Health Literacy

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Uterine Fibroids are non cancerous tumor growths that occur commonly in the uterus. Though these are very common and can be found in as many as 20 to 40% women, they are mostly benign and are not bleeding uterine fibroids.

As most fibroids are in fact benign they are asymptomatic, though symptoms such as bleeding fibroids are always cause for concern.

Fibroids, though benign and mostly asymptomatic, are cause for some symptoms such as:

• Heavy and painful menstruation
• Increased frequency of urinating
• Painful sexual intercourse could result depending on the location of the fibroid; i.e. where in the reproductive tract it is located
• There can also be some pain experienced while having a bowel movement
• Uterine fibroids can increase the amount of bleeding that happens by way of menstruation each month and may be the cause of fatigue and anemia
• There may be abdominal discomfort and bloating experienced
• Back ache can also be a symptom
• Infertility can also result from a uterine fibroid

One of the questions that many women think to ask their doctors and physicians is about bleeding uterine fibroids, and whether it is these that cause excessive menstrual bleeding periodically.

Well it is not so much the bleeding uterine fibroids that produce the excess blood, the fibroids themselves are had muscular structures that don’t burst or consequently bleed, rather they cause a gushing flow of blood with large clots and also quite severe cramps.

The reason, however that many women seem to think that they are experiencing bleeding uterine fibroids or fibroids that have burst is because fibroids often cause excessive bleeding with clots and the bleeding is also irregular and unscheduled because fibroids tend to interrupt the monthly cycle.

The reasons that uterine fibroids may cause more bleeding is, that at the time of menstruation the lining of the uterus sheds and the uterus then contracts to have the bleeding. The presence of the fibroids however prevents the uterus from contracting properly and this is why more blood is lost.

Uterine fibroids that cause excessive menstrual bleeding can cause the bleeding to be so severe as to cause anemia and consequent iron deficiency which stems from it.

A complication that can sometimes accompany fibroids and exacerbate the problem of infertility is endometriosis. Adenomyosis is another condition that can exist together with fibroids.

Source: admin2

Urban Decay’s Alice in Wonderland – Book of Shadows:

Ready to journey through the mushroom forest?  A curiouser and curiouser hike through the vines and toadstools in search of Urban Decay’s Book of Shadows…

Then, you have a very important date!  Beginning at 12:01 am February 8th enter up to two times daily for your chance to win Urban Decay’s Alice in Wonderland collection.

Tucked away inside a hidden drawer, the collection contains the following treasures:

(16) Eyeshadows:
-Underland (Flash)
-Alice (Painkiller)
-Oraculum (Baked)
-Queen (Last Call)
-Chessur (Chopper)
-White Rabbit (Polyester Bride)
-Wonderland (Maui Wowie)
-Curiouser (Grifter)
-Muchness (X)
-Mushroom (Mushroom)
-Midnight Tea Party (Midnight Cowboy Rides Again)
-Vorpal (S&M)
-Absolem (Homegrown)
-Drink Me Eat Me (Sin)
-Mad Hatter (Twice Baked)
-Jabberwocky (Oil Slick)

(2) Travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Zero and Flipside
(1) Travel-size Eyeshadow Primer Potion

MSRP for this collectible set is $52.

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How to earn DAILY Entries:

* Earn up to TWO entries DAILY by commenting on ANY two posts daily on the DailyDivaDish site->but don’t forget ->Comment MUST include the phrase MAD HATTER to count as an entry into the Urban Decay GIVEAWAY.

(NO need to report back to this page…comments are tracked easily by administrator throughout the site-so we’ll save you a step here.)  

Also, no need to number your entries…that is done by the site administrator.

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Official RULES:

1. Contest runs from 12:01 am CST 02/08/10 until 11:59 pm CST on 02/12/10. Winner will be announced within 48 hours of close of contest. Winner will be notified at the email address they provide when leaving a comment on DailyDivaDish.com. If winner doesn’t respond to winner notification email within 72 hours of time sent, prize will be forfeited and a runner up will be chosen in their place. For privacy, winners will be announced by First Name only on DailyDivaDish.com. (May also use last initial when available.) In order to maintain reader’s privacy, full name will NOT be used.

2. Sorry, only residents of the US are eligible to participate in this giveaway.

3. All comments coming in to DailyDivaDish.com are moderated prior to posting. So please note, there is a delay before comments appear on the site.

4. All entries will be given a random number. This number will be assigned in the COMMENTS section of the site. Winners will then be chosen using a True Random Number Generator courtesy of Random.org.

5. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. No purchase necessary. Contest rules may change without prior notification.

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Source: Editor

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Today is a special day in the Larson household.

My hubby is celebrating his birthday.  It’s days like today that I realize how much he’s brought into my life.

