Pure Happiness

February 2010. It was a very happy day. The day my husband and I got married.
..I guess when couples get married, people around unintentionally puts a little pressure on them on whether they'll have babies or not.. So imagine the pressure on us when 2 years after being married, we are still not pregnant. To be frank, I also felt scared....because I also knew that I had a "problem" and unsure whether the meds I took would correct it... 'cause if not, that would mean infertility for me, no baby for us.
September of 2012. One day, while working at a local hospital, I started to feel uncomfortable in the abdominal area.. I felt sick. It continued that way so that the next day, I had to call in sick because I wasn't really feeling well. My husband suggested that I take a pregnancy test before I drink any meds, just to be sure that it was okay. As usual, I expected a "negative" result because I didn't want to get my hopes high and be disappointed once again.
The instructions on the kit said, add 3 drops of urine and so I did..1.. 2.. 3... Then I covered the results area with my thumb and closed my eyes. I felt nervous having to wait for a few minutes for the sample to settle in. I kept thinking--it will be just another negative result though deep inside me, I knew that I was really hoping for a positive one. "Lord, please be with me," I prayed. I took a deep breath. I just wanted to get this over with. So I peeked in the control line.. There was a red line, like it was supposed to. Then slowly, I removed my finger covering the Test Line... I gasped. There was a faint red line! Suddenly, I heard my heart pounding and my eyes started to swell. Before I knew it, I was crying and smiling at the same time. I was elated. Oh my goodness! They say there is no such thing as a "false positive" result...so I am pregnant! I stood up and got myself together. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears.
I rushed out of the bathroom to show the result to my husband. He was just as happy with the news!
But then again, before we shared the good news, we just wanted to make sure that that faint line was REALLY a positive result. I told him I could not wait any longer so my husband bought another kit right away. And there they were....two kits telling me I am pregnant.

On my 8th week of pregnancy, we had our confirmation...my ultrasound results revealed a live single fetus. And on my 26th, we had our 4d congenital anomaly scan. A healthy baby girl is on the way! I could not be happier. For almost 3 years, my husband and I were happy just having each other. But then when we knew we were finally pregnant, the pure genuine happiness we felt is beyond explainable.
May 2013. Our precious daughter, Sophia Alexa was born..Thank you Lord for our precious gift... She is perfect..To God be the glory!

Diabetes: A Pandemic in the Making

What really is this Diabetes and why should we be concerned about it?

Diabetes Mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a disease that is metabolic in nature. Simply put, Diabetes is a condition that results from either an impaired production of the body’s sugar-regulating hormone in the pancreas or when the body cannot use this hormone; the effect of which results in an increased sugar level in the blood.

There are 2 types of diabetes simply referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. The key distinction between the two is that Type 1 diabetes is caused by an insufficient insulin in the body (due to the impaired production) while Type 2 is brought about by the weakened insulin resistance due to different reasons as people age. With Type 2 diabetes, there is enough insulin in the circulation but the body cannot utilize it for some reasons.

But before we go any further, let us first discuss: what is this insulin that we are referring to? 

Insulin is the hormone responsible for converting the starch and sugar that we eat into a form of energy that the body can use for our daily activities. If we don’t have it or it is insufficient in amount, sugar will be retained in the blood stream. Because of elevated sugar levels, blood becomes more viscous and consequently, if not properly managed, can lead to other life-threatening health conditions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the year 2000, there were around 171 million people diagnosed with diabetes.  Nowadays (just 12 years after), it is alarming how the figures have amplified by more than a 100% and diabetes cases around the world  are now being tallied at 346 million...and counting. Between Type 1 and Type 2, the latter is more prevalent as it comprises 90% of the total cases of Diabetes Mellitus and the average age of people with diabetes are around 40 to 59 years old. In the United States, 30.3 Million are affected with diabetes or 10% of the diabetic population.

Experts say that the most common cause of diabetes is lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise or physical activities, obesity, unhealthy eating specially with sweets and soda and stress.

While a lot of people may be preoccupied with preparations from different epidemic diseases that are terrifying, isn’t it about time that we also give as much attention with diseases that are chronic in nature but may cause serious consequences on our health? One good example is diabetes. The sudden rise in Diabetes Mellitus cases is alarming and tells us that it is something that should not be ignored.

