EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FLU

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

The common cold and the flu may seem similar at first. They are both respiratory illnesses and can cause similar symptoms. But different viruses cause these two conditions. Your symptoms will help you tell the difference between the two.

Both a cold and the flu share a few common symptoms. People with either illness often experience:

• ·        a runny or stuffy nose
• ·        sneezing
• ·        body aches
• ·        general fatigue
• As a rule, flu symptoms are more severe than cold symptoms.

Another distinct difference between the two is how serious they are. Colds rarely cause other health conditions or problems. But the flu can lead to sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, and sepsis.

To determine whether your symptoms are from a cold or from the flu, you need to see your doctor. Your doctor will run tests that can help determine what’s behind your symptoms.

If your doctor diagnoses a cold, you’ll only need to treat your symptoms until the virus has run its course. These treatments can include using over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.

Taking an OTC flu medicine early in the virus’ cycle may also help. Rest and hydration are also beneficial for people with the flu. Much like the common cold, the flu just needs time to work its way through your body.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Common symptoms of the flu include:

Fever: The flu almost always causes an increase in your body temperature. This is also known as a fever. Most flu-related fevers range from a low-grade fever around 100°F (37.8°C) to as high as 104°F (40°C). Although alarming, it’s not uncommon for young children to have higher fevers than adults. If you suspect your child has the flu, see your doctor.

You may feel “feverish” when you have an elevated temperature. Symptoms include chills, sweats, or being cold despite your body’s high temperature. Most fevers last for less than one week, usually around three to four days.

Cough: A dry, persistent cough is common with the flu. The cough may worsen, becoming uncomfortable and painful. You may also experience shortness of breath or chest discomfort during this time. Many flu-related coughs can last for about two weeks.

Muscle aches: These flu-related muscle pains are most common in your neck, back, arms, and legs. They can often be severe, making it difficult to move even when trying to perform basic tasks.

Headache: Your first symptom of the flu may be a severe headache. Sometimes eye symptoms, including light and sound sensitivity, go along with your headache.

Fatigue: Feeling tired is a not-so-obvious symptom of the flu. Feeling generally unwell can be a sign of many conditions. These feelings of tiredness and fatigue may come on fast and be difficult to overcome.

Flu shot: Know the facts

Influenza is a serious virus that leads to many illnesses each year. You don’t have to be young or have a compromised immune system to get ill from the infection. Healthy people can get sick from the flu and spread it to friends and family. In some cases, the flu can even be deadly. Flu-related deaths are most common in people over age 65.

The best and most efficient way to avoid the flu and prevent spreading it is to get a vaccination. The flu vaccine is available as an injectable shot. The more people vaccinated against the flu, the less the flu can spread.

How does the flu shot work?

To make the vaccine, scientists select the strains of the flu virus that research suggests will be the most common in the coming flu season. Millions of vaccines with those strains are produced and distributed.

Once you receive the vaccine your body begins producing antibodies against those strains of the virus. These antibodies provide protection against the virus. If you come into contact with the flu virus at a later point, you can avoid an infection. You may get sick If you end up coming into contact with a different strain of the virus. But the symptoms will be less severe because you had the vaccination.

Who should get the flu shot?

Doctors recommend that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the flu vaccine.

This is especially true for people in high-risk categories, like:

• ·        adults over age 65
• ·        women who are pregnant
• ·        children under age 5
• ·        people with weakened immune systems due to chronic illness

Most doctors also recommend everyone gets their flu vaccine by the end of October. This way your body has time to develop the right antibodies before flu season kicks into gear. It takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop against the flu after vaccination.

How long does the flu last?

Most people will recover from the flu in about one week. But it may take several more days for you to feel back to your usual self. It’s not uncommon for you to feel tired for several days after your flu symptoms have subsided.

It’s important you stay home from school or work until you haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours. This is without taking fever-reducing medications. If you have the flu, you’re contagious a day before your symptoms appear and up to five to seven days afterward.

