Ebola: Canada offers 1000 dose of experimental vaccine to Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZlM2FVhyxodlmy013b9C7l1MLi3NiqKWmeRsbSnT-1O0EWwY8a7XRLkvEdpHcyh8DLj5okaHZUG4l4GOGi02WP-mSn3X6Hn5WS3bJtGCFGzUSK9TV9vPSoTwVVF9WevfHyPtgvuzkkU/s1600/1.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 0, 0); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px;" /></h3> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8047433113246080182" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 616px;"> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Canadian Public Health Agency has offered to release 1000 dose of a made-in-Canada experimental Ebola virus vaccine known as VSV-EBOV which has never been tested on humans but has shown to be effective in the treatment of the disease in animals.</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a statement released yesterday August 12th, the Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the World Health Organization's Director general, Margaret Chan, has approved of the donation. </span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Minister also revealed that Canada will be donating $185,000 to the World Health Organization for the prevention and control of the deadly virus in Africa. Canada has only 1500 of the experimental vaccine and would be sending 1000 of it to Africa. Continue...</span></div> <div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="" name="more"></a><br /></span><div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I was pleased to offer the experimental vaccine developed by Canadian researchers as a global resource to help fight this outbreak," she said, adding that between 800 and 1,000 doses would be donated to the WHO.<br /><br />The Minister in the statement added that "Canada feels this experimental vaccine is a global resource, so in response we are sharing it with the international community, while keeping a small supply in Canada."<br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The news comes hours after the World Health Organization said a panel of experts advised that it would be ethical to use untested drugs and vaccines in this raging epidemic, which is several times larger than any previous outbreak.</span></div> </div> </div>

Ebola: Canada offers 1000 dose of experimental vaccine to Africa

The Canadian Public Health Agency has offered to release 1000 dose of a made-in-Canada experimental Ebola virus vaccine known as VSV-EB...

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Nigerian ambassador, 3 ECOWAS staff, 55 others had contact with Lagos Ebola victim — Idris - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nigerian-ambassador-3-ecowas-staff-55-others-contact-lagos-ebola-victim

