Health related issues that negatively affect human healthcare are of great concern to Maat 4 Afrika. This category is dedicated to providing valid and reliable current health related issues, information, resources, and links which focus on health concerns.  Our goal is to increase health awareness and decrease health nutritional deficiencies, diseases and overall poor health while providing the tools necessary to empower our readers to strive towards optimal health. Below are some of the Health related issues we will discuss:
  
HIV/AIDS
Childhood Obesity                                                                                                                               Cardiovascular Disease
Hypertension/Hypotension
(High and Low Blood Pressure)                                                                                                         Diabetes                                                                                                                                             Cancer (Breast, Prostate, Lung, etc.)
End Stage Renal Disease
(Kidney Disease)
Sickle Cell Disease

I would like to introduce you to “The Health P.O.W.E.R. initiative program”, one of the sub-units under the Medical Advisory category within Maat 4 Afrika Inc.  

A mystical expression says; “The whole is more than the sum of its parts”.  Although there are many functions or components neither is as effective alone as they would be as a whole unit.  The same could also be said for the biological functions of the human body.   The human body has many individualized functions and components such as; the brain, the heart, the liver, the kidneys, the intestinal tract, and the arterial and venous blood lines.  Some, if not most, function independently or semi-independently.   However, the human body in a whole is more than the sum of its parts.

The “Health P.O.W.E.R. initiative program” is a series of Health Wellness Programs, Outreach activities, Workshops, Education literature, and health-related Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) targeted towards empowering our clients and readers to move toward optimal human health.  The relationship between health behavior and behavior in general is that;  many factors influence behavior in general, these same factors can be contributors to health behavior choices and/or practices even though the motive for the behavior has nothing to do with the individuals concern with the enhancement or destruction of their health.  The goal of Maat 4 Afrika Inc. is to try and understand what “triggers” influence human behaviors in individuals as it relates to health, then create and implement program interventions that promote the enhancement of health behavior practices.  

Three types of program evaluations will be conducted to ensure the efficiency, accuracy, and effective outcome of our Health Wellness Intervention initiatives. These evaluations are: 

1. Process evaluation-- Determines how well a program was implemented and if the appropriate materials and community collaborations were met 

1. Impact evaluation-- Indicates whether the program expectations were met  

1. Outcome evaluation-- Determine risk awareness with prevention, such as; what impact was made for the short term expected goal.

By:  DEANNA WILLIAMS (NETMSNFRT MERRYTMAAT)

Photojournalist

                           EBOLA INFORMATION ACCORDING TO THE CDC
 
What is Ebola?

Ebola is a rare and deadly disease. The disease is caused by infection with one of the ebolaviruses (Ebola, Sudan, Bundibugyo, or Taï Forest virus). It is spread by direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with a sick person’s blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, and semen). It is also spread by direct contact with objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected body fluids or infected animals.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

Who is at risk?

Travelers could be infected if they come into contact with blood or body fluids from someone who is sick or has died from Ebola. People also can become sick with Ebola if they come into contact with infected wildlife or raw or undercooked meat (bushmeat) from an infected animal. Health care workers and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected blood or body fluids.

What can travelers do to prevent Ebola?

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola, and many people who get the disease die. Therefore, it is important to take steps to prevent Ebola.

• Avoid nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
• If you must travel, please make sure to do the following:
  • Before your trip check your health insurance plan and benefits to learn what is covered in the event that you become ill. CDC recommends that anyone traveling to countries where outbreaks of Ebola are occurring have full coverage, including coverage for emergency medical evacuation.
    • Information about medical evacuation services can be found on the US Department of State’s Air Ambulance/MedEvac/Medical Escort Providers page.
    • Some insurance providers are excluding medical evacuation coverage for people who have Ebola. Check with providers to ensure you have the coverage you need.
    • Be sure to check the coverage limits for evacuation insurance. Also check to see if the policy covers evacuation to the United States or to the nearest location where adequate medical care is offered.
  • Practice careful hygiene. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Avoid contact with blood and body fluids (such as urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, and semen).
  • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.
  • Avoid direct contact with the body of someone who has died from Ebola, including participating in funeral or burial rituals.
  • Avoid contact with animals (such as bats or monkeys) or with raw or undercooked meat.
  • Do not eat or handle bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food).
  • Avoid hospitals in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The US Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities that are suitable for your needs. The US Embassy Monrovia can be reached at +(231) 77-677-7000.
  • Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (100.4°F / 38°C or higher) or other symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
    • Limit your contact with other people when you travel to the doctor. Do not travel anywhere else.

 

 

  HYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure) ​

High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. 

​Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. 

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. 

High blood pressure typically develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected.  And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it  Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. When a person has a blood pressure reading between 120/80 and 139/89, this condition is called prehypertension. Stage 1 hypertension is defined as 140-159/90-99, and a blood pressure above those levels is considered Stage 2 hypertension. 

