10 Suggestions for new Dads

Information on parenting tips, some useful suggestions for new Dad's, Soon to be a father? Here are a few tips from some real experts: other dads.

1. When the going gets tough, take a break. There will be moments when the world conspires to make you mad: when you haven't slept, the baby is crying, the phone is ringing, the milk is boiling over, and your partner is cranky. Turn off the stove, go outside, and take as many deep breaths as you need before re-entering the fray.

2. Make time with your family a priority. When you look back on your life years from now, you won't regret not having worked longer hours. What you might regret is not having spent more time with your kids. Time spent playing on the floor or watching your baby sleep is time well spent. Enjoy this great excuse to hang around and "do nothing".

3. Play a lot. Nothing is better than fun for dissipating tension and for forging trust and good relationships with babies.

4. Take advantage of your baby's portability. Don't be afraid to take your baby out with you. Stimulation is good for kids, and babies make great adventure companions. Besides, you'll get lots of attention, too.

5. Be extra patient, supportive, and communicative with your partner. Giving birth can be traumatic, and hormones continue to ebb and flow after childbirth. If there is ever a time to be understanding of your baby's mom, and available to her, too, this is it.

6. Try not to schedule too many things in one day. Everything takes longer with a baby involved.

7. If you have a medical question about your baby, call your pediatrician, but don't panic. Babies are sturdier than they look.

8. Talk to other new fathers about your experience and theirs. Mother's groups abound, and women love them. You don't need to call it a men's group, and you don't have to hug. Call it your "guys' night out".

9. Take care of yourself. Keep an eye on your driving, your diet, and your risk-taking. Your baby needs you for a long time. Being a healthy and happy dad is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your kids.

10. Follow your instincts and intuition. Listen to the advice of others, read about parenting, consult the experts, but consider yourself the authority on your child. No one will know your baby as well as you and your partner do.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com

Poor sense of smell may be Alzheimer's

Difficulty identifying common smells such as lemon, banana and cinnamon may be the first sign of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study that could lead to scratch-and-sniff tests to determine a person's risk for the progressive brain disorder.

Such tests could be important if scientists find ways to slow or stop Alzheimer's and the severe memory loss associated with it. For now, there's no cure for the more than 5 million Americans with the disease.

Researchers have long known that microscopic lesions considered the hallmarks of Alzheimer's first appear in a brain region important to the sense of smell.

"Strictly on the basis of anatomy, yeah, this makes sense," said Robert Franks, an expert on odor perception and the brain at the University of Cincinnati. Franks was not involved in the new study, appearing in Monday's Archives of General Psychiatry.

Other studies have linked loss of smell to Alzheimer's, Franks said, but this is the first to measure healthy people's olfactory powers and follow them for five years, testing along the way for signs of mental decline.

In the study, 600 people between the ages of 54 and 100 were asked to identify a dozen familiar smells: onion, lemon, cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, rose, banana, pineapple, soap, paint thinner, gasoline and smoke.

For each mystery scent, they heard and saw a choice of four answers. For cinnamon, they were asked aloud: "Fruit? Cinnamon? Woody? Or coconut?" while also seeing the choices in text.

A quarter of the people correctly identified all the odors or missed only one. Half of them knew at least nine of the 12. The lowest-scoring quarter of the people correctly identified eight or fewer of the odors.

The subjects took 21 cognitive tests annually over the next five years. About one-third of the people developed at least mild trouble with memory and thinking.

The people who made at least four errors on the odor test were 50 percent more likely to develop problems than people who made no more than one error. Difficulty identifying odors also was associated with a higher risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's.

The researchers took into account age, gender, education and a history of strokes or smoking, and still found lower scores predicted higher risk of cognitive decline.

Lead author Robert Wilson of Chicago's Rush University Medical Center said a diminishing sense of smell isn't cause for panic.

"Not all low scorers went on to have cognitive problems," Wilson said.

