Amazing Acupuncture 

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National University of Health Sciences Student Taylor Hamlin shared with Healthy Lombard that Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that was created thousands of years ago and is still practiced today. It promotes the body’s own healing energy by restoring one’s inner balance. Acupuncture is used for a variety of conditions ranging from muscle pain, infertility, addiction, weight loss, and more.

How does it work?

During an acupuncture treatment, an acupuncturist will insert small, fine needles into acupuncture points on the body called acupoints. These points are uniquely selected for each patient according to their chief complaint or main health concern. The needles tonify qi, which according to TCM, is the vital energy of life. From a Western medical perspective, acupuncture is believed to stimulate the central nervous system. Thus, triggering the release of chemicals that activate healing.

 

Is it safe?

Acupuncture is a very safe and non-invasive form of medicine that has little to no side effects. Most patients feel nothing upon insertion of the needles, but it’s normal to feel a slight electrical sensation. This electrical sensation is said to be the presence of qi or de qi. Bruising in the location that a needle was inserted is normal and fairly common. Minor bleeding after removal of the needles is also normal. The bleeding usually subsides after a few seconds. Many people are wary of acupuncture needles in the beginning; however, this is due to the association of needles with shots. The needles used to give shots are much thicker than acupuncture needles, and during a shot, a substance is being injected into the body. Read more 

Understanding your outlets to avoid a house fire 

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Save On Energy shared that according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical malfunctions are the second leading cause of residential fires in the U.S. Your electrical outlets can be a source of these fires if they’re not being used properly.

Now that we’re spending more time at home, most of us are also spending more time in the kitchen. You may be making coffee, while someone else is microwaving a meal, and yet another person is using the toaster oven.

And then, we’re all charging our laptops, tablets, and phones, watching TV, and playing video games.

“As many of us continue to work from home, having a reliable productive set up is important,” says Eamon Lynch, director of the warranty service at Power Home Remodeling, a full-service exterior home remodeler. “I recommend testing your home’s outlets and electrical current to make sure everything is in working condition.” Read more 

Mindful Meditation 

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learnrelaxationtechniques.com published a mindfulness meditation guide for beginners.

In this guide, they featured all the major concepts and steps even did simple infographics to help execute mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is the act of living in the moment and being aware of your surroundings and behavior while focusing on the now and the present.

It is a philosophy as well as a way of life that encourages active engagement and concentration on the present, taking each moment with complete command and control of your thoughts and actions.

The most basic aim of mindfulness is to bring positivity and accountability to our lives for a more immersive living experience and better control of our actions and circumstances.

It is a means of making our lives healthier and more productive by actively working towards the state we want to achieve with complete dedication.

We can easily incorporate mindfulness into our busy routines and daily life by investing some time in mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness meditation is an excellent way to slowly train our mind and body for the most effective application of mindfulness over time. Read more 

Social Media Statistics 

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Rob Lora, from HighSpeedInternet.net shared that the internet has become an integral component of the modern human experience. The majority of us use the internet for everything from socializing to working to entertaining ourselves, and the role it plays in our lives is always growing.

The growth trajectory of the internet has been incredible. The World Wide Web was first made publicly available in 1991. It had, quite literally, a handful of active users. Today, more than half the world’s population uses it.

There are many fascinating internet statistics to explore. This article will answer some of the most common questions you may have about internet access, internet traffic, eCommerce, social media, and everything else about the internet.

Internet Statistics – At a Glance

The article below will explore hundreds of fascinating figures and statistics. Below, you will find dedicated sections covering stats on internet users, devices, online shopping, social media, digital advertising, and much more.

If you’re just looking for some highlights, here are some of the most noteworthy statistics you should know:

  • More than 58% of the world’s population are active internet users (that’s more than 4.5 billion people)
  • In wealthy countries like the United States, up to 90% of citizens have internet access
  • The average internet user spends 6.5 hours a day on the internet
  • More than 50% of internet use is conducted on mobile devices
  • There are an estimated 1.8 billion websites on the internet
  • There are more than 3.5 billion Google searches every day
  • Over 2 billion people shop online every year, driving substantial economic activity

Read more 

Importance of Folic Acid in Pregnant and Expected Women 

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College of DuPage Nursing Student Laila Haque shared with Healthy Lombard that Folic Acid, or vitamin B9, is an important vitamin for those who are planning to become pregnant, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding. Folic acid helps in the early fetal development of the neural tube. It has been studied and proven to prevent fatal birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, both these diseases come with a shortened lifespan.

When to Start Taking Folic Acid

The Centers for Disease Control (2020) recommends that all women of reproductive age take 400 mcg of folic acid each day, regardless of pregnancy status. This recommendation is increased to 4,000mcg once a woman is planning to become pregnant and throughout their first trimester of pregnancy.

