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Archive for December, 2005

Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s Disease

Saturday, December 31st, 2005

Do you know your date of birth? The name of the President or Prime Minister? These are questions that are regularly used to test for memory loss – the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

Although memory loss occurs in all cases of Alzheimer’s disease, it can be difficult to detect in the early stages as many patients manage to cover it up well during tests as a matter of pride.

It’s the recent things we’ve done such as in the last hours, days or even weeks that are the first memories to be lost in Alzheimer’s patients.

However, while those things that are placed in our short term memory are the first to go it’s only much later as the Alzheimer’s condition has become much more severe does the past or longer term memory become affected.

This makes the degree or memory loss a very useful tool in assessing the presence and scope of the disease as if the patient is co-operative and asked in a pleasant way the results can be very revealing.

The following ten questions form part of a common test as they cover both the short and the long term memory and also test for orientation as well.

How old are you?

What is your date of birth?

What day is it today?

What month are we in?

What year is it?

When was the first world war?

What is the name of the President / Prime Minister?

Where are you now?

Can you please count backwards from 20 to 1?

Tell them an address, then ask them to repeat it back to you after five minutes.

Although the test is deceptively easy it is also very useful as it’s quick, cheap, non-evasive and helps diagnose Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and gives an indication of the areas in the patient’s memory that may be affected.

Care must always be taken as a low score on its own doesn’t prove dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as not all people will know all the answers to the questions!

Instead it’s a guide or an indication that something may be wrong and requires further investigation.

Learn More About Alzheimer’s and Dementia and Visit Us for Answers4Alzheimers.com/dementia-symptoms.html Alzheimer’s and Dementia Symptoms

Cause Of Bad Breath!

Saturday, December 31st, 2005

One of the primary causes of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. It is very important to have a good oral regimen to keep your teeth and gums healthy and also avoid the stigma of bad breath.

The first and the foremost cause of bad breath is the left over food particles in the, mouth which decay very fast and result in bad breath. Insufficient saliva in the mouth is also one of the major causes of bad breath. Saliva is a natural cleanser. The saliva cleanses the food particles in the mouth and also helps keep the mouth wet. Dry mouth is one major factor that results in bad breath.

There are hundreds of types of bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria primarily ensure the cleaning of the mouth by acting on the food particles. The release of Hydrogen Sulfide is also one of the prime contributors to bad breath. Hydrogen sulfide is released when the bacteria acts on the food particles in the mouth.

Bleeding gums and tooth decay is also a major contributor to bad breath. It is therefore very important to make a visit to a dentist at last once in six months for a dental check-up. Early detection can help in finding an early cure. Halitosis is also affecting a large number of people.

Apart from factors like smoking and drinking, eating pungent food articles like garlic and onion will also lead to the formation of bad breath. While it may not be possible to avoid taking these, it is imperative that one follows some simple measures to avoid bad breath. Wash your mouth immediately after eating pungent stuff.

Some of the serious condition that cause bad breath are Gingivitis, Dental Caries, bio film, gum retraction, dental plaques, ulcers, diabetes, tonsillitis, diseases of the salivary gland and others.

The problem of bad breath varies from individual to individual. Therefore it is very important to analyze the underlying cause before a proper remedy can be suggested. A visit to a qualified doctor is imperative.

Once the cause for bad breath is established, preventive measures should be taken to address the problem. Follow the instructions given by the doctor strictly.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing your teeth at least once a day will help tackle most of the causes that lead to bad breath.

. Along with a rise in the number of people suffering from bad breath, the market is also flooded with a number of remedies. Some people mistakenly believe that only costly and high-end products can cure this problem. This is not correct. The mouth washes and toothpastes need not cost a bomb. What is important is using them properly and regularly for lasting results.

Now that you have a fair idea about what causes bad breath it should be very easy to tackle it. The golden rule however is to stick to a good dental regimen to avoid bad breath. Identifying the causes of bad breath and finding a remedy is easy. But only a disciplined approach will help in finding a lasting cure. The remedy to bad breath is in your hands. It is up to you to make it work.

Venkata Ramana is the writer of cause-of–bad-breath.blogspot.com Cause Of Bad Breath blog. Read his informative reports about bad—-breath.blogspot.com Bad Breath and get rid of bad breath forever!

Blueberry History

Saturday, December 31st, 2005

The mighty blueberry belongs to the genus Vaccinium and is a Native American species. The blueberry is one of the few fruits native to North America. So diverse and hardy, the blueberry has a “cousin” that grows on the side of Hawaiian volcanoes.

