 Even things like taking your temperature or weighing yourself on your bathroom scale could be considered biofeedback. Biofeedback Therapy is used to treat a wide range of issues, but is commonly used to treat things like hypertension (high blood pressure), incontinence, migraines and chronic headaches, muscle tension and pain, sports injuries insomnia and anxiety. More recently and with promising, but not proven results, biofeedback has been applied to the treatment of ADHD and also incorporated into addiction treatments.1 How it Works The idea behind Biofeedback Therapy is that we can control our body's responses and behavior by understanding it better. With the help of scientific equipment, patients are made aware of physiological information in real time that they would otherwise not notice, and with the help of a professional, these results can be interpreted and applied to improve the ailment. With practice and training, biofeedback therapy can put the patient more in control of physical processes of the body - processes that previously were automatic responses of the nervous system or brain. Although results can vary dramatically, the idea is that by having access to this physiological information, you can teach yourself to self regulate better.
Essentially, mind over matter.
In terms of its application to addiction, biofeedback is in some aspects the scientific approach to the benefits of meditation. Getting attuned to your body and mind and therefore having greater influence over it. By learning relaxation techniques and controlling respiration rates, biofeedback can improve sleep and help treat anxiety and depression. Many patients say they gain more confidence about their bodies when they realize they can control physiological aspects of themselves. Some studies have shown that people who have alcohol abuse problems also have different brain wave patterns, yet by observing brain waves and learning biofeedback techniques, one can retrain the brain subtly over time.
For example, there is a connection between skin temperature and the level of stress someone is experiencing. Therefore, when a biofeedback machine registers a drop in body temperature, then the patient knows that they need to start relaxation techniques.
Another measurement that is often taken is the activity of sweat glands and the amount of perspiration (galvanic skin response) that a patient expels, because this reflects levels of anxiety. One well known application of this is the polygraph machine (lie detector) which takes advantage of this physiological response to find out if someone is not telling the truth. Brain waves can also be observed using an electroencephalography or EEG. Different types of brain waves reflect different mental states:
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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Biofeedback, a Complementary Treatment
Friday, March 8, 2013
Major birth defects
CDC List of Specific Birth Defects
Click link to learn more..
Cereals That Contain Folic Acid
A single serving of many breakfast cereals has the amount of folic acid that a woman needs each day. The following cereals contain 100% of the DV of folic acid per serving size. Please look at nutrition label on the side of the cereal box for the serving size and % Daily Value.
General Mills
Multi-Bran Chex®
Wheat Chex®
Fiber One cereal (caramel delight and honey clusters flavors)
Wheat Chex®
Fiber One cereal (caramel delight and honey clusters flavors)
General Mills Total®
Raisin Bran
Whole Grain
Honey Almond Flax Plus Omega-3
Whole Grain
Honey Almond Flax Plus Omega-3
Kashi® Heart to Heart
Honey Toasted Oat
Warm Cinnamon Oat
Oat Flakes & Blueberry Clusters
Warm Cinnamon Oat
Oat Flakes & Blueberry Clusters
Kellogg’s®
All-Bran® Bran Buds®
All-Bran® Complete® Wheat Flakes
All-Bran® Original
Low-Fat Granola without Raisins
Low-Fat Granola with Raisins
Product 19®
Mueslix
Smart Start® Strong Heart Antioxidants
Special K® Original
All-Bran® Complete® Wheat Flakes
All-Bran® Original
Low-Fat Granola without Raisins
Low-Fat Granola with Raisins
Product 19®
Mueslix
Smart Start® Strong Heart Antioxidants
Special K® Original
Malt-O-Meal® Crispy Rice
Malt-O-Meal® Mini Spooners
Malt-O-Meal® Mini Spooners
Frosted Mini Spooners
Blueberry Mini Spooners
Strawberry Cream Mini Spooners
Blueberry Mini Spooners
Strawberry Cream Mini Spooners
Quaker® Oats
Cap'n Crunch Original ®
Cap'n Crunch’s Crunch Berries®
Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch®
Cap'n Crunch's OOPS! All Berries®
Cap'n Crunch's Chocolatey Crunch®
Quaker Corn Bran Crunch
Honey Graham OH!s®
King Vitamin®
Cinnamon Life®
Maple & Brown Sugar Life®
Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon
Oatmeal Squares Golden Maple
Quisp®
Toasted Multigrain Crisps®
Cap'n Crunch’s Crunch Berries®
Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch®
Cap'n Crunch's OOPS! All Berries®
Cap'n Crunch's Chocolatey Crunch®
Quaker Corn Bran Crunch
Honey Graham OH!s®
King Vitamin®
Cinnamon Life®
Maple & Brown Sugar Life®
Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon
Oatmeal Squares Golden Maple
Quisp®
Toasted Multigrain Crisps®
If you are aware of other cereals that should be on this list, please let us know. Email information to: tuan1119.spine@blogger.com.
Global Efforts
Global Initiative to Eliminate Folic Acid-Preventable Neural Tube Defects
Neural tube defects are serious birth defects of the spine and brain, and are a significant cause of infant mortality and childhood morbidity worldwide.- The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly.
- In the U.S., 3,000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects every year, and Hispanic women have a higher rate of neural tube defect-affected pregnancies than non-Hispanic women.
- Globally there are more than 300,000 babies born with neural tube defects each year.
- The total lifetime cost of care for a child born with spina bifida is estimated to be $560,000.
CDC has made a significant contribution in neural tube defects prevention over the past two decades and led the way in establishing that every woman who can get pregnant should consume 400 mcg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects.
What has been done?
In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established regulations requiring that by 1998 all standardized enriched cereal grain products sold in the U. S. include 140 micrograms folic acid/100 grams and allowed for the addition of folic acid to breakfast cereals, corn grits, infant formulas, medical foods, and foods for special dietary use.
Before fortification, about 4,130 babies had neural tube defects each year in the U. S., and nearly 1,200 died. After folic acid fortification, the yearly number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects dropped to about 3,000, and the related deaths declined to 840.
Before fortification, about 4,130 babies had neural tube defects each year in the U. S., and nearly 1,200 died. After folic acid fortification, the yearly number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects dropped to about 3,000, and the related deaths declined to 840.
Expansion of global folic acid fortification efforts can have a significant impact on infant mortality and childhood morbidity worldwide. CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) has developed the Global Initiative to Eliminate Folic Acid-Preventable Neural Tube Defects (GIENTD) to significantly reduce infant mortality and childhood morbidity resulting from the more than 300,000 neural tube defect-affected births worldwide each year, contribute to the achievement of United Nations Millennium Development Goal, and help to meet the Global Health Initiative Child Health Goal.
The initiative builds on CDC’s expertise and experience in neural tube defect prevention and aims to expand the number of low and middle income countries with mandatory folic acid fortification of staple foods consumed by a large proportion of the population (such as wheat flour and maize flour) and provide support for long-term sustainable interventions to eliminate folic acid-preventable neural tube defects worldwide. Key components of the initiative are to provide needed technical expertise for surveillance of neural tube defects, monitor fortification efforts and improve laboratory capacity. The GIENTD strategic objectives are centered on policy, program and science, and underscore the importance of effective partnerships to reach countries with the most need and where the health impact would be greatest.
The GIENTD strategic objectives are to:
- Work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and others to establish a global policy to support and advance country-level fortification efforts
- Strengthen and expand global folic acid fortification and other intervention efforts, and fill scientific and technical gaps by engaging in strategic partnerships
- Strengthen the public health capacity for blood folate and neural tube defect surveillance, epidemiology and laboratory capacity globally, including determining biomarkers for optimal blood folate concentrations for neural tube defect prevention
Public Health Impact
- With an annual prevalence of more than 300,000 neural tube defects, expanding the reach of global folic acid fortification in low and middle income countries can lead to the prevention of 150,000-210,000 neural tube defects worldwide each year.
