The good news? You can take charge! Whether you’re looking to prevent sinus issues or find sinus relief when the pain hits, we’ve got you covered.

Why Do Sinuses Act Up?

Sinusitis happens when the tissue lining your sinuses becomes inflamed, often due to colds, allergies, or irritants like smoke and pollution. When your sinuses are blocked, mucus builds up, creating pressure and sometimes inviting bacteria to the party. The result? The telltale symptoms of sinus pain: throbbing headaches, facial pressure, and a nose that refuses to cooperate.

Prevention: How to Avoid Sinus Trouble

1. Stay Hydrated
Water is your best friend. Staying hydrated keeps mucus thin, allowing it to drain more easily. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water daily to help your sinuses function properly.

2. Use a Humidifier
Dry air irritates the sinuses, especially during the winter months. Running a humidifier adds moisture to the air, helping your nasal passages stay comfortable. Just remember to clean it regularly to prevent mold and bacteria buildup.

3. Rinse Your Nasal Passages
Using a saline spray or a neti pot can flush out allergens and irritants. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, regular nasal rinses can significantly reduce the frequency of sinus infections.

4. Avoid Triggers
If allergies are your main sinus offender, take steps to minimize exposure. Use HEPA filters, keep windows closed during pollen season, and consider antihistamines if necessary.

5. Boost Your Immune System
Eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. A healthy immune system is your first line of defense against sinus infections.

Relief: What to Do When Sinus Pain Strikes

1. Try Steam Inhalation
Steam is a classic remedy for a reason—it works! Inhale steam from a bowl of hot water (carefully!) with a towel over your head. This helps moisten nasal passages, loosen mucus, and reduce inflammation.

2. Use Warm Compresses
Applying a warm towel to your forehead and cheeks can ease sinus pressure and improve drainage.

3. Over-the-Counter Helpers

• Decongestants: Medications like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can shrink swollen nasal passages, offering quick relief. Don’t use them for more than three days to avoid rebound congestion.
• Pain Relievers: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can tackle headaches and facial pain.

4. Essential Oils for the Win
Peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil are natural congestion-busters. Add a few drops to a diffuser or your steam bowl for soothing sinus relief.

5. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Warm teas, broths, or plain water can keep your mucus thin and soothe your throat if postnasal drip is an issue.

When to Call the Doctor

If symptoms linger for more than 10 days, worsen after initial improvement, or come with a high fever, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. Chronic sinusitis might require prescription treatments like corticosteroids or, in rare cases, surgery.

Take Control of Your Sinus Health

Sinus infections may be common, but they don’t have to keep you down. By adopting simple prevention tips and knowing how to tackle symptoms head-on, you can get the sinus relief you deserve.

Your sinuses may not send you thank-you notes, but they’ll reward you with clearer, pain-free days. Take care, and breathe easy!

Recommended – How To Keep Your Family Active in the Winter

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Observe the Food Stand’s Cleanliness

Before trying any street food, observe the cleanliness of the food stall and how the cooks prepare the meals. Are the vendors wearing gloves when handling the food? Are they washing the utensils and dishes properly? Cleanliness plays a significant role in food safety, and neglecting this aspect can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Beware of Raw and Cold Foods

Raw or cold foods are prone to bacterial growth, increasing the risk of sickness and leading to severe body aches. Avoid eating raw salads, fruits, or cold meals from street vendors, especially if you notice that they have been sitting under the sun for a long time. Stick to cooked and hot foods, which are less likely to harbor bacteria.

Hydrate With Safe Drinking Water

Always hydrate with bottled or treated water, especially when you don’t know where a city’s water comes from. Avoid putting ice in your beverages because it could come from unclean water. Consuming unsafe water can lead to several waterborne diseases like cholera, E. coli, and even salmonella. Drinking bottled water will prevent salmonella poisoning, which could ruin your trip because of its severe symptoms.

Always Eat Cooked Food

We cannot stress this tip enough. Eating food chefs cook in front of you, whenever possible, is one of the best ways to avoid foodborne illnesses while traveling. The heat from the cooking process kills most bacteria, reducing the risk of food poisoning. Sometimes, the cooking process might be different as chefs use different ingredients to achieve unique flavors, but you must ensure they thoroughly cook all the meat they serve.

Trust Your Gut

Your gut instinct is an invaluable tool when navigating foreign food scenes. You shouldn’t shy away from every unfamiliar food you see, rather, make informed choices based on observation and instinct. The smell of the food can also be a powerful indicator. Trust your gut if something smells or looks off and steer clear. While it’s essential to be adventurous when exploring new cuisines, prioritizing your well-being is equally important.

While these tips are essential, don’t let them dull your enthusiasm for trying new cuisines. Indeed, one of the joys of traveling is tasting the local offerings. A bit of caution can go a long way in preventing stomach upsets and even more serious conditions like salmonella poisoning. Explore, but remember to practice these tips to avoid sickness and maximize your street food experience abroad.

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Video Overview

Road Trip: Give the Car a Checkup

For however long you’re driving, your car will be both your transportation and part-time accommodations. Make sure it’s up to snuff and running smoothly by bringing it in for a checkup before you head out, even if it isn’t due for one. Ask for an all-points inspection and have the tires examined, filled up, and rotated if necessary. Top off all the fluids and see if the oil, transmission fluid, and others are clean and clear. Be ready to handle any road emergencies yourself, whether it’s changing a tire, bringing along an empty gas can, or making minor repairs to the engine and other parts.

Plan Your Road Trip Route

Even if you’re going somewhere you’ve been to a hundred times before, plan how you’re going to get there. Check the maps and determine if there’s any construction, obstructions, or detours along the way. Investigate all the places you intend to visit or stay at to check current prices and ensure they’ll be open when you get there. If you have specific medical issues or requirements, look for healthcare providers along your route and at your destination who can meet your needs. Your doctor should be able to provide recommendations and referrals for both.

Pack Healthy Food for the Road Trip

Worried about questionable restaurants or simply want to avoid eating too much fast food along the way? Pack a cooler and keep it stocked with quick, healthy meals like sandwiches, wraps, and other handheld menu items. Keep the snacks healthy, too. Carrots, raisins, granola, dried fruit, nuts, whole-grain muffins, and more. As for drinks, stick to water, but maybe splurge a little on some coconut water!

Take Breaks!

Don’t let most of your trip be spent in the car. Driving has its pleasures, and it’s a terrific time to talk, sing, play, and get to know your passengers better. On the other hand, being packed like sardines into a little box on wheels for hours on end isn’t good for your physical, mental, or spiritual health. One of the best tips for staying safe on your next road trip is to out on the brakes, pull over, and enjoy the outdoors. Pre-plan your rest stops and pick places of natural wonder where you can stretch out, exercise a bit, and enjoy the view before moving on.

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Video Overview

Microbeads

Many products, such as face washes, face and body scrubs, and toothpaste, contain microbeads. These tiny spheres are a selling point in commercials for the fact that they scrub harder. The problem is that they are minuscule pieces of plastic that you’re swallowing, plus they are passing through filtration systems. They pose a great risk to marine life as they make their way into our natural waterways.

Wet Wipes

Most people don’t know that wet wipes contain plastics that will never dissolve. There has been a 400 percent rise in wet wipes being found on beaches. They do immense harm to marine life and should not be flushed whenever possible. Even flushable wipes fail to break down the way toilet paper does.

Single-Use Plastics

Plasticware, drinking bottles, food wrapping plastic, and bags are all considered single-use plastics. Every year, over 12 million tons of plastic that don’t get burned end up in the ocean. Avoiding using these products whenever possible is a step toward saving the environment.

Antibacterial Gels and Soaps

We use these antibacterial products to kill 99.9 percent of germs, as it tells us on the packaging. However, the use of these types of products causes a rise in antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” and they can interfere with the development of children’s immune systems. Studies show that exposure to some germs makes us stronger. An overly sanitized environment should be avoided to let some organisms thrive.

Aerosol Canned Products

Aerosols used to contain CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) that, when emitted, were found to be destroying the ozone layer. They have since been banned. However, many current aerosols still give off greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide hydrocarbons. The cans can only be recycled if the lid is removed and the cans are completely empty.

Phosphates in Detergents

Phosphates are often listed in the key ingredients found in laundry detergents because they soften water and help remove tough stains. However, when mixed into our water, they cause the process of “eutrophication” to occur quicker than it otherwise would. This is an excessive richness of nutrients added into our natural water bodies due to runoff. It’s as if a fertilizer were dumped into water, causing algae to bloom or even produce toxins that are harmful to other life forms. Avoiding the use of products with phosphates will help counter the negative effects of urban runoff.

