MALARIA

Malaria is a parasitic disease typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the parasite. The parasites are called Plasmodium. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream. Once the parasites are inside your body, they travel to the liver, where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells.

Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. The parasites continue to infect red blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in cycles that last two to three days at a time.

There are four kinds of malaria parasites that can infect humans: Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. falciparum

P. falciparum causes a more severe form of the disease and those who contract this form of malaria have a higher risk of death. An infected mother can also pass the disease to her baby at birth. This is known as congenital malaria.

Malaria is transmitted by blood, so it can also be transmitted through:

• an organ transplant
• blood transfusion 
• use of shared needles or syringes

The symptoms of malaria typically develop within 10 days to 4 weeks following the infection. In some cases, symptoms may not develop for several months. Some malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant for long periods of time

STYMPTOMS INCLUDE

• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nause
• vomiting 
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions 
• coma
• bloody stool

COMPLICATIONS OF MALARIA 

• swelling of the blood vessels of the brain, or cerebral malaria
• an accumulation of fluid in the lungs that causes breathing problems, or pulmonary edema
• organ failure of the kidney, liver, or spleen
• anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells
• low blood sugar

ANY SYMPTOMS ? 

Your doctor will be able to diagnose malaria. During your appointment, your doctor will review your health history, including any recent travel to tropical climates. A physical exam will also be performed.

Your doctor will be able to determine if you have an enlarged spleen or liver. If you have symptoms of malaria, your doctor may order additional blood tests to confirm your diagnosis.

PREVENTION OF MALARIA 

• Removal of stagnant water from your environment 
• Cut all bushes in your environment 
• Use insecticide treated net
• Apply insect repellant on exposed skin
• Wear long sleeve cloths when outdoor at night
• seek medical advice if you have symptoms 

DEPRESSION

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.

FACTS ABOUT DEPRESSION

• Depression is a common mental disorder.
• Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer depression.
• Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
• Depression is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
• More women are affected by depression.
• Depression can lead to suicide.
• There are effective psychological and pharmacological treatment for depression.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION 

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AND TEENS 

In younger children, symptoms of depression may include

• sadness
• irritability
• clinginess
• worry
• aches and pains
• refusing to go to school
• being underweight

In teens, symptoms may include

• sadness
• irritability
• feeling negative and worthless
• anger
• poor performance or poor attendance at school
• feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive
• using recreational drugs or alcohol
• eating or sleeping too much
• self-harm
• loss of interest in normal activities
• avoidance of social interaction.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

 If you have any of the symptoms that has lasted for 2 weeks, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. If you're reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or loved one, or someone else you trust.

WHEN TO GET EMERGENCY HELP

Depression is an emergency when you start having suicidal ideation. Seek immediate medical attention without hesitation.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 'HYPERTENSION'

High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. It is defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90mmHg over a period of time.
High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems such as heart disease.
Blood pressure is determined by both the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

RISK FACTORS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 

• Smoking.

• Overweight or obesity 

• Inactivity or Lack of physical activity.

• Too much salt in the diet.

• Too much alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)

• Stress.

• Older age.

• Genetics

SYMPTOMS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

• Severe headache.

• Fatigue or confusion.

• Vision problems.

• Chest pain.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Irregular heartbeat.

• Blood in the urine.

• Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears.

STAGES OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE There are four stages of high blood pressure or hypertension which are determined by your blood pressure readings.

• STAGE 1 or Prehypertension is 120/80 to 139/89mmHg

• STAGE 2 or Mild Hypertension is 140/90 to 159/99mmHg

• STAGE 3 or Moderate Hypertension is 160/100 to 179/109mmHg

• STAGE 4 or Severe Hypertension is 180/110mmHg or higher.

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

you are likely to have your blood pressure taken as part of a routine doctors appointment. Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every 2 years or every year if you have one or more of the risk factors.

you should see your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms or have any of the risk factors.

TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK TIA

TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. It is often called mini stroke. It is a temporary moment of period similar to that of stroke. Since it doesn’t cause permanent damage, it’s often ignored. But this is a big mistake. TIAs may signal a full-blown stroke ahead.
About 1 in 3 people who has TIA will eventually develop a stroke with about half occuring within a year after the development of the TIA. TIA is both a warning for stroke and an opportunity to prevent it.

