Category: Health & Fitness

When most people think of going to the chiropractor, they think of the “rack’em and crack’em” types of chiropractors who give the industry a bad name.

Yet, there are many benefits of chiropractic care. More people than ever are experiencing low back pain and other preventable illnesses. Chiropractic care has become a reliable form of treatment for many ailments that aren’t just limited to the spine.

Are you ready to learn about the benefits of chiropractic care? Read on to discover what they are.

1. Undo Some of the Damage from Sitting All Day

They say that sitting is the new smoking. We sit at work, in traffic, watching TV, or just relaxing. All of that sitting is doing us a lot of harm.

Your hips get tight, which pulls everything out of alignment and can lead to low back pain. Chiropractic care can help alleviate some of that low back pain.

2. Improve Immune System

You probably didn’t realize that chiropractic care can improve your immune system, but it can.

Your spine is extremely important to the rest of your body. It’s in your back and it holds up your body. There’s so much more to it than that, which is why chiropractic care is so effective.

Your spine is also home to many different muscles in your back and the central nervous system. The nervous system communicates with the rest of your body to manage pain and manage the basic workings of your body.

When your spine isn’t aligned properly, the systems misfire, leaving your body more vulnerable to illness and ailments.

3. Pain Relief

There are many reasons why you experience pain. Most of the time, muscles are tight, which can pull the skeleton out of alignment. This can impact nerves which is the pain that you feel.

When you visit a chiropractor, you’ll quickly discover the difference between having a body that’s aligned and misaligned.

4. Realign Your Body

The physical structure of your body is really a kinetic chain of events. Your feet serve as the base of your body. Your ankles, knees, hips, and back all play a significant role in how your body moves.

If there’s one thing out of whack, it can cause injury. That’s why you see so many weekend warriors on the bench with injuries. Even those old injuries you had in college can throw your body off if they didn’t heal properly.

Chiropractors look at the alignment of your entire body, and they have the tools to get your body back on track.

5. It’s Natural

How would you like to recover from pain, move better, and sleep better without drugs? You can with chiropractic care.

One of the benefits of chiropractic care is that it is a completely natural treatment. It’s a manipulation of your spine, which impacts your nervous system. The alignment does all of the work without the

6. Improve Range of Motion

When your body is properly aligned, you move better. You’re able to get a full range of motion after an adjustment because your muscles have the skeletal support to move properly.

If the muscles don’t have the support to move well, they simply won’t which can lead to injury.

7. Sleep Better

Chiropractors can help you sleep better. After an adjustment, you experience less discomfort and your blood flow is improved. This is a recipe to sleep much better.

8. Chiropractic Care Can Be Used on Children

Chiropractic care is a very safe way to treat pain and keep our body aligned and nervous system functioning well. It’s so safe, it is often used on children and even infants.

9. Recover from Car Accidents

Car accidents can do a lot of damage to your body. Even a simple fender-bender can cause whiplash or other back issues. Any type of sharp physical trauma can cause your body to be sore.

It may take a few days for symptoms to show up because your muscles are trying to heal. When you do experience soreness, it can be difficult to function.

Chiropractors can help you recover from these injuries with a thorough treatment plan. View here for more information.

10. More Insurance Companies Cover Chiropractic Care

The reputation of chiropractic care used to be that it was full of hacks. As more studies were done on the benefits of chiropractic care, it was obvious that it’s a sound form of treatment.

Insurance companies started to include chiropractic care as part of their plans. They realized that chiropractors can complement treatment for many different issues.

When to Go to a Chiropractor

You may see the many benefits of chiropractic care, but you’re not sure if it’s what you need right now.  You might think that a massage therapist would be a better option.

Massage and chiropractic care are two different methods of treating pain and other ailments. Massage mainly deals with surface-level muscular issues and soreness. It’s a great way to recover from an athletic event or to relax from a stressful day.

Chiropractic care is more specialized. It can be used to treat pain but a variety of other issues.

If you’re still not sure, you’ll want to visit a chiropractor who can tell you what the best method of treatment will be.

You’ll want to find a good chiropractor in your area. You can start looking for one by asking your network for recommendations and check online reviews for chiropractors in your area.

The Many Benefits of Chiropractic Care

You may be surprised to learn about the benefits of chiropractic care. It does so much more than treating back pain.

It can improve your immune system, align your entire body, and reduce pain. Overall, chiropractic care is a way to make your body work better.

Do you want more great lifestyle tips? Head over to the health and fitness section of the blog for more great articles.

