Saving money is important as it provides a safe side in case of any sudden mishap and it is also necessary if you want to achieve certain goals in your life. Saving money sometimes appears difficult to some people and they just find ways of how to save money to get started.
Here are some of the useful tips to save your money from wastage:
1. Track Your Expenses
Check your spending habits and track your expenses. Check where your money is being spent? Create categories of everything such as grocery, bills, and other expenses. See where your money is going. Tracking your money is the best way to how to save money.
Money-saving tips – Track your expenses
2. Set goals
You cannot achieve anything if you do not have any goal. Set a goal for which you are saving your money. The goals can be short-term or long-term. The short-term goal includes temporary goals such as a trip to somewhere, down-payment for a car, gifting somebody a cell phone while long-term goals include down-payment for your house, education expenses of your children, retirement plan, etc. Now calculate that how much money do you want to achieve that particular goal and then do efforts for it.
How to save money becomes easier when you work with a plan. Set priorities in your life. Prioritize that what things come first for which you want to save money. For example, if you want to save money for a cell phone and also for buying a house, you should prioritize that what is more important to you and then save accordingly.
4. Cancel the Subscriptions
Cancel all the unnecessary subscriptions and memberships such as for that of Netflix, Amazon Prime, subscription boxes, etc. (if not in use). If you are not interested in these subscriptions, share them with your family and friends to save money. Do not forget to off the auto-renew policy of these subscriptions.
5. Saving Account
Go for a saving account when it comes to having an account in the bank. The saving account is much beneficial because it detects less money from your account than other accounts and helps you to save money. You can also switch to a saving account anytime from another account and transfer your money safely.
6. In Case of a Bonus
If you often get a bonus from your office then how to save money is not a problem. If you get a bonus, a lottery, or a tax fund then utilize it wisely and save the rest to achieve your goal for what you are saving from long.
7. Electric Appliances
Consume electricity wisely in your home. It not only save your money from bills but it is also necessary to avoid the wastage of electricity. Switch the lights, fans, air conditioner, etc. when not in use. Use electric appliances less such as iron and washing machine and do not forget them to switch off after use.
8. Home-made Lunch
Prepare lunch for yourself at home and take it to the office or university (if you are a student). It will cut out your budget and you will not need to spend money on the lunch in your office, institute, etc. Similarly, make coffee at home and take it with yourself anywhere you want. Plan your meals and make a list of them at the very beginning of the month.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3459 are spent by a household on food outside the house, on average.
If you go somewhere on shopping or travel, ask for discounts, deals and offers first. There might be a discount that would go wasted if you do not ask for it. You may miss that opportunity to have a discount and save your money.
10. Phone Billing System
Unsubscribe the useless offers at your mobile network. Use fewer data and less credit to avoid wasting your money. This an effective tip for how to save money. Use a landline phone instead of your mobile for avoiding a big amount of money being wasted on phone bills.
11. Use Public Library
Instead of spending a lot of money on buying expensive books, you can fulfill your appetite for reading books by using any public library. You can issue books from a library by your name and return them within specified days after use.
12. Say No to Foreign Vacations
People often plan a yearly trip to any foreign country to spend their vacations in a nice way. The idea is quite good if you have enough money to do so but if you are planning how to save money then you should arrange a trip to any other city or place in your country to avoid that extra expenses.
13. Sell Your Things
Feel no shame to sell the things that are out of use for you now. For example, your wooden cupboard that is standing useless now, your old jewelry, your machine that you use less very rare, etc. It is a good way to earn money and a way to how to save money effectively.
14. Go Out to Eat Once a Month
Leave your habit of going out to have lunch or dinner. It costs much and you may go out of your budget regretting later on. Remind yourself that you have to save your money for a purpose that cannot be accomplished if you are going to waste your money in hotels and restaurants. Instead, prepare a good and healthy meal for you at your home for less money.
15. Less Visits to Doctors
People often pay a visit to their dentist or physician for regular checkups such as for dental fillings. You can avoid spending money on such things by taking precautionary measures. It will not only save your money but also your health and time.
16. Cut Down Groceries
Try to utilize everything in your kitchen before going to the grocery. Do not go often to get the grocery and when finally you have to do the grocery, shop less. Buy the things that are important to you and buy in less quantity/amount to have a fine way towards how to save money.
17. Check Your Progress
Another effective tip for how to save money is to check your progress of savings every month. Keep a record of your expenses and check if there is an obvious balance between your income and expenditure. It will help you to remain constant with your goal and you will be able to finally achieve it.
18. Peer Pressure
Often you spend your money on eating outside the home and unnecessary shopping because of your friends. You have a constant pressure of your friends that ”what they might think of you”. Avoid such friends and parties especially if you are a teenager or a student and finding ways to how to save money.
19. Do Your Chores Yourself
People often waste their salary by giving money to other people for doing their work. Try to manage your household chores such as cleaning, dishing, and cooking yourself. It is a great tip if you are searching for how to save money because it saves your money and makes you active as well.
20. Update Your Budget
Update your budget every 12 months keeping in mind the current rates in your country. Updating your budget also helps in case of sudden expenses such as losing your job, having a baby etc.
Conclusion
The answer to the question ”how to save money” can be found by trying various tips that are discussed in the post. Saving money is important in any age group but especially at your young age because it is the time when you will be establishing yourself financially. The tips mentioned above for how to save money can be applied by everyone i.e. teenagers, adults and elders.
Relationships are a beautiful aspect of society. It is the base on which the building of our society stands but it is extremely important to know whether your relationship is healthy or unhealthy. To evaluate your relationship, here are 10 important signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
10 Signs of Healthy Relationships:
Healthy relationships are important not only for living a happy life but also give a peace of mind that has no other alternative source. By following these 10 signs, find out whether your relationship is healthy or not.
1. Trust
A relationship is a game of trust. If you get out of it, you will be disqualified. Trust is the most important element for a healthy and long-lasting relationship. If your relationship is lacking trust then probably it will not be going to last anymore. People having healthy relationships trust each other in every aspect of life that makes their lives beautiful and worth living.
2. Respect
Respect is also a primary component for a healthy ongoing relationship. Respect is not just behaving in a respectful way but it is to accept and respect the opinions and point of views of your partner. If your partner disagrees with you in any situation, you should try to understand that not every person is the same and it is stupid to expect everyone to think just like you do. So, it is natural to have contradictions but couples who respect each other do not bother these issues much.
3. Honesty
Honesty is the best policy.
Benjamin Franklin
Honesty is necessary in every single dealing in the World. Relationship demands honesty and it is obligatory for you being a partner to deal with your spouse with utmost honesty. It is an obvious determinant of healthy relationships because the unhealthy relationships die due to lack of it. Be honest with your partner and they will give you their 100%.
4. Communication
For a healthy relationship, communication is the key. Unlike unhealthy relationships, couples who avoid communication gaps and try to communicate in every possible situation are the ones who make their relationship healthy and long-lasting. People often quit talking with each other when they have a fight or any conflict but it is not a solution rather it makes the condition even worse. Spare time from your busy work schedule and spend it with your partner for better understanding.
According to a survey in U.S., only 19% workers said that their work routine never affected their family and relationship.
Sacrifices and compromises make a relationship beautiful. Small sacrifices for your partner make them realize that they have significant worth in your life. Solve your problems together. Kindness is a two-way process so be kind to your partner if you want to get back the same. Cooperating with your partner is a gesture that how much you care about them. Be their support and make them feel safe when they are around you.
6. Inspiration
Your life becomes the ideal one when your ultimate inspiration is your life partner. When your partner is your role model, you will get inspiration from him/her in even the little things that really do not matter sometimes. But to be the inspiration for them, one should be a good person first.
