Category: Health & Fitness

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Currently, smoking causes 6 million deaths per year. By 2030, that figure is set to rise to more than 8 million.

The best way to prevent smoking-related deaths is to deter children from picking up the habit in the first place.

But, that’s easier said than done. Whether it’s as a result of peer pressure, lack of smoking education or a desire to rebel, more and more teens are smoking every day. In fact, every day in the US, a total of 3,200 under-18s smoke their first cigarette.

So, how can parents intervene? Effective prevention starts with a conversation. That means encouraging an open dialogue without judgment or threats. Your child is much more likely to make the right choice when it comes to smoking if you allow them to find their own path.

Read on to find out how to talk to your child about smoking.

Start Early

It’s never too early to start talking to your children about smoking. You might not think it’s important when your child is only five or six. After all, they’re unlikely to start smoking on the kindergarten playground.

But, when your kid is young, they are more likely to look up to you as the authority on right and wrong. By starting the discussion early, you can make sure you and your child are on the right path long before smoking is even an issue.

Young children also tend to be more sensitive to signs of smoking such as yellow teeth and bad smells. Don’t go overboard, but be sure to make them aware that smoking is the cause of these problems. This strong association will then have more of a lasting impact when they’re old enough to decide for themselves.

Focus on What’s Important to Your Child

Children may not understand or care about the long-term health effects of smoking such as cancer and lung problems. Instead, try to focus on what they care about to explain why smoking is a bad choice:

Appearance

It’s easier to demonstrate the imminent effects of smoking to your child, especially ones they can physically see. Explain how yellow teeth, thinning hair, and wrinkles are all ways in which smoking can ruin your looks.

If they’re at that age where they’re starting to care more about their appearance, this could make them pay more attention to your concerns.

Money

Your child might respond well to a conversation about the financial impact of smoking. Talk about your family’s household budget with them and explain how much the average smoker spends each day, month and year.

Calculate the cost of smoking over 10 or 20 years with your child and discuss what they could buy with the same money. They’ll get a better idea of what an expensive habit smoking is. Not to mention, a lot less fun than computer games or any other hobbies they might want to spend their money on.

Sports

If your child likes sports, focus on the physical impact that smoking has on athletic performance. Explain that smoking could leave him or her unable to run as fast. Or it might mean that they have to stop playing because they’re out of breath.

Celebrity Role Models

It can often seem like most celebrities smoke. As a result, it’s not that easy to find non-smoking role models for your kids to look up to.

But, it can help to support your argument if your kid’s favorite celebrity doesn’t smoke or quit smoking. That celebrity’s reasons for quitting smoking might also help you explain more about addiction and why many people who smoke wish they had never started.

Strength of Character

If your child has a strong personality and knows their own mind, use that to your advantage. Explain about the hold that cigarettes can have on people and how many children start smoking due to peer pressure.

They might not necessarily want to do what you say all the time. But, they may end up deciding against cigarettes for themselves.

Talk About Addiction

You child might not understand why they see so many people smoking if it’s meant to be such a bad habit.

This is why it’s important to talk about addiction with your child. Explain how the nicotine in cigarettes is one of the most addictive substances in the world. They may not fully understand the concept of addition. But, by explaining how people struggle with quitting and find it hard to stop, it might help them grasp the concept of being addicted to something.

Older children can also benefit from learning about smoking cessation statistics and stop smoking aids. When they see how many smokers want to quit and how some people have to resort to hypnosis to stop, they will get a better idea of just how addictive smoking is.

Explain the Dangers of Alternatives

When we were children, our parents only had to explain the dangers of smoking cigarettes to us. Now, as parents ourselves, we have to also consider the dangers of alternatives such as electronic cigarettes, hookahs, and vape pens.

In fact, vaping is now an epidemic in high schools. There was a 900 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high school students between 2011 and 2015. Since e-cigarettes come in fun flavors, like jam monster or bubble gum, many youngsters think that they’re similar to candy.

Educate your child by explaining what goes into e-cigarettes, including a lot of harmful chemicals and toxic metals. And explain how these can cause breathing problems, tooth loss, and cancer. This will help you show that these alternatives are dangerous too.

