PUBLISHED 12/06/2005
Your [insert body part here] aches
"For joints, ice is the best remedy for reducing inflammation and pain," Dr. Glazer says. Although you can buy an ice pack at a drug store, Dr. Glazer is partial to the grocery store alternative: frozen peas. Ice your knee or ankle for 20 minutes, then remove the pack for 20. Continue this cycle until you feel relief. If the pain is muscular, apply ice during the first 24 hours, then switch to heat. Dr. Glazer prefers heat wraps, which unlike heating pads, won't overheat and burn skin. They also penetrate deeper and last longer--you can wear them for up to eight hours.
Your Fix: Frozen veggies; ThermaCare Air-Activated HeatWraps
Extra Tip: Decrease inflammation from the inside out with an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. French researchers found that osteoarthritis sufferers who took 400 milligrams of ibuprofen had 23 percent less pain than those who took 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen.
Germ Warfare
Arm yourself with these tools to stay out of the doctor's office and on the roads.
Disinfectant sprays or wipes. Wipe down your workspace daily. A University of Arizona study found that the average desk houses up to 400 times more germs than a toilet seat.
Vitamin E. An Oregon State University study found that ultramarathoners who took 400 IU of the vitamin didn't suffer the immune system breakdown usually caused by extreme exercise.
Humidifier. "A humidifier keeps the nose from getting irritated and makes the resistance barrier between you and the germs stronger," says James Glazer, M.D., of the University of Vermont.
Hand sanitizer. Active ingredient ethyl alcohol is an antiseptic that kills germs without water.
