Month: October 2013

7 Ways to Protect Your Child’s Oral Health

Tooth decay–although largely preventable with good care–is one of the most common chronic diseases of children ages 6-11 and teens ages 12 to 19. Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. By kindergarten age, more than 40% of kids have tooth decay.

Start Oral Care Early

Your child should see a dentist by the time he or she is a year old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Getting preventive care early saves money in the long run, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report found that costs for dental care were nearly 40% lower over a five year period for children who got dental care by age one compared to those who didn’t go to the dentist until later.

Teach the Brush and Floss Habit

Dental visits are just part of the plan, of course. Tooth brushing is also crucial from the start. A lot of people think they don’t have to brush baby teeth. If your baby has even one tooth, it’s time to start tooth brushing. Even before you baby had teeth, you can gently brush the gums, using water on a soft baby toothbrush, or clean them with a soft washcloth. Once there are a few teeth present, buy an infant toothbrush that is very soft.(Be sure to use an approved toothpaste for your infants) Brushing should be done twice daily using a fluoridated toothpaste. Flossing should begin when two teeth touch each other. Parents should have an active role in brushing and flossing their childs teeth until the child has the proper dexterity to handle the tasks on their own. This is usually about the time a child can tie their own shoes.

Avoid “Baby Bottle Decay”

For years, pediatricians and dentists have been cautioning parents not to put an infant or older child down for a nap or to bed at night with a bottle of juice, formula, or milk. Even so, many parents don’t realize this can wreak havoc with their children’s oral health. The sugary liquids in the bottle cling to baby’s teeth, providing food for bacteria that live in the mouth. The bacteria produce acids that can trigger tooth decay. Left unchecked, dental disease can adversely affect a child’s growth and learning, and can even affect speech. If you must give your child a bottle to take to bed, make sure it contains only water, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Click here for more information on baby bottle decay.

Control the Sippy Cup Habit

Bottles taken to bed aren’t the only beverage problem, the other is juice given during the day as a substitute for water and milk. Often, that juice is in a sippy cup. It’s meant as a transition cup when a child is being weaned from a bottle and learning to use a regular cup. Parents mistakenly think juice is a healthy day-long choice for a beverage, but that’s not the case. Prolonged use of a sippy cup can cause decay, if the beverages are sugary. Juice consumption has been linked to childhood obesity and the development of tooth decay, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In its current policy statement on preventive oral health, the organization advises parents to limit the intake of 100% juice to no more than four ounces a day. Sugary drinks and foods should be limited to mealtimes. Most pediatricians are telling parents to use juice as a treat.

Ditch the Pacifier by 2 or 3

Long term use of a pacifier can be hazardous to dental health. Sucking too strongly on a pacifier, for instance, can affect how the top and bottom teeth line up (the bite) or can affect the shape of the mouth. Pacifiers are for infants, not for toddlers walking around with them in their mouths. Ideally, pacifiers should be dropped by age 2. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests getting a professional evaluation if the pacifier habit continues beyond age 3.

Beware of the Unfriendly Mouth Medicines

Many medications that children take are flavored and sugary. If that sticks on the teeth, the risk for tooth decay goes up. Children on medications for chronic conditions such as asthma and heart problems often have a higher decay rate. Antibiotics and some asthma medications can cause an overgrowth of candida (yeast), which can lead to a fungal infection called oral thrush. You should suspect thrush if you see creamy, curd-like patches on the tongue or inside the mouth. If your child is on chronic medications, it is advised to help your child brush as often as four times a day.

Stand Firm on Oral Hygiene

Parents often say that their children put up a fuss when it comes time to brush and floss, so some parents relent and don’t keep up with oral care at home as they should. We advise these parents to let their children know they don’t have a choice about brushing and flossing and here are some tips to reward reluctant brusher’s and flosses to get the job done–or if they are too young, to allow their parents to help them do it.

  •  Plan to help your children longer than you may think necessary. Most children don’t have the fine motor skills to brush their own teeth until about age 6. Flossing skills don’t get good until later–probably age 10.
  •  Schedule the brushing, flossing and rinsing, if advised, at times when your child is not overly tired. You may get better cooperation.
  •  Get your child involved in a way that’s age appropriate. For instance, you might let a child who is age 5 or older pick his own toothpaste in the store, from options you approve. You may also offer them a choice of toothbrushes, including kid friendly ones that are brightly colored and decorated.
  •  Figure out what motivates your child; a younger child may gladly brush for a sticker. You may have to get a bit more creative for an older child.