Side effects of the flu shot

Many people report avoiding the flu vaccine each year for fear that it will make them sick. It’s important to understand that the flu vaccine can’t cause you to develop the flu. You aren’t going to become sick because you received the vaccine.

Flu vaccines contain dead or weakened strains of the flu virus. These strains aren’t strong enough to cause an illness.

You may experience some side effects from the flu shot. These side effects are often mild and only last a short period of time. The side effects of a shot outweigh the possible symptoms of a flu infection later.

The most common side effects of the flu shot include:

·        soreness around the flu shot injection site. Low-grade fever in the days immediately following the injection·  Mild aches and stiffness

Any side effects that do occur often only last a day or two. Many people won’t experience any side effects.

On rare occasions, some people may have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccination. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to any vaccine or medication before, talk with your doctor.

Treatment options for the flu

Most cases of the flu are mild enough that you can treat yourself at home without prescription medications.

It’s important you stay home and avoid contact with other people when you first notice flu symptoms.

You should also:

·        Drink plenty of fluids. This includes water, soup, and low-sugar flavored drinks.

• ·        Treat symptoms such as headache and fever with OTC medications.
• ·        Wash your hands to prevent spreading the virus to other surfaces or to other people in your house.
• ·        Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues. Immediately dispose of those tissues.

If symptoms become worse, call your doctor. They may prescribe an antiviral medication. The sooner you take this medicine, the more effective it is. You should start treatment within 48 hours from when your symptoms start.

Contact your doctor as soon as symptoms appear if you’re at high risk for flu-related complications. These high-risk groups include:

• ·        people with weakened immune systems
• ·       women who are pregnant
• ·        people over age 65
• ·        children under age 5

Your doctor may test for the flu virus right away. They may also prescribe an antiviral medication to prevent complications.

When is flu season?

The main flu season stretches from late October to March. Cases of the flu peak during February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But you can get the flu at any time of the year.

You’re more likely to get sick during the fall and winter months. This is because you’re spending more time in close quarters with other people. And because you’re exposed to lots of different illnesses.

You’re more likely to catch the flu if you already have a different infection. This is because other infections can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to new ones.

Remedies for flu symptoms

Being ill from the flu is no fun. But remedies for flu symptoms are available, and many of them provide great relief.

Keep these treatments in mind if you have the flu:

Pain relievers: Analgesics like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are often recommended to help ease symptoms. These include muscle aches and pains, headache, and fever.

Children and teens should never take aspirin for an illness. This is because of the risk of a rare, but fatal, condition called Reye’s syndrome.

Decongestants: This type of medication can help relieve nasal congestion and pressure in your sinuses and ears. Each type of decongestant can cause some side effects. So, be sure to read labels to find one that’s best for you.

Expectorants: This type of medication helps loosen thick sinus secretions that make your head feel clogged and cause coughing.

Cough suppressants: Coughing is a common flu symptom, and some medications can help relieve it. If you don’t want to take medication, some cough drops use honey and lemon to ease a sore throat and cough.

Be careful not to mix medications. Using unnecessary medications could cause unwanted side effects. It’s best to take medicines that apply to your predominant symptoms.

In the meantime, get plenty of rest. Your body is fighting hard against the influenza virus, so you need to give it plenty of downtime. Call in sick, stay at home, and get better. Don’t go to work or school with a fever.

You should also drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, sports drinks, and soup can help you stay hydrated. Warm liquids like soup and tea have the added benefit of helping ease pain from a sore throat.

Flu symptoms in adults

Flu-related fever that appears in adults and can be severe. For many adults, a sudden high fever is the earliest symptom of a flu infection.

Adults rarely spike a fever unless they have a serious infection. The flu virus causes an abrupt high temperature that’s greater than 100°F (37.8°C).

Other viral infections, like a cold, may cause low-grade fevers.

Beyond this, children and adults share many of the same symptoms. Some people may experience one or several symptoms more than another person. Each person’s influenza infection will be different.

