Parkway Medical Blog

Everyone loves to make New Year’s Resolutions, but often we fail because our resolutions are not realistic. Habits are hard to change, and if you are looking to change your unhealthy habits, beginning with small steps will increase your changes of long-term success. Start with one or two small changes, and then add more when you are ready. Some things to try:

• Park a little further away from entrances to increase walking.
• Add one piece of fruit or vegetable to your diet everyday.
• Cut out one dessert per week.
• Add one glass of water to your daily consumption.
• Change from white bread to whole wheat.
• Substitute fish for red meat once a week.
• Eat breakfast, or at least a small snack, every morning- it improves metabolism and energy, helps concentration, and those who eat breakfast tend to weigh less than those who don’t.
• If you are sedentary, take a walk once a week; add days when you can.
• Start stretching - it helps combat stress, headaches, muscle tension, and improves overall fitness.
• Actively try to laugh more- doing so lowers blood pressure, increases endorphins, reduces pain, and can help mitigate chronic illness.

- Dr Jennifer McMahon

MYTH: Colds are caused by getting wet or being out in cold weather.
TRUTH: Upper respiratory infections are caused by VIRUSES, regardless of weather. Colds are more common in the winter months because they survive longer in cold, dry weather.

MYTH: Drinking milk during a cold produces more phlegm.
TRUTH: Milk consumption has no impact on phlegm production, but it can produce a similar feel while swallowing it.

MYTH: The flu shot can cause a person to contract influenza.
TRUTH: The fly vaccine is a dead virus and cannot cause an active infection, just like a tetanus shot cannot cause tetanus. However, the necessary immune response that vaccines produce can cause flu-like symptoms including body aches and fever.

MYTH: If your mucous is green or yellow, you have a bacterial infection.
TRUTH: Viral infections are the most common cause of discolored mucous and phlegm for the first 1-2 weeks of a respiratory infection.

MYTH: Muscle turns to fat when you stop exercising.
TRUTH: Muscle and fat are composed of different tissues. Your heart cannot turn into a long. Stop exercising and your proportion of fat increases as muscle mass decreases.

MYTH: You need 8 glasses of water a day.
TRUTH: Adequate water intake is necessary for many health reasons, but there is no scientific basis for the 8 glass recommendation.

MYTH: Burns should be immediately treated by applying butter.
TRUTH: Burns should be treated with cold running water. Applying butter increases the risk of infection.

MYTH: Q-tips are effective in removing ear wax.
TRUTH: Q-tips push wax deeper into the ear canal, causing impaction.

Dr. Jennifer McMahon

Holidays are a favorite time to give the gift of cookies, baked goods, and our favorite desserts to our friends and loved ones. However, with so many people fighting obesity and overeating, in addition to chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, a more thoughtful gift is one that will support their health efforts. Some healthy gift ideas and stocking stuffers include: Heart-healthy fresh or dried fruits, nuts, and gourmet teas

• Scented candles, lotions, soaps, and massage certificates for relaxation
• Exercise apparel or gift cards to a sporting store to help them exercise and stay active
• Gift cards to movies, bookstores or music stores as an entertaining alternative to food
• Personal “coupons” for favors such as cooking, cleaning, babysitting, household chores to give them more free time

The true spirit of giving means giving something that is personal and beneficial to the recipient, not sharing the guilt of overeating and thwarting healthy resolutions. So give the most precious gift of all- health and well being.

- Jennifer McMahon, MD