Understanding Gout

Medical Condition

Pin-prick pain as if needles are eating your joints every hour, every day. In worse cases, you’ll see sharp crystal-like powder oozing out of your joints - all because your body can’t hold it anymore. That’s how painful and debilitating it feels to experience gout. You may experience burning, and the affected joint can become stiff and swollen. There will be days when you’ll be unable to move, walk or work.

Gout Facts

●   Gout is a rheumatic disease caused by a high level of uric acid in the bloodstream. It causes inflammation usually in one joint.

·            Symptoms and signs of gout include:

ü   Deposit of hard nodules of uric acid under the skin which is called tophi. Its presence indicates that treatment with medications is necessary.

ü  Pain, redness, and swelling in joints

ü  the hotness in the affected area

●   The most reliable method to diagnose is to take a sample of fluid removed from an inflamed joint. You’ll see these distinct uric acid crystals under the microscope.

●   Gout can be acute (short-lasting) or chronic (long-lasting).

●   Surgery, dehydration, sweetened beverages, red meat, and seafood triggers acute attacks of gout.

●   Gout that is untreated can cause irreversible joint damage and kidney problems.

●   Most gout cases can be treated with specific medications.

 What is Gout?

    Gout (urate crystal deposition disease) is a form of inflammatory disease triggered by the accumulation of monosodium crystals in joints. It is a type of arthritis that develops from high levels of uric acid in the blood. Acid can form needle-like crystals in the bone that cause irritating reactions, sudden, severe episodes of pain, tenderness, redness, warmth, and swelling.

     Gout is usually common in men.  They have higher uric acid levels than women. It usually occurs to women only after menopause, possibly due to the drop in estrogen women experience.

 What are the Stages of Gout?

    An attack of gout usually comes on suddenly and can last for days.  Surprisingly various area of a first gout attack is in the big toe. Your heel, ankle, elbow, fingers, knee instep, wrist, and spine can also be affected as well.

The four stages of gout include:

●   Asymptomatic hyperuricemia:  In this stage, the patient has high levels of uric acid in the blood, but no other symptoms.

●    Acute Gout The type of gout is called a gout attack. It often affects only one joint. The affected joint is red and swollen which is a painful condition between 3 to 10 days. This pain will subside even without medication and return to the same joint or another.

●   Interval gout:  This is the stage that occurs between acute attacks.  No symptoms are present at this time.

●   Chronic Gout ( Tophaceous Gout) This type of gout may affect more than one joint. The patient may experience persistent, repeated episodes of pain and inflammation.

 What causes gout?

    Too much uric acid in your body causes gout. The result of the excess uric acid can increase the likelihood of hyperuricemia.

    Age and gender, genetics or it can run in the family, lifestyle choices, alcoholism, lead exposure,  certain medications, weight or obesity, such as diuretics (water pills), chronic decreased kidney function, and other health problems can trigger the attack.

 Symptoms and Signs of gout

        Gout usually becomes symptomatic suddenly without warning, it often attacks in the middle of the night. The pain is typically severe, reflecting the severity of inflammation in the joint, to the point that some excruciating experience of pain, joint redness, pain, and swelling in the big toe.

     The presence of tophi is another way to indicate that the body has been overloaded with uric acid. When tophi are present, the uric acid level in the bloodstream typically has been high for years.

     In some cases, some people are asymptomatic. It means, they do not experience the symptoms at all,  although they have high levels of uric acid in their blood. These people do not require treatment. Others, however, have acute or chronic symptoms requiring treatment.

How is gout diagnosed?

        The symptoms of gout may be nonspecific, and they often mimic other conditions making it very challenging to diagnose. The doctor will ask for the patient's health history and thoroughly review the signs and perform a physical examination, blood tests, ultrasound, or X-ray or take a sample from your joint to examine or measure the level of uric acid in your blood.

 When to see a doctor

        Anyone who has severe signs usually seeks medical care because of the intense pain. Call your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis of gout for optimal treatment.

Treatments

       Gout is a complex disorder that's becoming prevalent. It cannot be cured, but proper medication and medical management is the most important way to prevent recurrent attacks.

      People who suffer from frequent and painful attacks may also have to take medication to reduce the risk of complications. It is usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like corticosteroids to alleviate the pain, and symptoms, prevent future flares and prevent damage to any joints. The treatment takes effect, the sooner your pain will go away. However, they must be used with caution, as they can irritate the digestive system and aggravate hypertension.

 How to Avoid Gout

     Besides taking the proper medicines, following a healthy lifestyle can help to keep,p gout symptoms under control. These include:

●   Diet. Limit or avoid those foods that are rich in purines and low in salt. Lose weight, if you’re overweight. Losing weight may help reduce your risk of future gout attacks.

●   Limit the number of alcoholic beverages you drink. These beverages, when consumed in excess, raise your risk of a gout flare-up.

●   Drink lots of water. It is a simple way to help reduce or flush uric acid from your body.

    Gout is a severe and painful disease that can potentially be debilitating and life-threatening if untreated.  Fortunately today, a person with gout who is well informed about their condition is more likely to lead a better quality of life. Staying up to date and taking decisive actions to manage the effects of their disease will make a real difference in the lives of people living with gout.

