SMART Patients

ACID REFLUX (HEART BURN): RELIEF IS NOT FAR FETCHED.

2015-09-05T01:16:00.000-07:00

Acid reflux is when some of the acid content of the stomach flows up into the esophagus - into the gullet, which moves food down from the mouth.The stomach contains a strong acid, hydrochloric acid, to help with the efficient digestion of food and to protect against undesirable microbes such as bacteria.

The lining of the stomach is specially adapted to produce this acid, and also to protect the digestive organ against its own corrosive secretion, but the higher gut is not protected from this acid.

A ring of muscle - the gastroesophageal sphincter - normally protects the esophagus from the contents of the stomach by acting as a valve that lets food into the stomach but not back up into the esophagus. When this valve fails and stomach contents are regurgitated into the esophagus, the symptoms of acid reflex are felt, such as heartburn. This is also known as pyrosis or acid indigestion.it's important to understand that acid reflux is not a disease caused by excessive acid production in your stomach; rather it's a symptom more commonly related to:

Hiatal hernia
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection (H. pylori bacteria is thought to affect more than half of the world's population, and has been identified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization)

While these two conditions are unrelated, many who have a hiatal hernia also have H. pylori, which cause a chronic low-level inflammation of your stomach lining that can result in an ulcer and associated symptoms. If you have a hiatal hernia, physical therapy on the area may work and many chiropractors are skilled in this adjustment.

DRUG SIDE EFFECTS CAN BE THE CAUSE OF YOUR HEARTH BURN

Besides these underlying conditions, please beware that certain prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can also cause heartburn. Common culprits include anxiety medications and antidepressants, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, nitroglycerin, osteoporosis drugs, and pain relievers.

If your heartburn is caused by a medication you're taking, the answer is, of course, to address what, when, and how you're taking that drug. Please do not make the mistake of simply adding yet another drug to counteract this side effect. WebMD offers a number of helpful tips for how to address drug-induced heartburn, such as:

Avoid taking more than the recommended or prescribed dose
Some medications are best taken on an empty stomach, while others are less likely to cause side effects like heartburn when taken with a meal. Check the label for instructions, or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advise on when and how to take your medication
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review ALL the medications and supplements you're taking to see if one or more of them cause heartburn.

Changing the dose or switching to another medication may be advisable to ease your heartburn. Some drugs may be available in cream form rather than a pill, which would be far less likely to cause heartburn

Avoid laying down right after taking your medication
Drink some ginger tea

HEARTH BURN MEDICATIONS CAN DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD

One of the most commonly prescribed drugs for heartburn and acid reflux are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are very effective at blocking acid production in your stomach.

While that may sound like an appropriate remedy, considering the fact that stomach acid is creeping up your esophagus, in most cases it's actually the worst approach possible, as a major part of the problem is typically related to your stomach producing too little stomach acid.

There are over 16,000 articles in the medical literature showing that suppressing stomach acid does not address the problem. It only temporarily treats the symptoms.

PPIs like Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid were originally designed to treat a very limited range of severe problems. According to Mitchell Katz, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, who wrote an editorial on this topic four years ago, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are only warranted for the treatment of:

Bleeding ulcers
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a rare condition that causes your stomach to produce excess acid)
Severe acid reflux, where an endoscopy has confirmed that your esophagus is damaged

According to Katz, "about 60 to 70 percent of people taking these drugs have mild heartburn and shouldn't be on them." Part of the problem with PPIs is that when you suppress the amount of acid in your stomach, you decrease your body's ability to kill the helicobacter bacteria. So if your heartburn is caused by an H. pylori infection, it actually makes your condition worse and perpetuates the problem. Besides that, reducing acid in your stomach diminishes your primary defense mechanism for food-borne infections, which will increase your risk of food poisoning. PPI drugs can also cause potentially serious side effects, including pneumonia, bone loss, hip fractures, and infection with Clostridium difficile (a harmful intestinal bacteria).

It's also worth noting that you'll also develop both tolerance and dependence on PPI drugs, so you should not stop taking proton pump inhibitors cold turkey. You need to wean yourself off them gradually or else you might experience a severe rebound of your symptoms. In some cases, the problem may end up being worse than before you started taking the medication.