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Hearing loss: Is your child Falling behind?

The most vital period for hearing development in a child’s life occurs in the first two years. Children who receive no auditory stimulation during this critical period will face difficulties learning to speak. The brain’s ability to learn to process sound and develop spoken language decreases after this critical period until about age seven, when learning language becomes much more difficult. Children’s development of speech and language varies individually. There are, however, milestones for speech and language development that can serve as a guideline for normal development.

Typical Signs of Hearing Loss Are:

  • Child does not react to loud sounds
  • Child is unable to detect where a sound is coming from
  • Child may start to babble, but soon stops
  • Babbling does not develop into understandable speech
  • Child does not react to voices, especially when he or she is not being held
  • Child does not follow commands or misunderstands directions
  • Child may start acting frustrated

Hearing Tests

A variety of different methods are available to test your child’s hearing. The audiologist will choose a method that is best suited for your child’s age. Usually, hearing tests performed on newborns and babies use objective measuring methods to assess the baby’s hearing and do not require the active participation of the baby. All these tests are quick, simple and painless and are performed while the baby is asleep. Parents can stay with the baby while the hearing test is being carried out.

In Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) screening, the function of the hair cells in the cochlea is checked. A tiny earpiece is placed into the baby’s ears emitting clicking sounds. When the cochlea receives these sounds, it produces an echo that the screening equipment picks up. A similar screening method, the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), measures brain waves in response to auditory stimuli (usually a clicking sound). Older children can participate more actively in audiometry tests. The child indicates when he or she hears a sound (pure-tone audiometry) or understands speech (speech audiometry).

Early Intervention

Newborns are already able to recognize their mother’s voice. During the first few months, infants learn to understand a variety of sounds around them. They can very quickly distinguish between human speech and other environmental sounds. The first two years are especially important for language acquisition. Children with hearing loss cannot easily develop these abilities later on.

Early intervention means acting without delay to treat your child’s hearing loss. If your child has an irreversible hearing loss that cannot be otherwise remedied, it is vital to get hearing instruments as soon as possible. It is also very important to assess how well the hearing instrument(s) work(s) for the child. If hearing aids are not going to be enough to help the child to develop spoken language, it is crucial to determine this as quickly as possible so that other alternatives can be evaluated while the child is still in the critical language learning phase.

The younger a child’s age when receiving a hearing device, the easier it will be for him/her to learn to hear and speak. A baby’s brain is better able to process new information than that of older children, and when children are provided with a hearing device at a very young age, they often develop spoken language quickly and can “catch up” with other children born with normal hearing.

Is My Child a Candidate for a CI?

If you and your audiologist or speech-language professional consider a cochlear implant to be the best solution for your child, the next step is to contact an ENT clinic with a cochlear implant program. A list of cochlear implant centers is available from MED-EL. Your local team of CI specialists will work with you to determine whether your child is a candidate for cochlear implantation.

Basic candidacy criteria for implantation include:

  • Your child has a profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.
  • Your child receives little or no benefit from hearing aids.
  • There are no medical reasons your child cannot undergo surgery.
  • Your child has access to appropriate education and rehabilitation follow-up.
  • You and your child are highly motivated to participate in required rehabilitation programs.

Please note: not every child with a profound hearing loss is a candidate for cochlear implantation. Here are some reasons why:

  • If your child can receive a significant benefit from hearing aids, they are likely the better solution.
  • If your child’s hearing loss comes from somewhere other than the inner ear, a cochlear malformation, or the absence of the hearing nerve, an alternative solution might be more effective.
  • To gain the greatest hearing benefit from a CI, it is important for children to have full support from their family and to participate in rehabilitation programs. If a family cannot commit to participation in a rehabilitation program, other options besides a CI may need to be considered.

