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You’ve decided you’re going to change your life for the better and quit smoking. Sometimes looping in your friends and family with such a big life change can be difficult to navigate. They may have no idea what to expect, how challenging it could be for you, or how to be part of your success. They may do things that hinder your progress without even realizing it. At the same time, family and friends can offer a strong support system in your quest to quit smoking that can really aid your success....

Internal validity is a measure of how well a study is conducted (its structure) and how accurately its results reflect the studied group. External validity relates to how applicable the findings are in the real world. These two concepts help researchers gauge if the results of a research study are trustworthy and meaningful. What Is Internal Validity in Research? Internal validity is the extent to which a research study establishes a trustworthy cause-and-effect relationship....

For many teenagers, sitting in a therapist’s office talking about their feelings isn’t particularly enticing. But, talking to a therapist online might not sound too bad. Many parents wonder, however, whether online therapy for teenagers a good idea. There is some evidence that talking to a trained mental health professional over the internet could be quite beneficial for teens. But it’s important to educate yourself about the potential risks and to ensure your teen is a good candidate for online therapy before starting treatment....

Before I got pregnant with my son, I had an ectopic pregnancy that called for daily blood testing at an OB/GYN near my old office in New York City. Shuttling between my Brooklyn neighborhood, my downtown doctor’s office, and my new uptown office every morning wore me down. So when I got pregnant again, I found a Brooklyn doctor who would see me as late as 6 p.m.—meaning I could swing by for regular check-ups on my way home from work....

If you experience symptoms of claustrophobia, you may feel afraid or anxious to undergo some important medical tests, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan, bone scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. While forgoing some activities due to your claustrophobia may be of no consequence, avoiding medical tests can be quite a different case. Delaying imaging can cause a health concern to go undiagnosed and for necessary treatment to be delayed....

Kids are bombarded by advertising, fake news, and misinformation every day. Even small children are exposed to different types of media through the shows, videos, and advertising they see on iPads and smartphones. In fact, a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that children ages 8 to 18 spend more than 7.5 hours a day, seven days a week interacting with various forms of media including everything from television, music, and movies to computers, video games, and social media....

Editor’s note: In December 2022, a spokesperson for Mockingbird confirmed with Verywell Family that the single-to-double strollers currently on sale at HelloMockingbird.com, Target, and Babylist are not affected by the November recall. Popular stroller brand Mockingbird issued a voluntary recall on November 10, 2022, for its single-to-double stroller due to a fall risk to children. The company issued the recall after receiving reports of cracking in the side of its frame....

Anyone who goes through the unspeakable tragedy of losing an infant likely comes through the experience as a different person. In the media, you see a lot of stories about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but much less about the more common types of infant losses that can take place in the first month of the baby’s life. Because these losses often occur because of factors associated with the mom’s pregnancy, such as premature birth, some people consider neonatal death a form of pregnancy loss....

If you are a parent following the news about the Omicron variant, it’s likely you’re feeling some uneasiness. You may be wondering what this news means for you, your children, and your family. You might have questions about whether Omicron will make your children more ill than other variants have, and whether the current vaccines approved for children will still work. Update As of December 2022, Omicron is the dominant COVID-19 variant circulating in the U....

Everyone occasionally experiences a pressing desire to talk—whether to share good news or an exciting or unusual experience. If you have bipolar disorder, however, a compulsive urge to talk might represent a symptom called pressured speech. This symptom occurs commonly in adults, adolescents, and children with bipolar disorder experiencing mania or hypomania. A rapid-fire speech pattern is one of the most frequent initial signs of bipolar disorder. It usually occurs with other common signs and symptoms, such as increased energy and activity; reduced need for sleep or insomnia; elevated mood; irritability, agitation, or jumpiness; and racing thoughts....

When we think about having a baby very few of us think much past choosing the practitioner who will help us when labor comes. Once you’ve chosen a doctor or midwife, it often seems that they will tell you where their preference is to give birth. Some women may have an option to choose from one or more places, while others have only one option. Either way, it’s important to ask questions or interview the place you’ve chosen or perhaps will choose to give birth....

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined as a variety of practices and products used to promote health and healing that are not part of standard medical care practices. In recent years, CAM practices have grown in popularity as a way to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other anxiety disorders. Some common CAM practices include herbal medicines, aromatherapy, yoga, and therapeutic massage....

The term schema refers to the cognitive structures we have to describe various categories of knowledge about the world. Like with many other things, we also hold schemas about ourselves. In psychology, these are known as self-schemas. We all have ideas and beliefs about other people but we also hold the same sort of impressions about ourselves. These self-schemata impact our thoughts and behaviors. What a Self-Schema Is Self-schema are categories of knowledge that reflect how we expect ourselves to think, feel, and act in particular settings or situations....

Insoles in your running shoes are an effective way to fend off foot pain before a problem develops. Insoles should provide cushioning and shock absorption as well as support the arch and cradle the heel. Some insoles are made to support specific issues like plantar fasciitis or high arches so its important to choose the ones that best suit your needs. Most insoles are trimmable to fit your exact foot shape and shoe size but insoles that come in different sizes will minimize how much trimming you have to do....

The goal of the CIWA protocol is to minimize the risk of complications and optimize the patient’s recovery. It is also known as the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale. What Is the CIWA Protocol? The CIWA protocol for alcohol withdrawal is a questionnaire that measures the severity of an individual’s alcohol withdrawal symptoms. History of the CIWA Protocol for Alcohol Withdrawal The CIWA protocol was designed to standardize the care of patients with alcohol withdrawal and to improve outcomes....

After parents separate, it’s not uncommon for their levels of income to change. This is especially true if one parent was financially dependent on the other. If you’re in a position where you need public assistance after your divorce your child support payments will probably come up. Prior to granting benefits, any government office will inquire as to whether you’re receiving child support from the child’s mother or father. If not, they will make every effort to collect child support from the parent, in order to recoup some of the expenses which would otherwise be paid by the government....

Tobacco companies use additives to make the effects of nicotine more impactful and to make cigarette smoking more appealing to consumers. Unfortunately, these additives also drastically increase the health risks related to cigarette smoking. As of Dec. 20, 2019, the new legal age limit is 21 years old for purchasing cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco products in the U.S. The use of these additives sheds a light on the strategies tobacco companies use to appeal to certain groups of people, including especially vulnerable groups like adolescents....

When it comes to teens and the use of tampons, there are many questions and misconceptions. Sometimes, both parents and teens may wonder whether tampons will have an impact on virginity. Using a tampon has no impact on whether on not someone is a virgin. Discuss facts about menstruation hygiene products with your teen so she understands exactly what is happening with her body—and that choosing to use tampons will not impact her virginity....

When you’re preparing to breastfeed your baby, you may spend a lot of time fretting over all the things that could go wrong. Will you make enough milk? What if your baby has a tongue-tie? And just how badly is it going to hurt you? One thing you probably don’t spend time thinking about is the anatomy of your nipples—and whether yours are conducive to typical breastfeeding. In reality, a lot of women have normal anatomical variations to their nipples....

Have you ever been in a group where someone took control of the situation by conveying a clear vision of the group’s goals, a marked passion for the work, and an ability to make the rest of the group feel recharged and energized? This person might be what is called a transformational leader. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that can inspire positive changes in those who follow. Transformational leaders are generally energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate....