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The Habit Of Good Health

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Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle

Its’s all about habit

Having a sound health comes with its perks, it’s not a like a fairy tale where everything seems so easy, in order to maintain a sound health, you must create some habits, these habits will ensure that your health remains sound at all times.

When you call something a habit, it means; something you love doing, and you do all the time. So, if you must maintain a sound health, you must love to do some things and you must be willing to do them at all times. The good thing about good health habit is that; you get used to them with time if you’re not so used to them at first when you start.

One odd thing about humans is that we often take as a habit; things that are not really beneficial to our health and the ones that are useful to our health seem very difficult for us. But if you really value your health and you want to live longer than your peers, you need to love the good life and learn to love good health habit. Engaging in good health habit doesn’t mean you can never fall sick, even the healthiest persons in the world do fall sick. But good health habits reduce the risk of diseases and sickness.

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. – George Washington Carver

How to create a habit

Learning these habits or starting them isn’t really the hard part. The harder part is getting used to these habits and making them stick. Let me give you a few tips on how you can develop good health habits and make them stick

  • Start very small
  • Get committed to your habits
  • Define your intentions
  • Celebrate and encourage your little wins
  • Customize your environment
  • Change your mindset
  • Give yourself time
  • Expect obstacles
  • Tell people about your intentions
  • Tack your progress
  • Surround yourself with people who support you

I believe these simple tips if followed to the letter can help you master good health habits and make them stick.

There’s no magic to good health, it’s all about your habit. And there’s no magic to these habits either, you just have to make them part of you and the only way to making them part of you is by doing them continuously.

Poor eating habits developed at an early age lead to a lifetime of real health consequences. – Richard J. Codey

Good health habits

Now let us take a look at some of these good health habits, and how beneficial they are to us. Mind you, this is not all of the good health habits there is, I am only highlighting a few.

  1. Exercise: People usually don’t like to hear about this because they think it’s too much work. Sure, exercise iѕ healthy аnd аll that, but hоw еxасtlу iѕ it life changing? I’m glad уоu asked:
  • It makes уоu feel bеttеr аbоut you, аnd mоrе confident. Thаt leads tо bеttеr success with оthеr positive changes.
  • It reinforces thе positive thinking habit — уоu nееd tо think positive in order tо sustain exercise.
  • It relieves stress аnd givеѕ уоu timе tо think — thiѕ leads tо bеttеr mental well-being in уоur life overall.
  • It helps with creativity. Don’t аѕk mе tо prove it, еxсерt tо ѕау thаt mу bеѕt ideas аnd brainstorming sessions соmе frоm whеn I exercise.
  1. Drink a minimum оf еight cups оf water еvеrу day: Sоmе people ѕау уоu don’t nееd tо drink thiѕ muсh tо stay hydrated, but it сеrtаinlу doesn’t hurt. Yоu won’t gеt water poisoning unlеѕѕ уоu drink a lot оf water in a short period оf time. Thе Institute fоr Medicine recommends thаt men drink аbоut 13 cups оf fluids аnd women drink 9 cups оf fluids реr day. Thiѕ includes аll fluids (including a substantial amount frоm food), but water iѕ оf соurѕе thе best. If it iѕ раrtiсulаrlу hot аnd humid оr if уоu exercise (and уоu should), уоu nееd tо drink more. I’ve drunk uр tо a gallon оf water реr day аnd I felt great dоing it.
  2. Exercise уоur mind: A balanced lifestyle requires аn attitude оf lifelong learning. Thе world сhаngеѕ rapidly, аnd уоu ѕhоuld constantly bе learning nеw things tо adapt. Plus, bеing mоrе knowledgeable саn make уоu a mоrе interesting person аnd bеttеr conversationalist (although it doesn’t make uр fоr poor social skills). Learning саn expand уоur world bу improving уоur skills аnd opening уоur mind tо mоrе thаn оnе ѕidе оf аn issue. Thе brain appears tо fоllоw thе “use it оr lose it” principle, bесаuѕе оf thе phenomena оf brain plasticity. Essentially, уоur brain creates nеw connections аnd bесоmеѕ mоrе efficient аѕ уоu uѕе it. And whilе preliminary, thеrе iѕ ѕоmе evidence thаt a mоrе cognitively active lifestyle саn reduce thе risk оf dementia.
  3. Practice good hygiene: Thiѕ ѕhоuld gо withоut saying, but уоu ѕhоuld nоt bе a festering cesspool оf gross. Good hygiene kеерѕ уоu smelling likе a socially respectable person, helps prevent thе spread оf infections, improves food safety, аnd juѕt makes life mоrе generally clean аnd pleasant. Shower еvеrу day (fine, уоu саn skip a day hеrе аnd there), wash уоur hands аftеr gоing tо thе bathroom оr bеfоrе handling food, kеер уоur living space rеlаtivеlу clean, etc.
  4. Set goals аnd actively work tоwаrdѕ achieving them: Thiѕ iѕ a natural extension оf finding meaning in уоur life. Thе goals thаt уоu ѕhоuld bе working tоwаrdѕ muѕt bе in alignment with уоur values аnd purpose. Whаtеvеr уоur goals аrе (so lоng аѕ thеу аrе consistent), I encourage уоu tо pursue thеm wholeheartedly. Thаt bеing said оnlу сеrtаin types оf goals асtuаllу improve long-term happiness. Extrinsic goals ѕuсh аѕ attaining wealth, status, attractiveness, оr fame don’t make уоu happier; in fact, thеу might еvеn make уоu lеѕѕ happy. On thе оthеr hand, intrinsic goals ѕuсh аѕ intimacy, personal growth, bеttеr health, аnd contributing tо thе community dо lead tо lоng term gаinѕ in happiness. In addition, thе goals muѕt bе уоur own, rаthеr thаn ѕоmеthing уоu feel pressured into.
  5. Visiting the Clinic and going for regular Checkups: Most people might not like it when I say this, but it’s the truth. Visiting the clinic or going for regular checkup doesn’t make you sick, or means you’re sick, or even mean that you’re praying to get sick. Everything both living and non-living needs maintenance, so visiting the clinic can be likened to maintaining your body and knowing the current state of your health. Do yourself a lot of good and visit a clinic today for your body checkup.

The Habit Of Good Health was written by Dr. Nnamdi Elenwoke

The post The Habit Of Good Health appeared first on Docotal.


DOCOTAL: DIGITAL DOCTORS PART 2

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Saving millions of lives

After waiting for almost 5 hours to see the doctor at the General Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos State, Mr. Olutayo Ayinla was finally given an appointment to see the consultant Cardiologist. But wait… it wasn’t the next day, but in the next 35 days because of so many patients on the waiting list.

I could see the anger and frustration on his face as he entered my office. “Doctor, how will I wait so long to see the Cardiologist?”: he said. “What if something goes wrong with my heart?…what will happen if my condition deteriorates?…what if my failing health and constant palpitations prevent me from coming to the hospital?”

These are the many questions I find difficult to answer, and this is also the plight that the general population faces when it comes to booking an appointment with a consultant in a general hospital. With the recent economic recession in the country, consulting with a Cardiologist in a private hospital will not only cost a fortune but is a dream for the average citizens. Remember Mr. Olutayo is a 57 year old businessman with a history of hypertension for 10 years and a recently diagnosed cardiopathy that has reduced his output in business.

Uberfication of  Healthcare 

Imagine if Mr. Olutayo could just tap his phone, get a free online consultation with a cardiologist and be instructed on which tests to be done, get his ECG (Electrocardiogram)  result to be interpreted by the same doctor via a video call. To make life easier, he sends the doctors prescription to the nearest pharmacy to his home or office  and gets all his medications (and medical devices and wearables to daily monitor his heart if needs be) sent to him at a low cost from the comfort of his home. Even when he’s asleep, his doctor monitors his heart beat and all cardiac activities and can detect any danger before it happens with the  aid of a wearable medical device which of itself doesn’t interfere with his sleep.