Advantages of Early Cochlear Implantation

Your child may benefit from a cochlear implant regardless of his or her age, but for children who became deaf before learning to speak success is more likely if treatment begins early. This is because they receive auditory information at a time when the brain is really ready to learn language. As previously mentioned, if children with a profound hearing impairment are implanted early enough, their hearing and speech can develop much like a normal hearing child’s. Spoken language appears to emerge almost naturally.

For children who have had hearing experience and have lost their hearing later, a similar rule applies: the shorter the time period of deafness, the more likely they will benefit from the cochlear implant. Children are being implanted younger and younger because of improved surgical procedures and research proving better results with children implanted at very young ages.

On the Way to Success

It is important to remember that the cochlear implant is a technical tool for your child’s hearing. Success with the implant depends on many factors. Age of implantation is only one factor influencing the benefit a child will receive from a cochlear implant. A rich communication environment, effective audio processor programming, motivation, rehabilitation and realistic expectations are all important factors contributing to a child’s overall success.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com

 

Could Your Child Have Sleep Apnea?

This sleep disorder can cause serious health problems for kids.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder affecting more than 18 million adults and 2% to 3% of children of all ages, even newborns, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It seems to run in families, and kids who have enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids (lymph nodes in the throat behind the nose) have a higher risk of developing OSA.

Other factors include being obese, having a small jaw or midface, or a larger-than-usual tongue, being exposed to tobacco smoke, and having less muscle tone (such as in children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and/or neuromuscular disorders), explains Dennis Rosen, MD, associate medical director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Treating Children’s Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, derived from the Greek word for “without breath,” is a serious condition. Breathing temporarily pauses during sleep for more than 10 seconds in adults and longer than two breath cycles in children, and this can happen up to 70 times an hour. Oxygen levels in the blood plummet, and the body responds as if choking.

Sometimes young children outgrow OSA as their throats get larger and airways stiffen, says Rosen. Those with large tonsils and adenoids may need surgery (adenotonsillectomy), which typically cures 80% to 90% of children, says Rosen

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Think your child might have obstructive sleep apnea? Look for these symptoms, Rosen says.

  • Loud snoring, often with gasping, choking, and snorts
  • Long pauses in breathing while sleeping (longer than two breath cycles)
  • Excessive sweating at night because of the strain of trying to breathe
  • Waking up with headaches and daytime sleepiness, irritability, hyperactivity, and difficulty concentrating

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Charity website raises $400G to aid paralyzed woman with rare disease

A Maryland woman has found new hope amidst a rare neurological disorder that paralyzed her from the waist down – thanks to a charitable website that raised $400,000 in a single month in her name.

TheBlaze reports Melissa Smith of Annapolis was sinking beneath despair and debt from a March diagnosis of Transverse Myelitis, a disease that spurs the immune system to attack the spinal cord.

“I was so depressed,” the 26-year-old reportedly said. “I was trapped in a third-floor apartment with no elevator. I didn’t get to leave my house all summer and fall unless I went to a doctor’s appointment because I didn’t want to burden anyone with carrying me down [the stairs].

“I felt totally out of control of every part of my life. When other people would see it and watch, it just made me so sad. I cried about it a lot. Felt like I had zero control. Felt like my life was over.”

Now, Smith tells TheBlaze she is slowly becoming less despondent thanks to Chive Charities’ choice to feature her, among the other “orphaned causes,” the website champions to online donors.

For several months, Smith’s sister, Stephanie, reportedly pitched her sibling’s tragic plight to the non-profit.

The organization claims on its website — chivecharities.org — to have conducted so-called “flash charity campaigns,” for such causes, nationwide, as building a safe room for a girl with the rare genetic disorder, SMS, as well as helping a quadruple amputee Afghanistan veteran achieve his dream of building a log cabin.

This month, the fundraising charity profiled Smith’s case – and it reportedly didn’t take long for the website’s ranks of big-hearted members to respond.

“When the story went live, Chive told me to go to the GoFundMe site . . . and I was thinking to myself, ‘Obviously we just finished reading, no one could have donated yet,’” Smith told TheBlaze. “But it was almost to 10k when we shifted to that page!”

“I cried,” she reportedly added of her emotions in response to the outpouring of empathy. “I was so shocked. I never imagined I could touch so many people.”

