Inflammation is the body’s normal and healthy response to germs and injury. Such ‘assault’ signals to the immune system to dispatch white blood cells to begin healing and repair. We observe and experience these inner-workings through the expression of symptoms such as pain, redness, local heat, and swelling. However, when inflammation continues for a prolonged…
When walking down the sunscreen aisle at our drugstores there are an overwhelming number of choices for skin protection. We have the option of SPF 2 thru 50, water resistant, super water resistant, broad-spectrum, scented, unscented, oil-free, for babies, for the face, and the list goes on. Chemical sunscreens vary widely in terms of the…
We all catch it this time of year – Spring Fever! For many this also means experiencing another type of fever, hay fever, or seasonal allergies. The term “allergy” describes an over-aggressive immune response triggered by ingesting, touching, or inhaling an irritant that your system recognizes as foreign, but which do not cause reactions in most…
With another new year looming over us, the feeling of new beginnings, new opportunities, and the desire for drastic life changes seem to overwhelm us all. This is especially true after all that holiday food, travel, and stress. The New Year is the most opportune time to set goals and take steps towards a “new, better…
“It’s impossible to find time to exercise. With work, and the kids….” I’ve heard this line too many times. I may have even said it myself once or twice. And yes, with all of us working more, and with all the extracurricular activities our children have now, it seems like there is less time to…
We all feel it. But how do we deal with it? AND… What is it? Why do we have it? These are all good questions. Let’s begin with a brief insight into what stress is: First off stress isn’t all bad. Eustress or “good stress,” is often a feeling of pleasure and even a motivator that enables us to…
If you followed the swimming events of the Olympics this year, you may have seen several events won by American swimmer, Michael Phelps. Mr. Phelps has won 23 gold medals in his Olympic career, making him the most decorated Olympian in history. Seeing him win Gold in the mens 200-meter butterfly is nothing new. However, this…
Do you often find yourself waking up with neck or back pain and stiffness? Do you toss and turn at night, smashing, poking, flipping and prodding your pillow … trying to return to the level of comfort that allows you to drift back to that evasive slumber? If you have ever woken up with a…
You Need Rest Days “But Rich Froning doesn’t believe in rest days!” For those of you who don’t know who Rich Froning is, he is the multiple time champion of the Reebok Crossfit games, which earned him the title of “The World’s Fittest Man.” He is everything an athlete (or anyone, for that matter) wants…
“Sitting is the new smoking,” is one of the common health mantras you may have heard recently. While slightly melodramatic, it is true that prolonged sitting has negative effects on your health. While a rich and varied movement palate is the ideal daily prescription for musculoskeletal health, we recognize that many people are stuck in…