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We are all aware that motivation is essential for achieving personal and professional objectives. However, if you wait for motivation to hit like a bolt of lightning, you'll be much less likely to take any action. Even if you've set a lofty goal for yourself, it's all too easy to lose motivation due to feelings of overwhelm, procrastination, or impatience. The actions outlined below can assist you in increasing your motivation to achieve the goals that are important to you.

The significance of your objective

Before you select a goal, you must first determine its significance – that is, why is achieving this goal so important to you? What does this success mean to you? "I want to drop 10 pounds so I can have more energy to play with my grandchildren," for example, is significantly more meaningful than "I want to reduce weight." Perhaps your goal is to paint a room a different color because you believe it would bring you more happiness. This is not the same as establishing a goal of "paint room."

If you create a goal and find yourself procrastinating or failing to achieve it, reconsider the objective's meaning. Is this a goal that you still care about? If that's the case, think about the significance behind your procrastination or the challenges you're having.


Make your goal a reality.


Make a thorough plan to reach your goal. This plan should be guided by the term SMART:

(What specifically do you aim to achieve?)
(How will you know when you've succeeded?) Measurable
Achievable (Can you achieve the aim you've set?)
Realistic (Does it make sense for you to set this objective right now?)
Time-bound (Can you give me an estimate of how long it will take you to achieve this goal?)

A goal of "exercise more" is an example of a goal that is overly broad and will not lead to success. Instead, make a goal for yourself to walk 50 steps in the next hour or a 15-minute stroll on Wednesday morning. This objective is explicit, quantifiable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound.


According to a recent BioMed Central article, weight stigma is the "social rejection and devaluation that accrues to people who do not conform to existing social norms of optimal body weight and shape." Simply put, weight stigma is prejudice based on a person's bodily weight.

According to the writers of this paper, weight stigma can cause changes in the body, such as higher cortisol levels, which can contribute to poor metabolic health and weight gain. Furthermore, people who are overweight may cope with weight stigma by increasing alcohol and substance usage, overeating to cope with negative feelings, and avoiding health care settings or social engagements. Chronic social stress leads to bad health outcomes, and studies have shown that weight discrimination raises the risk of death by 60%, even when body mass index (BMI) is taken into account.



What steps may be taken to overcome weight stigma?
There are numerous approaches to addressing weight stigma. The first step is to recognize that it exists because we can not combat anything until we first recognize it.

Altering the way we think and speak about people who are overweight is another step we can take. Eliminating the term "obesity" from our vocabulary is a vital step in this direction. When referring to a person with obesity, we should endeavour to remember that they are a person with an illness and to speak to them as a person rather than the illness they have. For instance, "person with obesity" should be used rather than "fat person." This is referred to as employing person-first language.
Prepare ahead of time

During childbearing years, lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) disproportionately affects women, as do many autoimmune illnesses. Lupus is one of more than 80 auto-immune diseases that affect an estimated 23 million Americans and close to 350 million people globally. If you have lupus or another autoimmune disease and you wish to have children, it is prudent to plan ahead.
 
In the past, it was advised that individuals with lupus or other autoimmune illnesses avoid pregnancy. The belief was that it was simply too dangerous for mother and child. no longer accurate; in the majority of cases, a successful pregnancy can be achieved by adhering to the current expert guidance. These recommendations outline best practices for a variety of family planning difficulties. Below, we address some frequently asked questions regarding conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.


 
How can my fertility be affected by lupus or its treatment?
 
Approximately 90% of lupus patients are naturally female, and the disease often manifests between the ages of 15 and 35. Thus, family planning is an essential aspect of lupus treatment.
 
Historically, physicians believed that active lupus impaired fertility to such an extent that conception was unlikely. Despite the fact that this myth has been refuted for decades, women with lupus may take longer than expected to become pregnant. In order to conduct a thorough evaluation of your situation, your prenatal practitioner or rheumatologist may recommend that you consult a maternal-fetal medicine expert with experience treating pregnant women with reproductive concerns. In vitro fertilization may be a viable option for lupus patients who struggle with infertility.

