Promosi Tutti Frutti

Assalamualaikum & selamat sejahtera.

Just nak share info menarik bagi penggemar Tutti Frutti seluruh Malaysia! Sesiapa yang besday dia dekat2 dah boleh la ke mana2 cawangan berhampiran.

Bagi student pulak, korang pun bakal dapat keistimewaan ni. Ape lagi? Aku tak boleh lagi sebab bukan berstatus student. Next month baru jadi student balik. wakakaka...

p/s: Baru rasa TF sekali seumur hidup.

Bahaya Tonton Olympic London 2012

Assalamualaikum & Slamat sejahtre,

Sejak 27th Julai sampai hari ni, mesti ramai giler manusia dok tonton sukan Olympic. Nak pi sana takdak duit. Nak tengok TB pun takdak ASTRO. So aku tengok skali skale je. Kalau isu-isu best layan jugak terutamanya badminton. (Sebab ni je sukan yang aku rase berbaloi nak tengok)

Aritu tengok dekat rumah mertua, siap ade channel khas lagi untuk sukan nih. Macam-macam jenis sukan dia tunjuk. Setiap channel ade sukan masing-masing. Tekan punya tekan, kalau takde badminton, angkat berat, terjun...tutup TB ;) Memilih tol aku nih.

Sebut pasal bahaya tengok sukan ni. Memang bahaya habaq hang. Bahaya boleh wujud apabila penonton yang dok tengok tu minat gila dengan sukan tertentu. Bila dah minat tentu dia stay-up sampai koyak mata semata-mata (berapa banyak mata daa....) untuk layan sukan tu sampai tahu sape dapat pingat mas.

Besenye pagi keje, so time malam atau pagi buta la time nak menonton! Menurut kajian, kurang tidur boleh mengganggu memori otak bahkan sampai ke tahap bunuh diri. Katanya, mereka yang kurang tidur ni mempunyai hormon stress compare dengan orang yang cukup tidur.

Menurut Harvard Woman's Health Watch, seseorang yang kurang tidur cenderung untuk mengalami masalah kesihatan seperti kurang berat badan, darah tinggi dan mengurangkan daya ketahanan badan.

Bahaya kan? Tak pasal-pasal Olympic 2012 London kena. ;) So macam bese lah,  bila tak cukup tidur, ia sedikit sebanyak akan menganggu tugasan harian. Bila kurang rehat, mata penat. Nak pergi kerja naik kereta/moto. Kalau dah ngantok sangat, nanti ada jugak yang langgar dinding terowong. hehehe Root cause macam ni la yang perlu kita jaga bagi mengelakkan daripada berlakunya apa-apa kejadian yang tidak di ingini.

Cukup tidur, insyaAllah badan sihat, otak cergas. Jangan lupa minum air masak/zam-zam air sebelum tidur. Hypothesis hari ini: Seseorang yang tidak cukup tidur;

• mempunyai potensi untuk mengalami masalah Muscular skeletal disorder (MSD), 
• terlupa zip seluar
• punch card merah
• terlupa ambil anak di sekolah
• terlupa no. hp sendiri

p/s: bila korang stay-up dan suatu ketika rasa ulang belakang rasa semacam je, tu tandanya physiology badan dah bagi warning, kena rehat dengan kadar segera. Kalau tak korang memang akan terasa sangat mengantok esok harinya.

Punish litter bugs

FROM Bandar Sri Damansara and Kepong to Bukit Bintang and Ampang, the indications are clear that Kuala Lumpur is a dirty city.

It is an unhealthy situation that needs prompt and stern action by the authorities, including the municipal councils and Ministries of Health and Tourism.

Wherever you go -- shopping malls, train station, schools, car parks or back alleys -- you see rubbish dumped on pavements, floors and roads. The state of affairs is equally bad at bus stops, taxi stands, pavements and five-foot ways.

It is commonly known that street sweepers and rubbish collectors are not instructed or employed to clean many of these places which are glaring eyesores to passers-by, commuters, shoppers and tourists. There seems to be a "Who cares?" attitude.

There is a shortage of dustbins in Kuala Lumpur and other cities, which should be provided for by the authorities.

Building contractors and decorators have to share the blame for this deplorable situation which is also evident in Petaling Jaya and the city's outskirts. Contractors discard debris, bricks, stones and wood on roadsides near construction sites.

In Singapore and Hong Kong, the authorities are firmly against littering. Plain-clothes inspectors go out on the beat to catch offenders red-handed.

The authorities must act swiftly and seriously before mountains of trash build up and turn cities into slums.

Warning notices should be put up at construction sites and strategic locations to warn potential offenders. Inspections should also be made to ensure that residents, pedestrians, shopkeepers, builders and motorists abide by the law.

There ought to be a stern crackdown on the offenders. We have the regulations but no one is enforcing them. It is because of this lack of enforcement that they get away scot-free.

By Roselina Hajjar Taman Sri Batu Caves, Batu Caves, Selangor.

Palm Oil for the Heart

A clinical study is under way to see if a Vitamin E compound found in palm oil can help stroke patients

TOCOTRIENOL may not be a familiar name to the public, but worldwide, scientists are looking to see how this natural Vitamin E, found abundantly in palm oil, may help stroke, cancer and diabetes patients.

In a two-year trial, Professor Chandan Sen from Ohio State University, United States, will determine whether supplementation of tocotrienols can reduce stroke-induced lesion volume, and/or stroke incidence, mortality and quality of life.

Sen is one of the recipients of the Malaysian government’s RM20 million investment, announced last November, to conduct six clinical trials seeking medical breakthroughs by using tocotrienols in palm oil.

In a telephone conversation recently, Sen says tocotrienols show “remarkable benefit against stroke” and if a patient takes tocotrienol, “injury to the brain is less if the patient suffers a stroke”.

