Think you know everything about how to use a thermometer correctly? If you read this post until the end, I’ll wager you’ll learn something you didn’t know. And understanding the right way to use a thermometer is important for various reasons.

When people bring their child to my office because of fever, one thing I ask is if they’ve actually taken their temperature with a thermometer. Many have not. Either they don’t have one or they’re not sure they can use a thermometer correctly.

Even if you’re in a situation where you can’t get to a doctor, exact readings taken at different times of the day can be an important clue in making a proper diagnosis. With many infections—strep throat is one I see a lot—the fever is usually a lot lower in the morning than it is in the evening. Also, knowing if your fever is lower today than it was yesterday can be an objective sign you’re getting better. Of course, if it’s not, or if it’s higher, that may be an indicator of the opposite.

If you don’t have a thermometer, I suggest you get one the next time you’re out. Get the digital kind. It’s easy to use (a beep goes off to tell you it’s time to remove it), and it’s more reliable than the skin or ear kind. In fact, buy an extra one for your bug-out bag. 

How to Use a Thermometer: Mistakes People Make

1. They don’t wait at least 15 minutes after eating or drinking to put the thermometer in their mouths.

2. They don’t keep it in long enough. If you have a digital kind, just follow the directions. 

3. They compare temperatures taken at different times of the day,
not realizing that even in people who are not sick, temperatures vary from morning to evening. As I’ve already mentioned, they can do this even more depending on what’s causing the fever. So don’t compare yesterday morning’s temperature to the one you take this evening. Rather compare the one you took around 9 a.m. yesterday to the one you take today around that time.
I’d suggest taking the temperature mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at night. Write the findings and times down. Then take them at approximately the same times the following day to monitor improvement or worsening.

4. They don’t use a thermometer. Instead, they rely on how they feel or how the skin feels.
Some people ache and feel really bad with a temperature of 99. Others feel pretty good with a fever of 101. How you feel is not necessarily an indicator of whether you have a fever.
How your skin feels isn’t a good indicator either. Many people think they’re running a fever because their skin feels hot. Of course that may be the case, but skin can be flushed for many reasons.
​
Think about it. All it takes for someone’s skin to feel hot is your hand being cooler than the skin you’re touching. And our skin surface temperature varies throughout the day.
Try cooling off your hand under a faucet. Dry it and touch your forehead. You’ll get the idea.

What’s been your experience with thermometers? Which type do you use? Have you taken your temperature only to find it normal when you think it would be high, or vice versa?

How to Use a Thermometer With Kids
​Q. Can I use a skin or ear thermometer?
A. If you just want to know if the child is running a fever and you’re not too worried about exactly how much, or if taking the temperature is going to be a big ordeal, you can use the skin or ear thermometer. Or you can place an digital thermometer under the arm for about five minutes (or until it beeps). Keep it in place by holding the child’s elbow next to the body. If there’s fever, you can then take a more accurate oral or rectal reading.

Q. How (and why) would I take a rectal temperature?
A. A rectal temperature is the most accurate and is the way you’ll measure the temperature of young children who can’t hold a thermometer under their tongue. Turn the baby face down, apply a lubricant to the tip, and insert the tip about a half-inch. Keep in place for one to two minutes. A good way to hold it in is to place your palm on the buttocks and hold the thermometer lightly between your index and middle fingers.

For a rectal temperature, you use the same type of thermometer as you would use in your mouth, so be sure to label it (or just buy 2) so you don’t get it mixed up and use it in your mouth next time.

Tips for When a Child Has a Fever
Fever Temperatures-accuracy-and-comparison (link here)
If there’s fever, look at the child overall. For instance:

• Do they look sick?
• Are they drinking fluids? Playing? (These are clues the infection may not be that bad.)

Exceptions: Even if you’re in a disaster situation and getting professional medical help right away is difficult, make every effort to do so if:

• The child is 3 months old or under with a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or above.
• The child’s temperature rises to around 106 (very rare).
• The child has a petechial rash.

If calling a doctor is an option, here some more guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. To summarize some of the recommendations, call the doctor if your child has a fever and looks sick, or if your child is younger than 12 weeks and the fever is 100.4 or higher. Also call the doctor if the fever:

• Is over 104 in any child
• Lasts over 24 hours in a child under 2 years old
• Lasts over 72 hours in a child 2 or older

But read the guidelines for more specifics, and ask your child’s doctor next time you go in to see if he/she agrees with them or would like to add anything else.

