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General Discussion / Wikipedia is celebrating its 20th birthday!

« Last post by nadi on January 18, 2021, 02:34:14 PM »

Two decades of free knowledge

On 15 January 2021, Wikipedia celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding in 2001. The English edition has grown to include more than 6 million articles—all written collaboratively by volunteers—and reached its billionth edit on 13 January.
Wikipedia is an online free-content encyclopedia project helping to create a world in which everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. It is supported by the Wikimedia Foundation and based on a model of freely editable content. The name "Wikipedia" is a blending of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick") and encyclopedia. Wikipedia's articles provide links designed to guide the user to related pages with additional information.

Wikipedia is written collaboratively by largely anonymous volunteers who write without pay. Anyone with Internet access can write and make changes to Wikipedia articles, except in limited cases where editing is restricted to prevent disruption or vandalism.

Since its creation on January 15, 2001, Wikipedia has grown into the world's largest reference website, attracting 1.7 billion unique visitors monthly as of November 2020. It currently has more than 55 million articles in more than 300 languages, including 6,231,472 articles in English with 127,480 active contributors in the past month.

The fundamental principles by which Wikipedia operates are the five pillars. The Wikipedia community has developed many policies and guidelines to improve the encyclopedia; however, it is not a formal requirement to be familiar with them before contributing.

Anyone is allowed to add or edit words, references, images, and other media here. What is contributed is more important than who contributes it. To remain, the content must be free of copyright restrictions and contentious material about living people. It must fit within Wikipedia's policies, including being verifiable against a published reliable source. Editors' opinions and beliefs and unreviewed research will not remain. Contributions cannot damage Wikipedia because the software allows easy reversal of mistakes, and many experienced editors are watching to ensure that edits are improvements. Begin by simply clicking the Edit button at the top of any editable page!

Wikipedia is a live collaboration differing from paper-based reference sources in important ways. It is continually created and updated, with articles on new events appearing within minutes, rather than months or years. Because everybody can help improve it, Wikipedia has become more comprehensive than any other encyclopedia. Besides quantity, its contributors work on improving quality, removing or repairing misinformation, and other errors. Over time, articles tend to become more comprehensive and balanced. However, because anyone can click "edit" at any time and add content, any article may contain undetected misinformation, errors, or vandalism. Readers who are aware of this can obtain valid information, avoid recently added misinformation (see Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia), and fix the article.

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Depression & Stress / মানসিক চাপ ও দুশ্চিন্তা থেকে মুক্তির ৮ উপায়

« Last post by abeerhr on December 24, 2020, 06:06:31 PM »

মানসিক চাপ ও দুশ্চিন্তা থেকে মুক্তির ৮ উপায়

দুশ্চিন্তা ও মানসিক চাপ কম-বেশি সবারই থাকে। দুশ্চিন্তা প্রকট হলে শারীরিক নানা সমস্যা দেখা দিতে পারে। স্বাভাবিক জীবনযাত্রাও ব্যাহত হতে পারে।

দুশ্চিন্তা ২ ধরনের। মৃদু ও তীব্র ধরনের। মৃদু ধরনের দুশ্চিন্তা সামলানোর ক্ষমতা সাধারণত মানুষের থাকে। তবে তীব্র দুশ্চিন্তা শরীরের জন্য হুমকীস্বরূপ। দুশ্চিন্তার কারণে হৃদরোগ, উচ্চ রক্তচাপ, ঘুম না হওয়া, পেটের সমস্যা, বুক ধড়ফড় করাসহ নানা সমস্যা দেখা দিতে পারে। সম্প্রতি একটি গবেষণায় দেখা গেছে, দুশ্চিন্তা ও মানসিক চাপের ফলে মাইগ্রেন হওয়ার সম্ভাবনা অনেক বেড়ে যায়।

বিশেষজ্ঞদের মতে, কিছু জটিল রোগের উৎস হলো দুশ্চিন্তা। এজন্য যতটা সম্ভব দুশ্চিন্তা ও মানসিক চাপ নিয়ন্ত্রণে রাখতে হবে। এক্ষেত্রে কিছু উপায় অনুসরণ করা যেতে পারে:

দুশ্চিন্তাকে প্রশ্রয় না দেয়া

জীবনের কোন না কোন পর্যায়ে মানসিক চাপ, দুশ্চিন্তা, হতাশা ভর করতেই পারে। তবে এগুলোকে কখনই প্রশ্রয় দেয়া যাবে না। মনে করতে হবে, এগুলো আপনার সচেতন প্রচেষ্টাতেই নিয়ন্ত্রণ করা সম্ভব। যেসব ব্যাপার নিয়ে দুশ্চিন্তা করছেন সেগুলোর একটি তালিকা তৈরি করুন এবং কীভাবে দুশ্চিন্তা দূর হবে তার উপায়গুলো লিখে রাখুন। এই পদ্ধতি অনুসরণ করলে মানসিক চাপের কারণগুলো অনেকটা গোছানো হবে। তাতে সমাধান খুঁজে পাওয়াও সহজ হবে।

তাছাড়া প্রতিদিনের কিছু কার্যক্রম এইসময় বেশ উপকারে আসে। যেমন:

গান শোনা

মানসিক চাপ নিয়ন্ত্রণে রাখতে পছন্দের গান শুনতে পারেন। প্রিয় শিল্পীর গান এইসময় ভালো লাগবে। গবেষকরা বলছেন, পছন্দের গান নিয়ে বন্ধুদের সঙ্গে আলাপ করা যেতে পারে। এতে একঘেয়েমি দূর হয়।

বই পড়া

জগতের সেরা বন্ধু হলো বই। ভালো বই ‘মনের খাদ্যদাতা’। বই পড়লে উৎসাহ বাড়ে, মানসিক শক্তি ফিরে আসে। প্রতিদিন অন্তত অল্প সময়ের জন্য হলেও বই পড়া দরকার।

পুষ্টিকর খাবার খেতে হবে

পুষ্টির অভাব হলে মানসিক চাপ বেশি করে আঁকড়ে ধরে। তাই এইসময় পুষ্টিকর খাবারের প্রতি গুরুত্ব দিন। ফাস্ট ফুড বাদ দিন। বেশি মসলাযুক্ত খাবার তখন না খাওয়াই ভালো। ফলমূল খান। পর্যাপ্ত পানি পান করুন।

ব্যায়াম অত্যন্ত কার্যকরী

মানসিক চাপ শিথিল করতে ব্যায়ামের জুড়ি নেই। ব্যায়াম করলে স্নায়ু সচল হয়। মস্তিষ্কের কার্যক্ষমতা বেড়ে যায় এবং হতাশা কমে যায়। নতুন কাজের প্রতি উদ্যোম বাড়ে। তাই দুশ্চিন্তায় ডুবে যাওয়ার হাত থেকে রেহাই পেতে ব্যায়াম করুন।

পর্যাপ্ত ঘুমাতে হবে

মানসিক চাপে থাকলে অনেকসময় ঠিকমতো ঘুম হয় না। ফলে সারাদিন ঝিমুনি ভাব থাকে, ক্লান্ত লাগে, পেটের সমস্যা দেখা দিতে পারে। তাই পর্যাপ্ত ঘুমাতে হবে। প্রাপ্তবয়স্ক মানুষের দৈনিক অন্তত ৭ থেকে ৮ ঘন্টা ঘুম জরুরী।

