Connect with us

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

These bugs emerge at night and assault victims, killing them silently or infecting them for life.

Published

on

By

As a young child Emiliana Rodríguez recalls watching friends play a nighttime game of soccer, where one of the players suddenly dropped dead on the field. Not knowing what had happened, the Bolivian-born Rodríguez grew fearful of the night, afraid of the silent killer called Chagas, the “monster” she was told only comes out at night.

Chagas is a different kind of monster, a “silent and silenced disease,” transmitted by nocturnal bugs that infect up to 8 million people each year, and Rodríguez’ friend was one of 12,000 people killed each year…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

An acute Chagas disease infection with swelling of the right eye (Romaña’s sign) / Wikipedia Commons

Kissing bugs mostly live in the walls of low-income housing in rural or suburban areas and are most active at nighttime when people are sleeping. The bug passes the T. cruzi infection by biting an animal or human, then defecating on the skin of its victim, who may accidentally scratch the spot and break the skin, or spread the feces into the eyes or mouth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Mexico, Central America, and South America, approximately 8 million people–6 to 7 million worldwide as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO)– have Chagas disease, the majority unaware of their infection. When left untreated, the lifelong infection can be a killer. About 12,000 people die of Chagas each year, killing “more people in Latin America than any other parasite disease, including malaria,” writes the Guardian.

Though these bugs have been identified in the U.S.–close to 300,000 people are infected–it is not considered an endemic.

Some people never develop symptoms but CDC reports that decades later, 20 to 30% have cardiac complications that can lead to death, or gastrointestinal complications, which can cause severe discomfort.

And the global case detection rate is only 10%, which makes treatment and prevention very difficult.

Wikipedia Commons / Bärbel Stock

Looking for some support, Hernández and her daughter Idalia visited several doctors who also knew very little–if anything–about Chagas, or how to treat it. “I was surprised, scared and sad because I thought my daughter was going to die. Above all, I couldn’t find out any reliable information, and this added to my anxiety,” Hernández said.

Finally getting some help from a family member who worked in health care, Idalia received the treatment she needed.

“In Mexico, the authorities say that there aren’t many people affected by Chagas and that it’s under control, but that’s not the situation,” says Hernández. “Medical professionals don’t receive any training and mistake Chagas for other heart diseases. The majority don’t realize there is Chagas in Mexico.”

Chagas is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease, meaning it’s not getting attention from the global health policy agenda.

Chagas disease treatment

Colin Forsyth, a research manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), explained that Chagas is neglected partly because “it’s a silent disease that stays hidden for so long in your body … because of the asymptomatic nature of the initial part of the infection.”

Referencing the poor populations, Forsyth continued, “The people affected just don’t have the power to influence healthcare policy. There’s this confluence of biological and social issues that keep it hidden.”

But as Chagas travels to other continents, its visibility is increasing and it’s now known that it can be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transplants, and from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

Professor David Moore, a consultant at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, created the Chagas Hub, a UK-based facility with the primary goal of having “more people tested and treated, and to manage the risk of transmission, which in the UK is from mother to child,” he said.

Moore said that progress in eliminating Chagas is “glacial,” and addressing the target set by WHO for a 2030 disease elimination, he said, “I can’t imagine that we’ll be remotely close by 2030. That seems highly unlikely.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Chagas can be treated with two medicines, benznidazole and nifurtimox, both on the market 50 plus years, that Moore says is “toxic, unpleasant, not particularly effective.”

It can cure a baby but there’s no guarantee the medications can prevent or curb disease progression in adults.

Shutterstock

As for severe side effects, Rodríguez remembers coming out in hives, feeling dizzy and nauseated. She completed treatment and goes for check-ups every year.

Moore adds that more effective medication for Chagas is critical in curbing its spread but right now, there’s no financial appeal to pharmaceutical companies.

Until there’s a higher market appeal to develop more treatments, Hernández is on a mission to make the silent disease louder, in her title as president of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS).

What should I do if I find a triatomine bug?

Meanwhile, Rodríguez is in Spain, fighting the “monster,” by bringing awareness to Chagas through a campaign by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.

“I’m fed up with so much silence,” Rodríguez says. “I want people to talk about Chagas, and to know about it. I want people to get tested and to get treatment.”

And, they are being heard.

The WHO established World Chagas Disease Day, which runs every year on April 14, the day in 1909 when Carlos discovered the first human case. WHO writes that “Global targets for 2030 and milestones are set out to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a diverse set of 20 diseases and disease groups.” This includes Chagas.

