Congenital malformations of the central nervous system result from abnormalities that occur during a fetus's growth and development in the womb. Chromosomal abnormalities, maternal illness and drug abuse can cause congenital abnormalities which...
The effects of having X-rays while pregnant are well known. The fetus may experience severe defects when exposed to radiation. What many women don't know is that the damage done by radiation is a cumulative one. Therefore, it is vital that a woman...
Phenylalanine is an amino acid found in most proteins and in the artificial sweetener aspartame. Clinical research has shown that aspartame is not an allergen, notes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, some people may not be...
The National Institutes of Health says that cholesterol is necessary for proper functioning of the human body. Cholesterol supports membrane structures, and certain endocrine glands use it to synthesize steroid hormones. NIH says the brain has the...
Alcohol affects many different organ systems. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," more than one or two drinks a day have a toxic effect. Some effects appear after only a few drinks, others after years of heavy drinking....
Toxoplasmosis is a common infectious disease caused by the parasite toxoplasma gondii. Women who are infected during pregnancy may have a mild flu-like illness, usually with no lasting consequences. The fetus, however, may develop long term health...
Your genes, also known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), contribute to defining you as a person. They determine your appearance, your personality and your health condition. Sometimes, environmental or hereditary factors can play a role in...
Methylmercury is a poisonous organic compound that is formed when mercury is broken down by microorganisms, according to the New York Times Health Guide. It has been found in varying amounts of concentration in fish. The highest concentrations...
Getting the right amount of vitamin A is especially important during pregnancy, since vitamin A is used by the body for cell growth and differentiation. Vitamin A also plays a role in immune system function, growth, vision, reproduction and tissue...
Acne is a common skin condition that affects millions of people. Whether treating cases of mild acne with over-the counter products, or receiving prescription treatments from your dermatologist or family physician, it is important to understand...
Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) have a marked growth deficiency. If the height and/or weight of a newborn is at or below the tenth percentile, that could be an indicator of fetal alcohol syndrome. These measurements can also be evaluated...
Neonatal herpes simplex virus, or HSV, is transmitted from an actively infected mother to baby. Transmission can occur in utero, if infection ascends through the cervix and vagina, or during labor as the infant passes through the vagina. HSV can...
Infants grow rapidly from the day they are born, but if you compare your child to other babies, you probably will notice a significant difference in size. Children come in all shapes and sizes and grow at different rates. To determine that your...
The substances you put in your body while pregnant directly affect your unborn child. This applies to the foods you eat, as well as the substances you choose to drink. Unfortunately, this also means that if you choose to drink alcohol pregnant,...
The thyroid produces a hormone called thyroxine, which affects every bodily system by signaling how fast or slow it should be working. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid produces too much of this protein. MedlinePlus, an online...
Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid and one of the building blocks of substances such as melanin, dopamine, noradrenaline and thyroxine. Phenylalanine also plays important roles in voluntary movement, behavior and cognition. During pregnancy,...
Going to the bathroom usually isn't cause for alarm unless the urine begins to take on a strong odor. Alterations in the smell of urine are temporary and could be the result of certain medications, vitamins and foods, according to MedlinePlus. For...
Genetic diseases are medical conditions that are the result of faulty or mutated genetic material. The diseases are impossible to cure at this time because the abnormal DNA is present in all of the cells in the body. Genetic diseases are usually...
Ethanol is one of the most widely available and abused drugs worldwide. In moderate amounts it is generally well tolerated, however, in excessive amounts it has serious physical and psychological effects. The burden of alcohol abuse is borne by...
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, or PDCD, is a rare genetic disorder that affects the body's capability to process energy from the food you consume. Linked to sex chromosomes, this disease disrupts the citric acid cycle, depriving the...
Some of the chemicals that you come into contact with through your food and water, in your home and at your workplace may be dangerous to your growing baby. Knowing which chemicals are dangerous during pregnancy and where they are in your...
You may see warnings on diet soda bottles about the risks of phenylalanine. An essential amino acid used to make proteins as well as brain chemical and some hormones, phenylalanine occurs naturally in many foods, including meats, dairy products...
Millions of Americans suffer from high blood cholesterol. It is a risk factor for heart disease, the largest cause of death in the country, so it is rarely recognized that the opposite can also occur and your body can suffer from a cholesterol...
The adult body is capable of processing and filtering many substances that may otherwise be harmful. On the other hand, a tiny, developing fetus is highly susceptible to environmental factors. While many causes of birth defects and fetal...
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor are two common protein molecules in the body. Despite their close structural resemblance, the nature of the work performed by these two proteins is highly divergent in some cases. There are many examples,...
