Cause of Malaria

Malaria is caused by a microscopic sized parasite called Plasmodium.

This process involves a very complex mosquito - human being life cycle:

A female Anopheles mosquito itself infested with a Plasmodium parasite bites a human being. This parasite which has multiplied in the mosquito salivary glands is then injected into that person's bloodstream.

The Plasmodium parasite then moves to the human liver where it multiplies again. It is later released into the human blood stream which causes the symptoms of Malaria. The infected human being is subsequently bitten by another mosquito which in turn bites and transmits Malaria to another human being.

The commonest forms of Malaria are Plasmodium vivax which is rarely fatal and Plasmodium falciparum which can be fatal. The other forms, P.ovale and P malariae are not so important.

Incidence:
• Malaria is one of the 10 most prevalent and fatal diseases worldwide. Approximately 1.5 -2.7 million people die from Malaria each year with 300-500 million people infected at any given time.
• About 90% of cases are in sub Sahara Africa with most fatalities in young children in remote rural areas.
• About another 6-7% of Malaria cases are from India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Colombia and the Solomon Islands.
• Indonesia has a relatively low incidence of Malaria especially large cities and major tourist areas e.g. Jakarta and Bali. Risks are greater in remote areas.

Prevention of Malaria
1. Be aware of the local incidence of Malaria:
• Not always easy to get this information.
• Overall risk in Indonesia is about 1:50,000 but varies greatly with location eg risk much higher in Irian Jaya than Bali.
• Likelihood of contracting Malaria increases with time spent in the area.

2. Reduce exposure to Mosquitoes:
• Obsessive prevention of mosquito bites reduces the risk of contracting Malaria about ten -fold.
• Use mosquito nets preferably treated with permethrin unless in reasonable standard accommodation in a low risk area.
• Spray an aerosol insecticide in your room before retiring.
• Use mosquito coils or vapourising mats containing pyrethoid.
• Cover arms and legs from dusk to dawn – the time when the female Malaria mosquito bites.
• Avoid dark areas or garden areas from dusk to dawn.
• Use mosquito repellents preferably those containing DEET eg “RID”, “Tropical Strength AeroGard”, “Autan” (a local brand).
• Wear light coloured clothing.
• Scent attracts mosquitoes –avoid perfumes and after shaves.

3.Preventive Medication:
• The objective of preventive medication is to prevent death caused by Plasmodium falciparum Malaria.
• No drug is 100% effective in preventing Malaria.
• Drugs do not prevent initial infection. Mosquitoes still bite and parasites will be transferred to your blood stream.
• It is reasonable not to take Malaria preventive drugs if you are only visiting a Malaria area for up to 3 days: Obsessive mosquito protection should be sufficient.
• The choice whether or not to take preventive medication is yours.
• Malaria may be up to 10 times more common in those who do not take any drug prevention in known Malaria areas.
• About 50% of people do not take the preventive medication as directed.
• All preventive drugs have side effects, usually but not always mild.
• Resistance to preventive drugs is a major problem. Assume all of Indonesia has Chloroquin resistance.
• Which preventive drugs to take depends on many factors. This should be discussed with your doctor.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment:
• Malaria has no specific symptoms eg it can mimic Flu, Pneumonia, Gastroenteritis etc. Shivering, headache & high fevers are common.
• Malaria symptoms usually occur more than 7 days after infection but symptoms may occur weeks or months later.
• ANY fever on return from or while travelling in Indonesia may be Malaria and MUST be investigated within 48 hours of onset. Young children and pregnant women are particularly at risk from Malaria. See a doctor and insist on a Malaria screen.
• If appropriate treatment is started by the fourth day of illness(not infection) then the adult Malaria patient is not likely to die.
• If you are travelling in an area more than 24 hours from medical help consider taking an Emergency Self Treatment Pack for Malaria. Further treatment on return home will still be necessary. Discuss with your doctor.
• Pregnant women and young children should think seriously about travel in known Malaria areas. Our advice is not to travel unless necessary.

Preventive Malaria Drugs:
Discuss preventive treatment with your doctor well before you leave. Your past medical history, any drug allergies, other medication you are taking, whether you are pregnant and the age of children traveling will influence drug choice.

The most commonly used Malaria preventive drugs are:
1. Doxycycline

• Dose is 100mg per day starting 2 days before travel and continuing for 4 weeks on return.
• Not suitable for pregnant women and children under 8 years.
• Common side effects: Nausea, indigestion, increased sensitivity to sunburn, thrush in females.

