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What is Gout ?

Gout is a joint condition and a type of arthritis. it attacks single joints, especially the big toe, if left untreated an acute attack will subside in week or two, but gout is prone to recurrence.
What are the risk factors of gout ? High blood uric acid levels, High blood pressure, Obesity, Alcohol consumption. What causes gout ? Gout is usually associated with an excessive intake of rich foods and alcohol. it is associated with high blood Ulric acid levels. both genetic and environmental factors appear to influence the incidence of gout. about a quarter of gout patients' relatives will also have high uric acid levels. What is uric acid ? Uric acid is a metabolite of purine. purine can be found in foods. high levels occur in the blood when the body produces too much uric acid and or the kidneys cannot eliminate enough of it uric acid levels will also increase if you are fasting. uric acid is not very soluble in water and can crystallise in the joints, casing inflammation and gout. What is the normal levels of blood uric acid ? Men...232..494..MMOL...3..9..8..3..mg/L Women...140..340..MMOL..2.3..5.7mg/L.
Gout is more likely to occur at uric acid levels greater than this. however, a person may have normal uric acid levels and still develop gout, . What are the consequences of high uric acid levels ?  Kidney or urinary tract stones, kidney damage.. What is the treatment for gout ? Low purin diet, Low purine diet with medication.

How should I control my diet.

Suitable foods..Fresh fruits and vegetable > except those listed below.
peanuts, milk and milk products, egg, in moderation, white bread, rice and plain noodles.
Foods to be taken in moderation....Meat, fish, poultry, scallop, lobster, mussel, oyster, crayfish.sunflower seeds.
dry lentils,chickpeas, peanuts, peas,oatmeal. fruits, banana, jack fruit. spinach, capsicum, sweetcorn, cauliflower, chives, parsley, bean sprouts, leeks, broccoli.
Foods highest in purine-Avoid....Yeast extracts e.g Marmite. Animal organs such as live, kidney, heat, brains. Small fish, e.g. sprat,ikan Billi's, sardine, herring,trout, tuna, canned fish, fish roe, dried mushrooms, broths, meat stocks, eg. chicken essence, bak kut teh, gravies, stock cubes, soy bean and related products eg. bean curd, bean paste, soya bean milk, tempeh.
In Addition...Please eat balanced meals that include a variety of food. decrease the amount of fat and oil used in your meals as the items will increase uric acid production. get most of your energy from starchy foods. use sugar in moderation especially if you are overweight. Avoid alcohol as it will increase uric acid production. if you wish to drink, please discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor. take prescribed medication according to your doctor's instruction. maintain your ideal body weight and be more active as far as possible. do not follow a crash diet even if you are very overweight, as it can bring on an attack of gout. avoid a high protein diet to lose weight as this may trigger or aggravate a gout attack. Drink 2-3 litres...10-15 glasses...of water daily. Do simple movements to prevent stiffness but do not over exercise or strain the affected joint. Proper dietary management with or without medication is essential to avoid further attacks and prevent complication.

Diarrhoea and Vomiting Advice

Drink lots of water and clear fluids such as barley water, glucose drink, boiled rice water and clear soup. Water intake is sufficient if the urine is clear and the tongue wet. if vomiting, take fluids slowly. in children, start with small sips and gradually increase the amount. if vomiting occurs, rest for a while and then try again. About 8 hours after vomiting has stopped, gradually return to soft diet. Avoid milk, cream and dairy products for the next few days. Consult a doctor if.....the diarrhoea or vomiting increases in frequency or amount. diarrhoea and vomiting does not improve after 24 hours. the stool has blood in it. there is decreased urination, dry mouth and lethargy.

What are the complication of DVT



DVT  is a serious condition because the blood clot that is formed in your leg can break loose and travel to your lungs. This will result in pulmonary embolism PE which is a blockage of the pulmonary artery pulmonary embolism can be life threatening. the symptoms for pulmonary embolism includes shortness of breath, chest pain, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate and confusion. Pulmonary embolism the blood clot from the leg vein travel to the heart and is lodged inside a blood vessel in the lungs, blocking blood supply this is a potentially fatal emergency. blood clot inside a lung blood vessel blocking the blood supply.

Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT Prophylaxis.



