What are the symptoms?
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular flu and include fever of over 100.4°F, fatigue, lack of appetite, and cold. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Nearly everyone with flu has at least two of these symptoms.
So, how do you know if you have flu or just cold?
There is one clue: when you have the flu, you feel flu symptoms sooner than you would cold symptoms, and they come on with much greater intensity. With the flu, you may feel very weak and fatigued for up to 2 or 3 weeks. You'll have muscle aches and periods of chills and sweats as fever comes and goes. You may also have a stuffy or runny nose, headache, and sore throat.
Can you compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms?
Yes. The following chart can help you compare flu symptoms with cold symptoms. Use it to lean the differences and similarities between flu and cold symptoms. Then, if you get flu symptoms, call your doctor and ask about an antiviral drug.
You cannot confirm if you have swine flu just based on your symptoms. Like seasonal flu, pandemic swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms in children. These events are rare, but, as cases associated with seasonal flu have shown, they can be very severe and often fatal.
Doctors may offer a rapid flu test, but what you need to understand is a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you don't have the flu.
Only lab tests can definitively show whether you've got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests.
What should you do immediately?
Those of you who have travelled from the affected countries in the past ten days and show symptoms swine flu like fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing should immediately contact the telephone number given below or visit the nearby Government Hospital.
Important contact numbers:
Outbreak Monitoring Cell (Control Room, NICD): 011-23921401
Websites: www.mohfw.nic.in and www.nicd.nic.inYou can also contact a toll free number 2392 1401 at the National Institute of Communicable Disease.
Contact numbers for each city:
Bangalore BIAL Swine Flu Center - 91-80-22001490 91-80-22001490
SDS TUBERCULOSIS & RAJIV GANDHI INSTITUTE OF CHEST DISEASES(Govt. of Karnataka), Hosur Road, Bangalore - 560029 Helpline No: 91-80-26631923 91-80-26631923
Chennai Communicable Disease Hospital,
87, T.H. Road, Tondiarpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Hyderabad Govt. General and Chest Diseases Hospital, Erragadda , Hyderabad Hospital Helpline Number - 040-23814939
Kolkata Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital,
57, Beliaghata Main Road, Kolkata
Mumbai Kasturba Hospital,
Arthur Road, Sane Guruji Marg, Mumbai 400011 Ph: 022- 23083901 / 23092458 / 23000889
New DelhiYellow Fever Quarantine Centre,
Near AAI Residential Colony, New Delhi Ph: 91-11-25652129 91-11-25652129
Influenza Ward, Ward no 5, Second Floor, New Building, RML Hospital, Delhi-1RML- 91-11-24525211 91-11-24525211 ,23404328,23365525- Ext 4328
Who is at risk?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
chronic heart disease,
chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease,
chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease,
Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis),
suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment), diabetes, pregnant women, people aged 65 or older, and young children under five.
How does it spread?
The new swine flu virus is highly contagious, that is it spreads from person to person. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes. If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very nearby you might breathe them in.
Or, if someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, telephones and keyboards.
If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system, and you can become infected.
Can it be prevented?
Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
Follow this general procedure to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus, you should:
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue. Throw the tissue away quickly and carefully.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
Clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product.
Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.
Do not go to work or school while ill, stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.).
Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated.
Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others.
Will it help to wear a mask?
Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited. So, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in decreasing the risk of Swine Flu virus transmission in these settings. However, a well-fitted, FDA-approved mask together with other preventive measures MAY reduce the risk of contracting the flu. Those who are sick or caring for someone who is ill should consider using a mask or respirator if leaving the house becomes necessary.
What precautions should one take at home?
Two things - soap and water can reduce the chance of infection by 30 per cent. All you need to do is keep washing your hand with soap and water frequently. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Eat healthy: Proteins are essential to help your body maintain and build strength. Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, and nuts and seeds are good sources of protein.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults eat 50 grams of protein per day. Pregnant and nursing women need more.
By eating foods high in protein, we also get the benefit of other healing nutrients such as vitamins B6 and B12, both of which contribute to a healthy immune system.
Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods, including protein foods such as turkey and beans as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Proteins such as meats, milk, and fish also contain vitamin B12, a powerful immune booster.
Minerals such as selenium and zinc work to keep the immune system strong. These minerals are found in protein rich foods such as beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.
Exercise: Regular exercise may help prevent the flu. According to recent findings, when moderate exercise is repeated on a near daily basis, there is a cumulative immune-enhancing effect. That is, your strong immune system can fight flu better.
When you exercise, your white blood cells -- the blood cells that fight infections in the body -- travel through your body more quickly, fighting bacteria and viruses (such as flu) more efficiently.
To maintain good health, experts recommend at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, biking, or running each day.
What precautions should one take at schools?
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. People who are sick with an influenza-like illness should stay home and keep away from others as much as possible, including avoiding travel, for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Is it safe to travel?
Avoid traveling unnecessarily. However, if you must travel, check how the country you're going to handles swine flu. Although, the WHO doesn't recommend travel restrictions, many countries have set up their own H1N1 policies, and some travelers have been screened or quarantined in other countries because of swine flu concerns.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
KNOW ABOUT SWINE FLU (H1N1) VIRUS
Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu) refers to influenza caused by those strains of influenza virus, called swine influenza virus (SIV), that usually infect pigs. Swine influenza is common in pigs in the midwestern United States (and occasionally in other states), Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy), Kenya, Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and other parts of eastern Asia.
Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and properly cooked pork poses no risk of infection. When transmitted, the virus does not always cause human influenza and often the only sign of infection is the presence of antibodies in the blood, detectable only by laboratory tests. When transmission results in influenza in a human, it is called zoonotic swine flu.
"Swine flu", is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contained many genetic elements normally found in swine influenza. This strain can be transmitted from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation. This H1N1 strain causes the normal symptoms of influenza.
Swine flu is a new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, and it poses the biggest risk of a large scale pandemic. This epidemic has snow balled into a monster headache for Mexico because it has quickly become one of the biggest global health scares in years. The flu is spreading in U.S.A and other countries. Asian countries which had to grapple with deadly viruses bird flu and SARS in recent years are taking necessary precautions to check the deadly H1N1 virus from spreading. Swine flu infection is found typically in people, who have been in contact with pigs,although there have been cases of person to person transmission.
The World Health Organisation has raised its alert level from "phase 5" to "phase 6" on a 1 to 6 scale this means that the disease is transmitting from person to person, and has become a pandemic. It has spread to about 78 countries. The first cases were reported in Mexico in the month of April.
The WHO said that the time was "short" for nations to put emergency plans into action. One of the mysteries of the current outbreak is why all cases outside Mexico have so far been relatively mild. Swine flu regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs but human infections have sporadically occured. Swine flu spreads through various species infected by the flu viruses. It can infect pigs, swapping genes forming new viruses that can infect humans who have direct exposure to pigs, which in turn can infect other humans. While it is impossible to stop the spread, efforts to slow the flu's progress could buy crucial time to procure drugs to treat it.
This flu which is moving through humans appears to have a combination of genes from two normally separate sets of pigs, those from Americas and form Eurasia as scientists believe. But it is not known how those pigs met, and there is not yet any genetic proof that this particular flu was ever in a pig. Some geneticists feel this strain may not be very deadly. As it circulates in humans, especially in the Southern Hemisphere winter, it could pick up dangerous human flu genes. The swine-type virus that has not yet been found in swine was first identified in humans. No one ever tested pigs or swabbed pigs for this yet. Most geneticists believe that the virus had pieces of North American swine, bird and human flu and of Eurasian swine flu. But scientists are still struggling to understand the origins of this new strain of virus, a hybrid of human, pig and avian influenza.
