Archive for the ‘Health Care Tips’ Category

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How to avoid a heart attack or a stroke?

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011


Cardiovascular disease is caused by disorders of the heart and blood vessels, and includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, raised blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. The major causes of cardiovascular disease are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.

The good news, however, is that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. Do you know how to avoid a heart attack or a stroke. Healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not using tobacco products are the keys to prevention.

Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet is crucial to a healthy heart and circulation system. This should include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses, and restricted salt, sugar and fat intake intake.

Take regular physical activity: At least 30 minutes of regular physical activity every day helps to maintain cardiovascular fitness; at least 60 minutes on most days helps to maintain healthy weight.

Avoid tobacco use: Tobacco in every form is very harmful to health – cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is also dangerous. The risk of heart attack and stroke starts to drop immediately after a person stops using tobacco products, and can drop by as much as half after one year.

Check and control your cardiovascular risk:

Know your blood pressure: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but can cause a sudden stroke or heart attack. Have your blood pressure checked.

Know your blood sugar: Raised blood glucose, diabetes increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes it is very important to control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize the risk.

Know your blood lipids: Raised blood cholesterol and abnormal blood lipids increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Blood cholesterol needs to be controlled through a healthy diet and, if necessary, by appropriate medications.

Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity caused chronic diseases

Thursday, August 25th, 2011


Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are major risk factors for chronic diseases. Reports of international and national experts and reviews of the current scientific evidence recommend goals for nutrient intake in order to prevent chronic diseases.

For diet, recommendations for populations and individuals should include the following:

*achieve energy balance and a healthy weight
*limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and *towards the elimination of trans-fatty acids
*increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and legumes, whole grains and nuts
*limit the intake of free sugars
*limit salt (sodium) consumption from all sources and ensure that salt is iodized
*These recommendations need to be considered when preparing national policies and dietary guidelines, taking into account the local situation.

Improving dietary habits is a societal, not just an individual problem. Therefore it demands a population-based, multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach.

Home Water Filter Usage and Effects on Oral Health

Thursday, July 7th, 2011


The use of home water filters is fast gaining popularity as people are becoming increasingly health conscious and concerned about the quality of public water supplies.

What are the types of home water filters?

Home water treatment systems include water conditioners and softeners and water filters. These systems fall into two basic categories: point-of-entry (POE) and point-of-use (POU). Point-of-entry water treatment systems treat all of the water entering and being used in the home.

Point-of-use water treatment systems e.g. water filter, on the other hand, treats part of the water in the home water distribution system, usually at one faucet. The water is typically only used for drinking and cooking. Reverse osmosis, distillation and activated carbon filtration are examples of POU water treatment systems.

How popular are home water filters?

The January 1999 National Consumer Water Quality Survey indicates that 38% of adults reported using a household water treatment device, a 10% increase since 1995. Forty-seven percent of respondents stated they would be more likely to buy a house with a water treatment device if they were in the market for a new home.

In Pahang, it was found that almost 50% of households surveyed had one or more forms of household water filters in place. Another 44% which had not, planned to do so. A study conducted in Johor found that 34% of oral health personnel use water filtration systems in their homes, with activated carbon systems being the most popular.

Why are home water filters being used?

Most people use water filters to get rid of the unpleasant taste and unnatural colour or appearance of drinking water. Others use them because of the unpleasant odor in their drinking water. The overall reason for using home water filters is for health benefits and quality of water.

What are the effects of home water filters on oral health?

In Malaysia, about 76% of our population have access to fluoridated public water supplies. Fluoride in drinking water is the most cost-effective, equitable and safe means to provide protection from dental caries in a community.

Studies have shown that water filtration systems using reverse osmosis or distillation can effectively reduce or totally remove fluoride and other minerals in drinking water. However, most activated carbon systems do not have any effect on fluoride content of water.

Therefore, optimally fluoridated drinking water when subjected to home water filtration systems that reduce fluoride significantly may not offer the same caries preventive effect. Such cases may require special advice from health professionals regarding fluoride supplements or other caries preventive regimes.

Advisory Notes

•Choosing a suitable water filter

In choosing a home water filter, it is important to know that some systems (e.g. those using reverse osmosis and distillation) will reduce the benefits of fluoride and other minerals in drinking water.

•Proper usage of water filters and filtered water

Water that has passed through a domestic filter should be treated as a perishable foodstuff and kept in refrigerated conditions. This water should be consumed within 24 hours. The manufacturer’s instructions for the filter equipment should be followed at all times.

What is Cholesterol – LDL and HDL

Friday, April 22nd, 2011


Normally we always check the cholesterol level and do you know what is cholesterol. A naturally occurring fatty chemical called cholesterol is an important part of the outer lining (membrane) of cells in the body. Humans need a small amount of it to maintain healthy nerve cells and to produce certain hormones.

Liver produced most of the cholesterol which is carried in the bloodstream to the body’s cells by special proteins called lipoproteins.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are the two major lipoproteins.

You also get cholesterol in your diet mainly in foods that come from animals. These include meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Foods of plant origin have no cholesterol.

LDL is the major carrier of cholesterol in the blood. LDL is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. HDL also carries cholesterol and is sometimes referred to as “good” cholesterol.

LDL deposits cholesterol in the artery walls, causing the formation of a cholesterol plaque which is hard and thick.
Over time, the cholesterol plaque causes thickening of the artery walls and narrowing of the arteries. This is a disease process called atherosclerosis.

HDL tends to do the opposite: it also carries cholesterol in the blood stream, but acts to remove excess cholesterol.
The main causes of high cholesterol are eating foods that have a lot of saturated fat or cholesterol in them or from an inherited tendency to handle cholesterol abnormally. Finally high cholesterol can occur in some people with other diseases like disorders of the liver, kidney, diabetes and an under-active thyroid.

Doctors know that lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of illness or death from heart disease. If you already have heart disease then lowering cholesterol will probably help you live longer. Blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscles are called coronary arteries.

High LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease because it causes damage to and narrowing of the arteries.

When coronary arteries are narrowed by atherosclerosis, they may be incapable of supplying enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle during exertion.

Lack of oxygen (called ischaemia) to the heart muscle causes chest pain.

There is a greater chance of a blood clot forming on the surface of the fatty deposit in the artery. This may cause complete blockage of the artery, leading to death of heart muscle (heart attack) in the affected area.

It is interesting that HDL cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol, because it helps to remove cholesterol from the blood and in so doing, may help to clear cholesterol plaque from the arteries.
The risk from high cholesterol is increased if other ‘risk factors’ are also present like high blood pressure and smoking, because these interact with each other.

Personal Health Care Blog Support Earth Hour 2011

Saturday, March 26th, 2011


To show support of Earth Hour 2011, landmarks, buildings and homes around the globe are to switch off their lights from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on the night of Saturday, 26 March 2011. Personal health care blog will also no publish any article and switch off house lights from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on that night.

Join us. Switch off your lights for Earth Hour 2011 and sign up at http://www.wwf.org

About  Earth Hour

arth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

 
In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries/territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up.

Health Effect Of Nuclear Radiation

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011


Right now everyone also concern the risk of radiation related health problems in Japan. Health effects of nuclear radiation can only occur if someone is exposed to radiation, thus the main protective action someone can take is to prevent exposure. Those closest to the radiation are at greatest risk of exposure and the greater the distance away, the lower the risk. This is why when a nuclear accident occurs, the recommended public health actions involve evacuation and sheltering of those near the site.

These necessary actions depend on the estimated exposure (i.e., the amount of radioactivity released in the atmosphere and the prevailing meteorological conditions such as wind and rain. The actions include steps such as evacuation of people within a certain distance of the plant, providing shelter to reduce exposure and providing iodine pills for people to take to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer.).

If warranted, steps such as restricting the consumption of vegetables and dairy products produced in the vicinity of the power plant can also reduce exposure.
Only competent authorities who have conducted a careful analysis of the emergency situation are in a position to recommend which of these public health measures should be taken.

How can I protect myself?
*Keep you and your family informed by obtaining accurate and authoritative information (for example, information from authorities delivered by radio, TV or the Internet) and following your government’s instructions.
*The decision to stockpile or take potassium iodide tablets should be based on information provided by national health authorities who will be in the best position to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant these steps.

