Health

Informational or personal experience posts on health and illness topics such as COPD, self-care, and others areas of interest to the author, Lynette M. Burrows or her readers.

Does the End of the Year Stress You Out?

Lynette M Burrows

It’s the last month of the year–a busy, busy time. Not only do we continue our usual work schedule, but we also prep the house for the holidays (whichever one you celebrate), we fix big meals, we spend time with family, and we reflect back on the past year. I don’t know about you but I enjoy all those things. Yet, at the same time, I can get overwhelmed. So much stress! Does the end of the year stress you out? What is Stress? Stress is your body’s way of handling any kind of demand or threat. When you face a threat your body is designed to release hormones that kick your body into high gear. These hormones are called stress hormones. They cause your heart to beat faster, your muscles to tighten, you breathe quick, short breaths, and your senses become sharper. This is the fight or flight response you probably learned a bit about in school. Back when we were cave dwellers this fight or flight response to stress was life-saving. Today, stress can keep you on your game so you perform your best, it can warn you of and get out of potentially threatening situations. But, this […]

20 weird things I'm grateful for-refrigerator magnets

20 Weird Things I’m Grateful For

Lynette M Burrows

The last day of November is here. Writers are scribbling words at a furious rate in a final push to win NANOWRIMO. Whether you “finished” or not, congrats to you. Your dedication is inspirational. Cuckoo, but inspirational. Speaking of Cuckoo, all November we hear about gratitude from every direction. Generally, the gratitude expressed is heartfelt and pretty sappy. Not that that’s wrong. I agree that gratitude is the key to happiness. But, we should be grateful for a million little things in our lives. I know I am. I try to express my gratitude every day. Today, I’m sharing 20 weird things that I’m grateful for. Taco Bell’s $1 cravings menu—I know, but sometimes a girl’s gotta have a little something-something. Opposable thumbs—I had a painful bout of a trigger joint in my thumb a few months back. Made me truly appreciate how often an opposable thumb is used in life. The garage door repairman—a broken spring is no joke. This guy came the night before Thanksgiving, was pleasant, and had new springs in place in a jiffy. McGriddles—Sweet and spicy—I could eat these every day and soon I’d look like one. Soft and gooey on the outside and—well, you […]

Stand Up for Affordable Insulin

Lynette M Burrows

It’s the last week of November and I can’t let the month pass without talking about diabetes. I have a personal relationship with the devastation that diabetes can bring to a person and a family. The disease is terrible. Its toll on the body is all encompassing and can be life-limiting. We have no cure. If you have diabetes the treatment is to boost or replace your body’s insulin. But rising prices of insulin force some people to choose between essentials and insulin. Some people ration their insulin at lower than effective doses. This leads to significant consequences, including death. Please join me in signing the American Diabetes Association’s petition “Stand Up for Affordable Insulin.” Don’t understand why this is important? Please read on. 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. What is Diabetes? It’s actually a collection of diseases where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. There’s Type I diabetes, type II diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Diabetes causes more deaths per year than breast cancer and AIDS combined and having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack.—The American Diabetes Association) What is Insulin? Insulin a hormone produced by your pancreas. Your body turns the […]