Sen says he has completed a large animal study to see if oral intake of tocotrienols will deliver its benefits to vital organs. Currently, a clinical study involving 150 patients is under way to see if oral intake of tocotrienols is absorbed by the blood and delivered to vital organs such as liver and brain.

“There is no other plant in which tocotrienol is found more abundantly than in oil palm fruit,” he says. He adds that tocotrienol is even more potent than tocopherol, another natural Vitamin E compound found in olive and sunflower oils, and used widely in supplements and skincare.

Tocotrienols are known to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reverse arterial blockage (carotid atherosclerosis), protect against ischemia or reperfusion heart injury, inhibit platelet aggregation, anti-cancer and suppress tumours, and is a potent natural antioxidant.

“In the United States alone, there are 700,000 stroke cases a year. Before a major stroke, patients often develop a mini stroke and we are interested to know if tocotrienols may help them sustain less injury when they get a major stroke,” says Sen.

The RM20 million investmentfrom the Malaysian government is in line with the country’s aim to expedite growth in food and health-based downstream segment, under the Palm Oil National Key Economic Area. Other clinical trials to be done under the budget are breast cancer tumour progression, colorectal cancer and prolonging the survival of patients with prostate cancer.

Two other projects seek to study the effects of tocotrienol on diabetes mellitus and ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactive disorder).

Potent goodness

THE next time you are buying cooking oil, consider palm oil. Here’s why:

CAROTENOIDS

These natural chemical compounds give crude palm oil its orange-red hue and make palm oil red in colour. Unrefined palm oil and crude palm oil are nature’s richest source of carotenoids as compared to other vegetable oils. It has 15 times more carotenoids than carrot and 30 times more than tomato.

The most active and important form of carotenoids in palm oil is carotene (beta-carotene), which has Vitamin A, an effective antioxidant to strengthen the body’s immune system and reduces the risk of certain diseases like cancer and heart disease.

VITAMIN E

The oil is rich in Vitamin E — tocopherols and tocotrienols. No other vegetable oil has as much Vitamin E. The vitamin is a powerful anti-oxidant, capable of reducing free radicals in the body. This means it may help to protect you from certain chronic diseases and delaying the ageing process. Latest research shows that the tocotrienol form of Vitamin E reacts more effectively than tocopherols.

TRANS-FAT FREE

Much has been said about trans-fat and how hydrogenated oil is more lethal to the body than saturated fat. Solid fats made from palm oil do not have to go through hydrogenation. Hydrogenation of oils produces trans-fatty acids (TFAs) which have been linked, by numerous scientific studies, to breast cancer, colonic cancer, and heart disease.

Many countries warn consumers against intake of TFAs. Some even regulate the content of TFAs in foods sold in the irrespective markets, underlining the growing recognition and concern over their negative health effects.

FOOD FATS

Fatty acids are raw materials for building the membranes of every cell in your body, including bones, nerves and brain. The micronutrients keep body cells healthy and functioning properly. You will be malnourished and become sickly or prone to infections if you do not have fats and oils in your diet.

BALANCED FAT RATIO

Palm oil has a balanced ratio of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. It contains 40 per cent oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid) and 10 per cent linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acid).

Both are good fats that can help lower blood pressure it contains 45 per cent palmitic acid and five per cent stearic acid (saturated fatty acid).This composition results in an edible oil that is suitable for use in a variety of food applications.

Source: www.mpoc.org.my

High incidence of diabetes in Kelantan

KOTA BHARU: The Kelantaneses' fondness for sweet food is blamed for the high number of diabetes cases reported last year.

State women and family development and health committee chairman Wan Ubaidah Omar told Kelantan assembly yesterday there were 25,500 diabetes sufferers with 4,038 new cases detected last year.

In Kelantan, diabetes topped the list of chronic illness followed by heart attack, asthma and high blood pressure.

"The state government had raised the allocation for aid given to those suffering from chronic diseases from RM250,000 to RM1 million,” she said in replying to Mohamad Awang (PAS-Gual Periuk).

Speaking to reporters afterwards, she said it was an uphill battle to persuade the public to reduce their sugar intake as the people were so fond of sweet food and desserts.

"It is normal for the local here to eat heavy meals like rice in the morning and take traditional kuih such as `akok' and `tepung pelita'.

"They refused to change their diets until they start showing signs of diabetes and this led to the rise in cases," she said.

Wan Ubaidah said the rural folk form the majority of the sufferers as they still practise the traditional diet.

She said the state government had tried without any success in organising campaigns to promote the change in lifestyle.

Meanwhile, state human development, youths, sports and NGOs committee chairman Datuk Abdul Fattah Mahmood said the state government would not recognise several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) including Jati, led by former Selangor PAS chief Datuk Dr Hasan Ali, as they were set up to promote personal gains.

He accused them of being parasites and said they would only work together with NGO’s which can help and benefit by being their close friends.

"We will not co-operate with this kind of NGO’s which have ‘unclear' direction and we doubt that they can be useful to the society," he told the state assembly.

By: NST 5.03.2012

June-Healthy lifestyle Expo in Selangor

THE Selangor Healthy Lifestyle Expo, to be held annually for the next five years, will provide a platform for industry players to promote and sell their packages to the public.

Organising manager Faizal Ridza Alwi said the expo was the largest healthy lifestyle event to be organised in Selangor.

"The theme for the event is 'Go Green and Be More Healthy'. We hope to stir interest among the people in a healthy lifestyle through this expo," he said.

"The expo will feature segments such as active aging, children's health, health screening, women and health, healthy food, sports safety zone, travel and leisure," said Faizal.

He said this at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Shah Alam Convention Centre (SACC) and SMV Associates Sdn Bhd, to organise the inaugural event.

Faizal said there would be about 140 booths showcasing health, beauty and lifestyle products at the expo.

