How Does COPD Affect your Body

COPD is a progressive lung disease, which means it gets worse over time.

Having COPD makes it hard to breathe because less air flows in and out of the airways in your lungs. This happens when:

Airways become thick and inflamed.

Airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.

Lung tissue is destroyed.

Too much mucus is made and blocks (obstructs) airways.

When you're getting less air, less oxygen gets into body tissues and it gets harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. This results in shortness of breath during everyday activities. People with COPD can experience fatigue, chronic cough and frequent respiratory infections as well. People with COPD are also at risk for other health problems including heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer.

Because it's hard to breathe, staying active with COPD can be difficult—especially as the disease progresses. Having COPD can limit things such as:

Ability to work

Normal physical exertion

Household chores

Social activities

Sleeping

Family activities

COPD doesn't just have a physical impact—living with chronic disease also can affect mental health. If you have COPD, it's not uncommon to feel fear, anxiety, depression or stress. Getting emotional support is just as important as protecting your lungs and staying active.

What Is COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe.

Key Points

COPD is chronic. In other words, you live with it every day.

It can cause serious long-term disability and early death.

There is no cure for COPD, but it is often preventable and treatable.

COPD is sometimes referred to as chronic bronchitis or emphysema.

With COPD, the airways in your lungs become inflamed and thicken, and the tissue where oxygen is exchanged is destroyed. The flow of air in and out of your lungs decreases. When that happens, less oxygen gets into your body tissues, and it becomes harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide. As the disease gets worse, shortness of breath makes it harder to remain active.

Sometimes referred to as either chronic bronchitis or emphysema, most people will have symptoms of both conditions, so health professionals prefer to call the disease COPD. However, some doctors think that chronic bronchitis may be present even though a person does not have the airway obstruction characteristic of COPD. Your doctor can explain your condition and the best way to treat it.

It is important to remember that in many cases, COPD can be prevented and can be treated.

COPD- know more about it

COPD facts for you

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that is often preventable and treatable. If you or a loved one has COPD, there are steps to take to cope with the lifestyle changes this disease brings. Learning about COPD and its treatment can help you feel more in control.

What Is COPD?

COPD is a chronic lung disease that gets worse over time. It's sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Learn more more about the basics of COPD »

How COPD Affects Your Body

COPD damages the airways in your lungs and leads to shortness of breath, impacting your work, exercise, sleep and other everyday activities. Find out how COPD affects you »

How Serious Is COPD?

More than 11 million people in the U.S. suffer from COPD. It causes serious long-term disability and early death. There's no cure, but COPD can be prevented and treated. See the impact of COPD »

IMPACT OF COPD

How Serious Is COPD

COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 11 million people have been diagnosed with COPD, but millions more may have the disease without even knowing it. COPD causes serious long-term disability and early death. At this time there is no cure, and the number of people dying from COPD is growing.

COPD in Women

Deaths resulting from COPD in women are higher than in men. There are a few reasons why this happens.

In the late 1960s, the tobacco industry intensely targeted women. This resulted in a huge increase in women smoking. We are still seeing new cases of smoking related diseases, including COPD, as women age.

Women are more vulnerable than men to lung damage from cigarette smoke and other pollutants. Their lungs are smaller and estrogen plays a role in worsening lung disease.

Women are often misdiagnosed. Because COPD has long been thought of as a man’s disease, many doctors still do not expect to see it in women and miss the proper diagnosis.

Missing the Warning Signs

COPD is often not found until the disease is very advanced because people do not know the early warning signs. Sometimes people think they are short of breath or less able to take part in their normal activities because they are "just getting older."

It Can Be Treated

There's no cure for COPD, but the good news is that it can be found early. Much can be done to treat and help manage the disease. Through medications, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and social support, many people are able to live with their disease for many years.

Facts : Cystic Fibrosis - 65 Roses

By Dr Deepu

The “65 Roses” story dates back to 1965 when an observant 4-year-old, hearing the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as “65 Roses.” Today, “65 Roses” is a term often used by young children with cystic fibrosis to pronounce the name of their disease.

