Search

Asking ChatGPT a health-related question? Better keep it simple

It’s tempting to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/chatgpt-and-dr-google/">turn to search engines</a> to seek out health information, but with the rise of large language models, like ChatGPT, people are becoming more and more likely to depend on AI for answers too. <div class="copy"> Concerningly, an Australian study has now found that the more evidence given to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/chatgpt-an-intimate-companion/">ChatGPT</a> when asked a health-related question, the less reliable it becomes. Large language models (LLM) and artificial intelligence use in health care is still developing, creating a a critical gap when providing incorrect answers can have serious consequences for people’s health. To address this, scientists from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and the University of Queensland (UQ) explored a hypothetical scenario: an average person asking ChatGPT if ‘X’ treatment has a positive effect on condition ‘Y’. They presented ChatGPT with 100 questions sourced from the <a href="https://trec-health-misinfo.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TREC Health Misinformation track</a> – ranging from ‘Can zinc help treat the common cold?’ to ‘Will drinking vinegar dissolve a stuck fish bone?’ Because queries to search engines are typically shorter, while prompts to a LLM can be far longer, they posed the questions in 2 different formats: the first as a simple question and the second as a question biased with supporting or contrary evidence. By comparing ChatGPT’s response to the known correct response based on existing medical knowledge, they found that ChatGPT was 80% accurate at giving accurate answers in a question-only format. However, when given an evidence-biased prompt, this accuracy reduced to 63%, which was reduced again to 28% when an “unsure” answer was allowed. “We’re not sure why this happens,” says CSIRO Principal Research Scientist and Associate Professor at UQ, Dr Bevan Koopman, who is co-author of the paper. “But given this occurs whether the evidence given is correct or not, perhaps the evidence adds too much noise, thus lowering accuracy.” Study co-author Guido Zuccon, Director of AI for the Queensland Digital Health Centre at UQ says that major search engines are now integrating LLMs and search technologies in a process called Retrieval Augmented Generation. “We demonstrate that the interaction between the LLM and the search component is still poorly understood, resulting in the generation of inaccurate health information,” says Zuccon. Given the widespread popularity of using LLMs online for answers on people’s health, Koopman adds, we need continued research to inform the public about risks and to help them optimise the accuracy of their answers. “While LLMs have the potential to greatly improve the way people access information, we need more research to understand where they are effective and where they are not.” Image credits: Getty Images <div> </div> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=301406&title=Asking+ChatGPT+a+health-related+question%3F+Better+keep+it+simple" width="1" height="1" loading="lazy" aria-label="Syndication Tracker" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/ai/asking-chatgpt-a-health-related-question-better-keep-it-simple/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto/">Imma Perfetto</a>. </div>

Caring

What is POTS? And how is it related to long COVID?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-seeley-1364457">Marie-Claire Seeley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/celine-gallagher-1454881">Celine Gallagher</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> POTS or “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” is a poorly recognised condition we’ve been <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/what-is-pots-and-how-is-it-related-to-covid-20230529-p5dc3v.html">hearing more</a> about recently. When people stand up, get out of bed or off the sofa, their heart races and they feel dizzy and fatigued, severely impacting their quality of life. Everyday tasks, such as washing their hair in the shower or working, become challenging because people cannot stay upright. Before COVID, this debilitating condition was not widely talked about. But during the pandemic, we’ve been learning about the strong similarities with long COVID. In fact, our recent research shows more than <a href="https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(23)00402-3/fulltext">three-quarters</a> of people with long COVID we studied had POTS. <h2>What triggers it?</h2> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.12895">Multiple studies</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37338634/">including our own</a>, have shown viral infection is the most common trigger for POTS. Then came the pandemic, with <a href="https://covid19.who.int">almost 800 million people</a> infected so far with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. The World Health Organization <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition">says</a> 10-20% of people infected with COVID are likely to develop long COVID – when unexplained symptoms persist three months or more after the infection. Now, more research is showing how long COVID resembles POTS. Many people with long COVID show similar symptoms. <h2>What we and others have found</h2> Our recent study found <a href="https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(23)00402-3/fulltext">nearly 80%</a> of people with long COVID had POTS. In people who had both and were of similar age, symptoms were indistinguishable from those who got POTS from other causes. The people in our study either attended a specialist cardiology clinic for people with POTS or long COVID, or came via a long COVID support group on social media. So we cannot generalise our results to people managing their long COVID at home or with their GP. Earlier this year, a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41569-023-00842-w">review</a> said about 30% of people with people with “highly symptomatic” long COVID also had POTS. <a href="https://www.onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(22)01091-1/fulltext">Most (73%)</a> met criteria for POTS and other types of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Taken together, we can conclude that many, but not all, cases of long COVID can be explained by POTS – a condition we’ve known about for years and know how to manage. <h2>What happens if you have POTS?</h2> We suspect some cases of POTS result from a hyper-vigilant immune response to an invading pathogen, such as a virus. This, or another trigger, affects the autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system balances a vast array of functions including maintaining blood flow to vital organs, digestion, temperature control, sweating and even sexual function. Even if the autonomic nervous system is marginally disturbed, it leads to the physiological equivalent of anarchy. The simplest of daily tasks – such as washing your hair in the shower – can result in profound symptoms of dizziness, a racing heart, breathlessness, brain fog and general exhaustion. In other research <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10286-023-00955-9">published</a> earlier this year, we found people with POTS have a poor quality of life – poorer than people with chronic illnesses such as HIV, cancer, or cardiovascular and kidney disease. <h2>A long path to diagnosis</h2> Many patients are also forced to negotiate a diagnostic odyssey littered with tales of disbelief and dismissal by medical professionals, friends and family. Diagnosis can <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.12895">take years</a>. In our <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Health_Aged_Care_and_Sport/LongandrepeatedCOVID/Submissions">submission</a> to the parliamentary inquiry into long COVID, we shared the experiences of people with POTS symptoms and their frustration at the lack of recognition by the medical profession. One health worker said: "I am a nurse myself and specifically brought up that I believed I had POTS after COVID infection. I was treated like a hypochondriac and told I had anxiety, which was absolutely ludicrous as I had physical symptoms […] I had many presentations to [the emergency department] with no help or diagnosis whatsoever." <h2>We can do better</h2> Prompt diagnosis is vital in the face of what we suspect are rising numbers of newly diagnosed cases associated with long COVID. Although many people with POTS report they were referred to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.12895">multiple specialists</a> before they were diagnosed, this is not always necessary. GPs can ask you to do a <a href="https://potsfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NASA-Lean-Test-vFinal.pdf">ten-minute standing test</a> to help diagnose it. They can also exclude other common causes of POTS symptoms, such as lung and heart conditions. There is no known cure for POTS. However, once diagnosed, there are <a href="https://www.ausdoc.com.au/therapy-update/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome/">multiple things</a> that can improve and manage the condition. A <a href="https://potsfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Malmo-POTS-Score-vFinal.pdf">questionnaire</a> your GP can give you can help prioritise which symptoms to manage. You then work with your trusted GP to manage these. Increasing fluid and salt intake (under the supervision of your GP), and using full-length compression tights is recommended. These help control heart rate and blood pressure, and reduce dizziness. Avoiding triggers is important. These include avoiding standing still for extended periods, hot showers, large meals high in carbohydrates, and hot environments. Many people also benefit from <a href="https://www.ausdoc.com.au/therapy-update/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome/">medicines</a> to help control their blood pressure and heart rate. <h2>How about referral?</h2> If referral to specialist services are required, this can be complex and expensive. There are no specialised clinics for POTS in public hospitals. Instead, POTS is mainly managed in the private sector. Referral options can be overwhelming. People may benefit from referral to a range of health professionals to manage their symptoms, including a physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist or exercise physiologist – ideally ones familiar with POTS. All these barriers means access to diagnosis and treatment largely depends on someone having sufficient money, or being confident enough to navigate the health system. <hr /> If you have symptoms such as those we’ve described, see your GP for assessment. For more information about the condition, see the Australian POTS Foundation <a href="https://potsfoundation.org.au">website</a>, which also <a href="https://potsfoundation.org.au/clinician-directory/">lists</a> doctors and allied health professionals who are “POTS aware”.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208280/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-seeley-1364457">Marie-Claire Seeley</a>, PhD Candidate, Australian Dysautonomia and Arrhythmia Research Collaborative, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/celine-gallagher-1454881">Celine Gallagher</a>, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian Dysautonomia and Arrhythmia Research Collaborative, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-pots-and-how-is-it-related-to-long-covid-208280">original article</a>.