From friendship to romance and patience to unconditional love…he’s always been there for me.  And I love him more as each year passes.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

XO Piper

To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.

~ Brandi Snyder

Two photos above courtesy of we❤it and can be found here.

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: admin

Quote and Pictures:

I recently ran across a quote that was credited to Marilyn Monroe.

It made me smile, so I though I’d share.

You’ve got to love her spunk!

Who are your favorite actresses from this era?

Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.

~ Marilyn Monroe

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: Editor

Last Night in NYC:

By Leesa Davis

Last night was all about flashing lights, celebrities and of course-the exclusive preview of Sonia Rykiel pour, H&M’s knitwear collection.

The celebratory event was held at New York City’s Bobo and was hosted by model Chanel Iman and President of the Sonia Rykiel collection, Nathalie Rykiel. “It’s affordable and it’s fantastic to see how desirable the brand is” said Rykiel.

The whimsical clothing line is the first H&M designer series that will cater to both women and young girls. From colorful striped pullovers to chunky knit tops, the collection revels in the idea of being joyfully chic and will be available in 200 select H&M stores worldwide.

Among the celebrities in attendance were Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester, Michelle Williams (of Destiny’s Child) and Kelly Rutherford.

All photos in this post are courtesy of Marion Curtis/H&M.

DailyDivaDish is happy to welcome Leesa Davis, a New York-based writer and frequent contributor to Heart & Soul.

Source: admin

Beach Vacation:

Oh how I love the beach!  I spent many of my younger years at my best friend’s lake house.  We’d spend hours either laying out on the beach or floating in the lake on air mattresses.

The Ocean:

I eventually moved away and soon discovered gulf and ocean-front beaches.  There I’d enjoy the sun while finding beautiful seashells and riding the waves.

“Laying out” took on a new meaning there too.  Suddenly plastic and metal fold-up chairs of the lake house were replaced with gorgeous wooden lounge chairs…and there was even a cabana boy!

And the sound of crashing waves.  I do love that sound!

Heading to the Beach:

Why am I so fixated on beaches today?  Because this week I learned I’ll be heading to the beach in a couple of months.  I’m so excited!  A week-long girls trip.

Suddenly the last weeks of winter seem bearable.  I have something to look forward to.

What gets you through the cold winter days?  Have you made any summer travel plans yet?  I’d love to hear.

Below are the visions dancing though my head today:

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: Editor

Playing Favorites:

While I’m loyal in my relationships with people, the same cannot be said for products.  It’s in my nature to try the latest and greatest.  When I find a product I love, I always think, “This time I’ll be loyal.”  But then before the bottle/tube/whatever is even empty, The Next Big Thing launches…and I’m off to try it.

Surprisingly, a few products have stood the test of time.  I’ve repurchased them again and again.

Today I’ll share my favorite mascara.  When it comes to makeup, I’m more picky about mascara than any other product.  There are very few I would recommend.  But at the same time, when I find one I like, there’s an excellent chance it will win my loyalty for at least a few years.

The story drew me in:

I was with my last mascara for about 2-3 years…but then my curiosity about the Mally line took over.  The story she tells about a particular mascara got my attention.

Mally Roncal is a celebrity makeup artist.  And as she tells it, she would literally spend nearly an hour on her client’s lashes in preparation for a shoot.  In a multi, multi-step process she created long, lush and dark lashes.  Tired of this craziness, she set out to develop a new product.

Once again, necessity is the mother of invention:

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara was created by Mally as a solution.  And the moment I tried it, I was hooked!  Since I’m already on my third tube, I thought it was time to share.

Show and tell:

I’ve included photos to show the drama.  In the first photo I have applied a basic look, leaving out only the mascara.

(For the second photo-I did apply a little more mineral veil along my lower lash line to blend out the reddish tint I noticed in the outer corner of my eye.)

The only new product in the  second photo is one heavy coat of Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara applied to my natural lashes.  (Top lashes only.)  I did not use a lash comb or a second coat.  I just wanted you to see how the quick version looks.

Except for the fact I should NEVER leave the house without mascara, what are your thoughts?  I think the results are pretty dramatic, considering it’s only one coat.  Plus, I love the fact that clumping is not an issue.  It allows me to save the step of using a lash comb. Plus the color is super-black!

Makeup products used in the photos:

Bare Essentuals, bareMinerals Mineral Veil, original.

Bare Escentuals, bareMinerals Eyecolor in Bamboo.

Bare Escentuals, bareMinerals Eyecolor in Gilded Taupel

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Bronze Shimmer #9.

Tarte emphasEYES  eye pencil in navy.

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara (second photo only.)

(Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara is available at Beauty.com.)

