Cascia Talbert's Blog, page 39

How Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome Or IBS Affect a Person’s Ability to Lose Weight?

by Tiffany Pratt

Although sometimes uncomfortable, constipation is not a serious medical condition that warrants seeking medical attention. However, constipation does occur as a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder. To avoid constipation, you should try to get plenty of restful sleep and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Although bowel motion varies significantly for every individual, when less than three days pass without a completed bowel movement, then the content in the bowels can harden, which makes it painful or difficult to pass. The feeling of incomplete emptying or straining during bowel movements can be considered chronic constipation. Chronic constipation is not a disease but is commonly seen as a symptom of an underlying gastrointestinal disorder. Two of the most common are Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. While both of these disorders affect the digestive system, they cause constipation in different ways.

Constipation can be caused by two types of ailments: nutritional disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases. Some medications can also cause constipation, such as anti-inflammatory or laxative over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Medications can also cause constipation as a side effect. These include sedatives, anti-anxiety medication, antihistamines, and pain medications used for arthritis, urinary problems, and certain antidepressants.

Abdominal bloating, diarrhea, or constipation are the symptoms of a nutritional or inflammatory bowel disease. Nutritional disorders include hypoglycemia, sepsis, and hypothrombotic-pancreatitis. Inflammatory bowel diseases include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While these diseases do not usually cause constipation, sometimes constipation is still associated with them.

The colon is the part of the body responsible for maintaining health. Its main function is to store nutrients and remove toxins. When the colon and rectum are inflamed, this process becomes difficult. As a result, the body produces less nutrients and the digestive system produce more waste, resulting in a constipated colon and rectum.

Those who have IBS and other digestive problems may experience symptoms that include diarrhea or constipation. Diarrhea is an increase in water and or feces, while constipation is the involuntary movement of bowels. Some people may experience symptoms such as cramps and bloating, while others may experience pain when passing stool. Others may experience rectal bleeding, while others may experience rectal itching, gas, and even rectal soreness.

Constipation can be prevented by getting regular exercise, which helps the muscles of the intestinal tract relax. You should also add fiber to your diet, which softens stools and makes bowel movement easier. Some foods that have a high fiber content are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You should also drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.

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If you use laxatives to alleviate constipation, you run the risk of overdosing on them. Laxatives can cause damage to the sensitive lining of the colon and may even result in side effects such as intestinal gas, abdominal pain, and even rectal bleeding. This is especially true for people who take medications orally. To avoid such complications, it is best for people with IBS and other digestive disorders to undergo colon hydrotherapy. Colon hydrotherapy involves removing plaque and other toxins from the colon through the use of controlled inflow of water.

In this procedure, a couple of plastic bags are placed on the person’s rectum. One bag is filled with water while the other bag contains sodium bicarbonate or stool softeners. The water in the first bag pushes down on the stool, making it lose its bulk. The sodium bicarbonate in the second bag softens the stool making it easier to pass.

As mentioned earlier, IBS may cause constipation. In this case, the constipation can be relieved by the patient using laxatives. However, it is always advisable for someone with IBS to get enough exercise to strengthen their muscles of the intestinal tract. They can also consider using laxatives to control their diarrhea. If the diarrhea continues to use laxatives, it may be a sign that they have too much ingested sodium or too much hydrochloric acid in their system.

A doctor can determine if you have too much hydrochloric acid by placing your rectal skin across the top of the anal opening. Once they have done this, they can see if there is a “black dot” in the center of the black dot. This indicates that there is more hydrochloric acid in your stomach than your intestine. This excess is then eliminated through your rectum.

Another reason why constipation happens is because of not having sufficient fiber in the diet. It is difficult for the body to absorb fiber as it is already present in small amounts in most food. If there are not enough fibers present in the food, the intestines do not have the capacity to process and digest food properly. When not treated, constipation will occur.