Sleep, Nutrition Routines In Hospitals May Compromise Patients’ Immune System, Physicians Say

Reuters (10/22, Kennedy) reports three physicians from Johns Hopkins argue, in a viewpoint paper in BMJ Quality and Safety, that noisy conditions in hospitals can interrupt sleeping habits of patients, and hospital policies of withholding food for long periods of time before procedures can weaken a patient’s immune system while he or she is hospitalized..

Top FDA Official Says Regulators Should Consider Potential Benefits Of E-Cigarettes

The Congressional Quarterly (10/22, Siddons, Subscription Publication) reports that Mitch Zeller, head of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products, said Wednesday that regulators have to consider the possible health benefits for smokers who transition to e-cigarettes. “If there is an opportunity to shift those unable or unwilling to quit from the most harmful form of nicotine delivery, to the least harmful form,” Zeller said, “then I think that we as regulators have an opportunity to explore what those options are. “

President Obama Announces New Steps To Fight Opioid Abuse Epidemic

A number of major national outlets covered President Obama’s announcement yesterday of new initiatives to fight the nation’s abuse opioid abuse epidemic. The efforts, announced during the President’s visit to West Virginia, drew mostly positive reactions from medical groups and lawmakers. However, several sources suggest the Administration’s work on the issue so far has been largely ineffective.

        The Washington Post (10/22, Mufson, Zezima) reports that the Obama Administration “announced Wednesday it will take steps to increase access to drug treatment and the training of doctors who prescribe opiate painkillers.” The efforts, which President Obama unveiled at a forum in Charleston, West Virginia, include doubling the number of physicians who can prescribe buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opiate addiction, to 60,000 over the next three years. The Administration will also double the number of providers that can prescribe naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The Post adds that “West Virginia — the home of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell — is the epicenter of America’s opiate epidemic, where more than a decade ago people started getting hooked on prescription drugs.”

        Reuters (10/22, Edwards) reports that the President directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to invest $8.5 million in opioid addiction prevention. Reuters adds that about 45 percent of heroin users in the US are also addicted to prescription opioids, according to the CDC.

Most Americans Say They Can’t Afford Monthly Premiums Above $100

CNBC (10/22) reports that a “large majority of adults say ‘$100 a month or less’ is the highest monthly premium they can afford to pay for health insurance in 2016, according to a survey released Wednesday” by HealthPocket.com. Fifty-seven percent of respondents gave that price range when asked about coverage affordability. The second-most common answer “was $200 per month, which was the response of just 17 percent of respondents.” CNBC adds that cost “or perceived cost” is the main reason that the remaining uninsured give when asked why they haven’t purchased health insurance. According to the article, ACA plans “routinely cost more than $100 per month before the federal subsidies available to many enrollees are factored into the price.”

GOOD NEWS! NEW TREATMENT COULD CURE ASTHMA!!!

Scientists discover asthma's potential root cause and a novel treatment
Cardiff scientists have for the first time identified the potential root cause of asthma and an existing drug that offers a new treatment.

Published today in Science Translational Medicine journal, University researchers, working in collaboration with scientists at King's College London and the Mayo Clinic (USA), describe the previously unproven role of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in causing asthma, a disease which affects 300 million people worldwide.

The team used mouse models of asthma and human airway tissue from asthmatic and non-asthmatic people to reach their findings.

Crucially, the paper highlights the effectiveness of a class of drugs known as calcilytics in manipulating CaSR to reverse all symptoms associated with the condition. These symptoms include airway narrowing, airway twitchiness and inflammation - all of which contribute to increased breathing difficulty.

"Our findings are incredibly exciting," said the principal investigator, Professor Daniela Riccardi, from the School of Biosciences. "For the first time we have found a link airways inflammation, which can be caused by environmental triggers - such as allergens, cigarette smoke and car fumes – and airways twitchiness in allergic asthma.

"Our paper shows how these triggers release chemicals that activate CaSR in airway tissue and drive asthma symptoms like airway twitchiness, inflammation, and narrowing. Using calcilytics, nebulized directly into the lungs, we show that it is possible to deactivate CaSR and prevent all of these symptoms."

Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, who helped fund the research, said:

"This hugely exciting discovery enables us, for the first time, to tackle the underlying causes of asthma symptoms. Five per cent of people with asthma don't respond to current treatments so research breakthroughs could be life changing for hundreds of thousands of people.

