HEALTHFIRSTAF: WOMEN'S HEALTH: BENEFITS OF PAP TEST

HEALTHFIRSTAF: WOMEN'S HEALTH: BENEFITS OF PAP TEST:  Pap test is used to detect abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous. Pap test detects early precancerous changes in the cervix...

WOMEN'S HEALTH: BENEFITS OF PAP TEST

 Pap test is used to detect abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous. Pap test detects early precancerous changes in the cervix. It is not designed to detect cervical cancer or diagnose cervical cancer. When a woman's pap test is positive for abnormal cells, her doctor then takes further steps to find our what kind of abnormal cells she has and then treat appropriately.
  When abnormal cells are detected early, it increases survival rate of possible cancers. The abnormal cells are easier and less expensive to treat in their early stages.
  Pap test should be done from age 21 or after a woman becomes sexually active which ever comes first. Test is recommended once every 2 years for age 21, and  every 3years  for age 30 and above. For women above 65 years and those with total hysterectomy , consult with your doctor for advice.
 Women who keep multiple sex partners should have pap test done with HPV test which is sexually transmitted.
 

GET YOUR PAP TEST DONE TODAY IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE ONE.

HEALTHFIRSTAF: BE CAREFUL WITH SELF MEDICATION, IT MAY CAUSE MORE...

HEALTHFIRSTAF: BE CAREFUL WITH SELF MEDICATION, IT MAY CAUSE MORE...:  The  common symptoms people self medicate for are, pain, headaches, fever, cough ,cold, constipation, diarrhea and stomach aches. Self med...

BE CAREFUL WITH SELF MEDICATION, IT MAY CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

 The  common symptoms people self medicate for are, pain, headaches, fever, cough ,cold, constipation, diarrhea and stomach aches. Self medication may help relieve symptoms temporarily. It may be more harmful than helpful in many cases.
  Self medication can affect proper medical diagnosis . It may cause symptoms of severe illnesses to subside, making proper diagnosis difficult. It can cause drug interaction which may harm vital organs. It puts a person at risk for incorrect medication dosing which may hinder or prolong recovery. Medication can also contain toxic substance that is harmful to vital organs.
   The most commonly used over the counter drug is pain killers. Pain killers can irritate the abdominal lining or induce gastritis. The risk of stroke is increased in people with high blood that self medicates regularly on pain killers. Self medicating on cough syrup  when a person is taking blood pressure medications can cause adverse drug interaction.
   Some  have become addicted to over the counter medicines due to self medication. It may also cause allergic reaction, especially  drugs  that contains sulpha and penicillin. The liver and kidney are vulnerable to the toxic consequences of self medicating drugs.
  Excessive use of vitamins  can cause hypervitaminosis or vitamin poisoning.
  Consult your doctor and have your symptoms properly diagnosed. Self medication may cost you much more on the long run, due to its potentially damaging effect on your health.
     

Beware of self medication

 

HEALTHFIRSTAF: SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER

HEALTHFIRSTAF: SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER:   Snoring is a common condition that can affect anybody. It occurs more frequently in men than women. It occurs in overweight individuals a...

SNORING MAY BE A SIGN OF SLEEP DISORDER

  Snoring is a common condition that can affect anybody. It occurs more frequently in men than women. It occurs in overweight individuals and it sometimes worsens with age. Occasional snoring may be caused by fatigue. Constant or habitual snoring may be caused by obstructed nasal airway, poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue, bulky throat tissue, long soft palate and uvula.
  Snoring may lead to health problems like light sleeping, may cause heart problems, high blood pressure and may put an individual at risk for stroke. Poor night sleep as a result of snoring may cause daytime sleepiness and put a person at risk for accidents. It may also interfere with a persons daily activity.
  A person may require life style changes like loosing weight and quitting smoking to correct habitual snoring problems.
  If you begin to wake up with headaches, having trouble staying awake, and experiencing daytime sleepiness, consult with your doctor.
  You may need to have  a sleep study for a Cpap machine or surgical intervention to correct the cause of snoring.
    

              
            

HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT:   Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chr...

HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

HEALTHFIRSTAF: PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT:   Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chr...

PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

  Pain is an unpleasant feeling or discomfort. It signals actual or potential injury to the body. Pain may be acute, of sudden onset or chronic, after an injury heals. However, there are certain pain to be concerned about, because they may indicate an underlying medical problem that needs further treatment or investigation. The pain to be concerned about are pain of sudden onset that is not relieved by pain killers. Severe and unbearable pain that gradually gets worse even when the doctors have not been able to diagnose a person with any form of illness. Pain that causes lack of sleep or that wakes a person from sleep.  Pain that causes deformity to a part of the body. Pain that affects daily activities and affects a persons level of consciousness. If you or your family members are experiencing any of the pain mentioned above, seek medical help persistently. Medical investigations may not show anything initially, be sure to follow up with your family doctor or your consultant until a diagnosis is established. 
 

It is not normal to feel pain, there is always an underlying cause.

HEALTHFIRSTAF: SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA

HEALTHFIRSTAF: SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA:    Anaemia is occurs when a person has less than normal red blood cell in the blood or when the red blood cells in the blood lacks enough h...

