Smoking is one of the vices that have a negative impact on health. According to most obstetricians, smoking has been the leading cause of adverse effects to babies. Cigarette smoke contains more than enough chemicals that can produce harsh effects to the baby and the mother. It contains up to 4,000 harsh substances such as nicotine, tar, lead, cyanide and many more. It also contains up to 60 carcinogens that can travel through the blood stream and cross the placenta.

The most common chemical that produces harsh effects on the fetus and the mother are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor that reduces the perfusion to the placenta as well as the fetus. The effects of smoking are almost not managed by medications during pregnancy so its effects are imminent.

Causes of Smoking during Pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy is caused by various factors. Women who smoke during pregnancy are most often a chain smoker most of her life, which makes it difficult to quit smoking even during pregnancy. Most often, women know that smoking during pregnancy is bad for their health, but just can’t stop smoking. Aside from being addicted to smoking, the vice during pregnancy may also be caused by certain factors such as:

• They are still ambivalent about the pregnancy whether they want to keep it or not
• Problems with their partner, which is released through smoking
• Emotional and psychological imbalance, which makes them unable to decide for healthy choices

Associations of smoking during Pregnancy

Smoking during pregnancy is associated with a lot of factors. A lot of birth defects of babies are commonly associated with smoking. Cigarette smoke is also associated with most deaths in utero of fetuses because of its harsh effects. The nicotine found in smoking results in vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, which is generally harmful for the normal blood perfusion for the developing fetus. Smoking during pregnancy can also lead to stroke, heart diseases, cancer and others even after pregnancy.

Effects (risks) of smoking during Pregnancy

As discussed earlier, smoking during pregnancy results in various effects to the mother and baby. The main mechanism of the defects is associated with the constriction of the blood vessels that supplies blood to the placenta for the use of the developing fetus. It also results to problems in the mother.

Effects to the Mother

• Vaginal bleeding. Pregnant mothers may experience vaginal bleeding as a result of too much pressure in the blood vessels in the uterus. Vaginal bleeding may also be a sign of ongoing problems in the fetus such as imminent abortion.
• Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). PIH is the occurrence of hypertension during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy is a factor to its development because of marked vasoconstriction.
• Abruptio placenta. Abruptio placenta is the premature separation of the placenta from the uterus even though the fetus has not yet been delivered. This results from pregnancy induced hypertension as a result of vasoconstriction brought about by nicotine.
• Placenta previa. Placenta previa is the low implantation of the placenta also as a result of harsh effects of smoking. Placenta previa prevents the fetus from being delivered first and may result to severe vaginal bleeding during labor because of its location.
• Still birth. Mothers may also experience delivering a dead fetus because of hypoxia inside the uterus. Still birth may result in psychological and emotional problems to the mother.

After delivery, the mother is also predisposed to developing other conditions related to smoking such as lung, gastric and oral cancers, heart diseases, and cerobrovascular diseases.

Effects to the Baby

• Premature birth. The limited blood supply in the uterus causes premature uterine contractions that may lead to premature delivery. The uterus needs an adequate blood supply in order to establish its integrity until the right time for delivery. However, when a mother smokes, the circulation is impaired, which stimulates early contraction of the uterus.
• Small gestational age baby. The developing fetus relies on the placental perfusion for nutrition. The blood that is supplied by the placenta is the chief source of nutrition. When there is vasoconstriction, the fetus receives limited nutrition, which affects the growth leading to low birth weight baby.
• Birth defects. Babies may also be born with cleft lift or palate because of poor intrauterine development. Heart defects may also result, which reduces the life expectancy of the baby.
• Cerebral palsy. The developing brain of the fetus needs adequate oxygen. With poor perfusion, the brain of the baby also receives limited oxygen leading to the death of some brain cells, which eventually leads to cerebral palsy at birth.
• Mental retardation and learning difficulties. Cerebral palsy and limited oxygenation of the brain during development may also lead to long-term effects such as mental retardation and difficulties in learning.
• Intrauterine fetal demise or death. Severe fetal distress because of hypoxia inside the uterus may lead to fetal demise.
• Risk for developing asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. The respiratory system is also affected, which may result in asthma during childhood. Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS also results because of severe apnea during infancy. Other respiratory diseases may also include pneumonia, ear infections and bronchitis.

