Health Literacy

Archive for December, 2009

Some miscarriages happen so early on in a pregnancy that they may occur before a woman has actually even realized that she is pregnant.

However, those pregnancies that are confirmed and then end in miscarriage, are known as early miscarriages; those which take place between conception and the 13th week of pregnancy, or within the first trimester.

Most early miscarriages or pregnancy losses are impossible to prevent and sometimes they are simply nature’s way of correcting an error.

And though the causes of some miscarriages are simply not understood, there are several reasons why early miscarriages do take place.

Age of the mother: There is a definite causal link between a woman’s advanced age and her increased chances of having a miscarriage. Women above the age of 35 are known to have increased chances of suffering a miscarriage.

According to some experts, about half of the pregnancies of women over 40 end in miscarriage.

Chromosomal or Genetic Abnormalities: Chromosomes are what determine our genetic characteristics and when there are abnormalities detected in the chromosomes of a fetus such as in terms of number or structure, this results in a miscarriage.

This is the most common among the reasons for early miscarriage, since more than half the number of early miscarriages takes place due to these chromosomal or genetic abnormalities.

Very often these abnormalities are not passed on from either of the parents, nor do they owe themselves to the parent’s health or their habits; however they do occur, rather like nature’s errors which a miscarriage may be a way of correcting.

Infections & Diseases: some infections and diseases may contribute to rather than become the sole cause of an early miscarriage. Viral infections like cytomegalovirus, bacterial infections like Chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, and streptococcus, and even in some cases parasitic infection such as toxoplasmosis may be contributing causes of early miscarriage.

Stress and other disorders: Sometimes a woman, who is under excessive amounts of pressure and stress, may suffer an early miscarriage or pregnancy loss due to stress, and sometimes it could be undetected medical conditions that cause such loss such as diabetes that a woman may not realize she has etc.

Environmental Factors and substance abuse: Substance abuse can cause serious abnormalities in a baby that is carried to term as well as be the cause of early miscarriage.

Similarly women exposed to toxins in other ways or those that have been working in hazardous environments may also find that their chances of suffering miscarriage are increased.

Source: admin2

Here you have the December edition of our monthly eNewsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, using the box in the right column.

Michael Merzenich on Brain Fitness

You will enjoy this comprehensive conversation with neuroplasticity expert  Michael Merzenich on the 8 main topics that will be addressed in the SharpBrains Summit. What value does technology bring to the cognitive health table? Why is brain training for safe driving gaining so much momentum? what automated assessments may become commonplace? why do we need “personal brain trainers” – and who will they be? Read the full interview here.

The SharpBrains Guide @ New York Public Library

You may well be thinking about New Year Resolutions, so we are sharing a couple of resources that may help you select resolutions to foster brain fitness without breaking the bank.

First, here is the video of my book talk at The New York Public Library on September 23rd, where we discussed The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness (May 2009; $19.95). The talk lasts an hour, followed by 25 minutes of Q&A. If you enjoy, please make sure to  share with your friends and colleagues.

Second, you can download a complimentary PDF copy of The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: 18 Interviews with Scientists, Practical Advice, and Product Reviews, to Keep Your Brain Sharp, by subscribing to our monthly eNewsletter. You can introduce and submit your email in the column to the right, and you’ll receive a confirmation email including a link to download the eBook.

Wishing you a very Sharp 2010!

Source: Alvaro Fernandez

We all need a snow day once in awhile:

As I mentioned earlier, we had a white Christmas.  That in itself is a rare occurrence here.  But even more surprising is the fact that the snow is still here today.

Courtesy of we❤it

As a child, I loved snow days.  It was kind of like a bonus-day.  A day without school…to do something fun.

With all the snow, plus it being a holiday weekend, today seems a bit like a  snow day.  The following ensemble was created in that spirit.  It all started with the boots.  Because if there was ever a day to wear them, today would be the day!

Let it Snow by DailyDivaDish featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes

© 2009 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved.
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Source: Editor

Quotes & Pics:

Good morning and Merry Christmas! 

As I enjoy my morning coffee and look out at a very white Christmas, I wanted to share a few holiday quotes and pictures.

Wishing the best for you and your family this holiday. Hope your day is filled with joy and love.  And thanks for visiting DailyDivaDish.

XO Piper

Courtesy of we❤it

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.

~ Charles Schulz

Courtesy of we❤it

There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.

~ Bill McKibben

Courtesy of we❤it

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~ Hamilton Wright Mabi

Courtesy of we❤it

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

~Calvin Coolidge

All photos above are courtesy of we❤it and can be found here.

© 2009 DailyDivaDish. All rights reserved.
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Source: Editor