It will take place at the SACC from June 22 to 24 from 10am to 9pm.

The event is supported by the Selangor State Investment Berhad (SSIC).

SACC chief executive officer Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad said they would host the Selangor Healthy Lifestyle Expo for the next five years.

"We aim to turn SACC into a hub for industries in all market segments to expand relationship and experience, and provide a perfect, self-contained platform."

The collaboration between SACC and SMV Associates will also enable the exchange of information and ideas related to the expo industry.

By S.K. THANUSHA DEVI
SHAH ALAM
streets@nstp.com.my

Glukos tinggi rosakkan retina

Diabetes adalah sejenis penyakit di mana kandungan gula di dalam darah lebih tinggi daripada normal.

Kandungan glukos yang tinggi di dalam darah pada kadar jangka panjang akan menyebabkan kerosakan dan penyempitan pada saluran darah di dalam badan.

Ini akan mengundang pelbagai komplikasi seperti kerosakan buah pinggang, sakit jantung, darah tinggi, luka kaki dan buta kedua-dua mata.

Menurut Pakar Perunding Oftalmologi dan Pakar Bedah Vitreoretina Hospital Pusrawi, Dr. Barkeh Hanim Jumaat, penyempitan saluran darah pada saraf retina mata juga akan menyebabkan aliran darah yang terhad.

Katanya lagi, kesan jangka panjang akan menyebabkan kerosakan pada saraf retina mata dan kerosakan ini dikenali sebagai retinopati diabetik.

Retinopati diabetik dicirikan sebagai kerosakan pada lapisan retina yang melapisi bahagian dalam bebola mata akibat pembuluh darah yang tersumbat, bocor atau bertambah terlalu banyak.

Ini merupakan sebab utama buta kekal di kalangan pesakit diabetes.

"Ini adalah komplikasi yang berlaku apabila seorang penghidap diabetes tidak mengawal paras gula darah dengan baik atau tidak dirawat dengan betul, ia akan membawa kepada kemerosotan penglihatan dan buta.

"Oleh itu, amat penting bagi setiap pesakit diabetes mendapatkan pemeriksaan mata sebaik sahaja dikesan menghidap diabetes," ujarnya pada ceramah kesihatan umum sempena Bulan Kesihatan di Hospital Pusrawi, Kuala Lumpur, baru-baru ini.

Tambah beliau lagi, selanjutnya, pemeriksaan berkala akan dilakukan oleh pakar mata supaya kerosakan dapat dirawat segera ketika penglihatan masih lagi elok.

Ini merupakan cara terbaik untuk mencegah buta berkekalan akibat diabetes.

Apa yang boleh dilakukan oleh pesakit ialah kesedaran pada peringkat awal.

"Sebaik-baik sahaja dikesan menghidap diabetes, pesakit perlu memastikan pengawalan paras gula darah yang baik pada setiap masa, serta mengamalkan gaya hidup yang sihat," katanya.

Oleh MARIATUL QATIAH ZAKARIA
maria.zakaria@utusan.com.my

Do your part for the environs

KUALA LUMPUR: The people have been urged to do their part for the environment and not just leave it to the authorities.

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said protection of the environment depended on initiatives by the Government and private bodies.

“Everybody must be committed and have a greater awareness of their responsibility in protecting the environment,” said the MCA president after launching the GoGreen Winter Solstice Celebration 2011.

“It is the individual's action that matters most. For example, if you buy a loaf of bread, (you will find that) it is already inside plastic. Some still want another bag to put the bread inside, which is unnecessary.

Dr Chua said the “traditional teaching” of “reduce, reuse and recycle” is still relevant.

“Another example is household waste which, until today, we do not take efforts to separate. We just dump everything into the dustbin.

“Kitchen waste can be dangerous because it releases methane gas. But if methane is properly treated, it can produce energy. Kitchen waste can also be recycled as fertiliser. But we are not doing it,” said Dr Chua, a former health minister.

The GoGreen Winter Solstice Celebration was organised by the Malaysia Youth 4 EcoGreen Coalition (MY4Eco).

MY4Eco founder Lim Teck Hoe said festive occasions, like the Winter Solstice celebration, was one of the best avenues to promote environmental awareness.

“For example, for the Winter Solstice celebration, we could play our role by not wasting food.”

Besides a tang yuan (glutinous rice ball dessert) making session, the event also featured a catwalk with models wearing clothing made out of organic material.

There were performances by Malaysian Idol winner Daniel Lee and Jeffry “Beatboxer Tuxy” Goh.

Source: The Star Online 23 Dec 2011

Know how to create awareness on the environment?

KUALA LUMPUR: If you have an out-of-the-box idea on how to raise environmental awareness effectively, let us know, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fa Kui.

“Many are still unaware of environmental issues, so we want to send the message out more aggressively,” he said.

“However, the ministry cannot do it alone, so we need the public to come forward,” he added at the launch of the Green Kids television programme at Angkasapuri here yesterday.

Green Kids focuses on environmental preservation and use of green technology, and is targeted at children aged from six to 12. The pilot episode will air over TV2 at 5.30pm on Jan 28.

The programme is a collaboration be- tween the ministry and the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia).

The first season has 13 episodes with five different segments. Each episode will run for 30 minutes.

Chin hoped that the programme would inspire the younger generation to contribute towards developing green technology and conserving the environment.

Source: The Star Online 23 Dec 2011

Orang tua lebih rajin basuh tangan

Membasuh tangan

Menyah kuman dan membasuh tangan dengan kerap adalah perlu untuk membasmi bakteria berbahaya. Kajian Dekontaminasi Dettol mendapati bahawa produk-produk anti bakteria adalah paling berkesan untuk menyah kuman bakteria patogenik daripada permukaan-permukaan biasa dalam rumah berbanding sabun atau detergen biasa atau air semata-mata.

