Archive for the Health Information category
History of vaccinations
Today we consider vaccinations to be a part of our lives. It is taken for granted that everyone has been vaccinated as children against a multitude of diseases. However there was a time when disease was considered to part of everyday life. Through human history, disease has brought about death and destruction. There have been innumerable epidemics and even endemics which have taken a toll on human life. If one looks at the history of vaccinations, one sees that it has only been the last 200 hundred years or so in which we have had vaccinations, and even then, in the modern age, vaccinations have gained momentum only after the 1950′s beginning with the eradication of small pox. When one studies the history of vaccinations you see that crude immunization practices were already underway in China in India as early as 1000 AD. There are records describing how powdered small pox scabs were inhaled by non-infected persons to develop immunity to the disease. Of course, the history of vaccinations credits Jenner with the first vaccination for small pox in 1796. As the history of vaccinations goes, it was a pioneering event, one that has helped develop vaccinations not only for small pox, but for several other serious diseases. All through the history of vaccinations, scientists and researchers have been struggling to develop vaccines for more and more diseases. They have been successful in creating vaccines for some of the more harmful diseases. In the 19th century itself, several vaccinations that are used today were developed. These include Cholera (1879), Rabies (1882), Typhoid fever (1896), and Bubonic plague (1897). In the 20th century, there was a flood of discoveries and all the vaccinations we use today were developed including tetanus, diphtheria, mumps, measles, hepatitis, yellow fever influenza, polio etc. In the history of vaccinations the eradication of small pox is a pivotal event. This was a serious and widespread disease that had ravaged human life for several thousand years. In the 1960′s the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a systematic campaign against smallpox, and aimed for its eradication with the use of the small pox vaccination that had been developed nearly 200 years earlier. This goal was achieved in 1977 and small pox became the first human disease to have been successfully eradicated. Vaccinations today are more sophisticated and effective than anytime in the history of vaccinations in terms of sterility and success rates. The history of vaccinations shows us the important public health tool vaccinations are and how they can be used to fight diseases. This is why even today we are constantly developing new vaccines against diseases like Malaria and Herpes so that this generation too has a small part to play in the long and successful history of vaccinations.
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Vaccination side effects
With our increasing understanding of diseases and preventive measures, it is not surprising that vaccinations are considered to be an absolute necessity for everyone. The first things that schools check when taking new admissions is whether the child has been immunized. Travellers need to get the required immunizations for the country which they are visiting. Vaccinations are the easiest way of providing protection to a large number of people in the shortest and probably easiest wat. Right from the eradication of small pox, to the campaigns against polio, vaccinations have served their purpose well. Children today are given almost all the necessary vaccinations before they are 2-3 years of age. New parents are always jittery about getting their child vaccinated. There are several reasons for this, the biggest being worry about vaccination side effects. In the simplest form, a vaccination is a foreign organism, either dead or alive, which is being introduced into the body. One will definitely be worried about the vaccination side effects due to the invasion of the body with a foreign object. However, as years of observations and studies have shown, vaccination side effects aren’t very serious or long lasting. Parents do not have to really worry about the vaccination side effects on their child. In general most vaccination side effects are common for all vaccines. These side effects include a soreness or stiffness at the point of injection, where the vaccine is inserted. There is also the possibility of a slight rash on the skin where the vaccine was injected. Most children develop a slight fever after a vaccination, but this the body’s reaction to the weakened bacteria or virus that has been injected. Another vaccination side effect is increased irritability and crankiness in children. Parents have to be ready for this because the small child is fighting a sore arm or thigh along with a slight fever and the body adjusting to the vaccine. More vaccination side effects would include headaches, fatigue, vomiting, crying However all the above are temporary vaccination side effects and do not last for more than a day or two. Specific vaccination side effects may or may not appear. If they do, it is extremely rare, and would mostly be an allergic reaction to the components in the vaccination. Those with an egg allergy could have a vaccination side effect because some vaccines are cultured in eggs. Thus, even though there are a few temporary vaccination side effects, and parents might probably have a tiring time managing the children for a day or two post vaccinations the benefits far outweigh the vaccination side effects and ensure a life time of good health.
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Working with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is one mood disorder that can disrupt every aspect of a person’s life. In most cases, if untreated, bipolar disorder can impair normal functioning as well as affect relationships. This significant impact is primarily due to the erratic moods which are characteristic of bipolar disorder. The patient swings between polar opposites – mania and depression. Each mood episode lasts for abnormal amounts of time and affects behaviour in typical ways. A person with bipolar disorder experiencing mania will feel euphoric, overly optimistic, indulge in reckless behaviour and impulsive acts, have decreased sleep, rapid speech and thought, and in severe cases, hallucinations and delusions. In depression the person is overly tired and lethargic, pessimistic, irritable, aggressive, increased sleep, lowered self worth and in severe cases, suicidal ideation. Considering the range of behaviours that bipolar disorder signifies, one of the areas of functioning most affected is the work area. Working with bipolar disorder gets very difficult due to these moods shifts and the varied behaviour. One of the chief impediments of working with bipolar disorder is regulating a normal sleep cycle. In a manic episode the person feels no need to sleep and over extended periods of time, this can erode the ability to maintain concentration and attention. This is often a liability at work as it may impair reasoning and normal functioning. Working with bipolar disorder is also tricky because in a manic episode the person feels very optimistic and becomes very impulsive. This is likely to result in rash decisions which may be badly chosen – not something employers are looking for. Apart from this there is the likelihood of engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour which is cause for legal action. In severe cases, working with bipolar disorder becomes worse because the person experiences hallucinations and delusion. These are psychotic symptoms and can make the person feel persecuted at work, make decisions that ‘someone’ told them to, see or hear things etc. These are not behaviours any employer is looking for. Working with bipolar disorder during a depressive episode is also equally taxing. To begin with the person is extremely lethargic and tired and coming to work itself may be a burden. This may lead to several absences which may not be appreciated. In a depressive episode the person is also more irritable and aggressive and can lead to difficulties with work colleagues. Working with bipolar disorder in a depressive episode also gets difficult because self worth is very low and there is indecisiveness which leads to low confidence. Finally, if the above behaviours were not difficult to handle in a work place, in severe cases there is the likelihood of hallucinations, delusions and suicidal ideations. All these can be extremely volatile and make it difficult for the person to function normally.
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Labile hypertension
People having blood pressure may have noticed constant changes repeatedly owing to several factors. The blood pressure that keeps on fluctuating are prone to emotional stress. Such people may experience symptoms such as headaches as well as ringing in the ears. The treatment given for blood pressure is not always right and effective as doctors prescribe anti-anxiety medications and people undergoing stressful situations are expected to monitor their blood pressure regularly. Labile hypertension means ever changing hypertension. In such hypertension, the blood pressure varies more than usual. The blood pressure may reach 119/76 mm Hg in the morning hours and 170/104 mm Hg in the evening at 5 pm. Such fluctuations spring due to several sources such as anxiety attacks, stress overload and over caffeine. The hypertension episodes turn to be dangerous and have to be treated. Monitoring the blood pressure over a period of time helps in determining the appropriate strategy of treatment. You may experience labile hypertension during transition and this can range to weeks to years as well. Similarly, even the blood pressure may be normal to high. You can notice the changes as your doctor checks. Even during the checkup, you can notice constant changes in the blood pressure and this is known as labile hypertension. As per medical dictionaries labile is referred to as changing. The blood pressure that is constant can be prescribed medications, but the labile hypertension scales up and goes down frequently making prescribing medications also difficult. Hypertension causes due to blood flowing through arteries against the artery walls and this pressure forces the blood to exert pressure on the artery walls. This is the position that the labile hypertension is higher. The muscles become relaxed of the artery walls when the blood flowing pressure is lowered thereby making labile hypertension lower. Such labile hypertensions are hard to manage and to maintain the control level because the pressure should be constantly monitored and the medicines have to be adjusted to the labile hypertension giving it a particular period of time. The patient has to take care in controlling the labile hypertension. This a patient can do by controlling the drinking as well as eating items. Labile hypertension can be controlled provided the patient and the doctor speak and understand the situation identically. This is important for the patient to know about his labile hypertension and other types of blood pressure. This is essential as it prevents the patient from facing serious problems. Labile hypertension is a deadly killer if you fail to realize.
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Essential oils for herpes
Before understanding the importance and benefits of essential oils for herpes it is important to know the intensity of herpes. Herpes is a viral disease caused by Herpes simplex viruses. HSV type 1 and HSV -2 are two types that are mainly responsible for the infections. Earlier, the experts were of the notion that HSV-1 is exclusive for oral herpes and HSV-2 is for genital herpes. But modern study has proved the idea wrong. This is no longer a thumb rule for several factors. The disease has different categories depending on the site where the disorders mainly occur. Oral herpes infect face and mouth. These are called cold sore. With the infection of herpes one experiences distinct medical disorders. The mostly affected areas are face and mouth (orofacial herpes), genitalia (genital herpes), or hands (herpes whitlow). If eyes or nervous systems get infected with the virus, the situation turns the most adverse. It may then damage the brain. Those who have weaker immune system can be victims of the infection like newborn babies, AIDS patients and transplant recipients. Modern study has been able to prove the healing power of essential oils for herpes and has been successful in applying the oil to cure diseases. This is used as alternate medicine to cure several diseases and herpes is not an exception. The patients often depend on the treatment for quick recovery. Why should you trust Essential Oils for your treatment? * Essential oils for herpes are 100% natural. The sources are organic – free from all harmful pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. The oils provide you the quality you require. * The oils work gently on the infected areas with a soothing effect. As a result you get a painless fast recovery. * The oils not only cure the present infections but also ensure that it doesn’t harm you in future. It controls the infection in future. Some Of The Recommended Natural Treatments: In general treatment, they say that genital herpes do not have medication to cure completely. But with these alternative medicines and natural treatment one can manage the infection in a better way. Some of the recommended essential oils for herpes for the disease are as follows: * Tea Tree Oil * Prunella Vulgaris Herb * Lemon Balm * Red Marine Algae * Aloe Vera * Eucalyptus With all these treatments, have warm baths 3-4 times a day and keep the infected areas dry, if needed with a hair dryer. Always wear loose cotton under garments if you are suffering from genital infections.
