Thursday, June 18, 2009

Women And Heart Diseases

There is a wrong belief among most of the people that women are not to bother about heart-related issues as they are not likely to have them. Even women are more concerned about the cancer problem in them, especially breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness has been on continuous increase past few years. Every year, a huge number of women across the world die of heart diseases, attack or stroke. Some women even remain unaware of the heart ailment they have been suffering from, all through their lives. In US, almost half of the patients dying of heart attacks, are women and heart diseases are still considered to be the man’s matter of worry.

Like men, women are also subject to increasing risk of heart diseases with increasing age. Other possible reasons are family history, race and past case of heart stroke. Survey reports say that Black and Afro-American women have more risk of heart stroke than White women. Along with these natural reasons, in which the woman can’t help, there are other factors also, which the woman herself should be held responsible for. Activities like smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction are some very dangerous habits among women and heart diseases are caused largely due to them.

It is quite interesting to note that women tend to have higher cholesterol levels than men. So, the risk of higher blood pressure also gets higher. Due to the heavy load of family and other responsibilities, many women don’t find enough time for indulgence in exercises, workouts and active sports. The intake of food remains as it is but they don’t burn extra calories. They keep gaining weight and thus, invite heart problems and diabetes. They can avoid them, even if they spare 30 minutes of their busy routine, exercising. Women and heart diseases are as much associated with each as are men to the latter. So, women also require to be alert and aware about these life-threatening troubles.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is one among many pregnancy complications. It is the type of diabetes that occurs only among expecting women. Like in routine cases of diabetes, it shows high content of blood sugar which is really bad for the mother and especially, for the unborn baby. The content of sugar increases due to lack of insulin in the body. Because of this, the body is not able to extract enough energy from the food. So the pregnancy remains no more, healthy and needs quick aid inorder to get good results by the end of it.

Chances of gestational diabetes can be high for the expectant mother who is overweight, over-age, who has diabetic history in previous pregnancies if any. Whether you fall into any of these factors or not, yet it would be good if you ask your doctor to check for blood sugar level. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be done in many ways through various kinds of tests. After these tests confirm the ailment, it is very natural for the expectant mother to wonder about associated risks to her baby. Ofcourse there are risks to the baby, if the situation is left untreated. The problems arise right at the time of delivery which becomes difficult and stressful. The newly-born baby might suffer low sugar level and breathlessness.

Even for the mother, gestational diabetes can be very bothering. Complications like high blood pressure and delivery issues become challenging to her health. In most of such cases, C-sections are performed as normal delivery becomes risky both for mother and the baby. But women need not worry because they also can look forward to a healthy pregnancy and bonny baby, by means of proper medical aid and some precautionary steps. A recommended meal plan and simple exercising regime can let you forget, you have gestational diabetes. You can stay cool and wait for the time, as every mother-to-be does during a normal pregnancy.