As of Saturday, TheBlaze reports nearly $400,000 had been donated to Smith’s cause, money the former nursing school student says she plans to use to settle medical bills, buy a standing frame, a new wheelchair, as well as put towards a down payment on a handicap-friendly home.

“It was like a breath of fresh air knowing my sister has a future that is not in a nursing home and could potentially feel like a human again and get a house where she could have some independence,” Stephanie told TheBlaze.

As for Smith, she reportedly added, “I am so thankful and feel so blessed, so lucky, so loved and so honored that they chose me and believe in me so much. That’s what means so much to me, everyone has so much faith in me and it’s helping me find a little more faith In myself that I lost a little bit the last 18 months or so.

“I don’t really know how to appropriately thank every single person for giving me that faith back and all of their support, it truly has touched my heart so deeply and just want to give back in any way that I can for the rest of all time.”

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Making multiple trips to the bathroom at night? Here’s why

There is absolutely nothing a lot more frustrating than waking up in the center of the night to go to the lavatory. And though it may well just be a sign that you drank too considerably in advance of hitting the hay, it could also point out a even larger trouble.

Not too long ago, a viewer requested this question to Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing editor of FoxNewsHealth.com:

Pricey Dr. Manny,

I’ve begun waking up in the middle of the night time to use the bathroom each night time. I’m a fifty seven-yr-old person in superior wellness. What do you feel it could be?

Many thanks,

Jim – Sarasota, FL

Dr. Manny: Taking into consideration your age and the fact that you say you are healthy, you could want to ask your doctor about benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. The ailment has an effect on half of all adult males in between the ages of 50 and sixty.

As you age, the prostate can come to be enlarged and squeeze the urethra, leading to the powerful urge to urinate. BPH can normally be controlled with way of life modifications, but some adult males gain from treatment.

There is a probability it could be a indicator of an fundamental wellbeing ailment like heart sickness, diabetes, hypertension, vascular sickness, prostate infection or a snooze problem. You must see your health care provider to rule out any really serious problems and find a treatment that is correct for you.

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Whistleblowers warned of dangers at ‘high risk’ NHS trusts

The data, released by the CQC, also shows that whistleblowers have experimented with to warn of failings at practically each and every medical center now deemed to be posing the
optimum pitfalls.

Previous evening, ministers said the results from the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
confirmed an urgent want to listen to healthcare facility workers and rework the lifestyle
of the NHS.

The evaluation of all NHS trusts in England is the 1st by watchdogs because
they overhauled their methods, soon after getting commonly criticized for lacking a
collection of scandals.

Labor seized on the figures as proof the NHS was failing, accusing ministers
of leaving hospitals on a financial knife-edge which was jeopardising
patient care.

But Jeremy Hunt, the Wellness Secretary, explained the conclusions mirrored a tough
and transparent method to medical center expectations and accused the final
Govt of hiding NHS failings, with tragic implications.

All 161 trusts have been divided into 6 bands, primarily based on indicators this sort of as large
death prices, extended waiting around occasions, botched functions and bad an infection
manage.

Of those, forty four were in the greatest two chance bands – like 41 in which physicians,
nurses and other workers have been so nervous about failings and hazards to
patients that they contacted CQC about worries, the formal data demonstrates.

The watchdog disclosed that in overall, more than 400 NHS hospital
whistleblowers turned to them in the last 12 months due to the fact of concerns
which had been found to be significant.

Earlier this 7 days, David Prior, the regulators chairman, warned of a
chilling society in the NHS which meant even the most alpha-male
surgeons felt frightened to break ranks and highlight bad treatment.

The CQC assessed all trusts, evaluating their functionality against one hundred fifty actions,
these kinds of as dying rates, an infection ranges and patient pleasure scores, utilizing
a new system of intelligent checking.

Of 44 trusts in the two bands with greatest danger, 24 have been in the maximum
achievable band, like sixteen with large demise rates.

Several are currently in the highlight following investigations by NHS medical
director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Have confidence in,
Buckinghamshire Health care NHS Trust, Medway NHS Basis Have confidence in, North
Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and Tameside Healthcare facility NHS Foundation
Have faith in are previously on unique actions.