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The article How Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome Or IBS Affect a Person’s Ability to Lose Weight? by Tiffany Pratt appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Weekend Reflection

by Cascia Talbert

Well I don’t have a lot to say this week. I have been extremely tired, stressed out and depressed about our whole situation. I can’t sleep at night. Even when my baby is sleeping I still don’t sleep well. I got this Celestial Seasonings tea called Tension Reducer, or something like that. It is pretty tasty. So far I don’t know if it has helped me yet. The house is slowly getting packed up. I am not looking forward to this move. I think I am going to cry on the day I leave my home.

My kids are doing well. My oldest is having her eleventh birthday party right now. She had four girls over for a slumber party. We got her a MP3 player which we plan on giving to her tonight. We are going out to dinner with my parents to celebrate her birthday this evening. Her real birthday is on Wednesday. That is also going to be her last day of school before the move. I think she is a little sad about that.

The terror hasn’t done anything unusual this past week. She followed the big girls around last night. That was pretty cute. She thinks she is a big girl now that she is almost potty trained. She woke up dry two mornings in a row.

The baby is doing well. He still is not sleeping much at night. And he is learning how to crawl. Every day he moves a little more. It is too cute.

Well I don’t have much else to say this morning. Don’t forget to leave your comments about your weekend and your links.

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Meningitis – Causes and Symptoms

by Tammy Jones

Meningitis is a viral disease caused by a bacteria or virus. Viral meningitis is usually more prevalent, but bacterial meningitis is sometimes serious too. It may result in brain damage, death, or paralysis. Some forms of viral meningitis can be deadly. So, if you have meningitis, the goal is to keep it from complications.

If you have viral meningitis, the goal is to prevent viral spread to the rest of your body. If this happens, the complications can be much less serious, and they can occur sooner. To do that, your doctor will give you antibiotics for the inflammation. If the doctor gives you antibiotics, make sure that you are getting the recommended amounts of fluids per day.

Antibiotics will relieve your meningitis symptoms, but if you do not receive adequate fluids, the medicine is useless. Some of the medicines used to treat meningitis will dry up the fluids in the body, so you will need to drink plenty of liquids to keep yourself hydrated. The doctor may also prescribe an anti-diarrhea medication, or provide a liquid laxative to use when you feel nauseous. When vomiting, try to induce vomiting early in the day, so that you do not drink too much alcohol or liquids that will increase your nausea.

Viral meningitis can result in seizures. While this side effect is rare, if you have meningitis and a seizure occurs, you should call your doctor right away. Seizures can result in hearing loss, dizziness, confusion, coma, and death in many people. It is important that any person who has a seizure report it to their doctor immediately, and not wait to see if it clears up.

Babies often contract bacterial meningitis during days in college when they are not properly supervised. This is because babies tend to touch their nose and mouth frequently with their hands and faces. Touching the nose and mouth of an infant can transfer bacteria from one baby to another, and from one individual to another. As an infant develops his immune system, he is at risk for contracting viral meningitis from other infants. Babies can also get bacterial meningitis from their mothers, if they have a history of meningitis in the family.

There are several vaccines available for persons who have meningitis and want to avoid the complications that come with it. For example, meningococcal meningitis vaccine can help reduce the number of complications associated with the illness. The varicella vaccine is also an excellent choice. However, there are some individuals who should not receive these vaccines due to certain health conditions, such as individuals with allergies, and persons with pre-existing medical conditions. These individuals should discuss these options with their healthcare provider.

Although meningitis causes temporary symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, fever, and headache, there is a much greater risk of developing viral meningitis or aseptic meningitis later in life. Viral meningitis, also known as mumps, includes the painful symptoms caused by the spread of the virus between humans. A similar type of virus, herpes, can cause outbreaks of blisters that are filled with pus in an individual’s throat. A more serious type of viral meningitis called seroconversion syndrome causes permanent damage to brain cells and can lead to meningitis, permanent brain damage, and even death. Seroconversion syndrome has a significantly greater risk of occurring among children who have never had meningitis before.