​Some of the symptoms of hypertension can include: 

-headaches 
-being tired all the time 
-blurred vision -nosebleeds 
-ringing in the ears 
-chest pain 
-irregular heartbeat 
​-feeling of confusion off and on -heart failure

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms of hypertension, get to your doctor immediately. Don't wait until it's too late. Preventing Hypertension . Some ways to lower your blood pressure without the use of medication or in combination with   medication are exercising more frequently and lowering your sodium and fat intake. You may also   want to make your doctor aware of any family history of hypertension as well as have them check   your blood pressure regularly.

Diabetes Mellitus

The term diabetes is the shortened version of the full name diabetes mellitus. 

Diabetes mellitus is derived from:

        • the Greek word diabetes meaning siphon - to pass through

        • the Latin word mellitus meaning honeyed or sweet

This is because in diabetes excess sugar is found in blood as well as the urine. It was known in the 17th century as the “pissing evil”.

Diabetes is a condition where the body fails to utilize the ingested glucose properly. This could be due to lack of the hormone insulin or because the insulin that is 

available is not working effectively.

Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. With type 

1 diabetes, your pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. 

Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood 

glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.

Type 1 diabetes happens most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age. Symptoms may include

                                           

  • Being very thirsty

  • Urinating often

  • Feeling very hungry or tired

  • Losing weight without trying

  • Having sores that heal slowly

  • Having dry, itchy skin

  • Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet

  • Having blurry eyesight

  • A blood test can show if you have diabetes. If you do, you will need to take insulin for the rest of your   life.

  

With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. Over time, high blood glucose can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth.

You have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes if you are older, obese, have a family history of diabetes, or do not exercise.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear slowly. Some people do not notice symptoms at all. The symptoms can include

  • Being very thirsty

  • Urinating often

  • Feeling very hungry or tired

  • Losing weight without trying

  • Having sores that heal slowly

  • Having blurry eyesight

A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Many people can manage their diabetes through healthy eating, physical 

activity, and blood glucose testing. Some people also need to take diabetes medicines.

What you need to know about diabetes and diet

Eating right is vital if you’re trying to prevent or control diabetes. While exercise is also important, what you eat has the 

biggest impact when it comes to weight loss. But what does eating right for diabetes mean? 

A diabetes diet is simply a healthy eating plan that is high in nutrients, low in fat, and moderate in calories. 

Making the glycemic index easy

What foods are slow-release? Several tools have been designed to help answer this question. The glycemic index (GI) tells you how quickly a food turns into sugar in your system. Glycemic load, a newer term, looks at both the glycemic index and the amount of carbohydrate in a food, giving you a more accurate idea of how a food may affect your blood sugar level. High GI foods spike your blood sugar rapidly, while low GI foods have the least 

effect.

  • Fire foods have a high GI, and are low in fiber and protein. They include “white foods” (white rice,            white pasta, white bread, potatoes, most baked goods), sweets, chips, and many processed foods. They      should be  limited in your diet. 

  • Water foods are free foods—meaning you can eat as many as you like. They include all vegetables            and most types of fruit (fruit juice, dried fruit, and canned fruit packed in syrup spike blood sugar                quickly and are not considered water foods).

 • Coal foods have a low GI and are high in fiber and protein. They include nuts and seeds, lean meats, 

   seafood, whole grains, and beans. They also include “white food” replacements such as brown                    rice, whole-  wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta.

                                                       
                                             8 principles of low-glycemic eating

 1. Eat a lot of non-starchy vegetables, beans, and fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and berries. Even      tropical fruits  like bananas, mangoes, and papayas tend to have a lower glycemic index than typical          desserts.

 2. Eat grains in the least-processed state possible: “unbroken,” such as whole-kernel bread, brown rice,          and whole 

     barley, millet, and wheat berries; or traditionally processed, such as stone-ground bread, steel-cut oats,      and natural granola or muesli breakfast cereals.

 3. Limit white potatoes and refined grain products such as white breads and white pasta to small side            dishes.

 4. Limit concentrated sweets—including high-calorie foods with a low glycemic index, such as ice cream—      to  occasional treats. Reduce fruit juice to no more than one cup a day. Completely eliminate sugar-          sweetened drinks.

 5. Eat a healthful type of protein at most meals, such as beans, fish, or skinless chicken.

 6. Choose foods with healthful fats, such as olive oil, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans), and avocados.            Limit saturated fats from dairy and other animal products. Completely eliminate partially hydrogenated      fats (trans fats), which are in fast food and many packaged foods.

 7. Have three meals and one or two snacks each day, and don’t skip breakfast.

 8. Eat slowly and stop when full.

Disclaimer 
This information is not intended to Diagnose, Cure or Treat. This is just an FYI page. Please consult your doctor if you experience any of these signs or symptoms.

                                    LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT – STAY HEALTHY