Placenta is an ephemeral (exists briefly) organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. Acting as the life support system for the growing baby, the placenta helps provides the baby with oxygen and maternal nutrients. It also helps the baby dispose his waste via the maternal kidneys.

Conversely, in case of a placental abruption, the baby is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, thus leaving both baby and mother in danger.

Causes:

Although the specific causes that lead to a placental abruption are unknown, certain risk factors are believed to raise the risk. These include preeclampsia (pregnancy induced hypertension), trauma or injury to the abdomen, maternal age less than 20 or greater than 35.

In addition, a shorter length of the umbilical cord, a history of uterine fibroids (benign tumors of the uterus) and UTI (urinary tract infections) during pregnancy also play a part.

Symptoms:

Placental abruption usually occurs in the third trimester. However, it can occur any time after the 20th week of pregnancy. Classic signs and symptoms of placental abruption include uterine tenderness, rapid uterine contractions, often without arrest, abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding (sometimes).

Prevention:

While one cannot prevent placental abruption, the risk can be decreased following certain precautions. Quit smoking and avoid alcohol. The risk of placental abruption can also be reduced by maintaining a good pre-conception health, right eating during pregnancy regular sleep patterns and correction of preeclampsia and diabetes.

Treatment:

There is no treatment available that can either fix a detached placenta or can stop it from detaching further. The most preferred treatment is often based on the severity of the separation, location of the separation and the duration of the pregnancy.

In cases of mild placental abruption, a complete bed rest and close monitoring are the most prescribed treatment options. However, in case of a complete separation, delivery (preferably C-section) is often sought as the safest option. Severe bleeding requires an immediate blood transfusion.

Unfortunately, 15 percent of the severe placental abruption cases end in fetal death.

Although experiencing pain during sexual intercourse is a fairly common problem, 2 out of every 3 women experience it, but pain can actually ruin the very essence of this three letter magic word – SEX.

Causes:

Painful intercourse can be result of a range of conditions – physical or psychological.

Physical causes:

A range of physical causes including infection (yeast or urinary tract), vaginismus (inflammation of the vagina), inadequate lubrication, abdominal or pelvic injury, uterine fibroids (benign tumors of the uterus), a healing episiotomy may result in a painful intercourse.

Psychological causes:

Emotional issues like anxiety, depression, concerns about physical appearance, fear of intimacy, relationship problems or a history of sexual abuse – can all play a spoil sport in sex.

Symptoms:

The classic signs of dyspareunia include a painful penetration, a superficial (entry point) pain or a ‘deep inside’ pain often cited as a lower back pain or abdominal pain. The pain is often associated with a burning, tearing, ripping or aching sensation.

Prevention:

While there are no absolute preventive tips, maintaining a good genital hygiene helps. Avoid using scented bath products especially around the vaginal area as these can irritate the genital area and also zap the natural lubrication. Avoid douching. Drink lots of fluids that help flush out body toxins.

Treatment:

Depending upon the underlying cause of the pain – physical or psychological – the doctor will advice a treatment plan.

While infections, vaginal inflammation or a medical condition require a corresponding drug therapy, emotional issues like anxiety and depression require proper counseling. In addition, a longer foreplay, use of water-based vaginal lubricants such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide can make sex more comfortable.

In postmenopausal women, receding estrogen levels often result in inadequate lubrication. This can be corrected by the use of a prescription cream, tablet or a vaginal ring.

Pain can also a associated with a specific sexual position. Switching positions may help.

While an estimated 75 percent of the menstruating women experience mild to moderate premenstrual symptoms, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – a severe and sometimes disabling form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) afflicts 3-8 percent women. The condition is more prevalent among women in late 20s and early 40s.

Causes:

While the exact cause behind premenstrual dysphoric disorder is not clear, cyclic changes in hormones is believed to be the major factor driving it. Stressful life events, bad, painful memories and a family history of PMS or PMDD all contribute to a higher chance of getting PMDD.

Besides the ‘uncontrollable’ factors, deficiency in vitamins and minerals, high salt intake, alcohol consumption and a high intake of caffeinated beverages cause mood and energy level disturbances, thus triggering PMDD.

Symptoms:

Conditions characterizing PMDD can broadly be classified into behavioral changes and physical signs.

While behavioral symptoms include sadness and crying, feeling nervous, anxious and irritable, impaired concentration, mood sings, sudden attacks of depression, social withdrawal and insomnia (trouble sleeping), physical signs and symptoms include joint or muscle pain, headache, fatigue, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, acne flare-ups and constipation or diarrhea.

The symptoms are most obvious 10 to 14 days before menstruation and improve on the onset of menstruation.

Treatment:

Lifestyle changes such as eating right, regular exercising, avoiding alcohol and quit smoking act as the first line of treatment in correcting PMDD. Besides the lifestyle changes, a range of drugs including antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics (drugs that elevates the rate of urination), oral contraceptives and medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), a drug shot that  temporarily halts ovulation may help ameliorate some of the effects of PMDD.

But the success of medications in relieving symptoms varies from woman to woman.

Yoga helps deal with mild to moderate depression as well. However, cases of severe depression warrant medical help. The Lion pose and Child Pose are effective exercises to thwart depression.

Lion Pose: Kneel on the floor. Cross the front of the right ankle over the back of the left. Ensure that the feet point out to the sides. Press the palms against the knees. Take in long breaths from the nose. Open your mouth wide and curl your tongue’s tip towards your chin. Breathe slowly through your mouth. Finally roar two or three times. Change the cross of your legs and repeat.

Child Pose: Kneel on the floor. Touch the toes together and sit on your heels. Separate your knees as required by the width of your hips. Then, lay your torso between the thighs. Touch your forehead and your nose on the ground. Lay your hands with palms facing upwards alongside your torso. One may stay in the pose for around 2 minutes.

Listed below are some products that are found in every household and can have a detrimental impact on the skin of the child.

Laundry detergents, fabric softeners and fragranced products may cause itching, redness, or other skin irritation in sensitive children. Additionally bar soaps and antimicrobial hand soap can also have adverse affect on the skin.

Products labeled “natural” or “organic” contain botanicals which can cause children’s skin allergies. Likewise the innocuous appearing air fresheners, incense can irritate young skin.

Pets are a common source of skin allergies, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Therefore, if you have a pet at home, you need to clean the home more often. Bathe your pet at least once a week. As far as possible, keep the animal outside or limit your child’s exposure to the pet.

Listed below are some products that are found in every household and can have a detrimental impact on the skin of the child.

Laundry detergents, fabric softeners and fragranced products may cause itching, redness, or other skin irritation in sensitive children. Additionally bar soaps and antimicrobial hand soap can also have adverse affect on the skin.

Products labeled “natural” or “organic” contain botanicals which can cause children’s skin allergies. Likewise the innocuous appearing air fresheners, incense can irritate young skin.

Pets are a common source of skin allergies, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Therefore, if you have a pet at home, you need to clean the home more often. Bathe your pet at least once a week. As far as possible, keep the animal outside or limit your child’s exposure to the pet.

Yes, these products do make a positive impact but it is the food that we eat that really ensures that the skin is gleaming and radiant.

Options galore when it comes to picking food for good skin. Ideally one should alter the diet to include the food that has a favorable impact on the skin.

Almonds: Extremely good for the brain and no less important for the skin, almonds can reduce the severity of condition of skin diseases like rosacea and eczema. The rich Vitamin E present in almonds maintains skin moisture, repairs skin tissues and thus gives it a shining look.

Berries: Be it strawberries, blueberries or blackberries, they all have antioxidant properties which prevent skin damage. These berries make for a scrumptious on-the-go snack.

Green Tea: Green tea has antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in thwarting bacteria and protects cell membranes. Green tea is also high in polyphenols, compounds that gets rid of cancer causing elements. Prevention from sunburns are an added advantage of green tea.

Mangoes: Yum to eat, ideal for weight loss and fantastic for skin, does one need a reason more to eat mangoes?

Spinach and Carrots: Spinach and Carrots are another rich source of vitamin A, which is required for developing and maintaining skin cells. Spinach and Carrots can be eaten in raw form or can be used in salads or cooked with other dishes.

Yogurt: Low fat dairy products like yogurt are a rich source of vitamin A. Not only does it do wonders for your skin, it is also useful for people with medical conditions such as thyroid problems or diabetes.

Water: Had it not been an alphabetical listing of the foods, we would have put water at number one. Good hydration is skin’s best friend. And the best source of hydration for the skin is water. Needless to say water is extremely beneficial for the other organs of the body. So make sure to gulp down that glass of water regularly. If you want a figure to this, it is two liters per day.

Thus by essentially eating and of course drinking right, you can have that glow that you always yearned for.

The clinical condition is sometimes referred to as hypersexuality, sexual dependency, sexual compulsivity or erotomania.

Causes:

Although no known cause of compulsive sexual behavior exists, evidence suggests that brain abnormalities resulting from diseases like multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and dementia boost the compulsive sexual behavior in a woman.

Similarly, an alteration in the composition of the brain chemicals namely serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine or sex hormones like androgens also evoke an un-called sexual behavior.

Symptoms:

Indulging in too much sex is the classic symptom of nymphomania. Other symptoms include trouble bonding up emotionally in sexual relationships, taking onto commercial sexually explicit phone and internet services, excessive viewing of pornographic materials, engaging in excessive masturbation, promiscuous sexual activity, engaging in masochistic or sadistic sex and exhibitionism (exposing in public).

Treatment:

Fear, shame and embarrassment often hold back nymphomaniacs from seeking professional help. Psychotherapy, medications and enrolling in self-help groups are three complementary treatments that effectively ease out compulsive and obsessive traits.

Oatmeal is ground oat groats or porridge made from oats. Daily consumption of a bowl of oatmeal can lower blood cholesterol, because of its soluble fibre content.

Oatmeal, a low-fat food, is an excellent source of calcium. Calcium, in turn, helps to strengthen bones, teeth and hair and staves off osteoporosis.

Oatmeal has also proven to be an excellent irritation healer. When insect bites and poisonous plants ravage your skin, oatmeal can also be used to relieve these skin rashes.

First and foremost, do not look for happiness in the outside world. The most sought after emotion in the world is within.

Noted psychologists aver that the most happy people are seen making stuff like planes, boats with paper, writing a story, spending quality educating his son or watering the plants in the garden.

Breaking away from the humdrum of life and pursuing hobbies are a great way to boost your mood. Diversifying hobbies to include larger social activities is a good idea as it enhances the chances of finding contentment leading to contentment.

Taking break from work is a sine qua non. Do not work for long hours at a stretch. Every now and then go for a walk, listen to music, meditate, or try some deep breathing exercises.

Research also suggests that completing eight hours of sleep can keep you peppy and rejuvenated.

Isn’t it really simple, hobbies, break from work and dozing off, simple stuff to keep one happy.