Older people should report a loss in smell to their doctors, said Claire Murphy, an Alzheimer's researcher at San Diego State University who was not involved in the new study. The problem could be caused by a polyp in the nose or infected sinuses, she said.

"If a person is old and has a very good sense of smell, that's a very good sign," Murphy said.

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com

8 Things women can do to prevent cancer

There are many things that women can do to prevent cancer! Reducing your risk of cancer is easier than you think. Simply changing some lifestyle habits can go a long way in preventing many types of cancer;

1. Avoid Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
   We hear a dozen times a day how bad cigarettes are for us and the risk of lung cancer. Why? Because smoking is the most significant risk factors for cancer that we can reduce. Did you know that smoking increases your risk factor for devloping dozens of types of cancer?
   
   
2. Practice Safe Sex and Limit the Amount of Partners You Have
   Having unprotected sex with many partners raises your risk factor for contracting a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV for short. HPV has been linked to several different types of cancers, mainly cervical cancer. It is estimated that almost 80% of women have HPV.
   
   
3. Get Regular Pap Smears
   Getting a regular Pap smear can detect changes in the cervix before they become cancerous. A regular Pap smear is one of the best tools a woman has to prevent cervical cancer.
   


4. Pass on that Last Call for Alcohol
   Studies have determined that women who drink alcoholic beverages develop cancer at a higher rate. How much is too much? Based on studies, ladies who consume 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who don't consume alcohol.
   
   
5. Get Moving
   Did you know that when you are exercising, you are reducing your risk for many types of cancer? The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 30 or minutes, at least 5 days a week! Exercising doesn't mean having to go to the gym to lift weights
   
   
6. Eat a Low Fat, Sensible Diet
   Eating a diet low in animal fats has been shown to reduce the irsk of many types of cancer. It also curbs obesity, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential!
   
   
7. Be Sun Savvy!
   Using suncreen properly and staying out of the sun during peak hours is essential to preventing skin cancer. If you are looking for a tan, try some tanning alternives like cosmetic bronzers and self tanning creams. New forumlas don't leave your skin looking orange.
   
   
8. Know Your Family History of Cancer
   Knowing your family history of cancer is very important to properly assess your risk factor for certain types of cancer. We know that cancers like breast cancer, colon, ovarian cancer, and possibly other types can be hereditary.

If you know that a certain type of cancer runs in your family, let your doctor know. Together, you can determine a proper screening plan and assess your true risk factor. Genetic testing and counseling are available for some.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com

Anti-obesity drug might also lower cholesterol

A study in rats suggests that the anti-obesity drug rimonabant may also reduce liver damage and improve cholesterol levels.

Rimonabant is available in Europe under the brand name Acomplia but is not approved for use in the United States.

French researchers at Sanofi-Aventis, the drug company that makes the drug, gave rimonabant to obese male rats every day for eight weeks.

At the end of the treatment, the researchers observed a reduction in the rodents' liver enlargement, level of fat in the liver and markers in the blood indicating liver damage. There was also a reduction of an inflammation-related protein thought to cause insulin resistance in the liver as well as cirrhosis.

Writing in the July issue of Hepatology, the researchers also noted healthier cholesterol and triglyceride levels after treatment. They attributed the improvement to the improved health of the liver.

According data from the American College of Gastroenterology, two out of three obese adults also have what's known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, an accumulation of fat in the liver. At its most severe, this condition can lead to liver inflammation, tissue scarring and cirrhosis.

Source: www.epsdrugstore.com

Get in shape for your pregnancy

Would-be moms often want to know how to trim their bellies after having children. But how actively do they seek tips for getting their bodies in great shape before getting pregnant?

Until recently, that part of the baby-making equation had been largely absent from the discussion. Increasingly, though, maternal health and prenatal-care experts are urging women to improve their health before conceiving.