2.Malarone
• Dose is 1 tablet per day starting 1-2 days before travel, continuing 1 tablet a day and 7 days on return.
• Suitable for children(Malarone Junior)

3.Mefloquine ("Lariam"):
• Dose is one tablet per week taken on the same day each week starting one week before travel and continuing for 4 weeks after return.
• Suitable for pregnant women in the second and third trimesters and can be given to children over 3 months of age but discuss first.
• Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches -usually transient. Occasionally confusion, anxiety, agitation, depression, sleep disorders. Incidence of all side effects is low but discuss with your doctor.

4.Other Drugs:
Fansidar, Chloroquin, Proguanil plus Chloroquin combination are also used but not usually recommended by your doctor.

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Life Is Meaningful

Jumlah manusia di dunia ini sungguh banyak. Miliaran orang menghembuskan nafasnya setiap hari. Tapi, apakah kita semua sudah menentukan apa tujuan hidup kita? Sudah kita pastikan untuk apa kita bernafas setiap hari?

Jangan-jangan kita hidup hanya untuk menghabiskan umur yang diberikan Tuhan saja. Bagaimana dengan anda? Anda sudah tentukan tujuan hidup anda? Syukurlah kalau sudah. Dan, saya berdoa semoga tujuan anda tercapai.Kata orang tua, hidup di dunia itu cuma sebentar. Saking sebentarnya, ibarat orang mampir minum. Sayang kalau waktu yang cuma sebentar ini tak berarti. Tapi, tak semua orang bisa dengan mudah menentukan apa yang ia tuju dalam hidupnya. Kita semua mesti melalui perjalanan yang panjang.
Dan, mungkin berliku-liku.

Baru kita menemukan apa sebenarnya yang kita cari dalam umur yang pendek ini. Tujuan hidup bukan ambisi, tapi lebih pada sebuah jati diri.
Ketika anda sudah menentukan apa yang anda tuju, ya itulah diri anda. Untuk hal itulah anda hidup.

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Healthy Diet Food

1. Berries
All berries are low in sugar and high in fiber. Blueberries have been shown to increase memory in lab studies, and raspberries and strawberries are loaded with ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant that seems to have some anti-cancer properties, according to the American Cancer Society.

2. Beans
Beans are extremely high in fiber, which helps to control weight, prevent or manage diabetes and blood sugar, and may help prevent colon cancer and protect against heart disease. The National Institute of Medicine recommends 25-38 grams of fiber a day. The average American gets only 4-11 grams. One cup of beans provides 11-17 grams.

3. Nuts
Some of the largest and most important long-term studies of diet and health have
shown that eating nuts several times a week is consistent with a risk of heart attack and heart disease that is 30%-50% lower than the general population. Just one ounce of nuts-almonds, macadamia, Brazil , walnuts, pecans-eaten three to five times a week seems to be the magic number.

4. Wild Salmon
Fish is the ultimate anti-aging food. Cold-water fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fats that protect the brain and the heart, improve mood, and lower blood pressure and triglycerides.

5. Raw Milk
Raw, organic milk nearly always comes from grass-fed cows and contains high levels of cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as well as a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillus acidophilus)

6. Grass-Fed
Meat Meat from grass-fed cows has a much different fat profile than ordinary supermarket meat: high in omega-3s, lower in potentially harmful omega-6s and loaded with CLA, a kind of fat known for its anti-cancer activity. A superb source of protein and vitamin B12, it's also missing the antibiotics, steroids and hormones found in the meat that comes from feedlot farms.

7. Eggs
Considered by many to be nature's most perfect food, the egg is high in protein and relatively low in calories. The yolk contains choline, one of the most important nutrients for the brain, as well as lutein and xeazanthin, two critical nutrients for eye health. Brassica Vegetables Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale all contain plant compounds called indoles that help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to a stunning range of vitamins and minerals, they also contain sulforaphane, an important plant chemical that helps the body detoxify health-damaging chemicals.

8. Apples
Not only do they keep the doctor away, they also appear to do the same for lung cancer, diabetes and asthma. An apple contains five grams of fiber and a rich blend of nutrients including the bone-building vitamin K and the anti-inflammatory nutrient quercetin. And there's no better way to control your appetite than an apple eaten about half an hour before a big meal.

9. Onions and Garlic
In an impressive number of published studies, the consumption of onions and garlic has demonstrated protective effects against stomach, prostate and esophageal cancer. Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20%.

10. Pomegranate Juice
Called "a natural Viagra" by researchers at Tel Aviv University , pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. New research indicates it also slows the progression of tumors.. Four to eight ounces a day is highly recommended.

11. Green Tea
Though all teas are great for you, green tea has a unique profile of plant chemicals that have anti-cancer activity. It's now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancers in humans: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectum and stomach. If that's not enough, it also appears to help with weight control.

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Blood Tipe

The human body contains one of four main blood types: A, B, AB and O.
Each blood-type also has an accompanying Rhesus or Rh factor of either positive or negative.
The most commonly found blood-type in the world is O positive while the rarest is AB negative.

