. Educate those around you and  encourage them to get involved with epilepsy awareness.

9. Offer to go to important medical appointments. Your friend or loved one may want some extra support or someone to take notes about medical procedures or other important topics. This will also allow you to be a solid sounding board for confusing medical decisions. In addition, people with epilepsy may not recall what happens during a seizure, so caregivers should try to communicate that information to the physician.

10. Carry important phone numbers with you. Whether it’s for specific doctors, local hospitals or other loved ones, always be able to contact the
people who you may need or want informed of any given situation. Women Succeeding with Epilepsy is sponsored by UCB, Inc. For more
information on living with epilepsy and video accounts of real women’s stories, visit www.HealthyWomen.org/epilepsy and  www.EpilepsyAdvocate.com.

Disclosure: I wrote this post  while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of HealthyWomen’s “Women Succeeding with Epilepsy” sponsored by UCB, Inc. and was compensated for passing along this educating information to you. The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own and any opinion about a product/service or website that may have been mentioned should be verified by the product designer or webmaster. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. You can read more about Delightful Chaos’ Disclosure Policy here.