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2018 American Fitness

Regular physical activity is considered one of the most important ways people can boost and maintain their health. Media messages and advertisements for fitness-related gear have become common as businesses and health organizations recognize the growing interest in adopting healthy behaviors. While a portion of Americans are physically active, not more than 25% of adults meet national physical activity guidelines. Obesity cases are on the rise withmedical costs exceeding $147 billion every year.

Physical fitness is described as the ability of one carrying all daily activities or tasks with alertness and vigor, without undue fatigue, and with enough energy to enjoy leisure time and also respond to emergencies.

Physical fitness involves components such as:

Aerobic power or cardiorespiratory endurance

Skeletal muscle endurance

Flexibility

Skeletal muscle power

Speed of movement

Reaction time

Balance

Body composition

Physical activities have been found to enhance mental and social health, physical health, and economic health. Recent studies suggest that for us to improve health and fitness, get rid of disease and disability, and enhance healthy living through physical activity, we must create a culture that integrates physical activity into our daily lives.

Stats on Physical Activity

Statistics show that about 77.5 percent of adults in 100 of the largest cities in the United States reported participating in any physical activity in the previous month. 51.5 percent of the reported to have met the aerobic guidelines provided by the ACSM and CDC while 22.2 percent of the said that they met guidelines for both aerobic and strength physical activities.

The top 10 most active cities in terms of all three physical activity indicators include: 

Any Exercise

Madison, WI

Portland, OR

Boise, ID

Seattle, WA

Charlotte, NC

Raleigh, NC

Minneapolis, MN

Colorado Springs, CO

Durham, NC

Denver, CO

Aerobic Activities

Boise, ID

San Diego, CA

Chula Vista, CA

San Jose, CA

Seattle, WA

Rena, NV

San Francisco, CA

Portland, OR

Madison, WI

Denver, CO

Aerobic & Strengthening Activities

Plano, TX

Arlington, VA

Boise, ID

Denver, CO

Reno, NV

San Jose, CA

Virginia Beach, VA

Colorado Springs, CO

St. Petersburg, FL

Albuquerque, NM

According to the statistics above, Madison, WI residents performed the most physical activities with about 90.9 residents exercising in the previous month. Boise, ID also topped the aerobic activity chart with about 63.9 percent residents meeting the aerobic guidelines. Plano, TX was ranked number 1 in aerobic and strengthening activities with about 31.4 residents meeting the guidelines. Denver, CO and Boise, ID were ranked number 7 and 10 respectively in the top 10 overall for the three physical activity indicators.

For cities ranked in the top 25 overall, about 82 percent of their residents reported to have engaged in any physical activity in the previous month with an average of about 24.6 percent of them meeting the guidelines for strength and aerobics. Across all cities in the U.S, there is need to improve strengthening activities that help increase lean muscle mass and also make stronger bones.

Top Fitness Cities

The ranking of the cities was done by looking at the fitness community infrastructure, chronic diseases, and health behaviors among other factors. See the top 10 and the bottom 10 cities according to the American College of Sports Medicine:

Here are the top 10 fitness cities in 2018:

Arlington, Virginia

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Washington, DC

Madison, Wisconsin

Portland, Oregon

Seattle, Washington

Denver, Colorado

St. Paul, Minnesota

San Jose, California

Boise, Idaho

Here are the Bottom 10 cities of a list of 100:

Tulsa, Oklahoma

North Las Vegas, Nevada

Gilbert, Arizona

Fresno, California

Wichita, Kansas

Toledo, Ohio

Detroit, Michigan

Louisville, Kentucky

Indianapolis, Indiana

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

ACSM and CDC Recommendations

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Center or Disease and Control (CDC) have the following recommendations that will help you become both mentally and physically fit:

1.      150 Minutes per Week- You are recommended to have at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week.  If you cannot manage 150 minutes per week, you may have at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of moderate and vigorous physical activities. ACSM and CDC recommend that you spread out the activities throughout the week to see better results. Moderate aerobic physical activities include activities such as mowing the lawn, swimming, and brisk walking. On the other hand, vigorous aerobic exercise includes activities such as aerobic running and running.

2.      2 X per Week- You should have muscle-strengthening physical activities at least 2 times per week. This includes working all major muscle groups to ensure they remain active and strong. Muscle strengthening activities include use of weight machine, resistant tubing, use of own body weight, strenuous activities such as rock or mountain climbing and resistant paddles in water.

3.      Reduce sitting time- Reducing your sitting time is also another important measure for your fitness. Studies show that the more you sit every day, the higher your risk of metabolic problems. This is possible even if you achieve the recommended amount of daily physical activities.

4.      Short on long chunks of time- Even a little physical activity is important for your health. For instance, you may not have enough time for a 30 minute walk, but 10 minutes are as well important. The important thing is to have physical activity as part of your life.

In general, if you can get at least 30 minutes for physical activities every day, it will do you good. If your aim is to lose weight or achieve certain fitness goals, then you may need more exercise. You can reach more health and fitness goals including weight loss and building of lean muscles by increasing workout time to at least 300 minutes per week.

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5 Benefits of Yoga Benefits

If you care about health and fitness, you should have heard by now that yoga is good for you. Maybe you have even tried yoga and realized that it makes you feel better. Studies show that consistent yoga practice can offer all kinds of physical and mental health benefits. Some benefits such as weight loss and flexibility are clearly evident while others such as stress relief and an immunity boost may be subtle but are just as powerful.

Below are the benefits of yoga that make it a perfect tool for an increased feeling of well-being:

1.     All around fitness

Yoga is so important when it comes to your fitness. Studies shows that yoga moves and stretches help in improving all aspects of fitness such as:

Building strength

Yoga poses will always require you to bear the body weight in different ways such as balancing your legs as in tree pose and also supporting your body weight by use of arms. Holding on all these poses can help your bones and muscles become stronger.

Improve balance

Yoga can as well help you get improved balance. Of course balance is one of the most important benefits of yoga especially for aging individuals. Poses where you stand on one leg and inversions can help you build core strength.

Improve flexibility

Yoga moves and stretches have been seen to help improve your flexibility by giving greater range of motion to tight areas. When practicing yoga, you should expect to gain flexibility in your hips, back, hamstring, and shoulders with time. It is well know that our flexibility decreases as we age, especially when we spend a lot of time sitting. Lack of stability leads to immobility and pain but yoga can help you reverse this process.

Increased muscle tone

Muscle tone and definition is one of the by-products of getting fit and strong. Yoga is a practice the helps you develop lean muscles in the abdomen, legs, arms, and back.

