Mental health linked to longer Hospital stay in Cancer patients


Do you know that an individual’s mental health increases the likelihood of longer hospital stay and readmission? This was highlighted in a recent study among patients with advanced cancer. The researchers found that anxiety , depression symptoms, physical burdens and related emotional problems were associated with longer stay in the hospital.

http://www.healthx24.com/advanced-cancer-patients-physical-emotional-burdens-linked-lengthy-hospital-stays-readmissions/

How much physical activity does a child or adolescent need for optimal growth? Do you encourage your child to be physically active daily? Does this include both indoor and outdoor activities? If so, you are providing the right environment for healthy growth and development. According to the World Health Organization, up to 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016.

Do you know that over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016? This is preventable. And physical activity plays a key role in maintaining healthy weight.

http://www.healthx24.com/physical-activity-health-child-getting-enough-exercise-daily/

Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is one of the most common chronic yet treatable genetic disorders in Nigeria and several other parts of the world. Millions of those who encounter this disorder often have tales of woe and lamentation to tell.

But Alhaja Asiata Aduke Onikoyi-Laguda, widely acknowledged as the oldest person with SCD in the world, has proved that there is life beyond the disorder. Mama has had a fulfilled life regardless of the chronic disorder. The matriarch of the famous Onikoyi family of Isale Eko, turns 92 on the 1st of November 2017. She is healthy and full of life even as she remains a relentless fighter against the enervating illness.

http://www.healthx24.com/the-worlds-oldest-living-person-with-sickle-cell-disease-clocks-92-years/

What do you know about the belly button? What goes on behind it?

This article by Hannah Dahlen is a professor of midwifery at Western Sydney University, sheds more light on the navel or belly button.

The cord, and in particular the remaining belly button, has always been fascinating to humans and we still embark on some interesting traditions to celebrate and aid the physical separation of the umbilical cord.

Do you know that the umbilical cord is probably the baby’s first toy? They are sometimes caught on ultrasound playing around with it.

Recent scientific evidence has made us rethink how soon this should occur after birth, with evidence the baby can receive as much as another 80-100ml (almost a third of its total blood volume) if we just delay clamping and cutting the cord for three or more minutes after the birth.

Do you know that not only do babies get more blood this way but this extra blood volume has a positive impact on child development.

The umbilical cord forms very early on in pregnancy and basically gets longer due to the increasing baby movements until it reaches around 50-70cm. And babies who move a lot tend to have longer cords.

The umbilical cord is made up of one large vein and two smaller arteries. The vein carries the oxygen-filled blood from the mother to the baby. The arteries carry the oxygen-depleted blood and waste products from the baby back to the mother. The cord inserts into the placenta so it’s not directly connected to the mother’s circulation.

The placenta acts like a very sophisticated filtering system. In order to protect the blood vessels from compression while the baby moves about, or when it is being born, the cord is filled with a jellylike substance called Wharton’s jelly. Think of it as nature’s airbags. This is why most of the time when the cord is around a baby’s neck at birth (a common event) it’s not a problem.

At some point after the birth the cord ceases its important function of taking blood back and forth between the mother and baby. Once cut and clamped it withers away into a firm black stump over the first week of life before falling off and leaving that much adored belly button.

People joke about belly button fluff and some decorate this part of their body with piercings and jewels. But is more going on beneath this shriveled reminder of our beginning on this earth?

After the baby is born and takes that first breath, blood is shunted to the lungs, which have been reasonably quiet up to that point as they have been filled with fluid. An amazing switch happens in the circulation with the two arteries constricting to stop the flow of blood to the placenta and then the vein slowly collapsing.

Internally the veins and arteries in the cord close up and form ligaments, which are tough connective tissues. These ligaments divide up the liver into sections and remain attached to the inside of the belly button.

Do you know that it takes 1-2weeks for the cord to fall off? It is important it remains clean and dry during this period.

The part of the umbilical arteries closest to the belly button degenerates into ligaments that serve no real purpose but the more internal part becomes part of the circulatory system and is found in the pelvis supplying blood to parts of the bladder, ureters and ductus deferens (a tube sperm moves through in males).

Rarely a canal remains that connects the bladder to the belly button. This leads to urine leaking out of the belly button and this is an abnormality that would need to be surgically repaired following birth.

Ever noticed that when you stick a finger in your belly button you can feel tingling around your bladder and pelvic area? Now you know why. What was once a highway of blood from mother to baby turns into ligaments and some continued connection to blood supply deep inside your body.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/belly-button/

In several countries, instant noodles are packed with seasonings containing high levels of sodium. To reduce your sodium consumption, consider replacing it with spices that improve the taste and reduce need for salt.


What are some common spices you should consider:

Chili pepper
Ground Cinnamon
Ginger
Tumeric
Sage
Oregano
Thyme
Most of these spices can immensely boost flavour and contain ingredients that have been found to provide additional health benefits.


http://www.healthx24.com/can-eating-spicy-foods-affect-your-health/

Do you enjoy eating spicy foods? If so, this may mean lower salt consumption and better heart health according to a recent report by American Heart Association.

This is based on the findings of a study titled “Enjoyment of Spicy Flavor Enhances Central Salty-Taste Perception and Reduces Salt Intake and Blood Pressure” published in the peer reviewed journal, Hypertension.

Previously, a pilot study found that trace amounts of capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their pungent smell, enhanced the perception of food being salty,” said senior study author Zhiming Zhu, M.D., professor and director of the Department of Hypertension and Endocrinology at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China. “We wanted to test whether this effect would also reduce salt consumption.”

The study enrolled 606 Chinese adults and determined their preferences for salty and spicy flavors. Researchers then linked those preferences to blood pressure.

They found that, compared to those who least enjoyed spicy foods, participants with a high spicy preference:

had 8 mm Hg lower systolic (upper) and 5mm Hg lower diastolic (bottom) blood pressure numbers; and consumed less salt than participants who had a low spicy preference.

Researchers also used imaging techniques to look at two regions of the participants’ brains — the insula and orbitofrontal cortex — known to be involved in salty taste. They found that the areas stimulated by salt and spice overlapped, and that spice further increased brain activity in areas activated by salt. Authors said that this increased activity likely makes people more sensitive to salt so that they can enjoy food with less of it.

All participants of this study are from China, so further research is needed to determine if these findings may be generalized to other countries.

“If you add some spices to your cooking, you can cook food that tastes good without using as much salt,” Zhu said. “Yes, habit and preference matter when it comes to spicy food, but even a small, gradual increase in spices in your food may have a health benefit.”

Salt and sodium are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. More than 75 percent of the sodium Americans eat comes from processed, prepackaged and restaurant foods — not from the salt shaker. The American Heart Association recommends no more than one teaspoon of salt (2,300 mg sodium) or less per day.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/can-eating-spicy-foods-affect-your-health/

hould I drive while taking prescription drugs? That is a question everyone should ask his health care professional according to anew study.

Many are familiar with the mantra “Don’t drink and drive” due to massive campaigns highlighting the risk of road traffic injuries while driving under influence. However, relatively few a know that certain prescription drugs may also be associated with similar risks. This was the finding of a large scale study evaluating the knowledge of prescription drugs among drivers in the United States.

The study was published October,2017 in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and drugs.

Nearly 20 percent of people in the study reported recent use of a prescription medication with the potential for impairment, but not all said they were aware that the medication could affect their driving, despite the potential for receiving warnings from their doctor, their pharmacist, or the medication label itself.

The percentages of those who said they had received a warning from one of those sources varied by type of medication: 86 percent for sedatives, 85 percent for narcotics, 58 percent for stimulants, and 63 percent for antidepressants.

In the report, researchers used data from the 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey, which asked drivers randomly selected at 60 sites across the United States questions about drug use, including prescription drugs. A total of 7,405 drivers completed the prescription drug portion of the survey.

Although it is unclear if the study participants actually received the warnings, or if they did receive the warnings but didn’t retain the information, the authors say this scenario is in need of further research.

“We were very surprised that our study was the first we could find on this topic,” says lead researcher Robin Pollini, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Injury Control Research Center at West Virginia University. “It’s a pretty understudied area, and prescription drugs are a growing concern.”

In this study, the type of medication in question was also related to drivers’ perceptions about their impairment risk. They were most likely to think that sleep aids were the most likely to affect safe driving, followed by morphine/codeine, other amphetamines, and muscle relaxants. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications were viewed as least likely to affect driving risk. Sleep aids were also viewed as the most likely to cause an accident or result in criminal charges, and ADHD medications were viewed as the least likely.

Pollini says she hopes this research will lead to increased warnings provided by doctors and pharmacists, as well as improved labeling for medications that are likely to impair driving. She says it’s not yet clear what the optimum messaging would be. But she is encouraged by the fact that patients who are prescribed these medications have several points at which they could receive this important information.

“The vast majority of drivers who are recent users of prescription drugs that have the potential for impairment have come into contact with a physician, a pharmacist, and a medication label,” says Pollini. “There’s an opportunity here that’s not being leveraged: to provide people with accurate information about what risks are associated with those drugs. People can then make informed decisions about whether they’re able to drive.”

A related commentary by Benedikt Fischer, Ph.D., of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues expresses concern that increased warnings and interventions may be insufficient to reduce the chances of driving while impaired. These authors point to the issue of alcohol-impaired driving to suggest that only deterrence-based measures — such as roadside testing, license suspensions, and increased insurance premiums — have the potential to change behavior.


Source:http://www.healthx24.com/is-it-safe-to-drive-while-taking-prescription-drugs/

The flu spreads widely towards the end of the year. In view of these, it is important to know how to prevent flu. Do you? Check out this beautiful infographic highlighting five ways of preventing flu.


Check here >>> http://www.healthx24.com/health-tips-how-to-prevent-the-flu/

Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is one of the most common chronic yet treatable genetic disorders in Nigeria and several other parts of the world. Millions of those who encounter this disorder often have tales of woe and lamentation to tell.

But Alhaja Asiata Aduke Onikoyi-Laguda, widely acknowledged as the oldest person with SCD in the world, has proved that there is life beyond the disorder. Mama has had a fulfilled life regardless of the chronic disorder. The matriarch of the famous Onikoyi family of Isale Eko, turns 92 on the 1st of November 2017. She is healthy and full of life even as she remains a relentless fighter against the enervating illness.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/the-worlds-oldest-living-person-with-sickle-cell-disease-clocks-92-years/?preview=true

As we enter the cold season, sore throats are starting to rear their ugly heads. But should we be drinking hot drinks or sucking on ice pops to sooth the pain?Whether you are experiencing the common cold or the flu, a sore throat is likely going to be your companion for a few days. We are no strangers to the nuisance of sore throats in the Medical News Today editorial office.

But our opinions are divided between those who have grown up with the belief that hot drinks are the best remedy for sore throats and those who think that ice pops or ice cream are the go-to solution.

So, what is the best option?

Cold stops the pain
In a 2013 article, Prof. Eccles explained the biology in more detail. Ice pops lower the temperature of the nerve endings in the throat, thereby reducing the pain signals. This method also activates a receptor called transient receptor potential melastin 8, which results in pain relief.