SAFE TREATMENT OPTIONS

Ultimately, the answer to heartburn and acid indigestion is to restore your natural gastric balance and function. Eating large amounts of processed foods and sugars is a surefire way to exacerbate acid reflux as it will upset the bacterial balance in your stomach and intestine. Instead, you'll want to eat a lot of vegetables and other high-quality, ideally organic, unprocessed foods. Also, eliminate food triggers from your diet. Common culprits here include caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine products.

Next, you need to make sure you're getting enough beneficial bacteria from your diet. This will help balance your bowel flora, which can help eliminate H. pylori bacteria naturally without resorting to antibiotics. It will also aid in proper digestion and assimilation of your food. Ideally, you'll want to get your probiotics from fermented foods. If you aren't eating fermented foods, you most likely need to supplement with a probiotic on a regular basis. Ideally, you'll want to include a variety of cultured foods and beverages in your diet, as each food will inoculate your gut with a variety of different micro-organisms. Fermented foods you can easily make at home include:

Fermented vegetables
Chutneys
Cultured dairy, such as yoghurt, kefir, and sour cream
Fish, such as mackerel and Swedish gravlax

HOME REMEDIES THAT DOES A GREAT JOB

The following suggestions are drawn from a variety of sources, including Everydayroots.com, which lists 15 different natural remedies for heartburn; as well as research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and others.

Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar	As mentioned earlier, acid reflux typically results from having too little acid in your stomach. You can easily improve the acid content of your stomach by taking one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water.
Betaine	Another option is to take a betaine hydrochloric supplement, which is available in health food stores without prescription. You'll want to take as many as you need to get the slightest burning sensation and then decrease by one capsule. This will help your body to better digest your food, and will also help kill theH. pylori bacteria.
Baking soda	One-half to one full teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in an eight-ounce glass of water may ease the burn of acid reflux as it helps neutralize stomach acid. I would not recommend this is a regular solution but it can sure help in an emergency when you are in excruciating pain.
Aloe juice	The juice of the aloe plant naturally helps reduce inflammation, which may ease symptoms of acid reflux. Drink about 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice before meals. If you want to avoid its laxative effect, look for a brand that has removed the laxative component.
Ginger root or chamomile tea	Ginger has been found to have a gastroprotective effect by blocking acid and suppressing helicobacter pylori. According to a 2007 study, it's also far superior to lansoprazole for preventing the formation of ulcers, exhibiting six- to eight-fold greater potency over the drug! This is perhaps not all that surprising, considering the fact that ginger root has been traditionally used against gastric disturbances since ancient times. Add two or three slices of fresh ginger root to two cups of hot water. Let steep for about half an hour. Drink about 20 minutes or so before your meal. Before bed, try a cup of chamomile tea, which can help soothe stomach inflammation and help you sleep.
Vitamin D	Vitamin D is important for addressing any infectious component. Once your vitamin D levels are optimized, you're also going to optimize your production of about 200 antimicrobial peptides that will help your body eradicate any infection that shouldn't be there. As I've discussed in many previous articles, you can increase your vitamin D levels through appropriate amounts of sun exposure, or through the use of a safe tanning bed. If neither of those are available, you can take an oral vitamin D3 supplement; just remember to also increase your vitamin K2 intake.
Astaxanthin	This exceptionally potent antioxidant was found to reduce symptoms of acid reflux in patients when compared to a placebo, particularly in those with pronouncedhelicobacter pylori infection. Best results were obtained at a daily dose of 40 mg.
Slippery elm	Slippery elm coats and soothes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, and contains antioxidants that can help address inflammatory bowel conditions. It also stimulates nerve endings in your gastrointestinal tract. This helps increase mucus secretion, which protects your gastrointestinal tract against ulcers and excess acidity. The University of Maryland Medical Center makes the following adult dosing recommendations: Tea: Pour 2 cups boiling water over 4 g (roughly 2 tablespoons) of powdered bark, then steep for 3 - 5 minutes. Drink 3 times per day. Tincture: 5 mL 3 times per day. Capsules: 400 - 500 mg 3 - 4 times daily for 4 - 8 weeks. Take with a full glass of water. Lozenges: follow dosing instructions on label.
Chinese herbs for the treatment of "Gu" symptoms caused by chronic inflammatory diseases	So-called "Gu" symptoms include digestive issues associated with inflammation and pathogenic infestation. For more information about classical herbs used in Chinese Medicine for the treatment of such symptoms, please see the article, "Treating Chronic Inflammatory Diseases with Chinese Herbs: 'Gu Syndrome' in Modern Clinical Practice," published by the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
Glutamine	Research published in 2009 found that gastrointestinal damage caused by H. pylori can be addressed with the amino acid glutamine, found in many foods, including beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, and some fruits and vegetables. L-glutamine, the biologically active isomer of glutamine, is also widely available as a supplement.
Folate or folic acid (vitamin B9) and other B vitamins	As reported by clinical nutritionist Byron Richards, research suggests B vitamins can reduce your risk for acid reflux. Higher folic acid intake was found to reduce acid reflux by approximately 40 percent. Low vitamin B2 and B6 levels were also linked to an increased risk for acid reflux. The best way to raise your folate levels is by eating folate-rich whole foods, such as liver, asparagus, spinach, okra, and beans.

