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Tuesday, December 27, 2022

In 2023, will the epidemic turn endemic?

corona testFresh Covid wave fears persist throughout the world, including in India, as Covid infections are once again growing in a number of nations, particularly in China, which recorded over 250 million cases in only 20 days in December.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.3% of Covid-19 cases in the US are caused by the Omicron subvariant XBB, whereas the BF.7 variant of the Omicron virus is a matter for worry in China and India (CDC). This is an increase of 11.2% as incidences of the XBB variant rise in Singapore. In the US, new instances of the Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 accounted for almost 70% of all cases.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, since the pandemic began almost three years ago, there have been more than 100 million verified cases of Covid in the US, resulting in more than 1 million fatalities.

Japan is currently dealing with the ninth wave of the pandemic, and 206,943 new cases have been reported there.

On Saturday, new coronavirus-related mortality reached a three-month high while South Korea's new Covid cases stayed below 70,000 for the second straight day.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed his hope that by the end of the following year, Covid-19 will no longer be a global health emergency.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed his hope that by the end of the following year, Covid-19 will no longer be a global health emergency.

The conditions for announcing the end of the Covid-19 emergency will be discussed by the WHO Covid-19 Emergency Committee next month, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He added that while the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the Covid-19 pandemic, will not go away, "we're confident that at some point next year, we will be able to claim that Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency."

According to Kirti Sabnis, an infectious disease specialist at Fortis Hospital in Kalyan, Mumbai, when a pandemic turns endemic, the illness is widespread or present in a specific population.

"Additionally, the illnesses may still have an impact on weak members of the community. An endemic may not have significant outbreaks, but this also indicates that it won't be entirely eliminated "She spoke.

Because Covid-19 is a respiratory virus that mutates frequently, much like other Influenza viruses, experts in health stated it is more difficult to forecast whether it would become endemic in 2023.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Stay At Home bersama si DACIL kitten Persia Medium yang lucu dan lincah

Monday, March 9, 2020

COVID-19 has interfered dramatically with the practice of religion in Italy during the Period of Corona Virus

corona virusFor more than a month, Italians had heard of the 'Corona Virus' in China, having seen the stories on the news about how the Chinese Government was handling the epidemic. This news seemed like something that was from a far off land that could never hit the Italian peninsula because it was the kind of situation that only happened to 'others', quite a normal response, much like many other populations responded. Thus, people were slow to put any emergency plans into place. At one point in early January, it was suggested that an Italian manager come up with an emergency plan, but this had not been the first time this manager had been advised that establishing rules to protect people from the normal flu was in order. However, one had to think positively rather than to living in fear of the Corona Virus, which was considered 'unlikely' to spread beyond China.

People from all backgrounds, not just Italians, tend to be more favourable of looking at life from a positive point of view; however, planning for the best is sometimes the equivalent of kicking the bucket down the road to someone else. Politicians are now trying to find a solution to help small businesses that are facing difficulties during this trying period, and money is being allocated to help families with children who need to keep a mother or father at home to watch the children whose schools have recently been closed. On the surface, these seem to be the best solutions to problems facing the country, but the long-term effects could potentially bury the nation in outstanding debt, causing difficulties for future generations.

Not only have hugs, kisses, and handshakes been banned. Soccer games open to fans have also been banned for thirty days by the decreet of Giuseppe Conte, the Prime Minister of Italy. This has saddened the majority of Italians, although many argue that even soccer players should have the right to keep their distance from one another. Furthermore, all sports' events must be held behind closed doors until the third of April, something that remains incredible in the country known for kisses on the cheeks.

COVID-19 has interfered dramatically with the practice of religion, especially the Catholic religion, during February and March 2020. Yesterday, the author visited the Church of Santo Stefano in Borgomanero, where custodians had just cleaned the floors and disinfected the church. Not a living soul was to be found, neither a priest nor a tourist, which allowed the author to focus on the frescoes and the beautiful stained-glass windows in silence. If one travels across Italy this month, he or she will encounter numerous churches without parishioners because people are naturally afraid to meet one another in closed spaces no matter how large and accommodating they might be. It has been recommended that priests remove the holy water from Catholic Churches for fear of spreading the virus. Although citizens and tourists can visit holy shrines, church services have to be conducted via television and internet. Furthermore, churches have been closed because, in recent years, people have begun to steal religious artefacts from them when the churches and shrines are not guarded.

For instance, in the news one finds much information about saving the reputation of 'Made in Italy', so low-level employees are forced to work even harder than before as they hope other countries will continue to demand their products in times of trouble. A company which had had to quit producing medical face masks for fifteen years (due to Chinese competition), suddenly had to reopen its doors to help meet the needs of the Italian population that did not have enough masks to protect citizens from COVID-19.

