Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
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Health News
lifestyle
Technology
Our relationship with the sun is tricky. Sunlight is our best source of vitamin D and it also can feel wonderful. On the other side of the coin, according to WebMD, most of the changes in our skin that we accept as the inevitable reward for growing old are actually damage caused directly by the sun. Aesthetics isn't the only concern, however, because beyond how we look, of greater concern is what the sun can do to our health in the form of precancerous and cancerous lesions and tumours. So we’re drawn to the sun, and a little bit of it is good for us, but too much can make us sick, possibly kill us, and definitely ruin our appearance.
We can put on sunscreen, use umbrellas, wear hats and sun blocking clothing, but none of those protections actually tell us when we’ve had enough. A new product by a skin care company and dermatology laboratory LaRoche-Posay have come to change the game with its super Patch!
My UV Patch has two components parts: The physical part is a small patch one square inch in area and only 50 micrometres thick, about half the thickness of an average strand of hair according to the company’s website. The patch, which is in the shape of a small heart, has photosensitive dyes that change colour with different levels of sun exposure. According to the company, the baseline colour of the wearers’ skin is factored into the exposure reaction in the dyes, but chances are that it doesn’t matter because the patch is worn on top of the skin, not beneath it.
An accompanying app will help determine your skin type and track whether or not you wear sunscreen and the current UV index for your location. If My UV Patch changes colour accurately in accordance with sun exposure, that’s really all you’ll need to know when you’ve had enough sun.
My UV Patch is useful to track sun exposure for oneself and for family members and friends. (Note that there other UV tracking devices that we’ve covered in the past, including the one made by MC10 for Loreal.)
This Amazing Tech will Save you from Sun Burns and Skin Cancer
Our relationship with the sun is tricky. Sunlight is our best source of vitamin D and it also can feel wonderful. On the other side of the coin, according to WebMD, most of the changes in our skin that we accept as the inevitable reward for growing old are actually damage caused directly by the sun. Aesthetics isn't the only concern, however, because beyond how we look, of greater concern is what the sun can do to our health in the form of precancerous and cancerous lesions and tumours. So we’re drawn to the sun, and a little bit of it is good for us, but too much can make us sick, possibly kill us, and definitely ruin our appearance.
We can put on sunscreen, use umbrellas, wear hats and sun blocking clothing, but none of those protections actually tell us when we’ve had enough. A new product by a skin care company and dermatology laboratory LaRoche-Posay have come to change the game with its super Patch!
My UV Patch has two components parts: The physical part is a small patch one square inch in area and only 50 micrometres thick, about half the thickness of an average strand of hair according to the company’s website. The patch, which is in the shape of a small heart, has photosensitive dyes that change colour with different levels of sun exposure. According to the company, the baseline colour of the wearers’ skin is factored into the exposure reaction in the dyes, but chances are that it doesn’t matter because the patch is worn on top of the skin, not beneath it.
An accompanying app will help determine your skin type and track whether or not you wear sunscreen and the current UV index for your location. If My UV Patch changes colour accurately in accordance with sun exposure, that’s really all you’ll need to know when you’ve had enough sun.
The Patch is Free with purchase of La Roche-Posay Anthelios sunscreen. The Accompanying is quite easy to use too.
My UV Patch is useful to track sun exposure for oneself and for family members and friends. (Note that there other UV tracking devices that we’ve covered in the past, including the one made by MC10 for Loreal.)
References:
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hottrend
lifestyle
Technology
The new Apple Watch lets you do more than just check the time, take calls, and glance at your jam-packed calendar.
The Series 4, which is highly focused on users’ fitness and health, comes with a built-in electrical heart sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG), detect atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), and notify you when your heart rate gets low or high. The readings are recorded in the iPhone’s Health app and can be shared with your doctor.
Some doctors, including Ivor Benjamin, MD, the president of the American Heart Association (AHA), who spoke at the event when Apple announced its new products on Sept. 12, are excited about the watch’s heart health technology.
“I’m inspired by the lifesaving potential of technology and applaud Apple’s innovation and commitment to health,” Benjamin said at Wednesday’s event. “Capturing meaningful data about a person’s heart, in real time, is changing the way we practice medicine.”
Benjamin noted that, in his experience, people often share health issues they’ve experienced with their physicians, but these symptoms aren’t always present at the time of the doctor’s visit — something the Apple Watch could help change.
“The ability to access health data from an on-demand electrocardiogram or ECG is game-changing, especially when evaluating atrial fibrillation — an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications,” he said.
He added: “Products that seek to provide deeper health insights, like the Apple Watch Series 4, offer great potential in getting us there.”
The AHA also gave a comment from its CEO, Nancy Brown:
“The role that technology plays in allowing patients to capture meaningful data about what’s happening with their heart, right when it’s happening, like the functionality of an on-demand ECG, could be significant in new clinical care models and shared decision making between people and their healthcare providers. At the American Heart Association, we are committed to educate and empower people to be proactive in all areas of their heart health and general well-being.”
Nicholas Leeper, MD, a cardiologist at Stanford Health Care, also thinks the technology is an exciting advancement, particularly for people who have arrhythmias but don’t know it. “This is potentially important because some of the arrhythmias that they may be able to identify, such as atrial fibrillation, can have devastating consequences, such as stroke, if not identified and addressed with medical therapy,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Because very often patients with atrial fibrillation can’t feel the arrhythmia — but are nonetheless at high risk for stroke — there is a strong theoretical argument for using the watch to identify ‘occult’ [hidden] disease in people who don’t know they have it, and institute medicines proven to reduce risk of subsequent stroke even if they don’t have symptoms.”
But there’s a question about whether widespread access to these medical tools actually translates into any significant health benefits.
A 2013 Journal of the American Medical Association study looked at whether echocardiographic screening in the general population improves long-term survival or reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a nutshell, the study found that it didn’t. “Echocardiographic screening for structural and valvular heart disease in the general population provided no benefit for mortality or for the risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] or stroke,” wrote the study authors.
The other problem, as Leeper points out, is that not all arrhythmias are created equal. “Some can be life-threatening; some are likely only a nuisance,” he says. “For example, we know that many, if not most, ‘healthy’ individuals will have at least some brief runs of arrhythmia if you really look for it. And we sometimes don’t know how those individuals should be treated, or if they should be treated at all.”
That can lead to both anxiety and unnecessary testing. “I suspect the new Apple watch may lead to a major increase in ‘incidentally detected’ arrhythmias of unclear significance, as well as a number of so-called ‘false positive’ diagnoses,” Leeper says. “While the new watch will almost certainly identify some individuals with life-threatening arrhythmias that otherwise would be missed, time will tell if that benefit is outweighed by the huge increase in potential ‘false positives’ that we expect to see in the clinic.”
While it comes with some challenges, like the potential for false positives, a 2018 study by researchers from the Netherlands and Germany suggests that widespread screening for atrial fibrillation, which affects millions of people, may not be a bad idea. The study stated that large-scale atrial fibrillation screenings are “considered a desirable approach for the treatment and prevention of cardioembolic stroke” brought on by the condition and that, in general, handheld ECG devices are “promising.”
So Apple may be onto something, after all. At the very least, the new Apple Watch can make you — well, your wallet — $399 lighter.
Apple Watch Series 4: The Gadget that can save your life
![]() |
Apple Series 4 Watch; Photo Credit: Apple Inc. |
The Series 4, which is highly focused on users’ fitness and health, comes with a built-in electrical heart sensor that can take an electrocardiogram (ECG), detect atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), and notify you when your heart rate gets low or high. The readings are recorded in the iPhone’s Health app and can be shared with your doctor.
![]() |
Apple Series 4 EKG; Photo Credit: Apple Inc. |
![]() |
Some Views of the Series 4: Photo Credit: Thenextweb |
Benjamin noted that, in his experience, people often share health issues they’ve experienced with their physicians, but these symptoms aren’t always present at the time of the doctor’s visit — something the Apple Watch could help change.
“The ability to access health data from an on-demand electrocardiogram or ECG is game-changing, especially when evaluating atrial fibrillation — an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications,” he said.
He added: “Products that seek to provide deeper health insights, like the Apple Watch Series 4, offer great potential in getting us there.”
The AHA also gave a comment from its CEO, Nancy Brown:
“The role that technology plays in allowing patients to capture meaningful data about what’s happening with their heart, right when it’s happening, like the functionality of an on-demand ECG, could be significant in new clinical care models and shared decision making between people and their healthcare providers. At the American Heart Association, we are committed to educate and empower people to be proactive in all areas of their heart health and general well-being.”
Nicholas Leeper, MD, a cardiologist at Stanford Health Care, also thinks the technology is an exciting advancement, particularly for people who have arrhythmias but don’t know it. “This is potentially important because some of the arrhythmias that they may be able to identify, such as atrial fibrillation, can have devastating consequences, such as stroke, if not identified and addressed with medical therapy,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Because very often patients with atrial fibrillation can’t feel the arrhythmia — but are nonetheless at high risk for stroke — there is a strong theoretical argument for using the watch to identify ‘occult’ [hidden] disease in people who don’t know they have it, and institute medicines proven to reduce risk of subsequent stroke even if they don’t have symptoms.”
