The Facts About Abortion

Abortion is always going to be a contentious subject, with those on each side of the argument for and against feeling completely sure that they are right. Of course, as with anything in this world, nothing is quite as clear cut as it might seem at first, and there are many facts about abortion that it’s useful to know before you make up your mind one way or the other, assuming that’s what you want to do. We’ve put together some useful abortion facts to give people a better idea of what it means and the truth behind the rumors. Read on to find out more.

Abortion Is More Common Than You Might Think

Although you might initially think that abortion is a rare occurrence, perhaps because you’ve never had one or you don’t know anyone who has, the truth is that around 30 percent of women in the US will have had one abortion before the age of 45. So why does everyone feel the figures are much lower?

The likelihood is that because abortion is often stigmatized, women don’t tend to talk about it. Therefore, it’s quite possible that you do know someone who has been through the procedure, and they just haven’t told you about it. Of course, a woman’s body is her own, and if she doesn’t want to talk about her abortion, then she doesn’t have to, but since having this procedure can be an emotional experience, removing the stigma and allowing women to be freer to discuss their thoughts and feelings will certainly help to improve the mental health of those who would otherwise feel they had to stay silent.

Abortion Is A Safe Procedure

If you have the idea in your head that abortion is a dangerous procedure and that many women die each year because of it, you won’t be thinking of the very safe and highly sanitary abortion clinic Sydney and others around the world. You would be thinking instead of so-called ‘backstreet abortions’ that are done illegally using improper methods and dirty equipment. Those are dangerous. However, an abortion in a safe clinic with medical professionals taking part in the procedure is very safe; the figures from the CDC show that for every 100,000 legal abortions that take place, less than one person dies because of it. To put that in perspective, almost 16 women out of every 100,000 die during childbirth.

Of course, abortion is a medical procedure, and there are always risks associated with any kind of surgery, and there are certain risk factors that can make an abortion more dangerous, such as how far the pregnancy has progressed and the health of the woman. However, in general terms, abortion is a safe procedure that is unlikely to cause death or harm anyone’s fertility.

Abortion Is Not Something Everyone Regrets

Sometimes women who have chosen to have an abortion do regret their choice. However, this is not the case for everyone, and many women are glad that they had the procedure. No matter what the reason for deciding that an abortion was the correct choice for them, the fact that there are safe, clean, professional abortion clinics that will carry out the procedure and help with any aftercare that is required is something a lot of women are grateful to have access to.

The choice to have an abortion might be difficult, and there will be many factors that need to go into the decision. However, once it is done, regret won’t come into it if it was the right decision. The woman will be healthy and happy and able to have a family when her health and her relationship are better. Yes, some women will have regrets, but the majority tend not to.

Abortions Aren’t Just for Childfree Women

When you think of a woman who wants to have an abortion, you might imagine that she is childfree, perhaps single, perhaps focused on her career, or someone who wants to travel around the world or whatever else might come to mind. What you possibly wouldn’t think of is a mother with one or more children at home. Surely if she already has one child – or more than one child – having another wouldn’t be problematic, and an abortion wouldn’t be required?

The truth is that some of the women who choose to have abortions do already have children. Or they might know they definitely want children in the future. However, sometimes circumstances at the time mean that a child right now would be a mistake, which would lead to regret. Every woman is different, and every decision is made for specific and personal reasons; there is no particular ‘type’ of woman who chooses to have an abortion, and anyone who does is certainly not automatically a ‘child hater’.

Many people immediately assume that an abortion will be carried out on a woman who finds that she is pregnant and doesn’t want to be for whatever reason. However, some abortions are performed on women who were desperate to become pregnant, were happy to find they were, and then received bad news about their child or their relationship or their own health or anything else that changes things. This is why abortion is always such a personal choice.

Abortion Doesn’t Mean You Are Irresponsible

We’ve talked about the ‘stereotypical’ woman who might want an abortion – or rather, the idea that many people have of who this is – and we’ve explained that those stereotypes are not helpful and, most importantly, not true some of the time. So, although the idea persists that anyone who needs to have an abortion must be irresponsible and reckless, ‘sleeping around’ and not using any protection, this is not how it always is. Of course, this is the case for some women who require an abortion, but this does not make them bad people, and it doesn’t mean it is fair to label all women who ask for an abortion in the same way.

For some women, women who are generally very responsible, perhaps those who are careful with birth control or who have a steady, monogamous relationship, abortion is still something they feel is necessary. Missing a pill without even realizing it, not noticing if a condom breaks, miscalculating when your fertile time is, can all lead to pregnancy, and are all mistakes that anyone can make – we’re all human, after all.

