(HealthDay News) — From hives and itchiness to anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction to nuts can manifest itself in many ways, says the University of Rochester. If you are living with a nut allergy, the school suggests: When grocery shopping, check every item’s food label for nuts. Tell all restaurants and servers about your food allergy. Always keep medicine handy. Make sure you understand when and how to use it. Work with your healthcare provider to create a plan in case of an emergency.
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Health Tip: Managing Political Disagreements
(HealthDay News) — Conversations about sensitive topics can significantly strain relationships, says the American Psychological Association. In fact, about 27 percent of adults agree that the current political climate has caused strain between themselves and family members. To help manage political disagreements, the association encourages you to: Find areas where you agree with the other person. Be open and kind. Avoid polarizing language and personal attacks. Keep calm when tensions rise. Accept that you may not change the other person’s mind. Remember that disagreeing with someone you care about is okay. Know when to end the conversation.
How to Amp up the Quality of Your Sex Life
Quality over quantity is an approach that can lead to a better sex life. Studies show that feeling satisfied with the sexual aspect of their relationship is more important to many people than how often they have sex. How can you start to enhance the quality of your sex life? You may be surprised to know that improving intimacy begins before you ever set foot in the bedroom. It’s important to nurture the nonsexual aspects of your relationship to boost marital satisfaction. Acts of tenderness and affection strengthen emotional ties between partners. Feeling secure and loved is a strong foundation for sexual pleasure. Setting the mood for sex itself starts with setting aside time so that you won’t feel rushed and can be at ease with each other and in the moment. Rather than worry about aspects like spontaneity, carve out time for romance when you know that parenting and/or work obligations won’t distract you. This might be at more unusual times, such as very early in the morning when you have far more energy than you did the night before. Sexual satisfaction is very individual. So, open communication with your partner is key to understanding their desires — what turns him or her on — and communicating the same things about yourself. This can be difficult if you feel shy about voicing wants and… read on >
Try These Homemade Chocolate Treats for Halloween
This Halloween, don’t deny yourself tempting treats or throw your healthy eating plan out of whack when the kids indulge. The answer is chocolate-covered fruit — all the sweetness of candy with nutrients you won’t find in the Trick or Treat bag. Fresh berries and fruit wedges, like apples and pears, are super high in healing antioxidants, and dipping them in dark chocolate means an extra boost for your brain with its mood-elevating compounds. Fancy chocolate-covered fruit from gourmet food companies can be expensive, but making your own is not only budget-friendly, but also a lot easier than you might think. Chocolate-Dipped Fruit 7 ounces dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao 8 ounces large strawberries 2 apples or pears, cut into wedges Line an oversized plate or cookie sheet with wax paper. Fill the bottom pot of a double boiler halfway with water, place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. (If you don’t have a double boiler, use a medium saucepan and a heat-resistant glass bowl that will fit inside.) Chop chocolate into small pieces and place in the top of the double boiler. Melt for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until the chocolate is smooth. Turn off the heat. Use a fork to dip each berry and fruit slice into the chocolate. Then place on the wax paper-lined plate or… read on >
Skiing, Snowboarding Injuries Most Severe Among Younger Kids
Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are a great way to get kids active, but new research suggests extra safety measures may be in order for younger children. The study found that grade-schoolers had almost three times the odds of having a serious skull or facial fracture while skiing or snowboarding, compared to older children. Meanwhile, older children had more than twice the risk of younger kids of having an injury to their abdominal area. “Injury prevention efforts need to be different for age group. There should be more targeted prevention strategies,” said study author Dr. Robert McLoughlin, a general surgery resident at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. McLoughlin doesn’t think the findings mean that kids should forgo winter sports. “It’s great that in a digital age where obesity is rising that kids get out and play, but they need to do it in a way that’s safe,” he said. Skiing and snowboarding are considered high-risk sports, even with protective equipment, the researchers said. Experts estimate that in 2015 there were more than 13,000 injuries related to snowboarding or downhill skiing in kids under 15. About 5% of those injuries required hospital admission. McLoughlin and his team looked at data from a nationally representative study of kids’ inpatient hospital admissions between 2009 and 2012. They found 845 admissions related to… read on >
