Exercise in Pregnancy Safe for Baby, Study Finds

TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Exercising at moderate or -- for very active women -- even high intensity during pregnancy won't hurt your baby's health, a new study finds.

Researchers monitored healthy women in their third trimester before and after 30 minutes on a treadmill and found no problems with measures of fetal well-being, including heart rate and blood flow. The results were similar whether or not the women exercised on a regular basis.

"Healthy pregnant women who exercise should be encouraged to continue, and if a woman is pregnant and is not an exerciser, she should be encouraged to start a moderate exercise program," said study co-author Dr. Linda Szymanski, an assistant professor in the division of maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The findings are in line with the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that healthy pregnant women get at least two and a half hours of medium-intensity aerobic exercise a week even if they did not exercise before becoming pregnant. Exercise improves heart health and may reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as developing high blood pressure and diabetes.

However, research indicates that women tend to exercise less when pregnant, and most fall short of the government guidelines.

How to Stay Healthy

Your diet is a bank account; spend your calories wisely on "good investment" foods. Good investment foods consist of high-volume, high-density, high-fiber foods that fill you up on less. Soups, salads, vegetables, whole grains and beans are great examples of good investments. Here are some tips that incorporate good investment foods with other ways to stay healthy.
 
Instructions 1. Don't beat yourself up. Food isn't your friend, nor enemy, so you aren't bad when you overeat, nor good when you don't-this mentality leads to bingeing. If you go overboard, just dust yourself off and start over, instead of punishing yourself-leaving a bigger mess to clean up.
2. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Our society has given us several unrealistic role models. Fortunately, JLo, Beyonce, Tyra, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Kim Kardashian are the new hotties embracing their curvy figures. Only dogs like bones. Men like curves.

How to Start a Home Health-Care Business

Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last few years. As a result, people living to 100 years of age are now one of the fastest growing segments in the U.S., which has spiked growth in the home health-care business. Many adult children of seniors are searching for caring, certified professionals to provide regular in-home assistance. A home health-care business is a promising business with unlimited potential.
 
Instructions 1. Start your home health-care business in an area with a growing population of seniors. Check census profiles of different cities for the elderly population, ages 65 and over. Target large cities or cities with large retirement communities.
2. Get state licensing. Requirements vary from state to state, so be sure you check with your local government for proper state licensing and certification required to legally operate a home health-care business in your state.
3. Hire part-time, contracted health-care workers in the beginning to maintain costs. Be aware that all home health-care employees must have a nursing certification.

Information About the Artificial Heart

According to Scientific American, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart, the first totally implantable permanent artificial heart.

Temporary Heart
Following a study of 81 patients who were given a temporary implantable artificial heart, the FDA approved it in 2004 for use in patients who were waiting for a heart transplant.
 
Survival Rate According to the American Heart Association, the survival rate for high-risk patients who received the temporary artificial heart was 79 percent, compared to 46 percent of those who did not receive it.

Heart Failure Vs. Congestive Heart Failure

Heart failure is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Heart failure is also referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF) which means your heart is unable to pump enough blood to satisfy your body's requirements. According to the National Institute of Health, about 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. It is a factor in 300,000 deaths annually

Defining Heart Failure
The NIH says heart failure does not mean that you have had a heart attack or that your heart is on the verge of stopping. It means your heart's ability to pump blood has weakened. This decline in ability can cause blood and fluid to collect in the lungs and cause numerous signs and symptoms that can have a negative impact on the quality of life.
 
Symptoms There are several symptoms that can indicate congestive heart failure. They include weakness or fatigue, a lack of appetite, nausea, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath and less ability to exercise.

Grants for Children Heart Health

Many organizations offer programs to get children interested in heart health. Grants are also available for individuals looking for funds to help pay for activities and events to help educate children about heart health.
 
Jump Rope For Heart
The Jump Rope For Heart Grant Program allows coordinators in the United States to apply for a grant. The program includes membership to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), a certificate to buy equipment used for a physical education event. This grant also includes a trip to the national convention for AAHPERD.
 
Healthy Heart Heart Research in the United Kingdom offers a number of Healthy Heart Grants. Heart Research offers grants for community groups and organizations as well as for those conducting research.

About Heart Health

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that heart disease is responsible for more deaths in the United States than any other cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study in 2003 indicating about 37 percent of adults reported having two or more risk factors for heart disease; study participants were asked about six high-risk characteristics: stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.

High Blood Pressure
The AHA reports 31.6 percent of people with high blood pressure are not even aware of it. Normal blood pressure is a systolic blood pressure less than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure less than 80. Controlling blood pressure levels starts with lifestyle modifications such as being physically active and reducing sodium intake.
 
High Cholesterol Cholesterol should be monitored every five years for those age 20 and over. Total cholesterol measured at less than 200 mg/dL is normal. Good (HDL) cholesterol protects against heart disease. An HDL measuring less than 40 mg/dL increases your risk of developing heart

How to Maintain Healthy Skin

Have skin this healthy

Your skin; it covers you, you wash it and ,sometimes, it can be one of the most attractive parts of your body. You want to keep your skin looking its best don't you? Reading this article will teach you how to maintain good skin health.