SYMPTOMS 
Most signs and symptoms disappear within an hour, though rarely symptoms may last up to 24 hours.
The signs and symptoms of a TIA resemble those found early in a stroke and may include sudden onset of:

• Weakness
• Sudden fall
• Numbness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg, typically on one side of your body
• Slurred or garbled speech
• Difficulty understanding others
• Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision
• Vertigo or loss of balance or coordination

You may have more than one TIA, and the recurrent signs and symptoms may be similar or different depending on which area of the brain is involved.

RISK FACTORS 

• Family history. Your risk may be greater if one of your family members has had a TIA or a stroke.
• Age. Your risk increases as you get older, especially after age 55.
• Sex. Men have a slightly higher risk of a TIA and a stroke. But as women age, their risk of a stroke goes up.
• Prior transient ischemic attack. If you've had one or more TIAs, you're much more likely to have a stroke.
• Sickle cell disease. Stroke is a frequent complication of sickle cell disease. Sickle-shaped blood cells carry less oxygen and also tend to get stuck in artery walls, hampering blood flow to the brain. However, with proper treatment of sickle cell disease, you can lower your risk of a stroke.
• High blood pressure. The risk of a stroke begins to increase at blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
• High cholesterol. Eating less cholesterol and fat, especially saturated fat and trans fat, may reduce the plaques in your arteries. If you can't control your cholesterol through dietary changes alone, your doctor may prescribe a statin or another type of cholesterol-lowering medication.
• Cardiovascular disease. This includes heart failure, a heart defect, a heart infection or an abnormal heart rhythm.
• Carotid artery disease. The blood vessels in your neck that lead to your brain become clogged.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD). The blood vessels that carry blood to your arms and legs become clogged.
• Diabetes. Diabetes increases the severity of atherosclerosis — narrowing of the arteries due to accumulation of fatty deposits — and the speed with which it develops.
• High levels of homocysteine. Elevated levels of this amino acid in your blood can cause your arteries to thicken and scar, which makes them more susceptible to clots.
• Excess weight. Obesity, especially carrying extra weight in the abdominal area, increases stroke risk in both men and women.
• Cigarette smoking. Smoking increases your risk of blood clots, raises your blood pressure and contributes to the development of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis).
• Physical inactivity. Engaging in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days helps reduce risk.
• Poor nutrition. Reducing your intake of fat and salt decreases your risk of a TIA and a stroke.
• Heavy drinking. limit yourself to no more than two drinks daily if you're a man and one drink daily if you're a woman.
• Use of illicit drugs. Avoid cocaine and other illicit drugs.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

TIAs most often occur hours or days before a stroke. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you've had a transient ischemic attack. Prompt evaluation and identification of potentially treatable conditions may help you prevent a stroke.

WATER, ITS MEDICAL USE

Water is a colorless and odorless substance found all over Earth. Water is made up of billions of molecules. Water on our planet flows as liquid in rivers, streams, and oceans; is solid as ice at the North and South Poles; and is gas (vapor) in the atmosphere. Water is also underground and inside plants and animals. water is everywhere.Water makes up on average 60% of an adult’s body weight, from 31 % in bones to 83% in lungs.
The human body cannot store water. Every day we are constantly losing water though breathing, sweating and through the release of urine and faeces. Ensuring that lost fluids are replenished in a timely manner and that our bodies are correctly hydrated is essential for good health and for the body to operate.
Recommended water intake per day is 2liters on the average.

ITS MEDICAL USE

• Water carries nutrients to all cells in our body and oxygen to our brain
• Water allows the body to absorb and assimilate minerals, vitamins, amino acids, glucose and other substances
• Water flushes out toxins and waste
• Water helps to regulate body temperature
• Water acts as a lubricant for joints and muscles
• Water contributes to the maintenance of normal physical and cognitive function
• Water helps your mental health stability 
• Water contributes to the maintenance of normal thermoregulation.
• Drinking water is the healthiest way of hydrating and water plays an essential part in keeping our bodies healthy and properly functioning.
• Water helps maximize physical performance by increasing your strength, power and endurance.
• Water prevents constipation. 
• Drinking water while dieting and exercising helps you lose weight
• Drinking water helps fight certain medical conditions such as kidney stones, exercise induces asthma, urinary tract infection.
• Water rejuvenates the skin. 

