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Archive for the ‘Diseases’ Category
Thu, November 6, 2008 7:36 am By James Coolridge  Printer friendly version
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 According to the latest update from Water Health International, “Two million people, most of them children, die annually due to preventable waterborne diseases”. Approximately 2 million children die each year due to water born diseases. Patients suffering from waterborne diseases occupy 50 percent of the world’s hospital beds. Risks posed by waterborne health complications are second only to malnutrition thereby, compounding the global disease burden.
Access to proper sanitation and safe drinking water is crucial for maintaining good health and this is especially important for children since children below 14 are most vulnerable to water born diseases. Water-borne diseases refer to those infectious diseases which are primarily spread through contaminated water. In developing countries, water-borne diseases account for four-fifths of all illness. Diarrhea diseases account for a considerable share of the total disease burden, and about ninety percent of this burden is reportedly attributable to the supply of unsafe drinking water coupled with improper sanitation, and poor hygiene. Malaria, the water born disease carried by mosquitoes, affects 400 million people and kills 5 million annually.
Cholera, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid are some of the most common water-borne diseases affecting people in the tropical regions. Besides, diarrhea, respiratory troubles, skin irritation, and other diseases may also be caused by exposure to polluted water. The nature of the health problem depends on the pollutant present in the water body. Mosquitoes and other insects responsible for several diseases find an ideal habitat in stagnant water or other untreated water.
Chemicals in contaminated water lead to numerous health problems. A fluoride level in drinking water causes fluorosis, characterized by a mottling of the teeth surface; nitrate in drinking water reportedly causes blue baby syndrome among infants aged below six months; nitrate contamination can also increase cancer risk, as it can give rise to highly carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds; infants are at a great risk from the laxative effects produced by sulfate, if they abruptly switch over to drinking water having high sulfate concentrations.
Improper water resource management is the main factor responsible for waterborne epidemics and other health hazards. Therefore, a cleaner as well as healthier environment formed by proper water resource management is crucial for combating water-borne diseases. Community awareness is a key element in preventing the spread of water-borne diseases. Water supply should be checked properly and necessary steps should be taken to disinfect contaminated water. Water pipes need to be checked regularly for leaks and cracks. Domestically, the water should be used after boiling, filtering, or applying other purification method to ensure that the water used for consumption is safe.
Tags: Water borne disease, contaminated water, Malaria, fluorosis, blue baby syndrome
Sat, November 1, 2008 6:34 am By James Coolridge
 Disability implies the inability or difficulty of a person to perform an act, which can be done by a group of people of the same age, sex, society and culture. As per United Nations report, 10 percent of population in underdeveloped countries is facing disabilities of one or the other type. If we include family members, advocates and all those affected by the problem of disabilities this is as high as 25 percent of population. Moreover, this number is constantly increasing through population, growth, medical advances and aging process. Because of isolation and dependent conditions especially on activities of daily living, it becomes hard for the disabled person to create his or her own identity. The individual may lack confidence to carry out new tasks mainly because of lack of exposure and shortage of opportunities. Hence, he may settle down unhappily and accept that he cannot do things like others.
A person’s disability may be due to any type of disablement, i.e., birth defects, sickness, diseases, industrial and road accidents or the stresses of war, work and daily life. Prenatal causes of disability include genetic conditions like Down’s syndrome, pregnancy beyond 35yrs or less than 18yrs etc. Infections, malnutrition, trauma, pregnancy associated with medical conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, TB and mal-presentation of foetus are the main causes of disability arising out of delivery. Malnutrition, poor parenting, poor childhood experiences, child abuse etc causes disability after birth.
Common man always confuses the terms disability, handicap and impairment. Hence it is important to explain these three concepts. Impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure of function. Disability is any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for human being. Handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal, depending on age, sex, social and cultural factors, for that individual.
The various forms of rehabilitation include;
1. Medical rehabilitation: Treatment using medicine, surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
2. Educational Rehabilitation: Providing education facilities to disabled people.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation: Help the victim to learn and develop vocational skills so that he can earn income.
4. Social rehabilitation – Social integration has been defined as the active participation of disabled and handicapped people in the mainstream of community life.
