Health Tips for June 14

Health Tip: Suggestions for Stretching

Stretching before exercise is a great way to warm up your muscles and prevent injury. But stretching the wrong way can cause problems, too.

Here are guidelines on how to stretch safely, courtesy of the Women's Heart Foundation:

* Stretch for at least five to seven minutes before exercising.
* Keep muscles relaxed, and stretch slowly. Never bounce your muscles while stretching.
* Stretch until you feel some tension in your muscles, but never until it hurts.
* Hold each stretch for at least 15 seconds, and breathe slowly and deeply.
* Relax, then stretch again for a few seconds longer at each stretch. Repeat each stretch several times.

Health Tip: Keeping Kids Safe

Young children can turn a typical home into a house full of potential safety hazards.

Here are suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians on how to keep kids safe at home:

* Don't leave plastic bags or deflated balloons where children can reach them, as these objects pose choking hazards.
* Don't leave electrical outlets exposed to little fingers -- keep plastic covers on all outlets that aren't used.
* Alcohol, cigarettes, matches and lighters should be kept out a child's reach.
* Store loaded guns outside of the home, or store them securely locked and unloaded in the home.