What the historic midterm election results *really* mean for the future of women’s health care

November 07, 2018 at 04:13PM Let’s be real: Between the recent spate of mass shootings, reports of racially motivated voter suppression, and a new legislative proposal that seeks to narrow the very definition of gender, we Americans have a lot on our minds right now. But of all the issues influencing our choices in the 2018 midterm elections, health care was top of mind—an AP poll conducted in the run-up to Election Day found voters consider it the most important issue facing the nation, a sentiment that’s particularly strong among Democrats. So now that that the ballots have been counted and the Dems have officially reclaimed control of the House of Representatives, you’re probably wondering what’s next when it comes to issues relating to your own health. Is Roe v Wade still endangered? Is Planned Parenthood’s funding safe now? And what about pre-existing conditions—will the Trump administration actually be able to do away with protections afforded to them under the Affordable Care Act, as recently proposed? While a lot of these answers still remain to be seen, below are a few of the election results that indicate how things could play out in the years to come along with some of the most significant state-level decisions made, affecting everything from abortion rights to drugstore shopping lists. We’ve got more women representing us—and our bodies—than ever before One of the biggest midterm wins was the fact that more than 100 women are heading to Congress in 2019—the largest number in history. Forty of these

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The real reason you shouldn’t go into the cold with damp hair has nothing to do with getting sick

November 07, 2018 at 02:00PM I may be diligent with my 10-step skin-care routine, but when it comes to my hair, I’m supremely lazy. Read: You’ll never see me touch a blow dryer—I’m all about letting my hair dry in the wind on my commute into the office. As the temperatures drop and a chill enters the air, however, this isn’t such a good idea. In fact, you know how your parents always told you never to go outside in the cold with wet hair because you’d get sick? Well, you might not actually get sick—but it turns out that damp strands plus cold temps could lead to serious hair damage. “When it’s cold outside, it’s very important not to leave the house with wet hair as it has a greater risk of damage,” says Anwar Zahar, principal technician for Aveda’s research and development claims and testing division. There’s science behind it—basically, your strands are much more vulnerable when they’re wet. “Water molecules in the hair can expand—or even solidify if it’s below freezing—which causes the hair shaft to swell, making it prone to breakage,” Zahar explains. To ensure your hair’s kept strong and healthy, it’s best to go the extra mile and make sure you don’t leave the house until it’s completely dry. “Blow drying is the quickest option to alleviate this risk, but it’s also important to keep your hair protected from heat damage, since there’s a whole season of blow drying and heat styling ahead,” explains Zahar,

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We want to talk about anxiety, but we need your help!

November 07, 2018 at 01:40PM Fun fact about me: I had to delete my phone’s Twitter app six months ago. Why? Because the constant influx of news notifications on my feed (mostly political, and mostly bad) was making me incredibly anxious all the time. And this isn’t just me being “overly sensitive.” Nearly 40 percent of Americans reported being more anxious this year than last year in a poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). And yet, very few respondents reported seeking help at all (only 28 percent said they had seen a mental health professional.) That’s the catch-22 with stress and anxiety—they’re so common (40 million people suffer from anxiety disorders, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America) and yet so few people are able to seek help. We’re passionate about this issue at W+G, and that’s where you come in. Take a few minutes to fill out the stress and anxiety survey below to help us understand what you’re struggling with. You’ll be helping us better serve you and your needs—and hopefully together we can change a bit how people approach anxiety. (Pro tip: If the survey isn’t loading on your phone, click here.) (function(t,e,s,n){var o,a,c;t.SMCX=t.SMCX||[],e.getElementById(n)||(o=e.getElementsByTagName(s),a=o[o.length-1],c=e.createElement(s),c.type=”text/javascript”,c.async=!0,c.id=n,c.src=[“https:”===location.protocol?”https://”:”http://”,”widget.surveymonkey.com/collect/website/js/tRaiETqnLgj758hTBazgd5y1FGsgX0umGucEcY9Tv77bk2lrdle5lrzWKI3u_2BfAR.js”].join(“”),a.parentNode.insertBefore(c,a))})(window,document,”script”,”smcx-sdk”); Create your own user feedback survey If you want to hear a bunch of awesome, smart people talk about combatting the stigmas around anxiety, join us for our next Well+Good TALK. And find out one of the best ways to calm yourself down the next time a panic attack strikes.

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15 easy tweaks to help you achieve enviable desk posture

November 07, 2018 at 01:16PM Spending eight-plus hours a day staring at a screen is basically a one-way ticket to bad posture (as well as the back pain that comes along with it). And yet, for most (read: all??) of us, the screen-time is pretty much non-negotiable. With this in mind, Gelcream, a photography and creative direction company based out of Los Angeles, used Instagram’s question sticker to ask their 100,000 followers to share their very best tricks for practicing A+ posture. The tips range from instructive to inspirational, and almost every single is totally free. So if you’re ready to perk up, try these 15 super-simple good posture tips and put a stop to your slouching. 1. “I used to keep a sticky note on my computer that said ‘posture!!’ Surprisingly effective.” 2. “Set a daily phone alarm during a time you find yourself [getting] sleepy and slouching the most.” 3. “Don’t look at your phone all the time. Adjust level of computer to eye.” 4. “Make sure you have good bras! That helped me a lot.” 5. “Hold your chest high. It automatically straightens your back and adjusts your shoulders.” 6. “Hang off a high bar (arms overhead, body dangling) for a few minutes every day.” 7. “In ballet, we were told to pretend like you have a beautiful necklace on and you’re showing it off!!” 8. “Set your lock screen as a picture of the words ‘good posture.’” 9.  “[I] wear high-waisted jeans, because they dig in

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