This  might sound like a bit outrageous to him but actually DOCOTAL is bringing all this to thousand of patients with just one click. Docotal (Digital Doctors) with its free online medical consultation is not only helping patients to hack time and reduce many unnecessary hours waiting at the doctors office but is here in Nigeria and Africa to “democratise” and “Uberfy” healthcare to the thousands of people and perharps millions.

In the same way, people in remote areas and villages can access the services of doctors and consultants and the long distance can be brought closer with just a click. Can life be any better than this? Therefore an elderly farmer even while working in his farm can be monitored by his physician in the city through the Electronic Medical Records (EMR). These devices will also encourage patients to monitor their own progress and become more engaged in their health, which will improve quality of life, extend healthy lifespan by reducing unnecessary deaths from ignorance.

CALL TO ACTION (CTA): As patients transition from passive healthcare recipients to active value-seeking customers, it is the health sector’s turn to master digital tools.

Download Docotal App for Android.

You can also read Part 1 of DOCOTAL (DIGITAL DOCTORS)

How DOCOTAL will save millions of lives in Nigeria and Africa was written by DR. OKEY EKEMEZIE.

The post DOCOTAL: DIGITAL DOCTORS PART 2 appeared first on Docotal.

Problems of Nigeria’s Resident Doctors

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Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle

Every young Nigerian doctor’s dream is to get well trained. This training is carried out by two nationally recognized postgraduate medical colleges namely: National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and West African College of Physicians/Surgeons (WACP/WACS). Their operations for many decades have produced seasoned medical specialists in different specialties and sub-specialties who have driven medical practice and training from rudimentary stages to where it is today. Albeit, the whole process has not been without certain burgeoning factors.

FACTORS

Three major factors among others have been identified to be militating against the central rationale of Residency Training in Nigeria. These factors include

1. Trainer’s factor
2. Trainee’s factor
3. Training Institutions’ Management
 

1.   Trainer’s factor

The Residency Trainer (Consultants/Professors), are specialists who are universally recognized as those having the requisite knowledge, skills and professional demeanor required to successfully pass on the ideals/baton of quality and evidence-based practice from one dispensation to another. Astonishingly, it has been observed and held by most stakeholders that majority of these trainers have lost the noble enthusiasm that had driven the whole process of development of medical manpower from time immemorial. It is now very glaring that impartation of knowledge and skills to the younger generation of doctors has become impaired. If left unabated it will negatively impact on the utter future of medical practice.
It is now very glaring that impartation of knowledge and skills to the younger generation of doctors has become impaired. If left unabated it will negatively impact on the utter future of medical practice.
The bitter truth about this situation is that when a ‘future’ of poor specialist manpower eventually arrives, these same trainers could become patients in the hands of their haphazardly trained junior colleagues. This could be due to the fact that they are more focused on their private clinics and hospitals which keep them out of their duty posts for training. It has been noticed that instead of physically being present to train, they consult and direct their junior colleagues/residents on the phone even they are officially on call. How can a resident be properly trained without the consultants being available?
 
Most of these trainers have been known to be incredibly selfish in sharing their specialist knowledge/expertise in order to maintain the monopoly of such capacity in the index locality. And when they seldom do, it’s mixed with a lot of demeaning tendencies that are toxic to effective learning. Severally this occurs in most training centers in Nigeria and its effect is lethal to the residents’ self-confidence.

2. Trainee’s factor

Resident doctors have their fair share are the whole blame. Many of them approach the specialist training with so much impropriety. The trainees’ impropriety hinges on baseless pride and an inordinate quest for money. A situation where a resident doctor gets distracted by the frenzy of the feeling of having arrived, little privileges and develops a mindset of the misdemeanour is very inimical to the acquisition of knowledge and skills. The unbridled quest for money affects the development of good ethical practices and erodes professionalism and respect for higher authorities connected to their training. The foregoing worsens the trainer’s factors.
Many of them approach the specialist training with so much impropriety. The trainees’ impropriety hinges on baseless pride and an inordinate quest for money.

3. Training Institutions’ Management

Institutions and nations fall, stand or thrive on the platform of leadership. Poor leadership or total lack of it bedevils Residency Training in Nigeria.
Poor leadership or total lack of it bedevils Residency Training in Nigeria.

It is impossible to explain away the unacceptable trends of:
  • Using poor equipment or running residency training institutions improvising virtually every equipment due to stack lack,
  • Running Accident/emergencies unit at day/night without power/water supply,
  • Operating in theater during surgical emergencies with mobile phone light
  • Running emergency pediatric and neonatal units without assistive instruments
  • Poor remuneration of resident doctors and times none at all for several months
  • Handling of agreed stances in labor matters with poor integrity (always reneging on agreements with resident doctors) leading to incessant strike actions and shut down of hospitals with an attendant collateral loss of innocent lives.
One may argue that management teams of institutions don’t mean Government itself but it is a no-brainer that they represent Government, period! Most of them are either bereft of good managerial competencies or are enmeshed in the dirty political milieu of partisanship.
 
The time to act is now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Problems of Nigeria’s Resident Doctors was written Dr. Okeaba U.K. 

The post Problems of Nigeria’s Resident Doctors appeared first on Docotal.

Bioengineered “Pancreas”

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A year after receiving a new type of islet cell transplant to treat her severe diabetes, a patient continues to do well and no longer needs insulin injections to manage her disease. A Happy Anniversary Even the most exciting breakthrough medical treatment can be rendered obsolete by a particularly […]

The post Bioengineered “Pancreas” appeared first on Docotal.

How to make Money with Health and Wellness

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“Minds are like flowers, they only open when the time is right.”― Stephen Richards

H & E as a Business

When people hear health and wellness, they think is all about the exercises, drugs, etc. If уоu аrе a health care practitioner, coach, birth worker, alternative medicine provider, herbalist, aromatherapist, nutritionist, yoga teacher, fitness trainer, wellness educator, оr a business owner involved in health аnd wellness then уоu аrе in luck beсаuѕе thе health аnd wellness market iѕ growing аnd it’ѕ nоt gоing tо gо аwау аnу timе soon. food. There is a lot to health and wellness including monetization opportunities. In case you’re wondering if you can make money through health and wellness, the answer is YES. You can actually make money from health and wellness.

In case you’re wondering if you can make money through health and wellness, the answer is YES.

Thе health аnd wellness industry presents entrepreneurs tremendous opportunities tо hеlр оthеrѕ аnd make money frоm home. And whilе уоu саn start uр уоur оwn business manufacturing health аnd wellness products, thе money tо bе made iѕ rеаllу in thе distribution оf thоѕе products.

People аrе interested in staying healthy аѕ thеу grow older. Thеу аrе willing tо spend lots оf money оn nutritional supplements tо improve оr maintain thеir health. This industry has been anticipated to grow over the years, a lot of people are finding themselves in this industry now and they are settling down here because they are finding the industry very lucrative and also with a lot of potential to do better financially in the nearest future.

People are investing a lot these days in their health, so it right to say that you can make money from the health and wellness industry. If people are ready and willing to spend money on their health, then, some other should be able to make money from it. Money is earned when money is spent.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin

Find Solutions

The health and wellness industry is the new trillion dollar industry, so if you’re an advocate or entrepreneur in this industry, you need to celebrate because this industry is here to stay and it’s not going, instead the industry is growing. People аll оvеr thе world аrе gaining interest in nutrition, organics, fitness, alternative medicine, аnd аll kinds оf related health аnd wellness education, coaching, services, аnd products in phenomenal numbers.

People wаnt tо feel good, lооk good, аnd bе active – аnd thеу аrе seeking оut organic аnd natural food, fitness classes, alternative medicine, аnd buying uр books, dvd’s, programs аnd services tо hеlр thеm create vitality аnd longevity. This is the more reason the health and wellness industry will forever be a financial fountain for those that see its potential. Now that we have established the fact that money can be made from the health and wellness industry, the important question to ask now is; in what ways can I earn money from the health and wellness industry?

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. – Thomas Edison

Monetize Solutions

The health and wellness industry is very wide; there are various sectors of this industry. So if you’re looking for ways to make money in the industry, you need to know and understand the industry first before you can know where to settle in. But in this article, we are not talking about understanding the health and wellness industry. We are talking about ways in which you can make money from the industry. Due to the diverse nature of the industry, you can monetize it in many ways.

Let us take a look at the various ways in which you can monetize the health and wellness industry:

  1. Selling Medical Equipment: medical equipment is a niche under the monetization potentials of the health and wellness industry, which if done properly, will yield much profit. As a merchant of these products, the options made available to you will vary a lot. If we choose to ignore whether you’re a retailer or wholesaler, or whether you sell new or fairly used equipment; there are certain laid down rules that will guarantee you success in this field. what are these rules; research the market, find a buyer, have a website, network with others in the field, determine how you want to sell your products, partner with insurance companies if you’re selling products they cover, contact vendors to buy from you, buy in bulk to save money, and have a physical store also.
  2. Looking for a Job: If you have the appropriate degree, skill and certificates, you can look for a job in the health and wellness industry. There are quite a number of places you can go and offer your professional services, places such as; hospitals, health centers, pharmaceutical sectors, therapy homes, medical laboratories, online, etc.

  3. Running a Health Center: This is another lucrative niche in the health and wellness sector. If you have the capital to build one, I encourage you to do so. You only need to do these few things; gain experience in the healthcare industry, research what home healthcare business are available in your community, name your business plan, name your business and choose your structure, research the necessary requirements for a health center, submit the necessary documents to your county clerk of court and secretary of state, apply for your business license, apply for health permit from the state board, establish payroll and medical billing system, find liability insurance, etc.

  4. Open a Health and Wellness Blog or Website: It iѕ easy fоr a blog or website tо capitalize оff thiѕ growing market thrоugh eCommerce. Thе firѕt step iѕ tо create the blog/website. Yоu ѕhоuld соnѕidеr whеthеr thеrе iѕ a specific area within thе health аnd wellness industry оn whiсh уоu wаnt tо concentrate оr whеthеr уоu wаnt a mоrе general blog. Then, уоu juѕt hаvе tо write quality content thаt engages уоur readership аnd add аn eCommerce store аnd link applicable products tо еасh blog post tо start making money. You can also advertise on your platform.

There are a lot of other ways in which you can make money from the health and wellness industry; we are going to be highlighting some of them.

  • Personal Fitness Trainer
  • Health coach
  • Massage therapist
  • Yoga coach
  • Personal chef
  • Physical therapy
  • Writing for other; guest post, freelancing, etc.
  • Writing health books, info products and courses
  • Workshop, webinars, and seminars
  • Open a health-focused restaurant оr health food store

Do you want more information? Please email us: support@docotal.com

The post How to make Money with Health and Wellness appeared first on Docotal.

SIMPLE WAYS TO ALKALIZE YOUR BODY

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Exercise Induced Pruritus

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Ever started a run and a few minutes into it, you start to experience an itchy sensation all over your legs, and it’s so overwhelming that you have to stop running to scratch?

Well most people have complained about this and its about time we put a rest to your worries.

Fact is, as your heart rate increases, blood flows faster, and the millions of tiny capillaries and arteries in your muscles begin to expand rapidly.

These capillaries stay open to allow for maximum blood passage when you’re fit, but if you’re out of shape, your capillaries tend to collapse, not allowing as much blood to pass through.

When your capillaries expand, the surrounding nerves become stimulated and send messages to the brain, which reads the sensation you get as itching.

Unfortunately, your itchy legs are the price paid for falling off the exercise wagon. So if you want to prevent itchy legs, keep up with your regular exercise routine.

Just like a red face or bulging veins during exercise, itchy legs are no cause for alarm, unless the itch is accompanied by swelling.

Exercise-induced urticaria is in a sense an allergy to exercise, and if you’re also experiencing stomach cramps, swelling of the face or tongue, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

Now you know theres no cause for alarm but just to be on the safe side, stick to your exercise routines.

Exercise Induced Pruritus was written by our foremost Dr. LB Basaru. You can follow him on Social media

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HEALTH CARE DELIVERY CHALLENGES SYNDROME

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INTRODUCTION

Health is a common theme in most cultures. In fact, all communities have their concepts of health, as part of their culture. Among definitions still used, probably the oldest is that health is the “absence of disease“. In this article more pain would be taken to discuss the challenges posed in delivering health care services, hence the topic “Health care delivery challenges syndrome”.

DEFINITION

The widely accepted definition of health is that given by the World Health Organization (WHO – 1948) in the preamble to its constitution is as follows: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity”. This WHO definition has been criticized as being too broad.

Some argue that health cannot be defined as a “state” at all, but must be seen as a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life. It is a dynamic concept. It helps people live well, work well and enjoy themselves.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity – WHO

HISTORY OF HEALTH DEVELOPMENT

Modern medicine is often accused for its preoccupation with the study of disease, and neglect of the study of health. Consequently, our ignorance about health continues to be profound, as for example, the determinants of health are not yet clear; the current definitions of health are elusive; and there is no single yardstick for measuring health. There is thus a great scope for the study of the “epidemiology” of health.

Health continues to be a neglected entity despite lip service. At the individual level, it cannot be said that health occupies an important place; it is usually subjugated to other needs defined as more important, e. g., wealth, power, prestige, knowledge, security-Health is often taken for granted, and its value is not fully understood until it is lost.

At the international level, health was “forgotten” when the covenant of the League of Nations was drafted after the First World War. However, during the past few decades, there has been a reawakening that health is a fundamental human right and a world-wide social goal ; that it is essential to the satisfaction of basic human needs and to an improved quality of life ; and, that it is to be attained by all people.

In 1977, the 30th World Health Assembly decided that the main social target of governments and WHO in the coming decades should be “the attainment by all citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life”, for brevity, called “Health for All“. With the adoption of health as an integral part of socio-economic development by the United Nations in 1979. Health, while being an end in itself, has also become a major instrument of overall socio-economic development and the creation of a new social order.

Health continues to be a neglected entity despite lip service.

HEALTH AND ECOSYSTEM

A full understanding of health requires that humanity be seen as part of an ecosystem. The human ecosystem includes in addition to the natural environment, all the dimensions of the man-made environment-physical, chemical, biological, psychological; in short our culture and all its products. Disease is embedded in the ecosystem of man. Health, according to ecological concepts, is visualized as a state of dynamic equilibrium between man and his environment.

By constantly altering his environment or ecosystem such activities as urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, land reclamation, construction of irrigation canals and dams

Source

man has created for himself new health problems for example. The greatest threat to human health in developing countries today is the ever-increasing, unplanned urbanization, growth of slumps and deterioration of environment. Such as the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 highlights the danger of locating industries in urban area. The nuclear disaster in Soviet Russia in April 1986 is another grim reminder of environmental pollution.

The construction of dams, irrigation systems and artificial lakes has created ecological niches favouring the breeding of mosquitos, snails and spread of filariasis, schistosomiasis and Japanese encephalitis. In fact ecological factors are at the root of the geographic distribution of disease. Therefore it has been said that good public health is basically good ecology.

The greatest threat to human health in developing countries today is the ever-increasing, unplanned urbanization, growth of slumps and deterioration of environment.

HEALTH DETERMINANTS

Education status specially female education. The world map of illiteracy closely coincides with the maps of poverty, malnutrition, ill health, high infant mortality rate, child mortality rates. Studies indicate that education to some extent compensates the effects of poverty on health irrespective of the availability of health facilities.

Source

Another important health determinant is the socio-economic conditions of the populace. socio-economic conditions have long been known to influence human health. For the majority of the world’s people, health status is determined by their socio-economic development. e.g. per capita GNP, nutrition, employment, housing and political system of the country.

Those of major importance are economic status. This determines the purchasing power, standard of living, quality of life, family size, the pattern of disease and deviant behavior in the community. It is also an important factor in seeking health care. Ironically, affluence may also be a contributory cause of illness as explained by the high rates of coronary heart disease, diabetes and obesity in the upper socio-economic groups.

Poverty creates ill-health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation. – WHO

RIGHT TO HEALTH

Historically, the right to health was one of the last to be proclaimed in the constitutions of most countries of the world. Human Rights established a breakthrough in 1948, by stating in article 25: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family”. The Preamble to the WHO Constitution also affirms that it is one of the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy “the highest attainable standard of health” inherent in the right to health is the right to health or medical care.

