Why donate blood?

Why donate blood?

There is tremendous demand for blood in hospitals. Many patients die because they are not able to cope with the loss of blood.

Blood you donate is used to:

• Replace blood lost during injury as in accidents.
• Replace blood loss during major surgeries
• Help patients with blood disorders like haemophilia, Von Willebrand’s disease survive.
• Help burns patients receive plasma, that may be critical for their survival.
• Raise haemoglobin levels ( through transfusions) in patients with chronic ailments like kidney diseases, cancer and anaemia.

Blood donation hardly makes a difference in terms of health to the donor, but it can help save the life of a patient.

Who can donate blood?

Some basic health conditions have to be met by donors:

A donor should :

• Be above 18 years and below 60 years of age.
• Have a haemoglobin count that is not less than 12.5 g/dl
• Weigh not less than 45 kgs
• Have normal body temperature at the time of donation
• Have normal BP at the time of donation
• Should be free of any disease at the time of donation

Who should not donate blood?

The following categories of people should avoid giving blood:

1. Pregnant or lactating women, or those who have recently had an abortion.
2. Persons who are on steroids, hormonal supplements or certain specified medication
3. Persons with multiple sexual partners or those who are addicted to drugs
4. Persons who have had an attack of infection like jaundice, rubella, typhoid or malaria.
5. Persons who have undergone surgery in the previous six months.
6. Persons who have consumed alcohol in the 24 hours prior to donation
7. Women should avoid donation during their menstruating period.
8. Those who have undergone various vaccinations should avoid donation for the corresponding period specified below:
   
   

   Type of Vaccine	The period in which donation should be avoided.
   Hepatitis B	6 months
   Live vaccines	2 weeks
   Killed vaccines	48 Hours
   Rabies	1 year

9. Persons with any systemic disease like heart disease, kidney disease, liver problems, blood disorders or asthma should NOT donate blood.
   
10. Persons suffering from infections transmitted through transfusions like HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis etc should Not donate blood.

How much blood is taken at the time of donation? How soon does the body make good this loss?

Only 350 ml of blood is taken at the time of donation. An average person has 5-6 litres of blood in the body.

In terms of volume the loss is corrected in 24-48 hours by the body. The red cell count is corrected in about 56 days.

How long does the process of donation take?

The actual bleeding time is about 5-6 minutes. There will be a medical check up before this and you will be advised some rest ( for 5-10 minutes) and given some refreshment after donation. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.

How often can one donate blood?

The minimum time advised between two donations is 3 months. This gap helps blood regain the normal haemoglobin count.

Are there any hazards in blood donation? What are the precautions that need to be taken?

Your health will not suffer because of the blood you have donated. In fact, the bone marrow is stimulated to produce new cells.

However if conditions are not hygienic, you may be exposed to infection.

Precaution: Be sure that disposable needles are used for bleeding.

What happens to the blood that is donated?

The blood is screened for the following diseases/infections:

• HIV
• Hepatitis B & C
• Syphilis
• Malaria

The blood is grouped and stored either as whole blood or as components like Packed red blood cells, plasma or platelets. This is then sent on demand to hospitals.

How is Blood Grouped?

Blood is composed of cells suspended in a liquid.
The liquid portion is the plasma, from which therapeutic fractions and derivatives are made.

Suspended in the plasma are three types of cells:
Red cells: These carry Oxygen
White cells: These fight infection
Platelets: These stop wounds bleeding

The most common type of grouping is the ABO grouping. Red Blood Cells have a protein coat on their surface which distinguishes them. According to this blood is divided into four groups:

A (A protein is present), B (B protein is present),AB (AB protein is present)and O ( No protein is present).

There are subtypes under this grouping ( listed as A1, A2, A1B or A2B…) some of which are quite rare.

