Skip to content

Donald Trafton Posts

Is the “Good Life” gone?

Global happiness has increased for the second year in a row. It is six points higher than a year ago and 10 points higher than it was in August 2020, just months after COVID disrupted people’s lives around the world. But what do you believe? Many point to the lingering pandemic concerns, the “abnormal” hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, cyclones and wildfires wreaking their destruction on all continents, the increased social and political unrest and two active military conflicts….as conclusive evidence that…

Oh, my aching back!

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems worldwide, and is on the rise. According to Harvard Medical School, 80% of people will experience low back pain at some time in their lives. The good news: there are some simple treatments you can do at home to prevent and treat lower back pain. Cold, then heat treatments “It’s best to use cold compresses or an ice pack, not heat, immediately following a back injury, since this can alleviate…

Tricks for Falling asleep

I never thought of myself as having insomnia, but by definition …I do. Chances are, you do too, Adults need 7 to 9 hours of solid sleep each night. Less than that means that you have insomnia, and that should be addressed. Here are some tricks for treating insomnia and falling asleep, Do * go to bed and wake up at the same time every day * relax at least 1 hour before bed, for example, take a bath. read…

Curious about the importance of curiosity?

It’s normal to lose our curiosity …especially as we age. According to one expert: ‘‘Three-year-olds, on average, ask their parents about 100 questions a day, every day! However, by the time they are ten to 11 years of age they’ve pretty much stopped asking.” Yet curiosity is extremely important to our health and well-being. It triggers creativity, motivation, happiness, intelligence, reduces stress, and helps us to become successful in life. But before I can regain my curiosity, I need to…

Oh my aching bones!

Last month I investigated the benefits of taking collagen (or any other supplement) for the treatment of skin, hair, and nails. Surprisingly. the American Academy of Dermatology does not recommend collagen supplements for the treatment of skin, hair, and nails. But retinoids are often recommend. Check out the AAD article for some useful skin care information. What about collagen for joint pain? A comprehensive discussion titled “Collagen Supplementation for Joint Health” appears in the National Library of Medicine The key…

Do collagen supplements work?

Collagen is the protein responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity, or stretchiness. It’s in your bones, muscles, and blood, comprising three-quarters of your skin and a third of the protein in your body. As you get older, your body makes less collagen You can’t measure exactly how much you have, but when it drops you may have symptoms such as joint pain or stiff tendons or ligaments. Your muscles may weaken. You could also have papery skin. As a…

Good sleep = better health

An entire industry has developed around sleep. Sleep affects your mind, body and emotional well being. It is the most important thing you can do to maintain good health . . .  so it is worth some study. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it depends on your age. Teenagers need 8–10 hours per 24 hours, adults could get by with 7 hours or need up to 9 hours of quality sleep per 24 hours. These…

Feet matter . . really!

We put more stress, more wear and tear on our feet than we probably realize. “A person who lives to age 80 may walk an estimated 110,000 miles, equivalent to more than four times around the Earth at the equator. That long journey can take a toll on your feet.” Yet few of us put any consciousness on the care of our feet. We open ourselves to some very painful, debilitating foot ailments (like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and osteoarthritis). Here’s…

Are you drinking enough water?

It’s summer here in Arizona, and it’s hot! Time to be mindful of our drinking water intake. You may have heard that 64 ounces (eight 8-ounce glasses) is the correct amount for adults, but the Mayo Clinic  quoting a report from The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, says men should drink about 15.5 cups (124 ounces) and women should drink 11.5 (92 ounces). BTW, coffee/tea or other liquids do count. Turns out, how much is enough is…

5 Rituals To Keep You Happier

We all just want to be happy, right? I encourage you to read this article to see how easy it can happen for you. It can be pretty fast too… If you don’t need it, I am pretty sure you can help someone else who does. So just read it, pass it on, and feel really good. 5 Rituals To Keep You Happy All The Time By Eric Barker I really want to hear from you about this. What’s your…