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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014537

Covid-19 patients should use a separate bathroom, close the commode lid before flushing and clean the quarters regularly as the RNA virus has been found in patients’ stools, National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology director Anan Jongkaewwattana advised on Wednesday.

Citing the latest study from Stanford University in the US, he said Covid-19 RNA was found in approximately 50 per cent of patients’ stools within a week of testing positive.

“These patients actually tested negative after taking a RT-PCR test using samples from the nasal cavity or the throat,” he said, adding that the RNA can be found in patients’ stools for up to seven months.

Anan said most patients who have Covid RNA in their stools are those with symptoms related to the digestive system, such as stomach ache and nausea.

The discovery was made in the beginning of the pandemic, but it is still unclear how long Covid-19 exists in patients’ bodies, Anan said.

“However, the research team feels Covid-19 can spread from these patients even after the quarantine period,” he added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014535

The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to purchase ice cubes in sealed packages that showed the label, product details, weight and the words “consumable ice”.

Secretary-general Withit Saritsadeechaikul warned that anyone who sells contaminated ice would face a fine of up to 50,000 baht.

He said the FDA is cooperating with related agencies to evaluate the quality of ice nationwide.

“Of 53 venues in Bangkok, 37 that provide ice in sealed packages have met standards,” he explained. “Meanwhile, 13 of 16 venues that sell ice in freezers or dispensers have not met the standards. And 58 of 210 samples collected from venues nationwide have also not met the standards,” he said.

“Consumers must check that the ice packages they buy are not damaged, while the ice cubes must be clean and have no dust or weird smell,” he advised.

“Consumers must also thoroughly observe the ice they get from freezers or dispensers.”

Withit asked businesses and shops to implement measures to scoop and preserve ice appropriately, such as cleaning freezers or dispensers regularly and avoiding freezing other objects with ice.

“People who find unclean food can file complaints via FDA hotline 1556 or at Provincial Public Health offices nationwide,” he added.

Published : April 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014480

The Department of Medical Services recently issued a list of symptoms sufferers of long Covid may develop and what they can do to protect themselves.

Long Covid or post-Covid syndrome can result in symptoms lingering for more than two months.

Here are the symptoms patients suffered from after recovering from infection:

• 27.33% developed problems with the nervous system with symptoms such as acute weakness, headache, dizziness, forgetfulness and muscle atrophy.
• 32.1% developed mental conditions such as insomnia, anxiety and depression.
• 22.86% developed cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain and palpitation.
• 44.38% were affected by respiratory problems such as shortness of breath or chronic cough.
• 22.8% developed external problems such as hair loss and allergic rash.
• 23.41% complained about tiredness, muscle ache and joint pain.

Though most of these symptoms clear over time, the department said if they persist for more than two months, then patients should visit a doctor.

Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Health, said long Covid has affected up to 50 per cent of Covid-19 patients, especially those who were hit with severe symptoms.

Hence, he said, long-Covid sufferers should take care of themselves and boost their immunity by eating a balanced diet that is well-cooked and clean.

“If patients suffer from a loss of appetite, they should separate their meals into smaller ones to keep their blood sugar levels stable and prevent tiredness,” Suwanchai said.

He advised people to consume more protein such as meat, eggs, milk, cheese, beans and tofu, as well as probiotics in the form of yoghurt and fermented milk. He also advised people to consume food that is high in fibre such as grains, dried beans, bananas, onions and garlic.

People suffering from long-Covid are advised to stay away from instant or frozen meals as well as fermented, fried, greasy, heavily flavoured and hard-to-digest food. He also advised people to stay away from alcohol and instead consume vitamins and minerals to help the body recover and boost immunity, such as vitamins C, A, D, and E as well as zinc.

Published : April 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014453

Travelling upcountry during Songkran and getting together with friends and family can spark a new wave of Covid-19 infections, a top virologist warned on Monday.

Chulalongkorn University’s Dr Yong Poovorawan said two 90-year-olds had asked him for advice recently. They said that they have been invited to attend their village’s “Rod Nam Dum Hua” ritual (pouring water on the hands of the elderly) and are worried that they may be opening themselves up to infection.

To prevent such problems, Yong said the festival should be modified and such rituals stopped during the Covid era. He said the organiser can reduce the number of participants and have them undergo ATK tests before getting near elderly persons. He said that all participants should receive a booster jab before attending such events.

He also advised that people with cold, cough, sore throat or fever should stay away to curb infections and losses.