H1N1 virus is not known to survive in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius as summer weather is not conducive for the virus survival but fall or winter weather is conducive for it to survive and and spread. Experts feel that those who get infected directly from pigs may be more at risk than those who catch the flu from humans. As swine flu is said to be a combination of pig flu, bird flu and human flu, this airborne virus may mutate further and even become drug resistant. It can travel the world freely, posing enormous dangers to unsuspecting people in distant lands. The only way to check its spread effectively is by sharing information.
Regional and international borders become irrelevant on the face of global danger. Swine flu existed before and its recent comeback remind us once more that the rich countries cannot just contemplate their own limited populations and future. The international community has to wake up and help the poorer countries which are the worst affected because they are densely populated and with less access to health care or sanitation, less awareness of the dangers or ways to prevent infection. Once infected they become ideal breeding ground for killer diseases. Like Mexico has proved with the outbreak of swine flu. For rapidly spreading, airborne flu that infects effortlessly cannot be contained without tackling the larger issues such as public health, or the role of big pharmaceutical companies, or the urgent need for honest international cooperation in health and medicine. The need to address trade practices, the norms of poultry and live stock industries, lifestyle changes, health infrastructure, access to drugs and general education has to be done by thinking and acting globally in order to meet the worldwide challenges successfully.
Globally, around 75% of emerging infectious diseases among humans are linked to animals. Environmental changes, human and animal demography, changes in farming practice, food habits and religious beliefs are some of the factors leading to the emergence of zoophytic diseases. In other words, animal and human health is intertwined.
Presently TAMIFLU(Brand Name) is the only medicine available to fight this flu in humans as patients showed quick recovery by using this drug. It is understood that one million doses of tamiflu can treat around 72,000 patients. Fourteen capsules were required for a seven-day treatment. Tamiflu is also called as OSELTAMIVIR(Generic name) or FLUVIR(Brand name).
The United States has already declared a public health emergency. Shares and oil prices fell in Asia and Europe as investors feared a further shock on global economy, if trade flows are curbed and manufacturing is hit. Oil prices have slid on swine flu fears, airlines are trembling at the prospect of steep falls in business and leisure traffic and so is the pork industry. People should avoid crowded places, refrain from making contact with people or shake hands and maintain personal hygiene.
In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills fever sore throat muscle pains severe headache, coughing,weakness and general discomfort. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.
Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and properly cooked pork poses no risk of infection. When transmitted, the virus does not always cause human influenza and often the only sign of infection is the presence of antibodies in the blood, detectable only by laboratory tests. When transmission results in influenza in a human, it is called zoonotic swine flu.
"Swine flu", is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contained many genetic elements normally found in swine influenza. This strain can be transmitted from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation. This H1N1 strain causes the normal symptoms of influenza.
Swine flu is a new flu strain, a mixture of various swine, bird and human viruses, and it poses the biggest risk of a large scale pandemic. This epidemic has snow balled into a monster headache for Mexico because it has quickly become one of the biggest global health scares in years. The flu is spreading in U.S.A and other countries. Asian countries which had to grapple with deadly viruses bird flu and SARS in recent years are taking necessary precautions to check the deadly H1N1 virus from spreading. Swine flu infection is found typically in people, who have been in contact with pigs,although there have been cases of person to person transmission.
The World Health Organisation has raised its alert level from "phase 5" to "phase 6" on a 1 to 6 scale this means that the disease is transmitting from person to person, and has become a pandemic. It has spread to about 78 countries. The first cases were reported in Mexico in the month of April.
The WHO said that the time was "short" for nations to put emergency plans into action. One of the mysteries of the current outbreak is why all cases outside Mexico have so far been relatively mild. Swine flu regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs but human infections have sporadically occured. Swine flu spreads through various species infected by the flu viruses. It can infect pigs, swapping genes forming new viruses that can infect humans who have direct exposure to pigs, which in turn can infect other humans. While it is impossible to stop the spread, efforts to slow the flu's progress could buy crucial time to procure drugs to treat it.
This flu which is moving through humans appears to have a combination of genes from two normally separate sets of pigs, those from Americas and form Eurasia as scientists believe. But it is not known how those pigs met, and there is not yet any genetic proof that this particular flu was ever in a pig. Some geneticists feel this strain may not be very deadly. As it circulates in humans, especially in the Southern Hemisphere winter, it could pick up dangerous human flu genes. The swine-type virus that has not yet been found in swine was first identified in humans. No one ever tested pigs or swabbed pigs for this yet. Most geneticists believe that the virus had pieces of North American swine, bird and human flu and of Eurasian swine flu. But scientists are still struggling to understand the origins of this new strain of virus, a hybrid of human, pig and avian influenza.
H1N1 virus is not known to survive in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius as summer weather is not conducive for the virus survival but fall or winter weather is conducive for it to survive and and spread. Experts feel that those who get infected directly from pigs may be more at risk than those who catch the flu from humans. As swine flu is said to be a combination of pig flu, bird flu and human flu, this airborne virus may mutate further and even become drug resistant. It can travel the world freely, posing enormous dangers to unsuspecting people in distant lands. The only way to check its spread effectively is by sharing information.
Regional and international borders become irrelevant on the face of global danger. Swine flu existed before and its recent comeback remind us once more that the rich countries cannot just contemplate their own limited populations and future. The international community has to wake up and help the poorer countries which are the worst affected because they are densely populated and with less access to health care or sanitation, less awareness of the dangers or ways to prevent infection. Once infected they become ideal breeding ground for killer diseases. Like Mexico has proved with the outbreak of swine flu. For rapidly spreading, airborne flu that infects effortlessly cannot be contained without tackling the larger issues such as public health, or the role of big pharmaceutical companies, or the urgent need for honest international cooperation in health and medicine. The need to address trade practices, the norms of poultry and live stock industries, lifestyle changes, health infrastructure, access to drugs and general education has to be done by thinking and acting globally in order to meet the worldwide challenges successfully.
Globally, around 75% of emerging infectious diseases among humans are linked to animals. Environmental changes, human and animal demography, changes in farming practice, food habits and religious beliefs are some of the factors leading to the emergence of zoophytic diseases. In other words, animal and human health is intertwined.
Presently TAMIFLU(Brand Name) is the only medicine available to fight this flu in humans as patients showed quick recovery by using this drug. It is understood that one million doses of tamiflu can treat around 72,000 patients. Fourteen capsules were required for a seven-day treatment. Tamiflu is also called as OSELTAMIVIR(Generic name) or FLUVIR(Brand name).
The United States has already declared a public health emergency. Shares and oil prices fell in Asia and Europe as investors feared a further shock on global economy, if trade flows are curbed and manufacturing is hit. Oil prices have slid on swine flu fears, airlines are trembling at the prospect of steep falls in business and leisure traffic and so is the pork industry. People should avoid crowded places, refrain from making contact with people or shake hands and maintain personal hygiene.
In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills fever sore throat muscle pains severe headache, coughing,weakness and general discomfort. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical care. This action can avoid spreading illness further.
