5 People With Extra Body Parts

Introducing 5 incredible people with extra body parts.

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सिगरेट पीने में चीन नंबर 1 तो भारत भी बहुत पीछे नहीं

20-30 साल पहले भारत में सिगरेट का डिब्बा कुछ रईसों के जेब ही मिलता था. पर अब कहानी बदल चुकी है. गरीब देशों की प्रति व्यक्ति आय बढ़ने के साथ-साथ वहां सिगरेट पीने वालों की तादात भी बहुत तेजी से बढ़ रही है. विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (WHO) की नयी रिपोर्ट में ये सनसनीखेज खुलासा हुआ है.

सबसे ज्यादा स्मोकर्स कहां?

रिपोर्ट बताती है कि 10 साल के पहले यूरोप में सिगरेट पीने वालों की सबसे बड़ी फौज थी पर अब चीन ने पूरी दुनिया को पीछे छोड़ दिया है. पूरी दुनिया में करीब 1 अरब स्मोकर्स है. जिनमें 80 फीसदी से ज्यादा सिर्फ मिडिल क्लास और लोवर क्लास के लोग हैं. मतलब हर 5 में 4 स्मोकर्स मिडिल क्लास या लोवर क्लास से तालुक रखता हैं. WHO की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि चीन में स्मोकर्स की कुल संख्या अन्य सभी विकसशील देशों के स्मोकर्स की संख्या से भी ज्यादा है.

कुल कितनी सिगरेट पी गयी?

अकेले साल 2014 में दुनिया में मौजूद 100 करोड़ स्मोकर्स ने कुल 5 लाख 60 हजार करोड़ सिगरेट पी डाली. आकड़ों के मुताबिक हर स्मोकर ने हर दिन करीब 15 से 16 सिगरेट पी हैं. WHO ने कहा कि आने वाले दिनों में इससे भी ज्यादा चौकानें वाले आकड़े सामने आ सकते है.

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मैगी के बाद अब चीन पर गिरी गाज, दूध, चाकलेट पर बैन का फरमान

सरकार ने चीन से आने वाले दूध और उसके उत्पादों पर प्रतिबंध जून 2016 तक बढ़ा दिया है. विदेश व्यापार महानिदेशालय ने एक अधिसूचना में कहा, चीन से दूध एवं सारे दूध उत्पाद के साथ-साथ चाकलेट उत्पादों, टॉफी के आयात पर प्रतिबंध को एक और वर्ष के लिये बढ़ा दिया गया है.

यह प्रतिबंध 23 जून 2016 या अगले आदेश तक रहेगा.भारत ने सबसे पहले प्रतिबंध सितंबर 2008 में लगाया था. इसका कारण मेलामाइन पाया जाना था जिसका उपयोग प्लास्टिक और उर्वरक बनाने में होता है. भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा एवं मानक प्राधिकरण ने चीन से आयातित दूध एवं उसके उत्पादों पर प्रतिबंध की अवधि एक साल बढ़ाने की कल सिफारिश की थी.

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अब महंगा पड़ेगा शराब पीकर गाड़ी चलाना, चुकाना होगा 10 हजार तक का जुर्माना!

शराब पीकर गाड़ी चलाने के बढ़ते मामले को देखते हुए सरकार इस ओर जुर्माना राशि‍ में पांच गुना तक बढ़ोतरी का निर्णय कर सकती है. खबरों के मुताबिक, समस्या पर अंकुश लगाने के लिए परिवहन मंत्रालय भारी जुर्माना वसूलने के साथ ही इस ओर सजा का सहारा लेने पर विचार कर रहा है.

इसके तहत जुर्माने की राशि को पांच गुना बढ़ाकर 10 हजार रुपये, छह महीने से एक साल तक की सजा और एक साल के लिए गाड़ी जब्त करने तक के प्रस्ताव हैं. पहली बार नियम तोड़ने वाले से 10 हजार रुपये की पेनल्टी वसूली जा सकती है और बार-बार ऐसा करने वाले के लिए सजा सख्त करते जाने का प्रस्ताव है.

एक अंग्रेजी अखबार के मुताबिक, यह प्रस्ताव सड़क परिवहन और सुरक्षा बिल में शामिल हैं, जिसे परिवहन मंत्रालय ने कानून मंत्रालय के बाद राज्य सरकारों को फीडबैक के लिए भेजा है. वर्तमान में नशे की हालत में गाड़ी चलाने पर 2000 रुपये तक जुर्माना या छह महीने तक की सजा का प्रावधान है.

एक से अधिक लाइसेंस पर जुर्माना

बिल में एक से ज्यादा लाइसेंस रखने वालों या एक से ज्यादा लाइसेंस के लिए अप्लाई करने वालों के लिए भी जुर्माने की बात कही गई है. बिल को मंजूरी मिली तो बिना इंश्योरेंस वाली गाड़ी चलाने पर भी जुर्माने का प्रावधान होगा. इसके लिए दो हजार रुपये से लेकर एक लाख रुपये तक चुकाना होगा. जुर्माने की राशि गाड़ी के हिसाब से वसूली जाएगी. हाल ही यह तथ्य सामने आया था कि भारत में 70 फीसदी गाड़ियों का इंश्योरेंश नहीं है.

