Taking steps to improve your overall health doesn't have to be time-consuming, painful or expensive---Check out these SIMPLE ideas below! You may want to make a sign/reminder for yourself to 'Slow Down'! :o)
Slower breathing is one of the simplest ways to better health. Deep breathing lowers stress and reduces systolic blood pressure (the top BP number). It allows oxygen to get down to the smallest airways in our lungs, where the oxygen exchange is most efficient. Quick, shallow breathing causes our bodies to be less oxygenated (not a healthy state to be in).
Slower eating is one of the simplest ways to eat less. This is because of the 'lag time' between when the stretch receptors in your stomach signal it is time to stop eating ('I'm full!') and when your brain gets the message. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island discovered that people who eat slowly consume around 70 less calories/meal. Multiply that by 3 meals a day and you could lose 20 pounds over the next year.
Slowing down in general is one of the simplest ways to prevent accidents. It's impossible to calculate the number of motorists killed or injured each year because they were in a rush. Insurance companies have found that the overwhelming majority of job-site accidents are traceable to hurrying. You actually save time, do better work and prevent more injuries by slowing down.
The last simple step for this blog is to simply Expect To Be Well, no matter what age you are! Obviously we need to take an active role in our health---being 'Owners of our Health' and making good decisions. Couple that along with positive expectations for good health---and you're way ahead of the average American who entertains thoughts like, 'Well, I'm almost 50, so I suppose I'll have a heart atack before long'...or 'Cancer runs in my family, so I suppose I'm next'...What?? Really?? We can't afford to have thoughts like that--We get what we think about!
How about 'changing the tape' and reminding yourself throughout the day of positive messages like 'I take good care of myself and am so blessed to be healthy' and 'I am grateful for my ever-improving health'?
Here's to Continued Great Expectations for your great health!
Sana
Showing posts with label preventive health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preventive health. Show all posts
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Difference Between Jill & Sue...
I gave a speech in Toastmaster's yesterday---poor guys---they have to endure all my 'health' related speeches. They give me great feedback before I take my speeches 'to the masses!' Here's how my talk went, in a nutshell:
Please join me in my Virtual Time Machine as we follow 2 women over a 20 year span of time. Jill, from Dallas and Sue, from Chicago. Both women are quite similar: married, 2 teenage children, part-time jobs, very busy with community activities, relatively 'healthy'...and both were raised in a typical 'Western Medicine' lifestyle (have a symptom, take a medication, etc). There is one major difference between Jill & Sue. Sue has watched several family members, friends & coworkers deal with both major & minor health challenges over the past several years and has recently made the decision to 'not go that route'---to take some ownership in her health and health-related decisions.
Our journey starts with Jill & Sue in their early 40's. The first health challenge they both encounter is poor sleep. Jill tells her Dr. about it & is given a sleeping pill prescription. She finds that it helps somewhat, but she's still waking up tired with low energy. Meanwhile, Sue decides to take control. She minimizes her caffeine intake, starts walking a few days/week, settles into a regular bedtime routine & begins using safe, clinically-proven sleep technologies with great success.
The second health challenge is heartburn. Jill has heard all about the 'purple pill' and finds it very easy to get. She has some concerns about being on another medication, knowing that there are side effects---she just hopes she doesn't get the side effects. Meanwhile, Sue had read about heartburn being a symptom of dehydration, so she now drinks at least 1/2 her body weight in ounces of water each day and works on adding more vegetables to her diet, which have an alkalinizing effect. She finds her heartburn gone within a few days!
Next come achy knees. Both Jill & Sue were runners in their early 20's--and now arthritic changes have set in. Jill is given 'NSAIDS' (anti-inflammatories) by her physician. The first one didn't work--neither did the second one--the third one seemed to help (although it had a 'black box' warning on the bottle). When the pain got worse, Jill was given steroid injections in her knees, which, again, helped for a while. Meanwhile, Sue learned that adequate water intake helps with joint health, so she continued on her water drinking plan---along with a safe, clinically-proven joint health supplement, and magnetic & far-infrared technologies with great success: no more pain!