There will always be people who say that if you don’t want to get pregnant, you shouldn’t have sex, but that would be denying an integral part of human behavior, relationships, love, and so on. Taking precautions is important, just as sex is important, but nothing is one hundred percent safe, and this is why some abortions take place. It’s not recklessness, and it’s not irresponsible. Sometimes choosing to have an abortion is the responsible option, after all.

Abortion Is Not Birth Control

Some of those who are against abortion dislike it because they feel women use it as a form of birth control at the expense of the fetus. In reality, it is highly unlikely that a woman would choose to forego all the other birth control methods, including taking the contraceptive pill, having a coil inserted, or using condoms because their favored method of birth control was to book in for an abortion.

Abortions are surgical procedures, and they take some time to recover from. They are not a ‘quick and easy’ fix, as some might think. It’s far easier and less expensive to have a partner wear a condom or take a pill each day than it is to find out you’re pregnant and request an abortion. Plus, don’t forget that there are restrictions placed on abortions depending on which state (or which country) you happen to be in, meaning that they really wouldn’t be a reliable contraception method.

Abortions Aren’t Something All Pro-Choice People Would Choose

There are, as you may know, two camps when it comes to abortion. Pro-life people dislike abortion and feel that all babies should be born. Pro-choice people agree with abortion in theory and feel that it is the woman’s right to choose what she does, whether that’s to have an abortion or continue with the pregnancy.

Interestingly, although you might assume that pro-choice people would always choose to have an abortion if the need arose, this is not the case. The key word here is ‘choice’. For pro-lifers, there is no choice; the baby must be born. Pro-choice people wouldn’t necessarily ever choose an abortion for themselves, but that doesn’t mean they don’t think other women should be able to choose, even if the result is something they fundamentally disagree with. It’s an interesting dynamic, and it just does show how emotional and complex the subject of abortion can be.

Equally, pro-life people may choose to have an abortion at some point, even if they think they never would. Anything can happen in life, and you might have one particular view for years, decades even, until one thing happens that makes you reassess and rethink.

Abortion Doesn’t Cause the Fetus Pain

In the vast majority of cases, the fetus will feel absolutely no pain during the abortion. This is because the part of the brain responsible for pain receptors doesn’t develop until late on in the pregnancy, and most abortions are carried out during the first and second trimesters.

In the interests of fairness, however, around 1.4 percent of abortions are carried out after this time, during the period in which the pain receptors may have developed.

Abortion Is Legal

In the US, abortion is legal. It is this black and white, which is unusual for something that raises such high emotions in people. What might surprise you is that it was only in 1973, thanks to the decision made in Roe v. Wade, that this occurred. Legal abortion is a good thing; simply making the procedure illegal would not prevent it from happening. All that would happen is that women who wanted an abortion would go to an illegal clinic and run the risk of the procedure going wrong and causing infection, infertility, or even death. Making abortion illegal would make it dangerous but wouldn’t stop it.

However, that doesn’t mean that abortion is legal in quite the same way across all US states. Many states have banned abortion after 20 weeks, for example, and there are plenty of other restrictions too. Some politicians in Oklahoma want to make it law that all doctors who perform abortions are criminalized for it (so far, this has not had any success). This is because abortion is such a contentious issue. Although all states allow abortion in some form, it’s best to check where you are and what the rules are if you feel you need one, to make sure you are fully in line with the law.

Abortion Is Not A Money-Making Industry

When abortions were illegal, before 1973, doctors would be paid a lot of money to perform them. It was a risk for the woman, of course, but if the doctor was found out, they would lose their medical license and could spend time in prison. So, they charged a lot for the procedure to be done. This might be where the idea that doctors who perform abortions and abortion clinics, in general, are money-making, and that this is why so many abortions are performed. In other words, it’s good for the doctors to carry them out.

This is not the truth of it. Although you will have to pay for an abortion, any doctor will know that it is only a fraction of the cost that you will pay if you have the baby. Birth costs many tens of thousands of dollars and abortions are nowhere near that. If money were the force behind this industry, doctors would encourage women not to have abortions rather than give them a choice by furnishing them with all the facts.

 

How to Increase Your Daily Water Intake

Since your body is around 70% water, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that you need to drink water to be in your best health. Water is essential for many different roles in your body including your blood pressure, joint health, cell health, body temperature regulation, electrolyte balance and more. While most of us know just how important it is to stay hydrated, it’s not always as easy as that. Here are some simple things to try if you want to drink more water throughout the day.