Body

Judi Dench's tough health update

Judi Dench has admitted that due to her degenerative eye disease she can barely see on a film set and can no longer read her scripts. The Oscar-winning actress known for her role as M16 head M in seven different James Bond films, told UK publication The Mirror that her age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has gotten so bad that she can now barely see. “I can’t see on a film set any more,” she told the publication. “And I can’t see to read. So I can’t see much. It’s difficult for me if I have any length of a part. I haven’t yet found a way. “But you just deal with it. I have so many friends who will teach me the script,” she added. The eight-time Academy Award nominee had previously said that she is unable to drive due to her AMD. “It’s the most terrible shock to the system. Ghastly. It’s terrible to be so dependent on people,” she had previously said. However, the actress is determined to maintain her independence and has no plans to stop working. “I have an irrational fear of boredom. That’s why I now have this tattoo that says carpe diem (“seize the day”). That’s what we should live by," she said. The actress has won various awards throughout extensive career including six BAFTAs, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Dench currently lives with her partner David Mills, and has shared how grateful she is to have someone so caring by her side. “I’ve had many, many good friends, but it’s been very unexpected to have somebody new who is as caring as my partner, David. “I feel very lucky indeed. And to laugh with somebody is terribly important! Laughing is the most important thing. We laugh about everything,” she said. Image: Getty

Caring

What is ‘fawning’? How is it related to trauma and the ‘fight or flight’ response?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alix-woolard-409037">Alix Woolard</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/telethon-kids-institute-1608">Telethon Kids Institute</a> You have probably heard of “fight or flight” responses to distressing situations. You may also be familiar with the tendency to “freeze”. But there is another defence or survival strategy a person can have: “fawn”. When our brain perceives a threat in our environment, our <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/fight-flight-freeze#in-the-body">sympathetic nervous system</a> takes over and a person can experience any one or combination of the <a href="https://pete-walker.com/fourFs_TraumaTypologyComplexPTSD.htm">four F</a> responses. <h2>What are the four Fs?</h2> The fawn response usually occurs when a person is being attacked in some way, and they try to appease or placate their attacker to protect themselves. A fight response is when someone reacts to a threat with aggression. Flight is when a person responds by fleeing – either literally by leaving the situation, or symbolically, by distracting or avoiding a distressing situation. A freeze response occurs when a person realises (consciously or not) that they cannot resist the threat, and they detach themselves or become immobile. They may “space out” and not pay attention, feel disconnected to their body, or have difficulty speaking after they feel threatened. <h2>What does fawning look like?</h2> Previously known as appeasement or “people pleasing”, the term “fawning” was coined by psychotherapist <a href="http://pete-walker.com/complex_ptsd_book.html">Pete Walker</a> in his 2013 book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20556323-complex-ptsd">Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving</a>. A fawn response can look like: <ul> <li>people-pleasing (doing things for others to gain their approval or to make others like you)</li> <li>being overly reliant on others (difficulty making decisions without other people’s input)</li> <li>prioritising the needs of others and ignoring your own</li> <li>being overly agreeable</li> <li>having trouble saying no</li> <li>in more severe cases, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763421004917?casa_token=FzabbqNoE0UAAAAA:DAr_QkVegIa70Zheq6vTkCrsYPJdw06kdds659h-VHSRtPSUErDzVgj-YsLunjvGkn4Mwyb1">dissociating</a> (disconnecting from your mind and/or body).</li> </ul> While there isn’t yet much research on this response, the fawn response is seen more in people who have experienced <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00958964.2022.2163220?journalCode=vjee20">complex trauma</a> in their childhood, including among children who grew up with emotionally or physically abusive caregivers. Fawning is also observed in people who are in situations of <a href="https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37052112">interpersonal violence</a> (such as domestic violence, assault or kidnappings), when the person needs to appease or calm a perpetrator to survive. Fawning is also different to the other F responses, in that it seems to be a uniquely human response. <h2>Why do people fawn?</h2> <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2447256147/abstract/13E401AC2C1C40C6PQ/1">Research</a> suggests people fawn for two reasons: <ol> <li>to protect themselves or others from physical or emotional harm (such as childhood trauma)</li> <li>to create or improve the emotional connection to the perpetrator of harm (for example, a caregiver).</li> </ol> This type of response is adaptive at the time of the traumatic event(s): by appeasing an attacker or perpetrator, it helps the person avoid harm. However, if a person continues to use this type of response in the long term, as an automatic response to everyday stressors (such difficult interactions with your boss or neighbour), it can have negative consequences. If a person is continually trying to appease others, they may experience issues with boundaries, forming a cohesive identity, and may not feel safe in relationships with others. <h2>What can I do if I ‘fawn’?</h2> Because fawning is typically a response to interpersonal or complex trauma, using it in response to everyday stressors may indicate a need for healing. If this is you, and you have a history of complex trauma, seek psychological support from a professional who is trained in trauma-informed practice. Trauma-informed means the psychological care is holistic, empowering, strengths-focused, collaborative and reflective. Evidence-based therapies that are helpful following trauma include: <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/">eye movement desensitisation therapy</a>, which focuses on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-emdr-therapy-and-how-does-it-help-people-who-have-experienced-trauma-161743">processing traumatic memories</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/exposure-therapy#:%7E:text=In%20this%20form%20of%20therapy,reduce%20fear%20and%20decrease%20avoidance.">exposure therapy</a> to help expose people to things they fear and avoid </li> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4396183/">trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy</a> that aims to alleviate trauma symptoms by overcoming unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. </li> </ul> Depending on where you live, <a href="https://www.childabuseroyalcommissionresponse.gov.au/support-services">free counselling services</a> may be available for people who have experienced childhood abuse. Setting healthy boundaries is also a common focus when working with the fawn response, which you can do by yourself or alongside a therapist. If this article has raised issues for you or you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205024/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alix-woolard-409037">Alix Woolard</a>, Senior Researcher, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/telethon-kids-institute-1608">Telethon Kids Institute</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-fawning-how-is-it-related-to-trauma-and-the-fight-or-flight-response-205024">original article</a>.

