Author: RingPharm

Hand hygiene is a simple, low cost, evidence-based intervention that can help protect your health and the health of others.

For World Hand Hygiene Day 2021, WHO calls on health care workers and facilities to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care. The point of care refers to the place where three elements come together: the patient, the health care worker, and care or treatment involving contact with the patient or their surroundings. To be effective and prevent transmission of infectious microorganisms during health care delivery, hand hygiene should be performed when it is needed (at 5 specific moments) and in the most effective way (by using the right technique with readily available products) at the point of care. This can be achieved by using the WHO multi-modal hand hygiene improvement strategy.

Each year the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.

About SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands brings people together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally and to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on hand hygiene in health care. The campaign aims to galvanise action at the point of care to demonstrate that hand hygiene is the entrance door for reducing health care-associated infection and patient safety. It also aims to demonstrate the world’s commitment to this priority area of health care.

As part of a major global effort to improve hand hygiene in health care, led by WHO to support health-care workers, the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands annual global campaign was launched in 2009 and was a natural extension of the WHO First Global Patient Safety Challenge: Clean Care is Safer Care work which is now WHO IPC global unit.The central core of SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands is that all health-care workers should clean their hands at the right time and in the right way.

Hand Hygiene is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the COVID-19 virus.

Source: https://www.kkpublishers.co.za/

Speak to your Friendly RingPharm Pharmacist: https://ringpharm.co.za/ring-pharmacies-branch-list/

This situation must be stopped. South Africans will have to be taught to treat the elderly with respect, love, patience and human dignity. A new awareness has to be created among our people about the plight of our elderly and about what individuals, families, businesses and organisations can do to make the world a better place for the elderly. You can help!

The awareness campaign called “Turn turquoise for the elderly” will run from 15 May (International Family Day) to 15 June (World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day).

The campaign is now recognised in the national list of awareness days. Its purpose is two-fold:

·         Create awareness about the elderly in our communities, especially those not accommodated by institutions for the elderly, thus being more at risk.

·         Give organisations, homes for the aged, congregations, etc an opportunity to generate funds for support of the elderly.

The campaign is geared towards creating awareness about the elderly in our communities, especially those not accommodated by institutions for the elderly, thus being more at risk.

We encourage you to support elderly care facilities in your area. Here are some ways you can make a difference.

·         Tie a turquoise ribbon in front of your home or office during 15 May – 15 June to help raise awareness for the “Go turquoise for the elderly” campaign. Tell your friends and family about the campaign and encourage them to tie a turquoise ribbon too.

·         Make a friend. Enquire about elderly people in your community who might not have family and friends who supports them. Contact them, whatsapp, or visit them when Covid-19 protocol permits it.

·         Donate. Help keep our elder’s minds sharp, support your nearest old age home by donating novels, puzzles, art and craft supplies.

·         Start a Hobby or host an event. Do you have a skill you would like to share? Start an arts and craft group, a book club, a dance, spa day, host a baking day or start a bingo evening. Talk to your nearest old age home and learn what their needs are.

·         Support facilities who care for the elderly: Caring for an elderly person takes a lot of resources, especially now during Covid, when strict protocols are in place. Support your nearest old age home by donating toiletries, food, clothes, adult nappies, masks, gloves, and sanitizers.

 “Older persons are important to any society and nation, but their contribution can only be fully realized if they maintain their health and if barriers that prevent their engagement in family and community life are broken down.”  Let us all work towards a community where elders feel valued and respected.

Source: https://www.kkpublishers.co.za/

Talk to your friendly RingPharm Pharmacist https://ringpharm.co.za/ring-pharmacies-branch-list/

In rare cases, a person can develop haemophilia later in life.  The majority of cases involve middle-aged or elderly people, or young women who have recently given birth or are in the later stages of pregnancy.  This condition often resolves with appropriate treatment.