How Much Water Do You Need?

Before taking steps to drink more water, it’s important to understand your body’s fluid needs. Around two liters or eight cups per day of water is the general recommendation; however, everybody is different, so it’s worth working out your personal daily water intake using a calculator that takes various individual factors about your lifestyle into account to determine how much water you need for best health.

Set a Daily Water Goal

Having a goal that you work to reach throughout the day is a simple yet effective way to encourage yourself to drink more water. Having a goal to work towards can be motivating in itself and the sense of achievement that you will experience once you hit your daily goal can help to keep you going and make a lasting, positive change. Make sure that your goal is easy for you to achieve; for example, you might decide to refill and drink all the water from your water bottle four or five times throughout the day. You can also find water tracking apps that you can use to record how much you drink.

Invest in a Reusable Water Bottle

By now, most of us are trying to cut down on single-use plastic, so it’s a good idea to keep a reusable water bottle with you throughout the day. Investing in a water bottle that will keep your water cool all day long will encourage you to drink more and make it easy for you to sip water in any setting. Having your water bottle with you will also serve as a visual reminder to drink more water and refill it wherever you can.

Switch Other Drinks for Water

Replacing other drinks that you might normally have in a typical day with water is a good way to ensure that you are fully hydrated. For example, if you drink a lot of juice, diet soda, or tea and coffee, having water instead of these drinks for at least a couple of cups per day will help you increase your water intake and reduce sugar intake from sodas and juices.

Get a Water Filter

Most areas have tap water that is safe to drink, but if you don’t like the taste or have some concerns about the quality of your tap water, it’s a wise idea to invest in a water filter. In-line water filters can be installed to ensure that you have access to clean and fresh-tasting water at all times without the need to go out and purchase spring water, which makes it a more eco-friendly option too.

Infuse Your Water

If you are getting bored with the taste of plain water, or tend to drink more when your drinks have a bit of flavor, there are some options to consider that might encourage you to hydrate more. You can get fruit infuser water bottles that have a compartment in the middle of the bottle where you can place your favorite fruits before leaving it in the fridge overnight to infuse. Or, you can purchase products designed to enhance the flavor of your water. Sugar-free squash is another option you might want to consider if you really don’t like water but want to increase your fluid intake.

Eat Water-Rich Foods

Another simple way to get more water throughout the day is to eat foods that have a high water content. Many fruits and vegetables are made up of a huge amount of water, so you don’t need to drink all of the water that you get in a typical day. Lettuce, for example, has 96% water so a salad for lunch could be a good way to get hydrated, while honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelons all have at least 90% water if you are looking for a healthy, sweet and hydrating treat. Fruits and vegetables that have a high water content are also packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that will boost your health, so it’s a win-win.

If you want to drink more water but are struggling to increase your fluid intake, try these tricks to stay hydrated.

 

A beginner’s guide to vaping

It’s been hard to miss the recent boom in people using e-cigarettes, a practice also known as vaping. Euromonitor’s market research group has projected that the number of adults who vape will reach nearly 55 million by 2021. Not only that, but the global market for e-cigarettes is now estimated to be worth a staggering $19.3 billion. The industry hasn’t been without its controversies, but vaping is now widely accepted as a healthier alternative to cigarettes and a great way to kick the tobacco habit.

So if you’re thinking about getting started with vaping as a way to help you quit smoking, here’s the lowdown on what you need to know.

What is vaping?

Let’s start at the very beginning. There is a whole lot of vaping terminology out there that can make the topic seem impenetrable to newbies, but the basics are actually pretty simple. Vaping is the use of an electronic device, or e-cigarette, to inhale vapor. These devices can be either rechargeable or disposable and work by heating an ‘e-liquid’ solution, which then produces the vapor.

This e-liquid generally contains a mixture of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavoring, and nicotine. It comes in an unbelievable variety of flavors – for example strawberry cheesecake, cola, mint, coffee, lemon, and even vanilla ice cream – to enable people to tailor their vaping experience to their own tastes and preferences.

How do I use an e-cigarette?

