Friday, February 5, 2010

Public health services and the impact on the surroundings

Public health service can be divided into two kinds: diseases prevention services and disease –control services.



Good health comes from the available of the nutritious food, clean air and drinking water and good sanitation in the form of clean latrines. To achieve these, both people’s cooperation and governmental efforts are necessary.



Kerala has a low death rate among the people in general, but particularly among infants and pregnant women, only because of the availability of these facilities. Let us understand this in some detail.



About 24 lakh children below the age of five die in India every year. Madhya Pradesh has the highest infant mortality rate with 13.7 per thousand live births, while Kerala has the lowest with 18. In Andhra Pradesh, the infant mortality rate is 85 per thousand. The death rate among pregnant women is 707 against lakh live births in Uttar Pradesh, 670 in Rajasthan, 498 in Madhya Pradesh, 159 in Andhra Pradesh, and 79 in Tamil Nadu.



From an analysis of the above data, we can see that back ward states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have a high death –rate because of lack of sanitation and contaminated water supply. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where sanitation is good, untimely deaths are fewer.



Diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, sepsis and tuberculosis cause most of the deaths. All these diseases are the result of unhygienic conditions. In Andhra Pradesh, public health is a major causality in the backward areas of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Telangana, Adilabad and Mahabubnagar.



The most important challenge for the poor is housing. Our villages face a shortage of one crore 50 lakh houses. About one crore 15 Lakhs houses are beyond repair. About 50 lakh houses are very congested. According to the 2001 census, 19 crore families live in rural areas. Of these, 40% live in one –room and 30% in two-room houses. Only 26% of rural families live in three or more rooms. About 34 lakh families have no separate room as such. This is why as part of the Bharat Nirman program, a target of building 60 lakh houses in four years for the below poverty line people has been set, in our rural areas, only 81% of the families have drinking water facilities, 44% have electricity, 34% have drainage facility and 22% have sanitary latrines.



Initially, migration to large cities like Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kurnool, Warangal and Rajahmundry is either for education or employment. Soon, however, the people settle down in such places. This increases the challenge of urban housing.



Thousands of pilgrims come to temple –towns like Tirupati, Bhadrachalam and Simhachalam every day. They cause immense damage to the rivers and lakes around. Tourists and pilgrims consume water carelessly and damage the soil by littering carelessly. As a result, even basic environmental resources become scarce to the people residing in these areas.



In Sattupalli and Dammayipeta villages of Khammam district, people have stopped littering waste in the open every house and school has proper sanitary condition provide. About 708 schools in the district are implementing the program. The doctors, engineers and sarpanchas here went to each house and convinced the people about the need for hygiene. They made cement rings and installed them in each house as a dustbin.



Even in tribal areas, the construction of toilets has changed people’s lives. The educational committees cooperated in building toilets. In every school, with the help of the United Nations children’s fund [UNICEF] and with constant guidance from experts, the project was completed under the leadership. Though such initiatives and efforts, we can protect our lakes, rivers and environment. We can prevent diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. The examples of the two villages in Khammam should be an inspiration to us.



In 2003, there were 173 municipalities in the state. In 2006, there are 123, showing the rapid development of urban areas. In this rapid urbanization, our state stands seventh in India. In 1971, our urban population was 84 Lakhs. Now it is more than 2.5 crore.



While the urban population in Telangana is 44% the coastal areas have 41% Rayalaseema has only 15%. Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam are the two metropolises in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 30% of our urban population is concentrated in these two cities.



In 1971, only four cities attracted the migrants. In 2001, twenty-eight cities did so. Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Guntur and Vijayawada are under severe pressure from migrants.



Any city can provide facilities for a limited number of people. But with growing populations and increasing migration, the problems increase many times over. There are shortfalls in sanitation, electricity and water supply. Slums, overcrowded buses, traffic jams and obscene of even basic facilities are a common sight. All this is due to growing urban population.

Recipes for Two Special Dosas-Wheat Dosa and Neeru Dosa

Dosa is a dish which is very much popular, especially in South India. It is the best choice for a heavy breakfast. There are quite a few varieties of dosa. Here, I would like to share two of the varieties which are not so commonly seen. They are: Wheat Dosa and Neeru Dosa.







WHEAT DOSA






Also called Godhuma dosa, this is a one of the nice varieties of dosa and serves as a good oil-free alternative to chapattis.







Ingredients:











Wheat flour (Atta): 2 cups





Rice flour: 2 cups





Salt-to taste





Curds-1/2 cup (optional)









Method:











1. Mix the wheat flour, rice flour and curds with salt. Make a dosa batter and leave it for 5-10 minutes.



2. Add finely cut green chillies, ginger and curry leaves.



3. Heat oil and prepare some seasoning with mustard and chana dal. Add it to the batter and mix well.



4. Heat tawa and pour the dosa batter onto it after smearing oil. Cook for about 4-5 minutes till the dosas get a reddish tinge.







A slight variation in the preparation of this dosa, if planned in advance, would be to soak wheat and rice for 3-4 hours, grind it and leave it overnight for fermentation, before starting to prepare dosas.















Nutritive information:







Calories: 80



Cholesterol: Nil



Carbohydrates: 21.7g











NEERU DOSA






This dosa, an ideal breakfast/snack dish, is unique to Dakshina Kannada. It is prepared mainly from rice flour and therefore, is pure white in colour.







Ingredients:











Rice-1 cup





Oil- 1 to 2 tsp





Salt-to taste









Method:










1. Soak rice in water for about 3-4 hours. Grind it to a fine liquefied paste, adding sufficient water.



2. Add salt, water and mix well to prepare the batter. Make sure that the batter is very thin.



3. Heat tawa on the stove and smear little oil. Take a small quantity of the batter and pour it evenly on all sides.



4. Cook on both sides for about 1-2 minutes. Remove and serve with coconut chutney.























Nutritional Information:







Calories : 78( comparatively less, as the batter is made very thin)



Cholesterol: Nil



Carbohydrates: 17g

Effects of alcohol

Doctors says that alcoholic drinks are harmless drinks are harmless if one takes them moderately.But, the problem is that once a person gets addicted to drinking his life becomes miserable.



Alcoholics often show personality changes once they drink in a compulsive way. They may become angry and argumentative, quiet or depressed.



Often a small amount of alcohol causes person with alcoholism to feel even more anxious, sad, tense and confused.They even seek relief by drinking more.



Once they fully drunk, they begin to do unusual things. They do not know what they do. They do not know what they do.They fight with others; they scold others for little things.At times,cases of murder,rape and molestation are also seen rustling from excessive drinking.



Serious damage to the liver, heart, stomach and other organs,especially the brain, can result from the excessive use of alcohol. Many alcoholics do not eat properly,and some of their ills are caused by poor nutrition. In some the tribal cultures, it is necessary to take rice beer.Some of them take this even for lunch and supper, too. As a result,they are physically weak.



The problem of drunken driving has become a serious problem in this modern world.Many people are losing their lives in road accidents.



Moreover, the effects of alcohol on the family are very bad . It has been observed in a number of cases that the father who drinks too much abuses his wife.



As a result, the children of the family can not concentrate on their studies .They grow in anger and fear.Drinking indeed causes very serious problems in society.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Essential Asthma Info

Do you have an asthma condition or allergy? If you do, you need to know what it is all about so that you can effectively prevent it from negatively affecting your life.
The causes of asthma may vary from one individual to another and because of this, some asthmatic individuals experience mild or severe attacks.
How can you tell if you’re having a severe asthma attack? You need to take immediate action if you’re already experiencing difficulty in breathing. This happens because of the low oxygen level in the extremities and the lips.
The only way to properly address your asthma symptoms is to consult first an experienced medical professional. By undergoing a thorough check up, you will be able to treat your asthma allergy effectively. Several tests are usually conducted to confirm if an individual has asthma. A qualified doctor is the only one who can identify the cause of your asthma allergy and after that, he or she will give you the best treatment option.
Oftentimes, a certain substance is used to treat the allergy. This substance decreases the inflammation of the respiratory system’s lining. Such medications decrease chemicals which cause the narrowing and inflammation of the bronchioles and bronchi lumen. You can’t just administer the asthma medications without the doctor’s advice because you might compromise your health and safety, especially in the case of acute asthma.
On the onset of the asthma attack, you must consult a doctor immediately. Even if you’re unsure about your condition, a medical check up can clear your mind and suspicions. Certain substances and chemicals can cause the attack and once these things are identified, you can avoid the asthma attacks. Such chemicals or substances are also called triggers. If you hardly know anything about asthma, this article can help you in some way. However, you can’t just rely entirely on this information source especially if you’re having severe attacks. Again, try to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
If it is already confirmed that you have asthma, you must follow your doctor’s instructions and prescriptions. Try to avoid the asthma triggers so that you can also stay away from the attacks. Asthma can also cause death in some cases. When left untreated, your asthma can get worse. Severe asthma attacks can be very difficult to handle without the help of a medical professional.
There is loads of information about asthma online. You can only make use of them after you’ve consulted a doctor. Asthma information is quite valuable especially to asthma patients. If you want to prevent or avoid this condition, prevention is still the best cure. Besides, medical costs are continuously increasing every year, including that of the asthma treatments. If you don’t experience any asthma attacks, then you won’t have to spend anything on the medical costs. There are also ways to prevent asthma. If the doctor has already identified the asthmaggers, you should stay away from them as much as possible.
Living a healthy lifestyle is probably the best way