Approximately four million Americans — the majority of them children — currently wear braces. Have you recently found out that your child needs to join their ranks?

Braces are a right of passage for a lot of kids. They can also be quite a strain on parents’ wallets. In fact, the average cost of braces ranges from $5,000 to $6,000!

If your child needs braces and you’re worried about how you’re going to afford them, keep reading.

Listed below are some tips that will help to make the process of paying for braces more affordable and less stressful.

Start Treatment Early

As soon as you learn that your child may benefit from braces, it’s a good idea to jump on it and start seeking treatment right away. Don’t wait around and hope that the problem goes away on its own. It’s highly unlikely that this will be the case.

Remember, too, that the longer you without addressing your child’s crooked teeth or alignment issues, the more time these problems have to get worse.

If you take care of them as soon as you learn of them, the orthodontist will likely have to do less work. The treatment may also take less time. Both of these things can result in more savings for you. 

Look Into Assistance Programs

Many people don’t realize that there are assistance programs designed for people who can’t afford braces or other orthodontic treatments.

Depending on the area in which you live and your income, you may qualify for one of these programs. Talk to your child’s dentist or orthodontist to see if they know of any such programs.

You can also search online to see what kinds of programs are available in your area. You might be surprised at what you find, and you may be able to qualify for free or discounted braces for your child.

Check with Your Insurance Provider

Reach out to your insurance provider and find out what percentage of your child’s treatment they cover.

In most cases, they will cover a least a portion of the cost and make it more affordable for you.

Sometimes, they’ll even pay as much as half of the cost of treatment. This isn’t common, but they may do it, especially if the braces are correcting a serious issue that could impact your child’s oral and overall health in the future. 

Look for Dental Schools

Sometimes, dental schools will have orthodontists-in-training who can provide your child with the treatment they need at a reduced cost.

If you decide to go this route, your child’s treatment will be supervised by a licensed orthodontist, so you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that they’re being taken good care of.

Ask About a Payment Plan

In many cases, orthodontists do not demand that patients (or the parents of patients) pay for the cost of treatment upfront. They know that braces are expensive and likely have some kind of payment plan option for those who cannot afford the whole treatment at once.

Ask if your orthodontist has such a plan in place or if they’re willing to put one together for you.

Ask for a Cash Discount

You may also be able to save money on the treatment if you can pay for it all at once. Talk to the orthodontist and see if they will give you a discount if you pay for the treatment in cash upfront.

Many orthodontists are willing to deduct a percentage of the treatment cost (often between 5 and 15 percent) in exchange for paying in full that same day.

Compare Orthodontists

Be sure to compare rates from different orthodontists before you make a decision.

Don’t assume that you’re getting the best price or that the quote you get from their current orthodontist is your only option. There’s a lot of variances when it comes to the price of braces, and you may be able to save money by taking your child to a different orthodontist. 

When you’re comparing orthodontists, be sure to look beyond the price they give you. Dig a little deeper and find out what’s included in that treatment and whether there are any optional treatments that you can remove to lower the price.

Use for Flexible Savings Account

If your employer offers a flexible savings account (or FSA) or a health savings account (or HSA), use the funds from that account to help offset the costs of your child’s braces.

When you take this approach, you’re able to pay for your child’s braces before you pay income taxes.

Keep in mind that FSAs and HSA payments don’t take any money off the cost of your child’s treatment. However, they can help to cover a big chunk of the payments.

Consider Alternatives to Braces

When you first find out how much braces cost, you might find yourself asking questions like “are braces worth it?”

In some cases, braces are the only option to straighten your child’s teeth or correct their jaw alignment. Other times, though, you can get away with other, less expensive and less invasive measures.

If you can’t find a way to pay for your child’s braces, consider an alternative like veneers or Invisalign instead.

These treatments can be more affordable and work very well for a lot of issues, especially problems like minor tooth overlap. They won’t be a viable option for everyone, but they might be a better option for you and your child.

Get Help Paying for Braces Today

Finding out your child needs braces can send any parent into a panic spiral. If you’ve been stressed out about the idea of paying for braces, hopefully, you now know that there are options out there for you.

Whether you choose one of these methods to lower the cost of braces or you decide to forgo them altogether and go with a more cost-effective approach, there are lots of ways you can help your child get straight, even teeth without breaking the bank.

Do you want to learn more about saving money on health and dental care treatments? If so, visit the Health and Fitness section of our site today for more advice.

