The joy of the winter holiday season is often marred for many, since research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year. The American Heart Association (AHA), the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, says being aware… Continue reading Have A Heart-Healthy Holiday
Tag: self-care
Self-Care for Caregivers
America is facing a growing crisis that for years has existed quietly in the background. Only those who have experienced it themselves can truly understand the how and why that are the daily challenges of unpaid family caregiving. According to the 2020 data from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, today, more than one… Continue reading Self-Care for Caregivers
The Yucky Stuff that Keeps You Healthy
Mucus has several names. Snot, the sticky goo that pours from your nose during a cold. Or phlegm, the gunk that can clog your lungs and make you cough. You probably aren’t a fan of the stuff. But mucus is so much more than a runny nose. Your body is making mucus all the time.… Continue reading The Yucky Stuff that Keeps You Healthy
Caregivers and Exercise: Take Time for Yourself
Editor’s note: Caregiving can be so all-consuming that you forget to care for yourself. But it’s essential that you do. Here, from the experts at the National Institute on Aging, are some suggestions for finding the time for self-care – and why it’s so important. Physical activity can help you: Increase your energy level so… Continue reading Caregivers and Exercise: Take Time for Yourself
Surviving the Holidays as An Introvert
Extroverts get energy and adrenaline from being at a busy party. Introverts are the opposite. Being in a large crowd or a humming social event can make them feel drained, empty, and disconnected. It’s called the ‘introvert hangover,’ and they can be especially common this time of year with holiday parties and socializing at an… Continue reading Surviving the Holidays as An Introvert
What You Can Do to Treat Shingles
Shingles is a skin disease that causes pain, burning, itching, and a rash that erupts into blisters. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, in their lifetime. The CDC says there are an… Continue reading What You Can Do to Treat Shingles
The Caregiving Imperative: New Year’s Resolutions to Preserve Physical Health and Mental Well-Being
As we age, the years pass quickly from one to the next. Unless we truly look back at our accomplishments or the changes in our lives we may feel like we have made no progress nor accomplished any goals. Some see New Year’s resolutions as a negative because the list results in projects that are… Continue reading The Caregiving Imperative: New Year’s Resolutions to Preserve Physical Health and Mental Well-Being
Are You A Caregiver Who Cares Too Much?
As an Alzheimer’s caregiver, I know there is a fine line between providing good care for a loved one and sacrificing your life to help someone else. In 2011, I left Los Angeles, my home of 33 years, and moved across the country to care for my mother, who was in the moderate stages of… Continue reading Are You A Caregiver Who Cares Too Much?
What You Need to Know About Dry Eye
The condition known as dry eye is painful and inconvenient. Here, from the experts at NIH SeniorHealth, is what you should know about it: Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears are of poor quality and dry up quickly. The eyes need tears for overall eye health… Continue reading What You Need to Know About Dry Eye
The Do’s and Don’ts for Helping a Partner Who Engages in Self-Harm
Many people are in a relationship with a significant other who is grappling with some form of self-destructive behavior. This can manifest as an eating disorder, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, other kinds of addictive behaviors, or acts of self-mutilation such as cutting or burning the body. If you relate to this, you’ll understand that there… Continue reading The Do’s and Don’ts for Helping a Partner Who Engages in Self-Harm
Make 2015 The Year of You!
As a psychiatrist, I have the honor of being with people through the ups and downs of life’s journey. I bear witness to joy, fear, anger, and sorrow, and the ways in which we deal with these emotions. My patients often say to me, “I think what I need is to just stay busy. I… Continue reading Make 2015 The Year of You!