D. Quit Smoking.
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Cardiovascular Diseases ;
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include:
- coronary heart disease: disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle;
- cerebrovascular disease: disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain;
- peripheral arterial disease: disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs;
- congenital heart disease: malformations of heart structure existing at birth;
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.
Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels. Strokes can be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or by blood clots. Our country is among the first in the world where heart diseases are so much common. In fact, there has been a constant increase of heart problems in our hospitals and the situation is alarming. If we do not act now, the situation runs the risks of becoming catastrophic. Moreover, more and more youngsters are now at risk of developing heart diseases.
- Prevention of Cardiovascular diseases;
- A low-fat, high-fiber diet, including whole grains and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (at least five portions a day). A cardiologist stated that ‘we consume 70-80 tons per year’. The rice we import contains an excess of sugar. It is good to know that our local rice which will be soon on the market has a much lower percentage of sugar.
- Quit Smoking & alcohol.
- Lower the blood pressure, if ever elevated.
- If obese, decrease the body fat by dieting.
- Indulge in physical activities, at least twice per week.
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Reduce sugar & salt consumptions. A survey conducted by Mauritius Salt Intake Study conducted in mid-May 2012 has revealed that the salt intake in the population is higher than is generally recommended. The World Health Organization recommends that the level of daily salt intake is less than five grams per day & according to the study; the overall mean salt intake was estimated at 7.9 g daily. In this respect, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life will develop dietary salt reduction strategies in line with the WHO recommended policies, under 3 main areas, namely: food production, that is the development or manufacturing of products with the lowest possible content of salt; changes in environment to ensure that consumers are able to choose the healthiest foods through appropriate labeling; and health promotion and consumer education amongst the different target groups of society.
Cardiovascular disease is indeed treatable with initial treatment primarily focused on diet and lifestyle interventions.
- Cancer;
Cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells. There are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast, skin, lung, colon, prostate, oral, pancreas, ovary & bladder cancer.
To mark the World Cancer Day, the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Mr. Lormus Bundhoo, launched on the 5th of February 2013,a School Health programme at Keats College in Chemin Grenier. This year the focus is on Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: To dispel the damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline “Cancer - Did you know?” The Minister recalled that the school is a key place for the healthy development of young people and hence it is being used as entry point for health promotion and prevention programmes conducted by his Ministry. He expressed his satisfaction that the SHP has advanced significantly over the last years, with the introduction of health information into the formal primary school curriculum, regular health education sessions and the ban of soft drinks and control of food items in school canteens. According to Mr. Bundhoo, it is important that students become health conscious from an early age and be equipped with knowledge, attitudes and skills to prevent serious diseases in later life. On that score, a Health Literacy Programme will soon be put in place with the collaboration of a consultant from the World Health Organisation. In the same context, a Chemotherapy Unit was inaugurated in the afternoon (05/02/2013) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Rose Belle. This new facility, which will cater for patients in the south, is part of Government’s policy to disperse the health services. In addition to the Chemotherapy Day Care Centre at Victoria hospital which provides treatment to about 26 patients daily, a 16-bed Chemotherapy unit is operational at SSRN Hospital since September 2012. In a bid to alleviate the sufferings of patients, two such more units will be set up at Jeetoo hospital and Flacq hospital. According to the National Cancer Registry, cancer is the third major health threat after diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Nearly 1 800 new cases of cancer and 1 000 cancer deaths occur each year in Mauritius. In that context, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has come up with several measures for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including cancer. They are: primary prevention through the implementation of action plans on tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and the National Cancer Control Programme Action Plan 2010-2014; setting up of a Colposcopy unit in March 2011 at Victoria hospital; health education on self-breast examination in community settings; purchase of state-of-the-art equipment including digital colposcopy machines, cobalt machines for radiotherapy, brachytherapy machine for cancer of the cervix and endoscopy equipment for detection of intestinal cancer; setting up of Children Cancer unit in 2008 and refurbishment of radiotherapy wards at Victoria hospital in 2009, amongst others.
The WHO states that more than 30% of cancer could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including;
A.Tobacco;
Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world today. It causes 80-90% of all lung cancer deaths, and about 30% of all cancer deaths in developing countries, including deaths from cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus and stomach.
B. Physical activity and diet;
Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, will considerably reduce cancer risk. There is a link between overweight and obesity to many types of cancer such as oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium and kidney. Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have a protective effect against many cancers.
C. Infectious diseases;
Viral hepatitis B and C cause cancer of the liver; human papilloma virus infection causes cervical cancer; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of stomach cancer. Preventive measures include vaccination and prevention of infection and infestation.
D. Exposure to carcinogens;
1. Physical Carcinogens; Exposure to ionizing radiation is also known to cause to certain cancers. Excessive solar ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of all types of cancer of the skin. Avoiding excessive exposure, use of sunscreen and protective clothing are effective preventive measures.
2. Chemical carcinogens, such as vinyl chloride, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a drinking-water contaminant).
3. Biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.
The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age: the overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.
What does chemotherapy do?
Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:
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Cure cancer - when chemotherapy destroys cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body and they will not grow back.
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Control cancer - when chemotherapy keeps cancer from spreading, slows its growth, or destroys cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body.
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Ease cancer symptoms (also called ) - when chemotherapy shrinks tumors that are causing pain or pressure.
How is chemotherapy used?
Sometimes, chemotherapy is used as the only cancer treatment. But more often, you will get chemotherapy along with surgery, , or . Chemotherapy can:
- Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
- Help radiation therapy and biological therapy work well.
- Destroy cancer cells that have come back (recurrent cancer) or spread to other parts of your body (metastatic cancer).