Dr. Curtis McElroy

Category: Health Conditions

  • Does Your Body Image Affect Your Health

    The Pitfalls of Comparing Yourself to Others

    It’s natural to compare yourself to others. Humans naturally look around them for acceptance and guidance. If you didn’t compare yourself to others, you might not know how to behave or what to aspire to. For example, children model the behavior that they see in the adults in their life and in their peers. Role models give us an example of what we want for our lives. Yet comparing yourself too much to others can cause problems.

    There Are Always People Who Are Better Than You

    It’s an undeniable fact that there are people who are smarter, more artistic, wealthier, and in better shape than you. Conversely, there are people who pale in comparison to you. However, if you get into the habit of constantly comparing yourself to others, the natural tendency is to focus on those who are better than us. This leaves you feeling bad about yourself.

    Stop comparing. Who cares about the people that are better or worse than you? It has absolutely no impact on who you are, what you look like, and what you’re capable of.

    Resentment Sets In

    If you’re in the habit of comparing yourself to others, and feeling badly about the comparison, it’s a common tendency to resent the person you’re comparing yourself to. That’s unfair to them and it’s not a positive mindset for you. Living in a world of negative body image, resentment, and jealousy can consume you. It can eat away at your relationships, your personal success, and your satisfaction with yourself and your life.

    Instead of resenting people that you compare yourself to, try appreciating their strengths and assets. If you see a person, for example, that has a body that you wish you had, try saying “good for her or him”.

    It Doesn’t Get You Anywhere

    Nothing is accomplished when you compare yourself to others on a regular basis. It doesn’t help you. You don’t suddenly have the nose you always wanted and you don’t lose weight by comparing yourself. It sets you up not only for a negative view of your body but also for a lifetime of unhappiness. It’s unproductive.

    However, when you take a look at what you like about your body and you start taking steps to appreciate your body, that is productive and positive. For example, buy a piece of clothing that flatters you. Get a massage or take a yoga class. Start eating more vegetables and drinking fewer sugary drinks. When you stop comparing yourself to others and begin to take action to take better care of yourself, your body image improves and you begin to live a more positive and productive life.
    Three Steps to a Better Body Image
    A positive body image is an important element of a satisfying and rewarding life. Your body image impacts your self-esteem. It affects how you relate to other people and the risks that you take. If you feel bad about how you look, it’s time to take some steps to improve your body image. You are a beautiful person and it’s time you believed that.

    1. Take One Small Step to Take Care of Your Body

    This isn’t about losing weight or starting an exercise program. This is about beginning to take steps to appreciate your body. Find one small thing that you can do to make yourself feel good in your own skin and proud of your body. Maybe you begin drinking water instead of soda. Maybe you take five minutes each morning to stretch.

    Or perhaps you go to the doctor for a physical or you get a massage. Whatever you choose, make it something that is easy for you to do and makes you feel connected to your body. When you start taking better care of your body, you begin to learn to appreciate it. One small step can lead to a larger lifestyle change and a positive body image.

    2. Surround Yourself with Positive Support

    Body image messages come from the people in your life and the media that you consume. If your friends and family are critical of you, of themselves, and of others then it can rub off on you. You may compare yourself to others more often than is healthy. You might take what’s said personally.

    And if you watch television and read magazines, then you’re inundated with unrealistic body images. Consider choosing media and people that support a positive body image. Find role models and start taking steps to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

    3. Choose Clothing That Flatters You

    You undoubtedly have features that are attractive. If the clothing you choose doesn’t fit well or doesn’t enhance your best assets, you may feel negative about your body. Find clothing that that is flattering and makes you feel attractive and proud.
    For example, if you have a lovely neckline then wear V-neck shirts and blouses. Draw attention to your best physical assets. If you have stunning blue eyes then wear clothing that brings out the color in your eyes. Shopping to find clothing that is flattering can be exhausting but it’s worth the effort. Make the clothing you buy work for you.

    These are just a few of the tips you can embrace to begin developing a better body image. Each step you take to feel better and more realistic about how you look is an important one. Choose one of these tips and get started today.

    How to Transform the Way You Feel about Your Body
    The way you feel about your body impacts your daily life. Your body image and comfort level affects your relationships, the risks you’re willing to take in life and your overall satisfaction. The good news is that you can take control over your mindset and transform the way you feel about your body. Here’s how.

    1. Wear Clothing That Makes You Feel Great

    Sometimes when people feel badly about their body, they try to hide it. This isn’t a positive way to start your day. Instead, identify a physical asset that you like and find clothing that flatters that asset. For example, if you have a curvy figure then a belt around your waist highlights your curves. If you have great calves then you might enjoy wearing heels and skirts that showcase your legs.

    2. Keep a Gratitude Journal about Your Body

    Instead of focusing on your flaws, start a practice that helps you focus on your many beautiful assets. Every morning and every night, list three things that you’re grateful for about your body.

