Ways to Avoid Miscarriage

Every woman wants to have a normal and healthy pregnancy and see her pregnancy come to term without any health risks, but that does not always happen. There are times when women have miscarriages due to some reason or the other and then the emotional and mental trauma that they have to deal with cannot really be imagined or noted down into words. And that is why this article comes your way to provide you with some natural ways to avoid miscarriage. Read so that you up your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

Ways to Prevent Miscarriage

What can cause a miscarriage? A miscarriage usually happens within the first 15 weeks of pregnancy and could be caused due to two main reasons. One, that the embryo is not strong enough to develop into a healthy baby, and two, the environment of the womb is not compatible enough to support the growing embryo. These are the two main reasons that should be looked into for preventing miscarriages. The remainder of this article deals with some of the best ways to avoid miscarriage.

Regular Checkups
If you've ever had a miscarriage before, you'll need to be extra careful when conceiving after miscarriage. Even if that is not the case, you need to still be careful. The best ways to avoid miscarriage is to have regular check ups done to detect if anything is wrong in the beginning itself so that it can be corrected. When a couple decides to conceive, both should go in for regular check ups and pregnancy tests to up their chances of how to get pregnant fast and easy. Other than the regular check ups you might be asked to do some other tests like:

• Chromosome testing
• Hormonal imbalance
• Blood clotting tendency
• Cervical strength
• Quality of semen
• Immunity count against German measles (Rubella)

Maintain a Healthy Diet
The diet plays a major role in maintaining the health of a woman and making sure that the environment in which the embryo grows is a conducive and nurturing one. Not only should one have a pregnancy diet that has all the basic food groups, but along with that also make sure that there are other health supplements that are consumed. Some of these include zinc, vitamin C, folic acid, proteins, fats (milk products mainly) and any other supplements like calcium that your doctor recommends.

Avoid Stress
How to avoid a miscarriage? Think happy thoughts and avoid stress. This is the point that most women ignore, whereas this should be right up there with the other factors. When you stress out and dwell on negative thoughts and feelings, you are producing an acidic environment that is harming your baby to no end. It has been scientifically proven that the kind of thoughts you have have a direct effect on your baby, if you are stressed and tensed, the baby will be severely affected. That is why it is said that you should always be happy and do things that make you happy during your pregnancy.

Exercise
Doing some form of daily pregnancy exercises or relaxation techniques (yoga or tai chi) is a must and should be done at any cost to keep your body fit and free of any diseases. Just make sure that you do not start out with some form of strenuous exercises after you get pregnant. If on the other hand, you've always been exercising then you need not stop. But always, always consult a doctor about the kind and degree of exercises that you should be doing.

Things to Avoid
These are some of the things that you should completely stop when you decide to get pregnant and once you are pregnant. These are some of the ways to avoid miscarriage:

• Completely stop smoking (passive as well) and drinking or using any other substance abuse drugs as well. This goes for the male partner as well, 'coz these things will severely affect the quality of the semen and thereby the health of the baby and increase the chances of miscarriage.
• Avoid caffeine and junk foods as they are loaded with bad fats that do nothing for your health.
• Avoid any electrical appliances for use like food from the microwave, sleeping on a water bed, using an electrical blanket, avoid X rays etc.
• Make sure that you do not get infected with herpes, fever and other infections because taking certain medication drugs becomes impossible during pregnancy.
• Do not expose yourself to pesticides, paint fumes, pollen and cat or dog litter and insecticides.

These were some of the ways to avoid miscarriage and make sure that you enjoy a pregnancy to full term without any health complications. Having a baby in your arms at the end of it all will make it all worth it.

Cholesterol Lowering Supplements

Supplements derived from fenugree, garlic and flax seed have displayed cholesterol lowering properties in various studies. Other cholesterol lowering supplements are discussed below:

Fish Oil
Fish oil capsules come in the list of top 5 cholesterol lowering supplements. Fish oil supplements are loaded with omega 3 essential fatty acids that promote a healthy heart. Studies shows that it brings down triglyceride levels substantially.( a type of fat associated with cholesterol). Besides, lowering triglyceride levels, it may also help to increase good cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases.

