Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are often mentioned together, and for good reason. Both are forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both can cause painful digestive symptoms, and both tend to flare and improve over time rather than follow a straight line. While they share a decent amount of overlap, they are not the same condition.

Understanding the difference matters because diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management can look a little different depending on which type of IBD a person has. It also matters because symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blood in the stool can sometimes be mistaken for other digestive issues, which can delay getting the right care.

What is Crohn's disease?

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract. In most people, it affects the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine, but it can show up in different places, and even in multiple areas at once.

One of the key features of Crohn's is that the inflammation can extend into deeper layers of the bowel wall, not just the surface lining. That can increase the risk of complications such as strictures, fistulas, abscesses, and bowel obstruction over time. Crohn's can range from mild to severe, and symptoms may develop gradually or come on more suddenly. Many people also experience periods of remission, when symptoms ease or disappear for a time, followed by flares.

What is ulcerative colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is also a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, but it affects the large intestine differently. Instead of appearing anywhere in the digestive tract, ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the colon and rectum. Unlike Crohn's, ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine, and the inflammation typically affects the innermost lining rather than deeper layers of tissue.

Ulcerative colitis can begin gradually and worsen over time, although symptoms can also appear more suddenly. Like Crohn's disease, it often follows a pattern of flares and remission.

Symptoms of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Since both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are forms of irritable bowel disease, the symptoms can look very similar at first.

Common symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, fatigue, fever, blood in the stool, reduced appetite, and unintended weight loss. Some people also develop mouth sores or pain and drainage near the anus related to fistulas. In more severe cases, Crohn's can affect other parts of the body too, including the skin, liver, eyes, joints, or bile ducts.

Ulcerative colitis often causes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or blood in the stool, abdominal cramping, urgency, and tenesmus (the feeling of needing to have a bowel movement even when the bowel is empty). Some people also pass mucus in the stool. Fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss can happen as symptoms become more severe or involve more of the colon.

It's also worth noting that digestive symptoms aren't always straightforward. While Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases, other gut issues can cause overlapping symptoms too. For example, some people confuse flare-related food triggers with broader digestive sensitivity.

Why Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may be confused

The reason Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis get mixed up so often is simple: they share many of the same headline symptoms. Both can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, fatigue, weight loss, and periods of flare-ups followed by remission. Both are driven by chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, and both can affect more than digestion alone, sometimes leading to symptoms involving joints, skin, eyes, or general energy levels.

On top of that, the exact cause of either condition isn't fully understood. In both cases, researchers believe genes, abnormal immune responses, the gut microbiome, and environmental factors likely play a role. That overlap can make the two conditions sound nearly interchangeable to someone hearing about them for the first time.

This is also where conversations around the microbiome can become relevant. While gut bacteria don't provide a simple explanation for IBD, researchers continue to study how dysbiosis may influence inflammation and symptom patterns.

Crohn's vs ulcerative colitis: how they're diagnosed and treated

There isn't one single test that instantly confirms Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Doctors usually diagnose both conditions by reviewing symptoms, taking a medical and family history, doing a physical exam, and ordering tests to look for inflammation, bleeding, anemia, infection, and structural changes in the digestive tract.

That often includes blood tests, stool tests, and endoscopic procedures such as a colonoscopy. In ulcerative colitis, doctors typically use endoscopy of the large intestine to confirm inflammation and determine how much of the colon is affected. In Crohn's disease, colonoscopy may also be used, but imaging such as CT scans, MRI, capsule endoscopy, or other specialized studies may be needed because Crohn's can affect deeper layers and areas beyond the colon.

Treatment for both conditions is focused on reducing inflammation, managing symptoms, preventing complications, and helping maintain remission. For Crohn's disease, that may include corticosteroids, immune-modifying medications, biologics, nutritional support, and in some cases, surgery. For ulcerative colitis, doctors also use anti-inflammatory medicines, immune-modifying drugs, biologics, and sometimes surgery, particularly if medications aren't controlling the disease or complications develop. The exact treatment plan depends on disease severity, location, complications, and how someone responds over time.

When to talk to a doctor — and how Evidation can help

Ongoing digestive symptoms are worth paying attention to, especially when they're persistent or worsening. It's a good idea to talk to a doctor if you have diarrhea lasting more than a couple of weeks, ongoing abdominal pain, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, fever, or changes in bowel habits that don't seem to resolve.

Using Evidation to streamline the health data you're already tracking can help set you up for a useful conversation with your doctor. When you download the app and connect your health data, you'll receive insights that can help you understand more about your health. Click here to get started with Evidation today.

The conversation around weight loss is changing fast. For years, the focus was mostly on calorie counting, rigid diet rules, and the idea that willpower alone determined results. Today, the future of weight loss looks different. It's becoming more personalized, more medically informed, and more connected to the way metabolism, hormones, sleep, and behavior actually work together.

That doesn't mean every new trend deserves the hype it gets. Some ideas are already reshaping how clinicians think about obesity care and long-term health. What's becoming clearer is that the next phase of weight management won't be built around a single solution. It will likely combine medication, behavior change, technology, and a broader understanding of how the body responds to timing, stress, and environment.

New medications

One of the biggest shifts in the future of weight loss drugs is the move from injectable GLP-1 medications to oral options. GLP-1 receptor agonists have already changed expectations around medical weight loss by helping regulate appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve blood sugar control. Until recently, the most widely discussed options for obesity treatment were weekly injections. Now, oral GLP-1 medications are entering the picture, and that could expand access for people who are hesitant about needles or who prefer a daily pill routine. Clinical data has shown that people taking oral semaglutide while following a healthy diet and exercise routine lost an average of about 13% of their body weight over a 64-week period. This is in the same effectiveness range as injectable semaglutide.

This doesn't mean that the pill is necessarily a "better" option across the board. Oral GLP-1s can come with strict dosing instructions and similar gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, constipation, and vomiting. Oral GLP-1s, however, may lower the psychological barrier to starting evidence-based obesity treatment, which could matter in a field where stigma and access have long been part of the problem.

