8 Preparation Before Pregnancy

Some newly married couples decide to postpone having children for their career or because they are not ready to have kids. But, if you and your husband is one of the couples who delay pregnancy, it does not mean you should not maintain fertility. Fertility must be maintained and even improved so that when you are ready to have children, it all runs smoothly and properly.

What can you do to increase fertility? Here are tips specifically for you, according to Cosmopolitan.

1. Always perform safe sex
Unless you believe that couples avoid sexually transmitted diseases, condoms are a good safety device to prevent threats to fertility, such as chlamydia which can cause infertility.

2. Learn to cope with stress
Have you experienced periods twice a month while under pressure? Stress can damage the monthly cycle, and prevent ovulation. A study shows, women with high stress levels are generally difficult to get pregnant. So it is very good if you start to learn to cope with stress so it does not affect your cycle.

3. Stop smoking
Cigarettes are very harmful to fertility. Toxins in cigarettes is very harmful to the fallopian tubes, it can cause damage to chromosomes in the egg, and weaken the ability to produce estrogen that is necessary to prepare the uterine lining before the pregnancy. Women who smokes are also prone to miscarriage.

4. Do not be afraid of getting fat
Being slim is the dream of most woman, but do not think to continuously lose body weight. Because fact is, people who are too lean are difficult to conceive because of the lack of fat that can support pregnancy. However, in the other hand, do not ever think to fail to maintain weight because people who are too fat will experience irregular ovulation process.

5. Select seafoods
If you are planning a pregnancy next year or in subsequent years, make sure you are getting ready to sort out your food. There are some seafood that contains mercury in it like a shark and mackerel. Mercury can cause infertility, miscarriage, and even birth defects.

Meanwhile, to eliminate mercury from the body, it takes more than a year. Therefore, choose seafood that is has very low levels of mercury such as shrimp, salmon, or tuna to maintain fertility. If you are unsure of the level of mercury in your body, check it to the doctor.

6. Find out if your mother had fertility problems.
Not only in body shape or physique that you can inherit from your mother, fertility case can genetically attach to you as well, such as endometriosis or patches of endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus, uterine tumors, and premature menopause. Knowing the parents’ fertility history will help you better know your female organs.

7. Do not worry about the consumption of pills
There is a growing myth that taking birth control pills lead to difficulty in obtaining a child. Do not be misguided. “Contraceptive pill has no side effects on fertility rates in the future,” says Dr. Guy Ringler, a fertility expert from California Fertily Partners in Los Angeles, USA. Most women will be fertile again within one to three months after not using contraceptive pill.

8. Note the calendar
It is very good to delay pregnancy until you are very ready, but not for too long. Even if you keep your body to stay healthy by eating healthy foods or doing yoga, your biological clock will keep ticking. Women in their 30’s only have 30,000 eggs and are very susceptible to miscarriage and genetic diseases. Women under 30 years old have 25% more chance to get pregnant, while 40-year-old woman’s chances for pregnancy is reduced by 5% according to the American Fertility Association.

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Can We Make Skin Pores Smaller?

Display of skin pores often interfere with performance. Many women try to reduce it in various ways. Starting from using egg white mask to compressing the skin with cold water.

Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist from New York, said that pore size is genetically determined. That means, you can not make the pores become smaller physically.

The function of the pore, one of them, it to open the hair follicles. Each contains sebaceous glands, which produce oil for the skin. Pores are more clearly visible in the face, such as the forehead and nose, where there are larger oil glands.

According Jaliman, skin type also plays a major role determining the size of the pores. Owners of dry skin have less visible pores. While pores in oily skin appear more clearly. Lite colored also usually have smaller pores. While dark skin have larger pores.

But there are things you can do to keep the pores less visible. The key is to keep it always clean. Use noncomedogenic moisturizer and makeup.

Avoid products that contain heavy materials, such as petrolatum and mineral oil. Both can clog pores and make it look bigger.

“Always wash your face with a gentle cleanser before bed to prevent dirt and makeup that can clog pores,” says Heidi Waldorf, a dermatologist from New York, according to Real Simple.