इस बिल में ट्रैफिक नियम तोड़ने वालों के साथ-साथ ऑटो कंपनियों को भी जवाबदेह बनाने की कोशिश की गई है. गलत डिजाइन या दोषपूर्ण मैन्युफैक्चरिंग और गड़बड़ी पकड़ में आने के बाद गाड़ियों को रिकॉल नहीं करने पर ऑटो कंपनियों के लिए जुर्माने और सजा का प्रस्ताव है. गाड़ियों के डिजाइन में गड़बड़ी पर 5 लाख रुपये तक जुर्माना और गाड़ी को रिकॉल करने से इनकार करने पर तीन महीने तक की सजा या गाड़ी की कीमत के बराबर जुर्माने का प्रस्ताव है.

एक अधिकारी ने बताया कि रेड लाइट जंप करने, सीट बेल्ट नहीं लगाने जैसे मामलों के लिए कम जुर्माने का प्रावधान किया गया है. जबकि सड़क दुर्घटना में बच्चे की मौत जैसे मामलों में भारी जुर्माना चुकाना होगा. बिल में हर अपराध पर निगेटिव स्कोरिंग का प्रस्ताव है और एक लेवल से ज्यादा निगेटिव स्कोर होने के बाद लाइसेंस स्थगित कर दी जाएगी.

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यूपी में मिले पोलियो के लक्षण, WHO ने 208 सैंपल मुंबई भेजा

भारत को पोलियो मुक्त राष्ट्र का दर्जा मिले अभी एक साल ही बीता है. लेकिन अब इस बीमारी जैसे लक्षण पाए गए हैं जिससे स्वास्थ विभाग में हड़कंप मचा है.

उत्तर प्रदेश में करीब 200 सैंपल में इस बीमारी के संकेत पाए गए हैं. वहीं अधिकारियों को 5 से 15 साल से बच्चों में पैरालिसिस और हाथ-पैर की मांसपेशियों में कमजोरी की शिकायत भी मिली है. सूचना मिलने के बाद डॉक्टरों की एक टीम ने प्राइमरी और कम्युनिटी हेल्थ सेंटर पर जांच की और रिपोर्ट वर्ल्ड हेल्थ ऑर्गनाइजेशन (WHO) को सौंपी गई.

अंग्रेजी अखबार 'द टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया' में छपी खबर के मुताबिक WHO ने यूपी के बहेरी, मीरगंज, फरीदपुर और नवाबगंज तेहसिल से करीब 208 स्टूल सैंपल मुंबई भेजे हैं. इसकी जांच रिपोर्ट का इंतजार है. वहीं दूसरी तरफ स्थानीय प्रशासन ने भी कमर कस ली है. इस पर नजर रखने के लिए स्पेशल टीम तैनात की गई है.

चीफ मेडिकल ऑफिसर विजय यादव ने कहा, 'हाथ-पैर में कमजोरी का केवल ये मतलब नहीं कि बच्चा पोलियो का शिकार है. जब तक स्टूल सैंपल की पूरी जांच रिपोर्ट नहीं आ जाती, इसे पोलियो नहीं कहा जा सकता है.' उन्होंने कहा, 'अभी तक 170 सैंपल के रिपोर्ट मिले हैं जिनमें पोलियो की बात साबित नहीं हुई है.'

विजय यादव ने कहा कि यूपी में पोलियो का आखिरी केस 2010 में फिरोजाबाद जिले में मिला था. वही, 2015 में WHO ने 5,551 सैंपल टेस्ट किए जिनमें ज्यादातर केस पोलियो मुक्त थे. 787 सैंपल की रिपोर्ट आनी अभी बाकी है.

WHO के नियम के अनुसार एक देश को पोलियो मुक्त राष्ट्र का दर्जा तभी मिलता है जब वहां लगातार तीन साल पोलियो का कोई केस ना मिले. भारत में ऐसा आखिरी मामला पश्चिम बंगाल के हावड़ा में 2011 में पाया गया था. इसके बाद मार्च 2014 में भारत को पोलियो मुक्त का दर्जा मिल गया

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डेटॉल साबुन भी लैब टेस्ट में हुआ फेल, कंपनी को भेजा गया नोटिस

मैगी नूडल्स के बाद अब एक और मल्टीनेशनल ब्रांड का प्रोडक्ट लैबोरेट्री टेस्ट में फेल हो गया है. इस बार रेकिट बेंकिजर कंपनी का डेटॉल साबुन लैब टेस्ट में फेल हो गया.

डेटॉल सोप के साथ 10 दवाओं के सैंपल भी लैब में तय मानकों के हिसाब से खरे नहीं पाए गए, जिसके बाद इन्हें बनाने वाली कंपनियों को नोटिस भेजा गया है.

आगरा से इकट्ठे किए गए थे सैंपल

फूड एंड ड्रग्स एडमिनि‍स्ट्रेशन (FDA) ने पिछले साल आगरा में सैंपल इकट्ठे करके उन्हें लखनऊ में लैब टेस्ट के लिए भेजा था. टेस्ट की रिपोर्ट FDA, डेटॉल और उन दस दवा कंपनियों को भेजी गई थी, जो तय मानकों पर खरी नहीं उतरीं.

वजन भी निकला कम 

आगरा के ड्रग इंस्पेक्टर आरसी यादव ने बताया, 'डेटॉल सोप का जो सैंपल हमने लिया था, उसके रैपर पर वजन 125 ग्राम लिखा था, लेकिन हमारे टेस्ट में सही वजन 117.0470 ग्राम निकला. यह साबुन संतोष कुमार वाल्मीकि नाम के उस शख्स की दुकान से लिया गया था, जो बगैर लाइसेंस के दुकान चला रहा है.

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एल्कोहल के गरारे करने से मसूड़ों का दर्द होता है दूर, जानें 10 Dental care tips

लाइफइस्टाइल डेस्क: हर इंसान उम्र के किसी न किसी पडाव में दंतरोगों से सामना जरूर करता है। दांतों की समस्याओं के निपटारे के लिए यूं तो बाजार में अनेक दवाइयां उपलब्ध हैं, लेकिन केमिकल दवाओं के दुष्प्रभावों से अक्सर लेने के देने पड़ जाते हैं। प्राचीनकाल के आयुर्वेदिक ग्रंथों में भी हर्बल उपचार द्वारा दांतों की समस्याओं के निपटारे के लिए अनेक नुस्खों का जिक्र किया गया है। सुदूर ग्रामीण अंचलों में आज भी आदिवासी हर्बल नुस्खों का उपयोग कर अपनी दांतों की बीमारियों का इलाज करते हैं। चलिए, आज जानते हैं दंतरोगों के लिए आदिवासियों द्वारा आजमाए जाने वाले कुछ चुनिंदा 10 हर्बल नुस्खों के बारे में।

दंतरोगों के निवारण के संदर्भ में रोचक जानकारियों और परंपरागत हर्बल ज्ञान का जिक्र कर रहे हैं डॉ. दीपक आचार्य (डायरेक्टर-अभुमका हर्बल प्रा. लि. अहमदाबाद)। डॉ. आचार्य पिछले 15 सालों से अधिक समय से भारत के सुदूर आदिवासी अंचलों जैसे पातालकोट (मध्य प्रदेश), डांग (गुजरात) और अरावली (राजस्थान) से आदिवासियों के पारंपरिक ज्ञान को एकत्रित कर उन्हें आधुनिक विज्ञान की मदद से प्रमाणित करने का कार्य कर रहे हैं।

दारू और नकछिकनी

1-मसूड़ों को मजबूत बनाने के लिए आदिवासी दारू और हल्दी का काढ़ा बनाकर उससे गरारे करते हैं। ऐसा करने से दांतों के दर्द से राहत मिलती है।

2-दांतों में अधिक दर्द होने पर नकछिकनी को पीसकर लेप तैयार कर गुनगुना करके उससे कुल्ला कर थूक देने और गालों की सिंकाई करने से दांतों का दर्द जल्दी खत्म होता है।

अनार और काली मिर्च का उपयोग

3-अनार के फूल छाया में सुखाकर बारीक पीस कर मंजन की तरह दिन में 2 से 3 बार इस्तेमाल किया जाए तो दांतों से खून आना बंद हो जाता है और दांत मजबूत हो जाते हैं।

4- दांतों के दर्द में काली मिर्च के काढ़े से कुल्ला करने से फायदा होता है। पातालकोट के हर्बल जानकारों के अनुसार, प्रतिदिन रोज सुबह खाली पेट ऐसा करने से दंतरोग होने की संभावनाएं लगभग शून्य हो जाती हैं।

गिलोए और गुंदा की छाल

5- पातालकोट के आदिवासी मानते हैं कि गिलोय के तने और बबूल की फलियों के चूर्ण की समान मात्रा सुबह-शाम मंजन की तरह उपयोग में लायी जाए तो दांतों को ठंड या कनकनी लगनी बंद हो जाती है।

6- गुंदा की छाल की लगभग 200 ग्राम मात्रा लेकर इतनी ही मात्रा पानी में उबाल कर जब यह एक-चौथाई बच जाए तो इससे कुल्ला करने से मसूडों की सूजन, दांतों का दर्द और मुंह के छालों में आराम मिल जाता है। 

