1. Never stick a “Q-Tip” in your ear. The cotton tip is generally larger than your ear canal, so you just push most of the earwax up against your eardrum. The wax will then have to be flushed out. If flushing doesn’t work, the wax will have to be dug out – not a pleasant experience.
2. If you get an itchy rash just below your belly button, you may be sensitive to the nickel that coats the snap of your jeans. Take some clear nail polish and cover the inner side of the snap; the nail polish will keep the metal off your skin.
3. If you’re a weightlifter and your jaw or teeth hurt after your workout, you’re gritting your teeth too hard when lifting. Wear a toothguard when lifting; this will not only prevent your jaw from aching, but it could prevent broken teeth.
4. Thick, dry calluses on your heels can be painful and can bleed if they crack. To prevent this problem, use 60-grade sandpaper on a sanding block to remove the bulk of the callus. Next, soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes, or take a bath or shower. After patting-dry the callused area, apply a small amount of hair gel that contains lanolin, and then put on socks.
5. It is “common knowledge” that it’s the tryptophan in turkey that causes sleepiness, because tryptophan is related to sleep.
Actually, pork and cheese contain more tryptophan than does turkey. So what is it that causes sleepiness after Thanksgiving Day dinner at Grandma’s? Any large meal loaded with protein and carbohydrates can cause drowsiness due to decreased oxygenation to the brain. Imbibing copious amounts of holiday wine may also contribute to the drowsiness.
Perhaps more research is needed to study the effects of wine imbibing.
6. Are you really supposed to drink at least eight glasses of water a day? No one really knows how this idea originated. Some think that it was postulated in 1945 by nutritionist Fredrick J. Stare, though there is no evidence he actually originated the quote or did the research to legitimately postulate the quote. The advice to drink at least eight glasses of water a day can be found throughout the popular press.
There is no convincing research that states that eight glasses of water per day are needed for good health. Existing studies suggest that adequate fluid intake can be met through one’s daily consumption of juice, milk and even caffeinated drinks. Keep in mind that drinking too much water can dilute the salts in your body (hyponatremia), which can cause cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), either of which can be fatal.
7. The itching of chigger bites can drive you crazy. At the first sign of itching, rub the area with vinegar. The itching will stop.
8. Having problems putting eye drops in your kid’s eyes? A simple method is to have the child lie down flat. With the eyes closed, wipe out the inner corners with a washcloth or tissue. Drip the eye drops in the inner corners and have your child open her eyes – the eye drops will then flow into the eyes.
Works for adults, too.
9. If you get nailed with the itty-bitty spines from a cactus, spread some white glue thinly over the area. After the glue dries, peel it off the skin; as it comes off, it brings the cactus needles with it.
10. Most people don’t realize that it is very easy to become addicted to over-the-counter nasal sprays. To minimize this problem (and still be able to breath):
a. Never use nasal sprays for more than four or five days, unless you get the OK from your health care provider
b. Only spray the medication in one nostril at a time, and alternate nostrils every 12 hours.
