Tuesday, December 30, 2014

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE SOLUTION TO SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME




Thank God we made it to the last day of 2014 and by God’s grace the year 2015.
The year 2014 is a significant year in the history of our great country Nigeria; we had an epidemic of a communicable disease, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Many lives were lost, Care givers also became victims of EVD.
The public hospitals were open for only skeletal services for a quarter of the year 2014 which means people were only able to assess full comprehensive health care for 9 months in this year due to industrial disputes.
Over 200 girls in Chibok, North Eastern Nigeria were kidnapped leaving over 500 parents and close relatives to go through psychological and post traumatic stress disorders, some of the parents and relations died from uncontrolled hypertension while others had psychiatric disorders worsened by several sleepless nights.
Thousands of lives were also lost through collapsed buildings, fire incidents, water ways and road traffic accidents (RTAs).
The numbers of deaths from those that slumped and those that suffer cancers were alarming. While I commiserate with hundreds of families that were affected in the year 2014, I will suggest a healthy lifestyle to all in 2015.
A particular woman had slumped at a meeting few weeks ago. Everyone near her rushed instantaneously to give a helping hand and lift her up. She was put on a chair and they started fanning and pouring water on her. She was then rushed to the General Hospital. But within minutes of her arrival, she was pronounced dead by the doctor after examination. The doctor told them this is B.I.D, a medical abbreviation meaning brought in dead.
This occurrence of Sudden death syndrome which few people have heard about is becoming alarming. It is on the increase across the country, creating worry and anxiety.
Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS)
Sudden death syndrome describes a sudden, unexpected death of adolescents and adults which may occur during sleep, whilst awake, or just after exercise most often associated with slumping.
Sudden Death Syndrome events are non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected occurrences resulting from cardiac arrest within as little as six hours of previously witnessed normal healthy person.
Causes
Most sudden deaths are due to heart conditions and are known as sudden arrhythmia death or sudden cardiac death syndrome (Heart attacks). Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome is common in young people. It is an inherited disease which creates an abnormality in the heart, causing it to speed up/slow down to the point where it can no longer pump blood in some cases, the heart will stop completely.

It is also caused by Cerebrovacular accident (CVA) commonly referred to as Stroke or brain attacks. This is mostly as a result of uncontrolled Hypertension and Diabetes.
Risk factors
Sudden death is common among those who are 40 years old and beyond; while it peaks for those who are over 60.The incidence is rare among younger people, though athletics and those involved in any sporting event are highly susceptible.
Conditions such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus and respiratory diseases are all risk factors
It affects men twice as it does women. Men are more susceptible because of activities, stress, hustling.
Prevention
Regular medical check-up is key to preventing sudden death and should be promoted. Through it, you are able to diagnose chronic diseases such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus and respiratory diseases.
Those who are over 40 are advised to do a six-monthly or yearly comprehensive medical screening under the supervision of their physicians. The various profiles of kidney, heart, lung, prostrate, breast, cervical and other blood profile are done under the guidance of a physician.
Those with unexplained or persistent symptoms like weakness, weight loss, headache, body pain, tiredness etc will also need guided medical checks. Blood pressure and blood sugar should be monitored regularly.
Healthy lifestyle
In order to ensure healthy lifestyle, people are encouraged to  imbibe the culture of a healthy lifestyle regularly:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Exercise (moderately) regularly, reduce salt intake, avoid junk meals high in fats and oils which only clog up the arteries, Take lots of whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, Take lots of water.
Most of the slumping takes place at work place, meetings, home etc but 9 out of 10 people around the incidence don’t know what to do .When someone at the workplace or our vicinity slumps, what next. I will continue this piece next week/next year with the title, ‘’How to rescue a person who slumps before medical helps arrive’’


STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SLUMPS AND SUDDEN DEATHS SYNDROME





The major factor for reducing slumps and sudden death syndrome are sedentary lifestyle, high consumption of processed food and stress, excess weight gain, hypertension, diabetes,smoking and alcohol intake

How to protect oneself
 
To safeguard against sudden deaths, Doctors advocate:

Dietary modification to a low-calorie-high-fibre diet.
Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
Lower consumption of red meat, highly processed foods, intake of salt,sugary foods and drinks.
We should live a healthy lifestyle; exercise and physical activities. 
Hypertensives must go and see thier doctors and use their anti-hypertensive drugs.
Diabetics must go and see thier doctors and  use their drugs.
Taking regular medications for high-risk persons like hypertension and diabetes patients.

In conjunction with the management of the strategic health insight (The hospital) Magodo GRA , I will be organizing a monthly healthy lifestyle seminars from January 2015.
It is a community service hence no fee is charged for the sessions, experts in various fields of medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and nursing will be leading the sessions. It is going to be a very interactive session. Pharmaceutical companies can also partner with us in this wellness programme.
The seminars are fixed for 5pm -7pm every (Every 2nd Saturdays). The maiden edition takes place on January 10th 2015.
Participants are to indicate their participation by calling or sending text messages to 08188343865 or 08186549147.
Visit my blogspot: www.doctoradesanya.blogspot.com for more on Sudden death Syndrome.
 


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

NEWBORN JAUNDICE



JAUNDICE IN NEWBORN 
Jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies that causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The medical term for jaundice in babies is neonatal jaundice.
Other symptoms of newborn jaundice can include:
  • yellowing of the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • dark, yellow urine (a newborn baby's urine should be colourless)
  • pale coloured stools (faeces) instead of yellow- or orange-coloured stools
Your baby will be checked for jaundice within 72 hours of being born, but you should keep an eye out for signs of the condition after you return home because it can sometimes take up to a week to appear.
When you are at home with your baby, you should look out for yellowing of their skin or the whites of their eyes. Gently pressing your fingers on the tip of their nose or on their forehead can make it easier for you to spot any yellowing.
You should also check your baby's urine and stools (faeces). Your baby may have jaundice if their urine is yellow (a newborn baby's urine should be colourless) or their stools are pale.
You should speak to your midwife, health visitor or GP as soon as possible if you think your baby may have jaundice. Tests will need to be carried out to determine whether any treatment will be necessary.
Examination
A visual examination of your baby will be carried out to look for signs of jaundice. Your baby will need to be undressed during this so their skin can be looked at under good, preferably natural, light.
Other things that may also be checked include:
  • the whites of your baby’s eyes
  • your baby’s gums
  • the colour of your baby’s stools or urine
Bilirubin test
If it's thought that your baby may have jaundice, the level of bilirubin (the yellow substance produced when red blood cells are broken down) in your baby’s blood will need to be tested. This can be done using:
  • a small device called a bilirubinometer, which beams light onto your baby’s skin. By analysing how the beams of light are reflected off the skin, or absorbed by the skin, the device calculates the level of bilirubin in the blood.
  • a blood test of a sample of blood usually obtained by pricking your baby's heel with a needle. The level of bilirubin in the liquid part of the blood (the serum) is then measured.