Posts Tagged pregnancy

Major Causes of Stretch Marks in Men and Women

What are the major causes of stretch marks in men and women? These silvery marks are lines of extended tissues that develop on the skin. Collagen is what gives skin its natural consistency. When there is something wrong with the amount of collagen produced in the skin, it starts to fold and wrinkle in some parts of the skin. The imbalance results in dryness and discoloration.

Causes In Women

Pregnancy is a typical cause in women due to the sudden weight gain. In addition, the major hormonal changes that occur can also cause these unsightly scarred lines among women. Hormones soften the collagen ligaments and skin collagen in the pelvic area in order for the tissues to extend more in the event of childbirth. Therefore, when you have softer collagen as well as expanded skin, this problem can easily develop. Pregnancy is not the only typical cause of such in women. In both men and women, obesity and having skin that is not very flexible are the common causes.

Causes In Men

Stretch marks in men are usually caused by rapid muscle gain. Body builders usually develop these ugly lines because they are gaining muscle mass faster than their own skin can accommodate. Men are most likely to develop these on their underarms and shoulders, since these areas are where they often form a lot of muscle.

Now that you’re aware of the typical causes of stretch marks, it may be easier for you to find ways to prevent this early on.

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Fish Oil and Pregnancy – All the Facts You Need to Know

If you are pregnant or you are looking at becoming so relatively soon, you are going to need to think about the role that fish oil might play in it! One of the most important factors that you are going to run into when you are looking at maintaining prenatal health is that you are going to need to make sure that you are taking enough Omega-3 fish oil. This is essential for the health of the mother and the baby and you’ll find that supplements are an important part of it. Consider what combining fish oil and pregnancy can do for you when it comes to preserving your health and that of your baby.

First, consider the fact that fish oil is essential when it comes to making your baby’s immune system stronger. Newborns are extremely vulnerable to things like infections, bacteria, germs, allergies and other conditions. The things that happen to them at this early stage can inform your baby’s health for the rest of its life, and when you make sure that you include beneficial supplements into your daily routine. When you are looking at something that will not only ensure your baby a better start in life as well as a more complete and thorough gestation, you need to think about how this supplement works. In terms of physical development and mental acuity later on, fish oil is essential.

Also consider that fish oil and pregnancy are linked due to the substance known as DHA. DHA is found in Omega-3 fatty acids, which comes in fish oil. Your baby’s cerebral cortex is 15% to 20% made up of DHA. DHA stands for Docosahexaenoic acid, and it is known to help protect pregnant mothers as well. Mothers who have enough DHA in their systems tend to have improved attention and visual acuity, while those who did not where suffering from low visual acuity and even poor cognitive processes. If you want to stay healthy and happy during your pregnancy, fish oil supplements are one way to do it.

When you are looking to include l in your diet when you are pregnant, also keep in mind that there are going to be many options open to you. You can find them in any health store or natural goods store, and at the end of the day, you’ll soon discover that these supplements are so popular for a reason. Another thing that you will notice is that these supplements can be remarkably good for your skin and your hair, both of which tend to suffer a little during pregnancy and after birth. The benefits of fish oil are certainly not going to be limited to your baby.

Take some time and really consider what your options are going to be when you want to make sure that your baby is born healthy and happy. Fish oil and pregnancy go together like peas in a pod, and at the end of the day, you will discover that there are lots of reasons why you should consider taking these important supplements when you get pregnant or when you want to be.  But make sure you are taking the freshest, purest ones that are free from any contaminants and will give you optimum benefits.

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Type 2 Diabetes is Increasing in Our Children!

Type 2 diabetes in children is one of the most challenging experiences for both the child with this chronic condition, as well as the parents and family. This form of diabetes is more commonly associated with adults but now is on the increase in children, fueled mainly by the obesity crisis.

The disease is still not fully understood by the medical world, and ongoing studies are being done in order to find more clues towards better treatment.

In children who do not have diabetes, insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the blood as soon as the  glucose level starts to rise after eating.  In type 1 diabetes, there is little or none produced and insulin-injections are needed to try to keep blood sugar levels within the normal range.  In type 2 diabetes, however, insulin is produced but the process is faulty leading to insulin-resistance.

What to watch out for:

  • overweight or obesity
  • a very strong family history of diabetes, 45-80% have a least one parent with it
  • mother had gestational diabetes (during pregnancy)
  • acanthosis nigricans is a marker for insulin-resistance.  It shows up as darkened pigment and thickened velvety skin around the neck, armpits and groin.
  • unusual tiredness
  • occurs more often in children with an ethnic background
  • excessive hunger

Keeping an eye out for these symptoms as this means diagnosis and treatment can commence as swiftly as possible.  The presence of this condition exposes children to decades of damage from elevated blood sugar levels.

Type 2 can be managed successfully through:

  • regular activity to help stabilize blood glucose levels
  • a healthy eating plan to minimize or prevent the progression or development of health complications and to help with weight loss
  • medication, including insulin-injections for some children

Whether insulin-injections are needed or not depends on how high the blood sugar levels are when this condition is diagnosed.  Insulin is often the first choice because most of the oral blood glucose lowering medications have not been tested in children.  Although metformin is prescribed for children in some countries.

In spite of all the challenges that type 2 diabetes poses, with the right treatment, a young child can still go about life with relative ease. It can be a stressful time for parents and family and this is where your Health Care Provider can be very helpful.  He can also give you information about diabetes camps that are run by various organizations; your children can have fun at camp while learning about looking after themselves.

Treatment is really a family business when a child is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  Family members need  to be educated and learn how to give injections and check blood sugar levels.  Also to understand the importance of why a healthy eating plan together with increased physical activity is necessary to improve insulin-resistance and reduce health complications in all family members.

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