Health

Pain-Free New Year

Published

3 years ago

December 15, 2020

Chronic pain can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, millions of Americans suffer from pain caused by various ailments every year, which affects their life quality and ability to perform daily tasks. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer from pain every year. You can do some activities to help you lessen the pain and focus more on the things you love.

Here are some things to do to have a pain-free new year.

1. Learn Meditation Techniques

Good meditation techniques, coupled with deep breathing, can help your body relax and ease your pain. This duo loosens the tightness that’s in the muscles and sends them a message to relax. You can engage in various meditation ways, though the common one is by repeating some phrases in your mind. As you repeat those phrases, ensure that you ignore your thoughts and focus on your breathing. Taking a meditation class can also help you grasp meditation techniques well.

Deep breathing is also an excellent companion to meditation. Like meditation, it can help you to relax your muscles. However, to effectively practice this technique, you need to assume a comfortable body position, get a quiet location, and block out destructive thoughts. After doing that, take deep breaths that will fill your abdomen with air, then exhale it out like a deflating balloon.

2. Minimize Stress

Negative feelings such as anxiety, depression, anger, and stress, makes the body more sensitive to pain. Managing your stress can help you find relief from pain. Some techniques to minimize stress and promote relaxation include listening to soothing music and taking a walk. You can also purchase specially designed relaxation CDs or use mental guided imagery to calm your mind. The activities you engage in to minimize stress should relax your muscles and make your mind peaceful.

3. Exercise

Exercise is vital because it stimulates the brain to produce endorphins, which block pain signals and enhance mood. Exercise can also strengthen your muscle and reduce your chances of injury and feeling pain.

If you have diabetes, obesity, or heart disease, exercise can help you mitigate them. However, if you’re diabetic or neuropathic, you need to be careful about the type of exercises you engage in. It’s advisable to consult your doctor and ask him or her the types of physical activities that can fit your body.

4. Join Support Groups

Copying with pain alone can be quite difficult. That’s why most patients suffering from pain are advised to join support groups to meet with other people who’re also experiencing pain. Being in such a group and learning how to cope with pain from others who experience a similar situation can reduce pain.

It would be best to meet with a mental health professional because excruciating pain often leads to depression. If you’re counseled by a professional, you’ll learn how to cope better and avoid negative thoughts that worsen the pain. Having a healthier attitude and asking for help can strengthen you during your journey.

Conclusion

Tolerating pain isn’t easy if you don’t know what to do to lessen it. However, if you know the right activities to engage in, you’ll find coping with pain easier and may even reduce its impact on your life.

Website – https://kimpain.com/

Health

9 Simple Steps to Dealing with a Broken Tooth

Published

2 months ago

February 14, 2024

Michelle Langton

Credit: freepik via Freepik

It’s movie night, and you have an obligatory bowlful of popcorn balancing on your lap. You toss a handful of popcorn and — crack — you unknowingly bite down on a kernel with the full power of your jaw.

Lightning strikes your mouth as you realize this humble kernel broke your tooth.

Now what?

Besides pausing the movie and spitting out your mouthful of popcorn and tooth, you might not know your next steps.

What should you do, and how can you pay for it? Find the answers to these questions and more below:

1. Save the Pieces

If possible, save any broken pieces of the tooth. Your dentist might need these pieces.

2. Rinse Your Mouth

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Avoid using hot or cold water, as it might aggravate any exposed nerves.

3. Control Bleeding

If you bleed, apply gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. You can also use a cold compress on your jaw or cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Contact Your Dentist

Reach out to your dentist immediately. Explain the situation and try to schedule an emergency appointment. Many dentists reserve slots for urgent cases. If they don’t have a spot available, look at specialty emergency clinics in your area.

5. Get Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Broken and chipped teeth can hurt, so take some over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this pain until you can see your dentist.

6. Check Insurance Coverage

Review your dental insurance policy to understand coverage details. Some policies may cover emergency procedures, while others may have limitations.

7. Discuss Payment Options

If cost is a concern, discuss financing options with your dentist. Some dental offices offer flexible arrangements that give you a break. If you qualify for these plans, you might be able to push out your due date to coincide with your payday. You may even be able to break up your total outstanding amount over several payments.

8. Take out a Personal Loan

If you’re just shy of what you need to cover your emergency dental expense, consider going online to scope out personal loans. A personal loan may fill in for savings in urgent situations. You can quickly visit a website like MoneyKey to see what you need to apply. If approved, a personal loan gives you the means to pay for your visit upfront and pay off what you owe over time.

9. Consider Urgent Care Clinics

If your financial situation is such that you can’t afford a personal loan’s payments, reconsider your choice of dentist. Some dental practices apply a sliding scale to their services so that they can provide immediate care at a lower cost for at-risk individuals.

Next Steps: Thinking About the Future

So, you’ve managed to repair your tooth and pay the bill, too. What’s next? Make sure you hit these three goals soon. They can help you prevent another broken tooth in the future!

Stay on Top of Dental Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day — these simple habits can protect your teeth over time.
Schedule Regular Checkups: Keeping up with regular cleanings can also help you prevent future dental emergencies.
Build an Emergency Fund: Sometimes, accidents happen. Consider building an emergency fund specifically for unexpected dental emergencies.