When should you take a pregnancy test? Here's what experts recommend.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Preeclampsia: Symptoms, causes and treatments
Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy.
Self Improved
Taking a pregnancy test too early can produce a false negative result. And the prospect of a major life change like pregnancy is a time when you want to make sure you're getting the most accurate information.
So how do you know when it's too early to take a pregnancy test, and at what point can you get accurate results?
Dr. Karen Tang, author of "It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)," explains what you need to know about the best times to take a pregnancy test – and signs to look out for that signify you could be pregnant in the first place.
Noted: Can you actually get pregnant during your period? What an OB/GYN needs you to know.
How early can you take a pregnancy test?
The "most sensitive" drugstore tests can detect pregnancy as early as three or four weeks after your missing period date, Tang says. In those first few weeks, pregnancy hormones are on the rise every day. If you take a test early on that turns up negative but you still believe you may be pregnant, Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends testing again in a week. Getting a blood test done by a medical professional also may be helpful, as blood tests are able to detect pregnancy before urine tests and ultrasounds.
"You should take a test as soon as you are worried you might be pregnant – but most over-the-counter tests may not turn positive until around the time that you'd be due for or missing your period," she adds. "Pregnancy hormone (HCG) is most concentrated in the first morning urine, so that may have the best chance of showing a positive, but obviously take the test whenever in the day you're able to."
How does IVF work? Plus what the process is like and how much it costs.
And FYI: Pregnancy is actually calculated from the first day of your last period, not the actual day of conception, Tang says.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. What is CVI and is it dangerous?
President Donald Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that has resulted in swelling of his legs and bruising on his hands, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced. Leavitt discussed Trump's diagnosis at a July 17 briefing with reporters after Trump underwent medical tests to examine swelling in his legs near his ankles and bruising on the back of the president's right hand. The ankle swelling is related to the venous disease, which Leavitt called a "common condition" for individuals over the age of 70. Trump is 79. According to Bloomberg, White House doctors still determined Trump to be in "excellent health," and there were no signs of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. Here's what to know about the disease, symptoms, treatment and more. What is chronic venous insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the leg veins don't allow blood to flow back up to the heart, causing it instead to flow backward, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The blood instead pools in the legs, causing pain. What are chronic venous insufficiency symptoms? Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency including swelling in the legs or ankles, a tight feeling in the calves or itchy, painful legs and pain when walking that relieves when at rest, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Other symptoms include: Brown-colored skin, often near the ankles Varicose veins Leg ulcers Discomfort in the legs or an urge to move the legs (restless legs syndrome) Painful leg cramps or muscle spasms (charley horse) Chronic venous insufficiency causes People are more likely to develop chronic venous insufficiency if they are overweight, pregnant, have a family history or had prior damage to the leg due to surgery, injury or blood clots, Johns Hopkins says. Other causes could be the following: High blood pressure in the leg veins due to excessive sitting or standing Lack of exercise Smoking A blood clot in a deep vein Swelling and inflammation of a vein close to the skin What is chronic venous insufficiency treatment? Healthcare providers determine a treatment plan for chronic venous insufficiency based on the person's age, overall health and medical history, often involving elevating the legs, wearing compression socks and adding in regular exercise. Other treatments may involve medications to increase blood flow and endovenous laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation (involving a tube inserted into affected vein to close it off). Serious cases may involve surgery, specifically tying off the affected vein to stop blood flow, or sclerotherapy, where a chemical is injected to "scar" the vein to stop carrying blood. Chronic venous insufficiency life expectancy: Is it dangerous? Chronic venous insufficiency is not a serious health threat, Johns Hopkins says. The Cleveland Clinic further adds that it's a progressive disease that can cause discomfort, pain and reduced quality of life. Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on Trump has chronic vein insufficiency. Can you die? What causes CVI? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump diagnosed with minor vein condition after noticing swelling in legs
Washington — President Trump has been diagnosed with a "benign and common" vein condition known as chronic venous insufficiency after he noticed swelling in his legs, the White House said Thursday. The president's physician, Sean Barbabella, said in a memo that the president underwent a thorough health examination after he noticed mild swelling in his legs, and it revealed no evidence of a more serious condition like deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read the memo at Thursday's press briefing, and the White House later released it. According to Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic, chronic venous insufficiency occurs when veins in the legs struggle to bring blood back up to the heart. Barbarella said the president, who is 79, remains in "excellent" overall health. Photos of the president at the Club World Cup soccer final in New Jersey over the weekend showed him with noticeably swollen ankles, fueling speculation about the cause. The president's doctor said he was "thoroughly evaluated" by the White House medical unit "out of an abundance of caution" after noticing swelling in recent weeks. "The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70," the memo said. Barbarella said there was "no evidence" of blood clots or arterial disease. The president underwent multiple tests, including a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and coagulation profile, Barbabella said. "All results were within normal limits," the memo said. "An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function. No signs of heart function, renal impairment, or systemic