HEALTH CARE

As technology develops through the ages, medicine also evolves, as we enter new eras. In the future, we will enter an era of precise medication, wherein medical services are specifically provided to patients, according to their diagnoses and prognoses: genetics, complaints and symptoms, conditions or complicating illness, their emotional character and habits and the influence of their surroundings.

The World Stroke Day is commemorated every 29 October. This year, the theme is “Minutes Can Save Lives”. Global data shows that this non-communicable disease kills 41 million people a year. That’s equal to a 71% death rate, with 15 million people dying at the age of 30-69 a year because of it, and 85% of early deaths because of stroke occur in low-middle income countries. Stroke is also the highest cause of disability: more of one third (33%) of its sufferers have to depend on others just to live their daily lives. 

Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist at Griffith University, asked the government to immediately declare acute kidney infection (AKI) as extraordinary occurrence (KLB) as the number of deaths among children is rising.

Public concern is rising over the use of Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Diethylene Glycol (DEG) compounds in cough syrup following the outbreak of acute kidney disease infection (AKI) in children in a number of countries, initially Gambia and now Indonesia.

Wearing of the hijab continues to increase in popularity, year after year. However, its side effects include limp, oily hair, as well as dandruff. Indonesia has a tropical climate, which means that it is hot and humid here. dr. Danar Wicaksono, Sp.DV, M.Sc., Pertamina Central Hospital’s resident dermato-venereologist, explains why hijabers tend to run into hair problems, and how to handle the matter. 

An allergy is characterized by a change in the reaction or response of the body’s defenses: they refuse and lack resistance to foreign substances, called allergens, that are responsible for triggering allergies. The body’s immune or antibodies attack anything which appears to harm the body, including allergens. However, the reaction is sometimes excessive, and even causes the sufferer discomfort. 

Diabetes is the world’s biggest health problem – not only in terms of prevalence: it is a multi-organ disorder that may attack any part from head to feet, and it has huge potential of causing complications in both small and large blood vessels. According to the 2018 Indonesian Baseline Health Study, the prevalence of diabetes in our country is 1,017,290 sufferers, 55% of whom living in urban areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) declares that Indonesia is the 5th most diabetic country in the world, estimating that diabetes mellitus (“DM”) sufferers in our country will increase to 21.3 million people by 2030 and 28.6 million people by 2045. 

The Indonesian Paediatrician Association (IDAI) reveals that in the last two months there has been a spike in cases of acute kidney disease affecting about 100 children, the cause of which is still unknown.

Nowadays, many people self-diagnose about anything, up to and including depression and other mental and psychological problems. They claim to be depressed, they accuse others who are being gloomy or having problems they know nothing about, of being “depressed”. All without consulting experts. This is actually unsafe.

Recently, there were rumors that reusable water cooler containers trigger health issues, potentially including cancer, infertility and hormonal problems, as they contain bisphenol A (“BPA”), a chemical contained in resin, tin, or plastic packaging intended to reinforce them and make them reusable. The actual portion of BPA in such containers is generally very small, and it does not decompose easily. 

No fewer than 2.2 billion people suffer from visual impairment worldwide. 90% of these are inhabitants of low-income countries. 50% of this complaint is actually preventable and/or treatable. Visual impairment lowers productivity and causes an annual loss of USD 411 billion worldwide. Ocular health is so important that World Sight Day is commemorated on the second Thursday of each October (that’s 13 October this year). The World Sight Day 2022 theme is “Love Your Eyes”, while we commemorate it in Indonesia with the theme of “Healthy Eyes Are Ours” this year.