Health Watch: Warding off a cold? These tips can’t hurt

Tip of the Week

Most of us are familiar with that sense of impending doom when we suspect we’re coming down with a cold. The scratchy throat, runny nose and watery eyes can be dead giveaways.

Is there really anything we can do at that point? WebMD reports you can hedge your bets in the following ways:

Nap, go to bed early or just do something relaxing. Listening to music, meditating or even lightly working out could boost your immune system.

Stay positive. “If you feel tired, overworked, sad or angry ... that can slow your immune system just when you need it running at full power,” notes the website.

Drink lots of fluids other than alcohol — preferably water.

Imbibe warm liquids that can help open clogged nasal passages. Hot tea with honey may soothe your throat.

Get a jump-start on symptoms with over-thecounter antihistamines and decongestants.

Iron

Feel tired? 3 easy remedies for iron deficiency If you’re not getting enough iron in your diet, the Mayo Clinic reports you may notice a lack of energy, headaches, pale skin, chest pain, cold hands and feet or even unusual cravings.

Fortunately, iron deficiency is often easy to correct. Three steps you can take:

Eat more foods rich in iron such as meat, eggs, soybeans, seafood, beans, peas, peanuts, darkgreen leafy vegetables, dried fruits, oatmeal and/or iron-fortified breads, cereals and pastas.

In conjunction, eat foods high in vitamin C, as they promote iron absorption. This group includes citrus fruits, melons, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, leafy greens, peppers and tomatoes.

If your doctor recommends it, take an iron supplement. In certain cases, too much iron could damage your liver or cause other complications.

Essential Oils

Most oils are harmless to skin

Essential oils can be found all over beauty aisles and specialty stores these days, but are all of them safe to apply directly to your skin?

Most are harmless and produce no side effects when applied topically following manufacturer directions, say medical professionals at the University of Minnesota. Because some are more concentrated than others, however, users may want to start with diluted amounts. That means adding just three to five drops to a teaspoon of a low-scent carrier substance such as water, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil or avocado oil.

Those with sensitive skin may even find that concentration irritating when using intense varieties such as thyme, oregano, clove or cinnamon bark; others may experience burn-like reactions when their skin is exposed to sunlight after they’ve applied bergamot, lemon, lime, orange or angelica. Brandpoint

Prescription Drugs

Trump declares opioid crisis a public health emergency

President Donald Trump declared that the U.S.’s prescription opioid epidemic a national public health emergency on Oct. 26. With the declaration, the opioid epidemic becomes a top priority for the Department of Health and Human Services and the federal government. Despite the official designation as a health emergency, no additional funding will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund. The designation will allow the HHS to move department funding and resources around to address the opioid crisis under the Public Health Emergency Act. More Content Now