Preventing Crib Deaths

Each year, the United States alone, over 8,000 to 10,000 children die – not because of accidents or infectious diseases ¬ tious, it is not enough to wake up from sleep. ”This condition is called sudden death syndrome in infants ¬ drome (SIDS) and is the most common cause of death in childhood. SIDS usually occurs in boys during the third or fourth month of life. Its cause remains a mystery. Generally, a seemingly healthy infant – usually between the ages of two and four months – is put to bed one night and found dead the next morning. Even if an autopsy is performed, the precise cause often remains a mystery and may leave parents trying to cope with guilt, wondering what they could do to prevent the tragic death of their baby, “said Dr. David E. Larson, editor of the “Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.” Parents should not blame themselves for SIDS, because it is not caused by anything they can prevent. Contrary to popular belief, crib death is not the result of stifling ¬ ment in bedding, choking on food, vomit or bottle-feeding. Is not a slight cold make your child susceptible to SIDS ¬ ible. Instead, an autopsy revealed May ¬ Un Certain anomalies detected. ”While finding a single cause of SIDS have not been fruitful, the researchers found several physiologic abnormalities that appear more com ¬ common in many children with this syndrome. Among them, abnormalities of central nervous system are abnor ¬ evil heart rate, muscle tone abnormalities, a defect in the autonomic nervous system, and abnormal pauses in breathing (apnea) during sleep. An autopsy is often very useful to determine if a specific cause of the death occurs, “said Larson. Other factors may play a role in SIDS prema ¬ ture birth, smoking or consumption of cocaine or heroin by the mother during pregnancy, and weather. More crib deaths occur in the cold days in summer. The condition is also more common among blacks and American Indians. Studies suggest that the risk of crib death is higher among babies who sleep stomach down on mats made of natural fibers, especially if they are packed tightly and stay in over ¬ heated rooms. However, all children who die of SIDS fit into the category above. Many of those outside the group at high risk of dying from SIDS, all the same, suggesting that other factors or a combination of factors may be involved. ”Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than are babies who sleep on their backs. Most at risk are babies who are accustomed to sleeping on his back and shifted to stomach sleeping. At one time, doctors recommended stomach sleeping because babies rest more deeply in this position. But he knows now that sleep stomach greatly increases the risk of a baby, “according to the Mayo Clinic. ”Researchers also continue to study the link between SIDS and long QT syndrome, a subtle electrical disturbance in the heart leading to stroke, heart rate very quickly. A 2007 study revealed that almost one in 10 babies died of SIDS had a genetic defect in one of the genes responsible for long QT syndrome. If you have a history of SIDS in your family, your doctor will ask you to verify the presence of long QT syndrome in your infant. This can usually be made with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and confirmed, if necessary, with genetic studies, “added the Mayo Clinic. No matter how you look, the death of a child is always a tragic experience and one that is not easily forgotten. To reduce the risk of SIDS, pregnant women should avoid smoking and using drugs like heroin or cocaine. To strengthen your body, take Immunitril – your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For more information, visit http://www. bodestore. com / immunitril. html.