To be honest, your diet isn't entirely healthy. Though you're not loading up on fried, sugary foods, it doesn't seem you're getting enough of what you need. Here's why:

a) Bagels are empty calories with little nutritional content, even if whole grain...though it's okay to have bagels sometimes, carbohydrates should be eaten in moderation. Also, if you're going to have dairy, have full fat and organic in moderate amounts-- seriously! Everything we've been told about fat is wrong...if it's a healthy fat, it's totally fine and healthy.

b) Anything microwavable and/or processed should be avoided, even if it's vegetarian. Ketchup has high fructose corn syrup, so if you're going to have any, I'd advise sticking to the organic kind (tastes better too). Fake meat products including soy are typically GMO, processed, and not very good for you even if marketed as a health food (e.g., vegetarian chicken nuggets). You should avoid having processed foods, and stick to wholesome, nutritious food with minimal ingredients.

c) Vary your vegetables and have some protein/nutrient dense food. As for dinner, having potato is sometimes okay, but it's not the most nutrient dense vegetable. Sweet potato or red potatoes are healthier than your standard white Idaho potato. Have it with a protein-- I don't know if you are vegetarian, but a moderate amount of meat, or some sort of legume/protein rich source like lentils, beans, quinoa, etc. is an ok substitute. Again, I'd avoid meat substitutes like seitan, "meatless sausage/baken/chicken", etc. Even tofu.

d) Calorie counting is not only pointless, it takes the joy out of eating. Instead of counting calories, eat a variety of wholesome foods and get a moderate amount of exercise (work out a few days a week, anything you like...cardio exercise is good too).

So what should you do instead?

a) Don't be afraid of fat...not all fat is bad, and your body and brain need some to function optimally. Fat gets a bad rep, that's all. Avoid low fat or non-fat products, and go for regular, organic products like milk, cheese, regular butter (no margarine or substitutes), yoghurt, etc. Make sure that at minimum, what you get is organic. If you can, find products sourced from GRASS-FED cows. This makes a big difference in how healthy these foods are for you..what goes in the cow, the health of the cow, its environment, etc., affects you. The easiest to find is butter from grass-fed cows, which you can find at Trader Joe's and other health food stores (It's called Kerrygold butter, from Ireland). Also, eggs are okay, as long as they are organic. even better, if they are PASTURE RAISED (find them at Whole Foods or a Farmers market). Pasture raised means the hens are truly free to roam outdoors and snack on grass and bugs, just as nature intended. Cage free doesn't mean the hens get a decent amount of room or are outdoors, all it means is they aren't caged (they are still cooped up). So, go for pasture raised eggs, if possible.

b) Healthy fats are good fats. Wild-caught salmon in moderate amounts, fish oil capsules or vegetarian sourced oil such as hemp seed oil or flaxseed oil, AVOCADO (superfood!), organic butter from grass-fed cows, coconut oil, nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds)-- raw, unsalted/unroasted, just raw in original form, are all excellent for your health and will increase your energy levels.

c) Greens, greens, and more greens. The darker the green, the better. This means eat things like spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, mixed greens, asparagus, kale, etc. They are packed with vitamins, some with fiber (especially broccoli), etc. They are good for your body and digestive tract.

d) Some fruit. You don't need to eat a lot of fruit, as veggies are the priority. But different kinds of fruits including berries, melons, bananas, citrus, etc. are healthy but should be eaten in moderate amounts.

e) Take a multivitamin. A good place to find them is at a health food store, to make sure you'r getting a good product since not all vitamins are created equally.

f) Don't deny yourself sweets sometimes. It's ok to have some snacks like chips, cookies, etc., on occasion. You don't need to cut every "junk food" out of your life. If you're generally eating healthy, some snacks are okay. Have your cake and enjoy it too!

g) Again, exercise is key but not if it's overdone. You are already getting some cardio work, which is good. Keep it up, and on days when you'd rather tone it down, yoga or pilates are also great (yoga is my favorite, a true exercise for the body and mind). Just don't overdo anything.