আলো, বাতাসে থাকা ভালো

শোবার ঘর যতটা সম্ভব খোলামেলা রাখতে হবে। আলো, বাতাস চলাচলের ব্যবস্থা থাকতে হবে। সকালবেলা ঘুম থেকে উঠে বারান্দায় কিছুক্ষণ বসতে পারেন। কিংবা অফিস শেষ করে পার্ক বা খোলামেলা জায়গায় হাঁটাহাটি করা ভালো।

সামাজিকতা বাড়াতে হবে

দিনশেষে মানুষই আমাদের বন্ধু হয়। সহযোগিতার হাত বাড়িয়ে দেয়। প্রিয় মানুষের কাছে গেলে, দু-চার কথা বললে এমনিতেই হালকা লাগে। তাই মন খারাপ থাকলে বন্ধুদের সঙ্গে আড্ডা দিন, প্রতিবেশির সঙ্গে গল্প করুন, পছন্দের মানুষদের সঙ্গে কোথাও ঘুরতে যান। বন্ধু, পরিবার ও প্রিয় মানুষের সঙ্গে সময় কাটান।

মানসিক চাপ ও দুশ্চিন্তা নিয়ন্ত্রণের ক্ষমতা কখনও কখনও নিজের হাতে নাও থাকতে পারে। তখন অবশ্যই চিকিৎসকের কাছে যেতে হবে। মনে রাখা ভালো, মানসিক চাপ দীর্ঘস্থায়ী হলে শারীরিক নানা ক্ষতি হতে পারে।

Source: sarabangla.net

63

Food & Nutrition / এই একটি মাত্র ফল ৯টি ক’ঠিন অ’সুখ থেকে মু’ক্তি দিতে স’ক্ষম

« Last post by abeerhr on December 24, 2020, 11:10:57 AM »

এই একটি মাত্র ফল ৯টি ক’ঠিন অ’সুখ থেকে মু’ক্তি দিতে স’ক্ষম

আতা ফল আমরা সবাই চিনি। এই ফল খেতে খুবই সুস্বাদু। শুধু স্বাদেই নয়, পুষ্টিগুণেও পরিপূর্ণ এই ফলটি।এতে রয়েছে প’টাসিয়াম ও ম্যা’গনেসিয়াম। আতা ফলের বেশ কয়েকটি প্রজাতি রয়েছে।

সবগুলোকেই ইংরেজিতে কা’স্টার্ড অ্যাপল, সুগার অ্যাপল, সুগার পা’ইনএপল বা সুইটসপ বলা হয়। অঞ্চলভেদে নামের কিছু পার্থক্য রয়েছে আতা ফলে।এতে রয়েছে প্রচুর পরিমাণে পুষ্টি উপাদান। তাছাড়া নানান রোগ প্রতিরোধে আতা বেশ উপকারী।



চলুন জেনে নেয়া যাক আতা ফলে গুণাগুণ সম্পর্কে-

১) আপনি যদি ডায়াবেটিসে আ’ক্রান্ত হন, তাহলে র’ক্তের গ্লু’কোজ মাত্রা কমাতে আতা ফল খাওয়া শুরু করুন। এছাড়াও, কা’স্টার্ড আ’পেলের ডায়াবেটিস ফাইবারের উপস্থিতিতে চিনির শোষণ কমানো যায়।

২) আতা ফলে থাকা ম্যাগনেসিয়াম আপনার কা’র্ডিয়াক সমস্যা প্রতিরোধে সাহায্য করে। সেইসঙ্গে এতে থাকা ভিটামিন বি-৬ হো’মোকিসস্টাইন নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে।

৩) আতা ফলের বীজ ক্ষ’ত শু’কাতে সাহায্য করে। এই বীজ ব্যবহারের মাধ্যমে ত্বকের গভীরে থাকা কো’ষের পু’নঃবৃদ্ধি পায় এবং ক্ষত স্থানের ব্য’থা তাত্‍ক্ষণিকভাবে পালায়। এই বীজে এন্টি-ব্যা’কটেরিয়াল প্রো’পার্টি রয়েছে।

৪) হাঁ’পানি রোগী হিসেবে যদি আপনি মূলার রস খেয়ে থাকে তাহলে অবশ্যই আতা ফলের রস খাবেন। এটি ভিটামিন বি-৬ স’মৃদ্ধ যা আপনার হাঁ’পানি প্র’তিরোধে সাহায্য করবে।

৫) গা’ইনোকোলজির মতে, গ’র্ভাবস্থায় আতা ফল খাওয়া গ’র্ভপাতের ঝুঁ’কি হ্রাস করে। সকালের দূ’র্বলতা নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে এবং শা’রীরক ব্যথার উ’পশম ঘটায়।

৬) গ’র্ভাবস্থার পরে আতা ফল খাওয়ার ফলে স্ত’নে দু’ধ উত্‍পাদন বৃদ্ধি পায়।

৭) ডা’য়াটেরি ফাইবার স’মৃদ্ধ এই ফলটি খুব সহজেই হজম হয়। স্বাস্থ্য বিশেষজ্ঞদের মতে, আতা ফলের গুঁ’ড়া এক গ্লাস জলে মি’শিয়ে খেলে আপনার ডায়রিয়ার সমস্যাও মুহূর্তেই গায়েব হবে।

৮) আতা গাছের পাতার নির্যাস স্ত’ন ক্যা’ন্সার প্রতিরোধ করে। স্ত’নের কো’ষে থাকা বি’ষাক্ত ট’ক্সিন দূর করে।এছাড়া অ্যা’ন্টি-অ’ক্সিডেন্টপূর্ণ আতা ফল আপনার শরীরের কো’ষগুলোকে বিভিন্ন ড্যা’মেজ থেকে রক্ষা করে।

৯) বিশেষজ্ঞরা সপ্তাহে অন্তত একবার দাঁত পরিষ্কার করার জন্য আতা ফলের চা’মড়া ব্যবহার করে সুপারিশ করেন। এটি ব্যবহারের ফলে দাঁ’ত ক্ষ’য় রোধ হয় এবং মা’ড়িকে আরো মজবুত করে।

Source: BanglaReport23.com

64

Weight Loss / Facts you should know about weight loss

« Last post by rezoun on December 21, 2020, 12:40:18 PM »

Facts you should know about weight loss

Whether your weight-loss goals involve trying to lose 5 pounds or more than 50, the same principles determine how much weight you lose and how fast your weight loss will occur. Remembering the following simple healthy eating diet tips and putting them into practice can lead to weight reduction without the aid of any special diet plans, weight loss programs, fitness books, or medications.

Our body weight is determined by the amount of energy that we take in as food and the amount of energy we expend in the activities of our day. Energy is measured in calories. Metabolism is the sum of all chemical processes within the body that sustain life. Your basal metabolic rate is the number of calories (amount of energy) you need for your body to carry out necessary functions. If your weight remains constant, this is likely a sign that you are taking in the same amount of calories that you burn daily. If you're slowly gaining weight over time, it is likely that your caloric intake is greater than the number of calories you burn through your daily activities.