But other key hospitals this sort of as Alder Hey Young children’s NHS Basis believe in
and Leeds Educating Hospitals have faith in – which have been placed in the highest
threat band – experienced handed all CQCs prior requirements of assessment.

Considerations at each incorporated troubles lifted by whistleblowers, whilst Leeds was
located to have very poor infection control.

At United Lincolnshire Hospitals believe in, some clients with suspected cancer
waited months for treatment.

Long Accident &amp Crisis waiting instances and high charges of septicaemia among
women in childbirth were identified at College Hospitals of Leicester.

South London Health care NHS Trust, which has now been dissolved, acquired one particular
of the worst scores, with 17 dangers identified, which includes a high proportion
of safety incidents which caused patients damage.

At the a few hospitals it ran – Queen Marys Clinic, Sidcup, Queen Elizabeth
Medical center, Woolwich, and Princess Royal University Healthcare facility, Bromley –
sufferers were remaining in ache and without any individual to chat to about their
considerations, individual surveys identified. The hospitals have not too long ago been taken more than
by other trusts.

At Croydon Overall health Solutions Trust, surveys located comparable dissatisfaction between
patients, who had little self-assurance or trust in nurses.

The technique of NHS regulation is now getting replaced right after becoming discredited as
a tick-box procedure which intended trusts could self-evaluate themselves, and
be rated as safe without inspections, or vital steps this sort of as demise
rates even getting assessed.

Regulators explained the evaluation was a screening resource, not a final judgment.

The info will be utilized to prioritize which trusts ought to be inspected, with the
substantial chance trusts qualified first.

All hospitals will be visited by groups of professional inspectors, to establish
Ofsted-design ratings to be presented to all trusts by 2015.

Final night time Mr Hunt explained: Sadly, below the previous Government, a lack of
transparency about poor care intended problems went unchecked for as well long,
occasionally with tragic effects for sufferers. This Government is being
honest with the community about the top quality of care at their regional hospitals,
and taking tough motion in which specifications aren’t up to scratch. Also often poor care had been permitted to continue due to the fact staff were concerned to
speak out, he stated.

This Govt has a very pleased report on defending whistleblowers and
championing openness, and I am established to go additional and more quickly in
transforming this society, he said.

Andy Burnham, shadow overall health secretary, accused the Federal government of not accepting
accountability for the existing state of the NHS.

He explained: I am worried that the NHS is on the brink listed here of a very, very
hazardous winter season and we need to have to listen to from the Govt what they are doing
to safeguard clients. When are they heading to take obligation for what
is taking place in the NHS correct now and arrive forward with a plan to make
hospitals risk-free?

The CQCs chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, mentioned:
Information from whistleblowers is essential in aiding us uncover poor
care. I inspire any individual who operates in a healthcare facility to talk up when they see
or listen to of care that isnt protected. Well often comply with up information we
obtain

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Childless women over 35 feel ‘stigmatised’

The bulk of childless females aged 35 to 45 have felt stigmatised for
waiting around right up until afterwards existence to commence a family, a survey has identified.

Pals and relatives were cited as the best source of force on females
to have young children, with 60% of females in this age bracket feeling judged for
not getting moms.

Some forty% explained they had been way too humiliated to discuss about fertility, in the meantime,
and the majority did not really feel cozy discussing the issue with loved ones
members and pals.

The results by Infertility Network Uk prompted a warning that women fears
of becoming judged have been protecting against them from searching for therapy.

Tim Youngster, health-related director at the Oxford Fertility Device at the University of
Oxford, stated: Many couples are leaving it as well prolonged prior to talking about their
fertility choices with a healthcare specialist.

With new and ever more effective possibilities for therapy turning into offered,
it is extremely crucial that girls and their companions follow direction on
seeking prompt tips from their GP or a fertility professional if they are
worried about their fertility.

Patients need to also be conscious of the decision they make when they hold off attempting
to conceive and the affect this can have on the possibilities of natural
conception, as properly as the therapy they are entitled to beneath the NHS.&rdquo

In accordance to the Infertility Network, girls nonetheless consider up to two several years a
standard waiting around time period ahead of seeing a GP about infertility, whilst a increased
proportion of more mature girls would wait around even for a longer time.

