Health Wikipedia

Health is not just absence of disease but it is a state of wellness in which a person enjoys physical, mental, social and spiritual health. Health is connected to the total well being of an individual. Apart form environmental and social factors, there are subtle factors that affect the health of a person. A clean and pure mind is a prerequisite for healthy life. A pure mind enables the use of time, energy and resources in the best way. Stress or negative thinking has been identified as a leading cause of quite a number of major illnesses.

Holistic health encompasses total health of a human being in all four aspects of life — physical health, mental health, social health and spiritual health. Meditation promotes health in all these areas of life. Meditation regulates the physical responses of the body by eliminating stress and stimulating healthy hormones. It creates self-control thus enabling a person to remain free from negative influences and give the best in every role and situation. It empowers a person to deal with challenges in equanimity and positivity. Meditation alters the physiological and psychological response of the body remarkably. Reduction in heart and respiratory rate, and a drop in blood pressure suggest reduction in the level of sympathetic activity. Meditation aids the secretion of ‘healthy’ hormones such as endorphins and encephalon’s, which help, in detaching oneself from various kinds of pains. Meditation helps sustain deep relaxation even during active states of mind. Brain wave recordings of Rajyogis have shown alpha and theta waves even while they performed various mental and intellectual tasks.

The benefits of meditation go beyond relaxation response. A number of studies have critically investigated meditation for effective treatment of hypertension, diabetes, headache, anxiety, depression and heart disease. Meditation reduces the requirement of medication for pain and sleep etc. It is reported to be effective in de-addiction from drugs; alcohol, tobacco and can increase decision-making skills, overcome irrational fears, phobias and expand spiritual life.

One of the most subtle but critical factors that affect health is quality of our actions. The law of action is infallible — you reap what you sow. If we use our body to perform good and right actions then we will enjoy good health. Body is the temple in which the divine self resides. If we treat our body well then it will perform well. The seed of good actions is pure feelings and thoughts; hence, we have to make a conscious choice to nurture only pure thoughts. Everything that we suffer through our body is a debt of bad action that the soul is paying off. To enjoy good health we have to accumulate a stock of good karma by sharing the qualities of peace, love and joy in every thought, word and action.

Memory is the mental registration, retention and recollection of past experiences, sensation or thought. Sometimes we cannot retrieve important information that we stored in our brain. Many people forget things easily. Memory impairment is embarrassing too. With some of the following exercise we can memorise things better.

Brain exercises
Memory is like muscular strength. The more we work out our brain, the better we will be able to process and remember information. Regularly exercising the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory.

Mnemonic to improve memory
Mnemonics are clues of any kind that help us remember something, usually by causing us to associate the information we want to remember with a visual image, a sentence, or a word. Common types of mnemonic devices include visual images, sentences, word, acronyms, rhymes and alliteration, joke etc.

Regular exercise
Regular exercise increases oxygen to our brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some study found that it might enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Managing stress
Stress cause release of hormone cortisol that can damage the hippocampus (important memory area of brain). Further, stress makes it difficult to concentrate.

Good sleep habits
Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation. Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea leave you tired and unable to concentrate during the day.

Not smoking
Smoking heightens the risk of vascular disorders causing stroke and constrict arteries that deliver oxygen to the brain. Indirectly it impairs brain function.

Nutrition
It is found that diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats found in fish will provide lots of health benefits along with improving memory. Vitamins B, especially B6, B12, and folic acid protect neurons by breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that is toxic to nerve cells. They are also involved in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Spinach and other dark leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, melons, black beans and other legumes, citrus fruits, soybeans rich in those vitamins.

Antioxidants found in berries, sweet potatoes, red tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green tea, nuts, seeds, citrus fruits, liver destroy free radicals are highly reactive and can damage brain cells.

Omega-3 fatty acids are concentrated in the brain and are associated with cognitive function. They count as healthy fats, as opposed to saturated fats and trans fats, protecting against inflammation and high cholesterol. Cold-water fish such as salmon, herring, tuna, halibut, mackerel, walnuts and walnut oil rich in omega -3 fatty acids. Iron is also important for staying mentally sharp. It helps create hemoglobin, an iron containing protein in red blood cells, which transport oxygen to the brain. Oxygen in the brain is vital, since it helps to metabolise glucose.

If a child does not receive enough iron, it can impair brain development and lead to deficits in speech, math and reading.

World Kidney day was observed on 11 March in more than 100 countries of the world. The slogan of World Kidney Day this year was “Protect your kidneys, control Diabetes”. World Kidney Days aims to raise awareness about the heavy burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on human lives.

The mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney diseases and its associated health problems worldwide. The objectives of the World Kidney Day 2010 were the followings:

* Raise awareness about our “amazing kidneys”

* Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD)

* Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD

* Encourage preventive behaviours

* Educate medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high risk population

* Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling CKD epidemics. Health authorities worldwide will have to deal with high and escalating costs if no action is taken to treat the growing number of people with CKD. On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening

* If detected early, CKD can be treated by reducing other complications and dramatically reduced the growing burden of deaths and cardiovascular disease worldwide

Kidney diseases are silent killers which largely affect the quality of life. There are, however, several easy ways to reduce the risk of developing this kidney disease.

Seven golden rules:
i) Keep fit and active
ii) Keep regular control of your blood sugar level
iii) Monitor your blood pressure
iv) Eat healthy and keep your weight in check
v) Do not smoke
vi) Do not take over the counter pills on regular basis
vii) Check your kidney function if you have one or more of the high risk factors

Diagnosis of CKD with Diabetes:
People with diabetes should be screened regularly for kidney diseases. The two key markers of kidney diseases are eGFR and urine albumin. Kidney diseases are present when eGFR is less than 60 ml/min.

The Americal Diabetic Association (ADA) and National Institute of Health (NIH) recommend that eGFR can be calculated from serum creatinine at least once a year in all people with diabetes.

Urine albumin is measured by comparing amount of albumin to the amount of creatinine in a single urine sample. When the kidneys are healthy, the urine will contain large amount of creatinine but almost no albumin. Even small increase in ratio of albumin to creatinine is a sign of kidney diseases. Kidney diseases is present when urine contain more than 30 mg of albumin per gram of creatinine, with or without decrease eGFR. The ADA and NIH recommend annual assessment of urine albumin excretion to assess kidney damage in all people with type 2 diabetes and people who have type 1 diabetes for 5 years or more.

Good care makes a differencePeople with diabetes should:
* Measure their HbA1C level at least twice a year which should be kept less than 7%

* Regular insulin injection, intake of other medicines, meal planning, physical activity and blood sugar monitoring

* Blood pressure should be checked several times a year which should be kept <130/80 mmHg

* Regular intake ACEI or ARB medicine for controlling high blood pressure

* To measure effective eGFR yearly

* To estimate urine albumin atleast once a year to check kidney damage

* To take reduce amount of protein in the died at to seek health from the dietitian regarding meal planning

In conclusion early detection and treatment of kidney diseases are the best way to prevent CKD in order to reduced substantial burden of health budget.

Everyday, thousands of people undergoing major surgeries need blood transfusion. Many people suffering from various conditions like haemophilia (genetic disease that impair the body’s ability to control blood clotting), dengue, severe anaemia, blood cancer, thalaessemia need blood transfusion.

On an average, 3 to 3.5 lakh bags of blood are needed in our country every year. There is always strict advice to transfuse safe blood. But from where these amount of blood will come? Blood is not produced in a factory and yet there is no alternative source for blood. The only source of blood is human body.

Usually, blood from relative is encouraged for transfusion. But if a healthy relative of the same blood group is not available, blood from any healthy voluntary donor of that group may be transfused. In our country, people usually depend on the organisations like Sandhani, Redcresent, Badhon, Quantam etc. for safe and fresh blood. We should remember that these organisations or institutions do not manufacture blood. They are only the media to collect blood from healthy voluntary donors to provide it to the needy people. The more the voluntary donor, the more these organisations will make blood available.

Here the question comes — who can donate blood? Any person within the age group of 18-60 years with a body weight as minimum 45 kg for female and 48 kg for male and having a general well-health is an eligible blood donor. Healthy means that you feel well and can perform normal activities; your blood pressure, pulse, body temperature are normal; and you are free from any blood boarn diseases such as malaria, syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis B, C, AIDS, haemophilia etc.

You may have chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure; but in these cases, healthy means — you are being treated and the condition is under control. Such healthy people can donate one bag (350-450 ml) blood safely every 4 months.

After donating blood, the donor should take rest for 15-20 minutes. Routine work is absolutely fine after the initial rest. Rigorous physical work should be avoided for few hours. After resting for a while a donor should be given some liquid (fluid) to drink, such as water, ORS, milk or fruit juice. The donor needs no special diet other than a routine balanced diet. The body replaces blood volume or plasma within 24 hours.

It is very unfortunate that voluntary blood donation is still not so popular in our country. This is due to the lack of proper awareness, social movement, irrational fear and superstitions about donating blood. Some organisations are working in this field but still the number of voluntary blood donor is not keeping pace with the yearly requirement of blood.

In a study conducted by Sandhani, Dhaka Medical College Unit, it was seen that 62 percent of the population were unaware of the blood-transmitted diseases, 53 percent of people did not even know what their blood group was; 66 percent admitted that their knowledge about blood donation was not sufficient.