Every adult is in control of the amount of food he or she consumes each day, so our intake of calories is something we can control. To a major degree, we can also control our output of energy, or the number of calories we burn each day. The number of calories we burn each day is dependent upon the following:
•   Our basal metabolic rate (BMR), the number of calories we burn per hour simply by being alive and maintaining body functions
•   Our level of physical activity

For some people, due to genetic (inherited) factors or other health conditions, the resting metabolic rate (RMR) can be slightly higher or lower than average. Our weight also plays a role in determining how many calories we burn at rest -- the more calories are required to maintain your body in its present state, the greater your body weight. A 100-pound person requires less energy (food) to maintain body weight than a person who weighs 200 pounds.

Lifestyle and work habits partially determine how many calories we need to eat each day. Someone whose job involves heavy physical labor will naturally burn more calories in a day than someone who sits at a desk most of the day (a sedentary job). For people who do not have jobs that require intense physical activity, exercise or increased physical activity can increase the number of calories burned.

As a rough estimate, an average woman 31-50 years of age who leads a sedentary lifestyle needs about 1,800 calories per day to maintain a normal weight. A man of the same age requires about 2,200 calories. Participating in a moderate level of physical activity (exercising three to five days per week) requires about 200 additional calories per day. More strenuous exercise programs, such as those with cardio focus, can burn even more.

Source: www.medicinenet.com

65

Psychiatry / Childhood ADD or ADHD

« Last post by rezoun on December 21, 2020, 11:14:57 AM »

Picture of a Boy with ADHD

Childhood ADD or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) facts

•   Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition. Childhood ADHD symptoms include
o   difficulty concentrating,
o   trouble controlling impulses, and
o   excessive activity.
•   While there is no specific cause of ADHD, there are many social, biological, and environmental factors that may raise one's risk of developing or being diagnosed with the disorder.
•   There are three subtypes of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined (inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive) presentation.
•   While medications commonly treat ADHD, behavior therapy, school accommodations, and parent counseling are important in improving the child's ability to function, as well.
•   The most common medications used to treat ADHD are the stimulant medications.
•   About 85% of children with ADHD are at risk for having some form of the disorder in adulthood.
•   People with ADHD are at a higher risk for also having anxiety, depression, mood swings, drug or alcohol abuse issues, interpersonal problems, school problems during childhood, as well as some long-term medical, legal, and employment problems during adolescence and adulthood.
•   Much of the latest research on ADHD in children focuses on how exposure to environmental toxins may increase the risk of developing this condition.

What are risk factors and causes of ADHD in children?
Although there is no single cause for ADHD, there are a number of biological, environmental, and social factors that seem to increase the risk of a person developing the disorder. Brain imaging studies show that the brains of people with ADHD tend to be smaller. The connections between certain parts of the brain are fewer, and the brain's regulation of the neurochemical dopamine tends to be less than in people who do not have the condition. Some medical conditions have been found to have a higher occurrence of ADHD compared to people without those conditions. Examples include seizures, asthma, as well as gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.

Risk factors for ADHD that can occur in the womb include maternal stress, smoking or exposure to lead during pregnancy, and low weight at birth. Being male and having a family history of ADHD increase the likelihood that an individual is diagnosed with ADHD. This illness has also been linked to being exposed to tobacco smoke at home (secondhand smoke) or lead during childhood.
Socially, low family income, low paternal education, exposure to childhood trauma, or a sudden life change are risk factors for developing ADHD. Behavioral expectations based on the culture of an area, from a school district, town, state, or country can influence how often this diagnosis is made, as well.

What are childhood ADHD/ADD symptoms and signs?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is the gold standard of mental health diagnoses, symptoms of ADD/ADHD include the following:
Inattention
•   Often makes careless mistakes or has problems paying attention to detail
•   Poor concentration during tasks or leisure activities
•   Does not seem to be listening and appears to zone out when spoken to directly
•   Frequently fails to complete instructions or to complete work tasks or chores
•   Often has trouble organizing a task or activity
•   Short attention span
•   Frequently avoids, dislikes, or resists participating in activities that require sustained concentration/mental effort, due to difficulty focusing, a tendency to waste time
•   Repeatedly loses things needed to complete tasks or activities
•   Easily distracted by extraneous input or unrelated thoughts
•   Frequent forgetfulness/absentmindedness
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
•   Often engages in fidgeting, squirming, or tapping hands or feet
•   Frequently has trouble staying seated
•   Frequent restlessness or boredom
•   Has trouble engaging in leisure activities quietly
•   Engages in multiple activities at once
•   Often talks excessively
•   Repeatedly interrupts others talking
•   Trouble waiting his or her turn
•   Often intrudes on others

The fact that children with ADHD may be able to highly focus on activities they enjoy (such as watching television or playing video games), even excessively, does not mean that they do not have the condition. The difference in attention of ADHD children is that they tend to have suboptimal memory, be less able to pay attention consistently, particularly when required to complete less pleasurable activities. Their trouble sitting still may involve engaging in behaviors like running or climbing in situations where it is unsafe or otherwise inappropriate. While symptoms like insomnia, irritability, tantrums, otherwise quick temper or difficulty managing their anger, as well as low frustration tolerance, are not specific to ADHD or required for its diagnosis, many children, teens, and adults with this illness have these symptoms. Besides insomnia, other sleep problems like sleep apnea, low sleep efficiency, and trouble staying awake during the day often plague children who have ADHD .

Source: www.medicinenet.com

66

Depression & Stress / More Social Media, More Depression

« Last post by rezoun on December 21, 2020, 10:27:27 AM »

By Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter


More Social Media, More Depression

Young adults who spend hours a day on social media are at heightened risk of developing depression in the near future, new research suggests. In recent years, a number of studies have linked heavy social media use to an increased risk of depression. "But then you have to ask the chicken-and-egg question," said study author Dr. Brian Primack, a professor of public health at the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. On one hand, he said, excessive time on Twitter or Facebook might fuel depression symptoms. On the other, people with depression might withdraw from face-to-face interactions and spend more time online. So Primack and his colleagues decided to see whether social media use made a difference in young adults' risk of future depression.

It did, according to their report, which was published online Dec. 10 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study included nearly 1,000 adults aged 18 to 30 who were depression-free at the outset, based on a standard questionnaire. All reported on their usual social media time and were assessed for depression again six months later. By that time, nearly 10% fit the criteria for depression. Overall, depression risk rose in tandem with time spent on social media. Compared with the lightest users (2 hours or less per day), the heaviest users (at least 5 hours per day) had a three times higher depression risk. Meanwhile, that risk was two times higher among young adults who were active on social media around 3.5 to 5 hours per day. Primack noted that the findings do not definitively prove cause and effect.

However, he added, his team accounted for factors like people's education level, income, race and whether they were employed. They also asked participants whether they'd experienced childhood traumas like physical abuse and emotional neglect, which are also risk factors for depression. Even then, excessive time on social media predicted a higher depression risk. And, Primack said, there was no evidence the relationship went the other way: Among 299 other study participants who were depressed at the start, there was no increase in social media use over time.

Nathaniel Counts is senior vice president of behavioral health innovation for the nonprofit Mental Health America. He said the researchers did a good job of accounting for other factors that could explain the link between social media use and depression. However, depression is complicated, and it's difficult to tease out the role of a single factor, Counts added. For example, he said that a young person could be dealing with a difficult family situation, then start to spend more time on social media as an escape. That online time might precede depression, but not be a cause of it.

Things get more complicated still because individuals vary, as do their reasons for using social media. Both Primack and Counts said the ways in which young adults use those platforms is likely key. "If you're positively engaging with new friends," Counts said, "that's different from passively scrolling through your news feed and comparing yourself to other people." He pointed out that young people who commonly feel marginalized -- LGBTQ youth, for example -- may find supportive communities online.

The study lacked "nuanced" data on how people used social media, Primack said. "We don't know if they were having angry rants online, or clicking 'like' on pictures of cute puppies." But, he added, most people use social media in various ways, not just one: Someone might go online to connect with friends, Primack noted, then end up scrolling through "the reels of other people's lives, and coming away with a feeling of 'I don't measure up.'"

Primack suggested that people try to regularly take stock of how they feel after using social media. "Just as in all areas of life," he said, "it's good to look at our habits and ask, what are my feelings right now? What are my responses? Is this serving me?" Counts agreed. "In general," he said, "we don't always take time to reflect. Is this a productive use of my time?" But both also said individuals should not bear all the responsibility. Social media platforms could be better designed -- with not only marketing in mind, but users' mental well-being, too, Counts said. "How do we, as a society, monitor where we are and where we want to be?" he said. Primack described the new findings as a "cautionary tale."

"Social media is still a new tool," he said. "And it may be something that we're not using optimally."

Source: Brian Primack, MD, PhD, dean, College of Education and Health Professions, and professor, public health, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.; Nathaniel Counts, JD, senior vice president, behavioral health innovations, Mental Health America, Alexandria, Va.; American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Dec. 10, 2020, online

67

Pregnancy / Exercise tips for pregnancy

« Last post by Shahjalal Prodhania on December 19, 2020, 05:30:28 PM »

Exercise tips for pregnancy

Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve health, reduce the risk of excess weight gain, and possibly make delivery easier.

Exercise can benefit a woman’s mental and physical health during pregnancy, and it may give the newborn a healthier start, too. Despite this, studies suggest that only about 40% of pregnant women exercise.

Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, both during and after pregnancy.

An exercise slot does not need to be lengthy. Women can, for example, exercise five times a week for 30 minutes or 10 times a week for 15 minutes.

Those who were doing more vigorous activity, such as running, before becoming pregnant can usually continue with their existing regimen, although they should check first with their doctor.

Six types of exercise to stay fit and healthy


Exercising while pregnant can help prevent pregnancy complications and give the infant a healthier start.

Suitable activities during pregnancy include:

• brisk walking
• swimming
• indoor stationary cycling
• prenatal yoga
• low impact aerobics under the guidance of a certified aerobics instructor
• special exercises to prepare for labor and delivery

These activities carry little risk of injury, benefit the entire body, and are usually safe to do until delivery.

1. Brisk walking

If prepregnancy exercise levels were low, a quick stroll around the neighborhood is a good way to start.

This activity has several advantages:

• It provides a cardiovascular workout with relatively little impact on the knees and ankles.
• If women start from home, it is free.
• It is possible to walk almost anywhere and at any time during pregnancy.
• Friends and other family members can join for company.

Safety tip: Stay safe by choosing smooth surfaces, wearing supportive footwear to prevent falls, and avoiding potholes, rocks, and other obstacles.

2. Swimming

Swimming, walking in water, and aqua aerobics allow for motion without putting pressure on the joints. Buoyancy may offer some relief from the extra body weight as the pregnancy progresses.

It is important to choose a stroke that feels comfortable and does not strain or hurt the neck, shoulders, or back muscles. Breaststroke may be a good choice for this. Using a kickboard can help strengthen the leg and buttock muscles.

Safety tips:

• Use the railing for balance when entering the water to avoid slipping.
• Refrain from diving or jumping, which could impact the abdomen.
• Avoid warm pools, steam rooms, hot tubs, and saunas to minimize the risk of overheating.

3. Stationary cycling

Cycling on a stationary bike, also called spinning, is safe for most women during pregnancy, including first-time exercisers.

Advantages include:

• Cycling helps raise the heart rate while minimizing stress on the joints and pelvis.
• The bike helps support body weight.
• As the bike is stationary, the risk of falling is low.

Later in pregnancy, a higher handlebar may be more comfortable.

4. Yoga

Prenatal yoga classes can help women keep their joints limber and maintain flexibility. Yoga may also help with pain and stress management, according to one study.

The benefits of yoga include:

• strengthening the muscles
• stimulating blood circulation
• helping maintain a healthy blood pressure
• increasing flexibility
• enhancing relaxation
• teaching techniques to help women stay calm during labor and delivery

Safety tips: As pregnancy progresses, consider skipping poses that:

• may lead to overbalancing
• involve lying on the abdomen
• involve spending time lying flat on the back

When lying flat on the back, the weight of the bump can put pressure on major veins and arteries and decrease blood flow to the heart. This reduced blood flow can lead to faintness.

Women should also take care to avoid overstretching, as this could lead to injury.

5. Low impact aerobics
In low impact aerobic exercise, at least one foot stays on the ground at all times.

This type of exercise can:

• strengthen the heart and lungs
• help maintain muscle tone and balance
• limit stress on the joints

Some classes are designed especially for pregnant women. They can be a good way to meet other people and train with an instructor who is qualified to meet the specific needs of pregnant women.

Women who already attend a regular aerobics class should let the instructor know that they are pregnant. The instructor can then modify exercises where necessary and advise about suitable movements.

6. Preparing for labor: Squatting and pelvic tilts

Some exercises are particularly useful during pregnancy, as they prepare the body for labor and delivery.

Squatting: As squatting may help open the pelvis during labor, it may be a good idea to practice during pregnancy.

1. Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart and flat on the floor, keeping the back straight.
2. Lower the buttocks down slowly, keeping the feet flat and the knees no further forward than the feet.
3. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds at the lowest point, then slowly push up.

Pelvic tilts: These can strengthen the abdominal muscles and help reduce back pain.

1. Start on the hands and knees.
2. Tilt the hips forward and pull the abdomen in, rounding the back.
3. Hold for a few seconds.
4. Release and let the back drop.
5. Repeat this up to 10 times.

Kegel exercises: These tone the muscles in the pelvic floor. Strong pelvic muscles will help the woman push during delivery and reduce the risk of urine leakage afterward.

Learn how to do Kegel exercises in our dedicated article.

