Nutrition: child growth and development

School-Aged Child Nutrition

Helpful feeding information for your school-aged child:

School-aged children (ages 6 to 12) continue to need healthy foods and nutritious snacks. They have a consistent but slow rate of growth and usually eat four to five times a day (including snacks). Many food habits, likes, and dislikes are established during this time. Family, friends, and the media (especially TV) influence their food choices and eating habits. School-aged children are often willing to eat a wider variety of foods than their younger siblings. Eating healthy after-school snacks are important, as these snacks may contribute up to one-third of the total calorie intake for the day. School-aged children have developed more advanced feeding skills, are better at feeding skills, and are able to help with meal preparation.

The following are some helpful mealtime hints for school-aged children:

• Always serve breakfast, even if it has to be "on the run." Some ideas for a quick, healthy breakfast include the following:
  • fruit
  • milk
  • bagel
  • cheese toast
  • cereal
  • peanut butter sandwich
• Take advantage of big appetites after school by serving healthy snacks such as the following:
  • fruit
  • vegetables and dip
  • yogurt
  • turkey or chicken sandwich
  • cheese and crackers
  • milk and cereal
• Set good examples for eating habits.
• Allow children to help with meal planning and preparation.
• Serve meals at the table, instead of in front of the television, to avoid distractions.

Healthy food choices:

The food guide pyramid is a guideline to help you and your child eat a healthy diet. The food guide pyramid can help you and your child eat a variety of foods while encouraging the right amount of calories and fat.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services have prepared the following food pyramid to guide parents in selecting foods for children 2 years and older.

The Food Pyramid is divided into six colored bands representing the five food groups plus oils:

• Orange represents grains: Make half the grains consumed each day whole grains. Whole-grain foods include oatmeal, whole-wheat flour, whole cornmeal, brown rice, and whole-wheat bread. Check the food label on processed foods - the words “whole” or “whole grain” should be listed before the specific grain in the product.
• Green represents vegetables: Vary your vegetables. Choose a variety of vegetables, including dark green- and orange-colored kinds, legumes (peas and beans), starchy vegetables, and other vegetables.
• Red represents fruits: Focus on fruits. Any fruit or 100 percent fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
• Yellow represents oils: Know the limits on fats, sugars, and salt (sodium). Make most of your fat sources from fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. Limit solid fats like butter, stick margarine, shortening, and lard, as well as foods that contain these.
• Blue represents milk: Get your calcium-rich foods. Milk and milk products contain calcium and vitamin D, both important ingredients in building and maintaining bone tissue. Use low-fat or fat-free milk after the age of two years. However, during the first year of life, infants should be fed breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Whole cow’s milk may be introduced after an infant’s first birthday, but lower-fat or skim milk should not be used until the child is at least two years old.
• Purple represents meat and beans: Go lean on protein. Choose low fat or lean meats and poultry. Vary your protein routine - choose more fish, nuts, seeds, peas, and beans.

Activity is also represented on the pyramid by the steps and the person climbing them, as a reminder of the importance of daily physical activity.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 (the most recent guidelines), a decrease in energy intake of 50 to 100 calories per day for children who are gaining excess fat can reduce the rate at which they gain weight. With this reduction in energy intake, they will grow into a healthy weight as they age. Help your child to find higher-calorie foods that can be cut from his/her daily intake.

Nutrition and activity tips

• Try to control when and where food is eaten by your children by providing regular daily meal times with social interaction and demonstration of healthy eating behaviors.
• Involve children in the selection and preparation of foods and teach them to make healthy choices by providing opportunities to select foods based on their nutritional value.
• For children in general, reported dietary intakes of the following are low enough to be of concern by the USDA: vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. Select foods with these nutrients when possible.
• Most Americans need to reduce the amount of calories they consume. When it comes to weight control, calories do count. Controlling portion sizes and eating non-processed foods helps limit calorie intake and increase nutrients.
• Parents are encouraged to provide recommended serving sizes for children.
• Parents are encouraged to limit children’s video, television watching, and computer use to less than two hours daily and replace the sedentary activities with activities that require more movement.
• Children and adolescents need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days for maintenance of good health and fitness and for healthy weight during growth.
• To prevent dehydration, encourage children to drink fluid regularly during physical activity and drink several glasses of water or other fluid after the physical activity is completed.

To find more information about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 and to determine the appropriate dietary recommendations for your child’s age, sex, and physical activity level, visit the Online Resources page for the links to the Food Pyramid and 2005 Dietary Guidelines sites. Please note that the Food Pyramid is designed for persons over the age of two who do not have chronic health conditions.

