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Worms in kids

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Few of my friends are always  worried about their child's growth. Natasha always keeps me asking why her daughter is not gaining weight and why she falls sick again and again.  The worms are parasites which feed off the host’s body and eventually result in malnutrition, affecting the healthy growth of the child.  Worms may get entry into abdomen and create health problems .          Though all age groups can get worms, kids are more susceptible. Worms in abdomen can affect the appetite and ultimately growth of a child. When a child is not eating properly we assume he is showing tantrums or too busy in playing and ignore it but it can be worms those are troubling the stomach. When to suspect worms? Itchy bottom, which is usually worse at night Redness around the bottom area Restlessness due to itching Difficulty in falling asleep Visible worms – small, white and 8-13 mm long (often mistaken for bits of toilet paper!) ...
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Obesity and Infertility

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What is obesity?
Obesity is defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. This is often described as a body mass index (BMI) over 30.

 What is infertility?
Infertility is the lack of pregnancy despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse after a year or therapeutic donor insemination in women less than 35 years of age and after 6 months in women 35 years and older . It is one of the most frequent disorders of the reproductive system in developing countries.
How does obesity affect fertility?
  1. The interaction between obesity and fecundity is not fully understood. It seems that the exact cause of infertility is long standing anovulation due to hyperandrogenism. Hormones involved in reproductive system are negatively affected by obesity.It is often associated with an increased risk of anovulation in women with an increasing BMI value. Its major effects include a reduction in ovulation rate, a decline in oocyte quality, menstrual irregularities, a decreased pregnancy rate and a rise in miscarriages.
  2. Obesity and PCOS:Increasing body weight is also thought to be linked to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The syndrome includes hyperandrogenism (hirsutism), irregular periods, anovulation and subfertility. Obesity in PCOS sufferers amplifies hormonal and metabolic decline, therefore damaging fertility and oocyte quality in women.
  3. The success rate of fertility treatments is less : An IVF treatment in an obese women have less success rate than that performed on a non-obese women.
  4. More chances of miscarriage :One needs to lose substantial amount of weight to make an IVF treatment a success. PCOS can also have an effect if conception is successful through assisted reproductive technology (ART) in obese patients, leading to an increase in miscarriage rates.
Obesity in men
Obese men have lower circulating testosterone which affects sperm production.This affects the quantity and quality of  sperm. Obese men have increased risk of oligozoospermia, having fewer than 15 million sperm per millilitre of semen, and far fewer motile sperm than a man of healthy weight. Sperm with high amounts of damaged DNA are significantly more common in obese men than in normal weight men.Ejaculation volume is also affected. Altered male hormones will can also give erectile dysfunction which is the major cause of infertility in obese men.

Treatment:

Weight loss among overweight and obese women has been shown to improve reproductive outcomes, including fertility. It is found in studies that even a small weight loss in anovulatory obese infertile women resulted in improvements in ovulation, pregnancy rate, and pregnancy outcome. Most overweight and obese women have a partner that is also overweight or obese, and weight loss of these men significantly increase total sperm count.
A healthy body weight (BMI between 19.8 and 26) improves a woman’s chances of conception, while excess body fat or insufficient amounts interfere with her fertility.
Starting pregnancy at a healthy weight translates into a lower risk of complications for mom and her baby during pregnancy and delivery, including hypertension, gestational diabetes, caesarean section, preterm labor and delivery, and stillbirth.
Women who are overweight are more prone to type 2 diabetes before pregnancy and run a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes. In addition, women who enter into pregnancy when overweight tend to stay overweight for the duration of their pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of complications during pregnancy and delivery.
Stay active – Experts recommend at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week. You should start hitting this goal at least three months prior to conceiving.
Eat healthy – Cut out processed foods and curb your caloric intake. Eat a variety of healthy foods, drink lots of water, and make sure you’re getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Studies show that the earlier you start getting enough of Folic acid - ideally, before you conceive — the lower the chances that your baby will develop neural tube defects .

 Natural fertility enhancer foods:
  1. Eat a lot of organic vegetables and fruits
    Organic foods are good for fertility .Conventional products contains harmful herbicides and pesticides which have been shown to negatively effect both males and females.
  2. Grass fed and organic dairy products.Dairy that is not organic should be avoided as it contains added hormones and antibiotics which can contribute to increased estrogen levels in the body.
  3. Eat whole grains. Whole grains are filled with fiber, important vitamins, and immune supporting properties. Fiber is important for helping the body to get rid of excess hormones and helps to keep the blood sugar balanced.
  4. Eat high fibre food.Fiber helps to regulate blood sugar levels which helps to reduce fertility issues such as PCOS, immunological issues, and promotes healthy hormonal balance.

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Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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