"If this research proves successful we may be just a few years away from a new treatment for asthma, and we urgently need further investment to take it further through clinical trials. Asthma research is chronically underfunded; there have only been a handful of new treatments developed in the last 50 years so the importance of investment in research like this is absolutely essential."
While asthma is well controlled in some people, around one-in-twelve patients respond poorly to current treatments. This significant minority accounts for around 90% of healthcare costs associated with the condition.

According to Cardiff Professor Paul Kemp, who co-authored the study, the identification of CaSR in airway tissue means that the potential for treatment of other inflammatory lung diseases beyond asthma is immense. These include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic bronchitis, for which currently there exists no cure. It is predicted that by 2020 these diseases will be the third biggest killers worldwide.Professor Riccardi and her collaborators are now seeking funding to determine the efficacy of calcilytic drugs in treating asthmas that are especially difficult to treat, particularly steroid-resistant and influenza-exacerbated asthma, and to test these drugs in patients with asthma.
Calcilytics were first developed for the treatment of osteoporosis around 15 years ago with the aim of strengthening deteriorating bone by targeting CaSR to induce the release of an anabolic hormone. Although clinically safe and well tolerated in people, calcilytics proved unsuccessful in treating osteoporosis.
But this latest breakthrough has provided researchers with the unique opportunity to re-purpose these drugs, potentially accelerating the time it takes for them to be approved for use asthma patients. Once funding has been secured, the group aim to be trialling the drugs on humans within two years.
"If we can prove that calcilytics are safe when administered directly to the lung in people, then in five years we could be in a position to treat patients and potentially stop asthma from happening in the first place," added Professor Riccardi.
The study was part-funded by Asthma UK, the Cardiff Partnership Fund and a BBSRC 'Sparking Impact' award.

Still Smoking?? These Facts Will Definitely Blow You Off

How Is Smoking Related to Cancer?

Smoking can cause cancer and then block your body from fighting it:

·         Poisons in cigarette smoke can weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder to kill cancer cells. When this happens, cancer cells keep growing without being stopped.

·         Poisons in tobacco smoke can damage or change a cell's DNA. DNA is the cell's "instruction manual" that controls a cell's normal growth and function. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumor.

Doctors have known for years that smoking causes most lung cancer. It's still true today, when nearly 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes. In fact, smokers have a greater risk for lung cancer today than they did in 1964, even though they smoke fewer cigarettes. One reason may be changes in how cigarettes are made and what they contain.⁵

Treatments are getting better for lung cancer, but it still kills more men and women than any other type of cancer. More than 7,300 nonsmokers die each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.

Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body, including the.

·         Blood (acute myeloid leukemia)

·         Bladder

·         Cervix

·         Colon and rectum

·         Esophagus

·         Kidneys and ureters

·         Larynx

·         Liver

·         Lungs

·         Mouth, nose, and throat

·         Pancreas

·         Stomach

·         Trachea

Men with prostate cancer who smoke may be more likely to die from these diseases than nonsmokers.

Smokeless tobacco also causes cancer, including cancers of the:

·         Esophagus

·         Mouth and throat

·         Pancreas

How Can Smoking-Related Cancers Be Prevented?

Quitting smoking lowers the risks for cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx.

·         Within 5 years of quitting, your chance of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder is cut in half.

·         Ten years after you quit smoking, your risk of dying from lung cancer drops by half.

If nobody smoked, one of every three cancer deaths in the United States would not happen.

Tarvelling Frequently by Air? Here Are Tips To Keep Ears Safe.

Ear problems are the most common medical complaint of airplane travelers, and while they are usually simple, minor annoyances, they may result in temporary pain and hearing loss. Make air travel comfortable by learning how to equalize the pressure in the ears instead of suffering from an uncomfortable feeling of fullness or pressure. 

WHY DO EARS POP?

Normally, swallowing causes a little click or popping sound in the ear. This occurs because a small bubble of air has entered the middle ear, up from the back of the nose. It passes through the Eustachian tube, a membrane-lined tube about the size of a pencil lead that connects the back of the nose with the middle ear. The air in the middle ear is constantly being absorbed by its membranous lining and re-supplied through the Eustachian tube. In this manner, air pressure on both sides of the eardrum stays about equal. If, and when, the air pressure is not equal the ear feels blocked.

