Infectious skin disease can be due to a variety of causes such as bacteria, viral illnesses, fungi, yeast, even skin parasites. Infections can arise as dry flaky circles that peel or the area may become itchy and red. Some bacteria invade normal skin or wounds (causing wound infection ). Skin infection can produce many symptoms ranging from moist, irritated patches to small pustules that look like pimples. Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) is the most important of these bacteria in human diseases. Bacteria, like viruses , may also sometimes result in exanthems (rashes). When the skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections, which can lead to other health problems. There is the always present danger of superinfection, once the skin has broken down, with bacteria complicating and prolonging what was supposed to be a swift recovery from a "skin sore". Trauma to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, seems to play a role in allowing bacteria that have been living harmlessly on the skin to establish a foothold and cause infection.
Skin is the largest organ that protects our inside world from the outside world. The carrier sites are usually the nostrils and fexures, where the bacteria may be found intermittently or every time they are looked for. S. aureus can also release toxins (poisons) that may lead to illnesses like food poisoning or toxic shock syndrome. Staph can pass from person to person the same way. So hand washing is the most important way to prevent staph infections. Staph infections in other parts of the body are less common than staph skin infections. They are more likely in people whose immune systems have been weakened by another disease. Staphylococcal aureus bacteria are classified as Gram-positive cocci based on their appearance under a microscope. The best way to resolve skin infections is to identify the original cause of the infection and treat it. There are more than 30 species in the staph family of bacteria, and they can cause different kinds of illnesses - for example, one kind of staph can cause urinary tract infections.
Causes of Skin Infection
The comman causes of Skin Infection include the following:
* Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus or “staph”) has long been recognized as one of the most important bacteria that cause disease in humans. It is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections.
* Usually this happens when people with skin infections share things like bed linens, towels, or clothing.
* Exposure of traumatized skin to affected aqueous environments (fish tanks) is the leading predisposing factor.
* People can get skin infections from contaminated objects, but bacteria often spread through skin-to-skin contact.
* Hosts who are immunocompromised are also at increased risk.
* Candida is the most frequent cause of yeast infections, which are extremely common.
* Use of immunosuppressive or corticosteroid medications.
* Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can live on the skin.
Symptoms of Skin Infection
Some sign and symptoms related to Skin Infection are as follows:
* Localized skin redness or inflammation that increases in size as the infection spreads.
* Warmth over the area of redness.
* Fever.
* Muscle aches , pains (myalgias).
* Need to urinate during the night (nocturia).
* Chills, shaking.
* Burning sensation or pain when urinating.
* General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (occasionally).
* Nausea and vomiting.
* Pain at the site of infection.
* Joint stiffness caused by swelling of the tissue over the joint.
* Tight, glossy, "stretched" appearance of the skin.
Treatment of Skin Infection
Here is list of methods for treating Skin Infection:
* Removal of foreign bodies (eg. stitches) that may be a focus of persisting infection.
* An antibiotic ointment, such as Polysporin, should be applied thinly four times daily. Polysporin can be purchased without a prescription.
* Drainage of pus collections.
* Topical antifungal medications may be used to treat infection of the skin; systemic antifungal medications may be necessary for folliculitis or nail infection.
* Apply warm, moist compresses to the site to aid the body in fighting infection by increasing blood supply to the tissues.
* Antibacterial soaps, topical (applied to a localized area of the skin) antibiotics, and systemic antibiotics may help to control infection.
* Debridement is necessary when infection involves the tendon sheaths, causes persistent pain, or produces a discharging sinus.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/skin-disorders/skin-infection.htm
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Diabetic Coma and Facial Fractures
Diabetic coma
Normally, an organ called the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin that regulates the level of sugar in our blood.
In diabetes mellitus, the pancreas fails to perform this role adequately. Sufferers may display symptoms such as tiredness, loss of weight, severe thirst, and the passing of large quantities of urine.
Once diagnosed, casualties can lead a relatively normal life with a few modifications. Mild diabetes may be controlled simply by restricting intake of carbohydrates in the diet, or by taking oral medication.
More severe forms, however, will need to be controlled by regular injections of insulin and careful monitoring of energy intake.
Facial Fractures
Broken noses, cheekbones and jaws are among the most common injuries to the face. The main problems with injuries of this type are that the airway may become blocked by swelling or bleeding, or perhaps by teeth that have been dislodged. Bear in mind that the blow that caused the most obvious injury may also have caused damage to the skull, the neck or even the brain.
Injuries/fractures of the nose and cheekbones
These injuries frequently occur as a result of fighting and can cause considerable discomfort as swelling progresses. The aim of the first arider is to reduce the swelling and to have the casualty examined in hospital as soon as possible.
