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Breastfeeding – a must for babies

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Breastfeeding – a must for babies
Many women prefer bottle-feeding their babies to breastfeeding, due to their professional commitments, observes the Mauritian Association for the Promotion of Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition (MAPBIN) as well as health experts. They advise mothers to breastfeed their babies during the first weeks following child birth.
As long as the mother breastfeeds her baby, her organism will continue to produce milk. Dr Aruna Surnam from the Ministry of Health and Bina Bonomally, advisor at MAPBIN, point out that even working mothers can give their milk to their babies. They can always extract breast milk and preserve it at cold temperature in a bottle. The milk can thus be fed to the baby at a later time and can also be warmed or given at the same temperature.

Dr Surnam explains that mother’s milk is the healthiest form of milk for babies and is ideal for babies thanks to its nutritional value. Mother’s milk is rich in protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and antibodies which help to fight microbes. It is also rich in fats which are very

good for brain development and its nervous system.
Mother’s milk contains lymphocytes and macrophages which helps to fight infections, adds the doctor. Also, there is less risk for the baby to develop breathing problems, inflammation of the ears, obesity and child cancer.

The mother also benefits from breastfeeding. For instance, breastfeeding helps the mother to lose the accumulated fat during pregnancy. Moreover, studies have shown that the mother runs less risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer and is less likely to be a victim of baby blues – a temporary depression after child birth.

Furthermore, hormones released during breastfeeding help to strengthen the maternal bond. The Ministry of Health advocates exclusive breastfeeding for the baby’s first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding complemented with appropriate foods up to two years old and beyond.
The mother must have a balanced diet while breastfeeding her child. For example, advises Dr Surnam, if the mother exaggerates on fatty foods, her milk will become excessively rich in fats, increasing the child’s risk of becoming obese. She further discourages the mother to smoke (active and passive) or drink alcohol during breastfeeding.

Dr Surnam insists that it is essential to start breastfeeding the baby as early as possible to enhance production: “there are two hormones which favour this production: oxytocin and prolactin. However, there is no need to breastfeed the baby every two to three hours but when the baby expresses the need,” she says.

Importance of first aid

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Importance of first aid
Has it ever happened that one of your friends or relatives has been hurt and you found yourself standing helpless, having no clue what was the best thing to do? At that time, you might have wished that you had an inkling of first aid. Unfortunately, Mauritians in general do not realise the importance of first aid, notes Red Cross.
The Health, Sports and Wellness Fair was held during the week-end at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC), Pailles. Red Cross also participated in the fair with the main objective of sensitising the public to the importance of first-aid and the need to learn first-aid.

“We have noticed that first-aid is last on the list of Mauritians. In fact, they do not feel concerned by first aid in general, unless one of their near ones or friends needs first aid.

They then regret that they did not learn first aid earlier,” points out Navin Mahadoo, in charge of the activities at Red Cross.

Red Cross also notes that even enterprises are not aware of the importance of first aid at the workplace. Navin Mahadoo believes that it is only because of the laws that enterprises have been forced to train their employees in first aid: “If it was not for these regulations, I don’t think enterprises would have thought of training their staff.”

He adds that most Mauritians are ignorant of basic rules of first aid. Navin Mahadoo takes the example of heart attack: “often I read in the press that the victim of a heart attack was urgently taken to the hospital. However, this is the last thing to do. In fact, it is dangerous to transport a victim of heart attack. The person needs urgent care on the spot and this is possible thanks to the
Service d’Aide Médicale d’Urgence (SAMU).

He says that the person often needs a cardiac massage but, he underlines, very few Mauritians know how to do it. In cases of accidents, he explains that those present on the scene can prevent the person from bleeding to death but, once again, they should know what and how to do it. In cases of epileptic attacks, the patient should be laid on the side until the attack is over.

However, often people restrain from giving a helping hand, in case the situation worsens. Navin Mahadoo admits that people do feel reticent due to this: “but non-assistance to a person in danger is an offence. The law protects the person who tried to help.” Dr Aniff Yearoo is of the opinion that Mauritians are afraid of getting into problems and thus, he believes that more should be done to initiate and educate the public on first aid.

Limits of first aid
First-aid has its limits, recognises Navin Mahadoo, agreeing that first aiders cannot intervene in all cases. A first aider, he says, can never replace a doctor or a nurse. He and Dr Yearoo advise those who are not acquainted with first aid to avoid helping someone in a serious situation so as not to aggravate the situation with inappropriate measures.

