Clean hands protect against infection

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Clean hands protect against infection

Protect yourself

• Clean your hands regularly.
• Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly.
• Use alcohol-based handrub if you don’t have immediate access to soap and water.

Hand care

• Take care of your hands by regularly using a protective

hand cream or lotion, at least daily.

• Do not routinely wash hands with soap and water immediately

before or after using an alcohol-based handrub.

• Do not use hot water to rinse your hands.

• After handrubbing or handwashing, let your hands

dry completely before putting on gloves

Please remember

• Do not wear artificial fingernails

or extenders when in direct

contact with patients.

• Keep natural nails short.

How do I wash my hands properly?

Washing your hands properly takes about as long as singing "Happy Birthday" twice,
using the images below.

References:

- http://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/

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What causes dizziness?

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Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo (Mayo Clinic,2015).

OR

Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, woozy, or unbalanced. It affects the sensory organs, specifically the eyes and ears, so it can sometimes cause fainting. Dizziness is not a disease, but rather a symptom of various disorders (Krucik, 2015).


What causes dizziness?

- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
- Labyrinthitis
- Hypotension
- High blood pressure
- Meniere's Disease (Meniere's disease is a disorder that affects the inner ear)
- Abnormal Heart Rhythms
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Bleeding
- Hyperventilation
- Dehydration
- Heat Emergencies
- Beriberi (Beriberi is a disease caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency).
- Hypovolemic Shock
- Middle Ear Infection
- Vertebrobasilar Circulatory Disorders
- Cold & Flu
- Benign Positional Vertigo

- Ventricular Tachycardia

- Whiplash (Whiplash occurs when a person's head moves backward and then forward very suddenly with great force).

- Caffeine Overdose

- Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT)

- Atrial Flutter

- Pregnancy

- Chemical Burns

- Respiratory Alkalosis

- Dizziness caused by medications

- Dizziness caused by aging:

    *Reduced capacity for exercise or activity, weakness, and                  deconditioning

* Reduced ability for the blood circulation to compensate for quickly assuming an upright position (orthostatic hypotension)

* Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis)

* Neuropathy (a progressive dysfunction of the nerves that is caused by different illnesses, especially diabetes)

* Menopause

* Poor eyesight and coordination

* Dementia

- Dizziness caused by psychiatric conditions: Depression, anxiety, or panic disorder

- Dandy's syndrome is a feeling of everything bouncing up and down. It can happen to people who take an antibiotic that is toxic to the ear. It usually improves over time.

References: 
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/definition/con-20023004

- http://www.healthline.com/symptom/dizziness

- http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/understanding-dizziness-basics

- http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dizziness/page2_em.htm

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Signs and symptoms of appendicitis

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What Is the Appendix?
The appendix is a narrow tube-shaped pouch protruding from your large intestine. It's up to six inches long and located in the lower right side of your abdomen. You do not need your appendix to live. In fact, its purpose is poorly understood.

When your appendix becomes inflamed, it's called appendicitis. The exact cause of appendicitis is not always clear. Sometimes, the appendix fills with mucus, parasites, or stool, which causes irritation. Bacteria can quickly multiply within an inflamed appendix. If it bursts, it can spread bacteria within the abdomen (peritonitis). The resulting infection can cause abscesses to form.
A ruptured appendix is a life-threatening situation (healthline, 2014).

Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:

1. Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen, Typically, symptoms begin as periumbilical or epigastric pain migrating to the right lower quadrant (RUQ) of the abdomen.

2. Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen. Some people, including children and pregnant women, may experience pain in different areas of their abdomen or on their side (health, 2014).

3. Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements.

4. Nausea and vomiting.

5. Loss of appetite "anorexia"

6.Fever

7. Constipation or diarrhea

8. Abdominal Blating

* According Uptodate, 2016 In many patients, initial features are atypical or nonspecific, and can include:

● Indigestion
● Flatulence
● Bowel irregularity
● Diarrhea
● Generalized malaise

* The duration of symptoms is less than 48 hours in approximately 80% of adults but tends to be longer in elderly persons and in those with perforation. Approximately 2% of patients report duration of pain in excess of 2 weeks. A history of similar pain is reported in as many as 23% of cases, but this history of similar pain, in and of itself, should not be used to rule out the possibility of appendicitis (medscape, 2015).


