Bod Squad
When I run, I get a cramp in my bladder area. I exercise daily, so I’m in shape.
What gives?
According to Diane A. Smith, a nurse in Bryn Mawr, Pa., you could have weak pelvic floor muscles supporting the bladder, causing it to knock around when you run.
This can be solved with Kegel exercises. Do them by squeezing down there, like you’re trying to stop your urine. Be sure to breathe and pull in your tummy, and hold for eight seconds. Do this 10 times in a row, working up to three sets a day.
If this doesn’t help, see a doctor. You could have an annoying but treatable urinary tract infection.
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BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM 36 COMMENTS
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When I pee, it hurts. I don't want to tell my mom, but I can't live like this.
What should I do?
If you’re going a lot and it burns, you might have a urinary tract infection (UTI). The urinary tract is the pathway for pee to get out. If bacteria gets in there, it hurts. It’s very common, but left untreated can lead to a dangerous kidney infection. So tell your mom to call a doctor as soon as possible.
Meantime, take an over-the-counter medication called Cystex (find it at drugstore.com), drink lots of water, and try unsweetened cranberry juice, says Dr. Larrian Gillespie, a uro-gynecologist in Los Angeles.
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BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/11/2009 7:00:00 AM 88 COMMENTS
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I'm almost never hungry. I'm trying to gain weight, but I can rarely even finish a meal.
I feel full after just a few bites.
When girls lose their appetites, a probable culprit is clinical depression, which strikes one in five kids. Symptoms of depression can also include not enjoying things you used to, losing confidence, becoming irritated easily, and changes in sleep patterns.
Teenagers need about 2,000 calories a day from nutritious foods such as veggies, fruits, lean meats, whole grains and fats. And the less you eat, the less hungry you feel, explains Marlo Mittler, registered dietitian/nutritional consultant, Fairway Market, New York: “Hunger cues, like your stomach growling, disappear.”
To get your appetite back, eat small amounts of food every three hours. If you continue to feel unable to eat, you should get to a doc. Other causes could be an underlying illness or a side effect of any prescription drugs you might be taking.
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BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/4/2009 7:00:00 AM 123 COMMENTS
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Is it safe to pop pimples? I’ve heard it can leave scars.
If it’s OK to pop, what’s the best way to do it?
The correct answer is to let your bumps be. Seriously. Avoid picking, which usually makes zits last longer, turn red and multiply like bunnies.
If you must, here’s a lesson from Dr. Coyle Connolly, dermatologist, Voorhees, N.J.: 1) If you have a whitehead, take a warm shower to open the pore. 2) Hold a warm washcloth on the zit. 3) Give the bump a few gentle, firm squeezes. 4) Stop! If you can’t get it, leave it alone. Otherwise, it might pop inside your skin and cause an inflamed mess. If white goopy stuff comes out, and you see a little blood, you’ve probably gotten it all. Dab on a bit of benzoyl peroxide cream either way, and hope for the best.
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BY CAITLIN R. ON 10/28/2009 7:00:00 AM 108 COMMENTS
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