Tag: advice

Lebanon Travel Advice & Safety

The security situation in the region remains unpredictable and could deteriorate with little or no warning.

Political changes in the region and international events may prompt large demonstrations or violence. Planned and on-the-spot demonstrations can take place.

Anti-government protests occur. Protests may target key institutions and sites, including banks. Some can be large and escalate into violent clashes between protesters and security forces.

Authorities use various measures to break up crowds, including:

  • water cannons
  • tear gas 
  • live ammunition

These measures have resulted in injuries.

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent, including the use of weapons. You could be caught in violence directed at others.

During civil unrest and times of heightened tensions:

  • avoid all crowds, protests and demonstrations
  • pay close attention to your personal security
  • monitor the media and other sources for news on planned and possible actions
  • avoid areas where violence has occurred or is likely to occur
  • plan your activities to avoid potential unrest on days of national significance
  • be prepared to change your travel plans in case of disruptions

If you’re in an area affected by clashes:

  • stay indoors and away from windows and balconies
  • follow the advice of local authorities

Stay indoors during celebratory gunfire, which has caused casualties, and often happens during and after political speeches, weddings, funerals and religious and new year holidays. 

If transport disruptions affect your travel plans, contact your airline, travel agent or insurer for help.

Leave Lebanon if you’re concerned about your safety.

More information:

Beirut

In times of civil unrest, avoid areas of Beirut where protests are known to occur.

In Beirut, protests sometimes close main highways. Burning of tyres to block main roads is common. Groups protest against:

  • government policies
  • the situation in Syria
  • the security environment
  • the deteriorating social and

The Worst Mental Health Advice And Treatments

What is the worst mental health advice/treatment you ever received from a mental health professional? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Answer by Dr. Abbie Maroño, PhD in Psychology and Behavior Analysis, on Quora:

When we turn to mental health professionals, it is often during our most vulnerable moments, seeking support and guidance to navigate through challenging times. These practitioners play a crucial role in nurturing our wellbeing and aiding in our recovery process. The field of mental health is of paramount importance, and it’s worth noting that the vast majority of professionals within this industry are not only well-trained but are exceptional in their dedication to supporting the mental and emotional health of their clients. Their expertise and compassionate care are invaluable to individuals and communities alike. However, as in any profession, there can be instances where the standard of care does not meet expectations, leading to outcomes that can be detrimental.

An example of such a situation involves a person with a complex psychological profile, including a history of extreme violent behavior, delusions of grandeur, a clinically recognized deficit in empathy, and a disregard for personal life. This individual also exhibited signs of diverting responsibility for actions due to external influences, such as tarot readings, and had a history of obsessive behavior and non-consensual aggressive advances. These characteristics are indicative of a person who poses a significant risk to themselves and others, particularly in the context of forming new personal relationships.

In this case, the clinician’s advice for the individual to seek out a romantic partner as part of their journey through PTSD was profoundly misguided. This recommendation overlooked the potential danger to others and the

Bad medical advice should not count as free speech

In what will surely be considered good news for COVID-19 deniers, horse- dewormer enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists, a groundbreaking lawsuit was filed in federal court earlier this month.

The plaintiffs say it’s in defense of free speech, but it’s really about science vs. baloney. And it seems those who filed the legal action know as much about the law as they do medicine and biology.

Former NBA star John Stockton joined forces with presidential candidate and vaccine opponent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a group of doctors to go after the Washington Attorney General and the Washington Medical Commission.

The complaint claims the Washington Medical Commission has unfairly targeted about 60 physicians who “speak out against the so-called ‘mainstream COVID narrative.’”

“There is no place for the government, under the guise of regulating physicians and protecting the public, to censure, restrict or sanction the content and viewpoint of the publicly expressed views of physicians on COVID or any other subject, just because the government does not like the message or thinks it is wrong,” the plaintiffs wrote.

A bit of background:

Since the nation’s first COVID outbreak in early 2020, two divergent responses emerged. One embraced public health research and touted masks and vaccines. The other downplayed the risks and focused on miracle cures. Former President Donald Trump was a proponent of the latter, hawking the magical properties of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug with no known impact on COVID.

And then came ivermectin, which is most commonly used to deworm horses and has limited benefits for humans.

No evidence has been found that the drug is effective in preventing or treating COVID.

Despite alerts and advice against ivermectin for COVID, a few Washington doctors persisted in prescribing the drug. That got the attention of the Washington Medical Commission, which monitors

Can We Age Well If We Keep Ignoring Healthy Aging Advice?

For most people, there is a belief that aging well is a matter of luck. In their minds, how they age depends on how long their parents or grandparents lived and that’s about it. However, research tells us, that simply isn’t all there is to know.

