In Health News today, another warning about delaying child bearing.  The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada says waiting until over the age of 32 to have kids increases the risk of infertility, pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Babies don’t learn how to talk just from listening to you. New research suggests they’re likely reading your lips! Scientists out of Florida Atlantic University say at around 6 months of age babies shift from that intense eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk.

And, are you having trouble losing weight? Try changing your dishes. Research published in the in the journal Appetite says people who ate off of red plates ate 40 percent less food.

Half of all women will have one at some point in their lives…. a urinary tract infection also known as a bladder infection.

These infections are very common … in fact, they’re the second most common infection in the body and one of the most common reasons women will go to their family doctor.

A UTI occurs when bacteria travel from the urethra, the short tube that takes urine from the bladder out, up to the bladder. This infection causes some nasty symptoms including a frequent need to pee as well as burning and pain when peeing. The urine may also be cloudy, have blood in it and smell foul.

The most common way a UTI is diagnosed is by going to a family doctor, peeing in a cup, where a urinalysis will determine if there are white blood cells present.  This can usually be done right in the doctor’s office. Antibiotics are most often prescribed and the infection will likely go away.

However, some women will experience recurrent infections…. up to 3 or 4 a year. I spoke with Urogynecologist Dr. Magali Robert about UTIs. She says these women need to have a family doctor so these infections can be tracked. It’s also important to make sure the symptoms aren’t some other kind of issue. Docs should also check for anatomical problems, or whether a woman is able to empty her bladder properly. Docs also need to determine if the patient is clearing the infection each time or whether they’re merely suppressing symptoms and it’s the same infection causing problems.

And for some women, it may not be a question of antibiotics. Dr. Robert says patients approaching menopause are predisposed to UTIs because their estrogen levels are dropping leaving the tissues of the urethra dry and more susceptible to infection. These women may benefit from estrogen therapy.

Young women may benefit from taking cranberries… either supplements or juice. If they find they’re getting UTIs directly related to sex, they may be prescribed antibiotics to take right around the time they’re having sex.

All women will benefit from staying well hydrated says Dr. Robert. She says water helps to flush out the urethra making it harder for bacteria to set up shop.

I do want to point out that men do get urinary tract infections as well… just not as often… only in about 10 percent of cases.

I could write so much more… but if you are getting UTIs make sure you talk openly to your doctor about what will work for you. It may also help to investigate some naturopathic options to help prevent getting another infection.

It’s the first ever World Prematurity Day. This is a push to help us understand how important it is to prevent pre-term births. Alberta in fact, has the highest rate of premature births in the country – about 9 in every 100 births.

A normal pregnancy is 40 weeks long, any baby born 37 weeks and on is considered full term. Premature babies are those born between 22 weeks and 37 weeks. Seventy percent of premature births happen between 34 and 37 weeks. The earlier a baby is born, of course, the more problems they’ll face. Even in the 34 to 37 week range babies will likely face respiratory problems, central nervous system problems and learning disabilities later in life. Those infants born even earlier are looking at damage to the brain, eyes, gut and lungs. It’s a multi-system impact.

I spoke to a woman, Magali Robert,  who had two babies that were born prematurely. She says she felt contractions start as early as 16 weeks, but it wasn’t until 27 weeks, she was put on full bed rest because she was already dilated and engaged and doctors thought she was going to deliver early. Thankfully she was able to keep both her babies in utero until about 35 weeks and both were born healthy.

Magali is one of those cases where the prematurity is unexplained. She was healthy, active, relatively young, she ate well and looked after herself. However, I spoke to the Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Calgary, Dr. Doug Wilson, and he says there are a few things that may indicate you’ll have a preterm birth.

 - if you’ve had a previous pre-term birth, you’re likely to have another

- if you have high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia

- if you are delivering multiples… twins or triplets, they’ll likely be born prematurely

Pregnant women should also make sure they eat well, exercise and take their multivitamin.

Prematurity is a multifactorial problem so there won’t likely be any quick fix. But research is underway to help. One interesting study is looking at folic acid to help reduce the risk of preterm labour. Folic acid we know about because it helps prevent birth defects, but now it could also help prevent prematurity.