The Eustachian tube can be blocked, or obstructed, for a variety of reasons. When that occurs, the middle ear pressure cannot be equalized. The air already there is absorbed and a vacuum occurs, sucking the eardrum inward and stretching it. Such an eardrum cannot vibrate naturally, so sounds are muffled or blocked, and the stretching can be painful. If the tube remains blocked, fluid (like blood serum) will seep into the area from the membranes in an attempt to overcome the vacuum. This is called “fluid in the ear,” serous otitis or aero-otitis. Uncommon problems include developing a hole in the ear drum, hearing loss and dizziness.
 
The most common cause for a blocked Eustachian tube is the common cold. Sinus infections and nasal allergies are also common causes. A stuffy nose leads to stuffy ears because the swollen membranes block the opening of the Eustachian tube.

HOW CAN AIR TRAVEL CAUSE HEARING PROBLEMS?

Air travel is sometimes associated with rapid changes in air pressure. To maintain comfort, the Eustachian tube must open frequently and wide enough to equalize the changes in pressure. This is especially true when the airplane is landing, going from low atmospheric pressure down closer to earth where the air pressure is higher.

Actually, any situation in which rapid altitude or pressure changes occur creates the problem. It may be experienced when riding in elevators or when diving to the bottom of a swimming pool. Deep sea divers, as well as pilots, are taught how to equalize their ear pressure. Anybody can learn the trick too.

HOW TO UNBLOCK EARS?

Swallowing activates the muscles that open the Eustachian tube. Swallowing occurs more often when chewing gum or when sucking on hard candies. These are good air travel practices, especially just before take-off and during descent. Yawning is even better. Avoid sleeping during descent because swallowing may not occur often enough to keep up with the pressure changes.
 
During decent, if yawning and swallowing are not effective, pinch the nostrils shut, take a mouthful of air, and direct the air into the back of the nose as if trying to blow the nose gently, you should feel a pressure buildup but do not let the air out your mouth The ears have been successfully unblocked when a pop is heard. This may have to be repeated several times during descent.

Even after landing, continue the pressure equalizing techniques and the use of decongestants and nasal sprays. If the ears fail to open or if pain persists, seek the help of a physician who has experience in the care of ear disorders. The ear specialist may need to release the pressure or fluid with a small incision in the ear drum.

For some people, these techniques may not work.  If you fly frequently and have chronic issues with pressure or pain, you doctor may recommend placing small pressure equalization tubes.

HOW TO HELP BABIES UNBLOCK THEIR EARS?

Babies cannot intentionally pop their ears, but popping may occur if they are sucking on a bottle or pacifier. Feed the baby during the flight, and do not allow him or her to sleep during descent. Children are especially vulnerable to blockages because their Eustachian tubes are narrower than in adults. 

IS THE USE OF DECONGESTANTS AND NOSE SPRAYS RECOMMENDED?

Many experienced air travelers use a decongestant pill or an over the counter nasal spray an hour or so before descent. This will shrink the membranes and help the ears pop more easily. Travelers with allergy problems should take their medication at the beginning of the flight for the same reason. However, avoid making a habit of over the counter nasal sprays. After a few days, they may cause more congestion than relief.

Decongestant tablets and sprays can be purchased without a prescription. However, they should be avoided by people with heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, thyroid disease, or excessive nervousness. Such people should consult their physicians before using these medicines. Pregnant women should likewise consult their physicians first.

Tips to prevent discomfort during air travel

• Consult with your surgeon on how soon after ear surgery it is safe to fly.
• •Postpone an airplane trip if a cold, sinus infection, or an allergy attack is present.
• •Patients in good health can take a decongestant pill or nose spray approximately an hour before descent to help the ears pop more easily.
• •Avoid sleeping during descent.
• •Chew gum or suck on a hard candy just before take-off and during descent.
• •When inflating the ears, do not use excessive force. The proper technique involves only pressure created by the cheek and throat muscles.
• •These tips may also be used for people who scuba dive.

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis means your sinuses are inflamed. The cause can be an infection or another problem. Your sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones surrounding the nose. They produce mucus, which drains into the nose. 

If your nose is swollen, this can block the sinuses and cause pain.

