Bad Breath

What is it?

Bad breath, also called halitosis,  can be embarrassing and may cause anxiety. It’s no wonder store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes and other products designed to combat this condition. But many of these products are mere temporary measures.

Certain foods, health conditions and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with proper dental hygiene. If simple self-care techniques don’t solve the problem, you may want to see your dentist or doctor to be sure a more serious condition isn’t causing your bad breath.

Causes

Bad breath can be caused by the followings: READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

What is Tinea Pedis and how does it come to you?

Tinea Pedis, also called athlete’s foot, is a common fungal infection of the skin on the feet. Fungus germs (fungi) are common, and are often found in small numbers on human skin where they usually do no harm. However, if conditions are right they can ‘invade’ the skin, multiply, and cause infection. The conditions fungi like best are warm, moist and airless areas of skin, such as between the toes.

Anyone can get Tinea Pedis. Tinea Pedis can also be passed on from person to person. For example, this may occur in communal showers used by athletes or swimmers. A tiny flake of infected skin from a person with athlete’s foot can fall off whilst showering. It may then be trodden on by others who can then develop the infection. Once a small patch of infection develops, it typically spreads along the skin.

What are the symptoms of Tinea Pedis?

The symptoms of athlete’s foot typically include various degrees of itching and burning. The skin may frequently READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Botulism Spores

About botulism

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are three main kinds of botulism. Foodborne botulism is caused by eating foods that contain the botulism toxin. Wound botulism is caused by toxin produced from a wound infected with Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism is caused by consuming the spores of the botulinum bacteria, which then grow in the intestines and release toxin. All forms of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies. Foodborne botulism can be especially dangerous because many people can be poisoned by eating a contaminated food.

Kinds of botulism

• Foodborne botulism occurs when a person ingests pre-formed toxin that leads to illness within a few hours to days. Foodborne botulism is READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Introduction

Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous mammals, although other mammals and some birds have been known to contract it. Humans generally acquire the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals, or occupational exposure to infected or contaminated animal products. Control in livestock is therefore the key to reduced incidence. There are no documented cases of person to person transmission. The disease’s impact on animal and human health can be devastating. WHO has produced Guidelines for the surveillance and control of anthrax in humans and animals.

The causative agent of anthrax is the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, the spores of which can survive in the environment for years or decades, awaiting uptake by the next host.

The disease still exists in animals and READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

About the issue

Sunbathing

Many people have the habit of taking sunbath, enjoying the good feeling of it. However, we have ignored the harm done by sun exposure. Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Skin reddening, due to dilation of blood vessels, occurs shortly after exposure to sunlight. This is followed by tanning as melanin production is stimulated.

Overexposure to ultraviolet light, especially of medium wavelength (UVB), produces itching and tingling. Swelling of the superficial layer of the skin can be followed by READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Overview

African Trypanosomiasis Spreader

African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a severe disease, which is fatal if left untreated. It is closely related to a widespread infection of cattle known as N’gana, which restricts cattle rearing in many prime areas of Africa. Sleeping sickness claims comparatively few lives annually, but the risk of major epidemics means that surveillance and ongoing control measures must be maintained.

African trypanosomiasis is confined mainly to tropical Africa between 15 degrees North and 20 degrees South latitude. The greatest risks of contracting the disease occurs in parts of Eastern and Central Africa, including:

• Uganda

• Kenya READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Jet Lag

About jet lag

Jet lag (also often written as jetlag) is a common sleep disorder and, most importantly, it is a symptom, or set of symptoms, and not a disease. When we talk about a jet lag remedy or a jet lag cure therefore we are not talking about overcoming jet lag directly, but are looking at treating the underlying cause or causes.

Jet lag affects millions of long-haul travelers every day, whether traveling for pleasure or on business. In a recent survey of international business travelers, 74% of those questioned said that they suffered frequently from jet lag.

The symptoms of jet lag include: READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>

Definition for deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein, usually in the legs, and can spread up to the veins in your thigh. DVT can also first develop in the deep veins in your thigh and, more rarely, in other deep veins, such as the ones in your arm.

Deep veins pass through the centre of your leg and are surrounded by a layer of muscle (see diagram).

When blood clots form in the superficial veins, which lie just under your skin, the condition is known as READ THE FULL ARTICLE >>