SUMMARY

Experiencing acid reflux? below is a summary of what you need to do

Switching from processed foods to whole foods is step number one. To further optimize your gut health, you'll want to make sure you're consuming enough good bacteria from traditionally fermented foods, such as fermented vegetables, or in a probiotic supplement. This will help balance your bowel flora, which can help eliminate Helicobacter bacteria naturally. If you have heartburn, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, or any acid-related condition, the strategies listed above may also offer relief.

RESOURCE:

http://articles.mercola.com

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

MOTION SICKNESS: WHY YOU EXPERIENCE IT AND WAYS TO PREVENT THE ASSOCIATED DISCOMFORT.

2015-09-01T10:20:00.000-07:00

Motion sickness is a very common disturbance of the inner ear that is caused by repeated motion such as from the swell of the sea, the movement of a car, the motion of a plane in turbulent air, etc.

There is no difference between motion sickness and sea sickness. Some people experience nausea and even vomiting when riding in an airplane, automobile, or amusement park ride. This condition is generally called motion sickness. Many people experience motion sickness when riding on a boat or ship. This is commonly referred to as sea sickness (mal de mer), even though it is the same disorder.

Individuals and animals without a functional vestibular system are immune to motion sickness.

What are the symptoms of motion sickness?

The symptoms overall of motion sickness include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness (vertigo). Other common signs are sweating and a general feeling of discomfort and not feeling well (malaise).

Mild symptoms are categorized as headache, mild unease and yawning. More serious symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pallor, sweating, drooling, short breath, dizziness and drowsiness.

The symptoms of motion sickness appear when the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the other four systems: the inner ear, eyes, skin pressure receptors, and the muscle and joint sensory receptors.

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness is caused by what’s known as a “neural mismatch.” Normally your eyes, muscles, joints and the balance mechanism in your inner ear send messages to your brain about your body’s movement in space.

The neural mismatch that causes motion sickness usually follows one of two patterns. The first is when your body experiences motion that your eyes can’t see. One example of this is being below deck on a rocking boat or ship. Everything in the room looks stationary to your eye. But your body can feel the motion of the boat.

The other type of neural mismatch occurs when your body is not actually moving, but your eyes tell it that it is. This can happen when you are watching a movie in a widescreen theater.

PREVENTION

Here are some tips to help prevent it.

• Travel on an empty stomach.

• On an airplane, try to get an aisle seat toward the center of the cabin, where motion is the calmest. On a ship, request a lower-level cabin toward the middle of the vessel to minimize motion.

• Avoid odors such as perfume, smoke or cooking smells. Open a window for fresh air if possible. Turn on the air vent if you’re on an airplane.

• Don’t read or watch videos while traveling.

• During a bumpy car or boat ride, try keeping your gaze fixed on something stationary, like the horizon.

Medications are also a good way to prevent motion sickness and are best taken before travelling etc, and using such for treatment may be too late to avoid or treat the condition.

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is most commonly prescribed medication for motion sickness. It must be taken before symptoms start. It is available as a patch form that is placed behind the ear 6 - 8 hours before travel. The effects last up to 3 days. Side effects may include dry mouth, drowsiness, blurred vision, and disorientation.
Promethazine (Phenergan) should be taken 2 hours before travel. The effects last 6 - 8 hours. Side effects may include drowsiness and dry mouth.
Cyclizine (Marezine) is most effective when taken at least 30 minutes before travel. It is not recommended for children younger than 6, and side effects are similar to scopolamine.
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is taken every 4 - 8 hours. Side effects are similar to scopolamine.

