Bird flu, a deadlier threat for the traveller than plane mishaps
Friday, March 14, 2014 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

The recent disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 en route to Beijing has thrust air travel hazards into the spotlight. In truth, air travel is still very safe and the number of incidences anything catastrophic has happened in-flight is countable. The probability of dying in an air crash is less than dying in a road accident for instance. When travelling, be it vacationing or going on a company trip, people tend to consider the flights to be of greatest concern, but they often neglect other risks to look out for once they touch down, such as health issues.

If you plan on travelling this March holiday, the avian flu or bird flu / H5N1 and H7N9, not flight accidents, should be your main concern. In China alone, 226 people have been infected by H7N9 since this year, and 72 have died. Other countries with people who have been affected by this virus or variations of it include Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia.

A little background knowledge on this virus:

Avian influenza viruses normally circulate among birds. However, they also have the potential to infect humans through direct contact or close exposure to sick or dead poultry and their faeces. Examples of such forms of exposure include visiting live bird or poultry markets, and preparing or eating uncooked or undercooked bird products like meat, eggs and blood.

The H5N1 has since 2003 infected more than 560 people in 15 countries in parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. About 60% of them have died. There has been no reports on human infections by H7N9 viruses until reports from China in March 2013. For both viruses, there has been no evidence on human-to-human transmission. Though there are fears that they could mutate and be spread through human contact.

Vaccination against H5N1 is available in Singapore. The H7N9 vaccine is not available and currently in preparation.

If you're travelling, here are some measures you should take to protect yourself from this potentially fatal virus:

- Keep yourself updated on reports concerning the outbreak of the virus via World Health Organisation and OIE World Organisation of Animal Health.

- Visit a doctor familiar with travel medications 4 - 6 weeks before you leave and get recommended vaccines and medicines.

- Before you leave, equip yourself with knowledge about available health care resources at your destination (i.e. clinics, hospitals) 

- Practise basic hygiene. i.e. wash hands often with soap and clean water. Carry hand sanitizer which you can use on the go when clean water is not available. Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze and bin the used tissue properly.

- Avoid all direct contact with birds.

- Avoid places with live birds or uncooked bird products such as wet markets and farms.

- Don't touch surfaces with bird droppings or bird fluids.

- Don't touch the water or wash your hands in rivers and ponds where ducks and other water birds may dwell.

- Eat only bird products that have been completely cooked. Flu viruses have been destroyed by heat.

- Seek medical help if you feel unwell. Symptoms for bird flu are very similar to human influenza with common symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat and breathing difficulties.

- Avoid travelling when you are sick, especially to countries with reported cases of bird flu, as your immune system will be weaker.

Other sources:
http://www.who.int/influenza/human_animal_interface/avian_influenza/en/
http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avian-flu-information


Was dyslexia an excuse for John Travolta's “Adele Dazeem” at the Oscars?
Friday, March 07, 2014 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments



At the recently concluded Oscar Awards, John Travolta stole the limelight by hilariously mispronouncing Idina Menzel’s name as “Adele Dazeem”, giving rise to plenty laughs, parodies and ridiculing statements online. Some people, however, spoke in defense of Travolta, suggesting that he had dyslexia, in which case, it would have been unethical to jeer at him if he couldn’t help it. What is dyslexia, and is it a legitimate excuse for “Adele Dazeem” to happen?

Dyslexia is the difficulty in learning to read (words, images and numbers), in spite of at least average intelligence, sufficient opportunities to learn to read and conventional learning methods. This difficult is a result of the brain’s inability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into a comprehensible language.

Dyslexia usually begins from childhood and persists throughout life. It is difficult to detect in very early stages of childhood, but the following are common symptoms of dyslexia in children:

- Writing letters and numbers in reversed way (most common warning sign, though not an absolute symptom of Dyslexia)
- Missing out words or entire parts of a sentence
- Speaks words that come out sounding funny
- Substituting a similar word that is wrong
- Frustration and bad temper from being unable to read
- Depression and low self-esteem, which leads to behavioural problems and display for school
- Problem remembering and understanding content even if it involves things he likes
- Uncoordinated movements, and difficulty with organised sports / games
- Difficulty distinguishing left and right, with dominance for either hand not established
- Difficulty recalling things in the right sequence

There are two common types of Dyslexia. Primary dyslexia is the dysfunction to the left side of the brain. It is hereditary. Sufferers usually struggle with reading, spelling and writing as adults. Secondary or developmental dyslexia results during early stages of fetal development due to hormonal changes. It goes away as the child matures.

