Quick Facts on MENINGOCOCCAL-A VACCINE: PART 2

The previous blog post on the Menningococcal A Vaccince was a concise summary of the disease it protects against, which is the Menningococcal Disease.

Mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, and complications of this diseases were highlighted including preventive tips.

Click here to read previousblog-Part-1

https://sightmedical.blogspot.com/2020/01/quick-facts-on-meningococcal-vaccine.html?m=1

Furthermore, there are essential information to be aware of which are stated in this blog post. In summary, it includes reactions to the Vaccince and key messages that parents/caregivers ought to be aware of.

Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI)

This refers to any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine.

Types of AEFIs include;

1) NONSERIOUS AEFI: This type of AEFI is a reaction that is not serious. It usually causes mild fever of about 38°C, Soreness and pain at injection site.

Nonserious AEFI associated with Menningococcal A Vaccine includes; Fever, Headache, Pruritus, Rashes, Urticaria, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Irritability, Persistent cry and Loss of appetite.

2) SERIOUS AEFI: It is life threatening, can cause congenital abnormalities, birth defect and death . Serious AEFI due to Men A Vaccination is extremely rare, it includes;

 Hospitalization or prolonging of existing hospitalization e.g. seizure.

 Persistent or significant disability e.g. paralysis

 Convulsion

 Syncope (Fainting)

Dizziness

 Anaphylaxis

Key Messages to Parents/Caregiver

Regarding Immunization, as a parent/caregiver irrespective of gender, one should be able to;

1) Know the following about the vaccine about to be administered to your child:

 Name of the vaccine
 Site of administration
 Mode of action
 Next appointment ( where necessary)
 Side effect of the vaccine

2) Come with the immunization card every immunization day for proper documentation of vaccines and next appointment.

3) Ensure the immunization cards are kept from oil stains and water, it was be kept intact and dry.

4) When your child is immunized, check if the health worker indicated the date it was given beside the vaccine on the immunization card.

5) If the place of vaccination is a mobile clinic or your child was immunized in a campaign programme, ensure to ask about the venue of next appointment.

6) After immunization, if there is any bleeding, you will be given a cotton wool by the health provider to press the site. DO NOT RUB

This is to prevent rapid absorption of the vaccine into the body which cancels the good effect of the immunization.

7) Parents and caregivers are to wait at least 10minutes to ensure there is no reaction after vaccination.

8) Immunization is very important and necessary for children in order to prevent them from catstrophic diseases.

9) It is important to have a thermometer in order to monitor the temperature of one’s child after Immunization.

Questions and comments are welcome on SightMedical Blog

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Why Do My Breasts Sag

Why Do My Breasts Sag

The erroneous belief, especially among young people today, is that a woman’s breasts will sag if she has lots of sexual encounters and they are usually shamed one way or the other, THIS IS NOT TRUE.

Here’s why:

Breasts contain mainly fat, glands that produce milk, and Cooper ligaments

It is commonly thought that these ligaments are what give support to these breasts making them firm and supple and giving them their shape

However, with age, these ligaments become lax and breasts fall


There are major things that make would make a woman’s breasts sag

Cigarette smoking(Shisha): Smoking breaks down elastin in the skin which can invariably cause breasts to fall
The more pregnancies a woman has, the more chances that her breasts are going to fall.

Large breasts: it is common sense that large structures need more support, the larger your breasts are the more support they would need.

So naturally, they would sag because of their weight

Gravity: Gravity plays a large role.

Higher body mass index: remember that breasts are largely composed of fat>more BMI, more fat>more weight >sag

Significant weight gain or loss(23 kg) If you lose a lot of weight too soon, without giving your body time to adjust, breasts may sag because you have extra skin

Age: as a woman gets older the ligaments weaken, hence, breasts will sag.

Breastfeeding will NOT make your breast fall!

