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Motherhood

The Baby Dance (And Other Possible Labor-Encouraging Methods)

What would you do to encourage labor in a pregnancy that has gone past your due date? Would you join your obstetrician in a dance he choreographed specifically to get things moving along?
As a mom who has always carried pregnancies past their expected due date, I understand the desperation that drives attempts to induce labor. I’ve walked miles a day during my last weeks of pregnancy; I’ve bounced endlessly on an exercise ball; during my last pregnancy, I even turned to the breast pump. And still, I carried late, leaving me doubting that there is any validity to labor-inducing methods.

During my last pregnancy, I found myself four days overdue and searching for options. Nothing I found was convincing, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t willing to try out the suggestions of friends and family (just so long as they weren’t risky). And believe me, there were plenty of anecdotes out there.

The Baby Dance

One obstetrician, Fernando Guedes da Cunha, has achieved internet fame for his unusual approach to encouraging labor—he’s choreographing dances for his patients. In August 2017, he posted a video to his social media featuring one of these dances. Soon after, he shared a picture of the mother with her brand new baby. Since then, his video has been shared hundreds of thousands of times.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXgG3NfDEPN/?hl=en&taken-by=drfernandoguedescunha
I’m having a hard time imagining myself dancing during labor—and there is no proof it will actually induce labor—but keeping moving is can certainly be beneficial to labor and pregnancy.
“I am not aware of any scientific article or properly done research to show that walking in labor—or in this case, dancing—would stimulate labor to make it faster,” shares Daniel Roshan, OB-GYN, “However, I always tell my patients that in the absence of any high-risk issues, the best [option] is to keep moving and walking before they get admitted. I think it eases the pain of labor and prevents the complications that arise from staying in bed.”

Roshan explained that patients who get admitted in early labor will frequently request an epidural and spend a lot of their labor in bed. In some cases, these patients experience a drop of in their blood pressure or fetal heart deceleration.
In fact, it’s good to keep moving throughout the pregnancy, according to Roshan, who said that all women experiencing a complication-free pregnancy should stay home as long as possible and continue moving until they are in the active labor phase. Yet while these recommendations are great for a comfortable and healthy pregnancy and labor, they’re aren’t actually known to induce or encourage labor.

“A lot of times, a woman’s body can be already starting to move into it,” Bailey Gaddis, birth doula and childbirth preparation educator, tells HealthyWay. “The things you hear about food, walking, that can all definitely help…if your body and your baby are ready.”
This is where a lot of confusion exists, and it’s important to understand that encouraging and supporting your body once it is ready for labor is vastly different from trying to get labor started.

It’s difficult to declare the efficacy of one method over the other, simply because it’s difficult to determine if induction attempts really made a difference or if your body was simply ready to get things going. There are, however, a litany of methods that claim to help get things going.

Methods That (Might) Encourage Labor

When it comes down to it, the only scientifically supported method for inducing labor is a medical induction. This is why, when it is medically necessary, most Ob-Gyns fall back on the same song and dance.
The often use dinoprostone (brand name Cervidil), a cervical ripening agent, as a first effort to begin labor. In many cases, oxytocin is then administered after the cervix is ripe to encourage contractions. It is widely effective and safe, according to a survey published in the journal American Family Physician.

Not all mothers want to use medications to induce or encourage labor, and they’ll fall back on more “natural methods” to get things started. Unfortunately, there is a lot of contracting studies on the topic.
For instance, one method that is practiced intermittently by birth professionals is membrane sweeping. Using their gloved fingers, a birth provider gently separates the bag of waters from the uterus. Although this method is widely regarded as safe, there is some disagreement on its effectiveness.

One 2012 study published in The Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics found a decreased need for medical induction in women who employed membrane sweeping compared to those who did not. However, ten years earlier, a study in The International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology declared the practice “safe but ineffective,” and in 2005, a study published by Cochrane did the same.

Because of the safety of the procedure, some women may choose to take the gamble, but they should keep in mind that it is an uncomfortable process and this method has its limitations. It isn’t a good option for women who have an increased risk of infection. Also, a woman’s body still needs to be ready for labor for membrane sweeping to be an option.
“In order to do it, the cervix has to be dilated and effaced,” explains Roshan. “It could be a good choice for patients who had a vaginal birth before and will need to be induced due to their pregnancy conditions.”

Another method worth trying is nipple stimulation using a breast pump. Nipple stimulation is said to encourage contractions and is often used to attempt to speed up labor. A research survey published by the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth found this practice to be safe. Additionally, they found that women who employed this method at full term were less likely to remain pregnant after 72 hours.

Methods That Don’t Work

Pregnancy is long enough without carrying past the expected due date, pushing many women (including myself!) to try any safe method for getting contractions started. Unfortunately, most of the common methods employed have very little grounding—including those recommended off the cuff by many doctors.
For instance, women are often instructed by their doctors, friends, and family to enjoy intercourse often to induce labor. This belief is based in the idea that semen contains prostaglandin, which is used in medical settings to induce labor. However, there is no research that indicates semen has the same effect on women.

A study published by the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth concluded that, although perfectly safe in low-risk pregnancies, intercourse did nothing to speed things up. The following year, a study published in the journal BJOG found no difference in induction rates between women who were and weren’t advised to be physically intimate with their partners.
That being said, Roshan does believe that regular physical intimacy is beneficial to pregnant women, saying that frequency appears to lower the risk of lacerations and generally improve the labor experience.

There are a lot of anecdotes about specific labor-encouraging foods, but there isn’t any evidence to back up these claims. In fact, practices like indulging in spicy foods can only make mom miserable, causing heartburn and an upset stomach, according to Roshan.

Lastly, we have the famous suggestion of taking a small dose of castor oil to start contractions. This method may “work” in the sense that it can cause contractions, but that doesn’t make it a safe choice.
“[Ingesting castor oil] leads to bad diarrhea and dehydration and uterine contractions. I believe the contractions are mostly due to dehydration …  [This] method, although it will bring patients to hospital … does not cause real labor.”

The Truth About Inducing Labor

Ultimately, labor induction is something that moms should discuss with their care providers. Personally, by the time my third due date approached, I found myself resigned to the fact that carrying late was just something my body did.
I talked it through with my care provider, and they suggested I have something called a biophysical profile: a detailed evaluation that estimates the baby’s size and measures the fluid in the womb. After assessing the results, they scheduled a medical induction for the following week, but I went into labor after having my membranes swept. I found myself in the hospital with my amniotic sack leaking but needing oxytocin to get contractions started.

It was a hard labor and an experience I likely won’t repeat again. If there is another baby in my future, I’ll probably just let nature run its course.
If, like me, you find yourself experience a pregnancy that continues past 40 weeks, there is one thing Gaddis recommended you can do that will certainly help: Relax! Becoming consumed and anxious about giving birth can rob you of the joy of those final days with your partner and other children before your new baby arrives.

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Mindful Parenting Motherhood

Mommy Beware: 11 Secretly Dangerous Baby Products

Feeling anxious about welcoming your baby? You’re certainly not alone. But before you run out to buy the latest, greatest, and most expensive products for your newborn, be sure to do your research.


“When I was pregnant, I was both surprised and alarmed to find that many products marketed for babies are actually quite dangerous,” says Kelsey Allan of home safety resource SafeWise. We spoke with Allan to find out how to properly vet children’s products—and which products to avoid entirely.  We learned some pretty surprising stuff.

For instance…

1. Bumbo Seats require some oversight.

“No doubt that the Bumbo is appealing to many families,” Allan says. “I know my own daughter would love the Bumbo far more than her restrictive high chair.”
The Bumbo helps babies sit up for mealtime and playtime, and when used properly, they’re safe. However, some models can tip over fairly easily, and many physical therapists dislike the Bumbo Seat’s original design (at least for long-term use).

The original version of the Bumbo seat didn’t keep babies restrained, and it was voluntarily recalled in 2007. Newer versions of the product have a strap to keep your baby in place, but the strap can’t keep the entire Bumbo from falling over with baby still inside. A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety alert cited at least 80 occurrences of babies falling out of their Bumbo seats since the 2007 recall; at least 50 of those falls came when the Bumbo was on an elevated surface, and 21 of the falls caused skull fractures.
Bumbo’s website specifically notes that the seats are designed to be used on the floor—not as a replacement for the high chair. If your child loves the Bumbo seat, make sure to read the instructions carefully and never let your child play in it without supervision.

2. “Jumpers” have a few unexpected dangers.

Although babies may love them, doorway jumpers can put them in serious jeopardy, as improperly secured jumpers can easily cause injury.
Walker-jumpers are not necessarily any safer. After 29,000 jumpers were recalled in 2005, the CPSC issued a notice banning certain walkers that “[have] any exposed parts capable of causing [injury].” The full notice goes into more detail about the types of potential injuries, but we’ll leave the gloom-and-doom stuff out of this article.

That’s not the only reason to limit jumper time.


“In addition to the possibility of head or bodily injuries if a jumper breaks, even when they work properly, they can stunt your baby’s development,” says Allan. “Your child may not be exercising the right kinds of muscles to learn how to walk and may also adopt a different posture if they spend too much time in a jumper.”
Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego notes this as a potential issue, as jumpers “promote movement patterns that are not necessarily useful in normal development, including tiptoe standing and fast, uncontrolled movement.”

3. Sleep positioners can be dangerous.

Ironically, this product is supposed to keep your infant safe as they sleep. Instead, babies can find themselves buried face-first in the foam sides. From 1997–2010, the CPSC identified 12 fatal incidents resulting from infants using sleep positioners.
Parents may use sleep positioners because of the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to put babies on their backs to sleep. However, the AAP also notes that babies can safely roll over or move on their own. Typically, kids don’t need much help to sleep properly, and foam positioners may do more harm than good.


