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  • Birth Videos

    Pregnancy is different for everyone. The scariest thing about being pregnant is not knowing what to expect. This is why many people go out and buy “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. However, many couples do not have the time to sit down and read a book. This is what makes birth videos a great tool to help you during your pregnancy.

    There are many birth videos out there on a variety of different topics. Finding the videos is the only problem. However, finding birth videos isn’t that hard when you know where to look and what you are looking for. For example, do you want a video that explains the delivery process or do you want a video that shows the developmental stages of the fetus.

    No matter what subject you are trying to find, there are birth videos meant just for you. Many of these videos can be found through your obstetrician. These are the best types of videos because they are usually ones that were created by medical professionals. If your doctor doesn’t have any of these videos, chances are your doctor can name a few videos that are just what you’re looking for.

    Another great place to find birth videos is online. You can find all types of birth videos online. These videos may even be available for free when you download it to your computer. Some videos will be available for purchase and will be shipped to your home.

    You might also be surprised to find that your television may have a variety of birth videos. The Discovery Channel and other channels may offer a number of programs devoted to expecting parents. These channels will sometimes have specials devoted to different aspects of pregnancy from conception to birth.

    If all else fails, you can always make a trip to your local rental shop. You would be surprised at what birth videos you may find right around the corner.

  • Alcohol Abuse

    Alcoholism or Alcohol Abuse:  Chronic, uncontrolled
    intake of alcohol is the nation’s largest  substance abuse problem,. 
    It cuts across all social and economic boundaries, involves both sexes,
    and occurs at all stages of the life cycle.  It can state as early
    as elementary school age, and alcoholic mothers pass the disease on to
    their unborn child.  Alcoholism has no known cure.

    Many Alcoholics are difficult to identify because most are able to
    function adequately at work. 

    Cause:  There is no definite cause that has been clearly identified. 
    However, biologic, psychological, and socio-cultural factors contribute
    to the disorder.  Studies shows that women become intoxicated more
    readily than men because they metabolize alcohol more slowly.

    Symptoms:

    Characteristically, the alcoholic patient depends on daily or episodic
    use of alcohol to function adequately.

    Inability to discontinue or reduce alcohol intake

    May experience episodes of anesthesia, amnesia, or violence during intoxication

    Later stages of alcoholism:  unexplained traumatic injuries or
    mood swings, unresponsiveness to sedatives, poor personal hygiene, and
    secretive behavior.

    The patient may attempt to consume alcohol in any form when deprived
    of his usual supply.

    May experience ‘black out’ where the patient does not remember any activity
    he has done during intoxication

    Treatment:

    Total abstinence is the only effective treatment

    Admitting that one has a drinking problem is a start

    Detoxification

    Rehabilitation

    Support group such as AA programs

  • AIDS

    Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/AIDS:  Progressive weakening
    of cell mediated (T-cell) immunity,  AIDS heightens susceptibility
    to opportunistic infections and unusual cancers.  Diagnosis rests
    on correlation of the patient’s history and clinical features rather than
    on laboratory criteria.  The time between probable exposure to the
    causative human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and diagnosis averages 1 to
    3 years. Incubation time for children appears to be shorter.

    Studies shows more than 75% of AIDS patients die within 2 years
    of diagnosis.  Some patients, though, have AIDS-related complex (ARC). 
    In this condition, the patient’s signs and symptoms suggest AIDS and laboratory
    tests reveal HIV antibodies.  However, no opportunistic infections
    or neoplasms exist.

    Clinical profile differ between adults and children with AIDS. 
    For instance, pediatric patients rarely develop Kaposi’s sarcoma, B-cell
    lymphoma, or acute mononucleosis-like symptoms.  Children with AIDS
    usually don’t develop hepatitis B or peripheral lymphopenia.