SIGNS AND EFFECTS OF ANAEMIA

   Anaemia is occurs when a person has less than normal red blood cell in the blood or when the red blood cells in the blood lacks enough haemoglobin. It affects more women than men and people with chronic diseases.
   Anaemia can be caused by heavy blood loss, trauma, diseases and the body's inability to make red blood cells. It can also be caused by iron and vitamin B12 deficiency. It can be mild, in which case a person does not feel any symptom. It can be moderate or severe.
    Some common signs of anaemia includes;
Tiredness and loss of energy
Chest pain
Rapid/Fast heart rate especially with exertion or after exercises
Difficulty breathing
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Pale skin
Leg cramps 
Trouble sleeping at night
In severe cases seizures
Abdominal pain
Jaundice
Brown or red urine
Cold hands and feet
Low body temperature
Irritable feeling
 If anaemia is left untreated it can lead to organ and tissue damage. It can also lead to heart disease. If you or your family members are experiencing symptoms of anaemia, visit your doctor and get checked. Anaemia can be treated by treating underlying cause, making dietary changed and the use of supplements.

 

HEALTHFIRSTAF: POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE IS A SERIOUS HEA...

HEALTHFIRSTAF: POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE IS A SERIOUS HEA...:     Plaque constantly forms on the teeth from food and drinks, especially from starchy and sugary diet. Plaque contains bacteria, which wit...

POOR DENTAL CARE AND GUM DISEASE ARE SERIOUS HEALTH RISK

    Plaque constantly forms on the teeth from food and drinks, especially from starchy and sugary diet. Plaque contains bacteria, which with poor dental hygiene mixes up with the sugar and starch from foods and drinks to form acids. The acid formed irritates the gums and causes them to become red, swollen and tender. It also causes the gum to bleed easily. If these plaques are not properly removed everyday, they harden to form tartar or calculus around the neck of the teeth. The tissues that attached the gums to the teeth becomes destroyed by the irritants from the plaque. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth and create small pockets which eventually gets filled with plaques. It results in tooth loss and chronic infection that can enter the blood stream.
    When the infection from plaque gets to the blood stream , it can lead to further infection and inflammation of the heart's lining, valves and arteries. Severe gum disease can also lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diabetes. Infected gums can cause respiratory diseases like bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema in especially the elderly. The infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health problems.
    If you suspect that you or any of your family members have gum disease or are experiencing symptoms of gum disease see you doctor and dentist as soon as you can.
          

Gum disease is a serious health problem that can be easily prevented and treated.

HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY:    Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagu...

HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

HEALTHFIRSTAF: CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY:    Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagu...

CHEST PAIN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

   Chest pain is any pain from the neck to the upper part of the abdomen. Chest pain can be caused by problems in the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs and nerves. It is very important to seek medical help as soon as possible when experiencing any form of chest. Chest pain can be a symptom of a heart attack or a symptom of sudden illness that may lead to a heart attack. The importance of seeking medical help as soon as possible, is to have the doctor rule out life threatening conditions like a heart attack or any condition that could lead to heart attack.
   Chest pains can present as sharp, dull, aching, burning, stabbing or crushing pain. Irrespective of how chest pain presents, some certain types of chest pain should be taken seriously.
 Chest pains with trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, severe weakness, diaphoresis, increased anxiety, change in mental status, 

and restlessness should be taken seriously. If a person is experiencing any of the above mentioned symptom with chest pain, he/she should go to the nearest emergency department immediately or call 911 in countries where available. 

HEALTHFIRSTAF: ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

HEALTHFIRSTAF: ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT:   Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation,disintegration of an organ or by the loss of the supply of blood to an organ. Inflammation of...

ABDOMINAL PAIN TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

  Abdominal pain can be caused by inflammation,disintegration of an organ or by the loss of the supply of blood to an organ. Inflammation of the bowels can be due to infection or internal organ injury. The loss of blood supply can be due to blood vessel blockage of twisted part of the bowels. Abdominal pain caused by gas and muscle pains are nothing to be worried about. However there are certain types of abdominal pain that poses risk to a the human life. Pains to be worried about include abdominal pain that has lasted for more than 24hrs. 
 Pains accompanied by excessive vomiting , diarrhea or both. Pains to the mid upper abdomen accompanied with distress and trouble breathing.Pain to the flank that radiates to the back. Pain to the right lower part of the abdomen. The pain experienced all over the abdomen that will not go away.Pain accompanied with difficulty urinating. Pain accompanied with unintentional weight loss. Pain in any part of the abdomen that has refused to go away. If you or your family members are experiencing any of the above mentioned kind of pain, contact your doctor  for medical attention.
  Upper middle abdominal pain accompanied with trouble breathing is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention.
            

Photo credit PreventDisease.

HEALTHFIRSTAF: WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION

HEALTHFIRSTAF: WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION:  Constipation can cause severe medical problems that may lead to bowel surgeries. Hence the need to prevent and manage it properly. Constip...

WAYS TO MANAGE CONSTIPATION

 Constipation can cause severe medical problems that may lead to bowel surgeries. Hence the need to prevent and manage it properly.
Constipation can be managed through basic life style changes like diet and exercises.
  To manage constipation effectively, increase fluid intake, preferably water. As juices and other form of fluids may worsen constipation symptoms. Exercise regularly. Eat healthy by eating food rich in vegetables and fruits. Eat fruits ,food and vegetables rich in fibre. Eat more of brown rice instead of white rice. Eat more cooked food instead of fried foods. Eat fibre rich fruits like apples, pears, berries, plums and nuts. Make beans part of your vegetable consumption daily. Eat broccoli and apricots. Eat more of potatoes, not fried but cooked and in any other form. Drink prune juice instead of regular juice. Eat whole wheat grains. If diet does not work, try natural laxatives, like cascara sagrada, rhubarb, aloe, senna tea and buckthorn before using artificial laxatives. Artificial laxatives should be your last resort, as your bowels may become dependent on these laxatives .
    If constipation is not relieved by these remedies, see your doctor as soon as possible for further check up and investigation.
  

Constipation remedies.