Natural ways to treat hernias

By Li Zhixin

The first sign of a groin hernia is a swelling in the abdominal region. At first the discomfort may be easy to ignore, but the rupture can grow and cause the intestines to press painfully out of their cavity.

A hernia can be painful and embarrassing, and if left untreated it can develop malignant complications.

From an abdominal bulge

For Li Xiangzhi, a 35-year-old who has been weight training since 2008, routine exercise is a significant part of his life.

But this year, Li found himself developing an ache in his groin three times each week. The bouts of pain radiated into his stomach and were accompanied by nausea.

When he complained to his fitness instructor about the pain, he was assured that it was a minor muscle strain that would subside if he rested and avoided stress.

But as time went on, the possibility of muscle strain became less and less likely.

The pain began to come a few hours after exercise  and would pass after an hour or so. While not severe, Li described the pain as “inconvenient.”

Several weeks of physically demanding business trips brought the condition to a peak, and Li began to notice a moderately painful lump at the join of his scrotum and groin.

“It was very evident when I had sex. It was embarrassing, not to mention painful,” he said.

He went to the hospital to examine whether his testicles had any signs of damage, and it was then that his doctor informed him he had a groin hernia.

Groin hernias occur when intestinal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the inguinal canal, an opening between the layers of abdominal muscle in the groin area.

“Excessive pressure on the abdominal wall, such as the strain of heavy lifting, can cause a hernia,” said Wang Minggang, a doctor at Chao-yang Hospital. “Extra fat and thickness of the abdominal wall can keep hernias from forming, so obese men have a lower hernia risk than men who are thin.”

Hospitals deny HIV/AIDS patients access to treatment

By Han Manman

Ignorant doctors are denying treatment to patients with HIV/AIDS and preventing them from getting necessary care at hospitals, a new study released Tuesday by the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) found.

Conducted by China’s National Center for STD and AIDS Prevention and Control, the report said that HIV/AIDS patients encountered widespread difficulties in receiving medical services despite national regulations that clearly define their medical rights and forbid discrimination.

HIV/AIDS became a major problem in China in the 1990s, when hundreds of thousands of impoverished farmers in rural Henan Province contracted the disease during a botched blood-selling scheme. Today the virus is spread primarily through sexual contact.

A recent report by the Ministry of Health showed the annual death toll from AIDS on the mainland is surging. The disease has topped the list of the mainland’s most dangerous epidemic diseases for the past three years.

Government records show that 7,743 people died from AIDS in 2010, and 15,982 new AIDS patients were reported that year, up by 16.79 percent and 19.73 percent over 2009 respectively.

The ILO report said denial of surgery was one of the most pressing issues facing HIV-infected persons, who were also denied treatment for simpler procedures such as hemorrhoid removal and stitches.

At the news conference to unveil the report Tuesday, an HIV-positive patient who declined to be named said he was repeatedly denied medical care for a back problem at hospitals in both Tianjin and Beijing.

One doctor told him that surgery would be impossible because he would infect others during the procedure, the patient said.

NHS shamed over callous treatment of elderly

(Beijing Today website’s blog section does not represent any view of Beijing Today or its reporter. Anyone interested about the story can find the original text from the link above the article. The site’s blog section aims to introducing expat blogs in China to more Chinese readers as 50 percent of Beijing Today readership remain young Chinese who have experience of living abroad, white colors or school students. Blogger who does not want his or her story linked at Beijing Today’s website, please email to info@beijingtoday.com.cn to take down the stories. )

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8324569/NHS-shamed-over-callous-treatment-of-elderly.html#

(Telegraph)-The National Health Service is today condemned over its inhumane treatment of elderly patients in an official report that finds hospitals are failing to meet “even the most basic standards of care” for the over-65s.

The reasonable expectation that an older person or their family may have of dignified, pain-free end of life care in clean surroundings in hospital is not being fulfilled. Instead, these accounts present a picture of NHS provision that is failing to meet even the most basic standards of care.

“These often harrowing accounts should cause every member of NHS staff who reads this report to pause and ask themselves if any of their patients could suffer in the same way.

“I know from my caseload that in many cases, the answer must be ‘yes’.”

Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said: “The inhumane treatment of older people described in this report is sickening and should send shock waves through the NHS and Government.

“It’s difficult to imagine us allowing any other group of people to suffer this indignity and neglect, yet we know this is just the tip of the iceberg. Appalling treatment of older people in the health service is far too common.”

Under Labour, health spending in England tripled to reach more than £100  billion a year. A new “NHS Constitution” set out the service’s commitment to human rights, high-quality care and respect for patients and their families.

Yet the Ombudsman said her office’s investigations into the cases of 10 people over 65, which took place between 2009 and last year, showed the “stark contrast” between the NHS’s stated principles and the treatment patients received.

