wellness Archives - Page 5 of 7

How stress affects your oral health

April 25, 2018 by admin

Parenthood, thy name is stress. Running a household teeming with kids is hardly ever a picnic; whether it’s from newborn needs or from teenage angst, you’re going to have your fair share of sleepless nights as a parent.

We all know the number that stress can do on you. Ranging from insomnia, mood swings, feelings of distraction and exhaustion, leaving your car keys in the freezer and forgetting you did so, stress does a number on your ability to think clearly and act accordingly. But did you know that the stress you experience can have a negative effect on, of all things, your oral health? It’s true — and here’s what you need to know about the connection between stress and oral health.

The Daily Grind

Ever been so frustrated by someone or something that you’ve just had to clench your teeth in anger? Or maybe you’ve been worrying yourself over a problem in your head and you realize you’ve been grinding your teeth for minutes or possibly even hours? Jaw clenching and tooth grinding is a common stress response — you might even do it unconsciously in your sleep!

Unfortunately, tooth grinding and jaw clenching is absolutely terrible for your oral health. Not only are you running the risk of damaging your teeth or their enamel, you’re also engaging in activity that’s a great way to earn yourself a headache or a sore jaw — or worse yet do damage to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Thankfully it’s not hard to treat tooth grinding. You can take steps during your waking hours to stay aware of what you’re doing and stopping the behavior, but to address an overnight problem you’re likely to need a dentist-approved mouthguard to stop yourself from grinding those teeth of yours down to nothing.

All Dried Up

One of the other big stress-induced oral health problems is dry mouth. While it’s normal to feel your mouth go dry in stressful situations — it’s part of your body’s fight-or-flight response — being under repeated stress means repeated instances of dry mouth, and this leads to some pretty unpleasant oral health issues that you’ll need to deal with.

Your mouth relies on saliva to protect itself from harmful bacteria. Repeatedly experiencing dry mouth means there’s no saliva to wash that bacteria away, and that can lead to issues like bad breath and advanced tooth decay. Gum disease and infection are all more common as well when you’ve got constant dry mouth, so it’s a bad scene all around.

There are ways to treat dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum can trigger saliva production, for instance, and you’ll have fewer problems doing so if you also stay away from caffeinated beverages and alcohol-based mouthwash. You should also consult your family dentist for the best ways to prevent and control chronic dry mouth.

It’s Not Easy

Thankfully, good oral hygiene practices, along with some help and advice from your dentist, can help resolve any of these stress-based oral health issues if you find yourself experiencing them. The best way to resolve these oral health problems more definitively, though, is to seek out the root of what’s causing them: your stress.

While it’s unlikely you’ll be able to just drop everything and take two weeks to lie on a beach somewhere, there are always little ways to de-stress and relax at home, even in the hectic life of a parent. Tag in your partner or another family member when you need a break. Get more sleep, drink plenty of water, listen to your favorite music, rob a bank — whatever works for you!

Dealing with Backpain After Childbirth

March 19, 2018 by admin

If giving birth wasn’t painful enough, you then have to deal with a host of other problems. In fact, it probably feels as if your body is never going to be the same again!

Celebrity mums seem to snap back into shape the moment their baby arrives. For the rest of us, life isn’t so kind. Unfortunately, it is very common for new moms to suffer from a backache in the days and weeks post-birth. Your body has been through an awful lot, with a host of physical changes to contend with.

You probably gained a few extra pounds when you were pregnant, on top of the extra baby weight you had to lug around for nine months. This extra weight will have put a lot of extra stress on your pelvic region, including your lower back. And, to make matters worse, ligaments will have softened and joints loosened, all thanks to pregnancy hormones. There is also the issue of poor posture. After all, who can stand up straight when their belly is huge?

Backache post-pregnancy is very common. Many moms associate back pain with pregnancy, but like those extra few pounds, back pain is one annoying problem that doesn’t always melt away when the baby arrives.

Why Your Back Hurts

The human body is a wonderful thing, but it needs time to recover from the rigors of childbirth. You have to give yourself a break and try not to do too much. Instead of rushing around cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a newborn baby, rest, recuperate, and let other people do the heavy lifting for a few weeks. It is important that you give your body a chance to heal. Rest is a great healer, especially if your back is sore after the birth.

Being overweight is another factor. The more weight you are carrying, the more strain it places on your back. As discussed already, your back and core muscles are likely to be weaker than normal post-birth, so carrying extra weight won’t help.

Dealing with Back Pain

Where possible, stick to a healthy eating plan and breastfeed your baby, as breastfeeding is great for post-partum weight loss. Try and include gentle exercise in your daily routine. You might not feel like going out, but a bit of fresh air will be good for you and your baby. It strengthens your muscles and may help the baby get to sleep.

Be careful when feeding your baby. Poor posture is a trigger for back pain. Many new mums hunch over when feeding their baby. Try to sit back when encouraging your baby latch on or take the bottle.

Long-Term Strategies

Once you feel more energetic, consider joining a fitness class for new moms. Yoga or Pilates are very useful for helping ease back pain. If this doesn’t help, consult an echiro practor or ask your doctor to refer you to a physio.

Back pain is mostly nothing serious, but if you experience any other worrying symptoms or the pain isn’t helped by over-the-counter painkillers, speak to your doctor for advice.

4 Reasons You Should Spend More Time Laughing

March 13, 2018 by admin

Most of us don’t readily associate laughter with doing something productive or constructive. To the contrary, many people justify their disregard of humor by convincing themselves that they “don’t have time for it.” After all, if you want to “go somewhere in life” you’ve got to be serious about things, right? Well, not all the time. Studies indicate that squeezing in a good laugh here and there is actually much more than fun and games, as it can actually have measurable beneficial effects on your health and wellbeing. With that said, here are four major reasons why everyone should try to spend more time laughing:

1. Reduces Stress

Research has indisputably proven that stress is linked to a heightened chance of developing a wide range of disorders, as people who lead stressful lives are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses of all kinds. Science has proven that laughter directly reduces the level of “stress hormones” in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of developing new diseases while also improving the prognosis of existing conditions. In fact, surveys have shown that people who regularly browse humor sites like LOL Hit have better responses to stress than those who rarely enjoy comedy.

2. Enhances Mood and Memory

Did you know that even a fake smile or forced laugh has the ability to stimulate the feeling of happiness? Thus, just by making an effort to smile and laugh more you’re taking control over your moods in a positive manner. Furthermore, when you’re in a good mood you’re more likely to make healthy food choices versus when you’re in a depressed, junk food eating state of mind. In addition, learning new things while experiencing a strong emotion is the best way to retain information, so laughter has the ability to strengthen memories that are formed during or around the time of laughter.

3. Boosts Immunity and Fights Cancer

The stimulatory effect that laughing has on the respiratory, cardiac, and hormonal systems all combine to increase the development of T-cells and antibodies. By increasing the number of pathogen-fighting cells in the body, laughing provides a direct and immediate boost to the immune system. As if the benefits never end, you’d be surprised to learn that laughter also increases the level of interferon-gamma (IFN), which in turn stimulates NK cells, B-cells, and immunoglobulin – all of which play a crucial role in the body’s natural defenses against cancer and other degenerative diseases.

4. Enjoyable Exercise

Many people dread the idea of going to the gym or enduring a home fitness regimen, but laughing is so fun and easy that it doesn’t even feel like a workout, and yet it provides an excellent exercise for the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, back, shoulders, and even legs. If you’ve ever burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, then you know just how physically demanding it can be when you’re struggling to pull yourself together.

Heightened Creativity and a Better Social Life

Aside from the measurable medical benefits of laughter, it goes without saying that sharing a good laugh is a great way to improve your social life and spur bouts of creativity. People with a strong sense of humor are not only more likely to have plenty of friends, they’re also typically more creative than people who don’t rate humor as one of their best attributes.

Handy hints for if your little one is sick

March 8, 2018 by admin

If you are a new parent, or perhaps you are mom or dad to an ever-growing family, then you will know that there is nothing worse than if your little one gets sick. If your child is still under the age of three, then you can expect a lot of tears and screams, as they may struggle to tell you what is wrong. It can be incredibly distressing for any parent, and you may even begin to feel upset and useless. Help is at hand, so you need not struggle along on your own. It is vital that if your little one is unwell, you seek medical advice and visit your local health practitioner or doctor to get them fully checked over.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

If your little ones attend daycare or spend time with a sitter, around other infants, then sadly there will be a time when they suffer from either vomiting or diarrhea bug. Changes in food, water, and the environment can affect sensitive tums, causing a change in digestion or even irritation if they are beginning to eat solid foods. It could also be worth getting your little one tested for food intolerances, in particular, if you notice that they are in pain or suffer a lot of wind after eating particular foods, such as dairy products. If your baby is a fussy eater and you find them spitting up a lot after eating, then baby acid reflux medicines can help to aid digestion. Remember that diarrhea and vomiting are common in extremely young babies and infants, but if you notice any blood in their stool or green discharge, then it is advisable to seek medical advice.

Flu

During the colder winter months, your little one is even more susceptible to coming down with the flu. If your little cherubs have the flu, then you can expect a grumpy, cranky and irritable infant that is restless and hard to settle down for a nap. If you think your child is at risk, then consult your local health practitioner about getting them vaccinated against the flu as this is highly contagious, especially amongst younger children. If they are already ill, you can expect the virus to last between three and seven days. However, if it is any longer than this, then you should book an appointment with your doctor.

