For starters, it’s worth noting that 55% of Americans pretend to care about the environment more than they actually do. This alarming statistic suggests that many people are unwilling to make lifestyle changes to accommodate environmentalism. Here are two eco-friendly tips that are easy to implement, and may even persuade the 55% of faux-environmentalists to take action. 

Ditch the grocery bags for storage bins.

Many grocery stores have reusable canvas bags for sale to use in place of plastic bags. But, these canvas bags must be used over 100 times in order for them to become environmentally friendly! We suggest using storage bins that you have lying around your house instead. Just load one of these multi-purpose bins into your trunk, ask the cashier to skip bagging, and load your cart into the bin once you’re back at your car. This practice is easy, environmentally friendly, and it saves you the hassle of making multiple trips to bring the groceries inside. An all-around win-win situation!

Clean with rags or old t-shirts instead of paper towels.

We all know how many paper towels it takes to wipe a counter clean. Rather than wasting money on paper towels that don’t last, opt for rags or old t-shirts to get the cleaning done. Rags and shirts are more absorbent than paper towels, and they just need a quick wash to be reused again and again. Opting for cloth instead of paper towels helps save the earth– while also saving you money.

The post 2 Easy Steps to an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle appeared first on My FiveFingers.

Nothing says Father’s Day like sipping on an ice-cold beer, watching the game on TV, and staring at your hard-earned lawn for hours on end. We all know Dad takes pride in his lawn. From making sure the grass is green and lively, to trimming the hedges, to pulling up weeds, a well-kept lawn is a strong indicator of home value. Dads can be the proudest man on the block if their yard is up to par, but they can also be pretty envious of their neighbors. As Father’s Day approaches on June 20th, we wanted to share the best memes of dad taking care of his baby, his beloved lawn. 

When the Job’s Complete

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Can’t Get Anything Past Dad

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When There’s No Time For Coffee

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Dad’s Got a Case of Green Envy

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So as this Father’s Day approaches, make sure to thank dad for his years of…. maintaining the lawn? The world would be a lot less green without him.

No, but really, from coaching your little league team, or teaching you how to build a shelf, we can always count on dad for his expertise and knowledge.

And don’t forget to check in on those dads who are a little less confident in their lawn game this summer. According to this survey, there’s a lot of men who think their lawns suck compared to their neighbors—I know, it’s sad.

If you forgot to get a gift this year, don’t panic. Check out this list of last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas to impress the old man.

The folks at MyFiveFingers wishes all dads a very special, green, and happy Father’s Day!

The post Celebrating Father’s Day One Meme at a Time appeared first on My FiveFingers.

However, a new study reports that support systems available for Americans may be more severely needed in some cities than in others. Based on the new report, residents of Las Vegas, Nev., Oklahoma City, Okla., and Buffalo, N.Y. are in greater need of addiction services than residents in any other American city. 

The results come from the study’s evaluation of major American cities for a variety of factors that include evidence of high levels of substance abuse and measurements of access to addiction services, for which each city received a score from 1-100. Las Vegas’  score was a striking 82.6, with factors like unemployment, drug arrests per 100,00 people as well as very few addiction centers contributing to a high count. 

While the top three cities spread across a wide geographic area, it is worth noting that most of the top 20 cities were located in the South, including Nashville, Orlando, and Atlanta. While these cities represent urban environments with high drug use, opioid addiction in poor rural communities across the South is a major issue that has been the focus of national concern for the past couple of decades. 

The study also examined states with the highest needs for addiction services and noted that many Southern states needed addiction services more than anywhere else. The states that needed more addiction support the least included Vermont, Alaska, and Massachusetts. 

You can check out the full study here and read about the state of drug addiction in the United States through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration here.

The post Mapping Out Drug Addiction Support in the US appeared first on My FiveFingers.

Can you relate to the scenario described above or another scenario like it? You’re not alone.  Seemingly ridiculous bursts of activity prompted by fitness tracker reminders are actually very common. In fact, according to a new survey, fitness tracker anxiety is actually far more common than you might believe, impacting individuals’ stress levels, fitness goals and even compelling individuals to get rid of their fitness trackers altogether. 