The hope is that measures taken to bolster a woman's health prior to conception - whether it's reaching an optimal weight, controlling a chronic disease or boosting overall nutritional health - will improve the odds of having an uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Dr. Lorey H. Pollack, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, N.Y., has some patients who are very informed and motivated to take better care of themselves before contemplating pregnancy. Others, though, come in pregnant and say, "By the way, I have diabetes; by the way, I have Lupus; by the way, I have high blood pressure, and they're kind of shocked to find out that's an issue when they're pregnant," he said.

Pollack blames the medical profession and the media for failing to get the word out.

But recommendations compiled by experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as more than 35 government, public and private partners may help to draw attention to the importance of preconception care.

Dr. Hani K. Atrash, associate director for program development at the CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and co-author of the government report, said, "If a woman or couple has decided to conceive, then at least one pre-pregnancy visit is recommended, and the five most important things to do are:

* Take 400 micrograms of folic acid a day for at least three months before pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects.
* Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
* Consult with a health-care provider to manage any and all medical conditions, including, but not limited to, asthma, diabetes, oral health, obesity, or epilepsy, and maintain up-to-date vaccinations.
* Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are taking, including vitamins and dietary or herbal supplements.
* Avoid exposure to toxic substances or potentially infectious materials at work or at home, such as chemicals, or cat and rodent feces.

Atrash was also co-editor of a special supplement of the Maternal and Child Health Journal, published last September, devoted entirely to the topic of preconception care.

The movement to intervene prior to conception is based on evidence linking certain factors, such as lack of folic acid, smoking, alcohol misuse and obesity, to unwanted pregnancy outcomes.

"Some of these risk factors have stronger associations with particular adverse outcomes than others," Atrash explained. "For instance, daily consumption of 400 micrograms of folic acid before or early in pregnancy can reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects," such as spina bifida.

And while single interventions, such as taking folic acid or quitting smoking, are effective in modifying behaviors in pregnancy, "we do not yet know the effectiveness of multiple interventions packaged together in the form of a preconception care model," Atrash said, "mostly because this is a new approach that has not been widely practiced, and we have very little or no data to analyze".

"It's a hard thing to measure," Pollack agreed. Still, he always tells patients contemplating pregnancy to make an appointment to talk about some of these issues and begin taking steps to address health issues.

"It's always easier to try to prevent a problem than to catch up with it later on".

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com

Insomnia may spur anxiety disorders

Chronic insomnia may predict the development of anxiety disorders and also indicate current depression.

That's according to a study published in the latest edition of the journal Sleep.

The study defines chronic insomnia as the subjective feeling of having trouble falling or staying asleep most nights for at least a month.

People with chronic insomnia should be screened to see if they have an anxiety disorder or depression, note the researchers. They included Dag Neckelmann, MD, PhD, of the psychiatry department at Haukeland University in Bergen, Norway.

Neckelmann's team tracked depression, anxiety, and insomnia in more than 25,000 Norwegian adults.

Participants completed a health survey that included questions about chronic insomnia, anxiety disorders, and depression. They took the survey twice - once in the mid-1980s and again 11 years later.

Insomnia, Anxiety Disorders, and Depression
The researchers excluded participants who had anxiety disorders or depression at the time of the first survey.

People who reported chronic insomnia in the first survey were particularly likely to note anxiety disorders in the follow-up survey 11 years later.

Chronic insomnia didn't predict depression's development. People with chronic insomnia in the first survey weren't especially likely to report depression 11 years later in the second survey.

But that doesn't mean that insomnia and depression weren't related.

People with chronic insomnia were more likely to have current anxiety or depression than people without insomnia.

The results held when the researchers considered other factors, including participants' age, sex, and educational level.

Sound Sleep, Less Anxiety?
Easing chronic insomnia might help prevent the development of anxiety disorders, Neckelmann's team notes.

However, they didn't test that theory directly. Their study doesn't prove that insomnia causes anxiety disorders, or that ending insomnia heads off anxiety.

