Mental Health – Page 4 – Centre for Family Health Initiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST

STROKE – CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is defined as a “rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin”. Stroke occurs when there is a sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.

World Stroke Organization (WSO) stated that 90 per cent of strokes are associated with 10 risk factors that can easily be identified: hypertension, exercise, diet, weight, smoking, alcohol, cholesterol, diabetes, depression and stress, and atrial fibrillation (AF, or AFib). They further stated that 1 in 4 people will develop stroke globally, and 58 percent of all stroke cases happen between the age of 25 and 70 which can be blamed on “modern lifestyle”. In Nigeria, just like other low and middle-income countries, the primary care services are often limited, leading to high burden of stroke mortality. About 1000 stroke cases are recorded in Nigeria yearly and still counting according to Web Med.

Stroke can be prevented in many ways across all boards, from government and policymakers to healthcare professionals to members of the community. Knowing the signs of stroke is the first step to its prevention. Hence, some of the ways to prevent stroke include increasing awareness, discovering risk factors for stroke and managing them appropriately, implementing population-wide preventive strategies, amongst others.

Over the years, Medical organizations worldwide have been working towards making sure there is improvement in the treatment of stroke. Treatment consists of blood thinners. Early treatment with medication like TPA (clot buster) can minimize brain damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing additional strokes like cardiac monitoring (using an electronic device to heart rate and rhythm which can be done at home or in the hospital), carotid endarterectomy (this is a surgical removal of plague built up in the carotid arteries), speech therapy, rehabilitation, physical therapy, the use of natural herbs and supplements, among others.

Early detection will not just save lives but will reduce the effect of stroke. Most people do not check their mental state or relax as they ought to. Adequate medical checkup is essential as it will help to know when rest is needed and when you need to give yourself a break from certain duties.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health related articles on all our social media platforms.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY, Gender, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women in Leadership / cfhinitiative

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY

According to Wikipedia, Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Some patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the males only.

Patriarchy influences different areas of the society including culture, family, school, the workplace and relationships. Its presence can translate to inequality and gender-based violence. The idea of patriarchy is not peculiar to a specific group of people, but one that extends and supersedes all borders, socioeconomic class, race, and more.

In Nigeria, it is observed by different researchers including European Scientific Institute that . Hence, there is the commonality of general belief system that the best place for women is in the ‘Kitchen’. This trend has brought about tremendous misrepresentation of women right at the level of the family down to the circular society. Women are therefore discriminated upon from, in most cases, acquiring formal education, accessing proper health care, receiving equal pay, among others.

In so many parts of the world, women are forbidden to own landed properties or inherit any. In cases where the diseased did not have male children, his properties are distributed amongst his male relatives, excluding his widow and daughters who are left to fend for themselves. In these societies, women who are financially stable have to buy properties in the name of their fathers or other male relatives. All these expose women to violence before they are born until they are aged.

Zig Ziglar once said, the first step to finding a solution is to recognize there is a problem. Because of how ingrained patriarchy is in the society, it may be difficult to identify. However, if patriarchy can be learnt, it can be unlearnt. Together we can achieve a society with equal opportunities for all human irrespective of the gender differences.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

COVID-19, Health, Mental Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

MONDAY HEALTH BURST – MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health according to Oxford Dictionary refers to “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Wikipedia also defines mental health as “The level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness”.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), one in four Nigerians (about 50 million people) are suffering from some sort of mental illness, and as the seventh largest country in the world, Nigeria has Africa’s highest caseload of depression, and ranks 15th in the world in the frequency of suicide. Also, WHO stated in December 2016 that less than 10% of mentally ill Nigerians have access to psychiatrists or health workers.

Mental health issues include and are not limited to mood disorders, psychotic disorder, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders and many more. Factors that affect mental health can be grouped into biological factors (genetic or heredity factors, injury to the brain, deficits of the brain cause during development in pregnancy and during birth, infection, substance abuse and poor nutrition), psychological factors (emotional and physical trauma, neglect and abandonment) and social factors (poor social interaction, verbal abuse, severe stress or being overworked). These and more are root causes of mental illness according to several reports.

There are some important signs of mental illness that can be observed like prolonged periods of grief, sadness or irritability, extreme highs or low mood swings, increased level of fear, anxiety or worry, withdrawal from society, dramatic changes in daily life habits like eating, exercising, sleeping, and more. When these signs occur, it is important to seek help from a health worker or a psychiatrist because early diagnosis and treatment are essential to speedy recovery.

Maintaining a positive mental health can also be achieved by regular exercise, eating balanced and healthy meals, opening up to people when in tough situations, taking a break when needed, reflecting on beautiful memories or something you are grateful for, and sound sleep. These can help reduce drastically the burden of mental illness in the society.

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