Instructions 1. Avoid smoking. Smoking has a lot of negative health effects on the body, including heart disease and lung cancer among many. However, what most people may not know is that the nicotine in cigarette smoke can cause skin discoloration and, in some cases, acne. In order to maintain good skin health, quit smoking.
2 . Consider vitamins A and E. As humans get older, skin begins to lose its firmness because the skin cells, collagen and elastin begin to breakdown, resulting in wrinkles and

Easy Ways to Eat Healthy & Exercise

Sticking with a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be a chore. The most important thing is to focus on foods and activities you enjoy instead of worrying about what's not allowed according to some fad diet. A little advanced planning also helps you stay on track. Try these easy ways to eat healthy and exercise, and you'll be reaping the benefits of a healthier lifestyle before you know it.

Focus on Foods you Like
Eating healthy doesn't just mean avoiding unhealthful foods or choosing healthful foods regardless of the taste. Instead of following a strict diet, base your eating plan on foods you enjoy that also are healthful. Investigate different ways to prepare these foods. Try vegetables fresh with dip, mashed and added to sauces, battered or steamed. Sample foods from ethnic cuisines. You might discover you like hummus, sushi or Peruvian ensalada de pallares (lima bean salad), all of which are healthful foods. If you want to follow a popular diet plan, try a less restrictive one such as the Mediterranean Diet or Zone Diet.

15 Ways to Eat Healthy

Diet affects your weight and plays an important role in your overall health.
There are many ways to eat healthy, but the keys are making good food choices, learning to substitute, and learning how the right foods can help your body.

Making Good Food Choices
1. Whether eating out or choosing a recipe, look for words such as baked, broiled, or poached. Steer clear of fried, sautéed, or battered.
2. Choose fresh vegetables that are steamed or raw. Over-cooked boiled vegetables yield little of the health benefits those foods should provide.
3. Choose whole-wheat products over their white flour based counterparts. Whole wheat has more fiber and nutrients.
4. Size matters. Eating too much of even a healthy food can lead to weight gain. Learn the correct portion sizes and stick within the guidelines of the USDA's food pyramid.
5. Avoid prepackaged food and prepare foods at home. Prepackaged foods, even the healthy variety, have added sodium and chemicals. If you cook at home you know exactly what is in that meal. 

How Does Eating Healthy Affect Your Life?

The food pyramid is not only a model of nutrition, but it's also a defense guideline against illnesses and disease. Having a well-balanced diet and getting plenty of sleep can help with more than just weight management.


Detox
Drinking the recommended 8 to 10 glasses of water a day helps to flush toxins from kidneys, bladder, colon and liver. Eating foods that promote natural detox, such as green, leafy vegetables and fresh fruits, will also aid in flushing the toxins out.

Please Mom and Dad, No More Smoking

Parents if you have ever thought deeply about anything that may harm your child, think about this every time you light up a cigarette in the same area as your child .You could be increasing a chance of Lung Cancer for your child. Second hand smoke is like him or her smoking about 1-8 cigarettes a day. now what parent would intentionally give their child Cancer? Some parents just are not aware of the ramifications of second hand Smoke.
When your child breathes in second hand smoke it is likely that they are breathing in the most deadly particles, even more deadly than the one that is actually smoking . Can you just imagine the toxic particles that can be inhaled in a car especially with the windows up. I can’t find any good reason for smoking at all. It is known that smoking is a chemical addiction. For your child you can stop smoking, their are many aides such as gum, patches, artificial cigarettes and cold turkey.

The first realization that cigarette smoking was deadly in the way of cancer was announced in 1964 from the Surgeon Generals office. At one time cigarettes was a stylish trend that most people just had to try little did we know the terrible ramifications. Did you ever get near someone who was smoking ?, their hair and clothes smell awful.

Health Benefits of Drinking Water

It should come as no surprise to you that drinking water is a healthy habit but do you realize why we should all be consuming more of this liquid? There are a few reasons why this is the most important beverage for you to consume. Here is a look at the health benefits that come from drinking water.

1. Hydration: Our bodies are made up of mostly water. We need to constantly take in more water for our bodies to function properly and to be hydrated especially considering that one of our wastes is also made of this liquid. When we are dehydrated, we can feel weak, dizzy and faint. There are long term consequences of dehydration and this is often seen in our skin. One of the major benefits of drinking water is that these conditions will be prevented and the body will feel much healthier.
2. Toxic Flush: Water keeps our bodies flushed of chemicals. There are times when our bodies can’t keep up with our intake of chemicals if there is a lot of processed food in the diet.

Virtual Childbirth Simulator Improves Safety of High-Risk Deliveries

"The mechanics of the human birth canal make for a very complicated delivery process compared to other mammals," said Olivier Ami, M.D., Ph.D., an obstetrician in the Department of Radiology at Antoine Béclères Hospital, Université Paris Sud, France. "We now have computer-simulated childbirth to identify potential problems."

Using the new software, called PREDIBIRTH, Dr. Ami and a team of researchers processed MR images of 24 pregnant women. The result was a three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of both the pelvis and the fetus along with 72 possible trajectories of the babys head through the birth canal. Based on these simulations, the program scored each mothers likelihood of a normal birth.

"This goes beyond simple imaging," Dr. Ami said. "The software simulates the properties of potential deliveries."

For purposes of the study, the PREDIBIRTH scores were computed retrospectively and measured against delivery outcomes for the 24 women. Thirteen women delivered normally. These deliveries were scored as highly favorable by the simulator. Three women who delivered by elective cesarean-section (C-section) -- two of which involved babies of excessive weight -- were scored at high risk for dystocia.

Of the five women delivered by emergency C-section, two involved heart rhythm abnormalities and were scored mildly favorable and favorable. Three involved obstructed labor, all of whom scored at high risk of dystocia. Three women delivered with vacuum extraction and had mildly favorable simulator scores.