Bottomline, the first 40 weeks of life are the most important and they need to be spent in a healthy uterus.

Does it ever feel like your preschooler is just not listening to you? Or do you feel like they never do what you ask? Well, perhaps we could be communicating with them more effectively. I say “we ” of course because I’m the mother of a 2 and three year old! And getting them to do what you want can certainly be a challenge!

So, lucky for me, I have a job where I can just call up a Registered Speech Language Pathologist for some advice. I interviewed Lisa Lindland. She has some great tips!

First off, she says you must make sure you have your child’s attention. She says you should get down to their level, tap them on the shoulder and look them in the eye. And make sure they’re really looking at you so they can more easily read your facial expressions and emotional cues.

Keep the language simple and break down complicated instructions into pieces. So for example, you can say go get the ball. Then once they have the ball, say bring the ball to me. THEN, you can say, now it’s time to get your coat on.

Give your child time to process what you’re saying. Lisa says that means at least 10 seconds. And we really have to resist the temptation to jump in and help them. That’s just confusing. Lisa also recommends looking at them expectantly so they know you require a response.

Follow their cues. This will help you get what you want faster. So, if your child is focused on a ladybug, address the ladybug first, then grab them and get them out the door. If you try to get them out the door first when they want to look at the ladybug you’ll end up in a big fight which will take longer.

Some great tips from Lisa Lindland. For more information she recommends going to the website:

www.parentlinkalberta.ca  and go to their Talk Box section.

We’ve heard in the past that medications to control high blood pressure in pregnant women might lead to birth defects in the baby. However new research suggests it may be the high blood pressure itself that’s the problem.

Researchers in California examined data on almost half a million women from 1995 to 2008  and found compared to women without high blood pressure, those with the condition were more likely to have babies with congenital heart, brain, or spinal cord defects, regardless of whether they were taking blood pressure medications, or no meds at all.

In other news this week, depression can increase your risk of dementia later in life.  New research presented this week at a conference on aging and memory in Toronto suggests women are twice as likely as men to become depressed  and that this can cause dementia later in life. A clinical psychologist says experienciing bouts of depression during one’s life can double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia when women reach old age.

More research is out now to support the idea of limiting toddlers tv time. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under the age of 2, should remain screen free as much as possible. In fact, they say those exposed to excessive amounts of media may experience behaviour and development problems. In a new report out this week, which will be published next month in the journal Pediatrics, the group says children are particularly vulnerable before bedtime. TV before bed can cause poor sleep habits, which can adversely affect mood, behaviour and learning.

There’s  a new trend making headlines this week called “Drunkorexia.” It refers to people drinking alcohol instead of eating.  A new University of Missouri study suggests students are cutting calories during the day so they can binge drink at night. According to the research, which has not been published or peer reviewed, women are three times more likely than men to have this disorder. Students say they want to get drunk faster and they’d rather spend their limited cash on alcohol rather than food.

Pregnant women in the United States now have access to a blood test that will tell them if they’re carrying a baby with Down’s Syndrome. The commercial genetic test has a 99 percent accuracy rate. The test is based on the idea that fetal DNA is circulating in the mom’s blood. The blood test called Maternit21 and can be used as early as 10 weeks in those at high risk. Many other companies are working on similar tests. None are available in Canada just yet.

Finally, just a heads up, Novemeber is Diabetes Awareness Month, so expect canvassers to be in your neighbourhood starting on the 22nd and running until November 15th. We’ll have a segment on the latest in diabetes research next week! Stay tuned!

CALGARY LONG-WEEKEND WEATHER

TODAY: 9, Showers – with late-day clearing (afternoon/evening)
TONIGHT: 1, Partly Cloudy
SATURDAY: 11, Sunny
SUNDAY: 13, Sunny
MONDAY: 12, Partly Cloudy
>We’ll “ring” the moisture out of our system late today….Clearing, with mild-temperatures straight through your long weekend.
-Meteorologist Andrew Schultz (( twitter: @AndrewSchultzWX ))

Yes, men and women are different. Physiologically, those differences mean we should eat different foods to maintain our optimal health.

