Why Is My Five Year Old Still Bed-wetting?

photo source:qualitybeds.co.uk

Why is my 5 year old daughter still wetting the bed? Why why why especially when the other two stopped at three?

This can be a concern for a parent who has to get up early and go to work but still gets up up to three times every night to take this little one to the toilet.
This is a certified "sleep robber" I tell you. Sometimes you feel defeated when you drag yourself around 11 pm to take your child to the toilet and return around 2 am to see she or he has wet the bed. Aaagh!

The first thing is for us to calm down as parents; children are different and most kids that bed wet also feel embarrassed about it. ( I remind myself regularly when I want to flip!)

Some researchers have said that bed wetting "runs in the family" and that the child will stop the same age you did. How cool is that?
I remember wetting the bed when I was 5/6 but that was occasionally and my mum would give me a good beating in the morning. So maybe my daughter is about to stop eh?
But this wouldn't make any one that stopped wetting the bed at 10/11 feel better so let's come up with better ideas!

Most bed wetting which Doctors refer to as "primary enuresis" happens because certain mechanisms that control the bladder have not yet matured in the child and not due to laziness or sheer mischief. In other words the child's brain hasn't started controlling her bladder.
If your child has been dry for up to a year and starts to wet the bed again then that's "secondary enuresis" which can be caused by stress or trauma so please see your paediatrician.

According to the Journal of Urology, following your paediatrician's advice will help your child achieve dryness quicker than trying any and everything, so maybe you should pop in today?

However, there are gadgets like urinary bed alarms which are worn under the child's pyjamas and go off once moisture is felt. These have been proven to be very effective, many have see great results in just 2 months.

How the sensors work:

The sensor is worn in the child's underwear and if it detects any form of wetness the alarm goes off (there's also the vibrate option in some which is better for older kids and adults).
Of course the child has already wet himself but gradually with time the sensor trains the child's brain to wake earlier and earlier, till your child can wake at the very first drop! Great isn't it? It demands your commitment but at least you are up for the right reasons. 

Please share your progress report if you end up using the sensor, I'm thinking of trying one too.

With all these in mind let's look at three prevention tips we to also help our children minimise bed wetting:

1) Make your child drink all liquids in the day time only. Stop fluid drinking about one and a half hours before bed time.
2) Encourage your child go to the toilet every two hours in the day time (my daughter can hold her bladder for long periods while she's awake sigh!)
3) Encourage him or her empty their bladder twice before bedtime.
Older children will appreciate these tips more I tell you.

Gotta run now, I have beddings to wash *wink*.

Happy Parenting!        

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Ebola Update: Experimental Vaccine To Be Tested On Humans Next Month

Brief information on what is going on concerning finding a permanent solution to the Ebola Out break:

• The U.S government will begin testing an experimental ebola vaccine on humans as early as next month
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• The first commerically-available preventative vaccine is likely to take two to six years to be developed; lack of funding is a threat to how fast this vaccine can come out.
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• There are at least four vaccines that can prevent ebola in primates.

'The hang-up point with these vaccines is the phase I trials in humans. That’s where scientists get frustrated because we know these vaccines protect animals and we don’t quite understand the regulatory process of why things can’t move faster. I can’t give you an answer as to why it’s taking so long.'

         Dr. Thomas Geisbert  (University of Texas)

To whom it may concern, Humans are more important than animals so please release the funds for the scientists to do their job.

REMINDER:


Those at risk during an outbreak include:

• health workers
• family members or others in close contact with infected people
• mourners with direct contact with the bodies of deceased victims
• hunters in contact with dead animals

Typical signs and symptoms?

Sudden onset of fever, intense weakness,  muscle pain, headache and sore throat. That is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function and internal and external bleeding.

The incubation period is between two and 21 days. A person will become contagious once they start to show symptoms.


When should you seek medical care?

If a person is in an area affected by the outbreak, or has been in contact with a person known or suspected to have Ebola, they should seek medical help immediately.


What is the treatment?

Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They need intravenous fluids to rehydrate them.

But there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate care.


Can Ebola be prevented?

