Stroke can lead to impairment, loss of memory and death. However, the good news is that if you follow doctors’ instructions, you can prevent this deadly ailment.  

According to Delphine Mushimiyimana, a physiotherapist at University of Rwanda’s Polyclinic, Kiyovu, a stroke is a non-communicable disease which emerges when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, insufficient or even reduced, cutting out the brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This injures brain cells which die with time. A stroke is a medical emergency. It is important to get the necessary treatment immediately to lessen brain damage and possible impediments.

She also notes there are three types of stroke and one of them is a haemorrhagic stroke, which is when blood from an artery begins bleeding into the brain. This happens when a debilitated blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain. Pressure from the leaked blood damages brain cells — here, the damaged area is unable to function properly.  

Sheila Wibabara, a physiotherapist at PHYSIQUE LTD, Remera, says the other two types of stroke include; ischaemic stroke – this stroke can be caused by a blood clot that forms in the heart and travels to the brain or by atherothrombosis.

She says, transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is another stroke type that is caused by a blood clot that temporarily interrupts blood flow in the brain, and is a major risk factor for future strokes that could cause more serious damage.

Mushimiyimana says, a stroke can occur when someone is stressed, overworked and not rested enough, or has high blood pressure. The high blood pressure can cause the blood vessel to burst. This needs an immediate emergency to handle it.

Wibabara says that the people who are prone to stroke are those who are; overweight, those who rarely or don’t do physical exercises, diabetics and people that have been majorly operated.

If you have a problem with the right side of the brain, Mushimiyimana notes that the paralysis will be presented by the left side of the body. Stroke affects people emotionally, economically and physically, she says.

RISK FACTORS

Mushimiyimana notes that high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, for instance, heart failure, heart defects, heart infection, can lead to stroke.

Wibabara states that stroke risk factors are mainly family history of heart disease. This may include; defective heart valves, and irregular heartbeat. High blood pressure typically 140/90 or higher, tobacco users. Nicotine makes your blood pressure go up. Cigarette smoke causes a fatty build up in your main neck artery. It also thickens your blood and makes it more likely to clot.

She also adds that people with diabetes have high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight. Both raise the chance of a stroke. Diabetes damages your blood vessels, which makes a stroke more likely. If you have a stroke when your blood sugar levels are high, the injury to your brain is greater.

COMPLICATIONS

Mushimiyimana explains that a stroke patient can become paralysed on one side of their body, or fail to control certain muscles, for example, those on one side of their face or on the arm.

“A stroke might affect control of the muscles in one’s mouth and throat, thus making it hard for you to talk clearly, swallow or eat. You also may have difficulty with language (aphasia), including speaking or understanding speech, reading, or writing,” she states.

She says that some people who experience stroke might have memory loss, trouble thinking, reasoning and understanding some notions, while others may have more struggle controlling their emotions, or may even develop depression or become mentally disturbed.

Mushimiyimana carries on that stroke can come with numbness, or other strange feelings, for example, someone suffering from a stroke might lose feeling in their left or right arm, may develop an uncomfortable burning sensation in that arm.

She further says that these patients might find it hard to control their urine and faeces, and most of them have to depend on people for everything. Some stroke patients even feel irritated, especially if they fail to say what they want and wonder why they are helpless.

TREATMENT

Mushimiyimana says exercise is very important for strengthening and stretching, these exercises are known as proprioception. This is also known as kinaesthesia, which is the sense of self-movement and body position.

She also notes that physiotherapy works effectively if it is done consecutively.

PREVENTION

Mushimiyimana adds, to prevent stroke, you must exercise at least 30 minutes every day, you can do aerobics, swim, walk, and run. However, it is important to know your health status to know the kind of exercise suitable for your weight.  

To avert stroke, Wibabara explains that people need to be sensitised about it, frequent check-ups with your doctor, especially when you are diabetic or have heart disease.

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New Delhi: With an aim to bring down incidence of HIV/AIDS by 20,000 per year for the next two years, the Union Health Ministry is reaching out to targeted areas like prisons and women remand homes as cases in these places are much higher as compared to the general population, said a senior Health Ministry official.

