Healthy TIPS
How do you make your heart stronger?
Seven Ways to Make Your Heart Stronger
Seven Ways to Make Your Heart Stronger
- Eat a well-rounded, balanced diet.
- Don't sit for too long.
- Brush your teeth every day – and don't forget to floss.
- Quit smoking and avoid second hand smoke.
- Snack smart throughout the day.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Recognize and reduce stress in your life.
Meditation is a Great Way to Relax: And better still a good way to get a good night's sleep. Here is a meditation that you can do right in your bed. Especially helpful if you are having a hard time sleeping.
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What should you not do the day before a blood test?
You should avoid eating specific foods and drinks such as cooked meats, herbal tea, black tea, coffee or alcohol. Do not overeat or smoke the day before the test and avoid strenuous exercise or sexual activity. Non-prescription drugs (aspirin, cold medication, vitamins) and prescription drugs could affect blood test results. Dehydration may affect the testing of lipids (cholesterol tests), urea, creatinine, and other substances. It can also be the cause of sodium and potassium imbalances indicated by test results so start drinking more fluids the day before your blood draw (approximately 8-11 oz glasses). If fasting is required, your doctor may ask you to fast for 8-12 hours by not eating or drinking anything but sips of water.
You should avoid eating specific foods and drinks such as cooked meats, herbal tea, black tea, coffee or alcohol. Do not overeat or smoke the day before the test and avoid strenuous exercise or sexual activity. Non-prescription drugs (aspirin, cold medication, vitamins) and prescription drugs could affect blood test results. Dehydration may affect the testing of lipids (cholesterol tests), urea, creatinine, and other substances. It can also be the cause of sodium and potassium imbalances indicated by test results so start drinking more fluids the day before your blood draw (approximately 8-11 oz glasses). If fasting is required, your doctor may ask you to fast for 8-12 hours by not eating or drinking anything but sips of water.
How long does it take for diet changes to affect blood work?
You may see changes after 3 weeks or it could take up to 3 months. At least two days before the test eat less fatty and fried food and avoid alcohol. Follow-up blood tests are usually taken at or after 3 months.
You may see changes after 3 weeks or it could take up to 3 months. At least two days before the test eat less fatty and fried food and avoid alcohol. Follow-up blood tests are usually taken at or after 3 months.
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Does drinking water lower blood sugar before a blood test?
Yes, by drinking 8 glasses of water, it may at least prevent levels from getting too high. Water flushes out glucose from the blood. In fact, on any day, drinking plenty of water after indulging your sweet tooth will help your body get back to normal.
What kind of medicines or supplements could affect the results of a blood test?
Vitamins, such as Biotin and other B vitamins as well as calcium, St. John's wort, vitamin C, L-tryptophan and 5-HTP. Also antibiotics, antidepressants, steroids, like Prednisone, acetaminophen and NSAIDs. However, you should ask your physician ahead of time which ones you should or should not take.
Blood Pressure: Blood Pressure Ranges: Here is a chart to determine blood pressure by age. For more information on blood pressure, check here.
Dehydration: Sleeping With a Ceiling Fan on Can Cause Health Problems: Ceiling fans are great for getting us cool, but sleeping with one on, is another matter. It can cause dehydration, allergies, headaches and leg and foot cramps. Read more about this here.
How to Stay Alert Without Turning to Caffeine: Here are some steps and foods that will keep you awake and alert during the day - without turning to caffeine.
Insomnia: When you can't fall asleep for a few days, you may be experiencing sleep anxiety. Causes can be age, alcohol, medication, menopause, apnea, or caffeine. Some solutions are not looking at your clock, turning off TVs, computers, cellphones and other devices about 30 minutes before bedtime or use a weighted blanket for 4 weeks which helps lower your heart rate and slows your breathing. Check out the page on Sleep Q&A for more information on insomnia. These two books may help further with curing insomnia. Book 1 - Book 2.
Leg Cramps: How to Relieve Leg Cramps: Magnesium plays a role in neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction, so a magnesium deficiency could result in leg cramps. Therefore, taking a magnesium supplement should be considered. However, if you are deficient in calcium and potassium, magnesium alone may not be enough. Ask your doctor for a blood test to determine any deficiencies.
Leg cramp or Blood Clot? If a leg cramp does not go away when walked off, pain from a blood clot could be a possibility. A good test is to bend the foot at the ankle with the toes pointing upward. If you get a lot of pain in the calf muscle, you may have a blood clot and should have it checked out. Other signs include swelling, hot to the touch, and redness.
Naps: If you need a nap during the day, it is recommended that you sleep for 10-20 minutes, according to the Sleep Foundation, so that it won't interfere with your night-time slumber.
Water: Are You Drinking Enough Water Each Day? It is recommended by the Mayo Clinic that drinking 8 glasses of water each day may be sufficient - however to be more exact, women should drink 11 cups (2.7 liters) of water a day and men should drink 15 cups (3.7 liters) of water daily. Water is also included in fruits and vegetables, like watermelon and spinach, since they are almost 100% water by weight. You can tell if you are drinking enough water if you rarely feel thirsty and if your urine is colorless or light yellow.
Stay Well Hydrated: Drinking enough water prevents urinary infections and also keeps joints lubricated and organs functioning properly. In addition. drinking at least 8 ozs. of water per day improves your sleep, mind and mood and gives you more energy, as well as helping with weight management.
How to Reduce a Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver: Lifestyle and dietary changes are currently the most effective options for managing NAFLD. Losing weight, being physically active, cutting back on sugar, eating a nutrient-dense diet, and drinking coffee are some of the methods that may help improve symptoms associated with fatty liver. More Info on this site.