What’s the incubation period for the flu?

The typical incubation period for the flu is one to four days. Incubation refers to the period during which the virus is in your body and developing. During this time, you may not show any symptoms of the virus. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t contagious. Many people are capable of spreading the virus with others a day before symptoms appear.

The millions of tiny droplets produced when we sneeze, cough, or talk spreads the flu virus. These droplets enter your body through your nose, mouth, or eyes. You can also pick up the flu by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes.

Is there such a thing as the “24-hour flu”?

The “24-hour flu” is a common infection that has nothing to do with influenza, despite sharing a name. The 24-hour flu is caused by a family of viruses called norovirus.

The symptoms of a norovirus infection include:

• ·        diarrhea
• ·        nausea
• ·        vomiting
• ·        stomach cramping

These symptoms occur in the gastrointestinal system. That’s why the 24-hour flu is sometimes called a “stomach flu.” Although it’s called the “24-hour flu,” you may be ill up to three days.

Influenza (or the flu) is a respiratory illness. It causes symptoms in the respiratory system.

Symptoms of influenza include:

• ·        coughing
• ·        headaches
• ·        fever
• ·        runny nose
• ·        body aches

The symptoms of the two are different. Some people with the flu may experience nausea and vomiting while they’re sick. But these symptoms aren’t as common.

Is the flu contagious?

If you have the flu, you’re contagious. Many people are contagious and can spread the virus as early as a day before they show symptoms. In other words, you may be sharing the virus before you even realize that you’re sick.

You may still be contagious five to seven days after your symptoms appear. Young children are often contagious for more than seven days after symptoms first appear. People who have a weak immune system may experience the virus symptoms longer, too.

If you have the flu, stay home. Do your part to prevent the spread of the virus to other people. If you’re diagnosed, alert anyone you came into contact with in the day before your symptoms appeared.

What is the flu?

Influenza or “the flu” is a common, infectious virus spread by infected droplets that enter another person’s body. From there, the virus takes hold and begins to develop.

Each year, the flu spreads across the United States. Winter is the flu’s primary season, with a peak in February. But you can be infected with the flu any time of the year.

Many strains of the flu exist. Doctors and researchers determine which strains of the virus will be most common each year. Those strains are then used to produce vaccines. A flu vaccine is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent a flu infection.

Is there medication for the flu?

Medications called “antiviral” drugs can treat the flu. These medications are available by prescription only. You must visit a doctor or healthcare provider to receive a prescription. You can’t buy these medicines over the counter at a pharmacy.

Antiviral medications used to treat the flu can help ease the symptoms. They can also shorten the length of the flu by a day or two. Taking antiviral medications may help if you get the flu. But these medications also have side effects.

Antiviral medications are important for people at high risk for developing complications from the flu.

People in this high-risk category include:

• ·        children under age 5
• ·        adults over age 65
• ·        women who are pregnant
• ·        people with chronic medical conditions that weaken their immune systems

Research suggests antiviral medications work best if you take them within 48 hours of having symptoms. If you miss that window, don’t worry. You may still see a benefit from taking the medicine later. This is especially true if you’re at high risk or are ill. Taking antiviral medications may help protect you against flu complications. These include pneumonia and other infections.

Early symptoms of the flu

Symptoms of the flu appear quickly. This sudden onset of symptoms is often the flu’s first hallmark. Similar illnesses, such as a cold, take several days for symptoms to emerge.

Another common early symptom of the flu is the breadth of pain. People with the flu report feeling uncomfortable all over their body as an early symptom.

You may feel as if you’ve been “hit by a truck.” Getting out of bed may prove to be difficult and slow. This feeling may be an early symptom of the flu.

After this, other symptoms of the flu may begin appearing, making it obvious you have the virus.

Are there natural flu remedies?

If left untreated, the typical flu often goes away in about one week. During that time, you have several treatment options for making symptoms easier to handle.