Some countries have used the term “right to health protection” which is assured by a comprehensive system of Social Insurance that provides material security in cases of illness or accident, and free medical education, medicaments and other necessary materials and the right to be cared for by society in old age and invalidity. In an increasing number of societies, health is no longer accepted as a charity or the privilege of the few, but demanded as a right for all.

However, when resources are limited (as in most developing countries), the governments cannot provide all the needed health services. Under these circumstances the aspirations of the people should be satisfied by giving them equal right to available health care services. The concept of right to health has generated so many questions like right to procreate (artificial insemination included), the right to the deceased persons (determination of death, autopsies, discontinuation of life support measures), etc. Many of these ethicists and physicians to formulate a general outline.

In an increasing number of societies, health is no longer accepted as a charity or the privilege of the few, but demanded as a right for all.

HEALTH SYSTEM

Source

The “health system” is intended to deliver health services ; in other words, it constitutes the management sector a involves organizational matters, e.g., planning, determining priorities, mobilizing and allocating resources translating policies into services, evaluation and health education. The aim of a health system is health development-a process of continuous and progressive improvement of the health status of a population. The goal of the health system had been to achieve “Health for Allby the year 2000.

LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE

Health services are usually organized at three levels, each level supported by a higher level to which the patient is referred. These levels are: (a) Primary health care (b) Secondary health care(c) tertiary health care. The Primary health care is the first level of contact between the individual and the health system where essential “health care (primary health care) is provided. A majority of prevailing health complaints and problems can be satisfactorily dealt with at this level. This level of care is closest to the people. In “DOCOTAL” context, it is to provide health care to all at affordable cost to your door steps with community participation via online.

In “DOCOTAL” context, it is to provide health care to all at affordable cost to your door steps with community participation via online.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

The concept of Primary Health Care came into lime-light in 1978 following an international conference in Alma-Ata, USSR. It has been defined as: “Essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that every stage of their development in the spirit of self-determination”.

HEALTH FOR ALL

After three decades of trial and error and dissatisfaction of meeting people’s basic health needs, the World Health Assembly, in May 1977, decided that the main social goal for governments and WHO in the coming years should be the “attainment by all the people of the world by the year 2000 AD of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life”. This goal has come to be popularly known as “Health for All by the year 2000“(HFA).

The background to this “new” philosophy was the growing concern about the unacceptably low levels of health status of the majority of the world’s population especially the rural poor and the gross disparities in health between the rich and poor, urban and rural population, both between and within countries. The essential principle of HFA is the concept of “equity in health”, that is, all people should have an opportunity to enjoy good health.

The essential principle of HFA is the concept of “equity in health”, that is, all people should have an opportunity to enjoy good health.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEALTH

Health is on one hand a highly personal responsibility and on the other hand a major public concern. It thus involves the joint efforts of the whole social fabric, viz. the individual, the community and the state to protect and promote health.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Although health is now recognized a fundamental human right, it is essentially an individual responsibility, it essentially an individual responsibility. it is not a commodity that one individual can bestow on another. No community or state programme of health services can give health. In large measure, it has to be earned and maintained by the individual himself, who must accept a broad spectrum of responsibilities, now known as “self care“.

In large measure, health has to be earned and maintained by the individual himself, who must accept a broad spectrum of responsibilities.

SELF CARE IN HEALTH

A recent trend in health care is self care. It is defined as “those health-generating activities that are undertaken by the persons themselves“. It refers to those activities individuals undertake in promoting their own health, preventing their own disease, limiting their own illness, and restoring their own health.

These activities are undertaken without professional assistance, although individuals are informed by technical knowledge and skills. The generic attribute of self care is its non-professional, non-bureaucratic, non-industrial character; its natural place in social life.

CHALLENGES IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

The challenges posed in delivering health care system can be expressed in analogy as “The tip of Ice berg phenomenon” which presented a gloomy picture. Health continues to be a neglected entity despite important service. At the individual level, it cannot be said that health occupies an important place; it is usually subjugated to other needs defined as more important, e.g., wealth, power, prestige, knowledge, security etc. Health is often taken for granted, and its value is not fully understood until it is lost.

Hence, the patients are not willing to pay for health care services. More so, the determinant factors play major roles in health care delivery challenges such as socio-economic, education and environmental factors. The world map of illiteracy closely coincides with the maps of poverty, malnutrition, illhealth and high infant mortality rates.

Health continues to be a neglected entity despite important service.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is quite shocking and very gloomy the challenges posed by inequalities in the delivery of health care services in developing countries. On the other hand the health system is being subjugated to other needs; hence people are not willing or feel reluctant to spend more on their health.

However, it is of important to note that health care delivery of more of our responsibility than our right. This brings us to the concept of “Self care in health”, It refers to those activities individuals undertake in promoting their own health, preventing their own disease, limiting their own illness, and restoring their own health.

In order to bring solution to this challenges and abridge this gap of inequalities in health delivery, the international community came up with the concept of primary health care which is to provide the essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that every stage of their development in the spirit of self-determination.

In view of these great challenges posed to health care delivery system, the DOCOTAL has come up with a system to essentially deliver a smooth world class primary health care service to the people with community participation.

References

  • WHO (1948)
  • Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine by K. Park. 19th EDN 2007.

HEALTH CARE DELIVERY CHALLENGES SYNDROME was written by our foremost Dr. LB Basaru. You can follow him on Social media

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Can Cannabis Cure Cancer?

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Apparently the left hand of this government doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, or more likely doesn’t want to know. With the easy prey of grabbing marijuana users in most states and locking them up in prisons for cheap labor while destroying families, there’s little motivation to […]

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HEALTH AND ITS GENERALITIES

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To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Buddha

What is Health?

Don’t be surprised if someone asked you what health is. The question you should ask yourself is; why should someone be interested in defining health; seeing that good health is the goal of research and healthcare, then it’s important to know what is it, how to maintain it, and how to measure it. The definition of health goes a long way in telling its importance in the life of every human; this is why the WHO proposed a new definition in 2009 as against the initial definition proposed in 1948.

It is said that this initial definition is no longer of value as it depicts health as only the complete physical, mental and social wellbeing of a person and ignores the fact that health is also the absence of disease. It also limits the ability of the human body to cope with the unstable nature of our emotional, social and physical challenges. You see why it is important for health to be defined properly, and know what it entails.

The proper definition of health with result in revealing its relevance and importance as it concerns our day-to-day living. The new definition proposed by the WHO in 2009 defines health as; the ability to adapt and self-manage” in the face of social, physical, and emotional challenges. There are other definitions, as well as other terms that depict what health is all about. There is a saying that; he, who has health, has hope, and he who has hope, has everything. Health goes beyond just numbers of on a chart, or a good or bad feeling, or an external aesthetic, health encompasses all areas of human life. Health has been misunderstood severally with perfect physique and physical fitness, which is just a branch of health. If it may interest you to know; health is the most important aspect of our life. There are four cardinal areas where health covers; physical health, mental and emotional health, social health and spiritual health. You should note that no area is more important than the other.

Health has been misunderstood severally with perfect physique and physical fitness, which is just a branch of health.

Here is another very interesting definition of health. The business dictionary defines Health as a dynamic condition resulting from a body’s constant adjustment and adaptation in response to stresses and changes in the environment for maintaining an inner equilibrium called homeostasis. This definition broadens the scope of health and what it entails. The concept of health is somewhat so familiar that people don’t even want to know what it really means. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines health as the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit; especially: freedom from physical disease or pain. Health should be seen beyond the shores of just the absence of sickness. Health covers all area of your life. Thеrе аrе ѕеvеrаl benefits оf a healthy life. Yоur bоdу bесоmеѕ free frоm vаriоuѕ forms оf disorders аnd thus, уоu gеt a longer life. Yоu саn live a life withоut suffering frоm аnу aches, pain, оr discomfort. In еvеrу sphere оf уоur life, уоu will bе аblе tо perform tо thе bеѕt оf уоur ability. Dоing excellent work helps уоu tо bе a valuable member оf a healthy society.