Treat Facial fractures
1. Apply a cold compress. (A flannel or small towel soaked in cold water then frequently refreshed will suit this purpose.)
2. Take or send the casualty to hospita.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/
Normally, an organ called the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin that regulates the level of sugar in our blood.
In diabetes mellitus, the pancreas fails to perform this role adequately. Sufferers may display symptoms such as tiredness, loss of weight, severe thirst, and the passing of large quantities of urine.
Once diagnosed, casualties can lead a relatively normal life with a few modifications. Mild diabetes may be controlled simply by restricting intake of carbohydrates in the diet, or by taking oral medication.
More severe forms, however, will need to be controlled by regular injections of insulin and careful monitoring of energy intake.
Facial Fractures
Broken noses, cheekbones and jaws are among the most common injuries to the face. The main problems with injuries of this type are that the airway may become blocked by swelling or bleeding, or perhaps by teeth that have been dislodged. Bear in mind that the blow that caused the most obvious injury may also have caused damage to the skull, the neck or even the brain.
Injuries/fractures of the nose and cheekbones
These injuries frequently occur as a result of fighting and can cause considerable discomfort as swelling progresses. The aim of the first arider is to reduce the swelling and to have the casualty examined in hospital as soon as possible.
Treat Facial fractures
1. Apply a cold compress. (A flannel or small towel soaked in cold water then frequently refreshed will suit this purpose.)
2. Take or send the casualty to hospita.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is the term used to describe any sudden cessation of the heart, characterized by absence of pulse and breathing. Cardiac arrest may be the result of severe heart attack, anaphylactic shock (see p.450), electric shock, poisoning (including drug overdose), hypothermia or suffocation.
During cardiac arrest, the brain and heart muscle are completely starved of oxygen, a state that can be tolerated for only a few minutes before permanent damage results. It is vital, therefore, that resuscitation procedures are instigated immediately.
Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation
Resuscitation is the emergency action required when there is sustained interruption of the oxygen supply to the brain. In order that this vital oxygen supply may be restored, three vital conditions must be met:
A. The airway must be clear in order to permit oxygen-rich air to enter the lungs.
B. There must be adequate breathing taking place in order that the oxygen can enter the bloodstream.
C. The blood must be pumped around the body providing effective circulation to the brain and all body tissues.
When presented with an unconscious casualty, it is important to assess his or her condition quickly before attempting resuscitation. It is therefore important to ask the following questions:
1. Is the casualty unconscious with no evidence of pulse or breathing? If so, dial 999 for an ambulance and carry out artificial ventilation and chest compression until the ambulance arrives.
2. Is the casualty unconscious and not breathing but with the pulse still present? If so, give 10 breaths of artificial ventilation and dial 999 for an ambulance. Continue artificial ventilation until the ambulance arrives or spontaneous breathing is resumed. Check the pulse frequently.
3. Is the casualty unconscious but breathing with pulse present? If so, treat any obvious injuries, dial 999 for an ambulance and place the casualty in the recovery position.
A Open the Airway
1. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth.
2. Placing two fingers under the casualty's chin, gently raise the jaw. Simultaneously, tilt the casualty's head well back by applying gentle pressure to the forehead with your other hand. Sometimes the airway may be blocked by the tongue as a result of loss of muscular control during unconsciousness, and this man oeuvre will lift the tongue clear.
B Check for Breathing
Place your face close to the casualty's mouth and listen and feel for breathing for a full ten seconds. At the same time look along the chest and the abdomen for signs of movement.
C Check the circulation
If the heart is not beating adequately, there will be an absence of movement and breathing and the casualty may have an abnormal color. Check the casualty's condition for ten seconds before commencing resuscitation.
Mouth to mouth or artificial ventilation
If the casualty is not breathing then breathing the exhaled air from your lungs into his or hers may keep them adequately ventilated until help arrives.
Place the casualty flat on the back and ensure the airway is open. Remove any obvious obstructions from the mouth. (Broken or loose dentures should be removed, but well fitting dentures should remain in place).
Pinch the casualty's nose “between” the index finger and thumb. Take a deep breath then form a seal around the casualty's mouth with your lips.
Blow steadily into the mouth until the chest rises. Each full inflation should take about two seconds.
Remove your lips from the casualty's and allow the chest to 'exhale', or fall, fully before giving a subsequent breath.
If the chest fails to rise
Check that the head is tilted back correctly.
Ensure that your lips are forming a proper seal around the casualty's mouth.
Check that air is not escaping from the nostrils.
Check that the airway is not blocked by vomit or blood. If an airway obstruction is suspected then finger sweeps may be performed on an adult. Keep the casualty's head tilted back and sweep your finger round the mouth and hook out any obstruction but do not extend the fingers into the casualty's throat. (This man oeuvre is not suitable for children).
The first aider should administer a further three breaths and check the casualty again. If this is not effective and no one else is available to call an ambulance then give ventilation for a full minute before going to contact medical help.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/first-aid/cardiac-arrest.htm
During cardiac arrest, the brain and heart muscle are completely starved of oxygen, a state that can be tolerated for only a few minutes before permanent damage results. It is vital, therefore, that resuscitation procedures are instigated immediately.
Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation
Resuscitation is the emergency action required when there is sustained interruption of the oxygen supply to the brain. In order that this vital oxygen supply may be restored, three vital conditions must be met:
A. The airway must be clear in order to permit oxygen-rich air to enter the lungs.
B. There must be adequate breathing taking place in order that the oxygen can enter the bloodstream.
C. The blood must be pumped around the body providing effective circulation to the brain and all body tissues.
When presented with an unconscious casualty, it is important to assess his or her condition quickly before attempting resuscitation. It is therefore important to ask the following questions:
1. Is the casualty unconscious with no evidence of pulse or breathing? If so, dial 999 for an ambulance and carry out artificial ventilation and chest compression until the ambulance arrives.
2. Is the casualty unconscious and not breathing but with the pulse still present? If so, give 10 breaths of artificial ventilation and dial 999 for an ambulance. Continue artificial ventilation until the ambulance arrives or spontaneous breathing is resumed. Check the pulse frequently.
3. Is the casualty unconscious but breathing with pulse present? If so, treat any obvious injuries, dial 999 for an ambulance and place the casualty in the recovery position.
A Open the Airway
1. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth.
2. Placing two fingers under the casualty's chin, gently raise the jaw. Simultaneously, tilt the casualty's head well back by applying gentle pressure to the forehead with your other hand. Sometimes the airway may be blocked by the tongue as a result of loss of muscular control during unconsciousness, and this man oeuvre will lift the tongue clear.
B Check for Breathing
Place your face close to the casualty's mouth and listen and feel for breathing for a full ten seconds. At the same time look along the chest and the abdomen for signs of movement.
C Check the circulation
If the heart is not beating adequately, there will be an absence of movement and breathing and the casualty may have an abnormal color. Check the casualty's condition for ten seconds before commencing resuscitation.
Mouth to mouth or artificial ventilation
If the casualty is not breathing then breathing the exhaled air from your lungs into his or hers may keep them adequately ventilated until help arrives.
Place the casualty flat on the back and ensure the airway is open. Remove any obvious obstructions from the mouth. (Broken or loose dentures should be removed, but well fitting dentures should remain in place).
Pinch the casualty's nose “between” the index finger and thumb. Take a deep breath then form a seal around the casualty's mouth with your lips.
Blow steadily into the mouth until the chest rises. Each full inflation should take about two seconds.
Remove your lips from the casualty's and allow the chest to 'exhale', or fall, fully before giving a subsequent breath.
If the chest fails to rise
Check that the head is tilted back correctly.
Ensure that your lips are forming a proper seal around the casualty's mouth.
Check that air is not escaping from the nostrils.
Check that the airway is not blocked by vomit or blood. If an airway obstruction is suspected then finger sweeps may be performed on an adult. Keep the casualty's head tilted back and sweep your finger round the mouth and hook out any obstruction but do not extend the fingers into the casualty's throat. (This man oeuvre is not suitable for children).
The first aider should administer a further three breaths and check the casualty again. If this is not effective and no one else is available to call an ambulance then give ventilation for a full minute before going to contact medical help.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/first-aid/cardiac-arrest.htm
Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest
A heart attack is said to have occurred when a clot of blood suddenly blocks a coronary artery, one of the main blood vessels to the heart muscle, the myocardium. When this happens, the affected part of muscle will die because of the resulting lack of oxygen, causing the casualty severe, and gripping chest pain.
Sometimes, the casualty may have a history of angina pectoris, a condition in which the coronary arteries are narrowed because of the build-up of fatty deposits on the inside walls. This restricts the blood flow to the myocardium and causes severe crushing pain in the chest, not unlike that of a heart attack.
It is sometimes, therefore, very difficult to distinguish between an attack of angina and a heart attack. Unlike a heart attack, angina is usually relieved by rest or by placing a tablet of glycerin reinitiate (GTN) under the casualty's tongue.
Signs and symptoms of heart attack
1. Severe crushing chest pain, possibly radiating down one or both arms, or up into the jaw. The pain will not be relieved by rest or the administration of GTN.