Foods High in Folic Acid

Vitamin supplements are a great way to ensure you reach your daily goal for folic acid intake, you may also consume foods such as edamame, lentils, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, avocado, mangos, and lettuce. Read more 

Five Ways to Help you Shovel Snow 

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College of DuPage Nursing Student  Abigale Janouch is thinking ahead as she shares that some think winter is beautiful while others dread those cold snowy days. Snow can be beautiful, but it’s also a pain to shovel. Those who do shovel, shudder at the thought of the feeling of that burning sensation you get in your legs, arms, and back. Shoveling snow is an intense exercise and takes a lot of energy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2020), a 185-pound person can expect to burn about 266 calories after just a half-hour of shoveling. Shoveling snow does come with health risks, however.

Since we do not shovel snow in ideal weather, rather in cold, windy, and icy weather, the weather may be one of the most dangerous aspects of shoveling. When the temperature drops below freezing, your heart works harder to maintain body heat.

The mix of the extreme weather and intense exercise puts too added stress on the heart and may trigger a heart attack. Those who have high blood pressure or a past history of heart disease are at an increased risk of having a heart attack when exercising intensely. It is, therefore, advisable to discuss whether or not shoveling snow is a good idea before heading out into the cold to perform this strenuous exercise. Read more 

Weight Loss Programs for Women 

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Alexis with Health Advise created a comprehensive guide on weightloss because while there are those who claim to be holding the secret to shedding pounds within a short time, many aren’t scientifically-backed. And almost none work.

So they singled out these 13 Science-backed weight loss programs for women that they feel will help you lose the extra kilos, and stay fit.

What Are Weight Loss Programs for Women?

Such programs are put together by experts to help you adopt useful and healthy habits to keep you fit.

The programs consist of physical activities, nutrition consultancy, and behavior therapy.

Generally, these weight loss programs focus on steady progress – we’re talking up to 20 pounds a week. Amazing, right? That’s not all.

These weight loss programs for women have minimal negative side-effects and are known to be effective.

Read more 

The effects of E-Cigarettes 

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College of DuPage Nursing Student Amy Walsh researched that electronic cigarettes have become an increasingly popular trend in countries all around the world as a way to limit tobacco smoking. The first electronic cigarette (e-CIG) was developed in China in 2004 where it was claimed that while using an e-cig simulates tobacco cigarette smoking but the odor and risks associated with tobacco smoke were eliminated since there were no combustion products or tobacco toxins inhaled.1 However, even though smoking e-CIG products were initially thought to be less harmful than tobacco smoking, e-CIG are in fact far from harmless or the lesser of 2 evils. Nicotine is harmful and highly addictive regardless of the delivery method and causes tachycardia, high blood pressures, seizures, comas, and even death.2

Furthermore, the variable doses of nicotine as a base liquid in different flavors typically include propylene glycol (PG or polyethylene glycol 400 [PEG400]) and/or glycerol (vegetable glycerin [VG]), widely used as additives in foods and personal care products, such as toothpaste.1

The FDA also reports detecting cancer-causing chemicals known as nitrosamines and flavorings such as diacetyl, which is a chemical linked to serious lung disease in the majority of electronic cigarette products.3 According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, e-CIG devices can explode causing burns or projectile injuries especially when batteries are of poor quality, due to improper storage, or if the device is modified by users.4 There is also evidence indicating an increased rate of infections from sharing vaping devices or improper cleaning of the mouthpiece.5

Read more 

Why You Should Consider Forest Bathing 

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College of DuPage Nursing Student Victoria Wilk feel that you probably don’t think about going into the forest when you think about bathing, but there are some reasons why you should start thinking about trees when you think about bathing. The Japanese began a practice called forest bathing. The best way to think about it is like sunbathing but in a forest instead of on a beach.

In an article by Karin Evans (2018), she reports that spending time in a forest, or at least in an area that has several trees such as a park if you live in an urban area, has a number of benefits. Forest bathing can strengthen your immune system, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health. It can also reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and anger. Spending time forest bathing may also help with sleep problems because of the reduction in anxious feelings.

How does forest bathing help? The oxygen levels in forests are higher than in urban areas since trees produce oxygen. Phytoncides, oils that are part of flora’s defense mechanisms against insects, fungi, and bacteria, are also present and benefit people’s health. Evergreens produce the most phytoncides, so they are the best forests to bathe in. Read more 

Foods that Help Promote Productivity 

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With most people working from home and having to deal with many more distractions, it’s often hard to stay productive throughout the day. Whether you’re having to take care of your kids, deal with roommates, or simply avoid being tempted to turn on your favorite show, staying focused on the task at hand can be challenging. It’s also important to note that managing work and personal projects while dealing with the mental and physical drain the current crisis can cause, makes taking care of our health even more imperative than ever before. 

To help, we thought we’d share this guide on some healthy snacks that promote productivity. In the visual, you’ll find simple energy-boosting foods that we typically have in our kitchens or are easy to obtain during your next visit to your local grocery store. Since getting a good night’s sleep also helps us stay focused, the guide includes nutritious snacks that promote sleep as well as a few expert tips on how you can help your body stay healthy through the foods we eat.  Read more