What happens when the provider, the caregiver, starts to burn out? Science reveals that we experience a change biochemically when we have taken on too much. Compassion fatigue creates a whole host of symptoms, including irritability, impatience, exhaustion, intolerance, dread, lack of clarity, poor motivation, a decline in personal well-being regarding sleep, health and mood, a transfer of stress to personal life, the internal eye roll, boredom, feeling of heaviness, forgetfulness, … [Read more...] about Combatting Compassion Fatigue
Columnists
Emotional First Aid: Identifying Natural Solutions for Anxiety
The stress over the past 18 months has been enormous for many people and I have certainly seen a lot more anxiety in my patients. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety and insomnia have increased over the course of the pandemic and, as we know, it’s easy for people to develop a dependence on these types of medications. The long-term effects of taking anti-anxiety and insomnia medications can be detrimental to our overall health, so they should be taken in the short term. But the reality is that people … [Read more...] about Emotional First Aid: Identifying Natural Solutions for Anxiety
How Stress Affects Hormone Health
We are all bombarded by the daily stresses of life. Some people are better at coping with stress than others. The body’s stress response is a normal process and is meant to help keep you away from harm. The adrenals are located on top of the kidneys and are a part of the endocrine system that is strongly influenced by stress. Cortisol, norepinephrine and epinephrine are produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is released in times of stress, promoting a fight or flight response that … [Read more...] about How Stress Affects Hormone Health
Five Myths about Foot Care
Step on a crack and you’ll break your mother’s back” and other sayings may be fun for children and others to say, but when it comes to your health, it’s important to separate sayings from facts. From bunions to broken toes, here are five truths to old myths. Myth: Cutting a notch (a “V”) in a toenail will relieve the pain of ingrown toenails. Reality: When a toenail is ingrown, the nail curves downward and grows into the skin. Cutting a “V” in the toenail does not affect its growth. New … [Read more...] about Five Myths about Foot Care
Veterans Day Honors All Who Served
Veterans Day is approaching, and I have a singular mission in mind. I will be sure to wish my father a Happy Veterans Day and thank him for serving our country. Dad served in the Air Force as a young man, prior to his marriage and raising four children. The U.S. was not at war at the time, and his work as a nuclear weapons systems specialist was always a footnote to his life as a husband, father, softball coach and computer software engineer. Although we rarely discussed his military service, … [Read more...] about Veterans Day Honors All Who Served
Experiencing Flagstaff’s Top Seven Self-Guided Tours
Are you curious about Flagstaff’s public art? How about Route 66 or Flagstaff’s Lunar Legacy? Interested in haunted history or historic downtown? Did you know there is a Green Book historic walking tour? And, ale aficionados will absolutely love the Flagstaff Brewery Trail! You don’t need to go far to experience these extraordinary tours because they are all located right here in your hometown. You will enjoy every step with the freedom to go at your own pace. Discover Flagstaff offers free … [Read more...] about Experiencing Flagstaff’s Top Seven Self-Guided Tours
Horses, ‘Hot’ Feeds, Misconceptions
Over the years, I have worked for several horse trainers. Each barn had its own program in regard to training, routines and, of course, feed. Some trainers had their horses on schedules of feeding that entailed only forage (grass hay, alfalfa or a mixture of both) in the mornings and evenings, with “lunch” being supplement time: grain and various other supplements. Others fed forage and supplements simultaneously, morning and evening. Some fed only forage, with no supplements at all, with the … [Read more...] about Horses, ‘Hot’ Feeds, Misconceptions
Are You Managing Your Meds?
Medication management is an important service to help patients manage their prescribed medications. Patients need education on the right dosages to help them avoid the dangers of incorrect medication administration. To avoid incorrect administration, patients are taught simple strategies. Simple tips like setting an alarm may help with timing on dosages. As a nation, medication management is needed to prevent mistakes that occur daily. Here are a few facts provided by Terrace … [Read more...] about Are You Managing Your Meds?
Get Your Holiday Tree While You Can
We are all about the holidays right now. Right after we put away the Halloween candy, it’s time to think about how we are going to bring the beauty of the season into our homes. Getting that traditional centerpiece of the holiday season – a Christmas tree – may be harder this year. Between wildfires in the northwest, extreme drought and supply chain and labor issues that have beleaguered most businesses, trees will be scarce this year. Warner’s Nursery has been lucky enough to secure both … [Read more...] about Get Your Holiday Tree While You Can
Record Setting Summer Real Estate Market Turns to Fall Without Cooling
In these unprecedented times, the real estate market in Flagstaff is at an all-time high from just about every metric we can measure. The 2021 summer season was sizzling, with the average price per square foot of a single-family (detached) home crossing the threshold from $292 per square foot to $307 per square foot from March to April of this year. This was a historic first foray into the $300s and it has continued to climb each month since. In August, the price per square foot soared to $336 … [Read more...] about Record Setting Summer Real Estate Market Turns to Fall Without Cooling