Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access, the No 1 supplier of abortion pills by mail in the United States works remotely, shipping around 9,000 abortion pills a month. However, right after Trump declared victory in the 2024 election, her website was flooded with 5,000 requests for abortion pills in less than 12 hours.

But does the abortion pill work when taken home? How to know if it has been consumed right? As per the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortion accounted for 63% of all US abortions in 2023, an increase from 53% in 2020. Now, women are stocking up on abortion pills and morning-after-pill ahead of the "reproductive apocalypse", says Elisa Well, co-founder of another abortion pill finder site, Plan C, as reports The Guardian. This comes as a backdrop of Trump's win who is an anti-abortion believer, which is why, women are stocking abortion pills up in case it is banned in the US as the power transfers. For this election, abortion was on the ballot for voters in 10 states, out of which 7 passed for protective abortion, while the 3 supported anti-abortion.

What is the abortion pill?

To be accurate, there is more than just one pill. The combination of pills is a safe and reliable way to end a pregnancy up to about 12 weeks after the first day of your period. This procedure could be carried out at home. However, a follow-up appointment is suggested to get reassurance.

It is a combination of two medications - mifepristone and misoprostol, which are consumed in two separate doses. The person may experience cramping and bleeding within a few hours of taking the second medication. This is an indicator that it has worked.

If you pass large blood clots, it may indicate that the embryonic or fetal tissue is exiting your body. Cramping occurs so your uterus can shrink back to its original size.

How long is this process for?

This process can take somewhere between 2 to 3 days to complete, however, symptoms can last for a few weeks.

If you are not aborting at home with the help of the pill, an ultrasound is likely to be performed and you will be given a dissolving tablet that is placed in your vagina, under your tongue or between your cheek and teeth. This will lead to bleeding within 4 hours.

How does it work?

Mifepristone helps block the pregnancy hormone called progesterone which leads to the breakdown of the uterine lining and stops the growth of the fetus. Once, the body realizes that pregnancy cannot be continued, misoprostol helps push out tissue through the vagina.

The contraction helps the uterus get back to its original size. This could be on the same level as when someone experiences a miscarriage.

Is it effective?

According to a 2011 study titled Comparative effectiveness, safety and acceptability of medical abortion at home and in a clinic: A systematic review, there was no difference found between the effectiveness of medical abortion and surgical abortion. Another 2015 study titled Medical Compared With Surgical Abortion for Effective Pregnancy Termination in the First Trimester, reveals that both options are as effective in the first trimester.

Are there any side effects?

While you will experience bleeding and cramping after taking the second pill, there could be other side effects too including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Fever-like symptoms

However, once the symptoms reduce, your bleeding becomes lighter and cramps are not as severe, you would know that the medication is over.

Abortion History In The US

The 2024 election's focal point was abortion rights and it became a major topic following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, where the Supreme Court ended the 50 years of federal protection of abortion rights in the US. It opened the door for states to craft their own bans. Since then, 14 out of the 11 states have established previously illegal limits on when can a person have an abortion.

7 of the 10 states in the US with abortion protective

In 10 of the US states, abortion was on the ballot for voters in the 2024 elections, out of which, 7 passed the abortion protective. The list of the 7 states are:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Maryland
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nevada
• New York

Whereas, in Florida, to limit government interference, there was a requirement of 60% support but it only came about 57%.

In Nebraska, anti-abortion passed, while in South Dakota, an amendment to prohibit the state from restricting abortion during the first trimester failed.

For now, the country has an abortion law that permits abortions to save the life of a pregnant person.

That first glance in the mirror can say a lot about your night and your health. If your eyes are bloodshot red even before you’ve had coffee, it’s not just a skincare issue. Morning eye redness is often a sign that something’s off and that your body is signalling to something- whether it’s as simple as dry air in your bedroom or as serious as glaucoma.

The catch? Red eyes are not a diagnosis. They may be a symptom, and one that can be indicative of many conditions. Getting the reason behind the redness is crucial to alleviating it and safeguarding your sight. Here's an examination of the seven most frequent causes — and why you should take them seriously.

1. Sleep Apnea and CPAP Side Effects

Obstructive sleep apnea not only interferes with your breathing — it may interfere with your eye health as well. Those who have this condition tend to sleep with their eyes half-open, drying them out. And for those who are on CPAP therapy, the constant flow of pressurized air can blow up into the eyelids, drying them further.

Sleep apnea dry eyes are also more severe in the morning and may make the whites of your eyes appear red and inflamed. If you also snore loudly, are very tired all the time, or your bed partner has noticed that your breathing stops during sleep, speak with a doctor. Addressing the apnea and refitting the CPAP mask may alleviate both the eye and sleep symptoms.

2. Dry Eye Syndrome

If your eyes aren't making enough tears — or the tears they do make aren't efficient — you might have dry eye syndrome. It can bring stinging, burning, redness, and blurred vision, particularly upon awakening.

Sleeping with a ceiling fan, air conditioning, or heating vent blowing on your face will make it worse. Your sleeping position counts, too: side-sleepers sometimes keep one eye slightly ajar, allowing moisture to escape.

Risk grows with age, contact lens wear, deficiency in vitamin A, and autoimmune conditions like lupus. Treatment extends from over-the-counter eye drops to prescription medicines that stimulate your eyes to produce more tears.

3. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Pink eye isn't something to worry about in early childhood. Adults may wake up with red, irritated eyes caused by viral, bacterial, or allergic conjunctivitis. If there's discharge, the eyelids may be crusty in the morning. Red eyes without discharge are more likely from bacteria. Viral pink eye tends to result in watery discharge and swelling of the eyes. Allergic conjunctivitis can cause lots of itching.

Bacterial and viral types are contagious, so washing your hands, with new towels, and no eye makeup are a must. Although antihistamines work well for allergic conjunctivitis, bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotic drops. Viral pink eye generally heals by itself, but cold compresses can relieve pain.

4. Allergies at Work Overnight

Seasonal or environmental allergies may cause morning redness by inflaming the sensitive blood vessels in your eyes. Pollen, animal dander, dust mites, and mold spores will stick to your eyelashes and eyelids throughout the day. When you go to bed, these allergens are in direct contact with your eyes for several hours, causing morning irritation.

The giveaway? Itching. When you wake up with eyes rubbing, allergens are often the offender. Pre-bedtime facial washes, allergen-proof bedclothes, and closed bedroom windows can help. In resistant situations, antihistamine eye drops are sometimes required.

5. Ocular Rosacea (Eyelid Acne)

Yes, acne can indeed get on your eyelids. Ocular rosacea — a long-term inflammatory disorder — can cause eyelids to appear red, puffy, and irritated. It usually occurs in combination with facial rosacea but can appear on its own.

People in their 30s to 50s are most commonly affected. Triggers include sun exposure, spicy foods, and hot beverages. While there’s no cure, symptoms can be managed with warm compresses, eyelid scrubs, and prescribed topical or oral medications. Treating the underlying rosacea can reduce morning redness and irritation.

6. Glaucoma

Though uncommon, waking up with red eyes may indicate acute angle-closure glaucoma — a true emergency. It occurs when fluid accumulates quickly within the eye, causing intraocular pressure to shoot to perilous levels.

In addition to redness, symptoms may involve intense pain in the eye, headache, blurred vision, nausea, and halos around lights. If left untreated immediately, this can result in permanent blindness in hours to days. If you ever find yourself with these symptoms, immediately seek ophthalmologic attention.

7. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

If ever you've awoken with a bright red eye but have no pain, you've probably had a subconjunctival hemorrhage — a ruptured blood vessel just beneath the surface.

It appears scary but is generally not a problem. It may occur from coughing, sneezing, rubbing your eyes during sleep, or even from routine blinking. The blood will usually be reabsorbed in one to two weeks without medical intervention. Nevertheless, if it occurs over and over, an eye physician can test for underlying conditions such as high blood pressure or clotting disorders.

When Should You Go See A Doctor?

Morning redness that happens occasionally and clears quickly may not be cause for concern. But if it becomes frequent, is accompanied by pain, discharge, blurred vision, or sensitivity to light, it’s worth getting checked.

Your eyes have limited means of communicating distress, and redness is among them. Untreated, some causes — such as glaucoma or chronic dry eye — can cause permanent damage. A thorough eye exam will identify the issue and head off complications.

Waking up with red eyes is no laughing matter. Whether it's the result of allergies, dryness, infection, or more severe eye disease, the sooner you know the cause, the sooner you can safeguard your vision. Simple tweaks, such as tweaking the sleep environment, keeping allergies at bay, or being compliant with chronic conditions, can pay dividends — both for your eye health and your morning routines.

Although seeing uniquely colored people in cartoons and on screen, can you imagine seeing one in real life? It is not fiction, but blue people do exist. The Fugates, a family from rural Kentucky's Troublesome Creek, were well-known for their unique, blue-colored skin. People who met them often said they were "blue all over" or "as blue as Lake Louise."

This wasn’t a one-off thing, this rare trait was passed down through their family. Their story became more widely known after a baby, Benjamin "Benjy" Stacy, was born with blue skin in 1975, prompting doctors to investigate the unusual phenomenon, according to the New York Post.

Family Mystery of Blue Skin Solved

When Benjy Stacy was born with a dark blue hue, doctors were baffled. The baby was transferred to a medical center, but physicians remained perplexed. That's when Benjy's grandmother offered a crucial clue, asking if they had ever heard of the "blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek."

It was discovered that the baby was a descendant of this family, which traced its origins back to a French orphan named Martin Fugate who settled in Kentucky in 1820. Both Martin and his wife, Elizabeth Smart, unknowingly carried a rare recessive gene for a condition called methemoglobinemia.

What Causes One’s Skin To Turn Blue?

The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center methemoglobinemia is a rare blood disorder where red blood cells contain an unusually high amount of methemoglobin. Unlike normal hemoglobin, methemoglobin cannot carry oxygen effectively to the body's tissues. This lack of oxygenation gives the blood a dark, chocolate-like color, which, in turn, makes the skin appear blue and the lips purple.

The Fugate family's isolated community and intermarriage over generations led to the persistence of this recessive gene, ensuring that the condition was passed down. One notable descendant, Luna Fugate, was described as "the bluest woman I ever saw."

Methemoglobinemia can be either inherited, like in the Fugate family, or it can be acquired. Acquired cases are more common and are typically caused by exposure to certain medications or chemicals, such as nitrates, silver, or benzocaine. Symptoms of this rare disease can include:

• Bluish-colored skin
• Seizures
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

Can You Cure This Blue Skin-Condition?

In the early 1960s, two Fugate family members, who had grown tired of their blue appearance, sought medical help. A hematologist named Madison Cawein diagnosed their condition and found a simple but effective treatment: methylene blue dye. When ingested, this dye helps the body convert the dysfunctional methemoglobin back into regular hemoglobin.

Within minutes of taking the dose, the Fugates' skin would turn a normal pinkish color. This solution provided a way to manage the condition and effectively “cured” them of their blue hue. Benjy Stacy, the last known living descendant with the trait, lost his blue coloration by age seven, though his lips and fingertips still turn blue when he is cold.

Are There Other Conditions That Cause Blue Skin?

Another condition that can cause the skin to turn a bluish or silver color is argyria. This is a different disorder from methemoglobinemia and is caused by prolonged contact with silver compounds or ingesting silver salts. People at risk for argyria include those who:

• Take medications with silver salts as an ingredient.
• Use colloidal silver as a dietary supplement.
• Have jobs that expose them to silver, such as silver mining or refining.

A famous modern case was Paul Karason, known as "Papa Smurf," who developed argyria after drinking a homemade colloidal silver mixture and using a silver-based salve. His story helped raise awareness about the potential dangers of ingesting silver products.

Mermaiding wellness? What on Earth is that? It is neither a myth nor a resort spa gimmick. It is a full-on wellness trend that has taken the watersports world by storm. At its core, mermaiding wellness is the practice of donning a mermaid or merman tail and swimming or lounging in water while embodying that mermaid-inspired persona. The magic starts with the tail itself. Many are made of soft silicone that feels smooth against your skin and moves fluidly in water. Others are crafted from stretchy fabrics that cling and stretch as you swim.

Why is it trending?

Essentially, it is wellness with fun. The water becomes more than a workout space; it becomes a fantasy realm. A mermaiding session goes beyond a lap swim and becomes a mythical adventure. Imagining yourself gliding under coral castles or playing tag with fish brings joy and absurdity into your routine. That joy releases endorphins and makes movement feel like play rather than performance.

Mermaiding also ticks many boxes people look for in wellness: stress relief, mindfulness, muscle elongation from undulating movements, cardiovascular fitness from kicking, and creative expression through tail design and movement. It is a head-to-toe engagement that feels more like a ritual than a workout.

The practical side

Of course, safety and practicalities come into play. Swimming with a monofin inside a tail requires instruction. Sessions often begin with a tutorial on marine-like movement, body positioning, and the specific technique of flipping the tail for propulsion. You learn to breathe calmly, keep movements smooth, and roll safely to the side if you need to breathe mid-stroke. You also learn to surface gently, avoiding broken tails or flailing arms, and to develop a unique spatial awareness in the water.

Mindfulness with a splash

Many mermaiding studios and retreats combine tail time with mindfulness practices. Breathwork, visualisation, and guided relaxation often happen poolside before diving in. Instructors might encourage you to imagine swimming through a kelp forest or watching schools of shimmering fish glide past. This imagery lets your mind release everyday stress and connect more deeply to movement.

A community under the sea

Mermaiding wellness events often evolve into community rituals. Think “mermaid circles” in calm pools, where participants gather to chat, share their favourite sea creature, or tell their first ocean memory. These micro-rituals weave connection, celebration, and water sense into a shared wellbeing experience.

Style and sparkle

Mer tails come in every possible colour and pattern. You might choose tropical scales in hot pink, violet, and blue, or a silver shimmer that glows under pool lights. Mermen might go for deep ocean teal with pearl accents. Accessories, from seashell bracelets to starfish hair clips, complete the look. Some people even add water-safe face paint or blinking LED lights for extra magic. It is not about perfection; it is about joy, glitter, and a touch of make-believe.

Why Now?

The rise of immersive, playful movement trends has paved the way for mermaiding. It taps into childhood nostalgia, the human pull toward the ocean, creative self-expression, and community. It offers something refreshingly different from the gym or yoga mat: a chance to feel both meditative and mischievous.

Taking the plunge

Mermaiding would not replace running or yoga, but it offers something wonderfully unique. It invites you to move mindfully, with humour, sparkle, and community magic. You will leave the water not just with damp hair but with the feeling of having lived a tide-touched daydream.

If you are tempted to try it, search for local mermaiding classes or retreats. Most beginners’ sessions include tail rental and instruction. All you need is a swimsuit, a towel, and the willingness to make a splash in a mythical way.