An interesting study out out of the US has found that women who drink tea have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The study, which looked at data from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study database, examined the effects of coffee and tea consumption on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Read the rest of this entry »
Womens Health
with Kristie McNealy M.D.
Kristie is a medical doctor turned freelance writer and medical blogger. You can find her blogging about women’s health here at Family Health Guide.
Simple Blood Test May Predict Age at Menopause
With many women putting of motherhood while they establish careers and fulfill other goals, the question of exactly when a woman’s biological clock will stop ticking is an important one that just might be answered by the results of a study out of Tehran. Read the rest of this entry »
Walk for Healthier Babies
If you read my post about how the risks of special educational needs skyrocket with early birth, you’ll understand just how important it is that we do everything we can to bring more pregnancies safely to term.
Learning problems are just one of the many ways that preterm birth can impact a person for a lifetime. In fact, every year in the UK, 3,000 babies die before they reach their first birthday, and prematurity is the single leading cause. Read the rest of this entry »
Research Gives Clues to Preventing Postpartum Depression
New research into the brain chemistry of women after giving birth has given us new insight into the cause and potential treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Despite the joy of having a baby, the majority of women develop a low mood soon after giving birth, and for 13% of women, the baby blues develops into full fledged postpartum depression. Read the rest of this entry »
Even Slightly Early Arrivals Up Special Education Risks
According to the results of a new study performed in Scotland, babies born between 37 and 39 weeks have a 16% higher risk of having special educational needs, when compared to babies born at a full 40 weeks gestation. It’s clear that babies born very preterm are at great risk of having longterm physical and developmental problems. What we didn’t know is exactly how the risk of these issues changed over the full range of gestational ages from 24 to 40 weeks.
A new study studied at over 400,000 school-aged children, looking at their special education needs, and the gestational age at which they were born. A child was considered to have special educational needs if they had either a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or autism, or a physical difficulty, such as poor vision or deafness that requires special educational help.
Surprisingly, the results of the studied showed an increased risk of special educational needs in early term births (those births occurring between 37 and 39 weeks gestation). In fact, because they are so common, early term births accounted for more cases of special educational needs than preterm births did.
The results of this study are interesting, because they highlight yet another risk of elective deliveries (c-sections and inductions) before a full 40 weeks of pregnancy has been completed. We worry about physical issues like lung maturity when we plan a delivery before a woman’s due date. Now we know we should give consideration to long term developmental and educational issues as well. Unfortunately, we don’t have a test for that, like an amnio to assess fetal lung maturity.
Doctors planning elective deliveries should consider the results of this study when scheduling deliveries. Mothers should also be informed about these results, especially when it comes to decisions about managing late preterm labor, or deciding to schedule an early term birth. When we have the power to change an outcome and extend a healthy pregnancy where neither the mom or baby is at risk, this study should give both moms and doctors more motivation to do so!
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References:
- MacKay, D et al. Gestational Age at Delivery and Special Educational Need: Retrospective Cohort Study of 407,503 Schoolchildren. PLoS Med 7(6): e1000289. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000289
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More from Dr Kristie McNealy:
Single Dose Radiation a Good Option for Some Breast Cancer Patients
According to a recently completed study, a single dose of radiation may be a good option for some breast cancer patients. Read the rest of this entry »
Alcohol May Protect Women from Alzheimer’s Disease
A study examining the effects of smoking and alcohol consumption on Alzheimers disease risk show that light to moderate alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers, especially if you’re a non-smoking woman. Read the rest of this entry »
BPA From Canned Foods May Up Cancer Risk
Pregnant women are being urged to avoid canned food in the wake of two new studies on an estrogen-like chemical called BPA, or bisphenol A.
A study carried out by the National Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of public health and environmental health groups, found BPA in 92% of canned foods tested from 19 US states. The canned foods tested included brand name fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, soups, tomato products, sodas, and milks. The study found higher levels of BPA in food from BPA lined cans than had previously been measured, including a can of DelMonte green beans which had the highest levels of BPA ever found in canned food, at 1,140 parts per billion. Read the rest of this entry »
Rapid Weight Loss Yields Better Results
We’ve all heard the adage “slow and steady wins the race” but new research indicates that for weight loss, moving fast may yield better results.
For years, obese people have been counseled that gradual weight loss is better, but in reality, the data on the subject has been mixed. A recent study published online in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine provides more evidence that rapid initial weight loss may actually be best. Read the rest of this entry »
Normal Oral Bacteria May be Linked to Preterm Births
Normal bacteria found in the mouth may infect the placenta, causing preterm labor and stillbirth according to researchers in the US. Read the rest of this entry »
