Sickle cell anemia is the most common inherited
blood disorder which causes “sickle†shaped red blood cells in humans. These
deformed blood cells stick with each other, blocks the blood flow and oxygen to
reach the other parts of the body. This day is observed annually with the goal to
increase public knowledge and an understanding of sickle cell disease, and the
challenges experienced by patients and their families.
This sickle cell
mutation occurs when negatively charged glutamine is replaced by a neutral
valine at the sixth position of the beta-globin chain and this mutation is
transmitted and is inherited by an autosomal co-dominant fashion. People
suffer from severe pain and has to be treated with strong painkillers like
morphine. Symptoms of sickle cell start showing from around 5 to 6 months of
age and along with the pain a person can also suffer from anemia, swelling in
the hands and feet, bacterial infections, blindness, bone damage and stroke.
The only available treatment to the
sickle cell anemia is the stem cell transplantation. Genetic counseling is very
vital to understand the possibility of inheritance of sickle cell anemia in the
family history. Periodic checkups with the doctor is very
crucial for the people suffering with sickle cell anemia to check the blood
hemoglobin, Red Blood Cells counts etc.
Menstruation or menses
is the monthly shedding of the lining of a woman’s uterus. It is also known as the
menstrual period, cycle or period. The menstrual blood is composed of blood and
tissue from the endometrium of the uterus and flows through the cervix and out
of the body through the vagina. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long and can range in
length from 21 days to about 35 days. The menstrual cycle is triggered by
hormones controlled by the pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries in the
female reproductive tract. Girls start menstruating
at the average age of 12 and as early as 8 years of age or as late as 16 years
of age. Women stop menstruating at menopause, which occurs at about the age of
51.
Significance of National Menstrual Hygiene Day:
- It aims to bring together the people
for promoting good menstrual health and hygiene for everyone around the world.
- To break the silence, raise awareness
and change the social stigmas around menstrual health and hygiene.
- It provides an opportunity to engage decision-makers and increase the
political priority to catalyse the actions for menstrual health and hygiene at
global, national, and local levels.
Tips to maintain Menstrual Hygiene:
1. Change the sanitary pads regularly to avoid the conditions like Toxic Shock Syndrome (bacterial infection) and other infections.
2. Maintain
cleanliness and hygiene.
3. Choose the correct
method of sanitation.
4. Wash yourself
regularly.
5. Consult a
gynaecologist immediately if any discomfort or infection arises.
Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by an infected female mosquito of the Aedes aegypti species that causes high fever. These mosquitoes are different from normal mosquito with white bands present on their legs. It often bites during the day and after the infected mosquito bites a human, the symptoms start developing in the body within 3-14 days. It has been seen that dengue infects children more.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever:
1. High fever
2. Headache
3. Rash
4. Muscle and joint pain
5. Loss of appetite
6. Fatigue
Diagnosis and Treatment:
- Complete blood count test done which gives information about platelets status, Dengue NS1 antigen, nucleic acid detection by PCR etc…
- Though there are no antiviral medicines to treat dengue fever, early diagnosis and clinical treatment can help the patients.
- Those suffering from dengue are advised to keep themselves hydrated.
Tips to prevent Dengue:
- Avoid water stagnation in coolers, open areas, containers etc.
-  People are advised to wear full sleeves clothes to prevent the transmission in rainy season.
- Use a mosquito net or mosquito repellent while sleeping during the day.
- Use aerosol during the day to prevent from mosquito bites.
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Lupus or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a long-term life altering autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks the healthy tissue by creating auto antibodies. This disease can affect any organ of the body causing damage, pain and inflammation and due to its complex nature, lupus is sometimes known as the “disease of a thousand faces.† It is a potentially fatal disease commonly seen in women between the ages of 15- 45 years. Lupus is still under-recognized and people are unaware about this condition.
Causes- It is caused by a variety of factors such as:
(i) Hormonal problem- women (15-45 years) experience lupus more often as compared to men due to higher estrogen level.
(ii) Environmental factors: exposure to sunlight, stress, smoking, virus infection, medications.
(iii) Family history: Family members with lupus have higher risks of this condition.
Types of Lupus- There are different types of Lupus but Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is the most common among all.
- Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: This type of lupus affects the skin. People experience skin issues like a sensitivity to the sun, rashes and hair loss.
- Drug-induced lupus: This is caused by certain medications. Symptoms are same as that of systemic lupus erythematosus, but it’s usually temporary.
- Neonatal lupus: A rare type of lupus, this is condition found in infants at birth. Children born with neonatal lupus have antibodies that were passed to them from their mother  who either had lupus at the time of the pregnancy or may have the condition later in life.
Symptoms-
- Sensitivity to sunlight, rashes, hair loss
- shortness of breath, fever, headache
- chest pain, stomach pain, joint pain and muscles pain
- Fatigue, dry eyes and mouth sores
- Blood clots
- Seizures
Diagnosis and Treatment-
- Blood cell count and detection of biomarkers responsible for lupus.
- Urine examination for the lupus affecting kidneys.
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test to find out the possibility of this autoimmune disorder.
- Tissue biopsy for skin.
- Medicines such as hydroxychloroquine, steroids, etc.
Prevention and Control-
- Prevent exposure to sunlight.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle- nutrient rich diet, regular exercise.
- Management of stress
- By quitting smoking as smoking increases the risk of lupus.
- Take preventive medicines in case of emergency.
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What are Ovaries?
Ovaries are reproductive glands found only in females (women). They produce eggs (ova) for reproduction.
What is Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat worldwide. Studies show that the quality of treatment greatly affects the diagnosis. Ovarian cancers were previously believed to begin only in the ovaries but recent evidence shows that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far (distal) end of the fallopian tubes. Cancer starts when cells in the ovary begin to grow out of control (metastasis).
Causes of Ovarian Cancer- It is caused by a variety of factors such as:
(i) Endometriosis
(ii) Diabetes.
(iii) Smoking
(iv) Early menstruation and menopause.
(v) Those who have inherited a faulty gene called BRCA gene.
(vi) Obesity and overweight
(vii) People with a history of breast or bowel cancer.
(viii) People who had radiotherapy for previous cancer treatment.
(ix) Risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age, mainly over 60 years.
Types of Ovarian Cancer-
The ovaries are mainly made up of 3 kinds of cells. Each type of cell can develop into a different type of tumor. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- Epithelial ovarian tumors: these start from the cells that cover the outer surface of the ovary. Most of the ovarian tumors are epithelial cell tumors.
- Germ cell tumors: these start from the cells that produce the eggs (ova)
- Stromal tumors:   start from structural tissue cells that hold the ovary together and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Symptoms-
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
- Changes in bowel habits such as constipation and indigestion.
- Fatigue
- Abdominal or lower tummy pain
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent urination
- Abdominal bloating or increased abdomen size.
Diagnosis and Treatment-
- Physical examination:  this includes the recto-vaginal examination with the empty bladder to evaluate for pelvic and abdominal masses. ÂÂ
- Transvaginal ultrasonography: In case of any abnormal pelvic mass, women should undergo ultrasonography.
- Surgeries:  Primary treatment for ovarian cancer. It is used for cytoreduction (debulking).
- Other tests: These include colonoscopy, laparoscopy, biopsy etc.
- Medicines/ Chemotherapy:  Postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for late-stage disease and stage II cases.
Prevention and Control-
- Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness.
- Routine gynecologist checkups.
- Women who have a high-risk family history should be referred for genetic testing.
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Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the body makes inadequate or abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to all the other cells in the body. When there’s less hemoglobin (anemia), red blood cells do not function properly and eventually results in disruption of the red blood cells. Inheriting a faulty thalassemia gene from both the parents, creates the trait for thalassemia and in major cases there’s a need for blood transfusion.
Causes- It is caused by a variety of factors such as:
(i) Caused by the mutations in the gene responsible for the production of hemoglobin.
(ii) People with a family history of thalassemia.