At age 50, Jill & Sue had a DEXA scan (bone density scan) & were both told they had osteoporosis. Yikes! Jill joined the 'Sally Fields Team' taking one of the biphosphonates (even though she has heard about the major side effects, including cancer and deterioration of the jaw bone)--she wasn't aware of any other options, so she just hoped & prayed she wouldn't get the side effects. Meanwhile, Sue learned about a totally safe & clinically-proven bone density-building nutritional product, which she started taking, along with calcium. DEXA scans 2 years later showed Jill with continuing osteoporosis and Sue with normal bone density.
The last two challenges 'popped up' together: high blood pressure and weight gain. Jill has been 'trying' various diets with minimal success & maximum frustration. She decided to 'go for it' with gastric bypass surgery. The thought of surgery scares her--along with the potential complications she was told about, but ultimately decided that this would be the quickest, easiest route to go. The Dr. also prescribed a new medication for her high BP. Meanwhile, Sue is already sleeping well & is drinking adequate amounts of water. Her BP is elevated, but not to the point of Jill's. She makes the decision to make exercise a priority EVERY day (she loves walking---and how it makes her feel!) She also makes a 'deal' with her Dr. to take a BP medication for the short term (no more than 4-6 months) while she ramps up on her exercise and diet, increasing her fruits & veggies to become the main part of her diet. Both women have normal BP readings after 6 months---the difference being that Sue's BP is normal without medication!
Let's take a tally after the 20 years:
Sue is now on 5 regular medications for her health challenges and 2 meds to counteract side effects from the regular medications. She has had 4 knee steroid knee injections & her knees still frequently bother her. She has had 1 major surgery and 1 minor surgery (for gastric bypass complications). She really doesn't feel health--low energy, painful knees, over 1/2 her weight that was lost with gastric bypass has returned--not quite what she was looking for!
Meanwhile, Sue sleeps well at night, has no heartburn or achy knees, is close to her ideal weight and has a normal Blood Pressure---all without meds or surgery. She has great energy & is enjoying this stage of her life, not even feeling like she's 60 years old!
Most of us end up in a 'box' (like Sue) created by Western medicine (pharmaceutical companies, to be exact) where we are led to believe that the only way of treating health challenges is with drugs or surgery. Sue chose to 'step out of her box'...her 'comfort zone' and be in charge of her health.
I leave you with this challenge: Choose your boxes carefully--Get rid of boxes that aren't serving you well--and may you be blessed with great health and long life!
Sana
Please join me in my Virtual Time Machine as we follow 2 women over a 20 year span of time. Jill, from Dallas and Sue, from Chicago. Both women are quite similar: married, 2 teenage children, part-time jobs, very busy with community activities, relatively 'healthy'...and both were raised in a typical 'Western Medicine' lifestyle (have a symptom, take a medication, etc). There is one major difference between Jill & Sue. Sue has watched several family members, friends & coworkers deal with both major & minor health challenges over the past several years and has recently made the decision to 'not go that route'---to take some ownership in her health and health-related decisions.
Our journey starts with Jill & Sue in their early 40's. The first health challenge they both encounter is poor sleep. Jill tells her Dr. about it & is given a sleeping pill prescription. She finds that it helps somewhat, but she's still waking up tired with low energy. Meanwhile, Sue decides to take control. She minimizes her caffeine intake, starts walking a few days/week, settles into a regular bedtime routine & begins using safe, clinically-proven sleep technologies with great success.
The second health challenge is heartburn. Jill has heard all about the 'purple pill' and finds it very easy to get. She has some concerns about being on another medication, knowing that there are side effects---she just hopes she doesn't get the side effects. Meanwhile, Sue had read about heartburn being a symptom of dehydration, so she now drinks at least 1/2 her body weight in ounces of water each day and works on adding more vegetables to her diet, which have an alkalinizing effect. She finds her heartburn gone within a few days!
Next come achy knees. Both Jill & Sue were runners in their early 20's--and now arthritic changes have set in. Jill is given 'NSAIDS' (anti-inflammatories) by her physician. The first one didn't work--neither did the second one--the third one seemed to help (although it had a 'black box' warning on the bottle). When the pain got worse, Jill was given steroid injections in her knees, which, again, helped for a while. Meanwhile, Sue learned that adequate water intake helps with joint health, so she continued on her water drinking plan---along with a safe, clinically-proven joint health supplement, and magnetic & far-infrared technologies with great success: no more pain!
