Asthma is one of the most common medical conditions that complicates pregnancy. Approximately 8 percent of women develop asthma in their childbearing years, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Well-controlled...
Asthma is a commonly occurring lung disease. It can be a serious health condition. When monitored closely, asthma is very manageable. Pregnant women who suffer from asthma will need to work closely with their health care professionals to create...
Women must seek medical advice when pregnancy is confirmed to ensure that current medical therapy is appropriate. Some medications may cause harm to the fetus and put the mother at harm for complications. Asthma control may change during...
Exercise-induced asthma is a condition characterized by the onset of asthma-related symptoms such as airway constriction and excessive mucus production during or after exercise. Some, but not all, individuals who develop this condition also...
Prednisone is frequently prescribed for asthma, one of the most common pregnancy complications. In fact, about six million women under 45 have asthma and approximately 0.5 to 1.3 percent of all pregnancies are complicated by maternal asthma,...
It's important to understand the difference between asthma medications. Some medications such as albuterol are classified as fast acting bronchodilators, which mean they open up the airways shortly after taking them. That type of medication is...
The esophagus is a tube that goes from the bottom of the throat to the stomach. It is responsible for the transport of liquids and food once they have been chewed up and swallowed. When this process goes off without a hitch, your digestive system...
Yoga is characterized by a series of mind-body poses that focus on toning the muscles and breathing. Yogis benefit from stress reduction, increased fitness and weight loss. Yoga can even help control certain chronic health conditions, according to...
Gastroesophageal reflux, often simply called GERD or acid reflux, affects both infants and adults. When acidic stomach contents enter the esophagus, the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach, heartburn -- a burning, uncomfortable sensation...
If you have food allergies, you may wonder if pregnancy is safe for you and your baby. Although little research has been done on food allergies and pregnancy, some women with food allergies report having healthy pregnancies, according to the Food...
When you become pregnant, hormone level changes affect different systems of your body. Immune system responses change and the severity of your allergy and asthma symptoms might change. Since severe allergic reactions could cause complications to...
Asthma is an increasingly common problem among pregnant women. A study published in 2003 in the journal “Annals of Epidemiology” noted that up to 8.4 percent of pregnant women suffer from asthma and the numbers increase each year. As a...
Asthma is a lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. It is believed that more than 22 million people in the United States have asthma, and nearly 6 million of those people are children. Diet is very important and certain foods,...
A "chest cough" is a type of cough in which congestion is present in the lungs. Pregnancy can be a state of decreased immune function and mothers-to-be are at risk for a number of infections. The worst of these is pneumonia, which can be...
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that targets the body's airways. The disease causes the airways to become inflamed and to produce excessive amounts of mucous when the patient is exposed to certain environmental factors, reports the New...
Fish oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. In the body, omega-3 fatty acids are synthesized to prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that mediate many chemical processes in the...
Breathing is one of those bodily functions we seldom think about until something changes its normal function. The hormonal changes of pregnancy cause many women to experience nasal stuffiness, and most women experience some shortness of breath,...
Asthma as defined by the National Institutes of Health is an inflammatory disorder of the lungs and airways. The inflammation can lead to attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and coughing.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), smoking cigarettes is responsible for nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths in the United States. Smoking has negative effects on the health and overall well-being of the smoker as well as relatives,...
Folic acid is vital for the development of the fetal nervous system. Taking it before conception and throughout the first trimester decreases the risk of having a child born with a neural tube defect. Doctors recommend expectant mothers take 400...
Heart palpitations can be characterized as a racing heart beat that can be felt in the chest or neck. They can also be felt as skipped beats, beats that are faster or harder than usual, or a fluttering in the chest. They can occur at rest or...
High blood pressure is a serious condition, as it is a risk factor for developing heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure and kidney disease. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that nearly 90 percent of all middle-aged adults will...
Even though fast foods contain vitamins and minerals, eating them often actually reduces your nutritional level. That's because the typically high amounts of salt, cholesterol, fat and sugar take the place of other beneficial nutrients. The fat...
Pet allergies affect women the same during pregnancy as they do any other time, but some medications may not be safe to use during pregnancy due to the potential risk of harm to the unborn baby. These medications, called antihistamines, work to...
In the 1950s, pregnant moms thought nothing of smoking during pregnancy--or drinking, for that matter. When researchers began to prove that smoking had potentially harmful effects on the fetus, warning labels were added to cigarette packs in 1984...
The relationship between maternal consumption of nuts and allergies in children is not clear. Prenatal exposure to nuts and nut products may increase the risk of nut allergies and asthma in children, especially to those genetically predisposed to...
As if the normal pregnancy aches and pains weren't enough to deal with, some pregnant women have to figure out a way to safely manage their allergy symptoms during pregnancy as well. Although some women worry about unintentionally harming their...
Folic acid, also called folate, is one of the vitamins in the B complex. In general, this nutrient family facilitates physical growth and cognitive development. The B vitamins are also essential for metabolism, helping your body turn food into...
Many people snack on a handful of nuts from time to time, or add them to savory dishes. Nuts may have health benefits for your heart, and they are very nutritious. However, they are also a common allergen. Because of this, some women worry about...