Avoid Lecturing Your Child

Sweeping statements and strong negative opinions about smoking can sometimes encourage your kids to rebel against you.

Don’t forbid your child from smoking or say that all smokers are bad or stupid. Instead, ask them questions to gauge what they think about smoking. Avoid forcing your views down their throat and allow them to come to their own conclusions. Welcome questions and curiosity about smoking.

And, always be honest with them. If you’ve ever smoked or tried cigarettes, tell them about your experiences. Children are good at picking up on whether you’re being genuine or not, and your child will be more responsive if you tell them the truth.

By keeping the conversation free from judgment or threats, your child will be much more willing to discuss cigarettes with you. And, your child is also more likely to share with you when he or she is offered cigarettes.

Discuss How to Say No

When it comes to smoking, the one thing you can’t ignore is that your child is likely to be offered a cigarette at some point.

Deter this by talking to your child about how to say no without losing face in front of his or her friends. With an argument or reasoning ready at hand, your child is less likely to give in to peer pressure and say yes.

You might even try role-playing with your child. You can play the part of a fellow student, and your child has to practice different ways to refuse your offer of a cigarette. Encourage your child to come up with their own personal reasons for saying no. But, if they’re not sure, suggest that they could say they don’t like the taste, the smell, or the way they make him or her out of breath.

Set a Good Example

It has to be said, a lot of your advice and guidance will fall on deaf ears if you’re a smoker yourself.

Even if you say you want to quit or wish you didn’t smoke, your words won’t hold as much weight if your actions don’t match what you say. Children imitate what they see their parents do. Which is why parents who smoke are twice as likely to have children who smoke.

An obvious solution is to quit. The thought of encouraging your child to smoke with your own behavior could be just the catalyst you need.

And, in the meantime, don’t smoke around your children, and insist on a smoke-free home. With fewer people smoking around your child, he or she will be less likely to normalize it.

Watch for Signs of Smoking

With older children, it’s important to watch out for signs that they may have already started smoking. Keep an eye out for shortness of breath, smelly clothing, coughing, bad breath, and sudden overuse of perfumes and minty gum.

If you think your child has started smoking, ask them outright. But, don’t resort to throwing accusations around, and definitely don’t start yelling if the answer is yes.

Express your disappointment, then ask questions to establish whether they have just tried it a few times or are actually smoking as a habit.

It’s also important to find out why they’re smoking. It may be to fit in with a peer group, or it could be their way of reacting to a recent divorce or problems at home.

Avoid reacting with threats and ultimatums. Instead, talk through a plan to help your child avoid cigarettes in the future. And, explain what the consequences will be if they continue smoking.

Provide the Best Smoking Education for Your Child

By helping your child understand the dangers of smoking and giving them the tools to make decisions for themselves, you are providing the best kind of smoking education for your child.

Check out our other blog posts on family life for more advice and tips. And, feel free to get in touch with any questions or comments!

Have you ever been curious about where you come from? Do you want to know more about your unique genetic makeup?

Whether you want to find out where in the world your ancestors are from or want to gain insight into specific health conditions, genetic testing can help.

If you’re on the fence about this kind of testing, keep reading. Listed below are four great benefits of genetic testing that you ought to consider.

What is Genetic Testing?

You’ve probably seen that there are lots of businesses out there that offer genetic and DNA testing. But, what actually are these tests?

Genetic testing is a type of voluntary testing that identifies changes in the body’s chromosomes, proteins, and genes.

There are several methods used for gene testing. You can visit a lab to get your tests done, but many people are also turning to at-home tests provided by companies like Legacy Tree. These tests typically only require a simple saliva sample.

Top Four Benefits of Genetic Testing

There are lots of reasons to consider genetic testing, including the following:

1. Gain Insights into Your Health

Genetic testing allows you to gain important insights into your health. For example, the results of a genetic test can help you learn more about your predisposition to specific diseases like cancer or dementia.

Genetic testing also lets you know if you have any genetic mutations — such as the MTHFR mutation — that could stop your genes from making normal proteins and functioning properly.

