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MIND YOUR MIND Believe it or not, mindfulness meditation has real health benets. According to the American Psychological Association, practicing mindfulness meditation regularly reduces stress, decreases depressive symptoms and lowers blood pressure. Don't know how to get started? Just nd a comfortable place in your house where you can sit in silence for 10 minutes and focus on your breathing. Rather than xating on any one line of thought, let your thoughts and feelings come and go. IS IT A COLD OR ALLERGIES? Cold symptoms can mimic those of seasonal allergies so closely that it can be dicult to tell them apart. Before you run to your primary care doctor with a case of the snies, know the dierence. First, consider whether the seasons have changed recently. If they have, allergies may be the culprit. If you or your loved one has a fever, it isn't allergies. Fever is a sign of your body warding o infection, and can indicate a cold. However, if your nasal discharge is clear and watery, or you nd yourself sneezing constantly, chances are there's some allergen oating around that's making you feel miserable. NAP HEALTHY Adults can nap too — we just have to be smart about it. If you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, aim for about 20minutes. Research from the National Sleep Foundation shows this is the ideal amount of nap time to recharge your brain and help you focus. Be sure to nap in a quiet, cool, dark place, and be as comfortable as possible. Napping during the day puts you in a better mood, decreases stress, and can even help those who live with narcolepsy, if their afternoon naps are scheduled. Don't nap for too long, however — that's when you wake up feeling groggy and disoriented, and without any of the benets to your mood or attention span. Mercy Medical Center-Centerville complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. For more information, see link on our home page at www.mercycenterville.org. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-641-437-4111. (TTY Voice: 1-800-735-2943; TDD: 1-800-735-2942) 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-641-437-4111。 (TTY Voice: 1-800-735-2943; TDD: 1-800-735-2942) healthbeat Keeping You Up to Date on the Latest Health News MERCY MEDICAL CENTERCENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 2