Importance of School-Community Partnerships

  School-Community Partnerships

The school is a learning center that serves as a custodian of the traditional values of the community. The school provides knowledge, friendship, and intelligence. School-community partnerships play an important role in successful schools, often providing support and resources to meet staff, family, and student needs that go beyond what is typically available through the school. The school and community are partners for the child’s sake.

The relationship with the community provides support, resources, and information that may include volunteers, local businesses, community agencies, community leaders, professionals, and/or university or high school students, or individuals from the community who partner with them. Each community partner provided unique and individualized support for the welfare of the learners for them to succeed in various life challenges.

The partnership may involve the use of school or neighbors’ facilities and equipment, sharing of other resources, collaborative fundraising raising, volunteer assistance, mentoring and training from professionals and others with special expertise, information sharing, and dissemination, networking, shared responsibility for planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services, expanding opportunities for internships, jobs, recreation and building a sense of community.

Schools can’t do it all. This is a reason why parent and teachers’ association (PTA) Brigada Eskwela and other school community activities existed and associations/activities center on one thing – to assure that quality education is being delivered to the learners for they are the most important clientele of education. The community may have something to teach the children in the same way that the school may have something to teach the community.  When schools and the community work together to support learning, everyone benefits and can prepare for a more promising future. And the pupils may be directed towards goodness and positive attitudes through collective efforts by the people surrounding them, and childcare providers, afterschool programs, resource connectors, mentoring and mental and physical health providers do as well. Nurturing a child to be an upright, responsible, and caring citizen is a task worth doing. If a child is raised in a way that could be beneficial to the community, there is no way that he will not be able to give pride to that community someday.

 

 

PANG-UKOL – Ano Ang Pang-ukol & mga Halimbawa Nito

PANG-UKOL

    Ang pang-ukol ay mga salitang nag-uugnay sa pangngalan, panghalip, pandiwa, pang-abay at sa iba pang mga salita sa pangungusap. Ang mga pang-ukol ay nagsasabi kung saan naroon ang isang bagay at tao, kung saan ito nagmula at kung saan ito patungo. (itinuturo nito ang lugar o layon)

Mga Halimbawa ng Pang-Ukol

Ilan sa mga halimbawa ng bahagi ng pananalita na ito na kadalasan ay ginagamit sa pangungusap ay ang ng, sa, ni o nina, para sa, at ayon sa. Narito ang gamit ng bawat isa at mga halimbawa:

Ng – Ito ay nagbibigay ugnayan sa pagitan ng isang kabuuan at isang bahagi.

• Anak ng bayan ang turing sa Bise Alkalde simula pa noong bata pa lamang siya.

Sa – Nagpapahayag ng pag-uukol ng isang bagay sa isang pang bagay.

• Kamay sa baywang na humarap ang ina ng batang nagsumbong ng pamamalo mula sa guro.

Ni o Nina – Ito ay nagpapahayag ng pagmamay-ari ng isang bagay.

• Ang telepono ni Juan ay naiwan sa loob ng sasakyan.

Para sa – Ito ay nagpapahayag ng pinag-uukulan.

• Para sa mga bata sa kalye ang mga biniling pagkain ni Juanito.

Ayon sa – Ito ay nagpapahayag ng pinanggalingan o basehan ng isang bagay.

• Ayon sa ama ni Manuel, maaga siyang umalis ng kanilang bahay at hindi na nakabalik noong tanghali.

Karagdagang  Halimbawa ng Karaniwang Pang-ukol

 sa/sa mga         ng/ng mga                     ni/nina                                                                         

kay/kina           nang may                       para sa/kay

sa/kay               tungo sa                          tungkol sa/kay                

ayon sa/kay       mula sa                          sa harapan/                                                                                                      

sa ibabaw          sa pagitan                    sa likod

  Sa iyong sagutang papel, lagyan ng tsek (ü) kung ang mga salita o parirala ay pang-ukol at ekis (û ) naman kung hindi.

__________ 1. sa gitna 

__________ 2. masipag

 __________ 3. kina

__________ 4. para kay 

__________ 5. sa mga

__________ 6. masarap 

__________ 7. sa isang buwan 

__________ 8. kay

__________ 9. masaya

__________ 10. Bukas

 Lagyan ng tsek (ü) ang pangungusap kung ang may salungguhit na salita o parirala ay pang-ukol at ekis (x) naman kung hindi. Gawin ito sa iyong sagutang papel.

____ 1. Nag-aaral ng mabuti ang mga bata.

____ 2. Ang mga turista ay masayang namasyal sa buong lalawigan.

____ 3. Sumulat ng tula si Rosa tungkol sa probinsya ng Cavite.

____ 4. Ang General Trias ay isang bayan ng Cavite.              

____ 5. Ang mga sariwang gulay na mula sa bayan ng Laguna ay nasa ibabaw ng mesa.

 Ibigay ang maaaring solusyon sa sumusunod na suliranin. Gawin ito sa iyong sagutang papel.