Deep vein thrombosis ( DVT ) is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, commonly located in the calf or thigh. DVT occurs when the blood clot either partially or completely blocks the flow of blood in the vein.
When the circulation of the blood slows down due to illness, injury, or immobility, there is a tendency for blood to accumulate or "Pool " A static pool of blood offers an ideal environment for clot formation and poses a potential risk for DVT. The risk of developing DVT during hospitalisation is 10 - 15 % in hip facture patients.
Who are at risk ?...Elderly person at 70 years old. Obese person  BMI 25. Bedridden persons. Patients with these conditions are at risk : Spinal cord injury - Cancer, stroke - Heart attack. Patients who have undergone abdominal or pelvic surgery and orthopaedic surgeries, particularly, hip fracture surgery, total hip or knee replacement. pregnant women. Women on oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy if DVT occurs, a person will experience pain in the leg. This will be accompanied by redness, tenderness and sudden swelling of the leg. the leg will also be warm.DVT is a serious condition because the blood clot that is formed in your leg can breaks loose and travel to your lungs. This will result in pulmonary embolism PE which is a blockage of the pulmonary artery. pulmonary embolism can be life threatening. The symptoms for pulmonary embolism includes shortness of breath, chest pain low blood pressure, rapid heart rate and confusion. How to prevent DVT can be prevented. if you are having a surgery that puts you at risk of developing DVT, you will be given mechanical prophylaxis and or chemical prophylaxis. Chemical prophylaxis- involves using medications to prevent the blood from clotting. Mechanical prophylaxis-involves using intermittent pneumatic compression devices that are placed on your legs. this device will in crease blood circulation in the deep veins and stimulates fibrinolysis-the body's natural method for preventing and breaking down clots. To use mechanical prophylaxis effectively to prevent DVT it is important to use the device continuously. Usually you will be started on the pneumatic compression device when you are admitted for the surgery. it is essential that you continue to use this device during and after the surgery. Do not remove the device by yourself. remind the nurses to put it back after it is disconnected ( eg. after a visit to the toilet). inform doctors or nurses if you experience any pain, redness, tenderness or swelling in your legs. Check with doctors or nurses on when you can remove the device. In addition to mechanical or chemical prophylaxis to prevent DVT you will also benefit from the following. Elevating your feet on a pillow when resting on the bed to promote blood flow. Try to move. if you are on bed rest because of surgery the sooner you get moving ( eg. sit out of bed, walking ) the less likely blood clots will develop. Drink lots of water.

Advice For Using Crutches.

You have been given crutches so that you will not bear weight on your injured leg while it is healing.
Do not wear slippers while using crutches. Wear comfortable low heel shoes
Do not place tips of the crutches too close to your feet when walking. 
It could result in a loss of balance.
Put your weight on the hand grips. lift your good leg and swing forward through the crutches placing your weight on your good leg. Take small steps each time.
Do not stand on your injured leg until your doctor give approval. 
Remove any loose rugs or mats from the floor and do not walk on wet or waxed floors. 
Be cautious when climbing stairs.
Consult a doctor if you experience a tingling sensation in your arms or hands

Diuretic and some psychiatric drugs.

Diuretic and some psychiatric drugs can prevent the body from losing heat quickly.
People who are obese or old have to be particularly careful not to dehydrate or overheat. old people may not be able to move about easily, turn on the fan or air-conditioner when the weather gets too hot, or drink as frequently as they should. but drinking enough water and sitting in cool environment are important in hot weather.
When training for a marathon be sure to practise outside to get used to weather conditions. running in the gym is vastly different from running in hot, humid weather. While proper hydration is crucial before marathons or any exercise, water may not be best as it doesn't help replace the salt lost through sweating as imbalance of salt leads to cramps or weakness of the arms. isotonic drink may be better.Avoid exercise when feeling unwell, as it can make you more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion. A quick way of cooling the body is to dip a sponge or towel in cold water and press it on the neck, armpits and groin area. if heat symptoms persist, seek medical attention immediately. Thirst is not as good an indicator of dehydration as the colour of the urine. A clear colour means the body is well hydrated. People suffering from multiple long term medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes should get out of saunas, hot tubs or steam rooms when they feel giddy or faint, have a headache, nausea or cramps it's best to go with someone who is able to help you if you suddenly feel sick.

Call 995 for an ambulance.

