“12 Good Things That Can Go Bad”

1. Exercise: You can do a number on your body if you hit the gym too hard. Overuse can damage joints, tendons, ligaments, and even your heart. Women who exercise too much may start missing periods or speed up the bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. How much is too much? If your workouts leave you exhausted or irritable, or if you have a hard time sleeping, eating, or concentrating, it might be time to scale back.

2. Sleep: If you snooze beyond your typical 40 winks, you could do your body more harm than good. Studies show that more than 8 hours of sleep every night increases your risk of death from heart problems by 34%. You also can have trouble with concentration, weight, and blood sugar levels.

3. Antibiotics: Antibiotics kill many of the bacteria that cause infection and sickness. So what could be the harm in taking some if you have the sniffles? Turns out, bacteria can change if they’re in contact with antibiotics too often. This makes them resistant to the drugs. Take antibiotics only when you’re sure you need them.

4. People-Pleasing: It feels good to make people happy -- but there’s a fine line between being helpful and being a pushover. If you agree with others just to keep the peace or take on too many tasks because you can’t say no, it can make you unhappy.

Just Say No: Practice these turn-down skills to help save your sanity: Ask questions to be sure you know what you’re getting into. Ask yourself this: What’s in it for you? Then answer firmly, and know you don’t have to give a reason for your refusal. “No” can be a complete sentence.

5. Sex: The jury’s still out on whether you can be “addicted” to sex. However, you can have an overactive sex drive. This makes you think about and act on sexual feelings more than the average person. When you focus most of your attention on sex, it can affect your everyday life and relationships in a negative way.

Find Out Why: In some cases, your focus on sex can be caused by other medical problems. Check with your doctor to see if it might stem from medications you take, situations of abuse, or possibly even a brain tumor. Support groups and counseling can also help you get your life back to normal.

6. Handwashing: This is the best way to keep germs at bay. Suds up too often, though, and your hygiene could actually suffer. Studies show that too much can damage your skin and give germs a place to grow and thrive.

7. Healthy Food: You only eat food that’s good for you? Great! But how much do you eat? Overeating causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep problems, and even depression -- no matter what kind of food you put on your plate. And if you take in more calories than you burn, you’ll gain weight, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.

8. Water: It’s rare, but you can drink too much water. When you do, your kidneys can’t get rid of the extra fluid fast enough. This drops the sodium in your blood to unhealthy levels -- a condition called hyponatremia. It can cause nausea, weakness and fatigue, headache, or, in severe cases, seizures, coma, and death. You’re at higher risk if you’re an athlete who exercises for long stretches of time, like a marathon runner.

9. Work: Do you stay at the office long past quitting time? Maybe you really love what you do -- or maybe you’re a workaholic. If you feel like you should be working all the time and tend to choose work over relationships, that might be you. Remember what they say about all work and no play.

10. Smartphone Time: They make a lot of things easier, but if you can’t stop looking at yours, your smartphone can make your real life harder. It can affect how you relate to people, your mood, your sleep quality, and even your brain chemistry.

Tips to Unplug: Change things up. Schedule different things to do at the times you’re most likely to be on your phone. Set limits on the amount of time you want to spend on it and turn it off when you’re not using it. And seek support -- friends and family can help keep you in check.

11. Vitamins: They’ll keep you and your family healthy, right? Maybe not. Too much iron can cause nausea and vomiting, and if you overdo the vitamin C, it can lead to nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Too much vitamin A can cause vision problems, among other things. Excess vitamin D can make muscles weak, and it can even lead to heart problems. And vitamins K and E can cause bleeding issues. You and your family should stick to the daily dose, and nothing more.

