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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Compiled by Shanika Sriyananda May 3 was World Asthma Day : Striving to inhale According to chest consultants, people should be aware of indoor asthma triggers such as * Dust * Dust mites * Tobacco smoke * Wood burning smoke * Perfume * Cat and dogs allergens * Paint fumes * Aerosol sprays * Cockroach debris and outdoor triggers such as * Cold air * Exercise * Pollen * Insect stings * Exhaust fumes * Air pollution and Tobacco smoke. by Shanika Sriyananda Nearly two million Sri Lankans of whom over 30 per cent are children, are huffing and puffing due to allergic reactions and poor environmental conditions at home as well as outdoor. Suffering from shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, and strain to get air in and out of lungs, they are the victims of ASTHMA which has now become one of the commonest ailments in the country. According to expert chest physicians, it needs equal 'attention' as cancer, heart attack and diabetic, as it is on the increase. Asthma, according to Consultant Chest Physician of the Anuradhapura General Hospital, Dr. Eshanth Perera, is a condition that affects the air passages of the lungs and a condition which could be controlled through continuous proper medication. When a person has asthma, the air passages are inflamed, which means that the airways are red and swollen. Inflammation of the air passages makes the person over extra-sensitive to a number of different things that can 'trigger' asthma symptoms. During breathing, air is normally brought in through the nose, and after being warmed, filtered, and humidified as it passes through the throat, it enters into the windpipe, called the trachea (TRAY-kee-a). The trachea divides into two large tubes called the right bronchus (BRONG-kus) and left bronchus. These then split into much smaller tubes, which in turn branch into thousands of very small airways called bronchioles (BRONG-kee-olz). It is the large and small bronchi that are generally affected in asthma. Asthma symptoms vary from hour to hour, from day to day and over months. They are often worse at night and in the early hours of the morning. The severity of asthma also varies from person to person. Some patients experience occasional symptoms, others have symptoms that interfere somewhat with daily life, and still others have a very severe, restless disease that almost excludes them from normal school and work activities. According to the 'Global Burden of Asthma Report' released by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), asthma prevalence is now high and an estimated 300 million people suffer from asthma worldwide. However, asthma is a chronic condition and one needs to be vigilant about inflammation as it can flare up at any time due to negligence of inflammation for long periods of time. According to experts, more awareness is essential to educate people about 'triggers' of asthma to direct the victims for treatment without delay. " If symptoms like shortness of breath, dry cough, wheezing, chest tightness becoming worse early in the morning and night, one must see a doctor", warns Dr. Perera. Addressing a media seminar to mark the World Asthma Day organised by the Health Education Bureau, Dr. Perera pointed out that those who suffer from asthma can lead a normal life with long term asthma management through proper drugs and continuous surveillance. This year's theme 'The Unmet Needs of Asthma' calls doctors and patients to pay more attention to better asthma treatment and control. According to Dr. Perera, oral drugs, used as 'relievers' (bronchodilators) which reduces muscid spasm and 'preventers' (Steroids), which reduces inflammation of the airway gives side effects like shaky hands, cramps, palpitations, restlessness, facial swelling, diabetics, cataract, brittle bones, hypertension and nausea. "Inhaled drugs are the best treatment for asthmatics as it is delivered to the site where the action is needed, there is no absorbtion into the blood stream and only a small amount of a drug is needed for a given effect. The major advantage of inhaled drugs is that there are no side effects as it does not enter the brain, eyes, liver, bones, muscles and lungs through the blood", he explained. But Dr. Perera claimed that inhaled drugs usage among asthmatics was very low due to its high cost, compared to oral drugs and the poor practice of inhalation technique. 'Most asthma patients are from poor families and they cannot afford to buy inhaled drugs. The other reason is that they are not capable enough to use these drugs in the correct way", he added. Non availability of inhaled steroids in government hospitals, inadequate number of trained health care workers and myths on the use of inhalers, which many think is addictive hinder its popularity as safe treatment method. " No inhaled drugs will make patients addicted but smoking and drugs will lead to addiction. It is also not harmful to the body", he pointed out. Moving from one doctor to another for treatment, according to Consultant Chest Physician, Welisara Chest Hospital, Dr. A.T. Munasinghe, makes the patient suffer more. The decision to cease medication has to be taken only after a consultation with the doctor, he said, adding that regular follow ups by a family physician or the hospital clinic medical officer is vital to keep a record of the asthma prevention progress. He said that pregnant women suffering from asthma should withdraw asthma drugs under the obstetrician's instructions as self decision will bring some consequences in pregnancy. All asthma drugs are safe in pregnancy. "A mother's good lung function during pregnancy is vital for the growing baby", he said. The availability of drugs notwithstanding, the best practice the doctors said was to avoid the triggers and control the symptoms (if you are already a victim). Total avoidance of the triggers is not often possible, but minimising them can make a significant difference in the quality of your life. According to GINA, by giving priority for 'the unmet needs of asthma' - diagnosis, treatment, education and environmental factors, the incidents of asthma can be reduced to a greater extent. The report states that some people with asthma might not receive a proper diagnosis and thus may not have the opportunity for good asthma treatment and control, while some may not receive sufficient medication to control the illness due to the high cost of medicine. "The under use of inhaled glucocorticosteroids for long-term management of asthma is a particular problem", it stated. According to the report, poor awareness about how to use their medications properly and when to seek help had resulted in the poor management of the disease. Mismanaged asthma not only prevents the patient from leading a full and active life, but can also become life threatening. Giving place to mental wellness Statistically speaking a quarter of the population (10 per cent adults and 15 per cent children) suffer from mental and behavioral disorders. There is only one trained psychiatrist for every 100,000 patients. Add this Sri Lanka's status on having the 2nd highest number of suicidal in the world. The need for psychological care has therefore been a long felt necessity. Sahanaya, the National Council for Mental Health, has identified a range of unmet needs of those with disabilities, those under distress and those exposed to disasters, and has realised the necessity for an institutional mechanism to respond to these needs. Taking this into consideration, they have started construction to establish a Mental Health and Psychological Care centre in Gorakana, by the side of the Bolgoda Lake. The aim of this project is to impart and enhance the capacity of personnel working in the area of health and other human services and to caregivers in the areas of psychological care. This will help those in need and also facilitate the development of the required social infrastructures and systems of psychosocial care across the country. Mental health also relates to workplace stress, trauma, alcohol and drug abuse, relationship issues and emotional deprivation. The civil strife that Sri Lanka has suffered for the last two decades has also left both physical and mental scars on thousands of Sri Lankans. The centre, once completed, will provide facilities to train professional and non-professional groups of people in psychosocial care, and will have provision to set up residential and community based care through satellite care centres across the country, develop partnerships which will enable sustainability through capacity building, it will rehabilitate and promote skill development for those with mental disability and also provide counselling and care for people in need. Sahanaya, seeks the support and contribution of the public to make this project a reality. Call 2685960 or access Website:www.sahanaya.lk to find out how you can help. Veggies that heal BEET Babylonia has no lepers or sufferers from purulent diseases because its people eat beet, drink honey, and bathe in the waters of the Euphrates, says the Talmud. Modern researchers add that where people eat a lot of red beet, the cancer incidence is very low. The juice of raw edible roots is a good help in the case of pneumonia and pleurisy. It is also good to drop it into the nose in the case of a cold. And cosmetologists recommend drinking it regularly to retain a good complexion. An addition of honey to beetroot juice creates a remedy for hypertension and excellent sedative drops. An old-time folk remedy for anaemia is a mixture of equal shares of the juices of carrots, beet, and winter radish. The dose is a tablespoonful or two before meals for several months. Cooked pulp (100 to 150 grams eaten on an empty stomach) cures intestinal atonicity and liver trouble. CARROTS Abuse even of the most useful products is unsafe. A short time ago British doctors certified death of carrot juice poisoning. Motivated by the best intentions, the man drank litres of carrot juice every day and died of hypervitaminosis. Correct dosing is always vital. In the case of a vitamin shortage, anaemia, and general breakdown it is very good to drink this vitamin-rich juice. It is still better to eat one or two ground carrots with cream or sour cream every day. This also rids man of sand or little stones in the kidneys and vascular spasms. Fresh carrot mash was offered to nursing mothers so that they would have more milk to feed their babies. And carrot juice with honey or carrots cooked in milk was given to men who suffered from impotence. In terms of carotene (Provitamin A) content carrots surpass all fruit and vegetables. This makes them absolutely vital in the case of poor eyesight. And 100-200 grams of carrot salad in the morning provides the eater with the daily rate of Vitamin A and is a guarantee of good digestion. You & your baby Your baby's growth Every mother's dream is to hear from her doctor that her baby is growing well. Proper growth according to the age is vital for a baby to be born healthy. A baby's growth is a dynamic process that lasts until the time of delivery. It is important to realise that the baby's growth is proportionate to that of his biological parents. For example, big-made parents may have bigger babies due to the genetic make-up of the parents. The sex of the baby is also considered when talking about the baby's growth. Generally male babies tend to be heavier than female babies. All these factors will rise during the pregnancy and will determine the size of the baby until various extragenious factors interfere with this growth potential. Hypertension during pregnancy can reduce the blood supply to the baby, restricting the baby's growth. A large baby is not always healthy and similarly a small baby will not always be unhealthy. The state of health is decided by the proper formation and naturation of the systems of the baby's body, especially the brain and related organs. The average weight of a Sri Lankan baby is 2.5 to 3 kg. However, less than 2 kgs and more than 4 kgs may be considered problematic but most of them do well. Bigger babies often need more close monitoring for sugar levels because their body is big and insulin levels are high. They tend to become hypoglisemic very fast due to low sugar levels and need close monitoring. Growth restriction is called Intra Uterine Growth Restriction and is extremely pathological. Here the baby does not have proper blood supply to the body due to problems in the placenta, due to various problems in the mother like increased blood pressure and medical disorders. Another reason could be Intra Uterine infections like rubella. This will lead to certain abnormalities in the baby who will not have a proper growth. Heritable abnormalities of the baby due to abnormal cromosones or structural abnormalities like down syndrome is another cause for low growth rate of the baby. The growth restrictions can be identified by clinical and scan assessments, two weeks apart. If during that period the baby grows and has an optimal growth it means that the baby has the potential to grow to the necessary level. It is important for the mother to keep a correct record of the final dates. Over growth is also a problem and normally happens due to abnormal sugar levels of the body. This is also accompanied by the increase of water around the baby, which is called polyhydramniam. This is another risky situation because the demand of baby's body are high, so there can be unexplained problems to the baby before, during and after birth. This will also lead to early delivery, most probably a caesarean section or an instrumental delivery. However, both - babies with low and over birth weights will have problems and it is always wise to face the truth at the beginning and rectify them before the last stage - the delivery. However, growth restrictions can be managed and growth can be improved. Excessive growth of the baby can be treated with appropriate control of sugar levels and baby's further enlargement can also be prevented. The most important message is that pregnant mothers should regularly visit their doctors and this will help the doctor to identify the problems of the baby early. Holistic healing : Fundamentals of Ayurveda Doshas on overdrive by Dr. Danister L. Perera When the three Doshas - Vata, Pitta or Kapha - become unbalanced Ayurveda suggests specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to get them back on track. We may also suggest certain herbal supplements to hasten the healing process. If toxins in the body are abundant, then a cleansing process known as Pancha karma is recommended to eliminate these unwanted toxins. All the Doshas should be properly balanced for good health. They are inter-related and are directly or indirectly responsible for maintaining the equilibrium of the tridoshas. It is important to know the factors responsible for increasing vata. They are: * Eating too much cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, beans, dry fruits, mushrooms and raw foods. * Too much travelling by any means of transportation. * Staying awake till late night or not sleeping at all. * Eating junk food, frozen foods and food that has been micro-waved. * Excessive exposure to high noise level or high sounds. * Watching too much television and over exposure to computers or any other kind of electric gadgets which strong waves are emitted. * Indulging in too much sexual activities. * Excessive imagination, overworking or too much sports. * Taking too much medicinal, recreational and stimulating drugs. I know you are doing some of these things, that is why you are anxious, afraid, nervous, depressed or under stress many times. Aggravation of vata weakens the nervous system. Other symptoms caused by excess of vata in the body are joint pains, constipation, dry skin, loss of memory, palpitation, insomnia, stiffness of muscles, weight loss, migraine, vertigo and tremors. Our daily practices which involve a lot of competition, habits like drinking too much tea, coffee, alcohol and excessive smoking increase pitta in the body. It is also increased by eating hot, spicy foods, eating too much chillis, tomatoes, egg plant, spinach, onions and by too much exposure to heat and sun. Some of the symptoms caused by excess of pitta in the body are hyperacidity, skin diseases, burning sensation, fever, infections, ulcers and liver disorders. Similarly eating too much sugars, fats, oily and fried foods, ice creams, meats, dairy products and nuts, too much sleep specially during day time and not doing much physical activities increase kapha in the body. Some of the symptoms caused by excess of kapha are asthma, cough, cold, congestion in the chest, anorexia and obesity. Happiness is... Happiness is the most valuable 'thing' that a person can have. But most people, in our present busy life styles, lack happiness. Happiness is one vital aspect for a healthy life too. Especially, it gives you a peaceful and steady mind. Here are some simple tips to stay out of 'blues'. * Surround yourslef with cheerful friends and family members. * Enjoy the work you do and do it with an interest. * Smile with everyone. * Keep counting your blessings, always adding to the list. * Forget all bad things in life and think new everyday. * Help people as much as you can * Be content with what life has given you and what you have made of it. Beware of online quacks Make intelligent internet health decisions Loonies and tricksters have always been ready to sell us miracle cures, but the internet has made it so much easier Dr. Stephen Barrett has spent 30 years campaigning against dodgy tests and cures, and now does it online at www.quackwatch.org. Here are some of the warning signs he says to watch out for: * Sweeping claims that most diseases are caused by diet or can be cured with vitamin and mineral supplements. * Pseudo-medical jargon, such as offers to "detoxify" or "balance" your body. * Anyone claiming that doctors, drug companies or the government are trying to suppress their find. * 'Secret cures'-quacks only keep them secret to stop others proving they don't work. * Products claiming to work against unrelated diseases. * Encouragement to ignore established scientific thinking and 'think for yourself'. * Testimonials or (often misquoted) scientific references. * Approaches that seem to focus on people whose judgement may be clouded by desperation. |
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