The paramedics are trained to stabilise the patients condition with medication, and the ambulance is equipped with a defibrillator to resuscitate the patient should the heart stop en route.
Give clear instruction to the paramedics on finding the patients home, have someone wait at a visible location to guide the paramedics and hold the lift open if the patient live in a high- rise building, so as to save time. Ready the patients personal effects such as personal identification, medical benefit identification, insurance and other documents for admission. Have the patient seated in a location where he can be transferred easily to a stretcher. Give a clear account of what happened, let the paramedics know about any drug allergies or past medical history. Drive or take public transport to the hospital, even if the patient lives nearby. the patients condition may deteriorate en route, and it is safer to wait for an ambulance. ambulances also get priority on arriving at A & E. ignore the pain get anxious about time wasted when the paramedics perform an on-site ECG.

Preventing Malaria

Malaria is the world's most important parasitic disease, accounting for an estimated 3 million cases and 1.5 to 2.7 million deaths annually. many people acquire malaria during travel to tropical and subtropical countries. Malaria occurs in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, south and southeast Asia, Mexico, Haiti, central and south America, papua new guinea and the Solomon islands.
The risk of acquiring malaria for travellers depends mainly on specific risk behaviour e.g. rural travel, night-time exposure, unscreened accommodation. travel to areas with drug-resistant malaria. time of travel high or low transmission season.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria is a disease that occurs when an infected anopheles mosquito bites a person and injects malaria parasites into the blood. Four species of malaria parasites can infect humans Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, p. ovale and p. malariae, plasmodium falciparum infection can result in rapid progression to life-threatening illness. about 1 to 2% of patients infected with falciparum malaria die. Symptoms of malaria are flu-like and may include fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, headache and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. Patients with falciparum malaria may develop renal failure, convulsions and coma. infection with P. vivax and P. ovale may remain dormant in the liver for many months, causing a reappearance of symptoms months or even years later. The period between a mosquito bites and the onset of symptoms of malaria is usually 7 to 21 days but this interval may be longer when the traveller has taken incomplete or inadequate malaria prevention measures. if a traveller develops fever during or after travel to malarious areas, medical help must be sought immediately to exclude malaria as a cause. A blood sample should be checked for malaria parasites.

Protection against malaria

Travellers can protect themselves by using anti- mosquito measures and taking drugs to prevent malaria.
Preventing mosquito bites. any measures that reduces the exposure to the evening and night time feeding female anopheles mosquito is the best way to prevent infection. Measures to avoid mosquito bites include > Use long sleeved clothing and long pants preferably light coloured if you're outdoors at night. Apply insect repellent containing 20 to 30% Deet N,N- diethyl-m-toluade to exposed skin. use mosquito net over the bed if your bedroom is not air-conditioned or screened, for additional protection, treat the mosquito net with the insecticide permethrin. spray permethrin or similar insecticide or light a mosquito coil which give out pyrethrum in the living or sleeping areas. Using antimalarial drugs>>>>

Using Antimalarial Drugs

Traveller to areas where malaria occurs should consult their doctor before departure. Drugs to prevent malaria are usually prescribed for travellers to malarious areas. an exact itinerary is necessary to decide the degree of protection required. The common drugs recommended for the prevention of malaria in travellers include> Mefloquine, Doxycycline, Chloroquine. Strict adherence to the recommended doses and schedule of the antimalarial drug prescribed is necessary for effective protection.
Take the tablet at the same day each week or at the same time each day. Take tablets after meals.
Take the recommended doses 1 to 2 weeks before travel with the exception of doxycycline which is started 1 day before travel, throughout the trip and for 4 weeks after leaving the malarious area.
Do not stop the tablets after arriving home as it is essential to complete the full dosage.
Side effects of antimalarial drugs. all medicines have side effects. mild nausea, occasional vomiting and giddiness are not adequate reasons for stopping the antimalarial drug. The seriousness of malaria warrants tolerating temporary side effects. However, if serious side effects occurs, the traveller should seek medical help and stop taking the antimalarial drug.

Prostate Cancer

The prostate which forms part of the male reproductive system, is a walnut sized gland located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder. it wraps around the urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder through the penis. The prostate requires mainly testosterone the male hormone to function properly. one of its functions is to produce fluid for semen to transport sperm during ejaculation. When prostate cells grow abnormally, the organ enlarges and pushes against the urethra and bladder, blocking the normal flow of urine. Cancer that begins in the prostate may remain in the prostate or spread to nearby lymph nodes. in some cases, it can even spread to the bones, bladder, rectum and other organs. Screening for prostate cancer is important,since the disease rarely shows any definitive signs in the early stages, as the disease progresses, however, prostate cancer patients may find themselves having to urinate more frequently and urgently, but with less urine or even blood in the urine.

