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Klaude Health Technologies, Lusaka (2025)

23/03/2023

According to the WHO, 60% of illnesses are caused by lifestyle factors, so maintaining good habits is a crucial part of staying healthy. Real-time health monitoring and health data modeling can help us cultivate healthy lifestyles and weave disease prevention into the fabric of our daily lives. This shifts the paradigm governing our healthcare system from treatment to prevention.

19/03/2023

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING YOUR MEDICATION

It is important for patients to take note of whatever medication they are prescribed whenever they are unwell.

A physician needs to know what medication a patient is/was taking prior to their visit to a healthy facility if he or she(the physician) is to treat them accordingly. Since medicines are chemicals by nature, the possibility of them interacting with other medicines can't be ruled out especially if they are given together or concurrently with some drugs. These interactions can either :

i) Reduce the effect(s) of other medicines
ii) Produce toxic effects

The former can lead to treatment failure while the latter can lead to both treatment failure and organ dysfunction.

Telling your doctor or pharmacist the colour or design of the drugs you are/were on is not enough to avoid the above mentioned interactions. If you can't pronounce it,it's better to have it written down somewhere, either in your diary or phone notepad.

08/01/2023

SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIRETROVIRALS (ARVs)

The introduction of ARVs in 1970 became a game changer in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It started decreasing the disease's morality rate. Nowadays we have a good number of people living beyond society's expectations of their life expectancy. This has been attributed to the drug's(ARVs) ability to:

i) Halt the virus's replication ability, thereby suppressing viral reproduction.
ii) Restore the body's ability to fight off opportunistic infections (improves immunity)

However it is important to know how to take these drugs safely because just like any other drug, ARVs can interact with certain drugs or supplements to produce either toxicity or decreased concentration of the drug. The former can produce unwanted side effects while the latter can make the drug ineffective.

A fraction of the these drugs, however, have life threatening side effects upon initiation of treatment. It is therefore important to distinguish the normal or expected side effects from the ones you urgently need to tell your doctor or pharmacist about.

The restoration of one's collapsing immunity comes with a list of side effects the person is likely to expect. The list includes but is not limited to :
1. Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS)
2. Depression
3. Diarrhoea
4. Fatigue
5. Lactic acidosis (increase of lactic acid in blood)
6.Change of body shape
7.Bone death
8.Peripheral neuropathy(malfunction of nerves)

It is very important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about these effects so that he or she figures out what's causing your symptoms and to make your side effects less of a problem.

Our next chapter will look at how you as the patient, can identify some of these side effects, so that you can make timely and informed decisions pertaining your health.

05/01/2023

HIV/AIDS-WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a particle that causes an incurable disease called AIDS(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) . This virus, once inside a host(person) targets the person's immune cells(CD4 cells) . Failure to suppress it's multiplication early causes a collapse of the immune system, exposing the susceptible host to a lot of opportunistic infections and cancers.

When the first cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in the 1950s,the world came to a shock as none of the drugs available that time could seem to have an effect on the virus. This led to millions of lives being lost due to unavailability of treatment packages.

Today, in as much as the disease still remains incurable, a lot of drugs are now available to suppress the disease's progression.We now have a variety of drugs designed to suppress the virus' replication at different stages of its cycle.

Drugs are often prescribed after examing one's CD4 count. Upon assessment, a set (s) of drugs is then assigned/dispensed to meet the needs of the patient's 'immune system' .Needs differ, hence even the drugs given differ. It is for this reason that it is not advisable for persons to share ARVs.

Antiretrovirals(ARVs) slower the diseases progression if taken correctly & consecutively and have proven in millions of people that life can still be lived and enjoyed despite being HIV positive. However their incorrect usage or intake can lead to life threatening complications and that will be our topic of discussion this week.

Stay glued!

30/12/2022

WHEN NOT TO USE ASPIRIN

Aspirin happens to be a drug most people use due to its pain relief,antipyretic(fever reduction) and anti inflammatory properties.

In as much as it is a drug of choice in certain conditions, it is important know a few things about this drug.

Despite the fact that it's very effective, this drug should never be taken in certain conditions or by certain people unless they are advised to do so by a healthcare practitioner.

°Aspirin, if not taken with caution promotes stomach ulcers, hence it should never be taken by people with ulcers.
°It can trigger asthmatic attacks in asthmatic patients, hence it should be avoided in such people.
°In an event of bleeding due to injury (or other bleeding disorders) , never use aspirin to minimise the pain(just because its a pain killer) because the use of aspirin can prolong bleeding time.
°People with severe liver and kidney disease should avoid it's use to avoid toxicity.
°It should never be given to children below the age of16 years.

Those authorised/advised to take it should :

°Always take it with a glass full of water.
° Take not more than what the doctor recommends.

Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to guide you on the best pain killer you can use besides aspirin if you have any of the above mentioned conditions.

30/12/2022

TINEA VERSICOLOR AKA ILOTA

This is a non infectious disease caused by an overgrowth of the yeast(fungi) normally found on the body. Fungi often grows in warm, moist environments. Wearing sweaty or wet clothes is a risk factor for this skin infection.

Tinea versicolor manifests with formation of patches on the skin which may be lighter or darker than the overall skin.These patches can be itchy.

Tinea versicolor is most commonly found on your shoulders, back and upper chest. Unlike what the old common myth suggests, spread of the discolourations to the a**l cavity can never make somebody mad neither does it spread from person to person. The symptoms only worsens and may be accompanied by severe itching and discolourations.

Thank goodness the condition is curable especially to those who adhere to their medications. Treatment packages come in the form of antifungal containing creams, soaps, shampoo & lotions . Mild to severe conditions may require a combination of tablets or capsule with either a cream, soap, shampoo or lotion.

