For three long years—1,200 relentless days—Tina, a passionate photographer, spent every waking moment with a headache. A dull discomfort turned into a nagging, full-blown, full-head pain that dominated her daily existence.

“I’ve had a headache for approximately 1,200 days straight. Every second, every day. It feels like a balloon pressing on my entire head,” Tina revealed in a conversation during her first visit to Dr. Rahim Saleehmohamed, a chiropractor and spine wellness expert known for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

In spite of the relentless pain, Tina kept working. Since she was a professional photographer, she habitually carried heavy camera equipment, consistently subjecting her neck, shoulders, and spine to tension. "It's like adrenaline that drives me. But it's pain. It's exhaustion. It's part of my life," she confessed.

Dr. Rahim's clinical strategy is to make a thorough structural analysis—beyond the presenting signs to determine the anatomical and biomechanical origins of chronic problems.

After having a look at Tina's spine and posture, Dr. Rahim found an array of imbalances. In particular, a past tailbone (coccyx) injury had deranged her pelvis, which, over time, created a chain reaction of compensatory shifts throughout her spine—from her sacrum and mid-back to her top cervical spine, shoulders, and jaw.

Her left hip was misaligned, which created a functional leg length discrepancy. Not only did this change the manner in which she walked, but it also made her body compensate by side-to-side movements—"a zigzag of pain," as Dr. Rahim put it.

"Every one of the muscles is always firing just to keep her upright," he said. "All that constant firing causes fatigue and, ultimately, chronic pain. The stress from the pelvis propagates upward, affecting everything from the sacrum on up through the jaw."

Chain Reaction in the Spine

X-ray examination confirmed several misalignments:

• Tilted Pelvis: Resulting from the tailbone injury and rotation of the pelvis
• Thoracic Kinks: Particularly near T6, related to mid-back pain and even stomach discomfort
• Cervical Displacement: The highest cervical vertebra (C1) was displaced, impacting her neck and head alignment
• TMJ Dysfunction: Jaw strain from bad head posture
• Frozen SI Joints: Her sacroiliac joints did not have sufficient mobility, which hindered effortless hip and lower spine movement

Even her gait while walking exhibited these problems. Tina exhibited signs of pronation of the left foot—a compensatory mechanism to elevate her malaligned hip. "There's not much movement through her SI joints when she walks. It's just. stuck," Dr. Rahim observed during her examination.

Dr. Rahim's treatment was precise and individualized. In the first session, he used a series of specific chiropractic adjustments:

• Coccyx and Sacrum (S5): Correcting foundational pelvic alignment
• T6 Adjustment: Severe kink in the thoracic spine generally linked with stress and digestive system
• C1 Adjustment: Straightening the upper cervical spine to eliminate tension from the neck upward
• TMJ and Ear Adjustments: Relieving tension on the jaw and pressure around the cranial area
• Shoulder Balancing: To offset the unbalanced muscle tension

Every adjustment was to minimize nerve interference, redistribute weight more evenly, and enable her spine to stabilize.

Though chiropractic treatment may take a course of sessions, Tina noticed a subtle change immediately after her first adjustment. "Something feels different," she ventured, hesitantly hopeful.

Dr. Rahim noted increased spinal mobility and a more defined base of the neck—showing her nervous system was already reacting to the alignment.

By clearing the “blockages” in her body’s structure, the goal wasn’t just pain relief—it was to help her body heal from the inside out. “The foundation was behind her. Now, we’re working to bring her back into balance,” Dr. Rahim explained.

What Tina’s Case Reveals About Modern Pain?

Tina's case is not unique. As sedentary lives, screen-oriented jobs, and physically stressful jobs such as photography become more prevalent, more and more people are experiencing unexplained chronic pain. Pain is commonly addressed symptomatically—with medication or temporary relief techniques—without probing the underlying mechanical misalignments.

Dr. Rahim's integrative chiropractic model shows that chronic problems can be caused by what seem like minor injuries that lead to long-term structural tension. "Pain is the body's alarm system. If we don't address the cause, it keeps ringing," he said.

If you have recurring headaches, neck pain, or back pain—particularly following injuries or decades of bad posture—have a complete spinal examination. It might uncover what blood tests and scans won't.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute medical advice. Always consult your physician or a certified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment.

If you're a parent feeling overwhelmed by your kids' sports schedules and expenses, you're not alone. A new study confirms that today's parents are indeed spending significantly more time, money, and effort on their children's sports activities compared to previous generations.

