RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

As if the birth of a premature baby isn’t stressful enough, there are a number of diseases premature babies can experience within the first weeks of life. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of them. “Necrotizing” means the death of tissue, “entero” refers to the small intestine, “colo” to the large intestine, and “itis” means inflammation. But knowing what the words mean is only the start of understanding this infant disease.
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THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Monday, January 23, 2006

Choice of feelings
+++++++++++++++++++

You create your feelings and you are responsible for them. By controlling those feelings in a positive and purposeful way, you can profoundly change your life for the better.

If you blame another person for your feelings, what you’re really doing is giving that person control over an important part of your life. If you avoid taking responsibility for your feelings, those feelings can quickly overwhelm you and leave you powerless. Read the rest of this entry »

Any blockage of the digestive tract that prevents the proper passage of food is known as an intestinal obstruction. Some causes of intestinal obstruction include a congenital (present at birth) malformation of the digestive tract, hernias, abnormal scar tissue growth after an abdominal operation, and inflammatory bowel disease. These blockages are also called mechanical obstructions because they physically block a portion of the intestine or another part of the digestive tract. Read the rest of this entry »

The digestive system is a set of organs (including the stomach, large and small intestines, rectum, and others) that convert the foods we eat into nutrients and absorb these nutrients into the bloodstream to fuel our bodies. We seldom notice its workings unless something goes wrong, as in the case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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Every adult, at one time or another, has experienced heartburn and that gnawing mid-chest discomfort after a big meal. Maybe you had one too many hot dogs at the ballpark, or maybe your cousin’s chili was a bit too hot for you.
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Gastrointestinal (GI) infections usually cause diarrhea - frequent and watery bowel movements. Viruses, bacteria, or parasites all can be responsible, which means that a child with diarrhea might exhibit a variety of symptoms.
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Constipation, a very common problem among kids, usually occurs because a child’s diet doesn’t include enough fluids and fiber, or can be due to a factor in the child’s environment.

A child is considered constipated when he or she has had fewer than three bowel movements in a week; when the stools are hard, dry, and unusually large; or when it’s hard for the child to have a bowel movement.

Constipation usually isn’t a cause for concern - it’s preventable and most cases can be remedied with healthy eating and exercise habits. Read the rest of this entry »

CF makes children sick by disrupting the normal function of epithelial cells - cells that make up the sweat glands in the skin and that also line passageways inside the lungs, liver, pancreas, and digestive and reproductive systems. A defect in these cells causes problems with the balance of salt and water in the body, leading it to produce thick mucus, which clogs the lungs, setting the stage for infections and other breathing problems. In children with CF, this mucus can also prevent the normal absorption of key nutrients and fat in the intestines, leading to poor digestion, slow growth, difficulty gaining weight, greasy bowel movements, and a decreased ability to fight infection. Read the rest of this entry »

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that particularly affects the lungs and digestive system and makes a child more vulnerable to repeated lung infections. Now, thanks to high-tech medical advances in drug therapy and genetics, children born with CF can look forward to longer and more comfortable lives. In the last 10 years, research into all aspects of CF has helped doctors to understand the illness better and to develop new therapies. In the future, ongoing research may help find a cure. Read the rest of this entry »

Ticked off no end by my column today describing the Medicare drug benefit as a fiasco and a scam, Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, responds with a letter to our editor. Thomas was an architect of the disaster, so perhaps we can understand his defensiveness. The letter reads as follows:

Michael Hiltzik’s diatribe about the Medicare drug benefit [”Medicare Drug Plan Looks Like a Big Scam,” 1.19.06] is a cynical attempt to scare seniors away from a program that helps them.
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By Sarah Womack, Social Affairs Correspondent
(Filed: 21/01/2006)

Plans by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society to rename itself Dignity in Dying came under bitter attack last night.

Critics said the phrase was used by terminally ill people seeking a better quality of life - not asking for euthanasia or assisted suicide.
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THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Saturday, January 21, 2006

>From each disappointment
+++++++++++++++++++

It feels lousy to be disappointed, whether it is by other people, by circumstances, or by your own mistakes. And yet, in each disappointment there is also opportunity.

When a disappointment comes, acknowledge it and feel it for what it is. Then quickly step away from it and take a more objective look. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve ever been to the dentist or been treated for a broken bone, you’ve experienced radiation firsthand. In everyday life, radiation in the form of X-rays is used to create images of areas of the body that doctors can’t see, such as the inside of a tooth or the interior of the chest cavity. But in much higher doses, radiation can be used to treat cancer and other illnesses by not only preventing cells from growing or reproducing, but eventually destroying them. Read the rest of this entry »

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a condition that causes tumors to grow on nerve tissue, producing skin and bone abnormalities. NF is often diagnosed in childhood, occasionally in infancy but usually around 3-16 years of age. The effects of the disease vary widely. Some children might live almost unaffected by the condition. Although rare, others might be severely disabled. Read the rest of this entry »

Neurocutaneous syndromes are genetic disorders that lead to abnormal growth of tumors in various parts of the body. These disorders usually first appear as skin lesions like birthmarks, but can eventually lead to tumors that affect the central nervous system and other parts of the body. While some conditions can be diagnosed at birth, others don’t produce symptoms until later in life. Read the rest of this entry »