Sunday, 25 August 2013

Prevention of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools with or without abdominal bloating, pressure, and cramps commonly referred to as gas. Diarrhea can come on suddenly, run its course, and be helped with home care to prevent complications like dehydration.


Prevention of Diarrhea:

Many cases of diarrhea are spread from person to person. The following precautions can help an individual avoid diarrhea and other viral or bacterial infection:
  • Wash your hands before and after preparing food. In addition, wash your hands after handling uncooked meat, using toilet, changing diapers, sneezing, coughing and blowing your nose. 
  • After putting soap on your hands, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. 
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you can not get to a sink.  Apply the hand sanitizer as you would hand lotion, making sure to completely cover  the fronts and backs of both hands. Use a product that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Practice safe food-handling. Always wash hands before and after handling food.
  • Use care when preparing raw poultry or meat. Food should be cooked to the recommended temperatures. Avoid raw or rare meat and poultry. Utensils coming in contact with raw food should be cleaned in soap and hot water. 
  • Fruits and vegetables consumed raw should be thoroughly rinsed in clean water. 
  • Unpasteurized(raw) milk may be contaminated with bacteria and should be avoided. Unpasteurized fruit juice or cider should generally be avoided even if the source is not known because the fruit may have come in contact with contaminated animal feces in the orchard.
Diarrhea commonly affects people who travel to countries where inadequate sanitation and contaminated food and water encountered. To reduce your risk:
  • Eat hot, well-cooked foods. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself. 
  • If you are traveling to a developing country for an extend period of time, ask your doctor about starting antibiotics before you leave on your trip. In certain cases, this may reduce the risk that you will develop traveler's diarrhea.
If we are conscious about diarrhea and know how to prevent diarrhea, then we must be away from diarrhea.

Prevention of Dysentery

Dysentery is an intestinal inflammation, especially in the colon, that can lead to sever diarrhea with mucus or blood in the feces. Patients typically experience mild to severe abdominal pain or stomach cramps. In some cases, untreated dysentery can be life-treating, especially if the infected person can not replace lost fluids fast enough.

Tips for how to prevent dysentery:

Below are some very important tips that will make you conscious about dysentery and you can learn how to prevent dysentery.

1. Maintain good personal hygiene: Washing your hands regularly is a vital habits that will help you avoid many diseases and infections. Please, wash your hand before eating, and preparing food. Wash you hand after using toilets, looking after a dysentery patient, changing diapers for children, handing pet animals, gardening or touching soil.

2. Be careful of safe sex: Sexual in intercourse that involves oral or anal contact can cause amoebic dysentery. You have to wash your hand with soap and warm water, as this will help you to prevent an infection to some extent. It is ideal that you refrain from sexual activities that involve anal contact, as this will make dysentery prevention easier.

3. Try to drink sterilized water: You have to sure that the water you use while drinking, brushing your teeth, and washing vegetables and fruits is free from any dysentery causing germs. This can be achieved through proper water treatment, which is an important dysentery prevention technique.

  • Never drink untreated tap water before cleansing it.
  • Boil water 10-15 minutes.
  • Use water purifying tablets 15 minutes before drinking untreated water. 
  • Use water filters that have been specially designed for 'Cyst Removal' 
Once the water have been treated to remove any kind of dysentery causing germs, store it in a clean place and keep it well covered.

4. Try to practice proper sewage disposal:  Dysentery causing organisms are spread through the faces of individual who are infected. This microorganisms are excreted along with the faces and contaminate the soil and water, making them potential sources of infection. For this reason, it is important to properly dispose the faces without letting it mingle with other elements. Care should be taken to ensure that the sewage does not contaminate surface or ground water, or any other water body that people use for consumption.  Untreated sewage should not be used as fertilizers as this too can contaminate crops, fruits, and vegetables that reach humans and trigger an  infection.

5. Try to eat safe food: Your food habits can also cause amoebic dysentery . Following the below measures can help you avoid contracting the infection.
  • Avoid eating raw or undercooked food items 
  • Wash vegetables and fruits with safe and clean water, before eating 
  • Choose ice creams or drinking made of safe water
  • Never use unpasteurized milk or dairy products 
  • Avoid eating food from street vendors for the prevention of dysentery.
6. Take precautions when you travel: When you travel to tropical counties with poor sanitary conditions, take extra care and follow these simple measures to keep dysentery symptoms at bay.
  • Don't eat or drink food items sold by street vendors 
  • Drink only boiled water or bottled water 
  • Do not have salads if you are not sure about their quality. 
  • Do not drink from public water because it may be made from local water, you do not know about that. 
  • Don't drink milk or eat cheese or dairy products that have not been pasteurised  ( a process that involves heating to destroy unwanted micro-organisms. 
  • Don't eat fresh fruit or vegetables that can not be peeled before eating. 
  • Do not have ice in your drinks because it may be made from the local water, that may not be pure.

It is equally important to take responsibility for the good health of others around you too. You can do this by following some simple dysentery prevention measures.

  • If you are a healthcare worker taking caring care of a dysentery patient, ensure that you wash your hand thoroughly with soap after tending to a patient.
  • Child care employees should use gloves when changing diapers for children and should wash their hands after tending to every child
  • Never defecate near water bodies and ensure that your sewage system is well established 
  • Don't attend any public gathering or report at work if you have dysentery, in order to minimize the chances of spreading infection.
As there is no immunization that can protect patient against amoebic dysentery, it is important that you adopt dysentery prevention measures for preventing the disease - within your house and in your community. On occasion, dysentery causes manage to get past the prevention measures taken. In such cases, opting for timely amoebic dysentery treatment is recommended.






Friday, 23 August 2013

About Health Benefits of Almonds

Almonds are healthy nuts and are loaded with many essential nutrients. Healthy almonds are good for your health and are perfect for a quick meal anytime. The health benefits of almonds are extensive, and they are frequently used as a healthy solution from constipation, respiratory disorders, heart disorders, anemia, coughs, and diabetes. It also help to maintain healthy hair, healthy skin, and dental care.

Almonds are found in place like Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iran. This highly nutritional nut is a rich source of vitamin E, calcium, phosphorous, iron and magnesium. It also has Zinc, selenium, copper and niacin. Compared to all other nuts, almonds are the most packed with nutrients and beneficial components.

Below are about health benefits of almonds:

Reduce risk of heart attack:  Those who consume nuts five times a week have about a 50 percent reduction in risk of heart attack. Almonds contain minerals like potassium, folic acid, protein, monosaturated fats and vitamin E. Hence eating them can significantly reduce your chances of heart diseases.

Good for brain:  Almonds are source of many nutrients which help in the development and health of the human brain. Almonds have been connected to a higher intellectual level and they have long been considered an essential food item for growing children. Almond, it also contain two vital brain nutrients, L-carnitine, and riboflavin, which have been shown to increase brain activity, resulting in new neural pathways and a decreased occurrence of Alzheimer's disease. Studies shown that almonds in the diet, and almond's oil, is nutritive to the overall health and functioning of the nervous system.

Regulation of cholesterol: Regular consumption of almonds helps to increase the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and they reduce the level of low density lipoproteins  (LDL). This balance is vital to a healthy cholesterol level, and a reduction of LDL(bad cholesterol) is always a good thing.

Strong bone: Almonds are a fantastic source of many vitamins and minerals, and phosphorous is definitely counted among them. Phosphorous can have a considerable impact on the strength and durability of bones and teeth, while also preventing the onset of age-related conditions like osteoporosis.


Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Non-Medical treatment of insomnia

Non-medical therapies are relaxation therapy, stimulus control, sleep hygiene, and sleep restriction. These also are referred to as cognitive behavioral therapies.

Relaxation Therapy

Relaxation therapy involves measures such as meditation and muscle relaxation or dimming the lights and playing sooting music prior to going to bed.

Stimulus Control

It  consists of a few simple steps that may help patients with chronic insomnia.
  • Don't watch TV, eat, read or worry in bed. Your bed should be used only for sleep and sexual activity. 
  • You have to go to bed when you feel sleepy.
  • If you do not fall asleep 30 minutes after going to bed , get up and go to another room and resume your relaxation techniques. 
  • You have to set your alarm clock to get up at a certain time each morning, even on weekends. Please, don't over sleep. 
  • Avoid taking long naps in the day time. 
Sleep Hygiene 

Sleep hygiene is one of the components of behavioral therapy for insomnia. Some simple steps we can take to improve a patient's sleep quality and quantity. These steps include:

  • Exercise regularly at least 30-40 minutes.
  • Sleep as much as you need to feel rested.
  • Avoid forcing yourself to sleep.
  • Keep a regular sleep and awakening schedule.
  • Do not smoke, especially in the evening. 
  • Don't go to bed hungry. 
  • Adjust the environment in the room.
  • Don't go to bed with your worries. Try to resolve them before bedtime.

Sleep Restriction

Restricting your time in bed only to sleep may improve your quality of sleep. This therapy is called sleep restriction. This is achieved by averaging the time in bed that the patients spends only sleeping. Rigid bedtime and rise time are set, and the patients is forced to get up at the rising time even if they feel sleepy. This can help a patients sleep better the next night because of the sleep deprivation from the previous night. Sleep restriction has been helpful in some causes.

Other simple measures that can be helpful to treat insomnia include:
  • Avoid large meals and excessive fluids before bedtime 
  • Be conscious about light, noise, and undesirable room temperature that can disrupt sleep. Shift workers and night workers especially must address these factors. Dimming the lights in the bedroom, relaxation, limiting the noise, and avoiding stressful takes before going to bed can be beneficial.
  • Avoid doing work in the bedroom that should be done somewhere else.

If we are conscious about insomnia or sleep disorders or sleep problem and take necessary steps and how to prevent or resolve then we will be free from this type of problem.

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

Prevention of Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia can occur in response to a behavioral, physical, or mental health issue. Physical, psychological, environmental, and modifiable lifestyle factor can all play a role in preventing the condition, or alleviating the symptoms if it occurs.

There are many causes of insomnia. Below are some steps and tips for preventing insomnia and sleep disorders.

Treat Underlying Disease 

Pain and chronic disease can cause insomnia for a variety of reasons. Diseases or conditions that may disrupt sleep include depression, diabetes and chronic renal failure, chronic lung disease, alcohol abuse and alcoholism or drug abuse and drug addiction, arthritis, heart disease, gastric ulcer, sleep apnea, and chronic pain.

Please, discuss with your doctor whether these conditions or any other physical problems can be treated. Proper and timely treatment can reduce symptoms and often lead to an improved night's sleep.


Avoid Nicotine, Caffeine, and Alcohol

Tobacco use disorder and caffeine stimulate the nervous system. Although this may give you a sense of energy during the day, these substances may interfere with your ability to go to sleep at night. Alcohol can depress nervous system. Although alcohol makes you feel drowsy at bedtime, it interferes with normal sleep patterns during the night and causes restlessness. You must avoid using tobacco products and drinking beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol in the afternoon or evening. They can create a vicious cycle of poor sleep at night and an increased use of stimulants during the day to counteract the drowsiness from poor  sleep.

Reduce Stress

Stress is considered by the most  sleep experts to be the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties.  Some common triggers include job or school related pressures, a family or marriage problem, and a serious illness or death of close person. Exercise regularly that helps relieve stress. Other techniques that may reduce stress are meditation and deep breathing.

Adjust Daily Activities

Habits and activities that you do during the day time or night can interfere with getting a good nights' sleep. Set your time schedule in order to avoid eating a large meal prior to bedtime, exercising close to bedtime, working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed.

Follow Bedtime Rituals If You Work at night Shift

Night shift work forces you to try to sleep when activities around you and your own "biological rhythms" signal you to be awake. One study shows that night shift workers are 2-5 times more likely than are employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job because of poor sleep quality. If you work the night shift, speak with your employer about how to minimize the dangers of fatigue. You have to discuss with your family members so that you can create a proper environment to sleep in the day time.

Create Better Sleep Habits and Environment

A distracting sleep environment, such as a room that is too hot or cold, too noisy, or too brightly lit may be a barrier to sound sleep. Interruptions from pets, children, or other family members can also disrupt sleep. Other influences may be the comfort and size of your bed and the habits of your sleep partner. Try to create an environment that is restful by painting your room a light blue or green, using shades to block light, and playing soothing music or white noise like fan. Seek medical help for a sleeping partner who snores loudly, or consider separate sleeping arrangements.

Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine that will allow you to unwind and send a "signal" to your brain that it is time to sleep. Avoiding exposure to bright light before bedtime and taking a warm bath can help. Avoid "clock watching" after going to bed and avoid drinking fluids just before bedtime.

If we want to be lead a happy life then we need to acquire knowledge about how to prevent all types of disease such as sleep disorders , insomnia, sleep walking, sleep apnea etc. and we must be conscious about diseases and their prevention , after that we can lead a happy and healthy life. I think that you will learn more after reading this article about prevention of insomnia. 

Monday, 19 August 2013

Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition characterized by difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It include wide range of sleep disorders, from lack of quantity of sleep to lack of quality of sleep. There are two types of insomnia primary insomnia and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem. Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition [like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn] ; pain; medication they are taking; or a substance they are using like alcohol.

