Warning Signs That Signal You Need a New Doctor

Are you worried that you’re not getting the kind of quality care you deserve? Whether you feel your treatment options are lacking or your health issues aren’t being taken seriously, there are a few warning signs that can signal that it’s time to look for a new doctor. Maybe your doctor immediately writes a prescription for every ailment. Perhaps you feel rushed and don’t feel that your doctor is providing the level of care you deserve. These are just a couple of the signs that point to looking for a new doctor. Just as important is how you handle your first visit with a new doctor. It should feel like a two-way interview. Be open about your health history, goals and expectations. If you have chronic conditions — heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, etc. — ask about the physician’s experience in managing them. If you have specific goals, discuss them. If the new doctor’s answers don’t fit with your goals, don’t settle. Move on to another doctor and start the whole process over. Sooner or later, you’re going to find a doctor who is a good fit.

Continue Reading...

American Living Abroad is Told She Can’t Work During Pregnancy

When Liza Ebbecke received a letter from her employer, she thought something had gone wrong. What she learned was that she was no longer allowed to continue working during her pregnancy, but would continue to receive her pay. The 32-year-old had moved to Germany in 2018 after meeting her husband while traveling through Southeast Asia. At the time, she says she knew very little about German maternity policies and never imagined that she would eventually raise a child abroad. Over time, however, she noticed coworkers disappearing on extended maternity leave before eventually returning to work. Slowly, Ebbecke says she began understanding how differently Germany approached pregnancy and early parenthood compared to what she had seen growing up in the United States. On her first day home, Ebbecke worried about how she would fill so much free time, but she soon began to fill her days with hobbies, long walks with her dog, and quiet routines that allowed her to slow down before becoming a mother. During the first year of her son’s life, Ebbecke says she attended swimming and music classes with him, while building friendships with other moms living nearby. Looking back now, Ebbecke says the version of motherhood she experienced in Germany completely changed how she viewed support, balance and family life. What originally began as a temporary move abroad eventually became an entirely different life than she once imagined for herself.

Continue Reading...

The Clever Trick That’s Putting Many People to Sleep

Our brains have terrible timing. At 3 p.m., when you need to answer emails, you would likely be happy to crawl under your desk and take a nap. However, at 11:30 p.m., when the lights are off and you’re finally horizontal, suddenly your brain wants to workshop every unresolved issue in your life. This is not thinking — this is your brain opening 37 tabs and then refusing to tell you which one is playing audio. If this describes your sleep pattern, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, 30.5% of adults get less than 7 hours sleep in a 24-hour period, and 15.4% have trouble falling asleep most days. The brain’s threat-detection system often stays on because it’s trying to solve problems, and that's why Dr. Luc Beaudoin, a cognitive scientist, came up with a trick that’s extremely successful. The basic idea is to give your brain a stream of random, easy-to-picture images to focus on as you’re falling asleep. Start with a simple, boring word that has at least five letters — something like “cloud.” Then, take the first letter of that word and think of random words that begin with it. So, for cloud, you could start with cactus, cup, cabbage, cowboy. Then move to lamp, lemon, lake, ladder, and so on. The words should have no connection. You’re not telling yourself a bedtime story. The whole point is to keep the images random enough that your brain can’t turn them into a plot. You can use foods, animals, objects or anything that comes easily. Cognitive shuffling works because it gives your brain just enough to do, but not enough to keep you awake. While cognitive shuffling is not an express lane to perfect sleep, it is a tiny mental detour for the nights when your brain will not stop narrating, and that can make all the difference.

Continue Reading...

Bacon Pancakes Combine Two Breakfast Faves in One Tasty Bite

It might sound odd to combine the breakfast staples pancakes and bacon, but it actually works. The salty and smoky bacon complements the sweet and buttery pancake to give a nice texture contrast. Ultimately, bacon and pancakes are a match made in flavor heaven — and easy to whip up on a whim. There are three things to remember: (1) opt for thick-cut bacon slices, (2) leave a few lumps in the pancake batter, and (3) gently dip the strips into the mixture.

Servings: 3 (2 bacon pancakes per serving)

Ingredients:

• • 1 cup all-purpose flour
• • 2 tbsp sugar or substitute of your choice
• • 1 tsp baking powder
• • ½ tsp baking soda
• • ¼ tsp salt
• • 1 cup buttermilk
• • 1 large egg
• • 2 tbsp melted butter
• • 6 strips of cooked bacon, drained
• • Melted butter or oil, for cooking
• • Dipping sauce

Directions:

• • In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• • In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg and melted butter until well combined.
• • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined; leaving some lumps in batter. Set aside.
• • Heat skillet over medium heat and brush with evenly layer of oil or butter.
• • Dip each bacon strip into batter, making sure both sides are fully coated. 
• • Cook a few at a time in skillet, around 3 to 5 minutes per side, until pancakes are fluffy and browned.
• • Transfer bacon pancakes to separate plate and repeat the process with remaining bacon. 
• • Serve with a dipping sauce of your choice — jam, maple syrup, fruit puree, caramel sauce, hot honey, etc.

Continue Reading...