Asthma Types

You can never really tell the onset of asthma. However, if your family has a history of asthma, you need to be extra careful because you might develop the condition as well.

Asthma is of different types – extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic Asthma

So far, most of the asthma patients in the different parts of the world belong to the extrinsic asthma type. Children are very susceptible to certain allergies and so it is much easier to develop extrinsic asthma. Kids with allergy histories, eczema, and hay fever are prone to develop extrinsic asthma. But as they grow older, the allergies and asthma attacks disappear. There are times when these allergies return because of some triggering factors but this usually happens when the child has reached his or her adult stage.

Intrinsic Asthma

Intrinsic asthma is different from the extrinsic because this usually occurs among women in the late 20s or early 30s. This type of asthma is perennial and chronic, therefore, it is not associated with the childhood allergies.

You need to consult a doctor to determine if you have intrinsic asthma. The doctor will try to look and check at the patient’s medical history, especially that of the respiratory tract infections.

Doctors also try to classify or categorize the disease’s intensity. Some patients have moderate attacks while others have severe asthma attacks. Almost 30% of asthma patients have mild attacks. In the western societies, air quality is decreasing and so asthma is quite prevalent.

According to many scientists, asthma has something to do with the genetic makeup of the individual. For instance, if your parents and siblings have asthma, you’re at risk of developing the disease as well. So if you have a history of asthma in your family, you must prevent this condition from occurring. There are lots of preventive measures to avoid the attacks. Try to gather as much information about asthma so that you can be well-informed. If you know a lot about asthma, you can effectively prevent it from developing.

For asthma patients, the doctor can give you relievers but this can only provide short-term speedy relief. It prevents the attacks from becoming worse. Some doctors prescribe medications for asthma especially if the attacks are allergy-induced. By taking the medications, the immune system and the body will not react to the allergens.

Now that you know the two types of asthma, which type do you belong? Keep in mind that only a doctor can properly diagnose your condition. Even if you find a lot of information about asthma, you should still rely on the doctor’s findings. Several tests are conducted to diagnose the condition properly. If you’re experiencing asthma-like symptoms, visit the doctor immediately. That way, you can treat asthma right away and the doctor will also give you treatment options which you can afford.

Talk to your doctor about the asthma symptoms you’re experiencing. Don’t wait until you have a severe asthma attack. You must do this especially if you’re at risk of developing the disease.

So why wait until things get out of hand? Many people die because of asthma every year. You can prevent this disease and/or you can effectively manage and control such condition. Don’t hesitate to call your doctor next time you experience asthma symptoms. Health conditions are addressed effectively when identified and treated early.

Asthma Remedies

Before you decide to use any asthma remedies at home, you need to know more about this serious health condition. Did you know that asthma can cause death? Yes, and that’s very true; this is the reason why asthma requires immediate treatment to prevent the condition from getting worse. If you think you’re at risk of developing the disease, read on.

Asthma attacks occur when there is inflammation of the air passage or bronchial tubes. Asthma is considered as a chronic health condition but even if you have it, you can effectively manage and control it with the help of your doctor. Since the airways are affected, you will experience difficult in breathing. The attacks can be mild or severe but one thing’s for sure, the condition can be deadly when left untreated. In the US, over 20 million people are suffering from asthma.