Currently there is no licensed vaccine for Ebola. Several are being tested but are not available for clinical use.


Is it safe to travel to affected areas?

The World Health Organisation reviews the public health situation regularly, and recommends travel or trade restrictions if necessary. The risk of infection for travellers is very low since person-to-person transmission results from direct contact with bodily fluids of victims.

Source: World Health Organisation

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Excessive Weight Gain In Pregnancy Could Increase The Risk Of Asthma In Children

This is one more reason to watch what you eat while you"re pregnant, especially during your last trimester (last three months).

Scientists think there may be a connection between excessive weight gain and children born with asthma.

To see how a mother's weight might be linked to the development of asthma in her children, Dr. Erick Forno, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and his colleagues reviewed 14 previously published studies that included over 100,000 mother-child pairs.
The risk of a child having asthma was 36 percent higher for mothers who were obese during pregnancy compared to normal-weight expectant mothers. The study authors suggest that, for women who do not have a history of asthma, the effect of obesity during pregnancy may be an even stronger influence on whether or not a child develops asthma.
Although there appeared to be a slight association between an overweight mom-to-be and asthma in her offspring, the association wasn't statistically significant, according to the study.
Dr. David Mendez, a neonatologist at Miami Children's Hospital, said that this study asks a question that only additional research can answer. Such research would need to take into account the mother's history of asthma and the baby's exposure to cigarette smoke, among other factors, he said.

So they are not to clear about the whole issue but this is one more reason to take weight management during pregnancy seriously. Many mums just feel they can "eat what they like" and work on dropping the weight after delivery but its important to be conscious even during pregnancy.

Keep healthy, keep fit, even during pregnancy; your physiotherapist and nutritionist should guide you .

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Workaholic or Hard Worker?

Diane Fassel, PhD, an Organizational Consultant has said,
"A workaholic will die faster than an alcoholic any day ".

Gone are the days when it was honourable to "work your butt off ", now psychologists have raised the red flag on workaholism.

But how do you know if you are a workaholic and not just a hard worker? You see yourself as being passionate about what you do and are always willing to put in your best at all times.
Yes there have been and still are debates on if being a workaholic is a psychiatric disorder, but impressions are gradually changing.

The truth is that the workaholic is actually "out of control " contrary to the impression he actually tries to portray. Workaholism  is a defensive behaviour or cover up for underlying conditions. Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, intimacy issues may not be unconnected with this disorder.

It is an addiction, an obsessive-compulsive disorder and should not be confused with working had or putting in long hours. The adrenaline surge the workaholic feels gives an illusion of a "high level of energy ".

You are likely to be a workaholic if most of these signs describe you:

• Do you feel drained of energy and purposeless when not at work?
• Do you dread vacations and find it difficult to go on breaks or dream about work even while on vacation?
• Do you have trouble delegating tasks?
• Do you find it difficult getting along with other colleagues?
• Are you addicted to power and control?
• Are you unable to maintain relationships outside of work (like family and friends )?
• Do you have difficulty loosening up, relaxing or just having fun?

Other physiological or psychological symptoms are :anger, depression, anxiety attacks, stomach and head aches. 

If you clearly see yourself in this picture then you definitely need help.

It's important to note that workaholics gradually become less productive; they take up more than they can handle, won't delegate because they feel no one is good enough and crash out of exhaustion. All they had was an "adrenaline high" and this gradually starts to tell on their bodies.

Family and friends have the responsibility of helping these workaholics seek help as most will rarely admit they have a problem.

If you feel you are a workaholic seek help from a psychotherapist. The workaholics anonymous website is also a good place to start.  

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Can Frequent Breaks Be the Cure For "Job Burnout"?

Picture this scenario: you arrive late for work then days because you hardly get enough sleep. Less sleep means a dull and drowsy wake and all you remember is dragging yourself to work.
Job burnout is what happens when job stress is unattended to.  Everything in you has simply had it when it comes to this job.

It's not just about the physical exhaustion but also the psychological and emotional exhaustion. So apart from dealing with heavy workloads and long hours of work the frustration of not being able to "get a grip” is also an issue. You just feel like a "tool” been used, no one gives you the opportunity to make meaningful contributions or suggestions, you just "do as you are told".