Always clean the skin before and after exercise. That’s because sweat can bring the rest of makeup on the skin which will stretch the skin and open pores. Also, also do Exfoliate regularly.

You can do one to three times a week. Select Exfoliate cleanser with gel texture, mask or cream containing alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, or fruit enzymes. “Exfoliate sremove dead skin cells from the skin surface that makes pores enlarged,” said Jaliman.

But remember, when you have finished doing Exfoliate, you must use a moisturizer that contains SPF 15, because by eliminating the cells that die, the skin becomes more sensitive to ultraviolet light.

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Why Muscle Hurts After Exercising for the First Time

Many people experience muscle pain when they exercise for the first time. Because of this reason, many people tend to avoid working out in the gym. So what actually causes the pain when you exercise for the first time.

Pain or discomfort that arises is an adaptation period to make the muscles become stronger and able to perform the next task. Therefore, one should not be discouraged or even stop exercising.

“When a person is exercising the first time, the muscles will experience less physical stress. Pain or tenderness is a natural thing of all kinds of physical activity and most commonly occurs in the early stages of a person to start a program,” said Professor Rick Sharp, exercise physiologist from Iowa State University in Ames, according to WebMD.

The pain and discomfort occurs between 24-48 hours after exercise. This condition is normal and is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS.

When people exercises that means they are testing the strength of their body and muscles that cause tension in the muscle fibers. Then the body will respond by triggering new muscle synthesis that makes muscles grow stronger and make people able to face a greater burden.

Each time work load increases, the muscles are encouraged to survive. As a result the muscles become stressed and it causes pain. This condition occurs when people exercise for the first time or is starting a more heavy exercise.

If the body is sore after exercise, there are some things you can do to reduce its pain:

1. Compress with ice
2. Take a break
3. Take anti-inflammatory drug
4. Have a massage
5. Do some stretching.

Before the first exercise, do some stretching because it can reduce the pain.

Start by doing lite exercise, then gradually increase the intensity and frequency. Perform cooling just before the exercise ends (10 minutes before it finishes) can also relieve pain.

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Fish Spa Have Risks of Spreading Diseases

Fish Spa or fish bite therapy is quite popular because it is believed to be able to relieve fatigue and stress and can make the skin smooth. But enthusiasts of this therapy should be wary of some things.

Health experts warn that fish spa contains some risk of spreading diseases. Especially if the fish used is not Garra rufa or known as doctor fish.

Many fish spas today uses Chinchin fish because it is much cheaper than the Garra rufa fish.

Garra rufa fish have been used for years as a natural spa in Asia and Turkey, and over time this fish  spa grows and had reached several countries.

Garra rufa fish likes to eat the dead skin cells of humans. These fish are used for feet beauty treatments (pedicure) and treat the symptoms of psoriasis.

But it turns out that these fish are difficult to clean, so some countries have issued regulations that say there is no way to ensure the cleanliness of this fish.

It should be noted that the Garra rufa fish should not be used repeatedly. Consumers should be sure first that the bowl or place used had been cleaned with disinfectant, basins and fish are used only for oneself and uses Garra rufa fish.

Researcher Martin Grassberger, MD from the Medical University of Vienna says that many fish spa in America uses Chinchin fish. Presumably this fish is also widely used in other countries.

“In addition there are fears of other health risks, some spas are known to use various types of fish known as chinchin, which is more aggressive than Garra rufa,” he said, according to MSNHealth.

Chinchin Fish actually has teeth which, as they get older, will potentially become more dangerous because it can damage the skin which makes it easier for the spread of infections.

Chinchin fish is known to draw blood and spread infectious diseases through blood such as hepatitis B which transmitted by the fish and water on open wounds, particularly in public pools.

This makes health experts worry that the fish could spread infections to customers through an open wound from customers who could become infected. This concern arises because most of the fish spa uses fish ponds that are used together or on turn between customers.

Now there are 14 states in the United States which prohibits the use of fish for spa treatments, including Texas and Florida.

Here are some things to consider when you want to do a fish spa:

1. The fish are kept in a water tank with ultraviolet filters
2. Providing separate basins for each customer
3. Not using the fish repeatedly.
4. Customers’ feet should also be cleaned, and spas should not accept people who have yeast infection.

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Common Causes Of Allergies

Are you often bothered by a runny nose, watery eyes, headaches, fatigue, itchy throat, and similar symptoms? Then you are probably suffering the effects of an allergy.  There are several causes of allergies, ranging from food to insect bites.  Oftentimes allergies can be misdiagnosed as the common cold.  However, when these symptoms persist, it is important to try to identify the allergen, or the cause of the allergic reaction.

No one knows for sure why one person has an allergic reaction to a particular substance, while another person does not.  However, it has been found that children, whose parents have allergic reactions, tend to be predisposed to allergies.  Of interest, is the fact that a child will not necessarily be affected by the same allergen that has an effect on their parent.       

Allergens can enter the body by various methods, they can be breathed in, touched, eaten, or injected.  However they enter, they are viewed by the body as being harmful, and as a result, the immune system produces histamines and other chemicals, to combat the invasion.  These are the early stages of an allergy.  The response will be the same, each time you are exposed to the allergen in the future.

Allergies can be triggered by breathing in certain irritants.  Some of the more common ones are pollen, animal dander, mold, and dust mites.  These airborne allergens are very difficult to battle because they are all around in the atmosphere.  In the case of pollen, these are constantly released into the air by trees, flowers, and grasses, and are especially prevalent during the summer, spring, and fall seasons. 

In terms of touch, substances like latex can cause allergic reactions.  Latex is made of rubber, which contains high levels of protein. Latex products include rubber bands, gloves, and balloons.  The allergic reaction is due to the response of the immune system, when an individual comes in contact with the natural rubber latex.  Symptoms of this type of allergy can include runny nose, sneezing, hives, and an itchy throat.  

Certain foods can trigger allergies.  Some of the more popular ones are: eggs and milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish, and tree nuts.  It is the proteins in food that is usually the cause of allergies. These are generally not broken down during cooking, or by digestive enzymes, and as a result, they precipitate allergic reactions in the body.  Common symptoms of food allergy include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

An allergic reaction to medication can also occur.  One of the drugs that persons tend to be especially allergic to is penicillin, or antibiotics which are penicillin based. Painkillers such as codeine and morphine are also known to cause allergic reactions.  Reactions can range from mild symptoms like rashes, to life threatening symptoms that can affect vital organ systems. 

Insect stings can also cause an allergic reaction when the body overreacts to the insect venom.  The insects that commonly cause this response are honeybees, ants, and wasps.  These all have a venom sac on their tail, which they use to inject the venom into a victim.

In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction known as Anaphylactic shock can occur, this can lead to dizziness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing and sometimes death, and therefore requires immediate treatment. As we have noted, the causes of allergies are various.  However, once identified, every effort should be made to either avoid the allergen, or treat the symptoms of the condition.

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Know The Signs Of Asthma

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs.  It compresses the airways of the lungs, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.  Asthma can be detected by paying attention to a few specific signs or symptoms.  Because of the possibility of confusing the symptoms of asthma with other illnesses, it is recommended that proper medical tests be conducted.  Four notable signs of asthma attacks include coughing, wheezing, and tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. 

The effects of asthma in children or adults can be diminished by the quick recognition of its signs and symptoms.  Therefore, recognizing the signs of asthma is essential in stopping asthma attacks before they start or alleviating the effects of asthma after the onset of an attack.

Most often, the first warning sign of a pending asthma attack is usually tightness of the chest.  Asthmatics describe this tightness of the chest as feeling like a rubber band being squeezed around the lungs.      

Although asthma is described as an inflammatory disease, it is also a protective mechanism used by our bodies in that the upper part if the respiratory system recognizes the danger and restricts the airway in an effort to protect the vulnerable lungs.  Additionally, early recognition of the signs and symptoms of asthma is pertinent to avoiding death, in some instances.  One prominent signs of an asthma attack is coughing.  There is a difference between an asthmatic cough and a regular one.  In the case of an asthma attack, the cough becomes more prominent at night and at dawn.  Unlike a regular cough, an asthmatic cough is severe and usually results in the inability to keep still or actually sleep.

Shortness of breath is, yet, another very important symptom of an asthma attack.  It is, often times, the second sign of the onset of an asthma attack.  You can tell this is happening because the asthmatic individual’s breaths are short rapid breaths. 

Another definitive sign of asthma is wheezing.  Wheezing is an audible whistle that occurs when breathing.  Unlike an asthmatic cough, asthmatic wheezing occurs any time of the day or night.  It is usually a sign of obstructive breathing and basically means that the bronchial tube tightens and starts to fill with fluid, which causes restrictive breathing.

While asthma is responsible for some 175,000 deaths annually, proper treatment can, in most cases, help death to be avoided.  Asthma attacks are triggered by environmental and/or genetic factors.  An asthma attack is usually caused by a trigger, which is usually something that causes an individual’s airways to produce bronchospasms.  Some environmental factors include tobacco smoke, viral respiratory infections, psychological stress, and even the use of paracetamol.  Over twenty-five genes have been associated with genetic asthma.  However, there are scientific studies whose results indicate that these genes cause asthma under specific conditions. 

Being familiar with asthma’s symptoms and signs can help to alleviate the effects of asthma to include death.  Not to mention, avoiding or limiting exposure to individual triggers of asthma is another process of alleviating an asthma attack.  There are mild cases and life-threatening cases of asthma.  However, the use of the proper drugs, inhalers, and changes in lifestyle can help to control the signs of asthma along with the effects of asthma.

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Just What Is Diabetes?

The pancreas islet cells that produce insulin and glucose hormones work together to help regulate the correct levels of blood glucose. When the pancreatic islets cells, alpha (A cells) and beta (B cells) cannot regulate glucose and insulin properly, diabetes forms in the pancreas and other major organ systems. The pancreas is positioned behind the stomach, in the concavity that is produced by the C-shape of the duodenum. The duodenum curves around the head of the pancreas and handles acid from the stomach.

Pancreatic acid is also dumped into the duodenum and eventually exits through the ducts of the duodenum. The duodenum is also responsible for bile and secretions exiting into the duodenum from the liver. Inadequate insulin levels in the pancreas cause a decrease in the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar acidity in glucose, thus a risk factor for diabetes is developed throughout the body.      

Alpha and beta cells are called antagonists, because they work off their levels of hormones against each other, for proper concentrations of insulin and glucose. Insulin decreased and depletes organs from maintaining proper concentrations of glucose levels in the body. The alpha cells are responsible for the production of glucagon, and the beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin. As glucagon accelerates the process of glycogenolysis in the liver, it is then converted to glucose.

Glucagon is responsible for the increase of blood glucose concentrations. Playing a key role in removing the excess glucose from the blood and storing it as glycogen, the liver cells are very important to the proper function of the heart, kidneys and pancreas. Normal homeostasis is the result of the blood leaving the liver, containing normal blood glucose concentrations. Liver malfunction or any disorder of the pancreas can produce diabetic responses in the body.

Insulin is an agent of the blood sugars that is used as a source of energy throughout the body. Although the liver uses insulin for the storage of glycogen, a processed form of glucose, the insulin is the only hormone in the body that can decrease the levels of glucose concentration. Kidneys also need proper organ functions from the liver and pancreas to stay functioning under normal homeostatic conditions.

Urine is processed through the kidneys, and if an accumulation of ketone bodies, forms of acids, form in the kidneys, the results will be diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is dangerously high acidity in the blood. When insulin decreases in production, as it does with a pancreatic disorder, the cessation of proper hormones used by the body will also result in a form of diabetes.

Diabetes is a pathological condition that results from the imbalance of homeostasis of the body. Any deviance or variation from the normal homeostatic balance of the body signifies a pathological condition, like diabetes. Homeostasis is the body’s way of internally regulating a stable environment. Reaction and interaction of the body’s major organ systems rely on homeostasis for proper function. The key factors that help maintain proper homeostasis include salinity, acidity, concentrations of waste and nutrients and the temperature of the body and its organs.

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