Aches and pains can get in the way of living your best life and doing workouts and every day tasks. Pain relief creams can temporarily quell inflammation or reduce pain when applied directly to the skin. “Not all pain is the same,” said Susan Bard, MD, a dermatologist at Vive Dermatology, explaining that different pain relievers meet different needs. Some help reduce inflammation while others are more suitable for open wounds like cuts and scrapes....
Sunscreen can help you cut down on damaging exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays that can harm your skin—whether you’re working out or going about your daily life. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is—if you’re going outside, you need to put sunscreen on. According to the CDC, that rule still applies even if it’s cloudy out or you’re standing in the shade. The best sunscreens are easy to apply, non-irritating, and provide good protection....
The sexualization of young girls is an ongoing problem in America that’s leading to a myriad of problems, from exposing girls to societal pressures to perpetuating sexualized violence. Sexualization is negatively impacting many girls’ cognitive functioning as well as their physical and mental health. The sexualization of young girls occurs when individuals or when a society explicitly or implicitly demonstrates that a girl’s value comes only from her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, or when she is sexually objectified, or when sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon her....
Thrush is a common breastfeeding problem. While you can take care of some breastfeeding issues on your own, this isn’t one of them. Thrush is an infection, and it needs treatment in order to clear up. Common symptoms of thrush while breastfeeding include nipple and breast pain during and after feedings. Your baby can also get thrush in their mouth, which looks like creamy white spots. With treatment, you and your baby will be feeling better and back to your normal breastfeeding routine in no time....
Anyone who has ever attempted to re-settle a very alert (read: noisy) toddler at 5 a.m. will know that it is never as simple as ushering them back to bed. Pleading “shhhh, it’s the middle of the night” rarely works, but an “OK to Wake” clock could be the key to reclaiming your early mornings. An “OK to Wake” clock is a product that aims to establish a healthy sleep schedule for your little one, letting them know via lights or sounds when it is an appropriate time to be awake....
Social connection and interpersonal relationships are crucial for human health and well-being. Poor social support is linked to various problems, including depression, loneliness, heart disease, substance use, and suicide. Social withdrawal involves avoiding people and activities that you previously enjoyed. It can range in severity from limited social engagement to complete isolation. Despite this, there are times when people pull away from friends, family, and other social connections. When people remove themselves from opportunities to socialize with others, they might be experiencing what is referred to as social withdrawal....
Going back to work after having a baby is never an easy transition. If you’re like most moms, the thought of leaving your newborn for several hours a day is nerve-wracking. You also are still healing from your baby’s delivery—whether you delivered vaginally or by cesarean section—and you probably don’t feel 100% yet. Plus, there is the sleep-deprivation to deal with, finding appropriate childcare, and deciding whether to continue breastfeeding. So, what do you do when you feel like your maternity leave is ending before it ever really got started?...
By the time your new little one arrives, you’re likely prepared for the fact that there are going to be many things they won’t be able to participate in, at least for a few months. But as your baby grows and develops you can begin to introduce them to new activities. During the warmer months, a dip in the pool can be a cool and refreshing respite for parents. But if you have an infant in tow, even one who isn’t quite ready to slip on floaties yet, it can be tempting to bring them into the shallow end and see what they think of the water....
Having a body is no easy task. Just like our minds, our bodies are pretty inescapable. And while having a body alone can be a tough thing, loving your body can sometimes be even more difficult. Whether because your body doesn’t work perfectly, or you don’t like its shape or size, it’s common to feel that you don’t fully love your body. These feelings are normal, and tend to come and go throughout life....
There are times when an adult is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD only after their child is diagnosed. In these cases, it is often after their child’s diagnosis that light bulbs go off in their spouse’s head as behaviors that hurt and sabotage their marriage are recognized as symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and not a lack of caring or motivation. Even with this awareness, the presence of ADHD in a marriage can lead to unhealthy responses along with feelings of being overwhelmed and resentful....
If you’re pregnant, there are a number of reasons your obstetrician might try inducing labor—stimulating your uterus to begin having contractions before they naturally start on their own. It may be that you’re overdue with no signs that you’ll be going into labor anytime soon. Or, perhaps your water has broken, but you’re not having contractions. This puts your baby at risk of infection. Conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes can endanger your health or your baby’s and require induction....
Everyone feels irritable sometimes. But, if you’re not careful, your irritability could cause some bigger problems in your life. Whether you say things you don’t mean and it harms your relationships or you struggle to stay productive at work because you’re annoyed by people around you, it’s important to address your irritability. These strategies can help reduce your irritability so you can feel better. Acknowledge Your Irritability When someone asks why you’re so grumpy, it’s tempting to snap at them and say, “I’m not grumpy!...
Picture someone with depression. What’s the first image that comes to mind? Lying in bed all day? Crying? These aren’t wrong, and they may be fully accurate for me or someone else actively going through a depressive episode. But day-to-day life with chronic depression doesn’t usually look like that. Not every day threatens to crush me, but many days I feel like I carry more weight on my shoulders than most....
Atypical depression is a type of depression that does not follow what was thought to be the “typical” presentation of the disorder. In general, people with atypical depression experience similar symptoms as those with major depressive disorder (MDD) but with one crucial difference: mood reactivity. In other words, a person’s mood is able to improve if something positive happens. Atypical depression, which is now referred to as major depressive disorder with atypical features, is actually quite common....
Even when you know that it’s the right thing to do, the decision to seek professional help for your teen can be a difficult one. While there is an ever-expanding array of treatment programs available for adolescents, it is often difficult to know which one is right for your child. Your first instinct may be to choose the “simplest” option—the one doesn’t turn life upside down so dramatically—but it may not always be the best choice....
Long-time heavy alcohol consumption can have many effects on the drinker’s system, including cognition, emotion, reward, immune function, and energy utilization. When chronic heavy drinkers are intoxicated—and when they are withdrawing from alcohol intoxication—they can experience mood swings, diminished cognitive abilities, memory loss, and a decreased ability to learn. It’s not just long-term drinkers who can develop these symptoms, but also those who drink heavily for a relatively short period of time....
If you are looking for a fast and effective way to get your kids to follow your house rules on a consistent basis, you may want to explore the idea of a token economy system. Although sticker charts work well with preschool-age children, a token economy system will work best with older children. Whether you want to get your child to do their chores, follow directions at school, or refrain from hitting when they’re angry, reward systems are effective discipline tools....
Mental health struggles continue to intensify among children. More than 2 million kids ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with depression. More than 5 million kids have been diagnosed with one of the most common mental health disorders in childhood, anxiety. Key Takeaways A task force of medical experts recommends screening kids ages 8 to 18 years old for anxiety.More than 4 million kids have been diagnosed with anxiety.Kids typically will not say they are struggling with anxiety....
If you have symptoms that resemble bipolar disorder, such as intense mood swings, you might be wondering if you have the disorder. Perhaps others have suggested that you have some signs of bipolar disorder. Either way, you want to know whether you could possibly have bipolar disorder, and if so, what might happen next. Let’s take a look at what bipolar disorder looks like for different people, how to find out if you have it, and how bipolar disorder is usually treated....
DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) is a psychedelic compound found in some plants and, in trace amounts, in the human body. It can cause rapid, short-lived hallucinations, and may be taken orally, consumed as a tea, smoked or vaped, or injected. DMT is the primary hallucinogenic component of ayahuasca tea, which is made from the South American plant of the same name and is traditionally used for ritual purposes. DMT can also be synthetically produced and is often available as a white or yellow crystalline powder....
