This is actually the first week of pregnancy since fertilization occurred around the middle of the monthly cycle (2 weeks before the next period). The embryo is about 0.006 of an inch long-about the size of a pinhead. You won’t be experiencing any noticeable changes right now. As a matter of fact, few women know […]
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Brachial plexus palsy and fractured clavicles are fetal injuries that often result from difficult vaginal deliveries. These injuries usually result from shoulder dystocia (difficulty delivering the shoulders) in an infant with macrosomia (large gestational weight). What is a brachial plexus palsy? The most common injury to the macrosomic infant at birth is brachial plexus palsy. […]
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Partial or complete absence of the abdominal muscles so that the outlines of the intestines are visible through the thin, lax, protruding abdominal wall. Also called the “prune belly syndrome.”
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An aneurysm situated within the abdomen (belly). An aneurysm is a localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, vein, or the heart. At the area of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge and the wall is weakened and may rupture. The word “aneurysm” comes from the Greek “aneurysma” meaning “a widening.” An aneurysm may involve […]
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This disorder is characterized by multiple birth defects including wide spaced eyes (ocular hypertelorism), front-facing (anteverted) nostrils, a broad upper lip, a malformed (“saddle-bag”) scrotum, and laxity of the ligaments resulting in bending back of the knees (genu recurvatum), flat feet, and overly extensible fingers.
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What Are Shin Splints? The term “shin splint” is a common misnomer in sports medicine. It does not imply a diagnosis, but rather a the symptom of pain over the front of the tibia (shinbone.) “Shin splints” is simply the name given to pain felt over the front of the shin while walking or running. […]
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The rotator cuff is not a single structure. There are a group of muscles in the shoulder that rotate and lift the arm at the shoulder joint. The tendons of these muscles come together and form a single common sheet of tendon through which they all attach together to bone. This common sheet of tendons […]
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There are two main causes of muscle pain, cramps and strains. Brief acute pain is usually due to muscle cramps. Continuous pain is usually due to muscle overuse from a strenuous activity. Muscle Cramps Muscle cramps are caused by fatigue in a muscle. The muscle contracts but does not relax leading to a condition described […]
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Risk Factors for Heart Disease Include: Cigarette smoking High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Overweight Physical inactivity Diabetes The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk. So take action–take control! Coronary heart disease is a woman’s concern: Every woman’s concern. One in 10 American women, 45 to 64 years of age, has some […]
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Saccharin In February 1974, Canada’s Health Protection Branch — FDA’s counterpart there — began a major rat study to resolve the scientific uncertainties surrounding saccharin. The Canadian project, in which parent rats and their offspring were exposed to saccharin, focused on the effects of the suspect impunity in saccharin, orthotoluenesulfonamide (OTS). In early 1977, the […]
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Alcohol gained the attention of cancer researchers early in this century, when it was noted that alcoholics in France had a high incidence of cancers of the stomach and esophagus. It recently gained the attention of health-conscious consumers when studies linked moderate alcohol consumption to lower risk of coronary heart disease. But how does alcohol […]
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What is Bone Mineral Densitometry? Bone mineral densitometry (BMD) determines the amount of bone and over time can track loss (and the risk of developing osteoporosis) by measuring radiation absorption by the skeleton. Various bones are used, but the best indication comes from those in the hip and spine. What conditions is it designed to […]
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Many patients have found themselves very capable of eating properly at home but quickly fall into old habits when it’s time to eat out. During the past 10 years or so, however, restaurants have become more aware that many of their patrons are on restricted diets. There is absolutely no reason to feel uncomfortable about […]
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Food must taste good to be enjoyed. There are many interesting flavors to enjoy besides “salty,” including savory, sweet, spicy, peppery, and tangy. This sheet offer tips for flavoring foods without salt and for cooking with low-sodium ingredients. What to Use Instead of Salt Here are some suggestions of herbs, spices, and flavorings to use […]
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What Are Allergies? An allergy is defined as a “harmful, increased susceptibility to a specific substance,” also known as hypersensitivity. What Causes Allergies? Allergy is caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system leading to an immune response and occurs when the immune system responds to substances that are normally harmless (such as grass or pollen) […]
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What is diabetes and what is its prevalence in African American women? Diabetes is an abnormal metabolism of sugar that happens when the body does not produce enough insulin. Type II or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus affects about 16 million American people. Among African American women, this form of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. About […]
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Today, most people who take insulin to manage diabetes inject the insulin with a needle and syringe that delivers insulin just under the skin. Several other devices for taking insulin are available, and new approaches are under development. Insulin pens can be helpful if you want the convenience of carrying insulin with you in a […]
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Diabetes is a serious disease. It cannot be cured, but careful control of blood sugar can prevent or delay the complications of the disease. If you have diabetes, your body cannot properly convert foods into the energy needed for daily activity. Our bodies change the foods we eat into a form of sugar called glucose. […]
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The diaphragm, like the male or female condom, is a barrier method of contraception and prevents pregnancy by preventing sperm from reaching the egg. The diaphragm is a ring-shaped device that fits inside the vagina and covers the cervix. There are a variety of types of contraceptives including the flat or coil spring type, and […]
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Alcohol and Nutrition Nutrition is a process that serves two purposes: to provide energy and to maintain body structure and function. Food supplies energy and provides the building blocks needed to replace worn or damaged cells and the nutritional components needed for body function. Alcoholics often eat poorly, limiting their supply of essential nutrients and […]
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