Jodi House

Image: Shutterstock Chikungunya is an infection caused due to the instance of the chikungunya virus, which is spread via mosquitoes. The disease can end up causing fever, rashes, debilitating joint pain, etc. It is rarely fatal, however, the absence of adequate medical attention in rare cases can cause severe complications ( 1 ). Mosquitoes responsible for the spread of the chikungunya virus are classified under the Aedes genus and include the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species, both are characterized by their distinct black-and-white striped markings. These mosquitoes are generally urban, as they survive and thrive in the warm climates and artificial breeding grounds, which are a by-product of human civilization ( 2 ). Chikungunya neither has a vaccination nor a treatment ( 3 ). Therefore, prevention of the infection, is recommended as the best way to avoid its occurrence. Chikungunya is rarely an asymptomatic disease and symptoms can be seen in most people, indicating...

Image: Shutterstock Motherhood is an exciting phase in a couple’s life. A new mother’s life revolves entirely around her little munchkin. As she ends up exhausting her entire energy on her baby, by the end of the day, she is too tired to indulge in any physically exhausting activity, including lovemaking. The same holds true for her husband. Once they become parents, couples indulge in hugging and kissing their adorable newborn than each other, which in turn affects their love life. Another factor for decreased intimate relations could be hormonal imbalances in a woman after pregnancy and childbirth. During the gestation period, pregnant women are normally prescribed Prolactin supplements to help them lactate. However, prolactin works by suppressing ovulation and other hormones, including those responsible for copulation. Estrogen is another hormone that has adverse effects on a pregnant woman’s love life. Estrogen levels affect the delicate pH balance of the genital area. The dras...

What’s the deal with botox injections? When should you get it? How safe is it? We have a plastic surgeon answer your biggest questions about this popular treatment. As you get older, you probably start hearing about Botox more and more. Perhaps your friend in her late 20s has started getting some mild injections as a “preventative” measure to ward off those inevitable forehead and smile lines. Or maybe you know someone in their 40s, 50s, or 60s who swears by the treatment. Whatever the case, we know Botox is a popular topic. So we asked you to send us your biggest questions about it. We received so many great questions from our readers about if and when you should consider getting Botox. For answers, we reached out to Jonghan Cho, the owner and plastic surgeon of the Seoul Plastic Surgery Clinic in Gangenung, Korea. What does Botox do and how does it work? Botox prevents wrinkles from deepening by temporarily suspending muscle movement. On a scientific level, Botox works by binding...

Essential oils have been around for ages (thousands of years to be precise) and yet their popularity ceases to fade! Commonly used in the practice of aromatherapy as well as other medicinal purposes, essential oils have more practical, life-enhancing uses than you can possibly imagine. And, price-tag aside, what works in their favor is that they are safe for use and you normally just need very tiny amounts of them to make your daily life easier. So, here are 19 unusual ways of using essential oils that will change your life for the better! Peppermint Oil Shutterstock No matter what kind of pain you have, peppermint oil is an excellent pain reliever! To cue headaches quickly, take your normal massage cream and add several drops of peppermint oil to it. Rub it on your forehead and you’ll feel better in a jiffy. Menstrual cramps can be healed by this oil too! Simply add a couple of drops of peppermint oil to soaked tea leaves, brew the concoction, strain, and then massage on the...

You ain’t seen nothing like this before! :D :D This video about the new kid on the block, the #GameChanger could might as well start the movie franchise of The Women In White and even beat its male counterparts both in action and in humor! It’s just really that game changing :D Starring the #GameChanger, which is safely concealed in a top-secret FBI Agent-esque black briefcase and is known to save the lives of many women in the US as well as Europe, has finally made its way to Singapore. Now it’s up to the duo in white to keep it safe and ensure that it gets to the people. By hook or by crook! *plays MI theme in the background* But their mission soon turns impossible as the leading lady is attacked by a vicious one in black who’s come to stop her! It’s not going to be that easy, though. A lioness fight ensues (cat just doesn’t do justice to the women of the Lion City), and our superheroine is pinned to the floor and bombarded with punches and kicks galore! ‘Will she make it? Will...

Pregnancy. Whether you are prepared for it or not, the possibility is quite overwhelming, and this makes you nervous and scared. So, what do you do? Take a pregnancy test. And no, you don’t have to head to the pharmacy or schedule an appointment with your doctor for that. We have some safe and quick ways to find out if you are pregnant in the comfort of your home. Keep reading to discover what they are. Table Of Contents Early Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy When To Take A Pregnancy Test Best Home Remedies To Test For Pregnancy What To Do After Taking A Home Pregnancy Test Early Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy Here are a few signs and symptoms that help you determine whether you are actually pregnant or not. Tender and swollen breasts Fatigue and tiredness Spotting Cramping Nausea Vomiting Food cravings or aversions Frequent headaches Constipation Mood swings Dizziness Increased basal body temperature Missed periods A strong intuition about being pregnant Altho...

Over the years (or centuries rather), loads of ordinary food items have earned a bad rep. Some due to tradition and some due to the research work of scientists. While the latter’s disapproval carries more weight, even science can get it wrong sometimes, leading to constant confusion among the masses of what should be on their plate and what shouldn’t. Let’s banish that confusion once and for all, shall we? Here are 7 foods that were falsely accused by scientists of being unhealthy! No wonder they retracted their statements later. 1. Salt This essential item of almost all dishes ever prepared earned a bad name from scientists several decades ago. People were told that consuming high amounts of salt could lead to a rise in blood pressure as well as kidney and heart problems. But that didn’t last long. According to a recent study, lowering your salt consumption does not in any way affect your chances of getting heart disease or hypertension ( 1 ). Rather, when you dramatically decrea...

Image: Shutterstock Marriage is one of the most life-changing decisions for a person. You not only share your life, but also share your personal space with another person. And, in a country like India, where joint families and arranged marriages thrive, you also share your families. This is where a mother exits, and a mother-in-law enters a woman’s life. The love-hate relationship between the two is like an unsolved mystery. If you are unsure of your mother-in-law’s feelings for you, here are 5 signs that’ll help you decide if she probably hates you: 1. She Dislikes Your Dressing Sense Image: Shutterstock From the word go, your mother-in-law has a problem with the way you dress. From the depth of your necklines to the length of your hemlines, almost anything or everything you wear is inappropriate for her. Ditto for your make up and hair. She may give you alternate style lessons, which will make you believe in theory of evolution, but only in the reverse order. And no, it is no...

Image: Shutterstock The first few months of a new born may seem like a simple cycle of eat-sleep-poop, but these are of utmost importance to a mother. The new mother’s immediate concerns may be feeding, as she grapples with breastfeeding positions and sufficient milk production, and almost immediately followed by sleep as she adapts to new sleep patterns. Following birth, the baby passes out a dark green-tinged meconium for the first few days, which is due to the amniotic fluids and other stuff that the baby ingests in the womb. Once the baby crosses this phase and the mother settles into her new routine, she begins to notice irregular bowel movements in her baby. And hence, out of concern, ends up committing mistakes that may cause more harm than benefit to the baby. Here are 5 things never to do to make the baby poop: 1. Assume Baby’s Bowel Movements To be Regular Image: Shutterstock The most common mistake parents commit is assuming that their baby needs to have a regular po...