Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates a gold medal and world record in the 200 metres on August 20, 2008, in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China.

The gene pool

Physical characteristics peculiar to black people as a result of their evolution and interface in a tropical environment, the sickle-cell trait and malaria were some of the factors Morrison and Cooper found, almost acting in consort, to produce a disproportionate number of successful black athletes over the decades. Their viewpoint, presented in an essay published in the recent issue of the West Indian Medical Journal 2006; 55(3): 205, places a positive twist on the sickle-cell trait, a condition which people of African origin seem more predisposed to develop, and malaria, an infectious disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, primarily in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

Professor Rainford Wilks, principal investigator, TMRI's epidemiology unit, University of the West Indies, in reporting the findings of Jamaica's latest lifestyle survey, the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey, JHLS 2008, said that chronic non-communicable diseases or CNCDs account for 60 per cent of the disease burden in the region. Globally, these diseases account for 43 per cent of the disease burden and 60 per cent of all deaths. Wilks said that obesity appears to be "the driver of the epidemic of CNCDs".

In JHLS 2008, about 25.3 per cent of Jamaica's population was found to be obese compared with 19.7 per cent in JHLS 2000. Based on this survey's findings, women bear the greater burden of obesity than men in a ratio of three to one. As many as 30 per cent of Jamaicans say that they are physically inactive (43 per cent of women say they are physically inactive versus 16 per cent of men) and almost 40 per cent reported low levels of physical activity.

Here are some tips for surviving these hard times:

1. Make a budget. This allows you to take decisions based on your available resources.

2. Shop from a list. Every time you go shopping make a list and stick to it.

3. Use cheaper petrol. The cost of petrol is significantly cheaper below Cross Roads.

4. Shop downtown. In many instances, prices downtown are up to half of those for the same goods in uptown stores.

5. Charge nothing. If you find that you are using your credit cards to purchase everyday items, it means that you are in deep trouble.

6. Start paying your debt. Develop a plan to tackle your debt.

7. Try garage sales. You can make great finds at garage sales.

8. Scale down. Are you struggling to pay your mortgage? You could consider moving into a smaller space and renting the house or apartment with the burdensome mortgage.

The Government has been examining possible amendments to the laws relating to abortion in Jamaica. Throughout the year, there have been sharp debates from those on both sides of the fence during sittings of the joint select committee, examining the report of the abortion policy review group.

Jamaica's position on abortion dates back to the 1861 British Act, which made abortion illegal but was modified by a 1939 ruling of a judge, which allowed for abortion to preserve the life of the mother. The late Dr Wynante Patterson chaired the 17-member abortion policy review advisory group set up in September 2005 to review Jamaica's abortion position and make recommendations.

A vaccine against cervical cancer, the second leading form of cancer among Jamaica's women, and a leading cause of death here, is available, but it is not on the government's immunisation schedule. There are not many cancers that can be prevented with a vaccine. The breakthrough discovery that cervical cancer is linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted viral infection, sets the stage for making this killer disease history.

Dr Yvonne Munroe, acting director, health ministry's family health services, indicated that a study will be undertaken to define the overall prevalence of cervical human papilloma viruses (HPV) in an age cohort of sexually active women in Jamaica and to describe the epidemiological and other risk factors associated with the infection.

Dr Wendel Guthrie, well-known local gynaecologist, said that the vaccine is one of the best discoveries but because of its cost, it is going to be given chiefly to people in developed countries.

The yam factor

In one dash or two, the affable and lanky world and Olympic record-holding sprinter, Usain Bolt, internationalised the Nuh Linga, Gully Creeper and the good ol' Jamaican yellow yam. Yes, the yellow yam. This is the 'performance-enhancing substance' which the international press has been crediting with Bolt's mind-boggling sprinting prowess.

"It can influence athletic performance," was research fellow at the University of the West Indies' Biotechnology Centre, Dr Perceval Bahado-Singh's emphatic response. "But only if a glycaemic index was attached to it."

Nature vs nurture

There may be genetic factors which account for black people being superior sprinters and environmental factors which enhance our ability. Studies have shown that black people have a greater proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibres and a lower proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibres. The greater number of fast-twitch muscle fibres allow for greater conversion of glucose into energy.

In addition, studies by the University of the West Indies compared Australian and Jamaican athletes and, in the latter group, it was found that 70 per cent of them have Actinen-A in their fast-twitch muscle fibres. This chemical may hold the secret to our sprinting success.

Until vaccines are discovered to help limit the spread of sexually transmitted viruses, the best means of treatment is prevention. Strategies for prevention include sexual behaviour that reduces the chance of infections, such as limiting the number of lifetime partners, the use of condoms and the exclusion of receptive anal intercourse and oral-anal contact. Education about high-risk behaviour will help to reduce this increasing problem of sexually transmitted infections.

More Jamaican women with breast cancer now have affordable access to Arimidex, the drug that trials have recently shown to dramatically reduce the recurrence of breast cancer in women. The Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial is one of the world's largest and longest-running clinical studies in post-menopausal women with early breast cancer. "The cost of the drug has been significantly reduced through the National Health Fund. The price of Arimidex from the Drug Serv Pharmacies before the NHF subsidy is applied is $14,251; after the subsidy, it goes for $1,227.70," said oncologist and haematologist, Dr Veronica Taylor in an article published in Health in March.

The climate is changing and so is our health

Climate change was placed on the health agenda in 2008 with World Health Day's theme, on April 7, being 'Protecting health from climate change'. Small island developing states (SIDS) are vulnerable in this growing fallout from climate change and the principle of common but differentiated application of responsibility in global warming and climate change. The fact is that SIDS, such as Jamaica, account for less than one per cent of greenhouse gas emissions (which are responsible for global warming) but, are quite vulnerable to sea level rise and other hazards of climate change.

Jamaica's 'HIV and cancer cure' went to Germany

The prestigious Ehrlich II 'magic bullets' conference held in Nurnberg, Germany, in October, saw one of Jamaica's scientists, Dr Henry Lowe, making known his anti-cancer/anti-inflammatory research on a local plant, known as ball moss.

In the past, Lowe, who has been working for the last six years with University of Maryland's scientist, Dr Joseph Bryant, to extract and test ball moss's (Tillandsia recurvata's) bioactive ingredient, was reluctant to disclose the plant's name. Although compounds in the plant's material are showing strong action against HIV, the focus of Lowe's and his associate's work is on the anti-cancer effects of the plant found all over Jamaica. He said that the laboratory studies are indicating that the plant compounds are effective in all the cancer cell lines.

eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com