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">-Idris</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.No Nigerian infected<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />.Nigerians should stop eating bats</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.Domestic animals not carrier of the virus</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By Chioma Obinna, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Lagos State Government disclosed, yesterday, that the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Chigozie Obi Nnadozie, three staff of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and 55 others had contact with the victim of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, Patrick Sawyer, who died in Lagos, last Thursday.</span></div> <div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_457059" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 422px;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Ebola.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Medics in full gear to avoid contracting the virus" class="wp-image-457059 size-full" height="273" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Ebola.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Medics in full gear to avoid contracting the virus</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Joint Federal and State Team in collaboration with other health organisations on prevention of Ebola outbreak in Lagos, has begun monitoring of the 59 persons that had contact with the victim, who died of  Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in a private hospital in Lagos, last week.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Addressing a joint press briefing, yesterday, on the update of the Ebola virus disease, Director National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Professor Abdulsalim Nasidi, and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, explained that out of the 59 persons that had contact with the Sawyer in Lagos, 44 were hospital contacts (38 healthcare workers and six laboratory staff) and 15 airport contacts comprising three ECOWAS staff – driver, liaison and protocol officer, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two nursing staff and five airport passenger handlers.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Appeal for calm<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Idris, who appealed for calm, said right now, 20 contacts had been physically screened.  “The airline manifest has not been provided by the airline at the time of this report and therefore, the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained, especially as two flights were involved Monrovia – Lome and Lome – Lagos. There was no report of medical incident filed and the General Declaration report of the flight.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Idris who stated categorically that only one case of imported Ebola and one death has been recorded in Lagos, said: “No Nigerian is infected, but all contacts are being actively followed.  We call on all Nigerians to be calm and not panic and I do hereby assure them that both the state and Federal governments are up in arms to ensure that the virus did not escape and that no Nigeria is infected with this virus,” he stressed.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Preliminary investigation<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It was further disclosed that preliminary laboratory investigation conducted by the NCDC AI virology laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, and the Redeemers’ University’s World-Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) detected viral DNA and in both blood and urine samples obtained from the patient were positive for the Pan Filo virus analysis and Ebola Zaire MGB virus strain – specific analysis. Samples were also collected for further confirmation at the WHO, collaborating laboratory for Ebola in Dakar.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, an isolation ward has been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management. The designation of three other health facilities was said to be under way.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Idris explained that adhering strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was decontaminated using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia. “A cremation report has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nasidi, who allayed fears that EVD cannot be acquired through mere coming into contact with the EVD patient, disclosed that effort to send the packaged sample of the decease to Dakar failed as the courier company turned it down.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We were disappointed that the courier rejected the sample. That is why we immediately sought the second opinion of World Health Organisation, WHO, recommended laboratory which is International Centre for Genomics. We are still going to dispatch it to Dakar, most likely first thing today but the WHO has accepted this result.”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Nasidi explained further that even dead bodies of EVD could be more dangerous in terms of transmission.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Case management<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />To ensure appropriate case management and infection prevention and control, he explained that an isolation ward has been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management, adding that the designation of three other health facilities is under way.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Further, he disclosed that a total of 100 Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs, have been procured by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and Federal Ministry of Health, FMOH and distributed to the private hospital and the state Ministry of Health and WHO also donated 250 PPEs to the NCDC/FMOH.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On how the corpse was decomposed, the Commissioner said the state adhered strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was de-contaminated, using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia.  “A cremation report has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated,” he added.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recognising the importance of involving the community early in the response, he stated that already the various communities, traditional and religious leaders have been alerted about the disease and urged to report promptly to healthcare workers of any suspected case.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Categories of EVD<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Explaining categories of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, spread, he explained that “those who come in direct contact of excretions of the dead are primary high risk group; the second group are those that come in contact with facilities used to actually treat or handle these patients; the third category are those who come in contact with those who came in very closed contact with the victim or the dead body.  However, the fourth category is those who are within the areas of active transmission of the virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is also important we clarify a question of whether any of the contacts has been tested -  the two laboratories are on standby for 24 hours and we have the APIN and the laboratory committee on the group screening one on one, and taking temperature of the contacts twice a day – morning and evening. We are following WHO criteria and the special protocol that you screen only the blood of only those contacts that start developing symptoms.  We are going to identify few of them that we’d already known that came directly in contact with the blood of the deceased while managing him,” he added.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Warning communities that eat bats, he said this is the time for them to desist from consuming it. Similarly, he noted that some communities that worship bats and keep them in their houses should be very careful and stop the act.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Burials<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />On burial ceremonies of people who died from EVD, he said it had been shown that 40 per cent of the cases of Ebola virus spread was from the mishandling of the burial of the dead bodies.  He warned that in case of any Ebola death, people should not just go and bury but contact public health officials.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Preventive tips<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Oyewale Tomori, who commended the state government for its prompt response, harped on the rules of hand washing and infection control.  “There is no need for panic if we follow the rules of hand washing and infection control. There is need for Nigerians to be at alert as it is happening within the West African countries. There is absolutely no need to panic, he insisted.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Where it has spread, it is because people have abandoned the rules of hand washing and infection control; we shouldn’t have diseases like Ebola if we maintain the rules of hand washing. Where people have followed the rules of hand washing, we must be at alert; we are not out of the wood yet.  We must continue to be at alert. We need to be washing our hands but no reason to panic.” He explained that domestic animals are not carriers of Ebola virus and people who are rearing domestic animals such as pig should not be afraid.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina urged residents and health officials in the state to report any suspected case of Ebola virus immediately. Adeshina appealed to residents to reduce the risk of contracting the disease by observing high standard of hygiene through washing of hands often with soap and water.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick and ensure that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and properly disposed because fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous,” Adeshina urged residents.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NCAA suspends A_SKY Airline operations to Nigeria<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, said it has suspended all A_SKY Airline operations to Nigeria with immediate effect. The airline flew the Liberian infected with the Ebola virus into Lagos, which has created panic and diverted world attention to Nigeria.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nigerian-ambassador-3-ecowas-staff-55-others-contact-lagos-ebola-victim-idris/#sthash.B8f7LruR.dpuf</span></div>

Nigerian ambassador, 3 ECOWAS staff, 55 others had contact with Lagos Ebola victim — Idris - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nigerian-ambassador-3-ecowas-staff-55-others-contact-lagos-ebola-victim

-Idris .No Nigerian infected .Nigerians should stop eating bats .Domestic animals not carrier of the virus By Chioma Obinna, Olasunk...

