Let’s Talk FAM (Finances and Medicine...and more).

How Can I Treat Eczema in My Child at Home? Lifestyle Changes to Treat Eczema at Home. Let's talk eczema.I'm sure you've heard of it, even if you haven't personally experienced it.  Eczema is a condition that seems synonymous with childhood, though all ages can be affected. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is characterized by dry, itchy patches of skin.  In children, eczema patches are common in the elbow creases as pictured, and behind the knees. Eczema is common, affecting 10-20% of infants according to  Cleveland Clinic . There is no cure for eczema, but symptom control is possible, and those affected tend to "outgrow" the condition. Once you identify and remove allergens, irritants and triggers, eczema often becomes a thing of the past.  My daughter and I both have eczema, and I've treated many clients with it during my career. Eczema symptoms can be uncomfortable and lead to cuts in the skin that are prone to secondary infection. Let's look at lifest...

7 Ways to Stop Unnecessary Spending Addressing unnecessary spending is like gardening. For something to grow to its full potential, it should be pruned from time to time.  To prune is to cut out that which is unnecessary, to eliminate the areas that are using energy but aren’t producing fruit.  You can prune many areas of your life - eliminate the suckers to maximize your growth and reach your full potential - including your expenses. Before you consider expenses what to cut, you need a budget to know exactly where your money is going, and how you can better allocate it.  Choose a budget that works for you without being so restrictive that you set yourself up for failure.  Having a budget should make you feel better about spending. You can treat yourself without guilt, because you already allocated money to living expenses, savings and retirement accounts, etc. Now, back to pruning.  7 Ways to Stop Unnecessary Spending 1. Cut the Cord  I’m aware that most ...

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...

When to get a colonoscopy - do you know your number?  Content warning: discusses cancer and mentions death Let’s talk colorectal cancer.  The rates of colorectal cancer are increasing.   So much so that the recommended age to begin screening for colorectal cancer has decreased for the general population - from age 50 to age 45.  Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined (source:  cancer.org .) Everyone needs to get screened, but the age that you should start screening can vary based on your risk.   Risk factors for colorectal cancer include positive family history (FH) and/or personal history of colorectal cancer, precancerous polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease - crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; obesity, physical inactivity, high consumption of red/processed meats, low consumption of fruits/vegetables, averaging 2-4 alcoholic beverages per day and smoking tobacco (source:  c...

529 Plan: 5 reasons you should have one (or more) Let's talk 529 plans. If you have or plan to have children, then you should know about 529 plans and have one for each child. 529 plans are state (or institution) sponsored tax advantaged savings accounts that encourage saving for future education costs ( source: sec.gov ).  Higher learning is EXPENSIVE! Wouldn't it have been a blessing if you had funds from a 529 plan to put towards or completely cover the cost of your education?!  Student loan debt is a huge burden that has far reaching impacts on the futures of borrowers. The effects can seem all encompassing; affecting the jobs you take, the ability to move out of your childhood home, own a home of your own, or start a family.  According to  educationdata.org , "the average federal student loan debt is $37,574 per borrower, [while] private student loan debt averages $54,921... [and] 20 years after entering school, half of the student borrowers still owe $20,000......

5 Benefits of Yoga Namaste. Let's talk Yoga. Yoga was one of the most common “prescriptions” when I worked in psychiatry. In fact, yoga can be offered as part of the therapeutic program at inpatient psychiatric hospitals. According to this  article , “yoga is the most commonly used complementary health approach in the United States.” And do you want to know the best part? There are no side effects! There are many reasons we could all benefit from practicing yoga. Let’s look at five benefits of yoga.   1. For your mental health Y oga is wonderful for your mental health because it teaches you how to breathe and focus on the present moment. When I worked in psychiatry, my mentor told me this: people who focus too much on the past are depressed, and people who focus too much on the future are anxious. Because you can’t change either. Learning how to focus on your breathing and to be fully present in the now can be a powerful emotional regulation skill and coping mechanism. Yoga ca...

Best Stain Remover for Stains on Clothing Let's talk stains on clothing. Clothing is a tricky topic. It's a need, but according to  the Pareto Principle , only 20% of our wardrobe is worn 80% of the time. For the purpose of this post, lets focus on the 20% of our wardrobe that’s getting the most action! You’re doing life in these clothes. Stains on clothing are inevitable.   During the COVID-19 pandemic, I got pretty good at removing stains on clothing. Since I have a somewhat messy toddler, I had a lot of opportunities to practice! Here’s what I learned.   The Basics The following principles apply to ALL stains: The best stain treatment is AVOIDANCE . If you know you or your child is likely to get messy, maybe pass on the family heirloom garment. If you can, opt for “play clothes” that you don’t mind getting dirty. Utilize aprons or bibs if you’d like to preserve the garments, but it’s not a huge deal if they get ruined. Have your tot go topless and/or pant-less (if it’s...