Dr. Turin Chowdhury

A stroke occurs when the blood supply (circulation) to our brain fails or gets interrupted. As a result of the decreased blood flow there is a lack of oxygen for the brain cells. As a result they start dying quickly. The dying brain cells causes loss of body control by the brain. This creates a medical emergency which is known as ‘Stroke’. Stroke is characterized as a group of signs and symptoms related to sudden loss of body controlling functions by brain due to problem in the blood supply to the brain. These signs and symptoms should be present for at least more than 24 hours. In the fight against stroke - the main aspect of the war is to keep the risk factors in control or avoid the risk factors.
   
   Risk factor
   A risk factor is a factor associated with an increased risk of disease or infection. As for example, an obese man has higher probability to have cardiac problem in comparison to a slim man. We can say that being obese or obesity is a risk factor for cardiac problem. This does not literary mean that every obese man will have cardiac problem. What it means that obese man is more prone to have cardiac problems.
   We can think of forest fire to understand the inter relation among the different types of stroke attack risk factors. Some factors sets up the stage of a forest fire or bush fire to take place. Such a presence of very dry weather, suitable dryness of the forest or bushes to catch and spread fire, very less or no rain during that time, absence of surface water in that area, etc. Presence of these things does not cause the forest fire or bush fire by them selves but they prepare the stage for the occurrence. Presence of these factors increases the chance of a forest or bush fire in comparison to the absence of these factors. Now in these given circumstances any uncontrolled campfires, sudden shoot-up of the environmental temperature, human mistakes with combustion related activities in that place will initiate the forest fire or bush fire. These things will act as the triggering factor for the event. This situation can be compared with the stroke risk factors. The presence of these risk factors sets up the stage for the stroke event to happen. And the triggering factors will initiate the acute onset of the stroke event.
   
   Prevention
   Scientists have been studying a long time to identify the risk factors of the stroke. Worldwide researches has identified that there are some risk factors which contribute to the higher probability of stroke. There are some risk factors for which we can not do any thing to control. Such as age, genetic factors etc. But the other factors which are related to our life style can be modified and controlled. Such as - obesity, hypertension, diabetes, etc. If someone has obesity, he or she can take actions to reduce the weight and lower the risk of stroke.
    In the prevention and control of risk factors stroke we should prepare in various angles.
   A. Identifying one’s own risk factors.
   B. Life style modification.
   C. Keeping existing chronic diseases in control, if any.
   The following steps might help in a better preparation.
   A. Risk factor screening and risk estimation:
   Knowing our risk factors and living healthfully in that aspect are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke. All people, beginning at age 20, should undergo risk factor screening that includes recording blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, cholesterol and glucose testing regularly. And doctors will estimate each person’s percentage risk of developing cardiovascular disease based on the risk factor screening.
   B. Lifestyle
   A healthy lifestyle will keep not only the stroke risk down but also will keep us away from other disease conditions as well. Life style modification should be undertaken in multiple fronts;
   
   Healthy diet
   Such as, eat foods in diet that are rich in fiber like cereals, breads, rice, and whole wheat bread. Increase the proportions of fresh fruit, vegetables in daily diet. Limiting the amount of fats and cholesterol in the diet is also important. Reduce amount of salt intake in the daily food. Stop smoking or drinking. Making a habit to opt for more fish meat rather than the red meat. etc.
   Maintain a healthy weight. If one is overweight or obese then reduce it needs to be brought down to optimal level. Making a habit of getting lots of exercise everyday. Some examples of good ways to exercise include walking, house and yard work, running, swimming, jumping rope, and bicycling. Say no to drugs. etc.
   3) Mental habit:
   Try to have an active social life. Getting involved in some good hobbies helps a lot. It is important to manage mental stress properly and smoothly. etc.
   C. Keeping chronic diseases in control:
   It is very important to keep the existing chronic diseases in control, such hypertension, diabetes etc. This is not only important to prevent the initial stroke but also important to any subsequent stroke event. Lower body cholesterol and triglyceride is also important.