Visit your nearest doctor or pharmacist and be advised on the best treatment plan available to have you treated and cured because this condition is curable.

29/12/2022

THE INJECTION- ITS SIDE EFFECTS AND HOW TO MANAGE THEM

The injection has become one of the most used method of contraception. It's most people's formulation of choice o because of the privacy , long lasting effect, and effectiveness it comes with.

However, this doesn't make it the least contraceptives with side effects. It equally has a share of some of the side effects that come with the use of contraceptives.

Side effects have been reported, with some still being investigated, but these are the ones proved to be associated with its use.

Nausea, bloating, headache, changes in appetite, weight gain, tiredness, swelling, pimples, hot flashes, breast tenderness, or irritation/pain at the injection site may occur. Vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting) or missed/irregular periods may occur, especially during the first few months of use.

If you're given the injection during the first five days of your period you will be protected against pregnancy immediately. If you have the injection on any other day of your cycle you will not be protected for the first seven days, so you will need to use another method of contraception, like condoms.

Before initiating therapy, always tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood clots (for example, in the legs, eyes, lungs), unexplained va**nal bleeding, asthma, personal or family history of cancer (especially breast or cervical cancer), substance abuse, depression, diabetes, heart problems , kidney disease, liver disease , high blood fat levels, migraine, seizures or stroke. He would after assertion help you choose the contraceptive best for you.

There is no antidote(drug) that reverses the effects of Depo-Provera once it has been injected but your doctor or pharmacist can help you with drugs to mitigate them(effects) if they seem too severe.

29/12/2022

SIDE EFFECTS OF THE COMBINED PILL AND HOW TO MITIGATE THEM.

The pill is safe for most females to use. However, research has linked its use with certain risks. Therefore, before taking birth control pills, it is important to discuss individual risk factors with a healthcare provider.

Due to the fact that side effects vary in individuals, our main focus will be on general effects commonly reported.

Suppressing ovulation by means of the combined pill always comes with undesirable effects.
This is because the active ingredients in the combined pill blocks the release of a chemical(hormone) called luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, which suppresses levels of other chemicals called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), thus preventing follicular development and ovulation.LH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning. In women, LH helps control the menstrual cycle. It also triggers the release of an egg from the o***y. This is known as ovulation.Estrogens suppress FSH, preventing development of a dominant follicle that ultimately leads to ovulation. Progestins suppress LH, blocking ovulation.

So what are the complications of blocking these hormones?

Effects can either be short term or long term. Short term effects include mood swings, breast tenderness, nausea and headaches, however, these effects tend to subsidise the first few months of taking the pill.

The long term risk factors associated with the combined pill are rare but the most reported are:

1.An increase in your blood pressure
2. An increase in your risk of blood clots
3.An increase in your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer – it’s thought that 10 years after you stop the pill, your risk of these cancers will have returned to normal .

To mitigate/avoid the common effects, it's best to take note of the following precautions.

Nausea: Try taking the pill at night or after eating.
Spotting: Be sure to take the pill at the same time each day
Headaches:eating a lot of anti inflammatory foods like sardines(kapenta), green tea, and foods rich in antioxidants such as carrots, spinach, cabbage, sweet and Irish potatoes.

18/12/2022

Now that an overview on the most used contraceptives has been given,our next chapter will focus on some of the common side effects that occur from usage and how best to handle them.

18/12/2022

THE CERVICAL CAP

A cervical cap is a small cup made of silicone or rubber meant for insertion into the va**na 2 hours prior to sexual intercourse.It creates a physical barrier to prevent s***m from entering your uterus.

It can be inserted by the user and offers total protection if correctly used.

18/12/2022

THE INTRAUTERINE DEVICE

This is a small T-shaped plastic medical device inserted inside the female genitalia to prevent pregnancy. It can be inserted anytime during your menstrual cycle provided that you are not pregnant.

The device is similar to the intrauterine system (IUS), but instead of releasing the hormone progestogen like the IUS, the IUD releases copper into the womb. The copper alters the cervical mucus, making it difficult for s***ms to reach an egg and survive.

Your healthcare provider will use forceps to gently grasp the IUD strings and slowly pull on them. The IUD arms will fold up as it slides through the opening of the cervix. Removal of your IUD is typically faster and less painful than the insertion. You should never try to remove the IUD by yourself to avoid complications.

Like always, it is important to reasonate with your doctor or pharmacist before doing anything.

17/12/2022

THE COMBINED PILL

Just like the 'combined hormonal injection' , the combined pill also contains progestin and estrogen but vary in formulation. Unlike the combined injectable, these pills are taken orally(by mouth). While both formulations contain hormones that prevent ovulation, birth control pills must be taken daily, while the shot is administered by a healthcare provider once every 3 months.

The combined pill should be taken consecutively for days if contraception is to be effective.
The only difference between the 28-day and the 21-day packet of pills is the 7 inactive pills present in the 28-day packet. With the 28-day pack, one starts the packet on the 1st day of menstrual bleeding, taking the pill from the shaded section marked with the appropriate day.One continues to take the pills every day, in the direction indicated by the arrows. The next period will occur when one returns to the inactive pill section. With the 21-day packet, the 1st packet is started on the 5th day of menstrual bleeding, whether or not the bleeding has stopped. One's menstrual period will occur 2-4 days after finishing the last packet.

Despite the difference in the number of tablets per pack, they all ultimately prevent ovulation by 93%.

It is always important to reason with your doctor or pharmacist before initiating therapy.

Klaude Health Technologies

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