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| Spina Bifida What Is It? |
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| Site Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spina bifida is a birth defect, in which the spine fails to close properly. Seven out of 10,000 babies are born with this serious birth defects, Spina Bifida. That means that over 3000 pregnancies annual are affected by Spina Bifida and related NTDs (neural tube defects). Each day, an average of 8 babies are affected by Spina Bifida or similar birth defects of the brain and spine.
Spina Bifida population include: Over 65 million women in the United States who could become pregnant and each one is at risk of having a baby born with Spina Bifida. 70,000 Americans currently living with Spina Bifida. |
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| Cause | |||||||||||||||||||||
| A definite cause is not known at this time. It appears that the condition results from a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
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| Prevention | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The United States Public Health Service recommends that, "All women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 0.4mg of folic acid per day to reduce the risk of pregnancy affected with spina bifida and other neural tube defects." Folic acid is a "B" vitamin found in cereals, broccoli, spinach, corn, and as a vitamin supplement. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Spina Bifida- Our Association SpineLine Online What Is It? Calendar Links Folic Acid & Prevention |
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