Glacial retreat in the Canadian Arctic has uncovered landscapes that haven’t been ice-free in more than 40,000 years and the region may be experiencing its warmest century in 115,000 years, new University of Colorado Boulder research finds.

This British teenager isn’t allowing a progressive muscle weakness to stop her from living life to the fullest.

Thirteen-year-old Sophie Anderson from Surrey, UK, was first diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – a rare neuromuscular disorder – when she was one year old, after her parents, Veronika and Richard, noticed that she only cried when someone tried to make her stand.

When her younger sister, Grace (now 11), started to hit her milestones quicker than she did, doctors ran blood tests and a muscle biopsy that confirmed she had a type of SMA.

“My family were aware something was wrong quite soon after I was born. I never cried, unless someone tried to stand me up,” Sophie said.

“Then my younger sister started to progress quicker than I was, so my parents started to look into it.

“Everyone told them I might just start walking a bit late, but then, after many blood tests, debates, meetings and a misdiagnosis, my faulty genes were eventually confirmed after a muscle biopsy.”

Sophie’s rare condition means she’s unable to walk, stand, sit unaided, lift her arms and hold up her head. She also gets fatigued quickly.

“SMA pretty much affects everything I do such as getting in and out of bed because I can’t sit up by myself or move my legs, which makes it pretty impossible to get dressed and undressed.

“Going on public transport because most buses, trains and taxis don’t have ramps, which makes it difficult to get on.

“Talking, eating and swallowing and holding up my head because if I’ve had a particularly long day, I get very fatigued, and that sometimes makes it difficult for me to use my neck, face and throat muscles.

“It affects so much more than you think it would though. Even the little things such as pouring yourself a drink, scratching that itch, hugging your friend, decorating your house for Christmas, cycling to school, being able to move if you’re in pain.

“People always take these things for granted, and they don’t realise that there are lots of people around the world who’d give anything to have the same experiences,” she said.

The youngster is in constant pain and has had more than 350 hospital appointments, 100 X-rays and eight surgeries.

It wasn’t until Sophie started school that she realised that not everyone was accepting of her disability. Her peers would often poke fun at her which chipped away at her confidence.

This changed when she was 11 years old and moved to a school for disabled children, where she made loads of friends who understood what she was experiencing.

Last year the teen started her blog, @wheelchair_dontcare, to inspire others to follow their dreams no matter their circumstances.

Sophie credits her naturally positive outlook on life for helping her manage her disability and wishes that she never spent time worrying about what other people think of her.

“I started my blog to spread awareness about different disabilities, as well as my own, to share my story and to hopefully inspire people to follow their dreams, no matter what obstacles are in the way, whether it’s a disability, low self-esteem, or anything,” Sophie said.

“Never worry about what others think, your life is yours – nobody else’s – so live it how you want to, not how you think others want you to.

“Remember the saying, ‘those who mind, don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind’ – that’s something I’ve recently tried to live by. And I think it would be so great for others to think about that once in a while too.”

Source: Magazine Features

Magazine Features

We all go through times in our lives where we feel sad. Perhaps after losing a pet, failing a subject at school or missing a loved one’s birthday. However, there is a fundamental difference between feeling sad and suffering from depression.

Guy Winch, a psychologist and author, writes in an article on Psychology Today that sadness is a normal human emotion. He says, “We’ve all experienced it and we all will again. Sadness is usually triggered by a difficult, hurtful, challenging, or disappointing event, experience, or situation. In other words, we tend to feel sad about something. This also means that when that something changes, when our emotional hurt fades, when we’ve adjusted or gotten over the loss or disappointment, our sadness remits.” 

Marwa Azab, an adjunct professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach, says sadness is “a healthy response to any kind of loss, disappointing outcome, or hurtful comment”.

Depression, however, is an abnormal emotional state. It is a mental illness that affects the way we think, feel and behave. Winch explains, “When we’re depressed we feel sad about everything. Depression does not necessarily require a difficult event or situation, a loss, or a change of circumstance as a trigger. In fact, it often occurs in the absence of any such triggers. People’s lives on paper might be totally fine – they would even admit this is true – and yet they still feel horrible.”

When you are depressed it affects every part of your life – things you once enjoyed are no longer enjoyable, it saps your energy and motivation, it makes you impatient, irritable, angry and feel like a failure.

Asking these questions* can also help you figure out whether you are depressed or just sad:

Have your eating and sleeping routines changed?

