hree days after he was born Nong Prin began to breathe more rapidly and his skin took on a bluish tint. It became difficult for his mother to feed him because he would have violent choking fits which would leave him exhausted. As a result of his condition, the infant was not gaining weight and developing as he should.

Chairat Sirikanon is 11 years old. He enjoys school but cannot take part in sports or physical education classes. any sort of exercise – even playing around with his friends – wears him out. He often gets frustrated with his inability to lead a normal, active life.

These two boys were subsequently diagnosed as having a congenital heart defect.

“Sometimes, my son’s heart makes a certain sound,” said Ratsarin Saithongthanaphun, Nong Prin’s mother.

“I got a terrible shock when I was told that my son had a problem with his heart. It was very depressing to learn that he needed an operation to fix the defect. He was only a year and a half old. It was a catastrophe!”

That “certain sound”, Ratsarin spoke of, is called a heart murmur – a swishing or whistling that is very noticeable if listened to through a stethoscope. It is caused by a defect that changes the way the blood flows through the heart.

“But not all murmurs are a sign of congenital heart defects,” said Dr Kraisorn Juthacharoenwong, a paediatric cardiologist at Samitivej Srinakarin Children’s Hospital.

Symptoms of congenital heart defects can be detected in newborns a few weeks after birth, he noted. In severe cases, infants’ hearts fail and they need urgent medical attention soon after birth. less severe defects may not be diagnosed until a child grows older.

Each year, between 7,000 and 8,000 children are born in Thailand with heart problems. Doctors don’t know what actually causes most of these defects, but think that heredity may play a role.

“In about 15% of cases we know the reason for the defect,” he said. “For the rest, the cause has never been ascertained.”

Children with genetic defects often have congenital heart defects, with Down’s syndrome kids being a classic example. “Half of babies with Down’s syndrome suffer from congenital heart defects.”

There is also a link between congenital heart defects and the consumption of large amounts of alcohol and certain drugs by expectant mothers. Poorly controlled sugar levels in pregnant women who have diabetes are also associated with a high rate of defects. Mothers-to-be who contract rubella during pregnancy also run a high risk of giving birth to infants with heart defects.

“Street drugs, like amphetamines, can, of course, have a negative effect on unborn children, too,” said Dr Kraisorn. “Pregnant women should receive good prenatal care. Screening and diagnostic tests are important. Women carrying babies suffering from serious heart defects may be advised to terminate the pregnancy.”

Defects can be structural – a hole in the wall of a heart chamber, for instance, or a malfunctioning valve – or may be related to the way blood flows through the arteries and veins that connect the heart to the rest of the body.

Heart disease can occur in children after birth as a consequence of rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, Kawasaki disease or a coronary aneurysm – a localised enlargement that causes the diameter of a section of artery to swell to more than 1.5 times the size of adjacent segments.

According to Dr Kraisorn, some infants and children with mild heart defects may exhibit few or no symptoms and so may not need treatment. Severe or complex defects that will require medication or surgery can give rise to symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, sweating, fatigue or a bluish tint to the lips, skin and fingernails.

Some infants with heart problem may not develop at a normal pace. “They may be smaller or thinner than other toddlers of the same age and they may start sitting up and walking much later than their peers,” Dr Kraisorn said.

“In many children, a hole in the heart will close by itself. A tiny one may not need an operation. Patients may need occasional check-ups with a cardiologist as they grow to adulthood.”

Less serious heart defects can be remedied with medication or by inserting a catheter. Surgery may be the last resort for babies or toddlers with complex and/or severe defects.

“In many cases, a single operation can repair the defect completely. But some patients may require several surgeries over a period of time to fix the defect,” the cardiologist explained.

“The treatment options available to a child will depend on the types of defects and their severity. Factors also include the child’s age, size and general state of health.”

Each year, between 3,500 and 4,000 children in Thailand with congenital heart defects need an operation to prevent premature death or major physical underdevelopment. about 20% of them die within one year of their birth.

Due to limitations on medical personnel and facilities, state-run hospitals are only able to perform surgery on 2,000 to 2,500 of these cases. That means that 1,500 to 2,000 very sick children have to go on a waiting list.

“Samitivej’s Fund for new Life was created to help children in need,” said Dr Chanika Tuchinda, chairman of Samitivej Srinakarin Children’s Hospital and president of the Samitivej Heart Fund. “The paediatric heart project provides a good opportunity for needy children [both Thai and foreign].”

Launched in 2009, the project is a collaboration between Samitivej Hospital and the Cardiac Children Foundation of Thailand. It has set itself a short-term target of helping 60 underprivileged babies and children. That number was chosen to mark the 60th wedding anniversary of Their Majesties the King and Queen. So far 17 youngsters have been operated on, with a 100% success rate.

