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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Compiled by Carol Aloysius Last week was World Dental Health Week... : Betel chewers beware... Oral cancer is one of the commonest and most widespread cancers in Sri Lanka accounting for around 19 per cent of all cancers in the country. Approximately 1,500 - 2,000 patients visit the hospitals daily to obtain treatment. What causes oral cancer? Who gets it? How can one avoid getting the disease? The following guidelines by the Health Education Bureau in association with the WHO, give you the answers. Facts about oral cancer Causes 1. Betel chewing - Tobacco and arecanut have been proved to contain
carcinogens. Sharp edges from broken and jagged teeth. 5. Nutritional Deficiencies - Iron Deficiencies Pre-cancerous lesions How to recognise them. Usually a number of changes can occur in the mouth before the appearance of the cancer. Following are signs and symptoms of pre-cancerous lesions. 1. Long standing white patch which cannot be removed. Prevention Oral cancer can be prevented by: Good habits Remember that oral cancer can be prevented by good oral hygiene habits and proper dental care. ******************* Stop abusing your voice! Voice transmits a wealth of information concerning the speaker, regarding his attitudes, personality, emotions and very many other characteristics, through changes of vocal tone, in different social contexts. Hence, a normal voice plays a very important role in our day-to-day communication tasks. What is normal voice? The simplest definition of normal voice is that, it is "Ordinary". To achieve this acceptability, the voice must be loud enough to be heard and appropriate for the age and sex of the speaker and also it must be reasonably pleasing to the ear of the listener, modulated and clear, not droning and flat or hoarse and breathy. When our voice lacks the above-mentioned features, this particular condition is generally called a voice disorder. Voice disorders could be classified across a wide range and most of them are caused by several common factors, namely, vocally abusive behaviours and voice misuse, trauma to the laryngeal mechanism and physical diseases etc.... Voice disorders Statistic show a high incidence-rate, of disorders instigated by vocal abuse and misuse. Therefore, let us divert our attention to vocally abusive behaviours. What are they? Behaviours, which unnecessarily increase the function or work load of our vocal cords are generally called vocally abusive behaviours, which include.... * Excessive talking and singing This type of vocal hyperfunction could provoke nodules, polyps, contact-ulcers etc on the vocal folds, which increase their mass and result in harsh and hoarse voice. Due to the high incidence rate of vocal nodules observed among teachers and singers, these nodules are also called as teachers' nodules or singers' nodules as well. "Too much of anything is good for nothing" - this is the very same truth, applying to voice as well, because, too much of vocal function could essentially make a drastic influence on our voice and make us sound awful for a considerably lengthy period ahead! Therefore, always believe that "prevention is better than cure". The best remedy for this particular problem is to avoid abusing your voice unnecessarily and avoid speaking with excessive efforts while you already have a even a mild hoarseness. Do fetch for medical and therapeutic (speech therapy) treatment in order to subside the problem at its earliest, before heading for further complications! Savithra C. Panagoda, Speech Pathologist and Audiologist ******************* Diabetes : If you are sweet-toothed, read on... Diabetes has become a widespread disease in Sri Lanka, with recent statistics showing a 7 per cent increase of diabetes in urban areas since 1990, according to recent statistics. Alarmingly, younger people are becoming victims of the disease. According to a spokesman for the National Diabetics Centre, even children and young people below 15 years and 20 are now being treated for diabetics. Ten years ago the number of diabetic cases in Sri Lanka was zero in the under 30 years groups. Today health authorities say the figure has increased to 8.7 per cent. What has caused this increase in diabetes in the past 10 years? How can diabetes be prevented and controlled? In July this year a specially convened meeting under the banner of 'Diabetes in Asia' was held in Colombo. This was for the express purpose of arriving at a consensus on aetiology of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the development of a primary prevention strategy and was hosted by the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka. The document recognises several contributory causes of diabetes. These risk factors include genetics, foetal history, lifestyle and stress, all of which contribute to type 2 Diabetes which is now on a dramatic rise worldwide. Following is a summary of the consensus document agreed upon by over 350 international experts and representatives who attended the July conference on 'Diabetes in Asia.' Genetic foetal history, lifestyle and stress may all favour the occurrence of Type 2 diabetes, according to experts at a recent meeting in Colombo Sri Lanka. International experts numbering 350 including representatives of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) consensus would help develop a primary prevention strategy to defuse the escalating incidence of this form of diabetes worldwide. Type 2 diabetes is on a dramatic rise, with at least 170 million people with diabetes worldwide and a predicted increase to 300 million by 2005. More and more children and adolescents are developing Type 2 diabetes, a form of diabetes that used to be found mostly in adults. Up until now, scientists mainly focused on obesity due to lifestyle changes as being a cause of Type 2 diabetes, however, new studies reveal that genetics, foetal history and, possibly, stress may also play a role in the development of diabetes. Genetics was identified as a significant factor that causes diabetes. There is good evidence from genetic studies that the association of some genes is at the root of causing Type 2 diabetes. Low birth weight was recognised as another risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies have reported a higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes in people who had a low birth weight. Animal studies confirm that poor nourishment of the foetus increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, postnatal over nutrition may aggravate the syndrome. Obesity has long been associated with diabetes. Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Lifestyle changes, including bad eating habits and physical inactivity all contribute to obesity. Finally compelling animal evidence and mechanistic studies suggest a relationship between stress and insulin resistance leading to Type 2 diabetes. This consensus is likely to highlight the urgent need for the primary prevention of Type 2 diabetes, said Professor Sir George Alberti, President of the IDF. "We hope that the consensus will facilitate the introduction of programs to increase awareness and promote education at all levels. There is urgent need for government action to promote healthy lifestyles now." Proposed international strategies for primary prevention Type 2 diabetes mellitus - Sri Lanka Genetics: The current state of knowledge indicates a polygenic inheritance. At present counselling is not feasible and nor is genetic engineering. Protection of a high risk family group when an index patient is identified is mandatory. This is best achieved through life style modifications discussed below. Total Family Protection - Priority Foetal origins Under nutrition in-utero leading to low birth weight is one of the most important facts that have to be addressed. As this is linked to maternal nutrition, the importance of the female child and her nutrition from infancy right through to pregnancy and lactation cannot be over emphasised. Numerous interventions will be necessary to ensure same so that the newborn child will be fully nourished and well developed to face the world. * Ensuring the proper development and nutrition of newborn children -
Priority Life style What ever the birth weight and nutrition at delivery, over nutrition and obesity at any age thereafter should be avoided. Wholesome meals and active lifestyle are both important in maintaining ideal body weight. * Avoidance of childhood obesity - priority Stress Stress at any stage of life, if of sufficient severity and duration is capable of producing adverse effects and leading to diabetes in a predisposed person. Therefore, a congenial low stress environment, at all times from gestation to adult life is beneficial for the well being of the individual. * Individual and family problems should be solved without delay by
discussion and consensus ******************* You & Our Doctor Suspected Dengue Q: A few months ago my five year old child was admitted to hospital with high fever and vomiting. He was kept warded for about six days and doctors first told me the child was having viral fever and then told me it was Dengue fever. But the diagnosis written on the discharge card was suspected Dengue fever a big question mark in front. (i.e. ? suspected dengue fever) I am now highly worried whether my child was misdiagnosed? Please tell us what preventive measures available to us to prevent a future attack. - Worried mother A: I understand your problem. This is because the doctors have not educated you properly on the condition of your child on discharge. Dengue is a viral fever. There are some other viral fevers which give symptoms and signs similar to Dengue Fever. Confirmation of Dengue Fever can be done only by specific laboratory tests, which may take a long time to give results. However, doctors do not wait for this to happen and so start treatment if the patient has got symptoms and some basic blood test results similar to Dengue Fever or its complication haemorrhagic Dengue Fever (DHF). Specific test results Early treatment can relieve symptoms and prevent complications and death, if the patient is actually suffering from Dengue sometimes the specific test results come as negative for Dengue. In those cases the diagnosis may be indicated in the manner you have mentioned. Preventive measures should be directed against mosquito biting. It is important to take control measures to eliminate mosquitoes and their breeding places, specially during and after rainy seasons. Protect yourself from bites: wear long sleeve clothes and long dresses to cover the limbs, use mosquito repellents and protect babies and use nets. Remember the dengue carrying mosquito bites you in the day time. ******************* Breast feeding and your figure I am a mother of a six month old first baby. Even before my child was born I had decided to breast feed him. Now I am coming to the end of my leave, and will have to go back for work very soon. I live far away from Colombo and as such I will be unable to come home to feed the child at midday. I do not wish to deprive my baby of breast milk but I can't afford to give up my job either. Some of my friends told me that breast feeding can effect my shape and appearance. This is also worrying me. Is it true? Could you suggest a practical solution to my problem? - A Worried Mother A: Breast feeding is undoubtedly the best food for almost all babies not only from nutritionally but from emotional point of view. It is rarely that a mother is unable to feed her baby, but regrettably quite a number of mothers are opposed to it, on such grounds as 'Wanting to preserve their figure and shape'. There is no evidence that refraining from breast feeding has any such effect at all. Breast milk is the only wealth that a mother can give to her baby, only once in her lifetime. If you are so keen to continue only breast milk to your baby, here is the method to follow. You can express your milk from the breast into a hygienically clean vessel and keep it in a dark place for six hours at room temperature or 24 hours in a refrigerator. You can arrange with one of your reliable and healthy relative to feed the baby using only a spoon, and not with feeding bottles. But they should wash their hands thoroughly and pay much attention to the cleanliness of the vessels etc. Dr. Sampath, R. Nanayakkara ******************* Honey heals New research shows that drinking four tablespoons of honey in water improves blood antioxidants, which help prevent narrowing of the arteries. Weight for weight, honey contains about the same amount of antioxidants as spinach and a similar range to that in apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries. The findings are the latest in a long list of benefits of honey, including treatment of acne, burns and gastric ulcers. It is being used in some British hospitals, for persistent wounds. "It is generally accepted that honey is a respectable therapeutic agent, and there is a rapidly increasing use by clinicians, as well as the general public," says Dr. Peter Moland of the University of Waikato, New Zealand, an authority on the healing properties of honey. ******************* Specially for the older person... : The secret to keeping fit and active Everyone needs exercise on a regular basis and that includes elderly people. Following are some keep fit exercises specially designed for the elderly, from a handbook produced by AGECO (The Gerontological Association of Costa Rica) Why exercise helps: . Prevents stress and anxiety Dos and Dont's before exercising... . An elderly person should see a doctor for a physical check up before
starting on a exercise program. Keeping fit and active . improve balance and co-ordination General recommendations . Elderly people should see a doctor or health worker for a physical
checkup before starting an exercise program. |
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