Now that the London Olympic games are over, there will be millions of poeple around the globe interested in enhancing their own fitness levels and perhaps compete in local sports competitions. We’ve had a fantastic summer for sports with the inclusion of The European Football Championships. There is an upward trend for those looking to get into fitness. However, the colder darker nights are upon us and this is a time where our motivation starts to slide as we develop a lack of motivation. So what most of us do is we purchase fitness equipment for home use. [Read more…]
New Edition IQAir Air Purifiers Upgrades the Entire IQAir Product Line
IQAir announced this week the most signifcant improvement to their line of air purifiers in years. Already market leaders, IQAir released their New Edition version of Healthpro and MutliGas air purifiers, which offer significant performance improvements including:
- Up to 25% better filtration
- Up to 32% quieter
- Up to 38% longer filter life
They acheived these impressive results through improvements to the filters and the fan motor. The new fan utilizes advanced aerodynamics to generate more airflow at lower sound levels. According to Frank Hammes, IQAir President, “These improvements have increased our airflow while maintaining our superior Total System Efficiency. This gives allergy and asthma sufferers enhanced air quality they should immediately notice.”
On average, 90% of airborne particles are less than 0.3 micron, which is the smallest size particle that most consumer air cleaners can remove. The ultrafine (smaller than 0.3 micron) particles are the most dangerous because they can penetrate deeply into lung tissues and work their way into the blood stream. IQAir “New Edition” removes down to 0.003 microns, far exceeding HEPA and other industry standards.
Better Health Innovations (BHI) has been an IQAir partner for some time and offers both the Healthpro and Multigas series. BHI only has the New Edition in their inventory so their customers can immediately take advantage of the new technology. CLICK HERE to find out more about the IQAir New Edition at Better Health Innovations.
To Read More (press release): IQAir’s New Edition Redefines High-Performance Air Purification – MarketWatch
The Purpose Of Mucus
Most people would think of mucus as being a hindrance and a problem rather than a useful substance. The truth is that it can be both. In a healthy state, our bodies produce mucus to assist with various body functions.
For example, mucus is in our respiratory system and prevents dust particles and other pollutants like cigarette smoke from entering our lungs. It lubricates our airways – including our throat and nasal passages.
In our digestive system, mucus helps us to swallow food and eases the passage of food through our digestive tract. The stomach lining is coated with mucus to protect it from being damaged by our stomach acid. And in our reproductive system, mucus is there for lubrication purposes.
When we are healthy, our mucus is clear and colorless. It is the consistency of thin jelly. However, when we have an infection or are ill, our mucus can become darker and be yellow or green in color. When we cough up infected mucus, this is what is phlegm or sputum. Infected mucus is thicker and gathers in our airways and on our chests – it adds to the feeling of congestion that you have when you have a cold.
You can find out advice on green mucus at Mucus Management, a website that provides information and advice on the causes of excess mucus production.
If you have noticed that your mucus production levels have increased and that your mucus is thicker and darker in colour than normal, you should monitor this as it can be an indicator of a more serious illness.
Excess mucus is a symptom that has been linked to allergies, asthma, cancer and cystic fibrosis. Most people with a head cold will have excess mucus for a short period while they have the cold, but if it remains for a long period and doesn’t reduce you should seek medical advice.
7 Tips for Preparing Your Body for the Coming Flu Season
Having to go through the flu is never a pleasant ordeal. From as little as minor discomfort due to a stuffy nose to a life threatening fever, symptoms of the flu often vary substantially from person to person. This seasonal influenza is caused by viruses that cause discomfort and pain through the infection of the respiratory tract, and can be easily transmitted between individuals. Nevertheless, flu season doesn’t have to put you into a panic if proper action is taken to both avoid and prepare for it. Here are 7 scientifically proven ways to best prepare your body for the flu.
The Flu Shot: A Yearly Shot to Keep Healthy
To best reduce the likelihood of being infected by the flu, the yearly flu shot is considered as one of the best preventive measures available. Commonly used by individuals who are considered to be at higher risk of the flu and overall healthy individuals alike, these anti-viral shots prescribe protection against the most common strains of the flu, including influenza A and influenza B. By injecting the vaccination, the body develops anti-bodies which will decrease the likelihood of getting the flu and passing it onto others.
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
The absorbing of diverse vitamins and minerals through one’s diet actually substantially helps in developing a strong immune system. Fruits such as the apple have strong amounts of vitamins A and C which help in creating immunity against the flu, and lessening the strength of the symptoms during it. A suggestion would be to take a daily multi-vitamin during flu season in enhancing your immune system for a better safeguard against the flu.
Keep Up a Fair Exercise Routine
While exercising anywhere from half an hour to an hour per day has been proven to boost immunity against the flu, excessive exercise has been scientifically proven to provide the opposite effect. Jogging, walking, or cycling are all great ways to exercise, but remember not to overdo it! Once body becomes physically over-stressed, infection to the flu can become easier.
