Oral Care- Teeth and gums

Oral care is an important and integral part of our everyday lives. Tooth decay remains a common problem although preventable for people of all ages.

It tends to occur to people with poor dental hygiene, diets rich in sugar, dry mouth; who drink unfluoridated water or to those on certain medications. We need to continue to keep our teeth and gums healthy.

Your teeth and gums
Your tooth can divided into three basic parts. The outer part of your tooth is the enamel, a hard and protective covering made up of 97% calcium over the softer but larger fraction of dentine. Below the dentine, there is the pulp that consists of nerves and blood vessels. Teeth are held in place by fibres located between a thin layer called the cementum and bone. Healthy gums are normally pink, firm and do not bleed when brushed. A person has gingivitis when his/her gums are red.

Source: Health care booklet from Guardian pharmacy

Marco's comment

Good oral care is not only affecting one's health, but the general outlook and image as well.

Chikungunya Virus

We have just been alerted that Chikungunya Virus outbreak in Malaysia, spread by mosquitoes, is quite serious. More than 2,000 people are infected down south.

Consult a health-care provider or visit the nearest hospital for chikungunya fever if you showed symptoms such as fever, severe joint pains and rashes.

Four states have been hit, i.e. Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Perak. The worst hit is Tangkak, Johor. Almost all elderly people (age 45 years and above) are infected with this virus. Many people who are infected seek treatment from Tangkak Hospital every day. There were times beds were full, and the hospital could not warded them. Therefore they were discharge after a half day treatment in the ward.

► Below is the chronological of this outbreak.

1. The disease is spread by the foreigner workers in the plantations.

2. Then the 'bugs' are passed down to the local planters, of which, their families are infected eventually.

3. Now people in this town (Tangkak) are infected as well as others in nearby towns and states.

► Symptoms of Chikungunya:

1. High fever

2. Rashes

3. Chronic joints pain (which will last for 3 months)

► Recommendations:

1. Increase adhoc facilities and manpower in district hospital and clinics.

2. Bring down the population of the vector (mosquitoes)

3. Quarantine the sick people who are infected with this virus.

4. Educate the public how to prevent and contain the disease.

Dr. Teo Kim Lai (among the many courageous Pahlawan Volunteer veterinarians involved in the investigation of the Nipah Virus Outbreak, 1999 archived at http://www.pahlawan.com.my/voice/VECrisis1.shtml recommends that the sick should be quarantined as the virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. CHIK fever epidemics are sustained by human-mosquito-human transmission.

Further information can be obtained from the Health Ministry's website at http://www.moh.gov.my/ or call (603)-88810600/ 0700 during office hours.

Read also:

1. Chikungunya di Malaysia

2. Chikungunya - Fact Sheet by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

3. Insect Bite Avoidance

4. Papaya Leave Juice - Cure for Dengue

Marco's comment:

Chikungunya and Dengue virus are both spreaded by Aedes mosquito. Hence, eliminating the Aedes mosquito will helps to stay away from these 2 life threatening viruses.

Think your indoor air is safe?

Most people spend 60% - 90% of their time indoors. Do you know that almost 50% of all illness are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air? Indoor air is found to be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air; overuse of air conditioner is one of the factors.

Who would be without air conditioner? In hot, humid climates it is more than a modern comfort- it is an essential element in getting through those sweltering, sticky days. But, like most modern conveniences, air conditioner has its down-sides. The problems associated with air conditioners arise out of overuse and many people notice increased snuffle, dazes, tinnitus and allergy problems after having stayed in air-conditioned room for a long time. Do you know why?

The above symptoms are known as “Air-cond Disease” or “Air-cond Syndrome”. The air in an air conditioned environment of a tightly sealed and well insulated home or place can become stale as the same indoor air is circulated and re-circulated. Bacteria, dirt and dust particles accumulate the interior of air conditioner after extensive usage, especially air filters and evaporator in the air conditioner. When the filters and indoor air quality and causing deterioration in one’s health.

Medical experts have advised the air conditioner should be cleaned 2-3 times yearly and people should open windows often and let in fresh air.

Marco’s comment:
I believe the Air-cond Disease” or “Air-cond Syndrome” are applicable to cars’ air conditioner as well.

Real also:

1. Perilous Printer?

2. Plants for healthier living.

3. Air out your car before turning on air-conditioner.

Is your life being interrupted by liver problem?

Liver is the largest organ in human body but it is almost not innervated, therefore you will not have obvious pain when your liver is damaged; in addition to potent regenerative ability of liver, it is still able to maintain normal function without prominent symptoms despite of removal or damage of liver up to ¾ of it, thus it is easily overlooked most of the time. However, once the liver condition deteriorates then prolonged treatment is required to heal it.

Functions of liver:
1. As factory of detoxification, responsible for removal and filtration of toxins throughout the body such as bacteria and harmful chemical substances.
2. Produces enzymes.
3. Produces bile juice for digestion of fat.
4. Synthesizes protein.

Main causes for liver damage:
Constant or excessive alcohol consumption will lead to accumulation of fat in liver cells causing enlargement of liver (hepatomegaly) and this is known as fatty liver. Fatty liver has smooth surface and sometimes is painful on palpation. It is worth to take note that alcohol metabolism in the body of Eastern people does not occur as fast as that of Western people and they are more prone to discomfort after drinking alcohol, thus the amount of consumption should not exceed proper limit.

However, medical experts have found from numerous clinical studies that apart from alcohol drinking, 35% of fulminating liver failure are caused by medication. Experts point out that “all drugs are toxic to some extent.” There is a wide range of medications that cause liver damage and many of these are familiar to us such as flu drug, antibiotics and herbal medicines, etc. People nowadays are in favour of mixing traditional medicine with modern medicine which may cause overdose without being aware of it.

Excessive intake of food with high fat content will cause deposition of fat within liver cells and change of liver cells which is medically known as fatty liver. Constant worsening of fatty liver will develop into liver cirrhosis and even leading to liver failure.

Source: Perfect World Vol. 01/09