A medical alert system is a device that seniors wear that allows them to summon help in the event of an emergency. This could be a friend or family member, but it is usually 911. Medical alert systems can give seniors the peace of mind knowing that they can get help if they need it. There are different types of medical alert systems to choose from. Some systems are GPS enabled so that family members can track the senior’s whereabouts. Other systems come with a base station that stays in the home and will summon help if the senior falls or has an emergency. To help you decide which type of system is right for your loved one, we’ve put...
Last month, a Tweet went viral: "How to avoid burnout. Get 7 types of rest”. Like all viral tweets, it received mixed reviews. Some on Twitter agreed, and others said that advice was impossible, especially when working two jobs just to keep up. The original thread is lengthy, with good points on either side, but it’s hard to debate a mere 41-character statement. The good news is there is an entire book on the subject. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, best-selling author and speaker, gave a TEDx talk on the topic in 2019. In her 9-minute presentation, she shared the real reason why we are tired. She believes that as a society, we have wrongly combined sleep and rest into...
Mold and mildew are never welcomed guests in your home, especially in your bedroom! Yet, the two can find your mattress to be a perfectly hospitable environment to grow and spread. Even if you rest your head on your organic buckwheat pillow, a moldy mattress that lies beneath could have short and long-term effects on your health. In order to know if you have mold on or in your mattress, it is important to first differentiate between mold and mildew. Mold and mildew are often used interchangeably, but they are distinctly different. Mildew is a type of mold which is a type of fungus. There are over 100,000 different types of mold, some being relatively harmless and benign and others toxic and...
The latest trend in bedding is the fluffy, cozy cloud bed. A big mattress, ultra-plush duvet, and extra pillows make it feel like you are sleeping on a comfy cloud, transforming your bedroom into a tranquil oasis. The “cloud bed” now seen all over social media and interior design blogs is inspired by Restoration Hardware’s Cloud Slip Covered Platform Bed. The bed features a low, footless frame that is entirely upholstered and features goose feather cushions around the sides of the bed. The bed is often made up with a fluffy duvet tucked in and plump pillows, all in a monochrome shade of off-white. Restoration Hardware is known for its beautiful furniture - as well as its...
If you fall asleep shortly after your head hits your buckwheat pillow, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. For many people, no matter how comfortable and supportive their pillow is, they spend twenty minutes or more tossing and turning until they finally fall asleep. According to Dr. Michelle Drerup, it takes the average person five to twenty minutes to fall asleep. And although falling asleep quickly seems great, in some cases it may be an indication of sleep troubles. If you fall asleep in under 5 minutes after crawling into bed it can mean you are sleep deprived. Falling asleep too quickly can be an indication that you aren’t getting enough sleep and can barely keep your eyes open. If...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often referred to as simply “autism,” is a developmental and neurological disorder that affects how an individual behaves, learns, communicates, and interacts with others. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), those with autism exhibit challenges when interacting with others, repetitive behaviors, restricted interests and/or symptoms that affect their daily life. Autism can affect any race or gender and may be diagnosed at any age. In 2021, the CDC reported that an estimated 1 in 44 children in the U.S are diagnosed with ASD, and an estimated 5,437,988 (2.25) adults have autism. Autism is considered a spectrum disorder which means there is significant variation in presented symptoms and severity of symptoms....
If you were sleeping on glass, you would expect to know, but the truth is, many people are, and they don’t even realize it! I’m not talking about shards of broken glass but fiberglass. This material, which is more commonly used for roofing or between walls, may be in your bedding and is not suitable for your health or sleep. Fiberglass uses glass fibers to make reinforced plastic, often arranged into sheets or cloth. It is more recognized as bright pink fluff that is used in the construction of buildings. Fiberglass is extremely strong, durable, and flexible, making it a popular building material. There is plenty of uses for the material, and it is also found in swimming...
There are over 80 different sleep disorders, each troubling in its own way. The average person could maybe name a handful of these sleep disorders, but there are some that are often misunderstood or not known by the general public. One of these little-known sleep disorders is called cataplexy. Even medical professionals and sleep experts can misunderstand the disorder, leading to misdiagnosis or frustration on behalf of the patient. Cataplexy is associated with narcolepsy but with some key differences. Narcolepsy is more well-known as it is often portrayed on television or in movies with a person suddenly falling asleep or becoming incredibly drowsy without warning. With narcolepsy, a person can lose consciousness as they fall asleep; however, with cataplexy, a person...
Ever planned a vacation down to the last detail, only to realize that you hadn't planned for spending several hours on an uncomfortable airplane seat with limited entertainment? One option is to sleep instead. Or… it would be, but you forgot to buy an airplane travel pillow. Perhaps you didn't forget this step. Perhaps you bought a travel neck pillow, but now that you're putting it to use, it's somehow making things worse rather than better (we bet we can guess which type you bought: read on to find out). What's the point of these things anyway? Finding a good travel-size pillow isn't easy, especially when shopping online. These things need road-testing in very specific circumstances, and it's hard to...
While they both have similar goals, the two differ in terms of method and style. While yoga consists of physical exercises, meditation is a conscious mental state. Both have the same benefits for the mind and body. Meditation has many advantages over yoga, and is highly recommended for people looking to achieve a deep spiritual state. However, you should choose one over the other based on your own personal preferences. This article will compare the two. Yoga is a form of physical exercise There are many benefits of yoga, including increased immune system function and reduced stress. Both physical exercise and meditation help to build the body's immune system, and yoga is known to improve the functioning of...
The basic idea of meditation is to bring your attention back to your breath, and then repeat that action until the timer goes off. This works your attention muscle, and you will soon notice improvements in your concentration and attention span. If you are new to meditation, here's a quick guide to get started: Guided Meditation If you are new to meditation, guided meditation is the perfect way to get started. These recordings offer step-by-step instructions to help you start. You can also purchase books or a video to practice meditation at home. Guided meditation is not as difficult as it seems; all you need is the right set of tools to get started. To get started, here are...
As humans, we are attuned to and project energy. The term energy is often used to describe levels of alertness and a lack of fatigue, but it is also commonly used in a more spiritual sense. Spiritual energy is referenced in many ancient cultures and religions and can be described as inter- and intra- personal forces, flow, or essence. You have observed and felt these energetic forces before. For example, when you visited a place and suddenly felt uneasy or anxious without an apparent reason. Or, when you visit a feel-good spot, your shoulders drop, your mind becomes quiet, and you begin to breathe more easily. This can happen anywhere. It could occur while visiting a particular space, a new country, or when...
