Tag: health

How To Overcome Zoom Fatigue

anastasiardh

Do you ever feel exhausted after a zoom meeting? Zoom fatigue is real! It impacts your body and your emotional health! This week, Anastasia will share how Zoom fatigue impacts your body, why it depletes you emotionally, and give you 6 tips to overcome it!

In March 2020, there were over 200 million Zoom meetings! How many of you have felt drained after one Zoom meeting or experience a mind fog during one? Zoom fatigue happens because your body is stagnant!

Zoom fatigue happens because your body is stagnant

Think of in-person meetings and how you move your body, whether it is looking at other people, tilting your chair back, swiveling in your chair, etc.

It isn’t just zoom meetings for business. It is telemedicine, teledentistry, virtual conferences, therapy sessions, teacher meetings, CE, training, etc. 

The truth is that video conferences demand more focus! We have to work harder to process non-verbal cues, like facial expressions or body language.

It can be emotionally exhausting because you may feel like you have to be “on” or bring MORE energy during each meeting.

Silence makes people anxious about whether the technology is working. Silence makes people uncomfortable when on video conferences. A 2014 study by German academics showed that delays on phone or conferencing systems shared our views of people negatively: even delays of 1.2 seconds made people perceive the responder as less friendly or focused.

Finally, we are uncomfortable without eye contact. Learn to look at the camera instead of yourself within the screen on your laptop, iPad, iPhone.

6 Tips To Overcome Zoom Fatigue

1. Give yourself buffer time in-between each Zoom meeting. Get 16 oz. water to place beside you and refresh it after each meeting. Hydration is something many of us forget! Stretch. Close your eyes & breathe.

2. Determine which Zoom meetings can be called in verse a video conference.

3. Ask whether the camera may be turned off during the meeting so you may stand up, or stretch without disrupting the meeting. Alternate your Zoom meetings by standing and sitting.

4. Be mindful of ergonomics. How long are you sitting? What is your posture like? Do you have a supportive chair for your lower back?

5. Get outside for at least 1 hour a day. Fresh air and zero screen time are recharging time for you.

6. Avoid multitasking with emails, social media, etc. Be old school. Get a notebook and take notes to help you retain what was mentioned during that meeting and how you can help.

Let me know if this information was helpful to you!

Till next time,

Take What You Learn & Make A Difference With It!

What Dental Patients Can Expect From Dental Practices In A COVID-19 World

anastasiardh

This week Anastasia answers a viewer’s question, “I have an upcoming wellness visit with my dental hygienist, what can I expect from my dental practice?”

Is your dental practice keeping you in the loop? Are they sharing what to expect from their practice as they reopen? A video on their social media pages? Have you received a newsletter? Text or email? Is it on their website?

Here is what dental patients can expect.

1. Pre-screening questions BEFORE you get to your dental practice for your dental visit.

2. As soon as you walk in, there should be hand sanitizer + forehead or temporal thermometer. Some practices will have pulse oximeter.

3. In a perfect world, as soon as you enter, have your temporal temp. taken you are immediately taken into the treatment room. * In a next to a perfect world, you are social distancing in the reception room with very few people & everyone is wearing masks. NOTE: There are no magazines, coffee / tea stations, or kids’ toys.

4. TREATMENT (Wellness or Restorative) Your dental team will look different. In addition to PPE, gloves, masks, lab coats or scrubs, protective eyewear or loupes … LOOK FOR Surgical caps, gowns, booties AND face shields. (THIS IS IMPORTANT) Expect your appointment to take longer. Expect the dental team to minimize aerosols by doing the following *PreRinse *Selective Polishing or Zero Air Polishing * Hand instrumentation verse Ultrasonic *Rubber dams when dental handpieces are used for restorative. *Use of HVE (I’ve called it the mac daddy suction)

5. Teledentistry – may be for consultations, or virtual exams (no contact) Personally, I’d recommend that once your treatment is completed that you use hand sanitizer & place your mask back on prior to paying for your service at the front desk. Always ask your provider questions. This is your health.

Finally, breathe and smile!

How My Experience With Grief & Loneliness Prepared Me Emotionally During COVID-19

anastasiardh

Have you felt anxious, stressed, sad, tired, angry, restless, or in a fog like you are living in a different dimension lately? If you answered yes, you are not alone. I believe we are experiencing grief and loneliness as we stay strong in our fight to stay healthy as individuals and as a country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We grieve the many things we were able to do with friends, family or co-workers. We feel lonely or disconnected from our staying home in effort to stay safe and healthy. I understand.

In 2016, I was so excited to marry the man of my dreams! We were in our forties, and opted to combine our wedding and honeymoon so we traveled to a destination out of the country. Prior to leaving the USA, we talked with my mom and my futre in-laws. We felt blessed and blissful! The day after arriving at our destination, I received a message sharing that my mom had suddenly passed away from a pulmonary embolism. My world would never be the same.