There are several types of sinusitis, including

• Acute, which lasts up to 4 weeks
• Subacute, which lasts 4 to 12 weeks
• Chronic, which lasts more than 12 weeks and can continue for months or even years
• Recurrent, with several attacks within a year

Acute sinusitis often starts as a cold, which then turns into a bacterial infection. 

Allergies, nasal problems, and certain diseases can also cause acute and chronic sinusitis.

Symptoms of sinusitis can include fever, weakness, fatigue, cough, and congestion. 

There may also be mucus drainage in the back of the throat, called postnasal drip. Your health care professional diagnoses sinusitis based on your symptoms and an examination of your nose and face. You may also need imaging tests.

 Treatments include antibiotics, decongestants, and pain relievers. Using heat pads on the inflamed area, saline nasal sprays, and vaporizers can also help.

What is lung Cancer?

LUNG CANCER 

Note: All cancers and patients are highly individual, so treatment will be tailored to their specific cases. Some information may become outdated, as new or better regimens are always being
researched/tested/approved. Not all chemotherapy agents are available in all countries. 

Suggestions for information to be included or needed changes in this overview are always welcome!

Excerpted from M.D. Anderson's adaptation of NCI's "What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer"

What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Common signs and symptoms of lung cancer include:
• A cough that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time
• Constant chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
• Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
• Swelling of the neck and face
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Fatigue
These symptoms may be caused by esophageal cancer or by other conditions.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?
If any of the above symptoms do occur, your doctor will evaluate your medical history, smoking history, exposure to environmental and occupational hazards, and family history of cancer. The doctor will also perform a physical exam and may order a chest x-ray and other diagnostic tests. If lung cancer is thought to be present, a sputum cytology test will be ordered to exam your mucous cells under a microscope. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, the doctor will perform a biopsy—the removal of a small sample of tissue from the lung for examination under a microscope. A number of procedures may be used to obtain this tissue such as a bronchoscope, needle aspiration, thoracentesis, or thoracotomy.

What is staging?
If the diagnosis is lung cancer, your doctor will need to know the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging is a way to find how far the cancer has spread and to which parts of the body. Lung cancer often spreads to the brain and bones. Once your doctor knows what stage your cancer is, he or she can plan your treatment. Some tests used to determine if the cancer has spread include CAT/CT scan (computerized tomography), PET scan (Positron emission tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), radionuclide scanning, bone scan, and/or mediastinoscopy/mediastinotomy.

How is lung cancer treated?
The treatment of lung cancer depends on a number of factors, including the type of lung cancer (NSCLC or SCLC); the size, location, extent of the tumor; and the general health of the patient. Many different treatments and combinations of treatments may be used to control lung cancer, and/or to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms. Treatments for lung cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Clinical trials are also a treatment option.

How is non–small cell lung cancer treated?
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer may be treated in several ways. The choice of treatment depends mainly on the size, location, and extent of the tumor. Surgery is the most common way to treat this type of lung cancer. Cryosurgery, a treatment that freezes and destroys cancer tissue, may be used to control symptoms in the later stages of non-small cell lung cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may also be used to slow the progress of the disease and to manage symptoms.

How is small cell lung cancer treated?
Small cell lung cancer spreads quickly. In many cases, cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body when the disease is diagnosed. In order to reach cancer cells throughout the body, doctors almost always use chemotherapy. Treatment may also include radiation therapy aimed at the tumor in the lung or tumors in other parts of the body (such as in the brain). Some patients have radiation therapy to the brain even though no cancer is found there. This treatment, called prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), is give to prevent tumors from forming in the brain. Surgery is part of the treatment plan for a small number of patients with small cell lung cancer.

The gateway to Lung Cancer information at the National Cancer Institute NCI:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung

Do You Have lung Cancer?

If you are writing to say that you are worried because you have symptoms related to Lung Cancer but you haven't been to a doctor yet, here is a summary of what we are probably going to say to you:

* Don't panic!
* Consulting Google will only increase your fears.

Dr. Google can convince people that they are seriously ill when mostly they are not.

* You probably don't have Lung Cancer. There are many things that can cause symptoms similar to LC but most are not, in fact, LC!

* Unfortunately, we cannot tell you that you definitely do NOT have LC either. We are not doctors, and the ONLY way that LC can be diagnosed is with a biopsy. What we can tell you is that you are obviously concerned, so you should seek medical counsel for your own peace of mind. 

