Bra Types

The Best Bra for Your Breast Type

Just as the right clothes help you look and feel your best, the right bra could be the missing puzzle piece to perfecting your outfit.

Especially because, according to Tomima Edmark, HerRoom’s founder and a bra-fitting expert, women aren’t as great at finding bras that fit their breasts as they are at choosing clothes that fit their bodies.

 “The most common mistake women make is buying a bra where the band is too large and the cups are too small,” Tomima says. “My goal was to look at the subtle differences in bras and find out what works for which breasts. You’ll be a better consumer if you know what to look for.”

1. Shallow: About 10 percent of women. Picture a ski slope: You start at the top and go down to the nipple. You can be born with breasts like this, or they can turn this way after breast-feeding.

2. Semi-supported: About 30 percent of women. You don’t quite have the fullness of a 16-year-old girl who just got her breasts in, but it’s a nice look.

3. Self-supported: Sixteen percent of women. This would be a code word for implants. Anyone with augmentation would fall into this category. With or without a bra, breasts are supported.

4. Conical: About 6 to 7 percent of women. Generally, a woman who is a C-cup or smaller. The breasts are cone shaped rather than round.

5. Uneven: Forty-two percent of women. This is when one breast is larger than the other. Most women have uneven breasts simply because if you’re right-handed, that muscle makes the breast on your right side smaller.

The best bra: Always fit your bra to your largest breast. Look for bras that are contour-cupped. A bra cup with a thin layer of foam can act as a nice filler to mold the smallness of your other breast.

6. Settled: Twenty-seven percent of women. This is a nicer way of saying that your breasts are deflated or hanging. You need support and you need to pull those girls up! As you age, breasts are not as firm, but they are malleable, so you can form them into any shape you want.

7. Thin: About 5 percent of women. If you look in medical journals, this shape is referred to as “tubular breasts.” What that means your breasts are not as wide as the traditional underwire of bras.

The best bra: Bandeau bras. By “smooshing” the breasts together, you make them less “long,” if you will. A contour cup will also work.

8. Splayed: Twenty-seven percent of women. Splayed means your breasts go east-west, so you want to bring ‘em in toward the center.

Article credit : http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/best-bra-your-breast-type

Belly dance

Belly dance or bellydance is a Western-coined name for "solo, improvised dances based on torso articulation".

Belly dance takes many different forms depending on the country and region; both in costume and dance style, and new styles have evolved in the West as its popularity has spread globally.

Origins and history of belly dance in the Middle East

Belly dancing is believed to have had a long history in the Middle East, but reliable evidence about its origins is scarce, and accounts of its history are often highly speculative. Several Greek and Roman sources including Juvenal and Martial describe dancers from Asia Minor and Spain using undulating movements, playing castanets, and sinking to the floor with 'quivering thighs', descriptions that are certainly suggestive of the movements that we today associate with belly dance. Later, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, European travellers in the Middle East such as Edward Lane and Flaubert wrote extensively of the dancers they saw there, including the Awalim and Ghawazee of Egypt. In the Ottoman Empire belly dancers used to perform for the harem in the Topkapı Palace.

Social context of belly dance in the Middle East

Belly dance in the Middle East has two distinct social contexts: As a folk or social dance, and as a performance art.

As a social dance, belly dance (also called Raqs Baladi or Raqs Shaabi in this context) is performed at celebrations and social gatherings by ordinary people who are not professional performers.  Dancers wear their ordinary clothes rather than a special dance costume. Dances that could be described as belly dance are performed in this context by men and women of all ages in Egypt, often including young children. In more conservative or traditional societies, social occasions are often gender segregated, with separate parties for men and women - both women and men may take part in dancing at single-sex gatherings. Belly dance is not the only social dance in this region. Other notable social dances include the Levantine dabke and the hair-tossing women's dance of the Gulf states, Raqs al Nasha'al.

The version of belly dance that is performed on stage has its roots in the social dance, and is typically a more polished version of the same dance, with more emphasis on stagecraft and use of space, and special costumes designed to show off the movements to best effect. Professional performers (including dancers, singers and actors) are not considered to be respectable in the Middle East, and there is a strong social stigma attached to female performers in particular, since they display their bodies in public, which is considered haram. Historical groups of professional dance performers include the Awalim (primarily musicians and poets), Ghawazi and Köçekler.

Belly dance in Egypt

Historically, public dance performers in Egypt were known as Ghawazi. The Maazin sisters may be the last authentic performers of Ghawazi dance in Egypt. Khayreyya Maazin was the last of these dancers still teaching and performing as of 2009.

Belly dance in Turkey

Turkish oriental dance is referred to in Turkey as Oryantal Dans, or simply 'Oryantal'. The Turkish style of bellydance is lively and playful, with a greater outward projection of energy than the more contained Egyptian style. Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer. Floorwork, which has been banned in Egypt since the mid-20th century, is still an important part of Turkish bellydance.

Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage, and the Roma people of Turkey have had a strong influence on the Turkish style

Wisdom Tooth

Whether your wisdom tooth makes you wise or not is a separate matter for debate but your wisdom tooth gives you intense pain for sure! Your mouth can have four wisdom teeth, medically called molars, one at each corner. Your wisdom tooth or teeth may grow when you are anywhere between 16 and 25, and sometimes even later in life, in your 30s too. If you go by popular belief, this is the age when you gain worldly wisdom and hence the name wisdom tooth. If you are lucky enough to have a big mouth, you may not get pain while your wisdom tooth grows in there. The problem arises when there is not sufficient room in your mouth for further teeth. But, the wisdom tooth, in its desperate attempt to appear may start pushing your other teeth or stuck against them. It then grows at an uncomfortable angle under your gum, which is then called impacted wisdom tooth. This impacted wisdom tooth is what gives you pain, swelling and irritation. Bacteria may also grow around this impacted wisdom tooth and increase your pain and problems. What’s more irritating is that wisdom tooth pain, most of the time, occurs at night when you are fast asleep and suddenly you wake up due to throbbing unbearable pain in mouth. No dentist will be available at these wee hours and what comes to your help are the home remedies for wisdom tooth pain relief!

