Saturday, September 6, 2014

Arnold Chiari Type 1 Malformation

Children with chiari malformation have an abnormality in their brain. The part of the brain that is affected is known as the cerebellum. This area is responsible for motor control, balance and muscle tone. The cerebellum is located in the lower part of the brain. Think of it as the area right behind your upper ear.

There are different types of chiri malformation. Most kids who are affected have tonsillar herniation. This is also known as Arnold-Chiari malformation. You may also see it referred to as tonsillar ectopia. In this condition, the cerebellar tonsils are herniated, or hang down into the spinal canal.

Since the cerebellar tonsils are in the wrong position, they can cause several symptoms. Children may have headaches throughout the day. Sometimes, when a child coughs or sneezes, the pain is made worse. Young people may also experience dizziness, problems with their eyesight and muscle weakness.

If the pain and other symptoms are mild a pediatrician may just recommend conservative management of the condition. However in some cases, surgery is necessary. Surgeons may do a procedure known as a posterior fossa decompression. This creates more space in the skull for children with Arnold chiari type 1 malformation.

Healthy Slow Cooker Recipe Book- Cooking a Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot with Gooseberry Patch

Many consumers today would like access to a healthy slow cooker recipe book. This would serve as a useful guide for preparing pork, turkey, beef and more in a crock pot. If you want to learn about cooking a whole chicken in a crock pot, the book 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes will help you to do that.

The guide is produced by Gooseberry Patch and each recipe is accompanied by a photo. You will see recipes for meat based dishes such as Chipotle shredded beef. There are also instructions for preparing bread pudding, chowder and lasagna in a crock pot. If you have not prepared Tex-Mex chili dogs using this method before, you will learn how from this book.

There is a drawback to using 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes. If you are fond of using fresh seasonings, you will not use the recipes often because they rely on a lot of packaged seasonings. You will have to make the appropriate fresh substitutions for the powdered spices.

Apart from that, you should find the book interesting and useful. This healthy slow cooker recipe book is available on kindle so you can check your ingredients while you are shopping for groceries.
The link to “101 Slow-Cooker Recipes” is an affiliate link and I will earn from any sales generated through it.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Jamaica Autism Support Association Activities

The Jamaica Autism Support Association is one of the organizations in the island which works to improve knowledge of the disorders that can affect people during their younger years. The association has been in existence for more than five years and has helped to raise awareness of autism throughout the country.

The support group was founded by parents who have autistic children. The president is Cathy Chang, who is also a co-founder. The group also consists of caregivers and other professionals who work with individuals with autism. More than 200 people are a part of the Association at present.

The Jamaica Autism Support Association hosts a wide range of family activities as well. Some of these are sponsored by corporate bodies in the Caribbean island. For example, Digicel, the Jamaica Surfing Association and the Rotary Club of Trafalgar New Heights have worked with the Association to host an annual day of surfing.

The most recent event was held in 2013 at Cable Hut Beach in St. Thomas, Jamaica. St. Thomas offers excellent opportunities for surfing. The parish hosts the largest competitive surfing event in the English speaking Caribbean. Kids at the day of surfing were able to interact with professional surfers and learn new skills.

The Jamaica Autism Support Association hosts activities that attract attention, are fun and are educational. Emancipation Park in Jamaica is located in the center of business activities in Kingston, the nation’s capital. The Association held a balloon release in the park one Saturday, to recognize World Autism Awareness Day. The colorful, biodegradable balloons lit up the April day and produced great photo opportunities and smiles on the faces of onlookers.

The organization hosts workshops for parents, teachers and other stakeholders. The group publishes information on their blog, and hosts regular autism group support meetings. You can visit the Jamaica Autism Support Association at their website, Jamaicaautism.org.

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia Information

Chiari Malformation and syringomyelia are related conditions. In the former, the cerebellar tonsils are not in their proper location. Instead, they hang down into the spinal column through the opening at the base of the skull. This dislocation causes symptoms such as headaches and problems with movement.

In many cases, people with Arnold Chiari Type 1 malformation also develop a fluid filled sac called a syrinx. The condition where someone has this syrinx is known as syringomyelia.

Doctors can detect this fluid filled sac by using diagnostic imaging. The pressure that builds up in the syrinx can damage the spinal cord over time.

Some cases of Chiari Malformation are more severe than others in terms of the dislocation of the cerebellar tonsils and this is why some people can manage the condition with painkillers, while others have to do surgery. Doctors may also opt to release the fluid associated with the syringomyelia by using drainage tubes. If necessary, your physician may also recommend a decompression operation.