Now, I’m not discounting a parent’s intuition. In fact, I suggest not ignoring it. But if a child is drinking fluids pretty well, is playing, and runs away when you get out the acetaminophen or ibuprofen, fever or not, they’re probably doing well enough to not need that fever medication. Most of the time, the only reason to try to get the fever down is to make the child feel better.

The bottom line is, if you can’t get to or even call a doctor or nurse, you can consider how the child is actually doing before getting out in that blizzard to go to the emergency room.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Ruth-Thermometer-Axillary-Temperature/dp/B016EFYCN0​

By the year 2020, it is expected that one in four people will be diabetic. To stop the rise in numbers, prevention is key, and that is the main objective behind this diabetes awareness month.

In 2010, diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. Someone who knows the dangers of diabetes all too well is Marcy Evans. She was diagnosed with the condition in 1990, but it also runs in her family. Both her brother and sister have died from diabetic complications.

"I'm really scared because my sister just died and I don't want it to happen to me," Evans said. "I have something to look forward to, like my grandkids, I want to see them grow older. I'm 68 and I don't know if I'm going to live that long."

To manage her diabetes, Marcy focuses on two main areas, diet and exercise. Both of these categories experts say can make a big difference.

For diet, divide your plate into quarters. Half of the plate should be dedicated to vegetables and green salad, then a fourth of it should be made up of carbohydrates, and a fourth should be protein.

As for exercise, it doesn't take a fancy gym membership, 150 minutes of exercise a week is recommended, so that can be broken down to a half hour walk after lunch each work day.
Sleeping and diabetes have been shown to have a direct relationship. Diabetes symptoms disturb sleep, while sleep loss contributes to diabetes.

7 to 9 hours of sleep each night is ideal, but 35% of us get less than that amount. When we don't get enough sleep, our body produces more of the hormone which stimulates the appetite, which can cause weight gain, and obesity is one of the leading causes of diabetes.
Another trigger for both lack of sleep and diabetes is stress.

"Diabetes has a lot to do with your blood sugars, so people that have diabetes and are in stressful situations, their blood sugars will rise," said Methodist Center for Diabetes and Nutritional Health Manager Jeanne Rice. "Whether they are eating perfectly healthy, and taking all of their medications, your blood sugars can still rise."

Part of the importance of diabetes awareness is to put any myths about the disease to rest, so here are six common misconceptions about diabetes:

1. You have to be overweight to develop diabetes.
False- People who are overweight are at a higher risk, but thin individuals can still develop the disease. Risk factors can include being over the age of 45, inactivity, ethnicity, and family history.

2. Diabetes care is not costly.
False- The total cost of diagnosed diabetes in our country for 2012 was 245 billion dollars.

3. Diabetes only affects old people.
False- All age groups can be susceptible. In fact, about 40,000 children under the age of 15 have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and that number is growing by 5% each year.

4. Diabetes is not a killer disease.
False- diabetes kills more than 4 million people every year. Every seven seconds someone dies from diabetes related causes.

5. Diabetes cannot be prevented.
False- Up to 80% of Type 2 diabetes is preventable by changing diet, increasing physical activity, and improving living environment.

6. People with diabetes cannot have sugar.
False- sugar is just another carbohydrate, and can fit into a meal plan with moderation. Sugary foods, however, can often be high in fat and calories.

​And increasingly, every year moms aren't waiting around for somebody else to buy them a gift.

​As with other holidays, self-gifting is a growing trend. Last year, Experian found that when brands sent emails suggesting that moms treat themselves, they got 64 percent higher transaction rates than other Mother's Day emails they sent.

With more than one in five moms today in the millennial age bracket, these nine million women are shaking up how this tradition-bound holiday is celebrated.

Since millennials are becoming moms at an older age than previous generations, they're more advanced in their careers and have more disposable income to spend on themselves. They have also built post-collegiate circles of friends that are as much a part of their lives as family — although they're still close with their own mothers, said millennial expert Jason Dorsey.

