Health Tips and News Updates

NATURAL HEALTH:  Tips to fight the winter blues   Niagara Gazette — Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that affects many individuals especially in regions that experience longer and colder winters. The farther north you are from the equator, the higher your incidence of suffering from this very real form of depression. In most cases, SAD occurs each year around the same time. Common symptoms include depression, sadness, inability to concentrate, lack of motivation, increased carbohydrate cravings, weight gain and longer sleep patterns. Many become frustrated because they have a difficult time “snapping out” of these feelings. Women are more likely to suffer SAD and most fall between the ages of 20 and 40. The short daylight hours seem to play havoc with our body’s internal clock and interfere with our normal biological rhythms that regulate all of our physical and psychological functions. Symptoms generally become worse in January and Februa...

Mental Health Minute:  Tips for managing holiday stress   The holidays are jolly, but can be a hectic and stressful time. Whether your stress comes from being alone or being surrounded by loved ones, holiday stress can happen to anyone. Healthy ways to manage holiday stress include budgeting, volunteering, planning, relaxing and sticking (somewhat) to your usual routine. Frivolous spending can certainly increase stress during the holidays. One way to decrease holiday stress is to budget realistically for holiday spending. Using credit to buy gifts can increase stress when the credit card bill arrives. Decide how much you can afford to spend on gifts and plan what to purchase. Giving homemade presents can be an excellent way to save money and make others happy with a thoughtful gift. Whether you're alone or with loved ones, volunteer your time and help others this holiday season. There are plenty of non-profits that will really appreciate your contribution. Volunt...