    Pediatric AIDS patients do, however, experience problems that
    are uncommon or milder in affected adults.  These include hypergammaglobulinemia,
    lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis, serious bacterial infection, and progressive
    neurologic disease caused by CNS infection.  Pediatric patients may
    also have dysmorphic facial features.  They may exhibit a normal ratio
    of T-helper to T-suppressor cells, although they will have fewer T-helper
    cells than normal.

    Causes:  The retrovirus HIV causes AIDS.  This virus
    appears in body fluids, such as blood and semen.  Modes of transmission
    include sexual contact, especially associated with trauma to the rectal
    or vaginal mucosa; transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products;
    and use of contaminated needles.  The virus can also be transmitted
    perinatally from mother to fetus.

    Risk factors include multiple sexual contacts with homosexual
    and bisexual men, heterosexual contact with someone who has AIDS or is
    at risk for it, present or past abuse of I.V. drugs, and transfusions of
    blood or blood products, Multiple sex partners increases the risk of AIDS. 
    Prenatal an perinatal exposure to AIDS also increases the risk of AIDS
    in infants.  Breast feeding if the mother has AIDS or is at risk of
    it.

    Symptoms:

    Symptoms vary widely.  Nonspecific ones often precede complications
    and may include:

    Fatigue

    Afternoon fevers

    Night sweats

    Weight loss

    Diarrhea

    Cough

    Patient may be asymptomatic until abrupt onset of complications, such
    as opportunistic infections, HIV encephalopathy, and Kaposi’s sarcoma (see
    below)

    A child with AIDS may exhibit dysmorphic features.

    Diagnostic tests:  two HIV antibody tests detect antibodies
    to the virus responsible for AIDS:  the enzyme-linked immunosorbent
    assay (ELISA) and the Western blot assay.

    NOTE:  A positive result indicates previous exposure
    to the virus and means the patient may be contagious and capable of transmitting
    the virus; it doesn’t mean that he has or will get ARC or AIDS.

    An antigen test, known as the HIVAGEN test, can detect antigens to HIV
    (HIV p24 core protein) as early as 2 weeks after infection.  Patients
    who test positive for HIV antibodies and carry the antigen may be more
    apt to develop AIDS than patients who carry antibodies only.  The
    presence of HIV antigen along with HIV antibody indicated that the virus
    is actively replicating.

    Treatment:

    Currently no cure exists for AIDS.  However, researchers continue
    to explore methods to arrest growth of HIV or to restore lost immune function.

    Kaposi’s Sarcoma

    Kaposi’s Sarcoma:  is characterized by purple or
    blue patches, plaques, or nodular skin lesions that spread widely in patients
    with AIDS.  The lesions occur most commonly in the skin, oral mucosa,
    lymph nodes, GI tract, lungs, and visceral organs.  Although they
    seldom drain or bleed, the lesions can cause other problems.  GI lesions
    are associated with diarrhea, nausea, anorexia, and weight loss. 
    Lung lesions are associated with congestion and difficulty breathing. 
    Lymphatic system lesions are associated with severe facial and extremity
    swelling with secondary pain.

    Treatment:

    Currently, many experimental protocols are being used to treat Kaposi’s
    sarcoma.

    Surgical incision may remove skin lesions, with no need for further
    treatment.

    Local irradiation usually has proved effective when tumors require further
    treatment.

    Chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin, vinblastine, bleomycin,
    interferon, and interleukin-2, are also used with some success.

  • Adenoid Problems

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    Adenoid hyperplasia:  This fairly common childhood condition involves an enlargement of the lymphoid tissue of the nasopharynx

    Cause:  Adenoid hyperplasia’s exact cause is unknown.  However, risk factors include heredity, repeated infection, chronic nasal congestion, persistent allergy, and inefficient nasal breathing

    Symptoms:

    Mouth breathing

    Snoring

    Bouts of frequent, prolonged nasal congestion

    Distinctive facial features such as; slightly elongated face, open mouth, highly arched palate, shortened upper lip, and vacant expression

    Patient may show signs of nocturnal respiratory insufficiency, such as intercostal retractions and nasal flaring

    Treatment:

    Surgery; Adenoidectomy usually treats adenoid hyperplasia, most commonly for the patient with prolonged mouth breathing, nasal speech, adenoid facies, recurrent otitis media, constant nasohparyngitis, and nocturnal respiratory distress

    This procedure usually eliminates recurrent nasal infections and ear complications and reverses any secondary hearing loss

  • Allergic Rhinitis

    Allergic rhinitis:  Is a reaction to airborne (inhaled) allergens. 
    Depending on the allergen, the resulting rhinitis and conjunctivitis may
    be seasonal such as hay fever or occurring year round (perennial allergic
    rhinitis).  This disorder commonly affects young children and adolescents
    but can affect all age groups.  Seasonal pollen allergy may exacerbate
    symptoms of perennial rhinitis.

    Cause:  Hay fever results from wind borne pollens such as 
    grass. and weeds as well as from mold (fungal spores) in the summer and
    fall perennial allergic rhinitis results from house dust, feather pillows,
    cigarette smoke, animal dander, and upholstery

    Symptoms:

    Hay fever:  sneezing, profuse watery rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction
    or congestion.

    Nose and eyes may itch

    Nasal mucosa may appear pale cyanotic and edematous

    Eyelids and conjunctivae may appear red and edematous

    Headache or sinus pain, dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners)

    May experience itchy throat, malaise, and fever

    Perennial allergic rhinitis:  chronic nasal obstruction often extending
    to eustachian tube obstruction, particularly in children, and dark circles
    under the eyes

    Treatment:

    To control symptoms by eliminating the environmental antigen, if possible,
    and by drug therapy and immunotherapy.

    Antihistamines

    Tropical intranasal steroids produce local anti inflammatory effects
    with minimal systemic effects

  • Atrial Septal Defect

    Atrial Septal Defect:  (ASD)  this
    congenital defect, an opening between the left and right atria allows shunting
    of blood between the chambers.  The left atrial pressure normally
    is slightly higher than right atrial pressure, blood shunts from left to
    right.  The pressure difference forces large amounts of blood through
    the defect and leads to right heart volume overload, therefore, affecting
    the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary arteries.  Eventually,
    the right atrium enlarges, and the right ventricle dilates to accommodate
    the increased blood volume.

    ASD is usually a benign defect during infancy and childhood, delayed
    development of symptoms and complications makes it one of the most common
    congenital heart defects diagnosed in adults.  Asymptomatic patients
    have an excellent chance of recovery; the outlook is less hopeful for individuals
    with cyanosis caused by large, untreated defects.

    Cause: Unknown

    Symptoms:

    May often be asymptomatic, especially if the patient are young preschooler. 
    He may only complain of feeling tired after extreme exertion.  If
    large amounts of shunting occur, his growth may become retarded.

    Upon auscultation at the second or third left intercostal space may
    reveal a superfical early to midsytolic murmur.  The doctor may hear
    a fixed, widely split S2 and a systolic click or late systolic murmur at
    the apex.  In patients with large shunts, auscultation at the lower
    left sternal border may reveal a low pitched diastolic murmur that becomes
    more pronounced on inspiration.

    Older Patients with ASD may develop pronounced fatigability clubbing,
    and cyanosis. Dyspnea on exertion may severely limit the patient’s activity,
    especially after age 40.  Syncope (faint, temporary loss of consciousness)
    or hemoptysis (spitting up blood) may occur in adults with severe pulmonary
    vascular disease.

    Treatment:

    ASD seldom  produces complications in infants and toddlers, the
    doctor may delay surgery until the patient reaches preschool or early school
    age.  For large defect:  the patient may require immediate surgical
    closure with sutures or a patch graft.