I understand what it is like to not be able to see your loved one, visit them in a hospital, hold their hand, give them a hug, or hear their voice. I understand what it is like to virtually make funeral arrangements. I understand what it is like to go back to your life feeling so disconnected and detached. I had to learn how to grow through grief and loneliness.

  1. Learn to like to being alone with yourself. If you are unable to like being with yourself or are bored being alone with yourself, then how will anybody feel connected to you or want to be around you? This is an opportunity for you to do your best self-care. Love yourself. Create new goals. Honor the process.
  2. Release your expectations of yourself, your intimate relationships, friends, family & others. By doing this, you set healthy boundaries which will be rewarding for your emotional health.
  3. Visit social media with intention. In 2016, I attempted to escape my loneliness by being on social media more often. It was August – December during the Presidential campaign. Toxic political posts in my feed only triggered sadness, anxiety and stress. What I found helpful was to limit my time on social media. It became optimized when I used it for (1) personal growth (2) professional growth. Intentionally seek out motivation, empowerment, mindset boosting affirmations, and for those you consider mentors or leaders that you can learn from to hone your career craft.

In times like these, you have 2 choices to overcome grief and loneliness. You can choose to nurture existing relationships or form new ones. The most important relationship is the connection with yourself.

How To Avoid Weight Gain During COVID-19

anastasiardh

Health. How do we achieve it? Weight loss. How can we make it happen? The acronym HOW will be our guide to avoiding weight gain and staying healthy during this COVID-19 crisis.

First, STOP reading the memes on social media that reference going to your refrigerator to eat something bad, or how you will gain the COVID 15 lbs. Why? Because what you read plants a seed!

What You Read Plants A Seed!

anastasia

Let’s get to the acronym HOW for How To Avoid Weight Gain During COVID-19.

H – Health.

We know that existing health conditions will place you at a higher risk for illnesses and COVID-19. According the the CDC here are the health conditions to be aware of.

  1. Heart disease
  2. Diabetes
  3. Immunocompromised Diseases
  4. Liver & Kidney Diseases
  5. Obesity

What is your current state of health? This will determine how you keep your immune system and body healthy, which may direct you differently regarding nutritional choices than the rest of your family. Honor that.

Staying home & staying healthy CAN coexist.

Anastasia

O – Online Wellness Programs

I found 2 platforms to check out. I’m NOT getting paid from them to share this information.

Noom. Noom’s approach is from behavior change and disease management. They have free resources, recipes on their website and social media platforms. I found some cool private FB communities that range from new moms to women over 40 & going through menopause. The opportunity for membership is available which will place you with a coaching team and goal specialist to walk beside you on your health adventure.

WW “formally Weight Watchers”. WW’s messages embrace wellness & healthy living. The experience from their website to their social media platforms is one of empowerment. I first noticed WW when my husband and I were selecting our dinners from Blue Apron. You see, I’m a clueless chef. I was seeking something to help a sister out.

I’m a clueless chef. I was seeking something to help a sister out!

Anastasia

WW memberships give you the opportunity to have coaches, weekly workshops that empower you and nurture your accountability. Obviously, with COVID-19 pandemic, the in person workshops had to take a back seat. No worries as WW now offers ZOOM virtual meetings and they are a hit based on what I’ve read on their social communities. VERY cool! Especially if members would get ZOOM bombed by Oprah … right?

Both online wellness platforms give you opportunity to gain health & well-being. Check them out and see what best fits you at this time.

W – Water

Hydration! Staying home means drink your water as you can take bathroom breaks at your leisure! Seriously though, drinking water helps your immune system stay healthy, it flushes toxins from your body, it helps us to lose weight and assists us with weight management. There are MANY more benefits of hydration that you can google.

HOW to avoid weight gain during COVID-19 is realistic when using this acronym! Let me know your thoughts!

How To Avoid Weight Gain During COVID-19

Back To School Dental Checklist

anastasiardh

Every Wednesday I share tips on how to live a healthy life based on my background in dentistry. As summer begins to wind down, back to school health exams are in full swing.

Dental health is connected to your physical & emotional health. Did you know that approximately 30% of kids in the US will miss thousands of hours of school each year due to dental problems? Kids who have dental pain will have trouble concentrating in school and get lower grades.

Let’s start with what you as parents should expect from your child, teen, or young adult’s back to school dental exam.

I promise you that you WILL learn from this list!

Let me know what was most helpful to you!

Take What You Learn & Make A Difference With It!

Anastasia

Dental Anxiety & CBD Oil

anastasiardh

I remember experiencing dental anxiety at a younger age before & during my health & wellness visit with my dental hygienist. Okay, yes I could have better oral hygiene with my braces, yet she had the personality of the Night King! Who wouldn’t be terrified of that for 30 minutes?

Approximately 30% of adults in the US are affected by anxiety. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were to offer a healthy solution to manage some degree of anxiety without using opioids?