Genetics: These play a huge role, but we do not understand yet fully how they influence the shape and size of the breasts

Also, there is no evidence that wearing A bra will affect the sagging of your breasts,

A BRA WILL ONLY CHANGE THE SHAPE OF YOUR BREAST WHEN IT IS WORN.

Exercise will NOT improve the shape of your breasts, they contain fat, not muscle.

Vit C helps in connective tissue, may help minimally, but there is no evidence that this works in breast shape.

For a more permanent if you’re uncomfortable with the way they look: you can go for a breast lift called a mastopexy

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Dangers of Cotton Buds on the Ears

Dangers of Cotton Buds on the Ears

What is a Cotton Bud?

A cotton bud is a small stick with a ball of cotton wool at each end, which people use, for example, for applying make-up. It is often used to remove wax from the ears.

Cerumen a.k.a. ear wax is an orange or yellowish waxy substance produced by special cells in the skin of the outer ear canal. It is often perceived as dirt as it looks irritating when it becomes visible outside the entrance of the ear.

The cerumen is actually beneficial to health as it;
• Assists in cleaning the ears.
• Provides lubrication to prevent the skin in the ear from drying out.
• Protects the ear against bacteria, fungi, dusts, insects and water.

Normally, the movement of the jaw during speaking and eating helps to push earwax along the ear canal to its entrance. Here the wax dries into small pieces or flakes, which are shed. Usually, the wax accumulates a bit, dries out, and then comes out of the ear, carrying dirt and dust with it or it may slowly migrate to the outside where it can be wiped of using a clean soft material. The ear canal itself should be left alone.

Reasons you should not use cotton bud

• It is not safe; Although the cotton bud has some level of advantages over sharp objects that could rupture the eardrum such as biro covers, feathers, nails, keys, fingers etc., it is not safe. Attempts to clean the ear with cotton bud merely push the wax deeper into the ear canal, causing a blockage.
• Substandard Packaging; The problem with cotton bud is that it is usually not made according to recommended standards. In other words, it is substandard and in the process of using it to clean the canal, the cotton drops into the ear, thereby creating problems.
• Exposure; The cotton bud is also exposed to all kinds of dirt, weather and unhygienic situations that could cause infections to the ear. As a result, it is advised that it should be stopped.

New method of ear-cleaning
• To clean the ear, experts say, wash the external ear with a cloth, but do not insert anything into the ear canal.
• Irrigation or ear syringing is commonly used for cleaning and can be performed by a physician or at home using a commercially available irrigation kit. Common solutions used for syringing include water and saline, which should be warmed to body temperature to prevent dizziness.
• Manual removal of earwax is also effective. This is most often performed by an otolaryngologist using suction or special miniature instruments, and a microscope to magnify the ear canal. Manual removal is preferred if your ear canal is narrow, the eardrum has a perforation or tube, other methods have failed, or if you have skin problems affecting the ear canal, diabetes or a weakened immune system.

When to see a doctor

• If wax has accumulated so much that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing), a physician may prescribe eardrops designed to soften wax, or he/she may wash or vacuum it out. Occasionally, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) may need to remove the wax under microscopic visualization.
• If there is a possibility of a perforation in the eardrum, consult a physician prior to trying any over-the-counter remedies. Putting eardrops or other products in the ear with the presence of an eardrum perforation may cause pain or an infection. Certainly, washing water through such a hole could start an infection.

Preventing excessive earwax
There are no proven ways to prevent cerumen impaction, but not inserting cotton-tipped swabs or other objects in the ear canal is strongly advised. If you are prone to repeated wax impaction or use hearing aids, consider seeing your doctor every 6 to 12 months for a check-up and routine preventive cleaning.

References
• http://www.owlcation.com
• http://www.wikpedia.com
• http://www.vanguardngr.com

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MEASLES (RUBEOLA)

    MEASLES (RUBEOLA)

 Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that is transmitted through air droplets of other humans. Although it affects both adults and children, it is more common in children. Despite the availability of vaccination and the vast reduction in the number of casualties, according to the WHO, about 7 million people were affected by measles and about 90,000 deaths were recorded. It has severe complications e.g. encephalitis, acute immunosuppression predisposing the patient to pneumonia.
  A picture of a child suffering from measles.


 RISK FACTORS

   -Immunodeficiency states e.g. HIV/AIDS, leukemia, steroid therapy

          -Travel to measles-endemic areas or contact with travellers to endemic areas.

          -Lack of immunization

Severe measles infection can occur in the presence of:

-Malnutrition

-Pregnancy

-Immunodeficiency

-Vitamin A deficiency

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

These typically present about 7-14 days after exposure to the causative organism. High-grade fever >40 degrees Celsius lasting 4-7 days is usually experienced first. Patients also experience malaise, loss of appetite and classically, a triad of cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis. ‘Koplik’s spots’- tiny, white spots- may also appear in the mouth and last 3-5 days followed by rashes on the face, neck and behind the ears. Measles, when uncomplicated, usually last 7-10 days before resolution. Immunocompetent individuals develop lifelong immunity after exposure.

DIAGNOSIS

This is usually made clinically, however, laboratory confirmation is needed for epidemiology purposes. Tests that can be done include:

–Serologic testing for measles-specific IgM or IgG titers

-Isolation of the virus (viral culture)

-Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) evaluation

TREATMENT

Treatment mainly is supportive and involves:

          – Adequate (re)hydration and replacement of electrolytes lost to diarrhea or vomiting

          -Vitamin A supplementation

Sources: Medscape, CDC, WHO

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MENINGITIS -- KEEPING YOURSELF SAFE DURING THE MENINGITIS OUTBREAK

You must have heard or read a thing or two about the meningitis outbreak on-going in the country now. If you have, here’s further information on how to keep safe, along with your team. If you haven’t, here’s another chance.

Meningitis outbreaks are not new, especially in Nigeria. However, they have been limited to particular regions, referred to as the Meningitis Belt. This belt covers majorly the North West and North Central regions of Nigeria and involves the following states: Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Nassarawa, Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, Kano,

In this outbreak, even though cases are more concentrated in these states, there have been more instances of sporadic cases in other parts than usual like Lagos, Osun, Cross Rivers and Plateau.

Another difference this outbreak has from the others is the strain of the causative organism, which is Neisseria Meningitides, a bacterium. Usually, the strain seen is the type A, for which vaccines were developed, but the strain affecting victims is the type C of the bacteria. Nigerians have not been previously vaccinated against this. So, combating this outbreak has been like starting the battle with meningitis for the first time.

You still don’t know what meningitis is?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. The meninges are the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can occur when fluid surrounding the meninges becomes infected. Now infection can be of bacterial or viral origin. These are the most common causes as well as the most contagious. 

Less common causes of meningitis are: cancer, chemical irritation, fungi, and drug allergies.

What we are talking about here though is the bacterial meningitis as that’s the cause of this outbreak.

The common culprits are Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is typically found in the respiratory tract, sinuses, and nasal cavity and can cause what’s called “pneumococcal meningitis”, Haemophilus influenza, which can cause not only meningitis but infection of the blood, inflammation of the windpipe, cellulitis, and infectious arthritis, Listeria monocytogenes, which is a foodborne bacteria and the guilty one in this instance, Neisseria meningitidis, which is spread through saliva and other respiratory fluids and causes what’s called “meningococcal meningitis”

Learn to recognise the symptoms.

These symptoms develop suddenly. They may include: altered mental status, nausea, vomiting, a sensitivity to light, irritability, a headache, a fever, a stiff neck.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms. Bacterial meningitis can be deadly. There’s no way to know if you have bacterial or viral meningitis just by judging how you feel. Your doctor will need to perform tests to determine which type you have. Scary complications that can arise from a meningococcal infection are seizures, hearing loss, brain damage, hydrocephalus, a subdural effusion, or a buildup of fluid between the brain and the skull.

