The Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Mothers of children born with the often devastating effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS don't have to be alcoholics or even regular drinkers in order for this condition to develop. There are certain windows during a pregnancy where the developing fetus is more susceptible to damage - especially during the first trimester. This means that fetal alcohol syndrome can develop even if a woman only has a few drinking occasions during this time. And while there is no distinctive evidence to suggest this, some scientists and biologists suspect that FAS could develop in response to only one drinking event, if it occurs during a time of critical fetus development. As a result, it is never safe to drink while pregnant, and mothers that do could be damaging their child - for life.

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are varied but distinct to the condition - especially where physical deformations are concerned. Babies born with FAS have a small head circumference, small eyes and thin lips. There may be deformations of joint areas like elbows, knees, the heel and wrist, etc. The child may exhibit vision of hearing impairment and have poor coordination. While many of these conditions are clearly evident upon birth or shortly thereafter, some might not appear for years. This is especially true of children that are born with mental retardation, learning disorders and delayed development as a result of fetal alcohol syndrome related complications.

Some of the symptoms of FAS may occur later in life and not be recognized for what they are from a causation standpoint. This can include something as seemingly benign as poor coordination, or something as deadly as heart defects. Additionally, FAS can cause a child to exhibit abnormal behavior patterns later in life. This is often manifested in the form of ADD, ADHD, poor impulse control, severe nervousness, social anxiety and even panic attacks.

Alcohol is considered a Teratogen; a substance that impedes or even completely restricts human growth. This has implications not only for the growing fetus, but also for developing young women. This can present in the form of delayed development including problems adjusting socially, academically and occupationally, which can make it extremely difficult to care for an infant. And because the most noticeable characteristic of FAS is significant deformation of the face, this condition is rather apparent when it is present, leading to more social and anxiety issues for the mother initially and for the child later on as they integrate into their peer groups and communities. These facial characteristics include very small, wide-set eyes, a thin upper lip, upturned, stunted nose, and other features indicative of the condition. In some cases the features will fade away as the child gets older, but in many they will remain for life.

Because of the sensitive timing of pregnancies and fetus development, it is never acceptable to drink while pregnant. The old social stigma that children born with FAS must logically have severely alcoholic mothers is swiftly disappearing, thanks to better education about what this condition is and how it develops. If you or someone you love is pregnant and struggling with a drinking or drug problem, then 2 lives depend on what you do next.

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Easy ways to prevent that tibial edge syndrome

It can take months or years of Shin splints and even to make a full recovery, restore, if you've had Shin splints, you clean up this painful lower leg condition are more vulnerable later in life. Spend a little time and effort to avoid Shin splints, it's definitely value, as the saying is "An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure value.",

Preventive measures should reduce impact on your forces acting Shins at the heart. While it is beneficial to any solution to avoid Shin splints in its own right, a combination of the following options can be more effective. While it is difficult to say if the methods that you want to select work for your own condition, all have their benefits and have proven to be effective in their own right. The combination, the best for each individual works a little trial and error can include.

Extend each working day, regardless of actual or expected level of activity for the day should be a part. Many people to extend routes only the calves and hamstrings and neglect the smaller muscles and tendons of the shins and feet. Stretching are both the front and back of the legs, as also the feet help to prevent that many overuse type discomfort and pain, as well as course improve your (as you walk or run). To extend your Shins, you kneel down on a padded mat with your feet flat against the ground, and your buttocks resting on the heels. You should feel the stretch in your Shins. Keep at least 30 seconds and then stretch out.

Strength training is another important way to reduce the Shin pain in addition to your other activities. This is especially true if you usually focus on one type of activity. For example, a runner used her legs as day to day and while other muscles of muscles such as the quadriceps with each time a great workout get some, how neglected the Tibialis tendon at the front of the Shin are and can atrophy, or revised. Too little used to strengthen muscles in your legs and build endurance you thrown try cross-training with various activities such as swimming, hiking, or ice skating or rollerblading into the mix. You can variants on your current activity such as walking backwards or up and down gradients such as hills or stairs go try. To strengthen the anterior are planted with both feet on the ground and flex your toes and give that hold this position for ten seconds, relax for ten seconds and repeat until your Shins feel tired. You can also weights, weight belts belt around your ankles to increase the resistance.