Improve joint health

Unlike other physical activities, yoga involves low impact movements that help you exercise your joints without injuring them. Yoga can also help strengthen the muscle around your joints,helping them bear the body’s weight or load without getting injured. This explains why yoga is very important for arthritic patients. With gentle yoga moves, patients can see marked improvement in their joint pain and mobility.

Weight loss

Yoga movements and stretches are not as vigorous as those in other, more intensive physical activities, but they can still help you lose excess weight. Many yoga practices burn fewer calories compared to traditional exercises such as walking and jogging. However, yoga can help increase your mindfulness and the way you relate to your body. So if you practice yoga, you will be more aware of what you need to eat to live healthily. This means you will have to make better food choices for a flexible body.

2.      Stress relief

Physical activities are very good for relieving your stress, and this is very true with yoga. Stress is common and it’s hard to avoid it within our working environments. However, with yoga you can melt away all daily trouble, both large and small. Yoga, especially on the mat can help break all the stressors by giving you the ability to put all your problems into perspective. The emphasis yoga gives you at the moment of practice can as well help you learn how anticipate the future and dwell on past events.

Studies show that you can leave your yoga class feeling stronger and less stressed.

3.      Immunity and peace

Recent research shows that yoga is very important for your immune system. It has been found to boost the immune system and decrease chronic inflammation. Psychological stress can affect your body systems especially the immune system by increasing chronic inflammation. Inflammation is an important immune response as it helps in wound an infection healing but long-term inflammation can do harm to your body.

Research shows that regular yoga practices or postures can help boost your immune system and reduce chronic inflammation. It does this by reducing the pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-1 beta and also increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10. Yoga can as well mediate inflammation at genomic level by changing the levels of proteins that initiate DNA transcription of the major pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Yoga also can help improve peace or mental calmness. Physical yoga practices such as asana helps one concentrate intently on what the body is doing, something that can bring an effect of calmness to the mind. Yoga also help you exercise meditation techniques such as how to focus on your breath and disengage your thoughts from the world. Such skills can be very important in off-the-mat situations such as during times of anxiety, or a bout of insomnia.

4.      Improve breathing

We usually take short breaths and don’t think about how breathing can impact our health. Yoga breathing exercises, usually known as pranayama, usually focus on breathing attention that can teach us how to take deeper breaths. Deep breaths are beneficial to the entire body as they can help calm the nervous system and also help clear nasal passages for allergic people.

5.      Prevent back pain

As you have noted, yoga can help increase your strength and flexibility which in turn can help prevent the causes of some types of back pain. It is evident the most people who experience back pain spend most of their time sitting, either in offices or driving. This causes body tightness and spinal compressing leading to back pain. Yoga postures can help counteract all these conditions.

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Common Stress and Cures : Causes and Types

Stress can be defined as an emotional or physical response to pressures or demands that you may experience from time to time in your life. Stress is usually a part of everyone’s life and at times it serves a useful purpose in our bodies. However, if you cannot handle stress, it can become long-term and can seriously affect your job, family life, and your overall well-being.

Causes of Stress

Stress can come either from your workplace or other factors in life. Below are the common factors that can lead to stress:

Attitudes and perceptions- The way you view the world or a particular situation can determine whether you get stressed or not.

Fear and uncertainty-Hearing things that induce fear such as disease outbreak, global warming, floods, and terrorist attacks can make you feel stressed.

Change- Major Life changes can as well make you stressed. Such changes include divorce, financial constraints, death of a family member or a job promotion can induce stress.

Unrealistic expectations- If you expect everything to be right every time, you will be frustrated since no personis perfect. You will get stressed if things don’t go as you expected or planned.

Types of stress

Major types of stress include:

Acute stress- This is the most common type of stress coming from an immediate challenge, demand or event in your life. This type of stress isn’t always negative and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, upset stomach, sleeping problems and difficulty concentrating.

Episodic acute stress- It occurs as a result of frequent acute stress. This usually occurs to people with a crisis.

Chronic stress- If you don’t resolve an acute stress, its effects can become persistent over the long run becoming chronic stress. This stress is constant and don’t go away. Chronic stress comes from life’s situations such as poverty, a bad job or an unhappy marriage. Chronic stress can be detrimental to your health causing serious problems such as:

Suicide

Accidents

Cancer

Heart disease

Lung disease

Liver cirrhosis

Weight loss or gain

Fertility problems

Arrhythmia

Skin problems

Stress Management and Relief

Developing ways to treat or manage stress can help prevent negative effects it would pose to your body. Below are approaches you can take to relieve, manage or cope with stress:

Healthy Diet

Your diet and stress levels are closely related. When you are stressed, there is a possibility that you will not eat well and go for fatty and sugary foods or snacks. When you are stressed you should at all cost avoid sugary foods and other foods that may increase tension such as tea and coffee. Go for foods such as vegetables and fruits since they are considered good foods to keep you active. You should also go for fish as it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that have been found to help reduce symptoms of stress. Tuna is also good for your brain activity and can as well help cure stress.

Exercise

Exercise is a very important tool in stress reduction as it helps release built-up tension while increasing fitness. Exercise helps increase your body’s ability to deal with all types of stress, therefore helping avoid the damage to your health in case of chronic stress. Exercising for at least 3 times per week can bring benefits when it comes to stress reduction. Exercise does not necessarily mean heavy weight lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. Stretching or even taking a simple walk can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation.

Physical activity has also been found to help release endorphins that help boost your mood immediately and also enhance deep sleep.

Better sleep

As you know, stress can cause sleeping difficulties. On the other hand, lack of sleep can also be a cause of stress. Lack of sleep triggers release of stress hormone (cortisol) while hindering secretion of melatonin and growth hormone. This vicious cycle can cause your brain to get out of whack, getting worse with time. You should therefore make sure you get quality and deep sleep for the recommended 7 to 8 hours a day. You should also turn off the TV and dim light to give yourself enough time to relax.

Listen to music

In case you are overwhelmed by a stressful situation, you should take a break and listen to soft or relaxing music. Studies have found that playing calm or relaxing music has a positive effect on your brain and body. Calm music helps reduce cortisol levels and also lower blood pressure.

Relaxation

Relation is another effective approach to cure or ward off stress by reducing muscle tension associated with stress. Different relaxation techniques you can apply to reduce stress include tai chi and yoga, Pilates, meditation, and massage. For example, yoga is associated with meditation, a mindful and somatic approach to mental health. Tai chi and Pilates also help one incorporate mental and physical exercises of mindfulness that can prevent stress from becoming a problem to you.

Taking a deep breath in yoga, tai chi, or Pilates classes can as well help relieve stress. Breathing during mediation which takes 3 to 5 minutes, either slowly or deeply helps give your blood enough oxygen which is beneficial in clearing your mind.

Counseling

Discussing your concerns with specialists or close friends is also important as it can help you recognize your stressors. Knowing your causes of stress can help you design strategies to deal with them. It is not necessary to go to a professional therapist. A work colleague, a close friend, or a trusted family member can help you manage stress through a discussion. Asking for help should not feel like a sign of weakness. Knowing when you should seek help is one of the approaches needed to deal with stress more appropriately.

Medications

In severe cases of stress, your doctor can prescribe medications to help treat some of the symptoms caused by stress. You should consider medication as a short-term treatment of stress. Medications should also be closely monitored by the prescribing doctor.

Alternative therapies

Studies have found that some alternative therapies can apply in treating or preventing stress. Such therapies include homeopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine.

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Air Pollution

Breathing is something we do involuntarily, so we never take time to think about it. But this should not give us a reason to ignore issues related to air quality. Knowing how essential the air we breathe is as important as knowing the water you drink or food you eat. Did you know that air pollution causes more than 7 million deaths worldwide every year? Statistics also show that 1 out of 8 deaths globally are caused by polluted air. Poor quality air due to pollution has led to increased death rate from diseases such as lung disease, lung cancer, heart disease and cystic fibrosis.

This article has compiled the causes of air pollution, diseases and death ratio, country statistics on air pollution, and measures we can take to prevent air pollution.

Major air Pollutants

Major air pollutants and their effects on health include:

Ozone- This is a gas formed when nitrogen oxides coming from burning organic compounds such as coal and gasoline mix in presence of sunlight. Ozone is the major component of smog and prolonged exposure of it can be very dangerous. Ozone causes diseases such as coughs, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing and also increases frequency of asthmatic attacks.

Lead- This comes from combustion of leaded gasoline. Can also come from old metal pipes and lead paints. Lead can cause complications such as heart attack, strokes in adults, decreased IQ and kidney problems in children.

Carbon monoxide- It is a gas that originates from burnt fossil fuels especially under limited supply of oxygen. Causes oxygen debt in major body parts leading to dizziness, headache and a feeling of tiredness. High concentration can cause heart disease.

Arsenic- It is a chemical that comes from industrial and commercial activities. Can cause damage to the nervous system, reproductive and gastrointestinal tract.

Methane- This gas comes from decomposing animal or plant matter. It can cause explosion and suffocation in high levels.

Sulfur dioxide- This is an emission of the fossil fuel combustion, especially from power plants and other industrial facilities. Short term exposure of this gas can exacerbate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. Other oxides of sulfur can react with air components causing super-penetrative particles that can get easily into your lungs causing respiratory problems and heart disease.

Benzene- This is a gas that comes from motor vehicle exhausts, tobacco smoke and gas stations. Exposure to benzene can lead to interference with red blood cells and bone marrow causing anemia. Benzene can also cause damage to the white blood cells damaging the immune system.

Particulate matter- This can be either coarse dust from sea spray and construction sites or fine particles from power plants and burning fuel in vehicles. Particulate matter can enter your lungs damaging its tissue hence accelerating asthma attack and other respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis and bronchitis.

Nitrogen dioxide- This is a gas that comes from burnt fossil fuels and indoor gas cookers. Can cause respiratory problems such as bronchitis.

Death in the Air

Air pollution has been found to cost money and lives. Statistics show that it is the 4th leading killer or risk factor for deaths across the globe. While death ratio is high in young children and elder adults, the deaths can also affect low income populations. Loss of life is tragic while cost to the economy is substantial.

More than 7 million people die prematurely every year due to both outdoor and household air pollution. The deaths are caused by the following diseases:

Pneumonia caused by air pollution has led to 21 percent of these deaths

Stroke- 20 percent

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) – 34 percent deaths

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-  19 percent deaths

Lung cancer- 7 percent

Other diseases or conditions that can be caused by air pollution include:

Asthma attack

Wheezing and coughing

Shortness of breath

Infection susceptibility

Premature death

Lung tissue selling and redness

Mental retardation and cognitive function

Air Pollution Country Statistics

Air pollution is usually measured based on the concentration of two types of pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM10). According to 2012 WHO statistics, here are the worst and best countries in terms of air quality.  

Worst countries and causes of death

China- Experienced 1032833 stroke, 228479 lung cancer, 449373 IHD and 90626 COPD deaths as a result of air pollution.

Hungary-4324 IHD, 2000 lung cancer and 1659 stroke deaths

Georgia- 2127 IHD, 1358 stroke, 192 lung cancer and 52 COPD deaths

Latvia- 1156 IHD, 496 stroke and 199 lung cancer deaths

Bosnia and Herzegovina- 1454 stroke, 1398 IHD, 583 lung cancer and 100 COPD deaths

Armenia- 1643 IHD, 676 stroke and 370 lung cancer deaths

Russia- 83938 IHD, 42216 stroke and 9740 lung cancer deaths

Belarus- 6680 IHD, 2146 stroke and 563 lung cancer deaths

Ukraine- Experienced 54507 stroke and 28707 IHD deaths

Bulgaria- 4032 IHD, 3248 stroke

Best countries

The top 10 best countries in terms of air quality include:

Fiji

Brunei

Sweden

Australia

New Zealand

Cameroon

Finland

Iceland

Liberia

Papua New Guinea

The above statistics represent PM2.5 and PM10pollution and deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

Combating Air Pollution

To help reduce air pollution, the following steps are important:

Create awareness- If you know where and when the air is polluted can help people avoid the risks the pollution put on their health. People should therefore be regularly updated and also offered advice on how to handle an air quality risk.

Speaking up- The problem of air pollution is too big for one entity to solve. Tell your local government to support clean air by pushing regulations on industries and gas vehicles and then share your story. Sharing stories and joining air pollution conversations can help solve the problem as a group.

Taking the right steps to clean the air- To clean up pollution, less driving, less electricity, and cleaning up dirty power plants is recommended.

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Sports Related Eye injuries

No one starts any kind of sport with the expectation of getting injured. However, injuries are a part of any sport and one should always be prepared. Sports have become very popular in the current world and account for numerous eye injuries every year.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 40,000 Americans get eye injuries while participating in sports or games every year. While children are the most vulnerable to sport related eye injuries when in sporting activities, even experienced athletes can suffer eye injuries while on the job.