How is Meningitis treated?

Bacterial meningitis requires immediate hospitalization. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent brain damage and death. Bacterial meningitis is treated with intravenous antibiotics. There’s no specific antibiotic for bacterial meningitis. It depends on the bacteria involved.

How contagious is meningitis? Very.

What puts you at risk for meningitis?

Meningitis is easily spread when people live in close quarters. Small spaces increase chances of exposure. These kinds of places are boarding schools, daycare centres, co-working spaces, barracks, and college dormitories.

Any immune deficiency makes you more vulnerable to infections that cause meningitis. This can be as a result of auto-immune disorders, chemotherapy, and organ or bone transplants, HIV or AIDS.

All ages are at risk for meningitis. However, certain age groups have a higher risk. Children under the age of 5 are at increased risk of viral meningitis. Infants are at higher risk of bacterial meningitis. This outbreak however has affected mostly the age group 5-14 years.

How to prevent?

Carriers can infect other people through activities like: open-mouthed kissing, sharing food or utensils, coughing, sneezing. Avoid close proximity with carriers

 Avoid sharing any items that may contain saliva as well

Get vaccinated!

Due to the severity of the sepsis that results, ICU care is required for many of the patients to survive. This level of care is not readily available in all areas of Nigeria especially in the regions where the outbreak is most prevalent.

Air ambulances would be very useful for transferring patients with meningococcal sepsis for ICU care in centres in cities where ICU care is readily available, in Nigeria and Africa, saving countless lives in the process.

Reference: WHO Meningitis Factsheet

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What is MCT Oil

If you like following health journals or you read a lot of articles on how to improve your health then you may have already encountered MCT oil. But do you really know what it is?

What is MCT oil?

MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which consist of medium-chain fatty acids. This basically means that in terms of chemical structure, its fats that make up the strings of carbon and hydrogen are only “medium” in length. Short-chain fats have less than six carbons in its strings, while long-chain fats have 13 to 21 – medium-chain fatty acids are right smack in the middle with 6 to 12 carbons in its strings.

There are three separate fatty acids that are identified as MCT. You have C6:0 or Caproic Acid, C8:0 or Caprylic Acid, and C10:0 or Capric Acid – all of these you can find in coconut oil.

Caproic Acid; while there’s not enough of it in coconut oil, is known for quickly converting into ketones (the result of the body burning fat for energy) and not turning into stored fat. C6 tastes bad and usually causes an upset stomach.

Caprylic Acid, a.k.a. Brain Octane is known for having powerful anti-microbial properties that can help the body maintain a healthy gut (which is a must in boosting the immune system), and support mood and mental health. Studies have also proven that Brain Octane is exceptionally effective in curbing cravings and this is why a lot of weight management products on the market these days feature C8 in their list of “super” ingredients.

As for Capric Acid, it’s not as high performing as Caprylic Acid – it’s definitely slower in terms of converting into energy, but it’s more affordable than C8.

Benefits of MCTs

• They are used therapeutically for people with malabsorption problems, like Crohn’s Disease or a missing bladder.
• They may be helpful in treating diabetes and hypertension because they support proper metabolic functioning.
• They will allow you to increase the amount of carbohydrates you can eat while remaining in “ketosis.”

Other Sources of MCTs

1. Palm kernel oil
2. Full milk (from grass-fed cows)
3. Butter
4. Cheddar cheese
5. Full-fat yogurt

How to Incorporate MCTs into Your Diet

• Use MCT oil, an egg yolk, extra virgin olive oil, lime extract, and salt for your homemade mayo to use for sandwiches and salads.
• Use MCT oil for salad dressings.
• Add some to smoothies and other healthy drinks.
• Use MCT oil as replacement for any recipe that asks for coconut oil.

MCT oil can do wonders for your overall wellness. If you wish to manage your weight, have more energy, concentrate better, and lower your risk of developing infectious diseases, MCT oil should definitely figure in your health regimen.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Bulletproof

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Breastfeeding Diet – Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

Eating well while breastfeeding is important for both mother and baby. While there are no clear-cut rules, guidelines or even a strict definition for what is considered a good breastfeeding diet, it still helps to be mindful of what you eat to ensure you and your child are getting sufficient nutrition during these critical years.

Nursing mothers often face the following eating dilemmas:

- It’s easy to miss meals – or more exactly, forget about self-care altogether – when you are caring for a baby.

- It’s hard to sit down for regular, proper meals when you have a baby attached to you most of the time.

- You feel thirsty and hungry all the time. No surprise, because it is estimated that you use 330 calories a day when you are breastfeeding (more than what you can burn if you run or mow the lawn for an hour).

This combination of exhaustion, hunger and time and logistical constraints is dangerous. It can lead to poor food choices and hard-to-break habits that can affect your health and your baby. The following are steps that can help you avoid this scenario:

Develop a meal plan. When you’re stressed, sleepless, having cravings and have limited mobility, reaching out for the nearest chips or glugging down a can of soda can become the easiest “solution.” Get away from this cycle by taking the time to plan your meals and make advanced preparation to enjoy easy but healthy choices and no-fuss, nutritious meals.

Great choices include combinations of the following:

- Fresh, whole fruits and vegetables (lots of the green leafy kind).

- Foods rich in calcium, such as milk, fortified tofu, almonds.

- Protein sources for energy, such as meat and eggs.

- Omega-3 sources, such as salmon and sardines, preferably wild-caught.

- Fiber-rich foods, such as whole wheat bread and rice.

Make “good” the easy choice. Make sure that in times of emergency (such as a late meal or a midday craving), you’ll have access only to good food. Keep water, natural fruit juices, coconut water, lemon water and other thirst-quenchers in the fridge and by your bedside so you stay hydrated all day and night. Make sure you have healthy and nutrient-rich snacks on hand, such as yoghurt, cut fruit, nuts and granola to graze on.

Know what you need to stay away from. For coffee, see if you can switch to decaf or at least limit yourself to two cups a day. For alcohol, a glass of red wine once in a while is often fine. If you are breastfeeding exclusively, be on alert for signs of allergy in your baby that may be due to your diet. If your baby frequently suffers from rashes, runny nose, watery stools and round-the-clock fussiness, take her to a pediatrician immediately.


Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Similac3Arabia

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The 7 Anti-inflammatory Herbs You Should Be Taking

Many chronic diseases can be attributed to inflammation at the cellular level in one or more systems in the body. As such, reduction of inflammation is often viewed as key to the optimal functioning of the body as well as other benefits like mental clarity, energy boost, enhanced immunity and more.

There are several strategies that can be utilized to reduce inflammation. One of these is through diet. Grass-fed meats, cruciferous vegetables, egg yolks, and omega-3 rich fish are some of the foods that are known to reduce inflammation.

Apart from these, there are anti-inflammatory herbs that you may want to add to your diet. The beauty of these herbs is that you only need a small amount of these due to their potency. As an added benefit, you can make your meals more delicious.

Turmeric 

Turmeric has been used extensively in both Indian and Chinese medicine for a diverse variety of ailments ranging from arthritis to liver disease.

Scientific studies reveal that this herb has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties.

Some experts are touting that turmeric has properties that can help ward off or even cure chronic diseases.

Cayenne pepper

The compound known as capsaicin gives peppers, including cayenne pepper, their spicy taste and medicinal properties. Generally speaking, the spicier the pepper is, the higher its level of capsaicin is. 

Cayenne pepper is used extensively in creams and ointments for pain relief. The spice has figured prominently in Indian, Chinese and Native American medicine.

Cayenne pepper, in particular, contains flavonoids and carotenoids which help protect against cellular damage, which in turn can lead to inflammation and diseases. It can also aid in weight loss.

Ginger

Ginger is another spice that has been used to treat a diverse number of conditions.

The spice contains ginerols, shogaols, and paradols which can reduce inflammation. These compounds have been used in the production of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The compound 6-ginerol, in particular, can inhibit the production of the free radical known as peroxynitrite which can cause both pain and inflammation.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is known to lower blood sugar in diabetics. But apart from that, the spice also has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which aid in minimizing cellular damage as well as lowering the risks for some chronic diseases.

The spice can also inhibit proteins that are associated with immune, growth and cell death problems. Furthermore, it helps prevent blood platelets from clumping. It can also help in stopping abnormal cell growth.

Clove

Clove contains a compound that is similar yet more potent to a compound contained in cinnamon that also helps protects against inflammation. 

The compound known as eugenol can block the enzyme which causes inflammation. The spice is also rich in antioxidants.

Sage

Sage contains carnosic acid and carnosol which are associated with several health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties. 

In some studies, it was revealed that sage can help in protecting against neurological conditions like Alzheimer's. It can also help lessen anxiety while improving both memory and concentration. It also has anti-oxidant, anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Rosemary

Rosemary contains rosmarinic acid which gives the herb anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Like sage, rosemary can help remove the free radical known as superoxide which can cause chronic inflammation. 

The herb is also rich in flavonoids, including apigenin, which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas, and diosmin, which helps prevent hemorrhoids.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like BulletProof

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Cautionary Tale: How to Prepare for a Medical Emergency

In a medical emergency, a second’s action can make the difference between life and death.

Sometimes, you simply cannot expect the situation to go awry, or anticipate accidents the way you would in sports or reckless driving.

Perhaps you go out of your way to ensure that you and your loved ones never fall prey to such calamities — steering clear of activities that pose the slightest danger.

Despite your countless attempts to remain cautious, however, it’s worth remembering that everyone is prone to accidents.

You could be standing in your kitchen, innocently chopping vegetables for a healthy salad, suddenly looking down upon a sliced index finger.

Your son could be adhering to your instructions and wearing his helmet while riding his bicycle to school. But in case he falls down, he’s still likely to bruise his elbow and knee.

The fact of the matter is that you simply cannot accident-proof your life or the lives of your family. There’s no point worrying about hypothetical scenarios that may or may not occur, turning your concerns into neurotic fear-mongering episodes. At the same time, however, that certainly does not mean you should turn a blind eye to the possibility of an accident.

Exercising Caution

The best way to deal with an emergency is to be prepared! Unfortunately, you’re not blessed with the gift of foresight and can’t predict an accident. What you can do, is take small steps that enable you to attend to a range of medical emergencies. Here are a few to begin with:

1. Stay Calm! Remaining calm during a medical emergency can actually aid the process of recovery, according to education expert Dr. Gail Gross. When your body is under stress, it experiences a fight-or-flight mode — and relaxing the injured can reduce stress levels, making the body less reactive and ending the overproduction of stress hormone, cortisol.
2. Prepare a first-aid kit; Adhesive bandages, cotton-tipped swabs, ice-packs, clean towels and antiseptic ointment — these are just a few of the items that can help in any event that calls for urgent care.
3. Keep an emergency contact list; Doctor, spouse, legal guardian, close friends and members of your family — depending on the context of the emergency, you should have a few numbers on stand-by just to save time.

If you wish to go the extra mile to ensure you’re always prepared for unpredictable medical emergencies, act decisively and choose an urgent care Dallas TX facility that won’t keep you waiting. 

Frontline ER is a Texas-based 24 hr urgent care clinic, fully equipped to tend to any and all emergencies.

Call us at (214) 499-9555 for services in Dallas, and keep medical aid on your finger-tips throughout the day!

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How You Can Still Remain Active Even with Incontinence

Many people fear and dread the possibility of an ‘accident’ but, remaining active with incontinence should not be an issue. As well as managing with incontinence pads, there are many things you can do about stopping it from happening complete or lessening the impact on your daily routine.

