List of All Articles with Tag 'health'

China has launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting its hospitals, pharmaceutical industry and insurance funds as it grapples with mounting economic challenges and long-standing public frustration about high costs in the behemoth healthcare sector.

Nineteen large platforms have to start complying with new rules as soon as Friday or risk big fines.

Elle King has spoken out about suffering with a “deep depression” during and after her pregnancy. The singer, 34, took to Instagram on Wednesday (23 August) to speak candidly about her mental health, two years after welcoming her son, Lucky, who she shares with tattoo artist Daniel Tooker. Her post included different videos of herself, in which she was working out, cleaning her skin, or singing on a stage. In the caption, she went on to reflect on her weight loss journey throughout the last two years, and acknowledged that she still plans to continue her workout routine. “I am making this post to share my journey from 284 lbs at 5‘3 from pregnancy 2021 - now 2023,” she wrote. “It doesn’t happen overnight. It didn’t even happen in a year for me. In fact, it’s an ongoing still working towards ever changing goals kinda thing.” King continued her post by opening up about her mental health struggles - both during and after her pregnancy - which included postpartum depression. “I fell into a very deep depression during my pregnancy. I also didn’t even realise how intense postpartum depression is and was until I very slowly began to crawl out,” she wrote. “I felt trapped in my body.” While symptoms of postpartum depression can vary, some of them can include difficulty bonding with your baby, withdrawing from loved ones, and a loss of appetite, according to the Mayo Clinic. In her Instagram caption, King went on to explain that amid her symptoms of postpartum depression, she started working out more. She then acknowledged that she’s now seen her body get “stronger” over time. “Metabolic workouts. Light cardio to warm up my body, my lungs, my voice, and my spirit. I am a creature of habit, so I changed my f***ing habits,” she wrote. “Every few weeks I feel my body getting stronger. I add more workouts.” The “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer expressed that while she wanted to lose weight after welcoming her baby, there was “so much more” insentive since her brain “functions better on the days” that she moves her body. She also described how she’s now embraced the way that her body looks. “Some days I count stretch marks. Some days I hug myself and say thank you to my body. Today is a kind day. I’ve been tiny, I’ve been huge, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M HEALTHY,” she continued. “I can’t believe that I even have to say this, but no, I am not on any weight loss medication.” She added that she’s had a few health conditions over the years, including being pre-diabetic and suffering with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a condition that consists of “problems with hormones that happens during the reproductive years,” as noted by the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can range from irregular periods to polycystic ovaries, which are “follicles containing immature eggs may develop around the edge of the ovary”. King continued her message by sharing that her “diabetic grandfather died” when she was 10-years-old, after she “watched him prick his finger and give himself shots”. She concluded by showing her support for her followers, and by sharing the goal of her workout routine, writing: “I do not judge anyone who is trying to live a healthier life. I can only share MY OWN JOURNEY! I just hope to live a long, wonderful, healthy life where I can drink a lot, eat fish, laugh as much as I can, and die happy.” This isn’t the first time that King has been open about some of the health challenges she has faced. When announcing her pregnancy in 2021, during an interview with People, she revealed that she’s had struggles with infertility, explaining that she previously suffered two pregnancy losses due to her PCOS. “It’s such a major thing that so many people go through, but it’s so secretive - like you have to go through it alone,” she said about the pregnancy loss. “Nobody talks about it. It’s like you’re supposed to feel shame; like you’re not supposed to tell people before 12 weeks, because if you lose it, it’s going to be embarrassing for you and you don’t want other people to get their hopes up. Like, holy s***.” Read More New mother filmed doing laundry seven days after giving birth sparks debate ‘It can hit everyone’: Postnatal depression is surging, and it’s still misunderstood Olivia Munn opens up about her postpartum body 20 months after giving birth Sienna Miller pregnant with her second child Serena Williams celebrates second pregnancy with ‘pre-push party’ Lisa Snowdon opens up about ‘tortured thoughts’ after abortion: ‘Was that my chance?’