Perhaps you’re feeling sad after a particularly tough break-up or the death of a pet but you’re still able to stick to routines when it comes to eating and sleeping. If you are depressed, your normal sleeping and eating patterns are disrupted. You may find that you sleep more or less than usual, and your appetite is affected too – either you are eating more than normal do or you have no appetite. 

Do you still enjoy doing the things you like?

When you’re feeling sad, you’ll still be able to do the things you’ve always enjoyed doing – such as going out with friends or continuing with hobbies. When you feel depressed, you experience anhedonia, which is the inability to feel pleasure. CyberShrink previously told Health24 that anhedonia is when “whatever you usually enjoy doesn’t work anymore – hobbies, sex, sport, eating, pets, anything really. It’s also probably the underlying factor of ‘boredom’ – you feel bored because nothing gives you fun or enjoyment.”

Are you experiencing self-punishing or extremely negative thoughts?

Although you might feel responsible for a break up or a mistake you made at work, you won’t experience a permanent sense of guilt, worthlessness or feeling like a failure. Depression, however, manifests with constant thoughts or feelings of guilt or worthlessness. You feel like a failure and blame yourself for everything that has gone wrong.

*Disclaimer: This is not a diagnostic tool and if you suspect you might be depressed, it is important to consult your doctor. 

Symptoms of depression

According to the DSM-V, five to nine symptoms need to prevail during a two-week period. These symptoms can cause personal distress, and changes in how you function socially and professionally. 

• Appetite changes – either weight loss (when you’re not trying to lose it) or weight gain
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Fatigue or loss of energy 
• Slowing or speeding up of physical activity
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or being indecisive
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

At least one symptom needs to be:

• A depressed mood
• A loss of interest or pleasure in something you previously enjoyed

If you are concerned that you are experiencing depression rather than a bout of sadness, make an appointment to see your doctor so that you can discuss your concerns. Fortunately depression can be managed with therapy and medication. Left unmanaged, depression can lead to suicide.

If you need help, contact SADAG. You can speak to a counsellor between 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Sunday on 011 234 4837. For a suicidal emergency call 0800 567 567. The 24-hour contact is 0800 12 13 14. Alternatively, you can SMS 31393 and SADAG will call you back.

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Compiled by Mandy Freeman

“Your baby has been flagged as ‘high risk’ for chromosomal abnormalities” – the words no pregnant women ever wants to hear.

I always thought that falling pregnant was supposed to be this exciting time that leaves you literally ‘glowing … and for a vast majority of women it really is. For others like myself who suddenly find themselves thrown into the “high risk” category, it can be a real nightmare riddled with stress, uncertainty and many scary prenatal tests.

And when it comes to those tests, I bet you a million bucks that there isn’t a single pregnant woman out there who is excited by the prospect of having to run the gauntlet of needles. I know I wasn’t thrilled. In fact, I was absolutely terrified.

The test I was dreading the most? An amniocentesis…

So, what exactly is an amnio?

An amniocentesis is essentially a medical procedure in which a large, hollow needle is inserted through a pregnant woman’s abdomen into her uterus. A small amount of amniotic fluid (about 10ml) containing foetal tissue is then extracted so that it can be screened for chromosomal abnormalities like Trisomy 13, 18, and 21.

This fluid is sent away to a lab where they grow the extracted cells in a culture. The baby’s chromosomes are then examined under a microscope. It takes about two weeks to get the results for a full karyotype and a few days if it’s run as a FISH test (a faster testing method). As this is a diagnostic test, the results of an amnio are accurate and definite: either your baby has abnormalities or not.

Yup, sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

In my case, I was flagged as “high risk” for Trisomy 18 (a chromosomal abnormality called Edwards Syndrome) at my 12 week scan. Following that appointment I chose to have a non-invasive genetic test in the hope that it would to rule out a positive diagnosis for Trisomy 18, but it came back as inconclusive. In order to get a definitive diagnosis (because I had to know if my baby was OK) my doctors advised that I proceed with an amniocentesis.

Read more: 10 things I wish someone had told me about the 1st trimester

Are there risks?

Well, a needle is being inserted into your amniotic sack right next to your baby so yes, there are risks involved. The procedure should be performed between 16–18 weeks gestation with the aid of ultrasound-guidance so that the needle is inserted in an area away from the baby. If the procedure is performed incorrectly it can cause a miscarriage, infection or birth defects. Invasive testing caries a generalised miscarriage risk of 1:200 according to the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), and about one in every 150 to 200 women who have an amniocentesis will miscarry as a result of it, according to Lancet Labs.

Does it hurt?

