By Kristen Hutchinson Spytek, National CMV Foundation President via MotherToBaby C-M-V. Three letters that keep me up at night and shake me to the core. Three letters that have managed to routinely shatter my expectations, body slam my optimism, expose my vulnerability, alter my perspective and even now, force me to recalibrate daily. My daughter, Evelyn Grace, was born on…
Americans pay a high price in illnesses and deaths due to tobacco use. Unfortunately, even though smoking rates have declined over the years—from 20.9% in 2005 to 15.1% in 2015—tobacco use still results in far too many deaths, disabilities, and smoking-related illnesses in the United States. For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with…
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities.These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, or FASDs. People with FASDs can have learning disabilities, hyperactivity, difficulty with attention, speech and language delays, low IQ, and poor reasoning and judgment skills. They can also have problems with their organs, including…
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy: what are the risks to the baby? A mother’s drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities for the baby that can last a lifetime. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Some of the behavioral and intellectual disabilities of people with FASDs include:…
Tobacco smoking, in particular, cigarette smoking, remains the leading preventable cause of death among American women and poses one of the most significant threats to public health. 11 Harmful Effects of Smoking on Women’s Health Smoking also causes the following health problems for women who smoke: Decreased bone density Women who have gone through menopause and who smoke have lower…