Mercury occurs naturally in the environment, including waterways. bacteria in the water convert mercury to methylmercury, which is absorbed by fish low on the food chain and becomes concentrated in larger, longer living predatory fish at the top of the food chain. what can mercury exposure during pregnancy cause?

Mercury exposure during pregnancy can interfere with the normal embryonic nervous system development, resulting in cognitive (brain) impairment of the child.

Explanation:

Large, predatory fish such as shark, sword fish, king mackerel, tilefish, marlin, orange roughy and bigeye tuna are recommended to be avoided during pregnancy because they may have high concentrations of methylmercury.

Methylmercury is ingested by the mother and then crosses the placenta to reach the embryo. It acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the proper development of the nervous system during gestation.

The consequences of this exposure vary and can go from attention deficit to microcephaly; deficits in attention, cognition and motor skills have been observed.

Because fish are part of a nutritious and balanced diet, and provide many nutrients beneficial during pregnancy, it is not recommended to stop consumption of all fish while expecting.

In the Unites States of America, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) have issued advice on eating fish during pregnancy. They recommend eating 8 to 12 oz of seafood low-in-mercury per week and to avoid the large fish enlisted on the first paragraph.

activity

the category "activity" includes exercise, rest and sleep. there is much confusion about the role that exercise and sleep play in health. like diet, activity is an area where each person can take control.    

vigorous physical activity puts demands on all body systems to work harder. the body responds to these demands by becoming stronger and more efficient. the health benefits of exercise include improved metabolism, increased muscle and bone strength, more efficient cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) function, larger lung capacity, tension reduction, and improved sleep.

the most efficient way to obtain these benefits is through regular aerobic exercise. aerobic exercise involves the large muscles of the body, particularly the legs. examples include brisk walking, jogging, swimming and bike riding. exercise is most enjoyable when it is incorporated into recreation and becomes a regular part of your normal daily activities.

the benefits of regular aerobic activity are becoming more widely understood and accepted; however, the benefits of sleep are often ignored. sleep deprivation can suppress the body's immune system, and has been associated with depression. healing activity is accentuated during sleep. two aspects of sleep must be considered: quality and quantity.

many people just don't allow enough time for sleep. they regard it as a waste of time and use drugs such as caffeine to stimulate their exhausted bodies into action. some people allow plenty of time for sleep, but the quality of their sleep is poor. regular exercise is often effective in people improve their ability to fall asleep. physically fit people spend more of their sleeping time in deep sleep, and in rem (rapid eye movement), or dreaming sleep, the more restorative stages of sleep. people who are getting enough sleep wake spontaneously and feel refreshed.

psychology

psychological health is characterized by high self-esteem and is dependent on two primary features: productive activity and effective interpersonal skills.

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