PREVENTION OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Introduction

Diseases are mainly divided in two groups namely, communicable and non communicable groups. The communicable diseases showed the greatest decline in the country some diseases like tuberculosis,  poliomyelitis,etc. while some others have shown an increased incidence. Non-communicable diseases and injuries are similar to the communicable diseases and shown a trend of increasing accidental injuries and non communicable diseases, there fore, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention is applicable to non-communicable diseases as in the case of communicable diseases group. A few of the such examples of diseases  shows below. These diseases chosen due to their trend is rising in population or may be expected to rise in the near future more and more. The following examples are stress diseases, mental illnesses, hypertension, heart diseases, stroke, cancer, peptic ulcer, goitre and  allergic disorders and accidental injuries, etc. 

Stress diseases

In this sense stress is a link of certain chain of reactions which makes the process of development of final resistance to the strains. Resistance produced may be specific or general. In the biological consideration of stress these reactions produce the general acclimatization and specific adaptation syndromes. These syndromes are in reality the normal mechanisms of the development of resistance and not the symptom complex. The symptoms do not manifest themselves if the process of production of resistance is smoothly. The general adaptation mechanism is produced when the general defensive process of the body are excited. Biological stress is caused by pathogenic organisms and physical stress is caused by physical factors like heat, cold, burn, injury and psychological stress is produced by an adverse situation, emotional or social challenge, proximity of an aggressive or over showing personality. A group of diseases presently considered to be produced or influenced by such strain and stress of life are called stress diseases. Individual with resistance against stress may be recognized  in their childhood and their inherit resistance boosted up by providing proper environments. Mental illness, hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, peptic ulcer, goitre, etc and its prevention are written in  my previous blogs. please see.

Allergic disorders

The meaning of the word allergy is altered reactivity, just a maladaptation syndrome which is making its appearance of morbidity in all over the world. Some of the manifestations of stress termed as psychosomatic such as skin rashes and upper respiratory bronco-spasms can not be distinguished from the ones with allergic reasons(aetiology). Stress or psychosomatic aetiology plays some role precipitating allergic manifestations. Allergy is another type of detest reaction of hypersensitivity to the antigen produced by antigen-antibody coalition which shows during the process of development of immunity against it. Allergy may exist not only for against a foreign protein but also to physical factors like cold, heat, and biological factors like certain plants or chemicals like, sulpha, by getting conjugated with serum protein and acting as antigens. The tissue response to antigen is brought about by an inter-action of antigen and antibody.

Accidental injuries

Accidental injuries make the second major cause for sickness. The first is being the respiratory group diseases.These injuries vary to a great extent in degree of severity and may be only out patient treatment or may be serious requiring prolonged hospitalization may knock out the individuals from work from a considerable time and some individual should require restorative and rehabilitative treatments after curative treatments in the cases of severe burns and rail and road transport accidents and fire works explosive  accidents  in religious functions of temples, masjids, churches where lot of persons are gathered. Major injuries are simple fractures, compound fractures and complicated fractures, and also head injuries and chest injuries and perforated abdomen and deep lacerated wounds of soft tissue parts. Minor injuries are  abrasions, contusions, sprains. small incised and lacerated wounds.In a majority of motor transport accidents the driver is at fault. Over speeding, negligence and carelessness are the factors. The road may be narrow and with sharp bends specially in hilly areas or it may be slippery with slushy. Industrial injuries caused by electricity and fire, suicidal injuries including hanging and drowning,  poor maintenance of machinery and equipment and explosion, etc.

Preventive measures for accidental injuries

Most of the accidental injuries are preventable if attention is paid for for health promotion. All should  be given about health education on promotion of health of injuries on the various causes of injuries and its prevention. Physical fitness of persons by balanced diet, good living conditions, and proper medical and health care to workers including periodical medical check ups, and providing healthy work environments, specially to industrial workers. Proper anti fire precautions and removing all types of stresses and guarding of dangerous machines. Supervision of workers and investigation of all injuries and good house keeping. Disability limitation and rehabilitation : Early treatment by physiotherapy will prevent disability in many cases of injuries. Early treatment will prevent prevent prolonged hospitalization. Rehabilitation of all injured patients important in making them useful members of the society and also to help them gain confidence in making them their livelihood. There should be medical, psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation.

preventive measures for allergy

In the case of allergy a careful search for the agent which is a person is sensitized, required by a skin tests and advise to avoid them to save man power and man-day wastage.In all cases precautions to combat allergy if it rises must be taken. Desensitization by giving gradually increasing doses can be carried out if the allergy is proved. Any food stuff  like vegetable or some sort of fruit is seems to be allergy after consume it is better to avoid it. Many persons are allergic to chocolate biscuits and ice creams and there by increasing bronco spasms and running nose and suffering from asthmatic complaints after taking some food stuff. It is always better to prevent than cure by taking some anti-allergic medicines. some persons are allergic to cold and in winter season those will increase with allergic manifestations e.g. asthma.etc.

