Preventive Measures | The Cure and Prevention of Diseases

How To Deal Wth Malaria

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Malaria is an infection related disease found in tropical regions of Asia, America and Africa. Once the parasites enter the body, they start breeding inside the body. When their count reaches some threshold amount, the body’s immune system submits to the parasites. This results in fever and headache. There are many types of parasites that can affect the body but Plasmodium falciparum is the worst of those. The disease spreads by mosquitos’ and especially female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito is usually found in areas where water gets deposited and is not removed for days. Besides mosquito, other sources for the spread of malaria include blood transfusions and transplants. Malaria is usually diagnosed by blood tests.

Even though fever is a symptom of malaria but every fever is not a symptom of malaria. Malaria is usually treated by the use of quinine and artesunate. In worst cases, hospitalization may be required. Prevention of malaria includes preventing any water from depositing. The water may get deposited in tyres and coolers. You can also use mosquito repellent, sprays and bed nets. It should be noted that you should not try to use any medicine on your own in case of fever. You should always consult the doctor in case of fever. The doctor on inspecting the patient will advise some blood or urinal tests which can confirm the presence of malaria.

These tests can be from any trusted laboratory. You can expect to get the reports in four to five hours. The report will clearly state whether the patient is suffering for malaria or not. Once confirmed, you should immediately start the medicine course for malaria as advised by your doctor. You need to see your doctor after every four days to get the feedback of treatment. Thus one should take proper preventive measures in order to avoid getting into the long treatment of malaria.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Preventive Measures

Benefits of Health Insurance’s Preventative Coverage

Health insurance coverage can be one of the most beneficial products you’ll ever obtain. Not only does health insurance provide coverage when you’re ill or injured, but it also allows you to have regular checkups with your physician. Annual checkups aren’t what they used to be. There is no universal code to annual checks anymore; these visits are customized to meet your needs. Your doctor will decide if you need annual visits or if you can come at a less frequent interval. By visiting your physician for checkups you can reduce the risk of serious illnesses, especially ones that appear suddenly with little or no warning. Blood pressure is something your doctor will check while you’re at your annual visit. If it’s notably high, he or she may want to monitor it more closely to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Once you get to know your doctor, you become much more likely to seek help when you’re not feeling so great. If you only see your physician when you’re ill, he or she won’t have the time to cover preventative measures with you, so schedule a time when you can. Preventative care procedures like pap smears for women and colon screenings for men and women can catch cancer at its earliest stages and provide patients the best possible outcome. Having health insurance will also make you much more likely to seek care for little things that wouldn’t necessarily warrant a visit to the emergency room, but may be leading to something more serious. Light abdominal pain could be pre-cancerous polyps in your colon or appendicitis in the making. If you don’t have health insurance, you can do an Internet search based on the coverage you need and get online insurance quotes. You can compare quotes easily and quickly to find the best plan for your money. Health coverage means so much more than treating illnesses.

How to keep obesity at bay

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The modern urban way of life that many of us lead has given rise to a spate of disorders and ailments understood as lifestyle disease. As the name suggests, these diseases are not communicable or caused by circumstances beyond human control. Simply put, they are a manifestation of an unhealthy or unnatural lifestyle. The good news is that we can adopt preventive measures to keep these diseases at bay.
One of the common ailments that is a direct result of an unhealthy lifestyle is obesity. In general terms, obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess fat accumulates in the body. Obesity leads to a spate of several other diseases, prominently heart ailments. Obesity also has the potential to cause early death. Two of the most common preventive measures to check obesity are: diet and exercise.
People do not become obese overnight; it is the result of months and years of neglect. To start with, people should check their Basal Metabolic Index or BMI, which is a ratio of height and weight. If the BMI is higher for a person than what it should be, it is time to control one’s weight.
One should switch to foods that are high in protein and fiber, but low in fat. Choose fruits, salads and boiled vegetables over fried food. In this way, the body fills up with nutrition without adding excess fat and, consequently, excess weight. Eat food high in energy but low on calories.
Another important aspect of the weight-control and weight-reduction regimen is exercise. We should dedicate at least 30 to 45 minutes of our day to jogging, swimming, brisk walking, gymming, doing yoga or a bit of everything. Physical activity not just helps to reduce and control weight gain, it also helps us to have an agile mind and a fit body. Exercises also help us to break away from our otherwise sedentary jobs.
By adopting preventive measures to contain obesity, we would be able to keep away from hypertension, heart ailments, back problems, fertility-related disorders and many more.

Filed Under: Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Body mass index, Conditions and Diseases, Obesity

Geriatrics – A growing need in health medicine

In the year 2000 there were nearly 35 million Americans who were 65 years or older. This number is expected to touch over 78 million by 2050. The number of aged Americans who are over 85 years will increase from a shade over 4 million to over 31 million in another 40 years! With life expectancy significantly increasing thanks to medical advancements, the need for geriatric care is also increasing year on year. America has about 9000 odd geriatricians. The expected number of geriatricians is around 30,000. This shortage of specialists to cater to the need of the older Americans is particularly pressing.

One of the reasons for the shortage of geriatricians is probably due to historical disinterest in the field. Two things that are likely to help correct the situation are increasing the awareness among specialists of the progress made in the care of elderly people during what could only be termed as a geriatric revolution over the last two decades. There are quite a number of myths derogatory to aged people that possibly continue to contribute to the relative disinterest in the field. These need to be demystified. The third area that would help the situation is deepening the research on aging and creating a solid evidence base for geriatric care. Efforts must be taken to disseminate such findings for the benefit of the medical community at large.

About 20% of the Medicare population has at least five chronic conditions like hyper tension, diabetes, arthritis etc. Geriatricians have the expertise and leadership to coordinate the services required for such complex needs from among multiple service providers. Geriatrics, at its core, promotes a multi-disciplinary approach. These specialists work with teams of nurses, psychiatrists, surgeons, social workers, physical and occupational therapists to provide the best care to their patients.

Geriatric medicines and care promotes health and preventive care of the aged that helps them to maintain functional independence in performing activities of daily life. What could be nobler than this?

Filed Under: Health, Preventive Measures

The Assisted Living Advantage

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It is an unfortunate truth, a sad realization: you’re not as you once were. Your body has betrayed you, succumbed to the tedium of age. Bones ache; muscles whine; and the simplest of gestures become the hardest of accomplishments. All motions are limited and all breaths are dull. You’re no longer the youth you always assumed yourself to be. And your home, you’ve discovered, is suffering because of it.

No walls can be painted (even as they’re pleading for it, peeling in a petty revenge). No planks can be fixed, the nails left hanging useless within them. Even stairs refuse to be conquered, leaving the upper-levels all lonely and dust drenched. The effort to clean them would consume all time. Maintaining your home is simply beyond your abilities now; and you aren’t sure what to do about it.

The answer is easier than you think.

Assisted living institutions — found in every state and offering a variety of opportunities — can allow you to find the peace you want, without sacrificing the space you love. Though often these facilities allow guests to live within them, they also can provide a more convenient alternative: at home aid. An individual can remain within his or her house, continuing with the routine that’s been created; but professional nurses will simply inject themselves within that routine, offering full-time or part-time care.

This could involve conversations, daily meals, light cleaning and more. The efforts are simple but the results are rewarding. You’ll be able to remain independent, gaining only the help you ask for. It’s a compromise that can’t be refused.

The notion of assisted living is often offered little patience. Too many individuals think themselves above even the consideration of it. But there is great value to find within this idea and it should not be denied.

Discover aid. Discover ease. Your home can be your own once more.

Filed Under: Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Assisted living, Health, Senior Health

The Prevention of Malaria During Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant are among the group of individuals most at risk for Malaria as pregnancy reduces a woman’s immunity leaving her more prone to contracting the illness causing incredibly dangerous consequences for both mother and child. In Africa an average of 24 million pregnancies are threatened yearly and it has been determined that 15% of maternal anemia and 35% of preventable low birth weight is caused by women infected with Malaria.

Babies affected during pregnancy with malaria are often born with severe anemia and low birth weights. Typically babies are born prematurely and often have infant illnesses and even death. Low birth weight causes issues in child development.

There are methods of prevention that are cost effective. One example is PIT- Preventative intermittent treatment. This treatment involves full doses of a working anti-malarial drug at preset intervals during an individual’s pregnancy. Currently only two countries: Kenya and Malawi have implemented PIT as a required preventative measure.

PIT is typically administered beginning in the second trimester and moving forward throughout the pregnancy. It should be administered at intervals of no less than a month apart.

Studies conducted in Malawi and Kenya have indicated that women treated utilizing PIT will run a less chance of having anemia and low birth weight babies.

Another effective method is the use of bed-nets which have been pretreated with insecticides.

Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia have lowered their taxes on bed-nets in an effort to make them widely affordable. Though behind, these countries are working to make PIT required and available to citizens.

Countries in Africa are working to implement governmental policies regarding anti-malaria drugs and protocols for the prevention of Malaria during pregnancy. Mothers who contract Malaria during pregnancy who might otherwise be greater immune are at a huge risk for losing not only their own lives but the lives of their children.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Malaria During Pregnancy, Prevention of Malaria

Malaria Resistance made possible through use of Zinc and Vitamin A

Daily Malaria is responsible currently for more deaths than AIDS, each year more than one million children lose their lives. Unfortunately, because the disease is not prevalent in more developed countries the disease does not get the attention it needs.

Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium which enter an individual’s bloodstream via a mosquito bite. The most frequent cause of infection and the one which results in the worst and most severe strain of malaria is Plasmodium falciparum.

As parasites evolve they are becoming more and more resistant to specific drugs.

Recently a study has been conducted which brings to light that the majority of individuals and children who live in areas with high malaria prevalence have poor nutrition in general. It is speculated that a lack of micronutrients such as Vitamin A and Zinc in the diets of those individuals reduce the probability for a healthy immune system leaving individuals vulnerable to becoming ill from Malaria.

In the human body Zinc is required for a multitude of biological processes among which include protein synthesis (which is a key player in immunity.) Vitamin A is also necessary for maintaining a healthy and strong immune system. The two (Zinc and Vitamin A) are often deemed symbiotic.

In an attempt to determine whether or not Zinc and Vitamin A administered in combination were effective for the reduction of malaria caused illness the authors of the study planned a double-blind study with a placebo in Burkina Faso, located in western Africa. The study was conducted on 150 young children ranging between 6 and 72 months old. Half were given Vitamin A plus Zinc for six days for six months and the other half were simply administered a placebo.

The results were measured post study. It was determined that the number of occurrences of anemia, fever, and presence of the parasites were more prevalent in those given the placebo.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Diagnosing, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Malaria Resistance, Zinc and Vitamin A

How to Prevent Malaria

In the tropics Malaria is a death causing epedemic. Each year hundreds of thousands of children and adults lose their life to this illness. The majority of these deaths occur in low income villages located in the remote areas of Asia, South America and Africa.

Malaria is contracted following a bite from a female anopheles mosquito which has become infected with the malaria parasite. The parasite infiltrates the blood of the victim as the mosquito sucks his or her blood.

Mosquitos are impossible to completely eradicate, so there is no way to completely control the spread of malaria, in fact individuals must simply take precautions in an attempt to prevent cotnraction.

When visiting a foreign country it is smart to make attempts to protect yourself from the deadly disease.

Methods for protecting yourself from Malaria include;

1. Speak with a doctor regarding obtaining a prescription for anti-malarial drugs. This should be one of the initial stages of travel preparation. Most doctors tend to prescribe atavaquone with proguanil or Mefloquine. These drugs are usually take a week or two prior to travel.