Only a little more than half (58 percent) of people report going to the dentist on a regular basis.

There are lots of reasons why people skip visiting the dentist. One of the most common, though, is the high cost of a lot of dental treatments.

Do you fall into this camp? Have you been putting off a trip to the dentist because you think you can’t afford it?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, keep reading. Listed below are some tips that will help you make your dental care more affordable.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Treatments

Before we get into the steps you can take to save money at the dentist, it helps to know why dental treatment costs what it does. There are a lot of factors that influence the price of treatment, including the following:

Type of Treatment Needed

Some dental treatments are more labor-intensive and time-consuming than others. As a result, their prices are higher.

If you need an involved treatment like a root canal or dental implants, you’re going to pay more than you will for a regular cleaning or cavity filling.

Number of Treatments Needed

You also have to consider the number of treatments you need. If you need multiple procedures done, your dentist will have to charge you more because of the additional time and energy they have to spend working on your teeth. 

Oral Health Complications

Depending on the current state of your oral health, your dentist may have to put more time and effort into your teeth than they would with someone else.

Poor oral health can contribute to complications like infections and severe bleeding when the dentist starts to work on your teeth. If this happens, they’ll have to spend more time and use more resources to take care of the issue.

Dental Practice Overhead Costs

One of the many factors that contribute to the price of dental treatment is the overhead costs associated with the dental clinic itself.

Dental overhead costs are already quite high due to office rents, the cost of paying employees, and the cost of equipment.

Remember, all the money you’re paying for treatment isn’t going straight into your dentist’s pockets. Often, only a small portion of it actually goes to the dentist themselves.

Changes in Lab Prices

Every lab charges different rates for its services. One dentist might have to charge more than another to have molds or devices made, and the price is completely out of their control. 

Insurance Obstacles

In many cases, insurance companies don’t cover as much as patients assume they will. More often than not, the assistance is minimal and doesn’t make much of a dent in the total bill.

This isn’t the dentist’s fault. It’s an insurance issue. However, a lack of insurance or poor insurance coverage can still keep a lot of people from seeking the care they need.

How to Save Money on Dental Treatments

Understand the factors that influence the cost of dental treatments can be very helpful when it comes to planning ahead and knowing about how much you’ll have to pay before you head to the dentist. If you’re not happy with the estimated price of treatment, though, there are a few different steps you can take to lower the cost.

Give these seven tips a try at your next dentist visit:

1. Get Regular Cleanings

There’s a lot of truth to the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If you make it a priority to have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis, you can avoid many more serious and expensive treatments in the future.

2. Prioritize Treatments

If you need to have several treatments done and can’t afford to pay for all of them at once, talk to your dentist about which ones are most important. Make those the top priority and schedule the rest for a later date so you have time to save for them.

3. Invest in Dental Discount Plans 

If you don’t have dental insurance, you can still save money on dental services by purchasing a dental discount plan.

Many dentists offer a plan that allows you to receive a variety of basic services for a flat fee. Find out if your dentist offers any kind of program like this, and take advantage of it if possible.

4. Ask About Cash Discounts

Sometimes, your dentist will also give you a discount if you pay for your treatment upfront in cash.

This saves them from having to deal with the administrative headaches of filing insurance claims. As a result, they may be willing to work with you and charge less if you can pay for your treatment then and there.

5. Consider Payment Plans

If you can’t afford to pay for your entire treatment at the time of service, ask your dentist if they can set up some kind of payment plan for you. Many dentists provide this option and charge low interest rates or no interest if you pay for the treatment within a specific period.

6. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Again, prevention makes a big difference when it comes to the cost of treatment. If you make your oral hygiene a priority and brush and floss on a regular basis, you’ll be less likely to need expensive treatments.

7. Ask Questions First

Finally, be sure to ask questions about the cost of treatment before you go in for your appointment.

Find out how much routine things like x-rays will cost and find out what you can skip in order to bring the price of treatment down.

If you need special devices made, ask how much things like mouthguards or clear retainers cost ahead of time so you can start saving for them.

Start Saving Money Today

If you’ve been putting off going to the dentist because you’re worried about how much your dental treatments will cost, you’re in luck.

These tips can help you get the care you need without having to spend an arm and a leg. Keep them in mind as you schedule your next appointment so you can avoid paying more than is necessary.

Do you want to learn more about how to save money on other dental and healthcare treatments? If so, check out the Health and Fitness section of our site today for additional information.

