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2nd.MD provides doctor housecalls for the digital age

December 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Thank you to 2nd.MD for providing me with a $200 stipend to test-drive this revolutionary online medical service.

Many years ago it was common for doctors to make housecalls to provide medical care to their patients. No waiting in a crowded waiting room for what seems like an eternity when you are sick. No getting exposed to everyone else’s germs in that waiting room. You didn’t even have to leave your bed if you felt too sick to do so. The doctor would come to you and give you personalized, one-on-one attention, and usually could spend as much time as you needed. In this day and age of busy doctors’ offices full of patients waiting to be seen and a doctor who is rushing from one to another, wouldn’t it be nice to go back to the olden days of housecalls? I think so! And so does a new company who has recently launched the digital age’s answer to the old-fashioned housecall – 2nd.MD.

2nd.MD is a new site (still in Beta) that connects patients with specialists all over the country via video chat for a consultation. The service currently has several doctors of a variety of specialties available and are adding more doctors frequently. A search feature is available to help you choose a doctor for your condition or needs. Each doctor sets their own fee for a consultation based on their expertise, specialty, and the demand for that specialty. The rates are currently between $80-$400 for a 20 minute appointment session with most doctors charging approximately $200. If you are not sure which doctor is right for you, 2nd.MD allows you to ask a doctor a free question to help determine if he/she is right for you. So you could ask a few different doctors and then decide on one before having to pay a fee. Also, if the doctor you choose does not have any appointments open that are convenient for you, you can put in a request to make more appointments available and give some preferred days and times. 2nd.MD and the doctor will try to arrange an appointment date and time that works best for your schedule and the doctor’s schedule.

For this review, I chose a doctor who specializes in dermatology to consult with regarding some sun damage or hyperpigmentation on my face. I have tried over the counter skin brightening products but have not had much luck with those and wanted to find out other options for lightening or removing the sun spots. Signing up for the service was easy and so was finding a doctor and scheduling the appointment. There was some confusion on their end about the time zones (I’m on Central Time and the doctor is on Pacific Time) but they caught their mistake and let me know in plenty of time to reschedule our appointment and were very helpful in coordinating that with the doctor.

The doctor I chose was Dr. Boris Zaks, a prominent Beverly Hills dermatologist. The session fee was $159 for 20 minutes. 2nd.MD has an area where you can upload important medical history and reports, test results, and images so the doctor can check those out before the appointment. Before my appointment, I uploaded a photo of my sun spots. I didn’t upload any other medical documents or reports because I have not consulted a doctor about it before so I did not have anything else pertinent to the consultation to upload.

Prior to your appointment, 2nd.MD offers you the chance to test out your equipment (webcam and headset or microphone) with their service to make sure everything is set properly. They also offer you the ability to schedule a test appointment with one of the 2nd.MD employees to show you how the appointment screen looks and works and test all the settings. I did test my equipment and made sure it all worked with the service. I did not do a test appointment because I did not see that was offered until right before my real appointment. When you log in for your appointment, the screen shows a countdown to your appointment:

Close to the appointment time, your screen will tell you that you are in the “waiting lobby” and the countdown will continue until the appointment begins. Then the screen will change to show the doctor on his/her webcam with you on your webcam in a smaller box down towards the bottom of the screen. For my appointment, there was a glitch that kept me in the waiting lobby with the countdown changing to showing how much time was left during the appointment. I refreshed the page to see if it would take me to the correct page but it did not. I was beginning to wonder if there was a problem with the doctor on his end getting logged in or if he may have been delayed or forgotten. Within less than 5 minutes, I had a phone call from customer service and they said the doctor was waiting for me to log in. I told them what was showing on my computer and they walked me through getting out of the lobby and into the actual appointment. There must have been a glitch on their end but we quickly resolved it and it did not adversely affect my appointment. When a site is in beta, and especially one using video chat features, there are bound to be some kinks that need to be worked out before the full launch of the service.