From the U.S population it was determined that the percentages of blood types were as follows.
- O positive ~ 38.4%
- O negative ~ 7.7%

- A positive ~ 32.3%
- A negative ~ 6.5%

- B positive ~ 9.4%
- B negative ~ 1.7%

- AB positive ~ 3.2%
- AB negative ~ 0.7%

So what blood type do you have? Are you reasonably rare like me (O-) or do you
Have a more common popular blood type?

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What is H1N1 Flu?

H1N1 Influenza A, or “swine flu”, is a new form of influenza caused by a mixture of Influenza A viruses from pigs, birds and humans. It was first identified in Mexico but has since spread to many countries in the world.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms are similar to seasonal flu - sudden fever (over 38ºC) and cough, sore throat, headache, generalised aches and pains and shortness of breath although vomiting and diarrhoea may also be present. Young people are being affected more than older people.

How is this H1N1 flu spread?
It is spread from person to person in the same way seasonal flu spreads: through droplets released when a person coughs, sneezes or talks. If these get into a healthy person's nose or mouth, the person can get infected. Sometimes people get infected when they touch an object with flu virus on it, then touch their mouth
or nose. Flu viruses can live on shared objects (doorknobs, keyboards, counters, etc.) for up to 48 hours. They can live on clothes or materials for up to 12 hours.

What drugs are available for treatment?
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza) are currently effective in treating the illness. However, so far, most cases have been mild and have not required treatment with antiviral medication

Is it safe to eat pork and pork products?
Yes. H1N1 influenza has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork or other products derived from pigs. The H1N1 influenza virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F/70°C.
Is there a human vaccine to protect from swine influenza?
Vaccines have been developed that protect against the H1N1 “swine” Influenza. It is to be hoped that all Embassy people will be protected from the disease by being immunized.

What can be done to reduce the risk of catching flu? (Risk Reduction Measures)
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and discard into a bin. Use upper sleeve if tissue not available.
• Be aware of viruses possibly living on shared surfaces e.g. door knobs, lift buttons, microwaves etc – clean them frequently with soap and water, detergent or alcohol. This will kill the H1N1 influenza virus.
• Wear gloves when cleaning shared items, discard after use and wash hands.
• Wash hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
• Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and diarrhoea / vomiting.
• Practise good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food and keeping physically active.

What preparations can be made at home now?
Keep stocks of items such as:
• Thermometer – the diagnosis of H1N1 Flu includes a temperature recorded above 38ºC.
• Tissues and soap or medicated alcohol based hand gel.
• Medications: Paracetamol, throat lozenges, decongestants.
• Food supplies for one week in case household members require home isolation.
• Masks, if available

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Go to Sleep Early And Wake Up Early

Evening at 9 - 11pm:
Is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am:
Detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am:
Detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am:
Detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

Morning 5 - 7am:
Detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am:
Absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick.

Breakfast before 7:30am
Is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit . Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

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The Main Causes Of Liver Damage Are

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3. Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

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BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

1. No Breakfast People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

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Foods Causing Cancer

Top Foods Causing Cancer are:

1. Hot dogs
Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and bacon
Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer .

4 . French fries Like doughnuts
French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies
All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

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Breakfast Can Help Prevent Stroke

Breakfast can help prevent strokes, heart attack and sudden death. Advice on not to skip breakfast!

Healthy living
For those who always skip breakfast, you should stop that habit now! You've heard many times that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." Now, recent research confirms that one of the worst practices you can develop may be avoiding breakfast.

Why?
Because the frequency of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke peaks between 6:00am and noon, with the highest incidence being between 8: 00a.m. and 10:00a.m.
What mechanism within the body could account for this significant jump in sudden death in the early morning hours?

We may have an Answer.
Platelet, tiny elements in the blood that keep us from bleeding to Death if we get
a cut, can clump together inside our arteries due to cholesterol or plaque buildup in the artery lining. It is in the morning hours that platelets become the most activated and tend to form these internal blood clots at the greatest frequency.

However, eating even a very light breakfast prevents the morning platelet activation that is associated with heart attacks and strokes. Studies performed at Memorial University in St.Johns, Newfoundland found that eating a light, very low-fat breakfast was critical in modifying the morning platelet activation. Subjects in the study consumed either low-fat or fat-free yogurt, orange juice , fruit, and a source of protein coming from yogurt or fat-free milk.

So if you skip breakfast, it's important that you change this practice immediately in light of this research.
Develop a simple plan to eat cereal , such as oatmeal or Bran Flakes , along with six ounces of grape juice or orange juice, and perhaps a piece of fruit. This simple plan will keep your platelets from sticking together, keep blood clots from forming, and perhaps head off a potential Heart Attack or stroke.
So never ever skip breakfast.

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