About 90% of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime. They range from caries, periodontal diseases and tooth decay to oral cancer. 60% – 90% of school children worldwide have dental caries. Only 60% of the world’s population enjoys access to oral health care. Toothache is the number one reason for absenteeism form school in any countries.

Many of these diseases can be avoided with increased governmental, health association and society support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programmes. Although the burden of oral diseases is decreasing in developed countries, gum complications are becoming more common, especially in older people. Major risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use and a diet high in fat, salt and sugar contribute to a range of chronic diseases including oral diseases.

Prevention is better than cure :

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense: poor oral health is linked to poor physical health. Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and its systems. If the mouth has a chronic infection or disease, then your entire body may be indirectly or directly exposed to the bacterial infection. Your ability to eat is then compromised as also your nutrition.

Furthermore, the resources needed for your general health to function will be diverted to handle the chronic infection, weakening the overall natural protection your other systems typically enjoy. Research studies document connections between gum disease and cardiovascular ailments, resulting in increased risk of stroke, diabetes, problem pregnancies, respiratory diseases and osteoporosis in women. What’s more, some studies indicate that those who lose all of their natural teeth may have a much shorter life span.

Also Read: Dental health concerns during pregnancy

March 20th World Oral Health Day:

World Oral Health Day is celebrated all over the world on 20^th March to develop activities and initiatives aimed at increasing awareness for oral health as well as the impact of oral diseases on general health, well being and economy. Initially September 12^th corresponded to the birthday of FDI founder Charles Goden was celebrated as world oral health day. This decision and celebration started in the year 2007 during FDI annual world dental congress at Dubai. However, in the year 2013 for administrative reasons, the date was shitted to March 20^th every year.

It is the primary duty and social responsibility of every dentist and any other oral health care provider to raise the oral health issues so that government, health associations and the general public can work together to achieve healthier mouths, and happier lives. We all know most of the oral diseases can be prevented very easily by avoiding tobacco products, opting for healthy life style and avoiding junk foods. If not, identify these diseases at the early stage itself and aiming for primary prevention is always better as the old proverb says “prevention is better than cure”.

The event is observed to spread the message of the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health. It’s the recognition as paramount of the importance of maintaining oral hygiene for everyone old and young. It is a day for people to have fun a day that should be full of activities that make us laugh, sing and smile. The World Oral Health Day offers dental and oral health community a platform to take action and help reduce the global diseases burden.

“It all starts here. Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”. It aims to get everyone to recognise the impact of oral health on their overall physical health and well being. Good oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups – and by self-managing oral disease risk factors – smoking, alcohol, sugar, etc you will have healthy teeth.

Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Consultant Maxillo Facial Surgeon, Suraksha Dental Clinic,
Hosangadi Manjeshwara – 671323,
Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob: 9845135787

www.surakshadental.com

The post Oral Health is very important – Healthy Mouth Healthy Body appeared first on Health Vision.

Human blood cannot be produced through artificial means, as such there is no substitute for it.  Blood is a very precious body substance.  Blood can be collected from the donor’s body.  A healthy human body has approximately 5 to 6 litres of blood.  Blood weighs 7 per cent of the body weight.  It has white corpuscles, red corpuscles, platelets and plasma functioning complementarily.

At the time of donating blood 350 ml blood will be extracted.  Since blood cannot be produced through artificial means,  in emergency situations and dire need, the blood of donors are the only source of life support.  At the time of accidents and emergency situations and surgey, such as blood cancer, child birth there is a need for blood.  Besides, thalassimia and hemophilia patients need blood transfusion throughout their lives. 

Annually there is a need for 4 –  4.5 crore units of blood in our country.  The most distressing fact is that only 40 – 50 lakh units of blood being collected annually from voluntary blood donors.  That means only 70 – 80 per cent of the blood requirement  is supplied.  There is a daily requirement of 900 to 1200 units of blood in our state of Karnataka.At any moment, in any part of the country, someone or the other is in need of blood.  Hence there is a constant demand for at least 38,000 units of blood.  The blood donated by the donors is classified into whole blood, red blood corpuscles, platelet, plasma and cryoprecipitate.  With this classification it becomes possible to help the patient according to the individual need.

