Global Health Update

Health NewsI Malaysia has reported its first case of a pregnant woman with Zika

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:16:00 +0000

Malaysia has reported its first case of a pregnant woman with Zika, who lives in a state bordering Singapore where authorities have already recorded 275 cases.

The 27-year-old woman in the southern state of Johor is the third person with Zika in Malaysia, where fears of a full-blown outbreak emanating from Singapore are mounting.
Infected pregnant women can give birth to babies with microcephaly, a deformation marked by abnormally small brains and heads.

“The woman is expecting her first child and is three to four months pregnant,” Malaysia’s health minister, S Subramaniam, said in a statement on the ministry’s Facebook page.

Last week, Malaysia reported its first case of Zika in a woman believed to have caught the virus in Singapore. On Saturday, it reported its first suspected locally transmitted case, a man in the eastern state of Sabah.

The man, who had no recent history of overseas travel, was already in fragile health and subsequently died of heart-related complications.
Subramaniam said it was not clear how the pregnant woman had contracted Zika, but she had visited Singapore six months ago and her husband regularly made trips to the city state.

Health NewsI Zika Virus- World Health Organization Issues Safe Sex Guidelines For Travelers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:00:00 +0000

World Health Organization (WHO) have issued new guidelines for travelers in Zika-affected areas to practice safe sex for at least six months. This is because Zika virus could be transmitted via bodily fluids including semen.

According to WHO, more studies are confirming that sexual intercourse could be a mode of transmission of the Zika virus. WHO wants to protect pregnant women as much as possible since Zika-linked microcephaly is one of the effects of the virus. This is the case of babies being born with abnormally small brains, leading to numerous delays in physical and mental abilities.

WHO also said in their guidelines that other studies had revealed even people who have not had symptoms of the virus could infect others. Initially, WHO proposed that men and women traveling from Zika-affected areas should practice safe sex for eight weeks or two months. People who would have symptoms of having Zika virus would only experience mild changes such as a fever, rashes, or muscle and joint aches. WHO also advised pregnant women to avoid travelling to areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission.

The main transmission of Zika virus is through the Aedes mosquito bites. Zika could stay in a man's semen for months and in the blood stream of a person. It could also be found in urine. Zika has spread in Latin America, the Carribean, in Asia, and some states in the U.S. In Florida, there have been seven more people diagnosed with home-grown Zika cases. Florida now has 56 locally-acquired Zika cases. In the other guidelines sent out by WHO, they advised women to delay their pregnancy plans in order to avoid affecting the baby if they catch the Zika virus.

Health NewsI World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Sri Lanka a malaria-free nation.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 01:09:00 +0000

World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Sri Lanka a malaria-free nation.

Regional director of WHO, Poonam Khetrapal Singh said in a statement with gletupdate that Sri Lanka had been among the most malaria-affected countries in the mid-20th century.
According to a statement received from WHO, it is said that the country had begun an anti-malaria campaign that successfully targeted the mosquito-borne parasite that causes the disease, not just mosquitoes. Health education and effective surveillance also helped the campaign.
It said no locally transmitted cases of malaria had been recorded in the country for three-and-a-half years.
To prevent parasites re-entering the country, the anti-malaria campaign is working with local and international partners to maintain surveillance and screening, it said.

Health News| Global Community Leaders launch mhNOW partnership to improve Mental Health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 21:55:00 +0000

The Mental Health Now (mhNOW) initiative will launch at the inaugural Financing and Innovation in Global Health (FIGH) conference today.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), mental illness is increasing worldwide. Between 1990 and 2013, the number of people suffering from depression and/or anxiety increased by nearly 50%, from 416 million to 615 million.

The mhNOW initiative aims to do more than just treat mental illness. The initiative will effectively address mental health in a way that encourages total health and supports the whole person, their families and their community.
Beyond the community level, better health equates with more years of productivity, and greater productivity over a long period can lead to growth for economies. In doing so, this initiative has the potential to save the global economy trillions of dollars every year. The launch of mhNOW follows the World Bank and WHO's co-hosted meeting, Out of the Shadows: Making Mental Health a Global Development Priority, where the two organizations encouraged international leaders to bring mental health to the forefront of the global health agenda and invest in cost-effective, affordable and feasible interventions. Mental health was also recently added to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to transform the world by 2030. Implementing mental health solutions at scale by 2030 has the potential to save $6 trillion and increase the ability of citizens to lead more positive and economically productive lives. The mhNOW initiative urges donors, private sector, NGOs and civil society to invest in and commit to mental health, and join the growing list of founding partners to optimize resources and leverage assets to improve total health for all.

Health News| The First International Symposium begins

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 18:55:00 +0000

The first International Symposium hosted by the Riddet Institute of New Zealand started on Tuesday 12th of this month and proposed to end on the 14th with 150 overseas Researchers, Academics, Health Professionals and Health Media expected to attend alongside their Kiwi counterparts. The event would focus on the Nutritional and Health benefits of kiwifruit based on the latest research and scientific evidence.

