Spine Injury breach: Paralyzed Man Stands, Moves TIPS

On May 19, 2011, the Bob Summer could not walk but now he does something that other people with the Spine Injury never do. He can stand up from his wheel chair whenever he wants.
He said at the Teleconference that it was emotional and exciting to stand for the first time.
He does it with the help of a Pacemaker-like device that sends a light Electric current through the 16 Electrodes that are planted in the Spine of an injured person.
The Epideural Stimulation triggers the Neurons in his Spine that allow them to receive and respond to the Sensory Information from his legs.

The researcher Susan Harkema PhD of the University of Louisville and his colleagues said that this is a breakthrough and this will make an important impact on the Spine-Injury.Bob Summer

Photo by : southcoasttoday

Harkema said at a News Conference that through this research we have found the new set of mechanism that was never taken in to advantage before. This has opened a new set of mechanism for the Spine-Injury patients for the recent and the old patients of Spine-Injury.

Story of Hard Work:

A Los Angele’s researcher V. Reggie Edgerton, PhD further says that this mechanism is not found overnight. It has taken more than 30 years of animal research by different scientists.
He further says that Bob can control his legs, this is amazing to see. This is something that nobody has shown before. The Epidural Stimulation at the modest levels enables a man to have conscious control of the body’s motion.
A patient of Paralysis for several years can control his movement. This is never done before.
The Bob was a 20 year- old member of championship team. In the year 2006, one day he was putting his bag in to the car while coming back from Gym meanwhile a fast moving car came and knocked the Legs of the Bob. When he woke up he was unable to move his legs or trunk, he was not even able to control his Bladder etc. he was unable to move.
Bob found his way to TIRR research Center in Houston. Here he met the physicians and he became the first of the 5 patients that were given Epidural Stimulation device.
This device is designed and approved for pain relief by the FDA.
This device was implanted in the Spine of the Bob and due to this device, Bob is able to stand and move with his own will.

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Eating Meat Can Increase the Colon Cancer Risk Tips

On May 23, 2011, a new study says that eating Red Meat can increase the risk of Colon Cancer. The processed Meat also has the same bad effect it can also develop the risk of Colon Cancer.Meat

Photo by : wikimedia

This report is given from the American Institute of the Cancer Research. It was funded by the World Cancer Research Fund.
The report says with the evidence that eating less Red Meat and the avoiding processed Meat can reduce the risk of Colon Cancer.
The report says, if this advice is acted up on along with some other diet changes like consuming less Alcohol, increasing Fiber intake, exercise and maintaining body weight etc. all these things can prevent the cases of Colon Cancer up to 45%.

According to the American Cancer Society, the Colorectal Cancer is the 3rd most common type of Cancer after Skin Cancer in the United States.
150,000 cases of Colorectal Cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States and more than 40,000 people are diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer.

The most widespread type or Rectal Cancer is Andenocarcnoma.

Elisa Bandera, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Epidemiology, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick says, this is a good news that we can control the Colon Cancer Risk.
Bandera was an active participant of the expert panel. She analyzed the information in the Colon Cancer risk and the factors like diet, exercise and weight.
The report explains that eating less than 18 ounces of Red Meat per week shows a very small increase in the Colon Cancer risk. Red Meat includes Beef, Lamb and Pork etc.
The people who eat 3.5 ounces of Red Meat every day have 17% more risk of Colon Cancer as compare to the people who do not eat meat.
People who eat 7 ounces of meat per day have 34% increased risk of this Cancer.
The people who eat 3.5 ounces of processed Meat will have 36% increased risk of developing Colon Cancer as compare to the people who do not eat meat.
The processed ultimately increase the risk of developing Cancer.

