Author: Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio

5 Things People Constantly Lie About Every Day (And Why)

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date February 14, 2018

A few years ago, a college friend of mine told me that she had decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the corporate world and pursue her dream of being a personal trainer at a local gym. She had always been interested in fitness, so the idea that she may want to change her career path didn’t seem far-fetched. I was happy that she took this bold life step.
But when I talked to her on the phone, something in her voice sounded off—like she wasn’t entirely excited about her decision. My gut told me she was lying about some aspect of her new occupation.
During one of our many phone chats, I began to probe a little deeper about the reasons she left her previous job and started this new endeavor. Initially, she tried her best to assure me that this was what she wanted, however, by the end of our conversation, she confided in me that the abrupt job change had not been her choice.

Unexpectedly, she had been laid off when her company underwent a period of restructuring. Suddenly, she found herself jobless and scared of what the future held. While many of her friends appeared to be thriving in their respective careers, she was wondering how she would pay her mortgage or other bills.
[pullquote align=”center”]
“Lies hide the truth. Without truth, there is no real connection. Without connection, humans feel empty and alone.”
—Funda Yilmaz[/pullquote]
During that vulnerable period in her life, she felt too embarrassed and insecure to be truthful with those closest to her, and she fabricated the story about why she took the job as a personal trainer. Naturally, I felt compassion for my friend, and I kept my lips sealed. It was important for her to open up to others when she felt comfortable—which she did a few months later.

My friend’s circumstance is just one example of the type of lie a person may tell in their everyday lives. In reality, lying is much more common than you’d expect. A study done at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst discovered that around 60 percent of people lied at least once during the timespan of a 10 minute conversation, and some people told an average of two to three lies. That’s a whole heck of a lot of lying going around!

Why is lying such a common part of our daily lives?

Funda Yilmaz, licensed personal counselor and psychotherapist, has seen the full spectrum of lying—from a small fib to more severe cases. She’s spent the last decade working with perpetrators and survivors of intimate partner violence. Plus she’s the author and illustrator of a children’s self-help book that helps teach kids concepts like honesty and assertiveness in age-appropriate language.
Yilmaz says, “People mostly lie because they feel that’s the only way to achieve acceptance and safety in themselves or from others.” She also notes that people often tell lies to avoid oppression, conflict, or confronting an uncomfortable or scary situation.
“We’re afraid of accepting emotional distress,” she says. “But usually, emotional distress is communication from our body telling us that things aren’t healthy or [are] even dangerous for our wellbeing. So, we try to ‘fake it,’ and [we] tell ourselves that as long as we’re functioning in our social and work roles, we have nothing to worry about.”

But lying can take its toll on our relationships. Before we know it, we may be caught in a web of lies and feel disconnected from others. “Lies hide the truth. Without truth, there is no real connection. Without connection, humans feel empty and alone,” says Yilmaz.

So, while “a little white lie” here and there may not significantly impact your relationships, telling them often may place a wedge between you and the people you care about.

What are things people constantly lie about every day?

Evy Poumpouras is a former secret service special agent to four U.S. presidents and an on-air national TV correspondent. Poumpouras says, “Everyone lies for different reasons, such as to avoid embarrassment, avoid going to jail, or maintain a certain social or professional status.” Since we know most of us are saying a few falsehoods on a fairly regular basis, what types of things are we lying about the most?

1. “I’m okay. Everything is okay.”

When someone asks you how you are doing, is “I’m okay. Everything is okay.” your most likely answer? An Australian study found that this lie was the number one untruth people told others. Why is that?
The purpose of this lie is usually for self-protection. Maybe you’re not comfortable with the person asking you the question. Or maybe you feel like that moment isn’t the time or the place to have a serious discussion about what’s going on in your life. Hopefully, you can set aside some time to be open with those closest to you if you’re not “okay.” Otherwise, your lie may drive you further away from people. As Yilmaz says, “Make sure the lie is worth the possibility of disconnection from the person being lied to.”

2. “I’m (insert number of your choice) years old.”

For both women and men, lying about your age seems to be a pretty common occurrence—one that is especially prevalent these days in the dating realm. Anna M., 30, has been in the online dating scene for several years. She’s been noticing more people blatantly lying about their ages on their profile. “Recently, I matched with a man whose profile said he was 42. After I read his bio closely, I noticed the very last line said, ‘I’m really 52.’”

Why are people lying about their age? Yilmaz says low self-esteem might compel a person to lie. Other reasons a person may fudge the truth a bit about their age is to project a particular image of themselves or gain the approval of others. Whatever the rationale, skirting around the truth is a very difficult way to live, and it’s bound to catch up with you.

3. “I had a lot of responsibilities at my previous job.”

According to a CareerBuilder survey, embellishing job responsibilities is the number one lie people tell on their resumes. Even though there’s immense pressure to stand out from the crowd,Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder Rosemary Haefner stated: “Even the slightest embellishment can come back to haunt you and ruin your credibility.”

If you’re feeling insecure about your real job experiences, Haefner says, creating fictitious career descriptions isn’t the way to impress a potential employer. Instead, she says, “Use your cover letter strategically to tell your story, focusing on your strengths and accomplishments and explaining any areas of concern if needed.”

4. “It wasn’t that expensive.”

In the previously mentioned Australian study, this lie landed in the top 10 for both men and women. Why do so many people choose to be dishonest about the price of an item? Most likely, it’s to avoid judgment and scrutiny over their spending habits.

My wife and I don't buy each other gifts. We're adults. If we want something we get it…and then lie to the other about how much it cost.

— Dave Lesser (@AmateurIdiot) January 1, 2017

Many people want to control the perceptions others have of them, and they may not want their friends and family to dub them as “extravagant” or “lavish,” so they play down the amount of money they spend to dodge criticism.

