Health

How Stress Affects Your Sex Life—And What To Do About It

Published

10 years ago

January 15, 2017

You’re no doubt well aware of the fact that stress isn’t good for you. Unfortunately, stress doesn’t just impact your mindset—it can impact you physically as well. “Stress can wreak havoc on a person’s body,” women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D., tells SELF. “It can affect many different body systems and do damage if a person is under chronic stress.” Chronic stress can even increase your cancer risk by weakening your immune system and leaving you prone to a range of diseases, the MD Anderson Cancer Center says.

If that doesn’t convince you that you need to try to chill out more on a regular basis, this might: Stress can have a big impact on your sex life, too. “Stress has the potential to impact us physically, emotionally, and relationally,” Rachel Needle, Psy.D., a sex therapist and licensed psychologist at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida, tells SELF. Stress’ attack on your libido is innate, licensed clinical psychologist Alicia H. Clark, Psy.D., tells SELF. “During times of stress, we need to survive, not procreate,” she says.

Stress increases your body’s most important functions for survival, like blood flow and increased heart rate, while diminishing non-essential functions, like sex. And, unfortunately, stress can attack your sex life on many levels. One of the biggest is via hormones. Chronic stress can cause your body to produce too much of the hormone cortisol, which can lower your libido, Wider says. That can also throw your menstrual cycle out of whack, which likely won’t put you in the mood, either.

Stress even makes it harder to orgasm and can prevent a person from climaxing at all, Wider says. The very act of being frazzled can take a direct hit on your sex life. “Your biggest sex organ is your brain,” Needle says. “If you have a ‘busy mind’ and are distracted during sex, it’s going to be harder to focus on your arousal, the pleasurable sensations, or orgasm.”Stress can also impact your sex life indirectly. “The hormones produced when an individual is stressed can impact metabolism, which can in turn lead to [weight fluctuations],” Needle explains. “When you experience changes in your body, or don’t feel good about your body, you might be less likely to want to engage in sexual activity.”Chronic stress may lead to depression and anxiety, and both conditions can get in the way of a healthy sex life. “Some people who feel stressed complain that they aren’t in the mood to have sex at all,” Wider says. And, if you tend to drink more when you’re stressed, you can experience decreased vaginal lubrication to boot, Needle says.

Luckily, you can do something about this issue. Having a healthy outlet for your stress, like yoga, exercise, getting a massage, and even taking a bath can help, Needle says. “Make time for self-care,” she says. And, while some stress is normal, if you can pinpoint big stressors in your life, it’s a good idea to do what you can to minimize them or eliminate them altogether, if possible.

Clark points out that being intimate with your partner actually can help reduce stress, so it’s a good idea to try to prioritize some kind of couple time during the day (you’re often exhausted at the end of the day, she notes). “The [feelings] produced from sex are natural defenses against stress—closeness, attachment, and feelings of calm—so making time and space for physical intimacy isn’t at all fruitless, even if stress levels are high,” she says. If you’ve done all you can to get a handle on your stress but it’s still affecting your life, don’t be ashamed to seek out help from a doctor or mental health counselor—the results can change your life in a very positive way.

If you are a man, and are looking for help in this area, check out this Sexologist near me for more information.

You may also like: 9 Easy Stretches For Tight Hips

Health

What to Compare When Choosing a Prescription Approach for Rosacea

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2026

Adam T

Choosing a prescription approach for rosacea is a comparison of fit, not a search for a miracle calm. People often bounce between “anti-redness” serums and leftover acne medicines. Those leftovers can worsen flushing. A dedicated rosacea treatment prescription conversation should start with what you want less of — bumps, burning, visible vessels, or eye irritation — because the first prescription changes with that answer.

Compare the diagnosis, not the brand

Ask the clinician to say the subtype in a sentence you can repeat. If they cannot, photos may be insufficient or the visit was too short. Telehealth can still work when images include hairline, cheeks, nose, chin, and eyelids in daylight.

Ask whether they think you also have barrier damage from over-treatment. That diagnosis changes the first thirty days more than the brand name on the tube.

Compare daily burden

Once-daily products beat complicated stacks for real households. If the plan has a morning anti-inflammatory, a noon SPF, and an evening barrier cream, write the order. If a second active is “optional,” treat it as optional until the first review.

SPF is not optional for most rosacea plans. Compare mineral versus hybrid formulas you will actually wear, including under a mask or helmet if that is your day.

Compare monitoring and escalation

Ask what would trigger a switch to an oral option, a different topical family, or a referral for procedures. Escalation should have criteria. “If you are still unhappy” is too vague and invites monthly product cycling.

Ask how they handle a sudden pustular flare that looks like acne. Wrong-lane treatment is a common reason rosacea gets worse after a promising start.

Compare safety questions they ask you

Pregnancy status, eye symptoms, and a full list of current topicals should be standard. If a service never asks whether your eyes burn, they may be treating only the selfie zone. If they never ask about blood pressure medicines or flushing triggers, the history is thin.