The leader of Zepri health and nutrition innovation Dr Juliet Ansell advised people to watch probably to show interest as some exciting results would be announced. She said, their will also be discussion on digetive health, vitamin c health and metabolic health.
Professor Jaap Seidell, the Director of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Amsterdam was also a key note speaker. She was an eminent researcher with expertise across diet, healthy nutrition and the causes and effects which contribute to weight gain and obesity. Interesting topics such as Nutrient richness of kiwifruit through the properties of fibre and actindin, Kiwifruit's vitamin c health benefits and kiwifruit and metabolic health will be discussed.

Health News| Health Officials say "Zika Virus now in 30 States"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 12:58:00 +0000

It have been declared In a Joint Conference of Federal Health Officials on Monday that Aedes Aegypti (mosquito species that spread the Zika virus) are now in 30 states.

The Principal Deputy Director of CDC, Dr. Anne Schuchat, told us that the range at which this mosquito is spreading this virus is far larger than what was initially thought and the disease is causing
more damages than what medical experts initially suggested. Dr. Schuchat said in his statement with our reporter that they are learning much about it everyday and most of what we are learning is not reassuring.

Studies have also shown that this mosquito-borne zika virus that have been linked to microcephaly in some area is a neurological defects that occur when the foetus is exposed to the virus.

Later at the White house, CDC and NIH made a joint statement about the range of current research efforts and the funding neccessary to conduct broader research on the virus.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health, Dr Anthony Fauci gave reports of update on the current fight against the zika outbreak. Dr Fauci said Health Officials were still without enough funds to proportionally respond to potential outbreaks, he then implored the congress to release funds to fight the disease.

Dr Schuchat told our reporter that the congress is trying to protect every pregnancy it can right now.

Global Health Update| Quit smoking now

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 06:39:00 +0000

There are many chemicals in tobacco smoke, most of which are active and harm nearly every organs in the body system. Presence of nicotine in smokes makes it difficult for smokers to quit smoking. Cigarettes contain chemicals that are poisonous and some leads to cancer. Smoking affect organs of the body system.

Effects of smoking in the organs of the body system include:
Nervous System
It affect the CNS by producing nicotine which is a mood-altering drug that reaches the brain in a short time. Sometimes when you smoke, you feel more energized but after a little while, you feel more tired. That is the effect of nicotine. Smoking have effect on other organs of the nervous system such as cataracts, sense of taste and smell weakens. Smoking also increases womans risk of cervical cancer.

Digestive Systems
Use of tobacco can cause gum inflammation, lead to tooth
decay and bad breath. There is also a high risk of cancer of the kidney, mouth, pancreas, larynx, throat and esophagus. Smoking is a leading cause of diabetes.

Smoking causes effects on other systems which are:

Respiratory system- leading to damage of lungs and causing lung cancer.
Reproductive system- it can lead to infertility in both man and woman. Smoking also increases a woman's risk of miscarriage and premature delivery.

Diseases caused by long-term smoking includes
- Cancers (lung, mouth, nose, larynx, bone marrow, kidney, cervical, etc.
- lung diseases
- pulmonary diseases
- heart diseases and stroke
- ulcers
- hip fracture.

Smoking leads to damages in organs of the body systems, so if you are a smoker, try quiting now or you will find it difficult later. If you are an addict, you should still quit but there is no tendency that you will be medically fit.

2016 World Health Day: "Halt the rise: Beat Diabetes"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 09:15:00 +0000

World Health Day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organisation (WHO) annually on April 7th since 1950. WHO-a specialized organisation of the United Nations that is Concerned with international public health, which was established on 7th April, 1948 has played a leading role in the eradication of some diseases.

Each year, a theme is selected and the WHO organizes global and local events on the day related to the selected theme. The theme for 2016 World Health Day is "Halt the rise: beat diabetes". This day is assigned for individuals in every community to get involved in activities relating to the theme so as to lead to better health.

Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to meet their body's need and their cells don't respond properly to....read more on diabetes here . Efforts to prevent and treat, awareness about the rise in diabetes and its consequences will be the main goal of World Health Day 2016 Campaign.

Diabetes: Causes-Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 08:42:00 +0000

Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to meet their body's needs and/or their cells don't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is important because it moves glucose, a simple sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. It also has a number of other effects on metabolism. Glucose is provided from the food we eat to the body which is used as a source of energy by the cells. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay in the blood. High blood glucose levels are toxic, and cells that don't get glucose are
lacking the fuel they need. There are two main kinds of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.More than 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2. Overall, about 30 million people in North America have diabetes. Only about two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes are aware of it and are receiving treatment because, for many people, early symptoms are not noticeable without testing.
This condition occurs most commonly in people of First Nations descent, Hispanics, and North Americans of African descent.
Another less common form is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder.It's believed that a combination of genetic predisposition and additional (as yet unidentified) factors provoke the immune system into attacking and killing the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by insulin resistance.This means no matter how much or how little insulin is made, the body can't use it as well as it should. As a result, glucose can't be moved from the blood into cells. Obesity is a leading cause of insulin resistance – at least 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Some risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes include:
*.acanthosis nigricans (a condition causing darkened patches of skin)
*.being 40 years of age or older
*.blood vessel disease (e.g., damage to blood vessels in the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart, brain, or arms and legs)
*.First Nation,Hispanic, South Asian,Asian, orAfrican descent
*.giving birth to a large baby
*.high blood pressure
*.high cholesterol
*.a history of gestational diabetes
*.HIV infection
*.mental health disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia)
*.obstructive sleep apnea
*.polycystic ovary syndrome
*.prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose
*.use of certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids such as prednisone, certain antipsychotic medications, certain antiviral medications for HIV).

Currently, type 1 diabetes is not preventable. However, studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes that include eating a healthy diet and exercising. In addition, some studies have shown that certain oral antidiabetes medications may play a role in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes for people who are at high risk of developing it. Lifestyle changes and medications may prevent approximately 30% to 60% of type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin* continuously to survive. There are three important things a person can do to treat type 2 diabetes: *.make lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise
*.use medication
*.monitor blood glucose levels
As with many conditions, treatment of type 2 diabetes begins with lifestyle changes, particularly in your diet and exercise.
If you have type 2 diabetes, speak to your doctor and diabetes educator about an appropriate diet. It is also a good idea to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise program to determine how much and what kind of exercise is appropriate.

Facts about 'Epilepsy' that you must know

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:26:00 +0000

Epilepsy is a central neurological disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain disintegrate, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of consciousness. Epilepsy has many possible causes, including illness, brain injury, and abnormal brain development. In many cases, the cause is unknown. Doctors use brain
scans and other tests to diagnose epilepsy. It is important to start treatment right away.

There is no cure for epilepsy, but medicines can control seizures for most people. When medicines are not working well, surgery or implanted devices such as vagus nerve stimulators may help. Special diets can help some children with epilepsy. Epilepsy is characterized by a long-term risk of recurrent seizures. These seizures may present in several ways depending on the part of the brain involved and the person's age.
Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. Mild seizures may require treatment because they can be dangerous during activities such as driving or swimming. Treatment with medications or sometimes surgery can control seizures for about 80 percent of people with epilepsy. Some children with epilepsy may also outgrow their condition with age.

2016 World TB Day: Unite to end TB

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 18:42:00 +0000

World Tuberculosis Day remembered on March 24 annually, is held to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis(TB) and efforts to curb the disease. In 1982, on the one-hundredth anniversary of Robert Koch's presentation, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) proposed that March 24 be proclaimed an official World TB Day. This was part of a year-long centennial effort by the IUATLD and the World Health Organization under the theme “Defeat TB: Now and Forever.” World TB Day was not officially recognized as an annual occurrence by WHO's World Health Assembly and the United Nations until over a decade later. In the fall of 1995, WHO and the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) hosted the first World TB Day advocacy planning meeting in Den Haag, Netherlands; an event they would continue co-sponsor over the next few years. In 1996, WHO, KNCV, the IUATLD and other concerned organizations joined to conduct a wide range of World TB Day activities.
For World TB Day 1997, WHO held a news conference in Berlin during which WHO Director-General Hiroshi Nakajima declared that “DOTS is the biggest health breakthrough of this decade, according to lives we will be able to save.” WHO's Global TB Programme Director, Dr. Arata Kochi, promised that, "Today the situation of the global TB epidemic is about to change, because we have made a breakthrough. It is the breakthrough of health management systems that makes it possible to control TB not only in wealthy countries, but in all parts of the developing world, where 95 percent of all TB cases now exist." By 1998, nearly 200 organizations conducted public outreach activities on World TB Day. During its World TB Day 1998 news conference in London, WHO for the first time identified the top twenty-two countries with the world’s highest TB burden. The next year, over 60 key TB advocates from 18 countries attended the three-day WHO/KNCV planning meeting for World TB Day 1999. U.S. President Bill Clinton marked World TB Day 2000 by administering the WHO-recommended DOTS treatment to patients at the Mahavir Hospital in Hyderabad, India. According to Clinton, “These are human tragedies, economic calamities, and far more than crises for you, they are crises for the world.
The spread of disease is the one global problem for which . . . no nation is immune.” In Canada, the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health noted on World TB Day 2014 that 64% of TB cases reported nationally were among foreign-born individuals and 23% among Aboriginal people, highlighting TB as a key area of concern about health equity. Today the Stop TB Partnership, a network of organizations and countries fighting TB (the IUATLD is a member and WHO houses the Stop TB Partnership secretariat in Geneva), organizes the Day to highlight the scope of the disease and how to prevent and cure it. TB ranks alongside HIV/AIDS the world’s top infectious disease killer. In 2014, 9.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease, including 380 000 among people living with HIV. More than 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and TB is among the top 5 causes of death for women aged 15 to 44. In 2014, an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 140 000 children died.
TB is a leading killer of HIV-positive people: in 2014, 1 in 3 HIV deaths was due to TB. Globally, in 2014, an estimated 480 000 people developed MDR-TB. The TB death rate dropped by 47% between 1990 and 2015. An estimated 43 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2014. The WHO End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB deaths by 90% and to cut new cases by 80% between 2015 and 2030, and to ensure that no TB-affected family faces catastrophic costs. Each World TB Day addresses a different theme. The theme for 2016 World TB Day is Unite to End TB
.

Water and Jobs: 2016 World Water Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:08:00 +0000

World Water Day is held internationally on the 22nd of March every year as an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day, since then each year focuses on a different issue.
A number of governmental and nongovernmental organizations promoting clean water and sustainable aquatic habitats have used World Water Day as a time to focus attention on the critical issues of our era. Events such as theatrical and musical celebrations, educational events, and campaigns to raise money for access to clean and affordable water are held worldwide on World Water Day. The occasion of World Water Day is also used to highlight required improvements for access to WASH(water, sanitation, hygiene) facilities in developing countries. Each year, World Water Day is celebrated to show the importance of water on the globe, and each year there is an annual theme.
Water and Jobs("Better water, better jobs") is the Theme for 2016 world water day. This theme shows the correlations between water and jobs created globally either directly or indirectly by water sources.

Uganda: Some unaware of the Zika infection

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:19:00 +0000

Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus buzz arround local people near the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda who are unaware of the emergency the virus have caused.
Some residents spoke with our reporter stating that they haven't heard of 'Zika' before. Many also said that 'This forest
may be the birthplace of Zika -70 years ago - but there is no record of it causing health problems in the area. A Ugandan virologist Julius Lutwama who has researched on Zika for some years, believes Zika is unlikely to be a threat to Africans because they appear to have immunity.
There have been more than 7,000 Zika infections in the Cape Verde archipelago off West Africa, including the first case last week of a baby born with microcephaly, the brain disorder thought to be linked to Zika. Residents of that area have been warned to restrain from entering into the forest but some woodcutters do sneak into the forest and cut down trees to sell as fuel, diminishing biodiversity in the tiny forest that boasts as many as 136 tree species.

Click Join the Conversation on how to curb Zika virus

What you don't know about the 'Zika Virus'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:35:00 +0000

Zika fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by Zika virus (ZIKV), consisting of mild fever, rash (mostly maculo-papular), headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, and non-purulent conjunctivitis, occurring about two to seven days after the mosquito vector bite.
One out of four people may develop symptoms, but in those who are affected the disease is usually mild with symptoms that can last between two and seven days. Its clinical manifestation is often similar to dengue, also a mosquito-borne illness.

What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:32:00 +0000

PREVENTION Control of the Mastomys rodent population is impractical, so measures are limited to keeping rodents out of homes and food supplies, as well as maintaining effective personal hygiene. Gloves, masks, laboratory coats, and goggles are advised while in contact with an infected person. These issues in many countries are monitored by a department of public health. In less developed countries, these types of organizations may not have the necessary means to effectively control outbreaks.
Researchers at the USAMRIID facility, where military biologists study infectious diseases, have a promising vaccine candidate. They have developed a replication-competent vaccine against Lassa virus based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors expressing the Lassa virus glycoprotein. After a single intramuscular injection, test primates have survived lethal challenge, while showing no clinical symptoms.

What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:22:00 +0000

CAUSES Lassa virus is zoonotic (transmitted from animals), in that it spreads to humans from rodents, specifically multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis). This is probably the most common mouse in equatorial Africa, ubiquitous in human households and eaten as a delicacy in some areas.In these rodents, infection is in a persistent asymptomatic state.
The virus is shed in their excreta (urine and feces), which can be aerosolized. In fatal cases, Lassa fever is characterized by impaired or delayed cellular immunity leading to fulminant viremia. Infection in humans typically occurs by exposure to animal excrement through the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts.Inhalation of tiny particles of infectious material (aerosol) is believed to be the most significant means of exposure. It is possible to acquire the infection through broken skinor mucous membranes that are directly exposed to infectious material. Transmission from person to person has also been established, presenting a disease risk for healthcare workers. Frequency of transmission by sexual contact has not been established.

What you have to know about the 'Lassa Fever' (cont.)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:16:00 +0000

PROGNOSIS About 15-20% of hospitalized Lassa fever patients will die from the illness. The overall mortality rate is estimated to be 1%, but during epidemics, mortality can climb as high as 50%.
The mortality rate is greater than 80% when it occurs in pregnant women during their third trimester; fetal death also occurs in nearly all those cases. Abortion decreases the risk of death to the mother. Some survivors experience lasting effects of the disease. Because of treatment with ribavirin, fatality rates are continuing to decline.

Cosmetics and Effects on the Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 16:59:00 +0000

The mammalian skin is the outer covering of humans or other mammals. It is an organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of ectodermal tissue and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and internal organs. The skin plays a key role in protecting the body against pathogens and excessive water loss.

Other functions of the skin include:
*. Insulation
*. Temperature regulation
*. Sensation
*. Production of vitamin D folates.
Cosmetics are powders, creams, etc that you use on your face and body in order to look more attractive.
Thickness of the skin
*. Under eyes and around eyelids - 0.5mm
*. Palms and soles of the feet - 4mm
*. Back - 14mm.
Cosmetics causes some effects on the skin which include: *. Damages to your skin.

These cosmetics soften the thickness of the skin stated above, thus, resulting in skin malfunction
. *. Some cheap brands can give you an allergic reaction
*. Different brands are used for different skin types, you may get the wrong skin type
*. Cosmetics can leave you with nasty make-up lines
*. Clog your eyelashes together
*. Dry your lips out
*. Can get into your eyes.

Cosmetics involves some chemicals that are also dangerous to humans health. Those chemicals include:
*.Lead [which is a proven neurotoxin, linked to learning, language and behavioural problems. It has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in men and women, and delays in puberty onset in girls]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: nail colours, lipsticks and whitening toothpaste.
*. Phthalates [which has been linked to early puberty in girls and also a risk factor for later-life breast cancer]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: nail polish, perfumes and fragrance ingredients.
*. Triclosan [which can affect the body's hormone systems especially thyroid hormones]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: deodorants and antibacterial soaps.
*. Parabens [which are absorbed through the skin and has been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumours]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: lotions, ointments and underarm deodorants.
*. Placenta Extract [which has been identified as an anticipated carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP)]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: hair conditioners and shampoos.
*. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) [which have been shown to increase risk for breast cancer]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: shampoos and some cosmetics.
*. Ethylene Oxide [which has been identified as mammary carcinogens in animals by National Toxicology Program (NTP)]. Cosmetics associated with this chemical include: shampoos and body washes.
Meanwhile, make up looks good but can ruin yournatural beauty.

Water and your Health

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 14:04:00 +0000

Water (H2O) is a transparent fluid which forms the world's streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of organisms. Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and without water, we would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. Water(pure) is tasteless and odorless. Water can dissolve many different substances, giving it varying tastes and odors. Humans, and other animals, have developed senses that enable them to evaluate the potabilityof water by avoiding water that is too salty or putrid.
The taste of spring waterand mineral water, often advertised in marketing of consumer products, derives from the minerals dissolved in it. The advertised purity of spring and mineral water refers to absence of toxins, pollutants, and microbes, not to the absence of naturally occurring minerals. Safe drinking wateris essential to humans and other lifeforms even though it provides no caloriesor organic nutrients.
Access to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world, but approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water and over 2.5 billion lack access to adequate sanitation. However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world populationwill be facing water-based vulnerability. A report, issued in November 2009, suggests that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%. Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions as a solventfor a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and transportation.
Approximately 70% of the freshwater used by humans goes to agriculture. Water serves as a lubricant in digestion and almost all other body processes. The water in our saliva helps facilitate chewing and swallowing, ensuring that food will slide easily down the esophagus. Water also lubricates our joints and cartilages and allows them to (pardon the pun) move more fluidly. When dehydrated, the body rations water away from the joints. Less lubrication equals greater friction and that can cause joint, knee and back pain potentially leading to injuries and arthritis. Even our eyeballs need plenty of lubrication to work well and remain healthy.
Boiling, steaming, and simmering are popular cooking methods that often require immersing food in water or its gaseous state, steam. Water is also used for dish washing. Water also plays many critical roles within the field of food science. It is important for a food scientist to understand the roles that water plays within food processing to ensure the success of their products.
Our bodies can control over-heating through perspiration from sweat glands in the skin and from evaporation which produces a cooling effect. Blood is also routed into areas close to the surface of the skin where it can be cooled and then carried back to the interior of the body. Conversing in a cold environment, the skin maintains proper body temperature by shunting the blood away from the exterior surface thereby conserving heat within the body. The movement of water within our cellular systems also transports vital blood plasma which is 92% made of water. Blood plasma play a critical role in buffering the body’s pH, circulating antibodies from the immune system, and regulating osmotic balance which all helps to maintain proper body temperature

Global Health Update: What you have to know about Down Syndrome (DS)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 10:03:00 +0000

Down syndrome (DS or DNS), also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells. In each cell there are 46 chromosomes.
The DNA in our chromosomes determines how we develop. People with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes in their cells instead of 46. They have an extra chromosome 21, which is why Down syndrome is also sometimes known as trisomy 21. The physical features and medical problems associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids with DS need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives.
The parents of the affected individual are typically genetically
normal. The extra chromosome occurs by random chance. There is no known behavior or environmental factor that changes the risk. Down syndrome can be identified during pregnancy by prenatal screening followed by diagnostic testing, or after birth by direct observation and genetic testing. Since the introduction of screening, pregnancies with the diagnosis are often terminated.

Causes
Normally, at the time of conception a baby inherits genetic information from its parents in the form of 46 chromosomes: 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. In most cases of Down syndrome, a child gets an extra chromosome 21 — which makes it 47 instead of 46. The cause is due to extra genetic material which result in the physical features and developmental delays associated with DS. Although we know how Down syndrome occurs, we do not yet know why it happens. Down syndrome occurs at conception, across all ethnic and social groups and to parents of all ages. It is nobody's fault. There is no cure and it does not go away.
Scientists do know that women age 35 and older have a significantly higher risk of having a child with the condition. At age 30, for example, a woman has about a 1 in 1,000 chance of conceiving a child with DS. Those odds increase to about 1 in 400 by age 35. By 40 the risk rises to about 1 in 100. Down syndrome is one of the most common chromosome abnormalities in humans.
Those with Down syndrome nearly always have physical and intellectual disabilities. As adults, their mental abilities are typically similar to those of an 8- or 9-year-old. They also typically have poor immune function and generally reach developmental milestones at a later age. They have an increased risk of a number of other health problems, including congenital heart disease, epilepsy, leukemia, thyroid diseases, and mental disorders, among others. Down syndrome is not a new condition.

