If you have diabetes, exercise is one of the best things you can do to help manage it. Regular activity is great for supporting healthy blood sugar levels, improving heart health, and helping your body use insulin better. Are you planning to start exercising? If so, it’s important to check your blood sugar before – and during – your workout. For people who take insulin, exercise can sometimes cause blood sugar to drop too low. Signs of low blood sugar can include: shakiness weakness dizziness sweating h...
When you’re expecting a baby, you might feel more tired than you usually do. However, you may want to find ways to fit exercise into your daily routine. Moving your body has many benefits during and after your pregnancy. What are the benefits of exercise during pregnancy? You will experience many changes throughout the nine months of your pregnancy. Regular exercise will help you to feel your best during all three trimesters. Some benefits you might feel include: Longer, deeper sleep. Better mood....
Summer is the perfect time to be mindful—to slow down, close your eyes, and enjoy the “here and now.” According to the American Psychological Association , mindfulness means being aware of your internal state and your immediate surroundings. When children and adults make mindfulness part of their everyday routine, they learn to observe their own thoughts and feelings without judging them. Mindfulness is free of charge and you can practice wherever you are. Best of all, the exercises can lead to lower st...
It’s almost time for summer fun outdoors. Whether you like team sports, a solo bike ride, or enjoying the warm weather as a family, summer has something for everyone. As you plan your outdoor exercise, be sure to keep safety in mind. That way, you’ll prevent the accidents and injuries that can keep you from your favorite activities. Learn more: Check out these summer safety tips from Dr. Mary Strength, a pediatrician in north Texas. How to stay safe at the playground For young children, a trip to the pl...
If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your condition to lower the chance of complications. A combination of medicine, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing stress are all part of a healthy lifestyle that can help with diabetes control. One of the most important things you can do is keep track of your hemoglobin A1c. The A1c test is a blood test that’s usually done to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. It measures the overall control of your blood glucose (blood sugar) over the...
Activity and movement are easy ways to help yourself live a healthier life! Physical activity is important for everyone, no matter your age. Experts recommend about 60 minutes of daily activity for kids, and between 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every week for adults. And yes, an hour or more can seem very daunting. But read on – there are ways to make it fun for the whole family! There are wonderful benefits for kids and adults: Maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of developi...
Eating more fruits and vegetables. Drinking more water and less soda. Getting your heart rate up and your stress level down. It takes a lot of small steps to reach big health goals. How can you keep yourself motivated over the weeks and months? Rewards! It’s important to celebrate your successes often. Try out a few of the rewards below. Keep yourself on track during the holidays—and into the new year. Keep your long-term rewards in mind The small health goal you meet today gets you one step closer to y...
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to learn more about how you can help your child maintain a healthy weight. In the United States, 1 in 5 children and teens are affected by obesity, meaning they are above a healthy weight for their age and height. Excess weight gain can have many causes, including behavior, genetics, and taking certain medicines. Compared to children with healthy weight, children with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop asthma, sleep apnea...
Exercise is fun—and it’s good for everyone in the family. It’s especially good for growing bodies. Children and teens who are active can enjoy: better sleep better mood better grades Moving more can also help children and teens maintain a healthy weight – click here for some resources and tips. How much activity is best? According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , children and teens should aim for an hour of exercise every day. Can’t squeeze that much into your busy life? The go...
Do your children spend many hours a day reading or watching screens? If so, they’re not alone. Screen time can include viewing computers, tablets, TVs, games, and phones. Children use them for entertainment, education, and socializing. These activities can be a healthy way to spend time. When does screen time become unhealthy? When your child spends too many hours on their favorite devices. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), too much screen time may lead to: Po...
For many families, summer is the best season for fun. It offers a break from school, sunny skies and extended daylight. However, when you and your children are out in the high temperatures and bright skies of Texas, you have higher risk of illness and injury. How can my family stay safe at the pool? One fun—but risky—activity is swimming. When it’s time to cool off at the pool or beach, be sure to follow good safety habits. For example, make sure each child is supervised by an adult, and that everyone l...
Is someone in your family sneezing, wheezing, or coughing? It might be asthma, allergies—or both. Keep reading to learn ways to control symptoms and breathe easier, indoors and out. What are the symptoms of asthma? Asthma is a long-term condition that causes the airways inside your lungs to become inflamed. Asthma symptoms can be mild, but an asthma attack can be a medical emergency. Common symptoms include: coughing shortness of breath wheezing chest tightness How is asthma diagnosed? A doctor ma...
If your child or teenager is overweight, they could be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body does not use insulin well. That means they cannot keep their blood sugar at normal levels. Over time, too much blood sugar stays in the body. This can cause serious problems such as: heart disease blindness kidney disease Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset diabetes.” However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , type 2 diabetes ...
American Heart Month is almost over. However, there’s still time to learn about heart health for yourself and your family. Have you followed our special three-part series this month? Be sure to check out the first and second blogs: “What Is Heart Disease ” and “What Are Risk Factors of Heart Disease?” Today’s blog is the final in our series. If you want to help your children avoid heart disease when they grow up, keep reading. Here, we give you tips on how to start them on the right track while t...
February—American Heart Month—is an excellent time to learn about heart health for yourself and your family. That’s why we are publishing a three-part heart health blog series this month. Be sure to read the first blog, “What Is Heart Disease?” It explains common diseases and disorders of the heart, arteries, and veins, from heart attack to stroke and more. Our final blog in the series will focus on heart health tips for families. This blog, the second in the series, explains some of the risk factors fo...
Do mental health issues cause sleep problems—or do sleep issues cause mental health problems? The answer to both can be “yes.” Most people feel their best—in both body and mind—after a good night’s sleep. You might find this especially true if you or your child are diagnosed with: depression Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) anxiety bipolar disorder ADHD autism spectrum disorder People with these mental illnesses and disorders can have a hard time falling or staying asleep. They also might sleep many mo...
Summer’s almost here. It’s the perfect time to make some small changes in your daily routine to build better health habits. Small changes in diet and exercise are easy to start. They’re also easier to stick with than major, “all or nothing” goals. Over time, step by step, small changes can add up to big gains for your health. Here are a few to consider. Try something new Do you find yourself eating the same foods and drinks for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day? A “new food challenge” can help you t...
You’re ready to exercise—and so are the kids. But it’s too hot, too rainy, too dark, or just not the right time to go outdoors. No problem! The whole family can have fun with the easy at-home exercise ideas listed here. Whether you have just 10 minutes or an hour or more, it all adds up. Every little bit of movement helps to build a healthier body, whether you’re a child or an adult. Dance Dancing is a fun way to burn energy and calories. Clear a space to make a “dance floor” and turn on your favorite m...
Do you want your family to be healthier in 2021? The good news is that every little bit helps. And building better health habits is easier than ever when you use health apps on your phone or computer. Whether it’s being more physically active, eating healthier foods or getting better rest, there is a free app to help. Here are five to consider: Sworkit Kids - Fitness Meets Fun Have children age four years or older? The Sworkit Kids app helps them—with your help—to make exercise a fun game. Workouts are ...
Exercise is important every season of the year. When we walk, dance, stretch, swim or exercise in other ways, we feel better in our minds as well as our bodies. This is true no matter how old you are. Toddlers need to move and so do seniors—and people of all ages in between. If your children are between ages 6 to 17, they may need regular exercise most of all. According to the American Heart Association, children in these growing years should get at least one hour of physical activity each day. Kids who...
The cause of stress is different for everyone. For one person, it could be from trying to pay rent. For another, it could be a result of a health issue. No matter the reason, keeping the negative effects of stress in check is important for your overall health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health , continued strain on your body from stress can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other mental health disorders. In this blog, we’re sharing f...
What does Living Well mean? It’s more than just a healthy diet and exercise. It includes all aspects of life. Our goal with the Living Well blog is to share information and resources to the community that will help you live your best life. We’ll be covering topics such as... Nutrition Fueling your body with nutritious foods is the first step in leading a healthy life. Eating on a budget doesn't have to leave you confined to mostly processed food, nor does it have to be a chore. We’re here to help you bu...