My mom is almost 70 years old and has been chronically ill for the past 13 years or more with Sarcoidosis. When she first became symptomatic she thought she had developed a cough related to some sort of typical upper respiratory infection. The coughing worsened and lasted for many months, impeding her breathing and physical activity. My mom works hard and does not bother much with doctors. She believes strongly that prolonging life when someone is seriously ill does more harm than good. Once she realized the seriousness of her disease she completed “Do not resuscitate” paper work and she makes certain all who are near her know about her wishes. She prefers that no extraordinary measures be taken to extend her life.

When specialists finally took a closer look at her lungs they thought maybe she had cancer throughout her lungs. It appeared that she had tumors but it was really scar tissue from the ravages of sarcoid on her lung tissue. The damage to her lungs makes it very difficult to breath. Her lung capacity has been reduced to about 30%. Despite all this my mom still works as a CAN in a nearby hospital in order to keep her health insurance and because she enjoys working. She has taken prednisone, methotrexate along with inhalers to help her breathe.

In addition my mother suffers from the debilitating and painful effects of rheumatoid arthritis. She lives alone on the East coast and has had to use a motorized chair to get to work and function with everyday living. She sings the praises of Enbrel http://www.enbrel.com/index.jspx which is a medication that has helped her regain mobility and significantly reduced the pain of her arthritis.

Have you ever felt like you just could not bring yourself to show up to class number two for the intensive “boot camp” work out? I have made the mistake, more than once, of jumping into a high intensity aerobic class or cross fit type of workout that let me deflated and unmotivated to keep exercising. The “no pain, no gain” mentality just does not work for me. I don’t want to be so sore that I cannot sit down in the toilet or walk down the stairs! Don’t get me wrong; I know there is a place for those who want to take their work out to the ”next level” but what about those of us who just want to get off on the first floor? Is a moderate, consistent level of exercise worth it? For me the answer is a resounding YES!

I have found that when I engage in moderate exercise that is somewhat of a challenge I end up feeling more motivated to continue. I feel the benefit of increased energy and that ever sought after stress release. As a middle-aged woman I find that, for me, a hard-core work out does more harm than good. Maybe it boils down to the fact that a moderate work out leaves me with a feeling of achievement and confidence. The backbreaking 3,000 calories burned routine leaves me feeling beaten down and exhausted.

Massage has therapeutic benefits beyond relaxation and reduction of stress. We may wonder if the $1 per minute massage experience is worth the investment in both time and money.  Massage has proven benefits for every age group including the very young. Pre mature babies respond positively to soothing massage, recovering faster and adapting well enough to be sent home from the hospital much earlier than those not receiving massage therapy.

Massage can help your toddler relax and fall asleep sooner. The relaxation also helps these young children to sleep longer, improving health and growth patterns. I know that as a mother those days when my toddlers had their needed sleep were far better than the days we were all sleep deprived! Massage can even help your young child focus and learn. Studies have even shown that massage with young children can help with retention when reading stories and asking them follow up questions after ward.

As a college student you may be learning one of the hard facts of life, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. Balancing the new level of adult independence while trying to incorporate as many experiences as possible overwhelms most college students at some point. Finding a healthy way to balance your life and set boundaries while you work to achieve your long-term goals is a challenge.

Are you suffering from lack of sleep? Living on any college campus means leaving the ideal sleep schedule behind. It may be time to decide that you need to commit to a regular sleep schedule. Sometimes allowing yourself the extra sleep you need for just one night can help your mind focus better and leave you feeling more able to manage stress. Catching a nap here or there can bridge the gap between times when a good nights sleep evades you. Constant fatigue can lead to frustration and eventual misperception of your ability to handle all that you are taking in as a college student.