Which means that brunch may no longer be the only acceptable way to celebrate mom this Sunday. "The younger moms are a lot more likely to participate in a day at the ballpark for their family… [or] hot air balloon rides," Grannis said. "This is the age group that enjoys these kinds of experiences."

So as Mother’s Day is just around the corner and especially for all you moms if you haven’t already bought one of the most important items for detecting fever for your baby, toddlers or adult family members then just head to our Amazon store and simply add our FDA approved, essential Zoe+Ruth thermometer to your gift basket.

Mom gift approved...

http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Ruth-Thermometer-Axi…/…/B016EFYCN0

Big businesses are rapidly realizing something that self-employed workers have known for ages: allowing employees to work remotely does great things for productivity and happiness. According to GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, the percent of non-self-employed people who work from home has more than doubled over the last 10 years. What’s more, the average business saves approximately $11,000 per telecommuter annually, and nearly 70 percent of companies report increased productivity from their virtual workers.

However, the success of remote working depends a lot on the home office environment. Whether you have been working from home for years or are new to virtual employment, a positive work-from-home experience starts with a smartly assembled workspace. Here are seven easy ways to create the ultimate remote work setup.

1. DeclutterClutter
can infest your space with distractions and have a profound effect on your mood. To combat this, examine your home office and remove items that don’t belong, paying particular attention to your desktop or other work surfaces. Use of a variety of storage containers and desk accessories to keep the things you need handy but out of sight.

Tip: If your office is tight on floor space, use a combination of shelving and wall pockets to organize your essentials.

2. Incorporate a personal touch
You spend a lot of time in your office, so creating a personal and positive space is well worth the effort. Start by establishing a
​cohesive home office style that you identify with, and then add inspirational décor that works with that theme. Whether you’re motivated by pet pictures, encouraging quotes, or vacation mementoes, a few carefully selected items can arouse positive vibes even on the worst of days.

Tip: For virtual work that requires a heavy dose of creativity or focus, consider changing the color scheme of your office. Different hues provide arange of psychological boosts — white is great for fostering imagination, for example, whereas blue can help promote a calm and centered mentality.

3. Improve area lighting
Lighting is an underestimated element of a productive workspace. A dimly lit office not only increases eye fatigue, but it can also make you sleepy andnegatively impact your mood. In addition to adjusting the ceiling-mounted fixtures that illuminate your office, it’s important to make use of task lights as well. These smaller lights can help ensure that your desk or other work area is sufficiently well-lit, improving both attitude and performance.

Tip: An LED dimming system is an easy and energy-efficient way to change the level of lighting in your home office as needed throughout the day.

4. Update your technology
As a virtual worker, you probably rely heavily on technology, which means keeping devices up-to-date is paramount to productivity. Whether it’s a printer you are always troubleshooting or software you have outgrown, make some time to evaluate your home office technology and upgrade tools as necessary. Plenty of new office tech products are released every year, so stay on top of recent developments to really enhance your work environment.

Tip: You might not realize it, but a slow Internet connection may be hampering your efficiency. Test your Internet speed to find out if your connection is sufficient.

5. Elevate your computer
Hunching over a computer every day can ruin your posture and lead to an array of neck and back problems. Using a computer stand to elevate your laptop or mounting your desktop monitor to a more comfortable viewing height can help alleviate these issues. You’ll be surprised at how much more enjoyable work is when you don’t have to worry about physical strain.

Tip: Increase your comfort further by investing in a quality desk chair that provides ample support for your lower back. Or, if you want your workspace to double as a workout space, use a stability ball to help strengthen your core muscles.

6. Play some tunes
A number of reports indicate that listening to certain types of music can boost productivity, creativity, and memory. Capitalize on this by purchasing high-quality speakers and using an app like Spotify to create playlists for different work-related jobs. Upbeat tunes are preferred for redundant tasks, and soothing music is the best choice for brainstorming and creativity.

Tip: When playing background music, stay away from songs with lyrics, as they can be distracting. Instead, listen to natural sounds, like a babbling brook or ocean waves.

7. Add plants
Adding plants to your home office will make the space feel more warm and welcoming. Potted plants also provide a natural way to help filter air and replenish oxygen — English ivy and golden pothos are two particularly excellent plant purifiers. If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for a more resilient plant, like a small cactus or succulent.

