If things go as per plan, then the company owned by Richard Branson will start offering trips on a monthly basis to the customers on its space aircraft. Virgin Galactic will join other space tourism businesses including Blue Origin by Jeff Bezos and SpaceX owned by Elon Musk. Jon Goodwin, the passenger of Virgin Galactic was among the first to buy a ticket way back in 2005. He had then said that he had faith that he would make the trip. Goodwin is an 80 year old athlete who had competed in canoeing during the 1972 Olympics. He has Parkinson’s disease and wishes to be an inspiration to others.

When Goodwin had signed up for the trip, the tickets prices were $200,000 and now the cost is $450,000. He is joined by health coach Keisha Schahaff, who is 46 years old and will be accompanied by her 18 years old daughter Anastasia Mayers, who is a student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The aircraft also has two pilots and  the astronaut trainer of the company.  This will be the seventh trip of Virgin Galactic since 2018 but will be the first with a ticket holder. The founder of the company, Branson was present in its first full-sized  crew trip back in 2021.

As of now at least 800 people are on the waitlist of the Virgin Galactic.

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The recent announcement of the pill has marked as an important step towards the treatment of the condition that has been since long been underdiagnosed. Many times the condition has also been left unaddressed. The head of psychiatry at the Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research at FDA, Tiffany Farchione described post-partum depression as a serious as well as potentially life-threatening condition where women can experience guilt, sadness, worthlessness. Farchione added that in severe cases they can also have thoughts of harming themselves or the child.

As per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, nearly one in seven women who give birth, suffer from post-partum depression. Unfortunately nearly 50 percent of the cases are not diagnosed mostly due to the gaps in reporting or screening. The new pill approved is called as zuranolone and will be sold by Sage Therapeutics under the brand name Zurvuvae. The drug can be added to the existing treatment for post-partum depression. As of now the drug brexanolone has been approved for the purpose. However, this drug has to be administered intravenously during a 60 hours stay in the hospital or medical practice.

The new drug zuranolone works by increasing the levels of allopregnalone which is a neuroactive steriod that tends to increase during pregnancy  and can dip at a faster level afterward. Such drops can lead to symptoms like depression, lack of energy, sadness and in more serious conditions self-harm or harming others.

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1. Improves your mood –  You can see immediate changes with the help of physical activity. Exercise allows the brain to release feel-good hormones and can also be called as the endorphin release. Physical activities also increase the release of serotonin and dopamine levels.
2. Changes in the brain – When you are physically active, you are also supporting cellular growth in the brain that helps in making more neural connections. It also helps to improve brain function and make a person be better equipped to respond to setbacks and adapt to the circumstances. This phenomenon in the brain is important as it helps to learn new things.
3. Helps with management of emotions – Gulping down a tub of ice-cream might give you  a boost in your mood. But that might be at the cost of a sugar crash. The discipline of working out has additional benefits as it helps people to manage their emotions better. Exercise teaches people  to tolerate distress. This means that people dealing with problems like anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder can find a few benefits with working out.
4. Strengthens the connection between mind and body – Exercise is truly not just beneficial for the physical health but also for the mental health. The mind and the body are connected in a number of ways. One of the ways is the vagus nerve that comes down from the brain through the spinal column. It carries the signals from the brain to all over the body. Exercise stimulates the vagus nerve and thus helps to strengthen the connection between the mind and body.

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1. Spend time in the nature as well – One of the best ways to improve your brain power is to spend time in nature. Some of the studies have proved that exposure to green spaces helps to result in higher cognitive function. It particularly works in terms of memory, flexible thinking and focus. So you can eat your dinner on the terrace area or enjoy the sunset in your hammock in your backyard or take a stroll after dinner.
2. Drink water instead of alcohol – Even if you are consuming less amount of alcohol, it is associated with decreased volume of the brain. Even a single drink can have a negative effect on your sleep. It can cause insomnia, shorter duration of sleep and even sleep apnea. It also causes dehydration that increases the risk of dementia. It can also worsen the cognitive decline in people who already have dementia.
3. Read a book – It has been proved that reading facilitates the onset of sleep, calms the brain and minimizes anxiety. People who read on a regular basis, have good cognitive results. Reading a book at least once a week, reduces the risk of age-related cognitive decline.
4. Stop using phone before sleep – At least two hours before you go to sleep, make sure that you put away your phone. Having your phone with you can lead to a brain drain and reduces cognitive capacity that includes working memory logical reasoning, creativity and problem solving capacity. But if you cannot do that then you can at least switch on the night mode screen setting that most of the smartphones have these days.

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1. Avoid overripe fruits – Overripe fruits can contain more sugar and less nutrition. The best time to eat the fruit is when it’s ripeness is at its peak.
2. Avoid mixing fruits with dairy – While this might not happen to all, there are chances that combination of fruits with dairy could result in a stomach problem. Here you need to observe how your body reacts to such combinations and think before you consume such foods items.
3. Avoid too much of fruit juices – It is healthy to indulge in drinking fruit juices once in a while. But too much if it can lead to a spike in blood sugar levels. The best way to include fruits in your diet is to eat the fruit whole as they contain all the minerals and fibre.
4. Always wash your fruits before consuming – Not doing so might expose you towards unwanted germs and chemicals. Make sure that you always wash the fruits properly before consuming.
5. Avoid canned fruits – Canned fruits often contain preservatives, syrup or other agents that help to increase its shelf life. Such agents might not be good for the body. Alternatively, you can opt for frozen , unprocessed or fresh fruits.
6. Consult while taking medications – Certain fruits might interfere with the ability of the drugs that you are consuming. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before consuming fruits with medications.
7. As a meal – Consume fruits as a meal as they have high sugar content. It can be had as a meal or as a snack.