Benefits
During pregnancy, exercise can help by:

• increasing the heart rate steadily and improving circulation
• reducing the risk of obesity and related complications, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension
• helping prevent constipation, varicose veins, backache, and other pregnancy complications
• keeping the body flexible and strong
• supporting and controlling healthy weight gain
• preparing the muscles for labor and birth
• helping prevent deep vein thrombosis
• improving sleep and emotional health

It may also:

• shorten labor and decrease the need for medication and pain relief
• reduce the risk of a preterm or cesarean delivery
• speed up recovery after delivery
• give the infant a healthier start

Research suggests that there may also be benefits for the baby, such as:

• a lower fetal heart rate
• a healthier birth weight
• a lower fat mass
• improved stress tolerance
• enhanced nervous system development

Tips
Physical changes during pregnancy place extra demands on the body, so it is important to exercise with care.

Women who were active before pregnancy and healthy during it can often continue as before, adjusting their program as the pregnancy progresses.

Women who were not active before pregnancy can start with a low intensity program and gradually increase their activity levels.

How to exercise safely

A few tips can help people stay safe when exercising.

It is advisable to begin by warming up for 5 minutes and stretching for 5 minutes. People can then finish the session with 5–10 minutes of slower exercise, ending with gentle stretching.

Here are some useful tips:

• Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes and a good support bra.
• Choose supportive shoes specific to the exercise type to help prevent injury.
• Wear compression stockings if the legs are swelling.
• Exercise on a flat, level surface to avoid injury.
• Avoid overheating when exercising.
• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise to stay hydrated.
• Get up slowly and gradually to prevent dizziness.
• Monitor the effect of each activity and adjust the regimen if necessary as the pregnancy progresses.

Remember that:

• The body needs more oxygen and energy during pregnancy.
• The hormone relaxin, which the body produces more of during pregnancy, causes the ligaments that support the joints to stretch, increasing the risk of injury.
• Weight changes affect the center of gravity, putting extra strain on the joints and muscles in the lower back and pelvis and increasing the chance of losing balance.

Risks and cautions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risks that moderate intensity aerobic exercise carries are very low during pregnancy. There is no evidence that exercise will lead to an early delivery, pregnancy loss, or low birth weight.

However, the body undergoes significant changes at this time, and some precautions are necessary.

Women can stay safe by:

• taking care not to overheat
• refraining from exercising in high humidity
• avoiding activities that increase the risk of abdominal trauma
• avoiding exercising to the point of exhaustion
• slowing down the activity if it is not possible to talk while exercising

It may be necessary to moderate the regimen over time.

Who should not exercise?

Anyone with a medical condition, such as asthma, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or a pregnancy-related condition, should speak to their doctor before changing their exercise habits.

The doctor may advise resting if a woman has:

• vaginal bleeding or spotting
• a low placenta or placenta previa
• a history or possibility of pregnancy loss or preterm delivery
• a weak cervix

A healthcare provider can help develop a program to suit the individual.

Sports to avoid

Some forms of exercise are not suitable during pregnancy. These include:

• scuba diving
• some contact sports, such as kickboxing and judo
• activity above an altitude of about 8,000 feet
• heavy weightlifting and activities that require straining

These activities may entail additional risks, such as injury and altitude sickness. Activities with a risk of falling — such as downhill skiing, hockey, and cycling — may also not be suitable.

When to stop

Stop exercising and seek medical advice if any of the following occur:

• pain, including stomach, pelvic, or chest pain
• muscle cramps
• weakness or fatigue
• faintness or dizziness
• nausea
• feeling cold or clammy
• vaginal bleeding
• leakage of amniotic fluid
• a rapid or irregular heartbeat
• sudden swelling in the ankles, hands, face, or all of them
• increased shortness of breath
• contractions that continue after rest
• difficulty walking
• a reduction in the baby’s movement

Regular physical activity can boost the health of both the woman and the baby, and it may make pregnancy, labor, and postdelivery recovery easier.

However, it is important to stay safe during exercise, so women should check with their doctor before making any changes, and as their pregnancy progresses.



Source: Medical News Today

68

Pregnancy / Which foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy ?

« Last post by Shahjalal Prodhania on December 19, 2020, 04:26:07 PM »

Which foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy?

Pregnant women need to ensure that their diet provides enough nutrients and energy for the baby to develop and grow properly. They also need to make sure that her body is healthy enough to deal with the changes that are occurring.

For a healthy pregnancy, the mother’s diet needs to be balanced and nutritious – this involves the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and consuming a wide variety of plants like vegetables, and fruits.

Some women’s diets may be impacted by ethical beliefs, religious requirements, or health conditions, so checking with a doctor is an important part of planning a pregnancy diet.

Fast facts on eating during pregnancy:

• A pregnant woman’s calorie intake grows during pregnancy. She does not eat for two; her calorie consumption just goes up a few hundred calories a day for most pregnant women.
• Typical weight gain, if the mother is carrying just one baby, varies considerably based on pre-pregnancy weight and other factors. An underweight pregnant women is recommended to gain the most, whereas an overweight woman is recommended to gain the least.
• A woman’s body absorbs iron more efficiently and blood volume increases when she is pregnant, so she has to consume more iron to make sure that both she and her baby have an adequate oxygen supply.

Rules:

Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of any nutritious diet, and they are especially important during pregnancy.

As mentioned above, the mother should follow a varied, balanced, and nutritious diet, and it must include:

Fruit and vegetables
Aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. They may be in the form of juice, dried, canned, frozen, or fresh. Fresh and frozen (if frozen soon after picking) produce usually have higher levels of vitamins and other nutrients.

Experts stress that eating fruit is usually better for you than just drinking the juice, as natural sugar levels in juice are very high. Consider vegetable juices like carrot or wheatgrass for dense nutrition.

Starchy carbohydrate-rich foods

Starchy carbohydrate-rich foods include potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread. Carbohydrates are high in energy, and are therefore an important component of a good pregnancy diet.

Protein

Healthful, animal-sourced proteins include fish, lean meat, and chicken, as well as eggs. All pregnant women and especially vegans should consider the following foods as good sources of protein:

• Quinoa – known as a “complete protein,” it includes all the essential amino acids.
• Tofu and soy products.
• Beans, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, and nut butters are a good source of protein and iron.

British and Brazilian researchers reported in the journal PLoS ONE that pregnant women who ate seafood had lower levels of anxiety compared with those who did not. Pregnant mothers who never consumed seafood had a 53 percent greater risk of suffering from high levels of anxiety, the authors wrote.

Fats

Fats should not make up more than 30 percent of a pregnant woman’s diet. Researchers from the University of Illinois reported in the Journal of Physiology that a high-fat diet may genetically program the baby for future diabetes.

Team leader, Professor Yuan-Xiang Pan, said:

“We found that exposure to a high-fat diet before birth modifies gene expression in the livers of offspring so they are more likely to overproduce glucose, which can cause early insulin resistance and diabetes.”

There are other risks to pregnancy with an overly high-fat diet, so a balance is needed and monounsaturated and omega-3’s or “healthy fats” should be the primary fat choices. In the journal Endocrinology, a team from Oregon Health & Science University explained that Food and Nutrition Bulletin because the blood flow from the mother to the placenta is reduced.

Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fats include olive oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, canola oil, avocados, many nuts, and seeds.

Fiber
Wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread, wild rice, wholegrain pasta, pulses like beans and lentils, fruit, and vegetables are rich in fiber.

Women have a higher risk of developing constipation during pregnancy; eating plenty of fiber is effective in minimizing that risk. Studies have shown that eating plenty of fiber during pregnancy reduces the risk or severity of hemorrhoids, which also become more common as the fetus grows.

Calcium

It is important to have a healthy daily intake of calcium. Dairy foods, such as cheese, milk, and yogurt are rich in calcium. If the mother is vegan, she should consider the following calcium-rich foods; calcium-fortified soymilk and other plant milks and juices, calcium-set tofu, soybeans, bok choy, broccoli, collards, Chinese cabbage, okra, mustard greens, beans, kale, and soynuts.

Zinc
Zinc is a vital trace element. It plays a major role in normal growth and development, cellular integrity, and several biological functions including nucleic acid metabolism and protein synthesis.

Since all these functions are involved in growth and cell division, zinc is important for the development of the fetus. The best sources of zinc are chicken, turkey, ham, shrimp, crab, oysters, meat, fish, dairy products, beans, peanut butter, nuts, sunflower seeds, ginger, onions, bran, wheat germ, rice, pasta, cereals, eggs, lentils, and tofu.


Iron and pregnancy

Iron makes up a major part of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying pigment and main protein in the red blood cells; it carries oxygen throughout the body.

During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the mother’s body increases by almost 50 percent – she needs more iron to make more hemoglobin for all that extra blood.

Most women start their pregnancy without adequate stores of iron to meet the increasing demands of their bodies, particularly after the 3rd or 4th month. If iron stores are inadequate, the mother may become anemic, and there is a higher risk of:

• Preterm delivery.
• Low-weight baby.
• Stillbirth.
• Newborn death.

Tiredness, irritability, depression (in the mother) during the pregnancy.
If the mother is anemic later in the pregnancy, there is a higher risk of losing a lot of blood when she gives birth. The following foods are rich sources of iron:

• Dried beans.
• Dried fruits, such as apricots.
• Egg yolk.
• Some whole grain cereals, if they are fortified with iron.
• Liver is rich in iron, but doctors and most dietitians advise pregnant women to avoid liver. Liver is very high in vitamin A, which may harm the baby during pregnancy.
• Lean meat.
• Oysters (pregnant women should eat them cooked).
• Poultry.
• Salmon.
• Tuna.
• Lamb, pork, and shellfish also contain iron, but less than the items listed above.
• Legumes – lima beans, soybeans, kidney beans, dried beans, and peas.
• Seeds – Brazil nuts and almonds.
• Vegetables, especially dark green ones – broccoli, spinach, dandelion leaves, asparagus, collards, and kale.
• Wholegrains – brown rice, oats, millet, and wheat.

Non-animal sources of iron are less easily absorbed by the body. Mixing some lean meat, fish, or poultry with them can improve their absorption rates.

Foods to avoid

The following foods are best avoided during pregnancy:

• Mercury in some types of fish – shark, swordfish, and marlin should be avoided, or kept to an absolute minimum.
• Uncooked or partially cooked meat – this should be avoided, it should be cooked right through. Uncooked shellfish – there is a risk of bacterial or viral contamination which can cause food poisoning. Some bacteria and viruses can also cross the placenta and harm the baby.
• Raw eggs – including any foods with raw or partially cooked eggs in them. Eggs must be well cooked through to avoid salmonella infection.
• Uncooked or undercooked ready-prepared meals – it is crucial that ready-prepared meals are cooked through until they are piping hot. The risk of listeriosis exists, as well as infection from other pathogens.
• Pate – any type of pate, be it vegetable or meat-based – the risk here is also of listeria infection.
• Soft mold-ripened cheese – such as blue-veined cheese, Brie or Camembert. There is a risk of listeria infection. Listeria is a group of bacteria that can cause potentially fatal infections to pregnant women and their babies.
• Empty calorie foods – cakes, biscuits, cookies, chips and candy should be kept to a minimum. Many of these options are high in sugar and fat, have little nutritional content, and may undermine a pregnant woman’s efforts at maintaining a healthy body weight.

Should I stop drinking alcohol completely?

Only very small amounts of alcohol may be consumed each week by pregnant mothers.

Only very small amounts of alcohol may be consumed each week by pregnant mothers.

Public health authorities throughout the world have been progressively reducing the maximum amount of alcohol a woman should drink each week.

A fetus’ liver cannot process alcohol anywhere nearly as well as an adult’s can. Too much exposure to alcohol can seriously undermine the baby’s development. Most doctors advise pregnant mothers to avoid alcohol altogether.

Some guidelines recommend only very small amounts per week, if the mother chooses to drink while pregnant. Heavy drinking during pregnancy may harm both the mother and the baby. There is a risk that the baby will develop FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), so many mothers choose to remove the risk of any issues by eliminating alcohol from their diet during pregnancy.

Should pregnant women avoid caffeine?

If a pregnant mother consumes too much caffeine during her pregnancy, there is a raised risk of a low birth weight, which can lead to health problems later on. There is also a higher risk of miscarriage.

Many foods and drinks contain caffeine, not just coffee. Examples include some sodas, energy drinks, chocolate, and tea. Some cold and flu remedies also contain caffeine. A pregnant woman should talk to her doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before taking a remedy.

Most health authorities around the world say that coffee does not need to be cut out completely, but should not exceed more than 200 milligrams per day. A standard mug of instant coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine.

Weight gain
According to the Institute of Medicine, USA, a woman whose body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 24.9 should gain 25-35 pounds (11.4-15.9 kilograms) during the 9 months. A woman who is overweight at the start of pregnancy should gain between 15-25 pounds (6.8 to 11.4 kg). Weight gain recommendations may also vary, depending on the woman’s age, fetal development, and her current health.

Excessive or insufficient weight gain can undermine the health of both the fetus and the mother.

Supplements
The information below should never supersede what a doctor tells a patient; it is important for pregnant women to consult a doctor before pursuing any supplementation.

Iron
A woman pregnant woman should be consuming 27 milligrams of iron per day. The majority of women can get adequate amounts if they follow a healthy diet. Some, however, may need iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency. Some women may experience heartburn, nausea, or constipation when taking iron supplements. To avoid these problems, they should take their pills with meals, start off with smaller doses and then work their way up to the full dose slowly.

Folic acid
The National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom, recommends that supplements in the form of folic acid should be 400 mcg (micrograms) per day up to the 12th week of pregnancy. Ideally, women should have been on them before becoming pregnant, the NHS says.

Vitamin D
Guidelines in the UK say that a pregnant woman should take supplements containing 10 mcg of vitamin D daily. Summer sunlight is a good source of vitamin D (the light does not have the vitamin, but triggers the skin to synthesize it) – however, exposure should be limited because too much sunlight on the skin can cause burning and raises the risk of developing skin cancer.

Zinc

 study published in the Food and Nutrition Bulletin reported that observational studies, have shown that “zinc deficiency during pregnancy may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes for the mother and fetus.” After assessing several studies they found that pregnant women on zinc supplements were 14 percent less likely to have a premature delivery.