1. Suliranin: Hindi nagsusuot ng face mask ang ilan sa mga kapitbahay ninyo tuwing lalabas ng bahay.

Solusyon: ________________________________________________________________________.

2. Suliranin: Marami sa mga kababayan mo sa Rizal na nasalanta ng bagyo ang nangangailangan nang tulong. Solusyon:________________________________________________________________________.

3. Suliranin: Ipinapapasa ng iyong guro ang modyul sa Filipino sa darating na Biyernes ngunit hindi ka pa tapos 

d ahil ikaw ay marami pang hindi nasasagutan.

Solusyon:________________________________________________________+_______________.

4. Suliranin: Nakita mo na maraming hugasing pinggan sa kusina ngunit ang iyong Nanay ay marami pang ginagawa.   

Solusyon: ________________________________________________________________________.

5. Suliranin: Napanood mo sa balita na bawal lumabas ng bahay ang mga batang kagaya mo, ngunit may gusto kang bilhing pagkain sa tindahan.          

Solusyon: ________________________________________________________________________.

MASSAGE FOR ARTHRITIS

 

Massage for Arthritis 

Your knees are throbbing after a full day of work. You have arthritis, so no surprise there. It is annoying and it makes it hard to enjoy activities. People with arthritis who experience severe symptoms may consider using massage therapy to help manage their pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. Yes, it is possible to reverse the symptoms of arthritis with a massage. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, massage is used by more than 15 million adults in the United States. It may benefit people with osteoarthritis. Regular massaging of arthritic joints can help reduce pain and improve the range of motion. There are many different types of massage.  These include:

      Reflexology.  Reflexology is alternative healing practiced mostly by Asians. It involves pushing defined points on one’s footbed. It can help increase blood flow and reduce the stiffness, swelling, pain, and discomfort commonly associated with arthritis.

Swedish Massage. Swedish massage treatments are a vital tool in delivering pain relief for rheumatism or degenerative joint disease sufferers as it promotes circulation, relieve aches and reduce stiffness. This is usually done by rubbing muscles with long, gliding strokes while using massage oil or lotion.

Thai Massage.  As you guessed, Thai massage came from Thailand. There are different Thai techniques. It combines massage with the placement of the body in yoga-like positions during the session. Some involve more flexibility stretching, while others focus on applying pressure to the muscles and joints.

Hot Stone Massage. Hot stone massage involves placing smooth basalt stones in different sizes and shapes. The rocks are water heated and placed onto pressure points throughout your body. The hit stones send soothing heat to the muscles, and tissues and cause the muscles to relax, release tension, and reduce the symptoms of arthritis.

Deep Tissue Massage. It is intended to address severe tension or pain in the muscles and connective tissues. It focuses on the manipulation of both the top and deeper layers of muscles and tissues and requires strength or pressure from a therapist. Deep tissue massage may result in bruising as the massage therapist works in areas where there are scar tissues.

Anma. Anma refers to both a practice of traditional Japanese massage and to practitioners of that art. Modern shiatsu started from Anma. Anma involves the kneading of the muscles and other soft tissues. Anma uses no oils. Massaging the muscles and tissues can restore this flow and the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Ayurvedic Massage. Ayurveda is an Indian natural health tradition that blends yoga, massage, meditation, and herbs. Ayurvedic massage is also known as Abhyanga. It is a  full-body massage in addition to using aromatic oils chosen for purported spiritual healing properties.

 Lomi Lomi. It is a healing practice originated in Hawaii that involves diet, prayer, meditation, and other health techniques in addition to the massage of tissues and muscles.

Rolfing. Rolfing is similar to myofascial release. It involves moving the body into certain positions and manipulating fascia tissues. It is intended not only to promote relaxation and pain relief but to regain posture and ability to move.

Myofascial Release.  The myofascial release aims to reduce soreness, anxiety, and stiffness in muscles, and joints and improve circulation by manipulating the fascia, and connective tissues that surround muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Therapists perform this massage by gently rolling the skin back and forth on the back, legs, and other areas of the body without using oils, creams, or lotions.

Self-Massage. It is done by kneading your sore joints using your own hands, elbows, knuckles, or massage tools; it can be mechanized to offer heat or vibration.  Self-massage works well for swelling feet, hands, knees, calves, neck, or arms.

Shiatsu. Therapists may apply pressure to specific points of the body using the fingers and palms in continuous, rhythmic motions without using oil. Like other Asian massage and healing philosophies, shiatsu is thought to restore the flow of good energy, in the body.

Trigger Point Massage. It is intended to relieve pain by applying pressure or vibration to hyperirritable spots in the fascia. It includes injections into the trigger points. The trigger points are points in the muscles where knots may form, and the pinpointed pressure is designed to relax those knots and ease the pain. It should only perform in a doctor's office. There is no reason to let stiffness and pain control your life. Massage has been proven to be a helpful therapy to relieve joint pain and stiffness and to enable you to continue enjoying your life.                      

             Look for a spa that offers a wide variety of massage packages that can reduce your severe pain and tension in a calming peaceful atmosphere. Choose and find out which one is best for you.  Remember to consult your doctor before getting massage therapy to make sure it is safe for your arthritis and other health conditions you may have.