(ii) Ethnicity of the people, most common in African Americans and in Southeast Asians.
Types of Thalassemia- Hemoglobin, a protein which is made of two subunits- Alpha globin and Beta globin.
- Alpha thalassemia- it occurs when the gene related to the alpha globin is mutated.
- Beta thalassemia- when gene associated with beta globin is mutated.
There are two forms of thalassemia-
- Thalassemia minor- When the person inherits the faulty gene from only one parent. They are the carriers of thalassemia and do not show any symptoms.
- Thalassemia major- It is developed when the person inherits the faulty gene from both the parents. Beta thalassemia major is also known as the Cooley anemia.
Symptoms-
- Pale skin
- Dark urine
- Constant fatigue and weakness
- Enlarged Spleen
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Bone deformities
- Delayed growth and development
- Heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) associated with severe thalassemia.
Diagnosis and Treatment-
- Blood examination
- Careful blood transfusions in case of thalassemia major.
- Undergo thalassemia screening test (Blood HPLC/thalassemia test) to check the chance of being a thalassemia carrier.
- Medications and health supplements.
- Bone marrow transplantation in major cases.
Prevention and Control-
- Routine blood tests.
- Periodic consultation with the doctor.
- Maintain healthy lifestyle and proper balanced diet.
- Regular exercise
- Consult a genetic counselor to determine the risk of passing thalassemia to your children.
- Take prescribed medicines.
- Resident flora- These microbes reside under the superficial cells of the stratum corneum.
- Transient flora- They colonize the superficial layers of the skin and is more responsive to removal by routine hand hygiene.
Hand washing is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Thus, hand washing should be done:
(i) After using the toilet.
(ii) After touching any surfaces coming into contact with.
(iii) After touching pets, animals etc.
(iv) Before preparing and eating meals.
(v) Germs can spread to the hands by sneezing, coughing, or rubbing the eyes. Thus hand washing should be done in frequent intervals.
(vi) It virtually eradicates the carriage of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which invariably occurs on the hands of Health Care workers working in ICUs.
WHO guided steps to maintain hand hygiene- Follow these five steps every time-
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the back of your hands, between the fingers, and under the nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
How to maintain Hand Hygiene?
- Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most of the situations.
- Cut the finger nails in frequent intervals to avoid the spread of infections.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used if soaps and water are not readily available.
- Hand wipes containing at least 60% alcohol can be used while traveling.
- Teaching hand hygiene to kids, children and to the people of all the age groups.
- Providing Hand Hygiene awareness and guidelines to the food handlers, health care workers, schools and colleges.
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Asthma (also called
Bronchial Asthma) is a long-term condition in which the air passages in the lungs become narrow due to inflammation and tightening of the muscles around the small airways. It makes breathing difficult and can make some physical activities challenging or even impossible.
Causes- It is caused by a variety of factors such as:
(i) Extreme weather conditions like air pollution, environmental irritants, allergens etc.
(ii) Respiratory infections, people exposed to tobacco smoke, strong chemicals.
(iii) People with a family history of Asthma or other allergic diseases have a high risk of developing asthma.
(iv) Exercise
(v) Certain medications like Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin etc.
Types of Asthma-
- Exercise-induced asthma:  It is triggered by exercise and is also called exercise-induced bronchospasm.
- Occupational asthma: This type of asthma happens to people who work around irritating substances.
- Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS):  This type happens when a person has both asthma and  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both diseases make it difficult to breathe.
Symptoms-
The most common symptom  is wheezing. There is a whistling sound that occurs when a person breathes. Other asthma symptoms include:
- coughing, especially at night, when laughing, or during exercise
- tightness in the chest
- shortness of breath
- difficulty talking
- anxiousness or panic
- fatigue
- chest pain
- rapid breathing
- frequent infections
- trouble sleeping
Diagnosis and Treatment-
- Bronchodilators:  These medicines relax the muscles around the airways which helps to move the air and let mucus move more easily through the airways. Used for intermittent and chronic asthma which help to relieve the symptoms.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines:  These medicines reduce swelling and mucus production in the airways. They make it easier for air to enter and exit your lungs. Mainly used for chronic asthma.
