Stroke is a condition whereby blood vessel to the brain is blocked or ruptured. The brain tissue gets damaged because of lack of oxygen. When that part of brain tissue dies the function of that brain tissue will be lost. Among the main symptoms are fainting, unconsciousness and/or weakness of limbs.

Stroke is a devastating illness causing severe disability in adult. Hospital records show a progressive increase in stroke and death due to stroke at government hospitals. In Kuala Lumpur Hospital, 1000 stroke cases are seen per year with 30% – 35%, deaths due to stroke.

What causes stroke?

• Blood is brought to the brain by blood vessels called arteries.
• Thrombotic/ischaemic stroke occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked.
• Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery to the brain bursts.

Risks factors for getting stroke that cannot be controlled are :

• Age – the older you are, especially above 65, you are at higher risk to get stroke
• Gender- Men are at slightly higher risk to get stroke than women.
• Family history – A higher risk exists if you or your family has had a stroke or minor stroke (transient ischemic attack).

The factors that increase your risk of getting stroke are :

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Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya is virus (CHIKV) an insect-borne virus, of the genus, Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes.There have been recent outbreaks of CHIKV associated with severe morbidity. CHIKV causes an illness with symptoms similar to dengue fever. CHIKV manifests itself with an acute febrile phase of the illness lasts only two to five days. Followed by a prolonged arthralgic disease that affects the joints of the extremities. The pain associated with CHIKV infection of the joints persists for weeks or months.

Signs and Symptoms

The incubation period of chikungunya fever is usually 3-7 days. The symptoms are very similar to that of dengue, but unlike dengue, hemorrhagic or shock syndrome does not take place with chikungunya fever.  The infected person may experience the following symptoms:

• fever
• chills
• headache
• fatigue
• nausea
• vomiting
• muscle pain
• rash
• joint pain

Treatment

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Acupuncture originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese Medacine (TCM). Different types of acupuncture (Classical Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Korean acupuncture) are practiced and taught throughout the world.

While acupuncture has been a subject of active scientific research since the late 20th century, its effects are not well-understood, and it remains controversial among researchers and clinicians.The body of evidence remains inconclusive but is active and growing, and a 2007 review by Edzard Ernst and colleagues finds that the “emerging clinical evidence seems to imply that acupuncture is effective for some but not all conditions.”

The WHO, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Medical Association (AMA) and various government reports have all studied and commented on the efficacy (or lack thereof) of acupuncture. There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles, and that further research is appropriate.

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Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins; the term blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart. Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which historically used the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure . Today blood pressure values are still reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), though aneroid and electronic devices do not usemercury.

Basically blood circulation in the human body is managed by two different sets of blood vessels. High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a condition in which there is an elevation of pressure in the blood vessels of the systemic circulation. Then there is pulmonary hypertension which is similar but which is a much rarer disease, and which results from a constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs.

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Breast cancer is refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the cells of the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands, or the ducts, thepassages that drain milk from the lobules to the nipple. Less commonly, breast cancer can begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Breast cancer is always caused by a genetic abnormality (a “mistake” in the genetic material). However, only 5-10% of cancers are due to an abnormality inherited from your mother or father. About 90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and the “wear and tear” of life in general.

Risk factors you can control

Weight. Being overweight is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, especially for women after menopause. Fat tissue is the body’s main source of estrogen after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing the hormone. Having more fat tissue means having higher estrogen levels, which can increase breast cancer risk.

Diet. Diet is a suspected risk factor for many types of cancer, including breast cancer, but studies have yet to show for sure which types of foods increase risk. It’s a good idea to restrict sources of red meat and other animal fats (including dairy fat in cheese, milk, and ice cream), because they may contain hormones, other growth factors, antibiotics, and pesticides. Some researchers believe that eating too much cholesterol and other fats are risk factors for cancer, and studies show that eating a lot of red and/or processed meats is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. A low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables is generally recommended.

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