Always consult your child’s physician regarding his/her healthy diet and exercise requirements.

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Child development

Children represent the future, and ensuring their healthy growth and development ought to be a prime concern of all societies. Children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and infectious diseases, many of which can be effectively prevented or treated.

Children are our future, numbering over 2.3 billion worldwide (aged 0-19) and representing boundless potential. Child survival and development hinge on basic needs to support life; among these, a safe, healthy and clean environment is fundamental.

Children are exposed to serious health risks from environmental hazards. Over 40% of the global burden of disease attributed to environmental factors falls on children below five years of age, who account for only about 10% of the world's population. Environmental risk factors often act in concert, and their effects are exacerbated by adverse social and economic conditions, particularly conflict, poverty and malnutrition. There is new knowledge about the special susceptibility of children to environmental risks: action needs to be taken to allow them to grow up and develop in good health, and to contribute to economic and social development.

• Each year, at least three million children under the age of five die due to environment-related diseases.
• Acute respiratory infections annually kill an estimated two million children under the age of five. As much as 60 percent of acute respiratory infections worldwide are related to environmental conditions.
• Diarrhoeal diseases claim the lives of nearly two million children every year. Eighty to 90 percent of these diarrhoea cases are related to environmental conditions, in particular, contaminated water and inadequate sanitation.
• Nearly one million children under the age of five died of malaria in 1998. Up to 90 percent of malaria cases are attributed to environmental factors

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Child maltreatment

Child maltreatment, sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, includes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, development or dignity. Within this broad definition, five subtypes can be distinguished – physical abuse; sexual abuse; neglect and negligent treatment; emotional abuse; and exploitation.

As part of the ongoing WHO Global Campaign for Violence Prevention, and as its contribution to follow up on the UN Secretary General's Study on Violence Against Children, WHO has scaled up its child maltreatment prevention activities. WHO has a threefold stake in the prevention of violence against children.

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Chemical risks in food

The contamination of food by chemical hazards is a worldwide public health concern and is a leading cause of trade problems internationally. Contamination may occur through environmental pollution of the air, water and soil, such as the case with toxic metals, PCBs and dioxins, or through the intentional use of various chemicals, such as pesticides, animal drugs and other agrochemicals.

Food additives and contaminants resulting from food manufacturing and processing can also adversely affect health. Since 1976, WHO has implemented the Global Environment Monitoring System - Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food), which has informed governments, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant institutions, as well as the public, on levels and trends of contaminants in food, their contribution to total human exposure, and significance with regard to public health and trade.

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Arsenic in drinking water

Arsenic may be found in water which has flowed through arsenic-rich rocks. Severe health effects have been observed in populations drinking arsenic-rich water over long periods in countries world-wide.

Source

• Arsenic is widely distributed throughout the earth's crust.
• Arsenic is introduced into water through the dissolution of minerals and ores, and concentrations in groundwater in some areas are elevated as a result of erosion from local rocks.
• Industrial effluents also contribute arsenic to water in some areas.
• Arsenic is also used commercially e.g. in alloying agents and wood preservatives.
• Combustion of fossil fuels is a source of arsenic in the environment through disperse atmospheric deposition.
• Inorganic arsenic can occur in the environment in several forms but in natural waters, and thus in drinking-water, it is mostly found as trivalent arsenite (As(III)) or pentavalent arsenate (As (V)). Organic arsenic species, abundant in seafood, are very much less harmful to health, and are readily eliminated by the body.
• Drinking-water poses the greatest threat to public health from arsenic. Exposure at work and mining and industrial emissions may also be significant locally.

Effects

• Chronic arsenic poisoning, as occurs after long-term exposure through drinking- water is very different to acute poisoning. Immediate symptoms on an acute poisoning typically include vomiting, oesophageal and abdominal pain, and bloody "rice water" diarrhoea. Chelation therapy may be effective in acute poisoning but should not be used against long-term poisoning.
• The symptoms and signs that arsenic causes, appear to differ between individuals, population groups and geographic areas. Thus, there is no universal definition of the disease caused by arsenic. This complicates the assessment of the burden on health of arsenic. Similarly, there is no method to identify those cases of internal cancer that were caused by arsenic from cancers induced by other factors.
• Long-term exposure to arsenic via drinking-water causes cancer of the skin, lungs, urinary bladder, and kidney, as well as other skin changes such as pigmentation changes and thickening (hyperkeratosis).
• Increased risks of lung and bladder cancer and of arsenic-associated skin lesions have been observed at drinking-water arsenic concentrations of less than 0.05 mg/L.
• Absorption of arsenic through the skin is minimal and thus hand-washing, bathing, laundry, etc. with water containing arsenic do not pose human health risk.
• Following long-term exposure, the first changes are usually observed in the skin: pigmentation changes, and then hyperkeratosis. Cancer is a late phenomenon, and usually takes more than 10 years to develop.
• The relationship between arsenic exposure and other health effects is not clear-cut. For example, some studies have reported hypertensive and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and reproductive effects.
• Exposure to arsenic via drinking-water has been shown to cause a severe disease of blood vessels leading to gangrene in China (Province of Taiwan), known as 'black foot disease'. This disease has not been observed in other parts of the world, and it is possible that malnutrition contributes to its development. However, studies in several countries have demonstrated that arsenic causes other, less severe forms of peripheral vascular disease.
• According to some estimates, arsenic in drinking-water will cause 200,000 -- 270,000 deaths from cancer in Bangladesh alone (NRC, 1998; Smith, et al, 2000).

Measurement

• Accurate measurement of arsenic in drinking-water at levels relevant to health requires laboratory analysis, using sophisticated and expensive techniques and facilities as well as trained staff not easily available or affordable in many parts of the world.
• Analytical quality control and external validation remain problematic.
• Field test kits can detect high levels of arsenic but are typically unreliable at lower concentrations of concern for human health. Reliability of field methods is yet to be fully evaluated.

Prevention and control

The most important remedial action is prevention of further exposure by providing safe drinking- water. The cost and difficulty of reducing arsenic in drinking-water increases as the targeted concentration lowers. It varies with the arsenic concentration in the source water, the chemical matrix of the water including interfering solutes, availability of alternative sources of low arsenic water, mitigation technologies, amount of water to be treated, etc.

Control of arsenic is more complex where drinking-water is obtained from many individual sources (such as hand-pumps and wells) as is common in rural areas. Low arsenic water is only needed for drinking and cooking. Arsenic-rich water can be used safely for laundry and bathing. Discrimination between high-arsenic and low-arsenic sources by painting the hand-pumps (e.g. red and green) can be an effective and low cost means to rapidly reduce exposure to arsenic when accompanied by effective health education.

Alternative low-arsenic sources such as rain water and treated surface water may be available and appropriate in some circumstances. Where low arsenic water is not available, it is necessary to remove arsenic from drinking-water:

• The technology for arsenic removal for piped water supply is moderately costly and requires technical expertise. It is inapplicable in some urban areas of developing countries and in most rural areas world-wide.
• New types of treatment technologies, including co-precipitation, ion exchange and activated alumina filtration are being field-tested.
• There are no proven technologies for the removal of arsenic at water collection points such as wells, hand-pumps and springs.
• Simple technologies for household removal of arsenic from water are few and have to be adapted to, and proven sustainable in each different setting.
• Some studies have reported preliminary successes in using packets of chemicals for household treatment. Some mixtures combine arsenic removal with disinfection. One example, developed by the WHO/PAHO Pan American Center of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences in Lima, Peru (CEPIS), has proven successful in Latin America.

Chemical safety

Chemical Safety is achieved by undertaking all activities involving chemicals in such a way as to ensure the safety of human health and the environment. It covers all chemicals, natural and manufactured, and the full range of exposure situations from the natural presence of chemicals in the environment to their extraction or synthesis, industrial production, transport use and disposal.

Chemical safety has many scientific and technical components. Among these are toxicology, ecotoxicology and the process of chemical risk assessment which requires a detailed knowledge of exposure and of biological effects.

Dioxins and their effects on human health

Background

Dioxins are environmental pollutants. They have the dubious distinction of belonging to the “dirty dozen” - a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants. Dioxins are of concern because of their highly toxic potential. Experiments have shown they affect a number of organs and systems. Once dioxins have entered the body, they endure a long time because of their chemical stability and their ability to be absorbed by fat tissue, where they are then stored in the body. Their half-life in the body is estimated to be seven to eleven years. In the environment, dioxins tend to accumulate in the food chain. The higher in the animal food chain one goes, the higher is the concentration of dioxins.

The chemical name for dioxin is: 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo para dioxin (TCDD). The name ‘dioxins’ is often used for the family of structurally and chemically related polychlorinated dibenzo para dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Certain dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with similar toxic properties are also included under the term “dioxins”. Some 419 types of dioxin-related compounds have been identified but only about 30 of these are considered to have significant toxicity, with TCDD being the most toxic.

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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. During an asthma attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swells, causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air into and out of the lungs.

