Month: February 2019

Valentines Day In History Feburary 14th
Fun

Valentines Day In History Feburary 14th

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The Catholic Church tells of a Bishop Valentine who, in part because he married couples without Imperial Rome’s consent, is imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded on this day. He will eventually become the patron saint of love.

After exploring and mapping vast areas of the globe, including the Hawaiian Islands, the Australian coast, and New Zealand, Captain Cook comes into conflict with a group of native Hawaiians during his third voyage. In the heat of tensions and misunderstandings, Cook and four of his crew are killed.

Chicago crime kingpin Al Capone sends soldiers to a North Side garage where they line up seven rival gang members and kill them execution-style in a hail of bullets. The hit will become a press sensation and redouble efforts by authorities to bring Capone’s crime reign to an end.

Three former employees of PayPal, frustrated at not being able to share digital videos with one another, open an office above a pizzeria in San Mateo, California, and launch the site that will allow anyone to upload, view, and share videos of cute cats and virtually anything else as well.

Children · Chronic Illness · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical

MANAGING FIBROMYALGIA IN CHILDREN

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Welcome to Remedy, a blog by U.S. Pain Foundation. Remedy aims to provide people with the support they need to thrive despite chronic pain. It features the information about promising treatments, tips and strategies for self-management, resources for coping with the emotional and social effects of pain, unique perspectives from patients, clinicians, and caregivers–and much more. To submit an article idea, email contact@uspainfoundation.org.

Posted: January 14, 2019

 

By Brent Wells, DC, a chiropractor and founder of Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab

If your child feels tired and achy, you may not worry initially. After all, there’s nothing urgent about what seems to be mild, general discomfort. However, if your child is constantly in pain, exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing intense moods, he/she may have fibromyalgia.

This condition is fairly common in adults, but parents and clinicians may overlook the possibility of juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome — that is, fibromyalgia in children.

JUVENILE FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue. According to experts, children will often describe this pain as “stiffness, tightness, tenderness, burning or aching.” This pain can last for months and is often accompanied by other symptoms that affect a child’s overall well-being, energy level, and emotional health, including:

  • Tender spots on muscles
  • Difficulty sleeping and fatigue
  • Aches, including stomachaches and headaches
  • Lack of focus or memory
  • Anxiety and depression

If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor. There’s not one test to confirm it, so he/she will go through a range of tests to rule out other conditions.

Unfortunately, there is no one “cure” for fibromyalgia, which can be frustrating for patients, especially children. If left untreated, symptoms can lead to issues at school or making friends. Many parents describe this as a “vicious cycle” where symptoms continue to feed the condition.

Experts still aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia or how it develops in the body. Some believe that mixed-up pain signals in the brain cause greater pain chemicals and/or overactive pain receptors. Others think it might be triggered, in part, by an emotional event like an illness, injury or psychological stress. But even if the cause involves emotions, the pain is still real.

HOW CHILDREN CAN COPE WITH FIBROMYALGIA

It’s important to create a support team and get your child’s primary care doctor, pain specialist, psychologist, physical therapist, and teachers on board. The more people are aware of your child’s condition, the more they can help him/her cope with symptoms at home and school. You may also want to look for pain support groups near you, for both your child and you as a parent.

Your doctor can help you decide whether medication, such as anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, or nerve pain medications, may be right for your child. He or she also may recommend therapies like injections or topical creams. In conjunction with these interventions, your doctor will probably prescribe treatments like physical therapy and behavioral changes, which are crucial to long-term management of fibromyalgia.

Let’s go over some nonpharmacological strategies for coping with fibromyalgia.

FIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED SYMPTOMS

Although fibromyalgia may disrupt your child’s life, affecting school and friendships, you may be able to improve your child’s quality of life with these natural therapies and changes. Of course, there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but by managing symptoms, you can help your child get back to some sense of normalcy.

  1. Get moving!

Exercise can be incredibly valuable for managing your child’s fibromyalgia symptoms. Exercise can relieve muscle stiffness and tire out the body physically so that your child can fall asleep more easily. In particular, pool exercises have been shown to help patients because the warm water can have a soothing effect on pain and also promote blood circulation.

Consider signing up your child for swim class to get regular exercise that is both fun and good for symptoms. Start with limited intervals of exercise at first, and slowly increase them as symptoms allow. Aquatic physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients whose fibromyalgia is too severe for regular pool activities.

  1. Incorporate meditation methods

While your child may not be interested in meditation, try to incorporate some of the practices in your child’s daily life. After playtime, encourage your child to take a moment to relax and reset. In addition, teach your child how to use relaxing breathing exercises when he/she feels overwhelmed during school or before bed.

Studies show that meditation can help reduce fibromyalgia patients’ stiffness, anxiety and depression. In the least, promoting a stress-free environment and creating a sense of relaxation will help your child feel less anxious.

  1. Say goodnight to fibromyalgia

Your child’s sleep routine is essential for improving fibromyalgia symptoms. Chart out the best routine for your child together. Make sure he/she goes to bed at the same time every day and start “sleep-ready” habits an hour before bed. This routine could include a break from screen time, reading a story together, listening to a relaxing song and/or taking a hot bath. Promoting a relaxing environment will help your child get to sleep.

Make sure you’re not giving your child food late at night, especially items with any caffeine or sugar. Also, be sure take away tablets and cell phones. The blue light can wake up your child instead of helping him/her get sleepy. Sufficient sleep is essential to managing pain.

  1. Change your child’s diet for success

Some experts recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet to prevent aches and pains. In general, an anti-inflammatory diet is based on the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fish, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil.

