Alexandra McCray
Atlanta
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Articles by Alexandra McCray
Stage IV Ovarian Cancer
Stage IV ovarian cancer is when the cancer that started in your ovaries or fallopian tubes has spread to other areas of your body. There are two sub-stages within this category. IVa: Fluid around your lungs has cancer cells in it. (The doctor will call this a malignant pleural effusion.) But the cells haven’t spread to other areas like your intestines or lymph nodes that are in your abdomen (your belly area). IVb: Cancer is in your spleen or liver.
Support for Crohn's Disease Stress
Finding out you have a long-term condition like Crohn's disease can cause a mix of emotions. You might be worried or sad. You could be in denial. Or you may feel like it's your fault that you have Crohn's. (It's not.) If you have a loved one with Crohn's, you can go through some of the same things. You may fear for their health or be upset because they can't do all the activities they used to. Either way, there are things you can do to help handle the challenges of living with Crohn's.
Stage II Ovarian Cancer
If your doctor says you have stage II ovarian cancer, it means the cancer has moved beyond your ovaries to areas nearby. It might be in the lining of your abdomen or in organs like your bladder or uterus. But it hasn't reached your lymph nodes or other parts of your body that are farther away. There are several sub-stages within stage II: IIA: Your doctor found cancer inside your fallopian tubes or uterus as well as in your ovary or ovaries.
Why Ankylosing Spondylitis Flares Happen and What Can Help
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) flare-ups can be common. Researchers and doctors don’t have an official definition of what happens in an AS flare. But if you have one, you know it based on how you feel. Your flare-up may feel different than someone else’s. One study looked at flares as generalized or localized, based on whether they affected the whole body or just one area.
Crohn's and Your Relationships
Crohn’s is a disease that may affect almost every relationship in your life, including with family, friends, intimate partners, and co-workers. Here are some tips on how to maintain those connections and get the support you need. They may be your closest relationships. They also may feel the closest impact of the ups and downs of your Crohn’s disease. Open up. One way to keep your relationships strong is by talking honestly to your loved ones. You can share as much as you’re comfortable with.
Stage III Ovarian Cancer
Stage III ovarian cancer means the cancer may be inside one or both of your ovaries. Or you may have cancer cells found primarily in theperitoneum, tissues that line the inside of your abdomen (belly) and pelvis. And you may have cancer cells on the surface of organs like yourliver or spleen. It may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes. There are many sub-stages within this category: IIIA1: Cancer is also in the lymph nodes that lie behind the organs in your abdomen.
What to Know About Mirena and Depression
Mirena is a brand of birth control called an intrauterine device (IUD). Your doctor places it inside your uterus (womb). The small t-shaped piece of plastic can stay in your body for up to 8 years to help prevent pregnancies. Mirena is made with a version of the human-made hormone progestin called levonorgestrel It may not give you as many side effects as regular birth control pills, which contain progestin and a second hormone called estrogen.
The Difference Between Migraine and Other Headaches
A migraine will make your head hurt, but there’s more to it than a typical headache. You can have more than head pain when you get one. The effects can be so strong they disrupt school or work, and your relationships. There are key features that make migraine distinct from tension headaches (the most common kind of headache) and cluster headaches, which are rare. Your body can let you know a migraine headache is on the way. Prodrome is when small changes happen hours or 1 to 2 days before the attack.
What to Know About Birth Control and Depression
Some women who are on hormonal birth control get mood swings and other emotional side effects. Sometimes the changes may help, such as easing your crankiness or anxiety. But other women report feeling depressed or going through such a severe emotional roller coaster that they quit their hormonal contraceptives. What’s going on? Contraceptives that use hormones to keep you from getting pregnant come in many forms.
Tips to Relieve Foot Pain From Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be painful, especially for your feet. Their soles may be sensitive and your heel may ache (enthesitis), or individual toes may swell (dactylitis). You could have areas of scaly skin and even damage to your toenails. Not to mention, you can have general swelling and pain in an entire foot or both feet at the same time. It’s no wonder that this can make it hard to do regular activities. Thankfully, you have options for treating your foot pain.
Does Yoga Help With Depression and Anxiety?
You know that exercise is good for you, but depression and anxiety can zap your energy and make it harder to get active. Yoga can be another way to work movement into your routine and feel better. In general, yoga’s benefits may include less stress, a lower heart rate, and lower blood pressure. Keep in mind that yoga doesn’t replace other types of depression or anxiety treatment.