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Thanksgiving Rayyan Kamal

Today, as on every fourth Thursday of November since the early 1600’s, Americans the world over celebrate Thanksgiving. Every family-member, young or old, near or distant, congregates at a certain person’s home to give thanks together. In fact, the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving traditionally experience the highest volumes of air, rail, bus and car travel.
   Gratitude is accompanied by a feast: turkey is, by far, the dish most commonly associated with Thanksgiving. In addition, there’s mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. And the next day is Black Friday, which is not, as I ignorantly assumed, a religious holiday. Rather, it’s the start of Christmas shopping season. Most department stores open as early as 5:00 a.m. and offer unusually attractive discounts on merchandise. The “black” refers to two things: first, the traffic-congested streets filled with eager shoppers; second, the fact that retailers’ balance sheets will be “black” during this period (Traditional accounting practices dictate that red ink be used to show negative amounts and black ink be used to show positive amounts.)
   The first Thanksgiving feast was held by the British settlers of Plymouth Colony in Massachussetts after their first harvest in 1621. This autumn celebration was not only a way to show gratitude for a good harvest, but also a means to thank the Native Americans, who imparted crucial survival skills to the settlers. The most famous of these Native Americans was the former British slave Squanto, who taught the settlers how to catch eel, grow corn and served as their interpreter. The newcomers to America would have no doubt perished without these skills. Hence, Thanksgiving has also been a day to appreciate the cross-cultural exchange that defines this melting pot of a nation. At the same time, it must not be forgotten that the settlers mercilessly murdered and marginalized thousands of Native Americans in the preceding centuries.
   My Bengali friends and I usually assemble at the DC home of one of our school friends, whose family is gracious enough to welcome half-a-dozen college students with nowhere to go over the Thanksgiving Break. It really is basically as good as being home. Many of our host’s relatives live in DC, so we have humongous “Bangu” gatherings replete with adda-marafying and Dhaka gossip. Who is getting married to whom in December? Why are they a good/poor match? We get beef biryani that’s 100 per cent authentic (none of that European-tasting stuff that is served in Indian restaurants). And, of course, we also get turkey, good old American-style stuffed turkey.
   But we are most thankful for Black Friday. Regardless of how tired or lazy we are, it’s surprisingly easy to wake up at 4 in the morning. After all, there are so many things to buy cheap, if not for ourselves, then as gifts for others. Piling into cars with sleepy drivers rubbing their eyes, it’s off to Tysons to, as the saying goes, “shop till you drop.”
   Rayyan Kamal is a sophomore at Yale University.

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Worldwide ghoosh! Saad Quasem

At the time of my coming here from Bangladesh I had to pay bribe (which is known as ghoosh in Bangla). There is no denial that the situation has increased than the past decade or so, when the cops in Dhaka would let anyone evade the law at the cost of a cigarette.
   Every time I hear about Bangladesh’s name in the list of the most corrupt countries, my heart twitches, eyebrows frown and anger rises. Do I really have a part to play in “whitening” Bangladesh? Of course, I do. I need to play my clean role, so that my conscience lacks guilt. This year Transparency International states that Bangladesh is still ‘corrupt’ as it used to be, other countries apparently went downhill.
   I think the TI list has validity. However, my experiences compel me not to believe so. It was a busy morning at the peak of the holiday season in one of the major cities of the world. I was standing in line for a friend who had booked a ticket online. This bus company only allows one to book the tickets online, but a ticket which is required to board the bus is only available upon presentation of the booking reference number.
   My friend was standing in another queue, trying to get a ticket. The line was moving fast and I was not to be on that bus and my friend’s line had been moving at a turtle’s pace.
   
   Money speaks!
   I requested an agent to do something about the situation, so he doesn’t miss his bus. She smiled at me and told me rules were rules and cannot be broken. Unfortunately, coming from Bangladesh I have a habit of handling these situations. I quickly pulled my wallet from my coat and said, “Please, Maam, can you help me?” Then she asked me, “What is the problem?” and after an explanation, I took out a rather small note of five of that currency and handed it to her. She immediately assisted my friend, printed his ticket and in the process let him on the bus. I just couldn’t believe it would work in a nation that is so developed and on the TI list it is one of the last ones.
   What did I gain out of it? A seat on the bus and a surprising story. Did this event change the scenario of the country? No. Had it been in Bangladesh would it be different? I don’t feel that guilty because it really doesn’t make a difference to me or society as a whole if there is one thug. This opinion could last beyond this column. I will just conclude this article by saying that bribery is ubiquitous with or without reference to the TI list, so we all need to be careful.