Blood donation, being a sacred act, every one of us must donate blood at least once in life time.  In view of the significance of blood donation, if every healthy person donates blood recurringly, the lives of the diseased, wounded and injured can be saved.  In several emergency situations, blood is very essential to save the human life.  There is no substitute for blood.  In spite of scientific research, we have not been able to produce blood artificially. Inevitably we depend on the donors. We need to develop the culture of donating blood voluntarily.  The true meaning of blood donation lies in donating blood voluntarily for no gains.

Blood donation is the greatest of all donations.

A healthy person by donating blood regularly can have sound health.  This is not an exaggeration.  Healthy men can donate blood 3 or 4 times a year, and healthy women can donate blood   2 or 3 times a year.  Only 70% of our country’s blood requirement is met by the blood donors.  Since blood cannot be produced artificially, it is inevitable that blood has to be received from the donors.

Realizing that blood donation is a social obligation, if everyone donates blood we can certainly solve the problem of shortage of blood.   For this reason every blood donor is considered a hero.  If every one donates blood, at least once a year, on one’s birth day or on the wedding anniversary or on any festive occasion, that would be the noblest of all deeds.   Blood has no distinction of caste, religion, and gender.  Any person of any caste or religion can donate blood.  The colour and composition of the human blood is the same all over the world.  Service to humanity is the greatest service.  Peace and harmony can be established through humanitarian acts.  Those with special type of blood should register their names with the blood banks and donate blood whenever there is urgent need for such blood.  Those with normal blood can donate blood regularly.  

In this direction public organizations and clubs such as Lions, JCIs, Red Cross should strive to bring about an awareness in the public.  Also they should strive to eradicate the wrong ideas and myths about blood donation.  Blood donation campaigns through street play, visual media and pamphlets can help the movement towards this goal. It is said that gifts of knowledge, food and blood are the greatest gifts. Blood is like an elixir. There is no substitute for that.  It has to be produced only in the human body.

In dire need, blood from one’s body is extracted to be donated to the other, only when it matches with the other person’s blood.   Therefore, blood donation is called life donation.  Every minute there is a need for blood around us.  It is not enough if we have healthy blood in our body, we need to have generous heart to donate blood. Come on, friends.  Let us all unite forgetting our caste, creed, religion, region and sex in propagating universal brotherhood and peace.  Our future lies in the peace of the world.

Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Suraksha Dental Clinic, Hosangadi

Manjeshwara – 671323 ,Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob. : 9845135787 Ph: 04998-273544, 235111
www.surakshadental.com   

email: drmuraleemohan@gmail.com

The post There is no substitute for blood-Donate and save life. appeared first on Health Vision.

1. The body weight of the donor must be over 45 kilogram.

2. The blood to be donated must have more than 12.5 grams of haemoglobin content.

3. Men can donate once in 3 months and women can donate once in 4 months.  Starting with the 18^th year and till the 65^th year  a man  can donate blood four times a year for a period of 47 years.  In other words  one can donate blood approximately 180 – 190 times.  Each time 350 ml blood will be taken. This means a person in one’s life time can donate  250 litre blood, and can save  500 to 600 lives.

4. At the time of donating blood the blood pressure of the donor should not be high nor low. Blood pressure should be in the range of 100 – 140 and diastolic blood pressure should be between 70 – 100.  Such persons can safely donate blood.

5. The body temperature of the donor should not be more than 37.5 degree centigrade. Donors  with fever should not donate blood. 

6. The pulse rate of the donor should be in the range of 60 – 100, and there should not be any variation in the pulse rate.

Depending on the body weight of the donor  350 – 400 ml blood will be collected.  If whole blood is to be extracted  350 ml blood will be collected in one bag.  For the purpose of separating blood for different blood cells, 450 ml blood will be collected in two bags.  The blood thus collected will be stored in special bags containing anti-clotting substance.  The blood will be examined to find out any contagious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, H I V, malaria, syphilis.  The blood will be used only when it is found safe.   If the blood contains any of the above diseases, it will not be donated.  Such blood will be sterilised scientifically.

