Family Health

SUNSTROKE AND HEATSTROKE

2009-09-06T13:17:00.003+06:00

The symptoms of Sunstroke and Heatstroke are high fever, dizziness, headache, dry, hot skin, red face, and rapid pulse. Unconsciousness may result.

Call a doctor. Put the victim in a cool place, and cover him with a sheet. Loosen all clothing. Apply cold water over the body quickly and in large quantities to reduce the high fever. Use a garden hose (in a gentle stream, not full force), or pailfuls of very cold water.

STROKE (Apoplexy)

2009-09-06T13:06:00.003+06:00

Strokes occur either because an artery in the brain has burst (cerebral hemorrhage) or because a blood clot or other material has blocked an artery (cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism). You can suspect a stroke if a middle-aged or older person suddenly collapses or loses consciousness. His face may become very red and the eyeballs prominent. One side of the body may become paralyzed. Speech may be affected and the mouth drown ot one side.

Call a doctor or ambulance immediately. While you are waiting for medical help, place the person in a position halfway between lying down and sitting up, or at least prop up his head. Loosen ant tight clothing. It is important to maintain a calm attitude yourself. If the person should vomit, turn his head to one side to prevent his choking. Otherwise, do not try to move him.

HEART ATTACK

2009-09-02T20:26:00.003+06:00

The common symptoms of a heart attack are extreme of breath, a feeling of suffocation, and pain in the chest that sometimes spreads down into the arms or up into the neck or head. The person may become very pale; he may feel faint and dizzy, and perhaps lose consciousness. Have him lie down, preferably in a position halfway between lying and sitting. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar or belt, and cover him lightly to prevent chills. Encourage him to breathe slowly and deeply. Send for a doctor or an ambulance. Talk reassuringly to the individual and have all excited and upset people go out of the room: any anxiety will only serve to aggravate the victim's condition. Do not give the person anything to drink or any medication. You should not place a suspected heart-attack victim in the shock position, since the pressure of the abdominal organs against the diaphragm may further with his breathing.

ELECTRIC SHOCK

2009-09-02T20:10:00.005+06:00

If the victim is in contact with electricity (through a high-tension or type of wore or a defective home appliance), use a nonconductor, such as a dry stick, rolled-up dry newspaper, or heavy, dry gloves (rubber if available), to pull him away from the source of current as quickly as you can. It is sometimes possible to push the wire off the body with a dry stick. Stand on something dry. Electricity passes easily through moist articles and through metals. Avoid touching the person directly until he is away from the source of the shock.

Severe electric shock may paralyze the respiratory center in the brain and upset the nature rhythm of the heart. Once the victim is separated from the source of electricity, use mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration to restore his breathing. If the heart has stopped or is beating irregularly, apply closed-chest heart massage. If the person is breathing normally, keep him warm, quit, and in a half-sitting position until medical help arrives.

APPENDICITIS

2009-09-02T15:53:00.000+06:00

Abdominal pain may be caused by any of various minor ailments, especially indigestion. However, you should suspect appendicitis if there is persistent pain and rigidity in the lower right side of the abdomen, especially if accompanied by fever and nausea. Never give anyone displaying these symptoms a laxative, an enema, or food. Have him lie down until the doctor sees him. Never apply a heating pad. An ice pack may be used if pain is severe.

CROUP

2009-09-02T15:41:00.000+06:00

An attack of croup, which is an infection of the larynx (voice box), is apt to be very upsetting to both the child and his parents. The child coughs in a harsh, strangled manner and gasps for breath. Usually the attacks come late at night. Croup generally follows a cold, and it may occur for two or three nights in succession. To give emergency relief, place the child in a location where there is warm, moist air. If you do not have a vaporizer, you can make a croup tent by boiling water on a hotplate under a blanket or large umbrella placed over the child's bed You should stay under the tent with him to prevent accidents. A simpler method is to sit with the child for a time in the bathroom with the door closed. Turn on the hot water in the shower or tub - full blast - until the room is filled with steam. Keeping the door closed, sit with the child in the bathroom until his breathing becomes easier.

CONVULSION

2009-09-01T21:16:00.000+06:00

Convulsions in children may be a warning sign of a serious illness, such as meningitis, or they may be due to a high fever caused by a less dangerous infection. The child's lips turn blue, his head is thrown back, and hes body is jerked by uncontrollable spasms. Put him on the floor or on a wide bed where he cannot hurt himself. Place a rolled handkerchief between hes back teeth on one side to keep him from biting his tongue. Otherwise, do not attempt to restrain him. Sponge his body with cool water or alcohol to reduce the fever. When the spasms have passed, or if they continue more than minutes, call the doctor.

FAINTING

2009-09-01T20:56:00.000+06:00

When a person is about to faint, he becomes dizzy, turns pale, and feels weak. He may or may not become unconscious.

The best way to avoid fainting is to lower the head between the knees for about five minutes. If the person still feels dizzy, have him repeat the head-lowering.

If the victim is unconscious, loosen his clothing, and see that he gets plenty of fresh, cool air. Place smelling salts or a few drops of aromatic spirits of ammonia under hes nose until he revives. If he does not regain consciousness within five minutes, call a doctor.

NOSEBLEED

2009-09-01T20:46:00.000+06:00

A slight nosebleed usually stops by itself. If bleeding continues or is severe, put the person in a chair and loosen any tight clothing around his neck. Apply cold compresses to his nose and the back of his neck. It helps to press the skin on the outside of the nostril against the bony carilage, in effect closing the bleeding nostril, for about five minutes. Or plug up the bleeding nostril with sterile cotton. Keep the person sitting, unless he feels faint. If bleeding persists, call a doctor.

