FitSugar

Do You Rest Up When You Have a Cold?

Leta Shy — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:44:54 PST

We all know we should be resting when we come down with a cold, but sometimes we convince ourselves that taking a time-out is just not possible. But the consequences of maintaining a full schedule while battling illness can be big, like prolonging your sickness or getting extra dirty looks from your coworkers every time you sneeze. A recent study even found that driving while you have a cold is the same thing as driving drunk (on four double whiskeys, no less!).

Whether or not we actually rest up when we're sick, though, is another story. Tell us, do you power through a sickness and maintain your daily routine, or do make sure you hunker down in bed when you feel the sniffles coming on?

4 Natural Remedies You Already Have in Your Pantry

Leta Shy — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:06:33 PDT

Some ailments need the power of the medicine cabinet, but other times when you're not feeling that hot all you need to do is look toward the spice rack. Whether you're in a bad mood, can't stop coughing, nursing a hangover, or have post-workout soreness, here are four spices that can help you feel better - no medicine required!

What: Peppers
When to use: When you're feeling down.
Why: The hot feeling you get in your mouth is from the compound capsaicin. It triggers pain receptors in your mouth, which causes your brain to release feel-good endorphins to compensate.
How to eat: Spice up a cold, dreary day with this spicy-sweet chili recipe, or this recipe for a healthy version of spicy eggplant.

What: Ginger
When to use: When you're fighting a cold or feeling nauseous or achy.
Why: Remedy the sniffles, aches, and congestion of the season with ginger; ginger contains a chemical that helps reduce nausea and inflammation symptoms, and ginger tea has been a tried-and-true congestion remedy for years.
How to eat: Whip up this ginger tea recipe the next time you are feeling under the weather, or dress up your dinner with this ginger-garlic broccoli recipe.

Read on for more remedies you can make with what's already in your spice cabinet!

Is It Wise to Be Open About Your Mental Health Issues at the Office?

Emily Co — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:22:48 PDT

Having a mood disorder can make others who aren't familiar with it feel uncomfortable, and that's why there needs to be more education on it. Fifty-three percent of professionals polled say they aren't confident in their ability to support a colleague with a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression, according to a study by beyondblue and Beaton Research & Consulting.

How you act with friends is different from how you act with your colleagues, so perhaps there is no need to confide in your co-worker or boss about your struggles with your mood disorder unless it's affecting your productivity. What do you think - would you tell people at work about your mental health problems if you had any?

When Is a Fever Too High?

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:49:00 PST

With the nasty flu bug making its rounds, there's only so much eating healthy, getting enough rest, washing your hands, getting a flu shot, and avoiding germs one can do. If you're unlucky enough to get the flu, your body will hike up your body temperature to boil away all those germs. So is there a point when your temperature can get too high?

When you get the flu, a sudden high fever is totally normal, and it can get as high as 104° F and last for three to four days. The best thing you can do is to rest and drink plenty of fluids, since a fever can cause you to become dehydrated. Don't attempt to cool off your skin with cold packs since they'll just make you shiver, which will end up raising your body temperature. Instead you should alternate between taking Tylenol and ibuprofen every four hours to help reduce your fever. Alternating these meds will help to prevent accidental overdose, and sometimes the combination of the two will be more effective in bringing down your fever. But if your fever persists for more than five days or goes over 104° F, call your doctor and get some medical advice immediately.

Group Therapy: Should I Leave My Sick Boyfriend?

Tres Community — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:00:48 PDT

This question comes from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I've been together with my boyfriend for almost 10 years now. He's 19 years older than me, and I started dating him when I was 20. We are so right for each other, and in the past we've had the same goals and values in life. Neither of us had wanted to get married or have any kids (he was married and divorced so now he will not consider marriage again). Now that I'm 30, I feel like I may want to settle down and have children, and I have been trying to convince him into giving marriage another shot, or I might have to end the relationship. He has already told me time and time again that he will not marry again. However, a few weeks ago, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and I feel like I need to be there for him in his toughest times . . . Obviously, with his disease, it would not be wise to have children because I'll need to do most of the housework, take care of the children and work full time.

I feel so guilty leaving him, what should I do?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it, anonymously, to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Why Hand Sanitizer May Make You a Better Employee

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:00:19 PDT

To avoid germs, I'm pretty fanatical about washing my hands. I also keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to my desk. Not only am I keeping germs away, I'm a better employee because of it! Alcohol-based hand sanitizers improve job productivity and reduce the number of days employees are out sick, says a new study. Researchers in Germany found that sick days dropped significantly in offices where hand sanitizer is available.

