World Asthma Awareness Month.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness characterized by periodic bouts of difficulty in breathing, coughing, chest tightness and wheezing. These symptoms are caused by an inflammatory process that results in narrowing of the lungs air passages hence restricting air supply.
The frequency of the bouts as well as their severity may vary from one individual to another.
Asthma can develop at any age. Although it is the most common chronic illness in children, it unfortunately goes un-diagnosed and un-treated in a vast majority of cases.
What causes Asthma?
Asthma is caused by a combination of several factors with the main factors being ones genetic predisposition and environmental exposure. The other factors include physical exercise, certain medication, cold weather, hormonal changes, certain foods & beverages and emotional stress.
The environmental triggers include inhaled irritants such as:
• Outdoor allergens e.g. mould, dust, flower/grass pollen
• Indoor allergens e.g. dust mite, pet dander
• Workplace chemical irritants e.g. formaldehyde, ammonia
• Air pollutants e.g. motor vehicles & factories
• Tobacco Smoke
Asthma is strongly co-related to an individuals’ immune system, it is therefore very common to find asthmatics also having other allergies including eczema & hives, allergic rhinitis and persistent nasal blockage.
How do you manage Asthma?
Asthma is not curable but it can be managed through symptom control and avoidance of future asthma attacks. This allows individuals to have a full productive life.
The main targets in asthma management are:
1. Early diagnosis by primary care physicians and referral of more severe cases to specialists.
2. Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers.
3. Taking medication as prescribed by a specialist and taking it correctly to enable good control hence avoid life-long complications.
4. Use of Inhaled therapy as the treatment of choice for delivering medicines for the relief and prevention of recurrent asthma.
5. Use of a metered dose inhaler with a spacer device for all children under the age of 18 years for adequate dosing of inhaled medication.
Childhood asthma when mild will very often resolve as a child grows up. Moderate to severe cases of asthma will however usually persist into adulthood.
Statistics:
• Over 339 million people suffer from Asthma globally.
• An estimated 383,000 deaths occurred in 2015 due to asthma complications. This is approximately 1000 people every single day.
• Over 80% of childhood asthma-related deaths occur in the low & middle income countries.
• An estimated 10% of Kenya’s population is living with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Of these, only 20% have their illness under control.
Risk factors in Kenya include urban setting, exposure to cigarette smoke, indoor air pollution especially from cooking with wood/charcoal, home dampness leading to mould and house dust mite.
If you suspect you or your child has asthma, don’t ignore it. Poorly controlled asthma can result in premature and avoidable death. Seek medical advice and begin to correctly manage the illness so as to improve the quality of life of those you love.
Be aware!
What you need to know about Ginger.
Did you know that Ginger is a flowering plant that originated from China?
It is among the healthiest (and most delicious) spices on the planet loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain.
It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal. The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.
Ginger is a popular spice. It is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.
Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.
The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol.
Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea as well. For example, it has a long history of use as a sea sickness remedy, and there is some evidence that it may be as effective as prescription medication.
Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. It does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain.
Research reveals:
A study found that a combination of ginger, mastic, cinnamon and sesame oil, can reduce pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis patients when applied topically.
This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.
In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12%.
It also dramatically improved HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels), leading to a 10% reduction over a period of 12 weeks.
There was also a 28% reduction in the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and a 23% reduction in markers for oxidized lipoproteins. These are both major risk factors for heart disease.
Other benefits include:
• Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.
• There is some evidence, in both animals and humans, that ginger can lead to significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
• Ginger contains a substance called 6-gingerol, which may have protective effects against cancer. However, this needs to be studied a lot more.
• Studies suggest that ginger can protect against age-related damage to the brain. It can also improve brain function in elderly women.
• In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria.
• It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
• Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections.
This is definitely a must try spice in your next meal.
Original article by Joe Leech, MS
Healthline.com
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
~ Jim Rohn
Let's Talk About Personal Finance.
Personal finance involves making complex and multiple individual finance decisions which ultimately defines the quality of life lived. If not done properly it may make one,
• Sink into debt.
• Have no Savings for future.
• Have no discernable investments.
• Stressed among other medical conditions.
The personal financial process consists of five separate but interrelated steps. Which include;
• Determining the current financial position.
• Determine your financial GOAL.
• Developing a financial plan.
• Implementing the plan.
• Monitoring the implementation.
To determine one current financial situation, consider facts such as,
• How much income do you have?
• How much expenses do you have?
• How are the expenses allocated?
• How much loan and other liabilities do you have?
It is recommended that you keep track of your expenses on a daily basis .ie log your daily spending into a book. This will help you understand your spending habits and your net worth.
Principles in Saving and in Spending
It is very important to be principled when it comes to saving and spending. Consider the following,
• Have a personal budget. That details your income and expenditure.
• Understand your money personality.
• Have a shopping list to avoid over spending and impulse buying.
• Save at least 10% of your income on a monthly basis.
• Save from the source e.g. check off, Direct debits etc.
• Don’t spend more than 30% of your income on rent or paying for mortgage.
• Don’t buy a car that is more than 8 times your monthly income.
• Don’t carry more cash than is necessary.
• Buy goods in bulk.
• Buy goods/services during sales campaigns.
• Save in areas which pay compound interest not simple interest.
• Ensure that the rate on investment is higher than inflation.
• Reduce your taxable income by taking advantage of government policies.
• Borrow to purchase assets that increase in value over time.
We hope that this will make a difference, all the best!