Before we go any further let's do a quick check on the common causes of job burnout. How do you know if your lights are totally off and need a break, new challenge or job?

Causes of Job Burnout

• Overwork
• Little or no control over your job
• Too many constraints on how to do your job
• Compulsory overtime
• Random wage deductions
• Frequent layoffs /job insecurity
• Inadequate breaks
• Long working hours
• Exclusion in decision making
• Dangerous or unpleasant working conditions

So what signs or symptoms should you look out for to know if you or anyone in your workplace is burnt out?

• Fatigue
• Highly irritable
• Frequent anxiety attacks
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Weight gain
• Teeth clenching /grinding
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Insomnia 
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Overly emotional
• Head aches
• Low sex drive
• Feelings of emptiness
• Absenteeism

These signs and symptoms are not to be overlooked as anyone manifesting majority of the above may need to see a Mental health professional (psychologist, psychotherapist).

It's important for managers to note that the best staff are mostly the ones that get burnt out and overwork is the main culprit in this case. Human beings can get "overheated "is just like any machine being overused. The "overwork" situation can also be that the worker is unable to "meet up” with the workload and becomes depressed that he's always "falling short ".

What can be done to nip job stress, and eventually burn out, in the bud?

Short breaks from work (vacation) can be beneficial especially in situations where the issue is about being overworked. But if there is an issue with the work situation or working conditions, it would have to be addressed; no amount of breaks would resolve that.

Sometimes taking on something more challenging (mentally) like a professional course will be the therapy.

As a manager, supervisor or business owner don't be too rigid to listen to your employees. There may be better or more flexible ways of carrying out certain tasks.  Give your workers the liberty to suggest methods they think they can incorporate to make their work less stressful. As long as it boosts productivity there's no harm in adopting new methods.

Motivational speaker, Mike Murdock,  has always said, "go where you are celebrated "is so don't be afraid to take a work if you feel you are being underutilized or not appreciated.

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What is Bipolar Disorder?

So for the last 48hrs or so an "elevator video" of Solange Knowles beating her brother in law, Jay Z, while sister, Beyonce kept still has been trending.
Now there are speculations that she is mentally unstable and has 'bipolar disorder'.
Just to make it clear that I don't believe anyone should be stigmatized because of their condition let alone throwing out a diagnosis to explain some random behavior....let's leave that for the doctors.


But what is bipolar disorder?

Formerly called manic depression, bipolar disorder can have it's sufferers go from euphoric highs to drastic lows. The average age for the onset of attacks is 25yrs.
People with this disorder usually have at least one bout mania or "extreme high ". When in this "high" they may experience the following symptoms :

Rapid speech

Difficulty in concentrating

Extreme agitation

They may have this feeling of being invincible and tend to be reckless and aggressive.  They may drive recklessly, pick fights and even commit more serious crimes.

Transiting from this manic state comes with feelings of shame, then swinging into depression he is starts to have feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness and fatigue. In this state the person even becomes suicidal.

Some have connected this disorder to chemical imbalances in the brain, but no one knows what causes these imbalances.

If you feel you, a colleague at work  or someone close to you may have this condition contact a mental health professional immediately  (psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist ).

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Simple Back Care

Back care is clearly a case of "prevention is better than cure". It's always better to prevent back injury than to treat it.

So what are the culprits of back pain? What would cause great discomfort and injury to your back? This is what should be at the top of your mind so be careful to avoid or control the following:

Common Causes of Back Pain

1.Weak muscles: not enough physical activity. Yeah yeah, you can't just sit behind your desk all day and think your back should understand.

2. Muscle Strain caused by too much or physical activities carried out with harmful techniques.

3. Poor/Bad postural habits.

So what should you do to protect your back muscles?

Practice good lifting techniques. 

• Always be conscious about what and how you should lift an object. Does it look too heavy? Would you be needing help? 
• Lift objects close to your body rather than with your arms outstretched.
• Stand with one foot slightly in front of the other for balance.
• Slowly bend your knees and NOT your back, so your legs do the lifting.
• Lift the object while straightening your legs till you are standing straight.
• Take care to also bend your knees while putting the object down.