Holistic approaches

As medication gets more attention, there's also growing interest in holistic strategies. Research continues to support a few core themes: higher protein intake to help preserve lean muscle during weight loss, resistance training to reduce muscle loss, fiber-rich eating patterns that improve satiety and metabolic health, and behavioral support that makes habits more sustainable over time. These aren't flashy or exciting, but they remain foundational because they work with the body rather than against it.

Weight loss from medication can include loss of muscle along with fat, which is why strength training and adequate protein are increasingly being emphasized as part of modern obesity care. That's an important shift: the goal is no longer simply to weigh less, but to improve body composition, cardiometabolic health, and overall functioning.

New technologies

Technology is also becoming a bigger part of how people approach weight loss. The newer wave of weight loss technology is less about generic tracking and more about personalization. Wearables can now help people monitor sleep consistency, heart rate trends, recovery load, and activity patterns that influence appetite and energy regulation. Some platforms are also using connected health data to identify behavior patterns that are easier to change than the number on the scale itself.

Sustainable weight loss often requires pattern recognition. When people can see that poor sleep leads to lower activity, more cravings, or inconsistent nutrition choices, the conversation becomes more practical and less moralized.

There's also growing interest in digital coaching, AI-supported meal planning, remote obesity care, and app-based support systems that combine medication adherence, nutrition guidance, and behavior tracking in one place. Not all of these tools are equally helpful, but the larger trend is clear: the future is moving toward more individualized feedback rather than one-size-fits-all plans.

Time-based eating and chronobiology approaches

One of the more interesting nutrition trends is the move away from focusing only on what people eat and toward when they eat. Time-based eating, including structured eating windows and earlier meal timing, is getting more attention because of what researchers are learning about circadian rhythms. The body's metabolism isn't static throughout the day. Hormone regulation, insulin sensitivity, digestion, and appetite signals all follow daily biological rhythms, which means meal timing may affect weight and metabolic health more than older diet models assumed.

That doesn't mean everyone needs an extreme fasting protocol. In fact, the more promising chronobiology-based approaches tend to be the more realistic ones: eating meals at consistent times, reducing late-night snacking, and shifting calories earlier in the day when the body may be better positioned to process them.

How Evidation can support your personal weight loss journey

Whether you're using GLP-1 medications, trying a fasting program, or are using other methods to lose weight, Evidation can help. When you download our app and connect it to the health information you're already tracking, you'll get personalized insights that can help you make forward progress. Click here to learn more about how Evidation can help you get started on your journey.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms can change from day to day. Some people notice periods when joint pain, stiffness, swelling, or fatigue seem to get worse without much warning. These episodes are often called flare-ups, and while they don't always have a single clear cause, certain patterns may make them more likely.

Understanding rheumatoid arthritis triggers can help make symptom changes easier to recognize and discuss. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, especially the lining of the joints. According to the American College of Rheumatology, RA most often affects the hands, wrists, knees, and feet, but it can also affect other parts of the body over time. Symptoms can vary, and flare-ups may be linked to a mix of physical, emotional, and environmental factors rather than one single trigger.

Common rheumatoid arthritis triggers

When people ask about what causes RA flareups, the answer is often more complicated than one event or behavior. RA flare-ups can happen even when someone is following their treatment plan, and not every trigger affects every person the same way.

That said, some commonly reported RA triggers include:

• Physical stress on the joints
• Emotional stress
• Poor sleep or disrupted sleep
• Illness or infection
• Changes in weather or season
• Exposure to smoke
• Dietary patterns that may worsen inflammation for some individuals

It's also important to remember that a flare-up might reflect changes in underlying disease activity, not just a lifestyle or environmental factor. That's one reason symptom changes that are frequent, intense, or different than usual may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

How stress and sleep can affect RA symptoms

Sleep and stress are two of the most common rheumatoid arthritis triggers. Emotional stress does not cause RA, but it may affect how symptoms feel and how the body responds during a flare. Stress can influence inflammation, pain sensitivity, fatigue, and sleep quality. For some people, periods of higher stress may seem to line up with more joint discomfort or longer-lasting stiffness.

Sleep can also matter. RA symptoms, especially pain and stiffness, can make it harder to sleep well, and poor sleep may make those same symptoms feel worse the next day. This can create a cycle where pain disrupts rest, and lack of rest increases fatigue and discomfort.

That doesn't mean stress or sleep problems are always the main explanation for a flare-up, but tracking them may help reveal patterns over time (especially if symptoms tend to worsen after several restless nights or during more stressful periods).

Foods that may worsen inflammation

Food is another area where people often think about when trying to understand what causes RA flareups. There is no single RA diet that works the same way for everyone, and no specific food has been proven to trigger symptoms in every person with RA.

Still, some people notice that certain dietary patterns seem to make symptoms worse. In general, highly processed foods, foods high in added sugars, and foods high in saturated fat are sometimes discussed in relation to inflammation. These foods may not trigger flare-ups for everyone, but some individuals report that they feel worse when they eat them regularly or in larger amounts.

This is where personal patterns matter more than broad rules. Rather than assuming one food is always the cause, it may be more useful to notice whether symptoms seem to change consistently after certain meals or eating habits.

Environmental and seasonal factors

Weather and seasonal changes are also frequently mentioned as RA triggers. Some people report more pain or stiffness when temperatures drop, humidity changes, or storms move in. Others notice that symptoms feel worse in colder months, when joints may feel stiffer and physical activity patterns change.

Research on weather and RA symptoms is mixed, which means the connection is not always straightforward. Even when weather itself is not always straightforward. Even when weather itself is not the direct cause, seasonal shifts can still influence routines that affect symptoms, including:

• Sleep habits
• Time spent outdoors
• Activity levels
• Stress levels
• Exposure to seasonal illnesses

Environmental exposures, including cigarette smoke, may also matter. The American College of Rheumatology notes that smoking is linked to RA risk and can make disease activity more difficult to manage.

Tracking your personal RA triggers

Rheumatoid arthritis triggers can vary from person to person, tracking symptoms over time may be one of the most useful ways to identify patterns.

A simple symptom journal or health-tracking app can help you note:

• When symptoms start or worsen
• Which joints are affected
• Sleep quality
• Stress levels
• Recent illness
• Activity changes
• Weather or seasonal shifts
• Meals or dietary patterns

The goal is not to find a perfect explanation for every flare. Instead, it's to look for repeated patterns that may help you understand what tends to happen before symptoms change. Low-impact movement, like swimming, may also be part of a broader symptom-management routine for some people.

When to talk to your doctor about worsening symptoms

Not every flare-up means something is seriously wrong, but symptom changes that are new, more intense, or harder to recover from may be worth bringing up to your doctor.

It may be especially important to check in with your doctor if:

• Flare-ups are happening more often
• Pain or swelling is lasting longer than usual
• Symptoms are interfering more with daily activities
• Stiffness is becoming more severe
• Fatigue feels significantly worse
• Symptoms are changing even though your routine has stayed the same

RA is an autoimmune condition that can change over time, worsening symptoms are not always just about triggers. Sometimes they may reflect changes in disease activity that need a closer look.

How Evidation can help you track and manage your symptoms

There isn't one simple answer to what causes RA flareups: stress, poor sleep, dietary patterns, illness, weather changes, and environmental factors all play a role. Tracking symptoms over time with Evidation can help make patterns easier to spot, giving you the insight you need to feel your best. Click here to download the Evidation app and learn more.

The relationship between sleep apnea and obesity can be difficult to untangle because each can make the other worse. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common form of sleep apnea. OSA happens when the upper airway repeatedly becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep. These pauses in breathing can lower oxygen levels, disrupt sleep quality, and leave people feeling tired even after a full night in bed. Obesity is one of the strongest known risk factors for OSA, but the connection goes both ways: poor sleep from sleep apnea may also make weight management harder over time.

Understanding how sleep apnea and obesity interact can make it easier to see why this combination matters. It isn't just about snoring or feeling groggy. OSA is linked to broader cardiometabolic concerns, including high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and higher cardiovascular risk, especially when it goes undiagnosed or untreated. When obesity is also present, those risks may be amplified.

What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder in which the muscles and soft tissues of the throat relax enough during sleep to narrow or block the airway. When that happens, breathing may pause briefly or become very shallow until the body partially wakes to reopen the airway. This cycle can repeat many times throughout the night, fragmenting sleep even if the person does not remember waking up.

Common signs of OSA can include:

• Loud or frequent snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth or headache
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability or low energy

Sometimes, OSA goes undetected. That's a part of why it's so important to understand the overlap between sleep apnea and obesity: both conditions can influence overall health in ways that are not always obvious right away.

Does obesity cause sleep apnea?

Obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for developing OSA, but it doesn't automatically cause the condition. Age, sex, family history, smoking, alcohol use, craniofacial structure, and certain anatomical features can also affect risk. That being said, excess body weight (especially around the neck and upper body) plays a major role in many cases.

In people with obesity, fat deposits around the upper airway can make that airway narrower and more likely to collapse during sleep. Obesity can also reduce lung volume and change how the body controls airway muscles, making breathing more vulnerable to repeated obstruction at night. This is one reason researchers consistently describe obesity as a major driver of OA risk and severity.

Research shows a strong overlap. In a recent individual-participant meta-analysis of community-based groups, about 74% of adults with obesity had at least some degree of OSA, while OSA prevalence increased in general across higher weight categories.

Risk factors that can make sleep apnea more dangerous

While body weight is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, it's not the only one. Several physical and lifestyle factors can increase the likelihood of OSA or make it more severe.

One important example is neck circumference. A larger neck can reflect more soft tissue around the airway, which may increase the chance of collapse during sleep. Older clinical guidance has often flagged neck circumference of about 17 inches or more in men and 16 inches or more in women as a higher-risk marker. Some research suggests that neck size may even be more useful than BMI when screening for OSA risk.

Other factors that can increase the risk or severity of OSA include:

• Older age
• Sex (men are more likely to develop OSA than women)
• Recent weight gain
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Structural airway differences, such as a smaller jaw or narrower upper airway

How sleep apnea can contribute to weight gain

The relationship between sleep apnea and obesity is not one-directional. OSA can also make weight management harder, creating a cycle that becomes difficult to break.

Since OSA repeatedly disrupts sleep, it often leads to poor sleep quality and shorter periods of restorative sleep. That can affect energy levels, mood, physical activity, and appetite regulation. Chronic sleep disruption has been linked to changes in hormones involved in hunger and fullness, including leptin and ghrelin, which may make it easier to overeat and harder to feel satisfied. OSA is also associated with daytime fatigue, which can reduce motivation for exercise and make healthy routines harder to maintain.

The cycle: how sleep apnea and obesity reinforce each other

For people who have both OSA and obesity, the two conditions often perpetuate one another. Excess body weight increases the chance that the airway narrows or collapses during sleep. OSA then disrupts sleep and lowers sleep quality, which can worsen fatigue, appetite regulation, and daily activity patterns. Those changes may make weight gain or weight retention more likely. Additional weight can then further increase OSA risk or severity.

How Evidation can support healthy sleep

Healthy sleep can be difficult to prioritize, especially when issues like weight changes, fatigue, or disrupted breathing begin to overlap. Since sleep and metabolic health are so closely related, tracking everyday patterns makes it easier to notice connections over time. Evidation supports healthy sleep by helping you engage with your health data and better understand how behaviors like sleep, activity, and other daily routines fit into the bigger picture of overall wellness. Click here to learn more about Evidation and get started today.

‍

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to fight the stigma and stereotypes that are often associated with mental health struggles. Supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to check in with yourself on your mental well-being and create new routines that can support your mental wellness. At Evidation, our team of experts is here to provide you with easy-to-implement tips and tricks to support your mental health. Here, we'll explore some simple steps you can take to feel your best during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond.