This week’s video blog, I answer a viewer’s question regarding dental anxiety and CBD oil. View and share your thoughts!

https://t.co/pfXdYTWHZ5?amp=1

Menopause | 3 Oral Health Side Effects

anastasiardh

Did you know that 60% of women who have systemic symptoms of menopause will have an oral manifestation? YIKES! As IF hot flashes, insomnia and vaginal dryness were not enough!

  1. Increase Risk for Dental Caries
  2. Altered Taste
  3. Bad Breath / Oral Malodor
  4. Mucositis
  5. Difficulty Removing Dentures

The most common oral health side effect associated with menopause is xerostomia. Xerostomia is another word for dry mouth. Prescription medications, OTC medications, auto-immune diseases, tobacco, alcohol, smoking or vaping are just some of the contributors to dry mouth. How can that impact your oral health?

The second oral health side effect is periodontal disease and/or osteoporosis. Let’s begin with the recommendation of being screened for both in effort to give you a base line in moving forward with prevention or treatment.

Medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is alarming. Discuss with your dental hygienist, dentist and healthcare team if you have been on a high dose of antiresorptive medication for more than 2 years to treat cancer. Ask about additional medications that may be contributors.

Periodontal disease has been linked to smoking or vaping tobacco & marijuana. Yes, some studies has shown that smoking marijuana may help alleviate some menopause symptoms. CBD oil may be a better option for you to look into verse smoking or vaping.

The third oral health side effect is a long list of oral manifestations. Buckle up!

Burning mouth syndrome, candidiasis, angular cheilitis, lichen plants, pemphgoid vulgaris, Sjogren’s syndrome and ulcers.

Be empowered with this health information and proactive in recognizing what your body is telling you AND showing you! Surround yourself with a powerful dental and healthcare team, determine which products will be your best fit and live your life in abundant health!

Traveler Health Tips

anastasiardh

A few weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to St. Lucia for our vacation. We planned to hike the Gros Piton and even trained for it! What we didn’t plan on were the potential emergencies that can happen when you are out of the country!
It was a warm summer day; our group had tenaciously climbed to the top of that mountain! I’ll admit it, this was one of the most physically and emotionally challenging excursions I had ever experienced, and yes, the view was magnificent!
With 2400 sq feet up, it was time to make it back down. What could go wrong?
One member of our group was lagging, I could hear them shuffle their feet, which is unusual given the terrain. After asking a few questions, it seemed as though they were showing symptoms of being hypoglycemic. Not one person in our group had any glycemic tabs or gel, electrolyte tabs, power or beverages or food. We only had water left.


I asked our guide where the nearest hospital was, and he answered: “the next island over.” WHAT?!


Thankfully, another group was also coming down the mountain and had everything we didn’t. They gladly shared everything, sugar tablets, electrolyte drink, and half a sandwich. Within 20 minutes, our group member was visibly better and physically ready to continue down the mountain.


After we returned safely to our hotel, we looked up how many people have perished on this excursion. The average is one person dies every year due to heat stroke or heart attacks.
This statistic plus the recent events for US travelers to the Dominican Republic inspired me to share travel health tips.

Preparation for a vacation can beat an unwanted staycation

View below and get this information!

BONUS! For fun, enjoy our instructional video for body shots over age 50!

Traveler Health Tips, Websites & Smartphone Apps

Take What You Learn & Make A Difference With It

Anastasia

http://www.AnastasiaTurchetta.com

Kids, Dogs, and Danger in Hot Cars

anastasiardh

Every summer, heatstroke claims the lives of children and pets who are left in hot cars.

What can you do if you have your kids or pets with you in the car running errands?

Here are the facts; heatstroke is the number 1 cause of death in an automobile for kids under age 14! Isn’t that crazy?

Newer cars will have technology placed to help prevent this tragedy yet what if you don’t have a new car? I’d suggest leaving your purse, computer or anything you will need to take with you once you get to your destination in the back seat with your infant or young child.

What about your pets? Did you know your pet can die in your hot car in as little as 6 minutes? I’ll give you 5 tips to follow when you are running errands in the summer heat!

  1. Drive Up Services. Go online and order via stores like Walmart or Target. Utilize their drive up services! This is SO convenient! Your pet will thank you too!
  2. Cooling Pet Products.Even though you are in your car, air conditioning will not be the “fix” to keep your pet cool. Check out the various cooling pet products like a vest, bandanna, or collar. It will help to keep them at a healthy core temperature.
  3. Water. Always take water for yourself & kids, yet your pets will benefit from it also.
  4. Doggy Daycare. Even a 1/2 day gives you the freedom to get your errands accomplished without sacrificing the health of your pet.
  5. Dogwalker. If you don’t have a neighbor to ask to check in on your pet, you can look into options like Rover, or Wag.

Be the person your dog thinks you are; DON’T leave them in your hot car!

Anastasia

http://www.AnastasiaTurchetta.com