Sport related eye injuries can be classified as low risk, high risk and very high risk. Some sports are considered low risk and include those that do not use a ball, bat, racquet, puck, stick and involve little or no body contact.

The good news is that more than 90 percent of sport related injuries can be avoided or prevented. This article will take you through the types of sport related eye injuries and how they can be prevented and treated.

Types of injuries

You should know that even the sports that have low body contact have a degree of risk when it comes to eye injuries. From softball to racquetball, all players should take the necessary steps to help protect their eyes from all flying objects and other player’s body parts. The most common types of sports related eye injuries include the following:

Penetrating eye injuries- These are injuries that occur when an object penetrates into the eye. With this type of eye injury, the depth or intensity and location of penetration determines the damage caused to the eye. Objects that can cause injury to your eye include flying debris, broken glass, and another player’s finger getting into the eye, or coming into contact with another player’s equipment or gear. Penetrating injuries range from mild to deep cuts and sometimes can cause permanent loss of vision.

Blunt eye trauma- This type of injury occurs when someone or something hits you around or in the eye. If you misjudge the speed of an object or come into direct contact with your opponent’s body, it can result into a very painful blow into the eye or the face. Minor trauma injuries of the eye can cause a short time bleeding in the eyelid a condition known as black eye. However, blunt eye injuries may lead to more severe impacts such as:

o   Raptured retina/globe- Happens when you have a damaged eyeball

o   Detached retina- Occurs when the retina (a tissue that is sensitive to light) separates from the rest of the eye.

o   Orbital blowout fracture- It’s a severe injury where one or more bones that surrounds the eyeball are broken.

Chemical burn- Chemical burns on your eyes occur when the sprays or chemical powders used to mark the lines are kicked up and get into your eyes. If chemicals such as alkalis and acids get into your eyes they can cause permanent blindness. Other chemicals may cause milder effects into your eyes such as excessive tearing, burning sensation, and irritation. Such effects get away when you wash your eye with cold water or a sterile saline solution.

Radiation eye injury- This is an eye injury that occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight. Research shows that prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can be harmful to your eye vision. Players who play usually on snow or in water in sports such as skiing or surfing are exposed to bright glaring sunlight that reflects off the snow or water. This can increase their risks of eye damage and vision loss.

If you happen to get any type of eye injury, it is recommendable to seek medical treatment attention right away to prevent permanent eye damage. Immediate treatment can help relive your chances of maintaining your vision. You should as well know that not all eye injuries are associated with visual signs and symptoms. You are therefore advised not to ignore any eye injury as it is through a thorough eye examination by an optician you can rule out a serious eye injury.

Treatment of sports related injuries depends solely on the type of injury. It is important for any athlete to know that immediate first aid treatment for an eye injury is very important to help improve the chance to preserve their vision. There are some serious injuries such as penetration of the cornea that would require eye surgery.

Eye Protection Tips

Statistics show that more than 25,000 people go for treatment of sports-related eye injuries every year. The good thing is that almost all eye injuries we get in sports can be prevented.  It doesn’t matter about your age or the type of game you play, you need to protect your eyes. Below are protection tips you can apply to prevent any sport related eye injuries:

Wear strong and proper safety goggles - If you play games that pose you to high risk of eye injuries such as baseball, basketball and racquet games, you should wear lensed polycarbonate protectors.

Use helmets - It is recommendable to use helmets and face shields that are approved by the U.S Amateur Hockey Association to help protect your face when playing hockey.

Use battling helmets – For baseball players, it is important to use a helmet or polycarbonate face shields

Protective eye wear- To be sure that your eyes are fully protected in any sport, you need to use any eye guard, or sports protective eye wear that is labeled as ASTM F803 approved. This is eyewear that is tested for higher levels of eye protection and also approved for the purpose.

Prevent Blindness America also recommends all athletes to wear eye guards when participating in any kind of sport. Sunglasses, prescription glasses, and also occupational safety glasses will not offer you adequate eye protection. It is important also to know what to do in case of an eye emergency since it helps you save your valuable time and also have a chance to prevent eye or vision loss.

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Epilepsy in Children: Causes & Diagnosis

Epilepsy is considered the most common childhood brain disorder in the U.S with more than 3 million Americans suffering from the condition. About 450,000 out of the 3 million with epilepsy are children under 17 years of age.

Epilepsy is defined as a neurological condition where a person has a tendency to have seizures that begin in the brain. Our brains are made up of millions of nerve cells that make use of electric signals to control all body functions, thoughts, and senses. If the signals are altered in any way, the person will experience epileptic seizures.

Research shows that more than two thirds of American children with epilepsy outgrow seizures by the time they are teenagers. It is therefore important for parents to help their children maintain a healthy lifestyle such as regular medical visits to protect them from seizures.

Causes of Epilepsy

As we have already discussed, epilepsy is a brain disorder usually characterized by a recurrent seizure. A seizure on the other hand is a disorderly or an abnormal discharging of the nerve cells in the brain causing a temporary disturbance of the mental, motor or sensory function.

There are many types of seizures that can cause epilepsy depending on the type of the brain where the seizure has originated. So, the term ‘epilepsy’ alone is not enough to describe the type of seizure causing it. For you to understand the causes of epilepsy, you should first know the causes of seizures and types of seizures.

Understanding seizures

Seizures in children have many causes. Some of the causes of childhood seizures and epilepsy include:

Genetic causes

Oxygen deprivation in brain cells

Disorders that are linked to brain development

Injury of the head

Fever that results to febrile seizures

Infections of the brain and meninges

Hydrocephalus which occurs as a result of excessive water in the brain cavities

It is important to note that not all seizures are epileptic. For example, some conditions may look like epilepsy such as fainting. Fainting occurs as a result of drop in blood pressure and other conditions such as febrile convulsions occur as a result of fever or sudden rise in body temperature when a child is sick. Both fainting and febrile convulsions are not epileptic seizures since they don’t cause disruption of the brain activity in any way.

There are several types of epileptic seizures which depend on the part or area of the brain affected. There are three majorcategories which include:

Generalized seizures – These are seizures that affects the both sides of the brain or groups of nerve cells on both sides of the brain at the same time. These include seizures such as absence or atonic and tonic-clonic seizures among others.

Focal seizures - These are seizures that affect one side of the brain and are sometimes called partial seizures. Focal seizures usually start in one area or group of nerve cells in one side of the brain. They may appear as “focal onset aware seizures” when the person is awake and aware of them or as “focal onset impaired awareness” when a person is in a state of confusion or their awareness is affected during the time of focal seizure.