Association of Meat and Colon Cancer Risk

There are several theories that show the link between processed Meat and the risk of Colon Cancer.
Some researchers say that Meat contains chemicals known as Heterocyclicamines which are produced while cooking the Meat. These chemicals may also contribute to develop the risk.
The processed Meat is made with the Smoking, Salting or adding preservatives such as Nitrates. These Nitrates converts into Nitrosamines, these Nitrosamines are believed to increase the risk of Cancer.
The panel member Steven H Zeisel, MD, PhD, The professor of Nutrition at the University of  North Carolina, Chapel Hill says it seems that Red Meat and the processed Meat has some link with the Colon Cancer.
He further says that the risk of Cancer development is increased by the over consumption of the Red Meat, however the moderate amount of Red Meat does not contribute too much. People should balance the risk by addition of other types of Meat and Vegetables in their diet.

Diet Changes

According to the report, drinking a lot of Alcohol can also increase the risk of Colon Cancer.
But staying lean and healthy, taking more Fibers and regular physical exercises can lower the risks of the Cancer.
Bandera says limiting the use of Red Meat, increasing the things like Whole Grains, Vegetables and other substitutes can be a simple solution of controlling the Cancer’s risk.
People should go for Brown Rice instead of White Rice; it will be a good way of increasing Fibers.
Alice Bender, MS, RD of the American Institute for Cancer Research, says that this is an excellent report or the people with the family history of Colorectal Cancer.
She further says that if you have the family history of Colorectal Cancer, then follow these simple tips, they will give you extra protection.

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Tinted Glasses May Provide Relief from Migraine Tips

A new research on May 27, 2011, suggested that wearing tinted lenses can reduce the Migraine Pain that is practiced by the Migraine patients. These lenses normalize the activity of the Brain.
The researcher Jie Huang, PhD, an Associate Professor of Radiology at the Michigan State University says that the patients of Migraine sufferers mostly get the pain due to the Visual Stimuli.
The further tells that these Visual Stimuli creates the discomfort and illusions that are disturbing.
The earlier studies of Jie found that vulnerability to these stimuli is due to the excess functioning of Visual Cortex in the Brain.
This excessive Brain activity can cause Migraine and the Tinted glasses can normalize the Brain’s activity.

Test on Migraine Patients

Huang and his friends know that there are certain patterns that can enhance the Migraine in people.
The researchers selected 2 groups 1 of 11 patients of Migraine and another group of 11 persons without Migraine problem. They made lenses for them known as Precision Ophthalmic Tints for every person.
They also made 2 other colored pair of Lenses such as Gray and other colors as comparison.
Then these participants were placed in the Functional MRI machine and they were exposed to the patterns that can enhance the distortion and discomfort.
The patients reported relief with all the lenses but the precision lenses worked better.
Huang says the use of controlled Lenses reduced the degree of Visual discomfort by 40% compared to without Lenses and the Precision Ophthalmic Tints reduced the discomfort up to 70%.
The Precision Lenses covered up the activation of Brain in the Migraine Patients.
The Migraine and the non-Migraine patients responded in the same way to the non-stressful patterns.
Haung says this shows that wearing the Precision Ophthalmic Tints Sunglasses can more reduce the Visual Stress as compare to wearing ordinary Sunglasses.
Huang says the Visual Stress can also be caused by the activities like reading, watching TV or working on computer etc.
He says the Precision Lenses can be fixed in to the regular Glasses.
The Cerium Visual Technologies, Ltd, in UK provided the Lenses for the research.
Arnold Wilkins the Huang’s co-researcher designed the device that is sued in the study to find the best shade of light for Visual comfort.
Kathleen Digre, MD, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah says, the use of Tinted Lenses is a new idea for the reduction of Migraine and Visual discomfort.
The researcher Kathleen was not involved in the research, she reviewed the study later.
Kathleen and her colleagues offer a Filter Lens known as FL-41. It is also useful in patients with the Migraine Problem or other light conditions.
She says the Tinted Lens was first used in England and it can reduce the Headaches by half.
She further says the important result is carried by the use of MRI. Something in the Brain is changed by the use of Lenses.
This research has proved a lot for the patients of Migraine but the work is still in process for further experiments.

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Longer Maternity Leaves Increases the Breast-Feeding Rates Tips

On Monday, May 30, a new study shows that women who stay at home for longer time go for the Breast-Feeding for their babies.
The results of this study publish in the June Issue of Pediatrics. The researchers said that the mothers who stay at home for 3 or more months, they are more likely to Breast-Feed the babies beyond these 3 months.
Dr. Chinelo Ogbuanu, a Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist in the department of Public Health at the Georgia Community Health in Atlanta says that women should be helped like Government should extend the Family and Medical Leave Act, women should be given Job Security and the mothers who want to Breast-Feed, they should be helped.
She further says that women should be given paid Maternity available to every woman. This will help women to stay at home foe longer time. Some women do not take Maternity Leave because they are not paid for it.

The U.S Family Leave and Medical Act became in the year 1993. It requires that employers should offer 12 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave to the female workers after the birth of the Child.
This Law does not apply to all the employees. The businesses that have less than 50 workers are exempt and the eligible women should have job for a year or more and worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months.
5 states offer Maternity Leave which goes beyond the Federal Law. California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island provide the half-done compensation to the female employees after the birth of their Child.
Canada provides 17 weeks of Paid Maternity Leave at the 55% of women’s wage. According to the United Nations Division of Statistics, This trend varies province to province.
Sweden offers 16 months of Paternal Leave with 80% of the worker’s Salary. Japan offers 14 weeks with 2/3s pay.
The research proves that the duration of Maternity Leave is the 1 of the most important factor in deciding about the start or the early cessation of Breast Feeding.
The Dr. Deborah Campbell, Director of Neonatology at the Montefiore Medical Center in the New York City says that most of the women have to return to the job within 6 months of their Child’s birth and it takes time to set up Breast-Feeding. Babies do not know how to Breast-Feed. Mothers have to face many feeding challenges. Baby needs time to build a feeding bond with the mother.
The women who have to go back to their work early, they choose the option of Bottle Feeding to their Child. They snatch a very basic right of Breast-Feeding from their Children due to the short Maternity Leave.
Compel said, this study provides the further support that is needed to have more Maternity Leave for women. This will also help to promote the continuation of Breast-Feeding.

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Trend of Using Contraception among Teenagers Tips

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A National Survey has found that more teenaged males use Condoms when they have Sex for 1st time and females are switching Contraceptive patches and Emergency Contraception.

Since 2002, there is an increase of 9% in males who use condoms for first time having sex. There was an increase of 6% points in males, who use Condom making love with their partners using a Hormonal Method of Birth control. Lifestyles condom package

Image by : wikimedia

Teenage girls show a little change in the use of their Contraceptive measures. 2% used Hormonal method of birth control and other use Birth Control Pills in year 2002.
Other methods of Contraception may include Contraceptive Patches, Injectable Devices and Emergency Contraceptives.
A decrease is seen in the trend of Sexual action among young people so; the rate of Teen birth is decreased.

A survey has found that the Black males are more indulge in sexual activities as compare to White and Hispanic males.
Hispanic people use less contraceptive measures. It is not known that why some teenagers don’t use Contraceptive measures but this fact would surely be known in future.
About 41 % of females and 31% of males teens avoid sex because it is against their religion, Customs or Moral.
It is found that involvement of teenagers in sexual activities that decreased in 1990 has not decreased any more up till now.
No more declines are expected by the teenagers in the sexual activities.
This decline is either caused due to the increased threat of AIDS or self-denial of Sex in the year 1990.
Now people who are involved these activities strictly use Contraceptive methods as they are found to be promising but and people should be completely aware of pros and cons relating to consistent use of Contraceptive pills and other such methods. Doctors should focus on looking for best Contraceptive for both male and females, when they are sexually active.