Reasons to quit smoking during Pregnancy

There are a lot of reasons to quit smoking. Quitting smoking improves pregnancy outcomes and ensures the health of your baby. Cutting off the number of sticks of cigarette per day will prevent more adverse outcomes, but quitting altogether provides the best benefit for the mother and the baby. Smoking is not a good thing, pregnant or not and you will never be healthier unless you quit. Quitting smoking is also beneficial because of these reasons:

• Safer delivery
• Healthier children
• Prevents diseases such as heart disease and stroke
• Fresher breath
• Healthier teeth
• Prevents wrinkles
• Increased strength to care for your baby

How to quit Smoking during pregnancy?

It’s never too late to quit smoking during pregnancy as long as you have the discipline to stop. The primary step in quitting smoking is having the motivation to stop it. Lack of discipline and motivation are the most common reasons for failures in quitting.
Here are the tips on how to quit smoking:

• Increase fluid intake to satisfy your oral fixation.
• Indulge on candies and gums to replace the urge to smoke.
• Make yourself busy by engaging in worthwhile activities such as exercise.
• Avoid things, places and people who make you feel like smoking.

Finally, seek the help of your partner in quitting. Psychological and emotional support is very essential in quitting smoking during pregnancy.

What is Ginger?

Ginger is a perennial plant which has originated in China. Ginger is distinguished by its yellowish or white flower with a twisting rhizoid. The rhizoid (ginger root) is the most useful part of the ginger, which is processed into tinctures, powders, tonics, crystals and flavorings. The rhizoid is not actually a root, but a subterranean stem. Since it grows underground, it has been known to be the root.

Because of various benefits of ginger from cooking to medicine, ginger has been popular and grown in almost all parts of the world. The plant has a distinguished spicy aroma, which is good for flavoring. It also contains 3% essential oils, which is beneficial in various ailments.

Top 12 Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger, aside from its well-known role in cooking, has a lot of health benefits. The ginger root is processed to get the essential oil, which is used to cure certain ailments. Ginger contains the oils gingerols and shogaols. These volatile oils are responsible for its spicy aroma and health benefits such as:

1. Carminative Properties

Ginger contains essential oils that serve as antispasmodic and anti-flatulent. Ginger can be used to relieve gas pains, bloating or an upset stomach.

2. Antitussive, Mucolytic and Expectorant Properties

Ginger liquefies respiratory mucus and aids in expectoration. It also has a relieving effect on itchy throat thereby, limiting coughing episodes

3. Digestive Stimulant

The oils stimulate the production of digestive enzymes which help in the overall digestive function. Ginger aids in the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins which reduces dyspepsia or indigestion.

4. Anti-emetic Properties

The volatile oils contained in ginger reduce nausea, vomiting and motion sickness by enhancing the digestive function.

5. Anti-ulcer Effect

Since ginger enhances the secretion of gastric mucus, it protects the stomach lining and prevents irritation and ulceration of the stomach.

6. Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties

Ginger oil also contains antibacterial enzymes that help prevent or treat infection. Ginger oil is effective in managing acne and pimples because it prevents further infection in the lesions.

7. Anti-fungal Properties

Ginger helps relieve fungal infections because of its anti-fungal action. Ginger can be pound to extract the juice and applied on the affected area.

8. Anti-inflammatory Properties

The most widely known benefit of ginger is its effect on relieving inflammation. The chemical component of ginger inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for producing the inflammatory response. Ginger is effective in relieving arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions.

9. Antihistamine Properties

Ginger reduces allergic reactions by calming the inflammatory response, reducing chemicals that produce allergic symptoms.

10. Antioxidant Properties

Ginger oils also reduce oxidative stress on cells limiting the production of toxins and free radicals inside the body. Ginger is one of the major components of antioxidant capsules that help slow down the aging process. Ginger also prevents certain cancers such as colon and ovarian cancers because of its antioxidant properties.

11. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Ginger helps in the excretion of bad cholesterol in the body. High cholesterol levels cause atherosclerosis leading to heart attacks and stroke. Ginger lowers the risk for these cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases because of its action in reducing the cholesterol level in the body.

12. Anticoagulant Properties

Ginger prevents excessive blood clot formation that may lead to thrombus (static blood clots) or embolus (circulating thrombus) formation.

