Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Health Risk of Processed meats

Processed meats do cause cancer



Processed meats - such as bacon, sausages and ham - do cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Its report said 50g of processed meat a day - less than two slices of bacon - increased the chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18%.

Meanwhile, it said red meats were "probably carcinogenic" but there was limited evidence.

The WHO did stress that meat also had health benefits.

Cancer Research UK said this was a reason to cut down rather than give up red and processed meats.

And added that an occasional bacon sandwich would do little harm.

What is processed meat?

Processed meat has been modified to either extend its shelf life or change the taste and the main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives.

Simply putting beef through a mincer does not mean the resulting mince is "processed" unless it is modified further.

Processed meat includes bacon, sausages, hot dogs, salami, corned beef, beef jerky and ham as well as canned meat and meat-based sauces.

It is the chemicals involved in the processing which could be increasing the risk of cancer. High temperature cooking, such as on a barbeque, can also create carcinogenic chemicals.

In the UK, around six out of every 100 people get bowel cancer at some point in their lives.

If they were all had an extra 50g of bacon a day for the rest of their lives then the risk would increase by 18% to around seven in 100 people getting bowel cancer.

So that's one extra case of bowel cancer in all those 100 lifetime bacon-eaters.

How bad?

The WHO has come to the conclusion on the advice of its International Agency for Research on Cancer, which assesses the best available scientific evidence.

It has now placed processed meat in the same category as plutonium, but also alcohol as they definitely do cause cancer.

However, this does not mean they are equally dangerous. A bacon sandwich is not as bad as smoking.

For an individual, the risk of developing colorectal (bowel) cancer because of their consumption of processed meat remains small, but this risk increases with the amount of meat consumed.

Estimates suggest 34,000 deaths from cancer every year could be down to diets high in processed meat.

Red meat risk

In context

21%

of bowel cancers are caused by processed or red meat

86%

of lung cancers are caused by tobacco

19% of all cancers caused by tobacco compared to

3% of all cancers ascribed to red or processed meat



That is in contrast to one million deaths from cancer caused by smoking and 600,000 attributed to alcohol each year.

Red meat does have nutritional value too and is a major source of iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

However, the WHO said there was limited evidence that 100g of red meat a day increased the risk of cancer by 17%.

An eight ounce steak is 225g.

The WHO said its findings were important for helping countries give balanced dietary advice.

Little harm

This decision doesn't mean you need to stop eating any red and processed meat, but if you eat lots of it you may want to think about cutting down.

Eating a bacon bap every once in a while isn't going to do much harm - having a healthy diet is all about moderation.

There were many factors causing bowel cancer.

People should limit consumption of red meat and avoid consuming processed meat, but they should also have a diet rich in fibre, from fruit and vegetables and maintain an adequate body weight throughout life and limit the consumption of alcohol and be physically active.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Youth Renaissance Day

Tamilnadu Chief minister Jayalalithaa announced to adopt Kalam 's birthday of october 15th as "Youth Renaissance Day"

On the occasion of Former President Dr.A P J . Abdul Kalam Birth Anniversary First Youth Renaissance Day was organized by Trichy Bharathidasan University department of Social Work CYDS and UBCC on 15.10.2015

Mr A Kaliyamoorthy former Superintendent of police and Dr Z Annie Vijaya Superintendent of police Railways has attended as Special invitees along with Dr aleem.

Dr.M.A.Aleem had a talk on " youth Lifestyle challenges In Recent Days" to mark the occasion.

Dr. Gopinath Ganapathy Director Technology Park BDU honored Dr.M.A.Aleem in that function

Dr.G. Gopinath Ganapathy organized the program along with Dr.P. Natarajamurty Dr.R.Mangalaeswaran and Dr.N.Prasanna.
Tamilnadu Chief minister Jayalalithaa announced to adopt Kalam 's birthday of october 15th as "Youth Renaissance Day"

On the occasion of Former President Dr.A P J . Abdul Kalam Birth Anniversary First Youth Renaissance Day was organized by Trichy Bharathidasan University department of Social Work CYDS and UBCC on 15.10.2015

Mr A Kaliyamoorthy former Superintendent of police and Dr Z Annie Vijaya Superintendent of police Railways has attended as Special invitees along with Dr aleem.

Dr.M.A.Aleem had a talk on " youth Lifestyle challenges In Recent Days" to mark the occasion.