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Vegetable Ragout Tips

Calcium is the major ingredient of our healthy bones. It has the potential to prevent osteoporosis. It’s beneficial for controlling your blood pressure level. Calcium is believed to keep your skin healthy. It’s also useful in preventing the heart ailments. For the health of your bones try the following high calcium content recipe.
Ingredients:
1.    Spaghetti (whole wheat)- 4 ounce
2.    Extra virgin olive oil- 1 tbsp
3.    Leek- 1 (small sized, use the pale green as well as the white portion only, properly washed & sliced finely).
4.    Cherry tomato or grape- 16 (cut into halved)

5.    Vegetable broth- ½ cup
6.    Parmesan cheese- ¾ cups (finely grated)
7.    Freshly ground pepper- ¼ tsp
8.    Basil leaves (fresh) – 2 tbsp (diced)
9.    Sugar snap peas- 1 cup (chopped into halves)
10.    Yellow summer squash- 1 (small sized, firstly cut into lengthwise quartered & then choped into ½ inch portions).
Direction:
•    Take a large pot & pour the water into it.
•    Place it on medium temperature for boiling.
•    Now add the spaghetti along with a few drops of olive oil & boil.
•    Allow it to cool for almost 10-12 minutes (till get tender) or as per the package directions.
•    In the mean time take a medium sized saucepan & heat oil.
•    Pour the leek & stir well for almost 2-4 minutes (till you get the soft texture).
•    Now pour the peas along with the squash.
•    Stir again for almost 5-8 minutes & then add the vegetable broth along with the tomatoes.
•    Stir properly & bring it to a simmer for almost 4-6 minutes (till the tomatoes soften).
•    Pour the chopped basils along with the pepper.
•    Stir well to mix all the ingredients properly & allow it to cook for almost 4-5 minutes more.
•    Take it off from the heat & scatter the grated cheese.
•    Remove or drain out the water from the boiled pasta.
•    Add the pasta into the mixture & toss well for proper coating.

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Devilled Eggs Tips

In diabetes people can experience tiredness with very little urge for any sort of activities. Frequent visits to the washroom are one of the major sign of diabetes. It also can be the cause of vaginal infection as well as is able to enhance your blood pressure level. Sometimes it even leads to several heart ailments. So you need to control your lifestyle specially your food habit. But when you are suffering from diabetes, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all tasty things. With some conscious process you can get the taste of your favourite foods.
Ingredients:
1.    Cottage cheese (fat free) – 1/3 cup
2.    Salt- As per taste
3.    Egg (large sized) – 12 (hard boiled)
4.    Mayonnaise (low fat) – ¼ cup
5.    Fresh chives/scallion greens – 3 tbsp (diced)
6.    Yellow mustard- 2 tsp
7.    Sweet pickle relish- 1 tbsp
8.    Paprika- For decoration
Direction:
•    Use a sharp knife to chop the eggs lengthwise into halves.
•    Slowly remove the yolks.
•    From these 24 yolk halves use only 16.
•    Place these 16 halves into a food processor along with the mayonnaise, salt, relish, and cottage cheese, mustard & chives/scallion greens.
•    Blend until you get the smooth texture.
•    Use a tsp & place two tsp of yolk mixture into the half portion of the hard boiled eggs.
•    Fill every half gently & sprinkle some paprika before serving.

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5 “Bad” Foods: Myth vs. Reality Tips

Some foods are rich in protein, some in vitamins, but each food has its own specialty and importance. For some people coffee is an addiction but for others it’s a way of relaxing or getting some mental relief or having some break after a long work. However it’s still believed that having excessive joe is not quite good for health. Similarly for nuts some things that it can increase your body weight, and for some it is a good brain food. In this article we are going to list 5 food who are quite often consider as bad food with numbers of odd factors, but its not the reality, these food contains some vitamins which is good for health, lets have a look on 5 Bad Foods with some facts, can say myth vs reality.