  • Birth Signs

    Around the ninth month, a pregnant woman is waiting for birth signs that will signal the arrival of the new addition to her family. While a very anxious mother-to-be might be likely to be alert for every slight twinge of discomfort as birth signs, others might not realize they are actually in labor until it is time to get in the car and go to the hospital or to call the midwife. Birth signs can be clear or obscure can occur quickly or slowly.

    Some symptoms of the ninth months, such as Braxton-Hicks contractions, may be interpreted as birth signs, but are actually a part of the pregnancy. Many women at this time wonder whether what they are experiencing are cramp like Braxton-Hicks contractions or actual labor. Among many birth signs is that real contractions become more intense and occur closer together. Braxton-Hicks contractions do not become more painful and closer together. Once a woman has contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting one minute and has experienced this for about an hour, she can be considered to be in labor.

    There are many other birth signs, but their appearance does not indicate that labor is happening at that moment. There may be a delay of a few weeks or a few days, and even some of these birth signs can occur a few hours before labor or during labor itself. In addition to more rapid Braxton-Hicks contractions, a woman may feel the baby “drop” lower down. This is usually experienced as increased pressure on the pelvis. A woman might notice a mucus plug or a “bloody show.” This plug has been in the cervix since the beginning of the pregnancy and is released before labor. Other birth signs include breaking water, which occurs when water in the amniotic sac leaks. However, this rarely occurs before labor has begun, and is one of the later birth signs.

  • Athlete’s Foot

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    Athlete’s Foot:  is caused by an organism that lives on the
    skin and breeds best under warm, moist conditions.  If left untreated
    it can lead to cracks in the skin and invite a bacterial infection. Mildly
    contagious.

    Cause:  Caused by a fungal infection same as jock itch –
    called dermatophytes.  This type of organism thrives and feeds on
    keratin a protein found in hair, nails and skin.

    Risk factors:  walking barefooted in public bathrooms, showers,
    gym. Not changing your socks often, letting your feet stay sweaty.

    Symptoms:

    Itchy, scaly, rash (red) around toes and may be all over foot

    Dry, flaking skin

    Food odor

    May have blister

    Treatment:

    Antifungal medication ( containing either miconazole nitrate & tolnaftrate
    ) such as Micatin products, or fatty acids such as Desenex.

    Keep feet dry  (change your socks often)

    For diabetic patients:  IMPORTANT see your doctor or podiatrist
    promptly. Do not attempt to treat any foot problem by yourself.

    Home Remedies:

    Rest your feet, and keep uncovered

    Use Domeboro powder or 2 tablespoons Burrow’s solution in 1 pint of
    cold water.  Soak an untreated, white cotton cloth in the liquid and
    apply 3 or 4 times daily for 15 to 20 minutes.

    Soak foot in a mixture of 2 teaspoon salt per pint of warm water, 5
    to 10 minutes before putting antifungal medication.

    Try baking soda paste between affect toes.  Take 1 table of baking
    soda and add warm water to make a paste.  Rinse and dry and apply
    a dusting of cornstarch or powder.

    Air your shoes, try not to use the same shoe the next day. Changing
    allows time for the shoe to dry.

  • Atelectasis

    Atelectasis:  Is an incomplete expansion
    of lobules (clusters of alveoli) or lung segments may result in partial
    or complete lung collapse.  The collapsed tissue, unable to perform
    gas exchange, allows unoxygenated blood to pass through it unchanged, producing
    hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood).  Atelectasis can be
    present at birth (incomplete expansion of the lungs), or during adulthood
    (from a  collapsed lung).  It may be chronic or acute. 
    It occurs to some degree in many patients undergoing upper abdominal or
    thoracic surgery.  Prognosis depends on prompt removal of any airway
    obstruction, relief of hypoxia, and reexpansion of the collapsed lobule(s)
    or lung(s).

    Cause:  Atelectasis may be the result from:

    Bronchial occlusion by mucus plugs (common problem  with 
    -Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient)

    Bronchiectasis

    Cystic fibrosis

    Heavy smoking

    Occlusion by foreign bodies 

    Bronchogenic carcinoma

    Inflammatory lung disease

    Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn (hyaline membrane
    disease)

    Oxygen toxicity

    Pulmonary edema

    Prolong immobility

    CNS depression such as ; drug overdose

    Any condition that inhibits full lung expansion or makes deep breathing
    painful, such as; rib fractures, obesity, an abdominal surgical incisions

    Symptoms:

    Symptoms varies with the degree of hypoxia

    Dyspnea (labored or difficulty breathing), may be mild and subside without
    treatment if atelectasis involves only a small area of the lung. Severe if massive collapse occurs

    Anxiety

    Cyanosis

    Diaphoresis

    Decreased breath sounds

    Dull sound on percussion if a large portion of the lung is collapsed

    Peripheral circulatory collapse

    Tachycardia

    Substernal or intercostal retraction

    Compensatory hyperinflation of unaffected areas of the lung

    Mediastinal shift to the affected side

    Treatment:

    Incentive spirometry

    Chest percussion

    Postural drainage

    Frequent coughing and deep-breathing exercise

    If these measures fail, bronchoscopy may help remove secretions

    Humidity and bronchodilators can improve mucociliary clearance and dilate
    airways and are sometimes used with a nebulizer

    Atelectasis secondary to an obstructing neoplasm may require surgery
    or radiation therapy.

    Postoperative thoracic or abdominal surgery patients require analgesics
    to facilitate deep breathing, which minimizes the risk of atelectasis

  • Asthma

    Asthma:  a condition marked by recurrent attacks of paroxysmal
    dyspnea, with wheezing due to spasmodic contraction of the bronchi. 
    In some cases, it is an allergic manifestation in sensitized persons.

    Asthma produces episodic, reversible airway obstruction by way of bronchospasms,
    increased mucus secretion, and mucosal edema.  Although this common
    condition can strike at any age, children under age 10 account for half
    the cases.  Underlining the significance of hereditary predisposition,
    approximately 1/3 of all asthmatics share the condition with at least one
    member of their immediate family.

    Cause:  Intrinsic asthma can result from irritants,
    emotional stress, fatigue, temperature and humidity changes, endocrine
    changes, or exposure to noxious fumes.

    Extrinsic asthma follows exposure to pollen, animal dander,
    house dust or mold, food additives containing sulfites, or other sensitizing
    substances.

    Other asthma causes can include aspirin, various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
    drugs, exercise, or occupational exposure to various allergenic factors.

    Symptoms:

    Sudden dyspnea (labored or difficulty breathing)

    Wheezing

    Tightness in the chest

    Coughing (with clear or yellow sputum)

    Tachypnea (very rapid breathing) may occur along with use of accessory
    respiratory muscles

    Rapid pulse

    May experience profuse perspiration

    An acute asthma attack begins dramatically, with simultaneous onset
    of severe multiple symptoms, or insidiously, with gradually increasing
    respiratory distress

    Asthma that occurs with cyanosis, confusion, and lethargy indicates
    the onset of life-threatening status asthmaticus and respiratory failure.

    Treatment:

    Identifying and avoiding precipitating factors, such as allergens or
    irritants, represents treatment’s goal.  Usually, such stimuli cannot
    be removed entirely.  Desensitization to specific antigens may be
    helpful but is rarely totally effective or persistent.

    Bronchodilators – oral inhalers/oral pills

    Corticosteroids

    Patient teaching:  Adequate hydration and diet is important
    in treating asthma

    Peek flow helps to determine breathing level (not a full proof reliable
    system)

    Be aware and prompt treatment for respiratory infection

    Keep inhalers with you at all times (use it as prescribed by your doctor)

    Also keep nebulizer readily available at all times

    Call or seek medical treatment immediately when medication does not
    work and when patient has difficulty breathing.