ASK YOUR DOCTOR

Many people have haemorrhoids at some time during their lives. Although many people have haemorrhoids not all experience symptoms. The symptoms of haemorrhoids can be treated any even prevented by simple home measures.

April is Parkinson Awareness Month and presents an important opportunity for all residents of Anguilla to become better informed about this neurological disorder. In many countries, including Anguilla, people are reluctant to talk about Parkinson’s disease and it appears to be a deep, dark secret for sufferers.

March 24 is celebrated each year as World Tuberculosis Day and this year the slogan is “I am stopping TB.” World TB day serves to raise awareness about the global epidemic of TB, which is found in many countries including Anguilla. In 2006 an estimated 1.5 million people died from TB in the world.

Compared to thirty years ago more women of childbearing age in Anguilla are using illegal drugs. As a result more babies are now being born to women who use illegal drugs during their pregnancies. The use of illegal drugs by pregnant women can be harmful for the mother and also her baby.

Premenstrual syndrome, commonly called PMS, is a medical condition that has symptoms that affect about 10 percent of women of childbearing age. PMS can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that occur just before your menstrual period.

Angina pectoris, also called angina, affects many individuals and can be a cause of much concern to the patient and physician alike. Individuals with angina should see a physian for evaluation.

Stress is a normal part of one’s life but the effects of chronic stress on ones body can be tremendous. Chronic stress can affect almost every organ of our body in a negative way. It has been estimated that approximately 70% of visits to the doctor are partly related to chronic stress.

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of children and is the most common causeof school absenteeism. Although there is no cure for asthma at this time it can be successfully controlled. The diagnosis of asthma should not be a cause of shame. Many Olympic athletes, famous leaders and others live successful lives with asthma. The incidence of childhood asthma appears to be increasing in Anguilla.

Cervical cancer is both a preventable and curable cancer if detected early, but in many countries of the Caribbean cervical cancer still causes significant illness and death. Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in the Caribbean and is a significant public health problem in Anguilla. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death from cancers in women in Anguilla.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects many men in Anguilla, many of whom are on medication. It is estimated that more than 40% of men with hypertension have impotence or erectile dysfunction. Many of the medications used to treat hypertension themselves also cause impotence.

Exercise during pregnancy has been shown to be extremely beneficial. Exercise plays an important role in promoting health and well being for pregnant women. Before starting any exercise plan pregnant women should consult with their doctor and be prepared to follow some guidelines to ensure the safety and well being of themselves and their baby.

Alcohol hangovers can occur at anytime of the year, but medical practitioners in Anguilla tend to see more individuals with alcohol hangovers during the Christmas and New Year holidays than at other times of the year. Hangovers are not just a nuisance to the individual but they can have severe social and economic costs for many countries, including Anguilla. The costs are related to absenteeism and poor job performances.

Motor vehicle accidents are becoming a major public health issue in many Caribbean countries including Anguilla. There is evidence that alcohol use and other drugs are a factor in many motor vehicle accidents in Anguilla.

Cirrhosis is a leading cause of death in Anguilla. The majority of cases of cirrhosis in Anguilla are related to excessive alcohol use. Cirrhosis can place a heavy burden on individuals, their families and the community as a whole in terms of human suffering, hospital costs and loss of time from work.

World AIDS Day observed December 1st each year is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. ‘Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise’ is the main theme for AIDS day observance through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. The tagline for 2007 is ‘Leadership’.

This lifelong developmental disability, first described in 1943, is relatively unknown, until recently, despite the fact that it is four times more common than cerebral palsy and seventeen times more common than Downs’ syndrome.

November 14th is celebrated in many countries as World Diabetes Day, but this year is the first time it will be recognized as a United Nations Day. The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

The intrauterine device also called IUD is a type of birth control that is now being used by more and more Anguillians. More recent intrauterine devices have an improved design and have been shown to be a safe, efficacious and cost effective form of birth control, but careful patient selection is very important before it is used.

Choking is estimated to kill more than 3,000 people each year. This is unfortunate as the vast majority of deaths associated with choking can be prevented. Although choking can occur at any age the vast majority of chokings occur in children.

This silent disease is recognized as the fifth most important problem in the global scenario of public health by the World Health Organization. This condition is a growing worldwide problem that is causing a tremendous social and economic burden on communities.