Chicken Pox - An Unassuming Threat to Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a significant biological experience that some people wait their whole lives to encounter. There is nothing quite like it. And with the actual process it undertakes, it’s not surprising why pregnancy is regarded by some as a miracle. However, there are common diseases that endanger pregnancy. Though usually non life-threatening to the individual affected, these diseases have a big impact on the life and health of the unborn child.

Chicken pox, otherwise known as varicella, is a mild, air-borne infection usually manifests itself during childhood. However, there are certain instances when adults are also victimized by this condition.

Chicken pox begins with the appearance of rashes in particular parts of the body. After a few days, it spreads, leaving the person covered with itchy blisters. Though inconvenient and bothersome, chicken pox in adults shouldn’t cause any alarm. Viral infections are usually self-limiting and will only merit symptomatic treatment. But, it is a completely different story when pregnancy is involved.

If you get chicken pox while child-bearing, immediately consult your obstetrician. She is the foremost authority in handling such cases. She will know if there are certain treatments to be applied and issues to anticipate. It might be quite distressing, but parents should prepare themselves for the outcomes.

The effects of chicken pox on the baby may vary according to the age of gestation. Usually, what is most disconcerting is if the mother is infected during the first trimester. Since the baby is still forming, the varicella virus can interrupt the natural process of things. And as such, the child may suffer congenital varicella and be born with health disorders as well as physical deformities. This may involve having a low birth weight and getting a small head, skin scarring, deformed and paralyzed limbs, and eye complications. The impact of the infection is less during the second trimester. However, the threat resurfaces by the third trimester, as the baby may suffer from mental retardation upon exposure to the varicella virus.

Chicken pox is just one of the unassuming menaces of pregnancy. There are still a number of illnesses out there that can cause great harm to babies. Sometimes, it is the foreign microorganism that causes the damage. Sometimes, it is the body’s immune system. Whichever the case may be, the fact remains that the child inside the womb is to pay the price. So mothers should really be careful about their health.

What You Need to Know About Dengue

Dengue fever is making its rounds again not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well. Reports have revealed of dengue outbreaks in Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela and along the Gulf Coastal states in the US. If anything, this disease is not only epidemic, but pandemic as well.

Davao, a city located in the Philippines, is currently reported to have accumulated more than a thousand cases of dengue since January this year. Though this statistics is clearly alarming, Honduras has experienced 22,000 dengue infection cases this year and 22 people from the country had already died form the disease.

Dengue fever is a disease caused and spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Its signs and symptoms are often times similar to that of flu. However, it effects are more detrimental. This viral disease, which is more common in tropical regions, causes increased vascular permeability that later leads to bleeding diathesis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC is also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever and is actually very fatal.

Dengue fever is considered potentially life threatening. However, it is not always dangerous. When noticed and diagnosed early, prolonged hospitalization and death can be prevented. Dengue’s treatment involves the basic treatment procedures usually done for curing regular fever. Wet pads and cold compress may be applied to reduce body temperature and antidotes may be administered if necessary. Other ways to help cope with dengue fever include maintaining water balance of the body as well as controlling the patient’s blood pressure.

Nevertheless, prevention is still better than cure. Thus, the best method to prevent dengue is to get rid of mosquito infestation. This means getting away with potential mosquito habitats which include man-made containers such as metal drums, earthenware jars, flower vases, and other water storage jars. Other dengue preventive measures include proper waste disposal as well as developing and practicing proper water storage practices. Covering water containers and potential water holders also help prevent dengue cases. Applying mosquito repellants also help protecting you and your family against dengue.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that has wide effects on metabolism and other body functions. Insulin is required to turn glucose or blood sugar from the foods we eat into energy. In diabetes, the body doesn’t respond properly to its insulin or doesn’t make enough of the hormone. This results in body weakness and delayed cell regeneration. Now, there are a few types of diabetes that are recognized. The Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s failure to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes, meanwhile is brought about by insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes is another form of diabetes that are commonly seen among pregnant women. These women usually have never had diabetes before but have experienced high blood sugar levels during their pregnancy. The only difference with gestational diabetes is that it is only temporary and disappears after delivery. Type 1 and Type 2 are often permanent. All types of diabetes are manageable with proper diet, exercise and meds. Insulin is the most popular pharmacological treatment for this condition. It was during 1921 when Fredrick Banting and Collip discovered the process for creating insulin. And ever since then, it has been widely used to control diabetes. By the standards of the American Diabetes Association, blood glucose levels are under control if:

• Your daily checking show levels close to 70–130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL within 2 hours after meals, and
• You keep your A1C test scores under 7%

Talk to your doctor and find out what goals are right for you. In United States there are 23.6 million people or 8% of the population who have diabetes. The overall prevalence of diabetes rose by 13.5% from 2005-2007. Among those who are affected, only 24% of of diabetes cases are undiagnosed. This is a great improvement from the 30% in 2005 and 50% ten years ago. No doubt diabetes is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States. That’s why it is vital that we always check our blood sugar or have a regular visit to our doctor.

Natural Remedies for Asthma

Asthma is a common thing for people who have allergies. It is a condition of abnormal lungs characterized by difficulty in breathing. Symptoms may be a combination of coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.

Asthma which means panting or shortdrawn breath may lead to death if not taken seriously. There are many cases which prove that asthma can lead people to death.

Asthma is deadly but is treatable. There are now many medications used to treat asthma attack. Example is the puffer or albuterol when puffed it will act as tissues in the lungs. This then will help relieve the difficulty of breathing. This puffer can be useful in a way but it can also give side effects to your body especially when the drug gets absorbed to the rest of the body. The main side effect on this kind of medication is increase heart rate.

So, to avoid side effects of the drugs it is more beneficial if we treat this kind of disease using the natural remedies.

Below are the natural remedies your kitchen can offer to treat asthma:

1. Garlic- Ten cloves of garlic added with milk can be effective. You can also add minced garlic in a ginger tea.

2. Honey- If inhaled or eaten can help patient to breath easier and deeper. Honey thins out accumulated mucus.

3. Apples- With its phytochemical content including flavonoids it is found that it help prevent asthma attack.