7 Health Issues Faced By Pregnant Women And Simple Natural Remedies

Pregnancy comes with a pack full of problems. It is a joyous occasion for all expectant mothers. But there are many health issues, minor as well as major that can mar the spirits and dampen the enthusiasm of these very pregnant women.

Whilst most of these symptoms could be harmless, some cannot be neglected as they could be pointers to major catastrophes waiting to happen.?Symptoms like morning sickness, nausea, fatigue, heart burn and back pain are very common occurrences during pregnancy.

But there are other symptoms like bleeding during pregnancy, amniotic fluid leak, gestational diabetes, urinary tract infections that need medical attention and constant monitoring in order to prevent miscarriages and pre term labour.

Every mother would want a healthy baby and hence must do her best to keep herself and the baby safe and secure in the womb. Find out what is nagging you and make sure you address the problem to keep the baby perfectly healthy.

Pregnant women have an increased risk of contracting urinary tract infections. This is because the growing size of the uterus pushes the bladder down making it easy for the bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Uterus could also block the flow of urine resulting in an infection. Urinary tract infections during pregnancy have to be treated to avoid pre term labours and increase in blood pressure. Many safe antibiotics are available which can be taken with the advice of a doctor.

Symptoms include burning sensation while passing urine, lower abdominal pain, blood in urine, frequent and less urine and in severe cases, fever, chills, nausea and back pain when it spreads to the kidneys. Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice helps in clearing UTIs. You can also add lemon juice as part of your diet if you are prone to frequent UTIs.

Most women experience heart burn during the last trimester. Your baby in the womb could be exerting pressure on the stomach as she grows, pushing the stomach acids up into the esophagus, causing heart burn. Pregnant women who experience heart burn must avoid spicy, fatty and acidic food and juices which will aggravate the condition. Break down your meals into several small servings. You may also avoid lying flat on the bed. Try propping your head up to avoid the reflux action. Chewing raw almonds will help reduce or prevent heart burn during pregnancy.

Pregnant women experience leg cramps due to a variety of reasons. Calcium, vitamin and mineral deficiencies can trigger leg cramps during pregnancy. Constriction of blood vessels and nerves by the pressure exerted by the foetus is another factor that causes leg cramps in pregnant women.

All deficiencies must be addressed carefully during pregnancy. Massaging the muscles helps to relieve the pain. You may also try placing heat pads on the sore muscles. Taking hot showers too relieves the pain. If the problem persists even after trying simple remedies, there could be underlying causes which need medical attention.

Bleeding gums are mostly ignored by many pregnant women. But this is a very serious condition as you may be putting your baby’s life in jeopardy. The increased blood circulation in the body can lead to sensitive and swollen gums and bleeding. Bacteria can enter the mother’s blood stream through these bleeding gums, putting your baby at risk. Pregnancy related gingivitis occurs in many women, especially in the first and the third trimester.

Ensure that you use a gentle brush that does not hurt your sensitive gums. Frequent brushing of teeth and flossing will keep the bacteria at bay. You can massage essential oils like spearmint, peppermint, olive or almond oil onto your swollen and bleeding gums to sooth and ease the bruises. Practice saline rinses after every meal. Take a glass of warm water and add a pinch of salt into it. Rinse your moth several times using this solution to prevent swelling and increase blood circulation.

Leukorrhea or increase whitish discharge from the vagina is very common in women, pregnant or not. But during pregnancy, the secretions could increase due to the high production of estrogen in the body of pregnant women. While normal leukorrhea with a clear white discharge is not a cause for worry, there are other discharges which could be blood tinged, yellow, green or pink in colour.

These could be the results of cervical or vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, trichomonas etc. A vaginal swab can help in analysing the cause and treating the symptoms using safe antibiotic medications.

Gestational diabetes is a diabetic condition experienced during pregnancy. The condition is caused by insulin resistance that a pregnant mother experiences during her pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can be detected in the second trimester. If left untreated it can be disastrous for the mother and the baby. The baby will grow bigger than normal and develop hypoglycaemia after birth. Gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure in pregnant women and result in preeclampsia. They can also fall prey to type 2 diabetes afterwards.

Control the intake of sweets and sugar can be followed as general rule by all pregnant women. Ensure that you are on a well balanced diet. Natural sugars present in fruits and vegetables are a safe alternative to the sweetened products available in the market. Regular exercise helps in converting the excess glucose present in the body into energy.

Amniotic fluid is the fluid inside the womb which keeps the baby safe and floating. Low levels of amniotic fluid in a pregnant woman can cause complications and deformities in the foetus. Many women leak amniotic fluid during pregnancy. This must not be confused with regular leukorrhea.