Correct shoes is important, especially during high-impact activities. The arches of the feet provide absorption effects for each step. It is important to protect this feature by wearing shoes with good support or arch support insoles inserted. Shoes are designed, the impact of walking, running, or jumping, absorb but shoes 500 to 800 miles from each, so forget not, replace older shoes and clock if you walk really up the miles every day to work out how often you need to change your shoes, you need to change these may all 10 weeks.

Finally, the most important step is that the you can take to prevent, that tibial edge syndrome, listen to your body. If your legs, or feet are tired, they give you a rest. When you start feeling pain, stop and look to it immediately. Shin splints is not the kind of injury, you can run straight on.

Steve Alder writing on the health and fitness and is firmly convinced in improving the body through exercise and a healthy health and balance diet. He recommends rice treatment at the first sign of Shin pain symptoms and search for medical care, if the problem persists or not respond to analgesics, rest, and height. The rehabilitation process of Shin splints is faster if started immediately.

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Flat head syndrome: A basic understanding

Flat head syndrome is a general term for infants, cranial development of a flat area on the back or the side of the head (deformational asymmetry) leading. The deformation at birth can exist or be obvious after the birth; in the first months of life the child. Are the two recognised the most scientific importance for the most common forms of the syndrome of Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly. Most commonly, the term Plagiocephaly is parietal and where is the length to wide ratio in the normal parameters to describe a downturn on the side of the head in the metropolitan area. Facial asymmetry may be on the forehead and you notice misalignment of the eyes and ears. If the downturn is on the back of the head and the head is wider than usual outside of normal, in this case is the length to wide ratio, this head shape is called brachycephaly.

Causes of the flat head syndrome

Birth of cranial deformities can result from intrauterine restriction, caused by several different factors can be. Positional occurs casting in the womb (in-utero molding) because the inhibited position of the baby in the womb. It is more common in multiple births due to the limited positioning of babies and see their heads. In other cases, abnormalities can the head present at the birth of the result of the birth injury through methods of assisted delivery (intrapartum molding) be. There is also a higher incidence of Plagiocephaly development in infants, which born prematurely, as their heads are much softer. Fortunately improve the majority of these malformations caused in utero or during birth naturally without need of treatment in the first months of life the child. The exception occurs if, for whatever reason, if the child is so positioned that puts more pressure on a particular environmental areas of the head. In this case the syndrome of simple gravitational force can turn a first small Plagiocephalic deformity in a potential long-term problem treatment required deteriorate.

In addition to deformities at birth reported pediatricians increase in the number of children with cranial deformities in recent years, in particular unilateral flattening of the occipital bone at the back of the head. This increase is at least statistically was compared to the substantial decrease in these years pay cot death or SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). The connection is assumed that the increase in flat head syndrome parents after the positioning recommendations aimed at the risk of SIDS can be attributed to in particular, the recommendation which should be below placed on their backs for sleep healthy young infants after. The back to sleep advice has sudden infant death considerably reduced and the parents are again encouraged to place their children on the back, while sleeping. However, they should during the day, if the child is awake and parents is with you, so little time as possible allow pressing on the back of the skull of course to spend.

Treatment of flat head syndrome

First treatment includes the pressure on the affected area, known as "Tummy time" to reduce usually the repositioning of the baby on her belly. This should be done for extended periods of time during the day. Furthermore, parents or other areas of interest around them is seek repositioning children's beds and other areas, where the child of her time spent in different directions to see force. It should be noted when the baby cries or have complaints appear is if they are positioned, as this is a problem with neck pain can signal and should be dealt with this possibility as a tightening of the muscles of the neck can be common in infants. This treatment should be continued until the age of 5 to 6 months.