Psoriatic Arthritis and Eye Symptoms
If you have psoriatic arthritis, you might get thick, red patches of skin with scales on them. Your joints may swell and ache, too. Symptoms might also show up in places you don’t expect, like your eyes. Here’s what you need to know. Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases. That means they cause your body to attack itself by mistake. This can trigger inflammation in certain parts of the body, including your eyes.
Complications of Ankylosing Spondylitis
When you have ankylosing spondylitis, your back can be stiff and painful, your neck might hurt, and you can have fatigue. The disease can affect various parts of your body and increase your chances of getting certain conditions. You may quickly notice your vision is blurry and that one of your eyes hurts, is sensitive to light (photophobia), and looks red. These may be symptoms of iritis (anterior uveitis), a typical ankylosing spondylitis complication.
How Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes
They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are made for fashion rather than function. You probably have a favorite pair. Sunglasses make it easier for you to see on a bright day. The right ones can protect your eyes for years, but the wrong kind can do more harm than good. Step outside and the sun's rays beam down on you, even on a cloudy day. When you're outdoors, you should protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This rare type of arthritis causes stiffness and inflammation, mainly along your spine. Both your genes and things in your environment are thought to play a role. Most people who have ankylosing spondylitis have a gene that makes a protein or "genetic marker" called HLA-B27. This gene is involved in your body's immune response, which normally works to protect you against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances.
Stage I Ovarian Cancer
You have stage I ovarian cancer when your doctor finds cancer in one or both of your ovaries. But the cancer hasn't spread to any other areas, like your lymph nodes or other organs. Within stage I, there are several sub-stages: IA: One ovary has cancer inside it (but not on its outer surface). IB: Both ovaries have cancer inside. IC: One or both ovaries have cancer inside, plus any of these situations: IC1: The casing around your tumor came open during surgery.
Epigenetics and Cancer Treatment
Unusual changes to your DNA activity can lead to cancer. Researchers are using this knowledge to create treatments that can undo these alterations. While cells have specific jobs for various parts of your body, the DNA inside them is almost the same. What makes them different is how and when they turn on or off sets of genes. Cells can control and activate or deactivate the genes they need through epigenetic changes. These are small alterations to the DNA and proteins within the cell’s chromosomes.
Can Rose Water Treat Eye Conditions?
You may have heard about the possible health benefits of products made with rose. People have used ingredients from a type called the Damask rose for medical purposes throughout history. Modern studies show that the plant may help treat and prevent disease. One product made with it is rose water. Manufacturers make it by removing compounds from the flower's leaves. In traditional Iranian medicine, people use rose water to wash their eyes and get rid of organisms that cause illness.
Picture Perfect
Swathes of pink and purple streak across the sky. You hold up your phone. Surely, the professional-grade camera can capture the beauty. Yet, what appears on the screen does little justice to what you see before you. Photographing anything beautifully depends on more than equipment quality and lighting. The person behind the camera makes all the difference.
Black-Owned Shoe Brands to Have on Your Radar
There’s a saying: Give someone the right pair of shoes and they can conquer the world. We concur, especially when it comes to your wedding day.
14 Black Jewelry Designers to Know
From bold, colorful choices to classic options, these Black jewelry designers and brands have the perfect piece to finish your look, whether it’s for your wedding day or any other day. Though there are many talented Black jewelry designers and companies, consider this list a starting point for finding your accessories match. And, don’t forget about your bridal party! We are confident you will find some amazing treasures.
Industry Talk: Stationery Designer Damilola Okuboyejo
Damilola Okuboyejo loves celebrations—and not just the ones for life-altering events such as weddings and baby showers, for which she crafts unbelievable luxury stationery and other items. “I tend to celebrate everything, from half birthdays to the turn of every season,” she admits. The founder and creative director of By Dami Studios (BDS), a luxury stationery company, may even be whisking up specialty cakes soon for her and her loved ones to savor during those everyday celebrations.
Celebrating 21 Black Wedding Fashion Designers
In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting some of the leading Black wedding fashion designers and brands in the wedding space. Though we’ve mostly focused on Black wedding dress designers, we’ve sprinkled in a few options for those who may want something a little different from the black wedding design community. AMSALE Simplistic styles are everywhere now, but designer Amsale Aberra was ahead of her time when she launched her brand.
