PC THE TOWN

At the end of this month, All Hallows Eve, an explosion of candy greater than at any other time of the year is going to happen, whether you like it or not. The last day of October is historically celebrated in the US as Halloween, harkening back to the days when people believed in evil spirits, witches, goblins, and all things netherworldly. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition, according to History.com. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints� Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows� Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by c...

Are you one of those adults who is now responsible for taking care of older adults?   Are you responsible for overseeing parents or older family members who now look to you for care? Or, are you someone who is in the business of elder care, and that is either your profession as a caretaker or business owner? Regardless of your status, if you are dealing with issues related to helping seniors or older adults and their health care and lifestyle, then you may need some additional advice along the way.   According to LifeHealthPro, elder care planning is essentially a comprehensive strategy that helps define a senior�s wishes and assists designated caregivers and/or advocates in handling the physical, personal and financial affairs of a senior aging into the last phases of life. Long-term care (LTC) is just one, very important segment of total elder care planning. Unfortunately, LTC as well as other elder care issues are topics of discussion often avoided or delayed by families. B...

There is a certain population that suffers from a disorder causing individuals to cut themselves, known as �Cutting.� According to info on this website, http://www.ulifeline.org/topics/135-cutting ,   cutting is the act of intentionally inflicting harm on oneself. Cutting isn�t a suicide attempt, though it may look and seem that way. Cutting is a form of what is known as �self-injurious behavior� or �non-suicidal self-injury.� Other types of self-injury include scratching, burning, ripping or pulling skin or hair, swallowing toxic substances, self-bruising, and breaking bones. While cutting may occur on any part of the body, it is most common on the hands, wrists, stomach, and thighs. Tattoos and body piercing aren�t usually considered self-injury, however, unless they�re meant specifically to cause harm. Self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional distress. Some people cut themselves when they feel overwhelming sadness, anxiety, or emotional numbness. Others do it to...

How is your physical stamina? In other words, when you exercise or are engaged in any physical acitivity, are you breathless and exhausted within a few minutes, or can you keep going until the task is finished? Do you look for ways to help improve your physical stamina? Stamina means having the strength and energy to endure an activity, illness or stressful situation for an extended period of time. People most commonly use the word stamina when referring to exercise, sports and other physical activities of the body or cognitive exercises of the brain. Generally, however, increasing stamina means decreasing fatigue when performing the activity. There are several ways to accomplish this task, according to health care writer Claire Walters: Increased Physical Stamina is Beneficial for All Aspects of Health: There are many aspects to a healthy lifestyle, and while the majority of the focus seems to be on diet and mental agility, it�s important not to underestimate the long term health bene...

A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. The cough reflex consists of three phases: an inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed glottis, and a violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive sound. Coughing is either voluntary or involuntary. A cough is the most common reason for visiting a primary care physician in the United States. According to Healthline, coughing to clear the throat is typically an infrequent action, although there are a number of other conditions that can cause more frequent bouts of coughing. In general, a cough that lasts for less than three weeks is known as an acute cough. A cough that lasts between three weeks and eight weeks, improving by the end of the period, is known as a sabacute cough. A persistent cough that lasts for over eight weeks is known as a chronic ...