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION

Lifestyle modification is healthy living. It comprises of the things we do and the activities we engage ourselves in order to improve our health.

It essentially reduces the risk of chronic diseases and reduces its occurrence in people who are genetically predisposed to chronic diseases. It also helps to improve the life expectancy of those who have been diagnosed with these diseases.
Chronic diseases includes cardiovascular problems with the commonest being hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, epilepsy, HIV AIDS, mood disorders, cancer and so on

Lifestyle modification involves 2 essential parts which is DIET and EXERCISE. The saying goes, we are what we eat. High fiber diet is an integral and essential part of our daily living. It increases metabolism, aids digestion and plays a role in the removal of toxins from the body. High fiber diet includes fruits and vegetables which should be included in our daily meals. A high percentage of our daily meal should be high fiber diet.
Exercise is recommended as part of our daily activities. It is a meal on it's own which should not be missed. Thirty minute of moderate exercise daily is ideal. However, you should consult your physician if you have any chronic disease for an exercise plan. Exercise refreshes, it rejuvenates and it's a good mood stabilizer. It aids digestion, metabolism and also helps in the removal of toxins from the body. Its ensures proper circulation of blood through the body and makes the heart healthy.

(COVID19) THE 'NOVEL' CORONAVIRUS

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses causes respiratory tract infection that can range from mild to severe.  Mild illnesses include some cases of the common cold while more severe varieties can cause SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME SARS, MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME MERS, and COVID-19

The 'novel' coronavirus

what is a novel cornavirus

A novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus

The Coronavirus disease 2019 is the novel coronavirus

CO stands for Corona, VI for virus and D for disease.

it was first identified in Wuhan, China.

Covid19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. 

HOW DOES COVID19 SPREAD 

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow). It can also spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for a few hours to several days, but simple disinfectants can kill it. Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets, rather than through the air. 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID19 

symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath. In more severe cases, pneumonia and breathing difficulties may occur. The disease can be fatal

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM COVID19 

●wash your hands regularly with soap under running water for a minimum of 20seconds

●disinfects your hands with alcohol based hand rub

●cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue while coughing or sneezing 

●dispose of used tissue immediately 

●avoid close contact with anyone who has flu or cold like symptoms 

●regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
●practice social distancing (stay at least 6ft(2 meters) from other people)
●do not gather in groups
●stay out of crowded places and mass gatherings 

●seek medical care early if you notice any symptoms 

PAIN

pain is an uncomfortable feeling that tells you something may be wrong. it is an unpleasant physical sensation caused by injury or illness.  it can be steady, throbbing,  stabbing,  aching, pinching, or described in many other ways. it can be classified as either acute or chronic 

Acute pain may be mild and last just a moment. It can also be severe and last for weeks or up to 3 months. Acute pain has a distinct beginning and end. The cause of acute pain is known and a you heal, the pain will lessen and finally go. Acute pain is triggered in patients with surgery, injury, childbirth and acute illness. It is caused by damage to variety of tissues. Commonly injured tissues include skin, muscle, bone, tendons, ligaments  and visceral organs 

Chronic pain lasts for more than 6 months. Pain is considered chronic when it continues beyond the usual recovery period for an injury or illness. Chronic pain sometimes called persistent pain is often intractable as the cause of pain cannot be removed or treated and is resistant to most medical treatment. In many chronic pain state, repetitive,  persistent or recurrent peripheral nociceptive features can lead to neuroplasticity changes in the spinal cord and brain that result in a central sensitization and consequent chronic pain

Low back problem, arthritis,  cancer , shingles, migraine and fibromyalgia are the most common sources of chronic pain. Others include diabetic neuropathy,  phantom limb sensation and other neurological conditions