The new insights about fitness trackers come from Joybird, who surveyed over 1,800 people about their attitudes and habits towards their fitness trackers. The survey found that 50% of respondents that wear fitness trackers found themselves doing an unplanned activity once or twice a week having been prompted by their fitness tracker.

On one level, this unplanned activity can be a force for positive health. Individuals who spend long hours sitting at a desk could definitely benefit from a movement reminder or two throughout the day.  However, things take a turn for the worse when these reminders start to trigger anxiety and guilt about lack of movement. 

According to the survey, over 47% of people have felt stress, anxiety, or pressure to work out as a result of their fitness tracker. The top aspects of fitness tracker usage that caused stress was guilt about not wearing a tracker, guilt about ignoring notifications and prompts to be active, and stress about not meeting daily activity goals.  For individuals that struggle with eating disorders and compulsive exercise as related to disordered eating, it’s important to understand that the stress from fitness trackers may be an unhealthy trigger for compulsive activity. Fortunately, groups like the National Eating Disorder Association offer lots of information and resources for support. 

You can take a look at the full results on stress and fitness trackers here.

The post The Not So Healthy Side of Fitness Trackers appeared first on My FiveFingers.

You can almost smell the springtime in this March air. The birds are chirping, the trees are starting to bud—And most importantly, it’s time to dust off those clubs that have been sitting in your garage since last November, and head out to the greenway. 

Although it’s spring for some, many golf lovers will have to wait a couple more months before the weather is nice enough to enjoy an afternoon session. And many will find it’s still too rainy, too windy, or too cold to fully embrace golf season. 

Perhaps the true diehards should consider moving somewhere where they can enjoy golfing for longer, and with better views. This list shows the best cities in the country for golf lovers, and it’s no surprise The West takes the cake (sorry Floridians!). They determined the top cities based on their average weather conditions, number of highly-rated courses, quality of life, among others. 

The results? Your best bet is to head west because Arizona took the top spots. Scottsdale, Glendale, and Gilbert were named the top three best places for golf lovers to live. Behind them were Henderson, Nevada, and Irvine, California. 

In fact, all of the top 15 cities were in Arizona, Nevada, or California. It’s not so surprising, because most folks there don’t even need to put their clubs away for the winter. It’s like heaven, but with a perfectly kept greenway and an unlimited number of Titleist balls.

Interestingly enough, some eastern states hit the top 20 with Winston-Salem, North Carolina landing at number 16. Norfolk, Virginia, and Orlando, Florida came in at 19 and 20. 

So, sorry east coast lovers, you just might have to go west if you call yourself a true golfer! 

The post New Analysis Ranks Top Cities for Golfers appeared first on My FiveFingers.

A study from medical malpractice group Weiss & Paarz recently found that the average American can expect to spend over $72,500 on healthcare visits throughout their lifetime. 

With massive national conversations, it can be easy to forget that healthcare decisions are extremely personal. While some matters are simply out of your hands, there are ways that you can choose more affordable and more quality healthcare. 

Here are some tips that can keep money in the bank and you out of the doctor’s office. 

Don’t Just Focus on Reactive Care

Recently, our national healthcare system has come under fire for it’s reactive approach to treating illness and sudden needs. For instance, across the country, hospitals all have plans in place for treating cardiac arrest, though little have intensive programs to regularly treat and check-in with patients at risk of heart disease.  According to Med City News, a new technology that can independently trace and monitor patient health and avert problems before they occur can save the system billions of dollars. The same can be done at home. With a healthy diet, exercise, and mental health regimen, and a planned approach to monitor possible issues, you can help identify problems before they turn into costly emergencies.

Do the homework when choosing a plan 

Many people don’t have many options when it comes to healthcare plans, but if you do, it’s important to approach choosing a plan with heightened scrutiny. After all, your health is at stake. Some health factors that might change which plan you should choose include whether you have pre-existing conditions, whether you work in a high-risk job, and what family networks you have that can offer lower costs for you and your loved ones. 

