The post Prone to Bruises? Here’s How this Daisy Doppelgänger Can Help You Heal appeared first on Best Health.

Hot in Here

Find your happily ever after with these popular-on-#BookTok titlesall available at Indigo or your fave indie bookstore like Happily Ever Books.The Kiss Quotient by Helen HoangThis debut novel follows Stella, a math whiz who has done a lot less dating than the average thirtysomething. She hires a male escort to practice everything from kissing to more-than-missionary position. $22, chapters.indigo.caNeon Gods by Katee RobertInspired by Greek mythology, Neon Gods is a racy modern-day adaptation of the story of Persephone and Hades. $23, chapters.indigo.caGet a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia HibbertThis rompy novel from British author Talia Hibbert is about a woman whos tired of being boringso she recruits her neighbour to help her experience things like getting drunk and casual sex. $21, chapters.indigo.caBook Lovers by Emily HenryThis novel by a favourite BookTok author revolves around a cutthroat New York literary agent and a brooding book editor who have a contemptuous relationship. $23, chapters.indigo.caLove and Other Words by Christina LaurenThis sultry read follows a rigid medical resident who thinks her life path is setuntil she runs into her first (and only) love. $23, chapters.indigo.caIt Happened One Summer by Tessa BaileyThis spicy read follows a fashionable It girl whos suddenly sent away to spend the summer running her late fathers dive bar in rainy Washington State. She soon meets bearded sea captain Brendan, her polar opposite, with whom she has a fiery connection. $20, chapters.indigo.caThe Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana ZapataAfter the assistant-slash-housekeeper to a famous football player quits her job, shes shocked when he begs her to come back…and do something unthinkable. $25, chapters.indigo.caThe Hating Game by Sally ThorneLucy and Joshua, two executive assistants to a pair of co-CEOs, are up for the same promotion, and the tension is reaching a boiling point. $20, chapters.indigo.caTwisted Games by Ana HuangThis is the second book in the Twisted series, which follows the forbidden (and steamy) relationship of a stoic bodyguard and a stubborn princess. $27, chapters.indigo.caNext: 18 Goodies Thatll Help Turn Up the Heat in the Bedroom

The post The Allure of Romance Novels in 2023 appeared first on Best Health.

Cameras or catwalk

From the catwalk, and using the video camera footage, researchers can observe volunteer actors who imitate the typical behaviours, movements and reactions of those with physical disabilities or sensory and cognitive impairments as they interact with a standard residential space.

Helpful robot

This domestic robot gives both audio and video prompts to people with dementia during their common everyday tasks, like washing their hands, brushing their teeth, or making a cup of tea, says scientist Alex Mihailidis. It uses artificial intelligence to adapt to the needs of the individual user.

Smart sheets

The mat on the bed measures health data such as heart rate and respiration rate, says Roshan Fekr. It can also monitor sleeping position and can alert a caregiver that its time to help turn the patient to prevent pressure sores (aka bed sores).

Grab bars

Standard accessibility grab bars help seniors navigate safely from the bedroom to the bathroom especially at night, when visibility and mental alertness may be limited.

Bathroom monitoring

Roshan Fekr and her colleagues will soon be testing a device that tracks toilet use and measures a residents level of hydration and output.

Exercise mat

This smart yoga mat is used to record physical therapy sessions. Tele-rehab allows seniors to recover at home (from a hip replacement or a stroke, for example) without needing to drive or commute to a hospital or PT office as an outpatient. The camera over the TV monitors body alignment, and the pressure heat as a patient does exercises on the fitness mat also creates data points.

Smart garment

This wearable, washable shirt from Hexoskin can measure vital signs such as heart rate, breathing rate and the residents ECG (or electrocardiogram, which can monitor heart conditions), as well as general activity like total daily steps and calories burned.

Outlet plugs

Remote users (such as a family member) can turn off an appliance thats been accidentally left on (using Wi-Fi and a phone app). They can also monitor activity levels around the apartment by detecting whats plugged in where and for how long.

Drawer, oven, microwave and fridge sensors

The kitchen drawers, cupboards, microwave, oven and refrigerator are equipped with door contact sensors that track when a resident is opening and closing them. This gathers data that can be helpful to families worried their loved one isnt eating or drinking enoughor concerned about safety in the kitchen.

Living room floors

For a future project, the floors will be equipped with pressure sensors that can monitor a seniors movement patterns and log changes to their gait (which is a possible sign of deteriorating health).Next:5 Stretching Exercises for Seniorsor Anyone Who Feels Achy

The post Inside the Apartment Where Researchers Study How to Age in Place appeared first on Best Health.

The post A Former Mayor-Turned-Doctor on Second Careers and Being a Lifelong Learner appeared first on Best Health.

Its your IUD

The gynecologist says: Hormonal IUDs, like Mirena, Jaydess, or the newest product in Canada called Kyleena (a low-dose hormonal IUD that can be used for five years) control bleeding in part by thinning the lining of the uterus. Progestins keep the lining of the uterus from growing out of controlbut it can do too good a job, so the lining is a bit unstable and sheds. This can translate to a period that is so light it is perceived as spotting. Tracking your cycle will help.For some women, particularly those who have heavy flow prior to an IUD, they will experience irregular spotting instead of the heavy period, or spotting with lighter flow. Women should weigh the pros and cons of spotting against what periods were like beforeespecially if they were heavy or painful.(Related: 10 Doctor-Recommended Ways to Make Getting an IUD Less Painful)

It’s all the exercise you’re doing

The gynecologist says: Women who spot after intercourse or intense exercise may do so simply because the friction of the cervix is causing some irritation. Women who are taking up new rigorous exercise routines and who lose weight rapidly may also experience spotting owing to changes in hormones. Burning fat cells and weight loss can release estrogen into the body. And, because fat cells help produce some sex hormones, sustained weight loss can cause a lower level of estrogen in the body. If a woman loses too much weight, her periods may stop and spotting may result. If that’s the case, you should visit your doctor.(Related: Demonizing Food? Its a Sign of Orthorexia)

Youre stressed

The gynecologist says: Stress plays a complex role in spotting and cycle changes. Likely the increase in cortisol affects the bodys signaling system and the change in hormones causes spotting to occur.(Related: A Bath Is the Stress-Melter You Need Right Now)

You have ectropion or polyps

The gynecologist says: “If you have significant or bothersome spotting, a trip to the doctor is warranted. Polyps are small growths on the cervix that can bleed on contact. They are benign but can be removed if bothersome. Ectropion is a normal condition where the glandular cellsthe ones that look like the lining of the uterusare prominent on the cervix. This can bleed easily if poked. In some [medical] centres, liquid nitrogen can be used to freeze the ectropion to prevent further bleeding.(Related: Everything You Need to Know About Vaginal Discharge)

Your levels of progesterone and estrogen are off-balance

The gynecologist says: Spotting can be a sign that hormone levels are off, but in most cases. It is normal for a small amount of spotting around ovulationtwo weeks before a period is duerelated to hormone changes. Women who find spotting to be a nuisance can talk to their doctor about options. The most common option is to try a birth control pill, which is progestin-dominant and will help stabilize the lining. Numerous studies have looked at supplements that can help control [hormone-related] spotting. Unfortunately, while small studies show promise, most large scale studies do not show benefit for vitamin B supplementation, vitamin C or iron.”(Related: Are Your Hormones Out of Control? Heres How to Deal)

Its your birth control pills

The gynecologist says: In any case where a woman experiences spotting on the pill, an IUD, either copper or hormonal, such as a Mirena, Kyleena of Jaydess, is a reasonable next option.(Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Arm Implant for Birth Control)

Youre pregnant

The gynecologist says: Some women may experience an implantation bleed once a pregnancy has taken hold. Any irregular period or bleeding warrants a pregnancy test. Implantation bleeds are also a common culprit when a woman finds out she is further along in her pregnancy than expectedthat bleed can be confused for a period.(Related: What You Need to Know if Youre Delaying Pregnancy During Covid)

You’re close to menopause

The gynecologist says: Menopause is a time of transition, which can start five to 10 years prior to periods stopping. Some women experience spotting because they arent releasing an egg each month, and so the body isnt going to have a normal period. Other women, as their hormone levels drop, may experience very light flow or spotting, as the lining of the uterus becomes dormant. In a healthy young woman, spotting is not a warning sign of menopause.”(Related: 9 Questions About Menopause Youve Been too Embarrassed to Ask)

So, now what?

If spotting is rare, and there are no red flags, then a visit to the doctor is probably not necessary,” says Costescu. “The occasional irregular period or episode of spotting is normalbut there are a few conditions associated with spotting that your doctor will want to rule out if you go.His advice? Look for patternswhen it happens and at what point in the cycle it occurs. Make note if you changed sexual partners, are taking new medication, or anything else in your lifestyle that is different and might affect what’s going on down there.

In summary:

1. In most cases, the occasional episode of spotting is nothing to worry about.
2. It is normal for some women to experience spotting at the beginning or tail end of a period.
3. Spotting is common in the first few months of use of any birth control, including pills and IUDs.
4. Beware of spotting that can be a warning sign for an STD, cervical cancer (spotting comes with pain), an infection (accompanied with fever or discharge), pregnancy, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
5. Smoking increases the rate of spotting.

Next: The Honest, Expert-Backed Truth About Having Sex While on Your Period

The post Wondering Why You’re Spotting? A Doctor Weighs In appeared first on Best Health.

Carla Hindman

Communications professional and 44-year-old mother of three in TorontoI was only 41 when I had a stroke. I was at my office, and at around 1 p.m. I went to the bathroom. When I went to wash my hands, I looked at myself in the mirror and I couldnt see properly. I thought, This is really weird. When I finished washing my hands and walked back to my desk, I put my head down and started to cry. A colleague beside me was like, Whats going on? And I said, Somethings wrong with my eyes. But then I said, I think Im having an ocular migraineI had had one before. I didnt know that vision changes were also a sign of stroke.My colleagues decided to call my husband, Matt, who worked across the street. We jumped in a cab together to go to our doctors office, and by the time we got there, my face was drooping, I was slurring and I had weakness in my left side. Matt was thinking, Oh my God, this looks like a stroke. Since we were in front of my family doctors office, he decided to take me inside instead of wasting more time going all the way back downtown to the ERhe thought it would be better to get medical advice as soon as possible. But they took one look at me at the doctors office and called 911.When we were waiting for the ambulance, Matt told me to raise my hands. I raised only the right one, and he said, Both of them! I yelled back at him, I am raising both of them! but my left arm was dead at my sideI just didnt know it.I dont remember anything after that until midnight. But I had left the doctors office in an ambulance, and they had assessed me, given me clot-busting medication and put me in the ICU. My mom had flown in from Ottawa to be with me, and Matt had gone home to be with our three kids. The nurses were coming in every once in a while, showing me flashcards, asking me what the pictures were. My mom said that at midnight it was like a switch flipped, and I was back to normal.At the hospital, they found a hole in my heart, which I had no idea was there. They said that this was what caused the strokethose holes can allow blood clots to travel to the brain instead of the lungs, where they would normally go. A year later, I had a procedure to repair it, and now my risk of a stroke is as low as an average persons.I was extremely, extremely lucky: I didnt have any lasting physical deficiencies after the stroke. But I do have a few issues with short-term memory still, and sometimes I have trouble coming up with the word I want. And I was exhausted afterwardI was off work for a month and then had to do a staggered re-entry after that.I didnt know that people my age could have strokes, but now I have met so many people who have had them in their 40s. It happens all the time. I think everyone should know what the signs of a stroke are and that vision changes are one of them. If more people knew the signs, and that young people can have strokes, they might feel empowered to call 911 in situations like mine, and a lot more people could get the help they need faster.

Kathy Isaac

Cybersecurity executive and 47-year-old married mother of two in Ajax, OntarioI had a stroke two years ago while I was in the ICU, hospitalized for COVID. After about two days, I woke up with extreme nausea, and I was dizzy and vomiting for days. But my doctors didnt realize what was happening, even after my left hand started to feel strange and heavy. Eventually, I realized I couldnt hold my fork in that hand.A week later, when a physiotherapist came to prepare me to go home, she was the one who noticed the signs of stroke. They did a brain scan, and a doctor came the day before I was supposed to leave and said, I have bad newsyouve had a stroke. I thought he had the wrong person. I actually said to him, No, Im Kathy.In my head, Im thinking, Im 45 years old. Strokes are for older people. Im better, Im going home.Even after I realized something had happened, I still felt like, if Ive had a stroke, what does that mean? They started to talk to me about neuroplasticity, and they explained that the best window for recovery is the first six months.So I wasnt wasting any time. I started walking in my hospital room while I was still attached to oxygen. Then I did outpatient therapy: physical therapy, occupational therapy and a little bit of speech therapy, too. I had a singular goal: I wanted to go in one direction, to make progress. I did everything they asked. And I did wellI hit the physical milestones by about three months out.But it still all felt so heavy. I had a meltdown one day with my physiotherapist and just cried. Eventually, I was connected to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the March of Dimes. I was in a young stroke survivors group for a long time.Just before I went into the hospital for COVID, I had graduated from Ivey Business School in London, Ontario, with my MBA. It was hard, really hardI did it while I was working as an executive, and as a wife and mother. I thought about quitting. But the motto at Ivey was trust the process. And I decided, no, Im gonna tough it out.That was an important life lesson. When I went to rehab, I knew to just put in the work, and trust the process. Im a born-again Christian and I do believe, like the Bible says, that all things work together for good. To me, the MBA prepared me.Im a few years out from the stroke now. My mobility is really good, and work is going well, tooI think I perform very well. But I have to work every day to not regressI walk or use my spin bike. And Im not the same. My balance can be a little wonky, I cant handle noisy situations and I have more anxiety. I still have precision issues in my left hand because the message from the brain to my left hand is delayed. If I type with both hands, the right hand will be fine and the left hand will be behind.One of the biggest challenges Ive had is friends and acquaintances thinking Im all better. Im not looking for sympathy, but I need people to understand that Im not 100 percent. Even when I park in a disabled parking spotwhich I need to doIve been confronted by strangers when I get out of my car. Because I dont use a cane or a walker, I dont get the understanding and help that I need.

