Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant

March 7, 2014

Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Find out from Experts

the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant have great effect on the unborn child

We don’t know for sure how much alcohol is safe for you to have while you’re pregnant. That’s why experts tend to advise that you either don’t have any alcohol in pregnancy, or that you at least don’t drink alcohol for the first three months of your pregnancy.

If you drink alcohol during the last six months of your pregnancy, you should have no more than one or two units, once or twice a week. You shouldn’t drink enough to feel drunk.

Heavy, regular or binge drinking is dangerous for your baby. A heavy drinker is someone who is regularly drinking six or more units of alcohol a day, but rarely feels drunk.

A binge drinker can be defined as someone who may not drink for days at a time, but then drinks five or more units of alcohol in a short space of time, or drinks with the purpose of getting drunk.
Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Why is alcohol a problem

Alcohol is a toxin. When you drink alcohol, it rapidly reaches your baby through the placenta, via your bloodstream. Heavy, regular or binge drinking can cause miscarriage and premature birth. Too much alcohol can even increase the risk of your baby being stillborn.

If you drink too much alcohol during pregnancy, it can permanently damage your developing baby’s cells. This could affect how your baby’s face, organs and brain grow.

Heavy drinking can also damage your baby’s nervous system. This can mean that your baby develops fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), with problems that can range from mild learning difficulties or social problems, through to birth defects.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum of disorders. Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, be born small and carry on being small for their age. They also have learning difficulties, poor muscle tone and coordination, and behavioral problems, for the rest of their lives. Due to the harm that too much alcohol may cause an unborn baby, experts are wary of saying how much it’s safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy.

Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Effect of alcohol to the unborn baby

The effect on your baby of drinking alcohol in pregnancy depends on:

how much alcohol you have
at what stage in pregnancy you drink alcohol
how often you drink alcohol

Some experts think that some learning difficulties and memory problems in children may be adduced to their mother’s drinking alcohol during their last trimester. This is when your baby is growing more, and his brain is developing.

Binge drinking can be particularly harmful. If you binge drink, you are at more risk of having a baby with FAS than if you drink the same amount over a longer period.

However, drinking on a regular basis may also cause problems in developing babies. Some studies have suggested that regular drinking of nine or more units spread out over a week may lead to attention problems in some children, and cause them to have a low IQ.
Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Light drinking in pregnancy

Experts are divided about the potential effects of occasional or light drinking. Light drinking is no more than one unit to two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week.

Some studies have shown that light drinking isn’t harmful for your baby. But other studies have reported that any alcohol taken during pregnancy may be harmful.

The Department of Health recommends that pregnant women, and women who are trying to conceive, shouldn’t drink alcohol at all. This in my view is fine however many ladies wonder about the effects that may be there if they drunk before knowing that they are already pregnant.
The important thing is to cut out alcohol, or at least be careful about how much you drink, as soon as you find out that you’re expecting.

Many women have a few drinks before realizing they are pregnant. Babies have a habit of turning up when they’re least expected, and many babies conceived around the time of a night out drinking have been fine. However, we don’t know for sure what a few drinks over a short period early in pregnancy can do to a developing baby. That’s why the Department of Health recommends that you give up drinking shortly before getting pregnant.
Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Alternative drinks

Not drinking alcohol or cutting down on how much you drink, may be easy if nausea or sickness puts you off it in early pregnancy. But if you tend to have alcohol to help you to unwind, giving up may be harder. Try replacing a glass of beer or wine with other stress-easing pleasures, such as a warm bath, soft music, a beauty treatment, exercise or reading. If you miss the ritual of drinking, switch to non-alcoholic beer or wine during your evening meal. Doing all these may not be easy for many people and a lot would still find them struggling to give up alcohol. If you’re finding it hard to cut down on your own, or think you might have a drink problem, your doctor or midwife can help. They are professionals and won’t judge you. It’s their job to help you to have a healthy pregnancy. Asking for help just shows how much you care about your baby and yourself.

Dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant-Find out from Experts

Alcohol Brain Connection, Your Memory and Judgement

January 13, 2014

Alcohol affects decision-making and judgment

Alcohol Brain Connection; Alcohol is a depressant that affects your coordination, judgment, vision, reaction time, decision making and multitasking ability. Alcohol affects your ability to detect danger and make good decisions that will help you overcome the impending danger. At some point you can make good decision to avoid an incoming accident but when your brain is under the influence of alcohol, your reaction time in evading danger is slowed. In addition, when there is an alcoholic substance in your body while driving, your perception on distance and speed are tampered with. This will make you confuse things that are closer to you as being very far away. You will feel that you are speeding at the recommended speed when you are actually overspending. Alcohol Brain Connection; You need acute perception, quick decision making and multitasking ability to perform tasks correctly, accurately and safely. Even one drink can tamper with the normal functioning of your brain and remember performing certain tasks while you are under the influence of alcohol is illegal and can land you in jail.

Alcohol Brain Connection; The Executive functions of the brain are compromised even if you stop the alcohol use

Executive functions of the brain are those capacities that are commonly linked to the frontal lobes or frontal cortex. You will find that they guide complex human behavior over time through accurate planning, rational decision making and quick response control. Studies that have been conducted by neurologists reveal that certain cognitive components of brain’s executive functioning are compromised during the early stages of alcohol abstinence. The doctors’ attempt to come up with new strategies of alcohol treatment has been complicated by these new findings because of the various implications they have brought.

Alcohol Brain Connection: Years of excessive alcohol drinking are known to bring impairment on cognitive flexibility, proper thinking and inhibition of competing responses. These abilities of the brain and so many others are the one that are generally referred to as executive functions of the brain. As I explained above, cognitive operation that is linked to the brains frontal cortex guide complex behavior over time through accurate planning, rational decision-making and quick response control. Researchers have shown that several domains of brains executive functions are compromised during the early stages of abstinence, and this is the time when patients are required to draw on their cognitive abilities as part of the alcohol treatment process.
The term executive functioning is normally used in business world, where you find the executive is the one that is responsible for monitoring all the departments that are under a certain organization or company. Just like the executive in a company, the executive functioning of the brain ensures that an individual is moving forward in an effective and efficient manner as possible. So, in the real world of human population, executive functioning help us to define who we are and how we can organize our life in order for us to enjoy life and live longer. They will also help us to understand how we can plan and execute any plan that we have for our life.

Alcohol Brain Connection; Executive functions are the most important aspects of our life. These aspects are defined differently by different researchers and theorists. Most of these people agree that the brains executive functions are human qualities that help people to identify themselves as independent individuals with foresight and purpose in the society-what to do and how to behave. Common executive abilities that you will find among people include problem solving, judgment, planning, decision making and social conduct, and you will find that these abilities depend on many of our cognitive abilities such as language, perception, attention, memory and language.

Researchers have found that the consumption of alcohol affects the brains executive functioning both chronically and acutely. On how it affects the brains executive functioning acutely, a single heavy dose of alcohol will make a person to have decreased brains executive memory referred to as working memory, Alcohol Brain Connection. Working memory enables a person to juggle several cognitive balls at the same without losing focus. In simple terms it helps to remember our recent past activities. In terms of chronic or excessive alcohol consumption, the effects are much broader and can bring some damage to the frontal lobes. This is the brain’s region where executive functioning takes place. You will find that among those people who have abstained from alcohol consumption, they may experience some residual effects as a result of their drinking. The impairment of these same brain areas leads to the disease of alcohol dependence, making it impossible for the person to exert conscious will over whether they can stop drinking or not.

Outpatient Detox Programs and Treatments

Many rehab facilities and medical doctors recommend an outpatient treatment, especially when it comes to NER (Neuro Endocrine Restoration) detox procedures. It’s a great way for patients to still take part in these programs without having the need to regularly attend in-house treatments. They can enjoy normal life among family and friends, while undergoing NER detox treatments and have a normal, stable and healthy life. This also makes it easier for patients to complete, especially those who do not have severe cases to treat. Doctors also prefer this, as patients won’t be locked in a treatment facility but rather they will be able to enjoy daily life and have a normal routine, even including work in some cases. Outpatient treatments are very efficient as patients don’t feel they are forced into anything. They voluntarily attend these treatments and see what benefits it provides in their daily lives. This gives them the inspiration the need to continue their treatment.

Alcohol Brain Connection; Outpatient Detox Programs and Treatments

Many rehab facilities and medical doctors recommend an outpatient treatment, especially when it comes to NER (Neuro Endocrine Restoration) detox procedures. It’s a great way for patients to still take part in these programs without having the need to regularly attend in-house treatments. They can enjoy normal life among family and friends, while undergoing NER detox treatments and have a normal, stable and healthy life. This also makes it easier for patients to complete, especially those who do not have severe cases to treat. Doctors also prefer this, as patients won’t be locked in a treatment facility but rather they will be able to enjoy daily life and have a normal routine, even including work in some cases. Outpatient treatments are very efficient as patients don’t feel they are forced into anything. They voluntarily attend these treatments and see what benefits it provides in their daily lives. This gives them the inspiration the need to continue their treatment.

Alcohol Brain Connection, Your Memory and Judgement

Alcohol Dependence Brain Damage Epidemic

December 5, 2013

Alcohol Dependence Brain Damage can be Repaired A study in the November 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, reaffirmed that alcohol dependence has a negative effect on the brain’s cognitive processes such as memory. However, the study also confirmed that aside from inhibiting the proper function of memory, alcohol dependence damages a person’s “metamemory,” or a person’s ability, albeit subjective, to know one’s memory processing capabilities. Memory refers to the brain’s ability to encode, store, and retrieve information.

Alcohol Dependence Brain Damage is well documented in the literature

Previous studies have found that not only can alcohol dependence impair one’s episodic memory functioning while drinking, but that even when not drinking, episodic memory function can still be in decline. What this new study found was that most people who have poor memory function are able to recognize it with their metamemory and find ways to overcompensate for their forgetful ways. For example, someone who has difficulty remembering where they leave their car keys might put a dish by the door that they only leave them. Or someone who has a difficult time remembering what to buy at the store will make sure they write out a list beforehand. Metamemory enables us to adapt our behavior in everyday life so that a person can use his or her memory skills as efficiently as possible. Alcohol dependency not only disrupts the a person’s ability to properly encode, store and retrieve information, but it interferes with them knowing or recognizing their limits in order to adjust their behavior accordingly. In fact, the study found that the alcohol dependent participants with chronic alcoholism believed their memory was as effective as the healthy control group, despite their episodic memory impairments being well-established during the study. The alcohol dependent group had a tendency to overestimate their memory capabilities and they also showed overestimation of mnemonic device abilities, such as tools used to aid in the retention and recollection of information stored in one’s memory.

Principal fissures and lobes of the cerebrum viewed laterally. Figure 728 from Gray’s Anatomy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alcohol Dependence Brain Damage can be Repaired By (NER), NeuroEndocrine Restoration.

Dr. Dalal Akoury offers a natural safe effective outpatient Alcohol recovery program that restores the Neuroendocrine Imbalances (NER). The key to Alcoholic recovery working comes down to two primary things – the right support and natural supplements. These two things combined bring about restoration and balance that greatly reduces withdrawal symptoms but also produces recovery sustainability. Regarding treatment a 10 days Intravenous Amino Acid and a crafted regimen supplements. This natural addiction recovery program involves Ginkgo biloba, proven to improve blood flow to the brain for improved performance, Phosphatidycholine that increases bioavailability and absorption, vitamins D and K, alpha lipoic acid, inositol, and various other nutrients and amino acids that block neurotransmitter dysfunction that helps reduce cravings. However, it is the combination of supplements that also repairs damage done to the brain and endocrine system

Alcohol Dependence Brain Damage Epidemic

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