Kajian kebersihan yang diarahkan oleh Dettol sebelum ini menunjukkan bahawa membasuh tangan dengan sabun anti bakteria dan air telah terbukti dapat mengurangkan penyakit.

Penemuan unik daripada Kajian Tingkahlaku Dettol menunjukkan bahawa tingkahlaku menjaga kebersihan yang dipertingkatkan dapat melindungi kesihatan dengan menghalang jangkitan kuman. Dijalankan di 12 buah negara di seluruh dunia dan melibatkan 12,000 orang responden, kajian ini mengenal pasti faktor-faktor tingkahlaku dan sikap yang mempengaruhi amalan kebersihan dalam konteks penjagaan peribadi dan kediaman.

Secara khususnya, ia meneliti ciri-ciri peribadi, sifat-sifat, demografik dan kelaziman sosial berkaitan dengan amalan kebersihan yang baik serta keadaan kesihatan.

Kajian penyelidikan menunjukkan bahawa keprihatinan memainkan peranan dalam mengekalkan kesihatan yang lebih baik di kalangan warga Malaysia.

Selain itu, rakan sebaya turut mempengaruhi tabiat-tabiat kebersihan. Anehnya, usia adalah pengaruh terbesar ke atas tingkahlaku kebersihan di Malaysia di mana warga tua dilaporkan lebih kerap membasuh tangan dan membersih permukaan berbanding warga muda. Maka, usia juga turut dikaitkan dengan kesihatan yang lebih baik.

"Berdasarkan kajian tingkahlaku ini, terdapat perbezaan dari segi tingkahlaku berkaitan kebersihan antara generasi tua dan muda di Malaysia. Ia menunjukkan hanya warga tua yang lebih cenderung untuk menjaga kebersihan. Maka, kita perlu mendidik warga muda dan menggesa mereka untuk menjaga kebersihan bagi mengurangkan penyebaran penyakit berjangkit di negara ini.

"Maklumat yang dikumpul daripada kajian ini boleh diaplikasi dalam menghasilkan usaha pendidikan yang lebih berkesan bagi menggalakkan perubahan tingkahlaku demi tabiat kebersihan yang lebih baik, khususnya di kalangan warga muda," kata Dr. Christopher Lee.

Oleh RABIATUL ADAWIYAH KOH ABDULLAH
adawiyah.koh@utusan.com.my

Dapur tempat paling kotor

Benarkah dapur adalah tempat paling kotor jika dibandingkan dengan tandas?

Menurut Ketua dan Perunding Pakar Perubatan Kanan, Penyakit Berjangkit, Jabatan Perubatan, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Dr. Christopher Lee, setiap orang akan membersihkan tandas berulang kali tetapi kurang melakukannya di dapur.

Persepsi ini bakal berubah andainya anda didedahkan dengan realiti bahawa barangan
terkotor di rumah rupa-rupanya bukan di tandas tetapi dapur anda.

Satu kaji selidik Kebersihan Global Dettol baru-baru ini mendedahkan, kain pengelap di dapur merupakan antara barangan universal paling tercemar dalam sesebuah isi rumah.

Di Malaysia pula, 100 peratus kain pengelap di dapur didapati sangat tercemar. Cuba bayangkan apa akan berlaku apabila kain pengelap yang sama digunakan untuk kerja-kerja membersih? Alamatnya, risiko tempat-tempat yang dibersihkan itu terkena sebaran bakteria turut bertambah.

Si ibu atau suri rumah pula tidak mengendahkan perkara tersebut sehingga meningkatkan risiko jangkitan pada kanak-kanak.

Penyakit berjangkit

Menurut laporan Dana Kanak-kanak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNICEF), lebih kurang 1.1 juta kematian kanak-kanak di seluruh dunia adalah akibat penyakit berjangkit yang menyebabkan cirit-birit. Tidak hairanlah penyakit berjangkit dan parasitik berada di tempat keempat dalam senarai penyebab utama kemasukan ke hospital di Malaysia pada tahun 2010 .

Selain itu, kes-kes keracunan makanan, tuberkulosis dan HFMD (penyakit tangan, kaki dan mulut) adalah antara penyakit berjangkit tertinggi di negara ini. Penyebaran penyakit berjangkit di Malaysia memerlukan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam mengenai sifat bakteria, dekontaminasi yang berkesan dan pencetus bagi mengekalkan amalan kebersihan yang betul.

Pakar kebersihan Dettol berkerjasama dengan Majlis Kebersihan Global bagi mengumpul maklumat mendalam daripada kajian dan memberi cadangan praktikal untuk meningkatkan taraf kebersihan dan kesihatan. Kajian Bakteria Hidup Dettol menunjukkan bahawa kuman seperti E. coli dan Salmonella, yang mengakibatkan keracunan makanan serius boleh hidup di atas permukaan di rumah bagi tempoh yang lama, di mana S. aureus berupaya untuk hidup selama 48 jam.

Tambahan pula, bakteria akan kekal hidup dua atau tiga kali lebih lama dalam kain yang lembap berbanding dengan kain yang kering, sekali gus meningkatkan risiko jangkitan.

"Hasil kajian daripada Kajian Bakteria Hidup Dettol menekankan bahawa permukaan yang kelihatan bersih mungkin masih mengandungi kuman-kuman merbahaya. Bakteria boleh meningkatkan risiko jangkitan di antara lokasi-lokasi utama kebersihan seperti permukaan di dapur, tombol pintu dan span cucian di mana jangkitan berlaku melalui tangan atau kain lap.

Secara khususnya, adalah terbukti bahawa membasuh tangan selepas menggunakan tandas atau sebelum mengendalikan makanan boleh mengurangkan insiden cirit-birit di kalangan kanak-kanak sebanyak hampir 50 peratus.