If the problem remains unimproved, parents should treat flat head syndrome with helmet for a child while still less than 18 months old. The ideal time to begin treatment, is 4 to 7 months, but correction can be obtained from treatment up to the age of 14 months. Cranial remoulding helmet (Orthese) can be designed, that painlessly contact over the prominent areas of the skull at the leave protected cavities provide growth for more symmetrical head provides a way for the growth of the affected areas.

Learn more about flat head syndrome

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Why so healthy eating is good for Hypermobility syndrome patients

So, we all know that eating healthily is good for us. We hear it enough times. It's something we 'should' do. But I want to give you a personal take; make it real to you. I want you to know how much of a difference eating healthily has made to me as a Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS) sufferer and I want to give you some tips on how you can start to feel this health and vitality in your own life.
Let's look at the facts first:
Why eating healthily is particularly good for HMS sufferers:
• When our body is clean on the inside we are healthier on the outside.
Our organs of detoxification, including the liver and the kidneys, work 24/7 to keep our bodies clean. The more we eat natural food the less they have to work. This is great for two reasons: 1 - we look and feel better; 2 - our detoxification system can then spend its time doing internal 'housework' making sure every part of our body functions the very best it can. This means our joints can be kept healthy and recover from injury more quickly.
• Eating healthily can satisfy us with fewer calories.
The more healthily we eat the more weight we'll drop. That's great for general health but also really important for us HMS sufferers.
• Fresh food delivers us vitamins and minerals in abundance in a way that processed food cannot.
It's very easy to be over-fed yet under-nourished when we eat a lot of processed food. If we enjoy plentiful fruit and vegetables we'll be ensuring we deliver quality to our bodies. Vitamins and minerals are essential to ensure optimal health and functioning of our joints, tissues, bones and muscles.
• Eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly greens can improve our digestion.
It's all about having the right level of hydrochloric acid in your tummy - have a look at the writing of Victoria Boutenko for the details. Having efficient digestion is not just something that means we feel better - it also ensures we absorb more of the goodness from the food that we do eat. A double whammy!
• Because our body is working less, we have more energy.
We look better and we feel better - a great way to make sure we are experiencing life in the best possible way we can at any given time.
• Because we have more energy and look better, we feel better. I know how easy it is to feel down when you have HMS. Feeling brighter on a daily basis and being happier when we look in the mirror are two all-important factors when it comes to feeling better every day.
• We have less allergic response.
There are many, less healthy, foodstuffs that can cause allergies. (You can find out about the more common of these - wheat and dairy - by googling them or reading an author like Patrick Holford.) Allergies do not just show up as skin or breathing problems, they also clog up all the processes of our bodies, along with lowering our health and vitality generally. If we give our body a break from these we can function at a much more healthy level.
• The body was designed for the natural sugar in fruit.
Eating less processed sugar and replacing it with natural sugar puts so much less stress on the body. Our system was not meant handle processed sugar and getting it cleaned out of the body day in day out really takes its toll. Noticed how you get more spots when you eat a lot of chocolate? It's because the skin is an organ of detoxification and if the other organs in the body that clear unnatural foodstuffs are over-loaded then the toxins will be pushed out through your skin.
• Natural water without having to remember to carry a bottle with you everywhere!
Our bodies need water to function properly. Without it, all our vital systems lack oxygen and just can't work properly. It affects our joints, muscles and connective tissues too - all those things that we want to keep in the best state possible. If we eat more fruit and vegetables we'll get water in its natural state - packaged inside some beautifully sweet-tasting fruit!
Now perhaps you are asking: "How does she know all this?" Well, that's because eating healthily has literally changed my life.
I had my hypermobility diagnosed in 2008, but I'd been suffering for many years; RSI making my academic life hell, lower back problems putting me out of action over and over again while neck and shoulder problems plagued me from a very early age.
2008 was the worst I'd been. A problem with my neck and shoulder was so bad I had to leave the course of study I was on. I couldn't hold my head up for long without muscle spasm and immense pain. I spent months in bed and became very depressed.
