On World Blood Donor Day 2022, the WHO is urging individuals from all over the world to donate blood as a show of solidarity.
Safe blood and blood products, as well as their transfusion, are essential components of health care and public safety. They are essential in the treatment of persons suffering from a variety of diseases, accidents, natural disasters, and armed warfare. The demand for blood is universal, but access to it is limited, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, where shortages disproportionately affect women and children, who are typically the individuals with the greatest need for blood.
Everyone can take the easy yet altruistic act of becoming a regular blood donor to develop communities, help local health systems, and save lives.
Key messages
Aiding people of all ages who suffer from diseases, tragedies, and accidents requires safe blood. Your contribution saves lives and safeguards our community. Thank you!
Blood is constantly necessary for saving lives and treating patients. Donating blood on a regular basis demonstrates your commitment to the community.
The need for blood is universal, yet not everyone who requires blood has access to it. In low- and middle-income countries, severe blood shortages exist.
In low- and middle-income nations, women and children are disproportionately affected by blood shortages since they require the most blood.
To ensure that everyone who requires a transfusion has access to safe blood, all nations require regular blood donations from unpaid volunteers.
Donating blood is an act of unity that saves lives. Providers of safe blood and blood products are vital to all health care systems.
Regular blood donations and widespread public engagement ensure that everyone has access to blood when they need it.
All blood donors offer patients and communities vital safety.
The creation of a successful blood donor program is facilitated by a hospitable social and cultural climate characterized by strong solidarity.
Donating blood strengthens social bonds and fosters a supportive community.
Who is able to donate blood?
If they are in good health, almost everyone can donate blood. To become a blood donor, there are a few basic standards that must be met. The following are some basic eligibility criteria:
Age
You are between the ages of 18 and 65.
In some countries, national legislation allows 16–to 17-year-olds to donate if they meet the physical and haematological requirements and provide appropriate consent.
Regular donors beyond the age of 65 may be accepted at the discretion of the responsible physician in various countries. Some countries have a 60-year-old age limit.
You must weigh at least 50 kg.
In some countries, whole blood donors must weigh at least 45 kg in order to donate 350 ml (10%).
Health You must be in good physical condition at the time of donation.
If you have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug, or any other infection, you cannot give.
If you've recently had a tattoo or body piercing, you won't be able to donate for six months after the surgery. After 12 hours, if the body piercing was done by a qualified health expert and any inflammation has subsided, you can donate blood.
If you've been to the dentist for minor treatment, you'll need to wait 24 hours before donating; if you've had extensive work done, you'll need to wait a month.
It is forbidden to donate blood. If you don't have enough haemoglobin to donate blood, you must:
At the donation place, a test will be performed. A haemoglobin level of not less than 12.0 g/dl for females and not less than 13.0 g/dl for males is used as a threshold in several nations.
1 comment
In your news stream, you'll see a forest fire in northern California and a mile-long glacier separating. The regular reminders of climate change may add additional stress to your everyday responsibilities. For example, as you inspect your shopping cart full of wipes, sandwich bags, and baby food packets, you may doubt your selections, knowing that the plastic in those things will never totally degrade. You may feel guilty for driving the little distance to the shop, or you may find it difficult to stop worrying about how your actions may impact future generations.
What is Climate Anxiety?
Climate anxiety, sometimes known as eco-anxiety, is uneasiness caused by concerns about the implications of climate change. It is not a mental disorder. Rather, it is anxiety rooted in uncertainty about the future, warning us of the hazards of climate change. Climate change is a genuine problem, and it's natural to be concerned about the repercussions. Climate-related anxiety is often accompanied by feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and shame, which can change how a person feels, acts and thinks.
How widespread is climate anxiety?
According to an American Psychological Association survey, more than two-thirds of Americans are concerned about climate change. According to a study published in The Lancet, 84 per cent of children and young adults aged 16 to 25 are at least moderately concerned about climate change, and 59 per cent are highly concerned. This is understandable, given that children and young adults would be disproportionately affected by environmental changes. According to a UNICEF projection from 2021, climate change will put one billion children in "very high danger." Children and young adults are especially vulnerable to the effects of long-term stress, and climate anxiety may make it more likely that they will have problems with depression, anxiety, or using drugs.
You've likely heard by now that a global outbreak of monkeypox is now underway. Cases are widespread, including in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It is the greatest monkeypox outbreak ever documented outside of western and central Africa, where the disease is prevalent.
Controlling an outbreak, however, requires preventative measures such as avoiding direct contact with infected individuals and vaccination. Historically, ring vaccination has been an effective approach for limiting smallpox and Ebola outbreaks. It may also be effective for monkeypox.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, it is unlikely that monkeypox will develop into a pandemic. Currently, the threat to the general population is low. The focus is on detecting potential cases and quickly containing the outbreak.