At age 50, Jill & Sue had a DEXA scan (bone density scan) & were both told they had osteoporosis. Yikes! Jill joined the 'Sally Fields Team' taking one of the biphosphonates (even though she has heard about the major side effects, including cancer and deterioration of the jaw bone)--she wasn't aware of any other options, so she just hoped & prayed she wouldn't get the side effects. Meanwhile, Sue learned about a totally safe & clinically-proven bone density-building nutritional product, which she started taking, along with calcium. DEXA scans 2 years later showed Jill with continuing osteoporosis and Sue with normal bone density.
The last two challenges 'popped up' together: high blood pressure and weight gain. Jill has been 'trying' various diets with minimal success & maximum frustration. She decided to 'go for it' with gastric bypass surgery. The thought of surgery scares her--along with the potential complications she was told about, but ultimately decided that this would be the quickest, easiest route to go. The Dr. also prescribed a new medication for her high BP. Meanwhile, Sue is already sleeping well & is drinking adequate amounts of water. Her BP is elevated, but not to the point of Jill's. She makes the decision to make exercise a priority EVERY day (she loves walking---and how it makes her feel!) She also makes a 'deal' with her Dr. to take a BP medication for the short term (no more than 4-6 months) while she ramps up on her exercise and diet, increasing her fruits & veggies to become the main part of her diet. Both women have normal BP readings after 6 months---the difference being that Sue's BP is normal without medication!
Let's take a tally after the 20 years:
Sue is now on 5 regular medications for her health challenges and 2 meds to counteract side effects from the regular medications. She has had 4 knee steroid knee injections & her knees still frequently bother her. She has had 1 major surgery and 1 minor surgery (for gastric bypass complications). She really doesn't feel health--low energy, painful knees, over 1/2 her weight that was lost with gastric bypass has returned--not quite what she was looking for!
Meanwhile, Sue sleeps well at night, has no heartburn or achy knees, is close to her ideal weight and has a normal Blood Pressure---all without meds or surgery. She has great energy & is enjoying this stage of her life, not even feeling like she's 60 years old!
Most of us end up in a 'box' (like Sue) created by Western medicine (pharmaceutical companies, to be exact) where we are led to believe that the only way of treating health challenges is with drugs or surgery. Sue chose to 'step out of her box'...her 'comfort zone' and be in charge of her health.
I leave you with this challenge: Choose your boxes carefully--Get rid of boxes that aren't serving you well--and may you be blessed with great health and long life!
Sana
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A Healthy Cause And Effect
Remember learning about 'cause & effect in school? Simple concept: An action or event occurs, resulting in a certain effect. You drive over the speed limit-->you get a ticket...you eat a pint of ice cream every evening-->you gain weight...you forget to take your puppy outside-->he poops on the floor (personal experience with that one!)
How about applying that simple concept to our health---especially when we're looking at common health challenges? Standard protocol (ie. Western Medicine) often tends to overlook this step, with a prescription or procedure being recommended for specific symptoms or complaints. Examples include pain pills for an aching back, antacids for heartburn, antidepressants for poor sleep, laxatives for constipation, steroid injections for inflammed joints/body parts, high blood pressure medications for high blood pressure...the list goes on. A person can get some relief with these measures, as long as the medication continues---
Here's a thought: How about figuring out the cause of the health challenge & addressing that as a way to get rid of the symptoms?
Below are examples of what it could look like:
Aching back: Chiropractic adjustment for alignment, massage therapy for muscle relaxation, magnetic technology to help with relaxation & minimize the ache, & specific back exercised to strengthen the affected muscles & prevent further problems
Heartburn: Drinking half your body weight in ounces each day of good quality (slightly alkaline is best) use of far-infrared comforter at night when sleeping (Remember, heartburn is a symptom of dehydration)
Poor sleep: Counseling on bedtime routines that promote good sleep, reducing/avoiding caffeine, good quality calcium supplement at bedtime, magnetic sleep technology for deep, quality sleep
Constipation: Nutrition counseling on high fiber diet that minimizes processed foods, adequate water intake, encouragement of regular exercise, probiotics/prebiotics to help restore 'flora' of the gut
Inflamed joints: Adequate water intake, use of safe & natural technologies such as far-infrared and magnetics to work with the body in healing itself, Bio-replenishment products to help the body heal itself
High blood pressure: Nutrition counseling on healthy eating with focus of reaching & maintaining ideal weight, regular exercise, adequate water intake, good quality sleep (BP meds may need to be a short-term 'fix' while lifestyle issues like these are addressed)
I realize this requires a whole new way of thinking for some of us---and isn't it about time to look at some new (SAFE & EFFECTIVE) ways of thinking, especially when we're talking about our health and our family's health! Food for thought, hmmm? I look forward to your comments. I have previous blogs that explain some of the technologies mentioned in this one if you have questions.