Dr. Zaks was very knowledgeable about my skin condition and treatment options. He asked me several questions to make sure he had all the info. he needed to recommend the best treatments for my particular case. He outlined a few options, including prescription creams, chemical peels, and laser treatments and gave me the pros and cons of each and approximate cost for each. I tried to take a screen shot of our actual session to show you but when I opened the file later, it had captured only my webcam control screen and not the actual screen shot of me and the doctor talking. After our appointment, Dr. Zaks sent me the notes of our session, including his recommendations for treatment options. This is a valuable service feature provided by 2nd.MD because patients often leave a doctors appointment overwhelmed with information and unfamiliar medical terms and drug names and can easily forget all that the doctor said. I highly recommend taking notes when you consult with a doctor in person or via 2nd.MD but it is great to know that on their site they do that for you.

As a nurse, when I first learned of 2nd.MD I was intrigued and could not wait to check it out for myself to see if it is a service that would be beneficial for all of you. I could not recommend it without trying it first and now that I have, I think it is a valuable and worthwhile service to use if you would like to consult with a specialist, especially for a 2nd or 3rd opinion, or have a condition that you are not sure about whether you really need to go see a doctor for in person. It could also be a time and money saver for someone who needs to consult with a specialist that they do not have access to in their own city, since you would not have to travel to meet with him or her. It is not a service for any condition that requires an in-person physical exam or for any type of emergency or urgent condition that requires quick medical treatment. 2nd.MD doctors are providing consultation services only, so keep that in mind too. That means there is no diagnosing, no prescribing, and no treatment. They are providing information, expert opinions based on talking with you and evaluating your medical history and any reports or results you provide them with, and they can tell you treatment options and recommendations. They can also tell you what to expect if you were to choose to make an in-person appointment at their office, if you are interested in that option after your session.

Another important point to consider, insurance does not cover 2nd.MD consultations, so you will have to pay the fee out-of-pocket if you choose to use it. I do think it is possible that as this service grows, insurance companies might look into covering the consultations but for now, it is private pay only.

If you are interested in finding out more about 2nd.MD and whether it could help you, here’s a video to tell you  more:

 You can also learn more by visiting the 2nd.MD website and also reading other reviews of the service, which you find by following the hashtags #Clever2ndMD #spon on Twitter.

If you use the service, I would love to hear your opinion and thoughts about it afterwards. I really think that this is a big step for the future of medicine. We may not have in-person housecalls anymore (well, not unless you have the money to afford your own physician on retainer service) but now we can have the next best thing.

Thank you again to 2nd.MD for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about 2nd.MD. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #Clever2ndMD #spon

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Better’n Eggs Fit2Fight Diabetes Awareness Campaign

November 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

Type 2 Diabetes affects 25.8 million children and adults in the United States. Chances are high that you know someone who is living with this disease or you may have it yourself. In my family, we have a few relatives who are having to deal with Type 2 Diabetes on a daily basis and it affects many aspects of their lives. One example is my grandfather, who was diagnosed a few years ago.

If you were to meet my grandfather, you would see a strapping, healthy looking 84 year old man who doesn’t appear to have any medical issues. He’s a healthy weight for his height, exercises nearly every day by walking outside or at the mall, and takes good care of himself. So it was quite a surprise to all of us when he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Since his diagnosis, he monitors his blood sugar frequently, takes his medication when he should, and eats on a schedule and tries to choose healthy food options. So far it seems to be working for him and keeping his blood sugar in check but it hasn’t been easy to make some of these lifestyle changes. Many people living with this disease have to make major changes in order to maintain their health and prevent the complications that can be caused by out of control blood sugars. For those who have not developed the disease, risk factors can be cut and the disease can possibly be prevented by making healthy food choices.

Fortunately, there are more diabetic and/or alternative food options now than in the past and that can make it a little easier for anyone, diabetic or not, to eat a more balanced, healthy diet. Two such alternatives are Crystal Farm’s egg products: AllWhites Egg Whites and Better’n Eggs. Love eggs but worried about the cholesterol and fat content? These two options give you all the benefits of eggs (protein, vitamins and minerals) without the cons. Both are low-calorie, fat-free, cholesterol free, gluten-free, hormone-free, and 100% natural real eggs.