1. Nuts

Nuts are known as a fatty ingredient; however it’s found to be quite heart friendly unsaturated types.  These nuts are also a rich supplier of various other valuable nutrients, like pistachios are an excellent supplier of lutein as well as zeaxanthin, antioxidants which support your eyes to stay healthy. You can find a good amount of vitamin E in almonds & heart friendly omega-3 in walnuts. You just need to monitor the serving portions.

2. Coffee

In some present studies some types of coffee is considered fine with breastfeeding as well as pregnant women. Though caffeine is one of the main compounds of coffee, but it’s not restricted within it. Some other compounds are able to lower the possibility of diabetes, dementia, liver cancer etc. As per Joyce Hendley’s Eating well magazine’s march/april issue, betterments are connected with having 2-4 cups daily.

3. Corn

Corn is also considered not quite healthy because of its HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) ethanol.  However according to Carolyn Malcoun a contributing food editor, it’s not the sweet variety of corn that we commonly get which has the high contents of HFCS and ethanol. The sweet variety has about 4 gms of fibre per cup. However like some other vegetables (green) zeaxanthin as well as lutetin is also present in the corn.

4. Cheese

Cheese is a source of high quantity saturated fat, which could contribute to your cholesterol problem, blood pressure, heart ailments etc. However it’s also a rich source of calcium & protein. So adding a little portion of cheese in your diet could contribute to your healthy living. If you want you can also consult with your dietician.

5. Bread

People nurture a misconception that eating bread is not healthy; however this is not really true. Having excessive refined grains is bad, because of that people are advising to switch to whole grain breads. A recent study has also exposed that people who are having more whole grains live quite longer than others.

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p 10 Foods that Helps you to Snooze Tips

The tight sleep after working whole day long is the dream of ever person.
It is a fact that what you eats affect your sleep. One can enjoy the sleep when their Brain is also at complete rest.
If you change the diet, you can sleep peacefully for a longer time till the sun rises. Here are some foods that contribute to the restful sleep. The foods that contribute to the sleep are known as sleepers.
Some foods make an individual calm, some makes relax and some wake up the Nervous System.
The troubling events are mostly the cause of sleepless nights. When nothing else works than the people think about the foods that can make them sleep.
The foods containing high Sugar can cause indigestion and it interrupts with the Hormones that affect sleep.

The researcher Ritika Samadda, Regional Head, Diabetics at Max Healthcare in New Delhi says that anyone who is suffering from difficulty in sleeping, waking up too early could be suffering from Insomnia. It is a medical condition that can range from Medical conditions to irregular eating habits.
Don’t rely on pills for the sleep rather go for eating right food that may help you to enjoy tight sleep.
Ishi Khosla, the clinical Nutritionist and Director say that the chemical Tryptophan is present in the foods; it is a raw material that Brain uses to release the sleep Hormones. Serotonin and Melatonin are the sleep Hormones. The higher level of Serotonin produces sound sleep.

Here are 10 best snooze foods that may give you sound sleep

1. Warm Milk

   The old wives say that a glass of Milk can give you better sleep. It can help in the inducing sound sleep because it contains Tryptophan, Which creates the sleeping-Hormones.
   
   Almost all the dairy products are rich in Tryptophan.
   
   

2. Whole Wheat products

   Whole Wheat products contain Magnesium, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 in it. All these nutrients are the sleep friendly nutrients.

3. Vegetables

   All the Vegetables are rich in Tryptophan. So, they can also contribute to bring the peaceful sleep. One should incorporate them in the Day’s and Night’s Meal. A German study shows that Vegetables like Lettuce, Spinach, Broccoli and Kale contains Vitamins fights against Stress and induces peaceful sleep.

4. Carbohydrate Foods

   The Carbohydrate foods can breakdown early during the process of Digestion and they have higher ranking of Glycemic. These foods can make you fall asleep earlier by speeding up the release of Tryptophan, The chemicals which promote Sleep.

5. Bananas

   Bananas are rich in Potassium and Magnesium. It helps to relax the muscles and gives a peaceful night sleep.
   Bananas also help to lower the Blood Pressure while sleeping.
   

