Prenatal care is an essential component to a healthy baby and a healthy mom, and it is important to begin prenatal care as soon as the pregnancy has been confirmed. Prenatal care can help to diagnose any early health problems that the mother may be developing due to the pregnancy, and will diagnose any problems that the baby may be facing too. Prenatal care is more about visits to the doctor; it is also about eating healthy, reducing stress levels, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Prenatal Care And Your Diet
A healthy diet will allow your body to meet the extra nutritional demands that are needed by a growing baby. Eating lots of fattening and surgery foods during your pregnancy can cause way too much weight gain, increased bouts of morning sickness, gastrointestinal problems, and the onset of gestational diabetes. Eat a nutritionally balanced diet; snack when you need to, but keep the snacks healthy and the sweets and fats to a minimum. A daily prenatal vitamin should be a part of your prenatal care routine from the beginning.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Most new mothers face the challenges of supporting a pregnancy while they are trying to maintain a hectic schedule. The stresses on your body and emotions during a pregnancy, in addition to a hectic schedule, can be detrimental to the health of you and your baby. Try to organize your schedule and cut out any unnecessary chores or errands. Take some time out during your day to stretch and relax, breathe deeply, and let off some steam. If possible join a yoga for pregnant mothers class, or a support group for pregnant woman.
Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
Now that you are growing a new baby, it is especially important that you led a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking, cut out the alcohol, and reduce your caffeine intake. Begin a regular exercise routine approved by your doctor, and stick with it. Stay away from secondary smoke, and keep yourself out of dangerous situations; your safety is now not only about you, but your baby too.
Begin Prenatal Care With A Doctor As Early As Possible
Common pregnancy problems that can affect you and your baby such as gestational diabetes, Group B strep, bladder infections, preeclampsia, anemia, Rh negative disease, and high blood pressure can easily be diagnosed through early prenatal care. The earlier these problems are identified, the earlier the treatments can begin. Health problems that can be resolved through timely diagnosis early in the pregnancy can develop into serious and even life threatening illnesses for the baby and mother if they are not treated.
Prenatal Tests
From the start of your pregnancy, your doctor will begin to monitor your blood pressure and weight, your baby’s heartbeat, and perform routine physical exams. Your blood and urine may be tested a few times during the pregnancy, and you should have at least one ultrasound. Any additional tests that your doctor may perform, or that you may request, include amniocentesis and tests of the fetal blood from the umbilical cord.
Body Changes in Pregnancy
Body Changes in Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in a woman's body. Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies and their daily routines may not change until the last few weeks before delivery. Other women have difficult pregnancies that change their daily lives right from the start.
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Getting Pregnant
Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy Tests
Prenatal Care Practitioner
Prenatal Testing
Prenatal Health
Prenatal Risks
Diet Ideas For Fertility
Prenatal Tips
Critical Preparation
Preconception Health Plan
Conception Sex
Baby-Making Questions
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Better Sperm
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Fertility Breakthroughs
The Oasis Centre
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Postpartum
Most women experience emotional shifts and mood swings. It's natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a online pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.
As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant it is important to learn more about what to expect from pregnancy and how to care for yourself and your growing baby. If you smoke or drink, you should stop immediately -- tobacco and alcohol can harm your unborn child. Certain medications can also harm your child. [More about prenatal risks.]
Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks, or 9 months. That time is divided into three periods called trimesters (three-month intervals), during which different things happen to your body and to the baby. Below is a list of some of the normal things a pregnant woman may experience during each trimester. The changes described here may happen earlier or later than they appear on this list, and some may continue throughout the pregnancy.
? DID YOU KNOW... Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman's last period. This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!
The First Trimester
(Week 1 - Week 12)
six week embryo
Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo's tiny heart has begun beating.
More about the First Trimester
Your period stops or becomes very light.
You may feel nausea or queasiness. Some women vomit. ("Morning sickness" can happen any time of day -- it may help to eat small meals throughout the day, snack on crackers or toast, or drink juice or lemonade.)
Your breasts swell and may be tender.
Your nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) get darker and broader.
You have to urinate more often.
You feel tired.
You may become constipated and have heartburn (Tums may help).
You may have headaches.
You experience mood swings -- feel angry, sad, or happy for no reason.
! WARNING: Although most pregnancies are uncomplicated, dangerous situations can develop. If you experience a sharp pain on the side in early pregnancy, or bleeding and/or cramping at anytime during pregnancy, call your doctor immediately!
The Second Trimester
(Week 13 - Week 26)
18 week fetus
Eighteen Weeks: By this time eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.
More about the Second Trimester
You gain weight.
You can feel the fetus moving.
The skin on your stomach stretches and may get dry. (Use lotion to lessen the chance of stretch marks.)
Your breasts get bigger. It helps to wear a supportive bra.
A small amount of thin fluid (called colostrum) may come out of your nipples.
You may experience ongoing heartburn, indigestion, and constipation.
You may get nosebleeds.
Your feet, hands, ankles and face may swell (this is called edema).
A dark line develops on your skin between your navel and your pubic area.
A "mask" or darker area or pigmentation may develop on your face. (It disappears after the pregnancy ends.)
You may begin to develop varicose veins. Varicose vein relief is available if you are suffering.
The Third Trimester
(Week 27 - 40)
24 week fetus
Twenty-four Weeks: Seen here at six months, the unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy substance called vernix. The fetus still has much growing to do, but some babies could survive if born this early.
More about the Third Trimester
You can see the fetus move from the outside.
Your navel pushes out.
You begin to get backaches.
You begin to walk differently to accommodate the weight of the fetus.
You experience painless "practice" contractions.
You have shortness of breath.
Finally, labor and delivery!
In our pregnancy forum you can get more information about pregnancy symptoms.
Epigee Links
Online Pregnancy Test
Calculate Your Due Date
Crisis Pregnancy Help
Pregnant and need some advice? Chat with other new moms in our online forum.
Get your family and friends involved in your pregnancy by creating a baby pool at PregPool.com.
Find more information on pregnancy symptoms at our Signs of Pregnancy page.
Pregnancy is a natural process involving changes in a woman's body. Most women have uncomplicated pregnancies and their daily routines may not change until the last few weeks before delivery. Other women have difficult pregnancies that change their daily lives right from the start.
Ads by Google
Ask a Doctor Online Now
9 Doctors Are Online. Current Wait Time: 7 Minutes. Health.JustAnswer.com
How to Get Pregnant Fast
I Stopped these common mistakes and got Pregnant almost Immediately! www.MaximumFertility.com/
Phytalgic from £12.99
No p&p Find out how Phytalgic could help your aching joints. Buy Now www.fermain.com
Pregnancy Exercise Plans
On-line Weekly Exercise Programs. Safe and Effective. Buy Today pregnancyexercise.co.nz
Related Articles
Getting Pregnant
Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy Tests
Prenatal Care Practitioner
Prenatal Testing
Prenatal Health
Prenatal Risks
Diet Ideas For Fertility
Prenatal Tips
Critical Preparation
Preconception Health Plan
Conception Sex
Baby-Making Questions
Economy And Infertility
Better Sperm
Fertility Consultants
Dr. Glassner
Fertility Breakthroughs
The Oasis Centre
Women Calendar
Yoga And Fertility
Fertility Act
Ovu-Trac
Position After Sex
Stress Reduction
Cervical Mucus And Sons
Laptops And Fertility
Effects Of Diabetes
Breast Changes
Preconception Visit
Early Pregnancy Signs
Diet And Lifestyle
Cervical Mucus
Basal Body Temperature
Another Child
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Problems
Postpartum
Most women experience emotional shifts and mood swings. It's natural to feel doubt, anxiety, and fear about pregnancy and childbirth, as well as happiness, excitement, and anticipation. Keeping a online pregnancy journal can help you keep track of your emotions. Plus, it will serve as a wonderful keepsake of your pregnancy in the years to come.
As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant it is important to learn more about what to expect from pregnancy and how to care for yourself and your growing baby. If you smoke or drink, you should stop immediately -- tobacco and alcohol can harm your unborn child. Certain medications can also harm your child. [More about prenatal risks.]
Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks, or 9 months. That time is divided into three periods called trimesters (three-month intervals), during which different things happen to your body and to the baby. Below is a list of some of the normal things a pregnant woman may experience during each trimester. The changes described here may happen earlier or later than they appear on this list, and some may continue throughout the pregnancy.
? DID YOU KNOW... Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman's last period. This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!
The First Trimester
(Week 1 - Week 12)
six week embryo
Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo's tiny heart has begun beating.
More about the First Trimester
Your period stops or becomes very light.
You may feel nausea or queasiness. Some women vomit. ("Morning sickness" can happen any time of day -- it may help to eat small meals throughout the day, snack on crackers or toast, or drink juice or lemonade.)
Your breasts swell and may be tender.
Your nipples and the area around the nipples (areola) get darker and broader.
You have to urinate more often.
You feel tired.
You may become constipated and have heartburn (Tums may help).
You may have headaches.
You experience mood swings -- feel angry, sad, or happy for no reason.
! WARNING: Although most pregnancies are uncomplicated, dangerous situations can develop. If you experience a sharp pain on the side in early pregnancy, or bleeding and/or cramping at anytime during pregnancy, call your doctor immediately!
The Second Trimester
(Week 13 - Week 26)
18 week fetus
Eighteen Weeks: By this time eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.
More about the Second Trimester
You gain weight.
You can feel the fetus moving.
The skin on your stomach stretches and may get dry. (Use lotion to lessen the chance of stretch marks.)
Your breasts get bigger. It helps to wear a supportive bra.
A small amount of thin fluid (called colostrum) may come out of your nipples.
You may experience ongoing heartburn, indigestion, and constipation.
You may get nosebleeds.
Your feet, hands, ankles and face may swell (this is called edema).
A dark line develops on your skin between your navel and your pubic area.
A "mask" or darker area or pigmentation may develop on your face. (It disappears after the pregnancy ends.)
You may begin to develop varicose veins. Varicose vein relief is available if you are suffering.
The Third Trimester
(Week 27 - 40)
24 week fetus
Twenty-four Weeks: Seen here at six months, the unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy substance called vernix. The fetus still has much growing to do, but some babies could survive if born this early.
More about the Third Trimester
You can see the fetus move from the outside.
Your navel pushes out.
You begin to get backaches.
You begin to walk differently to accommodate the weight of the fetus.
You experience painless "practice" contractions.
You have shortness of breath.
Finally, labor and delivery!
In our pregnancy forum you can get more information about pregnancy symptoms.
Epigee Links
Online Pregnancy Test
Calculate Your Due Date
Crisis Pregnancy Help
Pregnant and need some advice? Chat with other new moms in our online forum.
Get your family and friends involved in your pregnancy by creating a baby pool at PregPool.com.
Find more information on pregnancy symptoms at our Signs of Pregnancy page.
pregnancy symptoms
Print
Morning Sickness will often show up 2-8 weeks after conception.
Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy; however, one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed menstrual cycle.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of pregnancy is important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy. Some women experience signs or symptoms of pregnancy within a week of conception. For other women, pregnancy symptoms may develop over a few weeks or may not be present at all.
Below is a listing of some of the most common pregnancy signs and symptoms. If you have been sexually active and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is important to take a pregnancy test.
Find a Testing Center
Trying to get pregnant? Get APA's "Essential Guide to Getting Pregnant"
APA Membership Benefits No insurance? High deductibles? Learn about the benefits associated with Membership with APA.
Implantation Bleeding:
Implantation bleeding can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. Some women will experience spotting as well as some cramping.
Other Explanations: Actual menstruation, altered menstruation, changes in birth control pill, infection, or abrasion from intercourse.
Delay/Difference in Menstruation:
A delayed or missed period is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed. Many women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period.
Other Explanations: Excessive weight gain/loss, fatigue, hormonal problems, tension, stress, ceasing to take the birth control pill, illness or breastfeeding.
Pregnant Without Insurance
Swollen/Tender Breasts:
Swollen or tender breasts is a pregnancy symptom which may begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts; they may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen.
Other Explanations: Hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, impending menstruation (PMS) can also cause your breasts to be swollen or tender.
Fatigue/Tiredness:
Feeling fatigued or more tired is a pregnancy symptom which can also start as early as the first week after conception.
Other Explanations: Stress, exhaustion, depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you feeling tired or fatigued.
Nausea/Morning Sickness:
This well known pregnancy symptom will often show up between 2-8 weeks after conception. Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others will feel nauseous throughout most of their pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Food poisoning, stress, change in hormonal birth control method or other stomach disorders can also cause you to feel queasy.
Backaches:
Lower backaches may be a symptom that occurs early in pregnancy; however, it is common to experience a dull backache throughout pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Impending menstruation, stress, other back problems, and physical or mental strains.
Headaches:
The sudden rise of hormones in your body can cause you to have headaches early in pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, impending menstruation, eye strain, or other ailments can be the source of frequent or chronic headaches.
Frequent Urination:
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom.
Other Explanations: Urinary tract infection, diabetes, increasing liquid intake, or taking excessive diuretics.
Darkening of Areolas:
If you are pregnant, the skin around your nipples may get darker.
Other Explanations: Hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or may be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.
Food Cravings or Food Aversions:
While you may not have a strong desire to eat pickles and ice cream, many women will feel cravings for certain foods when they are pregnant. This can last throughout your entire pregnancy. Some women develop adversions to certain types of food early in pregnancy and this too can last for the next 9 months.
Other Explanations: Poor diet, lack of a certain nutrient, stress, depression, illness or impending menstruation.
Your Next Steps:
Having symptoms? Find a Free Testing Center.
Pregnant? No Insurance Ameriplan
Trying to conceive? Order Fertility Products.
If you think you are pregnant you may purchase a home pregnancy test such as those made by Clearblue Easy, or find out more about taking a pregnancy test.
Morning Sickness will often show up 2-8 weeks after conception.
Pregnancy symptoms differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy; however, one of the most significant pregnancy symptoms is a delayed or missed menstrual cycle.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of pregnancy is important because each symptom may be related to something other than pregnancy. Some women experience signs or symptoms of pregnancy within a week of conception. For other women, pregnancy symptoms may develop over a few weeks or may not be present at all.
Below is a listing of some of the most common pregnancy signs and symptoms. If you have been sexually active and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is important to take a pregnancy test.
Find a Testing Center
Trying to get pregnant? Get APA's "Essential Guide to Getting Pregnant"
APA Membership Benefits No insurance? High deductibles? Learn about the benefits associated with Membership with APA.
Implantation Bleeding:
Implantation bleeding can be one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms. About 6-12 days after conception, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. Some women will experience spotting as well as some cramping.
Other Explanations: Actual menstruation, altered menstruation, changes in birth control pill, infection, or abrasion from intercourse.
Delay/Difference in Menstruation:
A delayed or missed period is the most common pregnancy symptom leading a woman to test for pregnancy. When you become pregnant, your next period should be missed. Many women can bleed while they are pregnant, but typically the bleeding will be shorter or lighter than a normal period.
Other Explanations: Excessive weight gain/loss, fatigue, hormonal problems, tension, stress, ceasing to take the birth control pill, illness or breastfeeding.
Pregnant Without Insurance
Swollen/Tender Breasts:
Swollen or tender breasts is a pregnancy symptom which may begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception. Women may notice changes in their breasts; they may be tender to the touch, sore, or swollen.
Other Explanations: Hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, impending menstruation (PMS) can also cause your breasts to be swollen or tender.
Fatigue/Tiredness:
Feeling fatigued or more tired is a pregnancy symptom which can also start as early as the first week after conception.
Other Explanations: Stress, exhaustion, depression, common cold or flu, or other illnesses can also leave you feeling tired or fatigued.
Nausea/Morning Sickness:
This well known pregnancy symptom will often show up between 2-8 weeks after conception. Some women are fortunate to not deal with morning sickness at all, while others will feel nauseous throughout most of their pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Food poisoning, stress, change in hormonal birth control method or other stomach disorders can also cause you to feel queasy.
Backaches:
Lower backaches may be a symptom that occurs early in pregnancy; however, it is common to experience a dull backache throughout pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Impending menstruation, stress, other back problems, and physical or mental strains.
Headaches:
The sudden rise of hormones in your body can cause you to have headaches early in pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, impending menstruation, eye strain, or other ailments can be the source of frequent or chronic headaches.
Frequent Urination:
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom.
Other Explanations: Urinary tract infection, diabetes, increasing liquid intake, or taking excessive diuretics.
Darkening of Areolas:
If you are pregnant, the skin around your nipples may get darker.
Other Explanations: Hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or may be a leftover effect from a previous pregnancy.
Food Cravings or Food Aversions:
While you may not have a strong desire to eat pickles and ice cream, many women will feel cravings for certain foods when they are pregnant. This can last throughout your entire pregnancy. Some women develop adversions to certain types of food early in pregnancy and this too can last for the next 9 months.
Other Explanations: Poor diet, lack of a certain nutrient, stress, depression, illness or impending menstruation.
Your Next Steps:
Having symptoms? Find a Free Testing Center.
Pregnant? No Insurance Ameriplan
Trying to conceive? Order Fertility Products.
If you think you are pregnant you may purchase a home pregnancy test such as those made by Clearblue Easy, or find out more about taking a pregnancy test.
Your child is already paying attention
Your child is already paying attention. The question is what are they paying attention to? Children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder often fail to pay attention to what they are supposed to be paying attention to -- the teacher in the classroom, your instructions to stop running in the house or the fact that they have a quiz next week in social studies class. They are often paying attention to things that are more interesting to them such as what the other kids are doing in the class, what the dog is doing while you’re nagging at them or how many home runs his favorite baseball player has hit.
Using this principle -- that your child is intensely interested in and paying attention to some things -- you can help your child focus in situations where she currently is falling short. The main strategy is to channel your child’s energy and interest to promote the development of persistence in other tasks.
1. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they doubt their own abilities. By not trying they can preserve their dignity by saying “I failed because I didn’t even try." You can channel your child’s enthusiasm for a sports hero or a favorite movie or cartoon character by telling him to pretend like he is his favorite hero. If your child is mesmerized by Lance Armstrong, invite your child to walk and talk like Lance would. By pretending to have a lot of confidence, your child will get the feeling for what it is like to have confidence and have the foundation for acting from that place.
2. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they feel if they have a disorder why should they even try since there is already something wrong with them. Using a person whom your child is fascinated with -- his or her hero -- you can ask your child to tell you what would have happened if that person said “Why Try?" If your child is obsessed with Harry Potter ask her what would have happened if he had just given up and didn’t try to overcome the many obstacles he faced.
3. Use your child’s areas of intense interest to develop basic skills that will help him in learning things that are not so interesting. For example, if you child is obsessed with cars you can help him find books or manuals about cars. In this way he will begin to develop some skills with reading that will carry over to other areas.
4. Let your child play and exercise in nature. A recent study (Faber-Taylor et al., 2001) has shown that playing in “green settings" helps children to focus and pay attention. The findings suggest that letting your child have a little bit of play time outside in nature before sitting down to do her homework might help her to concentrate, complete tasks and follow directions.
5. Become an advocate for your child in school settings. Sometimes your child needs little adjustments to help him focus in school. As a parent, if you can advocate for small changes, you can make a profound difference in your child’s behavior at school. For example, one parent found that by asking the teacher to let her child get out of her seat occasionally without being punished, the child was able to pay attention more in class just by making this one change.
6. Develop an appreciation for what your child does pay attention to. For example, often a child is not paying attention to the course work in school, but he is paying attention to what all the other kids are doing. Tell your child that his interest in other students shows a lot of caring and concern for others and intelligence about how other people get along and interact. Ask him to share his insights with you and comment on his abilities to understand what other people are thinking and doing. Praise your child at any opportunity for what they are paying attention to and find a way to reframe it as a strength rather than a deficit.
7. Find out what your child is paying attention to and encourage her interest in that arena. For example, if your child is interested in sports, rather than being discouraged that his interest will not lead to academic success, find a way to show him that you honor his interest and find ways to channel that interest. When parents try to discourage interests in their children, the child will feel that the parent does not understand him and feel alone. As an example, you could use an interest in sports to an exploration of the human body and how to encourage optimal functioning. This could lead to increased interest in science classes.
In summary, the main principles of change are to maintain a positive perspective of your child and to stay connected to your child. By honoring his or her areas of intense interest you can transform your child’s problems into strengths.
Dr. Lara Honos-Webb is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Walnut Creek, CA. She is author of The Gift of ADHD, the forthcoming Listening to Depression: How Understanding Your Pain Can Heal Your Life, and more than twenty-five scholarly articles. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Publisher's Weekly as well as newspapers across the country and local and national radio and television. She specializes in the treatment of ADHD and depression and the psychology of pregnancy and motherhood; she speaks regularly on her areas of expertise. Honos-Webb completed a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship at University of California, San Francisco, and was, until recently, an assistant professor teaching graduate students. She offers telephone therapy
to residents anywhere in California. For more information, please visit her website at
Using this principle -- that your child is intensely interested in and paying attention to some things -- you can help your child focus in situations where she currently is falling short. The main strategy is to channel your child’s energy and interest to promote the development of persistence in other tasks.
1. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they doubt their own abilities. By not trying they can preserve their dignity by saying “I failed because I didn’t even try." You can channel your child’s enthusiasm for a sports hero or a favorite movie or cartoon character by telling him to pretend like he is his favorite hero. If your child is mesmerized by Lance Armstrong, invite your child to walk and talk like Lance would. By pretending to have a lot of confidence, your child will get the feeling for what it is like to have confidence and have the foundation for acting from that place.
2. Sometimes kids lack persistence because they feel if they have a disorder why should they even try since there is already something wrong with them. Using a person whom your child is fascinated with -- his or her hero -- you can ask your child to tell you what would have happened if that person said “Why Try?" If your child is obsessed with Harry Potter ask her what would have happened if he had just given up and didn’t try to overcome the many obstacles he faced.
3. Use your child’s areas of intense interest to develop basic skills that will help him in learning things that are not so interesting. For example, if you child is obsessed with cars you can help him find books or manuals about cars. In this way he will begin to develop some skills with reading that will carry over to other areas.
4. Let your child play and exercise in nature. A recent study (Faber-Taylor et al., 2001) has shown that playing in “green settings" helps children to focus and pay attention. The findings suggest that letting your child have a little bit of play time outside in nature before sitting down to do her homework might help her to concentrate, complete tasks and follow directions.
5. Become an advocate for your child in school settings. Sometimes your child needs little adjustments to help him focus in school. As a parent, if you can advocate for small changes, you can make a profound difference in your child’s behavior at school. For example, one parent found that by asking the teacher to let her child get out of her seat occasionally without being punished, the child was able to pay attention more in class just by making this one change.
6. Develop an appreciation for what your child does pay attention to. For example, often a child is not paying attention to the course work in school, but he is paying attention to what all the other kids are doing. Tell your child that his interest in other students shows a lot of caring and concern for others and intelligence about how other people get along and interact. Ask him to share his insights with you and comment on his abilities to understand what other people are thinking and doing. Praise your child at any opportunity for what they are paying attention to and find a way to reframe it as a strength rather than a deficit.
7. Find out what your child is paying attention to and encourage her interest in that arena. For example, if your child is interested in sports, rather than being discouraged that his interest will not lead to academic success, find a way to show him that you honor his interest and find ways to channel that interest. When parents try to discourage interests in their children, the child will feel that the parent does not understand him and feel alone. As an example, you could use an interest in sports to an exploration of the human body and how to encourage optimal functioning. This could lead to increased interest in science classes.
In summary, the main principles of change are to maintain a positive perspective of your child and to stay connected to your child. By honoring his or her areas of intense interest you can transform your child’s problems into strengths.
Dr. Lara Honos-Webb is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Walnut Creek, CA. She is author of The Gift of ADHD, the forthcoming Listening to Depression: How Understanding Your Pain Can Heal Your Life, and more than twenty-five scholarly articles. Her work has been featured in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Publisher's Weekly as well as newspapers across the country and local and national radio and television. She specializes in the treatment of ADHD and depression and the psychology of pregnancy and motherhood; she speaks regularly on her areas of expertise. Honos-Webb completed a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship at University of California, San Francisco, and was, until recently, an assistant professor teaching graduate students. She offers telephone therapy
to residents anywhere in California. For more information, please visit her website at
to get pregnant
When you want to get pregnant, you want to get pregnant now. (Being patient is okay in theory until you actually switch into babymaking mode, right?) If you want to increase your odds of getting pregnant sooner rather than later, the following tips from Ann Douglas -- author of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition), The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers and The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (first edition and second edition) -- will help you to maximize your chances of conceiving quickly and ending up with a healthy baby. (Note: If you find this list of tips helpful, you may want to read some of Ann's fertility articles (she's a columnist for Conceive Magazine.)
Start taking folic acid now. You reduce your chances of giving birth to a baby with a neural tube defect (for example, anencephaly or spina bifida) by 50% to 70% if you start taking at least 0.4 mg of folic acid each day two to three months before you start trying to conceive.
Try to keep sex fun when you're trying to conceive. Use rooms other than the bedroom or schedule your babymaking rendezvous for an odd time of day. The rationale? You won't be able to keep up the babymaking pace for very long if sex starts feeling like a chore.
Don't hop up and run to the bathroom right after you make love. Lying down for at least a few minutes (some fertility experts say five minutes) after intercourse increases the odds that the sperm will be able to keep their date with the awaiting egg and that you'll win at baby roulette.
Make love often during your fertile period (the five days leading up to ovulation). If you've got the stamina to make love at least every 48 hours, you will ensure that there's a fresh shipment of sperm waiting in the fallopian tube at any given time. Of course, you can get too much of a good thing if your partner has a low sperm count, so if you're aware of a pre-existing fertility problem, you'll want to talk this issue over with your fertility specialist.
Keep in mind that babymaking is a numbers game. Even if you do everything "right," you still have only a 25% to 30% chance of conceiving in any given cycle. (See The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition), The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers and The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (first edition and the brand new second edition for more on how factors like age and your previous reproductive history affect your odds of conceiving sooner rather than later.
Here's a bit of sex-related trivia, just in case you and your partner are looking for a little inspiration. There are over 114 million sex acts performed around the world.
Are you a coffee drinker? Time to give it up or switch to decaf! Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. What's more, a few studies have indicated that excessive consumption of caffeine (that is, more than three cups of drip coffee per day) may contribute to fertility problems. The jury is still out on this last point, however.
Are you or your partner regularly exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace? You may need to consider a job change or job modification before you start your family. Certain substances can affect both the quality of sperm and the development of the embryo.
Have you had your preconception checkup yet? Set up an appointment with your doctor to review your medical history and to talk about your plans to start trying to conceive. (Note: You can find a detailed discussion of preconception health issues in The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (second edition) and The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition).
Are you currently taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs? Be sure to ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue taking them once you start trying to conceive.
If you aren't already doing so, start keeping a menstrual calendar. Note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts, and anything else your doctor might want to know about. This information could prove helpful if you experience problems in conceiving. It can also prove invaluable in pinpointing the date of conception -- and consequently your due date.
Try to book the last appointment of the day for your preconception checkup. That's when your doctor or midwife is most likely to be able to take the time to answer your questions and address your concerns without feeling rushed to go on to the next patient.
Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons (which can cause a pH imbalance in your vagina); artificial lubricants, vegetable oils, and glycerin (because they can kill off sperm); saliva (because saliva can also kill sperm); and douching (because it alters the normal acidity of the vagina; can cause vaginal infections and/or pelvic inflammatory disease; and may wash away the cervical mucus that is needed to transport the sperm).
If you're monitoring your cervical mucus in an attempt to predict your most fertile days, do your checks before you shower, bathe, or swim. These activities can all affect the quantity and quality of your cervical mucus.
Start taking folic acid now. You reduce your chances of giving birth to a baby with a neural tube defect (for example, anencephaly or spina bifida) by 50% to 70% if you start taking at least 0.4 mg of folic acid each day two to three months before you start trying to conceive.
Try to keep sex fun when you're trying to conceive. Use rooms other than the bedroom or schedule your babymaking rendezvous for an odd time of day. The rationale? You won't be able to keep up the babymaking pace for very long if sex starts feeling like a chore.
Don't hop up and run to the bathroom right after you make love. Lying down for at least a few minutes (some fertility experts say five minutes) after intercourse increases the odds that the sperm will be able to keep their date with the awaiting egg and that you'll win at baby roulette.
Make love often during your fertile period (the five days leading up to ovulation). If you've got the stamina to make love at least every 48 hours, you will ensure that there's a fresh shipment of sperm waiting in the fallopian tube at any given time. Of course, you can get too much of a good thing if your partner has a low sperm count, so if you're aware of a pre-existing fertility problem, you'll want to talk this issue over with your fertility specialist.
Keep in mind that babymaking is a numbers game. Even if you do everything "right," you still have only a 25% to 30% chance of conceiving in any given cycle. (See The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition), The Mother of All Pregnancy Organizers and The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (first edition and the brand new second edition for more on how factors like age and your previous reproductive history affect your odds of conceiving sooner rather than later.
Here's a bit of sex-related trivia, just in case you and your partner are looking for a little inspiration. There are over 114 million sex acts performed around the world.
Are you a coffee drinker? Time to give it up or switch to decaf! Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. What's more, a few studies have indicated that excessive consumption of caffeine (that is, more than three cups of drip coffee per day) may contribute to fertility problems. The jury is still out on this last point, however.
Are you or your partner regularly exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace? You may need to consider a job change or job modification before you start your family. Certain substances can affect both the quality of sperm and the development of the embryo.
Have you had your preconception checkup yet? Set up an appointment with your doctor to review your medical history and to talk about your plans to start trying to conceive. (Note: You can find a detailed discussion of preconception health issues in The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby (second edition) and The Mother of All Pregnancy Books (U.S. edition and Canadian edition).
Are you currently taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs? Be sure to ask your doctor if it's safe for you to continue taking them once you start trying to conceive.
If you aren't already doing so, start keeping a menstrual calendar. Note the date when your period starts, the number of days it lasts, and anything else your doctor might want to know about. This information could prove helpful if you experience problems in conceiving. It can also prove invaluable in pinpointing the date of conception -- and consequently your due date.
Try to book the last appointment of the day for your preconception checkup. That's when your doctor or midwife is most likely to be able to take the time to answer your questions and address your concerns without feeling rushed to go on to the next patient.
Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons (which can cause a pH imbalance in your vagina); artificial lubricants, vegetable oils, and glycerin (because they can kill off sperm); saliva (because saliva can also kill sperm); and douching (because it alters the normal acidity of the vagina; can cause vaginal infections and/or pelvic inflammatory disease; and may wash away the cervical mucus that is needed to transport the sperm).
If you're monitoring your cervical mucus in an attempt to predict your most fertile days, do your checks before you shower, bathe, or swim. These activities can all affect the quantity and quality of your cervical mucus.
American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer
American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends these screening guidelines for most adults.
Breast cancer
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over
Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
The American Cancer Society recommends that some women -- because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors -- be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is small: less than 2% of all the women in the US.) Talk with your doctor about your history and whether you should have additional tests at an earlier age. For more information, call the American Cancer Society and ask for our document, Breast Cancer: Early Detection.
Colorectal cancer and polyps
Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of these testing schedules:
Tests that find polyps and cancer
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*, or
Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*, or
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests that primarily find cancer
Yearly fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)**, or
Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year**, or
Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain**
* If the test is positive, a colonoscopy should be done.
** The multiple stool take-home test should be used. One test done by the doctor in the office is not adequate for testing. A colonoscopy should be done if the test is positive.
The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred if these tests are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests. Talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.
The American Cancer Society recommends that some people be screened using a different schedule because of their personal history or family history. Talk with your doctor about your history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. For more information on colorectal cancer screening, please call the American Cancer Society and ask for our document, Colorectal Cancer: Early Detection.
Cervical cancer
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years old. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the newer liquid-based Pap test.
Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every 3 years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.
Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having Pap tests.
Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having Pap tests, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix should continue to have Pap tests.
Some women -- because of their history -- may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer. Please see our document, Cervical Cancer: Prevention and Early Detection for more information.
Endometrial (uterine) cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends that at the time of menopause, all women should be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Women should report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their doctors.
Some women -- because of their history -- may need to consider having a yearly endometrial biopsy. Please talk with your doctor about your history.
Prostate cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with their doctor about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. The American Cancer Society believes that men should not be tested without learning about what we know and don’t know about the risks and possible benefits of testing and treatment.
Starting at age 50, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of testing so you can decide if testing is the right choice for you. If you are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, you should have this talk with your doctor starting at age 45. If you decide to be tested, you should have the PSA blood test with or without a rectal exam. How often you are tested will depend on your PSA level. For more information, please see our document, Prostate Cancer: Early Detection.
Cancer-related check-up
For people aged 20 or older having periodic health exams, a cancer-related check-up should include health counseling and, depending on a person's age and gender, exams for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes, and ovaries, as well as for some non-malignant (non-cancerous) diseases.
Take control of your health and reduce your cancer risk.
Stay away from tobacco.
Stay at a healthy weight.
Get moving with regular physical activity.
Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).
Protect your skin.
Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests.
For information on how to reduce your cancer risk and other questions about cancer, please call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit us online at www.cancer.org.
References
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2010. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2010.
Levin B, Lieberman DA, McFarland, et al. Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58.
Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W, et al for the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Advisory Group. American Cancer Society guidelines for breast screening with MRI as an adjunct to mammography. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007;57:75-89.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Eyre HJ. American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:11-25.
Smith, RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2008: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and cancer screening issues. 2008. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58:161-179.
The American Cancer Society recommends these screening guidelines for most adults.
Breast cancer
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over
Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
The American Cancer Society recommends that some women -- because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors -- be screened with MRI in addition to mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is small: less than 2% of all the women in the US.) Talk with your doctor about your history and whether you should have additional tests at an earlier age. For more information, call the American Cancer Society and ask for our document, Breast Cancer: Early Detection.
Colorectal cancer and polyps
Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of these testing schedules:
Tests that find polyps and cancer
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*, or
Colonoscopy every 10 years, or
Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years*, or
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years*
Tests that primarily find cancer
Yearly fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)**, or
Yearly fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year**, or
Stool DNA test (sDNA), interval uncertain**
* If the test is positive, a colonoscopy should be done.
** The multiple stool take-home test should be used. One test done by the doctor in the office is not adequate for testing. A colonoscopy should be done if the test is positive.
The tests that are designed to find both early cancer and polyps are preferred if these tests are available to you and you are willing to have one of these more invasive tests. Talk to your doctor about which test is best for you.
The American Cancer Society recommends that some people be screened using a different schedule because of their personal history or family history. Talk with your doctor about your history and what colorectal cancer screening schedule is best for you. For more information on colorectal cancer screening, please call the American Cancer Society and ask for our document, Colorectal Cancer: Early Detection.
Cervical cancer
All women should begin cervical cancer screening about 3 years after they begin having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years old. Screening should be done every year with the regular Pap test or every 2 years using the newer liquid-based Pap test.
Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every 3 years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.
Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having Pap tests.
Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having Pap tests, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or pre-cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix should continue to have Pap tests.
Some women -- because of their history -- may need to have a different screening schedule for cervical cancer. Please see our document, Cervical Cancer: Prevention and Early Detection for more information.
Endometrial (uterine) cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends that at the time of menopause, all women should be informed about the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer. Women should report any unexpected bleeding or spotting to their doctors.
Some women -- because of their history -- may need to consider having a yearly endometrial biopsy. Please talk with your doctor about your history.
Prostate cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with their doctor about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Research has not yet proven that the potential benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. The American Cancer Society believes that men should not be tested without learning about what we know and don’t know about the risks and possible benefits of testing and treatment.
Starting at age 50, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of testing so you can decide if testing is the right choice for you. If you are African American or have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, you should have this talk with your doctor starting at age 45. If you decide to be tested, you should have the PSA blood test with or without a rectal exam. How often you are tested will depend on your PSA level. For more information, please see our document, Prostate Cancer: Early Detection.
Cancer-related check-up
For people aged 20 or older having periodic health exams, a cancer-related check-up should include health counseling and, depending on a person's age and gender, exams for cancers of the thyroid, oral cavity, skin, lymph nodes, testes, and ovaries, as well as for some non-malignant (non-cancerous) diseases.
Take control of your health and reduce your cancer risk.
Stay away from tobacco.
Stay at a healthy weight.
Get moving with regular physical activity.
Eat healthy with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Limit how much alcohol you drink (if you drink at all).
Protect your skin.
Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
Have regular check-ups and cancer screening tests.
For information on how to reduce your cancer risk and other questions about cancer, please call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit us online at www.cancer.org.
References
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2010. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2010.
Levin B, Lieberman DA, McFarland, et al. Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58.
Saslow D, Boetes C, Burke W, et al for the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Advisory Group. American Cancer Society guidelines for breast screening with MRI as an adjunct to mammography. CA Cancer J Clin. 2007;57:75-89.
Smith RA, Cokkinides V, Eyre HJ. American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer, 2006. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56:11-25.
Smith, RA, Cokkinides V, Brawley OW. Cancer screening in the United States, 2008: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and cancer screening issues. 2008. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58:161-179.
cancer
Everyday Steps to Help Lower Your Cancer Risk
Every April the American Cancer Society and other organizations work together to raise awareness about cancer among minorities in honor of National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, celebrated this year April 17-23. While minority groups in the United States continue to bear a greater cancer burden than whites, there are things everyone can do to help reduce their cancer risk or improve their chances of beating the disease if they do get it.
RESOURCES:
Cancer.org en espanol
Asian Language Materials
Cancer Facts & Figures for African-Americans 2011-2012
Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latinos 2009-2011
Datos y Estadísticas Sobre el Cáncer Entre los Hispanos/Latinos 2009-2011
1. Get regular cancer screening tests.
Regular screening tests can catch some cancers early, when they’re more treatable. With a few cancers, these tests can even prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Talk with your doctor about the tests for colon, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers.
2. Control your weight.
Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for many cancers, including breast, colorectal, uterine, esophageal, and kidney. You can control your weight by exercising regularly and eating more healthfully.
3. Exercise regularly.
Physical activity has been shown to lower the risk of several types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer. It also reduces the risk of other serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The Society recommends adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on 5 or more days a week; 45 minutes to an hour is ideal.
4. Eat healthfully.
Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables (including legumes) and fruits each day. Aim for at least 3 servings of whole grains each day. Cutting back on processed and red meats may also help reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancers.
5. Stop smoking.
Smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to at least 15 different cancers, and accounts for some 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones.
Every April the American Cancer Society and other organizations work together to raise awareness about cancer among minorities in honor of National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, celebrated this year April 17-23. While minority groups in the United States continue to bear a greater cancer burden than whites, there are things everyone can do to help reduce their cancer risk or improve their chances of beating the disease if they do get it.
RESOURCES:
Cancer.org en espanol
Asian Language Materials
Cancer Facts & Figures for African-Americans 2011-2012
Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latinos 2009-2011
Datos y Estadísticas Sobre el Cáncer Entre los Hispanos/Latinos 2009-2011
1. Get regular cancer screening tests.
Regular screening tests can catch some cancers early, when they’re more treatable. With a few cancers, these tests can even prevent cancer from developing in the first place. Talk with your doctor about the tests for colon, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers.
2. Control your weight.
Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for many cancers, including breast, colorectal, uterine, esophageal, and kidney. You can control your weight by exercising regularly and eating more healthfully.
3. Exercise regularly.
Physical activity has been shown to lower the risk of several types of cancer, including breast, prostate, and colon cancer. It also reduces the risk of other serious diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The Society recommends adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on 5 or more days a week; 45 minutes to an hour is ideal.
4. Eat healthfully.
Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables (including legumes) and fruits each day. Aim for at least 3 servings of whole grains each day. Cutting back on processed and red meats may also help reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancers.
5. Stop smoking.
Smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to at least 15 different cancers, and accounts for some 30 percent of all cancer deaths. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones.
Drinking over recommended limit 'raises cancer risk'
Drinking over recommended limit 'raises cancer risk'
People drinking Many people do not know that drinking alcohol can increase their cancer risk.
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
'Ban alcohol loyalty points to save health'
Weaker wine 'may prevent cancers'
Drink blamed for oral cancer rise
Drinking more than a pint of beer a day can substantially increase the risk of some cancers, research suggests.
The Europe-wide study of 363,988 people reported in the British Medical Journal found one in 10 of all cancers in men and one in 33 in women were caused by past or current alcohol intake.
More than 18% of alcohol-related cancers in men and about 4% in women were linked to excessive drinking.
The Department of Health said it was taking action to reduce drinking.
Cancer charities say people should limit their drinking to lower the risk.
The study calculated that in 2008 current and past drinking habits were responsible for about 13,000 cancer cases in the UK, out of a total of 304,000 cases.