Earle Hoyte

76-year-old retired church administrator, caregiver and grandmother in TorontoOne weekend I went on a short trip. After I got home, off the train, I said something to my granddaughter, and it felt like it wasnt coming out right. But when I asked her if she could understand what I was saying, she said yes. And I also felt very tired, so I just went to bed.In the morning, my tongue felt very heavy, and when I went to put on my lipstick, my hand kept falling down. My son-in-law and daughter-in-law were there and they said, You dont sound wellwe should take you to the hospital. I knew I wasnt fine; I felt different. But I didnt know it was a stroke. I thought only old people had strokes and I was only 75.And I didnt realize what else was happening to me. At the hospital, the nurses recognized it immediately as stroke and pushed me through. The doctors did a lot of tests. But I didnt realize the effect the stroke had on me until the doctor asked me to sign my name on a document. It was only then that I realized I couldnt. I was just scribbling.They told me my stroke was caused by atrial fibrillationan irregular heartbeat. I didnt know I had it before the stroke. They put me on blood thinners, and with atrial fibrillation, its quite easy to have another stroke. So I have to be quite careful, and take my tablets every day.After I left the hospital, I was referred to the University Centre location of Toronto Rehab. Before I went, I didnt know what to expect. I was scared. But everybody I met there was so warm to meeven the receptionist. They were very positive, and it helped very much.I went there for three months, as an outpatient. We worked on the physical: I had to walk with a walker, and up and down stairs, and practice stepping over things. They focused on my balance a lot, too.They also worked on my memory, because whenever I tried to speak, I had to think for a long time to remember what I wanted to say. And a speech therapist helped with my voiceI used to sing in the church choir, and I couldnt sing anymore. My drivers licence was suspended, and they worked on that with me. I even did a driving simulation at Toronto Rehab.At one point, I didnt want to go, because I was feeling depressed. They referred me to a social worker, and to the March of Dimes program for people with disabilities. Now I go several times a week. March of Dimes has a stroke textbook, too, that I wish I had had before, because it tells you what to expect, what questions to ask, who is going to see you and what each person will do for you.Ive improved a lotIm back to singing in the choir, and Im able to be a caregiver to my elderly sister. But there are things I cant do anymore, like baking or reaching items off the highest shelves. I had to completely rearrange my kitchen. Holding my arms down for so long, or holding something heavyits too hard.I wish everybody knew that if your body feels strange, seek help. You dont know what it isit could be anything. Especially if its something you havent experienced before. Dont say, Let me wait and seeseek help immediately. Thats the key.Next: How Heart Disease Affects Women Differently Than Men

The post 3 Women Tell Us What Happened When They Had a Stroke appeared first on Best Health.

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Pros: An SSRI often prescribedl for anxiety and depressive symptoms. Along with other SSRIs, its considered a top choice by some for use during pregnancy and lactation.Cons: Potential for sexual dysfunction and weight gain.Possible side effects: nausea, headache, dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, excessive sweating

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Pros: An SSRI that is used to treat depressive symptoms and other mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder. Generally considered safe for use in pregnancy and lactation. Less expensive than other medications.Cons: Potential for sexual dysfunction.Possible common side effects: Nausea, sleep issues, headache, diarrhea, loss of appetite, dry mouth

Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

Pros: An SNRI used for anxiety and depression. It can also be used to treat pain from medical conditions like fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy.Cons: Potential for severe drug interactions.Possible common side effects: sleepiness, headache, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, diarrhea, lack of energy, constipation

Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Pros: An SNRI prescribed for anxiety and depression, and generally well tolerated. May help reduce menopause-related hot flashes.Cons: Safety concerns to consider with pregnancy.Possible common side effects: nausea, sweating, headache, drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness

Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin, Zyban)

Pros: An NDRI used for depression, seasonal affective disorder and smoking cessation. It may help improve focus, concentration and motivation, and help with coping with fatigue.Cons: May be too stimulating for some; may aggravate anxiety symptoms and insomnia. Not always suitable for those with an eating disorder or who are prone to seizures.Possible common side effects: agitation, drowsiness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, dry mouth, dizziness

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

Pros: A tetracyclic drug used to treat symptoms of depression and anxiety. Promotes sleep and improves insomnia with low reports of sexual dysfunction. It can also increase appetite, which is beneficial for individuals who are underweight.Cons: Its strong sedation effect causes excessive tiredness. Some experience unwanted weight gain. Can, on rare occasions, cause changes in menstrual cycle, which is considered to be a severe side effect.Possible common side effects: dry mouth, headache, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation

Vortioxetine (Trintellix)

Pros: An SSRI that also modulates serotonin receptors. Its used to treat major depressive disorder and has been shown to be helpful with improving cognitive impairment associated with depression. Low reports of sexual dysfunction and weight gain.Cons: It can be expensive compared to other antidepressants. Nausea is quite prevalent in the first two weeks of treatment.Possible common side effects: nausea, constipation, vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, headacheNext: Frustrated Your Antidepressants Arent Working? Heres What You Need To Know

The post The Right Antidepressant for You, According to a Clinical Pharmacist appeared first on Best Health.

The post I Tried the Trendy Pretzel Dip Sex Move—Here’s What Happened appeared first on Best Health.

The health benefits of pickleball

Here are all the ways this racquet sport is a smash hit for your body and mind.Heart HealthPickleball combines short bursts of intensity with periods of recovery, which is a great way to condition the heart and strengthen your cardiovascular system, says registered physiotherapist Meg MacPherson.Muscle Control and StrengthOur bodies are designed to moveand to move in various directions. These sudden multidirectional movements improve muscle control. Over the course of a match, youll engage nearly every muscle from the upper body to your legs and core, says MacPherson.Cardio BoostYou can expect a heart-pumping workout during an hour-long match. According to researchers at the University of Manitoba, people playing singles or doubles can clock heart rates that indicate moderate to vigorous activity. Apple recently added pickleball to its roster of trackable workouts; on average, you can burn 400 to 700 calories per hour.AgilityWith its sudden movements and lower downtime, pickleball encourages agility and a higher control of your actions, says MacPherson. That allows you to react swiftly and effectively to your environment.Social ConnectionMacPherson notes that participating in a sport that allows you to engage with others can release endorphins (those feel-good brain chemicals that also work as a natural painkiller).CoordinationRacquet sports famously improve hand-eye coordination, a skill essential for initiating and reacting to action.

Up Your Game

Three expert tips from Catherine Parenteau:

• Always try to return the ball deep (meaning close to the opponents baseline) so you have time to set up your next shot.
• Ensure the balls contact point is in front of your body for maximum control of your shot.
• Dont be afraid of the kitchena zone that extends seven feet from the net on both sides. While you cant enter the kitchen if the ball hasnt already bounced, you can still reach in to hit it as long as you keep your feet behind the kitchen line.

Next: This Yogi Will Make You Want to Take Up Surfing

The post Why Everyone’s Playing Pickleball Right Now appeared first on Best Health.

Why breathing out of your nose is better than mouth-breathing

Nasal breathing allows an individual to breathe more slowly and effectively. The nose is designed to filter viruses, bacteria, debris and allergens, says Sabrina Magid-Katz, a New York-based dentist who specializes in sleep dentistry and related sleep disorders. People are finally starting to think about what some ancient cultures have always knownthat breathing in and out through the nose is healthier, says Magid-Katz, referencing the nasal breathing exercises taught in yoga and Tai Chi classes.The nose humidifies the air we breathe, and also increases oxygen to the bloodstream, improves lung function, and decreases stress on the body. The bodys cells are able to get the oxygen they need more efficiently from the bloodstream, allowing the body to function optimally, the muscles to recover faster and the heart to work less hard. Who wouldnt want less stress and inflammation, and more stamina, energy and mental function? she says.On the other hand, mouth breathing causes dry mouth, according to Brian Rotenberg, a head and neck surgeon and a professor of Otolaryngology at Western University in London, Ont. This is because the mouth isnt capable of humidifying air in the same way as the nose. Saliva typically washes bacteria from the mouth when its closed, but it can more easily survive and cause issues when the mouth is open and drypotentially leading to bad breath, gum disease and cavities, he says.Breathing dry air through the mouth can also cause inflammation of the airway and further block it, says Magid-Katz. This creates an airway that is more collapsible, which can lead to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) a medical condition in which someone stops breathing while theyre sleeping, interrupting their sleep cycle and often decreasing the oxygen in their blood. This condition is associated with other medical conditions including high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes, she says, as well as chronic sleep deprivation or a sense of never feeling truly rested.

What causes mouth breathing?

There are a few different reasons why an individual might be a mouth breather, Magid-Katz says. Some people breathe through their mouth because their nasal passage is blocked as a result of allergies, and others do so due to a structural problem, such as a deviated septum. Mouth breathing often starts when were kids, she says, preventing muscular habits and dental arches from growing to properly support the nasal passage.Enlarged tonsils and adenoidsas well as whats called soft tissue trauma, often caused by snoring can also block the airway, which only further encourages mouth breathing and, in turn, creates a vicious cycle of more trauma and enlargement. Other people breathe through their mouth out of habit, she says. Interestingly, the less they breathe through their nose, the harder it may become.

Signs you might be a mouth breather

If you constantly wake up with an exceptionally dry mouth or lips, or even a sore throat, Rotenberg says theres a good chance youre breathing through your mouth at night. Since some nighttime mouth breathers also breathe through their mouths during the day, you can try looking at photos or observing yourself in the mirror. If your lips are parted or your mouth is hanging open, chances are youre breathing through it, says Magid-Katz. You can also self-assess your smile, as an extra gummy smile might mean youve been mouth breathing since childhood. Or, look at your posture from a side angle, or get someone to take a picture of you. Those with blocked airways, including mouth breathers, tend to have heads that reach forward because theyre trying to get more air. (Since most mouth breathing starts in childhood, our posture can naturally develop this way to accommodate the habit.)

How does mouth taping work?

The practice consists of using some kind of porous tapenot duct tape or masking tapeto keep the lips shut at night in order to encourage nasal breathing. Its appearance differs based on the brand, but mouth tape is often thin, transparent and can be applied horizontally, vertically or in a criss-cross shape across the lips. If youre picturing looking like a hostage with tape across your mouth, you can take comfort in knowing the tape made specifically for this purpose doesnt look quite as alarming as duct tape would although its still slightly creepy and strange-looking. And while it will be more challenging to talk to your partner or take a sip of water in the night, mouth taping fans say the benefits can outweigh these minor inconveniences.If you are going to try tape, use one that is porous and is not too adhesive so that you can still open your mouth if need be, Magid-Katz suggests. This way, she says, the tape is more of a reminder and less restrictive. Some users try basic surgical tape from the pharmacy. She recommends doing an initial trial run for a short period of time during the day or early evening, when you are awake and calm.Once you apply the tape, put your tongue to the roof of your mouth and breathe through your nose slowly. You can even do this with the help of a meditative breathing app.If it does not feel right for you, dont do it, she says. Most importantly, always make sure you are able to breathe through your nose safely.According to Magid-Katz, some people do find mouth taping combined with over-the-counter nose strips (which are worn outside the nose and help open the sinus passages) to be effective. (You can also use nasal dilators, which go inside the nostrils.)And while Magid-Katz says mouth taping could work for some, Rotenberg says hes firmly against mouth taping. Thats because mouth breathing is usually caused by some kind of obstruction, so taping the mouth shut without an understanding of what the source of obstruction is in the first place doesnt really make sense. Its not as if you can psychologically trick yourself to overcome nasal allergies or a deviated septum, he says.

What to do if youre a mouth breather

Instead of mouth taping, Rotenberg says its a better idea to go see your healthcare provider to figure out what the actual source of the obstruction is and treat that instead. There are lots of safe and proven solutions, you just need to have the correct diagnosis first, he says. Allergies, for example, can be treated with nasal steroid sprays, while surgery is an option for polyps or a deviated septum.Magid-Katz also recommends speaking to a physician or dentist who is knowledgeable when it comes to the airway. Its important to make sure the nasal passage is clear and the dental arches allow for proper nasal breathing, she says, and you can also talk to a myofunctional therapist who can help strengthen and retrain the muscles. Some dental appliances are designed to help children and adults correct the habit as well. For some people, the more they breathe through their nose the clearer and easier it gets, so the first thing to do is become more conscious of it, she says. Try setting your phone alarm periodically throughout the day as a reminder to think about whether your mouth is open and how youre breathing, or have a friend or loved one look at you periodically and note if your mouth is open. Set aside time each morning and night to practice proper breathing techniques.Next: Can a Weighted Blanket with Cooling Tech Help Me Sleep (and Not Over-Heat)?

The post Mouth Taping: What Is It, and Is It Actually Worth It?  appeared first on Best Health.

Why the microbiome matters

Thanks to millennia of medical literature dominated by male voices, theres a fundamental and pernicious misunderstanding of how female bodies work. For example, drawing on Ancient Greek ideas, physician and chemist Edward Jorden claimed in a 1603 text that uteruses were prone to…wandering. Then there was the 19th-century belief that women shouldnt board trains because travelling at more than 50 miles per hour could make our uteruses shoot out of our bodies (yes, really). We may now have at least basic female anatomy figured out, but womens health continues to be underexamined, and the vaginal microbiome in particular remainsunnecessarilyan enigma. Researchers still have to fight for funding and are often faced with surprising ignorance when it comes to female biology. Reviewers fundamentally did not believe me that bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is caused by bacteria, and Im like, okay, so this is 30 years of clinical research, says Sycuro. (The review panel insisted that fungi are also a major player in vaginosis, but Sycuro says thats complete nonsense.)Every year, bacterial vaginosisan infection thats intimately linked to the vaginal microbiomeaffects about 30 percent of vagina-havers worldwide and costs health-care systems billions of dollars in doctor visits and treatment. BV is more common than yeast infectionsits responsible for 40 to 50 percent of diagnosed vaginitis infectionsand its tied to both preterm births and HIV infection. (Studies show that BV increases the risk of HIV infection in women by 60 percent.) BVwhich has symptoms such as thin discharge and the occasional fishy smellis often trivialized by the scientific community, says Sycuro, because its not fatal. But its still a hugely disruptive hassle that causes discomfort and, unfortunately, the unwarranted shame that many women feel or associate with their genitalia.BV isnt the only culprit causing issues under our undies, of course. Yeast infections are to blame for another 20 to 25 percent of vaginitis casesbut they arent bacterial, theyre fungal. These infections are caused by yeast overgrowth, and are accompanied by thicker discharge and the occasional itching or burning sensation.And as for those dreaded burn-when-you-pee urinary tract infections, rather than an internal imbalance, they can be caused by a pathogen from the GI tractlike E. coligetting into the urethra and bladder.Unlike yeast infections, for which you can get over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, treatments for BV are limiteda prescription for antibiotics is the only option, and it comes with its own slew of potential issues. Once [patients] are in that loop, every time they take antibiotics, they have a 50 percent chance of needing the antibiotics again within six to 12 months, says Sycuro. Antibiotic over-prescription can also increase a persons anti-microbial resistance and alter their gut microbiome diversity. Translation? These medications clear out the bad guys, but they dont necessarily restore perfect balance, and sometimes the bad guys return. Patients end up back at square one, taking more pills that further disrupt the vaginal microbiome.

The cancer connection

Research is underway to examine the vaginal microbiomes role in protecting against sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV: Sycuros lab is currently studying whether chlamydia bacteria can attach better to a receptor when certain other bacteria are present. This is especially important because some research findings suggest that chlamydia is associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer.Compared to, say, prostate cancer, says Sycuro, female-specific diseases such as ovarian, uterine and cervical cancers are understudied, and harder to detect at early stages. While prostate cancer can be detected early through blood tests, women dont have that luxury when it comes to ovarian and uterine cancer: An estimated 1,950 of the 3,000 Canadian women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022 were predicted to die, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, mostly due to it being caught too late. (Pap tests only help detect cervical cancer.)

Whats next on the horizon

When it comes to long-term solutions to chronic BV, Sycuro says there is a glimmer of hope. Inspired by fecal transplants used to improve digestive health, scientists are experimenting with transplanting fluid from healthy vaginas into ones with chronic BV. This procedure is still in the clinical trial phase, with research underway in places like the Kwon Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Sycuro estimates it might take another decade for the process to become widely accessible. In the meantime, we need to dodge the savvy marketing behind iffy products that try to fill that medical void and claim to support vaginal wellness.Next: Whats With All the Vaginal Creams, Wipes and Gummies?

The post A Field Guide to Your Vaginal Microbiome appeared first on Best Health.

The post What’s With All the Vaginal Creams, Wipes and Gummies? appeared first on Best Health.

The post What Can At-Home DIY Test Kits Tell Us About Our Vaginas? appeared first on Best Health.

Lets start with a big one: Why do we need people to donate blood?

So that we have blood and blood products for patients who need it. That can be because of accidents or in trauma care; it can be for many kinds of surgery. There are also conditions for which regular blood transfusion or red-cell exchange is necessary for treatment. Canada has said were going to have a voluntary, unpaid system. And so to meet the needs of patients, we need people to donate blood.

What actually brings people through the door to donate?

When you ask donors why they donate blood, the vast majority say its because they want to help someone else. There is a psychological phenomenon called a warm-glow effect, where people feel good because theyve done something good. Another motivation has to do with social recognition: Its something thats valued in ones community; its considered to have social capital. And then theres a kind of reciprocitysomeone might know someone who needed blood, so they want to contribute, too.

At the very start of the pandemic, there was a surge in blood donations in Canada. Do crises tend to galvanize people?

Absolutely. Across most national emergencies, youll see an upswing in people wanting to help. In the States, after 9/11, there was a massive outpouring of people donating blood, and I know when there are bushfires in Australia, people turn out as well. A colleague and I did a small study in the early days of the pandemic to understand the experiences of people coming out to donate. We found that, for a lot of donors, this was an important opportunity for them to be able to actually interact safely with people who werent in their household. Maintaining community was important to them, and this was a way to do that.

Why dont people donate? What makes it a challengeor makes it unappealingfor them?

Right now, as restrictions have loosened, I think people have other activities they could be involved in. But more broadly, its a really interesting puzzle, and an area where I think we need more research. Its definitely easier to ask someone why do you do this? than it is to understand a phenomenon where something isnt being done. One way to study why people dont donate is to look at barriers to donation. It could be a lack of knowledge of the process of blood donationso not quite understanding how to register, what happens when blood is drawn, what happens to the blood afterward. There can be barriers at a personal level, like a fear of needles. And then there can be systemic barriers, like a lack of trust with the blood operator and a lack of trust with the health-care system, which extends to a lack of trust in the blood system.

There have also been outright bans on certain donorsfor example, men who have sex with men, or, up until 2016, anyone born in specific African countries. What impact did those restrictions have on donor engagement?

I havent studied that restriction specifically, but sometimes when eligibility criteria change, people dont necessarily know and it can take time for people affected to be aware of that change.

But when CBS changes a policy about donation, shouldnt it be responsible for outreach to the people affected?

This is kind of outside the scope of the work I do. But I think any institution or organization asking for people to come and participate voluntarily would want to make sure that the general public knows when there are changes to eligibility criteria.

Why is it important to have donors from different backgrounds?

For a condition like sickle cell disease, one of the treatments is regular blood transfusion or red-cell exchange. And for people who have more rare blood types or are frequently transfused, the closer the blood type matches with the donor, the better the health outcomes. Because blood antigens are inherited, youre more likely to find a close blood-type match with someone who shares an ethnic ancestry. This doesnt mean that you can only donate to someone of the same ethnic ancestrybut the more ethnically diverse the donor base, the better positioned Canadian Blood Services is to find close matches for the very diverse population that they serve.

How can we make donor screening as inclusive as possible?

It takes a multidisciplinary approach and a team of people to move donor screening toward inclusivity in a safe way. It requires clinicians and epidemiologists to look at the various risk factors and how to ensure the safety of the blood supply. Plus social scientists to examine the questions asked to be sure they are understandable and accessible. For example, in September, a change was made to ask about sexual behaviour regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and to be more inclusive of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. But its a big challenge. And there isnt necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer.

What about just paying people for their blood?

I know theres research being done on incentives to donation, and paying donors is one of those options. I dont know what the impact of paying donors would be.

Speaking of incentives: Las Vegas just introduced a virtual-reality experience for donors. Maybe Canadian Blood Services wants to look into that?

I didnt know about Las Vegas incorporating VR, but if it was going to happen somewhere, itd be Vegas. Its important to keep in mind that the U.S. has a very different system than we have here in Canada. There has been some research looking into whether providing donors with added informationlike their cholesterol levels or blood pressuremakes a difference in donor retention, and I think the jury was out on that. I can see how exciting, attractive measures might help a very pressing blood shortage in the moment. But understanding peoples motivations and the social norms underpinning a voluntary blood-donation systemits just a vast area of research. I dont think its going to be solved through VR.Next: How Mental Illness Shapes Our Identities

The post When Was the Last Time You Donated Blood? appeared first on Best Health.

Meet Sisters Sage, an Indigenous Wellness Brand Reclaiming Smudging

Bone Broth from This Canadian Ayurveda-Inspired Company May Help Soothe What Ails You

Have Super Dry Skin? This Canadian Skincare Company Is Here to Help

Get more great stories delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the Best Health Must-Reads newsletter.Subscribe here.

The post How One Woman Connects to Her Culture Through Gardening appeared first on Best Health.

The post The Unique Way This Female Fitness Instructor Uses Movement and Compassion to Support Women appeared first on Best Health.

The post I Joined the Navy Reserves at 51 appeared first on Best Health.

—

The breaking point came when Taslims parents met Tom. Around her birthday, the year that Tom moved in with Taslim, Farida and Imran were visiting their daughter for the day when Taslim decided it was time to introduce Tom. But Taslims parents were too angry and upset to even shake his hand. They were pretty shocked and taken aback, Taslim tells me. There was a lot of yelling and screamingWho is he? Hes not Muslim!directed at both of them. Taslim began to cry. The yelling was mostly in English, but Urdu was peppered throughout. Tom tried to explain how much he cared for and loved Taslim. Farida and Imran wouldnt listen. Farida decided that Tom must be using Taslim for money. Imran, on the other hand, was just very disappointed. I felt like my parents kind of violated my boundaries. They went through stuff, went through my closet. They saw that Toms belongings were everywhere before Taslim even had a chance to explain that shed asked him to live with her. Taslims parents demanded that she break up with Tom. Imran even came back to make sure hed moved out of her apartment.Tom, who hails from Vancouver, is a white man roughly twenty years older than Taslim and a divorcee. Most importantly to her parents, hes not Muslim. None of this mattered to Taslim. For a long time, she considered marrying him; theres a local imam in Ottawa willing to marry Muslim women and non-Muslim men. In Islamic jurisprudence, a Muslim man has the right to marry a non-Muslim woman but not the other way around. This precept operates on the understanding that in addition to the faith passing on from the paternal side, men have the necessary authority to convert their non-Muslim women, or at the very least guarantee raising Muslim children.I have a friend who did that. Shes in a common-law relationship with a non-Muslim man, and she reached out to that imam, Taslim says. She takes comfort knowing shes not the only Muslim woman to have a relationship with a non-Muslim man in her community. She asked this progressive imam to provide her with supporting material or information regarding this law that she could use to sway her parents. Im trying to become more assertive about this, she says with a timid smile.But after the meeting with Taslims parents, the couple is no longer planning to get married. Tom moved to Taslims old condowhich she still owns and was renting outwhile they figured out their next move. Its kind of a haze, because it was such a difficult experience. It was insane. I got so traumatized, and then I feltI dont think this is necessarily true, this is the way I see thingslike maybe Tom wasnt as strong for me as he could have been. I felt alone on this little boat, in the middle of the ocean, trying to defend this whole thing.Taslim wants the tension to be over, not the relationship. But doubt has taken root in her. Were in a strange place, she explains. Things got really tense between us. I felt very tense with him around. Taslim realized that for her own mental well-being, she needed to pull back and prioritize herself. She needed to figure things out, including if she could ever stand up to her parents or if her relationship with Tom was worth that. I think my parents really gave me a lot of anxiety and depression over it. Being pulled in two different directions by the most important people in her life was very stressful for Taslim. Indecision was paralyzing her, and she could no longer decipher what her feelings were, distinct from those of Tom and her parents. Distance was the only way she could cope.But ever since the pandemic hit, hes been here more often than not. Because hes been my one-person-you-can-see kind of person, she says. Shes only been to see her parents in Montreal a handful of times since the onset of COVID-19. She describes her relationship with Tom now as in a limbo stage. Were not together, but were kind of together. Protecting herself in this way has led to many days of loneliness, and the social distancing rules of the pandemic have only heightened that feeling. She hasnt been maintaining her friendships, which tend to have boundaries. Only when things are dire does she open up about her personal life to friends. Although Taslim does respond to those who reach out, she admits, I dont feel the same closeness. I dont know whats going to happen with some friendships. As a naturally very, very internal person, she finds it difficult to share things with people. She doesnt see the value in it eitherafter all, her problems are her problems, and no one is going to solve them for her. And even at work, connections dont come easy. Two weeks into the pandemic, she began a new job and to this day hasnt met any of her colleagues in person. Its just constant alienation.Some days, she considers giving her relationship with Tom another go. But they had other obstacles beyond her parents: their age gap, his finances. She remembers these things and reverts to not being ready for change. There are times when I feel buoyed by him, but there are times when I feel depleted. My parents have . . . I still have so much fear in my head about the whole thing. After the blowout with her parents, Taslim couldnt make personal decisions with conviction. Roughly two years later, she hasnt completely recovered her self-confidence.Even talking about the memory triggers her body to tense up. Its just like a paralysis. Like suddenly youre being railroaded. And I know Tom felt that too. He was shocked that it was that kind of reaction. Taslim believes her parents were deeply ashamed that she had chosen a non-Muslim partner and was living with him outside of wedlock. Taslim tells me that during the blow-up she volunteered information about her virginity, wanting to beat them to the punch. I told them that I hadnt. I just said that of my own volition. She knew where the conversation was headed.I definitely have some anger and resentment. Im trying not to, because Id rather take that energy and push through and do something for myself thats better. Everyones a product of their environment, circumstances, upbringing. But its difficult. Especially with the sexuality side of it. To cope with the stress of her personal life, Taslim has thrown herself further into her job, working for nearly twelve-hour stretches. It was crazy, but I think it saved me from dealing with my parents.Although she and Tom are still officially broken up, Taslim doesnt want her parents to visit. Tom occasionally stays over and some of his things are still around. Her brother, Atiq, also believes she was lost in this inter-faith relationship and not thinking logically. No one in my family supports me, she says. So the pandemic, which has kept her family away in Montreal, continues to serve as a boundary.Excerpted from Halal Sex by Sheima Benembarek. Copyright 2023 Sheima Benembarek. Published by Viking Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.Next: I Need You to Know: All Vulvas Are Beautiful

The post I’m 43, I’ve Been in Long-Term Relationships and I’m a Virgin By Choice appeared first on Best Health.

Before we get to the future of health care, are there places where AI is already being used in medicine?

Yes. Theres ChartWatch, which focuses on predictive analytics. Its an early-warning system that pulls vitals from patients in the internal-medicine ward to predict whether a transfer to the ICU or a death will occur. So the predictive power of these solutions can really lead to improved decision-making and the ability to intervene early.

What about other AI models working away in the background?

There are some, but I would say that in health care, very few models have been deployed in a clinical setting. Health care has a number of challenges, especially when were dealing with datawe have to be very stringent about security, about privacy, about confidentiality. The thing with AI algorithms is that, similar to how you and I learn, AI algorithms get better as more data is provided. But that can only happen if we can actually get access to it, which is very difficult in health care. However, weve partnered with Gemini, a data collaborative of more than 30 hospitals data in Ontario, the largest of its kind in Canada, and thats allowed Vector researchers to develop cutting-edge AI models and solutions, including studies related to COVID-19.

What are some of those projects in development right now?

Id say there are three areas worth highlighting: personalized medicine, drug discovery and creating a more efficient health system. With personalized medicine, algorithms can help us predict illness and support patients long-term. So, for example, you can use AI to predict Alzheimers disease based on changes to speech patterns. Or you could use it to discover insights within imaging data that can guide treatment and therapy decisions for patients with breast cancer. With drug discovery, AI can analyze pharmacological and health data to find different combinations of drugs that can be used to target existing and emerging viruses, or treat conditions that the drug might not have originally been prescribed for. And with health systems, it could help alleviate wait times faced by patients in hospitals, which is a big issue in Canada right now. When you bring in AI, the potential for us to better allocate resources, both in terms of staffing and funding, is fantastic and leads to better patient outcomes.

On the other hand, what isnt going to happen with AI and health care? You must hear some pretty wild theories when people find out what you do.

One thing is that AI is not going to replace a physicianit will augment clinical decision-making, but it wont replace it. Its more like a virtual second opinion, not meant to override human judgement or expertise.

So Im not going to roll up for knee surgery and find a robot about to perform it on me?

WellI cant predict the future. But I dont think thats going to happen.

What do you hear from doctors and health care practitioners when you talk to them about AI?

They really do want to know how were using AI to revolutionize health care, and they want to know not just on a theoretical level but a practical level. How can they use these solutions in a clinical setting? What does it mean for patient care overall? Thats always their number-one questionwell, actually, Ill say there are two questions. Number one, will it be disruptive to my workflow? And the second is, what are the outcomes that can be produced for a patient?

What worries them about their workflow?

What they say is: We dont want another button to press. We want it to be very seamless. And also they worry whether this all happens in a black box. Explainability in AI is very importantwe dont want to just use this blindly. So if an algorithm makes some kind of decision, we need to know how it has actually come up with that decision.

We hear a lot about bias in AI. How can bias skew an algorithms results?

You hear the expression garbage in, garbage out. AI algorithms will always reinforce bias if the data theyre trained on is biased. If were looking at a pool of health care data that is only representative of a certain segment of the population

Say, white men of a certain age?

Thats right. Then when you try to apply the AI model to a different or a more diverse population segment, it doesnt work, or it wont work in the same way. A good example is an image-recognition model that wasnt able to recognize melanoma in patients with different skin types, because the model wasnt trained on data that was representative of the whole population. I will say that theres much work being done on responsible AI, making sure that we correct for inherent biases.

And how do we do that?

By ensuring that theres access to very diverse data. And then by looking at that data to really say when it isnt representative of an entire population, so that if there are inherent biases, we can correct that at the forefront. We also want to make sure our models work for everyone. So in AI implementation, we do these silent trials, where we test out the solution in, say, a hospital, before it goes into practice. Because we dont want to just say, hey, this tool works fantastically, were gonna implement it now. Being able to pilot it is extremely important.

People are understandably quite anxious about the state of Canadian health care. What do you see as the potential for these AI programs, whenever they do get rolled out?

I truly believe that AI has transformative benefits for patients. There is a machine learning model that can create radiation therapy treatment plans for patients with prostate cancer. That can take a clinician more than a day to develop, and the model produces plans within hours that are deemed to be as good as or even better, nine times out of 10. If I were a patient, this is exactly what Id want: something that creates efficiencies and frees up resources so that I not only have a personalized treatment plan soonerbut I get to spend more time with my physician. Thats extremely beneficial to a patients quality of life and the quality of care they receive.This interview has been edited and condensed.Next: The Forces That Shape Health Care for Black Women

The post This Tech Pro Says AI Is Ready to Revolutionize Our Health Care in Canada appeared first on Best Health.

Get Touchy-Feely

You know the old adage, treat others how you want to be treated? Apply that here. Touch your partner throughout the day to show them how much and how often youd like to be touched. It might not be easyJansen says that the partner who wants more touching may not want to put in more effortbut it could be whats needed to build the non-sexual habits you desire.

Spell It Out

If your partner just isnt getting the message, Williams suggests saying something direct like: I love when you kiss my neck when we make dinner because it feels sensual and loving. Tell them what you like, and why you like it, she says. If a couple knows what messages theyre sending to one another through touch, theyll be more interested in intimating touch in the first place.While this tactic could make someone feel like theyre being forced to show affection, this straightforwardness is actually healthy for the relationship. Providing a suggestion, solution, and positive reinforcement leads to a stronger bond, says Williams.

Find the Issue

Lack of touch could be a sign of a deeper issue. I may be less physical with my partner when I am tired, whereas you may be less physical with your partner when theres something bigger going on, says Williams. The same behaviour can have an entirely different meaning. If communication doesnt work, it could be a good idea to book time with a therapist or counsellor. There could be any number of reasons why youve been feeling touch-starved, but you wont know until you do the work to find out.Next: It Is Reassuring to Be Loved Again: The Joy of Finding Love After 70

The post Why Does My Partner Only Touch Me When They Want Sex? appeared first on Best Health.

The post Waiting Until Age 50 for Mammograms Is Too Late—Especially for Black Women appeared first on Best Health.

Try these frozen shoulder exercises:

The pendulum

Lying face down on a bed or couch, let one arm hang off the edge and move it back and forth and side to side to increase range of motion. Repeat on the other side.

Wall slides

Facing a wall with your feet as close to the baseboard as possible, place your hands on the wall at eye level and slowly inch your fingers up. Try to reach as high as you can!

Reach around

Grab a scarf end with one hand and reach up and over your shoulder, with it dangling down behind you. With the other hand, reach back and grab the bottom of the scarf. With the hand on top, slowly pull on the scarf to get your bottom arm to move up. Switch hands and repeat.Next: Your Phone Might Be Hurting Your Hand

The post How to Unfreeze Painful Frozen Shoulder appeared first on Best Health.

The post “I’m Waiting for a Kidney Transplant. Again.” appeared first on Best Health.

When kidneys fail

There are about 4 million Canadians living with kidney disease, says Amrita Sukhi, a nephrologist with Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ontario. And many of them arent even aware they have renal failure because the symptoms (fatigue, peeing less often) are analogous with other diseases.The term kidney disease describes an array of disorders and conditions, can range in severity from mild to severe and sometimes results in complete kidney failure (also called end-stage kidney disease). When people have kidney failure, they may retain too much of that stuff that the kidneys should be getting rid of and that can make people very sick, says Hesketh. But in the early stages, for the most part, the body compensates well for reduced kidney function. As with high blood pressure, kidney disease can go undetected, and many people only realize they have a problem once its quite advanced.Its unfortunate, because people dont tend to get really sick until the kidney function is down to five or 10 percent, says Hesketh. Sukki adds, By the time you get symptoms, which are vague, like poor energy, reduced appetite, some swelling, you can be on the brink of requiring dialysis. (Dialysis is a medical treatment, often done in hospital several time a week, that cleans the blood and removes waste fluids from the body.) Without treatment, full kidney failure eventually leads to death.Thats why routine screening for kidney problems is so important. The albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) test measures the amount of protein in urine, and flags high levels that could indicate possible kidney damage. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) blood test is another easy way to measure how well your kidneys are working. Either test can be done as part of a routine exam. Your doctor can determine your risk factors (more on that soon) and how often you should be screened.

Managing kidney disease

A lot of patients come to the clinic very scared that Im going to put them on dialysis right away, but its possible to live well with kidney disease for many years, says Sukhi. Most people will require diet and lifestyle modifications, or medications, to manage the effects of their poorly functioning kidneys and prevent conditions like high potassium or low hemoglobin levels. For most people, kidney damage cant be reversed, but it can be slowed and the effects can be managed.Most often, kidney disease occurs when a separate condition or disease impairs their function, so treating the underlying cause is also very important, says Hesketh. If someone has kidney disease due to diabetes, high blood pressure or vascular disease, those patients first treat those issues, she says. If someone has an underlying infection (like hepatitis B) or an inflammatory condition or autoimmune disease (such as lupus) that is causing their kidney failure, they can take medications to manage that issue, relieving the burden on the kidneys. Ideally, we do these things to keep the kidney function from getting worse, but inevitably chronic kidney disease will progress over time and eventually some patients may require dialysis or a kidney transplant, says Hesketh.For many, a transplant is the only way to get off dialysisa therapy that can be quite life-altering, says Hesketh. Dialysis treatment can be emotionally draining, a financial burden and an enormous time commitment. Plus, there are the physical side effects, which range from low blood pressure (for patients on hemodialysis) to high blood sugar (for people on peritoneal dialysis). Patients on dialysis need a tremendous amount of support, Hesketh says.

Know your risk factors

The risk factors for kidney disease include some you can control, like smoking, and others you cant. The most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and hypertension, says Sukhi. Diseases of the blood vessels put a lot of pressure on kidney function, which causes damage over time. There are also structural kidney diseases that arise from things like urinary obstructions or hereditary conditions. People of Asian, South Asian, Hispanic and Caribbean descent are at higher risk for kidney disease in general for a variety of reasons. And Indigenous people in Canada are more than three times as likely to have their kidneys fail. People who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)like Celebrex to treat arthritis, for examplemay also be at higher risk for this disease.

Supporting the health of your kidneys

For the most part, maintaining well-functioning kidneys comes down to a healthy lifestyle and managing other medical conditions. If you know theres a family history of [type 2] diabetes or hypertension that affects the kidneys, know that you should do everything you can to avoid it, says Sukhi. You dont want to wait until you are told you have low kidney function, because at that point they are already damaged. And, in most cases, that kidney damage cant be reversed.Next: Im Waiting for a Kidney Transplant. Again.

The post Everything You Don’t Know About Kidney Disease (But Should) appeared first on Best Health.

The post This Is How I Carry on After My Husband’s Terminal ALS Diagnosis appeared first on Best Health.