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Heathy Living
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Compiled and Coordinated by Edward
Arambewala |
Partner choosing the healthy way
GENERALLY in choosing a partner for marriage, we follow the
traditional way of matching horoscopes, and consulting Astrologers.
 But now the medical opinion is, that there is something more
important to be done if the marriage is going to be successful without
much problems, that is to check on the red cell blood count to see if
you really medically and in case you have some deficiency the remedial
action to be taken.
Here’s Dr. Rasanayaka M. Mudiyanse, Consultant Paediatrician, Base
Hospital Mawanella’s article on this. Looking for a Partner. Get your
blood tested to see whether you have small red cells.
Size of red blood cells in our blood can be measured by a special
equipment call haematological analyzer. Volume of normal red cell (Mean
Corpuscular Volume = MCV) vary from 80-110 flampto liters. When this
value is less than 80 fl, we call it microcytosis (small red cells).
Testing blood to see whether you have small red cells is more
important than matching horoscope or reading palms. If you have normal
size red cells go ahead and find a partner. It is OK even if she/he may
not have tested blood.
If you have small red cells you may be having iron deficiency. Nearly
20% of us have Iron deficiency which can cause lethargy and lack of
energy leading to poor efficiency.
In females when marry, they will have low birth weight babies.
Therefore they need treatment with iron. Go to the doctor he will
prescribe iron in correct dose. This treatment should be taken for 3
months to correct it. Recheck your blood once again after three months
of treatment.
If your red cells have come back to normal, go ahead and find your
partner and marry any body even who has not tested his or her blood.
If your red cells are still small a second possibility should be
considered. That is whether you are a thalassaemia trait. Don’t get
alarm, you don’t have thalassaemia. Even your children will not have
thalassaemia if you marry somebody with normal size red cells.
Therefore go ahead with the marriage if your proposed partner is
having normal size red cells.
At the same time consult a hospital doctor. He will recommend another
blood test which is done in Teaching Hospital Ragama to confirm whether
you are a thalassaemia trait. However this is not essential as long as
your partner is having normal size red cells.
If the special test done in Ragama confirm that you have thalassaemia
trait and if you marry somebody similar to you have thalassaemia trait
there is a high (25%) chance of your children getting thalassaemia.
What is thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is an inherited disease leading to breakdown of red
cells prematurely causing anaemia. If not treated they will die
prematurely. Regular monthly blood transfusion along with a daily
injection that is given to remove excess iron that accumulates in the
body can prolong their lives. This is a life long illness. Therefore
prevention is the best answer for this problem. Understanding of the
cause of the disease is important to prevent thalassaemia.
Babies inherit genes that will cause thalassaemia from their parents.
They get thalassaemia only if both parents give them thalassaemia genes.
if they inherit thalassaemia genes only from one parent they will not
have thalassaemia. Those inherit one thalassaemia gene from one of the
parent is call a thalassaemia trait. They have no problem with their
life.
But they will have to marry some body who does not carry thalassaemia
genes. This can be checked by testing blood before selecting a partner.
If you are a thalassaemia trait you should understand that marrying
another person with thalassaemia trait will leave you with a high risk
of having a baby with thalassaemia.
You can avoid this by making a wise decision; marry somebody with
normal size red cells. Those with normal size red cells are extremely
unlikely t have thalassaemia genes in them.
In conclusion to avoid having a baby with thalassaemia with almost
100% assurance only one of the partner should have normal size red
cells.
Invitees at Medical crossword Draw commend Its Health Education Role
All special invitees at the Health Watch Medical crossword No. 28
draw, held at Golden Key Eye of ENT Hospital, at Rajagiriya on Sunday
(Oct.14) commended the special health education role being played by the
Daily News medical page Health Watch through its medical crossword
feature where by the normal crossword future has been utilised to play a
health education role by training it into a medical crossword, where
readers interested in doing the crossword and win prizes in thousands of
rupees (Rs. 3000, Rs. 2000 and Rs. 1000) and medical nutrition packs in
consolation prizes have to read health articles based on the crossword
themes to compete in the draw and win prizes, thereby acquiring and
gaining in health knowledge whether they win or not, thereby gaining
health knowledge how to meet health problems, and pave the way to lead
healthy lives, and become healthy families.
Mr. Janak Bandarage a barister from Australia speaking at the
function said he came all the way from Australia to see a Buddhist monk
in Maharagama who was sick with a liver problem, he had been helping
this monk Ven. Rahula to carry on his health care work for patients at
the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.