- Biologic therapies for asthma:  These are used for severe asthma when symptoms persist despite proper inhaler therapy.
- Medicines:  metered-dose inhalers, nebulizers etc.
Prevention and Control-
- Wear masks while going outside especially in crowds, polluted places.
- Prevent exposure to allergens such as dust, pollens, molds, pets etc.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle- nutrient rich diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy BMI as asthma tends to worse in obese people.
- Management of stress
- By quitting smoking as smoking triggers Asthma and increases the risk of COPD.
- Take preventive medicines in case of emergency.
Either you currently have knee osteoarthritis, or just developing knee pain from time to time and worry about the best way of exercise. This health article got some answers for you.
Exercising is a vital activity for boosting the immune system as well as your endurance. The most appropriate exercise for patients with knee pain or knee osteoarthritis is the one that causes the least impact at the knee joint. The lesser impact at the knee joint means a lower chance of knee injury, so this is why most research suggests that cycling and swimming are the best exercises for patients with knee problems.
Therefore, cycling is a very great exercise for patients with knee osteoarthritis condition. In addition, cycling is also a right choice of exercise for patients who suffer from spondylosis with nerve root compression in some cases (and we will definitely talk about this in later articles). Cycling makes knee joint bend and stretch gently and helps to ease the movement of the joint. Cycling also improves the muscle strength around the knee joint, which ultimately protects the knee joint if there are any impact actions. So it’s wise to say that cycling promotes knee joint health in many ways. Furthermore, cycling is a cardio workout. Cardio workout is known to enhance cardiology strength, improving sleep quality, and a great way to relieve stress.
here are so many concerns about whether cycling could cause more severe knee osteoarthritis or not. The answer can be both “yes†and “noâ€ÂÂ. Usually, cycling cause quite a small impact to the knee joint. The joint also moves gently in a circular motion. Cycling has to be very extreme to develop osteoarthritis condition, like athlete cycling – which involves standing and fast-paced cycling. Cycling in this way causes intense pressure at the knee joint and cartilage. If the knee joint and knee muscle are not strong enough, the knee will be severely injured.
Another point to concern is to tone down the pressure at the knee cap during cycling. You can do this by customizing the bicycle appropriately. Adjust the seat to be a little higher. The seat is in a good position when you paddle the pedal to the farthest bottom; your knee position is bending by only 10-15 degrees angle. You may move the seat to the front or the rear as desired. The position of the knee joint when you paddle the pedal at the very front should be absolute vertical and directly match to the thumb joint of the foot.
Cycling tips for the beginners:
- Recommend to ride using lesser efforts; you can gradually extend the riding time based on your present conditions
- Stop the ride immediately if there is any pain. Take a break and reduce effort level for the next ride
- Stretch the muscle around your hip joint, knee joint, and ankle joint every time before and after cycling
The preferred bicycle should have these options:
- Can adjust the seat upper or lower to match your physique
- Offers bicycle gears to let you customize the effort level
- If you have neck, shoulder, or back pain, consider the bicycle with high handlebars
Taking good care of your knee joint today surely reduces the risk of osteoarthritis knee, which ultimately lower the concern knee pain as well as the chance for the patient to undergo knee replacement surgery. Having free of pain in your everyday life promotes better life quality.
- have high LDL (bad) cholesterol
- have high blood pressure
- smoke cigarettes
- have diabetes
- have a family history of atherosclerosis
- have obesity
- consume a poor diet
- engage in a sedentary lifestyle
On the other hand, following a diet rich in certain foods like vegetables, fruits, and fish has been shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease (4Trusted Source).
Here are 15 foods that may help prevent clogged arteries.
- Berries
- Beans
- Fish
- Tomatoes and Tomato Products
- Onion
- Citrus Fruits
- Spices
- Flax Seeds
- Cruciferous Vegetables
- Beets
- Oats
- Nuts and Seeds
- Leafy Grains
- Cocoa and Nark Chocolates
- Olive Oil
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