Spring Fever Better Catch It!

spring fever

 

It’s getting warmer outside, there’s a change in the air, and chances are you’re showing some spring fever symptoms. Did you know that there is biological proof that such physical symptoms really do exist?

According to some source, human beings experience a real energy surge in spring due to an increase in sunlight. Apparently, the change in daylight triggers a change in the amounts of hormones our brains produce, including an altered amount of melatonin, which is a hormone that influences sleep cycles as well as mood changes.

Here are some of the common symptoms of Spring Fever

  • The sudden urge to go jogging or walking outdoors. Maybe it’s that extra dose of vitamin Dfrom all that springtime sunshine that gives us the energy to run a mile after work. Or maybe it’s because body image becomes important and to the top of our minds in the Springs. Whatever the reason, the random urge you’re feeling to go for a walk during your lunch break is real.
  • You are starting to eat lighter. Craving fresh salads and farmer’s market fruit? That’s a sure sign of spring fever. We can thank our past generations for that part of our internal clock, as our ancestors used to experience a period of famine during the winter months. To plan for it, they would eat heavier foods and go into a type of hibernation. It has been found that people typically eat fewer fruits and vegetables in the winter, as fewer are in season than in the spring and summer months. And in the warmer months, we tend to eat lighter foods with more vitamins and proteins.
  • You find yourself sleeping less. In spring, you may find it harder to go to sleep at your usual time. This isn’t just attributed to daylight saving time. The additional sunlight tells our bodies to produce less melatonin, a main ingredient in putting your brain in sleep mode.

Lastly and Best of All, You Seem to SMILE more in the Spring. You’re happier, and you find yourself smiling, whistling, being nicer than usual. for no reason. These are all symptoms of spring fever

Apparently, this is due to a chemical change, according to a 2008 study which found an increase in serotonin during the transition to spring. Serotonin affects our mood, which may account for a sudden lust for life in the Springtime.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful spring weather we are having now. Remember with the change of weather unexpected colds and allergies can creep up on you. We are here for you 7 days a week when you have those minor illnesses and accidents occur. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about all the services we over.

 

 

 

Metabolism How To Improve It

metabolism

 

How Do I Improve My Metabolism?

There is some good news. Even though you may have inherited slow metabolism from your parents, research indicates that this can be changed. Dr. Gary Hunter PhD, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, found that strength-training just a couple of times a week can reverse 50% of your slow metabolism that comes with age.

Here are some tips to help improve your metabolism.

  • Change your exercise regimen.

The next time you run, swim, or even walk, ramp up the intensity for 30-second intervals, returning to your normal speed afterward. Using this strategy will help you consume more oxygen and make your cell powerhouses, the mitochondria, work harder to burn energy, explains Mark Hyman, MD, an integrative and functional medicine specialist in private practice in Lenox, Massachusetts. “You increase the number of mitochondria and how efficiently they burn throughout the day,” he explains. This way, you can exercise for less time than it takes to plod along at the same pace and still get great results.

  • Get your Omega-3

Why does eating lots of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, herring, and tuna) help amp up metabolism? Omega-3s balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation, helping to regulate metabolism. They may also reduce resistance to the hormone leptin, which researchers have linked to how fast fat is burned.

  • Build Some Muscle

Not only does muscle weigh more than fat, but it uses more energy, too. The average woman in her 30s who strength-trains 30 to 40 minutes twice a week for four months will increase her resting metabolism by 100 calories a day. That means you’re resetting your thermostat to keep running at that rate even on the days when you don’t make it to the gym, Hunter explains.

  • Drink Green Tea

Green tea has long been heralded for its antioxidant polyphenols. But new evidence shows the active ingredient, catechin, may crank up metabolism. Researchers conducted a series of studies in dieters and found that those who went green lost more weight than those who didn’t, suggesting that catechins may improve fat oxidation and thermogenesis, your body’s production of energy, or heat, from digestion. But how much do you have to drink? According to one study, if you drink five eight-ounce cups of green tea a day, you can increase your energy expenditure by 90 calories a day.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope you enjoyed these tips. They were from the health.com website that has even more tips. Remember if you have a minor injury or illness we are here for you 7 days a week. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to review all our medical and skin care services we offer.

Mardi Gras Fun and Safety

mardi gras

 

Mardi Gras season is well underway here in South Mississippi. We at OnCall Medical Clinic know that this is a wonderful festive time prior to the start of our Lenten season. But with all the fun, we all should be aware of some safety tips. We would like to share some basic tips with all our families, friends, and patients.

