Poverty, Instability Linked to Poor Control of Pregnancy Diabetes

Pregnant women with pregnancy-related diabetes are less likely to achieve blood sugar control if they rely on food stamps or have a generally chaotic lifestyle, according to a U.S. study. These kinds of factors may be modifiable, the authors write in Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Many social factors have a major impact on overall pregnancy health,” said Dr. Laura Colicchia, who led the study at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. About 200,000 U.S. women develop diabetes during pregnancy each year,…

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Insomnia, Poor Sleep Quality Common for Men and Women During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women and their male partners sometimes report insomnia or insufficient sleep, which may be tied to depression, according to a new study. Almost half of women reported that they slept more than usual during pregnancy, but did not have better quality sleep, said senior author Tiina Paunio of Helsinki University Hospital in Finland. Overall, 12 percent of women and 15 percent of men had either insomnia or too little sleep, researchers found. “The results are well in line with those obtained from previous studies for pregnant women: symptoms…

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Smartphone Use Near Bedtime May Lead to Poor Sleep

If you want to improve your sleep, better cut down on smartphone use near bedtime, suggests a new study that found longer average screen-time is associated with poor sleep quality and less sleep overall. Poor sleep is associated with health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and depression. “Exposure to smartphone screens, particularly around bedtime, may negatively impact sleep,” the study said. For the study, Matthew Christensen from the University of California – San Francisco, US, and colleagues sought to test the hypothesis that increased screen-time may be associated with poor…

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Poor Maternal Nutrition Can Cause Early Ageing of Baby’s Heart

Children born to mothers who were undernourished during pregnancy are more likely to suffer early ageing of the heart, a research has showed. The animal study found that moderately reducing a mother’s food intake can make it more likely that the baby’s organs will show increased disease susceptibility and early ageing. These changes in the heart could contribute to decreased quality of life, decreased exercise capability, and increased vulnerability to other diseases such as diabetes and hypertension — major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the study said. Understanding…

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Sleeping Time Linked to Poor Self-Regulation Among Teens

Poor self-regulation among teens is strongly associated with when one sleeps in relation to their body’s natural circadian rhythm, finds a study. According to the study, published in the journal Pediatrics, daytime sleepiness and being a night owl appear to be more strongly associated with poor self-regulation. “The results of this study suggest it is not how long you sleep that has the biggest impact on self-regulation, but when you sleep in relation to the body’s natural circadian rhythms and how impaired you are by sleepiness,” said Judith Owens, Director…

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Improper Diet Causes Poor Heart Health in Kids

Children who eat high-calorie, low-nutrition food and avoid eating healthy are at risk of having poor heart health, a new study has suggested. Seven key health factors and behaviour are used to determine whether a child’s cardiovascular health is ideal – not using tobacco products, maintaining a healthy body weight, getting at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, eating a healthy diet as well as having healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels. “Engaging in these ideal health behaviours early in life can have…

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