“To successfully perform an operation on a young patient with congenital heart defects, we require a team of well-trained medical personnel and an anaesthetist and good staff on the ward, plus all the necessary equipment and facilities. We think we have the ability to do that,” said Dr Surangkana Techapaitoon, deputy director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital.

Advances in diagnostic and surgical techniques mean that children with cardiac problems have a much better chance of survival than ever before. “Almost every single child with a congenital heart defect who undergoes surgery can grow to adulthood and lead an active life,” said Dr Kraisorn. “Many complex congenital heart defects can be cured, but they may need routine or special medical care.

“Most children with heart defects run a high risk of contracting bacterial endocarditis. some may need antibiotics before medical or dental procedures that might allow bacteria to enter their bloodstream.

“Regular brushing and flossing as well as visiting a dentist every six months are highly recommended.”

You can help children with congenital heart defects by making a donation to the Fund for new Life. the account details are as follows:

Bank: Thai Military Bank Account name: Wachira Medical College Foundation under the Royal Patronage of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn for Samitivej’s Fund for new Life (Paediatric Heart) Savings account no: 196-2-08745-6.

Donations can also be made in person at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital and Samitivej Sriracha Hospital.

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Have signs of exhaustion and malaise? have you recognized you have been gaining weight in the last while and you can’t seem to shed it? Some of these signs and symptoms can be caused by the underlying illness referred to as fatty liver disease.You’re not alone and this disease is completely reversible. After performing a lot of on-line research around the numerous treatments available, we certainly have simplified them right down to the one which could be the most reputable and useful to learn.those with fatty liver disease would possibly not realize for years that they have the illness because for those, there might be absolutely no serious indications such as jaundice. They may have noticed to gain fat, nevertheless sometimes it is due to different factors. It is not until diagnostic exams, like liver enzyme tests are actually done to be clinically determined with fatty liver disease. Our liver should metabolize fat, taking away the unneeded fat inside our bloodstream. nevertheless, people that have a fatty liver, the liver can not take out the impurities within the blood, like fat, thus the blood will take the fat to all regions of your body. With no treatment, various health hazards usually are linked to fatty liver disease: diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, along with weight problems just to identify some. We have recognized the growing need for information of treatments to fatty liver condition. become knowledgeable and get more information about how to identify fatty liver symptoms and triumph over it. It is up to you for taking the action to get prepared as well as well-informed about the condition which could cease to exist.

My sister's friend is a model who always wanted to be slim. she often skips her meal and only drinks water to avoid gaining weight. now she feels she is still fat even though she is very thin, she rarely eats her meal and she vomits often after eating.

A problem that is ever increasing, due to more people lacking good exercise and gaining weight, is high blood pressure. often, those with this serious health problem, find that the simplest and most effective course of treatment is lifestyle and diet changes. the following tips, can help to lower your blood pressure.

One of the high blood pressure remedies that has proven itself to be effective is CoQ10, or co-enzyme Q10. your body naturally makes this enzyme and it is found throughout your body. However, the natural levels of CoQ10 in your body drop as you get older, which may explain many age related problems, including Alzheimer’s and high blood pressure. the supplement CoQ10, if added to your diet, has been shown to lower your blood pressure as well as improve your overall health. the forms available to take this supplement in vary as do the strengths available. Buying these supplements from a trusted source is very important, since they only work properly if the body absorbs them.

If you are interested in less mainstream ways of lowering your blood pressure, you may want to consider herbal medicine from India or China. Ayurvedic medicine, which comes from India has many herbs that treat high blood pressure. Chinese herbal medicines and acupuncture, when practiced by a trained professional can also help you lower your blood pressure.

Acupuncture, in spite of using needles (which are very tiny) can do quite a lot to help you relax and reduce your blood pressure. if you’re thinking about making use of Chinese and/or Indian medicine then be sure to find a qualified doctor in your area who can help you. These are ancient traditions and can be very helpful treatments for high blood pressure.

When treating your high blood pressure as well as other ailments is apple cider vinegar. it is as simple as mixing a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of raw honey. it helps control blood pressure when taken two to three times per day, by having a tonic effect on the body. among other things, apple cider vinegar is a good natural source of potassium, which helps to balance the sodium levels in your body. While helpful, to realistically control your high blood pressure you will need to pay attention to your diet as well as your daily habits.

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If you smoke, you need to quit: this is another great way to lower your blood pressure. Smoking has lots of risks including lung cancer and other lung related issues. In addition to hardening your arteries and creating blockages smoking has been proven to contribute to high blood pressure. it has been proven that it’s never too late to quit smoking, and you can start to see improvements soon after you stop. Quitting smoking is difficult, of course, and the longer you’ve done it the harder it will be, but it is worth the effort in the long run as long as you lower your blood pressure and improve the rest of your health.

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*(Above) This is my husband, Mike, with his baby boy.