Three crucial measures can help end this epidemic:
Recognize early symptoms.
Controlling an outbreak, however, requires preventative measures such as avoiding direct contact with infected individuals and vaccination. Historically, ring vaccination has been an effective approach for limiting smallpox and Ebola outbreaks. It may also be effective for monkeypox.
How can we contain monkeypox?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, it is unlikely that monkeypox will develop into a pandemic. Currently, the threat to the general population is low. The focus is on detecting potential cases and quickly containing the outbreak.
Three crucial measures can help end this epidemic:
Recognize early symptoms.
Typical early symptoms include fever, tiredness, headache, and lymph node enlargement.
A few days later, a rash develops, evolving from little flat patches to blisters resembling chickenpox, then to bigger pus-filled blisters.
Typically, the rash begins on the face before spreading to the palms, arms, legs, and other regions of the body. If monkeypox is transmitted by sexual contact, the rash may initially appear on or near the genitalia.
Take measures to prevent the spread.
The transmission of monkeypox occurs by respiratory droplets or through contact with fluid from open sores.
If you have been diagnosed with or fear you may have monkeypox, you should avoid close contact with others.
Once the sores have crusted over, the diseased individual is no longer contagious.
The basic infection control equipment for health care workers and other caregivers should include gloves and a mask.
As a result, scientists believe that sexual contact spreads the virus. Therefore, specialists recommend abstinence when suspected or confirmed monkeypox is present.
Is this something you've heard before?
You're sitting at your computer, staring at a wall of e-mails. You hit "send" after finishing your response and reach for the bulging tuna wrap on your desk. You set the wrap down, grab a handful of chips, and open the next message after a few bites, chewing while glancing at the screen. Before you know it, you've finished your meal without even realizing it.
A small but growing body of research suggests that eating more slowly and thoughtfully may help with weight issues and may steer some people away from processed foods and other less-healthy options.
This alternative method is known as "mindful eating." It is based on the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, which entails being fully aware of what is going on inside and outside of you at the time. Mindfulness techniques have been proposed in other areas as a way to relieve stress and alleviate problems such as high blood pressure and chronic gastrointestinal issues.
What is Mindful eating?
Mindful eating (i.e., paying attention to our food intentionally, moment by moment, and without judgment) is an approach to food that emphasizes sensuous awareness of the food and the experience of eating. It is unrelated to calories, carbs, fat, and protein.
Mindfulness in eating entails noticing the colours, smells, flavours, and textures of your food; chewing slowly; eliminating distractions such as TV or reading; and learning to cope with food guilt and anxiety. Some aspects of mindful eating appear to be influenced by the ideas of Horace Fletcher, an early twentieth-century food faddist who believed that chewing food thoroughly would solve a variety of health problems.
The mind-gut relationship
Digestion involves a complex series of hormonal signals between the gut and the nervous system, and it appears that the brain takes about 20 minutes to register satiety (fullness). If someone eats too quickly, satiety may occur after overeating rather than stopping it. There's also evidence that eating while distracted by activities like driving or typing may cause digestion to slow or stop, similar to how the "fight or flight" response works. And if we don't digest well, we may be missing out on the full nutritive value of some of the food we eat.
In her 2010 book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life, co-written with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, nutritionist and Harvard School of Public Health lecturer Lilian Cheung lays out the rationale for mindful eating as a way to lose weight. The book, which combines science and Buddhist philosophy, has spawned a thriving Facebook page where people share recipes and other healthy living advice.
Stephanie Meyers, a dietician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, uses mindfulness techniques to assist cancer patients with their diets in a variety of ways. For example, she will encourage head and neck cancer survivors to meditate on food as they make the sometimes difficult transition from a feeding tube back to eating. Patients could practice this meditation by biting into an apple slice, closing their eyes, and focusing on the sensory experience of tasting, chewing, and swallowing.
While you normally love having sex with your partner, lately you haven't been able to get off. They know your vagina like the back of their hand but nothing seems to work. What is going on here? There could be many different problems. Thankfully, a great vibrator could help you out here.
Is Your Partner Letting You Down?
You love your partner and your intimate times together. However, you haven't been able to get off lately and you aren't sure what is going on. They do everything that you like and you find them incredibly attractive. But there's just something that's holding you back from this emotional connection.
What is happening here? There are many different things that may affect your sexual drive and cause you to lose all pleasure. Not all of them are your partner's fault, either. Some may be tied more to your overall emotional and physical health. For example, you may be experiencing problems like:
- Anxiety: High anxiety, especially related to sex, may make it hard to get off. This ironic cycle is a hard one to beat. You may struggle to get off one time, feel nervous about it the next time, and find yourself continually unable to orgasm. It isn't your fault: that's just how the mind works sometimes.