Avoid Blindly Following a Costly System

There are lots of ways to rack up big bills in healthcare. Fortunately, there are also lots of ways to save. Before you get any new service, procedure or prescription, simply ask if there are other options available. For instance, if you are receiving treatment, see if you can get that treatment done at an outpatient care center. Or, instead of picking up a prescription through a third party pharmacy, see if your medicine can be delivered through one of many medicine mail-delivery systems. 

Appeal Your Bills

After an emotionally and physically draining medical experience, most people just want the situation to be over and done with. For many, this means paying the bill with no consideration of changing the final total. However, you can absolutely negotiate medical costs, potentially saving yourself thousands of dollars. There are definitely some complex steps involved in the process, but appealing bills is worth it. 

Overall, there’s no denying that healthcare is expensive, but by being smart and thorough in all steps of the health process, you can absolutely make the most of (and pay the least with) whatever plan you have.

The post Here Are 4 Tips to Help You Save Money On Healthcare appeared first on My FiveFingers.

So what can you do to maintain and monitor your health amid this pandemic? Here are three tips. 

Prioritize prevention

It sounds like a no-brainer, but focusing on good health and prevention of illness is more important now than ever. Nourish your body with healthy foods, get your eight hours a night, engage with loved ones and hobbies, exercise, and follow CDC guidelines. Mask wearing, hand washing, and proper social distancing are all still paramount to prevention of COVID-19 and proven effective in warding off illness when practiced consistently. 

Don’t ignore symptoms

In this strange time, it can be difficult to remember what your baseline health feels like, and factors like anxiety and poor sleep can be culprits for a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms, making it difficult to know what’s causing what. According to the CDC, the most commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, and nausea. Symptoms can arise 2-14 days after exposure. 

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to keep a watchful eye on how symptoms progress. If symptoms are persistent or severe, contact your doctor immediately and maintain distance from others. 

Enlist a home saliva test kit

Home saliva test kits are now available to determine contraction of COVID-19. Tests require a saliva sample, and you can receive your secure digital results within 72 hours of your sample reaching the lab. If your at-home kit determines you’ve been infected, consult with your doctor immediately and follow CDC guidelines. 

Though we’re all bound to feel a little helpless during this vulnerable time, there’s still plenty we can do to maintain and monitor our health now and moving forward. The end of this pandemic relies on us all to do our part to prioritize our health and look out for others. Keep your health top of mind with these three tips, and consult your doctor with any questions.

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If you suspect you have a strained neck, it’s important for you to know the proper facts around diagnosis, treatment, recovery and prevention. Below, we’ve outlined everything you need to know about a strained neck: from what causes it, common symptoms, and tips for a quick recovery and future prevention. 

What is a Strained Neck?

So, what exactly is a neck strain? If you confuse it with a neck sprain, you’re not alone. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are in fact different. A neck strain occurs when one or more fibers in a neck muscle or tendon is overly stretched. This results in a tear, which is what causes the pain (this is also called a pulled muscle, which can happen in many places on the body). Neck strains can vary in intensity depending on their size and location. A neck sprain is a similar injury, but involves an injury to a ligament, not a muscle or tendon. However, the symptoms are often quite similar for both a sprain and a strain, and so is the recovery process. 

What Causes a Strained Neck?

A neck strain can be caused by a myriad of factors, but some of the most common causes of a strained neck include: 

• Poor posture when sitting or standing
• Holding an awkward position, such as being hunched over a computer for several hours
• Heavy lifting when the weight is too much to bear
• Experiencing a collision or fall, which may lead to whiplash or other types of neck strain injuries
• Performing new strenuous activity –for example, athletes are more likely to develop muscle strains at the beginning of a training season
• Doing repetitive motions –even if you are not overexerting yourself, repeating motions can be what strains your neck muscle

In addition to these causes, an increasingly common problem is what specialists call “text neck,” which is an experience of neck pain that is caused by extended periods of looking down at a phone screen or other wireless device. 

What are Some Signs and Symptoms of a Strained Neck? 