And thus, the top 5 foods women should eat on a regular basis.

Nuts

- egs. almonds, walnuts, peanuts, brazil nuts

- prevent heart disease, increase folate

Nuts are full of good fats which help reduce cholesterol. Remember when it comes to nuts though, they are packed full of calories. So, you only need a small amount to get the health benefits.

Whole Grains

- egs. whole grain bread, barley, quinoa, brown rice

- prevent gastrointestinal problems, high in fibre

Whole grains also help you to feel fuller longer which helps to maintain a healthy weight.

Fruits and Vegetables

- egs. cranberries, spinach, oranges

- prevent UTIs, heart disease, cancer

Fruits and veggies are also full of Vitamin C which is great for overall health and boosting the immune system. They also increase your folate levels which are important for proper development of babies in pregnant women.

Calcium-rich Foods

- egs. milk, yogurt, tofu

- prevent osteoporosis

Calcium keeps bones strong.

Iron-rich Foods

- egs. beans, beef, dried apricots

- maintain proper iron levels in premenopausal women

Women need 12-15 milligrams a day, compared to men who need just 10-12.

It’s also very important for women to drink a lot of water. Water is important for all metabolic processes in the body. It’s also great for your skin and helps with digestion.

I ran this list by Registered Dietitian Andrea Holwegner.

http://www.healthstandnutrition.com/

She agrees with the list but suggests it is missing food for the soul. She says eating chocolate or having a glass of wine, in moderation of course, is good for your mental health.

Sounds good to me!

CALGARY WEATHER
TODAY: 19, Partly Cloudy
TONIGHT: 6, Partly Cloudy
WEDNESDAY: 16, Partly Cloudy
>Seasonal Averages:  High 16 / Low 2 – Basically back to average by Wednesday, with temperatures on the rise just in time for the weekend !!
-Meteorologist Andrew Schultz (( twitter: AndrewSchultzWX ))

With summer comes the annual gaming drought. Developers typically hold off until the holiday season before releasing their big titles to ensure they don’t miss the Christmas sales blitz. But as summer draws to an end, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The games are slowly starting to arrive.

Eidos Montreal, a fledgling studio, has just released its first project to the gaming world. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a prequel in the fan favourite Deus Ex series. The franchise has a devote following; after all the series brought about many firsts. Deus Ex was one of the first titles to mix the first person shooter genre with RPG elements, allow players to explore multiple paths and introduce the idea of choice equals consequence.

Fans are ravenous for a look at what has happened to their beloved franchise since the last installment hit stores some eight years ago. Eidos Montreal certainly has some high expectations to meet. So does it deliver with Deus Ex: Human Revolution? Oh boy does it ever!

The year is 2027. The world is a much darker place than we know it today. Corporations seem to have just as much, if not more power than the government and the idea of engineered humans has become a reality.

Imagine replacing a limb with a vastly superior mechanical one; a limb which gives you super-human strength, and faster reflexes. If you have the money you can do it. But be prepared for the consequences. “Augmentations” as they are known as have become a controversial subject in the world. Those who have them are shunned. A vast majority of the world’s population see them as unpure.

You play as Adam Jensen, a security specialist who has become augmented…but not by choice. While protecting researchers on the eve of a historical government hearing on Augmentations and bio-technology, you are attacked. One of the head researchers, who happens to be a former love interest, is killed. You are also mortally wounded. The only way to bring you back from the brink of death is to outfit you with augmentations. Now it’s up to you to unravel a global conspiracy centered around augmentation technology.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution plays out very much like a first person shooter, but it’s more than that. Yes, gunplay certainly plays a major role in this title, but it doesn’t have to. You are often challenged with the question “do you have to kill in order to get through the mission at hand?” You can use stealth to get through missions by sneaking around enemies, or you can blow them away with the weapons at your disposal. The choice is yours.

If you choose to use force you will have a variety of weapons at your disposal. Pistols, shotguns, and machine guns can be found scattered around the maps, many dropped by enemies. If you tire of their mediocre firepower you can purchase upgrades such as laser sights to vastly improve their performance. But you can upgrade more than just your weapons. You can also upgrade your body.