* The site of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix. When you're pregnant, the pain may seem to come from your upper abdomen because your appendix is higher during pregnancy (mayoclinic, 2014).


* The most common complications of appendicitis are rupture, abscess, and peritonitis. and complications of appendectomy include wound infection and abscess. (medicinenet, 2015).

References:
- http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/773895-clinical.
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/appendicitis/basics/symptoms/con-20023582.
- http://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/appendicitis-emergency-symptoms#Signs&Symptoms2.
- http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20552994_2,00.html.
- http://www.medicinenet.com/appendicitis/article.htm.
- http://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-appendicitis-in-adults-clinical-manifestations-and-differential-diagnosis?source=search_result&search=appendicitis&selectedTitle=3~150.

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Top food that can strengthen your memory & Free Brain Training

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Top food that can strengthen your memory


Healthy eating lowers your risk of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, but it's not yet clear if that's true for Alzheimer's disease as well. [1]

* According ''Health" site;  foods that researchers think will keep your whole body-including your brain-healthy:
1. Oil-based salad dressings.
2. Fish.
3. Dark green leafy vegetables, such as collard greens, spinach.
4. Avocado.
5. Sunflower seeds.
6. Peanuts and peanut butter.
7. Berries.
8. Whole grains, Fiber-rich whole grains are an integral part of the Mediterranean diet.


* Other food that can sharpen your memory; such as  Rosemary, Apple. [2]

* According Lewin, 2015 Eat more tomatoes, Add vitality with vitamins, Get a blackcurrant boost, Pick up pumpkin seeds, Sprinkle on sage and Go nuts. [3]

* Do you like chocolate?
You can swap in a cup of hot chocolate for coffee if you prefer: A 2013 study found that older adults (73 years old, on average) who drank two cups of cocoa every day for a month had improved blood flow to the brain and performed better on memory tests. Or try a bar of dark chocolate (with at least 70 percent cocoa), which is a good source of flavonoids, antioxidants that have been linked to brain health. [4]

* According Mercola, 7 Lifestyle-Based Ways to Improve Your Memory:
1. Eat Right; Fresh vegetables are essential, as are healthy fats and avoiding sugar and grain carbohydrates. For instance, curry, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and walnuts contain antioxidants and other compounds that protect your brain health and may even stimulate the production of new brain cells.
2. Exercise.
3. Stop Multitasking; If you find yourself trying to complete five tasks at once, stop yourself and focus your attention back to the task at hand. If distracting thoughts enter your head, remind yourself that these are only "projections," not reality, and allow them to pass by without stressing you out. You can then end your day with a 10- or 15-minute meditation session to help stop your mind from wandering and relax into a restful sleep.
4. Get a Good Night's Sleep.
5. Play Brain Games; If you decide to try brain games, ideally it would be wise to invest at least 20 minutes a day, but no more than five to seven minutes is to be spent on a specific task. When you spend longer amounts of time on a task, the benefits weaken.
6. Master a New Skill; Engaging in "purposeful and meaningful activities" stimulates your neurological system, counters the effects of stress-related diseases, reduces the risk of dementia and enhances health and well-being.
7. Try Mnemonic Devices; Mnemonic devices are memory tools to help you remember words, information or concepts. They help you to organize information into an easier-to-remember format. Try:
Acronyms (such as PUG for "pick up grapes")
Visualizations (such as imagining a tooth to remember your dentist's appointment)
Rhymes (if you need to remember a name, for instance, think "Shirley's hair is curly)
Chunking, which is breaking up information into smaller "chunks" (such as organizing numbers into the format of a phone number) [5]