Though there are different strategies to deal with the people suffering from disability, the most important pillar is family support and care. Disability management needs long-term rehabilitation depending on the severity of the problem. Since, disability varies markedly from person to person in symptoms; treatment as well as rehabilitation needs to vary accordingly.
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Tue, September 30, 2008 10:09 am By James Coolridge
 Spicy food is the choice of almost everyone, from adults to children. Everyone is fond of eating oily and spicy food now days. Because of their yummy look and taste. But do u know that spicy food can damage your health to a great extent? One can experience stomach problems and other conditions if a meal is a bit too fiery. Furthermore, constantly eating zesty food can have permanent negative effects on the body. Here’s what you need to know about the negative impact spicy food can have on your healthy body. Some of its negative effects are:
Gastritis:
A surplus intake of spicy food can cause Gastritis. It’s an inflammation in the stomach lining. It is usually triggered by infections, caused due to eating spicy food.
Chronic gastritis can produce ulcers by allowing the stomachs own acids to eat away at the lining, but one has to go through pain while eating food.
Acid reflux (heart burn):
Spicy food can trigger acid reflux. All that burping experience after a nice meal isn’t a result of bad manners; it’s the body not being able to cope with all that spicy cuisine.
Chronic acid reflux disease can also lead to esophageal cancer, but only in rare cases. Cutting down on peppery cooking is a good first step to reducing this risk. Acid reflux, especially at night, can also erode teeth.
Bad breath:
Garlic and onions are among the worst-smelling things, and they also happen to cause bad breath which at times can spell disaster at various special and social gatherings.
Causes Insomnia:
Spicy food is bad for sleep too. Because of the simple reason that spicy food raises body temperature. If one happens to consume something zesty before going to bed, it can disrupt sleep. The first cycle of sleep is particularly sensitive to acidic food and hence may cause insomnia.
Damage to taste buds:
After a certain period it’s true, that people do feel less sizzling after years of spicy abuse, but not because the body gets “used” to the sensation but because their sense of sensation suffers deterioration.
Burning sensation on skin:
Chili peppers produce a burning sensation on the skin and mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth, may even cause blistering of the lips and palate.
Though in rare cases such cases arise but one should always be cautious in eating SPICY FOOD regularly. They should only be used for changing taste not as a regular food habit.
Tags: Health, spicy food, negative effects
Fri, June 27, 2008 1:27 pm By Will Bland
 Definition:
“Multiple Sclerosis is defined as a neurological deficit that occurs in the central nervous system which is made up of the eye, the brain and the spinal cord.”
Symptoms:
You won’t be able to figure out Multiple Sclerosis if the disease affects the parts of the brain that don’t have an obvious function. However, if the disease affects the spinal cord, you will be able to figure out the disease. Weakness or numbness is the associated symptom of Multiple Sclerosis attacking the spinal cord. If there is difficulty in the vision, you need to consult your doctor since Multiple Sclerosis may lead to poor vision if it attacks the optic nerve. Vertigo or double vision is a symptom of Multiple Sclerosis if it affects the brain stem. An individual is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis if the individual shows symptoms of weakness or numbness of the legs or some bladder symptoms.
Causes:
Genetic susceptibility is considered to be a cause of Multiple Sclerosis.
Who’s At Risk:
It is actually still unknown about who exactly is most at the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. Majority of sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis are found to be children under the age of 15. According to migration studies after World War II, “if you migrate as a child of under 15 years of age, you will suffer from the Multiple Sclerosis of the area you are migrating to. If you are at the age of 15, you will suffer from the disease of where you are migrating from.”
According to recent studies people of Northern European extraction have more Multiple Sclerosis.
Tags: Multiple, Sclerosis, neurological, deficiency
Tue, June 24, 2008 1:27 pm By Justin Palmer
 Cholera is diagnosed as an acute diarrheal illness that is caused by the infection of intestine by bacterium called Vibrio cholerae. A person gets cholera by consuming water or food that is contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. The disease is common in many parts of the world including India and sub-Saharan Africa. However, cholera is not a major threat in the United States because of advanced water and sanitation systems.
According to scientists, aquatic environments serve as the reservoirs of the bacteria causing cholera. The disease can quickly spread in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. Contaminated public wells are also considered to be the root cause of large-scale cholera outbreaks. Consumption of raw shellfish, uncooked fruits and vegetables can also harbor the bacteria causing cholera. It has been found out that raw and unpeeled fruits and vegetables are major sources of cholera infection in the places where the disease is endemic.
