Body, Mind, & Spirit Articles

Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-17-2024

Because of the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet and the recent studies that have highlighted the diet’s ability to reduce heart disease, decrease the risk of some cancers, prevent or mitigate the effects of diabetes, and more, many have embraced the Mediterranean diet’s key guidelines. Although this plant-based diet devotes the largest portion of a plate to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, healthy fats, like those you get from olive oil and nuts, lean animal proteins, and red wine also take key roles.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-30-2024

Want some tips for your sobriety journey? This Cheat Sheet helps you challenge beliefs and societal pressures, break free from sobriety stigmas, understand your willpower’s role, and dispel conceptions about happiness.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-25-2024

Although I’m against cheating on your partner, there’s nothing wrong with cheating Father Time with this condensed information about how to have a great sex life. Though I’m all for the occasional quickie, to have terrrrific sex, you need to read a lot more of Sex For Dummies than just this Cheat Sheet.

Article / Updated 09-11-2024

The term hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. But when you're talking about hepatitis C, you're talking about viral hepatitis, and hep C isn't the only form of hepatitis caused by a virus. So far, five different viruses have been found that cause hepatitis, and they're named with letters: Hepatitis Avirus causes hepatitis A; hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B; hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C; and hepatitis E virus causes hepatitis E. Hepatitis D virus is a special case, because it can't infect you unless you also have hepatitis B virus. The different types of viral hepatitis have similar features but also important differences. Depending on the hepatitis virus, the disease may be temporary — an acute form, which lasts less than a year. With hepatitis B or C, though, infection can become chronic and last for decades, or life, unless you undergo successful treatment against the virus. Hepatitis A virus Hepatitis A (also called infectious hepatitis) was identified in 1973. Hepatitis A spreads through food or water that has been contaminated with infected feces. You can get hepatitis A from: Not washing your hands after exposure to feces: Examples include not washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper. Eating contaminated food: This situation can occur with uncooked food and food prepared by someone who didn't wash his hands after using the toilet. Drinking contaminated water: Dealing with contaminated water could be a problem when traveling. Sexual contact with someone who's infected: Practice safer sex and especially take care if you have anal or oral–anal sex. Hepatitis A causes an acute infection. In the United States, 200,000 cases of hepatitis A are reported yearly, and a third of all people have already been exposed to hepatitis A virus at some point in their lives but may not have known it. If you've been exposed to hepatitis A in the past or gotten a vaccine, you'll be immune, or protected from future hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis B virus The hepatitis B virus (serum hepatitis) was found in 1963 and spreads through contact with infected body fluids (including saliva, vaginal fluid, and semen) and blood. You can get hepatitis B from Injection drug use Unprotected sex Transmission from mother to child during birth The razor or toothbrush of an infected person Occupational exposure of healthcare workers or emergency personnel to infected blood or body fluids Hepatitis B can cause an acute or chronic infection, but chronic infection occurs in only approximately 5 percent of cases. A hepatitis B vaccine protects against hepatitis B (and hepatitis D). Hepatitis C virus The hepatitis C virus was discovered in 1989. For decades before that, it was called "non-A non-B" hepatitis because researchers knew that it wasn't caused by the other known hepatitis viruses at the time. Hep C is transmitted through blood, and 75 to 85 percent of people infected will have a chronic infection, which puts them at risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure over many decades of infection. No vaccine is available for hepatitis C, so prevention is the key to avoiding infection. Hep C infection can last a lifetime, so you need to take good care of yourself physically, emotionally, and financially. Medical research is ongoing to develop more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Currently, combination therapy with two drugs — pegylated interferon and ribavirin — is the best treatment, but it doesn't work for everyone. Hepatitis D virus Hepatitis D was discovered in 1977 and is an incomplete virus thatcan't infect you on its own; it has to tag along with hepatitis B virus. When it does, it can produce more-severe hepatitis B disease. Transmission of hepatitis D is the same as for hepatitis B. Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D infection, too. Hepatitis E virus The hepatitis E virus was discovered in 1983 as another hepatitis virus that's transmitted through contamination of water with feces. Outbreaks of hepatitis E occur primarily in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Central America due to unsanitary water supplies. Hepatitis E is rare in Canada, the United States, and other developed countries. Hepatitis E is an acute infection. For some as-yet-unexplained reason, pregnant women appear to be at risk of a more severe disease when infected with hepatitis E. Other hepatitis viruses Researchers believe that most people with viral hepatitis have one of the hepatitis viruses from A to E. But scientists are always on the lookout for new viruses that can cause disease. The viruses called hepatitis G virus (HGV), TTV (transfusion transmitted virus), and sentinel viruses (SEN) have all been discovered in the blood of people with hepatitis. But it's not absolutely clear that these viruses actually cause hepatitis. Hepatitis F is a name for a virus that's no longer thought to cause hepatitis.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 06-24-2024