There are several different types of e-cigarette available, and the one that is right for you will depend on your personal needs and preferences:

  • Cigalike – these are similar in appearance to a regular cigarette, have a small battery, and are either disposable or rechargeable.
  • Vape pen – shaped like a pen or small tube, these have a tank for e-liquid plus replaceable coils and rechargeable batteries.
  • Pod system – these compact, rechargeable devices are shaped a bit like a pebble or USB stick and are used with pre-filled or refillable e-liquid pods.
  • Mod – these are the largest e-cigarette devices, with a refillable tank and long-lasting rechargeable batteries.

It’s best to speak to a vape shop about which device is best for you, as well as what strength of e-liquid to use with it. As a rough guide, however, cigalikes and vape pens are best for light smokers, and vape pens, pod systems, and mods are better for heavier smokers. It has been suggested that rechargeable models deliver nicotine more quickly and effectively than disposable ones and so are more likely to be able to help you quit smoking.

Whichever you choose, you’ll be pleased to know that using them is simple. Just charge it up, fill or attach the e-liquid capsule, and inhale (there may also be a button to press). When you run out of e-liquid, top up the tank, or replace the pod.

Can vaping help me quit smoking?

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes can be helpful when you’re trying to stop smoking. As the devices do not burn tobacco, they don’t produce the same harmful substances as real cigarettes, for example, tar and carbon monoxide. Yet by closely replicating the feel of smoking as well as providing nicotine, they can help to reduce your cigarette cravings.

To get the most benefit from vaping, it’s advisable to stop smoking actual cigarettes completely. Other tactics that can be used alongside e-cigarettes to help you quit include getting support from other people, distracting yourself when you feel the desire to smoke a cigarette, and regularly reminding yourself of your reasons for quitting.

Another benefit of using e-cigarettes is that there is no evidence that it causes harm to the people around you. This is in stark contrast to the second-hand smoke from cigarettes, which has been shown to cause a wide range of health problems in non-smokers, including lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Are there any negative side effects of vaping?

Over the last couple of years, there have been some concerns raised about the safety of vaping, particularly for young people. However, it is undeniable that they are far less damaging than regular cigarettes. Therefore whilst it’s not advisable to pick up a vaping habit if you are a non-smoker, for people who are trying to quit smoking, they are a far preferable and safer option. The best advice is to always buy your e-liquids from reputable companies to ensure you’re not inadvertently exposed to harmful chemicals.

 

How to Adjust to Wearing Glasses

After years of not needing glasses, it can be strange to suddenly find yourself relying on them to read, drive, or for other activities during the day. It’s much better to wear glasses if you need them; otherwise, your eyesight will only suffer further, but for many people, it can be off-putting, irritating, or they don’t feel they recognize themselves when they first try a pair on. It can take time to adjust to new glasses, but below are a few tips that might make the change a little easier to get used to.

Check Your Prescription

Firstly, make sure the glasses that you buy are ones that match your prescription. Not all eyes are the same, and you must get the right eyewear for your specific needs. Your optometrist will be able to determine exactly what kind of lenses you will need for your prescription, so wait until they have passed this onto you before you go shopping for glasses. It’s also important to go for fairly regular eye-tests in case your needs change, and you require a new prescription.

Wear Them Regularly

You might not feel comfortable in them or like the way they look on your face at first, but the only way you’re going to get used to them is if you wear them. When you bring your new glasses home, wear them all the time, or as often as possible, to help you get used to the sensation of them on your face and to adjust to how you look wearing them. You’ll also notice a big difference if you’ve been suffering from headaches or tired eyes before getting them.

Choose a Style You Like

Everyone has different tastes, and everyone has different face shapes, and not all glasses are going to match yours. Luckily, there is a wide variety of styles to choose from, some of which are designed by luxury fashion brands for those who want to stay chic. You can find the perfect pair of glasses that match your style and flatter your face from online stores such as Just-glasses.co.uk or similar retailers.

Keep Them Clean

It might feel strange at first looking at things through a lens, but lenses with smudges, scratches, and other dirty marks are only going to make things harder. Make sure you’re keeping your glasses clean at all times to avoid frustration and further eye strain as you try to look through the smudge marks. This is also why you should keep your glasses in a case when they’re not in use, to avoid damage from being dropped or knocked against other objects.

Let Your Optometrist Know About Any Medications

Certain medications can affect your eyesight and possibly cause blurred vision, dizziness, and so on. These side effects could affect how you see through your prescribed glasses, so make sure you’re telling your optometrist of any medications you might be on so they can prescribe lenses that aren’t going to interfere with that and keep your eyesight clear.

It’s not easy adjusting to glasses when you first get them, but if you use some of the tips above, you’ll find yourself feeling more comfortable a lot quicker.

