My Personal Health Blog

The question Why do people smoke has been asked for many years. An obvious simple answer would be that people smoke for nicotine. But for many, the situation seems more complex.

It is very well known that smoking is an important cause of many diseases and the purchase price of cigarettes can be very high, so it is reasonable to ask why so many people smoke.

The World Health Organization (WHO) selects “Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women” as the theme for the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on 31 May 2010.

Many in the public health community suggest that people only smoke because they are ‘addicted’ to nicotine. Many smokers can find it hard to quit smoking.

The pharmacological effect of nicotine – a mild stimulant effect not unlike that of caffeine, and a mild relaxing effect – is an important part of the smoking experience.

However, there seems to be much more to smoking than just nicotine. Smoking embodies a considerable amount of ritual involving many of the senses. A smoker will often describe pleasure from the feel of a cigarette in the hand, and from the taste, sight and smell of the smoke. Also, especially in social settings, smoking involves a ’sharing’ experience with other smokers.

What people should consider:
*Smoking is a cause of various serious and fatal diseases.
*The health risks in groups vary by the amount smoked, being highest in those that smoke for more years and smoke more cigarettes per day.
*The risks reduce in groups of people who quit smoking, and the reductions increase from quitting earlier.
*Experts advise no smoking during pregnancy.
*The only way to be certain of avoiding the risks of smoking is not to smoke.

Another personal health careinformation for everyone. Blood is pumped around the body in the circulatory system. It supplies food, oxygen, hormones and other chemicals to all the body’s cells. It also helps to remove waste products and is important in fighting infection.

Blood is made of clear liquid called plasma and three types of cells: red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells.

All blood cells come from the same type of cell, known as stem cells. Early on, they develop into either myeloid or lymphoid cells.

*Myeloid cells include all red blood cells, platelets and the white blood cells that are known as granulocytes and monocytes.

*Lymphoid cells include all other white blood cells, known as lymphocytes.

Red blood cells collect oxygen from your lungs and carry it to all parts of your body. If you don’t have enough red blood cells you have anaemia. Anaemia can make you look pale, may cause headaches and make you feel tired, dizzy and irritable.

Platelets are needed to help your blood to clot following an injury. A reduced number of platelets may cause prolonged bleeding or easy bruising.

White blood cells play a major role in the body’s defence against infection. A decrease in white blood cells puts you more at risk of getting infections.

Blood cells are made in bone marrow, the spongy part in the centre of your bones.

When the body is healthy, the numbers of red cells, white cells and platelets in the blood are kept in balance. Diseases of the blood cells, like leukaemia, can cause this balance to be thrown out.

Sunglasses is a protective eyewear that is widely used by most people to prevent strong light from entering the eyes. They can also be a form of visual aid which incorporates coloured or polarized lenses. Despite its protective function, sunglasses is known as s a fashionable item and they do add a sense of styleto the wearer.

In the daytime especially between late morning until late afternoon, the sunlight can be very bright and glaring and this causes discomfort. When outdoors, a person who is performing activities such as swimming, fishing or gardening will receive more light than as person who is indoors. As a preventive measure against the harsh sunlight, usage of eye protection is highly recommended to protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation, within the sun’s rays, which in the long term can cause serious eye problems.

Besides ultraviolet radiation, the rays from the sun that are damaging include : bright white (visible)light and the blue End of the rays.

How does sunlight damage the eye?

blue light from the visible spectrum. The ultraviolet radiation can be divided into 3 categories which are UVA, UVB and UVC. Ultraviolet radiation carry more energy then the visible light rays therefore the eye is at risk for serious damage due to the absorption of the UV rays compared to other lights. Most of the damage that is caused by prolonged exposure from UV radiation are irreversible and can severely damage the eye. Therefore is important to protect our eyes from long term exposure to UV radiation as a preventive measure. Apart from damage to the eye, UV rays can also cause damage to the skin and body.

UV radiation can be absorbed by the various structures of the eye. The outer layers of the eye which is the cornea and the conjunctiva absorb UVB rays. The lens absorbs mainly UVA rays. The retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the inner eyeball) absorbs visible light. The UVC rays are already absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the earth.

UV radiation is part of the natural radiation found in the invisible light spectrum. Beside the sun as a natural source, UV rays can come from a variety of artificial sources which include welding equipment, lasers, tanning equipment and certain lamps.