Prescription antiviral medicines can reduce the severity of the infection. It can also shorten its duration. Some OTC treatments can ease the symptoms of the infection. Even some natural flu remedies may be helpful for easing symptoms.

Some people may find natural flu remedies to be helpful. Medical research supports some treatments that include:

Soup: Warm chicken soup works on many levels as a flu remedy. The warm liquid can help ease sore throats and provide hydration and electrolytes. Studies have shown it can also change the movement of white blood cells in your body. This decreases inflammation.

Honey: A lot of “natural” cough and cold medicines contain honey. This is because it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Honey is also an effective cough suppressant. Add some to your tea or eat a small spoonful if you’re trying to stop a coughing fit.

Ginger: Drop a few slices of ginger into your tea or a glass of warm water, and sip. This root has healing properties that can ease a sore throat and suppress a cough. It can also help with nausea.

Probiotics: Increase the good bacteria in your gut while your body is fighting an infection. A healthy gut microbiome can boost your immune system, prevent new infections, and promote healing.

Of course, rest is also an important part of recovering from a flu infection. Your body is fighting hard against the infection. It’s wise for you to stop, rest, and get more sleep so your immune system can fight back against the infection.

Options for over-the-counter (OTC) flu medicine

OTC medicines can help relieve symptoms of the flu, but they won’t treat it. If you have the flu and are looking for symptom relief, consider these medicines:

Decongestants: Nasal decongestants help break up mucus in your sinuses. This will allow you to blow your nose. Decongestants come in several forms. These include nasal decongestants that are inhaled and oral (pill) decongestants.

Cough suppressants: Coughing, especially at night, is a common flu symptom. OTC cough medicines can ease or suppress your cough reflex. Cough drops or lozenges can soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing.

Expectorants: This type of medication may help you cough up phlegm if you have a lot of mucus or congestion in your chest.

Antihistamines: This type of medication is in cold and allergy medicines. It may not be helpful for everyone. But it can relieve watery eyes, stuffy nose, and sinus headaches if allergies are also causing your symptoms.

OTC “flu medicines” often contain several of these types of medicines in one pill. If you take one of these combination medications, avoid taking other medicine with it. This will make sure you don’t take too much of one type of medicine.

What causes the flu?

The flu is a virus that’s shared in several ways. First, you can pick up the virus from being near a person who has the flu and sneezes, coughs, or talks.

The virus can also live on inanimate objects for two to eight hours. If someone with the virus touched a common surface like a door handle or a keyboard, and you touch the same surface, you could get the virus. Once you have the virus on your hand, it can enter your body by touching your mouth, eyes, or nose.

You can vaccinate against the flu. An annual flu vaccine helps your body prepare for exposure to the virus. But flu viruses are morphing and changing. That’s why you need the flu shot every year. A flu shot helps you by activating your immune system to make antibodies against particular strains of the virus. Antibodies are what prevent infections.

It’s possible to get the flu after receiving the flu shot if you come into contact with other strains of the virus. Even then, it’s likely your symptoms will be much less severe than if you hadn’t had the vaccine at all. This is due to cross-protection. This means that different strains share common elements. And that allows the flu vaccine to work against them, too.

Where can I get a flu shot?

Most doctors’ offices carry the vaccine. You may also get the vaccine at:

• ·        pharmacies
• ·        walk-in medical clinics
• ·        county or city health departments
• ·        college health centers

Some employers and schools also offer flu shot clinics on site. Many locations begin promoting flu vaccines as flu season approaches. Some even offer incentives such as coupons to encourage you to receive your vaccine. 

Flu shot for kids: What you should know

Each year, hundreds of thousands of children get sick from the influenza virus. Some of these illnesses are severe requiring hospitalization; some even result in death.

Children who are sick from the flu are often at a higher risk than adults who are sick from the flu. For example, children under age 5 are more likely to need medical treatment for the flu. Severe complications from a flu infection are most common in children under age 2. If your child has a chronic medical condition, like asthma or diabetes, the flu may be worse. See your doctor right away if your child has been exposed to the flu or shows flu symptoms.

