Why it is more important than ever to look after your health

Coronavirus has been around now for almost 2 years in the UK. This has bought with it a wealth of concerns and worries for many people as it has taken the lives of people in huge numbers. Although they have now got vaccines and boosters plus a possible treatment for Covid, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to still try and look after yourself.

Although there sometimes seems no reasons as to why someone gets really ill and others are ok, being overweight or having previous breathing issues can put you at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from it. Not only are we having to try and protect ourselves from Covid but none of us have built up immunity to any of the colds that are currently going round so it is likely that over this winter we will have lots of times when we catch something that makes us feel unwell.

Eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and taking a good quality vitamin can all help to ensure that you feel in tip top condition. Getting your body ready means it will give you the best possible chance of fighting this awful infection should you contract it.

Preparing yourself for fertility treatments

Going through any sort of fertility investigations or treatment can not only be physically hard but also very mentally and emotionally draining. Not only do you have to contend with the upset you may be feeling due to struggling with infertility but also the constant appointments, invasive checks and conversations you need to have.

If it comes to a point when you are offered fertility treatment whether the be privately or on the NHS you need to make sure that you feel prepared and ready to take the steps. It may be that you have t have hormone treatments that can really affect your mood. If this is the case then it is vital that you have a good support network around you. You may not feel like you want to talk about it all the time but just having people who are understanding and that can be there should you want to talk is a must.  Many fertility clinics will offer you counselling and this can be really useful. You may get a certain number of sessions free and it is strongly recommended that you take these even if you don’t feel you need them as it is just a chance to talk openly without worrying about what you are saying.

Should you take a higher dose of vitamins

Some vitamins have proven health benefits and can make a big difference to a person’s day to day life if taken correctly. On any vitamins you buy, it will tell you the recommended dose. This dose may be the upper limit to what a person can safely take but you may find that if you speak to a specialist they will advise you to take a higher dose.  

Taking a higher dose of any vitamin or medication without professional medical advice can result in irreversible damage to your body and be quite dangerous.

Many people swear by vitamin B6 as a way of helping with tiredness, mood swings, hormone imbalances and a number of other issues. The daily recommend dose of B6 is around 1.3mg for an adult between the ages of 18 and 50. Often people will be self-medicating with 200mg plus a day of the vitamin in desperation to see results. For many people this may be ok and not have any negative side effects, but with B6 having an effect on your nervous system, taking high doses for a long period may cause nerve damage. This may be reversible once you have stopped taking it, but it is not worth the risk.

What sort of exercise is right for you?

Exercise is one of those things you either love or hate or maybe you only like certain types of exercise. There are so many different activities you can do that are classed as exercise that you may struggle to know which ones are right for you. Often you need to do some research in to what benefits different sorts of exercise can offer. For example, if you are looking to tone up your stomach muscles then you may do different exercises to if you are wanting to improve your upper body strength.

A fitness instruction will be able to advise you on what sorts of exercise you need to be doing, how often and for how long to achieve your goals, but you may also be able to find help and advice online.

Walking is a good gentle allrounder exercise but doesn’t often show quick results if you are looking for weight loss. I can help build up stamina and also strengthen your legs and back muscles. If you have any underlying health issues or are elderly then you may need to get some advice from your doctor before starting any form of exercise as they may recommend that you only do a limited amount to start with or avoid certain types.

Are you sleeping soundly?

The importance of getting a good night’s sleep cannot be emphasised enough but as many of us struggle to either get to sleep or have quality sleep what can we do to improve this vitally important part of our lives?

A huge problem, that is a sign of the times for many, is sleep procrastination that is putting off going to bed and going to sleep. We try to relax in the evening but often find ourselves staring at a screen, scrolling through posts and videos unaware that time is passing by. We may feel that at the end of a busy day we want to do something before we retire for the night and so we stay awake when really we need to be getting that all important sleep.

Being strict with ourselves about screen time is one way that we can start to reset our sleep patterns. A time could be set approximately two hours before bedtime when phones, tablets and even television could be turned off and instead music could be listened to, or a book could be read. This gives our bodies time to unwind and get into a relaxed state ready for sleep.

It is important that the bedroom is the right temperature for sleep as we all know how difficult it is to get a good night’s sleep when it is too warm. A cool bedroom is much better so if it is possible to achieve this all well and good.