mom thing
Dads also get postpartum depression
(PPD). Sometimes it lasts until their
baby is a year old.
Not just a
The rate of PPD in new fathers is only slightly lower than
in new mothers, according to the Journal of the American
Medical Association. Expectations and responsibilities
that come with parenting are often to blame when either
parent is affected.
Fathers' hormone levels change after birth, too. A drop in
their testosterone levels and rise in estrogen and prolactin
levels can cause depression.
Awareness of risk factors and symptoms makes the
condition easier to spot. Risk factors for PPD in men
include personal or family history of clinical depression
or depressive episodes; lack of sleep; a stressful birth
experience; and feeling overwhelmed at work and home.
PPD symptoms in men include:
– increased anger, frustration and irritability;
– fatigue;
– unexplained sadness or crying;
– isolation from loved ones;
– alcohol or drug misuse or abuse;
– trouble concentrating or feeling motivated; and/or
– impulsive or risk-taking behavior.
Treatment includes individual or group counseling as well
as drug therapy.
For information about treatment options, visit
bit.ly/postpartumhelp.
Environmental causes of
autism
New research reveals
how fetal surroundings
can contribute to
the development
of autism spectrum
disorder (ASD).
ASD is often diagnosed in early childhood and refl ects
a wide range of symptoms. As with all developmental
brain disorders, a combination of environmental
and genetic factors affect whether a child will have
ASD. No single environmental or situational trigger
explains the rise in diagnosis, but factors that may
contribute include:
– Parental age. Babies of fathers in their 50s
and older have a relative risk that is two-thirds
higher than babies born to dads in their 20s,
according to a 2015 study published in the journal
Molecular Psychiatry.
– Pollution. Prenatal exposure to certain pesticides
or air pollution, such as that found near freeways
and other highly traffi cked areas, can result in
impaired mental and motor functions, according to
the International Journal of Occupational Medicine
and Environmental Health.
– Maternal infection or disease. This applies to
mothers who develop infections, like rubella, or
gestational diabetes.
Researchers know little about how a baby's in utero
environment contributes to the risk for ASD. A study
underway at the Feinstein Institute for Medical
Research hopes to help determine the risk in children
born to mothers with autoimmune disease during
pregnancy. The National Institutes of Health's
Environmental Infl uences on Child Health Outcomes
initiative has provided a $3 million grant for this study,
which will follow 4,500 pregnant women at Northwell
Health for two years.
For diagnosis and treatment of developmental and
behavioral issues, contact the specialists at Cohen
Children's Medical Center at–516-802-6100.
northwell.edu
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For him
To fi nd a physician near you, call 888-321-DOCS.