For diabetics, egg whites can increase recovery time from hypoglycemia by building up adrenal glands. Additionally, lean protein can help balance a diabetic diet while controlling hunger and blood sugar levels and helps you feel full longer, which can help with weight loss.  AllWhites Egg Whites and Better’n Eggs can each be used as a substitute for eggs in almost any recipe for both cooking and baking. And if you love to eat raw cookie dough like my husband and kids do, then you don’t have to worry about salmonella poisoning if you use these products because they are also pasteurized to prevent food borne illnesses.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and Crystal Farms is helping to spread awareness through their Fit2Fight campaign. If you follow me on Twitter (@MomRN) you may have noticed the Twibbon across my avatar promoting the campaign. As part of the campaign, Crystal Farms will be throwing a Twitter party with health and fitness expert (and Oprah’s personal trainer) Bob Greene, who will share nutrition and fitness tips throughout the party. The #betterneggs Twitter party with Bob Greene will be held on Wednesday, November 16th from 8-10pm EST. To attend the party, visit http://bit.ly/sa9wmC for more information. (While you are there, be sure to check out the awesome info, support, and advice my friend, Leah Segedie, provides on her Mamavation site!)

Interested in giving Crystal Farms products a try? On their website, there are several recipes using the various products they offer and this one is a yummy and healthy recipe for Mini Turkey Meatloaves that can be enjoyed by anyone, diabetic or not.

Mini Turkey Meatloaves
Crystal Farms Mini Turkey Meatloaves

 

Preparation: 20 minutes

Time-To-Table: 1 hour

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Meatloaves Ingredients:

4 Wasa® whole wheat crispbreads

1 package (20 oz.) lean ground turkey

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1/3 cup celery, finely chopped

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup (2 oz.) Better’n Eggs®

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze Ingredients:

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place crispbread in resealable plastic bag. Using rolling pin, crush crackers into fine crumbs. In large bowl combine all meatloaf ingredients; mix well, using hands if necessary. Form into 6 (4×2 inch) loaves. Place on aluminum foil lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan.

2. In small bowl combine all glaze ingredients; mix well. Spread glaze over top of each loaf. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until no longer pink.

Only 202 calories and 23 grams of protein per serving (see here for full nutritional information)

Sounds delicious, huh? You can find several more recipes on the Crystal Farms website.

What about you and your family? Are you living with diabetes or have a loved one or friend who is? Do you have tips or recipes that make it easier for you to eat healthy and control diabetes? Feel free to share with us in the comments below and don’t forget the Twitter party on Wednesday.

Want to do even more to promote awareness? Upload the Fit2Fight Twibbon to your Twitter profile for the entire month of November. You can find it at: http://twibbon.com/join/Fit2Fight-Type2.

Disclosure: MomRN was chosen by Global Influence to help promote this campaign and will receive a small compensation for the research and work required to share this information with my audience. Regardless of compensation, all thoughts and opinions are my own. MomRN chose to participate in this campaign because diabetes is a disease that impacts millions of lives and in many cases, Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with the proper information, resources, and diet.

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Teaching children healthy dental habits

October 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dental health affects not only our mouths but can impact our overall health and well-being so it is extremely important that we teach our children at a young age how to care for their teeth and gums. That is why MomRN is sharing this guest post from TopDentists.com who offered their tips for teaching our kids how to develop healthy dental habits they can use for the rest of their lives.

Teaching children healthy dental habits
by TopDentists.com

It is easy to forget how important dental care is. After all, taking care of your teeth is not exactly an exciting process. It is relatively boring, and involves a number of care-taking tasks that simply add to the routine each night and morning, and are often tempting to forget or ignore. However, the risks of not properly caring for your teeth are substantial, as unhealthy teeth can be both unattractive and painful, and generally poor oral hygiene can lead to negative side effects, and even disease in some cases. This is why, as parents, it is our responsibility to instill proper habits in, and teach proper techniques to our children when it comes to dental care. For more information on this topic, please visit http://www.topdentists.com/.

Also, the following tips should be particularly helpful.

•           To begin with, make sure that your children understand when and how often to brush their teeth. Ideally, they will brush three times each day; however, the most essential times to brush are in the morning and before bed at night. At least twice, and preferably three times each day, your children should brush for 2-3 minutes.

