Healthy Living

Does hosting that holiday dinner send you into a frenzy? Does buying Christmas gifts leave you overwhelmed and drained? The crowds, family, pressure to entertain, traffic, events, and spending of money can easily get to the best of us.

Dry nose is usually caused by dry weather, but can also be allergies, decongestant medications or antihistamine medications. Increase your fluid intake to hydrate your body so that it can produce mucous. Drink at least six 8 ounce glasses a day of water, juice or tea. Use a nasal saline spray as needed to moisturize the nasal passages. Saline nasal sprays are available for purchase over-the-counter at most drug stores.

Many patients with diabetes become discouraged around the holidays. With all the pies, cookies, cakes and other no-no’s, managing blood sugar can be a real challenge. But there is so much to be thankful for.

Since each share common symptoms and many over-the-counter medications are marketed for both cold and flu, it’s easy to become confused. It is important to distinguish between these conditions to help determine whether antibiotics may be needed. Often just over-the-counter medications can be used to treat symptoms, and in order to prevent highly resistant strains of bacteria, you want to avoid taking antibiotics when not absolutely necessary.

Heart disease is currently the number-one cause of death among women in the U.S., killing more than all cancers combined. Many women fail to realize that something is seriously wrong until it’s too late. Awareness has increased over the past decade, however only 54% of women recognize that heart disease is their number one killer. Almost two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms – this correlates to 1 in 4 women.