But what is the verdict on hot drinks?

Hot drinks have ‘best effect’
Prof. Eccles explained to MNT what happens when we drink fluids while experiencing a sore throat. “Drinks are good for sore throat,” he said, “as they promote salivation and help lubricate the throat.”

What makes hot drinks so special, though? “Hot drinks are more tasty than cool drinks and promote more salivation and the sensory impact may provide a greater placebo effect in soothing pain,” he explained.

Prof. Eccles tested this in a study of 30 patients, who reported that a hot fruit drink gave them immediate and long-lasting relief from their sore throat.

“Hot sweet drinks may work by increasing the levels of opioid pain killers in the pain areas of the brain,” added Prof. Eccles.

“Hot [tasty] drinks have the best effect in soothing [a] sore throat.”

Prof. Ron Eccles



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/are-hot-drinks-or-ice-pops-better-for-sore-throat/?preview=true

What are the common triggers?

Do you know what triggers cold sores? Recognizing these triggers could help you reduce the frequency. What are some of the common cold sore triggers? These include:

Foods high in arginine ( a type of amino acid) such as peanuts, rice, and chocolate.
stress
an illness or surgery
lack of sleep
sun exposure or wind
injury to the skin
hormonal changes
Medications eg birth control pills
Low level of immunity

What can you do to reduce the spread of cold sores?



Avoid touching, scratching, or picking at cold sores. This is because the virus clings to the hands and spread to the eyes and other people. This can lead to serious complications such as blindness.
Do you wash your hands frequently? This can help keep the virus off the hands, reducing the risk of spreading it to others.
Avoid sharing drinks, utensils, lip products, toothpaste, towels, or any items that might touch the mouth, especially when a sore is present.
Avoid skin-to-skin contact with others when cold sores are present. This includes kissing, sexual contact, and contact sports.
What can you do to avoid cold sores? Eat a healthful diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly. This helps you to boost your immunity. Learn to manage your stress and stay away from potential triggers.


http://www.healthx24.com/what-you-should-know-about-cold-sores/

Have you ever been embarrassed by cold sores or fever blisters that appear on the lips and around the mouth? What can you do to prevent or manage them better? Consider some frequently asked questions about cold sores.

What are cold sores or fever blisters?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This is usually spread through casual kissing, sharing utensils or drinks, and by touching the face. This can occur even if there is no sore because the virus may be in the saliva too.

Do you know that many children and babies are unintentionally exposed to the cold sore virus when adults kiss them or touch their face? In a recent study in Jos, 8 out of 10 children had the herpes simplex virus by the age of 6 years.

Unfortunately, once a person gets HSV, they will have it for life as the virus stays in the body. However it only becomes active when exposed to certain triggers.

What are some of the early warning signs?

Tingling, burning, or itching may be felt around the lips for several hours or a day before the cold sore appears. This is usually the best time to take action by starting preventive treatment.

Are there some over-the-counter products or natural remedies that may help shorten the duration of cold sores? Yes. Some have found the following home remedies or medicines useful.

Dabbing the spot with alcohol and hydrogen peroxide may help dry out the sore and speed up healing. However, do not use if it causes more pain or irritation.
Topical creams that soothe or contain antibiotics may be useful.
Ice or cold packs may relive you of discomfort.
Dab on a water-based zinc ointment. It helps dry out the sores so they can heal faster, and may also boost the immune system.
Try lemon balm. Make a tea of dried lemon balm leaves and apply it to sores with a cotton ball.
Avoid salty, spicy, and sour foods, because they aggravate the raw nerves in the sores.
Without treatment, the sore crusts and slowly disappear over 7 to 10 days.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/what-you-should-know-about-cold-sores/

What forms of physical activities are appropriate for your child?

For Babies-This should start before the child starts crawling (when they naturally become more active!)

Reaching and grasping,
Pulling and pushing,
Moving their head, body and limbs
For Toddlers- They should have about 3 hours of activity daily. This should include both light and energetic activities.

Standing up
Moving around
Rolling and playing
Skipping
Hopping
Running
Jumping
Climbing frame
Riding a bike
Playing in water
Chasing games
Ball games
Most of these activities are suitable for children under five years too. They can also include dancing, gymnastics,sports,swimming and running.


Therefore, encourage your child to participate in activities that are age-appropriate, enjoyable and offer variety! Just make sure your child or adolescent includes both light and energetic activities daily for healthy mental, emotional and physical development.


http://www.healthx24.com/physical-activity-health-child-getting-enough-exercise-daily/

How much physical activity does a child or adolescent need for optimal growth? Do you encourage your child to be physically active daily? Does this include both indoor and outdoor activities? If so, you are providing the right environment for healthy growth and development. According to the World Health Organization, up to 41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016.

Do you know that over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016? This is preventable. And physical activity plays a key role in maintaining healthy weight.

What are some of the amazing benefits of physical activity?

Healthy bones, muscles and joints
Healthy heart and lungs
Better coordination and movement control
Maintain a healthy body weight
Do you know that physical activity also boosts a child’s grades in school? Check out the infographic below:



According to experts, children and adolescents need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, many activities keep children sedentary or inactive. Playing video games, watching TV, travelling by car, bus or train or schooling in an environment without playgrounds for long periods are not healthy for a child’s. These should be avoided as much as possible. Rather than encourage play under supervision, some day care centres or creche facilities strongly discourage physical activities. They sometimes compel the kids to sleep, lie down, sit still or watch TV for long periods.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/physical-activity-health-child-getting-enough-exercise-daily/

Do you know that an individual’s mental health increases the likelihood of longer hospital stay and readmission? This was highlighted in a recent study among patients with advanced cancer. The researchers found that anxiety , depression symptoms, physical burdens and related emotional problems were associated with longer stay in the hospital.

New research indicates that hospitalized patients with advanced cancer experience many physical and psychological symptoms, and that patients dealing with a higher burden of these symptoms have longer hospital stays and a greater risk for unplanned hospital readmissions. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings highlight the critical need to develop and test interventions to lessen these patients’ symptoms.

Patients with advanced cancer often experience frequent and prolonged hospitalizations for reasons that have not been fully explored. To investigate, Ryan Nipp, MD, MPH, of Massachusetts General Hospital and his colleagues collected self-reported physical and psychological symptoms from 1036 patients with advanced cancer as they were being admitted for an unplanned hospitalization. The researchers examined the relationship between patients’ symptom burden, the duration of their hospital stay, and risk for later readmission.

More than half of patients reported moderate or severe fatigue, poor well-being, drowsiness, pain, and lack of appetite. Also, 29 percent and 28 percent of patients had depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Average hospital stay was 6.3 days and the readmission rate within 90 days of discharge was 43.1 percent. Physical symptoms, psychological distress, and depression symptoms were linked with longer hospital stays. Physical and anxiety symptoms were linked with a higher likelihood of readmission.

“We demonstrated that many hospitalized patients with advanced cancer experience an immense physical and psychological symptom burden,” said Dr. Nipp. “Interventions to identify and treat symptomatic patients hold great potential for improving patients’ experience with their illness, enhancing their quality of life, and reducing their health care utilization.”



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/advanced-cancer-patients-physical-emotional-burdens-linked-lengthy-hospital-stays-readmissions/

This infographic from CDC provides information on how you can watch your salt intake. High salt or sodium intake has been linked to serious medical conditions such as heart diseases. Do you know that you are more likely to consume more salt if you eat a lot of processed foods?

One form of processed food that has become a staple in many homes is instant noodles. Do you know that a pack of noodles comes with about 800mg of sodium which is half of your daily requirement? In a 2017 report, the average packet contributed 35% to 95% of the World Health Organization recommended daily salt intake of <5 g. Recently, a Nigerian physician suggested that frequent consumption of noodles may partly explain the rising numbers of young persons with high blood pressure. According to a recent study Seoul, frequent consumption of instant noodles was found to be associated with increased cardiometabolic risk factors among apparently healthy college students aged 18-29 years.



Check out the infographic below on how you can reduce salt intake>>> http://www.healthx24.com/salt-intake/

What are some effective home remedies?

Cool water- Running the burn under cool water soothes and prevent further injury. This should be done for about 20 minutes to cool the skin down. Remember to use cool NOT cold water.

Honey– This prevents infection, sterilizes the burn and soothes the skin. Its wound healing properties make it an important home remedy for burns.

Mild soap- This can be used to clean the burn and prevent infection. Do not scrub to prevent further injury to the skin.

Bandages- This may be needed to keep away dirt, flies and other contaminants. However, it is more useful if blisters rupture, exposing deeper layers of the skin. Minor burn cases are best left exposed. Remember to apply the bandage loosely to prevent further injury.

Creams and mositurizers containing aloe vera have also been reported to be useful.

Pain relievers– You can take over the counter medications to get relief from the tender, painful areas affected. NSAIDS like ibuprofen (taken with meals) are very helpful. You should also avoid exposure to sun, if possible.

What should you avoid?

It is important to avoid things that are ineffective or harmful. Some popular remedies that you should stay away from include:

Egg yolk or whites
Butter
Ice
Toothpaste
Oils such as vegetable or palm oil
If you are unsure of what to do, seek medical help immediately. When poorly managed, burns can lead to serious complications.



http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-treat-burns-scalds-home/

Have you ever experienced burn at some point in your life? If so, how was it treated? Adults are equally likely to experience burn in the home, outdoors, or at work. At home, it usually occurs during cooking or handling of hot liquids. Although, severe cases of burns or scalds require a visit to the hospital, sometimes it is possible to safely manage mild cases at home. What are some of the do’s and don’ts of treating burns at home?

Consider the following health tips:

If you cannot tell if a burn is minor or severe, you should see a doctor immediately. He is trained to determine if such could be managed at home or needs immediate medical attention. What are some of the factors that are usually considered? These include:

How much of the skin is involved-Is it limited to the outer layer or more?

How widespread the burn is-Does it involve a significant part of the entire body?

What areas are affected- For instance, the face and genitals usually require expert care

Burns are classified by doctors as first, second, third and fourth degree depending on these factors.

Generally, first degree burns which involve small areas and are limited to the outer layer of the skin can be treated at home. In first degree burns, you may see redness, minor swelling and tender skin. Nevertheless, seek help immediately if the following occurs:

Fever
The affected part becomes infected e.g. smelly, discharging
Areas affected are sensitive e.g. face, buttocks, groin and hands
Larges or multiple areas are involved
Burns are from chemicals or electric shocks



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-treat-burns-scalds-home/

Have you ever relied on information from social media, text messages and other informal sources during crisis? What impact could doing so have on you? If you rely only on text messages of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp during crisis, you may fall experience more stress and emotional problems according to a new study. The impact of one’s source of information on health during difficult times was the focus of a recent paper titled published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

According to the research team led by Roxane Cohen Silver, a professor of psychology and social behaviour,

“During a crisis situation, like a school shooting or lockdown, people often seek information to stay informed about what’s happening. However, when announcements and updates from official channels are lacking or irregular, there’s a high risk that rumors will fill the void. We wanted to explore how people coped with ambiguity during a campus lockdown and how a communications vacuum could lead to rumor generation, rumor transmission and distress.”

Days after an active shooter event on a large university campus, Silver and doctoral student Nickolas M. Jones surveyed almost 4,000 students who were caught in a two-hour lockdown and evaluated their information-seeking activities and levels of acute stress. Jones then used a big-data approach involving a large-scale analysis of social media content to code and examine rumors that appeared on Twitter spanning about five hours surrounding the lockdown.

When danger is imminent and official information is disseminated inconsistently, public anxiety is elevated. In the past, people relied on radio and television broadcasts to reduce uncertainty. Today social media channels are frequently the source of updates, and users are exposed to a greater number of conflicting speculations and unverified reports. Moreover, this exposure is associated with greater distress. Jones’ analysis of Twitter data showed that rumor generation and retweets were greatest during a 90-minute gap in communications from campus officials and were linked to heightened community-level negative emotion.

This paper highlights the need for individuals to cautiously filter the sources of any information that could potentially affect their health. During the Ebola crisis, misinformation about preventive measures contributed to loss of life and impeded recovery efforts too. More recently, misleading information from social media and other related sources threatened immunization efforts in Nigeria. Parents withdrew their wards away from school because of the fear of forced monkeypox vaccinations. Something fueled by social media and informal sources.
What can be done to reduce the impact of rumours?

Fact checking any information from social media and other unreliable sources help. Remember, the best time to do this is before passing on the information to others. Ask yourself: Is this true? is the information from a trusted source? Does it seem plausible?

“In any uncertain and dangerous situation, it’s important for officials to send frequent updates in real time and, when possible, include new details,” Jones said. “Emergency management and public safety officers should monitor social media channels to mitigate rumors as they arise. We believe that studying the data generated during these events can provide insight into understanding how communities attempt to deal with crises, which can be used to help better prepare for future events.”



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/rely-social-media-crisis/

What do you know about excessive sleep? Have you ever struggled to stay awake during the day? Do you you find yourself waking up after more than the usual hours of sleep?

In an unusual case of excessive sleep, a 7-year-old Kentucky boy fell into a deep, 11-day sleep according to WDRB reports.

Amy Shaw said she and her son Wyatt were at a wedding and Wyatt was the life of the party.

After the wedding, she expected the 7-year-old to be tired, but couldn’t have expected what happened next.

Wyatt fell asleep and wouldn’t wake up for 11 days. He has been a patient at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville since the first week of October.

Medication usually used to treat seizures woke the boy up, but doctors are still stumped, as every test on Wyatt came back clear.

“[The doctors] said, ‘We’ll probably never know, but we’re just going to treat him now with rehab to get him better,’” Shaw said.

Wyatt is having trouble walking and talking but seems to be improving, according to WDRB.

What you should know about excessive sleep

Excessive sleep also known as somnolence can be just as distressing as insomnia. If you ever struggled to stay aawake during the day, you would know that fighting sleepiness could be just as difficult as trying to overcome insomnia. According to one study, excessive daytime sleep may affect up to 18% of the population. Howver, the commonest cause of excessive daytime sleep is insufficient sleep which can easily been identified. In some cases, it may be diffciult to identify the probable cause of of excessive sleep. What are some of the possible causes of excessive sleep? Some of the common cause are:



Possible causes Examples
Sleep deprivation


Jet lag, fatigue
Fragmentation of sleep Restless leg syndrome, environmental causes, periodic limb movement
Central nervous system disorders Narcolepsy, Kleine-levine syndrome, menstrual-related sleep disorder, sleeping sickness
Neurological Epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis
Mental disorders Depression, Schizophrenia, anxiety
Other organic diseases Chronic liver failure, kidney failure, heart failure, obesity
Medications Alcohol, opiates, anti-epileptics


People suffering from EDS may self-medicate or use caffeine, exacerbating the problem. Caffeine increases sleep latency and reduces both total sleep time. According to one study, persons that drink 6 or more cups of tea daily are more likely to have

What can help you to manage excessive sleepiness?

Focus on making lifestyle changes that would improve your sleep. For example, do you have a bedtime routine? Is the bedroom free from noises that can interrupt your sleep? What is your level of physical activity? These are important components of sleep hygiene that should be maintained at all times.

It is when this fails that medications such as stimulants are needed.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/boy-slept-11-days-know-excessive-sleep/

Do you live in worm endemic areas?



Soil transmitted worms are very common. According to WHO, infections are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, with the greatest numbers occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, China and East Asia.



In Africa, all countries are at risk except Tunisia and Mauritius.

Why is deworming important?

Worms can have a huge impact on one’s well-being:

They affect the nutritional status of the people they infect in multiple ways. This results in anemia, vitamin deficiencies, loss of iron and protein. In some cases, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, malaise, weakness, impaired growth may occur. heavy infestation may result in intestinal obstruction which requires surgical intervention.



Who are those that need periodic treatment?

These are those that are at risk:



preschool children
school-age children
women of childbearing age (including pregnant women in the second and third trimesters and breastfeeding women)
adults in certain high-risk occupations such as tea-pickers or miners


In mid 2016, Egypt successfully dewormed 2 million children in its first national wide campaign. The WHO recommended medicines – albendazole (400 mg) and mebendazole (500 mg) – are effective, inexpensive and easy to administer by non-medical personnel (e.g. teachers).



http://www.healthx24.com/chidren-dewormed/

Should children be dewormed periodically? That is the focus of a new guidline recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to experts, periodic deworming programmes with a single-tablet treatment can drastically reduce the suffering of those infected with parasitic intestinal worms and protect the 1.5 billion people currently estimated to be at risk.

WHO has long promoted large-scale treatment for intestinal worms, but this is the first guideline approved by WHO’s Guidelines Review Committee confirming that deworming improves the health and nutrient uptake of heavily infected children.

“There is now global evidence-based consensus that periodic, large-scale deworming is the best way to reduce the suffering caused by intestinal worms,” says Dr Dirk Engels, Director of WHO’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Department.

“These new guidelines have been issued at a time when countries where intestinal worms are endemic are accelerating control programmes with the help of partners – to both treat people who are infected and those at risk of infection.”

Large-scale deworming programmes are facilitated by WHO, using medicines donated by pharmaceutical companies. WHO coordinates shipment of these medicines to countries requesting them. They are then distributed freely by national disease control programmes during mass treatment campaigns.

”Providing medicines to populations at risk reduces the intensity of intestinal helminth infections,” said Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development.

Deworming is not the only solution, however.

“Improving basic hygiene, sanitation, health education and providing access to safe drinking-water are also keys to resolving the health and nutritional problems caused by intestinal worms,” says Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development.



In 2015, just 39% of the global population had access to safe sanitation, while 71% could access safe water.

Treating school-age children for intestinal worms occurs in schools during “deworming days”. Teachers supervise the process, freeing up health workers to focus on other demands.

Many countries combine deworming activities for pre-school children with other health campaigns, such as vaccination, child health and vitamin supplementation days. This is a cost saving way of ensuring childre are dewormed.

“WHO aims to eliminate the harm caused by worm infections in children by 2020 by regularly treating at least 75% of the estimated 873 million children in areas where prevalence is high,” says Dr Antonio Montresor, who heads WHO’s global deworming programme. “In 2016, WHO Member States dewormed 63% of children requiring treatment. Now that the world has agreed standards for deworming at-risk populations, we are in a better position to reach this target.”



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/chidren-dewormed/

How can you tell if the medical treatment is a scam?

Many scammers make bogus claims. In other to grab the attention of unsuspecting individuals they often appear convincing, enthusiastic, using testimonies of non-existent or hired individuals to validate their claims. Some use photo-shopped images of individuals to sell weight loss products.

What statements should make you take to your heels whenever someone offers a health product that cures cancer?

Generally, look for statements like this

Scammer’s favourite Terms What you should know

CURE ALL! Does it seem plausible that two or completely unrelated diseases have same cure? One company claimed that the drug could cure syphilis, gonorrhoea, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, cancer, dementia, kidney dysfunction! Really?!


LOSE WEIGHT! No diet or exercise. If weight depends on how much we consume or burn, is it really possible to lose weight without changes to our diet or weight?


QUICK FIX! Unlike automobiles were changing parts solve problems quickly, it takes time for the body to adjust to changes initiated by any drugs.


ANCIENT REMEDY! Or a secret formula. If it is truly a secret, why is the person so eager to part with it for a few dollars?


ACT NOW! Limited availability. This creates a sense of urgency. If you look carefully, the scheme has been around for ages, only repackaging has been taking place
REVOLUTIONARY! Or new science. Really? And no doctor or scientist in your environment is aware of these findings. That’s very unlikely.
AMAZING RESULTS! Difficult to verify. Were the results objectively verified by third parties or only reported by interested or biased parties eg family members or friends. Know that people can readily give false testimonies.
MY TUMOR SHRUNK! Unproven testimonials. Shrunk from what size to what? As measured by whom? How many cases shrunk? With what side effects?


“ALL NATURAL.” Yes. But remember that some plants are natural but dangerous too. Some persons actually compound high doses of medicines, mix with herbs and still claim its ‘’natural’’
‘’SECRET FORMULA’’ Why would government agencies and health care providers keep secret a safe and effective solution to challenging medical problems. According to FDA, ‘’These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.’’


What should you do if you see any of these terms? Simply walk away! You may also take time to thoroughly investigate before using the products.

You could check with your doctor or ask around for those you know that have actually used the product.



http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-tell-medical-treatment-fraud-scam/

Do you know how to tell if a medical treatment is a fraud or scam? Have you observed an increase the number of persons, websites, radio or TV adverts claiming to have a cure for challenging health problems? Most of them target chronic medical problems like diabetes, sexual conditions and cancer. Being able to determine if a medical treatment is a fraud is a very important skill that can save lives. Have you acquired this skill?

In Nigeria, a young woman named Eunice who had fibroids (a benign tumour of the uterus) was told there were herbal medicines that could ‘melt’ the tumours instantly. She was told told that women with similar conditions were treated successfully in the past. Specific examples highlighting the success rates of the treatment were cited. She was even offered ‘money back guarantee.’’ On account of these assurances, she stopped seeing her doctors, refused surgery and pursued these ‘guaranteed‘ form of treatment. Unknowingly, she had fallen for a scam. Three years later after parting with about 500,000 naira (US$1500) all she had was a bigger tumour that was now complicated and life threatening. Clearly, she had fallen for a health fraud which is very common worldwide.

Certainly, these scammers target persons that desire easy solutions for difficult health problems. Unfortunately, many of these scammers evolve or repackage their products when caught. Some moved into developing countries when there is no more room for them in western countries.

In the United States, about 14 companies recently received a notice to take down bogus, unverified claims of ‘miraculous’ medical treatment they were making on their websites.

