My Pursuit of a Healthy Life

Health has a variety of meanings to many aspects of my life.  There is my whole body health, my mental health, the health of my family, and the happiness and peace surrounding my life and the people in it. 

We all know that eating healthy is the most important thing we can do for our bodies.  "You can eat yourself out of any exercise program" is something I have heard time and time again.  While I have the biggest sweet tooth known to man, I am conscious about what I put in my body. I rarely drink anything other then water, I limit any kind of fast food as much as possible (this one is tough having three young kids and an early addiction to McDonald's french fries), and I cook most meals at home six days a week.  I find this so important because it is one way I can ensure that my kids are getting the proper nutrition to keep them healthy.

““You can eat yourself out of any exercise program” is something I have heard time and time again.”

Exercise is another large part of a healthy life.  The thing that is great about exercise is that it comes in so many different varieties!  I have played soccer since I was young and I still play.  It is such a fun way to get some needed exercise and have a great time doing it!  I also have a very busy home life;  finding time for the gym is hard, so I have become very good at sneaking in some BeachBody DVDs during nap time!  

My mental health with three young boys is pretty hit or miss.  With my life as busy as it is, finding time to myself is very hard.  But it is so important to me!  I am a social person, but I value my alone time tremendously!  One way I spend time working on my mental health is by reading.  I love reading books that make me cry, sometimes a good cry can change my day! I also get massages regularly which I value so much.

Lastly, I believe that surrounding myself with people who have a positive impact on me and my family is very important in order to live a healthy life.  I try to avoid people who are always negative, angry or dishonest.  I don't have time in my life to deal with that kind of drama and stress!  I am a very loyal friend and I have only a few people that I am very close to.  My life and my health wouldn't be the same with out them!  Being able to have peace and happiness in life can absolutely improve your overall well being! 

Does Your Child Snore?

I'd like to share with you a topic that has become of increasing interest to me lately.  I'm sure you've heard of sleep apnea, or at least been awakened to the sound of someone snoring.  But, should you be concerned if that person is your son or daughter?  A growing amount of research on the subject of childhood snoring says we should have serious concern.  Pre-pubescent children who snore and/or grind their teeth at night should be considered for a sleep study.  Snoring in childhood is NOT normal.  More interestingly, there is a growing consensus in medicine that a sizable number of children are being misdiagnosed as ADD or ADHD (and medicated!) when what they really need is a tonsillectomy and/or orthodontic treatment.  Failure to do so in a child who has sleep apnea can cause  facial and oral changes that can be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse in adulthood.

The symptoms of childhood apnea are quite different than adult apnea.  Children who fail to receive oxygen during sleep can appear more hyperactive during the day.  If any of these symptoms are ringing a bell with you, please don't hesitate to call our office or that of your pediatrician.  More and more dentists and primary care doctors are working with ENTs to address this issue and can get you answers you have been seeking.  

For more information, please watch this video: 

This video is about children, attention deficit disorder and obstructive sleep apnea.