Health Tip: Meditation Is a Peaceful State of Mind

(HealthDay News) -- There are many forms of mediation, most of which are rooted in ancient tradition. For many people, it's a great way to relax and soothe stress.

Here's a summary of meditation's common principles, courtesy of the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine:

• Find a quiet place with little sound or distracting activity.
• Find a position that's comfortable for you, including sitting, lying down, walking or standing.
• Focus completely on meditation, which in practice may include repeating a word or phrase, focusing mentally on an object or focusing on breathing in a certain way.
• Have an open mind and learn to acknowledge life's distractions without necessarily judging or acting on them.

Health Tip: Taking a Daily Aspirin

(HealthDay News) -- A daily low-dose aspirin can help reduce the risk of heart attack in people with higher-risk conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

While aspirin is generally safe, there are some people who shouldn't take it, since the drug can irritate the stomach lining.

The American Diabetes Association says the following people should talk to their doctor before beginning daily aspirin therapy:

• People younger than age 21.
• People who bleed often or easily.
• People who are allergic to aspirin.
• People who have had recent bleeding in the digestive tract.
• People with current liver disease.

Health Tip: Managing Urinary Incontinence

(HealthDay News) -- Many women have urinary incontinence, notably after having a baby or after beginning menopause.

The National Women's Health Information Center says there are many treatment options for urinary incontinence in women, among them:

• Performing Kegel exercises can help strengthen the muscles in your pelvis. This may help prevent stress leakage.
• Losing extra pounds can help relieve pressure on your bladder.
• Eliminating from your diet certain foods and liquids -- such as alcohol, tea, coffee and other caffeinated products -- can help reduce incontinence.
• Scheduling certain times each day to go to the bathroom, instead of waiting until you need to go, can help you regain bladder control.
• Taking medications prescribed by your doctor can help reduce certain types of leakage.

Health Tip: Getting Back to Sleep

(HealthDay News) -- After you wake up during the night, do you generally go right back to sleep? If not, the University of Maryland Medical Center offers some suggestions.

The center's experts say it's OK to lie in bed for about 15 or 20 minutes. Beyond that, you're probably not going to have an easy time getting back to sleep. They say you should get out of bed.

Read a book or a magazine, soak in a warm bath or do something else relaxing. You should not do anything that would tend to make you even more awake, such as office work, cleaning or watching TV.

After about 20 minutes of your relaxing activity, head back to bed, advises the center. Getting back to sleep should now be a lot easier.

Health Tip: Controlling Your Blood Sugar

(HealthDay News) -- When blood sugar levels get too low, especially among diabetics, it can lead to dangerous symptoms including confusion, fainting and clumsiness.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse offers these suggestions to help prevent low blood sugar:

• Always take medications as directed by your doctor. Ask your doctor which medications can contribute to low blood sugar.
• Never skip meals or snacks, and make sure you eat enough at each meal.
• Daily exercise is good, but take care to watch your blood sugar by checking it frequently before and after. Make adjustments to your medications before exercise.
• Alcohol can contribute to low blood sugar, so talk to your doctor about how you can drink safely. Sometimes, alcohol may be acceptable if taken with food.

Health Tip: If You've Got GERD

(HealthDay News) -- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach contents back up into the esophagus, often causing a feeling of heartburn.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help tame GERD symptoms:

• Lose weight. Most people are helped "substantially" when they lose significant weight, the society says.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Eat meals at least several hours before bed time, giving the stomach some time to empty.
• Keep the head of the bed about 6 inches to 8 inches higher than the foot of the bed.
• Steer clear of smoking, high-fat foods, spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate and peppermint.
• Talk to your doctor about medications to help control GERD. And while on the subject of medications, ask your doctor if anything you're taking could actually be making your symptoms worse.

Health Tip: Risk Factors for Endometriosis

(HealthDay News) -- Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that resembles uterine lining grows outside the uterus. Symptoms may include pain, infertility and very heavy periods.
The National Women's Health Information Center offers this list of common risk factors for endometriosis:

• Starting your period at a young age.
• Having very heavy periods.
• Having periods that last more than seven days.
• Having a short monthly menstrual cycle of 27 days or fewer.
• Having a close relative who has the condition.

