We have all at one time or another experienced a “head rush” when we stand up too quickly.  It takes a few seconds for us to recover our vision or balance.  However, if this happens to you often or you feel lightheaded more often than you think normal you may want to see your doctor.  Before you go though, ask yourself a few questions.  Telling someone you feel lightheaded can mean vertigo if not described correctly.  Vertigo, according to WebMD, vertigo occurs when there is conflict between the signals sent to the brain by various balance- and position-sensing systems of the body. Your brain uses input from four sensory systems to maintain your sense of balance and orientation to your surroundings.  Often times vertigo is caused by damage of the inner ear but can be a symptom of more serious issues.

For more information about feeling lightheaded or having vertigo, please visit the WebMD website or ask your family doctor.

We all know the importance of using sunscreen each and every day. Especially living under the hot Texas sun in these hot summers. According the the American Cancer Society, applying sunscreen every day can reduce the formation of actinic keratoses (also called solar keratoses), a potential precursor to skin cancer.  But with so many sunscreens on the market and varying levels of SPF in each, how do you know what to use?

When we’re little we struggle with our parents so we don’t have to take a nap, and yet, as we grow older we long for those afternoon naps. Perhaps we don’t get enough sleep at night or everyday tasks are either physically or emotionally draining. No matter what the reason, a 20 minute nap can be a treat equal to that of rich chocolate or ice cream on a hot day. Even when we’ve had enough rest a nap can be inviting. Just look at how many hammocks are sold each year - or how much money people spend on getting the best night’s sleep they can.

So the next time you have the chance to do so, take a nap. 20-30 minutes is all you need to feel refreshed and not mess-up your sleep schedule. You’ll feel better and who knows, maybe you’ll feel like a kid again.

In an effort to mix-up things a litte bit and do so without having to visit a restaurant, September Services is putting together a cookbook.  So many of our employees and clients have wonderful recipes, why not share them?  No matter how good of a cook you are or how creative, sometimes its just nice to have someone else answer the question, “What’s for dinner?”

Do you have a recipe you think others would enjoy?  Whether you know how to make the best lemonade in town, mouth-watering main course, or your expertise is in baking fluffy cakes, we would love any help you may offer.  Give us a call or send us an email at: septservices@aol.com to let us know if you want to participate - or even just receive a copy when its done!

By now you have either read the book or seen something about it on Oprah or one of the 8 hours of the Today show. Eat This, Not That! is a helpful resource dedicated to the best and worst foods and drinks available. It covers everything from fast food to supermarkets, down to which specific foods are good for curing certain ailments. If you haven’t heard of this sensation, Men’s Health offers an email newsletter with the latest information.

Examples of the information you can find are:

Do you know what the best food cure is for reducing cholesterol? It is: Olive oil! Antioxidants found in olives have been shown both to raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, making olive oil a doubly potent protector against cardiovascular disease.

Need to lower your blood pressure? Eat a baked potato! Increasing the amount of potassium in your diet (a baked potato will boost your intake by about 400 mg, but be sure to eat the skin!) will significantly lower your blood pressure.

Perhaps you are having trouble seeing. For better vision, eat (cooked) spinach or romaine lettuce. The National Institutes of Health found that people who consume the most lutein–found in leafy greens–are 43 percent less likely to develop macular degeneration.

All of this and more is available online on the Men’s Health website. Check it out to see how your favorite foods measure up.

September Services is so proud of our founder, Jane, for her quote in a recent article! You can find the article in Park Cities News or just read below.

Jane Littlefield, President of September Services - a Dallas based Home Health Care Agency, reminds us that “there are many dynamics involved in caring for our aging parents. It creates a shift where parents become the children and children become the parents. This can be a stressful shift, but can be softened by working with a third party to help accommodate the increasing needs of an aging parent.” Agencies, such as September Services, have been working with families, as a care team, to make life a little easier for everyone. Make everyday Mother’s Day. This Mother’s Day, allow yourself to appreciate your Mother for all she is, was, or has been in your life.