People affected with diabetes come from different walks of life – popular celebrities, rich and poor, old and young – anyone can be afflicted with it. Contrary to the common notion, eating sweets is not the only reason for diabetes onset. Anything in excess can be harmful to us and that is why we need to make sure that we take a close watch on our health by avoiding unhealthy lifestyle which can help manage, if not prevent, the onset of diabetes mellitus.

Breast Augmentation: What You Should Know About

According to the 2010 report of American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation remains to be the top cosmetic surgical procedure of 2009. In 2008, an estimated 307,000 cases of breast augmentation were filed and although there is a 6% decrease in 2009, this surgical procedure still remains on top of the list.

Breast augmentation, otherwise known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to enlarge (or augment) breasts in order to achieve a fuller appearance. Others opt for this procedure for breast reconstruction purposes to restore breast volume, which may have been lost due to mastectomy, trauma, or congenital deformity.

In order to augment breasts, implants are used. Implants are breast-shaped prosthesis that are made of silicon covering and either silicone gel or saline (salt water) filling. 

Typically, the procedure is done on an out-patient     basis which usually takes two hours. The process starts with administering anesthesia which can either be under local or general anesthesia. Incision is then made around the areola, in the armpit or under the breast, depending on the type and size of the implant. The method by which the prosthesis is inserted also depends on the said conditions and after which, the incision will be closed.

As with any surgery, breast augmentation surgery has associated risks which include bleeding, infection, unfavourable scarring or fluid accumulation. Other risks associated with the surgery may be related to the implant itself such as obstructed mammography or capsular contracture, where a firm scar forms around the implant. And although most mortality cases are associated with anesthesia or medication errors, death associated with breast augmentation are extremely rare. Another important consideration that women should take note is that there are no lifetime guarantees with breast implants. And so before going into the procedure, women should weigh the pros and cons and decide, “Are you a good candidate for breast augmentation?”

Aromatherapy and Its Important Benefits to the Mind and Body

Aromatherapy is an alternative form of medicine that is used to relieve pain and stress.  This form of treatment employs essential oils for its aromatic properties that are believed to influence a person’s mood, thinking, mind-set and function.

The first known use of aromatherapy dates back to more than 5000 years ago. Back then, the people from Egypt pay tribute to the Egyptian gods by burning herbs, spices and woods in order to send their prayers to the heavens through the risen smoke.

Today, aromatherapy is used because of its medicinal value. Although it has not been proven that aromatherapy cures major diseases, it is on the other hand, known to be effective in lessening the pain and discomfort that are related to such conditions.

Aromatherapy can be used in three different ways. First is by applying it directly to the skin, also known as topical application. This is the method of application used for massage and baths like those from the spa. Topical application of aromatherapy benefits you in one of the following ways:

• Tissue and muscle repair of lesions, injuries, cuts or abrasions.
• Muscle relaxation
• Better sleep at night
• Improved circulation of blood
• Relief from inflammation
• Enhanced skin suppleness

Second, aromatherapy can be infused through inhalation of oil or infusion vapors. This is beneficial to the body such as:

• Relief of nasal congestion
• Relief of Lung infection that may be caused by bacteria and fungus
• Aids in expectorating phlegm
• Better sleeping pattern

Lastly, diffusion of oils in the air is another way to infuse aromatherapy. This method allows the aromatic smell to be utilized by circulating the aroma through the air. The smell may help the body and mind by:

• Alleviating headaches
• Energizing the mind and body
• Producing calming effects

In addition to that, aromatherapy is advantageous to the mind and body in a lot of ways. It helps relieve mind problems such stress, anxiety and depression and this in turn may also lower the blood pressure. With aromatherapy, you will also improve the circulation of your blood which in turn helps eliminate unwanted toxins and improve wound healing process.

Your immunity against certain illnesses and infections is also improved with this alternative medicine by improving your resistance. Aromatherapy also results in enhanced digestion. For women, you can also get relief from menstrual cramps.

There are a lot of oils and infusions that can be used in Aromatherapy. You can choose from a broad range of essential oils based from the scent you prefer and healing properties of each kind of oil. Simply put, aromatherapy has a long list of benefits to the body. It is a great, natural, inexpensive and effective way to alleviate certain signs, symptoms and conditions. And with practically no known disadvantage of its use, Aromatherapy is definitely one great alternative medicine that is worth a try.