SWINE FLU IS CURABALE
Influenza is a virus that keeps on changing. Also, the virus has to keep itself alive in nature. So when the genetic material of the virus comes into the host that is the bird,human or swine a new virus is formed which can attack anyone. No known antibodies are available to fight the virus and this is one of the reasons why it is affecting a lot of young people.National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune has been designated as National influenza Center. A team of scientists, technicians and medical experts at NIV are busy characterising the H1N1 virus so that a vaccine can be developed. A crucial test is the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that detects the virus,pathogen-free eggs are used and the virus is grown in MDCK cell lines. NIV has its own Cell line. It is believed the characterisation is near completion with which the full genome analysis of the virus will be complete. The next step would be to make a vaccine within six months by the scientists.They feel that the pandemic preparedness for the avian influenza (H5N1) has come in handy for detecting and containing the novel H1N1 virus. It is believed three strains of influenza are in circulation and they are A (H1N1) human influenza, A (H3N2) human influenza and influenza B.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
BLOOD PRESSURE
HYPERTENSION AND HYPOTENSION
Obese people tend to have three times as much hypertension as people of normal weight. Obesity starts when you are twenty percent above the ideal weight for your your height and bone structure.Even with relatively minor amounts of weight loss, one can see a measurable fall in blood pressure.
Hypertensives should cut down on salt to about 5 grams a day to have a good effect. Alcohol consumption too should be cut down. Increased levels of potassium may be helpful in controlling high blood pressure. Doctors believe it is beneficial to get three times as much as potassium as sodium in your diet that if you consume 2 grams of sodium per day, then you should get 6 grams of potassium. Salt sensitive hypertensives respond well to calcium as well.
Exercise is a good treatment to reduce hypertension, but isometric exercises such as weightlifting must be avoided because these exercises may cause blood pressure to skyrocket.Brisk walking exercise in good because this type of exercise forces the blood vessels to open up(vasodilate) which makes the blood pressure come down. Swimming, walking and bike riding are all good exercises for hypertension.
Vegetarians have lower blood pressure than the general population that is 10 to 15 mm Hg lower for both systolic and diastolic pressures.It is believed this is due to the fact that vegetarians do not smoke, drink or overeat. It is better to monitor oneself regularly at home to keep in check.
Blood pressure changes are directly related to emotional intensity, researchers found that happiness caused systolic blood pressure to drop, while anxiety caused diastolic pressure to rise. So the happier the person felt, the more the systolic pressure fell. Conversely, the more anxiety a person experienced the higher the diastolic pressure rose. It has been found that the anxiety experienced outside the home makes blood pressure increase significantly more than anxiety experienced inside the home.
Arguing with your spouse or boss or any form of communication can cause blood pressure to increase by 10 to 50 percent, with hypertensive individuals showing the greatest increase.Communication, particularly handling conflict and expressing emotions, may affect blood pressure levels between spouses.
Having a pet at home like a dog and interacting with it is good pet therapy to reduce blood pressure.
PRESSURE CAN BE DEADLY
If left untreated, blood pressure tends to rise slowly and steadily over a number of years. Sometimes, a very high blood pressure develops quite suddenly,with diastolic pressures shooting over 130 mm of Hg, for hours or days at time. Systolic pressures can reach 250 mm Hg or more. Such a sharp increase could signal the onset of malignant hypertension. This is a very serious condition and must be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Malignant hypertension can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, eyes, or brain. Left untreated, it can be fatal within six months. But it can be brought under control very quickly with intravenous injections of the proper drugs with rapid diagnosis and treatment.
LOW BLOOD PRESSURE OR HYPO TENSION
Some people experience low blood pressure.They may experience a dizzy spell or even faint if they stand up too fast. It is typically defined as a consistent fall of more than 20 mm Hg. Systolic pressure when measured after 1 Minuite of standing. Recent studies have shown that hypo tension does not increase with the age after 55.Sometimes hypo tension can be caused by relatively simple physical actions that momentarily elevate blood pressure such as squeezing isometric hand grip before getting up for example, can increase blood pressure enough to counter the momentary dip it takes upon standing.It has been found by doing complex mental arithmetic elevated blood pressure and offset hypo tension even better than physical activity.
If you experience hypo tension after meals, try eating smaller,more frequent meals throughout the day. Sometimes restricting salt too much can contribute to hypo tension. Doctor's advise should be taken on how much fluid and salt should be consumed.
Hypo tension can also be controlled by the way one sleeps. Sleeping on a slant withe the head end of the bed elevated 8 to 12 inches above the foot end helps tremendously.