![]() |
Apple Watch Fall Detection: Photo Credit: Apple Inc |
A 2013 Journal of the American Medical Association study looked at whether echocardiographic screening in the general population improves long-term survival or reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In a nutshell, the study found that it didn’t. “Echocardiographic screening for structural and valvular heart disease in the general population provided no benefit for mortality or for the risk of myocardial infarction [heart attack] or stroke,” wrote the study authors.
The other problem, as Leeper points out, is that not all arrhythmias are created equal. “Some can be life-threatening; some are likely only a nuisance,” he says. “For example, we know that many, if not most, ‘healthy’ individuals will have at least some brief runs of arrhythmia if you really look for it. And we sometimes don’t know how those individuals should be treated, or if they should be treated at all.”
That can lead to both anxiety and unnecessary testing. “I suspect the new Apple watch may lead to a major increase in ‘incidentally detected’ arrhythmias of unclear significance, as well as a number of so-called ‘false positive’ diagnoses,” Leeper says. “While the new watch will almost certainly identify some individuals with life-threatening arrhythmias that otherwise would be missed, time will tell if that benefit is outweighed by the huge increase in potential ‘false positives’ that we expect to see in the clinic.”
While it comes with some challenges, like the potential for false positives, a 2018 study by researchers from the Netherlands and Germany suggests that widespread screening for atrial fibrillation, which affects millions of people, may not be a bad idea. The study stated that large-scale atrial fibrillation screenings are “considered a desirable approach for the treatment and prevention of cardioembolic stroke” brought on by the condition and that, in general, handheld ECG devices are “promising.”
So Apple may be onto something, after all. At the very least, the new Apple Watch can make you — well, your wallet — $399 lighter.
References:
- The Apple Series 4 Watch - Apple.com
- Diagnosing a Heart Attach - AHA - Heart.org
- Arterial Fibrillation - AHA - Heart.org
- Biography of Nicholas Leeper - Stanford Healthcare Doctors
- Journal of the American Medical Association
- Opportunities and challenges of large-scale screening for atrial fibrillation - US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health Search databaseSearch term Search
- Yahoo Lifestyle - Apple Series 4 Watch Review
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lifestyle
Sex and Relationships
Hannah, 26, never thought she'd feel good about her looks and shape—until another person unexpectedly helped her move toward body peace.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t completely aware of my body—whether it was my biker shorts fitting too snugly or the look of disgust I thought I saw on someone’s face while I was eating ice cream. My high-school boyfriend said I could lose a few pounds in my stomach. My mom told me I had thunder thighs, even though I had developed an eating disorder just a year earlier.
I know many people can relate to this. The feeling of self-consciousness used to overwhelm me to the point where it strained my relationships with family and friends, and most of all, my love life.
Although I had serious self-confidence issues, it didn’t stop me from dating. But after a heart-wrenching breakup, I fell back into the same pattern of self-hatred and took refuge in solitude. Hiding felt similar to having anorexia because it helped me feel in control. Constantly keeping potential partners at arm’s length was safer that putting my heart and my body on the line.
I supplemented my loneliness by having lots of friends who I didn’t have to worry about being involved with romantically. It took the pressure off being vulnerable. But after graduating college three years ago, when I moved to New York from Alabama, I lost a big core group of my friends and felt lost.
It was then that I thought, what was the worst that could happen if I put myself out there? I was surprised by my small burst of self-confidence, but I didn’t let myself question it. It was when I thought too much that I tended to retreat into my insecurities. Instead, I downloaded Tinder and actually tried communicating with people. I’d downloaded it many times before and used it just as a small confidence booster, always deleting it and wiping the memory again and again.
I met Adrian* in the first few days of using the app. He was charming and confident but not so much so that it was a turnoff. We were both 23 at the time and had things in common. Conversations flowed naturally. Although I hadn’t been involved with anyone for a while, I wasn’t naive to the fact that he wasn’t interested in dating me. He was here solely for hookups. Emotionally, he was completely shut off. Surprisingly, I was fine with that.
Inviting Adrian over for the first time was nerve-racking. I began thinking about all the ways he could reject me, all the things he'd say about my body—or worse, the things he wouldn’t say. I was visibly shaken, nervously sipping the Heineken that Adrian had brought over. Although I felt like I was barely speaking, Adrian smiled, and we talked easily as we normally did. There wasn’t any tension that caused me to overthink things; I felt a sense of acceptance from him. I was comfortable enough to take off my clothes.
When I slept with Adrian for the first time, he told me all the things he liked about my body. He complimented my butt, which I always found to be too big, and my skin that I always hated for being too pasty. He raved about my hair and my lips. With Adrian, I felt exposed but not as afraid. I felt fine. I can confidently say that’s the first time I had felt even just fine.
Although I felt my attitude toward my body changing, my insecurities were still there. When Adrian came over the second time, I tried to keep the lights off, afraid that now he’d see me the way I really looked. I was hoping the darkness could hide me. But when he entered my bedroom, Adrian pulled me back into the light of my living room. “We need to turn the lights on in your bedroom," he said. "I want to see you.”
Over the course of the next year, Adrian and I kept hooking up semi-regularly. Each time was the same: I was being celebrated, and I was able to not think about my body for the first time in my life. It was in those moments when this other person could see me at my most vulnerable yet still accepted me that I started to accept myself.
Adrian and I don’t talk anymore, for reasons that are too complicated to explain; his emotional distance was a large part of it. I do miss being in bed with him, and I miss laughing with him and forgetting that I was naked. But putting the feelings aside, I’m grateful to have met him. I just wish I can say it didn’t take someone else celebrating my body to realize how beautiful I am. I wish I could have come to that conclusion on my own, but it did not.
Since then, I haven't gone back on Tinder looking for another hookup. I’m not perfect; Adrian didn’t cure me of my body image issues. I still have moments when I fall back in the same pattern of negative self-talk. But more often than not, I look in the mirror and I say things to myself with a confidence that’s not fake anymore. It's real and comes from inside me, and that’s not something anyone can take away from me now.
How a Random Hookup Helped Me Get Over My Body Confidence Issues
Hannah, 26, never thought she'd feel good about her looks and shape—until another person unexpectedly helped her move toward body peace.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t completely aware of my body—whether it was my biker shorts fitting too snugly or the look of disgust I thought I saw on someone’s face while I was eating ice cream. My high-school boyfriend said I could lose a few pounds in my stomach. My mom told me I had thunder thighs, even though I had developed an eating disorder just a year earlier.
I know many people can relate to this. The feeling of self-consciousness used to overwhelm me to the point where it strained my relationships with family and friends, and most of all, my love life.
Although I had serious self-confidence issues, it didn’t stop me from dating. But after a heart-wrenching breakup, I fell back into the same pattern of self-hatred and took refuge in solitude. Hiding felt similar to having anorexia because it helped me feel in control. Constantly keeping potential partners at arm’s length was safer that putting my heart and my body on the line.
I supplemented my loneliness by having lots of friends who I didn’t have to worry about being involved with romantically. It took the pressure off being vulnerable. But after graduating college three years ago, when I moved to New York from Alabama, I lost a big core group of my friends and felt lost.
It was then that I thought, what was the worst that could happen if I put myself out there? I was surprised by my small burst of self-confidence, but I didn’t let myself question it. It was when I thought too much that I tended to retreat into my insecurities. Instead, I downloaded Tinder and actually tried communicating with people. I’d downloaded it many times before and used it just as a small confidence booster, always deleting it and wiping the memory again and again.
I met Adrian* in the first few days of using the app. He was charming and confident but not so much so that it was a turnoff. We were both 23 at the time and had things in common. Conversations flowed naturally. Although I hadn’t been involved with anyone for a while, I wasn’t naive to the fact that he wasn’t interested in dating me. He was here solely for hookups. Emotionally, he was completely shut off. Surprisingly, I was fine with that.
Inviting Adrian over for the first time was nerve-racking. I began thinking about all the ways he could reject me, all the things he'd say about my body—or worse, the things he wouldn’t say. I was visibly shaken, nervously sipping the Heineken that Adrian had brought over. Although I felt like I was barely speaking, Adrian smiled, and we talked easily as we normally did. There wasn’t any tension that caused me to overthink things; I felt a sense of acceptance from him. I was comfortable enough to take off my clothes.
When I slept with Adrian for the first time, he told me all the things he liked about my body. He complimented my butt, which I always found to be too big, and my skin that I always hated for being too pasty. He raved about my hair and my lips. With Adrian, I felt exposed but not as afraid. I felt fine. I can confidently say that’s the first time I had felt even just fine.
