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Today’s teens are always connected. They live out their lives online and in the public eye. They share photos on Instagram, tweet live from concerts, and message their friends instead of calling. However, sometimes teens don’t make wise choices about what they’re posting, sharing, or texting. Unfortunately, one impulsive decision can affect their lives for years to come. To some teens, sending sexually explicit content is a normal way to interact with their peers....

Around the world, rising numbers of children are developing the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes. In the United States, there was a 1.9% increase in new cases of type 1 diabetes per year between 2002 and 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Key Takeaways A recent review of existing research found that some studies support an association between longer periods of breastfeeding and a lower risk of type 1 diabetes....

Stress is how your body reacts to changes. However, when your body experiences too much stress or too often, many health issues can occur. Feeling overwhelmed, having low energy, and not getting a good night’s sleep are common effects of chronic stress. This article discusses what back pain is, its symptoms, how stress impacts the health of your back, and some tips to reduce stress-related back pain. Experiencing too much stress doesn’t just take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being....

As cannabis becomes legalized in different forms around the world, the public appetite for information about this psychoactive plant grows. Laws are changing rapidly across the U.S., but at the time of publication, cannabis is fully legal in 15 states and Washington D.C. People want to know how cannabis (also known as marijuana, among many other names) affects all aspects of life. Key Takeaways Cannabidiol (CBD) is derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant....

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), the suicide rate among young adults ages 15–24 has tripled since the 1950s. Suicide is currently the second most common cause of death among college students. Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911....

Many people with clinical depression wonder if their symptoms will go away on their own with time. The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors, such as the type and severity of the depression. However, since depression is highly treatable, seeking proper treatment can help you feel better more quickly. Plus, not taking care of depression not only leads to needless suffering, but it can have devastating consequences....

If you’re new to fitness tracking or hoping to upgrade your current device, you may be facing a common dilemma: Apple Watch or Fitbit? Both brands offer some of the most advanced, best-designed wearables on the market and the devices share many features, including daily health and activity tracking. However, they also have some key differences in terms of performance, design, and price. To help you choose the right product for you, we’ve done the research and put multiple Fitbit and Apple Watch products through our testing regimen....

In a large-scale, multi-country study looking at cardiovascular disease and depressive symptoms, researchers found a strong link between the two. Those with depression were much more likely to have cardiovascular events and early mortality compared to those who had heart issues but no depressive symptoms. Key Takeaways A recent study found a link between depression and a higher risk of heart issues.These findings underscore the strength of the relationship between mental and physical health, which includes other disease risks as well....

If you suffer from general fears about social situations, exposure therapy can help you to gradually become less anxious in the scenarios that you fear. You can practice exposures as a self-help strategy outside of traditional treatment offered by a cognitive-behavioral therapist. Slowly Build Confidence Instead of throwing yourself into situations that cause you to dread and fear, the idea behind exposures is to slowly build up your confidence and ability to cope by gradually facing more difficult situations....

You may have wondered how lavender is used for social anxiety. But first, just what is lavender? Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), also known as English or garden lavender, is an herb native to the Mediterranean region. Historically, lavender was used to mummify bodies in Egypt, in baths in Greece and Rome, and for antiseptic and mental health purposes. Research on the Benefits of Lavender No scientific studies have specifically examined the benefits lavender use for social anxiety disorder (SAD)....

Our decoding and analysis of sensory stimuli are what define our reality. When we’re born, though, our senses aren’t fully developed—a newborn baby, for example, has blurred vision and mostly sees things in their peripheral (not central) fields of vision. Similarly, a newborn baby has yet to learn how to recognize auditory inputs for what, and where, they are. As we grow, we are presented with opportunities to hone these abilities until, as adults, we can unpack every situation, conversation, and interaction....

The majority of teachers your child will encounter are good at what they do. In fact, many teachers go beyond what is expected. But, there are teachers who do not handle their responsibilities well and even some teachers who bully their students. Instead of using proper discipline procedures or effective classroom management techniques, they use their power to condemn, manipulate or ridicule students. When the bullying is physical, most parents do not hesitate to report incidents....

Authoritative parenting is a parenting approach that can be especially useful with struggling teens. That’s because while this parenting style centers on a positive relationship between parents and kids, it also sets firm expectations and boundaries. Therefore, it can help teens see that although their parents love them, they will not enable them. This parenting style utilizes “tough love” combined empathy to send a message that essentially says, “I know you don’t like the rules, but I’m going to enforce them anyway because it’s good for you, and I love you....

Some people are fortunate to have loving, supportive relationships with their siblings that can sometimes be far deeper than friendships. Occasional feelings of anger and hate can be present even in the closest of sibling relationships. However, others may not be on the best terms with their siblings. If you feel like you hate your sister, you’re not alone. It is common for siblings to fight, which can lead to rivalry and hatred over time....

Informed consent ensures that patients, clients, and research participants are aware of the important facts of research, including duration, purpose, and potential benefits and risks. For informed consent to be considered valid, the participant must be physically or mentally able to make the decision to participate in research. A person’s consent must be given voluntarily, without coercion. History of Informed Consent Several court cases involving medical procedures that were performed without a patient’s permission set the groundwork for establishing informed consent as a concept for both medical treatment and research....

Cymbalta is a brand name for duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that is prescribed to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety and depression. It is also used to treat fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and chronic pain. It may also be prescribed off-label to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, lower back pain, and stress-related urinary incontinence. This medication can have a variety of effects on your body and it may create unwanted side effects if you mix it with alcohol or other substances....

Jaundice in premature babies is very common. In fact, it’s common among all newborns, just especially so in preemies. Within a day or two of birth, around 60% of babies will develop the tell-tale yellow tinge to the skin and the whites of the eyes that indicate this typically temporary and benign condition. Jaundice is caused by elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). It’s easy to treat and rarely leads to other health problems....

One of the common challenges faced by people with mood disorders is weight gain from their medications—many people who take certain newer antipsychotic medications may experience significant weight gain as a side effect. This weight gain is believed to be caused by an increased appetite for foods high in carbohydrates and fat as well as these medications’ impact on metabolism. In addition to being physically dangerous, extra weight can be a stumbling block to good mental health if it affects your self-esteem and comfort in your own body....

In the medical world, pain—the body’s way of telling us that something may be wrong—is classified as either acute or chronic. While acute pain tends to be severe but temporary, chronic pain can vary in intensity and persists for long periods of time. Sometimes, chronic pain is a symptom of long-term disease, but in some cases, it’s difficult to identify a specific cause. Key Takeaways Chronic pain can be difficult to manage—everybody’s experience of it is different....

Socrates famously insisted that the introduction of writing would be the demise of human memory and the mind itself. This has been a common theme for new technology throughout history, and many people have similar thoughts when it comes to today’s smart devices and artificial intelligence, believing that their increased usage is the “dumbing down” of humanity. Key Takeaways Most people assume that our ever-increasing use of smart technology is lowering our intelligence....