When you think of harsh chemicals associated with household products, you may automatically think of chlorine bleach. You’d be right in identifying this compound as one that can create dangerous toxins in our water systems. However, understanding the less obvious common household products that are bad for the environment may help you choose something more eco-friendly. Maintaining the Earth is a team effort, and there is no “new” water. It is all recycled from millions of passing years. We want to keep it as usable as possible.

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With the Florida Department of Health doing everything they can, it is best to arm yourself with knowledge about the Zika virus so you can best protect yourself.

What is the Zika Virus?

The Zika virus causes the Zika virus disease which is mainly spread through mosquito bites of infected mosquitos. The symptoms include Zika fever, red eyes, rash, headache and some muscle and joint pain. The symptoms (if any) are usually mild and last anywhere from a few days to a week. In some cases, the virus can cause Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The main concern with the virus is for pregnant women. The virus can cause several fetal brain defects such as microcephaly. It is not known if someone infected with the Zika virus will have complications with future pregnancies. If you are pregnant, it is recommended that you do not travel to places where the Zika virus is active. If you would like to be tested for the Zika virus, go to your local doctor. You will want to disclose any recent traveling that you’ve done and whatever symptoms that you have experienced. The virus is usually detected through a blood or urine test.

To prevent the virus, the best thing you can do is protect yourself and those around you from mosquito bites. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants and use EPA-registered insect repellents. The local Miami Police department and other officials were giving away free insect repellent to locals. If you are sleeping in an area that puts you at-risk for mosquito bites (outside or no screen on windows etc.), it is best to sleep under a mosquito bed net.

This virus can also be sexually transmitted from males to their partners. The best way to prevent that is to use condoms or to abstain from having sex.

It is important to know that these infected mosquitos are known to be day and night bitters. The only area with ongoing Zika virus transmission is a neighborhood north of downtown Miami where 12 of the 15 people who locally caught the virus were infected. It has been narrowed down to about 1 sq. mile in a neighborhood near Wynwood. Florida health officials will put out an advisory anytime someone becomes infected.

You can get more information from the CDC on what to do if you are local to the areas currently affected by the Zika virus.

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The untimely passing of Robin Williams has shined a very bright and necessary light upon the diseases of addiction and depression. The comedian and beloved actor was widely regarded for his one-of-a-kind style and talents on stage and screen. However, his personal life was the opposite of what many of us could ever imagine.

The signs of depression and addiction can be as clear as deep sadness and never being able to function without a drink (respectively), to as seemingly faint as just feeling “blah” on a regular basis. Neither case should be ignored. Much like cancer or diabetes, you need to have these warning signs checked out as early as possible.

Depression and addiction are two separate, but often interrelated, diseases that need to be treated and openly shared with caring professionals. Long gone are the days when you have to hide and fear for being “found out” as suffering from depression or addiction. Williams, who was 63 at the time of his death, chronicled his struggles with the debilitating effects of depression and addiction, but he is an important example of how a “cure” takes time and many starts and stops. This does not mean it’s impossible by any stretch of the imagination.

Depression and Addiction: Celebrating Recovery

The day after the news of Robin Williams’ death, one half of the Mike and Mike Radio program on ESPN, Mike Greenberg, shared (and not for the first time) his decades-long success in the treatment of his depression. As he shared his thoughts, he made it clear that he was not the severest among the potential cases of depression, but his quality of life had dramatically increased once he was in the care of a trained physician. Through the use of therapy, medication and knowing the warning the signs, Greenberg has found it less difficult to deal with the highs and lows of depression.

On the addiction side, Robert Downey, Jr., the highest-paid actor in Hollywood today, was once on his final legs as an actor. His multiple rehab stints and arrests seemed ineffective, and he was hired less and less. Fortunately for us, the great actor was able to find the right combination of addiction treatment to give him the fresh start he needed. Now, he is healthier and happier and having the best decade of his life.

You can also overcome the depression and addiction that might be a part of your life. You are not alone, and there are wonderful people willing to help you. If you are committed to a seeking treatment, you are not guaranteed an immediate recovery success story. However, if you stick to it, and allow yourself the freedom of seeking help and sharing, then you have the best chance for a brighter tomorrow. You can do it!