The best way to protect your children against a flu infection is with a flu vaccine. Vaccinate children against the infection each year. Doctors recommend flu vaccines for children starting at 6 months old.

Influenza vaccines are available as injections and as inhalable nasal sprays. Recommendations for which is best for children change each year. Check with your children’s doctor before they get vaccines to determine which is best.

Some children between ages 6 months and 8 years may need two doses for protection against the virus. If your child is receiving a vaccine for the first time, they will likely need two doses.

If your child only received one dose in the flu season prior, they may need two doses this flu season. Ask your child’s doctor how many doses your child needs.

Children under 6 months of age are too young for a flu vaccine. To protect them, make sure the people around them get vaccinated. This includes family members and care providers.

11 REASONS YOU MIGHT MISS YOUR PERIOD

It's easy to jump to conclusions when you realize your period is late. If you're trying to conceive, you may feel excitement and a sense of disbelief. If you're not, you might feel fear or disappointment, not to mention utter confusion if you know there's no way you could be pregnant. The fact is, though most people automatically think of pregnancy anytime a period is late, it could be that — or one of many other possibilities. 

HERE'S A RUNDOWN OF THE COMMON REASONS FOR MISSED PERIOD

1. Pregnancy

2. Stress

3. Illness

4. Weight

5. Excessive exercise

6. Change in schedule

7. Breastfeeding

8. Medication

9. Hormonal imbalance

10. Thyroid disorder

11. Perimenopause

12. Being an Athlete

So Let's Go

1. PREGNANCY

Sometimes a late period means exactly what you think: There's a little bun in the oven! Because early pregnancy symptoms like abdominal cramping, bloating and breast tenderness are similar to what you may experience in the days before menstruation, it can be difficult to tell if your period is simply off by a few days or you're pregnant. If your

period is late and you've had unprotected sex, take a home pregnancy test. A week after the date you expected your period gives the most accurate results, but many home test manufacturers promise to detect human chorionic gonadotropin (better known as hCG, the hormone released during pregnancy) sooner.

2. STRESS

You already know stress can have a number of unpleasant effects, like headaches, weight gain, acne and other skin issues — and it can also affect your period. When you're under physical or emotional stress, your body produces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Elevated levels force the brain to decide which bodily functions are essential and which are nonessential until the stressful event is over. Things like blood flow to the muscles and oxygen to the lungs increase (part of the “fight-or-flight” response you've likely heard of), while others, like digestion and the reproductive system, may stop temporarily in extreme cases. When the reproductive cycle is delayed, so is your period.

3. ILLNESS

Think back to the time you should have ovulated. If you were sick, whether with a simple cold or something more serious, the stress could have put your body into that “which function is most important” phase mentioned above. So ovulation could have been delayed or didn't happen. That means your period will also be late or nonexistent. If illness around the time of ovulation caused your skipped period, Aunt Flo' will likely return once things are back to normal.

4. WEIGHT

Your weight can affect your hypothalamus, a gland in your brain responsible for regulating various processes in the body — including your menstrual cycle. Extreme weight loss, a low caloric intake or being very underweight stresses the hypothalamus, and your body won't release the estrogen needed to build the lining of the uterus. The same happens with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, which also cause estrogen levels to dip too low. On the other hand, being overweight or gaining a lot in a short amount of time can cause your body to produce too much estrogen. The overload may cause you to go for months without ovulating or cause the endometrial lining to overgrow and become unstable, resulting in heavy, irregular periods. Usually, gaining weight if you're underweight or losing if you're overweight should help your periods to return to normal.

5. EXCESSIVE EXERCISE

Of course working out is good for you. However, when you overdo it (and possibly also restrict meals to lose weight), your body doesn't produce enough estrogen to complete the menstrual cycle. Some women — such as ballet dancers, gymnasts and professional athletes — are at greater risk for amenorrhea (missing a period for three or more months in a row). But you don't have to be a pro for exercise to mess with your periods. Working out excessively without taking in enough calories can cause disruptions. Some signs that you're overdoing it include extreme or rapid weight loss; decreased physical performance; or forcing yourself to work out through injury, illness or severe weather. Slowing down a bit and, if you need to, gaining a little weight should get things back on track.