Apart from this there is another protein which plays an important part in the grouping of blood. This is called the Rh factor. If this is present, the particular blood type is called positive. If it is absent, it is called negative. Thus we have the following broad categories:

A1 Negative
A1 Positive
A1B Negative
A1B Positive
A2 Negative
A2 Positive
A2B Negative
A2B Positive
B Negative
B Positive
O Negative
O Positive

Valentine's Day: Good For Your Heart's Health

Wining and dining has long been a Valentine Day's tradition, but now there may be more reasons to clink glasses.




The stuff of Valentine's day may be good for your heart in more ways than one - chocolate, red wine and expressions of love can in fact be good for your heart's health, latest researches show.

Chocoloate, red wine and love can play a role in keeping the blood flowing throughout the body. However, experts are not yet sure as to how they exactly boost physical fitness.

Cocoa Is Cool
"It seems a component in cocoa - flavonoids - can be heart healthful," says Susan Moores of American Dietetic Association in an online report.

"Flavonoids are antioxidants which also help lower the level of bad cholesterol and increase the amount of good cholesterol," says Moores.

Alcohol (in moderate amount) has a blood thining effect and that was found to be effective against stroke and heart disease, says another researcher Cynthia Sass in the report.

Building Positive Bonds
"The evidence is also very strong that good relationships have health benefits," says Blair Justice, professor emeritus, University of Texas School of Public Health.

However, Dr Samir Parikh, a psychiatrist says "happiness and good health is not day specific. Any celebration or happy event, a social gathering or fun and enjoyment with friends and family can keep a person stress free and his heart healthy."

Top 10 Foods for a Good Night's Sleep

What is the secret to getting a solid 7 to 8 hours of sleep? Head for the kitchen and enjoy one or two of these 10 foods. They relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones - serotonin and melatonin - flowing. Yawning yet?

Bananas. They're practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant.

Chamomile tea. The reason chamomile is such a staple of bedtime tea blends is its mild sedating effect - it's the perfect natural antidote for restless minds/bodies.

Warm milk. It's not a myth. Milk has some tryptophan - an amino acid that has a sedative - like effect - and calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan. Plus there's the psychological throw-back to infancy, when a warm bottle meant "relax, everything's fine."

Honey. Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that's linked to alertness.

Potatoes. A small baked spud won't overwhelm your GI tract, and it clears away acids that can interfere with yawn-inducing tryptophan. To up the soothing effects, mash it with warm milk.

Oatmeal. Oats are a rich source of sleep - inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy - plus if you've got the munchies, it's filling too.

Almonds. A handful of these heart-healthy nuts can be snooze-inducing, as they contain both tryptophan and a nice dose of muscle-relaxing magnesium.

Flaxseeds. When life goes awry and feeling down is keeping you up, try sprinkling 2 tablespoons of these healthy little seeds on your bedtime oatmeal. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a natural mood lifter.

Whole-wheat bread. A slice of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it's converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs "time to sleep."

Turkey. It's the most famous source of tryptophan, credited with all those Thanksgiving naps. But that's actually modern folklore. Tryptophan works when your stomach's basically empty, not overstuffed, and when there are some carbs around, not tons of protein. But put a lean slice or two on some whole-wheat bread mid-evening, and you've got one of the best sleep inducers in your kitchen.

For an extra treat, here's the ultimate sleep-inducing snack...

Lullaby Muffins
Makes 12 low-fat muffins
Between the bananas, the whole wheat, and the honeyed touch of sweetness, these muffins are practically an edible lullaby.
· 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 1 tablespoon baking powder
· 2 large, very ripe bananas
· 1/3 cup applesauce
· 1/4 cup honey
· 1/2 cup milk or soymilk

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine the flour (make sure it's whole-wheat pastry flour or you'll produce golf balls, not muffins), salt, and baking powder. In a blender, puree the bananas; add the applesauce, honey, and milk. Blend well. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups, pour in batter, and bake 30 minutes or until tops are lightly brown and slightly springy.

Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 119 calories; 1g fat; 2.5g protein; 27g carbohydrates; 10g sugars; 133mg sodium; 3g fiber; 35mg magnesium

Sex and Back Pain

Sex and Back Pain

Eight out of every 10 people experience back pain at some time in their lives, and an estimated 35 million Americans are hurting at any given moment. For many, this pain can interfere with a healthy sex life and lead to relationship problems.

