The weather phenomenon known as El Nino could lead to an increase in dengue fever cases in southeast Asia. In Malaysia, dengue fever cases have surged passed 50,000 with 144 deaths recorded in six months.
MSN News
CNA
healthmap.org
Monday
Dengue Epidemic - the need to maintain vigilance
The weather phenomenon known as El Nino could lead to an increase in dengue fever cases in southeast Asia. In Malaysia, dengue fever cases have surged passed 50,000 with 144 deaths recorded in six months.
MSN News
CNA
healthmap.org
Tuesday
Going For a Colonoscopy (One)
My last colonoscopy or endoscopy was done about 7 years ago. The doctor found a couple of non-malign polyps. She recommended that I repeat the procedure in two years' time. Well, it wasn't a very pleasant experience and I took my time with that.
An endoscopy is a safe and effective way to examine the linings of our internal organs such as stomach, colon , lung and bile duct. For colonoscopy, it is usually done to screen for inflammation of the large intestine, polyps, haemorrhoids or piles and colorectal cancer. So it is an essential medical screen at some point in our lives. It is normally recommended for adults who are 50 years old. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends colonoscopy as one of the screening test for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years. Colonoscopy is the most effective screening test as it examine the entire colon and rectum. Sigmoidoscopy only examine the rectum and part of the colon.
It involves a long, thin and flexible tube with a video camera attached to the end. It is also able to remove polyps although I am not sure how. It seems that there are other tools other than the camera. The procedure is done under sedation as a day surgery. Around 2 - 4 hours including registration and discharge. The procedure itself is not unpleasant. It is the bowel preparation prior that is uncomfortable.
Four days prior, I had to start on a special diet. I could not eat vegetable and fruits. I could only eat rice, fish and chicken. One day prior, my diet became stricter. Breakfast was just clear tea and plain bread. No milk and jam allowed. Lunch and dinner was chicken or fish porridge. My colonoscopy was planned for 2pm. On the day of the colonoscopy, I had water and plain bread for breakfast. No eating was allowed after 7am.
I had to drink one litre of laxative between 7am and 8am. I took my time doing so because it is a yucky and salty solution. I immediately regretted drinking too much water for breakfast. At 7 am, I drank about 200ml and became absorbed with web browsing. At 7.50am, I realised that I still have a whole flask of solution to finish in 10 minutes. Between 8am and 9am, I was supposed to drank the second litre of the same solution. Drinking the solution is nauseating to the point of vomiting. The solution I drank is labelled colonic lavage solution but I think it is actually soap. There were suds when I rinsed the flask later. The manufacturer recommends drinking 3 - 4 litres for complete lavage. Thank goodness, the doctor only prescribed two litres. Well, now you know why it is unpleasant. But that was just the beginning. Anyway, I forced myself to gulp down the solution. It didn't helped that the flask had a plastic odour from being kept in storage for too long.
Reference
Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines (n.d.). Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/guidelines.htm
An endoscopy is a safe and effective way to examine the linings of our internal organs such as stomach, colon , lung and bile duct. For colonoscopy, it is usually done to screen for inflammation of the large intestine, polyps, haemorrhoids or piles and colorectal cancer. So it is an essential medical screen at some point in our lives. It is normally recommended for adults who are 50 years old. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends colonoscopy as one of the screening test for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years. Colonoscopy is the most effective screening test as it examine the entire colon and rectum. Sigmoidoscopy only examine the rectum and part of the colon.
It involves a long, thin and flexible tube with a video camera attached to the end. It is also able to remove polyps although I am not sure how. It seems that there are other tools other than the camera. The procedure is done under sedation as a day surgery. Around 2 - 4 hours including registration and discharge. The procedure itself is not unpleasant. It is the bowel preparation prior that is uncomfortable.
Four days prior, I had to start on a special diet. I could not eat vegetable and fruits. I could only eat rice, fish and chicken. One day prior, my diet became stricter. Breakfast was just clear tea and plain bread. No milk and jam allowed. Lunch and dinner was chicken or fish porridge. My colonoscopy was planned for 2pm. On the day of the colonoscopy, I had water and plain bread for breakfast. No eating was allowed after 7am.
I had to drink one litre of laxative between 7am and 8am. I took my time doing so because it is a yucky and salty solution. I immediately regretted drinking too much water for breakfast. At 7 am, I drank about 200ml and became absorbed with web browsing. At 7.50am, I realised that I still have a whole flask of solution to finish in 10 minutes. Between 8am and 9am, I was supposed to drank the second litre of the same solution. Drinking the solution is nauseating to the point of vomiting. The solution I drank is labelled colonic lavage solution but I think it is actually soap. There were suds when I rinsed the flask later. The manufacturer recommends drinking 3 - 4 litres for complete lavage. Thank goodness, the doctor only prescribed two litres. Well, now you know why it is unpleasant. But that was just the beginning. Anyway, I forced myself to gulp down the solution. It didn't helped that the flask had a plastic odour from being kept in storage for too long.
Reference
Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines (n.d.). Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/guidelines.htm
Monday
Should Young Children Run for Exercise?
Preschoolers definitely should not be taking part in endurance races. Of course, running is part of growing and play. It is important for mastering basic body movement, coordination and balance, build strength and confidence.
So how long should a child run? Some experts suggest a duration of no more than an hour for children under the age of nine, three to four times a week, but limited to no more than three kilometers.
Parents should remember that running for children should be fun - a sort of free, unstructured play rather than a long race. If you just want to encourage your child to develop a good habit of exercising frequently, you just have to set a good example yourself - there is no need to enforce a strict running regime.
So how long should a child run? Some experts suggest a duration of no more than an hour for children under the age of nine, three to four times a week, but limited to no more than three kilometers.
Parents should remember that running for children should be fun - a sort of free, unstructured play rather than a long race. If you just want to encourage your child to develop a good habit of exercising frequently, you just have to set a good example yourself - there is no need to enforce a strict running regime.
Saturday
What You Should Know : Signs of Stroke
Stroke is loss of brain function due to shortage of oxygen when blood supply is cut off. General awareness of stroke is low although it is a common of medical problem for people aged 65 and older. Less than half of the respondents in a recent study could name at least one symptom of stroke.
Symptoms of stroke include weakness in the arms of legs on one side, weakness on one side of the face, droop mouth at one corner and slurring of speech. It is important to know these symptoms of stroke so that medical attention can be given to a person who has suffered a stroke.
Previous studies have shown that stroke victims took an average of 20 hours before they received medical attention at a hospital. Delayed treatment will deprive patients of the benefits of some rescue therapies and can lead to other complications. The problem with stroke is that unlike a heart attack, one do not get acute pain. Stroke victims would generally try to self-medicate or take a rest rather than go to a hospital for a check up.
One effective emergency treatment for stroke is Thrombolysis. This entails the breaking down of the blood clot in the brain that is causing the stroke. However, this must be done within four and a half hour of the onset of a stroke. That is why early medical attention is important. Other treatments are available for late detection cases but early medical treatment will provide the most options for a better outcome.
So patients with ailments that prep-dispose them to stroke should pay attention to stroke knowledge. At risk groups include patient with diabetes and hypertension or high blood pressure. Their caregivers should also be educated to look out for one-sided weakness.
Symptoms of stroke include weakness in the arms of legs on one side, weakness on one side of the face, droop mouth at one corner and slurring of speech. It is important to know these symptoms of stroke so that medical attention can be given to a person who has suffered a stroke.
Previous studies have shown that stroke victims took an average of 20 hours before they received medical attention at a hospital. Delayed treatment will deprive patients of the benefits of some rescue therapies and can lead to other complications. The problem with stroke is that unlike a heart attack, one do not get acute pain. Stroke victims would generally try to self-medicate or take a rest rather than go to a hospital for a check up.
One effective emergency treatment for stroke is Thrombolysis. This entails the breaking down of the blood clot in the brain that is causing the stroke. However, this must be done within four and a half hour of the onset of a stroke. That is why early medical attention is important. Other treatments are available for late detection cases but early medical treatment will provide the most options for a better outcome.
So patients with ailments that prep-dispose them to stroke should pay attention to stroke knowledge. At risk groups include patient with diabetes and hypertension or high blood pressure. Their caregivers should also be educated to look out for one-sided weakness.
Friday
Facts on Radiation Risk from Contaminated Food
The fall out from Japan's nuclear crisis is getting into our food chain. The radioactive material leaking from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, are scattered by the sea and wind. It has been detected in the nearby farms. Radioactive material fell onto the surface of vegetables such as spinach and the pastures where dairy cows graze. Japanese government inspectors detected high levels of radioactive iodine and cesium exceeding legal limits in spinach, milk and other produce from Tohoku and Kanto. The prefectures of Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma had halted shipments of spinach, kakina greens and milk. Some countries, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, United States and Singapore have restricted the import of Japanese food products.
So what exactly is the risk from radiation contaminated food?