The damage that occurs in the eyes from these rays are:

*Cataract (clouding of the natural lens of the eye)
*Age Related Macular Degeneration (degeneration of the sensitive part of retina)
*Pterygium (a superficial membrane covering the conjunctiva)
*Retinal damage upon directly looking at the sun

The damage that occur in the body are :

*Sunburn of the skin
*Premature skin aging
*Skin cancer
*Weakening of the immune system

Athlete foot is an infection of the feet caused by fungus. The medical term is tinea pedis and it is usually a recurrent condition. Athlete’s Foot is caused by various forms of fungi known collectively as dermatophytes. Personal health care play important part to prevent athlete foot.

Closed, warm, moist environments are the perfect medium for the growth of fungi. Keratin, a protein found in hair, nails and skin, provides the nutrition for the fungi. The condition can be mildly contagious. Direct contact with the infected skin cells found on unclean garments can spread the infection. The condition easily spreads in public places such as hostels, boarding school, locker rooms and fitness centers. Athlete’s foot usually affects the spaces between your toes, but it can spread to your toenails and the soles and sides of your feet.

The athlete foot Symptoms are:

*Foul smelly foot odour.
*Small itchy bubbles or blisters on the soles of the feet.
*Itchy, scaly, red rash that usually oceur in between the toes. Later it will cause cracked, blistered skin that may become infected.
*Nails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored or pulling away from the nail bed
*Dry, flaking skin on the soles of the feet.
*Cracking and peeling skin, especially between your toes and on the soles of your feet
*Excessive dryness of the skin on the bottom or sides of the feet

Risk Factors
*Damp socks and shoes increase the risk. Warm, humid conditions that promote heavy sweating favor its spread.
*Plastic shoes in particular provide a welcoming environment for fungal growth and infection.
*people with low immune system or weakened immuned system for example diabetic or HIV/AIDS patients.

Treatment
You can apply medication like antifungal cream to your skin. More severe cases may require prescription medications. The aim of the treatment is to inhibit the growth of the fungi as well as to prevent it from spreading.

Antifungal powder and basic good hygiene can resolve most cases. If the infection is not adequately treated with anti-fungal powder, consult your doctor. Doctor will prescribe anti-fungal cream or anti-fungal medication. Even when treated with antifungal drugs, the infection may take several weeks to disappear.

Prevention
*Keep your feet dry, especially after taking shower and oblution. Go barefoot to let your feet air out as much as possible when you are at home.
*Wear socks that are made of natural material, such as cotton or wool because it helps draw moisture away from your feet.
*Change socks and stockings regularly. If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks more frequently.
*Wear light, well-ventilated shoes. Avoid shoes made of synthetic material, such as vinyl or rubber.
*Alternate pairs of shoes. This allows time for your shoes to dry.
*Wear waterproof sandals or shower shoes in communal showers, pools, fitness centers and other public areas.
*Use an antifungal powder daily.
*Use your own shoes. Borrowing risks spreading a fungal infection.

Effective today, the  Ministry OfHealth Malaysia of  will issue statements every day to update Malaysians on the influenza A (H1N1) news and situation in the country.

This, according to Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, was because of the increasing trend of influenza-like illness (ILI) and H1N1 cases reported in big clusters daily nationwide.

An increasing trend of new cases were reported in Selangor, Pahang, Kedah, and Malacca

Disclosing the new cases reported on Tuesday, Liow said four pupils of SJK (C) Han Mong in Batu 14, Puchong, Selangor have been found positive for H1N1.

The pupils were among 12 from the same school who were taken to a hospital when they showed symptoms of the disease.

“The pupils who were treated for ILI were also tested for H1N1 and four of them were found positive for the disease,” said Liow.

They were among 220 schoolchildren in Selangor, Pahang and Kedah who were taken to hospitals after they showed ILI symptoms on Tuesday.

Liow said they were awaiting laboratory results to ascertain whether the pupils from six other schools were positive for H1N1.

The pupils who were treated as outpatients for ILI till 10pm on Tuesday were:

SM Sains Pekan, Pahang (32);
SM Sains Kuala Selangor, Selangor (15);
SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Kuah, Langkawi (46);
MRSM Langkawi (17); and,
SRK Bayas, Langkawi (54).
Liow said they were in close contact with Education Ministry officials on the matter.

Until 5.30pm on Monday, said Liow, there were 507 people warded in 47 government and 12 private hospitals nationwide with ILI.

Of the number, he added, 36 of them have been confirmed positive for H1N1. Four of them are being treated in the intensive care unit of hospitals in Kelantan, Selangor and here for complications due to co-morbid conditions.