Diabetes, which is excessive glucose in your blood, leads to serious health problems if left untreated. You should follow the American Diabetes Association screening guidelines to get tested for diabetes at the earliest possible time. If you have diabetes, this Cheat Sheet is a handy reference to screening guidelines, rules for living with diabetes, and continuing your diabetes care to better control the disease.

Article / Updated 05-22-2024

With household names like Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Megan Thee Stallion going public about their struggles with anxiety and depression in recent years, mental health is finally becoming less taboo. It wasn’t long ago that any deviation from the norm was treated like a shameful secret: Mental health conditions were ignored, waved away, or handled in private — and often inhumane — ways (think lobotomies). The ongoing lack of visibility into these struggles served to perpetuate the myth that mental health issues were pretty rare — and that the few people who did struggle were somehow to blame for their condition. Today, we know mental health conditions are actually incredibly common: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness. And that number is growing: the stress, fear, grief, isolation, and uncertainty of the global pandemic led to an increase in mental health issues — particularly among young adults — according to the CDC. Of course, that’s a conservative picture: In cultures, professions, and communities where mental illness stigma remains alive and well, addressing your own struggles has consequences — anything from social ostracization to losing your job. Meanwhile, a lack of access to affordable health care and unbiased information creates additional barriers for those most in need of support. And, when left untreated and unacknowledged, one person’s poor mental health can create a ripple effect that impacts their loved ones. When we look at the toll that untreated mental illness takes on our society, it’s safe to assume we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg. It’s a complex, sensitive, and crucial issue — which is why awareness remains so important. What is a mental illness? According to NAMI, mental illness refers to a wide range of conditions that affect “a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood.” Waking up on the wrong side of the bed, it is not — while symptoms can ebb and flow, mental illness is partially defined by the impact it has on day-to-day functioning and personal relationships. If you or a loved one are in emotional crisis, dial 988 for the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline is a free and confidential emotional support service for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices. Following, are some of the most common types of mental illness. Anxiety disorders Anxiety disorders can manifest in a number of ways: from racing thoughts or risk-averse behavior to an upset stomach. Anxiety disorders are the most common — and the most treatable — form of mental illness, impacting more than 40 million Americans over 18. They include: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Panic disorder Agoraphobia (an extreme fear of large crowds, open spaces, leaving one’s home, or being unable to escape) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Social anxiety disorder Check out our many Dummies books on Emotional Health & Psychology. Mood disorders While anyone can experience a mood swing, the highs and lows are more severe, persistent, and disruptive for those living with mood disorders. There are a variety of mood disorders, each with their own diagnostic criteria and symptoms. A person with bipolar disorder may experience drastic swings between high moods (mania) and low moods (depression), while a person with major depressive disorder experiences the lows — changes in sleep and appetite, persistent feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, lack of motivation, inability to focus or make decisions, and feelings of emptiness — without the highs. Mood disorders include: Major depressive disorder (MDD) Persistent depressive disorder (also known as dysthymia) Bipolar disorder Substance-induced mood disorder READ MORE: Depression For Dummies;Bipolar Disorder For Dummies Psychotic disorders Psychotic disorders make it difficult for a person to discern between reality and delusions or hallucinations. These disorders are characterized by distortions in one’s thinking and perception. Disorders include: Schizophrenia Schizoaffective disorder Brief psychotic disorder Delusional disorder Substance-induced psychotic disorder Other mental health conditions include eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, personality disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD), developmental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dissociative disorders like depersonalization disorder. Treating mental health conditions It’s not easy living with a mental health condition, but there are several options to make life more manageable. Some of the most popular include: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches common sense principles that help people break out of unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. It’s thought to be the most effective form of therapy for a number of conditions, including anxiety, addiction, depression, eating disorders, social anxiety, and personality disorders. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a form of CBT. While DBT also helps people recognize unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns, the primary teaching is mindfulness techniques that help patients regulate their emotions in a world full of suffering. It works best for people who have trouble controlling their responses to strong emotions. READ MORE: DBT For Dummies Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) uses mindfulness to help people build their interpersonal relationship skills and manage anxiety related to said relationships. READ MORE: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Dummies Mindfulness is more than the buzzword du jour — it’s a great way to manage anxiety, addiction, and even everyday stress. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of — and accepting — the present moment. Meditation is one of many ways to cultivate this skill. READ MORE: Managing Depression with Mindfulness For Dummies; Managing Anxiety with Mindfulness For Dummies; Meditation For Dummies, 4th Edition When all else fails, medication could be the missing link. A psychiatrist can help determine if psychiatric drugs would be a beneficial form of treatment.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-30-2024