* In summary, if you are concerned, go see a doctor. If you are not satisfied with how they treat you, see another one. You are the greatest advocate for your own health, as you have the greatest stake in it.

* If you have been to a doctor who suspects Lung Cancer, or you are currently undergoing tests specifically for Lung Cancer, we will support you through diagnosis. You are free to post in this area of the Forum. However, if a doctor tells you that you do NOT have LC, please refrain from posting your fears on this site as there is nothing else we can do to help you. This has proven to be upsetting to our members who are currently battling LC or have loved ones who are.

If you have any questions about whether or not you should post, please feel free to send me a private message and I will let you know. Best of luck!

The Battle Against Polio!!!!

“When I worked on the Polio Vaccine, I had a theory. I guided each (experiment) by imagining myself in the phenomenon in which I was interested.  The intuitive realm……… the realm of imagination guides my thinking.

-Dr. Jonas E.Salk, American Virologist and Discoverer of Polio Vaccine.

(Dr. Araveeti  Ramayogaiah)

Dr. Araveeti Ramayogaiah

On January 13, 2014, we achieved three years of Wild Polio Free India (WPFI), a historical mile stone occurs only once.  I am thrilled and satisfied but not on cloud nine and I am equanimous.  For me it is – “Justice delayed – Justice denied” for the people at the helm it is – “Better late than never”.

8.5 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), 2 lakhs Auxillary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), 1.5 lakhs supervisors, 13 lakhs Anganwadi teachers, Several lakhs of volunteers, community mobilisers, several activists, media  etc contributed for success.  The Nation salutes all those soldiers who made it.

On January 14, 2012 almost all print media including ‘The Hindu’ published beautiful photograph of Honorable U.S.  Secretary  of Health  and Human services  Madam   Ms. Kathleen Sebalius administering oral polio vaccine  – OPV (Sabine vaccine) to a child in New Delhi.  The irony is that US do not use this vaccine to its children.  US uses inactivated polio vaccine – IPV (Salk vaccine) which is injectable and safe.

On February 11, 2014 India celebrated the success on Polio in the presence of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of World Health Organization at an official function held in New Delhi.  It was attended by honourable President of India, Prime Minister of India, Union Health Minister and Leader of opposition in Loksabha.   What pains most is that except Doordarshan, hardly any TV channel telecasted the event live.   It is my practice to read 10 daily news papers on every day.  None of the papers of February 12, 2014 reported that event.   I could not decipher the reasons, but this trend discourages future elimination programmes and also discourages the millions of volunteers who made it possible!.  As a matter of fact the whole country should celebrate it.

Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) is the one of the key interventions in elimination of Polio.   Our country launched nationwide pulse polio programme in 1995-96.  In 1994 itself, the programme was started in State of Delhi.

In the long journey spanning two decades, we have brought down polio cases from 28,587   in 1997 to 1 in 2011 and Zero in 2012, 2013 and 2014.    The nation passed through mixed feelings of enthusiasm, complacency, euphoria and distress.  The country has traversed from enthusiasm to ritual mode, from people’s participation to bureaucracy driven, from volunteerism to fee for work, from no special allocation of budget to PPI to allocation of special budget for P.P.I. When there was less budget it was every body’s programme and with huge budget it turned into one sided programme.

Peoples’ participation:     

Peoples’ participation is one of the three pillars of primary health care.  In the last few years, I have observed the programme at several places. In the year 2013, I monitored the PPI programme as a state programme officer in Nizamabad district of A.P. and covered 80 percent of the district.

Though we achieved wild polio free status of 4 years, the long term stumbling block still remains i.e., “missing peoples’ participation”. The 1978 Alma Ata declaration considers people as prime movers for shaping their health but not passive recipients. The 1946 Bhore committee report clearly says that it is essential to secure active co operation of the people for the development of health programmes. The world health day theme of 1988 was’ Health for all-All for health’, which explains self. The 1994 International conference on population and development advocated community needs assessment (CAN) approach where planning itself should be from the community i.e., “Bottom up approach”.

Despite all these pronouncements, it is agonizing that people are not involved anywhere in the health delivery. The major cause could be growing capitalistic evolution of Indian society, kleptocritic and plutocratic phase of Indian democracy and plaguing chronic capitalism.

