FIVE COMMON DISEASES AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM.

FIVE COMMON DISEASES AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM

MALARIA  -  THIS IS A DISEASE CAUSED  BY  THE  PLASMODIUM  SPECIE   WHOSE VECTOR IS THE  ANOPHELES   MOSQUITO.  IT IS USUALLY TRANSMITTED THROUGH  MOSQUITO  BITES.

PREVENTION IS  BY ERADICATING  MOSQUITOES  AROUND YOUR ENVIRONMENT OR  BY PREVENTING MOSQUITOS  FROM BITING YOU. SIMPLE WAYS TO DO THIS  ARE ;

*SLEEP  UNDER   A  MOSQUITO   TREATED  NET.

*KEEP YOUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN . ENSURE   YOU CLEAR OUT THE  GUTTERS AND DRAINAGES.

*CUT DOWN GRASSES AND MAKE SURE THE SWAMPS AROUND YOUR HOUSE ARE CLEARED.

*SPRAY YOUR ROOM REGULARLY WITH A GOOD INSECTICIDE.

*USE WINDOW NETS, IT HELPS.

*ENSURE YOUR BEDROOM IS COOL. ALSO TAKE A BATH BEFORE GOING TO BED AS MOSQUITOS ARE SAID TO BE ATTRACTED TO SWEAT.

THE SYMPTOMS OF MALARIA INCLUDE FEVER, HEADACHE, FATIGUE, JOINT PAINS AND BITTERNESS OF THE MOUTH.  SEE YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY YOU  OBSERVE THESES SYMPTOMS FOR PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

HYPERTENSION  -  THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND THIS MEANS THAT  THE BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE ARTERIES ARE ELEVATED AND THIS REQUIRES THE HEART TO WORK HARDER THAN NORMAL TO CIRCULATE BLOOD THROUGH THE  BLOOD VESSELS.  BLOOD PRESSURE IS  SUMMARISED BY TWO MEASURES, THE SYSTOLIC{ WHEN THE HEART CONTRACTS} AND THE DIASTOLIC {WHEN THE CARDIAC MUSCLES ARE RELAXED}. THERE IS SAID TO BE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WHEN THE  PRESSURE IS  140/90 MM AND ABOVE.  AN UNCONTROLLED  HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MAY  LEAD TO STROKE, HEART FAILURE,  KIDNEY DISEASES ETC.

TO PREVENT HYPERTENSION, DO THE FOLLOWING;

*WHERE OVER-WEIGHT, REDUCE YOUR WEIGHT AND STAY WITHIN THE NORMAL  WEIGHT RANGE.

*REDUCE THE SALT IN YOUR DIET.

*EXERCISE REGULARLY.

*ELIMINATE OR AT LEAST, REDUCE YOUR  ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.

*EAT LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

DIARRHOEA  -  THIS IS A COMMON  FOOD AND WATER BORNE DISEASE. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE; FREQUENT STOOLING, FEVER, ABDOMINAL PAINS  AND VOMITTING. TO PREVENT DIARRHOEA, DO THE FOLLOWING;

*DRINK ONLY WATER THAT ARE POTABLE.

*ENSURE THAT FOOD IS PROPERLY COVERED ALWAYS.

*WASH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THOROUGHLY BEFORE EATING.

*WASH HANDS PROPERLY BEFORE EATING.

*CLEAN YOUR HANDS VERY WELL AFTER USING THE LOO.

COMMON COLD OR FLU  -  THIS IS A VIRAL DISEASE OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT. IT  AFFECTS THE NOSE  PRIMARILY  AND CAN LEAD TO SNEEZING, SORE-THROAT, COUGH AND A RUNNY NOSE. IT MAY  VANISH  BY  ITSELF  WITHIN  7 TO TEN DAYS BUT PREVENTION  INCLUDES ; CONSTANT WASHING OF  THE HANDS, REDUCING CONTACT WITH PEOPLE HAVING THE SYMPTOMS AND WEARING OF MASKS BY HEALTH WORKERS.

HIV/AIDS  -  THIS IS A CONDITION WHERE  THE BODY’S IMMUNE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO DECLINE LEADING TO  LIFE THREATENING OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS. THIS DISEASE  CAN BE PREVENTED BY ;

*REMAINING  FAITHFUL TO JUST ONE  SEX PARTNER WHO IS  HIV FREE.

*REGULAR USE OF  A CONDOM DURING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.

*AVOID SHARING SHARP OBJECTS WITH OTHER PEOPL E,  LIKE NEEDLES, RAZOR BLADES ETRC.

*INCASE OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION, ENSURE THE TRANSFUSED BLOOD IS PROPERLY SCREENED.