Maka, adalah penting bahawa kita mengamalkan tabiat kebersihan baik seperti, menyah kuman dan membasuh tangan dengan kerap bagi memutuskan rantai jangkitan," kata Pengarah Pemasaran, Malaysia, Nikhilesh Kalra.

Oleh RABIATUL ADAWIYAH KOH ABDULLAH
adawiyah.koh@utusan.com.my

Battling pertussis Fast facts

A family’s experience in fighting whooping cough, and how their lives have been changed by it.

SHEILA Prasannan and her family’s determined fight against pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is an experience to be shared with all.

This contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, infected the entire family in a matter of days through the inadvertent transmission from mother to baby, and eventually, to the rest of the family.

Pertussis can be difficult to diagnose as the early symptoms of this disease resembles that of the common cold or bronchitis.

In addition, pertussis occurs more commonly in children because its symptoms are hardly diagnosed in adults. As a result, the disease often goes undetected, misdiagnosed or undertreated in both adults and children.

This was precisely what Sheila and her baby experienced when they contracted the disease and were initially misdiagnosed.

A normal cough?

On July 12, Sheila gave birth to her second son, Krishen, at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Two weeks after discharge, she developed a mild cough and sneezing, which gradually became more frequent. Worried that she might pass on the cough to her baby while breastfeeding him, she went to a clinic for a check-up.

“I was informed by the clinic’s doctor that it might be my asthma recurring, although I had not had asthma symptoms for 15 years. The doctor also assured me that it was safe to go on breastfeeding my son, though my doubts on this persisted,” she said.

She was then treated for asthma and given a course of antibiotics.

However, her cough became progressively worse over the next few days, and was accompanied by bouts of vomiting. Sometimes, a “whoop” sound could be heard while she gasped for breath at the end of a coughing spell.

Various clinics that she once again visited informed her that it was just a mild cough and would go away. Some even concluded that it was food poisoning!

Sheila’s worst fears were confirmed when her infant son started coughing and vomiting as well. His cough increased with frequency over the next week until he was coughing every few minutes and gasping for breath.

“I took my son to a paediatrician, who told me that it was just a normal cough and that I should not overly worry about it.

“My son was also given a course of antibiotics. Unfortunately, his cough failed to get better.

“My own cough by then had become really bad and I was vomiting almost every five minutes. Breathing also became very difficult for me as my asthma had now recurred,” she added.

It’s pertussis!

As Sheila and baby Krishen’s health continued to worsen, they were both taken to a nearby hospital and admitted for observation.

The doctor attending her case was quick to suspect that both mother and child had contracted whooping cough and administered them a course of antibiotics used to treat pertussis.

“The doctor explained to me that whooping cough is a very serious childhood illness and is less common in adults.

“In addition to fever, sneezing, vomiting, and runny nose, the severity of the cough can cause a child to turn blue or experience bleeding within the whites of the eyes during severe coughing spells.

“Life-threatening complications such as fits, broken ribs, brain and lung damage, pneumonia, and even death, can occur in very severe cases.

“He also explained that because my son had not been vaccinated against pertussis, it was easier for him to contract it. I was also very surprised that pertussis could affect adults too,” she shared.

While in the hospital, Sheila’s elder son, 1½-year-old Naga, her husband and mother also contracted the cough, although in a milder form. All three of them however, are recovering as they were immediately put on the same course of antibiotics as Sheila and Krishen.

How life has changed

After both mother and baby were discharged from hospital, Sheila proceeded to find out more about whooping cough from various resources and online websites, and came across a Positive Parenting (PP) article on ‘Pertussis in Adults’ in The Star Online.

“I am very grateful to PP for having published this article as not many Malaysian resources online give such detailed information on whooping cough.

“Through this article, I also managed to get in contact with the author of the article, Datuk Dr Zulkifli, to get a second opinion, and learn more about this disease.

“Because pertussis is highly contagious, Dr Zulkifli advised us to quarantine ourselves for about 100 days to observe if this disease progresses. He has been guiding us ever since,” Sheila added.

She describes this contagious illness as “a living nightmare”, and has yet to fully recover from the symptoms of pertussis.

She recalls feeling the utmost frustration that many medical practitioners lacked knowledge on pertussis, and this added to her own sense of helplessness as she herself had never heard of whooping cough before.

Had there been more widespread information on whooping cough, the doctors may have been able to detect the disease as pertussis much earlier, and given them the right tests, medications and vaccination needed to fight the infection.

“I strongly advise other parents to get the pertussis booster shots for themselves and for their children as soon as possible, as it is better to pay a little more now than to bear the consequences later on.

“Also, read up online to get more information, even though you or your children have (only) a slight cough or cold. Get different opinions from different medical professionals so that you know your options to make an informed decision,” Sheila advised.

Both her children have now been vaccinated with DTaP vaccine (Diptheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis), a recommended childhood immunisation, and are now in the stages of recovery.

The adults need to be vaccinated with the adult Tdap vaccine, which has lower pertussis and diphteria antigens, compared with the childhood vaccine.

Get vaccinated

“There are vaccinations for both children and adults to protect against pertussis.

“In Malaysia, infants are given the DTaP vaccine at two, three, and five months, plus a booster dose at 18 months of age. Children at age 7 receive Diphtheria and Tetanus (DT) vaccinations (but not the pertussis component).

“However, because the protective effects of the vaccine wear off after four to 12 years, children, adolescents and adults have to be re-vaccinated against the disease. It is advisable that they are vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine, which is used as a booster shot to reinforce immunity,” advises Dr Zulkifli.

If you are pregnant and want to be vaccinated against whooping cough, it is advisable to wait until the second or third trimester before getting the vaccination.

