health (5)
Arthritis, which literally means "inflammation of a joint", is a disabling disease and more and more people the world over are suffering from it.
It is mostly the knees, hands, shoulders, elbows, hips, fingers or balls of the feet that are affected.
The origins of arthritis are unknown. The main symptoms are pain when getting up in the morning and when in motion. It can be aggravated by exercise and relieved by rest. It seems mobility and muscle strengthening exercises are working to counter it.
Recognizable symptoms are joint stiffness, commonly referred to as morning stiffness, difficulty in moving and a grating sensation, warmth, redness and or joint swelling which results in deformity as a result of cartilage loss among others.
Arthritis can be treated but not cured. It is not infectious but can be inherited from one generation to the next through genes. Osteoarthritis is the commonest joint disease and its prevalence increases with age so that more than 50% of older people over 65 years of age have clinical evidence of Osteoarthritis. Worldwide, Osteoarthritis affects approximately 40 million people.
Osteoarthritis, which means the wearing down of the surface of a joint, is a `local disease' which is confined to a few specific joints in the body. The cartilage `cushion' deteriorates resulting in pain and loss of movement as bone rubs against bone, and the bones underneath becoming rough. The joint normally heals itself but in very few cases results in severe damage and deformity.
Another type of arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, is in about six percent of all reported cases. It affects the entire body resulting in general fatigue and formation of lumps under the skin called "rheumatoid nodules". This kind of arthritis afflicts three times more women than men and has adverse effects on the health of a person
Arthritis can be managed through a range of treatments from keeping a balance between rest and exercise, the gentle use of the afflicted joint, and drug therapy, mainly for relief of pain and to increase mobility.
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Are you serious about your health and healthy eating habits? Do your social life and commitments force you to attend cocktail parties? Do not worry you can survive it:
• Do not arrive hungry. Eat a healthy snack before you depart for the party or drink a few glasses of water.
• Opt for high-protein snacks instead of sugary ones, as they will satisfy your hunger for longer.
• Eat as many high-fibre foods as possible before heading for the sweets table – raw veggies contain sufficient fibre to fill you up. You will be less tempted if you are full.
• Eat slowly and chew thoroughly – give your body a chance to register that you had enough.
• Avoid hanging around the food tables.
• Fill up on liquids such as water or light drinks.
• Don't eat just because everyone else is – if you are not hungry but don't want to appear rude nibble on the crudités.
Remember, to be health conscious does not mean to sacrifice your social life. You can still enjoy your parties.
Mental health problems are common in societies throughout the world, and many families are affected at some point or another. This could be as a result of a mental or neurological disorder, severe stress or from alcohol and drug related problems. The World Health Organization estimates that mental and behavioral disorders account for 12% of the global burden of disease.
Mental health problems can happen to anyone. These problems could include depression, epilepsy, intellectual disability or alcohol dependence. Severe mental health problems often have serious economic consequences, which in turn lead to under- or unemployment and poverty. Not only is poverty related to mental health problems but so too are other social problems such as racism and violence against women.
Globally 5, 8% of men and 9, 5% of women will experience depressive symptoms in a 12-month period. Unipolar depression is currently the fourth leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years. It is estimated that by 2020 the burden of depression will increase and become the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life years. Currently the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years is lower respiratory infections followed by perinatal conditions.
We also know that depression and suicides are related. Many people try to kill themselves because they are depressed. Socio-economic stresses, including unemployment, also correlate with the suicide rate as does alcohol abuse and easy access to toxic substances and firearms.
The overall prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders amongst children ranges between 10 and 20% and developing and developed countries appear to have surprisingly similar rates.
It is believed that one of the greatest obstacles to preventing mental illness is ignorance.
Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are real, treatable health conditions. We need to break down the barriers of stigma in our communities, and motivate people to seek help should they feel too stressed or suspect a mental disorder.
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The need to understand mental health.
A stroke can be described as a brain attack. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain gets blocked or bursts. The part of the brain that is starved of oxygen is then damaged.
Strokes are not always fatal. Some strokes are very slight. Others can cause serious disability. Once you have had one stroke, either a light or a severe one, you have a very good chance of suffering another stroke.
The risk of having a stroke is higher as you get older or if one or more of your family members are suffering from disease of the heart and blood vessels, diabetes or high blood pressure. There are also high risk factors such as smoking tobacco products, being overweight, drinking excessive alcohol and not taking steps to correct blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
The most common cause of a stroke is a blood clot (thrombosis). This is related to hardening of the arteries as a result of old age, smoking, excessive alcohol intake or various infections. Another cause is a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries. This may block the arteries. A third cause is the bursting of a blood vessel in the brain. This normally results in a severe stroke.
The signs and symptoms of a stroke are weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on one or both sides of the body, sudden blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes or suddenly experiencing double vision, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, dizziness, loss of balance or any unexplained fall or unsteadiness while walking, headaches (usually severe and sudden) or unexplained changes in the pattern of headaches.
Other signs include: Disorientation - you are not aware of where you are, restlessness, decreased ability to pay attention, difficulty in understanding what people say, forgetfulness, emotional difficulties, such as anxiety or mood swings.
How can a stroke be prevented?
Prevention involves targeting those risks that can be changed:
* Get treatment for hypertension, diabetes and other diseases.
* Stop smoking and alcohol misuse.
* Seek treatment for severe infections, like tuberculosis.
* Loose weight (if you are overweight) and increase exercise levels.
* Adopt a healthy diet.
A stroke must always be treated as an emergency - even a minor stroke. Take the person to a doctor or hospital immediately.
Major illnesses including heart disease, certain cancers and the prevalence of strokes could be drastically reduced if we just eat more fruit and vegetables.
Research suggests that the daily increased consumption of fruit and vegetables could reduce the burden of heart disease by 31%, certain cancers by between 12% and 20% and strokes by up to 19%.
'Eat vegetables and fruit for better health' is the key message of health practitioners and nutritionists who seek to educate people of the major health benefits of adopting a diet that includes at least five daily servings of fruit and vegetables.
It's recommended that this be supported by drinking lots of clean and safe water, at least 8 glasses a day, eating and using fats and salt sparingly and adopting an active, healthy lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise.
It is a well-documented fact that people who eats a diet high in vegetables and fruit are less likely to suffer from a wide range of illnesses and enjoy overall improved health. Low fruit and vegetable consumption contributes to micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) deficiency, which increases the risk of mortality and morbidity.
It is probably not surprising then that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified low fruit and vegetable intake as one of the top 10 risk factors contributing to mortality.
* provide vitamins and minerals (for proper body functioning)
* provide dietary fiber (important for normal bowel functioning)
* are a great source of vitamin A (helps protect against disease)
* contain powerful photochemical (powerhouses of vital nutrients).
People are encouraged to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, a concept that has been endorsed by the WHO.
