JOURNAL
Coronavirus and the ways you can protect yourself while traveling
As coronavirus claims more lives in China and the virus spreads to new continents, airline travelers are growing more concerned about catching the virus while in flight. Americans currently face a low risk of becoming infected by the coronavirus. However, the CDC has issued statements confirming that this is a severe public health threat. Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. While that sounds dangerous, they are a common virus that causes symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, cough, and sore throat. In 2019, a new strain of coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China. While this strain has not previously been identified in humans, most people will get infected with a coronavirus at some time in their life. While this is a rapidly changing situation, it is providing an excellent opportunity to reflect on healthy habits individuals should practice while traveling by plane.
Really Bad PMS or a Mental Disorder?
Most women have dealt with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to some degree at some point in their lives. It may come in the form of irritability, mood swings, food cravings or a depressed mood, but a small percentage of women experience premenstrual symptoms that are much more severe than your typical bout with PMS. These women suffer from something called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe and sometimes debilitating extension of premenstrual symptoms that cause significant problems in the sufferer’s life.
Experts estimate that approximately 1-5% of women suffer from PMDD (Standen, 2013), compared to about 75% of menstruating women who suffer from PMS (Mayo Clinic, 2012). PMDD is not very common, but it’s a major issue for those women who have to deal with it each month. So much so that it has gotten the attention of the American Psychological Association (APA), who have recently moved it from being categorized under "depressive disorder not otherwise specified," to having its own separate disorder in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM V). There is a very specific criteria laid out by the APA in order for a person to be diagnosed with PMDD. The symptoms include things like: