Health
Care, extremely important
A
stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom in a Port of Spain factory just
recently.
When he got back, he was complaining that the storeroom was really filthy and
that he had noticed dried mouse or rat droppings in some areas.
A couple of days later, he started to feel like he was coming down with stomach
flu, complained of sore joints and headaches, and began to vomit.
He went to bed and never really got up again. Within two days he was severely
ill and weak. His blood sugar count was down to 66, and his face and eyeballs
were yellow. He was rushed to the emergency at Mount Hope where he was diagnosed
to be suffering from massive organ failure. He died shortly before midnight.
No one would have made the connection between his job and his death had it not
been for a doctor who specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or
exposed to dried rat or mouse droppings at any time. They said there is a virus
(much like the Hanta virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings.
Once dried, these droppings are like dust and can easily be breathed in or
ingested if a person does not wear protective gear or fails to wash face and
hands thoroughly .
An autopsy was performed on the
clerk to verify the doctor's suspicions.
This
is why it is extremely important to ALWAYS carefully rinse off the tops of
canned sodas or foods, and to wipe off pasta packaging, cereal boxes, and so on.
Almost everything you buy in a supermarket was stored in a warehouse at one time
or another, and stores themselves often have rodents.
Most of us remember to wash vegetables and fruits but never think of boxes and
cans.
The
ugly truth is, even the most modern, upper-class, super store has rats and mice.
And their warehouse most assuredly does!
Whenever you buy any
canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and
soap or, if that is not available, drink with a straw.
The
investigation of soda cans by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta
discovered that the tops of soda cans can be encrusted with dried rat's urine,
which is so toxic it can be lethal. Canned drinks and other foodstuffs are
stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with Rodents, and
then they get transported to retail outlets without being properly cleaned.
You are never sure
where the items came from, under what conditions they were stored, do the safe
and sensible thing wash with a little chlorine in the water, dry with paper
towels.
Source:
Rita Rao, UAE
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How to recognize a Stroke !
During a 'Barbeque' a friend stumbled and took a little fall she assured everyone that she
was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.
They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up,
Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.Ingrid's husband called later telling
everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm, Ingrid passed away).
She had suffered a stroke at the 'Barbeque' - had they known how to identify the signs of a
stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. It only takes a minute to read this: A neurologist
says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a
stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting to the
patient within 3 hours which is tough.
Remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to
recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three
1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) ( i.e. . .
If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call emergency immediately and describe the
symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could
identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general
public to learn the three questions.
They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last
Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and
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ORANGES ......How
does one benefit from eating them?
In
recent research studies, the healing properties of oranges have been associated
with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds. These phytonutrients include
citrus flavanones (types of flavanoides that include the molecules hesperetin
and naringenin), anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, and a variety of
polyphenols. When these phytonutrients are studied in combination with oranges'
Vitamin C, the significant antioxidant properties of this fruit are
understandable. Arguably, the most important flavanone in oranges, herperidin
has been shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol in animal
studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
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THE B
A N A N A ……A Banana a day keeps you fit and gay !
If
you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels there's no better snack than
a banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose -
combined with fibre, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial
boost of energy. Research has proved that just two bananas provide enough energy
for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can
help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of
illnesses and conditions making it a must to add to your daily diet.
Anaemia:
High in iron, bananas can
stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood
and so helps in cases of anaemia.
Blood
Pressure:
This unique tropical
fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making
it the perfect food for helping to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food
and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official
claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain
Power:
200 students at a
Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams
this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost
their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist
learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including
bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel
action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Depression:
According to a recent
survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from
depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas
contain trypotophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin
known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways
of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake,
sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the
honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and
re-hydrates your system.
Heart-burn:
Bananas have a natural
antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart-burn,
try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning
Sickness:
Snacking on bananas
between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.
Mosquito
bites:
Before reaching for the
insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with
the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at
reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B
vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight
and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at
work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at
5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be
in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food
cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high
carbohydrate foods such as bananas every two hours to keep levels steady.
PMS:
Forget the pills eat a
banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose
levels, which can affect your mood.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the
dietary food against intestinal disorders because
of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten
without distress in over-chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralises over-acidity
and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature
Control:
Many other cultures see
bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the
physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for
example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with cool
temperature.
Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD
sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, trypotophan.
Smoking:
Bananas can also help
people trying to give up smoking, as the high levels of
Vitamin C, A1, B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium
found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital
mineral, which helps normalise the heartbeat, sends oxygen
to the brain and regulates your body's water-balance. When we are stressed, our
metabolic rate rises, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can be
rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in
'The New England Journal of Medicine' eating bananas
as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as
40%!
Warts:
Those keen on natural
alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off a wart,
take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out.
Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So you see a
banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an
apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the
phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and
minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods
around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say,
"A Banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Courtesy:
Rita Rao, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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SPROUTS ......How
does one benefit from eating them?
Sprouts
have long been famous as 'health food' but recent research shows that in
addition to being a superb source of nutrients, they also have important
curative abilities. Sprouts like alfalfa, radish and broccoli contain
concentrated amounts of phyto-chemicals (plant compounds) that can protect us
against disease. Studies on canavanine, an amino acid analog in alfalfa, has
demonstrated benefit for pancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers. Plant estrogens
are also abundant in sprouts. They increase bone formation and density and
prevent bone breakdown or osteoporosis. They are also helpful in controlling hot
flashes, menopause and PMS.
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Colour
blindness can be detected by the Ishihara colour test which consists of a series
of pictures of coloured spots. A figure is embedded in the picture as a number
of spots with a slightly different colour that can be seen with normal colour
vision, but not with a particular colour defect. It was named after its inventor
Dr. Shinobu Ishihara, a professor at Tokyo University.
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Know your Body
* There are 206 bones in the human body.
* There are 600 muscles in the body.
* Bones might be classified as part of the circulatory system since
they produce all of the body's blood cells within their marrow.
* The human body consists skeletal system, muscular system, nervous
system, hormonal system, circulatory system, digestive system, respiratory
system, immune system and reproductive system.
* The brain has three parts :
i) cerebrum - outer part;
governs thought, the senses and movement. ii) cerebellum - middle;
controls balance and muscle coordination, and iii) cerebral cortex
- inner; governs involuntary muscles.
* Blood is a liquid organ.
* Skin is the body's largest organ.
* The liver is the second largest.
* You have 26 ft. of intestine; the small intestine is 21ft. long and
the large intestine is 5 ft.
* Your heart is a hollow muscle about the same size as your fist.
* Your digestive system starts working even before you take your first
bite of food. The sight and smell of the food makes special glands in your
mouth produce saliva or spit.
* Everyone is
colour-blind at the beginning of life. That's
because cone cells don't develop in the eyes until a baby is about 6 to 8 months
old.
* Each hair on your body comes equipped with a tiny muscle that can
make it stand upright.
* Your heart beats about 1,00,000 times a day.
* Your heart pumps a total of 8,000 gallons of blood 12,000 miles,
through your body every day.
* An average adult needs between 1,300 and 1,600 calories a day;
growing kids ages 7 to 10 need an average of 2,400. Boys ages 11 to 14
need 2,700 and girls that age need 2,200.
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Do you know ?
* A new born
baby has 300 bones, as he grows old the number of bones decreases to 206.
* Human tongue
has approximately 3000 nerves.
* Majority of
humans can distinguish 10,000 different smells.
* A human body
has 9000 points where acupuncture needles can be placed to give
relief from headache, body pain, ear pain and other
sicknesses.
* Human body has
30,00,000 points where he can feel pain, but non on the hair.
* On an average,
a human being in his life span, consumes 50 tons of food and drinks, about
50,000 liters of water and other drinks.
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Chillies
'make cancer cells commit suicide
An
ingredient that makes chilli peppers hot could kill tumours, says a study even
as scientists warn against increasing chilli intake.
The
chemical compound capsaicin is the active component of chilli peppers, which is
an irritant for mamals and produces a burning sensation in the mouth. Rodent
tests showed that capsaicin triggered 80 percent of the cancer cells to start a
process leading to cell death. It also reduced the size of tumours by a fifth
with no major side effects, reported the online edition of Daily Mail. However,
it warns people not to increase their intake of hot chillies as that as been
linked with stomach cancers.
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Body Fitness
A good body is what most men and women aim for
in the 21st century. Fitness and health go together and to stay fit one must
exercise and keep the body in good condition. Kamal Doctor, Fitness expert and
trainer has a figure that one could envy and believes in doing some form of
workout daily to keep fit.
It could be jogging, aerobics,
trademill, Exercycle,
dancercises or even just plain power walking but in many cases the spirit may be
willing but the flesh may be weak due to lack of energy.
"If you start an exercise program and have been
at it for hours and suddenly feel you are out of steam than a quick energy
booster like Gulcon-D helps, since glucose is the simplest source of energy
which is absorbed by the body instantly and delivers a quick release of abundant
energy," informs Kamal.
When exercising or playing strenuous games like
tennis, basketball, hockey, football or swimming, your nerves, muscles and body
tissues need energy to function. Most drinks have fructose or sucrose for which
the body needs more time to release energy, but pure glucose works faster with
Vitamin C, Calcium and Phosphorus added to it.
