Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Many parents wait until a child reaches puberty to talk about sex. However, research shows that it is important to start discussing issues surrounding sexual health when your child is younger — and continue communicating about sex in an age-appropriate manner throughout adolescence. Not only can these conversations make children more likely report attempted sexual abuse, but they can also deepen your relationship and prepare you for the often-complicated teen years. Start Conversations About Your Child’s Body Early The age you tell your child what really happens during sex will greatly depend on the maturity of your child and your…

Is your pee cloudy from frequent UTIs? Does it hurt to go? Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, occur 30 times more frequently in women than in men, according to the Office on Women’s Health. That’s because normal female anatomy allows for bacteria to be introduced easily into the female urinary tract. UTIs can take up residence in your bladder, kidneys, ureters or urethra, but the most common type of UTI is a bladder infection. Why Does My UTI Keep Coming Back? The Office on Women’s Health says an estimated 50% to 60% of American women experience a UTI during their…

If you’re like most women, when you experience abdominal cramps, bloating and mood swings before your period, you recognize it as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But what about lesser-known symptoms? If symptoms leading up to your period each month feel more like the beginning of seasonal influenza than PMS, it could be “period flu.” How Can You Get Period Flu? Period flu isn’t influenza — in fact, it’s neither contagious nor a virus. Instead, the flu-like symptoms are thought to be due to hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and may include: These symptoms can cross-reference between those typically associated with…

Here’s some news that will make you want to lace up your walking shoes — it turns out you can practice rheumatoid arthritis prevention with a brisk daily walk, according to findings published in The Rheumatologist, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology. Studies have shown that an increase in daily physical activity, even if it’s just a half-hour of walking at a quick pace, can lower your risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic, autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and can permanently damage your joints. Here’s more incentive to start walking — the study showed the…

People have searched for a fountain of youth for many millennia, and that’s no different today if ads and infomercials for anti-aging products are any indication. Today’s promise of youthfulness comes in the form of wrinkle creams, eye creams and other skincare potions in pretty packages. Can Skincare Companies Lie About Ingredients? While skincare product companies in the United States are not legally obligated to have their products or product ingredients FDA-approved, the law does require truthful branding and safe usage for humans. The agency also has different safety requirements for products classified as drugs (those claiming to “effect structure…

If it’s been a while since you had a pelvic examination, you might not know about the latest cervical cancer screening guidelines. The good news is that now you may not need screening as frequently as you once did. However, the screenings you get should be a little bit different now — although chances are, you won’t notice the change. Why You Need Screening — and Why There Were Changes Although cervical cancer isn’t as common as breast cancer, it still can have devastating results, especially for younger women who want but have not yet had children. The guidelines have…

Reaching a certain age doesn’t protect you from adult acne, a skin disorder occurring when hair follicles become inflamed due to clogged pores. Common acne can appear on the skin of your face, neck, chest, shoulders and back in the form of pimples or pustules, whiteheads, papules or blackheads. It can also manifest as nodules or large bumps just under the skin. Acne can develop for several reasons, including: Having a genetic predisposition Having an untreated medical condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Using oil-based skin or hair products Experiencing hormonal changes Taking certain medicines containing hormones, corticosteroids or lithium In adults, acne is…

Whether you’re approaching menopause or have already reached it, you may be dealing with a sensitive symptom of the transition — vaginal dryness. As the body’s production of estrogen drops, your vagina may lose some of its lubrication. That can lead to discomfort, including pain during sex. Fortunately, there are several ways to ease vaginal dryness. Why Vaginal Dryness Occurs Low estrogen can lead to some fundamental changes to your vagina. Inflammation can affect the vaginal walls, and they may become thinner and drier. In addition, the vagina may lose some of its elasticity. Collectively, these changes are known as…

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that occurs when a person or organization attempts to change the perception, sense of reality or memory of another person or group of people. The term comes from the 1938 play, “Gas Light,” which was later adapted into a movie starring Ingrid Bergman. In the film, Bergman’s character, Paula, is isolated and manipulated by her husband Gregory (played by Charles Boyer). One of Gregory’s manipulative tactics is to brighten and dim the gaslights in their home while insisting Paula is imagining the changing light. It may seem insignificant, but gaslighting is a serious…

Sometimes, emotions get the best of you. If you’re not careful, they can drive you to turn to food for comfort, even when you’re not hungry. Sound familiar? Then you need to learn how to stop emotional eating so you can lose weight or simply enjoy life. What Is Emotional Eating? Before you learn how to stop emotional eating, you’ve got to understand what it is. With emotional eating, you don’t eat when you’re hungry. You eat in response to a feeling or emotion. That feeling or emotion may be one of the following: Anger Boredom Happiness Loneliness or loss Resentment Sadness or depression Stress  Unfortunately,…