Uses of Ginger

Because of the vast benefits of ginger, it has been used to relieve a wide variety of ailments. Uses of ginger include the following:

• Management for motion sickness, nausea and vomiting
• Cancer prevention and treatment
• Analgesic for minor aches such as headache, joint pains, rheumatism, arthritis and wound pain.
• Ginger ointment as remedy for pimples
• Heartburn, colic and stomach upset relief
• Cough and colds treatment
• Athlete’s foot and fungal infections of the skin remedy
• Prevention of dandruff because of its anti-fungal effect
• Menstrual cramps and migraine relief because of its antispasmodic properties
• Treatment for food poisoning because of its antibacterial and carminative effect
• Malaria treatment because of its antiviral properties
• Management for high cholesterol level
• Prevention of heart attacks and stroke because of its anti-cholesterol and anticoagulant effect
• Stress reliever
• Dissolves kidney stones because of its antioxidant property that results in stone dissolution.

Side-Effects of Ginger

Because ginger is all natural, it does not result in side-effects or adverse reactions. It can be safely used by children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Where to Buy Ginger?

Ginger is available in all supermarkets in the vegetables section. A fresh ginger can be processed at home depending on the use. Furthermore, commercially processed ginger is also available in various health stores as a natural remedy for the above-mentioned ailments. Ginger products such as ointments, tinctures, powder and capsules can also be bought online in certain health websites.

Most people dine in fast food chains because it is convenient, cheap and offers well tasting foods. Fast foods also offer on the go meals that are beneficial to people with a fast-paced life. Children as well as adults become fanatics of fast foods because of combo meals that have one or more food choices, plus they come in very appetizing plating. The fall back of fast foods is that most of the foods they offer are not healthy.

Eating just one meal can give sodium, fat and calories in excess and if you dine in fast foods regularly, you can have build-up of fats, calories and sodium which contributes to obesity. Fast foods also becomes a risk factor for certain heart diseases and diseases of the intestines. In fact, lawsuits have been made with certain fast food chains because of the incidence of obesity in children and adults. Children are also caught eating meals only that are served in fast foods, which increase obesity even at a young age.

Healthy Fast Food

Fast foods are very in demand and highly growing, we can just make healthy choices rather than eliminating them. But the question is how can we make fast foods healthy? Here are some of the tips to choose healthy fast food:

1. Eat in moderation

Eating in moderation becomes the solution. It is always okay to eat fast foods such as french fries from time to time, but eating every day becomes a problem. Try to dine in fast food chains only during holidays or weekends. Don’t make it as your kitchen eating your breakfast, lunch and supper there. Allow children to eat their favorites as reinforcement for their job well-done activities, but don’t allow them to eat only what they like for the rest of their lives. Teach children to eat foods prepared in the home, which is far healthier.

2. Learn to have healthier choices

Food choices in fast foods are not necessarily unhealthy. You can choose the ones which are healthier. Avoid fried, breaded, creamy, crispy and batter-dipped food choices. Go for vegetables and order lean meats.

3. Try to undress your meal

When ordering fried chicken for instance, remove the skin and don’t use the gravy. These components have high fat, cholesterol and calorie content, which makes you unhealthy. Instead of putting mayonnaise, you can ask for mustard or ketchup, which you can put on your own. In this way, you eat your favorite fast food, but less the unhealthy portions.

4. Go for water or iced teas, instead of soda

Thirty two (32) ounce of soda can yield 400 calories, which is mainly the composition of what supposed to be a healthy meal. Soda, which has 400 calories plus the food you ordered will double the calorie you take in one meal. So instead of ordering sodas for drinks, choose water or juices.

5. Don’t rush eating

When you’re rushing, it leads to eating your meal unmindful. Take time to eat so you can be mindful that you have eaten a lot. When you take time eating, the tendency is, you are already full even if you have not eaten most of your meal yet.

6. Choose the more simple foods

Complicated foods ted to have more food additives. You can order for a single patty burger instead of a double patty or large burger. In this way, you can cut down excessive fats and calories in your body.

7. Don’t super size your meal

A single order can have as much as 1000 calories and if you super size it, you can still double the unwanted calories in your body. Order the regular meal and have a salad as a side dish instead of ordering fries.

8. Share with your companion

Instead of ordering two large fries, you can order one and share. Most often, servings in fast food contain more than one serving so it’s always an excess if you eat them all. You can also take some portions home so you don’t have to eat them all in one sitting.

9. Have a special order

You can place a special order such as removing the dressing or some additives in your food. Instead of having a dip on your sundae, you can ask for a plain vanilla ice cream instead.

Conclusion

• Fast foods are convenient and save time, but eating most of your life in fast foods can have physical as well as psychological effects.
• It’s always better to choose healthy foods in order to prevent diseases such as obesity and heart problems.
• Resisting fast foods and choosing the better option sometimes require discipline and proper understanding of healthy foods.
• Fast foods include additional additives to make their food more appealing and tasty.
• It’s up to you if you go for these meals or choose healthier ones.

What is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is also termed by the medical professionals as Purpura Rheumatica or Anaphylactoid Purpura. It is one of the diseases in the blood vessel that cause inflammation or purpura. The Henoch-Schonlein Purpura affects the capillaries in the skin and the kidney. It looks like a purple mark in the skin that looks like bruises that is normally seen in the buttocks and legs of the person and it’s associated with joint pain as well as abdominal pain

Image source – nlm.nih.gov

Signs and Symptoms

• The triad signs of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura : (1) purpura (2) joint swelling and pain (3) abdominal pain
• Typically seen in the legs and buttocks but it can seen in other parts of the body as well like arms, trunk, and face.
• Nausea and vomiting caused by the abdominal pain that is present in this disease.
• Patient may also experience constipation and diarrhea due to inflammation that is present in this disease that can cause an obstruction or changes in the bowel movement.
• Some people who have this disease will experience hematuria or there is a presence of blood in the urine as well as presence of blood in the stools
• Presence of rashes in the affected area.
• Patient will also experience fever due to the infection present.

Causes

This disease has no specific cause why it happened or how it began. Medical professionals think that there are (1) problem in the person’s immune response, in which the body of the individual treats its own blood vessels as somewhat as a trespasser and the immune response of the person attacks them or so called antibodies that attacks the trespasser and the abnormal presence of Immunoglobulin A in the affected blood vessels. It might be also associated to the (2) Presence of infection (3) Allergic reactions(4) Exposure to chemicals (5) Exposure to cold weather.

Diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

• Patient history
• Physical exam that the medical professional will see the rashes, lesions, and joint pain and joint stiffness.
• Urinalysis to check presence of blood.
• Skin biopsy is a minor operation where the medical professional will cut a small portion of the infected part to determine what cause it. It will help the medical professional to identify the disease that causes the inflammation.
• Presence of IgA or Immunoglobulin A is a specific antibody that is responsible in the body secretions like mucus and tears that is deposited in the walls of the blood vessels that is affected by the disease.
• Blood test to check presence of infection, and kidney problem.

Differential Diagnosis

This different diagnosis that is related somewhat in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura has a similar signs and symptoms. These disease are:

• Acute abdominal pain that is present in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
• Presence of Acute hemorrhagic edema is a condition that is normally present in children that can cause purpuric kind of lesions that are visible in the body like in the face and extremities.
• Bacterial Endocarditis is a disease that will result the heart to became inflamed due to the bacteria that are present that might result of having a fever.
• Child abuse that will result in visible skin marks and lesions and trauma.
• Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis is a phenomenon where the immune system became altered and damage also the blood vessels that will result in the abrupt onset of rashes and it can lead also for the person to have fever.
• Inflammatory bowel disease like diarrhea that also result in possible weight loss, fever, and severe or mild abdominal pain.
• Rheumatoid arthritis that can cause a presence of rash in the person’s body but the rash in this disease is not palpable compare to Henoch-Schonlein Purpura.
• Kawasaki Disease is a kind of disease that will result in having a high fever and there are present of rashes in the body.
• Leukemia is a type of cancer in the blood that had symptoms of bleeding, body malaise, and pain in the bone.
• Meningococcemia is a type of disease in the respiratory tract that also has the presence of fever, skin rashes and body malaise.
• Thrombocytopenic Purpura a disease that also has the present of rashes in the body that is similar to Henoch-Schonlein Purpura.
• Rheumatic fever that can cause a presence of rash in the person’s body but the rash in this disease is not palpable compare to Henoch-Schonlein Purpura.
• IgA nephropathy can result in having rashes in the body, abdominal pain, and joint inflammation.
• Chicken Pox that will result in having skin rashes and lesion and the patient will also have a fever.