Update your child’s lunch to include a handful of nuts, or add an apple for a snack. Anytime you can add fruits and vegetables to his/her diet, do it! This boost of nutrients will fuel your child for success. Try to limit junk food as well, which has no value and could actually inflame your child’s pains.

  1. Schedule your child for a physical therapy session

Your child could benefit from seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor near you. Recent studies show how physical therapy or chiropractic can have a positive impact on fibromyalgia patients. Finding the right physical therapist is important. Call in advance to ensure they have experience with fibromyalgia and/or with children. Specific exercises in physical therapy can help to improve your child’s core strength and incorporate techniques to soothe muscle aches and pain. Similarly, regular massage therapy sessions with an experienced masseuse can improve your child’s exercise, sleep and mood.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

A fibromyalgia diagnosis can be challenging, but doesn’t have to take over your child’s life. It’s a good idea to talk to an expert to come up with the most effective care plan for your child, one that ideally includes a diverse range of strategies, like those listed above. Together, you can talk about your child’s specific issues and needs, and figure out the best way to improve symptoms.

About Dr. Brent Wells

Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab in Anchorage in 1998. He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.

Melinda

 

Men & Womens Health

Do you like the ​new Header?

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I’m still undecided, is it too wide, to light in color? Do you think the header compliments the name and mission of the blog?

Thank you very much, hit like button to let me know. I would love your comments if you have time. Have an awesome day, I’m sending good karma your way.

M

5 top mental health podcasts for 2019
Moving Forward

5 top mental health podcasts for 2019

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Beth's avatarMy Anxiety Matters

So, I’m a big fan of my headphones. I’m a big fan of tuning in and tuning out. I love my music but sometimes I get bored. As I was going through my bored stage, I went looking for something new to whet my appetite and keep me occupied on the bus to work or walking at lunchtime.

As you can probably tell, I have a passion for and interest in mental health which is why I got onto iTunes and went searching for the perfect podcast. And there are hundreds out there. If you were thinking of making the jump from music to moments of wisdom and knowledge, check out the podcasts below. The subjects are interesting and I’ve found some really great snippets of mental health advice lurking in them.

CTRL ALT DELETE (Emma Gannon)

Ctrl Alt Delete (Photo credit - Emma Gannon)
Ctrl Alt Delete (Photo credit – Emma Gannon)

If you haven’t heard of…

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Moving Forward

Prisoner of Destiny — Life in a Muslim Household

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They say, A silence can speak a thousand words but you need to have ears to hear it. There are times when you wish you could spill out all that’s buried deep inside you for years but then again you are struck by the reality that’s its better kept hidden. I don’t get why we […]

via Prisoner of Destiny — Life in a Muslim Household

10 Ways to Reduce Your Family’s Exposure to Chemicals
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

10 Ways to Reduce Your Family’s Exposure to Chemicals

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By

two white ceramic plates near microwave on counter top
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

The jury is still out about these substances’ effects on human health. But if you want to reduce your family’s exposure, this is how.

 

1. Use fresh or frozen foods instead of canned, when possible.

2. Use soy infant formula only if there is a medical reason for it, such as lactose intolerance or milk allergy, says Heather Patisaul, Ph.D. Genistein — a natural estrogen found in soy plants — is present in large amounts in soy-based baby formulas. (Some countries require a prescription for it.)

3. Don’t microwave food in plastic containers or covered with plastic wrap. When plastic is heated, the chemicals in it can more easily migrate to food.

4. Use BPA-free baby bottles. Check labels — the biggest manufacturers of baby bottles in the United States (including Disney, Gerber, and Playtex) stopped using BPA in 2009.

5. Avoid storing food or drink in plastics with the recycling numbers 3, 6, and 7 on the bottom — or buying items packaged in these plastics.

6. Don’t use chemical poisons on plants or bugs.

7. For drinking water, use a faucet-mounted filter that has been approved by the American National Standards Institute to “remove volatile organic compounds.” (Pitcher filters may not be enough.)

8. Choose soaps, toothpastes, and deodorants without triclosan. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antimicrobials like triclosan are unnecessary and may help breed drug-resistant germs.

9. Avoid heavily fragranced products or air fresheners, which may contain phthalates.

10. Go to senate.gov to tell your senators if you want more EDC research and regulation.

New Insights into the Genetics of Depression
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

New Insights into the Genetics of Depression

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By 23andMe under 23andMe Research

 

In the largest genetic study of its kind, scientists have identified more than 200 genes associated with depression that could give new insights to researchers looking for treatments to what is the leading cause of disability in the world.

 

 

Combining anonymous data from more than two million people who were part of the three different genome-wide association studies on depression, an international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, identified 269 genes associated with depression.

 

 

“These findings are further evidence that depression is partly down to our genetics,” said Professor Andrew McIntosh, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, who led the research. “We hope the findings will help us understand why some people are more at risk of depression than others, and how we might help people living with depression and anxiety more effectively in the future.”

 

Published in journal Nature Neuroscience, the study, which included data from the UK Biobank, 23andMe, and the Psychiatry Genomics Consortium, found that many of the strongest associations were on or near genes involved in neurotransmission and response to stimuli that are part of the central nervous system. And the associations further highlight the importance of studying cortical regions of the brain and their role in the condition, according to the researchers.

 

Trauma, social factors, and life events all play a role in depression, but by understanding the influence genes have and their role in how an individual responds to those external factors, could help in developing more personalized treatments, the researchers said.

 

This study also found that depression shared genetic associations with neuroticism — a personality type that is characterized as being more fearful and worried. Researchers also found a shared genetic association with smoking. The later association may indicate that depression could lead some people to smoke.