Dr. Gopinath Ganapathy Director Technology Park BDU honored Dr.M.A.Aleem in that function

Dr.G. Gopinath Ganapathy organized the program along with Dr.P. Natarajamurty Dr.R.Mangalaeswaran and Dr.N.Prasanna.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Don't Fuel the Environment . Aleem M A. BMJ⁠ 2015;351:h5415

Editorials

Diesel in the dock

BMJ⁠ 2015⁠; 351⁠ doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h5415 (Published 12 October 2015)⁠

Cite this as: BMJ⁠ 2015;351:h5415


Rapid response




Re: Diesel in the dock

Don't Fuel the Environment

Any intentional and unintentional act of fuelling the environmental ecosystem is always injurious to humanity. So each one individually or collectively should plan and act to safeguard their living planet as the Pope, US President Obama, UK Prime Minister Cameron, Indian PM Modi and other heads of state and environmental organizations said.

Competing interests: No competing interests

16 October 2015

M A Aleem

Neurologist

ABC Hospital

Trichy 620018 Tamilnadu India

Monday, October 12, 2015

Trichy Smart City’srequirements- The Hindu Trichy13.10.2015

readers' mail

The Hindu Trichy
13.10.2015



Smart City’s
requirements

I thank the State government for including Tiruchi in the Smart City project proposal. An integrated modern bus terminal, a convention centre, a full-fledged hospital for elders, and a children’s theme park should be built to make the city attractive for investors and professionals. A world class model university should be started. The roads and by-lanes should re-laid with an excellent drainage system. The smart city would be incomplete with a cricket stadium of international standards.

Dr. M.A. Aleem,

Tiruchi

readers' mail - TAMIL NADU - The Hindu

readers' mail - TAMIL NADU - The Hindu

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Problems For Persons Dying outside Home. Aleem M A . BMJ⁠ 2015;351:h4855

Analysis

Is home always the best and preferred place of death?

BMJ⁠ 2015⁠; 351⁠ doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h4855 (Published 07 October 2015)⁠

Cite this as: BMJ⁠ 2015;351:h4855

Rapid response



Re: Is home always the best and preferred place of death?

Problems For Persons Dying outside Home

Everybody preferred to die in home in every country. In India in some religion people will not allow the dead bodies inside of their home if they died outside of their home because of many misconceptions.

There are also some problems for whose who are dying in home in countries like India. It is very difficult to get a death certificate for legal purpose for whose who died in the home . It is also problematic for patients whose who are dying at home with medico legal background.

So dying in hospital are much helpful in these cases. It is also helpful for organ harvest from patients whose who are dying or dead in hospitals.

Competing interests: No competing interests

11 October 2015

M A Aleem

Neurologist

ABC Hospital

Annamalainagar Trichy 620018 Tamilnadu India

Saturday, October 10, 2015

A Few suggestions for the smart city scheme of Tiruchirappalli.

October 9, 2015

 

From:

 

Dr M A Aleem, MD, DM (Neuro),

Former Vice Principal, HOD and Professor of Neurology,

KAPV Government Medical College, and MGM Government Hospital, Trichy.

President,

Trichy Neuro Association

Consultant Neurologist,

ABC Hospital, Trichy.

Mobile:

9443159940Email. drmaaleem@hotmail.com 

To:

The Commissioner,

Trichy Corporation,

TRICHY.

 

Sub: A Few suggestions for the smart city scheme of Tiruchirappalli.


 

Respected Sir,

 

At the outset, let me register my thanks for the State government for getting Trichy included in the grand Smart City Schemes with the State and Centre governments contributing Rs 500 crore each from their respective kitties.

I most humbly forward a few of my suggestions for your kind perusal.

1.    CONVENTION-CUM-EXHIBITION CENTRE.



Even in the erstwhile extended Trichy district comprising Pudukottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Karur, there did not exist a convention centre to conduct various types of conferences and exhibitions. This was a felt need from people and professionals in and around the district. The proposed convention-cum-exhibition centre, in addition to becoming a venue for holding conferences, exhibitions and the like, would be also come handy in times of emergency to accommodate people. This would also become economically viable as a nominal fee could be charged and the people and professionals would be more than willing to pay for the services. 

2.    SHOPPING-CUM-RECREATION MALL           


Though Trichy is at the centre of Tamil Nadu, and a hub for various activities, the city still             lacked a decent business-cum-entertainment mall to cater to the large populace in and        around the district. Such a mall would not only be a source of income to the government,    it would serve as a beacon of entertainment for chilling out for all age groups across the        board.

3.    CRICKET STADIUM OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARD           


Outside Chennai, there is no city in the State that could hold various sports activities                     including cricket at the national and international level. This has remained a gap in    the development program of the city and it would help promote young talents available in        the region. Being at the centre of the Trichy, such a stadium with all amenities to     keep    up with international standard would be very advantageous for sportspersons with             easy accessibility from different parts of the State.