When it comes to your health and quality of life, a good night’s sleep is just as important and eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. Why? Because adequate sleep improves brain function, reduces the risk of accidents, regulates your hormones, improves learning and memory, aids in problem-solving, regulates your weight and helps you control your emotions, just to name a few.

Not getting enough sleep is often referred to as sleep deficiency. If you often lie in bed, but can’t sleep, you should be interested in your sleep efficiency, which is the amount of time spent sleeping in relation to the amount of time you spend in bed. Learning how to sleep better using the following tips can improve your life and health in many ways.

Good Sleep Efficiency Relies on Less Blue Light

In today’s tech-driven world, you’re probably exposed to blue light regularly throughout the day. This is the light emitted by devices like your tablet or smartphone.

Research shows that it can disrupt your circadian rhythm, making it difficult to sleep at night. You can certainly turn the blue light filter off on our devices, but you can also use glasses that block blue light or simply turn your devices off about an hour before bed.

Create a Sleep Schedule for Better Rest

Sticking to a sleep cycle helps regulate your circadian rhythm so that you can sleep when you go to bed. For that reason, it’s important to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Sleeping in on the weekends isn’t a good idea if you have trouble sleeping and if you fall asleep on the couch before bedtime, you could be disrupting your sleep-wake cycle.

Make Sure You’re Sleeping on the Right Mattress

Buy a comfortable and supportive mattress; being uncomfortable makes it hard to sleep. If you have allergies, buy an allergen reducing mattress cover. If your mattress is more than about 7 to 10 years old, it’s time for an upgrade.

The right mattress, which you can view here, is vital to getting the sleep you need.

Build Some Exercise Time into Your Day

Studies show that people who exercise during the day get better sleep at night. Even just a 10-minute walk can help you get more rest. And the more vigorous the exercise, the better the benefit. Make sure that your time your sweat session correctly though because being active too close to bedtime can keep you from falling asleep.

Make Smart Choices at Mealtime to Avoid Lying Awake

Caffeine is definitely an off-limits substance too close to bedtime since it will wake you up and prevent falling asleep.

It’s best to cut yourself off the caffeine at or shortly after lunchtime so that your body has a chance to eliminate it completely before bedtime. Likewise, alcohol too close to bedtime might make you feel drowsy but gets in the way of a whole night of good rest.

You should also avoid large, heavy meals too close to lights out or you won’t be comfortable enough to fall asleep. The right foods in the right quantities can help you sleep.

Lower the Temperature in Your Room so It’s a Bit Chilly

One of the best sleeping tips you’ll hear is to lower the thermostat in your bedroom. That’s because your body is better able to get to sleep and stay that way if it’s not too hot in your bedroom. Of course, you don’t want it to be too cold either. Experts say that the ideal temperature for good rest is between 60 and 67 degrees.

Eliminate Outside Noises with a White Noise Machine

Nothing can interfere with sleep more than hearing your neighbor’s car backfiring, the kids in the street shouting and playing or your family watching television in another room. Blocking this noise can help you get better sleep at night. A simple white noise machine does the job and is simple to use. You might also run a fan to mask outside sounds or wear noise-canceling headphones.

Consider a Supplement that Induces Sleep

If you’re wondering how to get better sleep, but don’t want to resort to sleeping pills, consider a natural supplement. Melatonin is a good choice as your body produces it naturally and boosting your supply about 30 minutes before bedtime can help you drift off and stay asleep for the entire night.

Other supplements that might help include ginkgo biloba, valerian root, lavender, and magnesium. Be sure you check with your doctor before taking any supplements since some can have a negative reaction with certain medications and some may not be appropriate for certain health issues.

Add Some Relaxation Techniques to your Bedtime Routine

Learning how to sleep through the night might take some time but paying attention to what you do before bed can play a big role. Instead of just deciding it’s time to go to sleep, help your body and brain relax.

You can do this in many ways, including meditation, massage, listening to soothing music, reading a book, engaging in deep breathing, or taking a warm bath.

Experiment to find which technique works best for you. Once you find what works, make time each evening to engage in it. In just a few days to weeks, you’ll start to notice the positive results.

As a Last Resort, See Your Doctor

If you’ve tried everything and still can’t seem to balance your sleep efficiency, make an appointment to see your doctor. That way you can rule out a sleep disorder like sleep apnea or an underlying health problem that could be getting in the way of a restful night. Your doctor might also be able to offer you some additional solutions for getting enough sleep at night.

