Therapist Unlimited Blog

Medical researchers has recently found out that vitamin C deficiency may impair the mental development of new-born babies.
According to the study made by LIFE Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen they discovered that  guinea pigs subjected to moderate vitamin C deficiency have 30 per cent
less hippocampal neurones and markedly worse spatial memory than guinea pigs given a normal diet.
The researchers revealed like guinea pigs, human beings are dependent on getting vitamin C through their diet, they speculate that vitamin C
deficiency in pregnant and breast-feeding women may also lead to impaired development in foetuses and new-born babies.
The researcher explained several factors indicate that the neonatal brain, in contrast to other tissue, is particularly vulnerable to even a slight lowering of the vitamin C level.
 

Studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency could be bad for early brain development of babies.

They revealed the highest concentration of vitamin C is found in the neurons of the brain and in case of a low intake of vitamin C, the remaining vitamin is retained in the brain to secure this organ.
The researchers said vitamin thus seems to be quite important to brain activity.
Based on their study it was shown that mouse foetuses that were not able to transport vitamin C develop severe brain damage.
Researchers said brain damage which resembles the ones found in premature babies and which are linked to learning and cognitive disabilities later in life.
In some areas in the world, vitamin C deficiency is very common population studies in Brazil and Mexico have shown that 30
to 40 per cent of the pregnant women have too low levels of vitamin C, and the low level is also found in their fetuses  and new-born babies.
It is not yet known to what extent new-born babies in Denmark or the Western World suffer from
vitamin C deficiency but a conservative estimate would be 5 to 10 per cent based on the occurrence among adults.
 

A recent research has shown that the economic crisis happening in different parts of the world caused stress to the children.
Based on the research made by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health taken in May 2009, 44 percent of families’ financial situations have worsened in the last six months.
The researchers discovered that to make ends meet, many have cut back on extras (65 percent),applied for government health coverage (24 percent), applied for free or reduced lunch programs (27 percent), and delayed taking their children to the doctor (11 percent) or dentist (16 percent).
Matthew Davis, M.D., director of the poll revealed in their research they found out that a family’s financial situation had worsened over the last 6 months and their children were
uninsured, 40 percent of those parents had delayed taking their children to the doctor.
Davis said this situation is a great concern since some of these kids whose care is being delayed may be particularly vulnerable or at risk for serious health problems.

Children are suffering huge amount of stress due to the bad economy in different parts of the world.

He said the poll also showed that 40 percent of parents indicate their children ages 5 - 17 have some or a lot of stress as a result of worries about their family’s finances.
He added 53 percent of parents report their teens, ages 13 - 17, have stress due to the family’s financial situation.
Furthermore, Davis revealed the common symptoms of stress in children include acting out, abdominal pain and headaches.
Davis explained stress from financial worries affected families of lower incomes more than families of higher incomes.
He added families of the lowest income level namely making $30,000 per year or less  were more than twice as likely to report their kids had stress as families of the
highest income group making $100,000 or more per year.
Davis concluded that overall, the findings indicate that this recession is not an equal opportunity recession, explaining that it has affected
families across all income levels and range of vulnerability, but it is affecting those who are most vulnerable even more than the population as a whole.
He said those who do not have insurance, or if your family income is at a lower level, your children are likely to be even at higher risk as this recession drags on.

According to the latest medical finding the bad economy in the United States causes many Americans to lose sleep and suffer sleeplessness in the end.
Based on the records from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), it was discovered that 27 percent of Americans cited personal finances, the economy or unemployment concerns as primary factors that are keeping them awake at night.
Sunil Mathews, M.D., medical director of the Sleep Center at Baylor Medical Center at Irving revealed Stress and anxiety causes sleeplessness among persons in this planet.
Mathews said to cope up with their condition, 47 percent of the sleepless are very likely to use caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea and sodas during the day to compensate for their sleepiness.
He said the use of artificial stimulants and insomnia are correlated.
It is said that majority of people who have difficulty sleeping report using those substances.
The medical expert describes these habits as "poor sleep hygiene," or behaviors that will delay sleep onset.
Examples include going to bed at irregular times, watching TV late at night, exercising too close to bedtime, and of course consuming caffeine and alcohol.
He said another aspect of poor sleep hygiene includes worrying while in bed.
Matthews explained some people can develop an unhealthy habit of using the bed to plan for the next day.
He explained the mind won’t shut down, which delays sleep onset.

The bad economy in American causes many Americans to experience sleeplessness.

The trusted physician said in desperation, these people may turn to sleep aids like pills.
He said it is unfortunate, these aids are short-term solutions at best and tend to cause next-day drowsiness and then prevent sleep the next night, unless another pill is taken.
Furthermore, Matthews revealed besides affecting concentration, memory and mood, sleep deprivation can also precipitate depression and sometimes make people think they’re suffering from other cognitive issues.
He said one effect that can prove lethal: drowsy driving.
Based on the latest statistics, more than half of adults (54 percent) have driven when drowsy at least once in the past year.
An alarming percentage of people (28 percent) say they’ve nodded off or fallen asleep at the wheel, according to an AAA study.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes an estimated 76,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths each year at least in part to drowsy driving.

Men around the world should take many antioxidants since low doses of such kind of chemical compound could affect the quality of their semen.
According to the report posted on the online journal Fertility and Sterility it was discovered that low antioxidant intake is associated with low reproductive capacity in semen.
The researchers lead by Jaime Mendiola said their study has shown that men who eat large amounts of meat and full fat dairy products have lower seminal quality than those who eat more fruit, vegetables and reduced fat dairy products.
Mendiola revealed those men who ate many fruits and vegetables are ingesting more antioxidants, which is why their sperm quality is good.
Mendiola said he and his team have allocated four years of their time examining the link between dietary habits or workplace exposure to contaminants and the quality of semen among men attending fertility clinics.

The male population around the world should eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure they have sufficient antioxidants in their body to keep their semen quality healthy.

He explained their objective was to find out whether a higher or lower intake of vitamins, which act as antioxidants, could affect semen quality.
Moreover, the lead researcher said molecules, which are present in foods such as citrus fruits, peppers and spinach, work by lowering the level of oxidative stress that can affect semen quality, and improve sperm concentration parameters as well as sperm mobility and morphology.
The lead researcher said the study was carried out among 61 men, 30 of whom had reproductive problems, while the remaining 31 acted as controls.
He said a healthy diet is not only a good way of avoiding illness, but could also have an impact on improving seminal quality.

It was proven through a study that the nicotine in cigarettes can calm a person down.

According to a recent research, it was proven that cigarette had a chemical element that can calm any person puffing it.
Based on the study conducted by the University of California, they found out that nicotine might alter the activity of brain areas that are involved in the inhibition of negative emotions such as anger thus it calms a person down.
Jean Gehricke, the lead researcher of the study explained nicotine slows down the anger of any person as shown by their study.
Gehricke said participants who showed nicotine-induced changes in anger task performance also showed changes in brain metabolism.
He added nicotine-induced reductions in length of retaliation were associated with changes in brain metabolism in response to nicotine in brain areas responsible for orienting, planning and processing of emotional stimuli.
Despite this finding, it is still advisable to avoid smoking since over-all smoking is bad for the health.
The cigarette might have calming effects but the truth of the matter it could cause cancer and other health problems to persons addicted to smoking.