Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Smoking leads to hearing loss


Scientists from the U.S. found that teenagers who often become passive smokers may suffer from deafness.
Experts explain hearing problems in passive smokers, the fact that the chemicals contained in tobacco smoke can impair blood supply to the hearing. In a study by American scientists took part in 1.5 thousand teenagers from 12 to 19 years. After checking their sensitivity to the sounds of different frequencies, the researchers found that those exposed to tobacco smoke are twice as likely to have problems with hearing.

Previously, scientists have found an association between smoking and parental behavior and school performance of their children. Parents who have the habit of smoking at home are at risk of bringing up children who will perform poorly in school and will have problems with discipline.

According to WHO, in the last century, smoking killed 100 million people. This year from diseases associated with smoking: stroke, lung cancer and heart attack - could die more than 5 million people. And by 2030, mortality from this bad habit risk increase to 8 million.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Hepatitis B


World Health Organization (WHO) on the eve of the fight against hepatitis B has published data on the number of infected viral hepatitis Earth's inhabitants.

According MedPortal, the total number infected with hepatitis B virus in the world for more than two million each year from hepatitis B kills about a million patients.

The largest proportion of morbidity in the picture is hepatitis B, because it can be transmitted through blood, including in utero, as well as through contaminated hypodermic needles and surgical instruments.

Most carriers of the virus are not even aware of their infection, so WHO urges member countries to strengthen the diagnosis of viral hepatitis, as well as carry out preventive measures. According to international organizations, 180 of the 193 member countries have included hepatitis B vaccine into national immunization schedules.