Problem: Article: Post-traumatic arthritis is normally caused by an injury (often a sports injury, or an injury at work), and it is exacerbated (or made worse) by continual weight bearing and stress and strain on the joint. If you are overweight, weight loss is one of the key lifestyle modifications you can make to decrease the stress on your arthritic joint, and hence to reduce the pain.  Note that if you are not currently overweight, this strategy does not apply to you. It only applies if you are currently above your ideal body weight. Speak to your doctor or to a nutritionist about a healthy weight loss plan for you, and ask him what your ideal body weight should be. It is important to lose weight in a way that does not compromise your nutrition (such as extreme dieting), and in a way that is sustainable for you in the long term. Particularly if the injury that first led to your arthritis was sports-related, you may want to consider avoiding this sport, or reducing our involvement in it, to prevent further injury to the same joint or to other joints. Sports that put you at a higher risk of injury and that can lead to arthritis include ones with a lot of pounding such as running, as well as skiing, snowboarding, basketball, hockey, and football, among others.  For many people, giving up a sport they love in order to prevent further injury can be a challenging decision. Many people who injure themselves in athletics are very passionate about the sport they play. It is important to consider not only your short-term satisfaction of playing the sport, but also your long-term quality of life, which may be compromised if you continue to put undue stress on your injured and arthritic joint. Think about whether there are any other lower-impact sports or activities you enjoy. Perhaps you can try swimming, riding a bicycle, or water running, as all of these activities are excellent for your cardiovascular health and fitness and also low-impact for your joints. If you have a physically demanding or strenuous job that stresses your injured joint, ask your boss if you can switch to alternative duties at work. Perhaps there is a desk job you can do, or another task that does not involve the same amount of physical stress and strain.  Consider getting a medical note from your doctor that explains to your boss the importance of not further stressing your injured and arthritic joint, particularly if the initial traumatic injury was sustained at work. If you were injured on the job initially, look into the possibility of worker's compensation and/or employment insurance. You may receive coverage. If your injury is particularly severe, you may get disability pay without needing to return to work. One way to reduce the pain in your joint from post-traumatic arthritis is to see a physiotherapist who can prescribe exercises for you to strengthen the muscles surrounding your injured joint. Strengthening the surrounding muscles can help to reduce the impact and the load on the joint itself. The exercises prescribed to you by your physiotherapist will depend upon the nature of your injury, and which joint specifically is affected. Consuming more turmeric and ginger (both of which can be used as spices on your food) helps to combat inflammation and the pain from post-traumatic arthritis. It is also recommended to consume more fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and/or walnuts and flaxseed which also contain omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, consume plenty of organic fruits and vegetables; the antioxidants contained in these can help with post-traumatic arthritis. There are a variety of supplements that have been shown to help with osteoarthritis (the type of arthritis that most often develops post-traumatically). These include evening primrose oil, omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin, and glucosamine sulphate. Speak to your naturopath if you are interested in trying natural supplements as a means to treat your post-traumatic arthritis.
Summary: Consider weight loss. Choose lower-impact sports and activities. Ask for modified duties at the workplace. See a physiotherapist. Modify your diet. Consult a naturopath.

Problem: Article: Talk to a medical professional before you introduce solid foods. Your physician can verify that your infant is developed enough to handle solid foods.  This is the time for you to ask questions and mention any concerns you have about solid foods.  In some cases, your infant's intestinal tract may not be fully developed or your baby may not be able to  fullness, leading to potential overfeeding. Do not give your infant solid foods until your doctor says that is alright. Your infant's digestive system is not ready to process cereal until about 6 months of age. Giving your infant cereal too early increases the chance of choking or inhaling the rice cereal mixture into his or her lungs. Early exposure to cereal can also increase your baby's risk of developing food allergies.  Your baby may be ready to try rice cereal at 4 months of age. Your doctor can help you decide what is best for your baby. It may be alright to introduce rice cereal before 4 to 6 months of age if your baby has reflux issues. Talk to your pediatrician before you try this though.  Your baby should also be able to eat from a spoon before you introduce rice cereal to his or her diet.  Feeding your baby solid foods too early can cause your baby to become overweight. In addition to being old enough, your infant should meet certain developmental milestones before you introduce cereal. Your infant should be able to sit with support, have head and neck control, push up with elbows from a lying position, place hands or toys in his or her mouth, and lean forward and open his or mouth when hungry or interested in food. If your child is 6 months of age, but has not met these milestones, you may need to delay the introduction of rice cereal.  Waiting for these milestones is important.  They help ensure that your infant can safely swallow the rice cereal. Infants also have an extrusion reflex that causes them to raise their tongue and push against objects that are placed between their lips. This reflex is usually gone by 4 to 6 months of age.  Trying to spoon feed your child cereal with this reflex can be frustrating and difficult.
Summary: Meet with your infant's pediatrician or health care provider. Wait until your infant is 4 to 6 months. Be sure your infant has met the necessary developmental milestones.

Problem: Article: Never stay up all night studying. If you've left enough time and started studying early enough before the test, this last-minute cramming session should be unnecessary anyway. It will only result in an improper understanding of the material and a lack of focus during the test. The best way to make sure you do well is to be well-rested for the exam. Your brain actually transfers information into long-term memory while you sleep. Getting enough sleep will help your brain store all that stuff you're studying so you can recall it later. Just like with studying, you should make sure you're well-fed for the test itself. Have a bigger breakfast than usual the morning of a test to keep your brain nourished and focused. If you have the test later in the day, pack a small snack like a granola bar to keep in your bag. Eat it quickly before the test to keep your brain going.  Eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain toast or oatmeal. These digest slowly so you won't experience a crash during the middle of your test. Eggs are a good choice. They contain protein and choline, a substance that may boost your memory.  Have a little lox on a whole-grain bagel. Studies suggest that eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, can help improve your brain functioning.  Have a cup of coffee or tea if you'd like. Caffeine may benefit your memory, according to some studies. Looking over your notes a few more times can be beneficial. You might catch something you missed before and end up getting an answer right on the test because of it. Do not, however, spend the entire day cramming. If you've studied effectively, this is unnecessary. You'll end up stressing yourself out and by the time you take the test, your brain will be too tired to concentrate. Instead, just look over your notes over breakfast, and maybe once more the period before the test. Any more risks wearing out your brain before you even take the test. While it sounds silly, this can be a huge distraction during a test. Your brain will have a tougher time focusing on the test if it is distracted with this. Also, you may not be allowed to go to the bathroom during the test for fear of cheating. Eliminate this worry by visiting the bathroom before the test period.
Summary:
Get a good night's sleep. Eat a good breakfast the morning of the test. Study only a little the day of the test. Go to the bathroom before the test.