scholarly journals Biopsychosocial Functions of Human Walking and Adherence to Behaviourally Demanding Belief Systems: A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane O’Mara
Keyword(s):  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Community Support ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Walking ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Health Promoting

Human walking is a socially embedded and shaped biological adaptation: it frees our hands, makes our minds mobile, and is deeply health promoting. Yet, today, physical inactivity is an unsolved, major public health problem. However, globally, tens of millions of people annually undertake ancient, significant and enduring traditions of physiologically and psychologically arduous walks (pilgrimages) of days-to-weeks extent. Pilgrim walking is a significant human activity requiring weighty commitments of time, action and belief, as well as community support. Paradoxically, human walking is most studied on treadmills, not ‘in the wild’, while mechanistically vital, treadmill studies of walking cannot, in principle, address why humans walk extraordinary distances together to demonstrate their adherence to a behaviourally demanding belief system.Pilgrim walkers provide a rich ‘living laboratory’ bridging humanistic inquiries, to progressive theoretical and empirical investigations of human walking arising from a behaviourally demanding belief system. Pilgrims vary demographically and undertake arduous journeys on precisely mapped routes of tracked, titrated doses and durations on terrain of varying difficulty, allowing investigations from molecular to cultural levels of analysis. Using the reciprocal perspectives of ‘inside→out’ (where processes within brain and body initiate, support and entrain movement) and ‘outside→in’ (where processes in the world beyond brain and body drive activity within brain and body), we examine how pilgrim walking might shape personal, social and transcendental processes, revealing potential mechanisms supporting the body and brain in motion, to how pilgrim walking might offer policy solutions for physical inactivity.

scholarly journals Solvitur Ambulando: Why Humans Walk Extraordinary Distances Together Serving Abstract Ends

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane O'Mara
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Human Walking ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Biological Adaptation ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Health Promoting

Human walking is a socially-embedded and shaped biological adaptation: it frees our hands, make our minds mobile and is deeply health-promoting. Yet, today, physical inactivity is an unsolved, major public health problem. However, globally, tens of millions of people annually undertake ancient, significant, and enduring traditions of physiologically- and psychologically-arduous walks (pilgrimages) of days-to-weeks extent. Pilgrim walking is celebrated, discussed, and analysed in important literary, historical, and religious works as a defining human activity: one requiring weighty commitments of time, action, and belief, as well as community support. Paradoxically, human walking is most studied on treadmills, not ‘in the wild’. While mechanistically vital, treadmill studies of walking cannot, in principle, address why humans walk extraordinary distances together for abstract ends, or provide the means to bring much-needed physical activity back into our everyday lives.Pilgrim walkers provide a rich ‘living laboratory’ bridging literary, historical, and religious inquiries, to progressive theoretical and empirical investigations of human walking serving abstract ends. Pilgrims offer advantages for causal investigations: they vary demographically, and they undertake arduous journeys on precisely-mapped routes of tracked, titrated, doses and durations on terrain of varying difficulty, allowing controlled investigations from molecular to cultural levels of analysis. Here, using a novel, naturalistic, framework, we examine how pilgrim walking might shape personal, social, and transcendental processes, revealing potential mechanisms supporting the socially-embedded body and brain in motion, and beyond, to how pilgrim walking might offer some potential solutions for physical inactivity in society at large.

scholarly journals The dengue viruses.

1990 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Henchal ◽  
J R Putnak
Keyword(s):  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Hypovolemic Shock ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
The Body ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Acute Infectious Disease ◽  
Headache Pain

Dengue, a major public health problem throughout subtropical and tropical regions, is an acute infectious disease characterized by biphasic fever, headache, pain in various parts of the body, prostration, rash, lymphadenopathy, and leukopenia. In more severe or complicated dengue, patients present with a severe febrile illness characterized by abnormalities of hemostasis and increased vascular permeability, which in some instances results in a hypovolemic shock. Four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus (dengue-1, dengue-2, dengue-3, and dengue-4) exist, with numerous virus strains found worldwide. Molecular cloning methods have led to a greater understanding of the structure of the RNA genome and definition of virus-specific structural and nonstructural proteins. Progress towards producing safe, effective dengue virus vaccines, a goal for over 45 years, has been made.

scholarly journals Public knowledge of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Tangail, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1838
Author(s):  
Masuder Rahman ◽  
Sakila Akter ◽  
Fatama Tous Zohora ◽  
Abu Zaffar Shibly
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Heart Attack ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Unhealthy Diet ◽  
Common Risk Factors

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a major public health problem throughout the world. In Bangladesh, the reliable data concerning various aspects of CVD is inadequate at present due to lack of national population-based surveys or central administrative health data. Given the rising incidence of CVDs in Bangladesh, an improved understanding of the CVD, symptoms and risk factors is needed. Hence, this study was performed to assess the level of knowledge towards CVD types, warning symptoms of heart attack or stroke, and CVD risk factors.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 2018 to June 2018 using standard questionnaire on a sample of 350 randomly selected Bangladeshi individuals. All the data of the study were input in SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 20.0 software from IBM for windows and the gathered data thus analyzed using SPSS & Microsoft Excel.Results: The respondents’ knowledge about types of CVD, symptom heart attack, symptom of stroke and the risk factors of CVD are 38.9%, 67.7%, 35.7%, and 92.9% respectively. The most common risk factors of CVD found to be known by around than two-third of respondents were unhealthy diet (66.9%), physical inactivity (64.3), obesity (61.4%), and smoking (58.6%).Conclusions: The respondents’ knowledge about types of CVD, symptom heart attack, symptom of stroke and the risk factors of CVD are 38.9%, 67.7%, 35.7%, and 92.9% respectively. The most common risk factors of CVD found to be known by around than two-third of respondents were unhealthy diet (66.9%), physical inactivity (64.3), obesity (61.4%), and smoking (58.6%).

scholarly journals Physical Inactivity, and Its Association with Hypertension Among Employees in the District of Colombo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuji Upekshika Gamage ◽  
Rohini de Alwis Seneviratne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Moderate Activity ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Total Transport ◽  
Commuting Distance

Abstract Background: Physical inactivity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is a major public health problem. Insufficient activity is responsible for a large proportion of non-communicable diseases such as hypertensionObjectives: The purpose of this study was to assess socio-economic variations in physical activity and to measure the association between physical-inactivity and hypertension among government officials in Sri Lanka.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 275 senior-officers(SOs) and 760 managerial-assistants(MAs) aged 30-60 years and attached to Public Administration institutions in Colombo District in Sri Lanka. Physical-activity(PA) was gathered using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ) adopted and validated to the Sri Lankan context. Blood pressure(measured and classified using JNC-7 guidelines), and anthropometric indices were recorded. Energy utilization of all vigorous and moderated PA and walking was expressed as metabolic-equivalent-of-task(MET) min per week. A total MET score was calculated and categorized based on IPAQ guidelines. Results: Socio-economic variations in PA levels were observed as 58.1%(n=158) SOs and 30.6%(n=226) MAs were involved in inadequate PA. Of the diagnosed hypertensives, 44.7%(n=106), and 49.4%(n=117) reported a low and moderate PA and considering non-hypertensives, 35.9%(n=278), 57.5%(n=445) reported a low and moderate activity levels respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors being physically inactive was associated with a higher risk of hypertension[Odds rate ratio(OR) 1.33[95% CI 1.07, 1,65], indicating that physical-inactivity increased the risk of hypertension by 30%. The main modality of commuting to work for SOs(59%) was private transport, and MAs(64%) public transport Commuting distance was positively correlated(p<0.05) with total transport MET among SOs and MAs. After adjusting, commuting distance of >20 km was associated with lower odds of hypertension among SOs and MAs(OR=0.713; 95% CI 0.4 to1.3; and OR=0.63; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.87).Conclusion: Despite the current knowledge that being physically active promotes health, the practice was different. Physical inactivity was associated with hypertension and prevalent among both SOs and MAs. Higher commuting distance is positively correlated with total transport MET and associated with lower odds of hypertension among SOs and MAs. Longitudinal studies are required to provide a causative association between physical inactivity and hypertension among these employees.

scholarly journals Diuretic treatment in chronic heart failure

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-159
Author(s):  
Camelia C. DIACONU ◽  
◽  
Alice BĂLĂCEANU ◽  
Mihaela Adela IANCU ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Diuretic Therapy ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Body ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Central Pillar