6. Popcorn with Cheese

   Popcorn with Cheese is a good combination of Carbohydrates and Dairy. Dairy contains Tryptophan in it, which helps in releasing sleep Hormones and the Carbohydrates in the Popcorn helps to absorb the Tryptophan from Brain.
   One can go for home made Popcorns at night time.

7. Top your Salads with the Chia Seeds

   The Chia Seeds contain sleep inducing nutrient known as Amino Acid. It raises the level of Melatonin and Serotonin in the Blood that enhances stable sleep.
   Just 2 ounces of Chia Seeds helps you to snooze for a longer time.

8. Tart Cherry Juice

   Tart Cheery Juice is rich in Melatonin, a sleep Hormone that regulates the sleeping patterns.
   Drink this juice, an 8 ounces in the Morning and 2 hours before going to bed at Night.
   
   To get full benefit of this drink, try to take it at the scheduled time every day.
   

9. Turkey Burger with Spinach on Whole Wheat Bun

   It is a best Meal for perfect sleep. The Turkey Meat contains Tryptophan in it. It not only contains the
   Tryptophan, it also creates the Serotonin, which helps to regulate the sleep.
   
   The Spinach contains Iron in it, which is known for the relief of symptoms of restless leg.

10. Valerian Tea With Honey

    A cup of Valerian Tea with Honey before going to bed is an old trend. This Tea contains Natural compounds that help to decrease the amount of time taken to fall asleep.The Glucose in Honey helps to relax while sleeping.

The above mentioned are the few foods that helps in enjoying peaceful sleep.
Try to avoid eating late at night; it is not a good habit because it forces your body and Brain to digest instead of taking rest. Avoid eating 3 hours before going to bed at night.

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Abortion: What is Abortion and What are the Side Effects of Abortion Tips

One of the most controversial issues that still persists across the world in all cultures and not to mention politics today. Though abortion has been legalized in some nations, this decision is still being questioned by competing groups and these competing groups have either wanted more liberties and access with the procedures or have fought to resist the procedures. In fact this topic is reason for some of the most heated debates amongst religious organizations, judges, political activists and state legislatures. Read on to find out more about what is abortion and what are the side effects of abortion.

What is Abortion?

Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy by removal of the fetus from a woman’s uterus which can either occur naturally or it could be induced through medical procedures. The spontaneously and naturally occurring abortion is termed as miscarriage. Natural and spontaneously occurring abortion arises due to complications that occur during pregnancy. Induced abortions should only be performed in safe environments and under medical supervision only as abortions performed unsafely are responsible for a number of disabilities and deaths around the world.

Therapeutic Abortion

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Types of Abortion

As mentioned above, spontaneous abortion is a natural process of expulsion of the fetus or embryo and this occurs due to complications in pregnancy, stress or both intentional and accidental trauma. One of the other common reasons for abortion in the first trimester is due to chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo, infection, hormonal problems, diabetes as well as abnormalities in the uterus of the mother. At times, previous history of abortion or advanced maternal age is also a reason for abortion. This condition could occur before 22 weeks and any incident occurring after 22 weeks and if the fetus dies during delivery or in the uterus after 22 weeks the condition is known as still birth.
Induced abortion is of two types, therapeutic as well as elective. The abortion is termed as therapeutic when it is performed to save the mother’s life, terminate a pregnancy when it might result in congenital disorder, to reduce the number of fetuses in order to decrease the health risks for a mother. It is elective, when the abortion is performed on the request of the women for various reasons.