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: Editor

The abortion pill is not without its share of controversy and has many detractors. One of the chief concerns raised by many about this pill is about its safety a question that many of our commentators and readers have raised as well.

The abortion pill has been deemed safe by the medical community as well as regulatory bodies, however there is one issue raised about a rare but potentially fatal blood infection.

There is no consensus among the medical community that this blood infection is caused by the abortion pill, however if it is, it is seen to have a very low incidence and amounts to about one death among 100,000 users, which is the same rate as death resulting from abortion by vacuum aspiration.

By contrast, child birth itself results in 1 death in about 14,300 pregnancies. Another statistic to be considered is that illegal abortions are responsible for 1 death in every 3000 such illegally performed abortions.

There are however other possible problems that one should be aware of:

• Heavy to very heavy bleeding that may continue far longer than a normal period
• It does not end an ectopic pregnancy but may give the impression of having done so, which increases the risk of rupture
• Incomplete abortion may result in some cases immediate surgery

Source: admin2

No matter what task it is that you are trying to finish, there will surely be a myth associated with that.

Let’s say that you are outdoors and you suddenly had a bad case of poison ivy. A friend, who is no medical expert, might advise you to use calamine lotion.

This is a medical myth that you should not believe, because the only thing that will help ease the pain associated with the case of poison ivy is steroid cream like Hydrocortisone. This is just one of the many medical myths which persist up to now.

If you don’t want your condition to get worse, then it is good to check first whether there is a truth behind a particular medical myth – just to be on the safe side[women's health myths] . The same thing holds true when it comes to infertility.

Unfortunately, despite the existence of happy couples who are perfectly happy with the children that the mother has conceived over the years of their marriage – there are still those who are tirelessly trying.

For some reason or another, they have not been given the chance to bear a child out of their marriage or relationship.

Now, if you are among these couples who are still trying to have a child, what are the top misconceptions that you should not take to heart? Read on to find out.

Enumerating the Top 8 Misconceptions about Infertility

Trying to have a baby and not succeeding is bad enough – so you shouldn’t add the burden of believing in what other people are saying when it comes to the subject of infertility.

Here are the top 8 misconceptions about infertility and the truth behind them:

1. “When a couple fails to have a child, it could be because It’s all in the head.“

When you mention to a couple who is trying to have a baby that it’s all in the head, it is actually quite an insensitive thing to say.

The reason why this myth persists is that there are couples who claim that for the longest time, they have consciously been trying to procreate – and they fail.

But once they stopped trying, that is when the woman ‘magically’ conceives. There is no truth to this myth at all.

Infertility is a medical condition wherein a couple is unable to produce an offspring. The reason for this could either be the physical inability of a woman to conceive, or the inability of a man to impregnate.

Sure, there might be some psychological factors which affect the capacity of a couple to conceive – but they are usually effects of not being able to bear a child, rather than its being the root cause of the problem.

2. “There must be something wrong with you if you cannot get pregnant, because why is everyone else so fertile?“

This is a common dilemma that women who are in their child bearing age face. Basically, the optimum age for women starts at 18 and ends at about 25.

Those who are in their late 20’s do have a declining fertility – and as you grow older, the decline becomes gradual.

So essentially, even those who are in the optimal child-bearing age can experience infertility problems. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 10 to 15% of the female population does have infertility problems.

3.  ” If a couple has problems getting pregnant, it must be the woman who has the problem.”

This is yet another misconception about infertility that persists up to now.

Most people assume that just because it is the woman who gets pregnant, it is her who is at fault if she fails to have a child.

In a published article in the Journal of Urology, here are a couple of interesting statistics that men play when it comes to infertility:

1. In 20% of infertile couples, it is the man who is solely responsible for the problem of their inability to conceive.
2. In about 30 to 40% of infertile couples, men do have a contribution to the problem of the woman being unable to bear a child.

4. “Male fertility does not change with age.“

Although there are some men well into their 50’s, 60’s or even 70’s or 80’s who are still able to father a child, this does not mean that they will be fertile forever.

Experts say that a man’s fertility and the quality of his sperm decline as he reaches the age of 35.

Although the decline in fertility is less gradual as compared to women, it could still be the reason behind a couple’s inability to have children.

5. “Women who experienced painful or infrequent periods may be infertile.“

For this, you do need to check with a medical expert whether your painful or infrequent menstrual periods may have affected your ability to bear a child.

However, these are not necessarily a cause of a woman being infertile.

Watch out for progressively increasing painful periods because this may be a symptom of endometriosis.

6.  ” If you are infertile, it could be hereditary.“

If you have a close relative who is infertile – like your mother, sister or aunt – this does not necessarily mean that you will be infertile, too.

In most cases, infertility is not a hereditary condition –  although you do need to check with a medical expert so that there can be a complete evaluation of your particular case.