Avoid vitamin A supplements

Pregnant women should avoid having too much vitamin A, as this may harm their baby. The exception to this rule is when a doctor advises it for a specific reason. It may be determined, for example, that a mother is deficient in vitamin A during her pregnancy, in this case, a doctor may advise supplementation.

The supplements listed in this article are available for purchase online.

Source: Medical News Today.

69

Child Care / Bed-sharing with baby: the risks and benefits

« Last post by Shahjalal Prodhania on December 15, 2020, 11:55:09 AM »

Bed-sharing with baby: the risks and benefits

A question to all you parents out there: would you share your bed with your infant? This question is likely to encourage a diverse range of answers, as it is certainly a controversial topic. Some studies say bed-sharing with baby is beneficial, while others have linked the practice to serious health risks. So, what are new parents to do?

The percentage of infants who share a bed with a parent, another caregiver or a child more than doubled between 1993 and 2010, from 6.5% to 13.5%.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly recommend against bed-sharing with an infant – defined as sleeping on the same surface as an infant, such as a chair, sofa or bed.

But according to a 2013 study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the percentage of infants who share a bed with a parent, another caregiver or a child more than doubled between 1993 and 2010, from 6.5% to 13.5%.

Some of you may be surprised by this increase, given the well-documented health risks that have been linked to infant bed-sharing.

Earlier this year, Medical News Today reported on a study from the AAP citing bed-sharing as the primary cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – the leading cause of death among infants aged 1-12 months.

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that among 8,207 infant deaths from 24 US states occurring between 2004-2012, 69% of infants were bed-sharing at the time of death.

“Bed-sharing may increase the risk of overheating, rebreathing or airway obstruction, head covering and exposure to tobacco smoke. All of these are risk factors for SIDS,” Dr. Michael Goodstein, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Pennsylvania State University and a member of the AAP Task Force for SIDS, told MNT, adding:

“Furthermore, bed-sharing in an adult bed not designed for infant safety exposes the infant to additional risks for accidental injury and death, such as suffocation, asphyxia, entrapment, falls and strangulation.

Infants – particularly those in the first 3 months of life and those born prematurely and/or with low birth weight – are at highest risk, possibly because immature motor skills and muscle strength make it difficult to escape potential threats.”

More recently, another study from the AAP found that even sleeping with an infant on a sofa significantly increases the risk of SIDS. Of 9,073 sleep-related infant deaths, researchers found that 12.9% occurred on sofas. The majority of these infants were sharing the sofa with another individual when they died.

Aside from the study statistics, some reports have shown that the risks of infant death as a result of bed-sharing are very real.

In 2012, UK newspaper The Daily Mail reported on the deaths of 3-week-old twin babies in Idaho, who died after their mother accidentally suffocated them while they were sleeping in her bed. A few months later, the newspaper reported on another incident, in which a mother accidentally suffocated her baby while rolling over him in her sleep.

Most recently, a report from WQAD.com revealed that a man and woman had been charged for the death of their 4-month-old baby, after sleeping beside the baby while under the influence and rolling on top of him.

According to the AAP, bed-sharing is particularly risky if a parent is very tired, has been smoking, using alcohol or has taken drugs.

Such reports prompt the question: if bed-sharing can put an infant’s life at risk, why are more parents taking up the practice?

Bed-sharing and breastfeeding

Last year, a study claimed that mothers who bed-share with their infants are more likely to breastfeed.

The primary reason many mothers choose to bed-share with their infant is to promote prolonged
 breastfeeding.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine support bed-sharing when it comes to breastfeeding. And last year, a study published in JAMA Pediatrics suggested that mothers who regularly bed-share with their infants are more likely to breastfeed for longer. Numerous other studies have reached the same conclusion.

But it is not just the studies that hail bed-sharing for promoting breastfeeding. Pediatrician Dr. William Sears is possibly the most famous advocate for bed-sharing, after openly supporting the practice in The Baby Book in 1993.

“Put yourself behind the eyes of your baby,” Dr. Sears told The Huffington Post in 2011. “Ask, ‘If I were baby Johnny or baby Suzy, where would I rather sleep?’ In a dark lonely room behind bars, or nestled next to my favorite person in the world, inches away from my favorite cuisine?”

For many mothers, breastfeeding can be a struggle. They have to pull themselves out of bed on numerous occasions throughout the night and try to stay awake while their infant feeds; doing this night after night can be exhausting, causing many mothers to give up breastfeeding altogether.

This is why many parents see bed-sharing as a viable option; the baby can feed while the mother can get more sleep.

Citing the benefits of bed-sharing for breastfeeding in a blog for The Huffington Post, Diana West, of La Leche League International – a nonprofit organization that promotes breastfeeding – says:

“Bed-sharing works so well because breastfeeding mothers and babies are hardwired to be together during vulnerable sleep periods. When they bed-share, the baby’s happier and doesn’t have to cry to get the mother’s attention, and she doesn’t have to get out of bed – she just latches the baby on and maybe even falls back to sleep.”

She automatically lies on her side facing the baby with her lower arm up and knee bent,” West adds. “This creates a protected ‘cove’ that keeps her from rolling toward the baby and prevents anyone else from rolling into that space. The baby stays oriented toward her breasts in that safe cove, away from pillows. Their sleep-wake cycles synchronize so that they both have low-stress, low-level arousals through the night.”

“This instinctive and mutually beneficial behavior probably explains why research has shown that the new mothers who get the most sleep are the ones who breastfeed exclusively and bed-share,” she says.

Dr. Goodstein told us, however, that there have been no studies assessing whether room-sharing with an infant rather than bed-sharing also promotes breastfeeding.

What are the other potential benefits and risks of bed-sharing?

Contrary to the majority of research on bed-sharing, some health care professionals claim bed-sharing with an infant actually reduces the risk of SIDS – if it is done safely.

Dr. Sears is one of these, noting that in countries where bed-sharing is common practice – such as Asia, Africa and parts of Europe – SIDS rates are at their lowest. “While there could be many other factors contributing to the lower incidence of SIDS in these cultures, all the population studies I’ve seen have come to the same conclusion: safe co-sleeping lowers the SIDS risk,” Dr. Sears says on his website.

Dr. Goodstein, however, believes there is not enough evidence to support this claim.

Studies have suggested that bed-sharing with an infant also increases bonding between parent and baby. Talking to Fox News last year, pediatrician Dr. Susan Markel says:

“Babies have an inborn need to be touched and held. They enjoy having physical closeness day and night, and this kind of connection is essential to meet a baby’s needs for warmth, comfort and security.”

But some health care professionals believe the risk of SIDS outweighs the potential benefits of bed-sharing. What is more, bed-sharing may present other downfalls.

“Many [parents] believe that if you allow children to sleep in your bed from birth, it can be hard to persuade them to move out later,” Sarah Crown, editor of the UK’s biggest community network for parents, Mumsnet, told MNT.

In addition, some parents believe bed-sharing with an infant will make them more dependent on others as they get older. “I think it teaches kids that they almost need that constant contact and interaction in order to feel that safety, security and confidence in themselves,” Jennifer Zinzi – a mother of two who strongly opposes bed-sharing – told Fox News.