We have listed only a few of the options available to you for depression and addiction treatment and recovery. Please explore them if you, or someone you know, are experiencing any signs of depression or addiction. Maybe the lose of a genius like Robin Williams can open our eyes to the importance of one another and our physical and mental health.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Half of Us

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Recovery

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Needed more convincing that a sedentary lifestyle is harmful for your health? Researchers from the University of Regensburg’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in Germany have discovered a connection between sitting down for long periods of time and certain forms of cancer.

Video Overview

This information was gathered from 43 previously conducted studies that monitored nearly 69,000 cancer patients. Dr. Daniela Schmid was the lead on this review of data, and she and her coauthor found an unfortunate link between patients diagnosed with colon or endometrial cancer and prolonged sitting or lying down. This does not mean that being an immovable T.V. watcher or office worker guarantees cancer.

“Cancer is a complex disease and has numerous possible causes, including genetic factors, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors,” Schmid told Reuters Health. “Prolonged sedentary time has been linked to other chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease as well as cancer.”

Sitting, Cancer and Television

The amount one sits over the course of a day, or the total time spent at a desk for work, did not appear to have the same harmful affect as sitting and watching TV. For many people, according to the research, TV time is a perfect opportunity to have a snack (usually not of the “doctor recommended” variety), enjoy a cigarette or drink sugary beverages.

Connections were not drawn to other cancers, including prostate, ovarian, testicular, breast and esophageal. However, lung cancer appeared to be affected by extended time sitting (not necessarily in front of the television).

It is not a surprising study in the sense that being inactive can cause harm. However, the fact remains that most people do not draw the line from cancer to sitting around. The concern many years ago was that sitting and watching TV could cause cancer, but it was due to the television set itself.

And yet, as with many cancers, diabetes and heart disease, poor health is an issue of the accumulation of multiple factors. For instance, endometrial cancer is often seen as brought about by obesity. If one sits and watches TV, they are not immediately given a bad diagnosis. It’s the combination of taking in too many calories and never burning them that makes the person obese.

Once the person is obese, and they have moved from choosing to live a life of sitting around (not all people make that choice from the start; this example only applies to those who do) to having no choice in the matter, then illnesses and disease rear their heads.

Doctors recommend that all people need to break up their sitting time by getting up, moving around and going outside. Plus, if you do find yourself sitting in front of the TV, avoid snacks that you know better than to eat in the first place.

These simple steps do not guarantee avoiding cancer, but they do give you a chance at better healthy.

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A study published in the journal, Neurology, reports that diets heavy in protein will lower blood pressure, and in turn, minimize the possibility of stroke. The Nanjing University School of Medicine in China conducted the survey, and their researchers made this dramatic discovery by using meta-analyisis of any and all related data (the United States and Japan were countries that had data analyzed for the study).

The numbers were impressive: survey participants who consumed the highest levels of protein were 20% less likely to suffer a stroke. On average, if a person eats an additional 20g of protein daily, strokes are 26% less probable, according to the research.

Stroke Risk Reducer: What does it Mean Moving Forward?

The American Stroke Association says that each year more than 795,000 U.S. citizens have a stroke for the first time, or suffer from the recurrence of a previous stroke. A diet high in fat, as well as being overweight, causes high blood pressure, which allows fatty plaques in arteries to back up, which leads to atherosclerosis and potentially stroke. Any advances brought about by protein cannot entirely combat a person’s fat intake and poor eating habits, but it can provide a basis for future dietary and lifestyle changes.

Preferably, individuals should select proteins derived from animals over vegetables. Also, with red meat connected to higher stroke risk, the researchers encouraged people to eat fish instead of steak and its counterparts. It should be noted that with Japan as a studied nation, the connection to fish is interesting since is a larger staple in Japanese diets.

Ultimately, all of the positives in the study seem to point to protein and blood pressure, rather than a direct connection from protein to stroke. Further research is expected to incorporate more participants who eat vegetable proteins and to highlight other medical variations. The researchers estimated that the risk reduction translates into nearly 1.5 million fewer stroke-related deaths worldwide and fewer people suffering from the health difficulties caused by the aftereffects of stroke.