Tony Blackburn has revealed that he had life threatening sepsis and pneumonia after coming out of a two-month stay in hospital. The veteran BBC Radio DJ had pulled out of his Sound Of the 60s UK Tour and accompanying radio show earlier this year after he was taken ill. At the time, Blackburn told his listeners he had a chest infection. Now that Blackburn has fully recovered and has been discharged from hospital, the DJ has revealed that he was actually suffering from sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning. “I was doing three a week at one time forgetting that I’m now a little bit older, so I ended up in hospital for two months with sepsis and pneumonia and blood poisoning,” he said on BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show on Wednesday (23 August). “And I didn’t realise how unwell I was until one day in the hospital my whole family were gathered around the bed. And I thought ‘this isn’t good’.” “A couple of weeks ago I went to see my specialist and he said ‘you are cured’, so that was a nice thing to hear.” After a three-month break, Blackburn has returned to his tour but will be doing one show per week rather than three per week. He said: “I haven’t been doing the [tour] show for about three months because I was told to rest a little bit. Now I’m back in form and we’re selling out.” “I love being with the band and it’s just loads of fun.” Blackburn returned to BBC Radio 2 after Johnnie Walker covered his Sounds of the 60s radio show during his illness and has since launched a new show on Sunday afternoons – Tony Blackburn’s Soul on Sunday on BBC Radio London. Back in May, Blackburn announced that he had been discharged from hospital and was looking forward to broadcasting again. “After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me,” he said. “Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London, doctors and nurses for looking after me. “After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing. Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages, you are all so kind to think about me xx,” he concluded. According to the NHS, sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs. There are lots of symptoms of sepsis, and those symptoms can be similar to other conditions, including the flu or a chest infection. Read More Former royal chef explains why Prince William and Kate’s children don’t eat with them What we know about the leaked Pentagon documents on Ukraine Bride tries on mother’s wedding dress 30 years after parents’ wedding 4 hacks to get teens off the sofa and get active – as study warns of heart damage Selling Sunset’s Amanza Smith says she ‘almost died’ from spine infection Strictly’s Amy Dowden finding it ‘so hard’ as she shares hair loss update amid cancer

Selling Sunset star Amanza Smith has shared an update after undergoing surgery to treat an infection that spread from her bloodstream to her spine. The interior designer, who works at the real estate company The Oppenheim Group, has revealed in a new interview how osteomyelitis, a painful bone infection, had affected her lower vertebrae. Smith, 46, discovered the infection after experiencing severe backache that lasted nearly a month. After she collapsed while at her Los Angeles home back in May, her friend encouraged her to visit the hospital. “I thought I had a backache, and I almost died,” Smith told People in the magazine’s latest issue. “The doctors and my friend saved my life.” Smith told the publication that she was given antibiotics to treat the infection but faced some complications. She underwent surgery on her lower spin to “clear the infection from the bones” but later found out that the osteomyelitis had affected another area at the front of her spine. “The risk was the antibiotics wouldn’t penetrate the bone, and my entire back could collapse,” she said. Smith had two surgeries to treat the osteomyelitis, which included having part of her spine replaced after it “deteriorated” as a result of the infection. The second operation lasted six hours, in which doctors inserted a titanium mesh cage in her back. She previously said: “Part of my spine has completely deteriorated due to the infection and I’ll be getting a new vertebrae and a couple of screws and rods in my spine to replace what has been eaten away from the bacteria.” In the new interview, she told People: “I am an iron woman, with rods and screws.” Smith returned home from hospital in early July, but her recovery period involves six months of antibiotics, physical therapy and “treading lightly on her feet”. “There are so many things I can’t do, because I can’t lift more than five pounds,” she told the publication. “Sometimes my purse is too heavy. You can’t speed up time, but I’m very anxious to be able to do the things that I love to do. I like to decorate. I like to rearrange. I want to be able to hang things, but I’m very limited right now.” Reflecting on her period in hospital, Smith said that she would never take her mobility “for granted” again. “When I can walk and jog again and do Pilates or ballet, I hope I stick to them because I plan on living to be 107,” she said. According to the NHS, osteomyelitis is a painful bone infection that usually goes away if treated early with antibiotics. However, it can cause serious long-term problems if not treated. Anyone can develop the infection, but a person may be more at risk if they have diabetes, a broken bone, a weakened immune system or recently had an infection or surgery. Smith joined Netflix’s hit reality show Selling Sunset in the second series in 2019. The show follows the drama surrounding employees at The Oppenheim Group, an elite real estate brokerage selling luxury properties in Los Angeles. Read More Queen’s service to inspire young writers in Commonwealth challenge High infidelity: why do people have affairs? Bride tries on mother’s wedding dress 30 years after parents’ wedding Revlon hits back at Selling Sunset star after she found makeup in her husband’s van Strictly’s Amy Dowden finding it ‘so hard’ as she shares hair loss update amid cancer How to help your teen with comparison culture on GCSE results day

