Life is a conundrum these days. We want to be fit and healthy while avoiding germs and contagion. We need to stay active, but the weather is (let’s be honest) icky. Exercise is vital but equipment, online classes, and gear are expensive. Don’t be discouraged, there are ways to combat holiday over-indulgence and beat the rainy-day blues without spending a dime. Exercise is extra important in the wintertime, and not just because of Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas cookies, and hand-warming cocoa. Healthline explains that it makes you feel happier by improving your mood and decreasing feelings of depression. It also helps the brain regulate stress and anxiety and produces endorphins that make us feel better. “Interestingly,” they say, “it doesn’t matter […]
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Make a Holiday Healthcare Checklist, and Check it Twice!
Christmas music can be nostalgic and put you in a holiday mood or—after endless repetition at the grocery store, gas station, daily commute, and gym—somewhat annoying. But there’s a yuletide logic to making a list and checking it twice, especially as the calendar year draws to a close. So in between mulled cider and gift wrap, shopping and gingerbread, make a healthcare checklist for yourself and your family. It’s a great time to start scheduling appointments for the new year because these resolutions are super easy to keep. No matter your age, it’s a good idea to start with the important things. Log in to your insurance provider’s website and check if you have any vaccinations, immunizations, or booster shots […]
Continue readingWhen Exercising, Don’t Skip Warm up, Stretching, and Cool Down
Exercise is vital for physical and mental health. It benefits our lives in many ways but the CDC estimates that more than 75% of Americans don’t get enough. Are you starting up again after surgery, illness, or injury or an always on-the-move fitness buff? Either way, stretching, warming up, and cooling down are the most important parts of your routine. Skipping these steps could result in damage that requires orthopedic care down the road. Orthopedists at Pacific Surgical Center offer minimally invasive, outpatient surgery for many musculoskeletal injuries. These typically include issues with bone, muscle, joint, cartilage, and ligament. They also help with arthritis, osteoporosis, sports injuries, and ongoing pain. Treatment can address the feet, ankles, shoulder, leg, knee, hand, […]
Continue readingGet On Your Feet This Winter
Combine autumn’s cold, wet weather with sunsets falling during the 4:00 p.m. hour and you get a MAJOR case of the blahs. Even without the quarantine mandates of COVID-19, this time of year we’re trapped indoors more than we’d like. And, let’s face it, for much of that time we’re sitting (usually in pajamas, often in front of a screen or two). There’s not much we can do about the weather—or global pandemic—but small changes to our routine really can make a world of difference. The Mayo Clinic explains that “When you sit, you use less energy than you do when you stand or move. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. […]
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