More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day

More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day

Every day around 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. Tragically, many of them die: WHO estimates that in 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

A new WHO report on Air pollution and child health: Prescribing clean air examines the heavy toll of both ambient (outside) and household air pollution on the health of the world’s children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The report is being launched on the eve of WHO’s first ever Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. 

It reveals that when pregnant women are exposed to polluted air, they are more likely to give birth prematurely, and have small, low birth-weight children. Air pollution also impacts neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer. Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life.

“Polluted air is poisoning millions of children and ruining their lives,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is inexcusable. Every child should be able to breathe clean air so they can grow and fulfil their full potential.”

One reason why children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution is that they breathe more rapidly than adults and so absorb more pollutants.  

They also live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations – at a time when their brains and bodies are still developing.

Newborns and young children are also more susceptible to household air pollution in homes that regularly use polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting 

“Air Pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected. But there are many straight-forward ways to reduce emissions of dangerous pollutants ,” says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO.

“WHO is supporting implementation of health-wise policy measures like accelerating the switch to clean cooking and heating fuels and technologies, promoting the use of cleaner transport, energy-efficient housing and urban planning. We are preparing the ground for low emission power generation, cleaner, safer industrial technologies and better municipal waste management, ” she added.

Key findings:

• Air pollution affects neurodevelopment, leading to lower cognitive test outcomes, negatively affecting mental and motor development.
• Air pollution is damaging children’s lung function, even at lower levels of exposures

• Globally, 93% of the world’s children under 15 years of age are exposed to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels above WHO air quality guidelines, which include the 630 million of children under 5 years of age, and 1.8 billion of children under 15 years

• In low- and middle-income countries around the world, 98% of all children under 5 are exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO air quality guidelines. In comparison, in high-income countries, 52% of children under 5 are exposed to levels above WHO air quality guidelines.

• More than 40% of the world’s population – which includes for 1 billion children under 15 -  is exposed to high levels of household air pollution from mainly cooking with polluting technologies and fuels.

• About 600’000 deaths in children under 15 years of age were attributed to the joint effects of ambient and household air pollution in 2016.

• Together, household air pollution from cooking and ambient (outside) air pollution cause more than 50% of acute lower respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age in low- and middle-income countries.

• Air pollution is one of the leading threats to child health, accounting for almost 1 in 10 deaths in children under five years of age.

WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, which opens in Geneva on Tuesday 30 October will provide the opportunity for world leaders; ministers of health, energy, and environment; mayors; heads of intergovernmental organizations; scientists and others to commit to act against this serious health threat, which shortens the lives of around 7 million people each year. Actions should include:

• Action by the health sector to inform, educate, provide resources to health professionals, and engage in inter-sectoral policy making.

• Implementation of policies to reduce air pollution: All countries should work towards  meeting WHO global air quality guidelines to enhance the health and safety of children. To achieve this, governments should adopt such measures as reducing the over-dependence on fossil fuels in the global energy mix, investing in improvements in energy efficiency and facilitating the uptake of renewable energy sources. Better waste management can reduce the amount of waste that is burned within communities and thereby reducing ‘community air pollution’. The exclusive use of clean technologies and fuels for household cooking, heating and lighting activities can drastically improve the air quality within homes and in the surrounding community.

• Steps to minimize children’s exposure to polluted air: Schools and playgrounds should be located away from major sources of air pollution like busy roads, factories and power plants. 

poison, what its mean for you.?

Poisons

 

A poison is any substance that causes harm to a living being. This can result from contact with the body e.g. a caustic, or following absorption into the body. Absorption can occur following ingestion, by passage through the skin or mucous membranes, by inhalation or by injection. A foetus can be poisoned by a substance crossing the placenta. Almost any substance can act as a poison if a sufficiently large dose is absorbed.

bird...

How rainbow form...

A rainbow

A rainbow

 is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun.

Rainbows can be full circles. However, the observer normally sees only an arc formed by illuminated droplets above the ground,^[1]and centered on a line from the sun to the observer's eye.

