April marks National Foot Health Awareness month, which is a great time to take care of your feet. Check your feet for sores or other injuries every day. You may have an injury, but cannot feel the pain. Wash your feet every day and dry them with care, especially between the toes. Trim your toenails as needed after you’ve washed and dried your feet. Wear properly fitting shoes that do not rub or pinch your feet. Always wear socks or stockings with your shoes, and never walk barefoot or while wearing just socks. Physical activity can help increase circulation in your feet. Consult your healthcare team to see which physical activity is right for you. Here are some specific issues to watch for:
DO: Rest a sore knee Take a break so your knee has time to heal. You’ll likely only need 1 or 2 days of rest to ease minor knee pain, but severe injuries may keep you off your feet longer. Talk to your doctor if it doesn’t get better after a few days. DON’T: Stay on the couch too long Exercise builds strong muscles around your joints, and that helps prevent injuries. Once your knee has had enough rest, get back out there. Low-impact water workouts are a good option. Don’t overdo it or you’ll risk more pain. DO: Use R.I.C.E. Rest for a day or two to heal. Ice your knee to calm inflammation. Compress (wrap) your joint for support and to stop fluid buildup. Elevate it on a pillow or stool to cu
If your closets are bursting or your desk is topped with piles of disorganized papers, you may want to take some steps toward a neater home or workspace. While a bit of chaos might have some upsides, it has many more downsides. It can even be damaging for your physical and mental health. When everything is in order, you know exactly where you put your keys or your glasses and you can easily grab them and go on about your day without the added stress of searching and searching. This saves time and hassle. When your space is messy, it can also cause you to feel a bit scatterbrained. Your brain is wired to be able to keep track of only a few details at once for a short period, so it can get ove
From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. — Dr. Seuss The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. — e.e. cummings April is National Humor Month! It's no coincidence that the month begins with April Fool's Day, a day which has sanctioned amusement for hundreds of years. National Humor Month was conceived as a means to heighten public awareness of the therapeutic value of humor. Laughter and joy - the benchmarks of humor - lead to improved well-being, boosted morale, increased communication skills, and an enriched quality of life. The average adult laughs 17 times a day while a child laughs 300 times a day. There is a reason why we have always heard that la
Every April, communities, organizations, and individuals nationwide celebrate gardening during National Garden Month. Gardeners know, and research confirms, that nurturing plants is good for us: attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows. National Garden Week came about when Former President Reagan signed the Proclamation on April 18, 1986 to celebrate gardening and the beauty of vibrant spring flowers. It was first celebrated April 12 to 18, 1987. In 2002, the National Gardening Association resolved to extend the celebration to encompass the entire month of April. National Garden Month was celebrated for the first time in 2003. W
