If you thought "morning sickness" was confined to sunrise, think again! Most pregnancy's popular label doesn't play by the clock, proving it's more than just an early-bird experience. Pregnancy is a journey filled with excitement, anticipation, and a fair share of challenges. Among these challenges is the phenomenon of morning sickness, a common experience for up to 80% of pregnant women. Characterized by nausea and vomiting, this condition often strikes in the early stages of pregnancy.

Despite its name, morning sickness is not limited to the morning, leading many to question why it is called such. This article explores the nuances of morning sickness, its causes, symptoms, and why it earned its misleading moniker.

What Is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is a condition characterized by nausea and vomiting that is usually present in pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. Even though it is often one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, it can continue all day. In most cases, symptoms abate during the second trimester, but for a small percentage of women, discomfort persists until delivery.

It is more common in women with multiple pregnancies, and its symptoms can range from mild to extreme. In some cases, the condition presents itself as hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme condition requiring medical treatment.

Why Is It Called 'Morning' Sickness?

The name "morning sickness" originated from the fact that the condition is most active when waking up. This can be partly because of the physical changes a pregnant woman experiences during this time.

Low Blood Sugar: Blood sugar levels are usually at their lowest in the morning, and pregnancy exacerbates these drops because of the increased energy demands of the growing fetus.

Hormonal Fluctuations: The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) peaks during early pregnancy and may stimulate nausea, particularly after periods of fasting, such as overnight.

Digestive Changes: Higher progesterone levels cause a relaxing effect in the stomach and intestines. Stomach acids begin to build up inside, leading to nausea. While this happens, "morning sickness" is somewhat of a misnomer since 2% of women actually say they have all symptoms confined strictly to the morning. Others call for it to be renamed to "all-day sickness.".

Interestingly, morning sickness may have an evolutionary purpose. Researchers theorize that it acts as a protective mechanism, steering pregnant women away from foods that could harm the developing fetus. Foods like raw eggs, poultry, and certain meats are often avoided due to their potential for contamination, which aligns with the aversions many women experience during pregnancy.

What Causes Morning Sickness?

The exact reason for morning sickness is unknown; however, several are thought to cause it:

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes and the high concentration of hCG and estrogen present during pregnancy result in nausea and vomiting. Thyroid Hormones The rapid change in thyroxine levels as caused by the increase in hCG can stimulate digestion and can increase symptoms of nausea. Hypoglycemia Low sugar levels in blood, especially post-fasting can worsen the nausea.

Genetics

A family history of morning sickness may predispose a woman to it. Symptoms of Morning Sickness Morning sickness usually manifests as:

Nausea with or without vomiting. Aversion to certain smells or foods. Symptoms are most severe in the first trimester but can last longer.

While typically tolerable, more severe forms may need to be treated by a doctor due to dehydration or substantial weight loss.

Also Read: Waking Up With Nausea In The Morning? Surprising Causes Beyond Pregnancy And Solutions

What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

For fewer than 1% of pregnant women, morning sickness escalates into hyperemesis gravidarum, characterized by:

- Severe nausea and vomiting.

- Loss of more than 5% of pre-pregnancy body weight.

- Electrolyte imbalances.

It may need hospitalization for hydration and nutritional supplementation.

Other Possible Causes of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

Not all nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are caused by morning sickness. Other conditions that mimic its symptoms include: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Thyroid disorders. Gallbladder disease. Appendicitis or pancreatitis. A proper diagnosis should be undertaken by a healthcare provider if the symptoms are not following the typical pattern of morning sickness.

How to Live with Morning Sickness

Even though morning sickness can't be avoided entirely, some remedies help ease symptoms:

Eating small, frequent meals to keep blood sugar stable

Avoiding foods and smells that cause a reaction

Staying hydrated with water and electrolyte-rich fluids

Taking ginger or vitamin B6 supplements as directed by a healthcare provider

When to See a Doctor

Medical doctors will be needed to give stronger anti-nausea drugs when needed for very serious cases. Though termed "morning sickness," most women get nausea throughout their pregnancies. There isn't clear consensus about its etiology; it's mostly known to result from hormonal fluctuations, low blood sugar, and perhaps a component of evolution.

