Q: When you’re together, pay attention to where he orients himself in relation to you–especially when you’re out with other people. Think of the physical distance between the two of you as the emotional distance that he wants to maintain. The farther he keeps his body away when you’re sitting or standing together, the less he wants others to think of you two as being together. Take this less to heart if you know he tends to be shy or reserved. If that's your guy, he could be nervous around you because he cares about you, or he may want to avoid coming across as someone who's going to smother you. If he hates romantic comedies, ask him to go see one with you. If he doesn’t particularly like one or more of your friends, ask him to come along when you go out to see them. Test how willing he is to keep you happy. If he’s happy to do things that he’d rather not do just to keep you happy, be assured that this means he cares about you. Be careful not to overdo it. If all you ever do is drag him to places that you know he doesn't like, he may start to resent it after a while. If he goes surfing every weekend, say you want to come along to the beach even if you don’t know how to surf. If he has a regular hang-out that he goes to, like an arcade or coffee shop, suggest going together. See how willing he is to include you in all aspects of his life. Respect the fact that everyone needs to do their own thing if he doesn’t want to make a habit out of bringing you along every single time. But at the very least he should be willing to include you every once and a while just so you can see what matters so much to him. When he says he’s going to do something, note whether he actually does it. Pay attention to how punctual he is when you’re supposed to meet or call each other. If he fails to show up on time, ask for the reason why and see if it’s a valid excuse. Everyone runs late or forgets to do stuff every now and then. But if he consistently fails to follow through on his word, consider that a sign that he doesn’t think of you as someone worth proving himself to. Whether it’s big or small, see how quickly he offers to do it. If he fetches you another soda from the fridge just so you don’t have to get up, or gives you his jacket because you feel a chill, then he cares about you. If he does it without thinking twice about it or expecting a reward, he cares even more. Obviously, if it’s a really big favor, like “fix my car,” he’ll probably have to think things over at first, if only to figure out if and when he could possibly do such a time-consuming project. In passing, refer back to a previous conversation you’ve had with him. If you told him a story about school or work last week, tell him how things turned out since then. See how much he remembers from the first story. Of course, he may not have the same job as you or attend the same class, so he may not have had a strong grasp on all the details in the first place. But expect him to at least remember the point of the story. Mention your own hopes and plans. Ask him where he sees himself a year from now, in five years, in ten. Pay close attention to how he answers. See how much your two visions conflict with each other, and if they do, how much effort he makes into combining the two into one shared vision. The more he talks about “we” and the less he uses “I,” the more likely he thinks of you as someone to plan his own future around.
A: Note where he places himself. Suggest activities you know he’s not into. Ask to join him in his favorite things. Keep track of his promises. Ask him for favors. Test his memory. Talk about the future.

Q: Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, results from the overproduction of thyroid hormones.  As a result, the body’s metabolism is elevated.  The disease is characterized by the production of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, which causes inflammation of the thyroid and excess production of hormones.  Hyperthyroidism is less common than hypothyroidism. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States is the autoimmune disorder Graves’ disease. Hyperthyroidism causes a wide range of symptoms, so it may be difficult to tell if you have hyperthyroidism based on symptoms alone. You will need to see your doctor for tests to determine if hyperthyroidism is the cause of your symptoms. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:  Weight loss Fatigue Rapid heartbeat Irregular heartbeat Anxiety or nervousness Irritability Protruding eyes Trouble sleeping Trembling in the hand and fingers Increased sweating Feeling hot when others do not Muscle weakness Diarrhea Change in menstrual cycles Weak bones Infertility Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter) Erectile dysfunction Decreased sexual libido Some people are at higher risk of developing hyperthyroidism due to certain risk factors. Risk factors for hyperthyroidism include:  Advancing age Assigned female at birth Family history of hyperthyroidism Iodine supplementation after deficiency Autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
A: Learn about hyperthyroidism. Check for symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Consider your risk factors.

Q: The roof of your mouth is made up of a hard palate and a soft palate. If you touch it with your tongue, you can identify.   The hard palate stays in place. This is what's thought of as the roof of your mouth. It's the part of your mouth made of bone and covered with skin. It's encased between your teeth and attached to your skull.  Further back in your mouth is the softer, fleshier area of the soft palate. It can move up and down when you touch your tongue to it and it moves and stretches up whenever you speak, eat, yawn—basically anytime you use your mouth. Lifting your soft palate is key to controlling your voice, and can help you prevent singing through your nose. Imagine there is a ping-pong ball in the back of your mouth. You would need to have your soft palate lifted if there were an object back there taking up space.  Alternatively, you can do a half yawn. Notice that you lift or stretch your soft palate upward while you do this. Practicing this will familiarize you with the feeling of lifting your soft palate. You can also practice inhaling a soft K sound. This will naturally lift your soft palate, just slightly, so it is not as dramatic as the lift would be if you had a ping-pong ball in your mouth. Raise your soft palate and speak. You can try talking to yourself or doing something like reading a book out loud with your soft palate raised. It may feel and sound silly, but you will train yourself to be able to lift the soft palate on demand. This can also help you learn how to make noise with your mouth while raising your soft palate.
A:
Identify your soft palate. Practice lifting your soft palate. Practice talking with your soft palate raised.