According to a study conducted by few scientists, shell fish eaten in the raw form has been found out as a source of cholera. Many people living in the United States have been reported as suffering from cholera after eating raw or undercooked shellfish from the Gulf of Mexico. Oysters and crab from the Gulf of Mexico and seafood transported or smuggled from the countries where cholera is endemic have been considered to be one of the major reasons for most cases of cholera occurring in the United States since 1970s.
Tags: water, terminal, Cholera, fatal, third world countries, borne
Tue, June 3, 2008 1:32 pm By James Coolridge
 Scurvy is a disease caused by the deficiency of Ascorbic acid, the chemical name of Vitamin C.
The symptoms of scurvy include fatigue and nausea. Those suffering from scurvy will have a feeling of discomfort and pain in the muscles and joints all over the body. If a person suffering from scurvy has any wound or cut in his body, it will take a long time to heal properly. The teeth become loose accompanied by swelling and bleeding in the gums. The hair and skin also becomes dry as the disease gets intense. The bleeding in the body’s muscles and joints including knees and arms is extremely painful.
According to doctors, adults suffering from scurvy should consume about 300 to 1000 mg of ascorbic acid per day whereas the consumption of ascorbic acid by the infants suffering from this disease should be 50 mg per day.
The human body doesn’t produce Vitamin C. Hence, people suffering from scurvy should increase the intake of fresh fruits, especially citrus fruits, and vegetables. Their diet should consist of fruits rich in Vitamin C including lemon, oranges, guava, green peppers, watermelon, papaya, olives, honey, mango, strawberry. The vegetables fortified with Vitamin C are tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage which should also be included in the diet. The patients should not forget to consume citrus juices.
Another excellent home remedy for scurvy is Indian gooseberry (known as “Amla”). Gooseberry is an excellent source of Vitamin C. Make a powder of dry gooseberry and sugar and mix the powder with milk. One tsp of the syrup thrice a day will banish scurvy effectively.
Tags: deficiency, remedy, Vitamin C, herbal, Scurvy
Sat, May 31, 2008 1:25 pm By James Coolridge
 Most of the people have the habit of taking an antibiotic whenever they are attached by the viruses causing influenza. But, they should know that these antibiotics are not going to work viruses. They kill bacteria and not viruses. So which is the best way to stay away from flu? Is it the eating and sleeping habits that need to be improved? Read on to know the answer.
Take the annual flu injections:
Immunity is the first priority. Since the young ones are elderly people are equally susceptible to flu, they should be immunized. The flu jabs must be taken annually without fail to keep the virus miles away from you.
Stay away from crowd:
It is better to be away from the crowd when the nasty flu in the air. One sniff can scattered lots of viruses in the air. So, it is better to be home.
Wash your hands thoroughly before meals:
You may have the habit of forgetting to wash your hands before eating. But, as flu is in the air, it is good to wash your hands thoroughly with soap for at least a minute before have your meals. You may not be able to notice how your hands inevitable pick up viruses as you go through the day. Why should you take a chance? Wash your hands with soap and rinse them thoroughly with water as to avoid putting more germs than necessary into your mouth.
Stay healthy:
A healthy body is likely to fall ill less often. So, go for regular morning or evening walk (whichever is comfortable for you), jog every single day. Walk in the park which is less crowded. Exercise regularly. Effective exercises and fresh air is always good for you.
Monitor your sleeping habits:
Yes. You MUST monitor your sleeping habit. We are emphasizing on the importance of sleep as it is the time when your body repairs itself. The white blood cells are produces to fend off the “invaders.” Proper sleep will ensure a better condition of your body to defend itself when confronted with the flu viruses.
Balanced diet:
We have mentioned in many of our articles that a balanced diet is very essential for your overall health. We still maintain this! Eat a lot of veggies, include all the essential nutrients in your diet, take necessary vitamins and minerals and avoid eating junk. Since we are now talking about flu, Vitamin C requires special mention. Yes, eat a lot of fruits rich in Vitamin C. Orange is the best bet!
Tags: Exercise, vitamins, eat, rest, antibiotics
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