6. CHANGE IN SCHEDULE

Believe it or not, switching things up — for instance, working the night shift instead of the day or vice versa, or travelling across the country — can throw off your body clock, which regulates your hormones (including those responsible for your period). Sometimes this result in a missed or delayed period, but it should return when your body gets used to the change or your schedule goes back to normal.

7. BREASTFEEDING

If you're breastfeeding you may not see your period for some time, since prolactin — the hormone responsible for breast milk production — also suppresses ovulation. Many moms don't have a period for months (or at all) while breastfeeding. But lack of a period doesn't mean you can't get pregnant. Remember, ovulation occurs before you get your period. It's possible for you to ovulate and then get pregnant before you ever see your period. So if you don't want back-to-back babies, use protection. Your period should return within about six to eight weeks after weaning your child. If you haven't gotten a period three months after you stop breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.

8. MEDICATION

Probably the most common medication to cause menstrual changes is birth control. Hormonal contraceptives such as the pill or patch work by stopping the body from ovulating — and no ovulation means no period. But what about that monthly bleeding you have while using one of these methods? What you're really experiencing is withdrawal bleeding, a “fake” period caused by the drop in hormones when you take the placebo pills in your pack or go patch-free during the fourth week of your cycle. Sometimes, though, the birth control suppresses the hormones so much that you have very light bleeding or no period at all during that week off. And some pills are even designed to stop your period for a longer amount of time (three months or more). Other hormonal birth controls, such as the Depo-Provera shot or the Mirena IUD, thin the lining of the uterus to such a degree that there may be no lining to shed monthly as a period. Emergency contraception, or the “morning after pill,” can also affect when you ovulate (or stop it altogether), so if you've taken it recently you may experience a late or skipped period (bring this up with your doctor). Some other medications that can cause a delayed or missed period are antidepressants, some antipsychotics, corticosteroids and chemotherapy drugs. If you've recently gone off the pill in the hopes of getting pregnant, you you may notice that it might take a month or so for your cycle to regulate itself — in which case a skipped period might just be your system is getting back on track. If you're not sure whether a missed period means you're expecting, visit your doctor.

9. HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition where the female sex hormones are out of balance. It can cause cysts on the ovaries and prevent ovulation from occurring regularly. In addition to missed or irregular periods, PCOS can also cause excess hair growth, acne, weight gain and possibly infertility. Your doctor can do a blood test to check your hormone levels if you think PCOS may be the reason for your menstrual problems. If PCOS is the cause, your doctor may recommend birth control to regulate your periods.

10. THYROID DISORDER

When the thyroid, the gland responsible for your body's metabolism, doesn't function properly, it can cause abnormal menstrual changes. An overactive thyroid (called hyperthyroidism) can cause periods to be lighter and less frequent; additional symptoms include weight loss, rapid heartbeat, increased sweating and trouble sleeping. An underactive thyroid (called hypothyroidism ) may also cause periods to be less frequent but heavier; it may also cause weight gain, fatigue, dry skin and hair loss. A blood test can help your doctor determine if you have a thyroid disorder.

11. PERIMENOPAUSE

The average age of menopause is 51. Anywhere from two to eight years before menopause, a woman experiences what's known as perimenopause , the period when the body gradually makes less estrogen and moves toward menopause. During this time, it's not uncommon to have changes in the menstrual cycle — periods may come more or less frequently, be shorter or longer, or be lighter or heavier. But you'll also likely experience hot flashes and night sweats, sleeping difficulties, vaginal dryness and mood swings. If you're concerned about your symptoms, your doctor can check your hormone levels with a blood test.