1. Seeking support: a sign of strength

If you're living with a mental health issue or simply going through a stressful time in life, you're not alone. Reaching out to a mental health professional is a sign of bravery and strength, and helps you get the support you need to thrive.

Know your baseline

If you've never worked with a therapist or counselor before, today is a great day to start. Even if you don't have any current pressing issues, working with a therapist can help you understand your emotional baseline and discover new ways to cope with stress.

When something feels off, don't wait

When you feel your baseline beginning to waver, it's smart to reach out for support right away. If you notice that you're not coping with emotions well, or you encounter a particularly stressful situation, make an appointment with your counselor or therapist – and don't hesitate to let them know if the situation is urgent.

2. Self-care strategies: Practical tips for stress management and well-being

Taking care of yourself is vital for your mental health, but prioritizing consistent self-care is sometimes easier said than done.

Practice setting boundaries

While it can be hard to say no to people you care about, doing so can be vital for preserving your mental health. Letting friends, family members, and coworkers know that you'd love to help with their request or attend their gathering but are unavailable takes practice, but it gets easier over time. Check out these tips on how to set boundaries with the people you care about.

Stop putting yourself last

You've heard the old adage that you can't pour from an empty cup, and it's the truth: you've got to take care of yourself in order to take care of others. If you feel like you've been overwhelmed at home, at work, or with friends, it may be time to take stock of where some responsibilities can be shared.

3. Mindfulness practices: Cultivating presence and inner peace

Proactive stress management can help you stay centered when tough issues arise. Try adding one or more of these mindfulness practices to your day to bolster your ability to handle whatever life throws your way.

Meditation

You can reap the benefits of meditation with less than five minutes of practice each day. According to meditation expert Vishen Lakhiani, "You can take a one- to three-minute dip into peacefulness, and you can see remarkable results. The biggest benefits are going to happen in the first few minutes."

Unplug

Taking time away from your phone can help you de-stress, disconnect from work, and get better sleep. While it's not often feasible to take a full day away from your phone, taking an hour or two to fully focus on friends, family, or yourself can help you feel centered.

4. Managing emotions: Strategies for emotional well-being

Meeting your feelings head-on can be tough, but doing so can save you from the effects of chronic stress. If you're used to avoiding your feelings, this can be an adjustment. Be kind to yourself if you're working on managing your emotions for the first time, and don't be afraid to ask for help from family, friends, or a mental health professional if you need it.

Check in with yourself

Many of us operate on autopilot day in and day out, moving from one part of the schedule to the next with little time to reflect. Creating a few minutes in your day to check in with yourself can be a smart way to stay on top of your emotional needs. Setting a reminder on your phone or smartwatch to take a few minutes to do breathing exercises, take a quiet moment, or write in a journal can help you get in touch with your feelings.

Practice speaking up

If you fall into patterns of people-pleasing or otherwise struggle to stick up for yourself, starting to share your feelings with others can work to validate your emotions. A simple way to get started: answer the question "how are you?" honestly when you feel comfortable. Doing so doesn't just give you the chance to express your emotions – it also gives people close to you the chance to support your needs.

5. Creating healthy habits: Incorporating wellness into daily life

Making time to practice regular healthy habits can go a long way in protecting your mental health and helping you feel your best.

Start small

There's no need for a total lifestyle overhaul – incorporating a few wellness practices into your routine may be all that you need to feel happier and healthier. Going for a 10-minute walk during your lunch break each day can give you time to enjoy some sun and quiet your mind's chatter about your work day. Adding a fruit or vegetable to two meals each day can provide you with the nutrition boost that you need to feel great. Give yourself time to establish one healthy habit before diving into another.

Check-in with your doctor

Depending on your mental and physical health, some wellness practices may carry more weight than others. Talking with your doctor can provide you with insight into what behaviors will best support your well-being. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a mental health professional, dietitian, or other health care professional who can work with you to help support your well-being.

Set achievable, effort-centered goals

When it comes to mental health, action matters! Setting goals based on effort – rather than results – can be helpful in keeping you encouraged to work on your mental health. For example, committing to talking to a therapist twice a month for the next few months can feel much more realistic than overcoming a lifelong mental health issue in the same period of time. Setting effort-based goals can also help you realize what works well for you when it comes to your mental well-being.

6. Balancing work, life, and self-care

You already know that your workplace can affect your mental health, and it's important that you balance your time at work, at home, and at rest. It can be tough to speak up at work when your workload becomes unfair or unmanageable, but doing so can help you preserve your mental health while you work.

In order to get the support you need to thrive while balancing work, home, and self-care, try these tips.

Speak clearly about your workload

It happens all too often: you take on a position with a manageable workload, and over time, your duties begin to pile up. You find yourself working late, checking your email on weekends, and struggling to figure out how you'll complete all that's expected of you. There's a fine line between being a team player and keeping your sanity, and it's important to talk to your supervisor if you feel that your workload has crossed into dangerous territory. If you're feeling like you've been taking on too much, schedule a time to talk with your boss about solutions.

Remember, explanations aren't always necessary

If you're being asked to go above and beyond the duties of your job at work, with family, or with friends, remember: an explanation isn't always necessary. It can be tempting to bolster a "no" with reasoning, but doing so takes away your power to simply refuse a task.

Some polite ways to decline an invitation or request include:

• I wish I could make that work, but I'm afraid I'm not able to.
• Thanks, but I can't fit that into the schedule today.
• I appreciate the invitation so much, but I already have something else going on this evening.
• Thanks so much for thinking of me, but I can't add anything else to the calendar this week.

Schedule weekly self-care appointments

Life gets busy, and it's all too easy to put yourself on the back burner. Making your self-care a priority can go a long way in helping you feel your best. Self-care isn't all about getting a haircut or enjoying a dinner out with friends (even though those activities can certainly be a part of your self-care routine). Self-care is also about making time to prepare healthy foods, keeping up with regular dentist and doctor appointments, and discovering ways to feel and express your emotions.

