Posted on Thursday, August 4, 2016

My Greece Vacation

I just returned from an amazing trip to Greece. On my vacation, I traveled to Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete with several wonderful girlfriends who regularly travel together.

Although I had a fantastic time once I was in Greece, it was extremely difficult for me to make the decision to go on an extended vacation abroad. It’s always difficult to leave daily life, work and children behind. I struggled with the idea of being away from my business and in a different country than my daughters. My friends convinced me that the trip was a necessity, and now I know they were right! I needed the trip to relax, unwind and enjoy myself. My daughters were fine and my business was still standing upon my return home.

Vacations are so important for your personal health and well-being! People forget the importance of getting away from the daily grind. In 2014 in the United States, employees only used 51% of their vacation time and 15% of people didn’t take any time off at all. Recently, some employers have started to encourage their employees to take vacations given the many health and workplace benefits.

Vacations are good for you — they increase your productivity and they reduce your stress. Vacations allow you to unwind, recuperate, and feel healthier. People even have a reduction in cholesterol after a vacation and feel more satisfied with their lives in general after a vacation.

Given all the perks of vacations, where are you going this summer?

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process and how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Monday, July 18, 2016

Where To Go For Your Loved Ones Summer Injury

Unfortunately injuries are far too common in the summer time, especially if you have kids. And sometimes it can be difficult to determine if your loved one’s injury warrants a trip to the emergency room or if it’s something you can take care of at home. You don’t want to overreact but you also want to get them the proper care. In order to determine the type of care that’s necessary, I have put together a guide of where you should go for your loved ones summer injury.

Minor injuries can be dealt with at an urgent care. They typically have shorter wait times and you get in and out pretty quickly. Injuries that can be taken care of at an urgent care include UTIs, minor burns, insect and animal bites and wound infections.

More serious injuries warrant a trip to the emergency room. If your child falls out of a tree and breaks a bone, especially if it’s a compound fracture, you must take them to the ER. Breathing issues, allergic reactions and chest pain should also be treated in an emergency room. If you feel as though your loved one has a concussion you should take them to the ER immediately Signs of a concussion include loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, headaches and ringing in the ears.

Injuries sustained during sports, such as a sprained ankle, should be taken to the child’s primary care doctor first. Your doctor can determine the severity of the injury and the next steps that should be taken.

It can be difficult to determine the appropriate type of care for a specific injury but these tips should help you make a good decision on where to take your loved one.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children as well as your aging parents: Life in Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Thursday, July 7, 2016

What You Need To Know About the Zika Virus

Summer comes and goes too quickly. So we all want to spend as much time outside as possible, even at night. And let’s face it: some nights the bugs are unbearable. Although bug bites are itchy and annoying they typically don’t pose too much of a health concern. However, this summer things are a bit different. With the emergence of the Zika virus in the United States, you need to be extra careful of mosquitos and mosquito bites. Today, we will discuss what Zika is, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent it, as well as the possible ramifications of it.

First, what is Zika? Zika is a virus which is spread through mosquito bites. The symptoms of the virus are usually fairly mild, and a lot of people may not even know they have it. Those who have symptoms may experience a rash or low grade fever, conjunctivitis or fatigue, as well as muscle and joint pain lasting seven days or less. These symptoms are similar to a mild flu.

Second, how is Zika transmitted. The virus is mainly transmitted through mosquito bites. However, it can also be passed along through urine, saliva or even sexual intercourse.

Third, how can I prevent getting the Zika virus? The only real way to prevent contracting the virus is to avoid getting mosquito bites. So wear lots of bug spray and use citronella candles.

Fourth, what are the possible ramifications of contracting the virus? One of the main concerns is microcephaly in newborns. Many infants have been born in Brazil with microcephaly in the past months. Some health agencies are also recommending delaying pregnancy at this time due to the increased risks during pregnancy.

Knowing these tips can help to protect you from contracting the Zika virus this summer.