November, 2015 - Best Private Hospital in Dubai Al Mankhool | IMH Dubai

Could It Be COPD ?

Do you know what COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is? This chronic lung disease is a major cause of illness, yet many people have it and don’t know it. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. “Progressive” means that the disease gets worse over time.

If you answer these questions, it will help you find out if you could have COPD:

1. Do you cough several times most days?
         Yes                          No

2. Do you bring up phlegm or mucus most days?
         Yes                          No

3. Do you get out of breath more easily than others your age?
         Yes                          No

4. Are you older than 40 years?
         Yes                          No

5. Are you a current smoker or an ex-smoker?
         Yes                          No

If you answered “YES” to three or more of these questions, ask your doctor if you might have COPD.

Finding COPD early gives the best chance to prevent further lung damage. However, treatments are available to help people at all stages of disease feel better and live a more active life.

It’s not too late to get help for COPD!

COPD is a leading cause of death worldwide, ranking behind ischemic heart disease and stroke. It kills nearly 3 million people a year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. And yet perhaps one-quarter to one-half of people with the disease don’t know they have it. It is COPD, which means Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a life-threatening disease that progressively robs people of breath. Yet there is good news. There is help for COPD. COPD can be diagnosed with a quick, painless lung function test called spirometry—it’s almost as simple as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.And for people diagnosed with COPD, there are medications and treatments available to help them feel better and live longer.

Today is World COPD Day!

So, if you are a current or ex-smoker, are over age 40, and you have symptoms like a chronic cough, bringing up phlegm, and breathlessness, it’s time for a checkup. It’s not too late to get help for COPD!

Heart Attack

Heart Attack – How to predict ?
The heart muscle needs oxygen to survive. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that carries oxygen to the heart muscle is severely reduced or gets cut off completely. This happens because coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscles with the blood flow, slowly become narrow due to accumulation of fat, cholesterol or plaque. This slow process is known as atherosclerosis. When a plaque in a heart artery breaks away blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow to the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and nutrients, it is called ischaemia. When damage or death of part of the heart muscle occurs as a result of ischemia, it is called a heart attack or Myocardial Infarction (MI).

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WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people who are affected are not sure what’s wrong and wait too long before seeking help. Here are a few signs that can tell if a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, at the back, neck, jaws or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort: Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness. Even if one is not sure it’s a heart attack, get it checked. Every minute matters! Prompt action can save a life. Don’t wait for more than five minutes to call an emergency response number.
RISK FACTORS AND PREVENTION
It is recommended that prevention of heart attack begins by 20 years of age. This means assessing and controlling the risk factors. Heart attack or stroke is fatal or disabling, so prevention is critical. There are some controllable factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke such as:
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity

THE ABC OF HEART ATTACK PREVENTION
(A) Avoid Tobacco
(B) Be more active
(C) Choose good nutrition

HOW TO PREDICT AND MANAGE

Symptoms of heart disease which may lead to a heart attack
Suspect heart disease if you notice that ordinary physical activity causes you to experience: Undue fatigue, palpitations (the sensation that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too rapidly), dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing) or angina (chest pain or discomfort from increased activity).
Non-invasive and invasive investigations
Certain tests can be performed to detect presence of atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. These include non-invasive stress tests (TMT or Stress Echocardiography or Stress Thallium) or CT Coronary Angiography. Gold standard for diagnosis and decision on mode of treatment is conventional angiography that can now be performed even through the wrist for early ambulation of patients.

How do I confirm if a heart attack has occurred?
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) discovers damage to the heart by making a graphical record of the heart’s electrical activity. Blood testing to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream called heart damage markers or cardiac markers.

INTERVENTIONS IN A HEART ATTACK: GOLDEN HOUR
Time is muscle and the best time to act is the first hour to save maximum heart muscle from damage. Aspirin tablet 325 mg is the first intervention that is possible to administer at home on suspecting a heat attack.
Thrombolysis: It involves injecting a clot-dissolving drug to restore blood flow in the blocked coronary artery. This should be administered within a few (usually three to six) hours of a heart attack at a heart facility.
Coronary Angioplasty: Many patients who reach hospital in time can undergo coronary angioplasty to restore blood supply to the heart muscle and abort a heart attack.

Prepare your kids for exams!!!

Exams are important milestones in your children’s education. Younger children need much more assistance than older children in preparing for exams. The guidance that you provide in the early stages will enable your children to study with discipline and dedication later on, on their own. If your children are still in kindergarten or primary classes, you will need to invest much more time. However, with older children, you may face problems of a different kind—disobedience and rebellion, which require greater tact.