4.    ROADS AND DRAINAGE UPGRADATION           


The roads and by-lanes become inundated during monsoon, and a few minutes of            raining would collect knee-deep water at low-lying areas. This syndrome in addition to     creating untold miseries to the road user, becomes the breeding ground for various      diseases. Traffic becomes chaotic, and the lack of proper sewerage system adds to the      woe. A clean city must necessarily go hand in hand with a healthy city. The roads must    be laid in such a way that the waters recede no sooner than it rains, and the drainage             system should accommodate the right eco-system.

5.     TRANSPORT FACILITY           


We do not have enough bus stands to cater to the ever increasing population in the city    roads, particularly for the student community, and to add to the problem there has been         an increase in the population of two-wheelers. An integrated modern bus terminal with    all the shopping lots centres must be established on the sprawling outskirts of the city             with due connectivity with electric trains to various parts of the city.

6.    INTEGRATED GOVERNMENT OFFICE PREMISE           


Once again, there is no integrated government office premise where people could get all their governmental needs fulfilled in Trichy. It is also a long felt need, because people   run from pillar to post to get their various civil needs fulfilled. The proposed government     office premises, a sort of single-window scheme would be expected to execute all their           social needs at one stop should also accommodate a staff quarters for easy             management.

7.    A MODEL VARSITY OF GLOBAL STANDARS 


Trichy is long known to be an education hub with the presence of a large number of government agricultural, horticultural, law, arts, engineering, medical, and fine arts (government aided) colleges, central-administered NIT, and IIM, and a forthcoming International Institute of Information Technology but a terrible missing link is a Veterinary College to make the city wholesome in the field of education. Again, a model varsity of global standards must be established that would not only integrate the faculty of all these government colleges and agencies, it would also be a level playing ground for the international exchange of students.

 
 

8.    ELDERS HOSPITAL AND HOSTEL           


There is no full-fledged hospital for the elders in central party of Tamil Nadu. And also,      there is no separate hostel for elders anywhere in the country. A model city having such         a facility would serve a model for the entire country. It will also inspire many cities to   have such facilities on the same line.

9.    CHILDREN’S THEME PARK           

Such a park would cater to the needs of and to satisfy the curiosity of children. The park should also accommodate a full-fledge zoo which is absent in Trichy since its inception.

POINTS TO PONDER

            All these additions to the city would not only elevate the city’s infrastructure to global         standards, but they would be economically viable schemes, thereby generating revenue          for the government too. I humbly request the honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J           Jayalalithaa to make these a reality sooner than later and prevail upon the central          government to expedite all the necessary approvals and funds.

            I humbly request the corporation and district authorities to consider the long-felt needs of the city and take it to the appropriate government channels for the speedy approval and          execution.  Let us also take care that the funds available for the scheme should never be        diverted to any kind of renovation of the existing structures, except roads and drainages, in order to avoid paucity of funds later.

            Thanking you in anticipation,

            Sincerely yours,

 

            Dr M A Aleem

 

 

 

Friday, October 9, 2015

World Mental Health Day 2015 October 10: Dignity in mental health


World Mental Health Day 2015

Dignity in mental health

Thousands of people with mental health conditions around the world are deprived of their human rights. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but are also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community. Poor quality care due to a lack of qualified health professionals and dilapidated facilities leads to further violations.



The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October, is "Dignity in mental health".




Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that:
“All human beings are born equal in dignity and in rights.”

The Preamble of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that:
“… discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person".

What is dignity?

Dignity refers to an individual’s inherent value and worth and is strongly linked to respect, recognition, self-worth and the possibility to make choices. Being able to live a life with dignity stems from the respect of basic human rights including:

freedom from violence and abuse;

freedom from discrimination;

autonomy and self-determination;

inclusion in community life; and

participation in policy-making

In our country persons with mental health problems are facing high levels of stigma and discrimination. When tagged as having a mental health problem, people experience social deprivation - losing our jobs, losing social prestige and becoming isolated from family and society.

The dignity of many people with mental health conditions is not respected

Frequently they are locked up in institutions where they are isolated from society and subject to inhumane and degrading treatment.

Many are subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect in hospitals and prisons, but also in their communities.

They are very often deprived of the right to make decisions for themselves. Many are systematically denied the right to make decisions about their mental health care and treatment, where they want to live, and their personal and financial affairs.

They are denied access to general and mental health care. As a consequence they are more likely to die prematurely, compared with the general population.

They are often deprived of access to education and employment opportunities. Stigma and misconceptions about mental health conditions means that people also face discrimination in employment and are denied opportunities to work and make a living. Children with mental health conditions are also frequently excluded from educational opportunities. This leads to marginalisation and exclusion from employment opportunities in later life.

They are prevented from participating fully in society. They are denied the possibility to take part in public affairs, to vote or stand for public office. They are not given the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes on issues affecting them, such as mental health policy and legislative or service reform. In addition, access to recreational and cultural activities is often denied to people with mental health conditions.