As of now, there are about 2.1 million patients suffering from the disease, however, only 1.3 million are registered with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres and getting the treatment as per the National Aids Control Organization (NACO), said the official adding that there is so much of social stigma around it that people don’t come out openly for the treatment.

“We have to develop a system of identifying patients and reaching out to the targeted areas like prisons and women remand homes because cases here are 5 to 6 times more than that among general population. We are working on it and screening patients in these areas and giving them appropriate treatment,” the official said. 

Apart from this, the ministry has directed all private and government medical colleges to operationalise Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres in their respective institutes for the treatment of HIV patients.

“In the coming days, all government and private medical colleges will have ART centres only for the treatment of HIV patients. HIV prevention is a community-driven programme. The major challenge is to eliminate the gap. People who suffer from the disease do not even come out for the treatment because of social stigma. Greater number of ART centres will help the government in identifying patients and get them adequate treatment to further reduce the burden of the disease. Hence, it requires aggressive awareness campaign,” said the official adding that so far Central government has 540 ART centres across the nation.

ART centres have been established to provide free treatment to persons living with HIV and AIDS. The main objective is to remove stigma and discrimination, to safeguard rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and those affected by HIV.

According to NACO report, during the 2016-17 period, about 184,092 general individuals were detected as HIV positive. However, during 2017-18 (till August 2017) around 80,955 were diagnosed HIV Positive. 

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India aims to treat at least 150 million people with high blood pressure (BP) across 100 districts in all the states over the next few years.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), along with World Health Organization (WHO), has launched the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) in 25 districts across five states, which will be expanded to 100 districts by 2025.

“The national action plan targets reducing the number of people with uncontrolled hypertension by 25% by the year 2025. The IHCI is a model initiative towards that as prevention and treatment is far safer and less expensive than bypass surgery and regular dialysis,” ICMR director-general Dr Balram Bhargava said.

“It will strengthen the cardiovascular component of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke,” Dr Bhargava said.

Under the IHCI, every person above 30 years of age will be screened for high blood pressure in a primary health centre or sub-centre and also health and wellness centres.

Uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. According to government data, 200 million adults have high blood pressure, and 50% of them do not know about it.

“India has a huge disease burden wherein one in four suffers from hypertension. What’s worse, however, is that only one in 10 of those has blood pressure under control. It puts a large number of people under the risk of sudden heart attacks and strokes,” Dr Meenakshi Sharma, ICMR scientist who is involved with the project, said.

Telangana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala are already screening people under the programme and have registered about 300,000 hypertensive people in the last one year.

As part of the project, health workers at primary health centres and subcentres have been extensively trained in screening people above 30 years using professional digital monitors.

People with blood pressure readings of 140/90mmHg or above are being put on blood pressure medicines on the basis of a standard treatment protocol that the states have designed with the help of experts from ICMR and WHO. The expansion plan targets at least two districts in each state.

“Putting almost 180 million people on treatment is a huge task. There will be challenges like stopping patients from dropping out of the programme etc., so the staff has also been trained to counsel patients,” Dr Prabhdeep Kaur, head of non-communicable diseases division at National Institute of Epidemiology, said.

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SYDNEY, July 19 (Xinhua) — A study released on Friday by Australia’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has attempted to tackle problematic snacking by finding out which factors contribute to overeating.

It is not surprising that snacking has become a major contributor to childhood obesity. Given the opportunity, most kids would happily shovel handfuls of chips and chocolate into their mouths between meals, whether out of hunger or boredom or both.

Lead researcher Dr. Jessica Kerr told Xinhua that contrary to common advice, the size of the container or dish in which snacks are served held little influence, while the amount of food with which is presented plays a major role.

The study looked at roughly 1,800 children aged 11-12 who were taking part in a larger study – giving them 15-minute snack breaks in between 20 other health assessments.

“What we found in this study was that children were really significantly affected by how much food they were served, so when we gave them more items and more choice, they consumed a lot more,” Kerr said.

“But surprisingly, the size of the dish wear, so the presentation of the foods, didn’t have much of an effect and I say that’s surprising because it is widely recommended that we use smaller plates for portion control, but our study actually didn’t seem to find that the way foods were presented had a big effect.”