After what was a very long, dark time I was finally diagnosed with EDS and got to work with a great physiotherapist.
I decided that I wanted to do everything I could to improve my health. I started researching diet and was amazed at what I found. I learnt about how many of the food stuffs we take as normal (e.g. bread, milk, soy) can be highly allergenic. I learnt how our body is constantly detoxifying, and how, if we put unnatural substances into it, it has to work really to get rid of them. I learnt how many of the animal products we eat are full of chemicals and hormones that have been routinely used to treat the animals. I learnt how natural, raw foods are not only choc full of vitamins and minerals, but also include enzymes which make them easier to digest than processed food. I learnt how greens are a wonder food - not only providing minerals in abundance, but also actually improving the way our body digests.
There are plenty of resources, freely available online, written by doctors and enthusiasts alike, which provide evidence and experience to champion healthy eating.
I decided to become my own tester. It's simple and cheap - I'd recommend giving it a go! 'Try on' a healthy diet for a few meals, a few days and see what it does for you. I did just that and I've never looked back.
I started to make changes to the way I ate. I cut down on the amount of animal produce and included a lot more fruit and vegetables. I found not only did I love it, but I felt and looked so much healthier. Without trying, I lost weight I never thought I'd lose, my skin cleared up and my eyes started to sparkle. I had more energy and slept better. I got ill with colds and passing bugs much less frequently. Importantly, along with the physiotherapy, the state of my joints and muscles improved. They hurt less often and with less intensity, and when I had a setback it was shorter and I healed more quickly.
I was so sold that I continued to work on my diet. I now eat a diet very high in fresh fruit and vegetables. I don't eat any animal produce and I don't cook my food.
You might think this is extreme, but, boy, it works for me! I feel the best I have ever done. I haven't had a cold for over 2 years. I love the shape of my body. Even better, I love the food I am eating. Our taste buds are amazingly flexible. They adjust to new flavours very easily. For example, once I took processed sugar out of my diet I really started to taste the sweetness of natural produce. Now I can get my sugar kick from apples, oranges, pineapple and mango with no guilt!
Importantly, my hypermobility has improved immeasurably - I couldn't even pick up a book two years ago and was in constant pain, now I frequently walk home from the shops with several shopping bags. I can exercise, engage in most pursuits and live relatively normally. A lot of this success is due to my wonderful physiotherapist and my own determination to strengthen, but I don't doubt that a substantial part of my recovery has been due to my dietary changes.
My improved health and increased vitality has sky-rocketed my self confidence and general happiness. I've had the confidence to be able to start pursuing the things I've always wanted to - I'm much more creative in my everyday life and I've even moved to a different country, something I'd wanted to do from a very young age!
Who knows what it could do for you?
It's super easy and tasty to 'healthify' your diet. How about trying a fruit smoothie? They are easy to make with a regular blender.
So, if you've got a blender get it out of the cupboard. Put it on the work surface in your kitchen. Then it's there, ready to make you gorgeous fruit-based smoothies that your body will thank you for every day - loads of vitamins and minerals and natural hydration. If you're up for it add some greens too - they'll make it a wicked colour and you'll send your mineral quota shooting up for the day.
Try this recipe for size:
• Get two really ripe pears. Quarter them and remove the cores. Then dice them roughly and put them in your blender. Pop the lid on the blender and pulse the blades until the pear is liquid.
• Chop a third of a medium cucumber and add in with the pears. Do the same thing with the pulse button to liquidise the cucumber.
• Take two large handfuls of spinach and add them to the blender. Blend again until the spinach is incorporated and you have a nice smooth liquid.
• Pour all this into a glass and sit back and enjoy the taste!
You can watch me showing you how to make this delicious and easy smoothie here: http://www.pathlesstrodden.com/pear-spinach-smoothie/
For more information on my diet and hypermobility journey, as well as recipes and a chance to sign up to my ezine check out my website.
Give your body a break and the chance to work the way it was intended to work!
Alison Ottaway is the founder of Path Less Trodden, an organisation dedicated to transforming lives. She's spent over 15 years learning how to make real, satisfying and lasting change to a life and now helps others to do the same via her regular eZine 'Dare to Dream'. If you're ready to step up to the life of your dreams download her free '7 Steps to the Life of Your Dreams' workbook from http://www.pathlesstrodden.com/.
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