Ramanisblog

Tag: health care

  • The anti-swine flu holy water dispenser-Reuters.

    What a way to insult Faith?
    Story:
    ROME (Reuters) – An Italian inventor has combined faith and ingenuity to come up with a way to keep church traditions alive for the faithful without the fear of contracting swine flu — an electronic holy water dispenser.

    The terracotta dispenser, used in the northern town of Fornaci di Briosco, functions like an automatic soap dispenser in public washrooms — a churchgoer waves his or her hand under a sensor and the machine spurts out holy water.

    “It has been a bit of a novelty. People initially were a bit shocked by this technological innovation but then they welcomed it with great enthusiasm and joy. The members of this parish have got used to it,” said Father Pierangelo Motta.

    Catholics entering and leaving churches usually dip their hands into fonts full of holy water — which has been blessed by a priest — and make the sign of the cross.

    But fear of contracting the H1N1 virus has led many in Italy — where some 15 people have died of swine flu — not to dip their hands in the communal water font.

    “It’s great,” said worshipper Marta Caimm as she entered the church. “Thanks to this we are not worried about catching swine flu. It is the right thing for the times,” she said.

    Luciano Marabese, who invented the dispenser, said he did so out of concern that fear of swine flu was eroding traditions.

    And he is now blessing himself all the way to the bank.

    “After all the news that some churches, like Milan’s cathedral, were suspending the use of holy water fonts as a measure against swine flu, demands for my invention shot to the stars. I have received orders from all over the world,” he said.

    (Reporting by Eleanor Biles; Writing by Philip Pullella; Editing by Louise Ireland)

    http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5AA3NN20091111?feedType=nl&feedName=usoddlyenough

  • 5 Horrific Ways Your Brain Can Turn On You Without Warning.

    Horrible.Please read on.
    Story:
    We hate for you to find out this way, but you should know that your brain hates you. Even if you’re perfectly healthy and have never had a mental illness or dropped acid, it can mess with you in a terrifying variety of ways.

    And some of them are downright diabolical
    What Is It?

    It’s a typical night. You’ve just set aside your glass of scotch and are reclining in bed next to yet another nameless groupie you’ve just had acrobatic sex with. You click off the lamp and are drifting off to sleep…

    And a fucking bomb goes off in your head. There’s a horrendous noise, like someone is firing a handgun from somewhere inside your skull and then a flash of light …

    http://www.cracked.com/article/199_5-horrific-ways-your-brain-can-turn-you-without-warning/

  • Exposure to chemical in plastic linked to sexual dysfunction.

    When shall we learn to respect Nature?
    By using all these products which are basically unnecessary,if yu think deeply,we spilur Health and Nature.
    Story:
    Exposure to high levels of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical compound found in baby bottles and plastic containers, increases the risk of
    male sexual dysfunction, according to a new study.

    Previous animal studies had shown that BPA had a negative impact on mice and rats, but the study published Wednesday in the journal Human Reproduction was the first to examine its effects on male reproductive systems in humans.

    The study examined 634 workers in factories in China over a five year period, comparing workers in facilities that produced BPA with those in facilities where the chemical compound was not present.

    “The study found that the workers in the BPA facilities had quadruple the risk of erectile dysfunction, and seven times more risk of ejaculation difficulty,” the study said.

    The levels of BPA in the Chinese facilities were 50 times higher than what an American male faces in US factories, and it was not known what the effect of lower levels of exposure might be.

    “This study raises the question: Is there a safe level for BPA exposure, and what is that level?” said De-Kun Li, an epidemiologist with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif, and a lead author of the study.

    “More studies like this, which examine the effect of BPA on humans, are critically needed to help establish prevention strategies and regulatory policies,” he said.

    BPA is used in the production of polycarbonated plastics and epoxy resins found in baby bottles, plastic containers, the lining of cans used for food and beverages, and in dental sealants.

    A 2008 study by toxicologists at the National Institutes for Health found that the substance could affect the development of the brains of fetuses and newborns.

    In March, the six biggest US manufacturers of baby bottles decided to stop selling products containing BPA in the United States, and US lawmakers introduced legislation to ban food containers with BPA.

    French health minister Roselyne Bachelot, nevertheless, said in March that reliable studies had concluded that baby bottles made with BPA were harmless.
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Exposure-to-chemical-in-plastic-linked-to-sexual-dysfunction/articleshow/5223375.cms

  • Dementia drug use ‘killing many’-BBC.

    Anti depressants,mood elevators and sleeping tablets also affect the Brain,Heart and kidney.
    Beware.
    Story:
    Needless use of anti-psychotic drugs is widespread in dementia care and contributes to the death of many patients, an official review suggests.

    About 180,000 patients a year are given the drugs in care homes, hospitals and their own homes to manage aggression.

    But the expert review – commissioned by ministers – said the treatment was unnecessary in nearly 150,000 cases and was linked to 1,800 deaths.

    The government in England has agreed to take steps to reduce use of the drugs.

    These include:

    Improving access to other types of therapy, such as counselling
    Better monitoring of prescribing practices
    Guidance for families explaining what they can do if they are worried about drug use
    Specialist training in dementia for health and social care staff
    Appointment of a new national director for dementia to oversee the measures
    The review – and the government pledge to take action – comes after long-running concerns about the use of anti-psychotic drugs.

    Over the past 30 years, the NHS has increasingly turned to the treatment, which was originally aimed at people with schizophrenia, as it has struggled to cope with the rise in people with dementia.

    ‘Different mindset’

    There are currently 700,000 people in the UK with the condition, but this is expected to rise to one million in the next 10 years because of the ageing population.

    The review, led by King’s College London expert Professor Sube Banerjee, accepted that for some people anti-psychotic drugs would be necessary.

    But it said they should be used only for a maximum of three months and when the person represented a risk to themselves or others.

    Professor Banerjee estimated that of the 180,000 people given the drugs each year, only 36,000 benefited.

    He said health and social care services needed to develop a “different mindset”.

    Allan Trueman’s father “became a totally different person”
    He believes if the steps the government has agreed to are followed, anti-psychotic drug use could be reduced by two-thirds within three years.

    Care services minister Phil Hope agreed action was needed.

    “We know there are situations where anti-psychotic drug use is necessary – we’re not calling for a ban, but we do want to see a significant reduction in use.”

    Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said the long-awaited review was a welcome recognition of the scale of the problem.

    He added: “This goes beyond quality of care. It is a fundamental rights issue.

    “Our members tell us of enormous worry and distress over what is happening to their loved ones.”

    The Royal College of GPs – in most cases the drugs are prescribed by family doctors – admitted the situation was “unacceptable”.

    President Dr Steve Field said: “People deserve much better.”

    While the review was commissioned by the government in England, ministers elsewhere in the UK have agreed to study the recommendations.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8356423.stm

  • Heart Diaease/Strokes-Risk factors and prevention -BBC

    Useful Information.
    Story:
    Heart disease and stroke may be inherited, but often they are the result of lifestyle. Changing eating, exercise and smoking habits can play a significant part in prevention.

    Risk Factors

    Age

    Four out of five people who die from coronary heart disease are aged 65 or older. The risk of stroke doubles with each decade after the age of 55.

    Sex

    Men are more at risk than women and have attacks earlier in life. But death rates from heart disease and stroke for women are twice as high as those for all forms of cancer.

    The risk for women increases as they approach menopause and continues to rise a they get older, possibly because of the loss of the natural hormone oestrogen.

    Family history (heredity)

    Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to suffer from the disease. Some races, such as Afro-Caribbeans, are more prone to coronary heart disease and stroke than others.

    Smoking

    Smokers are twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as non-smokers, and they are more likely to die as a result. Smoking is also linked to increased risk of stroke.

    The nicotine and carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke damages the cardiovascular system. Passive smoking may also be a danger.

    Women who smoke and take the oral contraceptive pill are at high risk of heart disease and stroke.

    Alcohol

    Drinking an average of more than one drink a day for women or more than two drinks a day for men increases the risk of heart disease and stroke because of the effect on blood pressure, weight and levels of triglycerides – a type of fat carried in the blood.

    Binge drinking is particularly dangerous.

    Drug abuse

    The use of certain drugs, particularly cocaine and those taken intravenously, has been linked to heart disease and stroke.

    Cocaine can cause abnormal heartbeat, which can be fatal, while heroin and opiates can cause lung failure. Injecting drugs can cause an infection of the heart or blood vessels.

    Cholesterol

    The higher the blood cholesterol level, the higher the risk of coronary heart disease, particularly if it is combined with any of the other risk factors. Diet is one cause of high cholesterol – others are age, sex and family history.

    High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or “bad cholesterol”, are dangerous, while high levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or “good cholesterol” lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.

    Blood pressure

    High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing it to enlarge and weaken over time. When combined with obesity, smoking, high cholesterol or diabetes, the risk increases several times.

    High blood pressure can be a problem in women who are pregnant or are taking high-dose types of oral contraceptive pill.

    Physical inactivity

    Failure to exercise is a cause of coronary heart disease as physical activity helps control cholesterol levels, diabetes and, in some cases, can help lower blood pressure.

    Obesity

    People who are overweight are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke, even if they have none of the other risk factors.

    Excess weight causes extra strain on the heart, influences blood pressure, cholesterol and levels of other blood fats – including triglycerides – and increases the risk of developing diabetes.

    Diabetes

    The condition seriously increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even if glucose levels are under control. More than 80% of diabetes sufferers die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.

    Previous medical history

    People who have had a previous heart attack or stroke are more likely than others to suffer further events.

    Stress

    Some links have been made between stress and coronary artery disease. This could be because it encourages people to eat more, start smoking or smoke more than they would otherwise have done.

    Prevention

    Education

    Educating people about the risk factors of heart disease and stroke and attempting to persuade them to adopt a healthier lifestyle can have an impact on the number of people dying from heart disease and stroke.

    Encouraging people to stop smoking, drink less, eat better and exercise regularly are particularly important.

    Doctors can help by asking about smoking habits and encouraging patients to use nicotine replacement treatment, such as nicotine patches.

    Regular monitoring

    People should also have regular blood pressure readings, height and weight monitoring, and tests for cholesterol levels.

    Those with high levels should be encouraged to improve their diet and can be treated for poor cholesterol levels with drugs – usually, statins or niacins.

    The American Heart Association recommends that blood pressure should be no more than 140 over 90 Hg.

    The association recommends a series of diets, with no more than 30% of calories coming in the form of fats, and limiting calories in the form of saturated fats to between 7 and 10%.

    People at risk should have less than 200mg dietary cholesterol per day.

    Sodium intake, most commonly found in salt, should also be controlled.

    Exercise

    Between three and four sessions of moderate intensity exercise, lasting around 30 minutes a time, are recommended as the minimum for physical activity each week.

    Ideal body mass index (BMI) – calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in metres – is between 21 and 25, and the preferable waist circumference is no more than 88cm (35 inches) for women, 102cm (40 inches) for men.

    For people already suffering from cardiovascular disease, the use of aspirin or warfarin, both of which prevent blood clotting, is recommended.

    Other drugs, including ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors to manage blood pressure, beta-blockers to control angina, heart rhythm or blood pressure, and oestrogen replacement in post-menopausal women, may also be used to prevent repeat incidents.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/g-i/764037.stm