Dimenhydrinate chewing gum - people with motion sickness can receive significant symptom relief from a newly developed type of medicated chewing gum which contains the active ingredient dimenhydrinate. A team of experts, led by Mohsen Sadatrezaei of RoshaDarou Co., carried out a study which showed that patients can absorb the medication through the cheek.
Meclizine (Bonine) is most effective when taken 1 hour before travel. It is not recommended for children under 12, and side effects may include drowsiness and dry mouth.

A word of caution: Most motion sickness medications tend to make people drowsy.

Treatment options for motion sickness?

The distressing symptoms of motion sickness usually stop when the motion that causes it ceases. But this is not always true. There are people who suffer symptoms for even a few days after the trip is over.

One common suggestion is to simply look out of the window of the moving vehicle and to gaze toward the horizon in the direction of travel. This helps to re-orient the inner sense of balance by providing a visual reaffirmation of motion.

In the night, or in a ship without windows, it is helpful to simply close one's eyes, or if possible, take a nap. This resolves the input conflict between the eyes and the inner ear. Napping also helps prevent psychogenic effects (i.e. the effect of sickness being magnified by thinking about it).

A simple method for relieving common and mild car sickness is chewing. Chewing gum has an uncanny effectiveness for reducing car sickness in those affected.

Fresh, cool air can also relieve motion sickness slightly, although it is likely this is related to avoiding foul odors which can worsen nausea.Chewing gum, however, is not the only thing one may chew to relieve mild effects of car sickness, snacking on sweets or just chewing in general seems to reduce adverse effects of the conflict between vision and balance.

Ginger has also been found to reduce motion sickness. This is available in tablet form or a fresh stem of ginger can also be chewed to relive symptoms.

Some studies suggest that acupressure may help reduce symptoms of motion sickness in the same way as acupuncture, although the evidence is not clear. An acupressure practitioner works with the same points used in acupuncture, but stimulates these healing sites with finger pressure, rather than inserting fine needles.

PLEASE SHARE WITH US THE PREVENTION/TREATMENT OPTION(S) THAT WORKS FOR YOU.

RESOURCE:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

http://www.spokesman.com

WHY WE FORGET AND HOW TO BOOST YOUR MEMORY.

2015-08-31T02:08:00.001-07:00

Memory lapses can be both embarrassing and troubling. But a few slipups don’t necessarily doom you to a future of utter forgetfulness. A memory is made by linking two or more of the 100 billion nerve cells in your brain, called neurons, then solidifying the connection so you can use it later, says Neal Barnard, an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, in Washington, D.C. And “your brain continues to develop neurons and build new connections to strengthen memory as you age, a phenomenon called neuroplasticity,” says Brianne Bettcher, a neuropsychology fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center. “So it’s never too late to improve your powers of recall.” lets look into the reasons why we forget in the first place.

1. Retrieval Failure

Have you ever felt like a piece of information has just vanished from memory? Or maybe you know that it's there, you just can't seem to find it. The inability to retrieve a memory is one of the most common causes of forgetting.

So why are we often unable to retrieve information from memory? One possible explanation of retrieval failure is known as decay theory. According to this theory, a memory trace is created every time a new theory is formed. Decay theory suggests that over time, these memory traces begin to fade and disappear. If information is not retrieved and rehearsed, it will eventually be lost. One short coming of this theory is that research has demonstrated that even memories which have not been rehearsed or remembered are remarkably stable in long-term memory.

2. Interference

Another theory known as interference theory suggests that some memories compete and interfere with other memories. When information is very similar to other information that was previously stored in memory, interference is more likely to occur.

There are two types of interference, proactive and retroactive.

Proactive interference is when an old memory makes it more difficult or impossible to remember a new memory.

Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with your ability to remember previously learned information.

3. Failure to Store

Sometimes, we just don’t store the information we take in, or just fail to store it to long-term memory. Our short-term memory can only recall about seven things in the span of about 30 seconds, and after that, it becomes more difficult. Distractions can also be a big factor in being unable to store information, whether we cause them ourselves or whether they come from outside.

4. Motivated Forgetting

This is a theory involving voluntary suppression or unconscious repression of memories that make us feel uncomfortable, or are too traumatic to deal with. Repressed memories, however, are not a universally accepted theory, due to the near impossibility of testing the phenomenon.