12. Friendships: You can never have too many friends, right? Well, maybe. According to some studies, the number of people you can really call “friend” is around 150 to 200. Your brain can’t process more than that. And for best friendships, the number is much lower -- around five. Research is ongoing, though, especially as social media connects people in new and different ways.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Robinson, MD on September 10, 2018

Sources:

Kids Health: “Compulsive Exercise,”  “How Much Food Should I Eat?”
The American Council on Exercise: “Top 10 Signs You’re Overtraining.”
American Sleep Association: “Is Too Much Sleep Bad for You?”
Devore, E. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, June 2014.
Buxton, OM. Social Science & Medicine, 2010.
American Diabetes Association: “Too Much or Too Little Sleep May Raise Your Blood Glucose Level and Expand Your Waistline.”
American Psychological Association: “Just Say No,” “Workaholism: It’s not just long hours on the job.”
Krueger, RB. Society for the Study of Addiction, 2016.
Fong, T. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 2006.
Medscape: “Hyponatremia.”
Mayo Clinic: “Factors That Influence Water Needs.”
Andreassen, C. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2014.
Cash, H. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 2012.
CDC: “Hygiene of the Skin: When is Clean Too Clean?”
St. Joseph Health: “Can a Child Overdose on Gummy Vitamins?”
Zhou, W. X. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2005.
Dunbar, R. Human Nature, 1995.

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

The Goal is to Always Make You Aware of What Concerns Your Body, Soul and Spirit, So You Can Have Open, Honest and Frequent Discussions With Your Physicians and Counselors. You Can’t Treat or Cure What You Don’t Know is Sick.

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk. 

“15 Ways to Stay Healthy in Retirement”

Find a New Purpose: When you retire, you don’t just leave a job. You enter a new stage in your life. If you do something you find meaningful, you’ll be happier and healthier. Volunteer at a hospital or library. Take part in projects at your house of worship. Tutor kids who need help in school. Care for animals in a shelter. Help assemble gift boxes for soldiers overseas. Long-term, this can help both your mind and body.

 

The Right Surroundings: Where you live can help set you up for good health. If you want clean air, you have a variety of choices, like Melbourne, FL; Elmira, NY; Pueblo, CO; and Salinas, CA. You can exercise outdoors amid the mountains of Boulder, CO, the seacoast of Portland, ME, or the sunshine of Tucson, AZ. For top-notch medical care, it can be good to live near Cleveland, Boston, Baltimore, Houston, New York City, or Rochester, MN.

 

Man’s (or Woman’s) Best Friend: A dog gives you unconditional love and more. Just 15 minutes with Fido can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress level. Over time, a faithful companion can help cut your cholesterol, fight depression, and keep you active. Having a cat can also help lower your blood pressure and stress levels.

 

Healthy Food: You’re more likely to have problems linked to nutrition, like weight loss or a lack of certain vitamins, as you age. So a balanced diet of protein, fat, and carbs is more important than ever. Cut down on packaged foods, because they have lots of salt, which can raise your blood pressure. One good option is to eat like people in Greece and its region: lots of fruit, veggies, whole grains, and olive oil.

 

Get Out of the House: An active lifestyle can help you be happier, live longer, and lower your chances of some ailments, like dementia. Play cards with friends. Travel with a seniors group. Reconnect with friends from high school or college. If you have a hobby -- like reading, knitting, or gardening -- join a club that focuses on it.

 

Keep Tabs on Your Health: Regular medical checkups are a must. Your doctor can help you guard against a heart attack or a stroke by watching your blood pressure and cholesterol. Timely shots help protect you from the flu and other illnesses. If you’re a woman, you need tests for breast and cervical cancers; if you’re a man, your doctor can help you decide about a prostate cancer test.

 

Exercise for Fun and Fitness: Being active not only gives your health a boost, but it also helps you stay independent as you age. Pick something you enjoy so you’ll keep doing it. Aerobic exercise, like walking, swimming, or dancing, can give you more energy and help keep your mind sharp, too. Exercises with weights or bands can build your strength. Yoga keeps you flexible. If exercise is new to you, ease into it, and check with your doctor first.

 

Behind the Wheel: With time, changes in your eyesight, physical fitness, and reflexes can affect how well you can drive. Your safety depends on keeping track. Can you see road signs clearly? Are you limber enough to turn around and check traffic behind your car? Does traffic confuse you? Your doctor may be able to help with issues like these. And groups like AARP and AAA offer classes to help you measure and beef up your skills.

