#waypointclearlake

We all know that warm clothes are important during winter months. They keep us warm, comfortable and ensure our safety. In fact, a good coat, gloves and a hat are the most essential articles of winter clothing!

Sickness is often prevented – as is frostbite – when you take precautionary measures to keep your body warm with good base layers. Zipping the heat in insulates your trunk and stabilizes your core temperature so your body can work smarter – not harder.

Not only do gloves provide protection from the bitter temps, they can also provide grip, allowing better function of cold hands and fingers. Old and young fingers alike require extra protection from the cold because skin is generally thinner on the hands of the very young and elderly.

2020 brought with it an uptick in handwashing to say the least. All the extra lathering and drying ingredients in sanitizers have made for many a sore mitt. But keeping hands clean is important; frequent hand washing can help protect you from not only COVID-19, but influenza and colds that often plague us in the winter.

Winter weather wreaks havoc on just about everything - including skin. Wind and exposure to cold can take their toll quickly, leaving cracked, parched skin and even frostbite behind. Here are some tips for how to stay up on your clean hand game and still give them some much-desired relief.

1.     Use gentle cleansers. Switching to basic, natural cleansers made with fewer ingredients, dyes and perfumes will make a real difference to dry skin.

2.     Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Consider upgrading to a thicker and more emollient-rich hand cream this winter. Apply generously as needed, and an extra jar in your purse, gym bag or vehicle.

3.     Resist turning up the heat. Keep your water temps lower than scalding. Your skin will thank you and retain more moisture at a lower water temperature.

4.     Drink water. Healthy skin starts from the inside out. If you are dehydrated, so is your skin. Drink extra water to help replace lost moisture from exposure to harsher elements and frequent handwashing.

It’s the first week of 2024, and people are making health-related goals for the New Year, but are those goals realistic?

Most people chose to approach a new year with a fresh start, but they can quickly go overboard in setting goals. If goals are not met, people feel defeated and give up all together.  The best plan is  to set just a few manageable goals, put them on your schedule and check on your progress regularly.

An acronym that can be used on a heath journey is SMART.  While working towards setting goals, make sure they are:

Specific – What do you want accomplish?  Why is that important to you?

Measurable – Put some numbers to your goals, for example: I will walk 1 mile 3 twice a week.  When you have mastered that, add a day.

Achievable – Don’t look at the end goal as that may be too lofty.  Instead, focus on the process including the steps it will take to get you to that goal and take the first step.

Relevant – Why is this the right time to focus on this goal?

Time Bound – People generally work better with deadlines as it motivates us to accomplish goals.  Another suggestion she has is to add your goals to your calendar just like you would for other appointments.

It’s that time of year. In addition to the school supplies list and maybe even getting a last-minute getaway before the start of classes, it’s time to schedule your child’s sports physical. 

Sports physicals, also known as pre-participation physical examinations (PPEs) or sports exams, are important for many reasons:

Health Assessment: Sports physicals provide a comprehensive assessment of a student’s overall health, including their medical history, current health status and any existing medical conditions. This evaluation helps identify any health concerns that might affect the individual's ability to participate safely in sports or physical activities.

Injury Prevention: During a sports physical, your Waypoint healthcare provider can identify any physical conditions or limitations that could increase the risk of injuries during sports participation. By addressing these issues beforehand, athletes can take necessary precautions to prevent injuries.

Early Detection of Medical Issues: Sports physicals can uncover underlying medical conditions that might not have been apparent before. Detecting these conditions early allows for timely intervention and appropriate management, which can ultimately lead to better health outcomes.

Safe Participation: Athletes with certain medical conditions or risk factors might need modified training or activity plans to ensure their safety while participating in sports. A sports physical helps your provider make recommendations for adjustments that can enable students to participate in their favorite activities  while minimizing any health risks.

Participation Requirement: Most  schools require student athletes to undergo a sports physical before participating. This requirement ensures that athletes are physically capable of engaging in the specific sport.

Personalized Advice: Your healthcare provider can provide personalized advice to athletes during sports physicals. This advice might include information on nutrition, hydration, injury prevention strategies, proper warm-up and cool-down routines, and other health-related recommendations.

Optimal Performance: Identifying and addressing any underlying health issues can contribute to an athlete's overall well-being, which in turn can positively impact their performance on the field. When an athlete is in good health, they are more likely to reach their full potential.

Medical History Update: Sports physicals also involve reviewing an individual's medical history, which helps healthcare providers stay updated on any changes in health status, medications, allergies, or chronic conditions. This information is crucial for providing the best possible care.

Clearance for Participation: After a thorough assessment, healthcare providers can give athletes the clearance to participate in sports or physical activities. This ensures that individuals are physically prepared to engage in these activities without jeopardizing their health.

The traditional first day of school picture creates fond memories as your kids put on their best outfit and best smile. But after a summer of late nights and laid-back days, it’s likely that you’re not going to be greeted by the best smile on those first few early mornings.

We’ve put some tips together to help you make these next few mornings a bit easier on both of you. 

Gradually Adjust Bedtimes.

Don’t wait until the night before school starts to adjust your child’s bedtime. The sudden change could make it difficult for him or her to fall—and stay—asleep. Instead, slowly start making his or her bedtime earlier before the first day (try pushing it forward five to 15 minutes each day). This will help your child’s circadian rhythm adjust to the new schedule.

 Keep a regular bedtime schedule.

It’s important to stay consistent with your children’s sleep routine once you begin the transition, and this means on weekends too. Allowing them to sleep in, or stay up late, on weekends can damage the routine you’re trying to establish.