Haemophilia is caused by a mutation or change, in one of the genes, that provides instructions for making the clotting factor proteins needed to form a blood clot. This change or mutation can prevent the clotting protein from working properly or to be missing altogether. These genes are located on the X chromosome. Males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY) and females have two X chromosomes (XX). Males inherit the X chromosome from their mothers and the Y chromosome from their fathers. Females inherit one X chromosome from each parent.

Males can have a disease like haemophilia if they inherit an affected X chromosome that has a mutation in either the factor VIII or factor IX gene. Females can also have haemophilia, but this is much rarer.

Even though hemophilia runs in families, some families have no prior history of family members with hemophilia. Sometimes, there are carrier females in the family, but no affected boys, just by chance. However, about one-third of the time, the baby with hemophilia is the first one in the family to be affected with a mutation in the gene for the clotting factor.

Hemophilia can result in:

: Bleeding within joints that can lead to chronic joint disease and pain; Bleeding in the head and sometimes in the brain which can cause long term problems, such as seizures and paralysis; Death can occur if the bleeding cannot be stopped or if it occurs in a vital organ such as the brain. Hemophilia occurs in about 1 of every 5,000 male births.

The best way to treat hemophilia is to replace the missing blood clotting factor so that the blood can clot properly. This is done by infusing (administering through a vein) commercially prepared factor concentrates. People with hemophilia can learn how to perform these infusions themselves so that they can stop bleeding episodes and, by performing the infusions on a regular basis (called prophylaxis), can even prevent most bleeding episodes.

Ask your Pharmacist: https://ringpharm.co.za/ring-pharmacies-branch-list/

Eat a healthy diet and watch your weight. For cancer prevention, the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society recommend maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and eating a healthy diet.

That’s one rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit and beans, with a minimum of red and processed meats, fast food and processed foods high in fat, starches or sugars. Avoid sugary drinks.

Cutting out alcohol lowers the risk of many cancers, including breast cancer and exercise regularly. It has many benefits for physical and mental well-being.

Current guidelines recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Muscle-strengthening activities should also be included. Sitting for a long time watching TV or using the computer is discouraged.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. Quitting smoking will lower the risk for many cancers, including those of the lungs, mouth, throat, blood, bladder, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas and kidneys. Getting preventive care is an important step to manage your health. This includes cancer screenings, which can detect cancer before it spreads.

The following tips are practical as well as important on how to be healthy daily:

Follow a Healthy Eating Plan

– You do not need to starve in order to eat healthier. You can still eat food you enjoy as long as you include plenty of healthy, not-too- processed foods. Such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean meats, seafood, beans, and nuts.

Make Water & Tea your Default Drink – Many people drink soda or sugar coffee drinks all day. This is not necessary for a healthy or enjoyable life. Water can become your favorite drink, and unsweetened tea can be very healthy.

Wash you Fruits and Vegetable – They could be contaminated with harmful bacteria from the water or soil in which the produce was grown. Rinse fruits or scrub them well under running water. Even if you peel your vegetables and fruits, you should wash them beforehand — the more careful you are, the fewer your chances are of getting food poisoning.

Cook your Food Thoroughly – Fully cooking meat, eggs and seafood kills bacteria and helps eliminate the risk of catching food-borne illnesses, like salmonella or shigella, that are not only unpleasant but can also be downright dangerous — even life-threatening — if they become complicated.

Drink Red Wine – One or two glasses of red wine can be very healthy, and can add some pleasure to your new healthy lifeyle.

Start taking Vitamins – Many people lack of vitamins simply because they do not eat what is necessary for them. For example people who are not fond of fruits might need vitamin C. Furthermore people that are lactose intolerance need vitamin B.

Source: https://www.kkpublishers.co.za/

Related Product: Vital Multivitamin

But up to half of parents of children with ASD noticed issues by the time their child reached 12 months, and between 80% and 90% noticed problems by 2 years. Children with ASD will have symptoms throughout their lives, but it’s possible for them to get better as they get older.

The autism spectrum is very wide. Some people might have very noticeable issues, others might not. The common thread is differences in social skills, communication, and behaviour compared with people who aren’t on the spectrum.

If your child is on the spectrum, they might show some social symptoms by the time they’re 8 to 10 months old. These may include any of the following: They don’t respond to their name by their first birthday; Playing, sharing, or talking with other people doesn’t interest them; They prefer to be alone; They avoid or reject physical contact; They avoid eye contact; When they’re upset, they don’t like to be comforted; They don’t understand emotions — their own or others’; They may not stretch out their arms to be picked up or guided with walking.

About 40% of children with autism spectrum disorders don’t talk at all, and between 25% and 30% develop some language skills during infancy but then lose them later. Some children with ASD start talking later in life. Spotting Signs and Symptoms The earlier treatment for autism spectrum disorder begins, the more like it is to be effective. That’s why knowing how to identify the signs and symptoms is so important.

Make an appointment with your child’s paediatrician if they don’t meet these specific developmental milestones, or if they meet but lose them later on: Smiles by 6 months; Imitates facial expressions or sounds by 9 months; Coos or babbles by 12 months; Gestures (points or waves) by 14 months; Speaks with single words by 16 months and uses phrases of two words or more by 24 months; Plays pretend or “make-believe” by 18 months

Source: KK Publishers

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A total of 1.4 million people died from Tuberculosis last year (including 208 000 people with HIV). Worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS). In 2019, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. 5.6 million men, 3.2 million women and 1.2 million children. TB is present in all countries and age groups. But TB is curable and preventable. In 2019, 1.2 million children fell ill with TB globally. Child and adolescent TB is often overlooked by health providers and can be difficult to diagnose and treat.

In 2019, the 30 high TB burden countries accounted for 87% of new TB cases. Eight countries account for two thirds of the total, with India leading the count, followed by Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and South Africa.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a public health crisis and a health security threat. A global total of 206 030 people with multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) were detected and notified in 2019, a 10% increase from 186 883 in 2018. An estimated 60 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2019.

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable. TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

About one-quarter of the world’s population has a TB infection, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit it. People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–15% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. Those with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.

When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms (such as cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) may be mild for many months. This can lead to delays in seeking care, and results in transmission of the bacteria to others. People with active TB can infect 5–15 other people through close contact over the course of a year. Without proper treatment, 45% of HIV-negative people with TB on average and nearly all HIV-positive people with TB will die.

People who are infected with HIV are 18 times more likely to develop active TB (see TB and HIV section below). The risk of active TB is also greater in persons suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system. People with undernutrition are 3 times more at risk. Globally in 2019, there were 2.2 million new TB cases in 2018 that were attributable to undernutrition.

TB is a treatable and curable disease. Active, drug-susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6-month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. Without such support, treatment adherence is more difficult. Since 2000, an estimated 63 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment. People living with HIV are 18 (15-21) times more likely to develop active TB disease than people without HIV.

Source: KK Publishers

Ask your Friendly RingPharm Pharmacist

Heartburn tips

Heartburn symptoms can start up because of a problem with a muscular valve called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). It’s located where the oesophagus meets the stomach — below the rib cage and slightly left of centre.

Normally, with the help of gravity, the LES keeps stomach acid right where it should be — in your stomach. When it’s working right, the LES opens to allow food into your stomach or to let you belch, then closes again. But if the LES opens too often or doesn’t close tightly enough, stomach acid can seep into the oesophagus and cause a burning sensation.

If your LES doesn’t tighten as it should, there are often two things that contribute to the problem. One is overeating, which puts too much food in your stomach. Another is too much pressure on your stomach, often due to obesity, pregnancy, or constipation.

Certain foods can relax your LES or increase stomach acid, including: Tomatoes; Citrus fruits; Garlic and onions; Chocolate; Coffee or caffeinated products; Alcohol; Peppermint.

