The first thing you should be aware of is how a healthy body should function. Many people may have declining health and never realize it because they normally feel a certain way. Just because your body feels the same way day to day is not a sign of good health. A healthy individual has good endurance, the ability to stay awake all day without feeling the need to take a nap under normal conditions, and has no symptoms of poor health.  There are also other factors that should be accounted. Someone with a healthy body is much less likely to feel depressed. Depression can be triggered by many things, but a decline of health is one of them. If you are unable to feel content or happy, there may be physical problems coupled with the emotional ones.

Some signs of poor health include aching muscles, a constant feeling of exhaustion, the inability to go through a day without feeling like a nap or sleep through mid-day is necessary, as well as a weakened immune system. A gain or loss of weight can also be a symptom of poor health. However, due to the natural variations between people, it is important to know that not all of these symptoms mean health is bad. For example, a weak immune system can be a hereditary trait that cannot be cured. Lower endurance is also something that is directly related to physical exercise. If you are not certain if your symptoms are the result of an illness or a lack of exercise and poor diet, it is strongly recommended that you ask your doctor. Many cases of poor health can be resolved through simple changes in diet and a little discipline on what is consumed on a daily basis.

What are the symptoms of rotavirus? The symptoms of rotavirus usually include the following:

Lethargy
Diarrhea
Fever
Vomiting

Although rotavirus can cause a great deal of discomfort there is really no specific treatment. A physician may prescribe medication to alleviate fever and diarrhea. Rotavirus usually runs its course within a week or so. Rotavirus is highly contagious and is usually transmitted through the stool by improper hygiene such as neglecting to wash the hands after going to the bathroom. Good hygiene is the best preventive measure against rotavirus. Parents should always be certain to wash their hands after changing diapers and children should be taught proper hygiene as well. Begin teaching children early to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating. The sooner you start teaching proper hygiene the more easily your children will develop good hygiene habits.

Children may become infected with rotavirus repeatedly but eventually immunity is acquired. The biggest concern regarding rotavirus is the possibility of dehydration. Any time there is vomiting and diarrhea there is always the risk of dehydration. It is important to make sure infants and young children do not suffer from dehydration. It is important to drink plenty of fluids. Children can be given Gatorade. Infants may be given Pedialyte to replenish minerals and nutrients lost through diarrhea and vomiting. Dehydration can be a serious concern even for adults but especially for infants and children.

Although rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea and vomiting there can also be symptoms of many other conditions. Diagnosis is usually made through examination of a stool specimen. As mentioned before rotavirus does run its course usually within a week. In the meantime bed rest and plenty of fluids can help to keep your child comfortable. There is a vaccine called RotaTeq that can help protect your child against rotavirus. Studies indicate that the vaccine is very effective. If your child has not received the vaccine ask your physician about RotaTeq and take steps to protect your child against rotavirus.

Vitamin A & The Prevention of Night Blindness

In the human eye, the retina is responsible for converting light into the nerve impulses that the brain interprets as vision.  If the rod cells of the retina do not get appropriate amounts of vitamin A, their ability to absorb light is impaired.  Scientists call this condition “impaired dark adaptation” but you know it simply as “night blindness”.

If vitamin A deficiency is severe enough, or continues for an extended length of time, permanent damage to the conjunctiva and corneas can result.  In fact, vitamin A deficiency (and the damage it causes to the eyes) is the leading cause of blindness in children growing up in developing countries.

Vitamin A & Immunity

Researchers know that children who are only mildly deficient in vitamin A are at higher risks for asthma, diarrhea and other childhood ailments.  They’re also more likely to die from infections like measles than children getting appropriate amounts of vitamin A in their diets.

Vitamin A is vital for immunity in adults, too.  One study found that expectant mothers with HIV were up to four times more likely to pass the infection on to their unborn children if the mothers were vitamin A deficient.

Vitamin A & Cancer

Can vitamin A lower your susceptibility of certain types of cancer?  Researchers think so.  While the scientific evidence is presently scant, a few in vitro studies have suggested that vitamin A may reduce the growth of breast cancer cells.

How Much Vitamin A Do You Need?

Vitamin A is absolutely vital to good health but too much vitamin A is also associated with birth defects, an increased risk of lung cancer and a condition doctors call hypervitaminosis A.  Because the body doesn’t rid itself of excess vitamin A easily, excessive doses of the nutrient can build up in the body and lead to nausea, headaches, dry skin even a buildup of fluid in the brain.

Today, the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin A is 300 mcg for infants and preschoolers, 400 mcg for children and up to 600 mcg for pre-teens.  The specific recommendation for teens and adults varies and ranges from 700 to 1300 mcg.

References:

Office of Dietary Supplements.  (2006).  Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids.

Higdon, J.  (2003).  Vitamin A.