If you follow my suggestions and focus more on eating healthy and enjoying the food you eat rather than counting calories, you will notice a difference.

Coronary Artery Disease is when the arteries responsible for supplying the heart with blood harden and narrow, due to build up of cholesterol and other material. This causes reduced rate and flow of blood to the heart.

Here\'s some more info:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/coronaryarterydisease.html


You say that your heart has been doing \"weird stuff.\" That can be due to any number of things- irregular heart beat, complications from obesity (if that\'s an issue), abnormal development, etc. You need to talk to a parent about making an appointment to see your doctor (or preferably, a cardiologist) right away.

You need to go see a doctor immediately, do not risk anything. You could have developed TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome); common symptoms are fever (temp of 101 or higher), vomiting, etc.., I'm not meaning to scare you, but you really need to see a doctor right away. You should go to the emergency room and let the hospital staff know what happened, and that you have been vomiting and have a temperature. Complications of TSS can be life threatening if left untreated.

Here's a link with more information:
http://women.webmd.com/tc/toxic-shock-syndrome-treatment-overview

You could call your doctor for more advice, or to see if he/she could make an emergency appointment for you. Better safe than sorry. You should change your tampon every 3-6 hours, depending on the flow. To minimize risk of TSS, use a tampon with the minimum absorbency for your flow. I alternate between using tampons and pads (tampons for first day or two, and pads afterward), and do not wear tampons overnight. With the situation you're in, you should consider switching to pads. But bottom line, do not wait to see a doctor.

Tea tree oil might help you. You can find if at most drugstores or health food stores (like Trader Joe's). It can help, since it is a natural antiseptic- might help with killing whatever it is that causes the dandruff (it's either bacterial or fungal). Tea tree oil also helps with itching. It is very potent and strong, so using too much is harmful to your scalp. Use a couple of drops, along with your shampoo, and make sure to massage your scalp, and leave it on for at least a few minutes. I don't know for sure if this will help, but it can't hurt. I think it might actually work for you. Tea tree oil can be used for other things as well- bug bites, pimples, cuts/scrapes... it's safe and versatile.

Yeah, it should be clear-ish. If your mucus is constantly bright yellow or green, it might be a sign of some sort of infection (maybe even a sinus infection). First, avoid picking your nose. Ask yourself if your nose is consistently stuffy and congested, even after you blow your nose. Your sinuses might be congested, or you might have a sinus infection or allergies; there is no way of knowing. If you do feel like you cannot breath properly, that your nose always feels congested, and that your mucus is always bright green, you should see a doctor, who might refer you to an ENT (ear/nose/throat) specialist, if needed.

I recommend using a sinus rinse- even if you don't have an infection, it will help clear out your nasal passages and help you breath better overtime. You can find the "Neil Med" sinus rinse and sodium solution packets (mix) at a drugstore, or online. Make sure you get the squeeze bottle one, not the netti ceramic pot (the squeeze bottle allows the solution to more effectively clear out your nasal passages). You can get refills of the solution packets as well.

You should probably talk to your doctor and see what, if anything, needs to be done. If you have a sinus infection, you will probably be instructed to use a sinus rinse, and possibly be put on antibiotics. No one online can tell you what you might have, so seeing a doctor is your best bet.

You should definitely call your orthodontist- he probably adjusted the retainer too much. See if you can make an appointment and go in soon.. let him know what your concerns are, and that you feel your teeth have been pushed back even further. He will either re-adjust your retainer, or have a new one made for you. It is not the case that he doesn't know what he's doing-- there is no way for him to know how much pain you're in or how badly the retainer fits, unless you tell him. This time, let your concerns be known, and when you try on the newly adjusted retainer the next time, definitely be picky and let your ortho know if it still feels painful/too tight. Keep in mind though, that it will feel tight and uncomfortable in the beginning, as your teeth have shifted a bit. Just remember to keep letting your orthodontist know how your retainer feels, every time he adjusts it.

Yes, shaving does cause pigmentation in the underarm area, particularly if you have darker hair. It can get worse if you shave frequently. The best way to get rid of pigmentation is to start waxing instead. Not only will the skin appear much lighter, but your hair will grow in thinner overtime, and your skin will feel much smoother. I generally alternate between shaving and waxing. If I absolutely have to wear a nice top while going out, for example, I just go ahead and shave. But i try to wax as much as possible, since it makes my underarms look much smoother and I don't have to worry about the hair growing in too quickly (or having stubble, for that matter). So, I would recommend waxing- you can get waxing strips, or go to a salon, if you don't want to do it yourself. You will notice a big difference.

You might be over-cleaning your hair. What you described can happen to your hair if you wash it every day- every other day is enough. Also, If your hair looks dull and lifeless, it is probably damaged due to over cleansing, product buildup, hard water buildup, etc., The shampoos you are using are not very good for your hair in the long run, so it might be doing more harm than good. It's very common for damage to the hair to become apparent after months. This might also be due to lack of nutrients..that I can't say for sure. You should take a multivitamin and maybe even a fish oil capsule daily- these, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can help in maintaining the health of your hair. You might also be due for a haircut or trim- you should get a trim every 2-3 months to keep hair healthy.

Overall though, I would recommend sticking to a good shampoo- not HE or Pantene. Try using a natural shampoo, which is free of some damaging chemicals. Or maybe use Neutrogena Clean Shampoo (either moisturizing one, or volumizing- there are two kinds). Those are very good, as are Paul Mitchell products. Just remember, do not over-cleanse your hair, eat right and exercise, use good hair products. If after a while you feel like none of these things help, then maybe talk to a dermatologist, who can recommend some good products for your hair/scalp. Even an internet search can help.

I used to get really bad cramps too, especially when I first started my period. Overtime, your body adjusts...some periods are worse than others, at least for most women.

I agree that you need to switch brands- Midol doesn't work for me either. I take Aleve when I have bad cramps. It works very well for me, and lasts for several hours, unlike most over the counter pain medications. Try that and see how it works, otherwise you might want to get recommendations from your doctor.

Some other things that really help:

-exercise
-using a heating pad
-drinking warm, herbal tea (chamomile is great)
-eat good food, drink plenty of water, and take a multivitamin- it will give your body the needed nutrients so you will feel healthier and stronger.

I agree with the previous answer- it's always better to get dental work done as soon as possible, especially an important procedure like a root canal. You really should make an appointment soon, as waiting can only make it worse.

Depending on the severity of the infection (if there is one at all), waiting too long can worsen your condition, and will increase the pain. It might also cause the tooth to be unreparable, which would mean you'd have to get it extracted.

A few years ago I had a fractured tooth- it probably started off small, and because I waited instead of getting it taken care of right away, I had to get a crown placed on the tooth. Had I gone in ahead of time, I might not have even had to get a crown, and a simple filling or sealant would have been enough. Moral of the story? Waiting to get dental treatment done is never a good idea. Better early (or on time) than too late.

Just like the columnist before said, your period is probably on its way. You should start using pantiliners every day- that way, it will absorb discharge, and if you happen to get your period, will prevent leakage.

There is actually a website that is devoted entirely to this issue:

http://www.drymouth.info/consumer/default.asp

The site has a few questions at the bottom of the page to determine if you have dry mouth, which can be caused by a number of things. Even if you don't think you are dehydrated, you might actually be. Try drinking more water everyday and see if that helps.

The site mentions that people who are very anxious tend to get dry mouth, so that might be an issue. I actually remember temporarily having the same feeling when I was really nervous speaking in front of the class a few years back. I had the same feeling several years ago when I was with a guy I really liked. So try to think about anything (or more than one thing) that might be causing you to feel overly stressed, anxious, and/or depressed, and try addressing that issue(s).

In the meantime, consider using Biotene, a mouthwash for dry mouth:

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=157450&catid=1122

Biotene also has a toothpaste formulated to help with dry mouth.