Caring

How to prevent travel-related deep vein thrombosis

No matter your transportation of choice, sitting motionless for long periods of time puts people at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT refers to blood clots that form deep in your veins, usually in the calf or leg, and results in the sensation of a swollen, painful limb. If you’ve been susceptible to DVT in your past travels, there are a few simple things to do to combat the problem. <ul> <li>Stand up and walk around at least every hour to keep blood flowing</li> <li>Exercise your calf muscles by standing on tip-toes a few times</li> <li>If you can’t walk around, exercise legs by stretching them, flexing feet and curling or pressing toes frequently</li> <li>Drink lots of fluids, especially water, to prevent dehydration</li> <li>Reduce alcohol and coffee consumption, which contributes to dehydration</li> <li>Avoid crossing your legs when seated or at least for long periods of time</li> <li>Wear compression stockings that put on gentle pressure on leg muscles.</li> <li>Don’t wear regular socks that are right or have tight elastic bands at top</li> <li>Skip the aspirin; there’s no evidence that it’s effective as a preventative measure</li> </ul> Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Woman arrested in relation to dead children found in suitcases

A South Korean woman has been arrested a few weeks after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/tragic-update-after-horrific-suitcase-discovery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">children’s bodies were found in suitcases</a> in New Zealand. The 42-year-old woman was arrested by local police following a request from NZ Police after the harrowing discovery. Two children’s bodies were discovered in suitcases by an Auckland family who purchased the bags at an auction on August 11. An investigation launched into the shocking find with NZ Police saying the children may have been dead for years and finding a connection - <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/major-new-detail-in-suitcase-homicide-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possibly the children’s mother</a> - in South Korea. "South Korean authorities arrested the woman today on a Korean arrest warrant pursuant to two charges of murder relating to the two young victims," Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said. "The arrest warrant was issued by the Korean Courts as a result of a request by NZ Police for an arrest warrant under the extradition treaty between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). “NZ Police have applied to have her extradited back to New Zealand to face the charges and have requested she remain in custody whilst awaiting the completion of the extradition process.” A statement issued also thanked South Korean authorities for their assistance and coordination with NZ Police. No further information will be revealed as the case is now in front of the courts. News of the children’s bodies in the suitcases made headlines around the world with police scrambling to piece together evidence of what happened. At the time, Detective Inspector Vaaelua suggested that the children were aged 10 and five respectively when they died four years ago. He also said the family who purchased the property where the suitcases were found are not involved in the deaths and have asked for privacy. Image: Newshub

Family & Pets

House plants were our link with nature in lockdown – now they could change how we relate to the natural world

They’re not the first generation to keep house plants, but millennials seem to have earned a reputation for gratuitous indoor foliage. Bloomberg reporter <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-04-11/the-one-thing-millennials-haven-t-killed-is-houseplants">Matthew Boyle</a> claimed that young people have helped revive “the once moribund market for house plants” in the US, where, according to the National Gardening Association, sales surged 50% between 2016 and 2019. In the UK, the <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/releases/RHS-grows-houseplant-and-floristry-offering-as-ind">Royal Agricultural Society</a> reported a 65% increase in house plant sales in 2018 alone. Why young people in particular might be so fond of house plants has invited numerous explanations. Lifestyle reporter <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/millennials-obsessed-houseplants-instagram_l_5d7a976de4b01c1970c433b9">Casey Bond</a> argued that house plants offer something to nurture that’s cheap and doesn’t involve a lot of maintenance, with obvious appeal to a generation whose entry into parenthood is stymied by <a href="https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-average-house-price-rise-2020-millennials-versus-baby-boomers-property-ladder-060042411.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEB84LlmZFsNTokd-kxf2HFZXpB5M_lQhZNMVcKQDBuUevGNEPHF8y2GNnE7xm_bdrYrgdZNrnENbC95LxdHuqCfekpSaSlJN6S99Z0fartMMnBdzbAAsHvvoa425lyGr5lsYK9h6UvugjtPP83kxYKjVT2TL-9cwdileX-xdpEo">house prices</a> and <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/241f0fe4-08f8-4d42-a268-4f0a399a0063">economic instability</a>. Young people today are thought to be more conscious of mental health and self-care too, and plants have been <a href="https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/30/1/article-p55.xml?ArticleBodyColorStyles=fullText">proven</a>to reduce stress levels and improve mood. But the <a href="https://canongate.co.uk/books/2902-rootbound-rewilding-a-life/">universal appeal</a> of house plants, according to writer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/07/succulent-mania-smuggling-millennials-roots">Alice Vincent</a>, is that they provide “a tangible way of connecting with nature that is absent from an increasingly screen-based world”. That could explain why their sales ballooned again during lockdown, and not just among younger customers. Anthropologist Gideon Lasco described the phenomenon in his native Philippines as a “<a href="https://www.sapiens.org/column/entanglements/covid-19-houseplants/?fbclid=IwAR32a9PK_rf4GsMQ0pTRPlE3LXvNtRgJch48YaCGMztStvc-VN6ZHxNykpY">botanical boom</a>” that seized Manila. Plants, far more mobile than locked down humans, were ordered online in record numbers and ferried to anxious households where they acquired names and were photographed alongside their new family. Patch, a British online plant store established in 2015, reported a sales increase of 500% during lockdown, with stock intended to last 12 weeks <a href="https://supplycompass.com/blog/feature/inconversationwith/patch/">vanishing in two</a>. Since June 2020, I’ve been talking to people around the world to better understand the role plants play in these times of forced isolation. My project, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/careforplants/">Care for Plants</a>, started by collecting photographs and videos of people caring for their plants and asking them to explain what they meant to them. By interviewing some of these people, I learned how plants provide care for their human companions too. <h2>A potted history</h2> Plants offered not only bonding, but recreational and educational opportunities to their human families during lockdown. Brian started growing tomatoes with his children – part scientific experiment, part family pastime. Mai had to keep her toddler busy, and turned the chore of watering and re-potting her plants into a fun activity. With her access to the outside world restricted, Aoife found solace in nature, and would gently submerge her hand in the soil to decompress and heal after a long day. Likewise, Aveline described her experience with plants as one that “empties the mind so that I can stop being anxious”. Merima talked about her lawn as a “void filler” for her family. “In the lawn we can still talk about the future. What should we plant and do next and it’s a very positive experience.” The pandemic tore away our shared sense of normality. Amid the rupture, caring for plants invited welcome new routines – watering, feeding, trimming and re-potting. Plants provided an escape from the anxieties of everyday life, offering beauty and proof that life could still flourish in the darkest times. Xin, who showed me her indoor jungle over a video call, told me that “more plants make a place feel luxurious. A sort of lockdown luxury for those who can work from home and create a nest”. But one of the most interesting aspects of my research was listening to stories about how people discovered a need to appreciate plants. Laura explained that she felt a new responsibility towards her plants because she more fully appreciated their companionship. Lucia, whose vibrant social life had made her largely unavailable to her plants, was finally able to keep them alive and wanted to learn how to make them feel appreciated, as a way of acknowledging how they enriched her life in lockdown. <h2>New shoots</h2> Conversations about care have multiplied during the pandemic. We clapped for carers and saw grassroots <a href="https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745343167/pandemic-solidarity/">mutual aid networks</a> emerge, providing care in our neighbourhoods and often filling in for <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/3706-care-manifesto">inadequate public provision</a>. But speaking with plant owners in lockdown, I unearthed new networks of care and solidarity between humans and other species. The gratitude that people felt for their floral companions challenged the view that nature exists simply to be used by humans and made many see for the first time how non-human beings enrich our social world. The stories I collected suggest we need a broader understanding of social relationships and solidarity; one that appreciates the importance of non-humans in everyday life. Many hope that the pandemic marks a turning point in the way humans interact with the rest of the natural world. Perhaps this watershed could be reached in our own homes, by recognising that the non-humans we share our lives with are equal partners in building a more sustainable and just future. All names have been changed to protect the individuals’ identities. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/house-plants-were-our-link-with-nature-in-lockdown-now-they-could-change-how-we-relate-to-the-natural-world-147637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

“Tips welcome”: Jacinda Ardern asks for help for relatable parenting experience

Parenting is a challenging task that even New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern struggles with - as showcased in a recent post from the PM. Ardern took to social media to share the relatable experience of being up multiple times in the night with a child who refuses to sleep. "In the office kitchen making the strongest tea possible pre my morning media round and wondering how many other parents have a 3 year old that suddenly gets up ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT! Tips welcome," the Prime Minister captioned a selfie shared on her Instagram Stories on Monday morning. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/jacinda35.jpg" alt="" width="992" height="1762" /> Image: @jacindaardern (Instagram) Ms Ardern shares three-year-old Neve with her partner, Clarke Gayford. It isn’t the first time Ms Ardern has shared the realities of parenting either - particularly when it comes to kids and bedtimes. Neve made an off-camera appearance on one of the Prime Minister’s live Facebook videos <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.n/lifestyle/family-pets/bedtime-fail-jacinda-arden-interrupted-during-live-address" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last November</a>, interrupting her mum’s update on the country’s Covid response. “Mummy,” a tiny voice said in the background of the clip. “You’re meant to be in bed darling,” Ms Ardern said, turning away from the camera to address the little girl. “It’s bedtime darling, pop back to bed, I’ll come and see you in a second.” Luckily, Ms Ardern’s mum Laurell Ardern came to the rescue, ushering her granddaughter back to bed. “Well, that was a bedtime fail wasn’t it?” Ms Ardern joked to the camera. The most recent antics have generated plenty of responses on social media, with fellow parents and her supporters praising her. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The Prime Minister opening asking for toddler parenting tips is my kind of Prime Minister. There's something to be said for leadership sharing a human connection, and <a href="https://twitter.com/jacindaardern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jacindaardern</a> does it naturally 🇳🇿💙 <a href="https://t.co/TdEZHiO6BL">pic.twitter.com/TdEZHiO6BL</a> — Geoff Wilson (@geoffwilsonHCD) <a href="https://twitter.com/geoffwilsonHCD/status/1538742469491232769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2022</a></blockquote> The Prime Minister (openly) asking for toddler parenting tips is my kind of Prime Minister,” one person tweeted. “There’s something to be said for leadership sharing a human connection, and @jacindaardern does it naturally.” “No idea but I have a two year old doing the same,” a fellow parent commented. “Isn’t it Neve’s birthday tomorrow? Probably excitement,” another theorised. Image: @jacindaardern (Instagram)

Family & Pets

Pre-term babies less likely to form relations

Premature babies are less likely to form romantic relationships, have sexual relations or experience parenthood as adults than those who go full term, new research shows. <div class="copy"> That’s likely due, at least in part, to pre-term birth being associated with being more often withdrawn and shy, socially excluded and less willing to take risks in adolescence, says a team from the UK’s University of Warwick. As such, they add, more needs to be done in schools and by parents to encourage social interactions when young. Their meta-analysis of data from up to 4.4 million adult participants shows that those born preterm (before 37 weeks’ gestations) are 28% less likely to be in a romantic relationship, 22% less likely to become parents, and 2.3 times less likely to ever have a sexual partner. The situation appears even worse for those born very (<32 weeks) or extremely preterm (<28 weeks). Those in the latter category are 3.2 times less likely to ever having sexual relations, for example. On the upside, the meta-analysis suggests the where adults born pre-terms do have friends or partners, the quality of those relationships is at least as good as for full-term adults. “The finding that adults who were born pre-term are less likely to have a partner, to have sex and become parents does not appear to be explained by a higher rate of disability,” says lead researcher Marina Goulart de Mendonça, from Warwick’s Department of Psychology. “Rather pre-term born children have been previously found to have poorer social interactions in childhood that make it harder for them to master social transitions such as finding a partner, which in turn is proven to boost your wellbeing.” The study’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.6961" target="_blank">findings</a> are published in the journal JAMA Network Open.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=25931&title=Pre-term+babies+less+likely+to+form+relations" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/pre-term-babies-less-likely-to-later-form-relationships/" target="_blank">This article</a> was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/nick-carne" target="_blank">Nick Carne</a>. Nick Carne is the editor of Cosmos Online and editorial manager for The Royal Institution of Australia. Image: Getty Images </div>

Relationships

Vaccine-related blood clotting explained

With news spreading of the death of a second person due to an extremely rare blood clotting disorder after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, Australians are still feeling hesitant about getting the jab. According to the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), the blood clotting condition, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), is likely linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Of the 3.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that have been administered so far, 48 people have developed blood clots, with 31 recovering after a hospital stay. Despite the concerns over the vaccine, experts have said we’ve come a long way in understanding the disorder - as well as how to detect it and treat it. How are blood clots detected? The first step in detecting the blood clot relies on getting the timing right, said Vivien Chen, a haematologist specialising in coagulation disorders at the University of Sydney. “The first entry point is being a patient within the right time frame after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Dr Chen said. “The first dose appears to be of particular concern.” TTS symptoms - including severe headaches that don’t go away, abdominal pain, blurred vision, and leg pain or swelling - appear within four to 30 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, with most occurring within six to 14 days. If you experience any of these symptoms after getting vaccinated, it’s recommended you go to your GP in order to get a blood test known as a platelet count. What are platelets? Platelets are fragments of cells that come from the bone marrow and play a vital role in blood clotting, including preventing excessive bleeding following a cut or scrape. Normal platelet levels hover between 150,000 and 450,000 per microlitre of blood. A platelet count lower than 150,000 results in a condition called thrombocytopenia, which usually results in excessive bleeding. But when it follows a vaccination, abnormal blood clotting can occur. For a small number of people, the immune system triggers antibodies that recognise COVID-19 proteins and platelets. These antibodies can then activate the platelets, cause them to cluster and go into blood-clotting mode. “The consequences of this is the platelets are getting used up in the blood clot and their count drops,” Dr Chen said. Next steps If the platelet count is low, doctors will look at blood samples to find protein fragments called D-dimers, which are produced by the body to break down blood clots. If the level of D-dimers is five times higher than that of normal blood, it can be a sign of TTS. When a low platelet count and high D-dimer level have been detected, clinicians then look for antibodies that target a protein called platelet factor 4, or PF4. The PF4 antibodies are also tested to determine whether they can activate platelets and cause TTS. Detection speeds Vaccine-related clots can be detected via blood tests as soon as symptoms appear - whether that’s four or 20 days after getting the jab - but not before that. “In most cases, [antibodies] can only be found after people feel unwell and present at hospital,” said Jose Perdomo, a haematologist at the University of New South Wales. Patients presenting at the emergency department of a metropolitan hospital with TTS symptoms can receive results from the blood-screening tests within one hour. But, wait times can be longer in regional hospitals. Once initial tests have confirmed platelet and D-dimer levels, patients can commence treatment while waiting for their PF4 antibody test results. Treatment Two different types of treatment are combined to battle TTS. To start with, patients start taking blood-thinning medication to slow down the formation of blood clots. Patients also receive a large dose of immunoglobulins - proteins that are part of the body’s defence system - to calm down the immune system. “This essentially swamps the antibody system, so that vaccine-induced antibodies can’t activate the platelets,” Dr Chen said. This combined treatment can help return blood platelet levels to normal within a few days, according to Dr Chen. “In more severe cases, it can take longer but it’s a rapid response to commencement of new therapy,” she said. She also said this treatment is safe to use even if the blood clots end up being unrelated to the vaccine. What to do if symptoms appear Though the risk of getting a blood clot following the vaccine is very low, Dr Chen said it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and take action as soon as they appear. If you have a headache that won’t go away after taking painkillers, you should visit your GP. But if you notice more severe symptoms - including numbness, difficulty speaking, or passing blood in bowel movements - head straight to the emergency department instead.