A booklet and video, both entitled Sex and Back Pain, have been written and produced by Lauren Andrew Hebert, a physical therapist, to help individuals and couples find solutions to the physical, emotional - and sexual - challenges resulting from back pain. The video and book in tandem offer an easy-to-understand method for altering your positions to make sex more enjoyable.

Though the book and video might be useful, you should first get a medical examination to diagnose your problem. Once you've done that, follow your doctor's advice.

To understand the types and causes of back pain first requires a quick anatomy lesson. The spine is composed of 24 small bones, called vertebrae, that are stacked on top of each other. They meet at facet joints, which are very sensitive and easily sprained. The vertebrae each have a hollow core through which the spinal cord passes. A complex network of nerves serving the entire body spreads out from the spinal cord from between the vertebrae. The spaces between the vertebrae are filled by disks, which are tough fibrous sacs filled with a jelly-like substance that act as shock absorbers for the spine.

Injury and stress can lead to pulled muscles, damaged joints, bulging or ruptured disks and/or pinched nerves. Though there are myriad reasons for and descriptions of back pain, they can be placed into four broad categories as follow:

• Brittle Back, which is an advanced state of painfulness that tolerates very little movement of any kind
• Flexion Principle, which simply means that it hurts less to bend forward (flexion) and hurts more to bend backward
• Extension Principle, which means that it hurts less to bend backward (extension) and more to bend forward
• One-Sided Back Pain, which means back problems affect only one side of the spine

For each of these conditions, the video and booklet describe positions that can help make sex more enjoyable for the partner with back pain. Hebert suggests that any sexual activity can be made more pleasurable by preceding it with a gentle massage, a hot bath or shower, or the application of ice. Those techniques relax the muscles and ease pain. Hebert admits that certain techniques may not be right for everyone. "If you find yourself not liking some of the suggestions we make, that's fine," the video explains. "You may have tried something similar and found it unpleasant, but try to keep an open mind and be ready to try something new - even if you think it odd or unusual. It may end up being very enjoyable, and it may help you avoid back pain."

Techniques Described

Brittle back pain offers the most serious challenge. Hebert suggests that a person with this condition should lay on his or her back on a firm surface with pillows supporting the knees and head. Some find it comfortable to have a small hand towel rolled or folded and placed under the lower back. A position with both partners on their sides also is comfortable for some. The partner with the brittle back should take a passive role in love-making, with the other partner proceeding to introduce stimulation in a very relaxed, non-rushed manner. "Actual genital intercourse may not be tolerated by some people with a very brittle back," Hebert says. "These people need to use other sexual techniques that do not risk their back." Those techniques could include touching, massage, oral sex, mutual masturbation and other erotic play.

A person with Flexion Principle back pain wants to find positions that allow for the forward bending of the back. For a woman with this kind of back pain, comfortable positions may include the missionary position with her legs bent toward her chest. Another position involves sitting on the edge of a chair or sofa while her partner kneels between her legs to stimulate or enter her. For a man with this type of back pain, the missionary position may not be tolerated. He may be more comfortable entering his partner from behind as they both kneel on the bed. Or, she can kneel on the edge of the bed, facing in, while he enters from behind - being able to bend forward as he stands.

A person with Extension Principle back pains will want to use positions that support the arching of the lower back. To help a man with this type of back pain, a woman can bend her knees toward her chest while in the missionary position, or she can straddle him while he lies on his back with a pillow under his lower back or sits in a sturdy chair. A woman with this type of back pain may feel more comfortable lying on her stomach with a pillow under her chest, allowing her partner to enter her from behind. The woman may sit on her partner's lap as he sits in a chair, so she can control the position of her lower back and her movement.

Persons with one-side back pain generally feel better in any position in which they can bend one leg, or with both partners lying on their sides.

