Environment and Health: Closely Knit Entities

 Environment and Health: Closely Knit Entities 

Amidst the pandemic, the fact that a good health largely depends upon a good and healthy environment, has become more cognizant and coherent .

Since past few years Global Warming and Environmental Safety have been an important public health concern across the globe.

Untimely rainfall, winters,summers have all driven our attention towards Global Warming, its causes ,  repurcussions it holds on humanity, and raises a question in our mind that how safe our environment and surrounding is to us. 

As a matter of fact, during the pandemic, people have come more closer to environment,have become more keen  towards the rich biodiversity that surrounds us; including the flora, fauna and the significance they hold in maintaining a proper balance of our ecosystem.

Good health is multifactorial. Fresh air, healthy food and water, safe and hygienic surrounding are all important for a healthy body and mind . 

However, due to modern time concerns like urbanization, deforestation,industrialization,pollution, increasing  attraction towards artificial assets , the safety profile of environment is at stake. 

 The World Health Organization has defined Community Health as "environmental, social and economic resources to sustain emotional and physical well being among people in ways that advance their aspirations and satisfy their needs in their unique environment". 

Thus environment plays a pivotal role in achieving an optimal community (public) health.

Since past few years, governments and other organizations are working hard towards spreading healthy and clean surrounding by incorporating various health programs, involving social media ,electronic media and other means. 

At the same time, we are also bound to take equal efforts towards achieving and maintaining a healthy environment for the benefit of one and all.

Many social reforms and movements have been implemented in the past for preserving and conserving our  environment like- conservation movements eg Chipkoo movement, promoting eco tourism etc. 

Today there are many ways by which we can participate in the drive towards a safe surrounding and transforming it from local to a global move, for eg plantation of trees, segregation of waste and proper disposal of garbage, inculcating eco friendly means and using biodegradable articles. For instance, now the entire nation is celebrating the Ganpati festival, so opting for eco friendly  idol and effigies would be a wiser step, minimizing the pollution and optimal use of resources would be more commendable. 

Thus, health and environment can be said to be analogous to each other and a healthy version of it should be achieved by one and all. 

Pandemic with an unprecedented era

 Pandemic with an unprecedented era

During the tenure in our medical schools, we used to read and learn about the history of public health in which there was a mention about various epidemics/pandemics that have occured in the past with the dates and duration of their occurence. But, frankly we never thought how the circumstances would have been then, how people must have overcome such difficult times and how well the health system handled those events. It was then when the success over the calamities was achieved and therefore today we label them as  a history. 

Right from natural calamities like earthquakes, draughts, gas tragedy, nuclear explosions, communicable diseases like cholera, small pox, and recently ebola virus disease, H1N1 influenza , SARS-1 , MERS, Swine flu, Nipah virus disease , and many others have a documentation in the form of articles, documentaries, chapters in the textbooks. Out of these , few which need special flagging is small pox disease, which has been eradicated from the world ( with the help of mass vaccination against the disease) and others which have achieved a state of elimination  like guinea worm disease, neonatal tetanus, polio,anthrax   .

Today we understand the meaning of words like eradication,elimination,control and containment w.r.t a disease in even more better way . Today we realise how big achievement it is to declare a disease to be eradicated and eliminated from the world. 

There have always been lessons learnt and changes made in the lifestyles, and modalities for preventing , treating and curing diseases which have a known literature .

This pandemic of Covid-19 is one first of its kind . The new variant of SARS co-v virus (2)  has  further mutated versions reported.

This global disease has created an era which was never seen before, it has affected everyone's  life in a way that has created difference in the way things were in the  pre pandemic era.

There have been various means discovered, invented, innovated, and implemented to tackle the disease and get going .

On one hand, where thousands have faced economic brunt, loss of wages, loss of job opportunities and have witnessed emotional and physical disturbances , there have been  virtual platforms  introduced , newer ways have been identified to execute things like learning, online business , art,culture,travel( only when required) { beware of forge e-passes} , ways of reaching out to masses, and many others,  and also more awareness has been generated about the disease. (Still there are a handful of nuisance creators who are ignorant towards the dreadful disease). 

Various NGOs, voluntary organizations and individual volunteers are coming forward to give a helping aid in serving the humanity and providing support to people in the crisis time. 

There have been improvisations made in the care being taken , treatment modalities used for treating the patients ,essential primary care taken for the patients, and tracing, documenting and investigating the disease. 

Today when the health infrastructure is getting exhausted, there have been incidences of black marketing for essentials like oximeters,oxygen concentrators ,cannisters, medicines and injections required for treatment of disease. 

In such case , it becomes everyone's responsibilty to play their roles in the best possible ways like following covid appropriate behaviour, following and abiding by the regulations made , participating in  and promoting mass vaccination drives, creating awareness about black business and alerting the concerned authorities upon identifying such heinous crimes if occurring near by, and aid in combating the disease as a team.. 

There is also a section of society which is spreading negativity all around in these difficult times by misleading and misguiding the masses. It is time we neglect those and start taking steps at our individual levels by not criticizing the ones already giving their selves in the fight against covid-19, believing in  the health system , trusting the various agencies working as task forces , and providing helping hands as and when needed in the best possible ways . 

Dealing with Chronic Diseases During Covid Times

This blog is specifically addressed to all those readers who are dealing with some or other kind of chronic illness either themselves or having a family member coping up with the disease.

Today medical science is advancing like fire,but still there are few ailments which have no known cure yet and research is still ongoing extensively in this direction eg cancer,life style related diseases like diabetes and hypertension ,stroke, physical disability ,mental ailments like schizophrenia  and psychological illness like depression. 

In any case, the patient and family members have to face and manage  the physical aspects and psychological aspects associated with the illness and which is not at all an easy deal. 

There is a happiness quotient which is significantly low in all those and the entire world seems a big challenge infront of them.

Though there are some provisions and assistance available ,but the task to deal with  ailments for life long is something which people have to do it on their own. 

Some diseases demand regular routine check up,follow up visits, and medications to be taken on a continuous basis; which  may sometimes be very distressing and frustrating .

There is a time when one feels  helpless and that everything is in vain. 

Negativity and escapism occupy the mind and it feels like life has become stagnant and there is no ambition and aim remaining in life. It becomes a total mess and a vicious cycle of unpleasant thought processes is initiated. 

Today, as the dynamics of diseases are changing, there are some diseases which are contracted at an early age and people get demotivated because of it. 

There is a sense of social awkwardness and a haunting worry about how it is going to turn up in future times . 

In such cases,it is important to always be patient,and keep a positive outlook and take the thing as it comes. 

Times are changing and today there are many support groups, and other voluntary organisations which deal with the issue and help people cope up and pace up to match up.

It is important to take care of self and others around, and continue the fight with a note to never give up .

Therefore here are few tips which may be a helpful insight

1) For lifestyle related diseases improving the lifestyle would be the best solution ; having a healthy diet including a balanced proportion of carbohydrates, fats, proteins,vitamins , dietary fibres, roughage and minerals,avoiding oily food,consuming less of salt and junk food, more of green leafy vegetables, fruits,and salads. 

2) Regular physical activity with  around 30 minutes of rigorous exercise , brisk walking, floor exercises, stretching exercises, walking up and down the stairs, yoga and meditation.

3) Maintaining routine and having a focus on developing and improvising skills,art, hobbies  and inculcating innovative ideas.

4) Involving in daily chores and household work .

5) Induldging in activities which keep us focused and motivated eg listening to music and dancing on favourite beats; reading,writing, painting etc.

6) Taking medications at time , monitoring the blood sugar levels, and complying with scheduled medical  visits for chemotherapy,radiotherapy  and follow ups .

7) Doing prescribed physiotherapy for improving  mobility. 

8) Staying connected with near and dear ones through virtual platforms .

9) Following covid appropriate behaviour when out of home (social distancing, wearing face mask, frequent hand sanitization)

Public Health:Awareness Amongst Public

 Amidst the pandemic of covid-19, there has been some awareness generated among the people regarding public health. 

PUBLIC HEALTH is all about the health of community at large which includes - newborn health,child health,adolescent health,reproductive health,and health of elderly. It is an allied entity intended towards health of individuals in a holistic manner with insights on communicable diseases,non communicable diseases, nutrition, social behaviour,managment of available resources and statistics related to health.

There are many synonyms by which public health has been  known for eg community medicine,community and family medicine,preventive and social medicine; all intended towards health for all . 

Talking about the awareness,even today only  a little of the huge population is aware about public health and its implications. 

While I was working as medical officer in the community, I found that people are not so keen when it comes to health perspective. Well, more than 2/3rd of India's population is residing in RURAL and URBAN SLUM areas and only a handful is dwelling in the elite or creamy layer. So when it comes to community health , the larger section of society has to be considered ,as all our NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS also aim towards Universal Health Coverage  without discrimination of caste,creed,religion,culture or topography.

But when actually working at ground level, we do find that when it comes to people's understanding of health ; educational status,socio economic status and gender, influence the quality of life and in turn the health of people. 

The reasons behind India being a  developing nation and not developed ,can be many,but few important relevant reasons here are-careless attitude, self centred thought process, escapism from good habits and social responsibilities , unwillingness towards acceptance for betterment, social taboos and stigmas related to various issues.

In recent times, there have been instances where blame game is played by people on health care facilities blindly, without understanding and realizing their own  roles. In the pandemic it has been  proved  that public health is in PUBLIC DOMAIN and is the accountability of people as well towards health for all. It is high time and need of the hour where everyone understand their roles towards health and safety of all. 

Memories and Psychological Health

MEMORIES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH
In recent times, some significance has been awarded to mental health which can be largely called a synonym of psychological health.
Mental health broadly includes feelings, emotions, expressions, thought process and response to a particular situation.
Our brain is a complex system of network formed by gyri and sulci.The neurons and connecting neurofibres form the nervous system.Brain is the organ which deals with the whole business of memory forming,processing and storage.The structures which are involved in this task are -Amygdala,Hippocampus,Prefrontal cortex and Cerebellum.
The memories are very closely associated with emotions; and the manner in which memories are encoded and internalised by the brain ,largely decide the expression of them.
There are various types of memory which include- Long-term, Short-term and sensory, lasting for long time,short while and momentarily respectively.Technically, memories are related with experiences which may be good, or not-so-good ones.
The memories which are very strongly or deeply encrypted, are difficult to forget,and the ones which are associated with remarkable experiences are also retrieved very well for most of the times.
Feeling of joy is indicated by positive vibes around, a sense of positive action or words; whereas ferlimg of sadness ,depression or anxiety is indicated by restlessness,sense of void,incompleteness or emptiness deep within.
Brain is the biological organ whereas mind is the internal psyche or what we call conscience.Man is a social animal and is very much concerned about the social image .It is a proven fact that man always wants to be associated with joy,excitment,thrill,peace,positivity and has an automatic despair towards negativity and boredom and accordingly  finds ways conveniently to stay away from them.
Life is a journey in which human is bound to make memories.Equally true is that time is an inseparable and unstoppable entity.one can not really go back in times desired; and neither one should be vulnerable to get entrapped in the past times. Therefore it is appropriate to cherish the good memories for long and consider not do good ones as a tool or yardstick for improvization.
In current times it is essential for all to have a good mental health and therefore a good psychological health , as overall Health is Wealth.

Depression - a social taboo

Depression is a type of non communicable  disease which is neither contagious nor caused by any micro-organism; and is a mental illness related to lifestyle.
World Health Organization (WHO) describes health as a state of complete physical, mental ,social and emotional well-being and not merely an absence of disease or ailment.
To have a holistic good health emotionally and mentally , the mind should be at peace and a state of satisfaction .
Depression signifies a psychic state having following characters-
1. Lack of interest for day to day chores
2. Lack of vigour, or enthusiasm
3. Feeling of loneliness
4. Not feeling good about anything
5. Feeling of being non compatible , non adjusting to a situation
6. Lowered self esteem
7.  Self harm
8.   Suicidal tendencies  ( which is the extreme side ) .
Scientifically speaking ,depression occurs when there is lack of serotonin- which is a neurotransmitter ( a bio chemical affecting neurons and fibres in the brain) . Due to lack of this substance, there is reduced command from brain to the whole body for reacting to any circumstance , leading to above mentioned symptoms.
Technically , there are no observable or identifiable signs ( which are clinically seen in  most of other diseases).
The symptoms can only be noticed by the person suffering from depression or may be by the person knowing the bearer closely. Sometimes the person himself/ herself may not even be aware about the impeding depression along with other illnesses.
Now talking about the incidence of depression , it is one of the most common illnesses worldwide. There are few important causes which affect mental state .
1)  changing lifestyle
2) increasing cut -throat -level competition at every phase in life
3) increasing ambitions ( but lack of proper guidance )
4)  concern about social image ( you are conscious about what society talks, what people will say or comment )
5) judgmental and prejudiced mentality of society
6) showbizz and a zeal for luxurious ,free spirited life.
7) peer pressure and the naive attitude to proove one's existence
Our Indian society consists of democratic and secular states, which has witnessed  many social revolutions and changes taking place since independence or  may be way before that. But ironically,  mental illness is still a taboo and  a social stigma , about which many deny or hesitate to talk about.
On one side we keep saying that when one is depressed he/ she  should talk or speak up about it...but this is possible only when there is actually someone to hear and listen to.
Because one cannot just shout out in public talking about his /her concerns , as people then declare such persons as mental or dangerous and hazardous to society.
People try to avoid talking to such persons and they create a barrier for not interacting with them . They want to stay away from such negativity.
Deplorable is equally the situation where some well- to- do , blessed people are not bothered or concerned about what is going on around. They are buzy in their own world and they don't even care .They don't feel their responsibility neither towards society nor the  nation as a whole.
It is good to be free spirited , good to be free minded , but only at the cost when you have a logical rationale behind it.
Depression is affecting the younger population more than any other strata of society.
If at all such symptoms are encountered, it's time to seek help and assistance. To avoid feeling depressed one can-
a) indulge in  a thing which he/she is fond of like any art form or hobbies.
b) talk to family,friends, and well wishers about the worries and concerns.
c) consult a physician or counsellor for any medical ,psychological and emotional assistance.
d) practice yoga and concentrate on physical fitness .
 e)  can also connect with voulntary organizations who are working to relieve stress and any suicidal tendencies- here are few contacts  -
1) AASRA - 022-27546669
2) Sneha India- 044 24640050

In order to reduce the brunt of this illness ,it is time to understand our responsibilities collectively without any discrimination.
It is time when we consider mental illness as any other illness of the body. It should not be stigmatized anymore and should be dealt with gracefully and cautiously.

Monsoon Related Diseases during CoronaTimes

As time is passing by ,we are gradually stepping towards new normal life. Where at one place we are to take all precautions against covid -19, it should also be kept in mind that monsoon is approaching and here we should also take care about monsoon related diseases. 

These diseases persist throughout the year, but their  incidence  increases remarkably  during monsoon season.  

Some very common diseases are - 

1) vector borne  / mosquito borne diseases like - malaria,dengue, ,leptospirosis

2) air borne diseases like- common flu, H1N1 influenza,  pneumonia,tuberculosis.

3) water -borne diseases like- cholera,gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, 

4) skin infections like - fungal infections, bacterial infections.boils,rashes.

In order to prevent these diseases,certain points should be taken care of -

To prevent mosquito related diseases- 

1) prevent mosquito breeding - by keeping drinking water in hygienic conditions, cleaning  the drums and containers used for storing water- promoting dry day in which for one day all containers are thoroughly washed and dried up before again storing water.

2) avoid water logging - for example the pots in which ornamental plants are kept should be cleaned at regular intervals, AC ducts should be cleaned intermittently , manholes to be prevented from logging .

3) prevent mosquito bite- by using mosquito nets,mosquito  repellants .

At community level regular fogging done by the government officials should be promoted.

Walking bare footed in logged water or soil ,or otherwise should always be avoided as it may cause leptospirosis and  ascariasis(hook work infection ) respectively.use gum boots where required.

To prevent air borne diseases

1) use of face mask ( as for preventing covid -19) , handkerchief for coughing,sneezing,

2) maintain social distancing , (avoid going into public places).

3) avoid exposure to dust , hay, fibers, and other particles causing allergies. 

Keynote- during monsoon the risk of getting covid-19 disease is tend to increase.Therefore ,avoid consuming cold food as it may cause sore throat which inturn may worsen the case.

To prevent water borne diseases -

1) always consume safe water ,use mineral water wherever possible.

2) use water purifiers, aquaguards. Where applicable, alum, chlorine solution or chlorine tablets can also be used to disinfect water . At community level, use of bleaching powder to disinfect water bodies is promoted.

Simple boiling of water at home before consuming it is also a good practice.

To prevent skin infections-

1) Disinfection of floor using Dettol,Lyzol (or whichever disinfectant available) is highly recommended .

2) wear washed ,well-dried clothes and maintain good personal hygiene .

3) Avoid wearing moist footwear, socks and clothes.

Regular hand washing,keeping good nutrition, healthy diet , regular exercise along with all precautions will certainly help in achieving a good health.

Also, food borne diseases are caused by consuming unhealthy food. So avoid consuming uncooked,raw food ,unpacked food or the food not fulfilling the quality standards.(ISI ,FSSAI)