Zoonoses diseases are increasingly getting the attention of the world. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention United States, for example, have recently focused their investigations on zoonotic diseases, or infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa.

Henry Walke as the Head of Program Coordination Office and the World Health Development and public health at the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) United States said Tuesday (9/3/2010), about 60 percent of new infectious diseases emerge a zoonotic disease.

He said, zoonotic diseases have increasingly become a threat, especially in large populated country, diverse, and has a diversity of wildlife, including wild animals.

A number of factors trigger disease transmission are environmental changes caused distances between human and animals  shorten. Another factor is the domestication of animals, including exotic animals. As a result, diseases that was before stayed only in animals now moves to humans. A number of cases such as the occurrence of bird flu, rabies, and ebola are examples that cause serious problems and occurs in several countries.

“Most of the disease investigations by CDC lead to cases of zoonoses,” Henry said in the activities of Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication in Atlanta, Tuesday.

To control these diseases, a good public health infrastructure is needed, like surveillance devices or monitoring of disease. CDC itself provides technical assistance on request from countries.  The assistance provided is usually technical assistance and expertise specific to a particular disease.

Ray Arthur, director of the Global Disease Detection Operations Center CDC says, disease detection and investigation program are more active, particularly after the emergence of SARS cases in various parts of the world. Through detection, there are more new pathogens found, at least five new pathogen in 2003 which turns to approximately 30 new pathogens until the year 2008.

Steve Monroe, director of Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases National Center for Zoonotic Vector-borne and enteric disease CDC says, a pathogen is not always entirely new. It can occur as the pathogen already exists, but not recognized. That’s because the pathogens isolated in the bodies of animals or isolated human.

“Generally, a new pathogen will be known after an increase in cases in the population,” he said.

To find new pathogens, they build a system, one of which is gathering news from thousands of media around the world. Media screening has become an early warning of disease.

If the case is considered significant, the team sent down to investigate the case. CDC has about 18 representatives around the world. In some countries they are investigating the wild polio virus, HIV, and avian influenza (H5N1).

Ray added, the challenge in dealing with diseases of global nature, among others, is the inability of the authorities at the scene to detect accurately. In addition, the leaders are also reluctant to report cases that happened to the global community.

Salt is very necessary to make a delicious dishes. However, too much salt was dangerous to health. Excessive salt intake can increase blood pressure.

This one item seems trivial. But a little less on food, can make bland food. Meanwhile, when most would threaten your health. “When viewed in the size of the individual, reducing salt intake may be affected only slightly in the body. But in a larger population, can be seen decline in cardiac disorders and certainly a significant health cost savings, “said author Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler.

For the purpose of this is the U.S. government began to encourage the movement to reduce salt. In addition to increasing the health level, also reducing the state budget. “We hope that the government did not delay this action. And we urge the Ministry of Health, “Dr. Walter Willett as the head of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. Walter.

Ministry of Health of New York also fully supports this campaign, by initiating movement The National Salt Reduction or reduction of the national salt consumption. This campaign seeks to cut salt intake by 20 percent over five years into the future. This campaign aimed primarily for the restaurant and food business, which largely contributed to salt intake for the population of the United States.

The actions of the American government is not without reason. According to Dr Thomas R Frieden, too much consuming salt causes at least 100,000 deaths annually in America. Furthermore, Thomas said, as quoted from webmd.com, there are at least two ways to cut the use of salt in food and making people healthier life.

The first road, the government in collaboration with food companies to reduce the amount of sodium used in food processing. This action is similar to that done by the previous British country. By running this, no decrease in salt intake of about 9.5 per cent in each population of England.

The same percentage can be gained by the United States if the following ways that have been run by the British. Americans could prevent as many as 531,885 cases of stroke and 480,358 cases of heart attack, for people aged between 40-85 years old. This can both improve the quality of life more than 2.1 million lives and could save medical expenses up 32.1 million dollars.

Other way is to levy taxes on the salt so that the price of the product rose 40 percent salt. In this way is estimated to 327,892 cases and 306,137 cases of stroke, heart attacks could be reduced. Health costs were saved up 22.4 million dollars, and improve the quality of life of 1.3 million inhabitants.

Reflecting on the experience of other countries, England for example, which has pioneered the movement nationally to reduce salt, reduce the salt levels will in fact immediately raises the pros and cons in society.

“Conversely, if governments do trimming salinity is gradually and slowly, so people will not realize it,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health for Seattle and King County, Washington.

It seems Americans are trying hard to fight salt intake. Even the Department of Food and Drug Administration says the United States, healthy food salt content should not exceed 480 mg in each presentation.

Despite being much reviled, but the true sodium, or salt plays a major role in food processing. In the salt content of useful to keep the bacteria multiply in food. Especially in cheese products, salad dressings, and food fermentation. Salt is also an essential nutrient to add flavor and food coloring. Some foods are added to salt in it, including tomato sauce, soups, and canned food.

Before buying food products, you should first read the label indicated. Salt content in foods can be seen from nutrition facts label. Notice how the existing levels of sodium in foods, which are measured in milligrams (mg). Read also whether the food contains a soda. Soda here refers to sodium bicarbonate or baking soda,.

Keep in mind also, some writing that is usually listed on the label. For example, sodium-free or free of sodium, that is only using sodium less than 5 mg in each product. While sodium is very low or very low sodium, means reducing as much as 35 mg of sodium in each product. The low sodium, means the product is to reduce sodium 140 mg in each presentation.

You may often find a written product contains no added salt or no salt (unsalted or no salt added). This product is not using such salts used. But that does not mean free of salt, still, still contains salt, but salt is a natural part of the product concerned.

Sodium should be aware not only of food. Thus even with medication. In fact, drugs on the market also contain sodium. Thus, first read the existing label on the drug. Note the contents contained in the drug and read carefully what the drug does contain sodium.

Usually drugs that contain sodium is 5 mg per dose. The solution, some pharmaceutical companies are now starting to produce drugs that lower sodium. If you are still in doubt, it is better to ask first to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to buy drugs. So, have you reduce the salt today?

People with high blood pressure (hypertension) should be smart in choosing their meal. The two main foods that can affect hypertension is salt or sodium intake and potassium intake.

But there are ways diet can be done for patients with hypertension which is the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).

The diets was developed in the United States but has been successfully used in nations around the world such as  South Africa.

Just so you know, South Africa in general, and the African population in particular, are vulnerable to hypertension or high blood pressure.

An estimated 24.4 percent of adults in South Africa suffer from hypertension. Consequently, many of which had a stroke and brain damage in this population. Salt intake and high potassium is the main cause.

Whereas the WHO recommends a ratio of sodium to potassium in the diet is 1:1. But in Africa, the consumption of sodium are very high which could reach 8 grams / day (compared with the recommended maximum of 6 grams / day). While in the other hand the consumption of potassium are very low (50-60 mmol / day). This is what causes many people to suffer high blood pressure in South Africa.

Studies conducted by Professor Karen Charlton and his team in 2007 at the University of Cape Town and Medical Research Council in Cape Town, the DASH diet achieved promising results in 80 patients with a mild to moderate hypertension who received antihypertensive medication. Only by changing the six items of food in their diet for eight weeks.

DASH diet has provided scientific evidence that eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with a low-fat milk or fat-free, can increase potassium, magnesium and calcium intake. While reducing sodium intake to a level acceptable to reduce blood pressure.

Prof. harlton provided bread, margarine, broth, soup mix and a sense amplifier with less sodium or salt content and Maas 500 ml per day (not seasoned sour cream) for the 40 ‘candidates’ for a period of eight weeks.

Another 40 people classified as ‘control subjects’ are given the same diet with normal content of salt and 500 ml of cold sweet drinks for the same period.

After eight weeks, systolic blood pressure an average of 6.2 candidates mm Hg lower than control subjects. Whereas systolic blood pressure and diastolic BP control subjects as measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring 24-hour average above 4.5 mm Hg lower than testing participants.

In thegroup participants sodium intake test did not change, whereas participants in the control group increased by almost 1 gram per day.

Nutritional intake increased dramatically. Calcium intake increased almost double, potassium intake was almost 900 mg per day and magnesium intake increased by 84 mg per day in the test group.

Please note that the increased intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium is achieved without the use of mineral supplements.

Prof. Charlton and his team (2007) concluded that their research showed the public health response.

“You can achieve reduction in systolic blood pressure is clinically significant for the treatment of hypertension is low-income communities in South Africa through the manipulation of the seven dietary intake of processed foods,” he said.

This study not only indicates that the poor with few resources can make dietary changes that can increase blood pressure, but the eating habit can be changed by making some adjustments.