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In 1991, the percentage of teenagers who admitted to smoking cigarettes was at 27.5%, but a recent revelation gives hope for the future health and well-being of our country. According to a biennial survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 2013 percentage for teen smoking has dipped to the lowest numbers in the survey’s history: a surprising 15.7%.

“I think the bottom line is that our teens are choosing health,” CDC Director Tom Frieden said.

The current totals are nearly 20% less than the all-time high of 36.4% in 1997, and well ahead of the U.S. government’s goal of  less than 16% by 2020. Vince Willmore, spokesperson for the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, believes that cigarette taxes and anti-tobacco education has made an impact on our nation’s teen smoking rates. However, his satisfaction with the improved numbers is tempered by the fact that there are “still 2.7 million high school kids who smoke.”

If Fewer Teens are Smoking, Then What are They Doing Instead?

Every positive in the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, seemed to correlate to a no change or negative. The CDC polls more than 13,000 teenagers every two years on topics not just limited to smoking, including drinking, sexual activity, food and soda consumption, exercise decisions and much more. The private and public school students who participated in the 2013 survey gave valuable insights into how they spend their time and what risks they are willing to take.

• As previously stated, the number of teenagers smoking cigarettes has dipped to historically-low levels, but this does not represent a full disavowal of tobacco and related products. Cigar, e-cigarette and hookah use is on the rise, while smokeless tobacco has remained steady for 15 years.

• More teenagers are using birth control to combat pregnancy, but condom use has decreased from 63% in 2003 to 59% among the sexually-active one-third of the teen population. (Obviously condoms serve as a form of birth control, but they are vital in the prevention of HIV and STDs.)

• The percentage of teenagers who watch television for three hours each day has dropped from 43% to 32% since 1999. Conversely, the number of teens who use their computers for “non-school activities” increased by nearly 20% since 2003: from 22% to 41%.

The overall survey numbers are only a sampling of the wider range of risky behaviors teenagers engage in regularly. Other areas of note included a decrease in school fights and weapon possession, no change on the national rate of teenage heroine users and a new focus upon texting/emailing and driving. The survey is broken down regionally, and many of the numbers fluctuate dramatically based upon the teen’s location in the country.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the latest figures in what appears to be a losing battle against new cases of diabetes: from 2010-2012, three million people were diagnosed with the illness. This was an increase from 26 million to 29 million total individuals; nearly 1 out of 10 people have diabetes, with one out of four diabetics not knowing they have it.

In addition, approximately one-third of U.S. adults, or 86 million people, suffer from a condition dubbed, “prediabetes.” When a patient has this type of diabetes, he or she has high blood sugar levels, but these levels are not at type 2 diabetes levels. However, if the pre-diabetic person does not make changes in nutrition, exercise and other related factors, he or she runs a 15-30% higher risk of contributing to the next set of CDC diabetes numbers.

Diabetes on the Rise: Now What?

Before we can fully understand the uphill battle our nation’s doctors face when it comes to diabetes, it is important to have a basic understanding of the disease itself. The illness can come in one of two forms: Type 1 — often inherited, this type relates to the autoimmune system and is brought about by the pancreas’s trouble to create necessary cells used in the production of insulin; or Type 2 — this version relates more closely to obesity and appears after a passage of time.

“These new numbers are alarming, and underscore the need for an increased focus on reducing the burden of diabetes in our country,” according to Ann Albright, director of CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “Diabetes is costly in both human and economic terms. It’s urgent that we take swift action to effectively treat and prevent this serious disease.”

Albright’s concern with the economics of diabetes is not unfounded: medical costs, work leaves and lost wages accounted for $245 billion in 2012. With the seemingly unrelenting increases, it appears the disease will remain ever-present as long as younger populations do not change their habits. Nearly 210,000 Americans under the age of 20 years old have already been diagnosed with one of the diabetes types.

The disease itself can cause sufferers a multitude of health issues, and the potential for kidney failure, heart problems, stroke, limb amputation and death are very real for those who do not know they have diabetes, or for those who refuse treatment. If a person is willing to check blood sugar levels, take proper medicine, watch his or her diet and get active, the disease can have a minimal impact on the ill person’s daily life. Just a few steps can take a person from sick to well, but it is up to us to educate ourselves and others in order to avoid unhealthy and bad choices.

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