Health Tip: Medications and Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- You may take certain over-the-counter supplements and medications without thinking twice. But when you're pregnant, even drugs that you can buy without a prescription can affect the developing fetus.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines about medications and pregnancy:

• Don't take any medicine or herbal supplement without checking with your doctor.
• Try not to take any medicine during your first trimester of pregnancy, when your baby is most likely to be affected.
• If you are having pain, acetaminophen is usually safe for pregnant women to take for a short period. But you should first check with your doctor.
• Don't take aspirin while you're pregnant.
• Don't take an NSAID -- such as Advil, Motrin or Aleve -- while you're pregnant, particularly during your third trimester.

Health Tip: Use Tools Safely

(HealthDay News) -- When working with hand tools, it's important to keep safety in mind.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions to reduce your risk of injury:

• Make sure you know which tools are appropriate for each job.
• Keep your tools clean and in good condition, and maintain them according to the maker's instructions.
• Unplug and turn off any power tool before performing maintenance or changing a part.
• Wear clothing that can't get caught, and always use protective gear.
• Use any guards and shields that come with the tools.
• Store all tools safely and out of the reach of children.
• If using an electrical adapter, never cut the three-prong plug off. And never use a two-prong adapter with a three-prong tool.

Health Tip: Boost Your Energy

(HealthDay News) -- If you often feel out of breath or seem to tire easily, you probably should better pace yourself.
Here are suggestions to help boost your energy, courtesy of National Jewish Health:

• Work slower, and take short, frequent breaks. Don't rush yourself.
• Find the most efficient way to perform everyday tasks. Don't make yourself work harder than you have to.
• Break out strenuous tasks into smaller projects, with breaks in between.
• Breathe slowly and deeply, and avoid short, jerky breaths.
• Plan your activities, schedule time for them, and relax.

Health Tip: Take Care of a Cast

(HealthDay News) -- When a splint or cast is applied to help a broken bone heal, the cast itself requires some care.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions:

• Keep your cast dry. Use two layers of waterproof protection to cover it when you shower.


• If you have a walking cast, give it plenty of time to dry and harden before you try to walk on it -- about an hour for a fiberglass cast and two to three days for plaster.


• Avoid letting sand, dirt or powder get into your cast.


• Don't pull out stuffing or break off edges of your cast, and inspect it regularly for weak spots or cracks.


• Don't stick any objects, powders, or deodorants underneath your cast. Talk to your doctor if your cast is itchy and you feel a significant need to scratch.

Health Tip: Take Care of Aging Skin

(HealthDay News) -- Many an advertiser touts products that purport to keep your skin looking young.

But as AARP says of products that can cost more than $100 for a small tube: "Even if the ingredients aren't harmful, at often exorbitant prices they could remove more cash from your wallet than wrinkles from your skin."

AARP offers these less expensive and probably safer alternatives:

• Moisturizers can help keep the skin from drying out, and may temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
  
• Exfoliating products may help improve your appearance by getting rid of dead surface skin cells.
  
• So-called "cosmeceuticals," alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids also can help skin look younger, but some may irritate skin and should be prescribed by a dermatologist.
  
• "Some of the most confusing questions in skin care concern the use of vitamins and antioxidants (such as vitamins A, C, and E) and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10)," AARP says. "In theory, the use of these substances in moisturizers and other cosmetics makes sense," it continues.
  
• These and other skin care products should be used with a doctor's approval, especially if you have sensitive skin. Always read product labels carefully before trying something new.

Health Tip: Sleep Positions While You're Pregnant

(HealthDay News) -- As your pregnancy progresses, sleeping may become a little more uncomfortable each month.

The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help you sleep more comfortably during pregnancy:

• Try sleeping on your side -- particularly your left side, if it's comfortable. Bend your knees, and place a pillow between your knees.


• Also try a pillow under your belly, for support.


• If heartburn bothers you, prop up your upper body with pillows.


• If you feel short of breath, lie on your side or propped up with pillows.


• You should avoid sleeping on your back and on your stomach during pregnancy.