7. Comfort
Unlike unhealthy relationships, the healthy ones experience a comfort zone when they are around their partner. A partner with whom you feel comfortable and with whom you are the original version of yourself is such a blessing. You can do candid things in front of them like talking nonsense, singing the wrong lyrics, and do weird things when you know there is a good level of understanding and friendship with your partner.
Happiness
8. Equality
A healthy relationship demands equal status and equal rights. You should give your partner a sense of equality in everything. For example, there is no obligation for the wife to cook a meal after getting from work. The husband can also do the same for his wife to make her realize that he treats her equally. So, both of you have to put effort into a healthy and successful relationship. Control your anger but healthy conflict is okay when you fight fairly. The right person will give you a real sense of independence.
9. Responsibility
In a healthy relationship, the other person would take responsibility for his own words and would be accountable for all his deeds. He would know to own things and would never blame you for any of his matters. He will be honest with you and take all his responsibilities in a good way.
10. Healthy Intimate Relationship
Physical intimacy is a need of a relationship and without it, the relationship will die out. A healthy physical relationship involves gestures of love and sexual intimacy with the consent of the partner.
In this world of variations, not everyone is facing the same conditions of life. Some people are living happy couple goals but still, there are some with ugly unhealthy relationships. It is important to find out early that whether your relationship working well or not and you must not ignore them to avoid any worse consequences later on. Here are 10 signs of unhealthy relationships.
1. Dominancy
Jealousy is a natural feeling and is somehow normal but some people get to the extreme of it and ruin everything. They want to be dominant all the time. They want their partners to obey them and do whatever they say. You cannot control anybody according to you because he/she is another individual with his/her own feelings and opinions. A relationship only works when both partners know how to walk side by side with each other.
2. Disrespect
Disrespectful behavior is a common sign of unhealthy relationships. People who humiliate their partners in front of others and even before themselves, make fun of them, call their names, and do anything to make them feel embarrassed comes in disrespect of your partner. Such a relationship is intolerant and can never last long.
3. Physical/Verbal Abuse
People who do any type of violence, whether physical or verbal, can never establish a healthy bond with their partner. Physical abuse can be of any form such as domestic violence and sexual abuse. Some people think that their partner might be cheating upon them, and this thought makes them do domestic violence. Some even do sexual violence i.e. they do force sex with their partner without her consent. This is an extremely ugly picture of unhealthy relationships.
According to a research, couple therapy proves helpful to reduce conflicts between partnes.
Some people want their partners to be possessive and care about them but this condition may become severe sometimes. Being possessive for your partner is another thing that is kind of normal but if you try to control your partner’s life in disguise of possession then it is an alarming sign for your relationship. Being obsessive for your partner also complicates things and your partner will get fed up with you very soon just as other unhealthy relationships because possessiveness and obsession are only bearable until it starts destroying the mental peace of your partner.
5. Manipulation
Manipulation means your partner treats you like a puppet and plays with your feelings. If your partner often manipulates you and it is irritating you then it is time to take a stand or quit such a devastating relationship.
6. Vandalism
Another sign of unhealthy relationships is sabotage or vandalism. Often, when your life is going well your partner would seem a perfect person in the world but sometimes when things do not work out between two people, they start threatening you by sharing your private information, ruining your reputation, or talking behind your back. This will not only hurt you but will give a severe mental trauma.
7. Guilting
If your partner always makes you feel guilty even for his own deeds then it is a frightening sign for unhealthy relationships. If your partner makes you feel that it is your responsibility to make him happy or you are accountable for whatever is happening in his life then you should not continue this mess and say goodbye to such unhealthy relationships.
8. Undervaluing
People who underestimate others and belittle their partners in front of others can never understand the beauty of relationships. Such people only praise and admire themselves. They do not encourage their partner instead criticize them so much that they lose their confidence and self-respect.
9. Betrayal
Cheating up on your partner is the most heinous form of unhealthy relationships that are hollow inside. Betraying your partner is as sinful for a woman as for a man. Hence, loyalty and faithfulness are as important in a relationship as love and affection.
10. Dependence
Do not ever depend on your partner financially or emotionally because the consequences of it will be bad. If you make your partner realize that you cannot live without him. He may take advantage of it and threaten you later on.
Conclusion:
There are always some signs that tell you whether your relationship is healthy on unhealthy. People who find healthy relationships are lucky but there are some people who are facing the ugly realities of unhealthy relationships. Unhealthy relationships are a burden to your body as well as your soul so if you find any of such mentioned signs of unhealthy relationships, do not ignore them and find a way to get rid of them as soon as possible before it’s too late.
An active lifestyle is one that involves a healthy routine and physical activity such as walking, running, standing, etc. A physically active person is much better than one having a sedentary lifestyle. There are a lot of disadvantages of sedentary living. According to Mayo Clinic, 50%-70% of people spend 6 hours of their day while sitting and 20%-35% of people spend 4 hours watching TV and doing nothing per day.
U.S Department of Health and Human Services reported that about 80% of adult human beings do not perform any activities related to muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises up to the mark.
How Can We Have An Active Lifestyle?
Everything starts with an initial step. If you want to enjoy a healthy life you should at least have the passion for it. You should know the importance of an active lifestyle. Only after it, you will be able to maintain it. Here are some tips to have an active lifestyle:
Set Goals
The beginning of a long journey starts with small steps. Having an intention to do something is extremely important if you really want to achieve it. If you want to have an active lifestyle, you have to set some goals in the first place. The goals can be short-term in the beginning but they can be converted for long-term purposes gradually over time. For example, if you want to lose weight by walking daily, start the activity with 10 minutes of a walk for the first day and then increase it day by day.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, 30 minutes of any exercise can be broken into three sessions of 10 minutes and is an effective method to do exercise without getting tired.
One should be active and energetic throughout the day. Try to find physical work in most activities such as keep standing during work hours, opt for activities that involve weight-bearing, etc. An active person walks more than 3 miles daily at the same pace.
Keep checking your progress of being physically active. Make a schedule of your daily physical activity or exercise. You can note it down on a diary or on a notepad on your phone. Smartphones now contain several various applications for health concerns and fitness freaks. For example, a pedometer is a device that can be used manually and is also found in mobile applications and smartwatches now. Its function is to count or track the footsteps of yours daily. Start with fewer steps but gradually increase the steps day by day.
Keep a Check on Your Progress
Benefits of an Active Lifestyle
If we talk about an active lifestyle, there are lots of benefits of it undoubtedly. An active lifestyle is the key to healthy living and stimulates you to put more and more effort into being physically active all the time. Let us talk about some of the benefits of an active lifestyle:
1) Improves Health
An active lifestyle helps you to be healthy because it involves different kinds of exercises such as pushups, running, jumping, etc., and physical activities like walking, standing, etc. The person who is physically active is at lower risk of getting attacked by conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, a higher level of cholesterol, deformity of joints, and weakness of muscles.
2) Physical Adaptation
When a person is physically active most of the time, his body gets adapted to it. The adaptation can be of two types:
i. Acute Adaptation:
It involves the adaptation in any system of the body that is associated with transient changes. The physical adaptations in the body that are due to some daily physical activity and remain till you quit that activity, such adaptations are called acute adaptations. For example, increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, the release of hormones, increased neuromuscular activation.
ii. Chronic Adaptation:
Chronic adaptation involves physical changes in the body that are not temporary rather they are the long-term changes that are often irreversible i.e. they cannot be undone. For example, an increase in muscle mass and a reduction in fat mass as long-term adaptations to resistance exercise.
These adaptations help you perform your daily life activities with more ease as the heart, lungs, and muscles get used to the daily physical activities.