If you suspect that your child has dyslexia, do consult a paediatrician. There is no known treatment for dyslexia. However, the condition can be managed and kept under control. Typically, a psychologist, speech therapist and reading specialist would also be working with your child, amongst other professionals. The school should also be informed of your child’s condition so that the teacher can monitor his learning process accordingly. Consider bringing him / her to a learning centre specially for those with dyslexia. The Dyslexia Association of Singapore has many branches around Singapore.

Despite the persistent nature of this condition, it is possible for dyslexics to overcome this learning disorder with the right learning methods, hard work and the correct attitude. Did you know that famous intellects like Albert Einstein and our MM Lee Kuan Yew are dyslexics? On the Yale University website, dyslexic students share their tips on managing their assignments. Advice includes working on their projects in short but frequent blocks of time, depending on sound (listening), working in a quiet place and staying healthy.

And this brings us back to the question about John Travolta’s “Adele Dazeem”. If he can memorise songs, dances and scripts, just like many dyslexics who are able to read, speak and write normally, he certainly can memorise a name, and his failure to do most likely boils down to unprofessionalism, or having too much to drink. Fortunately, unlike the apologists abusing dyslexia as an excuse, he has done right by publicly apologising for his gaffe.

Sources:
http://www.das.org.sg/about-dyslexia/myths-abt-dyslexia
http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/article.htm


Eat healthy at work, keep those pounds away
Friday, February 28, 2014 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

Yesterday, a news report indicated that three in five Singaporeans gain weight after they start work, and they put on an average of 3 kg per year! Top reasons included lack of time to exercise, a more sedentary lifestyle (for those in the office) and eating more when stressed.

Many of us who work in the office are workaholics who buy back to eat at our desks, grab instants from the vending machine or convenience store, or worst, skip it completely. Sometimes, eating at our desk is inevitable; given the fact that almost every commercial building does lunch break from 12 to 2 pm, the eating places are often filled.

A day at work may consist 1 or 2 meals (breakfast and lunch) and some snacks as comfort food when the going gets tough. Those who do overtime may even have their dinner at work! With so many meals taken at work, it is crucial to adopt healthy eating habits, or a poor diet will make you unhealthier.

A good diet should consist of more fruits and vegetables, some meat (prepared in healthy ways like grilling and steaming instead of frying) for protein source. Go easy on the rice and any food that contains carbodydrates and high-fat foods. When I order from the Zi Char store, I would sometimes see a group of slender office ladies request for less rice. This is ideal if you really do not need that much rice to feel sufficiently full (one should aim for 70% full instead of 100% full) and would help reduce wastage as well.

Consider packing food from home. It is convenient (no jostling with lunch crowds!), you can clear leftovers earlier, and you have greater control over the content. When planning your meals, consider the policies and facilities at your workplace - is there a microwave for heating up your leftovers? A refrigerator for storing your food? Be considerate and don't bring food that is strong-smelling, or takes up a lot of space in the refrigerator. 

No time to cook / prepare? Here are some easy options:
- Leftovers from home, if you have a microwave. Just pop your preferred amounts in sturdy containers or ziploc bags the night before and refrigerate (if necessary). In the morning, put them in a bag and you're good to go!
- Frozen meals from the supermarket. These are getting increasingly common, though bear in mind that depending on content and complexity, they can also be rather pricey compared to food from outside. They are also not exactly healthy; many frozen meals do not come with veggies as it is difficult to keep these fresh. Consider supplementing with your own from home. Compared to instants, they are still a healthier and more satisfying option. 
- Sandwiches. Convenient stores have sandwiches that often contain a good mix of vegetables, egg and sometimes meat, making them relatively balanced.

Your main meals should ideally contain the following: a protein (think meat, fish, eggs), a starch/grain (potatoes, rice), a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product.

Healthy snacks / drinks
Need a munch? Ditch the chips and try healthier options like meal bars, fruits, crackers, oatmeal, cereal, nutritional drinks, yoghurt, cheese sticks and chilled milk.