 Begin a relaxing bedtime routine.

If your kid doesn’t already have a set bedtime routine, now’s the time to create one, especially if your child is younger. Plus, if you repeat the same process nightly, the routine will eventually cue his or her brain and body that it’s time to sleep.

·       An hour or two of physical activity before dinnertime to help them wind down later.

·       A relaxing bath after dinner.

·       Reading a few chapters from a book with mom or dad.

·       Doing nightly prayers or singing a lullaby.

·       Having mom or dad turn off the lights and saying goodnight.

Take Tech Out of the Bedroom.

Relaxed summer rules may have meant that your child was allowed to play on his or her laptop or cell phone in bed, but to get back on a regular sleep schedule, it’s important to keep electronics out of the bedroom, since they can lead to poor sleep. Not only can the “dings” of text messages wake your kid up, but the blue light that many devices emit may promote wakefulness (not what you want at 8:30pm!). Make a rule that all devices need to be turned off one hour before bed.

Create an ideal sleep environment.

Your kids should associate their bed with sleep and not other types of activities. If they enjoy relaxing in their room during the daytime, get them a beanbag chair for them to sit in as they read or play video games. That way the bed is identified strictly with sleeping. Make sure their room is cool (68-72 degrees), quiet, dimly lit, and comfortable. Try using “white noise” from a fan or a sound machine. White noise creates a consistent, rhythmic sound that can be relaxing while drowning out all other disruptive or sudden noises.

Limit caffeine intake.

Caffeine is a stimulant and not the best thing for kids anyway. However, if you don’t want your kids up late at night, it’s best to limit their caffeine intake after lunch, and none within three hours of bedtime.

Make sure they eat healthy and have regular exercise.

If your children get plenty of exercise during the day, it  will help them wind down quicker at night. Healthy eating has been proven to promote quality sleep, and it’s important to feed them foods that help them stay active and alert during the day, but allow them to wind down at night. Avoid feeding your children fatty foods and processed carbs as these foods will fill them up, but don’t contain the vitamins and nutrients needed to produce energy. Foods rich in antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and protein boost their daily energy levels without being followed with a crash like sugary or caffeinated foods and beverages.

Talk about the importance of rest with your kids.

Kids will naturally push back and getting them on a sleep schedule may be much more difficult than it sounds. It’s important that you talk with your kids about the reasons why they have a specified bedtime and explain how it’s meant to help them feel good while they’re at school. Also, make sure to establish clear rules. When going through their bedtime routine, set the limit for the number of stories you will read them, and what time lights out is.

Set a good example.

If you have an aging loved one or are a senior citizen yourself, staying connected and part of a community is important to both physical and mental wellbeing. 

Feeling part of a group with shared experiences can help alleviate daily stress and ward off sadness and loneliness. Here are some tips for staying on top of senior mental health right now. 

1. Make time to exercise. Stay physically active and the mind will follow! Yoga, walking, and exercise classes online or on TV are all great ways to move your body and activate serotonin – or feel-good chemicals – in the brain. 

2. Enjoy hobbies. Doing puzzles, gardening, spending time with pets, playing cards all are great ways to beat the boredom and stay engaged. 

3. Try something new! Take piano or guitar lessons online or try your hand at baking. Make a new dish for supper. Master a foreign language or take an art class. Whatever strikes your fancy – give it a whirl! 

4. Get up and get ready. Even if you’re not planning to leave the house, get up at a decent time and get ready for the day. 

5. Connect with your community. Be it family, friends, your faith-based organization, or BINGO group, be sure to call, email, and reach out to one another. Communication is not canceled! 

Managing your blood sugar is an extremely important part of overall health. Out of control blood sugar levels can lead to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or diabetic ketoacidosis. Organs such as eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves can sustain serious and even life-ending damage if blood sugar isn’t monitored and under control. 

Sometimes blood sugar accidentally goes mismanaged. Knowing the signs of rising blood sugar can help you to be aware of it happening. Symptoms like excessive thirst, more frequent urination, blurry vision, fatigue, poor wound healing and repeat skin infections can signal a problem. These symptoms should not be ignored! 

If you or someone you know is struggling with properly monitoring and managing blood sugar and/or diabetes, we at Waypoint Medical are here to help. 

Parents are proud when people comment on their child’s good manners. They learned because you taught them. Good hygiene habits also have to be taught and are just as important.

Kids can be dirt magnets and keeping them “clean” can be a challenge. Keeping the dirt off is tough enough. Keeping them free from harmful germs can be even tougher. 

Hygiene has never been more discussed than it has been in recent years. Good hygiene is one of the major keys to wellness, and teaching kids to practice it could help keep your household germ and virus free. 

According to World Health Organization (WHO), hygiene plays an extremely vital role in protecting us from infectious disease. Here are some tips to teaching your kids how to stay practice good hygiene and form healthy habits: 

1. Hand Washing: Lead by example. Teach your kids to wash their hands after using the restroom, before eating, after returning from school, the park or grocery store, and anytime they have had contact with high-touch surfaces. 

2. Cover Your Cough. This simple sentence speaks for itself. Instruct kids to cover their coughs and cough or sneeze into their elbows. 

3. Hands Off. Remind your kids not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Teaching them to do so will also help them pick up and spread germs. 

4. Bathing and showering. Teaching your kids about keeping their whole body clean will remind them of the importance of self-care and routine. Daily (or nightly) baths will both relax them and teach them proper hygiene!