If you’re concerned about your child’s sleep habits, speak to your pediatrician to discuss options. In fact, that’s a good rule of thumb for anything on this list—if something we’ve written doesn’t vibe with your parental intuition, speak to a medical professional.  

4. Car seat toys are okay, but keep this in mind…

Car seat toys may seem like a great way to keep your child entertained, and during longer trips, that’s no small task.
However, safety organization Car Seats for the Littles (CSFTL) recommends only using the car seat toys that come with your baby’s car seat. Car seat manufacturers crash test their seats, and they test them with their toys attached.

Because toys from third parties aren’t tested, there’s no way to guarantee that they would stay attached in a car accident. Third-party toys aren’t regulated, so even if they have labels that say things like “crash-tested,” there is to know that “anything that doesn’t come with the seat will change how it performs during a crash,” reads the CSFTL piece.
If your child insists on an outside toy, make sure they are soft and lightweight.

5. Bath seats don’t necessarily make bath time safer.

“Bath seats [should be] considered bathing aids rather than safety devices,” says Allan.
While bath seats are perfectly safe when used with adult supervision, they may delude parents into leaving their infants unattended in the bath. The product can easily fall over with the baby inside.

Tragically, the CPSC reported 174 fatal incidents and 300 accidents associated with bath seats product between 1983 and 2009. Again, they’re safe with supervision, but that’s an important distinction: No matter how you bathe your child, never leave them by themselves.

6. Co-sleepers, at the moment, are a bad idea.

Mothers around the world have slept with their babies for generations, but that doesn’t necessarily make the practice safe. Bed-sharing can be dangerous, even when using co-sleeping devices, which often use foam fillers (a suffocation risk).


The flimsy foam sides also cannot withstand the weight of a full-grown adult, so they don’t always protect babies. For now, the AAP recommends putting your baby in a four-sided crib with a fitted mattress. While parents can sleep in the same room as their babies, they shouldn’t share a sleeping surface.

7. Crib bumpers seem like a safety feature, but…

Crib bumpers have been popular among parents who have concerns about hard crib bars.

“Bumpers are intended to keep your baby from getting their little limbs stuck between the rails of a crib,” Allan tells HealthyWay. But crib bumpers often do more harm than good.
“In reality, [the bumpers] could lead to suffocation or strangulation,” Allan says.

Many parenting classes warn people about the dangers they pose, and the AAP advises parents not to use them. Some states, including Maryland, have banned crib bumpers outright.
“A safer alternative is a mesh liner that allows breathability and still prevents limbs from getting stuck,” says Allan.
To be safe, though, it’s best to follow the aforementioned AAP guidelines: Put your baby to sleep in a crib with a tightly fitted sheet.

8. Walkers might be popular, but they have serious drawbacks.

A few decades ago, most babies spent at least some time in their walkers. They seem helpful, right?  
“Baby walkers may seem like a great way to get your baby moving faster. But they actually can slow your child’s development,” says Allan. Children can rely too heavily on the walker, which can inhibit their ability to learn to walk.
They’re also potentially dangerous. After a number of reported cases of children falling down stairs while using walkers, the AAP began calling for a ban on the product. The CPSC has estimated that 4,000 children were injured in walkers in 2010 alone.

A better option for your child is a stationary activity center. These products resemble walkers, but children can only spin around in place. Just make sure that the moving parts don’t present a risk for tiny fingers and hands.

9. Drop-side cribs aren’t worth the convenience.

“In theory, a drop-side crib may seem convenient,” Allan says. “Constantly bending over the side of your baby’s crib can definitely be hard on your back. However, dropside rails can easily come loose, causing your baby to get stuck or fall out and suffer serious injury.”
Drop-side cribs have been responsible for 32 infant fatalities since the year 2000. Millions of these cribs were recalled before the CPSC banned them in 2011.

CSPC

If you’re still using a drop-side crib, purchase a newer crib with fixed sides. If you get a used crib, choose one made after June 2011, which is when the stricter standards were put in place.

10. Crib tents pose several serious risks.

“These seem like a good idea when you have a toddler escape artist in the family, but your child could get stuck or strangled in a crib tent—and then the tents can be hard to detach quickly enough in a dangerous situation,” says Allan.

Parents use crib tents to keep their babies from climbing out or to protect infants from bugs and curious pets.

Medium Italic

Again, convenience doesn’t mean much if the product isn’t safe, and crib tents are not safe. Infants and toddlers can get caught in the fabric, which a multitude of injury risks. Some crib tents can also collapse.
“If your child keeps climbing out of the crib, think about transitioning to a toddler bed instead,” Allan suggests.

11. When using changing tables, be careful.

According to Consumer Reports, an estimated 3,000 babies are injured per year in changing table accidents.
Believe us, we get it; you’re not going to stop using changing tables. We’re not going to try to talk you out of it—just exercise some caution.

Whenever you can, use a changing table with four sides. Tables with fewer barriers should have contoured changing pads, which help to keep your baby in place.

Oh, and if your table has a strap, use it. You probably can’t avoid looking away from time to time while changing your baby, but if you take the proper precautions, you won’t have to worry.

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Sweat

Wearable, Watchable: The Risks And Rewards Of The Fitbit

The Fitbit has helped redefine how we keep in shape. By using a 3-axis accelerometer, it can read everything from how many steps we take to how many calories we burn to how much we sleep in any given day.
Fitbit enthusiasts believe the device’s ability to break down our daily activity into handy stats helps us tweak our health habits for the better, getting more in tune with our bodies in the process.

But does it really? Many have posed that question throughout the Fitbit’s rise to cultural ubiquity. Every couple of years, the device makes the news for reasons that have nothing to do with making us healthier. In fact, some critics suggest it may actually do the opposite.
The Fitbit, arguably the most popular of the slew of wearable fitness trackers, has been met multifaceted set of concerns and accusations. In 2014, a lawsuit arose after numerous customers reported a rash resulting from the Fitbit’s wristband. Two years later, Fitbit was met with another suit, this one alleging that the device’s heart-rate monitoring was inaccurate.
https://twitter.com/YahooTech/status/565886067426226176
In addition to health concerns, there have been ethical concerns raised regarding how the device stores our data. On one hand, Fitbit data has been used as crucial evidence in criminal investigations; on the other, the data can potentially be exploited, whether by hackers or insurance providers.
Yet the discussion isn’t all bad. Others claim, and rather convincingly, that Fitbit data has saved their lives.
Despite the Fitbit’s omnipresence in our society, you might be surprised by what you still don’t know about the device. Let’s take a peek behind the electronic curtain and explore whether the Fitbit’s risks are worth its rewards.

Legal Troubles

One of the Fitbit’s main selling points is its trademarked “PurePulse” heart rate monitoring technology, which keeps a continuous, ever-accurate check on your beats-per-minute. Or so they claim.
A 2016 class action lawsuit disputes the technology’s accuracy, with three plaintiffs claiming it misread their heart rates. One plaintiff stated her physical trainer manually recorded her heart rate at 160 beats per minute, but her Fitbit Charge HR showed only 82 beats per minute. When she requested a refund, she was refused.
The suit also included a study where a cardiologist said Fitbit’s heart rate sensor was repeatedly inaccurate, and that it often failed to record a heartbeat at all (for 110 beats-per-minute or higher). And for heart rates that were captured, the study claims it was off by an average of 24.34 beats per minute.

Fitbit disputed the study, calling it “biased,” “baseless,” and lacking “scientific rigor.” They added that it was funded by the defendant’s lawyers and used a “consumer-grade electrocardiogram, not a true clinical device.” They asked the judge to throw out the case.
Fitbit was further emboldened after Consumer Reports released their own findings asserting that the company’s tech was accurate, but things went sideways after a new court order appeared. It cited three Fitbit employees who claimed the company knew their product claims were faulty but refused to make the knowledge public for fear of losing revenue.
So, who’s telling the truth? We won’t know until the final verdict is rendered, because the judge refused to dismiss the case.

And while this is the most high-profile legal battle against Fitbit, it’s hardly the only one: A 2014 class action lawsuit arose after users claimed the Fitbit Force caused skin irritation and rashes (the company issued a recall of the model and offered refunds to all affected users).
Fitbit is facing two additional lawsuits: a 2016 San Francisco federal case accuses the company of false advertising (among other charges) in regard to its sleep tracking feature, and a 2017 case accuses the company of multiple patent violations. Given all these unresolved outcomes, Fitbit’s future as an industry leader is far from certain.

Fitbit data has been a huge help for law enforcement.

Fitbit’s presence in the legal world isn’t all negative. The device’s ability to track our activity has served as crucial evidence in criminal cases.
Fitbit data took a leading role in the investigation of the 2017 slaying of Connie Dabate. After her husband told investigators she was shot by an intruder, investigators felt there were holes in his story, and Connie’s Fitbit data proved she wasn’t where he claimed she was at the time of her passing. This data, combined with other findings, allowed police to charge the husband with orchestrating her demise. As of this writing, he is still awaiting trial.
https://twitter.com/SpencerSays/status/859494200139710465
Of the Dabate case, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, District Attorney Craig Stedman told The Hartford Courant, “To say it is rare to use Fitbit records would be safe. It is an electronic footprint that tracks your movements. It is a great tool for investigators to use.”
Fitbit data also made a legal appearance in 2015 in the case of Jeannine M. Risley.
Risley had filed a police report claiming she was assaulted at knifepoint. After authorities located her Fitbit (which she claimed had been lost in the struggle), the data didn’t back up her statements. After investigators downloaded her activity, it showed she was awake and moving during the time she claimed she was asleep. Combining this data with other evidence, local law enforcement charged Risley with “false reports to law enforcement, false alarms to public safety, and tampering with evidence … ,” according to ABC27.
The Fitbit’s power to store our information, used ethically and responsibly, is a valuable resource for law enforcement. But what if that data gets into the wrong hands? We’ll look into that next.