 

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Genetic Study of Impulsiveness Reveals Associations with Drug Use
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Genetic Study of Impulsiveness Reveals Associations with Drug Use

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By 23andMe under 23andMe Research

 

Some of the same genes that influence a person’s propensity toward impulsiveness also affect whether or not he or she will use drugs, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

 

Published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study is another in a series of studies done by researchers looking at the genetic underpinnings of behavior, addiction, and psychological disorders. For this work the scientists used data from more than 20,000 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research, making it the largest genetic study of impulsive behavior to date.

Behavior

“By studying the genetic basis of normal variation in behavior, we can learn about the role of genetics in complex psychiatric disorders like drug abuse,” said lead author of the study Abraham Palmer, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and vice chair for basic research at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. “Additional studies of younger and more diverse populations could provide additional insights into the genetics and consequences of impulsiveness.”

For this work, and a study Palmer and his team did last year that also looked at another measure of impulsivity called “delay discounting,” the researchers compared genetic data with survey responses on impulsivity and a history of drug use from 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research. The genome-wide association study found variants in the gene CADM2 — previously implicated in risk-taking, alcohol consumption, and cannabis use — associated with impulsivity and drug use. The team also identified an association with a variant in a gene previously implicated in schizophrenia risk — CACNA1I. They also saw an association with something called “negative urgency”— a tendency to act impulsively in the face of adversity.

 

Big Data

These findings demonstrate how an individual’s genetic makeup may predispose them to engage in risky behavior, including drug use and abuse. Additional studies of younger and more diverse populations could provide further insights into the genetics and consequences of impulsive personality traits, the researchers said.

The study also shows the potential of large datasets like 23andMe.

“Data shared by 23andMe research participants helped make this work possible — and this is one of several recent publications we’ve worked on related to personality, behavior and psychiatric conditions,” said Sarah Elson, PhD, Senior Scientist, 23andMe.

“These findings may have potentially significant effects on how we interpret the relationships between genetics and mental health; and, in the future, predict and treat some of these hard-to-understand conditions.”

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Moving Forward

Georgia O’Keeffe in North Carolina by da-AL — Happiness Between Tails by da-AL

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What a great time my husband and I had visiting our dear friend David Hunt in North Carolina. He’s posted on Happiness Between Tails here and here. We hadn’t seen him in way too long — all the more reason that my recent discovery of the touching PBS series, “We’ll Meet Again,” gets me blubbering. […]

via Georgia O’Keeffe in North Carolina by da-AL — Happiness Between Tails by da-AL

Celebrate Life · Fun

Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SoSC

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Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ends with -ly.” Start your post with any adverb that ends in “-ly.” Bonus points if you end with an adverb too. Have fun!

Hardly the winter I expected, marching in so boldly.

My dementia is bad today, had to look up adverb. Hope I hit the mark. Have a great weekend.  M

 

Join us for the fun and sharing good media stories  

For more on the Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit Linda Hill’s blog. Here’s the link:
Here are the rules for SoCS:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
Health and Wellbeing

Fibro Friday: Hamster Wheel

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Repost

I’ve struggled with Chronic Lyme, Fibromyalgia, and Dementia for six years, every week it’s a follow-up or test for the latest ailment. I’ve made the decision to step off the Doctor Hamster Wheel in 2019.

I saw a Rheumatologist two months ago, the clueless PA told me there wasn’t Lyme in Texas. REALLY? The doctor named a few possible illnesses and took my blood. The doctor’s visit was a bust but the lab work revealed my Calcium is high. Which can cause serious complications? She suggested having my Parathyroid checked. WOW, something came out of the lab work, I have another ailment to deal with!

I saw the Endocrinologist, it was straight forward. A blood test, a scan at the hospital and possible surgery. We scheduled the scan immediately since it was affecting my heart. I fell down the stairs and banged myself up a good one. I landed a perfect 10! NO, I can’t lean my head back for two forty-five minute sessions. The test was rescheduled.

2019 is starting like the other six years, with a heart test scheduled, a Parathyroid scan with possible surgery, and a test for Traumatic Brain Injury from the fall. There are a few days left in 2018, I want to know who I am, how have I changed in that time. I developed Agoraphobia, haven’t driven in six years and have only seen the inside of doctor’s offices.

I took the first step for 2019, decided which test to cancel, bought two patterns for knitting and opening an Ebay store. Most importantly I get to decide who I am, not remain another patient.

I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate your support, the comments and emails helped push me forward. The WordPress family means so much to me. I pray your year starts healthy as possible. I look forward to developing new friendships and reading and learning from your post.

Melinda

 

 

Today in History February 6th
Fun

Today in History February 6th

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1812

The last of four massive earthquakes that began the previous December strikes in what will be the state of Missouri with a force strong enough to spawn a fluvial tsunami, causing the mighty Mississippi River to run backwards for many hours.

 

1935

Parker Brothers begins selling a board game centered on buying and selling property, with locale names based on the names of streets in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It will become one of history’s best-selling board games.

 

1964

British rock n’ rollers The Beatles land at New York’s Kennedy Airport, where fans welcome the quartet with a high-pitched hysteria that will become a hallmark of the ‘British Invasion.’