Although most meningitis cases last only a few days, the fact is that in some severe cases, meningitis can actually last for several months. The symptoms of meningitis can be mild, or quite severe, depending on the area of the body that is infected, as well as how advanced the infection is. Meningitis causes inflammation and swelling in the meninges, which are protective membrane structures at the base of the skull that protects the spinal cord. Without proper care and treatment, meningitis can lead to long-term damage to the spinal cord and even death. For this reason, it’s imperative that everyone receive a thorough checkup and exam from a doctor whenever they think they may have a case of meningitis, regardless of whether they believe it to be a simple cold or the more serious condition of meningococcal meningitis or viral meningitis, which often begins with respiratory problems and results in much more severe problems down the line.

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The article Meningitis – Causes and Symptoms by Tammy Jones appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Weekend Reflection

by Cascia Talbert

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Contest Winner

Congratulations to Laura Williams from Laura Williams Musings she is the winner of the book Touchpoints Your Child‘s Emotional and Behavioral Development from Birth to Three. I will be shipping out the book on Monday. If you didn’t win you can click on the links below to purchase a copy of your own. Please check back for more contests in the future.

Touchpoints Birth to 3: Your Child’s Emotional and Behavioral Development
by T Berry Brazelton, M.D., Joshua D Sparrow, M.D. (Revised by)
About this title: In this completely revised edition Dr. Brazelton introduces new information on physical, emotional, and behavioral development. He also addresses the new stresses on families and fears of children, with a fresh focus on the role of fathers and other caregivers.

Packing up the house for our big move

I am scared, upset, depressed and a little excited about our big move accross the country. My inlaws sent us a ton of boxes, bubble wrap, tape, you name it everything we will need for the big move. I am going to miss everyone here in Wisconsin. At least I won’t have to deal with the snow anymore! I am looking forward to that. The worse part is the fact that I will be away from everything I have ever known. I’ve lived in Wisconsin all my life, that is nearly 30 years. My parents are here, all my friends are here, and I went to school here. Moving to California is going to stink! I am trying to remain positive but it is very hard. I love my house and I am giong to miss the park accross the street. I am also going to miss the small town atmosphere. Sacramento is not a small town. Here I can put the kids in the double stroller and just walk down the street and say hello to everyone I pass. I don’t think it is going to be the same in Sacramento. But there are more jobs there and we will have a house to live in. I need to try to remain positive. My plane leaves in sixteen days.

My kids have been adorable this week. The baby is still trying to pull himself up and crawl. He gets up on all fours and does this sort of “push up” thing then he falls on his face. He’s figured out how to move backwards now we need to work on the forward thing. We finally got him into the county for his immunizations. They told us that he will need more when he is nine months. I hope that California has a program for uninsured families like Wisconsin does. Or maybe my husband will have a job with insurance by then. I can only hope.

The terror has been a silly little girl. She love to sing and can sing the whole ABC song. The other day she put on a concert for us. And we did get it on video! She went downstairs and found this child‘s cowboy hat and a toy keyboard. She put the hat on and sat in front of the keyboard and sang Old McDonald Had a Farm. It was too cute! She also likes to play this peekaboo game. She will hide behind a door or peek through a heating vent and say, “Mommy I see you!” Currently she is helping her dad make pancakes. She just said, “Look, Mommy stir!” I love the fact that she is talking in sentances now and I can communicate with her better. Two is such a great age.

My oldest is not looking forward to the move. She is sad because she is leaving her friends behind. I am trying to help her to remain positive though. But it is difficult when I am not happy about this move either. I hate pulling her out of school in the middle of the year. We are moving five days after her eleventh birthday. She is having a big “gowing away/birthday slumber party with all the girls in the fifth grade a week before we move. I hope that will help her to deal with the big change. She wants an mp3 player for her birthday. We are trying so hard to make that happen. I think Wal Mart has some for about $50. That isn’t too bad.

Don’t forget to leave your links and comments about your week here.

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A Look at the Major Choline Sources

by Tiffany Pratt

Choline is an important nutrient for most animals and humans. It forms various ions when mixed with water. Choline is usually derived from fish and poultry eggs and liver, although some plants contain it high levels. To maintain good health, choline must be taken from the salts, such as phosphatidyl choline. However, other supplements can also be used.

The major function of choline is in maintaining the balance of energy homeostasis between the cells. In this process, it is needed to make several chemical reactions that are necessary for the regulation of metabolism. When there is an overproduction of choline in the body, a condition called overstress occurs that causes numerous physical and mental side effects. These include lack of concentration, depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight gain, weakness, nausea, and diarrhea. Some of these symptoms are similar to those of some common illnesses. If choline deficiency is present, the results can be similar to those of a bad diet, or the lack of nutrients in the body.

Choline deficiency has been linked to obesity, liver damage, and cognitive impairment. It can be prevented by taking supplements that contain the fat-burning compound. Choline is found in several sources, including eggs, liver, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, and food supplements. This deficiency has also been shown to contribute to poor growth in infants. The best sources of choline include soybean sprouts, liver, fish, eggs, and poultry.

Some people have a higher risk of developing certain health problems if they have a deficiency of choline. People who have undergone liver transplant surgery, children who have had malformations, and people with a higher risk of developing liver disease may be at a greater risk for this deficiency. Children who have ingested large amounts of fish or shellfish may also have a greater risk for this condition. In addition to liver disease, individuals who consume large amounts of fatty fish are at a greater risk for this condition.

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For adults, a deficiency of choline in the brain can result in serious symptoms such as seizures or memory loss. While it is not likely safe for children to take a supplement with this compound, adults with a liver disease or someone who has a higher risk of developing liver disease should consider it. This chemical works in the brain by helping to make the membranes more permeable, which allows more brain chemicals to be absorbed. This allows the brain to better function.

While there are many studies on choline benefits to the brain, there are only a few studies on it’s side effects. These studies generally do not show an adverse reaction in most healthy adults when taken in small to moderate dosages. However, it is best to talk with your doctor before  taking any supplements.

Choline supplements are often recommended as a part of a healthy diet, especially in individuals who need more of it than others. It is often viewed as more of a dietary source rather than a medical supplement. Choline supplements have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and can be purchased over-the-counter and with a prescription from your doctor.  Choline deficiency is more likely in persons who have other health issues, so a consultation with your physician is recommended.

Choline deficiency has no major side effects, but it can cause certain gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and flatulence. This is because it is excreted from the intestines and does not travel through the entire system.

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The Best Of Healthy Moms- Weekend Reflection February Already

by Cascia Talbert

Weekend Reflection- February Already

This was originally published on February 2, 2008

Well here I am again sitting here sipping my coffee on a Saturday morning. I can’t believe that it is February already! This week was rather crazy just like the week before.

The Terror had a great birthday. She is now 2. She got the movie Cinderella, some toys and a Go, Diego, Go birthday cake. On the day of her birthday I had to take the kids to this Celebration of the Educational Arts thing at my oldest’s school. She played her band instrument and sang for all the parents. I also got to play the orchestra bells with her. It took me back to my college years when I was a music major. I felt like I was back in Percussion Techniques class.

My baby is trying to crawl. He pushes himself up on all fours and then falls on his face. It is too cute! I took him into the doctor this week because he is still battling a cold and is not sleeping much. My doctor told me to start giving him meats before bed. He said that the extra protein might help him to sleep better. He had his first serving of Gerber pureed veal last night. I think he liked it. The doctor checked out his ears and said he didn’t have an ear infection so that was good. He said that the reason why he has been suffering from what seems to be an endless cold is because of the long dry winter. It should clear up when the weather gets nicer. Meanwhile, I have to keep asparating his nose before I nurse him and put him in the bathroom when we take our showers. I can also keep giving him chamamile tea to help break up the cough.