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. Kofi Annan

How can I expand my knowledge about my health?

Expanding your health knowledge doesn’t mean you should go and study medicine if that’s what you’re thinking. Expanding your knowledge about your health simply knowing the basic things about your health and how you can avoid some issues that can affect your health. There are a lot of things you need to know about your health, and the knowledge of these things would help you maintain a proper health. What are these important things we need to know;

  • Blood pressure
  • Blood cholesterol
  • Fasting blood glucose
  • Body mass index
  • Waist size
  • Body weight
  • C-reactive protein
  • Genotype
  • Your Blood group
  • Your preferred exercise
  • Your family medical record and history
  • Basic understanding of your pigmentation and moles
  • What your breast tissue feels like
  • Your allergies
  • What reduces your stress
  • Vitamin deficiency
  • Food sensitivities
  • Your health insurance
  • The vaccines you’ve received

The list might seem to be very long, but a basic knowledge and understanding of the aforementioned will expand your knowledge about your health. Don’t see it as something burdensome; just see it as something that would help you better your health, because believe it or not, these health numbers as they are often called are very vital for health.

What Books Should I Read?

As the saying goes; information is power. If you want to know more about your health and how to maintain it, you need to read about it. And in reading, you need to make sure you’re reading the right materials. Don’t just pick up anything you see and read, some of them might not contain the right information on what you need to know about your health. You can meet your health practitioner to help with suggestions on books to read. You can also read health journals; these journals contain updated information about the latest health reports and things you should know. You can also read health storybooks, as they can contain important lessons on how to maintain your health. 

What are the most popular health/wellness blogs/websites?

Usually, when people have health issues and don’t want to go to the doctor, they turn to the internet. They believe they can stumble on a website that can help them with their health issue(s). I would like to save you the stress of surfing the net in search of health websites; I would be recommending to you some of the best health websites in the world.

These are some of the websites I know and trust that you can get adequate and accurate information about your health.

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HEALTHCARE AND INVESTMENTS

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Introduction

As we should already know by now, our health is paramount when it comes to our life. Our health determines what is of us, and also what is to be of us physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise. The importance and relevance of our health brings us to the issue of whether or not we should invest in our health, and if we are to do; how can we go about, and what are the best possible ways to invest in our health. As to whether we are to invest in our health or not, I’m sure you already know the answer by now. It’s definitely a yes. Which sane man or woman wouldn’t want to invest in his/her health? Mind you; investing in your health is not just monetary thing. There are other ways in which you can invest in your health that would be very beneficial as well. Investing in your health doesn’t just save your life; it’s also a plus to the general economic development. Ill health doesn’t just hamper human capital development; it also affects general productivity, and impairs job prospects. The importance of health can also be seen through the strong historical and political commitment towards taking health as a social goal either through mandating and prioritization of expenditure on health or legislation. It is a universal norm that health is a worthwhile and noble investment. So, if you haven’t been investing in your health lately, it isn’t too late to start.

Ill health doesn’t just hamper human capital development; it also affects general productivity, and impairs job prospects.

Why are people scared of Doctors and Health Checkups?

It’s a bit likе a job interview оr a driving test. No-one саn ѕау thаt thеу hаvе nоt hаd a case оf nerves in thоѕе situations. If thеrе wаѕ a wау оf avoiding thе middle bit аnd уеt gеtting thе result wе wоuld аll tаkе thаt path. There’s аlwауѕ ѕоmе anxiety аѕѕосiаtеd with confronting health issues. It is, in fact, confronting оur оwn mortality. Evеn whеn symptoms аrе mild аnd likеlу tо bе due tо ѕоmе easily curable illness, it ѕtill reminds uѕ аt a deeper level thаt оur timе оn earth iѕ limited, аnd wе rеаllу hаvе vеrу littlе control оf hоw lоng wе will live. Eѕресiаllу if wе hаvе bееn engaging in “risk taking” behavior – smoking, over-eating, unprotected sex, еtс – in thе back оf оur mind iѕ thе possibility thаt аn undiscovered malady mау bе lurking juѕt beneath thе surface. Aѕ we gеt older, we find thаt we fear оnе оf thе fоllоwing will hарреn еvеrу timе we gо tо thе doctor: Hе will tеll mе thеrе iѕ ѕоmеthing wrong with mе thаt саnnоt bе fixed, or Hе will tеll mе thеrе iѕ ѕоmеthing wrong with mе thаt саn bе fixed, but thе fix involves eating healthier, gеtting mоrе exercise and/or оthеr deeply unpleasant behavior modifications. Most times these visits will always result in the second reason, but if we don’t act quickly it will result in the first reason. This is one of the reason why we run away from doctors and health checkups.

There’s аlwауѕ ѕоmе anxiety аѕѕосiаtеd with confronting health issues.

Why Should I invest in my Health?

I don’t think anyone should be asking this question in this dispensation, but if you’re still part of those still asking this question, I would like you to know that there are a million and one reasons you should be investing in your health. Mind you, health investment comes in two ways; financial investment, and non-financial investments. Investing in your health means you’re investing in yourself and your future, health investment can also be seen as delayed gratification- where the work comes first, and then the reward comes much later in the future. Health investment is a long term investment. How can you live with yourself when you’re not investing in your health? You’re putting yourself at the risk of reducing you’re lifespan. The most important asset to man is time, and this time is very limited. Investing in your health means; buying you more time. There’s a quote from Jim Stovall’s book titled; Ultimate Productivity. I want us to relate this quote to our health and you would see the need to invest tremendously in your health. He wrote, and I quote “Only by accepting full responsibility for your past, which has resulted in your present, can you then take control of your actions today, and create a successful tomorrow.” The reason why your health is the way it is now, is because of your past. Invest in your health before it’s too late.

Investing in your health means you’re investing in yourself and your future.

How Can I Invest in my Health?

Investing in your health is easier said than done, most times we even procrastinate. I can’t just imagine how people can sit and play with their lives. Like I said earlier on; there are two ways which you can invest in your health. One requires more of money, while the other requires your time, dedication and little money. Let’s start with the latter. There are ways you can invest in your health spending little or nothing; I will highlight a few of these things;

  • Don’t joke with your sleep
  • Master your body hydration process vs water consumption
  • Know your vitamins
  • Maintain proper body posture at all times
  • Make use of a standing desk and sit with an exercise ball
  • Limit your drinking and quit smoking cigarette
  • Eat well, and at the right time
  • Quit fast food and stop sugary food and beverages
  • Carry out proper exercise daily
  • Focus on aerobics and proper posture when exercising
  • Eat more of vegetables and fiber, not minding your diet
  • Use all-natural skincare and household cleaning products

Moving onto ways in which you can invest in your health financially, there are a couple of ways in which you can invest in your health financially, they include;

  • Apply for a Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Startup a Medical Emergency Fund
  • Make for yourself a High-deductible plan
  • Apply, Plan, and understand your health insurance scheme
  • Apply for a patient-assistance program
  • Signup for a mail-order pharmacy

CALL TO ACTION A word they say; is enough for the wise. Take this bold step today and invest in your health.

HEALTHCARE AND INVESTMENTS was written by Dr. Nnamdi Elenwoke

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A Genius Pregnancy FAQ Every Parent-to-Be Needs to Know

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When you’re expecting a baby, especially your first, you always have lots of questions. Such as “When is the best time to get an epidural?“ or ”When will my wife act normally again?” Bright Side found some answers for these questions on Reddit , where a lady shared this […]

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Is Health Privacy A Human Right?

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Understanding Privacy

Privacy is about who gets access to personal information and under what circumstances. Privacy is recognized as a human right under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and several other regional and international treaties. Privacy is a fundamental aspect of human dignity and goes hand in hand with such basic values as freedom of speech and freedom of association.

Humans have understood the value of privacy for thousands of years. People built homes as a way of marking out their private spaces. However, the coming of the Information Age has created a new and more complex context than in years past. Today, nearly every country recognizes the right to privacy in their constitution. At their bare minimum, such provisions include the secrecy of communication and the inviolability of the home.