Hackers can find out where you exercise, when you sleep, and where you work.

In 2016, hackers successfully breached several Fitbit users’ accounts in an attempt to get replacement parts under warranty. The hackers were also able to gain access to users’ GPS history, which shows everything from where a person exercises to what time they go to sleep.

Those implications are frightening, according to Internet of Things (IoT) thought leader and author Scott Amyx: “Security continues to be one of the sorest points when it comes to wearables and IoT. Hacking into home security cameras and autonomous vehicles are threatening enough, but wearables provide attackers more sensitive information about one’s health, biometrics, and even sex life.”
If that last sentence raises some eyebrows, it should. In 2011, many sexual habits of Fitbit users began popping up in Google searches. That happened because many users didn’t know their profiles’ default privacy settings made their data available in search engine results.
To Fitbit’s credit, the company acted quickly and set user activity sharing to “private” in the device’s default settings.

Amyx says that a less-discussed security risk is how the devices could affect corporate networks: “One of the hardest aspects of wearables is firmware. What was appropriate for an exercise tracking device as it grows into something bigger, unless carefully managed and updated into the firmware, creates potential vulnerabilities. Especially in an enterprise BYOD—bring your own device—context where your employees are wearing these devices in your network, it could be the potential weak link in your already vulnerable IT infrastructure.”

Data Mining

In addition to hacking risks, there’s another privacy risk many fitness tracker users (and users of any technology, for that matter) might not be aware of: the selling of your personal data.
A 2016 report from the Center for Digital Democracy and American University looked into data collection for Fitbit (and other wearable electronics, like Apple Watch and Misfit). Such devices, the report said, “are already being integrated into a growing Big Data digital health and marketing ecosystem, which is focused on gathering and monetizing personal health data in order to influence consumer behavior.”
HealthyWay
Amyx echoes these concerns: “Over the recent years, numerous platforms and services have cropped up that are sucking in health data from wearables, in some cases with compensation to consumers. For most, there are explicit opt-ins, but consumers are not always fully aware of the details in the privacy terms that might allow third parties and data aggregators to sell, distribute, and use their personal health data in ways that the consumer could never have imagined. For instance, a consumer may be unknowingly penalizing himself/herself by providing data, unbeknownst to the person, to an auto insurance company who will use the data to raise his/her premium.”

Sharing your data with Fitbit can in many ways maximize your experience with the product. Fitbit’s privacy policy says they use personal information to “provide, improve, and develop services.” They also use it to personalize your statistics, goals, and insights, and to “promote safety and security.”
But when that data is sold, it could lead to denial of health care coverage to affecting the outcome of personal injury claims, according to reporting in U.S. News and The Atlantic.
Note that the Fitbit isn’t the only device sharing personal data with outside companies—in fact, they’re not even the only fitness-tracking device to be doing so. It’s important that users understand the ways their gadgets handle their information. Oftentimes, you can alter your privacy settings to minimize the sharing of your data.

Fitbits And Eating Disorders

Beyond legal, security, and privacy issues, there is another aspect of the Fitbit worth contemplating, according to clinical psychologist Alexis Conason: It could be detrimental to those who suffer from eating disorders.
“One of my concerns with the Fitbit is that many of the programs translate into activities and calories burned,” says Conason, who specializes in treatment for overeating and body image issues. “… a lot of people struggling with eating disorders will get into that mindset of, ‘If I take that kickboxing class, I’m going to burn X amount of calories, and I just had a binge last night.’ … [We can also] get into doing exercise for the sake of trying to compensate for foods that we’ve eaten, which is the hallmark feature of bulimia.”

A 2017 study by Courtney C. Simpson and Suzanne E. Mazzeo supports this concern. The study featured 493 subjects, who either used fitness-tracking devices, like the Fitbit, or calorie-tracking devices.
The authors concluded that “fitness tracking, but not calorie tracking, emerged as a unique indicator of [eating disorder] symptomatology. This finding suggests that activity monitoring might be more aligned with disordered eating attitudes and behaviors than calorie tracking.”

Conason says obsessing over Fitbit data “can be very triggering to people who are at risk for an eating disorder” and suggests that instead of being reliant on such devices, we should more in touch with our individual health needs.
“Our bodies tell us what to do when we’re hungry, when we’ve had enough to eat, when we feel full, when we feel satisfied,” she says. “And, to me, that type of information is so much more reliable than what we’re getting from some arbitrary one-size-fits-all computer program.”

To Fitbit, or not to Fitbit?

It’s clear that there are many ethical issues worth contemplating regarding the Fitbit and other fitness tracking devices. Given so many potential problems and concerns, one can wonder if they really do more harm than good.
There’s plenty of good. Many people experience undoubtable benefits from the devices. The devices help them with their fitness goals, supplying them data they might not otherwise be cognizant of, all while lessening the extra expenses of personal trainers and repeated medical tests.
Patricia Lauder, a 73-year-old retiree from Connecticut, credits the device with saving her life. After recording an alarming resting heart rate number, she went to the hospital, where they discovered blood clots in her lungs, according to CNN.


And in 2016, then-18-year-old Sarah Jayne-McIntosh was rushed to the hospital after her Fitbit showed that her heart rate tripled at random. At the hospital, doctors discovered an undiagnosed heart condition, reported The Daily Mail.
HealthyWay
The biggest risks with the Fitbit (and similar fitness-tracking devices) involve its data: We shouldn’t treat the results as infallible replacements for medical examinations, nor should we disregard the implications of internet-stored personal information.
In the end, knowledge is always power. We will have to wait to see the results of further studies (and the standing legal cases) to shape our future conversation regarding wearable fitness tech.

Categories
Motherhood

The Science of Tickling: Does Playing "Tickle Monster" Make Parents Monsters?

There really is nothing quite as joy-inducing as the sound of giggling toddlers, and there is no better way to burn off a little energy before bedtime than running around the house. For these reasons, it seems like every family has some version of “tickle monster” they play with their kids. They chase their kids around the house, tackle them, and then tickle them until they scream.
My family plays it, too. Honestly, it has never crossed my mind to question this tradition. My kids laugh ferociously every time we tickle them. Recently, however, I came across research on the science of tickling. 

The main findings of this research, which was conducted in 1997 by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), is that humorous laughter and ticklish laughter share some similarities but don’t share the same psychological experience. Specifically, humorous laughter indicates enjoyment, and ticklish laughter does not.

Tickling: Fun or Torture?

There are big differences between our experiences when we are exposed to something funny and when we are being tickled.
Let’s get the similarities out of the way. The UCSD study (where college-aged test subjects watched something mundane, something funny, and were tickled, all in various orders) found that laughing at humor and laughing at tickling have a positive correlation—people who laugh a lot at humor tend to be more ticklish. This, in part, is what the researchers were trying to find out.

Yet beyond that, the similarities stop. In this study, multiple tests were conducted to examine the relationship between tickling and humorous laughter. What was most interesting (or perhaps obvious) about the results was the revelation that laughing at tickling doesn’t mean the tickle-subject is enjoying the experience.
“Despite agreeing to participate in a tickle study and despite smiling and laughing, most reported that they did not find the experience at all positive,” the researchers wrote. One study participant said she felt like she was being tortured while being tickled, even though she laughed a lot.

The researchers proved this point by measuring the effect of being tickled on the participants’ response to humor. The idea was that, if tickling was truly enjoyable, the participants would laugh more at comedy after being tickled—research shows, after all, that people tend to laugh more at a new humor stimulus if they’ve recently been laughing. They’re already giddy; it’s like they’re primed to crack up at the next funny thing.
This wasn’t the effect tickling had on the participants, however. The people who had been tickled and then exposed to Saturday Night Live didn’t laugh any harder than those who had not been tickled.

“The present results are consistent with tickle and humour responses sharing a final common motor-response pathway, without sharing the same psychological state,” the researchers wrote.
When you really think about it, it makes sense that tickling isn’t all fun and games. It’s easy for laughter to turn into tears after just a few minutes of tickling. There are also stories of young kids enduring “tickle torture.” One mom wrote into The Washington Post asking how to deal with her young child who had begun to dread being alone with his cousins for that reason.

Since then, there hasn’t been a lot of additional research on tickling. Harris, one of the original researchers from the 1997 study, has published followup literature on the topic. Specifically, in 2012 he wrote about the differences between smiling and laughing when amused and smiling and laugh when tickled. Published in The Encyclopedia of Human Behavior, he noted that a smile doesn’t always indicate a positive affect. However, he did clarify that he believes there is evidence that tickling can be enjoyed based on the environment and the relationship between the tickler and the person being tickled.
This brings up interesting questions regarding the prevalence of tickling in parent and child relationships. Should parents banish the tickle monster from their home? Or, because of the trust in the relationship, is tickling fair game?

Picking Up on Your Kid’s Cues

The truth is, it probably isn’t necessary to ban tickling from your home. It is important, however, to think twice before engaging in tickle play. It’s easy to assume that everyone involved is having fun, but parents should pay close attention to their child’s cues. As Jennifer Lehr wrote in Scary Mommy, parents who tickle their kids need to have “ground rules” in place to guide this type of play.
“Follow your child’s lead,” suggests Fran Walfish, PsyD, a Beverly Hills-based family and relationship therapist. “Some kids enjoy tickling while others find it painful. Know your child individually and intimately. Always give affection so that it feels good to both of you, not just the loving parent.”