The causes of asthma are not completely understood. However, risk factors for developing asthma include inhaling asthma “triggers”, such as allergens, tobacco smoke and chemical irritants. Asthma cannot be cured, but appropriate management can control the disorder and enable people to enjoy a good quality of life.

Key facts

Facts about asthma

Reducing the asthma burden

The causes

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Cataract develops clounding on eye sight

A Cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelop, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light. Early in the delopment of age related cataract the power of the lens may be increased, causing near sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and opacification of the lens may reduce the perception of blue colors Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss and are potentially blinding if untreated.

A senile cataract, occuring in the aged, is characterized by an initial opacity in the lens, subsequent swelling of the lens and final shrinkage with complete loss of transparency. More over with time the cataract cortex liquefies to form a milky white fluid in a Morgagnian cataract, which can cause severe inflammation if the lens capsule ruptures and leaks, untreated the cataract can cause glaucoma.

Causes : Cataracts develop from a variety of reasons, including long term ultraviolet exposure, exposure to radiation, secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and advanced age. They are usually a result of maturation of lens protiens. Genetic factors are often a cause of congenital cataracts and positive family history may also play a role in predisposing someone to cataracts at an earlier age, a phenomenon of "anticipation" in pre-senile cataracts. Cataracts may also be produced by eye injury or physical trauma.

Treatment: Cataract operations are usually performed using a local anesthetic and the patient is allowed to go home the same day.

All that I like: Why do we light a lamp?

All that I like: Why do we light a lamp?

Eating for Good Health

For keeping good health the optimistic way is to eat perfectly. Choose your diet optimistically.
The sense of taste, in its higher, more refined state, is capable of discerning what the body most needs at any given time. However, when blunted or debased, it discerns not what is wholesome in a given moment, but what is tasty, or even what will feed a health-undermining craving. A de-based sense of taste can be redeemed, returned to its higher purpose.

There are different times of the day when the body craves different elements. It varies with each individual, but there is also a general pattern.In the morning, the body most craves whole grain; at noon raw vegetables; in the evening lightly cooked vegetables, with greens as a staple nutrient-bearer.

The more “live” a vegetable or fruit is, the more enhanced is its etheric energy, the life force of the plant world. However, predominantly raw food diets are met best by a healthy etheric force in the individual eating them. If one’s etheric is depleted, by either a temporary, or long-term ailment, lightly cooked foods are easier to assimilate. For most people a balance of raw and cooked works best.

Experiments with live foods (raw, sprouted, and such) show that graying hair can be reversed. Also, there are numerous accounts of the reversal of debilitating illnesses. Plants can be looked at as the inverse of the human form. Root - headStem, leaves, - rhythmic systemFlowers, fruits - metabolic.

If a person is suffering from an ailment that resides principally in the head region - headaches, etc - then the body will benefit from ingesting more root vegetables. If the lungs or heart are an issue, then more of leafy and stem parts of the plant. And if the issue entails the metabolic organs, or limb system, then the body can benefit from more fruits and “flower” vegetable portions - such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc.

The potato is not a root, but a tuber. Roots are far more optimal for nutrient needs.The potato feeds a part of the brain that causes one to become more materialistic in one’s thinking. Further, potatoes are debilitating in a general way, and also specifically debilitating for eyesight. One would make out better if one ate the skins of potatoes and threw away the white portions - but unfortunately, the other way around is the usual custom.

Healthy Foods

Food is a necessity of life. The food we eat determines how one looks and feels or in other words determines our wellbeing. The function of food is to supply us with the energy for the different activities of the body, the structural materials for every cell of the body, and the thousands of regulatory substances essential for all the body processes.

Energy is supplied by carbohydrates and fats. Minerals and vitamins are not sources of energy but are essential for many steps in the release of energy. Amino acids and mineral elements are constantly required for the growth and maintenance of body tissues. Eating food should be a necessary function as breathing is, but most people regard it as a means of gratifying their desire for the nice things in life, which is a wrong thing to do and is very harmful. That is why it is said "eat to live" and not "live to eat". Proper eating habit or proper diet is a must for good health.

Proper diet can also cure most of the diseases for which we prefer modern day medicine not being concerned about the ill effects that comes with these medicines. Food is the fuel for the body, various types of food for various types of functions of the body. If someone is a robust individual without any constitutional disorders one may take any type of food, but in a morbid condition special food becomes a necessity. Food contains every type of necessary vitamins and minerals for the maintenance of good health but a misunderstanding of the vital functions of food has led modern day man to ignore the facts and rely on modern medicines.