Body

Prince William's relatable COVID parenting confession

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Prince William has made a parenting confession many can relate to, as he's exhausted raising three children while being under strict lockdown in the UK. He spoke to guests who attended an event in Belfast on Emergency Services Day and opened up about how tough it has been looking after three excited children. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2020090996912/prince-william-shares-relief-children-return-school/" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">HELLO!</a>, William explained to a police officer, "I think every parent is breathing a sigh of relief that school has started again." He added: "Five months – it's been wonderful, but it's been a long five months." <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs47LKlPig/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBs47LKlPig/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Thank you everyone for your very kind wishes on The Duke of Cambridge's birthday today! 🎂 🎈</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Duke and Duchess of Cambridge</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Jun 21, 2020 at 8:00am PDT </div> </blockquote> With three children under the age of ten, with George, 7, Charlotte, 5 and Louis, 2, homeschooling has been intensive. This has been confirmed by the Duchess of Cambridge herself, as the children have been bickering. "George gets very upset because he just wants to do all of Charlotte's projects. Spider sandwiches are far cooler than literacy work!" She told ITV's This Morning. She also has been running a tight ship, as she's kept schoolwork going during the Easter holidays. "Don't tell the children, we've actually kept it going through the holidays. I feel very mean," Kate told BBC Breakfast. </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

Michelle Pfeiffer shares all-too-relatable makeup faux pas

Michelle Pfeiffer has shared a makeup mishap in a new Instagram selfie. The 62-year-old actress revealed that she had made a beauty faux pas. In a picture shared on Wednesday, she could be seen showing a wide-eyed expression with a black smudge under her nose. “EEK!!! Doing my makeup for an interview and picked up the wrong tissue,” she captioned. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHHh_JJSU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHHh_JJSU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">EEK!!! Doing my makeup for an interview and picked up the wrong tissue 🙄</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/michellepfeifferofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Michelle Pfeiffer</a> (@michellepfeifferofficial) on Jul 1, 2020 at 12:28pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The photo has received more than 85,000 likes. “Love your humor and beauty,” model Naomi Campbell commented on the post. “Lol - still a beauty!” wrote sister-in-law Rona Pfeiffer. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0rGKEpf1I/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0rGKEpf1I/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Just not feelin’ it 😒</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/michellepfeifferofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Michelle Pfeiffer</a> (@michellepfeifferofficial) on Jun 24, 2020 at 8:33am PDT </div> </blockquote> The Scarface star has been sharing glimpses into her life amid the coronavirus pandemic on Instagram. Last week, the star posted a photo of herself in all-black activewear on a Pilates machine with a disgruntled expression. “Just not feelin’ it,” she wrote alongside the snap. In May, she posted a selfie with the caption: “Is it over yet?” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAF9QNdpnat/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAF9QNdpnat/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Is it over yet?</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/michellepfeifferofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Michelle Pfeiffer</a> (@michellepfeifferofficial) on May 12, 2020 at 8:36am PDT </div> </blockquote>

Beauty & Style

6 working from home cartoons we can all relate to right now

Being stuck in the home office can get old very fast. Remember to stay focused, don’t start going on a cleaning frenzy, and take a little break for some laughs. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/work/11-working-from-home-cartoons-we-can-all-relate-to-right-now" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Home & Garden

Doctor Google makes people anxious

It’s a busy day at the office and your left eye has been twitching uncontrollably. So, out of curiosity and irritation you Google it. Various benign causes — stress, exhaustion, too much caffeine — put your mind at ease initially. But you don’t stop there. Soon, you find out eye twitches could be a symptom of something more sinister, causing you to panic. You ruin the rest of the day trawling through web pages and forums, reading frightening stories convincing you you’re seriously ill. For many of us, this cycle has become common. It can cause anxiety, unnecessary contact with health services, and at the extreme, impact our day-to-day functioning. But our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088761851930218X">recently published research</a>, the first to evaluate online therapy for this type of excessive and distressing health-related Googling, shows what can help. I’ve heard of ‘cyberchondria’. Do I have it? The term “cyberchondria” describes the anxiety we experience as a result of excessive web searches about symptoms or diseases. It’s not an official diagnosis, but is an obvious play on the word “hypochondria”, now known as health anxiety. It’s obsessional worrying about health, online. <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs11920-008-0050-1.pdf">Some argue</a> cyberchondria is simply a modern form of health anxiety. But <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27497667">studies show</a> even people who don’t normally worry about their health can see their concerns spiral after conducting an initial web search. Cyberchondria <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1586/ern.12.162">is when searching is</a>: <ul> <li> excessive: searching for too long, or too often </li> <li> difficult to control: you have difficulty controlling, stopping or preventing searching </li> <li> distressing: it causes a lot of distress, anxiety or fear </li> <li> impairing: it has an impact on your day-to-day life. </li> </ul> If this sounds like you, there’s help. We tested an online therapy and here’s what we found We tested whether <a href="https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/health-anxiety-course/">an online treatment program</a> helped reduce cyberchondria in 41 people with severe health anxiety. We compared how well it worked compared with a control group of 41 people who learned about general (not health-related) anxiety and stress management online. The online treatment is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which involves learning more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Participants completed six online CBT modules over 12 weeks, and had phone support from a psychologist. The <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782916300379">treatment</a> explained how excessive web searching can become a problem, how to search about health effectively, and practical tools to prevent and stop it (see a summary of those tips below). We found the online treatment was more effective at reducing cyberchondria than the control group. It helped reduce the frequency of online searches, how upsetting the searching was, and improved participants’ ability to control their searching. Importantly, these behavioural changes were linked to improvements in health anxiety. Although we don’t know whether the program simply reduced or completely eliminated cyberchondria, these findings show if you’re feeling anxious about your health, you can use our practical strategies to reduce anxiety-provoking and excessive online searching about health. So, what can I do? Here are our top tips from the treatment program: <ul> <li> be aware of your searching: don’t just search on auto-pilot. Take note of when, where, how often, and what you are searching about. Keep track of this for several days so you can spot the warning signs and high-risk times for when you’re more likely to get stuck in excessive searching. Then you can make a plan to do other things at those times </li> <li> understand how web searches work: web search algorithms are mysterious beasts. But top search results are not necessarily the most likely explanation for your symptoms. Top search results are often click-bait – the rare, but fascinating and horrific stories about illness we can’t help clicking on (not the boring stuff) </li> <li> be smart about how you search: limit yourself to websites with reliable, high quality, balanced information such as government-run websites and/or those written by medical professionals. Stay away from blogs, forums, testimonials or social media </li> <li> challenge your thoughts by thinking of alternative explanations for your symptoms: for example, even though you think your eye twitch might be motor neuron disease, what about a much more likely explanation, such as staring at the computer screen too much </li> <li> use other strategies to cut down, and prevent you from searching: focus on scheduling these activities at your high-risk times. These can be absorbing activities that take your focus and can distract you; or you can use relaxation strategies to calm your mind and body </li> <li> surf the urge: rather than searching straight away when you feel the urge to search about your symptoms, put it off for a bit, and see how the urge to search reduces over time. </li> </ul> And if those don’t help, consult a doctor or psychologist. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, check out resources about anxiety from <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety">Beyond Blue</a>, the Centre for Clinical Interventions <a href="https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety">Helping Health Anxiety</a> workbook or <a href="https://thiswayup.org.au/">THIS WAY UP</a> online courses.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125070/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jill-newby-193454">Jill Newby</a>, Associate Professor and MRFF/NHMRC Career Development Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/eoin-mcelroy-858386">Eoin McElroy</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-leicester-1053">University of Leicester</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-dr-googles-making-you-sick-with-worry-theres-help-125070">original article</a>.