- Depression: Have you felt depression about anything lately? If so, you might have a lower sex drive than anticipated and could struggle to get off. This depression is often quite hard to combat and may affect other aspects of your physical health, including your appetite and energy levels.
- Health Concerns: Some health problems may make it hard for women to orgasm, such as high blood pressure and much more. If you feel you're experiencing any of these problems, it is important to learn more about how they may affect your overall state of mind.
- Emotional Conflicts: Did you and your partner have a fight recently? Are you feeling upset at them about anything, and you aren't sure why? This situation can be very troubling and hard to predict and may also cause sexual dysfunction that can be hard to combat.
Recognizing and treating heart failure as soon as possible may help to slow the progression of this serious condition.
If you start feeling tired or winded more than usual, it's easy to blame it on getting older, being out of shape, or being overweight. However, if these symptoms persist, don't dismiss them, especially if you're also experiencing ankle swelling and difficulty breathing when lying down.
These are all classic symptoms of early heart failure, which occurs when the heart is unable to effectively pump blood throughout the body (see "The FACES of heart failure"). Recent advances in both detection and treatment may help to alleviate the burden of heart failure, which is the leading cause of hospitalization in people 65 and older.
Good Morning Quote: Monday, June 13, 2022.
I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door. Marla Gibbs
What you do today can improve all your tomorrow. Today is the best time to plan for your tomorrow.
Ralph Marston
Edwin Percy Whipple
Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it. Sai Baba
A new study suggests that, in addition to many other health benefits, vigorous exercise may help with dry, itchy eyes by increasing tear production and quality.
The study included 52 adults who were classified as "athletes" or "non-athletes" by the researchers. Athletes exercised at least five times per week, while non-athletes exercised no more than once per week.
 |
| Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/unrecognizable-person-running-on-cold-sandy-beach-5480744/ |
We are all aware that motivation is essential for achieving personal and professional objectives. However, if you wait for motivation to hit like a bolt of lightning, you'll be much less likely to take any action. Even if you've set a lofty goal for yourself, it's all too easy to lose motivation due to feelings of overwhelm, procrastination, or impatience. The actions outlined below can assist you in increasing your motivation to achieve the goals that are important to you.
The significance of your objective
Before you select a goal, you must first determine its significance – that is, why is achieving this goal so important to you? What does this success mean to you? "I want to drop 10 pounds so I can have more energy to play with my grandchildren," for example, is significantly more meaningful than "I want to reduce weight." Perhaps your goal is to paint a room a different color because you believe it would bring you more happiness. This is not the same as establishing a goal of "paint room."
If you create a goal and find yourself procrastinating or failing to achieve it, reconsider the objective's meaning. Is this a goal that you still care about? If that's the case, think about the significance behind your procrastination or the challenges you're having.
Make your goal a reality.
Make a thorough plan to reach your goal. This plan should be guided by the term SMART:
(What specifically do you aim to achieve?)
(How will you know when you've succeeded?) Measurable
Achievable (Can you achieve the aim you've set?)
Realistic (Does it make sense for you to set this objective right now?)
Time-bound (Can you give me an estimate of how long it will take you to achieve this goal?)
A goal of "exercise more" is an example of a goal that is overly broad and will not lead to success. Instead, make a goal for yourself to walk 50 steps in the next hour or a 15-minute stroll on Wednesday morning. This objective is explicit, quantifiable, attainable, reasonable, and time-bound.
According to a recent BioMed Central article, weight stigma is the "social rejection and devaluation that accrues to people who do not conform to existing social norms of optimal body weight and shape." Simply put, weight stigma is prejudice based on a person's bodily weight.
According to the writers of this paper, weight stigma can cause changes in the body, such as higher cortisol levels, which can contribute to poor metabolic health and weight gain. Furthermore, people who are overweight may cope with weight stigma by increasing alcohol and substance usage, overeating to cope with negative feelings, and avoiding health care settings or social engagements. Chronic social stress leads to bad health outcomes, and studies have shown that weight discrimination raises the risk of death by 60%, even when body mass index (BMI) is taken into account.
What steps may be taken to overcome weight stigma?
There are numerous approaches to addressing weight stigma. The first step is to recognize that it exists because we can not combat anything until we first recognize it.
Altering the way we think and speak about people who are overweight is another step we can take. Eliminating the term "obesity" from our vocabulary is a vital step in this direction. When referring to a person with obesity, we should endeavour to remember that they are a person with an illness and to speak to them as a person rather than the illness they have. For instance, "person with obesity" should be used rather than "fat person." This is referred to as employing person-first language.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)