* Study about memory for elderly:
for Epidemiol, 1999
Association of antioxidants with memory in a multiethnic elderly sample using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Abstract
Oxidative stress has been implicated both in the aging process and in the pathological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress in vitro, may represent a set of potentially modifiable protective factors for poor memory, which is a major component of the dementing disorders. The authors investigated the association between serum antioxidant (vitamins E, C, A, carotenoids, selenium) levels and poor memory performance in an elderly, multiethnic sample of the United States. The sample consisted of 4,809 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Mexican-American elderly who visited the Mobile Examination Center during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national cross-sectional survey conducted from 1988 to 1994. Memory is assessed using delayed recall (six points from a story and three words) with poor memory being defined as a combined score less than 4. Decreasing serum levels of vitamin E per unit of cholesterol were consistently associated with increasing levels of poor memory after adjustment for age , education, income, vascular risk factors, and other trace elements and minerals. Serum levels of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and selenium were not associated with poor memory performance in this study. [6]




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References
- [1] http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20434658,00.html
- [2] http://www.stethnews.com/0642/top-foods-that-can-sharpen-your-memory/.
- [3] http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/10-foods-boost-your-brainpower?IGNORE_GEO_REDIRECT_ONCE=true.
- [4] http://www.details.com/story/foods-that-improve-memory.
- [5] http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/04/24/memory-improvement-tricks.aspx
- [6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10400551.

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What is Zika virus disease (Zika)?

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What is Zika virus disease (Zika)?

Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Genre: Flavivirus
Vector: Aedes mosquitoes (which usually bite during the morning and late afternoon / evening hours)
Reservoir: Unknown (WHO, 2016).

Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week (CDC. 2016).

What are the symptoms of Zika?

according (CDC, 2016) About 1 in 5 people infected with Zika will get sick. For people who get sick, the illness is usually mild. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected.


The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis (red eyes). Symptoms typically begin 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito
1. Zika virus infection is characterized by low grade fever (less than 38.5 ° C).
2. arthralgia, notably of small joints of hands and feet, with possible swollen joints.
3. myalgia
4. headache, retro-ocular headaches
5. conjunctivitis
6. rash
7. post-infection asthenia which seems to be frequent.



The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is not clear, but is likely to be a few days (2-7 days).


How is Zika transmitted?

Zika virus is primarily transmitted to humans through bites from Aedes mosquitoes, which often live around buildings in urban areas and are usually active during daylight hours (peak biting activity occurs in early mornings and late afternoons).

Some evidence suggests Zika virus can also be transmitted to humans through blood transfusion, perinatal transmission and sexual transmission. However, these modes are very rare. It can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth. We do not know how often Zika is transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth.

Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectfully), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus (WHO, 2016).

See image Down for Countries where the Zika Virus is spreading.

Who is at risk of being infected?

Anyone who is living in or traveling to an area where Zika virus is found who has not already been infected with Zika virus is at risk for infection, including pregnant women.


Prevention

Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.

This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.

Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.

During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.

Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites

Treatment

Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.

according (CDC, 2016)
There is no vaccine or specific medicine to treat Zika virus infections.

Treat the symptoms:

1. Get plenty of rest.
2. Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
3. Take medicine such as acetaminophen to reduce fever and pain.
4. Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
5. If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before taking additional medication

Related to

Read More about What is H1N1 "Swine" flu?

Read More about How does the H1N1 flu differ from the seasonal flu?

Read More about Ebola virus disease ... Symptoms ... Treatment

Refernceses 

- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/

- http://www.wpro.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs_05182015_zika/en/

- http://www.cdc.gov/zika/disease-qa.html

- http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/zika-virus

- http://waer.org/post/upstate-infectious-disease-expert-zika-virus-spreading-not-threat-cny

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Do you know the level of your intelligence؟.. Test yourself for free

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Intelligence test IQ free ... "Raven's"

Raven's Progressive Matrices (often referred to simply as Raven's Matrices) or RPM is a nonverbal group test typically used in educational settings. It is usually a 60 item test used in measuring abstract reasoning and regarded as a non-verbal estimate of fluid intelligence.It is the most common and popular test administered to groups ranging from 5-year-olds to the elderly. It is made of 60 multiple choice questions, listed in order of difficulty. This format is designed to measure the test-taker's reasoning ability, the eductive ("meaning-making") component of Spearman's g. (g is often referred to as general intelligence.) The tests were originally developed by John C. Raven in 1936. In each test item, the subject is asked to identify the missing element that completes a pattern. Many patterns are presented in the form of a 6x6, 4x4, 3x3, or 2x2 matrix, giving the test its name (wikipedia).

