First Mutual Health Newsletter July 2016

First Mutual Health
Monthly Newsletter
July : 2016
Contents
Everything you need to know about glaucoma and cataracts ..3
FIRST MUTUAL HEALTH, First Floor, First Mutual Park,

100 Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe | P O Box 1083, Harare.
Tel: +263 (4) 250420-4, 798517-23, 886018-36 | Fax: +263 (4) 886068, 886069
E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.fmlmedical.co.zw
News Bulletin
Knowing this about epilepsy can save your life or someone elses .2
Knowing this about epilepsy can save your life or someone

elses
Epilepsy is a condition that makes people experience seizures, temporary moments of attacks,
convulsion, absence or fits. This condition is not contagious or infectious in any way.
During major seizures people fall to the ground, jerk uncontrollably, become unconscious, lose
memory or get confused. In minor ones, they may not fall, but rather a small part of the body e.g. a leg
or eye is affected or they simply become absent minded or confused.
The whole world has 50 million people with epilepsy of all ages, races, cultures, colours and social
backgrounds. Africa has 10 million people with epilepsy. There are more than 500,000 people with
epilepsy in Zimbabwe. Over 80% are not on treatment due to lack of commitment to the healthcare
needs of persons with epilepsy, misunderstanding and poverty. 300,000 (60%) of this statistic is
constituted by children with epilepsy.
Pregnant mothers should visit clinics in time and avoid home deliveries
Protect the unborn child or mother from substance abuse, domestic violence or injuries
The newborn should be protected from head injury at birth and protected from infections. Safe
handling and care of babies avoids head injury.
For Adults and Children
Protect the head from injuries when playing sports, working or driving by putting on helmets,
protective clothing and seat belts.
Avoid domestic violence
For any sickness seek medical attention early
Stress management: for example, seek counselling when in social problems
Avoid abusing substances like drugs and alcohol
When you have epilepsy avoid getting worse by seeking treatment early, complying with
treatment and reducing triggers.
A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited
For Unborn and newborn children
First Mutual Health News Bulletin
Preventing Epilepsy
Knowing this about epilepsy can save your life or someone

elsescontd
What not to do
Dont move the person unless they are in danger
Dont restrict movement or lift person up
Dont put anything between the teeth
Benefits of practising good nutrition
Helps prevent malnutrition wasting therein reducing incidents of seizures
Enhances bodys ability to outgrow epilepsy
Helps maintain proper brain balance
Improves the effectiveness of epicures
Improves the life for persons with epilepsy
Promotes good health and control of epilepsy
Good nutrition empowers people with epilepsy as well as improves their confidence and self-esteem.
What to do?
Keep calm and note the duration of the jerking period
Move objects which may cause harm
Loosen tight clothing
Place a cushion under the head
Place in the recovery position after convulsions stop
Reassure the person afterwards
Epilepsy and Nutrition

Enjoy a variety of foods for no single food will meet all your nutritional requirements
Eat three regular meals every day (where possible)
Eat a balanced breakfast to get a good start to your day
Eat whole grains and less processed foods
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
Cook vegetables with as little vegetable oil as possible (rule of thumb 1 teaspoon per adult in
household)
Eat more white meat (chicken, fish, lean pork, rabbit etc) than red meat
Trim off visible fat from meat and remove skin from chicken before cooking
Use low fat dairy products
Watch your portion size, eat small portions preferably one to two cups per meal
Practice good personal hygiene always for a healthy life
Take coffee, tea and alcohol in moderation
Everything You Need To Know About Glaucoma and Cataracts

Glaucoma
How is Glaucoma treated?

Generally speaking, glaucoma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled once diagnosed, it requires
constant lifelong care. The major goal of glaucoma treatment is to keep the eye pressure in a range that
prevents further glaucoma damage. This can be done with eye drops, pills laser treatment and
microsurgery.
What advice is there for patients with glaucoma?
Follow your eye specialists instructions and adhere to prescribed medication. Call your eye specialist
about unusual changes in your eyes or vision and as well keep scheduled eye specialist reviews.
Who is at risk?
Certain factors can increase the risk of developing glaucoma. They include:
Age people over the age of 60 are at risk of the disease. For Black Africans however, the increase in
risk begins after the age of 40 and increases slightly with each year of age.
Black Africans are significantly more likely to get glaucoma than other races, are more likely to suffer
permanent vision loss as a result.
Family history of glaucoma Having a family member who has had glaucoma increases the risk of other
family members developing it.
Medical conditions Some studies indicate that diabetes may increase the risk of developing glaucoma,
as do high blood pressure and heart disease.
Physical injuries to the eye Severe trauma, such as being hit in the eye can result in immediate
increased eye pressure and future increases in pressure due to internal damage.
What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is a painless and silent eye condition that is caused by increased pressure
in the eyeball, causing gradual loss of sight.
In a normal eye a watery liquid is constantly produced and drained away through tiny drainage canals.
This fluid maintains a pressure within the eye that remains constant as long as the fluid drains as quickly
as it is produced. The normal intra ocular pressure is between within the eye due to clogged or covered
over drainage canals where the eye fluid cannot drain away.
Everything You Need To Know About Glaucoma and Cataracts

Glaucoma.cont.
Symptoms of Cataracts
At first, symptoms maybe undetectable or very slight.
However, any noticeable change in vision maybe cause for concern,
and should be brought to attention of an eye care professional.
Common symptoms include, cloudy or blurred vision, sensitivity to light and glare, frequent prescription
changes for glasses, or contact lenses, poor night vision, colour vision changes and dimming, double
vision of single eye.
Treatment of Cataracts
In the beginning stages of cataracts, vision maybe slightly improved using forms of vision correction such
as spectacles and contact lenses. However, in the later stages, surgery is required. Fortunately, surgery
has proven extremely successful in the removal. During cataract surgery, your eye specialist will replace
your natural lenses with an Intraocular Lens (IOL).
Types of Cataracts include:

Age related cataracts As the name suggests, this type of cataract develops as a result of aging
Congenital cataracts Babies are sometimes born with cataracts as a result of an infection, injury or
poor development before they were born, or they may develop during childhood.
Secondary cataracts- These develop as a result of other medical conditions like diabetes, or exposure to
substances, ultra violet light or radiation.
Traumatic cataracts These form after injury to the eye.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can impair vision.
What causes cataracts?
The eye functions are much like a camera. Light rays enter the eye, passing through the camera, the
aqueous humour transparent fluid in front of the eye and then the pupil and into the lens. Cataracts
occur when there is a build up of protein in the lens that makes it cloudy. This prevents light from passing
clearly through the lens, causing some loss in vision.
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First Mutual Health

Everything you need to know about glaucoma and cataracts ..3

FIRST MUTUAL HEALTH, First Floor, First Mutual Park,

Knowing this about epilepsy can save your life or someone

For Adults and Children

A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited

For Unborn and newborn children

First Mutual Health News Bulletin

Knowing this about epilepsy can save your life or someone

A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited

First Mutual Health News Bulletin

Epilepsy and Nutrition

Everything You Need To Know About Glaucoma and Cataracts

How is Glaucoma treated?

A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited

First Mutual Health News Bulletin

Everything You Need To Know About Glaucoma and Cataracts

A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited

Types of Cataracts include:

First Mutual Health News Bulletin

A member of First Mutual Holdings Limited

First Mutual Health News Bulletin

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