| Back problems are second only to colds and flu as
Back problems are second only to colds and flu as the most common reason why people go to their doctors, according to the American College of Rheumatology. The National Institutes of Health report that back pain will affect nearly 90 percent of Americans in their lives - most for the first time in their 30s. The most common pain occurs in the lower back and disables 5.4 million Americans and costs at least $90 billion in medical and nonmedical expenses (such as loss of work and worker's compensation claims) every year. Maddeningly, most back pain has no specific cause, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Furthermore, comparative research has shown that people with no pain or symptoms often have the same amount of pathology in their spines as do those with symptoms.
Pregnancy complication linked to protein pair
Two proteins secreted by the placenta may be responsible for virtually all cases of pre-eclampsia, a severe complication of pregnancy that can be fatal to mother or baby, researchers reported last week. Abnormally high levels of the proteins could be used to predict the development of the disorder weeks before symptoms occur, experts said, and the findings suggest new ways to treat the problem. A World Health Organization team is beginning to organize a test of the proteins' predictive value among pregnant women in the Third World, and Fremont, Calif.-based biotech company Scios Inc. is looking for money to test a potential treatment. "This finding appears to be an important step in developing a cure for pre-eclampsia," said Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health.
Other Common Pregnancy Symptoms
The sudden rise of hormones in your body can cause you to have headaches early in pregnancy.
Around 6-8 weeks after conception, you may find yourself making a few extra trips to the bathroom.
While you may not have a strong desire to eat pickles and ice cream, many women will feel cravings for certain foods when they are pregnant. This can last throughout your entire pregnancy.
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