Watch your weight

Extra weight places extra stress on your back muscles. You don't need the "pot belly".

Adopt Good Posture at all Times

• Whatever the position you find yourself; sitting , standing, sleeping there are the "good, bad and ugly" for your back.
• Always sit with a back support. Yes you should use one in the office if your seat doesn't give adequate support to your lower back.
• Avoid sitting for long periods; take stretching and walking breaks.
• Drive with your back straight against the seat and close enough to the steering. Your bent knees should be at a slightly higher level than your hips.u to stand for long periods.
• Don't stand for long periods; take stretching and walking breaks if your job requires you standing for long periods.
• Better to lie on your back or side than on your tummy. Use adequate pillow support for your head/neck, back and between your legs if you are on your side. 
• Lie on a firm mattress. 

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Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

Sexual harassment is one incident in the office that can affect the social,emotional, psychological health and eventually the performance of an employee. It should not be taken lightly and proper structures should be put in place to aid free flow of complaints and handling of this issue.


Sexual harassment simply doesn't go away on its own. It may begin as something small, but it is an issue that rapidly develops into a large problem. For example, imagine one day your boss makes an inappropriate comment to you one, and you simply ignore it. By ignoring it, your boss may think that it doesn't bother you, so she/he will continue it. Since she/he already has boundary issues, she/he may then take it to the next step, touching you in subtle ways, such as standing closer than you're comfortable, rubbing your back, or brushing his or her hand across a part of your body. Without doing something to put a stop to this behavior, it will only continue to get worse because the harasser will believe that you don't have a problem with it. 


The longer it happens, the greater the risk of moving from sexual harassment to sexual assault or rape. This example clearly shows how vital it is to stop sexual harassment before it gets out of control.


If an employee feels sexually harassed there are some things that can be done to make the situation better:
Keep a journal:Begin writing the events down as soon as they begin happening.
Talk about it :Let people you trust know what has happened to you. 
Confront the harasser


Every employee should be aware of what sexual harassment is, and should be alert to its presence in the workplace, trusting their feelings about the issue, and not being afraid to take action to resolve it if it is present.




source

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Three Minutes of Exercise A Week Could Prevent Diabetes!

Just one minute of exercise a day could prevent diabetes, researchers claimed yesterday.

Performing short cycle sprints three times a week could be enough to prevent and possibly treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels build up to dangerously high levels due to reduced insulin function, often caused by a sedentary lifestyle.

Dr Niels Vollaard, who is leading the study at the University of Bath, says:

 “Our muscles have sugar stores, called glycogen, for use during exercise. To restock these after exercise, the muscle needs to take up sugar from the blood. In inactive people there is less need for the muscles to do this, which can lead to poor sensitivity to insulin, high blood sugar levels, and eventually type 2 diabetes. We already knew that very intense sprint training can improve insulin sensitivity but we wanted to see if the exercise sessions could be made easier and shorter.”

Dr Vollaard, who is also part of the team said: 

“We know of no quicker and easier way of getting the muscles to use glycogen than with the short sprints we used in our study. These sprints break down as much glycogen in 20 seconds as moderate endurance exercise would in an hour. This is completely new. No one has ever found a programme this easy and short to provide health benefits. At the moment it has only been done in lab conditions but it would be easy to create a bike that does this in a gym setting.

It could even be done in the workplace.”

So if you spend all your day at the office seated behind a PC with practically no activity, you should consider getting a stationary bike where you could break down glycogen from your muscles and mop up excess blood sugar!

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Important Points to Note About Organizing Office First Aid

Important Points to Note

Ø  Every organization should have at least one staff that has gone through first aid training theoretically and practically.

Ø  Every office should have a first box, and depending on the population, two or three offices could share one.

Ø  Check your first aid box in six months if it has not been used to check expiry dates and the condition of your materials.

Ø   Replace materials as often they are used.

