Archive for February, 2008
For a good many years now it has been found that the red wine helps keep arteries clean. Red wine made from the skins of red grapes is known to benefit the heart and blood vessels to some extent. There are many studies to support the specific beneficial effects of the red wine.A recent study done by the researchers at the ‘Peter Munk Cardiac Centre’ of the ‘Toronto General Hospital’ found that the positive effects of the wine disappeared with the intake of two drinks.
As a part of the protective drive initiated by the researchers in the previous studies, the recent study also advocates the moderate or light consumption of wine and other alcoholic drinks. The researchers tried to determine the differences between the effects of wine and the alcohol on the blood pressure, arteries and the heart. Thirteen volunteers participated in this real time study.
February issue of the “Acta Paediatrica” highlights a review based on an intrinsic relationship between the psychological problems of young women, behavioral problems of boys and the key role factor of an active father figure.
This review is based on the research study findings of Swedish researchers who derived a conclusion that a constant positive personal touch with boys and young women will help in reducing the growth of criminal emotions and behavior. This constant positive contact of an active father figure will also help in enhancing the related cognitive skills like intelligence, logical reasoning, and language developments among the children. It is specifically applicable to the lower-income group of families.
Researchers found that the children who are living with both the active father and mother will have far less chances of having behavioral problems compared to the children who are living with mother only. It is therefore more pertinent, according to the researchers, to enhance the level of involvement of an active father figure in the normal life patterns of the boys and young women in a family. Healthcare professionals and the law making authorities should also lay much emphasis on this aspect.
To see the prevalence of hypertension rates on the level of different states in the US, a study was recently conducted was evaluated during of the recent studies conducted by Majid Ezzati, Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of International Health at the ‘Harvard School of Public Health’, Boston.
He found variation in the rates across the country however seeing the worst uncontrolled hypertension rates especially in the south and including the nation’s capital; he recommended special control efforts to regulate the blood pressure associated problems.
However, this study does not provide any data regarding how individual states measure up when it comes to hypertension prevalence. They could take in account only the self reported hypertension status.
During the study, they derived from the survey done by the national health and nutrition examination that there has been a gradual fall in the declining rate of the prevalence of hypertension rates for the decades up to the 1990s.
Every year thousands of children swallow dangerous things at home. Hundreds of children are admitted to hospitals for treatment after swallowing poisonous substances. Some die as a result. Others are left with permanent damage. ‘The American Academy of Paediatrics ‘‘offers important tips for poison prevention and treatment. These are critical to the safety of a child.More than 90 percent of all poison exposures occur in homes where the parents or the caregivers are not paying attention. Children do get attracted to medicines and tablets, sedatives, household products, garden and garage preparations which are the major potential poisons at home. Special events at home bring lack of supervision towards a child like holidays, visits to the relatives. These special events offer greater risk of poisoning in children. Change in routine also lessens the alertness and vigilance. During these times, a child gets ample opportunity to explore things like medicines, cleaning supplies, pesticides or lawn chemicals. Certain indoor plants have also been found poisonous.
So it’s important to know certain tips for poison prevention and appropriate treatment to poison contact or ingestion.
Kids are attracted to medicines as they always want to imitate the adult behaviour or they may confuse the tablets to a candy.
Medicines and potentially dangerous household products should be stored with their original labels and containers. Children get confused and might drink the contents by mistake.
Building a high shelf is not safe. Children are curious and persistent so can climb. The products should be kept in the locked cabinets, out of sight and out of reach of the children. Children can’t be poisoned by something they can’t get their hands on. These days specially designed childproof boxes or cupboard catches are also available in the market. They might contain the safety latches which lock the child inaccessible doors.
Medicines should be stored with safety caps and unused medication should be discarded. Disposal of unused medicines should also be done carefully.
While administering the medicines, first make it sure you have the correct bottle and never give medicines in the dark. Using the wrong bottle could have tragic results.
Installing carbon monoxide detectors and testing the smoke detectors on monthly basis secure the environment around the house.
Different types and methods of poisoning require different, immediate treatment: First of all, it is important to remain calm in all the incidents of poisoning.
If the poison is swallowed:
- Do not give the child anything to eat or drink and make them vomit.
- Remove the object and try to make the child spit out the remaining out of his mouth.
If the poison is inhaled:
- Move the child to fresh air.
- Administer the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and continue until the child breathes on his or her own, or until someone can take over.
If the poison is on the skin:
- Remove clothing that contains poison.
- Rinse the skin with water for 10 minutes.
If the poison is in the eye:
- Flush the eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner.
So this is a quick guide to the tips of prevention of poisoning and treatment which needs to be administered without any fail.
Preeclampsia is a condition, associated with human pregnancy which gives rise to ‘hypertension’ and ‘proteinuria’. Despite decades of preventive efforts, it causes the highest number of maternal deaths and is the leading cause of prenatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. It also contributes significantly to pre-term delivery and still births and death in new born.Researchers at ‘Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center’ during one of their studies found that during ‘Preeclampsia’ there is a rise in the level of a peptide that affects the blood pressure in certain parts of placenta, a tissue which links the mother and the fetus. They have tried to find out how this disorder happens.