Whether your child’s GCSE results are high, low, or somewhere in between, one thing is inevitable – they’ll compare them with their friends’ grades. This comparison culture, which is far more pervasive because of social media, can leave teens feeling inadequate because their results are worse than their mates, or make their friends feel useless if roles are reversed. But although there’s no getting away from teenagers comparing their results both on and offline, what can parents do to try and limit the damage this it can cause? Former teacher Dr Julia Clements, principal educational psychologist at the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, says the comparison of results will undoubtedly impact some teenagers’ wellbeing. “Your teenager is bound to compare their results with their peers at the same school, but also through social media,” she acknowledges. “Although this comparison is inevitable, it may be harmful for your child’s wellbeing – especially if they’ve not done as well as expected. “Indeed, the term ‘compare and despair’ can be especially pertinent on days like today.” Sharon Davies, CEO of Young Enterprise, a charity which helps young people navigate the changing world of work, adds: “The pressure to measure up to their friends’ achievements can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of inadequacy or disappointment.” So how can parents help their teens? 1. Ask how they feel If your child is down on themselves and rating themselves negatively in comparison to their friends, they may reject any positives and praise parents provide, Clements warns. “It may be more useful, in the first instance, to ask them how they’re feeling, and to acknowledge and validate difficult feelings,” she advises. Such feelings may include disappointment, sadness, anger, shame, or feeling as if they’ve let themselves – and you – down. “If your child is feeling like this, it’s important to give them the message that you love them unconditionally and you’re proud and pleased to be their parent because of who they are – not because of the grades they achieve,” she stresses. 2. If they’ve done better than their friends… If your child has achieved good results, which may be better than some of their friends, then they’ll want to celebrate. But while celebrating is of course a great idea, Clements suggests: “You may want to talk with them about how to be sensitive and compassionate towards their friends who haven’t done so well.” 3. Help them turn a negative into a positive Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Nihara Krause specialises in teenage mental health and is working with the Talking Futures campaign to help parents engage their children in meaningful conversations about their futures. She says if a young person doesn’t get the grades they were hoping for, they may be highly critical of their performance in comparison to their peers. But she suggests parents show them how to turn their negative thinking around. “Parents should encourage their children to focus on recognising the approach they took to exams this time round and take steps to reflect on what they could do to achieve a better result in the future. Focus on what helps a young person gain their own personal best, no matter how their results compare with others.” 4. Don’t ask about their friend’s results or post about them Krause says parents should try to celebrate their child’s achievements for what they are and avoid asking about their friends’ results. “To avoid comparison, parents should also avoid sharing their child’s results on social media,” she says. 5. Don’t be too hard on yourself Clements points out that comparison culture may not just affect teenagers – if their results aren’t as good as expected, mums and dads might start comparing their own parenting during the revision and exam period with other parents whose kids have got better results. “As a parent or carer, you may also be drawn into unhelpful comparisons with others,” says Clements, “and you may question the amount of support you were able to provide your child in the run up to their exams. However, today is not a day for self-criticism or judgements – some self-compassion is important at this time.” 6. Reach out for support This might be the first results day many parents have gone through with their child, and while comparisons with other teens may well have been unhelpful, Davies points out that schools will have career advisers and teachers available who can offer support and advice. There are also online forums and blogs where those in similar situations share their experiences. She says: “No-one is expecting you to have all the answers – that’s why there’s support available.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Women more severely affected by ME, study claims 4 hacks to get teens off the sofa and get active – as study warns of heart damage Taking adult education classes may lower risk of dementia, study suggests

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON The U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday it has seized over $1.4 billion in