People with darker skin tones should ask how redness will be judged, because visual scoring can miss violaceous or brown residual change. Photos plus symptoms together are more honest than a redness scale alone.

Pick the plan you can explain

If you cannot tell a friend what you apply, when you follow up, and what would make you call sooner, the plan is not yours yet. Ask for that summary. Prescription rosacea care is usually won by consistency and by stopping the extra irritants, not by finding a secret molecule in a late-night ad.

Keep one moisturizer and one sunscreen stable while the prescription is judged. Changing those at the same time as the medicine makes every review guesswork. That single rule prevents a lot of false failures.

Bring your worst week, not your best selfie

Clinicians need the flare you hide. Photograph the bad lighting day and the windy commute day. A prescription chosen from your calmest Tuesday will be judged against a life that includes the other six.

Ask how to handle a wedding or a work trip that lands during the first month. Temporary camouflage is fine. Adding three new actives the week of the event is how people show up more inflamed than when they started.

When two approaches look equal, pick the one with a named follow-up and a shorter ingredient list. Rosacea rewards boredom. The comparison is which plan you can repeat without inventing extras.

Health

Why the Pneumatic Tube System is the Future of Patient Care

Published

3 weeks ago

September 1, 2026

Adam T

Clinical staff have always done all they can for their patients. Thankfully, due to advancements in technology, they don’t have to work alone. The future of patient care is equipment like the innovative pneumatic tube system.

Regulatory Innovation

This infrastructure helps hospitals keep pace by exceeding time-based legislation requirements. It guarantees that medical materials reach wards as quickly as possible so staff can focus on patient care.

Physical Innovation

It is estimated that by 2030, the world will face a shortage of 4.5 million nurses. The increased workload for remaining staff leads to burnout, which negatively affects treatment. The system is designed to assist nurses with their tasks, ultimately increasing their efficiency.

Security Innovation

According to a 2024 study, 42% of all healthcare-related ransomware attacks in Europe targeted hospitals. By transporting sensitive materials and documents on premises through the pneumatic tube system, hospitals will eliminate the risk of outside attacks.

Financial Innovation

Also, according to a 2024 study, hospitals in many European nations are continuously facing financial deficits. By investing once in high-quality technology systems, facilities can be more financially secure.

Virtual Innovation

Most hospital pharmacies can transport over 90% of their materials in a carrier. The system acts as an advanced form of touchless technology that securely transfers materials without transferring bacteria and pathogens.

Source: Swisslog

Health

Healthcare Explainer Videos: Simplifying Medical Communication for Every Patient

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2026

Adam T

Making Healthcare Easier to Understand

Healthcare communication should be clear, accurate, and easy to understand. However, medical information often includes technical terminology and complex processes that can overwhelm patients. Whether explaining a treatment plan, introducing a new healthcare service, or educating people about preventive care, presenting information in a simple way is essential.

This is where healthcare explainer videos make a real difference. By combining engaging animation with straightforward storytelling, these videos transform complex medical topics into visual content that patients can easily understand. As more healthcare organizations embrace digital communication, animated videos have become one of the most effective ways to educate, inform, and build trust.

The Benefits of Visual Learning

People often remember information better when they can see it rather than simply read it. Animated explainer videos use visuals, motion graphics, and professional narration to explain medical concepts step by step, making them easier to follow.

Healthcare providers commonly use animated videos to explain:

Medical procedures
Treatment plans
Medication instructions
Preventive healthcare
Chronic disease management
Telemedicine services
Patient onboarding
Medical device demonstrations

This visual approach helps patients better understand important healthcare information while reducing confusion and improving confidence.

Supporting Better Patient Engagement

Patients who understand their healthcare journey are more likely to follow treatment plans and actively participate in their care. Educational videos provide information in a format that patients can watch before appointments, review after consultations, or share with family members.

Professional healthcare explainer videos also help healthcare professionals save time by answering common questions before patients visit a clinic or hospital. This allows doctors and medical staff to focus more on personalized care while ensuring patients have access to reliable educational resources whenever they need them.

Strengthening Digital Healthcare Communication

Today, most patients search online before choosing a healthcare provider or learning about a medical condition. Healthcare organizations that include educational videos on their websites create a more engaging experience for visitors.

Animated videos can also be shared through YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, patient portals, webinars, and email campaigns. This allows organizations to maintain consistent messaging while reaching patients across multiple digital platforms.

Educational content not only improves patient understanding but also helps establish credibility and strengthens an organization’s online presence.

Conclusion

The demand for healthcare explainer videos continues to grow because they simplify medical communication while improving patient education and engagement. They help healthcare organizations explain complex topics, build trust, and create meaningful connections through clear visual storytelling.

As healthcare continues to evolve, animated explainer videos will remain a valuable communication tool for educating patients, supporting healthcare professionals, and delivering information in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand.