Small Bite: BIG THREAT

Assalamualaikum dan selamat malam

Merujuk kepada laman sesawang World Health Organization (WHO),

Nyamuk, lalat, kutu dan pepijat boleh menjadi ancaman kepada kesihatan manusia tak kira ketika berada di rumah mahupun di luar rumah.

Masej hari kesihatan sedunia, 7 April - menekankan peranan kita untuk 'make an action' dengan tujuan melindungi diri daripada penyakit-penyakit bawaan vektor ini.

Jom bersama-sama remind each other berkenaan pentingnya penjagaan kesihatan dan persekitaran.

Awas jerebu datang lagi

Assalamualaikum dan selamat petang

Seperti semua sedia maklum, jerubu makin menjadi-jadi. Dengar katanya ada hutan terbakar lagi. Berita ini belum dipastikan.

Yang pasti, keadaan persekitaran agak tidak baik. Jabatan Alam Sekitar Malaysia pun dah tunjukkan terdapat dua (2) buah negeri yang dilanda jerebu di paras yang "TIDAK SIHAT".

Dua negeri tersebut: Selangor (Pelabuhan Kelang, Banting, Kuala Selangor) dan Negeri Sembilan (Nilai). Kawasan-kawasan lain yang juga terjejas adalah di sekitar Petaling Jaya dan Kuala Lumpur.

Kepada anda semua, just berhati-hati. Cuaca dah la agak panas sekarang, sesetengah tempat air kena catu, dengan jerebu lagi. Bagi yang ada penyakit kronik, amik langkah berjaga-jaga.

Sedikit reminder ketika musim kering, takde air, panas dan jerebu:

• sentiasa bawak air masak. bawak lebih pun takpe. boleh jadi back-up kalau takde air.
• bawa payung untuk lindung dari panas mentari
• bawa dan pakai facemask bila keluar rumah

Hargai sihat sebelum sakit

back, neck and muscle pain? Take a rest

About 44 million workers in the EU have musculoskeletal disorders caused by their workplace

Almost 31 million days of work were lost last year due to back, neck and muscle problems, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS's Labour Force Survey, which polls hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, found that musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which include a large range of bone and joint complaints, accounted for more prolonged absences than any other ailment.

Although the country's workforce has largely swapped heavy manual labour for sitting in offices, MSKs have been the primary cause of absenteeism for the past five years, and the UK has one of the highest rates in Europe.

So why have bone and joint complaints persisted?

"Sitting is the new smoking," explains Prof Steve Bevan, director of the Centre for Workforce Effectiveness at the Work Foundation.

"The more sedentary you are the worse it is for your health."

Most deskbound workers, however, are not adequately addressing their health risks, and waving away the pesky "work station assessment officer". Preventative measures, such as keeping chairs, desks and computers at the right height, are often neglected. "Many office workers make repetitive movements," says Prof Bevan. "Allowing people to move around and take breaks is essential."

Source: BBC News

The old and lonely die FASTER?

Assalamualaikum dan selamat pagi

LONELINESS in old age is twice as bad for your health as obesity, scientists have warned.

Professor John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, said that feeling isolated or rejected by society can have profound negative effects on health, ranging from blood pressure to sleep patterns.

The latest research followed 2,101 retired adults aged 50 years and over for six years. They were asked questions about whether they had people they felt in tune with or who they could talk to. After accounting for social circumstances, such as whether people were married or lived near family and friends, scientists found that people who felt lonely were 14 per cent more likely than average to die.

The suggestion is that even married people or those with plenty of social connections can feel lonely and suffer ill-effects. “It is not that social circumstance makes no difference, it is that the brain's interpretation of that social circumstance is more important than the actual number of people and their roles.

Source: theaustralian.com

Khasiat buah manggis dan kulitnya

Assalamualaikum dan samat pagi

Manggis..ohh manggis..

Manggis dalam bahasa latin Garcinia mangostana L merupakan keturunan Clusiaceae. Buah manggis dikenali sebagai Queen fruit atau ratu buah dan yang menjadi rajanya adalah durian. Sementara buah nangka dikenal dengan sebutan jack fruit (tiba-tiba).

Manggis ade banyak khasiat yang baik untuk tubuh badan. Selain dapat menyejukkan badan daripada panas (memakan durian banyak), manggis juga mempunyai banyak manfaat terutamanya kulitnya.

Buah manggis mengandungi sejenis fitonutrien yang kuat iaitu Xanthone. Xanthone dikenali sebagai antioksida yang mampu meneutralkan radikal bebas iaitu penyebab penyakit degeneratif seperti jantung, strok dan kanser.