Children who aren’t enjoying being tickled may be laughing, but they’ll often say “Stop!” or try to escape your grasp. In our family, for instance, we have one little one who yells “Stop!” before coming back for more. In light of what I know now about tickling, we’ve started asking her if she really wants to be tickled before we play tickle monster again. Usually, she says yes. Sometimes, she says no. We honor what she says because we don’t want to risk sending the wrong message.

According to Harris’ research, “A combination of thrill-seeking and pleasure in tactile contact might lead children to seek out what is still an intrinsically aversive situation.” Communication will help you and your child determine just how thrilling—and aversive—tickling is.
In general, Mayra Mendez, PhD, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Providence Saint John’s Child and Family Development Center in Santa Monica, California, believes that parents should allow children to set their own boundaries.

“Smiling or laughing because you’re getting tickled doesn’t mean you’re enjoying it,” she says. “These are sensorial reactions that may not be matching the emotional experience.”
This applies to games like tickle monster, says Mendez, but also to any situation that involves touch, including affectionate actions like hugs and kisses.

This is why it is important for parents to be watching for subtle cues from their children. Some children may ask you to stop or pull away, but others might not be so obvious. Flinching at your touch or grimacing between laughs are examples of more subtle cues that they’re not enjoying the tickling, says Mendez.

Are parents sending kids a mixed message?

In light of recent events, the topic of consent is getting a lot of attention in our culture. Now more than ever, parents are concerned with making sure their children understand that they are in charge of their body and can say no. They’re also having conversations about respecting consent, trying to teach their children to respect any no they hear from friends or family members.
In our family, we’ve been considering how important it is that our actions align with the things we say. We can tell our kids, “It’s your body,” but what message are we sending if we tickle them after they’ve said stop? Or if we pull them in for a hug or kiss when they try to wiggle away? We want to be certain we aren’t just preaching consent. We want to model it at home, too.

As parents, it’s easy to feel like we are the exception to rules about consent. It’s easy to feel that, as their mother or father, we get to smother them with kisses or tickle them whenever we please—that we don’t need our child’s permission to show them affection. The fact of the matter is that this mindset sends mixed messages to our children, says Mendez, who believes that parents need to consider how their actions align with their lessons about boundaries to their kids.
“Parents or caregivers as a whole have a tremendous power over young children,” she says. “Young children rely on learning about social cues, … what is acceptable, and … how to react to social messages from their caregivers.”

Because of this, she says it’s important that parents act in a way that is consistent with what they say to their children. Children will learn more from their emotional experiences than the words their parents say. Pushing, tickling, or hugging resistant children only sends the message that they can’t trust their own instincts. It communicates to children that they can’t trust themselves to decide what they do and don’t feel comfortable with.

What happens at home matters.

It’s important for parents to remember that their children trust them more than anyone. The way parents behave will ultimately influence how they respond to their friends or to strangers.
“If a child really isn’t comfortable with something, and the parent is still doing this action, that is sending the message that it’s okay,” says Mendez. This is confusing, and kids can’t discriminate between a parent who doesn’t respect their boundaries and a family member or stranger who pushes them to do something they’re not comfortable with.

These experiences that children have early in life have a huge impact on how they interact with others and the boundaries they set for themselves. Ultimately, parents need to respect those boundaries. They need to teach their children that they can trust themselves to decide what they are and aren’t okay with; they need to teach them that it’s okay to say no to the things they don’t enjoy. The lessons we teach our children will become the foundations for their interactions later in life.

Categories
Conscious Beauty

Makeup Artists Reveal The Industry's Most Important Secrets

With makeup, you don’t always get what you pay for.
You can spend hundreds of dollars on beauty products—and believe us, we’ve been there—but that doesn’t guarantee professional results. That’s not just our opinion, either. One 2016 study showed that professionally-applied cosmetics affected appearance much more than self-applied cosmetics did (no word on whether that study was published in the journal No Duh).
To find out how makeup artists get a flawless, camera-ready look, we decided to reach out to a few professionals (naturally). As it turns out, we’re not so much buying the wrong products as we are using them the wrong way.

Whether you’re a makeup newbie or you already have a talent for your contour palette, these tips can make a big difference. For instance…

Preparation is key.

Before we get to the experts, we’ve got to talk about moisturizing. Think of your face as a canvas: You can have all the best products in the world, but if your skin is dry and dull, you’re going to have issues.
Of course, this won’t come as shocking news to most makeup aficionados. However, while there are hundreds of moisturizers, toners, and serums on the market, there’s one product that’s absolutely indispensable: sunscreen.

When you go outside sans sunscreen, you’re not just risking a sunburn. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that 90 percent of skin aging is caused by exposure to the sun. People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher everyday have fewer signs of skin aging than those who don’t sport the ‘screen.
You might not like the oily feel of sunscreen, especially on your face. The good news is that many brands make face-specific sunscreens that won’t leave an oily base. You can also purchase makeup foundations that have sunscreen built in.

If you want professional results, prime your face.

“Always use a primer,” says Marissa Hohner, makeup artist and owner of Sugar Skull Makeup in Chicago. “Primers allow your foundation and makeup to have a long-wear application on your skin throughout the day.”
If you’re not using a primer, you’re probably not getting the results you want. Primers even out your skin tone, minimize the appearance of pores, and help smooth out skin imperfections. They also give your makeup something to hold on to, ensuring a better all-day look.
If you want your look to last, you can’t skip this step.

“Allow your primer to seep into your skin for a couple of minutes until it feels a bit tacky to the touch,” says Hohner. “This will ensure a longer-lasting wear for your foundation throughout the day.”
That works because many primers use silicone-based polymers like dimethicone, the same types of silicones found in hair conditioners. Just as you let your hair conditioner sit in place before you wash it out, you’ll need to give your primer some time to work.

Patience is key. Primer takes time. If you rush through and refuse to wait, you won’t be getting better-looking makeup, you’ll just waste expensive primer.
Incidentally, dimethicone-free primers are available, and they’re sometimes a better choice for people with acne and other skin conditions. If you’re noticing a reaction from your primer (or any other cosmetic product), speak with your dermatologist.

There are a few key tricks to using foundation and concealer.

After your face is moisturized and primed, it’s time for the foundation and concealer.
We could easily write an entire piece on foundation and concealer, as there are dozens of high-quality products on the market. To get professional results, you’ll need to do some experimentation to figure out what works best for you and your skin. It’s also important to decide on a look and matching your application to achieve the desired outcome. One pro-ready option: Switching to a beauty sponge.
“Pressing your foundation and concealer into your skin with a damp beauty sponge will give you more coverage and an airbrushed look,” Nashville makeup artist Corrine Towery tells HealthyWay.

As with everything in the world of cosmetics, moderation is key.
“Don’t overdo the foundation,” says Hohner. “If you cake on too much foundation, your skin can look muddy and cakey. A buildable foundation will allow you to start with a thin layer and then add upon that layer with additional product … in trouble areas that may need more coverage.”
In other words, take your time. Hey, we’re starting to notice a pattern here.

Bake your face.

No, this doesn’t involve any kitchen appliances. When you need your makeup to last all day, it’s time to “bake.” That term has been frequently used in the drag community for years—and, by and large, their makeup looks fantastic—but recently, we’ve seen it pop up in more mainstream outlets.

To “bake your face,” you’ll cover your foundation and concealer with a translucent powder and let it set for five to 10 minutes. The heat from your face will set the makeup, creating a creaseless, flawless, long-lasting look. Pretty cool, right?
Baking is especially helpful for treating any areas that are prone to wrinkles.
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“By using a light-weight, loose, translucent powder to set your under-eye concealer, you will prevent your concealer from creasing and accentuating any crow’s feet or fine lines under and around the eye,” says Hohner.
It takes a lot of time and effort to look great. Don’t risk any breaks or cracks.

There’s a trick to making your lips pop.

Just as you need to prepare your skin before applying makeup, you need to make sure that your lips are in great condition before reaching for the lipstick.
“Any flakiness should be removed prior to a lipstick application,” Artistic Director for Osmosis Colour Mineral Cosmetics Alejandro Falcon tells HealthyWay. “[After moisturizing], use a lip liner to shape and outline your lip area. I usually fill in the lip liner halfway inside the lips for a more precise look.”

If you want your lips to appear fuller, use a little bit of highlighter.
“Grab your favorite liquid illuminator and apply it to your cupid’s bow vertically,” says Caitlin Picou, makeup artist and owner of Kismet Cosmetics. “This makes your top lip pop. Take it further by applying the same illuminator to the inner parts of your lips, as well.”

Want someone to get lost in your eyes?

What’s that saying…the windows are the eyes of the house? It’s something like that.
In any case, you can command a room with your wicked winged liner and flawless smokey eye with this foolproof eye makeup process.
“Start with a cream eyeshadow base to intensify the staying power and the pigments in the shadow,” says makeup artist and founder of Formula Z Cosmetics, Zach Dishinger. “After you apply the base, line your eyes with eyeliner and blend it on top of the cream base. Next, move on to your powdered shadows.”

Mascara can take your look to the next level, but it’s not always easy to apply. The brushes can be unwieldy, and if you say that you’ve never accidentally poked yourself in the eye, you’re either remarkably coordinated or lying.
“Place a finger or a makeup sponge behind the lash to prevent the mascara from smudging on your face or eye area,” says Dishinger.
What if you make a mistake and apply too much? “Let the mascara dry completely,” Towery says. “Once it’s dry, take a clean Q-tip and wipe it off. It won’t smudge and ruin your makeup.”