 

5 Tips to Help You Get Your 5 a Day

A fibrous diet is extremely beneficial for our bodies. It helps to clean out buildup and bacteria from our intestines and reduces the risk of developing colon cancer. Fiber will help with regular toilet habits and will ensure stools and bowel movements are soft and consistent. This will help with constipation. Eating your 5 a day is one way to increase your daily fiber consumption. It can also minimize the risk of a number of serious health conditions. If you struggle to eat your 5 a day, or want to get creative with it, here are 5 tips to increase your intake.

Start in the Mornings

In order to get your 5 a day, you should start in the morning. Adding up to two portions of fruit to your first meal of the day can motivate you to stick to this healthy eating pattern. There are many ways you can get creative with fruit in the mornings. For example, you can consider adding a handful of berries onto your cereal or oatmeal, or eating half a grapefruit with your banana and peanut butter toast.

Choose Healthy Snacks

When you need an energy boost in the middle of the day, then you should choose healthy fruit or vegetable snacks, instead of fried or sugary alternatives. The carbohydrates that are found in fruit and veg are fantastic sources of energy. Combining this healthy, fibrous snack with a protein serving, such as cheese, yoghurt or peanut butter, will provide you with an extra serving of energy too.

Drink a DIY Smoothie

If you have a busy lifestyle and struggle to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meals, then you should consider drinking some of your 5 a day. Making your own fruit and vegetable smoothies is the best route to take, as you can control what is in it and reduce your calorie and sugar intake, which can be high in shop bought versions. In order to make your juice drinks, you will need to research healthy recipes and look online for best blenders.

Try New Recipes

Trying new recipes or different varieties of fruits and vegetables in the week is a great way to keep your 5 a day interesting and to experiment with food. If you have the time to get creative, you can make your own root vegetable loaf of bread or zucchini pasta. By trying new things, you may come across a meal you love. You should select products that are in season, however, to reduce your carbon footprint.

Double Up Your Meals

Doubling up on your fruit and vegetable portions during meals is a great way to get 5 or more of your daily essentials. If you have 2 of your 5 a day during breakfast, lunch and dinner, then you can feel satisfied knowing that you have eaten more than the daily recommendation. People love variety and again, trying new recipes and getting creative is the perfect way to double up on your meals.

Eating your 5 a day can be delicious and fun. It is a great goal to set yourself and can benefit your health in a number of different ways. It can also make you feel more energized and functional.

 

4 Tips For Dealing With Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are undoubtedly a scary experience for just about anyone. It’s not uncommon for people experiencing panic attacks to be convinced that they’re dying. However, despite how scared you may be, there are ways to manage your current state of mind and get yourself back to a calm state.

Take a look at some of the best tips for handling a panic attack.

Consider Natural Supplements

If you’re someone that frequently suffers from panic attacks, then you might want to consider natural products and supplements to decrease the frequency. Some people may find that different supplements work better than others for their particular situation.

Although there are prescription medications available for panic attacks, they can be extremely addictive and harmful when used regularly over time. If possible, resort to natural products first before considering a stronger alternative.

Remove Yourself From Triggering Situations

If you are aware that you tend to experience panic attacks in certain locations, then you should consider avoiding places that can trigger you. By steering clear of situations that could make you feel unsafe, you will limit your chances of experiencing a panic attack.

If you find yourself in a situation that could potentially be a trigger, consider stepping outside and slowly removing yourself. If you have no option of removing yourself, then try equipping yourself with ways to be calm in that setting.

For example, if you’re on a busy subway full of people, you may want to consider putting on a pair of noise-canceling headphones and practicing deep breathing techniques.

Count

It may sound silly; however, many people find that counting objects during a panic attack can calm you down. By focusing your mind on something else, like counting, you’ll concentrate on something else other than your fear and anxiety.

If possible, always carry a countable amount of objects in your purse, like marbles or coins. You can always pull them out and start counting if you start to feel the onset of a panic attack.

Call a Friend

Whenever you start to feel a panic attack coming on, you should try contacting a friend or family member. Talk to them ahead of time about being a resource for you when you start to feel one of your panic attacks coming on. Perhaps you can arrange a special code between the two of you so that they know that you need help.

Tell them what it is that works best for you to calm down during stressful moments, like distracting you, or perhaps just giving words of reassurance. The idea is to give you whatever you need during a difficult moment. In some cases, you may need to ask friends to come over. If your friends truly love you, they’ll have no problem helping you out when you’re going through a tough time.

