Health And Diseases

Abuse And Types Of Abuse

· Abuse refers to cruel, violent, harmful or injurious treatment of another human being.

· It includes physical, emotional or psychological, verbal, child and sexual abuses.

Child Abuse

· Constitutes all forms of physical or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, exploitation resulting in child’s ill health, survival and development.

· Physical abuse of a child is defined as those acts that cause physical harm such as threatening, beating, kicking and hitting the child.

Sexual Abuse

· A form of power and dominance of one person over another, which can result in harmful consequence to the victim.

· Adolescent girls and women encounter sexual harassment in different forms.

· Results in psychological distress, physical illness and eating disorders in the affected individuals.

Child Sexual Abuse

· Verbal remarks, comments, gestures and looks are the most common forms of sexual abuse.

· Sexually abused children show symptoms of genital injury, abdominal pain, frequent urinary infection and behavioural problems.

Approaches for Protection of an Abused Child

· Child helpline

· Counselling the child

· Family support

· Medical Care

· Legal counsel

· Rehabilitation

· Community based efforts

Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

· Do not talk to any suspected person or strangers and to maintain a distance.

· Not to be alone with unknown person.

· To be careful while travelling alone in public or private transport.

· Not to receive money, toys, gifts or chocolates from known or unknown person to them without the knowledge of their parents.

· Not to allow known or unknown person to touch them.

Drug, Alcohol And Tobacco Abuse

· The physical and mental dependency on alcohol, smoking and drugs is called addiction.

· The addictive potential of these substances pulls an individual into a vicious cycle leading to regular abuse and dependency.

· This dangerous behavior pattern among youth can be prevented through proper guidance.

Drug Abuse

· A person who is habituated to a drug due to its prolonged use is called drug addict. This is called drug addiction or drug abuse.

· A drug that modifies the physical, biological, psychological or social behaviour of a person by stimulating, depressing or disturbing the functions of the body and the mind is called addictive drug.

· Certain drugs called psychotropic drugs which acts on the brain and alter the behaviour, consciousness, power of thinking and perception.

· They are referred as mood altering drugs.

· Persons who consume these drugs become fully dependent on them, they cannot live without drugs. This condition is referred as drug dependence.

Behaviourial Changes of Drug Users

· Drop in academic performance, absence from school or college.

· Lack of interest in personal hygiene, isolation, depression, fatigue and aggressive behaviour.

· Deteriorating relationship with family and friends.

· Change in food and sleeping habits.

· Fluctuation in body weight and appetite.

· Always looking out for an easy way to get money for obtaining drugs.

· Prone to infections like AIDS and Hepatitis-B.

Drug De-addiction

· Detoxification

· Psychotherapy

· Counselling to family members

· Rehabilitation

Tobacco Abuse

· Tobacco is obtained from the tobacco plant Nicotiana tobaccum and Nicotiana rustica.

· Addiction to tobacco is due to ‘nicotine’ an alkaloid present in it. Nicotine is a stimulant, highly harmful and poisonous substance.

· Inhaling tobacco smoke from cigars, cigarettes, bidis, pipes, hukka is called smoking.

· When powdered tobacco is taken through nose, it is called snuffing.

Smoking Hazards and Effect of Tobaccos

· Benzopyrene and polycyclic hydrocarbons present in tobacco smoke is carcinogenic causing lung cancer.

· Causes inflammation of throat and bronchi leading to conditions like bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

· Inflammation of lung alveoli, decrease surface area for gas exchange and cause emphysema.

· Carbon monoxide of tobacco smoke binds to haemoglobin of RBC and decreases its oxygen carrying capacity causing hypoxia in body tissues.

· Increased blood pressure caused by smoking leads to increased risk of heart disease.

· Causes increased gastric secretion which leads to gastric and duodenal ulcers.

· Tobacco chewing causes oral cancer (mouth cancer).

Prevention of Smoking

· Knowing the dangers of smoking and chewing tobacco adolescents and the old people need to avoid these habits.

· Proper counselling and medical assistance can help an addict to give up the habit of smoking.

Alcohol Abuse

· The dependence of alcohol is called alcoholism and the addict is termed as alcoholic. It is called alcohol abuse.

· Drinking of alcohol impairs one’s physical, physiological and psychological functions.

Harmful Effects of Alcohol to Health

· Nerve cell damage resulting in various mental and physical disturbances.

· Lack of co-ordination of body organs.

· Blurred or reduced vision, results in road accidents.

· Dilation of blood vessels which may affect functioning of the heart.

· Liver damage resulting in fatty liver which leads to cirrhosis and formation of fibrous tissues.

· Body loses its control and consciousness eventually leading to health complications and ultimately to death.

Rehabilitation Measures for Alcoholics

· Education and counselling.

· Physical activity.

· Seeking help from parents and peer groups.

· Medical assistance.

· Alcohol de-addiction and rehabilitation programmes are helpful to the individual so that they could get rid of the problem completely and can lead a normal and healthy life.

Diabetes Mellitus

· Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder.

· It is characterized by increased blood glucose level due to insufficient, deficient or failure of insulin secretion.

· The most common pancreatic endocrine disorder.

Type-1 Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)

· IDDM accounts for 10 to 20% of the known diabetics.

· This is caused by the destruction of β-cells of the pancreas.

· It is characterized by abnormally elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) resulting from inadequate insulin secretion.

· Genetic inheritance and environmental factors are the cause for this condition.

Type-2 Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

· This is also called as adult onset diabetes and accounting for 80 to 90% of the diabetic population.