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How to manage high functional anxiety?

Management of such an anxiety requires a balance of coping strategies, self-awareness, acceptance and most importantly self-care.

1. Mindfulness – You need to practice meditation as well as deep breathing that makes you aware of your body and mind. Such a practice on an everyday basis, will help to reduce the symptoms of high functioning anxiety.
2. Managing time – People suffering from such kind of anxiety often struggle to manage time. You could stick to a routine and stay away from over-scheduling. Such a practice can keep you mind and body calm.
3. Learn to limit yourself – You need to learn to set boundaries for yourself. When you abide by your own boundaries, it helps in keeping yourself calm and composed.
4. Physical activity – You need to engage yourself in at least one physical activity. It could be anything that you enjoy doing. For instance, if you do not like to go to the gym then you don’t have to punish yourself by forcefully going to one. You could engage yourself in other fun activities like dancing or swimming.
5. Find a hobby – A hobby or a passion often releases the difficult emotions.
6. Set realistic goals – Set realistic goals that are easy to achieve and it will make you feel accomplished and satisfied.

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Morgan also said that like any other over-the-counter prescription, there will be warnings on the bottle  and that people can make their decisions by considering how to move forward. She also said that women are intelligent enough to make such decisions. Morgan has also expressed that more such drugs should be available over-the-counter as more data surfaces. The FDA has said that the consumer understanding of the warning on the  label was high. The availability of the drug will be determined by the manufacturer of the drug.

The over-the-counter availability of the drug will allow  the individuals to have access to an oral contraceptive without the need to see a healthcare provider. It has been found that nearly half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States  every year are unintended.        Such unintended pregnancies are prone to lead towards problems like negative perinatal and maternal outcomes. These also increase the risk of pre-term deliveries. This means that easy availability of such drugs can help to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

Opill is said to be effective and safe when used responsibly.  The drug has to be taken at the same time everyday. This step is important for  the effectiveness of the drug. If other drugs are used with Opill, then it can reduce the efficacy of the Opill.

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It is not just Microsoft but other tech giants like Google and Amazon had also taken steps to scale back their work force this year. Although the companies had taken the step soon after it had rapidly added their headcount while they were trying hard to meet the rising demands soon after the COVID-19 pandemic. Microsoft while defending about its move explained that the clients are looking forward towards ways to save money in terms of their cloud computing bill. Although a spokesperson from Microsoft has declined to specify the exact number of cuts in the latest round.

It was in the month of January when CEO Satya Nadella had issued a memo that had indicated that Microsoft would be changing its hardware lineup and consolidate leases. The company filed for a notice on July 11, 2023 while stating that it would be cutting 276 people at its home state of Washington. Out of these 66 are virtual. As a result employees from the customer success and sales departments had posted online that they had lost their jobs.

Meanwhile a spokesperson in an email stated that workforce and organizational adjustments are an essential and regular part of managing their business. The spokesperson added that they would continue to prioritize and invest in the strategic growth areas which will be for their future and will also be in support of their partners and customers. Job cuts have been seen in a number of companies as a part of managing their expenditures.

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1. Deep fried foods  – Deep fried foods can make you prone to stomach ache or even diarrhea. Alternatively, you could shallow fry in a pan instead of deep frying with little oil. Even an air fryer is also a great option that can give you a great taste with no oil.
2. Sugar alcohols – There are a number of products in the market like sugar-free food like candy, gum, which are made of sugar alcohol. Such products tend to cause gas  and leads to an upset stomach.
3. Citrus fruits – Surprised? Yes some of the highly acidic fruits like oranges, lemon and grapefruit can lead to problems like heart-burn in some people. This happens as the citrus foods relax the esophagus and can cause heartburn. The acid slows the stomach from emptying.
4. Peppermint – pepper mint relaxes the esophageal sphincter that lies between the stomach and the esophagus. When the sphincter relaxes the acid in the stomach can go back to the esophagus leading to indigestion and heartburn.
5. Beans – These contain non-digestible, fermentable fibres that can cause gas that can lead to abdominal discomfort.
6. Spicy food – There are people who can be sensitive towards spicy foods and can lead to heartburn or acid reflux.
7. Chocolate – Another surprising food that could be added to the list is chocolate. Some people can be sensitive to chocolate as well. If this happens then it is recommended to limit the consumption of it.

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1. Understanding emotions – People who are mentally strong are aware that emotions are temporary. Letting loose emotions can lead to positive as well as negative effects. Since they come and go and can tend to change rapidly.
2. Practice reframing of negative thoughts – This comes with practice. Negative thoughts cannot be avoided, but can be reframed in to positive thoughts which helps to manage the emotional state.
3. Be grateful – Be grateful for all that you have. Often we forget about the good things that we possess. Remind yourself of the things that you have and others don’t.
4. Laugh – This is a secret ingredient of handling emotions. People who re strong-minded use laughter to manage stress and lighten their mood. You could intentionally look for funny videos or spend time with people with a good sense of humour.
5. De-stress – Stress accumulates and can take a toll on your mental health. Plan a weekend getaway to forests, beaches or parks and get the much needed break. Alternatively, you can exercise, as it is a natural mood booster.
6. Ask for help – People who are strong headed, do not hesitate to ask for help when needed. It is OK to feel stressed and ask for help. This can come from a friend that you can trust or from a mental health professional.
7. Learn from your past mistakes – Everyone receives a set-back in the past and they are often disturbing. Instead of worrying from them, you can learn a lesson from such incidences.

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