When your favorite tube has run out, always save the brush.
“Keep the wand and use it with cheap mascara to save some money,” says Towery. “Mascara is mascara; the wand is what makes the difference.”

Some cosmetics are remarkably versatile.

“If there are colors you don’t use in your contour and highlight palettes, use them as eyeshadows,” says Towery.

Pretty much any cosmetic can work as a highlighter, although you’ll want to check before putting a product near your eyes or lips if it’s not designed for that express purpose. We’re big fans of the eyeshadow-as-lip-liner movement, but some intense colors have mineral additives that we’d rather not consume accidentally.

Finally, don’t assume that the most expensive brands are worth the money.

As we mentioned earlier, you don’t need to buy the most expensive beauty products to see the best results. Cheap mascaras are essentially the same as the expensive ones (other than the brush), and you can easily find decent makeup for $10 or less.

“Drugstore products are a great way to save money. Not everything is amazing, but there are hidden gems,” says Towery. “Instead of having trial and error and wasting money on random products, look up reviews and tutorials on YouTube on products to see what to buy. Some of my holy grail products are from the drugstore.”
Here’s more on drugstore beauty products vs. their high-end counterparts.

Categories
Motherhood

7 Age-Old Breastfeeding Myths And Why They're Wrong

The first time someone in my family suggested I should give my second baby a bottle, I took it personally. My baby wasn’t sleeping much at night, so I found myself breastfeeding around the clock. I had brought it up not because I was looking for advice, but because I just wanted to vent about how desperately tired I was.
“Maybe she’s hungry,” they suggested to me casually. My stomach dropped when they said it. How dare they suggest I’m not doing a good job feeding my baby. I, somewhat shortly, told them I didn’t see any reason to switch to formula and ended the conversation.
Since then, I’ve heard that advice more times than I can count. Although I have come to accept that my babies just don’t seem to sleep soundly, there have been people in my life who have felt like it was breastfeeding that was the problem. They seemed to believe that if I really wanted to get more sleep, I needed to give up on breastfeeding altogether.
Breastfeeding is an interesting experience in that it is so different from mom to mom, child to child. Despite the ample amount of information on the internet, there are a lot of misconceptions about the practice that are still hanging on for dear life. Some believe that breastfeeding moms don’t sleep, while others believe that breastfeeding is the only option. Let’s clear up these myths once and for all.

Myth: Breastfed babies don’t sleep.

As it turns out, this commonly-held belief about breastfeeding is a big misunderstanding. Moms who choose to nurse their baby don’t actually sleep a lot less—they actually sleep more than moms who formula-feed, according to a study published in The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing.
“Breast milk is perfectly designed for our babies,” explains Angela Dietrich-Kusch, MD, pediatric hospitalist with Riley Children’s Health. “Because it is more easily digested, it does tend to pass through their system more quickly.”

Additionally, breastfed babies are less likely to overeat since it takes more effort to drink milk from a breast than it does a bottle. However, Dietrich-Kusch was quick to express that a soundly sleeping baby is overvalued in our culture.
“The issue there is that we know from the research on sudden infant death syndrome that sleeping more soundly does not equal sleeping safely,” she explains, referring to the numerous studies that have found an increased risk of SIDS associated with formula-feeding babies, as shown in a review published in Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Myth: Breastfeeding comes naturally.

While it may be true that breastfeeding is “natural,” that doesn’t mean it just comes naturally to new moms and their babies. When I ask my friends about their breastfeeding experience, I hear the same answer from four different moms. They all tell me it was so much harder than they expected.


“I was shell-shocked by how hard it was the first time,” shares Becky Wilson Berezoski, mom of four. “How completely dependent my baby was going to be on me, how overwhelmed I would feel being his only source of food, and how physically and emotionally taxing it would be.”
According to Rachel Borton, MSN, FNP-BC, the director of the Family Nurse Practitioner program in the Bradley University Department of Nursing, it’s uncommon for a new mom to breastfeed without facing a single challenge. Most moms experience some discomfort, their baby has difficulty latching, or mom feels like her milk is slow to come in.
“It’s not insurmountable,” she says. “You have to consistently try the same things everyday; you’re breastfeeding every three to four hours, it’s a lot of work.”

Myth: Breast size matters.

Some women may find themselves concerned that their small breasts will prevent them from producing enough milk for the baby. Breast size doesn’t influence milk production, according to Dietrich-Kusch, who said she does hear this concern from new moms in her clinical work.

“They may worry about whether or not they’re going to have the ability to make breastmilk,” she says. “Our mammary glands are not dependent on the overall size of our breasts, so that’s kind of an individual thing.”
Although it is true that milk storage capacity varies from mom to mom, storage capacity doesn’t determine if a mom is able to breastfeed. Instead, it may simply influence how often she breastfeeds, according to breastfeeding resource KellyMom.

Myth: There’s a magic pill to increase milk supply.

When a baby is depending on you as their source of food, it is easy to get caught up in concerns that you are not making enough milk. Because of this, it is fairly common for moms to search social media support groups looking for a magic pill or simple strategy for increasing their milk supply.
The issue with this is that there isn’t any clear research that there is any one thing you can eat or drink that will help you produce more milk. In fact, there simply isn’t research at all.

“Studies like that are hard to do. You’re exposing the infant to something they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. It’s hard to convince people to buy into doing studies like it,” explains Dietrich-Kusch. “Certainly, we know that things like fenugreek, the supplements they sell, they’re not harmful to babies.”
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Outside of knowing they’re not harmful, Dietrich-Kusch simply doesn’t believe there is enough information out there to determine if milk-boosting supplements will work. One review published by The Annals of Pharmacotherapy confirmed her assertion, saying that evidence is lacking on the topic of galactogogues and breast milk production.
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Although she doesn’t discourage her patients from trying, she always advises them to rely on the one method that is proven to work—breastfeeding more often and for longer periods of time. Breast milk production is a supply and demand relationship, the more a baby stimulates the breast, the more milk the mother will produce.

Myth: Breastfeeding always hurts.

When it comes to [linkbuilder id=”3228″ text=”breastfeeding myths”] that won’t go away, this just might be the most difficult-to-dispel myth out there. Nearly every mom I asked about their breastfeeding experience says she experienced a lot of pain. I hear it described as “toe-curling,” while other moms say they were in tears every time their baby nursed.

But when I follow up with experts, they say this type of pain shouldn’t be seen as normal. What is normal is to feel some discomfort during the first couple of weeks.
“That has to to do with the latch,” explains G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, OB-GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. “If the baby is latched properly, initially you might get uncomfortable because your nipple is not used to the breastfeeding … so you kind of get a lot of nipple chafing and dryness.”


Most moms will also experience pressure when their breasts become engorged, according to Borton, who clarifies that it is a tight pressure in both breasts that can be relieved by breastfeeding, not a stabbing pain.
On the other hand, if the mother is actually in severe pain, her nipples are bleeding or scabbing, or she has very localized pain, something isn’t right.
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“As opposed to pain, which can either be pain from the baby latching improperly versus pain that can occur from infection due to mastitis,” says Ruiz, who advises moms experiencing redness, pain, or tenderness to see a lactation consultant for advice.

Myth: Bottle feeding causes nipple confusion.

Many moms hold off on introducing a bottle or a pacifier because of the fear of nipple confusion. It isn’t quite accurate to call this is myth since it is more of a misunderstanding.
First and foremost, it’s important to understand just how difficult it is to provide a black and white answer to this concern.

“Every single baby and mom are different,” explains Dietrich-Kusch. “We know that there are some babies that can go seamlessly between artificial nipples and breastfeeding without seemingly any issue, while others will prefer one over the other.”
Secondly, it is important to know that bottle feeding and breastfeeding don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Moms just need to be smart about how they proceed. Artificial nipples can allow babies to eat with less effort, since the milk flows more quickly. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Leigh Anne O’Connor advises moms who would like to introduce a bottle to make sure the breast is still being stimulated often to encourage continued milk production. Additionally, she suggests using bottles that have a slow flow nipple, which is typically clearly labeled on the bottle packaging.

“You’re unable to predict by looking at a baby what that baby’s preference is going to be,” says Dietrich-Kusch. “Certainly, waiting to introduce artificial nipples until breastfeeding is established seems to be the key. Once breastfeeding is established, typically anywhere between three to six weeks of life, it’s okay to at least try to see how they will do.”

Myth: Breastfeeding is the only option.

“I had to supplement early on with all my babies because they lost too much weight and were at risk of failure to thrive,” mom of four Katie Fazio shares with HealthWay. “It broke my heart, and I felt like failure as a woman and like I didn’t deserve my babies.”
Fazio’s story is a common one: Mom tries to breastfeed, mom can’t breastfeed either because she has a low milk supply or because she isn’t able to maintain her milk supply because of her lifestyle, and then mom feels really, really guilty. Although it is certainly true that breastfeeding is perfectly designed nutrition for babies, it is not the only acceptable option for babies.

It is important that moms don’t get too caught up in the myth that formula is not an acceptable alternative to breastfeeding.
Newer research published in Maternal & Child Nutrition focused on formula-feeding mothers found that, because of negative emotions associated with formula feeding, many mothers who make this choice experience decreased emotional well-being.

Ultimately, it is most important that the baby is well-fed and the mother is taken care of, making it incredibly important that mothers are supported in their decision to breastfeed or formula-feed and that they are given the information needed to dispel the most common myths about infant feeding.
[related article_ids=1002282]

Categories
Wellbeing

6 Symptoms Of IBS That Most People Ignore

Generally, it is believed that 10 to 15 percent of the population deals with irritable bowel syndrome. The symptoms of IBS fall on a kind of sliding scale and vary quite a bit. One person’s symptoms might be mild, while another’s symptoms could be highly disruptive to their life.
It is also believed that the number is difficult to tie down because of underreporting of symptoms. This could be because the symptoms come with some embarrassment. It may also be because some people believe the symptoms they experience are normal, and they simply never consider seeking treatment.

