Wellness Wednesday - 12/4/19 | Merrimack Valley Magazine

WELLNESS TIP OF THE WEEK

The Fiber of Youth and Health

By Rebecca Moy, BSN, RN, Solace Wellness Center & MedSpa

Collagen is a protein fiber that makes up 30% of the protein found in our skin, bones, muscles and tendons. For the skin, collagen is what keeps it looking supple, smooth and youthful.

But did you know that, starting in our 20s, collagen production starts to slow down? Collagen is also negatively affected by sun exposure, alcohol, stress, smoking and pollution buildup on our skin, thus speeding the aging process by making our skin thinner, drier and saggier. So what can we do? There is no miracle cream that will keep you looking young forever, but there are treatments and procedures to slow down the aging process.

The key is to find ways to stimulate collagen and protect your skin. Today, we have technology such as radio frequency, micro-needling, growth factors like PRP/PRF to supercharge your skin to build new collagen. A more recent use of surgical grade threads to lift tissue and build collagen targets both loss of skin volume and sagging. These threads allow plumping and lifting without surgery. You shouldn’t forget to wear a quality sunscreen, have a good home skin routine that includes exfoliants, retinols and Vitamin C and make lifestyle and nutritional changes to round out a long term plan for skin health.

At Solace, we pride ourselves in using technology to analyze your skin and customize a treatment and maintenance plan for each individual. We use radio frequency, micro-needling, chemical peels, PRF and nonsurgical lifting threads as well as superb skin care products to help you fight the battle against aging. Give us a call and we’ll show you how!

(978) 851-8600 | FoundSolace.com

What This Sunny, Religious Town in California Teaches Us About Living Longer

Loma Linda is nestled between mountain peaks in the middle of California’s San Bernardino Valley. According to CNN, this city is known as an epicenter of health and wellness, with more than 900 physicians on the campus of Loma Linda University and Medical Center.

But that’s not Loma Linda’s only wellness claim to fame. This city is one of the five original blue zones — regions in the world where people live longest and are the healthiest. In fact, the people in this community tend to live eight-to-10 years longer than the average American. Experts say that’s because Loma Linda has one of the highest concentrations of Seventh-day Adventists in the world. The religion mandates a healthy lifestyle and a life of service to the church and community, which contributes to their longevity.

Winter Survival Tips for Health and Home

In light of the recent snowstorm that pummeled most of the Valley earlier this week, here are some important safety tips to keep in mind while you brace for the snow, courtesy of The Washington Post.

●In the home, water pipes exposed to outdoor cold can freeze and burst. Turn off the flow and drain the water.

●Lower the storm windows and check for under-door drafts. If windows are stuck, try a lubrication spray. For doors, draft stoppers of cloth, plastic or metal can keep out icy gusts.

●Experts suggest reversing the direction of ceiling fans so they rotate clockwise and circulate warm air down that has risen to the ceiling. There’s usually a reverse switch on the hub.

●Make sure your furnace works. Bleed air out of radiators.

●If you have a fireplace, check the chimney for animals that may have taken up residence. If you suspect an animal, you can light a piece of newspaper, stick it in the fireplace and smoke the animal out the top. Or call a chimney sweep.

●Go out now and buy ice melt, a windshield scraper, windshield washer fluid and a snow shovel before the stores sell out. You might want two bottles of washer fluid, because it can go fast.

●As for the shoveling, don’t do it if you have a heart condition. Otherwise, go easy and take rests, especially if the snow is wet.

●Take care of your neighbors, and don’t pitch snow into the roadway.

●Be careful of big icicles. They’re pretty but they can be heavy, and if they fall on you, they can hurt.

●Clean the top of your car after a snowstorm. Snow flying off a car’s roof can be dangerous to the driver behind you. In some places, you can be fined if snow from your car hits another car or injures someone.

●Don’t drive in the snow if your car can’t handle it. You’ll get stuck and irritate other motorists.

●Allow more time for everything.

●Be prepared for power outages if a storm is coming. A little extra food and water, flashlights and batteries and an independent phone charger are recommended. Extra pet food and bags for dog waste are also good to have.

●If you have to drive in the snow, go slow and be aware of your car’s ground clearance. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, remember that your car may perform better in the snow than a two-wheel-drive vehicle, but it might not stop any better.

Good luck, stay warm and don’t drive with the windshield iced over.

LOCAL HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

December 5

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Holiday Auction

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell presents its annual Holiday Auction on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 5:30 pm at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online or by contacting ymaysonet@lbgc.org.

Lowell, Mass. | LBGC.org

December 12

Third Annual Mayor’s Holiday Fest for Youth Homelessness

Youth homelessness is a persistent problem in Greater Lowell, yet services focused on the population have typically been geared towards families and adults with little awareness of homeless youth.

To help combat this issue and to provide support to these young people in our community, Mayor Bill Samaras is continuing and building upon last year’s Mayor’s Holiday Fest for Homeless Youth (started by now-Senator Ed Kennedy).

Lowell, Mass. | Commteam.org

December 15

Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra’s Family Holiday Concert

The MVPO invites all to their Family Holiday Season Spectacular Concert at Timberlane Performing Arts Center, featuring many instrumental and choral favorites of the season.

Plaistow, N.H. | MVPOMusic.org

Wellness Wednesday – 12/4/19