Unknown seizures – These are seizures with unknown origin. Seizures may also be called unknown if they are not witnessed by anyone especially during the night.

Generally, the types of seizures in adults and children are the same, although some are common in children compared to adults. Symptoms that accompany different types of seizures include:

Repetitive movements

Jerking of the body also known as convulsions

Unusual body sensation such as a strange taste, strange smell or a rising stomach feeling.

In some seizure types, a child may be aware of what is happening to him or her. In others, a child may go into a state of unconsciousness and may not have any memory of the seizure afterwards.

How to Diagnose Epilepsy

Making a diagnosis means identifying a certain disorder by its signs and symptoms. A doctor will diagnose a child with epilepsy if:

The child experiences one or more seizures.

If the doctor thinks that the child has a likelihood of getting a recurring seizure.

If the seizure was not caused by an underlying medical condition such as a severe infection or diabetes.

If the seizures occur more than once with no known cause such as fever, diabetes or brain injury then the child is a candidate for epilepsy diagnosis. Diagnostics processes vary among children but the major tests and exams used in epilepsy diagnosis include:

Detailed account of a seizure- The person who was near when the child had a seizure will be asked questions by the doctor to help evaluate the type and cause of the seizure.

Detailed medical history- The doctors will also like to understand a detailed medical history of a child by asking questions related to mother’s pregnancy, delivery and the family history of epilepsy. The doctor would also want to know if the child had a serious head injury, a high fever, and inattention, a period of staring or breathing holding.

Blood Test- Blood tests are usually carried to help identify any potential causes of seizure such as underlying illnesses or medical conditions.

Physical examination- This entails examination of the mental, cardiac and neurological status.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A MRI scan is performed to create a detailed picture of the child’s brain. This will help evaluate new onset seizure and also the part of the brain where a certain seizure had started.

Computerized axial tomography (CAT) -A computerized CT scan of the brain can be performed to help determine whether a seizure was caused by an illness or an acute neurological lesion.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) -This test is used to access any risk of seizure recurrence in a child. It can as well help determine epilepsy syndrome and the type of seizure.

After one or combination of the above tests and examinations, the doctor will determine whether a child has epilepsy or not.

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Behavioral Insomnia in Children

Quality and deep sleep is very important for children as it helps improve their cognitive, physiological and emotional development. Quality sleep is linked to the human growth hormone (HGH) which is considered a master hormone as it controls all aspects of growth in children including metabolism and growth of muscles and bones. At different stages of child development, sleep patterns change.

In order to help children get the quality sleep needed for quality growth, parents need to have a strong understanding of sleep requirements in different stages of their children’s growth.

A recent study on sleep in children found that about 27 percent of children are sleeping less that required for their age. Sleep deprivationin children has been found to have several consequences such as:

Hyperactivity

Inattention

Impulse control problems

Irritability

Learning troubles

Behavioral issues at home and school

Affected overall quality of life

Poor sleep in children will not only affect the child, but also the parents. When children wake up at the middle of the night, they are unable to sleep soundly again. Most parents take a step of waking up and help the children sleep by soothing them. Over time, both the children and their parents will become sleep deprived.

Of all other sleep disorders affecting children, behavioral insomnia is the most common and has surpassed other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, breathing disorders, parasomnias, and restless leg syndrome.

What is Behavioral Insomnia in Children?

Behavioral insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in children. It has been found to affect more than 25 percent of children. This disorder is characterized by difficulties falling asleep, maintaining deep sleep, quality sleep, and sleep duration. Behavioral insomnia in children is closely related to adult’s sleep hygiene practices that lead to loss of sleep.

Types of Behavioral Insomnia

There are two types of behavioral insomnia in children which include:

Sleep-Onset Association

This is a type of behavioral insomnia mainly found in toddlers and infants. Sleep-onset association is usually caused by negative associations with sleep where the children need a comfort item or a parent to comfort them to initiate sleep. For younger children, they need to be cuddled, nursed or rocked by their parents for them to fall asleep. In case the child wakes in the middle of the night, the parent must wake to sooth the baby into sleep since he or she may not be able to get back to sleep without comfort from a parent.

Other environmental factors may also play a great role in a child’s inability to get to sleep. Such factors include high or low temperature, lighting, and noises in the room that may not create a perfect environment for sleeping. Children are very sensitive to their sleeping environment and poor sleep environment can make the child more reliant on the parent’s comfort to fall asleep.

For teenagers or older children, sleep onset can be linked to certain items in their rooms that may prevent them from falling asleep. Such items include tablets, computers, video gaming consoles, and phones. Such items have been found to prevent older children from going to sleep early.

Research suggests that portable devices can prevent children from sleeping in two different ways:

The contents of the devices may stimulate their minds and attention, keeping them awake for longer periods past their intended bedtime.

Lights emitted from the devices also have the ability to trick the circadian cycle to associate lights with daylight. This may delay release of melatonin (sleep hormone).

Limit-Setting

This is a type of behavioral disorder where children challenge their parents during sleep time and fail to go to bed. This is possible when the child make many requests from the parent to delay bedtime such as request for water, request more reading, more stories, or bathing. Limit-setting insomnia is seen also when the child is defiant and refuses to go to sleep.

If the parents do not set bedtime for their children, then the children will often challenge them during bedtime. Lack of set bedtime and parental enforcement can cause varying bedtimes that can affect the child’s sleep pattern or circadian cycle.

Treatment for Behavioral Insomnia in Children

Treatments for behavioral insomnia include:

Patient Education

This is the first recommended treatment for behavioral insomnia. Parents should be given guidance on the various stages of children sleep development for them to know the duration, timing and frequency of sleep for their children. This can help prevent sleep issues from occurring. If the parents are practicing sleep hygiene on their side, then they can as well help their children get enough and quality sleep.

Sleep-onset Treatments

To help treat behavioral insomnia, parents should focus on changing the children’s habits that are causing lack of sleep for them. Parents should replace that routine of cuddling, nursing and rocking with other sleeping relaxing activities. Such activities include:

o   Extinction- This is a practice of teaching children to sleep on themselves without the need of parents soothing them. This is achieved through the parent avoiding any interaction with the child before sleeping. Even if the child wakes up at the middle of the night, the parent should not physically with the child until he or she trains to sleep without any parental soothing.

o   Scheduled awakenings-This involves waking the child about 10 to 15 minutes earlier than they would during their normal nocturnal awakenings. At this time the parents can perform the normal comforting routines such as rocking and feeding. This treatment helps progress the time in between scheduled awakenings until the child adapt to no waking.