“People ignore the symptoms because it’s not something that’s major, it’s something people write off,” says Nicole Edwards, DO. “They kind of brush it off, or people don’t know the importance of having a regular bowel movement.”

What Causes IBS?

The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are not cut and dry. This is likely because it is a complicated disorder with many contributing factors. At the most basic level, IBS is believed to be a disorder caused by problems with how the brain and the gut communicate with each other.

One of the most common causes is stress. It is believed that having many stressful circumstances in your life plays a huge roles in problems with the gut. More specifically, people who have trouble coping with the stress in their life are more likely to develop it.
“If one individual has a very poor coping mechanism with their stress, they can go through the symptoms of IBS more so than those who can go through the same stress but have a better coping mechanism,” explains Ashkan Farhadi, MD, gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center and director of MemorialCare Medical Group’s Digestive Disease Project in Fountain Valley, California.

Additionally, for some people dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, there may have been an inciting event that triggered their IBS. If an individual experiences abuse or trauma early in their life, this might cause gastrointestinal dysfunction, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Dealing with depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses also puts you at an increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome.

Environmental factors can create problems with the GI system. For instance, dealing with a bacterial infection or a parasite can cause the symptoms of IBS to develop, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. If you have food intolerances or allergies, this might also be a contributing factor.

Symptoms of IBS That Most People Ignore

According to Edwards, it often takes increasing severity of the symptoms of IBS, such as prolonged constipation, before individuals see a doctor.

“They’re starting to get pain or that abdominal cramping that used to be minor is getting more severe,” she shares. “When something becomes persistent, and usually when it is interfering with their normal activities, that’s when they’ll finally come in an say something is wrong.”

There are only benefits to seeing a doctor if you are experiencing the symptoms of IBS. It is worth it to push past the embarrassment of the conversation or the inconvenience of a doctor’s appointment to find relief from the persistent discomfort. Here are the symptoms of IBS that so many people ignore but warrant a visit with a general practitioner.

Pain and Cramping

The most common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome is also one that often goes ignored, according to Farhadi. Cramping and pain in the abdominal area isn’t normal, but many people brush it off or believe it is just who they are.

“Sometimes the symptoms of indigestion [and] abdominal pain are so chronic that the people get used to it,” he explains. “They take it as their normal routine or the daily life habit of the gastrointestinal system.”

Unpredictable changes

For the most part, bowel habits should be predictable and consistent. When you experience regular changes to your bowel habits, this is a pretty good indicator that you might be dealing with irritable bowel syndrome. It’s hard to say exactly what changes to look for since it varies so much from person to person. However, if you consistently experience constipation, diarrhea, or both interchangeably, don’t brush it off.

According to Farhadi, changes in bowel habits often go ignored because people have been experiencing this symptom for much of their life.
“They believe, ‘This is me,'” he says. “So they think this is the way they should be because they’ve been like this for decades.”

Feeling Bloated

It isn’t normal to feel like your abdomen is full or tight. Everyone might experience bloating from time to time, perhaps after a rich or spicy meal, but regular bloating is a symptom of irritable bowel system.
Bloating is typically caused by gas building up in your gut. This can be uncomfortable and annoying at the least, and it might cause pain for some.

Recurring Constipation

People should expect to have regular bowel movements. Unfortunately, many people ignore constipation or brush it off as no big deal.
“People often ignore not having a normal consistent bowel movement,” says Edwards. “If people are having alternating constipation for days followed by loose stools or diarrhea, they may have IBS and need to see their doctor for complete work up.”

Abnormal Bowel Movements

“A lot of times, people don’t know what a normal bowel movement is,” says Edwards. “If you don’t know what normal is, then you don’t know how to look for the abnormalities.”
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So, bowel movements should never be accompanied by straining. After using the bathroom, if you often feel like you’re not done, this can also be a symptom of IBS called incomplete evacuations.

Mucus in the Stool

Although it is typical to have a small amount of mucus in the stool, increased amounts of mucus can be an indication that something else is wrong. If you notice the mucus has increased or if the color has changed, this is a clue you may want to be evaluated for IBS.

Ruling Out Bigger Issues

One reason it is so important to not ignore the symptoms of IBS is that this disorder shares symptoms with more serious gastrointestinal disorders. If you are experiencing chronic pain associated with your bowel movements, excessive mucus, or changes in your bowel movements, your doctor will likely check in to make sure there is not something bigger going on.

“When you have any type of bowel symptoms, the first thing we’re going to do is send you for a colonoscopy,” explains Edwards. “We want to rule out Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and we want to rule out if there is any type of food allergies.”

Treating and Living with IBS

It is unfortunate that so many ignore the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, because it is a very treatable disorder. Although ignoring IBS isn’t generally considered to be dangerous, your symptoms can worsen over time, making it more difficult to treat.
Both Fahdari and Edwards are big proponents of educating their patients to manage their irritable bowel syndrome. Far too often, individuals with the disorder ignore it or allow it to impact the quality of their life. This doesn’t have to be the case.
Treatment varies based on the symptoms as well as the perceived causes of the disorder. It is fairly common for doctors to recommend lifestyle changes to address irritable bowel syndrome. These changes might include changes in diet, including giving up foods they’re more sensitive to or following a special diet. Doctors may instruct their patients to increase their exercise, to spend more time sleeping, or find creative ways to eliminate or cope with the stress in their life. Some doctors may even recommend therapy, especially if there is extreme stress of trauma in the patient’s life.

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are many medications that can be used to treat the different symptoms associated with IBS. Generally, the medications are selected based on the specific presentation of your disorder. If you are more constipated, for instance, you might be prescribed a laxative. If diarrhea is the problem you deal with more often than not, medications like loperamide might be your best bet. Your doctor will work with you, trying to find the right combination of medications and lifestyle changes.

Dealing with irritable bowel syndrome is frustrating and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. If you experience changes in your bowel movements, abdominal pain and cramping, or gas, speak up! A visit with a doctor might be the first step to feeling more comfortable in your body and more in control of your daily routine.
“We can be educated managers of this condition,” says Fahdari. “Or we can allow this condition to manage our lives.”

Categories
Wellbeing

Patients And Surgeons Reveal The Realities Of Plastic Surgery

“Ultimately for me, it’s a very small change—smoothes out my forehead lines—that makes a huge difference in my confidence,” says Maria Peterson, a full-time mom who also has a full-time profession outside the home. And Peterson isn’t the only one exploring the world of plastic surgery these days. From minor “tweakments” to major overhauls, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that in 2016, there were 17.1 million procedures.
Let that soak in: 17.1 million. So if you have had plastic surgery, you’re not alone. And if you are considering it, well, there is a big family waiting to embrace you.

Despite its popularity, plastic surgery doesn’t come free of risks. In fact, there are quite a few categories that need special attention when it comes to pursuing surgical repairs, enhancements, and cosmetic treatments.

The Person Behind the Knife

Perhaps it seems obvious, but in order to better ensure a successful outcome with surgery, it is essential to choose a qualified surgeon. But, for one reason or another, not everyone does.

Joshua Zuckerman, MD, of Zuckerman Plastic Surgery, tells HealthWay, “Unfortunately there are non-plastic surgeons performing surgical procedures that should only be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon.” For many, seeing an “MD” behind a name is enough to assume qualification. But the medical field is vast, and you might not want someone trained in family practice to be the person behind the proverbial (and actual) knife.

Unqualified doctors have also taken to social media to procure patients, and unfortunately, many have become quite come popular. Most accounts using plastic surgery-related hashtags are not qualified and thus, a dangerous choice. Beware!

Dimes and Dollars

No doubt, plastic surgery comes at a hefty price tag: anywhere from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the procedure. Since the majority of insurance companies do not (or do not fully) cover elective procedures, it makes sense that those seeking surgery would shop around a bit to find the best price.

It’s dangerous to skimp when it comes to plastic surgery, though. You have to ask yourself, “When I pay less, what am I getting less of?” People sometimes consider getting plastic surgery overseas due to significantly higher prices in the United States.

Zuckerman feels this is one of the biggest dangers of plastic surgery: “There are serious complications and deaths regularly from routine surgeries performed in the Caribbean and South America in locations such as the Dominican Republic or Colombia,” he says. When it comes to surgery, choose a board-certified surgeon in the U.S. to greatly reduce risk.

Breaking Habits

During the summer of 2017, Alicia Goveia decided to have a breast augmentation.
“It encouraged me to get into the best shape of my life prior to surgery and stop smoking! This was to ensure the best physical result and lessen any surgical risk,” she tells HealthyWay. “[My surgeon told me] smoking increases your risk by 800 percent.” And Goveia’s surgeon is absolutely correct.

When it comes to plastic surgery, smoking is a huge cause for concern. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which inhibits healing. It can also complicate anesthesia. Many plastic surgeons require complete cessation six weeks prior to surgery to avoid dangerous outcomes, as well as a timeframe after to ensure proper recovery.

Risk Assessment

It’s one thing to undergo surgery for an inflamed appendix or a worsening heart condition; it’s another to choose a surgical procedure that is considered elective. Franziska Huettner, MD, PhD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, highlights the following as some of the top dangers and risk of choosing plastic surgery:

  • Bleeding (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Asymmetry
  • Wound healing complications
  • Paralysis (nerve damage)
  • Need for revision surgery
  • Pain
  • Scar formation
  • Skin depigmentation
  • Skin necrosis
  • Anesthetic/perioperative complications like blood clot formation, heart attack, stroke, and in very rare cases, fatal complications

As with all medical procedures, from life-saving to elective, there is a risk/benefit analysis that every doctor and patient must draft and evaluate before proceeding. Complications are rare, but they do happen, and it’s important to fully understand that you could experience one of these temporary or long-term dangers.

In the spring of 2017, Aimee Wood had a breast reduction surgery. Since then, she has had six follow up procedures due to complications. Her complications have not only been painful, but they have also forced her to take additional time off work. Wood says she doesn’t regret her surgery, but given the opportunity to re-do everything, she would have chosen a different surgeon who listened more. Now, she is with a new team and hopefully on the mend for good.

A Somewhat Mysterious Outcome

Plastic surgery has come a long way, but it has not been perfected. Not everyone has the results they hope for. Although plastic surgeons are quite skilled in their expertise, they cannot guarantee a specific outcome. And, as Huettner shared, some surgeries lead to subsequent revisions.

The goal should be to partner with a surgeon and together, mesh your vision with their skill. Huettner tells HealthyWay that patients will often show her celebrity photos. She takes that “goal,” and using Vectra 3-D imaging, can show them on a computer screen what that particular face or body part will look like on them.

“In most cases,” Huettner says, “the feature of the celebrity simply does not look right on the patient, so we collaborate, with the use of technology, [to find] what would look best on the patient’s unique anatomy.”

Under the Skin

Plastic surgery offers a physical change, but there is so much more to it than that. Often, the desire for surgery is related to an underlying issue—anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and, sometimes, addiction.
“We cannot discuss plastic surgery without understanding the Euro-Western/mainstream cultural state of things for women (which both sexes perpetuate) wherein there exists much pressure for women to look eternally young,” says Natasha Sandy, a psychotherapist. “The biological reality of aging is being hidden, denied, and very aggressively combated, such as through plastic surgery.”

It’s a fine line in determining when plastic surgery is life-restoring versus life-taking. If a procedure is being used to mask an underlying emotional issue, it’s probably a good idea to delve into that before choosing surgery. “There is no greater joy for me than to help my female clients own their power, value, and worth for who they are, as they are,” says Sandy. “When this happens, women liberate themselves from the mental shackles of ‘beauty’ and shine as the true beautiful women they are, inside and out.”

Perks that Cannot Be Forgotten

So much of plastic surgery is discussed in terms of vanity. But truly, who are we to judge why someone does or does not choose a procedure? In addition to botox and other enhancements, there are countless lifesaving procedures done every year. Huettner names a few just to give us all a glimpse of how deep and wide the world of plastic surgery is:

  • reconstructive surgery after cancer resection, such as breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or facial and nasal reconstruction after skin cancer excision
  • reconstructive plastic surgery for facial trauma after domestic violence, personal attacks, or accidents
  • reconstruction after dog bite injuries
  • reconstruction of congenital deformities like cleft lip and palate formation or cranial deformities in children
  • body contouring surgery of the arms, legs, breast, abdomen, back and buttock after massive weight loss surgery
  • reconstruction of scar formation/contracture after a burn injury
  • significant improvement of neck and back pain through breast reduction plastic surgery

All of that IS plastic surgery. It is not only about reconstructing the body; it’s about restoring it, too.
Katherine Kramer benefited from a breast reduction after her last child was born. “My [breasts] were so heavy. They were awful while breastfeeding. It was like lifting sacks of flour,” she says. Kramer suffered back pain and was often embarrassed. Although she had a difficult recovery, Kramer says, “I would never turn back. I have suggested [breast reduction] to many and still would.”

Wood agrees: “I didn’t do it because I didn’t love my body. I had surgery because I was having chronic pain at 28 years old and couldn’t imagine what it would be in 10 years, even.” Like Peterson mentioned, plastic surgery has the potential to boost self-confidence.

“[Botox] is something I do three times a year. It’s worth every penny to me,” she says. Both minor and major procedures can be life-restoring in the fact that they allow a person to feel more like themselves. Often, it can change people from the outside in. Over and over, we hear about the importance of self-care, and for some, self-care can be found through a cosmetic procedure.

What’s coming next?

Plastic surgery is an ever-evolving field, and the future of plastics is exciting and innovative. Zuckerman believes that more and more procedures will become less invasive in the coming years, especially when it comes to fat removal and skin tightening, as well as longer-lasting injectable treatments for combatting aging and fat elimination. Low invasiveness is key because it most likely means a lower cost and shorter recovery time—something everyone can get excited about.

According to Zuckerman, “the use of 3D printing in craniofacial surgery to help with exact sizing for defect reconstruction (and for better complex preoperative surgical planning),” is on the horizon, too.
No matter the next phase, it’s a wonderful luxury to have access to plastic surgery. If it’s something on your mind, be sure to fully evaluate the risks before proceeding, and, as all our experts emphasized, find a board-certified surgeon. Zuckerman recommends searching the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and choosing someone who has before and after photos that are appealing.

Categories
Wellbeing

Here's What You Need to Know About Silent Strokes

Early intervention is crucial to minimizing the long-term effects of a stroke. Knowing this, public education on symptoms of stroke became a priority in the States in the early 2000s. These efforts were largely beneficial, resulting in a quicker response to early stroke symptoms by the general population by motivating people to call emergency response services at the first presentation of stroke symptoms. This translates to more successful early interventions during strokes, according to a study published in Journal of Epidemiology.
Now, it seems that most people understand the telltale signs of a stroke, thanks to an easy to remember acronym used to encourage more widespread knowledge of symptoms, according to Jason Tarpley, MD, PhD, a stroke neurologist and director of the Stroke and Neurovascular Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
“We often cite the acronym FAST,” he says, explaining that “F” stands for facial droop, “A” for arm weakness, “S” for speech difficulties, and “T” is for time to call 911.

Knowledge of this acronym is certainly important and it shouldn’t be disregarded; it encourages more people to act quickly when the most obvious symptoms of strokes arise. However, this memory tool shouldn’t be seen as providing a comprehensive outline of stroke symptoms. Unfortunately, not all strokes are easy to detect. Some may take place without symptoms or symptoms that are easy to brush off.

Stokes without symptoms are often called “silent strokes” because they typically go undetected unless seen on an MRI scan, according to Tarpley. In some cases, when these symptoms go ignored, it puts the person at risk for experiencing a second, more serious stroke. Because of this, it is important to understand silent strokes and how to move forward if you believe you’ve experienced this lesser-known health condition.

What is a silent stroke?

The most basic explanation of a stroke is that it occurs when there is a problem with the blood flow in the brain. More specifically, there are two types of strokes—ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. In the case of an ischemic stroke, a clot has formed in the brain which prevents blood flows to a specific part of the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are drastically different, caused when a blood vessel is weak and ruptures, according to the American Stroke Association. Additionally, smaller strokes caused by a temporary clot are knowns as a transient ischemic attack or TIA.

Typically, strokes result in noticeable and dramatic symptoms because the part of the brain affected controls major functions in the body. Those suffering from strokes will often experience muscle weakness, sudden loss of vision or double vision, or difficulty speaking. Most people recognize drooping or muscle weakness on one side of the face as a telltale sign of a stroke.
However, it’s important to understand that not all symptoms of strokes are the same. How a person experiences a stroke can vary greatly depending on the portion of the brain affected or the severity of the clot. In some cases, an individual might not experience symptoms at all, and this is known as a silent stroke. In other cases, there may not be symptoms but they might be brushed off because they are so unremarkable.

“A silent stroke basically means that someone didn’t know they had it,” explains Tarpley. “They’re very subtle things, and sometimes, you may have a stroke you didn’t even know you had.”
According to Tarpley, our awareness of silent strokes can be attributed to amazing medical technology. Modern MRIs are able to pick up on small, symptomless strokes, making it possible to detect and diagnose silent strokes.

Risk Factors for Silent Strokes

The same people who are at a higher risk for experiencing a typically presenting stroke are also at risk for experiencing silent strokes, according to Tarpley. Cen Zhang, MD, the assistant professor of neurology and stroke neurologist at the Comprehensive StrokeCenter at NYU Langone Health, explained exactly what those risk factors entail.

“As people get older, there is a significant increase in risk for stroke,” she explains. “High blood pressure is another big risk for silent strokes and evident strokes as well. Metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, can also raise risk for silent stroke.”
Additionally, there is some research that indicates that lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking, is associated with with increased risk for experiencing strokes, according to Zhang, who explained that the extent of the drinking is important to consider since moderate drinking is actually linked to a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems. There is not significant research that indicates that one gender is at a higher risk for strokes than the other, according to Zhang.

Symptoms That Could Indicate a Silent Stroke

It’s difficult to point out obvious symptoms of a silent stroke. A true silent stroke has no symptoms and may go completely undetected until another medical event requires an MRI.

“Often a person might be coming in for something else, such as headaches, and they get an MRI. That’s when a doctor finds evidence of a previous silent stroke,” explains Zhang. “Most people think of stroke as having symptoms like facial numbness, trouble speaking, etc. … but a silent stroke doesn’t show any symptoms.”

In some cases, the term silent stroke might be used to describe a stroke with very subtle symptoms, according to Tarpley, who said that sometimes individuals will experience very subtle numbness or dizziness they brush off because it isn’t dramatic or alarming.

Those who suffer from multiple silent strokes might experience changes in cognitive function caused by the build up of damage in the brain. This could include difficulty with memory and changes in mood. Even so, these changes may go unnoticed until a stroke is picked up on a scan, according to Zhang. She encourages adults to avoid brushing off changes as a normal part of aging, saying there is a big difference between struggling to remember a phone number and having memory loss impact your ability to carry on with your life as you normally would.

