Crisp air, the scent of fresh rain, the melodic echo of birds reverberating off tall, lush trees—is there anything more serene than immersing yourself in nature? While we all appreciate the environment around us, today’s digital age has us focused more on the glow of screens than the glow of a sunset. The outdoors tends to take a backseat to our busy lives but making it more of a priority has significant benefits....
You have probably heard a thing or two about the benefits of positive thinking. Research suggests that positive thinkers have better stress coping skills, stronger immunity, and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. While it is not a health panacea, taking an optimistic view rather than ruminating on negative thoughts can benefit your overall mental well-being. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to learn how to think more positively....
Our feelings and actions undeniably impact not only ourselves but also those we surround ourselves with. Key Takeaways A recent study found when women perceive men as having fragile masculinity, they are more likely to fake orgasms and withhold open sexual communication.Men who perceive their manhood as threatened are more likely to act aggressively.Societal norms around men’s behavior to be “strong” and “emotionless” must change for the benefit of all. When the relationship is intimate, this additional vulnerability can enhance the connected nature....
A miscarriage is labeled “incomplete” if bleeding has begun and the cervix is dilated, but tissue from the pregnancy still remains in the uterus. Most of the time, a miscarriage that is incomplete at the time of diagnosis will run its course without further intervention. But sometimes the body has trouble passing the tissue, and the miscarriage remains incomplete until a woman seeks treatment. If the tissue isn’t removed, the incomplete miscarriage can cause very heavy bleeding, prolonged bleeding, or an infection....
Anxiety refers to feelings of fear, worry, dread, nervousness, or foreboding. Everyone experiences these feelings from time to time, and it can be adaptive and helpful to experience anxiety. For example, if you might be in danger, your brain may cue you to seek safety by causing feelings of anxiety. Some people may experience clinically significant anxiety symptoms. This can manifest as anxiety in specific, non-threatening situations, panic symptoms, or generalized feelings of worry that occur most or all of the time....
Staying fit during pregnancy is important for your health, and there are many benefits to working your abdominal muscles during this time. However, doing sit-ups or crunches while pregnant is probably not a good idea. ACE-certified fitness trainer Caitlin Sacasas explains that after the first trimester, or after you begin to have a noticeable uterine growth, it’s best to avoid these core exercises. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives or modifications you can try instead to keep your core strong while pregnant....
What Is Menopause? Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the menstrual period stops, most likely when the ovaries stop making estrogen. Missing a period for 12 consecutive months (in the absence of other obvious causes) is the main criteria for being menopausal . When this happens, a woman is no longer able to get pregnant. The average age of menopause is 51, with the transition occurring most often between the ages of 45 and 55....
Phobias that are affecting your life should be treated by a mental health professional, but relaxation techniques may help ease your anxiety in the short term. Remember that treatment, such as exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or medication, can take time to become fully successful. As you work on the underlying issues behind your phobias, consider these relaxation techniques and find the one that works best for you. Meditation Meditation can soothe your nerves, making you more relaxed overall....
Whether it’s injected, snorted, or smoked, methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that affects the brain and central nervous system. Methamphetamine increases levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin which stimulates brain cells, enhancing mood altering levels of energy, alertness and other bodily functions. In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies methamphetamine as a Schedule II substance. This means that the drug is illegal when used recreationally and that it has a high potential for misuse, but that there are some restricted medical uses....
Parent-teacher conferences can provide much-needed insight into your child’s learning style, growth opportunities, social and interaction styles, likes, dislikes, and the myriad of challenges that you may otherwise not know about. The trick to maximizing your very limited assigned time is to have a sense of what questions you deem essential before heading to the meeting. Questions About the School Day It’s always a good idea to have a grasp of the school curriculum and learn how the teacher approaches teaching in general, if this hasn’t already been made clear to you....
