5 Super-Easy & Healthy Holiday Traditions You Can Start Today

It’s December 24 (aka: Christmas Eve), can you believe it? Chances are you can believe it because you’re stress levels are at an all-time high. Even if you’re shopping is done, and your groceries are picked up and safe traveling is complete, there’s always something left to do (is that the kitchen timer going off?).

But let’s not dwell on that. After all, things usually have a way of coming together, no extra worry needed.

So, amidst all of the crazy, yet festive chaos that is Christmas Eve, make sure you take a little time to have some holiday fun. After all, it’s probably safe to say that with everything you’ve managed to do this holiday season, you deserve to relax and enjoy yourself. However, we know that’s easier said than done.

With that in mind, here are 5 super-easy ways you can enjoy some yuletide merriment today (and the coming Christmases):

1.    Get a pop of flavor. While there’s no denying that cookies are king this time of year, it may be time to shake things up—or rather pop things up. That’s right, we’re talking about popcorn. Instead of using cookies as your base layer to decorate, try a healthier alternative, like popcorn. You can opt for melted dark chocolate drizzled over popcorn with almonds and sea salt, or popcorn with crushed peppermints, drizzled white chocolate and sprinkles galore. If you’re looking for something a little more ambitious, here are a few simple recipes to try: Dark Chocolate Drizzled Kettle Corn, Sweet and Salty M&M Popcorn, Funfetti Cake Batter Popcorn, Cookies & Cream Popcorn.

2.    Step up your style game. One of the best parts of Christmas morning has to be getting to lounge around in your pajamas—at least for a little bit. However, getting new (preferably matching) PJs for everyone can be a pricey proposition. So, instead, try picking out a new, cozy pair of festive socks for everyone. Not only can you find some fun options out there (snowmen, reindeer, trees, elves, polar bears and more), the simple act of giving something (even as small as socks) will give you a boost of endorphins, or feel-good hormones.

3.    Top off your favorite holiday drink. No, we aren’t talking about eggnog, apple cider or chai tea, although those are very tasty. Instead, we’re talking about the most notorious wintertime drink of all: hot cocoa. And while this tasty, cozy drink may taste like Christmas in a cup, you pay for it with all of the fat and sugar. So, instead of using premade mixes, try this healthy, homemade recipe and then create a hot chocolate bar. You can pick from whipped cream, marshmallows, caramel, candy canes, sprinkles or all of the above.

4.    Have a little friendly competition. Spending ample time with friends and family is one of the most important reasons for the season, but sometimes you just need a little break from it all. The perfect solution: some friendly competition. You can enjoy playing a Christmas version of ‘Who Am I?’, or you can try your luck at the Draw a Snowman Challenge. And if all else fails, Christmas Charades is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, partaking in games like these can improve critical thinking, as well as boost logic and reasoning skills.

5.    Camp out in your living room. While the weather outside may not be frightful, it’s definitely too chilly to be camping outside. So why not hunker down with everyone in your living room? You can enjoy a nice toasty fire, your go-to festive movie and ample cozy blankets for all. In addition to spending the night comfortable and snuggled up, you’ll get a boost in feelings of togetherness, as well as experiencing hygge. Plus, if you fall asleep downstairs, near the Christmas tree or stockings, it may spark nostalgic feelings of childhood and hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa.

‘Tis the season to be healthy.

To keep you focused on the things that really matter this holiday season ChoiceOne Urgent Care is available seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (holiday hours may vary). Whether it’s an allergic reaction, a broken bone or a flu bug, the experts at ChoiceOne keep the health of you and your family as their top priority. And should you ever need emergent care, GMC’s emergency departments and Children’s Emergency Center, are open to care for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are staffed by expert doctors and nurses specially trained in emergency care.

GA’s Bad Flu Season Is Getting Worse: Here’s What You Need To Know

Usually defying the odds is a good thing, but when it comes to the flu, not so much. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Georgia—and its 10 million residents—are up against with this year’s flu season. According to the CDC, the peach state is one of only three states to have widespread flu activity. This means that flu cases have been reported across half the state—or more.

Because Georgia’s flu season has already ramped up, it’s important that each of us do our part to help minimize the spread of the flu. A great place to start is to remember the basics of flu prevention, this includes:

·         Getting vaccinated: your best defense against the flu is to get vaccinated. Keep in mind that everyone in your family—6 months or older—should be getting one annually.