Hippocrates the renowned scholar had thousands of years ago emphasized on the importance of food. Also known as the father of medicine by historians he had said "let food be thy medicine". From the times of Hippocrates, it has been known that certain foods have disease preventing and disease healing properties. However this knowledge is hardly in use as most people want immediate relief which is provided by modern day medicine rather than permanent cure from food only because it takes more time.No therapy or drug known to modern medical science can rebuild tissue that has been damaged by disease or trauma.

Food alone can achieve this feat. It is therefore that nutrition is an important and an indispensable weapon against disease. Food or nutrition is not only about cure but about wellbeing. Foods that heal by rebuilding damaged tissue will enhance wellness by increasing the efficiency and energy levels of the under active endocrine glands and tissues.

Food Groups And Its Nutritive Value
Nutritional Classification of Foods
Acidic And Alkaline Foods
Vegetables That Heal
Beet Root
Cabbage
Carrots
Onions
Spinach
Tomato
Fruits That Heal
Apple
Banana
Date
Figs
Lime
Mango
Orange
Papaya
Watermelons
Spices and Herbs That Heal Asafoetida
Fenugreek
Flax Seeds Garlic
Ginger
Turmeric
Other Foods
Almonds
Curds
Soya Bean
Tea

Articles on Health

I have posted some of the health related articles in the below blog. Can enjoy them by reading.

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Blood Pressure Disease – 2 Tips to Prevent Hypertension

Author: Charles Gerdson

Blood pressure disease can be termed by two deficiencies. One is high blood pressure and the other is low blood pressure. In this article I will explain how to prevent high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension occurs when the blood in the patient’s arteries and veins pushes on the walls of their enclosure in a dangerous manner. This can lead to aortic strain and cause vessel ruptures. It is very dangerous if the blood pressure is extremely elevated and everyone should focus on understanding and maintaining their blood pressure. 2 tips to prevent hypertension are;

• Eat foods high in potassium. This will combat hypertension as the more potassium a patient’s body has the less potent their hypertension will become. Avoid foods with sodium in them such as salt and licorice.

• Check your blood pressure as often as you can. This will help enable you to anticipate how much you need to exercise and what to eat as you will understand your blood pressure flaws. Keep up these tips and you will be sure to improve your blood pressure.

So once you have these steps in place what next? Try aerobic exercising, do it with a friend and you will be encouraged. Compare blood pressure results and make a competition about it, this will keep it in your mind, it can be difficult but it is definitely worth it in the end. Another tip to consider is to educate others about hypertension, this will help your confidence in what you are doing and improve others lifestyles too. Blood pressure disease plagues the developed countries and is becoming a real threat to everyone’s health. For other information and ways to prevent high blood pressure follow the link bellow but most of all Stay Healthy and Good Luck.

Charles Gerdson

About the Author:

Charles is passionate about health and helping other people achieve their goals. Discover a natural way to lower blood pressure and improve your lifestyle today. For more information visit http://www.squidoo.com/naturalwaytolowerbloodpressure

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/blood-pressure-disease-2-tips-to-prevent-hypertension-758583.html

Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Tables

Author: Charles Gerdson

People often ask “What is High Blood Pressure.” Here I have compiled some blood pressure tables in hope to answer that question. The following table explains what blood pressure is considered hypertension and what is not. It is for adults only and is useful in understanding your own blood pressure. Understanding Blood Pressure is very important to stay healthy and protect the bodies systemic respiration as well as maintain a healthy heart.

• Blood Pressure Classification Chart (Adults)


• Category Systolic pressure (mm Hg) Diastolic pressure (mm Hg)


• Optimal Less than 120 Less than 80


• Normal Less than 130 Less than 85


• High-normal Less than 140 Less than 90


• Mild Hypertension Less than 160 Less than 100


• Moderate Hypertension Less than 180 Less than 110


• Severe Hypertension 180 or more 110 or more

The above table shows what is considered to be the level of hypertension or normality an adult patient is when measuring their blood pressure. It is important to take into account variables such as stress, that can temporarily raise your blood pressure, or measures at home are usually lower than clinical measurements. This is because the patient is usually nervous at the doctor. Patients are often confused as to how high their blood pressure can go before becoming “too” high, and the above table answers this. So Always keep in mind what your blood pressure is to help combat hypertension. For more information on how to prevent hypertension and high blood pressure click on the link bellow. For now stay healthy and good luck.