 

Bone Health: If you’re a woman, your bones need a boost. The changes in your hormones after menopause can make them more brittle, a condition called osteoporosis. To fight that, make sure your diet gives you plenty of calcium, the bones’ key building block. Good sources include broccoli, spinach, and low-fat or nonfat milk and yogurt. When you reach 65, have your doctor check your bones with a DEXA test -- a low-dose X-ray.

 

Stimulate Your Mind: Your brain needs exercise, just like your body. Read, do puzzles, play a musical instrument, or pick up an old hobby. Take a class in a subject you’re curious about, like cooking or computers. Using your creative side, through things like painting and gardening, can help your brain stay healthy, too. For example, an acting course may boost your memory and your problem-solving skills.

 

Get Your 40 Winks: It may get harder for you to sleep through the night as you get older. You might need to pee or to shift in bed so a joint stops aching. But you can take steps to help. Stop drinking liquids 2 hours before bed. Don’t have any caffeine within 8 hours of bedtime. Make your bedroom as dark as possible. During the day, limit naps to 10 or 20 minutes. To help with aches, ask your doctor if you should take a painkiller when you turn in.

 

Safety Around the House: Household accidents become more dangerous as you age. Get nonslip mats for your bathroom floor and tub. Fix frayed rugs or carpets. Be sure there’s plenty of light. Fasten down loose cords. If your home has stairs, put handrails on both sides and put anti-skid strips on the steps.

 

Intimacy: Physical changes can make sex fade from your life. But you can get the sizzle back. First, each of you should talk about your feelings and concerns. Reassure your partner that you’re still attracted to them. Hand-holding and massages are good ways to reconnect. If there’s a physical problem, like erectile trouble, see your doctor.

 

Manage Your Time Well: One of the main joys of retirement is having time on your hands. You can do what you want, when you want. Researchers have found that retirees are happiest when they plan how to spend their time and make the most of it. If you manage it well, that can pay off even if you don’t have lots of time to spare. And it can keep you from being bored.

 

Is ‘Work’ a 4-Letter Word? Working after you retire can keep your memory and brainpower in shape, not to mention your pocketbook. If you enjoyed your old job, do a scaled-down version of it. That’s an option for professions ranging from bookkeeping to home health to home repair. Or this could be your chance to try that job you always wondered about. Second careers are sometimes the most rewarding.

Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on July 18, 2018

American Psychological Association: “Thinking About Retirement? Time to Think About Your Psychological Portfolio.”
National Institute on Aging: “Participating in Activities You Enjoy.”
American Lung Association: “Cleanest Cities.”
AARP: “Where to Retire if You Love the Outdoors,” “AARP Smart Drive Course Locator,” “How to Resurrect Your Sex Life,” “Part-Time Jobs for Retirees.”
U.S. News & World Report: “Best Hospitals.”
Aging in Place: “Getting a Pet Can Improve Aging in Place.”
Harvard Health Publishing: “Why having a pet is good for your health,” “Is retirement good for health or bad for it?”
Cleveland Clinic: “Aging: Nutrition, Exercise, & Safety,” “5 Tips for Women to Stay Fit After 50,” “Best Ways to Protect Your Mind Against Dementia.”
National Institute on Aging: “Participating in Activities You Enjoy.”
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: “Women: Stay Healthy at 50+,” “Men: Stay Healthy at 50+.”
Psychological Science in the Public Interest: “Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development.”
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully.”
SeniorDriving.AAA.com: “Driver Improvement Courses for Seniors.”
Mayo Clinic: “8 ways to improve sleep quality as you age.”
The Lifetime Home: “Stairs.”
Springer Select: “Better management of free time ensures happier retirement.”
Applied Research in Quality of Life: “Free Time Management Makes Better Retirement: A Study of Retirees’ Quality of Life in Taiwan.”
Michigan Today: “To retire or not to retire?”
Knowledge@Wharton: “The Retirement Problem: What Will You Do With All That Time?”

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit #IWantYou2Live

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)

The contents of the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites ("Content") are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine Sites!

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. WebMD and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Sites. Reliance on any information provided by WebMD, WebMD employees, others appearing on the Site at the invitation of WebMD, and Self-Care With Dr. Shermaine or other visitors to the Sites is solely at your own risk.