




Spring is here and so are my allergies. I know I’m not alone. I’ve used allergy medications, nasal sprays, random homeopathic remedies, and still my nose runs at an alarming rate and my eye (yes, eye – apparently the other eye doesn’t suffer from allergies) tears in tandem. On an “impulse buy” I bought “allergy bedding” in the hopes of at least getting enough allergy relief in bed to have a few hours of restful sleep. Apparently allergy bedding means covers for everything bed related (mattress, box springs, pillows, comforter, etc) to keep dust mites at bay and your bed an allergy free haven.
Who of us hasn’t looked in the mirror and wondered when it was that our face started getting saggy or laugh lines turned into full-fledged wrinkles? I don’t know about you, but for me (and my friends – no names to protect the wrinkled) aging and it’s physical effects seem to have crept up on me, and I’m not sure I’m completely prepared for it all. Thankfully, boomers are aging in mass and skin care companies are providing a plethora of anti-aging skin care options. The Lumiere Skin Care products are an anti-aging skin care line that caught my eye amongst all the anti-aging chaos of products.
Oxygen concentrators have come a long way since the “tanks and regulators” days. Oxygen users these days want more freedom and flexibility, and they’re giving a whole new meaning to being active (no matter what your age may be). The number of portable oxygen concentrators on the market today will make even the most researched consumer’s head spin. Each oxygen concentrator unit has its pros and cons, but one portable concentrator recently caught my attention with its innovative details (yes, those “little things” make a big difference!). The Drive Oxus Reliability Plus Portable Concentrator made me stop, give it a closer look, and I loved what I saw.
There are many devices out there these days that can assist you when you have an ankle or foot injury. One of the best and original inventions is a knee cruiser, or “knee walker“. It allows you to support your injured leg as you walk on your good leg. We all know how difficult is to use a wheelchair, crutches, walker, and power scooter. This would be an excellent substitute to those devices and help you stay active and liberated to do everything from going to the park with your children to that last minute business meeting. A few health effects are improved circulation in affected leg, and partially elevating the affected leg decreases pain and swelling.
Did you know December and January are when gyms sell the most gym memberships? The most popular New Year resolutions are weight loss and to get in shape, and many of us (I know I have tried this) assume that buying the gym membership will be enough motivation. Sometimes it even works, but rarely for very long. Instead, here are some easy ways to get motivated to lose weight (and then stay motivated once you’ve started!):
As we age our risk of falling while doing everyday tasks increase and more falls occur in the bathroom than any other, but affordable bath safety products (i.e. grab bars, bath lifts, raised toilet seats, etc.) can help prevent falls and spare you the cost of an entire bathroom renovation. Bath lifts in particular continue to increase in popularity because they provide many of the same benefits as walk-in tubs at a fraction of the cost and without the installation issues.