A 2011 study published in the journal Pediatrics, however, found that bed-sharing at age 1-3 years poses no negative long-term effects for a child’s behavior and cognition at the age of 5 years.

‘No golden rule’ for bed-sharing

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding bed-sharing, it seems child health organizations and health care professionals are in agreement about one thing: the decision to bed-share with infants is solely down to the parents.

“There is no golden rule,” Crown told us. “It’s about what suits you and your family more than anything. But Mumsnet users find that talking to those who’ve been there and done that, and sharing wisdom and support on the often vexed question of sleeping in the early days, is invaluable.”

Dr. Goodstein added:

“I think that at the end of the day, parents want to be the best they can be and provide the best for their babies. As providers and child advocates, we want to assist parents by providing the best information to allow infants to not just be healthy, but to thrive and reach their full potential.

We need to work together. We need to do everything we can to promote breastfeeding. We also need to promote infant sleep safety.”

AAP recommendations for safe infant sleeping environments
As mentioned previously, the AAP do not support bed-sharing. Instead, they recommend room-sharing, meaning parents should sleep in the same room as their infants but not on the same surface.

In their latest policy statement, the AAP recommend that babies should be placed on their back to sleep – known as the supine position – in a safety-approved crib, bassinet or portable crib/play yard. These should have a firm mattress covered by a fitted sheet.

The policy statement also recommends that no soft objects, such as pillows, pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters and sheepskins should be within the infant’s sleeping environment, as these could increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment and strangulation.

Furthermore, babies should sleep in a smoke-free environment, and their environment should not be too warm as this may increase the risk of SIDS.

The AAP say parents should consider using a pacifier at bedtime, as this has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, but should avoid the use of commercial devices marketed to reduce SIDS risk due to the lack of supporting evidence that they work.

“Helping parents to understand why they should follow these recommendations could lead to better compliance in the home,” said Dr. Goodstein.

Safer bed-sharing

Parents may choose to bed-share with their child, or there may be those occasions where it happens unexpectedly.

The Baby Friendly Initiative from UNICEF – a global children’s charity – provides recommendations for safer bed-sharing.

They note that it is not safe to bed-share in the early months of a baby’s life, or if they are preterm or of a small birth weight.

An infant should be kept away from pillows to avoid the risk of suffocation, UNICEF recommend, and parents should ensure the infant is unable to fall out of the bed or become trapped between the mattress and wall.

Parents should also ensure bedclothes do not cover the baby’s face, and infants should not be left alone on the bed in case they move into a dangerous position.

Furthermore, parents should not share a bed with their child if they are a smoker or have taken drugs or consumed alcohol.

For further information on safe infant sleep practices, visit healthychildren.org – a website from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Source: Medical News Today

70

Child Care / Mental Health Issues Prominent In Child Soldiers

« Last post by Shahjalal Prodhania on December 15, 2020, 10:56:55 AM »

Mental Health Issues Prominent In Child Soldiers

Compared to children in Nepal who were not forced into military service, former child soldiers were more likely to present severe mental health problems such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. These findings are reported in the August 13 issue of JAMA.

As children continue to be exploited by armed groups all over the world, special mental health interventions for child soldiers are ever more necessary. There is, however, a paucity of research that is dedicated to studying the mental health of child soldiers in armed conflicts. For several reasons, civilian children are more accessible than child soldiers.

Researcher Brandon A. Kohrt (Emory University, Atlanta) and colleagues set out to determine the mental health effects of both child soldiers and children who were never forced into military service. The sample consisted of 141 former child soldiers and 141 never-conscripted children in Nepal between March and April 2007. The children were matched on age, sex, education, and ethnicity, and all participants experienced at least 1 type of trauma. The former child soldiers were between 5 and 16 years old at time of conscription, and the average age of study participants was about 15.75 years old at the time of the study.

Kohrt and colleagues found that 75 of the child soldiers (52.3%) met the symptom cutoff score for depression, 65 (46.1%) met the score for anxiety, 78 (55.3%) met the criteria for PTSD, 55 (39%) met the criteria for general psychological difficulties, and 88 (62.4%) were functionally impaired. Statistically adjusting for traumatic exposures and other possibly confounding variables held that being a child soldier was significantly associated with depression and PTSD among girls (2.4 and 6.8 times higher odds, respectively) and PTSD among boys (3.8 times higher odds). However, there was no statistical association between being a child soldier and general psychological difficulties, anxiety, or function impairment.

The authors note that, “The difference in mental health outcomes between child soldiers and never-conscripted children can be explained in part by greater exposure to traumatic events among child soldiers, especially for general psychological difficulties and function impairment.”


Compared to children in Nepal who were not forced into military service, former child soldiers were more likely to present severe mental health problems such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. These findings are reported in the August 13 issue of JAMA.

As children continue to be exploited by armed groups all over the world, special mental health interventions for child soldiers are ever more necessary. There is, however, a paucity of research that is dedicated to studying the mental health of child soldiers in armed conflicts. For several reasons, civilian children are more accessible than child soldiers.

Researcher Brandon A. Kohrt (Emory University, Atlanta) and colleagues set out to determine the mental health effects of both child soldiers and children who were never forced into military service. The sample consisted of 141 former child soldiers and 141 never-conscripted children in Nepal between March and April 2007. The children were matched on age, sex, education, and ethnicity, and all participants experienced at least 1 type of trauma. The former child soldiers were between 5 and 16 years old at time of conscription, and the average age of study participants was about 15.75 years old at the time of the study.

Kohrt and colleagues found that 75 of the child soldiers (52.3%) met the symptom cutoff score for depression, 65 (46.1%) met the score for anxiety, 78 (55.3%) met the criteria for PTSD, 55 (39%) met the criteria for general psychological difficulties, and 88 (62.4%) were functionally impaired. Statistically adjusting for traumatic exposures and other possibly confounding variables held that being a child soldier was significantly associated with depression and PTSD among girls (2.4 and 6.8 times higher odds, respectively) and PTSD among boys (3.8 times higher odds). However, there was no statistical association between being a child soldier and general psychological difficulties, anxiety, or function impairment.

The authors note that, “The difference in mental health outcomes between child soldiers and never-conscripted children can be explained in part by greater exposure to traumatic events among child soldiers, especially for general psychological difficulties and function impairment.”

“The study has several clinical and programmatic implications. First, the greater burden of mental health problems among former child soldiers supports the need for focused programming, which should include, but not consist solely of, interventions to reduce depression symptoms and the psychological sequelae of trauma, especially bombings and torture, as well as incorporate belongingness and income generation. Second, girl soldiers may require focused attention, possibly for factors not addressed in this study, such as problems of sexual violence and reintegration difficulties. Third, the variation in type and severity of mental health problems highlights the importance of screening, including locally developed measures of function impairment, as a base for intervention,” suggest the researchers.

They conclude: “Without screening, there is a risk of pathologizing child soldiers as a group rather than providing support to those individuals most impaired. Finally, the presence of mental health problems among never-conscripted children illustrates the need for comprehensive postconflict community-based psychosocial care not restricted only to child soldiers.”

Source: Medical News Today