पत्तागोभी, बरगद की छाल और महुआ का उपयोग

7- पत्तागोभी का रस लगभग 75 मिली प्रतिदिन लेने से दांतों से संबंधित रोग और पायरिया आदि में लाभ होता है। इसका सलाद बनाकर खाने से भी इन सभी विकारों के में फ़ायदा होता है।

8-लगभग 10 ग्राम बरगद की छाल, कत्था और 2 ग्राम काली मिर्च को बारीक पीसकर चूर्ण बनाकर मंजन करने से दांतों का हिलना बंद हो जाता है। इससे सांसों की बदबू भी दूर हो जाती है। लगातार इस मंजन का उपयोग करने से दांत मोती की तरह चमकने लगते हैं। 

9-पातालकोट के आदिवासी महुआ की टहनियों का इस्तेमाल दातून के रूप में करते हैं। उनके अनुसार, ऐसा करने से दांत मजबूत होते हैं और मसूडों से खून आना बंद हो जाता है।

10-डांग- गुजरात के आदिवासी अनंतमूल के पत्तों का उपयोग दंतरोगों को दूर करने के लिए करते हैं। माना जाता है कि अनंतमूल के पत्तों को दांतों के बीच दबा लिया जाए तो यह दांत दर्द खींच लेता है।

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Five preventive measures from Swine Flu

Swine Influenza (H1N1) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. It is commonly known as Swine Flu and Pig Flu. This disease is dangerous for pigs as well as humans.

The influenza virus in pigs causes them high level of illness and symptoms like runny nose, cough, decreased appetite and lethargy. The virus spreads from pig to pig.

However, it can also be directly transmitted to the humans as well by direct contact with the infected pigs.

The disease is contagious and dangerous leading to deaths among the human beings. It can also be transmitted from person to person. The virus of this disease spreads by just sneezing, coughing or coming in direct contact with the infected person.

History of Swine Flu:

During 1918 Flu Pandemic, Swine Flu was proposed to be a disease related to Human flu, when human beings and pigs fell ill at the same time. But later on in the year 1930, the first influenza virus was identified as the cause of deaths among the pigs and the humans.

Symptoms in humans: 

H1N1 causes a person undergo fever, headache, body ache, cold, cough, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea etc. It is recommended to visit the doctor as soon as a person suffers any of these symptoms.

The Government of India has provided with 'Tamiflu' as an anti viral drug for the prevention or the treatment from/for the disease. The drug is available at 10,000 medical stores across the nation.

Here are the five effective steps you should take to keep Swine Flu away:

1. The best way to prevent yourself from Swine Flu is to get flu vaccination or flu shot on annual basis. This protects your body from getting infected by the disease;
2. Wash your hands properly using soap or sanitiser. This prevents the germs to get into the body and infect us. It is very important to wash hands before intake of any meal;
3. One of the most important preventive measure is to avoid contact with people suffering from swine flu. Coming in contact with the infected person may lead you to catch the virus;
4. Although, the flu does not spread through food. But it is important to have properly handled cooked food. The raw food must be properly washed and cooked;
5. People who are prone to diseases are recommended to wear masks on mouth and nose so that they do not intake the virus from the environment.

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How to quit smoking without having to give it up altogether

How to quit smoking without having to give it up altogether

A study of more than 1,500 cigarette reported the effects of the prescription medication varenicline (Chantix) for increasing smoking abstinence rates among smokers who wanted to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoked before trying to quit completely.

Jon Ebbert, M.D., associate director for research in the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center, and lead author on the study, said that this opened the door to treatment for approximately 14 million smokers who have no intention of quitting in the next 30 days but are willing to reduce their smoking rate while working toward a quit attempt.

The study enrolled smokers who did not want to quit smoking in the next 30 days, but who were willing to work toward the goal of quitting in the next three months. Smokers were randomized to either six months of varenicline or placebo and their continuous smoking abstinence rates were evaluated at six and 12 months.

The researchers found that 760 participants receiving varenicline were greater than four times more likely to quit than the 750 participants receiving placebo at six months (32.1 % vs. 6.9 %) and over two times more likely to quit than participants receiving a placebo at 12 months (27.0 % vs. 9.9 %).

Dr. Ebbert said that smokers should know that varenicline could help in quitting smoking if they want to reduce their smoking prior to completely stopping. It's an effective and safe way to increase long-term smoking cessation.

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Bronchial Asthma

The scale of the problem

Between 100 and 150 million people around the globe -- roughly the equivalent of the population of the Russian Federation -- suffer from asthma and this number is rising. World-wide, deaths from this condition have reached over 180,000 annually.

• Around 8% of the Swiss population suffers from asthma as against only 2% some 25-30 years ago.
• In Germany, there are an estimated 4 million asthmatics.
• In Western Europe as a whole, asthma has doubled in ten years, according to the UCB Institute of Allergy in Belgium.
• In the United States, the number of asthmatics has leapt by over 60% since the early 1980s and deaths have doubled to 5,000 a year.
• There are about 3 million asthmatics in Japan of whom 7% have severe and 30% have moderate asthma.
• In Australia, one child in six under the age of 16 is affected.

Asthma is not just a public health problem for developed countries. In developing countries, however, the incidence of the disease varies greatly.

• India has an estimated 15-20 million asthmatics.
• In the Western Pacific Region of WHO, the incidence varies from over 50% among children in the Caroline Islands to virtually zero in Papua New Guinea.
• In Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, prevalence of asthma symptoms in children varies from 20% to 30%.
• In Kenya, it approaches 20%.
• In India, rough estimates indicate a prevalence of between 10% and 15% in 5-11 year old children.

The human and economic burden

Mortality due to asthma is not comparable in size to the day-to-day effects of the disease. Although largely avoidable, asthma tends to occur in epidemics and affects young people. The human and economic burden associated with this condition is severe. The costs of asthma to society could be reduced to a large extent through concerted international and national action.

• World-wide, the economic costs associated with asthma are estimated to exceed those of TB and HIV/AIDS combined.
• In the United States, for example, annual asthma care costs (direct and indirect) exceed US$6 billion.
• At present Britain spends about US$1.8 billion on health care for asthma and because of days lost through illness.
• In Australia, annual direct and indirect medical costs associated with asthma reach almost US$460 million.

What is asthma?

Asthma attacks all age groups but often starts in childhood. It is a disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in severity and frequency from person to person. In an individual, they may occur from hour to hour and day to day.

This condition is due to inflammation of the air passages in the lungs and affects the sensitivity of the nerve endings in the airways so they become easily irritated. In an attack, the lining of the passages swell causing the airways to narrow and reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs.

Causes

Asthma cannot be cured, but could be controlled. The strongest risk factors for developing asthma are exposure, especially in infancy, to indoor allergens (such as domestic mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, cats and cockroaches) and a family history of asthma or allergy. A study in the South Atlantic Island of Tristan da Cunha, where one in three of the 300 inhabitants has asthma, found children with asthmatic parents were much more likely to develop the condition.

Exposure to tobacco smoke and exposure to chemical irritants in the workplace are additional risk factors. Other risk factors include certain drugs (aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), low birth weight and respiratory infection. The weather (cold air), extreme emotional expression and physical exercise can exacerbate asthma.

Urbanization appears to be correlated with an increase in asthma. The nature of the risk is unclear because studies have not taken into account indoor allergens although these have been identified as significant risk factors.

Experts are struggling to understand why rates world-wide are, on average, rising by 50% every decade. And they are baffled by isolated incidents involving hundreds of people in a city, who suffer from allergies such as hay fever but who had never had asthma, suddenly being struck down by asthma attacks so severe they needed emergency hospital treatment.

• One such incident in London, UK, in June 1994 saw 640 people rushed to emergency departments in the throes of full-blown asthma attacks. A similar incident happened in Melbourne, Australia. Many experts have blamed climatic conditions such as thunderstorms, which break up pollen grains, releasing starch granules that trigger attacks. But they do not know why ordinary hay-fever sufferers developed a life-threatening condition without warning.

Treatment

Because asthma is a chronic condition, it usually requires continuous medical care. Patients with moderate to severe asthma have to take long-term medication daily (for example, anti-inflammatory drugs) to control the underlying inflammation and prevent symptoms and attacks. If symptoms occur, short-term medications (inhaled short-acting beta2-agonists) are used to relieve them.

Medication is not the only way to control asthma. It is also important to avoid asthma triggers -- stimuli that irritate and inflame the airways. Each person must learn what triggers he or she should avoid.

Although asthma does not kill on the scale of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), failure to use appropriate drugs or comply with treatment, coupled with an under-recognition of the severity of the problem, can lead to unnecessary deaths, most of which occur outside hospital.

The way forward and the role of the WHO

WHO recognizes asthma as a disease of major public health importance and plays a unique role in the co-ordination of international efforts against the disease. International action is needed to:

• increase public awareness of the disease to make sure patients and health professionals recognize the disease and are aware of the severity of associated problems;
• organize and co-ordinate global epidemiological surveillance to monitor global and regional trends in asthma;
• develop and implement an optimal strategy for its management and prevention (many studies have shown that this will result in the control of asthma in most patients); and
• stimulate research into the causes of asthma to develop new control strategies and treatment techniques.

WHO activities

International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) : WHO collaborates in ISAAC and, more particularly, in the implementation of the study in developing countries with areas of severe air pollution. A preliminary objective is to obtain information on the association between childhood asthma and air pollution. The first results of this study have shown the prevalence of asthma symptoms to vary from 1.6% to 36.8%.

Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA): In 1992, WHO and the US-based National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute jointly formed GINA to cut deaths and disability by developing and implementing an optimal strategy for asthma management and prevention. Since its inception GINA has:

• produced a report covering a range of information detailing all the latest knowledge on causes, the mechanism of the disease, risk factors, management, education and socio-economic factors;
• developed guidelines on asthma management for doctors, nurses, public health officials, patients and their families;
• held workshops to introduce the GINA programme to public health officials and medical professionals in more than 80 countries, leading to implementation of the guidelines;
• been active in disseminating information in 20 languages and bringing together organizations devoted to improving asthma care;
• backed research efforts to improve asthma management.

GINA's goal is to build an active network with multiple organizations concerned with asthma to ensure better patient care world-wide.

WHO Initiative on Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA): WHO is developing a strategy for the prevention of bronchial asthma through the management of allergic rhinitis. The strategy was conceived by specialists from all over the world at a December 1999 meeting on ARIA.

Allergic rhinitis is defined as an allergen-induced inflammation of the membranes lining the nose. Based on the time of exposure to the allergen, allergic rhinitis can be subdivided into perennial, seasonal or occupational disease.

Three statements must be taken into account for the successful prevention of bronchial asthma:

• Among the broad spectrum of allergic diseases, bronchial asthma is the most prevalent, dangerous and life-threatening.
• Underestimated up to now, allergic rhinitis is an important risk factor for asthma.
• One efficient way to prevent bronchial asthma is to control and treat allergic rhinitis from the very beginning of its inception.

Generally speaking, ARIA will broaden the perspectives for primary prevention of bronchial asthma and will promote better understanding of bronchial asthma among physicians and patients.

The specific goals of ARIA are defined as follows:

• To increase awareness of allergy and allergic diseases as a preventable public health problem among the medical community, public health officials, and the general public;
• To prepare evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and management of allergic rhinitis as a key element of primary prevention of bronchial asthma;
• To educate physicians and other health care professionals about the relevance of allergic rhinitis to bronchial asthma; and
• To educate the public about the potentially fatal risks of allergy (anaphylaxis) and asthma, especially in children, and to encourage greater dialogue with their physicians. Better education and increased dialogue could avoid approximately 25,000 childhood deaths due to asthma each year

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Sustanon 250 - For Healthy and Energetic Life

It has become a common phenomenon to have some health supplements to stand steady to keep pace with the today’s life. Now, everyone wants some extra supplements or sources of energy from where he/she can get extra energy to look healthier. If you are also one of those looking for such supplements, you are advised to buy Sustanon that is available in a whole gamut of doses like Sustanon 250 mg. Within a very short span of time, it has gained huge recognition and now has become the household name. Especially those who are very conscious about the health, having this supplement is the need of the hour.

Sustanon 250 is one of the most popular testosterone ester products available in the market. If copared to other most other steroid injectables and drugs, Sustanon includes an amalgamation of esters, specifically, each ampoule or ml has testosterone propionate 30 mg, testosterone phenylpropionate 60 mg, testosterone isocaproate 60 mg, and testosterone decanoate 100 mg.

Today, with the increasing demand of health supplements like Sustanon 250, Dianabol and Benzedrine, pharmacies and drug houses have come up with the concept of selling them online at discounted prices. In this way, you can also buy any of the selected health supplement or all them from a selected online pharmacy store at the price tags you can afford easily. However, before purchasing any prescription, generic or over-the-counter drug, it is vital to keep some essential points in mind because it is the matter related to your health.

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Major Factors Regulating Growth In A Healthy Child

Many factors contribute to a child’s overall growth. However, nutrition, hormones and the growth potential a child inherits from their parents are the major factors regulating growth in a healthy child. Chronic illnesses such as diseases of the kidneys, liver or heart, as well as chronic use of certain medications can delay a child’s growth.

GROWTH CHARTS

Doctors use growth charts to determine if a child is growing normally with respect to their height and weight. Since there is a range of normal heights at any particular age the growth charts are composed of curves which represent percentiles of growth.

HOW TALL SHOULD MY CHILD BE?

Which percentile a child should be growing at is primarily determined by their parent’s height. The first question to answer when evaluating a child for delayed growth is are they growing on a percentile curve that is appropriate or expected for their family. In general we expect short parents have short children and tall parents have tall parents.

The height potential a child receives from their parents can be estimated by calculating the midparental height (MPH). On average adult males are 5 inches taller than adult females. The formula for MPH adjusts the parent’s height either up or down by 5 inches depending on whether the child is a boy or girl. The MPH is calculated using the parent’s height in inches.

Girls:	MPH = (Dad’s height – 5") + Mom’s height 2
Boys:	MPH = (Mom’s height + 5") + Dad’s height 2
As an example if mom is 5'4" (64") and dad is 5'10" (70") their daughter’s MPH would be:
MPH =	(70"-5") + 64" = 2	65" + 64" = 2	129" 2	= 64½" (5'4½")
And their son’s MPH would be:
MPH =	(64" + 5") + 70" = 2	69" + 70" = 2	139" 2	= 69½" (5'9½")

The MPH is then plotted on the right hand of the growth chart.