Ø  Warning/Safety signs are helpful in preventing accidents. For example, place signs on your glass doors, pointing to stairways, a dead end or an elevation on the floor.

Ø  Emergency buttons can be placed strategically to ensure speedy response to emergencies.

Ø  Have first aid Handbooks within the reach of every staff.

Ø If you are not sure what to do, don’t do anything. Just all for your in house first aider or the ambulance.

Ø Always avoid contact with body fluids like blood or serum, wear protective gloves.

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Why this Job?

You are satisfied with your job when you achieve the fullest measure of contentment with what you do and everything about it. Do you love what you do? Do you love how you do what you do?

Job satisfaction leads to the elimination of tension and boredom in the workplace which will improve your efficiency in your organization.

How to Achieve and Maintain Job Satisfaction

1.     Ensure You are in The Right Job

What are your preferences? What are your interests? Are you an extrovert or introvert? Do you prefer dealing with people directly or dealing with things? Some Lawyers deal with people directly while others prefer developing legal documentations. They are both lawyers but with different interests and strengths.

If you love your profession but not your job, you may have to change your method and “adjust” your job description. You may even be a doctor; you love helping people, but the hospital environment is not just working for you. You may function better in a community or public health setting. It all lies within your preferences and strengths.

2. Ensure You are Consistently Improving Yourself

Probably when you got this job, it was the best fit ever. Everything just fell in place; your skills, interests and strengths…but now you feel bored and dull. What could have gone wrong? All you need is more “wood in your fire”.

To maintain your zeal you have to keep feeding yourself with information on what you’re passionate about. Study more about your career and venture into new areas. Take up new challenges and try new methods in your field. I don’t know of any top chef who doesn’t take up the challenge of coming up with new recipes.

You can’t keep doing the same things the same way, day in, day out, you’ll get bored! Try something new, do something extra. You’ll be better for it.

The brain has an instinctual urge for new experiences; learning helps your brain grow and thrive.

3.     Ensure You have Personal Retreats

The path of self discovery should be a deliberate road you choose to walk. You need to take time off to reflect; on yourself, your job and your life in general. Give yourself an appraisal! That will not happen on regular work weeks, so I’ll advise you do this during your leave. If you can take up to three breaks off work, every year, that would be great.

During this retreats you will come up with amazing ideas to improve yourself, relate with others and execute your job or business. You may even come up with a solution to that nagging issue in your office! During these times of self reflection, acknowledge also the little blessings in your life, including your workplace.

Having time to reflect helps you reason and analyze better without distractions. This job may actually be the right one for you!

In whatever job situation you find yourself you must realize that a high remuneration will never give you the contentment you so desire. Satisfaction is an inner desire that needs to be fed from inside. It comes from doing what you were born to do.

What were you born to do?

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Pregnant in the Office? 5 Points To Remember

Being pregnant in the office means different things to different women and even employers. However, I insist that pregnancy is not a disease and its better you are in the right frame of mind during this period.
Some women don't have a hint of morning sickness, while a few are in and out of the hospital. About 70% of women experience morning sickness in the first three months. But which ever category you fall into, if you choose to continue working here are a few helpful hints to remember.

Inform your Employer: don't wait till your "bump" starts showing before the cat is let out of the bag.Inform your employers and let them know how committed you are to remaining on the job. It's also a good time to let them know if you plan on quitting when the baby comes. Whatever the situation, give them time to plan.

Morning Sickness: Let your colleagues and supervisor ( if they don't already  know) that you may be a little "harassed" for about three months, but it shouldn't bother them. Keep towels and mouthwash in your car and office drawer for "pukes".

Remain Focused: Avoid reeling out complaints about body aches, swollen legs, fatigue and all other stuff. You don't want to give the impression that you are handicapped. Save those complaints for your doctor (and hubby). Get as much information about body changes when pregnant so you understand what is going on.

Exercise: Moving around every few hours would help to ease muscle tension and improve blood circulation. Avoid standing for prolonged periods, excessive noise and vibrations, heavy lifting and exposure to harmful chemicals(depending on where you work)

Ante-Natal:Remember to attend ante-natal regularly, always inform your supervisor ahead of time.

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