3) Weight Maintenance
Having an active lifestyle by consuming a healthy diet and performing exercises will not let your fat be stored in the organs and adipose tissue. It will be a breakdown as you start doing the physical activities and your calories are burnt. This process helps your maintaining your weight and normal BMI (body mass index).
An active lifestyle also improves muscular health. It helps you enhance your muscular strength, endurance, power, and agility by different exercises such as walking, hiking, jogging, skating, resistance exercises, etc. This reduces the risk of falls for older people and osteoporosis in females. Stretch your muscles every time after the workout to make them relax. It improves flexibility, range of motion and reduces the risk for injuries and muscular cramps.
5) Improves mood
The active lifestyle also includes meditation techniques and yoga along with exercises. These activities reduce stress, anxiety, depression, sleep patterns and hence improves your mood. As we know, good mental health is extremely important for a healthy body. So, one should find different ways of interest to improve his mood.
How Much Activity Does Your Body Need?
It is always better to do some activity rather than doing nothing. A low-intensity exercise is even better than watching TV all the time with no physical activity at all. If we talk about aerobic exercises, the time duration of 150 minutes to 300 minutes with moderate intensity is a healthy count per week. If you intend to do some strength training exercises such as weight lifting, cycling, dancing, squats etc. you should keep in mind the frequency, intensity and time duration of them before starting doing them. You can also get your appropriate exercise plan from a Physical Therapist.
Age
Recommendation
Percentage meeting recommendation
Children
Male
Female
2-4 years
at least 3 hours, spread throughout the day
9%
10%
5-10 years
at least one hour and up to several hours every day
25%
20%
11-15 years
at least one hour and up to several hours every day
17%
11%
Adults
19–64 years
Over a week, activity should add up to at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity
67%
55%
65+ years
Over a week, activity should add up to at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity
Age 65 – 74 58% Age 75+ 36%
Age 65 – 74 52% Age 75+ 18%
Source: British Heart Foundation (2015) Physical Activity Statistics 2015
Nutrition and Lifestyle
A diet consisting of all essential nutrients is a healthy diet and plays an important role in an active lifestyle of a person. Healthy nutrition consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, foods containing carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins, etc. These foods help to reduce the risk of several diseases, improves your well-being, immunity, and energy level. You can consult a nutritionist for a diet plan suitable for you.
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Exercises at Home
Some home-friendly exercises that plays role in active lifestyle include:
Jumping Jacks
Squats
Push-ups
Cross Crunches
Side Plank
You can also perform exercises at home by watching TV and DVDs teaching exercises.
Workout at Gym
Spare some time for yourself and get registered to a good gym. Go to the gym daily and perform exercises especially if you are facing weight and obesity issues. A good yoga or gym instructor may help you achieve your goals.
Workout at Gym
Can Your Active Lifestyle Delay Aging Process?
By doing regular exercise, your muscles and joints adapt to better conditions. Ageing is an inevitable process but it can be delayed by having an active lifestyle throughout your life. Try to eat healthily and stay physically active to stay young as long as you can. According to a study, you can delay your aging process by 11 years only by quitting smoking.
How to be Consistent in the Long Run?
Start slow but add on day by day.
Do activities of your interest.
Find social support for encouraging yourself.
Give yourself rewards upon accomplishing a goal.
Motivate yourself again and again until you achieve your goal.
To read more about how to motivate yourself read Motivation
When to Consult the Doctor?
Consult your doctor if you find some severe symptoms like obesity, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, or any abnormal structural changes in your body such as the limited motion of joints, pain in muscles, cracking of bones, etc.
Conclusion
To adopt and maintain an active lifestyle is extremely important especially nowadays when everyone wants to have a sedentary lifestyle i.e. enjoying everything by doing nothing. An active lifestyle has several benefits that cannot be neglected. You can maintain it by having a properly nutritious diet and regular physical activity. You can also delay your aging process by being physically active but it would only be done if you know how to be consistent in the long run. Moreover, you can also consult your doctor if you experience some abnormal changes or symptoms in your body.
Staying organized is not an inborn skill rather it is learned over time. Many children are initially disorganized, less focused, fall to chaos and failures so it is extremely important to help your child learn to stay organized.
Here are few tips that can help you in your mission:
Prefer Breaking Tasks into Small Chunks
Teach your children to break or design every task into three steps; beginning-middle-end. Breaking the tasks into small tasks increases your level of concentration and interest in the task. For example, when solving a numerical problem, teach your child to write the given material first, the procedure, and then the conclusion of it. It is also an important and effective remedy to Motivate yourself to accomplish your goals.
Teach your child to prepare a ‘to-do’ list to have all the tasks and projects on the board. He or she can also prepare a calendar and mention all the tasks date-day-wise. This list should be with the child every time so that he should know what to do next. Taking the importance of final steps into account, he will learn to get things done properly. The list can be on a notepad, on a page (printed form) pasted on the wall, or even on the mobile phone.
Prepare a To-Do List
Learn Time Management Skills
If your want your child to be organized and stay organized always, you must make him learn time management skills to avoid wasting time and investing the time in the right and right direction. Ask him to prepare a digital calendar for listing the important tasks. He should estimate the time of each and every task to avoid wasting time. He should also know to do adjustments and compensation if his time has been wasted due to any valid reason. He should keep in mind the deadlines and due dates. You can also try pictures, clocks, regular schedules such as homework, or some other time management strategies to help him stay organized.
Create and Organize Ideas
Creativity is the key to organized behavior. Encourage your child to carve new ideas and then organize them in a good way. Brainstorming is an essential way to improve the learning abilities of your child.
According to an experiment in a school in Kuwait, there was a significant difference between the two groups of students ( one with brainstorming training and the other control group).
Use outlines and graphics for convenience. Practice again and again because practice makes a man perfect. It will also improve the focus. Make them think and ponder about everything.
Set Priorities
Every successful person in the world knows his/her priorities. He knows the things that should be done in the first place and so on. If you want your child to stay organized, he should also set his preferences in the form of less important and more important things in his life. For example, setting a limit on daily screen time. You should allow your child or he should know himself that to how many time he should have his screen time daily.
Try to Learn Things With Fun
Children always learn in a comfortable and happy environment easily. Make the methodology of your teaching the new things funny and interesting. Use mnemonics for the things that are hard to learn in the beginning. Try the color-coding method, it is an effective technique to improve the focus and interest of your child. The child also loves to do such interesting things which eventually make their learning process easier. For example, assign a copy of a particular subject with a particular color i.e. red for English, blue for mathematics, etc. It will be a great technique to help them stay organized.
Spare a Space for Your Child
Spare a separate room or space for your child that is comfortable, peaceful, and easy to concentrate on. Space should be free of any possible interruption especially in the case of study. Some modern education systems are now introducing Project-based learning to solve real-world problems. If your child is learning it, you must give him a separate space to make him stay organized.
Spare a Space for Your Child
Pre-bed Routine
Teach your child to recall everything before going to bed daily. It will make him able to get relief from the tasks that have been completed and to make himself ready for upcoming tasks. It is really helpful for the child to stay organized.
Set Expectations
You should make them know that you expect good manners from them. Setting expectations will not boost their confidence level but they will perform even better to be right on your expectations.
Weekly Clean Up to Stay Organized
Arrange a weekly clean-up of their room and home. It will give them a sense of responsibility. They should clean their space, organize all the things and put them in the right place.
Weekly Clean Up to Stay Organized
Give Tasks of Categorizing
Give your children tasks of categorizing different things such as making lists (like a grocery list), arranging things or events, collecting items of their interest, and classifying objects. It will provoke their sense of organization and stay organized.