Be Well!
Sana
How about applying that simple concept to our health---especially when we're looking at common health challenges? Standard protocol (ie. Western Medicine) often tends to overlook this step, with a prescription or procedure being recommended for specific symptoms or complaints. Examples include pain pills for an aching back, antacids for heartburn, antidepressants for poor sleep, laxatives for constipation, steroid injections for inflammed joints/body parts, high blood pressure medications for high blood pressure...the list goes on. A person can get some relief with these measures, as long as the medication continues---
Here's a thought: How about figuring out the cause of the health challenge & addressing that as a way to get rid of the symptoms?
Below are examples of what it could look like:
Aching back: Chiropractic adjustment for alignment, massage therapy for muscle relaxation, magnetic technology to help with relaxation & minimize the ache, & specific back exercised to strengthen the affected muscles & prevent further problems
Heartburn: Drinking half your body weight in ounces each day of good quality (slightly alkaline is best) use of far-infrared comforter at night when sleeping (Remember, heartburn is a symptom of dehydration)
Poor sleep: Counseling on bedtime routines that promote good sleep, reducing/avoiding caffeine, good quality calcium supplement at bedtime, magnetic sleep technology for deep, quality sleep
Constipation: Nutrition counseling on high fiber diet that minimizes processed foods, adequate water intake, encouragement of regular exercise, probiotics/prebiotics to help restore 'flora' of the gut
Inflamed joints: Adequate water intake, use of safe & natural technologies such as far-infrared and magnetics to work with the body in healing itself, Bio-replenishment products to help the body heal itself
High blood pressure: Nutrition counseling on healthy eating with focus of reaching & maintaining ideal weight, regular exercise, adequate water intake, good quality sleep (BP meds may need to be a short-term 'fix' while lifestyle issues like these are addressed)
I realize this requires a whole new way of thinking for some of us---and isn't it about time to look at some new (SAFE & EFFECTIVE) ways of thinking, especially when we're talking about our health and our family's health! Food for thought, hmmm? I look forward to your comments. I have previous blogs that explain some of the technologies mentioned in this one if you have questions.
Be Well!
Sana
Friday, July 10, 2009
Making The Most Of Your Health Care Dollars
I know statistics are boring--Please hang with me--I promise to be brief with them, OK? I've found that they can impact on our thinking...which can in turn impact our actions...and ultimately our health!
Here we go:
**Americans spend twice as much per person, on health care, as any other country--yet we still have some of the world's highest rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and mental illness. We should, by all rights, be the healthiest country in the world with this kind of spending! NOT the best use of our health care dollars. This fact alone is evidence enough that our current medical system is broken and in need of a complete overhaul--which, as we've been learning starts with each of us taking Ownership Of Our Health.
**Today in the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer. And that's after pouring more than $50 billion dollars over the past 30 years into fight against cancer. This research has resulted in a 13% increase in the incidence of cancer and a 7% increase in the overall death rate of cancer. Not quite the results one would expect after $50 billion dollars, huh? Are our health care dollars hard at work?? A more effective approach: Learning and incorporating SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE ways to minimize our cancer risk--of which there are plenty! I've addressed some of these in my past blogs--and will continue to do so.
**Over 100,000 people die from adverse reactions to drugs each year in the US, which means taking a prescription drug is the number 4 cause of death, after heart disease/stroke, cancer and diabetes. More current data is showing that it may be actually 2nd or 3rd in cause of death, instead of 4th. Bottom line? We need to take Ownership Of Our Health NOW and minimize the need for prescription meds as much as possible. Think of the impact that would have our health care dollars!
