Regular exercise is important for overall joint health and can improve joint fluid’s lubricating and cushioning properties. If you have a history of medical issues or aren’t already active, ask your doctor for advice about safely starting a new exercise routine. Start with small periods of activity, such as 5 minutes a few times per day. If you have joint issues, you’ll likely experience discomfort or stiffness for the first few weeks. Try to stay active on good days, or when you feel less pain, and take it easy on bad days. Stop exercising and talk to your doctor if you experience sharp, progressively worsening pain during or after exercise. Walking, low-speed cycling, dancing, and other forms of light aerobic exercise are your best options if you have joint issues. Increase your physical activity gradually, and try to work your way up to 2 hours and 30 minutes of light aerobic exercise per week. If you can do so without risking injury, you could also try jogging, running, and cycling at higher speeds. and stretching routines. Regular flexibility exercises are especially important if you have arthritis or other joint issues. Look for a local yoga class for beginners or for your age group. Do light stretches every day to improve your joints’ overall health and ranges of motion.  When you stretch, don’t force yourself to push past your natural range of motion. Try to hold a stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, but don’t overdo it. Stop stretching if you experience sharp pain or feel strained. If you have an injury, don’t stretch without consulting a physical therapist or another medical professional. Leg strengthening workouts, such as squats and lunges, are good for your knees, hips, and lower back. If you have elbow or shoulder joint issues, try weightlifting exercises, such as biceps curls and shoulder presses. Be sure to discuss strengthening exercises with your doctor first. If you’re just starting out, it’s best to take an exercise class or join a gym. Having an instructor or trainer present can help reduce the risk of injury. If you experience pain during weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or cycling, swimming could be a great solution. Swimming places less stress on your joints since they don’t carry your full weight when you’re in water. Try swimming laps, walking in a pool, or taking a water aerobics class.
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One-sentence summary -- Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. Start slow and modify activities if you experience pain. Go for low-impact aerobic exercises. Try yoga Do strengthening exercises if possible. Try swimming, especially if you feel pain during other activities.


Nothing puts a damper on brunch with your friends like unexpectedly getting your period, in white pants no less. While you can’t always pinpoint the exact hour you’ll get your period, you can usually plan for a general timeframe. If you know it’s going to happen, you’ll be more prepared and can avoid potentially embarrassing mishaps.  Marking the general time your period will arrive each month with a discreet red dot in your planner or your phone’s calendar is an easy way to remind yourself when it will happen. They even make apps, like Period Tracker, that help you keep track of your flow. Wearing a super thin pad or a pantyliner around the time you’re expecting your period can prevent an embarrassing leak. Think about it. How often have you cringed seeing a woman buying tampons? Have you ever actually looked at a woman and thought, 'she smells like she’s on her period'. Probably not. While you don’t necessarily need to advertise that you’re on your period, you don’t need to feel embarrassed or paranoid either. If you get caught off guard with your period, don’t be afraid to ask another woman for a tampon or pad. Every woman has their period and many of them have been caught in the same situation. Nobody is going to laugh or make fun of you. While they may seem like a nuisance, periods mean you’re in excellent health and your body is performing like it’s meant to. Your brain is sending chemical messages to your ovaries so you’re producing hormones like estrogen and androgens, both of which are extremely important. If you remind yourself of that, it allows you to appreciate what’s happening with your body and then focus on other fun things in life. There are numerous options today in the world of sanitary products including pads, tampons, menstrual cups, sponges, and more. If you’re using one product but you find it uncomfortable, try another product! Don’t feel like you have to use a certain product just because that’s what your friends use. Find the most comfortable option for your body because when you’re comfortable, you’re less likely to even notice you’re on your period. You may have irregular periods, which can make planning for and then enjoying your time of month difficult. Irregular periods are periods that do not come every month. They are also periods that are sometimes very heavy, while other times very light. If you have irregular periods, talk to your doctor about how to treat the issue. This way, you'll be more able to plan for your time of the month.  If you have just started your period, it's not uncommon for your period to be irregular for the first few years. Irregular periods can be caused by a variety of health conditions, such as ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, and habits like exercise and weight loss. If your periods are irregular, finding the cause can cut back on worry. This can allow you to enjoy your periods more when they do occur. Your doctor may be able to treat your irregular periods. Women are often prescribed birth control, which can help control when your period will come. Talk to your doctor about getting on birth control if irregular menstruation prevents you from enjoying your period.
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One-sentence summary --
Know when it’s coming. Don’t feel self-conscious. Remind yourself periods are a good thing. Use the best sanitary product for your body. Work around irregularity.