illness were identified." The White House doctor also noted recent photos that have shown minor bruising on the back of the president's hand. "This is consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen," the memo said. What is chronic venous insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency, also known as CVI, is a form of venous disease that occurs when veins in your legs are damaged, resulting in them not managing blood flow back to the heart as well as they should. "Chronic venous insufficiency is not a serious health threat. But it can be painful and disabling," Johns Hopkins Medicine notes on its website. Venous disease in general is very common, according to the Cleveland Clinic, with about 1 in 20 adults being affected by chronic venous insufficiency. It usually affects people over age 50, with the risk increasing with age. Someone who is overweight, has a family history of the issue, or who has prior leg damage can be more at risk. Other contributing factors can include lack of exercise, smoking and high blood pressure in the leg veins due to long periods of sitting or standing. The insufficiency can cause a variety of symptoms, including discolored reddish-brown, leathery or itchy skin, swelling in the legs and ankles, and legs that are achy, tired, cramping or tingling. Treatment options can include improving blood flow through weight loss, exercise, elevation and compression socks, and in some cases, medicines or minor procedures may be recommended. In severe cases, surgery is also an option. Read the full memo on Trump's diagnosis Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits southern Alaska Wall Street Journal reports Trump sent "bawdy" birthday letter to Epstein, Trump threatens to sue Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
16-07-2025
- CNN
Increasing your walking cadence can improve mobility
Are you not as strong and physically capable as you would like? Around 7% to 12% of Americans 65 and older are considered frail. That's when at least three of the following symptoms are true, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine: unintentional weight loss, reduced strength, exhaustion, low activity levels and a slow pace. Frailty often makes it difficult for older adults to complete day-to-day tasks. But there may be something they can do about it. Increasing a person's walking cadence by 14 steps per minute was associated with a 10% increase in functional capacity in prefrail and frail older adults, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One. Prefrailty is the period before frailty, where older adults may experience higher risk of physical impairment, cognitive decline, nutritional deficiencies and socioeconomic disadvantages. 'What we ended up finding was that those who are able to walk faster, particularly at a cadence 14 steps per minute faster than their usual pace, were more likely to improve in their mobility or endurance or function,' said Dr. Daniel Rubin, the study's lead author. 'In particular, we were targeting to try to really improve (people's) mobility and their function, just because prefrail and frail older adults tend to be a little bit more limited, at least in the concept of physical frailty,' added Rubin, associate professor of anesthesia and critical care at the University of Chicago. The study was a secondary data analysis of a primary trial that looked at walking intervention in retirement communities and took place over a span of 36 weeks. Whether or not an older adult is frail, mobility is still an important part of healthy aging. By practicing easy strength-training moves, such as walking, you can improve your strength and combat frailty, experts say. Individuals who regularly incorporate walking exercises in their routines also experience longevity, which is living longer and better lives. Active older adults were 28% less likely to become disabled and were able to perform day-to-day tasks with little to no assistance, according to a 2020 study. Other benefits include maintenance of healthy weight, reduced high blood pressure, decreased risk for type 2 diabetes and a stronger musculoskeletal system. 'Walking has been associated with the same type of health outcomes as exercise activities (e.g., risk of mortality, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, improved cognitive ageing),' said Rayane Haddadj, a doctoral candidate in the department of public health and nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in an email. He was not associated with the study. 'Advantages of walking are that it is a simple, low cost, and accessible activity that can be promoted widely to reduce the burden of various diseases and conditions,' he added. Increasing your walking pace can lower the risk of heart rhythm abnormalities, such as atrial fibrillation, and walking for longer periods of time can have health benefits, such as reducing back pain. 'Even small increases in daily activity can make a difference. Walking more could therefore be a simple yet powerful way to reduce risk of chronic low back pain and other diseases,' Haddadj said. 'I think one of the hardest parts when you're giving public health advice, when you're talking about walking, in particular, is what pace to walk at,' Rubin said. Previous methods used to help older adults follow a moderate intensity walking pace, such as the talk test or tracking heart rate, can be subjective and difficult to track pace or cadence accurately. 'The easiest way is, actually, you can use a metronome on your phone,' Rubin said. 'It's called rhythmic auditory cueing.' To do this, start by walking at your normal pace for 30 minutes and time it with the metronome. Once you've established a rhythm, you can gradually increase your pace by five or 10 steps per minute. 'Some people use music to do that. Music is actually a little harder, unless you have a trained ear to really be able to identify the beat,' Rubin said. While keeping this pace, older adults could also benefit from practicing conscious breathing, such as breathing through their nose, said CNN fitness contributor Dana Santas, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and mind-body coach in professional sports. Nasal breathing, which is when you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, can help lower blood pressure and improve heart rate variability, according to a 2023 study. Doing so can help prevent development of hypertension. It's also important that you maintain good form while walking, such as standing tall and swinging your arms. It will prevent backaches, make it easy to breathe and keep you balanced. 'Walking is a full body movement. It is not just about your lower body. It's not just one step in front of the one foot in front of the other,' Santas said. 'Your arm swing is a huge part involved in the mechanics of walking. So, you want to have an arm swing that's coordinated with your foot movement, so it's opposing.' Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts.
