Month: February 2014

Natural Remedies to Relieve Common Ailments During Pregnancy

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During pregnancy, you may find yourself dealing with physical or emotional issues that are new to you. Aromatherapy can be a valuable ally during this time of learning.

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life; from the moment of conception, the growing baby is entirely dependent on its mother. Pregnancy is a time of physical and hormonal changes and of emotional and psychological preparation for motherhood. Making use of sensual oils such as rose and neroli can quell your anxieties and instill confidence.

The demands of pregnancy often result in a number of minor ailments, from piles to edema. Careful selection of diluted essential oils can provide relief from many of these; for example, you can ease nausea by inhaling spearmint oil or relieve leg cramps with a gentle massage using cypress and geranium. Exhaustion and aches and pains can be relieved by aromatic bathing. Always consult your doctor before using oils.

Carefully selected oils can combat many of the minor ailments of pregnancy and prepare you for the challenge of labor.

Spearmint:

A milder and sweeter alternative to peppermint, spearmint oil can be used to chase away feelings of morning sickness.

Rose:

A wonderfully feminine oil for use in aromatic bathing, rose oil is grounding and calming. It combines well with lavender and geranium.

Patchouli:

This oil helps to reduce water retention, treat swollen ankles and relieve constipation.

Lavender:

A versatile cure, lavender is cooling, balancing and calming. Vaporize to combat exhaustion or relieve muscular tension is a gentle massage.

Ylang Ylang:

Ylang ylang eases anxiety before and during labor. It is a warming and sensuous oil that promotes maternal bonding.

Geranium:

This oil relieves water retention, hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Frankincense:

Add this oil to your massage blends to help prevent stretch marks.

Mandarin:

This gently cheerful oil combats morning sickness and relieves flatulence.
With a little care, you will find the benefits of aromatherapy are as numerous during the months of pregnancy as at any other time.

Take extra care when using oils during pregnancy. It is best to consult a qualified aromatherapist and select oils carefully as some can be hazardous.

  • Avoid self-treatment during the first trimester.
  • Dilute your blends to half their usual amounts and add to a vegetable based carrier oil.
  • Even with familiar oils, perform a patch test first.
  • Vaporizers are a safe method as there is no contact with the skin.
  • Some oils may be harmful, including basil, juniper, thyme, hyssop, clary sage, cinnamon, clove, marjoram, sage, jasmine and myrrh. In the first trimester, avoid Cedarwood, rosemary, peppermint and rose.
  • A long, warm, aromatic soak in the bath at the end of the day can provide welcome relief for weary muscles and swollen ankles while relaxing you for bedtime.
  • Keep the bathwater warm rather than hot during pregnancy and remember to dilute any oil that you use in a little carrier oil or milk before swirling it into the running bathwater.
  • Gentle massage is beneficial during pregnancy, especially if administered by a loved one. It eases aches and pains in the lower back and legs, soothes fatigue and tension, benefits swollen ankles and feet, and reduces the risk of stretch marks.
  • Avoid deep pressure or percussive strokes, replacing these with gentle figure-of-eight or circular strokes.
  • Your recipient might be more comfortable lying on her side or sitting astride a kitchen chair with a pillow to rest her arms and head on.

Suitable oils to use include lavender, to release muscular tension; neroli, to reduce stretch marks; and chamomile, to relieve insomnia.

Also herbal remedies can be taken to boost health and treat a number of pregnancy-related ailments, from morning sickness to labor pains. Herbal medicine can help boost your health during pregnancy and easy many of the common complaints encountered during pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding.

Some herbs act as tonics, nourishing your changing body and that of your developing baby, while others can bring relief from pregnancy ailments such as morning sickness, digestive problems and insomnia. Some women are prescribed herbs during labor, once contractions have begun, as certain plants can help the labor progress or relieve pain.

Some herbs are beneficial after birth, to aid the healing process, especially after stitches or a Caesarean section.

Choosing the right herbs depends on your individual circumstances. Many herbs are safe to use as long as they are prescribed by a qualified medical herbalist. Herbal teas are a popular means of taking herbal remedies during pregnancy. However, many culinary herbs with medicinal qualities can be added to cooking.

Certain herbs are not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or need to be limited to specific doses. For this reason, it is important to seek professional help.

It is best to avoid herbs in the first trimester of pregnancy, apart from very gentle ones, such as chamomile and ginger.

Some herbs can stimulate the uterus, and therefore could trigger a miscarriage or stillbirth, while others may be toxic to the developing baby. In particular, you need to take care with Chinese herbs as some of these contain steroids and may even cause jaundice. If you experience any discomfort when taking an herbal remedy, consult a doctor without delay.

For gentle remedies during pregnancy, it is fine to use herbs in cooking or herbal teas. However, stronger preparations should only be prescribed by a qualified herbalist.

