Small children tend to stumble and fall on their heads more often since the head is proportionally much larger than the rest of the body, said Matthias Albrecht, a child pediatrician who works with a Dortmund-based accident prevention group.

But according to the child surgeon, “if a child cries out, that usually means nothing serious has happened”.

If the child is silent after a fall or even becomes unconscious, please call for an ambulance or doctor immediately. The same applies if the child starts to vomit since these symptoms could point to cerebral concussion, said Albrecht.

It is perfectly normal for children to fall down, especially when they are taking their first steps but danger arises when a baby or child slips from a high nappy-changing table.

Without prior warning, children are always learning something new. This can mean that a baby, which up until now has always be laying on its back, can suddenly flip over and tumble off the nappy-changing table.

When changing a baby’s nappy, the parent should always hold the child. Experts say a good nappy-changing table should be 85cm to 92cm tall, 55cm long and 70cm wide, and best placed in a corner where the walls provide additional protection.

]]> http://www.healthcare-article.com/fall-concerns-for-a-child/feed/ 0 http://www.healthcare-article.com/tai-chi-for-the-heart/ http://www.healthcare-article.com/tai-chi-for-the-heart/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:11:11 +0000 R.Seven http://www.healthcare-article.com/?p=245 People with chronic heart failure may be able to boost their quality of life by doing the ancient Chinese exercise regimen of tai chi, a US study suggested. Two group sessions of one hour each per week were enough to show significant improvements in mood and confidence, said the Bostonbased study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association.

The study compared 50 US heart patients who enrolled in tai chi classes to 50 who took classroom study in heart education. Physical responses were similar in both groups, but those who did tai chi showed “significant” improvements according to their answers in a questionnaire to assess their emotional state. The tai chi group also reported better “exercise self-efficacy (confidence to perform certain exercise – related activities), with increased daily activity, and related feelings of well-being compared with the education group,” said the study.

 While experts admit they do not fully understand the science behind the findings, the study offers a positive option for complementing standard medical care of people with chronic heart failure, a debilitating and progressive disease that limits a person’s ability to breathe and move.

 “Tai chi appears to be a safe alternative to low-to-moderate intensity conventional exercise training,” said lead author Gloria Yeh of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre.

“Tai chi has a good rate of adherence and may provide value in improving daily exercise, quality of life, self-efficacy and mood in frail, deconditioned patients with systolic heart failure.” Yeh is also assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Research and Education in Complimentary and Integrative Medical Therapies at Harvard Medical School.

Previous studies have suggested Tai Chi, which involves slow, circular movements and balance-shifting exercises, may be helpful to people who suffer from high blood pressure, fibromyalgia and stress.

1. Strength exercises build muscles for older adults and increase their metabolism, which helps to keep their weight and blood sugar in check.
2. Balance exercises build leg muscles, and help to prevent falls. According to the NIH, US hospitals have 300,000 admissions for broken hips each year, many involving seniors, and falling is often the cause of those fractures. Balance exercises also help the elderly stay independent by helping them to avoid the disabilities that could result from falling.
3. Stretching exercises give more freedom of movement, allowing people to be more active during their senior years. But stretching exercises alone will not improve endurance or strength.
4. Endurance exercises are any activity – walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or even raking leaves – that increases your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Build up your endurance gradually, starting with as little as five minutes of activity at a time.

“The testes don’t work as well when you’re overweight,” according to Michael Zitzmann, an endocrinologist at Muenster University Hospital’s Institute of Reproductive Medicine in Germany. Zitzmann said a major role was played by waist size since too much belly fat was harmful and contributed to lower testosterone levels.

A deficiency of the male hormone can also lead to depression, he pointed out. In addition to a comprehensive program targeting diet, exercise and behaviour, Zitzmann said he recommends testosterone therapy for his overweight male patients because a deficiency of the hormone was also
deleterious to organs such as the liver.

What is more, correcting the deficiency fosters fat loss and muscle gain, he said. Men generally take obesity less seriously than women do, Zitzmann said, one reason being that the advertising industry presented slimness as a beauty ideal much more often to women. On men, however, a big belly can still be considered a status symbol and its bearer is regarded as a “he-man”, Zitzmann said.

According to the German Obesity Foundation, 66% of men and 51% of women in Germany are either overweight or obese. Among the best-known potential complications of excessive body fat are cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes and emotional problems. Noting that in Germany, the tendency to become overweight is not decreasing, diabetologist Stephan Jacob expressed pessimism about societal developments.

“In future, we’re going to have a huge army of middle aged people supposed to carry the population pyramid but who are ill,” he said. The people in Germany most likely to be overweight are those who are poorly educated and come from low-income families, said Jacob, who is second chairman of the German
Obesity Foundation. A further challenge, Jacob said, was rectifying this group of patients’ often distorted notions of a healthy diet.

A rotavirus infection can seem like a normal upset stomach but it can lead to vomiting or diarrhea more than 20times a day. Symptoms may last up to 9days.
Rotavirus can cause symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever

All the above symptoms can lead to dehydration.

Babies with severe cases may need to go to hospital. Doctors cannot predict if your baby will have a serious case of rotavirus.

Is Your Baby Protected?

Keeping a clean home and washing your hands often are not enough to protect your baby from rotavirus. Hand soaps and other celaning products cannot kill the viru. It spreads easily and can survive for weeks on toys and household surface.

What Can I Do About Rotavirus?

Ask your doctor about a painless oral vaccine that targets 5 of the most common types of rotavirus.

Important questions as below:

What Is Rotavirus?

Rotavirus is a common stomach virus that’s very easy to get.
Symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever

These symptoms can lead to serious dehydration (loss of body water).

How Can I Protect My Baby?

Fortunately there is a painless oral vaccine that targets 5 of the most common types of rotavirus that cause 95% of infections worldwide.

When Should My Baby Get The Vaccine?

Your baby should get the forst dose before 3 months of age. It’s important not to put it off.

What Should I Do Next?

Talk to your doctor about rotavirus and getting your newborn vaccinated today.

It follows one of the biggest studies on breast-feeding yet.

Renowned Oxford University researchers examined the health and behavior of almost 10,000 mums and their children for five years. They found that the children who were breastfed for four months or more were far better behaved.

They also socialized better with other kids by their fifth birthday. Behavioral problems more common among bottle-fed babies ranged from hyperactivity, anxiety and restlessness – to stealing and lying. The researchers took into account other factors which could influence kids’ behavior – such as time spent with their parents at home.

But breastfed infants were still found to be 30 per cent less likely to be badly behaved. The team – led by leading UK public health expert Maria Quigley – is unsure what causes the effect.

Nutrients

A fearful patient unconsciously transmits his or her tension to the dentist, senses the dentist’s growing tension and reacts by becoming even more tense, according to the German Society of Dental Hypnosis (DGZH). The result, it said, is a vicious circle detrimental to the patient, the dentist and the treatment itself. There are patients with a pronounced dental phobia, a hypersensitive gag reflex or an allergy to local anaesthetics. Often they can be treated only under general anaesthesia, the DGZH said. Or they can allow themselves to be hypnotised.

As the DGZH describes it, the aim of dental hypnosis is to put the patient in a relaxed “trance state” for the procedure. “It’s a state of relaxation in which the patient’s attention isn’t directed outward, but rather inward – the patient shuts down a little,” noted Stephan Eitner, a dentist and president of the German Society of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy (DGH).

In this relaxed state, he said, external perception is “switched of”. The patient blocks out unpleasant sensations during the dental procedure and feels good, which the DGZH said manifested itself physically in a calm heart rate, low blood pressure, deep abdominal respiration and relaxed muscles. The hypnotic state can be achieved by suggestion, induced relaxation – with the help of hypnosis CDs underlaid with relaxing music, for example – as well as by distraction, the DGZH said. The dentist speaks with the patient in a way that diverts the patient’s thoughts from anxieties and focuses them inward, Eitner said, adding that fears of suddenly awakening from hypnosis during the dental procedure and feeling intense pain were groundless.

“We work with a ‘net’ and ‘double bottom’,” he said. To be on the safe side, he explained, hypnotised patients are also given a local anaesthetic if they tolerate it. Thanks to the hypnosis, they need only about a quarter of the usual dosage to feel no pain. Eitner said dental hypnosis was not performed on “patients with a history of mental illness”. Georg Duenzl, a dentist and executive board member of the Munich- based Milton Erickson Society for Clinical Hypnosis

(MEG), said interest in hypnosis treatments was generally high, although there are no precise figures for Germany.

Sometimes people worry too much about bowel movements. Bowel movements vary greatly for us all. There is no right or wrong number of daily or weekly bowel movements. For some people a bowel movement everyday is normal, for others a bowel movement every three to four days is normal.

Older people are more likely than younger people to get constipated due to several of the reasons mentioned below. However young people can also get easily constipated and babies may get constipated when they start solids or become dehydrated.

Some questions you can ask yourself to see if you are really constipated:

If your answers are yes to some of these questions, you may be constipated.

