Cars & Body Parts

Our body systems work something like those of a car to keep us traveling over the roads of life. The circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems are synced together to keep us humming along the highway. In our travels, we hit obstacles like detours, potholes, dead ends, wrong turns, and at times we have to stop and move over for emergencies.

Like cars, our bodies sometimes break down -- maybe needing a part replacement or a little additive to help us run more smoothly. Sometimes we may need a minor adjustment from a chiropractor. A fender bender can take us to the body shop, a.k.a. the physical therapist, for training on how to exercise properly and work through some physical set-back. More seriously, a computer glitch may send us to the neurologist to find where a wire or two might be crossed or pinched.

Sometimes the problems are easy to solve -- they hook you up to a diagnostic machine and voila! The body mechanics immediately discover what is wrong. Other times we have to rely on the experience of experts and other diagnostic tools.

Following the rules of the road, stopping to rest and stretch, refueling, keeping our parts moving so they don’t rust and freeze up or dry out are important for optimum health. But even the best cars need mechanical help at times. Having an excellent mechanic is important for body maintenance.

To help keep your body parts moving, exercising is important. Through exercise you may experience some tight muscles. A microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers can help stimulate circulation and increase flexibility in tight muscles. A Neck Warmer or Back Warmer may help keep you on the right road to an active healthy life.

Age-Related Increased Bruising

A bruise is caused when small blood vessels called capillaries are broken and blood seeps out into the surrounding tissue. With time the blood is reabsorbed into the body and the bruise disappears.

According to the Mayo Clinic in an article, Easy bruising: Common as you age, the following are a few causes.

As we age the supporting tissues surrounding capillaries weaken thus increasing the tendency to break. The skin also becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fat layer around surface blood vessels. What seems like a minor bump may produce a large bruise.

Blood thinning medications reduce the ability of blood clotting and increase the amount of blood that spills out of vessels when broken. Corticosteroids (cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone) and diet supplements such as garlic, ginger, fish oil, and ginkgo may also increase one's proneness toward bruising.

The article recommends contacting your physician if there is pain associated with a bruise, if you are bleeding from the nose, intestines, or gums. If you suddenly experience large bruises for no reason, or if you start bruising when taking a new medication please contact a medical professional.

Time will help heal the bruise. If swelling occurs with the bruise the Mayo Clinic article suggests using a cold
compress and elevating the affected area to reduce swelling. Twenty minutes at a time is the recommended time to ice an injury. After swelling has gone down a warm compress might help "speed the removal of blood." Wearing long sleeves can help protect the skin and will hide a bruise.

To prevent bumps try clearing clutter and objects that block passage or free motion.

Maine Warmers' microwave heating pads can be frozen and used as cold compresses. The corn filling is not harsh like ice cubes. Mainely Ice, a knee pack, will also strap onto a leg or arm. Back Warmers and Neck Warmers can also be used on bruises. Maine Warmers animal designs like their sheep, bears, and Dachshund dog, and others, make excellent gifts for someone who is prone to bruising.