My husband and I are still having a tough time finding full time work with benefits around here. We also got a forclosure notice in the mail this past week. So we have made a huge decision. His parents live out in Sacramento, California and they have been begging him to move back home for a long, long time. His grandmother’s house is empty and there are a lot more jobs in Sacramento then here in little Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. I did not want to pull our oldest out of school in the middle of the year but when we recieved the foreclosure notice and with our bad credit, we don’t have a choice. I want what is best for my kids. They need a home to live in. If we stay here I have no idea where we would live. Rent on a three bedroom apartment here is $700 a month or higher and we do not have the money for a security deposit. So on February 25, 2008 we are packing up the whole family cats and all and moving to Sacramento, CA. I probably will be taking a break from my blogs that week. I am looking forward to a new fresh start. Hopefully we can find full time jobs with benefits out there.

Here’s to another week! Don’t forget to leave your comments and links! I want to hear about how your week went.

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Theories of Emotions – What Are They?

by Andrea Crawley

Emotions are essentially emotional states induced by various neurophysiological modifications, most commonly related to feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and a level of happiness or unhappiness. However, there is now no universally accepted definition. The fact remains that everyone experiences emotional states and processes differently. Nevertheless, the goal remains the same: the ability for you and me to survive and thrive.

Most experts agree that there are four basic emotional states: the experiential state, the cognitive state, the interoceptive state, and the discrete emotional state. I feel… This is an easy enough statement. However, emotions can be experienced in many different ways. Each of these four emotional states has its own discrete emotional pattern; i.e., it is not possible to say “you feel sad” when you experience sadness as well as happiness at the same time.

Contemplating disgust and its relationship with emotions is like trying to understand love and lust at the same time. The relationship between disgust and emotions is complicated. According to the continuum theory, we can divide emotions into three groups:

The continuum theory suggests that emotions are organized according to their degree of intensity, or their “degree of arousal”. It is believed that extreme emotions such as anger, fear, or disgust have very complex neural structures. Therefore, they do not arise in a similar way in all humans; our brains contain different pathways for each emotion. According to this theory, the disgust response, which is closely linked with anger, can be activated through the same brain pathway as anger.

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According to the discrete emotion theory, we can make distinctions between similar, more intense, or less intense emotions. Therefore, we have different aptitudes and personality styles for different emotions. According to this theory, we have the ability to experience different types of emotions in varying combinations. In addition, we also differentiate between strong and weak emotions. When a person experiences strong emotions, one usually feels disgusted while the other feels elated. Conversely, when we feel weak emotions, we may experience either anger or sadness.

According to the theory, there are five basic emotions: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and pleasure. Each of these emotions can be combined in an unlimited number of ways. However, the five basic emotions are considered to be universal, essential, primary, secondary, and perfect. According to the continuum theory, the combination of the five basic emotions produce a range of feelings that vary from mild, medium, and strong. The five basic emotions are defined by their combination in terms of their strength.

In addition, the theories of Emotions describe the five basic emotions as universal, essential, primary, secondary, and perfect. According to these theories, the combinations of these five basic emotions produce different types of emotions. Therefore, according to these theories, we can differentiate between anger and fear, between fear and sadness, between sadness, and disgust, etc. Furthermore, the theory also describes the following different types of emotions:

As already mentioned, these theories describe different types of emotions in the context of their combinations. However, the combination of one particular theory does not necessarily mean that a person will always experience one of those basic emotions. It only means that the person has the capacity to experience one of these emotions at a particular time. These theories of emotions are useful tools for people who want to better understand their own or their loved ones’ experiences. For example, if a person cannot express their emotions properly, they may find it hard to know what they are feeling. The theories of emotions can also help us in understanding the experiences of other people.

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The article Theories of Emotions – What Are They? by Andrea Crawley appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.

Weekend Reflection

by Cascia Talbert

Well here I am again sitting here sipping my coffee on a Saturday morning. I can’t believe that it is February already! This week was rather crazy just like the week before.

The Terror had a great birthday. She is now 2. She got the movie Cinderella, some toys and a Go, Diego, Go birthday cake. On the day of her birthday I had to take the kids to this Celebration of the Educational Arts thing at my oldest’s school. She played her band instrument and sang for all the parents. I also got to play the orchestra bells with her. It took me back to my college years when I was a music major. I felt like I was back in Percussion Techniques class.

