Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Longevity.
7 Months Smoke-Free
Quitting smoking is difficult. Even if you haven't started, it can be tricky if you ever catch on to it. Stay away from it. It does not bring anything good. Even if you've never had one and think, "I'll just try one," think again. It can be a lifelong battle on trying to kick the habit to the curb. But if you're a smoker and want to know how I've kicked the habit, read on.
By Marcus Azaria7 years ago in Longevity
A Cyst, Cancer, and a Hysterectomy at 32
When I told people about my experience of being taken into hospital in April with severe abdominal pain so many of them told me that I must have been scared. Having an ambulance sent out to me at 3:30 in the morning, being alone, having waves of crippling pain course through my abdomen every 30 seconds, laying alone in a room waiting for pain medication that wouldn’t be effective must have been so scary. In truth though I was never scared; I was convinced that I was overreacting and that I’d be told they couldn’t find anything wrong with me and be sent on my way. I believed this even when I was left in the middle of A&E, crying, “Ow!” out loud, toes curling in pain and banging against the sides of the gurney because the pain was so intense that I didn’t know what to do with myself. When my mum came to see me and I told her what I’d been doing she told me that “nothing is painful enough for you to need to make any noise,” and I felt instant shame at my actions.
By Tuesday Styx7 years ago in Longevity
Subtly Modern
Today it seems everything is done over your cellphone. Many times I come across a website that requires a verification code through a text, to which I sigh and exit the page. I live down a dead-end road with my only contact points being the internet and a house phone. Cell phones are now almost required to survive in the modern age. This can be very troubling for those who choose to live without one.
By Aleesa Rudder7 years ago in Longevity
Disabled People and Abusive Caregivers
Here’s another situation you able-bodied folks do not think about when it comes to disabled people stuck in an abusive situation be it a partner or family. Some people with disabilities put up with their caretaker being abusive by stealing their things. It can be hard to find a trustworthy caretaker for starters. If a family is untrustworthy, it is only because they use somebody’s disability to control them, their finances, when they leave the house, and more. Families shame their disabled children sometimes, depending on the type of disability.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Longevity
De-clutter Your Life: Tips & Tricks
You often hear the phrase “declutter your life” tossed around when listing ways on how people can be more creative, less stressed, and more organized. It does help in all these aspects of our lives but many of us struggle to achieve this because we are not clear on exactly how to proceed. Clutter is unnecessary and can stifle our ability to function at our highest capacity. Clutter is chaos and disorganization. It is what happens when there is mindless and continual accumulation without making room or organizing things in a way that adds value to our lives. Clutter does not only exist in the form of objects and possessions. Our social lives, physical spaces, relationships, and nutrition can be cluttered. We often do not realize this because, after a while, we become one with our environment. We adapt to the conditions around us and often times become comfortable or trapped in a quagmire of our own making. Here are some tips on how to begin creating space for the things that matter.
By Nikita King7 years ago in Longevity
Life of an Addict
How I Got Here My legs... I was doing well. Compared to the life I was living for over ten years before. I was actually living an almost normal life again. I had a job, money in my pocket, and I didn't do anything worse than drink beer on the weekends. Oh, and my daily pack of smokes that I'll probably never quit. And I also forgot to mention the 80mg of methadone that I took every morning, to have this "normal life," that I speak so highly of. But, since I had stayed clean and provided clean urine tests to the clinic I went to, for the past 19 months, I only had to go in one morning a week and get my "6 pack." Which was 6 little take home doses of that wonderful cherry flavored liquid that made me feel like a normal person again. Even though many people look at it as "just another addiction" I didn't care because I loved what it had done for me.
By Fellow Knee7 years ago in Longevity
Reasons to Take Ballet as an Adult
As adults, we are always in search of the perfect workout. Our image of this is being at the gym, focusing on lifting weights and doing endless cardio workouts. The one thing we may not have considered is ballet. You may think it’s too late in life, but there are significant reasons to take ballet as an adult that will sculpt your body and get you out of the gym every day.
By James Porterson7 years ago in Longevity
How Does Yoga Help My Anxiety and Depression?
Yoga is not a cure-all for depression or anxiety. Don’t worry, I’m not about to say that twenty minutes of yoga a day will fix you. It certainly doesn’t fix me, but it makes a terrible day easier to bear, gives those flat days a boost and makes a good day that bit better.
By Alicia Brunskill7 years ago in Longevity
The Rarest of Them All
Last summer of 2017, I was diagnosed with something not everyone knows about. It is called "Evans Syndrome." "What is Evans?" you may ask. Well, Evans Syndrome is an Autoimmune Disorder where your own immune system starts to attack itself. "Why?" you may ask. This is a very rare syndrome and the blood doctors do not know how the immune system can start attacking itself. Everyone has cells of course; you have three main ones: Red Blood, White Blood, and of course Platelets. Platelet cells are your clotting cells. They help clot your blood whenever you get a cut. Everyone also has Antibodies that destroy bad cells such as infections and bacterial diseases. So last summer I was on my lady cycle which lasted for 17 days. I knew something wasn't right because I was very exhausted, slept all the time, felt fatigued, and lost color in my face. Bruising easily, and my heart rate would increase if I was just walking or sitting. What the doctors found was that my Antibodies started attacking my Platelet cells which I need. I was admitted into the hospital, very anemic and low on platelets. An average person needs about 150,000 to 450,000 of platelets, and I had 5,000 which is extremely low. That is why my period couldn't stop because of my clotting cells being destroyed. Their is no cure for this rare disease and I have been battling with this for about a year now. It has been an obstacle to balance with life and everything else. As time went on none of the therapies for me were working and I started to give up. Then I started to think to myself, with this negativity thinking of course I won't get better. I was also hospitalized twice. The second time I was admitted in the hospital was because I was having blood in my urine, which of course isn't normal and that detects a urinary infection. It didn't hurt so thats what I was confused about. I had transfusions which one transfusion stopped working on me. The transfusion used on me was called "IVIG" which is used to trick the immune system and keep it stable until the doctors found what the issue was. I had a terrible side effect which that infusion. I had a terrible cough that I couldn't shake off. I coughed so hard one night that I popped a blood vessel in my eye. Then I had a terrible migraine I just could not sleep it off. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days and missed my last first day of senior year. Of course I was upset because it was my last first day of being in high school. A year goes by and I got my IUD placed in the Mirena due to it being to risky to have a period again. Im also traumatized to have another one. I almost couldn't graduate high school because of my illness and having to miss a lot of class days. Which stressed me out thinking I wasn't going to be able to graduate after all the hard work I put in. I had to make up 16 hours in order to graduate, which I did and I walked that stage like I owned it! its now October and it seems as if my immune system is behaving. I did have a scare where I had to be taken into the hospital because my body felt weak and I knew something wasn't right. Sure enough it was my platelets which went down to 34,000. Not the best I want to keep it above that. I live each day praying and hoping a cure will be made for rare diagnosis. Its hard to know that I have an antibody attacking me and have no idea why or how. I live by this quote forever which is: "Life Doesn't Allow you to be Weak." I pray to god I will outgrow this rare disorder, I just gotta take it one day at a time.
By Taylor Hansen7 years ago in Longevity
Obesity
There is an obesity problem in the United States today. Obesity is a medical condition that is a result of having too much body fat. It comes from being overweight, or when someone's weight is greater than the 95th percentile of the body mass index for their height. It does not only affect adults, but also children greatly.
By Tristyn Patterson7 years ago in Longevity