Before You Nod Off…

Creating sleep efficiency is important for many reasons, including your health and safety. Ideally, you should be falling asleep within 15 minutes of lying down. If that’s not happening, or you’re waking up several times at night, any of these tips are a good starting point for figuring out the problem.

If you want more great help and advice on fitness and health, you’ll find interesting news, reviews, and articles on our blog.

Did you know that around 350 million people in the world deal with arthritis?

Arthritis affects many people in the world, and luckily some people have come up with solutions.

Medications can become expensive and sometimes might even be ineffective in treating your pain, but there are things that you can do at home to help yourself.

Continue reading to discover what arthritis is and the best natural remedies for joint pain.

What Is Arthritis?

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is a condition in which the person suffers from joint pain. Swelling, stiffness, loss of motion and pain are all signs that you may be dealing with this condition.

Arthritis can affect almost anyone, and symptoms can come and go throughout the years, but they typically get worse as time goes on.

This condition is not affected by sex, ethnicity, or age. However, arthritis is often more likely to occur with women and older aged individuals. There are over 100 different types of arthritis that people can get, so be sure to speak with your doctor if you fear that you have this condition.

The Best Natural Remedies for Joint Pain

Those suffering from arthritis understand how painful the condition is and typically have to take medications to deal with the symptoms.

Instead of filling your body with pain killers, there are many natural remedies for joint pain that you can try instead. Below are 7 natural and effective ways that you can use to help treat your symptoms.

1. Focus on Your Diet

Those struggling with arthritis should be basing their diet (or part of it) on their condition.

Fatty acids are an excellent addition to your diet if you are dealing with pain because they are anti-inflammatory foods. Fruits and vegetables are also filled with wonderful antioxidants that reduce pain.

Filling your diet with healthy foods can not only reduce your pain and inflammation but is also a great way to maintain overall health.

2. Get Enough Exercise

Although people who have arthritis deal with joint pain, it is still recommended for them to get consistent physical exercise.

Water exercises, or taking Tai Chi and Yoga classes are often easier on your joints and may not induce much extra pain. Exercise is important when dealing with arthritis because it helps build muscle and strengthen areas around the joints.

Stretching muscles will also reduce inflammation and the increase in movement will produce fluids in your body that help lubricates joints and lower pain.

3. Use Epsom Salt to Relax

Epsom salt is infused with magnesium sulfate, which is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

Soaking your pain areas in warm water and Epsom salts can help minimize inflammation and reduce pain. Relaxing in a warm tub can also help reduce and build up stress or toxins that contribute to joint pain as well.

It is important to minimize toxins within your body because as they build up, joints become stiffer and more pain may be experienced.

4. Pull Out the Olive Oil

Olive oil has been said to be as effective as common pain killers and reduce inflammation.

Olive oil can be used to help arthritis and it can be taken orally or be rubbed onto your painful joint areas. Along with rubbing olive oil onto painful areas, CBD is wonderful at helping with joint support, and may improve other ailments too!

5. Go for Green Tea

Green tea is popular for many reasons and one of the most important beings that it helps reduce inflammation within the body.

People who suffer from arthritis can benefit from this treatment and can take green tea supplements in the form of beverages, tinctures, or tablets. There is still much research that needs to be done on the effectiveness of green tea for arthritis but many people seem happy with the remedy.

6. Alternate Hot and Cold Treatments

Heat therapy works well when you have stiff joints and achy muscles. The heat boosts circulation and relieves stiffness. Cold therapy slows down circulation by restricting vessels, it helps reduce both swelling and pain.

If you choose this type of therapy, it is important to do cold treatments for 20 minutes at a time. Warm showers work well for heat therapy, or you can even use heat pads on the sore areas.

7. Get a Massage

Arthritis symptoms can be soothed by getting a massage on muscles and joints in the painful areas.

Massages help by relieving stress and tension in the body, which makes arthritis more painful when tense. They also help people get better sleep at night and this could be helpful for those suffering from arthritis and wake up in pain.

Getting a massage has been shown to reduce pain and people who suffer from arthritis see an increase in serotonin levels. Serotonin regulates mood.

Say Farewell to Pain

Using these natural remedies for joint pain can save you money and give you relief from pain. Most of these remedies are inexpensive or include household items that you likely have already.

Many of these remedies can also be easily included in your daily activities, waking up and getting exercise for taking a walk or swim can benefit you and help with the pain. Using hot and cold treatment, along with getting massages can also minimize discomfort.

Be sure to check out our health and fitness section located in our frugal living blog to find more articles, like this one, that promotes a healthier life for yourself.