Sleep to De-stress
As mentioned previously, a physically over-stressed body may become more susceptible to sickness, especially the flu. Sleeping on a daily basis anywhere from 7 to 9 hours per night is a great habit to keep your body fighting at its peak against infection. When feeling symptoms of the flu, try sleeping even more so your body can solely focus on healing itself rather than on other tasks.
Keeping Sanitary One More Wash and One Less Touch
Germs and bacteria are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them make you sick. Be sure to wash your hands frequently during the day, especially before and after meals. While adults generally remind children to do this action, they often forget to fulfill this simple habit themselves. When in a public washroom, avoid using reusable cloth dispensers and instead use automatic hand-dryers and paper towel to prevent touching bacteria right after washing. Furthermore, try to not touch your own body parts with your hands, especially the rubbing of the eyes to prevent germs getting in.
Prevent Close Contact From the Display of Symptoms
When people tell you they’re sick or they’re displaying symptoms of the flu, avoid any close contact with them at all. The flu is normally extremely contagious- it can be transmitted through the air through actions such as sneezes or coughs, or by physical contact. While this suggestion may seem easy to do with the outside world, the problem is dealing with family members and individuals who may be in your physical vicinity on a daily basis. Try your best in avoiding anything they have use such as towels, computer keyboards, and utensils.
Keep Yourself Hydrated No Matter What
Whether you’re trying to strengthen your immune system before the flu season hits or you’re already infected, always keep yourself hydrated. Hydration through the means of drinking water or liquids such as Gatorade gives your body electrolytes, which are essential for cells and organs to function capably. Symptoms of the flu generally result in the loss of electrolytes through actions such as sweating from a fever or vomiting from a stomach virus, so keep replenishing yourself with electrolytes that are lost in the process.
Take care of your body before you get sick. While the flu can be unavoidable in some circumstances, there are general steps you can take to prepare for the upcoming flu season. By following these tips, you can develop a stronger immune system that’ll help strengthen your body against the flu and prevent common methods of contagion.
This post is courtesy of the team at WellStreet Urgent Care – the number one team for urgent care Alpharetta. Thanks for reading!
How to Prevent Back Injuries When You Move
Moving can be tough on everyone in the family: emotional, physical, and mental labor are required to do it right. While no move is ever easy, you can make it easier on everyone by taking the necessary precautions to stay safe. Getting hurt while moving can make the entire process a million times more difficult.
In order to move without huge amounts of stress, be sure to know your limits and be prepared; doing both of these things will help you to stay safe while you are on the move. Below are a few easy things you can do to stay injury-free while you and your family are in transition.
Don’t Carry Too Much
Making two trips instead of one is always frustrating. When you are moving, you want the process to be as quick and painless as possible, even if it is just across town. However, sacrificing your health in order to save a few minutes is more of a sacrifice than you think. If you pull a muscle in your back, consider yourself absent from the moving process.
When you are packing up all of your things, make sure that you don’t make your boxes too heavy. A good maximum is 50 pounds, although you can alter that slightly depending upon how much you feel comfortable carrying. If you are not sure about how much you can carry, try this general rule: if you can lift the box without straining or growing unsteady on your feet, then you are fine. If you cannot lift the box without this happening, then you need to shift some things around so it is not so heavy.
You will also want to keep in mind the layouts of both your current and new homes. While carrying a box full of kitchen items out of your house might not be so difficult, it is probably much harder to carry it up the stairs to your upper level kitchen in your new home.
Remember: never, ever bend down to pick up a box, even if it is not very heavy. This is a surefire way to pull something in your back. Instead, bend your knees and lift with your whole body.
If you have to carry something that is particularly heavy, make sure that you have enough people to help you get it out of your old house and into your new one without any strain. It might be a good idea to practice lifting it before the actual move.
Use Correct Equipment
Even if you are making the move on your own, you can still move like the pros. Places like U-Haul and Budget will rent dollies and other moving materials to help make the process easier. Dollies are very useful in preventing pulled muscles and other injuries because they allow you to transport heavier items without strain to your back.
Watch for Hazards
You don’t have time to kick the garden hose out of the way when you are carrying a huge box out to the moving truck. In fact, you most likely won’t even be able to see what is at your feet. For this reason, you need to map out all of the potential hazards from the house to the moving truck.
Be sure to watch out for cracks in the pavement that you may overlook on a normal day. Tripping over a crack in the ground while carrying a big box will most likely cause a huge headache. If you cannot see below your feet, have someone guide you down the stairs.
If it is raining or there is a possibility that your floor might become slick during the move, put down a rug or a traction mat so you don’t have any nasty spills. Try to park the moving truck or cars as close as possible to the house so that you don’t have to walk as far. The closer you are, the less chances you have to injure yourself.
You will also want to pick out an outfit that won’t get in the way on moving day. Choose fitting clothes that won’t get stuck in between boxes or on doorknobs.
Plan to be Surprised
As much as you plan and look out for dangerous situations, something will probably go wrong. That’s just the nature of things. Keep the first aid kit handy!
Guest blogger Josh Flatebo works for a moving company in Tampa. He has been moving people across the country for the last 20 years. Avoiding injuries while on the job is a necessity!