Because certain medications, such as cyclophosphamide, may impair fertility, your physician may advise you to alter your dosage. Egg freezing is an alternative method. It could be done before starting medicine that lowers fertility or to save younger, healthier eggs in case pregnancy has to be put off for a while.
Happiness

People who are happy are often healthier. So, what can you do to make yourself happier?

People who perceive themselves as joyful have fewer health issues, are less likely to become depressed, and live longer.

But what if you're not a happy person by nature? Is it possible to make yourself joyful, even in the midst of adversity?

It turns out that the majority of people can improve their happiness levels. According to research, heredity determines 50 percent of people's overall happiness. However, people have control over 40% of the situation, and the other 10% is dependent on the conditions.

"This means that even if you don't consider yourself happy, there's a strong chance you can improve it," says Dr. Robert Waldinger, head of the Harvard Study on Adult Development, the world's longest-running happiness study.


Put on a cheerful face.
Researchers examined data from 138 research evaluating over 11,000 people worldwide to see how facial expressions affect emotions, according to a study published in the Psychological Bulletin in June 2019. They discovered that smiling made people feel happy, whereas scowling and frowning make them feel angrier and sadder, respectively. Although the effect was minor, smiling has a wide appeal.

Attempting to achieve happiness
In fact, even the most optimistic individual finds it difficult to stay positive all of the time. Happiness, like any other facet of health and fitness, is a work in progress. But, no matter how happy you are right now, there are things you can do to improve your attitude and your mental and physical health. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Stay connected. Happiness and personal ties with family and friends were found to be strongly linked in a Harvard study led by Dr. Waldinger. Dr. Waldinger explains that "personal connection produces emotional stimulation, which is an immediate mood booster, whereas solitude is a mood crusher."

Raise your hand if you agree. Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose and lifts your spirits. The effect was notably substantial in persons over the age of 70, according to a 2016 BMJ Open study.

Perform random acts of kindness on a regular basis. Choose a day and dedicate yourself to completing acts of kindness that you would not normally do. "It can take a lot of planning ahead of time," says Tyler J. VanderWeele, director of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Human Flourishing Program. "However, the planning process itself, as well as the purposeful decision to do good for others, can have a significant impact on one's own well-being."

Get in touch with your inner child. You have the opportunity to relive the activities that brought you delight as a child or young adult as you get older. When you were younger, what made you happy? Rekindle your youth's hobbies, games, sports, and other pastimes.

Purchase additional time. People who spend money on time-saving items, such as paying to delegate home duties, rather than material objects, have higher life satisfaction, according to a 2017 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Regardless of a person's income, the effect was the same.

What you should know before seeing a gynecologist
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When should you make an appointment with a gynaecologist?


In some ways, the answer is straightforward; in others, it is more complicated. If you're a woman or have female reproductive organs, you should see a gynaecologist as soon as you start having sexual relations, or at least once before the age of 21.

Good GYN care, as this form of medical care, is known, is essential for a variety of reasons. A gynaecologist or a primary care provider (PCP), such as a doctor or nurse practitioner, may provide gynaecological care, depending on your needs and insurance plan. Consider this a crash course in gynaecology. In it, I'll go over the basics of why you should see a gynecologist and how to choose between a gynecologist and a primary care physician. I'll also go over what happens during a visit to a gynaecologist, what to expect, and how to stay as relaxed as possible during the appointment.




According to new research, routine mammograms, which are used to check for breast cancer, may also reveal information about a woman's risk of heart disease.

On mammograms, white patches or lines indicate calcium buildup in the breast arteries. This type of calcification differs from the calcification of the coronary arteries, which is recognized to be a sign of increased cardiovascular risk. Researchers tracked 5,059 postmenopausal women (ages 60 to 79) for six and a half years for this study. They discovered that women with breast artery calcification were 51 per cent more likely than women without calcification to develop heart disease or have a stroke. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging published the study on March 15, 2022.

A dental bridge is a prosthetic that replaces numerous lost teeth in one area of the mouth, allowing you to speak, chew, and smile normally once more.  A dental bridge is a type of prosthetic tooth that is used to replace missing teeth permanently. The teeth on each side of the gap are joined to the bridge. Porcelain, metal, a combination of the two, or zirconia are the most common materials used for bridges. They are set in situ and can be used instead of dentures for some persons.

