FEELING FIT

Keep pounds off even after beach season has come and gone

In the months leading up to beach season, men and women tend to hit the gym hard in an effort to make their bodies look their best. But once those swimsuits have been packed away for winter, many of those same hardworking men and women abandon their efforts and allow themselves to pack on a few extra pounds.
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Possible causes of acid reflux

Experts say that certain lifestyle factors, including diet, may only be small components of why people experience acid reflux.

All too often people who routinely have acid reflux, commonly known as heartburn, blame the chili dog they ate at lunch or the spicy fajita platter for their bout of discomfort. Although foods can play a role in occasional heartburn incidences, chances are those who get heartburn on a regular basis can thank an anatomical or medical condition.
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Strike a pose for better sleep

Health experts have long been professing the "back is best" mantra to new parents. As it turns out, the back also may be best for adults.

Placing an infant to sleep on his or her back is essential to reducing the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and has been part of the advice given to new parents for decades. Sleeping on one's back can also be ideal for improving the health of older children and adults, offer sleep experts. Misalignment of the body during sleep can put strain on different areas of the body, most especially the spine, neck, shoulder, hips and jaw. Stressing these areas can affect how you feel the next day. People who cannot find a comfortable sleeping position also may have trouble drifting off to sleep in the first place.
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Understanding second impact syndrome

Perhaps thanks to professional sports leagues, concussions have become a hot-button issue within the medical community. Rules changes in the National Football League were enacted to protect players not only from concussions, but from further injury after suffering a concussion. Beginning with the 2010 season, NFL players who were diagnosed with a concussion during a game were not allowed to re-enter the game and were subjected to thorough testing in the days following to determine if they were allowed to play the following week. If they failed the tests, they were not cleared to play.
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Frequent UTIs problematic for many women

Urinary tract infections are a common bacterial infection that women can experience. Some women have frequent UTIs, which doctors may characterize as chronic. When UTIs occur repeatedly, they can be a cause of stress and embarrassment.

Recurrent urinary tract infections are defined as having at least 2 infections in 6 months or 3 infections in 1 year. Statistics indicate that once a woman has had two UTIs, she is 30 percent more likely than another woman to experience a third or fourth. Eighty percent of women who have had multiple UTIs will have recurrent episodes.
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Did you know?

Laughter and music just may be good for the heart. Millions of people routinely take prescription medications or make dietary changes, such as eliminating salt from their diets, in an effort to lower blood pressure. However, for those who are interested in making some easy lifestyle changes that can result in modest reductions in blood pressure, listening to music or laughing more may do the trick.
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