Treatment

There is no precise treatment for Henoch-Schonlein Purpura because this disease is known for being self-limiting type of disease that doesn’t need any treatment. The treatment focused only on the signs and symptoms that are present in the individual. These treatments main goal is to support the patient and prevent complications:

• Antibiotics to cure and prevent further infection.
• Anti-inflammation Drugs due to swelling of joints and joint inflammation.
• Corticosteroids for the treatment of abdominal pain and if there are present kidney disease.
• Adequate hydration to the patient especially if they experience diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
• Close monitoring for possible renal and abdominal complications that might make the disease worse.

Complications

This disease is normally cured if the patient seeks immediate medical treatment by the medical professionals. This complication that is mentioned is due to the effect of not having an immediate treatment and some are due to the development of this disease that will affect person in long-term.

• Kidney Damage which can result in having a presence of blood in the urine, it can also lead in swelling and high blood pressure. If not treated early, there is a possibility that it will go further in “end-stage renal disease” that will cause a life time treatment. This disease normally occurs in adults than in children.
• Bowel obstruction due to inflamed blood vessels that will possibly blocked the passageway. It also will result in decrease blood flow to the area that will result in inflammation affecting different organs.
• For female who is affected by this disease when they where a child has a possibility to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy which are both dangerous to the baby and the mother.
• In some cases, some people will develop Myocardial Infarction that will have a disturbance in the blood supply in the heart that might lead in having a heart attack.
• Pulmonary Bleeding or hemorrhage is also possible complication of this disease.

Pictures

Picture 2 – Henoch-Schonlein Purpura on legs, buttocks and thighs

Image source – rch.org.au

Picture 4 – Henoch-Schonlein Purpura on legs (lateral view)

Image Source – bmj.com

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in Children. Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is common in male children. There is no usual involvement in having renal disease

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in Adults. Male is normally is affected by this disease. Renal involvement is high in adults. Progression in having a kidney failure is also greater in adults

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is otherwise known as SMA, Hereditary Motor Neuropathy or Progressive Muscular Atrophy, is a cluster of autosomal-recessive disorders represented by advancing weakness and paralysis of the lower motor neurons. This disorder influences muscle contractions. This genetic disease damages the neurons which are found in the spine. These neurons work together with voluntary muscles in the arms and legs to elicit movements like creeping, ambulating, breathing, swallowing and movements of the neck and the head. With SMA, you lose all these abilities.

Genetics

In SMA, the child affected by SMA inherited two copies of faulty gene, one from each parent. While parents are not typically afflicted with SMA, each of them is carriers of one copy of the faulty gene.

How can you inherit SMA?

To acquire SMA, a person must inherit two SMN1 genes, one coming from each parent. Since the parents of a child afflicted with SMA have only one mutated SMN1 gene, they either do not show or express any signs and symptoms of SMA and do not have SMA. Therefore, one normal SNM1 gene is enough to compensate for the other faulty gene and can still function normally. This person is then called a carrier. Only 2% of the cases show that they are not carriers, but have SMA.

Types

Type I: Infantile

1. Other name: Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease
2. Onset: 0 – 6 months
3. Characteristics: This is a severe form of SMA that is represented by quick and unexpected onset, “floppy baby syndrome,” which manifests in the first months of life. The hasty death of these cells results in the inefficiency of major bodily organs and pneumonia-induced respiratory malfunction which is the most often cause of death.
4. Life Expectancy: These babies do not commonly live past the age of two since death occurs as early as within weeks.

Type II: Intermediate

1. Other name: Dubowitz Disease
2. Onset: 6 – 18 months
3. Characteristics: This type of the disorder commonly affects children who are never able to walk and stand but able to sustain a sitting position for at least some time in their life. Body muscles are weakened and respiratory system is of great concern.
4. Life Expectancy: Reduced but most live well.

Type III: Juvenile

1. Onset: more than 18 months
2. Characteristics: This type is commonly describes a patient who can walk without support at some point, but later on lose the ability to walk.
3. Life Expectancy: Normal to near normal

Type IV: Adult-onset

1. Other name: N/A
2. Onset: more than 35 years
3. Characteristics: This type is also called late-onset SMA type III which usually appears with slow weakening of the muscles. Complications are uncommon.
4. Life Expectancy: Normal

Signs and Symptoms

Here are the general signs and symptoms of SMA regardless of the type:

1. Loss of muscle tone particularly on the extremities, rib, chest, and bulbar (facial) muscles
2. Limpness or likeliness to drop or flop
3. Loss of reflexes particularly in the extremities (areflexia)
4. Struggling to attain developmental milestones
5. Difficulty sitting, creeping and ambulating
6. Imitating a frog-leg position upon sitting (hips abducted and flexed knees)
7. Respiratory distress
8. Bell-shaped torso due to the use of abdominal muscles only when breathing
9. Poor feeding with great efforts in sucking and swallowing
10. Twitching of the tongue
11. Multiple congenital contractures (arthrogryposis)

Causes

The only noted cause of SMA is mutation of the protein composition of the gene which a plays a crucial part. The gene is faulty or mutated in such a way that it can no longer correctly and properly code the protein. This mutation is either caused by deletion that happens on exon seven or at other sites of aberration.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of SMA includes careful history assessment and carefully performed neurologic examination. These methods will allow healthcare providers to extract the following:

1. A family history of neuromuscular diseases
2. Flaccid or floppy muscles
3. Tongue muscles twitching upon physical assessment
4. Absence of deep tendon reflexes

The following tests are also performed to confirm diagnosis:

1. DNA testing (definitive test)
2. Creatine kinase (CK) levels commonly normal in SMA type I or it is slightly increased in other types.
3. Electromyography differentiates SMA from other neurogenic and myopathic diseases
4. MRI of the spine will show cross section of the spine to detect motor neuron deficiency
5. Muscle biopsy distinguishes SMA from other disorders of the neuromuscular system

Treatment

For spinal muscular atrophy, no treatment had been found effective especially in halting the progression of weakness caused by the disease. In this case, supportive care is very important. Treatment is usually centred on the respiratory system since patients are very prone to choking. Complications regarding breathing are also common.

The following are the major areas of concern:

1. Respiratory Care: This requires the most attention since this area never recovers once weakened. Non-invasive ventilation is often used, and tracheotomy in more severe cases. These methods of ventilation increases survival rate in similar ways.
2. Nutritional Care: Because of difficulties in swallowing, opening the mouth and chewing cause patient at risk for malnutrition.
3. Orthopaedics: Development of kyphosis, scoliosis and other orthopaedic problems are more likely since spine muscles are weakened. Spine fusion is sometimes done in SMA type I and type II once patients reach the age of 8-10 to ease the pressure on the lungs. Physical and occupational therapy might also be beneficial to SMA patients.
4. Mobility: Assistive devices will greatly help patients to move about and be independent in performing daily activities and will increase the quality of life.
5. Cardiology: Even if the heart is not a great concern, SMA has been liked to some heart conditions.
6. Mental health: SMA patients have reportedly high degree of contentment in life and their cognitive development are slightly faster than those not suffering from SMA and in certain degrees pose above-average intelligence.

Emerging therapies for SMA aims to correct the defective or mutated gene and to restore SNM levels to revert the symptoms.

1. Gene therapy
2. Stem Cell Therapy
3. SNM2 Activation
4. SNM2 Alternative Splicing Modulation
5. SNM Stabilization
6. Neuroprotection

Life Expectancy

Patients affected with SMA generally get worse over time, but the life expectancy and prognosis differs or depends on the type of SMA the patient have.

1. Type I SMA has the shortest lifespan since it is the most severe type of the disorder. Although milder cases of Type I can live well until adulthood.
2. The lifespan of a patients affected with Type II SMA is reduced compared to that of a healthy person. They can still become parents and grandparents.
3. Type III SMA affected patients live longer with a life expectancy of nearly normal to normal.
4. Adult-onset SMA (Type IV) patients can live as normal as possible and their deformities or mobility impairment does not affect their life expectancy.

Pictures

What is Sour Stomach?

Sour Stomach is commonly known as acid indigestion. It is the result of having an abominable digestion that leads to buildup of acid and reflux into the esophagus. It usually occurs when there is a hydrochloric acid excess build up in the digestive tract and stomach. It is sometimes accompanied by heartburn or acid reflux.

With the hectic and stressful lifestyles of many busy people nowadays, most of them sacrifice healthy eating habits which in turn will lead into having a sour stomach condition. Pregnant women also are not exempted from experiencing such digestive condition. It is very important that one should look after ones health and should never ignore the signs and symptoms of sour stomach, because it has a tendency that it will lead to ulcer, damage of the stomach lining and esophagus if not properly given attention.

Symptoms

The common symptoms that are associated with this condition are as follows:

Nausea

It is referred to as queasiness, bilious, and upset stomach. It usually precedes vomiting. Although vomiting may not occur, but bouts of nausea may continue even if the symptoms have assuage.

