Health Essentials
Watch out! HPV is lurking in the dark
When we think of Sexually Transmitted Infections, we automatically think of chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhoea, HIV/AIDS, and syphilis; however, the most common is HPV (Human Papillomavirus Virus).
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HPV is so common that most sexually active people who aren’t vaccinated against HPV will become infected at some point in their lives. Most never know they have the virus.
There are over 100 variants of HPV, and each variant is responsible for a different kind of infection. Some cause warts, and others cause cancers. These cancers range from cervical, vaginal, anal, penis, and throat.
How do you get HPV?
HPV infections occur when the virus passes through one’s broken skin after contact with an infected person. For example, when a person engages in sexual activities with an infected person, Genital HPV infections are contracted.
A genital HPV infection can be contracted through sexual intercourse, anal sex,through close skin-to-skin touching during sex especially in people with multiple sexual partners. Oral sex can also lead to HPV infections that result in oral or upper respiratory lesions.
A pregnant woman with genital warts can also pass on HPV to her unborn child.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
In most cases the body’s immune system is able to fight off the virus before it develops into warts. However, if the immune system is unable to fight off the virus, the following symptoms may occur:
- The appearance of warts in the affected area; These warts can be around the genital areas or the upper respiratory part of the body. They may appear weeks, months or even years after contact with an infected person. It is important to note that warts are contagious.
- Cancer; In some instances, the infected person may show no signs at all, and these may often lead to certain cancers after some time. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by a strain of HPV that is very dangerous. Other cancers caused by HPV include anal, penile, throat, vaginal and vulva cancers.
What is the treatment for HPV?
- Genital warts, if left untreated, may go away. However, it is advisable to visit a healthcare provider for treatment since warts may stay the same or grow in size or number,
● Cervical precancer can be treated. Women who get routine Pap tests and follow up as needed can identify problems before cancer develops.
● Other HPV-related cancers are also more treatable when diagnosed and treated early.
How can one prevent HPV?
HPV vaccine; The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all 11- and 12-year-olds receive two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart. This is the best age to receive the vaccine to protect against the virus before a person is exposed through sexual activity. Children as young as nine years can receive the vaccine, as well. Research has shown that the two-dose schedule is effective for children under 15.
You can reduce your risk of developing genital warts and other HPV-related genital lesions by:
- Waiting to take part in sexual activity until you are ready.
- Being in a mutually monogamous sexual relationship.
- Reducing your number of sexual partners.
- Using a latex condom.
- Screening
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Source
www.webmd
Put together byAugustinaAmarh and Maureen MasopehContent creators
Health Essentials Ltd
The conventional wisdom has always been that we should all strive to keep our blood pressure low. Even though this is true, having really low blood pressure can be dangerous, as it can impair your body’s ability to absorb oxygen, resulting in damage to the heart and brain.
Low blood pressure is when your blood pressure reading is lower than 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for the top number (systolic) or 60 mm Hg for the bottom number (diastolic).
Low blood pressure (also known as hypotension) can occur in anyone, though it may be more common depending on your age or other risk factors: genetic makeup, taking certain medications, and having certain diseases (diabetes, heart conditions).
The cause of low blood pressure isn’t always clear. However, it may be associated with the following:
- pregnancy
- hormonal problems
- some over-the-counter and prescription medications
- heart failure
- abnormal heart rhythms
- widening or dilation of the blood vessels
- heatstroke
- liver disease
- loss of blood from bleeding
- low or high body temperature
- a severe blood infection
- severe dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, burns or fever
- a reaction to medication or alcohol
A sudden drop in blood pressure robs the brain of adequate blood supply. This can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Other symptoms include fainting, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, lack of concentration, and in extreme conditions shock.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, seek emergency medical attention as it is important to determine the cause of low blood pressure so appropriate treatment can be given.
Some people are known to take alcohol in an attempt to increase their blood pressure but that is a path I will not recommend. Others opt for caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. Caffeine can increase blood pressure due to peripheral pooling of blood and may cause complications.
Dr Kojo Essel often recommends that one engages in exercise, which is your best “weapon to normalise blood pressure.”
Quite often when one has low blood pressure, standing still for long periods of time can cause a further drop. In such people, Dr Essel highly recommends taking several steps even if standing in one place to help maintain blood pressure at a safe level.
Other ways of managing low blood pressure are:
- adding a little salt to food (do this with caution to avoid excesses and downsides of increased salt intake)
- increase water (other fluids) intake to increase blood volume
- may need to wear compression stockings in extreme situations
- some may require medication
- pay attention to body positions; do not move quickly from sitting to standing position for instance
- eat small portions of food at a time
- exercise should be a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercise that increases heart rate
As always: laugh often, ensure hygiene, walk and pray every day, and remember it’s a priceless gift to know your numbers (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI).
Source:
Maureen Masopeh, Content Creator (Health Essentials Ltd)
References:
- Dr Kojo Cobba Essel; Unravelling the Essentials of Health and Wealth
- Mayoclinic; Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
- WebMD
By Dr Kojo Cobba Essel
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IF you truly love yourself, you had better read this piece while standing!
The other “inactivity” that rivals sitting for long periods when it comes to poor health and untimely death is LONLINESS! Sitting and Loneliness are the new Smoking.
It is often common to hear a parent tell a child, “Sit quietly and watch television and I will make a quick dash to town.” Well, this harmless and well-meaning statement is now being vilified. That parent could have said “smoke a few sticks of cigarettes while I dash off to town.” Yes “sitting is the “new” smoking.”
Scientists: they keep coming up with many weird findings and unfortunately, we realise after much ado that they may be right. People with sitting jobs have twice the rate of cardiovascular (heart & blood vessel) diseases as those with standing jobs – the bankers are cringing in their seats I bet.
It appears that compared to sitting,
• Sitting continuously brings similar challenges that smoking poses a gossip team. After an hour of sitting, if you walk for a minute or two.
Standing is hard work. Imagine that you need to engage many muscles to stand upright, and this burns energy. Sitting on the other hand is extremely relaxing.
When we sit, the “physiology of inactivity” kicks in and when we think we are relaxing in a chair made from heaven, our body instead rewards us with many bad things; enzymes that break down fat may drop by about 90 per cent calorie burning drops to frightening low levels and soon good cholesterol that protects us also drops. If you sit long enough even your insulin effectiveness drops and you will be courting diabetes in the long run.
I sincerely believe in getting a workout during the day, but you should not think that it gives you a license to sit at your desk for hours on end. We should ensure that we get up from our desk to walk briefly or even stretch. I am not giving you an excuse for loitering around your office or forming ings. When you have a meeting with a handful of people you could lace your boots and start walking while you talk. Who knows being out of a box (office etc) could help you think “out of the box” or even think like “there is no box”. The best aspect of such a meeting is people are more attentive since they are unable to fidget with their smart phones and other gadgets.
All lectures and classes (children are really suffering in school these days) should have a “Heart Preserving” five-minute break after every hour. Spend that time walking and stretching.
All long movies should have commercial breaks that should be used to at least stand
Whenever in doubt, at least stand for a while.
Well some people are trying innovative ways of even having small treadmills at their desk that keeps them moving, others are adopting a new chair design that essentially makes you stand at your desk, a few others sit on exercise balls that forces them to adjust their positions all the time but for the rest of us simply taking breaks and using every opportunity to move is just what the doctor prescribed.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERY DAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials/Medics Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
Dr. Essel is a medical doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – For good heart health; exercise often, eat healthy, do not smoke, minimise alcohol and sit less
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
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