•           More importantly, make sure that your children understand how to brush with proper technique and thoroughness. Brushing for 3 minutes at a time is no use if the brushing is lazy or ineffective. Teach your children how to brush with the right amount of pressure (too little and teeth don’t get clean but too much can damage enamel and flatten toothbrush bristles and render them useless), and hit the grooves and in-between spaces, in order to properly clean their teeth. Your child’s dentist or dental hygienist can also show your child how to use proper brushing technique.

•           You definitely want to teach your children to floss at a very early age. Many adults are too lazy to floss, or assume that this is an unnecessary aspect of dental care. However, flossing does much to clean between the teeth, and can prevent gums disease. If you teach your children about flossing when they are young, you can instill it as a habit.

•           If your child is old enough to not swallow mouthwash, they can use it after brushing, or at intervals during the day. This can be a nice supplemental cleaning process, and can also maintain good breath and white teeth for your children. (MomRN’s note: Mouthwash should be used under parental supervision and kept out of children’s reach when not in use.)

All of these tips can go a long way toward helping your children to have good dental techniques. Once you teach them the habits and techniques described above, they will be well equipped to practice them throughout their lives. As dental care is something that seems to sort of set in over time, it is very important to approach the subject early on, so that your children will always enjoy healthy teeth and mouths.

Disclosure: This guest post is brought to you by TopDentists.com. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your dentist, physician, or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

 

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Pledge for better vision giveaway from VSP Vision Care

October 19, 2011 By 72 Comments

 

“Eyes are the windows to the soul” (so the saying goes) and eye health is an essential part of our overall well-being. If you are a listener of the Ask MomRN Show, you have likely heard vision expert Dr. Justin Bazan share eye health information and tips a couple of times courtesy of VSP Vision Care. In case you missed those episodes, you can listen to them here and here.

Now VSP is offering a special giveaway to MomRN readers and Ask MomRN Show listeners and you can enter by taking their Eye Pledge for better vision. The icing on the cake? By taking the pledge, you are also helping a child receive eye exams and if needed, a pair of glasses.

One of the most important exams in a students’ school year isn’t administered in the classroom, but rather in the optometrist’s office. For millions of children around the U.S., vision problems that go undetected, and a lack of access to eye exams and glasses, make learning a challenge. To provide children in need with quality eyecare, VSP® Vision Care (VSP) launched the Eye Pledge campaign, which will provide up to 50,000 free eye exams and glasses to Boys & Girls Club kids around the country, with a value of more than $19 million.

VSP, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States, launched the Eye Pledge campaign to support and promote the importance of healthy vision. People nationwide are encouraged to give back by taking the Eye Pledge at www.SeeMuchMore.com and selecting either their local Boys & Girls Club or choosing to donate to a Club with the greatest need. For every Eye Pledge taken, a gift certificate, valid for a comprehensive eye exam and, if needed, a pair of glasses, will be donated by VSP.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America believes that every child can achieve a great future,” said Sharon Hemphill, senior director of health and life skills at Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). “We are dedicated to helping them get there and are thankful for our partners such as VSP, whose Eye Pledge provides critical services to our Club kids that helps to eliminate just some of the health and wellness challenges they face every day.”

For more information about the VSP Eye Pledge campaign and to take the pledge, please visit www.SeeMuchMore.com. The site also includes an interactive, virtual savings calculator to learn about savings with VSP vision benefits, allows users to browse the latest eyewear styles, and provides helpful information about healthy vision.

MomRN is proud to partner with VSP Vision Care to offer this giveaway for a $200 Visa gift card!

Here are the details:

Mandatory entry requirements (Must complete both to be entered)

Visit www.SeeMuchMore.com and take the Eye Pledge

Return to MomRN and leave a comment telling us you took the pledge and why eye health matters to you

Bonus entries (optional and worth 1 extra entry each)

Follow MomRN on Twitter

Visit Ask MomRN Show’s Facebook page (and “like” it if you like us)

Follow VSP Vision Care on Twitter

Visit VSP Vision Care’s Facebook page (and “like” it if you like them)

Leave a comment for each bonus entry in addition to the comment for the mandatory entry.

This giveaway is open only to U.S. residents ages 18 and up. (My apologies to our reader and listeners outside the United States and/or younger than 18. We try to provide giveaways open to everyone whenever we can but it is not always possible. We value you just as much though!)

The giveaway ends Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time Zone.

Good luck and I look forward to your comments sharing why eye health matters to you!

UPDATE: We have a winner!

Congratulations to Tammy Mitchell for being commenter #71!

(The winner was chosen using Random.org to randomly choose a number out of all comments that were left before the giveaway deadline. Comments were numbered in order from first to last.)

True Random Number Generator

 71 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Thanks for entering and even though the giveaway is over, you can still take the Eye Pledge and help out the kids at Boys & Girls Clubs of America who need eye exams and glasses.

Disclosure: VSP Vision Care provided one $200 Visa gift card for this giveaway and will send it directly to the winner. MomRN received no compensation of any kind for this post. Thanks, VSP, for offering such a fabulous giveaway for MomRN readers and listeners!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MomRN and Sunstar GUM’s Cold and Flu Season Tip #4

October 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Flu Shots and Your Family

 

One of the best ways for most people to stop the flu before it starts is to get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend “universal” flu vaccination to provide the most protection to more people. The seasonal flu vaccine offers protection from the 3 influenza viruses researchers have determined to be the most prevalent for each flu season.

 

The flu vaccine is available in 4 different forms:

  • The regular shot approved for people ages 6 months and older
  • A high-dose flu shot for people ages 65 and older
  • An intradermal (injected into the skin instead of into muscle) flu shot approved for ages 18 to 64.
  • A nasal-spray flu vaccine for use in healthy people ages 2 through 49 without certain medical conditions.

 

When and where to get the flu vaccine:

Flu season typically begins in October and can last as late as May. The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your area, as early as August or as late as October. After the vaccine, it usually takes 2 weeks to develop antibodies to the flu viruses and have immunity to them so the earlier you can get the vaccine, the better. Flu vaccines are offered in most doctors’ offices, health departments, some pharmacies, and may also be available at flu shot clinics set up at workplaces and schools.

 

Who should not get the flu vaccine?

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination, children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and people with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome. Also, if you have a moderate to severe illness with a fever, you should not get the vaccine until the illness is over.

Consult with your doctor to determine whether the flu vaccine is recommended for you and your family members.

MomRN would like to thank Sunstar GUM for sponsoring the cold and flu tips series and I hope it has helped you prepare your family for this season. You can stock up on all your dental health supplies by visiting the Sunstar GUM online store or by using the store locator to find their products in a store near you.

UPDATE: After this posted, Sunstar GUM contacted me to offer all of you a special discount!

MomRN readers and Ask MomRN Show listeners can save 25% off and get free shipping on any order of $15 or more now through November 15, 2011 by using the promo code MOMRN when you check out!

 

Disclosure: The cold and flu season series is sponsored by Sunstar GUM. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your physician or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

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Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition discusses global nutritional issues for children

October 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

Childhood obesity has been an ongoing problem over the last several years in the United States and is also becoming an issue in other countries as Western influences have changed eating habits on a worldwide level. The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) is concerned about the nutritional needs of children around the world and will host an informative live webinar this week to discuss global childhood nutritional issues and what actions are required of families, schools, and pediatricians to insure children receive proper and healthy nutrition.

The BCFN was founded in 2009 by the Barilla company (yes, the makers of those yummy Italian pastas and sauces!) as “a multi-disciplinary think-tank gathering world’s best knowledge and expertise on food and nutrition, in relation to people, environment, science and economy. The primary objective of the BCFN is to provide scientific studies and formulate proposals for international decision and opinion makers.” (Guido Barilla, Chairman)

The Nutrition and Children: Sustainable Models for the Future Generations webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 11 am to 12 pm Eastern Time at  http://www.barillacfn.com/en/cibo-e-bambini.

The webinar will be moderated by British journalist Alex Thomson.

Speakers for the webinar include:

  • John Cook Ph.D., M.A.Ed., Research Scientist and Co-Principal Investigator at Children’s HealthWatch, Boston – Cook’s research interests include examining the effects of hunger, food security and energy security on children’s health and ways to increase access to affordable, healthy food.
  • Robert Lustig MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco – Lustig is Director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health Program (WATCH) at the University of California at San Francisco.
  • Claudio Maffeis MD, Head of the Clinical Nutrition and Obesity Unit, University of Verona, Italy – Maffeis is Vice President of the European Childhood Obesity Group and Chair of the Childhood Obesity Research Group of the Italian Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology.

Why should you attend this webinar?

“According to the BCFN, healthy growth and development requires an integrated approach between the family, school and pediatricians in the educating new generations on the relationship between food, health and well-being during childhood and adolescence.”

Our children’s health depends upon healthy nutrition. Keeping them healthy throughout adulthood depends upon educating our children and future generations on how to eat healthy in our increasingly fast-food, convenience-packaged meals society. This webinar will discuss the actions that we can take as parents, and actions we can encourage in our schools and doctors, to educate children on proper eating and lifestyle habits.

 

 

To learn more about Tuesday’s webinar and to participate in the discussion, you are invited to join in on Twitter by following BCFN at @BarillaCFN and share your thoughts and comments by using the webinar hashtag #SustainOurChildren and Barilla’s hashtag #BCFN.

You can also join in on Facebook by visiting the BCFN Facebook page.

If you participate in the webinar, I’d love to hear from you too! I’ll be attending and will be tweeting from @MomRN so please say hello! You can also connect with me on Facebook on the Ask MomRN Show Facebook page.

 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BCFN. MomRN only promotes causes, products, and companies she believes in and approves of, whether compensation is received or not. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by compensation or BCFN.

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MomRN and Sunstar GUM’s Cold and Flu Season Tip #3

October 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Part of preventing your family from getting colds or the flu this winter is by boosting their immune systems to fight off germs before they can make everyone sick. Here are a few ways to build your immunity to keep the sniffles away, brought to you courtesy of MomRN and Sunstar GUM’s continuing series of cold and flu season tips.

 

Cold and Flu-Fighting Foods

Foods high in phytochemicals (vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, vitamin E, etc.) can strengthen immunity in a natural way. These can be found in most vegetables, fruits, beans and grains. Studies have shown eating a daily cup of low-fat yogurt can result in a 25% reduction in susceptibility to colds. Recent studies have also indicated chicken noodle soup can act as an immunity booster and reduces inflammation caused by cold viruses.

 

Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated is a critical way to keep your body healthy and is especially important for keeping your immune system in top shape. Drink enough water each day to produce clear to light yellow urine. Most doctors recommend eight 8oz. glasses of water a day for the average adult.

 

Exercise

Aerobic or cardio exercise helps to increase blood flow and enhance the body’s ability to kill viruses.

 

Brush Your Teeth

Oral and dental health impact overall health in many ways. Gum disease and infections in the mouth can lower immunity and cause minor illnesses to become major ones. Brush your teeth after every meal, floss, and see your dentist at least twice a year to keep your mouth, and your body, healthy.

 

Join us next week for more tips to help you protect your family this cold and flu season and don’t forget you can save 10%  off your online order and get free shipping at Sunstar GUM’s website.  Just use the promo code PCS on the checkout page to get both the discount and free shipping. This is a great time to stock up and save on your oral health care needs.

Disclosure: The cold and flu season series is sponsored by Sunstar GUM. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your physician or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

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MomRN and Sunstar GUM’s Cold and Flu Season Tip #2

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As part of our mutual commitment to help you keep your family healthy during cold and flu season, here is the second tip from MomRN and Sunstar GUM and a special savings offer for your dental and oral care supplies.

Cold and Flu Season Tip #2: Could Your Toothbrush Make You Sick?

Many doctors and dentists recommend replacing toothbrushes after an illness. This is because viruses and bacteria can live on a toothbrush for a few hours up to a few days and have the potential to re-infect the user. This is especially a concern after a bacterial infection, such as strep throat.
Colds and flu, on the other hand, are caused by viruses. Our bodies are designed to build immunity against the strain of virus that caused the illness, so we are less likely to become sick from that strain again. However, if you have a weakened immune system due a health condition or use any medications that can lower immunity, re-infection is possible so it is advisable to change toothbrushes after an illness, regardless of its nature.
The American Dental Association recommends the following toothbrush care tips:
  • Replace toothbrushes at least every 3-4 months or when the bristles are frayed or worn. (Children will usually require a new toothbrush more frequently than adults.)
  • Thoroughly rinse toothbrushes with tap water to remove toothpaste and debris after each use, and store upright to air-dry.
  • Do not cover the toothbrush or place in a closed container while still wet, as this will allow for the growth of more microorganisms than the open air.
  • Never share toothbrushes with another person, and do not store your toothbrush where it can touch another person’s toothbrush. This can lead to cross-contamination and the spreading of illnesses.