This idea that parents are going "all in" to their kids' sports events, spending more money and time, has been a common story. Now, research confirms that this isn't just talk; things have genuinely changed.

Proof is in the Data

Researchers looked at information from nearly 4,000 adults across the U.S. who shared details about their parents' involvement and spending on their sports when they were growing up. The survey was conducted between 2018 and 2019. The results clearly show a growing trend of parents getting more involved in youth sports, especially those with higher education. For example:

Most people born in the 1950s said their parents went to their sports events only a few times a year.

But for those born in the 1990s, parents with a college degree attended games about once a week on average, while those with less education attended about once a month.

Similar trends were also seen in how much money parents spent on sports and how much they helped out with things like coaching or driving. These changes really started to pick up speed for children born in the 1980s.

Intensive Parenting and Changing Systems

Researchers explained that recent shifts in youth sports and parenting cultures have pushed parents to invest more. He noted that since the 1980s, supporting a child's athletic growth seems to demand a level of involvement that previous generations didn't experience.

Positive And Negative Impact of Youth Sports

According to the Open Access Journal Of Sports Medicine journal, youth sports are incredibly popular in the U.S., with about 45 million children and teenagers taking part. In fact, 75% of American families with school-aged kids have at least one child in organized sports.

Positive Side

When done right, youth sports offer fantastic benefits. They can help kids develop physical fitness, improve their mental well-being, and teach lifelong lessons that encourage an active and healthy lifestyle. The key is to keep the focus on fun and strike a good balance in these areas.

Negative Side

Despite the popularity, there are some concerning issues in youth sports. Surprisingly, even with so many kids playing sports, we're seeing a childhood obesity epidemic, with one in three children now overweight. Most kids and teens are leading increasingly inactive lives outside of their organized sports.

Why Parents Are More Involved Now

Experts suggest that recent changes in youth sports and parenting styles have pushed parents to invest more. Since the 1980s, supporting a child's athletic development seems to demand a level of involvement that wasn't expected of parents in earlier times.

This shift is part of a larger trend called "intensive parenting." Over the last 50 years or so, parents have moved from being casual supporters to actively managing their children's extracurricular lives.

One reason for this increased involvement is that schools have cut back on sports spending. This has led better-off families to pour more of their own resources into their children's athletic success. Parents often see this as a way to boost their kids' chances when applying for college or looking for jobs.

Part of the reason for this increased involvement is that schools have cut back on sports funding. This means wealthier families are now putting more money into their children's athletic success.

This year from June 16 to 22, the world observed the World Continence Week. This is an annual global awareness campaign that is dedicated to raising awareness about bowel and bladder issues, including incontinence and promoting better continence care.

History of World Continence Day

It was first organized by the World Federation for Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP). The aim was to raise awareness about bladder and bowel incontinence, which has affected many people, yet continues to remain stigmatized.

Theme for World Continence Day 2025

This year, the theme is 'Shared Decision Making, Incontinence and Mental Health, Overactive Bladder, Faecal Incontinence, Sustainability, and Menopause.'

This year's theme, thus, in many ways, advocates for raising awareness of the many and individual effects of disorders that are associated to continence, globally.

Why Is It Important?

As per the Urology Foundation, 14 million people in the UK experience bladder problems , the data comes directly from NHS. This means 1 in 5 people in UK is experiencing this disorder. This is also an issue many people do not wish to talk about and thus remains a hidden condition.

Many people feel hesitant or embarrassed to talk about their toilet habits, often choosing to put up with uncomfortable symptoms in silence. But urinary incontinence is more common than we think, and there are several effective ways to manage it. That’s why it’s important to speak to a GP or healthcare professional to explore suitable treatment options.

Living with incontinence can affect a person’s emotional and social wellbeing. Feelings of embarrassment or isolation are not uncommon, especially if the condition limits day-to-day activities, strains relationships, or interferes with intimacy. In more severe cases, it may even affect job performance or reduce one’s ability to live independently. Over time, this can lead to a significant drop in self-esteem and confidence.

The importance of this week also lies in understanding that continence health, especially urinary and fecal incontinence, significantly impacts physical, emotional ad social well-being, globally.

It affects individuals of all ages, with a notable increase in prevalence among older adults. Beyond the physical discomfort and potential complications like skin irritation and infections, incontinence leads to social isolation, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life.

Physical Health:

Incontinence can lead to several health issues, including skin irritation, urinary tract infections, and disrupted sleep. For older adults, the urgency to reach the toilet can also increase the risk of falls and injuries.