Vitamin C is a good anti-oxidant too and helps to
metabolise and absorb iron in the body besides preventing scurvy and healing
wounds. Its main source is leafy green vegetables which is very often destroyed
in cooking. Calcium and Phosphorus is important for the bones and teeth and
helps to release energy fast. Calcium is lost through sweat during exercising
and also urine and has to be replenished fast. Hence, it makes eminent sense to
include a glucose drink fortified with calcium. Phosphorus and Vitamin C in your
regimen.
"At times on a hot day when one may feel weak and
lethargic at which time for quick energizing, a spoon of glucose helps. Having
fresh fruits and dates is a natural way of getting energized but it takes a long
time and if one is in the middle of a tournament one needs instant
results," adds Kamal.
Modern energy boosters are not just meant for exercise
friends who want to keep fit but given to school children and adults after a
hard day at work or when recuperating from illness, for pregnant women and even
as a relaxing evening drink instead of aerated waters. Even housework can be
tiring at times and would need an energy booster. Even a hot day in the summer sun turns cool with a
glucose drink which now fortunately is available in flavours like tangy orange.
(Source : Intelligent Living)
Public
Health Message ----Useful Tips for Sound Sleep
Reduce
intake of coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolates
as these contain caffeine, a powerful CN stimulant which will keep you
away from sleeping.
Avoid
spicy foods which could cause indigestion.
Try
and overcome from anxiety and pressure which can quickly lend to indigestion.
Alchohol
intake before a few hours of resting causes disturbed sleep.
Avoid
smoking as it leads to insomnia.
Make
the bedroom dark if light hinders your sleep.
Going
to bed and waking up at the same time
everyday even on weekends will also give you best result.
Deep
breathing, yoga, exercise, meditation can help alleviate stress and induce
sleep.
Listening
to light music and reading before going to bed is also helpful.
Note
down and make a list of all the
things to be done the next morning, you will feel much relaxed..
Courtesy : Purohit
Hospital Journal
Common
Diseases which Need Operation in Infants & Children
By
Dr. Vivek Rege
In
this article we shall be discussing following diseases in children which need
operation:
-Hernia (Inguinal)
-Hernia (Umbilical)
-Absence of testis from the Scrotum (undescended testis)
-Inability to retract the front skin of the Penis (Phimosis)
-Unusal site of urinary opening (Hypospadias)
Hernia
(Inguinal)
Normally
in every individual there is a canal which open inside the abdomen and outside
into the scrotum. Through this canal following structures pass in the scrotum
the blood vessels (veins, arteries), tube which carries semen from testis to the
prostate (Vas). All these structure together are called as spermatic cord. In
some children the internal opening remains big right from the birth and
therefore the intestine rolls down from the abdomen into the scrotum through
this big internal opening via the canal. This condition is called as Inguinal
hernia.
Parents
bring the child to the Doctor as they notice that there is some swelling in
private part (groin) (inguinal region). The size, increases when the child cries
or coughs, & swelling decreases when the child is relaxed & asleep.
Inguinal hernia is diagnosed by simple physical (clinical) check-up by the
doctor. This is more common in boys than in girls. There is no test or
investigation required to diagnose this condition.
Treatment
The
only treatment of the Inguinal
hernia is operation (Surgery).
This surgery can be done at any
age, as soon as the hernia is detected.
If hernia is not operated,
sometimes the child’s blood supply to the testis may get cut off due to
pressure of intestines and the testies will die.
Another complication or problem,
if the child is not operated is that the intestines, which are passing through
the canal may get stuck up causing obstruction to the intestines. In severe
obstruction the blood supply to the intestines may also get cut off resulting in
gangrene of intestine, which may need immediate urgent operation.
Therefore once the condition is
detected it is advisable to undergo planned operation as early
as possible.
Hernia
(Umbilical)
In
this condition there is a defect in the abdominal wall around the umbilicus and
the intestines comes out (protude) through this opening. The child has a
swelling in the umbilical region. The swelling increases when the child cries or
coughs, swelling decreases when the child is relaxed & asleep. Generally no
surgery is needed for this condition as the defect in the abdominal wall closes
by 2-3 year. If the hernia still persist, at the age of 3 years the operation
needs to be done. The surgery needs to be done if any problem (complications)
arises even at an early stage.
The possible complications are
as follows:
The
swelling becomes irreducible.
The swelling becomes painful.
The intestines get obstructed
resulting in distension of abdomen & vomiting.
Rarely the blood supply of
obstructed intestine gets cut off & there can be gangrene of intestines.
