Pregnancy brings a number of changes within the body—some expected and some unexpected. Among these changes are increased blood volume, which can lead to spider veins, varicose veins, and other vein diseases.

While vein diseases are not exclusive to pregnant women, the unique physiological changes associated with pregnancy may result in these vascular complications or worsen existing ones. In order to support the uterus during pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume may increase by up to 50% so that oxygen and proper nutrients are delivered to the fetus. Caused by an increase in both blood plasma and the number of red blood cells, this increase in blood volume puts pressure on the veins, which can lead to visibly enlarged veins—usually in the legs—more commonly referred to as varicose veins. These bulging, sometimes discolored veins are just one of the signs of an underlying issue known as venous insufficiency, or vein disease. Vein disease can also cause painful symptoms such as swelling, restlessness, cramping, and even fatigue in the lower legs. Read more

Who wouldn’t want to take a vacation every month, or even every weekend? Unfortunately for most, there isn’t room for a trip in the schedule—or budget. Plus, as most holiday vacations prove, it can be exhausting and overwhelming to coordinate a family trip out of town. That’s why many people in need of a small getaway take staycations instead. Staycations allow you to relax and do fun activities with your family, all without the expense of travel or booking hotels. No matter where you live, there’s likely someplace you’ve never been locally that would make for an excellent afternoon for the whole gang. Or if you prefer a relaxing vacation, a spa day at home is an excellent way to unwind. Read more

Relaxation. Euphoria. Tingling. These are the words used to describe the result of an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR, trigger. In a piece I recently wrote for Sanity & Self, I describe the concept as “the physical response to auditory, visual, or tactile triggers, usually a tingly sensation similar to feeling chills. Think of the goosebumps you might get when someone whispers into your ear. That’s ASMR. Most experts attribute ASMR’s relaxing sensations to the release of endorphins, a chemical in the brain that leads to feelings of happiness and euphoria, and a surge of oxytocin. You experience a surge of oxytocin during orgasm, which most likely parallels the chemical release of ASMR and why devotees refer to this phenomenon as brain or head orgasms.”

Common ASMR triggers include whispering, personal attention or touch, humming, tapping, role playing, crinkling materials, and hair brushing. Learning what triggers ASMR for you involves trial and error. Begin by exposing yourself to a variety of sounds and content. “A major source would be ASMR video channels which contain a large selection of quality content,” says Dr. Craig Richard, an ASMR researcher, biopharmaceutical sciences professor, and ASMR University founder.

The ASMR community has exploded since it first appeared on whisper vlogs and chat rooms around 2009. Search ASMR on YouTube, and there are over twelve million results. Here’s a look at the top of the tingles: Read more

The holidays are a time to come together and have a good time with your friends and family. But if you’re feeling more dreary than cheery this time of year, you can learn a lot from those who have struggled but ultimately overcome their hardships.

Bestow compiled 90 inspirational quotes to pick you up on challenging days or keep you motivated on good ones! These success quotes will go a long way toward making you happy in every facet of your life. Read more

Birding with children is a fun and educational outdoor activity. On average, kids spend more than seven hours per day with electronic media. Studying birds at the convenience of your backyard can teach children about wildlife and ecology as well as engage all of their senses. You could take up birding with your kids year-round — even in winter. Here are some ways to get your youngsters excited about birdwatching. Read more