Luckily, since neck strains fall into the general category of muscle strains or pulled muscles, nearly all cases are mild or moderate and likely to heal. However, that doesn’t mean that experiencing a neck strain isn’t highly uncomfortable. If you think you might be experiencing a neck strain, see if your symptoms include one or more of the following: 

• Pain localized to the neck region: Typically, neck strains are felt in the back of the neck, or in the neck combined with a nearby area, such as the shoulder or upper back. This pain may be sharp, or knife-like when the strain first occurs, and then turn into an achy, dull, or throbbing pain that persists over time, affecting sleep or concentration. 

• Pain that flares up with movement: A typical sign of a neck strain is when the neck has no pain when still, but then flares up with sharp pain with certain movements. 

• Muscle spasm: In a neck strain, the injury’s inflammation from the injury can trigger spasms in the injured muscles and potentially the adjacent muscles.

• Stiff neck: In addition to feelings of pain, one might acquire a sense of stiffness in the neck, where it becomes difficult to move. This  is the body’s natural response to a strain, which swells and tightens muscles to guard against further injury.

Do I Need to Go to a Doctor If I Think I Strained My Neck?

Most neck pain will gradually recover itself in time and does not require medical treatment. However, if you experience severe neck pain as a result of an injury, such as a collision or fall,  seek immediate medical care. Additionally, contact a doctor if you experience severe neck pain, or if the pain persists for several days without relief. It’s also important to monitor the pain, and to  access medical care if your neck  pain spreads down your arms and legs, and/or brings on feelings of headache, tingling, numbness, or weakness. 

If you do need to seek medical care, in order to diagnose your neck strain, your doctor will likely examine you through collecting a medical history and conducting a physical examination. In more severe cases,  an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan of the strained region may be necessary. 

Your doctor will likely diagnose your neck strain’s severity using the following system, which commonly used for muscle strains, and prescribe treatment accordingly:

• Grade I. A mild strain occurs when relatively few muscle fibers partially tear. There is some pain but no noticeable muscle weakness.
• Grade II. A moderate strain occurs when many muscle fibers are torn and pain is accompanied by muscle weakness.
• Grade III. A severe strain occurs when the muscle has completely torn. The pain is usually severe and debilitating.

What is Recovery From a Strained Neck Like, and How Can I Prevent One Going Forward?

The vast majority of recovery for neck strains is at home. Most neck strains take a few weeks to completely heal on a muscular level, in general, symptoms tend to go away in less than a week. More severe muscle strains take closer to 12 weeks to heal, but are often a part of more severe injuries and are not typically considered in the same category as regular neck strains. 

Treatment is typically undergone in tiers depending on the severity of the injury. For most, a combination of refraining from strenuous physical activity, ice and heat therapy, and over-the-counter pain medications  helps to quell symptoms and allow the strain to heal relatively quickly. It should be noted that even if the neck strain causes pain during movement, total bed rest or using a neck brace are not typically recommended. They can lead to weaker neck muscles, which may cause a longer recovery period. For more severe neck strains, or if neck strains persist, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, massage therapy, acupuncture, and prescription medications may be invoked for treatment. 

Once you’ve recovered from a neck strain, how can you prevent getting another one going forward? While they can’t be completely prevented, experts recommend the following:

Stay active. A physically active lifestyle keeps the whole body relatively strong and flexible, including the neck. In addition, regularly performing exercises and stretches that target the neck and core muscles can help improve posture as well.Many neck strains result from poor posture due to de-conditioned neck muscles.

See Neck Exercises for Neck Pain

• Start new sports or activities slowly. 
• Take breaks during repetitive motions to allow your muscles to recover.
• Find the perfect pillow, mattress, and sleep position that causes the least amount of strain on your muscles.
• Focus on your posture by sitting and standing up straight with shoulders back all day long.

The post How to Recover from a Strained Neck appeared first on My FiveFingers.