Inability
to retract the front skin back over the penis (Phimosis)
Normally
the skin of penis can be retracted expose the external opening of urethra in the
glance penis. In some children the skin opening I very small & narrow
therefore the skin cannot be retracted back.
In
such cases the child has difficulty in passing urine. He strains to pass urine,
has a thin stream of urine, sometimes there is ballooning of the front skin
while passing urine. The child may cry while passing urine or have the habit of
continuously touching or pulling the front skin or rubbing of the front skin of
penis very often.
The
treatment for this condition is removal of part of front skin of the penis
(circumcision). This is done as day care procedure.
If
this condition is not treated, it can lead to repeated
local infections, urinary
infection & sometimes stone formation inside the bladder.
Unusual
site of urinary opening (Hypospadiasis)
In
this condition the urinary opening is not at the tip of the penis but is on the
underside, and can be just away from the tip to anywhere along the length of the
penis, at the junction of penis and scrotum, or rarely near the anus.
This
condition is generally detected by the parents.
This
condition is present right from the birth. The operation to correct this defect
is ideally done at the age of 1 ˝ year.
Management
The only treatment for this condition is operation, the abnormal opening is
closed and another opening is created at the tip of the penis. If the surgery is
not done; this condition can lead to twisting of penis, abnormal curveture of
penis, (known as chordee) abnormal erection, (once the child grows) or
penetration, inefficient conception, infertility.
Absence
of Testis from the scrotum (undescended testis)
Descent
of Testis just before the birth
This
defect is usually present from birth. Just before birth the testes descend from
the abdomen into the scrotum. Failure in this can result in absence of testis
from the scrotum.
Sometimes
the descent of the testis
stops midway before reaching the scrotum. If it is somewhere in the inguinal
canal or beyond, it can be felt by the hand.
At
times the testis cannot be felt be hand it is in the abdominal cavity. In such
cases sonography is done to locate the testis.
Usually
these patients are detected on routine health check up, or sometimes the parents
notice the absent testis while giving bath to the child. If the testis is left
at the place and not brought down into the scrotum at the earliest; the
testicular development does not occur due to the heat inside the abdomen. If it
is bilateral condition it can lead to infertility. It can lead to psychological
disturbance, as the child grows old. Also in the later age it can sometimes get
converted into cancer.
Therefore
it is advisable to bring the testis down into the scrotum.
The
ideal age of surgery is 1-11/2 years,
it is a day care procedure; the child is discharged on the same day or the next
day.
Courtesy: Purohit
Hospital Journal
Medical
Advances
As
the human body has become better understood; so too have the diseases and
ailment associated with it. In time, cures have been found for many illnesses.
The 20th century began an era of technological innovation in
medicine, particularly in diagnosis and today doctors are able to save many
lives.
1543
– First accurate anatomical drawings by Andreas Vesalies enable better
understanding of the body.
1628—William Harvey understands heartbeat
and blood circulation, laying foundations for modern physiology.
1796 – Vaccination discovered, starting with smallpox vaccine. Big effect on
eradication and prevention of diseases such as polio.
1840 – Anaesthetics pioneered by Americans Horace Wells and William Morton,
leading the way to pain-free surgery.
1847 – Antiseptics developed by Hungarian Ignaz Semmelweiss for use in
childbirth, one of the first doctors to connect disease and hygiene.
1860 – French Chemist Louis Pasteur demonstrates
bacterial cause of disease. From 1875 –1906 more than 20 diseases were
made preventable through immunization.
1867 – Modern Mercury Thermometer developed.
1885 – Psychoanalysis pioneered by Signiund Freud.
1895 – X-Rays used for the 1st
time.
1950 – Ultrasound used to screen pregnant women.
1954 – Contraceptive Pill developed to aid birth control.
1958 – Heart Pacemaker developed, first implants 1960’s
1960 -1970 – Development of Laser
Surgery
1964 – Chemotherapy developed to treat illness particularly cancer.
1967 – First successful heart transplant.
How
does a stethoscope work ?
Before
the year 1816 AD, doctors used to listen to the rhythms of the heart by placing
an ear on the
patient’s chest. This caused error because the air between the ear and chest
muffled the faint tap as
they
snapped shut, thus making an effective examination extremely difficult.
The
modern stethoscope eliminates the sound distortions caused by air. It also
suppresses
external
noise. A stethoscope has flexible rubber tube with snug-fitting earpieces
the link to the
chest
monitor, which amplifies and transmits heart and lung sound.
The
chest monitored typically has two sides- one side is a shallow, rubber-rimmed
bell for capturing
low frequency tone; on the other side is a saucer like diaphragm that
isolates sound of higher
frequency
. This type of monitor enable
doctors to hear a broader range of sounds for diagnosing
abnormal
heart and lung conditions.
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HEALTH
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