Dr. Bannister offers these simple tips to help
with the time change adjustment:
Head outdoors for some natural
light. Even 20 to 30 minutes will
make a big difference.
A brisk walk up to a few hours
before bedtime releases the feel-
good brain chemical serotonin,
which helps you relax.
Push bedtime back by
10 or 15 minutes a night
for a few nights.
Limit alcohol, caffeine, and
nicotine, as they can hinder
your ability to fall asleep.
TAKE A SHOT AT THE FLU
Protect yourself and your family from the flu virus this
year with a little help from our medical staff. Find a
provider at
Rumor has it
Q:
Can the flu shot give you the flu?
A:
“Absolutely not,” says Kent Zieser, DO, primary care physician at
Methodist Richardson Medical Group. “Don’t let the misconception that
the flu shot can make you sick keep you from getting vaccinated.
“It is impossible to get the flu from either the traditional flu shot or
the nasal spray,” Dr. Zieser says. “The flu shot is an inactivated, or dead,
virus that is not infectious, and the nasal spray is a virus that has been
weakened to the point that it cannot cause a systemic flu infection.
“Patients may report flu-like symptoms after getting the vaccine —
headaches, body aches, low-grade fever, or chills — but this is the
immune system reacting to the vaccine as it builds immunity.”
Time-change troubles?
LOOKING FOR LOST SLEEP?
If your sleep troubles persist, the Sleep Disorders Center at Methodist Richardson
can help. Learn more at
Most of us look forward to that extra hour
of sleep at the end of daylight saving
time, but for many, “falling back” can
also take a toll on our health, mood, and
body clock, says Denise Bannister, MD,
internal medicine physician on the
medical staff at Methodist Richardson
Medical Center.
“Although our brain knows that
we’ve turned back the hour hand on
the kitchen clock, our internal clock
can remain unaware for days,”
she says. “Resetting an out-of-
sync circadian rhythm — our
daily sleep-wake and light-
dark cycles — can be tricky.”
People may experience
disrupted sleep, drowsiness,
irritability, headaches, and
even seasonal depression.
TO YOUR HEALTH
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