Movement of our bodies

In our history, parents and grandparents probably lived a very different life from how typical Americans lived. Perhaps they were more active because they didn’t have all the automated conveniences, and access to the internet as we do today. Daily activity, moving our bodies is a critical component of how we age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise for all adults. Yet studies show that only 28% of Americans adhere to that guideline. We can’t say that if grandpa lived to be 95, we will too, when grandpa had a physical labor job most of his life. We want to believe that a couch potato has the same odds, but it’s not true.

What we eat

Certainly, the typical American diet has changed over the last two generations. Our elders did not have so much, or any, highly processed foods. We know from extensive reported research that ultra processed and processed foods are major contributors to chronic diseases of aging. These diseases include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Other data suggests a clear connection to dementia as well. Yet, we consume our fast foods, processed stuff from the packages all over our grocery stores, and we ignore advice to avoid pesticide-sprayed food. Can we expect to live as long as anyone who did not eat that way? Likely not. We know that risks for heart disease can be diet and weight-driven. Heart disease remains the biggest

How medieval French women used hidden social networks to share medical advice

In the medieval period, medical science was still dominated by the ancient writings of Hippocrates from the fifth century and Galen of Pergamon from the second century. Research has shown that women were increasingly being taken seriously as healers and as bearers of wisdom about women’s bodies and health. But despite this, men were preferred while women faced restrictions.

Informal networks developed in response, as a way for women to practise medicine in secret – and pass on their medical wisdom outside the male bastions.

The Distaff Gospels, first published in France around 1480, is a collection of “gospels” around pregnancy, childbirth and health. It was created during secretive meetings of French women who had gathered with their drop spindles and distaffs to spin flax.

These women, who were mostly from the regions of Flanders and Picardy, agreed to meet over the long nights between Christmas and early February to gather the wisdom of their ancestors and pass it on to the women who came after them. The meetings are believed to have been organised by a local villager who selected six older women, each chairing one night, who would recount their advice on a range of topics such as pregnancy, childbirth and marriage.

A scribe was appointed to record the advice, which had previously only been preserved through the oral story tradition of peasant women. What is most fascinating is that although the text is mediated by a male scribe, The Distaff Gospels presents the often-silent voices of the lower working-class women. One such gospel advises:

Young women should never be given hares’ heads to eat, for fear they might think about it later, once they are married, especially while they are pregnant; in that case, for sure, their children would

Medieval women used informal social networks to share health problems and medical advice | Media Centre

In the medieval period, medical science was still dominated by the ancient writings of Hippocrates from the fifth century and Galen of Pergamon from the second century. Research has shown that women were increasingly being taken seriously as healers and as bearers of wisdom about women’s bodies and health. But despite this, men were preferred while women faced restrictions.

Informal networks developed in response, as a way for women to practise medicine in secret – and pass on their medical wisdom outside the male bastions.

The Distaff Gospels, first published in France around 1480, is a collection of “gospels” around pregnancy, childbirth and health. It was created during secretive meetings of French women who had gathered with their drop spindles and distaffs to spin flax.

These women, who were mostly from the regions of Flanders and Picardy, agreed to meet over the long nights between Christmas and early February to gather the wisdom of their ancestors and pass it on to the women who came after them. The meetings are believed to have been organised by a local villager who selected six older women, each chairing one night, who would recount their advice on a range of topics such as pregnancy, childbirth and marriage.

A scribe was appointed to record the advice, which had previously only been preserved through the oral story tradition of peasant women. What is most fascinating is that although the text is mediated by a male scribe, The Distaff Gospels presents the often-silent voices of the lower working-class women. One such gospel advises:

Young women should never be given hares’ heads to eat, for fear they might think about it later, once they are married, especially while they are pregnant; in that case, for sure, their children would have split lips.

‘Deviant women’

The advice

After Brittany Mahomes’ advice, doctors offer ways to take care of pelvic floor problems

When Brittany Mahomes recently advised moms to take care of their pelvic floors, she raised awareness of a condition that is more common than many young women realize.

“Women don’t get educated about this, especially when they are younger, when they are of childbearing age,” said Dr. Deepanjana Das, a urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Earlier this week, Mahomes, who has two young children with her husband, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, gave a reminder to women on her Instagram story: “Once you have kids take care of your pelvic floor. Seriously,” signing it “from a girl with a fractured back.”

NBC News has reached out to representatives for Mahomes for comment. Meanwhile, doctors say back and pelvic floor problems can be connected.

“Women can be at risk of both due to low-back issues and factors such as pregnancy and childbirth,” said Dr. Roger Dmochowski, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, urology and surgery, and associate surgeon in chief at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The gynecologic organs, the bladder and the rectum are all held in place by a group of muscles and ligaments known as the pelvic floor, Dmochowski explained. When these tissues are stretched and weakened, urinary and fecal incontinence can result. More severe issues with those muscles can lead to organ prolapse, during which one or more of the pelvic organs can drop down into the vaginal canal and even protrude through the vagina.

Other risk factors include repeated lifting of heavy weights and standing for many hours.

“Gravity is not your best friend,” Dmochowski said.