Education about this illness and causes could better guide many pregnant women on how to make the phase as painless as possible.

Most morning sickness subsides as the pregnancy advances, and a healthier, more comfortable path to motherhood is opened up.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for concerns about pregnancy-related symptoms.

Morning sickness in pregnancy: mini review of possible causes with proposal for monitoring by diagnostic methods

The past year we have observed more and more incorporation of AI in different aspects of our life. Not just for writing or making pictures, it is also now being used to identify people’s faces through facial recognition software, helping in documentation as well as in medicine. New software are being developed to assist medical professionals, not only does this help them identify diseases but also speeds up the process.

Having AI in medicine could also lower the cost and help many people get the help they need. This has led researchers to look for different ways to teach AI how to recognize and diagnose issues. One such disease that can cause people blindness, could actually be identified by AI, according to new research.

A new study has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately predict which patients with a condition called keratoconus need treatment to save their vision. This research, presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), is a major breakthrough for managing this eye disease, which often affects young adults. The findings were shared at a major conference for eye surgeons.

What is Keratoconus?

Keratoconus is an eye condition where the cornea, the clear, front part of the eye, starts to bulge outwards and change shape. This causes vision to become blurry and distorted. If the condition gets worse, a person might eventually need a cornea transplant, which is a major surgery.

Right now, doctors can only track the disease by having patients come in for frequent check-ups over many years. This is time-consuming for both the patient and the hospital. The main treatment, called cross-linking, is very successful at stopping the disease, but doctors haven't had a reliable way to know which patients will get worse and need the treatment right away versus those who can just be watched.

How the AI Algorithm Works For Medicine

Researchers from a London eye hospital and a university created an AI program to help with this problem. They trained the AI using over 36,000 images of patients' eyes taken with a special scanner. The AI looked at these images and other patient data to learn how to predict the disease's future course.

The AI's performance was very impressive. It was able to correctly sort patients into two groups from their very first visit: a low-risk group that didn't need immediate treatment, and a high-risk group that did. The AI was correct about two-thirds of the time. When the researchers added data from a second visit, the AI's accuracy jumped to 90%, meaning it was right nine out of ten times.

Patient Care

This new AI tool could change how doctors treat keratoconus. By using the AI to identify high-risk patients early, doctors could perform the preventative cross-linking treatment before vision gets worse. This would help patients avoid vision loss and the need for a major surgery like a corneal transplant.

For low-risk patients, the AI would prevent them from having to make unnecessary and frequent hospital visits, which would also free up doctors and hospital resources. The researchers are now working on making the AI even better, with the goal of using it to help with other eye problems as well, such as infections and inherited diseases.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging British tourists to take one simple step to prevent their autumn holiday from being "ruined" by illness. Amid a potential rise in infections this year, the agency is advising travelers to make sure they are protected against measles before heading abroad.

What is Measles?

Measles is a very contagious illness that can make you feel quite sick. It's caused by a virus and can be serious, sometimes leading to dangerous problems like brain swelling or pneumonia. The best way to protect yourself and others is to get the measles vaccine. The first signs of measles can feel like a bad cold or flu. You might have:

• High fever
• A cough
• Runny nose
• Red or watery eyes
• Tirednes
• Sore throat and muscle pain

Are Measles Cases Rising Globally?

Measles is a highly contagious illness that can cause a fever, a cough, red eyes, and a rash. It can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that measles cases in Europe have reached a 25-year high, with over 127,000 cases reported last year. More than half of these cases required hospitalization, and there were 38 recorded deaths.

The UKHSA issued a message on social media platform X, stating, "Planning an autumn or winter getaway? Don't let measles ruin your holiday. Two doses of the #MMR vaccine give you full protection, and you can catch up at your GP practice if you've missed any."