But a newer study sheds a slightly different light on why people may also tell the occasional tale. Some people may lie due to the compassion they feel for others. This type of lie is called a “prosocial lie,” or a lie intended to benefit others. In the case of lying about an item’s price tag, a person may tell a prosocial lie to avoid hurting someone’s feelings about what they can and can’t afford.

5. “We should talk soon.”

Translation: “The chances of us talking in the near future are pretty slim.” We’ve all probably said some version of this when we’ve bumped into someone we hadn’t seen for a while (either online or in-person) to avoid the awkward tension. However, we rarely follow through with that phone call. Sure, we’d like to stay in contact with people, but the truth is that we drift apart or get too busy to keep up with everyone. So isn’t stretching the truth a little justified now and then?
Yilmaz answers, “Life is unpredictable, and I don’t like to place solid rules on anything. You never know what kind of situation will come up to justify a white lie. But I remind everyone who tells a white lie that trust is a precious gift that can be easily lost.” In other words, if you’re looking to build trust in existing relationships or create new ones, lying is never your best bet.

Laying Down Lies

Do “little white lies” really hurt anyone? While it may be relatively benign on the surface, repeatedly being dishonest can eventually foster an environment where others begin to distrust you. To facilitate human connections, you need to create an atmosphere where open and honest communication is at the center of your relationships.
Yilmaz says honesty is the key to connection and mutual respect. If you’re willing to be vulnerable with people and embrace truthful living, you might discover that people like and accept you the way you are—as your most unguarded, authentic self.

Tags 50038066, hemingway, mind, social

Lifestyle

Long-Term Loneliness: The Hidden Suffering Of The Chronically Ill

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date February 6, 2018

I was 32 years old when I had my first serious battle with loneliness. Gradually, I began to develop a list of health problems. Dizziness. Insomnia. Fatigue. Heart palpitations. A burning sensation along my spinal cord and in my brain. Weight loss. Sensitivity to light and sound.
I dragged myself from doctor to doctor—close to 20 of them in all—but none of them knew what was wrong with me. Eventually, I had to take a three-month medical leave of absence from my job as an occupational therapist. I had high hopes that 12 weeks of rest would revive my drained body, but that’s not how things played out. Three months turned into nine months, and I was involuntarily terminated from my employment because I was too sick to return.
My body was weak, and my spirit was crushed. How was it possible that I built a career by helping people, and yet, I was unhelpable? I felt like a failure, and I wondered why my body couldn’t just plow through these crippling symptoms. Instead of toughing out the mysterious illness, one day, my body collapsed, and I could no longer get out of bed. As my health continued to decline, I spent my days maneuvering between the couch and the bed.
[pullquote align=”center”]“Whereas most people associate loneliness and isolation with interpersonal loss, those with CMCs (chronic medical conditions) also experience the loss of control over their bodies and the impact that has on their identity and relationships.”
—Elizabeth Aram, PsyD[/pullquote]
Sadly, I became too ill to leave the house or, at times, even talk on the phone. I lived with my husband, who had been forced into the role of my caregiver, and my two senior beagles. One by one, I lost contact with my friends, and most of my family lived out of state. Months passed before I had any face-to-face contact with other people. I was profoundly lonely—I craved human contact—but my symptoms isolated me from everyone except the medical professionals who were trying to help me.

After a few years, a doctor diagnosed me with a persistent case of Lyme disease—an illness that, when not caught in an acute stage, can lead to chronic and disabling symptoms. At the time of my diagnosis, I’d been bedridden for nearly two years. The prolonged period of social separation was undoubtedly the darkest time in my life, and I’ve had an ongoing fight to regain some semblance of my former self.
During my journey toward healing from a chronic illness, I’ve learned that many people battle feelings of loneliness and isolation. A survey conducted on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association found that 72 percent of Americans have felt lonely.
With so many people lacking meaningful relationships, I began to wonder what effects long-term loneliness has on our health. And for those of us with chronic illnesses, can the drawn-out periods of loneliness influence our symptoms? Let’s take a closer look.

Who’s affected by loneliness, and how does it impact our health?

“Loneliness and isolation affect all human beings, so patient demographics are widely diverse in age, gender, race, culture, religion, and socioeconomic status,” says Elizabeth Aram, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois.
“Another subgroup of patients whose experience of loneliness and isolation are particularly poignant are those diagnosed with chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Whereas most people associate loneliness and isolation with interpersonal loss, those with CMCs also experience the loss of control over their bodies and the impact that has on their identity and relationships.”

Although much of the research surrounding loneliness has been done on the senior community in America, it seems no one is immune from its impact. In 2017, the American Psychological Association released a statement at their 125th annual conference which read: “Loneliness and social isolation may represent a greater public health hazard than obesity, and their impact has been growing and will continue to grow.” Ultimately, long-term loneliness may place people at a greater risk of experiencing negative physiologic changes in the brain and body.

“Long-term loneliness is also associated with inflammation and dysfunction in our immune, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems,” says Aram. “It can increase levels of stress hormones, overwork the heart, and reduce the quality of sleep. Over time, the damage can limit our ability to fight infection and heal after trauma.”
[pullquote align=”center”]”On the positive side, I believe many people ultimately adjust to pain and loss and learn to view their strength and resilience as part of their story.”
—Elizabeth Aram, PsyD[/pullquote]
“Moreover, as we age, it is important to keep our brain stimulated to protect from degenerative conditions like dementia. Without adequate opportunities for social connection and mental stimulation, we may experience greater deterioration in cognitive and emotional functioning.”

Why are so many people lonely?

“Lack of support is just one of many factors that contribute to loneliness. Failure, disappointment, regret, rejection, emotional invalidation, pain, and loss are all frequently associated with experiences of loneliness or isolation,” says Aram.

A 2015 study in Health Psychology noted older adults who have chronic illnesses were more likely to report feelings of loneliness. But chronically ill individuals of all ages struggle with loneliness and social isolation from their family and peer groups. Aram cites limitations to freedom, mobility, and social connections as contributing factors to the feelings of loneliness and social isolation—though more research is needed to find out just how widespread these issues are among other age groups.
“On the positive side,” Aram says, “I believe many people ultimately adjust to pain and loss and learn to view their strength and resilience as part of their story.”
Although Aram has never met me in person, it’s as if she read my mind. Through my personal experiences with long-term loneliness, I too believe people can adjust to pain and loss, persevere, and discover newfound strength and depth. So, how do you make it through the desolate sea of chronic illness and symptoms that isolate you and come out on the other side?

How do you navigate loneliness?

My sincerest desire for chronically ill individuals is that I could provide easy answers to overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation, but that isn’t the case. Like many aspects of treating and healing from an illness, combatting loneliness and isolation requires commitment, self-care, and, at times, willingness: a willingness to be temporarily vulnerable and try something different than what you’re accustomed to doing.

Adrienne Clements, a licensed marriage and family therapist associate, integrative psychotherapist, and relationship counselor in Texas, says loneliness and isolation require both internal and external actions to overcome them. “The first step is to name and accept what you are feeling and remind yourself that loneliness and isolation are normal human experiences which are trying to motivate you to connect. Without awareness and self-compassion, it’s hard to take action to create positive change,” she says.

While many of us with chronic illnesses have felt the yearning for human interaction like Clements describes, we become static—unsure of what to do next. Clements adds, “Second is to identify some reasonable ways to increase your connection with others, and then force yourself to take action in spite of the loneliness.”
“Examples include reaching out to friends or family members instead of waiting to hear from them, getting out of the house—whether to connect with friends or simply to be in public and around others—get a pet, and get involved by volunteering or joining a club or group.”

To further the idea that all individuals, including those who are chronically ill, must implement steps toward fruitful change, David Kaplan, PhD, chief professional officer at the American Counseling Association, suggests inviting people to your home. “It may be for just a few minutes, but it is the quality, not the quantity of social relationships that counts. Being around someone you truly like for 15 minutes is more beneficial than spending an entire day with a family member that you can’t stand.”
Does social media impact isolation? Can our online relationships break the loneliness and isolation many of us feel?

Aram cautions against the use of social media to combat loneliness and isolation, though she affirms it has its place, “I think social media has both positive and negative influences on our experiences of loneliness and isolation. It can be a source of connection for those who have limited mobility, as well as a celebrated source of entertainment and personal expression,” she says.

“On the other hand, we live in a comparison culture where technology makes it easy for us to see the idealized version of everyone’s lives. Thus, some may experience social media as a constant reminder of what they are missing, leading to feelings of frustration and low self-worth.”

But Kaplan says as much as he—a part of the baby boomer generation—would like to say that social media makes our situations worse, there is little research to back up this claim. Instead, he says, “Healthy social relationships are healthy social relationships. If the relationship happens through social media, that is fine.” According to Kaplan, the primary key to relationships on social media is “to terminate the unhealthy ones.”

At what point should you seek professional services?

If, despite your best efforts, you can’t seem to shake your feelings of long-term loneliness and isolation, you should seek out a mental health professional.

“A person should seek professional help from a therapist or doctor if loneliness or isolation is making it difficult for them to function in their daily life or they are experiencing suicidal thoughts,” Clements recommends. “Loneliness can be overcome, but only with self-action and support.”

Tags 50037921, care, hemingway, social

Motherhood

Maternal Healthcare: How Far Have We Come, And Where Are We Headed?

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date January 28, 2018

In 2012, Heather Beckius developed gestational diabetes while pregnant. Like other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects cells’ ability to utilize glucose properly. The condition can lead to elevated levels of blood sugar, which can impact the health of both the mother and the baby, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Since she had this condition, the doctor performed a nonstress test—a simple procedure completed during pregnancy to evaluate the baby’s health. During the test, the fetal heart rate kept dropping. The doctor followed up the nonstress test with an ultrasound, which showed a sizable spot on the unborn baby’s brain.
The spot would later be identified as a brain bleed or a stroke. Although Beckius was going through a very challenging situation, she says, “All of the doctors were very supportive. They tried to prepare me for the very worst—my baby not surviving—and, at the same time, they told me that the brains in babies have a great tendency to rewire themselves.”

Thankfully, Beckius’s story has a happy ending—she gave birth to a “miracle” baby boy. But the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy underscore the importance of the accessibility of maternal healthcare, from prenatal to postnatal, so that all mothers can receive the quality of care they require and reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications.

What is maternal health?

The World Health Organization defines maternal health as “the health of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.”

For many women, pregnancy and childbirth are a joyous and anticipatory experience. For others, however, this period can be marked with adversity, mental or physical health issues, and worst case scenarios—even in the United States. In fact, WHO reports:

From 1990 through 2013, the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. increased from approximately 12 to 28 per 100,000 births.
Currently, the United States has a maternal mortality rate higher than other high-income countries and countries like Iran, Libya, and Turkey.
Nearly half of all maternal fatalities in the U.S. are avoidable.
Approximately 1,200 women in the U.S. experience fatal complications during pregnancy or childbirth each year.
Each year, almost 60,000 women endure complications that are near-fatal.
Data from 2012 showed the upward trajectory of maternal complications and the mortality rate continued—even though the U.S. spent more than $60 billion on maternity care.

With that said, modern developments in maternal healthcare give women a much brighter outlook than they had in years past. Figures collected by Our World in Data show that the U.S.’ maternal mortality rate didn’t fall below 400-in-100,000 until 1940.

How was maternal medicine practiced back when?

Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Yale and a private practice physician in New Haven, Connecticut, began medical school at the Yale School of Medicine in 1971. She delivered her first baby during her obstetrics rotation in 1973. With more than four decades of experience with women throughout pregnancy and childbirth, Minkin has seen some changes in maternal healthcare.
Minkin says the first significant advancements for obstetrics, gynecology, and maternal health occurred in the early 1970s. One of the primary areas of progress Minkin mentions is in early pregnancy detection. “When I started medical school, we literally had to wait for the rabbit to die to see if someone was pregnant,” she recalls.

The phrase “the rabbit died” was created between the 1920s and ’30s. To see if a woman was pregnant, physicians would inject urine from their patient into a rabbit. If the urine contained the pregnancy hormone hCG, it would cause the rabbit to ovulate and verify if a woman was pregnant.
Unfortunately, this method came at a tremendous cost to the rabbits—their lives! The rabbit’s ovaries couldn’t be seen without an autopsy or surgery to remove the ovaries; the latter was typically deemed a waste of effort. Eventually, this practice was replaced with home test kits like First Response, which allows a woman to tell if she’s pregnant six days before her missed period.

Another area Minkin cites as one of concern during her early years at Yale was with fetal well-being and the lack of imaging to assess fetal health. These pressing matters helped form the “backdrop for maternal and child health changes,” she says.
Through the decades, the technological developments have led to the invention of fetal monitoring, which allows for the fetal heart rate to be monitored during labor and delivery to determine the condition of the baby.

Additionally, breakthroughs in ultrasound technology have given clinicians the ability to view the placenta in all locations and positions, diagnose fetal abnormalities more quickly, and provide expectant parents a real-time, color image of the fetus in 3D/4D. Furthermore, advances in amniocentesis created a minimally-invasive procedure for doctors to test for chromosomal abnormalities, fetal lung health, and infections.

A magical moment caught on camera during a 4D ultrasound. A tiny fetus waves to his mommy and daddy. pic.twitter.com/5HYLBqfLzr

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) January 12, 2018

These are a few of the ways in which maternal healthcare was practiced in the last four decades and how it has made strides.

What are some ways healthcare providers are working to improve a woman’s experience with pregnancy and beyond?

There’s a growing trend to provide expectant mothers with a comprehensive birthing experience. Vice Chief Medical Officer Michael Moxley, MD, and Department Chair of OB-GYN Miguel Fernandez, MD, are professors at Georgetown University School of Medicine and physicians at Virginia Hospital Center. One way medicine is working to improve maternal health is through a multidisciplinary approach to care.
“We have sought to become more collaborative with our colleagues. Traditionally, medicine has been siloed, with each group acting independently,” Moxley and Fernandez say. “Now, at VHC, we work in teams that include not only doctors and nurses, but administration and, most importantly, patients.”

Besides a more collaborative approach to maternal health, Moxley and Fernandez say medicine is taking cues from the field of aviation to reduce errors. Medical flight simulations, so to speak.
“In the last 10 years, we have started regularly practicing to react for emergencies that rarely happen so that we are better prepared and have better outcomes when the time comes,” they stated.
Furthermore, Moxley and Fernandez aim to cut down on unnecessary C-sections, which increase the maternal risk of having complications during childbirth.

“The statistics indicate after the first C-section, repeat births will be done via C-section 90 percent of the time. Since the risk of complications increases with C-sections, we want to make sure that the C-section is medically needed,” they say. “We follow the guidelines that were created in 2014 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—the guideline that made the biggest change was allowing more time for the labor to progress.”

Regarding how healthcare providers are working to enhance a woman’s maternal experience, Minkin furthers the conversation by stating, “The most important advances in maternal and child health actually pertain to getting ready for pregnancy. We know that smoking [and substance use] … are very toxic to the fetus. So we encourage all of our patients to stop taking drugs, stop drinking … , and stop smoking before pregnancy, or limit these as best as possible.”

Additionally, Minkin acknowledges that women with chronic medical conditions—either mental or physical—have better outcomes when they have the opportunity to carefully plan their pregnancies. To illustrate an example, she says, “If a woman has high blood pressure, she should meet with her primary care provider to make sure she has her blood pressure well-controlled and is not taking certain drugs that are bad for babies.”

“Also, we know that if a woman is diabetic, her baby will do much better if mom’s blood sugars are in excellent control before she gets pregnant. A pre-pregnancy meeting with an obstetrician is ideal before a woman conceives to maximize her healthy outcomes.”

Finally, Minkin emphasizes the importance of addressing a woman’s mental health needs throughout her pregnancy. “These days, all women are screened during pregnancy for depression and hooked up with a mental healthcare provider before delivery to minimize the chances of postpartum depression,” she says. “We do know that certain antidepressants are safe to use during pregnancy, and some of these may be prescribed if the woman is suffering from depression.”

Advice and Tips

Although maternal healthcare in the U.S. still has obstacles to overcome, particularly in its accessibility to all women, these are a few tips women can follow to prepare for a safe childbirth and develop a strong patient-doctor relationship:

Look for a physician who will seek to meet your needs. If you’re unhappy with your current doctor, don’t be afraid to try another one—either within the same practice or a different one. Wherever you go, it’s important you feel heard and valued as a patient.
If you have pre-existing health conditions, work with your doctor to get those under control before, during, and after pregnancy.
Your doctor may offer you lifestyle, supplement (like prenatal vitamins), or exercise recommendations. Try to be as compliant as possible with these recommendations.
If you’re considering a midwife or doula, our experts suggest using a hospital that has midwives or doulas as a part of their birthing team. Or find a doctor who is willing to work with them to give you and your baby the best care possible.
“One thing that I strongly recommend is that women don’t take advice from a celebrity about medical health just because she is a celebrity,” Minkin says. “You hear all sorts of crazy things put out by folks who really don’t know any medicine!” Instead, focus on creating a reliable social network, so when you have the baby, you have the support you need.

Tags 50037496, hemingway, parenting, social

Lifestyle

Can Women Live Well During Menopause?

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date January 2, 2018

Catherine, 62, first began experiencing perimenopause, or the span of time when a woman’s body transitions out of its reproductive years, when she was in her early forties.

During perimenopause, a woman’s estrogen levels rise and fall irregularly, which can produce signs that the body is entering a new season of life: For Catherine, the early signal her body gave was irregular menstrual periods.

“I never knew when I would get my period,” she says. “It was challenging because it would catch me off guard, and my period would show up when I was unprepared to deal with it. I finally started carrying tampons with me at all times so I could deal with ‘surprise’ periods.”
In addition to an unpredictable menstrual cycle, Catherine encountered extreme hot flashes, both in the daytime and nighttime: “The night sweats [were] so severe that I would have to change my pajamas two to three times during the night because they would be so wet.”

By the time Catherine’s symptoms ceased, she had endured them for 10 years, which she acknowledges was unexpected. “I started perimenopause in my early forties, and by the time the hot flashes finally stopped, I was in my fifties,” she says.
Due to a family history of cardiac issues and breast cancer, Catherine chose not to pursue any treatments—like hormone replacement therapy—to manage her symptoms throughout menopause.

So, is it necessary for women to struggle with menopausal symptoms for years on end?

Menopause is a fact of life, yet many women feel unprepared or misinformed about the shifts their bodies will encounter as they move through this life change. They’ve heard the less-than-favorable remarks regarding menopause, though, which can make this natural rite of passage sound like a terrible experience.

Below, we’ll take a more detailed look at menopause, its symptoms, and ways women can thrive during this transitional time in their lives.

Menopause Explained—and Some Signs and Symptoms

Megan Schmitt is a board-certified OB/GYN and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Minnesota. Schmitt provides the following explanation of menopause: “Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation that occurs after the loss of ovarian activity. Basically, the ovaries stop the production of estrogen and progesterone—two main female hormones—to [below] the amount that it takes to prepare an egg and ovulate every month.”
“To reach this definition,” she clarifies, “a woman has to have a lack of periods for 12 calendar months.”
Yet symptoms associated with this transition appear much earlier than the twelfth month of no periods—often seven years prior, reports the National Institute on Aging, but occasionally up to 14.

On the stages of menopause, Schmitt notes:

In the United States, the average age of menopause is around 51, but the age of onset can vary widely among women.
The symptom-laden time interval before the complete cessation of periods, as noted earlier, is called “perimenopause,” or the menopause transition. (The time after menopause, naturally, is called “postmenopause.”)
The duration and severity of symptoms during the stages of menopause are different for each woman.

@loosewomen every woman has different menopause experience. I am lucky at 53 I have no massive issues, but it surely sucks!!!

— alessandra tumolo (@italiansweet64) November 10, 2017

When entering perimenopause, Schmitt says, “It is the fluctuation of hormone levels and decreasing estrogen levels that causes the physiologic changes and the clinical symptoms.” These symptoms can include:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Irregular periods
Itching and dryness
Pain during intimacy
Weight changes
Sleep changes (due to night sweating)
Mental changes

Additionally, the Mayo Clinic reports that woman may experience a slower metabolism, thinning hair, dry skin, a decrease in the fullness of breasts, and urinary incontinence throughout the menopause transition.

Rebecca’s Story

Rebecca, 48, was in her early forties when she experienced the first signs her body was undergoing a significant change. She began having hot flashes, and after seeing a specialist in gynecology/endocrinology, he confirmed she was perimenopausal.

In the years that followed, Rebecca says she developed night sweats, anxiety, depression, mood swings, bouts of confusion, irregular periods, food cravings, trouble sleeping, and weight gain.
Rebecca has sought assistance for her symptoms by trying hormone replacement therapy and increasing her antidepressant dosage. She hopes these treatments will bring her relief as she navigates the uncharted waters of menopause, but she fears these options may not be enough for her to feel in control of this time in her life.

In reality, many women struggle with a whole host of undesirable symptoms as they approach and go through menopause. But what treatment options are available to support women, emotionally and physically, and make the second stage of their lives equal to or better than the first?

Ways to Reduce Symptoms

“Many women come to their routine yearly exam and say, ‘I want to talk about hot flashes [because they are] really bad,’” says Schmitt. She notes that many women are not aware of just how common their symptoms are.

Yet no two women experience the stages of menopause in the same way. And because it is such a crucial and broad issue, Schmitt suggests that women make an additional appointment with their healthcare providers to discuss any uncertainties they have. Then, the provider can better understand their concerns and make the appropriate treatment recommendations.

While it’s important to discuss your specific set of symptoms with your doctor, the following are non-hormonal possibilities that may warrant some consideration when looking to ease the transition from peri- to postmenopausal:

Phytoestrogens: These are plant-derived substances with estrogen-like effects. Examples of phytoestrogens include soybeans, soy products, red clover, flax seeds, and yams. Schmitt says these foods, especially soy products, are popular choices for women because people who consume them tend to have fewer hot flashes.
Herbal Remedies: There are many herbal remedies on the market, but some of the more common supplements used to reduce the symptoms of menopause include black cohosh, ginseng, St. John’s wort, and ginkgo biloba. “We do not recommend some of these herbal supplements for women on blood thinners,” Schmitt cautions, “as it can increase the risk of bleeding.” These remedies should also not be used to treat depression.
Treatments for dryness/itching: During menopause, it’s not uncommon for women to experience symptoms like dryness, itching, and pain during intimacy. Localized moisturizers, Schmitt says, can help restore moisture to the tissues.

Though the above treatments can be obtained without prescriptions, note, again, that you should always consult your doctor before using them. They shouldn’t replace your doctor’s recommended treatment, though they may be able to supplement it and further increase your quality of life.

In addition, women may want to incorporate the following:

Lifestyle changes: Schmitt suggests that some lifestyle changes which may help women control their fluctuating body temperatures. Those changes include wearing layered clothing, decreasing the room temperature, and consuming cool beverages. Additionally, she recommends avoiding caffeine, as it’s associated with the increased severity and frequency of hot flashes.
Exercise: Many women notice improvements in their symptoms when they add cardiovascular exercise and weight training to their workouts. Plus, weight training increases lean muscle mass, which can reduce weight changes associated with menopause. Additionally, introducing meditation and other relaxation exercises can reduce the occurrence of hot flashes.
Non-hormonal prescription medications: In some instances, women find success using non-hormonal medications to mitigate the vasomotor (hot flashes, night sweats) symptoms of menopause. These medications include many antidepressants and the anti-seizure medication called gabapentin. Never take these medications without a prescription, and even then, make sure your doctor knows you’re using them to mitigate vasomotor symptoms.

On Hormone Replacement Therapy

The topic of HRT is vast. Many studies show a relationship between extended HRT and breast cancer, according to research in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Schmitt, though, notes (and The American College of Gynecologists & Obstetricians would agree) that it’s an effective treatment for hot flashes, night sweats, osteoporosis, and dryness/itching.

“Systemic therapy, with estrogen alone or in combination with progesterone, is the most effective therapy for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms,” Schmitt says, though hormones “should not be used for the prevention of heart disease or strokes.”
“The goal is to use the lowest amount of hormones to control symptoms for the shortest duration of time,” she adds. “HRT is a very safe and effective treatment when initiated at the time of menopause for the treatment of symptoms.”

When used under the guidance of a knowledgeable practitioner, HRT can be a valuable tool for women to feel their best. But it needs to be tailored to each woman and at the lowest possible dose to achieve the desired outcomes. Talk with your doctor regarding the benefits and risks of taking HRT.

“I hear a [certain] quote from patients on a daily basis,” Schmitt says.

“‘There’s a lot about aging that people don’t tell you!’ [So] it is important for women to not only talk about these issues with each other but also with their healthcare professionals.”

“Most women feel uncomfortable discussing [the symptoms of] menopause,” she continues, “but these are common issues, and treatment can improve women’s personal lives tremendously if they have the confidence to discuss these issues with their doctors.”

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Lifestyle

Celiac Disease, Gluten Sensitivity, And If The Average Person Needs To Worry

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date December 14, 2017

A decade ago, tasty, gluten-free options were hard to find at your local supermarket. Back then, if you needed to avoid gluten and were lucky enough to find a product you could eat, it almost certainly tasted like cardboard.
The gluten-free market has come a long way; honestly, it’s become a cultural phenomenon. These days, it’s difficult to walk through the aisles of a grocery store without seeing the latest assortment of gluten-free products lining the shelves. Even some of our old standbys, like General Mills Rice Chex and Cape Cod Kettle Chips, don the GF label.

With the surge in fad diets as of late (The Whole30, The Dukan Diet, and the Paleo diet, to name a few), gluten has been portrayed as the chief food offender in our lives, and people who restrict their intake of it will (hopefully) look and feel better.
In certain health and wellness circles, there’s a collective distaste for gluten: It’s bad for your health, the thought process goes, and you should avoid it—and you might have a sensitivity to it, even if you don’t realize it.

Does gluten deserve the bad rap it’s getting? There are circumstances, of course, such as wheat allergies and celiac disease, when avoiding gluten is a crucial step to improving your health. But can you be healthy with a diet that includes gluten? Here, we’ll take a more in-depth look at the gluten-free world and whether the average person needs to worry about eating the stuff.

What is gluten?

Gluten is the name given to the naturally-occurring protein found in grains like wheat, rye, triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye), barley, and more. In cooking and baking, it serves a fundamental purpose—it acts as a binding agent and gives structure, shape, and texture to food like bread, pastries, and pasta.

Besides flour-based products, you can also find gluten in a variety of items like soups, salad dressings, condiments, soy sauce, lunch meats, and more. Additionally, oats can become cross-contaminated with gluten if they’re processed in a facility with other grains, so they’re not necessarily gluten-free, either.
Furthermore, there are several hidden sources of gluten, so it may not be evident from a food label whether an item contains it. According to the Mayo Clinic and the Celiac Disease Foundation, some of the lesser known names for gluten (or items that may contain it as a hidden ingredient) include:

Malt (malt vinegar, malted milk, malt extract, malt syrup, or malt flavoring)
Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Brewer’s yeast
Yeast extract
Bulgur
Wheat germ and wheat bran
Graham flour
Matzo or Matzo meal
Semolina
Spelt
Natural flavors
Rice syrup

Who needs to be concerned about gluten?

On one end of the spectrum, we have people with celiac disease. When they consume gluten, it triggers an autoimmune response—the gluten causes damage to their small intestines.

People who have celiac disease may experience a host of symptoms, which usually appear 46–72 hours after consuming gluten. These symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, migraines, depression, and more—in fact, the Celiac Disease Foundation reports that there are more than 200 known symptoms of the disease.
At present, approximately 3 million Americans are living with this illness, according to the Celiac Disease Center. The disease can be diagnosed using antibody blood tests, genetic testing, and gastrointestinal endoscopies. The recommended treatment is a strict adherence to a lifelong, gluten-free diet and the correction of any nutritional deficiencies.

So, while it’s clear people with celiac disease need to eat a gluten-free diet, what about the rest of us?

Well, making up the rest of the gluten-allergy scale is gluten sensitivity. To learn about these, we talked with Karen Raden, a registered dietitian and certified clinical nutritionist.

[Many people] can benefit significantly from going gluten-free.

Raden has worked in the field of integrative and functional medicine for 20 years. Her clientele includes a mix of people seeking help with chronic health conditions, weight loss, heart disease, digestive disorders, food sensitivities, athletic performance, meal planning, and more. We spoke with her about whether gluten sensitivity is a myth or if there’s actually merit to the idea of non-celiac people removing gluten from their diets.
“I believe that gluten sensitivity is not a myth,” Raden says. “Many people have gluten sensitivities and are not aware of this, as symptoms do not always present as digestive disorders … . Gluten sensitivity may show up as neurologic symptoms, headaches, joint issues, muscle aches and pains, weight gain, swelling, mood issues, and more.”

Since no laboratory test exists for gluten sensitivity—only for celiac disease and wheat allergies—you need to consult your doctor to determine whether it’s gluten that’s causing those issues. More on that in a bit.
“In my experience,” continues Raden, “no one is hurt by going gluten-free, as long as they eat a [nutrient-dense] food plan, including veggies, healthy fats, fruits, and protein. [Many people] can benefit significantly from going gluten-free.”

How do you figure out if you’re actually sensitive to gluten?

In 2012, a report in BMC Medicine suggests there may be a range of gluten-related disorders—from celiac disease to varying degrees of gluten intolerance. Furthermore, a 2016 study in BMJ Journals indicates non-celiac wheat sensitivity is a real condition, and it affects nearly 18 million Americans, according to an estimate by Alessio Fasano, MD. (Some, though, dispute that number).

While, as stated above, there are tests to determine whether someone has wheat allergies and celiac disease, there is no specialized testing procedure to officially measure gluten sensitivities. One way to find out if you’ll respond positively to removing gluten is through an elimination diet—a short-term diet that’s used to determine whether certain symptoms are caused or made worse by a particular food.
“If symptoms do improve, then reintroduce the gluten-containing foods and see if symptoms come back,” states Raden. “If they do, you can really consider for your own experience if this food is a good option. You can eliminate other foods in a similar fashion to see if you have a sensitivity to those, too.”

If you feel better after gluten is removed from your diet, this could be an indicator that you have a gluten sensitivity. If you take gluten out of your diet with no change in how you feel, though, maybe your symptoms are related to something else entirely. Either way, you’ll want to follow up with a medical professional for additional testing or recommendations.

Should everyone go gluten-free?

For many people, going gluten-free has become synonymous with a healthier lifestyle. But there’s no need to hop on the bandwagon just yet. While it might be tempting to make this generalization, many people can consume gluten without any noticeable issues—especially if it’s eaten as part of an overall healthy diet.

“I do keep some people on gluten,” says Raden, “especially if they don’t have celiac disease and they do not want to eliminate gluten. … if people are feeling good, have no physical or emotional issues that they want to resolve, and their blood work looks good, … we discuss keeping gluten in their diet—but trying to choose the least processed options.”
Plus, going gluten-free doesn’t automatically make you healthier. “If someone eliminates gluten and then chooses to eat mostly gluten-free pasta, gluten-free cookies and cakes, and potatoes, this is not a healthful diet,” adds Raden.

In reality, there’s a significant need for more in-depth research on the subject of gluten intolerance and it’s long-term impact on your health. Though many people report being helped by a gluten-free diet, there’s still a lot we need to learn about one of the most abundant proteins on the planet.

How are food companies reacting to the increasing demand for gluten-free products?

The gluten-free market is on track to reach an astounding $7.59 billion value by 2020, according to Statista. With an influx of people desiring gluten-free products, food companies are quick to meet the demand for more food choices.

I do think gluten-free is here to stay.

Yewande Odusanwo is the founder and chief digital marketer at Zora Media, a digital marketing consulting firm for healthy lifestyle brands. Says Odusanwo: “There is a rise in consumers wanting healthy foods and wanting products that are better for their health and contain no artificial ingredients. Companies are seeing growth in consumers purchasing gluten-free products, so they are meeting consumer demand.”

In general, customers are shifting their food focus to healthier options: “Brands are scrambling to make their products appear healthier without artificial ingredients or preservatives,” Odusanwo adds.
“Plus,” she says, “this trend is happening not only with companies making gluten-free claims; we are seeing these with other nutritional claims by big brands. Consumers no longer trust larger brands to be free of preservatives, so they are trying smaller, niche brands that are positioned as only having all-natural ingredients from day one. I don’t think companies would change if consumers weren’t demanding better ingredients in products and voting with their dollars.”

Does Odusanwo see the gluten-free trend ever losing steam?
“I do think gluten-free is here to stay. For the consumers that need gluten-free products, they will continue to purchase the brands that offer them products that make them feel better. For others, they will continue to purchase gluten-free products as long as they don’t have to sacrifice taste or price. If they like the taste of the products, then gluten-free is just an added plus,” she says.
So whether you choose to eat gluten or go gluten-free, it appears the gluten-free craze isn’t going away anytime soon.

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Lifestyle

The Differences Between Drugstore Makeup And High-End Makeup

Post author By Jenny Lelwica Buttaccio
Post date November 15, 2017

If you love makeup or other beauty products, you probably have your go-to brands that routinely fill your makeup bag—and some are probably expensive. But with that higher price tag, are you automatically getting a better product?
High-end makeup aficionados often claim their products have better quality ingredients than their drugstore counterparts. Nevertheless, a quick scroll through your Instagram feed shows makeup fans everywhere achieving incredible looks with drugstore brands as well. In the battle of makeup types, which type reigns supreme?

Here’s my personal makeup confession: I buy almost all of my beauty products from department stores or high-end retailers. The extra cost is justifiable because I work from home, I mostly reserve my pricey makeup for special occasions, and the products last for months.
As I’m darting out of the department store, the highly saturated pigments of lipsticks and blushes capture my attention. Plus, I’m lured in by the promise of a mascara that won’t flake or a high-shine lip gloss that creates the perfect pout.

At different times in my life, though, I’ve used my fair share of drugstore cosmetics. In my college years, the price point of drugstore brands was more affordable to me, and I loved experimenting with the newest products on the market.
If I had any issues with an item I’d purchased, I could easily exchange or return it. But somewhere along the line, I stopped using drugstore makeup altogether, and I began to believe the best cosmetics came from high-end retailers.

In my search to find quality beauty products, was it necessary for me to switch from drugstore makeup to high-end cosmetics? Or could I have found great products at both price points?
To compare these two makeup categories, I spoke to several experts—a cosmetic chemist, a geneticist, a pharmacist, and a makeup artist—to gather insights across a variety of cosmetic specialties and find out the differences between drugstore makeup and high-end makeup. Suffice to say, it might be worth revisiting the products you’ve been using—after all, you may find some items are worth the splurge and others are worth the save.