In many cases hypo tension is caused by medications people take for hypertension, such as diuretics.Alcohol, heart medications,tranquillizers, and antidepressants can also cause it.
Obese people tend to have three times as much hypertension as people of normal weight. Obesity starts when you are twenty percent above the ideal weight for your your height and bone structure.Even with relatively minor amounts of weight loss, one can see a measurable fall in blood pressure.
Hypertensives should cut down on salt to about 5 grams a day to have a good effect. Alcohol consumption too should be cut down. Increased levels of potassium may be helpful in controlling high blood pressure. Doctors believe it is beneficial to get three times as much as potassium as sodium in your diet that if you consume 2 grams of sodium per day, then you should get 6 grams of potassium. Salt sensitive hypertensives respond well to calcium as well.
Exercise is a good treatment to reduce hypertension, but isometric exercises such as weightlifting must be avoided because these exercises may cause blood pressure to skyrocket.Brisk walking exercise in good because this type of exercise forces the blood vessels to open up(vasodilate) which makes the blood pressure come down. Swimming, walking and bike riding are all good exercises for hypertension.
Vegetarians have lower blood pressure than the general population that is 10 to 15 mm Hg lower for both systolic and diastolic pressures.It is believed this is due to the fact that vegetarians do not smoke, drink or overeat. It is better to monitor oneself regularly at home to keep in check.
Blood pressure changes are directly related to emotional intensity, researchers found that happiness caused systolic blood pressure to drop, while anxiety caused diastolic pressure to rise. So the happier the person felt, the more the systolic pressure fell. Conversely, the more anxiety a person experienced the higher the diastolic pressure rose. It has been found that the anxiety experienced outside the home makes blood pressure increase significantly more than anxiety experienced inside the home.
Arguing with your spouse or boss or any form of communication can cause blood pressure to increase by 10 to 50 percent, with hypertensive individuals showing the greatest increase.Communication, particularly handling conflict and expressing emotions, may affect blood pressure levels between spouses.
Having a pet at home like a dog and interacting with it is good pet therapy to reduce blood pressure.
PRESSURE CAN BE DEADLY
If left untreated, blood pressure tends to rise slowly and steadily over a number of years. Sometimes, a very high blood pressure develops quite suddenly,with diastolic pressures shooting over 130 mm of Hg, for hours or days at time. Systolic pressures can reach 250 mm Hg or more. Such a sharp increase could signal the onset of malignant hypertension. This is a very serious condition and must be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. Malignant hypertension can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, eyes, or brain. Left untreated, it can be fatal within six months. But it can be brought under control very quickly with intravenous injections of the proper drugs with rapid diagnosis and treatment.
LOW BLOOD PRESSURE OR HYPO TENSION
Some people experience low blood pressure.They may experience a dizzy spell or even faint if they stand up too fast. It is typically defined as a consistent fall of more than 20 mm Hg. Systolic pressure when measured after 1 Minuite of standing. Recent studies have shown that hypo tension does not increase with the age after 55.Sometimes hypo tension can be caused by relatively simple physical actions that momentarily elevate blood pressure such as squeezing isometric hand grip before getting up for example, can increase blood pressure enough to counter the momentary dip it takes upon standing.It has been found by doing complex mental arithmetic elevated blood pressure and offset hypo tension even better than physical activity.
If you experience hypo tension after meals, try eating smaller,more frequent meals throughout the day. Sometimes restricting salt too much can contribute to hypo tension. Doctor's advise should be taken on how much fluid and salt should be consumed.
Hypo tension can also be controlled by the way one sleeps. Sleeping on a slant withe the head end of the bed elevated 8 to 12 inches above the foot end helps tremendously.
In many cases hypo tension is caused by medications people take for hypertension, such as diuretics.Alcohol, heart medications,tranquillizers, and antidepressants can also cause it.
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