Kids’ Trampoline Injuries Take Another Bounce Upwards
Trampolines aren’t just for backyards anymore, and the rise in commercial trampoline parks may be sparking a rise in kids’ injuries, a new report finds. “While trampolines are a great source of fun and exercise for children, the potential for injury, particularly in recreational areas with an underlying business incentive, needs to be recognized,” stressed study author Dr. Nancy Hadley Miller. Her team tracked U.S. government health data and found that the incidence of broken bones suffered by children while on trampolines has risen by an average of nearly 4% each year between 2008 and 2017. And every year during the study, it became 32% more likely that a trampoline-related bone fracture would occurr at a gym or recreation facility (a trampoline park), rather than on a trampoline in a family’s backyard. Bringing kids to these facilities — especially for events such as birthday parties — has become increasingly popular. The findings are to be presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics in New Orleans. In a meeting news release, Miller said she believes her team’s findings should refocus injury prevention efforts. “Historically, advocacy campaigns have focused on trampoline injuries in the home,” said Miller, who is a professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado, Denver. The new data suggests “that future messages to parents and legislators should also… read on >
Quad Training for Knee Support
Whether you’re mountain biking, kicking a soccer ball with friends, or just sprinting down the street to catch a bus, your quadriceps are hard at work. The quads are the large muscles that run down the fronts of your thighs. The stronger they are, the less strain each movement will exert on your knees. Lunges and squats will keep these muscles in tip-top shape. The basic squat involves a motion similar to sitting down in a chair. Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, toes forward. Keeping good posture, lower your hips until your thighs are parallel to the floor. You might have to work up to this over time, going a little deeper each session. Hold the position for two seconds before returning to the start position. As you get stronger, try the sumo squat. Start with your feet wider than your shoulders with your toes pointed out. Push your hips back and bend your knees, but no more than 90 degrees — your back will lean forward for support. After a few seconds, contract your glutes and slowly stand up. For lunges, start with feet shoulder-width apart. Step forward with your right foot, then lower your left knee almost to the floor as you make a right angle with your right thigh and calf. Bring your left foot up to meet the right and then… read on >
Don’t Forget These Tips to Boost Your Memory
If you have a hard time remembering names or what to get at the supermarket, there are ways to boost your memory. According to a study in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, one of the best things you can do is say the information you want to remember out loud, and it’s even stronger if you repeat the information to another person — that means not just mouthing the words. This could explain why you can recite your child’s favorite book unaided — read it out loud enough times and you can have near total recall. An everyday example is to repeat the name of a new acquaintance out loud as soon as you’re introduced. Instead of just saying, “It’s nice to meet you,” add their name and say, “It’s nice to meet you, Mary.” Making word and number associations is effective, too. Break down a phone number you want to memorize into digits you can associate with special dates or the ages of your kids, for example. You might try dividing almost any type of information into chunks that you learn one by one. Other research explains why making lists is so effective. The human brain is better at recognition — or seeing words — on a to-do list rather than trying to mentally recall errands you’re supposed to run. Finally, make friends with… read on >
Health Tip: Preventing Repetitive Strain Injury
(HealthDay News) — Repetitive strain injury (RSI) stems from prolonged repetitive, forceful or awkward movement of the same muscles, says the University of Michigan. The effects of RSI may include pain, weakness, numbness or poor motor control. To help prevent RSI, the school suggests: Practice good posture. Ensure the chair at your workstation is adjustable. Do not overuse your joints. Take breaks and stretch. Avoid gripping writing utensils tightly. Use proper typing techniques. Keep your wrists straight, let your hands float and don’t strain your fingers.
Health Tip: The ‘Wall Test’ For Good Posture
(HealthDay News) — Proper posture can prevent pain and injury, says Mayo Clinic. To check if you have proper posture, Mayo suggests the “wall test.” Here’s what it involves: Stand so the back of your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touch the wall. Your heels should be 2 to 4 inches apart. Place a flat hand behind the small of your back. You should be able to slide your hand between your lower back and the wall. If there’s too much space behind your lower back, draw your belly button toward your spine. If there’s too little space behind your lower back, arch your back so your hand can slide behind you. Walk away from the wall while holding proper posture. Return to the wall to check whether you kept the correct posture.