How does ammonia affect the body

Pain is spiking during the pandemic. Source: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels Key Points: Health problems including headaches and back pain are on the rise. Negative emotions can exacerbate pain, so it's important to develop effective strategies to cope with stress and anxiety . As a pain expert, the question I get asked most is, “Do you treat physical pain or emotional pain?” My answer is always, “Yes!” If you’re experiencing pain during this time of stress and sheltering—headaches, migraine, low back pain—you’re not alone. Pain is commonly triggered, and amplified, by negative emotions like stress, anxiety, anger , and depression . And that’s no coincidence: It’s biology. Contrary to popular belief, emotions don’t just live in your head—they also come out in your body. Nervousness before a presentation creates "butterflies" in your stomach. Depression can make your limbs feel heavy, and make you walk and talk slowly. Fear makes your heart race, eyes widen, breath … [Read more...] about Why Your Body Hurts During the Pandemic

My friend recently asked me, “Why have I become so forgetful since I became pregnant?” I told her I didn’t know, but that I’d look into it and write a post for her. She then followed with, “I was going to ask you to explain something else to me, but I totally forgot what it was.” Does “ pregnancy brain” exist? There’s no doubt that many changes are happening to a woman’s body during pregnancy, but how do these changes affect (or originate in) the brain? To answer my friend’s question — and in an effort to address whatever else she was forgetting at the time — here is Part 1 of my expectant mom’s guide to the neuroscience of pregnancy. What is morning sickness? More than half — perhaps up to 90 percent — of pregnant women experience nausea or vomiting to some degree, particularly in the morning. Thrust into the limelight as a result of Kate Middleton’s hospitalizations , around 1 percent of pregnant women experience more severe, prolonged morning sickness called … [Read more...] about Pregnancy Brain: The Expectant Mom’s Guide

Home Pregnancy parenting Prenatal Prenatal oi-Amritha K By Amritha K on February 26, 2021 Mood swings are one of the common complaints of pregnant women and legit one at that. One minute you are abounding with joy, and the next, you are having the gloomiest of all days. While not every woman will not suffer from this rollercoaster of emotions, the ones who do, in fact, go through this are definitely not fans. So, what can you do when the hormones are rapidly moving back and forth between pure, unadulterated joy and complete and utter despair during your pregnancy? Well, there are some ways you can manage these uncomfortable mood swings. This article will tell you all about pregnancy mood swings, their causes, and ways to manage them. The article will also cover post-pregnancy mood swings. What Causes Pregnancy Mood Swings? Being pregnant may sound exciting, but going through all the physical and … [Read more...] about Pregnancy Mood Swings: Causes, Ways To Manage It And Will You Have It After Delivery?

Home Pregnancy parenting Postnatal Postnatal oi-Shamila Rafat By Shamila Rafat on October 19, 2020 Postpartum Depression, or PPD as it is more commonly referred to as, is defined as "an irritable, severely depressed mood" that can be seen in new mothers. [1] Clinical studies have revealed that PPD affects up to 15% of mothers. [2] Recent research in the field has come to the finding that there are various biological as well as psychological factors that place an expectant mother at a higher risk for developing PPD after giving birth. Studies have revealed that women at a higher risk for developing PPD include inner-city women as well as mothers of pre-term infants. [3] Generally, many new mothers tend to get depressed after giving birth. With the focus shifting to another individual and the need to cope with the new erratic schedule, offering less time for sleeping, a majority of women go through the … [Read more...] about What Is Postpartum Depression (PPD) In New Mothers?

Teens vape more than they use any other drug. Source: Hopelab, used with permission Teen vaping was a problem well before COVID-19 . Teens vape more than they use any other drug. In 2019, 28% of high school students reported vaping in the previous month, up 7% from the year prior. That’s 5 million teens who reported vaping in the previous month, and over a million who reported vaping daily. Vaping nicotine is highly addictive and poses health risks, including connections to serious lung illness and death through e-cigarette/vaping-related lung injury (EVALI) . Some experts even suggest a link between vaping and worsening of COVID-19 symptoms. As a researcher in teen substance use, I am often asked how parents can talk to their kids about vaping. Here are some tips, many of which I’m using now that I’m home all day with my three young children, and recommending to my friends and family with teens at home. 1. Get the Conversation Started. Try to approach the … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Talk to Teens About Vaping Now That They’re Home