Funny thing pain, if you’ve never had a severe pain then the suggestion of taking simple analgesia and resting the affected area all seems quite reasonable. I was reminded of this when I read recently of a doctor’s advice to someone who was suffering from sciatica. Having personally experienced sciatica, it’s a condition I would not recommend to anyone who wishes to walk, sit, laugh, sleep, or to just simply pull up your trousers. It’s a bit like a dentist drilling your teeth without an anaesthetic, but it affects your whole leg. In other words the pain is consuming, exhausting and without respite. Clinical studies do show that in the majority of cases the pain will eventually subside and surgery may not be necessary, but in the meantime the patient has to deal with the pain or deal with the medication required to dull the pain. Remember, pain-killers are not selective to the area affected. They affect the whole of the nervous system and elsewhere so there may be significant side-effects from these medications.

Dealing with severe pain can be a complex issue, but I suggest that you have to treat this sort of pain fairly aggressively as acute severe pain is relatively easier to treat than chronic severe pain. In the early stages of an injury or insult to an area of the body, most of the pathological processes are happening at the site of the injury or insult. Throughout time the brain begins to modulate this pain and so no only do you have the injured area to deal with, but you also have complex neural pathways within the brain to deal with as well. This often means a far more complex management plan and a far more protracted recovery time. Specialists are very skilled at dealing with these issues but they do rely heavily on the stories their patients give them. That means being honest in answering their questions and not being heroic with a grin and bear it grimace! Often the use of a pain scale is helpful with zero being no pain at all and a 10 being the worse pain you have ever experienced.

Another health issue we commonly down play is influenza. Over the years I have frequently heard people say that they would not have the flu vaccine because either they never get the flu or that they had it last week for a couple of days and then it was all over! Influenza is a serious debilitating disease that will usually last from 10 days to two weeks and often leave you flat on your back exhausted. It’s not a happy 10 days either as patients do not have the energy to read a magazine or even watch a DVD. You will literally feel ancient with every movement being a real challenge and that doesn’t include the aching all over or the fevers and sleepless nights. The influenza virus is also extremely contagious and most people are unaware that if you spread it to someone who is more frail than yourself that you may actually be putting their life at risk.

With the ‘flu the big challenge is to vaccinate as many people in the community as possible, including children, those employed and unemployed, the elderly and the infirm, to reduce the chance of an epidemic occurring. Recent research has also showed that vaccinating pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy will help protect their new born infants born during the ‘flu season.

Medicine has evolved over the last 40 years, but the change has been fairly slow with doctors by nature being very cautious and conservative people. But we can’t leave the doctors to take all the initiatives. As patients we need to be good listeners in our approach to health by heeding all the great health messages that keep being given to us about vaccinations, smoking, alcohol, exercise and healthy eating. We also need to be good communicators and tell our doctors how we are feeling with conditions such as pain. If the team treating you doesn’t have the best information then it may be that you will not end up getting the best treatment!

 



By: HBF Health Funds

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Pregnancy complications in women over thirty are several as age plays an important role in pregnancy. There has been a growing tendency to have children well over the age of thirty as nowadays in many families both partners are busy with their professional lives. This is also because many couples are unaware that the risks during pregnancy are higher in a women aged 30 and above. In fact these days it is not unusual for women above 40 and even 50 planning a pregnancy! It is a fact that many older women have successfully given birth to healthy babies and have had no complications, but there are a few risk factors associated with the advancing age of the expectant mother.

Factors That Affect Pregnancy In Older Women

The foremost pregnancy problem in women above 30 is getting pregnant itself! This is because fertility of women starts to decrease with age and in cases where women are over 30 they may even need fertility treatment which has the increased risk of inducing multiple pregnancies in some cases.

A few of the most common pregnancy complications in women over thirty are hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placental abruption or placental pervia and bleeding or spotting. Women older than 35 years also have a greater risk of carrying pre-term babies, low birth weight babies and in many cases the babies may be in need of neonatal care. Older expectant women also have an increased chance of having multiple pregnancies. The incidence of fetal death during the last trimester is also high in women older than 35.

Other pregnancy complications in women over thirty include the risks of giving birth to a baby with Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Medical tests such as amniocentesis are done to determine risks to the unborn child.

One other risk during pregnancy in older women is the effect that disease conditions of the heart, kidney, or diabetes and hypertension have on the health of the pregnant women. The chances of still birth also increase with age as does the need for a C-section.

These are just a few of the pregnancy complications in women over thirty. It gives you a general idea of some of the risk factors associated with the advancing age of the expectant mother. Remember that women from all age brackets do have their set of pregnancy complications and that despite the high risk and complications involved, many of them have ensured that they have a safe and healthy pregnancy by following the advice of their consultants and by adopting proper pregnancy planning techniques.

Most pregnancy complications in women over thirty can be prevented and the chances of a health pregnancy and birth increased by following a regime of regular nutritious meals, recommended exercise, prescribed increased intake of folic acid and other supplements and by having a positive outlook and attitude.



By: Apurva Shree

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Laser hair removal in pregnancy can be a perturbing issue for pregnant ladies annoyed by the additional hair growth which sometimes appears. Some women might also be worried about the risks of pregnancy laser hair reduction for women who are trying to start a family.

Is it wise to go for pregnancy laser hair reduction for women who are trying to start a family? These are the customary queries that laser medical practitioners hear from many health conscious ladies.

Important Pregnancy Problems

Pregnancy marks the entering of a woman into maternity. Pregnancy is an significant and tricky stage in the life of a woman. As well as other problems that occur during pregnancy the issue of unwanted hair growth is a noticeable and most vexing issue for some ladies. Certain hormonal transformations taking place in the body during pregnancy are the cause of this problem.

Most ladies experience insomnia, heartburn, morning sickness, body pains and headaches during their early pregnancies but later they know with familiarity how to deal with these problems.

Safety for Pregnant Ladies

To resolve those straightforward questions, a comprehension of the mechanics of the hair laser removal treatment is required.

Laser hair reduction works by transmitting streams of intense laser streams targeting hair follicles. In order to reach the hair follicles laser streams must enter the skin no deeper than a few millimeters. Therefore, it’s not likely that laser light will enter deeper to cause any risk to the developing baby.

The laser light is nothing like an x-ray and the exposure is only external. A healthy pregnant woman has a 3% risk of birth defects and 15% chance of miscarriage and nobody can alter the risk. There is no proof that the use of laser alters these risks at all.

The next query is regarding conception. Whether employing lasers is safe if one is trying to start a family or if a woman gets pregnant during the course of the numerous procedure sessions needed. The answer is similarly that it’s harmless to the baby.

Pain Killers for Pregnant Ladies

Last but not the least there is a query regarding the use of pain relief medication. Extreme caution should be taken before using any medicines for laser hair reduction easing pain during pregnancy due to possible risky effects of certain medicines during pregnancy.

The good news is that no anesthetic is employed during the procedure; only external soothing cream is employed which simply desensitizes the outer skin and has no contact with the developing baby. In addition, the introduction of ultra-modern and safe laser appliances with efficient cooling has reduced the need for anesthetic during this procedure.

Advice for Pregnant Ladies

Pregnancy can be a tricky stage for ladies, particularly those who are pregnant for their very first time. Due to the mood changes and increased sensitivity to pain during pregnancy laser hair reduction might turn out to be a painful procedure for some ladies.

Also due to danger of side-effects not relating to laser hair reduction but due to pregnancy itself the cosmetic laser clinics do not take on pregnant patients. So, due to this consideration it’s more sensible not to look to have this procedure during pregnancy. If you have a previous timetable to follow then you should ideally be patient and wait until after the birth.

No known problems have been noticed yet which discourage pregnancy laser hair reduction. It is quite safe and it has no known risks. So, whether you are pregnant or trying to start a family there are no risks associated with the use of lasers for removing hairs.

But there is one major problem with all of this and that is that cosmetic laser clinics will usually turn you away as a patient if you are pregnant. So it seems that the best course of action is to sit tight, be patient, and then after the birth treat yourself to a course of laser hair reduction.



By: Ingrid Preube

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Going to a sauna seems like an excellent method for expectant mothers to relax and ease muscle aches. It has however been recommended by experts around the world that pregnant women should avoid saunas regardless of the trimester.