In our example then a MPH of 5'4 ½” for a female is at the 50% percentile,
Likewise the MPH of 5'9½" for a male is the 50%. On average for this family their sons and daughters should be growing along the 50th percentile line. Just as there is range of normal heights for children at any age there is a range of heights amongst brothers and similarly amongst sisters.

If your child’s height is on a growth channel lower than the predicted ranges their growth is most likely not appropriate for your family.

In our example family they have a five year daughter (A) who is 42" and a 12 year old daughter (B) who is 54¼" The five year old’s height is at an appropriate percentile for the family. In contrast the 12 year old daughter is shorter than expected for the family even though her height is in the so called normal range of the growth chart.


HORMONE CAUSES OF DELAYED GROWTH

There are three groups of hormones which are necessary for a child to grow. Growth hormone and thyroid hormone are important growth factors from birth until a child reaches their adult height. The production of the sex steroids testosterone and estrogen during puberty, also influence growth. A deficiency of any of these hormones will result in a delay of growth. These deficiencies can be present at birth or develop throughout childhood and adolescence. Generally with growth hormone deficiency there are very few other signs in a child except for poor growth. Children with thyroid hormone deficiency aside for having poor growth may complain of being tired, weak, feeling colder than others, having constipation, dry skin and coarse hair. The possibility of a deficiency of sex steroid production should be raised if a boy has not shown any signs of puberty by age 14 or a girl by age 13.

THE GROWTH EVALUATION

The initial evaluation of child with poor growth includes reviewing their previous growth pattern, obtaining a history about their family’s heights and looking for signs of hormone deficiencies, chronic illness of genetic syndromes associated with delayed growth. Growth records form birth to the present can provide an enormous amount of information as to an underlying cause of the child’s poor growth. Many times a completed growth chart is more valuable than laboratory tests. Often multiple sources have to be tapped to find the complete growth history. This may include your child’s doctor’s office, baby books you may have kept and even the marks on the doorframe in your home where you have followed your child’s growth over the years. After reviewing this information, special tests may be recommended including blood tests to measure hormone levels, assess the function of your child’s kidneys, liver, intestines and assess their nutritional status. Usually we obtain an X-ray of the hand called a bone age to assess the rate at which your child’s bones are maturing.

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Yoga And Back Pain

Back pain, one of the common problems of present day, is caused due to stress and tension in the muscles that support the spine. Sedentary lifestyle, stress, overuse or under use of the back, postural mistakes are unconscious triggers to the widespread problem of back pain. Regular exercise is a redeeming feature that brings relief to back pain.

Backache strikes when the muscles are under fatigue, commonly at the neck or lumbar region (where most twisting, turning or bending occurs). Frequent backaches occur due to overstrained or over stretched muscles, improper sitting positions, stress, lumbar scoliosis and earlier injuries. Many conditions cause back pain and they can be treated with conscious and gentle yoga practice. It has proven to be a safe and effective way to alleviate many forms of back pain and prevent its recurring bouts. However, all cases of back pain need to be evaluated by a medical expert for diagnosis and treatment.

Healing Benefits of Yoga

• Yoga strengthens muscle groups. Many postures in yoga strengthen the back and abdominal muscles and help the body maintain a proper upright posture and movement. Stretching and relaxation reduces tension in stress carrying muscles. When these muscles are well conditioned, it helps to offset back pain.

• Yoga eases lower back pain, by stretching and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. It increases blood circulation, which brings healing nutrients to the injured tissues. Yoga also helps maintain a natural curvature of the spine that is crucial in avoiding lower back pain.

• Thus, Yoga is an excellent therapy for healing injured and sore back muscles, speeding time to recover from an injury and preventing re injury. It also reduces the risk of disability due to back pain. In short, Yoga increases awareness of the body and keeps the body healthy and supple.

[Source]

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Teleradiology - Bringing Round-the-clock Patient Care To Your Doorste

We live in a highly connected global village where the Internet has made remote healthcare widely available round-the-clock. Teleradiology, an important part of telemedicine, involves remote diagnosis through digitized images and remote advice. The process has been beneficial to a majority of the world’s population, as it balances out the maldistribution of radiologists the world over. Used in war-torn areas, outer space, on board ships, and in Antarctica, teleradiology, however, leaves some questions unanswered in the milieu of its operations in India and elsewhere.

Lakshmi Gopal of Medindia spoke to Dr Sumer Sethi, MD, Sr Consultant Radiologist at VIMHANS, Delhi and Director of Teleradiology Providers, a unit of Prime Telerad Providers Pvt Ltd. An author of many academic papers and books on radiology, Dr Sethi specializes in musculoskeletal and neuroradiology.