Although I felt my attitude toward my body changing, my insecurities were still there. When Adrian came over the second time, I tried to keep the lights off, afraid that now he’d see me the way I really looked. I was hoping the darkness could hide me. But when he entered my bedroom, Adrian pulled me back into the light of my living room. “We need to turn the lights on in your bedroom," he said. "I want to see you.”
Over the course of the next year, Adrian and I kept hooking up semi-regularly. Each time was the same: I was being celebrated, and I was able to not think about my body for the first time in my life. It was in those moments when this other person could see me at my most vulnerable yet still accepted me that I started to accept myself.
Adrian and I don’t talk anymore, for reasons that are too complicated to explain; his emotional distance was a large part of it. I do miss being in bed with him, and I miss laughing with him and forgetting that I was naked. But putting the feelings aside, I’m grateful to have met him. I just wish I can say it didn’t take someone else celebrating my body to realize how beautiful I am. I wish I could have come to that conclusion on my own, but it did not.
Since then, I haven't gone back on Tinder looking for another hookup. I’m not perfect; Adrian didn’t cure me of my body image issues. I still have moments when I fall back in the same pattern of negative self-talk. But more often than not, I look in the mirror and I say things to myself with a confidence that’s not fake anymore. It's real and comes from inside me, and that’s not something anyone can take away from me now.
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
lifestyle
Sex and Relationships
Tinder is good for many things: It can cure your boredom, give you a quick confidence boost, and of course, help you nail down a casual sex partner by offering up endless profile photos to swipe.
But hookups aren't the only kind of connection Tinder can help you score. For a while now, we've been hearing about a long-term relationship and even marriages that began there, with users taking to the app to find a no-strings-attached fling but ending up with a soul-mate worthy significant other. Curious, we decided to find some of these couples and ask them to tell us their story. Below are 5 surprisingly romantic Tinder stories that prove love can start with a right swipe.
“I met my boyfriend, Liam, while we were both students. He was in his fifth year of a six-year program and I was a senior undergraduate. Neither of us was on Tinder to meet anyone serious; we were both just looking for a one-time fling. I ended up matching with him and we texted a little. I was worried he was going to be a jerk because he had two shirtless pictures up on his profile, but I decided to give him a chance.
Our first meeting was a bit of a disaster. I showed up 40 minutes late, and then I realized why he looked so familiar…he was the RA that wrote me up when I was a sophomore! But we continued to see each other for the three weeks before I graduated. We parted ways by agreeing if I was ever back in our college town, we'd get together. I actually found myself there two weeks later and seeing him, and then I invited him to my house four hours away for my graduation party. To my surprise, he actually showed up. We made plans to see each other again, and then again, and now we’ve been together as a couple for over two years.” —Gabrie, 24
“Jeff and I met on Tinder in May 2015. I was travelling from North Carolina to Rome with some girlfriends for vacation and had a 10-hour layover in New York City. I had plenty of spare time in the airport…which I spent swiping. Jeff and I matched and he messaged me. We only spoke for about five minutes and then I hopped on my plane.
A month later back in North Carolina, I received a random message from Jeff asking me if I wanted to visit New York City. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I said yes—after doing some Google stalking to make sure he wasn’t a felon. A few weeks after that first swipe, we had a crazy connection and an amazing weekend in the city. We instantly started actually dating, and about two months later, Jeff asked if I wanted to move in with him. Months turned into years, and we are now married and have a beautiful pitbull pup named Stallone. Although the start of our relationship was unconventional and a bit impulsive, we wouldn’t change a thing about our story.” —Savannah, 28
We were both looking for more than a hookup but less than a relationship. At first, it was easy to keep casual; there were only a couple weeks left in the school year and we were spending our summers apart. But we kept chatting all summer and continued hooking up at the beginning of the new school year. It slowly became apparent that we were getting closer and closer. About six months after we initially swiped, we decided to make it official. I never thought I would meet someone serious on Tinder, and I know this will be a relationship that in some capacity will last the rest of our lives.” —Madeline, 22
“Lindsey and I matched more than three years ago. We fumbled through an awkward Tinder conversation before setting up a coffee date at Starbucks. We sat in Starbucks for hours, then got dinner together. We went for burgers and texted our friends that we didn’t get murdered on our Tinder date. We’ve been together since that day.
From that day one we spent every day together. We snapchatted constantly. We texted 24/7. Truthfully, I had just gotten out of an abusive relationship and wasn’t looking for a partner. But rather than a quick hookup, we ended up in a loving, healthy, safe, goofy relationship. We got engaged on our second anniversary in a tent set up in our living room after designing our rings together. We’re even paying the deposit on our wedding venue this weekend. Consider this a warning to anyone on Tinder: be careful, you might end up in a really cute relationship that you don’t see coming.”
—Kye, 25
“On my second day in New York, I downloaded Tinder for the hell of it. I eagerly right-swiped the person whose profile came up on screen. There was something about her that just did it for me: She was older, tattooed, well-muscled, and truthfully, my body responded to her photos (which were all fully well-dressed).
She messaged me, which started a month-long flirtation over iMessage and text. But we never tried to see each other until she broke the news that she'd already planned to move across the country to California. Against our better judgment, we decided to meet and test out whether we were as compatible as our sexts and texts would have has believe. After two hours exploring downtown Manhattan, followed by two hours of just kissing against the front door of my apartment, and then eight hours of romping upstairs, I knew we were screwed.
She was never supposed to be more than a one-night stand, then she was never supposed to be more than a one-week fling. When I visited her in California six weeks later, she was supposed to be something I finally got out of my system. It’s now been over a year, and she still pulses pleasure and love through my body.” —Anonymous, 24
These 5 Women Went on Tinder for a Hookup—but Actually Found True Love
Tinder is good for many things: It can cure your boredom, give you a quick confidence boost, and of course, help you nail down a casual sex partner by offering up endless profile photos to swipe.
But hookups aren't the only kind of connection Tinder can help you score. For a while now, we've been hearing about a long-term relationship and even marriages that began there, with users taking to the app to find a no-strings-attached fling but ending up with a soul-mate worthy significant other. Curious, we decided to find some of these couples and ask them to tell us their story. Below are 5 surprisingly romantic Tinder stories that prove love can start with a right swipe.
We made plans to get together again, and then again...
Our first meeting was a bit of a disaster. I showed up 40 minutes late, and then I realized why he looked so familiar…he was the RA that wrote me up when I was a sophomore! But we continued to see each other for the three weeks before I graduated. We parted ways by agreeing if I was ever back in our college town, we'd get together. I actually found myself there two weeks later and seeing him, and then I invited him to my house four hours away for my graduation party. To my surprise, he actually showed up. We made plans to see each other again, and then again, and now we’ve been together as a couple for over two years.” —Gabrie, 24
Two months after we met, he asked me to move in with him
“Jeff and I met on Tinder in May 2015. I was travelling from North Carolina to Rome with some girlfriends for vacation and had a 10-hour layover in New York City. I had plenty of spare time in the airport…which I spent swiping. Jeff and I matched and he messaged me. We only spoke for about five minutes and then I hopped on my plane.
A month later back in North Carolina, I received a random message from Jeff asking me if I wanted to visit New York City. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I said yes—after doing some Google stalking to make sure he wasn’t a felon. A few weeks after that first swipe, we had a crazy connection and an amazing weekend in the city. We instantly started actually dating, and about two months later, Jeff asked if I wanted to move in with him. Months turned into years, and we are now married and have a beautiful pitbull pup named Stallone. Although the start of our relationship was unconventional and a bit impulsive, we wouldn’t change a thing about our story.” —Savannah, 28
“Six months after we initially swiped, we made it official”“K and I started messaging immediately after we matched on Tinder. We met up three days later for tea, then went for a walk in the woods…which turned into a marathon eight-hour date the next day.
We were both looking for more than a hookup but less than a relationship. At first, it was easy to keep casual; there were only a couple weeks left in the school year and we were spending our summers apart. But we kept chatting all summer and continued hooking up at the beginning of the new school year. It slowly became apparent that we were getting closer and closer. About six months after we initially swiped, we decided to make it official. I never thought I would meet someone serious on Tinder, and I know this will be a relationship that in some capacity will last the rest of our lives.” —Madeline, 22
“We’re paying the deposit on our wedding venue this weekend”
“Lindsey and I matched more than three years ago. We fumbled through an awkward Tinder conversation before setting up a coffee date at Starbucks. We sat in Starbucks for hours, then got dinner together. We went for burgers and texted our friends that we didn’t get murdered on our Tinder date. We’ve been together since that day.
From that day one we spent every day together. We snapchatted constantly. We texted 24/7. Truthfully, I had just gotten out of an abusive relationship and wasn’t looking for a partner. But rather than a quick hookup, we ended up in a loving, healthy, safe, goofy relationship. We got engaged on our second anniversary in a tent set up in our living room after designing our rings together. We’re even paying the deposit on our wedding venue this weekend. Consider this a warning to anyone on Tinder: be careful, you might end up in a really cute relationship that you don’t see coming.”