Ingesting radioactive material will leads to internal radiation exposure. For dairy products such as milk, the Nuclear Safety Commission has determined that 300 becquerel of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 200 becquerel of radioactive cesium per kilogram are safe for consumption. For vegetables, acceptable levels is 2,000 becquerel and 500 becquerel, respectively. These numerical standards for food and water are determined based on the premise of the radioactive material being ingested for a year. Based on this, the level of the radioactive substance absorbed by the body and the extent of health risk are calculated. The safety limits are then set at a level to avoid the health risks.
Low doses of radiation may not cause cancer. It is no worse than taking an X-ray or flying long distance. Past cases of radiation leaks have shown that nearly half of the people exposed to 3,000 millisieverts would die 60 days if they do not receive medical treatment.
At the levels that have been detected in food, people can still safely consume the food until safer alternatives are secured without facing health risks, according to the Japanese authority.So what exactly is the risk from radiation contaminated food?
Ingesting radioactive material will leads to internal radiation exposure. For dairy products such as milk, the Nuclear Safety Commission has determined that 300 becquerel of radioactive iodine per kilogram and 200 becquerel of radioactive cesium per kilogram are safe for consumption. For vegetables, acceptable levels is 2,000 becquerel and 500 becquerel, respectively. These numerical standards for food and water are determined based on the premise of the radioactive material being ingested for a year. Based on this, the level of the radioactive substance absorbed by the body and the extent of health risk are calculated. The safety limits are then set at a level to avoid the health risks.
Low doses of radiation may not cause cancer. It is no worse than taking an X-ray or flying long distance. Past cases of radiation leaks have shown that nearly half of the people exposed to 3,000 millisieverts would die 60 days if they do not receive medical treatment.
However, this is only based on studies on A-bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. About 28,000 people who were exposed to levels of up to 100 millisieverts were monitored over a 40-year period. About 4,400 of them developed cancer. This figure, however, is less than 2 percent--81 people--higher than the average for people who have not been exposed. Even nuclear experts are divided over the correlation between exposure to less than 100 millisieverts of radiation and higher risks of cancer. Hence, the risk line is set at 100 millisieverts.
In day-to-day life, people are exposed to about 2.4 millisieverts of naturally occurring radiation every year. No upper limits are set on exposure to radiation for medical treatments, such as CT scans, because benefits outweigh the risks. However, as long as there is uncertainty about the effects, people should avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation.
Mental Resilience - What Does It Take?
Mental resilience is the ability, capacity and will to recover to normalcy after a crisis. Everybody will experience crisis and setback in life. If one cannot bounce back from something bad, one can be trapped in a cycle of depression, self-doubt and disappointments. So it is important to have mental resilience. Mental resilience must also be complemented by a measure of physical resilience. It helps to be fit and healthy but mental toughness and resilience is the key.
Especially when we age, we will experience immeasurable grief - the loss of loved ones, inability to have a child, loss of direction in life, regrets and disappointment in lack of achievements. Some people can be so troubled by life's problems that they become depressed.
If we think about it, such misery is self-imposed. Another person in the same situation may react differently. So we have a choice. We can trap ourselves in constant gloom or we can accept what we cannot change and move on. Focus on the positive rather than the negative.
The Secret of Happiness
I used to tell anybody who would listen, that the secret of life is everybody is unhappy because everybody thinks that everybody else is having a better life.
So what is the secret of happiness. To me, it is to be in a constant state of satisfaction. Think about it, what makes you elate? Getting your first bicycle? Getting good result in your lest favourite school subject? By now, you would realise that both material gain and self improvement only provide short-lived joy. Well, the secret of happiness is to constantly pursue that source of short-lived happiness.
I want to focus on self-improvement rather than material gain. Frankly, it is easier to do. Material gain also desensitize us. After a while, we need more and more to achieve any level of satisfaction. You will be on top of the world if you are a child and you earn your first $10 working hard to clean somebody's yard. Fast forward years later in your life, would you be equally happy if you earn $10 for an hour's work as an adult?
Self-improvement on the other hand, can be as simple as reading a book, learning to bake or just climbing a hill. You challenge yourself and push the boundaries.
It should not be a self-absorbed pursuit. We also attain happiness by being useful to society and others. So helping other people, especially those in need, is essential for the pursuit of happiness. Ultimately, it is about making sense and finding meaning in what we so in this life.
So happiness is not reaching a destination of permanent bliss. It is the journey itself and how you live that journey. There will be setback. Mental resilience is recognising that it is a temporary setback and moving on with what needs to be done.