Charles Gerdson

About the Author:

Charles is passionate about health and helping other people achieve their goals. Discover a natural way to lower blood pressure and improve your lifestyle today. For more information visit http://www.squidoo.com/naturalwaytolowerbloodpressure

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/blood-pressure-tables-758629.html

Chicken pox - Highly infectious disease

It is an acute, highly infectious disease caused by a Varicella-Zoster virus (V-Z virus). Chickenpox and Herpes Zoster are now considered as different host responses to the same virus. There is vesicular rash (fluid filled lesions) accompanied by fever. It usually occurs in children under 10 years of age. The disease will be severe if it occurs in adults. One attack gives durable immunity.
Second attack is rare. The source of infection is usually a case of chickenpox. The virus is present in secretions from the mouth & lesions of skin and mucosa. Most of the patients are infected by person-to-person contact.

For more details go to the below link...
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Thyroid - Hypothyroidism

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces less than the normal amount of thyroid hormones. The result is the “Slowing down” of many bodily functions. Although hypothyroidism may be temporary, it is usually a permanent condition. Some of the studies have shown that as many as 10% of women and 3% of men have hypothyroidism. At the beginning of this disease, the symptoms are mild and may not be detected. In time the symptoms get more severe, produce discomfort, and eventually may become disabling.

What are the symptoms of Hypothyroidism? Visit the below link for more details...

http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/49944-Think-Thyroid-Hypothyroidism.aspx

PNEUMONIA - an infectious disease.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Different types of germs including viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause it.A person of any age from infant to old can suffer from pneumonia. Small children can succumb to the disease within a matter of days and case fatality rates are higher in young infants and malnourished children. Under 3 years of age children are affected more often and more severely.The viruses that have been found in association acute respiratory disease are numerous. The severity of the illness is often determined by whether or not secondary bacterial infection occurs. A common cold or flu can irritate the lungs, creating a situation where it is easier for the germs to move and cause the pneumonia. It can be an extension of the infection of nose, ear or throat.
For more details go to the below link.
http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/49409-PNEUMONIA-Knowledge-Bit.aspx

Health during pregnancy

What you should eat:
Pregnancy puts additional nutritional demands on your body. You require to eat judiciously to meet the demands of the body. Make sure that you eat a mixture of different foods each day in order to get all the various nutrients that you and your baby need.Your diet should have plenty of fruit and vegetables which provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Eat them lightly cooked or raw. Let starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice and breakfast cereals with vegetables form the main part of any meal.Eat some good sources of nutrients like fish, eggs, cheese, beans, and lentils every day. Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are important as they contain calcium and other nutrients needed for your baby's development.Avoid sugar and sugary foods like sweets, biscuits and cakes and sugary drinks like cola. Cut down on fat and fatty foods as well.Food to Be Avoided During PregnancyNo amount of alcohol or smoking is advisable during pregnancy. The pregnant mother has to strictly keep away from them. Caffeine is also to be avoided as consumption of caffeine during pregnancy can cause miscarriages in the early stages.
Unpasteurized cheese and milk, apple cider and juices
Raw eggs and food containing raw eggs
Undercooked or raw meat, fish and processed meat
Fish that has mercury content in them like shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish are to be avoided.
The craving for non-food items during pregnancy is called pica. Some pregnant women are naturally prone to a craving for non-food items like clay. Such craving should not be entertained as consumption of non-food items can prove to be dangerous for the foetus. It is important to consult the doctor if the urge arises.Hence eat healthy, be healthy during and after pregnancy as your little infant thrives on your diet for a healthy living.

Mineral and vitamin supplements:
A large number of pregnant women suffer from varying degrees of anemia so additional iron supplementation is provided by pills. Also tablets of Folic acid (a vitamin necessary to prevent certain spinal disorders in the growing baby) along with Calcium are generally prescribed by the health care providers.
Pregnancy and weight:
Most women gain between 10 -12.5kgs (22 - 28lbs). Weight gain varies a great deal and depends on your weight before pregnancy. Weight gain significantly more or less than the average could be an indicator of a problem, so you must monitor your weight gain carefully. Also if you weigh more than 100kg or under 50kg your health care provider may have special advise for you.

Smoking during pregnancy:
Try to stop. When you smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine passes into your lungs and blood stream. This means that: a) your baby gets less oxygen and cannot grow as well as it should, and b) the nicotine makes your baby's heart beat faster. Constantly breathing in other people's smoke may also have a harmful effect.Babies of mothers who smoke are, on average, 200g (about 8 oz) lighter than other babies. These babies may have problems during and after labour and are more prone to infection; it will be better for your baby later too if you stop smoking. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from illnesses such as asthma; and there is an increased risk of cot death.

Alcohol:
It has now been shown that even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful to your baby. Alcohol has adverse effects on the baby's development and can produce a lot of anomalies generally termed as 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome'. So to be safe avoid alcohol totally during your pregnancy.

