Pregnancy tests help women to determine if they are pregnant. These tests work by picking up on markers in urine or blood that indicate pregnancy. Knowing which type of pregnancy test is most suitable, and understanding how to use them, helps ensure results are accurate. Whether taken at home or in a doctor’s office, being […]
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Asthma affects millions of children in the United States, and so does obesity. A new study may have found a link between the two, as early-life asthma may contribute to the development of childhood obesity. New research suggests that asthma may increase the risk of childhood obesity. It is estimated that asthma affects around 1 […]
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Pregnancy tests help women to determine if they are pregnant. These tests work by picking up on markers in urine or blood that indicate pregnancy. Knowing which type of pregnancy test is most suitable, and understanding how to use them, helps ensure results are accurate. Whether taken at home or in a doctor’s office, being […]
https://moreliaclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FINAL-MORELIA-LOGO1.png00adminhttps://moreliaclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FINAL-MORELIA-LOGO1.pngadmin2017-03-21 01:23:012017-03-21 01:23:11How and when to take a pregnancy test
Asthma affects millions of children in the United States, and so does obesity. A new study may have found a link between the two, as early-life asthma may contribute to the development of childhood obesity. New research suggests that asthma may increase the risk of childhood obesity. It is estimated that asthma affects around 1 […]
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Pregnancy tests help women to determine if they are pregnant. These tests work by picking up on markers in urine or blood that indicate pregnancy.
Knowing which type of pregnancy test is most suitable, and understanding how to use them, helps ensure results are accurate.
Whether taken at home or in a doctor’s office, being informed about the pregnancy test process makes it easier to understand what the results mean, and what to do next.
Types of pregnancy test
There are two main types of pregnancy test available: urine tests and blood tests.
Urine tests
Urine tests can be taken at home or at the doctor’s office. They detect the presence of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
The hCG hormone circulates in a woman’s blood once a fertilized egg has attached to the uterus wall. This usually happens 6 days after fertilization.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, levels of hCG double every 2 to 3 days, peak by 8 to 11 weeks of pregnancy, and then begin to level off. HCG can usually be detected by a urine test 12 to 14 days after conception.
Home pregnancy test
Home pregnancy tests can be purchased in a pharmacy or drugstore. They normally cost less than $20 and are easy to use. If used correctly, they give excellent results.
Results are usually visible within 3 to 10 minutes or sometimes sooner.
Clinical urine test
Clinical urine tests are performed at a doctor’s office. Like home tests, they also look for the presence of the hCG hormone in urine.
Although they produce the same level of accuracy, tests performed in a clinical setting usually avoid some of the errors that can happen with home tests.
Blood tests
Although less common than urine tests, blood tests to detect hCG levels are available. These are always carried out at the doctor’s office, and results take longer than urine test results.
Blood tests are usually more expensive but some can be taken earlier than urine tests to determine results. The two types of blood tests are:
* Qualitative hCG blood test: This checks hCG levels, giving a “yes” (pregnant) or “no” (not pregnant) result. They can detect hCG levels around 11 days after conception.
* Quantitative hCG blood test: This is able to measure specific levels of hCG, even if levels are low.
Further tests may be needed if results aren’t as expected. For example, if the hCG level is higher or lower than it should be for the estimated pregnancy stage.
This process can help indicate ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or a more accurate due date.
Online tests
Several websites and phone applications have tests that claim to calculate the likelihood of being pregnant. These can be used as a source of information, but should not replace real pregnancy tests.
Who should use a pregnancy test?
Common early indicators of a possible pregnancy include nausea, vomiting, and excessive fatigue.
Any woman of childbearing age, who suspects she may be pregnant, should use a pregnancy test. In particular, women who recently had unprotected sex should consider using a pregnancy test.
Some signs of early pregnancy that should be followed up with a pregnancy test include:
* a missed period
* enlarged, tender, or swollen breasts
* fatigue
* increased urination
* nausea
* vomiting
How to use pregnancy tests
For a clinical urine test, the doctor will ask for a sample of urine. This can be tested immediately.
Blood tests require a sample of blood to be drawn and sent for testing.
Home pregnancy tests are simple to use. It is important to follow the instructions closely to get the most accurate result.
Most brands can be used on the first day of a missed period, but some more sensitive tests can be used sooner. Some clinical tests can also be taken earlier than this.
In general, home pregnancy urine tests involve one of the following methods:
* urinating directly onto the test stick
* urinating into a cup and dipping the test stick in
* urinating into a cup and using a dropper to drop urine onto the test window
Many manufacturers recommend taking two home tests to confirm results. This is because hCG levels may be too low to be detected at first. To ensure the most accurate results, it is best to wait a few days to 1 week between the two tests.
Accuracy
Many home pregnancy tests claim to be accurate up to 99 percent of the time. Clinical tests can be even more accurate.
However, using them correctly is vital. Several studies suggest incorrect use of tests has led to many women reporting false results.
Most tests can be used on the first day of a missed period but it’s advisable to wait 1 week after a missed period for accuracy.
This is because 10 to 20 percent of pregnant women won’t detect their pregnancy on the first day of their missed period. This can be due to many women having irregular periods, or miscalculating when their period is due.