The Key is Communication

Because pain is invisible, it is often hard for a partner to understand what his or her partner is experiencing, Hebert said. "Back pain starts as a physical symptom, but when the pain is prolonged or severe, it frequently leads to emotional complications like depression, anger and frustration," states one passage from the video. These same symptoms can show up in the partner of the pain sufferer. "This tension between you and the people around you, which is caused by physical pain, can have a negative impact on your relationship." One wife of a man with back pain urges partners to communicate with each other "because the person who is not injured is feeling pain in the same kind of frustrating way that the injured person is feeling it." Another woman said she felt "a certain amount of resentment" toward her partner because she thought "maybe this was an excuse not to be close to me." Trying different positions suggested by Hebert was "a mutual experience of exploration that resulted in our having a sexual relationship like we had never had before."

A counselor on the video reminds partners to "understand ahead of time that you will experience difficulties and frustrations." She urges partners to plan their response to pain so it won't take them by surprise and lead to more anger and frustration. Hebert sums it up this way: "You can use relaxed attitudes, more open communications and new approaches to enjoying sex - not only to recover what you have lost but also to build a better sex life than you had before your back problem!"

What causes back pain?

Injury, wear and tear and the normal ageing process are by far the most common causes of back pain.

• Muscle sprains and strains
  In 95 percent of cases of back pain, the cause is linked to the way the bones, ligaments and muscles of your back work together. Although the pain usually comes on suddenly, it is usually due to strain over time rather than the result of you overdoing it just once.

• Nerve problems
  Many people who have back pain often talk about having a "slipped disc". But disc problems actually aren't that common and never happen because the disc has "slipped". It has usually torn and become distorted (prolapsed or herniated) so that is presses against sensitive nerves from the spinal cord. Sometimes a prolapsed disc in your lower back can press on the exiting nerve that forms part of the sciatic nerve, causing pain that runs down one leg. Sometimes a prolapsed disc can also cause numbness or tingling in a small area of your leg or foot. This pain is known as sciatica.

  Triggers for back pain
  These include:
  

  • Poor posture.
  • Lack of exercise.
  • Standing or bending down for long periods.
  • Sitting in a chair that doesn't provide enough back support.
  • Sleeping on a mattress that doesn't provide enough back support.
  • Lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are simply too heavy, or going about these tasks in the wrong way.
  • A trip or a fall.

  Other conditions

  Most attacks of back pain are not caused by a serious medical condition and last only a few days, subsiding as the body heals. However if your pain prompts you to seek help from your doctor, he or she may want to rule out any one of the following:

  • Osteoarthritis
    This condition is a long-term degeneration of the joints, which makes them less able to withstand stress. It's a wear-and-tear problem that affects most of us as we get older.

  • Inflammatory diseases
    There are many inflammatory diseases (for example, ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis) that cause joints to become inflamed and seize up. These diseases can either directly affect the joints in the back, or cause problems with other joints that lead to pain in the back.

  • Osteoporosis
    This condition causes bones to become fragile and brittle so they fracture easily. The bones of the back and neck are often affected and can become compressed. Fractures due to osteoporosis can lead to changes in posture (for example, developing a stoop or Dowager's hump in your back), muscle weakness, loss of height and deformity of the area affected. Fractures can lead to long-term pain and disability. Osteoporosis is particularly common in women after menopause.

  • Infection and tumors
    Although they are not common causes of back pain, infections can cause pain when they involve the vertebrae, a condition called osteomyelitis, or when they involve the discs that cushion the vertebrae, which is called discitis. Tumors, too, are relatively rare causes of back pain. Occasionally, tumors begin in the back, but more often they appear in the back as a result of cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body.

  • Spondylolisthesis
    This condition occurs when one vertebra in the spinal column slips over the other. It may be the result of trauma (violent injury), a spinal fracture or arthritis.

  • Spondylolysis
    In this disorder there is a separation or break of the vertebral bone. It can occur as a result of long-term stress on the bones or because of an injury.

  • Emotional stress
    Although the causes of back pain are usually physical, it is important to know that emotional stress can play a role in how severe pain is and how long it lasts. Stress can affect the body in many ways, including causing back muscles to become tense and painful.

  • Sleeping problems
    Lack of sleep and a poor sleeping pattern can increase emotional stress levels and your perception of pain. Sleep is also important for the recovery and healing of inflamed body tissues.

  Who is at risk?

  Anyone can have back pain, although there are a number of factors that can increase your risk. They include:

  • Your age
    You are most likely to have back trouble between the ages of 30 and 50.

  • Your fitness
    Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. If you are fit, your muscles will be strong and flexible and your bones will be stronger, too.

  • What you eat
    A diet high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, can lead to weight gain and obesity, which can put stress on your back.

  • Heredity
    Some causes of back pain, including disc disease, may have a genetic component.

  • Occupational risk factors
    Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when this involves twisting or vibrating the spine, can lead to injury and back pain. A desk job may also lead to or contribute to pain, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair.

  • Cigarette smoking
    Although smoking may not directly cause back pain, it increases your risk of developing low back pain. For example, smoking may lead to pain by blocking your body's ability to deliver nutrients to the discs of the lower back. Or, repeated coughing due to heavy smoking may cause back pain.

    If you're a smoker you may be less physically fit or healthy than a non-smoker, which increases the likelihood you will develop back pain. Smoking can also slow healing, prolonging pain for people who have had back injuries, back surgery, or broken bones.

avoid Back Pain

avoid Back Pain


Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in this country. Eighty percent of the population will have some sort of serious back pain in their lives. In fact, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, work-related back injuries are the nation's number one occupational hazard.

It's important to see a doctor if you find yourself experiencing back pain often. A doctor can help determine of there are any underlying medical problems, such as injury or disease, that could be triggering the pain. (Read about other causes of "Back Pain") The Spine

Among some of the possibilities are:

* Injury to a disk, i.e. one of the cushioning pads between the bones of your back (Read about "The Spine")
* Muscle strain or injury (Read about "Strains")
* Diseases such as arthritis (Read about "Arthritis")

Posture
If it turns out there are no underlying medical problems, back pain can sometimes be helped by lifestyle changes. One thing that can affect the way your back feels is your posture. If, as you read this, you just straightened up - you're not alone. Many of us tend to slouch at our desks or chairs. Unfortunately, slouching and leaning for extended periods of time can cause back problems. So it's a good idea to make an effort to use chairs that give your back good support and to avoid slouching as much as possible.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says proper lifting techniques, such as bending and using the stronger muscles of your leg to lift instead of bending from the waist, are also important. It can also be a good idea to practice proper lifting at all times regardless of weight, so you get in the habit.

Weight loss and your back

Carrying around excess weight is another common cause of back discomfort, especially if you tend to put the excess weight on around your stomach. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, weight that hangs out in front can cause chronic spasms in the lower back region. Excess weight can also result in disk degeneration and arthritis in the spine. So if you are overweight (Read about "Obesity"), ask your doctor about a diet and exercise program to help you get back to your ideal weight. (Read about "Losing Weight")

Exercise and your back

Even if your weight is normal, your doctor may determine that your back discomfort problems can still be helped through exercise. In this case, he or she can suggest a regimen of strengthening and stretching exercises for both your back as well as for your abdominal muscles. The right exercises - done on a regular basis - can improve strength and flexibility and reduce your risk of more back problems later on.

For people who have no back problems - and want to keep things that way - exercise can be the key to help keep things running smoothly. The American Council on Exercise suggests gentle exercises such as yoga (Read about yoga in "CAM Therapies") or tai chi for flexibility. In addition, strength training exercises for your abdominal, back and leg muscles can also help to keep your back in good condition.

Make sure a trained physical therapist shows you the correct way to do specific exercises. Many exercises, such as sit-ups or back extensions, can actually do more harm than good when they're done incorrectly. Remember too that, in general, people should avoid exercises that cause excess discomfort. And always talk with your doctor first, especially if you're already experiencing back pain.