What About Brazil » health

Water never gets old

Thiago Prado — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:03:30 +0000

With proper care, water never gets ’old’, say experts.

When you leave a glass of water in the sink in the kitchen before leaving for work, why there are so many bubbles in the glass when we return home? Is it safe to drink “old” water? These are some of the most common questions in regard to water consumption. But there is no reason to worry. The water, in theory, never gets “old.”

The bubbles that appear are almost certainly air bubbles that escaped, as the cold water from the sink is heated and releases the gases dissolved in it. Furthermore, a few hours on the balcony can actually improve the taste of water, allowing the taste of chlorine in the water to dissipate, according to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).

A few hours out of the tap does not “age” the water that is clean. Thus, it does not become dangerous for consumption. However, policies on safe storage of water for an emergency, as well as common sense, suggests to cover the glass or container to avoid dust and other contaminants to settle on it.

The State University of Colorado says that when the water is properly stored in clean tanks and closed, it should be good forever. The usual recommendation is to store a gallon of water per person per day in case of emergency. The real danger is to put clean water in dirty tanks.

It is a good idea to use and replace stored water every six to twelve months, says the University, change the water as it “serves as an additional precaution against bacteria or viruses that develop in deposits, which may not have been fully or properly cleaned. “

Run away from the sun while exercising

Thiago Prado — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:48:50 +0000

The sunny days are a invitation to exercise outdoor. Although certain cares are very important to avoid problems such as cramps and infarcts.

Nothing more pleasant than running on the shore while enjoying the scenery and feeling the refreshing breeze. Any physical activity that is practiced in the hottest hours of the day makes a lot of hard to lose heat by sweating, especially if there is much moisture.

However, the body is already overheated because of climate, and is even hotter depending on the exercise itself. The result is a great loss of water and minerals, which gives rise to all sorts of trouble. For an idea, researchers from the University of Chicago in the U.S., checking out the reaction of the muscle exercises pulled under a temperature above 30 degrees. In the study, the volunteers ran in these conditions and, after a rest they were forbidden to take water. Result: their muscles showed less power to fire than when they were hydrated.

“The dehydration affects the functioning of the muscles. Then, the person may have sprains by not controlling the body properly, “says Paulo Roberto Santos-Silva, of the Group of physiologist of Sports Medicine, Hospital das Clinicas in Sao Paulo. After all, water and minerals are very important to the muscles. And with those two components missing, the legs do not respond as they should, culminating in stumbling and falling frequently, lead to a twist on the ankle, for example.

This imbalance of water and minerals also causes painful cramps – involuntary muscle contractions. Moreover, when the thermometer shoots, small problems, such as an edema. “With that, a minor injury may be worse without the person understands,” warns the orthopedist Ana Paula Simões, the Group of Sports Trauma of the Santa Casa da Misericordia de Sao Paulo.

Not only the motor system that suffers from the heat and physical activity. If, despite the hot sun, the person insist on not take a single break in training, there may be more serious situations. The first to fall is the heart. “Exercises are in very hot environments with which he beat faster, which can be complicated if the person has a problem,” says Ricardo Vivacqua Cardoso Costa, Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation ergometers and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology in Rio de January.

Even those who never had heart problems is hindered. Again, behind is excessive sweating, which is losing minerals – sometimes, they are important because they help regulate the heartbeats of the main muscle of the body. “In the absence of them, especially without the potassium, increases the risk of arrhythmia,” exemplifies Zogaib Paulo, physiologist at the Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP. This is without counting on the removal of water by excessive sweating has the power to – pasme! – Generate a clot. If he goes to the heart, the danger is of a heart attack. And if the clot that reaches the brain, a stroke.

Even though it is possible to prevent it. Just observe some basic recommendations. “In the extremely hot days, try not to work between 8am and 6pm hours,” Santos-Silva teaches. Thus, unless you force your body. It is also essential to remain well hydrated. The recommendation of experts is to take at least a glass of water every 20 minutes while working out. Only then the system of thermoregulation – responsible for the temperature of the body – is stable, preventing overheating. And always, always right, seek the guidance of a professional.

