Blog Archives - Page 18 of 18 - Memon Medical Institute Hospital

24MarMarch 24, 2022

Rising Cases of Thalassemia in Pakistan – What are the Reasons behind?

Thalassemia is a potentially life-threatening disease that remains a significant health concern in Pakistan. It is a blood disorder that affects the body's ability to produce healthy red blood cells. The disorder also reduces hemoglobin production, which means that people with this condition will have fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen to their organs. It also leads to the destruction of too many red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Thalassemia patients need regular blood transfusions and iron chelation. Qualified hematologists should be consulted in this case to diagnose the problem. However, thalassemia patients in Pakistan are unable to afford these treatments, making it hard for them to receive adequate care. Thalassemia Causes This disease is the result of mutations in a person's DNA. The mutations associated with the disease are passed to children from their parents. The proteins that makeup hemoglobin can be affected by mutations. If the production of either alpha or beta chains is reduced, then an individual has alpha-thalassemia or beta-thalassemia. Alpha-thalassemia is determined by the number of gene mutations the patient carries. The more mutated genes they have, the more severe the disease will be. In beta-thalassemia, the severity of the disease depends on which part of the hemoglobin molecule...

21MarMarch 21, 2022

Polio Vaccine: Debunking the Myths

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio, is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through the fecal matter of infected people. There is no cure for polio but it can be prevented through immunization. Every day, polio vaccines save children's lives all over the world. Vaccination efforts in Pakistan have been hampered by an increase in polio vaccine boycotts. The less developed districts demand governance outcomes before any agreement to give their children the vaccine. Pakistan has made tremendous progress in the fight against polio. The country was close to eradicating the disease in 2018 with only 12 polio cases in Pakistan. However, unfortunately, it experienced a sudden rise in 2019, with 129 cases of polio reported. Who Needs the Polio Vaccine The most vulnerable age group for contracting polio is children under the age of five. To stay protected, all children under 5 should be vaccinated with the polio vaccine during every round of immunization, as recommended by the guidelines. Debunking the Myths of Polio Vaccine Unfortunately, Pakistan has not been able to completely eradicate polio from its population. The reason for this is multifaceted: low immunization coverage, poverty, illiteracy, and limited access to vaccines are all contributing factors. Moreover, the rumors that...

11MarMarch 11, 2022

5 Things to Consider Before You Donate for Zakat

Zakat is an obligatory charitable payment for all adult Muslims (those who meet the requirement as dependent upon nisab and hawl) to contribute a fixed portion of their wealth – 2.5% of savings — to help the needy. Zakat purifies your wealth and body, soul, and possessions to bring you closer to Allah. A lot of people donate to charity every year, but not everyone understands what it means to give Zakat. Sometimes, we feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of Zakat organizations asking for our donations. It is important to know that there are a few things to consider before you donate money for Zakat. Here are 5 things to consider before you donate for Zakat. 1. Are You Eligible to Give Zakat? To be eligible to make Zakat payments, an individual must meet all of the following conditions: They must be practicing Muslims They must be free They must be mentally sane They must have passed the age of puberty They must have a positive flow of wealth (goods or cash) To summarize, a healthy, sane, adult Muslim who is earning, can freely move, and holds a wealth value above the current nisab threshold is expected to pay Zakat annually. 2. Who is Eligible to Receive Zakat? Zakat is a charity...

07MarMarch 7, 2022

Access to Primary Health Care in Pakistan

People living in low- and middle-income countries- including Pakistan- often do not have the benefit of primary health care (PHC) programs for early detection and treatment of people with risk factors for multiple diseases. 50% of the population in Pakistan does not have access to primary healthcare services, and approximately 42% of the population does not have health insurance. People who suffer from cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases have less access to effective and equitable health care services which respond to their needs. As a result, for many people detection is often late in the course of the disease and people die at a younger age from such diseases, often in their most productive years. The poorest people in Pakistan are most affected. At the household level, evidence is emerging diseases contribute to poverty due to catastrophic health spending and high out-of-pocket expenditure. Factors Affecting Access to Primary Health Care in Pakistan Primary healthcare providers offer a usual source of care, early detection, and treatment of disease, chronic disease management, and preventive care, such as flu shots, blood sugar testing, and COVID-19 testing. However, many people face barriers to accessing primary health care, which can lead to disparities in health outcomes. Some of the factors that...

03MarMarch 3, 2022

Heart Attack: Most Common Reason of Death in Pakistan

Heart Attack: The Most Common Reason of Death in Pakistan

The number of deaths due to heart diseases has increased alarmingly in recent years in Pakistan. Where the risk of heart disease in young people is on the rise. Young adults between the ages of 30 and 40 are developing hypertension (high blood pressure) which can become the cause of heart attack. Smoking and tobacco use is on the rise in Pakistan, and this is leading to a high incidence of heart attacks among younger citizens. A sedentary lifestyle, consumption of junk food, lack of sleep, and excessive smoking among the country’s youth is the reason why people are developing heart disease in their early 40s. Several chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, and lifestyle choices also put people at a higher risk for heart disease as our people are not very fond of physical activities, or any other type of sport. Read this article for early warning signs of heart attack, and prevention tips. Major Causes of Heart Attack The risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) is increased by: Smoking A high-fat diet Diabetes High cholesterol High blood pressure (hypertension) Being overweight or obese Symptoms of Heart Attack It's important to be able to identify the signs of a heart attack. Heart disease is often symptomless until...

27FebFebruary 27, 2022

Women Care: Breast Cancer Awareness in Pakistani Females 2022

Breast cancer can occur at any age, with a higher incidence in women 40 years and older. It is a global issue and is prevalent in all cultures, but its occurrence is more common in South Asian countries, majorly due to a lack of breast cancer awareness in women. Worldwide, there are about 1 million cases per year, with 60% of those cases coming from low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. One of the main reasons is that many women in Pakistan are diagnosed at later stages due to a lack of breast cancer awareness. There’s also the issue of early detection; women are often too shy to visit health facilities earlier because of female sensitivity and social stigmas. In Pakistan, women tend to approach healthcare facilities usually at the later stage of cancer due to a multitude of factors. Such as unemployment, people do not have the funds for treatment. Additionally, many women fear surgery and believe traditional treatments will heal them. Moreover, there is a lack of breast cancer awareness in Pakistani females, such as how breast cancer starts and progresses. Risk Factors of Breast Cancer There are several risk factors or causes of breast cancer, but not all of them lead to...