Feeling Off Lately? Here’s How to Know if Your Hormones Are to Blame

 Hormones are complex, and when it comes to a woman’s hormones, it’s often hard to keep track of them, especially when there’s little to no education about them.

That’s why it’s important to be self-sufficient in your education on hormones, so that the next time you feel off, you can check whether your hormones are the reason you’re feeling this way. From subtle symptoms that many will overlook to how modern hormone therapy can help strike the perfect balance.

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The subtle symptoms most women overlook

Subtle hormonal symptoms are often overlooked, so it’s important to look at what cognitive issues might be present and how hormones play a role in that. Here are some of the often-overlooked but subtle symptoms that may be influenced by your hormones.

Cognitive and mood-related symptoms 

You may be well aware of brain fog or those moments where you’re forgetting things that you would have otherwise remembered. Declining estrogen levels can cause difficulties with concentration and memory, often dismissed as being due to stress or aging.

Anxiety, irritability, and depression can all be triggered by hormonal fluctuations that are misattributed to stress or PMS.

There can be digestive issues that come as a result of hormonal dips, from gas to bloating, all of which are usually blamed on diet. Persistent tiredness can be a sign of an underactive thyroid or other hormonal imbalances that haven’t been properly addressed or diagnosed.

Your skin and hair can change, too, from thinning hair to stubborn acne, all linked to hormonal shifts.

Other symptoms

Other symptoms that come from hormonal changes include low libido, sleep disturbances, and weight gain.

How modern hormone therapy helps restore balance

Modern hormone therapy is a good way of helping to restore balance within the body by replenishing hormones that are deficient. From factors that include aging to medical issues, supplementing your body with hormones can help with all of the above issues that women often experience within their bodies.

A licensed online hormone therapy provider can be helpful to address the hormone problems you’re having so that you can get the right treatment that your body needs.

Common types of hormone therapy include menopausal hormone therapy, thyroid hormone therapy, and bioidentical hormone therapy. Hormone therapy, though, is not a one-size-fits-all solution, so it's important to discuss your symptoms and explore the potential treatment options available.

Simple daily habits to support hormonal health naturally

As well as hormone therapy, there are simply daily habits that can help to support your hormonal health naturally. Such habits include:

• Get seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night

• Manage chronic stress

• Incorporate stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or spending time in nature

• Eat a balanced, whole-food diet and focus on gut health

• Regular and moderate exercise to improve hormone sensitivity 

• Ensure you’re staying properly hydrated

If you’ve been feeling off lately, hopefully this insight into how hormones play a part in your body’s health both inside and out will help you figure out what’s going on sooner rather than later.

Opening A New Medical Facility: Tips For Aspiring Health Entrepreneurs

 The global health industry is growing. The demand for healthcare services continues to rise, providing golden opportunities if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur with an interest in the healthcare sector. Despite the increase in revenues and rising demand for products and services, it’s not easy to launch and run a successful medical or dental facility. If you’re working towards opening a new practice, office, clinic, or treatment center, here are some essential considerations. 

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Branding

Branding is important for all businesses, but it can be particularly influential in the medical field. When you approach clients or interact with patients, or you market your facility, you want people to get the right impression. We often think about branding as logos, company names, and straplines, but it’s so much more than this, especially in healthcare. Your branding strategy should provide critical information about who you are, what you do, and what your brand stands for. You can use branding techniques and provide information to help prospective patients and clients learn more about your business and why it’s different from others. Use branding to share your values and ethos, introduce your team, and give your brand a human side. 

There are many ways to interact with clients and patients and raise brand awareness. Examples include social media posts, a website blog, web guides, behind-the-scenes videos, and opportunities to engage with the team via video calls, instant messaging, and email. 

When you’re working on company branding, it’s crucial to consider how you want people to perceive your brand. This will impact everything from the font you choose for your website and your logo design to your tone of voice on social media. In the medical industry, it’s often beneficial to focus on professionalism, reliability, and trustworthiness, but many patients also look for services that are approachable and user-friendly. 