A prostate enlarged by a tumour- the red area - can block the flow of urine......

Healthy foods + fruits /.@ Prevent Cancer

Asvocado  :Are high in vitamins, dietary fibre, potassium, folic acid and copper.
Broccoli  : Contains isothiocyantes which have been shown to encourage the body's production of cancer - prevent enzymes.
Pumpkins  : Contains alpha - carotene, a strong antioxidant that boosts immunity.
Asparagus : Full of Prevent - cancer compounds like selenium as well as vitamins A & C.
Turmeric : Contains cur cumin extracts which help alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Potatoes : Provide fuel for the body and are rich in immunity - boosting vitamin C.
Red Beans : Have a high antioxidant rating and can protect cell from free radicals which cause cancer.
Apple : Contain flavanoids and polyphenols which help fight cancers.

Medical Centre for international travellers

Sspecialists at the Medical Centre for international Travellers > At Changi General Hospital will be pleased to provide you with : Pre-Travel Advice Care
Vaccinations that are required or recommended for the country of travel.

Malaria prophylaxis / Prevention and treatment of Traveller's Diarrhoea.
Basic items to be included in the Travel Medical kit.
Post - Travel Care> Treatment for travellers who return with the following medical complaints >
Fever/ Diarrhoea for more than 48 hours/ Jaundice/ Rashes/ Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Protect Yourself Against AIDs and Other Sexully Transmitted Diseases

Avoid sexual contact with prostitutes and casual acquaintances. Remember, you cannot tell if someone is infected by their appearances.
Practise safe sex by using condoms correctly. Antibiotics do not prevent infection.
Remember to continue to take medication for malaria prophylaxis for as long as it is prescribed.
Consult your doctor immediately if you > feel unwell or have the following symptoms, fever, diarrhoea persisting for more than 48 hours, jaundice. dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, rashes.
Suspect that you have a sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes or AIDS.
Inform your doctor that you have been travelling abroad, including transit countries.

While.......you are abroad.

Be Careful of what you Eat Or Drink.> Follow the general rule >Boil it, Cooked it, Peel it......or forget it "
Drink water that has been boiled or purified with chlorine or iodine, or canned, bottled drink. Avoid tap water or ice cubes. Eat food that is  fully cooked and is still hot when served. Avoid seafood or meat that is raw or insufficiently cooked. Avoid cold dishes and salads. Eat only fruits and vegetables that you have peeled yourself. Avoid ice cream, puddings and anything prepared with unpasteurised milk.
Beware of Mosquitoes >Diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Japanese B Encephalitis are required if you are going to areas which have these infection. Always consult a doctor first if you plan to visit malaria endemic areas. pills for malaria prophylaxis may need to be taken. This medication should be consumed one week before departure, continued throughout the stay and for 30 days after returning to Singapore.
Protect Yourself Against Mosquito Bites.>Wear light coloured long-sleeved clothing and long pants when going out at night. Apply insect repellent containing 30% DEET /NN-diethyl-n-toluamide/ to exposed areas of the body. Sleep under a mosquito net, in an air-conditioned room or in a room where the windows are fitted with fine wire netting. Spray permethrin or similar insecticide in the room or burn pyrethroid mosquito coil before going to bed. Ultrasound devices are ineffective against mosquito bites.

Travelling...Healthy Tips for Travellers

Everyone enjoys a trip abroad but health problems can arise. These can range from a minor illness like Traveller' s diarrhoea" to more serious ones like cholera, typhoid, malaria, yellow fever & sexually transmitted diseases. illness & accidents spoil your holidays or business trips.

Prepare before you travel >Consult your doctor four to six weeks before departure about your fitness to travel and vaccination which may be required or recommended.
Prepare a Travel Medical Kit which may include >>insect repellent, Disinfectant, Plasters, bandages,
Suntan lotion ( at least sun protection factor 6 ) Chlorine tablets, Drugs like anti-diarrhoea pills, tablets for fever, colds, motion sickness, antibiotics for traveller's diarrhoea and painkillers. Thermometer, oral re- hydration salts, Regular medication for any chronic diseases e.g. diabetes and hypertension.
Do Not Plan to buy medicines abroad since the quality and combination of constituents may be an unpleasant surprise.