Regurgitation

It is when the stomach content goes back to the esophagus, or what is termed as retrograde flow, which may reach up to the throat level. This symptom happens because the LES or the lower esophageal sphincter is weak enough and can’t prevent the backward flow of the contents of the stomach, such as Hydrochloric acid, towards the esophagus.

Stomach Bloating

It is the feeling of fullness or bloated after a small consumption of food. It is most often associated with having an accumulation of gas in the upper gut which leads to bloating sensation with belching excessively. The result of stomach acid reflux upon belching is sour belches.

Other uncommon symptom that may be associated with this kind of condition includes:

1. Heartburn or burning in the chest causing chest pain
2. Stomach ache
3. Stomach noises which is usually described as loud gurgling
4. Abdominal pain
5. Abdominal distention
6. Sour, metallic, or acidic taste in the mouth

Causes

There are actually a lot of etiology of why a person experiences sour stomach. The most common causes of this condition embody the following:

1. Stress
2. Overeating
3. Eats quickly
4. Aerophagia or swallowing air
5. Excess devouring of carbonated drinks, alcohol, caffeinated beverage
6. Consumption of spicy foods
7. Lying prone or flat after a heavy meals
8. Strenuous activity after eating
9. Inverts oneself or hanging upside down after eating

If the condition recurs or persist a lot it may be due to a person having peptic ulcer or gastritis. Less frequently associated with this condition are the symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, which is likely related to gastroenteritis and other serious medical condition.

Diagnosis

There is actually three diagnostic tests that one must undergo to be able to correctly diagnose one person as having this kind of condition, these are:

pH test

Here a litmus paper will be used to measure the acidic amount of the stomach contents that have reflux into the esophagus.

Barium X-rays

It is sometimes called as Barium swallow or upper GI series, wherein you are to drink a chalky like liquid, which is Barium, which fills and coats the lining of your digestive tract. A series of x-rays are then taken. The x-ray will present a silhouette shape and condition of your digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, upper intestines, which is up to the duodenum only.

Upper Endoscopy

Through the use of endoscope, the physician can examine the patient’s esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The endoscope is a thin flexible lighted tube with camera. An endoscope is the equipment that the patient has to swallow or is passed through the mouth.

Esophageal Motility Testing

The aim of this test is to measure the pressure and movement of the esophagus. A catheter is passed through the nose and into the patient’s esophagus.

Treatment

In the treatment of sour stomach there are three simple tips you have to follow:

Drink Relief

You can try natural herbal drinks that will relieve you of the symptoms of sour stomach. You can either try baking soda which is dissolved in water or ginger tea with a freshly squeezed lemon.

Changing your Eating Patterns

Avoid eating heavy meals if you are planning to sleep in the next three hours. Avoid also the beverages that may cause sour stomach. Some of the beverages are already mentioned above.

Lifestyle Change

Stop smoking. Smoking contributes to peptic ulcer. Also, have a stress free reliever because stress can make worse your stomach problems. You can do yoga, jogging or walking exercises, or engaging yourself to music stress-free therapy and the like.

Aside from the ones mentioned, there are also medical treatments such as Tagamet or Zantac that blocks the acid in your stomach. There are other medications that can be prescribe by your doctor that will aid in relieving the symptoms associated with this kind of stomach problem.

Remedies

There are a lot of remedies, that may be used at home, which are effective in relieving the sufferers or the people having this kind of stomach conditions. Some of which are as follows:

Water

It is the simplest and most effective remedy. Drinking a glass of cold water when one is standing is a good way to relief heartburn.

Papaya

It provides a long term treatment for sour stomach. Daily consumption of papaya fruit will do wonders with this stomach problem.

Carrot Juice

Aside from water, you can also drink carrot juice. Drink slowly yet immediately.

Green Tea

Studies show that drinking tea without sugar, early in the morning will help in lessening the acidity of your stomach.

Ginger Juice

You drink this juice in warm water and it is preferable if you drink one glass in the morning and at the evening.

Lemon Juice

This type of juice will make the acid in the stomach neutralize. It is preferred to be drunk before each meal.

Aloe Vera

Which has many benefits, one of which is that it is a home remedy, which is effectively treats sour stomach. It can be found in health stores or you can use a fresh one in your garden.