When the question is asked: name some most common non-communicable diseases, it is usual to recollect names such as diabetes, cancer, and hypertension; very rarely does one say – oral cavity diseases. The authoritative body on health, WHO (World Health Organization) states oral disease is one of the most common non-communicable disease that affects people of all age groups, throughout the lifetime causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement and even death.  Problems of dental health result in loss of self-confidence, self-esteem, introverted nature and consequent loss in social well-being, and finally, at times, loss of socialization opportunities and job prospects. Non-communicable oral disease impacts 360-degree lifestyle including work life.

Dental disease normally covers teeth and gums, while oral health is a more broad-based term encompassing oral cancer, oral diseases due to HIV, cleft lip and palate, and noma.  The last one – noma, is an infectious disease in which cell death occurs, flesh eating bacteria cause great harm, seen mainly in poor African countries, sufferers have weak immunity and suffer extreme malnutrition.  Untreated noma leads to severe gum disease and even death.

Oral health is crucial for daily living:

Eating, speaking, smiling, tasting, and socializing are all dependent on a healthy oral cavity.  Gum infection and dental caries or tooth decay are common oral health problems, and these disrupt normal living.  Sleep disturbance and lowered productivity are a consequence of oral medical problems.  Due to oral problems people find it difficult to consume choice foods, and eating habits change.  Elderly subjects with reduced number of teeth and weak teeth give up hard foods and choose only soft foods.  Due to poor dental health, diet and nutrition are affected and this worsens general health.  Dental disease complications destroy soft tissues in mouth cavity, and can lead to major problems including death. Dental disease and poor oral health leads to decreased social activity, it affects how a person looks and sounds. As dental health issues are normally addressed to with seriousness, it is not an exaggeration to call oral disease as a ‘silent epidemic’.

Children are more vulnerable to ill effects of oral health: 

If a child lacks dental or oral health, participation in classroom activities, learning, group assignments and overall schooling is below par – this affects child development right upto adulthood.  Lack of social skills due to oral or dental problems creates a chaotic adulthood for the child.  Eating and nutrition problems are more in children with poor oral health.  Three year old children with nursing caries, weighed about 1 kg less than control or normal children – as per a study, as toothache and infection alter eating habits, sleep cycle, diet, metabolism and weight gain. Oral health seemingly an innocuous and not so serious malady is actually a major NCD with far reaching consequences affecting child growth, career, and matrimonial, family, social and professional life.

WHO has taken note of this serious affliction and has given a comprehensive definition of oral health: “a state of being free from chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral infection and sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that limit an individual’s capacity in biting, chewing, smiling, speaking, and psychosocial wellbeing”.

While lack of use of oral care products affects oral health, lifestyle factors such as tobacco, alcohol, and high sugars in food worsen the problems. In case of weak immunity patients and diabetics, susceptibility to these health problems including gum disease is more. Abscesses and poor wound healing of gum sores is a challenge in diabetics. Low fluoride toothpastes are safe to use and provide protection from dental caries.

There is a need to make oral health a major health issue:

Oral  and general health are integral to each other. There is a dire need to make it as a major health issue at primary healthcare level itself.  Infections in mouth can infect other internal organs too, similarly infections from other areas can infect oral cavity.  Poor dental health, gum disease and mouth infections lead to heart disease. Other gum disease complications include respiratory problems, premature birth, complications at birth, and stroke.  Poorly controlled blood sugar levels in diabetics causes gum disease.  Australia has hence declared in its national health policy: oral health is fundamental to overall health, well-being and quality of life. In short, it is wise to brush minimum twice a day, and also gargle mouth frequently particularly after food intake.

Sunil S Chiplunkar

 M Pharm (Pharmacology) MBA (Marketing) PGDHRM

VP-Business Development

Group Pharmaceuticals,Bengaluru

Ph: 6364578669

sunilchiplunkar@gmail.com

www.pharmaceuticalshealthcare.blogspot.in

The post Oral health for holistic well-being appeared first on Health Vision.

Plastics are materials that bend and change shape – these have reshaped the world of convenience!  Plastics are ubiquitous – from bottles of packaged water to various packs of medicines (including medicinal liquids) – and these plastic bottles have replaced glass.  Plastic has endeared to manufacturers and marketers due to processing convenience, light weight, unbreakable quality and improving product presentation.