Not having enough masks was ironic in a country known for its Venetian Carnival celebration. Sadly, Venetian Carnival parades had to be cancelled this year for fear of contagion, causing the country to lose many tourist dollars and initiating the current crisis in Italian tourism. According to Assoturismo, ninety per cent of hotel bookings in Rome have been cancelled, and the United States has issued a level-3 warning to its citizens, stating that they should avoid travel to Italy in March. Travelers who visit Italy are required to stay home for 14 days after returning to the United States. A well-known leader of the Five Star Party was worried that such travel restrictions might lead to discrimination against Italians and 'Made in Italy'. Many members of La Lega believe in a bailout amounting to 50 billion euros.

Citizens who used to hate watching the news because they generally detest politics are now glued to the TV to see what will happen next, whether or not they should stock up on food and masks, whether or not they will go to work, and who will help them get over the crisis. On a positive note, unlike most Americans who have to worry about paying much money to be treated for the Corona Virus, Italians know they will not take on a load of personal debt to pay for initial testing and further cures. The Sistema Sanitario Nazionale aims to heal all Italian citizens as well as those who have the appropriate visa to be in the country. Notwithstanding these good intentions, there is the likelihood that the health system will become overburdoned with too many patients to care for during the crisis. For example, in a message written at 12:30 on the third of March, the Piemonte Region announced that simple surgical procedures that utilize the operating rooms have had to be suspended (if they are not urgent procedures) in order to assure that the diffusion of the virus is contained.

On the fourth of March, the Government decreed that all schools and universities would be closed for a month until the fifteenth of March although they are allowed to give lessons online when possible with the goal of stopping the spread of the virus or at least slowing down its spread. Until now, most Italians have been suspicious of online education; therefore, most teachers have not had training in how to convert to the online platform; nor have most students been prepared for this new learning curve. Fortunately, this experience will change the Italian mindset, so that everyone will learn to utilize the internet for learning, telecommuting, and flexitime.
The Decree of the Prime Minister of the Council (DPCM) advises citizens to limit exiting the home if they are over the age of 65, to refrain from shaking hands, to refrain from kissing and hugging, and to avoid visiting family members in hospice or in assisted living. Citizens have been advised not to go directly to the emergency rooms, but that they should dial 112 before going in order to assure they are not positive with the Corona Virus.
The Lombardia Region, having closed the gyms and swimming pools, had also ordered its citizens not to go to the local health clubs. Many citizens living in Lombardia interpreted the orders differently, thus deciding to go to use the sport clubs in the nearby Piemonte Region. Therefore, the Mayor of Novara, one of the cities in Piemonte, had to order that all of the city's health clubs be closed. Likewise, some people have tried to escape the Red Zones of containment in Lombardia to reach their families elsewhere. One example was that of two public school teachers from the southern town of Irpinia who had been ordered not to leave Codogno, but who returned home to Irpinia near Naples as fast as they could where they were forced to be quarantined with their families, causing the entire condominium to have to be quarantined.

Whether museums should be kept open during the COVID-19 crisis remains a topic for debate amongst art enthusiasts. Museums take in much money while also attracting much-needed tourists from across the globe. Moreover, foreign tourists have to pay the much-needed tourist taxes, known as the tassa di soggiorno, which is going to be missed by the cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice (as well as many other cities) if tourism decreases, not to mention the tickets to museums which are sometimes higher for non-citizens. Italians themselves love to visit museums throughout their country, so they know they will be disappointed if they find museums closed for a month.

The movies, concert halls, and theaters have opened once again, but the Italian TV news has instructed people to leave space between themselves and others. One suggestion is to leave a vacant seat between every two seats, and this should be organized by the owners of the venue when they sell the tickets. According to TV reports, entertainment enthusiasts have been slow to get out once again. Whereas many Italians are not at all afraid of going to the cinema, there has been a humongous decrease in sales as evidenced by empty theaters and concert halls. Over the past weekend (March 1-2, 2020), according to the Associazione Generale Italiana Spettacolo (AGIS), there was a forty-four per cent decrease in ticket sales for various forms of entertainment. Since Italians love to eat fresh food, they are less prone to stocking up on food for the crisis. While Americans typically stock up on canned vegetables, frozen foods, and food in glass jars, Italians prefer to buy fresh at all times--a great habit, but it might be useful in an emergency to have something with an extended expiration date.

According to an Italian shopper, "It was weird that they were buying a lot of eggs and prosciutto." Italian shoppers focus on purchasing fresh vegetables, fruit, tomatoes, bread, pasta, and rice, the last two of which admittedly have long shelf lives. Italians approach the COVID-19 crisis in numerous ways: Pro-active Italians help others face this crisis in an organized and dignified manner. They are the city planners who realistically present the crisis. Sergio Mattarella remains calm while giving suggestions about how to be unified as a nation. Counter-active Italians are those who remain stuck and who do not try to change their ways of doing business to meet the needs of the crisis. They are unrealistic and unwilling to sacrifice something to protect their employees, and many of them would like to borrow vast sums of money to solve the tourism, healthcare, and employment crisis. At the same time, some religious Italians (not all) want to put everything into the hands of God without trying to make efforts to avoid getting ill. Others are fatalistic, only seeing a negative outcome, really scared about having to exit the house, obsessive about cleaning everything around them. Those who are in-denial do not even believe in the existence of the dangerous Corona Virus; many of them think it is 'just the flu' and they are taking no precautions. Furthermore, others are simply relaxed about it all as they think they must go with the flow. These reactions are common even in other cultures.

One can still see people in the local coffee shops and bars at the time of Aperitif. Having a snack and drink with friends around 12:00 noon or having an Aperi-Cena in the evening is an enjoyable Italian tradition that is still being practised during these times of the COVID-19 crisis. There is going to be a Woman's Day party on the 8th of March. There should be a good turnout although it will be much smaller than in past years. Maybe many people over the age of 65, who always looked forward to it, will have to stay home this year until the Corona Virus has been conquered.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Medical Advice for Hyper Tension

hytensBlood pressure is decided by the quantity of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the artery, the higher is the blood pressure. 
This blood pressure is measured with an inflatable arm cuff and with a pressure gauge. A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two parts. The first part measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). The second part measures the pressure in the arteries between beats (diastolic pressure). 
Ideal time for medical advice: A Blood Pressure reading has to be taken once in two years. In case of pre Hyper Tension more frequent readings are required. 
Screening and diagnosis: The following are the latest BP guidelines: Normal blood pressure: The blood pressure is normal if it is below 120/80 mm Hg. Prehypertension: In this, the systolic pressure ranges from 120 to 139 or a diastolic pressure ranges from 80 to 89. Stage 1 hypertension: In this, the systolic pressure ranges from 140 to 159 or a diastolic pressure ranges from 90 to 99. Stage 2 hypertension: The most severe hypertension is the stage 2 hypertension. The systolic pressure of 160 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher. 
Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH): Occurs in people older than 50 where diastolic pressure is normal but systolic pressure is high. 
Recommended routine tests: Urine analysis, blood tests and an ECG. 
Complications: Damage to the arteries, heart failure, a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain, weakened and narrowed blood vessels in the kidneys, thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes, a cluster of disorders namely elevated waist circumference, high triglycerides, low high density lipoprotein, high BP and insulin levels. 
Treatment
1. Change in life style 
2. Medication 
Thiazide diuretics- It acts on the kidneys and eliminates sodium and water. 
Beta blockers- it reduces the workload on the heart. 
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Calcium channel blockers - these help to relax the blood vessels. 
Renin inhibitors- Tekturna (drug) is a renin inhibitor because its effects last more than 24 hours. Alpha blockers- it reduces nerve impulses to blood vessels. \
Alpha-beta blockers- it slows the heart beats.
Central-acting agents- it prevents the brain from signaling the nervous system to increase the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels.
Vasodilators- it prevents the muscles in the walls of the arteries from tightening and arteries from narrowing.
Self-care: Eat healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight, Increase physical activity, Limit alcohol, and don't smoke, Manage stress, Practice slow, deep breathing.
Coping skills: Measure blood pressure at home, take medications properly, regular doctor visits, adopt healthy habits, and manage stress. To get motivated, get the support of family and friends.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Pill Identification Tools

pillid
Prescription drugs play an increasingly important role in modern life. People take pills to make them happier, address specific health concerns, and even improve their sexual performance. As more and more pills pile up in our medicine cabinets, though, it becomes easier for us to mistake one drug for another. Whenever you need help identifying a pill, you can turn to online pill identification tools that maintain large databases that list prescription drugs by identifying features and key imprints.

Imprints make it easy to determine what kind of pill you have. All you have to do is enter the numbers and letters into a pill identification tool. Reliable databases can provide accurate information within seconds.

If, for instance, you find a pill that says "100 MG" on one side and "G 4910" on the other, then you know that you have found 100 mg of sertraline hydrochloride, which is more commonly known as generic Zoloft.

Some times, however, you don't have the luxury of an easy-to-read imprint. The pill could be old, or maybe it never had an imprint at all. In these instances, you can search for the drug's name by entering identifying features of the drug. This doesn't always provide specific results as easily as searching for imprints, but it should give you a list of options that will help you identify the pill in your possession.

For instance, if you have a yellow pill in the shape of an oval, then you can enter those features into the pill identification search engine. These are fairly common attributes, so the tool will probably give you a large number of possible matches. Once you have the possible matches, though, it becomes much easier to determine the specific type of pill that you have, especially when the pill identification tool provides pictures of each option. From the above features, your search will likely provide results such as Endocet, Percocet, Meloxicam, and sertraline. Although these pills resemble each other, you will quickly be able to recognize sertraline over the others.

Pill identification tools vary in usefulness. Some contain more search parameters than others. After researching online identification tools, you will also find that some of them only contain information about legitimate prescription drugs. Other tools also provide information about common drugs that are sold illegally. This is helpful for parents who might find a few pills in a teenager's room. It is important to note, however, that illegally manufactured drugs can vary significantly in appearance. In these instances, you might need a chemical drug identification kit or even assistance from a drug laboratory.

Pill identification tools will undoubtedly become more important as people take more responsibility for their health. Knowing what types of pills you have been prescribed can help you determine how each one affects you and whether you have been given medications that might have dangerous side effects. If you ever have any doubts about the results of your pill identification tool, then you can always play it safe by consulting a doctor or pharmacist.