Amniotic fluid leaks can be the cause of bacterial infections or a tear or trauma in the amniotic sac. While small tears repair on its own, bigger tears, especially during the early months, can tamper the development of the foetus and result in other complications like low amniotic fluid which is dangerous for the baby.

Amniotic fluid is thinner and flows out in excess. If you see worrying leakages, immediately consult the doctor.Pregnancy is the time when you face many such small symptoms. However, there is no need to stress yourself at every single issue. You could assess things yourself and consult a gynaecologist if you feel that things are getting out of hand.

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10 Simple Means Of Improving Memory

Sifting through the archives of our memory we can recall various events which took place in our lives. So what exactly is memory? Memory is the ability of any human to save, maintain and recall various experiences and information.

Memory comprises of cognitive abilities which help us keep information intact and recall it as and when we need for purposes which are rooted in the present. Memory should not be mistaken for imagination. Imagination is what we conjure in our minds which may not always be true.

However, memory is based on actual facts which took place in the past. Memory often merges with emotion. Sometimes recalling a certain event of the past will open the flood gates of emotion like grief, happiness or sadness.

While language or the spoken word helps us to store events in our brain in some cases, in others, a simple yet powerful visual image helps to retain facts which can be remembered at some later point in ones life.

When we talk of memory we understand that there are three distinct phases to it. The first phase is called sensory memory. Sensory memory can be defined as our ability to recall an event just as we perceived it within an extremely short period of time say about 500 milliseconds after seeing it. Sensory memory is more of a transient kind of memory.

Through practice, people can perfect the process of retaining sensory memory and converting it into long term memory. When events are retained and recalled within a short period of time it is referred to as short term memory. An example of short term memory is the ability of an individual to recall telephone numbers or car registration numbers within a short time of actually seeing it.? Sound more than imagery is used to retain and recall information in short term memory.

Long term memory is the ability to recall events which took place in the distant past. People use the method of sequencing or connecting similar objects to help them recall it at a later date.? Repetition and practice can help to transport events which are captured in the short term memory to long term memory.

There are different techniques or methods which can be adopted to help people remember things for a longer period of time. Perfecting certain simple techniques will not only help us to improve our memory but it is also a great way to exercise the brain and keep it in top shape.

You may have heard the adage ‘Practice Makes Perfect’. Well nothing works better than this to help us improve our memory. Repetition helps to ensure that information is stored in the memory. One of the best ways of bolstering the memory is by repeating what we have just seen or heard, to others.

You can start off by repeating some small packets of information like telephone numbers. Later move to bigger things like a passage from a favorite book. You will soon understand that repeating information will ensure that it never fades away from memory.

Utilize your environment to your advantage to help in the process of improving the memory. To help recall events, your surrounding can be used to maximum benefit. As an example, if you have a book to return to the library, change the position of something that is familiar in your surroundings to help your remember the original event.

You can move your alarm clock from its normal place or keep a particular chair out of place. By just looking at the out of position object one can remember the main event i.e. returning the book to the library.

The method of loci is the process of remembering things through location. This process of improving memory was all the rage in ancient Greece and is so even today. People use landmarks to remember events. For example, a certain building that you regularly see on your commute to work can be used to remember some other event. Here location is used to recall information.

Chunking or lumping information together is the process of breaking down larger portions of information into smaller more manageable parts. If you want to remember a nine digit telephone number easily, break it down into three segments of three digits each.? If you want to remember the names of four people in your group easily chunk together the people whose names start with the same alphabet.

One of the best ways to improve ones memory is by playing the name game. Associate a person name with a certain favorite item. For example if you have just met a girl whose name is Candy, try to associate her with your favorite candy. This way you are sure to remember her name the next time you meet her.

If you want to remember something, pay complete attention to your surrounding and what the other person is saying. Don’t let your mind wander in such situations. Pay careful attention to the event and you are sure to remember it at a later date.

One of the best ways to retain and later recall information is to think in pictures. If someone has asked you to buy five pens, think of the pens as five tall trees. So that when you reach the shop and the shop assistant asks you how many pens you need, your mind will immediately think of the five tall trees and you can easily recall the number five.

If you are a slothful kind of person, then it sure to have a negative effect on your memory as well.? Physical activity helps to keep your body in shape and your mind razor sharp. Running around your block or swimming a couple of laps will help to improve your memory.

Negative feelings like anger, stress or depression can not only take a toll on your physical health but can affect your memory as well. People who are depressed are unable to store, retain or recall facts with as much accuracy as compared to people who are of a happy disposition.

