Migraines explained

By the Ministry of Health

Migraine attacks normally happen to those between the ages of five and 35 years.

Migraine symptoms vary from individual to individual, but normally, a migraine sufferer will experience a headache that throbs on one side of the head, followed by dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

While a migraine is taking place, the sufferer also becomes hypersensitive to light and sound.

It can last between four and 72 hours, happening once or twice a year, or even every day.


Types of Migraines

There are two main types of migraines:

1) Classic migraine - This type of migraine always has early warning signs, known as "aura", which normally lasts between five and 15 minutes.
The "aura" includes:
* Seeing extremely bright light or zigzag lines
* Double vision or flickering vision
* Head feels like it is turning
* Dizziness
* Hard to speak or momentarily confused
* Numbness in some parts of the face or hands
Once the "aura" fades, the migraine attack will start.

2) Common migraine - This type of migraine occurs commonly without "aura". This type attacks slowly, but for long periods of time, until it disrupts your daily activities.


Trigger factors for migraine:

- Diet
a) Irregular meals
b) Foods that contain preservatives and have been dried, including some types of cheese, pickled fruits, burgers and hotdogs; foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG) or processed sauces
c) Soft drinks, hard liquor or alcohol

- Hormones - Menstruation, use of birth control pills or use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

- Unbalanced sleep - too much or too little sleep

- Medicines - a number of medicines, including traditional/herbal medicines

- Weather changes - too hot or too cold and also air pollution , such as open burning

- Watching television or staring at the computer screen for too long

- Stress

- Genetics


Ways to prevent migraines:

a) Reduce stress
b) Get proper sleep - Avoid too much or too little sleep especially on weekends
c) Have regular eating times
d) Eat a balanced diet while avoiding foods that can cause migraines
e) Reduce your daily intake of caffeine and carbonated soft drinks
f) Increase your exercise and recreational activities


Those experiencing migraines are advised to keep a daily record of what they eat/drink and their activities, to see what could be causing the migraines.

This can help you prevent or reduce migraine attacks.

Migraine attacks can be overcome with or without medication. Treatment without medication includes resting in a dark and quiet room, and massaging the head gently.

There are three types of medical treatment. Check with your doctor before considering using any of these medicines:
1. Painkillers
2. Relief medication - will help alleviate pain.
3. Preventive medication - suitable for those who get frequent migraine attacks whose daily activities are affected.

You are advised to seek medical assistance immediately if you experience:
* Extreme headaches that happen suddenly.
* Headaches that last a long time or do not go away even after taking pain relief medication.
* Migraine attacks that happen too frequently or every day.
* Headaches that last longer than a week after suffering a head injury.
* Headaches that are followed by fever, sore throat, mood swings and blurred vision that lasts for more than an hour.


- Ministry of Health Public Awareness Programme

Source: Weekend - 26 July 2008

Asthma in children

By Ministry of Health


Asthma is one of the most common diseases in childhood.


What is Asthma?

Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the small airways causing breathing difficulty or asthma.

Asthma breathing problems usually happen in episodes. Even though asthma cannot be cured in the short term, it can almost always be controlled.


What is the cause of Asthma?

Asthma is due to excessive sensitivity of the lungs to stimuli.

Triggers range from viral infections to allergies, to irrigating gases and particles in the air.

Each child reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma, including:
- cough and cold
- allergic reactions to pollen, mould, animal dander, feathers, dust, food and cockroaches
- vigorous exercise
- exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change
- cigarette smoke
- excitement or stress


What are the signs and symptoms?

Airway obstruction, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing are the effects of asthma.

If severe, this can cause severe shortness of breath and low blood oxygen. Wheezing though characteristic of asthma is not the most common symptom.

Coughing is also a sign of 'hidden' asthma when wheezing may not be noticeable to the patient, his or her family or the physician.

Children who frequently cough or have regular respiratory infections should be evaluated for asthma.

Those who cough after running or crying may be suffering from asthma.

Recurring night cough is common as asthma is often worse at night.

Infants who suffer from asthma often have a rattly cough, rapid breathing and may experience an excessive number of pneumonias, episodes of bronchitis or chest colds.

Wheezing episodes might not be noticed until after the infant is 18 to 24 months of age.


What are the treatments?

Two main of medications are used to treat asthma. They are:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
They help to reduce underlying inflammation in the airways and have a preventive action. These agents include corticosteroids such as beclomethasone and fluticosone.

- Bronchodilators
They act mainly to dilate the airways and enable better air entry into the lungs. Examples of bronchodilators are salbutamol and salmeterol.



OTHER IMPORTANT MEASURES

You can take other important measures to eliminate or reduce factors which could trigger asthma. They include:
- Regular cleaning of the rooms to reduce dust and accumulation of other allergens. Dusting should be done with a damp cloth to avoid dust being dispersed into the room air.
- Avoid carpets as a floor covering because it attracts dust. Carpets if present, should be regularly vacuumed and washed or dry cleaned.
- Avoid feathers or tree cotton wool 'kapok' in bedding material because these collect dust and cannot be washed. Use pillows and comforter fillings which are made of polyester filling that is designed for washing.
- Parents who smoke should stop the habit because smoke and fine ashes from cigarettes are very potent irritants to children with asthma. Strong perfumes and air fresheners should also be avoided as they can also trigger an asthma attack.
- Exercise will help asthmatic children to develop a strong chest. With the appropriate use of inhalers, except during acute attacks, children with a diagnosis of asthma should still participate in physical activities and sports. Swimming is also believed to be the best sports for asthma sufferers because the air the child breathes is moist.

