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How to Act FAST When Someone is Having a Stroke

Seeing someone you love have a stroke is scary! The first thing you’d probably want to do is scream and call for help in a mess of panic. But the best thing you could do is keep calm and save their life. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is greatly reduced or cut off completely. This usually occurs from a blood clot or a vessel bursting. As you can imagine, you start to lose brain cells at this point and the sooner you can get help, the better your chances of avoiding serious lasting problems! Recognize the Symptoms There are some cases where a stroke will gradually develop so keep an eye out for these warning signs. Weakness/numbness in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side. Trouble understanding people/feeling confused Difficulty in speaking Blurred vision or trouble focusing Unsteady walking/balance Dizziness Severe headache But the quickest way to check for symptoms is the FAST test. Face: Ask the person to smile and check if one side of their face is dropping. Arms: Ask the person to raise up both arms and check if they are the same height or if they have difficulty holding one up. Speech: Ask them to repeat a short, simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Check if they are slurring their words and if you have a hard time understanding them. Time: If you notice any of these signs, call for professional help immediately. While Waiting for Help to Arrive Stay calm and keep yourself composed. You need to reassure the victim things will be ok. Remain with the person and make sure no additional harm comes to them like falling down. Gently assist the person to lie down on their side with their head slightly raised and supported. Loosen any restrictive clothing Take note of what time the stroke happened, any medications that you know the patient takes. Do not give any food, drink or medicine to the stroke victim. A stroke is a medical emergency so saying “time is of the essence” is clearly an understatement! The brain is dying! Every minute counts and any delay could put the victim at risk of long-term disability or death. The best thing you can do is to recognize the symptoms and respond FAST!

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February 05, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
Body
Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest – How to Tell the Difference

A heart attack and cardiac arrest are not the same! Please stop confusing the two! People need to take this fact seriously. A wrong diagnosis can lead to death! It’s time to lay the facts straight and differentiate between these two heart-stoppers. Heart Attack A heart attack is when the blood flow going towards the heart gets blocked. This can happen from a blood clot forming or the thickening of the vessel walls due to cholesterol build-up. If the block is not reopened quickly, that part of the heart starts to die. The longer it takes for someone to get help, the more damage the heart will take. Symptoms can be immediate but more often begin slowly and persist for hours, days or even weeks if you keep ignoring it. Cardiac Arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and just stops beating. The heart may not be a machine but it does have its own electricity which causes it to pump. Cardiac arrest usually happens suddenly without any warning signs. This malfunction causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) which disrupts the rhythm and eventually shuts it down. The heart ceases to pump blood to the brain, lungs, everywhere and seconds later the person loses consciousness and heartbeat. You can die within minutes if you don’t receive treatment. The Link Therefore, a heart attack is a “circulation” issue whereas cardiac arrest is an “electrical” issue. A heart attack is when the flow is cut off. Cardiac arrest is where your heart stops beating. If you have a heart attack, the heart does not necessarily stop beating but a heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest. This is why people get these two cases confused. You can get cardiac arrest from a heart attack but there are other factors that can cause cardiac arrest but a cardiac arrest would not cause a heart attack. What to Do? In both cases, call for medical emergency help immediately! Every minute counts! Call, explain the case and follow the instructions of the medical representative on what to do while waiting for help to arrive. This is essential to get medical help ASAP because they can begin treatment as soon as they arrive and along the way to the hospital. Make sure to note what happened, and the time because this is essential for the doctors to know for treatment. Now that you know that there really is a difference, please spread the word and consult with a cardiologist especially if you or a loved one is at risk. It could happen to anyone at any time and being aware of the signs and acting quickly will make the difference between life and death. Do your best to be proactive in educating yourself about your health, get regular health checks, eat healthy, be active as much as possible and don’t ignore signs that could mean your life.  

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February 05, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
Women's Health
Breast Cancer - Facts and Trivia!

How much do you know about breast cancer? Many changes occur during a person’s lifetime. Women especially have a lot to deal with; going through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. How the breasts look, the inner and outer structure and even the functions change all throughout life. It is so important for women to know what changes are normal and which aren’t. Ladies, here are some interesting facts for you! Gentlemen, well, take note. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death of women in the UAE. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. – Can you imagine that someone you care about could have breast cancer? What if it’s you? This is how common this killer is and you need to be vigilant about getting check-ups and pushing others as well. Over 50% of women don’t bother to check for breast cancer symptoms. – Many women are scared to know the truth; that they may have it. But, what if you don’t? When diagnosed early, 8 out of 10 breast cancer cases can be prevented. – Chances of survival go up to 98%! This is why it is so important to check early and on a regular basis. The sooner the better! Signs of Breast Cancer: Texture change, visible lump, lymph discharge, color change, nipple inversion, and dimpled skin. If you notice any of these signs, consult a Doctor as soon as you can! 80% of the time, breast lumps are benign. – When you menstruate, the texture of the breasts change like become soft, feel tender, start swelling, and this is completely normal. So always check for any permanent changes and get examined with a doctor. Both breasts are not always identical. It’s actually more ‘normal’ if they aren’t. Usually, one breast is about a fifth of a cup size larger than the other. Only be worried if there is a significant change. Breastfeeding helps you lower the risks of heart disease and cancer, lose weight, lower depression and attune you with your baby.  Sleeping on your stomach can change the shape of your breasts over time. Nothing overnight but if you kept sleeping face down for a few years it would change the shape. Best position would be on your side. Smoking can cause sagging. The protein, elastin is vital to the skin’s ability to stretch without tearing. Smoking breaks down this protein thus reducing the elasticity of the skin. But of course, smoking does more damage to your body than just this. Don’t smoke, stay perky! Beat the Odds – Talk to your doctor, maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and bring awareness to others! Empower yourself and other women! Beat breast cancer! There you go! What was your favorite fact? Did you learn something new today? Be sure to share in the comments!

