Did you know that 7.5 million people in the United States suffer from psoriasis? I certainly didn’t, until I was one of them. Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease that appears on the skin, occurring when the immune system sends out signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Common symptoms include red patches of skin covered with silvery scales, small spots of scaling, dry, cracked skin that may bleed, itching, burning or pain, and thickened, pitted or ridged nails. Symptoms often appear on elbows, knees and scalp and may occur in cycles, flaring for a period of time and then subsiding.

About 10 years ago, I developed a patch of irritated skin on my scalp that as you can imagine, was very frustrating. I decided to see a dermatologist to figure out what was going on, and was diagnosed with psoriasis. Eventually, the psoriasis expanded to cover my arms, stomach and other parts of my body. For me, things got worse before they got better; I stopped wearing sleeveless clothes and shorts and even changed my hair to hide the impacted skin.

Upon my diagnosis, I immediately started cycling through treatments, trying to find something that could relieve my symptoms and control my psoriasis. I found some things that worked, and some that didn’t.

I tried many different treatments in an effort to manage my psoriasis. Eventually, my doctor told me about a new treatment option: OTEZLA®. It is a newly-approved oral therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Aside from medications, I learned that certain lifestyle modifications can contribute to an overall healthier life, which may help manage psoriasis symptoms too. This includes maintaining a healthy weight by managing diet and getting adequate exercise, minimizing stress, getting enough sleep and avoiding unhealthy behaviors like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Learning to manage my chronic condition wasn’t easy. If you are one of the many people in the US that have psoriasis, remember: stay educated about your disease and about ways to manage your symptoms. Additionally, be sure to have transparent conversations with your doctor and be an advocate for yourself and your health!

 

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 This is a guest post provided by: Laura M.

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Stork® OTC by Rinovum Women’s Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you currently trying to conceive? I know when we decided to start adding to our family after the oldest two got older, I dealt with so many issues. We would get our hopes up to be let down with a big fat negative! It was very stressful and I didn’t think that it would ever happen. So, when it finally did we were shocked! To be honest we had gave up all hopes and thought that it was just meant for us to have two children. So, it was such a blessing when we discovered we were having another girl! Looking back, I honestly can’t see my life with out my princess Jada.

 If your actively trying to conceive your first child or add to the family, I have a great new product to share with you today called; The Stork®. The Stork® is created by Rinovum Women’s Health to help females become pregnant from the comfort and privacy of their home. 

What is The Stork®

An at-home conception kit that is based on cervical cap insemination, a well-established technique that has been used by healthcare providers for decades now.

The Stork® simple design includes two main parts – the Conceptacle® and the applicator. The Conceptacle® consists of a condom-like sheath with a silicone cervical cap resting within the sheath. This is used to collect semen during intercourse, or alternatively can be used with donor sperm. The applicator then cradles the cervical cap, and through tampon-like insertion, it delivers the semen to the correct position at the cervix. The cervical cap is left for 4-6 hours until removal, similar to a tampon, and women can carry on with their normal activities.

The Benefits:

The Stork® is a less invasive, proactive approach to conception that helps “bridge the gap” between natural intercourse and more costly, assisted reproductive treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

This can be a great option that can help couples with common fertility difficulties such as:

Low Sperm Count

Motility Issues

Hostile Vaginal Environment (pH imbalance)

Ovulation Timing

Where can you purchase?

The best part you don’t need a prescription! You can buy this over the counter product for just $79.99 at CVS locations or online. 

Learn More: 

To Learn more about the new, innovative conception aid  be sure to check out the site today!

As a mother, I look back at all the challenges I had when trying to conceive Jada 10 years ago and wish I had a product like this! So if your trying to conceive make sure to check out The Stork® to see if you feel this could help you! 

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for LISTERINE. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Recently, I shared with you about my family struggles with getting the kids to floss regularly since being back in school. So, I am excited to share that over the past couple of weeks using our new products from LISTERINE, I’m actually seeing improvement! The kids seem to be getting back in the daily habit of flossing! I can’t say for sure they are flossing in the mornings, but I do know that they floss each night before bed. So, I’ll take that for now! My oldest two kids even got me to buy them their own POCKETPAKS, so they could carry them to school to use instead of gum to help keep their breath fresh throughout the day.