Why Vaccination Is Key For Measles

Getting vaccinated against measles is a critical step in staying healthy. Measles isn't just a simple rash; it's a serious illness that can lead to severe, life-threatening problems like pneumonia (a lung infection), meningitis (brain inflammation), and even blindness.

The good news is that the MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing measles, as well as mumps and rubella. In the UK, all children are offered this vaccine, and two doses can give you protection for life. If you're not sure if you or your child has had the vaccine, you can contact your local doctor's office (GP surgery), which can provide it for free. Health experts emphasize that when more people are vaccinated, it protects everyone, especially those who can't get the vaccine themselves.

What Measles Looks Like: How To Identify Measles?

According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention, a measles rash is a key sign of the illness, and it has a very specific pattern. It usually begins as flat, red spots on your face near the hairline. Over the next few days, it will spread downwards to cover your neck, body, arms, and legs.

Facial Rash: The rash often appears as small, red, raised spots on the forehead and cheeks. It might look different depending on a person's skin tone. as small, red, raised spots. It can look different on various skin tones.

Body Rash: The rash won't stay on your face; it will spread across your entire body.

Other Symptoms: The rash is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as a runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough.

Healing: As you start to recover, the rash will fade, and your skin may begin to peel or flake off.

Koplik spots: One of the earliest signs of measles is tiny white spots with a bluish center that show up inside the mouth. These are called Koplik spots and often appear a few days before the main rash.

If you smoke or around people who smoke, you may have heard them exclaim how smoking makes them lose appetite and helps them lose weight. If you are a person who struggles with weight gain, this logic may appeal to you, however, it could affect you in a completely different way than you realize. Type 2 diabetes is more common than you may realize, more than 38 million Americans have diabetes and 90% to 95% of them have type 2 diabetes (CDC data).

One of the best ways to contain type 2 diabetes is by losing weight. If you think that smoking could be a way to lose this weight, you may want to re-think that.

New research suggests that smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, regardless of the specific subtype a person might have. This study, which combines data from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, also found that people with a genetic risk for diabetes are even more vulnerable to the negative effects of smoking.

What Are The Sub-Types of Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is not a one-size-fits-all condition. Researchers have proposed that it can be broken down into four distinct subtypes, each with different characteristics and health risks.

• SIRD (Severe Insulin-Resistant Diabetes): The body's cells do not respond well to insulin.
• SIDD (Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes): The body does not produce enough insulin.
• MOD (Mild Obesity-Related Diabetes): Linked to obesity, often starting at a younger age.
• MARD (Mild Age-Related Diabetes): Develops later in life.

How Does Smoking Affect Diabetes?

The study, which analyzed data from over 3,300 people with type 2 diabetes and almost 3,900 healthy individuals, found a strong connection between smoking and all four diabetes subtypes.

Increased Risk for All Subtypes

People who had ever smoked (current and past smokers) were at a higher risk of developing any of the four diabetes subtypes compared to non-smokers.

What Diabetes Was Linked To Smoking?

The connection was particularly strong for SIRD, the type of diabetes where the body resists insulin. Smokers were more than twice as likely (2.15 times) to develop SIRD than non-smokers. Smoking was also responsible for over a third of all SIRD cases in the study.

Heavy Smoking Increases Risk Further: Heavy smokers (those who smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for 15 years) had an even higher risk for all four subtypes, with the risk for SIRD being 2.35 times higher than for non-smokers.

Smokeless Tobacco: The study also found a link between heavy use of snus (a smokeless tobacco product) and an increased risk of the more severe diabetes subtypes (SIRD and SIDD) in men.

Could Your Genetics Put You At Higher Risk of Diabetes?

The research also explored how smoking affects people who are already at a high genetic risk for diabetes. The findings showed that heavy smokers with a genetic predisposition for poor insulin production were particularly vulnerable. For example, a heavy smoker with a high genetic risk for impaired insulin secretion was over three times more likely (3.52-fold) to develop SIRD compared to a person without these risk factors.

The study's overall conclusion is clear: smoking raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of which subtype a person is prone to developing.