This question has already been answered, but I just wanted to add a couple of details. There are two reasons why Summer's Eve or other products designed to keep you smelling "fresh" can lead to infection or irritation is that it alters the pH level (as another columnist mentioned), and also gets rid of bacteria-both good and bad- making you more susceptible to infections with continued use. Using a vaginal douche (with vinegar or other solution) is known to increase the likelihood of getting a UTI (urinary tract infection), for the same reasons. The vagina is self-cleansing, so anything that interferes with its natural function should be avoided. It's not just you- no woman should use soap to clean the inside of her vagina- or the pubic area for that matter...plain old water is fine. Also, to add to one of the answers, you should trim your pubic hair, but do not shave all of it off. Pubic hair is there to protect the vagina...women who shave or wax the entire area are more prone to vaginal infections. As long as you have basic hygiene and are in good health, you're fine.

There are no actual cures for the common cold, since it's caused by a virus (and not bacteria), but there are lots of things you can do to strengthen your immune system and ward off the symptoms. First, take a large dose of vitamin C- there are pills and chewable formats. I generally take more than the recommended dosage when I have a cold. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, as having a cold can dehydrate your body. Drink lots of water and juice, and if you like, have some chamomile tea (or other herb tea) with lemon and honey at night, it's very soothing- plus, honey helps strengthen the immune system. Try not to take too many cold medications- overtime they are known to become less effective. Since it is getting worse, you might want to have DayQuil or Nyquil, or some similar cold medication, but don't continuously take it for more than 2 days. The most important things to remember are to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids (water, juice, tea with honey, chicken soup), wash your hands frequently...and it'll get better within a few days.

I recently had a cold, and felt a lot better just by getting enough rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

If the area has been repeatedly picked at, then the risk of scarring is higher. Superficial scarring is called hyperpigmentation, when the surrounding area (usually following popping of the pimple, or healing) is reddish/purplish. That usually clears up on it's own, provided you keep the area clean and don't touch or pick at it.

Deeper scars lead to indentation, and if it's deep enough, I think really only a dermatologist can recommend some sort of cream or even laser treatment to help clear scarring. You should immediately stop touching your face all the time and picking at new pimples or blemishes. Wash your face twice a day with face wash that's suitable for your skin type, and make sure to use moisturizer as well. Some of the reddish scars should clear up, although it'll take some time- maybe even up to a couple months, depending. I have little brownish spots from a couple of pimples I had a long time ago...not a good idea to pop/pick them. Anyway, I recommend that you make an appointment to see a dermatologist- they deal with all sorts of skin conditions and can recommend a course of therapy that can work best for you. Beforehand, they might ask about which facial products you use, and how sensitive your skin is, if at all. Based on this, and other information (such as medical history, etc.) they'll let you know exactly what your options are. It all depends on how bad the scarring is, and how often you experience breakouts. There are so many options for treating acne scars...you can discuss some of them with a dermatologist and see what should work out for you. Some google research can also help..

Never shave any part of your face- the hair will grow in more thick and spiky (think of a man with stubble). Everyone has hair on their forehead, usually it's thin, and darker for some than others. It could be hormonal...facial hair is generally more noticeable on those of mediterranian/middle eastern decent. It's probably not too noticeable, but if you would rather get rid of it, either get the area waxed or threaded.

Threading is a good option- just a long piece of thread that pulls hair out. You can try to find a salon in your area that offers that. If you live in Southern California, there's a place called Ziba Beauty that offers affordable threading...if there is any salon in your area that offers threading, it's the best option for facial hair removal. Try doing a google search: threading salons + (your city). If you would prefer to get waxed, find a clean salon that offers facial waxing. Make sure to tell them not to wax too close to the hair line. You can shop around, but definitely make sure the place is hygienic.
If you don't want to go to a salon, you can wax on your own...Veet waxing strips work well even on thick hair..Nad's is also good.

I felt the same when I started using tampons, but you get so used to it that insertion becomes second nature. Like the person below said, you should be relaxed and in a comfortable position (sitting on the toilet helps). Your muscles need to be relaxed so you have an easy time. Once you put it in (aimed toward your lower back), you should not feel it at all...if you do, push it in a little further using your index finger. It cannot get lost in there. Make sure to use the minimal absorbency for your needs, and alternate absorbency according to your flow. All brands offer multi-packs which come in regular and super. Don't worry, there is no way for the tampon to get lost, as the vaginal muscles keep it in place. Also, all brands are monitored extensively, so there is no way for you to pull off the string- it is so tightly woven. I once tried pulling so hard to check, and seriously, there's no way for it to break. If you are concerned, you can always pull hard on the string beforehand.

I recommend using a plastic applicator tampon, as insertion is easier, especially for beginners. I started off using Playtex Gentle Glide. Make sure that you change it ideally every 3-4 hours, never more than 8 (which is too long anyway). I actually read in a magazine that it's best to change your tampon every 3 hours as bacteria can accumulate. Also, make sure to use a pad when you go to bed, as it isn't good to use tampons overnight (assuming you stay in bed for 8-9 hours). One more thing, when your flow is heaviest, you might want to wear a pantiliner or pad as well, just in case of leaks. You will start to get a feel for what absorbency you need according to the flow, and how long you can keep the tampon in.

** If it is hard to remove the tampon (feels like it's hard to pull out), it means it isn't saturated yet, so you should wait a bit longer till it has reached nearly full absorbency. To prevent this, always use the minimal absorbency... e.g. regular, or super for heavier days. All brands of tampons include an instruction and information guide, so you can also use that as reference.

Here are some useful links:

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/tampon.html

http://www.playtexgentleglide.com/

Aloe Vera gel can help soothe the area and reduce redness. You can find it at any drugstore. Make sure that you have been under warm water for at least a few minutes the next time you shave, in order to soften the hair. And always use a clean razer and replace the blade when it starts getting dull.

Here's a link with some information:

http://www.homeremedycafe.com/razor-burn-remedy.htm

Pre-waxed strips are generally less effective than using microwave wax and your own waxing strips. It might not be working well if you have coarse hair. Or you might want to try Veet waxing strips- they work well for most people.

When waxing, pull the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth. So if you are waxing your legs, pull the strip upwards. Make sure to do this very quickly, otherwise it won't be effective. Waxing your underarms can be more tricky since the hair grows in different directions. You'll have to pull off the strip both ways, usually it takes a couple of strips. If you get tired of using waxing strips, try using a microwave wax- Sally Hansen is good, or get one from the beauty supply. You can always get a professional wax- salons usually have that service.

**By the way, I didn't realize that you might be referring to Nair cream hair remover (Nair also has waxing strips).. anyway, if you are, wait a few more minutes next time, and then test a small patch. But do NOT exceed 10 minutes- your skin can get irritated. Also, make sure that when you apply it, your hair is covered completely.

You could try using acne pads, like Clearasil or Stridex, on the affected areas. I don't know how long it'll take to clear up the acne, but it should tone down the redness, or at least prevent it from getting worse. What ever you do, do NOT touch or pick the pimples- they'll get bigger and may spread to other areas.

Between now and then, make sure to exfoliate your back every time you take a shower. Use a rough exfoliationg cloth or glove, and make sure to go over the area repeatedly. If you exfoliate regularly, you should see significant improvement in the long run. Pimples are caused by clogged pores..dead skin, dirt/oil can all contribute to that. Exfoliating your back 2-3 times a week will get rid of dead skin and keep your skin smoother. It wouldn't hurt to also use acne pads- Stridex PowerPads (with benzol peroxide) work well, or you could try clearasil or Oxy... but all in all, as long as you stop touching the area and exfoliate regularly, your acne will start clearing up.

I am here to give honest advice, when I feel I have something to contribute. I try to be as empathetic and understanding as I can, as I know that the way something is said is as important as the message itself.

I usually advise on love/relationships, friendship and family issues, nutrition, and health (mental and physical). If I feel I can help out, there's not a whole lot I am unwilling to answer. Ask away!

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