2. Make sure and travel with protective clothing: hats, boots, and clothes which cover the majority of the body it is recommended to use light colored clothing.

3. Travel with mosquito repellents containing DEET. A treated mosquito net is incredibly important. Nets soaked in DEET work to create a barrier in one’s sleep. Mosquitos are most prone to biting at night.

4. Close windows and doors when sleeping if possible.

5. Register your presence in a foreign country with the consulate or embassy (this is always important) and local embassy’s can let you know about issues with diesase paterns and precautions you should take.

Always talk to your doctor for the best advice for travel and avoiding malaria.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: DEET, mosquito repellents, Prevent Malaria

Geographic distribution of malaria

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Malaria is a disease of poverty; it is a disease of the developing, underdeveloped and developing worlds. Although cases of the disease are sometimes noted in the US and EU, these are mostly transferred from tropical countries.

The reason is tragic: although people in the poorer countries know as much as anyone else about malaria, and of how it could be prevented, they do not have the wherewithal to prevent malaria due to lack of money and healthy living facilities. Malaria is a disease of the swamps; of mosquito bites, of sleeping in the open air and working in marshy fields. These things, swamps, dirty water, sleeping outside and mosquitos are the lot of poor people in undeveloped countries. They do not have the money to clean swamps, carry on expensive pest control measures or build a proper, pest free house to live in. They have to work in fields, in swampy conditions, and by a quirk of nature, most of the poorer people of the world happen to live in the tropics, where heavy rainfall, humid and hot weather and swamps abound, all breeding grounds of mosquitos. This is the basic reason why malaria is such a prevalent cause of death in poor countries, especially in sub-saharan Africa where treatment and prevention facilities are next to nil.

Over 250 million people suffer from malaria every year, of which about one in twenty five die. Of these large numbers, almost 80 to 90 percent are from sub-saharan Africa alone. The rest of the deaths are evenly distributed among countries of central America and Asia. Malaria is also a disease of rural areas; studies have shown that the majority of cases of malaria occur in villages – where, of course, there are more malaria carrier mosquitos.

Malaria is both a preventable and a curable disease; quinine, an extract of the cinchona plant, is a complete cure for malaria. It is tragic that poverty lets people neither prevent this disease, nor cure it with the life saving but expensive quinine.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Infectious disease, Mosquito

Preventing Malaria During Travel

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It will be common for the globe trotter to eventually traipse through an area prone to Malaria at some point in time. Travel throughout tropical and sub-tropical areas and even some parts of Eastern Europe you could be potentially exposed to the malaria parasite.

Malaria is a parasite transmitted in the majority of instances via a specific species of mosquito. If an infected mosquito bites an individual they can become infected with the parasite which instantly travels via the bloodstream to the liver and back into the bloodstream.

Individuals who contract malaria usually experience flu-like symptoms including but not limited to high fever, chills, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headache. Left untreated Malaria is capable of causing dangerous issues and even death. Children, pregnant women and individuals who live in areas where malaria is uncommon are at a greater risk for dying if they contract the disease during travel.

As malaria parasites evolve they are becoming more and more resistant to some of the antimalarial medications on the market.

Travelers are urged to protect themselves in a variety of ways: taking the antimalarial medications which have the greatest chance of providing the highest level of protection for the specific area in which they will be traveling to.

In addition to medicine, there are also non medicinal prevention methods.

All individuals should avoid contact with mosquitoes while visiting areas prone to malaria. People are instructed to utilize effective insect repellent containing DEET to avoid the bite of the mosquito. When outside between the hours of dusk and dawn (the dawn of the mosquitoes day) individuals should cover their arms and legs with light colored clothes in an attempt to reduce the risk of being bitten.

A bed net, which is a net covered in insecticides should be used while sleeping to repel mosquitoes on the blood hunt at night.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: DEET, Insect repellent, Malaria, Mosquito