Other Reasons We Forget

Multitasking: multitasking can play a huge part in memory failure. Switching back and forth between tasks, whether it be by choice or because of interruptions, can severely impair our ability to focus. Although you might think switching between several tasks is more productive, the sad truth is that it forces your brain to ‘reset’ each time you switch tasks. That can actually increase the time needed to complete each task.

we overlook defining details: in Joseph T. Hallinan’s book “Why We Make Mistakes” Hallinan presents a page with 15 different versions of the familiar penny. The book challenges the reader to identify, from memory, the correct version that represents the common one cent piece as it actually exists. According to Hallinan, less than half of those tested choose the correct image. The reason? We know the shape and colour of a penny, which we’ve all seen many times, and have a vague idea of the rest. This is because our brains take a short cut, only storing information vital to identifying the penny as distinct from other coins.

What You Can Do

So how can we fight against our own forgetfulness? Loftus and Hallinan both have some suggestions that may help:

· Perhaps the most helpful thing, whether it be in a journal, on your tablet, or on your phone, is creating a to-do list.

· Take advantage of daily planning apps: Schedule Planner in the Apple (and Android) store lets you set alarms, export calendars to Dropbox, and has quite a few other handy features as well.

· EAT RIGHT: The foods you eat – and don't eat – play a crucial role in your memory. curry, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and walnuts contain antioxidants and other compounds that protect your brain health and may even stimulate the production of new brain cells.Coconut oil is another healthful fat for brain function. According to research by Dr. Mary Newport, just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or 7 level teaspoons) would supply you with the equivalent of 20 grams of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which is indicated as either a preventative measure against degenerative neurological diseases, or as a treatment for an already established case.

· EXERCISE: Exercise encourages your brain to work at optimum capacity by stimulating nerve cells to multiply, strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage.

During exercise nerve cells release proteins known as neurotrophic factors. One in particular, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health, and directly benefits cognitive functions, including learning.

· GET A GOOD NIGHT REST: Research from Harvard indicates that people are 33 percent more likely to infer connections among distantly related ideas after sleeping,3 but few realize that their performance has actually improved. Sleep is also known to enhance your memories and help you "practice" and improve your performance of challenging skills. In fact, a single night of sleeping only four to six hours can impact your ability to think clearly the next day.

· PLAY BRAIN GAMES: If you don't sufficiently challenge your brain with new, surprising information, it eventually begins to deteriorate. What research into brain plasticity shows us, however, is that by providing your brain with appropriate stimulus, you can counteract this degeneration.

· Try Mnemonic Devices: Mnemonic devices are memory tools to help you remember words, information or concepts. They help you to organize information into an easier-to-remember format. Try:

o Acronyms (such as PUG for "pick up grapes")

o Visualizations (such as imagining a tooth to remember your dentist's appointment)

o Rhymes (if you need to remember a name, for instance, think "Shirley's hair is curly)

o Chunking, which is breaking up information into smaller "chunks" (such as organizing numbers into the format of a phone number)

· Stop Multitasking! Take the time to concentrate on one task at a time, and you’ll be able to do better work faster.

· Take a mental picture: if you often forget where you place your keys, try thinking of the items surrounding them too, when you put them down. Try to take in identifying details, like the color of the surface they are sitting on or what might be nearby.

· Repeat what someone says back to them. This not only helps you confirm what they said, but it also lets the other person know you are listening.

· Take a closer look, and try to take in the smaller details. This will not only help you commit things to memory, but also allow you to better understand the information.

· Keep yourself organized. Separate your notes and documents in a way that makes sense, and use something as simple as a shoebox to keep them together and tidy.

Memory can be critical in business. Be sure to keep your memory sharp with some of these important tips.

RESOURSES:

http://articles.mercola.com

http://smallbiztrends.com

http://psychology.about.com

7 MOST COMMON CAUSES OF SINGLE AND RECURRENT MISCARRIAGE.

2015-08-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

A "MUST READ" FOR EVERY WOMAN: 7 MOST COMMON CAUSES OF SINGLE AND RECURRENT MISCARRIAGE.

If you have had a miscarriage, chances are you want to know what caused it, and what you can do to prevent it from happening again. For starters, relax. “Since you got pregnant once, the odds are 80 percent that you will go on to have a healthy baby, and as many healthy babies after that as you want,” says
Henry Lerner, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Harvard Medical School and author of Miscarriage Why it Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks (Perseus Book Group, 2003).

Next, accept that you may never know why you miscarried. “The majority of the time miscarriage is a random, isolated event and we can’t pinpoint a cause,” he says. Women who go on to have two or three miscarriages (called recurrent miscarriage) may ultimately learn they have a medical problem that is causing their pregnancies to end spontaneously, but even with recurrent miscarriage, half the time there is no known cause.

