Maintaining a regular exercise routine throughout pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feel your best. It can also improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts like backaches and fatigue. There is evidence that it may prevent gestational diabetes, it defiantly relieves stress, and builds more stamina needed for labor and delivery. If you were physically active before your pregnancy at least for some time, you should be able to continue your activity with modifications as necessary. You can exercise at your former level as long as you are comfortable and have your doctor's approval. Low impact aerobics are encouraged versus high impact as I mentioned to you last week. with or without me there- Do not let your heart rate exceed 140 beats per minute.

Pregnant women that have never exercised regularly before, can safely begin an exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with a health care provider. Do not try a new, strenuous activity. Walking and swimming are considered safe to initiate when pregnant. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week, unless you have a medical or obstetric complication.


Who Should Not Exercise?

If you have a medical problem, such as asthma, heart disease or uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes, exercise may not be advisable during pregnancy. Exercise may also be harmful if you have an obstetric condition such as:

    • Bleeding or spotting
    • Weak cervix

Avoid aerobic exercise during pregnancy if you have:

    • Hemodynamically significant heart disease
    • Restrictive lung disease
    • Incompetent cervix/cerclage
    • Multiple gestation at risk for premature labor
    • Persistent second- or third-trimester bleeding
    • Placenta previa after 26 weeks of gestation
    • Premature labor during the current pregnancy
    • Ruptured membranes
    • Preeclampsia/pregnancy-induced hypertension
 

Take precautions with aerobic exercise during pregnancy if you have:

    • Severe anemia
    • Unevaluated maternal cardiac arrhythmia
    • Chronic bronchitis
    • Poorly controlled type 1 diabetes
    • Extreme morbid obesity
    • Extreme underweight (BMI <12)
    • History of extremely sedentary lifestyle
    • Intrauterine growth restriction in current pregnancy
    • Poorly controlled hypertension
    • Orthopedic limitations
    • Poorly controlled seizure disorder
    • Poorly controlled hyperthyroidism
    • Heavy smoker

Public health officials are warning of an outbreak of the intestinal parasite cyclospora, commonly found in imported produce and causing food poisoning-like symptoms.

So far 83 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada in Ontario, B.C., Quebec and Alberta. Officials have not yet determined the source of this outbreak but say past outbreaks in Canada and the U.S. have been due to imported produce, specifically pre-packaged salad mix, basil, cilantro, berries, mesclun lettuce and snow peas.

“Cyclospora is a microscopic single-celled parasite that is passed in people’s feces. If it comes in contact with food or water, it can infect the people who consume it. This causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis,” the Public Health Agency reports.

Food may become contaminated with cyclospora during the growth, harvesting or transportation phases, particularly by contact with infected food handlers during packaging or through contaminated irrigation or tap water.

The outbreak appears to have begun in May and the last reported case was on July 18. Most cases have been seen in Ontario, however there have been three reported in B.C., five in Quebec and one in Alberta.

Protect yourself

Because abstaining for imported produce is difficult for many people throughout Canada, the Public Health Agency suggests a number of ways to mitigate chances of ingesting cyclospora.

Consumers should follow these safety tips when handling food:

• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them, clean counters and cutting boards and wash your hands regularly.
• Keep refrigerators clean and at a temperature below 4 °C (40 °F). Install a thermometer in your fridge to be sure.
• Keep raw food away from other food while shopping, storing, preparing and serving foods.
• Read labels and follow cooking and storage instructions for all food. When buying food, make sure to check the “best before” date, and if the product has expired, let the store know.
• Use warm soapy water to clean knives, cutting boards, utensils, your hands and any surfaces that have come in contact with food, especially meat and fish.
• Refrigerate or freeze perishable food within two hours of cooking.
• Freeze or consume leftovers within four days of cooking. Always reheat leftovers until steaming hot before eating.

Source article: http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/08/intestinal-parasite-cyclospora-outbreak-linked-to-imported-produce/