Artichoke Extracts
Artichoke extracts can also contribute to reduce cholesterol naturally as revealed in various studies. In a study, more than a 100 high cholesterol patients were put on a specific dosage (450mg) of artichoke extract leaf supplements. After a period of 6 weeks, their blood tests showed lower cholesterol levels The bad cholesterol levels dropped sharply by around 19%. Thus, the study discovered a naturally remedy for decreasing cholesterol and suggested it as an effective treatment for high blood cholesterol patients.

Barley
Patients with high cholesterol levels must include this cereal grain in the diet. This is because studies suggest that barley rich meals can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Barley is a good source of soluble fiber and so eating it everyday can reduce cholesterol fast, thereby lowering the risk of coronary heart diseases. Taking barley supplements or a diet high in foods containing barley seems to be a healthy alternative to prescription medicines for lowering cholesterol levels.

Green Tea Extracts
To combat high cholesterol problems, green tea extracts can also be used as found in various small studies. Experts are of the opinion that that the positive result is due to the fact that green tea extracts compels the body to speed up elimination of cholesterol as well as reduce its ability to absorb cholesterol. This in turn helps to lower blood cholesterol. So, drinking green tea or taking it in supplemental forms can be useful to lower bad cholesterol levels.

Sitostanol
Sitostanal also comes in the list of cholesterol lowering supplements. Sitostanol is basically a chemical present in various plants and is chiefly derived from vegetable oils. It is an important constituent of margarine (butter substitute). In a study, a small group of people suffering from elevated cholesterol levels were put on sitostanol supplements. After a stipulated period of time, the patients showed a drop in blood cholesterol. These results clearly hints sitostanol as one of the cholesterol lowering supplements.

Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3, also referred as niacin when taken as supplements is found to lower high cholesterol levels. Although, niacin for high cholesterol is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, vitamin B3 content in these foods is not enough for lowering bad cholesterol. Studies indicate that high doses of vitamin B3 (2000mg every day) provide natural means to decrease bad cholesterol levels. In addition to reducing bad cholesterol levels, studies suggested that there was a 30% increase in good cholesterol.

Caution

Considering the positive results shown by various studies conducted on aforementioned supplements, one may be tempted to replace prescription medicines with these natural cholesterol lowering agents. However, this decision should not be taken without consulting a qualified doctor. Some of these cholesterol lowering supplements produce side effects that manifest in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, bloating and gas. In order to lower the severity of these side effects, the dosage needs to be adjusted accordingly. So, for best results, these supplements have to be taken in the right dosage as instructed by the doctor.

Although small studies reveal cholesterol lowering benefits of of these supplements, extensive research has not yet been done. Therefore, one cannot consider these supplements as the first line of treatment for high cholesterol patients. A combination of cholesterol lowering supplements and prescription may work best for these patients. Apart from supplements, following a low cholesterol diet that consists of food items like fish (salmon), oatmeal (high fiber foods) and walnuts is recommended. These are cholesterol lowering foods, inclusion of which can ensure healthy cholesterol levels.

Increase Fertility Tips for Men and Women

Sort Out Your Weight Issues
Obesity is directly associated with infertility. Hence, even if you are overweight by a few pounds, you hamper your chances of conception. Obesity in women can disrupt the hormonal balance which may lead to failure to get pregnant. Even overweight men should address their weight problems before trying for a baby. On the other hand, people who are super thin can also face infertility problems. Underweight women may lack estrogen and have irregular menses, which is definitely not a good sign. Maintain an ideal weight if you wish to increase fertility in women.

Get a Preconception Checkup Done
Preconception checkup is a must for both partners so as to diagnose any fertility problems beforehand. Some fertility problems can be quickly resolved by simple measures. With the help of certain drugs, increasing fertility becomes very easy. Preconception checkup ensures that there are no signs of infertility and that you can continue with your attempts of conception. Without a preconception checkup, you will never know if you have a fertility issue and hence will go on trying for years without any results.

Eat Right Foods
A balanced diet is an ultimate key to all your health woes, including infertility. There are certain foods which actually boost your fertility and increase your chances of conception. Nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables are some of the foods that increase fertility. Similarly, incorporate dairy products like milk, cheese in your diet. Fresh fruits like yams and kiwis also restore your fertility, if consumed on a regular basis. Cut down your intake of fried, processed foods. Ensure that your diet includes vitamins A, C and E as well as minerals such as selenium and folic acid which increase chances of fertility.

Lead a Healthy Lifestyle
Most infertility problems erupt from unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle. Smoking and alcohol consumption lowers your chances of conception by 50%. Hence, if you really wish to increase fertility and conceive in near future, you will have to ditch your drinking and smoking habit. Smoking is a big no no for men as well as women. Cutting down on your caffeine intake can also relieve you of certain fertility issues.

Exercise
Exercising not only keeps your body in shape but also promotes mental and physical health. Stress can be detrimental for conception, especially in women. Exercises relieve you of stress and keeps you calm and relaxed. However, one must avoid overdoing exercises as it can adversely affect your chances of getting pregnant. Similarly, men should not indulge in exercises such as marathon runs, cycling as they can reduce the sperm count.

Do Your Math Right
It may sound weird but getting pregnant is all about understanding certain numbers. For instance, you naturally reduce your chances of getting pregnant after 30 in case of women and 35 in case of men. Every month you only have 25% chances of conception, even if you do everything right. Another thing that you need to know is that a woman is most fertile during her ovulation, which could be any day between 12 to 18 according to the length of her cycle. Having sex during these days can elevate your chances of pregnancy. Similarly, a man's sperm count is maximum in the morning, hence making love in the morning may help you to conceive.

Hope this article on, 'increase fertility tips' help you get pregnant soon. If you are unable to conceive even when there seems no obvious problem with either of you, do not hesitate to see a doctor. However, until then, be patient and let nature take its course.So don't worry Take care.

Infertility in Men

How does one know that a man is infertile? The following are some signs of infertility that could suggest that there is that issue in the picture:

• The most common sign that is taken as infertility in men and women is if the couple has not been able to conceive even after a year of unprotected sex.
• If the man does not seem interested in sex (for a considerable period of time) and cites reasons like tiredness or stress or mood factors. It can be taken as a sign of infertility in men.
• The inability to achieve an erection. This being one of the physical signs of infertility.
• When a man cannot ejaculate, that is also taken as a sign of infertility.
• An infertile man is usually unhealthy and this can be seen in his appearance - he will have dull looking skin and an overall haggard appearance.
• Although this is not a common indicator, sometimes age can lead to a wrinkled penis and that might be a sign of infertility in men.

Causes of Infertility in Men

What could lead to infertility in men? Here are some of the reasons that have a major influence on this factor.

Environmental Factors
Environment has an overall effect on the health of human beings and is seen to have a major influence on a man's fertility as well. It therefore becomes an important factor to consider. With the ever increasing pollution, exposure to industrial waste, toxic pesticides, increase in temperatures, radiation, and other such and such, the quality of health has deteriorated considerably. This is seen to affect the overall health and in some cases can have a direct affect on a man's fertility as well.

Psychological Factors
Psychological factors such as stress, work pressure, responsibilities, dealing with failures and any other negative force can further take things out of hand.

Health Factors
There are several health factors that go on to influence the issue of infertility in men. These are some of the following:

• Testicular Problems ~ Factors like high levels of FSH, pain and swelling in the testicles, uneven size of the two testicles, difficulty in urination and ejaculation, or premature ejaculation, abnormal sperm cells and the like.
• Hormonal Problems ~ Less, high or no testosterone production, impotence, difficulty in varied sexual functions, insomnia, change in voice, hair growth pattern and blurred vision, muscle weakness and the like.
• Difficulty in erection and maintaining it.
• Orgasms without semen.
• Decreased sexual health.
• Old age
• Milky and cloudy urine.
• Low sperm count.
• Sterility after vasectomy.
• Low sperm motility rate.
• Health disorders like liver disease, kidney disease, genital infections, autoimmune disorders, sickle cell anemia, prostatitis and epididymitis and obesity can all cause infertility in men.

Acquired/External Factors
There are certain acquired factors that need to be discussed as well. These include such pointers that are not caused by any external, psychological or health factors, but are a man's own doing (so to say). Here are some of them:

• Smoking ~ It affects the quality of the sperm.
• Unhealthy Lifestyle ~ This would include lack of exercise, a non nutritious and unhealthy diet, skewed sleeping patterns and the like.

There are several forms of treatments on how to increase fertility that can be taken up depending on the nature of the factors that have led to the problem of infertility in men. Lifestyle changes, taking of specific supplements or surgery to correct a health problem and other factors like artificial insemination (If none of the other methods help to improve the quality of the sperm and this remains the only option to start a family) are often used and are seen to help. One thing is clear though, what can be controlled should definitely be, so that it does not add to the long list of possible causes and threats that lead to infertility in men.