Here's a look at the most common causes of both single and recurrent miscarriage.

Miscarriage Cause 1: Chromosomal Abnormalities

why it leads to miscarriage

“Mismatched chromosomes account for at least 60 percent of miscarriages,” says Bryan Cowan, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University Of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, and a spokesperson for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Chromosomes are the tiny structures in each cell that carry our genes; we each have 23 pairs of them, one set from our mother and one set from our father. Sometimes, when the egg and sperm meet, one or the other is faulty and then the chromosomes can’t line up properly. In that case, the resulting embryo has a chromosomal abnormality and the pregnancy usually results in a miscarriage.

Couples who experience two or more miscarriages in a row sometimes learn, through medical testing, that they have chromosomal anomalies that don’t affect them, but do prevent a pregnancy from taking hold.

what you can do

If you have one miscarriage, be patient. The odds are strongly in your favor that you will get pregnant again and deliver a healthy baby. If you miscarry again, however, consider preserving the tissue you pass (if possible, save it in a sterile saline contact-lens solution) and take it to your physician to be sent to a lab for chromosomal testing. “If it’s chromosomally normal, we can immediately start looking for other issues that may be responsible for the miscarriages and may be treatable,” says Jonathan Scher, MD a fertility specialist in Manhattan and co-author of Preventing Miscarriage: The Good News (Collins 2005).

Miscarriage Cause 2: Uterine Abnormalities and Incompetent Cervixes

why it leads to miscarriage

If you have a uterus that is “abnormally” shaped or divided--called uterine septum--miscarriage occurs because the embryo either can’t implant or once it does implant, can’t get the nourishment it needs to survive.

“Uterine anomalies account for about 10 percent of miscarriages,” says Dr. Cowan. A weakened or incompetent cervix is another problem that can lead to miscarriage, because toward the end of the first trimester the fetus has grown large enough that the cervix starts to bulge. If the cervix is weakened, it can’t hold the fetus in.

what you can do

Your physician may not discover this problem until you have had recurrent miscarriages, or until your pregnancy is well under way. The good news is that, “Uterine septum can be corrected with surgery,” says Dr. Cowan. And if you have an incompetent cervix, your physician will put a stitch in the cervix to keep it closed, a procedure called a cerclage. You may also require bed rest or hospitalization for part of your pregnancy.

Miscarriage Cause 3: Immunologic Disorders

Why it leads to miscarriage

“When you consider that a woman’s body views sperm as a foreign object, it’s a wonder that pregnancy happens at all,” says Dr. Scher. “But most of the time, a fertilized egg sends a message to the mother that says ‘don’t treat me like a germ,’ and pregnancy proceeds without incident.” In some cases, though, the embryo isn’t accepted by the woman’s body. “Antiphospholipid antibodies—antibodies that attack one’s own tissue, including embryos—account for many miscarriages that physicians used to think were unexplainable,” Dr. Scher says.

What you can do

There hasn’t been much research done in this area yet, says Dr. Scher. While the treatments are still considered experimental, he has had success treating women with aspirin, heparin (a blood thinner) and certain steroids.<!––nextpage––>

Miscarriage Cause 4: Untreated Illnesses Such as Thyroid Problems (Both Hyper- and Hypo-Thyroidism) and Uncontrolled Diabetes

Why it leads to miscarriage

Thyroid conditions and uncontrolled diabetes are both associated with “unfavorable” uterine environments. “The effects of these conditions make it difficult for the embryo to survive,” explains Dr. Scher.

What you can do

Make the lifestyle changes your doctor recommends, and follow any recommended treatment regiments to get your diabetes under control. Thyroid conditions can usually be corrected with medication.

Miscarriage Cause 5: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Why it leads to miscarriage

“This is now an emerging cause of recurrent miscarriage,” says Dr. Scher. Women with PCOS have too-high levels of the male hormone testosterone which, among other things, causes irregular ovulation and menstruation. “Even in women who don’t have diabetes, PCOS causes insulin resistance, which prevents the endometrial lining from maturing properly,” explains Dr. Scher. He estimates that between 5 and 10 percent of reproductive-age women have PCOS.

What you can do

Treatment with oral anti-diabetic drugs, such as metformin (Glucophage), has been successful in reducing miscarriage in women with PCOS.