People with Down syndrome have:
*.some characteristic physical features
*.some health and development challenges
*.some level of intellectual disability.

Because no two people are alike, each of these things will vary from one person to another.
A test for Down syndrome can be carried out before a baby is born. Down syndrome is usually recognised at birth and is confirmed by a blood test. When a baby is born, there is no way to tell what level of intellectual disability the child may have. We can't also predict the way in which this may affect a person's life. However, we do know that having Down syndrome will not be the most important influence on how that person develops and lives their life.

Treatments

This Syndrome can neither be treated nor removed.

High Risk Of Tuberculosis (TB)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:15:00 +0000

Tuberculosis (TB), is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze. People with latent TB do not spread the disease. Active infection occurs more often in people with HIV/AIDS and in those who smoke. Diagnosis of active TB is based on chest X-rays, as well as microscopic examination and culture of body fluids. Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, early detection and treatment. Those at high risk include household, workplace, and social contacts of people with active TB. Treatment requires the use of multiple antibiotics over a long period of time.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem with increasing rates of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Causes
A number of factors make people more susceptible to TB infections. The most important risk factor globally is HIV (13% of all people with TB are infected by the virus). This is a particular problem in sub-Saharan Africa, where rates of HIV are high. Of people without HIV who are infected with tuberculosis, about 5–10% develop active disease during their lifetimes; in contrast, 30% of those coinfected with HIV develop the active disease. Tuberculosis is closely linked to both overcrowding and malnutrition, making it one of the principal diseases of poverty. Those at high risk thus include: people who inject illicit drugs, inhabitants and employees of locales where vulnerable people gather (e.g. prisons and homeless shelters), medically underprivileged and resource-poor communities, high-risk ethnic minorities, children in close contact with high-risk category patients, and health-care providers serving these patients.
Chronic lung disease is another significant risk factor. Silicosis increases the risk about 30-fold. Those who smoke cigarettes have nearly twice the risk of TB compared to nonsmokers. Other disease states can also increase the risk of developing tuberculosis. These include alcoholism and diabetes mellitus (three-fold increase).
The main cause of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a small, aerobic, nonmotile bacillus. The high lipid content of this pathogen accounts for many of its unique clinical characteristics. It divides every 16 to 20 hours, which is an extremely slow rate compared with other bacteria, which usually divide in less than an hour.

Global tuberculosis report in 2015 provides data reported by over 200 countries that account for more than 99% of the world's TB cases. In 2015, particular attention was given to assessment of whether 2015 global TB targets set in the context of the MDGs were achieved worldwide and at regional and country levels. Tuberculosis may infect any part of the body, but most commonly occurs in the lungs (known as pulmonary tuberculosis). Extrapulmonary TB occurs when tuberculosis develops outside of the lungs, although extrapulmonary TB may coexist with pulmonary TB.

Symptoms
include: fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. Significant nail clubbing may also occur.

Global Health Update: What you should know about 'Constipation'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:11:00 +0000

Constipation is a condition where one go through difficulty in emptying the bowels. Constipation is generally described as having fewer bowel movements a week. Though occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause excessive straining to have a bowel movement and other signs and symptoms.

Treatment for chronic constipation depends on the cause.
Causes
Constipation can be caused by many different l factors including:
*.Low-fibre diet – as fibre is indigestible, it adds bulk to the faeces, making it more easily pushed along the digestive tract. There are two broad types of fibre; soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre helps to soften the faeces. Good sources of soluble fibre include legumes, fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to the faeces, helping it to move more quickly through the bowel. Good sources of insoluble fibre are in wheat bran, wholegrain breads and cereals.

*.Insufficient water – the fibre in faeces will only plump up with water. Constipation can occur from a high-fibre diet if insufficient water is consumed.

*.Lack of regular exercise

*.A tendency to ‘put off’ going to the toilet – ignoring the urge to go means that more water will be extracted from the stools, making them difficult to pass. Regularly ignoring this urge may make the body less sensitive to normal signals to go to the toilet.

*.Some medications – such as narcotics, antidepressants, iron supplements, calcium-channel blockers and non-magnesium antacids are known to slow bowel movements.

*.Pregnancy – the action of hormones, reduced activity and the pressure of the growing uterus against the intestines mean that constipation is common during pregnancy.

*.Advancing age – constipation is more common in the elderly. This is due to a number of factors, including reduced intestinal muscle contractions and reliance on regular medications.

