Last week my son and I went to the eye doctor for a routine check up. My son's exam went without a hitch -- his prescription is a bit stronger than before, but it's no more than to be expected. My exam, however, showed a few unexpected changes.
I've noticed that the vision in my right eye hasn't been very good lately, but I blamed it on the pair of contacts I've worn much longer than I should have. It turns out that there is at bit of a problem in my right eye, or there was a bit of a problem anyway. Though I was largely asymptomatic, sometime in the past few months I had a case of
Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR).
In CSR, layers of tissue near the macula become detached and serous fluid builds up underneath. Eventually, the fluid leaks out. Some people experience symptoms such as decreased night vision, problems discriminating between colors, distortion, or even loss of sight. Most often, the symptoms are temporary, resolving themselves as the CSR heals. In my case, I did experience some visual difficulties, but they were subtle enough that I didn't think anything was wrong.
Often, CSR is caused by extreme stress but it is also associated with pregnancy. In most cases, the symptoms go away in time but sometimes a degree of visual impairment remains. (That's the way it is with me. Scar tissue is causing some permanent damage, but the damage is mild.) All I know is that this gives me a good reason to take better care of my stress levels.
Who says pregnant women can't enjoy a drink now and then? Well... doctors for one. And study, upon study, upon study supports that fact. Alcohol is a no-no while pregnant. Though I have heard some women say their doctors told them a few ounces of wine once or twice a week wouldn't hurt, if I were pregnant I wouldn't risk taking a drop of alcohol. But you can still enjoy a fancy mocktail at parties or while relaxing on your patio. Here are a few options:
For the moms-to-be out there who are trying to include more folic acid in their diet, the
A recent study revealed that 
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Endometriosis is a condition that was discussed a lot in my house when I hit puberty and started experiencing menstrual cramping that brought me to my knees. My mother was diagnosed with it (and told she needed a hysterectomy) when she gave birth to me -- that was, of course, after more than 25 years of truly unbearable cramping during menstruation and 10 years of trying to conceive with no luck. She had seen doctors about the pain and was basically told it was in her head.
Halle Berry was seen this weekend at the Revlon Run/Walk for Women in Los Angeles (possibly with 
Revolution Health has a new interactive tool, 
Did you ever see that episode of Friends where Phoebe had a cold but loved it because she was singing with a "sexy" voice? It turns out a bad head cold isn't the only way to acquire a sexier voice than usual. Research indicates that 
This has been a Gwyneth Paltrow-heavy week. First of all, the mother of two spoke up about 
Summer Slimdown Guide: Instant self-confidence boosters
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Summer Slimdown Guide: Calorie-free foods (or close to it)
