Q&A On Swine Flu by BBC

SWINE FLU - THE BASICS

- Symptoms usually similar to seasonal flu - but deaths recorded in Mexico

- It is a new version of the H1N1 strain which caused the 1918 flu pandemic

- Too early to say whether it will lead to a pandemic

- Current treatments do work, but there is no vaccine

- Good personal hygiene, such as washing hands, covering nose when sneezing advised


How dangerous is it?
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.
It is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health: each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

So far, most cases of swine flu around the world appear to be mild, albeit with diarrhoea more common than is found with seasonal flu.

But lives have been lost in Mexico, and a single death - of a Mexican child - has been confirmed in the US.


WHO Pandemic Alert Phases

Phase 1: No infections in humans are being caused by viruses circulating in animals.

Phase 2: Animal flu virus causes infection in humans, and is a potential pandemic threat.

Phase 3: Flu causes sporadic cases in people, but no significant human-to-human transmission.

Phase 4: Human-to-human transmission and community-level outbreaks.

Phase 5: Human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. Strong signal pandemic imminent.

Phase 6: Virus spreads to another country in a different region. Global pandemic under way.

Post-peak: Pandemic activity appears to be decreasing though second wave possible.

Post-pandemic: activity returns to normal, seasonal flu levels.

For full article, please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8021958.stm

Google Maps Track Swine Flu

Found this in one of the twitter feeds I'm following on Swine Flu.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&source=embed

updated: new tracker at: http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

Developments On Swine Flu Worldwide from Associated Press on 28 Apr 2009
Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:

-Deaths: 152, all in Mexico, 20 confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected.

-Sickened: 1,995 people in Mexico got pneumonia but swine flu not yet confirmed. 51 confirmed in U.S., including 28 at one New York City school.

- Elsewhere, six confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland and seven suspected; 11 confirmed and 43 suspected in New Zealand; two confirmed and 25 suspected in Spain; two confirmed in Israel; one suspected in South Korea; one suspected in France; 13 being tested in Sweden; 12 being tested in Denmark; five awaiting test results in Norway.

-Worldwide: WHO raises alert to Phase 4 of 6, noting disease spreads easily but isn't pandemic.

http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/766146.html

Juggling & Brain Growth

This is a hobby I picked up about 9 months ago which I use now and then to destress.

Sometimes when I hit a road-block at brainstorms or when I'm cracking my head for solutions, I take a break and juggle away for a few minutes. A sense of release eases through my muscles and head. When I put my mind back to the solution later I'm sometimes surprised by different perspectives and ideas that come forth.

A 2004 report from the University of Regensburg in Germany found that learning to juggle causes certain areas of your brain to grow. So far it seems to be the only form of activity that causes brain growth.

The researchers discovered that absolute newcomers to juggling who juggled over a period of three months increased their gray matter in areas associated with visual motion.

The experiment's human test subjects' brains returned to their original size when they stopped juggling. 'The brain is like a muscle, we need to exercise it," said Dr Arne May.

"Our results contradict the traditionally held view that the anatomical structure of the adult human brain does not alter, except for changes in morphology caused by ageing or pathological conditions," their study says.

So for those who worry about decreasing brain matter as we age, here's something to try out.

http://learnhowtojuggle.info/

Reference and more information:
Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U. and May A. Neuroplasticity: changes in grey matter induced by training. Nature, 427:311-312, 2004.

Quitting Smoking

After 17 years of smoking, I managed to quit in Sept 2007 (one and a half years now).

I keep getting asked how I've stayed off cigarettes so long so I'm writing this to share with all those who are trying to quit as well.

During those years puffing away on cigarettes, I had tried several times to stop. Most attempts lasted a few months and I'd usually pick up a cigarette again when I encountered stress, was out drinking or got emotional.

On my last attempt, I was struggling with the urge to smoke quite a bit when a close friend told me not to quit using the will power method as that was very likely to fail. Statistically, with no programme at all, 95% of quitters fail, and only 5% succeed*.

So it's wise to get help. Whether in the form of a book or a programme.

These books & programmes help us to learn to be smoke free. After years of thinking we need to smoke and being conditioned to want to smoke at specific situations, like after a meal, learning to be smoke free is often necessary in order to successfully quit.

What worked for me was the book by Allen Carr entitled The Easyway To Stop Smoking

Some quitters have opted for medication and the reported initial success rate is 36% upon completion of therapy. A follow-up study showed a 30% success rate, after one year*.

With Nicotine Replacement Therapy the initial success rate is less -- 23%, and only 15% after one year*.

When medication and NRT is used in combination under a physician's care, the success rate was 39%, and 35.5% at one year. This study was published in the NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE in March, 1999.

Getting help to quit is key to successfully being smoke free.

As this blog puts it: "There is a difference between just trying to abandon smoking and learning how to quit smoking."

See: http://www.easyquitsystem.com/blog/quit-smoking-cold-turkey-success-rates/

So if you're thinking of quitting, try the book first to find out how to live life smoke free and release yourself from dependence on cigarettes.

Speak to your doctor or healthcare professional if that doesn't work.



More info:
Allen Carr's Easyway To Stop Smoking
Priced at RM49.50 at Kinokuniya Malaysia
Priced at $26.70 at Kinokuniya Singapore
Quitting Champ

* source http://www.tobaccofree.org/quitlinks.htm

Poll #1 : What's the best way to remind you to go to the doctor for your next appointment?

Was doing a poll for work and this was the response:

What's the best way to remind you to go to the doctor for your next appointment?
- SMS reminder from the clinic 41 (82%)
- Phone call reminder 10 (20%)
- Email / Calendar Note 9 (18%)
- Give you a sticker which you can paste in your diary 4 (8%)
- Written in a Clinic Appointment Card 6 (12%)

Number of responses: 50

Thanks to all who submitted a response.

WHO World Malaria Day - 25 April 2009

Malaria continues to haunt 40% of the world's population. It infects more than 500 million people per year and kills more than 1 million. The burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa but the disease also afflicts Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and even parts of Europe.

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.

Key interventions to control malaria include: prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes.

Power Over Cervical Cancer Campaign (Singapore)

Just launched a campaign in Singapore to help raise awareness about Cervical Cancer with a NGO. Society for Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology of Singapore



Visit www.sccps.org or www.pocc.sg to find out more

You can also take the Cervical Cancer Risk Test at the website.

There's also a hotline you can call to talk to nurses to find out more about Cervical Cancer on Mondays - Fridays, 9.30 - 5.00pm.

Singapore Toll Free Hotline is: 1 800 762 7622

Follow Your Dream No Matter How Old You Are

I'm reminded that you're never too old to try something you've always been dreaming of as I watch 47 Year old Susan Boyle wow the judges with her performance in the auditions of Britain's Got Talent.

Watching the first minute when everyone was laughing at her, you are later reminded after her moving performance not to be so cynical and to be more open to being surprised in life. One should never be afraid to follow your heart.

Lowering Metabolism with Age

I was super active until 2 years ago when work demands kept me away from the gym and laziness also got the better of me.

Over time, several things prompted me to think that maybe my metabolic rate was slowing down. I was eating less food and feeling full faster. Regular snacking or suppers was starting to show up rather quickly. I didn't feel as energetic as previously but kept thinking I'd swing back into high gear once I hit the gym again. The gym was always next week or the next week.

A friend of mine who's doing some research & a study on Asian on metabolic rates for a health conference started chatting about his work and this is what I found out to my dismay!

- 60% of one's resting metabolic rate is determined by one's organs, not muscles
- when the trainers tell people to pack on more muscles so that the metabolic rate will go up and they can burn more and lose weight, it's all hogwash
- you can't exactly increase your basal metabolic rate
- it declines with age
- regular exercise maintains it

A lower metabolic rate means its easier to put on weight and you can become lethargic.

The weight part I understand but the lethargic part got me worried. There are still quite a few things I want to do like the Great Wall Of China and camper-vanning through New Zealand and they require an energetic and active state of being.

Argh! Now I'm on a mission to keep active regularly so I don't become used taking things easy, becoming lethargic and eventually a couch potatoe.

He did say that there is some new research to suggest that if it's vigorous exercise, it may be able to increase the metabolic rate.

So I'm putting my bets on vigorous exercise.

Ok. Maybe not that vigorous. But at least getting more exercise regularly.

This blog is inspired from this drive to keep myself healthy thus the name haleness.