The most common type of heart attack is caused by a coronary thrombosis, which occurs when a clot (thrombus) blocks one or more of the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle. As a result of the lack of blood, part of the muscle may be damaged, and its ability to contract may be lost. This is known as a myocardial infarction. If the infarct is small and the electrical impulses that control the heart’s contractions (beats) are not disturbed, chances for recovery are excellent.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary thrombosis is one of the manifestations of coronary artery disease. As we grow older, our blood vessels tend to lose their elasticity, a process known as arteriosclerosis. The arteries may also become narrowed or clogged with deposits of fatty material called atheromas, a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is progressive and usually does not produce symptoms until there is significant blockage in the blood flow. Sometimes, in fact, the first symptom of this heart disease is a heart attack.

Although the specific cause of atherosclerosis is not known, it has been found that certain risk factors help in identifying population groups that are more likely to develop it. Three major risk factors are high levels of cholesterol and other blood fats, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cigarette smoking. Others include diabetes, obesity, a sedentary life style, aging, being male and heredity.

Atherosclerosis begins forming as a fatty streak on the inner wall of an artery, usually at its branching-out point, and disturbs the smooth flow of blood. As patches of fatty tissue build up, the inner wall becomes narrower, which inhibits blood flow in a more significant way. An artery continues to narrow as the tissue buildup progresses, and in time, the fatty deposit becomes a hard mass of fatty tissue with a tough outer lining of cells – a plaque. As plaques spread and thicken, they erode the wall of the artery, which interferes with blood flow and makes it increasingly turbulent. This turbulence may trigger the blood to form a clot (thrombus), partially or completely blocking the artery. Further, a fragment of the clot (embolus) may be carried by the bloodstream and block an artery at some distant, narrower point.

Heart attacks sometimes occur in people with little or no coronary artery disease. Some experts believe that a spasm or sudden constriction of the coronary artery may be the cause of these heart attacks. It appears that a spasm may occur in a coronary artery that is totally free of atherosclerosis (as well as in one that is heavily affected by that condition), and this would explain why many people suffer angina and other cardiac problems without any evidence of underlying blockage in the arteries.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack can come on gradually, preceded by several attacks of angina over days, weeks, months or even years. (Angina is the name given to the chest pain that arises when the muscular wall of the heart is temporarily deprived of sufficient oxygen.) But a heart attack may also occur without any apparent warning, and in people who have never previously experienced any chest pain.

Typically, the pain of a heart attack is a sensation of constriction in the central chest area; it may vary in intensity from a feeling of tightness to one of agonizing crushing or bursting. The pain may be continuous, or it may last a few minutes, fade and then recur. It commonly spreads to the back, jaw and left arm. Although a heart attack may be precipitated by physical or emotional stress, the pain, unlike that of angina, does not subside when the stress ceases.

Pain is commonly accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness and pallor. (Some people experience a heart attack without any of these symptoms. This is known as a “silent” infarct, which may be confirmed by changes in an electrocardiogram or certain other hospital tests.)

A Medical Emergency

Most deaths from heart attack occur within minutes to hours after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, when sudden and severe chest pain occurs, an ambulance should be called immediately and the individual taken to a hospital. Denying that these symptoms represent a life-threatening illness may cause a delay that could be fatal.

One of the major cause of death from coronary thrombosis is the development of abnormal heart rhythms in the hours immediately following the attack. Emergency treatment, therefore, concentrates on stabilizing the heart rhythm, as well as on relieving pain and preventing shock.

In the hospital’s intensive-care or cardiac-care unit, the rate and rhythm of the heart will be continuously monitored by an electrocardiograph machine. Blood tests to detect enzymes released from the heart aid in assessing the infarct further and various medications may be given. Mood changes and feelings of apprehension are very common following a heart attack, and a mild tranquilizer is often given to the patient.

Depending on the severity of the attack, the patient may be allowed out of bed within three or four days and be discharged after two weeks. Bed rest for more than a short time should be avoided, where possible, because it results in a rapid loss of the body’s muscle tone and in increased heart rate on exertion. Physical activity is gradually increased and most patients are able to return to their full range of normal activity within a few months.

Long-Term Treatment

Depending on such factors as the patient’s age and general physical condition, and the extent of the heart damage, a variety of different approaches may be taken to deal with the underlying coronary artery disease and to reduce the possibility of another heart attack.

Changes in life style. A number of steps can be taken to prevent or slow down the progression of heart disease. These include stopping smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a low-cholesterol diet.

Drug treatment. The use of drugs depends upon the nature of the heart attack and underlying coronary disease. Antihypertensive drugs may be prescribed to lower the blood pressure. Other drugs may be given to improve heart function, prevent chest pain or lower the level of blood cholesterol.

Other treatments A number of other treatments, including coronary bypass surgery, are available. Obviously, their use depends upon individual needs.

