Archive for the ‘Women's Health’ Category
Medical weight loss is the term used for a weight management program developed and supervised by a medical doctor in conjunction with other health professionals like a dietitian, psychologist or biokineticist. These weight loss programs are developed for the individual after appropriate tests, investigations and assessments are concluded. A medical weight loss plan will also consider your chronic conditions and medication and the impact of these factors in reaching your weight management goals.
A normal period is considered as a moderate bleed that lasts for 3 to 7 days and occurs every 21 to 35 days (menstrual cycle). If you are experiencing an abnormal period, it is important to identify how your period deviates from the norm in order for your gynaecologist to isolate the possible cause. There are different types of abnormal periods with various possible causes.
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The MMR vaccine is a 3-in-1 combination vaccine offering protection against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). While only the measles vaccine is mandatory, many parents opt for the MMR vaccine for the added protection from mumps and rubella because both infections can cause serious complications. Unfortunately, the MMR vaccine has also received a lot of negative press because of supposed links to autism which is totally unfounded.
Rubella, which is commonly referred to as German measles, is a viral infection that is not seen as often as the other childhood infections like measles and chickenpox. Usually the symptoms are mild and may not be easily recognised. German measles infection only lasts for a few days so this can also be confusing to a parent. However the major risk with German measles is to pregnant women since this infection can cause birth defects.
Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may occur, particularly in the first trimester, and should always be taken seriously. At times, the bleeding is not due to a serious cause and no intervention may be necessary. However some of the causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can indicate an underlying problem and there may be a risk to you or your unborn child.
A few days after conception, you will notice a little spotting or a light bleed. This is known as the implantation bleed and is normal. However if the bleeding is profuse, persisting or accompanied by significant abdominal pain, then you should consult with your doctor immediately. Women who have missed a period, have the signs and symptoms of pregnancy but have not as yet confirmed it with a test should still be cautious about a vaginal bleed as it could be a miscarriage. Do not assume that the vaginal bleeding is your delayed period.
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The dangers of cigarette smoking is widely publicised in the media and smokers cannot claim to be ignorant about the dangers of this habit as cigarette packs now contain warnings. While cigarette smoking poses a health risk to all smokers, pregnant women should be more cautious as they are risking both their pregnancy as well as the health of their child in the future. Pregnant women who do not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoke (secondary smoke) are also at risk of these detrimental effects associated with cigarette smoking in pregnancy.
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