Binge drinking can have a very negative effect on your memory. So go slow on alcohol consumption and drink in moderation.

Photo Credit: Wellnesscoach.com

However, memory is based on actual facts which took place in the past. Memory often merges with emotion.

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Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks With These Simple Tips

Motherhood is the time when all women experience abundant joy. The thrill of being a new mother and the care and concern offered by near and dear ones are all tremendously satisfying. ?But there are other aspects of motherhood that can be extremely distressing to many women.

One of the most important causes for heartache is the permanent scar of stretch marks which you have to live with all your life.?More than 90 percent of pregnant women get stretch marks during pregnancy. This is due to the rapid weight gain, especially around the waist, hip and the breast area leaving them with unsightly marks that never completely fade away. This is because stretch marks cause permanent damage to the middle layer of skin called dermis.

Many factors like genetic disposition, weight gain, hormone imbalances and vitamin deficiency can cause stretch marks. Once you get stretch marks, no amount of creams or treatments can completely remove them. So the best way to keep away from them is to do everything possible to prevent their occurrence. Pregnancy is the time when most women get stretch marks on their body.

A little care at home can prevent scars on the skin and leave you with a glowing post pregnancy skin, devoid of any wear and tear.? You need not go hunting for expensive creams and concoctions for controlling stretch marks during pregnancy. Care for the skin must start well before the second trimester as this is the time when stretch marks start to appear.

Skin needs abundant moisture to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy, especially dry skin. The elastin and collagen in dry skin tend to break faster than skin that is well nourished and moisturised. Skin must be moisturised externally and at the same time a pregnant woman must ensure that she take plenty of liquids to hydrate the skin from within. No amounts of nourishment from outside will help if you avoid drinking water and other liquids.

For external moisturising, choosing a good nourishing cream that suits your skin is essential. This can be easily made at home. The most commonly used creams and oils and the ones having the best nourishing and moisturising properties are cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E oil, olive oil, almond oil and lavender oil. Any of these naturally occurring substances can be used for massaging the areas that could be prone to stretch marks. Massaging stimulates collagen production and maintains elasticity.

Massaging can be started from the beginning of the third month of pregnancy. You can mix the oils with the creams for better results. Aloe vera and olive oil can be mixed to form a great nourishing cream that soothes the skin and give it elasticity and moisture and hence preventing the occurrence of stretch marks. Similarly, cocoa butter, wheat germ and Vitamin E can be mixed to form another great massage cream. Make sure you massage the areas twice every day for maximum protection, whatever oil or cream you use.

Stretch marks can be caused due to the deficiency of essential, vitamins, proteins and minerals in the body. So a healthy diet rich in vitamin E, A, C and antioxidants help to keep the skin well nourished internally. You can also add foods that are rich in omega three fatty acids for a healthy skin tone. Fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, fish, eggs, cereals etc. must be added in your daily diet. These foods will provide the skin with enough nourishment to combat loss of elasticity.

Most women gain weight uncontrollably during their pregnancy. Sudden weight gain is one of the reasons for development of stretch marks. You must eat a balanced diet and at the same time keep control of your weight during pregnancy. Many women follow the wrong belief that they must eat for two people while they advance in pregnancy. This is a wrong and baseless assumption. Ensuring that you eat a balanced diet and not eat uncontrollably will help you keep your weight under check.

Weight gained during pregnancy could be difficult to shed. Preventing drastic weight gain will not only help you prevent the occurrence of stretch marks, but also help you to get back in shape soon after you start weaning. Women only need to gain an extra 25-35 pounds if you are in the normal weigh category.? For obese women, the weight gain must be much less.

Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits. They help in keeping your weight under control, prevent the occurrence and reduction of stretch marks and also help in making the labour and delivery a smooth and uncomplicated process. Skin retains it elasticity while you exercise. During exercise, the natural skin oils are secreted by the sebaceous glands, preventing dryness and providing abundant moisture and strength to prevent tearing of skin due to excessive stretching.

Toning exercises can be done with the advice of a registered practitioner during pregnancy. Toning is good for people who already have stretch marks as they help in tightening the skin to its normal state. Yoga is also a good alternative as it has many light exercises for pregnant women. Whatever exercise you do, make sure you do not over exert or stretch your abdominal, pelvic and back muscles too much.

While all these tips will surely help you in preventing stretch marks, they may not be sure cut ways to prevent stretch marks as individual result vary. If you are genetically pre disposed to stretch marks, you could still be susceptible to getting them in spite of all the precautions.

But the intensity would be much less as you have taken adequate care.?However, if you have still have stretch marks and would like to remove them permanently, you could try laser treatments, microdermabrasion and other invasive and non- invasive stretch mark removal techniques after consulting a skin care specialist for the same.

