Pregnancy | PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog

August 12, 2010

Hormonal Contraceptives are Less Effective in Obese/Overweight Women

Filed under: birth control pills, obesity, pregnancy — Tags: birth control pill, birth control study, hormonal contraceptives, hormonal implant, nuvaring, obesity, over weight, pregnancy, skin patch, vaginal ring — Amanda @ 4:35 pm

A systematic review of results reported online has concluded that hormonal contraceptives (such as skin patches, vaginal rings, implants, pills, and injections) may not be as effective in overweight and obese women.

With obesity rates increasing worldwide every year, it is important that these findings be shared with the public.

The results from seven studies on 39,531 women on the success of hormonal contraceptives were examined and the results were varied among the different methods of birth control. Some methods such as the birth control pill were less effective at preventing pregnancy in the obese and overweight women who used a hormonal contraceptive.

Body mass index, or BMI, played a large role in the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Women with a BMI higher than 25 (classified as overweight), were more likely to get pregnant while using the pill than women with a BMI under 25.

Body weight, on the other hand, was the factor among women using the skin patch, vaginal ring, implant, or injection. The body weight due to fat on the body determined the pregnancy risk among women using contraception. Overweight and obese women using the skin patch, progestin implant, and vaginal ring were more likely to get pregnant than women of normal weight using these forms of contraception. Curiously enough, the effectiveness of the hormonal injection was not affected by BMI or body weight. One possible reason for the decreased effectiveness of the skin patch is simply that there is a higher density of fat cells in areas where the patch is to be placed. The fat cells in the way of the blood stream can absorb and store the hormones preventing them from reaching the blood stream.

The exact reason why overweight and obese women are at a greater risk of pregnancy while using hormonal contraceptives is unknown. Although several theories imply that it has something to do with specific biological factors.

Liver Enzymes – overweight women can experience an increased regulation of liver metabolism. These higher levels of enzymes can help break down the hormones in oral contraceptives. Heavier women have a greater circulating blood volume and body mass therefore there is more tissue for blood to circulate though. The chance that enzymes will break down the hormones in contraception is faster therefore the levels of circulating hormones can be decreased.

Hormone Storage – Hormones like estrogen and progestin that are found in birth control are stored in body fat. The more fat cells on a woman, the greater her chances of the hormones becoming stored in her fat rather than flowing into her bloodstream.

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July 26, 2010

Diet Soda is linked to Premature Births

Filed under: diets, pregnancy — Tags: aspartame, blood pressure, diet soda, high blood pressure, pregnancy, premature birth — Amanda @ 8:22 pm

Artificially sweetened soft drinks have been linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of premature birth. A recent study examined almost 60,000 women at around 25 weeks of pregnancy. The women reported on their daily diet – specifically how many soft drinks they drank every day.

The study was conducted by the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark. Lead Dr. Thorhallur I. Halldorsson said “It may be non-optimal for pregnant women to have a high consumption of these types of products”. Diet drinks sweetened with aspartame are considered to be good alternatives to their sugar-filled counterpart, but Halldorsson notes that there has been too little research on the safety of the consumption of artificial sweeteners. New studies have found a link between soft drinks and high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of premature birth.

After analyzing the results from the study of 60,000 pregnant women, it was found that 5% delivered their babies before 37 weeks. Women who had at least one serving of artificially sweetened soda a day while they were pregnant were 38% more likely to deliver their babies preterm than women who drank no diet soda at all.

The shocking find from the study was that women who had at least 4 diet sodas a day were 80% more likely to deliver preterm.

Only diet soda was linked to early delivery, not sugar sweetened soda. The findings propose that the artificial sweetener itself is the cause of the findings. However, researchers say that other possible causes for the link cannot be ruled out.

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March 18, 2010

7 Oral health signs you can’t ignore

Filed under: HIV, Uncategorized, anemia, diabetes, gum disease, infection, osteoporosis, pregnancy, sensitive teeth — Amanda @ 10:04 am

Gum Disease – Premature Birth

You may be more likely to have a premature baby if you are pregnant and have gum disease. The link between the two conditions is not entirely explained, but underlying inflammation or infection could be to blame. Pregnancy and its connected hormonal changes can worsen gum disease. Talk to your dentist about how to protect yourself and your baby.

Eroded Tooth Enamel – Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as bulimia can take a significant toll on the health of your teeth. The stomach acid from continuous vomiting can erode tooth enamel, and the gums between teeth, especially on the tongue side of the upper front teeth. This increases the risk for decay in these places and can increase tooth sensitivity. Extreme erosion can cause changes in bite, and back teeth can become smaller. Some teeth can even be lost due to eating disorders. Tooth erosion can take about 3 years to become noticeable, but not all bulimics have it. constant vomiting can also cause the salivary glands to swell and the tissues in the mouth to become dry.

Swollen Gums – Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis may occur when wisdom teeth only partially break through the gum. This creates an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause infections. In pericoronitis, food and plaque can get caught underneath a flap of gum around the tooth and can irritate the gum. If the infection is severe, it can swell and extend beyond the jaw to the cheeks and neck. Pericoronitis causes pain, infection, and swollen gums around the molar teeth.