Flu-like syndrome

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Flu-like syndrome
Seasonal flu is affecting everyone across the country. Hospitals and health centres are treating on average 16,000 cases per week. There are many more getting treatment from private doctors while others are relying on auto-medication.
“Due to the dry climate and a fall in temperature, the influenza virus propagates more easily,” says Dr Fazil Khodabacus, Community Physician at the infectious diseases department.

The influenza virus is transmitted through saliva droplets when one coughs or sneezes. It becomes the contamination source for others. In school, the virus propagates much more easily.

The treatment consists of taking medicines to soothe the body aches, says Dr Khodabacus. However, since influenza is viral, antibiotics have no effect on them, he adds. Thus, a patient should not take antibiotics without medical advice.

Bronchitis, otitis (earache) and pneumonia are among the main complications caused by influenza.  Babies, children, the elderly above 60, pregnant women, diabetics, asthmatics, cancer patients, HIV/AIDS infected persons and those having cardiac problems are more at risk of developing the complications.

Convulsions/spasms in children
Convulsions and spasms in children can be very dangerous. To prevent them, the best thing to do is to take all necessary precautions to bring down the body temperature.

When a child gets convulsion attacks, he has to lie down so as not hurt himself. It is recommended that the child is laid down on the side so that in case he vomits, he will not get suffocated. In most cases, the attack can last less than five minutes. It is important for the child not to ingest anything.
It is imperative to take him to the nearest health centre as he will need specific medicines to stop the convulsion. Parents are recommended to apply cold compresses on the child’s body instead of putting him directly in cold water.

Besides giving medicines, it is important to remove the child’s clothes to lower the temperature.

Prevention:
Dr Khodabocus advises these as preventive measures against flu:
• Covering the mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing
• Washing the hands regularly with soap and water
• Avoiding crowds so as to prevent the proliferation of the infection
• If the symptoms persist, seek medical help
By Premita LEELACHAND and Radha RENGASAMY-JEAN LOUIS

Rise in Child Obesity

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Rise in Child Obesity
Our children are more and more encountering weight problems and obesity, causing health authorities to worry. This is because obese children run the risk of developing non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases when they reach adult hood.
The National Nutrition Survey on child obesity and teenage obesity, carried out in 2004, showed that 7.7% children between five and 11 were heavy weight while 7.8% were obese. Between 12 to 19 years old, 8.4% were affected by heavy weight and 7.3% by obesity. Global Health Youth Survey, another study carried out in 2011 among teenagers between 13 to 15 years old, revealed that 20% were heavy weight and 5 to 6% were obese.

“Child Obesity is on the rise. The National Nutrition Survey 2012 will be published soon and we expect the figures will demonstrate an increase in child obesity,” predicts Shashi Joganah, chief nutritionist at the Ministry of Health.

However, unlike adults, it is difficult to determine whether a child is heavy weight or obese. “Obesity differs to child according to their sex. Each one has its own criteria. For each age group, there is a different interpretation of heavy weight and obesity while in adults the criteria are the same for both conditions,” points out Shashi Joganah.

The factors causing heavy weight and child obesity are: bad eating habits and a lack of physical activity. In other words, children are amassing calories without burning them, resulting in an excess of calories stored in the form of fats in children.

The Global Health Youth Survey 2011 also showed that 38% children between of 13 and 15 do not eat fruits; 39.7% drink fizzy drinks once or twice a day. Only 19.4% in this group of teenagers have a physical activity of one hour per day and 39.4% spend three hours and above in front of the television set or personal computer/laptop.

Good eating habits
A growing child has to have a good diet  rich in calcium, vitamins and minerals to favour a healthy growth. “On the other hand, they do not need food rich in sugar and pastries and which favours heavy weight and obesity,” says Shashi Joganah who underlines that often, being more practical, parents give their children burgers and sausages to eat.
She adds that the example should come from the parents. If the parents have good eating habits, their children will follow suit. Unfortunately, same goes for parents with nogood eating habits.

Haemorrhagic stroke : Mauritians at high risk

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Haemorrhagic stroke : Mauritians at high risk
Haemorrhagic stroke is very common in Mauritius, affecting more than 2,000 people. It involves bleeding within the brain which affects nearby brain tissues and can have damaging outcomes.
Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts inside the brain. Other brain cells in the area are starved of blood and damaged, causing partial paralysis of the body. The paralysis depends on the part of the brain which is affected, says Dr Harrish Reesaul, neurologist at Victoria Hospital: “The brain controls all the activities and movements of the body. It’s divided into two sides, or hemispheres, each controlling the opposite side of the body and different areas of activity. Thus, the effect of haemorrhagic stroke depends on the part of the brain which is affected. For instance, the person can lose his ability to speak, become confused or even have ingestion difficulties.”

The first signs of haemorrhagic stroke are: sudden numbness down one side of the body, severe headaches, sudden dizziness, loss of balance or co-ordination, trouble speaking or ability to understand what others are saying, or an alteration in speech, such as slurring words, and sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes among others. However, not everyone getting these symptoms are having haemorrhagic stroke, points out the neurologist.

Factors linked to the disease are numerous: age, sex (men being more at risk than women), ethnical background, hereditary, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, cigarette smoking and alcoholic drinking.

In Mauritius, 200 out of 100,000 people suffer from haemorrhagic stroke. Thus, more than 2,000 Mauritians suffer from this disease. “Haemorrhagic stroke can affect anyone at any age though it is more common among the elderly above 55. Young people who do not control their blood pressure or those who smoke a lot are also at risk,” adds Dr Reesaul.
Mauritians are more at risk due to a high rate of diabetes and high blood pressure. On top of that, the fact that Mauritians marry within the family increases the genetic factor linked to the disease. With all these causes, it is possible for a healthy person to be a victim of haemorrhagic stroke following a burst of an artery in the brain. Stress increases the risk of diabetes or high blood pressure patients. “It is thus important to have control over your stress,” recommends Dr Reesaul.

A victim of haemorrhagic stroke requires prompt medical attention else it can develop quickly into a life-threatening situation. “The main aim is to save the life of the person. If required, a surgery is done. For less serious cases, the blood pressure is lowered and appropriate medicines are given to limit the damage to the brain,” underlines Dr Reesaul, adding that the treatment is multifactorial. Once the patient is stabilised, he/she goes for reeducation (physiotherapy and physical therapy).

“Sometimes these treatments do not help patients, particularly if there was any delay in taking care of them. In these cases, the consequences are often irreversible and the patients need psychological support,” he says.

A person who experiences apnoea during sleep is at risk of developing haemorrhagic stroke. Apnoea during sleep involves a person not breathing for several minutes during his sleep. Usually, people who snore have the tendency to have apnoea during their sleep. Dr Reesaul explains that there exists a costly treatment for this phenomenon. A surgery can also be carried out but this service is not available at the hospital. However, he advises good sleep and relaxation to avoid this situation.

Contraceptive pill can be dangerous
Dr Reesaul highly discourages women above 35 years old to take contraceptive pills. They are more at risk of suffering from haemorrhagic stroke and this can accentuate if they smoke as well.

Egg allergies ‘treated with egg’
Omelettes, meringues and pasta could one-day be back on the menu for some people with egg allergies after they are treated with the very food they are allergic to, say US researchers. A study on 55 children showed some were able to eat egg after minuscule amounts were gradually added to their diets. However, the treatment is still experimental and doctors say it should not be tried at home.

The findings, presented in the New England Journal of Medicine, report that after 22 months of egg therapy, 75% of the children were able to eat the equivalent of two eggs without reacting. The children were tested again after at least a month of no longer having the daily egg treatment. Of these, 28% could still eat egg without reacting and were considered allergy-free.

Reducing salt ‘would cut cancer’
Cutting back on salty foods such as bacon, bread and breakfast cereals may reduce people’s risk of developing stomach cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). It wants people to eat less salt and for the content of food to be labelled more clearly. Too much salt is bad for blood pressure and can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it can also cause cancer. The recommended daily limit is 6g, about a level teaspoonful, but the World Cancer Research Fund said people were eating 8.6g a day.

Inactivity ‘killing as many as smoking’
A lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths as smoking across the world, a study suggests.
The report, published in the Lancet to coincide with the build-up to the Olympics, estimates that about a third of adults are not doing enough physical activity, causing 5.3m deaths a year. That equates to about one in 10 deaths from diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and breast and colon cancer. Researchers said the problem was now so bad it should be treated as a pandemic.

And they said tackling it required a new way of thinking, suggesting the public needed to be warned about the dangers of inactivity rather than just reminded of the benefits of being active.
It is recommended that adults do 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or gardening, each week.

Caption: Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection Viral Hepatitis : the silent disease

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Caption: Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection Viral Hepatitis : the silent disease
World Hepatitis Day was observed on July 28 to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes. In Mauritius, hepatitis C is the most common, followed by hepatitis B. According to estimates, 3% of the population are affected by hepatitis B and C.
Viral hepatitis – inflammation of the liver – is caused by four viruses: A, B, C and D. The last three viruses are responsible for the chronic nature of the disease.

“The figures are not exact as there may have been duplication of cases tested with the viral infection. What is certain is that hepatitis B and C affect 1% of the population,” says Dr Vikrant Sibartie, president of Hep Support, an association which helps patients affected by viral hepatitis.

The latter is a dangerous disease as it does not manifest any symptoms in most cases. It is a silent disease and often, it is only when complications occur that it is diagnosed. Only few lucky people present symptoms at the start of the disease: jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains.

“Others can live with the disease without any symptoms for 10 to 20 years. It is only after the outbreak of complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer that viral hepatitis is diagnosed. Unfortunately these complications are irreversible,” explains the gastroenterologist.

The modes of transmission of hepatitis viruses differ since each virus has its characteristics. For instance, hepatitis B is sexually transmitted or passed on in the blood. It is very widespread among intravenous drug users. Homosexuals are further exposed to contamination risks. From the mother to the child is another mode of transmission while hepatitis C is transmitted through blood.

“Hepatitis B is more common in Sino-Mauritians since the virus was introduced in Mauritius by their ancestors. It was then passed on from the mother to the child. Many Sino-Mauritians still carry the virus of hepatitis B. Fortunately newborn babies are vaccinated against the virus nowadays,” points out the doctor.

The treatment of hepatitis B and C are of medicinal nature. Hepatitis C is very costly and requires an injection one a week and a tablet to be taken daily over six months. The six-month treatment costs around Rs 300,000 and thus not all patients obtain treatment in the hospital. Around 30,000 Mauritians are affected by the hepatitis C but it is mainly those contaminated by blood transfusion before 1997 which are treated. Before 1997, blood pints at the Blood Bank were not tested for hepatitis C.

Dr Farouk Bholah – Gastritis – diet is not the main cause

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Dr Farouk Bholah – Gastritis – diet is not the main cause
Gastritis is one of the most common digestive problems in Mauritius. However, contrary to popular beliefs, diet is not the main cause; other factors also contribute to the disease.
Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach. It can occur suddenly (acute) or gradually (chronic). A tenth of patients go to hospital due to digestive problems, including gastritis, says Dr Farouk Bholah, Head of the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit at SSR Hospital, Pamplemousses.

The most common symptom is abdominal upset or pain. Other symptoms are indigestion, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Some may have a feeling of fullness or burning in the upper abdomen. A gastroscopy, blood test, complete blood count test, or a stool test may be used to diagnose gastritis.

Gastritis is caused by irritation due to the use of certain medications such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs, says Dr Bholah. Other causes include excessive alcohol consumption, chronic vomiting and stress. “Moreover, abusing on antibiotics increases the resistence of Helicobacter, a bacterium that lives in the mucous lining of the stomach.

Treatment
Nowadays, treatment for gastritis and ulcers are more efficient, affirms Dr Bholah. He points out that the medicines being more efficient, it is no more necessary to do surgery on a patient suffering from stomach ulcer.
However, Dr Bholah underlines that eating only boiled foods is not a solution. “One should eat normally while avoiding spicy foods and drinks having too much acid,” he adds.

Recommendation
Dr Bholah recommends a strict diet to prevent contamination from Helicobacter. This is why one should avoid buying food on streets. He discourages an abuse of alcohol and cigarettes.

Hyperactivity in children needs immediate treatment

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Hyperactivity in children needs immediate treatment
Lack of patience, impulsiveness, poor concentration, and learning difficulties are some signs that a child may be suffering from hyperactivity. If that’s the case, immediate treatment by experts is required.
A hyperactive child may also lose things and experience language problems, anxiety and even depression. These signs should prevail for more than six months for the child to be considered as hyperactive, points out Dr Vinita Poorun from the paediatric unit at SSR Hospital. She adds that this condition is considered as a disease which is diagnosed by specific tests.

Child psychologist Véronique Wan Hok Chee explains that a hyperactive child has excess energy and is never tired as well as mood swings. “The child is stressed and anxious whenever his parents ask him to sit down. He can then become aggressive. There is socialisation problem and the child is not able to play with his friends or make friends due to his unusual behaviour. The hyperactive child is often the leader who likes to impose himself on others. He is impatient and for example, he cannot wait for his turn to obtain something,” she elaborates.

The main factors linked to hyperactivity in children are: heredity, some chemical products like pesticides, some medicines which a mother takes during pregnancy or cigarette smoking. “A medical consultation is important to determine whether the child is hyperactive due to some diseases. For instance, hyperthyroid or hypothyroid can be the causes. The thyroid is the gland which controls growth and development in children and when affected, it can cause hyperactivity. Anaemia may be another cause as well and can also be associated with eyes and ears problems in the child,” says Dr Poorun.

She adds that there are certain medicines which can cause hyperactivity in children namely those for convulsions and epilepsy. In fact, she says that all medicines which have an effect on the brain can cause hyperactivity.
Similarly, diet can be responsible for hyperactivity in children: who eat too much sugary foods, food containing colouring and other chemical substance risk being hyperactive.

Dr Poorun says that nowadays parents are more conscious of the importance of health experts to help and provide support to their hyperactive child. Hyperactivity being a disease, it is treated by medicines which mostly help the child to calm down and concentrate on his studies.

These medicines should be taken continuously until they reach adult hood. However, these have side effects like psychosis and other psychiatric troubles. Nonetheless, she highly recommends these medicines for the treatment of a hyperactive child with a prior diagnosis being imperative.

Besides medical treatment, the child needs psychological treatment, underlines Dr Poorun. She also reassures that hyperactivity in children tends to decrease as the child grows up.

Rejected at school
A hyperactive child often disturbs the whole class. As a result, he is rejected by his classmates and even the teacher, remarks Véronique Wan. “He is put aside by the teacher since the latter cannot give him individual attention. In such cases, teachers hold the parents responsible though it concerns a neurobiological trouble which alters the child’s thinking and which requires treatment,” she said. The problem is that the child is not aware of the danger and does not realise the consequences of his behaviour. “A hyperactive child can even break everything on his way only to express his feelings,” adds Véronique Wan.

Immediate treatment
Véronique Wan deplores that there is no way to help parents of hyperactive children. “Unfortunately, hyperactive children do not get adequate support at school. A psychologist specialised in child psychopathology is important to follow these children,” she says. She suggests behaviour and cognitive therapies to help them and advises parents to tackle this problem as early as possible to avoid complications. Delay in the treatment may make it difficult for professionals to treat the child. Véronique Wan also believes that hyperactive children should be encouraged in taking up sports.

Family affected
When one of the children is hyperactive, the whole family may be affected. This is because the hyperactive child monopolises the parents’ attention and forcibly this affects the other siblings while parents are affected by the behaviour of the child.

Victims of child abuse
Sometimes, convinced that their child is indeed mischievous, parents become very punitive. However, the child needs to be understood by his parents and also needs support, says Véronique Wan, adding that punishing the child each and every time will not help but may on the other hand risk further disturbing him.

School performance
The psychologist notes that parents encourage their hyperactive child to play video games or watch television just to have some serenity. “This is unfortunately not of much help. On the contrary, his performance at school suffers. He will thus always be late compared to other children. Despite having a certain level of intelligence, the child cannot concentrate on his studies. This is why failure at school is common in hyperactive children.

Haemorrhoids: a real pain

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Haemorrhoids: a real pain
Haemorroid is a quite common disease in Mauritius, affecting both men and women equally. Though it is easily treated, an appropriate lifestyle is mandatory to prevent a recurrence of haemorrhoid.
Haemorrhoids can really make your life difficult. Also known as piles, haemorrhoids are swellings that develop from the lining of the anus and lower rectum. There is a network of small veins (blood vessels) within the inside lining of the anus and lower rectum. These veins sometimes become wider and engorged with more blood than usual.

However, sometimes these veins can become permanently dilated.  These engorged veins and the overlying tissue may then form into one or more small swellings called haemorrhoids, explains Dr Jayprakash Gopal, surgeon at Rose Belle Hospital.

He underlines that there are several types of the disease and can be either internal or external. The disease are categorised in four degrees of severity.

Burning sensations at the level of the anus, bleedings, pains while passing stools, mucous discharge around the anus are among the main symptoms of haemorrhoid while the causes of haemorrhoids are multiple: a spicy diet, being seated for long hours, chronic constipation, stress, pregnancy and child delivery.

“A woman who has a normal delivery is at risk of developing haemorrhoid due to the effort put during the delivery. Truck drivers and taxi drivers, workers who work sitting for long hours in the office among others, are more at risk of developing the disease. Due to the nature of their job, they are compelled to sit for long hours and this favours a bad blood circulation in the lower parts of the body including the anus and the rectum,” explains Dr Gopal.

A bad diet can also cause haemorrhoid: spicy foods, fast-foods and food poor in fibre. Obesity is another risk factor since the blood circulation in obese persons is poor. “Lifting heavy weights too often can also be a risk factor. Those affected by haemorrhoid and whose job requires lifting heavy weights should envisage looking for another job. Else, they risk a recurrence of the disease,” warns the doctor.

Sexual activity is yet another factor associated with haemorrhoid. Anal sexual practice favours haemorrhoid since the anus is irritated and increases the risks of infection and inflammation and as long as the person continues with this practice, his haemorrhoid will become chronic.

“All these factors explain why haemorrhoid is quite common in Mauritius. One Mauritian out of three is affected by haemorrhoid but those aged above 50 are the ones who are more affected,” points out the doctor.

Heredity can also be a risk factor, some doctors believe. However, it has not been scientifically proven yet.

Treatment
It is important to seek medical treatment as soon as the first symptoms of haemorrhoid appear, advises Dr Gopal. He explains that the diagnostic is carried out by either rectal touch or proctoscopy. The first one consists of taking medicines specific to the disease. If these do not work, a surgery is carried out to take out the veins at the level of the haemorrhoid. “The anal region must also be clean. The patient is advised to take regular baths and to properly clean it after passing stools. However, the person should not use scented toilet papers since the alcohol present in the papers can further irritate the anus,” underscores Dr Gopal.

Complications and recurrence
The main complication with haemorrhoid is the formation of thrombosis within the haemorrhoid which is more painful. In such cases, the only solution is surgery. “The patients should follow the advice of the doctor to avoid recurrence. They should also change their lifestyle as a preventive measure,” says Dr Gopal.

Physical activity important
Dr Gopal stresses the need for daily physical activity as a preventive measure against haemorrhoid. Physical activity improves blood circulation.

Preventive measures
Dr Gopal outlines several preventive measures of haemorrhoids. He recommends wearing underwears which are made of cotton to avoid irritating the anus.
• Avoid spicy foods
• Drink coffee with moderation
• Comsume more fruits and vegetables and cereals which are rich in fibre
• To go to the toilet whenever the urge is there
• Drinking lots of water
• Taking time to eat at breakfast
• Avoid laxatives
• Avoid constipation and straining in the toilet
• Those suffering from haemorrhoid should take regular permanganate baths
• Those suffering from constipation should seek medical advice

Severity of haemorrhoid
Haemorrhoid’s severity and size are classified into grades 1 to 4:

• Grade 1 are small swellings on the inside lining of the back passage. They cannot be seen or felt from outside the anus. Grade 1 haemorrhoids are common. In some people they enlarge further to grade 2 or more.

• Grade 2 are larger. They may be partly pushed out (prolapse) from the anus when you go to the toilet, but quickly spring back inside again.

• Grade 3 hang out (prolapse) from the anus. You may feel one or more as small, soft lumps that hang from the anus. However, you can push them back inside the anus with a finger.

• Grade 4 permanently hang down from within the anus, and you cannot push them back inside. They sometimes become quite large.

Alcoholism: a disease which is gaining groud

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Alcoholism: a disease which is gaining groud
Alcoholism is becoming a great health concern in Mauritius. More and more people are falling into alcoholism, including women and youngsters. It is a disease that requires treatment and the Ministry of Health is working on a strategy to combat this scourge.
The number of alcoholics in Mauritius continues to rise. Alcoholism is affecting people in all spheres of life and is causing health, mental and social problems. Dr Vasantrao Gujadhur, Community Physician at the Ministry of Health, says that a person is considered to be alcoholic when he is found to be completely dependent on alcohol. “He has to drink several times during the day to be able to perform his daily routine. He does not feel well without his usual dosage of alcohol and show withdrawal symptoms like shivering, a state of confusion and memory problems,” he explains.

According to the Ministry of Health, 58% of men and 29% of women were consuming alcohol in 2004. In 2009, the figures have gone up, with 65% men and 38% women drinking. An increase has also been noted among youngsters. A study conducted by the Global Based Student Health Survey from 2007 to 2011 shows that the figures have increased from 20.8% to 25.2%.