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Breathe easier, even with allergic rhinitis

By Han Manman

Allergic rhinitis is a seasonal woe for many, but for others it’s a year-round hassle. The condition has been linked to asthma, sinusitis and other more serious problems.

If you are one of the unlucky people with allergies, it is essential that you learn to cope with the problem by avoiding exposure to any triggers.

Chinese doctors say summer is the best season to begin dealing with the problem. 

How to self-diagnose

Allergic rhinitis is easily confused with the common cold, but there are a few ways to differentiate the two, said Feng Wenfeng, director of the ear, nose and throat department at Beijing Tianan Chinese Medicine Hospital.

Allergic rhinitis can last for more than eight to 10 days, whereas a common cold will end within a week, he said.

“If every spring and summer your nose runs, your eyes itch and water and you sneeze all day, you probably have allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever,” Feng said. 

She said the classic symptoms include sneezing, nasal itch and congestion, along with thin, watery nasal discharge.

A sore throat may also be present due to a combination of post-nasal drip and excessive mouth breathing necessitated by nasal obstruction. Eyes are sometimes involved and can itch, sting and tear.

Itching on the roof of the mouth and in the ears, ears that feel clogged, mild dizziness, headache and general exhaustion may accompany other symptoms.

Children with allergic rhinitis may sniff and snort in an effort to breathe freely. To relieve nasal itching, they may push up the tip of the nose with the back of the hand.

Doctors can be stuck off if they ignore the right to die, GMC to announce

(Telegraph)-Doctors could be struck off if they fail to respect the wishes of terminally ill patients who want to die by refusing treatment, the General Medical Council is to announce.

Who would take care of my welfare treatment?

 

Professor Zhang Zaiyuan remains hospitalized. Photo provided by China Youth Daily

 

By Zhao Hongyi

A Wuhan University professor has been the topic of many web forums since his employer repossessed his apartment and refused to pay his hospital bills.

Zhang Zaiyuan obtained his Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Tokyo in the early 1990s, worked at the University of Hong Kong in 1997 and returned to China to work at the University of Wuhan as dean of its College of Architecture in 2005.

In 2006, Zhang was diagnosed with a rare nerve disease and was hospitalized. After years of treatment, his illness is worsening and he can no longer breathe without mechanical aid.

The university terminated his contract on April 30, ended its support of his medical treatment and repossessed his apartment.

Many netizens aware of the case have pointed to the country’s employment laws, condemning the university and taking up donations for the professor.

But the university countered that Zhang was not a permanent employee. It paid 686,000 yuan in medical expenses and gave 165,000 yuan to his family since 2006.

A spokesman for the university said Zhang’s contract required him to spend more than 120 days in the university as an employeeto receive health coverage and an apartment.

He was first diagnosed with the illness in 2006. “Even then, the university continued paying his salary and medical expenses,” the spokesman said.

The reason they declared the contract void on April 30 was that it was the expiration date, he said. “But we have continued to support the professor.”

Many were angry at the university’s attitude, but some newspapers said the professor was obligatd to pay his own way using the money he earned as salary.

The country is still in the throws of transition from a fully state-supported medical program to an individual employee benefits program. Many elderly and retired workers continue to receive the same benefits as when they were first contracted.

“In professor Zhang’s case, he should participate in the new national welfare network, either on his own or with the aid of the univeity,” Zhu Mingyong, a lawyer from the Beijing Zhongguan Law Office, said.

“The university should have informed him of this option and persuaded him to take it the day he signed on,” the lawyer said.

The Changsha Evening News criticized that tradition of relying on one’s employers to solve everything. “Times have changed!” its editorial said.

The university said it sympathizes with the professor, but it would have preferred he turned to them for help rather than to the Internet. “We’ll continue to support him because it is our moral imperative,” the school’s spokesman said.

Microsoft co-founder Allen diagnosed with cancer

(Reuters) – Microsoft Corp co-founder Paul Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and has begun treatment, a spokesman for his investment company said on Monday.

Employees of Vulcan Inc, which Allen formed in 1986 to manage his business dealings and philanthropic activity, were informed of Allen’s illness in a company e-mail on Monday.

“He’s feeling pretty good, he’s remaining very active at Vulcan and his other holdings and interests and he has no plans to cut back on any of that,” said Vulcan spokesman David Postman.

Postman said Allen’s diagnosis was recent and that treatment has already begun.

Allen, the 32nd richest person in the world according to Forbes magazine, co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates and resigned as an executive in 1983. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1983 but his cancer was successfully treated.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, which is the body’s disease-fighting network. It is a far more common disease than the related but distinct Hodgkin’s.

In 2009 there were nearly 66,000 new cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 19,500 deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Through Vulcan, Allen has been a high-profile investor in his home town of Seattle.