Thrush – HIV, Diabetes

Thrush is an infection in the mouth that is caused by candida fungus (yeast). Thrush can affect anyone, but it occurs mostly in people with weakened immune systems (HIV) and in people who use the drug prednisone. Antibiotics can also disturb the natural balance of organisms in the body and cause thrush. Oral thrush causes lesions on the tongue or cheeks. These can be painful and may bleed when scraped. This is due to the body’s weakened immune system and its inability to defend itself against infections. People with HIV/AIDS can also have symptoms of dry mouth. Other medical situations that make candida infections more likely to occur include uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, dry mouth, or pregnancy. People who smoke or wear dentures that don’t fit properly are also at an increased risk.

Tooth Loss – Osteoporosis

The bone disease called osteoporosis can affect any bone in your body., such as your jaw bone. If you develop osteoporosis in your jaw, you may experience tooth loss due to erosion of the jawbone. This will cause minor facial deformities and pain in and around the temporomandibular joint, which is what connects the upper and lower jaws. The bones around the roots of the teeth are also susceptible to osteoporosis.

Bad Breath – Gum disease

There are many illnesses that can cause bad breath. Some important ones to familiarize yourself with are respiratory tract infections (pneumonia or bronchitis), chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems. Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can more commonly be warning signs of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth. The bacteria creates toxins that irritate the gums. Another sign of gum disease is bleeding gums. When going untreated, gum disease can damage the gums and jawbone. Prevent gum disease by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis. Other dental causes of gum disease include poorly fitted dental appliances, yeast infections in the mouth, and dental caries.

Pale Gums – Anemia

Your gums can become sore and pale, and your tongue can become swollen and smooth if you have anemia. Your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells that contain enough hemoglobin when you have anemia. Your body doesn’t receive enough oxygen and you will experience a number of symptoms.

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November 10, 2009

The Cries Of A Newborn Child May Differ Depending On The Parents’ Language

Filed under: Uncategorized, baby, breastfeeding, children, parent, pregnancy, pregnant — John @ 4:26 pm

For most people those first cries of a child after birth are a sign of relief. You know that the baby is breathing and you know that the baby is there. Almosty everyone I know has described the excitement and stressfulness of waiting that little bit to hear the baby cry. However, scientists have conducted a study that suggests that babies cry differently depending on the language of their parents.

It is fairly common knowledge that sound does affect many children even before they were born, but what wasn’t known was how early sounds begin to have an affect on sound production in infants. Apparently, infants pick up the patterns of their parents language and this recognition of these patterns are audible when babies cry.

The study was conducted on 60 children between 3 and 5 days of age. All the babies appeared healthy, and all were carried full term. The crying occured naturally as opposed to being a result of one of the researchers. Half of the babies belong to French speaking families, while the other half belonged to German speaking families.

To me the idea that babies are actually able to recognize these specific patterns, memorize them, and then express them at such a young age is truely remarkable. I want to see if these findings carry over to other nationalities, and I am slightly curious to find out if the results differ in children with any sort of diseases or disabilities. If the results do differ than maybe we can use the findings to better treat the children.

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July 30, 2009

Daily Sex Can Lead To Better Sperm

Filed under: DNA, Uncategorized, ejaculation, ovulation, pregnancy, semen, sex, sperm — John @ 11:38 am

If you are in a very loving relationship and you and your partner have decided to have a child, or children for that matter, there is one thing that you can do to increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Have sex on a daily basis for at least one week before ovulation. Although doctors weren’t sure if restraining from sex was beneficial or not a recent study shows that frequent ejaculation will improve the quality of the semen.

Though semen volume does decrease, the DNA damage to the sperm is significantly less after ejaculating daily over the span of a week. This discovery is extremely beneficial for men who have above-average DNA damage to their semen.

The idea behind the research is that frequent ejaculation improves sperm by reducing the length of time they are exposed to potentially damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species. This knew knowledge could be the difference between getting pregnant or missing out.

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June 22, 2009

Why More People Should Consume the Recommended Daily Amount of Magnesium

Filed under: Uncategorized, blocked arteries, diabetes, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, magnesium, pain relief, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy — John @ 12:11 pm

Protects the Heart: Magnesium helps protect the heart from many things including, heart arrhythmias, blocked arteries, and high blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency can result in deadly health events for many people. Heart arrhythmias, the irregular and abnormally fast heartbeats or atrial fibrillation, can be prevented or at least, may be helped by consuming adequate amounts of magnesium. People with higher amount of magnesium in their blood cut the odds of dying from blocked or narrowed arteries by an enormous one-third. Furthermore, magnesium deficiency may result in higher blood pressure whereas; higher magnesium in your cells promotes lower blood pressure, more elastic blood vessels and a less enlarged heart. Additionally, research shows that lower amounts of magnesium lower the good HDL cholesterol and increases rate at which arteries harden.

Protects Against Diabetes: Eighty percent of diabetics have been found to have low intracellular magnesium. Further research suggests that the risk of type-two diabetes is increased by one-third with low amounts of magnesium. Magnesium supplements can improve insulin activity and may actually decrease the risk of diabetes and other complications.

Pain Relief: Magnesium can actually help relieve pain by reducing a pain transmitter in the nervous system called substance P. To help avoid or relieve muscle cramps, try taking 100mg to 400mg of magnesium every day. Furthermore, extra magnesium may also prevent or relieve painful myalgias, chronic lower back pain, restless legs syndrome, erythromelalgia (a painful dilation of the skin blood vessels), and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Promotes Safer Pregnancies: Research shows that magnesium lessons pre-eclampsia (a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy) which increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature, low-birth weight babies. A British study of 10,000 women in 33 different countries confirmed that taking magnesium sulphate supplements cut the risk of pre-eclampsia in half.

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