In a primary rainbow, the arc shows red on the outer part and violet on the inner side. This rainbow is caused by light being refracted when entering a droplet of water, then reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

In a double rainbow, a second arc is seen outside the primary arc, and has the order of its colours reversed, with red on the inner side of the arc. This is caused by the light being reflected twice on the inside of the droplet before leaving it.

Stroke, Cerebrovascular accident

 

A stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue.

The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, most often on one side of the body. Other symptoms include: confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech; difficulty seeing with one or both eyes; difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; severe headache with no known cause; fainting or unconsciousness.

The effects of a stroke depend on which part of the brain is injured and how severely it is affected. A very severe stroke can cause sudden death.

Tularaemia don't ignore symptoms..

Tularaemia

Tularaemia is primarily a disease of a wide variety of wild mammals and birds. Humans become infected mainly through the bite of arthropods, particularly ticks and mosquitoes, and through the skin, conjunctival sac or oropharyngeal mucosa, by direct contact with infected animals or animal materials and by ingestion of contaminated food or water or inhalation of contaminated dust or aerosols.

F. tularensis is easily transmitted by aerosols and inhalation of only a few organisms is likely to cause infection. Person-to-person transmission has not been documented.

Are you over weight, Obesity.

Obesity

 

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A crude population measure of obesity is the body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres).

 A person with a BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. A person with a BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered overweight.

Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

 Once considered a problem only in high income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.

10 THINGS ABOUT DIABETES MANAGEMENT YOU MAY NOT KNOW

10 THINGS ABOUT DIABETES MANAGEMENT YOU MAY NOT KNOW

In India, over 72 million people are affected by diabetes. That makes everyone feel like they're somewhat of an expert. Especially when we have someone with diabetes in our own circle of family and friends, we tend to believe we know all about diabetes care.

The reality is most of us have an incomplete or incorrect understanding of this little devil of a disease. Here are a few lesser-known facts about diabetes and diabetes management that may surprise you, and some new information that may help you feel more empowered to take charge of your health.

1. Having a Sweet Tooth Doesn't Cause Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease where blood sugar levels are high. Hence, people with diabetes are often advised to control their sugar intake. Merely having a sweet tooth or eating "too much" sugar, however, doesn't cause diabetes in a healthy person. The reality is your risk of diabetes increases due to many interrelated factors. Diabetes is a disease associated with other factors such as being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle and having unhealthy eating habits, including a high intake of refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and trans fats. The risk of diabetes further increases for someone who has an immediate family member with diabetes, so eating too much sugar alone won't give you diabetes.

2. Diabetes Is a Lifelong Deal

Many people believe the medicines prescribed by their doctors will help cure diabetes once and for all. The fact remains, however, that diabetes, once developed, is a lifelong condition. While it can't be cured completely, it can be managed. With proper diabetes management, including medications and lifestyle modifications, you can lead a normal and fulfilling life.

3. Diabetes Can Affect People of Any Age or Lifestyle

Although being overweight and having an unhealthy lifestyle makes you more prone to diabetes, lean people can also face the condition. Similarly, diabetes is not restricted to the older age group. In fact, three-fourths of the people with diabetes belong to the working-age group. Many children and adolescents have type 1 diabetes, too.

4. Type 2 Diabetes Isn't Milder than Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes can be defined as type 1 or type 2 but not mild or severe. It is just about how well-controlled blood sugar levels and other risk factors are. Untreated or neglected diabetes can lead to serious and permanent complications. The complications of diabetes can be diverse, affect many organs and lead to vision loss, kidney problems or decreased ability to heal, for example.

The good news is proper diabetes management can help people not only lead a perfectly normal life but also avoid complications arising from prolonged uncontrolled diabetes. You can discuss with your doctor about what diabetes management methods work for you. Medications and/or insulin, along with regular blood glucose monitoring and lifestyle changes, can help you achieve these targets.

5. Diabetes Affects More Than Blood Sugar Levels

In India, the layman term for diabetes is 'high blood sugar,' and people seriously believe it to be so. However, diabetes management is not only about taking an insulin injection or declining a sugary dessert to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

Medical research has shown that diabetes can affect multiple body systems and can cause a variety of problems. For example, diabetes increases the risk of heart-related problems. Hence, while it's important to keep a check on blood sugar, it is also advisable to undergo a regular checkup to identify any other problems in a timely manner.

6. People With Diabetes May Not Need to Restrict All Sugar

It's a common notion that having diabetes and getting started on treatment means you have to refrain from absolutely all sweets. However, with well-controlled blood glucose levels and regular exercise, it's generally safe to have a sweet once in a while. The key is not to indulge and to keep your portion size small. Save the sweet treat for special occasions.

7. A Diagnosis of Diabetes Can Be Emotionally Challenging

Diabetes and depression often go hand in hand, with one increasing the risk of other. Research suggests that some cases of diabetes and depression share similar biological origins. Hormonal imbalance as well as high blood glucose in diabetes causes an imbalance in the neurotransmitters, ultimately causing depression. The feeling of "Why me?" at the time of diagnosis can begin the series of negative emotions like anger, denial, disbelief or depression. The emotional turmoil a person with diabetes undergoes adds to the weight of depression.

It's best to avoid such negativity and look for help from a counsellor when such feelings begin. And don't be afraid to reach out to your loved ones; a bit of emotional support from your friends and family will keep you motivated to lead a more fulfilling life.

8. Prediabetes Is Reversible

Unlike full-blown diabetes, prediabetes causes slightly high blood glucose levels. Without proper care, prediabetes can lead to a diabetes diagnosis and the serious issues that come with it. To preempt this development, it's important to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels during your regular medical checkups, especially if you have prediabetes or a family history of diabetes. If your blood sugar levels concern your doctor, talk to them about proper lifestyle changes, dietary modifications and ways to lose any excess weight to help you prevent a diabetes diagnosis.

9. Adequate Diabetes Management Can Prevent Foot and Leg Complications

An internet search on diabetes complications results in an array of visuals of foot complications. Fear of diabetes complications often creates anxiety and stress among people with diabetes. Do not get intimidated and overwhelmed! Foot-related problems in diabetes occur due to poor blood circulation, damage to the nerves and slower healing. Proper diabetes care and regular inspection of your feet can help to avoid such problems, so consult your doctor as soon as you notice any problem.

10. Insulin May Be Necessary Anyway

Despite being particular about your medications, diet and exercise, your blood glucose levels may be high and your doctor may tell you to start taking insulin. You may feel guilty — like you have failed to take care of your diabetes. However, the fact is diabetes progresses slowly with time. The disease that was initially manageable with diet and exercise may ultimately need insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose level. The key is to keep your blood glucose levels in a normal range, be it with lifestyle or insulin, and one does not mean failure over another.

Understanding facts about the disease will help you achieve better control over diabetes. All you need is timely medical advice and the motivation to stay healthy!

Hypertension ,don't ignore.....

Hypertension

 

Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

 Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels. 

Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.

Asbestos , dangerous for health.

Asbestos: elimination of asbestos-related danger

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with current or historical commercial usefulness due to their extraordinary tensile strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. For these reasons, asbestos is used for insulation in buildings and as an ingredient in a number of products, such as roofing shingles, water supply lines, and fire blankets, as well as clutches and brake linings, gaskets, and pads for automobiles.

The main forms of asbestos are chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). Other forms include amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite.

Why is asbestos a problem?

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to asbestos, including chrysotile, causes cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries, and also mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings). Asbestos exposure is also responsible for other diseases such as asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and plaques, thickening and effusion in the pleura.

Currently, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Approximately half of the deaths from occupational cancer are estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousand deaths annually can be attributed to exposure to asbestos in the home.

It has also been shown that co-exposure to tobacco smoke and asbestos fibres substantially increases the risk for lung cancer – and the heavier the smoking, the greater the risk.

What about asbestos substitute materials?

Many fibre substitutes for chrysotile asbestos  pose a relatively low hazard to human health, though, the carcinogenic hazard of some fibre substitutes was found to be high. However, there are many non-fibre low hazard materials that can substitute for chrysotile asbestos in various uses, such as conventional building materials.

What is Healthy Ageing?

Every person – in every country in the world – should have the opportunity to live a long and healthy life. Yet, the environments in which we live can favour health or be harmful to it. Environments are highly influential on our behaviour, our exposure to health risks (for example air pollution, violence), our access to quality health and social care and the opportunities that ageing brings.

Healthy Ageing is about creating the environments and opportunities that enable people to be and do what they value throughout their lives. Everybody can experience Healthy Ageing. Being free of disease or infirmity is not a requirement for Healthy Ageing as many older adults have one or more health conditions that, when well controlled, have little influence on their wellbeing.

Healthy Ageing and functional ability

WHO defines Healthy Ageing “as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age”. Functional ability is about having the capabilities that enable all people to be and do what they have reason to value. This includes a person’s ability to:

• meet their basic needs;
• to learn, grow and make decisions;
• to be mobile;
• to build and maintain relationships; and
• to contribute to society.

Functional ability is made up of the intrinsic capacity of the individual, relevant environmental characteristics and the interaction between them.

Intrinsic capacity comprises all the mental and physical capacities that a person can draw on and includes their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember. The level of intrinsic capacity is influenced by a number of factors such as the presence of diseases, injuries and age-related changes.

Environments include the home, community and broader society, and all the factors within them such as the built environment, people and their relationships, attitudes and values, health and social policies, the systems that support them and the services that they implement. Being able to live in environments that support and maintain your intrinsic capacity and functional ability is key to Healthy Ageing.

Key considerations of Healthy Ageing

Diversity: There is no typical older person. Some 80-year-olds have levels of physical and mental capacity that compare favourably with 30-year-olds. Others of the same age may require extensive care and support for basic activities like dressing and eating. Policy should be framed to improve the functional ability of all older people, whether they are robust, care dependent or in between.

Inequity: A large proportion (approximately 75%) of the diversity in capacity and circumstance observed in older age is the result of the cumulative impact of advantage and disadvantage across people’s lives. Importantly, the relationships we have with our environments are shaped by factors such as the family we were born into, our sex, our ethnicity, level of education and financial resources.

Vaccines

A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. 

A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins. 

The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as foreign, destroy it, and "remember" it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.

                                         Microcephaly

Key facts

• Microcephaly is a condition where a baby is born with a small head or the head stops growing after birth.
• Microcephaly is a rare condition. One baby in several thousand is born with microcephaly.
• The most reliable way to assess whether a baby has microcephaly is to measure head circumference 24 hours after birth, compare the value with WHO growth standards, and continue to measure the rate of head growth in early infancy.
• Babies born with microcephaly may develop convulsions and suffer physical and learning disabilities as they grow older.
• There are no specific tests to determine if a baby will be born with microcephaly, but ultrasound scans in the third trimester of pregnancy can sometimes identify the problem.
• There is no specific treatment for microcephaly.

Microcephaly is a condition where a baby has a head size much smaller compared with other babies of the same age and sex. Head size is an important measurement to monitor a child’s brain growth. The severity of microcephaly ranges from mild to severe. Microcephaly can be present at birth (congenital) or may develop postnatally (acquired).

Scope of the problem

Microcephaly is a rare condition. Reported estimate incidence of microcephaly has wide variation due to the differences in the definition and target population.

Increased number or clustering of cases of microcephaly have been reported in context of outbreaks of Zika virus infection. The most likely explanation of available evidence is that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities including microcephaly.

In addition to microcephaly, a range of manifestations of varying severity has been reported among newborns that were exposed to Zika virus in utero. These include malformations of the head, seizures, swallowing problems, hearing and sight abnormalities. Other outcomes associated with Zika virus infection in utero may involve miscarriages and stillbirths. Together, this spectrum is referred to as ‘congenital Zika virus syndrome.’

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis of microcephaly can sometimes be made by fetal ultrasound. Ultrasounds have the best diagnosis possibility if they are made at the end of the second trimester, around 28 weeks, or in the third trimester of pregnancy. Often diagnosis is made at birth or at a later stage.

Babies should have their head circumference measured in the first 24 hours after birth and compared with WHO growth standards. The result will be interpreted in relation to the gestational age of the baby, and also the baby’s weight and length. Suspected cases should be reviewed by a paediatrician, have brain imaging scans, and have their head circumference measured at monthly intervals in early infancy and compared with growth standards. Doctors should also test for known causes of microcephaly.