Rumer Willis has revealed that the name for her daughter, who she welcomed in April, was actually inspired by a text typo. The actress, 35, spoke candidly about her daughter, who she shares with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas, during a recent interview with People. Willis went on to explain that while her daughter goes by Louetta, that wasn’t the name that she and Thomas had initially planned. “We were thinking about the name Loretta, and it was a typo,” she said. “Her dad and I were texting, and he left the ‘R’ out of Loretta, and it was just Louetta.” Willis - the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore - added that, after her partner made the typo in his text, she came to realise that she liked the name “Louetta” better than “Loretta”. “I was like: ‘Oh, I love that!’ I feel like it was one of those kind of divine intervention universe moments, and we figured it out actually quite early in my pregnancy,” she explained. However, according to The House Bunny star, she initially had a few concerns about if the name would be the best fit for her daughter. “What was scary was, I love this name, but oh man, is it going to be her name? Is it the right name?” she continued. What if she comes out and doesn’t look like this?” Despite her mixed feelings about the name during her pregnancy, Willis said she realised that she wanted to call her baby “Lou” once she was born. “I fell in love with the name so much, so early on, that I was then worried that it wouldn’t work,” she said. “But then she came out, and I mean, to me, at least right now, I was going to name her Lou, whether she was a boy or a girl.” She also added that both she and Thomas wanted to pick a name that had some “versatility” to it, before describing some of the different nicknames that her daughter could choose to go by. “If she doesn’t feel like a Louetta, she can go by Lou, she can go by Etta,” she said. “She can go change it up throughout her life. Whatever she wants.” Earlier this year, Willis took to Instagram to announce the birth of her first child. “Louetta Isley Thomas Willis. You are pure magic,” she wrote in the caption, alongside a snap of her then-newborn. “Born at home on Tuesday April 18th. You are more than we ever dreamed of.” Along with opening up about her baby’s name, Willis has also taken to social media to speak candidly about her experiences as a mother. Earlier this week, she hit back at criticism on Instagram after she shared a photo of herself breastfeeding her daughter. When Instagram users questioned her for sharing the selfie, with claims that she posted it “for attention,” the actress expressed how she viewed the ability to feed her daughter as a “privilege,” and accused critics of holding “a limited view of” breastfeeding. She continued defending her decision to post the photo, explaining how she wanted it to lessen the “shame” that women face. “I think it’s incredibly important to share because there is an incredible amount of shame that comes with being born into a female body,” Willis wrote. “And I want to lead by example in teaching my daughter that she doesn’t have to be ashamed of her body ever and that she can decide how she wants to share it.” Read More Rumer Willis shuts down criticism over breastfeeding photo with her child: ‘I am the happiest I have been’ Rumer Willis says she is ‘grateful’ to her body following birth of daughter Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis says she is ‘not good’ amid his ongoing struggle with dementia Rumer Willis addresses criticism over breastfeeding photo with her child Rumer Willis says she is ‘grateful’ to her body following birth of daughter Serena Williams welcomes her second child with husband Alexis Ohanian

Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian are officially the parents of two. Williams, 41, shared a video to TikTok on 22 August to announce the arrival of her second child. The one-minute video started off with Ohanian looking at a computer and sitting at a table, before his wife sat down next to him. The pair were then joined by their five-year-old daughter Olympia. The video went on to show Williams leaving the room, before she returned with her newborn baby in her arms. After the tennis star exchanged a kiss with her husband, Olympia leaned toward them to give her little sister a kiss on the forehead. The clip ended with a few sweet snaps of the now family of four. In the caption of the video, which was set to Bazzi and Camila Cabello’s hit song, “Beautiful”, Williams wrote: “Welcome my beautiful angel.” Ohanian also shared a photo of himself and his family on Instagram to announce the baby news, revealing his child’s name: Adira River Ohanian. He continued the caption of his post by expressing his gratitude for his second daughter and wife, along with the doctors who cared for them. “I’m grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama,” he wrote. “Feeling grateful. @serenawilliams you’ve now given me another incomparable gift - you’re the GMOAT. Thanks to all the amazing medical staff who took care of my wife & our daughter,” he wrote. “I’ll never forget the moment I introduced @olympiaohanian to her baby sister.” In the comments, many fans and famous faces went on to celebrate the newest addition to Ohanian family. “Congratulations!!!! Such a beautiful family. I’m so happy for you guys!!!!!!,” LaLa Anthony wrote, while another fan added: “Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! Such a beautiful family! I love her name.” A third commented: “Such a blessing! So happy for you both.” During the Met Gala earlier this year, the Grand Slam winner first revealed that she was expecting her second child. As she walked the red carpet alongside her husband in May, Williams showcased her baby bump in a black long-sleeves dress with a deep neckline and a white tulle skirt. She also celebrated the news on Instagram at the time, writing: “Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala.” Earlier this month, Williams and Ohanian also shared that they had an adventure-themed gender reveal party to unveil the sex of their baby. In a video shared to the tennis star’s YouTube account, which documented the “baby shower slash gender reveal” event, Ohanian had arranged for a drone display in the sky to reveal to his wife that they were having a girl. @serena Welcome my beautiful angel ♬ original sound - Serenawilliams Prio to sharing the display, the Reddit founder pulled a gender reveal prank on his partner by giving her a decoy cake that was yellow inside, instead of the usual blue or pink to indicate what the baby’s gender is. The arrival of Williams’ second child came one year after she revealed that she was retiring from tennis. In an essay for Vogue in August 2022, she wrote that she was leaving the sport to focus on her family, as she expressed how Olympia had often told her that she wanted to be a big sister. “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family,” she wrote. “I don’t think it’s fair. If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labour of expanding our family. Williams continued: “Don’t get me wrong: I love being a woman and I loved every second of being pregnant with Olympia… But I’m turning 41 this month and something’s got to give.” Read More Serena Williams celebrates second pregnancy with ‘pre-push party’ Pregnant Serena Williams pokes fun at sister Venus’ hilarious response to gender reveal prank Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian share gender reveal party footage with fans Serena Williams celebrates second pregnancy with ‘pre-push party’ Exercise apps could help boost healthcare workers mental health Alabama Barker shares autoimmune, thyroid disease struggle amid body-shaming comments