Photo Credit: Stretchcream.org

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Cure Insomnia In Kids By Following Simple Steps

Sleep is essential to stay healthy. The one who is struggling to sleep may have experienced some rather peculiar recommendations. Among them, some popular beliefs such as taking warm milk, whipped the feet with cold water, and perhaps the most classic of all, is to count sheep.

Now the question arises is that such practices are effective in treating disorders of sleep or its effect is only psychological?A human body after the long day activities requires the rest. At least 7-8 hours of sound sleep is must.

According to the therapist Eliane Walther, suggestions such as those referred would not carry a lot of myths and beliefs of a particular time in its origins, as well as expressing the influence of cultures on our behavior. For example, Indians believe that a glass of warm milk with a tablespoon of clarified butter ensures a peaceful sleep.

However, according to Elias, the response of the method is nothing but a myth constructed by relaxing sensation, but that would not have power to make us sleep as well as when we were babies and breast milk at the right temperature was our favorite meal. The psychologist says that the foot bath from the same principle. “It only has psychological effects.”

Who has fallen into deep sleep after your feet dipped in a bowl with hot water or cold water? What can explain the situation is that as emotional factors directly interferes with the ability to fall asleep, if the myth emotionally calm the person, becomes a solution because the individual grants that power.

Among the many causes of insomnia, a strong reason that keeps people from sleeping is the increased brain activity. Due to the rush of work, involvement with children and other demands of everyday life, it is common that at bedtime, the head resists to calm down. In this case, resort to counting sheep, which would also be a myth.” This is just a way of diverting ones thoughts. Instead of thinking of some professional or financial problems, one should count sheep,” says the expert.

Sleep is fragile; it is worth investing in all circumstances that might create the pleasant relaxation, such as temperature control, lighting, silence and comfort. Second psychologist, between the popular beliefs, the only real value is the use of herbal medicines. “Chamomile tea really has the power to soothe and facilitate relaxation necessary for sleep,”

Is it your regular habit now that even on bed at night you are not able to sleep? it is important to investigate the causes with a specialist. Besides ensuring a sufficient number of hours to recharge, sleep disorders can also be symptoms of more serious illnesses.

One of the biggest challenges is getting people who are studying to improve their performance through the ability .In vestibular and competitions, for example, where there is long and exhausting evidence, the ability to maintain the level of thinking for hours can make the difference between approval and disapproval. Today, after decades of studies on the reasoning capacity of human beings, we can say’ if you want to excel in academics, the tip is sleep well’

Both the quality of sleep and dreams improves the student’s performance in courses and exams. The dream act as an activator of memory, providing greater recall of learned subjects studied in class or outside of classes. Parents and teachers must be attentive not only to studies of the students, but also to their physical characteristics, such as extreme tiredness and insomnia.

It is quite common for young people suffering from sleep disorders due to the proximity of the entrance exam.Younger people are generally less prepared to deal with pressure and recovery. For many, the vestibular is truly the first moment of pressure in life. Anxiety for this proof is so great that it prevents sleep quality and thus lowers the yield of the student.

Nightmares are common in childhood, especially between the ages of three to five years old. But it can become a sleep disorder, called sleep terror, when they are followed by screams, cries and calls for help. ?It is essential that the children to get rid of the fantasies that haunt them. Parents should calm the children and put them to sleep again. But if it happens every night and often then it can be worrisome, “said the doctor of the Sleep Laboratory at the Federal University Sao Paulo Marcia Hallinan.

To solve this problem, the participation of parents is the most important thing, says psychologist Maria Cristina Capobianco. Here are the two important things which one should take care of: First, we must minimize the aggravating factors such as irregularities in the time to go to bed and wake up. Second is the diet – which is based on spicy or fatty foods. It is advisable not to yell at the children during the crisis.

Another resource that parents can use to help children to deal with the problem of sleep is mounting a kind of play with the story of the nightmare. “The child may be the monster, and parents another figure. And everyone can invent a new outcome for the plot. This child will return to their magical powers to fight these creepy critters,” said Maria Cristina. With infants, the orientation is to hold them in arms, talking quietly or even singing until the feeling of terror subsides. Where parents’ attempts do not work, the participation of a psychologist may be effective for the child not to feel threatened and undermined in the face of difficulties.

In severe cases, the use of tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines (diazepam) may be advised. However, the outcome of these drugs not be guaranteed, and doctors recommend avoiding this option to the fullest. The nightmares may indicate difficulties in family dynamics. Children who have witnessed or been direct victims of domestic violence, had losses of significant others or suffered sexual abuse, among other trauma, may present an intensification of bad dreams. This is a sign that the experience still needs work.