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What you should know about salt and hypertension

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="itemToolbar" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: none; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <ul style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <li style="background-image: none; border: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 8px; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" id="fontDecrease" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/templates/sj_flatnews/images/system/font_decrease.gif); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration: none; width: 13px;"><img alt="decrease font size" src="http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/blank.gif" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/font_decrease.gif); 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border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 8px; text-align: center;"><a class="itemEmailLink" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&template=sj_flatnews&link=f8c442ee593d3ecc24e90eba0ac588672211c256" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Email</a></li> </span></ul> </div> <div class="item-info" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr Abiodun Adeoye </span></div> <div class="itemRatingBlock" style="padding: 8px 0px;"> <div class="itemRatingForm" style="float: left; vertical-align: middle;"> <ul class="itemRatingList" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/transparent_star.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 25px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 125px;"> <li class="itemCurrentRating" id="itemCurrentRating11580" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/transparent_star.gif); background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: 25px; left: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 0px; z-index: 1;"></li> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="one-star" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 25px; z-index: 6;" title="1 star out of 5">1</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="two-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 50px; z-index: 5;" title="2 stars out of 5">2</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="three-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 75px; z-index: 4;" title="3 stars out of 5">3</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="four-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100px; z-index: 3;" title="4 stars out of 5">4</a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">P</span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">)</span></a></li> </span></ul> <div class="clr" style="border: none; clear: both; float: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="clr" style="border: none; clear: both; float: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="itemBody" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="itemFullText"> <div id="ebzNative_above"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <img alt="salt2" src="http://www.tribune.com.ng/images/salt2.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 10px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sustained raised blood pressure otherwise called hypertension is not a respecter of person or nation. Hypertension is of global health concern affecting the rich, the poor, educated ones and those not privileged to attend school.  </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Heart failure, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, and stroke result majorly from poorly treated hypertension. Despite the advance in management of hypertension and availability of genuine drug, less than third of the people with hypertension get their blood pressure well controlled, i.e., the level at which complication may not occur. If this is the case, prevention is the best option, which is cheaper and affordable by all and sundry. </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">High salt intake has long been associated with high blood pressure and reasonably, one would expect prevention of hypertension, if we all cut down on  the consumption of salt. But with controversy on salt and hypertension, some people are getting confused.  Certain researchers believe that salt is not the cause of hypertension while some say it is an interplay of several factors meaning removing other factors, consumption of salt irrespective of type or quantity is not associated with raised blood pressure. In this column, I would want our esteemed readers to make an informed choice as examine the effect of salt in the body especially cardiovascular system.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What is salt?</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Salt and sodium are interchangeably used depending on which part of the world you are.  Most countries like Nigeria use “salt” while in USA and Canada, the term “sodium” is used. However, on a weight basis,salt comprises 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chloride.The conversion of different units for sodium and salt is as follows: 1 g of sodium = 2.5 g of salt, 1 mmol of sodium = 23 mg of sodium, 1 g of salt = 0.4 g of sodium, and 1 g of salt = 17 mmol of sodium. Salt is the major source of sodium in the diet (≈ 90 per cent).  </span></div> <center style="height: 0px; margin: auto; overflow: hidden; width: auto;"> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"> </div> <div id="ebzNative"> </div> </center> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Types of salt</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not all salts are created equal. Natural salt contains 84 percent sodium chloride, and 16 percent naturally-occurring trace minerals, including silicon, phosphorous and vanadium. Processed (table) salt, on the other hand, contains 97.5 per cent sodium chloride and the rest is man-made chemicals, such as moisture absorbents and flow agents. These are dangerous chemicals like ferrocyanide and aluminosilicate. A small amount of iodine or vitamin A may also be added.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Based on this fact, some researchers found that probably it is the excess consumption of processed salt that causes hypertension not the natural salt. From all angles, it will be wrong for any health educator to “sentence” an individual to “no – salt diet”. There are functions of salt in the body.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Functions of salt</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As earlier stated, salt provides two elements – sodium and chloride – that are essential for life. Your body cannot make these elements on its own, so you must get them from your diet. Some of the many biological processes for which natural salt is crucial include: </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Salt a major component of your blood plasma (fluid), lymphatic fluid, extracellular fluid, and even amniotic fluid (which is the fluid in the womb when you are pregnant). It carries nutrients into and out of your body cells, and helps maintain your acid-base balance (not allowing acid to be too much in the body). Salt helps to increase the glial cells in your brain, which are responsible for creative thinking and long-term planning.  Maintain and regulate blood pressure so that it will not be too low. Salt helps your brain to communicate with your muscles, so that you can move on demand via sodium-potassium in exchange.  Lastly it supports the function of your adrenal glands, which produce dozens of vital hormones. </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our readers, it is not my intention to make this discussion technical or difficult but the aim is for us to have basic understanding and make informed decision when it comes to effect of salt on blood pressure. I will stop here and continue next week. Till then, maintain a healthy heart.</span></div> </div> </div> </div>

What you should know about salt and hypertension

      Print  Email -  Dr Abiodun Adeoye  1 2 3 4 P ) Sustained raised blood pressure otherwise called hyperte...

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