7. “Stress is a cause of infertility.“

Just like the myth which says that being infertile is all in the head, this misconception that stress is a cause of infertility is just that – a myth.

Although stress may contribute to a woman’s delayed ovulation, it does not necessarily lead to her being infertile.

8. “If you are over 35 and are trying to have a baby, you need to immediately seek treatment.“

As mentioned earlier, the fertility of a woman does decline as she ages.

However, there is no need for you to immediately seek treatment for infertility if you are trying at the age of 35.

Just keep on trying, don’t use birth control and wait for about six months.

If nothing happens by then, that is the time that you can seek the help of the medical experts.

This is unlike a younger couple who can wait for at least a year of trying to conceive before it is recommended that they get an expert’s opinion.

Source: admin2

Source: admin

Photography Book:

Looking for a meaningful gift for a loved one?  Have you heard of Heart Stones?  It’s a tiny book by Josie Iselin.

Contained in this gem are photos of 100 stones, shaped like hearts.  Nature’s little miracles.  The photos are accompanied by one word inspirations, such as “delight” or “passion.”

Measuring just 5″ x 5″ it is cute as a button!

Available at major booksellers including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Source: Editor

Earth Mother:

Don’t tell anyone, but Kelly Cutrone has a softer side.  With her new, sure to be a hit, series “Kell on Earth” her tough side is readily apparent.  As this is not her first on-air gig, many already know this side of Kelly.

As a fashion publicist and head of her own PR firm, People’s Revolution, she has to be fierce.  Often working behind the scenes of fashion’s biggest productions, Kelly sees the darker side of glamour.  She’s like a circus ringmaster with the added headache of a never-ending guest list.

The Other side of Kelly

But beneath it all she is an “earth mother,” according to Alessandra Stanley of the NY Times.

After watching the first episode of “Kell on Earth,” I came across the following interview with Ann Curry.  Here Kelly describes the special relationship she shares with her daughter.  She also discusses her close bond with staff members at her firm.

In case you missed it, view video below.  Meet the softer side of Kelly Cutrone.

What are your thoughts on the new series?

For those who’ve seen the first episode of KOE, what are your thoughts on the show?

And for those of you who missed it…there’s still time to catch up for what is sure to be a drama-filled season.  “Kell on Earth” airs Mondays on Bravo.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: Editor

Gonorrhea, often colloquially called the clap, is the second most common sexually transmitted disease among Americans and among women, it can be the cause for several serious complications if left untreated.

The problem often is that the symptoms of gonorrhea are often difficult to detect among women. 50% of the women infected with this sexually transmitted disease do not display any symptoms of gonorrhea.

It is however important to watch out for the symptoms of gonorrhea because women have a higher risk of infection: women who have sex with an infected person have 60 to 90% chance of contracting the disease as against a 30 to 50 % chance for men. A woman could also transmit the disease to her child if she has it when she delivers.

It is also important to watch out for the symptoms of gonorrhea because left untreated it can lead to a number of problems such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic pelvic pain. Studies have also shown that gonococcal infections assist the transmission of HIV as well.

Highest incidence of gonorrhea can be seen among groups that display casual sexual activity or behavior and it can be spread from person to person through any kind of sexual activity. There is an incubation period for this disease, of about 30 days and symptoms if any will manifest themselves about 4 to 7 days after infection.

Though often asymptomatic, the symptoms of gonorrhea to watch out for among women are as follows:

• Vaginal discharge or a change in vaginal discharge, which could be yellow or greenish in color and which may also have a strong smell, could be one of the symptoms of gonorrhea. At time, there could be discharge from the anus as well
• Pain or a burning sensation while passing urine or even projectile urine
• Irritation in the vaginal area
• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding after intercourse

If a woman is asymptomatic, but spots any of these male symptoms of gonorrhea in her sexual partner(s), then she should be careful :

• A yellowish discharge much like pus
• Stinging sensation while passing urine or more than normal frequency of urination
• Passing blood along with urine
• Swelling in the groin area or painful, swollen testicles
• Redness or soreness in the genital area
• Anal discharge, itching, bleeding, soreness, or painful bowel movements.

Source: admin2

And What do they all Mean?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we are doing a redesign for DailyDivaDish.

The format changes, (in concept) have been pretty easy.  Although the people who do the final design and coding probably wouldn’t agree with my statement.

My biggest challenge?  Color.

I really don’t know why.  I love color!  A simple photo of a beautifully colored flower can inspire me for a week.  (Weird, huh?)

Yet choosing the right shades and tones for the site seems mind-boggling.  I think it stems from the knowledge that color influences emotional responses in many people.  So much pressure! 

Do you think color can play a role in emotions?  If so, what colors do it for you?

© 2010 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved. ❤

Source: Editor