Nevertheless, there has been an increase in the number of websites and persons offering cures to cancer and other deadly diseases in recent times. Many often prey on desperate and unsuspecting individuals on social media.

Where can you find these health frauds?

You can find bogus health claims on social media platforms and websites. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp may be used to lure individuals to buy products that are not just ineffective but potentially dangerous. Some of the claims are endorsed by ‘doctors’ from foreign countries. You can also find the in radio and TV adverts, and newspapers too. In many countries, family members, friends and colleagues may unwittingly and with good intentions promote such health frauds without verifying the claims.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/health-tip-tell-medical-treatment-fraud-scam/

Can timely reminders or prompts help you make better health choices? Have you ever made an unhealthy decision despite knowing it could potentially affect you? For instance, do you sometimes consume sugary drinks or binge despite the potentially harmful consequences. What can you do to stay motivated in making the right health decisions? A new study has revealed that sometimes all we need to make the right health decision is a prompt or timely reminder.

The study was recently published in the article titled ‘’And She’s Buying a Stairway to Health: Signs and Participant Factors Influencing Stair Ascent at a Public Airport’’ in Journal of primary prevention.

How was the research conducted?



For 10 non-consecutive days, a team led by SDSU public health researchers Yael BenPorat, Brent Bishop and Melbourne Hovell posted one of five signs at the bottom of a set of stairs and escalators ascending to a sky bridge into San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1. The signs read:

-“Please reserve the escalator for those who need it.”

-“Don’t lose time, lose weight. Use the Stairs.”

-“Don’t waste Time, trim your Waistline. Use the Stairs.”

-“You’ll get more stares if you use the stairs.”

-“If you want to feel younger, act younger. Step it up! Use the stairs.”

On alternating days, they posted no signs at all. The researchers counted how many people took the stairs versus the escalator on the sign days and no-sign days. They also interviewed people atop the stairs about their health history and physical activity levels.

When one of the signs was present, about twice as many people took the stairs compared to a no-sign day, the researchers reported recently in the Journal of Primary Prevention. The most important finding: The prompts appeared to nudge both people who regularly exercised and those who never exercised, explained study coauthor Natasha Bliss, an alumna of the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health and current associate director of development for the university’s College of Professional studies and Fine Arts.

“We saw the effect even when people were carrying luggage, even when they were in a rush,” Bellettiere said. “It’s the first time this kind of effect has been shown at an airport.”

“These nudges are small environmental changes that can really help boost physical activity in the population,” Bellettiere said.

Why is this study relevant?

This study partly explains why some young people place their health at risk. The negative ‘prompts’ from peers, media and others may influence them to take risks such as speeding, binge drinking and drug use.The choices you make have a huge impact on your health. If what we see could improve those choices, making small changes in our environment may help you become more successful in leading healthier lives.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/timely-reminders-better-health-choices/

Dr Eric Benner, a neonatologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at Duke said:

“My hope is that right now, as women are planning to become pregnant and their doctors advise them to start taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid, their doctor also informs them if they get a fever, they should not hesitate to call and consider taking a fever reducer, specifically acetaminophen (paracetamol), which has been studied extensively and determined to be safe during the first trimester.

While doctors advise most women to avoid any drug during pregnancy, there may be benefits to taking acetaminophen to reduce fever. Women should discuss all risks and benefits with their doctors.”

‘’ The judicious use of (acetaminophen) for an acute problem such as fever is considered safe. These findings suggest we can reduce the risk of birth defects that otherwise could lead to serious health complications requiring surgery.

“I hope moving forward, we can educate more women about fever as a risk factor for birth defects and let them know they shouldn’t just tough it out if they develop a fever. They should ask their doctor before getting pregnant whether they may benefit from taking a fever-reducer such as acetaminophen in the event they develop a fever.”

Why is this information important?

In many developing countries, infectious diseases (resulting in fever) are quite common. For example, one study in Nigeria, one out of four women reported malaria associated fever. This suggests that fever occurs commonly in pregnancy. Some women are forced to choose between ‘enduring’ bouts of fever during the first trimester and taking medications (such as antimalarial or antibiotics) that may increase the risk of birth defects.

Some studies have suggested that the use of acetaminophen may also result in rare but serious complications. For instance, it was found to be associated with asthma, autism spectrum disorder and behavioral problems in childhood. However, it is still the safest reliever of pain and fever in pregnancy.



http://www.healthx24.com/can-women-ignore-cases-fever-early-pregnancy/

Can women ignore some cases of fever in early pregnancy or should all be manged with medications? That is sometimes a dilemma for pregnant women who endeavour to stay away from all medications during the first three months to reduce the risk of birth defects. Although, avoiding medications other than vitamins and folic acid during pregnancy is still recommended, a new study suggests that using medications to reduce fever should be an exception because fever irrespective of the cause may lead to serious congenital problems in the unborn child.

This is the finding of a new study published October 10, 2017 in the peer reviewed journal, Science Signaling. It was based on a study conducted in animal embryos.

According to the researchers, some birth defects could be prevented by lowering the mother’s fever with the use of acetaminophen during the first three months of pregnancy.

How was the research conducted?

To observe how fever impacts a developing fetus, the researchers studied zebrafish and chicken embryos. Among their discoveries, the scientists found that neural crest cells — cells that are critical building blocks for the heart, face and jaw — contain temperature-sensitive properties. “We found that these neural crest cells contain temperature-sensitive ion channels that typically are found in your sensory neurons,” Benner said. “They’re the channels that, when you stick your hand in a hot cup of water, tell your body the temperature has changed.”

