Fetal alcohol syndrome Alcohol consumption has always been a serious public health problem that negatively affects all organs and functions of the human organism. During the last several decades the problem has attracted much attention of the society, as it was discovered that consumption of alcohol by pregnant women may cause development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome that leads to fatal malfunctions of practically all systems of unborn babies that can not be treated. Whenever a pregnant woman decides to have a drink her unborn baby always accompanies her. Alcohol easily penetrates through placenta into the organism of the baby and drastically affects it. Both spirit (ethanol) and its cleavage product such as acetic aldehyde are very harmful. Ethanol may cause vasospasm of placenta and umbilical cord that leads to oxygen lack of the fetus.
Acetic aldehyde lowers the level of zinc in fetuss cells and that prevents their growth and development. Acetic aldehyde can also cause mutation of DNA in the fetuss cells and that leads to inevitable malformation of organs and tissues. Besides, alcohol also causes lack of vitamins and disbolism. As a result many organs and systems of the fetus, but mostly central nervous system (including intellectual and behavioral sphere) suffer from it. In addition consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman considerably increases risk of habitual noncarrying of pregnancy, birth of small-for-date newborns, and in most serious cases it leads to development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
The Essay on Fetal Alcohol Fas 000 Pregnant
What do you think about drinking during pregnancy? Do you know what FAS is? Do you want your child to have FAS? Read on and I believe you will come to the same conclusion as I have about FAS. FAS doesn't sound so bad, but in reality it is. FAS means Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. FAS is a combination of physical and mental defects first evident at a baby's birth. FAS is a direct result of a woman ...
Now FAS is an extremely acute public problem which is proved by many scientific researches.
According to the estimations of the Institute of Medicine, the number of live births in the United States meeting criteria for a diagnosis of FAS range from 0.5 to 3 infants per 1000. Estimates of the number of children with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental deficits (ARND) are even higher, at approximately three times that of FAS making the estimated combined rate of FAS and ARND in the United States at least 9.1/1000 or approximately 1 in 100 children. Thus, prenatal alcohol exposure represents a serious medical and mental health problem. FAS is a disorder of fetus that is caused by prenatal alcohol affection. This syndrome is characterized by specific facial anomalies, physical and mental retardation, behavioral deviations, affects of heart and other organs. According to Fleming Fallon classic features of FAS include short stature, low birth weight and poor weight gain, microcephaly, and a characteristic pattern of facial features. Abnormal facial features usually include small eye openings, folds of tissue at the inner corner of the eye, small or short nose, low or flat nasal bridge, thin upper lip and small chin.
But it also should e kept in mind that some of these features are nonspecific, which means that they can also occur in other conditions, or be characteristic of age, racial, or family background. Other major and minor birth defects that have been reported include cleft palate, strabismus, hearing loss, congenital heart defects, defects of the spine and joints, alteration of the hand creases, and small fingernails and toenails. J.R. Hankin in Fetal alcohol syndrome prevention research points out two major types of alcohol related effects. They are alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and alcohol-related neuro-developmental disorder (ARND).
According to Fleming Fallon newborns with FAS may have difficulties with feeding due to a poor sucking ability, have irregular sleep-wake cycles, decreased or increased muscle tone, seizures, or tremors.
ARBD involves defects in several organ systems, such as the heart, kidney, vision, and hearing. ARND causes central nervous system developmental abnormalities and behavioral or cognitive abnormalities. J.R. Hankin indicates that prenatal exposure to alcohol increases the risk for internalizing disorders, including depression and negative self-cognitions (e.g., low self-esteem) in the offspring. Furthermore, many scientists give evidence that prenatal alcohol exposure may result in long-term neurocognitive disorders, such as problems with executive functions that make everyday life of children with FAS very difficult and sometimes frustrating. These disorders are manifested as difficulties in impulse control, memory problems, poor judgment, difficulties with daily living skills, difficulties with abstract reasoning skills, and poor social skills poor concentration, poor organizational skills, and poor decisionmaking skills. Finally, it is proven scientifically that adults who had been prenatally exposed to alcohol frequently suffer from mental disorders and maladaptive behaviors that make it difficult for them to be self-sufficient and independent. Unfortunately, such severe consequences is a common result of prenatal alcohol exposure.
The Essay on Fetal Alcohol Fas Syndrome Child
FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME Everyday and every hour a baby is born. But every year 5, 000 of the babies born have FAS. FAS stands for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is caused by mothers that consume alcohol during pregnancy. There is no specific amount of alcohol known to be safe during pregnancy so the best possible option is not to drink any alcoholic beverage during pregnancy. Three ...
But the most horrible thing is that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has an irreversible effect on unborn babies and practically can not be treated. That makes the whole society consider this problem seriously and combine efforts in finding right solutions. Sources: 1. O’Connor, M.J., Shah, B., Whaley, S., Cronin, P., Gunderson, B., Graham, J.(2002) Psychiatric illness in a clinical sample of children with prenatal alcohol exposure. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Nov, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2004, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0978/is _4_28/ai_95765051 2. Institute of Medicine.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment; National Academy Press: Washington, DC, 1997. 3. Hankin, J.R. (2002) Fetal alcohol syndrome prevention research. Alcohol Research & Health, Wntr, 2002. Retrieved September 29, 2004, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CXH/is _1_26/ai_90681221 4.
The Essay on Alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Should the drinking age be lowered? This question is one that has hounded us for decades. At age eighteen we are legal adults, we can join the military, vote, and anything else that any adult could legally do. So then why can we not drink till age 21? In my opinion we should not lower the drinking age. If we keep the drinking age to 21 we can save lives, save people from becoming addicted to ...
Fleming Fallon, L.(2002).
Fetal alcohol Syndrome. Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health. Retrieved September 29, 2004, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gGENH/is _/ai_2699003299.