Plastics can be mould to desired shape and size; they are easier to produce in large scale and meet the demand for packaging material as compared to glass. Plastics are chain – like molecules, hence, also called polymers.  Examples include: HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (poly vinyl chloride) and PET (poly ethylene terephthalate).  PET bottles and containers are very popular due to elegance, storage and portability.

Microplastics in water

Microplastics refers to plastic bits of 5 mm and less in size.  When waste plastics degrade in oceans and land, microplastics are generated.  Microplastics (in form of microbeads) are also added to health and beauty products for abrasive action (eg. in toothpastes).  Microbeads that are added to health and beauty products were banned in USA in Dec. 2015.  Microbeads and microplastics are consumed by birds and animals mistakenly as food.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 created waves worldwide when it announced a review into the potential risks of microplastics in bottled water, after an analysis found more than 90% of bottled water brands contained tiny microscopic size plastic bits.  The bottled water contained twice the amount of microplastics as compared to tap water!  Polypropylene was the most common plastic in bottled water!!

Plastic is the largest solid polluter of oceans.  Waters in seas are contaminated by degrading plastics and several microplastics and nanoplastics are entering the human food chain through fish and marine life that consume these plastics.  Ingested microplastics block the digestive systems of marine life, cause infertility in some aquatic creatures and damage liver of sea life.

The challenge to health and the environment is not just from the microplastics per se, several dyes, additives like plastic stiffeners and uv stabilizers in the plastic are also toxic. When microplastics degrade to nanoplastics – fragments of nanosize (10^-9 of a meter) (1 billionth to 100 billionth size plastic substances) – they are even less studied. Nanoplastics can penetrate into tissues.  Microplastics are not likely to penetrate across the digestive tract.

Tap water too has microplastic load, reports The Lancet (Oct 2017).  Microplastic contamination of water and subsequent effects on health is not yet fully studied.  Many scientific studies are on. The contemporary scientific challenge is to study the effect of microplastic consumption similar to the studies on consumption of heavy metals and industrial effluents.  However, microplastics are suspected to cause several health issues.

BPA challenge

Related to the microplastics challenge, is the BPA factor.  BPA stands for Bisphenol A.  This chemical is added to plastics for making it stronger.  BPA enters the body through skin contact too.  BPA is a known chemical that disrupts endocrine or hormonal system.  BPA is also linked to cancer, infertility, toxicity to foetus, and other diseases.  It is essential to emphasize that baby feeding bottles must be BPA-free when used by mothers for feeding their babies.  Ecotoxicity of microplastics is a frontier science.  Many studies are on in the field of microplastic pollution. Some studies are focusing on release of BPA from microplastics and the consequent possible damage to humans.

Airborne microplastics

The air too is getting increasingly contaminated by airborne microplastics derived from degrading plastics like waste plastic bottles, bags, and covers. Microplastics suspended in the air are being transported far and wide through air currents.  When inhaled, they increase the dust and toxic overload on lungs.  This leads to lung stress, oxidative stress, lung degeneration, difficulty in breathing and possibly lung interstitial disease.  Atmospheric pollution is increased by presence of microplastics.

Time to take double care

There is no doubt a plastic plague is in the making!!  Current scientific evidence does not point to ill effects of microplastics in bottled and other types of water.  WHO too is gathering data on this matter. Airborne plastics are known to cause lung stress and leads to several systemic health problems including cardiovascular disease.  Hence, it is prudent to limit the use of plastics through conscious effort, increase use of biodegradable packaging materials, and one should avoid contaminating planet Earth with plastic.  Let us bend and change to a better lifestyle!

Sunil S Chiplunkar
B Pharm M Pharm (Pharmacology) MBA (Marketing) PGDHRM (PhD – Pharmaceutical Sciences)
VP – Business Development, Group Pharmaceuticals, Bangalore-560055
Ph: 080 2337 6766 Mob: 6364578669
Email: 1969sunilchiplunkar@gmail.com
www.pharmaceuticalshealthcare.blogspot.in

The post MICROPLASTICS: The new hazard? appeared first on Health Vision.