·         Not sharing your germs: If you feel sick, make sure to stay home. Going into work or running errands won’t help anyone, especially you, as you’ll only be left feeling worn out and worse for wear.

·         Practicing good hygiene: This means more than remembering to wash your hands (we’ll get to that later). Remember to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. And if you have to cough or sneeze, make sure to cover your mouth and nose.

·         Wash, wash and wash some more. Start with your hands—make sure that you’re washing properly and frequently. And don’t stop there. You’ll want to be sure to disinfect all potentially-contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, remote controls and phones.

In addition to those flu-season musts, here are a few insights you should keep in mind to help protect yourself—and your loved ones—from those dreaded flu bugs:

·         The flu is spread in more ways than one… While the virus can live on objects for upwards of 48 hours (yikes!), it is most often passed through the air via a sneeze or cough.

·         …But not through the vaccine. The flu vaccine can't give you the flu. That’s because the vaccine is made from pieces of dead flu virus cells. After getting the vaccine, some people have mild flu-like symptoms as a side effect. This is not the same thing as having the flu.

·         You may be contagious longer than you think. Even if you’re feeling better, or you haven’t started to feel ill, you can still spread the flu virus to others. According to the CDC, you’re contagious a day before symptoms start and up to 5 days afterward.

·         The flu causes more than just a fever. While a high fever is one of the most notorious symptoms of the flu, it isn’t the only one. And more importantly, a fever doesn’t always indicate that the flu is the culprit. Keep a look out for a high fever (defined as 102 degrees or higher), as well as these other symptoms:

o   Muscle aches

o   Chills

o   Runny nose

o   Congestion

o   Fatigue

o   Cough and/or sore throat

o   Headache

o   Nausea along with vomiting and/or diarrhea

I think I have the flu, now what: The best place to start is always with a trusted medical provider. To ensure that you have access to the care you need exactly when you need it, we offer a variety of different services at many convenient locations. In addition to our expert primary care providers, we also offer urgentand emergency care.

However, if we leave you with one key takeaway from this article (in addition to seeking medical care), it’s that getting the flu shotis always important—regardless of the month. While the flu season may have already begun, it’s never too late to take this important step in prevention to protect yourself and your family.

4 First Aid Mistakes We’ve All Made (And What To Do Instead)

When was the last time you got a little bump, bruise or burn? Chances are it hasn’t been long. But the real question is, when you got said injury, how did you treat it?

Maybe you just ignored it and said a few choice words. Or maybe you relied on an old wives tale to guide your treatment. After all, who knows how to properly treat a cut? Turns out, it may be a lot easier than you think—and a lot more important.

To ensure optimal healing, while also preventing infection, make sure you avoid these common first-aid mistakes:

Myth 1: You should clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

Save yourself the sting. While it’s important to disinfect a new wound (even papercuts), hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can actually damage healthy tissue and make it take longer for your wound to heal.

Instead, rinse the cut with soap and water for five minutes to get it completely clean. If you’re still worried about infection, add some antibiotic ointment to top it off.

Myth 2: Let a wound air out.

Yes, it’s true that by allowing a wound to dry out, you’ll form a scab. However, this will only delay the overall healing process. Your wound needs moisture to get better and to regenerate new cells.

So after cleaning a wound, apply petroleum jelly and cover the skin with a bandage. Wash the wound and change the bandage daily until it goes away.

Myth 3: Apply ice to a burn.

If a burn is hot, it seems logical that something cold would help (i.e., ice is best). But this is far from the truth. In fact, ice, or very cold temperatures may freeze the skin, which only causes more damage.

Instead, run cool—not cold—water over it for several minutes. This will stop the burning action and reduce pain and swelling. Don’t break any blisters, which can increase your risk for infection. And keep the burn covered with a bandage that doesn’t stick to it.

Myth 4: Tilt your head backwards to stop a bloody nose.

We may be fighting against instinct here, but reclining your head backwards in the event of a nose bleed, just isn’t a good idea. That’s because when you tilt back, everything that was coming out of your nostrils is going to change direction and run down your throat instead (yuck!). Not only is that extremely unpleasant, but you’re also not actually stopping the bleeding.