To prevent a possible infestation, the CDC recommends that you:

  • Seal cracks and gaps around windows, walls, roofs and doors
  • Remove wood, brush and rock piles near your house
  • Use screens on doors and windows and repair any holes or tears
  • Seal holes and cracks leading to the attic, to crawl spaces below the house and to the outside
  • Have pets sleep indoors, especially at night
  • Keep your house and any outdoor pet resting areas clean, in addition to periodically checking both areas for the presence of bugs

If you believe you have come across a kissing bug, it is advised by the CDC not to crush it. Instead, you should carefully place the bug in a container and fill the container with rubbing alcohol or freeze it in water.

Afterward, it is recommended that you take the container with the bug to your local health department or a university laboratory for identification.

It’s quite frightening to think these bugs live in the walls of homes–it’s like those horror stories you hear as a child to be wary of the monster that lives in the walls.

We really hope the WHO makes good on its promise to eliminate Chagas, and other Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Please share this story and help raise awareness on this silent disease!

 

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Ladies Please Do Not Damage Your Womb, Stay Away From This Three Things

Published

on

By

The delight of each couple might be entire if the female takes in and awards after the marriage organization regardless while this doesn’t occur, there might be a way of thinking in ready as stand-separated solicitations can be introduced. As a female, how is it that it could be possible that you would understanding while you can’t hold after your wedding organization by ethicalness of a destroyed belly? Such endless associations have fallen thusly and this is the clarification I shaped this article.

The stomach of a young lady could be astoundingly touchy considering the way that it’s miles going to house the youth. That is the clarification satisfactory idea and interest should perceive to it…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Incredibly, such an immense heap of more young ladies have broken their stomach considering the sort of vulgarities they have participation in. Indecencies containing child ejection and utilization of being pregnant control tablets can pass a somewhat long way to deal with hurt the uterus. A few reliable conditions in addition can impact the uterus (stomach), which wires polyps, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, and hurtful turn of events.

Right when your stomach is impacted, there are positive coincidental impacts and signs your edge will begin to pass on you. Some of them intertwine;

.Trouble withinside the uterine region.

.Amazing or critical vaginal passing on.

.Unpredictable month to month cycle.

.Astonishing vaginal conveyance.

.Trouble withinside the pelvis, decline stomach or rectal area.

.Expanded genteel pulverizing. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

.Expanded pee.

.Trouble for the length of intercourse.

Certain lead can accomplish gut hurt. Some of them solidify;

1. Alcohol

Drinking liquor senselessly can hurt the stomach of a woman considering the pointless proportion of ethanol found in it. Studies have other than shown that solid ingesting in young ladies can reason changes in ovulation, cycle law and ovarian save. It additionally can save you right implantation withinside the uterus, achieving a sped up cost of early deficit of the being pregnant or resorption. This can emerge on a very basic level sooner than a woman remembers she is pregnant. Liquor likewise can hurt specific crucial organs withinside the bundling consequently avoid it.

2. Maltreatment of pills

is is the most extraordinarily horrendous exercise to have correspondence considering reality over the top cases can hurt the stomach to a huge volume expressly while battered. This other than will wind up being extra risky while a lady is pregnant. Maltreatment of medication finally of being pregnant can accomplish transport deserts, off-kilter kids, underweight infant kids, and stillborn births. Interminably conform to the docs course of action while killing compartments to keep from waist hurt.

3. Diverse sexual mates

A couple of sexual colleagues isn’t strong and might shoot the danger of your midriff being broken. Precisely when you have a couple of sexual accomplices, your shot at getting a STD furthermore increments. Aftermaths of STDs can cause vanity in youths particularly chlamydia and gonorrhea. The surprising strategy to avoid contamination of STDs is to limition the proportion of sexual accomplices and exercise secure sex. These disorders can assault your fallopian chambers and uterus until the end of time.

Dear women, you have been unequivocally and magnificently made and this is the clarification you should remain mindful of your self standard for marriage. Keep from those three matters above for your stomach.

A commitment of appreciation is all together for investigating.

 

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Continue Reading

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

16 easy and proven ways that will help you sleep at night like babies

Published

on

By

 

Sometimes you wait every day for that moment when you can get home and go to sleep, but then when that moment comes.. you lie awake for hours unable to fall asleep.

The stress of everyday life makes it a very common problem for millions of people all over the world. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

If you’ve experienced this yourself, try the ideas listed below. Each of them works great and will help you sleep perfectly at night and the next morning you wake up feeling full of energy. Good night for tiredness!

