Asthma Awareness

By Nurse Diane

A few years ago, a friend of mine, my doctor, had an asthma attack.  It was so severe that he was flown to Jackson to the hospital and put in ICU.  He did not survive this attack.  He was a young man, in his 40's, a well-known physician, married to a nurse.

According to worldasthmaday.org, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 300 million people suffer from asthma and it’s the most common chronic disease among children. WHO also notes that asthma affects people in all countries around the world regardless of development although most deaths occur in lower income countries.

Asthma is a chronic disease of the air passages (or bronchial) that lead to and from the lungs that makes breathing difficult. Usually there is inflammation, which results in a temporary narrowing of the passages that carry oxygen to the lungs.

Symptoms vary from person to person and in intensity, but generally include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure. Asthma sufferers often have recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing. Symptoms may occur several times a day or week and may become worse during physical activity or during the night.

During an attack, the lining of the bronchial tubes swells, causing airways to become narrow and reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. These attacks can cause sleeplessness, fatigue, reduced activity and absenteeism from work or school.

The basic causes of asthma are not completely understood, but risk factors for developing the disease include a genetic predisposition along with exposure to particles and substances that irritate the air passages and cause allergic reactions. Some irritants include dust in furnishings, pets, tobacco smoke, chemicals and air pollution.

Other causes include physical exercise, medications (aspirin and beta blockers), cold air and even emotional reactions such as stress, anger and fear.

Today is World Asthma Day.  World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma with a goal to improve asthma awareness and care around the world.  For ways you can help get the news out about asthma, visit this site: http://worldasthmaday.org/support/

Kidney Awareness Day

By Nurse Diane

World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The campaign is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of March in more than 100 countries on 6 continents.

The purpose for this day is: 

• Raise awareness about our "amazing kidneys"Highlight that diabetes and high blood pressure are key risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
• Encourage systematic screening of all patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD.
• Encourage preventive behaviors.
• Educate all medical professionals about their key role in detecting and reducing the risk of CKD, particularly in high risk populations.
• Stress the important role of local and national health authorities in controlling the CKD epidemic. Health authorities worldwide will have to deal with high and escalating costs if no action is taken to treat the growing number of people with CKD. On World Kidney Day all governments are encouraged to take action and invest in further kidney screening.
• Encourage Transplantation as a best-outcome option for kidney failure, and the act of organ donation as a life-saving initiative.   

If detected early, Chronic Kidney Diseases can be treated--thereby reducing other complications and dramatically reduce the growing burden of deaths and disability from chronic renal and cardiovascular disease worldwide.  The prevalence of CKD is increasing dramatically and the cost of treating it poses an enormous burden on healthcare systems worldwide. 8 to 10% of the adult population have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of complications related to their kidney disease.

To reduce your risk of kidney disease, here are some tips to follow:

• Remain fit and active.
• Keep control of your blood sugar level
• Monitor your blood pressure
• Eat healthy and keep your weight in check
• Maintain a healthy fluid intake
• Don't smoke
• Don't take over the counter pills regularly

If you:

• have diabetes
• have hypertension
• are obese
• one of your parents or other family members suffers from kidney disease
• are of African, Asian, or Aboriginal origin have one of the following high risk factors, get your kidneys checked by your doctor today on World Kidney Day!

 (All images from Google)