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I feel quite odd in penning this piece because of the curious juxtaposition of my compulsion to share my thoughts with my understanding that they are really quite irrelevant and incomplete. Many will undoubtedly share their opinions and anecdotes about (my great-uncle) Enayetullah Khan in the wake of his passing, detailing what he meant to his closest friends and loved ones, the indelible imprint he left on the public forum and the legacy he built in his newspapers. I can do none of those. So what am I doing talking about a brief and innocuous encounter I had with a man about whom I know fairly little? I’m not really sure...
   After Mintu Dada had his surgery, an effort was made to make sure someone would be at the hospital with him throughout the day as he recovered. A steady rotation of friends and family members devoted a great deal of time to these visits as the weeks progressed and, though my idleness during the summer made me an ideal candidate to frequently fulfill this role, I was asked only once. I arrived early, armed with a newspaper, a fascinating book about our understanding or lack thereof about ancient history (I thought this would undoubtedly serve as a conversation starter) and a Scrabble board.
   He recognised me, which was a relief, given what I heard about the painkillers they were giving him. This was not our first meeting; when we were being introduced during a previous visit to Canada, he (tellingly) had already identified me because of something I had written for Holiday years ago. That he was so familiar with a minor piece by a novice writer should not have surprised me — I had leafed through “A Testament of Time” and could only begin to grasp his dedication to his work.
   I am not blessed with any social skills to speak of and I was quite worried that my visit would end up being one long awkward silence. I thought it prudent to get the pleasantries out of the way quickly (he was feeling fine and the hospital staff was pleasant if incompetent) and discuss something that may be of interest to a newsman with a masters in philosophy (something that impressed me no end when I heard about it); my book about inconsistencies in our interpretation of Egyptian and South American history and mythology and what it could mean about the true beginnings of intelligent civilisation. No sooner could I have finished describing it to him as I have just done for you before he dismissed it as ‘very good’ and asked if knew how to change the channels on his personal TV.
   Dismayed but undeterred, I brought my Scrabble set out, confident that a man with a passion for and a way with words would enjoy the game immensely. Not so. I slumped back into my chair and started to do this crossword puzzle in the newspaper. This piqued Mintu Dada’s interest — success! We finished the puzzle quite quickly and his professed fondness for crosswords had broken the ice.
   I asked him about something he had mentioned to my mother; his hopes of establishing an institute to provide technical and editorial assistance to budding journalists in Bangladesh. He lit up and spoke effusively of the talent that exists and how all that is needed is some direction and assistance, particularly in the English medium. It struck me as inspirational that someone who had accomplished so much and was now facing his own struggle with his health could be so concerned with giving back and in such a visionary manner as to foster a new generation of journalists. I was also taken by his penchant for waxing lyrical and romanticising ideas and ideals (I had heard him speak before and this was a recurring theme for me); he may have possessed technical and analytical brilliance, but I have no doubt that the soul of an artist lay within.
   I left the hospital as he was being taken off for a test (to prepare for which he had to drink a tall glass of a rather foul-looking liquid, and it was then I became acquainted with the stubborn side of his nature). It was later reported to me that I had not completely ruined Mintu Dada’s day and that he was somewhat impressed with my crossword skills. Never had I (nor have I still) been so appreciative of any form of praise, much less for something as trivial as a crossword puzzle. It seemed that I had grown to idolise the man in an afternoon. He was everything I hoped to be: a poetically-inclined respected journalist and editor with considered opinions, vision and a masters in philosophy (not to speak of his reported way with the ladies).
   I suppose that answers the question of why I needed to write this and what the relevance might be; can you imagine the impact he had on people that actually knew him?
   Fawaz Ali Khan is a student in Toronto. He is a grand son of late Poet AZM Obaidullah Khan, late Enayetullah Khan’s elder brother. He is also grand son (from his mother’s side) of Ambassador Mohammad Mohsin.

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French Embassy clarification

Sending artefacts to Guimet Museum Holiday Desk

The French embassy in Dhaka in a news release to Holiday regarding the controversial government decision of lending ancient and rare artefacts to an international exhibition in Guimet Museum has clarified a number of points.
   It said the Guimet Museum in Paris has no history of artefact theft and the questions of fraud and duplication are thus a slander on the age-old reputation of the European centre of art and culture.
   Leading academics, archaeologists, artists and cultural personalities on Thursday demanded the 200 artefacts, destined for a Paris exhibition, should be unpacked as they fear those valuable objects of historical interests would never return once they were sent abroad.
   Those objects, now stored in National Museum, could be trafficked in from or duplicated in the French fair, they warned at a press conference in Dhaka.
   The French Embassy in a release Friday ruled out the allegations and fears saying those are ‘unsubstantiated insults misleading the public.’
   ‘As of not returning the artefacts at all, this would be theft: it is a serious allegation that is both insulting and ridiculous in view of recent history,’ said the release signed by the embassy’s press attaché Shakhawat Hossain.
   The word ‘fraud’ has been used which is ridiculous: a fraud implies a financial profit. The only profit for France is cultural, the release added.
   “As for the ‘ill motive’ of the exhibition, that is really strange coming from eminent persons linked to the art world: is it not obvious that art is meant to be shown, to be shared? There is no ill motive rather the opposite’, the embassy explained.
   About an European Ideologist’s the controversial move of French authority for sending Bangladeshi artefacts despite diverse irregularities, the embassy said that anything could be found on the internet, including the most outrageous lies: let them please be a bit more careful with unproven allegations and sources of valid information.
   However, the embassy remains silent regarding the following issues: The Guimet Museum is one of the 18 European museums run countering the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Convention of 1995, although UNESCO headquarters is housed in Paris.
   Even, it has not made available any acceptable explanation about the irregularities and recommendations of government fact finding committee reports and the necessity of further agreement for such an international exhibition maintaining the existing laws and international standards.

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