What are potassium iodide pills?
*In the setting of a nuclear power plant accident, potassium iodide pills are given to saturate the thyroid gland and prevent the uptake of radioactive iodine. When given before or shortly after exposure, this step can reduce the risk of cancer in the long term.
*Potassium iodide pills are not “radiation antidotes”. They do not protect against external radiation, or against any other radioactive substances besides radioactive iodine. They may also cause medical complications for some individuals such as persons with poorly functioning kidney and therefore taking potassium iodide should be started only when there is a clear public health recommendation to take this step.

Can pregnant women take potassium iodide pills?
Pregnant women should take potassium iodide pills only when instructed by the competent authorities because the thyroid of a pregnant woman accumulates radioactive iodine at a higher rate than other adults and because the thyroid of the fetus is also blocked by giving potassium iodide pills to the mother

Above information is from World Health Organization.

What is H1N1 Influenza A

Saturday, March 12th, 2011


Influenza A(H1N1) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, On June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of Influenza A(H1N1)flu was underway.

How does Influenza A(H1N1)virus spread?

Influenza A(H1N1)virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

Spread of Influenza A(H1N1)virus is thought to occur mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?

The symptoms of Influenza A(H1N1)flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with Influenza A(H1N1)flu virus?

Illness with the new H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

As of Sept 2009, Influenza A(H1N1) has caused about 3,000 deaths worldwide and 77 deaths in Malaysia (up to 19th Sept 2009)

In Influenza A(H1N1), certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes:

• Children younger than 5 years old

• Persons aged 65 years and older

• Children and adolescents (< 18 years) on long term aspirin therapy

• Pregnant women

• Adults and children with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, organ failure, cardiovascular disease , hepatic, heamatological, neurologic, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus

• Adults and children who have immunosuppression

• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities

How long can an infected person spread this virus to others?

People infected with Influenza A(H1N1)flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems.

To Understand Symptoms Hyperglycaemia

Friday, March 4th, 2011


Hyperglycaemia is having too much sugar in the blood. This means the body does not have enough insulin or it cannot effectively use the insulin it has. The normal range before a meal is 4 – 5.55 mmol/l. The ideal treatment of diabetes mellitus would keep the blood sugar in this range. Your doctor and nurse educator will tell you the level of glucose in your blood that is ideal for you. Long term sustained high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) leads to complications in the eye, kidney, nerves and probably the heart. High blood sugars increase the blood fats and these lead to “hardening of the arteries”. Research has shown that reducing the blood glucose levels to as near normal as possible reduces the incidence of eye, kidney and nerve damage.

Causes of high blood glucose level.
The most common causes of high blood glucose are:

*Not enough insulin or oral diabetic medication
*Increased food intake e.g. kinder
*Decreased exercises or decreased physical activity
*Illness or infection
*Injury or surgery
*Severe stress

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
Some people have no symptoms of high blood sugars and they are found to have diabetic damage such as numbness in the nerves when they finally do go for a health check. Elevated levels of glucose will appear in the urine and blood when tested. It is important to test your blood glucose regularly. It is not accurate to use urine glucose testing as an indicator of blood glucose control. Some of the people may have high blood glucose levels but the urine maybe negative for glucose.Many of the symptoms of high blood glucose made worse by dehydration (lack of water). Early symptoms are : thirst
*Increased urine production
*Increased fatigue
*Weakness

If the high blood glucose level is untreated the patient later develops nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flushed skin, rapid breath, sweet smell from breath, and progresses to confusion and later coma.

Treatment :
The blood glucose must be returned to the normal range. This requires the following : Adjust your medication if your doctor has told you so.Test your blood glucose regularly. Take your medication regularly and eat as advised by your dietician. Seek medical aid if you develop a high fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea. If ill do not stop diabetic medication without first asking the doctor.The treatment of very high blood sugars requires hospital care and the presence of ketones in the urine is also an indication to get urgent medical help.

Top Benefits Of Omega 3 – Fish Oil Benefits

Saturday, February 26th, 2011


Omega 3 Fish OilFish oil has a fatty acid called omega 3. These are considered good fats since they have been found benefits to help lessen the risks of heart disease. The human body can get omega 3 fish oil benefits since it cannot process this type of fatty acid. Omega 3 supplements have been developed and distributed commercially for human consumption because of this reason.