Technology

Prince William chokes up as he reveals “very difficult” moment related to his children

Prince William has opened up about his personal struggle with mental health, referring to one particular experience as one he thought he would never “ever get over”. The Duke of Cambridge revealed that during a certain tumultuous period in his life, it was the help of his colleagues who he reached out to that made him lift his spirits. He says that if he had not shared his problems to those that care about him, he would have “gone down a slippery slope” mentally. While the 36-year-old did not share details, he said it was “very difficult to talk about” because it was “related very closely to my children” – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. But despite not giving away the nature of the incident, the father-of-three was referencing his time as a search and rescue pilot for the air ambulance, a responsibility he walked away from in 2017 in order to give attention to his royal duties. William has previously touched upon the trauma he witnessed during the intense job, many incidents which involved children. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> "I still find it very difficult to talk about it." — The Duke of Cambridge on the importance of talking <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MentalHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MentalHealth</a>, and his own experience working as an Air Ambulance Pilot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WEF19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WEF19</a> <a href="https://t.co/2nimIAqwiQ">pic.twitter.com/2nimIAqwiQ</a> — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1088145327704735745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">23 January 2019</a></blockquote> Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the royal said feelings of sadness were “only human”. “Yes, you put a suit of armour on … but one day something comes along closely related to your own personal life and it really takes you over the line.” The Duke was accompanied by Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, a country which has a predominantly high suicide rate. She commended him for his openness towards the issue of mental health, saying his words will help break the stigma surrounding the illness. Ms Ardern said that her government has mental illness in the top list of priorities, as the disorder doesn’t discriminate. “I have lost friends, and I wouldn’t have to look far in my cabinet to find other people who have too,” Ms Ardern added. “One of the sad facts for New Zealand is that everyone knows someone who has taken their own life.” If you are troubled by this article, experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call the Depression Helpline at 0800 111 757 or visit depression.org.nz.

Mind

Princess Eugenie and her fiancé are actually related – here's how

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s October 12 wedding is fast approaching. And now, it has been revealed that the lovebirds are actually distant cousins, sharing an ancestor on Eugenie’s mum Fergie’s side of the family. Eugenie and Jack share an ancestor who was the 2nd Earl of Leicester, 19th century aristocrat Thomas William Coke. The connection makes the couple third cousins once removed. Their family history was first uncovered by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-princess-eugenie-and-new-fiance-jack-brooksbank-are-related-2018-1?r=UK&IR=T">Business Insider</a> on ancestry site Peerage.com. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgHOiXAgsVJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgHOiXAgsVJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Think Jack said something funny!</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/princesseugenie/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Princess Eugenie</a> (@princesseugenie) on Mar 9, 2018 at 10:42am PST </div> </blockquote> On Eugenie’s mum’s side of the family, the Earl is her great-great-great-great grandfather. However, the Earl is also Jack’s great-great grandfather, from his second marriage to Georgina Caroline Cavendish. As Jack is a descendant from the Earl’s second marriage, there are fewer generations in between. Although the connection between the two may sound a bit strange, it is not the first time that a royal married a distant relative. The Queen and Prince Philip are third cousins via Queen Victoria. Eugenie, who is the Queen’s granddaughter and ninth-in-line to the throne, will say “I do” to Jack in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Will you be watching Princess Eugenie's wedding on Friday night? Let us know in the comments below.