Let's end on a positive note, knowing that our frame of mind impacts our health as well! Did you know that not one American has died from vitamin use (or abuse) in the past ten years---yet 17,000 die from OTC (over the counter) pain killers? Obviously the quality of vitamins (nutritional supplements) makes a huge difference. I have some blogs referencing this---and again, more to come!
The world is becoming divided into health care professionals who prevent disease and promote wellness and health care professionals who treat sickness. Which category does your health care provider/professional(s) fall into? Are they advising you on health and long-term wellness? Do they fit into the category of 'healthy individuals'? Great food for thought---after all, we only get one body for this lifetime--no trade-in's! What a great common goal: making the most of our health care dollars--let's do it!
Blessings on your health--
Sana
Here we go:
**Americans spend twice as much per person, on health care, as any other country--yet we still have some of the world's highest rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and mental illness. We should, by all rights, be the healthiest country in the world with this kind of spending! NOT the best use of our health care dollars. This fact alone is evidence enough that our current medical system is broken and in need of a complete overhaul--which, as we've been learning starts with each of us taking Ownership Of Our Health.
**Today in the US, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer. And that's after pouring more than $50 billion dollars over the past 30 years into fight against cancer. This research has resulted in a 13% increase in the incidence of cancer and a 7% increase in the overall death rate of cancer. Not quite the results one would expect after $50 billion dollars, huh? Are our health care dollars hard at work?? A more effective approach: Learning and incorporating SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE ways to minimize our cancer risk--of which there are plenty! I've addressed some of these in my past blogs--and will continue to do so.
**Over 100,000 people die from adverse reactions to drugs each year in the US, which means taking a prescription drug is the number 4 cause of death, after heart disease/stroke, cancer and diabetes. More current data is showing that it may be actually 2nd or 3rd in cause of death, instead of 4th. Bottom line? We need to take Ownership Of Our Health NOW and minimize the need for prescription meds as much as possible. Think of the impact that would have our health care dollars!
Let's end on a positive note, knowing that our frame of mind impacts our health as well! Did you know that not one American has died from vitamin use (or abuse) in the past ten years---yet 17,000 die from OTC (over the counter) pain killers? Obviously the quality of vitamins (nutritional supplements) makes a huge difference. I have some blogs referencing this---and again, more to come!
The world is becoming divided into health care professionals who prevent disease and promote wellness and health care professionals who treat sickness. Which category does your health care provider/professional(s) fall into? Are they advising you on health and long-term wellness? Do they fit into the category of 'healthy individuals'? Great food for thought---after all, we only get one body for this lifetime--no trade-in's! What a great common goal: making the most of our health care dollars--let's do it!
Blessings on your health--
Sana
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Preventive Maintenance---For YOU!
Ask anyone who recently purchased a new car if they plan on getting the oil changed regularly--and following the preventive maintenance plan found in the Owner's Manual. The typical answer is, "of course!" When asked why, their answer would be something on the order of, "to make it last longer and work more efficiently." It's not a hard concept for the vast majority of car owners to grasp---that's why we see the 'Grease Monkeys' and 'Oil Can Harry's' around---to make it convenient for necessary vehicle maintenance.
The car analogy is not new...it's just a great way to 'wrap your mind' around the idea of 'Personal Preventive Maintenance.' We realize the benefits of regular oil changes, fluid checks, tire rotations, filter changes, etc for our vehicles---so we make sure it gets done. And no, insurance doesn't pay for it! We know we'll end up paying much more in the long run, though, if we forego the preventive maintenance.
If we're making sure this happens for our vehicles, why on earth are so many people not doing the same for their bodies?? At least we can get a new vehicle if the current one breaks down completely. We can't get a new body! And if we wait until our bodies break down, we know that it will cost more and take longer to get 'back to normal'---and sometimes normal is not even an option.
What does Personal Preventive Maintenance look like? Biggies on the list include:
*Getting good quality sleep in adequate amounts nightly
*Drinking 1/2 our body weight in ounces each day--good quality drinking water
*Using an air filtration system in our home (that doesn't produce ozone)
*Eating a balanced diet with an emphasis on veggies and fruit (minimimizing processed foods)
*Taking basic whole food supplements to make sure our bodies are getting the nutrition they need
*Getting regular exercise (walking 30 minutes a day)
*Regular health screenings, depending on age (mammogram, colonoscopy, BP checks...)