Published : April 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/pr-news/life/40014452

The Arokaya Wellness Sala focuses on ‘prevention before cure’ with the application of natural science, herbs and innovations

The Arokaya Wellness Sala at Buri Ram’s Play La Ploen Boutique Resort has joined up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to give tourists a chance to experience the history of Arokayasala and the use of Thai herbs.
This move will make the wellness centre a new landmark in wellness tourism.
Panai Saichompoo, the resort’s assistant managing director, said the Arokayasala package will include a trip into the first wellness pavilion constructed during the 1150-1160 reign of the Khmer king, Jayavarman VII.
“The Arokaya Wellness Sala focuses on ‘prevention before cure’ with the application of natural science, herbs and innovations,” he said. “Treatment includes Thai, Chinese and modern traditions, as well as a cannabis clinic and a variety of products.”
Apart from offering personal treatments, he said the Arokaya Wellness Sala is also cooperating with TAT to prescribe medication that is historically accurate and in line with Buri Ram’s abundance.

The resort also promotes local ingredients, with a belief that food is medicine, in a bid to boost holistic healthcare that focuses on body, mind, social and intelligence, he added.
“We expect that when the Covid-19 situation returns to normal, this will help the tourism sector and local communities generate revenue sustainably,” he said.
Panai explained that the tourism trail starts with paying respect to sacred objects at the Phanom Rung stone castle, built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII.
He said tourists will then visit the Muang Tam stone castle to study the history of Arokayasala which acted as a hospital in the 10th to 13th-century, as well as the production of 1,000-year-old Baray mud cloth and handicrafts made from reeds.
“After that, tourists will go to the Arokaya Wellness Sala at Play La Ploen Boutique Resort. The resort offers accommodation, wellness centre and herb education centre,” he said.

“There, the tourists will study, do activities and visit exhibitions, such as blending four types of teas, seeing a doctor for health advice, receiving herbal treatments, such as inhaling steam from herbs containing essential oils, which help improve the respiratory system.”

They can also visit the “Diversity of Hemp” exhibition to Mark the 90th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, as well as the “Buriram Food Series”, which offers delicacies cooked from local ingredients, including medical-grade hemp.
He added that the food is cooked by the resort’s chefs who have expertise in using Thai herbs and have passed certified food standards.

“Arokaya Wellness Sala is a new project in Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and the resort’s managing director Pornthip Asadathorn has created guidelines to boost the awareness of 1,000-year-old medical treatment and to promote Thai herbs,” he said.

“We are ready to welcome visitors and offer treatment under medical experts’ supervision to create holistic healthcare and balance in health and standards.”
He added that the resort had cooperated with Pakasai Resort in Krabi to provide wellness services that focus on using local herbs found in the South since early this year.
“Those interested can seek advice from medical experts or more information related to wellness services at both resorts,” he added.
Arokaya Wellness Sala is open daily from 9am to 6pm. Visit www.arokayawellness.com or Line @arokaya.wellness for more information.

Published : April 12, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014423

Half the dose of an mRNA vaccine can provide as much immunity as a full dose, a top virologist said recently.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Chulalongkorn University’s Dr Yong Poovorawan said studies show that administering half a dose of an mRNA vaccine, especially Moderna, is just as effective as a full dose.

He added that in the US and Europe half doses or 50 micrograms of the vaccine are being administered as boosters.

He also pointed out that the Thai Food and Drug Administration had approved the administration of half doses and even indicated this on the label.

Hence, he said, people are within their rights to ask for half a dose even if their first two shots were of an inactivated vaccine like Sinovac or Sinopharm.

Yong went on to say that the Public Health Ministry has also approved the administration of half a dose or 15mcg of Pfizer vaccines as booster shots. This decision was backed by studies conducted by Chulalongkorn University and Siriraj Hospital.

He said the study conducted by Chulalongkorn’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology found that half a dose of an mRNA vaccine as a booster provides sufficient immunity.

The peer-reviewed Vaccine journal is looking into publishing this study, while it has already been published on the MedRxiv website https://bit.ly/3up4VA2.

Published : April 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014420

Fully vaccinated people can contract Omicron twice in one month, a lung specialist warned on Monday.

In a Facebook post, Vichaiyut Hospital’s Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs cited the case of a 27-year-old nurse who had received two Sinovac jabs and two Pfizer boosters.

She developed a sore throat and tested positive for Covid-19 on February 19. She had contracted the virus from a family member and improved after spending 10 days in quarantine.