Remedies for Instant Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

1. Clove For Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

When there were no commercially available anesthetics like Benzocaine, dentists used clove oil or clove gel for numbing the pain from wisdom tooth growth. Clove (Eugenia aromaticum), has anesthetic, antiseptic, analgesic and antibacterial properties, perfect for giving relief from horrible toothaches. All the properties of clove are due to its natural component eugenol. Eugenol is the active ingredient in most of the modern dental medicines too. Why not then use comparatively cheaper and easily available cloves or clove oil for wisdom tooth pain relief!

Ways to Use Clove for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Take 1-3 whole cloves and hold them in your mouth close to your aching area. Within a couple of minutes, the cloves will release their essential oil into your mouth. You will feel the area with clove going numb. As the whole spice becomes softer chew it slowly to get even more eugenol from it.

Take few drops of clove essential oil and with the help of a cotton ball, hold it gently but firmly against you aching wisdom tooth. You may also apply this oil using your clean finger tip. If you feel, clove oil is too strong for your mouth, dilute it in ½ tsp of olive oil and then apply it to your aching tooth.

You may also use ground clove powder to get relief from pain due to wisdom tooth. Just apply a pinch of clove powder where it pains in your mouth and wait for it to get dissolved.

Precaution: Although there may occur a little burning sensation on applying clove oil into your mouth, if this sensation is in intense or at a level where you can’t tolerate it, you may be allergic to eugenol. In such a case, immediately rinse your mouth with water, a lots of water. Stop using clove or clove oil and use some other home remedy for wisdom tooth ache or see your doctor. Also, while clove oil is considered safe when used in small quantities, it may cause liver and respiratory problems if you ingest this oil in large quantities.

2. Onion for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

If onion can relieve inflammation and joint pains due to arthritis, it can also be helpful in relieving swelling and pain due to toothache. Onions have phytochemicals such as disulfides, trisulfides, cepaene, and vinyl dithiins, that have anticancer and antimicrobial properties and thus can kill the germs causing infection in your mouth and give you relief from pain. The more pungent an onion is, more effective it will be. Shallots, yellow and red onions are more effective than the white and sweet onions when it comes to pain relief and other disease fighting qualities.

How to Use Onion for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Just as you get the feel of toothache, take a slice of raw onion and chew it, spreading its juice to where it aches.

If your pain is so much that you can’t chew the slice of onion, hold it gently but firmly against your aching mouth area.

You may also experiment with onion juice. Crush and extract the juice of onion and apply it to your wisdom tooth.

. Asafetida for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

With its nutrient rich composition due to various minerals and vitamins, asafetida has long been used by Ayurveda to cure a variety of diseases and medical conditions including toothaches. Asafetida is a resinous gum having pungent smell and is commonly used as a flavoring agent in cooking all over Indian subcontinent and Central Asian region. This resin, among other natural chemicals, contains asaresinotennol, free or combined with ferulic acid and umbelliferone. Ferulic acid has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties while umbelliferone is antiseptic. All these constituents of asafetida makes it a good remedy for toothaches, including wisdom tooth pain.

How to Use Asafetida for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Get this:

• Asafetida – ¼ tsp

• Lemon juice- 1-2 tbsp

• Mortar and pestle

Do this:

• Mix asafetida and lemon juice and place it in the mortar bowl

• Crush the asafetida in lemon juice with the help of pestle.

• Now slightly heat this mixture. It just needs to be lukewarm.

• Take a cotton ball and soak it in this lemon-asafetida warm solution.

• Place this compress against your aching wisdom tooth.

• You may instantly feel the relief you get from the pain.

4. Guava Leaves for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

If your guava fruit has come with leaves, do not throw them away. Yes, guava leaves are an excellent pain relievers. Guava leaves have a bioflavinoid, Quercetin, which has anti-spasm properties. The high content of Quercetin in guava leaves lend them the excellent pain killing properties. These leaves have many properties that include astringent, antibacterial, pain blocking, and disinfecting qualities. They can also cure bleeding gums bad breath.

Ways to Use Guava Leaves to Relieve Pain from Wisdom Tooth

One of the ways is as simple as chewing guava leaves. Take 1-2 tender leaves of guava and chew them slowly to release juice into your mouth.

You also boil 4-6 guava leaves in a glass of water for about 5 minutes. Then let the solution cool down a little. Once the liquid is tolerably warm, you may strain the liquid and use it as mouthwash. To make it more effective, mix half to one tsp of salt to this guava leaves decoction.

5. Wheatgrass Juice for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Wheatgrass is made from the cotyledons of the common wheat plant. A cotyledon is one of the important parts of the embryo within the seed of a plant. Juice made from this wheatgrass is a rich source of chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Chlorophyll is an excellent anti-bacterial which inhibits the growth of bacteria. It has the capacity to neutralize toxins in your body. It is also a fine antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. Only a little amount of wheatgrass juice is what is required to prevent tooth decay! With all its benefits, wheatgrass juice is one of the best remedies for tooth pain including that which is due to wisdom tooth.