  1. Eat foods with magnesium. Researchers have found that magnesium plays a major role in our ability to sleep through the night. Try to chew foods rich in magnesium such as pumpkin seeds, spinach, and swiss chard. Or take a
    magnesium supplement about half an hour before bed…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
  2. A short nap in the middle of the day. A 10 to 30 minute nap in the middle of the day is great for ensuring you get a good night’s sleep. Sleep longer and you risk falling asleep late at night.
  3. Use the bedroom only for sleeping and relaxing. Keep your bed only for sleeping so that the brain associates the bedroom with sleep and relaxation. Sleep and sex, yes. Work and bills – not really.
  4. Keep a cool bedroom. Between 15-23 degrees celius is the ideal temperature. A warmer room leads to more awakenings in the middle of the night.
  5. Take a hot shower or bath before bed. This can help the brain to relax, while the rise and fall of body temperature leads to poor sleep.
  6. Wake up at a fixed time. Just as it’s best to go to bed at a fixed time every night. It would be a good idea to wake up at a fixed time in the morning – even on weekends. Irregular sleep, and getting up at irregular hours
    leads to poor sleep.
  7. Make up for missing hours of sleep. Have you stayed up late the last few nights? Go to bed an hour earlier today to make up for the missing hours.
  8. Don’t turn around in bed. Can’t fall asleep? If you lie awake for more than 20 minutes, get out of bed and try to do a relaxing activity such as reading a book or listening to relaxing music. Thinking that you don’t fall
    asleep only causes you not to fall asleep – it’s a vicious circle.
  9. Check the medicine cabinet. You may be taking medication that prevents you from falling asleep. Think one of the medications is the cause of poor sleep? Talk to your doctor about side effects and how to treat them.
  10. Place the alarm clock away from your face. Watching time ticking by can cause more stress and difficulty falling asleep. Additionally, artificial skin from an electronic device disrupts the biological clock, making our body
    think it’s time to get up and party.
  11. Smell lavender. The smell can be an antidote to insomnia. Try burning lavender scented candles or dripping some lavender essential oil.
  12. Relax the muscles. Start with the feet. Stretch the muscles, hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat for each muscle group in the body. from the feet to the head.
  13. Dim the light. Bright light, especially ‘blue light’ (TV, mobile phone, etc.) causes sleeping problems. Try not to watch TV or browse your mobile phone about an hour or two before going to bed.
  14. Clean air. Exposure to daylight helps balance the biological clock, as well as bedtime. Sunlight always keeps fatigue away during the day, and leads to fatigue when sleeping at night.
  15. Drink something hot. A glass of warm milk may not be scientifically proven to induce sleep, but the sense of calm that comes with it definitely makes the eyes close.
  16. Put a clove of garlic under the pillow. Yes, you read that right. The sulfur in garlic and the strong aroma have a calming effect that can help the quality of your sleep. The aroma can be strong and harsh: but after a few
    days, you will get used to it and sleep like babies.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Continue Reading

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Cure Your High Blood Pressure Forever With This Method

Published

on

By

High arterial blood pressure, or hypertension, raises the risk of cardiovascular disease in a way analogous to that of coronary artery disease.

A lot of things, from the efficiency of your heart’s pump to your level of optimism about the stock market, might alter your heart rate. The more nervously and slowly you trade, the more cardiovascular stress you’ll experience.

Most people who have hypertension have no idea they have it until it’s too late and their blood pressure or heart rate are dangerously high…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Some persons with hypertension experience symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. However, these symptoms are by no means ubiquitous, and they normally manifest only when the disease has progressed to a potentially fatal level.

The Amish were the first to adopt this special remedy, and it has been used to heal many other diseases ever since. Important for many reasons, but especially for keeping the system secure and helping society thrive.

It is strongly advised that you include the nutritious trimmings in this dish.

Trimmings:

One teaspoon of ground ginger

1 tsp of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

You only need a single clove of garlic (ground) READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Trimmings:

One teaspoon of ground ginger

1 tsp of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

You only need a single clove of garlic (ground)

1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Instructions: Combine the garnishes so that they are uniform. If you prefer to make a double batch, simply keep in mind that it will need to be refrigerated for at least 5 days.

The foregoing amount is adequate for a single application, and it is recommended that it be applied several times a day. Stay in earlier than it is suggested.

Within a short period of time, you’ll see the most benefits. Both your blood pressure and cholesterol levels will decrease substantially.

 

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Continue Reading

Trending