The study split up a group of 129 participants: one group stuck to their normal hand-washing routine, and the other used hand sanitizer at least five times a day. At the end of the year, the employees who used hand sanitizer reported fewer sick days than those in the control group. They also reported fewer cold and flu symptoms in general. And while job productivity of the two groups was not measured, the researchers deduce that fewer sick days and better health translates into better on-the-job performance. But don't think that this study means you can skip out on soap and water, since hand sanitizer won't kill all viruses, like norovirus or E. coli.

Wipe Down That Machine Before You Use It

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:00:31 PDT

Here's an important tip to take with you to the gym: wipe down equipment before using it. The gym is a breeding ground for germs, and even though it's nice to think that the person on the treadmill wiped it down before you, this isn't always the case. Keep in mind that you can catch more than the everyday flu or cold from gym equipment. Superbugs - like the staph bacteria MRSA - can survive on gym equipment that hasn't been cleaned properly. Staph is an incredibly aggressive skin infection that is hard to treat - something none of us should have to endure. An Idaho hospital recently reported a rise in staph infections, and officials cite that improper hygiene at gyms and other fitness facilities are the culprit.

The next time you hop on anything in the gym, give it a quick disinfecting. And to be on the safe side, wash your hands when you're done. Better safe than sorry.

Perfectionism Can Be Harmful to Your Health

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:30:44 PDT

Like many fit people, I have elements of perfectionism, though I wouldn't describe myself as a perfectionist. Good thing, I guess, because trying to be a perfect angel all the time could have a devilish effect on your health.

Striving to be perfect - say, never missing a workout and avoiding all junk food - may be linked to imperfect physical health and a higher risk of death. At a recent symposium, scientists discussed the positive and negative sides of wanting to achieve perfection across all aspects of one's life.

For some, the drive for perfectionism means losing control under heavy stress, while studies have linked perfectionism to migraines and asthma. Most recently, a study followed 450 adults and found that those with high perfectionism scores had a 51 percent higher risk of death than those without the trait. That could be because perfectionists spend so much time striving to be perfect that they neglect their health and increase their stress. However, for people suffering from type 2 diabetes - a disease that requires strict discipline - high-scoring perfectionists had a 26 percent lower risk of death.

The symposium warned that further studies are needed, of course, but to me, the message makes sense. Take care of yourself, but give yourself a break sometimes, too. Since perfection isn't possible, why make yourself sick worrying about it? Do you think you have perfectionist traits, and if so, what are they?

5 Reasons You Have a Summer Cold

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:32 PDT

Over the Fourth of July weekend, four friends and I were all hit with a doozy of a cold, the worst. It even made us question the accepted belief that more people get sick in the Winter. But viruses still survive in the Summer sun, and some people can't fight off infection as well as others. There are ways to protect yourself, which is a must, given all the traveling, eating, and lounge time taking place this season. Here are ways to take care of yourself so you'll stay far away from a weekend full of Kleenex, cough medicine, and mega doses of vitamin C.

You Asked: Why Do I Get Sick Less in Warmer Weather?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:00:47 PDT

Dear Fit,
I had at least three colds this past Winter and now that warmer Spring weather is on its way, I'm looking forward to a cold-free season. I don't think I've ever had a cold in the Summer, but I'm wondering why. It would seem to me that germs could live more easily on surfaces when the temps are mild as opposed to when it's so frigid out. So why is that?
- Just Curious

Cold and flu season is definitely associated with the Winter season, and one thing we all look forward to in the Spring and Summer is dodging the fever, stuffy noses, and fatigue associated with the common cold. To find out why more people get sick in the colder months,

read more. While your mother may have told you to bundle up in the Winter to avoid getting sick, it's not the cold weather itself that's to blame for your illness. Viruses cause colds and the flu, and the reason more people seem to get sick in cold weather has to do with humidity levels in the air. Viruses favor low humidity levels that you find in colder weather, and can survive longer and spread faster. That's why it's recommended to use a humidifier during the Winter months to help prevent getting sick. Cold and flu illnesses are also highly contagious. In the Winter, people tend to live and work in close quarters with little ventilation, making it easier to come in contact with viruses. Keeping active is also proven to ward off colds, and warm weather inspires more people to get outside and exercise. Now aren't you even more psyched for Spring and Summer?