For those of you who intend to travel overseas, it is advised that you get the pertussis booster shots to reduce your risk of contracting the disease while abroad.

In any event, do consult a doctor or paediatrician for the optimum time to get vaccinated.

This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting Programme that is supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline. For further information, please visit www.mypositiveparenting.org

Fast facts

? Pertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children, and adults, and can even be life-threatening, especially in infants.

? Worldwide, there are 30-50 million cases of pertussis, and about 300,000 deaths per year.

? More than half of infants less than one year of age who get pertussis must be hospitalised.

? Vaccination of pre-teens, teens and adults with Tdap is especially important for families with new infants.

Source: The star online 21 Dec 2011

A heart for coffee

The role of coffee in heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

HOW does coffee affect our health? This question has prompted researchers from all over the world to study coffee in search of answers.

In a previous article, we looked at what is known so far of the effects of coffee on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and certain cancers.

This time, let’s look at the available scientific findings on coronary heart disease, blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Coffee and your heart

Some people believe that coffee may not be good for the heart.

However, in 2006, a meta-analysis of 21 studies concluded that there is no evidence that coffee increases the long-term risk of coronary heart disease.

In fact, coffee may actually have some beneficial effects against coronary heart disease, as a study published in the International Journal of Cardiology in 2009 suggested that coffee is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease in women.

However, excessive consumption of coffee is not recommended as there are studies that suggest that excessive drinking of coffee (eight cups or more a day) may cause an increase in cholesterol level, possibly leading to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Easy on blood pressure?

Regular caffeine intake has been known to temporarily increase our blood pressure. However, a meta-analysis in the Journal of Hypertension in 2005 showed that the blood pressure effect is small when caffeine is ingested through coffee.

People with hypertension may be worried about the effects of coffee on their health.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition this year however, showed that there is currently no evidence to support an association between long-term coffee consumption and increased risk of high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease in people with hypertension.

Coffee and type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.

It causes high levels of sugar to build up in our blood, eventually leading to conditions such as eye problems, damaged nerves, kidney damage, heart attack and stroke.

Family history, a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and excessive fat around the waist are some of the factors that increase the risk of diabetes.

Can coffee reduce our risk of type 2 diabetes?

A review, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006, examined epidemiologic and laboratory studies, and suggested that long-term coffee consumption may have minor positive effects on weight loss, which in turn may help reduce the risk of diabetes.

A large prospective study in Singapore, which analysed data from 36,908 Chinese participants from 1993 to 1998, suggested that regular consumption of coffee is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in Singaporean men and women.

More studies are still needed to support current findings on the possible beneficial effects of coffee consumption on the risks for coronary heart disease, blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Nevertheless, it has been established that drinking a moderate amount of coffee (three to five cups a day) is safe for adults.

Therefore, as we wait for more conclusive evidence, let’s enjoy our coffee in moderation.

References:

1. Wu JN, Ho SC, Chun Zhou, Ling WH, Chen WQ, Wang CL, Chen YM. 2009. Coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: a meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort studies. Int J Cardiol. 137(3):216-225.

2. Verhoef P., Pasman W.J., Vliet T.V., Urgert R., and Katan M.B. 2002. Contribution of caffeine to the homocysteine-raising effect of coffee: A randomized controlled trial in humans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 76:1244–1248.

3. Tverdal, A., Stensvold, I., Solvoll, K., Foss, O. P., Lund-Larsen, P.G., and Bjartveit, K. 1990. Coffee consumption and death from coronary heart disease in middle aged Norwegian men and women. BMJ. 300:566–569.

4. Noordzija M, Uiterwaalb Cuno S.P.M, Lidia R. Arendsc, Frans J. Koka, Diederick E. Grobbeeb and Johanna M. Geleijnsea. 2005. Blood pressure response to chronic intake of coffee and caffeine: a meta-analysis of

randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens. 23(5):921-928

5. Mesas AE, Leon-Muñoz LM, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Lopez-Garcia E. 2011. The effect of coffee on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr;

94:1113–1126.

6. MedLine Plus, National Institute of Health, US. Type 2 Diabetes. Retrieved November 25, 2011 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/00313.htm

7. Greenberg JA, Boozer CN, and Geliebter A. 2006. Coffee, diabetes, and weight control. Am J Clin Nutr.84:682–693.

8. Odegaard AO, Pereira MA, Koh WP, Kazuko A, Lee HP, and Yu Mimi C. 2008. Coffee, tea, and incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 88:979–985.

9. Higdon JV & Frei B. 2006. Coffee and Health: A Review of Recent Human Research. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 46(2):101-123.

> This article is courtesy of Nutrition Society of Malaysia with Nestlé NESCAFÉ. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice.

Source: The star 21 Dec 2011

Recycling pewter to help conserve nature

The collection, which is made of recycled pewter, consists of three pendants and three sculptures designed by sculptors Zainal Abidin Musa and Tengku Sabri Tengku Ibrahim.

Royal Selangor international general manager Yong Yoon Li said a third of the sales proceeds would go towards MNS's efforts to conserve forests and wildlife.

"The launch of this collection highlights not only our efforts in recycling natural resources but also MNS's efforts to conserve the 130 million-year-old Belum rainforest.

"We are honoured to have Tengku Sabri and Zainal lend their artistic touch to create such a beautiful and unique collection," said Yong.

Tengku Sabri's Beragas, Bakbon and Kerong sculptures were inspired by tales from his childhood.

Zainal designed three pendants called Fern, Pinang and Lover's Pod.

"My collection was inspired by animals, plants and insects that live in the forest," he said.

Royal Selangor launched its pewter donation campaign in June. Up to September, Yong said, about 200 unwanted pewter items had been collected.

"We are grateful to those who contributed unwanted pewter items for recycling," he said.