The Numerous Omega 3 Fish Oil Benefits:

Improves cardiovascular health. You can improve and protect your cardiovascular health by regularly adding fish and fish oil in your diet. Omega 3 fish oil benefits mainly the blood and the heart by reducing the risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. It helps lower the triglyceride levels in the blood, prevents atherosclerosis, and corrects abnormal heartbeats.

Promotes healthy joints. Omega 3 is highly beneficial to women when it comes to improving healthy joints. You can alleviate joint pains, inflammation, and the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis with the help of omega 3. A high omega 3 diet, according to studies, is quite beneficial to people who are suffering from inflammatory diseases.

Improves eye health. There are two specific omega 3 fish oil benefits to your eye’s health – reduced risk of dry eye syndrome and inhibited development of macular degeneration.

Helps improve your hair. If you have falling or thin hair, you should take omega 3. You can have thicker, shiny hair by including sufficient amounts of omega 3 in your diet.

Helps improve the skin. Fish oil helps in delaying the aging process and development of wrinkles. It also limits skin damage and reduces the effects of UV rays. Fish oil also plays a crucial part in regulating cellular function and in maintaining skin suppleness and elasticity.

Promotes cognitive function. The long-term cognitive and behavioral function also obtain omega 3 fish oil benefits. It also helps in promoting normal growth and development. According to studies, fish oils help in delaying and preventing the onset of dementia, and in maintaining sufficient cognitive function. Sufficient amounts of DHA is recommended for pregnant women to help improve fetal development. Other studies show that omega 3 fish oils also help in improving the learning, reading, concentration and vocabulary skills of children.

Many more omega 3 fish oil benefits have been proven. The benefits of omega 3 in humans are still being studied and proven today.

Omega 3 Fish Oil: 6 Benefits For Children Growth

Thursday, January 13th, 2011


omega 3 fish oil for childrenOmega 3 offers many benefits to those who are taking it. And these benefits are crucial and necessary for the growth and development of children.

Since fish oil is a primary source of omega 3, it is advisable to include fish in your child’s diet to help enhance his brain development, heart function, growth and eyesight.

It’s okay to give such omega 3 fish oil supplements for children during this stage to help them get optimum benefits.

Benefits Of Omega 3 Fish Oil For Children :

1) Alleviates symptoms of certain respiratory diseases such as asthma. Children who are taking omega 3 fish oil supplements have considerably lesser symptoms which are connected to asthma.

2) Helps maximize brain function. Omega 3 fish oil for children is a nutrient for your child’s brain, thus enhancing his brain function. It also help maximize the brain’s health which is very crucial for children with learning disorders.

3) Enhances memory. After noticing the many benefits of omega 3 fish oil for children, modern doctors are now recommending it to their patients. According to studies, it is possible for children to improve their weak memory by taking omega 3 fish oil supplements.

Short-term memory loss can reduce a child’s ability to remember information about significant events. Your child’s learning abilities may also be affected. You may include fish in your child’s diet to help improve his or her memory function.

4) Helps increase concentration. Concentration problems can affect many children especially those who go to school. You can give them Omega 3 fish oil supplement.

5) Improves dyslexia. Dyslexia is a disorder that hamper a child’s intellectual capability. It is a learning disorder that considerably restricts a child’s reading, talking and writing abilities.

6) Alleviates the symptoms of ADHD. The most noted behavioral disorder in children is ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A child with ADHD is usually hyperactive and shows acute inattentiveness while performing any activity or studying. Another symptom of ADHD is lack of focus when performing a task, which may result to learning disability.

Research was conducted to verify if omega 3 fish oil can limit the symptoms of ADHD. For a period of 3 months, school children were given omega 3-rich fish oil supplements. The children showed improved learning skills and behavior, as well as other positive results. While performing their tasks, the children displayed sustained attention.

Omega 3 fish oil for children offers a lot of benefits. Make sure to have your child checked by the doctor to ensure that there are no existing health conditions before giving him or her omega 3 supplements. Lastly, in order to prevent your child from experiencing some of the known side effects, it is best to stick to the recommended dosage.

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