Emotional and Psychological Impact:

The condition often brings emotional distress, including feelings of embarrassment, shame, anxiety, and depression. It can lower self-esteem and cause individuals to withdraw from social settings due to the fear of accidents.

Social Impact:

Many people reduce or completely avoid participating in social events, work, or recreational activities. Over time, this can lead to isolation, loneliness, and a decline in overall quality of life.

How any times have you watched a true crime documentary and wondered, “What kind of person could actually do that?” Well, science may have just brought us a step closer to the answer—and the location. A new eye-opening study has mapped out where in the United States you're most likely to encounter people with dark personality traits like narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. And no, it’s not just Hollywood dramatizing the ‘evil neighbor’ narrative, some states really do have higher concentrations of individuals with what psychologists call the “Dark Factor of Personality,” or “D.”

Turns out, the environment we live in marked by things like poverty, corruption, inequality, and violence could actually shape how likely we are to exploit or harm others for personal gain. So, if you’ve ever felt like your city breeds a little more chaos than kindness, you might not be imagining it. The results? Both fascinating and unnerving.

A groundbreaking study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) analyzed data from nearly 1.8 million respondents worldwide—including over 144,000 Americans—to identify where "dark" personality traits like psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism are most prevalent. The researchers found that horrid societal conditions—high poverty, inequality, corruption, and violence are closely linked to these darker traits.

What Are Some Dark Personality Traits?

Psychologists refer to these harmful traits collectively as the “Dark Factor of Personality”, or “D”. This umbrella concept captures the underlying tendency toward aversive behavior manipulation, exploitation, even enjoyment of others' suffering. Unlike the well-known “dark triad” (psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism), “D” integrates these tendencies into a single measurable dimension.

Researchers linked high D scores with self-serving behaviors and the belief that self-interest often superseeds moral or societal responsibilities. Crucially, they discovered that social and economic hardships tend to foster these personality traits over time

While analyzing data at the U.S. state level and correlating it with FBI homicide rates, Justice Department corruption convictions, and Census Bureau statistics, the researchers revealed stark geographical patterns. States with higher crime, corruption, and economic disparity tend to have higher average D scores. Among the highest-ranked states:

1. Nevada tops the list with a D score of 2.26/5
2. New York (2.24)
3. Texas (2.22)
4. South Dakota (2.22)

In contrast, the safest states in terms of low dark personality prevalence include:

1. Vermont (1.96)
2. Utah (2.03)
3. Maine (2.04)
4. New Hampshire, Oregon, and Alaska

Though differences may seem minor numerically, they are statistically significant across large populations.

Role of Sociocultural Environments in Shaping Personality

One of the study’s most compelling insights is how personality is not merely inherited. Lead co-author Ingo Zettler explains that living under corrupt, unequal, or violent conditions teaches people to look after themselves first.

This adaptation may serve as a survival mechanism in harsh environments, distrust, aggression, and self-centeredness offer competitive advantages. Urban areas like New York and Las Vegas, with extreme resource competition, often amplify these traits.

State Profiles

Nevada, New York, Texas, South Dakota

Nevada’s D score of 2.26 tops the nation with analysts suggesting that both systemic issues and the transient, high-stakes nature of urban hubs like Las Vegas amplify dark traits. New York and Texas closely follow both states face stark inequality and urban density.

South Dakota’s inclusion challenges stereotypes, showing that inequality and lack of resources, not just urban stress, can drive 'darker' behavioral tendencies.

Vermont, Utah, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Alaska

Vermont’s low score (1.96) positions it as the least likely to harbor dark personalities. These states share lower poverty rates, strong community cohesion and fewer corruption issues, creating environments that foster trust and cooperation.

While the link between adverse conditions and dark traits is moderate, its social cost is substantial. Traits like aggression, exploitation and cheating contribute to systemic challenges from governance issues to workplace toxicity .

Zettler emphasizes that small improvements in reducing corruption and inequality can yield large societal benefits by stemming the growth of dark personality traits

Researchers acknowledge limitations. The study doesn't account for migration—a psychopath in New York may have grown up elsewhere. Also, while personality evolves, genetic factors and early childhood experiences play significant roles. The findings highlight personality as malleable, shaped significantly by social context.

This extensive data reveals that the "dark factor" is not a rarity it lingers in communities shaped by inequality, corruption and violence but the study also offers hope.