Join Sunstar GUM and MomRN next week for more tips to help you protect your family this cold and flu season and use the promo code PCS on the checkout page to get a 10% discount plus free shipping off your online order of Sunstar GUM products. Stock up now!

 

Disclosure: The cold and flu season series is sponsored by Sunstar GUM. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your physician or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

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MomRN and Sunstar GUM’s Cold and Flu Season Tip #1

September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Staying healthy during cold and flu season is one of the biggest challenges families face after school is back in session and the weather turns cooler. MomRN and Sunstar GUM announced this week a mutual commitment to helping families prepare for and protect themselves during cold and flu season. For the next 4 weeks, MomRN’s cold and flu tips will be shared on the Sunstar GUM website and on MomRN.com.

Cold and Flu Season Tip #1: Protecting Your Family from Cold and Flu Season

The most effective way to prevent the spread of most illnesses is also one of the simplest and easiest: frequent hand-washing. Cold and flu viruses are spread by coming in contact with someone who is infected , or any items that person may have sneezed or coughed on while sick. Because we come into contact with dozens of surfaces every day, good hand-washing is the best way to prevent spreading germs to ourselves and others.

Using warm water and soap, thoroughly wet hands, apply soap and lather up, rubbing all sides of your hands and fingers, wrists, and under your fingernails, for at least 20 seconds. An easy way to teach kids how long to wash their hands is to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Rinse well and dry with a clean towel or with paper towels and if possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet so you do not re-contaminate your hands.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands, especially after touching public surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, and desks. Apply enough sanitizer to wet your hands thoroughly, rub into all sides and between fingers for 25 seconds or until they are completely dry.

Join Sunstar and MomRN next week for more tips to help you protect your family this cold and flu season and use the promo code PCS on the checkout page to get a 10% discount plus free shipping off your online order of Sunstar GUM products.

Disclosure: The cold and flu season series is sponsored by Sunstar GUM. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your physician or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

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Prepare for Cold and Flu Season with MomRN and Sunstar GUM

September 23, 2011 By 4 Comments

It’s that time of year again! You know, that season of sniffling, sneezing, coughing, and missing school and work from cold and flu viruses. Want some help keeping your family cold and flu-free this year?

MomRN is teaming up with Sunstar GUM to help you keep your family healthy during this year’s cold and flu season. For the next 4 weeks, I will share tips to prepare and protect your family from cold and flu season. To read these tips and get a new one each Wednesday, just click on the “Prepare for Cold Season” orange banner on the Sunstar GUM homepage.

MomRN  believes proper oral health care is vital to overall health and wellness. I can highly recommend Sunstar GUM products because I’ve used them and know they can help you and your family with your oral health care needs. Knowing everyone has different needs, Sunstar offers the GUM Solution Finder to assist you in choosing the right products for each member of your family. If you have young kids, check out the fun light up Crayola toothbrushes. They are so cute and they increase brushing time by flashing for the dentist recommended brushing time of 2 minutes. Since my kids are older teens, I gave one to my younger nephew and he loves it because it makes toothbrushing fun!

To help you get your family ready for cold and flu season, Sunstar GUM is offering a 10% discount off of their great selection of oral care products PLUS you get free shipping on your order. Just use the promo code PCS on the checkout page to get both the discount and free shipping. This is a great time to stock up!

Check out our health tips each week and let’s all stay healthy this cold and flu season!

Disclosure: The cold and flu season series is sponsored by Sunstar GUM. These tips and recommendations are of a general nature and not intended to replace your physician or health care provider’s guidance and supervision.

 

 

 

Filed Under: family, health, parenting Tagged With: , , , ,
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