2. Ease Anxiety

If you have a family history of a specific illness and are worried about the chances that you or your child could develop it, genetic testing can provide a source of relief.

Why spend years worrying about whether or not you’ll be stricken with an illness when you can rule it out with a simple test?

3. Make Informed Family Planning Decisions

If you’re planning for future children, genetic testing can help you determine whether or not your child will be at risk of inheriting a genetic condition that you or your partner possess.

When you have this knowledge, you can make informed family planning decisions and be better prepared for future obstacles.

4. Take Action Early

Just because you test positive for a certain gene, that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to develop the disease associated with it.

That positive result, though, can help encourage you to take action and change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of getting sick later in life.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are lots of benefits of genetic testing. One of the most important, though, is the information it can provide you about your health.

Armed with knowledge about specific health risks you may be facing, you can use the results of your tests to motivate you to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Worried about the costs associated with healthy living? Don’t be.

There are lots of ways that you can save money while also making your health a top priority. Check out the health and fitness section of the site today to learn how you can get healthy without breaking the bank.

Substance abuse costs Americans around $740 billion every year.

The cost of drug rehab is a huge part of this figure, and many of those who struggle with addiction are unable to afford it.

If you or someone you love is one of them, there are options for you. In this post, we’ll tell you how you can make it work.

Ways to Cover the Cost of Drug Rehab

Drug and alcohol addiction can be devastating, but the cost of rehab doesn’t have to be. Here’s how you can afford it.

1. Use Non-Profit or State-Funded Rehab Centers

State-funded rehab centers offer treatment to low-income communities.

At these facilities, treatment is provided at very low prices, or sometimes even for free. Applicants simply need to provide proof of their income before they can be admitted. If it falls below a certain threshold, they’ll be accepted.

Non-profit organizations also offer help to people who can’t afford treatment. One of the most well-known ones is the Salvation Army. Their no-fee rehab programs include counseling, housing, food, and holistic work therapy.

2. Financing

Many treatment centers allow you to finance your addiction treatment plans, so you don’t have to pay hefty one-off fees. Instead, you can pay it off in small increments, at a pace you can afford to keep up with.

These centers can work with you to find a payment plan that fits into your budget, so rehabilitation costs don’t have to set you back.

3. Insurance

If you have private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, there are options for you. Some rehabilitation centers accept these types of insurance, so the majority of the costs are covered.

However, not all types of treatment are covered. The restrictions and limitations will differ depending on your individual insurance plan, so make sure you know exactly what’s included and what you’ll have to pay for yourself.

For example, Medicare covers treatment for alcohol or substance abuse. However, this is only for older adults age 65 and over.

4. Grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides grants to centers offering opiate addiction treatment, therapy, or counseling for addiction and mental health issues.

To be referred to one of their low-cost treatment centers, you can call their 24-hour hotline on 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

5. Personal Loans

When you can’t seem to cover the costs of rehabilitation in any other way, the last option is to apply for a short-term personal loan.

You may be able to get a personal loan from your bank, or from friends or family members. To raise some extra cash, you may also want to consider selling some personal assets.

You can also try fundraising. You can do this by holding fundraising events or creating crowdfunding campaigns on social media. When you do, you may be surprised by how many people are willing to help by making donations.

Avoid Addiction

Substance abuse doesn’t always mean addiction to alcohol or hard drugs.

Many people struggle with addictions to prescription drugs, too.

In many cases, this begins as misuse of painkillers that have been prescribed by a doctor. Then, it spirals into something more dangerous.

To avoid addiction and the cost of drug rehab, read our post on the addictive prescription meds you should avoid.

There are more than 45 million contact lens wearers in the United States alone.

If you’re among them, then we know that you’d love to learn how you can save on contacts. While contacts are a convenient and comfortable alternative to glasses, it’s no secret that the cost of lenses can add up quite quickly.

In this post, we’d love to let you know more about the cheapest way to get contact lenses — without sacrificing on quality.

We’ll cover things like the average price of contacts, where to buy cheap contacts, and much more.

When you’re ready to start saving, keep on reading.