Prepare your kids for exams Prepare kids for exams

• Never let your children postpone studying until a day before the exams. This will only increase their anxiety and stress levels. Preparation is the key to success. Don’t listen to any excuses and don’t be swayed by assurances. The best course is to have your children study for some time everyday. Even if this is not possible, ensure that they begin preparing for the exams at least two to three weeks in advance.

• Do not impose yourself on your children. Some children require more support while others are happier studying on their own. This depends on your children’s nature. However, let them know that you’re always there to help them.

• It is not enough to read up matter. Your children should be able to recall the same in the examination hall. Hold question and answer sessions where you ask them random questions on the subject once they have finished studying.

• Prepare a timetable for each child. You can cover subjects in the order of the examination schedule or you can tackle difficult subjects first. For younger children, two to three hours of study a day should suffice. Children in the secondary and higher secondary classes should study for four or five hours a day when the exams are due. Alternate languages and practical subjects like mathematics to minimise boredom.

• Especially for older children, access to question papers from previous years is a must. These may be available in the school library, with teachers or you can secure them from the senior students. Have them solve at least one or two papers in each subject, within the given time limit. This is like a rehearsal and helps in mitigating exam nerves. It will also give your child an idea of how much time to allot for each question.

• Don’t allow your children to stay up or wake up too early. Make sure that they get at least eight hours of sleep. Inadequate sleep affects the brain’s functioning and will reduce your children’s retention. Discourage use of caffeine or other stimulants to remain awake.

• Children these days suffer from as much stress as adults. Do not pressurise your child ever. Do not entertain negativity and empower them with confidence if they start moaning about previous performances.

• Create a study-ritual for your children. Encourage them to use the same place to study everyday, preferably somewhere quiet and pleasant. The outdoors is a great option as well. Let them be silent and make a resolve to study well before beginning the session. End every session with a revision of what has been covered. Set small goals–one or two chapters or even topics. If they are studying for long durations, schedule breaks every one or two hours. Let them do what they like such as go for a walk, meditate or solve a puzzle.

• Older children may benefit from group study, especially for subjects that they find difficult. It is preferable if your child can go to his friends’ houses rather than having them over. This way, he can leave if the session is proving to be a waste of time.

• On the D-Day, wake your children up well in time and serve them a light breakfast. Set aside time for a disciplined revision. Teach them relaxation exercises. Ensure that they have their pens and pencils, examination pad and other necessary items before leaving the house. Wish them luck and hope for the best!

Don’t Procrastinate with Pelvic Pain

If you have recurring pain in your pelvis or bladder, you probably don’t think “interstitial cystitis.” It’s a long name for a condition that can be difficult to diagnose because it can have multiple, interrelated causes.

Interstitial cystitis, or “IC,” is a chronic health issue in which patients feel pain or pressure in the bladder area. An estimated 4 million people in the U.S. suffer from IC, approximately 80 percent of them female.

Pelvic Pain Women

Several different conditions – or combinations of conditions – can cause IC. That’s why it’s important to consult with your physician if you’re experiencing pelvic pain. A proper diagnosis may require time and you don’t want to suffer any longer than necessary.

To further complicate the diagnosis, symptoms range from mild to severe and vary from person to person. Any of the following could indicate IC:

  • Pain ranging from ‘nagging’ to ‘intense’ in the bladder and surrounding pelvic region
  • A sense of urgency and/or increased frequency of urination
  • Pain that worsens during menstruation
  • Painful sexual intercourse for women
  • Pain or discomfort in the scrotum or penis
Pelvic Pain Man

For many, IC feels like a bladder infection, though antibiotics make no impact because there’s no infection to treat. The exact cause of pain with IC is actually not clear, but several theories exist. These range from an allergic response to autoimmune reaction to an excessive inflammatory response to even the slightest stimulus which would not generally be perceived as painful in a patient who does not have IC.

IC can frustrate patients because besides a challenging diagnosis, not everyone responds the same way to the same treatment. In addition, IC treatments can take several weeks to several months to provide relief.

If you suffer from pelvic pain, begin with an open discussion with your physician. Whether or not you are diagnosed with IC, you can start to work toward solutions to your condition. Treatment options, such as pharmaceuticals, nerve stimulations or surgery can be evaluated and your doctor can help you decide on the appropriate approach for you.

 
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