Pills medicines and other drugs:
You should be very careful while taking any kind of medication, specially in the earlier part of the pregnancy. Majority of drugs have some effects on the growing fetus and the first three months are crucial. You would be better off asking your doctor about any medications you want to take. Make sure your doctor or dentist knows you're pregnant before prescribing anything or giving you treatment. At the same time it is important to remember that if you on treatment for some chronic conditions like epilepsy or diabetes you consult your doctor and continue your medications because control of such conditions is vitally important for you as well as the pregnancy.

Regular check-ups:
The key to protecting the health of your baby is to get regular Prenatalcare. Getting Prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant (or, if possible, before you conceive) and seeing your health care provider regularly as your pregnancy progresses are vital to you and your baby's health.You should have your first examination during the first 6–8 weeks of your pregnancy, where your doctor will figure out how many weeks pregnant you are based on a physical examination and the date of your last period.If you are healthy and there are no complicating risk factors, you can expect to see your healthcare provider
Every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy.
Every 2 weeks until 36 weeks.

Once a week until delivery:
Throughout your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will check your weight and blood pressure while also checking the growth and development of your baby. During the span of your pregnancy, you will also have Prenatal tests, including blood, urine and cervical tests, and probably at least one Ultrasound.

Exercise regularly:
A good exercise program can give you the strength and endurance you will need to carry the weight you gain during pregnancy and to handle the physical stress of labor. It will also make it much easier to get back into shape after your baby is born. Exercise can boost your spirits and help ward off the pregnancy blues. If you are used to taking exercise in the form of a sport, you can continue with this as long as it feels comfortable for you, unless your particular sport carries a risk of falls or knocks.

Avoid self-medication:
Refrain from taking medication of any kind like antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, or steroids, without consulting the doctor, because they can harm the unborn baby.
Psychological care:
A pregnant lady should be emotionally stable in all circumstances. She should not react immediately to the minor household or health problems. Too much of anxiety regarding the arrival of the child should be avoided.At last one can say that a pregnancy which goes through the usual span of 280 days needs thorough observation and advise of the doctor. Physical as well as psychological care is required to avoid various discomforts and complications.
Free yourselves from stress:
Pregnancy is a stressful time for many women. You may be feeling happy, sad and scared — all at the same time. Very high levels of stress may contribute to preterm birth or Low-birth Weight babies. Hence, you should try to learn how to cope with it.You can reduce your stress by
Eating regularly and nutritiously and drinking lots of water.
Resting when you can—and when your body needs it.
Exercising (with your doctor’s consent).
Relaxing by meditating, listening to music or yoga.
Staying away from stressful situations, when possible.
Talking—to your partner, friends, relatives and health care professionals.
Going to all your Prenatal care appointments
Rest:
Most women find it hard to feel comfortable as their pregnancy progresses. It is alright to sleep in any comfortable position except on the belly.Try to rest as much as possible. You may often feel very tired, particularly in the first and third trimesters. Sense of wellbeing will be there between 3rd and 8th month. Even if you cannot sleep during the day, put your feet up whenever you can. Most important is positive outlook and involvement of spouse. Husband should be empathetic, supportive and proactive. After all you are the blessed one with pregnancy, which is elusive to 30% of couples
What should I be careful about?
Avoid activities that increase your risk of falls or injury, such as contact sports or vigorous sports.
After the first 3 months of pregnancy, it is best to avoid exercising while lying on your back, since the weight of the baby may interfere with blood circulation.
Also avoid long periods of standing
Food guide for pregnant women:
The biggest myth that surrounds the food habits of a pregnant woman is that she needs to eat for two! You don’t need to eat for two people. Just ensure that you, the mother have a good diet which provides good nutrition for two individuals. The growing baby gets all its nourishment from its mother through the umbilical cord. If the mother is lacking in any vitamins and nutrients her baby might lack them too.
Essential diet:
A well-balanced diet should contain all the food groups: dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fat and carbohydrates. A pregnant woman needs to eat something from all these food groups every day in order to get the proper amounts of energy.
Approximately 10 per cent of calories should come from protein. Protein is mainly found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and beans.
Approximately 35 per cent of calories should come from fat, which is mainly found in butter, oils, margarine, dairy products and nuts.
Approximately 55 per cent of calories should come from carbohydrates, which are found in bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, corn and other grain products.