7. Nutrition tips for optimal mental health

Just like the rest of your body, your brain requires balanced nutrition in order to maintain optimal health. While it can be easy to let healthy eating go by the wayside when things get stressful, doing so can make it tough to keep stress levels low and utilize effective coping strategies.

Some ways you can use your nutrition to support positive mental health include:

Eat regularly

When you're running from one task on your to-do list to the next, it can be easy to skip a meal, or try to run on caffeine. Some people also find it tempting to skip eating throughout the day, only to enjoy a large dinner immediately before bed. While different eating styles work for different people, it's important to pay attention to what type of eating schedule lets you feel your best. Many people find that eating regularly throughout the day allows them to maintain blood sugar homeostasis, guarding against the mood swings and energy dips that can come with serious blood sugar highs and lows.

Enjoy the rainbow

Ever find yourself stuck in a rut when it comes to the produce in your diet? You're not alone. There's nothing wrong with settling into a routine when it comes to eating well, but adding variety can serve both your physical and mental health. Foods from different color families offer different benefits. For example, red fruits and vegetables are typically high in lycopene, a nutrient that can support healthy brain function. Blue and purple fruits and vegetables contain compounds that can improve memory and brain health.

Create a weekly menu

Planning your meals in advance can help you get the variety you need in your diet, as well as relieve some of the stress that can come with figuring out what to make for dinner each night. Taking a few moments each weekend to decide what you'll be eating for the week can help make eating well exciting, and knowing what you'll need to prep for the evening can help you get through some of the chopping, slicing, and dicing in advance.

8. Sleep routine for improved mental health

Getting plenty of high-quality sleep is important for maintaining positive mental health, but getting the rest you need to thrive is sometimes easier said than done. Try these sleep-easy tips to help you feel great each morning.

Maintain a regular sleep schedule

While it can be tempting to get some extra shut-eye on the weekends, serious sleeping in can do more harm than good, according to experts. While getting an hour or so of extra sleep isn't likely to do much harm to your brain's Circadian rhythms, adjusting your sleep and wake schedules by more than an hour can throw you off for the work week ahead.

Create the right environment for rest.

Your bedroom should be an oasis of calm, and taking a few simple steps can help set the scene for a fantastic night's sleep. Making your bedroom as dark as possible, de-cluttering your space, and using a white noise machine if you live in an area where nighttime noise is unavoidable can all go a long way in helping you get the rest you need.

Cut back on caffeine

We get it – it can be rough to get through the afternoon without a caffeinated pick-me-up. Enjoying caffeine in the afternoon, however, can wreak havoc on your sleep hygiene. If you're having trouble falling and staying asleep at night, keep the caffeine to morning hours only, or consider switching to decaf altogether.

Evidation: Here to help you track habits to maintain positive mental health

At Evidation, we're here to support all aspects of your well-being, including your mental health. Take your time implementing the tips above, noting what works well for you and what doesn't. Mental health can be complicated, and there's nothing wrong with reaching out for help when you need it. If you aren't using our app yet, we're excited to help you get started. Click here to learn more about Evidation and download the app today.

Allergies are a common condition that affects millions of people around the world. Symptoms occur when the immune system overreacts to certain substances such as pollen, dust, animal dander, or certain foods. 

Like other chronic health conditions, allergies can significantly impact quality of life, and have a big impact on our ability to perform at work and school. In fact, according to research published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, allergies and allergic rhinitis impact work productivity more than hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. 

Luckily, there are several options for those struggling with the effects of allergies. In this post, we’ll discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for seasonal allergies.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

The symptoms of seasonal allergies can vary depending on the person, but the most common symptoms include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Watery and itchy eyes
• Scratchy or sore throat
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Headache

The symptoms can range from mild to severe and can greatly impact a person's quality of life. It’s essential to identify the triggers that cause these symptoms to manage them effectively. 

If you’re struggling with allergies and aren’t sure what’s triggering them, talk to your doctor. It might be time to see an immunologist. They can perform tests like blood tests or skin prick tests to help determine what you’re reacting to.

Causes of Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever, are caused by allergens that are present during specific times of the year. The most common allergens that cause seasonal allergies are pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds.

When these allergens enter the body, the immune system reacts by producing antibodies. These antibodies trigger the release of histamine, which causes the symptoms of seasonal allergies.

It’s important to note that not all allergies are seasonal. Some people have allergies to food, pets, and other things that affect them year round, all the time. In some cases, these allergies are severe enough to cause anaphylaxis — a life threatening condition. 

If you have a severe allergic reaction, it’s important to get emergency medical attention right away, and talk to your doctor about a prescription for epinephrine. 

Treatment Options for Seasonal Allergies

There are several treatment options available to manage seasonal allergies. The most common treatment options include:

1. Antihistamines - These are medications that block the release of histamine, reducing symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and runny nose.
2. Decongestants - These are medications that help reduce swelling in the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe.
3. Nasal corticosteroids - These are nasal sprays that reduce inflammation in the nasal passages, reducing symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and runny nose.
4. Immunotherapy - This treatment involves exposing the body to small amounts of allergens over time, which can help reduce the severity of allergy symptoms.

In addition to medication, there are also several lifestyle changes that can help manage seasonal allergies. These include:

• Avoiding allergens by staying indoors when pollen counts are high
• Using air filters in the home to reduce the amount of allergens in the air
• Washing bedding and clothing frequently to remove allergens
• Using saline nasal sprays to help rinse allergens from the nasal passages

Conclusion

Seasonal allergies can be a frustrating and uncomfortable condition to live with, but there are several treatment options available to manage the symptoms. It’s essential to identify the triggers that cause your allergies and work with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan. With the right treatment and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to manage seasonal allergies and improve quality of life.

We believe in using real-time data to drive your health journey--and to make advancements in medicine. With millions of members, Evidation is proud to partner with organizations across a variety of sectors--including biomedicine, healthcare, technology, non-profits, and government--to utilize data to create a healthier world.

What is Evidation?

In 2012, Evidation was founded with a mission to use everyday health data to help both Evidation users and health-related organizations understand health and disease. We believe that data can provide unique insights into world health that can drive positive change.

