Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

LOL-Laugh Out Loud… for your heart!

I have been reading a lot about the benefits of laughter. One surprising benefit of laughter is a healthier heart! Laughter affects your nervous system, boosting your serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin levels,  but also it can be a great workout for the immune, lymph, and cardiovascular systems. When you laugh, your heart rate increases and […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Mist Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Photo by Silvia Cosimini from FreeImages

REFERENCES:

  • Abram, T. (2018). Laughter has serious benefits. Michigan State University - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/laughter_has_serious_benefits
  • Edmonds, M. (2019, June 16). What is laughter therapy? https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter-therapy.htm
  • Henry Ford LiveWell. (2019). How Laughter Benefits your Heart Health. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2019/03/how-laughter-benefits-heart-health#:~:text=When%20you%20laugh%2C%20your%20heart,of%20a%20heart%20disease%20diagnosis.
  • University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). Laughter Yoga. https://osher.ucsf.edu/public-classes/laughter-yoga
  • The University of St. Augustine. (2019). How laughter can relieve stress and Ideas to laugh it off. https://www.usa.edu/blog/how-laughter-can-relieve-stress/

Self-care for the Caregiver

Caregivers often have self-imposed expectations, pressuring them to feel they should be able to handle every situation that they encounter with little or no support or assistance. There is this tremendous pressure to “do it all,” taking care of children and aging parents while maintaining a career and the home. Instead of having a sense […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Kellie Lemly, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • sarcifilippo from Pixabay

SOURCES:

  • The Caregiver Toolbox: Guide to Independent Living - http://www.coaaa.org/cms/images/docs/guides/COAAA_Caregiver_Toolbox.pdf
  • 10 Tips for Family Caregivers - https://caregiveraction.org/resources/10-tips-family-caregivers
  • Care Community - https://caregiveraction.org/forum
  • Defining The Help You Need - https://caregiveraction.org/defining-help-you-need
  • Depression - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
  • Strategies for Coping with Caregiver Stress - https://www.agingcare.com/articles/strategies-for-coping-with-caregiver-stress-135916.htm

REFERENCES:

  • Area Agency of Aging (2018). The Caregiver Toolbox: Guide to Independent Living. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from http://www.coaaa.org/cms/images/docs/guides/COAAA_Caregiver_Toolbox.pdf
  • Aging In Place (February 2020). Caregiver Burnout. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.aginginplace.org/caregiver-burnout/
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). 10 Tips for Family Caregivers. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/resources/10-tips-family-caregivers
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). Care Community. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/forum
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). Defining The Help You Need. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/defining-help-you-need
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). RESPITE: Time Out for Caregivers. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/respite-time-out-caregivers-part-1
  • National Institute of Mental Health, (2018). Depression. Retrieved on April 17, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
  • Sollitto, M. (October 2019). Strategies for Coping with Caregiver Stress. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.agingcare.com/articles/strategies-for-coping-with-caregiver-stress-135916.htm
  • Smith, M. (October 2019). Caregiver Stress and Burnout. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/caregiver-stress-and-burnout.htm

Express your Stress- Tips to tame your stress

Stress is a normal part of life and affects everyone.  We encounter stress in our surroundings, our body, and our thoughts.  Nevertheless, not all stress is bad. We experience stress when we take a test or have a job interview, which can motivate people. Stress also happens when you find yourself in a dangerous situation, […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Ellison Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Kellie Lemly, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • • 5 Things You Should Know About Stress – National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml
  • • 7 Strange Things Stress Can Do to Your Body – The Cleveland Clinic https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-strange-things-stress-can-body
  • • 10 Ways to Celebrate National Stress Awareness Month - https://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/galleries/10-ways-to-celebrate-national-stress-awareness-month.aspx#ZY3aw2MzLkTIJQsl.99
  • • Find Your Own Healthy Way to De-Stress – The Ohio State University https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/hite-143osu-edu/find-your-own-healthy-way-to-de-stress/
  • • Stress management – The May Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257

Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine

The month of February is all about the heart, heart health,  that is! Did you know 684,000 people in Ohio have coronary heart disease?  Simple changes in you life can result in a healthier you and a healthier heart! Being more physically active and eating a healthy diet are great steps towards a healthier heart. […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Ellison Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Kellie Lemly, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/education-and-awareness/heart-truth/listen-to-your-heart
  • USDA Choose MyPlate - https://www.choosemyplate.gov/
  • Celebrate Your Plate - https://celebrateyourplate.org/
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/be-active/physical-activity-guidelines-for-americans/index.html

Finding Help When Feeling Hopeless

Suicide is an uncomfortable subject and one we do not talk about frequently. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.  It is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-34. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time […]

WRITTEN BY: Lorrissa Dunfee, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Belmont County, dunfee.54@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/illustrations/depression-voices-self-criticism-1250870/

SOURCES:

  • “Risk of Suicide.” NAMI, Aug. 2019, www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/suicide.
  • “Suicide.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml#part_154971.
  • “Suicide Statistics.” AFSP, 16 Apr. 2019, afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Yes, now you have that song stuck in your head, you’re welcome. As I hum the song, I can’t help but to smile and to reflect on things that make me happy. To give the definition of happiness may seem silly, since most of us understand what it is, but according to positive psychology researcher […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, PhD, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/photos/family-sea-vacation-beach-summer-2432568/
  • https://pixabay.com/photos/african-african-american-afro-3797905/

SOURCES:

  • Greater Good Magazine. Happiness Defined: What is Happiness? Found on 4/10/19 at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition
  • Greater Good Magazine. Happiness Defined: Why Practice It? Retrieved on 4/10/19 from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition#why-practice-happiness
  • Harmon, M. (2019). How to "buy" happiness and better health. Found at https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/harmon-416osu-edu/how-to-buy-happiness-and-better-health/
  • Harvard Men's Health Watch. (2017). The pursuit of happiness. Retrieved on 4/10/19 from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-pursuit-of-happiness
  • Ho, L. (2019). How to Be Happy: Why Pursuing Happiness Will Make You Unhappy https://www.lifehack.org/610387/why-its-impossible-to-be-consistently-happy
  • Kloppers, M. 10 Things To Stop Caring About If You Want To Be Happier. Found on 4/10/19 at https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/ten-things-stop-caring-about-you-want-happier.html
  • Locke, R. (2018). 10 Scientifically Proven Ways To Stay Happy All The Time. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-scientifically-proven-ways-stay-happy-all-the-time.html
  • National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). Mental Health Conditions. Retrieved on 4/10/19 from: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions
  • Suttie, J. (2019). How Understanding Evolution Can Help Us to Be Happy. Greater Good Magazine. Found at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_understanding_evolution_can_help_us_to_be_happy

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