The investigation also located that of these females who experienced previously been through
fertility therapy, nearly fifty percent (forty six%) had waited 4 months or lengthier
ahead of a clinical evaluation and nearly a third (29%) waited over a year
before receiving any remedy.

Clare Lewis-Jones, chief government of the charity, said: We require to advertise a
much more open up discussion about fertility&hellip

Feelings of humiliation and becoming judged are eventually protecting against some
women

Searching for the help they require for their fertility problems With funding from the pharmaceutical business Merck Serono, the charity
surveyed 500 girls nevertheless seeking young children, like those going through
fertility treatment and individuals nonetheless hoping to discover the correct spouse with
whom to have a household.

Around a single in 7 heterosexual partners in the United Kingdom is explained to be affected by
infertility.

The greatest lessen in fertility commences when a female is in her mid-30s,
physicians say.

But a survey previous thirty day period identified that practically a fifth (19%) of females aged forty to forty five
are nevertheless steering clear of searching for fertility advice.

Previously this year, the Countrywide Institute for Wellness and Scientific Excellence up to date
its recommendations on fertility therapy so that childless partners now only
have to try out to conceive for two several years alternatively of 3 prior to acquiring IVF
on the NHS.

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WHO: Suspected polio outbreak in Syrian province spreads

At least 22 people are now suspected of having polio in Syria, where health officials are scrambling to respond to the first outbreak of the crippling viral disease in 14 years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.

Most of those stricken with acute flaccid paralysis – a symptom of diseases including polio – in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor are children under the age of two, WHO spokesman Oliver Rosenbauer said.

“There is a cluster of 22 acute flaccid paralysis cases that is being investigated in that area,” Rosenbauer told Reuters. “Everybody is treating this as an outbreak (of polio) and is in outbreak response mode.”

The WHO, a UN agency, announced on Saturday that two suspected cases of polio had been detected, the first appearance of the disease in Syria since 1999.

Initial tests came back positive for polio in two of the 22 cases and final laboratory results due next week from a WHO reference laboratory in Tunis are “very, very likely” to confirm presence of the virus, Rosenbauer said.

There is no cure for the highly infectious disease, it can only be prevented through immunisation, usually three doses.

More than 100,000 children under age five are deemed at risk of polio in Deir al-Zor province, he said. Most of the countryside is in opposition hands but the city of Deir al-Zor itself is still partially controlled by government forces.

“The main concern right now is to quickly launch an immunisation response,” Rosenbauer said. Vaccination campaigns are being planned across Syria from November but logistics in a civil war are still being discussed.

With some 4,000 Syrian refugees leaving the country daily, immunisation campaigns are also planned in neighbouring countries, where there may be gaps in coverage, he said.

Most of the 22 victims are believed never to have been vaccinated or to have received only a single dose of the oral polio vaccine, Rosenbauer said.

Polio invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours. It is endemic in just three countries, Nigeria, Pakistan andAfghanistan, but sporadic cases also occur in other countries.

Rosenbauer, asked whether the virus may have been imported into Syria by a foreign combatant fighting in the civil war, replied: “The first step is virological verification that it is the polio virus.

“The next step is that every isolated virus gets looked at genetically to see where is the parent. Hopefully that will provide some clarity on where it would have come from,” he said.

The outbreak is the latest setback to international efforts to eradicate polio – as well adding another dimension to Syria’s worsening humanitarian crisis as the war forces people from their homes and destroys health systems.

Polio cases worldwide decreased from an estimated 350,000 cases when the campaign began in 1988 to 223 reported cases in 2012, according to the WHO.

So far this year – not including the 22 unconfirmed cases in Syria – there have been 296 cases of wild polio virus worldwide.

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The Water Melon: ‘Refreshing and Nourishing‘Health Facts

Stay Cool and Lovely

 Watermelon is an amazing fruit, which can work wonders for your skin. It acts as a natural moisturizer as well as a toner and keeps the skin cool, glowing and fresh.

 The Smartest Pick for Losing Weight

Packed with vitamins and minerals the watermelon is labeled as one of the healthiest fruit. Low in calories and fat free, watermelon is prescribed as an ideal diet food.