Meals high in fats and oils (animal or vegetable) often lead to heartburn, as do certain medications. Stress and lack of sleep can raise how much acid your stomach makes and can cause heartburn.

Ask your pharmacisit for advice.

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Source: KK Publishers.

Tips to avoid a feastive season over indulge

1. There will always be a health (ier) option: Look past the table full of salty snacks, pavlova and lollies and you’ll find a range of lean meats, seafood, salads and fresh fruit. Now all you need is a little portion control and you’re set for a healthy party feast.

2. Treat yourself, don’t stuff yourself: Keep in mind that you don’t need to force down that extra serve of dessert or handful of chips in the name of social festivity as you will have to deal with the consequences of a feastive over indulge. Stuffing yourself with more food than you usually consume will leave you lethargic and low on motivation. It’s all about finding the balance between treating yourself and binging.

3. Go easy on the drinks: Christmas and New Year parties, alcohol and soft drinks are a dangerous mix – especially for your waistline. Keep hydrated (yes, with water) and try to space out your refills with a glass or two of water in between.

4. Maintain your exercise routine: Whether you have guests or are heading away for the hilidays, an exercise routine can be difficult to maintain – but overindulgence isn’t just what you put in your mouth. Lazing about over the Christmas and New Year period can have damaging consequences, so make sure you’re making a conscious effort to get your usual amount of exercise in each day.

5. Eat before you party: You may not be sitting and feasting, but even an invitation to drinks can make it hard to pass on the canapés – and you’d be surprised at how quickly they add up. Before you head out to party, make sure you’ve had a wholesome snack to keep you full and fuelled – think vegetable soup, toast and peanut butter or banana and a handful of almonds.

6. Freeze your leftovers: As tempting as it is to leave your pile of party leftovers in the fridge to snack on over the proceeding few days, why not freeze them? That way, you can consume everything fresh – e.g. leftover salad and seafood – while extending the life of others – e.g. lasagne and pudding.

Ask your pharmacisit for advice.

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Source: KK Publishers.

Signs of dehydration include:

Dry mouth

•Headache

•Light-headedness

•Dizziness

•Little or no urination

•Constipation

•Muscle cramps.

Hot weather and dehydration can also cause heat exhaustion – with these symptoms:

•Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat

•Heavy sweating

•Faintness

•Dizziness, nausea, and headache

•Fatigue

• Weak, rapid pulse and low blood pressure on standing

•Muscle cramps

•Headache.

Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which can be fatal. Anyone who experiences symptoms of heat exhaustion should stop and rest in a cool place, and to drink water or sports drinks. Heat stroke occurs when body temperature rises dangerously high, and it can no longer cool itself. It is a medical emergency, because it can be fatal.

Wearing lightweight clothing, avoiding direct sunlight, using air conditioning, drinking water, and avoiding heavy meals can help to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Severe dehydration can lead to kidney failure, coma, and death.

Ask your pharmacisit for advice.

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Source: KK Publishers.

Advide to stop smoking

Advice and support can help you become more self-aware, identify your triggers and when moments of weakness may occur, develop strategies and contigencies, keep you realistically grounded and on track with your plan, and prevent relapse. Examples include one-to-one or in-person counseling, telephone counseling, internet programs, group support, mentoring, and coaching.

To help you see in black and white how much you smoke, how much it costs you, how much you could save; also keeping a journal of your quitting journey.

Read the science, talk to experts, and learn for yourself how smoking damages your health and the health of those around you. Learn how others tackled the challenge.

There are more than 4,000 harmful chemicals in tobacco. Nicotine is the one that makes you addicted to smoking. The idea of nicotine replacement products is to help you gradually wean yourself off nicotine. They deliver a small amount of nicotine to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal. Giving up the replacement product is easier than giving up smoking.

Aim to be free of both cigarettes and the nicotine replacement product within three to six months.

Ask your pharmacisit for advice.

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Source: KK Publishers.