Tip: For a dose of aromatherapy, place a planter of lavender near your desk. The scent can help relieve stress and promote uplifting thoughts. Creating the perfect home work environment can be tricky, even if you’re a virtual veteran. Try a few of these simple suggestions to figure out what works best for you. In a matter of days, you could be working in a dynamic home office that catapults both your productivity and your happiness.

Souce: http://www.lifehack.org/395057/7-simple-ways-to-ramp-up-productivity-in-your-home-office

Fertility specialists share expert tips to boost fertility and get pregnant fast.

For some women, conceiving can be as easy as tossing out their contraception, whether they're working on their first baby or their fourth. For others, reaching the goal of fertilization becomes a nightly chore, a mad mating dance that revolves around ovulation kits, specific sexual positions, and, more and more commonly, a succession of fertility tests to help pinpoint possible problems.

Whether you've just started trying to become pregnant or have been at it for a while, heeding some common sense advice that's based on good science can help boost your odds of conceiving. Here, noted fertility experts from around the country have outlined the do's, don'ts, and don't-bother-withs of getting pregnant.

Have sex frequently.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but given many couples' hectic schedules, it's easy to overlook this one. If you're not timing your cycles or you have irregular periods, you can cover your bases by having sex every other day, say fertility specialists.

Figure out when you ovulate.
Women with very regular 28-day cycles can just count 14 days from the first day of their period to determine their ovulation date. If your cycles aren't regular (or even if they are), an ovulation kit can help you pinpoint your most fertile time.

Most ovulation kits measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH), one of the hormones that signals the ovaries to release an egg, present in your urine. LH begins to surge around 36 hours before you ovulate, but most kits don't detect it until 24 hours prior. A woman with a 28-day cycle should start testing her urine on day nine or ten after the start of her period so she doesn't miss her surge.​

Monitoring cervical mucus is another way to track ovulation. "It's not as reliable as a kit," says Sandra Carson, M.D., professor of ob-gyn at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, "but it doesn't cost anything." This method involves checking your secretions for a few months until you notice a pattern. Estrogen causes mucus to thin after your period, while rising levels of progesterone right after ovulation make it thicken. Once you pinpoint when you ovulate, you can plan to have sex several times leading up to that day.

The drawbacks: Many women find this method inconvenient or inaccurate since such factors as nursing and antihistamines, even fertility drugs, can dry up mucus.

Charting your basal body temperature is useful for figuring out when you ovulate. "Your temperature usually dips by half a degree 24 hours before you ovulate; then it goes up as you ovulate," says Pette Zarmakoupis, M.D., an ob-gyn and director of the Kentucky Center for Reproductive Medicine, in Lexington. But since basal body temperature can be thrown off by a number of things, such as illness, don't rely on it alone.

However, all you need is an accurate reading to the tenth degree for BBT. (See link below)

Step up sex before ovulation.
As soon as you pick up a hormonal surge, have sex that day, plus the next two days. Pregnancy rates peak two days before ovulation, says Clarice Weinberg, Ph.D., chief of biostatistics at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Some experts speculate that's when cervical mucus is at its optimum for helping sperm travel to the egg and break down its shell-like coating.

Sperm can live inside the uterus for 24 to 48 hours, which means there will be plenty on hand to greet the egg once ovulation starts.

Another reason to have sex before you ovulate, as opposed to the day it happens: An egg survives for only 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, so if you begin to ovulate in the morning and wait until nighttime to have sex, the egg may lose its viability by the time the sperm gets to it. In addition, says Dr. Zarmakoupis, cervical mucus starts to become thick and impenetrable right after ovulation, rendering it "hostile" to the passage of sperm.

Enjoy yourself.
"The most important thing to remember is to keep sex fun," says Felicia Stewart, M.D., coauthor of Understanding Your Body: Every Woman's Guide to Gynecology and Health. When it becomes a chore, it's easy to view sex as just one more item on your to-do list.

Give it time.
Barring fertility problems and other conditions or habits that can interfere with conception, half of all couples get pregnant within six months and 85 percent do so within a year.

Source: http://www.parenting.com/article/tips-for-getting-pregnant