The Average Price of Contacts

While there’s certainly no hard and fast rule regarding the average price of contacts, there are a few things that can influence the cost.

Your specific prescription, the brand you choose to buy, and the unique kind of lens that you rely on to help improve your vision will all impact how much money you’ll spend on contacts each year.

In general, those that wear disposable daily contact lenses should expect to pay anywhere from about $500 to just over $700 each year on their lenses.

If you have presbyopia, you’ll likely pay up to $70 per box for lenses to correct your vision.

However, if you switch out your lenses about once every two weeks, and wear lenses to help with nearsightedness and other common vision problems? You may be able to spend just under $300 a year on your lenses.

But if you have astigmatism, you’ll need tonic/soft contacts, which can run you back up to an average price of about $700 a year.

Finally, if you buy contact lenses for more cosmetic reasons, such as to change your eye color or for special effects, you could easily find yourself spending upwards of $100 for a single pair.

As you can see, the average contact lenses cost per year varies greatly depending on your unique vision and needs.

The good news?

Where you choose to purchase your lenses can help you to save on contacts.

The Cheapest Way to Buy Contact Lenses? Online.

We strongly suggest trying to buy your lenses online when you want to save both time and money.

Shopping for your contact lenses online means that you’ll enjoy a faster shipping speed, a greater variety of brands, and the ability to buy in bulk to save. In some cases, you may even be able to apply online discount codes to your order.

Just make sure that you know whether or not the cost of shipping your lenses is included in the price that you’re being shown.

There are a few key things to be on the lookout for when you’ve decided to shop for your lenses online.

First of all, ensure that the seller asks for a current prescription for your lenses — after all, it’s the law! The seller needs to be able to verify your prescription for lenses by contacting the eye care professional who wrote it for you.

Make sure that you’ve also familiarized yourself with the return policy associated with the online seller, and that you know how they’ll secure your payment information.

Finally, we also suggest studying up on past online reviews left by other customers. If the reviews seem to be mostly negative, and if customers are complaining the orders were late — or that they never arrived?

Run for the hills!

To learn more about ordering contact lenses over the Internet, we urge you to check out this guide on the LensPure website.

Other Ways to Save on Contacts

So, what are some other popular money-saving hacks when it comes to getting the lenses you need?

Especially if you haven’t yet decided which brand or type you like best, you should always ask your doctor to hook you up with a few free samples. You can also ask them if they have any discount coupons that you could use on your next purchase.

You can also head to a big-box retailer. In addition to saving you money, you’ll also be able to get the lenses you need without having to wait for them to be delivered.

Additionally, always make sure that you follow the instructions for proper lens care on each box. You don’t want to risk shortening the life of your contacts by damaging them, or even causing them to tear!

One thing you should never do in order to save cash on your lenses?

Wear them for longer than is recommended.

Not only will this reduce their effectiveness, rendering wearing them at all pretty pointless. It could also lead to serious eye infections and, in some cases, permanent damage to your vision.

It’s just not worth it.

Where to Buy Cheap Contacts: Wrapping Up

We hope that this post has helped to better educate you about the average price of contacts.

When you’re ready to save, we hope that you give a few of these tips a try.

Of course, we know that your contact lenses aren’t the only things that you want to save money on!

Whether you’re looking for ways to cut costs on baby food, how to score deals on e-retail websites, or if you just want to know how to live more frugally (but still enjoy life?)

We’ve got you covered.

We even have a freebies and deals section, so that you’ll never have to miss out on an opportunity to save again.

Keep checking back with our website for more ways to save on everything in your life.

Are you concerned about wrinkles, age spots, or fine lines? Do you want to keep your skin looking smooth and youthful for as long as possible? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you’re not alone.

The average woman spends more than $3,000 per year on her appearance, and a huge chunk of that money goes toward anti-aging products.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep your skin looking young and healthy. But, your pursuit of more youthful skin can wreak havoc on your wallet.

Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to find anti aging products that work.

Read on to learn about ten affordable options that work just as well as their high-end counterparts.

What to Look for in Anti-Aging Products

From face masks to serums, there are a countless number of skin care products out there designed to slow down and/or reverse the signs of aging.

