Thursday, July 03, 2008

Health Tips for July 3

Health Tip: Help Prevent Headaches

Headaches 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.

Health Tip: Giving Medications to People With Alzheimer's

As a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer's, administering their medication -- and preventing missed pills or the wrong dosages -- can be a daunting responsibility.

The Alzheimer's Association offers these suggestions:

* Learn about each medication before you administer it. Make sure you know exactly what each pill is for, and its possible side effects.
* In clear language, explain exactly what each pill is for, and why and how the person needs to take it.
* Keep good records of each medication taken, the dose, and when taken.
* Keep medications well-organized, and safely stored out of reach in a locked cabinet or drawer.
* Don't let taking medicine turn into a struggle. If the person doesn't want to take it at a particular moment, try again a bit later.
* Make the task as easy as possible. Ask your pharmacist for liquid, which may be easier to administer than a pill. Or ask the pharmacist if you can crush the pill and put it in food.

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