Australia’s childhood obesity rate has ballooned to as much as three times that of thirty years ago, with one in five children now considered overweight or obese.

As a contributing factor in this Kerr believes that snacking has been overlooked in the past when it came to scientific studies.

She said that parents should pay more attention towards offering children smaller amounts of food and, specifically, fewer and less variety of energy-dense foods and pre-packaged items.

“Unfortunately manufacturers do make unhealthy things taste delicious, sodium rich rice crackers for example or chocolate or really high sugary muesli bars,” Kerr said.

“But you can do fun things for kids with fruit and vegetables as well and plain rice crackers and plain popcorn and things like that, there’s nothing wrong with those things.”

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Hypertension aka high blood pressure is one of the common ailments which is prevailing among many. Around a billion people are suffering from the same in the world today. The disease has hardly any symptoms and that’s why it is known as a silent killer, and hence, one should get their BP levels checked regularly. For the unversed, many factors can contribute to the increased BP.

Few of them are genetics, stress, diet and smoking among others. Hypertension can also lead to other health disorders such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and kidney ailments among others. Apart from medications, one can also follow home remedies. Today we have listed out some of the top herbs which can help you to combat the health issue.

1. Ginger
Ginger is one of the best ways to reduce hypertension as it is packed with active compounds and vital volatile oils. Apart from lowering high blood pressure, it also lowers blood sugar and aids to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol.

2. Basil
Basil which is commonly known as tulsi has many benefits including helping in lowering high BP. For the unversed, the chemical eugenol blocks substances that tighten blood vessels. You can easily add it in tea, salads, soups and pasta among others.

3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon aka dalchini can reduce prolonged high blood pressure. One can use the powdered version in breakfast cereal, oatmeal and coffee among others.

4. Cardamom
Cardamom aka elaichi is commonly used in Indian cuisine. As per research, participants’ blood pressure readings were reduced after taking 1.5 grams of cardamom powder twice a day for 12 weeks. 

5 Flax seeds
Flax seeds aka alsi are powerhouses of Omega 3 aids in lowering blood pressure. As per studies, if you eat 30–50 gm seeds per day for more than 12 weeks, then it can bring drastic changes in BP level readings. It also helps to bring down cholesterol levels.

6. Garlic
Just like ginger, garlic aka lasoon is a commonly used condiment in our Indian dishes and the same has the ability to lower blood pressure. For the unversed, it is loaded with nitric oxide and the same aids the blood vessels to relax and the blood flow happens more freely.

The post High Blood Pressure: 6 Commonly found herbs that can reduce hypertension appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

HIGH Blood pressure can lead to many serious health problems. Salt is one of the main offenders. Overhauling your salt intake could potentially save your life. Here are five
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High blood pressure is often branded the “silent killer” as symptoms usually go undetected at first, then serious problems strike. Similarly, people consume large amounts of salt without realising the risks associated. According to Katharine Jenner, CEO of Blood Pressure UK, “We are all eating too much salt which can damage our health. Salt puts up our blood pressure leading to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks; it is also linked to kidney disease, stomach cancer and osteoporosis.”

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Reducing the amount of salt in our diets can help save lives and millions in health care costs

Dr Sarah Jarvis

Despite efforts to ween people off salt, 93 percent of people still use salt at home. According to GP and medical commentator Sarah Jarvis, “Reducing the amount of salt in our diets can help save lives and millions in health care costs. The average person in the UK is consuming 8.1g of salt which is much higher than is recommended, so this is an issue that needs to be addressed.”

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Dr Jarvis recommends the following five dietary tips to reduce your salt intake:

Try to cut down on processed food as this is where the majority of salt in our diets come from. Ready meals, readymade sauces and soups are often high in salt
Keep processed meats to a minimum. Bacon, ham and sausages contain salt
Don’t be duped into thinking posh gourmet sea and rock salts are better for you. Some of these manufacturers make very misleading claims. They all contain exactly the same amount of sodium as regular table salt and any other trace minerals will be present in such small quantities that you won’t get any benefit
Avoid seasoning and adding salt to food at home. Try using herbs, spices and lemon juice instead. Weaning yourself off salt takes some getting used to, but your palate will adjust. If you can’t go without salt, then you are better to use a reduced sodium salt like LoSalt instead. It is the sodium in salt which is linked to high blood pressure
Remember, high blood pressure is very common and it often has no symptoms. It usually affects people as they get older and will be checked as part of your NHS health check which you are invited to every five years between the ages of 40-74. It’s important that you attend these health checks as they can help detect early signs for high blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and dementia.
Five ways to reduce salt intake
High blood pressure: Five ways to reduce salt intake (Image: Getty Images )
Jenner also recommends trying out FoodSwitch – a free app which also gives you healthier alternatives of similar foods to choose from when out shopping.

According to the NHS, other ways to lower a surging blood pressure include:

Cut back on alcohol
Lose weight if you’re overweight
Exercise regularly
Cut down on caffeine
Stop smoking
Try to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night
“Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take 1 or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high,” adds the health body.

According to Bupa, finding ways to combat stress will also help to lower a soaring blood pressure, it explained: “Stress can temporarily raise your blood pressure. You may adopt unhealthy habits to cope with stress, like drinking more, which also affect your blood pressure. Learning to relax your body and mind can help.

“You may want to consider stress management, cognitive therapies or muscle relaxation techniques, for example. Your doctor can advise on some of these and possibly refer you for specialist therapy.”

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Try swapping out salt for spices

High blood pressure: Try swapping out salt for spices (Image: Getty Images )
Try to get at least six hours sleep every night

High blood pressure: Try to get at least six hours sleep every night {Image: Getty Images}
It is important to closely monitor your blood pressure, especially if you are over the age of forty, said the NHS.

According to Blood Pressure UK, an ideal reading is below 120 over 80 (120/80). This is the ideal blood pressure for people wishing to have good health. “At this level, we have a much lower risk of heart disease or stroke,” it said.

There a number of places to get your blood pressure tested, according to the NHS. These include:

At your GP surgery – by a GP, practice nurse, healthcare assistant or self-service machine
At some pharmacies
At an NHS Health Check appointment offered to adults aged 40 to 74 in England
In some workplaces
At a health event

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High blood pressure is caused by a person’s lifestyle, family history or stress. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 highlights high blood pressure as the second biggest known global risk factor for disease after poor diet. It also noted that high blood pressure was responsible for 10.7 million deaths worldwide. In the UK, high blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor for disease after tobacco smoking and poor diet. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease and stroke. How can a person reduce their blood pressure readings and reduce their risk of life-threatening incidences?

Avocados have rich levels of potassium and recent studies have shown that increasing potassium intake may help lower blood pressure. Avocados contain about 152mg and 345 mg of potassium per 30g.

Avocados are low in sodium salts and provide potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin E, all of which have benefits in aiding to reduce blood pressure symptoms.

The American Heart Association said: “Foods that are rich in potassium are important in managing high blood pressure because potassium lessens the effects of sodium. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you lose through urine.

Potassium also helps to ease tension in the blood vessel walls, which helps further lower blood pressure.”

A study at the US National Library of Medicine investigated the effects of avocado consumption on blood pressure and cholesterol and noted the effects of avocado which have been demonstrated in several studies. 

Many population studies of the Mediterranean diet and Dietary Approaches to to Stop Hypertension (DASH) show that higher intakes of monounsaturated fats, those found in avocados, are associated with lower raters of hypertension, heart attack and strokes.

Avocado leaf extracts also have blood pressure lowering actions. Avocado leaves are a traditional treatment for hypertension in African countries such as Nigeria and Togo.

The avocado leaves are boiled in water to make an infusion tea.

Other foods high in potassium:

• Apricots
• Fat-free yogurt
• Lima beens
• Peas
• Oranges and orange juice
• Spinach
• Tuna

The NHS said: “More than one in four adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it.

“The only way to find out if you blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.”

Symptoms of high blood pressure:

• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations
• Nose bleeds
• Stomach pain
• Fever

Avocados have also been proven to help aid weight loss, protect vision, reduce heart attack risk, lower cholesterol and potentially ward off cancer.

If you suspect you might have high blood pressure you should speak with your GP and have a blood test and begin preventive measures.

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