All ingredients aren’t created equal.

Soraya Ali-Hope has some knowledge about the cosmetics industry; she’s worked in it for 34 years.
“All ingredients are not created equal,” says the president, founder, and cosmetic chemist for the Octagon Marketing Group, which helps producers formulate cosmetics. “Raw materials can be sourced from different countries and may be extracted from natural sources or synthesized in the laboratory.”

In general, the mass-market brands like CoverGirl or Revlon incorporate more synthetic and less expensive ingredients into their products. On the other hand, high-end products, like MAC or Bobbi Brown, often have premium formulations, higher quality ingredients, more pigment, and include more costly technologies in the creation of those products. Ali-Hope says high-end makeup brands regularly utilize “advanced chemistry for both liquids and dry powders.”
Frequently, high-end makeup has cleaner ingredients, fewer fillers, and a range of shades to suit your skin’s individual needs, and they may have a performance advantage over their drugstore “dupes” (less-expensive products that are similar to high-end versions).

Additionally, many drugstore lines have professional makeup artists test and promote their products after they have launched in store. With high-end cosmetics, it’s not uncommon for them to have artists involved in the formulation of each collection from start to finish.

The quantity of the ingredients varies.

Do two products that purportedly contain the same active ingredients perform the same? Not necessarily.

Consumers may not be aware that companies will promote their products as containing particular ingredients…while the quantity of those special ingredients vary among brands. Therefore, you might not get the same beneficial results from one product to another.
“There are definitely differences in ingredients and formulations for high-end brands over drugstore brands, particularly in the clinical quantity used in the formulations,” explains Neal Kitchen, chief geneticist and COO at makeup brand HydroPeptide. “Peptides (short chains of amino acids) are a great example of ingredients where the type of peptide and the quantity of the peptide are both essential for how effective the ingredient will be on your skin.”

Two brands could market the same ingredient but have significantly different results on the skin, explains Kitchen, if one brand is using it for marketing purposes rather than the clinical impact.

It’s a case of convenience versus performance.

Peter Matravers, PharmD, chief scientific officer for makeup seller Arbonne, explains the uses for high-end and drugstore brand makeup.
“For daily maintenance, functionality, and simple needs, I would say stick to mass-market brands if budget is an issue. Not all of your products need to be premium,” he says.

“Beyond general maintenance,” he continues, “you want to be aware of your specific needs that would benefit from premium, more performance-based formulas that deliver better results.”
Don’t go running off to high-end retailers just yet! At the end of the day, there seems to be a place for both drugstore and high-end cosmetics in your makeup bag. Drugstore brands formulate their products with affordability in mind. High-end products, on the other hand, are formulated to better suit an individual’s preference and goals, meaning the products serve more specific functions in your beauty routine.

What does the makeup artist have to say?

Chicago-based makeup artist, Vanessa Valliant from Valliant Beauty, says, that high-end products “tend to have a better range of classic colors for customers. While they may showcase a certain collection each season, they aren’t solely focused on trends. However, drugstore makeup brands love to pour out every trendy color that hits the market each season.”
Valliant—whose customer base includes celebrities, brides, fashion models, and everyday women—primarily favors high-end makeup brands due to their consistent formulations and wide range of pigments for each skin tone.

Drugstore brands, though, have the advantage when it comes to price point and experimentation. They can also be helpful when trying out new products (like the latest matte lipstick or a metallic eyeshadow you’ve been curious about) without committing to a higher cost.

Although not all ingredients are created equal, Vaillant says it’s all about the application of the makeup that can make or break your look.
“Anyone can take drugstore or high-end makeup and blend them to perfection on the skin, achieving an overall, amazing makeup look,” she says. “There are a few high-end makeup lines that have more longevity due to their waterproof ingredients. But for the most part, with the proper application, you can achieve longevity out of both drugstore and high-end cosmetics.”

Valliant tells her clients that there are some products worth the extra investment; additionally, she tells them there are drugstore items that work well and won’t cost them a small fortune.
Ultimately, the choice as to which makeup is right for you depends on your skin’s needs, the goals you have for the product, your likes and dislikes when it comes to specific cosmetics brands, and your budget.

So, when should you splurge? When should you save?

Splurge

Valliant recommends buying skincare products, foundation, a well-made set of brushes, and lipstick from high-end brands.
“Beautiful makeup begins with healthy skin. I love a good skincare line like Kiehl’s because your skin is the largest organ, and it must be hydrated daily. Plus, they have a wide range of products to fit your skin type,” she says. “Also, it’s important to spend a little extra money on foundation … because it tends to perform better on the skin, and it’s created to mimic the look of real skin. My personal choices for foundations and concealers are by Tom Ford and Dior.”

For brushes,” she continues, “I like NARS. Well-crafted brushes last longer; they’re softer on the skin and are more tailored to specific areas of the face. Lastly, purchase your lipsticks from a high-end brand like Bobbi Brown. There are many colors and textures to choose from, and they’re designed for a variety of skin tones. You can’t go wrong with a lipstick like that!”

Save

Valliant suggests purchasing mascara, eyeshadow palettes, blushers, highlighters, and eye pencils at the drugstore.

“Maybelline mascara is hands down the best mascara on the market—you’ll find one in every professional makeup artist’s kit,” she says. “If you’re looking for the latest trends, NYX carries the latest eyeshadow palettes, blushes, highlighters, and eye pencils. Nowadays, you can find a wide range of products to fit your budget and needs at most drugstores.”

What’s our takeaway: Drug Store or High-End Makeup?

Regardless of whether you prefer drugstore cosmetics or high-end makeup brands, it’s important to focus on what best suits your skin’s needs, from the price point to the wearability of the product. In the long run, the makeup brands that are right for you are the ones that nurture your skin and help you look and feel your best—regardless of the differences in how they’re made or where you bought them.

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