A number of studies have suggested that a body temperature of or exceeding 102 degrees could increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. The risk is due to the women’s body experiencing extreme heat during a period of her life where her body is already under pressure in support of her pregnancy.

During pregnancy increased blood volume and lower blood pressure is evident. When blood vessels relax due to their response to the heat experienced in a sauna, expectant mothers could faint due to difficulties in maintaining normal blood flow to the brain. This may not be the case for all pregnant women, however if other physical problems are also evident, then the heat may cause significant harm.

Nevertheless, there are various types of saunas which can be set to lower humidity and temperature settings, which may be more acceptable for use during pregnancy. It is still however better to seek advice from a health care provider prior to use.

Professionals still recommended avoiding saunas during pregnancy and alternatively pampering yourself with a professional massage, yoga session or a relaxed bath. A number of spas have specifically designed treatments for expectant mothers which can be a wonderful treat and a better option to jumping into a sauna or steam room.

Find spas and more wellness related information at: http://healthspaguru.com



By: Health Spa Guru

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Insomnia during pregnancy, though inconvenient, is actually common. In fact, the disorder affects nearly eighty percent of mothers, all of whom worry endlessly for the health of their child. How can an anticipating mother deal with this problem?

Insomnia, in general, is the inability to sleep or to stay asleep for a long time. This sleep disorder is caused by a variety of factors, and each of these causes requires its own methods to finally counter and cure insomnia. Insomnia can be brought on by altered work hours or jet lag. It may be induced because of bodily pain, or disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can cause spontaneous vomiting even while the person is asleep. Nightmares and sleepwalking can also bring about insomnia, as can mental disorders such as mania or phobias. External factors, such as ingestion of stimulants, dehydration, and lack of exercise, can also contribute to insomnia.

Insomnia during pregnancy, on the other hand, can be caused by a variety of factors which may or may not be related to the baby. As a pregnant mother progresses through the later stages of gestation, her abdomen will increase in size, until carrying the child can be uncomfortable. Some mothers may also suffer back pains due to the child’s weight, leading further to sleepless nights. The added weight of the child on the mother’s bladder can make her urinate frequently during the night, preventing her from staying asleep.

Anxiety can also bring about insomnia during pregnancy, and in fact results in a vicious cycle. Because hormonal changes bring about insomnia during pregnancy, a mother will often naturally be awake at night. She worries about her insomnia and fears that it can harm her baby. This anxiety further intensifies the insomnia, which then keeps adding to her fears.

How can you, as a pregnant mother, cope with insomnia during pregnancy? Because of the uncomfortable size, shape, and weight of your belly, you may want to try new sleeping positions that will not strain your back or cause you pain or discomfort. You can try sleeping on your side, with a pillow or something soft under your belly. You can also take a warm, soothing bath before you sleep, in order to relax your body completely. This can make you fall asleep easily, and, along with a glass of warm milk, can keep you asleep for a longer time.

If the warm bath and glass of milk still do not work, then set the thermostat in your room to a comfortable temperature. You can also play relaxing instrumental music, preferably with soothing strains such as those made by a flute or violin. Such music may include nature sound accompaniments, such as twittering birds or the sound of the ocean crashing against the shore.

If music keeps you awake, you may want to read a book or watch television, or eat a light snack with some carbohydrates. A low dose of carbohydrates in the night time can allow your brain to produce serotonin, which can ease you closer to sleep. Do not overindulge on carbohydrates by taking chocolates and sweets, however, as this will keep you up and alert for much longer. The key to combating insomnia during pregnancy is to relax: you will learn such techniques in child birth class, so put them into practice at night as you get into bed.

If you have a chance to sleep during the day, then take it. You can also help yourself sleep better at night by exercising for about half an hour late in the afternoon. Take up yoga or meditation exercises, and do not engage in strenuous exercises, as these will actually wake you up. There are special yoga routines for pregnant mothers, so you may want to do research on them.

Insomnia during pregnancy can be worrisome for many pregnant mothers, but it is not entirely hopeless. If you are suffering from insomnia during pregnancy, do your best to relax, but without taking any pills or medication. Try not to stress about your pregnancy, the delivery, the health of the baby, or what you will do after you have given birth. Concentrate on relaxing and easing yourself into sleep, and not only will you stay healthy, but so will your baby.



By: Nathalie Fiset

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