Saturday, March 4, 2017

Improving Home Healthcare Through Telemedicine

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that in 2009 US healthcare spending increased 5.6% to $2.47trillion and represented 17.3% of the US economy. The increase from 2008 to 2009 is the largest jump in healthcare spending since 1960, and it is remarkable that in a year in which the US economy contracted by 2.4% healthcare and the federal government were the only sectors to show an increase. This growth is also occurring from a high base, starting at a level 30% to 50% higher than most industrialized countries, and is unsustainable.

Part of the healthcare cost problem is the way that most healthcare services are provided. Hospital Care represents 31.1% of all healthcare costs and is notoriously expensive. The average cost for 1 day in the hospital in 2002 was $1,290, nearly double the average cost from 1990 and since 2002 hospital costs have increased by more than 50%. Professional Services, which in the Center for Disease Control (CDC) data includes Physician and clinical services, Dental services and other professional services represents another 31.3% of total healthcare costs and Nursing home care a further 5.9%. All of these services are provided onsite, in facilities and environments that are costly to maintain and where costs are increasing rapidly and represent more than 68% of the total healthcare expenditure in the US in 2007.

Cost however, is only part of the problem with this centralized model of healthcare delivery. Hospitals, clinics, Doctors offices and even nursing homes are notorious for spreading disease. According to a February 2003 article in The New England Journal of Medicine between 5% and 10% of all patients admitted to an acute-care hospital acquired one or more infections. The CDC estimates that there are 1.7million hospital acquired infections each year resulting in approximately 99,000 deaths, various sources have estimated that these terminal cases alone result in over $6billion in healthcare costs each year. These economic costs pale in comparison to the pain, suffering and loss of life resulting from these infections.

The centralized model also provides a setting that is at best impersonal and often dehumanizing. By design the institutional feel of hospitals, clinics, Doctors' offices and nursing homes can increase the physical discomfort of patients through raised levels of anxiety, disorientation, helplessness and even depression. Also the very nature of such institutions entails interruptions at odd hours by staff and other patients and a constantly changing cast of care providers that further add to the discomfort of the patient.

Treating patients in the home is much less costly and provides a familiar setting for the patient. It is also usually an environment that is more comfortable, lowers the risk of spreading infection and adds to the patient's sense of control over their treatment. The difficulty is that up until now much of the technology for cost and accessibility reasons needed the centralized model to be effective.

Telemedicine involves the use of telecommunications either through traditional phone networks, cell phone networks or the internet to diagnose, treat and monitor patients across large distances. Early use has focused on telecardiology and teleradiology where EKG and X-Ray information is transmitted over communication lines and monitored and analyzed at locations remote from the patient. Recently, new procedures now allow surgeons to perform certain procedures remotely and many hospitals have implemented remote nursing stations that can monitor patients from many facilities from one centralized location.

Telemedicine is also being used in the home healthcare setting to provide emergency alerts through personal emergency response systems and the monitoring of patients vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose level. The latest advances in home healthcare telemedicine have been in the area of medication management, which given the costs of poor medication compliance represents an enormous opportunity to not only save costs but to also greatly improve medical outcomes and save lives.

Over 50 million people in the US are on three or more prescriptions. While many of these medications are critical to improving the health of the patient the average compliance rate with their medication regime is only 50%. Poor medication adherence according to the Center for Disease Control represents a significant healthcare problem resulting in increased costs and poor medical outcomes. The current poor rate of medication adherence results in 10% of all hospital admissions (30% of all hospital admissions for elderly), 22-40% of all Skilled Nursing Facility admissions, 125,000 deaths per year and from $150billion to $300billion in annual cost/waste.

And this problem will only get worse as longer life spans and relatively low birth rates increase the nation's average age over the coming years. The older we get, the more medications we require and as the number of prescriptions increases so too does the amount of non-compliance. As a result, the cost to the health care system due to poor adherence is rising significantly.

There are a number of ways to improve compliance that have been tested by the medical community. Adherence rates can be significantly improved through better education, the monitoring of patients in the home, and improved medication management. Medication management devices help by organizing dosages, providing reminders to take pills and sending alerts to care givers when dosages are not taken. Telemedicine based medication management devices significantly improve compliance rates by utilizing all three of these strategies.

One such product that provides all of these functions is the Dispense-a-Pill (DAP) from HealthOneMed. The DAP is a telemedicine product that provides automated dispensing of pill based medications and supplements for specified doses, reminders of when to take each dose and alerts to caregivers and/or healthcare providers when doses are not taken. The DAP also provides, instructions, indications (what the medication is for) and warnings for each medication to be dispensed. It is the only home medication management product on the market capable of all of these functions and utilizing the DAP will reduce medical expenses, improve outcomes and save lives.