“It is disturbing to see youngsters falling prey to alcoholism. Being young, they are more vulnerable and consequently, they are more exposed to health problems along with a higher risk of dependency,” adds the doctor.

Change in behaviour
“Alcohol has a direct impact on the brain. It alters the behaviour of the person. For instance, an alcoholic can become aggressive or, on the contrary, isolate himself. An alcoholic is often at risk of having hallucinations which may cause him to fight with his close ones. Moreover, he will often absent himself from work since his priority will be alcohol. He will also be subject to financial problems since most of his money will be spent on alcohol. In young alcoholics, a decline in his school performance can be noted. He will also tend to isolate himself,” remarks Dr Gujadhur.

Treatment
An array of treatment is offered by the health service to alcoholics: pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and counselling. Treatments which were only available at Brown Sequard Hospital have now been decentralised, including a detox centre at Flacq Hospital.

Psychiatrists, psychologists and doctors are put at their disposal in all hospitals to take care of them. Afterwards, they are taken care of by NGOs which support them and rehabilitate them.
At Brown Séquard Hospital two wards are reserved for alcoholics in need of detoxification. In 2009, it admitted 2,200 patients for alcohol treatment, that is, more than 50% of the patients admitted to the hospital.

In other hospitals, complications due to alcohol such as gastritis and hepatitis are also increasing. In 2010, 6,884 people were admitted due to complications of alcohol drinking.

Alcoholism and women
Alcoholics are often stigmatised in society and women alcoholics further, says Anabelle Beeharry from Etoile d’Espérance. “Alcoholic women are often judged and condemned by her surroundings and this hinders her treatment. People should understand that these persons are in despair and they need help. There is no use of adding to that by stigmatising them. On the contrary, we should offer them a helping hand,” she insists.

Étoile d’Espérance is an NGO founded in 1997 which supports women alcoholics, especially during their rehabilitation. The centre offers three services: Day care from 9am to 3pm, residential and aftercare. This allows their rehabilitation within their family and society after their treatment. Women who work can also go there for counselling sessions.

Situated at Moka, it offers free services. A counsellor from the NGO is available every day at Brown Sequard Hospital from 9am to noon and is also accessible on 433 4229.

According to Dr Gujadhur, women being financially more independent can more easily have access to alcohol. Women, he says, look for some consolation in alcohol when they are victims of infidelity of their husbands. “What is worrying is the fact that, contrary to men, women prefer drinking alone. Moreover, they run a higher risk of dependency on alcohol than men due to their physical constitution,” he explains.

Complications due to alcohol
Alcoholism causes other health problems: high blood pressure, heart problems (heart disorder), liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, inflammation of the intestine, diabetes, Fœtal Alcohol Syndrome in pregnant women where the baby runs greater risks of malformations. Dr Gujadhur warns people suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes against the risk of complications due to alcohol abuse.

Police intervention
Police can be sollicited by relatives of an alcoholic if the latter shows signs of aggressiveness,” underlines Dr Gujadhur. “If an alcoholic becomes violent, he represents a threat to others and in such cases, we have to call the police to bring him by force to hospital for a detoxification session.”  As for alcoholics found lying on the road, the doctor stresses that passers-by should bring him to the hospital. “We should not forget that alcoholism is first and foremost a disease which requires treatment. Hence, we should keep our judgment to ourselves and restrain from condemning them,” he insists.

Review of protocol
The Ministry of Health is currently reviewing everything as far as medical treatment and support to alcoholics is concerned. The hospitalisation protocol of these persons will also be reviewed, says Dr Gujadhur.

Preventing hair loss

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Preventing hair loss
Hair loss, both in men and women, has a psychological traumatic effect on the person. The hair adorns the face and beautiful hair is a sign of a healthy person. However, finding your pillow or hairbrush full of hair can be very disturbing. Here are some measures to prevent hair loss.
“No need to panic if you have more hair loss than usual; this can in fact be something quite normal. We lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day. It is thus logical to find hair here and there around you. Daily hair loss depends on the age, nature of the hair, as well as external factors like seasons. It is also normal to lose hair during hormonal changes like during the end of pregnancy and menopause,” explains Shakoontala Koolwont, beautician naturopath and director of Natural Heaven.

Just like other parts of the body, the hair also needs vitamins which will work on the keratin to make them stronger, says Shakoontala Koolwant, adding: “use specific treatments and avoid shampoos which are too aggressive on your hair as well as hair dyes.” Moreover, a healthy lifestyle should be adopted. “A balanced diet to avoid deficiency, remaining hydrated to help the body to eliminate toxins, practising a sport to remove stress…all these are beneficial and prevent hair loss,” points out the naturopath.

Daily habits
The scalp is regularly exposed to the sun, wind, among others. In summer, it is good to wash your hair regularly with warm water while using a shampoo, with less than four shampoos per week. Be careful when using the hair dryer and avoid using on maximum.

Protect your hair with treatments for drying your hair. Do not pull on your hair while combing them and avoid using hairbands too often. A massage of the scalp will accelerate hair growth.

Causes of hair loss
Stress influences your organism, including your hair. Several months after a period of heavy stress, hair loss becomes more significant than usual. Often during the stress period, your hair stops to grow and this is why some months later, a consequent loss of hair is noted. Growth of hair is also affected by a deficiency in iron or vitamins.

If ever you notice heavy hair loss, you may consult a doctor to verify whether you have any deficiency. Some medication has side effects which include hair loss risk. Also, hair loss can often be hereditary.

Beer-glass shape alters drinking speed
The shape of your glass is probably the last thing on your mind when you are down the pub. However, researchers at the University of Bristol believe at shape of beer glasses affects the speed people drink.
Their study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, suggests people drink more quickly out of curved glasses than straight ones.

They argue that the curvy glassware makes pacing yourself a much greater challenge since judging how much was in the glass became more difficult owing to its curved shape.
A group of 159 men and women were filmed drinking either soft drinks or beer as part of the study. The glasses all contained around half a pint of liquid, but some of the glasses were straight while others were very curved. There was no difference in the drinking time for soft drinks. People drinking from both straight and curved glasses finished after around seven minutes.

However, for the beer drinkers there was a big difference between the two groups. While it took around seven minutes for people drinking from a curved glass to polish off their half pint, it took 11 minutes for those drinking from a straight glass. The lead researcher Dr Angela Attwood said: “They are unable to judge how quickly they are drinking so cannot pace themselves.”
She suggested that people were not concerned about pacing themselves with soft drinks, which could explain why glass shape had no effect on them.

Methadone: A substitution, or a rehab

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Methadone: A substitution, or a rehab
Since November 2006, the Government initiated a Methadone Substitution Therapy (MST) as well as a Needle Exchange Programme for drug addicts. Methadone as a substitute for drug was the topic discussed by the guests of Xplik ou K Santé, hosted by Gilbert Bablee on Radio Plus last week.

Bariatric surgery : a new treatment for type 2 diabetes

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Bariatric surgery : a new treatment for type 2 diabetes
Only recently, Clinique du Nord has started offering bariatric surgery to diabetes patients. This treatment is thought to treat them from diabetes. However, this is causing much ruffle within the medical profession.

Alzheimer’s – Keep your brain active

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Alzheimer’s – Keep your brain active
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and, in Mauritius more than 6,000 people are affected by this brain disease. The ageing population is responsible for the increasing cases of Alzheimer’s. The best prevention, says Dr Vinod Ramkoosulsingh, is to always keep the brain active.

Preventing cardiovascular diseases

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Preventing cardiovascular diseases
Last Saturday was marked by the World Heart Day when emphasis was laid on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This non-communicable disease is among the first death causes in Mauritius and includes all diseases related to the heart: blood circulation, coronary disease, stroke, heart attack and others.

The Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved Hospital

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The Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved Hospital
For this special issue of News on Sunday, our weekly rendez-vous is scheduled at the Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved Hospital situated at Calebasses.

Autism a mysterious handicap

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Autism a mysterious handicap
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterised by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and reputitive behaviour. Around 60 million children suffer from this disorder worldwide. In Mauritius, a lack of adequate support for people with autism is deplored. Explik U K Santé on Radio Plus shed…

Watch out for dental abscess !

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Watch out for dental abscess !
A dental abscess is a collection of pus that forms in your teeth or gums as a result of a bacterial infection. More about this with Dr Krish Surnam, dental surgeon.

Health care of the eyes

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Health care of the eyes
Eye diseases are numerous and in many cases, they can have serious consequences.  It is therefore important to detect/identify them quickly.

Food - Beware of festive periods

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Food - Beware of festive periods
Festivities mean food for most of us! 'Fast-Food,' barbecue, rich meals, among others, will top the festivities menu.
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