Health and safety

Running a medical facility poses unique challenges in terms of health and safety. When you operate this kind of facility, there are rules and regulations related to hygiene, cleanliness, and the disposal of waste. It’s essential to make sure that you’re aware of laws and regulations, and that your business is fully compliant. 

Your healthcare facility must be clean, not only to ensure that it meets health and safety standards, but also to impress clients and enhance your reputation. There are various options to explore if you’re thinking about how to keep your treatment center or practice clean. You could hire professional cleaners or look for reputable medical facility cleaning services with a proven track record. Outsourcing cleaning often offers excellent benefits. It can be cost-effective, and it enables you to access high-level, specialist services. When you work with a top-rated company that cleans similar facilities day in, day out, you can rest assured that the team understands what is required. They may also have better equipment and more experienced staff than more general cleaning services. 

Creating a brilliant team

If you’re providing medical services, it’s vital to think carefully about who you hire and what positions you need to fill. Your priorities may be to find the best clinicians possible, but it’s also beneficial to recognize the importance of customer service and support, and operational efficiency. You want your clients and patients to receive outstanding levels of care, but they will also expect friendly, responsive service, and minimal waiting times. Think carefully about who to hire and how to create the right environment while running a profitable, efficient business. 

When you recruit employees, get to know them during the process and look for individuals who share the same values as you. Clinical expertise, training, and experience are critical in healthcare, but good communication skills and the ability to connect with patients and make them feel calm, relaxed, and safe are also pivotal. 

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Building trust

Trust is one of the most important driving factors for patients looking for medical facilities and services. A US survey revealed that over 60% of people prioritize the reputation of a hospital or practice over anything else when choosing a provider or center. When you open a new practice or clinic, it’s wise to consider how you’re going to build confidence and trust in your business and establish an excellent reputation. 

Choosing the right people for your team, adhering to health and safety measures, and delivering outstanding customer service are key, but there are additional steps. These include analyzing data to assess performance levels continuously, acting on client feedback, and prioritizing communication and interaction. 

In the early days of setting up a medical facility, it’s beneficial to conduct market research and see how other businesses or specialist clinics engage with patients. If you carry out market research, this will enable you to get to know target clients better, understand how they make decisions and what matters to them when selecting clinics or healthcare providers, and monitor your competitors. 

Marketing your business

Your business plan should outline how you plan to market your business, spread the word, and bring clients in. There are multiple ways to promote your brand and encourage prospective clients to find out more. The best way to choose marketing channels and methods is to use your market research to see how people find providers and local services and facilities, and what motivates them to choose certain places or businesses over others. Before you begin, it’s beneficial to define your target client. You can then tailor your research to gather relevant information. Once you know who you’re trying to reach, you can figure out what kinds of techniques and platforms to use and make decisions based on the information you have about specific audiences. 

If you don’t have expertise in marketing or plan to hire marketers, outsourcing can help you get your brand name out there and start building a client base. You can work with a marketing agency or experienced freelancers to create and deliver a targeted, bespoke strategy, collect and evaluate data, and oversee campaigns. It’s important to research extensively and look for companies that have expertise in your industry. Taking the time to meet representatives, look at case studies and portfolios, and discuss services and prices can help you choose the best agency. 

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There are lots of things to think about if you’re opening a new medical facility. Essential considerations include branding, prioritizing health and safety, creating a brilliant team, building trust, establishing an excellent reputation, and marketing your business. 

Anxiety Tips that will Help you Take Control of your Life

 If you feel as though anxiety is taking over your life a little bit, then you will know how frustrating and stressful this can be. With that said, there are things you can do to try to improve your situation. If you want to take that next step forward, then take a look below.

Identify your Triggers

If you want some help with your wellbeing, then the first thing you need to do is identify your triggers. Even though anxiety is common, the types of situations that can start your anxious feelings can vary quite a lot. By taking a moment to identify your triggers, you can then predict when you feel as though your anxiety is going to hit, and you can learn to deal with it when it does. Some of the things you can do include identifying your triggers, so you can see how they show up in your body. You can also make sure that you are noting any anxious triggers you may have, so you can make sure that they aren’t affecting you for no reason at all. Be sure to check in with your gut as well. Anxiety often shows up as nausea, or it could even show up as a cramping feeling in your stomach. You may find that you end up losing your appetite as well, which is the last thing you need.

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Get Active

You also need to be active if you can. Physical activity is a great way for you to burn off energy, and it also releases brain chemicals, including serotonin and dopamine. Chemicals like this are a good way for you to boost your mood, and they also help you to relieve anxiety. Short bursts of energy can also help you to ease tension in the moment. Do whatever is convenient for you here, including doing jumping jacks and trying some yoga poses. Little things like jumping and dancing with your child or playing with your pet can also be a good way for you to try and get the result you need, so make sure that you keep that in mind. 

Use your Senses

Use your senses to try and stay present in the moment. When dealing with anxiety, it can feel impossible to get out of your own head. Your thoughts may feel as though they are looping and spinning out of control, so grounding yourself is one of the best things you can do. If you want to help your mental health here, then it’s a good idea for you to try and use your senses to ground yourself. If you have not done so yet, then it’s a good idea to try and look into getting a medical card. When you do, you can then access different treatments for anxiety, which can help you to be more in touch with yourself overall.  You might also want to try and get in touch with a therapist, as they can then work with you to try and give you the help you need to work through difficult feelings. 

Stepping Stones To Better Health & Well-Being: Basics Everyone Can Embrace

 Healthy living is one of the most talked-about subjects in the media. It’s brilliant to have access to so much information and advice, but too many voices can be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll outline some stepping stones to better health and well-being, focusing on basics that everyone can embrace. 

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Regular exercise

Regular exercise is one of the most powerful ways to transform your health. A brilliant boost for both your body and mind, an active lifestyle helps you lower the risk of physical health conditions, lift your mood, and nourish your mental health. Experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. This covers everything from walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and dancing to doing yoga, HIIT or spin classes, kayaking, climbing, and trampolining. If your body is moving, your muscles are working, and your heart rate increases, you’ll feel the physical and mental benefits. 

Being mindful of your health every day

Being mindful of your health at all times is an easy way to improve your health and well-being and lower risks. When you’re busy and you have multiple commitments, your health can take a backseat. Try to avoid this by thinking about your body and mind every day, and being proactive in prioritizing your health. Simple things like seeking advice if you feel unwell or notice unusual symptoms, eating nutritious foods, moving more, and taking time to rest and recharge your batteries will have a big impact. 

It’s particularly important to put your health first if you have symptoms, you feel unwell, you don’t feel yourself for a prolonged period, or you’re at risk of certain diseases due to family history or underlying conditions. Try to avoid putting off appointments or ignoring symptoms. Getting treatment early and undergoing tests and checks can improve outcomes and prevent symptoms from getting worse. Shingles is one of myriad examples. Shingles treatment can help alleviate painful symptoms and speed up your recovery. Early intervention within 72 hours of spotting a shingles rash is most effective. With any health problem, it’s always better to get checked out than to wait and hope that your symptoms disappear. 

Planning your diet based on your nutritional needs

When you hear the word ‘diet,’ what other words, terms, or images pop into your mind? For many of us, there’s an instant association with body weight. It’s beneficial to try to lose weight if you’re overweight or you’re conscious about your body weight, but the key factor when planning your diet should always be nutrition. Your body needs nutrients to work properly. If you limit the foods you eat or try to survive on very few calories, your health will suffer. Make it your mission to pack your weekly menu with foods that nourish your body, such as whole grains, fruit, vegetables, seeds, pulses, and lean sources of protein. 

Prioritizing sleep

Getting enough sleep is critical for all aspects of your health. Ideally, adults should get around 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If you have trouble sleeping, establish a consistent evening routine, go to bed and get up at the same time each day, and create a calming, soothing sleeping environment. Avoid using devices late at night, relax during the evening, and manage your schedule. If you have recurrent or persistent sleep issues, it’s wise to see your doctor. 

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There’s so much information out there about health and well-being. While it’s great to have advice readily available, it can be overwhelming, especially when it’s conflicting. Mastering the basics is a brilliant place to start. Key stepping stones to better health include exercising regularly, being mindful of your health every day, focusing on nutrition, and getting enough sleep. 

How to Deal Better with Bad Health Habits

 

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Whether it is not getting any exercise, eating too much unhealthy food or smoking, there are all sorts of habits out there which can be detrimental to your physical and mental wellbeing. Breaking a bad habit is not easy, but it can be done - you just need to know the best way to go about it. The cause of bad habits can generally be boiled down to a couple of main triggers. The first is stress. For example, you may well use drinking a couple of glasses of wine after a long day as a coping mechanism. Another one is boredom. You may well be looking for an escape from your regular life. Of course, these are only the surface problems, and there may well be some issues which go deeper that you need to address. Here are a few steps to help you deal better and even break your bad habits.

Choose a Substitute

Going cold turkey is rarely something that works, and most people need to choose some sort of substitute to replace their bad habit. If it is unhealthy snacking, you could look to snack at the same time but with healthier options. You need to have a clear plan of action for what you are going to do when the cravings start kicking in.

Cut Out the Common Triggers

The last thing that you want to do is put yourself in the way of temptation. For example, if you have an issue with drinking too much alcohol, you could avoid going to social events where you know it will be served or suggest an alternative activity. If you eat cookies or chocolate the moment you step through the front door, you should make sure that none of these substances are readily available. If your environment makes it easier to continue with bad habits, it is time to change that environment.

Join Forces with a Friend

The old saying: there’s strength in numbers is certainly the case when you are trying to beat a bad habit. When you are trying to do things all by yourself, you don’t have anyone else to hold you accountable. Ideally, you will know someone who is trying to deal with the same bad habit as yourself. This way, you can pick each other up when you are struggling and encourage the other one not to give up. Alternatively, you could always look to get the help and support of an interventionist. Having the expectations of someone else on your back can be a strong motivating factor. 

Visualise Yourself Succeeding

If you have never tried visualisation before, it can be a very powerful technique which you may well find to be beneficial. Basically, you need to envisage yourself kicking your bad habit for good and the benefits it will bring you in the future. Perhaps you want to live a less sedentary lifestyle and you eventually see yourself completing a marathon. It could be that you want to break your addiction to technology and you imagine all the things that you could do with all the time that you now have on your hands.

Remember You Don’t Need to Become a New Person

Just because you are wanting to break your bad habits, it doesn’t mean that you have to become an entirely new person. In the past, you have already been someone who doesn’t have your bad habits - you just need to return to being this person once again. Tell yourself that you have lived comfortably without this habit being in your life before and you can do it again.

Don’t Get Overcome by Negativity

When you are trying to battle bad habits, it is easy to become overly negative if you happen to slip up along the way. Being too hard on yourself is unlikely to be a technique which helps you to succeed in the long term. Pick yourself up off the ground and tell yourself that you have had a bump along the way, but that doesn’t mean that you are going to give up. You can always bounce back, and the quicker you do this, the better.

So, hopefully, the advice in this article makes you feel like you are ready to deal with bad health habits a little bit better. Ultimately, it is all about assessing the problem that you have and breaking it down into stages. Keep determined and strong along the way no matter what happens.

Why You Might Not Be Able To Get Pregnant

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Not being able to get pregnant when you want a child can be a distressing experience. You’d love to be able to start a family, but for some reason, you can’t. 

That’s where this post comes into the picture. It looks at some of the challenges that you might be facing and what could be causing them. 

Ovulation Issues

One of the main reasons you might not be able to get pregnant is ovulation issues. You may have medical conditions that interrupt this process and prevent it from proceeding how you’d like. 

PCOS is the most common of these, but there are many others. Sometimes, you’ll need to go to your gynaecologist to treat the root cause so that you can figure out whether fertility is an option for you in the future. 

Endometriosis

Another issue related to the last one is endometriosis, where your fallopian tubes are actually blocked or damaged. This problem prevents the sperm from reaching the egg, preventing fertilisation from occurring. 

Sometimes, the symptoms of infertility are obvious in this case, but other times, they can be challenging to determine. As such, it’s critical to go through all the regular scans and get a proper diagnosis so you know what’s wrong. 

Uterine Issues

Another reason why you might not be fertile is uterine problems. Things like polyps and fibroids can prevent pregnancies by preventing implanting into the womb wall. 

Uterine issues can also cause additional symptoms, like pain in the lower abdomen and occasionally bleeding. Sometimes, you can get fibroids removed, but sometimes it isn’t possible because they are so extensive. 

Male Infertility

Of course, the problem might not have anything to do with you at all. It may be because your partner is infertile. 

Therefore, if you’re struggling with fertility, it is always worth bringing your partner with you to the clinic. Doctors can then examine you both and provide answers for why you might not be falling pregnant. Sometimes, both partners have issues, but cases like these are rare. Usually the problem is with one or another. 

Age-Related Factors

Of course, your age could come into play, even if you are in your early thirties. Fertility begins to decline quickly with age, and accelerates as the thirties ends. 

Moreover, this decline can occur for both men and women. For women, it is sharpest after age 35 and for men, the decline really gets going at 40.

Lifestyle Factors

Lastly, you might want to take a look at your lifestyle factors to ask whether they could be playing a role in your infertility. Sometimes, they can make a big difference. 

For example, weight management becomes critical if you want to fall pregnant. The closer you are to your ideal weight, the more likely it is that you’ll conceive and give birth to a healthy child. 

You also want to be careful with smoking and alcohol. These can make it substantially more challenging to get pregnant, especially if you continue to use them for a long time.

Top Tips For Dealing With the Aftermath of a Workplace Injury

 As a parent, you’re likely knowledgeable about what to do when your child is injured. For example, you’ll be able to spring into action right away should your child fall when playing sports. However, we’re not as quick to respond to our own ailments, making dealing with the aftermath of incidents such as workplace accidents tricky.

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With that in mind, here are some top tips for navigating your way forward after getting injured at work. 

1. Follow the doctor's orders. Following the doctors’ orders as closely as possible is one of the easiest ways to deal with the aftermath of a workplace injury or accident. This is because doing so means that you are prioritizing your recovery and health, as opposed to trying to jump back into your busy routine right away. 

While taking time off work at this point is a no-brainer, you should also ask for help when it comes to caring for your kids, too. After all, parenting is a full-on job even when you aren’t recovering from an accident, and those around you will be more than happy to pitch in. For example, they will likely be more than happy to help with tasks such as the school run or keeping your home clean and tidy.

2. Reach out to a lawyer. Reaching out to a lawyer is also highly recommended during this time. This is because if you were not at fault for the accident, then you can seek out compensation that covers everything from your medical bills to long-standing pain and suffering that you may deal with. 

Ideally, you should reach out to an experienced lawyer who has worked on similar cases in the past, such as a member of the legal team at Thomas Law Offices. This ensures that your best interests are protected moving forward, as your legal team will help you work toward the best possible outcome in court. 

3. Keep your children in the loop. While you may want to protect your children by keeping the extent of your injuries hidden, you should make sure that you do not leave them out of the loop entirely. This is because doing so can feel a little invalidating, especially if they are not sure what is happening around them. As such, you should find an age-appropriate way to talk about this with your child, being sure to answer any questions they may have.

4. Don’t go back to normal until you’re ready. Parents often feel guilty about taking a step back from their normal routine, whether that’s at work or around the home. This is because they constantly have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. However, it is crucial that you do not go back to your normal routine until you are mentally and physically able to do so.  Take care of yourself and get plenty of sleep.

Final thoughts. As a mom, dealing with a workplace injury can be frustrating in more ways than one, especially if you’re no longer able to keep up with your to-do list. However, there are plenty of steps that you can take to deal with the aftermath.