 

 

Running late for doctor’s appointment, no birthdays this week. M

Celebrity Friday Quotes
Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Celebrity Friday Quotes

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“Too many people are buying things they can’t afford, with money that they don’t have… to impress people that they don’t like!”
Nothing to do w/ “books” — Just like the quote!”
― Will Smith

 

“I don’t like to share my personal life… it wouldn’t be personal if I shared it.” ― George Clooney

 

“What’s the whole point of being pretty on the outside when you’re so ugly on the inside?” ― Jess C. Scott, I’m Pretty

 

“I’m obsessively opposed to the typical.” ― Lady Gaga

 

“When everything gets answered, it’s fake.”
― Sean Penn

 

“The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away.”
― Stephen Hawking

Moving Forward

[Wellness Wednesday] The Importance Of Lifelong Learning — Reclaiming HOPE

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Welcome back to Wellness Wednesday everyone! This week I thought we could talk a little about the importance of continuing to learn throughout our lives. Sometimes we tend to think of learning only in the context of formal education, but the truth is that more learning takes place outside of the classroom than it does […]

via [Wellness Wednesday] The Importance Of Lifelong Learning — Reclaiming HOPE

Men & Womens Health

Diversity Matters in Research

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By 23andMe on Fri, 01 Feb 2019 17:49:06

Africans and African Americans are among the most underrepresented populations in genetic health research, yet they face some of the most daunting health outcomes.

 

It’s a bitter irony of the current state of research that among those most in need are the least served by our ever-expanding genetic knowledge. Africans, African Americans, as well as Latinos, still make up less than four percent of individuals included in genome-wide association studies, according to a recent study.

Genetic Diversity

This despite the fact that Africans and people of African ancestry are more genetically diverse than all other populations in the world combined. This is because humans originated in Africa and have lived there continuously for more than 200,000 years, adapting to the varied climates and regions. The rest of the world was populated by small groups of people who first migrated out of Africa some 60,000 to 130,000 years ago. In genetics this is called the Founder Effect. Including people of African ancestry in genetic study will likely uncover unique genetic variation that help scientists better understand conditions that affect people of African ancestry, who thus far have not benefited from many of the breakthroughs in genetic science.

Yielding Results

23andMe’s efforts to improve diversity in its research has yielded results.

The most promising is that we now have one of the largest groups, if not the largest, group of African Americans who been genotyped and phenotyped — phenotypes are observable traits and health conditions — and consented to participate in research.

This offers great potential to conduct crucial new genetic research. It means that more of our own research will be relevant to people with African ancestry. So for example, working with researchers at the University of Minnesota, we are now expanding a genetic study on alcohol and tobacco use and its relation to different diseases, to include people of African ancestry.

But 23andMe wants to ensure that other qualified researchers can also leverage this important resource to make discoveries. So this month, 23andMe is announcing that as part of its annual call for Research Innovation Collaborations, we are encouraging qualified academic researchers to make proposals to leverage this important research cohort to learn more about health conditions that impact people with African ancestry.

Interested researchers can find out about the Research Innovation Collaborations here. . In genetics this is called the Founder Effect. Including people of African ancestry in genetic study will likely uncover unique genetic variation that help scientists better understand conditions that affect people of African ancestry, who thus far have not benefited from many of the breakthroughs in genetic science.

 

Improving diversity and inclusion of underrepresented populations in research doesn’t just benefit those groups. It benefits everyone. One of the best examples of this are medications to lower cholesterol for those at risk for heart disease. The insights that made these new drugs possible came because researchers found that some African Americans had variants in the PCSK9 gene that left them with very low cholesterol. That example is also an example of the beauty of genetics — something unique in you, or me, or a stranger across the globe, could benefit all of us.

 

All of Us

At 23andMe — where our mission is to help all people access, understand and benefit from the human genome — we have spent the last decade working to improve diversity in research. Despite those efforts — as well as the work of others like the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us program — we still have a long way to go to ensure that all people are part of, and benefit from, the genetic revolution. News of promising developments in using gene therapy to treat sickle cell anemia and the chance that it could lead to a cure for the disease that plagues tens of thousands of Americans, gives us a glimpse of what is possible.

But as 23andMe commemorates Black History Month, it’s worth noting the steps we’ve taken in our efforts to improve diversity in our genetic research. We want to share with our customers who have contributed to research some of the recent accomplishments and new initiatives that are specific to Africans and African Americans, and how these efforts will contribute to important genetic research that will benefit not just people of African ancestry, but all of us.

Over the last decade with programs like Roots into the Future, the African Genetics Project, and the Global Genetics Project, 23andMe has diversified our reference populations to improve not just the customer experience, but improve the kind of research we do. And now with hundreds of thousands of customers with African ancestry who have consented to participate in research, 23andMe has one of the largest groups in the world of African Americans who have consented to have their genetic data and phenotypic data — information about traits and health conditions — used for research. (See sidebar)

Populations

Another program, called the Populations Collaboration, involves partnering with academic researchers working across the globe to genotype people in communities that are underrepresented in genetic research, particularly those in Africa. As part of that initiative researchers have already done work among populations in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And there is 23andMe’s African Sequencing Project. Launched in 2016 the aim of this ambitious project was to recruit several thousand eligible customers to participate in the creation of an African American sequencing panel for research. That work, which was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, has been done, and the de-identified genetic data will be made available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) to other qualified and vetted genetic researchers at educational and research institutions around the world. This again will enable scientists outside of 23andMe to use this reference data improve the accuracy of their own health-related genetic research that is focused on African Americans.

These are just a few of the efforts 23andMe has undertaken to improve the diversity in its research, and allow other qualified researchers to leverage the research model we pioneered. But we also want to look beyond the genetic research, and understand a little more the impact DNA testing has on people’s perception of race and ethnicity. So last year 23andMe began a collaboration with researchers at Northwestern, to study just that, looking at the impact testing may has on attitudes about race. That work is ongoing.

Each of these efforts are small steps but taken together they mark a commitment 23andMe has to ensure that all populations are included in genetic research and benefit from it. Diversity in research makes it less likely that any group is left behind in this age of genomic discovery. Diversity in genetic research offers the promise that everyone will benefit from what we uncover about the genetic underpinnings of disease, as well as the genetic diversity of all humankind.