For centuries, blueberries were gathered from the forests and the ravines by Native Americans and eaten fresh or preserved. Blueberries were revered by Northeast Native American tribes and so valued that folklore was woven around them. The blosson end of each berry, called the calyx, forms the shape of a perfect 5 point star. Tribal elders would tell tales of these “stared berries” and how the Great Spirit offered them in order to keep children fed during times of famine. Portions of the blueberry plant were also used as medicine. Tea made from the plant was thought to be healthy for the blood. Blueberry juice was used to comfort coughs. The juice served a dual purpose and was used as a dye for cloth and baskets. Dried blueberries were added to stews and soups and the crushed dried powder was rubbed onto meats to offer them flavor. Blueberries as medicine? Well, that goes without saying.

Settlers arrived in the New World during the 17th century and with their arrival came the clearing of land for farms. The climate in North America was not anything like the weather early settlers were accustomed to, so their early attempts at farming failed.

Plymouth Rock, established in the year 1620, was one of the first Early American Colonies. Life wasn’t easy and many suffered and died during this period. Those who survived went on to establish homes and farms. Their Native American neighbors pitched in and taught them new skills so the settlers might survive. They were schooled in the art of planting corn and taught how to gather native plants in order to augment their food supply. Of course, one of the most important crops was the mighty blueberry. Colonists learned from Native Americans how to gather, dry and store this most revered and delicious fruit. A drink made from blueberries was an important staple for soldiers during the civil war. As industrialization began taking over, the first blueberry canning facility was opened in the northeastern USA.

For decades, the mighty blueberry maintained popularity as a major and thriving commercial business in the USA and Canada. At the turn of the century, the blueberry industry geared itself to an even more important step. In the early 1900’s, Elizabeth White and Frederick Coville set out to domesticate the wild highbush blueberry. This laid the foundation for today’s cultivated blueberry industry. The early breeding work accomplished by these early pioneers gave rise to the blueberry we know today. Without these early pioneering efforts, we would not have the fresh and frozen blueberries in the grocery that we have come to know and love today.

For decades, plant scientists have worked to enhance and identify the desirable characteristics of the Highbush Blueberry (the variety that is widely consumed today) and this has led to the cultivation of superior blueberries all the way around. The berries have been improved through natural selection and specialized plant breeding protocols. Today, we produce the optimal blueberry with marked color, flavor and texture for the fresh and processed food markets.

The United States and Canada are responsible for producing 90 percent of the world’s blueberry supplies. North American harvest season runs from mid April through the first part of October. Peak harvest is the month of July rendering it no surprise that July has been dubbed “National Blueberry Month”. Highbush blueberries are perennial, deciduous, long-lived and woody shrub like plants. They belong to the same family as cranberries and azalia. Blueberries thrive in acidic soil. Cultivated blueberries take anywhere from 120 to 160 days to mature. Flowering in the spring, blueberry plants bear fruit anywhere from 60 to 90 days afterwards.

Today, the modern Highbush blueberry is grown commercially in 38 states and Canadian Provinces. Highbush blueberry industries have also cropped up in places such as Australia, South America, Europe and New Zealand. The USA and Canada are the biggest producers and consumers. However, the market around the world is on the rise with Japan in the forefront, it appears. Overall, fresh market and processed market blueberries demand and consumption is on the rise.

At this point in time, it would be almost safe to say that everyone loves blueberries. While scientific research constantly takes place with regard to the marked health benefits surrounding this little fruit, the majority simply eat them without the blink of an eye. Because we are able to can and freeze these delicious amazing little fruits, one can find blueberries available year round. Regarded as a good thing as research has proven beyond a doubt why everybody should be enjoying this powerful little gift from nature.

Dr. Linda Posh MS SLP ND. “Doc Posh” brings a fresh perspective to natural health and nutrition. She packs a solid educational background with degrees in organic chemistry, psychology and a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Dr. sports a diverse work history including experience and expertise in acute care neurorehab services, special education, autism support services, spinal cord injuries, senior rehabilitation services and currently consults to both patients and colleagues in natural health. Recently, she has been in the laboratory, formulating revolutionary whole food nutritional supplements.

Nutra-Resources Nutra-Resources.com Body Balance Nutra-Resources.com Liquid Vitamins Website donates all profits to providing free Health Care for those in need. Sign up for Doc Posh’s newsletter. Get the latest in health care discoveries, consumer deception and more. Visit nutra-resources.com/ Nutra-Resources.com for the finest in liquid vitamins.