Most of these patients were from the poor and average families of all
communities in the country, Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils from all over the
country including the North and East.
This monk had turned his temple almost adjoining the hospital into a
hospital like and caring for them for well over 25 years now. Lot of
people in areas close by and others were helping this monk. However, the
liver problem, which was a non-alcoholic condition had checked this
monk’s movements up and down the temple and the hospital.
Mr. Bandarage said when he read the Singapore doctors visit to
Colombo to participate at the College of physicians annual sessions and
that one of them was a liver transplant specialist. That interested him.
And he contacted the Health watch and with M. Arambewala made
arrangements for the doctor to visit the monk.
With the publicity given by the Health Watch for the Doctor’s visit
to see the monk, and the need for a liver transplant arrangements are
now being made to take the monk to Singapore. Lot of offers of help to
meet the cost of the operation which is around Rs. 26 million are being
received now.
All this wouldn’t have been possible if not for the Health Watch.
Which has a medical advisory panel, several professors and doctors are
in it. This page is widely read and appreciated by the people.
It has been playing a significant role in health education in novel
ways like the Medical Crossword, which no other paper has thought of. He
was extremely grateful to the Daily News Health page for coming to help
this Buddhist monk, in this hour of need.
Mr. Nishanta Dantanarayana (Executive Director Golden Key Hospital)
speaking at the event said, he fully endorsed the health education value
of the Heath Watch which Mr. Bandarage mentioned. In addition he wished
to say that he knew Mr. Arambewala who did the Health Watch page, and
his capabilities as a Journalist for some time.
He was happy to have been able to assist the Health Watch in this
Medical crossword draw. He would like to assure Daily News that this
hospital would always be ready to help Health Watch its health education
projects and activities.
Mr. Pramod de Silva (Editor Daily News) while thanking Golden Key
Hospital Executive Director Mr. Nishanta Dantanarayana, Medical Director
Dr. Janak Weeratunga, Marketing Manager Mr. Susantha Seneviratne for
hosting the Medical crossword draw and Nestle Healthcare Nutrition for
sponsoring this crossword in Daily News Medical page Health Watch said,
this crossword and the centenarian study in this page headed by Prof.
Colvin Gooneratna are the brainchild of senior journalist Edward
Arambewala who is conducting this page.
These two features are also the first of its kind introduced into the
English printed news media in this country. There being a Medical
Advisory panel for this page, the Medical Professor is widely supporting
this page too, and it is widely read by the public for the Health
education role it is playing and thus the health benefits the public
gains thereby.
There are also several other feature pages in the Daily News like the
women’s page which are being widely read by the public. While
congratulating the winners in this Crossword Draw he wished to thank all
those who sent entries for it.
Among others who spoke were Dr. Janaka Weeratunga and Mr. Mihiri
Wickremarachchi who made a short vedio presentation of how a cochlear
implantation was being done in the ear to correct sections hearing
defects. Kelum Palpola, final year medical student, Colombo Medical
Faculty delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the Medical Advisory
Panel of Health Watch.
Kandy Doctors’ Wives Association Appeals
Our Association counts a lifespan of twenty years, during which time,
we have achieved a great deal of satisfaction in alleviating hardships
faced by the less fortunate.
We are concerned that only a few of the doctors’ wives in Kandy
district are members of our Association. Perhaps they are not even aware
of the existence of the Association and the work that is being done. We
appeal for them to join us and help us to expand our social service
work.
Mrs. Soma Jayakody Vice-President KDWA 454/4A Piachaud gardens, Kandy.
On Chikengunya
Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius replies to Mrs. Kumudini Rambukwella of
Mawanella
I am sorry to hear that the three of you in your family are down with
Chickengunya as you say. First of all get the disease properly diagnosed
whether it is this disease or something else. As there are so many other
diseases which mimic the post Chikengunya, aches, pains and swellings.
I would advice you to consult a doctor with a clear history of the
illnesses of each of you.
Post chickengunya pains and aches could last for months and your
illness may not be chickengunya.
(Health Watch Medical Advisory Panel)
Science marches on excuse on bleeding piles mistake
Doctors and medical students were told haemoroid piles were bleeding
vericos veins in the anal region even though the bleeding blood was
blood red. But today we are being told and we have accepted bleeding
from the piles is from the anal cushions and that’s why the colour was
blood red.
However for 200 years our teachers were telling us that the blood was
from the veins despite its blood red colour. And still some don’t want
to admit that our past teachers had made a mistake. Their excuse is
science marches on.
Dr. Dennis J. Aloysius
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