I don’t know how you feel about needles, but personally I’m not a massive fan. I always find them painful. So to say I was a “nervous wreck” for the two weeks leading up to the procedure would be an understatement. My palms would literally sweat when I thought about my baby being accidentally poked. However when I arrived at the Fetal Assessment Centre for my amnio I was remarkably calm … like weirdly Zen.

Before whipping out that monster of a needle for the procedure, the doctor did a full scan of my baby and explained what she was going to do to me. She wiped down my abdomen with antiseptic (yes, no anaesthesia), held the ultrasound to keep an eye on the baby and told me to take a deep breath. I closed my eyes and grimaced while she inserted the needle. Literally a minute later it was all over.

I somehow managed to keep my nerve, mainly because my doctor was wonderful and my husband was incredibly calm on the outside.

So, did it hurt? I can honestly say that I felt zero pain. It feels more like ‘pressure’ … as if someone is pressing on your abdomen from the inside. That’s the best way I can describe it.

After patching me up with a plaster, a cup of tea and a little 20-minute lie down I was ready to head home to rest in bed.

The next day my abdominal area was a tad tender and I experienced mild cramping (similar to light period cramps), but that was it.

Read more: 6 prepregnancy tests every woman should consider

How much does it cost?

It depends where you have your procedure done, which medical scheme you’re with and whether the sample is being run for a full Karyotype or as a FISH test, but the cost can range between R5 000 and R9 000 (this was the price range quoted for my case). If you’re having an amnio as a “high risk” patient, your medical scheme might cover the full cost of the procedure.

Should you do invasive testing?

If you screen as “high risk” for one of the chromosomal abnormalities your doctor might suggest you consult with a genetic counsellor or advise you on doing further testing. At the end of the day invasive testing is a personal decision, and you ultimately need to decide what is best for you and your baby.

Looking back at my personal experience, I now know that I if I were to fall pregnant again and was advised to have an amnio for a second time, I’d be able to handle it.

To be honest, waiting for my amnio results was way more stressful and far more agonising than having that needle inserted into my stomach. Hindsight, right?

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She was trying to to help raise awareness of the 30-second test that could save your life.

Thousands of girls did not get full immunisation for HPV, which can cause cervical cancer, at school.

If natural beauty products had a prom, coconut oil would be queen this year. I mean, you can add it to desserts, use it as a great hair mask, and even apply it as a cuticle-softener. What more could you ask for?

Which begs the question: What would happen if you tried using coconut oil for acne?

First things first: What’s so special about coconut oil?

“Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of mature coconuts,” says Dr Shari Marchbein, a New York City-based dermatologist. “It is 99% fat, composed mostly of saturated fats, with the most common being lauric acid.”

Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties – both of which can be powerful weapons in the war against pimples.

There are a few ways acne-sufferers are using coconut oil for acne. “Most people using coconut oil topically are either using it to cleanse their skin as an oil cleanser, as a moisturiser, or as a spot treatment,” says Dr Shari Marchbein, a New York City-based dermatologist.

Read more: True or false: Coconut oil can help you grow out your hair

But is using coconut oil to fight acne really a good idea?

Uh, not necessarily.

There’s reason on the benefits of using lauric acid to treat acne – but most of those studies were conducted using pure lauric acid, as opposed to coconut oil, says Marchbein. “And lauric acid makes up only about 50% of the fats found in coconut oil,” she says. “This does not translate to efficacy of coconut oil in treating acne.”

In general, Marchbein would actually advise against using coconut oil to treat your acne, “given the high potential for coconut oil to clog pores and worsen acne”.

Still, Dr Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, says coconut oil has its advantages. “For most people, coconut oil can be a useful addition to your traditional acne regimen,” he says, “but with the exception of perhaps the most mild acne, coconut oil by itself will likely not be effective.”

So, how can I use coconut oil on my skin?

One more time for the people in the back: “I would not recommend using coconut oil to treat acne as it is can act like a wax, sitting as a layer on top of the skin, suffocating and clogging pores, leading to significant acne breakouts,” says Marchbein. “At best, coconut oil may be useful for removing makeup, but I think even for that, my preference would be a gentle foaming cleanser or micellar water.”

If you’re going to use coconut oil as part of your cleansing routine, Dr Sejal Shah, founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology, says it’s important to remove all traces of the oil with a second cleanser. Since coconut oil is so comedogenic (a.k.a pore-clogging), you don’t want to leave any residue of it on skin, says Shah. This double-cleanse method allows you to reap the soothing benefits of coconut oil – without risking a huge honking breakout.

You should also continue to use your usual acne-fighting treatments, Zeichner says. “Because if its outstanding hydration benefits, coconut oil [could be a] great partner to topical retinoids, which are extremely effective in treating acne,” he says. That’s because retinoids are known to cause skin irritation – and coconut oil is a powerful moisturising agent.

This might seem counter-intuitive (after all, you’d think oily, zit-prone skin wouldn’t need hydration) but lots of other treatments used to treat acne are drying, which can strip skin of its natural oils. “Maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier is essential for not only acne treatment, but also helping the healing of acne lesions with minimal scarring,” says Houston, Texas dermatologist, Dr Jennifer M. Segal, of Metropolitan Dermatology Institute.

Dry skin takes longer to heal, and if you have acne on top of that, you might see more scarring. Nourished skin is then better able to tolerate acne-fighting ingredients like retinols, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, and benzoyl peroxide, which means clearer skin, too.

Read more: 6 things you’re doing that are causing your skin to break out badly

What kind of coconut oil should I buy?

New York City dermatologist Libby Rhee, of Craig + Austin Medi-Spa suggests looking for unrefined coconut oil. “It has a great balance of natural fatty acids, which can be effective as a moisturiser for healthy skin,” says Rhee. You’ll also want to make sure there’s no added fragrance, as perfume is a common trigger for acne and sensitive skin, adds Segal.

Tip: Look for a raw, organic virgin coconut oil, which means it’s both unrefined and very likely fragrance-free.

If you can’t use coconut oil for acne, what should you be using?

Acne treatments are not one size fits all, but Marchbein typically recommends looking for skincare products that are oil free and non-comedogenic. If you are breaking out, make sure to consult your dermatologist for a comprehensive acne routine.

“Most patients require a combination of prescription creams including retinoids, like prescription Retin A or over the counter creams for those with more mild breakouts, as well as benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotics,” says Marchbein. “In addition, for those who suffer from adult female acne, oral contraceptive pills, as well as the anti-androgen pill Spironolactone, can very effectively be used as a part of a treatment routine.”

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com}

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If you’re only hitting up the fresh aisles at the supermarket, you might be missing out. Blueberries in your overnight oats, daily desk-based buffets of carrot crudité´s… Way to nail those servings of fruit and veggies. But where you buy and store the good stuff might be nearly as important as eating it at all.

Frozen vs. fresh

Frozen actually beat out fresh in terms of nutritional content for vitamin C, beta-carotene and folate in eight types of produce, one study found. And this isn’t the first piece of research to support the benefits of choosing frozen. Experts at the University of Chester in the UK compared levels of vitamin C in a range of frozen items with levels in fresh produce stored in the fridge for three days at 3.8 degrees. With the exception of cauliflower, levels were similar in fresh and frozen produce. But once the fresh food had been stored for a few days, vitamin C content fell below that of the frozen, with blueberries showing the biggest drop.

Read more: Official list: the most potent anti-ageing foods at the supermarket

So why does frozen fare better?

It’s like buying a car: the moment a shiny new model leaves the lot, it loses value. The same goes for freshly picked fruit and veggies. Despite boasting high levels of nutrients, many start to degrade as soon as they’re harvested. By the time they’re in your kitchen, the good-for-you profile has dropped. Frozen produce, on the other hand, is packaged at peak quality, helping it stay that exact way longer.

Read more: 9 high-protein vegetables that will fill you up fast

The big-picture perspective: eating more fruit and vegetables in any form will positively impact your health. So think about striking a mix of fresh and frozen in your weekly diet. If you’re throwing together a salad with veggies and crisp green leaves, go fresh. But if you’re cooking up soups, stir-fries and post-workout shakes with ingredients like corn, peppers and berries, frozen is a fantastic option.

Read more: 9 zinc-rich foods that belong in your diet

Best of the bunch

Use this handy cheat sheet for what to grab where at the market. Fresh: cherries, nectarines, strawberries, mealies, broccoli, green beans. Frozen: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, spinach, peas, cauliflower.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com}

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The tougher rules are being called “Natasha’s law” after a girl who died from a Pret a Manger sandwich.

Losing weight can be tough, but you know what else is tough? Feeling like you’re doing everything right and still not seeing the number on the scale go down – especially if you’d been previously losing weight.

That, my friends, is called a weight-loss plateau – and honestly, it’s not all in your head.

TBH, your body doesn’t really want you to lose weight – when you cut back on calories, it sometimes thinks you’re trying to starve yourself. “Your body will then make you feel hungry because it thinks something is wrong and wants you to gain that weight back,” says Dr Peter LePort, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

Also, when you start losing weight (muscle or fat), your body’s metabolic rate slows down, which means your body starts burning calories at a lower rate, too.

Frustratingly enough, there is also a “set point” at which your body does not want to lose any more weight, says Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an instructor of medicine and paediatrics at Harvard Medical School and obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. “You might notice that no matter what you try, you are always within five to 10 pounds of a baseline weight,” she says. “When you attempt to lose weight, the body aims to defend its set point, via the brain, to keep you in a certain range.”

Still, you’re not totally SOL if you’ve still got a ways to go before you hit your healthy weight. Here’s what might be causing your weight-loss plateau – and how to start losing again.

1. You’re tired

If you’re experiencing exhaustion while trying to lose weight, that could be a sign that your workouts are actually too intense. “Often, people try to ramp up their physical activity to levels that are not easy to maintain,” says Stanford. “While they may get some short-term benefit with regards to weight loss, this may be difficult to maintain which will lead to weight regain.”

One study published in the journal Current Biology found that more exercise does not equal more calories burned; instead, those who exercised moderately used the same amount of energy as those who slaved away at the gym.

How to avoid a plateau: Stick to the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation of least two and a half hours (or 150 minutes) per week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, plus strength training at least two days per week.

Read more: 9 tips for when you’re walking for weight loss

2. You’re hungry all the time

“When you lose weight, the brain and body compensate by making you hungry, which causes you to eat or store more,” says Stanford.

Research published in the journal Obesity showed that patients being given either a placebo or a weight-loss triggering type 2 diabetes drug ate 100 more calories per day for every two pounds they lost – indicating that weight loss really does make you hungrier.

How to avoid a plateau: Make sure that if you’re craving food, you’re opting for healthier fare like lean protein, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits, says Stanford.

3. You’re irritable 

If you’re reached the point in your weight-loss journey where literally everyone is pissing you off, it might be time to reassess your food intake and exercise output in order to keep losing weight without losing your mind.

Women who followed a 1 200-calorie-a-day diet, according to a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, produced more cortisol, the stress hormone, and reported higher levels of stress. And a study published in the journal Obesity found that prolonged exposure to cortisol (like, several months) can actual lead to weight gain.

How to avoid a plateau: If you’re super-stressed out, it might be time to employ some stress-management tools – and even up your calorie intake (especially if you’re exercising a lot).

It’s also important for you to be aware that weight-loss plateaus exist, and to cut yourself some slack when they happen, LePort says. If you know you tend to get stressed out when things don’t go your way (fair), you can try adding yoga into the mix or other regular self-care activities like hanging in a warm bath with candles and a trashy book.

Read more: These are the 6 steps you need to take if you want to slim down

4. You’ve loosened up on healthy eating

“In the initial stages of weight loss, people may see that weight comes off rapidly because they are creating a caloric and exercise deficit their body hasn’t experienced before,” says Feller.

After some time, however, it can be easy to slip back into bad eating or sedentary habits. “Relaxing the reins around portion sizes can stall weight loss,” she says.

Avoid a plateau: Try keeping a food journal to keep your diet plan on track. People who kept daily food records lost about twice as much as people who didn’t, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

5. You’re focused on cardio

It’s easy to think that endless cardio is the quickest way to weight loss, but “don’t skimp on strength training!” says Feller. “Cardio will result in weight loss, but you will lose lean body mass in addition to fat. And losing lean body mass will reduce your metabolic rate and can precipitate a plateau.”

Avoid a plateau: Remember: Make sure you’re strength training at least two days a week. “Muscle is more metabolically active than fat, meaning that the more lean body mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest,” explains Feller.

Adding interval training to the mix can also help, LePort says. Just keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat, so you may notice your pants fitting looser even if the scale doesn’t change.

Read more: The 7 best tips to lose those extra kilos, from a personal trainer

6. You rarely move outside of the gym

It’s great if you’re getting your 150 minutes of exercise in per week, but Americans spend more than 12 hours out of a 16-hour waking day sitting, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. And that’s not doing you any favours, especially if you’ve hit a plateau.

Avoid a plateau: Being active isn’t something that just happens in the gym, so make sure you keep moving to keep those weight-loss goals on track. Even just standing can boost your calorie burn, LePort says.

It’s also a good idea to add little calorie-burners to your everyday routine, like taking the stairs, parking your car farther away from a store entrance, and doing jumping jacks when you need a little pick-me-up in your day.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com} 

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