2. Facial pallor or 'ashen' appearance, sometimes with bluefish coloring of the lips.
3. The skin may be cold and clammy to the touch and the casualty may be sweating profusely.
4. The casualty may suffer from breathlessness, weakness and dizziness.
5. Nausea and vomiting may be present.
6. The pulse may be irregular and either slow or fast.
7. The casualty may appear profoundly anxious.
8. The casualty may collapse suddenly, possibly without warning.
Treatment of a heart attack
1. Keep the casualty as calm and as comfortable as possible. Loosen any tight clothing and place pillows behind the head and knees to support him or her in a half-sitting position.
2. Phone 999 for an ambulance (or ask somebody to do this for you so that you can remain with the casualty). Be prepared to resuscitate.
3. If ordinary aspirin tablets are available, give the casualty one and ask him or her to chew and swallow it. Recent research has shown that aspirin given immediately after the onset of heart attack can improve the victim's chances of recovery, perhaps by inhibiting further clotting in the coronary arteries.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/first-aid/heart-attack.htm
Sometimes, the casualty may have a history of angina pectoris, a condition in which the coronary arteries are narrowed because of the build-up of fatty deposits on the inside walls. This restricts the blood flow to the myocardium and causes severe crushing pain in the chest, not unlike that of a heart attack.
It is sometimes, therefore, very difficult to distinguish between an attack of angina and a heart attack. Unlike a heart attack, angina is usually relieved by rest or by placing a tablet of glycerin reinitiate (GTN) under the casualty's tongue.
Signs and symptoms of heart attack
1. Severe crushing chest pain, possibly radiating down one or both arms, or up into the jaw. The pain will not be relieved by rest or the administration of GTN.
2. Facial pallor or 'ashen' appearance, sometimes with bluefish coloring of the lips.
3. The skin may be cold and clammy to the touch and the casualty may be sweating profusely.
4. The casualty may suffer from breathlessness, weakness and dizziness.
5. Nausea and vomiting may be present.
6. The pulse may be irregular and either slow or fast.
7. The casualty may appear profoundly anxious.
8. The casualty may collapse suddenly, possibly without warning.
Treatment of a heart attack
1. Keep the casualty as calm and as comfortable as possible. Loosen any tight clothing and place pillows behind the head and knees to support him or her in a half-sitting position.
2. Phone 999 for an ambulance (or ask somebody to do this for you so that you can remain with the casualty). Be prepared to resuscitate.
3. If ordinary aspirin tablets are available, give the casualty one and ask him or her to chew and swallow it. Recent research has shown that aspirin given immediately after the onset of heart attack can improve the victim's chances of recovery, perhaps by inhibiting further clotting in the coronary arteries.
Source: http://www.health-disease.org/first-aid/heart-attack.htm
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Health & Fitness: Give the gift of Health article
Give the Gift of Health
Is your loved one prepared to deal with the prospect of losing weight and getting in shape? If not, here's how you can help.
By Jean Lawrence WebMD Feature
Reviewed By Charlotte Grayson
The next time you go to the doctor, he or she might weigh you and then measure your waist. Why? Doctors are being asked to get tough on flab. To help a loved one prepare for this "delightful" development, give the gift of health this holiday season.
How About a Personal Nutritionist?
Why should Oprah have all the fun? Hire someone a personal nutritionist. For a couple of hundred dollars, it might go something like this, Connie Crawley, MS, RD, a nutrition and health specialist at the University of Georgia at Athens, tells WebMD: "The consulting dietitian will ask your recipient to keep a food diary for a couple of days or a week. I ask for two weekdays and a weekend day. This is a good exercise, because most people are not conscious of what they eat."
Then, Crawley says, the dietitian will meet with the person for one to two hours (plan to spend as much as $100 an hour). "The dietitian will look over the food record, weigh the person (if the consultation is for weight loss) and calculate body mass."
Following that, the dietitian will help the person plan menus. "Usually," Crawley says, "this will consist of setting a pattern, such as a fruit, a vegetable, meat, and so on. Information will also be given on portion size."
Since it is difficult to cover everything in one visit, plan to pay for a follow-up, too, Crawley advises.
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Some people also stay in touch with their dietitian via faxes or calls. You can locate a dietitian by checking the Yellow Pages or asking at your nearest medical center. The person's health plan also may have one.
If the hands-on, personal touch is not the style of your recipient, some of those high-end gadget places sell computerized "nutritionists" or PDA programs. For about $50, a device called Personal Nutritionist, for example, prompts you to enter every bite you eat and then spits out calorie, cholesterol, carb, and sodium counts and keeps weekly averages. Its database contains 10,000 foods, which should cover everything outside of an Uzbek restaurant.
