CONSTANT STATE OF CHANGE

Change can be necessary, change can be a challenge, change is inevitable, and what do we do with all this change?  Whether the change is to adapt a healthier lifestyle through nutrition and exercise, modifying exercises to accommodate injury, or going through the changes that naturally occur to the body as we age, it is a fact, that change is a big part of this journey of life.  None of us are exempt from a constant state of change in this life in one form or another.  Our bodies change at every level each day without our knowledge that it is even happening for the most part.

Personally, I have undergone a lot of change in this life and have to say that I embrace the positive that has come through incorporating a healthy lifestyle.  The tough physical changes that challenged me were the rehabilitation from injury and the will to persevere and not give up, and finally accept through it all that I am forever changed and require modification of exercise to fit the body that is under the skin I wear.  The inevitable change that seems difficult for me in the present is the changes that occur with the aging process.  No amount of exercise is going to stop hormonal shifts and the overall body requirements that scream loud and clear…CHANGE. Acceptance and embracing of the inevitable change I have discovered is also going to be a challenge.   

We are all aging each day, our bodies changing through the process and when I was younger I did not think too much about it, but as I stare 50 in the face, I find my mind consumed by the “different” feelings of heading into menopause.  Both men and women face the inevitable changes that occur with the aging process, whether prostate issues for men or night sweats and lowered libido for women, it is a situation that can SUCK.  I am straight up open about everything health related and I feel issues, even those topics that may fall into the “taboo” not to be discussed in public are fair game.  In fact they need to be addressed and shared because so many people are searching for answers or at least support that they are not alone in their experience.  If Dr. Oz can openly share the perfect “poo” shape, vaginal dryness, and orgasms, then for crying out loud, I am surely going to talk about it. 

All change can feel difficult, or extremely fantastic depending on the situation.  Adapting a healthy lifestyle through eating “real” nutrient dense foods and regular exercise will bring about a body that feels better, functions better, and that change can be embraced and celebrated almost immediately.  Although the process can feel like a challenge, eventually the change will provide an overall healthy state of mind and wellbeing.  The challenge change that occurs with injury or illness is harder to accept and embrace, at least in the beginning.  I found that it takes hard work, lots of patience, faith and a will to WANT the best of me in all areas of health, no matter what that looks like.  Moving into the inevitable change of aging is also an area that I now realize will require my patience, and continued research into natural ways of transitioning into another “new me” so to speak.  Changes are a part of aging and transition into another part of our life, not that we need to feel great about them, but important to realize and accept them, and I am now on this journey.  I am not going to sit here and celebrate hot flashes, night sweats, and changes in libido…are you kidding me, this is where I long for the young Darla because outwardly, my brain says what the heck is going on, and this should not be going on.  This is where I reach for new goals of discovery of the woman I am now, and embrace that woman with full understanding, grace, love and adventure of this new chapter. Am I there yet…not quite…but I am working on it.  

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Stay Healthy!

Darla

                                                                            

Common Causes Of Migraine Headaches

With the fast paced lifestyle we all lead nowadays, it's not
uncommon that more and more people are getting migraines as
a result of the stress. This greatly affects our productivity,
not to mention our quality of living. Thus, modern medicine
has tried to come up with a battery of drugs to battle this
growing pandemic.

But even with recent medical and technological advances,
most doctors and scientist still can't identify the specific
factors involved in causing migraines. Some argue that it
has to do with the amount of serotonin in our brains. They
claim that when serotonin levels drop, the sudden imbalance
can lead to a migraine.

A migraine usually presents itself with a number of symptoms.
People often experience light sensitivities, with some saying that
they can see colors or spots in their vision. Others claim
that their scalp feels soft to the touch.

Mood swings are also a common symptom of migraines. People
can go from happy to sad, calm to angry, right before a
migraine hits, making it uncomfortable for the suffering
person and the people around them.

Most migraines usually come and go, but one that lasts for
days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Most stem
from personal bad habits, such as stress and an unhealthy diet.
Sleep and drinking plenty of fluids usually help, but you
can also take a few of the dozen or more over the counter
medicines designed to help relieve migraines.

With all that said, it's important to reduce the amount of
stress in your life. Not only is it unhealthy, but it is
one of the most common causes of migraine headaches. If
you do get a migraine headache attack, just try to relax and
find a quiet place to lie down. Pick some place dark, to
cut the effects of light sensitivity, and apply a cold
compress to your head, while gently massaging your scalp
every so often.

Food sensitivities are also known to trigger migraines.
Dairy and those containing dairy products, such as milk and
coffee, can also trigger migraine headaches, as well as food
additives like MSG. Excessive consumption of these foods
react with a person's body chemistry, triggering the onset of
a migraine headache.

How To Prevent Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic Bronchitis, as the name suggests is a lifelong
condition therefore it is best to stop the progression of
the disease in its early stages. An attack of bronchitis
starts as acute bronchitis, it is a generalized inflammation
of airways and commonly shows with the following symptoms:

-Frequent bouts of coughing, which may or may not be
accompanied by chest tightness.
-Affected person gasps for oxygen.
-Extreme tiredness.
-Fever may also be present.
-Pain may occur after bouts of prolonged expectoration.

This continued over a long duration may manifest as chronic
bronchitis if not checked in time.

The first and most important step is to recognize the
irritant and take measures to eliminate it. Exposure with
irritants like dust should be avoided at all costs. Smokers
should quit on smoking before the condition gets out of
hand.

Additional preventive measures include:

-Those predisposed towards regular bronchitis attacks like
chain smokers should avoid areas of heavy air pollution and
dust.
-Always wear shielding clothes and mask when working in a
dusty environment.
-Be extra careful during seasonal changes as the number of
bronchitis attacks increase in this period.
-Be sure to take up a fixed schedule of physical activity.
-Cover mouth and nose when going out in cold climates so
that the person does not breath in cold air as cold air is
known to worsen the situation.
-Be careful when taking drugs for other minor niggles as
some drugs can add to the problem. Always consult your doctor.
-Include high quantities of salubrious vitamins like vitamin
A and C.

In case of an exacerbation of bronchitis here are
the things that you can do to ease the distress:

-Start taking in steam inhalations to loosen the mucous so
that it can be easily coughed out.
-Avoid excessive usage of drugs that decrease the cough as our
aim should be to cough out as much mucous as possible.
-Use steroidal inhalers breathers if necessary.
-Another preventive step to take is limit the intake of food
stuff that increase the production of cough like sugary food
stuff, dairy and fat laden products.
-Also be punctual with annual vaccinations against flu.
-Keep good personal hygiene and always clean hands before
any meal.