Give Tasks of Categorizing
A Trimonthly Check-Up
Spare some of your time and arrange a check-up of your children after every three months. Play some puzzles and psychological games with them to make sure their normal mental development. If you note any abnormality in the behaviour of your child, make an appointment with your psychologist and arrange a healthy session for him. To read more about child psychology
The parents should always be a supportive pillar for their children. They should encourage them and make them feel comfortable. They should be as flexible and friendly during the training as they can. Try to forgive your children so that they could also do the same. Give them respect, teach them good manners, set a rule of Please-sorry-thankyou, praise, and admire them to make them confident. Spend time with them, give attention, be clear, and do not nag at all. If your child forgets to do something, make them remind instead of scolding them. All these efforts of the Parents will prove fruitful in order to help their children to get and stay organized.
Conclusion
The ability to get and stay organized is a skill that is learned over time. Some people are really good at it while some require proper training from childhood to be a well-organized person. This training can be done with some tips that are discussed in the article such as time management skills, setting routine, scheduling things, etc. Parents should help their children to achieve the goal by supporting them. It will help them to get and stay organized.
Project-based learning is a methodology used to solve real-world problems by an investigation over an extended period of time. In Project-based learning, kids learn by doing and performing practical work.
Real-Word Problems
Real-world problems are the issues that are experienced and dealt with by the people in the world. These are the complex and challenging problems that are considered as external environment issues i.e. outside the classroom. The Modern Education system provides the children with this project-based learning to solve real-world problems by using their knowledge and skills. The term ”Problem solving” does not mean that you should expect the kids to must find out the solution but it is the practice of making things better i.e. it involves progress.
Come Up with a Plan First
If we talk about project-based learning in a school system, the instructor should initiate a proper plan first. He or she should connect the content, interest of the students, authenticity of the context, and after this, he or she should guide the students about the instructions of the project to solve particular real-world problems.
i. What a Proper Plan Should Contain?
The instructor should plan things in a good and proper way i.e. she must know about the interest of the students, knowledge, and information about that field of interest, understanding the basic things, providing a timeline and required benchmarks, expect the type of final product and what problems the students can face during solving these real-world problems. Initiate the project with small tasks of the daily routine.
ii. The Plan Should be Flexible
Flexibility is the most important thing to deal with anything in the world. The instructor should already keep in mind the possible outcomes of the problem given to the students. Maybe the students would like to have some changes in the procedure or they come up with a bit different product than expected. So, flexibility must be shown to evoke their sense of creativity.
The Plan Should be Flexible
iii. If The Plan Gets Fail
It may happen that the kids come up with nothing as a product so it is important for you as an instructor to accept the flaws made and plan other strategies again for better understanding and better results. Allow the students to try, explore and make mistakes. Just keep the kids motivated.
Bruce Albert says,
”Everybody is motivated by challenge and solving problems, and we don’t make use of that in schools enough”
For tips on Motivation, read the article on the same blog
Use The KWI Technique
K:
What information or knowledge the kids already have or what they have gathered on the board?
W:
What further things you should consider to have solving the project?
I:
What ideas your students possess to solve that real-world problem?
If The Plan Gets Fail
How to Do Deep Investigation?
Project-based learning is important because it involves an in-depth investigation of real-world problems. The three main phases of deep investigation include:
Phase 1:
In phase 1, there is an initial discussion of the project with and among the kids. All the essentials of the project are discussed earlier to make sure the procedure goes smoothly. This phase evolves the sense of teamwork among the kids.
Phase 2:
Phase 2 involves the main procedure of the project. It is basically the practical part of solving real-world problems. It may constitute field-work, informative sessions, and experiences related to the project with the field experts.
Phase 3:
The last and the most important phase of the in-depth investigation is the presentation of your final product to the audience.
Examples of Real-World Problems
1. Climatic Change
The gradual everyday change in the climate is seen by everyone and is a serious real-world problem in the current era. The project related to this climate change can be assigned to the students. The students will witness all the changes themselves and then they will be guided a plan to solve the problem or how to make it better.
2. Food-Home Insecurity
Food and home insecurity is areal-world problem that cannot be neglected at any cost. Many people in the world are deprived of affordable, nutritious, enough food and homes. Poverty is the major culprit here playing a key role in the problem. According to an estimate, 13 million people in the world are those who have no other choice to live in food-insecure homes. The students can pick up this real-world problem and come up with a possible solution.
3. Lack of Education
Lack of education is still a serious concern in the world majorly affecting third-world countries. It can be due to several reasons. Children especially girls are not allowed to have their secondary school education completed. This shows another aspect of another real-world problem which is gender disparity.
In South Africa 2019, Over 21% of children between the age of 7-18 years stated that they are unable to attendschools due to poverty or lack of financial resources whereas, 23% dropped out because of their lack of interest in the academic curriculum and the ones not attending the school education due to family concerns include 17.1% females and 0.3% males.
4. Violence
Violence can be of any form such as violence in school and educational systems or violence at the home. Domestic abuse or domestic violence is a notorious issue that is always tried to hide instead of having a proper required solution of it. The students should be given a guideline to have a product of solution regarding the issue. About 200 thousand issues of domestic violence were reported in 2019-2020 in England and Wales as compared to the 701 thousand issues in 2001-2002.
Project-Based Learning Vs Traditional Education System
Unlike the Traditional education system which only involves cramming and a test system to check what the kids have memorized, project-based learning for solving real-world problems is the most unique and effective way of making the kids learn. Modern project-based learning involves field trips, advanced instrumentations, researches, models, interviewing the experts in the field, etc.
Benefits of Project-Based Learning
1. Fun Schooling:
It suppresses the traditional educational system that is found boring by the kids. Project-based learning enhances the knowledge and skills of the students to make them capable of thinking. It also involves teamwork and fun learning.
Fun Schooling
2. Live Other Characters:
The kids are able to live the characters of different professions for a short period of time during project solving. For Example, if the project is based on a medical issue, the kids will be able to play a character of a medical health professional and similarly in the case of scientists, if the project involves some scientific work.
Live Other Characters
3. Improved Behaviour:
You can see an obvious difference in the behaviors of students who are dealing with project-based learning while those of having the traditional educational system. The kids with project-based learning develop a hunger to learn new things. They would tell their parents the whole summary of the day with a remarkable level of excitement, enthusiasm, and engagement.
4. Building Strong Concepts:
The modern education system denies memory-based learning while improves the ability to explore and create. It involves retaining the things learned and not forgetting them the very next day. They try to apply connections and relate even the smallest things they have learned in a day. This makes their concepts strong and they are free of any ambiguity.
5. More Benefits:
Enhances sense of teamwork and how to collaborate
improves skills
boosts confidence by questioning
reduces absenteeism
increase test scores
providing them with a sense of power, responsibility, authority, and decision making
society is benefitted theoretically as well as practically
Conclusion
Real-world problems are serious issues faced by people or the environment in the world. Project-based learning is an effective and helpful method of teaching the kids to improve and solve real-world problems by using different techniques. Project-based learning has several benefits for the kids and also for society.
Chubby Cheeks are the puffed cheeks that often appear swelled. Some people find them cute while others are just anxious to find ways to get rid of them. Chubby cheeks can be due to several reasons and genes are one of them. You can inherit these chubby cheeks from your family member.
If you are really serious to get rid of chubby cheeks and even double chin issues, you have to lose fat and this can be done by several methods of which managing diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications are the vital ones.
Here are 13 most effective methods to get yourself a slim face:
1. Losing Overall Body Fat
Losing fat from a particular region is tough and nearly impossible but you can achieve it by losing your overall body fat. If we talk about how to do so, it can be done by losing weight through having a healthy diet, exercise, and some other strategies. If you lose your body fat as a whole, your face fat will also be reduced and the face will look younger and slimmer.