Miscarriage Cause 6: Bacterial Infections

Why they cause miscarriage

Many micro-organisms live harmlessly—even helpfully—in the male and female reproductive tracts. But certain bacteria can cause problems, including an increased risk of miscarriage. Two in particular—mycoplasma hominis and ureaplasma urealyticum—live in the genital tracts of healthy men and women, but can raise the risk of miscarriage.

In women, infection with these bacteria can inflame the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), making it impossible for an embryo to develop. “There are no symptoms, however, so the only way you know if you or your partner is carrying the organism is to be tested,” says Dr. Scher.

What you can do

These infections can usually be easily treated with antibiotics.

Miscarriage Cause 7: Lifestyle (Cigarettes, Alcohol, Drugs, Environmental Toxins)

Why they lead to miscarriage

“Nicotine crosses the placenta and interferes with blood supply and fetal growth,” says Dr. Scher. Smokers have twice the rate of miscarriage as non-smokers. Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day is also associated with miscarriage, he says, and it goes without saying—but he says it anyway—that using recreational drugs when you’re attempting to get pregnant (or during pregnancy) is foolish. Finally, women who work in certain environments—including farms, operating rooms, dental offices and hospital laboratories—have a higher rate of miscarriage for unknown reasons.

What you can do

“Give up all deleterious habits before you try to become pregnant,” says Dr. Lerner, “and you increase your odds of enjoying a successful pregnancy.”

Resource:

http://www.parenting.com

NEED AN ADMIRABLE 6-PACK ABS?... TRY THESE.

2015-08-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

The hallmark of fitness is a nice six pack, because it not only represents a certain level of

effort in the gym, but also maintaining a relatively low body fat percentage.For this, both diet and exercise play important roles, but the reward is a set of abs that are the envy of everyone you know.

Here are six ab exercises to get you that highly sought, but rarely achieved, holy grail; the six pack.

1. Pullup

Grab a pullup bar with a grip that's slightly wider than shoulder width. Pull your shoulder blades down and back, bend your legs behind you, cross your feet, squeeze your butt, and brace your abs (this ensures your core gets worked). This is the start position (a). Pull yourself up until your collarbone reaches the bar, driving your elbows down toward your hips (b). Return to the start position (c). If unable to pull yourself up, loop an exercise band over the bar and around your knees.

Sets: 3 Reps: to failure Rest: 120 seconds between sets

2. Medicine Ball Slam

Grab a fairly light-weight medicine ball and hold it up above your head (a). Keeping your torso totally upright with good posture, throw the medicine ball directly downward at the ground as hard as you can (b) be careful: Some bounce back!

Sets: 3 Reps: 20 Rest: 60 seconds between sets

3. Ab Wheel Rollout

Kneel on the floor with your knees directly under your hips and your hands directly under your shoulders holding the handles of an ab wheel. Slowly push your hips forward and roll the ab wheel out, keeping your back flat and allowing your arms to extend in front of your body (a). As soon as it feels like you can’t roll any more without the risk of falling, push your palms toward the floor, simultaneously squeezing your abs and pushing your hips back toward the start position until you reach it (b).

Sets: 4 Reps: To failure Rest: 90 seconds between sets

4. Pallof Press

Attach a D-handle to a cable cross machine and adjust the pulley to chest height (a resistance band around a pole works, too). Stand about two feet away from the machine and pull the handle to your chest (a). If your right shoulder is closest to the machine, your right hand should hold the handle and your left should be more of a guide. While bracing your core, push the handle straight out, so the handle stays directly in front of your chest (b). Slowly return the handle to your chest (c).

Sets: 4 Reps: 10 on each side Rest: 60 seconds between sets

5. Barbell Landmine

Wedge one end of a barbell in the corner of two walls. Lift the barbell up by the other end and hold it on your chest (a). Next, press the barbell directly out from your chest with both hands, fingers laced (b). Keeping your arms straight, rotate from your shoulders to one side, then to the other. Return to the start position (c).

Sets: 3 Reps: 10 on each side Rest: 120 seconds between sets

6. The Pendulum

Lie on the floor flat on your back and raise your legs until you have a 90-degree bend at the hips. Keeping your legs straight, lower them to the right, allowing them to come almost all the way to the floor (a). Return the legs to the upright position and then lower them to the left (b). Repeat in this fashion until all prescribed reps are performed.

Sets: 4 Reps: 10 to each side Rest: 60 seconds between sets

Resources:
http://www.mensfitness.com