So if your nose is running like a faucet, start by keeping your head upright, which will help to lower blood pressure in your nose. Next, use your fingers to squeeze the nostrils together for roughly 15 minutes. By then you should be in the clear.

Should you call for backup?

While these tips are great to keep in mind for minor injuries, they aren’t recommended for treating more serious injuries. When in doubt, don’t be afraid to call in the medical big guns. After all, that’s why they’re available 24/7 through our Emergency Departments, and 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at ChoiceOne Urgent Care. At GMC, our experts are always prepared to help, no matter what.

6 Healthy Ways To Bounce Back After A Decadent Getaway

The same things that make the 4^th of July holiday so magical—stuffing your face with tasty, grilled foods; soaking up the sunshine for hours and staying up far too late watching dazzling fireworks—are the same things that are making you drag post-celebration. Now don’t get us wrong, we all love fireworks and patriotic-themed treats as much as the next person. But the bottom line is its just tough—if not impossible—to bounce back to 100% after days and nights of celebrating—right?

So, if your Independence Day celebration has you feeling low on energy, extra bloated and a few pounds heavier, you aren’t the only one. But not to worry, there are simple ways to get back on track with your healthy habits—and feeling better than ever—post-holiday.

1.    Grab a cold one. Chances are that in the midst of your holiday fun, drinking water probably wasn’t at the top of your to-do list. And who could blame you? Fresh juice or soda pairs well with a burger.

Unfortunately, though, eating salty foods, consuming sugary drinks and/or alcohol, and spending ample time in the sun, compounds dehydration. So grab a cold bottle of water to fight off fatigue, remove toxins, improve concentration and mood, deter headaches, ease constipation and boost your metabolism. And remember, you should be getting at least 8 glasses daily.

2.    Catch some rays. Before you pack your beach tote, we aren’t talking about planting yourself next to the pool all day long. Instead, we are talking about getting some sunlight first thing in the morning.

Not only will this help to reset your sleep-wake schedule, it will also help to boost your mood and energy levels, while also lowering your blood pressure.

3.    Be kind. Overeating and under-sleeping is a dangerous combination—one that would leave just about anyone feeling crappy. And while we all know that indulging doesn’t do your health any favors, there’s no need to beat yourself up about it.

After all, this will only make you feel worse than you already do. Make sure to give yourself time to reset after all the stress, energy and effort that went into celebrating this festive day. Don’t worry, the gym will still be there tomorrow.

4.    Fill your tummy. While it might sound counterintuitive to continue eating when you feel bloated and full from that delicious 4^thof July menu, it’s important to replenish your body with whole vitamins and nutrients.

Eating unprocessed foods—lean protein, fruits and veggies—will help to reset your digestive tract. Even better, reach for fiber-filled foods, like oats, beans and berries, to continue moving things through your bowel. And try eating earlier in the night to ensure that a full tummy doesn’t interfere with a sound night’s sleep.

5.    Snooze it up. The best part of the 4^th of July happens after dark. Unfortunately, this translates into much later bedtimes for most of us. So, if you’re tired from a late night (that was totally worth it) this doesn’t necessarily mean that a siesta is in order (bummer!).

Instead, you’re likely better off waiting until your routine bedtime so you’re tired enough to sleep through the night. And set up your room to be sleep friendly: cool (ideally 68 degrees or less), free of any electronics (blue light impacts sleep pattern), quiet (or a white noise machine) and an extra comfy, supportive mattress.

6.    Get Moving. One of the best ways to revive yourself after a day (or two) off of your healthy routine is to get moving again. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to boost your metabolism and perk-up your energy and mood.

If you’re just itching to get outside for a sweaty exercise session, make sure to watch for signs of heat cramps (pain/spasms in legs, excessive sweating and flushed skin), heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea, headache and cold/clammy skin) and heat stroke (confusion, slurred speech, rapid heartbeat and breathing).

If you notice any of the above symptoms that could be result of a heat-related illness, make sure to seek immediate medical care. At GMC, our emergency departments and Children’s Emergency Center, are open to care for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are staffed by expert doctors and nurses specially trained in emergency care.

While heat-related illnesses can be an emergency, if you’re experiencing other minor illnesses and injuries, you can count on the experts at ChoiceOne Urgent Care. With care available seven days a week, 8 A-M to 8 P-M, they can provide comprehensive care that’s close to home.