The Duke researchers engineered a noninvasive magnet-based technology to create fever-like conditions in two specific temperature-sensitive ion channels called TRPV1 and TRPV4 in the neural crest cells involved in developing the heart and face. When those neural crest cells were subjected to conditions mimicking a transient fever, the embryos developed craniofacial irregularities and heart defects, including double outlet right ventricle, Tetralogy of Fallot and other outflow obstructions.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/can-women-ignore-cases-fever-early-pregnancy/

What are some of the warning signs of bullying?

More than half of children bullied fail to tell their parents or any reponsible adult. Therefore, you must look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs.

According to experts some signs that may point to a bullying problem are:

Unexplainable injuries-You may see bruises and injuries which the child may try to hide from you
Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness usually to avoid going to school
Changes in eating habits such as poor appetite or binge eating
Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem which makes it difficult for them to ask for help
Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide. This is often a cry for help which may lead to suicide if unrecognized.
It is not enough to tell a child to tough things out when bullied , there is a need to do more. According to one study, telling the student to solve the problem themselves, that the bullying wouldn’t happen if they acted differently, ignored them or telling them student to stop complaining one makes things worse.

What Can You do if your child is bullied?

Listening and spending time with the child,

Genuine personal interest such as checking to find out if the bullying stopped

Counseling on specific situations. This could involve using a buddy system, acting brave, walking away, avoiding locations or settings where the child may be at risk.



http://www.healthx24.com/child-bullying-enough/

Has your child ever been repeatedly exposed to unwanted aggressive behaviour at school or within your neigbourhood? If so, they may have been experienced bullying, which can have a serious impact on a child’s mental health. It is commoner than most people think. For instance, a review of 80 studies on bullying revealed that one out of three 12-18 year olds reported been bullied. Also, one and one out of six is exposed to cyberbullying.
Individuals who get targeted by bullies have no control over their looks, body shapes and race which are the commonest reasons for bullying.
According to a recent study, bullied children may have symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychotic-like experiences such as disorganized behaviour and persecutory ideas. According to the researchers, some of these mental health problems may persist for 2 years. However, most of the symptoms had resolved in five years.
The findings of the study were published earlier this week in JAMA Psychiatry.Dr. Pingault and his team made this conclusion from a large population study in England and Wales.
According to Dr Pingault,
“Our finding that this direct contribution [of bullying to negative mental health outcomes] dissipated or reduced over time, highlights the potential for resilience in children exposed to bullying. In addition to primary prevention aiming to stop exposure to bullying, secondary preventive interventions in children exposed to bullying should address prior vulnerabilities, such as mental health difficulties, if we are to achieve a long-term impact on mental health.”
How to tell if your child is bullied?

First, you should know that bullying involves more than physical assault, it may also be social or verbal. To tell if it is indeed bullying, look for two things: Is the other person using superior strength, influence r popularity to intimidate others? Does this occur repeatedly? Apart from hitting , kicking, shoving or damaging other people’s things, consider other forms of bullying such as:

Saying or writing mean things. This is verbal bullying which includes:

Teasing
Name-calling
Inappropriate sexual comments
Taunting
Threatening to cause harm
Hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. This is Social bullying which includes:

Leaving someone out on purpose
Telling other children not to be friends with someone
Spreading rumors about someone
Embarrassing someone in public
Bullying may also occur online. This is cyberbullying which may also have serious impact on victims. When a child is repeatedly exposed to some of these unpleasant experiences, it may have a long lasting impact on the child’s mental health, relationships and academic performance. In extreme cases, some teenagers have taken their lives on account of intense bullying.




Source:http://www.healthx24.com/child-bullying-enough/

Consider these suggestions for getting the best out of your vegetables

You are likely to get more nutrients from vegetables if you cook them. Cooking breaks down the tough outer layer of veggies and facilitates the release of its precious nutrients. According to Elaine Maggie, a dietician “cooking vegetables also helps increase the amount of minerals, like calcium, magnesium and iron, available to the body. ”

The best way to cook vegetables is steaming. According to a 2009 study, steaming had higher nutrient levels than boiling, microwaving and frying. Alternatively, consider microwaving since this requires little water. However, it is still possible to get vitamins that leak during boiling if you drink the soup.

Rather than frying, sauté using healthy oils to improve absorption of nutrients.

Be sure to consider these vegetable friendly methods to get the best out of it.



http://www.healthx24.com/getting-best-vegetables-new-study-shed-light/

Do you know how to get the best out of your vegetables? Have you ever wondered if you are really absorbing most of the nutrients in the veggies that you eat? Well, a new study suggests that adding a spoonful of oil may be all you need to make a difference. The study funded by Unilever suggests that increasing the oil content of vegetable based dishes and salad markedly increases absorption of vitamins and minerals in the gut.

The study was recently published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It included 12 college-age women who consumed salads with various levels of soybean oil, a common ingredient in commercial salad dressings. The subjects then had their blood tested to measure the absorption of nutrients. Women were chosen for the trial due to differences in the speed with which men and women metabolize the nutrients in question.

The results showed maximal nutrient absorption occurred at around 32 grams of oil, which was the highest amount studied, or a little more than two tablespoons. However, White said she found some variability among the subjects.

According to Dr White, the study’s lead author, “the best way to explain it would be to say that adding twice the amount of salad dressing leads to twice the nutrient absorption. For most people, the oil is going to benefit nutrient absorption,” she said. “The average trend, which was statistically significant, was for increased absorption.”

We all agree that vegetables are good for us. Generally, vegetables are prepared based on preferences for taste or convenience. But, do you know if you are really optimizing it nutrient potential?



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/getting-best-vegetables-new-study-shed-light/