It’s an early fall evening, 2008. Sara is staggering into the kitchen of our apartment, weaving, washed out with fatigue, and collapses into my arms. we sink to the floor. I hold her, unable to fix whatever has happened, has been happening.

What is wrong with me, she sobs.

The next years will be brutal, but she guts it out, and we learn to survive, even thrive, albeit with changed and changing definitions.

Fast forward to 2010. it is about 9am on a chilly December morning. I am playing with our 4 month old son, Wyatt. He’s a beautiful boy. He’s beating all of his milestones by weeks and in some cases months. He’s gaining weight. He’s growing. He’s Lyme free.

This little boy is not the offspring of a woman still battling the vicious aftermath wrought by a decade of untreated Lyme Disease. How could he be? He’s too strong, too happy, and too much a part of his world.

We’d been pregnant before. There was a short lived pregnancy immediately before the worst of the lyme symptoms. before wheelchairs and months long stints laid out on the couch, sinking under waves of panic and neurological chaos.

Eighteen months or so down the road, miles of IV tubes and thousands of pills later, there was also a set of twins who either didn’t want to come to the party or couldn’t find the house.

Wyatt was the one that stuck around. Sara knew he would. Barely a day after we’d had the sex that started Wyatt, she called me at work.

This woman, I’ve learned, is connected in ways that I can’t fully explain.

I’m pregnant!, she said. Great!, I said.

It wasn’t an easy pregnancy, but it wasn’t the tumultuous rollercoaster to doom that I had, in my darker moments, envisioned. and there were darker moments, I assure you. But they gave way to lighter moments, which mean that much more for trouble endured.

There were concerns throughout the pregnancy. Antibiotics. would our baby come out deaf or blind or worse due to the continuous stream of toxins? if Sara relented on the medicine, would our baby then come out with a nervous system compromised? we found ourselves questioning symptoms. Baby or spirochete? Spirochete or baby? We’d talk at length. We’d add it up, chop it up, and distribute accordingly. we were keeping a close watch on the home front.

Who had answers? it took 10 years and luck to diagnose Lyme in Sara. as for Lyme’s impact on pregnancy? good luck, sweetie. the primary Lyme Literate doctor who’d been overseeing treatment had effectively washed his hands of Sara until such time as she was without child.

so there were trips to more specialists. Lyme could be transmitted across the placental barrier, they said. Then again, Lyme could not, they said. What of breast feeding, doc? you shouldn’t. Spirochetes can travel that way, they said. Then again, no they can’t, they said.

Such is lyme disease in the days of cover your ass medicine.

There were brief scares. Unexpected cramps here. Spotting there. A night or two in the hospital for observation, for nothing other than piece of mind. Lyme had made the pregnancy high risk, but we’ll never know to what degree, if any, that Lyme played a role in the pregnancy.

Wyatt, however, was sticking around. No matter the cramping or bleeding that occurred, or days of numb arms and legs, or twitching and body-wide electricity, or forgetfulness, or any of the usual symptoms that ebbed and flowed, Wyatt remained the serene little center of our universe, dividing cells and becoming more discernibly perfect with each ultrasound.

Sara has poured herself, sum and detail, into this blog, and I know it has been of some assistance and hopefully some comfort to the many women out there that find themselves at the beginning of all this craziness. as for the partners of those women, and the fathers of those children soon to be, I can pass along some advice:

Everything will work out. the odds are solidly stacked in your favor. There is every reason the pregnancy and new life will be just fine. Stay positive and treat yourself and your partner well.

Whatever trouble you are having with your partner’s Lyme Disease and pregnancy, it’s harder for her. A whole hell of a lot harder. be gentle. be easy. be calm. Listen always. Guide when you can. above all, be the voice of hope and strength when she is spinning out and falling apart.

Be cognizant of her physical and mental shape, and check in with her from time to time, but don’t make the disease the focus of the relationship. she is sick enough, and pregnant enough without the continuous reminders. Distraction and healthy denial is sometimes as good as medicine.

The Lyme and the pregnancy are hard on her body. do as much as you can to help her with the things she has a hard time getting to. Walk the dog. clean the house. make dinner. do what you can to make sure she has some down time that is all hers.

Our experience appears to have a happy ending. Wyatt is a tough little dude. Neither of us can believe we made this amazing child. Amazing and healthy child.

Mom is hanging in there. the worst of the Lyme is behind us, and we know better how to deal with flare ups. we take it day by day, hour by hour. we steal the best moments, as you sometimes have to in life.

Roll it back to July 22, 2010. It’s a warm Summer evening. I am outside the swinging doors of the operating room where doctors are separating Baby from Mom.

Mom is silent, fully anaesthetized.

Baby comes out screaming.

A nurse brings out our wet, unhappy but completely healthy son.

Sara, there is nothing wrong, everything worked out fine!

And it is me who is sobbing this time.