Heart failure is a major public health problem in developed countries. Many of the clinical manifestations of heart failure are due to congestion and fluid retention, therefore diuretic therapy occupied for a long time an important place in the management of these patients. All diuretics increase the excretion of water from the body, each of the classes of diuretics achieving this effect in a distinct manner. Given the magnitude of their effect, loop diuretics are the central pillar of diuretic therapy in many patients with heart failure. Resistance to diuretic therapy is one of the management issues for medical science, which is looking for solutions.

scholarly journals Obesity – a closer look to cell mechanisms disfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Elena BĂLĂȘESCU ◽  
◽  
Larisa Diana PANDIA ◽  
Roxana Ioana NEDELCU ◽  
Daniela Adriana ION ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Visceral Adipose

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial condition, a major public health problem with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Obesity is characterized by an excess of adipose tissue, a low degree of chronic inflammation and disorders in the synthesis of biologically active hormones and peptides which intervene in regulating appetite and energy balance, immunity, insulin sensitivity, angiogenesis, blood pressure, lipid metabolism and homeostasis of the body. The visceral adipose tissue accumulation is accompanied by metabolic disorders that have as a substrate subclinical inflammation and signaling by intracellular pathways that lead to irreversible cellular structural and functional changes. The long-term impact of overweight and obesity translates into shortening life expectancy and disability, due to association with severe comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, oncological conditions. Therefore, understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in obesity may facilitate the highlighting of new possible therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals WARAM-I MEDA (GASTRITIS) AND ITS MANAGEMENT FROM UNANI PERSPECTIVE

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azma Waseem ◽  
Waseem Ahmad ◽  
Anwar Jamal ◽  
Mohammad Fazil ◽  
Asim Ali Khan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Bile Reflux ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Body ◽  
Gastric Ulcers ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Continuous Use

In the present scenario, gastritis still remains a major public health problem that affects the population of both the developed as well as developing countries. More than 50% of the population in developing countries suffers from gastritis, whereas 34.7 % of the population in developed countries had health problems due to gastritis. Main causes of gastritis are infections, stress, continuous use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol and bile reflux. Gastritis if remains untreated or undiagnosed causes Quruh-i Meda (gastric ulcers). Prolonged and progressive inflammation results in destruction of gastric mucosa (Atrophic gastritis) and reduction in gastric acid secretions. These two factors are considered as the main risk factors in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Unani physicians have given much importance to this disease. In Unani system of medicine, there is elaborated description of gastritis under the heading of Waram-i Meda with causes, symptoms and its effective management. The fundamental principles of Unani treatment of gastritis is to restore the normalcy of the patient, correction of temperament (Mizaj ), humoral balance in the organ and the body, and toning up of the stomach. All these principles are achieved mostly by three modes of treatment i.e. Iaj bil Tadbeer (Regimenal therapy), Ilaj bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy) and Ilaj bil Dawa (Pharmacotherapy). In this review article, Waram-i Meda (gastritis) is elaborated with its type, causes and treatment in Unani perspective with the objective to reduce the burden of gastritis and prevention of complications associated with gastritis.

scholarly journals Growth and Nutritional Status of Adolescent School Girls in a Food Insecure Rural Area of Bangladesh: An Anthropometric Perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 103-111
Author(s):  
Md Azizur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The Body ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Growth Reference ◽  
School Girls ◽  
Rural Adolescent

The present study explored the growth and nutritional status among rural adolescent school girls of food insecure Berasub district of Pabna district in Bangldesh. The study was carried out in rural adolescent school girls of 21 government approved High schools of Berasu district of Pabna district, Bangladesh. Anthropometric and socio-demographic information from 2196 adolescent girls were collected during 2011-2012 academic session. Height and weight were measured using standard procedure and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BMI was compared to 2007 WHO growth reference. Height- for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and BMI-for-age (BMIZ) were used to evaluate stunting, underweight and thinness respectively, based on the National Centre of Heath Statistics (NCHS) < - 2 Z score values. Classification of severity of malnutrition was done based on WHO recommendation. Mean BMI-for-age were less than those of 2007 WHO growth reference for girls at all ages. The overall rate of stunting, underweight and thinness was 33.13%, 28.06% and 17.92% respectively. Based on WHO classification of severity of malnutrition, the overall prevalence of stunting was high (30-39%), whereas those of underweight (≥ 30) and thinness (≥ 15) were very high. The study explores that poor health and nutritional status among the adolescents indicating a major public health problem in food insecure rural areas of Bangladesh. An intensive and comprehensive approach is required to improve the nutritional status of rural adolescent girls of Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjsa.v6i0.10691   Himalayan Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.6 2014: 103-111

