Women Health Advice

Since April 2012, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network has been publishing their annual report on the happiness and well-being levels of citizens worldwide. This report, known simply as "The World Happiness Report," is used as a measure of social progress and influences public policy more and more. The findings of this report can also be used by each of us on an individual level as we would use the findings of other ​research on happiness and well-being; knowing what influences happiness in general can help us all lead happier, healthier lives. How It Works This report measures the subjective well-being of roughly 1000 people in each of more than 150 countries around the globe. “Subjective well-being” refers to each person’s assessment of their own level of well-being, as opposed to an outside measure that’s not influenced by people’s personal estimates of their happiness. This measure of happiness and well-being is assessed by asking the

1     Dealing with Stomach Pain Whether you are experiencing stomach pain due to IBS or you are just having a bad tummy day, you may find some comfort in the fact that there are some things you can do to soothe yourself and ease your pain.  Note:  Any recurrent abdominal pain needs to be brought to the attention of your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Strong abdominal pain can be an indicator of a serious health condition that needs immediate medical attention 2   1. Use Heat Applying warmth to your belly will not only help to soothe you psychologically, but it can also speed up pain relief. Research indicates that best results are achieved with low-level continuous heat.  There are a variety of ways that you can apply heat to your abdomen - it just depends on personal preference and where you happen to be: 1. Heating pad (protect your skin with clothing or a towel) 2. Hot water bottle - great for overnight use! 3. Sports creams (t

A cough is the most common reason why people go to their primary doctor. In some cases, the cough has lasted less than three weeks, and is termed an “acute cough”. A cough that has lasted for between three and eight weeks is termed a “sub-acute cough.” And coughing that has been going on for more than eight weeks is termed a “chronic cough”. While some people have been coughing for years, the cause of a cough can be determined in at least 90% of these cases. Therapies for a cough have a success rate of at least 85%, and therefore, treatments should be aimed at the underlying cause, rather than just medications that cover up a cough temporarily. What Causes a Cough? The cause of a cough is dependent upon how long the symptom has been present. For example, the causes of an acute cough may be quite different from the causes of a chronic cough. In at least 25% of cases of a chronic cough, there are at least 2 medical conditions causing the cough in the person. What

Lots of teen girls have acne. But knowing you have company still doesn't make you feel much better about your own skin, does it? You don't have to wait until you "grow out of" acne. With some time and the right treatment, you'll be surprised at how much you can improve your skin. 1   You didn't do anything to cause your acne   Acne isn't your fault. It's caused by   many things , all of which are out of your control. So it's not the chocolate bar you ate last night, or the pizza and soda you had over the weekend. It's not because you're not cleaning your face properly. And it's not your makeup (probably). When it comes down to it, it's the hormonal changes that happen during puberty. And some people are just going to get acne; it's in your genes. So don't feel guilty—you didn't do anything to cause your acne. 2   Those products you see on TV don't really work overnight You know what I'm talki

It is common to not get enough sleep. Whether you stay up too late or have to get up too early, you may find yourself getting less sleep than you need. What are the consequences of this sleep deprivation? There are clear symptoms and even physical effects of sleep deprivation, but you may be surprised to learn about some of the other potential side effects from injuries to errors to pain. Sleep deprivation is defined as getting less sleep than your body needs and the threshold may be different for different people. If you need 10 hours of sleep to feel rested, you may become sleep deprived by only sleeping 8 hours per night. It is also clear that when our sleep becomes fragmented this can also undermine its quality. This may occur in many sleep disorders, including   restless legs syndrome   and   sleep apnea . Sometimes we fragment our own sleep by   dividing our sleep periods   into shorter stretches. No matter the cause, the consequences can be real. The single biggest complain

It is common to not get enough sleep at night. No matter the reason, this loss of sleep can have important consequences on health. How does sleep deprivation cause hormone changes in the body? Learn about some of the potential impacts of inadequate sleep on your endocrine system. A Word on Hormones First, it is important to understand a little about the vital role of hormones within the body. These chemical messengers serve a key function in nearly every major process of our body, holding influence over everything from growth to metabolism to reproduction. These various hormones and the glands that secrete them are collectively called the endocrine system. Many hormones are ultimately controlled by structures within the brain, including the master control called the pituitary gland. When disrupted, there can be important changes that occur in the body. Inadequate Sleep and Hormone Changes Hormones can be highly influenced by the natural pattern of light and darkness and by the