Limit-setting treatments

For parents to treat limit-setting insomnia, they have to set strict bedtime routines for their children and sleep hygiene practices such as:

o   Being consistent with the routine

o   Switching off lights and all electronic gadgets before bedtime

o   Creating pre-bedtime relaxing activities such as good night kiss and relaxing bath

o   Creating a conducive environment free from lights and noise destructions

o   Preferring book reading to TV watching for the children

o   Involving children in physical activities during the day

o   Avoiding drinks such as caffeine

o   Adapting to the same sleep schedule even during weekends

The parent should also consult a child doctor or pediatrician to discuss the child sleep habits to help see the way forward.

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One of the greatest aspects of nursing as a profession is the ability to work in many different roles. It is a field which is constantly evolving. Registered Nurses can work bedside with the sickest patients or opt to care for those who are mostly well. They can work directly with patients or indirectly by collaborating with the team or others involved in healthcare to help patients. For every individual temperament and personality a nursing specialty exists. The pace of a working environment can be fast and full of adrenaline, or a slower pace with lots of time to spend bonding with patients and families. RNs can have a great amount of pressure to do everything perfectly and quickly with extremely high stakes or may work in an environment that is much more relaxed with "well" patients who want to chit-chat while they wait for their physician's appointment. The options are nearly endless and here are some of the most popular nursing specialties.

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Dentalproblems are never fun and exciting, but the good news is that most of them can be prevented. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating properly and regular dental check-ups are crucial steps in preventing dental problems. Educating yourself about common dental problems and their causes can also go a long way in prevention of your teeth. Here is a list of the most common dental problems.

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Anthrax is a disease caused by infection with spore-forming bacteria. It normally occurs in people who are exposed to an infected animal or other source of the anthrax bacteria. Anthrax is spread to a human through the skin, the stomach, or the lungs. The bacteria can enter the skin through a cut or wound that comes into contact with products from an infected animal. Infection can also occur through the lungs when a person inhales the bacterial spore or through the stomach when a person eats undercooked meat from an infected animal. The anthrax vaccine is used to help prevent this dangerous disease in people exposed to the bacteria through the skin or lungs. This vaccine works by exposing you to an antigen protein that causes your body to develop immunity to the disease. Anthrax vaccine does not contain live or killed forms of the bacteria that cause anthrax. Anthrax vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

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List of Nursing Specialties

Below is a list of the major nursing specialties in a nursing career:The nursing field has seen unprecedented growth in past few decades making nursing a career with vast array of specialties and sub-specialties. As a nurse, you have a great opportunity to focus on a certain type of nursing in your career. When you start as a nurse, you begin building hours and refining your practice. You continue gaining experience which makes you choose or dedicate your career to a specific type of nursing or patient population. This is where you get your nursing certification that allows you to dedicate and demonstrate your knowledge and experience of a particular nursing area. A nursing certification is usually given to registered nurses, clinical nurse specialists, and advanced practice nurses.

Why do you need to specialize? If you acquire a certification in a certain nursing specialty or field, you demonstrate to your employer that you are an expert in that capacity. Nurses are rewarded by many facilities when they become certified in different specialties. Such rewards include higher pay and promotion to take greater responsibilities. A nurse who specializes in a certain nursing field chooses to become certified in that area and should meet certain experience, education, and examination criteria to achieve the credential.

Below is a list of the major nursing specialties in a nursing career:

1.      Emergency/Trauma Nurse

A trauma or emergency nurse is a nurse who specializes in caring for patients with acute illnesses or injuries. Such injuries or illnesses include:

Stab wounds

Vehicle accidents

Assaults

Head injuries

Gun shots

Emotional or physical neglect or abuse

Environmental injuries such a penetrating or crush injuries

Trauma nurses work mainly in emergency facilities and their responsibilities is to stabilize patients with severe pains. Trauma nurses also document the patients care as well as working with the law enforcement officers to determine the cause of injury or illness.

To become a trauma nurse, you need to have the ability to work in a chaotic and high-stress environment while trying to maintain an outward calm demeanor. A trauma nurse should also be able to attend quickly to trauma or injured patients often as they arrive even without any diagnosis. Since trauma patients are usually unstable, these nurses should intervene rapidly to save their lives.

Trauma nurses should also be able to exercise effective communication with other healthcare providers and also be able to multitask when performing life-saving care. A trauma nurse is also expected to be able to handle emotional strain as it is involved while caring for critical patients.

Trauma nurses can work in care areas such as ambulance flight and transport nursing, emergency rooms, ICUs, trauma Surg/Med units, and trauma step-down units.

To become a trauma or emergency nurse, a student needs to pursue a nursing degree through a 2 or 4-year University.

2.      Geriatric Nurse

A geriatric nurse is a nurse who specializes in caring for elderly people or patients. They are usually trained to take care of the needs of aging adults and work closely with attending physicians, primary care physicians, families, and other hospital social workers to offer individualized care for elderly people. Geriatric nurses focus on age-related diseases and conditions such as:

Cancer

Stroke

Falls

Arthritis

Osteoporosis

Incontinence

Chronic pain

Impaired mobility

Poly-pharmacy

Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

Nutritional deficiency

The roles and responsibilities of geriatric nurses include:

Patient education

Bedside nursing

Medication management

Management of psychosocial health

Liaising between patients, providers, family and friends

Such nurses can work in a variety of healthcare settings such as:

Nursing homes

Hospitals

Skilled nursing facilities

In-home care

Memory care centers

Case management centers

Outpatient ambulatory care clinics\retirement centers

Community colleges and universities

A student can become a geriatric nurse by completing certain courses in nursing programs.

3.      Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses are care providers who care for patients at the end of their lives. One of the major responsibilities of hospice nurses is to help patients and their friends and families feel more comfortable about the death by providing them with emotional support. In addition, hospice nurses will do their best to help family members of the patient to manage and practical details involved in caring for a dying loved one. Hospice nurses works in care stings such:

Hospitals

Hospice centers

Patient’s home

Geriatric nursing home

Skilled nursing facility

To become a hospice nurse, you need to have a high school diploma or GED and more than 500 hours of palliative and hospice nursing assistance experience in the most recent 1000 hours or 12 months.

4.      Neonatal Nurse

Neonatal nurses are those nurses who care for newborn babies who are born sick or prematurely. The nurses take care of newborns that are born with conditions requiring treatment such as nutritional needs and respiratory problems which are life-threatening. Neonatal nurses also have an important role in supporting the parents of the baby at the time they are stressed and anxious.

