Health Tips for July 25

Health Tip: Prevent an Overuse Injury

While running is a great way to keep active, it can also lead to damage to bones and joints if safety precautions aren't followed.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to prevent an overuse injury while running:

* Never increase your running distance more than 10 percent per week.
* Run on flat, even ground with some give to it.
* If you feel pain, stop running and ice the area. Don't resume running until the pain has subsided.
* When you run particularly hard or a long distance, follow up with a lighter day of running.
* Replace running shoes often -- every 500 miles -- for maximum shock absorption.

Health Tip: Your Teething Baby

A baby's first set of teeth usually starts to emerge at about 6 months of age. While discomfort and irritability are common in teething babies, other symptoms may be warning signs of another problem.

Here are some basics that parents should know about teething, courtesy of the American Dental Association:

* Irritability, fussiness, drooling, and loss of appetite are common symptoms of teething.
* Diarrhea, rash, and fever are not caused by teething, and should be evaluated by a doctor.
* Small cysts near erupting teeth are common and harmless.
* Tender gums may be soothed with a teething ring, pacifier, or a cream that helps numb the gums.
* Gums can also be massaged with a clean finger or damp piece of gauze.