Keeping fit could help you avoid heart rhythm disorder and stroke, new research suggests. The study of more than 15,000 people found that physical fitness is linked with a lower likelihood of developing both conditions. Atrial fibrillation – irregular and often fast heartbeat – is the most common heart rhythm disorder, affecting more than 40 million people worldwide. The findings indicate that keeping fit may help prevent atrial fibrillation and stroke Dr Shih-Hsien Sung Patients with the condition have a five-fold higher risk of stroke than their peers, experts suggest. Study author Dr Shih-Hsien Sung of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan said: “This was a large study with an objective measurement of fitness and more than 11 years of follow up. “The findings indicate that keeping fit may help prevent atrial fibrillation and stroke.” The study examined whether fitness was related to the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. It included 15,450 people without atrial fibrillation who were referred for a treadmill test between 2003 and 2012. Fitness was assessed using a protocol where people are asked to walk faster and at a steeper grade in successive three-minute stages. Their fitness was calculated according to the rate of energy expended, which was expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs). Follow-ups looked at whether people developed atrial fibrillation, stroke, heart attacks, or whether they had died. During an average follow-up period of 137 months, 515 participants (3.3%) developed atrial fibrillation. Each one MET increase on the treadmill test was associated with an 8% lower risk of atrial fibrillation, 12% lower risk of stroke and 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE – a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction and death). People in the study were divided into three fitness levels according to METs achieved during the treadmill test. The levels were low (less than 8.57 METs), medium (8.57 to 10.72) and high (more than 10.72). According to the findings presented at the ESC Congress 2023 in Amsterdam, the probability of remaining free from atrial fibrillation over a five-year period was 97.1%, 98.4% and 98.4% in the low, medium and high fitness groups, respectively. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How to give your home a proper summer sort out What you really need to do in autumn to keep your lawn in shape MRI screening for prostate cancer could help save lives, study finds

By Patrick Wingrove and Bhanvi Satija The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Pfizer's respiratory syncytial