Identifying a Finger Fracture

Signs of a fractured finger can be:

• Bruising
• Tenderness
• Swelling or redness
• Numbness or stiffness
• Intense pain when bending or straightening
• An alignment issue or finger looks abnormally bent

Temporary Pain Control

If you experience a combination of these symptoms, a fracture could be the potential cause and you’re advised to seek medical attention by visiting your local urgent care. Immediately after an injury or an accident where you feel like your finger may be broken, temporary treatments can be conducted to mitigate the pain such as:

• Keeping your hand elevated
• Icing the area using a towel to reduce swelling
• Creating a temporary splint to minimize movement
• Limiting unnecessary motion of the finger

In a pinch, temporary splints can be applied at home by laying your finger over a popsicle stick or pen and then tightly wrapping medical tape or bandages over both the item and your finger to keep it stable. 

Medical Treatment

Once you’re able to be seen by a doctor, they will perform x-rays to see whether the finger is broken or not and gauge the severity of the break. Oftentimes, surgery is not needed with common stable fractures and doctors will simply apply a more permanent splint to your finger to be worn for a 4-6 week time period. If the situation deals with a complex, unstable fracture, then surgery may be necessary. 

It’s important to explain to your doctor exactly how and when the accident happened. Whether you injured your finger while trying to break a fall or while playing sports, these details are salient to the doctor’s diagnosis. If diagnosed with a simple fracture, oftentimes a doctor will inject a local anesthetic to your finger to numb the pain, while he/she attempts to straighten the finger and put the broken bone back into place. Depending on the break, the doctor will apply a splint to your broken finger or may splint multiple fingers next to the broken one for added support. Both of these treatments are in attempts to foster healing and prevent the finger from further injury. 

Recovery

During the 4-6 weeks where you’re wearing the splint, you must keep the splint or dressing dry and clean. Moisture collected under the splint can cause skin irritation and itching. You will need to wash your finger at least once a day while it’s splinted. If showering, tape a plastic bag over your hand to prevent the splint from getting wet or bathe outside of the shower. 

Other best practices during the 4-6 week healing period:

• Keep your hand elevated when possible to minimize swelling
• Be sure to attend your follow-up appointment with your doctor
• Avoid excess hand motion or playing any sports with the injured hand until your doctor has advised it’s ok to do so
• Contact your doctor if you’re worried the fracture is not healing properly or if you’re still feeling an intense amount of pain

During your follow up appointment, your doctor may perform another round of x-rays to gauge how the break has progressed during the healing period. Once your doctor has removed your splint, he/she may advise physical therapy or range of motion exercises for you to perform on the injured hand, depending on the severity of the fracture. Joint stiffness often results from a finger fracture, so continuing these exercises over time can be critical to ensuring long-term recovery. Overall, if these steps are abided, the prognosis for a healthy recovery is strong for a broken finger.

Rehabilitation Exercises

Your doctor or physical therapist will advise you when to start rehabilitation exercises for your finger as well as which exercises will be most effective for you, given the nature of your fracture. Be sure to start these exercises slowly and tell your doctor or therapist if these exercises start to induce pain.

Common range of motion exercises, once per day include:

• Finger extensions: Lay your hand, palm down, on a flat surface and raise the affected finger 8-10 times
• Isolated finger flex: Lay your hand on a flat surface, palm up. With your other hand, press down on the non-affected fingers. Bend and straighten your isolated affected finger, that is free to move, 8-10 times.
• Imaginary ball squeeze: spread your fingers in the air as if you’re gripping an invisible ball. Bend your fingers around the ball and squeeze the ball for 5 seconds. Slowly straighten your fingers to release and repeat this motion 8-10 times. A similar exercise can also be performed by squeezing a towel roll. 
• Tendon glides: Hold your hand up with your fingers pointing straight up, as if you’re about to give a high five. Slowly curl all five fingers down until you’ve formed a fist. Then slowly uncurl your fingers back to the starting position. Repeat this motion 8-10 times.

The post How to Recover From a Broken Finger appeared first on My FiveFingers.

What Exactly IS A Back Strain? 

A back strain is an injury to a tendon of muscle in the back. When a strain injury occurs in this part of the body it results in muscles and tendons that support the spine being pulled, twisted, or even torn. It is important to note that a strain is a distinct injury different from a back sprain. A sprained back is caused not by muscle and tendon injuries, but by the stretching or tearing of the ligaments that connect bone joints together. 