A dental bridge may be recommended to restore your smile whether you are missing a single tooth or numerous teeth in a row. A bridge is a permanent dental treatment that cannot be removed. Two dental crowns are used to hold the dental bridge in place. These crowns are specially created to match your smile and are placed on the teeth or dental implants close to the gap left by the lost tooth. These crowns secure the artificial tooth in place to restore your smile, preventing it from shifting or becoming loose. A dental bridge is usually completed in just two to 4 visits to the dentist. Dental bridges are made to endure a long time and restore your smile's function, appearance, and health.
Nigeria

In 1999, the military handed over authority to an elected civilian government, marking the beginning of Nigeria's longest continuous civilian rule since the country's independence from colonial rule in 1960. This day is known as Democracy Day. Beginning in the year 2000, this event has become an annual tradition.



Contrary to how it may sometimes appear, the epidemic is still with us.

Increasingly, people are going back to work in person. Schools restarted this spring. And mask mandates are history in most regions of the US. In many regions, case rates are declining and deaths due to COVID-19 have become infrequent. For many, life now closely approaches pre-pandemic normalcy. So, what do you need to know about where we are now?


Not so fast: COVID remains a serious problem

The infection is still very much with us, not behind us. According to the CDC, in the US there are roughly 100,000 new cases (possibly an underestimate) and around 300 deaths each day due to COVID as of this writing. Despite this, more and more individuals are paying less and less attention.

That might be a grave error. With the summer travel season upon us and terrible forecasts for fall and winter, it is prudent to pause, take a deep breath, and reevaluate the situation.

Here are answers to five questions I've been hearing frequently recently.

1. I have not yet contracted COVID. So, do I still need a vaccine?

Yes, indeed! Vaccination and booster shots are the most effective means of preventing serious COVID-19 infection.

Perhaps you have avoided infection thus far due to your vigilance with physical separation, masking, and other preventative methods. Alternatively, you may have inherited genes that make your immune system very adept at resisting the COVID-19 virus. Or maybe you've just been lucky.

Regardless of the reason, it is prudent to maintain vigilance. The virus that causes COVID, SARS-CoV-2, is highly infectious, particularly in the more recent forms. And while some individuals are at a greater risk than others, everybody is susceptible to infection and can develop a severe illness from this virus. Even if you develop a mild or moderate case of COVID-19, keep in mind that some people develop chronic COVID symptoms, such as fatigue and brain fog.

Dry eye syndrome
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You've probably heard about this diagnosis. It's now commonly referred to as "computer vision syndrome" by doctors. Long-term use of not only computers, but also e-books, mobile phones, and tablets, is, of course, one of the causes.

Fortunately, the theory that this can lead to irreversible changes in the eyes or vision has been refuted. 

Doctors give a simple explanation for the occurrence of dry eye syndrome: 

Evolutionarily, the human eye was not made to work long hours in front of a computer screen. When visual demands are higher than visual capabilities, the risk of getting dry eye syndrome goes up.

Naturally, the longer the use of digital screens, the higher the degree of anxiety.

Of course, you don’t have to give up on online slots for real money in South Africa, but you should prioritize your health. So, if you're experiencing any of these signs, here's what you should do.

Dry eye syndrome is manifested by the following signs:

  • dry eyes
  • Redness
  • A feeling of "sand in the eye"
  • I have a feeling of something strange in my eye.
  • burning
  • paradoxical lacrimation
  • photophobia
  • distortion of vision.

These clinical signs are temporary and may go away after you stop using computers or digital screens, but in some cases, they may be permanent:

The clinical signs are:

  • headaches
  • I have neck, back, and shoulder pain.
  • Blurred vision
  • dichotomy
  • Redness
  • dryness in the eyes.

The risk factors and causes are:

  • 2 or more hours of continuous work on the computer.
  • The presence of glare and reflections from computers makes it difficult for the eyes to work.
  • incorrect distance and angle from the computer.
  • incorrect posture
  • insufficiently fixed visual issues.
  • When visual demands exceed a person's visual capabilities,
  • poor lighting.

Ophthalmologists say that the main reason for dry eyes in people with computer vision syndrome is that they blink less.

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