scholarly journals Implications of alcoholic cirrhosis in atherosclerosis of autopsied patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-340
Author(s):  
Luciano Alves Matias da Silveira ◽  
Bianca Gonçalves Silva Torquato ◽  
Mariana Silva Oliveira ◽  
Guilherme Ribeiro Juliano ◽  
Lívia Ferreira Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Alcoholic Cirrhosis ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Early Injury ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Young Subjects ◽  
Liver Fragments

Summary Introduction: Alcoholism is a major public health problem, which has a high social cost and affects many aspects of human activity. Liver disease is one of the first consequences of alcohol abuse, and steatosis, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis may occur. Other organs are also affected with pathological changes, such as pancreatitis, cardiomyopathies, dyslipidemias and atherosclerosis. Objective: To identify the occurrence and degree of atherosclerosis in alcohol-dependent individuals with liver cirrhosis, observing macroscopic and microscopic changes in lipid and collagen deposits and in the liver. We also aimed to verify the association of lipid and collagen fiber deposits with gender, age and body mass index, and to relate alcoholism, liver cirrhosis and atherosclerosis. Method: We performed a study based on autopsy reports of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, with analysis of aorta and liver fragments to verify the occurrence and degree of atherosclerosis, as well as collagen contents. Results: Microscopic atherosclerosis was higher in young subjects (early injury) and in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The macroscopic analysis of atherosclerosis in aortas showed that patients in more advanced age groups presented more severe classifications. Atherosclerosis, both micro and macroscopically, and the percentage of fibrosis in the liver and aorta were more expressive in females. Conclusion: Cirrhotic patients presented a higher percentage of fibrosis and lipidosis, and may represent a group susceptible to the accelerated progression of cardiovascular diseases. Investigative studies contribute to targeting health-promoting interventions, reducing the mortality and costs of treating cardiovascular disease.

scholarly journals Physical inactivity, and its association with hypertension among employees in the district of Colombo

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. U. Gamage ◽  
R. de A. Seneviratne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Total Transport ◽  
Commuting Distance ◽  
Physically Inactive

Abstract Background Physical inactivity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is a major public health problem. Insufficient activity is responsible for a large proportion of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess socioeconomic variations in physical activity and to measure the association between physical inactivity and hypertension among government officials in Sri Lanka. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among 275 senior-officers(SOs) and 760 managerial-assistants(MAs) aged 30–60 years and attached to Public Administration institutions in Colombo District in Sri Lanka. Physical-activity(PA) was gathered using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ) adopted and validated to the Sri Lankan context. Blood pressure(measured and classified using JNC-7 guidelines) and anthropometric indices were recorded. Energy utilization of all vigorous and moderated PA and walking was expressed as metabolic-equivalent-of-task(MET) min per week. A total-MET-score was calculated and categorized based on IPAQ guidelines. Results Socioeconomic variations in PA levels were observed as 58.1%(n = 158) SOs and 30.6%(n = 226) MAs were involved in inadequate PA. Among the SOs diagnosed with hypertension, more half(59.1%; n = 52) were physically inactive, while among MAs, 65.9%(n = 143) with hypertension were physically inactive. After adjusting for potential confounding factors being physically inactive was associated with a higher risk of hypertension among SOs[OR 2.08 [95% CI 1.07, 4.6] and MAs[OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.8, 4.6]. The main modality of commuting to work for SOs(59%) was private transport, and MAs(64%) public transport Commuting distance was positively correlated(p < 0.05) with total transport MET among SOs and MAs. After adjusting for confounders, commuting distance of > 20 km was found to lower the odds of hypertension among SOs and MAs(OR = 0.713; 95% CI 0.4 to1.3; and OR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.87). Conclusion Despite the current knowledge that being physically active promotes health, the practice was different. Physical inactivity was associated with hypertension and prevalent among both SOs and MAs. Higher commuting distance is positively correlated with total transport MET and associated with lower odds of hypertension among SOs and MAs. Longitudinal studies are required to provide a causative association between physical inactivity and hypertension among these employees.

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