I can’t believe it either!! Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner! This year has flown by and in a couple months we’ll all be happily ringing in another one! With all the craziness this time of year brings, remember to take care of yourself! Between the change in weather, extra shopping trips, and all the decorating, your body is going to be dealing with a lot of extra stress.

Even when it’s cold, remembering to drink plenty of water is important. It is always easier to grab something warm on a cold night. Coffee and teas are considered a diuretic, meaning they flush water from your system. So, just because it is made with water, doesn’t mean you’re actually drinking water.

Should you start to feel a little under the weather, don’t run to your medical doctor first. They usually want you to be sick for at least 3 days before they will see you. If you are sick enough to visit the doctor, go! Sometimes when our body is just a little run down, it will mimic illness to encourage us to slow down. Listen to it!! Getting some extra sleep can be all you need to feel better the next morning. You can also try some home remedies to get you over the symptoms you may be experiencing. Garlic is a great natural antibiotic. Taking a garlic supplement when you’re not feeling well may help get rid of any bad bacteria that has gotten into your system. Vitamin C is good at supporting the immune system. Echinacea is also good at supporting your immune system when it is low. Taking a few extra vitamins to support your immune system can help prevent a slight cold from turning into the real thing!

Many people will be traveling this holiday season. With the expense of flights these days, more and more of us are opting to drive to our holiday destinations. This goes without saying, but be careful! With more people out on the roads, there are more opportunities for bad things to happen. For those of you who might be making a trek to the far north, as a “Yankee”, I feel as if it is my duty to help prepare you for the things you might encounter. They don’t call it “black ice” for nothing! Driving at night without ice is less than ideal, but should you encounter icy situations, this can be even worse. If you can, I would suggest just stopping for the night. Let the plows and the salt trucks get out on the interstates and do their job. In the morning, the ice has melted and you can be on your merry way. Speaking of ice, believe it or not, your locks can freeze! Most cars now of days have the keyless entry option, but if you don’t, you could be in trouble. If you go to an automotive store, they sell this little bottle of magic that you put into your lock, and in a few seconds it will be ice free! While you’re at the store, ask them for some window washer fluid that won’t freeze. Even if it isn’t snowing or very icy, you still need to see. If you use the normal window washer fluid, it could freeze your windows just because the temperature is so low. The last thing you’ll need from the automotive store is an ice scraper. The one I use has the scraper on the end and a brush on the side. That way, you can see clearly out of your front and back window before you get on the road.

Speaking of all this safe travel, there is another tip I’d like to share when it comes to car insurance. We all know that it is mandatory to have car insurance. We also all know that should we get into an accident, our car insurance will cover some medical costs for any injury that you sustain because of the accident. Sometimes, insurance companies try to be sneaky when it comes to paying that final bill. One way to prevent this is to check to see if you have “Medical Payments Coverage” on your insurance plan. According to State Farm, this coverage pays medical and funeral expenses for injuries sustained by a covered person in a car accident. One reason to have this is because this coverage pays expenses regardless of who’s at fault in an accident. There are no deductibles or coinsurance requirements, so this will pay beginning as soon as your incurred expenses start. While every insurance company is different, ask your provider for more information on this coverage. Usually, it only adds a few extra dollars to your overall insurance bill.

I hope you have a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Remember, the office will be closed on November 28th and 29th so Annie and I can enjoy turkey!

~ Dr. Stacy