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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Best Prep for Pregnancy

Jan 30, 2025 04:57PM ● By Jerome Bilaos

Online Event and Expo Offers Fertility Guidance

Helping couples make informed decisions about their reproductive health, Best Prep for Pregnancy is a five-day online event and expo from March 25 through 29, featuring more than 30 experts and exhibitors. Attendees will gain insights into the root causes of female and male infertility, and learn about a whole-health approach to optimal fertility that protects parents and their babies. This immersive conference will offer a wealth of vital tips and solutions for those trying to conceive naturally or with the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing.

“Combining traditional and modern medicine offers a holistic approach to fertility, enhancing the chances of conception," says event host Dr. Susan Fox, a specialist in reproductive health with more than 23 years of experience. She will be joined by other notable speakers, including Dr. Sarah Green, a leading advocate for integrative fertility methods, and Dr. James Patel, a specialist in egg freezing and IVF technologies.

Sponsored by KnoWEWell and Natural Awakenings magazine, the event will include individual talks, interactive workshops and exhibitor presentations. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with professionals, ask questions and connect with others on similar journeys.

For more information or to register, visit BestPrep4Pregnancy.com. See ad, page 35.

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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