Following these strategies does not mean giving up the signs noted that the body emits when exceed the limits. “The first one is the dry mouth. In that case, stop the activity and drink more water, “says Emerson Silami Garcia, coordinator of the Group of thermoregulation and fatigue mechanisms of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). Another warning that the time to stop already behind are the dizziness. “They happen when the blood circulation can no longer meet the demand of the rest of the body while he is exercising. Then, on little blood to the brain, “explains Zogaib. Otherwise, just avoid synthetic fabrics – they do not absorb sweat and prevent the skin breathe – and get out there enjoying the delights of the summer in a mind to recommend under suitable temperature. That is, practicing physical activity.

Only 20% of the energy produced by the body is converted into motion. The rest turns into heat

COMPLIANCE WITH TIME
When the indicators of climate exceed the values below, avoid performing any physical activity

HEAT HUMIDITY *
30.0 …………. º C 90%
31.1 …………. º C 80%
32.2 …………. º C 70%
33.3 …………. º C 60%
34.4 …………. º C 55%
35.6 …………. º C 45%
36.7 …………. º C 40%

It is important to be vaccinated before travel

Thiago Prado — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:50:10 +0000

Get sick during a trip is certainly a loss: useless days in a hotel room, costs of doctors and medicines not expected, and more.

The medicine of the traveler today is a specialty that aims to guide, inform and protect the tourists and the communities that receive. The medical advice for the traveler must consist of a medical consultation, since personal factors interfere with the susceptibility of each (previous illnesses, family factors, vaccines received, etc.). That doctor, specializing in travel medicine, is who will relate personal risks and risks of each region of the globe, and than guided properly.

Get vaccinate is very important, warns against diseases that can be avoided. For each destination, a different orientation. Some vaccines may be mandatory, others recommended for each region of the world. It is important to be vaccinated in advance.

In addition to vaccines, the traveler must be informed of basic care to be taken in each of their destinations.

Many countries require international certificate of vaccination against certain diseases. The recommendation is that the tourist always contact the consulate or embassy of the country who want to visit to get these and other information. Countries such as Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela require the vaccine against yellow fever.

Tourists can be vaccinated in the Health section of the existing ports in some international airports, such as Guarulhos and Campinas in Sao Paulo and Galeao in Rio de Janeiro. Always check the hours of operation of the Ports of Health, not to run out the risk of running of vaccine, which prevents the entry into countries that require this procedure. Some vaccines must be taken in advance, such as yellow fever (ten days before the trip) and against hepatitis A (two doses in the range of a month). So people living in distant cities can be vaccinated at any post of vaccination and present proof on the Health of Ports, on boarding, to get the international certificate of vaccination.

Yellow fever, cholera, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis (a kind of yellow fever in Asia), polio, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, malaria. And you definitely do not want to bring home any of these diseases in your luggage, right? Make sure your travel destination is an outbreak of any of these ills and prevent with a vaccine at a health center or clinic for a vaccination. Some countries even require an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever. It is issued at ports, airports and borders. But you can take the dose at the clinic nearest to your home. It’s valid for ten years and needs to be taken ten days before boarding. No matter the destination, it is important to be in compliance with immunization schedule of the National Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health.

For more information about vaccination in Brazil:

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency)

Phone: 0800-644 0644

www.anvisa.gov.br

Condoms Vending Machines in Schools

Thiago Prado — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:34:28 +0000

The war against AIDS/HIV

The Minister of Health of Brazil, Jose Gomes Temporão, announced today the production of the first 400 machines for condoms that will be installed in public schools participating in the program Health and Prevention in Schools (HPS).

The announcement will be made at 10am, during the 7th Brazilian Congress on the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and AIDS, in Florianopolis. The meeting will last until Saturday, is sponsored by the National Program for STD / AIDS of the Ministry of Health.

The Congress will present controversial topics such as restricting the entry of foreigners with HIV in some countries and to provide treatment to patients of AIDS in Brazil, considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) leading provider of anti-retroviral drugs to Aids .