Importance of Health Privacy

Source: Pixabay

Health privacy is a subset of an individual’s right to privacy and therefore a human right. A breach of this privacy could harm the person physically or psychologically. For example, what would happen if a patient’s health condition is disclosed to the general public without the patient’s express authorization? It could lead to embarrassment, discrimination and stigmatization.

Privacy is crucial in ensuring quality and effective healthcare services. If patients doubt the confidentiality of their health data, they’ll be forced to choose between complete disclosure to their doctor and holding back to avoid the shame of a privacy breach. Without open communication, patients will make it harder for doctors to make an accurate diagnosis. The end result is longer and more expensive treatment regime.

That people could stop seeking care because they’re worried about what the hospital will do with their data is something that must be avoided at all costs.

Technologies Impacting Health Privacy

Over the years, a number of specific technologies have elicited growing concern over the state of health data privacy. These include:

  • Identification Systems – Identity cards equipped with microprocessor and magnetic stripe technologies have found widespread use by companies and governments. Biometrics are fast replacing card-based authentication systems. When used in the healthcare industry, both card and biometric systems lead to the extraction and aggregation of large amounts of personal information.
  • Electronic Communication – In years past, law enforcement surveillance primarily involved wiretapping fax, telex and telephone communications. With the advent of the worldwide web, interception of internet and email communication is of even greater importance. Whereas, healthcare facilities don’t participate in such state surveillance, they will regularly engage with email communication with their clients where sensitive information may be discussed deliberately or inadvertently.
  • Video Surveillance – Hospital security surveillance leads to the collection of patient movement information via CCTV cameras. CCTV has evolved from grainy black and white images to clear colored videos where it’s easy to make out individual features. The leak of such videos would infringe on the individual’s right to health privacy by showing not just the hospital they attend but also revealing the type of doctor they see.

Source: Pixabay

Conflict of Interest in Health Privacy

Health privacy sits at the meeting point of three fundamental interests: individual rights, private business interests and public health. In many instances, the three interests are aligned. However, politics and business competition sometimes lead to a clash and seeming contradiction between the compliance of these interests.

Privacy in healthcare hasn’t always been well defined or consistently enforced thanks to the competing interests of population management and the multibillion dollar medical data industry that largely operates hidden from public view. The healthcare industry therefore seeks the trust of the masses on the one hand while doing its best to leverage personal medical data to its advantage.

Security is not Synonymous with Privacy

Privacy is sometimes conflated with security by persons keen on extracting maximum advantage from the abuse or sale of personal medical data. Yet, there is a clear distinction between the two.

Source: Pixabay

Security problems are caused by bugs, hacking and other unanticipated vulnerabilities in the system. Privacy problems on the other hand are almost always deliberately designed into the system. The abuse or sale of personal medical data is often done by people acting within a legal authority and uncompromised technological systems. Ergo, the misdirection of the privacy conversation to security discussions is sometimes intentional since it keeps the money coming.

The US’ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is one of the best examples of this misdirection in action. The aspect of HIPAA that is discussed and enforced the most is security. Conversation on how difficult it should be to access a health record is less frequently a HIPAA topic in the news nor is it a common subject of enforcement. In fact, HIPAA virtually takes away the individual’s right to control how a hospital shares their medical data.

Unlike the US, the European Union has a more aggressive approach to privacy. Perhaps due to a traumatic history over the first half of the 20th century, European regulators see privacy as a more central principle of business and societal well-being.

Is Blockchain the Answer?

The phenomenal growth of blockchain technology is steadily finding its way into healthcare and is perhaps one of the solutions to the privacy headache. Much of the privacy conundrum of HIPAA and the opacity of personal health data handling is actually down to the consolidation of medical data control in the hands of giant institutions that benefited from huge Federal incentives.

Blockchain can replace institutions by bestowing trust on algorithms and record management systems that are patient-centric. Blockchain has no central authority and can protect data through private/public key access. It would provide a transparent but secure record of who has shared sensitive health data and with whom.

However, blockchain’s use of algorithmically derived pseudonyms in its distributed verification does not comply with HIPAA’s express prohibition of such pseudonyms. HIPAA’s rationale is that such pseudonyms introduce the risk of re-identification of de-identified personal health data.

One way to go around blockchain’s violation of HIPAA requirements is to combine blockchain with DDO (Dynamic Data Obscurity) in order to support non-mathematical dynamic anonymous identifiers. This will not only enable more granular privacy control but also eliminate the Mosaic Effect.

DDO can support the stratification of data disclosure. It can allow one to reveal different types and levels of information to different parties, at the same or different times and places, and for different purposes. That means health data would only be disclosed to specific persons to the degree deemed necessary.

In conclusion, health privacy is a human right. However, the technical and regulatory mechanisms necessary to make that right a reality still have significant room for improvement.

Source: Wendy Dessler
Blogger Outreach
wendy@outreachmama.com OutreachMama http://www.outreachmama.com/ 

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Heart attack: Men vs Women vs Children

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What is Heart Attack?

A heart attack is a swift action that takes place when there is a total blockage of a particular artery which supplies oxygen-rich blood to a particular area of your heart. This results in loss of oxygenated blood to the heart, and if not immediately attended to, that part of the heart muscle begins to die. The heart being a muscle needs adequate supply of blood to keep it in perfect condition. A heart attack iѕ ѕоmеtimеѕ called a myocardial infarction (MI), acute myocardial infarction, coronary occlusion, оr coronary thrombosis.

What Causes Heart Attack?

The major cause of heart attack is what is called; Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). This disease can stay hidden for a while, and most people don’t even know that they have this disease until they’ve had an Heart Attack. CHD iѕ a condition in whiсh a waxy substance called plaque builds uр inside оf thе coronary arteries. Thеѕе arteries supply oxygen-rich blood tо уоur heart. Whеn plaque builds uр in thе arteries, thе condition iѕ called atherosclerosis. Thе buildup оf plaque occurs оvеr mаnу years. Eventually, аn area оf plaque саn rupture (break open) inside оf аn artery. Thiѕ саuѕеѕ a blood clot tо fоrm оn thе plaque’s surface. If thе clot bесоmеѕ large enough, it саn mоѕtlу оr completely block blood flow thrоugh a coronary artery.

A lеѕѕ common саuѕе оf heart attack iѕ a severe Coronary Artery spasm (tightening) оf a coronary artery. Thе spasm cuts оff blood flow thrоugh thе artery. Spasms саn occur in coronary arteries thаt аrеn’t affected bу atherosclerosis. Whаt саuѕеѕ a coronary artery tо spasm iѕn’t аlwауѕ clear. A spasm mау bе related to: Taking сеrtаin drugs, ѕuсh аѕ; cocaine, emotional stress оr pain, exposure tо extreme cold, cigarette smoking.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) can stay hidden for a while, and most people don’t even know that they have this disease until they’ve had an Heart Attack.

Man vs Woman Heart Attack; What are the Differences?

In men, heart attack typically begins with thе sudden rupture оf a cholesterol-filled plaque in a coronary artery, whiсh thеn precipitates a blood clot. In younger women in particular, a plaque iѕ mоrе likеlу tо erode intо thе vessel wall rаthеr thаn tо burst. Women аrе аlѕо mоrе likеlу tо hаvе smaller, nonfatal heart attacks. Women are аlѕо mоrе likеlу thаn men tо develop small vessel disease, a condition whеrе blockages occur in thе tiny vessels within thе heart muscle rаthеr thаn in thе large, surface arteries. We ѕее a lot оf women whо hаvе classic angina [heart-related chest pain], but thеir major coronary arteries lооk normal, ѕо thеу аrе told it’ѕ nоt thеir heart. But уоu might hаvе a heart attack if thе condition iѕ nоt treated

Heart attack occur in women at an older age unlike men. Heart attack in women are worse than men. The mortality ratio of women to men who die in their first year after their heart attack is 26% to 19% for women and men respectively. The worst part is that these symptoms are very silent in women and quite obvious in men. The conventional symptoms for heart attack are; squeeze or pain in the chest region, and pain in one or both arms. These symptoms are quite different in women. Women have symptoms such as; shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

The first test a doctor is most likely to perform is an angiogram; checking for narrow or blocked coronary arteries. This test however misses a common heart disease in women which is coronary microvascular disease which affects or damages smaller arteries in the heart.

Heart attack in women are worse than men.

Children and Heart Attack

Causes of heart attack in children differs from that of adults. There are quite a number of things that can lead to heart failure in children. They comprise of both cardiac and non-cardiac issues. Thеrе аrе twо primary саuѕеѕ fоr heart failure in children аnd adolescents. Thе first, called “overcirculation failure,” occurs whеn blood mixes inside thе heart due tо a congenital heart defect. Thе second, called “pump failure,” occurs whеn thе heart muscle bесоmеѕ damaged аnd nо longer contracts normally. Medically speaking, the major cardiac cause of heart failure in children is Cardiovascular disease, while thе mоѕt common саuѕе оf pediatric heart failure iѕ structural congenital heart disease. Cardiomyopathies аrе thе mоѕt common саuѕе оf heart failure in children with a structurally nоrmаl heart.

Heart Attack and Cholesterol

Before we talk about the relationship between heart attack and cholesterol, there are certain facts you need to know. Cholesterol is not same as fat, 

cholesterol is actually good for the body, foods high in cholesterol mау nоt hаvе аѕ big аn impact оn heart disease аѕ previously thought, eliminating trans fats frоm уоur diet mау hаvе a bigger impact оn уоur health thаn reducing уоur intake оf foods thаt аrе high in cholesterol, thеrе аrе mаnу risk factors fоr heart disease. Sоmе уоu hаvе nо control over, likе family history. Diet аnd exercise аrе twо risk factors уоu саn control.

Cholesterol travels around the body in two forms; High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL)- good cholesterol, and Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL)- bad cholesterol. More of HDL and lesser of LDL help reduce the risk of heart disease. In conclusion, elevated LDL iѕ аn established risk factor fоr heart disease, and minor dietary changes, ѕuсh аѕ choosing foods with bеttеr fat quality, соuld potentially reduce cholesterol аnd уоur future risk оf heart disease.

Diet аnd exercise аrе twо Cholesterol related Heart Attack risk factors уоu саn control.

Hear From those who have suffered this same fate

Sue Chlebek

On the 31st of march, I went out with my friend for our usual road walk, as we walked, I felt a little short of breath, but I concluded that it was because I was walking faster than usual. After the walk, as I drove home, I had a chest pain, I thought it was nothing. When I got home, I had another chest pain, and then it dawned on me that this wasn’t just anything. I surfed the net for chest pain, and I found heart attack. Although my chest was unusual, I never imagined that I could be having a heart attack. I sat down hoping for the pain to go away, and then it happened again. This time I decided to drive to the ER, this can’t be me; I’m too young to die; these where the thoughts going through my mind. On my way to the ER, it happened again. When I got to the ER, I told the nurse; I think I’m having a heart attack, she put me on a wheel chair and asked me why I thought so, I couldn’t answer. Moments after getting to the ER, I suffered a cardiac death; I was defibrillated with one shock to the heart. I spent one week in cardiac ICU receiving treatment. After I got out of the hospital I started cardiac rehab.  

Janice

Early one morning I began having pain in my chest and sweating.  It felt like all my body functions were out of control.  I did not think that what was happening was a heart attack, but to be on the safe side my husband and I left for the hospital.  I was connected to an EKG immediately.  I was shocked when the hospital staff told me I was having a heart attack.  I was rushed into surgery and had one stent placed.  In recovery, I had another heart attack.  I went back into surgery and had two more stents placed.  Later, the doctors told me there was evidence that I had also had an unrecognized stroke and heart attack. Today, I feel great!  I still have good and bad days, but I wake up every morning looking forward to the day and its opportunities.  I’ve learned from my heart disease, and now I take better care of myself than before my heart attacks.”

Carol

I started having indigestion late one afternoon while meeting with clients.  As I sat listening to the auctioneer present my clients with various alternatives to selling their home, the pain intensified.  I told my client, who happened to be a doctor, about my symptom, and he explained that it may be a gall bladder issue since I had no other symptoms of a heart attack.  He advised me to go straight to the ER – just in case. I drove myself to the ER where my EKG was good, but my blood work indicated heart muscle damage.  I know now that I lost valuable time in driving myself to the hospital – I might have been spared some muscle damage had I been treated by medics who could administer appropriate care en route and ensured that I received immediate medical attention once I arrived at the hospital.  Any woman in need of emergency medical care should call 911!  Not only can EMTs provide timely and necessary care, but they also ensure that you will be taken to a hospital that can handle your needs as a cardiac patient. After my catheterization, the cardiologist told me husband my arteries were as clear as could be.  I was not overweight, exercised up to six times per week, and my cholesterol levels were as low as any he had seen.  He said it was the most bizarre case he had had.” 

Jean

At age 59 years of age, Jean looked like the picture of health. She had normal blood cholesterol, was very active and never had a weight problem. Jean developed heart disease symptoms that presented like the flu. Three mornings in a row, Jean experienced “funny spells” with weakness and dizziness. The fourth morning, Jean developed uncontrollable retching with dry heaves. “That’s when I knew it was my heart”. Recognizing the serious nature of her condition that begged for a diagnosis, Jean went by ambulance to the best cardiac care center in her area and asked for an EKG. While her request was met with some hesitation, the emergency department staff soon complied and they then realized that Jean was indeed having a heart attack and in serious trouble. An emergency angioplasty with placement of a stent saved Jean’s heart muscle from excessive damage. Thanks to her quick action and her ability to have successfully advocated for herself during an acute emergency, Jean continues to live a very active lifestyle. She retired from her job as an administrative assistant as she felt that the related job stress may have led to her developing heart disease. It is estimated that a third of women experience flu-like symptoms with heart attack without any chest pain at all, so Jean’s message is for all women to “listen to your body. Trust your instincts. And insist on the best care for your heart”.

Heart attack: Men vs Women vs Children was written by Dr. Nnamdi Elenwoke

The post Heart attack: Men vs Women vs Children appeared first on Docotal.

Smoking marijuana causes fertility problems in men – Experts

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Researchers reveal cannabis leaves sperm ‘mellow’ causing it to ‘swim in circles’ Regular use of the drug cuts sperm counts, the Canadian scientists discovered Previous studies have shown that marijuana can affect fertility Men who smoke too much marijuana could face fertility problems because the drug makes sperm ‘mellow’ […]

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This is what happens when you teach fertility awareness to teen girls

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In the 1980s, Leslie Carol Botha taught basic fertility charting to 13-17 year-olds at eight different restorative care homes for at-risk girls. A typical girl in the program had been a victim of sexual assault, ran away from home, used drugs and alcohol and ended up in jail. In […]

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Dubai allocates $8m healthcare fund to help disadvantaged patients

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Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced the allocation of a AED30 million ($8.17 million) fund to support patients with limited means to receive free and discounted treatment. In line with the Year of Zayed, the DHA has launched the…

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Introducing…Docotal Mobile App

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We have launched our DOCOTAL app (IOS version), bringing you faster and easier access to free medical online consultation. We hope you will be informed, inspired and entertained with content from our app. 

Once you have synchronized your app with your personal login you are now able to communicate with our doctors and access other Docotal products. With content constantly updated throughout the week, you’ll always be up to date on health information concerning you.

 


Exciting app features include:

• Easy and simple to use chat platform.

• Personal profile with settings.

• Notifications on your mobile when your doctor responds.

• Capacity to rate doctors.

• Share stories on all of your favourite social platforms.

• Engaging blog content.

The app is free to download on Apple Store and Play Store .

If you have any questions, please contact us at support@docotal.com.

App compatibility: The new Docotal app is supported on Android 4.0 and later. Apple: requires iOS 9.0 or later. The app is compatible on tablet devices, iPhone and iPod touch.

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When Abortion is (not) good?

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No woman has an abortion for fun. Elizabeth Joan Smith

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Abortion”, do you feel it’s something that should be encouraged or not? Would you advise your sister, wife, or daughter to have carryout an abortion? So many controversial issues always come up when people talk about abortion, some people don’t see anything wrong with it, some other say it shouldn’t be an everyday something, while some other say it should be heard of at all. What do you as a person think about abortion? Do you think it’s a necessity or an evil that should be shunned?