- Ministry of Health Public Awareness Programme
Source: Weekend, 19 July 2008

Antibiotics: 12 things you should know

By

The Ministry of Health

Antibiotics do not work against viruses. - PHOTO COURTESY OF MOH



1. Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria only. Antibiotics will not work against viruses. There are different types of antibiotics that work against different types of bacterial infections.
2. Take antibiotics properly as instructed on the label. Some antibiotics may need to be taken with food while some need to be taken on an empty stomach.
3. Inform your doctor of any other medications you are taking. For example, oral contraceptive as interaction with your antibiotics may occur. Also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.
4. Do not miss a dose. If you forgot a dose at a certain time, take the antibiotics as soon as you remember. Do not double the dose. Antibiotics work best when they are taken regularly on consecutive days until finished.
5. Finish the course, that is, if asked to take for five days, you must do so. Even though you may feel better, do not stop taking the medicine until you complete the course. This is because the antibiotics may not have killed all the infectious bacteria. Therefore, allowing the remaining bacteria to thrive and possibly become resistant. The bacteria may re-infect you and you can become sick again later.
6. Antibiotic resistance occur when the bacteria cannot be killed because it adapts and find ways to survive the effects of the antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance is due largely to overuse and misuse of antibiotics. As a result, "superbug" infections can arise such as Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which are difficult to treat.
7. One way to help curb antibiotic resistance is for you not to demand for an antibiotic when the doctor determines one is not required for your illness.
8. Any side effects should be reported immediately to your doctor. Some of the common side effects of antibiotics include rash and diarrhoea. Inform your doctor of previous allergies to a particular antibiotic or medicine. Keep records of the antibiotics or medicine name you are allergic to.
9. If your symptoms get worse or do not improve within a few days of treatment with the antibiotic, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
10. Do not share antibiotics with family or friends or keep your antibiotics for use at a later date. These antibiotics are meant to be finished for your current infection. Taking the wrong medicine could delay getting correct treatment and may allow bacteria to multiply.
11. Some patients discharged from the wards may need to continue their antibiotic treatment.
12. Any unused medicines should be returned to the pharmacy for safe disposal.

Source: Weekend, 12 July 2008

What bosses need to know about workplace safety

By

Ministry of Health

Why it is so important

Workers spend a lot of time at the workplace and are exposed to various dangers from their surroundings. An unsafe workplace can cause workplace-related accidents/illnesses that can harm workers and their families from a social and financial standpoint.

What are the benefits of having a safe workplace?
- Protect your most important assets - the workers.
- Increase productivity.
- Reduce workplace accidents and illnesses.
- Decrease workers' insurance claims.
- Reduce medical costs.
- Raise workers' morale.

What are the strategies for creating a safe workplace?
Safe surroundings:
- Make sure that the workplace is always neat.
- Ensure that walkways are not blocked.
- Mark out in yellow lines the way to emergency exits.
- Use flooring materials that are not slippery.
- Clean all spills on the floor immediately.
- Ensure good and effective air circulation in order to maintain comfortable room temperature.
- Ensure that lighting is sufficient.
- Store areas should be organised neatly and all items should be labeled. Avoid keeping chemicals/insecticides together with food/drinks.
- Place health and safety warning signs wherever needed, such as "no smoking", "emergency exits", etc.
- Equipment, machinery and chairs should be ergonomically designed and comfortable to use.
- Provide facilities such as toilets, washrooms, changing rooms, rest areas, etc.

Fire safety:
- Install fire extinguishers and make sure they are checked regularly.
- Mark out areas that workers should gather at during emergencies.
- Display the emergency evacuation plan in an area where all workers will see it.
- Carry out fire drills.

Use chemicals safely
- Replace dangerous chemicals with safer chemicals if possible.
- Label all chemical containers.
- Keep Material Data Sheets (MSDS) for reference.

Use recommended safety equipment such as helmets, masks, gloves, safety goggles, etc.
Make available emergency eyewash solutions and bathrooms.

Use electricity safely
- Never use too many electrical connections that go over your power limit.
- Do not use faulty electrical cords - label warnings for all to know.
- Never try fixing faulty electrical equipment on your own - such work must be done by a qualified person/expert.

Use equipment safely
- Provide workers with training on how to use workplace machines safely.
- Failsafe devices must be built into work machines that carry a high risk of causing accidents.
- Avoid doing repairs, modifications or maintenance on a machine without proper clearance.
- Use suitable safety equipment as needed.

Use safety equipment correctly
- If possible, remove potential sources of workplace danger - safety equipment should only be used as back-up in the event of an emergency.
- Always use safety equipment suitable for the task and strongly promote its usage.
- Safety equipment must be maintained always - replace defective safety equipment immediately.

- Ministry of Health Public Awareness Programme

Source: Weekend, 5 July 2008