—Kye, 25
“She was never supposed to be more than a one-night stand”
“On my second day in New York, I downloaded Tinder for the hell of it. I eagerly right-swiped the person whose profile came up on screen. There was something about her that just did it for me: She was older, tattooed, well-muscled, and truthfully, my body responded to her photos (which were all fully well-dressed).
She messaged me, which started a month-long flirtation over iMessage and text. But we never tried to see each other until she broke the news that she'd already planned to move across the country to California. Against our better judgment, we decided to meet and test out whether we were as compatible as our sexts and texts would have has believe. After two hours exploring downtown Manhattan, followed by two hours of just kissing against the front door of my apartment, and then eight hours of romping upstairs, I knew we were screwed.
She was never supposed to be more than a one-night stand, then she was never supposed to be more than a one-week fling. When I visited her in California six weeks later, she was supposed to be something I finally got out of my system. It’s now been over a year, and she still pulses pleasure and love through my body.” —Anonymous, 24
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
breakingnews
featured
Health News
Healthy Pets
hottrend
lifestyle
Most dog owners welcome a happy lick from their pups now and then. But two cases have made headlines recently after a lick or a bite from dogs had life-threatening consequences.
On June 23, a South Milwaukee woman Sharon Larson, age 58, died a few days after her dog nipped her. Wisconsin man Greg Manteufel started feeling ill on June 27, according to a GoFundMe page raising money for his recovery. Initially, he and his wife Dawn thought he must have the flu, she told ABC7. But hours later, he was starting to go into septic shock and was rushed to the hospital.
Both Larson and Manteufel were found to have contracted the bacteria capnocytophaga. Manteufel ultimately had both legs amputated up through his kneecaps and had surgery to remove parts of both of his hands. He will also need surgery on his nose, according to the GoFundMe page.
The dog lover had been around eight pups when he became ill, People reported. Capnocytophaga is normal in dogs and cats and doesn't cause symptoms in animals. But when transmitted to humans through animal saliva–usually via a bite–the bacteria can cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, and progress to a blood infection in humans.
“It’s not very common, but when it occurs, it [can be] really bad,” Bruno Chomel, DVM, PhD, professor of zoonosis at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, told Health in a prior interview.
While these two experiences are certainly upsetting, don’t panic over every lick or nip from your favorite furry friend. Most people who come in contact with capnocytophaga bacteria don’t get sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You’re more likely to become infected if you have an underlying medical condition like cancer, diabetes, or HIV that impairs your immune system. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have one of these conditions about how to make sure you’re handling your pet safely, and of course, if you’ve been bitten by your pet, seek medical attention. (Capnocytophaga infections can be treated with antibiotics.)
To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter
Because capnocytophaga infections in humans are so rare, the U.S. doesn’t keep track of the number of cases, but one survey from the Netherlands estimated there is less than one case of capnocytophaga per 1 million people. However, about 30% of people who do get infected with capnocytophaga die.
Manteufel told doctors to do whatever surgeries they needed in order to keep him alive, his wife told ABC 11. “We can’t wrap our heads around it,” she said.
A Woman Died After Contracting an Infection from Her Dog's Saliva
Most dog owners welcome a happy lick from their pups now and then. But two cases have made headlines recently after a lick or a bite from dogs had life-threatening consequences.
On June 23, a South Milwaukee woman Sharon Larson, age 58, died a few days after her dog nipped her. Wisconsin man Greg Manteufel started feeling ill on June 27, according to a GoFundMe page raising money for his recovery. Initially, he and his wife Dawn thought he must have the flu, she told ABC7. But hours later, he was starting to go into septic shock and was rushed to the hospital.
Both Larson and Manteufel were found to have contracted the bacteria capnocytophaga. Manteufel ultimately had both legs amputated up through his kneecaps and had surgery to remove parts of both of his hands. He will also need surgery on his nose, according to the GoFundMe page.
The dog lover had been around eight pups when he became ill, People reported. Capnocytophaga is normal in dogs and cats and doesn't cause symptoms in animals. But when transmitted to humans through animal saliva–usually via a bite–the bacteria can cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, and progress to a blood infection in humans.
“It’s not very common, but when it occurs, it [can be] really bad,” Bruno Chomel, DVM, PhD, professor of zoonosis at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, told Health in a prior interview.
While these two experiences are certainly upsetting, don’t panic over every lick or nip from your favorite furry friend. Most people who come in contact with capnocytophaga bacteria don’t get sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You’re more likely to become infected if you have an underlying medical condition like cancer, diabetes, or HIV that impairs your immune system. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have one of these conditions about how to make sure you’re handling your pet safely, and of course, if you’ve been bitten by your pet, seek medical attention. (Capnocytophaga infections can be treated with antibiotics.)
To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter
Because capnocytophaga infections in humans are so rare, the U.S. doesn’t keep track of the number of cases, but one survey from the Netherlands estimated there is less than one case of capnocytophaga per 1 million people. However, about 30% of people who do get infected with capnocytophaga die.
Manteufel told doctors to do whatever surgeries they needed in order to keep him alive, his wife told ABC 11. “We can’t wrap our heads around it,” she said.
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
Celebrities
lifestyle
Khloé Kardashian has been very open about her post-baby fitness journey, sharing candid details of her workouts, diet and weight loss with her fans on social media. And the reality star has clearly gained back her swimsuit confidence.
Kardashian, who welcomed daughter True Thompson four months ago with boyfriend Tristan Thompson, hit the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in a cheeky one-piece (her favourite swimsuit style!) which put her famous curves on display. The new mom is on vacation with her boyfriend, sister Kendall Jenner and the model’s basketball player beau Ben Simmons.
“Khloé and Tristan seemed very happy,” a photographer source tells PEOPLE of the new parents on vacation. “Lots of cuddles and love all weekend. They definitely enjoyed themselves.”
Kardashian returned to the gym six weeks after giving birth, as soon as she got clearance from the doctor. But the star revealed it took her time to get back into her routine.
“The first day, I could not do the most simple things. I was out of breath. It was just different. And I kind of felt really defeated. Like, ‘Oh man. I don’t know if I can do this,'” she said. “After the first week I was like, ‘Okay. I am feeling a little better.’ I am not breathing so hard. I don’t need as many breaks. But I would say really after three weeks was when I felt good.”
As for adjusting to mom life, the star says she has a new-found appreciation for what her sisters went through.
“You’re f—ing tired,” she said about motherhood. “I just said to my sisters [Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian West], ‘How do you have more than one kid?’ I am exhausted. I am taking the [baby] monitor to the garage, I am trying to get [workouts] in. And it is hard. It is really hard. And you’re just tired. Your hormones are different. It is just a mindf—-!”
Earlier this month, she expanded her Good American brand with the launch of a new athleisure line featuring a size-inclusive range of workout clothing designed to make women feel confident and comfortable at the gym.
“Moving into activewear was a natural next step for Good American,” Kardashian tells PEOPLE exclusively of the exciting new launch. “When we think about new categories, our biggest priority is to always provide women with wardrobe staples, giving them options to get them through their busy daily lives and that make them look and feel their best. Fitness is my passion so I am so excited for this and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Khloé Kardashian Bares Her Beach Bum in Cheeky One-Piece Swimsuit While on Vacation in Mexico
![]() |
The reality star has gained back her post-baby swimsuit confidence. |
Khloé Kardashian has been very open about her post-baby fitness journey, sharing candid details of her workouts, diet and weight loss with her fans on social media. And the reality star has clearly gained back her swimsuit confidence.
Kardashian, who welcomed daughter True Thompson four months ago with boyfriend Tristan Thompson, hit the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in a cheeky one-piece (her favourite swimsuit style!) which put her famous curves on display. The new mom is on vacation with her boyfriend, sister Kendall Jenner and the model’s basketball player beau Ben Simmons.
“Khloé and Tristan seemed very happy,” a photographer source tells PEOPLE of the new parents on vacation. “Lots of cuddles and love all weekend. They definitely enjoyed themselves.”
Kardashian returned to the gym six weeks after giving birth, as soon as she got clearance from the doctor. But the star revealed it took her time to get back into her routine.
“The first day, I could not do the most simple things. I was out of breath. It was just different. And I kind of felt really defeated. Like, ‘Oh man. I don’t know if I can do this,'” she said. “After the first week I was like, ‘Okay. I am feeling a little better.’ I am not breathing so hard. I don’t need as many breaks. But I would say really after three weeks was when I felt good.”
As for adjusting to mom life, the star says she has a new-found appreciation for what her sisters went through.
“You’re f—ing tired,” she said about motherhood. “I just said to my sisters [Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian West], ‘How do you have more than one kid?’ I am exhausted. I am taking the [baby] monitor to the garage, I am trying to get [workouts] in. And it is hard. It is really hard. And you’re just tired. Your hormones are different. It is just a mindf—-!”