He owns the Seattle Seahawks American football team and is a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders soccer team. He created the Experience Music Project pop museum in the city and is leading the development of a run-down area near Seattle’s Lake Union into a center for biotech research.

Allen is also chairman of cable company Charter Communications Inc.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5AG06I20091117

Keeping kids safe from lead

By Wang Dong

Up to 200 children were diagnosed with lead poisoning in Yunnan Province in the third of a series of cases in the country this month, the China Daily reported on Monday.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that was used for many years in products found in and around the home. However, it is toxic to everyone, and expecially so to young children. Parents should be aware of the damage lead poisoning can cause and prevent it in advance.

Poisoning symptoms

“Children under six are most at risk of developing problems from lead poisoning, as their smaller, growing bodies make them more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead,” said Dai Yaohu director of the China Children Healthcare Service Center.

After being ingested or inhaled, lead enters the bloodstream and is absorbed and stored in many tissues and organs, including the liver, kidneys, brain, teeth and bones, she said.

High levels of lead can cause serious health problems in children. Lead poisoning can affect the brain and central nervous system causing headaches, memory problems, reduced coordination, learning disabilities, irritability, hyperactivity, increased sleep, decreased activity, fatigue, hearing loss, slow reflexes, weakness, seizure, coma and retardation.

Children’s gastrointestinal and blood systems can also be affecte by lead poisoning. Constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss and anemia are common symptoms.

But not all children with lead poisoning are symptomatic. Blood tests are used to screen for lead poisoning. The normal lead content ranges from zero to 100 micrograms per liter of blood. Any concentration greater than 100 micrograms is excessive, and beyond 200 is severe.

How it occurs

“Lead can be inhaled, igested or absorbed through the skin,” Dai said. “The main pathway for young children is via ingestion of dust and soil due to their normal hand-to-mouth activity.

The metal can be found in many common objects:

1. Lead-based paint
The use of lead-based paints for new homes and household furniture can cause serious poisoning both in children and adults. Lead-based paint is common on the walls and woodwork of many older homes and apartments. Most lead poisoning in children results from eating flecks of crumbling lead-based paint. Glazes found on some pottery and porcelain also can contain lead that can leach into food. It may be found in toys, jewelry and hobby and sports equipment.

2. Soil
Contaminated soil is common alongside busy streets. Lead particles that settle on the soil from gasoline or paint can last for years. Lead-contaminated soil is still a major problem around highways and in some urban settings.

3. Water
Lead pipes, brass plumbing fixtures and copper pipes soldered with lead can release lead particles into tap water.

4. Industrial wastes
Industrial waste, especially from lead mining, smelting, refining or manufacturing industries, is one major cause of lead poisoning, as is the atmospheric fallout of nearby industries.

5. Food
Eggs, fruit and vegetables grown near high-traffic areas or factories which work with lead often become contaminated. Food stored in bowls glazed or painted with lead, or sealed in a lead can, is always contaminated.

6. Household dust
Household dust can contain lead from paint or soil brought in from outside.

Prevention

These tips can help reduce the risk of lead poisoning:

1. Clean hands frequently. Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat and before nap time and bedtime.Trim their nails frequently, as lead-contaminated dust often hides under the nail. Discourage them from putting their hands or other objects into their mouths.

2. Keep your home and family clean. Clean floors, window frames, windowsills and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge or paper towel with warm water and a general all-purpose cleaner or cleaner made specifically for lead. Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys and stuffed animals regularly.

3. Know where your children play. Keep them away from busy roads and the undersides of overpasses.

4. Eat right. If children are exposed to lead, good nutrition can reduce the amount that will actually be absorbed in the body. Ensure that their diets are rich in iron and calcium. Eat more meat, dairy products and eggs. Eat less food that is likely to be contaminated with lead, like popcorn and preserved eggs.

5. Avoid lead objects. Eliminate lead-containing objects, such as blinds and jewelry, from the home and vacuum frequently. Do not buy porcelain from street vendors, as the products may contain lead. Never use newspapers to wrap food.

6. Don’t smoke. Lead is a contaminant in cigarette smoke. Children who inhale smoke are at great risk of lead poisoning.

7. Be wary of old plumbing. In houses with lead pipes and solder, let cold water run from the faucet for a minute before drinking it. If possible, drink bottled water instead. Hot water absorbs more lead than cold water, so never use hot tap water when preparing meals.

Treatment

Treatment for lead poisoning varies depending on how much lead is in the blood. The first step in treatment is to remove the source of contamination. If you cannot remove the lead from your environment, you can at least reduce how often you come in contact with it.

For children with low lead levels, simply avoiding exposure may be enough. Gradually, as the body naturally eliminates the lead, its presence will fall.

Those with extremely high lead levels must be hospitalized to receive a medication called a chelating agent, which chemically binds with lead. The medication is delivered intravenously and helps the body to eliminate the lead more quickly.