Health & Fitness Gifts Under $100
Nutritionist Crawley and Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council of Exercise (ACE), reel off a list of health-related gifts that could find their way under the tree:
Exercise bands. These are good for people who travel or weaker people who might drop a dumbbell on their face. A book or video on how to use the bands can be slipped into a stocking.
Workout clothes. Check out the new fibers that wick away perspiration. You can find styles for everything from snowboarding to cross-country skiing. Athletic footwear places also offer gift certificates.
Dumbbells. This is the best strength-training gift of all, says Richard Cotton, an exercise specialist and spokesman for ACE. "They provide a large variety of exercises and work real-world muscles that you need to pick things up and function in the world."
Stability ball. This is basically a reinforced beach ball that is used as a platform for exercises. Adjusting yourself to the ball works every muscle in the body.
Heart rate monitor. Most people use the wrist-type.
Jump rope. This is not child's play, though -- make sure your recipient is aerobically fit.
Workout gloves. Weights can be tough on the hands.
Yoga mat. These are good for Pilates, too.
Health food. Those stores often provide gift certificates good for vitamins and exotic creams and oils.
Pedometer. Experts say shoot for 10,000 steps a day.
Chinning bar. They make them easy to install in any doorway.
Scale. The ever-popular. It comes in many varieties these days, even one that talks.
Steamer. Steamed food does not add fat calories.
Oil sprayer. To add a touch of olive oil taste to foods, your friend can spritz from one of these new-fangled atomizers.
Food scale. A good one costs $70, Crawley says, but can really help realign portion sizes.
Coated pans. These don't come cheap, but can cut added oil significantly.
Milk frother. This little beauty makes a nice topping for coffee without a trip to the corner coffee bar. You'll burn a calorie or two pumping it (though it also comes in battery-operated). Best of all, it works best with skim milk!
Maybe a Personal Trainer?
If you decide to give the gift of a trainer, do your research, Richard Cotton, an exercise specialist and spokesman for ACE, tells WebMD. Word of mouth, checking qualifications, and seeing if the person specializes in your recipient's special needs (age, youth, disabilities) is recommended.
"The trainer will sit down with the person and interview him or her about health history and problems," Bryant tells WebMD. "A factor will be what sorts of exercise the person likes or dislikes or has tried. Then the trainer will take the person through a basic workout."
For continued attention -- such as Bruno standing over your loved one during every workout -- plan to spend. "(But) I think you could get a good one-month gym membership right now for a reasonable amount," Bryant notes.
Home Gym Takes Lots of Thought
Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, fitness research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Mass., is the author of Strength Training Past 50. He tells WebMD it is crucial to spend time before spending money. "Know the recipient -- is he or she older? A youngster? Overweight? Sedentary?"
Space is also a consideration. Treadmills, stationary bikes, recumbent bikes, rowing machines, and elliptical trainers take up space. If they don't have a room of their own, they may be featured at the next yard sale.
And these machines cost serious money -- think $1,000 or more.
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Ahh -- Best Gifts of All
Even the most dedicated exerciser does not live by sweat alone. How about a gift certificate for a massage? Or a basket of spa products to go with that new Jacuzzi?
"You know what I think the best health gift is?" Crawley asks. "Fruit-of-the-Month from one of those fancy places."
What to Avoid
Cotton advises taking those ab rollers off the list. "Or almost anything you see on an infomercial."
What about home cholesterol kits? Crawley and Bryant are not in love with these. "You get your most accurate reading from your physician," Crawley notes. "Also, the doctor can interpret better."
You also might want to avoid springing a health gift on someone who is not expecting this approach. There's nothing like handing a new scale to a woman expecting a sexy negligee.
Originally published Dec. 5, 2003.
Medically updated Oct. 15, 2004.
Star Lawrence is a medical journalist based in the Phoenix area.
Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51938
Definition of Health
Health: As officially defined by the World Health Organization, a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
In 1948, in its constitution, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" [1]. In more recent years, this statement has been modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life."
In the medical field, the technical term for health is homeostasis, an organism's ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance". In the field of alternative medicine the term used to describe one's overall state of being is wellness.
Determinants of health
The LaLonde report suggested that there are four general determinants of health including human biology, environment, lifestyle, and healthcare services.[2] Thus, health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual.
Public health
Indicators of Health
Mental health
Mental health is a concept that refers to a human individual's emotional and psychological well-being. Merriam-Webster defines mental health as "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life."
According to the World Health Organization, there is no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health" and "mental illness" are not opposites. In other words, the absence of a recognized mental disorder is not necessarily an indicator of mental health.
One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and lead an independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental health.
Encompassing your emotional, social, and—most importantly—your mental well-being; All these aspects—emotional, physical, and social—must function together to achieve overall health.
Physical Health
A strong indicator of the health of populations is height, which is generally increased by improving nutrition and health care, and is also influenced by standard of living and quality of life matters. The study of human growth, its regulators, and its implications is known as auxology.
Health maintenance
Achieving health and remaining healthy is an active process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health to an optimum level include the following elements:
Nutrition
Nutrition is the science that studies how what people eat affects their health and performance, such as foods or food components that cause diseases or deteriorate health (such as eating too many calories, which is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease). The field of nutrition also studies foods and dietary supplements that improve performance, promote health, and cure or prevent disease, such as eating fiberous foods to reduce the risk of colon cancer, or supplementing with vitamin C to strengthen teeth and gums and to improve the immune system.
Between extremes of optimal health and death from starvation or malnutrition, there is an array of disease states that can be caused or alleviated by changes in diet. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases such as scurvy, obesity or osteoporosis, as well as psychological and behavioral problems. Moreover, excessive ingestion of elements that have no apparent role in health, (e.g. lead, mercury, PCBs, dioxins), may incur toxic and potentially lethal effects, depending on the dose. The science of nutrition attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health.
Sports nutrition
Sports nutrition focuses on how food and dietary supplements affect athletic performance (during events), improvement (from training), and recovery (after events and training). One goal of sports nutrition is to maintain glycogen levels and prevent glycogen depletion. Another is to optimize energy levels and muscle tone. An athlete's strategy for winning an event may include a schedule for the entire season of what to eat, when to eat it, and in what precise quantities (before, during, after, and between workouts and events). Participants in endurance sports such as the full-distance triathlon actually eat during their races. Sports nutrition works hand-in-hand with sports medicine.
Exercise
Exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. It is often directed toward also honing athletic ability or skill. Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and back pain.
Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:
Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.
Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.
Anaerobic exercises such as weight training or sprinting increase short-term muscle strength.
Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness including healthy weight; building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.
Proper nutrition is just as, if not more, important to health as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients; this is to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper nutrition, it gets into starvation mode developed through evolution and depends onto fat content for survival. Research suggest that the production of thyroid hormones can be negatively affected by repeated bouts of dieting and calorie restriction[3]. Proper rest and recovery is also as important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.
The above two factors can be compromised by psychological compulsions (eating disorders such as exercise bulimia, anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of organization, or a lack of motivation. These all lead to a decreased state of health.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness can occur after any exercise, particularly if the body is in an unconditioned state relative to that exercise and the exercise involves repetitive eccentric contractions.
Exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. It is often directed toward also honing athletic ability or skill. Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and back pain.
Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:
Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.
Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.
Anaerobic exercises such as weight training or sprinting increase short-term muscle strength.
Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness including healthy weight; building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.
Proper nutrition is just as, if not more, important to health as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients; this is to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper nutrition, it gets into starvation mode developed through evolution and depends onto fat content for survival. Research suggest that the production of thyroid hormones can be negatively affected by repeated bouts of dieting and calorie restriction[3]. Proper rest and recovery is also as important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.
The above two factors can be compromised by psychological compulsions (eating disorders such as exercise bulimia, anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of organization, or a lack of motivation. These all lead to a decreased state of health.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness can occur after any exercise, particularly if the body is in an unconditioned state relative to that exercise and the exercise involves repetitive eccentric contractions.
Hygiene
Hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean to prevent infection and illness, and the avoidance of contact with infectious agents. Hygiene practices include bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, washing hands especially before eating, washing food before it is eaten, sterilizing food preparation utensiles and surfaces before and after preparing meals, and many others. See personal hygiene, dental hygiene, and food hygiene.
Health care
Health care is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions. According to the World Health Organisation, health care embraces all the goods and services designed to promote health, including “preventive, curative and palliative interventions, whether directed to individuals or to populations”.[4] The organized provision of such services may constitute a health care system. This can include a specific governmental organization such as the National Health Service in the UK, or a cooperation across the National Health Service and Social Services as in Shared Care.
Natural health
In alternative medicine, natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies concerned with building and restoring health and wellness via prevention and healthy lifestyles. Natural health includes diet, exercise, chiropractic, naturopathy, herbalism, natural hygiene, homeopathy, massage therapy, relaxation techniques (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi), accupuncture, sauna, aromatherapy, ayurveda medicine, and Kneipp therapy.
Workplace wellness programs
Workplace wellness programs are recognized by an increasingly large number of companies for their value in improving the health and well-being of their employees, and for increasing morale, loyalty, and productivity. Workplace wellness programs can include things like onsite fitness centers, health presentations, wellness newsletters, access to health coaching, tobacco cessation programs and training related to nutrition, weight and stress management. Other programs may include health risk assessments, health screenings and body mass index monitoring. Mostly overseen or not mentioned is a group of determinants of health which could be called coincidence, hazard, luck or bad luck. These factors are quite important determinants of health but difficult to calculate.
Role of science in health
Health science is the branch of science focused on health, and it includes many subdisciplines. There are two approaches to health science: the study and research of the human body and health-related issues to understand how humans (and animals) function, and the application of that knowledge to improve health and to prevent and cure diseases.
Where health knowledge comes from
Health research builds primarily on the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as a variety of multidisciplinary fields (for example medical sociology). Some of the other primarily research-oriented fields that make exceptionally significant contributions to health science are biochemistry, epidemiology, and genetics.
Putting health knowledge to use
Applied health sciences also endeavor to better understand health, but in addition they try to directly improve it. Some of these are: biomedical engineering, biotechnology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacology, pharmacy, public health (see below), psychology, physical therapy, and medicine. The provision of services to maintain or improve people's health is referred to as health care (see above).
References
^ WHO. Constitution of the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1946. Accessed October 30, 2006.
^ Lalonde, Marc. "A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians." Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services; 1974.
^ Common fitness mistakes people make Stay Fit retrieved on 11-13-2006
^ World Heath Organization Report. (2000). Why do health systems matter?. WHO.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health
In 1948, in its constitution, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" [1]. In more recent years, this statement has been modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life."
In the medical field, the technical term for health is homeostasis, an organism's ability to efficiently respond to challenges (stressors) and effectively restore and sustain a "state of balance". In the field of alternative medicine the term used to describe one's overall state of being is wellness.
Determinants of health
The LaLonde report suggested that there are four general determinants of health including human biology, environment, lifestyle, and healthcare services.[2] Thus, health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual.
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents (for instance, in the case of a pandemic). Public health has many sub-fields, but is typically divided into the categories of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. Environmental, social and behavioral health, and occupational health, are also important fields in public health.
The focus of a public health intervention is to prevent rather than treat a disease through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors. In addition to these activities, in many cases treating a disease can be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak of an infectious disease. Vaccination programs and distribution of condoms are examples of public health measures.
Indicators of Health
Mental health
Mental health is a concept that refers to a human individual's emotional and psychological well-being. Merriam-Webster defines mental health as "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life."
According to the World Health Organization, there is no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health" and "mental illness" are not opposites. In other words, the absence of a recognized mental disorder is not necessarily an indicator of mental health.
One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and lead an independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental health.
Encompassing your emotional, social, and—most importantly—your mental well-being; All these aspects—emotional, physical, and social—must function together to achieve overall health.
Physical Health
A strong indicator of the health of populations is height, which is generally increased by improving nutrition and health care, and is also influenced by standard of living and quality of life matters. The study of human growth, its regulators, and its implications is known as auxology.
Health maintenance
Achieving health and remaining healthy is an active process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health to an optimum level include the following elements:
Nutrition
Nutrition is the science that studies how what people eat affects their health and performance, such as foods or food components that cause diseases or deteriorate health (such as eating too many calories, which is a major contributing factor to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease). The field of nutrition also studies foods and dietary supplements that improve performance, promote health, and cure or prevent disease, such as eating fiberous foods to reduce the risk of colon cancer, or supplementing with vitamin C to strengthen teeth and gums and to improve the immune system.
Between extremes of optimal health and death from starvation or malnutrition, there is an array of disease states that can be caused or alleviated by changes in diet. Deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet can produce negative impacts on health, which may lead to diseases such as scurvy, obesity or osteoporosis, as well as psychological and behavioral problems. Moreover, excessive ingestion of elements that have no apparent role in health, (e.g. lead, mercury, PCBs, dioxins), may incur toxic and potentially lethal effects, depending on the dose. The science of nutrition attempts to understand how and why specific dietary aspects influence health.
Sports nutrition
Sports nutrition focuses on how food and dietary supplements affect athletic performance (during events), improvement (from training), and recovery (after events and training). One goal of sports nutrition is to maintain glycogen levels and prevent glycogen depletion. Another is to optimize energy levels and muscle tone. An athlete's strategy for winning an event may include a schedule for the entire season of what to eat, when to eat it, and in what precise quantities (before, during, after, and between workouts and events). Participants in endurance sports such as the full-distance triathlon actually eat during their races. Sports nutrition works hand-in-hand with sports medicine.