This Motion Of Seeing Which Is Flowing Through Your Eyes

Saturday, December 31st, 2005

Anger arises out of your frustration of your perceived ideas of not being loved in any given situation.

You have failed to see who you are which is already totally loved and loving. You have gotten distracted from knowing who you are. Mind you, you have so little interest in being who you are it is not funny - and you are the one who is not laughing.

Who you are already is. You can be who you are because you already are. You can be who you are now.

Of course, who you think you are is going to be sitting on your shoulder giving you a running commentary on how it is all going - *chuckling* - you are realizing that this chattering mind is not you and can be ignored, literally, and left to its own devices.

This mind does not need your attention given over to it. Instead your attention is to be given to who you are already.

Who you are is this “motion of seeing” that is flowing through your eyes right now. You bring your conscious attention to this “aliveness,” this “seeing,” and come to rest as this one.

There is absolutely nothing more that you can do. You learn to return your conscious attention to this “motion of seeing” that is flowing through your eyes and to be at rest as this “aliveness.” it is who you are.

The only reason you can be this “motion of seeing” is because it is you. You cannot be what you are not. You cannot be your mind - it is “your” mind. “Me” and “mine” are not you.

Anything that you can perceive is not you. Anything that is “yours” is not you - who you are. You cannot “attain” who you are - you can only be who you are.

Who you are is this “motion of aliveness” that is flowing through your eyes right now. No “more” can you do but to be this one. Like a yoyo you will go up and down with remembering “to be” who you are, “actualising” who you are and “forgetting” who you are.

Eventually you will just be who you are effortlessly. The independence of this solid “mass” rock like isness of the heart will reveal itself to you as you be who you are.

Elysha elysha.org/visit.html elysha.org/visit.html is a Heart Master and sits at The Elysium Ashram daily from 10am - 6pm. Anyone who is interested in learning to get past the resistances that have you bound to the notyou-ness that you are suffering and interested in being the freedom of the heart are welcome to come along and sit with him. elysha.org/med.html elysha.org/med.html

Alcohol Rehabs On the Cutting Edge

Friday, December 30th, 2005

Throughout the United States there are thousands of alcohol rehabs which claim to be the best alcohol rehabs in the country. When you stop to take a close look at these alcohol rehabs you will find the vast majority of them to be almost identical. Upon further review, you will find either they do not possess data to support their claims or or you can not find the difference between one alcohol rehab and another alcohol rehab.

What Makes an Alcohol Rehab “Cutting Edge”?

An alcohol rehab that is truly “cutting edge” is an alcohol capable of providing individualized alcohol treatment. Most alcohol treatment centers have every patient participating in the exact same alcohol treatment services. What about the person in the alcohol rehab that has a dual diagnosis, who may be gay, bisexual or transgender or the person in an alcohol rehab program who suffers from a eating disorder. All of the above may require individualized alcohol treatment plans with individualized care.

The Staff in an Alcohol Rehab Makes the Difference

When looking for an alcohol rehab you will see that many of the quality alcohol rehabs have licensed alcohol treatment therapists. While this is a positive feature, do not make your decision only on degrees. All the degree really means is the person completed their education. See how the therapist acts as a person, do you get a good feeling about them, are they passionate about their work and are they in recovery themselves. After reviewing all of these factors you will be better equipped to make a decision.

Florida Alcohol Rehabs Are Special

For some reason Florida Alcohol Rehabs seem to have become some of the most creative and effective in the country. These recoveryconnection.org” target=”_blank alcohol rehabs have increased their lengths of stay, invented new and exciting living environments and provide quality dual-diagnosis-treatment-center.com” target=”_blank dual diagnosis treatment. To locate an steppingstonecenter.org” target=”_blank alcohol rehab in Florida or any other part of the country, call this toll free helpline at 1-800-511-9225.

Jonathan Huttner is one of the founders of a national addiction treatment helpline 1-800-511-9225, which can help you locate effective treatment anywhere in the United States.

What Has Acne Got To Do With Skin Care?

Friday, December 30th, 2005

Acne is normal so there is no cause to panic. If you are one of those lucky people who have never had a problem with your skin earlier, you will probably be quite distressed. After all this time, when you thought you had escaped it, you finally have to come to terms with the reality of having an acne problem. But there is no need to get too upset about it. There are millions of people like you.