It’s easy to get duped into the thinking the product with the highest price tag or the prettiest packaging is the best option. That’s not necessarily the case, though.

Rather than buying into the claims on the label, try flipping a product over and taking a look at its ingredients list. This will tell you a lot about the quality of the product and whether or not it’s worth your investment.

The following are some of the best anti-aging ingredients you should look for in your skin care products:

Retinol: This is a vitamin A compound and antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and prevents the breakdown of skin cells that can lead to wrinkles.

Vitamin C: This is another potent antioxidant that can protect skin from sun damage.

Hydroxy acids: These are substances that can remove the upper layer of your skin and promote the growth of smooth new skin that is evenly pigmented

Coenzyme Q10: This helps to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and protects the skin from sun damage.

Peptides: Peptides promote wound healing and help prevent wrinkles.

Tea extracts: Tea extracts are filled with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties that are great for the skin.

Fruit and seed extracts: Fruit and seed extracts are often loaded with antioxidants to protect and heal damaged skin.

Niacinamide: This is another antioxidant that reduces water loss in the skin and can improve its elasticity.

Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid helps promote wound healing and keeps the skin supple and moisturized.

If a product contains at least a few of these common anti-aging ingredients, there’s a greater chance that it will actually be effective.

Top Ten Anti Aging Products that Work

Now that you know which ingredients are most effective at slowing down and reversing the signs of aging, you’ll have an easier time sorting through products and figuring out which ones are worth spending money on.

Still feeling overwhelmed when it comes to skincare? The following products are all affordable and highly effective:

1. Olay Total Effects 7 in One Moisturizer Plus Touch of Sun

This moisturizer gently exfoliates the skin and contains niacinamide and beta hydroxy acid, both of which are highly effective at minimizing wrinkles and fine lines.

It also works as a gradual self-tanner, so you can give your skin a beautiful, subtle glow at the same time that you smooth it out.

2. Ambi Skincare Fade Cream

Ambi Skincare Fade Cream is great for lightening up dark spots. It’s a spot treatment that contains hydroquinone and alpha hydroxy acid.

Many people see results from this cream in as little as one month.

3. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15

If you want a more even skin tone and a boost in collagen production, this cream is for you. It contains retinol to smooth out the skin and increase elasticity, and it also contains sunscreen to protect the skin from future damage.

4. Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector

This BB cream helps mask fine lines while also evening out skin tone for a smoother, more youthful look. It also contains hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin.

5. Eucerin Sensitive Skin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF 15

This gentle lotion is perfect for those with temperamental skin. It contains coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E, another antioxidant that helps repair damage and prevent breakdown. It also contains glycerin for additional moisture.

6. ArtNaturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum

A hyaluronic acid serum like this one is perfect for those who want to smooth out their skin’s texture and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and under-eye bags. In addition to hyaluronic acid, it’s also made with green tea, aloe vera, and jojoba oil to provide additional moisture and reduce inflammation.

7. Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Facial Serum

This affordable but effective serum contains retinol to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains essential minerals like zinc, magnesium, and copper for additional smoothing and firming.

8. Aveeno Positively Radiant Dark Spot Corrector

This is another highly effective product that helps lighten up age spots and even out skin tone. It also contains nourishing seed extracts and light-reflecting minerals that will prevent future age spots from showing up on the skin.

9. Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask

If your skin has gotten dry and dull as you’ve gotten older, this mask can help provide extra moisture and plump up your skin cells so your skin is supple and hydrated.

Since it contains collagen, it will also help promote skin elasticity and speed up the rejuvenation process.

10. Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum

If natural products are your jam, this 99 percent natural serum from Burt’s Bees is a must. It contains apple and hibiscus extracts to helps smooth and firm the skin while evening out coloring and hydrating the skin cells.

Looking for More Skin Care Tips?

As you can see, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find anti aging products that work. All of these products cost less than $20 and are just as effective as higher-end options.

Do you want to learn more about caring for your skin and choosing the right skincare products?

If so, check out the fashion and beauty section of the site today. It’s full of great tips and tricks that will help you keep your skin looking youthful and radiant.