Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

Is it a Cold, the Flu, or Coronavirus?

For months we’ve all been reading and hearing about a resurgence of  the coronavirus combined with the flu.    So…what does this mean?

Every year I hear the same question at the beginning of flu season:  HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT’S A COLD OR THE FLU?  This season, the question is a little different:  HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER IT’S A COLD OR THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS?

There are some real differences.

Fever is rare with a cold.  Fever is common with the flu.  It’s usually high and lasts three or four days.

Headaches are rare with a cold but common with the flu.

Cold sufferers may have slight aches and pains.  Flu sufferers have definite aches and pains which may be severe.

Extreme fatigue and/or weakness is just not a factor with a cold.  Exhaustion is common with the flu – especially at the onset of the illness.

Sore throat, stuffy nose, and sneezing are common with a cold.  A person suffering with a cold may have mild symptoms to include a hacking cough.  With the flu, these symptoms can become severe.

With colds, treatment includes antihistamines, decongestants.  With the flu, the patient needs to consult with a physician about any needed medication.

Coronavirus complicates things.

Many people experience fever as the first symptom of Coronavirus.

The second  symptom is often  a combination of a cough and muscle pain.

Nausea and vomiting make up the third tier.

These symptoms are usually followed by diarrhea.

And, that’s not all.  Some people experience a loss of taste or smell.

And, some people experience deeply reddish-blue toes (chillblains).

Others  have headache and dizziness.

The bottom line here is that coronavirus has many symptoms while colds and flu

are much less complicated.

If you suspect coronavirus, go get tested.  Waiting around while you try to decide you are sick and contagious or not is not good for you and it’s not good for those around you.

There  are several tools at your disposal which can help you early on.

A thermometer is essential.  Take your temperature daily.

When I’m out in the community, my temperature is the key to getting into the office  where I have an appointment.

The no-touch forehead fever thermometer gun has become ubiquitous on  receptionists’ desks wherever I go.

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t take your temperature every morning.  Your temperature can accompany your blood pressure reading.  You can keep your thermometer gun beside your blood pressure cuff.

Then, you only need one other item: a pulse oximeter.  A pulse oximeter estimates the amount of oxygen in your blood.

If you have coronavirus, your pulse oximeter will register a lower oxygen level in your body.  This is because with coronavirus, your lungs are inflamed.  (Actually, with coronavirus, inflammation is all over your body).

So, if you are concerned about your health because you may become exposed to coronavirus, you can help yourself with your temperature,  your blood pressure, and your oxygen level.

If you feel ill, you will help your healthcare professional with  these three scores.

For those who aren’t really familiar with an oximeter, it is the little plastic  clip  placed on your finger when you get your blood pressure measured.

These devices are not that expensive, are easy to use, and you can find an explanatory chart which will explain the meaning of the score.

Whatever you decide, prevention is important.  Wash your hands often, wear a mask always when you leave your home, use hand sanitizer and don’t go anywhere around other people if you can help it.

Thanks for reading this blog post.  If you liked this article, please forward it to your favorite social media networks.

Thanks again,

Thurman Greco

Easy Wellness: 10 Tips for a Longer Life

Easy wellness is real and is even easier than you think.

JOB STRESS IS A FACT OF LIFE.  There is a correlation between workplace stress and obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, gastrointestinal problems, asthma.  It’s no surprise that  people are more likely to suffer a heart attack on Monday than on the other days of the week.

So, what can you do to ease the pressure and experience easy wellness?  Easy wellness techniques you can adopt  are easier than you might think.

Go for a walk on your lunch hour.

Take your phone calls while standing up and moving around.

Play relaxing music.

Skip happy hour and go to the gym instead.

Wash your hands at least five times each day with soap and warm water.

Keep your bedroom clutter and electronics free.

Change your sheets weekly.

EASY WELLNESS  EQUALS  HEALTHY WEIGHT.  Being overweight increases your risk for all illnesses and chronic conditions.  Being underweight prevents the body from functioning at peak performance.

GET YOUR ANNUAL FLU SHOT.  AND, AS YOU AGE, GET YOUR ANNUAL PNEUMONIA SHOT AND SHINGLES SHOT.  It’s estimated that over  40,000 people die annually from the flu.  An annual shot can prevent at least some of  these deaths.

GET NAKED!  Occasionally, inspect your body from head to toe.  Look for blemishes, lesions, rashes, and other body oddities that are new on the scene.  Your skin reflects the state of your entire body.  If you will pay attention to your skin, you can catch the signs of underlying internal disease.  Your body will tell you how well you are aging through skin tone, wrinkles, and color.