There has been a dramatic decline in the number of deaths from heart attacks in the last decade. In 1970, nearly a million Americans died of cardiovascular disease; now the annual toll is below 600,000. The cause for this improved mortality rate are unknown, but most experts believe that the increased awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and their correction have played an important role in cutting the death toll.

What are the risks? Eventually, about half of all Americans develop some form of heart disease. The most common is a hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of fatty deposits along the vessel lining. This is a slow process that usually takes many years to develop into serious disease. If the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, become severely blocked by the fatty deposits, warning symptoms of heart disease may appear. These include shortness of breath, chest pains (angina pectoris) that are relieved by rest, or a combination of the two. In many people, however, there are no warning signs — the first symptom of heart disease may be a heart attack. This is why it is important to identify and correct possible risk factors before they reach this stage.

In recent years, a number of these risk factors have been identified. Some of them, such as age, sex and family history of heart disease, are things over which we have no control. But there also are a number of factors that can be modified or eliminated, and such action appears to reduce the portability of a heart attack. The three most important controllable risk factors are high blood pressure, high levels of blood cholesterol and cigarette smoking. In fact, many experts attribute the recent decline in cardiovascular deaths to the fact that more people than ever before are now being treated for high blood pressure. Changes in the American diet that have reduced the consumption of butter, eggs and animal fats – and consequently lowered the average blood cholesterol — and a reduction in smoking by middle-aged men also are credited with lowering the toll. Since the likelihood of developing heart disease increases when two or more risk factors are present, modifying the controllable ones helps reduce the hazard of those over which we have no control.

Role of Diet

Studies have shown that population groups whose diets are rich in cholesterol and other animal and dairy fats have more heart attacks that those whose diets are low in these saturated fats. Americans, whose diets are high in meat and eggs, have a higher incidence of heart disease than the Japanese, who end to eat very little meat and other animal and dairy fats.

Studies have also shown that high blood cholesterol — more than 200 miligrams per mililiter of blood — can be lowered by modifying the diet. This means eating more fish and poultry while cutting consumption of red meat, eggs, butter and other dairy fats, and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables and cereal grains. Substituting polyunsaturated cooking oils (corn, safflower or sunflower oil, for example) for lard or hardened shortening, and using margarines whose labels indicate a high ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats (for example, 4 to 2) instead of butter or margarines with less favorable ratios (e.g., equal or 2 to 3) also help to lower blood cholesterol.

Role of High Blood Pressure

People with high blood pressure have a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes. The cause of most high blood pressure is unkown, but it usually can be lowered by the use of antihypertensive drugs, reduced salt intake, and weight loss in people who are overweight. Controlling high blood pressure is an important preventive measure because it increases the work load of the heart and also directly contributes to hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).

Role of Cigarette Smoking

Since 1964, when the Surgeon General reported that cigarette smokers on the average had a 70 percent greater chance of having a heart attack than nonsmokers, many other studies have confirmed that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor. This risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked, and recent studies hae found that low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes do not lower the risk of heart disease. Stopping smoking is now considered one of the best things you can do to help prevent a heart attack.

Other Risk Factors

Sedentary life style. Although evidence linking a sedentary life style to increased likelihood of heart disease is indirect, physically active people are known to have wider coronary arteries, which presumably would not be as prone to blockage as those sedentary people.

Type A personality. In recent years, much discussion has focused on the relationship between the type A personality, characterized by anxiety, impatience and perfectionism, and the risk of a heart attack. Although many assessments have confirmed this relationship, scientific proof definitely linking personality type and the development of heart disease is yet to come.

Diabetes. People with diabetes, a serious disease in which the body cannot regulate its blood sugar (glucose), have a higher incidence of coronary disease and heart attacks. The incidence is increased further if the diabetic has other risk factors.

Obesity. the Framingham Study recently concluded that obesity alone increases the risk of heart disease — a hypothesis that has been debated for years. Since obesity often coexists with hypertension, diabetes and a sedentary life style, weight control is an important factor in reducing a number of coronary risk factors.

Sex and age. Some risk factors, such as age and aging and a person´s sex, are unavoidable. Statistics show that men under the age of 45 years are 10 times as likely to develop coronary artery disease as women in the same age group. Between the ages of 45 and 60 years, however, the sex difference diminishes. After age 60 years, the incidence of coronary artery disease is about equally distributed between men and women.

Family history. An inherited susceptibility is also an important risk factor that cannot be avoided. Some manifestations, such as high blood pressure or an inherited tendency to have very high blood blood cholesterol levels (familial hyper-cholesterolemia) can be controlled by drugs and diet.