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Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!
Focus on health observances throughout the year.
Timely Topics:
Here's how to fight the "flu"...
Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...
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Down’s Syndrome
Description: Down’s syndrome, caused by an extra chromosome contributed by the father, or mother, is one of the most common forms of mental retardation. (The father may be the carrier of this chromosomal defect.) Down’s syndrome is sometimes accompanied by other birth defects, such as abnormalities of the heart.
Incidence: One in 1,000 live births
Prevalence: Males equally with females; occurs the same amount in all races
Signs and symptoms:
- Slanted eyes
- Larger tongue
- Smaller ears
- Heart murmur
- Delay in development
- Mentally slow (IQ usually forty to forty-five)
Risk factors:
- Risk increases with age of the mother at the time of conception (dramatic increase in risk as mother ages beyond thirty-five years old); risk higher if mother is the carrier (1:10) versus father (1:20).
Usual Treatment:
- Thorough evaluation of the child
- Education of the family/parents
Usual course: Delays in normal development that affect language, understanding, and later ability to be independent; premature aging; often experiences heart and bowel problems; shortened life span to about fifty to sixty years; dementia (Alzheimer’s) is common later in life
Spiritual Considerations:
· Serious spiritual implications exist when physicians encourage testing for Down syndrome and provide the option of terminating the pregnancy if the child will be born with it. Most mothers are asked if they want to have an amniocentesis (a test that can reveal the extra chromosome) and whether or not they would consider an abortion if the child has Down’s syndrome
· Provide spiritual support for mothers who are older and pregnant, knowing that this risk for the child is greatly increased.
· Take an active part in being present while parents undergo testing and decision-making that try their faith
· Encourage parents who make the difficult decision to raise a child with this disease that are usually loving, friendly, and a blessing to many people
Suggested scriptures: Psalms 73:23-26
Resources:
National Down’s Syndrome Congress
1-899-232-NDSC
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Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.
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