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Showing posts from February, 2024

Get Rid of Leg Cramps at Night

 Get Rid of Leg Cramps at Night This American Academy of Family Physicians article  states that up to 60 percent of adults and 7 percent of children experience leg cramps at night. If you count yourself among that percentage, then you know that leg cramps are definitely sleep disruptors. While there are many things you can do to get rid of leg cramps at night, you first want to rule out an  underlying medical condition  (Mayo Clinic).  ***This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Get Rid of Leg Cramps at Night Stretch your Calf Muscles Most of us use the calf muscles in our lower legs all day long. When you walk, run, drive, and go up and down steps; your calf muscles are shortening or contracting. Most of us skimp on stretching to counteract the contracting of our muscles all day long. On top of using our calves throughout the day, those muscles are natural...

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Screening colonoscopy prep and procedure: a firsthand account

Content warning: mentions cancer and death If I had a dollar for every time a patient came into my office and said they “want to be checked for cancer,” well…I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog post! There is no single universal test for cancer, but common things happen commonly. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined ( cancer.org ). Screening for colorectal cancer should be on your list to be “checked for cancer.”  For those at average risk, screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45 ( cdc.gov ). If you want to know more about colorectal cancer incidence, risk factors and screening methods, then check out last week's blog post  here . I am at increased risk for colorectal cancer, because my father died from complications of colon cancer when he was only 45. So though I’m only in my thirties, I’ve already had my first screening colonoscopy, which is the gold standard screening method for individuals a...

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween?

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween? From pillowcases to pumpkin pails, kids carry all kinds of candy receptacles to trick-or-treat. While much thought might not go into using a grocery bag, the use of different colored pumpkins for trick or treat could be intentional.  Just as trick-or-treaters can send a signal with what they carry to collect candy, people passing out treats can do the same with their Halloween decor. Whether you collect or pass out treats, arm yourself with the knowledge of what different colored pumpkins mean on Halloween to prepare for all sorts of trick-or-treaters. **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Teal Pumpkins  Teal pumpkins represent food allergies. Your child with a food allergy can carry a  teal pumpkin trick or treat bucket .  Decorate your porch with a  teal pumpkin  to provide a more inclusive tr...

5 Ways to Express Gratitude as a Family

 5 Ways to Express Gratitude as a Family Gratitude is thankfulness. To practice gratitude is to express appreciation for your blessings - your substance and circumstances. It's acknowledging things that are going right or well. It's identifying that there can be good in the bad, beauty in struggle, purpose in pain, etc.   Expressing gratitude has mental and physical health benefits. Showing gratitude can improve sleep, mood, and immunity; it can decrease feelings of anxiety and depression, and improve outcomes of chronic pain and disease (source: Mayo Clinic ).  Expressing gratitude is an antidote to negative feelings that can result from comparison and imposter syndrome.  Pair expressing gratitude with something you do every day to make it a habit. I state three things I'm grateful for while my morning coffee brews. This helps set the tone  to start the day with a positive perspective. Expressing gratitude is a great tool to model and practice. Let's ...