2. Performing Facial Exercises
Facial exercises are a good way to achieve your goal of having hollow cheeks. The benefits of facial exercises other than losing face fat include
Enhance muscular strength
Reduce wrinkles that make your cheeks look saggy
Reduce tension and fatigue in the muscles of the face and neck
Increase circulation of blood
Give a firm tone to the skin and muscles of the face
Improves facial appearance
Delays aging
Besides all these benefits, doing facial exercises regularly has prime importance in getting rid of chubby cheeks. The strengthening of fascial muscles and tone gives the cheeks a perky appearance if they look saggy. It automatically makes your face look less chubby and perkier.
Here are some easy exercises you can do for your face any time:
pushing the air inside your mouth from one cheek to another at least 15 times
Chin-ups (15 times)
Puffing and blowing your cheeks for 4-5 minutes
cheekbone sculptor for 30 seconds
clench your teeth and hold the smile for a 10 seconds
make duck face (15 times)
make fish face and hold for 10 seconds
half cringe (10 times)
jaw-dropper (10-15 times)
Performing Facial Exercises
3. Make Alcohol Consumption Less Often
If you have been consuming alcohol in a higher amount and more frequently then you must stop and know about the fact that more than normal alcohol consumption is a culprit behind weight gain, chubby face, bloating, and several other problems.
Although, it is a pleasure for most people to have alcohol. On the other hand, alcohol is an unhealthy beverage with more calories and fewer nutrients. Hence, it is a must to keep balance and check on your alcohol consumption.
Make Alcohol Consumption Less Often
According to The World Health Organization (WHO), 3 million deaths per year are due to alcohol consumption in the world.
Workout involving elevated heart rate, cardiac output and ultimately sweating proves to be an effective method for losing weight fast. Cardio exercises help to degrade your stored fat and burn calories. It will reduce the overall body fat and you will be succeeded in losing fat face too. So, if you want to lose weight and say goodbye to the chubby cheeks then you have to continue these cardio or aerobic exercises for about 20-40 minutes on daily basis (medium to high intensity).
According to a survey in United Kingdom 2017, regular cardio exercises reduces the risks of fractures of the hip by 68% and of type 2 diabetes by 40%
Examples of some cardio exercises include running, walking, jumping jacks, dancing, swimming, squats, etc.
Do Cardio Workout
5. Avoid Eating Refined/Processed Foods
In case you do not know what are refined or processed foods then you should have the necessary information about them. Refined food items are the ones that are processed so much that they lose their original healthy nutrients and leaving behind fats and calories.
Refined carbs like white bread are common in use now and detrimental to the health of a person because they contain more sugar hence more calories. These foods store the fat in much amount that is hard to break down leading to obesity later on.
If you want to get rid of your chubby cheeks, you should replace these refined foods such as white bread, biscuits, cakes, cereals, etc. with healthy nutrients and fiber-rich food items like whole grains, brown bread, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.
Avoid Eating Refined/Processed Foods
6. Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking a lot of water daily does not only keep your skin hydrated but also has several other benefits such as cushions your joints, aid in digestion, regulates heartbeat, and loses weight.
Drinking more water helps you losing weight because it increases the metabolism of the body i.e. it makes the digestion process fast and hence energy expenditure. Having more water also makes you feel fuller, you feel less hungry, and refrain from overeating. Also, if you drink almost a glass of water just before having a meal, it reduces the calories consumption during that meal
More water intake retains less water in the body as well that does not cause bloating and inflammation making your face look slimmer. Hence, it is a good method for reducing face fat and ultimately chubby cheeks.
Drink Plenty of Water
7. Decrease Your Sodium Intake
Excessive intake of sodium causes a chubby face or chubby cheeks appearance because it promotes bloating and facial puffiness. More than the required amount of sodium in the body causes more retention of water that causes weight gain, inflammation, etc. as discussed earlier. It is more unhealthy for people sensitive to Table salt. So if you want to avoid chubby cheeks, you have to avoid processed foods too that contain a large amount of sodium (as salt) and other spices.
Decrease Your Sodium Intake
8. Eat Fibre Rich Food
Processed foods lack the fiber content needed for the body. Fibers are slow to move down the gut and to digest, hence you feel fuller after having a fiber-rich diet. This also reduces your appetite and unnecessary cravings help to reduce your weight.
The results of 62 studies showed that soluble fibres help reducing calories and weight.
Ideally, 25-40 grams of fibre should be taken in diet daily
Fibre Rich Foods
9. Scheduling Your Sleep
If you are lacking a good sleep time, it can be a cause of your chubby cheeks. Less than required sleeping time period for the body triggers the release of cortisol which is a stress hormone that has many side effects such as weight gain. Cortisol enhances the hunger level that automatically moves you towards overeating and weight gain. If you want to get rid of chubby cheeks, you should manage your sleep schedule.
Scheduling Your Sleep
Not only the time period of sleep important but the quality of it is also of chief importance. The more peaceful sleep you have, the more sound your health will be. For this purpose, do all the efforts that will help you sleep better such as new, clean bedsheets, switching the TV off before 30 minutes to bed, and avoid consuming caffeine before sleeping.
10. Finding Underlying Medical Condition
Your chubby cheeks or face fat may be due to any underlying condition playing a role in gaining unnecessary weight and fat. Conditions such as PCOS can be a factor responsible for unexplained weight gain that makes your face chubby. It is a complex hormonal disorder that raises insulin resistance in the body and consequently excessive weight gain. To know more about PCOS, read the article on the same blog.
Finding Underlying Medical Condition
11. Side Effects Due to Medications
It might be possible that a person using some medicines for any reason has chubby cheeks because the medicines can cause side effects such as inflammation. Medicine like Oxycodone is an example of inflammation in the face and less often in other body parts. Avoid such medicines and your chubby cheeks will be gone.
Side Effects Due to Medications
12. Smile More Often
A smile is the most expensive piece of jewelry a person can wear. Keeping a smile on your face more often not only makes you look happy and contended but also releases some good hormones that boost your energy levels and health. Smile is a type of exercise that reduces the excessive fat found in the face and thus helps in reducing chubby cheeks.
Smile More Often
13. Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is a type of cosmetic surgery that is done to remove or modify something artificially in your body. It can be done to reduce your face fat, chubby cheeks and lift your cheeks in case if they are of saggy appearance but a person should opt for it only if he finds nothing else working for himself because it has its own obvious side effects.
Plastic Surgery
Conclusion
Chubby cheeks are desirable for some people but less likable for others too. They can be due to several reasons so if you want to get rid of them, you should find out the exact cause of it. Moreover, there are 13 most effective methods to say goodbye to chubby cheeks such as lifestyle and diet modification, proper exercise, plastic surgery, etc.
PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder accompanied by several complications with multiple symptoms such as irregular periods cycle, acne, hirsutism, hair loss (androgenic alopecia), etc. It can due to any unknown causes but some of the reasons examined in detail for PCOS include insulin resistance, high levels of androgens, stress, and genetic history.
Link for the detail discussion on PCOSis on the same blog.
What is Female Pattern Hair Loss?
Female pattern hair loss or Androgenic Alopecia is a type of hair loss in which the hair gets thinner and lose from the front and top of the scalp giving a wider and broader appearance to your forehead. PCOS hair loss is the female pattern baldness in which excessive androgens make the texture of the hair thinner and poorer. Androgenic Alopecia is not only confined because of PCOS but it can also be due to some other diseases like:
Adrenal Hyperplasia
Thyroid disorders
Menopause
Nutritional deficiencies
Anemia
Causes of PCOS Hair Loss
Excessive hair fall or hair loss in women with PCOS is due to higher than normal levels of androgens in their bodies. Higher levels of androgens not only cause hair loss but other symptoms can also be seen due to it such as excessive hair on the face and body, also known as hirsutism that can be managed somehow but dealing with excessive hair loss is a serious concern.