Symptoms

With recurring constipation and straining to pass motions, some people may also develop haemorrhoids (piles).

Likely Causes

Not Eating Enough Fiber
Elderly people may tend to eat more soft food if they are losing their teeth and thus not get enough fiber in their diet. Eating too many refined or processes foods can also contribute to constipation because these foods are low in fiber.

Not Drinking Enough Fluid
It is easy to forget to drink enough fluids during the day. Water and other fluids soften our stools and make bowel movements easier. Sometimes babies who are given incorrectly prepared baby formula or babies who have started on solids can get constipation.

Lack of Exercise or Activity
Poor mobility (especially in the elderly), long periods of immobility, like, recovery from illness or injury. Sitting for long periods when traveling by air or changing your job to a less active one, can all cause constipation.

Failure to Answer Your Natural’s Call
Failure to answer your bowel movement call can cause constipation or more serious problems.

Medicines
Some medicines, both prescription and over the counter ones can cause constipation. Some examples are antidepressants, diuretics, anti Parkinson’s medicines, antacids containing aluminum or calcium and antihistamines.

Pregnancy
Pregnant women may become constipated due to hormonal changes. Increasing dietary fiber, fluid intake and mild exercise such as walking can help. Eating kiwifruit everyday may help to prevent constipation.

Others Possible Reasons

Choices of Treatment

Self Care

Eating More Fiber
It’s recommended that we eat up to 30g of fiber per day. Whole grain cereals and breads, fresh fruit and vegetables all contain dietary fiber, which helps keep bowel movements regular. For some people a small addition of fiber each day will relieve constipation, however, some may need much larger amount of fiber.

Increase fiber in your diet slowly over a few weeks to avoid wind. add bran to your daily diet such as in cooking or as cereal. Bulk fiber laxatives are available from your pharmacist. They work by adding extra fiber to the diet. These need to be taken with 1 to 2 large glasses of water.

Drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluid of water a day. Increase water intake of breastfed or bottle-fed babies for a short time until the constipation is gone.

Have More Exercise
Having regular exercise like walking, particularly in the elderly is often effective in relieving constipation.

Laxatives

Constipation causing real discomfort may be relieved more quickly by laxative medicines. Laxatives come in different forms, such as, tablets liquids, suppositories or enemas. There are also many different types of laxatives including stool softeners, fiber products and bowel stimulants. Depending on the severity and duration of your symptoms, your doctor will advise you on the type of laxative best for you.

Some people who need to stay on medicines that cause constipation, will also be prescribed laxatives at the same time by their doctor to help control constipation.

Important caution need to be adhere on some laxatives as it can be habit forming if taken regularly, hence, they should only be used for short-term relief of constipation. Laxatives should not be used for weight loss. Overdose of laxatives can cause serious medical problems. Please ask your doctor for advice before taking laxatives.

When To See A Doctor

A change in bowel movements may be a signal of another illness. See your doctor if:

People who catch, kill and clean bats must take precautions to protect themselves from being infected by the Nipah virus, said Prof Dr Tan Chong Tin, the leader of the Nipah Encephalitis Investigating Team during the 1998/99 outbreak.

“They also need to be careful because bats are believed to transmit the SARS virus,” he said during his Merdeka Award Lecture Series “The Saga of Nipah Encephalitis: An Update” yesterday.

Asked if eating bat meat could pose a danger, he said that should not be a problem if it was properly cooked.

However, Dr Tan, said he would not want to create an anti-bats sentiment because bats had a positive ecological contribution.

Bats are also believed to benefit those suffering from asthma. According to an online website, a community in Thailand eats the meat believing it to be good for the libido.

Dr Tan said that the Nipah virus was still a global concern because it had been discovered in many areas of the world like Ghana, Madagascar, India, China and various parts of South East Asia and Australia.

Asked if the virus can still be found in Malaysia, Dr Tan said this was not known because no tests had been carried out since the 1998/99 outbreak.

The outbreak began in vilages near Ipoh and took more than 100 live.

source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/27/nation/6344789&sec=nation

Researchers have long proven the heart-health benefits of red wine but a study published on Jan 28 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry shows drinking cranberry juice can lower blood pressure.

Roger Corder, author of the Red Wine Diet and professor at Queen mary University of London, indentified oligomeric procyanidins, which prevent blood vessel constriction that leads to heart disease, in cranberries.

“We’ve now indentified oligomeric procyanidins as the specific compound in cranberries that can boost the health of blood vessels, helping to prevent blood vessel constricition,” said Corder.