Night terrors can still be triggered by stressful situations, such as changing schools, parental separation, loss of a pet, fight with a brother and growing pains. The consequences of sleep terror are suffering and distress to the child, and possibly developing insomnia early. Fear of being in the dark, sleeping alone and dreaming are other problems brought on by the disorder.

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Simple And Effective Recipes To Lighten Skin

Skin is the most important part of our body as it not only makes us look good but also acts as a barrier between our body and the harsh external conditions. Our skin offers us a lot of protection from various pollutants, harsh environmental factors etc.

In an effort to protect us from all such factors our skin is darkened and damaged to great extents. Prolonged exposure to harsh conditions can result in irreparable damage to the skin. Most common skin problems caused due to various factors are acne, blemishes and pigmentation which causes resulting in darkening of skin.

Pigmentation or darkened skin can become a matter of great concern as it can totally pull down your beauty and make you look ugly. A lot of parlors offer treatments to lighten dark skin and treat pigmented skin as well. But these are likely to empty your pockets.

Regular care helps a great deal in minimizing the damage done to the skin. A number of natural substances from your kitchen will help you get beautiful blemish free skin. All you need to do is dedicate at least 20 minutes of your day for your skin and you will surely be amazed by the results. Here are some simple recipes that works wonders for lightening the skin.

Honey possess anti-bacterial properties and lemon is known to be the best natural bleaching agent in existence. A combination of honey and lemon juice will not only lighten your complexion but also help you get rid of pimples and acne. You can simply mix the two and apply it all over your face to remove a tan or in pigmented areas. You can also try massaging your face with the same mixture for about 10 minutes. The presence of honey makes it the best moisturizing agent and make your skin feel soft and supple. This recipe is mess free and can be applied on a regular basis to lighten the complexion of the skin.

Yet another effective recipe for skin lightening that has been used since centuries is the use of gram flour and turmeric. Gram flour is an amazing cleansing agent and it can be used for washing your face instead of a face wash on a regular basis. Washing face with gram flour deep clean your skin and clears all sorts of impurities form the skin. A combination of turmeric and gram flour makes it the best skin lightening recipe. You can simply make a mixture of these combined with rose water, milk, or even plain water for good results. You can apply this mixture on your face and wait till it dries before washing it off. The result will be glowing, soft and clean skin.

The juices extracted from these vegetables can be applied on the skin on a regular basis to lighten skin. You can simply take a slice of any of these and massage your face using the same in circular motion. This will soothe your skin after sun exposure and also make your skin glow. You can also combine the juices of any of these with lemon and honey and massage your face using the same for great results. These dry up fast and do not even cause any mess and can be tried daily to get glowing and lighter skin.

Rice Flour is also one of the most effective substances for lightening the complexion of the skin. You can apply a paste of rice flour with rice water for lightening your skin and to remove a tan. You can also replace rice water with cold milk for better results. Rice water will make your skin firm and supple and milk will make your skin more glowing. So you can add rice water or cold milk to rice flour as per your requirement. Adding some turmeric to the same mixture will result in better or at least equivalent results. You can also replace your face wash with rice powder to cleanse your face.

You can also try making a paste of banana and milk and apply it on your face to get rid of a tan and to lighten your skin. People with dry skin can replace milk with milk cream for softening their skin. However, people with oily skin should avoid using milk cream or else there are chances of acne outbursts. A dash of honey can also be added to the same mixture for enhancing the effects of this recipe.

Oats is a very effective skin lightening agent. A paste made of oatmeal powder and milk can be applied on your skin to treat darkened skin. Adding some drops of lemon juice and honey to this mixture will give you best results. You can apply a paste made of oatmeal powder and milk and leave it on for about 20 minutes to get glowing skin. Oats can also be used as an ex-foliating agent for your skin. You can scrub your face using oats to deep clean your skin.

If you are looking for simpler tips but wish to get instant results then milk and curd are the best products for your requirements. These methods will not cause any mess and can be applied on your face for instant glow. The best part is that applying milk or curd on your face daily for at least a week will reveal the results. These can also be mixed to any other face pack of your choice to lighten your skin.

Mint leaves have a very soothing effect on the skin and is very effective in lightening the complexion also. You can grind mint leaves with lemon juice and a dash of honey. Make sure that the mixture is a smooth paste so that it can be applied on your skin evenly. Apply this mixture on your entire face and leave it on for about an hour. Wash this mixture with water and you will be left will beautiful and glowing skin. Follow these easy recipes on a regular basis to lighten your skin.

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