As you can see, none of it is rocket science. If you're serious about 'getting healthy' and taking Ownership of your Health' choose one of the above and make it a priority---'build' it into your daily routine.
I have ideas and recommendations to help make this process easier as well. My family and I have been enjoying the benefits of 'personal preventive maintenance' for years.
Time to go get my oil changed on my vehicle (thank goodness there are no muffler bearings to grease!) :o)
Be Well...
Sana
The car analogy is not new...it's just a great way to 'wrap your mind' around the idea of 'Personal Preventive Maintenance.' We realize the benefits of regular oil changes, fluid checks, tire rotations, filter changes, etc for our vehicles---so we make sure it gets done. And no, insurance doesn't pay for it! We know we'll end up paying much more in the long run, though, if we forego the preventive maintenance.
If we're making sure this happens for our vehicles, why on earth are so many people not doing the same for their bodies?? At least we can get a new vehicle if the current one breaks down completely. We can't get a new body! And if we wait until our bodies break down, we know that it will cost more and take longer to get 'back to normal'---and sometimes normal is not even an option.
What does Personal Preventive Maintenance look like? Biggies on the list include:
*Getting good quality sleep in adequate amounts nightly
*Drinking 1/2 our body weight in ounces each day--good quality drinking water
*Using an air filtration system in our home (that doesn't produce ozone)
*Eating a balanced diet with an emphasis on veggies and fruit (minimimizing processed foods)
*Taking basic whole food supplements to make sure our bodies are getting the nutrition they need
*Getting regular exercise (walking 30 minutes a day)
*Regular health screenings, depending on age (mammogram, colonoscopy, BP checks...)
As you can see, none of it is rocket science. If you're serious about 'getting healthy' and taking Ownership of your Health' choose one of the above and make it a priority---'build' it into your daily routine.
I have ideas and recommendations to help make this process easier as well. My family and I have been enjoying the benefits of 'personal preventive maintenance' for years.
Time to go get my oil changed on my vehicle (thank goodness there are no muffler bearings to grease!) :o)
Be Well...
Sana
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Smoke Detectors & Sickness Detectors
You know the feeling...after a busy day...looking forward to falling into bed for a great night's sleep...the end to a great day, right?
Now imagine a most annoying sound...the chirping/beeping noise of a smoke detector in need of a new battery! The chirp/beep noise broke the quietness of the evening around 10:15PM---just as I was getting ready for bed. My husband was out of town last night (how does that work?), so I figured out which smoke alarm it was (not hard--just follow the annoying chirp/beep to where it is the loudest) & hauled the ladder in from the garage (10 foot ceilings--step stools don't work!). I even had extra 9 volt batteries (from the last time this happened in the middle of the night), so I put one in my pocket & climbed up. OK, now...let's balance on the ladder...try to unscrew the smoke detector unit from the ceiling overhead & pull the battery out...all while balancing...Hmmm. Easier said than done! I finally wiggled the battery out & finally wiggled the new one into place & climbed down the ladder---only to hear the annoying chirp---AGAIN!
Long story short---after about 10 more trips up & down the ladder, reinserting the battery a few times, putting yet another battery in, waiting to see if the chirping stopped---Mission Accomplished--around 11PM! The chirping was intermittent--- everything seemed fine after inserting the battery, so I would climb down the ladder, wait a few minutes, only to hear it chirp/beep again! I admit I resorted to Googling in my frustration...using the key words of 'smoke detector chirping'---only to find that millions of others had dealt with similar challenges---all seeming to take place during the night! One gal had posted a question on one of the websites, wondering why 'they' couldn't make the alarms (chirp/beep noise) go off during the day instead of night-time. That would be convenient, wouldn't it? (I'm thinking she was blonde--but then so am I!) :o)
All I really wanted to do was drop into bed (my wonderful sleep system) & go to sleep, but the chirp/beep was something not to be ignored---and no, the chirping/beeping doesn't stop just by taking the battery out---the problem has to be taken care of!
Now imagine once more...an annoying chirp/beep noise that went off whenever our bodies started developing a sickness or disease...with the annoying noise continuing until we corrected the problem. A 'Sickness Detector' of sorts...what a concept!