5 Women’s Health Problems You Need to Catch Early

Catching health problems is vital if you want to have a long and fulfilled life. However, some health issues need to be found earlier than others to get the best treatment possible and to improve your own quality of life. Here is a guide to some of the most common health problems for women that can be difficult to spot.

Cancer

Cancer can often be a silent killer, with many of its symptoms similar to those of other conditions. Some cancers do not give you major symptoms for many years, such as bowel cancer. However, early detection is key in being able to fully recover from the majority of cancers, with those in the early stages having much higher survival rates. Many doctors are now looking for ways to detect cancer earlier. To make sure that you catch cancer early, you should check your body for abnormalities regularly, such as lumps in your breast or armpit, and make sure that you visit the doctor if you have persistent pain or a change in your appetite or energy levels.

Infertility

Infertility can be a major problem for older women who are looking to conceive, and it is important to catch this early to make sure that you have the time that you need to be able to start a family. If you are struggling to have children, you might consider looking for an egg donor with MCRM Fertility, as they will enable you to have a child no matter your age or the struggles that you have with conceiving naturally.

Mental Health Issues

Depression, anxiety, and other common mental health conditions are just as important in terms of early detection as physical diseases. Although many people push through the symptoms, such as exhaustion and low mood, if mental health issues are left unattended, they can lead to poor physical health and even suicide. Therefore, you should always visit a doctor if you are worried about your mental health, as they may refer you to a counselor or give you medication to help you while you get better.

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is incredibly common as women get older, and yet many people miss the symptoms. You may be at risk of diabetes if you are overweight, smoke, have polycystic ovary syndrome, or if diabetes is in your genetic history. To make sure that you can spot the early diabetes symptoms, you should visit the doctor if you are losing weight, feel tired or thirsty, if you are urinating more often, or if you are having problems with your vision, for example. Catching this early may allow you to have less intrusive treatments, such as controlling your condition by diet.

Heart Disease

This is one of the most common killers in the USA, and yet its early signs can go undetected. Therefore, you should regularly get screened to find out your risk and catch any issues as early as possible. You may be able to get screened if you have a family history of heart disease, if you have metabolic syndrome, or if you have had pregnancy complications in the past.

 

7 Signs you are Experiencing Menopausal Symptoms and What to do About Them

Women go through a lot of changes in their lives. One day a woman may feel great and the next, she could feel awful. These emotional changes are consistent with hormone changes. The human body releases different hormones that can affect our emotions and feelings among other things. As a woman’s body ages she will experience numerous hormonal changes, but the biggest changes take place during menopause.

What is Menopause?

Since the dawn of time women have been experiencing menopause a change that takes place in a woman’s body when she reaches a certain age and the end of her menstrual cycle. You have to go 12 months without a menstrual period for a menopause diagnosis. This can happen during your 40’s or 50’s, but the average age of menopause is 51. This natural biological process comes with physical symptoms that can affect your sleeping habits, energy levels, emotional health, and more.

These symptoms are due to decreased production in progesterone and estrogen that also claims symptoms can last four to five years. The good news is there are many treatments available that can help relieve symptoms of menopause and get you through these changes. The following are 7 symptoms of menopause and what you can do to relieve them.

1. Hot flashes

Hot flashes are a primary symptom of menopause that can come suddenly causing you to feel the heat in the top of your body or all over. You can feel flushed and sweaty and your neck and face may even turn red. The intensity can range from mild to severe and it can last from 30 seconds to 10 minutes. If hot flashes get so bad they disrupt your life, you can buy menopause supplements online that help a great deal.

2. Vaginal Dryness

When progesterone and estrogen levels decrease it can reduce moisture that coats your vaginal walls. This can actually happen at any age, but most women experience this during menopause. This can result in itching and burning around the vulva as well as cause painful intercourse. You can combat vaginal dryness by using a vaginal moisturizer or a water-based lubricant.

3. Insomnia or Trouble Sleeping

During the course of menopause, you may have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up much earlier than usual. Most doctors recommend that adults get at least 8 hours of sleep during the night for optimal health. Therefore, it is important to try to get as much rest as possible. Try breathing and relaxation techniques as well as daily exercise routines. Other suggestions that may help are reading and/or bathing before bed.

4. Frequent or Reduced Urination

It is not uncommon to lose control of your bladder while experiencing menopause. You may also feel a sudden or constant urge to urinate even if your bladder isn’t full or experience pain when urinating. This is due to your urethra and vagina losing their elasticity while their lining thins and the surrounding pelvic muscles weaken.

