A Family Getaway

Going away on vacation can involve a great deal of planning and coordination and will require that you put a lot of effort in to planning your days. This is particularly true if you have a young family and need to figure out what you will do to keep the kids entertained. This will also mean you probably don’t have much time for personal enjoyment and relaxation time as young children can be quite the handful. This is why if you are planning family vacations you should consider an option where these headaches and planning complications are taken away from you. All inclusive vacation packages are one such great option. All you need to worry about is transportation to and from the resort but once you are there you are transported to a carefree world. There is great variance between resorts but if you go to a good resort they take care of virtually everything with you from carrying your luggage to your room to providing you with extensive room service that can cover just about any need that crops up. Best of all, if you go to a child friendly all-inclusive resort then they will have childcare available for you and will keep your children entertained while you enjoy some much deserved relaxation.

Safety First on Beach Vacations

No one has to tell you or remind you to put your children’s sun tan lotion on to protect their skin on a family vacation; with 62,000 Americans being diagnosed with melanoma every year and 8,000 dying it is important to remember. It has been found, in a study done on 7 year old children, that every beach vacation taken has increased the number of nevi, or moles by 5%. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a great family vacation on the beach, it just means you might need to plan your days a little differently.

Try to stay inside during the hottest part of the day, which are 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. Morning would be the best choice to go after those great finds on the beach, like sand dollars and shells. Evening would be a great time to swim. Your family vacation at the beach doesn’t have to be dimmed by this news; just modified. If you must go outside to the beach during the day, just wear a t-shirt over the bathing suit.

Choose a great location; take the family, pack the t-shirts, sun tan lotion, and look around for a few fun things to do that don’t require 100% exposure to the sun like a children’s interactive museums, or petting zoos. Make your family vacation at the beach even more memorable for your family with healthy choices.

Most of us get heartburn on occasion.  It can be very unpleasant, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.  But if you get it often, it could be caused by acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux is officially known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD.  It is defined as chronic abnormal reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, and is caused by the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).  This is a small ring of muscle at the opening of the stomach.  When it doesn’t remain closed as much as it should, it allows acid to come back up out of the stomach and into the esophagus.  This can erode the lining of the esophagus, causing ulcers to form.  It can also increase the likelihood of esophageal cancer.

If you have the following symptoms, you could have acid reflux:

* Frequent, persistent heartburn - This is the most recognizable symptom, as well as the most common.  Most acid reflux sufferers have heartburn several times a month or more.  But some do not have heartburn at all.

* Regurgitation of acid - Those with acid reflux often report regurgitation of acid into the back of the throat, and sometimes all the way into the mouth.  It may or may not be accompanied by food from the stomach.

* Persistent cough - Some acid reflux sufferers develop a dry cough.  This usually occurs when certain nerves in the lower esophagus are stimulated by the refluxed acid.  But it can also be caused by acid reaching the throat and irritating it.

* Choking sensation - Acid reflux sufferers sometimes feel like there is a piece of food stuck in their throats, when in reality there is not.

* Wheezing or hoarseness - This is caused by the damage done to the throat and esophagus.  It is particularly common in the morning.  Acid reflux can aggravate existing asthma, and in rare cases it has been known to cause it.

Treatment of Acid Reflux

If you have some of the symptoms above, you may need to see a doctor.  If you are diagnosed with acid reflux, there are a number of medications (known as proton pump inhibitors) that your doctor could try.  There are herbal remedies that can help as well.  But there are also some lifestyle changes that can provide relief.  These include:

* Avoiding alcohol and tobacco - Both of these can aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux.  Alcohol causes the stomach to produce more acid and relaxes the LES.  Smoking also has these effects, and it also reduces the production of saliva, which provides a natural defense against refluxed acid.

* Losing weight - Being overweight can make acid reflux worse.  This is because of increased pressure on the abdomen.

* Avoiding certain foods - Foods that aggravate acid reflux include fried or fatty foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and anything spicy.  It’s also a good idea to eat smaller meals, as large meals can increase abdominal pressure.

* Elevating the head of your bed - Acid reflux often worsens at night because it’s easier for acid to escape the stomach when you’re lying flat.  Raising the head of your bed can help.  Sitting up for a few hours after a meal is also helpful.

Acid reflux can be painful, and it can lead to other health problems.  The good news is that it is treatable.  With medication and a few lifestyle modifications, most sufferers have a major reduction in symptoms.