Earlier this month, she expanded her Good American brand with the launch of a new athleisure line featuring a size-inclusive range of workout clothing designed to make women feel confident and comfortable at the gym.
“Moving into activewear was a natural next step for Good American,” Kardashian tells PEOPLE exclusively of the exciting new launch. “When we think about new categories, our biggest priority is to always provide women with wardrobe staples, giving them options to get them through their busy daily lives and that make them look and feel their best. Fitness is my passion so I am so excited for this and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
Fitness and Exercise
lifestyle
Mens health
Sports Health
Womens Health
If you're an elite runner, a weekend warrior, or somewhere in-between, it's generally not a question of if an injury will happen, but when.
Half of runners will be hurt more than once in a given two-year period, according to Stephen Messier, the director of the J.B. Snow Biomechanics Laboratory at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Women runners are somewhat more likely to be injured than men.
Applying repeated force over a extended period of time or suddenly boosting a training level causes conditions such as runner's knee, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, iliotibial band syndrome, patellar tendinitis (also spelled tendonitis), ankle sprain, pulled muscles, blisters, chafing, and side stitches.
In fact, the late runner-philosopher Dr. George Sheehan called running injuries “diseases of excellence.” While heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are often seen as maladies of the sedentary, athletic individuals are not immune to health issues such as shin splints, stress fractures, and pulled groins.
But let’s face it, most runners—myself included—aren't comforted by that badge of honor and don’t tolerate injuries well. Instead, we bemoan the fact that we can’t participate in something that keeps us physically and mentally healthy.
When injured, we fret over the loss of fitness, the possibility of weight gain, and the anxiety that we won't return to our previous level of physical intensity. Runners who are injured can become depressed. Their friends and family can find them difficult to deal with.
Here are three coping skills runners can use to manage being sidelined:
Christy Victor, an ultra-marathoner, advises having an auxiliary physical activity already in place before an injury occurs.
“When I broke my ankle last fall, I threw all my energy into the strength training that had just been a secondary activity," explains the busy veterinarian, wife, and mother. "It helped in so many ways. It gave me a physical outlet, helped keep me from falling into the self-pity trap, and I worked really hard to correct some chronic imbalances that needed to be remedied.”
Having a physical outlet independent of running can ease concerns about losing fitness and helps you continue to enjoy many of the mental benefits seen from running. A secondary physical activity also helps individuals keep structure and routine in their lives, two things that help prevent or reduce depression. Additionally, a secondary physical activity helps maintain fitness, something that eases the emotional burden of being injured.
Team athletes can remain involved in athletics even when injured, but running tends to be a solitary activity. Social media, though, can help runners who do not belong to their local clubs or teams boost feelings of connectedness and reassurance. Facebook, message boards, and running apps allow runners to forge friendships, share milestones, and most importantly, offer encouragement and support when injured. Social media also helps runners remain accountable for getting back to running when healed from their injury.
Greg Medwid, a master-class runner who has a personal best of 79 minutes in the half marathon, knows what it's like.
“When you are injured, you suddenly feel like an outsider. You watch your friends speed off, chatting and laughing while you wallow in a collection of pity and resentment. However, staying in touch can make all the difference. We need to at least be able to talk about running, and running friends provide that opportunity. Friends can give you that chance to keep up to date, to think about goals when you do come back. Good friends will even lie about how bad their runs were so you don’t feel too jealous.”
It’s no secret that runners pride themselves on their passion and spend a lot of time thinking about the sport. When injured, it's easy for thoughts to turn dark and catastrophic.
Psychologist Albert Ellis, the pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, would suggest that when injured, a runner employ his “ABC method.” For Ellis, the Activating Event (A) would be the external fact of being injured, something that for the time being cannot be changed. This event in itself is not the cause of suffering. Rather, the Belief (B), that follows is what leads to a negative emotion or, in other words, a Consequence (C). Ellis argued that, over time, as you alter your aberrant beliefs (B), your negative emotions diminish.
For example, a recent patient of mine effectively managed depression with running and was excitedly preparing for her first marathon. She was fit mentally and physically. As the marathon approached, though, a severe case of plantar fasciitis compelled her to withdraw from the race.
The injury (A) triggered a series of catastrophic thoughts (B) that at first she was hardly aware of, including ideas that she would never finish a marathon. She also believed that the running she did was diminished by her injury. Even worse, she thought her depression would return at a level more severe than before. Lastly, this patient was very concerned about being embarrassed and humiliated because she spoke often to her family and friends about participating in her first marathon. At her core, she believed that she was a “loser” for getting injured.
When she was able to identify her dysfunctional thoughts and look at them more closely, she was able to make small, positive changes in her beliefs. Her mood did not improve overnight, and she later observed that she was still not happy about being injured. After all, who would be? But when she put her negative thinking to the test, she was able to view her injury as part of the marathon challenge.
In time, she felt less helpless. Overall, she changed the mind-movie in her head of not achieving her goal and the sadness went away.
No runner likes the idea of getting injured while exercising. But having a variety of coping skills including a backup physical activity, staying connected with social media, and thinking clearly about the issue will be of benefit until you can literally and figuratively get back on your feet.
3 Ways to Stay Sane When an Injury Puts Running on Hold
![]() |
Running injuries can be caused by a traumatic event, but are most often happen over time due to repetitive movement. |
If you're an elite runner, a weekend warrior, or somewhere in-between, it's generally not a question of if an injury will happen, but when.
Half of runners will be hurt more than once in a given two-year period, according to Stephen Messier, the director of the J.B. Snow Biomechanics Laboratory at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Women runners are somewhat more likely to be injured than men.
Applying repeated force over a extended period of time or suddenly boosting a training level causes conditions such as runner's knee, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, iliotibial band syndrome, patellar tendinitis (also spelled tendonitis), ankle sprain, pulled muscles, blisters, chafing, and side stitches.
In fact, the late runner-philosopher Dr. George Sheehan called running injuries “diseases of excellence.” While heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension are often seen as maladies of the sedentary, athletic individuals are not immune to health issues such as shin splints, stress fractures, and pulled groins.
But let’s face it, most runners—myself included—aren't comforted by that badge of honor and don’t tolerate injuries well. Instead, we bemoan the fact that we can’t participate in something that keeps us physically and mentally healthy.
When injured, we fret over the loss of fitness, the possibility of weight gain, and the anxiety that we won't return to our previous level of physical intensity. Runners who are injured can become depressed. Their friends and family can find them difficult to deal with.
Here are three coping skills runners can use to manage being sidelined:
- Have a second physical activity
Christy Victor, an ultra-marathoner, advises having an auxiliary physical activity already in place before an injury occurs.“When I broke my ankle last fall, I threw all my energy into the strength training that had just been a secondary activity," explains the busy veterinarian, wife, and mother. "It helped in so many ways. It gave me a physical outlet, helped keep me from falling into the self-pity trap, and I worked really hard to correct some chronic imbalances that needed to be remedied.”
Having a physical outlet independent of running can ease concerns about losing fitness and helps you continue to enjoy many of the mental benefits seen from running. A secondary physical activity also helps individuals keep structure and routine in their lives, two things that help prevent or reduce depression. Additionally, a secondary physical activity helps maintain fitness, something that eases the emotional burden of being injured.
- Stay connected
Team athletes can remain involved in athletics even when injured, but running tends to be a solitary activity. Social media, though, can help runners who do not belong to their local clubs or teams boost feelings of connectedness and reassurance. Facebook, message boards, and running apps allow runners to forge friendships, share milestones, and most importantly, offer encouragement and support when injured. Social media also helps runners remain accountable for getting back to running when healed from their injury.Greg Medwid, a master-class runner who has a personal best of 79 minutes in the half marathon, knows what it's like.
“When you are injured, you suddenly feel like an outsider. You watch your friends speed off, chatting and laughing while you wallow in a collection of pity and resentment. However, staying in touch can make all the difference. We need to at least be able to talk about running, and running friends provide that opportunity. Friends can give you that chance to keep up to date, to think about goals when you do come back. Good friends will even lie about how bad their runs were so you don’t feel too jealous.”
- Challenge catastrophic thinking
It’s no secret that runners pride themselves on their passion and spend a lot of time thinking about the sport. When injured, it's easy for thoughts to turn dark and catastrophic.Psychologist Albert Ellis, the pioneer of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, would suggest that when injured, a runner employ his “ABC method.” For Ellis, the Activating Event (A) would be the external fact of being injured, something that for the time being cannot be changed. This event in itself is not the cause of suffering. Rather, the Belief (B), that follows is what leads to a negative emotion or, in other words, a Consequence (C). Ellis argued that, over time, as you alter your aberrant beliefs (B), your negative emotions diminish.
For example, a recent patient of mine effectively managed depression with running and was excitedly preparing for her first marathon. She was fit mentally and physically. As the marathon approached, though, a severe case of plantar fasciitis compelled her to withdraw from the race.
