The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
| Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:57 AM PDT Women may think it is difficult to care for themselves, as well as their loved ones, but in reality, it may not be as tough as it seems. WHEN it comes to our personal health and well being, we women are sometimes like doctors who don't heed their own advice. We often know what our friends and family need for good health, but we do not necessarily practise what we preach. Prof Dr Jamiyah Hassan, a lecturer at the Universiti Malaya Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology can empathise. "Sometimes, we do not know how to take care of ourselves," she laments at the beginning of her talk about women and health. "And these days, women multitask more and more. They are CEOs, career women, and many have eight-to-five jobs they need to see to. Yet, no matter what they do, and how many roles they play, they are still mothers to their children," she says. Whether it is due to competing priorities, such as their careers and social life, or the lack of awareness on self-care, women's tendencies to put their health on the back burner is a matter of concern. As women are usually in charge of their families' health, their personal health may directly impact the health of those under their care. "Women have to take charge of their own health. It is only then they can look after their family," says Prof Jamiyah. Get to know yourself The sheer amount of health advice available to us on the Internet can be confusing, but one of the easiest and most practical ways to take care of our health is to get to know our bodies. Women need to be familiar with their own bodies because they are usually the first ones to notice if something is not right, says Prof Jamiyah. From taking a few moments to take a good look at themselves in front of a mirror every day to performing breast self-examinations every month, women can monitor their own health. As little things, like changes in appetite, bowel movements, sleeping patterns, and the colour of urine and stools, are important clues to our health, these observations can help doctors provide better care for us. "If you do not know your body, you would not pick up any small changes," says Prof Jamiyah. Even if the changes are "benign", at least it gives doctors a place to start looking. After all, if your fatigue is due to frequent trips to the toilet at night (a common symptom of diabetes), instead of stress at work, your doctor is probably not going to know about it unless you tell them. Although there are still a lot of diseases we cannot prevent, it is already possible to minimise our chances of getting some of them. However, we often overlook the importance of such preventative measures. One of these measures that women often forget is vaccination, says Prof Jamiyah. Some of them provide personal protection. Vaccines such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (approved for girls/women from nine to 45 years old), and the annual seasonal influenza vaccine, can protect a woman from infections that may cause genital warts (HPV-6 and HPV-11), cervical cancer (HPV-16 and HPV 18) and seasonal flu (influenza viruses) respectively. However, there are other vaccines that also protect a woman's family in the process. For instance, while a rubella vaccine can protect a woman against rubella (also called German measles) – a disease that may just give her rashes, a mild fever and running nose – it can also help protect her unborn child from congenital health problems if she is infected during pregnancy. "That is why when someone who has never been vaccinated with rubella tries to get pregnant, we always ask them to get vaccinated before they try," says Prof Jamiyah. Another example is the pertussis vaccine, which protects against Bordetella pertussis infections that can cause prolonged cough in adults and whooping cough in children. While the pertussis vaccine is already included in the National Immunisation Programme (all infants in Malaysia should get it before they are one year old), adolescents and adults may need booster shots to keep them protected. This is especially important for mothers with young children and those who work with children. "Adults can cough for weeks but they do not emit the whooping sound, so they attribute it to something else... But they are the ones that are passing on the (bacteria) to the young children in their households," says Prof Jamiyah. As for diseases that cannot be prevented by vaccines, there are screening tests like mammograms and pap smears that can help doctors detect early changes. Honouring me time Aside from physical health, women should also take care of their emotional and spiritual health. That is why apart from a well-balanced diet and exercise, it is equally important for women to take time out to rest and do things for their own pleasure, Prof Jamiyah emphasises. By having good mental health and inner peace, they can carry out their duties, as well as deal with the stresses that come along. In the end, it is not a totally selfish pursuit. Because when we are healthy, we will be more able to take care of our families – be it our elders or children. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:50 AM PDT Infection of the nasal passages can lead to symptoms most people describe as a 'sinus problem'. I HAVE been having some pain on the areas of my cheeks below my eyes. I've been told this is the "sinus" area and I am having sinus problems. What is a sinus? Sinus is a layman's term for sinusitis, which is inflammation of your sinuses. Your sinuses can be infected by bacteria or viruses. Frequently, viruses infect your nasal passages first, causing rhinitis (inflammation of your nose). This inflammation blocks the openings of the sinuses to your nose. Thereby, your sinuses get inflamed as well. Sinusitis doesn't occur alone. It's preceded by rhinitis. Therefore, a more correct term to describe the affliction would be rhinosinusitis. Viral respiratory tract infections frequently lead to sinus infections with bacteria. Your sinuses can also be infected by fungi. Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic infections in the world. Unfortunately, most people overlook it because they don't understand the symptoms when they have it. Where exactly are my sinuses? Your sinuses are actually air-filled pockets within your facial bones. There are four groups of sinuses. They are named after the bones in which they are located. 1. The maxillary sinuses – this is the pair located beneath your eyes and on either side of your nose. 2. The ethmoid sinuses – these are located between the eyes. 3. Frontal sinuses – this pair is located in your forehead, 4. Sphenoid sinuses – this pair is located behind your ethmoid sinuses, near the middle of your skull. Each of these sinuses has an opening that connects to your nose called the ostium. What types of sinusitis are there? I have heard of some people having this sinus problem forever. Forever is probably an exaggeration, but some people seem to be perpetually having rhinosinusitis. Acute rhinosinusitis is defined as sinusitis that is present for less than four weeks. Subacute rhinosinusitis is present for more than four weeks but less than 12 weeks. Chronic rhinosinusitis is present for more than 12 weeks. There is a variant called recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, which means that you have more than four acute episodes within a year. Is it easier for some people to get sinusitis compared to others? It seems that my cousin is having this chronic sinusitis that you speak about. Yes, there are risk factors. Viral infections of the nose may lead to sinusitis as described above, so if you are prone to getting common colds, you might be more at risk of sinusitis. Nasal allergies also cause inflammation of the lining of your nose, leading to blocked ostia, and hence, sinusitis. So if you are the type to get allergic rhinitis, or vasomotor rhinitis, you might be more at risk. In fact, if you have asthma or some sort of hypersensitivity disease like nasal polyps, your sinuses seem to get inflamed more easily as well due to increased levels of inflammatory substances floating in your blood. Some people have anatomical obstruction of the nose, which may block the ostia. Previous surgery of the area may also contribute to blockage of the ostia. Ironically, the most common surgery around that area is sinus surgery! People who have had facial injuries, such as during contact sports, may also have alterations in their structure that may block the ostia. How can I tell that I have sinusitis, in addition to having the common cold? It sometimes can be quite difficult, hence many people miss it. But commonly, if you get snot that is typically thick and has a yellow or green color, this is a symptom of bacterial sinusitis. Most people have a blocked nose and a cough, which is caused by a post-nasal drip. If you press against the areas of your sinuses are described above, and there is pain over those areas, that is a sign of sinusitis. Sometimes there is fever and ear discomfort, especially when your Eustachian tube from the nose to the ear is blocked. Since sinusitis is so difficult to differentiate from colds, here are indicators that they may be the cause of your problems: > Facial pain/pressure. > Facial congestion and fullness. > Nasal blockage. > Thick green or yellow discharge from the nose or throat. > Decreased sense of smell. > Fever. Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health advice, computers and entertainment. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Posted: 17 Aug 2011 12:53 AM PDT DID you know that your child might have an immunodeficiency if he has eight or more ear infections within a year or two or more serious sinus infections in a year? Clinical immunologist/allergist and paediatrician Dr Amir Hamzah Abdul Latiff says that while immunodeficiencies are not common, they are not rare, either. Primary immunodeficiencies, he adds, are grossly under-diagnosed. "Back in the 1980s, the figure was maybe 1 in 10,000 but that's because of a lack of awareness and recognition. "Currently, I would say that it is probably not a rare disease anymore. Certainly, in the United States, the prevalence is 1 in 1,200," he says. Having said that, however, he assures parents that the incidence is much less among children. What is an immunodeficiency? That's when the immune system's ability to fight an infectious disease is compromised. If it is something a person is born with it is called a primary immunodeficiency. If it is acquired some time during a person's lifetime, it's called secondary. This is in contrast to an autoimmune disorder – when the immune system does not recognise substances and tissues of its own body and thinks that it is being attacked by infectious agents. It then sends out immune responses to its own cells and tissues. "If the immune system doesn't work, then the cardinal sign is recurrent infections," says Dr Amir, who explains that an assessment of the immune system is needed if: > You have two episodes of pneumonia, and you are admitted and require intravenous treatment. > For children, they have a bad ear infection about eight times a year and require oral antibiotics yet it persists. ParenThots finds out the signs you should look out for. Focus on the Family How can parents find more hours in a day to spend with the children? Is it all about quality time or is quantity important, too? Dr James Dobson shares his thoughts on prioritising family time. Readers write in Bridget Emily Mowe writes about going through postpartum depression following the births of her two kids and trying to get help. Azatulsheeda Mohd Azman shares some advice on pregnancy and childbirth for first-time mothers. Khairunnisa' Mohd Azman writes about her unplanned pregnancy and having to walk all over campus while pregnant. Share a personal parenting story and you could win Giant vouchers worth RM200. For details, go to ParenThots. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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