Exercise
Exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. It is often directed toward also honing athletic ability or skill. Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and back pain.
Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:
Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.
Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.
Anaerobic exercises such as weight training or sprinting increase short-term muscle strength.
Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness including healthy weight; building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.
Proper nutrition is just as, if not more, important to health as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients; this is to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper nutrition, it gets into starvation mode developed through evolution and depends onto fat content for survival. Research suggest that the production of thyroid hormones can be negatively affected by repeated bouts of dieting and calorie restriction[3]. Proper rest and recovery is also as important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.
The above two factors can be compromised by psychological compulsions (eating disorders such as exercise bulimia, anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of organization, or a lack of motivation. These all lead to a decreased state of health.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness can occur after any exercise, particularly if the body is in an unconditioned state relative to that exercise and the exercise involves repetitive eccentric contractions.
Exercise is the performance of some activity in order to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. It is often directed toward also honing athletic ability or skill. Frequent and regular physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of affluence such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and back pain.
Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:
Flexibility exercises such as stretching improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.
Aerobic exercises such as walking and running focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.
Anaerobic exercises such as weight training or sprinting increase short-term muscle strength.
Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness including healthy weight; building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological well-being; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.
Proper nutrition is just as, if not more, important to health as exercise. When exercising it becomes even more important to have good diet to ensure the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients; this is to aid the body with the recovery process following strenuous exercise. When the body falls short of proper nutrition, it gets into starvation mode developed through evolution and depends onto fat content for survival. Research suggest that the production of thyroid hormones can be negatively affected by repeated bouts of dieting and calorie restriction[3]. Proper rest and recovery is also as important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise.
The above two factors can be compromised by psychological compulsions (eating disorders such as exercise bulimia, anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of organization, or a lack of motivation. These all lead to a decreased state of health.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness can occur after any exercise, particularly if the body is in an unconditioned state relative to that exercise and the exercise involves repetitive eccentric contractions.
Hygiene
Hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean to prevent infection and illness, and the avoidance of contact with infectious agents. Hygiene practices include bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, washing hands especially before eating, washing food before it is eaten, sterilizing food preparation utensiles and surfaces before and after preparing meals, and many others. See personal hygiene, dental hygiene, and food hygiene.
Health care
Health care is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions. According to the World Health Organisation, health care embraces all the goods and services designed to promote health, including “preventive, curative and palliative interventions, whether directed to individuals or to populations”.[4] The organized provision of such services may constitute a health care system. This can include a specific governmental organization such as the National Health Service in the UK, or a cooperation across the National Health Service and Social Services as in Shared Care.
Natural health
In alternative medicine, natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies concerned with building and restoring health and wellness via prevention and healthy lifestyles. Natural health includes diet, exercise, chiropractic, naturopathy, herbalism, natural hygiene, homeopathy, massage therapy, relaxation techniques (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi), accupuncture, sauna, aromatherapy, ayurveda medicine, and Kneipp therapy.
Workplace wellness programs
Workplace wellness programs are recognized by an increasingly large number of companies for their value in improving the health and well-being of their employees, and for increasing morale, loyalty, and productivity. Workplace wellness programs can include things like onsite fitness centers, health presentations, wellness newsletters, access to health coaching, tobacco cessation programs and training related to nutrition, weight and stress management. Other programs may include health risk assessments, health screenings and body mass index monitoring. Mostly overseen or not mentioned is a group of determinants of health which could be called coincidence, hazard, luck or bad luck. These factors are quite important determinants of health but difficult to calculate.
Role of science in health
Health science is the branch of science focused on health, and it includes many subdisciplines. There are two approaches to health science: the study and research of the human body and health-related issues to understand how humans (and animals) function, and the application of that knowledge to improve health and to prevent and cure diseases.
Where health knowledge comes from
Health research builds primarily on the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as a variety of multidisciplinary fields (for example medical sociology). Some of the other primarily research-oriented fields that make exceptionally significant contributions to health science are biochemistry, epidemiology, and genetics.
Putting health knowledge to use
Applied health sciences also endeavor to better understand health, but in addition they try to directly improve it. Some of these are: biomedical engineering, biotechnology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacology, pharmacy, public health (see below), psychology, physical therapy, and medicine. The provision of services to maintain or improve people's health is referred to as health care (see above).
References
^ WHO. Constitution of the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1946. Accessed October 30, 2006.
^ Lalonde, Marc. "A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians." Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Services; 1974.
^ Common fitness mistakes people make Stay Fit retrieved on 11-13-2006
^ World Heath Organization Report. (2000). Why do health systems matter?. WHO.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health
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