Care during pregnancy

It is a challenge for the Working Pregnency women, they have to take care of their health as well as to take care of their duties. The timings have to be adjusted at the same time the diet and rest is also essential for them.
Working during pregnancy can present challenges. Here's how to battle morning sickness, fatigue and other pregnancy discomforts at the workplace.
Most women are able to continue working during pregnancy. However, simply being pregnant can present challenges at the workplace. To stay healthy and productive on the job, learn how to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts — and know when occupational duties might jeopardize your pregnancy.

Easing nausea and vomiting:

It may be called "morning" sickness, but pregnancy queasiness can hit at any time — day or night. To help ease nausea when you're on the job:
Avoid nausea triggers. That double latte you craved every morning before pregnancy or the smell of foods reheated in the break room microwave may now make your stomach flip-flop. Steer clear of anything that seems to trigger your nausea.
Snack often. Crackers and other bland foods can be lifesavers when you start to feel nauseated. Keep a stash at work for easy snacking. Hard candy, lemon drops, ginger ale or ginger tea sometimes help, too.

Drink plenty of fluids. If you don't drink enough fluids, your nausea may get worse. Keep a water bottle at your desk or in your work area and sip throughout the day.
Take it slow in the morning. Allow yourself extra time to get ready for work. Rushing around can contribute to nausea. Get enough sleep. The more tired you are, the more nauseated you may feel.

Handling fatigue:
You may feel tired as your body works overtime to support your pregnancy — and resting during the workday can be tough. It may help to:
Take short, frequent breaks. Getting up and moving around for a few minutes can reinvigorate you. Spending a few minutes with the lights off, your eyes closed and your feet up also can help you recharge.

Rethink your schedule. Your energy level may fluctuate throughout the day. If you're exhausted by the afternoon, tackle your most demanding tasks earlier in the day. If it takes you a while to get charged up in the morning, put off energy-draining chores until the afternoon.

Cut back on outside activities. Scaling back can help you get more rest when your workday is over. You might even do your shopping online or hire someone to clean the house or take care of the yard.

Keep up your exercise routine. Although exercise may be the last thing on your mind at the end of a long day, it may help boost your energy level — especially if you sit at a desk all day. Take a walk after work or join a prenatal fitness class, as long as your health care provider says it's OK.
Go to bed early. If you're tired by 7 p.m., turn in for the night.

Staying comfortable:
As your pregnancy progresses, everyday activities such as sitting and standing can become uncomfortable. Remember those short, frequent breaks to combat fatigue? Moving around every few hours can also ease muscle tension and help prevent fluid buildup in your legs and feet. Try these other strategies, too:
Sitting. Adjustable armrests, a firm seat and back cushions, and good lower back support can make long hours of sitting much easier — especially as your weight and posture change. If your chair isn't adjustable, improvise. Use a small pillow or cushion to provide extra support for your back. Put your feet up on a footrest, wastebasket or box.

Standing. Prolonged standing can cause blood to pool in your legs, which may lead to pain or dizziness. It also puts pressure on your back. If you must stand for long periods of time, put one of your feet up on a footrest, low stool or box. Switch feet every so often, and take frequent breaks. Comfortable shoes are a given, but support hose can help, too.

Bending and lifting. Proper form can spare your back, even if you're lifting something light. Bend at your knees, not your waist. Keep the load close to your body, lifting with your legs — not your back. Avoid twisting your body while lifting. If a load is too heavy to handle easily, ask for help.

Stress on the job can inspire you to push hard, but it can also sap the energy you need to care for yourself and your baby. To minimize workplace stress:
Take control. Make daily to-do lists and prioritize your tasks. Consider what you can delegate to someone else — or eliminate entirely.
Keep it positive. Look for the humor in stressful situations. Surround yourself with upbeat people.

Talk it out. Share frustrations with a supportive co-worker, friend or spouse.
Choose your battles. If you can't do anything to change a particular situation, let it go.

Relax. Practice relaxation techniques, such as breathing slowly or imagining yourself in a calm place. Or try a prenatal yoga class, as long as your health care provider gives you the OK.

Taking proper job precautions:
Certain working conditions may increase your risk of complications during pregnancy, including:
Long, stressful commutes
Prolonged standing
Heavy, repetitive lifting
Heavy vibrations, such as from large machines
Exposure to harmful substances

Other job conditions also may be cause for concern. Frequent shift changes, for example, may make it hard for you to get the rest you need. A hot work environment may decrease your stamina and ability to perform strenuous physical tasks, as well as increase the risk of dehydration. Activities that require agility and good balance may become more difficult later in pregnancy.

If any of these issues apply to you, mention them to your health care provider. Together you can decide if you need to take any special precautions or modify your work duties during the various stages of your pregnancy.