- Many countries currently do not have the surveillance systems that can accurately monitor prevalence of neural tube defects and other observable birth defects. Through this initiative, CDC can provide needed technical expertise for surveillance of neural tube defects, monitoring of fortification efforts and improvement of laboratory capacity.
Why We Do Research
Birth defects can cause lifelong problems with health, growth, and learning. We want to find ways to prevent birth defects. To do that, we need to know what causes them.
Research gives us important clues about things that might raise or lower the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. Those clues help us develop sound public health policies for prevention.
Research has shown that taking folic acid before getting pregnant and in early pregnancy lowers the risk of having a baby with certain birth defects. This research finding led to the advice that all women who can get pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. In order to learn more, CDC continues to conduct folic acid research.
Current Folic Acid Research
The National Birth Defects Prevention Study is the largest population-based U.S. study looking at potential risk factors and causes of birth defects. Current folic acid research activities include:
- Looking at how a woman's intake of micronutrients, including folic acid, may affect the risk for specific birth defects.
- Studying why Hispanics appear to be at higher risk for neural tube defects.
- Learning about women's behaviors related to preventing birth defects, including folic acid use and alcohol use.
U.S.-China Collaborative Project
For more than 20 years, CDC and the Peking University Health Science Center (PUHSC) have collaborated on birth defects research. In the mid 1990’s, CDC and PUHSC began evaluating a large-scale community intervention program in China.
In this program, they tested whether giving women 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during early pregnancy prevents neural tube defects (NTDs). Among the babies of women who took the daily recommended amount of folic acid, the risk of having an NTD dropped 85% in high-prevalence areas and 41% in areas with prevalence similar to the United States. In addition, research from this community intervention program showed that folic acid use before and during early pregnancy did not increase a woman’s risk for miscarriage or multiple births.
The CDC has used the China collaboration to explore topics such as folic acid and infant death rates, congenital heart defects, changes in blood level of folic acid with different folic acid doses, and long-term evaluation of the women and children from the community intervention program.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to evaluate the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. The CDC uses information from this study to look at the population’s folic acid intake as well as blood levels of folate and other micronutrients.
Prevention
Occurrence Prevention
The U. S. Public Health Service and CDC recommend that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid daily to prevent two common and serious birth defects, spina bifida and anencephaly.
All women between 15 and 45 years of age should consume folic acid daily because half of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned and because these birth defects occur very early in pregnancy (3-4 weeks after conception), before most women know they are pregnant.
CDC estimates that most of these birth defects could be prevented if this recommendation were followed before and during early pregnancy.
Recurrence Preventions
All women who have already had an NTD-affected pregnancy should consume 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid every day when not planning to become pregnant.
When these women are planning to become pregnant, they should consult with their health care provider about the desirability of following the August 1991 U.S. Public Health Service guideline. The guideline called for consumption of 4 milligrams (4000 micrograms) of folic acid daily beginning one month before they start trying to get pregnant and continuing through the first three months of pregnancy.
Although it appears that a lower dose, such as 0.4 milligrams, may have as great a beneficial effect as 4.0 milligrams, many health care providers recommend the higher dose. This recommendation is based on data from the most rigorous scientific study involving women who had previous pregnancies affected by neural tube defects. This dosage should be prescribed and monitored by the health care provider.
Typically, a health care provider will prescribe one prenatal vitamin plus three 1 mg tablets of folic acid a day to get this dosage. Keep in mind that we do not understand all the causes of neural tube defects. We do know that most can be prevented by consuming sufficient amounts of folic acid.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can’t I wait until I’m pregnant—or planning to get pregnant to start taking folic acid?
A: Birth defects of the brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida) happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy; often before you find out you're pregnant. By the time you realize you’re pregnant, it might be too late to prevent those birth defects. Also, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.