HealthOneMed is a medical device manufacturer that has developed a unique product to improve medication compliance in the home healthcare environment. Our product, the Dispense-a-Pill (DAP) is an automated pill dispenser that can handle a 90 day supply for up to 8 medications and includes reminders for when to take medications, instructions, indications, warnings and alerts to caregivers when medications have not been taken. Studies show that the use of reminders and pill organizers improves medication compliance. We feel that the DAP is a significant improvement over existing pill organizers and will greatly improve compliance rates for those that use it. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Bad Breath and Proton Pump Inhibitors

Many people are confused about the relationship between bad breath and proton pump inhibitors: do these drugs for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) cause halitosis? The confusion arises from the fact that GERD itself is thought to be a cause of halitosis.

GERD is often cited as a cause for halitosis and proton pump inhibitors are a standard treatment for GERD-the idea that these drugs may cause the bad breath, or make it worse is a relatively new development. Some medical professionals, in fact, will assume halitosis in a patient with acid reflux is caused by the condition and use GERD drugs to treat it. We need more research to investigate proton pump inhibitors and bad breath to clarify these issues.

In 2006, Brazilian researchers reported on a study that suggested a link between bad breath and proton pump inhibitors. They reported that a large percentage of patients taking these drugs have halitosis. Furthermore, their research showed a relationship between halitosis and proton pump inhibitors regardless of whether the breath odor originated in the mouth or from a non-oral source. They suggested that the underlying cause was an overgrowth of bacteria, in either the mouth or the intestine, caused by the drug.

Interestingly, many experts feel that relatively few cases of halitosis are caused by acid reflux and odors traveling up the throat from the stomach. This lends more support to the suggestion that halitosis and proton pump inhibitors may be linked: it is possible some cases of bad breath associated with GERD in the past were actually caused by the drugs instead. In addition, it suggests that treating halitosis in GERD patients with these drugs may actually make the problem worse. The answers remain far from clear: more research on bad breath and proton pump inhibitors is required.

For the present, when patients suffer from bad breath and proton pump inhibitors are necessary for the treatment of GERD, the best recourse is still a good breath product that targets the bacteria that produce bad odors in the mouth. At least for those whose halitosis originates in the mouth, this approach should offer some relief.

Patients suffering from either halitosis or GERD should consult a qualified medical professional to determine the best course of treatment.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

brIt's always an exciting time when you are gathering together your bathroom remodeling ideas because when you update to the latest styles the change is refreshing and pleasurable. However, coming to a final decision about the types, models and styles can be a bit of a nightmare unless you do some careful thinking before you start.
First of all you must decide which basic look you want to create in your bathroom. For example, do you want ultra-modern bathroom light fixtures and a futuristic style? Do you dream of a rustic-style with bathroom storage cabinets finished in Tuscan Sunset color? Antique bathroom vanities are really hot at the moment and make an excellent starting point for bathroom remodeling ideas. Or do you just want a modern, functional bathroom with white louvered bathroom wall cupboards and discount bathroom faucets? Decide this first, because there's so much choice of bathroom accessories these days that you could drive yourself crazy if you tried to look at everything!
The latest trend in bathroom remodeling ideas is wall to wall bathroom rugs, which I think smarten up the look of bathrooms enormously. They won't go with an ultra-modern design, but apart from that they will make any bathroom look more luxurious and stylish. Make sure you buy Olefin bathroom wall to wall rugs, because this is the least absorbent material and it's also non-fading, mildew-resistant and machine washable.
If you like ultra-modern bathroom remodeling ideas then you'll want the super new Rectangular Bathroom Wall Mirror with Inset Halogen Lights which has two columns of lights embedded in the mirror so that they're flush with the surface. It's so Star Trek! Bathroom light fixtures now range from a simple bar with 10 bare light bulbs, to really authentic copies of original Art Deco designs and Victorian bracket fixtures.
There are plenty of choices of bathroom vanities like the Antique Bathroom Vanity in Antique Cherry which would make a splendid center piece and you can also buy matching accessories like the Antique Bathroom Wall Cabinet. With these decisions made you can start to expand your bathroom remodeling ideas and begin to look for old-style bathroom light fixtures like the Victorian Collection with a bronzed finish to complement your choice.
Bath hardware and vanities can serve as the centerpiece for your bathroom renovation. Oak or ceramic tables give your bathroom a rustic appearance of professionalism and sophistication. If you are a college student, bath decor and vanities can add a boost of energy and additional storage capacity to a monotonous bathroom. Large mirrors and hanging lights can make your bathroom unique and provide a better environment for applying makeup in the morning. If you are a guy and need to style your hair and freshen up for dates and nights out with friends, these mirrors can give you the visibility necessary in college bathrooms in dorms. Finally, add thematic elements to your bathroom: you can remodel it to resemble a jungle atmosphere, a circus for your kids or your favorite sports team as a college student.
When you buy a bathroom vanity unit you don't get the taps with it, but you can buy lovely bathroom basin taps which will enhance your new furniture tremendously. Lots of sites on the web stock high-quality discount bathroom faucets, which are exactly the same models you would buy locally and you really can save a fortune on all your bathroom accessories if you buy online. Window shopping on the internet is definitely the quickest hassle-free method to look for bathroom remodeling ideas.
Plan your bathroom storage furniture carefully. For example, if your bathroom is small you can make the most of the storage area above the floor by installing high bathroom storage units which only take up a small amount of floor space. All types of bathroom wall cabinets are great for small bathrooms because they don't take up any floor space at all and if you're going to have a bathroom medicine cabinet, make sure it's lockable for safety. Mirrors can be used to give an illusion of space in your bathroom and if you have a couple of bathroom wall mirrors fixed in the right places you'll be amazed at the effect they'll have.
Once you've made the difficult decisions relating to your bathroom remodeling ideas and have got your new bathroom storage cabinets in place, you can start looking for curtains which will complement them. Neutral plain colors will allow special pieces like an antique vanity unit to shine without having to fight for attention against bright flowery curtains. But if your bathroom storage units are a white contemporary style, then it's a good idea to jazz things up with fancy bathroom curtains.
The bathroom is an area where you want to maximize comfort, and a great place to start is with the design and style of the room. Vanities, mirrors and creative themes help to both personalize and renovate an antiquated dorm bathroom.

I hope that this will have helped you a little in your approach to bathroom remodeling ideas and that you'll think and plan first so that when you start shopping you'll have a good idea of what you want!

Bathroom Designs Idea - Can I Design My Own Bathroom?

Why not! Today, the bathroom is much more than just a room for grooming and a place to read. Bathrooms can be a good place for home exercise equipment and a good music system or TV, for example. What better way to unwind from the day than a soothing shower or warm soak in the tub with candles and relaxing music. So start a notebook. When you get a bathroom designs idea, write it down. Soon you'll have defined the bathroom that's just right for you.
Design my own bathroom? You bet you can! When designing your own bathroom, some of the questions you should ask (and answer) include:
1. How big will the bathroom be? Bathroom sizes include:
·    Master bathroom or luxury bathroom - includes toilet, bidet, two sinks, separate tub and shower, whirpool or spa and perhaps more, depending on your budget. Some master bathrooms are large enough to have exercise equipment, and they are subdivided into smaller compartments for privacy depending on what is needed.
·     Full bathroom - includes toilet, sink, and combination tub/shower plumbed along one wall. Typical dimensions are 5x7 or 5x8 feet.
·     Half bathroom - includes sink and toilet only. It can be placed on the main floor of your home to reduce the morning rush, and the family doesn't have to go upstairs to use the toilet. Common dimensions are between 3x6 and 4x5 feet, about the size of a smaller closet.
·        Small bathroom - includes corner shower stall, toilet and sink and typical dimensions are 6x6 feet.
·        Childrens bathroom - can be a three-quarter bathroom or full bathroom depending on the size of your home and how many children you have. Children's bathrooms should have plenty of storage and cubbies that are safe and colorful. If several kids will use the same bathroom, a wall or half wall between the toilet and the rest of the bathroom may be a good idea.
·        Guest bathroom - can be a three-quarter bathroom or a full bathroom.
2. Are you planning to have convenient storage in the bathroom? A design my own bathroom person will always include bathroom storage. You can find a combination sink/vanity for extra storage. A great bathroom designs idea is you can never have too much bathroom storage! Use the wall space wisely with shelves or cabinets over the commode or almost anywhere in the bathroom. Consider using corner shelves, and hang towel bars above one another. Add a medicine cabinet with mirror to your bathroom to store grooming supplies, medicine or toiletries. Traditionally, the medicine cabinet was always located above the vanity or sink, but nowadays you can place it elsewhere in the bathroom. Add a shower caddy to your corner shower for extra storage.
A medicine cabinet is an inexpensive way to create an extra space in the bathroom. Modern medicine cabinets come in a large selection of types and styles easily complementing your home decor.
Make sure that you use the hardware which is provided along with your new medicine cabinet. Also, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions before installing a new cabinet. If your medicine cabinet has lights, you may wish to consult a licensed electrician. All electrical connections must meet local and national electric codes. In addition, it is critical that any metal on the cabinet is grounded to prevent electrocution.
3. Do you have enough lighting planned for your bathroom? Natural light is an important element in bathrooms. A window, a wall or roof skylight will bring in natural light, a view or a dramatic skyscape. Having a skylight that opens is great because moisture build-up is reduced. Artificial lighting is also vital and often overlooked in a bathroom. Without good lighting, the decor and the personality of your bathroom can not be developed properly. Lighting for your bathroom can be natural and manufactured. Lighting should be used to brighten and define the space since both can affect your mood and how you feel inside your home.
4. Another bathroom designs idea - what about ventilation? If you live in climates prone to mold and mildew, you should install an exhaust fan in your bathroom. Ventilating fans are sized by the number of cubic feet of air they move each minute (cfm). A design my own bathroom person will have a good ventilation system that can move the air from the bathroom to the outdoors about eight times per hour or once every 7 or 8 minutes. Bathrooms generate humidity and moisture that can penetrate ceilings, floors and countertops. Remove odors and humidity from a bathroom by installing a power ventilator large enough to do the job. You do not want your walls to break into a sweat every time someone showers.