Asthma is called by different names like reactive airway disease, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and wheezy bronchitis but they all mean one thing. Most of the attacks are triggered by inhaled substances such as animal dander, dust, feather, and pollen. Irritants can also trigger the attacks such as cigarette smoke, odors, gases, and dirt. If you had respiratory infections like bronchitis, sore throats, flu, and colds, you are also at risk. Other factors like emotional stress (excitement and fear), carrying heavy objects, or running (strenuous physical activities), weather conditions (sudden change in temperature or weather) and certain medications (e.g. aspirin) can trigger the attacks as well. Proper management of the disease is required because asthma has no cure. These are the symptoms that you should look out for – chest tightness, breath shortness, wheezing, and cough; if you have these symptoms, visit your doctor immediately. Once you’re exposed to the asthma triggers, the bronchial tubes become swollen and inflamed.

You can’t really tell when the attacks might happen so you need to identify the possible triggers. With the doctor’s help, you can stay away from the triggers. Individuals who are already diagnosed with asthma often exhibit the symptoms several times in a week especially they engaged in strenuous activities. Here’s good news – you can control the attacks by using medications prescribed by the doctor. These are the best remedies that you can use:

1. Make a mixture out of ½ Tbsp cinnamon powder and 1 Tbsp honey. Take the mixture before sleeping.
2. If your asthma is still in its early stage, boil ½ c of milk and 10 garlic cloves and drink before bedtime. This is great for asthma patients suffering from severe attacks.
3. Figs help in draining your phlegm. Wash 3-4 figs and drench them in 1 c of water. You can eat the figs when your stomach is empty or you can also drink the soaked water.
4. Soak 1 tsp of Fenugeek seeds in 1 c of water overnight; drink this solution at night, preferably before bedtime.
5. Mince garlic cloves in a hot ginger tea. Give this to the asthma patient 2x a day.
6. Boil ajwain and breathe-in the steam. Add honey and drink it 2x or 3x a day.
7. Make a mixture of 1 gm ginger powder, 1 gm black pepper, and 1 tsp of honey molasses.

Use the remedies mentioned above for treating asthma attacks. The ingredients needed are mostly found in your kitchen so you won’t have any problem in preparing them.

Asthma Homeopathy

Health conditions have alternative treatments. Admit it, not everyone can afford to pay for expensive medicines and other medical costs. If you want a cost-effective way to treat asthma, why don’t you try ‘asthma homeopathy’?

Homeopathic asthma treatments are quite effective especially among recently diagnosed patients. Children and babies can benefit greatly from this type of treatment. There are times when the symptoms of asthma disappear when the child grows older but during their adulthood, the condition returns. If this happens, you can also use the homeopathy treatments.

Always keep in mind that many studies have already proven the effectiveness and efficiency of conventional medical treatments for asthma. In fact, it has already saved millions of lives for many years. If you’re using a conventional asthma treatment, try to talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you want to try the homeopathic treatments. Oftentimes, the doctor will tell you to continue your conventional medications and use the homeopathic treatments as a supplement. By combining the two medications, the patient will be able to address the symptoms successfully.

Why is homeopathy very popular? Well, the reason is quite obvious. The homeopathic treatments don’t have side effects, natural, and affordable. Because of these reasons, many people are comfortable in using them for babies, kids, and the elderly. The homeopathic treatments consist of organic products, minerals, and plants. It is prepared in a very special form which deals with the symptoms for better relief.

The effects and results of using asthma homeopathy differ from one individual to another. For instance, a certain homeopathy treatment works well for your friend but when you tried it, it did not exhibit the same effects. When you’re using homeopathy, you should not expect immediate results but you will surely benefit from it over the long run. Use the treatments regularly and properly; that way, the results can be seen in a few weeks. You can consult homeopathy specialists or practitioner in your area so that you can start using the alternative treatments. Asthma medications can be very expensive but you can make a difference if you use an alternative asthma treatment like the homeopathy treatments. The homeopathy practitioner will design a treatment plan which depends on your individual requirements.

As you can see, you can’t use homeopathy treatments used by other people. The practitioner will tailor your needs depending on your current condition. Several factors will be considered such as your age, the severity of the asthma attacks, etc.

There are lots of information resources online about the homeopathy practitioners. With a bit of research, you can easily find a local practitioner who can help you with your problems. Try to check the background of the homeopathy practitioner and don’t forget to look at the testimonials of past customers. This is one way to find out if the practitioner is a good one. Always remember that there are lots of scammers online and you need to stay away from them.

Use the internet now and find a local homeopathy practitioner who will help you in treating the asthma symptoms. Don’t forget to visit your doctor and inform him about your decision to use homeopathy treatments. If something goes wrong, visit your doctor right away. Be very careful in using conventional medicines and alternative treatments together because it might cause certain reactions. Seek medical help first.