Health Tip: Feeding Your Baby

(HealthDay News) -- It's important for new parents to understand what and how often your baby needs to eat, and how that schedule should change as your baby matures.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these guidelines to help plan your baby's feeding:

• Babies who breast-feed typically need to be fed once every one to three hours.


• Babies on a diet of formula need to be fed every two to four hours, as formula takes longer to digest.


• You should never give a baby younger than 1 cow's milk, since it is difficult for an infant to digest.


• Don't attempt to give baby any solid food until at least 4 months of age, preferably 6 months of age.


• Begin introducing solid foods between 6 months and 12 months of age, starting with pureed or mashed foods, and graduating to more solid foods.


• Introduce new foods one at a time, and monitor closely for signs of allergic reaction. New foods should be introduced only when an infant is hungry.

Health Tip: Prevent Heartburn

(HealthDay News) -- Foods that trigger heartburn in many people include chocolate, fatty and spicy foods, and dairy products.

Avoiding foods and beverages that trigger your symptoms is paramount, but you can also do other things to prevent the onset of heartburn, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse says:

• If you are overweight, come up with a plan to lose those extra pounds.
• Don't smoke.
• When you lie down, make sure your head is about 6 inches higher than your feet.
• Don't lie down for at least two hours after you eat.
• Take an antacid.

Health Tip: Deep Breathing Techniques

(HealthDay News) -- Deep breathing techniques are a great way to fight stress and anxiety, and help you relax.

Here are basic steps to deep breathing, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Lie on your back, on a flat surface.
• Place one hand on your stomach just above your belly button, and the other hand on your chest.
• Inhale slowly, making sure that your stomach rises a bit.
• Hold your breath for a second.
• Slowly exhale, letting your stomach sink back down.

Health Tip: If Your Child Wears Glasses

(HealthDay News) -- If your child has been prescribed glasses, you may have a difficult time getting your child to wear them.


The Children's Physician Network offers these suggestions:

• Let your child choose the frames, and be sure to give lots of compliments on how great they look.


• Start out having your child wear the glasses for short periods, until they become more comfortable.


• Encourage your child to wear glasses while doing something enjoyable, such as watching a movie or reading a book.


• Don't nag the child about wearing glasses, but praise them when they do.


• Wearing glasses should be part of the daily routine, much like teeth brushing or getting dressed.


• Mention sports heroes, actors or family members who wear glasses.

Health Tip: Exercising During Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- Exercise is good for you during any stage of life.

But among pregnant women, it can offset some common problems.

Your doctor should approve of any exercise program while you're pregnant. The American Pregnancy Association offers this list of potential benefits:

• It can help alleviate conditions such as poor circulation and back pain.


• It can give you more energy throughout your day.


• It can help you sleep better.


• It can put you in a better mood.


• It can better prepare your body for childbirth.


• It can help prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

Health Tip: Monitoring What You Drink

(HealthDay News) -- People with heart failure tend to retain fluid, making it important to monitor what they drink.

The doctor may prescribe medication to help rid the body of excess fluid, which puts less stress on the heart. While this type of drug, called a diuretic, may make you feel thirsty, it's important not to drink too much and negate the effects of the medication.

The American Heart Association offers these guidelines for what people with heart failure should drink:

• Talk to your doctor about how much fluid you should have every day.
• Carefully track how much you are drinking. Measure how many ounces each container that you drink from holds.
• Monitor all fluids, including water you use to wash down medicines, as well as fluid sources such as ice cubes, fruits, ice cream and yogurt.
• Do not drink alcohol, which affects the heart's ability to contract.
• Limit your intake of caffeine and salty fluids, such as tomato juice and other vegetable juices.

Health Tip: Help Prevent Headaches

(HealthDay News) -- Headache have a variety of causes and triggers, but stress is a common factor in many types of headache.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to lessen stress and reduce your chances of a headache:

Get plenty of sleep every night.

• Maintain a healthy diet, including staying away from junk food.


• Don't smoke.


• Get plenty of regular exercise.


• Stretch your neck, shoulders and upper body frequently. This is particularly important if you work all day at a desk or computer.


• Maintain good posture.


• Practice meditation, yoga or deep breathing techniques.