Causes of microcephaly

There are many potential causes of microcephaly, but often the cause remains unknown. The most common causes include:

• infections during pregnancy: toxoplasmosis (caused by a parasite found in undercooked meat), Campylobacter pylori, rubella, herpes, syphilis, cytomegalovirus, HIV and Zika;
• exposure to toxic chemicals: maternal exposure to heavy metals like arsenic and mercury, alcohol, radiation, and smoking;
• pre- and perinatal injuries to the developing brain (hypoxia-ischemia, trauma);
• genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome; and
• severe malnutrition during fetal life.

Based on a systematic review of the literature up to 30 May 2016, WHO has concluded that Zika virus infection during pregnancy is a cause of congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly; and that Zika virus is a trigger of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Signs and symptoms

Many babies born with microcephaly may demonstrate no other symptoms at birth but go on to develop epilepsy, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, hearing loss and vision problems. In some cases, children with microcephaly develop entirely normally.

Treatment and care

There is no specific treatment for microcephaly. A multidisciplinary team is important to assess and care for babies and children with microcephaly. Early intervention with stimulation and play programmes may show positive impacts on development. Family counselling and support for parents is also extremely important.

Escherichia coli;

Escherichia coli infections

Escherichia coli;

 is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and other warm-blooded animals. While most strains are harmless, some can cause severe foodborne disease.

 E. coli infection is usually transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food, such as undercooked meat products and raw milk.

Symptoms of disease include abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, which may be bloody. Fever and vomiting may also occur. Most patients recover within 10 days, although in a few cases the disease may become life-threatening.

Largest cholera vaccine drive in history

A spate of cholera outbreaks across Africa has prompted the largest cholera vaccination drive in history, with more than two million people across the continent set to receive oral cholera vaccine (OCV).

                                                                                                

The vaccines, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, were sourced from the global stockpile and are being used to carry out five major campaigns in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan and Nigeria. The campaigns, which will be completed by mid-June, are being implemented by the respective Ministries of Health supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), and mostly in reaction to recent cholera outbreaks.

                                                                                                                          

In the 15 years between 1997 and 2012 just 1.5 million doses of cholera vaccines were used worldwide. In 2017 alone almost 11 million were used, from Sierra Leone to Somalia to Bangladesh. In the first four months of 2018 over 15 million doses have already been approved for use worldwide.

                                                                                                                                     

“This is an unprecedented response to a spike in cholera outbreaks across Africa,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “We have worked hard to ensure there is now enough vaccine supply to keep the global stockpile topped up and ready for most eventualities. However with more and more people now succumbing to this terrible, preventable disease, the need for improved water and sanitation – the only long-term, sustainable solution to cholera outbreaks – has never been clearer.”

Through its Regional Office for Africa, WHO regularly provides technical and operational support to countries often affected by cholera in Africa. In particular, since the beginning of 2018 WHO has led on providing technical expertise and guidance, working closely with Ministries of Health in the five countries to plan and implement the campaigns with different partners. This is part of a global push to reduce cholera deaths by 90 percent by 2030.

“Oral cholera vaccines are a key weapon in our fight against cholera,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But there are many other things we need to do to keep people safe. WHO and our partners are saving lives every day by improving access to clean water and sanitation, establishing treatment centres, delivering supplies, distributing public health guidance, training health workers, and working with communities on prevention.”

The burden of cholera remains high in many African countries. As of 7 May many countries are facing cholera outbreaks, with at least 12 areas or countries reporting active cholera transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent developments in the use of OCVs show that the strong mobilisation of countries and partners can effectively tackle the disease when tools for prevention and control are readily available.

“Every rainy season, cholera springs up and brings devastation to communities across Africa,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa. “With this historic cholera vaccination drive, countries in the region are demonstrating their commitment to stopping cholera from claiming more lives. We need to build on this momentum through a multisectoral approach and ensure that everyone has access to clean water and sanitation, no matter where they are located.”