How Androgens Cause Hair Loss?
When we talk about androgens as the reason behind hair loss in women with PCOS, a question pops up in our minds that how does actually affect your hair to make them weak and fall. The answer to this question can be understood by knowing about the mechanism behind it.
How Androgens Cause Hair Loss
Androgens:
In PCOS, lack of androgens like Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) binds to the receptors present on the hair follicles. The follicles become shrunk and blocked causing hair thinning and ultimately the hair fall.
Progesterone:
In the process of normal ovulation, the progesterone hormones bind with the hair follicle receptor site and prevent the hair from falling but in the case of PCOS-subjected women, lack of ovulation causes the deficiency of this hormone that subsequently give rise to PCOS hair loss.
Does PCOS Hair Loss Reversible?
The hair loss due to Polycystic ovary syndrome is generally irreversible and you cannot get them back with the same volume and number but the good news is that the hair follicles still remain alive and the condition can be made better by finding out the root cause of PCOS that is triggering the condition. By making your PCOS less harmful, you can automatically control further hair loss. Moreover, the good news is that the hair follicles in PCOS still remain alive and the hair can grow back by various therapy techniques and treatment for hair loss.
Treatment for PCOS Hair loss:
The problem of excessive hair shedding or female pattern hair loss in women having polycystic ovary syndrome is less common but more difficult to handle than other symptoms such as hirsutism, acne, irregular menstrual cycle, etc. Here are some ways to manage PCOS hair loss by some medications and artificial methods:
Oral Contraceptives
Birth Control pills or oral contraceptives like Metformin help to lower the increased levels of androgens and raise Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in women that not only reduces the severity of other symptoms of PCOS such as in the regulation of periods, acne, hirsutism but also decreases the number of hair falling down. You can use these oral contraceptives for managing hair loss due to PCOS but the excess of everything is bad so in the case of these pills. The optimum quantity of oral contraceptives taken should be 150mg to 200 mg because if taken in excess, they can increase resistance in insulin activity on the body making your symptoms even worse.
Oral Contraceptives
Anti-androgen drugs like Spironolactone and Flutamide should be ceased before 4-6 months if the particular woman wants to get pregnant.
If 1 mg of oral finasteride per day is given for 2 years, it shows an improvement of about 66% in women with Androgenic Alopecia
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a drug approved by U.S. Food and Drug Association FDA that comes in liquid form. You can massage it on your scalp. It not only deals with female pattern baldness but makes the hair thicker for regrowth. It is an effective method for promoting hair growth but if you are not consistent with it, the results will be zero.
Hair Transplant
It is a surgical procedure in which hair and hair follicles from any part of your body having much hair are taken and transplanted to the area of the head in which the person is experiencing hair loss. The procedure cannot be considered merely an artificial process because it involves the natural hair follicles of the patient.
The cost of a hair transplant depends upon the clinic, doctor, and the severity of the condition. Generally, the cost ranges from $4000 to $15000 in the U.S. It is a sessional procedure i.e. it involves multiple sessions depending upon the number of hair for the patient. Moreover, no insurance policy supports hair transplant because it is considered a cosmetic procedure.
Scalp Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a procedure in which the blood or blood substance is taken from your body and is introduced in the scalp through injection. This process naturally unblocks the coagulated hair follicles and making the hair regrow.
Scalp Platelet Rich Plasma
Supplements for PCOS Hair Loss
Biotin is a widely used supplement for all the problems related to hair. It is the best additive for resolving hair loss issues.
Zinc is also of prime importance for the healthy growth of hair. People who are vegetarian do not eat red meat that causes the deficiency of zinc in their bodies causing hair thinning, poor hair texture, and hair loss.
Depression Due to PCOS Hair Loss
On average, 16%-36% of the women having PCOS have to fight with Androgenic Alopecia. The frequent and continuous falling of hair makes them more irritable and prone to develop disorders like anxiety and depression.
Depression Due to PCOS Hair Loss
Home Remedies/Tips for PCOS Hair Loss
PCOS hair loss can be managed by following some remedies:
Losing only 5%-10% of your total body weight can make your PCOS less severe hence reducing PCOS hair loss.
Regular exercise involving cardio work out
a balanced diet having all the essential nutrients and vitamins in the required amount
Using sulfate-free shampoos and shampoo your hair after 2-3 days
Massaging your scalp with natural and organic hair oils frequently such as with mustard oil, coconut oil, etc
Having hair spa and hair masks once or twice a month
Applying onion juice to the roots of the hair
Avoiding the usage of combs having sharp-pointed bristles
do not tie your hair tightly
Use good quality hair bands to avoid tangles in your hair
Do not touch or pull your hair frequently
Avoid too much straightening and blow drying
Home Remedies and Tips for PCOS Hair Loss
How to Make Your Hair Loss Less Noticeable?
Part or style your hair in such a way that a major part of your hair is on the area having less hair on the scalp
Use Partial wigs for thin hairs
Use the products that add some volume to your hair
Keep your hair shorter so that they look fuller and of more volume
Conclusion
PCOS hair loss is a serious concern that affects many women with Polycystic ovary syndrome. As it is a condition related to the hormone androgens, you can manage it by regulating your male dominating hormones. Female pattern hair loss or androgenic alopecia can also be triggered by other factors so you have to avoid them all. Treatment and recovery of PCOS hair loss can be done by medications as well as other procedures. Some home remedies may also work for reducing and managing PCOS hair loss.
Pregnancy is an important and crucial time period for not only humans but also for animals such as cats. Unlike humans, the cat has a short gestation period of about 2 months and a few days more that contains several short phases. The process of this cat pregnancy is often called queening and the cat is called a queen. If you have a cat, the following things must be known to you to avoid any complications.
Being in Season
If your cat wants to mate with a male cat she will exhibit some signs such as rubbing and rolling on the ground, raising and lowering her pitch, creating certain sounds, etc. You may feel it weird and you may also think your cat is probably ill if you have not dealt with a pet cat before. This period of cat desire is called ” season or period of heat”. The heat or oestrus period comes after every 3 weeks in the case of a cat.
If you want your unneutered cat to not get pregnant, you must keep an eye on her and keep her stay away from male cats especially if you do not want to bear the expenses of the kitten too at a certain time.
The age for a cat to be in heat and get pregnant is as early as 4 months only. The male cat will chase the specific sounds, smell and signals exhibited by your for mating.
Signs of Cat Pregnancy
There are some signs that can tell you if your cat is pregnant:
Size of belly
The size of the belly of a cat pregnant becomes enlarged gradually. The sign appears late because it can be noticed after 30 days of cat pregnancy. Increasing the abdominal size of your cat not always mean that your cat is pregnant. It can be due to an infection or underlying disease so you must consult your vet about it.
Pinking Up
It is a natural phenomenon for a pregnant cat that her nipples become enlarged and swell during pregnancy. They also change their colour to red, the process is called pinking up of nipples. It is an obvious sign and can be seen just after 15-18 days of your cat being pregnant.
Weight Gain
Weight gain in pregnancy for any organism whether a human or cat is obvious and a natural process. A cat gains about 1-2 kg of weight in her gestation period. You can take it as a sign of your cat pregnancy.
Cat weight gain
Confirmation Tests for Cat Pregnancy
Although you can check yourself if your cat is pregnant by noticing some signs discussed above but it is better to confirm before having a thought. Here are some ways to confirm your cat pregnancy:
Ultrasound
You can get assured about the pregnancy of your cat by ultrasound. It will confirm and the doubt will go away but the ultrasound will show valid results after 15 days of cat pregnancy.