Xanthone boleh bagi kesan positif kepada fungsi badan menjadi lebih sihat. Ia bermanfaat menghalang proses degenerasi sekaligus merangsang regenerasi sel rosak sehingga menjadikan awet muda.

Kulit buah manggis mengandungi xanthone 27 kali lebih banyak daripada isi buahnya. Kandungan antioksida dalam kulit manggis 66.7 kali lobak dan 8.3 kali limau. Biasanya orang buat jus. Cara nak buat jus kulit manggis korang boleh refer link nih--->> Cara Membuat Jus Kulit Buah Manggis

Buah manggis boleh digunakan untuk mengubati buasir, keputihan, tonsil, cirit birit, batuk dan sakit gigi manakala kulitnya pula baik untuk memelihara kesihatan kulit, merawat sembelit, sakit mulut dan kejang.

Sumber: Tupai.com.my

Dengue ohh Dengue

Assalamualaikum dan samat tengah hari

KUALA LUMPUR: According to statistics by the Health Ministry, there has been a 400% increase in dengue cases in the first two months of this year, compared with the same period last year. There were 18,047 dengue cases with 36 deaths in January and last month, compared with 4,250 cases with eight deaths in the same period last year.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr. S Subramaniam said the public were advised to take the spike in cases seriously. They should take necessary measures to wipe out breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito. "With the present water woes, the public should make sure stored water does not become breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitos. It is important that water containers are closed and added with abate to kill any larvae." Dr Subramaniam said the public could get their supply of chemical to kill Aedes mosquito larvae from health offices nationwide.

 http://www.homeoz.com/Dengue.html

Source: '400pc spike in dengue cases' - General - New Straits Times

Jerebu...Ape kena buat?

Assalamualaikum dan samat pagi


1. Vulnerable people (golongan berisiko tinggi)

• kanak-kanak, orang tua, wanita mengandung , pesakit jantung dan respiratori juga mereka yang sensitive kepada habuk, orang yang merokok termasuk mereka yang sentiasa bekerja di luar pejabat atau rumah

2. Langkah pencegahan penyakit bawaan jerebu

• Kurangkan aktiviti lasak di luar rumah.
• Kerap membasuh muka dan bahagian-bahagian yang terdedah kepada jerebu.
• Minum air banyak-banyak.
• Mereka yang menggunakan kenderaan yang berhawa dingin hendaklah menghidupkan alat penghawa dingin (mod : kitaran dalam) dan menutup semua tingkap.
• Penutup hidung dan mulut (face mask) hendaklah digunakan oleh mereka yang melakukan aktiviti di luar terutamanya mereka yang berisiko tinggi.
• Mereka yang mengalami penyakit-penyakit seperti batuk, selsema, asma, sakit mata, jangkitan paru-paru yang kronik (berlanjutan) hendaklah datang ke klinik dengan seberapa segera.
• Perokok dinasihatkan supaya berhenti merokok.
• Sentiasa mendapatkan maklumat terkini dari sumber yang dipercayai (DOE, MOH etc).

Sumber: MOH, Malaysia

Pemeriksaan Perubatan Atas

Assalamualaikum & Selamat sejahtera.

Hari ni empat orang jejaka kacak dan berbeza tahap ketampanan telah menuju ke Poliklinik berhampiran dengan tujuan yang sama iaitu untuk menjalani pemeriksaan perubatan atas. Yang bestnya sampai2 je poliklinik terbabit, kami berempat masuk ikut pintu belakang. Dah macam penyamun dah.

Al-maklumlah ini kali pertama bagi aku untuk menjalani pemeriksaan perbuatan di poliklinik terbabit, so ada la beberapa helaian borang yang perlu di isi untuk tujuan rekod.

Maka setia dari ahli geng gagak putih ini terus dipanggil bertubi2 satu per satu. Mula2 staf poliklinik tersebut memberikan setiap dari kami satu bekas putih berpenutup kuning+tisu. So macam biasalah, ujian urine (air kencing) lah jawabnya. Masing2 muka penuh bangga mengembalikan sample tersebut kepada staf terbabit.

Seterusnya, kami dikehendaki untuk menjalankan pemeriksaan x-ray iaitu proses imbasan sinar x-ray terhadap sebahagian tubuh badan especially bahagian atas badan (dada). Proses tidak memakan masa yang lama. Sambil2 tunggu turn, sempat lagi bermain2 dengan alat penimbang dan alat pengukur ketinggian.

Dah step terakhir adalah sesi konsultansi bersama doktor bertugas. Doktor Sharifah, ohh beliau merupakan doktor yang lembut dan nampak tegas. Kalau ada orang tak sihat, insyaAllah boleh sihat berikutan cara beliau entertain pesakit hehehe. Ketika proses konsultansi tersebut, ada dijalankan pemeriksaan minor seperti kesihatan telinga, mata, jantung, paru2, hernia, tekanan darah, tonsil etc.

Oleh kerana kami berempat, proses pemeriksaan memakan masa lebih kurang 10-15 minit seorang. So bagi yang mula dulu kena tunggu la sampai yang terakhir selsesai. Siap ada yang tertido pun ada. Lalu empat jejaka tadi pun pulang ke opis masing2 dan memulakan tugas seperti biasa ;)

Menurut pekerja kaunter poliklinit tersebut, pemeriksaan perubatan biasa di kenakan bayaran sebanyak RM80. Jika terdapat extra test seperti HIV, bayaran yang dikenakan adalah sebanyak RM150. Nasib baik free-panel punya pasal.

Tamat.

p/s: Poliklinik Al-Hikmah di Wangsa Melawati juga sangat best!

Cerita Kedai Gunting

Assalamualaikum & selamat sejahtera.

Selama ni dok pi gunting rambut kat kedai gunting. Tak pernah pulak terfikir tentang isu nih. Bila di pikir2 balik, benda ni bukan baru. Rasanya dari zaman aku kecik lagi. Aku rasa semua manusia pun perasan benda ni.

Kalau cakap kedai gunting rambut, mesti kat luar kedai tu ada bar bulat, ada line2 berjalur2 biasanya berwarna merah, biru dan putih. Dan kadang2 ada juga warna kuning. Kenapa ek? Dari dulu pun macam tu. Apa significant antara kedai gunting rambut dengan benda2 yang berpusing2 tuh? Kepada sesiapa kat luar sana yang tahu, kongsi2lah dengan aku. Aku teringin nak tahu.



Isu lain berkenaan kedai gunting rambut.

• Kompetensi penggunting rambut. Kekadang risau juga kalau2 tukang gunting rambut tu ada masalah keluarga. Mana tahu dia mengalamai masalah depression, gunting ada, pisau belit ada....adoi mak aiii...seriau dibuatnya. Nauzubillah
• Rambut beterbangan di ruang angkasanya. Bagi parent yang bawak anak2 kecik, tak payah la bagi budak2 tu dok lama2 kt dalam tuh. Tak elok untuk kesihatan anak2 korang. Bagi yang ada masalah sistem pernafasan tu, sila lah berjaga2 ok.
• Penggunting ni mesti ada masalah CTS kan? takpun masalah pernafasan akut/kronik. (Hypothesis)
• Bar berpusing2 berwarna warni di luar kedai. Masih menjadi misteri.

p/s: selalu terpikir untuk point yang pertama tuh. aduii....

Kalau korang perasan di Olympic 2012

Assalamualaikum & Slamat sejahtre.

Korang2..korang penah tengok tak tape yang berwarna warni dekat badan etlit mase suka Olympic 2012 kat London tuh?

Mula-mula aku ingat benda tu dia cat sebagai tanda cintakan negara dengan warna bendera rasmi negara masing2.

Rupanya2nya, benda tu tape. Macam solatape la. Tapi solatape tu kite guna mase nak tampal baku text mase skolah dulu. Yang tape ni lain. Dia tampal kat tubuh badan kita. Nama tape tu 'Kinesio Taping' (Kinesio Tex) dicipta oleh orang jepun Dr. Kenzo Kase pada tahun 1979.

Dah lama ya amat kan? Aku baru je tengok bila TERtengok acara gymnastic haritu. hehehe. Fungsi Kinesio taping ini adalah untuk:

• meransang kembali kita punya saraf-saraf otot
• mengurangkan kesakitan
• mengoptimumkan performance
• prevent injury
• promote mempertingkatkan peredaran darah and penyembuhan

Tape ni telahpun digunakapakai di serata dunia sebagai 'alternative treatment method' terutamanya dalam bidang sports performance, pain management dan physical therapy. Suatu idea dikembangkan dan digunapakai untuk kebaikan semua. Tahniah diucapkan. Maybe tahniah aku ni dah terlewat hampir lebih 20 tahun. Hahahaha....

Sumber: Kinesio Taping -Global

p/s: Muka dia xmacam jepun sangat la. Style punya sebab ke ha?

Kau sape nak tangguh-tangguh?

Assalamualaikum & slamat sejahtre.

Siapa aku, kau dan dia yang berani nak tangguh-tangguh?
Jika awek panggil, kelajuan mengalahkan the flash.
Kalau cikgu suruh, tunduk-tunduk hangguk tanda faham dan 'saya akan buat segera'
Sebaik sahaja azan dikumandang....
Ala kejap la ibu..kejap la boss...
Sedarkah bahawa seruan itu datang dari yang Maha Pencipta?
Mungkin kerana sudah terbiasa.
Sejak dari kecil dengar, so 'macam biasa lah'
Siapalah kita untuk mengatakan 'NANTI' kepada-Nya?
Besar mana pangkat kita untuk berkata 'TUNGGU JAP'?

p/s: teringat cerita bohsia 2 part si keting rosak moto depan masjid tuh ;P

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

Filipina dilanda wabak

COTABATO 3 Jan. - Pihak berkuasa kesihatan Filipina hari ini mengisytiharkan wabak penyakit leptospirosis di kawasan yang dilanda banjir di selatan negara ini.

Sekurang-kurangnya lapan orang maut dan seramai 300 lagi disahkan dijangkiti penyakit bawaan haiwan itu di bandar Cagayan de Oro dan di Iligan City yang berdekatan.

Penyakit tersebut, berpunca daripada bakteria Leptospira yang biasanya merebak menerusi air kencing haiwan seperti tikus, boleh menyebabkan demam panas, pendarahan dalaman dan kegagalan organ.

Mangsa terbaru, seorang wanita tua, meninggal dunia malam tadi akibat komplikasi daripada penyakit itu.

Menteri Kesihatan wilayah, Dr. Jaime Bernadas berkata, mereka khuatir bilangan pesakit di kalangan mangsa taufan Washi mungkin meningkat dalam masa beberapa hari akan datang.

Ahli Kongres, Rufus Rodriguez menggesa penduduk yang terjejas akibat banjir supaya mengambil ubat yang disediakan oleh pihak berkuasa kesihatan bagi mencegah penyakit pembawa maut itu.

Angka kematian akibat taufan Washi setakat ini berjumlah 1,258 orang, manakala ramai lagi mangsa dipercayai masih hilang.

Taufan Washi menyebabkan hujan lebat dan banjir buruk di banyak kawasan di tengah dan selatan Filipina sejak 16 Disember lalu. - AGENSI

Kanak-kanak Orang Asli dikhuatiri dijangkiti virus air kencing tikus

JERANTUT: Tiga kanak-kanak Orang Asli dari Kampung Sungai Lintah di sini, dimasukkan ke Hospital Jerantut semalam selepas dikhuatiri dijangkiti virus air kencing tikus atau leptospirosis.

Menurut sumber hospital tersebut, kanak-kanak Orang Asli berkenaan, Arini Mary a/p Yusof, 4, Muliana a/p Yusof, 5, dan sepupu mereka, Jun a/p Man, 11, kini ditempatkan di bilik berasingan di wad kanak-kanak hospital itu.

"Ketiga-tiga mereka didapati mengalami komplikasi demam kuning, sakit kepala dan lesu," katanya ketika dihubungi, di sini hari ini. Menurut sumber berkenaan, pihak hospital mengambil sampel darah mereka dan keputusan dijangka diketahui dalam tempoh dua minggu ini.

"Kanak-kanak ini sudah ditempatkan di bilik berasingan untuk memudahkan pegawai perubatan memantau rawatan dan perkembangan kesihatannya," katanya.

Menurut sumber itu lagi, jika keadaan ketiga-tiga kanak-kanak itu semakin teruk, mereka akan dipindahkan ke Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (Hoshas) di Temerloh bagi mendapatkan rawatan lanjut.

Sementara itu, ibu kepada Arini Mary dan Muliana, Musliza a/p Batin Bakar, 30, ketika ditemui di sini, berkata anaknya dan sepupu mereka sebelum itu dipercayai minum dan makan di satu majlis kenduri di kampung Orang Asli Sungai Petai, dekat sini baru-baru ini.

Musliza berkata, selepas pulang dari kenduri itu, anaknya dan sepupunya itu mengalami demam dan tidak berselera makan.

"Melihat keadaan mereka semakin teruk, mereka kemudiannya di bawa ke hospital dan kini ditahan di wad," katanya. - BERNAMA

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