Ginger:

Ginger tea or biscuits can ease the nausea of morning sickness. Sip small amounts of the tea throughout the day for best results. You can also add freshly grated ginger to a stir-fry to boost circulation.

Cabbage:

Cabbage helps reduce water retention. Wrap the boiled, cooled leaves around ankles to ease swelling and cover swollen breasts with cool, cooked cabbage leaves to alleviate the pain.

Raspberry leaf:

This herb is ideal when you’re preparing for birth. It softens tissues along the birth canal to aid the delivery and strengthens contractions of the uterus, speeding up the birth. Only take raspberry leaf in the last eight weeks of pregnancy, not before as it may trigger a premature labor.

Chamomile:

Chamomile is a gentle herb that can be used throughout pregnancy. Taken as tea, it has a soothing action that can ease wind, bloating and constipation, but don’t drink more than two cups a day. Drinking chamomile tea in early labor also helps to calm your nerves.

Coriander:

This common herb can prepare the mother’s body for labor. Try eating three or four springs in a salad or make a tea from the seeds.

Cramp bark:

This herb acts as a muscle relaxant thanks to its antispasmodic and sedative properties. Taken as a decoction or tincture, it can help with painful contractions during labor. Do not take cramp bark during the actual pregnancy as it stimulates the uterus.

Garlic:

Garlic is an extremely popular all-purpose herbal remedy. You can add this versatile ingredient to your cooking while pregnant to help keep your blood pressure stable. Garlic also boosts your immune systems and lowers the risk of blood clots. It can even help the growth of the placenta and developing baby, as it aids the healthy functioning of your circulation.

Liquorice:

Chewing liquorice sweets can help to alleviate feelings of nausea. It can also help to settle a sluggish digestive system when eaten, or taken as a tea.

Source: yahoo voices

Pill camera to screen for colon cancer approved in U.S.

An ingestible pill camera to help screen for polyps and early signs of colon cancer has been approved for use in the U.S.

Given Imaging Ltd.’s PillCam Colon was originally touted as an alternative to traditional colonoscopy procedures, but the company’s research found images taken by the mini-camera aren’t as clear as those taken during the more invasive procedure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the device for patients who have experienced an incomplete colonoscopy. The company estimates 750,000 U.S. patients are not able to complete the procedure each year, due to anatomy issues, previous surgery or various colon diseases.

“Colonoscopy is the most comprehensive option, but for up to 10 per cent of individuals, achieving a complete colonoscopy may not be possible,” Eric Hargis, CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance, said in a release.

In 2001, Given Imaging received FDA approval for a similar device that images the small intestine.

The newly approved capsule has two miniature colour video cameras, a battery and light source. Once the patient ingests the capsule, it is designed to transmit images for about 10 hours.

Data is transferred from the device to a computer to be compiled. A doctor later reviews and reports the results.

Risks of the procedure include capsule retention, aspiration and skin irritation. Before the capsule is excreted, patients should not be near powerful electromagnetic fields, such as those created by an MRI device.

The PillCam Colon is commercially available in Canada, Japan, Europe, Latin America, Australia and parts of Asia and Africa.

Given Imaging also develops technology to visualize, diagnose and monitor the digestive system, including with its PillCam, a swallowed capsule endoscope.

A report by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer suggested that in 2011, half of Canadians aged 50 to 74 surveyed said they were up to date with their colorectal cancer screening — a fecal occult blood test in the past two years and colonoscopy in the past five years.

Last month, Alberta Health Services announced a new at-home, non-invasive screening test called “fit” – a fecal immunochemical test – for people aged of 50 to 74 at average risk of colorectal cancer.

A review of 19 studies published in Monday’s online issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded FITs have high overall diagnostic accuracy for colorectal cancers.

Like the traditional fecal occult stool test, FIT involves collecting a stool sample at home to look for traces of blood. People using FIT don’t need to restrict their diet or stop taking medications.

Source: CBC news

Woman’s IVF Prevented Fatal Brain Disorder in Her Children

A woman whose genes put her at high risk for a rare brain disorder was able to avoid passing on the condition to her children through a special in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure, according to a new report of the case.

The woman, a 27-year-old in the United States, had undergone genetic testing that showed she had inherited a gene that put her at risk for Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, a rare and fatal brain disorder seen in only a few families in the world. Symptoms of the condition usually appear between ages 35 and 55, and include progressively worsening speech, movement and memory problems.

To have children, the woman and her husband used IVF, an assisted-reproduction technique in which eggs from the mother are fertilized in a laboratory. But before implanting the embryos in the uterus, doctors took an extra step and screened the embryos for the GSS genetic mutation.

Source: Live science

Yoga pose for a stronger orgasm — Dhanurasana

Dhanurasana literally translates to the ‘bow pose’. This asana helps strengthen the back and spine, opens up the chest and helps you breathe better. Apart from that it is known to strengthen and stimulate the abdominal organs, helps in relieveing menstrual pain and discomfort, helps the kidneys function better and strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs.