For the lack of adequate voluntary donors, many patients are being compelled to buy blood from professional blood donors. Such donors are more likely to carry dangerous infections and their blood is more likely to be of lower standard, as they tend to donate, better to say, trade more frequently.

In Bangladesh, mostly drug addicts sell their blood to get money to buy drugs for addiction. Usually they are under-nourished, having less haemoglobin in their blood. They also suffer from various blood transmissible diseases. So, the patient who is getting that blood, though initially may be benefited, is in risk of having many diseases.

In a research conducted in our country, 22 percent of the professional donor was found having Syphilis and 29 percent having Hepatitis-B. A study conducted in BSMMU showed that 60.1 percent of the patients suffered from hepatitis, who got transmitted unscreened blood from professional donors.

Again, many patients fail to get any kind of blood, not from voluntary donors, not from professional donors even. Voluntary donors’ safe blood and professionals’ unsafe blood collectively fail to fulfill the yearly requirements of Bangladesh.

If only 1% of the population donate blood once a year (though a healthy donor can donate blood 3 times a year safely), the yearly collection stands a satisfactory number which may fulfil the requirement smoothly.

Mathematically it is an easy task but it does not happen in reality. We all need come forward to save thousands of lives dying due to the shortage of blood.

With the advent of Valentine’s Day on this Sunday, millions of people are planning to give special gifts to their beloved. People sent flowers, red hearts, anonymous cards and offer a candle-lit dinner to surprise their valentines. On this Valentine’s day, you can make an exception by giving the greatest gift — a healthy heart that lasts forever. With little changes in your lifestyle that keep your heart healthy you can offer the big gift.

Research has shown that the leading cause of heart disease is related to behavioural choices such as eating habits, exercise, tobacco use, alcohol consumption and stress.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial for the prevention of coronary heart diseases. Physical exercise even walking is good for heart. Blood pressure should be checked at regular interval and focus on lowering pressure by decreasing salt and low calorie diet. Alcohol, tobacco products and secondary exposure to tobacco smoke are important driving force behind heart diseases. We should make pledge to avoid it on this very occasion.

Following a heart healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole-grains are equally important. Consume fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week. Limit your intake of saturated fat and minimise your intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.

On this Valentine’s Day, you can make the outstanding decision to change your lifestyle to give your beloved one, a healthy heart that creates love for life time.

The recent outbreak of H1N1 influenza epidemic which is better familiar as swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that causes regular outbreaks in pigs.

The human outbreak has created panic in the people due to some fatality. People are in a fix due to some reasons which include the disease is relatively new, healthcare setup is not completely equipped with adequate resources, medical professionals are not quite skilled handling the disease and so on.

When there was first outbreak of dengue haemorrhagic in Bangladesh, people were so worried similarly. But it is no longer a disease of panic.

To deal with the H1N1 influenza, we need keeping in mind several things. The best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing is to limit contact with other people as much as possible. Sick people should avoid work place and children should not go to schools. Concerned authority should be reluctant in this regard.

When coughing or sneezing, mouth and nose should be covered with tissue which should be discard immediately. If tissue is not available, hands are enough which must be washed afterwards. There is serious bad habit spitting and not covering mouth or nose while coughing or sneezing. Use of civic sense and simple courtesy can contribute a great deal here.

Most of the cases are self limiting and personal hygiene is of great value.

People with H1N1 influenza are potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic with a ceiling of up to seven days following illness onset. Kids, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

There is a dilemma about using the masks. Usually three types of masks are used — facemask, surgical mask and N95 mask. The N95 mask is effective in protection of H1N1 virus whereas surgical and facemask have almost no contribution for protection. But wearing facemask or surgical mask is of no harm. At least it protects others from spreading the disease. Sometimes, experts opt for double layered mask for resource poor settings.

Since the virus easily spread in crowded places, children are recommended to abstain from their schools where large outbreak occurs. Otherwise, only sick children are recommended to stay home to avoid spreading illness. Children also should not be brought to crowded places unnecessarily like shopping complexes, cinema halls etc.

Treatment is available in Bangladesh now and soon medical professionals will be used to hand H1N1 cases. Suspected cases should stay home and take home management. In case of developing warning signs or complications, individuals should seek emergency medical care in hospitals.

Antiviral drugs (Oseltamivir), which are available in the market can be stored at home for safety purpose, but it should not be readily taken without any clinical judgement or without prescription of physician, as it may develop resistance.

Fatality occurs due to misdiagnosis of the disease and accompanying other serious/chronic medical conditions — not as the disease is virulent too much. Early intervention with medication can cure the disease as usually.