Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 4-15-16 Edition

Health
Dangerous Heights: What High Heels Really Do To Your Feet
Healing Herbs
Sooth Pain With Bay Leaf
Bay Leaf has
all the pain-
busting benefits
of aspirin,
ibuprofen and
naproxen –
minus the side effects. It works by blocking COX-2, the enzyme behind arthritis inflammation.
Bonus: Like aspirin, Bay Leaf thins the blood, helping to prevent dangerous clots and it can reduce your blood sugar by as much as 20%.
Herbal Rx: Drink a mugful of Bay Leaf tea daily. Recipe: Add 2-3 leaves to 2 cups boiling water, simmer, cover, steep for 20 minutes. Stir with a cinna- mon stick and sweeten to taste.
Tame Tummy Aches With Thyme
Thyme is a
great digestive
aid, helping to
restore ‘friendly’
bacteria in your gut, just like probiotics. And, it’s natural an- tibacterial and antifungal com- pounds (Thymol) can crush food poisoning germs before they make you sick. The herb is even combats H.pylori, the in- testinal bacteria behind most stomach ulcers linked to gas- tric cancers.
Herbal Rx: Thyme is easily found in supermarkets. To use it medicinally, take thyme leaf capsules or sip thyme leaf tea. Recipe: Add a few sprigs of fresh Thyme to 2 cups boiling water, simmer, cover, and steep for 20 minutes. Add honey to sweeten.
Asthma Triggers To Avoid This Spring
We wear
heels for a
number of
reasons.
They’re
sexy, they
make us a
few inches
taller
(which
also makes
us look a
little slim-
mer) and they make our calves pop. As much as we love them, many of us can’t wear them for long periods of time without experiencing excruciating pain that makes it almost unbearable to take another step. While the pain may ease soon after you get home and kick off your stilet- tos, or slide them off under the conference table, the pain is a key indicator that high heels may be causing long- term damage.
There are some high-end brands that offer more com- fort like, Nine West and Steve Madden. But, even the most comfortable shoes could still mean compromis- ing balance and pretty feet for a few (younger) years of fashion.
“High heels force the fore- foot down into the narrowest part of the shoe. This is a di- rect cause of the common conditions of hallux valgus (bunions) and Morton’s neu- roma (a condition caused by
the squeezing of the toes and subsequent damage to the delicate nerves between the toes),” said Dr. Bergin.
If you have wide feet, the deformity and damage can be much greater, resulting in having hammer toes. A con- dition called metatarsalgia can also develop. This means painful metatarsals (the ends of the bones at the “ball” of the foot).
According to the American Osteopathic Association, wearing high heels can also cause ingrown toenails and irreversible damage to leg tendons. High heels have also been linked to injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee and low back pain.
Wearing high heels in younger years can ruin your chances of wearing them when you’re older.
Consider limiting the amount of time you spend wearing and standing in heels to protect your feet for the long term.
According to the U.S. De- partment of Health and Human Services, Black peo- ple are 20% more likely to have asthma than any other races. An asthma attack can be fatal. Here are a few things to be aware of:
Trees And Grass pro- duce pollen as they begin to bloom in April. This may re- sult in high pollen counts in the air, which can seriously affect your asthma. Weeds and ragweed are other plants that may trigger your asthma symptoms and make you mis- erable.
Thunderstorms are more common in the Spring. Experts say rainwater is the reason why allergens like pollen grains spread like wild- fire. During these storms, there are usually high winds. This helps spread the pollen
at a quicker rate. So you may struggle breathing or experi- ence other asthma symptoms more during a thunderstorm. Stay indoors if you can.
Insects carry pollen, which is a natural trigger for asthma symptoms. But, some stinging insects may be fatal for those suffering from asthma. Be aware of any yel- low jackets, honeybees, wasps, hornets and fire ants if you’re spending long amounts of time outdoors. Avoid using perfume, as some insects are attracted to the sweet smell.
Swimming can be a pro- belm for some people with asthma because chlorine can be an irritant, triggering a re- action. Talk with your physi- cian if you are experiencing allergic symptoms like eye and nose irritation.
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B