There are significant disparities among the health needs of citizens and the financial resources of the healthcare system. Limitations of the inputs to growth of the health systems are primarily due to fiscal constraints, the demographic crisis, the degree of competitiveness of the EU, as well as the willingness of citizens to bear some degree of the tax burden. The costs of providing healthcar...

The following three articles in this issue of Thorax summarise the contributions to a lively symposium on public health aspects of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) which I had the pleasure of chairing at the meeting of the British Thoracic Society in December 1997. The symposium followed the publication in the BMJ of a systematic review by Wright and colleagues on the health eVects of obstructive...

The WHO definition of "health" is critically discussed in its broad context. Decision making in noise policy has to be made in the evaluation range between social and physical well-being. The term "adverse" is a crucial one in the process of risk characterization. In toxicological terms it refers to the single event itself; in psychosocial terms it refers to the relative number of people affect...

................................................................................................................. 1 LIST OF PAPERS ........................................................................................................ 3 ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION ..............................

Recent research has rejuvenated centuries-old traditional herbs to cure various ailments by using modern tools like diet-based therapy and other regimens. Ginger is one of the classic examples of an herb used for not only culinary preparations but also for unique therapeutic significance owing to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory potential. The pungent fractions of ginger, n...

In view of the developments in health care relating to the increased prevalence and incidence of chronic diseases and the continuing increase in health-care expenditure, more attention should be paid to health maintenance and disease prevention. Any strategy that can influence health maintenance is of interest, especially lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise or stress control. Alcohol ...

the burden of exposure to blood-borne pathogens (such as hepatitis b and c viruses) is considerable for health care workers. hepatitis virus transmission requires a non-immune host, an infectious source, and skin or mucous membrane injury. these three aspects are the main fields for preventional interventions. we reviewed major recent studies on this topic to identify precautions health care wo...

this study was to determine the health knowledge, attitude, and practice of adolescence girls during puberty among 8th grade students in southern part of tehran in 1996-1997. it also addressed the health needs and therefore the necessary steps to be taken to promote adolescent's health. sample study consisted of 225 students, their mothers, and their teachers. each person was interviewed by a...