Overall, nearly a quarter of women in the U.S. develop pelvic floor issues, according to the National Institutes of Health. Younger women ages 20 to 39 are less likely to experience symptoms

Medieval women used informal social networks to share health problems and medical advice – just as we do today

In the medieval period, medical science was still dominated by the ancient writings of Hippocrates from the fifth century and Galen of Pergamon from the second century. Research has shown that women were increasingly being taken seriously as healers and as bearers of wisdom about women’s bodies and health. But despite this, men were preferred while women faced restrictions.

Informal networks developed in response, as a way for women to practise medicine in secret – and pass on their medical wisdom outside the male bastions.

The Distaff Gospels, first published in France around 1480, is a collection of “gospels” around pregnancy, childbirth and health. It was created during secretive meetings of French women who had gathered with their drop spindles and distaffs to spin flax.

These women, who were mostly from the regions of Flanders and Picardy, agreed to meet over the long nights between Christmas and early February to gather the wisdom of their ancestors and pass it on to the women who came after them. The meetings are believed to have been organised by a local villager who selected six older women, each chairing one night, who would recount their advice on a range of topics such as pregnancy, childbirth and marriage.

A scribe was appointed to record the advice, which had previously only been preserved through the oral story tradition of peasant women. What is most fascinating is that although the text is mediated by a male scribe, The Distaff Gospels presents the often-silent voices of the lower working-class women. One such gospel advises:

Young women should never be given hares’ heads to eat, for fear they might think about it later, once they are married, especially while they are pregnant; in that case, for sure, their children would have split lips.

‘Deviant women’

The advice

Haredi Jews Prioritize Rabbinic Over Medical Advice, Study Finds

In an illuminating exploration of Haredi Jews’ approach to healthcare, researchers Rivka Neriya‐Ben Shahar, Fany Yuval, and Aviad Tur‐Sinai shed light on the complex interplay between religious authority and medical advice. Their study, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, reveals how Haredi communities in Israel often turn to rabbis as the ultimate decision-makers in health-related matters, even when their guidance conflicts with that of medical professionals.

Study Methodology and Findings

The researchers gathered insights through 16 focus groups, engaging 128 Haredi participants from key Israeli communities. The study aimed to understand the dynamics between patients, doctors, and rabbis within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Findings suggest a profound loyalty to rabbinic authority, with participants indicating that in cases of disagreement between a doctor and a rabbi, the latter’s word is usually taken as final. This deference to religious leaders over health practitioners underscores the significance of spiritual guidance in the Haredi community, even at the expense of personal health.

Rabbinic Influence on Medical Decisions

Participants shared various anecdotes reflecting the nuanced relationship between faith and healthcare. For instance, some rabbis may advise seeking treatment at more advanced medical facilities, regardless of religious observances such as Shabbat, while others might prioritize adherence to religious laws over receiving the highest standard of medical care. This variance highlights the diverse perspectives within the Haredi community itself. Additionally, the study points out the community’s desire for healthcare professionals to better understand and respect their religious values and practices.

Community Dynamics and Healthcare Accessibility

The concept of ‘self-sacrifice’ emerged as a recurring theme, with community members willing to compromise on health decisions to maintain their standing within the ultra-Orthodox society. The researchers also discuss the existence of a ‘market’ for rabbinic advice, where those with more ‘capital’ – in terms of social or financial

A Gastroenterologist’s Top Advice for Better Gut Health

At least 60 million Americans are affected by digestive diseases, so Prevention’s Medical Review Board includes gastroenterologist Hiroshi Mashimo, M.D. He has a passion for helping patients with gut health and conducting game-changing research, and took time out of his busy schedule to talk about his field.

hiroshi masumi

Hiroshi Masumi

Meet the expert: Hiroshi Mashimo, M.D., Ph.D., a member of Prevention’s Medical Review Board, is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a gastroenterologist at Boston VA Medical Center and Massachusetts General Brigham. Dr. Mashimo is also the president of OESO: World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus.

What don’t many people know about GI medicine?

I think a major problem is that people hesitate to tell their doctors about issues such as fecal incontinence, constipation, and diarrhea. With heartburn, there is a blatant acceptance of the narrative that everyone has heartburn, so they take over-the-counter medications and don’t tell their doctor. Complications such as cancers are not detected until they are advanced and less treatable.

Why is a healthy gut so important?

A healthy gut consists of bacteria we need because they provide us with nutrients our body cannot make and help recirculate bile. Overgrowth of certain bacteria or loss of bacterial diversity is associated with diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or pain. There’s also an important two-way gut-brain connection. For example, stress can cause ulcers, and we know from mouse models that if you continue to irritate either the stomach or the colon, you may get anxiety or depression. We’ve learned that we can give low doses of antidepressants to help a patient with gut issues feel better, because the neurotransmitters are shared and are going in both directions.

What’s the most common reason people come to see you?

Patients come to

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