One of the most interesting benefits of this pose is that it stimulates the reporductive organs of a person and beats stress and fatigue.

Known to help in achieving a stronger orgasm this asana is also a great way to beat sexual diseases like premature ejaculation and disinterest in sex. Read about the top 10 yoga poses to beat premature ejaculation.

Steps to do this pose: Lie on your stomach with your feet hip-width apart and your arms by the side of your body. Fold your knees and hold your ankles. Breathing in, lift your chest off the ground and pull your legs up and back. Look straight ahead with a smile on your face. Keep the pose stable while paying attention to your breath. Continue to take long deep breaths as you relax in this pose. But don’t get carried away! Do not overdo the stretch. After 15 -20 seconds, as you exhale, gently bring your legs and chest to the ground. Release the ankles and relax.

Tip: Do not practice this pose if you have high or low blood pressure, hernia, neck injury, pain in the lower back, headache, migraine or a recent abdominal surgery or if you are pregnant.

Source: Health India

Fewer U.S. children dying in car crashes: CDC

Fewer U.S. children are dying in car crashes, with death rates falling by 43 percent from 2002 to 2011, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

But one in three of the children who died in a car crash in 2011 was not using a seat belt or child safety seat, suggesting many more deaths could be prevented, the CDC said. The results were based on a study in the Morbidity and Mortality report, the agency’s weekly report on death and disease.

According to the report, more than 9,000 children age 12 and younger died in a car crash from 2002 to 2011.

“The good news is motor vehicle deaths decreased by 43 percent over the past decade for children age 12 and younger. The tragic news is still with that decrease, more than 9,000 kids were killed on the road in this period,” CDC Director Thomas Frieden told reporters in a telephone news conference.

“Thousands of children are at risk on the road because they are not buckled up,” he said.

The study found that of the children who died between 2009 to 2010, a much higher proportion of black and Hispanic children were not buckled, compared with white kids.

“The difference was nearly half (45 percent for blacks and 46 percent for Hispanics) versus a quarter (26 percent) for white kids,” Frieden said.

The study did not investigate why racial differences played such a big role in seat belt use, but it did suggest socio-economic factors may play a role.

For the study, CDC researchers analyzed data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find the number of deaths among occupants in cars from 2002 to 2011 for all children aged up to the age of 12.

Overall, 9,182 children died in car crashes during the period. But deaths dropped sharply, from 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002, to 1.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2011, a 43 percent decline.

According to the report, seat belt use increased from 88 percent in 2002 to 91 percent in 2011 among all children age 7 and under. The study also confirmed earlier findings that older children are less likely to be wearing seat belts than younger children.

To prevent future deaths from car crashes, Frieden said parents should make sure their children use appropriate-sized car seats, booster seats and seat belts on every trip.

The CDC recommends that children from birth to age 2 should be in a rear-facing car seat.

Starting at age 2, children should be in a forward-facing car seat until at least age 5, or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of that seat.

Children age 5 and older should use a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits them properly, generally when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt slays across the chest, but not the neck.

More information on proper use of child safety seats can be found at www.safekids.org or other websites.

Source: Reuters

Useful safety tips for epilepsy patients

Safety in the home starts with your kitchen and your bathrooms. These are the places where, during and after any seizure, you can become confused and risk injury. Take these seizure precautions to decrease the chance of accidents.

Safeguard your kitchen

  • Use oven mitts and cook only on rear burners
  • If possible, use an electric stove, so there is no open flame
  • Cooking in a microwave is the safest option
  • Ask your plumber to install a heat-control device in your faucet so the water doesn’t become too hot
  • Carpet the kitchen floor. This can provide cushioning if you fall
  • Use plastic containers rather than glass when possible

Safeguard your bathroom

  • Install a device in your tub and showerhead that controls temperature. This keeps you from burning yourself if a seizure occurs
  • Carpet the floor—it’s softer and less slippery than tile
  • Do not put a lock on the bathroom door. If you have one, never use it. Someone should always be able to get in if you need help
  • Learn to bathe with only a few inches of water in the tub, or use a handheld showerhead
  • Planning ahead for safety outside the home

Driving.

For many people with epilepsy, the risk of seizures restricts their independence, in particular the ability to drive. The Epilepsy Foundation offers a state-by-state database of driving restrictions and regulations on its website. Find out more about driving and epilepsy.
Participating in activities.

You can play sports with epilepsy, but it’s a good idea to have someone with you who knows how to manage a seizure. Wearing head protection is also recommended when you participate in a contact sport that might cause you to fall or hit your head.