How to Use Wheatgrass Juice for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Fill your mouth with wheatgrass juice and hold it for about 5 minutes. Now throw this away. This is said to pull out all toxins, bacteria from your mouth.

You may also want to show some wheatgrass and then throw it away.

6. Garlic for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Garlic has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can go a long way in relieving pain. Thiacremonone is one of the sulfur compounds present in garlic. It inhibits inflammatory responses in body which may be helpful in treating inflammatory diseases. Antioxidants present in garlic also helps reduce swelling and in turn giving relief from pain.

Ways to Use Garlic to Relieve Pain from Wisdom Tooth

Take a garlic clove and crush it a little so that it may release its juice. Now hold this crushed garlic clove against your aching wisdom tooth.

Crush 1-2 garlic cloves to get a paste. Add some salt, preferably black salt to this and apply on your aching area in the mouth.

7. Cabbage Leaves for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Cabbage has been used since ancient times to treat wounds and swellings. Cabbage has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and its juice is a rich source of lactic acid. Lactic acid is a powerful anti-bacterial. It can, thus, be used to relieve pain and swelling associated with tooth ache, even when it is due to growth of your wisdom tooth.

How to Use Cabbage Leaf for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Take a cabbage leaf.

Using a rolling pin, roll over the leaf to soften it.

Now take out its veins.

Roll it up and insert it between your aching tooth and the gum.

8. Vanilla Extract for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Vanilla extract that you use for cooking and baking can come to your help when you need that much wanted relief from pain due to wisdom tooth. Vanilla extract is derived from the vanilla beans by brewing them with alcohol and water. It is rich in antioxidants and because it also has little concentration of alcohol, it is capable of numbing the gums around your painful tooth giving you relief. Vanilla essence, however, is not same as vanilla extract. Vanilla essence is made by combining chemicals whereas vanilla extract is derived from the original vanilla plants. If you use vanilla essence instead of extract, you may not get the same effect on your painful wisdom tooth.

How to Use Vanilla Extract for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Take some vanilla extract on your finger tip and rub it on your painful tooth and gum.

Take a cotton ball and soak it in vanilla extract. Rub or dab around the painful area with this cotton ball. You may also leave the cotton ball there for a few minutes.

9. Peppermint for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

The strong aromatic herb peppermint is one of the oldest remedies for toothache, just like clove. Peppermint is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and has mild anesthetic properties too. You may use peppermint tea or peppermint oil to get relief from your wisdom tooth pain.

1st way of using peppermint for wisdom tooth pain: Peppermint Oil

Take some peppermint oil on fingertips and rub the painful mouth area with this. Remember not to ingest it.

You may also use cotton ball to apply peppermint oil on your painful wisdom tooth.

2nd way of using peppermint for wisdom tooth pain: Peppermint Tea

Take 1 tsp of dried peppermint leaves.

Pour one cup of hot water over it.

Let it steep for about 20 minutes during which it will cool down. If its lukewarm, it’s better but if it’s at normal temperature, that will also do.

Take a mouthful of this peppermint tea and swish this around within your mouth.

Throw away the tea.

Then repeat this till your tea gets over.

10. Tea Tree Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

tea tree leaves as well as oil had been used by the Aborigines to cure various infections due to its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. This essential oil also has mild anesthetic effect. Which can numb your aching area.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Take 1-2 drops of tea tree oil and rub it on your tooth with finger tips.

If it feels very strong, dilute it with a little olive oil. You may use ½ tsp olive oil and mix 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with this. Now apply on your painful tooth with finger tips or a cotton ball.

Precaution: Do not swallow tea tree oil. If you feel any kind of irritation or discomfort similar to allergic reaction, rinse your mouth with water and see your doctor.

11. Oregano Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

Oregano herb is rich in a number of minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper, boron, and manganese and vitamins C, A and niacin. Oregano oil has the components carvacrol and thymol that give this oil its strong antiseptic properties. This oil is a powerful natural painkiller and can be of utmost help in relieving pain due to wisdom tooth. You need to use very small amount of diluted oregano oil for toothache as it is very strong.

How to Use Oregano Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Take 1 drop of oregano oil and dilute it with 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil. Rub this oil mixture on your painful tooth and gum with finger tips.

Take a little amount, about ¼ to ½ tsp of the diluted oregano oil (1 drop of oregano oil in 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil) and hold it in your mouth. While holding this, take a sip of water and swish around your mouth for about 2 minutes and then spit out. Repeat 2-3 times a day

12. Lavender Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

The nerve soothing lavender oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that may get you rid of tooth pain. In fact, some aromatherapists use this oil to ease anxiety related to dental procedures.

How to Use Lavender Oil for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

You can directly apply some oil on your painful tooth and rub with fingertips.

You may also soak a cotton pad with this oil and place it on the aching tooth.

13. Myrrh for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

The ancient Greek soldiers had myrrh as an essential part of their combat gear just due to the excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of myrrh gum resins. The fine natural antibiotic and disinfecting agent, myrrh, can come to your rescue when you suffer from wisdom toothache.

Ways to Use Myrrh for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

You can use myrrh oil as well as myrrh powder to make a mouthwash

1st way of using myrrh for wisdom tooth pain: Myrrh Oil Mouthwash

Get this:

• Myrrh oil- 2 drops

• Water- 1 cup

• Clove oil (optional)- 2 drops

• Lavender oil (optional)- 1 drop

Do this:

• Use myrrh oil as mouthwash.

• Add two drops of myrrh oil to a cup of water.

• Rinse your mouth with this.

• To make it more effective, add two drops of clove oil and 1 drop of lavender oil too.

2nd way of using myrrh for wisdom tooth pain: Myrrh Powder Mouthwash

Get this:

• Powdered myrrh- 1 tsp

• Water- 2 cups + ½ cup

Do this:

• You can also use myrrh powder.

• Take 1 tsp of powdered myrrh.

• Mix it with 2 cups of water.

• Let it simmer for half an hour.

• Strain and allow it to cool down.

• Now take 1 tsp from this solution and mix it with half cup of water.

• Rinse your mouth with this water.

• Repeat 5-6 times a day.

14. Ginger for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

If you have only mild pain in your wisdom tooth, you may well think of using ginger as its remedy. The anti-bacterial properties of ginger root can get you rid of minor toothache as well as minor infection and swelling related to wisdom tooth.

How to Use Ginger for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Wash and peel a ½ inch piece of fresh ginger root. Place this piece between your aching teeth. Now slowly bite it with the tooth that has pain. This will release the juice from the ginger. Swish the juice around the painful area. Continue doing this for 3-5 minutes. During this time, ginger will soften enough to be chewed. Chew it properly and swallow or spit the remains.

If your tooth hurts while biting the ginger piece, you can even make a ginger tea to be used as mouthwash. Place ginger slices in a mug or pot. Pour 1-2 cups of boiling water over this. Let it steep for about 20 minutes. It will coll down to be just warm. Sip the tea and swish it around your mouth. Swallow or spit. Then take another sip and do the same procedure- swish and swallow or spit. Repeat till your ginger tea finishes.

15. Sage for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief

This is again a herbal remedy for toothache. Sage herb has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and can not only cure toothache but also gingivitis, mouth sores and bleeding gums. When using for tooth pain, it is used with alcohol and salt. Alcohol also contribute in numbing the area and giving instant relief from tooth ache.

How to Use Sage for Wisdom Tooth Pain Relief?

Get this:

• Dried sage- 2 tsp

• Salt- 1 tsp

• Vodka or similar alcohol

Do this:

• Crush the sage and place it in a shot glass or any other small glass.

• Add salt to this.

• Fill the glass with alcohol

• Let it infuse for about 5 minutes. It will become greenish brown.

• Now take a sip along with the herb. Do not swallow.

• Chew the herb.

• Spit and take another sip. Repeat like this until your tooth pain subsides.

Some of the above home remedies for wisdom tooth pain relief will work for all but some others may or may not be effective depending upon the response of your body to these home remedies. Hope the first remedy that you try becomes the best home remedy for your toothache.

Article credit: http://www.rapidhomeremedies.com/wisdom-tooth-pain-relief.html

Things a man wants in a woman

Are you a single woman who has kissed umpteen toads but not yet landed the Prince? Or are you just holding on to something that was never meant to be? If you want to know what makes a man fall for a woman and willing to walk her down the aisle, read on...

1. A woman with her own life: Ladies, please note that he doesn't want someone clingy. If you are one person who has her own set of friends and can hang out by yourself, you are closer to hitting the jackpot.

2. No first move: OK, so is it ladies first or do men get be gentlemen and ask the lady out? The guy likes a woman who never makes the first move. He wants to decide how he's going to woo you serenade you - so be a lady and let him!

3. Love's in the air: Does your heart beat faster when you see him? Does his voice make you want to see him? While some may experience these, others may feel a sense of comfort and security when with him. This makes for a good foundation to take the relation ship.

4. Show you care: Someone said don't sweat the small stuff. But in a new relationship you definitely need to! Doing little things to show to him that you care will make his heart grow fonder.

5. Sexy yes, slutty no: Don't indulge in PDA right off the bat - you are likely to scare him off! Men like to take it slow and prefer being nonsexual but flirty in the initial stages of the relationship.

6. Wait for sex: Don't jump into bed on your first date. Sex can effectively ruin what could otherwise be a beautiful relationship. Both of you may end up having very little in common other than sex. So wait a while before you seal the deal.

7. No-nonsense: A man wants a woman he can respect. If he knows he can't get away with anything, he's likely not to go down that path. Also, don't date a guy who is seeing other women, married or abusive - they are just not worth it.

8. Be his buddy: Make him feel good in front of his friends and important people. Don't laugh at him but with him.

9. Lay off: If you are the kind who will call, text and mail your man umpteen times a day, rest assured he will run out the door in a jiffy. Don't badger him, especially about the future. Take it as it comes and things will just fall in place!

10. Good attracts good: If he is well-mannered and gentlemanly, then you have scored a 100! As dating experts say, "Good manners are a sign of what kind of man he is." Ensure that you have similar values and he's dependable and truthful.

Article Credit: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/man-woman/10-Things-a-man-wants-in-a-woman/articleshow/7998884.cms

Fatigue

Do you feel tired all the time? Lots of people do. It's a sign of our overbooked times.

Getting your energy back could be simpler than you think. Start by seeing if you can relate to the top three reasons for feeling drained.

Fatigue Cause No. 1: Not Enough Sleep

It may seem obvious but you could be getting too little sleep. That can negatively affect your concentration and health. Adults should get seven to eight hours every night.

Fix: Make sleep a priority and keep a regular schedule. Ban laptops, cell phones, and televisions from your bedroom. Still having trouble? Seek help from a doctor. You may have a sleep disorder.

Fatigue Cause No. 2: Sleep Apnea

Some people think they're sleeping enough, but sleep apnea gets in the way. It briefly stops your breathing throughout the night. Each interruption wakes you for a moment, but you may not be aware of it. The result: you’re sleep-deprived despite spending eight hours in bed. Your doctor may order a sleep study to check for this.