Evidation doesn't just use health data to help organizations create effective treatments and health initiatives. A key part of our work is helping our users understand health data (such as that collected by wearable fitness trackers). We're here to support you in your journey to wellness. The rewards we offer for taking positive action can help encourage you to stay on the right path.

Understanding Evidation

You already know that the insight provided by your fitness tracker is invaluable when it comes to figuring out how to best manage your health. At Evidation, we put your data to good use, allowing you to contribute to the greater good. We use your health information to drive health research, while keeping your privacy and safety protected every step of the way. 

We do not and will not sell your personal information. We will share your health data outside of Evidation only with your consent or at your direction, and to provide our services.

You can learn more about your privacy rights and how we use your personal information by visiting our Privacy Notice. You can also learn more by contacting our Privacy Office at privacy@evidation.com.

How Evidation works

Good news: if you're thinking about using Evidation as your health tracking app, the setup process is easy. You'll connect your activity tracking devices to the Evidation app, and we'll take it from there. We'll ask you to answer questions and read articles based on your personalized health needs.

After you connect your wearable fitness trackers to the Evidation app, you'll get information on your health data that allows you to make informed decisions that can boost your health and wellness. 

When you connect your health tracker, the Evidation app will provide you with insights on actions you take to feel great and move toward your health goals. We understand that improving your health is not a one size fits all process, and it's important to us to provide you with the personalized help that you need to become your healthiest self. When you complete action items that Evidation suggests, you'll be rewarded. For every 10,000 points you score on the Evidation app, you'll get a $10 reward, which you can either pocket or donate to a charity of your choice.

In addition to providing you with actionable items to encourage you to work toward becoming your healthiest self, we're proud to use the information we gather from your data to help healthcare professionals drive research forward--with your permission. If your data shows us that you're eligible to participate in health studies, we'll reach out to invite you to be a part of the future of medicine.

The science behind our approach to improving health

Transparency and trust are key when it comes to our mission, and we believe in a user-focused approach. We never share your data without your permission, and you have the ability to revoke data permissions at any time.

We're constantly working to develop new ways to help you--and our healthcare partners--make the most out of your health data. Our team has the expertise required to develop digital strategies that allow us to use your health data in the most effective way possible. With the ability to both move your health forward and drive medical research, Evidation uses your health data to benefit both you as an individual and the medical community as a whole.

Key features and benefits of using Evidation

When you use Evidation, you aren't just getting the same data that you're getting from your fitness tracker. Our insights can help you see how your daily choices and habits affect your well-being. When considering the pros and cons of fitness trackers, most of our users find that understanding data makes the use of a tracker a net positive.

We help you track things like your daily mood and sleep quality with simple check-in questions, then provide you with insights about how your activity impacts things like your mood or sleep–and how these things impact your activity levels. We're here to make your data work for you, one piece of information at a time.

From logging what you eat to taking surveys that provide insight on your daily habits, we'll use your information to help you understand your body, your health, and create a brighter future.

Why tracking matters

Knowledge is power, and when you use your fitness tracker paired with Evidation, you'll get the information you need to earn rewards--all while improving your health.

Let's take a look at some ways that you can stay motivated to move, track, and earn.

Try something new

Feeling bored of your routine? Trying something new can help. When you change up your workout, you're better able to avoid plateaus, protect yourself from injury, and stay engaged in your journey to health. Switching up your nutrition from time to time by trying new foods and recipes can also help lessen the likelihood of getting tired of your meal plan.

Set achievable goals

Setting attainable goals can help you stay on track, and seeing your progress can be one of the benefits of fitness trackers. Understanding your why, getting clear on what you want to achieve, and creating a timeline that keeps you accountable can help you move toward success.

Get competitive

Social motivation can push you forward in your goals, and friendly competition is a fantastic way to boost both your health and the health of those around you. Whether you compete against your achievements last week or you set up a weekly step challenge with your coworkers, working toward a win can help you stay on track.

Download Evidation today

If you're ready to take charge of your health by putting your data to work, we're ready to help. Last year, our 5 million members took 951 billion steps and made countless contributions to the future of medicine. Download the app today to start learning how you can make simple changes to take your health to the next level.

‍

A guide to stopping the sniffles and sneezes that come with spring

Spring has come. With it comes thoughts of flowers and gentle rain, but for many people, those spring signs bring on sniffles, sneezes, and respiratory concerns. These spring symptoms have many potential causes, from actual viruses spreading through the community to spring allergies.

When you’re suffering, you may feel desperate for relief.

Fixing your spring maladies starts with finding the underlying cause. Once you know what’s causing you to feel bad, you can take measures to improve it.

This guide takes a deep dive into common spring health concerns, including allergies, and gives you tools you can use to help yourself feel better. When you feel well, you can get out there and enjoy the warmth of spring.

5 common spring allergies symptoms

If you’re sick in the spring, always consult with a doctor first to rule out any underlying infections. For many, spring discomfort is due to allergies. Allergies affect people in many different ways, but these are five common symptoms.

1. Runny or congested nose

One of the most common signs of spring allergies is a runny nose. If you find yourself reaching for the tissues more frequently when spring rolls around, you can probably chalk it up to allergies. Many people have a condition called rhinitis, which means “inflammation of the nose,” according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Rhinitis can cause a runny or congested (stuffy) nose.

2. Itching

Itching in the eyes, nose, and throat are usually signs that you’re having an allergic reaction to the seasonal change. These are often some of the signs that help you distinguish between a cold and allergy symptoms.

3. Watery eyes

Your eyes are quite susceptible to allergens. The delicate tissue that lines the eyes can get irritated when exposed to spring allergens, like pollen or mold. If you’re tearing up frequently, but aren’t really sad, then it may be due to your allergies flaring. Mayo Clinic indicates that eyes may also become red and swollen because of exposure to allergens.

4. Sneezing

When you start sneezing excessively, it’s often because of irritation from allergens in the air. The extra pollen that accosts you in the spring can cause this symptom to flare up.