Such nurses work in Neonatal Intensive Care Units with a range of other care providers such as midwives, pediatricians, dieticians and pediatric nurses.

To become a neonatal nurse, you need a minimum degree in nursing practice.

5.      Pediatric Nurse

Pediatric nurses have a similar role to neonatal nurses but their role usually focuses in care of infants, through childhood until they become adolescents. They are nurses trained to care or handle sensitivities and limitations of age of patients. To become a pediatric nurse, you need to hold a degree in nursing and experience treating children in a medical setting.

6.      Oncology Nurse

An oncology nurse or hematology nurse is a nurse who deals with a population of patients undergoing diagnosis, treatment and remission of bloodborne cancer. Major roles of oncology nurses include:

Provide care to patients with acute or chronic conditions due to cancer

Administer cancer therapies

Monitor cancer patient’s condition, prescribe medication,and manage symptoms

Provide education to cancer patients

Offer empathy to cancer patients

Implement a care plan

Manage short-term and long-term effects of cancer therapies

To become an oncology nurse you need to have a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree.

7.      Psychiatric nurse

This is a behavioral health nurse whose role is caring for patients receiving treatment for mental illness, substance abuse, addiction, and eating disorders. The roles and duties of psychiatric nurses include:

Monitor patients in psychiatric facility

Access any mental health symptoms

Assist patients with medications

Connect patients with programs and services

Educate family members about the patient’s care plan and condition

Working alongside psychiatric doctors

To become a psychiatric nurse, you need to have a Bachelors or Associate degree in nursing.

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8 Most Common Dental Problems

You might have suffered from a dental problem at least once in your life. If you have not, then you know someone who has struggled with a dental problem in his or her life. Dental problems are very common nowadays and are never any fun. Poor oral hygiene and poor diet are the major causes of dental problems across the globe.

Sometimes dental problems may appear even when you take good care of your teeth as well as observing a perfect diet. Such oral or dental problems may present no symptoms and others may appear with slight pain or tooth sensitivity. They can also be hereditary.

The best way you can avoid dental problems is taking proper care of your teeth daily, having routine checkups, and following your dentist’s instructions when applicable. Comprehensive exams and regular cleanings for your teeth are vitally necessary to maintain optimal dental health.

Below are the most common dental problems, their causes and the best things you can do to prevent them:

1.      Bad breath

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be one of the most embarrassing dental problems you can have. Recent dental studies show that more than 85 percent of people with persistent halitosis have an underlying dental condition to blame. Major causes of bad breath include dental conditions such as oral cancer, gum disease, bacteria on your tongue, and dry mouth. Lack of regular teeth brushing has also been found to be a catalyst of halitosis. For you to prevent bad breath, you should brush your teeth regularly and use dentist recommended mouthwashes after brushing. You should note that use of mouthwashes after you brush your teeth will only mask the odor but will not help cure the dental condition causing the bad breath. If you have persistent or chronic bad breath, it is advisable to visit your dentist to help determine the cause of your bad breath and decide the best treatment.

2.      Gum disease

Gum disease also known as periodontal disease is another major dental problem that occurs when the gums surrounding your teeth are infected. Studies show that gum disease is the main cause of teeth loss among adults in the current world. Some studies show that periodontal disease is linked with cardiovascular disease.

Everyone is at risk of gum disease but those at greater risk are adults above 30 years. Other risk factors that can increase your risk of getting gum disease include diabetes, smoking, and dry mouth. Gum disease is accompanied by symptoms such as swollen, bleeding, red or tender bleeding gums, bad breath, painful chewing and teeth sensitivity.

You can help prevent gum disease by quitting smoking, having regular dental checkups along with flossing daily and brushing your teeth at least twice a day.  You should visit your dentist if you have any signs or symptoms of gum disease so you can get the best treatment to prevent future complications such as tooth loss.

3.      Yellow Teeth

Yellow teeth are another dental problem that can make you have an unattractive smile. It is one of the major reasons why many people seek dental treatment. Yellow teeth can really make one have a low self-esteem. Yellowing of teeth major causes include smoking, failure to brush your teeth, use of salty water for a long period and type of food you take.

With the current technological developments such as dental implants, teeth whitening, orthodontics and other cosmetic dental works, your dentist can help give you a beautiful smile and a smile of your dreams.

4.      Mouth Sores

Mouth sores or blemishes can appear anywhere inside or outside of the mouth cavity. This includes the cheeks and lips. There are several types of mouth sores and can be bothersome and pesky. Mouth sores are usually nothing to worry about. They last for a few days and disappear on their own. However, if the sores last for more than 2 weeks, you should visit your dentist for dental diagnosis and treatment. Common mouth sores include:

Canker sores- They are sores that appear inside the mouth and not in the lips. The sores are contagious and can be triggered by different causes or infections.

Cold sores or fever blisters- They are mouth sores usually caused by Herpes simplex virus and occur at the edge of the outer lips. The sores are contagious and have no cure.

Oral thrush- This is mouth sores caused by candidiasis yeast infection. Such mouth sores are mainly seen in diabetics, infants, denture wearers and during treatment of cancer.

If you have never had mouth sores before and your sores last for more than 10 days, see your dentist.

5.      Tooth decay

This is one of the most common dental problems in the United States and most parts of the world. Tooth decay also known as dental erosion is the loss of dental structure or enamel as a result of acid attack. When we eat food and fail to brush the teeth, food remnants on the surface of the teeth accumulate forming a plaque that later solidifies to become tartar. The tarter acts as a bleeding space for bacteria which feed on the sugary food we eat producing acids. The acids erode the enamel causing your teeth to decay. Signs of tooth decay range from sensitivity to more severe problems such as tooth cracking. You can prevent tooth decay by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and having regular dental checkups.

6.      Oral cancer

Oral cancer is the most dangerous dental problem you may have. If you don’t get proper treatment, dental or oral cancer can kill you in a little under a year. Major causes of oral cancer include tobacco chewing and cigarette smoking. You can prevent oral cancer by desisting from the mentioned habits and going for regular dental checkups. Oral cancer can be treated if diagnosed early!

7.      Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are teeth that generally come between the ages of 17 and 25. Studies show that most people have at least one wisdom tooth that is impacted or not fully grown. Problems with the wisdom teeth can cause dental cavities, gum disease, and damage to the neighboring teeth. You should visit your dentist regularly to keep track on the progression of your wisdom teeth. If they develop problems, you may need to get them removed by an oral surgeon.

