Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2017

6 Things to Help You Fall Asleep Fast

8 sheep, 9 sheep, 10 sheep…

Some days we lay in bed for hours before actually falling asleep. Our minds are running with everything we didn’t get done that day and what we have to do the next. In order to fall asleep, however, you need to shut your brain off, which may sometimes seem impossible. Today we’re sharing 6 things you can do to fall asleep in minutes.

1. Turn off the electronics
We hear this all the time. Turn off the phone and the TV one hour before bed. This can be challenging, because most of us like to wind down with an episode of our favorite show. But all of that blue light is not good for your sleep. So try and limit electronic use before bed time.

2. Don’t exercise at night
This is another tough one, especially if you start work early in the morning. But, for some people, working out at night revs them up. It gives them a boost of energy that they don’t necessarily want at 8 o’clock at night. Try switching up your routine and working out in the morning and see if that helps.

3. No caffeine after 2 p.m.
Limit coffee, tea and soft drinks to the morning hours. Use them as a boost in the morning, but if you drink them too late in the day, you’ll be up all nights staring at the ceiling.

4. Take a hot bath or a hot shower
Taking a nice, relaxing bath with essential oils may help calm you. Once you’re out of the tub, slide right into bed and you’ll doze off in no time.

5. Try some sleepy-time tea
Or any other non-caffeinated tea. You can even try just some warm water with lemon. Bring it with you when you take your bath to help you unwind.

6. Turn down the thermostat
Our bodies like it to be a little bit cooler when we sleep. So turn down the heat before you climb into bed.

With these tips you should be off to dreamland in no time!

To learn more about women’s health check out the Women’s Mind Body Wellness Summit. It contains 6 interviews by top female health professionals plus two workout videos and 3 bonus videos on mind-body wellness with MyHealthSpin Founder Lori-Ann Rickard.

Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2017

3 Easy Ways to Eliminate Daily Stress

Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you look at your schedule and see how much you have to do that day? I don’t know about you, but some days it seems like I have too much to do in too little time. All of the stress from the busy lives we lead can be detrimental to our health. But with small changes, we can reduce stress and make some time for ourselves. Here are three easy ways to eliminate daily stress.

1. Work Out
Wake up an hour early and get a workout in. I know the last thing you want to do on a busy day is get up earlier than you need to, but trust me, you will feel better. Exercise increases endorphins and gives you an energy boost. Plus, it gets your mind straight for the day.

2. Meditate
Spend time to plan out your day and to set the tone for it. Meditation helps to calm your mind and put it at ease. It will make things easier when your to do list seems daunting.

3. Have a cup of tea
Sit down with a hot cup of tea and take the morning slow. Try some peppermint tea; it helps relieve stress and anxiety.

Small shifts like these can reduce stress and help you feel better all day long.

Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2017

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a neuro-degenerative disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective coating on nerves. Because of this, there is a disruption between the body’s limbs and the brain. Although it is not fatal, MS can be severely debilitating and can sharply decrease one’s quality of life. MS is much more common in women. Today we are going to discuss what MS affects, common symptoms, as well as ways to manage pain caused by it.

What does MS affect?
People with multiple sclerosis may experience coordination issues, loss of vision, weakness and chronic pain. Because the brain is unable to send messages to one’s body, their movement becomes impaired. They may know they need to move right to get out of the way of an upcoming, car but their brain is unable to send that signal to their legs to move before it’s too late.

Who does MS effect?
Multiple sclerosis is most common in middle-aged women of European descent.

What are common symptoms of MS?
Decreased bladder control, trouble focusing or decreased memory, blurred vision, tingling, and poor balance may all be symptoms of MS.

What causes MS?
Unfortunately, MS is a mystery to most doctors; they can’t seem to find a root cause. However, some studies show that smoking may increase your risk. It has also been found that MS often shows up after contracting a virus, such as Epstein-Barr.

If you think you may have MS or some other neurological disorder, contact your primary care physician today. Early detection is the best way to minimize complications.