Source: http://www.medical-health-care-information.com

Helpful hints for healthy teeth

Don't believe everything you hear about what is good or bad for your pearly whites.

Remember how your mother used to tell you almost everything you did was "bad for your teeth?" You may have forgotten some of her warnings. And some things she said might not be as bad as you think.

The function of teeth is to chew food - and to some extent, help you talk and form words," Richard H. Price, DMD, retired dentist and former faculty member of the Boston University School of Dentistry.

Teeth, Price says, are not to be used for:

• Pliers
• Coat hangers
• Ice crushers
• Potato chip bag openers
• Knot looseners
• Fork tine straighteners
• Chomping frozen candy bars full of caramel or frozen nuts Blenders have special blades to crush ice, for heaven's sakes.

Whiteners: Good or Bad?

The new whitening rage follows a continuum of products. The strips and other over-the-counter whiteners do not damage teeth or burn gum tissue. The trays (to hold the peroxide solution) you can buy may can contain an acidic, unbuffered solution, which could damage enamel.

The best tray-type lightening, he says, is provided by the dentist, who can control the solution and timing.

For the fastest and safest whitening you need to get the high-intensity light systems. This light changes the molecular structure of the enamel for a time, but it goes back to normal and at a lighter shade. Whitening is not really a color change, but a brightness or value change.

Price says he wishes patients would concentrate more on keeping teeth healthy. "There are bleaching groupies," he says, "People who can't get enough. You can only get teeth so white".

Price also says these solutions can sometimes cause gum sensitivity, although it is usually short-lived.

Don't Overbrush Your Teeth

Price says it's hard to go wrong on paste or brush if you look for the American Dental Association (ADA) label of approval. "This means a brush is firm enough to remove plaque but not tear up gums," he says. "Choose a brush like you would a piece of silverware - something that feels comfortable in your hand." The designation of "Soft" is preferred by most dentists.

"Don't use a brush more than three months," Price adds. "That is the limit".

If you use an electric brush use a rotary head type that you take from tooth to tooth rather than cruising across the teeth with it.

Source:www.medical-health-care-information.com

The balancing act

Balancing the time you spend on others with personal time for yourself can help you become happier and more productive.

Most of us have many demands placed on our time and energy. Spouse, children, spiritual or community groups are important and make living worthwhile, but can make finding time for oneself a challenge. Balancing the time you spend on others with personal time for yourself can help you become happier and more productive.

Look Inside
Take a moment to think about how well you take care of yourself--both physically and emotionally. Do you eat three moderate meals a day, drink alcohol only in moderation, avoid smoking? Do you exercise each week, and get a check-up once a year? Answering yes to these questions means that you take care of your body.

Now think about your emotional well-being. Do you regularly set aside "quiet" time for yourself, meditating, writing, thinking or praying? Do you make time regularly to enjoy nature or other quiet, restful places? All these activities can help you recover from life’s stresses.

Reach Outside
Reaching outside yourself can give your life great meaning and joy. Reaching out means sharing with others-your family, co-workers, friends, a non-profit organization--virtually everything that’s not you! Sharing with others takes time and energy, but the rewards are worth the effort. Your self-esteem and sense of purpose in life increase when you share a common goal or bond with others.

Find the Balance
Reaching outside all the time would leave you exhausted. Living only for yourself would leave you lonely and empty. Finding the balance between the two is the key to a rich and contented life. To find your personal balance, look at how you spend your time and energy. Write down your main activities each day for a week or two. Then add up the hours spent "for me" and "for others." You might realize that you would like to give more to others, or take more time for yourself. When you are creating balance for yourself, you need to decide what is most important to you.

Adapt to Changes
Finding your balance is a day-by-day matter. If you are able to change as your life circumstances change, caring for yourself and others will make your life healthy and satisfying.

Source: www.medical-health-care-information.com