Toward the end of pregnancy, many pregnant people have contractions that seem to go nowhere. Often called, prodromal labor, these contractions can be painful and may result in some cervical changes but don’t turn into true or active labor. The experience can be stressful, annoying, or even scary—especially if this pattern drags out for days or weeks around your due date. Essentially, prodromal labor describes pre-labor or practice contractions that hurt but don’t continue or intensify or result in going into actual labor....
(For the purposes of this article, “bottle feeding” does not include expressed breast milk.) When a teenager is pregnant and deciding whether to bottle feed or breastfeed her baby, there are many factors that influence that decision. She may already have some misconceptions about breastfeeding and they may be difficult to break. For example, many teens who only consider bottle feeding see it as healthier (because you can read the ingredients on the label) and more convenient (because you don’t have to be “joined-at-the-hip” with the baby)....
Body fat monitors are tools that can provide data to support a healthy lifestyle. Monitors can be scales, handheld devices, or calipers that calculate your percentage of body fat versus lean body mass and can help track change or progression over time. Most body fat monitors measure body composition through bioelectrical impedance or skinfold measurements. “When choosing a body fat monitor, it’s important that you choose one that fits your lifestyle,” says Kim Mahony, RD, LDN, corporate manager of nutritional services at Lutheran Life Communities....
Massage guns can be helpful tools for relieving sore muscles and preventing soreness when used before and after workouts. They target muscles with rapid-fire pulses, aiming to provide the benefits of massage therapy from the comfort of your home. When choosing a massage gun, take into consideration your personal noise tolerance, the device’s stall force—which is how much pressure you can apply before it shuts off—the gun’s weight and shape, and customizing options such as multiple speed selections and head attachments for hitting different muscle groups, so you’re receiving targeted benefits....
Dietary fiber, the indigestible portion of plants, is important for both digestive and overall health. Adequate fiber intake can reduce risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol, keep blood sugar levels stable, and support digestive regularity. Fiber can be found naturally in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes, yet many Americans do not consume enough fiber daily. When possible, we recommend consuming whole food sources first to meet your fiber needs....
CrossFit integrates aerobic exercise, bodyweight-based exercise, and Olympic weightlifting to improve overall physical fitness. A constant variety of functional movements is key to a successful CrossFit regimen, and a wide selection of equipment is available to help you integrate it into your home workouts. Start with basics like a barbell, jump rope, and pull-up bar, and add on as your budget allows. The best equipment is versatile, sturdy, safe, and high-quality to last a long time....
Most people feel tired and sweaty after a difficult workout, and fueling (eating or drinking) is one of the most helpful ways to recover. You need nutrients to replenish what was lost, repair what was damaged, and build your muscles and body to be stronger. As part of the post-workout recovery, you may also require electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. While we recommend getting as much of your nutrition as possible from simply eating a post-workout meal or snack, you may find that a thoughtfully chosen post-workout drink can be helpful to refuel after more intense workouts....
There are different forms of marriage. In contrast to the common practice of only two partners marrying one another, societies exist whose members toe a different path. One of such forms is bigamy. Bigamy is defined as the act of going through a marriage ceremony with one person while legally married to another. Polygamy is having more than one spouse at a time, so one must engage in bigamy to experience polygamy....
Tokophobia is the extreme fear of giving birth. This isn’t run-of-the-mill anxiety or reluctance over the thought of delivering a baby, which is generally normal. Like a paralyzing fear of heights or spiders, tokophobia is what’s known as a specific phobia, meaning it is severe enough to interfere with quality of life. In some cases, tokophobia may also result in a fear of pregnancy as well, or cause sufferers to avoid becoming pregnant (even if they would like to have children)....
Once formula-fed babies turn 1, they should switch from drinking formula to whole cow’s milk (unless there are allergy concerns). The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends that children ages 12 to 24 months drink whole milk rather than reduced-fat milk, as toddlers need the extra fat in their diets to support optimal brain development. In specific cases, low-fat milk may be warranted if a child has a strong family history of heart disease....