    For example, maybe you fell off a curb today and didn’t twist an ankle because your tendons and ligaments are healthy and strong. Maybe you love that your hands are able to throw a ball and your eyes are able to see your loved ones. There are so many things that your body does for you; simply realizing these on a daily basis can change your life.

    3. Do Something Good for Your Body

    Take care of your body. Drink more water. Buy a nice lotion and start taking better care of your skin. Get a massage, take a yoga class, or go play Frisbee in the park. Find something fun that is good for you.

    4. Find an Affirmation that Fits Your Needs

    Affirmations are positive statements that help you overcome negative thoughts. For example, if you often think, “I’m so fat, I hate my thighs,” you might change the thought to “I am perfect and complete just the way I am.”

    5. Don’t Engage in Negative Talk about Yourself or Others

    Sometimes we get caught up in conversations with friends or family where we say things like, “You have such great legs. I hate my legs. They’re too flabby.” Or we start taking about the physical attributes of others in a negative way. This type of negative speak doesn’t help you or anyone else. In fact, it can have a detrimental effect on the people around you.

    It’s not easy to change the way you think and feel – particularly if you’ve been trapped in a negative mindset and body image for a long time. However, it’s well worth the effort to begin to transform the way you feel about your body. Your life will change for the better.

     Three Steps to a Better Body Image

    A positive body image is an important element of a satisfying and rewarding life. Your body image impacts your self-esteem. It affects how you relate to other people and the risks that you take. If you feel bad about how you look, it’s time to take some steps to improve your body image. You are a beautiful person and it’s time you believed that.

    1. Take One Small Step to Take Care of Your Body

    This isn’t about losing weight or starting an exercise program. This is about beginning to take steps to appreciate your body. Find one small thing that you can do to make yourself feel good in your own skin and proud of your body. Maybe you begin drinking water instead of soda. Maybe you take five minutes each morning to stretch.

    Or perhaps you go to the doctor for a physical or you get a massage. Whatever you choose, make it something that is easy for you to do and makes you feel connected to your body. When you start taking better care of your body, you begin to learn to appreciate it. One small step can lead to a larger lifestyle change and a positive body image.

    2. Surround Yourself with Positive Support

    Body image messages come from the people in your life and the media that you consume. If your friends and family are critical of you, of themselves, and of others then it can rub off on you. You may compare yourself to others more often than is healthy. You might take what’s said personally.

    And if you watch television and read magazines, then you’re inundated with unrealistic body images. Consider choosing media and people that support a positive body image. Find role models and start taking steps to focus on the positive rather than the negative.

    3. Choose Clothing That Flatters You

    You undoubtedly have features that are attractive. If the clothing you choose doesn’t fit well or doesn’t enhance your best assets, you may feel negative about your body. Find clothing that that is flattering and makes you feel attractive and proud.

    For example, if you have a lovely neckline then wear V-neck shirts and blouses. Draw attention to your best physical assets. If you have stunning blue eyes then wear clothing that brings out the color in your eyes. Shopping to find clothing that is flattering can be exhausting but it’s worth the effort. Make the clothing you buy work for you.

    These are just a few of the tips you can embrace to begin developing a better body image. Each step you take to feel better and more realistic about how you look is an important one. Choose one of these tips and get started today.

     

  • Treating The Cold And Flu With Natural Remedies

    Treating The Cold And Flu With Natural Remedies

    Everyone has experienced it – a nasty case of the flu or even a cold that makes it hard to get things done. There’s no medication that can cure either of these problems because they’re caused by viruses. But there are many natural remedies that can help to shorten your illness give you relief from symptoms.

    Neti Pot. One of the best ways you can clear congestion and keep your sinuses open is to clean your system with a neti pot. This is a small pot that you fill with warm saltwater. You’ll tilt your head to the side, insert the neti pot spout into your nostril, and then pour the water.

    You’ll find that the water fills your sinuses and then runs out of the other nostril. After you’ve cleaned one side, you can then clean the other. Your nose will be much easier to blow and you can get some of the congestion out. You can do this any time to ease allergy and sinus problems.

    Oil of Oregano. Oil of oregano is a good supplement to use for a short time while you’re recovering from the flu or a cold. It can relieve aches and pains as well as inflammation. You’ll want to take this as soon as you notice that you’re experiencing symptoms.

    Oil of oregano comes in capsules that are easy to take. You’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper dosage. It’s not recommended that you take this long-term. It’s best used during an actual case of cold or flu.

    Zinc. Zinc is a very good remedy if you have a cold or the flu. This can help to shorten the length of your illness. Unfortunately, many of the commercial zinc lozenges you find at the supermarket are full of additives as well.

    Your best bet is to look for a high quality lozenge made from natural ingredients. Also look for the highest possible percentage of zinc. Follow the directions to make sure you don’t take too much. You’ll find this can shorten the length of your illness by as much as half.

    Essential Oils. Eucalyptus as well as rosemary and peppermint essential oils can help you to get relief from congestion. Heat a small mug of water and add two drops of one these oils. Then place your nose over the mug and inhale.

    These particular herbs can help you to breathe better. But you shouldn’t take them directly by mouth or use much in your steam preparation. You’ll love being able to breathe a bit better.

    Elderberry. Elderberry has been shown by research to help relieve cold and flu symptoms effectively. You can purchase the extract and take it as directed. This will improve your symptoms and also shorten the infection.

  • How To Get Relief From Migraine

    How to get relief from migraine can be an important question, especially if you are the one suffering the headache.

For many years it was thought that migraines were a woman's disease.  Women were diagnosed with migraines when they were pregnant or they had become very stressed but it was believed that men rarely experienced a migraine.  Today, we know that to be untrue and that men are also prone to experiencing migraine headaches, although not at the rate that women do.  In an online survey conducted by the National Headache Foundation researchers found that men diagnosed with headache of some kind, were most often diagnosed with migraine headaches.

Those who suffered through migraines will report that they are debilitating and often life altering.  Despite this fact, men often take a more silent approach and are not willing to discuss their condition with healthcare providers.  Almost one third of all men who suffer from headaches, according to the online survey, have never reported them to their primary care physician.  They believed that it was a sign of weakness and not important enough to require the care of a doctor.

Thankfully, with today's advances in technology and research, there is migraine relief that can be offered to both men and women.  The first step in finding relief of these debilitating headaches is to determine your individual triggers.  By figuring out your triggers you can also help to prevent the majority of headaches you may experience.

Recognize that most common triggers are food, stress, environmental changes, weather changes and amount of sleep.  By keeping a simple journal and writing down things that happened just before you have a headache, including any foods, and exposure to environmental toxins, increased stress or lack of sleep, most individuals are able to pinpoint the factors which most commonly trigger a migraine for them.  Many individuals also find that there will be more than one trigger.

If you have been unable to prevent a migraine by staying away from all triggers the next goal in migraine relief is to alleviate the pain after it has begun and before it gets worse.  The goals are to relieve the pain quickly, prevent any nausea or vomiting and provide the most cost effective and sustained relief possible.  

Many people are able to find relief using over-the-counter medications while others require prescription strength pain relief.  Some of the over-the-counter pain relief medicines include ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine.

However, it is also important to use caution when using over-the-counter medications because they can sometimes contribute to the development of a headache or worsening of the symptoms.  Overuse of some over-the-counter medications can also cause a rebound headache.  If you are taking any over-the-counter medication more than three times a week see your primary care physician about another means of both preventing and treating migraine headaches.

When you feel a migraine headache coming on it's important to act immediately.  The faster you act to prevent the migraine from progressing the more effective the pain relief will be.  Never try to "tough it out" when you have a migraine headache because not only will it make the pain worse but you may end up stuck somewhere unable to get home because of pain and nausea.

Pay attention to the responses your body is giving you to the medications and other alternatives treatment protocols you may be trying to find relief for your migraine.  You can often tell immediately if something is, or is not, working.  If there is a medication of treatment you are taking that is making you feel worse then stop immediately.

People who suffer from migraines report that they feel better when they're able to shut down, stop what you're doing and find a quiet place to rest.  When you are home, your own bedroom is often the best place, but if you're away from home anyplace you feel comfortable and safe can work.  Cool the room off, darken room for your eyes and turn off anything that is making noise.  Migraines make it feel as if you are in "sensory overload".  This means that any noises, lights, and smell can all cause more pain. Getting into a cool, dark and quiet environment you will minimize the number of things that will irritate your senses and increase the pain.

You can also cool your body down by using an ice pack on the back of the neck and at the base of the skull.  Some people also find relief by using a cold wet washcloth over there for head and covering their eyes.  Migraines are actually different than normal headaches because the blood vessels will dilate, or get bigger, during a migraine rather than constrict, or get smaller, like they do during a normal headaches.  Icing a regular headache will make it worse but will help a migraine by counteracting the effect on the blood vessels.

Many people also find relief from their migraines by attempting to get some sleep.  Lying as quietly as possible, relaxing your body and quieting your mind you may be able to fall asleep.  Sleep seems to act like a reset button and will help to change the amount of pain you're experiencing from the migraine.

Speak with your primary care physician or neurologist about the type of medication relief that you would like to try.  There is symptomatic relief where medications are used to treat the headache pain or symptoms of migraine, such as nausea, and there are abortive therapies which are medications used to stop the made migraine completely.

With the improved medical care, technology and research that has gone into how to find relief for an individual's migraine pain most sufferers are able to accomplish good pain relief within a matter of an hour or two.  Sometimes abortive medicine are effective for individuals who are able to recognize the signs an aura of a migraine before it even began while others find great relief from over-the-counter medications or physiological changes they can make based on the manipulation of their environment.  The best migraine pain relief comes from knowing your body, understanding what works for you and keeping a log of your triggers so that you can avoid them at all costs.

RESOURCES

Migraine Research Foundation

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DailyMed Current Medication INformation: Equate
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=71117
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