Generally speaking, acne is caused by hormonal disturbances that encourage the secretion of sebum in the skin. In a nutshell, the grease tends to attract dirt, clogging the pores, which then become inflamed, producing acne.

Acne, the wake up call? So it is clear that if you have developed acne, you need to take better care of your skin. This really involves very basic skin care routines. You do not need to do anything drastic. Make sure you eat a balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, which will give you the vital nutrients you need to keep your skin healthy. It is crucial to drink plenty of water so that your skin is well hydrated.

Handy hints on dealing with your acne. Apart from this, it would help to wash your face with a mild soap, if you use soap at all. If your acne is painful, take care to dry your skin gently but thoroughly. You may also need to use a mild astringent if your skin is naturally greasy. You could follow this with a light moisturizer.

Hands off your acne! Remember that you must avoid touching your acne at all costs. In fact, it would be better to avoid touching your face altogether.

Stale makeup and acne are bitter enemies. If you use cosmetics, make sure that you remember to remove traces of makeup from your face. Stale makeup may clog pores, which could then get infected and result in an eruption of acne.

Tanning and grease; so bad for acne. If you are out in the sun, it would be best to use a good sunscreen. Do not use too many creams and oils on your face, particularly if you are fond of using cosmetics. Remember that the root cause of acne is the accumulation of sebum, so the best thing you can do is to keep your skin as free of grease as possible.

Stay calm, acne is not worth the stress. And then again, it is important to relax because if you do not you will build up stress. Although stress by itself cannot actually cause acne, when you are under stress, certain hormones are released into the skin, which could result in the appearance of acne.

Above all, remember not to fly off the handle. You must learn to be patient if you expect your acne to clear up. Do not make the mistake of looking for quick fixes. Such things can do more harm than good. After all that you have been through, particularly if you have come up against acne for the first time, it would be a pity to find that all the trouble you have been taking to care for your skin has come to naught.

Acne, your own experience. Once again, try not to compare the acne problem you have anyone else you know. Every individual has a particular skin type and his or her own unique experience with acne. While it helps to know that others have also had to deal with acne, possibly far worse than yours, do remember that your experience is yours alone. If you follow the tips that have been mentioned here, you should have a handle on your acne pretty soon.

Once you are able to see an improvement in the condition of your skin, you should feel confident that your acne is under control. But do remember that your acne did not turn up overnight. It has taken time to get to this point. Quite naturally, it will take time to clear up as well.

So do be patient and comfort yourself with the cheering thought that you have made progress after all. That is saying quite a lot, so do keep your spirits up and stay strong. It will be well worth the trouble.

Louise Forrest has created the ultimate FREE Health & Beauty guide. Find out how you can gain access to FREE skin care articles, tips and techniques at NaturalElements.co.uk NaturalElements.co.uk
Learn how you can benefit from naturalelements.co.uk/oily-skin-products/skin-cream/ natural acne skin care at NaturalElements.co.uk NaturalElements.co.uk.

Tips For Dealing With Body Acne

Friday, December 30th, 2005

While acne problems are most often associated with the face, body acne is also a big problem, and in fact acne is the number one skin problem in the country, affecting all areas of the body, not just the face. Dealing with acne is often not an easy process, and the sheer number of acne relief preparations can make shopping for the right one a difficult and time consuming process.

When shopping for the best solution to the problem of body acne it is important to keep in mind that no two acne sufferers are the same. While asking family members and friends which acne medications worked best for them is a good way to start, it is important to remember that the product that worked for an older sibling or other family member may not work as well for you. Most acne sufferers will need to do a bit of experimenting to find out which products work the best. After you have determined which product or combination of products provides the most effective acne treatment and prevention, it is a good idea to keep a supply on hand in order to be able to treat future acne problems as quickly as possible.

That is because prompt treatment can make a great deal of difference when it comes to acne, and treating the problem right away can do a great deal to lessen the severity and shorten the duration of an outbreak.

The type of medication used is of course important, so as you shop around it is a good idea to get familiar with reading the ingredient labels. Knowing what exactly is in the acne medication you are considering, and knowing how effective the active ingredients are, will help you get the best value for the money. There are a number of proven acne treatment ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide, that tend to show up in a number of different acne medications, and these tried and true products are a good thing to look for as you shop.

In addition there are a growing number of all natural acne treatment products on the market, and these natural products can be very effective as well. Some vitamin supplements, such as vitamin A and vitamin B5, have shown real promise when it comes to treating both body acne and acne of the face, so it is a good idea to become educated about these natural remedies and to determine if they are right for you.