“You get lost going to familiar places like a grocery store, or you forget your children’s names,” she says, explaining that it is the people closest to an individual who are the best at detecting truly significant changes in mood or cognition.
“Something that has been observed in research and in my own practice … if a person can remember that he or she is having a harder time remembering things, they have good insight. Usually when a family member or aide reports these changes, that’s typically more concerning to me.”

Lifestyle Choices for Silent Stroke Prevention

If we’re being perfectly honest, it is incredibly difficult to give a one-size-fit-all prescription for prevention of silent strokes. First and foremost, aging is one of the main risk factors for all strokes and there is nothing that can be done to turn back the clock.

Even so, this doesn’t mean that those who are at an increased risk for silent strokes can’t make important changes to their lifestyle. All aging individuals should monitor their blood pressure carefully, according to Zhang. And, patients with high blood pressure should make healthy lifestyle changes and follow their doctor’s medication suggestions in order to control their blood pressure and lower their risk for stroke.

“Newer studies are saying even lower is better, and reducing blood pressure to below 130 mmHG is shown to be most helpful,” she explains. “Watching cholesterol, diabetes and the risk factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome can also be helpful to prevent the build-up of silent strokes.”
Another difficulty in offering directions for prevention of strokes is that strokes can be caused by a myriad of underlying health issues. For instance, some strokes are caused by narrowing of the arteries which may require surgical correction, according to Tarpley. Other strokes are caused by abnormal heart rhythms and require a completely different course of action.

This means that each patient experiencing strokes, silent or otherwise, must work with their doctor to address the underlying cause of their stroke to prevent any future strokes. Those who have previously experienced a silent stroke should not brush off the severity of the diagnosis simply because the symptoms are not dramatic or devastating. Even silent strokes have a harmful effect on the brain.

Many neurologists are beginning to suspect that experiencing a silent stroke is a pre-phenomenon, according to Zhang, who explains that silent strokes are widely considered to be a risk factor for future, more devastating strokes. If a doctor indicates that you have experienced a silent stroke, this should be taken seriously, and they can provide further direction on the next steps you should take.
“If you have a silent stroke on your MRI, then you’re at risk of having the same type of stroke that could leave you devastated with weakness on one side of the body or the other,” says Tarpley. “So, starting with what it looks like on a brain MRI, you can start to figure out what caused it and start to figure out how to prevent future ones.”

Categories
Lifestyle

Hair Stylists Explain The Most Common Hair Care Mistakes

Even for a fairy tale, the story of Rapunzel is implausible—and not just because of the protagonist’s overactive follicles. Anyone who’s sunk years into brushing yards and yards of their spun-gold hair would never let some prince yank, pull, and climb on it. A woman like Rapunzel doesn’t just care for her hair. She coddles it.
We can identify, but we also have much more than a comb to work with. There are shampoos, conditioners, products, blow dryers, and the influence of the “no-poo” lobby to contend with. It’s hard to know what to choose. That’s a problem, because the particulars of how you treat your hair make all the difference—even if you don’t have Rapunzel-level locks.
Many people don’t know exactly how to treat their hair to keep it healthy, hairstylists say. In fact, lots of popular products and practices actually do more damage than good. We talked to experienced stylists and got the inside scoop on some of the most common hair-care mistakes—and how to give your ‘do the fairy-tale ending it deserves.

1. You’re combing your hair wrong.

It really is possible to comb your hair incorrectly—and doing so can lead to some serious damage. When it comes to detangling your hair, moisture matters.

You don’t want to pull a comb through your hair right after you step out of the shower, says salon-owner and stylist Christy Stewart.
“Your hair is most fragile when wet,” Stewart tells HealthyWay.
Excessive brushing or combing can stretch wet hair and lead to breakage, she explains. The type of brush you’re using can cause problems, too. Brushes or combs with small, fine teeth cause more friction and pulling on the follicles and are not great to use.

“Use a wide-tooth comb or a wet brush that is made specifically for brushing wet hair,” Stewart says.
Many stylists even recommend using the “bottom’s up” method for brushing hair. It may feel weird at first, but “start at your ends and work your way toward the roots. Never start at the root!” warns Stewart. “You’ll just end up hurting yourself.”  

2. You’re washing your hair wrong.

You probably grew up with the iconic phrase “lather, rinse, and repeat.” Now there’s a whole new camp telling you not to wash your hair. Like, at all. Who can you really trust when it comes to cleaning your luscious locks?

First of all, your cleansing routine should be based on your hair type. Thin hair is more delicate and more prone to breakage, whereas thick or curly hair is stronger. Is your scalp exceptionally oily or dry? Taking note of your hair type helps you know exactly how to handle and clean your hair.
Regardless of your hair type, it’s always a good idea to start by thoroughly rinsing your hair with warm water. The temperature helps open up the hair cuticles, making it easier to remove any dirt and absorb the oils from your conditioner. If you have hair past your shoulders, it’s also a good idea to apply a light layer of conditioner to the ends first. Those are the oldest and driest points, and conditioning first helps protect the most fragile bits of hair during the cleaning process.

But should you even use shampoo at all? The “no-poo” sect was born from the idea that the more you clean and remove natural oils from your body, the more your body produces, and you’re forever stuck in a greasy loop.
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While it is true that shampoo removes your scalp’s natural oils, it’s completely okay to use it two to three times a week, reports NPR. People with curly hair can possibly go even longer without shampooing, but again, it’s different person to person. However, you should only ever be applying shampoo to your scalp—never down to the ends of your hair.
The way you lather up matters, too. Never apply shampoo in a circular motion. This can cause serious tangles and break your hair. Instead, move your fingers vertically across your scalp. And don’t think you need to follow the “rinse and repeat” adage. Unless your hair is exceptionally dirty (in this case, the shampoo might not lather at all), there’s no reason for round number two of ‘poo.

Finally, when you’re ready to condition, squeeze some of the water from your hair and then apply the product from the middle of your hair down to your roots (your scalp doesn’t need the extra oil). Leave conditioner in for as long as you can, and then rinse your hair until all of the product is removed. Then, if you can stand it, finish off your shower with a cold water rinse. This will seal the cuticle as well as the outer layer of the hair, giving it the most shine.
Also take note of the ingredients of the products you use.
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“Avoid products with sulfates, as they strip hair of its good stuff [natural oils], and sodium chloride because it can be very drying,” says stylist Kashmir Asvaraksh.
Look for paraben- and sulfate-free products instead—those will clean and condition your hair without the harshness.  

3. You’re towel-drying your hair wrong.

Nothing is sacred anymore. Even towel drying your hair after a shower can cause breakage and damage! While it may sound insignificant, the way you dry your hair really does affect the way it looks.

Vigorously towel drying after a shower causes a lot of friction, which leads to breakage—especially if you use a circular motion. Dry too roughly and you can damage hair cuticles, the protective outermost layer of each hair. That leads to frizzy, damaged-looking hair, and no one wants that.
The best way to dry your hair with a towel is to press or blot the towel onto the wet hair—no rubbing! Alternately, you could “swap that bath towel for a microfiber towel or old T-shirt instead,” Stewart says. “The high thread count will be much more gentle on those cuticles.”

4. You’re blow-drying your hair all wrong.

If you prefer to use a blow dryer, make sure you don’t go too crazy and dry your hair out with excessive heat. While thin hair is most susceptible to heat damage, even thick or curly hair shouldn’t be subjected to the high heat of a blow dryer for an extended amount of time. If you absolutely must blow dry, though, use a continuous motion and a flat nozzle attachment—that will direct the the warm air and help hair dry quicker and more evenly.

To properly blow dry, start by sectioning off parts of your hair. These smaller sections will allow your hair to dry faster with less heat, which is always a good thing. Decide on the look you’re going for beforehand, and then use the blow dryer to help achieve that look. Hold your brush vertically, and the blow dryer horizontally. This will give your hair more volume and won’t leave it stick-straight.

A boar-bristle brush is best to use while drying hair. Unlike its ceramic counterpart, the boar-bristle brush doesn’t conduct heat, which can flatten natural volume, quite as easily. Boar bristles will also smooth down the hair’s cuticles with ease. As for the type of hair dryer to use—it all comes down to your hair type.
Ionic dryers are better for thick or frizzy hair because they break up water droplets faster, cutting down drying time. However, these dryers aren’t great if your hair is oily or if you’re going for volume.
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Ceramic or infrared dryers are great for people with thinner, dry hair, but can also be beneficial for almost everyone. The weight of your locks also comes into play, especially if you have a ton of hair and have to hold the darn hairdo up for a long time. If you’re ready to splurge on a nice dryer, take some time and find the one the fits the majority of your hair needs—not just the most expensive or popular one.

4. You’re using heated tools disastrously wrong.

In addition to practicing good blow-drying habits, you should definitely be careful when using heated tools to style your hair. First and foremost, you have to use heat-protectant products if you are using a blow dryer or other heated styling tools.

“You can use heating elements regularly if, and only if, you use a heat protectant and a sufficient amount of it,” says Asvaraksh. “The heat protectant needs to be applied all over the hair” to be effective for keeping hair healthy while drying and styling, she says.

“To get the best results, look for products that fit your hair type. These heat-resistant products will prolong your blowout and limit heat damage,” says salon owner and stylist Eliut Rivera. For natural hair, you want to keep the temperature of any heated tool under 400 degrees. People with color treated, fine, or processed hair should stick to lower temperatures.
Rivera shares the cardinal rule of using heated tools on our hair: “The more heat applied, the more damage is being done,” the stylist says.
We would add a sliver of wisdom from Rapunzel’s world of myth. She never used heated tools, remember, and look how well that worked out for her.