“However, she tested positive again on March 23 with a sore throat, cough and runny nose,” Dr Manoon said, adding that the patient recovered again after 10 days.

He said receiving four jabs can reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms and death even though it cannot protect people from contracting the virus.

He added that the nurse had received her fourth jab in January and a month later she contracted the virus. He believes the patient was infected by the Omicron BA.1 subvariant the first time and the BA.2 subvariant the second time.

“Normally, people who have been infected by BA.1 will have developed immunity against other subvariants, but some people can still contract the Omicron BA.2 because they are only immune to BA.1,” he said.

He added that this can happen to one in 4,000 people.

Published : April 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014361

The anti-viral medication, Favipiravir, may not offer much protection to Covid-19 patients in the high-risk group, a respiratory specialist warned on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, Dr Manoon Leechawengongs pointed out that the elderly have a high chance of developing pneumonia if they contract the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Often, he said, elderly patients end up in intensive care attached to breathing apparatus, especially if they have not received a booster vaccine.

He suggested that patients in the high-risk group should be prescribed medicines that are more efficient, such as Molnupiravir or Paxlovid within the first five days of the infection.

There is evidence that these two anti-viral medicines can block serious symptoms and even death, while there is no such evidence for Favipiravir, the specialist said.

Manoon cited an 85-year-old male patient as an example. He said this patient had broken his hip bone and was bedridden. He suffered from hypertension and enlarged prostate.

He went for a health check-up on March 12 and was found to be healthy. However, upon learning that the patient had not had a single Covid-19 jab, his doctor urged him to get one immediately. So, the patient’s daughter arranged for him to get his first AstraZeneca jab on March 18.

On March 24, his daughter tested positive for Covid-19 and soon after, her father began developing symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose.

On March 26, he tested positive for Covid-19 and a hospital nearby sent him a Favipiravir prescription for five days. However, his symptoms did not improve and he was admitted to intensive care.

On March 31, he was hooked up to a tracheal tube and prescribed Remdesivir. But his condition kept worsening and his blood pressure dropped. He died on April 4 from acute kidney problems.

Manoon said this patient would have survived if he had been vaccinated sooner and given more effective anti-viral medicines.

Published : April 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40014299

A collaboration between four renowned co-authors, brought together by BDMS Wellness Clinic, has result in the highly anticipated book, “Health Brings Wealth”, which launches this month.

The book was written with the goal of educating people to live longer, healthier and happier by sharing decades of experience, advanced research, in-depth studies together with medical practice in their respective fields.The result is a book that is rich with useful advice and information as it is engaging.

Dispelling any myths, “Health Brings Wealth” hopes to give applicable advice based on scientific findings to put into daily practice in the long-term.

In this book, perspectives based on different medical fields are combined with discussion and how everyday choices can impact overall health systems.

Some key highlights from the co-authors and experts emphasise key advice based on their respective specialist areas and how these impact each health system.

Prof Jiří Dvořák’s mainly specialises in neurology and spinal injuries and conditions, sports medicine and lifestyle medicine that promotes a healthy lifestyle through research on the impact of exercise. He is an advocate of the prescribed 30-minute “exercise pill” and emphasises the importance of nutrition.

Prof Sergio Fazio is an expert on preventive cardiology. He discusses the importance of the cardiovascular system and the root causes of cardiovascular disease.

Adj Asst Prof Tanupol Virunhagarun is a regenerative doctor who focuses on lifestyle factors, centred around the core of lifestyle and anti-ageing medicine, in addition to chronic diseases, obesity-related diseases and causes.

Prof Keith L Black is a world-renowned neurosurgeon with a prolific body of work. His expertise on brain diseases and tumours will emphasise the important duty of the brain and how to optimise brain health and wellness as you age to prevent degenerating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Perhaps the most important message to distill for readers is to form lifelong healthy habits that are realistic and simple enough to commit to in the long-term.

“We hope you will enjoy reading this book and benefit from the pearls of wisdom within. A long-term healthy lifestyle does not mean sacrificing all your favourite activities and foods — even small lifestyle changes can make an impact,” as concluded in the preface by the co-authors.

“We would like readers to remember that it’s never too early or too late to start living a healthy lifestyle and appreciating how health brings purposeful wealth to life!”

The graphical and visually stunning 228-page book, “Health Brings Wealth”, will be in stores from mid-April 2022 at Asia Books Thailand, Save Drug at a price of THB990.

International distribution will be planned from April onwards with e-books available on Amazon.com worldwide.

Published : April 07, 2022

By : THE NATION