Especially when we age, we will experience immeasurable grief - the loss of loved ones, inability to have a child, loss of direction in life, regrets and disappointment in lack of achievements. Some people can be so troubled by life's problems that they become depressed.
If we think about it, such misery is self-imposed. Another person in the same situation may react differently. So we have a choice. We can trap ourselves in constant gloom or we can accept what we cannot change and move on. Focus on the positive rather than the negative.
The Secret of Happiness
I used to tell anybody who would listen, that the secret of life is everybody is unhappy because everybody thinks that everybody else is having a better life.
So what is the secret of happiness. To me, it is to be in a constant state of satisfaction. Think about it, what makes you elate? Getting your first bicycle? Getting good result in your lest favourite school subject? By now, you would realise that both material gain and self improvement only provide short-lived joy. Well, the secret of happiness is to constantly pursue that source of short-lived happiness.
I want to focus on self-improvement rather than material gain. Frankly, it is easier to do. Material gain also desensitize us. After a while, we need more and more to achieve any level of satisfaction. You will be on top of the world if you are a child and you earn your first $10 working hard to clean somebody's yard. Fast forward years later in your life, would you be equally happy if you earn $10 for an hour's work as an adult?
Self-improvement on the other hand, can be as simple as reading a book, learning to bake or just climbing a hill. You challenge yourself and push the boundaries.
It should not be a self-absorbed pursuit. We also attain happiness by being useful to society and others. So helping other people, especially those in need, is essential for the pursuit of happiness. Ultimately, it is about making sense and finding meaning in what we so in this life.
So happiness is not reaching a destination of permanent bliss. It is the journey itself and how you live that journey. There will be setback. Mental resilience is recognising that it is a temporary setback and moving on with what needs to be done.
Tuesday
Understanding Teenager Depression
Teenagers nowadays faced tremendous pressure. Teenagers need to handle the hormonal changes of puberty, deal with peer pressures, major exams and at the same time, figure out about the transition to adult in their social roles. These demands can be overwhelming for some teenagers and can cause depression.
There are some early warning signs of depression that parents should know about. These include:
A family history of depression, could indicate a predisposition for teenager depression. External factors such as traumatic experiences, relationship problems, exam and study stress could increase the risk of depression.
A key factor in resisting depression is resilience. Learning how to cope with life's stress and the availability of social support are important for increasing a teen's resilience to depression.
The two main treatment for depression is psychotherapy and medication. A combination of psychotherapy and medication has been shown to be most effective. However, in the case of young patients, psychotherapy is preferred.
Psychotherapy aims to increase mental resilience by helping the teen to think more positively and learn how to deal with his or her problems.
When necessary, in severe cases, antidepressant medications may protect against the effects of stress factor. Antidepressant drugs can also correct biochemical imbalances in the brain which may be causing depression.
Early treatment of teenager depression offers the best hope of recovery. So do not mistake teenage depression for teen angst or teenager attitude problems. It is important to seek professional advice if you suspect that your child needs help for depression.
If you have to deal with a teenager who has depression, show your support in the following manner:
There are some early warning signs of depression that parents should know about. These include:
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of appetite
- Sleeping disorder
- Deliberate self-harm
- Lack of energy
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Deteriorating school results
- Problems paying attention during class
- Recurring complaints of physical problems, such as headaches and stomach aches
- Unusual aggression or reckless behavior
A family history of depression, could indicate a predisposition for teenager depression. External factors such as traumatic experiences, relationship problems, exam and study stress could increase the risk of depression.
A key factor in resisting depression is resilience. Learning how to cope with life's stress and the availability of social support are important for increasing a teen's resilience to depression.
The two main treatment for depression is psychotherapy and medication. A combination of psychotherapy and medication has been shown to be most effective. However, in the case of young patients, psychotherapy is preferred.
Psychotherapy aims to increase mental resilience by helping the teen to think more positively and learn how to deal with his or her problems.
When necessary, in severe cases, antidepressant medications may protect against the effects of stress factor. Antidepressant drugs can also correct biochemical imbalances in the brain which may be causing depression.
Early treatment of teenager depression offers the best hope of recovery. So do not mistake teenage depression for teen angst or teenager attitude problems. It is important to seek professional advice if you suspect that your child needs help for depression.
If you have to deal with a teenager who has depression, show your support in the following manner:
- Be patient. Do not apportion blame.
- Encourage your child to seek help from a doctor or counselor
- If your child is prescribed antidepressant medication, make sure that he or she takes the right dose regularly.
- Monitor your child closely. Watch for any mood changes for the worse. If your child starts talking about suicide, seek professional help immediately.
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