The injury (A) triggered a series of catastrophic thoughts (B) that at first she was hardly aware of, including ideas that she would never finish a marathon. She also believed that the running she did was diminished by her injury. Even worse, she thought her depression would return at a level more severe than before. Lastly, this patient was very concerned about being embarrassed and humiliated because she spoke often to her family and friends about participating in her first marathon. At her core, she believed that she was a “loser” for getting injured.
When she was able to identify her dysfunctional thoughts and look at them more closely, she was able to make small, positive changes in her beliefs. Her mood did not improve overnight, and she later observed that she was still not happy about being injured. After all, who would be? But when she put her negative thinking to the test, she was able to view her injury as part of the marathon challenge.
In time, she felt less helpless. Overall, she changed the mind-movie in her head of not achieving her goal and the sadness went away.
No runner likes the idea of getting injured while exercising. But having a variety of coping skills including a backup physical activity, staying connected with social media, and thinking clearly about the issue will be of benefit until you can literally and figuratively get back on your feet.
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
entertainment
lifestyle
Medical Myths
Mental Health
That's one of the things Jonathan Burdette, M.D., has found in researching music's effects on the brain.
"Music is primal. It affects all of us, but in very personal, unique ways," said Burdette, a neuroradiologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. "Your interaction with music is different than mine, but it's still powerful.
"Your brain has a reaction when you like or don't like something, including music. We've been able to take some baby steps into seeing that, and 'dislike' looks different than 'like' and much different than 'favorite.'"
To study how music preferences might affect functional brain connectivity -- the interactions among separate areas of the brain -- Burdette and his fellow investigators used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which depicts brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Scans were made of 21 people while they listened to music they said they most liked and disliked from among five genres (classical, country, rap, rock and Chinese opera) and to a song or piece of music they had previously named as their personal favorite.
Those fMRI scans showed a consistent pattern: The listeners' preferences, not the type of music they were listening to, had the greatest impact on brain connectivity -- especially on a brain circuit known to be involved in internally focused thought, empathy and self-awareness. This circuit, called the default mode network, was poorly connected when the participants were listening to the music they disliked, better connected when listening to the music they liked and the most connected when listening to their favorites.
The researchers also found that listening to favorite songs altered the connectivity between auditory brain areas and a region responsible for memory and social emotion consolidation.
"Given that music preferences are uniquely individualized phenomena and that music can vary in acoustic complexity and the presence or absence of lyrics, the consistency of our results was unexpected," the researchers wrote in the journal Nature Scientific Reports (Aug. 28, 2014). "These findings may explain why comparable emotional and mental states can be experienced by people listening to music that differs as widely as Beethoven and Eminem."
Not surprising to Burdette was the extent of the connectivity seen in the participants' brains when they were listening to their favorite tunes.
"There are probably some features in music that make you feel a certain way, but it's your experience with it that is even more important," said Burdette, who also is professor of radiology and vice chairman of research at Wake Forest School of Medicine. "Your associations with certain music involve many different parts of the brain, and they're very strong.
"In some cases, you might not even like the particular song, but you like the memories or feelings that you associate with it."
In other research projects, Burdette and colleagues at the School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro have found that trained music conductors are likely to be better at combining and using auditory and visual clues than people without musical training; that activity in brain areas associated with vision decreases during tasks that involve listening; and that different levels of complexity in music can have different effects on functional brain connectivity.
"I find this type of work fascinating, because I think music is so important," Burdette said. "If science can help get more people to recognize what music does to and for us, great."
Music is just a small part of Burdette's research activities -- his most recently published study, for example, showed that brain volume could be an accurate predictor of success in weight-loss attempts by the elderly -- but it has long been a big of part his life.
Burdette grew up playing viola, piano and guitar. He has been singing since childhood and continues to do so, including in the chorus in productions staged by the Piedmont Opera, of which he has been a board member for more than 10 years. He's also done some conducting. His wife, Shona Simpson, plays piano. Their three teenage daughters -- Fiona, Ellie and Jessie -- perform professionally as the Dan River Girls. His brother, Kevin, is a singer who has appeared as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and other top-tier opera companies and symphony orchestras.
"Music is my avocation," the physician in the family said. "Radiology is my vocation."
Burdette additionally has deep interest, if not direct involvement, in music's clinical applications.
"Music isn't going to cure anything, but it definitely can play a therapeutic role," he said.
In countries such as Germany, Burdette noted, music therapy is commonly an integral part of the rehabilitation process for people who have had strokes, brain surgery or traumatic brain injuries.
"If you're trying to restore neuroplasticity in the brain, to re-establish some of the connections that were there before the injury, music can be a big help, and I'd like to see it used more widely in this country," he said.
Burdette also is a proponent of programs that help people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other cognitive and physical problems re-connect with the world through music. One such program is Music & Memory, which employs iPods with customized playlists featuring songs popular when the participating individual was under 30 years old.
"You can actually see the power of music," Burdette said. "People who were just sitting there, not engaged in anything, light up when they start hearing music from when they were 25.
"It's fantastic. What else can do that? I can't think of anything other than music."
Does Music really have powerful (and visible) effects on the brain?
![]() |
Ballet couples on contemporary music. How does much affect mood and performance? |
It doesn't matter if it's Bach, the Beatles, Brad Paisley or Bruno Mars. Your favorite music likely triggers a similar type of activity in your brain as other people's favorites do in theirs.
That's one of the things Jonathan Burdette, M.D., has found in researching music's effects on the brain.
"Music is primal. It affects all of us, but in very personal, unique ways," said Burdette, a neuroradiologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. "Your interaction with music is different than mine, but it's still powerful.
"Your brain has a reaction when you like or don't like something, including music. We've been able to take some baby steps into seeing that, and 'dislike' looks different than 'like' and much different than 'favorite.'"
To study how music preferences might affect functional brain connectivity -- the interactions among separate areas of the brain -- Burdette and his fellow investigators used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which depicts brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Scans were made of 21 people while they listened to music they said they most liked and disliked from among five genres (classical, country, rap, rock and Chinese opera) and to a song or piece of music they had previously named as their personal favorite.
Those fMRI scans showed a consistent pattern: The listeners' preferences, not the type of music they were listening to, had the greatest impact on brain connectivity -- especially on a brain circuit known to be involved in internally focused thought, empathy and self-awareness. This circuit, called the default mode network, was poorly connected when the participants were listening to the music they disliked, better connected when listening to the music they liked and the most connected when listening to their favorites.
The researchers also found that listening to favorite songs altered the connectivity between auditory brain areas and a region responsible for memory and social emotion consolidation.
"Given that music preferences are uniquely individualized phenomena and that music can vary in acoustic complexity and the presence or absence of lyrics, the consistency of our results was unexpected," the researchers wrote in the journal Nature Scientific Reports (Aug. 28, 2014). "These findings may explain why comparable emotional and mental states can be experienced by people listening to music that differs as widely as Beethoven and Eminem."
Not surprising to Burdette was the extent of the connectivity seen in the participants' brains when they were listening to their favorite tunes.
"There are probably some features in music that make you feel a certain way, but it's your experience with it that is even more important," said Burdette, who also is professor of radiology and vice chairman of research at Wake Forest School of Medicine. "Your associations with certain music involve many different parts of the brain, and they're very strong.
"In some cases, you might not even like the particular song, but you like the memories or feelings that you associate with it."
In other research projects, Burdette and colleagues at the School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro have found that trained music conductors are likely to be better at combining and using auditory and visual clues than people without musical training; that activity in brain areas associated with vision decreases during tasks that involve listening; and that different levels of complexity in music can have different effects on functional brain connectivity.
"I find this type of work fascinating, because I think music is so important," Burdette said. "If science can help get more people to recognize what music does to and for us, great."
Music is just a small part of Burdette's research activities -- his most recently published study, for example, showed that brain volume could be an accurate predictor of success in weight-loss attempts by the elderly -- but it has long been a big of part his life.
Burdette grew up playing viola, piano and guitar. He has been singing since childhood and continues to do so, including in the chorus in productions staged by the Piedmont Opera, of which he has been a board member for more than 10 years. He's also done some conducting. His wife, Shona Simpson, plays piano. Their three teenage daughters -- Fiona, Ellie and Jessie -- perform professionally as the Dan River Girls. His brother, Kevin, is a singer who has appeared as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and other top-tier opera companies and symphony orchestras.
"Music is my avocation," the physician in the family said. "Radiology is my vocation."
Burdette additionally has deep interest, if not direct involvement, in music's clinical applications.
"Music isn't going to cure anything, but it definitely can play a therapeutic role," he said.
In countries such as Germany, Burdette noted, music therapy is commonly an integral part of the rehabilitation process for people who have had strokes, brain surgery or traumatic brain injuries.
"If you're trying to restore neuroplasticity in the brain, to re-establish some of the connections that were there before the injury, music can be a big help, and I'd like to see it used more widely in this country," he said.