X-Rays
X-rays can also be used to confirm the pregnancy of the cat. It is the best way for confirmation because it also tells you about the number of kittens you and your cat are going to have. The number of kittens may not be 100% exactly the same as shown by x-rays but you can get a rough idea about it.
Checking Manually
Palpating the belly of your cat gently also tells you about the pregnancy of the cat but it should only be done by the vet and not by yourself because you being inexperienced may hurt your cat belly due to large hand force and the kittens may die inside resulting in miscarriage.
Behavioural Changes During Cat Pregnancy
Eating Habits
Just like every other creature being pregnant, your cat also starts craving certain foods and its appetite increases approximately 1.5 times more than normal conditions. She wants to eat every time in more quantity so you must take care of her diet.
Cat Eating Habbits
Activity level
Due to fluctuations in the hormones and uterus of the cat, she may feel lazy and fatigue all day long. Her activity level reduces and time for sleep increases.
Attention
When a female human is pregnant, she wants all the attention around her and acts to have it in any way. The same is the case for cats, they want to be the center of your attention during their pregnancy. She wants to be played less often but cuddles all the time.
Cats need attention
Diet for a Pregnant Cat
A proper diet plan for a cat pregnancy is as important as for human beings. The appetite of your cat increases naturally during pregnancy but you should make sure if your cat is in taking a proper healthy diet that may prove beneficial for the queen as well as for the upcoming kittens but before giving any food or supplement to the pregnant cat, consult with the vet in the first place.
You should feed your pregnant cat with:
Kitten food
Vitamins Supplements
Food rich in proteins
Diet for a Pregnant Cat
Complications Your Cat May Face in Pregnancy
There are some complications that your cat can experience during pregnancy but it is not necessary for every cat to have these complications.
Morning Sickness
Morning sickness during pregnancy is common in the human species too. Your cat may feel sick after awakening from sleep. It can due to several reasons like lack of proper sleep or decreased appetite in some cases.
Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting is the most common part of pregnancy and your cat can be subjected to it. Vomiting is normal in cat pregnancy but if your cat is vomiting frequently than usual, you should get your cat checked by the vet.
Attack of Viruses
Your cats, even the unborn kittens inside the cat womb are susceptible to get attacked by viruses so it is extremely important to vaccinate your cat timely without any negligence that may consequently result in further complications.
Fleas Treatment
Getting attacked by fleas is a normal and common condition for pets so as for your cat but in the case of cat pregnancy, you should check properly from time to time to make sure your cat is not a host of fleas and lice in her gestation condition. Having fleas will not only make your cat irritated but it can also cause some skin issues like allergies that will not be good for the pregnant cat.
Check out this article on the treatment of Cat Fleas for more detailed information
How can you know when your cat is going to deliver the kittens and what necessary arrangement you have to make? Well, there are some signs that your cat gives is she is going to have labor pain and ready to deliver the kittens.
The cat will stop eating anything a day before delivery
She will get more vocal
The cat will start washing, especially, her nipples and vagina constantly
Her body temperature will fall below 37.7 Degree Celsius
Preparing The Nesting Area
You should prepare the delivery area for your cat as soon as she starts giving signals of labor. A box of suitable size containing necessary bed sheets and covers is a good option for the cat giving birth to the kittens. You can prepare something else for it but make sure the area for delivery is warm and comfortable enough for the cat. Your cat can deliver the kitten anywhere else she wants but preparing a proper place is necessary.
Conclusion
If you are the owner of a cat then cat pregnancy is an important topic. Your cat will get pregnant if not now but later on some time so you should know about all the basics regarding cat pregnancy. Keeping a sound knowledge about the time period of the cat pregnancy, her oestrus period, and understanding the signs, diet, complications, behavioral changes, etc. of your cat pregnancy helps you a lot during this crucial period and avoiding any mistakes. Everything should be done with the consultation of the Vet.
Intrauterine insemination is a painless, non-invasive, and relatively less expensive procedure for couples who want to get pregnant by artificial insemination. It is basically, a fertility treatment used for increasing the chances of fertilization and ultimately pregnancy.
According to a survey in Italy, the number of pregnancies through intrauterine insemination from 2005 to 2009 increased and were recorded 3482 pregnancies in 2009.
Intrauterine insemination is required to be done in certain conditions and for women who are unable to conceive naturally.
1. Decreased Ovulation
Any condition that disturbs or suppresses ovulation like hormonal imbalances or ovarian cysts ( PCOS ) can hinder pregnancy. The women with decreased ovulation are also given some medications that stimulate ovulation and then IUI is performed so that chances of conceiving are increased.
2. Idiopathic or Unexplained
When there are unknown causes for infertility and no signs of any pathology, such a condition is referred to as unexplained infertility. Intrauterine insemination is a blessing to such people.
3. Difficulty in Ejaculation
Men who experience any difficulty or pain while ejaculating the sperms can also be a cause of infertility. So, IUI is a better option for them.
4. Subfertility
When the male partner has some fertility issue like decreased sperm count, compromised health and concentration of sperms, lower sperm motility, or any abnormality in the shape and size of the sperms serves as a hindrance in having kids.
5. Excessive Sexual Pain
More than normal pain during sex leads to infrequent or even no intercourse. Such a condition is an obvious reason for having no offsprings.
6. Thickening of Cervical Mucus
The cervix of every woman secretes mucus just like other organs (stomach, nasal cavity, etc.). Sometimes, this mucus gets thicker and its viscosity increases than a normal range leading to block or hinder the pathway for sperms to travel through and reach the uterus. IUI is used for such women to directly induce the sperms into the uterus and avoid the mucosal pathway of the cervix.
7. Single Mother Parent
Women who want to be a single parent often conceive a baby through IUI by using donor sperms. The donor sperms are placed inside the uterus to done with fertilization of the awaiting egg.
Single Mother Parent
8. Women Allergic to Semen
Women who are sensitive or allergic to some irritant proteins in the semen are more likely to be on the verge of decreased fertilization because their pathway for sperms becomes inflamed, swelled and appear red like burns. Hence, IUI is a better opportunity for them.
9. Genetic Defect
The couples who want to avoid any genetic diseases or traits to transmit in the offspring tend to move towards Intrauterine insemination.
Women Not Suitable For IUI:
There are certain conditions in which Intrauterine insemination is not prescribed to be done.
Pelvic Infections
Women with a current or past medical history of pelvic infection such as pelvic inflammatory disease PID are not suitable for IUI. In pelvic Inflammatory disease, the organ responsible for reproduction in women i.e. uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, etc. gets inflamed and no procedure like IUI is done in such women.
Fallopian Tube Disease
If there is any disorder or pathology in the fallopian tubes that causes severe fallopian tube disease and leads to removal or blockage of fallopian tubes then IUI is of no use because the egg is located in the fallopian tube to be fertilized. If the tube is blocked, there will be no place for the egg and so for fertilization.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a painful condition in which the middle layer of the uterus i.e. endometrium is formed anywhere outside the uterus often causing infertility. IUI can be done in women having mild endometriosis but if the condition has been exaggerated leading to moderate-severe endometriosis, IUI is not performed.
Endometriosis
Protocols For Intrauterine Insemination:
There are some protocols to be followed in order to get the IUI done exactly the way it should be.
You have to visit the clinic many times before IUI for blood tests, medications, ultrasounds, etc. while you are on your periods.
You have to take some prescribed medications during your periods that will boost up your ovulation and ultimately the chances of pregnancy.
Your physician will decide the date and day for IUI according to the most possible ovulating days of your menstrual cycle.
The male partner or donor has to give the sample of semen on the day on which the procedure is scheduled because fresh semen enhances the quality of sperms and chances for fertilization but if the donor is facing any difficulty in providing the sample just at the day of IUI then the semen can also be taken a day before the procedure and frozen to avoid any mistake.
