
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2017
The age-old traditional health care practices are still relevant and are followed by communities across the countries. India's contribution remains exemplary in the growth of traditional health care systems. The present study reviews the strength of traditional health care systems and medicinal plants of India that has been contributing in health care not only from time immemorial but also makes it numero uno choice of community for curing many chronic diseases. An extensive literature survey was undertaken for compilation of information on the traditional systems of medicine in India, which include Ayurveda, Unani, homeopathy and Siddha. The careful investigation of information reveals that Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of medicine evolved in India. It is a holistic system of treatment, which is an amalgamation of regular diet, use of medicine and following practices like exercise and behavior. The contribution of plants, as raw material for making medical formulations, is significant in the Indian systems of medicine, and over 6,500 species of plants are known to occur in India those are used by various streams of traditional health care practitioners. Attempts made by the Government of India in enriching and managing these age-old health care systems are also discussed.
The purpose of this paper is to compare the prevalence of abnormal cholesterol in children, adolescent and adults in the United States. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES) for 2011-2014 were obtained for the comparison. A t test statistical analysis was conducted at a significant level of p<0.05 to check for differences in the groups. The results of high total cholesterol and low high density lipoprotein (HDL) were compared in children, adolescent and adults according to race, sex and ethnicity. A total of 27.9% of men had low level of HDL cholesterol, 10% of women had low HDL,13.4% of children and adolescent had low level of HDL. Boys had low HDL (14.8%) while girls had 12%. The non-Hispanic black adults with elevated total high cholesterol was 8.6%, non-Hispanic white (12.5%), Hispanic adults (13.1%) while non-Hispanic black children and adolescent had elevated total high cholesterol, the non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adolescent and children had low total high cholesterol. The level of low HDL cholesterol was higher in children, adolescent and adult male population, the high total cholesterol was higher in the female children, adolescent and adults.
Mental illness is prevalent among the homeless population and the rate of mentally ill homeless individuals has increased since deinstitutionalization. There is little information about homeless population mental health and access to mental healthcare. This study sought to describe the mental health status and utilization of mental healthcare services among homeless individuals in Mississippi. This is a cross-sectional study with 3,375 adults participants. There were 58% males, 42% females, 45% Caucasian, 54% African Americans, and 1% other minorities (Asian, Indian, and Pacific Islander) at intake into Mississippi United to End Homelessness' (MUTEH) Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) program. The data was collected during the initial screening of homeless individuals. The screening documented mental illness and utilization of healthcare. Frequency tables and Chi-SQ was used to test the relationship between mental illness and utilization of mental healthcare among the homeless in Mississippi. The result of the analysis revealed that 83% of the chronically homeless individual had a mental illness, and 78% of the chronically homeless participants were not receiving mental healthcare. Mental health services were successful in connecting mentally ill homeless individuals to mental healthcare in lieu of institutionalization. However, chronically homeless mentally ill individuals struggle with obtaining appropriate care.