Beyond these over the counter treatments for body acne there are a number of acne medications that are available by prescription, and these prescription medications can be quite effective. If you believe a prescription would be helpful to treat your acne it is important to consult with your family doctor to determine which medication is most appropriate.

Stella served as an assistant at a beauty clinic for 5 years before leaving to pursue a career as a beautician. She now owns a beauty salon where she has a monthly clinic on acne treatment. Please visit scrubdoctor.com scrubdoctor.com for more information on scrubdoctor.com best acne treatments.

How To Get Great Abs

Friday, December 30th, 2005

It is a known fact that excess fat around the midsection is a harbinger for diabetes, heart disease and a general all-around health risk I know that’s why most of you are reading this How To Get Good Abs column, right? Wrong. The truth is, most people want to have a flat stomach for purely cosmetic reasons, not because of the health benefits associated with exercising your tummy. Regardless of your reasoning, the health benefits associated with buffing up your belly complement the physical gains , ultimately leading to a better way of life.

Flat Abs Mythology

One of the biggest myths surrounding the idea of getting a flat stomach is the thinking that you must perform seven thousand abdominal exercises and, Poof!, you’ll achieve a flat stomach in a heartbeat. Yes, exercising your abdomen and strengthening your midsection will help but overdoing it with sit-ups and crunches isn’t the best way to go about it. Practicing a quality, balanced exercise regimen will give you results faster than any quick-fix, obsessive muscle assault.

Tips for a flatter stomach

Acquiring a perfect set of 6-pack abs may seem impossible, but with some simple procedures you can achieve this goal.

Keep in mind that target-burning abdominal muscles won’t get the job done, no matter what every ‘Flat abs in 7 days!’ instructional videos tell you. To burn away the fat on your abdomen, fat must be burned from everywhere on your body, which translates to: CARDIO, CARDIO, CARDIO. Performing cardiovascular or aerobic exercises will get your heart rate beating at a moderate to intensive rate, subsequently melting fat from all areas of the body. This type of aerobic activity performed five days a week for 30 minutes each session will teach your body to use the extra fat reserves for much needed fuel. Your fat stomach will turn into a rock-hard muscular wall in no time and reduce your overall body fat percentage as well.

It’s not a good idea to work out the abdominal muscles on a daily basis. Body fat will start disappearing as your cardiovascular regimen gets moving and will help tone and trim your stomach. Abs need to be exercised in the same way as any other muscle group, meaning you must give them a day or two of rest to recover from being worked out. Don’t work them out every day. Include three or four sets of your favorite two ab exercises and perform 15-20 repetitions for each set. This will be more than sufficient. Popular ab exercises are the abdominal crunch, working the obliques (meeting your opposite elbow to your opposite knee), the reverse crunch) and toe stretches (lying on the back with the legs straight up in the air and reaching to touch the toes).

Having a balanced, nutritional and reduced-calorie diet to augment your exercise program will be the key to success if you want to have enviable abs. It’s more than likely you have fallen into a negative pattern of junk food and lack of exercise. If this sloppy diet continues, it won’t be so easy to get the abs you dream of. A balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables is very important for your overall health. Avoiding white pasta, white bread and white rice and substitute whole wheat and brown rice to complex and healthy carbohydrates. If you eat meat, choose the low-fat or lean cuts. Eating throughout the day, five or six times, with moderate portions is ideal.

Discipline Discipline Discipline

Nothing worth doing is easy to do. This will take hard work, determination and discipline. But hard work breeds results and once you start to see results, it will be easier to maintain your good diet and exercise plan. Stay fit, think fit and be fit!

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on theworldsbesthomepage.com/blog/category/health/ health and visit our associated site free-content-resource.com articles for free.

Is There A Cure For Hemorrhoids That Can Both Treat & Prevent Flareups?

Thursday, December 29th, 2005

In order to find a suitable cure for hemorrhoids that works for you, it is important to learn about the condition itself. Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are inflamed and swollen veins in or around the anus and rectum. Although this topic tends to be embarrassing to discuss, it is quite common, affecting millions of men and women.

About half of adults will suffer from hemorrhoids by the age of 50. However, there are still other causes of hemorrhoids that can affect younger adults as well. They can be caused by obesity, straining while constipated, diarrhea, standing for long periods of time, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time, pregnancy and childbirth. No matter what the cause is, there is a hemorrhoids cure.