Industry Talk: Stationery Designer Damilola Okuboyejo and the Beauty of the Everyday
Damilola Okuboyejo loves celebrations-and not just the ones for life-altering events such as weddings and baby showers, for which she crafts unbelievable luxury stationery and other items. "I tend to celebrate everything, from half birthdays to the turn of every season," she admits. The founder and creative director of By Dami Studios (BDS), a luxury...
What to Know About Wedding Weekends
The joys of multiday wedding celebrations have long been experienced in countless cultures throughout the world. And, thankfully, more people in the United States and other countries are starting to catch on. Extending the jubilee of a wedding ceremony and reception by incorporating complementary events that turn the entire experience into a three- or four-day celebration, called a “wedding weekend,” is growing in popularity.
Top Black Wedding Planners to Know
When preparing for your Big Day, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to hire a wedding planner, followed by deciding who that planner will be. It’s a nerve-racking decision, considering you’re entrusting a wedding planner with one of the most important days of your life. Plus, there’s so much to consider. Are your personalities a match? Can they meet your cultural needs? Do they have a similar communication style? Do you trust them enough to follow their lead?
Small But Mighty
A close-knit group of real estate agents and staff is the Ivan Savant Team’s secret to success. By Alexandra McCray Ask most business owners what their No. 1 goal is, and they’ll likely say “growth.” For Ivan Savant, founder, and Jessica Savant, operations manager, of the Ivan Savant Team — in one very important way, that’s not the case. For their real estate team, the husband-and-wife pair favor a small, carefully curated group of agents and administrative support.
Taking On Goliath
When teens and adults face legal trouble, the Frye Law Group is there to help prevent it from derailing their lives. By Alexandra McCray There was once a time when, if the police caught a few teens drinking alcohol, they would pour out the containers, scold the youngsters, and make sure they got home safely, explains Kim Keheley Frye, managing partner and founder of Frye Law Group, a Marietta firm specializing in criminal defense.
Wedding Planner Melisa Brown the Lux Life
When this wedding planner isn’t turning wedding day visions into stunning realities that include a virtual appearance by Damian Marley or a complete transformation of the ever-popular LAVAN venue, you’ll find Melisa Brown hosting intimate events at her Sunrise, Florida, home. As the founder and wedding planner of Lux Lifestyle Events, the business owner and senior event planner has various vendor contacts she could call to rescue her from kitchen duty for personal get-togethers.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms and Complications
When you have ankylosing spondylitis, your back can be stiff and painful, your neck might hurt, and you can have fatigue. The disease can affect various parts of your body and increase your chances of getting certain conditions. Iritis You may quickly notice your vision is blurry and that one of your eyes hurts, is sensitive to light (photophobia), and looks red. These may be symptoms of iritis (anterior uveitis), a typical ankylosing spondylitis complication.
Causes and Risk Factors for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This rare type of arthritis causes stiffness and inflammation, mainly along your spine. Both your genes and things in your environment are thought to play a role. Most people who have ankylosing spondylitis have a gene that makes a protein or "genetic marker" called HLA-B27. This gene is involved in your body's immune response, which normally works to protect you against bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances.
Causes and Risk Factors for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD Doctors don’t know exactly what causes ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This rare type of arthritis causes stiffness and inflammation, mainly along your spine. Both your genes and things in your environment are thought to play a role. Your Genes Most people who have ankylosing spondylitis have a gene that makes a protein or "genetic marker" called HLA-B27.
Industry Talk: Award-Winning Wedding Photographer Stanley Babb
Amidst the most cherished images, including stunning snapshots of far-flung locales, in the personal photo collection of world-class engagement, lifestyle and wedding photographer Stanley Babb are some from a location you likely wouldn’t expect—Orlando, Florida. The destination is one that’s relatively close to home for Babb, his wife, and their twin boys—the family resides in South Florida—but is equally as meaningful and exciting to them as an international voyage.
Industry Talk: Award-Winning Photographer Stanley Babb Talks Family, Travel and What Inspires Him
Amidst the most cherished images, including stunning snapshots of far-flung locales, in the personal photo collection of world-class engagement, lifestyle and wedding photographer Stanley Babb are some from a location you likely wouldn’t expect—Orlando, Florida. The destination is one that’s relatively close to home for Babb, his wife and their twin boys—the family resides in South Florida—but is equally as meaningful and exciting to them as an international voyage.