* Raven’s Progressive Matrices have a wide variety of applications including:

• - In educational settings the Matrices have a long history of application and use. Scores are relatively unaffected by linguistic and ethnic background and can be used as a good predictor of success in an educational context for both children and adults.
• - In clinical settings the reliability of the measures and lack of bias makes them ideal tools in neuropsychological assessment, working with elderly people and many clinical groups whose particular needs make the demands of more traditional cognitive testing unrealistic.
• - For many years the Matrices have found wide application in numerous research studies. Their strong theoretical background, lengthy citation count and application across multiple language, ethnic and cultural groups make them ideal tools for investigations requiring measurements of cognitive abilities in a wide range of organisational, educational and clinical settings.

Raven's Progressive Matrices

For Test Click Here

References

- http://www.pearsonclinical.co.uk

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven%27s_Progressive_Matrices

- https://www.raventest.net/

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How does the H1N1 flu differ from the seasonal flu?

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How does the H1N1 flu differ from the seasonal flu?

     Flu (influenza) viruses are divided into three broad categories: influenza A, B or C. Influenza A is the most common type. H1N1 flu is a variety of influenza A.

Even though the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu are the same in many ways, they are two different types of influenza.

What Makes Them the Same?
• Both flu 'symptoms include fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, cough,
runny / stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and possibly diarrhea and / or vomiting.
• Both viruses are spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or
sneezing. Sometimes people can get the flu by touching something with flu
viruses on it and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.
• Both types of flu are treated using fever reducing medication, plenty of fluids,
antivirals and rest.

What Makes Them Different?

•  The H1N1 virus is new, so not as many people are immune to it.
•  Unlike seasonal flu, people 65 and over are less likely to get the H1N1 flu.
•  The CDC reports the H1N1 virus has affected more people younger than 25 years old vs. the older population.
• Unlike seasonal flu, swine flu can be passed from person to person in warm weather and cold weather.
• Seasonal flu, which peaks during late December through early March, is most efficiently passed from person to person through droplets in the air when the weather is cold. "When it warms up in the spring, transmission stops
• Another significant way that the viruses differ is that in a third of the cases that have come to medical attention H1N1 affects the gastrointestinal tract as well as the respiratory system. "That's just something that we do not see in seasonal flu, which is really a respiratory virus," (www.newyorkpresbyterianhospital.com, 2009).
• Pregnant women are dramatically more affected by H1N1.

Seasonal flu: Typical influenza viruses infect the cells lining the main airway and nasal tract, according to Earl Brown, a virologist at the University of Ottawa. H1N1: The virus also infects the airway, but in some individuals, it continues to move down and infect the lungs. It's "very unusual" for seasonal flu viruses to infect lungs, Dr. Brown said. The H1N1 virus causes lung infection much more often and "more completely," he said, which is why some people have ended up in intensive care units or even dying from complications of the virus. (www.theglobeandmail.com, 2012). 

Read More What is H1N1 "Swine" flu?

Read More  Signs and Symptoms








































































































































References
- http://www.stfranciscare.org/uploadedFiles/H1N1_vs_Seasonal_web_final.pdf
- http://www.newyorkpresbyterianhospital.com/enews/whats-the-difference-h1n1-seasonal-flu.html
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swine-flu/expert-answers/influenza-a/faq-20058309
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/conditions/h1n1-v-seasonal-flu-how-to-tell-the-difference/article4290774/
- http://www.mtoliveboe.org/cmsAdmin/uploads/cold_flu_swine_flu-1_001.pdf

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