The blood collected from the donor and ascertained safe will be refrigerated at proper temperature.  Normally whole blood and separated corpuscles are stored  at 4 – 6 degree centigrades and this can be used for a period of 32 – 42 days.  After the expiry date the blood will be sterilised scientifically. Sometimes plasma will be separated from the blood.

The separated plasma can be preserved for a year at -40 degree centigrade, and for a period of 5 to 7 years at – 80 degree centigrade.  Sometimes, the separated cryoprecipitate can be stored for a year at – 40 degree centigrade.  This is used to remediate  the ailments such as haemophilia and the problems of clotting inside the blood vessels (D.I.C.).  Sometimes platelets are separated and stored at 22 degrees centigrade for about 5 days.  These blood cells are used in the treatment of dengue, chickengunya and haemophilia patients. Platelets, however, cannot be preserved more than 5 days.

Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Suraksha Dental Clinic, Hosangadi

Manjeshwara – 671323 ,Kasaragoad, Kerala.
Mob. : 9845135787 Ph: 04998-273544, 235111
www.surakshadental.com    email: drmuraleemohan@gmail.com

The post Who can donate blood? appeared first on Health Vision.

This years ho theme for blood donation is “ SAFE BLOOD FOR SAVING MOTHER” and the Slogan for the year 2014 for blood donor’s day Is “SAVE BLOOD TO THOSE WHO GIVE LIFE”. A unit of blood will go a long way to save a patient while it will cost nothing but compassion for fellow beings.

Why should we donate Blood ?

Medical technology has provided many life saving technologies and discoveries but there is still no substitute for blood. In  a  medical emergency the most important element is the availability of individuals surgery pahonts, trauma victims, cancer patients, thalassemia patient , individuals with anaemia, dremature babies, pregnant woman during delivary and many  more. Please remember tears of a mother cannot save her child but your blood can. Blood donation is the greatest of all donation, there is no bigger donation than blood donation.

Who  can donate blood?

Any healthy individual, both male and female can donate blood. Man once in 3 months and women every 4 months. The universally accepted criteria for blood donor selection are :

1. Age between 18 and 65 years.

2. Hemoglobin, not less than 12.5g / dl

3. Pulse, between 50 and 100 with no irregularities.

4. Body weight not less than 45 kgs

5. Temperature not exceeding 37.5°c

6. Blood pressure should be normal, systotic between 100 to 140 mm   and diastolic 70 to 100mm of Hg.

Based on body weight , 350ml to 450ml of blood is taken at a time. The entire blood donation procedure is painless and there may be a  little sting. When the needle is inserted, which can be minimized by using good quality needle but there should be no pain during the donation. The procedure will take hardly 10 minutes. The body will replace the blood volume placing within 48 hours and it takes 4 to 8 weeks to completely replace the red blood cells.

Who can not donate blood?

1. Patients with cardiovascular disease, Hepatties, Epilepsy, AIDS.

2. Patients with very Highy Blood pressure and  diabetics 

3. Patients who are on and antibiotic and who had taken

4. Patients with a history of major surgery should not donate for 3 to 6 months.

5. Patients suffered from malaria, typhoid, Dengue in last 6 months.

What care should we take after donation?

1. Eat and Drink something before leaving ( at least 500 ml of liquid )

2. Don’t smoke for next 30 minutes

3. Drink more liquid than usual in next 4 hours.

4. Avoid strenuous work for the next 24 hours.

5. It there is bleeding consult doctor.

Advantages of blood donation

1. Reduces cholesterol level

2. Reduces the risk of cardiac arrest

3. Body will be promoted to produce more blood

4. Reduces the risk of hypertension and heart related problems.

Above all you will collected from you will be tested for HIV, Hepahits BTC virus, Malaria parasite,   syphilis and also blood groups before giving it to others.

To donate blood you do not need extra strength or power, what you need is big heart. Blood is meant to circular, passit around and save lives. Remember you do not have to be doctor  to save a life, your blood can save a life. The blood donor of today may be recipient of tomorrow . Dear friends share a little, care a little, donate blood and save lives.

Dr.Muralee Mohan Choonthar
Ex chairman
Indian Red cross society
Branch 9895135787

The post Donate blood – save Lives appeared first on Health Vision.