Some Questions Answered

Why are the vast majority of people included in genetic research of European ancestry?

Institutional racism often played a role, but some of the reasons have to do with how study groups were found in the early days of genome-wide association studies. In those cases, researchers would often studied those who were convenient to their work, meaning those who lived in Europe or the United States and those who lived near the universities where they worked. Other researchers used study groups that had already been established — like the as the Framingham Heart Study — which included people of mostly European ancestry. But there are also social and historical reasons for the bias, including past abuses in medical research — like the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee (Tuskegee Syphilis Project) — that left African Americans less willing to participate. To protect the interests of all its research participants, all of 23andMe’s research is overseen by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB), which must first approve of our research procedures before a study begins. Any changes to those procedures must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before being implemented.

Why does diversity in genetic research matter?

Most genetic studies have been conducted on people of European ancestry, so there is a gap in our understanding of the genetic factors that influence disease among those of other ancestries. 23andMe sees an urgent need to scale research within non-European populations so all people can benefit from breakthroughs in genetic science. 23andMe’s web-based, large-scale research model is ideally suited to tackling this problem. While researchers have made significant findings around the genetics of such conditions as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer, many of findings may not replicate in people who do not have European ancestry. In addition, as genetic studies are used to help identify new drug targets or the efficacy of certain medication, which may differ depending on an individual’s ancestry.

Do people of different ethnicities have different risks?

Some of those differences have to do with environmental factors, access to quality care and poverty, but genetics also plays a role. For example, recent studies among African American and Puerto Rican children with asthma have found that genetic differences may explain why a commonly used medication to treat asthma is less effective in those populations. There are other conditions that are also more prevalent among African Americans — asthma, diabetes, cancer and heart disease — and genetics may help explain some of those differences. In addition, by conducting studies in more ethnically diverse populations scientists and clinicians will be better able to offer more accurate estimates of diseases in populations other than those of European ancestry.

Can genetic studies of one ethnicity lead to insights into disease risk or treatments in other ethnicities?

Yes. One of the best examples of this is a study that found genetic variants in some African Americans that made them effectively lowered their level of LDL cholesterol making them less susceptible to heart disease. The findings around the variant in the the PCSK9 gene lead to the creation of drugs that target the gene as a way to control cholesterol.

What are some of the conditions 23andMe is studying that impact people of African descent at higher rates?

23andMe has published now more than 120 papers on a wide variety of conditions. As we add more diversity to those who are participating in research will be more able to ensure that those studies and findings will also be applicable to African Americans and other non-European populations. Most recently in 23andMe contributed data to research lead by scientists at the University of Minnesota focused on the genetics of alcohol and tobacco use. This offered new insight into addiction as well as diseases associated with alcohol and tobacco use. Now those same researchers are including African Americans as part of that study.

Why is the African population more genetically diverse than non-African populations?

Modern humans originated in Africa and have lived there continuously for more than 200,000 years, adapting to the varied climates and regions on the continent.

The rest of the world was populated by small groups of people who first migrated out of Africa some 60,000 to 130,000 years ago. In other words, when these small groups left, they only brought a subset of genetic variants with them, resulting in lower amounts of genetic diversity in non-African populations. In genetics this is called the Founder Effect.

How does 23andMe protect my data?

The privacy and security of our customers’ data are of the utmost importance to 23andMe. We understand that to be successful our customers must trust that 23andMe is protecting their data. Beyond employing robust authentication methods to access our systems, we also use software, hardware and physical security measures to protect customer data. Personally identifiable information is stripped from genetic information and stored in separate computing environments. All data used in research is de-identified and study in aggregate, and only data from customers who have consented to participate is used. Customers, even those who have consented to participate in research, must also explicitly agree in writing to have their individual information studied by our researchers. Finally, 23andMe has always been transparent about our privacy policies and research, offering customers a choice about whether they wish to participate or not, and ensuring that when we make new findings that we share that information back with our customers.

What are some of the health reports that 23andMe offers that are relevant to individuals of African descent?

We currently have a handful of Genetic Health Risk reports that are specifically relevant to people of African ancestry, but there are other reports that are relevant to people of any ancestry including African. 23andMe has a report on a genetic relatively common genetic condition known as G6PD Deficiency, which is most relevant to people of African ancestry. The condition is characterized by periods of anemia triggered by environmental factors. And 23andMe has two carrier status reports that are most relevant for people of African ancestry including a report on Sickle Cell anemia, and another on Familial Mediterranean Fever. Beyond the health and wellness reports, 23andMe has recently updated its ancestry reports to include 1000+ more regions including more regions within Africa. And 23andMe continues to add new reports and update the reports that it has for customers to improve the experience for everyone. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, visit  https://www.23andme.com/test-info/.

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Bloques de carreteras en la vida
Survivor

Bloques de carreteras en la vida

Looking for the Light5 Comments

Todos golpeamos las carreteras en la vida, algunas semanas duraderas, otros años. Para sobrevivir a la paliza que tiene que permanecer centrado en los pasos hacia adelante, incluso los pasos nano están avanzando. Tuve la suerte, el abuso, el trauma y el odio propio comenzaron cuando era muy joven. Crecí oyendo lo estúpido que me convencí de que era verdad. Fui abusada, abusada sexualmente y vi a mi madre golpeada todos los días por mi padrastro.

¿Suerte? A los 12 años yo era drogadicto, salía con un traficante y planeaba cómo matar a mi padre. Mi vida no significaba nada, nunca lo hizo, mi madre nunca fue satisfecha, mi padrastro me golpeó en la cara con el puño mientras mi madre miraba. Estaba en libertad condicional por llevar un arma y ir a un campo de detención juvenil estaba en mi futuro.