Ear Infection

If you notice that your child is finding it hard to hear, and either rubbing or scratching their ear even more than usual, then they may be suffering from an ear infection. Although most infections will clear on their own during the course of a few days, it is worth seeing your medical practitioner if you notice any unpleasant smells, or colored discharge oozing from the ear. Ear infections are easy to treat with antibiotics but can be unpleasant for both infant and parents to deal with.

Remember to seek medical help if your little one is sick or unwell. It is important that you don’t feel isolated, and consult expert advice if you are unsure.

6 Ways To Stop Being A Stressed Out Parent

March 2, 2018 by admin

If you’re a parent, you are going to feel some form of stress. It may be a little, it may be a lot, but it will definitely be there. Even the most chilled out moms and dads will feel the pinch of a harsh word or a raised temper from time to time. It’s not pleasant, and the guilt that follows these exchanges is huge. Everyone feels bad. So it’s a good idea to reduce your stress levels as much as possible, thereby allowing everyone to have a lovely, happy life for as much as possible. You may not be able to rid your life entirely of stress (we actually need to be stressed at times; it’s a survival mechanism), but getting a handle on it is a great way to manage.

Know The Signs

In order to combat stress, it’s essential that you know the signs. When you have identified what stresses you the most, and how you react to that stress, you can take it in hand a lot more easily. So what are the signs to look out for? Raised blood pressure is one of the biggest ones. This can cause a spiked heart rate, and can even make you feel dizzy. You’ll also find that you’re talking much more loudly – you might even be yelling. You’ll feel impatient and irritable, and there will be lapses in judgment that means you jump to conclusions, blaming the kids for something when it wasn’t their doing at all, for example. When this happens, your children will be negatively affected. Therefore you need to be more in tune with your body and watch out for these warning signs.

Step Away

Stress can happen for a variety of reasons. You may have got a new job, and it’s harder work than before, or perhaps you have money worries. Maybe you’ve just moved home, and it’s hard to settle in (at least if you pick a good small moves company the move itself will be less stressful, though). Perhaps you’re just tired and need a break. Whatever the reasons behind the stress, it’s important to take some time out when you’re not feeling your best. Just a few minutes away from everyone and everything can give you the time you need to calm down and de-stress enough to go back with a fresh perspective on things. Go to your room and lie down to listen to some calming music while you decompress. Let your family know that you just need a little time to process things and that you will continue the conversation (in a better frame of mind) when you return. Perhaps everyone could do with taking a break so that the entire situation, whatever it may be, is much clearer too.

Find Solutions

There will be certain times of the day that are more stressful than others. In the morning when everyone is rushing around to get ready for work and school, it can be overwhelming, for example, and that sets the entire day off on the wrong foot. Work out what these ‘hot times’ are and find solutions so that they aren’t so stressful. If the morning time is the issue because the children can’t decide what to wear and breakfast takes forever, you could get them to choose their clothes the night before (or choose them for them) and prepare breakfast in advance. That way, everything will be much more organized, and the stress levels will be a lot lower. If your most stressful time comes at your kids’ bedtime, then find a routine or rewards system that works better than your current one; ask the children what they need to make their bedtimes easier.

Learn Meditation

Meditation techniques can work wonders at de-stressing you when you feel like you are overwhelmed and liable to explode at any moment. Meditation helps the mind and the body to relax, and what’s more, your entire family can meditate together if they want to, giving everyone more peace and relaxation. It can have a truly positive effect on everyone’s lives, so it is certainly something to consider. One quick and easy way to attempt meditation is called ‘elevator breathing.’ Close your eyes and imagine you’re in an elevator at the top of a very tall building. Breathe in and out three times, very slowly, then press the button for the first floor in your mind. As you descend, keep doing your breathing exercises. By the time you reach the bottom, your stress should have melted away. There are many different techniques, some taking longer than others, so work out which one is best for you and implement it in your life for some easy de-stressing.

Do Some Exercise

Exercise is a wonderful thing to do because it keeps us fit and healthy, of course. However, it does a lot more than that. When exercising, your body releases serotonin, which is the anti-stress hormone. It replaces cortisol (the stress hormone) and makes us feel happy and balanced. It’s why, once you get into the swing of your exercise class or workout, you’ll start to really enjoy it and feel good about what you’re doing. You’ll feel a lot less stressed. What works even better is finding an exercise you can do with the whole family. Not only will you be feeling good, but you’ll be feeling good together, creating lovely memories and enjoying one another’s company. You might go for a long walk, take a bike ride, go swimming, or even join a dance class.

Laugh

When was the last time you really laughed? Not just vaguely smiled, not just felt amused, but really laughed out loud? You need to be doing more of that. Stressed people have a lot of tension in their faces, making their jaws ache and creating headaches or even migraines. Having a proper old belly laugh can relieve that tension and wipe away the stress. So find some fun ways to bring laughter into your life for you and the children. It’s all about having fun in any way you can – that’s what life should be like.