Wake Up To Give Up!

“Thank heaven, I have given up smoking again…God! I feel fit.  Homicidal, but fit.  A different man.  Irritable, moody, depressed, rude, nervy, perhaps; but the lungs are fine.”

Well said by A. P. Herbert as giving up on smoking seems impossible. There is already much heard and said on smoking. But one always reads to make a decision of not smoking, and as the craving arises again he resumes back to that one puff with a little guilt this time, which very soon vanishes with the second puff.

Smoking is just one form of tobacco consumption. Other forms include quid and snuff. Tobacco usage caused 100 million deaths in the 20th century and if the current trends continue, there could be up to one billion deaths in the 21st century. By 2030, more than 80% of tobacco related deaths will occur in the developing world unless urgent action is taken.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death globally, which causes more than five million deaths a year. So this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has selected “Tobacco Health Warnings” as the theme on the World No Tobacco Day, which is on 31^st May 2009. WHO particularly approves of tobacco health warnings, which will contain both pictures and words as they are the most effective at convincing people to quit. Such pictorial warnings on the tobacco products cut across the linguistic and cultural barriers, and therefore, are intended to increase the public awareness on the deadly health effects of tobacco consumption.

Some true facts related to tobacco consumption are as follows…

• Tobacco is responsible for about 30% of all cancer deaths in the developed countries
• According to Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), India records about 8,00,000 tobacco deaths every year with 2,200 deaths per day
• Tobacco in various forms of its usage (e.g: smoking, chewing, etc.) is the major environmental cause of cancers of the lung, larynx, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, bladder, pancreas, and probably, kidney
• Tobacco is smoked in the form of manufactured cigarettes or in indigenous forms like bidi, cigar, chilum and hookah
• Tobacco in powered form is inhaled as snuff
• The most common form of tobacco chewing in India is the betel quid (tambaku paan) which usually contains betel leaf, arecanut, lime and tobacco. The flakes of sun dried tobacco and slaked lime is rubbed in the palm of the hand and the mixture is then put into the mouth in small amounts and frequent intervals during the day and slowly sucked and swallowed after dilution with saliva
• The oral cancer is usually occurs on the side of the mouth were the tobacco quid was kept and the risk is higher if the quid was kept in the mouth during sleep
• Gutka is a preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and sweet or savory flavorings. It is highly addictive and a known carcinogen. It is consumed much like chewing tobacco and it is considered responsible for oral cancer and other severe negative health effects
• People who chew nass or nasswar– a mixture of tobacco, ashes, lime and cotton seed oil are more prone to get oral cancer (Also known as snuff dipping)
• Some places people have the habit of reverse smoking of cigar with the burning end inside the mouth. This is known to cause cancer of the hard palate
• The total burden of lung cancer in any country is directly related to the amount and duration of cigarette smoking
• Other ill effects of tobacco consumption are diseases like stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm and peptic ulcer
• Large direct, indirect and intangible costs associated with tobacco hamper economic development rather than promote it

The temporary gratification you get after indulging in tobacco addiction will render you with permanent agony. Why put your precious life in jeopardy by surrendering yourself to this addiction? Now is the time to give up on this obnoxious dependency. So all dear readers – Wake Up To Give Up On Tobacco Consumption!

“Am I Number 12?”

What is hepatitis? Is it same as jaundice? Is jaundice also called as Hepatitis A? If it is Hepatitis A then what is Hepatitis B? What is Hepatitis C? Is there anything like Hepatitis D, E, F, G and more? Is it an infectious disease? If yes, then is there any vaccine available?

Many questions in your mind and you are yet to find answers to them, right? There is also one more question you should ask yourself this year on World Hepatitis Day, which is – “Am I Number 12?”

World Hepatitis Day is an initiative to raise awareness on chronic viral hepatitis infections worldwide and to encourage steps to prevent and treat hepatitis. The long term infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause liver failure and liver cancer. Statistics reads that one in twelve people worldwide have HBV or HCV infections. This prevalence is far higher than HIV or any other cancer. This year the theme revolves around this statistic data. Asking a simple question – “Am I Number 12?” – is designed to highlight the extent of HBV or HCV infection across the world.

Infections are very often undiagnosed, and hence, the aim of “Am I Number 12? is to encourage people to question themselves and to get tested. An early diagnosis of any disease helps in better management, and thus, prevents development of complications.

On this international hepatitis day the “Am I Number 12?” campaign focuses on HBV and HCV by means of 12 Asks, which are as follows…

• Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue
• The appointment of an individual to lead government strategy nationally
• The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment
• Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence
• Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality
• Clear, quantifiable targets for screening
• Effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence statistics
• Commitment to examine cases of best practice internationally
• Commitment to work with patient groups in policy design and implementation
• Provision of free and anonymous (or confidential) testing
• A public awareness campaign that alerts people to the issue and is committed to reducing stigma
• Commitment to an ongoing national vaccination programme

Viral hepatitis has been added to the agenda for the 62nd annual World Health Assembly 18-27 May 2009, Geneva, and this year, the aim is to have the World Health Organization (WHO) officially adopt the World Hepatitis Day. This day is to raise awareness of HBV and HCV within the general public, people at risk, healthcare providers and government audiences, and at the same time, to persuade the national governments to commit to the 12 Asks by 2012, which will eventually lead to the success of this hepatitis prevention programme.

So dear readers, this year make sure that you are not one out of the 12.

Protect Yourself, Test Yourself and Treat Yourself.

The Silent Killer – Hypertension

“My mother is suffering from a coronary heart block. She was a known case of hypertension for the past 15 years.”

“My husband had an angioplasty done last year. He is a diabetic and a hypertensive.”

“My father’s left hand movements are still to recover from the effect of stroke he had two years back.”

“My aunty is on dialysis due to kidney failure. She is also a diabetic.”

“My brother is a smoker and he has high blood pressure. He is just 29 years old.”

“My doctor informed me that as my parents are hypertensive, I must take care of my lifestyle and diet so that I do not get the problem of high blood pressure.”

Such health worries are often the highlights of conversations you have with your relatives or neighbours or may be with one of your family members. Hypertension is a silent killer. Over a period of time it leads to heart, kidney and/or neurological problems.

It may show symptoms like occipital headache (especially in the morning), dizziness, palpitations, epistaxis (bleeding from nose), pain in chest (angina pectoris) or it could be absolutely asymptomatic showing no complains at all. Most of the times it goes undiagnosed as it does not show any symptom and this leads to further progress of the disease damaging organ systems that are more difficult to treat. Although the rate of incidence of the disease has increased tremendously in both the developing and developed countries, the rate of deaths has significantly decreased in the developed countries due to better awareness, detection techniques and treatment facilities.

Every year, 17th May is dedicated to World Hypertension Day (WHD), which is an initiative of the World Hypertension League (WHL). The WHL is a division of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and is also in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHD was first inaugurated in May 2005, and since then, has become an annual event. The purpose of the WHD is to promote public awareness of hypertension and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control the epidemic of this silent killer. “Salt and High Blood Pressure: Two Silent Killers” – is the theme for World Hypertension Day (WHD) 2009 to highlight the high blood pressure caused by excess of salt intake.

As per statistics, there was an estimated 972 million people suffering from hypertension in the year 2000, and by 2025, it is estimated that around 1.56 billion people will have it. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease, heart and kidney failure. The higher the pressure, the greater the risk and lower the expectation of life. Intensive research carried out during the past few years, aiming at the control of hypertension at the community level, has already provided valuable results. The studies have shown that control of hypertension in a population is feasible and that it can be carried out through the existing system of health services in different countries. This control of blood pressure leads to a reduction of complications caused by high blood pressure.

Regular health check-ups, learning more about your vitals like blood pressure readings form your doctor, integrating some changes in your lifestyle like reducing your weight, reducing the intake of salt in diet, giving up smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, exercising regularly – are some steps that will save you from being a quarry of this modern epidemic called hypertension. And if you are a hypertensive, then by incorporating some lifestyle changes you can prevent the development of complications. This year on WHD, awaken from the sleep of ignorance to save yourself and your loved ones from this silent killer.

Yet Another Flu Jinx – Swine Flu

Typhoid, cholera, malaria, dengue and remaining infectious diseases were sufficient enough to take a toll on human health. But then, there was bird flu, and now, it is swine flu. So, here we go about on this new contagious dread – The Swine Flu…

• Swine Flu/Swine Influenza refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus endemic in pigs (swine)
• Swine flu is common in swine and rare in humans
• People who work with swine are at risk of getting swine influenza if the swine carries a virus strain capable to infect humans (zoonotic transmission)
• The outbreak of swine flu is due to mutation of Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) into a form which can pass easily from human to human
• The 2009 swine flu outbreak in human is due to a new strain of Influenza Virus A Subtype H1N1 – is a genetic mixture of viruses that have been seen in pigs, birds and people but it is called Swine Flu as the structure of this virus is similar to SIV
• In humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza which includes fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, diarrhea and vomiting
• This virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around you or by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes with your now infected hands
• The rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test is used to scan samples from flu patients to determine if they have the new strain but the current tests cannot detect all the virus subtypes that are suspected of creating the new strain of swine flu
• In the rRT-PCR Swine Flu Panel diagnostic test, a nasal or nasopharyngeal swab is used to amplify the genetic profile of the virus. A positive test result presumably concludes that the patient is carrying the swine flu but it cannot determine the stage of infection and a negative test result does not conclude that a person does not carry the swine flu virus
• Some hygiene steps like washing hands frequently, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching of the surfaces that might be contaminated, can help in preventing the spread of germs
• Antivirals – Oseltamivir and Zanamivir – are recommended for the treatment and prevention of the infection with swine flu virus
• If a person gets sick, antiviral drugs, which work best if started within 2 days of getting symptoms, can make the illness milder as well as prevent serious flu complications, and hence, making the patient feel better faster
• Pork and other pig-derived products (like ham, sausages, etc) if properly handled and cooked do not transmit swine flu as the flu virus is killed by cooking temperature of 160°F (70°C)
• As per research studies, any new virus which is able to spread from an animal to a person and then spread from person to person – is always a source of concern as such virus in human to human transmission can continue to mutate making it difficult to treat
• Studies also say that a new strain of the flu virus can spread faster because people do not have natural immunity and the development of vaccine to such virus may take months

It is essential to be aware and informed on any new epidemic in the world because there is always a possibility of it to become pandemic. Taking adequate preventive measures will always save you from the misery a disease brings along. If you have any symptoms then it is advisable to refer to your doctor at the earliest as an early treatment is found to be effective in the cases of swine flu.

You Can Control Your Asthma

Asthma comes from an ancient Greek word meaning panting or short-drawn breath. It is a chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs that result in obstruction of air flow. Asthma usually begins in childhood although onset in adulthood is not uncommon.

It is a chronic lung disease characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and an underlying inflammation. Public attention in the  developed country has recently focused on asthma because of its rapidly increasing prevalence. Current research suggests that the prevalence of childhood asthma has been increasing, and this increased prevalence is greater than that in the adults.

To raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the world, the World Asthma Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with health care groups and asthma educators. World Asthma Day activities are organized in every country by healthcare professionals and members of public to reduce the burden of this chronic illness.

The first World Asthma Day, in 1998, was celebrated in more than 35 countries. Since then, participation has increased with each World Asthma Day, and the day has become one of the world’s most significant asthma awareness and education events. World Asthma Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May every year. This year it is on 5^th May 2009. The theme of World Asthma Day 2009 is “You Can Control Your Asthma.”

Asthma affects the poor and rich, adults and children, men and women. It is important to take care to protect yourself from getting asthma, and if you are an asthmatic then care has to be taken so as not to worsen the existing asthma. This year, get updated on asthma to control your asthma.