Causes of insomnia

Insomnia may be caused  by a host of different reasons. These causes may be divided into situational factors , medical or psychiatric conditions, or primary sleep problems. Insomnia could also be classified by the duration of the symptoms into transient, short-term, chronic. Transient insomnia generally last less than seven  days; short-term insomnia usually lasts for about one to three weeks, and chronic insomnia lasts for more  than  three weeks.

Many of the causes of transient and short-term insomnia are similar and they include-

  •  Jet lag
  • Changes in shift work
  • Uncomfortable room temperature
  • Excessive or unpleasant noise
  • Stressful situation in life
  • Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications
  • Insomnia related to high altitude(mountains)

Uncontrolled physical symptoms [fever, pain, breathing problems, nasal congestion, cough, diarrhea etc ] may also cause someone to have insomnia.

Causes of long-term or chronic insomnia 

The majority of chronic or long-term insomnia are usually linked to an underling psychiatric or physiologic condition.

Psychological causes of insomnia

The most common psychological problems theses may lead to insomnia include:

  •  Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Stress [mental, emotional, etc.]
  • Schizophrenia
  • Mania [bipolar disorder]
Insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness. As mentioned earlier, depression and anxiety are strongly associated with insomnia. Out of the all the other secondary medical and psychological causes of insomnia, anxiety and depression are the most common.

Physiological causes of insomnia

Physiological causes span from circadian rhythm disorders, sleep-wake imbalance, to a variety of medical conditions. The following are the most common medical conditions that trigger insomnia:-

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Chronic pain syndromes
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Acid reflux disease[GERD]
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]
  • Nocturnal asthma [asthma with night time breathing symptoms]
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Brain tumors, strokes, or trauma to the brain


Symptoms of insomnia 

Doctors associate a variety of signs and symptoms with insomnia. Often the symptoms intertwine with those of other medical or mental conditions. 


Some people with insomnia may complain of difficulty falling asleep or waking up frequently during the night. The problem can begin to associate the bed with your inability to sleep, the problem can become chronic.

Most often daytime symptoms will bring people to seek medical attention. Daytime problems caused by insomnia include the following:

  •  Poor concentration and focus
  • Difficulty with memory
  •  Impaired motor coordination [being uncoordinated]
  •  Irritability and impaired social interaction
  •  Motor vehicle accidents because of fatigued, sleep-deprived drivers.

Many people with insomnia don't complain of daytime sleepiness, and in fact, they may have difficulty falling asleep during intentional daytime naps.

Treatment of insomnia

In general, transient insomnia resolves when the underlying trigger is removed or corrected. Most people seek medical attention when their insomnia becomes chronic.

The main focus of treatment for insomnia should be directed towards finding the cause. Once a cause is identified, it is very important to manage and control the underlying problem, as this alone may eliminate the insomnia all together. Treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause is rarely successful. Chronic insomnia can cured in the majority of causes if its medical or psychiatric causes are evaluated and treated properly.

The following therapies can be used in conjunction with therapies directed towards the underlying medical or psychiatric cause. They are also the recommended therapies for some of the primary insomnia disorders.

Usually,  treatment of insomnia entails both non-medical and medical aspects. It is best to tailor treatment for individual patient based on the potential cause. Studies have shown that combining medical and non-medical treatments typically is  more successful in treating insomnia than either one alone.

Sunday, 11 August 2013

Heart Failure

Heart failure is condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the  heart increases. As a result, the heart can't pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The chambers of the heart may respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body and by becoming stiff and thickened. This helps to keep  the  blood moving, but the heart muscle walls may eventually weaken and will be unable to pump as efficiently. As a result the kidneys may respond by causing the body to retain fluid and salt. If fluid builds up in the arms, legs, ankles, feet, lungs, or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe the condition.

Causes of heart failure 

Heart failure is often a long-term(chronic) condition, but it can sometimes develop suddenly. It can be caused by many different heart problems.


The condition may affect only the left-side or right-side of the heart. These are called right-side heart failure or left-side heart failure. More often, both sides of the heart are involved.

Heart failure is present when :-
  • Your heart muscle can't pump the blood out of the heart very well. This is called systolic heart failure.
  • Your heart muscles are stiff and do not fill up with blood easily. This is called diastolic heart failure.

These problems mean the heart is no longer able to pump enough oxygen- rich blood out to the rest of your body.



If we want to lead a healthy, happy life and that will be free from all types of heart diseases, then we must know about heart diseases, i believe that you will get very important information after reading this article.