Expand the skin care routine you devote to your face and neck to include a skin care routine for your entire body.

GET OFF YOUR SEAT AND ON YOUR FEET.   Easy wellness can go beyond the gym.  Is your job physically intense?  Or do you spend most of your time at a desk?  Find ways to keep yourself moving throughout your day.  Your body will love you for this!

DISCONNECT!  At least twice a week give yourself a time out.  It needn’t be too long.  Try for 20 minutes at a time.  Cut off your phone, your computer, your TV, your radio, your doorbell.   Spend a few minutes enjoying your surroundings without interruptions.  Your body, your mind, your spirit will thank you!

QUIT SMOKING – Okay, this may not be easy to do but, once you’ve done it, you’ll be healthier, more alert, richer,  live longer.  If you can get yourself down to 5 cigarettes a day, it’s easier to quit the habit completely.

GET YOUR HEART RATE UP FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES A DAY.    This can be real easy wellness.  One way to do this is to move your body and force your lungs and heart to work harder for 20 minutes every day.  Your entire body will appreciate this effort – including your brain!

COFFEE CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU.  Coffee goes in and out of fashion.  I recommend a reasonable amount of coffee, especially in the morning.  Both coffee and tea have antioxidants which we all need.   Your coffee does not need to include the modern energy concoctions which are overloaded with too much coffee and sugar.  Nor does it need to include any of the fashionable flavors being added these days.

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF A DNA TEST.  This is easy wellness in action.  You’ll be fascinated by  the information and you’ll also know yourself better.  Results of your DNA test can point you in the right direction for wellness habits.

Results of your DNA test can also point you in a right direction for good nutritional habits.  Through your DNA test, you’ll  discover where you came from.  Eating food in the style of your ancestors can help you nutritionally.  I’ll give you an example.  One of my clients wanted to know what to eat.  He had a DNA test which confirmed that most of his heritage was Jewish.  He had his answer right there!

Another client wanted to know what to eat.  His DNA test confirmed that most of his heritage was Mediterranean.  Well, the Mediterranean diet was a good direction for him to follow.  Sticking with the Mediterranean diet food and cutting out all the other food clutter eliminated a few pounds which he needed to lose.

Thank you for reading this easy wellness article!  Please share it with your favorite social media network.

Thurman Greco

Woodstock, New York

10 Easy Wellness Tips for Your Self Care

Self care is all about realizing that we need to take care of ourselves to function optimally in our lives.  For many, self care is being selfish.  This is simply not so.  Eating properly, resting, getting proper exercise, smelling the flowers…these things are not selfish.

Lower back pain?  Try not to overdo the bed rest.  One or two days seem to be the best amount of time. to be off your feet.  Lower back pain is a spiritual situation.   Try to get up and about asap.  Self care is needed when your lower back hurts.

Are your cholesterol numbers less than ideal?  Try to exercise regularly.  Can you lose weight?  That will help, too.  Eating fish helps.  And, finally, omega-3 fatty acids really help.

Get your annual flu shot.    Every year, I encounter people who come down with the flu.  Most of the time, these people neglected to get their shot.  And, getting a flu shot does not immunize a person for life.  A flu shot must be repeated annually.  This can be a bore.  However, I’ve gotten a flu shot annually for the last 20 years or so and,  somehow, don’t seem to get the flu.

Worried about toenail fungus?  Keep your feet clean and dry.  Wear well fitting shoes and socks.  Snug, poorly ventilated shoes and damp, sweaty socks are a breeding ground for athlete’s foot.  Go barefoot if you can.  If you do have toenail or foot fungus, and if it is painful, it’s time to see a dermatologist.

To keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy, brush your teeth often.  Brush your teeth after you eat with a soft bristled brush.  Tooth brushing is essential for good self care.

Do you have hay fever?  Cut back on alcoholic beverages during pollen season.

Do you chew gum?  Chew sugarless gum to fight tooth decay.

Concerned about carpel tunnel syndrome?  Keep your wrists straight when working with your hands.  When you work on a keyboard, make sure your fingers are lower than your wrists.  Carpel tunnel doesn’t always require surgery.  A good body worker or physical therapist can often help you.

Buy your shoes in the afternoon when you’ve been on your feet for a few hours, and always have your feet measured.  Know which foot is larger and fit your shoes to that foot.  That way, you’ll have a more accurate shoe size and fit.

Pinkeye and other eye infections can be extremely infectious.  Use care.

Always first on your list for self care is regular reflexology.

Thank you for reading this article.

Please refer this blog article to your preferred social media network.

Thanks again.

Thurman Greco