Life Hacks

If back pain is bothering you, go take a walk! 

According to the journal Clinical Rehabilitation, a 20-minute walk a few times a week can be as effective at eliminating back pain as some forms of in-office physical therapy. That’s because a lot of times, back pain is caused by muscle tightness. 

And walking not only stretches back muscles, it strengthens back and abdominal muscles that support the spine. That means they’re less likely to seize up. So, for backaches, your prescription is a 20-minute walk, three times a week.

There’s a new treatment being prescribed for depression, anxiety – and even pain! It’s a “social prescription” – which can include anything from a cooking class, to a group hike, to a day at a museum, or a book club.

And there’s a growing amount of scientific evidence that shows social prescriptions can be just as effective as some medications at relieving pain and depressive symptoms. The difference is that social activities have NO side effects…… and they’re often better at helping people overcome their underlying anxiety or loneliness than a pill.

Dr. Michael Dixon is a pioneer of the social prescribing movement at the College of Medicine in the UK. And he says it doesn’t really matter which social activity your doctor “prescribes”…… 

The key is that it should involve something you’re truly interested in. Because that increases the odds you’ll actually follow-through with the activity on a regular basis – unlike, say, patients who often “forget” to attend a physical therapy session.

and one more thing….in studies involving everyone from kids to older cancer patients, almost everyone exposed to a “social prescription” – even once – reported significantly less stress, less pain, and improved well-being!

It’s a pretty serious situation if you – or someone you love – has to be admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit, or ICU. 

So, this next tip is all about making a potential ICU stay as comfortable as possible: Bring some EARPLUGS…… Because that will lower your risk of suffering some of the most common ICU disturbances.

That’s according to a study from the University of Antwerp, in Belgium. 

Researchers found that many patients admitted to hospital ICUs wind up suffering secondary conditions that are caused by the ICU……everything from mild confusion, to severe insomnia, to delirium. And it’s all down to the sensory overload created by all the bright lights and beeping machines. 

But this new study found that when patients started wearing earplugs in the ICU, to help block out the most distracting noises, their risk for experiencing secondary conditions was cut IN HALF! And researchers say that’s significant, considering something as simple as a good night’s sleep can boost your immune system, and promote faster healing from even the most serious health issues.

It’s why researchers recommend bringing a pair of earplugs the next time you need to be admitted to the hospital, for ANY reason.

There’s a reason why it feels so good to spend time by the ocean. 

Psychologist Dr. Paulette Sherman says saltwater releases tons of negative ions. And, once we breathe those ions in, they enter our bloodstream, boosting oxygen levels in our cells and increasing the production of the calming, happiness-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin. 

In fact, studies show that people who regularly spend time near the ocean tend to be more energetic and less depressed than people who are rarely near the water.

But if you’re landlocked, don’t worry. Go float in a pool. Researchers at the University of Delaware found that relaxing in water blocks out extraneous noise, and gives our senses a break from over-stimulation. That creates a meditative calm. Even watching water flow electronically works. 

Dr. Sherman says brain scans show that watching waves crash, or a waterfall splash, whether electronically or in real life, is calming and reduces the production of stress hormones. 

I know school teachers won’t be happy with this but….

We are now hearing that chewing gum is the latest super-life-hack. That’s according to the American Institute Of Stress. They say most of us tend to clench our jaws when we’re stressed, but the act of chewing can obliterate that tension.

Chewing gum can also make you more alert……The chewing action releases the hormone serotonin, which helps you feel more awake. 

Chewing gum can even improve test scores! In studies from St. Lawrence University, students who chewed gum while taking a test felt significantly more alert and even received higher scores. The researchers explain it’s because the chewing motion gets blood flowing to the head.