Design my own bathroom? Go for it! A design my own bathroom person will read as much as possible, thinking through what is wanted and needed in this important room. A bathroom designs idea will range from materials used to the bathroom layout to the finished colors. Having a successful bathroom project is about making informed decisions while planning and while building. Continue the process of learning as much as you can before building begins. How much can you spend, what style will the bathroom be, what size ventilation should you have and so on. Your answer to each bathroom designs idea question is what will guide you so you'll have the best bathroom ever.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Ebola Virus Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

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Ebola Symptoms
Health care is very important, because there are many danger viruses. Ebola Virus disease (EVD) is a life threatening and contagious disease which is contracted by human beings as well as primates. It is a hemorrhagic fever; caused by ebolaviruses also known as "filoviruses" (they are from the virus family "filivoridae"). There are five viruses that are included in ebolaviruses, four of which infect human beings while the fifth infects other animals.

Two simultaneous outbreaks in 1976 marked the first appearance of this disease. One of those outbreaks was in Sudan, while the Democratic Republic of Congo was the other country to be affected. The first case that appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo was near the Ebola River, and so the disease got named after this river.

The viruses that cause Ebola are initially transmitted to human beings by contact with an infected animal (the virus mostly affects fruit bats, monkeys and apes) after which the disease spreads from one individual to the other. Physical contact as well as exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected person can cause the disease to spread.

After eight to ten days of being infected by the virus some early signs and symptoms that may indicate the onset of the disease are fever, severe headache, muscular pain, chills, exhaustion and weakness. These symptoms are likely to become more pronounced over time. Other indicators which help diagnose Ebola are red and inflamed eyes (eyes may even bleed), raised rash, chest pain and cough, stomach aches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, noticeable weight loss, and internal bleeding.

Since these symptoms are pretty similar to those of typhoid and malaria, it is not easy for a medical practitioner to diagnose EVD. Once a doctor is of the opinion that a patient has contracted this virus, two blood tests can confirm if the individual is infected or not, these are known as Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Medical specialists have thus far been unable to develop any vaccine or anti-viral drug for this fatal disease, but the World Health Organization is actively seeking a cure. In the mean time, healthcare providers are using some basic intervention methods in an attempt to save the lives of infected individuals. These include injecting intravenous fluids (IV), providing body salts (balancing electrolytes), ensuring constant oxygen supply and keeping blood pressure normal as well as stable. Immediate treatment should be given if the patient develops any other infections.

Preventive methods that can limit the disease from spreading are to isolate those who are infected, and ensure that medical care is given in a private ward so as keep other patients from contracting Ebola. Furthermore healthcare specialists should be very careful while disposing syringes and needles. They should wear gloves and face masks, and they should make sure that they themselves are not at risk by avoiding direct contact with the bodily fluids (e.g. blood) of an Ebola patient. Furthermore, the disease is also known to spread even after the death of the infected individual, so family and friends who are mourning the death of a loved one who had Ebola should avoid physical contact with the deceased, particularly his/her bodily fluids.

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Monday, May 16, 2016

How High Is Your Risk of Skin Cancer?

scHealth care is very important. Millions of people around the world are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. This condition is treatable in the early stages of its development. It can be effectively prevented as well. Find out whether you are at high risk so that you can take the right measures for prevention as soon as possible.

Complexion Matters

People with any complexion can get skin cancer. However, some are at greater risk than others. These are the people who have fair skin, blond or red hair and blue or green eyes. The fairer your complexion is the lower the amount of melanin in your skin is. Melanin works to protect your skin cells from the damaging UV rays of the sun. Hence, when it is in lower amount the risk of sun damage and tumour growth is greater.

Sun Exposure and Sunburns

Individuals who stay under the sun for long hours on a regular basis are at greater risk. The list includes people with certain occupations such as road workers and professional and non-professional athletes who practice outside. Those who use tanning beds and lamps on a regular basis are also at higher risk. You have to know that tanning is just the way in which your body protects the skin cells from UV damage.

Sunburns also put you at greater risk of skin cancer. People who had more than one occasion of blistering sunburn during their childhood or adolescence are more likely to develop this condition in adulthood. Generally, individuals who are prone to sunburns are at higher risk as well.

Mole Number and Size

Those people who have a large number of moles on their body are at greater risk of this condition and more precisely at greater risk of melanoma. Typically, those who have over 50 moles on their body are more likely to develop the condition compared to the rest of the population. Similarly, individuals who have over three large moles with diameter greater than 6 mm are at higher risk. These moles must be examined by a dermatologist on a regular basis.

Family History

Individuals who have a family history of this condition are at higher risk of developing it. This is especially true for those who have a parent or a sibling that has suffered from this condition. In the same way, people who have had this condition in the past are at greater risk of getting it again.

If you are at high risk of skin cancer, you must have regular skin examinations and take all important measures for protecting your skin from the UV rays of the sun.