· Insulin production by the pancreas is normal but its action is impaired.

· The target cells do not respond to insulin. It does not allow the movement of glucose into cells.

· The causes are multifactorial which include increasing age, obesity, sedentary life style, overeating and physically inactive.

Symptoms

· Increased blood glucose level (Hyperglycemia).

· Increased urine output (Polyuria) leading to dehydration.

· Loss of water leads to thirst (Polydipsia) resulting in increased fluid intake.

· Excessive glucose excreted in urine (Glycosuria).

· Excess hunger (Polyphagia) due to loss of glucose in urine.

· Fatigue and loss of weight.

Prevention and Control of Diabetes

· Low carbohydrate and fibre rich diets are more appropriate. Carbohydrates should be taken in the form of starch and complex sugars.

· Management with insulin.

· Physical activity.

· Education and Awareness.

Obesity

· The state in which there is an accumulation of excess body fat with an abnormal increase in body weight.

· A complex multifactorial chronic disease developing from influence of social, behavioural, psychological, metabolic and cellular factors.

· Over weight and obesity are conditions where the body weight is greater than the mean standard weight for age and height of an individual.

· Body mass index (BMI) is an estimate of body fat and health risk.

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Causes and risk factors

· Due to genetic factors, physical inactivity, eating habits (overeating) and endocrine factors.

· A positive risk factor in development of hypertension, diabetes, gall bladder disease, coronary heart disease and arthritis.

Prevention and Control of Obesity

· Low calorie, normal protein, vitamins and mineral, restricted carbohydrate and fat, high fiber diet can prevent overweight.

· Meditation, yoga and physical activity can also reduce stress related to overeating.

Heart Diseases

· Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

· Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common form and is caused by deposition of cholesterol in the blood vessels.

· It leads to sudden ischemia (deficient blood supply to heart muscle) and myocardial infarction (death of the heart muscle tissue).

Causes

· Hypercholesterolemia (High blood cholesterol)

· High blood pressure (Hypertension)

· Heridity (family disorder)

· Diet rich in saturated fat and cholesterol

· Obesity

· Cigarette smoking

· Emotional stress

· Excessive alcohol consumption

· Physical inactivity

Symptoms

· Shortness of breathe

· Headache

· Tiredness

· Dizziness

· Chest pain

· Swelling of leg

· Gastrointestinal disturbances

Prevention and Control of Heart Disease

· Reduction in the intake of calories, low saturated fat and cholesterol rich food, low carbohydrates and common salt are some of the dietary modifications.

· Increase in the intake of fibre diet, fruits and vegetables, protein, minerals and vitamin are required.

· Physical activity

· Addictive substance avoidance

Cancer

· The study of cancer is called Oncology (Oncos - Tumor).

· Cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled division of cells that invade and destroy surrounding tissue forming a tumor or neoplasm (new growth).

· The cancerous cells migrate to distant parts of the body and affect new tissues. This process is called metastasis.

More to Know

World Cancer Day - 4^th February
National Cancer Awareness Day -7^th November

Types of Cancers

· Carcinomas arise from epithelial and glandular tissues. They include cancers of skin, lung, stomach and brain.

· Sarcomas are occur in the connective and muscular tissue. They include the cancer of bones, cartilage, tendons, adipose tissue and muscles.

· Leukaemia are characterized by an increase in the formation of white blood cells in the bone marrow and lymph nodes. Leukaemia are called blood cancers.

Carcinogenic Agents

· Cancer causing agents are called carcinogens.

· Heavy smoking causes lung cancer and cancers of oral cavity, pharynx (throat) and larynx. Betel and tobacco chewing causes oral cancer. Excessive exposure to sunlight may cause skin cancer.

· Nicotine, caffeine, products of combustion of coal and oil, pesticides, asbestos, nickel, certain dyes and artificial sweetners induce cancer.

· Ionizing radiations like X-rays, gamma- rays, radioactive substances and non-ionising radiations like UV rays cause DNA damage leading to cancer.

· Cancer causing viruses are called oncogenic viruses.

Treatment of Cancer

· Surgery

· Radiation therapy

· Chemotherapy

· Immunotherapy

Preventive measures for Cancer

· Cancer control programmes should focus on primary prevention and early detection.

· Tobacco smoking is to be avoided.

· Excessive exposure to radiation is to be avoided.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

· A severe viral disease and caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

· A condition in which immune system fails and suppress the body’s disease fighting mechanism.

· They attack the lymphocytes and the affected individual is prone to infectious diseases.

Transmission of HIV

· Sexual contact with infected person.

· Use of contaminated needles or syringes especially in case of intravenous drug abusers.

· By transfusion of contaminated / infected blood or blood products.

· From infected mother to her child through placenta.

Symptoms and Treatment of AIDS

· Symptoms : Infected individuals become immunodeficient. Swelling of lymph nodes, damage to brain, loss of memory, lack of appetite and weight loss, fever, chronic diarrhoea, cough, lethargy,

pharyngitis, nausea and headache.

· Diagnosis : The presence of HIV virus can be confirmed by Western Blot analysis or Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

· Treatment : Anti-retroviral drugs and immunostimulative therapy can prolong the life of the infected person.

Prevention and Control of AIDS

· Screening of blood from blood banks for HIV before transfusion.

· Ensuring the use of disposable needles and syringes in hospitals and clinics.

· Advocating safe sex and advantages of using condoms.

· Creating awareness campaign and educating people on the consequences of AIDS.

· Persons with HIV/AIDS should not be isolated from the family and society.

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