Prevention and control for stroke and heart attack

The artery which supply blood to cardiac muscles is blocked then the person gets heart attack, similarly the artery which supply blood to brain is blocked, will get stroke which is also known as cerebro vascular accident(cva). The block takes place in right or left common carotid artery or in both which supplies blood to head and also to brain by its branches.If the cerebrum in right side is affected, left side of the body is paralised, same way if the left side of cerebrum is affected , the right side of the body is similarly affected. A by stander if he knows the signs of stroke he can save the life of patient by asking to speak a simple sentence, or tell to rise his hands or try to make smile. If he can not to do any one of these he will be taken to a hospital with in 3 hrs where a neurologist is available, then his life may be saved. Heart attack some times will not show pain in chest in the diabetic cases, but other symptoms like feeling of vomiting(nausea) excessive sweating, pain chin and radiation of pain to left hand. Normally heart attack begins at the early hrs of morning from 5 to 10 am while the heart is taking rest in the early morning hrs. Drinking one glass water before going to bed prevents stroke and heart attack. It can be prevented by dehydration by drinking water, says cardiologist. Take aspirin tablets before going to bed by  the advise of your health  provider, dose, and time he may tell you. The 65% people may get attack at night in the early hrs of sleep may not get up, but may wake you up with pain from your sound sleep,then you must call your neighbor or close relative nearby him and wait by the arrival of doctor or make the patient lie down in a stretcher and take him to hospital,do not make him to walk or move  till the pain subsides after giving injection to relieve pain by doctor.

 

INSPECTION OF FOOD ITEMS AND PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTRATION

INTRODUCTION

Food is a substance when taken inside, meets 3 requirements of body, such as it is essential for energy production, replacing of the worn-out tissues and promotion of tissue growth. Mainly its either by themselves or in a combination with others in the body having among their functions which are regulating these 3 processes. For the purpose to appreciate of influence food on health and the factors which effect food requirements, it is necessary to know the chemical compositions of foods and their metabolism in man. This knowledge is for assessing the food requirements of  in the practical theory, the clinical effects of diets varying stands and their rectification is possible only if the basic facts are estimated justly. The common constituents of food necessary for human nutrition are proteins, fats and carbohydrates which yield energy and carry tissue growth and repairs. Energy is required for maintaining body temperature and main actions of organs and for mechanical work. Vitamins are organic compounds required in small quantities for normal growth and maintenance of a healthy life. Vitamins are mostly available in fresh milk, meat, eggs, vegetables and fruits. 

Inspection of food stuffs.

The prevention of food adulteration act, 1954 is to control quality of food stuffs kept for sale to the public. The inspection of food items offered for sale is necessary to ensure that they are of an adequate nutritive value,will not cause food borne diseases. Composite laboratories are available for special tests and analysis. Food inspectors and regional vigilance food inspectors are appointed  in municipal corporations and panchayaths by state governments. The service of food inspection officers are enlisted to work with food laboratories to ensure the quality of food and if any adulteration is found in tests the seller will be prosecuted and if found guilty then punished with fine and imprisonment. Adulteration of food at storage and selling of adulterated food to public are offense as per food adulteration act,1954.

Inspection principles

Sampling of the products requiring inspection is the first important procedure. Samples should be adequate in quantity. For example if tinned milk is being examined it may be essential to sort the consignments into different brands. In the analysis of sample obtained the factors should be noted are the appearance, taste, physical condition, smell of the commodity in relation to its normal characteristics and its keeping qualities. For the food items in bottles, in cartons. bottles and cans,etc, the internal and external condition of the container, expiry date of warranty period and name of manufacture are to be considered.

Disposal of food stuffs after examinations.

Food may be considered fit for issue with out conditions, fit for issue with in a limited period, or unfit for issue. The only difference between atta and flour, these two wheat products are, in the the point of view of inspections, is that atta contains more pericarp or bran and of the germ of the wheat berry. So it is a grayish colour as compared with refined flour. Fresh flour or atta smells good and having a uniform and has a band taste devoid of sharpness. Prolonged storage normally results deterioration or from adverse storage conditions.The main causes for rejection are poor baking quality, infestation of larvae by common during monsoon, mould infection may occur in moist condition, and etc. Ordinary bread is made of white flour and must be well risen and aerated and free from large cavities and with a elastic peace of bread. It can be consumed after 24 hours after baking, and the main defects in bread are heaviness and sourness and soddenness. All these may be due to bad storage and bad baking. Biscuits are made of flour, sugar, salt, hydrogenated oil, water , milk and bicarbonate of ammonia. On examination it should be noted appearance, colour, odour, hardness, palatability and presence or absence of insects. The main defects are rancidity, softness and presence of moulds. The main principles of inspecting fresh milk supplies is to find out visible dirt and adulteration and assess nutritive value and keeping quality and ascertain efficiency of pasteurization. The specific gravity of milk is1.029 to 1.033. But adulterated milk by water with will show below normal, but still can show normal by adding sugar or corn- flour. This can be detected by laboratory tests.

Appearance of rice and degree of milling, insect infestation, mouldiness should be  noted while inspecting rice.And milk products and hydrogenated oil, tinned fruits and jam, sugar, dals and beans and peas, condiments, tea, salt, tinned meat and fish and etc are to be inspected  periodically in shops and in hotels where food is served and samples also to be taken and sent for laboratory tests to find out adulteration in food stuffs displayed for selling to public.

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