Most diseases take several years to show up with symptoms--and then it's often a huge challenge to get back to total health. A person doesn't just 'catch' heart disease one day...or high blood pressure...or diabetes...or cancer, to name a few of the 'biggies' out there. An alarm that wouldn't stop until we addressed the problem by making simple lifestyle changes---things would look a bit different around here, I would say---we'd be looking at a lot more healthier people!
That's what building prevention into our lives is all about---except for the annoying chirping/beeping part! We've learned that good health doesn't just happen. And being proactive can make a huge difference in keeping those alarms from sounding. It's called Taking Ownership of our Health, instead of waiting for 'something bad' to happen...or letting your health care practitioner 'call the shots.'
I know I can avoid the annoying late night/middle of the night chirping/beeping of the smoke detectors with preventive maintenance of changing the batteries regularly---which we're going to start doing!
Isn't it time for each of us to make sure our 'Preventive Maintenance Plan' is in place for ourselves and our families? Watch for upcoming blogs on this---and email or post your questions!
Sleep Well with no chirp/beeps, knowing you're on the track to Total Wellness....
Sana
Now imagine a most annoying sound...the chirping/beeping noise of a smoke detector in need of a new battery! The chirp/beep noise broke the quietness of the evening around 10:15PM---just as I was getting ready for bed. My husband was out of town last night (how does that work?), so I figured out which smoke alarm it was (not hard--just follow the annoying chirp/beep to where it is the loudest) & hauled the ladder in from the garage (10 foot ceilings--step stools don't work!). I even had extra 9 volt batteries (from the last time this happened in the middle of the night), so I put one in my pocket & climbed up. OK, now...let's balance on the ladder...try to unscrew the smoke detector unit from the ceiling overhead & pull the battery out...all while balancing...Hmmm. Easier said than done! I finally wiggled the battery out & finally wiggled the new one into place & climbed down the ladder---only to hear the annoying chirp---AGAIN!
Long story short---after about 10 more trips up & down the ladder, reinserting the battery a few times, putting yet another battery in, waiting to see if the chirping stopped---Mission Accomplished--around 11PM! The chirping was intermittent--- everything seemed fine after inserting the battery, so I would climb down the ladder, wait a few minutes, only to hear it chirp/beep again! I admit I resorted to Googling in my frustration...using the key words of 'smoke detector chirping'---only to find that millions of others had dealt with similar challenges---all seeming to take place during the night! One gal had posted a question on one of the websites, wondering why 'they' couldn't make the alarms (chirp/beep noise) go off during the day instead of night-time. That would be convenient, wouldn't it? (I'm thinking she was blonde--but then so am I!) :o)
All I really wanted to do was drop into bed (my wonderful sleep system) & go to sleep, but the chirp/beep was something not to be ignored---and no, the chirping/beeping doesn't stop just by taking the battery out---the problem has to be taken care of!
Now imagine once more...an annoying chirp/beep noise that went off whenever our bodies started developing a sickness or disease...with the annoying noise continuing until we corrected the problem. A 'Sickness Detector' of sorts...what a concept!
Most diseases take several years to show up with symptoms--and then it's often a huge challenge to get back to total health. A person doesn't just 'catch' heart disease one day...or high blood pressure...or diabetes...or cancer, to name a few of the 'biggies' out there. An alarm that wouldn't stop until we addressed the problem by making simple lifestyle changes---things would look a bit different around here, I would say---we'd be looking at a lot more healthier people!
That's what building prevention into our lives is all about---except for the annoying chirping/beeping part! We've learned that good health doesn't just happen. And being proactive can make a huge difference in keeping those alarms from sounding. It's called Taking Ownership of our Health, instead of waiting for 'something bad' to happen...or letting your health care practitioner 'call the shots.'
I know I can avoid the annoying late night/middle of the night chirping/beeping of the smoke detectors with preventive maintenance of changing the batteries regularly---which we're going to start doing!
Isn't it time for each of us to make sure our 'Preventive Maintenance Plan' is in place for ourselves and our families? Watch for upcoming blogs on this---and email or post your questions!
Sleep Well with no chirp/beeps, knowing you're on the track to Total Wellness....
Sana
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