Ocurrieron dos eventos significativos que cambiaron mi vida. El estado de Texas tomó la custodia de mí y me colocó en un convento para las niñas malas. Empecé a escuchar afirmaciones, elogios, lo inteligente que era y me dio más responsabilidad muy rápidamente. Este tipo de detención, juego de palabras de verso positivo.

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

When a Patient Dies by Suicide — The Physician’s Silent Sorrow

Looking for the Light5 Comments
New England Journal of Medicine

January 24, 2019 Dinah Miller, M.D.

We talk about the toll suicide takes on families and the tragedy for the people who’ve died. What we don’t openly talk about is suicide’s toll on the doctors who have treated these patients. But when a patient dies by suicide, it leaves us profoundly changed.

The news came by text as we drove home from brunch. My patient had died that morning by suicide. I read the text and wailed. My husband was driving, and our adult children happened to be away, traveling together on an exotic journey. I struggled to gather words, and my husband held control of the car through those excruciating moments when he thought something horrible had happened to our kids. I calmed down enough to tell him that the tragedy involved a patient. He was relieved. I was not.

U.S. suicide rates increased by 25.4% between 1999 and 2016.1 It’s been estimated that at least half of psychiatrists will lose at least one patient to suicide during their career.2 There are no estimates on how many primary care physicians will have the same experience, though they often treat psychiatric disorders. Among people who complete suicide in the United States, 46% have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and many more people have undiagnosed mental illness.

We talk about the toll suicide takes on families. They experience grief, guilt, regret, anguish, anger, and stigma, and they often face significant financial and logistic consequences. We talk about the tragedy for the people who’ve died — the years of life lost, the graduations and weddings they won’t attend, the grandchildren they’ll never hold. Since suicide is considered preventable, these deaths inflict an added injury on the survivors, who may face the lingering pain of believing that there was something more they might have done.

What we don’t openly talk about is suicide’s toll on the doctors who have treated these patients. Death is part of life, and for many physicians it becomes a routine element of the job. Oncology patients die, trauma patients die, geriatric patients die — indeed, everybody eventually dies. In psychiatry, however, death is not a usual or expected outcome, and suicide induces the sharpest feelings of failure. We may grieve the loss of patients when they die of cancer, but when they die by suicide, it leaves us changed, sometimes even devastated.

Psychiatrists are considered the experts on suicide. After all, many people with major depression have feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of ending their own lives. In an outpatient psychiatry practice, it’s not uncommon for several patients a week to talk about psychic demons, dark thoughts, or the wish to simply not wake up, but such thoughts rarely crescendo to a suicide attempt, and much less often to a completed suicide.

A suicide plan with stated or presumed intent generally triggers hospitalization, and suicide risk is part of the daily landscape for inpatient psychiatrists. Insurers often require that patients be a danger to themselves or others as the standard for admission, making psychiatry the only specialty in which an illness must be deemed life-threatening for the patient to obtain hospital care. Yet the ongoing shortage of psychiatric beds makes it difficult for all but the sickest of patients to be admitted, and in rural areas the nearest facility may be hours away. A few states rely on the unconscionable practice of holding ill patients in jail until psychiatric beds become available. When depressed patients deny having any intention of harming themselves, inpatient options are rarely used. Moreover, even when patients are admitted, the average length of stay is only days, although medications for depression take weeks to begin working.

Suicide is often an impulsive act — it is not always planned, and patients don’t always share their intentions. Most psychiatrists care for many patients they deem “at risk” for suicide, but even if we are the experts on suicidal thinking and behavior, we’re generally fortunate enough not to be experts on completed suicide.

When my patient died, I told a few colleagues who are also my friends. All were sympathetic, but some could tolerate listening to my ruminations for only so long. Suicide is a topic that makes us all uneasy. It’s the psychiatrist’s biggest professional fear and failure, and on top of our own loss, self-recrimination, and regret, we may fear a lawsuit or feel defensive and anxious. I had worried about this patient and had carefully considered the care I provided. There had been numerous hurdles to optimal treatment, and looking back, I could see no obvious breaches of the standard of care. Still, for months afterward, my thoughts kept looping back to what else I might have tried. Yet all my mental machinations won’t bring the patient back to life. A patient suicide can fill us with shame, and we worry that our colleagues will judge us to be inadequate. The stigma associated with suicide attaches to the patient, the family, and also the doctor. At times, I’ve felt this suicide was my professional burden to bear alone.

Colleagues who have experienced a suicide told me that attending the funeral and meeting with the family was helpful. But we have no systematized way of coming together to learn from these cases, and no set rituals of our own to mark a death and find a path toward healing.

Days after the death, I attended a professional event and felt disingenuous as I made small talk, never mentioning the recent cataclysmic event in my professional life. It took some time and distance before I could tell my colleagues that this tragedy had transpired. With some trepidation, I mentioned a “bad outcome” to a couple of distressed patients as part of my plea that they relinquish possession of firearms until their mood improved. It felt unconventional, but I found that “Please do it for me” held some power and shifted the dialogue away from the question of my willingness to trust them.

I am still figuring out how to quiet my haunting emotions. For quite some time, I would wake up with my dead patient front and center in my mind, and we traveled together through the days. My sadness for the family remains immense. My feelings as a doctor are complicated by the fact that this particular patient had not followed my treatment recommendations and so my sadness is mixed with anger — yet somehow it feels wrong to be angry with a dead person who had suffered so deeply.