The battle of the bulge could be won with the sweet and juicy melons that can be served as a lip smacking dessert or a snack without adding to the bulge. Hence the watermelon diet is the perfect choice of an ideal weight loss program.

Fight Fatigue and Keep Your Metabolism in High Gear with Water Melons

On a typical summer day watermelons are extremely refreshing as they have very high water content, 92% water and 8% sugar.

Rich in electrolytes (sodium and potassium) this wonder fruit amazingly nourishes your body. It not only replaces the electrolytes lost through sweat but also hydrates your cells and maintains the water balance in the cells. Metabolism is boosted as the functionality of the cells is increased, ultimately energizing your body.

The 4 great fatigue fighters – Potassium, Vitamin C, lycopene and iron found in watermelon drives away any feeling of fatigue you may experience.

Naturally, watermelons are ‘The Pick Of The Season’.

 Are You Stressed Out? Relax And Chill Out With Water Melon Juice Or Cubes

 Watermelon is a ‘sensational’ stress buster says a research. Watermelon is high in vitamin B6- and is used by the body to produce brain chemicals, which may relieve stress, anxiety and panic attacks. It naturally relaxes the blood vessels without any drug side effects.

 Add Spice To Your Marital Life With Water Melons:

 The popular summer fruit may be a natural Viagra say research scientists. The luscious summer fruit is rich in an amino acid called citrulline. Citrulline relaxes and dilates blood vessels very much like Viagra and other drugs that are used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

For Stunning Looks Like Brangelina And Winning Knocks Like Sachin and Dhoni, Go For Water Melons!

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Exercise During Pregnancy Could Improve Offspring health

 

One of the key maxims of pregnancy is that a woman is now “eating for two.” According to a new study, the sentiment should be expanded to include exercising for two, as scientists have found that a woman who exercises during pregnancy may benefit her offspring’s vascular health through adulthood.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend adults between 18 and 64 receive 150 minutes of cumulative moderate-intensity exercise each week. With that knowledge, researchers from California State University San Marcos and Universitätsmedizin Greifswald in Germany performed the first-ever analysis of maternal exercise and offspring health. Their results may help newly pregnant mothers make more informed decisions during gestation.

Published in the journal Experimental Physiology, the study involved pigs instead of traditional rodents. Swine respond better to exercise regimens than rats or mice, and provide a better comparison to humans when it comes to physical activity responses, without the ethical burdens of long-term studies that use humans themselves. Researchers had the animals run on a treadmill for 20-45 minutes five times a week, “which is consistent with American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommendations,” according to researchers Dr. Sean Newcomber and Dr. Martin Bahls.

“We assessed vascular function in offspring femoral arteries using in vitro techniques,” they added in a statement, ultimately finding the greatest impact on the vascular smooth muscle — a type of smooth muscle running along the inside of the blood vessel wall.

The study is the first of its kind to examine offspring outcome into adulthood; prior studies have ceased observation in adolescence. The present study has also overturned a once-believed notion that fetal programming could intervene with the single-cell layer lining the blood vessels, called the endothelium, and disrupt physical activity’s impact on the vascular smooth muscle.

Admittedly, exercise during pregnancy is still something of a hot-button issue for doctors, as a general consensus has yet to be reached whether the increased physical stress does more harm than good for a developing fetus. The expert Advisory Board for the Baby Center lists weight training as a “great pregnancy exercise,” encouraging women to lift weights with moderate intensity in the first trimester, then scale back the workouts as the pregnancy progresses.

“We are only starting to understand how exercise during gestation influences offspring adult health and disease,” the researchers explained. “Results like ours may help to create guidelines enabling women to make the best decisions for them and their children by providing evidence based health choices.”

Further research, the team argued, was needed primarily as a screening tool for cardiovascular diseases among newborns as they age through life. The transference of vascular health from mother to offspring suggests a link that could in fact work in the opposite direction — particularly in reference to the well-known dangers of inhaling tobacco smoke during pregnancy.

“Physical activity may act through multiple pathways which depend on type, duration, intensity and frequency of the exercise regimen,” the team said. “Furthermore, it is essential that future research investigates the coronary circulation and also establishes what impact these reported changes in vascular function in the offspring have on cardiovascular disease susceptibility.”

Source:q