These are two reasons why it is important for all women who can get pregnant to be sure to get 400 mcg of folic acid every day, even if they aren’t planning a pregnancy any time soon.
Q: I'm planning to get pregnant this month. Is it too late to start taking folic acid?
A: The CDC recommends women to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant this month, or planning to get pregnant soon, start taking 400 mcg of folic acid today!
Q: I already have a child with spina bifida. Should I do anything different to prepare for my next pregnancy?
A: Women who had one pregnancy affected by a birth defect of the brain or spine might have another. Talk to your doctor about taking 4,000 micrograms (4.0 milligrams) of folic acid each day at least 1 month before getting pregnant and during the first few months of being pregnant. This is ten times the amount most people take. Your doctor will give you a prescription. You should not take more than one multivitamin each day. Taking more than one each day over time could be harmful to you and your baby.
Q: Can’t I get enough folic acid by eating a well-balanced healthy diet?
A: It is hard to eat a diet that has all the nutrients you need every day. Even with careful planning, you might not get all the vitamins you need from your diet alone. That’s why it’s important to take a vitamin with folic acid every day.
Q: I can’t swallow large pills. How can I take a vitamin with folic acid?
A: These days, multivitamins with folic acid come in chewable chocolate or fruit flavors, liquids, and large oval or smaller round pills.
A single serving of many breakfast cereals also has the amount of folic acid that a woman needs each day. Check the label! Look for cereals that have 100% daily value (DV) of folic acid in a serving, which is 400 micrograms (mcg).
Q: Vitamins cost too much. How can I get the vitamin with folic acid that I need?
A: Many stores offer a single folic acid supplement for just pennies a day. Another good choice is a store brand multivitamin, which includes more of the vitamins a woman needs each day. Unless your doctor suggests a special type, you do not have to choose among vitamins for women or active people. A basic multivitamin meets the needs of most women.
Q: How can I remember to take a vitamin with folic acid every day?
A: Make it easy to remember by taking your vitamin at the same time every day. Try taking your vitamin when you:
Brush your teeth, OR- Eat breakfast, OR
- Finish your shower, OR
- Brush your hair, OR
Seeing the vitamin bottle on the bathroom or kitchen counter can help you remember it, too. If you use a cell phone or PDA, you can program it to give you a daily reminder. If you have children, you can take your vitamin when they take theirs.
Today's woman is busy! You know that you should exercise, eat right, and get enough sleep. You might wonder how you can fit another thing into your day. But it only takes a few seconds to take a vitamin to get all the folic acid you need.
Q: Are there other health benefits of taking folic acid?
A: Folic acid might help to prevent some other Birth defects , such as cleft lip and palate and some heart defects. There might also be other health benefits of taking folic acid for both women and men. More research is needed to confirm these other health benefits. All adults should take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
Q: "Is it better to take more than 400 mcg of folic acid every day?
A: When taking supplements, more is not better. Women who can get pregnant (whether planning to or not) need just 400 mcg of folic acid daily, and they can get this amount from vitamins or fortified foods. This is in addition to eating foods rich in folate. But, your doctor might ask you to take more for certain reasons.
Q: What is folate and how is it different from folic acid?
A: Folate is a form of the B vitamin folic acid. Folate is found naturally in some foods, such as leafy, dark green vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, and beans.
The body does not use folate as easily as folic acid. We cannot be sure that eating folate would have the same benefits as getting 400 micrograms of man-made (synthetic) folic acid. Women who can get pregnant should consume 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid in addition to the natural food folate from a varied diet.
Q: What is "synthetic" folic acid?
A: Synthetic folic acid is the simple, man-made form of the B vitamin folate. Folic acid is found in most multivitamins and has been added in U.S. foods labeled as "enriched" such as bread, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals. The words, "folic acid" and "synthetic folic acid" mean the same thing.
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