*.Illness – a period of illness, particularly an illness resulting in hospitalisation and bed-rest, typically results in constipation. Factors include change in routine, shyness, reduced food intake, pain (especially after abdominal surgery), and pain-relief medication such as morphine. Short-term treatment with laxatives is often required, but may be overlooked.
Though, in some cases, a cause for chronic constipation is never found.
Symptoms
The symptoms include:
*.needing to open the bowels less often than usual

*.hard, dry stools that may be painful to pass

*.straining to pass the motion

*.having to sit on the toilet for much longer than usual

*.the sensation afterwards that the bowel hasn’t fully emptied

*.bloated abdomen

*.abdominal cramps.

In some cases, constipation is caused by more serious illnesses and events, including tumours and systemic diseases. Back

Global Health Update: Do you know what the types of Cancer are?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:05:00 +0000

Here is the Alphabetical List of Cancer Types

A
    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
    Acute myeloid leukemia
    Adrenocortical carcinoma
    AIDS-related cancers
    AIDS-related lymphoma
    Anal
cancer
    Appendix cancer
    Astrocytoma, childhood cerebellar or cerebral

B

    Basal-cell carcinoma
    Bile duct cancer, extrahepatic (see cholangiocarcinoma)
    Bladder cancer
    Bone tumor, osteosarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma
    Brainstem glioma
    Brain cancer
    Brain tumor, cerebellar astrocytoma
    Brain tumor, cerebral astrocytoma/malignant glioma
    Brain tumor, ependymoma
    Brain tumor, medulloblastoma
    Brain tumor, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors
    Brain tumor, visual pathway and hypothalamic glioma
    Breast cancer
    Bronchial adenomas/carcinoids
    Burkitt's lymphoma

C

    Carcinoid tumor, childhood
    Carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal
    Carcinoma of unknown primary
    Central nervous system lymphoma, primary
    Cerebellar astrocytoma, childhood
    Cerebral astrocytoma/malignant glioma, childhood
    Cervical cancer
    Childhood cancers
    Chondrosarcoma
    Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
    Chronic myelogenous leukemia
    Chronic myeloproliferative disorders
    Colon cancer
    Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

D

    Desmoplastic small round cell tumor

E

    Endometrial cancer
    Ependymoma
    Epitheliod Hemangioendothelioma (EHE)
    Esophageal cancer
    Ewing's sarcoma in the Ewing family of tumors
    Extracranial germ cell tumor, childhood
    Extragonadal germ cell tumor
    Extrahepatic bile duct cancer
    Eye cancer, intraocular melanoma
    Eye cancer, retinoblastoma

G

    Gallbladder cancer
    Gastric (stomach) cancer
    Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor
    Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
    Germ cell tumor: extracranial, extragonadal, or ovarian
    Gestational trophoblastic tumor
    Glioma of the brain stem
    Glioma, childhood cerebral astrocytoma
    Glioma, childhood visual pathway and hypothalamic
    Gastric carcinoid

H

    Hairy cell leukemia
    Head and neck cancer
    Heart cancer
    Hepatocellular (liver) cancer
    Hodgkin lymphoma
    Hypopharyngeal cancer
    Hypothalamic and visual pathway glioma, childhood

I

    Intraocular melanoma
    Islet cell carcinoma (endocrine pancreas)

K

    Kaposi sarcoma
    Kidney cancer (renal cell cancer)

L

    Laryngeal cancer
    Leukaemias
    Leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic (also called acute lymphocytic leukaemia)
    Leukaemia, acute myeloid (also called acute myelogenous leukemia)
    Leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic (also called chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
    Leukemia, chronic myelogenous (also called chronic myeloid leukemia)
    Leukemia, hairy cell
    Lip and oral cavity cancer
    Liposarcoma
    Liver cancer (primary)
    Lung cancer, non-small cell
    Lung cancer, small cell
    Lymphomas
    Lymphoma, AIDS-related
    Lymphoma, Burkitt
    Lymphoma, cutaneous T-Cell
    Lymphoma, Hodgkin
    Lymphomas, Non-Hodgkin (an old classification of all lymphomas except Hodgkin's)
    Lymphoma, primary central nervous system

M

    Macroglobulinemia, Waldenström
    Male breast cancer
    Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone/osteosarcoma
    Medulloblastoma, childhood
    Melanoma
    Melanoma, intraocular (eye)
    Merkel cell cancer
    Mesothelioma, adult malignant
    Mesothelioma, childhood
    Metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary
    Mouth cancer
    Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, childhood
    Multiple myeloma/plasma cell neoplasm
    Mycosis fungoides
    Myelodysplastic syndromes
    Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases
    Myelogenous leukemia, chronic
    Myeloid leukemia, adult acute
    Myeloid leukemia, childhood acute
    Myeloma, multiple (cancer of the bone-marrow)
    Myeloproliferative disorders, chronic
    Myxoma

N

    Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    Neuroblastoma
    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
    Non-small cell lung cancer

O

    Oligodendroglioma
    Oral cancer
    Oropharyngeal cancer
    Osteosarcoma/malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone
    Ovarian cancer
    Ovarian epithelial cancer (surface epithelial-stromal tumor)
    Ovarian germ cell tumor
    Ovarian low malignant potential tumor

