Motherhood – arguably the most challenging, stressful, fulfilling, frustrating, thankless, glorious and important job in the world! And like any other job, a mom needs to be in top shape to give the best to her work. So, along with looking after the well-being of everyone else in the family, don’t forget to ensure that you are healthy and happy as well.

Top 10 health tips for busy moms

Here are the top 10 health tips for all you busy mothers out there.  Follow these so you may continue to do the great job you’re doing already.

Make yourself a priority. You’ve probably heard this repeated a lot. And yet most moms continue to keep putting themselves last on their to-do lists. Be it relaxing, eating, exercising or socialising, it’s important to make time for yourself. After all, only when you’re physically and mentally healthy can you give your best to your family.

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The cool winter wind might calm your soul but it’s going to leave your hair dry, frizzy and unmanageable. As the season changes, you need to revamp your hair care regime too. So here is a guide to amazing, healthy and manageable hair.

Hair care tips for winter

Oil your hair: In winter, it is chilly outside and dry and warm inside the house; this changing temperature harms your hair. Oil your hair regularly, use warm oil if you are comfortable. It will help to restore the moisture and give life to your lifeless tresses.

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People who regularly use cocaine socially have stiffer arteries, higher blood pressure and thicker heart wall muscle than non-users – all of which can cause a heart attack – an Australian study has found.

The Australian study is the first to document some of these cardiovascular abnormalities in seemingly healthy cocaine users long after the immediate effects of cocaine have worn off.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the effects of cocaine in 20 otherwise healthy adults who chronically used the illegal substance.

Compared with 20 non-users, cocaine users had higher rates of multiple factors associated with higher risks of heart attack and stroke: 30 percent to 35 percent increase in aortic stiffening; 8 mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure; and 18 percent greater thickness of the heart’s left ventricle wall.

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People who have optimal heart health in their middle age may live up to 14 years longer, free of cardiovascular disease, than their peers who have two or more cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

This is the conclusion of a new Northwestern Medicine study.

“We found that many people develop cardiovascular disease as they live into old age, but those with optimal risk factor levels live disease-free longer,” said John T. Wilkins, M.D., first author of the study.

“We need to do everything we can to maintain optimal risk factors so that we reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular disease and increase the chances that we’ll live longer and healthier,” noted Wilkins, an assistant professor in medicine, cardiology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

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