There are numerous ways to initiate a hemorrhoid cure. Some doctors recommend an increase of fiber and fluids which helps soften stool. A softer stool lessens pressure on the anus and helps prevent the hemorrhoids from protruding.

Other ways to cure hemorrhoids are by taking several warm baths throughout the day or the applying hemorrhoidal cream to the affected area. Most times, these methods help lessen the annoyance and pain of the symptoms.

Although rare, some cases must be treated surgically or endoscopically which help shrink or eliminate the hemorrhoidal tissue. Some of the methods used for hemorrhoid cure range from rubber band ligation, where the band cuts off the hemorrhoid’s circulation, to a hemorrhoidectomy, which is the surgical removal of the hemorrhoid.

However, with the many options to cure hemorrhoids natural treatments are what many people are turning to. Using natural treatments allows you to find relief without dealing with side effects that chemically based over-the-counter drugs may bring.

There are many natural ingredients that are a wonderful cure for hemorrhoids. Many of these ingredients treat inflammation quickly, giving you the soothing relief you need to get through the day pain-free.

A natural hemorrhoids cure will contain ingredients that are healthy for your body, instead of harmful. Side effects such as nausea, headache or skin irritation will not be an issue by using botanical ingredients, vitamins and other herbs.

One cure for hemorrhoids that is often overlooked is Vitamin E. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant, which helps improve your body’s metabolism and digestive system. A properly functioning digestive system will help in allowing your body to eliminate waste properly instead of leaving you constipated and uncomfortable.

Another great ingredient to look for when finding a hemorrhoids cure is zinc oxide. This ingredient protects the infected area by blocking other irritants that might prolong healing.

Other natural ingredients that work as a cure for hemorrhoids are horse chestnut, oat straw, cayenne, bilberry, red sage and butcher’s broom. Many of these ingredients soothe the pain and strengthen weak areas of your body, making it easier to prevent recurring infections. This is because natural ingredients work with your body, unlike chemically based treatments that only disguise the problem by providing temporary relief.

While the ingredients stated above are available for individual purchase, they are most effective when working together in comprehensive formulas. A combination of natural ingredients is what’s going to bring about the strongest cure for hemorrhoids.

Having an all-natural hemorrhoid cure entering the bloodstream allows you to keep hemorrhoids away for good. As mentioned earlier, for long-lasting relief it’s best to avoid over-the-counter medications and creams. Preparation H and other creams can be effective, but the possible range of side effects just isn’t worth it.

If you want a hemorrhoid-treatment-guide.com cure for hemorrhoids that actually cures them for good, relying on all-natural treatments are a safe and effective way to bring you long-lasting relief.

Alex Lerner has been researching digestive disorders for many years, focusing on treatment and management options. Alex contributes regularly to the hemorrhoid-treatment-guide.com Hemorrhoid Treatment Guide, a site dedicated to diagnosing and treating hemorrhoid flareups with conventional and alternative therapies. Learn more about hemorrhoid-treatment-guide.com an effective hemorrhoids cure and other information on the site.

Herpes and Pregnancy

Thursday, December 29th, 2005

Herpes, both oral and genital, are highly communicable diseases caused by the two strains of the Herpes Simplex Virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Genital herpes is transmitted sexually and is rarely transmitted from a pregnant mother to her unborn child, but could prove fatal for the unborn infant if it is transmitted.

It is possible, though unlikely that someone can transmit the virus through the placenta during pregnancy. If this happens, chances of the baby being born with a defect or a miscarriage increase.

The transmission also depends upon the stage of pregnancy in which the primary episode of herpes sets in. If the women had primary genital herpes during the first trimester, then there are less chances of the baby being infected. This is because it usually takes the body three to four weeks to buildup antibodies against the virus.

So if herpes happens at the onset of pregnancy, the body gets enough time to build up the immune system. As a result, these antibodies are also passed onto the baby. Generally, mothers can have a normal vaginal delivery.

But this is not so if the woman gets the infection in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. If the blood tests confirm that the women has never had herpes before the experts will recommend a caesarian delivery. This is because at these stages, the body does not get enough time to build up the immune system and the chances of transmission are extremely high.

It is easier to prevent herpes than it is to cure it. The highest risk to an infant comes from an infected mother who contracts HSV-1 or 2 during pregnancy and the best way to avoid this is by preventing this situation. Since Genital Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease, steps should be taken to ensure that you don’t transmit herpes during this crucial time.

herpes-web.com Herpes provides detailed information about herpes, herpes symptoms and more. Herpes is affiliated with e-impotence.com Impotence Treatments.