So it’s a double-edged sword when you’ve got mental health problems. You’re labelled. At home you’ve got a label, and you’re labelled in the system, so there’s not a great deal of dignity afforded to you.

How can we promote the rights and dignity of people with mental health conditions?

In the health-care system we need to provide better support and care for people with mental health conditions by:

providing community-based services, encompassing a recovery approach that inspires hope and supports people to achieve their goals and aspirations;

respecting people’s autonomy, including their right to make their own decisions about their treatment and care; and

ensuring access to good quality care which promotes human rights, is responsive to people’s needs, and respects their values, choices and preferences.

In the community we need to:

support people with mental health conditions to participate in community life, and acknowledge the value of their contribution;

respect their autonomy to make decisions for themselves, including about their living arrangements and personal and financial matters;

ensure their access to employment, education, housing, social support and other opportunities; and

include people in decision-making processes on issues affecting them, including policy, legislation and health service reform relating to mental health.

In hospital ward Patients with mental illness possessed a jail-like structures with the famous seclusion rooms where patients are left to lie on the ice-cold concrete floor covered with urine and faeces and without anything to use as covering. They lived in a very dirty place with overflowing toilets, broken doors and windows, torn uniforms and at times patients were left naked…

What is the World Health Organization doing to promote the dignity of people with mental health conditions?

Through the QualityRights protect, WHO is committed to ensuring that the dignity of people with mental health conditions is respected all around the world.

WHO QualityRights promotes dignity by:

Advocating for political and social inclusion -working collaboratively with governments, health professionals, families and people with mental health conditions to ensure that the views of the latter are heard and listened to at policy, service and community levels.

Promoting a recovery approach to mental health care -This means much more than merely treating or managing symptoms. It is about building the capacity of mental health workers to support people with mental health conditions to realise their hopes and dreams, to work, to enjoy family and friends, and to live a full and rewarding life in their community.

Supporting human rights training and capacity building -QualityRights has developed training programmes to build the capacity of families and health-care professionals to understand and promote the rights of people with mental health conditions, and to change attitudes and practices towards them.

Encouraging the creation and strengthening of peer support and civil society organizations -QualityRights is helping people with mental health conditions and families feel connected through mutually supportive relationships and empowering them to advocate for the rights and dignity of people with mental health conditions.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Diseases in Elders

Diseases in Elders


Common diseases seen in the elderly population can involve many organs in the body.

Common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in seniors are osteoarthritis (inflammation of joints due to wear and tear), gout, osteoporosis (bone loss), and bone fractures.

Diabetes⁠ (impaired control of blood glucose⁠), menopause, thyroid problems, high blood cholesterol, slow body metabolism signify hormonal dysfunction frequently encountered in the elderly.

Dementia⁠ (Alzheimer's disease or other types), Parkinson's disease, strokes, poor vision, hearing impairment, and balance problem are neurologic problems routinely seen in seniors.

Visual conditions as we age include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes⁠ and hypertension related eye disease.

Cardiovascular⁠ diseases are common in the geriatric population and include heart attacks, congestive heart failure, irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), high blood pressure (hypertension⁠), atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of blood vessels) and peripheral vascular disease or peripheral artery disease (poor blood flow as a result of narrow blood vessels).

Lungs⁠ diseases seen frequently in seniors are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), loss of lung volume, and pneumonias.

Poor kidney function (kidney or renal disease) from long standing diabetes and hypertension⁠ are typical kidney diseases seen in seniors.

Cancers are commonly diagnosed in seniors. Most common ones seen in this age group are cancers of prostate, colon⁠, lung, breast, skin, bladder, ovary, brain, and pancreas.

Bone marrow⁠ and immune system can start to become less functional and lose their ability to produce sufficient blood cells causing anemia, myelodysplasia (abnormal cell production), and decreased ability to fight infections.

Stomach ulcers, diverticulosis (small pockets forming in the wall of colon), colon inflammation or colitis from infection or ischemic (poor blood flow), swallowing difficulty (dysphagia), constipation⁠, bowel incontinence, and hemorrhoids are some of the age-related gastrointestinal⁠ conditions.

Urinary problems in seniors include urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, difficulty urinating, prostate enlargement, and urinary infections.

Common oral and dental conditions of the elderly are gum diseases, dry mouth, loss of teeth, poorly fitting dentures⁠, and oral infections.

Skin conditions⁠ such as rosacea, shingles, dry skin⁠, easy bruising, skin cancers, and pre-cancerous skin diseases are frequently diagnosed in seniors.

Psychiatric conditions of depression and anxiety are common in seniors, as are sleep disorders and insomnia.

In addition, fatigue, general deconditioning, forgetfulness, medication side effects, diminished appetite, weight loss⁠, and falls are typical causes of concern for senior health.