Here are some handy patient/doctor Q and As on this topic, which afflicts millions every night.
Month: July 2008
Health Concerns During Pregnancy Part 2
Part 2 of 2 parts.
Gush of liquid
This could mean you are in labor and that your water broke. However, if it isn’t close to the time of birth it can be something else. Call your doctor immediately and head for the emergency room.
Dehydration
While you are pregnant it is easy to become dehydrated, especially if you have morning sickness or just don’t drink your 8 glasses of water per day that are recommended. If you find yourself pale, with a dry mouth, or dizzy, you could be dehydrated and should be seen by a doctor. Dehydration can cause premature labor and/or distress on the pregnancy.
Painful urination
This could be caused by a urinary tract infection, also known as UTI. This can be easily treated with medication or by drinking lots of fluids and cranberry juice.
A urinary tract infection isn’t something to be embarrassed about. It is very common amongst pregnant women. The growing belly pushes against your ureters, the tubes from your bladder, and makes it harder for urine to flow through. Incomplete emptying of the bladder can lead to a persistent feeling of having to go. Imcomplete emptying can cause infection. If you have a foul odor when you urinate, or have a stinging or persistent sensation of having to go, you most like have a UTI.
Pregnancy can be worrying enough, without adding to your fears by being reluctant to talk to your doctor because you think you are being a nuisance. By all means read up and stay well-informed, but also stay in touch with your doctor.
Don’t stress over every little change in your body, but you know your own body well enough to be able to tell the difference between something that has become typical because you are pregnant, and something very unusual which need to be looked into further for a safe, healthy pregnancy.
How not to have a heart attack
Here are the ABCs to remind yourself to stay heart healthy!
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/heart_health/63-1.html
Health Concerns During Pregnancy Part 1
Part 1 of 2 parts.
There is nothing more stressful than to have something go wrong during pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if it is your first time being pregnant or your fourth.
There are many things to be concerned about during your pregnancy, but it is easier to cope with them when you know what they are and what to expect. Here is a discussion of the most common ones to watch out for.
Stomach pain or cramping
During the pregnancy it may be hard to decipher the difference between a baby-related pain and an actual stomach pain/cramping. However, if you do get a pain of any sort, the best thing to do is rest.
After a few minutes, if it still hasn’t subsided, call your doctor and describe the pain to him.
Don’t worry about it if you find out you only had gas, or were having Braxton hicks contractions. At least you know everything is okay with pregnancy. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Vaginal bleeding
This may also known as spotting. But there is a difference between actively bleeding and spotting.
Spotting is a light kind of bleeding, kind of like the early part or tail end of your period. The blood can be red, pink or even brown.
If you are bleeding actively like during your full period, or bleeding with any pain, call your doctor. If you can’t get a hold of your doctor, go immediately to the emergency room.
Bleeding can be caused by a number of things, ranging from ectopic pregnancy, labor, infection or even miscarriage. Always let your doctor know, so everything can be ruled out, you’ll feel better too.
Continues in Health Concerns During Pregnancy Part 2
Statins: Is there a best cholesterol drug?
Statins drugs, like Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor, are a family of drugs prescribed to lower blood cholesterol by blocking its very production.
Research suggests statins do additional long-term good. Learn more about statin drugs here.
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/heart_health/267-1.html
Great Nutrition Information Available Online
Learn more about great nutrition at the Nutrition Goddess site. Check out their latest articles for great tips on healthy eating.
Regular exercise boosts ‘good’ cholesterol levels
Studies have shown that daily exercise is a cornerstone for lowering cholesterol to acceptable heart-healthy levels, for heart attack prevention.
And here is more good news: a lot of the activities that you might not necessarily have thought would count as exercise do actually keep you fit:
Read more here:
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/nutrition_weight_control/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsNutritionWeightControl_1892-1.html