Your arms, legs, lungs, heart, skull and eye have all been replaced with augmented parts. Simply put you can enable some amazing skills if you choose to do so. As you kill enemies and unravel the story you earn experience points. These points help you earn Praxis points which can be used to upgrade your body. Augmentations will help you see through walls, drop down from buildings without getting hurt, or lift heavy objects. You choose what you want to upgrade and when.

As you make your way through the world you will encounter many individuals. Some will help you in your quest while others will stand in your way. How you talk to people will impact how the story unfolds. Dialogue trees will give you the opportunity to use wit and charm to get what you want. Sometimes violence can be avoided by simply telling people what they want to hear. The conversations are believable and will almost always have you second guessing what would have happened if you would have responded differently.

If you can’t get the information you need from characters you can always use your hacking skills to dig up intel. Hacking mini-games will have you racing against the clock, to hack into the network before the firewall detects you. The game is a bit hard to grasp at first, but once you figure out the mechanics you will gain access to memos, security codes to doors and passwords to other computers which hold valuable information. You don’t really need to hack much in the game, but doing so will certainly add to the enjoyment as it fleshes out the story.

Besides the main story (which will take you anywhere from 20 to 30 hours to complete) there are also many side missions to tackle. These missions are well fleshed-out quests which could very well be part of the main storyline. In fact you are never given a simple fetch quest which is refreshing for a game of this length. If you choose to take on the side missions you can easily spend up to 50 hours playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

While the game is an overall enjoyable experience, a couple of flaws prevent it from getting the almighty perfect score. In my play through, I found some of the enemy AI to be questionable. I was often able to hide from enemies behind crates and even though they knew I was there only one enemy at a time would venture around the corner to fire at me. They would always take turns. Other times I would run through a door and the enemies would refuse to follow. I could sit on the other side of the doorways and pick off the guards as they yell at me. That being said the game can be quite difficult. I played on the normal or “give me a challenge” mode which lives up to its name. I almost found the glitchy enemy AI to be welcome at some points as it helped me progress through she difficult levels a bit faster.

Another issue was long load times. Ugh! Every time I died (and I died quite a bit) I would have to wait 30 to 60 seconds for the game to load again. It becomes quite noticeable during marathon gaming sessions.

Fans of the Deus Ex series will not be disappointed with this prequel. It’s a perfect blend of action, stealth with a few RGP elements thrown in for good measure. The voice acting is top notch and the soundtrack phenomenal. The opening music alone screams motion picture soundtrack. The long load times and questionable enemy AI can’t take way from the fun you’ll have playing through this lengthy masterpiece. If you’ve been waiting anxiously for the onslaught of triple A titles this fall, good news. Your wait is now over. Even if you’re not familiar with the franchise Deus Ex: Human Revolution is worth picking up.

The Good

Entertaining story
Precise controls
Great voice acting
Amazing soundtrack

The Bad

Lengthy load times
Questionable AI

Deus Ex: Human Revolution 9/10

Every pregnant woman’s worst fear is that she will deliver her unborn baby too early. This is called pre-term labour, when a woman starts having contractions long before her baby is fully developed and ready for the outside world.

Babies should remain in the uterus until at least 37 weeks of gestation. Term is defined as anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks.

AIHS Researcher Donna Slater is looking into the cells that might cause the uterus to either contract or relax. She wants to figure out exactly how they work or what science types like to call the “mechanism of action.” If Slater can figure this out, then there’s a possibility a drug could help stop those early contractions, or by contrast, cause contractions when a baby needs to come out.

And getting a first-hand look at how this research is conducted is a Grade 11 Medicine Hat student, Marya Aman. She is one of 22 grade 11 students from across the province who are participating in the 6 week Heritage Youth Research Summer program. Aman says she always wanted to be a doctor, but now she might consider going into medical research. She now understands how research can have a direct impact on patient’s lives.

For more information about Donna Slater’s research into pre-term labour visit:

www.ucalgary.ca/smrg/faculty/donna-slater