Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - North Mississippi - (Page 23)

S itcoms are riddled with story lines involving well-intentioned characters whose actions wreak havoc on the rest of the cast. Remember when Lucy tried to go a whole day without lying on I Love Lucy? She ended up alienating everyone around her with her good-natured honesty. Fortunately for Lucy, she realized the error of her ways in just 30 minutes. But in real life, we don’t always find clarity so easily. And sometimes our best intentions lead us to do more harm than good when it comes to our health. “It’s hard to separate out all of the recommendations that are coming out these days, with the ‘You should do this and shouldn’t do that.’ It’s overwhelming,” says Deb Kiley, a nurse practitioner and former board member and active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Here are nine ways you might be sabotaging your health. 1 ? Overusing Hand sanitizer The use of hand sanitizer has exploded in recent years. And why not? It’s portable and easy to use. But it’s not the best way to keep your hands clean, Kiley says. “In flu season especially, you want to make sure you’re keeping your hands clean. But antibacterial everything everywhere will not foster resistance,” she says. What you should do instead: The single most effective way to prevent the spread of disease is hand washing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Wash your hands with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer only when washing isn’t an option. 2 BrusHing after YOu eat You may think that brushing your teeth after a meal will help reduce your risk of cavities, but that’s not the case. In reality, many foods contain acids that break down teeth’s protective enamel. Brushing right after a meal can loosen enamel particles and wash them away. What you should do instead: Your body has its own way of cleaning the mouth and fighting plaque after meals. It’s called saliva. To increase saliva production and also give you a fresh, clean feeling, dental experts recommend chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating. If you must brush after a meal, wait at least an hour. Otherwise, brushing twice a day—once in the morning and once at night—and flossing once a day will keep your pearly whites sparkling. By Shelley Flannery photography by thinkstock FALL 201 3 23

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - North Mississippi
Opening Thoughts
Recognized for Excellence
Step It Up
Your Mightiest Muscle
Well, Well, Well
Are You Doing More Harm Than Good?
Is Your Shut-Eye Serving You Well?
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge
Anatomy of an ER Visit
Next-Gen Surgery
Attack From Within
Virtual Health
Working for You
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - North Mississippi