My baby is trying to crawl. He pushes himself up on all fours and then falls on his face. It is too cute! I took him into the doctor this week because he is still battling a cold and is not sleeping much. My doctor told me to start giving him meats before bed. He said that the extra protein might help him to sleep better. He had his first serving of Gerber pureed veal last night. I think he liked it. The doctor checked out his ears and said he didn’t have an ear infection so that was good. He said that the reason why he has been suffering from what seems to be an endless cold is because of the long dry winter. It should clear up when the weather gets nicer. Meanwhile, I have to keep asparating his nose before I nurse him and put him in the bathroom when we take our showers. I can also keep giving him chamamile tea to help break up the cough.

My husband and I are still having a tough time finding full time work with benefits around here. We also got a forclosure notice in the mail this past week. So we have made a huge decision. His parents live out in Sacramento, California and they have been begging him to move back home for a long, long time. His grandmother’s house is empty and there are a lot more jobs in Sacramento then here in little Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. I did not want to pull our oldest out of school in the middle of the year but when we recieved the foreclosure notice and with our bad credit, we don’t have a choice. I want what is best for my kids. They need a home to live in. If we stay here I have no idea where we would live. Rent on a three bedroom apartment here is $700 a month or higher and we do not have the money for a security deposit. So on February 25, 2008 we are packing up the whole family cats and all and moving to Sacramento, CA. I probably will be taking a break from my blogs that week. I am looking forward to a new fresh start. Hopefully we can find full time jobs with benefits out there.

Here’s to another week! Don’t forget to leave your comments and links! I want to hear about how your week went.

Cascia

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Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

by LouAnn Moss

Magnesium Deficiency happens if one doesn’t get enough magnesium in his diet. Magnesium is an alkaline-earth metal with the symbol Mg in the periodic table. It’s a silvery gray, shiny metallic substance that bears a close resemblance to all the other five elements in this second row of the periodic table. It has a number of medical properties that make it useful in a wide range of science and medical practices. It can be found in many everyday objects as well as in pharmaceuticals used for treatments.

Because of its chemical properties, dietary magnesium can be obtained in a number of different ways. One method involves eating magnesium-rich foods such as pumpkin seeds, whole grains, cashews, walnuts, soybeans, and pinto beans. Plants contain a lot of this mineral but plants other than these contain only trace amounts. It’s possible to get much more magnesium from these sources than through dietary means alone. This is why magnesium is frequently added to nutritional supplements.

Magnesium is used in many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Some of these are under the names of calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Magnesium is also naturally present in many foods, especially meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, and legumes. Magnesium isn’t a required nutrient in most diets but it’s always on the list of substances that should be included in diets that are supposed to provide enough of it to help with specific health problems.

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There are two major conditions that affect the levels of magnesium in the blood. These are hyperventilation and low dietary intake. In the former, there is inadequate excretion, meaning that the magnesium excreted does not go to the liver to be broken down into its constituent parts; it stays in the body where it is eventually released into the blood through urine. It is not clear how this happens in the kidneys, but it could have something to do with the way the kidneys are activated or inhibited by drugs (which increase excretion).

In the latter situation, there is a severe magnesium deficiency and vomiting can occur along with other signs and symptoms. The major problem is that when there is an insufficient amount of magnesium in the bloodstream, it can cause serious damage to the functions of the organs, particularly the kidneys. This can result in a number of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, restlessness, confusion, sleepiness, fever, heart palpitations, and muscular weakness. If the overdose comes with no prior history of magnesium toxicity, the patient can suffer from these symptoms immediately.

To assess magnesium levels, the blood has to be tested because the only reliable way of assessing blood magnesium concentrations is to do it on a daily basis. The easiest method of assessing magnesium levels is to monitor the results of the urine for the measurement of serum magnesium concentrations. The urine is collected and analyzed before the medicine is taken. The serum magnesium levels are measured as soon as the urine is collected. Based on the results of the urine test and on the magnesium concentrations found in the serum, medical treatments can either be given intravenously or intramuscularly.

