UNDERSTANDING HEART ATTACKS: MYTHS AND REALITIES EXPLAINED

The outbreak was first detected around the last week of August when the Health ministry noticed an increase of people especially children under five years complaining about having diarrhoea in Gaborone and surrounding areas, Boteti, Selibe Phikwe and Maha

Ain children and can lead to complications like dehydration, which can be serious if not managed promptly.

To date, the source of the alarming outbreak has not yet been identified. In a statement last week Thursday, the ministry revealed the total number of reported that diarrhoea cases around the Mahalapye area stood at 592, Bobirwa 511, Gaborone

485 cases, Boteti 435, Ngami 250, Kweneng

East 232, Francistown 205, Selebi-Phikwe

221, Tonota 193 and Chobe 68 cases. This indicates a widespread outbreak. This has resulted in a total of eleven (11) deaths and the numbers are rising. By Monday this week however, the ministry was still compiling latest statistics. The most common cause of diarrhoea is viral infection such as rotavirus. Modiisane: First Motswana Optome shift that is impacting people in their 30s and attacks and strokes, both of which can be attributed 40s, particularly those with risk factors like to cholesterol-related arterial narrowing heart attack, also known as a myocardial obesity, smoking, alcohol use, high cholesterol, and structural heart issues. Strokes are defined infarction, happens when the diabetes, and hypertension. “The other causes as a reduction of blood flow to the brain. When flsyostwemoanfdbinlothoepdretvhenatitonborfings oxygen to a are rare,” he points out, “A healthy 30-year-old it comes to first aid when someone is having visual paretyoe fdiyseoasueranhdeianjrutrym. Thuesocplhethsaul-ddenly becomes can get a clot in the heart vessels, maybe because heart attack, Dr Monametsi emphasises the mologist is the medically trained specialist blocked, according to the US National Instincaeregpartoifvesesioenmalsoin-Botswanat.utepsrimoafryH, of an underlying disease, like lupus, or other importance of immediate action and advises who can deliver total eye care: secaolntdhar. y, and tertiary care diseases that increase clotting risk. But those are against trying unverified remedies. “For management, services (i.e. vision services, contact

Think of your body’s heart as its engine and very rare.” The typical pain for a heart attack,he it wouldn’t make sense to say that you

lenses, eye examinations, medical eye its blood care, and vessels surgical as eye its care), fuel diagnose supply. A heart attack explained, is crushing; “the patient feels like press on somebody’s elbow or someone’s neck occguernserwal hdiesenasethofetshe clogged with something is sitting on them or is crushing their or something like that; that wouldn’t work,” he

ocular manifestations of systemic cholesterol, causing the engine to sputter.“There chest,” adding that the feeling is like a chesthugging stresses.

diseases. tmo ay rare causes. Of sumo wrestler that sometimes sends “That would be wasting precious time when

one more people pain signals to your left shoulder, neck, jaw, this person could maybe be transferred to a systems who provide comprehensive will be more conversant with, is when the and back. “Usually in the centre around your place where they can get help.” “So if somebody’s

eye and vision care, which includes looredfravcetisosnealnsd, wdishpiecnhsinwg,edicaganllostihs e coronaries, are chest bone, which we call the sternum. The pain presenting with typical chest pain that looks like

and management of diseases of the blocked by the accumulation of cholesterol,” says radiates; and moves towards the left side,” he explains. they are having a heart attack, or they present eye and the rehabilitation of condiLtiouncsaosf tMheovnisuaaml seysttseim. s. Primary He further explains that these symptoms with sudden weakness, somebody who was Acahreaoprtoamtettaryckis,chomowpleetve eyre, danodes not necessarily are often experienced during physical activities okay, and then suddenly you just find they are

vision care that highlights the importance mean that your heart slammed on the brakes. due to increased oxygen demands on the heart. weak on one side, their speech is slurred,” Dr of optometry in prevention, joine“dSomheaelthpedoupcalteionth, hienaklthtphraotmwotihone,n yBoouagro hMeodaiirsatnjeust “The person has a narrowed vessel because of Monametsi guides.

health maintenance, diagnosis, treatment stops, that’s a heart attack,” Dr MonOanmaedtasyi-ctola-draiy- uolar teiyoeninoflafmcmhoatlioens.terol over some time, “The best thing is, at the onset of weakness, and rehabilitation, counseling, fies,an“dBiunttertdhisactiphlineaaryrtcoantstualtcaktiocna. n thinegncalereaodf bnolot od vessel is enough to supply blood to take that person to the hospital, period. Don’t

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES

Opticians are primary health care heart suddenly stopping, depending on what that part of the heart. But the moment you are say, ‘Let’s wait for tomorrow’. Rush them to the BATSWANA ARE FACED professionals who provide vision care mass or what percentage of the hethaart ttriesaat ffceertcatinedeye-hedaolthincgonsdoi-meWthITinHgINstRrEeLnATuIoONusT,OliEkYeE eCAxReErc? ising, you hospital, because we have a window of time, through refraction and dispensing of

tions. If there’s an eye infection or an y that optical blockage,” aids such as spectacles. he adds. Dr Monametsi chalmedil-enges are increasiWngHAtThCeOrNeCqERuNirSeDmOeMnOtSsTfOoFr oxygen for like within hours, where it can completely be

injury, we are doing minor surgical YOUR PATIENTS PRESENT? yet another myth , that heart attacks only yporeuscrrihbienagrt,” he adds. reversed. The sooner they get to the hospital,

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? procedures, as well as Major challenges that Batswana affect the elderly. He points out amdedeimcatoiognrsatopchoircrect

eye infHecetioanslso adreisfaccuesdsweisththare blilninkdnbesestawndeen heart the higher the chances of recovery,” he stressed.