In addition, a number of other factors play a role in the accuracy of results, including:
* time of day the test is taken
* length of time after conception
* when ovulation occurs
* how quickly the fertilized egg implants
* how well instructions are followed
* how sensitive the test is
What do the results mean?
If a home pregnancy test reads positive, it is important for a doctor to confirm the results with a clinical test.
Results of a pregnancy test are either positive or negative. If taking a clinical test, the doctor will explain what the results mean. If using a home test, it’s important that women refer to the test instructions to ensure they understand what the colors, symbols, or words indicate.
Positive result
A positive result indicates pregnancy, even if the color, symbol, or words on the test window are faint. It’s a good idea to confirm this result by taking a clinical test.
Very rarely, a false-positive result occurs. This means the woman taking the test is not pregnant, despite the test indicating she is. False-positives can occur due to:
* early miscarriage
* certain medications
* ovarian tumors
* liver disease
* kidney failure
* expired test kits
Negative result
A negative result means pregnancy is unlikely. However, false-negative results are common.
These are where pregnancy may still occur but is not yet showing up on the test. They can occur for a number of reasons, including:
* incorrectly taking the test
* testing too soon
* testing with urine that is too diluted
* not waiting long enough for results
* expired or faulty test
Retesting within a week is advisable for all test results. This is particularly important if a woman is experiencing some of the symptoms of early pregnancy or if the test result is negative.
When to see a doctor
A woman should always consult her doctor if she has any queries about the pregnancy or test results. If the home pregnancy test is positive, a doctor can confirm this with a clinical test and begin to arrange prenatal care.
If a home pregnancy test is negative but a woman’s periods don’t resume, she should consult a doctor to determine the cause of the missed periods.
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Asthma affects millions of children in the United States, and so does obesity. A new study may have found a link between the two, as early-life asthma may contribute to the development of childhood obesity.
New research suggests that asthma may increase the risk of childhood obesity.
It is estimated that asthma affects around 1 in 10 U.S. children.
As for childhood obesity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 12.7 million children in the U.S. – or approximately 17 percent – are obese.
Childhood obesity and asthma are often found to occur together, but existing research has not yet clarified whether asthma actually contributes to the childhood obesity “epidemic.”
New research from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles aims to fill this research gap by examining the effects of asthma and asthma medication on childhood obesity.
Assessing the link between early-life asthma and childhood obesity
The researchers examined the medical records of 2,171 non-obese children between 5-8 years old.
These children were enrolled in the Southern California Children’s Health Study (CHS) and were clinically followed for 10 years.
CHS is a large-scale, long-term, detailed study of the lasting effects of air pollution on the respiratory and metabolic health of children.
The USC researchers examined 10 years’ worth of data collected in the CHS, and they also performed a replication analysis on an independent sample of 2,684 CHS children. This latter cohort was followed from the average age of 9.7 years to 17.8 years.
During this time, researchers measured the children’s height and weight annually, categorizing them into normal, overweight, and obese. Children were deemed overweight or obese if their body mass index (BMI) was at or above the 85th and 95th percentile, respectively, compared with the BMI standards set by the CDC.
Researchers team assessed the children’s asthma using the physician’s diagnosis as reported by the children or by their parents.
The parents also filled in complex questionnaires on sociodemographic factors and smoking exposure at home or in utero, as well as physical activity patterns and history of respiratory illness.
The scientists used Cox regression to evaluate the associations between asthma and the incidence of obesity during the follow-up period.
Children with asthma 51 percent more likely to become obese
At the beginning of the study, over 18 percent of the children were overweight and over 13 percent had been diagnosed with asthma.
During the follow-up period, 15.8 percent of children developed obesity.
After statistical adjustments, the researchers found that early childhood asthma did contribute to the development of obesity in subsequent years, mainly during early childhood and adolescence.
Compared with non-obese, asthma-free children, the non-obese children who did have asthma were 51 percent more likely to develop obesity during follow-up. The results stayed the same following sociodemographic adjustments and adjustments for other variables.
Additionally, children with a history of wheezing were at a 42 percent higher risk of developing obesity.
The age of asthma onset did not seem to influence the obesity risk.
Regarding the link between the use of asthma medications and obesity, the researchers made another interesting discovery. They found that the use of asthma rescue medications, such as an asthma inhaler, significantly lowered the risk of obesity. These results were independent of physical activity.
Significance of the study
The authors note that theirs is one of the few studies to link early-life asthma with an increased risk of developing obesity.
Some of the study’s limitations include the fact that the information was self-reported, and that the scientists did not have access to sufficient information regarding diet or physical activity patterns.
Frank Gilliland, the study’s senior author, points out that a combination of asthma and obesity can trigger other metabolic diseases in adulthood, including prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Children who have asthma are often overweight or obese, but the scientific literature has not been able to say asthma causes obesity.
However, our study and that of others support the finding that having asthma in early childhood may lead to increased risk of childhood obesity.
Although it could be that the respiratory problems prevent children with asthma from playing and exercising as much as healthy children, it is interesting, the authors note, that this study accounted for physical activity yet still showed these results.
Early diagnosis and treatment of asthma may help prevent the childhood obesity epidemic. Part of the problem may be a vicious cycle where asthma and obesity negatively affect each other. Our results also suggest that asthma inhalers may help prevent obesity in children. Although this observation warrants further study, it is interesting that the correlation exists irrespective of physical activity and other asthma medication use.
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