What Causes A Back Strain? 

Back strains can be caused by a wide number of activities and underlying conditions, and can be the result of both long-term or one-time events. 

Causes of long-term back strains include prolonged, repetitive usage of the muscles and tendons, such as bending or crouching repeatedly. Participating in sports and activities such as football or weightlifting that put stress on the back can also lead to back injuries such as strains.  

Sudden back strains can be caused by a number of different events, such as a fall, extreme physical exertion, improperly lifting of objects in a way that causes exertion of the back muscles, or any lifting of heavy objects if you are overweight. 

Being overweight in general can contribute to a back strain, as can poor posture, emotional stress, sitting in one position for extended periods of time, having weak hamstrings or back muscles, and any activity that results in excessive spinal curvature. In some cases a severe cough can be enough to cause a strain.    

Signs And Symptoms Of A Back Strain 

There are a number of signs and symptoms of a back injury that should be easy to recognize, including: 

• General pain and stiffness in the back that worsens with movement.
• Muscle cramps or spasms in the back.
• Pain in the legs and buttocks, typically located in the back of the thigh.
• Difficulty walking or moving as normally, causing a limited range of motion and function.
• Back pain that worsens when you do common things such as sneezing, coughing, or stretching.
• In some cases sufferers may hear or feel a pop or tear when the injury first occurs.

Officially Diagnosing A Back Strain

Since many of the symptoms listed above apply to a number of different back injuries, it is important to have a medical professional examine the back to rule out more serious injuries, especially in instances with further symptoms such as numbness or weakening of the legs. 

When examining a patient and diagnosing a back strain, a doctor will need to perform a thorough physical examination, and it is not uncommon for them to turn to further medical testing such as x-rays or MRIs to confirm a strain has occurred, although these tests are typically only utilized in instances where the pain remains following initial treatments. This is done to ensure there is not a more severe injury causing the pain. 

Treating A Back Strain

The first step in treating a back strain is to reduce the pain the patient is feeling and limit spasming. Typically applying pressure through compression, applying ice, and getting plenty of rest are the first steps in this regard. This is a crucial step in the first day or two following the injury. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen can also be helpful at this stage, as it will reduce swelling and pain. 

It is not recommended to extend rest time beyond the first 24-48 hours after the injury, as  extended immobility will actually extend recovery time. Instead, it is recommended that back strain sufferers resume normal activities within reason following that 24-48 hour window. 

This course of treatment will typically clear up pain and limitations from a back strain completely within two weeks. If symptoms remain at that point, it may be worth visiting with a medical professional to make sure there is not a more serious condition at play.  

Back Strain Complications

While there are not many complications related to this condition, the lack of movement and mobility the injury causes can lead to weight loss, flexibility loss, loss of muscle strength, and a reduction in bone density over an extended period of time. 

Preventing Back Strains

Back injuries are essentially inevitable, as so many common actions and lifestyle factors can cause them. That being said, it is possible to reduce your risk factor for back injuries such as strains. Some of the most important steps towards prevention include: 

• Regular exercise. Stretching and other exercise that maintains flexibility in particular are helpful when it comes to preventing back strains. 
• Use proper form and posture whenever possible. This includes keeping your backs straight and shoulder back while sitting, as well keeping your feet flat on the floor.
• Avoid twisting movements whenever possible.
• Bend your knees when lifting and use your legs to lift, not your back.
• Eat a healthy diet that benefits bone and muscle strength.
• Maintain a healthy weight, as being overweight can put undue pressure on the back.
• Do whatever possible to prevent falls, including making sure to wear properly sized clothing and shoes.
• If you smoke, stop smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes can inhibit blood flow to the muscles, including those in the back.

Back pain, and back strains specifically, are an unfortunate reality and will impact the lives of many, many people. Thankfully strains are not a major medical problem on their own, and initial treatments and procedures typically result in a complete recovery within two weeks of the injury, at which point strain sufferers can get back to the daily life without the added burden of a back strain.  

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