After taking the semen, the sperms are washed without any delay so that the concentration and quality of them are not compromised at any cost.
Protocols For Intrauterine Insemination
Procedure:
The seminal fluid from the sample of the donor is removed and the sample is purified consisting of only sperms and some necessary substances essential for conceiving.
The sperms are washed and their concentration is increased so that they travel inside and fertilize the female egg easily.
The Procedure starts when your doctor asks you to lie down straight on the stature or table.
No anesthesia is given to the patient because the procedure is painless but because every woman is different and has a unique body, a few women experience some degree of discomfort, cramping of the uterus and a little bleeding that depends from woman to woman.
The doctor introduces a thin speculum inside the vagina and dilates the pathway for sperms.
The catheter travels from the vagina to the cervix, uterus and finally fallopian tubes and places sperms inside it for fertilization with the already present egg.
The whole procedure of the sperm placement method requires only a few minutes (5 minutes-10 minutes).
It is said to stay on the table in the same position for about 10 minutes-30 minutes to make sure the correct placement of sperms.
Procedures
Success Rate:
The success rate for Intrauterine insemination is dependent upon some factors which are:
Age (women above 40 years of age are less likely to be benefited from IUI)
No. of cycles/sessions (minimum 3 cycles are suggested to get the best possible results and every cycle increases the chance of fertilization by 20%)
The root cause of infertility
Check your success rate
Risks and Drawbacks:
The risks after Intrauterine insemination include:
Multiples Pregnancy
Women are advised to take ovulation stimulating medicines that provoke the ovulation and chances of pregnancy but it can be possible that these medicines cause your ovaries to release more than one egg at a time, maybe 2, 3, or even more. IUI causes to fertilize all the eggs that are present in the fallopian tubes. This is a risk of Intrauterine insemination procedure.
Infections After IUI
Some women develop mild infections after Intrauterine insemination like cramping but are not of major concern.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
In some abnormal conditions, the ovaries might react excessively to the ovulation-inducing medicines causing the release of multiple eggs at the same time and inflammation of not only ovaries but of other organs such as kidneys, abdomen chest, etc and blood clotting.
When to Consult the Doctor?
If you notice the following signs and symptoms after getting the Intrauterine insemination process done, you should visit your doctor and find the root cause behind your condition.
Increase in size of the abdominal region
Sudden weight gain
frequent vomiting followed by nausea
Pain in abdominal/pelvic area
Fatigue, lethargy and dizziness
Difficulty in breathing
Cost for IUI
The cost for intrauterine insemination depends upon the location, doctor, setup, etc. It may vary according to the medicines and other protocols. It ranges from $460-$1500 hence it is affordable and less expensive than other procedures like In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Conclusion:
Intrauterine insemination IUI is an alternative sperm placement method to get pregnant. It is a non-invasive and less costly procedure used for couples unable to conceive naturally due to several reasons. It follows a proper procedure and protocols. There are some risks after having Intrauterine insemination as well. The success rate for IUI depends upon some factors that are considerable. Its cost varies but is still affordable than other artificial treatment methods for fertilization like IVF.
Migraine is a neurological condition containing multiple symptoms and is associated with severe and extreme pain in your head. It is different from the normal headache that everybody experiences. Unlike normal headaches, migraines can be felt by strong pulsing and throbbing sensations.
According to the result of a survey, 1.41 million cases of migraine were seen in Spain in 2017
Following are the possible causes and risk factors of migraine:
Changes in the levels of serotonin chemical
Skipping meals
Sex i.e. migraine is more prevalent in females than males
It can be due to older age
Traveling
Changes in sleep pattern
Usage of oral contraceptives
Certain odor
Foods like alcohol, caffeine
Food additives like tyramine
Smoking
Factors that Trigger Migraine
Bright light
Hormonal imbalance
Increase barometric pressure
Extremes in weathers
Loud sounds
Excessive stress
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of migraine is totally dependent upon the previous medical history, family history, types and severity of symptoms the person is having.
Confirmation Tests for Migraine
Following is the list of Tests for confirming whether the person is suffering from migraine or not:
MRI
CT Scan
Abnormal brain anatomy test
Test for detection of any tumor
Test for stroke
Confirmation Tests for Migraine
Stages and Symptoms
It has many symptoms but it is not necessary for a person to have all the symptoms at the same time.
1. Prodrome stage
It is the pre-migraine phase that begins almost one day before migraine accompanied by the following symptoms:
Depression
Craving for foods
Hyperactivity
Dizziness
Lethargy
Bloating
Constipation
Stiffness of neck muscles and soft tissues
2. Attack Phase
This phase starts as soon as a person experiences migraine and last up to 4 hours to 72 hours with symptoms such as:
Pulsing and throbbing pain
Pain that affects one side or both sides of the head
Pain exaggerating with certain lights, sounds, smells and touch
Nervousness
Depression
Nausea and vomiting
Severity of Migraine Pain
The severity of the condition depends upon the factors listed below:
1. Intensity:
The signs and symptoms of migraine are different from the normal headache. The pain is often pulsating, irritating that may start mildly but becomes worse over time.
Intensity
2. Frequency:
How frequently a person experiences it depends individually. Some people may have migraines twice a month while others on the extreme suffering from it all month long.
3. Areas suffering from pain:
The pain is mostly in the forehead i.e. anterior side of head, on either side or both sides of the head.
Areas suffering from pain
4. Time duration:
The pain of migraine usually remains up to 4 hours but it can extend to 72 hours or more and if left untreated can last up to a week as well.
Types of Migraine
There are two main types of migraine.
i. Migraine without Aura:
Most people do not suffer from migraines with an aura so it is also called common migraine. Its characteristics include:
Unilateral pain
Pain increases with movements
Phonophobia
Associated with any other underlying health issue
Pain cannot be controlled without treatment and usually remains for 4 hours to 72 hours
It is also known as classic or hemiplegic migraine. It is rare and is more complicated than common migraine. only 25% of people are affected by this type of migraine worldwide.
The condition is associated with certain characteristic like:
Difficulty in speech (dysarthria)
Blurred vision
Decreased sensory function
Hyperacusis
The weakness of one side of the body
Other types are:
Menstrual migraine affecting 60% of the total women with migraine
If you want to treat migraine you have to consider the following factors first, on which the treatment depends:
Age of the patient
Type of migraine
Frequency of pain
The intensity of the condition
If the symptoms include nausea and vomiting
Any underlying medical condition
The treatment methodologies include:
Lifestyle modification i.e. managing stress and other symptoms that trigger migraine
Hormonal therapy in case of menstrual migraine
Medications such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Acupuncture/ Acupressure
The surgical procedure approved by the U.S. FDA Food and Drug Administration
Treatment for Migraine
Self Care Remedies for Migraine
Some self-care remedies of home remedies for managing and reducing the symptoms are massaging your head, putting cold bags on your forehead and on your neck posteriorly, use peppermint oil for massage, try to avoid eating hot dogs, perform yoga, etc.
Migraine Versus Headache
Migraine is not that typical headache that is experienced by every person in the daily routine of life due to several reasons like hypertension, extreme works loads, stress, etc. Some inevitable traits of migraine that distinguish it from common headache are pre symptoms of migraine, the time duration of pain, nature of pain, etc.
Myths Regarding Migraine
Some of the myths and misconceptions associated with migraine that we hear often are:
It does not last for long
It is always accompanied by an aura
It is not curable at all
It cannot be due to a medical condition
Many more
Conclusion:
Migraine is a serious medical and neurological symptom showing many symptoms. It can be due to running in genes or some other reason. The treatment varies from person to person and you cannot apply the same treatment methodology to every patient with migraine. Migraine is different from the typical headache and we should find out the effective treatment rather than believing myths created.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