P

    Pancreatic cancer
    Pancreatic cancer, islet cell
    Paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer
    Parathyroid cancer
    Penile cancer
    Pharyngeal cancer
    Pheochromocytoma
    Pineal astrocytoma
    Pineal germinoma
    Pineoblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors, childhood
    Pituitary adenoma
    Plasma cell neoplasia/Multiple myeloma
    Pleuropulmonary blastoma
    Primary central nervous system lymphoma
    Prostate cancer

R

    Rectal cancer
    Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)
    Renal pelvis and ureter, transitional cell cancer
    Retinoblastoma
    Rhabdomyosarcoma, childhood

S

    Salivary gland cancer
    Sarcoma, Ewing family of tumors
    Sarcoma, Kaposi
    Sarcoma, soft tissue
    Sarcoma, uterine
    Sézary syndrome
    Skin cancer (non-melanoma)
    Skin cancer (melanoma)
    Skin carcinoma, Merkel cell
    Small cell lung cancer
    Small intestine cancer
    Soft tissue sarcoma
    Squamous cell carcinoma – see skin cancer (non-melanoma)
    Squamous neck cancer with occult primary, metastatic
    Stomach cancer
    Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor, childhood

T

    T-Cell lymphoma, cutaneous – see Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary syndrome
    Testicular cancer
    Throat cancer
    Thymoma, childhood
    Thymoma and thymic carcinoma
    Thyroid cancer
    Thyroid cancer, childhood
    Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter
    Trophoblastic tumor, gestational

U

    Unknown primary site, carcinoma of, adult
    Unknown primary site, cancer of, childhood
    Ureter and renal pelvis, transitional cell cancer
    Urethral cancer
    Uterine cancer, endometrial
    Uterine sarcoma

V

    Vaginal cancer
    Visual pathway and hypothalamic glioma, childhood
    Vulvar cancer

W

    Waldenström macroglobulinemia
    Wilms tumor (kidney cancer), childhood

Climate Change: Experts says its Global Emergency

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:50:00 +0000

Medical professionals are now warning of the threat climate change poses to our ability to grow quality
food, access clean water and breath clean oxygen.

Natural disasters worldwide have long demonstrated the devastating effect climate change can have on local and sometimes entire populations, with developing countries usually suffering the most from extreme weather conditions
.

Just a tiny fraction of greenhouse gases are caused by low-income countries, yet it is those very countries that are most exposed to the dangers of climate change. This will become especially evident should no action be taken to keep global warming below 2 degrees (or even better 1.5 degrees) Celsius.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already argued that climate change needs to be viewed as a global health emergency, which not only affects health through heat-related disorders but increases the global risk of mosquito-borne disease, food and waterborne illness, malnutrition, respiratory and allergic disorders and even mental health.

In developing countries, the burden of the poor is reflected in the kind of work people do
but even in Europe and the United States, the negative health effects of climate change are visible as countries keep investing in fossil fuels, which both drive climate change and cause serious health problems in developed nations by significantly contributing to air pollution. Air pollution is responsible for more than 400,000 premature deaths in Europe annually.

Those working outside in the pollution-ridden capitals of Europe or living close to fossil-fuel burning sites have a significantly higher risk of suffering from pneumonia, heart disease, pulmonary disease or even cancer.

The Annals of Global Health review is now urging global leaders to act fast and protect poor people, women, children and the elderly from the potentially devastating health consequences of climate change.

Content from telesurtv

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis and its Symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:49:00 +0000

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis also known as Dandruff and seborrheic eczema is a chronic, relapsing and usually mild dermatitis. It is an inflammatory skin disorder affecting the scalp, face, and torso.
Typically, seborrheic dermatitis presents with scaly, flaky, itchy, and red skin.

It particularly affects the sebaceous-gland-rich areas of skin. In adolescents and adults, seborrhoeic dermatitis is usually presents as scalp scaling similar to dandruff or as mild to marked erythema of the nasolabial fold.
Symptoms
Seborrhoeic dermatitis symptoms appear gradually and usually the first signs are flaky skin and scalp. Symptoms occur most commonly anywhere
¤On the Skin of the face
¤Behind the ears and
¤In areas where the skin folds.

Flakes may be yellow, white or grayish.
¤Redness and flaking may also occur on the skin near the eyelashes, on the forehead, around the sides of the nose, and the chest and upper back.

In more severe cases, yellowish to reddish scaly pimples appear along the hairline, behind the ears, in the ear canal, on the eyebrows, on the bridge of the nose, around the nose, on the chest, and on the upper back. Commonly, patients experience mild redness, scaly skin lesions and in some cases hair loss.
Other symptoms include patchy scaling or thick crusts on the scalp, red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales, itching, soreness and yellow or white scales that may attach to the hair shaft.
Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in infants younger than three months and it causes a thick, oily, yellowish crust around the hairline and on the scalp. Itching is not common among infants. Frequently, a stubborn diaper rash accompanies the scalp rash. Usually, when it occurs in infants the condition resolves itself within days and with no treatment. In adults, symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis may last from few weeks to years. Many patients experience alternating periods of inflammation. The condition is referred to a specialist when self-care has proven unsuccessful