Understand Ankylosing Spondylitis Flare-Ups
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) flare-ups can be common. Researchers and doctors don’t have an official definition of what happens in an AS flare. But if you have one, you know it based on how you feel. Your flare-up may feel different than someone else’s. One study looked at flares as generalized or localized, based on whether they affected the whole body or just one area.
Standing Out From The Crowd
How one of Cobb Chamber’s 2022 Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year winners succeeds by doing things differently. By Alexandra McCray While listening to a certain song, you may have thought to yourself, “If my life had a theme song, this would be it.” Or, “This song is my workout anthem.” However, you probably haven’t considered, what’s the one song that personifies the soul of a project I’m undertaking at work?
Marriage & Money: Tips for a Healthy Financial Relationship
It’s more than possible to ensure a healthy financial relationship so that your finances don’t become an issue in your marriage. Marriage and money go hand in hand. We spoke to financial experts to share their tips for a healthy financial relationship. To achieve a healthy financial relationship, you need constant communication about money and advice for laying the groundwork for achieving your financial goals together.
Building a Healthy Marriage
When we look at couples in multidecade marriages, many of us wonder what the secret is to building a healthy marriage. As it turns out, according to the three mental health and relationship experts we spoke to, the secret to building a healthy marriage is a combination of traits and skills that we can develop within ourselves and our unions. Read on for their advice on how to do both.
Black History Month: How Couples Can Celebrate
Black Americans’ history is as multidimensional as we are as people, but what we see far too often is an underwhelming regurgitation of the same names, faces, trauma and accomplishments. Thankfully, this is becoming the case less and less in mainstream culture as people work tirelessly to make sure our past experiences and contributions get the attention they deserve.
14 Apps to Make Wedding Planning a Breeze
Oh, technology—it truly does make life more convenient, and this can be especially true when planning a wedding. The list of details to wrangle to get down the aisle can feel like it never ends, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Wedding planning apps are making it easier than ever to stay organized (and sane!) as the Big Day approaches. Here are 14 you’ll want to instantly download to make the process streamlined and enjoyable.
Vincent and Briana Talk "Married at First Sight" and Building a Life Together
In marriage, one could easily say the hard work is never done, but for Vincent and Briana to some extent it is. During a sprint-like filming period, Married at First Sight participants must not only navigate getting to know the stranger they wed moments ago, but also learn to collaborate and build intimacy with this person.
The Scoop on Today’s Top Eating Plans
Whether you are looking to slim down for your wedding day or just want to kick-start a healthy lifestyle, there are endless eating plans available to help you reach your goals. Here, we provide an overview of some of the most popular plans and share insights from nutrition experts about the pros and cons, along with what to consider when choosing an eating plan.
How We Pulled Off a (Small) Wedding During the Pandemic
By Alexandra McCray Two years ago, when we started planning our spring 2020 wedding, my biggest fear was bad weather, not a global pandemic. We imagined a traditional wedding weekend complete with a rehearsal party, elegant ceremony, and large reception. I pictured my cousin’s daughter sprinkling the aisle with flowers before my godmother officiated. I thought we’d have our first dance in a ballroom. We joked that there’d be so many guests to chat with we’d barely get to eat dinner.
What to Know About Asthma and Pregnancy
Your asthma can get better, get worse, or stay the same when you're pregnant. If it does improve, that can happen throughout the pregnancy. If you have severe asthma, it's more likely to get worse. You may feel this during the first and third trimester. If your symptoms change, your doctor needs to know. This allows them to adjust your medication throughout your pregnancy. They may monitor your lungs as well. Managing your asthma keeps you and your baby healthy.
What Happens When Asthma Isn’t Controlled
What Happens When Asthma Isn’t Controlled If your asthma is mild to moderate but isn’t under control, you may: Feel like something is tightening around your chest Cough Have a hard time breathing Make a whistling sound (wheezing) when you inhale and exhale In children, unmanaged asthma can slow growth or delay puberty. Some people’s lungs change when the tubes that bring air in and out of them are always swollen. The airways get narrower, your lungs have scars, and it’s tough to breathe.
Liz Carlile
Like so many new mothers, Liz Carlile struggled balancing caring for her family, herself, and her career. As she felt less connected to those around her and ultimately not as happy, she knew something had to change. By Alex McCray In 2017, Liz launched the blog Motherhood Unstressed to share how she gained control of her life and created her own joy.
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