Previous research has shown a link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the oesophagus, liver, bowel and female breast.
When alcohol is broken down by the body it produces a chemical which can damage DNA, increasing the chance of developing cancer.
Glass too far
The latest research found that individuals who drank more than two standard drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women were particularly at risk of alcohol-related cancers.
Click to play
Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK: "The more you drink, the greater the risk"
A standard drink contains about 12g of alcohol, which is equivalent to a 125ml glass of wine or a half pint of beer.
Yet NHS guidelines are a little more relaxed, saying that men should drink no more than three to four units a day while women should not go above two to three units a day.
Of the cancers known to be linked to alcohol, the researchers suggest that 40% to 98% occurred in people who drank more than the recommended maximum.
The results were gathered as part of a study following 363,988 men and women in eight European countries aged between 35 and 70.
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer study tracked their levels of drinking and how this affected their risk of cancer.
Researchers then looked at figures on how much people drank in each country, including the UK, taken from the World Health Organization.
The study focused on France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Denmark and the UK.
Madlen Schutze, lead researcher and study author, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition, said that many cancer cases could be avoided if alcohol consumption was limited.
"And even more cancer cases would be prevented if people reduced their alcohol intake to below recommended guidelines or stopped drinking alcohol at all," she said.
'Best data'
Cancer Research UK director of health information Sara Hiom said that many people did not know that drinking alcohol could increase their cancer risk.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
I think there will have to be some form of tougher regulation by government”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore UK Alcohol Health Alliance
"In the last 10 years, mouth cancer has become much more common and one reason for this could be because of higher levels of drinking - as this study reflects.
"Along with being a non-smoker and keeping a healthy bodyweight, cutting back on alcohol is one of the most important ways of lowering your cancer risk."
Cancer Partners UK medical director Prof Karol Sikora said the message had to be "drink occasionally, but not regularly".
"This is the best data we've got and we're ever likely to get.
"The take-home message is that the more alcohol you drink, some of the common cancers - the four cancers that have been identified - do increase, and that's worrying. So the message has to be 'look at drinking habits, and reduce.'"
The Department of Health is set to publish an alcohol strategy in the summer.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance, called for tougher regulation to curb alcohol consumption.
He told the BBC: "It is yet another piece of evidence that really leads us to conclude that sitting back and waiting for people to change their habits, perhaps with voluntary partnerships with the drinks industry included in policies, will not bring about results.
"If we really want to see preventable deaths coming down in the next decade or so, I think there will have to be some form of tougher regulation by government."
It is expected to include plans to stop supermarkets selling cheap alcohol and tighten up licensing laws which were relaxed under the previous government.
People drinking Many people do not know that drinking alcohol can increase their cancer risk.
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
'Ban alcohol loyalty points to save health'
Weaker wine 'may prevent cancers'
Drink blamed for oral cancer rise
Drinking more than a pint of beer a day can substantially increase the risk of some cancers, research suggests.
The Europe-wide study of 363,988 people reported in the British Medical Journal found one in 10 of all cancers in men and one in 33 in women were caused by past or current alcohol intake.
More than 18% of alcohol-related cancers in men and about 4% in women were linked to excessive drinking.
The Department of Health said it was taking action to reduce drinking.
Cancer charities say people should limit their drinking to lower the risk.
The study calculated that in 2008 current and past drinking habits were responsible for about 13,000 cancer cases in the UK, out of a total of 304,000 cases.
Previous research has shown a link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the oesophagus, liver, bowel and female breast.
When alcohol is broken down by the body it produces a chemical which can damage DNA, increasing the chance of developing cancer.
Glass too far
The latest research found that individuals who drank more than two standard drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women were particularly at risk of alcohol-related cancers.
Click to play
Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK: "The more you drink, the greater the risk"
A standard drink contains about 12g of alcohol, which is equivalent to a 125ml glass of wine or a half pint of beer.
Yet NHS guidelines are a little more relaxed, saying that men should drink no more than three to four units a day while women should not go above two to three units a day.
Of the cancers known to be linked to alcohol, the researchers suggest that 40% to 98% occurred in people who drank more than the recommended maximum.
The results were gathered as part of a study following 363,988 men and women in eight European countries aged between 35 and 70.
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer study tracked their levels of drinking and how this affected their risk of cancer.
Researchers then looked at figures on how much people drank in each country, including the UK, taken from the World Health Organization.
The study focused on France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Denmark and the UK.
Madlen Schutze, lead researcher and study author, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition, said that many cancer cases could be avoided if alcohol consumption was limited.
"And even more cancer cases would be prevented if people reduced their alcohol intake to below recommended guidelines or stopped drinking alcohol at all," she said.
'Best data'
Cancer Research UK director of health information Sara Hiom said that many people did not know that drinking alcohol could increase their cancer risk.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
I think there will have to be some form of tougher regulation by government”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore UK Alcohol Health Alliance
"In the last 10 years, mouth cancer has become much more common and one reason for this could be because of higher levels of drinking - as this study reflects.
"Along with being a non-smoker and keeping a healthy bodyweight, cutting back on alcohol is one of the most important ways of lowering your cancer risk."
Cancer Partners UK medical director Prof Karol Sikora said the message had to be "drink occasionally, but not regularly".
"This is the best data we've got and we're ever likely to get.
"The take-home message is that the more alcohol you drink, some of the common cancers - the four cancers that have been identified - do increase, and that's worrying. So the message has to be 'look at drinking habits, and reduce.'"
The Department of Health is set to publish an alcohol strategy in the summer.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairman of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance, called for tougher regulation to curb alcohol consumption.
He told the BBC: "It is yet another piece of evidence that really leads us to conclude that sitting back and waiting for people to change their habits, perhaps with voluntary partnerships with the drinks industry included in policies, will not bring about results.
"If we really want to see preventable deaths coming down in the next decade or so, I think there will have to be some form of tougher regulation by government."
It is expected to include plans to stop supermarkets selling cheap alcohol and tighten up licensing laws which were relaxed under the previous government.
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