Q. What is telemedicine and teleradiology all about and why are they important?

A. Teleradiology is the process of transmitting and receiving digital radiology images comprising of X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc., from one location to another through a secure digital network. The images are transmitted using advanced computer systems, typically over the Internet. Through teleradiology, images can be sent to another part of a hospital, or anywhere in the world. It is a means of electronically transmitting radiographic patient images and consultative text from one location to another.

Q. How is teleradiology important from the consumer’s point of view? Does it bring down costs and improve diagnosis?

A. Teleradiology brings the best medical opinion available to the consumer’s doorstep. The consumer does not have to travel long distances to big cities with medical infrastructure. He can avail of expert opinion and quality reports in his remote hometown, saving on the costs of travel and accommodation. Teleradiology also helps the patient secure diagnostic reports in 30 minutes’ time nowadays, enabling faster treatment.

Q. What is the Medical Council of India’s stand on teleradiology as a form of practice in India?

A. The Medical Council of India currently does not have any specific guidelines for telemedicine. Therefore, the standards applicable to radiologists are also used for teleradiologists.

Q. What do you foresee for the future of teleradiology in India in terms of demand and supply within the country and outside?

A. The demand for radiologists is great in India and abroad - they are, however, in short supply. Teleradiology helps adjust this imbalance. India has a lot of talent and our doctors have emerged as one of the major providers of teleradiology services in the Indian subcontinent, the US, Africa, and the Middle East. Here, I must mention my company - Teleradiology Providers. Its key strength is that we have extensive experience working across both public and private hospital facilities. We have sub-specialist abilities and experience in the areas of neuroradiology, breast and cardiac imaging.

We also provide our own customized teleradiology software along with a dedicated web-based server platform and have the ability to link up with any centre in the world irrespective of the Internet speeds available.

Q. Teleradiology raises interesting ethical and practical issues. These include patient confidentiality, data security and image authenticity. How should these issues be tackled?

A. Teleradiology is a globally well-accepted method of radiology report delivery, and its systems and processes are usually governed by standards like the Digital Images in Communications and Imaging (DICOM) version 3.0, 1993 and the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 1996.

All healthcare organizations must make sure that their teleradiologists are sensitized to the issues of patient confidentiality and data security. Teleradiologists, even when they work from remote locations, are basically responsible doctors and must keep their patients’ records confidential.

There is a chance of data security being compromised when teleradiologists use an email facility to support reporting - this should be avoided.

Image authenticity becomes an issue when a teleradiologist uses a jpeg image for reporting, instead of a DICOM image. The DICOM format for images gives clearer pictures and is ideally suited to radiology.

Q. How can accuracy of reporting be increased?

A. For accuracy of reporting, it is better if the same chest X-ray or mammogram is shown to two radiologists. The practice followed in medical colleges is that radiology reports are usually double or triple read - first the junior resident reads it, then the registrar, followed by the faculty member, who has the final say.

It would definitely make sense to follow such best practices and have standard double reads of reports to increase accuracy and cut down on ambiguity.

The computer may play a significant role in this area in future - recognizing patterns that could be later super-read by radiologists. This will increase efficiency and reduce the margin of error in spotting a significant issue.

Q. There are many teleradiology companies making the same claims of quality and efficiency today. Who do you think will survive the rat-race?

A. In the long term, only players with competent and quality systems in this field who follow all standard Internet security protocols like DICOM and HIPAA will survive.

Q. If there is an error in diagnosis, who shares the responsibility in a court of law?

A. Here, the same law applies, as onsite reporting. Teleradiologists take full responsibility for error in diagnosis in a court of law. In our company, teleradiologists take full responsibility of their work - they carry their own indemnity insurance. Further, our performance improvement program continuously monitors quality and performance parameters, ensuring an ongoing analysis of workflow and turnaround times, random quarterly audits of reports, and statistical reviews of important events with our chief radiologist.

Q. What is super cloud computing technology? Will it be able to afford low-cost diagnosis? What are the new techniques prevalent in teleradiology in the west? Have they reached India?

A. Super cloud computing can help store and share data, and connect more easily without large capital expenditures. It offers a platform for better scalability and flexibility. In our industry, the ability to work with large volumes of data with greater ease provides benefits beyond better scalability and cost savings - it makes a difference in patient care. With a cloud-based solution, images can be shared digitally at different locations.

Benefits for the patient in super cloud computing are that turnaround time is shortened and there are fewer interruptions and breakdowns.

The new technique prevalent in the west has to do with image pattern recognition by computers that the teleradiologist super-reads. This is not available in India yet.

Q. How can teleradiology help patients in remote rural areas in India? How can the cost of treatment come down for the poor in urban and rural areas?

A. It is very unfortunate that while 70 percent of India’s population lives in villages, the healthcare available there is meager. Also, the quality of rural healthcare can hardly be defined as state-of-the-art. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility drive, Teleradiology Providers have taken the initiative to bring state-of-the-art diagnostics to a rural centre located in Mirpur, Haryana, where we do reporting free of charge.

[Source]

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