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February 05, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
Women's Health
Fact vs Fiction - The Breast Cancer Edition

WARNING: This may blow your mind and question everything you know about breast cancer. Read on! It’s high time to go beyond just being aware and to now take action. We live in an age where you can get information anywhere – sometimes the wrong kind. Let’s look past all the pinkness and debunk some of those myths. The Story: Majority of breast cancer cases are caused by family history. In Truth: Only 5-10% are hereditary where the abnormal gene gets passed from parent to child. The other 90% of cases are due to environmental factors and lifestyle. The Story: You can’t do anything that lowers your risk of developing breast cancer. In Truth: As mentioned above, a large majority of cases are based on your lifestyle. You can reduce your risks by eating healthy, exercising regularly, avoiding toxins (alcohol, smoking, etc.) self-checks and getting regular check-ups with your gynecologist. The Story: Wearing a bra can cause you to develop breast cancer. In Truth: There is no link. Bra, no bra, there is no real difference. A scientific study was done to check and found that there was no direct relation.  The Story: Getting a regular mammogram will prevent breast cancer. In Truth: A mammogram is an x-ray, not a treatment. While it doesn’t provide a cure, getting it done regularly can save your life through early detection when the cancer is more treatable. The Story: Mammogram radiation can cause breast cancer to spread. In Truth: While there is some radiation, the amount doesn’t pose any harm. According to the National Cancer Institute, “The benefits of mammography, however, nearly always outweigh the potential harm from radiation exposure. Mammograms require very small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this radiation exposure is extremely low.” The Story: Antiperspirants (deodorants) can cause breast cancer: In Truth: There is no relation. Whatever you’ve heard about toxin buildup, clogged pores, aluminum exposure is not based on scientific evidence. Studies have been done and nothing has come up so far. The Story: If you find a lump in your breast, it means you have cancer. In Truth: Only a few lumps turn out to be cancer. The breasts go through changes all through your life whether it’s menstruation, pregnancy or menopause change is normal. But if you find a persist lump after having your period or pain or unusual changes, get checked by a gynecologist as soon as you can. The Story: Men can’t get breast cancer. In Truth: Men still have breasts. Albeit flat, they can still get breast cancer although the percentage is still significantly smaller compared to women. Just for the record, these are just some of the rumors flying around but in the end, it’s up to you to educate yourself and spread the truth. When it comes to something as serious like cancer, there’s no room for false information. People’s lives are on the line – possibly yours. Visit a gynecologist and set the facts straight. So how many of these myths have you heard about? How many did you know were fake? Do you know any more misconceptions about breast cancer? Share your thoughts in the comment’s section below!  

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February 05, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
Women's Health
Detecting Breast Cancer

“Early detection saves lives!” How many times have you heard this line when it comes to breast cancer? Yes, it’s like a broken record repeating the same thing over and over again. But there is so much truth that it is constantly being emphasized! Why? Because so many women till this day aren’t bothering to get checked. Cancer in any shape and form is not something you can just simply ignore. The sooner you find any signs, and get diagnosed, the better your chances of getting successful treatment. This is why it is so important to be proactive & regularly check your breasts and have a gynecological exam as well. Check Yourself:  Ideally, you should know what they normally look and feel like so you can notice any changes. Once women hit puberty, the body goes through a lot of changes. Even before and during menstruation, there are changes which are normal, but once your cycles begin to become regular do a self-exam after each period to check if there is anything different. The American Cancer Society recommends to start checking in your 20s but it’s best if you talk with your doctor for the right time for you. When you do a self-check, it’s best to wait 3 to 5 days after your period because before you get it, your hormones change which causes temporary thickening in your breast which will eventually go away after you’re done. First, stand in front of a mirror. Start with checking for dimpling or any differences in terms of the shape or symmetry of your breasts. Next, using your fingers, apply light pressure on the surface and firm pressure in the deeper tissue and check for new or unusual lumps. Now, don’t panic, not every lump means cancer, in fact, the majority of them, are benign but you must have your doctor check. After that, check if there is any change in position or shape of your nipples and squeeze them gently – if there is any discharge, visit your doctor. Lastly, if you are still not sure if something feels different, have a self-exam with your gynecologist. Have a Mammogram Scan: A mammogram is an imaging test that is used to detect breast cancer. This is something you should discuss with your doctor. Usually, mammograms are done around your 40s, but if you have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you may need to start at a younger age. The mammogram can detect if there are any potentially risky lumps. If there are, your doctor will need to do a needle aspiration or surgical biopsy to collect and test the tissue for cancer cells. The Results: If it turns out that you do have breast cancer, the next step would be for you to discuss how far has the cancer spread and what treatments are available for your case. You will most likely need to do a number of other tests for the lymph nodes to detect the spread and what is the stage of cancer. Your gynecologist will go through with you through all these steps and find the best solution for you. When was the last time you got checked? Scratch that, have you ever gotten checked? Are you going to get checked soon? Comment below!  

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February 05, 2019
Lifeline Hospital
Health & Wellness Partner
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