In this scenario, fee for service becomes a new mantra for delivery of any service and or for that matter a massive public health programme like polio eradication too. In a system of “fee for service”, the programme makes vast majority of people as aliens, simple recipients and not real players. This is a weak foundation and harms in long term and may even results in reversal of achievements already made.

Still there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Health functionaries at various levels should visit schools and create awareness in the school children and rope them in during their formative years. On every PPI day, non officials like ward members, sarpanches, corporators, mayors and members of legislative bodies should be roped in, in a big way for formal inaugurations and symbolic administration of polio drops by them. The ‘only booth approach’ of earlier years created massive peoples’ movement in the community, where as ‘house to house’ makes people sit in their houses for health functionaries to visit them. Thus it becomes one sided. House to house programme should be phased out. For the nation that is crying for tangible results in public health can’t afford to keep away any health functionary away from the programme. Massive main streaming of specialist doctors of secondary hospitals, practitioners of private sectors and corporate sector is the need of the hour. All the influential persons in the community should become part of the programme. A volunteer from a NGO or a student from a school is not peoples’ participation. In Turkey Imams played crucial role in improving immunization levels and in Srilanka Buddhist monks played vital role to improve public health. We need to emulate them. Several such innovations can be thought off to make PPI programme a really peoples’ participatory one. The best practices of eighties viz. Village leaders training [VLT] camps and Orientation training camps [OTCs] and the spirit of early years of PPI should be revived. As we make a sincere beginnings, new innovations will emerge and ultimately peoples’ participation becomes spontaneous and natural. Peoples’ participation in PPI helps in the success of other on going public health programmes and future public health programmes.

India’s P.P.I. suffered from several infirmities also viz. Very low routine  immunization , pockets of un immunized children during NID  rounds,  irresponsibility  and non accountability  of various functionaries , lack of political and administrative will,  morbid  individualism  and poor environmental sanitation. For the District Magistrate whom I met in one of the rounds as the state program officer, it was a sarcasm. He said, “Pulse polio… !  it is  signing the cheques and cutting the ribbon!  Okay, I will do”. One of the Chief Ministers of this country openly expressed his fatigue and said this was not his priority. Several bureaucrats asked me, “How long this Doctor!”

During 1998 to 2002, I was a teacher in Government medical school at Guntur in the department of preventive medicine.  During one of the PPI rounds, telling the dates of PPI to them, I asked 20 and odd internees about the importance of those days.  None could answer.  In fact the city was reverberating with huge I.E.C. (Information, Education and Communication) activities.  There is paramount need to sensitize medical students on nation’s health needs.

Inter sectoral coordination:

Inter sectoral coordination is one of the 3 Pillars of Primary Health Care. There is even missing intra departmental coordination in our country.  For a specialist in a Secondary Hospital, the programme is Greek and Latin.   In fact one specialist confessed to me that he doesn’t know how many drops are put in to child’s mouth.  In this scenario, the role of intersectoral coordination can be simply imagined.

India is one of the country with gigantic private medical care services.  PPI is not their cup of tea.  There is a need to main stream every medical system and functionary to a public health activity like PPI.

Yet we have achieved Three Year of W P F   status!  Let us salute mother nature for her benevolence.  Most of the child survival interventions are interdependent and contribute for the success of multiple parameters.

With hunger index of 66,  Infant Mortality rate of 41, 42% of undernourished  children , skewed  Juvenile  Sex ratio of 914:1000,  Poor breastfeeding and infant feeding practices, we are blessed at least in one area i.e. Poliomyelitis.  Thanks to un-touchable practices of wild polio virus and let us all pray great nature to bless the virus not to change its mind.

Way forward:

Now maintaining Wild Polio Free Status for ever is a real challenge.  I am neither an academician, nor an expert nor a scientist.  I am an ordinary person involved at field level. Experts believe that the ensuing period is very critical and should be handled by introducing Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV).  I firmly believe that my country can do that and achieve the goal.   Let us not hesitate as IPV being an injectable vaccine.  After all we are already using injectable vaccines viz DPT, BCG and Hepatitis B in universal immunization programme.  Let us meet   the future ahead with IPV which is safe and prevents vaccine Associated Paralytic Polio (VAPP).  Let us not debate on cost of IPV as nothing is costlier than lives of children.