Relationships

5 age-related vision problems older drivers need to be aware of

<a href="https://plus.google.com/115326292314291480106" target="_blank">Aaron Barriga</a> is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center, an <a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/" target="_blank">Ophthalmology Center in California</a>. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. Are you concerned about your safety when behind the wheel? What is the most important sense that you need to drive? Well, you guessed it right, the <a href="https://www.driversalert.com/your-vision-and-its-impact-on-driving-safety/" target="_blank">impact of vision on driving</a> is second to none. But unfortunately, your vision can deteriorate as you get older which makes it more difficult for you to see movements, people and oncoming traffic. Ageing affects your driving skills and your body’s reaction time so don’t put yourself as well as others at risk if you feel this way. Have a word about your eligibility to drive with your ophthalmologist. Here are some age-related eye and vision problems that you may face: 1. Age-related macular degeneration This is an eye disease that harms the macula which is the center of the light sensitive retina in your eye and leads to loss of central vision. Your macula is the part of our eye that allows us to see in color and in detail. Everyday tasks like driving require the use of good central vision which is provided by the macula. Macular degeneration can reduce your central vision but doesn’t affect your side or peripheral vision. 2. Diabetic retinopathy This condition usually occurs with people who suffer from diabetes. This is a result of the progressive damage to the small blood vessels that sustain your retina. These damaged blood vessels then seep blood and other fluids that make the retinal tissue swell and cloud your vision. The longer the person has had diabetes, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy which can lead to blindness according to its severity. 3. Dry eye This is a physical condition that prevents a person from releasing too little or bad quality tears. Tears help in maintaining the health of the front surface of your eyes and provides clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem which usually occurs in older adults. 4. Cataracts Cataracts are cloudy and opaque areas that occur in the usually clear lens of your eyes and cause blurry vision. This can be very inconvenient as it leads to decreased contrast sensitivity, increased sensitivity to glares which can make reading road signs a bit difficult. <a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/service/cataract/" target="_blank">Cataract eye surgery</a> is the only way to get rid of cataracts. 5. Glaucoma This is a group of eye diseases which are usually defined by the damage to the optic nerve which leads to a loss of vision. People who have a family history of glaucoma, older adults and African Americans stand a higher chance of developing Glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually painless but you can lose your peripheral side vision over time. Here are some safety tips to consider: 1. Have an annual eye test The American Optometric Association recommends getting an annual eye test if you are above 60. By having regular eye tests done, your ophthalmologist can ensure that your eyes don’t suffer from any serious eye-related changes like macular degeneration. 2. Get rid of the reflections in your eyeglasses lens Reflections in your eyeglass lenses can cause glares and hamper your vision, especially when driving at night. You can opt to avoid the hassles of wearing glasses altogether by investing in eye surgery but make sure to speak to your ophthalmologist before you do so. 3. Drive defensively A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about 40% of the fatal collisions of people that are 70 and above tend to happen at intersections which involve other vehicles. The common reason for these accidents was the failure to give way, particularly when taking a left turn. 4. Avoid driving on unfamiliar routes Research by the National Safety Council discovered that the traffic death rates are a lot higher at night as compared to daytime. A lot of ageing Baby Boomers are still driving, exposing them to the danger of getting into accidents which only increases as they age. Avoid driving in areas that you are unfamiliar with, especially if they have poor lighting, irregular twists and lack of signs. Are you worried about not being able to get around like you used to? You as responsible drivers and citizens need to work proactively towards ensuring your own safety as well as that of others by recognizing a drop in your ability to drive safely and seek the advice of your ophthalmologist.

Body

Are Princess Eugenie and her fiancé Jack related?

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank excitedly announced <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/01/another-royal-wedding-on-the-way/">their engagement</a> this week. The couple first met seven years ago during a ski trip in Verbier, Switzerland. Brooksbank, 31, a wine merchant and nightclub manager, proposed to Princess Eugenie, 27, during a trip to Nicaragua earlier this month after more than six years of dating. According to a BBC interview, the young couple have a lot in common. “We have the same passions and drive for life,” Princess Eugenie said in the interview. It turns out she is correct in more ways than one, with speculation by royal experts that the pair are, in fact, distantly related! The <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2018/01/22/princess-eugenie-jack-brooksbank-apparently-already-related-just-like-meghan-harry-7250761/">Metro</a> claims that they are third cousins, twice removed. The link is Thomas Coke (1822-1909), the second Earl of Leicester. “Eugenie’s mother, the Duchess of York [Sarah Ferguson], is the great-great-granddaughter of Lady Julia Coke,” claims the Metro report. “And Lady Julia Coke is the daughter of Jack’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Coke." If that’s not strange enough, it appears that Prince Harry and fiancé Meghan Markle share a common ancestor, too. It’s based on a distant relative named Ralph Bowes, born in 1480 in Streatlam, County Durham, in the UK. It turns out he was both Harry and Meghan’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. Royal records also show that Queen Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip are, in fact, third cousins, as they are both directly related to Queen Victoria. Have you ever heard of people getting married that later found out they were related? Share your story with us in the comments below.

Relationships

12 hilarious tweets every married couple will relate to

No matter how perfect you are for each other or how long you’ve been together, marriage isn’t always a walk in the park. From leaving the toilet seat up to not being able to agree on dinner, there’s so many little things all married couples disagree on. Instead of turning them into bigger issues, however, these hilarious husbands and wives have taken to Twitter to share their stories – and if you’ve ever been married, you’ll definitely be able to relate! <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> It's my wife Carmens Birthday today please join me in wishing that I don't do anything to piss her off today. — Scott B. (@ScottwB46) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottwB46/status/906906347303706627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> wife: Do that thing I like me *uses a coaster* — Josh (@iwearaonesie) <a href="https://twitter.com/iwearaonesie/status/902894103528177664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Nothing in life can prepare you for how much of marriage is spent just listening to someone cough. — beth can't with this (@bourgeoisalien) <a href="https://twitter.com/bourgeoisalien/status/727302111197720576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2016</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Me [sits down to stack of pancakes and bacon] Wife: What happened to eating healthier? Me: Ugh. Fine. [puts single blueberry on pancake] — Rodney Lacroix (@moooooog35) <a href="https://twitter.com/moooooog35/status/907293457819033600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> It's not cheating. Or money issues. Leaving drawers and cabinets open is the true test of a marriage. — Just J (@junejuly12) <a href="https://twitter.com/junejuly12/status/905089302991921152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Here, let me do that -me when my wife is almost done with some chore — Simon Holland (@simoncholland) <a href="https://twitter.com/simoncholland/status/903398436040572929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Marriage is just texting each other "Do we need anything from the grocery store?" a bunch of times until one of you dies. — Daniel Carrillo (@DanielRCarrillo) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielRCarrillo/status/621369679311867904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> To ensure the safety of others and prevent the demise of your marriage, never start a home improvement project with your spouse. — Wἶղε Cհმɾოεɾ (@Wine_Charmer) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wine_Charmer/status/904035752576765954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> If you use karate instead of a knife your wife won't ask you to cut the vegetables anymore — Josh (@iwearaonesie) <a href="https://twitter.com/iwearaonesie/status/905787741132251137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Relationship status: Married so long that my wife thinks I’m smelling up the bathroom on purpose — Boyd's Backyard™ (@TheBoydP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBoydP/status/906243548282069002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Understanding marriage is simply understanding that your wife's feet will always be cold — Mr. Hook (@Phook75) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phook75/status/913515047179177984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2017</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> If your marriage can survive building an IKEA dresser together, it can survive anything. — Northern Lights ☠️⚰️ (@PinkCamoTO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PinkCamoTO/status/913599114855755777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2017</a></blockquote> Tell us in the comments below, how long have you been married? Which of these did you relate to the most?

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Are Princess Eugenie and her fiancé Jack related?

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