Burdette also is a proponent of programs that help people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other cognitive and physical problems re-connect with the world through music. One such program is Music & Memory, which employs iPods with customized playlists featuring songs popular when the participating individual was under 30 years old.
"You can actually see the power of music," Burdette said. "People who were just sitting there, not engaged in anything, light up when they start hearing music from when they were 25.
"It's fantastic. What else can do that? I can't think of anything other than music."
![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
lifestyle
Travel and Tourism
Womens Health
When it comes to holiday travelling, maintaining your sanity let alone your looks can be a real challenge. Here, six globetrotting beauty pros share their best tips to help you stay gorgeous on the fly.
Alexis Wolfer, beauty blogger and founder of The Beauty Bean
Francesca Fusco, MD, a dermatologist in New York City
Jeanie Syfu, a celebrity hairstylist in New York City
Lara Ramos, beauty blogger at The Glossarie
Jet Rhys, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles
Suzy Gerstein, a New York City celebrity makeup artist
6 Genius Beauty Tricks for Traveling
When it comes to holiday travelling, maintaining your sanity let alone your looks can be a real challenge. Here, six globetrotting beauty pros share their best tips to help you stay gorgeous on the fly.
First-class skin
I apply a thin layer of Aromatherapy Associates Anti-Aging Overnight Repair Mask [$88; amazon.com] before long flights. It contains nourishing oils that protect the skin from cabin air, plus fatty acids for a plumping effect. You'll actually arrive at your destination looking better than you did before takeoff!Alexis Wolfer, beauty blogger and founder of The Beauty Bean
Eye essential
To prevent jet bags aka dark circles and puffiness post-flight I apply soothing undereye patches before takeoff. Your fellow travellers may look at you funny at first, but your bright eyes will be envied come arrival. I swear by Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels [$30 for 8 pairs; amazon.com].Francesca Fusco, MD, a dermatologist in New York City
No-fuss hair
My signature hairstyle in the sky is a topknot. Loosely twist strands into a high bun and secure with a creaseless fabric elasticthe higher the bun, the more voluminous hair will be when released. Unwind upon arrival, spritz with dry shampoo and tousle for soft, pretty waves.Jeanie Syfu, a celebrity hairstylist in New York City
Lip service
"Chapped lips make for an unsightly greeting, so I layer on a thick balm to act as a shield against the drying effects of flying. My favourite is Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve [$6; sephora.com], which can also be dabbed  on parched cheeks and cuticles.Lara Ramos, beauty blogger at The Glossarie
Beauty spritzer
I always stash a travel-size bottle of Evian Mineral Water Spray [$14 for two; sephora.com] in my carry-on. It's a great multi-tasker! I spray my face when it feels tight from the dry air and lightly mist my hair, giving it a little crunch, to revive moisture and bounce.Jet Rhys, a celebrity hairstylist in Los Angeles
Ready to glow
Flying sucks the life out of my skin, so I apply Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Primer ($48; nordstrom.com) for subtle tint and luminosity before landing. Then I tap a smidge of concealer wherever I need a little extra coverage. I swirl a creamy blush onto the apples of cheeks and a little on my forehead, too, for a healthy-looking flush.Suzy Gerstein, a New York City celebrity makeup artist
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Beauty and Balance
Celebrities
Fashion and Style
featured
lifestyle
Womens Health
It’s no secret that we’re 100% obsessed with Meghan Markle’s style, which is why we were more than a little intrigued when eagle-eyed fans noticed that the duchess often appears to wear shoes that are visibly too big for her feet. That’s right — a number of photos out there show Markle in shoes with noticeable space behind her heel.
However, it turns out there’s a highly logical explanation for this, and it just might be the high heel hack we’ve desperately needed all our lives.
Apparently, wearing heels a size or two too big is a well-known celebrity style hack. As fashion expert Harriet Davey told The Sun, “Celebs often go a size up, or even two, in the shoe department when they’re at an event or on the red carpet and it’s for one reason we can all relate to — to avoid blisters.”
There’s also a hack to prevent slipping (since, after all, the shoes are technically too big).
Our toes will officially thank Meghan the next time we attend an event in stilettos.
This Is Why Meghan Markle Always Wears Shoes That Are Too Big For Her
It’s no secret that we’re 100% obsessed with Meghan Markle’s style, which is why we were more than a little intrigued when eagle-eyed fans noticed that the duchess often appears to wear shoes that are visibly too big for her feet. That’s right — a number of photos out there show Markle in shoes with noticeable space behind her heel.
However, it turns out there’s a highly logical explanation for this, and it just might be the high heel hack we’ve desperately needed all our lives.
Apparently, wearing heels a size or two too big is a well-known celebrity style hack. As fashion expert Harriet Davey told The Sun, “Celebs often go a size up, or even two, in the shoe department when they’re at an event or on the red carpet and it’s for one reason we can all relate to — to avoid blisters.”
Davey added, "There's nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes (we've all been there on a night out) and when celebs like Meghan are wearing heels for a long period of time their feet can often swell up. The swelling can cause blisters, and in the long run, bunions."
There’s also a hack to prevent slipping (since, after all, the shoes are technically too big).
"A trick of the trade is to stuff the toe with padding like tissue or cotton wool, and this can be taken out once they feel like they need a bit more room in their shoes," Davey said.
Our toes will officially thank Meghan the next time we attend an event in stilettos.
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Diet and Weight Management
Food and Receipies
lifestyle
Monks are some of the most revered members of society here in Tibet. They are viewed as the ultimate source of spiritual guidance, and—with their radiant beauty, and abundant, youthful energy—the pinnacle of optimal health. For this latter reason, it is often found that even those who do not subscribe to any particular religious faith are longing to emulate these holy men. And since we are what we eat, we’re digging into the details of a traditional Tibetan monks’ diet in an effort to become more like these men we hold in such high esteem.
The question of whether or not eating meat is acceptable is a perplexing one because there is no clear cut answer. Many Buddhist monks abide by vegetarianism, but then there are some, particularly those of the Yoga Tantric branch, who believe it is acceptable to dine on “clean meat,” especially since some regions of Tibet have sparse availability of fresh produce. For meat to qualify as clean, the individual who is to eat the flesh cannot have seen the animal from which it comes been brought to its death. In this same vein, the eater must be certain that the animal was not sacrificed directly for him- or herself.
Also of note, those who opt to eat meat will only consume cloven-hoofed animals (read: deer, antelopes, goats, sheep, cattle and gazelles), and will only do so when they can purchase them directly from the market.
Typical staples of a Tibetan monk’s diet include salads, beans, lentils, noodle soups, and stir-fried or steamed vegetable dishes. Simple and always seasonal, as they believe that which is presently growing on this earth is the exact food we are meant to be eating at this time of year for optimal nourishment.
Food combining
Keeping starches, fruits and vegetables separate from meat dishes, including fish and fowl, is key. It’s believed that the starchier foods (like bread, rice, and pasta) do not sit well in the stomach when consumed with foods higher in protein because of the difference in the ways these foods get digested.
To break down starchy foods, the body needs an alkaline environment, whereas to break down something like a steak, it requires a very acidic landscape. So, when you introduce two foods that promote opposite conditions in the stomach that cancel each other out, you end up with a neutral, ineffective environment. As a result, nothing gets digested well.
This is also why fruit is to be kept separate from other foods, because of the quicker rate at which it is broken down. The rule of thumb? Always eat fruit thirty to sixty minutes prior to other foods, to prevent internal distress. When your digestion is off, this tends to manifest immediately as pain and bloating of the stomach, and, importantly, the Tibetan monks believe that in the long term this can lead to a shorter lifespan.
Mono-Diet
In line with their beliefs surrounding food combining, the monks often spend chunks of time eating just one type of food as a type of cleansing practice. This utterly simple approach to feeding oneself is found to be easier on the stomach because it ensures there is no clash in terms of digestion. Examples of foods that have been eaten by monks in this style are bread, watermelon, potatoes, squash, carrots, and even meats.
Chew slowly
When you take the time to ensure you thoroughly masticate, you’re giving your body a heads up that food is on its way down to the stomach. This signal starts the process of digestion as those necessary juices that help break down your food become active and promote optimal nutrient absorption. Remember - the more work your teeth do, the less your stomach has to. So for less bloat, chew, chew chew.
Not too late
Because the process of digestion requires energy from the body, the monks are careful not to feed themselves late in the day. Optimal sleep is a priority for them, and this requires a slowing down of the bodily systems, a state of relaxation. This state runs contrary to the one signalled by the body when it receives food. So, ideally, the last meal is consumed prior to sundown, a few hours before laying down to rest.
Eats as a group and in silence
Eating is often done at the same time every day, and always following the practice of meditation. So, when monks come together at mealtime, they are still in this state of prayer and deep relaxation. Although they are eating communally, they take their meals in utter silence, which keeps them focused on their food and their satiation, making sure not to overeat.