On this occasion, let me warn the nation that there is a looming threat of importation of virus and prepare to face it.  In 2009-2010 as per WHO fact sheet of October 2011, twenty three previously polio – free countries were reinfected due to import of the virus.  With the prevailing internal turbulence, Pakistan and Afghanistan do not change to non endemic status even in far future and we are under constant threat of importation.  The importation of wild polio virus in to China (which was free from Polio since 2000) poses a risk to us.  Very recently importation took place into Syria.  The Polio virus   does not respect national borders.   Let us be vigilant   at our borders with high level of surveillance and stop any type of importation.  With the present achievement we hope to give final push and tame the virus.

Still many people in our country think that PPI is the all and end all for eradication of Polio.  Poliomyelitis is an infection transmitted from feco-oral route.  We have to address the issues of safe water and sanitation on war footing.

For a nation  that is committed,  the issues of migrating populations , high-risk  areas, remote and interior places , influence of opinion makers  do not pose any  threat and nation  has all the will and wherewithal  to face the challenge.  The nation enjoys the work but do not get fatigued as the jumping children with joy is paramount priority to the nation.

No matter  how much money  we spent , how much networking we build , how much social mobilization  we make  – it is only winning the trust of people  that can gain popularity for mission mode programme like pulse polio immunization.

The nation is heading for another PPI programme on January 18, 2015 and February 22, 2015.  Let us all actively associate with this programme to make it a grand success.

“Once polio  is eradicated , the world can celebrate the delivery of major global public good – something  that will equally benefit all people, no matter where they live”, said the WHO.

“Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors” said jonas E salk.  Do we have that spirit?

Bye, Bye Polio!

DR. ARAVEETI RAMA YOGAIAH

Founder – Organization for Promotion of Social Dimensions of Health (OPSDH)

Former Additional Director of Health of A.P.

Former State Coordinator, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI)

Formal, Consultant, Indian Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Hyderabad.

source :http://www.primepost.in/battle-against-polio/ 

7 healthy ways for a healthy life!!!

It is not only important to monitor what you eat or drink but also how you time it all. If we discipline ourselves towards a better lifestyle, maintaining good health won’t be such a task. It is World Health Day today. It is a good reason to take complete responsibility of inculcating healthy habits into our life.

Follow these 7 changes to your lifestyle to feel better and live healthier-

1) King’s Breakfast: Most people don't feel like eating much at breakfast. However, ignoring or skipping breakfast sets a bad rhythm for the rest of your day and weakens your immune system. Having breakfast is a must and the ideal breakfast is one which is low in carbohydrates and has a good portion of protein. For people short on time, a seasonal fruit with raw nuts and a little yogurt can be a good option. Eggs and Milk can also do wonders.

2) Water Intake: Inadequate water causes dehydration and can lead to a number of problems. Most common ones are headaches, dry skin, impaired sleep, joint problems, poor concentration as well as digestive disorders. Best way to address this problem is to keep water handy wherever you are. Try to drink about two liters of water each day. More, if its hot outside or after workouts.

3) Sleep Well: Sleep time is rejuvenation for your body. If you don't get enough sleep, you will deprive your body the time to recover and tackle whatever the next day has to offer. Try to be in bed earlier and get at least 7 hours of sleep daily, sleep also helps in maintaining circadian rhythm and also boosts memory and immunity.

4) Physical Training: A good mix of aerobic as well as strength training is quite important for your health. You feel more energetic and productive when you physically work out. People who exercise regularly are generally happier than those who are inactive.

5) Stress Releasing: Stress is a major factor in inducing various forms of illnesses. Stress increases the amount of free radicals generated in the body and may cause hypertension and diabetes. Try to give yourself some time every week to do things that you enjoy – like reading, meditation or enjoying the outdoors.

6) No Self Medication: Often one wrong medicine causes much more harm than any medicine at the right time, does good. Try to avoid popping pills without doctor’s recommendation. Many side effects or reactions to an existing medication or condition can lead to uncalled for problems and complications later. Don’t rely on sources like chemist or a relative to guide you, they might not look at the right details due to lack of knowledge. Say no to self medication.

7) Avoid Fried junk foods : These are the sources of saturated fatty acids the main culprit in causing obesity and heart problems, instead feast on baked items.

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