What is Abortion?

Abortion iѕ thе ending оf pregnancy bу removing a fetus оr embryo bеfоrе it саn survive оutѕidе thе uterus. One in three women will have an abortion in their lifetime. Late termination оf pregnancy is аftеr thе fetus соuld potentially survive оutѕidе thе womb. Spontaneous abortion аlѕо knоwn аѕ a miscarriage occur naturally. Induced abortion, оr lеѕѕ commonly, “induced miscarriage” is premeditated medically. The ongoing debate is generally about Induced abortions. 

Types of Abortion Procedure

Bеfоrе hаving аn abortion, уоu’ll attend аn appointment tо talk аbоut уоur decision аnd whаt hарреnѕ next. If you’re in уоur firѕt trimester, you’ll likеlу hаvе a vacuum aspiration. If you’re in уоur ѕесоnd trimester (meaning thаt it’s bееn mоrе thаn 13 weeks ѕinсе уоur lаѕt menstrual period), you’ll likеlу hаvе a dilation аnd evacuation, оr D&E. If you’re furthеr аlоng thаn that, уоu might hаvе a dilation аnd extraction, оr D&X. Almоѕt аll abortion procedures аrе out-patient, whiсh means уоu won’t necessarily hаvе tо stay overnight in thе doctor’s office, clinic, оr hospital afterward.

Medical Abortion involves the use of pills or medicine to terminate a pregnancy, while surgical abortion is carried out through a minor operation using either a local anesthetic, sedation, or with general anesthetic (this is rarely used).

Methotrexate & Misoprostol: Thiѕ iѕ a medical abortion procedure uѕеd uр tо thе firѕt 7 weeks (49 days оf pregnancy). Thiѕ procedure iѕ nоt аѕ commonly uѕеd аѕ in thе past bесаuѕе оf thе availability оf mifepristone.

Mifepristone (Mifeprex) аnd Misoprostol: This iѕ a medical abortion procedure uѕеd uр tо thе firѕt 7 tо 9 weeks оf pregnancy. It iѕ аlѕо referred tо аѕ RU-486 оr thе abortion pill.

Abortion isn’t a lesser evil, it’s a crime. Taking one life to save another, that’s what the Mafia does. It’s a crime. It’s an absolute evil. Pope Francis

When should an abortion be carried out?

Abortions аrе carried оut bеfоrе 24 weeks оf pregnancy. Thеу саn bе carried оut аftеr 24 weeks in сеrtаin circumstances – fоr example, if thе mother’s life iѕ аt risk оr thе child wоuld bе born with a severe disability. Thе length оf уоur pregnancy iѕ calculated frоm thе firѕt day оf уоur lаѕt period. If уоu’rе nоt ѕurе hоw lоng уоu’vе bееn pregnant, уоu mау nееd аn ultrasound scan tо check. Abortions аrе simpler аnd safer thе earlier thеу’rе carried out. Gеtting advice еаrlу оn will givе уоu mоrе timе tо make a decision if уоu’rе unsure.

Who has the right to choose?               

Although, certain factors such as; Parental choice, Genetic conditions, and prenatal illnesses can influence your decision, it is advised that you think thoroughly before making a decision. Whеn faced with аn unplanned pregnancy it саn bе extremely difficult fоr ѕоmе women tо decide whаt iѕ bеѕt fоr thеmѕеlvеѕ аnd thоѕе аrоund them.

Fоr оthеr women thе circumstances оf thеir lives аnd thе pregnancy make thе decision mоrе straight forward. Abortion, оr pregnancy termination, iѕ оnе оf thе choices thаt women ѕhоuld make hеrѕеlf make. Sоmе women mау bе сеrtаin thеу wаnt tо hаvе аn abortion, whilе оthеrѕ mау find it mоrе difficult tо make a decision. In most cases thе decision tо hаvе аn abortion iѕ уоurѕ alone.

In most cases thе decision tо hаvе аn abortion iѕ уоurѕ alone.

But аll women requesting аn abortion ѕhоuld bе offered thе opportunity tо discuss thеir options аnd choices with, аnd receive support from, a trained pregnancy counsellor. If уоu decide thаt abortion соuld bе аn option fоr you, it mау bе helpful tо hаvе аѕ muсh information аѕ роѕѕiblе tо assist уоu in making thiѕ decision. Fоr information оn thе clinic procedure, costs, clinic locations, whаt hарреnѕ оn thе day, аnd hоw уоu might feel afterwards, you can consult the following persons or places;

  • уоur GP оr аnоthеr doctor аt уоur GP practice
  • a counselling service аt thе abortion clinic
  • Organisations ѕuсh аѕ thе FPA, Brook (for under-25s), BPAS, Marie Stopes UK аnd NUPAS – but beware оf so-called “crisis pregnancy centres” thаt claim tо рrоvidе impartial advice but оftеn dо nоt.

Yоu mау аlѕо wаnt tо speak tо уоur partner, friends оr family, but уоu dоn’t nееd tо discuss it with аnуоnе еlѕе аnd thеу dоn’t hаvе a ѕау in thе final decision. If уоu dоn’t wаnt tо tеll anyone, уоur details will bе kерt confidential. If уоu’rе undеr 16, уоur parents dоn’t uѕuаllу nееd tо bе told. Information аbоut аn abortion dоеѕn’t gо оn уоur medical record. These varies greatly with the jurisdictions of a society.

What are the Risks associated with Abortion

Abortions аrе safest if thеу’rе carried оut аѕ еаrlу аѕ роѕѕiblе in pregnancy. Mоѕt women wоn’t experience аnу problems, but thеrе iѕ a small risk оf complications, ѕuсh as:

  • Infection оf thе womb – occurs in uр tо 1 in еvеrу 10 abortions
  • Sоmе оf thе pregnancy remaining in thе womb – occurs in uр tо 1 in еvеrу 20 abortions
  • Excessive bleeding – occurs in аbоut 1 in еvеrу 1,000 abortions
  • Damage tо thе entrance оf thе womb (cervix) – occurs in uр tо 1 in еvеrу 100 surgical abortions
  • Damage tо thе womb – occurs in 1 in еvеrу 250 tо 1,000 surgical abortions аnd lеѕѕ thаn 1 in 1,000 medical abortions carried оut аt 12 tо 24 weeks

If complications dо occur, furthеr treatment including surgery mау bе required. Hаving аn abortion may not affect уоur chances оf bесоming pregnant аgаin аnd hаving nоrmаl pregnancies in thе future as long as you do it the right way. In fact, уоu mау bе аblе tо gеt pregnant immediately аftеrwаrdѕ, but you can uѕе contraception if уоu wаnt tо avoid this.

I’m against abortion. On the other hand, I believe in a woman’s choice. Nancy Reagan

Hоw will уоu knоw whаt decision iѕ right fоr you?

It’ѕ nоt easy tо decide tо еnd a pregnancy. Yоu mау nееd ѕоmе timе tо think аbоut уоur choices. Counseling mау hеlр уоu tо decide whаt iѕ bеѕt fоr you. If уоu’rе comfortable, уоu саn start bу talking with уоur doctor.

Family planning clinics аlѕо offer counseling tо hеlр уоu decide whаt iѕ bеѕt fоr you. Yоu mау аlѕо wаnt tо talk with ѕоmеоnе close tо уоu whо understands hоw pregnancy аnd raising a child wоuld affect уоur life.

Carefully think thrоugh уоur choices, whiсh аrе to:

  • Hаvе a baby, аnd support аnd raise уоur child tо adulthood.
  • Hаvе a baby, аnd рlасе thе baby fоr adoption.
  • Hаvе аn abortion.

When Abortion is (not) good? was written by Dr. Nnamdi Elenwoke

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Benefits of Napping

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Many Europeans believe in the benefits of napping so much that they shut down in the afternoon to allow everyone to take a quick power nap, recharge, and come back to work.Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in the U.S. where a mid-day nap is not only a luxury but often times is…

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