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The sun is out, the weather is great, the pools and beaches are open, and the ice cream trucks are out in full force. But while air conditioners crank on all across the country, most people aren't thinking about the importance of blood donation; a simple action with huge benefits. 

With summer in full effect, it should be easier to get some sun exposure to help boost your intake of vitamin D, aka the "Sunshine Vitamin." But have you ever wondered if you're getting too little? And what's the best way to get it? 

While you are enjoying fresh air and sunshine this summer, keep in mind:

One of the things many of us take for granted is a pain-free neck. It's only when we have a stiff or painful neck that we wish we had taken preventive measures. The exercises discussed below are to strengthen and stretch a normal neck. If you have preexisting neck pain or a spine condition, check with your health care provider before doing these exercises.

Valentine's Day has arrived, which means those boxes of chocolates, chocolate covered fruit and other sweet treats will be hard to avoid. 

However, chocolate's reputation is on the rise. Recent studies have suggested limited consumption of chocolate can provide health benefits. Is your Valentine's Day chocolate a healthy indulgence or is this an age-old myth?

As you or your loved one get older, falls may be something that you have to plan for. Falls happen for many reasons - stiff joints, vision changes, illness or a medication that affects balance. So what can you do to help put your mind at ease and help ensure the safety of your family?

Do you ever feel like you pester the men in your life to go to the doctor? Generally, men tend to die sooner than woman, and while there are many factors to this statistic, it's hard to ignore the fact that it may be due to men avoiding the doctor and not getting treatment for otherwise preventable diseases. In honor of Men's Health Awareness Month, we're going to help you understand what it is that's stopping men from visiting the doctor and what you can do to get them to make their health a priority.

_{I don't have time to just sit around and do nothing. I have to drop the kids off at school, get to work, come home and make dinner, get my son to football practice and then catch up on emails. I have way too much work on my plate right now. I don't know when I'd fit this in. I'm taking care of my aging mother and working full-time.}

Does any of this sound familiar? I hear these kinds of statements a lot in my work as a mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher. And, I too feel this way at times. 

Most of us have experienced the pain of a muscle cramp or "charley horse." Muscle cramps - involuntary muscle contractions - are common. But even though they can be quite painful, they don't usually cause damage. Learn ways to help give those charley horses the boot. 

Any muscle can cramp, but the muscles of the calf, back of the thigh and front of the thigh are most commonly affected. Cramps are also common in the feet, hands, arms and abdomen, and along the rib cage.