Take advantage of one of the most efficient medical methods for Skin Cancer prevention and early detection used in New Zealand. Protect yourself and your loved ones in the best possible way.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

What You Need To Know About the Zika Virus

zvcThe Zika virus is essentially transmitted to people when one is bit by an infected mosquito mostly found in tropical regions. The virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The virus belongs to the same family as Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow fever and West Nile. However, unlike some of the aforementioned viruses, there is currently no vaccine that can be used to prevent or even treat the infection. Until recently, Zika was largely an obscure virus confined to Asia and Equatorial Africa. So health care is an important thing.

The virus was first discovered in the year 1947 when a handful of scientists making a study of the Yellow fever in the Zika forest Uganda stumbled on a virus hitherto unknown. The scientists made the discovery of the unknown virus at the time in a feverish rhesus monkey. Fast forward to the year 1958 and it was discovered that the virus was mainly transmitted or spread through the bite of the aggressive Aedes mosquito though it can also be spread sexually.

The major cause of concern about the virus is its peculiar and alarming connection to microcephaly. Microcephaly is essentially a neurological disorder resulting to newborns spotting an abnormally smaller head. The resultant effect is of cause severe developmental issues and in extreme circumstances, death. From November 2015, Brazil alone has registered 4180 cases of microcephaly in babies born to women that acquired the virus during pregnancy. This is a far cry to the meager 146 cases that were registered in the year 2014.

How the Zika virus is spread

Transmission of the Zika virus is primarily through the Aedes mosquito. The virus is transmitted when the Aedes mosquito bites a person with an active infection and thereafter spreading it through biting other people. The symptoms of the virus are not severe but mild and include possible pink eye, fever, headache as well as a rash. In fact, up to 80% of individuals infected with the virus never have an idea that they are infected.

What you can do to protect yourself against Zika

Considering the fact that there exists no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus, the only way to protect oneself from the virus is through taking preventative measures. For starters, you can desist from travelling to areas with an active infestation. Secondly, you should avoid mosquito bites by sleeping under a mosquito net. Thirdly, make it a habit to wear long sleeved shirts as well as long pants that are thick enough to prevent a mosquito bite. Fourthly, ensure that you sleep in lodgings with screened windows and air conditioned rooms. If you are already infected from the virus, the best way to keep people around you safe is through taking measures not to be bitten by a mosquito.

What is being done to stop Zika?

Efforts to create a Zika vaccine have taken center stage with researchers doing everything in their power to ensure that the Zika virus is a thing of the past. However, until there is a breakthrough, it is important for people to implement conventional mosquito control techniques such as emptying standing water which is a fertile mosquito breeding ground, sleeping under nets as well as spraying pesticides.



Zika, Dengue And The Mosquito

Zika and dengue transmission.

zdI think by now, most people have heard about these 2 viruses; zika and dengue. These viruses have their origin on the African continent, and were originally only transmitted by mosquitoes. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is the most important culprit, but the viruses have adapted, and they are currently transmitted by a wide variety of day-active mosquitoes.

Over the last 10 years, both zika and dengue have evolved into a real pandemic, making victims all over the planet, though dengue has a much more lethal reputation.
Dengue causes 10.000 to 20.000 casualties per year, while zika has caused only a very limited number of casualties. The problem with zika, however, is that it often causes serious complications in pregnant women, leading to miscarriage and severe malformation of the unborn child. Health care is very important for your life.

Symptoms

The symptoms of both zika and dengue are, in most cases, rather mild. High fever, severe headache which concentrates in and around the eyes, joint pains and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms are easily confused with those of the flu.

Dengue victims usually also have a skin rash, and when they start recovering from the virus, they will experience some uncontrollable muscular spasms, which usually subside after a few hours.
What makes dengue so dangerous, is that there are sometimes serious complications which are often, but not only, caused by the age and health condition of the victims. Other reasons for complications can be an earlier infection with one of the 4 other types of dengue. Apart from the mild form, there are also the hemorrhagic dengue and the dengue shock. Any of these 2 complications are to be considered dangerous and potentially deadly, though the last one is the worst.

Hemorrhagic dengue causes the victim to have spontaneous bleedings, both internally and externally (nose, eyes,... ). It also causes low levels of blood platelets and blood plasm leakage. This condition can evolve further into dengue shock, where the victim experiences dangerously low blood pressure, which can force the body to go into shock. A dengue vaccine has been developed in 2010, but it is not yet commercially available. For zika, a vaccine is yet to be developed. Dengue is only being transmitted by mosquitoes, whereas zika has recently been confirmed to also being transmitted sexually.

Climate change

One of the Major reasons these viruses have created a worldwide pandemic, is the increase of long distance traveling over the last 20 years. But there is another reason which plays an important part in the spreading of both dengue and zika. Climate change!

The global warming has not only given the virus-spreading mosquitoes more viable territory, it has also increased their lifespan and the number of hours they remain active during the day! You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see where that will lead to. Because of that, diseases which were previously under control, such as malaria, are now making a comeback. Zika and dengue are even spreading in central Europe! Protecting yourself against mosquitoes becomes therefore more important every year, no matter where you live.