Here are some tips for picking the right physical activities when you are living with epilepsy:

  • If seizures usually occur at a certain time, plan activities when seizures are less likely to happen
  • Avoid extreme heat when exercising and keep hydrated with plenty of water to reduce seizure risks
  • Check with your neurologist before starting any new exercise program

Some activities may be restricted if you have uncontrolled seizures, including:

  • Swimming alone
  • Climbing to unsafe heights
  • Riding a bike in traffic

Source: VIMPAT

Obesity during pregnancy could lead to long-term cardiovascular morbidity

A new study has revealed that obesity during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity, and these complications tend to occur at a younger age.

Researchers concluded that obese pregnant patients might benefit from cardiovascular risk screening that could lead to early detection and secondary prevention of cardiovascular morbidity.

Researchers evaluated data from pregnant women who delivered between 1988 and 1999, and were followed-up retrospectively until 2010. Long-term cardiovascular morbidity was compared among women with and without obesity in pregnancy.

Cardiovascular morbidity was divided into four categories including simple and complex cardiovascular events and invasive and non-invasive cardiac procedures.

During the period of study, 46,688 women who delivered were recruited, and of that number, 1221 were found to suffer from obesity. Ten years later, these patients had higher rates of simple cardiovascular events, non-invasive diagnostic procedures, and total number of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations.

The data recovered not only indicates an association between obesity in pregnancy and future risk for cardiovascular morbidity, but also reveals the effect of obesity in pregnancy on earlier occurrence of cardiovascular morbidity.

Dr. Shimrit Yaniv Salem, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer sheva, Israel, said, “These results are of major importance to the obstetricians counseling a patient regarding future risk for cardiovascular complications. It is important for secondary prevention, early detection, and specific screening programs for this population.”

The study will be presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting in New Orleans.

Source: sify

5 superfoods for a healthy skin

Today’s busy lifestyle schedules might leave you with a dull face that lacks lustre. In such a condition, diet plays a very important role as there are no short cuts to attain a healthy and glowing skin naturally.

Here are a few foods that you should eat for a clear, healthy and glowing skin.

Salmon: Salmon is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids that protect the skin from sun exposure thereby providing radiance and glow to the skin.

Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a natural source of probiotic and excellent food for your face as it is effective in treating acne, eczema, dandruff and other problems to some extent.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes basically have an anti-ageing affect on our body as they contain antioxidant lycopene which is easily absorbed by our body thereby leaving you with a healthy skin and hair.

Green Tea: Green tea as we all know contains a good amount of antioxidants which when gets absorbed in the body, leaves you with that healthy glow.

Kiwis: Kiwis are a rich source of Vitamin C which help main a firm skin thereby keeping wrinkles at bay, This wonder fruit to contains antioxidants that keeps the skin healthy.

Source: Zee news

Ghost white baby’ born without most of her blood

Hope Juarez’s first name is an appropriate one: The 6-week-old is only the second known “ghost white baby” born in recent years to actually survive. She’s so described because she was born with almost no blood, giving her a very white appearance.

The medical miracle, which began three weeks before 27-year-old Jennifer Juarez’s due date, when she realized the regular kicking she’d been feeling had ceased.

She went to her midwife, who asked the Fountain Valley, Calif., woman what her gut feeling was. “Something’s not right,” Juarez replied. And it wasn’t. While some fetal blood loss happens in all but 2 percent of pregnancies, Hope had suffered a fetal-maternal hemorrhage, and doctors estimate she lost around 80 percent of her blood.

An emergency C-section allowed Hope to get a life-saving blood transfusion. Why fetal-maternal hemorrhages occur remains largely a mystery; “a lot of it just happens spontaneously,” says a neonatologist at Kaiser Permanente, Irvine Medical Center, where Hope was born.

What is clear is that Juarez’s quick reaction saved her daughter’s life; doctors say Hope could have died had she spent just a few more hours in the womb.

on 2012 a 6-month-old who was the other baby to recently survive a similar complication. Olivia Bearman’s mother also noticed the baby had stopped kicking.

After birth it was discovered the child had “lost blood directly into her mum’s blood circulation,” explains a neonatal nurse.

Source: Fox news

Cells from Dead people’s eyes helps blind people

Researchers have suggested that cells taken from the donated eyes of dead people may be able to give sight to the blind.

Tests in rats showed that the human cells can restore some vision to completely blind rats.

The team at University College London said similar results in humans would improve quality of life, but would not give enough vision to read.

The team extracted a special kind of cell from the back of the eye. These Muller glia cells – a type of adult stem cell – is capable of transforming into the specialized cells in the back of the eye and could be useful for treating a wide range of sight
disorders.

In the lab, the cells were transformed into rod cells that detected light in the retina, and injecting the rods into the backs of the eyes of completely blind rats partially restored their vision.

Brain scans showed that 50 percent of the electrical signals between the eye and the brain made a recovery after the treatment.

The study has been published in journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine.

Source: Zee News