There’s a lot to know about personal boundaries. But that doesn’t mean you need to wait until you understand all there is to know before you get started. The following are simple, actionable tips to help you start setting boundaries, along with specific actions you can put into practice immediately for some quick, powerful wins that instantly improve your boundaries. And if you’re wondering whether boundaries are even necessary, you can find the answer here too.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-12-2024

Article / Updated 03-22-2024

Millions of people around the world are celebrating major holidays in March and April. While Muslims are observing their holy month of Ramadan, both Easter and Passover fall in the spring as well. Here's an overview of how Muslims, Christians, and Jews are celebrating these holidays. Ramadan Ramadan began on March 10 and will finish on Eid al-Fitr (the festival of the breaking of the fast), which is April 10. During Ramadan, Muslims participate in daily fasts, communal worship, family gatherings, and readings of the Islamic holy book, the Qu’ran. Ramadan is a time when Muslims focus on spiritual development, giving to charity, and showing kindness and patience to others. To learn more about Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan, check out the article “Eid al-Fitr: Focusing on Charitable Acts.” Passover On the evening of April 22, Jewish people around the world will gather for Passover seders, the ritual dinner and retelling of the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. Passover lasts for eight days and, traditionally, Jews conduct seders the first two nights. On Passover, Jewish people thank God for delivering the Israelites from slavery, with the seder reminding them of the hardships their ancient ancestors endured. Jews also take the time during Passover to think about and pray for other people and communities (Jewish and non-Jewish alike) around the world who are enduring hardships today. To learn more about Passover, see the article “What Is Passover and How Is It Celebrated?” Easter Easter this year falls on Sunday, March 31. It is considered the most holy day of the Christian church. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central event of the religion. To Christians, the resurrection gives hope that they, too, will experience a resurrected life in heaven. People celebrate Easter in many different ways, including going to church, gathering with family for meals, attending Easter parades and festivals, dyeing hard-boiled eggs (the egg represents new life and rebirth), and having Easter egg hunts for children. To learn more about Easter, see the article “What and When Is Easter?”

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-22-2024

All humans have variations in the way that they think, feel, and experience the world — this is neurodiversity. Neurodivergent conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia (and dyspraxia, and dyscalculia, and many others) have been part of our human family for a very long time. This Cheat Sheet offers a glimpse into understanding the big, bold, beautiful world of neurodiversity.