An internet-wide debate has resulted from one brave woman’s choice to detail her at-home abortion experience on TikTok. On 20 July, a 24-year-old woman named Monica showed her TikTok followers how she completed her abortion, from the comfort of her home, for the first time at nine weeks pregnant. She began by showing the items she needed to prepare her body: the required prescription drug typically used for terminating early pregnancy, motion sickness medicine, a bottle of water, maxi pads, and Planned Parenthood’s timely instructions. “It is highly recommended to take ibuprofen (with food) and anti-nausea pills 30 minutes before your first dose of abortion pills which I did here,” she said. For her first dose, Monica – who already has one daughter – was required to put four pills in the sides of her mouth and keep them there for 30 minutes. Then, she washed down the tablets with water. Speaking with Newsweek, the woman explained why she decided to share her abortion experience using the medications mifepristone and misoprostol, which are typically prescribed to terminate early stages of pregnancy. “My hope would be that abortion becomes more normalised and seen as what it is - healthcare,” she confessed. “I wanted to create a safe space for women to come forward and share their experiences and stories about their abortions without the fear of being judged or criticised.” The 24-year-old continued: “I’ve noticed that the media tends to ignore the topic of abortion as a whole and I thought, ‘Well, maybe if I come forward and share my own journey, we can finally talk about it.’” Her video showing the side effects of using the “abortion pill” - mifepristone and misoprostol, prescribed by Planned Parenthood - has now reached over 3.1m views. However, it’s received mixed emotions and reactions online. @monicathehuman TW: Abortion Pro-Lifers please dni. This is my personal experience with abortion pills and how I prepared for the day. There is a lot left out so if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I’ll do be my best to go into more detail! Side note: I am a 24 year old mother of one. Overall, the pain was at a 10 for me and I have a very high pain tolerance and personally, it felt like being in labor without an epidural. Just note, this experience is NOT expected for everyone! For others it may just feel like a very bad period and I am someone who luckily doesn’t experience period cramps so this is not a usual thing for me! A special shoutout to @Planned Parenthood for helping my experience run smooth and quickly ❤️ My symptoms the first 12 hours: •Slight Nausea in the first 15 min. •Diarrhea •Dizziness •Fatigue after 10 hours My symptoms the morning after: •Spotting Resources: Need to talk to someone about your abortion experience? Text: 617-749-2948 Or Visit: https://www.mahotline.org/ for any info or support to self-manage a miscarriage or abortion #plannedparenthood #abortion #abortionpill #prochoice #abortionexperience #mifepristone #misoprostol ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design While some followers thanked Monica for her vulnerability, others were opposed. “Thank you for posting. I’ve never known how these kind of abortions work,” one woman wrote. “Wtf why is this on TikTok?” another person said. “I definitely felt hesitant about documenting my abortion because I was so worried about the kind of response I would get,” Monica told Newsweek. “It was my attempt to reach out to those who may feel alone or unsupported through such a vulnerable event and to show that there is nothing to hide when it comes to making a choice that is best for you.” “In all honesty, when the negativity did start rolling in, I was just so comfortable with my decision that none of them fazed me. There was nothing anyone could have said that would have changed my mind or made me regret posting my video,” she continued. “I helped so many more people than they ever could have with their hatred and that’s what mattered most to me - helping people.” @monicathehuman Here is my abortion follow-up video for everyone wondering what that looks like! Thank you all again for your support and thank you to everyone who felt safe enough to confide in me about their journeys! ❤️ You’re all so loved and this is your reminder that you are NOT alone and you are supported by SO many despite the stigma. Abortion is Healthcare! 🫶🏼 • • #abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #abortion #abortionjourney #plannedparenthood #prochoice #abortionpill #mifepristone #misoprostol #abortionexperience #aidaccess #plancpills ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design Despite the negativity, an overwhelming number of commenters were pleased to see Monica open up about her experience. Many women related to her, and offered their own advice on how to cope emotionally and physically following an abortion. One individual said: “Please priortise your mental health after this process. It could be hard, but you got this. You are strong. You did what was right for you.” “This was so informative. Thanks for sharing your story,” a TikTok user noted, while another added: “Literally saving. Bless you, for showing us the process. I was always terrified of it.” Even commenters from US states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama - where bans or restrictions to abortion access have become increasingly common - encouraged her honesty, despite being located where abortion has now been made illegal and inaccessible. “I think it’s incredibly important for women to share stories like this because in a big way, it helps to destigmatise abortion,” Monica told Newsweek. “Talking to all these women and sharing our stories together also opened my eyes to see just how little support women around the world have when it comes to reproductive health.” @monicathehuman #abortion #abortionrights #abortionishealthcare #abortionjourney #prochoice #abortionexperience ♬ original sound - Moon 🩶 “It’s a right that everyone deserves and a choice that no one should ever make without proper resources and education. It’s heartbreaking when I hear that it’s not available to everyone just anywhere,” the mother said. “In some places, it may even place a danger on people for just talking about it. I felt so powerless with my inability to help them and I can only imagine what they may feel.” She added: “I hope that my video will reach the right people who have had questions about abortion and to hopefully clear the misconceptions and lies surrounding it. It’s not as scary as many people have been taught to believe, and they are not alone.” In 2022, the US Supreme Court officially overturned the decision in Roe v Wade, which protected a woman’s right to an abortion more than 50 years ago. One year later, 13 states have implemented total bans starting from conception, while Georgia has implemented a ban after six weeks. The Independent has reached out to Monica for comment. Read More What the GOP candidates have said about abortion rights Abortion drug case likely headed to Supreme Court after Republican-appointed judges agree to restrict access Are abortions about to be even harder to get? Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat