Are you that kind of person who celebrates milestones of your life with getting a tattoo? These milestones could be anything, including the things you achieved, or the things you could not achieve but taught you a lesson. If you are this person, then you must have wondered if you can donate blood with all the tattoos on your body? There are lots of rumors on how can one donate blood, or if at all they are allowed to donate blood. So let's get into its nitty gritty!

As per American Red Cross, in most states, a tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity. Which means the tattoo artist must be licensed and must practice following all the guidelines, using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. The same is the guideline for cosmetic tattoos, which includes microblading of eyebrows. If it is done by a licensed artist in a regulated state, then it is acceptable.

However, if you got your tattoo in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities, you must wait three months after it was applied.

The states that do not regulate tattoo facilities are:

• Arizona
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Utah
• Wyoming

Body Piercing

Similar is the case with body piercings. It has to be done following the regulation, here the key is that the instrument used has to be a single-use equipment and disposable. Which means if you are getting it by a gun, or an earring cassette, they have to be disposable. In case you got your piercing with a reusable gun or a reusable instrument, you will be required to wait for three months.

Three-Month Wait Period

The reason behind the wait time is associated with the concerns of hepatitis, which could be easily transmitted from donors to patients through transfusion. All blood donations are thus tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, with several tests. However, not always are these tests are perfect, thus the three-month period is given.

What Dangers Loom Over?

Donating blood after getting a tattoo can be dangerous as unclean tattoo needle could carry bloodborne viruses, which are hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guideline, making the wait time shorter from one year to three months. This is because if you contract a bloodborne illness, it could be detectable within the period of 3 months.

What else makes you ineligible to donate blood?

There are other reasons why you may not be allowed to donate blood. As per the American Red Cross, you are not allowed to donate blood if you have

• hepatitis B or C
• HIV
• Chagas disease, which is a parasitic infection that kissing bugs cause
• leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection that sand flies cause
• Cruetzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare disorder that leads to mental deterioration
• Ebola virus
• hemochromatosis, which means extreme build up of iron
• hemophilia
• jaundice
• sickle cell disease

As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blood Bank, these conditions make you permanently ineligible from donating blood.

While there are certain conditions that makes your permanently ineligible, there are other conditions that makes you temporarily ineligible from donating blood. These include:

• If you have a bleeding condition, and have issues with your blood clotting
• If you have received transfusion from a person
• If you have cancer. Here, the eligibility depend son the type of cancer you have
• If you have recently underwent a dental or oral surgery. In such a case, you would have to wait for three days
• If you had a recent heart attack, heart surgery or angina. You must wait for 6 months
• If you are pregnant, you can only donate blood after 6 months after delivering your child

Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022. His wife, Emma Heming Willis recalled the day when Bruce was diagnosed with the condition and how it made her feel "lost, isolated and afraid." Talkin to PEOPLE, Emma said, Bruce "never connected the dots" that he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. “I think that's like the blessing and the curse of this, is that he never connected the dots that he had this disease, and I'm really happy about that. I'm really happy that he doesn't know about it,” she shared about Bruce, 70.

Bruce Willis' Diagnosis

"On the day Bruce got his diagnosis, we walked out of the doctor's office with a pamphlet and an empty goodbye. No plan, no guidance, no hope, just shock," she explained in front of a packed auditorium, People reported.

In one instant, the family's future disappeared. The Oscar-winning actor, famous for his quick wit and performances in Die Hard and The Sixth Sense, would be leaving his career behind. Emma found herself thrust into a whole new role of full-time caregiver at the same time.

She continued to explain, "I found myself having to keep my family intact, raise our two small girls, and tend to the man that I love while dealing with an illness I hardly knew anything about."

Emma's emotional candor resonated with hundreds of families who have received similar diagnoses and encouraged her to author a book, The Unexpected Journey, scheduled for publication in September. In Emma's words, "This is the book I hope will assist the next caregiver. It is packed with encouragement, wisdom, and the encouragement necessary to walk this path.

Read: Bruce Willis’ Dementia Diagnosis Left Wife Emma Heming Feeling ‘Lost’ And ‘Isolated’ - What Are The Signs Of Caregivers Burnout?

What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia is a less prevalent type of dementia that mainly occurs in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It tends to affect behavior, personality, language, and movement more than memory, particularly in its initial stages.

In contrast to Alzheimer's, which generally strikes older individuals, FTD can hit at an earlier age—sometimes as young as 40. The symptoms can range from changes in personality, emotional flatness, or the inability to show empathy to impulsiveness, so it is especially hard for spouses and children to cope.

Emma's case illustrates how abrupt and disrupting this diagnosis can be—not only for the patient but for caregivers as well.

Whereas Bruce Willis' diagnosis hit global headlines, the mental toll taken by Emma, his caregiver, was largely in the background—until she decided to come forward.

Caregiving is a respectable position, but it's also a challenging and thankless one. For those who are caring for loved ones with dementia or other chronic illnesses, the stress of "keeping it all together" can result in a condition called caregiver burnout.

"Caring for someone is the most intimate and demanding work of love," Emma explained, "but when you're not noticed or supported, it begins to undermine your health—mentally and physically."

Work stress could make you gay, said a Malaysian minister Zulkifli Hasan, as continued government intervention of what is described as 'sexually deviant behavior' has pressured the country's LGBTQ community. This happened two weeks after religious authorities and police acted on complaints from a sultan and Islamist politicians that a camping retreat was promoting the LGBTQ lifestyle, reported South China Morning Post.

Religious Affairs Minister Hasan on Tuesday said that work stress could be among many other factors that is pushing people into sexual orientations other than heterosexuality. “Societal influence, sexual experiences, work stress and other personal factors come under this category [of possible causes],” Zulkifli said in a written parliamentary reply to a question by Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, a lawmaker with the opposition Islamist party PAS.

Also Read: Andy Kershaw Diagnosed With Spinal Cancer That Left Him Unable To Walk

He cited a 2017 study by Sulaiman et.al., that said such elements "can contribute to the increase in LGBT acts".

His comments have attracted a lot of backlash, with many people on social media mocking him. A social media user Muaz Zam said, "By this logic, I am genuinely shocked my entire office isn't gay by now". Another one read: "In other words: they never work hard in the parliament."

However, these claims are not scientifically back. Work related stress can impact a person, but cannot change their sexuality. It can, however, cause health effects. What it does not do is change one's sexuality and this is why one should know the difference about gender, sex and sexual orientation or sexuality.

'Work Stress Makes You Gay': The Difference Between Gender vs Sex

While these both terms are often used interchangeably in official forms, there is a difference between the two.

As per the Council of Europe, gender is an area that cuts across thinking about society, law, politics, and culture.

Read: Trump Administration Deadnames Transgender Former HHS Officer Rachel Levine in Official Portrait

Definition Of Gender vs Sex by WHO

The World Health Organization notes that sex refers to: "the different biological and physiological characteristics of males and females, such as reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones, etc.”

Whereas, gender refers to: "the socially constructed characteristics of women and men – such as norms, roles and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed. The concept of gender includes five important elements: relational, hierarchical, historical, contextual and institutional. While most people are born either male or female, they are taught appropriate norms and behaviours – including how they should interact with others of the same or opposite sex within households, communities and work places. When individuals or groups do not “fit” established gender norms they often face stigma, discriminatory practices or social exclusion – all of which adversely affect health."

Definition Of Gender vs Sex by The European Institute For Gender Equality

“Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define humans as female or male. These sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both, but these characteristics tend to differentiate humans as females or males.”

“Gender refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being female and male and to the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as to the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialisation processes. They are context- and time-specific, and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context. In most societies, there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader sociocultural context. Other important criteria for sociocultural analysis include class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age.”

The main difference is that gender is a social construct, whereas sex is the biologically labelled term based on organs and hormones.

Read More: Trump's Top Health Nominee Wants ‘Corrective Care’ For Trans People

What Is Sexuality?

As per the American Psychological Association (APA), sexuality is the capacity to derive pleasure from various forms of sexual activity and behavior. The Lanarkshire Sexual Health describes sexual orientation as a way to describe the feelings you have for someone you fancy or are attached to.

While sexuality can change overtime, it is not a choice. There is no evidence that sexual orientation can be forced to change through therapy.

Can Stress Impact Sexuality?

While stress can impact sexual function by reducing libido, causing fatigue, and triggering hormonal changes, it does not change one's sexual orientation. Jason Teoh, who writes on LGBTQ issues, project partner at NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, notes: "Sexual orientation is not caused by stress. It is not caused by trauma, influence or difficult life circumstances."

The WHO notes: sexual orientation is a natural, stable part of human identity shaped by biology, genetics, and early development. The WHO removed homosexuality from its disease classification in 1990. The American Psychiatric Association did the same in 1973.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, primarily affecting people over 60. Apart from motor loss, the disease also causes cognitive decline, depression, anxiety and swallowing problems.

The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand or sometimes a foot or the jaw. Over time, swinging your arms may become difficult and your speech may become soft or slurred. The disorder also causes stiffness, slowing of movement and trouble with balance that raises the risk of falls.

However, before clear symptoms begin to appear, Neurologist Rachel Dolhun says certain signs may help identify the onset of the disease decades before it is diagnosed.

“It’s important to stress that not everyone who has these symptoms goes on to develop Parkinson’s,” said neurologist Rachel Dolhun. “But we know that in some people, these can be some of the earliest signs," she told The Washington Post.

Here is what you should look out for:

1. Loss Of Smell

Loss of smell, or hyposmia, is a common and early non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease, affecting up to 90 percent of patients. This symptom can significantly impact quality of life by reducing the enjoyment of food and diminishing appetite.

While strongly linked to Parkinson's, smell loss can also stem from other causes, including sinus problems, COVID-19, or aging.

2. Acting Out Dreams

Acting out dreams, known as REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), involves physically enacting vivid, often unpleasant dreams through shouting, punching, or kicking during sleep.

This typically happens because the brainstem fails to temporarily paralyze muscles during REM sleep. It is a strong early warning sign of Parkinson's disease, often appearing years or decades before motor symptoms. About 50 percent of people with Parkinson's experience RBD.

READ MORE: Parkinson’s Patients May Soon Walk Better With This New Personalized Brain Therapy

3. Constipation

Constipation is a very common and significant non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease that is caused by nerve changes slowing gut muscles and potentially exacerbated by low activity and dehydration.

Constipation can also be caused by Parkinson's medications such as anticholinergics, amantadine and other common drugs such as opioids, iron/calcium antacids.

4. Dizziness As You Stand

The autonomic nervous system fails to properly constrict blood vessels or increase heart rate upon standing, often due to a lack of norepinephrine. This causes the autonomic nervous system to fail in regulating blood pressure. Over time, this leads to Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension.

Beyond dizziness, symptoms include blurred vision, weakness, fatigue, cognitive "fog," and "coat hanger pain" (pain in the neck/shoulders). Often times, patients experience dizziness in the morning or immediately after meals.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is mostly a clinical process, meaning it relies heavily on a healthcare provider examining your symptoms, asking questions and reviewing your medical history. Various imaging and diagnostic tests used to detect disease includes CT scan, PET scan, MRI scan and genetic testing.