Fix: Lose weight if you're overweight, quit smoking, and you may need a CPAP device to help keep your airway passages open while you sleep.

Fatigue Cause No. 3: Not Enough Fuel

Eating too little causes fatigue, but eating the wrong foods can also be a problem. Eating a balanced diet helps keep your blood sugar in a normal range and prevents that sluggish feeling when your blood sugar drops.

Fix: Always eat breakfast and try to include protein and complex carbs in every meal. For example, eat eggs with whole-grain toast. Also eat small meals and snacks throughout the day for sustained energy

Fatigue Cause No. 4: Anemia

Anemia is one of the leading causes of fatigue in women. Menstrual blood loss can cause an iron deficiency, putting women at risk. Red blood cells (shown here) are needed because they carry oxygen to your tissues and organs.

Fix: For anemia caused by an iron deficiency, taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, liver, shellfish, beans, and enriched cereal, can help.

Fatigue Cause No. 5: Depression

You may think of depression as an emotional disorder, but it contributes to many physical symptoms as well. Fatigue, headaches, and loss of appetite are among the most common symptoms. If you feel tired and "down" for more than a few weeks, see your doctor.

Fix: Depression responds well to talk therapy and/or medication.

Fatigue Cause No. 6: Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. It controls your metabolism, the speed at which your body converts fuel into energy. When the gland is underactive and the metabolism functions too slowly, you may feel sluggish and put on weight.

Fix: If a blood test confirms your thyroid hormones are low, synthetic hormones can bring you up to speed.

Fatigue Cause No. 7: Caffeine Overload

Caffeine can improve alertness and concentration in moderate doses. But too much can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and jitteriness. And research indicates too much actually causes fatigue in some people.

Fix: Gradually cut back on coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and any medications that contain caffeine. Stopping suddenly can cause caffeine withdrawal and more fatigue.

Fatigue Cause No. 8: Hidden UTI

If you've ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you're probably familiar with the burning pain and sense of urgency. But the infection does not always announce itself with such obvious symptoms. In some cases, fatigue may be the only sign. A urine test can quickly confirm a UTI.

Fix: Antibiotics are the cure for UTIs, and the fatigue will usually vanish within a week.

Fatigue Cause No. 9: Diabetes

In people with diabetes, abnormally high levels of sugar remain in the bloodstream instead of entering the body's cells, where it would be converted into energy. The result is a body that runs out of steam despite having enough to eat. If you have persistent, unexplained fatigue, ask your doctor about being tested for diabetes.

Fix: Treatments for diabetes may include lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, insulin therapy, and medications to help the body process sugar.

Fatigue Cause No. 10: Dehydration

Your fatigue can be a sign of dehydration. Whether you're working out or working a desk job, your body needs water to work well and keep cool. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

Fix: Drink water throughout the day so your urine is light colored. Have at least two cups of water an hour or more before a planned physical activity. Then, sip throughout your workout and afterwards drink another two cups.

Fatigue Cause No. 11: Heart Disease

When fatigue strikes during everyday activities, such as cleaning the house or weeding the yard, it can be a sign that your heart is no longer up to the job. If you notice it's becoming increasingly difficult to finish tasks that were once easy, talk to your doctor about heart disease.

Fix: Lifestyle changes, medication, and therapeutic procedures can get heart disease under control and restore your energy.

Fatigue Cause No. 12: Shift Work Sleep Disorder

Working nights or rotating shifts can disrupt your internal clock. You may feel tired when you need to be awake. And you may have trouble sleeping during the day.

Fix: Limit your exposure to daylight when you need to rest. Make your room dark, quiet, and cool. Still having sleep issues? Talk with your doctor. Supplements and medications may help.

Fatigue Cause No. 13: Food Allergies

Some doctors believe hidden food allergies can make you sleepy. If your fatigue intensifies after meals, you could have a mild intolerance to something you're eating -- not enough to cause itching or hives, just enough to make you tired.

Fix: Try eliminating foods one at a time to see if your fatigue improves. You can also ask your doctor about a food allergy test.

Fatigue Cause No. 14: CFS and Fibromyalgia

If your fatigue lasts more than six months and is so severe that you can't manage your daily activities, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia are a possibility. Both can have various symptoms, but persistent, unexplained exhaustion is a main one.

Fix: While there's no quick fix for CFS or fibromyalgia, patients often benefit from changing their daily schedule, learning better sleep habits, and starting a gentle exercise program.

Fast Fix for Mild Fatigue

If you have mild fatigue that isn't linked to any medical condition, the solution may be exercise. Research suggests healthy but tired adults can get a significant energy boost from a modest workout program. In one study, participants rode a stationary bike for 20 minutes at a mild pace. Doing this just three times a week was enough to fight fatigue.

Article Credit: http://www.webmd.com/

Birth Control

It’s easy to be confused by all the birth control options out there: Should you take a progestin-only pill or the mainstream combination pill? Can an IUD affect your chances of having children in the future? Is the female condom as effective as its male counterpart?

Combination pill

What it does: This birth control mainstay is still 99% effective against pregnancy when taken around the same time every day. It's also known for easing hot flashes and restoring regular periods.

Who should avoid it: Smokers and those 35 or older. The estrogen may cause dangerous blood clots. If you suffer from migraines, you should also pass because it may trigger the painful headaches.

Progestin-only pill

What it's called: Micronor, Nora-BE, Nor-QD, Ovrette

What it does: Known as the mini pill, progestin-only meds don't contain estrogen. They're safer for smokers, diabetics, and heart disease patients, as well as those at risk for blood clots. They also won't reduce the milk supply for women who are breast-feeding.

Who should avoid it: If you have trouble remembering to take your pill at the same time every day, progestin-only pills might not be your best bet. They need to be taken at exactly the same time every day; if you're more than three hours late, plan on using a backup method.

Extended-cycle pill

What it's called: Lybrel, Seasonale, Seasonique

What it does: These pills prevent pregnancy and allow you to have a period only every three months. (Note: Lybrel stops your period for a year, but you must take a pill every day, year-round.)

Who should avoid it: There's no evidence proving it's dangerous not to have periods, but there is still no long-term research to show that it is safe.

Vaginal ring

What it's called: NuvaRing

What it does: The ring is made of flexible plastic and delivers estrogen and progestin, just like the combination pill. You place the ring in your vagina for three weeks, and then remove it for one week so that you have a regular period.

Who should avoid it: Women who smoke, or have blood clots or certain cancers, should not use the NuvaRing.

Diaphragm

What it's called: Milex Wide Seal, Ortho All-Flex, Semina, SILCS

What it does: Made of rubber and shaped like a dome, a diaphragm prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. It covers the cervix and must always be used with a spermicide. Women must be fitted for a diaphragm in their doctor's office.

Who should avoid it: If your weight tends to fluctuate by more than 10 pounds at a time, the diaphragm may not work. If you gain or lose weight, you'll need to be refitted. Prone to bladder infections? You might want to consider another option. If you've had toxic shock syndrome, you shouldn't use a diaphragm.

IUD

What it's called: Mirena, ParaGard

What it does: ParaGard is a surgically implanted copper device that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. Mirena, also surgically implanted, works by releasing hormones. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are more than 99% effective and good for 10 years.

Who should avoid it: Some doctors recommend the device only for women who have given birth. When the device is implanted, your uterus is expanded, and this might cause pain in women who have not had children. If you're planning on having children in a year or two, look at other options. The IUD can be removed, but the high cost—up to $500—might not be worth it for short-term use.

Female condom

What it's called: Femy, Protectiv, Reality

What it does: The female condom is made of polyurethane, or soft plastic, and protects against STDs. It is inserted deep into the vagina, over the cervix, much like a diaphragm. Unlike the male condom, the female condom can be put into place up to eight hours before sex.

Who should avoid it: Male condoms offer more protection—both against STDs and pregnancy—than female condoms, so if you and your male partner aren't in a long-term, monogamous relationship, female condoms are not a perfect substitute.

Male condom

What it's called: Durex, LifeStyles, Trojan

What it does: Male condoms protect against pregnancy and STDs, including HIV. Worn properly, condoms prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Go with latex or polyurethane condoms; lambskins do not shield you against all STDs.

Who should avoid it: If your mate is allergic to latex or polyurethane, you'll have to find another option. And if you tend to use a lubricant that contains oil, such as hand lotion or baby oil, you'll need to switch to an oil-free option like K-Y Jelly, which, unlike oil-based lubricants, doesn't degrade latex.

Patch

What it's called: Ortho Evra

What it does: You can place the hormone-releasing patch on your arm, buttock, or abdomen, and rest easy for one week.

Who should avoid it: If you're particularly at risk for blood clots, you might want to find a different method. The patch delivers 60% more estrogen than a low-dose pill, so you're at an increased risk for dangerous blood clots.

Implant

What it's called: Implanon, Norplant

What it does: About the size of a matchstick, the implant is placed under the skin on your upper arm. Implants last for three years and can cost up to $800. They are nearly 100% effective.

Who should avoid it: Implanon may not work as well for women taking St. John's wort, or women who are overweight.

Sterilization

What it's called: Essure, tubal ligation, vasectomy

What it does: Women can undergo either tubal ligation, a surgical procedure that blocks the fallopian tubes from carrying eggs to the uterus, or tubal implants (Essure), a nonsurgical technique in which a small coil is inserted into the fallopian tubes. The sterilization process is less risky for men: A vasectomy is a minor surgery in which the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles are cut.

Who should avoid it: If you plan to have children, sterilization is not an option—it's not designed to be reversible.

Emergency contraception

What it's called: Copper T IUD, Next Choice, Plan B, Plan B One-Step

What it does: Emergency contraception is a backup for regular birth control. Plan B contains a higher dose of the same synthetic hormones found in the combination pill. It works best if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, but may work up to five days later. There's also the copper T IUD, which a doctor can insert into your uterus five to seven days after unprotected sex.

Who should avoid it: Plan B, known as the morning-after pill, is available over-the-counter at most pharmacies, but only to women 18 years and older. Minors need a prescription. Copper T IUDs can be very expensive—up to $500. Plus, they last for up to 10 years, so if you hope to get pregnant in the future, this isn't for you.

Article and Image Credit: http://www.health.com/

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Hunched backs, back pain, and frailty used to be things older women had to accept before doctors knew anything more about osteoporosis. Now, there are steps women and girls can take to avoid such problems.

Osteoporosis threatens 44 million Americans, of which 68% are women, reports the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

"Osteoporosis is largely preventable," says Mark. "The behaviors that women develop in their childhood, in their adolescence, and in their early adult years really play a significant role in the development of the disease."

That's because bodies build up most of bone mass until age 30. Then new bone stops forming and the focus is on maintenance of old bone.

It is never too late to keep bones strong and avoid fractures.

"Your body will do what it can to repair bone damage, but you have to provide the tools for it, such as adequate calcium consumption and weight-bearing physical activity," says Mark.

Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

Female sex

Increasing age

Small, thin-boned frame

Ethnicity. White and Asian women have the greatest risk.

Family history

Sex hormones. Infrequent menstrual cycles and estrogen loss due to menopause may increase risk.

Anorexia

Diet low in calcium and vitamin D

Medication use, particularly glucocorticoids or some anticonvulsants

Sedentary lifestyle

Smoking

Excessive alcohol

Article Credit: http://www.webmd.com/women/features/5-top-female-health-concern?page=2

Kissing

8 Health Benefits of Kissing

By Dr. Mercola

Kissing is a uniquely human trait that’s said to have emerged as a way to pass germs from one person to another, ultimately building immunity. But that’s rather unromantic, isn’t it? While it seems plausible that kissing would have an underlying biological function, there’s also no denying its role in bonding… or overall health.

8 Health Benefits of Kissing

Kissing not only feels good, it’s good for you. It relieves stress and releases epinephrine into your blood, making it pump faster, which may result in a reduction of LDL cholesterol. Kissing may even be a novel way to receive certain hormones, like testosterone:

“'Mucous membranes inside the mouth are permeable to hormones such as testosterone. Through open-mouth kissing, men introduced testosterone into a woman’s mouth,' which 'is absorbed through the mucous membranes… and increases arousal and the likelihood that she will engage in reproductive behavior.”

Interestingly, Andréa Demirjian, author of Kissing: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about One of Life's Sweetest Pleasures, believes “a kiss a day really can keep the doctor away.” And she recently shared eight reasons why with CNN:

1. Reduce Your Blood Pressure

Kissing helps to dilate your blood vessels, which may help lower your blood pressure.

2. Relieve Cramps and Headaches

The blood-vessel-dilation effect described above also helps to relieve pain, particularly from headache or menstrual cramps.

3. Fight Cavities

When you kiss, saliva production increases in your mouth, and this helps to wash away plaque on your teeth that may lead to cavities. That said, cavity-causing bacteria can also be transmitted via a kiss, especially if the person you’re kissing has poor oral habits. It’s even been shown that cavity-causing bacteria can spread from a mother’s kiss to her baby.

4. Release Your Happy Hormones

Kissing prompts your brain to release a happy elixir of feel-good chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. This isn’t only important for your happiness, it also may also help to strengthen your relationship. As MSN reported:

“’This [oxytocin] is the hormone of love, and the better the oxytocin levels, the more capacity for love,’ explains psychotherapist Arthur Janov, Ph.D., author of ‘The Biology of Love’ and the director of the Primal Center in Santa Monica, Calif. ‘We have found that those who cannot commit in a love relationship are low in oxytocin.’”

Interestingly, kissing activates the same areas in your brain linked to reward and addiction. According to the researchers who revealed this finding:

“Kissing may have evolved as a way to stimulate brain systems associated with sex drive, romantic love, and attachment so that humans are triggered to seek a variety of potential mates, then focus attention on one for mating, and finally be able to tolerate that mate long enough to raise a child as a team.”

Your lips are also densely packed with sensory neurons, which are stimulated by the touch of another’s lips. This prompts the release of sebum, which is thought to play a role in bonding.

5. Burn Calories

It’s not going to replace your workout session… but a vigorous kiss may burn 8-16 calories. Not too shabby for a kiss.

6. Boost Your Self-Esteem

One study found that men who received a passionate kiss before they left for work earned more money.8 This suggests the kiss (and perhaps the happy home-life it suggests) makes people happier, boosts self-esteem and, ultimately, more productive at work.

7. Tone Your Facial Muscles

A vigorous kiss helps you shape up your neck and jawline by working out a number of facial muscles.

8. Check Out Your Partner’s Compatibility

A kiss can be a powerful measure of your initial attraction to a person, so much so that the majority of men and women surveyed reporting that a first kiss could be a turn-off. Women, in particular, place more importance on kissing as a “mate assessment device” and as a means of “initiating, maintaining, and monitoring the current status of their relationship with a long-term partner.”

Kissing May Even Boost Your Immune System and Provide Significant Stress Relief

The average person spends more than 20,000 minutes of their life kissing,  and for very good reason. In addition to the benefits above, kissing has been shown to boost your immune system and reduce allergic responses in people with skin or nasal allergies.

Separate research also revealed that people who spent six weeks making kissing a priority with their partners reported significant decreases in their levels of stress. In addition to improvements in stress, the kissing participants also reported greater relationship satisfaction and improvements in total cholesterol.

There may actually be an even more primal reason for why “kissing” developed, however. Because some cultures don’t include kissing in their mating rituals, it’s possible the first kiss was given by a mother to her child rather than being shared between a couple.

Psychologists conjecture that kiss-feeding – exchanging pre-masticated food from one mouth to another -- was how babies received the nutrients needed to grow up strong and healthy either in addition to, or after, breastfeeding. This jump starts the digestion process and makes vitamins like B-12 more easily absorbable while also promoting attachment and bonding.

Article Credit: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/30/8-kissing-benefits.aspx

Breast Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's important to understand some basics: What is breast cancer and how does it happen?

In this section, you can learn about how breast cancer develops, how many people get breast cancer, and what factors can increase risk for getting breast cancer. You also can learn more about signs and symptoms to watch for and how to manage any fears you may have about breast cancer.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. To better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop.

Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. The genes are in each cell’s nucleus, which acts as the “control room” of each cell. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take over as old ones die out. But over time, mutations can “turn on” certain genes and “turn off” others in a cell. That changed cell gains the ability to keep dividing without control or order, producing more cells just like it and forming a tumor.

A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Left unchecked, malignant cells eventually can spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, the passages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. The breast cancer’s stage refers to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor (see the Stages of breast cancer table for more information).

Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a “mistake” in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. Instead, 85-90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the “wear and tear” of life in general.

There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible, such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol, and exercising regularly (learn what you can do to manage breast cancer risk factors). While these may have some impact on your risk of getting breast cancer, they cannot eliminate the risk.

Developing breast cancer is not your or anyone's fault. Feeling guilty, or telling yourself that breast cancer happened because of something you or anyone else did, is not productive.

Breast profile: 
A Ducts
B Lobules
C Dilated section of duct to hold milk
D Nipple
E Fat
F Pectoralis major muscle
G Chest wall/rib cage

Enlargement 
A Normal duct cells
B Basement membrane
C Lumen (center of duct)

Image and Article Credit: http://www.breastcancer.org/

Victoria’s Secret

The 5 Richest Victoria’s Secret Models

Victoria’s Secret supermodels are not only some of the most admired women on earth; they’re also among some of the richest models in the world. On Forbes’ 2012 highest-earning model list six there were a total of six VS models, and the highest earning model Gisele Bundchen, was a former VS supermodel. This elite group of girls are selected by VS not only for their considerable physical beauty but for their personalities: The models form an integral part of the Victoria’s Secret advertising campaign so they must present a compelling face to the consumer. As such, VS models tend to be women that other women respect and admire.

Becoming a VS model has the power to change a model’s entire career. VS is known for producing the most successful supermodels all over the world. After a girl joins the Victoria’s Secret fold, their earning potential is set to increase and their star is set to soar in the modelling industry and beyond. The models benefit from Victoria’s Secret’s successful model to promote themselves, embodying the glamour of the VS angel and carrying this into their wider career. Thus, VS brings the model visibility from around the world. It’s no secret that VS is a booming, hot brand, that their well-loved lingerie and sleepwear is adorned my women everywhere, and that their fashion shows draw in millions of viewers every year. But who are the most successful VS darlings out there? Let’s have a look at the five top-earning VS models and their successes over the last year.

5. Liu Wen – $4.3 million

Although she has worked as an Angel, and most definitely made her mark as one, China-born Wen garnered a large amount of success prior to ever donning the angel wings. Wen has a plethora of other endorsement deals world wide, from H&M to Calvin Klein to Estee Lauder to Hugo Boss.

This model is no stranger to the unconventional. Not only was she the first East Asian face to grace VS’s coveted runway in their infamous fashion show, but she was also the first model to walk down it covered in tattoos — fake tattoos that is, which took six hours to prep. But they looked amazing! There’s no doubt, of all the models, no one could have pulled it off better than her. She’s the embodiment of edge and sass and to date she has walked in four of VS’s fashion shows. VS has always followed public opinion when choosing their models, and it seems obvious the public is falling in love with Wen.

This young model is definitely going to be one to watch out for, as she struts, stomps and sashays her way through the fashion world.

4. Candice Swanepoel – $5 million

Candice Swanepoel is the youngest model on this list. And in 2012, when she was 23, she found herself the youngest on Forbes’ top ten highest-earning list as well. Swanepoel’s talent was first recognized at the innocent age of 15 at a flea market — of all places — where she was instantly scooped up and put in her rightful place in the modelling world. Since being discovered she has amassed an impressive fanbase, and continues to jump onto “highest paid” lists, mainly thanks to her work with VS. Today, she is one of the company’s most active young Angels.

3. Doutzen Kroes- $10 million

Doutzen Kroes is a Dutch model. She is 5 ft 9 inches and has been with VS since 2004, although she didn’t become an Angel until 2008. Even though Kroes’ career as a model is, obviously, going extremely well, she has been very vocal about her desire to pursue an acting career and take lessons in New York City. Currently, she works for L’Oreal and Tiffany & Co. as well as VS. Kroes is a powerhouse in the modeling world, and there’s no doubt that should she one day appear on the “big screen” she will have a commanding presence there as well.

2. Miranda Kerr – $18 million

Last year Kerr would have been a bit lower on this list but her wealth is increasing enormously as she’s raking in millions yearly – up on $7 million last year. For Miranda Kerr becoming a VS model could have been the biggest boost any model has ever had. Unlike other models, like Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen, who stepped into the supermodel stratosphere and then were picked up by VS, Kerr was a catalogue model who was plucked by VS in 2008, bringing her from obscurity to worldwide fame. Of course, her career would have most likely been catapulted in one way or another given her stunning looks; but VS is the company that had the foresight about her. There weren’t many people who had heard of Kerr prior to her becoming a VS model but now her prominent, signature dimples are recognized by millions. Although Kerr was a VS model at the start of 2013, she ‘stepped down’ during the year amid reports that she was fired for being difficult. It was later confirmed that she did, in fact, voluntarily choose not renew her contract.

1. Adriana Lima – $35 million

Last year Adriana Lima was not only the richest VS Angel, but she was considered to be the most popular. One of her most memorable moments in Lima’s career was when all 5 ft 10 inches of this Brazilian model marched down the runway wearing a $2 million bra at the 2012 VS Fashion Show. A fitting choice, and perhaps VS’s way of tipping their hat to her and acknowledging her long stint as a VS model. She has been with VS since 2000, and shows no signs of slowing down or stopping anytime soon – although she has begun to venture into acting and is now the spokesmodel for Maybelline. Lima also made a big splash with her Super Bowl commercials in 2012. While the VS deal still makes up most of her earnings, her work ethic and drive to branch out makes her one powerful, rich model indeed.

Image and Article credit: http://www.therichest.com/