Though a missed period can be emotional, try not to jump to conclusions until you find out what's really going on. A visit to your doctor can help pinpoint the cause of your missed period, and if you're not pregnant, help get things back on track.

12. BEING AN ATHLETE 

Endurance athletes and women who exercise excessively sometimes stop having a period, even if they are at a healthy body weight. A demanding exercise program puts a lot of stress on a woman's body. When this happens her body may stop menstruating as a way to conserve energy. Additionally, women who exercise a lot may have extremely low body fat. Without body fat, a woman's body can't produce enough estrogen to ovulate.

EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS

EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS

1. Tender, swollen breasts

2. Fatigue

3. Bleeding and cramping

4. Nausea and heightened sense of smell

5. Food adversions and cravings

6. Frequent urination

7. Bloating

Before you even pass the test (the home pregnancy test, that is) and know for sure that you've got a baby on board, you may get a heads-up in the form of early pregnancy symptoms. Many will be similar to the yucky feeling you get right before your period (bloating, fatigue, breast tenderness…you know the drill), so it may be hard to tell whether they signal incoming Auntie Flo — or motherhood. Still, if you've been TTC and you've got some (or all) of these symptoms, it may be time to pull out an HPT.

1. TENDER, SWOLLEN BREASTS

That tingly, sore, and/or full feeling in your breasts that makes you want to wear a "Look, but don't touch!" billboard on your chest is one of the first signs of pregnancy. The dazzling hormonal duo — estrogen and progesterone — deserves most of the credit (or the blame) for this breast (and nipple) tenderness. It's pain with a gain, though, since they're preparing your body for the milk-making mania to come.

2. FATIGUE

Imagine running a daily marathon (without training) or climbing a mountain (ditto) while carrying a backpack that weighs a little more every day. That's pregnancy in a nutshell. In other words, it's hard work! During early pregnancy, a huge amount of energy goes into building a life-support system for your baby (aka the placenta). And all that baby building can zap you of your usual get-up-and-go right from the get-go.

3. BLEEDING AND CRAMPING

Light spotting or implantation bleeding before you'd expect your period (around five to ten days after conception) is sometimes a sign that an embryo has implanted itself into the uterine wall. Some women also experience abdominal cramping in the first few weeks of pregnancy, similar to menstrual cramps. Only a small percentage of women experience implantation bleeding or cramping, however, so you can miss these symptoms and still be pregnant.

4. NAUSEA AND HEIGHTENED SENSE OF SMELL

That tell-tale queasy feeling in your stomach, also known as morning sickness , can hit you anytime of day beginning just a few short weeks into your pregnancy. Hormones — mainly increased levels of progesterone, which causes the stomach to empty more slowly — are, again, largely to blame (though estrogen and hCG can also take some credit for your nausea). You may also develop a heightened sense of smell, making previously mild odors strong (and unappealing) enough to make you run for the nearest bathroom to puke!

5. FOOD AVERSIONS AND CRAVINGS

Almost all expectant mothers experience cravings, and most experience at least one aversion as well (thanks, again, to hormones). And that's not a bad thing: Many cravings and aversions have an uncanny way of keeping you away from the bad stuff (coffee and alcohol, for example) and drawing you to the good stuff (like rocky road ice cream — it's loaded with calcium, really!).

6. FREQUENT URINATION

Two to three weeks after conception you may notice an increased need to pee . This new gotta-go feeling is due to the pregnancy hormone hCG, which increases blood flow to your kidneys, helping them to more efficiently rid your body (and eventually, your baby's body) of waste. Your growing uterus (yes, it's starting to grow already!) is also beginning to put some pressure on your bladder, leaving less storage space for urine and making you head for the toilet more frequently.

7. BLOATING

Having trouble buttoning your jeans? Early pregnancy bloating is hard to distinguish from pre-period bloat, but it's definitely something you'll feel early on (for most women, that is). You can't blame that puffy ate-too-much feeling on your baby yet, but you can blame it on the hormone progesterone, which helps slow down digestion, giving the nutrients from foods you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby.