Month: March 2024

Ask clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, a.k.a. The Sleep Doctor, for his No. 1 tip for having more energy and sleeping better, and he doesn’t hesitate to share his own morning routine: He rises at 6:15 a.m. daily, drinks a big glass of water, and meditates as he waits for the sun to come up. Then at 7 a.m. sharp he walks his two dogs, Hugo and Moose, around the block, making sure to leave his sunglasses at home. “Every single human, just as soon as possible after waking up, should go outside and get at least 15 minutes of ... Read more

Joanna Robles, MD, first began having unusual symptoms in the summer of 2020. She had bouts of nausea and vomiting that she couldn’t explain. Eventually doctors diagnosed her with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), but the initial days were confusing. “I would have random episodes of retching, vomiting, and hiccups,” says Robles, a 32-year-old pediatric hematologist oncologist from North Carolina. “I felt exhausted and just wanted an answer for why I felt so terrible.” First, she went to urgent care, then her primary care doctor, then a gastroenterologist to try to find out what was triggering her symptoms. The visits were all ... Read more

Vladimir Putin‘s recent threat made against F-16 fighter jets should be taken very seriously, the world has been warned. Swedish Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi of the Stockholm Defence University told Swedish news agency TT: “If Putin wants a war with NATO, that’s how you start it. Then it will be a third world war.” Earlier this week, the Russian President branded “drivel” Western fears the Kremlin is planning to attack NATO countries. However, referring to the promise made by some EU nations to deliver Ukraine F-16 fighter jets, Putin added: “Of course, if they are used from the airfields of ... Read more

The popular holiday island of Tenerife has called for people to stop knocking its reputation, saying it is unfair and unjustified. Both Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been the target of demonstrations in recent weeks, with some hotspots seeing graffiti telling tourists to go home. A number of groups have now called a demonstration for April 20th to voice what they regard as overtourism spoiling the islands. Now, Tenerife’s government has hit back at the critics and says “tourismphobia” isn’t justified. It has also been suggested that “competing destinations are interested in the island having a bad name.” Vice president ... Read more

At the height of the pre-Delta variant COVID-19 pandemic, Stephen Rawlings, MD, PhD, was doing HIV and SARS-CoV-2 research when a pair of men, a couple, came to him. Both of them had had COVID-19. Both wanted to donate convalescent plasma or otherwise contribute to stopping the virus. Rawlings had to tell them no. For Rawlings and his principal investigator (PI), it was a bizarre moment. “Here the PI was a gay man, I was a gay man, and there were these two men – and all of us couldn’t donate,” Rawlings said. “But we were still, in our own ... Read more

Men may talk about it more often, but women do it, too. More than half of American women 18-49 masturbate at least once every 3 months, according to a study from The Kinsey Institute, and that’s true for single women and those who are coupled up. Self-pleasure doesn’t have the stigma it once did, says Nicole Prause, PhD, but myths still affect the way that some women feel about it — and how they do (or don’t) touch themselves. Here are five things you should know about masturbation. Masturbating increases blood flow throughout your body and releases feel-good brain chemicals ... Read more

If your sleep life tends to not be great and you find yourself dreading bedtime, it’s time to flip the script. Your thoughts about sleep can frame what happens when you shut your eyes. Will it be the restful night you need, or are you in for hours of tossing and turning? Sleep can go awry for many reasons. While changing your sleep mindset can’t counteract poor sleep habits or a health issue that’s keeping you up, your expectations do matter. Yale Medicine behavioral sleep medicine expert Susan Rubman, PhD, puts it this way: “The way we approach sleep is ... Read more

Did you recently start excessively sweating even in comfortable temperatures? Do you wake up at night soaked in sweat? These may be signs of secondary hyperhidrosis — excessive sweating due to medications or a medical condition. Normally, your body sweats to regulate its temperature, and you sweat more during exercise, hot conditions, and stressful situations. Your body cools down as sweat evaporates from the skin. With secondary hyperhidrosis, your sweat glands overreact throughout the body due to medications or a medical condition, producing more sweat than is necessary. Heavy sweating that’s new and unusual after age 25 is often caused ... Read more

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience and efficiency reign supreme, and disposable face towels are quickly emerging as a popular choice for skincare enthusiasts everywhere. With the demand for hassle-free hygiene solutions on the rise, these single-use towels offer a plethora of benefits that cater to the needs of modern consumers. Let’s check out why disposable face towels are in such high demand and explore their myriad uses and benefits. Convenience Redefined: Disposable face towels are symbol of convenience, offering a hassle-free solution for cleansing and skincare routines. Unlike traditional towels that require washing and drying after each use, disposable towels ... Read more

Neighbours of a terraced house that starting being used as unauthorised children’s home say they suffered an “extreme loss of privacy” with one objector saying they had to sleep wearing earphones. The house, in the village of Sileby, Leicetershire, became a home for children in March last year, but the operator did not apply for planning permission for the change of use at the time. LeicesterLive reports Charnwood Borough Council’s planning committee had been considering a retrospective planning application and heard from residents who experienced issues with the property. Neighbours reported noise including slamming doors and banging on walls at ... Read more