8.      Teeth grinding

Teeth grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism is a rare dental problem mainly caused by stress. Sleep issues or misaligned teeth can also be the cause of teeth grinding among adults. Among children or infants, allergies can be the cause. Major signs and symptoms of teeth grinding include sore jaws, headaches, and/or loose and cracked teeth. You should visit your dentist to fit you with a mouth guard if you grind your teeth at night. You should also adapt stress management measures such as meditation and exercise if you grind teeth during the day.

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What is Anthrax Vaccine? : Side Effects

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by spore-forming bacteria known as Bacillus anthrasis. These bacteria occur naturally in the soil and most often infect many herbivores such as cattle, goats, sheep, antelope and deer. Anthrax is a disease that also occurs in humans who are exposed to anthrax bacteria through exposure to infected animals or other sources.

Anthrax is very common in countries that lack veterinary prevention programs such as Asian, South American and African countries. Although it is less common, anthrax also occurs in the United States among both domestic and wild animals.

Anthrax is spread through the lungs, stomach, and the skin. The bacteria can enter the skin through a wound or cut that comes in contact with infected animal products such as hide, hair, wool and meat. Bacillus anthracis bacteria can enter the lungs when one inhales bacterial spores and through the stomach when one takes undercooked meat from an infected animal. Anthrax is a very dangerous disease and can spread so fast throughout the body and becomes fatal in many cases, especially when it is acquired through the lungs.

To help prevent anthrax disease in adults, anthrax vaccine should be administered. Anthrax vaccine cannot be used to treat an active infection but it can help protect the body from anthrax bacteria. The vaccine works by exposing antigen proteins or DNA from anthrax bacteria that makes your body produce antibodies against the bacteria. The vaccine does not contain dead or live bacteria that can cause anthrax, but DNA or proteins of the bacteria that are recognized by antigen presenting cells in the immune system, leading the body to develop immunity to the disease.

Like many vaccines, anthrax vaccine may not provide protection for every person and since anthrax is not common, it is not given to everyone. It is administered to people who are likely to come into contact with anthrax such as military persons, vets and travellers.

Myth and Facts about the Anthrax Vaccine

1.      Myth: Contains Squalene

Anthrax vaccine contains squalene, a chemical compound that is believed to cause health problems or issues such as Gulf War Illness.

Fact

Squalene is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in plants, animals, and humans. It is true that squalene is used in some vaccines, but it is not harmful to human. Scientific studies show that there is no association between squalene and chronic illness and there is no evidence to support the myth that the substance causes Gulf War Illness.

2.      Myth: It is harmful

Anthrax vaccine is harmful for humans and may be at risk from a batch administered previously by the U.S military.

Fact

The anthrax vaccine has been administered safely for the past few decades. There are also no known issues with any batch of anthrax vaccine administered by the U.S military.

3.      Myth: 100% disability rating

If you take anthrax vaccine, you could have a 100 percent disability rating.

Fact

There are no known vials of anthrax vaccine which are associated with any type of disability.

How is the Vaccine Given?

The anthrax vaccine is usually injected intramuscularly (through the arm muscle). It is usually recommended for adults from 18 years through 65 years before any exposure to anthrax bacteria and in the following situations:

People who handle meat and other animal products in anthrax-endemic areas.

People who handle anthrax bacteria in lab researches or in hospitals.

People who handle animal skins or hides or furs in anthrax endemic areas.

Vets who travel to countries where anthrax is common.

Military personnel as they are at risk of anthrax exposure when it is used as a biological weapon.

Anthrax is used in combination with antibiotics when one has been exposed to anthrax bacteria. Even if you feel well, you should make sure you use the antibiotic for the full prescribed period of time.

Before you receive the vaccine, you should discuss with your doctor about other vaccines you received recently. You should also discuss with your doctor about other supplements and medications you are taking as they may have poor interactions with anthrax vaccine. Some medications which do not go well with anthrax vaccines include over-the-counter medications, herbal products, and vitamins.

How well does the vaccine work?

Anthrax vaccine helps protect you from anthrax especially if you are living in areas where the disease is endemic. However, the vaccine may not protect you against all cases of anthrax. A recent study shows that anthrax vaccine protects about 90 percent of all who are vaccinated before exposure to the bacteria. The vaccine has been found to mainly protect people against the most deadly form of anthrax, especially when one breathes bacterial spores directly into the lungs. To help build up full protection against the bacteria, one needs to get 5 doses of the vaccine over a period of 18 months. It is not well known how long the protection can last in the human body but it is recommended to get a vaccine booster every year to get full protection against anthrax.

Possible Side Effects

Just like other vaccines, the Anthrax vaccine has its own side effects. Statistics show that most people injected with this vaccine do not show severe or serious side effects. The vaccine is usually associated with mild side effects that go away within a few days though serious complications or reactions are possible with some people.

Mild problems that follow anthrax vaccination include:

Reactions at the site of injection

               o   Itching on the site of injection        

               o   Redness

               o   Soreness and tenderness

               o   Swelling

               o   A bruise or lump

Muscle aches that can limit your movements in the arm where the shot was given

A feeling of tiredness

Headache

Anthrax is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine. Just like any other vaccine, anthrax vaccine causes some side effects but chances of serious side effects are low. You should keep track of all the side effects after receiving the vaccine. Get emergency medical help in case one of the above side effects or allergic reactions last for more than a week.

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Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred every 2–3 years and measles caused around 2.6 million deaths a year. The disease remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family and it is usually passed through direct contact and through the air. The virus infects the respiratory tract, and then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals. Accelerated immunization activities have had a major impact on reducing measles deaths. During 2000–2016, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 20.4 million deaths.

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If you didn’t happen to know, a healthy sex life is extremely beneficial for you! It helps boost immunity, relieves stress and let's not forget about the good mood endorphins. But, what’s important to understand is to know how to maintain and improve your sex life. Here are some valuable tips to help you maintain your sexual health and have a healthy sex life.

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We tend to think that we know our own bodies pretty well. We know how they work and what kinds of changes are occurring every second of the day. But in fact, the human body is a seriously complex and mysterious mechanism that sometimes confuses even the most qualified specialists.Here are some stunningly interesting facts about our body that canimpress anyone.

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If you didn’t happen to know, a healthy sex life is extremely beneficial for you! It helps boost immunity, relieves stress and let's not forget about the good mood endorphins. But, what’s important to understand is to know how to maintain and improve your sex life. Here are some valuable tips to help you maintain your sexual health and have a healthy sex life.