As many of you follow me on Instagram and Facebook, you know Jada is the one that always has to be “perfect” in everything that she does including her smile. So, I really didn’t have any issues with her but during this campaign, I am proud to say that she is taking a few extra steps that will help keep her mouth and gums clean and healthy. I have noticed that she is taking a little longer brushing, flossing and rinsing.

She loves her Barbie LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® and uses each time after brushing. As a parent, I am very happy with the SMART RINSE. It provides 12-hour cavity protection, strengthens teeth 99% better than brushing alone, and provides fluoride.

Learn More:

To learn more about how LISTERINE can help your family be sure to check out the LISTERINE YouTube page featuring the Healthy Habit Heroes video series today!

Buy Now:

To buy LISTERINE Products online or find retailers where LISTERINE products are available be sure to check out www.listerine.com/shop-now today! While you’re there, make sure you print coupons for even more savings.

 

 

There are more than just a few causes of neck related pain, and depending on the diagnosis, a number of different treatments available. Neck pain – also referred to as cervical pain – is a common medical condition and is characterised by a number of symptoms. These include stiffness, spasms, headaches and other discomfort that is isolated between the shoulders and chin. Increasing your awareness of the causes of neck pain will allow you to avoid activities or behaviours that put you at risk. To that end, here are the most common causes of neck pain.

Whiplash from Motor Accidents

Whiplash can cause mild to severe neck pain and CCI and is most often the result of a motor vehicle accident. The sudden movement in a collision can cause the muscles and tissue in the neck to move beyond their normal capabilities, leading to prolonged neck pain and sensitivity. While most people recover with time, it whiplash injuries can often have long lasting implications. If you suffer from whiplash due to a motor vehicle accident, the legal specialist at a firm like Sinnamon Lawyers (see this URL) can assist victims and provide advice on the best course of action to take.

Muscle Strain and Prolonged Postures

Many experience discomfort in the neck resulting from muscle strain during day-to-day activities. Incorrect or overuse of neck muscles, strains from work related activities, poor ergonomics, and uncomfortable sleeping or sitting postures – all of these situations can cause straining of the neck muscles and result in pain. These muscle strains are often accompanied by stiffness, headaches and even nerve pain, but they can usually be treated by a neck pain treatment.

Cervical spondylosis (Neck Arthritis)

Similar to other forms of arthritis, cervical spondylosis is caused as result of general wear and tear of the cartilage and bones in the upper spine. Over time this can result in bone spurs – the degeneration of protective cartilage causes bones to come into contact with each other, painfully pinching the nerves. Sufferers of cervical osteoarthritis may be recommended physical therapy, pain medications, and occasionally surgery.

Viral Infections and Illnesses

Common viral infections of the throat can also result in neck pain. The cause is often swelling of the lymph nodes. Most swollen lymph nodes can be treated with medications and rest. In rare cases, the infections causing swollen lymph nodes will also produce other serious symptoms like vomiting, fever and headache. If you have these symptoms, a doctor should examine you.

Other Considerations

These are the major causes of neck pain. There may be other conditions that can cause mild, medium or chronic neck pain. Other causes that may be worth investigating for those suffering from consistent neck pain include spinal degeneration, fibromyalgia or herniated or bulging discs.

Treatment will vary based on the recommendations of medical professionals and the exact site of the pain but may involve joint mobilisation exercises, chiropractic and physiotherapy, pain relief medications, and in some cases surgery. You may also need to make lifestyle changes – for example, a doctor may recommend you upgrade your current mattress to the Best Mattress Australia (or wherever you are) that will encourage you to sleep in a way that minimizes the pressure and pain on your neck.

Have you or someone close to you suffered from severe neck pain? What caused the pain in your circumstance? Was there any treatment that was helpful? Share your experiences with others below.