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Asthma:
Asthma is a common disease involving the
respiratory system in which the airways or air
sacs occasionally constrict, become inflamed,
and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus,
often in response to one or more triggers. These
episodes may be triggered by such things as
exposure to an environmental stimulant such as
allergens, environmental tobacco smoke, cold or
warm air, perfume, pet dander, humid air,
exercise or exertion, emotional stress or here
in the tropics mold spores and pollen during
cane harvest.
In children, the most common triggers are viral
illnesses such as those that cause the colds.
The airway narrowing causes symptoms such as
wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness,
and coughing. The airway constriction responds
to bronchodilators. Between episodes, most
patients feel well but can have mild symptoms
and they may remain short of breath after
exercise for longer periods of time than the
unaffected individual. The symptoms of asthma,
which can range from mild to life threatening,
can usually be controlled with a combination of
medicines, lifestyle changes as well as
environmental.
High blood pressure or hypertension means
high pressure in the arteries. Arteries are
vessels that carry blood from the pumping heart
to all the tissues and organs of the body.
Stress can temporarily increase blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80; blood
pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is called
"pre-hypertension", and a blood pressure of
140/90 or above is considered high.
The top number, the systolic blood pressure,
corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as
the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into
the arteries. The bottom number, the diastolic
pressure, represents the pressure in the
arteries as the heart relaxes after the
contraction.
Depressive disorder (also known as major
depression, unipolar depression, unipolar
disorder, or clinical depression) is a mental
disorder typically characterized by a persistent
low mood, low self esteem, and loss of interest
or pleasure in usual activities. The general
term depression is often used to describe this
disorder, but since it is also used to describe
a temporary sad or depressed mood, more precise
terminology is preferred in clinical use and
research. Major depression is often a disabling
condition which adversely affects a person's
family, work or school life, sleeping and eating
habits, and general health.
Hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia or
dyslipidemia is the presence of raised or
abnormal levels of Lipids and/or lipoproteins in
the blood. Lipids (fatty molecules) are
transported in a protein capsule, and the
density of the lipids and type of protein
determines the fate of the particle and its
influence on metabolism.
Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities are
extremely common in the general population, and
are regarded as a highly modifiable risk factor
for cardiovascular disease due to the influence
of cholesterol, one of the most clinically
relevant lipid substances, causing
atherosclerosis, i.e. plaque that forms in the
arteries.
A headache is a condition of pain in the
head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also
be interpreted as a headache. The vast majority
of headaches are benign and self-limiting.
Common causes are tension, migraine, strained
eyes, dehydration, low blood sugar,
hypermastication (chewing) and sinusitus. A
large percentage of headaches among women are
caused by ever changing levels of estrogen .
This can occur prior to, or even during midcycle
menstruation.
Diabetes mellitus , often referred to simply
as diabetes is a disorder of metabolism, usually
due to a combination of hereditary and
environmental causes, resulting in abnormally
high blood sugar levelscalled hypergluycemia.
Blood glucose levels are controlled by a complex
interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones
in the body, including the insulin made in the
pancreas. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group
of diseases that lead to high blood glucose
levels due to defects in either insulin
secretion or insulin activity.
Type 1 diabetes develops due to a diminished
production of insulin or resistance to its
effects (in Type 2 and gestational). Both
leading to hyperglycaemia, which largely causes
the acute signs of diabetes such as excess urine
production with compensatory thirst, blurred
vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and
changes in energy metabolism.
All forms of diabetes are treatable, but there
is no cure. Injections by syringe, insulin pump,
or insulin pen deliver insulin, which is the
basic treatment of type 1 diabetes. Type 2 may
be managed by a combination of diet, medicines.
Diabetes and its treatments can cause many
complications. Acute complications hypoglycemia,
ketoacidocis, or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma
may occur if the disease is not adequately
controlled. Serious long-term complications
include heart disease, renal failure, retinal
damage that may lead to blindness, nerve damage,
and microvascular damage, which may cause
impotence and poor wound healing. Particularly
in the feet, can lead to tingling and gangrene,
and possibly to amputation. Adequate treatment
of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on
blood pressure control and lifestyle factors
(such as no smoking and maintaining a healthy
weight), may improve the risks and quality of
life.
Dengue fever and Dengue hemorrhagic fever
(DHF) are acute febrile diseases, found in
the tropics, caused by four closely related
mosquito borne viruses. Dengue is
transmitted to humans by the Aedes Agypti
which feed during the day. It is also known
as breakbone fever. Geographically the
spread is similar to malaria, but unlike
malaria, dengue is often found in urban
areas (like here) of tropical Countries,
such as Australia, Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, India,
Bangladesh, Brazil, Venezuela, Taiwan,
Guyana, Puerto Rico, the Phillipines and now
Samoa. Each serotype or "strain" is
sufficiently different that there is no
cross-protection. Epidemics caused by
multiple serotypes or
strains(hyperendemicity) may occur.
What does this mean to us here in the
tropics? The usual cautions, wear loose
fitting cotton type clothing. If relaxing
outdoors, always good to sit under fans. if
you need to wear repellent we recommend the
Bushmans brand. Studies have shown the
benchmark for repelling Mosquitos, Midge and
sand Flies is a DEET concentration of about
30% on the skin. Most products sold are 20%
which is ample. however in more tropical
disease prone regions we recommend Bushmans
spray with 40% DEET. After application some
evaporates off leaving a very effective long
lasting 30% protection. One last note: to
date DEET has proven safe without any
adverse affects. Some people do experience
hypersensitivity to the products and for
them we suggest hypoallergenic lines like
Aerogard.
Irukanji are small toxic jellyfish the size
of a 5 to 10cent piece that appear in our north
Queenlsland waters in the summer months. As with
most jellyfish they sting with tentacles or
streamers packed with neumatcysts. these are
coiled spring like proteins that "harpoon" their
toxin into prey or victim in our case. each
tentacle may contain thousands of these little
harpoon units. For this reason it is imperative
to liberally rinse the affected sting area ASAP
with any type of vinegar which inactivates the
neumatcyst units, decreasing the chance for
further stinging.
Signs of Irukandji syndrome are:
Local signs include minor erythema, piloerection
and local sweating, which may be mild or
profuse, or generalised severe sweating. After
some time one may experience severe lower back
pain , together with leg, abdominal, chest and
arm pain. In some this pain is constant while in
others in appears in waves and may radiate into
the feet. victims may experience anxiety ,
agitation, restlessness, nausea, vomiting and
headache . There may be a sensation of
breathlessness albeit the blood's oxygen content
is normal. Palpitations and hypertension may be
common as is decreased peripheral circulation.
The period of distressing features of Irukandji
syndrome is variable, from a few hours to
several days. From My own experience at leats .
I have been treating jellyfish stings for years
and generally 80 percent that walk in on their
own steam have been stung from more common jelly
fish. Box jellyfish which is another problem
tends to cause massive pain!!
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