Diagnosing magnesium deficiency include gastrointestinal disorders, especially when nausea accompanies abdominal pain. Abdominal pain usually happens due to a tumor, but nausea can also be caused by different diseases. Because gastric acid helps in digesting food, abdominal swelling can indicate the presence of gastritis or infection. Abdominal swelling may also indicate that there is an inflammation in the stomach or intestine and, in such cases, hospitalization may be required. It is wise to seek immediate medical attention if vomiting occurs, since untreated ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are life-threatening diseases.

When nausea is accompanied by low blood pressure (hypotension), it is assumed that the patient is under the influence of some type of anesthetic. However, this is not always the case. In fact, even normal individuals can get affected by hypertension, which is characterized by low blood pressure during sleep. Therefore, low blood pressure can also be caused by excessive vomiting. Hypotension can cause hypoxemia, which is marked by low levels of oxygen in the blood. If the levels of oxygen are low in the blood, the brain functions less efficiently and the person becomes more prone to accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents.



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Causes of Childhood Obesity

by Cascia Talbert

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Today over nine million children over the age of six are considered obese. Childhood obesity is caused by many different factors including environmental, social and genetic. This article will discuss each of these causes and what you can do as a parent to prevent obesity in your children.

The environment in which your child lives could contribute to childhood obesity. Today many streets, towns and suburbs are designed to discourage walking and other physical activities. Only about 1 child out of every 5 in the US will participate in some form of extra-curricular physical activity outside of school.

The slowing down of the US economy and the rise in gas prices is forcing families to cut expenses. One expense that more and more families are cutting back on is their grocery bill. They are purchasing more convenience foods that are high in fat and have very little nutritional value. These foods are usually easy to prepare or require no preparation at all. The economic slowdown is also effecting the cost of produce. This is also effecting American families as they are not able to afford these nutritious foods anymore. Instead they are turning to canned and processed foods.

Some school districts in the United States are facing severe budget cuts. These districts are forced to cut back their physical education programs and after school sports. This is resulting in fewer opportunities for children to participate in physical activities.

Leisure time that was once spent outdoors playing today is replaced with video games, DVDs, and over 100 channels on the television. With a culture that embraces Hannah Montana, and Sesame Street our children are encouraged to watch their favorite television show instead of meeting friends at a local park for a ball game after school.

As a parent and US consumer what can you do to reverse this trend? You can begin by taking a close look at your family’s budget. Being able to afford the healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables for your children should be a priority. Ask yourself these questions. What expenses can you cut? Do you really need those extra 100 channels on your television? Or would it be more beneficial to your family’s health if you went back to “rabbit ears?” Do you need two vehicles? Could you trade one in for a hybrid or a vehicle with a lower monthly payment? Sit down with your spouse and go over all of your expenses. Whatever you are able to cut should be added to your grocery bill. Including fresh fruits and vegetables in your children’s diet is very important in the prevention of childhood obesity.

Encourage physical activity at home and throughout your neighborhood. Let other families in your neighborhood know that for example, on Fridays after school the kids are going to play baseball at the park. Make sure every kid in the neighborhood is invited. Set some rules in your own home. Tell your children that if they don’t spend at least an hour outside riding their bike, or playing a sport or some other physical activity they can not watch their favorite television show or play their favorite video game.

If your school district is facing budget cuts and the possibility of cutting back on after school sports or their physical education program go to the next school board meeting. Speak up at the meeting and tell them that you oppose the idea of such cut backs. Get signatures from other parents who feel the same way. If you speak up the school board might find a way to keep those programs and cut something else instead.

Always show a good example. Make sure you are eating the right foods and exercising regularly. A child that is used to seeing his or her parent sit on the couch all day is going to do the same thing. If you eat convenience foods and McDonald’s all the time your child is going to think that is okay as well. Clean out your pantry and get throw out all your junk food. If you are not exercising on a regular basis join your local YMCA or health and fitness club. Ending this epidemic needs to start in every household in America.

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The article Causes of Childhood Obesity by Cascia Talbert appeared first on Healthy Moms Magazine.