admin

Lifeline RX, Week 1, March 2016

The theme for the 2016 World Kidney Day campaign recognized on the 10th of

March is “Kidney Disease and Children: Act Early to Prevent It!”

Kidney diseases affect millions of people worldwide, including many children who

may be at risk of kidney disease at an early age.

The kidneys are two organs located in your midsection on either side of your

spine in the middle of your back, just above the waist. They clean your blood,

keep the balance of salt and minerals in your blood, and help control blood

pressure.

When your kidneys are damaged, waste products and fluid can build up in your

body, causing swelling in your ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep, and

shortness of breath. If you don't treat them, diseased kidneys may eventually stop

working completely. Loss of kidney function is a serious -- and potentially fatal --

condition.

Doctors call the sudden loss of kidney function "acute kidney injury" or "acute

renal failure" (ARF). It has three main causes:

• Lack of blood flow to the kidneys;
• Direct damage to the kidneys themselves; or
• Urine backed up in the kidneys.

These can happen when you:

• Have a traumatic injury with blood loss;
• Are dehydrated;
• Go into shock during a severe infection called sepsis;
• Have a blocked urine flow, which can happen with an enlarged prostate;
• Take specific drugs or are around certain toxins; or
• Get certain complications with a pregnancy;

Kidneys that don't work well for longer than 3 months is called chronic kidney

disease. It's dangerous, because you may not have any symptoms until a lot of

damage that often can't be repaired, has happened.

Many people who have chronic kidney disease don't know it because the early

signs can be very subtle. It can take many years to go from chronic kidney disease

to kidney failure. Most people with chronic kidney disease live out their lives

without ever reaching kidney failure. People with stage 3 chronic kidney disease

have about an 80% chance of never having their kidneys fail.

At any stage of kidney disease, knowledge is power. Knowing the symptoms of

kidney disease can help you get the treatment you need to feel your best.

Symptom 1: Changes in Urination

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change.

Lifeline RX, Week 5, February 2016

“We can. I can.” – combat cancer through early detection.

Several screening tests have been shown to detect cancer early and reduce the chance of dying from that cancer.

Diagnosing cancer isn’t always easy. Cancer can cause many symptoms. Only a doctor can tell if your symptoms are caused by cancer or some other problem. People with symptoms that do not go away should see a doctor.

Although, not all cancers show early signs and symptoms, for a number of cancers, increasing awareness of signs and symptoms and the importance of timely treatment has been shown to improve survival from cancer. This is because finding cancer early almost always makes it easier to treat or even cure.

Recent figures from the United Kingdom for example, have found that for eight common cancers - bladder, bowel, breast, cervical, womb, malignant melanoma, ovarian and testicular cancers - survival is three times higher when cancer is diagnosed early.

Health professionals play a critical role in early diagnosis. Being equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognise the early warning signs of some cancers, knowing when symptoms need to be investigated and referring patients promptly for tests, can contribute to increasing the proportion of cancers that are found early.

Checking for cancer (or for conditions that may become cancer) in people who have no symptoms is called screening. Screening can help doctors find and treat several types of cancer early. Early detection is important because when abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time
symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread and is harder to treat.

For instance, clinical breast examination can be performed by trained healthcare professionals and has the potential to detect cancers earlier.

Individuals can also be encouraged to know what’s normal for their body and to recognise any unusual or persistent changes. For example, a person can become familiar with the look of their skin so they can be aware of any changes that might suggest a skin cancer, such as recognising a spot that is growing and changing in shape or size.

Visual screening for oral cancer is also effective in reducing deaths from this type of cancer in users of tobacco and/or alcohol.

It is important to keep in mind that cancer screening tests can have potential harms as well as benefits. For example, screening tests can have false-positive results indicating that cancer may be present even though it is not or false-negative results indicating that cancer is not present even though it is. It can be helpful for people to discuss the potential harms as well as benefits of different cancer screening tests with their doctors.

Many cancers can be successfully treated and even cured with awareness of early warning signs and symptoms, proper cancer screening, and early diagnosis.

For additional information regarding the early detection of cancer, contact the Health Promotion Unit at 338-3064.

by admin

Lifeline RX, Week 4, February 2016

Influenza (also called flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. In this region, the flu usually spreads between the months of October and May during flu season.

Flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

Flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.

Persons may spread the flu to someone else before they know they are sick, as well as while they are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.

Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

Flu is unpredictable and can become severe. Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). Complications of the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every season.

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine soon after flu vaccines are available, and ideally by October. However, getting vaccinated even later can be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before influenza begins spreading in their community.

Some people should not get vaccinated. Factors that can determine a person's suitability for vaccination, include a person's age, health (current and past) and any relevant allergies, including egg allergies. Please consult your doctor or the Primary Health Care Department about flu vaccination.

Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of flu germs.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people;
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, and if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way; and
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu;
• If sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. The Ministry of Health recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

For additional information regarding influenza, contact a public primary health care clinic on your island.

by admin

Lifeline RX Week 3, February 2016

The bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito can spread dengue, chikungunya, or Zika viruses.

While chikungunya virus is relatively new to the Turks and Caicos Islands, dengue has been present in country for nearly five years. Now Zika virus, which has been reported in over 20 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, has become an eminent threat.

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are mild fever, skin rash, pink eye, muscle or joint pain, and general malaise. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika.

Although symptoms of Zika are typically mild, there have been reports of congenital, neurological and autoimmune complications. For reasons that are not fully understood, a relationship has been established between pregnant women infected with Zika and cases of the birth defect microcephaly, which causes abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. There has also been some evidence of vertical transmission of the Zika virus from mother to child. Some countries with Zika have reported an increase in neurological and autoimmune syndromes, particularly Gullian-Barré syndrome (an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the nerves).

The best way to combat these diseases is to protect yourself, your family, and community from mosquito bites.

Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes lay several hundred eggs on the walls of water filled containers. Eggs stick to containers like glue and remain attached until they are scrubbed off. When water covers the eggs, they hatch and become adults in about a week. Adult mosquitoes live inside and outside. They prefer to bite during the day. A few infected mosquitoes can produce large outbreaks in a community and put your family at risk of becoming sick.

1. Eliminate standing water in and around your home:

• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, or trash containers.

Check inside and outside your home;

• Tightly cover boats, children’s pools, and water storage containers like buckets, tanks, and drums so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs;
• Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly; and properly dispose of all garbage or refuse

2. Keep mosquitoes out of your home:

• Use screens on windows and doors;
• Repair holes in screens; and use air conditioning when available.
• If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel room, sleep under a mosquito net

3. Prevent mosquito bites:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants;
• Use mosquito repellent with higher percentages of active ingredient for longer protection. Products containing DEET like Off and Cutter are recommended.
• Always follow the product label instructions;
• Reapply insect repellent every few hours, depending on which product and strength you choose;
• Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing;
• If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

For additional information regarding Zika virus, contact the Health Promotion Unit at 338-3064.

by admin

Lifeline RX, Week 2, February 2016

This Valentine’s Day love with caution.

The month of February is “National Condom Month.” The fight against HIV/AIDS in particular and other sexually transmitted infections has been a major priority for this sub-Region, including the Turks and Caicos Islands. This month, especially, we invite sexually active persons to take charge of their sexual health and to be true to themselves.

Proper use of condoms, both male and female, are currently the ONLY available and MOST effective method of preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. It also protects against unintended pregnancies. The search for new preventative technologies such as, HIV vaccines and microbicides continues to make progress, but CONDOMS will remain the PRIMARY preventative tool for many years to come.

In addition to the male condom, the female condom is a powerful tool for triple protection. It is a technology currently available that enables men and women to prevent themselves simultaneously from unintended pregnancy, HIV and other STIs.

Access to and use of the female condom gives women more control over their bodies and reproductive health.

It offers a life-saving option and helps reduce unprotected sexual activity.

