Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Overview

It can be difficult to diagnose fetal alcohol syndrome. There isn’t a direct test for FAS and pregnant people may not give a complete history of all alcohol intake during pregnancy.

Pediatric providers can often make a diagnosis of FAS based on the size of a child, specific physical signs and symptoms that develop through childhood, including:

History of alcohol use by the child’s mother during pregnancy.
Abnormal facial features — a smooth connection between the nose and upper lip, a thin upper lip and small eyes.
Small size at birth and throughout childhood.
Emotional and behavioral issues like difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and poor judgment.

Symptoms of FAS can resemble those found in other disorders, including:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Williams syndrome.

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Symptoms

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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