Yong added that companies such as Petronas had donated pewter items to support the cause.

Petronas senior general manager (group corporate affairs) Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah was at the launch.

Source: Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi, NST

Beware of bogus recycling centres

Pertubuhan Amal Seri Sinar founder and president Datuk Eadon Ching said some organisations claimed to be non-governmental organisations (NGOs) but were actually companies running businesses.

"Most people will respond positively when approached or after finding out about a recycling campaign, without checking the organisation's background.

"We have come across a few supposedly non-profit organisations that are actually commercial enterprises. We came to know about them as the organisations were registered as companies with Sdn Bhd or Bhd in their names.

"The easiest way to find out about an organisation is through the Registrar of Societies (ROS). If the organisations are not registered with ROS, then they are illegal," he said during a recent visit to a recycling centre in Hulu Langat, Cheras.

He said the authorities should monitor activities and programmes of organisations which claimed to be non-profit-making to make sure that the public would not fall prey to unscrupulous individuals.

"This may seem petty to some, but if you think carefully, it is not only morally wrong to deceive people by having a charity front.

"Before this happens, we have to give a clear message to those taking advantage of people's good intentions to do charity work. In Singapore, such immoral acts would incur a jail term and fine."

He said he had informed the authorities about it, but it seemed that there was no specific law to stop individuals from collecting recyclable items from others.

"Charitable organisations like ours have to depend on public donations to maintain our daily operations including collecting items from the 272 recycle bins we placed at various places.

"The money we get from the recycling process would be used for our programmes and community events.

"However, some irresponsible people would simply exploit people's generosity to generate income for themselves," he said, adding that the most common items received were books, bottles, clothes and newspapers.

"We provide free pick-up services for bulky items such as old furniture and electrical appliances.

"We hire staff and technicians to make sure that the items are fixed before donating them or sending them to countries like Myanmar and Laos."

He advised the public to at least check the organisations' websites before contributing to them.

"If the website has not been updated for a long time, then you know that the organisation is not active."

Ching, who is a businessman, got the idea to set up the society in 2003 after receiving encouragement from friends.

Apart from recycling and environmental campaigns including tree-planting, Pertubuhan Seri Sinar also goes to schools and residential areas to increase awareness on the importance to practice 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) in one's daily life.

The association collects 60 tonnes of items daily, of which 60 per cent comprised clothes.

Source: NURADZIMMAH DAIM
KUALA LUMPUR
streets@nstp.com.my

Smartphone addicts starting to feel the pain

Users of smartphones and tablet computers are starting to get high-tech blues, as increasing numbers of the tech savvy are coming down with ailments from "text neck" to "text thumb injury".

Health experts in Britain have warned that strain injuries stemming from long periods spent staring at small screens and tapping at tiny keys can be debilitating. And such injuries are becoming more common as high-tech gadgets grow ever more popular.

Increasing numbers of Britons use their smartphones for accessing the Internet rather than making phone calls.

According to a recent YouGov poll of over 2,000 people, 44 percent of Britons use their mobile phone for activities other than making calls, for between 30 minutes and two hours a day.

"I had a patient who developed inflamed tendons in her thumb from using her smartphone and was unable to use her hand for weeks due to pain," said Tim Hutchful from the British Chiropractic Association.

Sammy Margo of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said that people's bodies are "not designed to be used like this".

"The phones are far too small, with keys that are too small," she said, noting that pain in the upper limbs forced one of her patients to stop texting and instead switch to voice recognition software.

As well as hand injuries, experts point to problems among smartphone and tablet users arising from hours spent leaning over tiny screens.

"The weight of an average human head is between 10 to 12 pounds (4.5 to 5.5 kilogrammes)," said Hutchful.

In an ideal posture, where a vertical line can be drawn from your ear through your shoulder, hip, knee and ankle, "the weight is carried efficiently", he noted..

But if the head is constantly held forward to squint at a screen, then the unusual posture makes the head feel up to four times heavier, increasing strain across the whole body, he explained.

"Text neck" is in effect the latest manifestation of "repetitive strain injury" (RSI), a condition which affects one worker in 50 in Britain.

RSI includes a number of ailments affecting the muscles, tendons and nerves, primarily in the neck and upper limbs. It is particularly prevalent among workers who spend long periods using computers.

It is a treatable condition, but experts warn it is essential not to ignore the early warning signs.

In France, RSI is the main cause of sick leave in the work place. Emmanuelle Rivoal, a Paris-based physiotherapist and osteopath, is seeing an increasing number of patients who are paralysed by pain "because they spend more than five hours a day in front of a screen."

While stressing that he did not want to "demonise smartphones", Hutchful offered some pointers for gadget aficionados to avoid injury, such as using a smartphone for no more than 40 minutes at a time.

"Keep use to a minimum, take regular breaks and look at different ways of interacting," such as voice recognition software for texting, he said.

Margo said the biggest at-risk group are children and teenagers, who are heavy users of computers and smartphones.

"I know families where people communicate from one room to another via text messages," she said. "We have to put limits on this."

Source: Marie-Pierre Ferey | AFP News – Fri, Dec 2, 2011

USJ goes a-planting

SUBANG JAYA: In efforts to reach its goal towards “Low Carbon City”, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), with the help of various non-governmental organisations, recently planted 1,111 trees on a 3.2ha land at Persiaran Setia, USJ 3C.

About 200 volunteers and residents of USJ 3C were involved in the tree-planting exercise. They are from the Subang Jaya Rotary Club, Kingsley International School Putra Heights, Zone 3 Residents’ Committee (JKP Zon 3) and members of fire brigade from SS17 fire station

MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the council’s aim is to plant 10,000 trees by 2020, under the Urban Community Forest project.

“This is our first big-scale project and it is just the beginning. Now that the lot has been gazetted as a public recreation park, we hope the trees will ensure that the carbon emission is reduced,” said Asmawi.