Here are some tips for using male and female condoms:

• ever use two condoms together, whether that's two male condoms or a female and a male condom. They will rub against each other, and this friction can weaken them and make them more likely to break or fail.
• se a new condom every time you have sex.
• eat can damage condoms, so store them somewhere cool and dry.
• heck the expiry date on the packaging, as condoms don't last forever and may be past the point at which they are effective for use.
• uy condoms before going on holiday to avoid problems with language and trying to find somewhere to buy them.
• se plenty of water-based lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly (available in pharmacies), especially for anal sex.
• o not use body lotions, moisturizers, massage oil, body oil, lipstick or any other oil-based product (such as petroleum jelly, or Vaseline) with latex or polyisoprene condoms. This is because they can weaken the condom, making it less effective.
• rap used condoms in a tissue or piece of paper and put them in a trash bin. Do not flush used condoms down the toilet.

Using a condom during oral sex can help protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including those that affect the mouth or throat such as herpes gonorrhea and chlamydia. Try using flavored condoms for variety.

Getting use to condoms can take a little practice, but it doesn't take long before condoms start to feel like an essential part of your sex life. Use a new condom for every act of intercourse.

If your penis is uncircumcised, pull the foreskin back before putting on the condom

Put the condom on after your penis is erect and before any contact is made between your penis and any part of your partner’s body. In the case of the female condom, a female can lie on her side to insert or stand with one leg on a chair.

The female condom can be worn up to 8 hours.

To use the male condom pinch the tip of the condom and leave half an inch and roll to the base of the condom.

Finally, remember that use of drugs and excessive alcohol is not a good idea. It can impair your judgment and cause you to engage in risky sexual behavior and forget to use a condom.

During this special month of LOVE, remember to use a condom every time- LOVE WITH CAUTION.

For additional information regarding prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, contact the HIV Prevention Unit at 338-2772, Grand Turk or 338-4941, Providenciales.

by admin

Lifeline RX, Week 1, February 2016

Thursday, 4th of February, is World Cancer Day. This year, a three year campaign has been launched under the theme, “We can. I can.” do our part to reduce the global burden of cancer.

Cancer is not a single disease, but a group of related diseases caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

In Turks and Caicos Islands, between 1998 and 2008, a total of 127 cancer cases were reported (64 males and 63 females), and over 50% of cancers were diagnosed at advanced stages. The most common cancers were prostate, breast, uterus, and colorectal cancers; 37 cancer deaths were recorded during this period.

It is impossible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another doesn't. But research has shown that certain factors, called risk factors, may increase a person's chances. Cancer risk factors include exposure to chemicals or other substances, as well as certain lifestyle behaviors. Although some of these risk factors—like growing older and family history—cannot be avoided, others—like using tobacco—can be.

You can take action to lower the risk of getting cancer through prevention:

• he goal of primary cancer prevention is to keep cancer from developing. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding exposure to known cancer-causing substances.
• he goal of secondary cancer prevention is to detect and treat precancerous conditions that may become cancer early.

Understanding the links between lifestyle and cancer risk is the first step in effective cancer prevention. Risk factors like smoking, drinking alcohol, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyles are the biggest risk factors.

• orldwide, tobacco use accounts for five million deaths every year and 22% of all cancer deaths. Reducing the rates of tobacco use will significantly decrease the global burden of several cancers. Recently, the TCI passed Tobacco Control legislation which prohibits smoking in public places to protect people from the harms of second hand smoke. The legislation also encourages people not to smoke or stop smoking if they do.
• xcessive alcohol use has also been linked to cancers, including cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, bowel, liver and breast.
• kin cancers are linked to over exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and other sources; therefore, it is important to take measures to reduce your risk, for example, wearing protective clothing during the day.
• verweight and obesity are strongly linked with an increased risk of cancers later in life. About one third of common cancers can be prevented through a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.

Fostering a culture of health can be difficult, especially at school or work, where many people spend the majority of their day. Creating healthy environments at schools and workplaces can make living a healthy lifestyle much easier. Schools can provide nutritional meals and time for recreation and sports as well as add practical nutrition and physical education to the school curriculum. Workplaces of all sizes can put in place policies and programmes that motivate employees to adopt healthier lifestyles, such as offering healthy food options, encouraging exercise or more movement at work, providing health education and supporting participation in screening activities. Schools and workplaces can also put in place policies to prevent exposure to cancer-causing agents, such as asbestos and other carcinogens.

For additional information regarding cancer prevention, contact the Health Promotion Unit at 338-3064.

Together we can prevent cancer “We Can. I can.”

by admin