  • Attend parades in groups, with family or friends.
  • Do not put anything in a glass containers.
  • Do not follow closing behind floats. Violators may be arrested, and this is never safe.
  • Do not throw any object in the direction of floats, band members or any parade participants.
  • Materials known as “Silly String” and “Snap & Pops” along with similar products are illegal.
  • Do not cross the barricades. They are there for safety reasons. There are fine associated with doing so.
  • No underage drinking is ever allowed. This is not only illegal but also unsafe because this age group is not aware yet of the hazards relating to drinking too much.
  • If you need police assistance during a parade, go to the nearest intersection and advise a uniformed police officer.
  • Choose a well-lit area for night parade viewing. Also wear bright clothing so you can be easily seen by passing vehicles.
  • Establish a post-parade meeting place for family and friends in case you become separated.
  • Park vehicles in secure areas and do not leave valuables in plain sight. Utilize the trunk to store valuables.
  • Uniformed and plain-clothes officers will be patrolling behind the crowds to identify and arrest persons engaging in criminal activity.
  • Pets are prohibited during the parades downtown.
  • Skateboards and motorized scooters are prohibited.
  • When leaving a parade in your vehicle, be very cautious of pedestrians still leaving the parade.

We at OnCall Medical Clinic hope that everyone has a great Mardi Gras season. If you a minor injury or illness while out enjoying the parades, remember we are here 7 days a week to help. Our facility has a great laboratory to help us quickly diagnose any illness you may be having. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all the medical services we offer.

Bad Habits The Flu- What to Avoid

The Flu

 

Bad Habits The Flu- The flu season is here and when we catch it we start question who and where we picked it up.

Here are some bad habits that are putting us at risk every day.

  • Putting Your Purse or Back Pack on the Floor

Putting a purse or backpack on the floor is just an open invitation for unhealthy bacteria, especially if you drop it in a restroom or restaurant, and then place it on your kitchen table or counter. If you’ve already done this, and your purse is made from fabric or leather, like most, you need to look for an appropriate disinfectant that will work on the fabric without ruining it.

  • Forgetting to Wash your Thumb when Washing your Hands

While washing your hands is the most obvious germ-killing trick, there’s one common mistake that most people forget washing your thumbs. Since this finger touches some of the surfaces with the most germs, it’s not one to ignore.

  • Toothbrushes

Flu, staph, strep, e-coli, and yeast commonly live on toothbrushes. Keep toothbrush covered and be sure they are not touching someone else’s.

  • Kitchen & Bathroom Handles

We normally clean door knobs, but we often forget kitchen cabinet handles, range knobs, and bathroom cabinet handles. You should give them a good wipe down at least every other day, and daily if you know someone in the house is sick with the flu. There are some great wipe products you can use.

  • Wearing Your Shoes Inside Your Home

Shoe soles have literally been everywhere and when you wear them inside, you track that onto your floors are carpets. Take them off at the door when entering your home.

  • Eating Lunch at Your Desk

It has been proven that your desk is 100 times dirtier than the average toilet seat. So, when eating lunch go to the break room and wipe the table with a disinfectant. This is much easier than trying to sanitize your desk area.

  • Changing Your Sheets

Sheets harbor germs, which means whoever is sharing your bed is going to be susceptible to any virus you may have brought into the house, and vice versa.  The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks, but weekly is better.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information was helpful. We collected this information from the Good Housekeeping website. Remember if you have the flu, we are here 7 days a week to help. Our trained medical staff along with our equipped facility can help quickly diagnose your illness and prescribe the best treatment. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about all the services

Women Vitamins that can Help

women vitamins

Women are always concerned about what are the best women vitamins to take for women’s health needs. Mother Nature’s blueprint isn’t exactly high-tech, and no matter what sophisticated gadgets we use, certain age-old processes are going to continue, both monthly and over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Fortunately, we’ve evolved nutritionally and learned that along with a clean diet, rich in non-starchy veggies and lean protein, the right supplements can help smooth out the bumpy road of life.

Here are three important women vitamins that women should take.

  • B Vitamins

They’re essential for healthy metabolism of sugars and starches and for hormone production. They help turn hormones into active or inactive forms, make sure hormones reach the correct destination within a woman’s body, and help eliminate excess hormones to prevent toxicity.

B vitamins are vital for the production of neurotransmitters. “B vitamins also help combat sugar cravings and fatigue.

You should eat whole grains, lean meat, fish and eggs as well as take a B-complex supplement with 25 to 50 mg of vitamins B1, B2, and B5. Also 1,000 mcg of B12. You should always start your day out with these supplements.

  • Vitamin D3

Low levels of vitamin D, quite prevalent among women. This is linked to greater odds of PMS, death from breast cancer, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, difficult pregnancies, uterine fibroids, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired sugar metabolism, gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart disease, postmenopausal loss of bone and muscle. Optimal liver health is necessary for vitamin D absorption.

You should have your vitamin D levels checked and take the proper supplement for your particular needs.

  • Magnesium

Last magnesium is essential for many processes for a women’s body. Your magnesium can be deleted by too many sodas, caffeine and certain medications. Also, stress can delete this needed vitamin.

You should start with 100 mg daily and increase to 200-800 mg daily. You should cut back if you have loose stools.

If you don’t like the idea of the pill, you can take a bathe in Epsom salts: 2 cups in a warm tub soaking for 15 minutes 3 times a week will work.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope that you enjoyed this information. We are here 7 days a week to help when you have minor injuries or sicknesses. We also preform several skin care services here as well. Please visit our website, www.oncallclinic.com  to learn about all our services.