To battle, urinary incontinence tries to refrain from drinking too much alcohol and stay hydrated during the day. You can also perform kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles.

5. Mood Swings and Depression

Remember that changes in your hormones will affect your mood, especially during menopause. You may feel depressed, irritable, and sad suddenly. Taking supplements that can be purchased online can help you to feel better.

6. Tissue Changes that Can Affect Skin and Hair

You will notice a change in your skin and hair as you age. This is the result of a reduction in collagen and fatty tissue, which can make your skin thinner and dryer and can also affect your urinary tract and your vagina as it reduces the lubrication and elasticity. When estrogen reduction takes place, your hair may feel dry and brittle and even start to fall out. To prevent this from happening be sure to avoid hair treatments with harsh chemicals and try a natural cell repair treatment like Argan Oil.

7. Decreased Libido

One of the common effects of menopause is a loss of interest in sex. This is caused by reduced estrogen that results in physical changes. These changes can result in an absent or slow orgasmic response, delayed clitoral reaction, and painful sex due to vaginal dryness. If this bothers you, talk to your doctor.

Conclusion

When a woman reaches the time in her life when menopause symptoms begin to occur, it can be quite challenging. However, it is important to remember that in today’s world there are many ways to relieve these symptoms so that no woman should have to suffer or feel uncomfortable. The only way to get rid of a problem is to treat it with something that works. Therefore, try the recommendations above and get the relief you deserve.

6 Healthy Lifestyle Changes You Must Consider Right Away!

Staying fit and healthy requires effort but can also be fun. Life is more fun when you have a surplus of physical vitality and are running around feeling great all of the time. The respiratory attacking COVID-19 is giving us another reason to take control of our physical health. Here are seven powerful ways to do so.

  • Build all other habits around physical exercising
  • Yoga keeps you flexible and deep breathing uses all of the lungs
  • Keep healthy and fit to have fun and remain playful
  • Take responsibility for your knowledge-reading
  • Increase oxygen levels in your bloodstream
  • Eat iron-rich foods
  • Grow indoor plants

Make exercise a priority

Make exercise the main priority to enhance and maintain youthful vitality levels. Diet, meditation or nutritional supplements need to be built around physical exercising for increasing energy. If you have the choice of juicing your green leafy vegetables or going for a bike ride and having to eat a fast-food bacon cheeseburger, the bicycle ride will increase your energy levels more than the juicing vegetables will. Just do not make a habit of choosing the cheeseburger over the vegetables all of the time.

Vigorous exercise keeps air flowing through our system, our lungs strong and avoid the buildup of blocking stagnated toxins and blood clumps that blocks our circulation. Exercise routines should include challenging cardio, strength training and flexibility.

Yoga to keep your joints and lungs in shape

Your physical energy levels will suffer if your lungs cannot fully inhale air and oxygen. Your lungs and the respiratory system must be strong enough to distribute air and oxygen to your cells and blood. Your strength and vitality levels will remain high in extreme hot and cold weather conditions when your respiratory system is strong.

See yourself enjoying the advantages of the changes you are making immediately

You should enjoy the advantages of why you are spending money on supplements, whey protein powder or exotic green leaf vegetables. Think of increasing your physical energy as doing things for your cardio.

If you want to have energy because you want the stamina to finish a marathon next year, those goals are fine, but you need to see substantial benefits within the next couple of days. If you are increasing your energy levels to get through an aerobics class to fit into a size three jeans and you are starting at fifty pounds overweight, that is realistic, but too far ahead. You need to experience benefits now. Benefits are simply great health to have fun. For example, in yoga class, you will get into poses and breath deep. You are breathing in air and oxygen while parts of your respiratory system are opened from different angles.

Change your purpose of why you are making the changes. You can get the same cardio workout as you do in an aerobics class by going to a nightclub with your girlfriends and dancing all night, but you do have to dance aggressively to every song back to back for 45 minutes to an hour. You also must drink water to leave all alcohol along. You can drink nonalcoholic beverages; mudslides, colorado bulldogs (coke and milk) or orange juice.

Increase oxygen flow in your bloodstream

Oxygen in the bloodstream always was necessary for breathing easy, strong lungs and strong heartbeat. You must take responsibility to keep oxygen flowing through your bloodstream as a necessary precaution against COVID-19.

Low oxygen flowing through the bloodstream is caused by obesity. Obesity is caused by a lack of or insufficient exercise. The exercising has to be intense or at least challenging. Everyone was thrilled when the experts writing fitness magazine articles said walking is a complete fitness exercise routine. This was about 20 years ago. Everyone who started walking programs would not listen to anyone telling them they are not doing anything. They reminded me the professionals said walking is all the exercise they needed.

Walking can increase oxygen to the cells. You have to walk with the intensity equal to a marathon race walker. The fitness experts were writing articles that sold the magazines. I think people who put the effort into their fitness programs that built up a strong cardio system have a better chance of fighting the COVID-19 today.

Knowledge is power

Everyone right now would love to have knowledge on how to strengthen their respiratory system. Coronavirus attacks the human energy system and zaps physical energy. Reading different publications on ways to increase your energy and vitality gives you information that puts you in control of your energy levels.

Eat Iron-Rich Foods

Vinegar, any food with lemon and drinking any wine are blood thinners. Very often people feel tired because their red blood cell count dropped to low. Eating iron-rich foods will give you an immediate energy boost. Green leaf vegetables are rich in iron. Some dark green leafy vegetables include bok choy, romaine lettuce and spinach.

These are ways to boost your energy levels. Many of these I do every day. It is incredibly important that you do everything you have control over to stay strong and healthy.

The Endocannabinoid System and CBD – Is There a Relationship?

The endocannabinoid system or better known as ECS plays a vital part in the proper functionality of any animal or human body. When looked after, it regulates a wide range of internal activities that keep all the parts working in optimal condition. A great deal of biological research has gone into this fascinating topic and researchers have indicated some successful clinical trials based on it, along with combinations of other elements concerning health and well-being.

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Because it helps to regulate everything behavior to moods in a person or animal, it has been labeled an important part of any research when trying to figure out how it can help to heal and cure various ailments and conditions.

The one study that we are particularly interested in is the relationship between CBD extracted from Marijuana plants and the ECS. This is what the focus of this article is and this recommended site has more information on this if you’re interested in knowing more about this plant that has been around for thousands of years.

Cannabinoids and their Production

It is no surprise that the topic of CBD or cannabinoids has become so popular in recent years that everyone is fascinated with it. Due to the recent climate regarding viruses and diseases that have taken over, from claims of eating the wrong things, scientists have taken a turn towards aiming for more natural products and ingredients instead.

When it is grown so close to the earth and full of nature’s life itself, how can it be wrong? Therefore, the importance of these natural elements should be emphasized rather than hidden from society. The amazing part about all of this is that clinical trials and results have shown what benefits these strains have on health and mental illnesses and it is astounding. Not to mention it is slowly becoming a safe and effective alternative to over-the-counter medicines that are packed with toxic chemicals.

This can all be possible with the interaction o the ECS and the cannabis extraction. A cannabinoid is a group of all the various chemical elements active within a cannabis plant. These interact with receptors in the body and neurotransmitters in the brain, almost like a lock and key effect. Where one fits perfectly in alignment with the other.

When these receptors are jolted using the plant materials, it activates a series of other processes within the ECS, which in turn result in treating problems inside the body, when taken internally, or outside the body when applied topically. All the hypothetical “little people” in the plant combines with the body’s functionality to get to work in healing and calming an array of different things. Simply put both of them work together efficiently.

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CBD the Phytocannabinoid

If you’ve ever heard of cannabis, you would have most likely bumped into CBD or THC even. If not, don’t worry we’re going to clear up the confusion for you. So, what are all these abbreviations and how do they play a part in the ECS? Well, both CBD and THC are phytocannabinoids that have been used in various trials, as mentioned above, to treat many ailments quite successfully.

However, when something has the words “psycho” in it, it most often means that it can have an intoxicating effect on the user. To elaborate, it means that it can give you a feeling of being high or relaxed or even euphoria https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000952.htm but in a slight way. However, if you take too much of it, it can produce dizzying effects and impaired perception, and doing any activities is not advisable. Sometimes it may make your eyes burn if you smoke it.

In any case, the relationship between these two entities is fundamental when choosing to combine them for either recreational purposes or for treating any health issues. One must consult their general practitioner before considering to start ingesting any CBD products, as there is a lot more than meets the eye.

For instance, the three sub-categories the ingredient falls into such as the full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and Isolates based on your tolerance levels, or even the brand or manufacturer that you purchase it from needs to abide by certain standards and have the legal levels of THC in their products read this post to find out all about this and start to inform yourself, the legal amount should be below 0.3%. All this needs to be researched and well-understood before you dive into it.