5. Skin itching or hives

While hives are usually connected to topical allergens, some people will develop hives or itching skin due to seasonal allergies, the AAFA warns. Sometimes you can have an allergic reaction to plants growing more abundantly in the spring as well. Though these aren’t seasonal allergies, they’re more likely to occur in the spring.  

When do spring allergies start?

Spring allergies usually flare up at the start of spring. The actual month varies depending on the local climate. For most parts of the United States, the symptoms show up as early as February.

What causes spring allergies?

You can have allergy symptoms any time of year, but they’re worse for many people in the spring. This is due to a number of allergens that present themselves when the world comes out of winter and heads into the growing season again.

Pollen

One well-known allergen that’s present in the spring is pollen. While you might think of flowers as a source of pollen, the AAFA explains that trees are a more common problem. Specifically, you may notice allergy symptoms if you have these trees in your area:

• Alder
• Ash
• Aspen
• Beech
• Birch
• Box elder
• Cedar
• Cottonwood
• Elm
• Juniper
• Maple
• Mulberry
• Oak
• Olive
• Pecan
• Poplar
• Willow

Pollen can also come from grasses in the spring. These grasses are common culprits:

• Rye
• Timothy
• Kentucky
• Bermuda
• Orchard
• Johnson
• Sweet vernal

Pollen counts tend to be higher on warm and dry days. Wind can also cause pollen to spread more easily, so weather directly impacts how much pollen you’ll be exposed to.

Mold

In the spring, people start going outside. The leaves and dead foliage that fell in the winter have been harboring a lot of mold, and it gets moved around by foot traffic and even the wind.

Mold spores get carried on the wind. They can travel on both wet and dry days, triggering your allergy symptoms. The more time you spend outdoors in areas where there are good conditions for mold growth, the worse your allergies may be.

Animal dander

In the spring, your pets may start shedding to prepare for their summer coat. This releases more dander, the shed skin flakes that come with pet hair, into the air.

For many people, dander is an allergen. It has proteins in it that people are allergic to. If you have pets, and you notice increased allergy symptoms in the spring, it may be because of the increased dander in the air.

Insects

Insects become more active as the weather starts to warm. Many insects leave behind droppings that people have allergic reactions to. Cockroaches, which tend to invade homes, are a common trigger for spring allergy symptoms due to their droppings, according to Health Partners.

Treating allergies starts with a proper diagnosis

The symptoms of allergies can be similar to the symptoms of colds and other conditions. In order to get the right treatment, you need a proper diagnosis.

Visit your doctor for a full checkup if you’re noticing spring allergy symptoms. Your doctor will be able to tell if you have allergies or a different type of problem. If you do have allergies, your doctor can help you choose a treatment that will work for the type of allergy and reaction you have.

Is it a cold or allergies?

Like many with allergies, you may find yourself asking, “Is it a cold, or allergies?” Knowing how to tell the difference is important because the way you take care of yourself will be different. If you’re sick, you’ll benefit from extra rest. If you have allergies, the treatment is less restrictive. 

Some ways you can distinguish between colds or allergies, according to Mayo Clinic, are:

• Duration: Allergies last for weeks or months, while a cold typically resolves within five to seven days.
• Aches and pains: This symptom doesn't come with allergies.
• Itchy eyes: This is typically an allergy symptom.
• Sore throat: This usually means you have a cold. But post-nasal drip caused by allergies can sometimes cause you to wake up with a sore throat. If you’re not sure, talk to a healthcare provider.
• Fever: Allergies never cause a fever.

Some symptoms overlap. Both allergies and colds can make you feel tired and weak or cause sneezing and a runny nose. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’re not sure.

Other common spring health concerns

At Evidation, our goal is to help you live the healthiest life you can. That’s why we want you to know about other potential health risks associated with spring. In addition to seasonal allergies, you may also struggle with:

Asthma

Asthma has the same springtime triggers as allergies do. Mold and pollen, specifically, can make your lungs struggle if you have asthma because your body views them as a threat.

If you’re experiencing tightness in the chest or shortness of breath, even if you have allergy symptoms as well, it may be due to asthma. This health condition can become serious quickly, so talk to your doctor about the right medicines to control it.

Once you have medication, take it as prescribed. Keep your inhaler or other rescue medication handy to ensure you can get treatment when needed.

Insect bites

As insects become more active, the risk of getting bit increases as well. Some insect bites or stings cause little more than an itchy reaction on the skin, but others can lead to full allergic reactions and sometimes anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic reaction.

One of the most dangerous insects to watch for in the spring is the tick. Ticks carry a number of viruses, parasites, and bacteria, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease rates are growing by about 476,000 new cases a year, according to the Global Lyme Alliance, and it can be difficult to treat once you catch it. To protect yourself, wear insect repellent when you go outdoors, and if you live in an area with ticks, check yourself for them when you come home.

Cold and flu

Spring means people are getting out into the community more frequently, rather than staying at home like they do in the colder months of winter. With more time around other people comes a higher risk of catching a cold, flu, or coronavirus.

If you’re feeling unwell in the spring, but don’t have typical allergy symptoms, consider that you might actually be sick. Give yourself some time to rest, and if you’re worried about flu or COVID, be sure to get tested.

How to prevent spring allergies

If you're living with allergies in the spring, you're in good company. The AAFA says over 100 million people in the US alone have spring allergies. Thankfully, there are things you can do to protect yourself from these symptoms. Consider these strategies:

Reduce allergy trigger exposure

If you know what your allergy triggers are, reduce your exposure to them. For instance, if you’re sensitive to pollen, avoid chores like mowing the lawn or working in the garden, and don’t bring your outdoor shoes into the home to track in pollen. If you’re allergic to dogs, avoid going to homes that have dogs.

Watch pollen counts

Your local news station will monitor pollen counts. If you have a high pollen day, try to stay home. If you must venture out, do your outdoor activities earlier in the day before the pollen counts rise. Keep your doors and windows closed to prevent pollen from entering your home.

Improve your indoor air

Have your indoor air quality tested, and if the test discovers pollutants, install air cleaning systems. Use your air conditioner to circulate air through the filters, so you don’t add more pollen and other allergens into your home. Use a HEPA filter and HEPA-filtered vacuum in your home.

Clean up your space

Cleaning your space not only helps prevent colds and the flu, but it can also reduce allergen exposure. Keeping dust mites, pet dander, and even pollen off of the surfaces of your home will reduce your exposure to allergens.

Practice better healthcare

Overall, if you take better care of your body, your body may be able to handle allergen exposure better. Learn how to de-stress and relax, so you aren't adding stress hormones to the mix. Use Evidation to track exercise, so you have accountability to make better choices.

How to treat allergies

Prevention is helpful, but sometimes it’s just not enough to stop your allergy symptoms. You can’t avoid pollen altogether, no matter how hard you try, especially in the spring. If you’re living with allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor about treatments. Your primary care doctor can help, but if you have serious allergies, consider getting an appointment with an allergist for specialty care. Some additional options to help include these:

Use medication

There are many over-the-counter medications that treat seasonal allergies effectively. These include:

• Oral antihistamines
• Corticosteroid nasal sprays
• Cromolyn nasal spray
• Oral decongestants

Some people find that one medication works well for a while, then stops working. Talk to your doctor about changing your medicine if you experience this.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before trying anything new, especially if you have health conditions or take other medications that could interact with these.

Consider allergy shots

If your allergies are making you miserable, and you aren’t getting relief through the above options, talk to your doctor about allergy shots. Allergy shots reduce your body’s allergic response by gradually increasing exposure to the allergen in a safe, controlled way.

Protect your health with Evidation

Allergies are a frustrating problem, and spring seems to bring them out. As you move through spring and into summer, make sure you’re taking care of your body well. Evidation can help by adding the accountability component and making it fun to take care of yourself.

Keep taking care of your health with Evidation - download the app today.

‍

If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, and you're curious about utilizing natural methods to help manage your symptoms, you may be wondering whether exercise can be helpful for diabetics. Good news: exercise is highly beneficial for people who have diabetes. Here, we'll explore the benefits of exercise for people with diabetes, examples of safe exercise routines you can implement as a diabetic, safety tips to keep in mind when you're working out, and the importance of monitoring your blood sugar as your body gets used to a new routine.

Benefits of exercise for diabetes

As a diabetic, you know it's important to keep a close eye on what you eat to keep your symptoms in check. It's also important to make sure you're getting enough movement throughout the day to support your well-being.

Some of the benefits that exercise can have for people with diabetes include:

• Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce insulin resistance and support your metabolism, which can help you maintain weight loss over time.
• Blood sugar control: When you exercise, you improve your body's sensitivity to insulin. Over time, this can help your cells use glucose more effectively. This removes excess glucose from your blood and helps to reduce overall blood sugar levels.
• Heart health: People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Exercise can help to lower your blood pressure, achieve and maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and lower your overall risk of developing cardiovascular conditions.
• Stress reduction: Managing your stress is an important part of treating diabetes, as anxiety and stress can increase blood sugar levels. Exercise helps to support positive mental health, potentially lowering the amount of and severity of diabetes symptoms you experience.
• Improved circulation: Diabetes can make it harder for your body to heal from wounds, and you may also experience neuropathy (nerve damage) that affects your movement. Exercise can help to improve circulation, which can work to mitigate these conditions.

Examples of safe exercises for diabetics

As a person with diabetes, it's important to talk with your doctor before adding exercise to your routine. Your doctor may caution you against certain types of exercise due to other health issues, or may have special recommendations to help you keep your blood sugar in check while you're exercising.

Some exercises that can be a good fit for people with diabetes include:

• Walking and jogging: Aerobic exercise works to support your heart health and can help you maintain a healthy insulin sensitivity. Starting with just a few minutes and working up to 20 minutes of walking or jogging a few days each week can make a major difference to how you feel.
• Strength training: Lifting weights and doing other types of strength training (including bodyweight training and using resistance bands) helps your body build muscle. Over time, this can help your body regulate the use of glucose more effectively.
• Yoga and Pilates: As we mentioned, keeping stress levels in check can go a long way to support your health as a person with diabetes. Yoga and Pilates can both help you get your daily exercise in while also providing a mental break from the stresses of the day.

The bottom line: the best type of exercise is the kind that you enjoy and will do consistently. It can take some time to find the type of exercise that's the right fit for you, and that's OK. If you're new to exercising, take some time to explore your options and find what feels best for you.

Safety tips for exercising as a diabetic

As a person with diabetes, it's important that you're exercising safety measures when exercising. In addition to being hydrated, following a healthy diet, and taking it slow when you're getting started, there are some other safety tips you'll want to consider.

Monitoring blood sugar before, during, and after exercise

Check your blood sugar before and after your workout to keep an eye on fluctuations. During your workout, keep an eye out for signs of blood sugar issues. If you're new to exercise, it's important to pause every 30 minutes to check your blood sugar until you understand how your blood sugar levels are affected by exercise. If your blood sugar is below 90 mg/dL, have a small snack to increase your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar is above 270 mg/dL, don't exercise until your blood sugar stabilizes.

Protect your feet

People who have diabetes are more susceptible to foot injuries and infections than people who do not have diabetes. Wear shoes that are comfortable and fit well, and be sure to wear clean, moisture-wicking socks. After you exercise, be sure to take a look at your feet so you can notice any blisters, cuts, or redness. Properly take care of any injuries and seek medical attention if necessary.

Ready to start improving your health? Download the Evidation app today

If you're ready to start implementing healthier habits into your daily routines, the team at Evidation is here to help. When you download our free app, you'll have the option to share health data you're already tracking. With your permission, we use this data to find patterns and links in your behavior that affect your health. After analyzing your data, we offer personalized, content-based insights that can help you make the decisions that help you feel your best. If you're ready to get started, we're ready to support you. Click here to download our free app and learn more about what we do.