No snacking or sneaking
Since it is tradition to come together and treat the feeding of oneself as a sacred act, sneaking food between meals when one is alone is simply not apart of the food philosophy. It is not mindful and therefore not done.
Namely, vibrancy and vitality. With pure, whole foods making up the entirety of the diet, that leaves no room for processed junk, which leaves us feeling sluggish, lacklustre and prone to sickness. In place, we’re consuming colourful, live foods that are nutrient-dense and give us back that long sought after youthful vigour.
In addition, we get spiritual benefits from eating in this way. Learning to treat mealtime as a communal, sacred experience makes us thankful for what we are consuming, and promotes sociability. Plus, in reverting to eating such unprocessed dishes as those enjoyed by the monks, we can appreciate the beauty of simple, meek food, coming to understand that we do not need fancy foods to satisfy us. With that mindset shift, we become free from food trends and can find solace in knowing we can survive on poor man’s meals like lentils and beans.
This hot dish is comprised of predominantly beans and potatoes, which are cut into small strips so that they match in shape and size with the beans. To enhance taste, the vegetables are fried in oil. The mélange gets its delectable flavour from the onions, herbs and spices the veggies are sautéd in: garlic, paprika, ginger root, and chilli peppers. At the end, boiled tomatoes and chunks of tofu are added, along with a splattering of soy sauce, a dash of red pepper and salt, and a sprinkling of finely chopped green onions.
Yak Butter Tea
Butter is regarded as one of those special ingredients in Tibet, the only that combines nicely with both starches and proteins, and capable of producing the miraculous results it does when added to black tea. Mountain climbers have come to rely on yak butter tea—made traditionally with black Pemagul tea—when they embark on expeditions. They claim it wards off plateau sicknesses and brings them immeasurable energy. You can make your own using any black tea you may have, and adding in butter, milk and a dash of salt.
We can’t wait to try incorporating more Tibetan meals into our daily routine and begin experimenting with the monks’ mindful approach to ingesting food. Remember: slowly, thoroughly and in humble quantities. Curious about other areas of a Tibetan monk’s lifestyle we can benefit from? Try meditation, sleeping eight hours, taking baths, and engaging in regular exercise.
A small monk in the Tibetan temple - Digging into the Diet of a Tibetan Monk
Monks are some of the most revered members of society here in Tibet. They are viewed as the ultimate source of spiritual guidance, and—with their radiant beauty, and abundant, youthful energy—the pinnacle of optimal health. For this latter reason, it is often found that even those who do not subscribe to any particular religious faith are longing to emulate these holy men. And since we are what we eat, we’re digging into the details of a traditional Tibetan monks’ diet in an effort to become more like these men we hold in such high esteem.
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Lacking fresh produce on the plateau, it's acceptable for Tibetan monks to dine on "clean meat". |
First thing’s first, what exactly do they eat?
Tibetan monks are known to eat a diet high in vegetables and fruits, limiting their intake of proteins, fats and starches. Their approach to the consumption of foods such as eggs, butter and cheese? Eat the bare minimum, only enough to meet the body’s needs. For this reason, healthy individuals who have their nutrient requirements met go without these richer foods for periods of time, only returning to consuming them when need be.The question of whether or not eating meat is acceptable is a perplexing one because there is no clear cut answer. Many Buddhist monks abide by vegetarianism, but then there are some, particularly those of the Yoga Tantric branch, who believe it is acceptable to dine on “clean meat,” especially since some regions of Tibet have sparse availability of fresh produce. For meat to qualify as clean, the individual who is to eat the flesh cannot have seen the animal from which it comes been brought to its death. In this same vein, the eater must be certain that the animal was not sacrificed directly for him- or herself.
Also of note, those who opt to eat meat will only consume cloven-hoofed animals (read: deer, antelopes, goats, sheep, cattle and gazelles), and will only do so when they can purchase them directly from the market.
Typical staples of a Tibetan monk’s diet include salads, beans, lentils, noodle soups, and stir-fried or steamed vegetable dishes. Simple and always seasonal, as they believe that which is presently growing on this earth is the exact food we are meant to be eating at this time of year for optimal nourishment.
The approach to consumption
To really understand a Tibetan monk’s diet, it may be more fruitful to look at how they eat rather than the minute details of the food itself.Food combining
Keeping starches, fruits and vegetables separate from meat dishes, including fish and fowl, is key. It’s believed that the starchier foods (like bread, rice, and pasta) do not sit well in the stomach when consumed with foods higher in protein because of the difference in the ways these foods get digested.
To break down starchy foods, the body needs an alkaline environment, whereas to break down something like a steak, it requires a very acidic landscape. So, when you introduce two foods that promote opposite conditions in the stomach that cancel each other out, you end up with a neutral, ineffective environment. As a result, nothing gets digested well.
This is also why fruit is to be kept separate from other foods, because of the quicker rate at which it is broken down. The rule of thumb? Always eat fruit thirty to sixty minutes prior to other foods, to prevent internal distress. When your digestion is off, this tends to manifest immediately as pain and bloating of the stomach, and, importantly, the Tibetan monks believe that in the long term this can lead to a shorter lifespan.
Mono-Diet
In line with their beliefs surrounding food combining, the monks often spend chunks of time eating just one type of food as a type of cleansing practice. This utterly simple approach to feeding oneself is found to be easier on the stomach because it ensures there is no clash in terms of digestion. Examples of foods that have been eaten by monks in this style are bread, watermelon, potatoes, squash, carrots, and even meats.
Chew slowly
When you take the time to ensure you thoroughly masticate, you’re giving your body a heads up that food is on its way down to the stomach. This signal starts the process of digestion as those necessary juices that help break down your food become active and promote optimal nutrient absorption. Remember - the more work your teeth do, the less your stomach has to. So for less bloat, chew, chew chew.
Not too late
Because the process of digestion requires energy from the body, the monks are careful not to feed themselves late in the day. Optimal sleep is a priority for them, and this requires a slowing down of the bodily systems, a state of relaxation. This state runs contrary to the one signalled by the body when it receives food. So, ideally, the last meal is consumed prior to sundown, a few hours before laying down to rest.
Eats as a group and in silence
Eating is often done at the same time every day, and always following the practice of meditation. So, when monks come together at mealtime, they are still in this state of prayer and deep relaxation. Although they are eating communally, they take their meals in utter silence, which keeps them focused on their food and their satiation, making sure not to overeat.
No snacking or sneaking
Since it is tradition to come together and treat the feeding of oneself as a sacred act, sneaking food between meals when one is alone is simply not apart of the food philosophy. It is not mindful and therefore not done.
Why do they abide by this style of eating?
Aside from optimal digestion promoted in their food combining and slow, conscious eating style, there are a number of other benefits that come from eating like a monk in Tibet.Namely, vibrancy and vitality. With pure, whole foods making up the entirety of the diet, that leaves no room for processed junk, which leaves us feeling sluggish, lacklustre and prone to sickness. In place, we’re consuming colourful, live foods that are nutrient-dense and give us back that long sought after youthful vigour.
In addition, we get spiritual benefits from eating in this way. Learning to treat mealtime as a communal, sacred experience makes us thankful for what we are consuming, and promotes sociability. Plus, in reverting to eating such unprocessed dishes as those enjoyed by the monks, we can appreciate the beauty of simple, meek food, coming to understand that we do not need fancy foods to satisfy us. With that mindset shift, we become free from food trends and can find solace in knowing we can survive on poor man’s meals like lentils and beans.
A traditional meal and drink to try
String Beans with PotatoesThis hot dish is comprised of predominantly beans and potatoes, which are cut into small strips so that they match in shape and size with the beans. To enhance taste, the vegetables are fried in oil. The mélange gets its delectable flavour from the onions, herbs and spices the veggies are sautéd in: garlic, paprika, ginger root, and chilli peppers. At the end, boiled tomatoes and chunks of tofu are added, along with a splattering of soy sauce, a dash of red pepper and salt, and a sprinkling of finely chopped green onions.
![]() |
String beans are fried with potatoes |
Yak Butter Tea
Butter is regarded as one of those special ingredients in Tibet, the only that combines nicely with both starches and proteins, and capable of producing the miraculous results it does when added to black tea. Mountain climbers have come to rely on yak butter tea—made traditionally with black Pemagul tea—when they embark on expeditions. They claim it wards off plateau sicknesses and brings them immeasurable energy. You can make your own using any black tea you may have, and adding in butter, milk and a dash of salt.
![]() |
A Tibetan monk is making yak butter tea |
We can’t wait to try incorporating more Tibetan meals into our daily routine and begin experimenting with the monks’ mindful approach to ingesting food. Remember: slowly, thoroughly and in humble quantities. Curious about other areas of a Tibetan monk’s lifestyle we can benefit from? Try meditation, sleeping eight hours, taking baths, and engaging in regular exercise.