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How Yoga Can Help Reduce the Effects of Urinary Incontinence

It is not known how many people are incontinent in the UK or how many women and men rely daily on incontinence pads, but NHS Choices believe that between three and six million people in the UK suffer from some level of urinary incontinence.

Traditionally a problem sufferers kept hidden, people would often ‘put up with’ incontinence and will not seek help to remedy it.

More people are now seeking help and is not something that needs to remain secret or an embarrassing, inevitable ailment that ‘comes with age’.

Not just a female or age problem

Although urinary incontinence affects more women than men, it is not solely a female problem. Neither is it a condition or issue that is related to age.

Young women and men can also suffer from urinary and bowel incontinence. It is estimated that five million people in the UK under the age of 24 will have experienced some kind of bladder control issue, with around the same number thought to have had some kind of bowel incontinence.

Two types of urinary incontinence

There are two common types of urinary incontinence – stress incontinence and urge incontinence. There are claims that practicing yoga on a regular basis could help with managing the symptoms and decreasing the possibility of accidental leakage of urine happening.

• Stress incontinence is when a small amount of urine leaks after lifting, strenuous exercise, coughing, sneezing or laughing. This is thought to be the most common type to affect women. It happens because the pelvic floor muscles are weak or possibly damaged, offering little support to the bladder.
• Urge incontinence is also known as an overactive bladder. It happens because the body signals an immediate need to release urine, often without warning.

Can yoga help?

A 2014 research project published in the Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery discovered that a yoga training programme with the specific goal of improving pelvic health did yield results for the women involved.

The trial was conducted using 19 women over the age of 40, who suffered urinary incontinence on a daily basis. The participants had either stress, urge or mixed incontinence.

Half of the women attended a six-week yoga therapy programme, in which they attended twice-weekly sessions and home practice. The other half served as a control group.

Of those women who attended the yoga programme, 70% reported a significant improvement in their incontinence issues. The control group reported only a 13% improvement.

For women suffering stress incontinence, they found these yoga sessions the most helpful with great results, with the researchers from the research project believe that yoga helps in many different ways.

For example, incontinence can be linked to stress and anxiety and with yoga’s emphasis being on mindful meditation and relaxation, it is possible that by decreasing stress and anxiety, incidence of incontinence was reduced too.

Likewise, yoga teachers and participants also feel that by regularly exercising their pelvic floor area that they regain and retain strength in these important muscles. With strong pelvic floor muscles, the bladder is supported and incontinence lessened or prevented altogether.

The researchers also created a yoga programme for older women who may have had mobility issues and limitations. This too was helpful in controlling incontinence and overall, the project concluded that yoga could play a part in controlling all types of incontinence.

An alternative treatment

For many people with incontinence, medication if often offered as a means of controlling the bladder. Medications that target incontinence however, have a range of side effects that can make daily life unpleasant, such as dry mouth, constipation, heartburn, blurred vision, issues with memory and confusion.

For people already feeling stressed and anxious about urinary incontinence, medication does not solve the problem but can add to the issues that they face. Yoga offers a real and credible alternative to some people.

But yoga does more than tackle the problem it incontinence. It tackles the emotional issues around it too, by helping deal with depression, stress and anxiety.

Yoga tutors are often well-trained who can help people with specific problems. There are several yoga poses, as well as meditation aspects, that can help with specific muscles. As well as attending class regularly, participants are also encouraged to practice at home.

Yoga could mean waving goodbye to incontinence pads and pants, and regaining control over both your bladder and your life! And with yoga classes being prevalent across the country, taking control of your bladder could happen sooner than you think.

HARTMANN Direct offer a range of incontinence products for both men and women with urinary and bowel incontinence. From light to heavy absorbency needs, they understand the need for products that are reliable and fit for purpose for living a busy and active life.

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