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Loving someone with bipolar disorder
Having a loved one be ill is very difficult, especially if it is a mental disorder which is still something of a stigma in society. It’s worse when you have to continue providing unconditional love to that person who might be behaving inappropriately, erratically and might be ill-treating you, all as a result of the illness. A typical mental disorder which makes the person extremely difficult to handle is Bipolar disorder which is characterised by extreme and sudden mood changes which fluctuate between mania and depression. Loving someone with bipolar disorder is not an easy task. A person with bipolar disorder has a range of symptoms that are extreme and include feeling euphoric, indomitable, extremely optimistic, hyper-active, rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased sleep, extreme pessimism, constant worry, lethargy, increased irritability, low attention and easy distractibility and in severe cases, hallucinations and delusions and suicidal ideation. It is extremely taxing loving someone with bipolar disorder because their behaviour is extreme and very often socially inappropriate. For example the person might engage in unsuitable sexual behaviours during a manic episode or he could be extremely lethargic and suicidal. In loving someone with bipolar disorder the most important thing you need to remember is that the person has no control over his actions or emotions. It is a mental disorder which the person does not have any power over. Loving someone with bipolar disorder can get easier if you consider the condition just like any other illness and not be humiliated about it. Feeling embarrassed or ashamed of someone you love who has bipolar disorder will not help him feel any better. Instead it could worsen the situation by acting as a trigger for depression. When you are loving someone with bipolar disorder, an important feature is building trust with the patient. This is important because having your trust will help the person have someone to turn to and talk to. The person also needs to trust you not to institutionalise them or give up on them. This again, is very important if the person is to be benefited in any way by the treatments provided for bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, building trust is not always easy for someone who has bipolar disorder, especially in severe cases. This is because the person may be experiencing hallucinations or delusions which may lead to extreme mistrust or the person may be so depressed that he may not be in a position to develop a feeling of trust. In such a situation it becomes very difficult to love someone with bipolar disorder because they don’t seem to respond to your efforts. However you have to continue trying and keep the lines of communication open. This way you allow the person to talk to you about what he is feeling and thinking.
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Statistics of blood donation in every age group
Blood donation is one of the processes that are being carried out in many places and a person can voluntarily agree for blood donation intentionally. The blood donated is useful in transfusions and it can also be separated as single components. The blood donation is of many kinds. The developed countries have donors who are unpaid and donate blood to replenish the supply. In poor countries, blood donation is done on demand as the blood ties are restricted. This may include cash or incentives but for money or even an altruistic act. The world health organization in 1997 set a target that the blood donors should be unpaid volunteers. The 2006, statistics showed that nearly 49 out of 124 countries have accomplished this target. It is a need for all the potential donors to donate blood. Minors can donate with their parental consent. Some countries demand the ethnic background before accepting the blood from the donor. Potential donors are examined physically and a medical history is also checked. The blood screening is done to verify for other diseases that can get transmitted during blood donations such as AIDS and viral hepatitis. Blood donation is safe and easy. Some may experience pain when the blood is drawn and some may faint. The frequency depends of various factors from days to month. The collection of blood may be done manually or using automated equipments. The donor donating blood can vary from days to months depending on the component of the blood as well as the country laws. Blood components exhibit short shelf life and hence steady supply of piling blood is a perennial problem. Donating blood is certainly a noble cause and a gesture filling with happiness. This humanitarian act tides the barriers and is the best way to express the care and love for fellow beings. The Voluntary donors are intensely motivated and do it as a self-less service. The identity is also hidden. Camps are being conducted and many donors come to donate blood. The Replacement donors are the donors donate blood during emergency regardless of the blood group. This is common in developing countries. They donate blood and in turn acquire the required blood group. Professional donors exchange for cash or incentives at frequent intervals. However, it is essential to ensure that the donors are fit medically to donate their blood. They are examined to ascertain that they are free from any serious disease. The hemoglobin levels are also tested. Anemic donors are not accepted. The BP, pulse rate and the temperature is evaluated before donating. Similarly, elderly people and pregnant women are discouraged from blood donation.
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