I am working my way back to being the psychiatrist I was before. At first, I felt anxious about taking on new patients and about ongoing treatment with my high-risk patients. Psychiatry is a gratifying specialty, and it’s not unusual for patients to verbalize their appreciation for the care they have received. After the suicide, I found such exchanges difficult; after all, keeping people alive had always been key to my understanding of what it is to be a good doctor, and every time a patient expressed gratitude I thought of my patient who died. I am left with the nagging questions of whether I can trust my own intuition about when a patient is safe and whether I can trust my patients to be forthcoming. I had treated this patient for only a short time; I can’t imagine the intensity of the grief I would feel if a patient I’d cared for for years were to lose this battle.

After a celebrity suicide, the media tends to reduce the solution to a singular message: Get help. But sometimes getting help and being identified as a person at risk are simply not enough. Sometimes we do everything possible and patients still choose to end their lives.

Suicide affects not just psychiatrists but also physicians in all specialties. As we tackle a tragedy that touches so many, I hope we can also lift the barriers that keep us from addressing our own anguish.

Author Affiliations

From the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Coordination of Care or Conflict of Interest? Exempting ACOs from the Stark Law

Looking for the Light1 Comment

New England Journal of Medicine Perspective

Genevieve P. Kanter, Ph.D. and Mark V. Pauly, Ph.D.

Road Blocks in Life
Survivor

Road Blocks in Life

Looking for the Light13 Comments

We all hit road blocks in life, some lasting weeks, others years. To survive the beat down you have to remain focused on forward steps, even nano steps are moving forward. I was lucky, abuse, trauma and self-hatred started while very young. Growing up hearing how stupid I was convinced me it was true. I was abused, sexually abused and watched my mother beaten everyday by my step father.

Lucky? By 12 years old I was a drug addict, dating a dealer and planning how to kill my father. My life meant nothing, it never did, my mother was never satisfied, my stepfather hit me in face with his fist while my mother watched. I was on probation for carrying a gun and going to a juvenile detention camp was in my future.

Two significant events happened that changed my life. The State of Texas took custody of me and placed me in a Convent for bad girls. I started to hear affirmations, compliments, how smart I was and given more responsibility very quickly. This type of detention, positive verse punk on punk saved my life. At 13 years old I started a newspaper called the Tumble Weed Connection.

Internally my mind was learning a 180, professors were loaning me Psychology books, Man Search for Meaning, books beyond my years and certainly my education level. I was treated as an equal, a PhD talked to me the same as his peers.

I’ve hit too many road bumps to count in my 55 years but firmly believe the positive influence saved my life. My grandparents were always positive but it is different hearing from people who didn’t know me. My confidence was boosted quickly.

When a road bump finds me, I have to look back at what I’ve learned, how far I’ve come and most importantly the people who supported me, they helped shape the person I am today. Next is take a step.

I’m a chronically ill 55-year-old woman with a mental illness who is a survivor, strong as steel and determined to run my own life. I’m a Christian and the light of God guides me. When I fall, there is no doubt I’ll get up again. I’m facing a frightening illness and surgery now but it doesn’t occupy my mind non stop because the outcome is out of my hands.

Melinda

Guest Post with Harry Cline from newcaregiver.org
Health and Wellbeing

Guest Post with Harry Cline from newcaregiver.org

Looking for the Light1 Comment

When it comes to Caregiving you may have questions regarding the options like where to live, type of facility or helping your loved one remain at home. Questions like Government benefits, health insurance, home care, and the never-ending questions that continue as your loved one ages.

Please welcome Author Harry Cline of The New Caregiver’s Comprehensive Resource: Advice, Tips, and Solutions from Around the Web from newcaregiver.org.

The 3 Best Ways to Prioritize Self-Care When You are a New Caregiver

 New caregivers take on a host of new responsibilities that can become overwhelming and taxing. In order for caregivers to provide the best possible care, they must take first help themselves. After all, if you neglect to care for yourself, you cannot effectively help anyone else.

 

1. Reduce Your Stress in Healthy Ways

 

 Caregivers expect to be tired. You may even expect to be frustrated at times. One thing you may not be prepared for is the amount of stress you will face as a new caregiver. Indeed, caregiver stress stems from several sources, including concerns about making ends meet if you cut your work hours to provide care for a loved one, feeling unqualified to provide the level of care your patient deserves, or facing the unique challenges of caring for someone with dementia or a physical limitation. 

 

No matter the causes of your stress, it is imperative that you handle it in healthy ways. Managing stress becomes necessary if you are more irritable, have difficulty sleeping, or become forgetful. As soon as you notice warning signs of stress, take action. 

 

Some of the most effective ways to reduce stress include taking a walk, working in a garden, reading, meditating, or talking with a friend. The American Psychological Association (APA) also recommends taking a break from the stressor, exercising, smiling and laughing, and getting social support to manage your stress effectively. You need to find the best way to manage stress given your situation and prioritize it before the stress impacts your physical and mental health and impedes your ability to provide quality care.

 

2. Avoid Addictive Substances

 

Conversely, it is crucial that you avoid self-medicating with addictive substances when you feel stressed in your new caregiving role. For instance, you should avoid drinking alcohol when you need to manage your caregiving stress because researchers found that “caregivers who experience social and emotional burden related to caregiving are at risk for problematic alcohol use.” The last thing you want to do is increase your risk of alcoholism when you become a caregiver.

 

3. Put Your Physical Needs First

 

If you don’t fuel your body properly, you will not have enough left in the tank to fulfill your caregiving duties. Putting your physical needs first is one way to ensure you will have what it takes to provide the best care to your patient. Prioritizing your physical needs includes eating balanced meals, exercising, and getting enough sleep. 

 

  • Eating balanced meals – Eating a healthy diet will help you maintain good health and feel your best, both physically and mentally. You should eat at last five fruits and vegetables each day. You also should opt for whole grains when it comes to bread and pasta. Choose lower-fat dairy products and increase your intake of protein with beans, fish, lean meats, and eggs. Opt for unsaturated fats and eat less sugar.
  • Exercise – AARP recommends taking time for your fitness needs as a caregiver. While you likely don’t have time to go to the gym every day, you can exercise when your loved one naps or attends a day program. Try quick, simple exercise like taking a brisk walk around the block or following exercise videos at home. You need to get in 30-40 minutes of moderate exercise at least three times a week. Try yoga to relieve stress through meditation while getting some exercise. And, focus on strength training when you can’t take a walk because you will need to be strong enough to move your loved one.
  • Get more sleep – It’s often difficult for caregivers to get enough sleep because their patients don’t sleep well. To improve your quality of sleep, try meditation or relaxation techniques. Don’t drink caffeine before bed and prioritize exercise. Nap when your loved one naps. If all else fails, look into respite care to give you a break so you can get more sleep.

 

 By prioritizing self-care, new caregivers ensure they are up to the task of helping a loved one to the best of your ability. Begin by reducing your stress in healthy ways and avoiding addictive substances. Then, put your physical needs first.

info@newcaregiver.org

Image via Pixabay by Mishelved

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

23andMe Receives FDA Clearance for Genetic Health Risk report that looks at a Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndrome

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By 23andMe on Tue, 22 Jan 2019 17:03:37

 

23andMe received FDA clearance to report on the two most common genetic variants influencing what is called MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome.This new clearance is part of…

The post 23andMe Receives FDA Clearance for Genetic Health Risk report that looks at a Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndrome appeared first on 23andMe Blog.

Men & Womens Health

How to make your small wins work for you

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IDEAS.TED.Com

Jan 29, 2019 /

The internet has inflated people’s expectations about what success looks like — any achievement that doesn’t go viral can seem skimpy. By changing our perspective and appreciating human-size, human-scale achievements, we can move towards our goals, says educator Mehrnaz Bassiri.

Every weekday for the month of January, TED Ideas is publishing a new post in a series called “How to Be a Better Human,” containing a helpful piece of advice from a speaker in the TED community. To see all the posts, click here.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

We’ve heard this chestnut — or seen it in Instagram posts with handwritten fonts — over and over again. But is there truth in this stale nut? And if so, how can we translate it into real life?

Well, it may be time to give this aphorism a refresh and change it to: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single win.”

That’s because success can be found when we start to mark and celebrate our small wins, according to Vancouver-based educator Mehrnaz Bassiri. Drawing on the work of organizational theorist and psychologist Karl Weick, Bassiri says, “Small wins have a transformational power. Once a small win has been accomplished, forces are set in motion to favor another small win and another small win until the combination of these small wins lead to larger and greater accomplishments.”

Here, she tells us how to turn our small wins into major victories.

Find a better scale.

This approach can apply to your professional or personal lives. Let’s say your big goal is to save money for a two-week vacation. So you start your campaign full of enthusiasm and aggressively trim extra costs from your life. You bring your lunch to work; you stop buying coffee drinks, juices and pricey snacks; and you invite friends and family over for dinner instead of going out to eat.

Then, after a few weeks, you look at your bank account — and you’ve advanced a mere 3 percent towards your desired total. You think, “I’ll never get there” and go drown your sorrows in a double cappuccino.

The problem, says Bassiri, doesn’t lie in the puniness of our accomplishments but in the outsized nature of our expectations. Whether in the news media or in our friends’ and family members’ social media posts, we’ve gotten habituated to seeing major successes — the video from an unknown musician that goes viral and scores them a spot on Beyonce’s tour, the unhealthy person who loses half their body weight and completes the Ironman, the company started by college students in a garage that gets sold for an eye-watering amount.

These stories “have programmed our thoughts and desires to want and expect the same kind of results in our own lives,” says Bassiri. “We’ve started to measure our progress on an oversized scale.” So instead of recognizing our small triumphs for what they are, we view them as failures.

It’s time to adopt a human-sized scale to assess our efforts. For example, try measuring your saving in days rather than dollars. Applaud every day that you extend your no-coffee drink streak. This is a far kinder way of tracking your progress than fixating on the balance in your bank account.

Take note.

Diaries are much more than the domain of angst-ridden teens — in fact, you can reclaim them to serve your growth by using them to chronicle your wins. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile advocates keeping a daily diary of progress because it “helps us to reflect on our days and keep track of all those little achievements that normally go unnoticed,” says Bassiri. She adds, “It helps us to detect and celebrate our small wins even on those frustrating days that we don’t think we got a lot done. Not only that, it also helps us to work through difficulties and find weak areas that we need to work on.”

Tempted to shout your wins from the virtual rooftops? Don’t.

Many of us have to come to believe that we should tell as many people as possible about our efforts, so that their attention might hold us accountable and their encouragement can motivate us.

However, our announcements can actually backfire. “Research shows that when we share our big and important goals with other people, as soon as we receive social acknowledgement and social recognition, our brains get tricked into thinking that we’ve already accomplished that goal,” says Bassiri. “So we become less likely and less motivated to pursue those activities that get us closer to achieving it.”

Instead, she suggests, “select one or two people to act as your support.” Then, when you’ve finally achieved your goal, you can take to Twitter and Facebook and tell everyone you know.

Watch her TEDxChilliwack talk here:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Smith is a researcher for The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to fund big ideas for global change.

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Stream of Conciseness Saturday #soSC Affirm

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The Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “affirm.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Praying each day affirms my belief in God is strong and unwavering.

 

Join us for the fun and sharing good media stories  

For more on the Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit Linda Hill’s blog. Here’s the link:
Here are the rules for SoCS:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!