Also present were MPSJ deputy president Abdullah Marjunid, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran and Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne.
Among the tree species planted were Cengal, Kasai and Keruing.

Rajiv who is also the president for JKP Zon 3, said the project will be conducted in stages until the completion by 2020.

While waiting for the trees to grow, the next step is to build a gazebo, put up a proper fencing, a walking trail and a car park by next year.

To ensure that the project goes smoothly, the council has appointed the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Forestry Department of Selangor and Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) as the project’s advisers.

Source: C. Premananthini

Sunway preserves old trees

SUNWAY Group continues to show its commitment towards caring for the environment by transplanting 214 trees prior to the start of construction works at Sunway University.

One hundred and ninety-six trees, some reaching up to 15.2 metres in height have been transplanted at Sunway South Quay, Sunway Monash Residences and in Jalan Lagoon Selatan, near Sunway Medical Centre. The remaining 18 will also be sent to these places by end of the month.

The trees, Khaya senegalensis, Peltophorum pterocarpum and Samanea saman, were from Sunway University's football field and its open car park.

The special project was instructed by Sunway Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling and is expected to be completed by next month.

The project is undertaken by Sunway Holdings Bhd group procurement adviser Alex Kong and Dekon Tajul Nursery and Landscaping Sdn Bhd project senior manager Uthayasooriyan Alagappan.

The trees have been removed to make way for a new 12-storey academic building in the open car park area as well as the construction of an underground car park, all scheduled for completion in 2013.

Uthayasooriyan said the cost of transplanting the trees is between RM5,000 and RM8,000 per tree, totaling about RM1.5 million.

The move, he added, ensures that matured trees are not chopped off.

"Usually developers cut down trees but Sunway Group treasures what it has," he said.

Big-John Tree Transplanter will help in the transplantation process.

Sunway University and Sunway Group of Colleges executive director Elizabeth F.Y. Lee said she was sad to see the 19-year-old trees removed.

"People who are with this university know the true value of these trees and the need for conservation," she said, adding that Cheah's decision was much appreciated by university members.

She said Sunway University also grooms its students to be environment lovers by planting the Flame of the Forest and Neem trees in its compound.

Students also collect recyclable items, sell eco-friendly merchandise at bazaars, watch documentaries on the environment, go paperless and restrict the use of plastic bags.

"Sunway Group has consistently instilled environment-friendly elements in its commercial, residential and educational development projects," she said.

Source: SARAH RAHIM
streets@nstp.com.my

Enough dustbins for everyone

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd is at its wits end over the irresponsibility of some people who dump huge piles of rubbish, then accuse SWM and the local authorities of not doing their work.

Among the areas affected are Seremban 2 and Senawang where residents leave heaps of rubbish, then call SWM and create a ruckus, claiming the company is not doing its work.

SWM Negri Sembilan general manager Dr Al Ashari Othman said he was aware of this tactic and had information on the culprits.

He said those involved wanted to discredit SWM even though there were sufficient dustbins in their areas to dispose of their rubbish properly.

"These irresponsible acts are aimed at discrediting our good name. We have a number of such cases and regret that these people are resorting to such dirty tactics."

He said each complaint received by SWM about bulk garbage disposal is immediately attended to.

He said there should be no case of illegal dumping as SWM is always willing to assist with the disposal of bulk garbage such as used furniture.

He said the public could contact SWM at 1-800-88-3200 if they need its service or to file a complaint.

"We hope the public will be our eyes and ears and report the activities of these unscrupulous people."

Source: RAMESH PILLAI
streets@nstp.com.my

Envisioning a greener Earth

The company set itself a noble target when it launched an environment-friendly corporate social responsibility campaign themed "A million trees, a million dreams".

Shaklee Malaysia has always wanted to do its part to green the earth and at the same time advocate a cleaner, healthier and safer world.

That dream started materialising in 2009 when it teamed up with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia to sponsor and plant trees at Kepong Botanical Garden, a former mining area which is now an educational public park.

Pushing ahead with its efforts to educate Malaysians on environmental issues and the need for growing trees, Shaklee Malaysia recently planted trees at Bukit Sungei Puteh Forest Reserve in Cheras for the second consecutive year with the cooperation of the Forestry Department.

The event, which was officiated by Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, saw the company's employees, civil servants, guests and members of the media plant tree saplings.

The three-year cooperation between Shaklee Malaysia and the National Forestry Department started last year when the company sponsored RM10,000 worth of tree saplings and a trail measuring 226 metres long. The trail is to ensure that the park has facilities for visitors including the disabled.

"Reversing the unprecedented loss of biodiversity and saving our planet requires the effort of everyone," said Victor Lim, the regional general manager of Shaklee, Southeast Asia.

"Working with the Forestry Department in planting trees at this forest reserve is part of the company's effort in mitigating residual carbon emissions, while at the same time hoping to create valuable wildlife habitats and a forest park for people to enjoy and learn from," he said.

The company hoped that the choice of fruit trees for planting this time around would serve to attract birds, insects and other wildlife to this reserve and create biodiversity.

"Tree-planting is definitely one of the most potent ways to protect our planet, but people are either not doing enough of it or not doing anything at all," said Lim.

"Forests help to control climate. Some experts now call rainforests 'the air-conditioners of the world' because their dark depths absorb heat from the sun."

In his speech, Kurup said Shaklee's efforts was in line with the ministry's drive to plant 26 million trees by 2014 which would be capable of absorbing 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The campaign, "Green The Earth: One Citizen, One Tree", was launched in April last year. More than 13 million trees have since been planted.

A total of 110 trees were planted during the event, including rambai hutan, sentul, keledang temponek, beruas and kandis .

Source: AVEEN MATHEW MENON
streets@nstp.com.my