History of Induced Abortion

The history of abortion can be traced back to as early as ancient times. The earliest records of what is abortion and records of induced abortions have been traced back to early 1550 BC in Egypt. There have been recorded proof of royal concubines resorting to abortion was back in 515 BC. In the ancient times, primitive methods were made use of to induce abortion and there were non-surgical. While some cultures used physical activities such as climbing, strenuous labor or even weightlifting to induce pregnancy, the others made use of irritant leaves, lying on a heated coconut shell, fasting and even using mercury to induce abortions. There are Sanskrit texts dating back to the 8th century which talks about what is abortion and how to induce it, Japanese documents that dates back to early 12th century also shows records of induced abortion.
Abortions in the past have been prevalent especially in impoverished and poor people.  Other than these techniques a number of botanical preparations were also used to abort pregnancy. However these techniques were often not always safe and some of the popular techniques used to induce abortions in pregnant women, even made use of poisonous herbs. Tansy, root of worm fern, Italian catnip, savin, parsley, lavender, marjoram and even thyme have known to be used in concoctions that were prepared to induce abortion. It was only during the 19th century when there were advancements in the field of medicine that safer techniques were introduced. However this was not without resistance from the masses as abortion was looked upon as a crime. But during the latter half of the 19th century the social perception about abortion began to change and it was looked at as a last resort for unwed women and in other situations. However over the years while some countries have legalized abortion, others are still have divided views on induced abortion.

Contemporary Methods of Abortion

Medical Abortions

Today a pregnancy can be aborted in different ways, but this is largely dependent on the region, laws and the preference of the doctor or the patient. Abortions can be medical or surgical depending on the period and other factors. Pharmaceutical drugs are used in case of medical abortions, but this method works only when the drug is consumed within 49 days of gestation.

Surgical Methods of Abortion

The surgical methods of abortion are opted for only when the medical abortion methods are unsuccessful. Vacuum abortion is the most common surgical method that is opted for within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The fetus, membranes and placenta are removed using an electric or a manual vacuum and it does not involve dilation of the cervix. This is often used in early pregnancy.

Dilation and Curettage

Dilation and curettage is the second most common procedure that is used to induce abortion. This process involves cervical dilation and then emptying the cervix using surgical instrumentals. This is procedure is performed between the 15th and the 26th week of pregnancy. Curettage is nothing but using the curette to clean the uterine walls. This procedure is recommended only when manual vacuum abortion is not an option.

Intact Dilation and Extraction

Some of the other techniques employed to induce abortion after the 16th week of pregnancy is by intrauterine cranial decompression also known as intact dilation and extraction. This process requires the decompressing the fetus’s head surgically before the evacuation process.

Hysterotomy Abortion

Hysterotomy abortion is also another surgical abortion method and this procedure is very much similar to a C section.

An illustration of the dilation and curettage medical procedure

Source: Wikimedia Commons

A diagram of a vacuum aspiration abortion procedure at 8 weeks gestation.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Side Effects of Abortion

When performed legally under certified medical supervision abortion is usually safe in most cases. Side effects of abortion are most common in unsafe cases. Bleeding, dizziness, headaches, cramping, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever and chills are some of the side effects associated with medical abortion.  In rare cases women can also develop an infection, which might lead to infertility and at times this can also lead to death.   All surgical abortion methods run a risk of serious complications. Some of the side effects of abortion are cramping, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting is also some of the side effects of abortion.
At times women also react to anesthesia; develop a uterine pelvic infection, uterine perforation and more. Though it is normal for bleeding to occur after abortion, in some cases if the uterus has been punctured or the cervix is torn, then there are chances of a hemorrhage which can have severe consequences. Some other side effects of abortion are scarring of the uterus, which could lead to pelvic infection and in extreme cases this infection could develop into a whole body infection known as sepsis. Sepsis is known to have claimed the lives of most women. In extreme cases side effects of abortion can also affect other internal organs such as the bladder and the bowel.
Apart from these side effects of abortion, there are long term as well as emotional side effects to abortion. Long term side effects include, risk of developing breast cancer. Women are often haunted by guilt, depression as well as anger after an abortion. Women also tend to develop eating disorders or indulge in substance abuse. With so many side effects to abortion, dealing with an abortion is not at all an easy task.

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