Hiccup Removal – Old Tale or Truth?

We can probably all agree that hiccups are really annoying. They are frustrating to endure and sometimes difficult to get rid of. CNN recently did an enlightening review about all of those old tales you know about hiccup cures; and surprisingly found that many of the hiccup-removal myths that you might know aren’t actually myths. Many of them work. But they don’t necessarily work for the reason you might assume they do.

As CNN explained, “There are few concrete medical cures for the hiccups, but experts know that stopping them ideally involves the diaphragm, the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve.” And many of those “silly” methods that you grew up doing actually work with the diaphragm, the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve. So while you might assume you’re going through the action of drinking water backwards or scaring your friend just because you hope it might work – it may actually work for a different reason than you assume.

Read the whole article and get ready for that backwards drinking, friend scaring experience!

Winter Smart: Staying Warm & Safe

It’s cold outside and we are all just looking for ways to combat the chill. The New York City Fire Department, headquartered at New York City’s Brooklyn Commons, issued some safety tips for staying cozy and cautious this winter.

FDNY at Brooklyn Commons

Save the Space: Turn off or unplug space heaters when leaving a room. Leaving a space heater unattended increases the chances of a devastating fire. Always place a space heater at least three feet away from any combustible substance.

Shut It: When escaping a fire, closing the door can contain the flames, reduce the damage, and give more people time to get out safely. Prevent fumes, smoke, and heat from spreading to hallways and stairwells by isolating the fire behind a closed door.

FDNY at Brooklyn Commons

Be Alarmed: Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and office. Test them regularly to make sure they are working and replace the batteries frequently. Early detection of a fire or gas is the best way to prevent serious injury and harm.

Call 911: As soon as fire, smoke, or gas is detected, call emergency professionals. Do whatever is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety; do not try to combat the blaze yourself.

Have a Plan: Having—and practicing—a thoughtful fire escape plan ensures that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Regular fire drills at work and home mean that everyone knows where the closest exit is and how to escape safely. Make sure that all fire exits are clear and properly marked; furniture should never block an escape route.

Keep it Clean: Regular cleaning of hot water heaters, chimneys, furnaces, and boilers is essential. Lint, dirt, and other residues can build up in these appliances and catch flame. Check the user manual or with your landlord for proper instructions on how to clean these machines.

FDNY at Brooklyn Commons

Don’t Be Burned: While thermal burns, caused by flames or hot liquids, are the most common home heat-related injury, frostbite and chemical burns are also a winter hazard. Make sure to wear proper gear when frolicking in the snow or on the ice.

Does Your Fitness Tracker Push You to do More?

While this shouldn’t come as a surprise, a fitness tracker app has been found to not only monitor your fitness level, but to cause you to work harder at your exercise. In a recent study published in the bmj, researchers found that people who used a fitness app increased their everyday activity by about 1235 steps and their moderate to vigorous activity by 48.5 minutes a week.

This makes intuitive sense. If I walk everyday, but notice that I get to 8000 steps, I may feel internally incentivized to get to 10,000 steps. Without a step monitor, I won’t know that I’ve only gotten to 8000 and I won’t feel that pull to continue and to push myself further.

Of course, there are other ways to incentivize yourself and to reach your goals, many of which are outlined in this CNN article. But the research on fitness trackers is certainly worth exploring further.

The Best Book of the Last 125 Years?

It’s an interesting question. If you were asked to decide on the absolute best book of the last 125 years, what would you say? And would other people agree with you? Or would you be an outlier? The New York Times recently put this question out to its readership. And it’s not the biggest surprise to see which book was selected – considering that most people believe that it’s an incredibly impactful piece of literature.

What is, perhaps, even more interesting is to take a look at the top 25 books that they compiled in order to come up with a winner. How many of these books have you read? Which did you love, and which did you not feel warranted being part of this list?

As 2022 begins, it’s a fun time to consider the books that you want to add to your reading list for the coming year. What do you hope to gain from your reading time? Do you want to join a book group to discuss these books? These are the types of interesting questions that we can all ask ourselves as we look through the New York Times list and plan the year ahead for ourselves.

Tips for Great Sleep When Bed Sharing

There are a lot of compromises that come with being married, or living with a loved one. One of those compromises shouldn’t be sleep. It’s vitally important that you get a great night sleep to be able to function throughout the day and to maintain your health. But what are you to do if your partner snores? moves around a lot? talks in their sleep? steals the covers?

This article does a great job breaking down the many challenges to sleeping with a partner. The main solution they come up with in the end is that you may, simply, need to have separate beds (or even separate rooms). But before taking that drastic step, and after reading the article, there are some other solutions to consider.

  1. Separate bedding: No one says that you have to share a comforter just because you’re now sharing a bed. Many sleep issues for couples may actually be solved by buying more sheets and more comforters. Give yourselves the space you need in the bed to curl up, flop around, and throw off those covers without it ruining your partner’s sleep.
  2. Sleep machines: If snoring or other noise issues are the problem, it might be worth turning on some music or white noise at night. These sounds can drown out the other, more distracting noises, and can allow you to focus on these new and pleasant sounds.
  3. Insomnia: If it’s an issue of insomnia, try to take a warm shower before bed and drink some decaffeinated tea or some warm milk before bed. Make sure not to exercise within a few hours of going to sleep, as this raises your endorphins and makes it harder to fall asleep.

Certainly, if these and other suggestions don’t work for you, it may be time to take drastic measures. Here’s to a good night sleep for all of us!

Holiday Fun Even From Home

Whether for financial reasons, health worries, or other considerations, it’s nice to have options that are close to home for the holidays. Keep in mind that there are fun ways to enjoy yourself with family and friends, even if you don’t have the money or time for expensive travel. You can enjoy yourself right in your own neighborhood and area. Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of your staycation.

  1. Television shows and movies: There is so much to watch these days with the availability of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney and more. Snuggle up together on the couch and watch some great shows. One show that it really mesmerizing and that can get you into the holiday spirit is Blown Away: Christmas. See the trailer below and get in the holiday spirit with this lovely show.
  2. Games: There are so many games on the market today that can enable a family to interact, laugh and compete. Go to any toy store (or shop online) and you’ll see selections like Monopoly, Perpetual Commotion, Jungle Speed and so many others.
  3. Local events: Check with your local community center, YMCA, or religious institution to see what community events are taking place right in your area. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy a tree lighting ceremony, a Chanukah party, or another event. You can find many non-demoninational events as well and even plays and musicals that aren’t expensive.

Here is a sneak-peak at Blown Away: Christmas. Enjoy your holidays at home this year!