CUT AND PUNCTURE WOUND

2009-09-01T07:05:00.000+06:00

For small cuts and scratches, cleanse the wound with sterile cotton dipped in warm, soapy water, followed by plain warm water (water from the faucet is safe); then cover with sterile gauze. If the cut is very small, a Band-Aid will do.

If the wound is very dirty, or if it is a deep puncture wound or one caused by firecrackers, the injured person should have an injection of tetanus toxoid to prevent lockjaw. If he has previously been immunized with toxoid (this is true of all men in the Armed Forces), all he meeds is a booster dose. Gently squeeze a puncture wound to encourage bleeding, as this will help dislodge dirt.

Any cut that goes deep into the skin may heal better if it is sewn together. Let your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room decide for you. Otherwise you may blame yourself, in later years, for an unsightly scar. As an emergency measure, you can draw the edges sr a gaping cut together (after washing it out) with narrow strips of adhesive tape until medical help is available.

SORE THROAT

2009-09-01T06:27:00.000+06:00

Inflammation and soreness may affect any part of the pharynx (Pharyngitis) or the tonsils, or may extend through the entire throat. Throat infections may spread below the epiglottis and into the larynx (Laryngitis); the windpipe, or trachea (Tracheitis); or the esophagus (Esophagitis).

Sore throat is often one of the first symptoms of an acute infection, such as the common cold, diphtheria, influenza, STREP THROAT, infectious mononucleosis, measles, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and Vincent's Angina. If you have a very sore throat, be sure to consult a doctor immediately, especially if you have a fever as well.

Sore throat may also be due to air pollution, smoking, and misusing the voice.

KIDNEY STONE

2009-08-31T22:47:00.001+06:00

Small masses of solid matter that have separated out of urine are fairly common in the Urinary Tract. A renal Calculus (a stone formed in the kidney) is more difficult to get at and remove than other urinary-tract stones. Kidney stones vary in size and shape from tiny particles like grains of sand to large, branched formations filling much of the space in the kidney. Very small particles may be voided without a person's knowing it. Larger stones may cause intense pain and damage if they leave the kidney and pass through the urinary tract. They may also block the ureter and prevent urine from leaving the kidney. Stones too large to enter the ureters may cause serious mechanical damage to the delicate tissues surrounding them.

Any kidney stone that causes trouble may lead to serious complications. It must be removed as soon as possible, usually by surgery. Some persons have a tendency to form stones repeatedly. By making a thorough medical examination including, if possible a chemical voided or removed the doctor can sometimes identify the cause in a particular case.

The doctor may prescribe a special diet or medicine to help prevent stone formation, once the cause has been determined. Frequently, treatment includes drinking larger amounts of water than usual, so that the urine is kept dilute enough to hold all dissolved salts in solution and keep them from forming a hard mass.

COUGH

2009-08-31T21:31:00.000+06:00

A forceful, noisy expulsion of breath. A cough is an attempt to clear the air passages of anything that causes irritation, such as mucus. One cause of irritation is Bronchitis; heavy smoking is another. Coughing is a symptom of many different conditions, from the common cold to serious diseases like whooping cough, emphysema, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. If a cough persists for more than a few weeks, or if bloody sputum is coughed up, consult a doctor. A cough in infants should have medical attention without delay.

Coughing may be relieved, but not cured, by a Cough Medicine. Those that are sold without a prescription are seldom very effective. Most of the cough medicines that effectively suppress coughing can be habit-forming, and should be taken only according to your doctor's directions.

EARACHE

2009-08-31T21:01:00.000+06:00

A painful sensation in the Ear. Infection is the commonest cause of ear pain. It may involve any part of the ear. In the outer ear, which includes the ear canal, the infection may begin with a boil. A fungus may become established in the ear as a consequence of swimming in a polluted area; the result may be a painful swelling. Or the ear canal may be scratched when the individual attempts to clean out wax with a bobby pin or similar device.

A large number of infections occur in the middle ear. A person with a perforated eardrum is subject to infection of the middle ear through the perforation and must take special precautions. Blow the nose gently, one nostril at a time, to avoid driving mucus up the Eustachian Tubes. Infection of the middle ear can also spread to the inner ear.

You may obtain temporary relief from earache by taking aspirin several times a day. Applying a heating pad over the ear may also help. A doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Ear infections are usually controlled by Antibiotics.

ITCHING

2009-08-31T20:25:00.000+06:00

A mild irritation of the many tiny nerve endings in the skin. The medical name for itching is pruritus. Moderate itching may be due to insect bites or allergic reactions. More severe and lasting itching occurs in scabies and in infectious diseases, such as chicken pox, in which a rash occurs. Sometimes itching is the only early symptom of such serious disorders as Diabetes, liver disease, and Hodgkin's disease.

The urge to scratch is instinctive in anyone who itches, but it may injure the skin and the tissues beneath the skin as well as result in infection. The best way to cure persistent itching is to have your doctor find out the cause. Temporary relief may be obtained by applying cold compresses, witch hazel, or calamine lotion.

TOOTHACHE

2009-08-31T20:18:00.000+06:00

A toothache may be temporarily relieved by aspirin or any of the other similar mild pain-killers, or by codeine or Demerol if you have a doctor's prescription for either of these. If the toothache is due to a cavity or the loss of a filling, put some oil of clove on a tiny bet of cotton and pack it firmly into the cavity with a toothpick or the sharpened end of a wooden match.

DEPRESSION

2009-08-31T19:06:00.000+06:00

The state of feeling dejected or dispirited. Depression is most likely to occur at critical or unsettled times in life: in the adolescent years, during pregnancy, shortly after giving birth to a child, at menopause, or in the later years. It may be triggered by death of a loved one or a profound disappointment.

Symptoms: A depressed person tends to have a bleak, pessimistic outlook on hes future and to be apathetic toward activities he formerly regarded as meaningful. He may complain of constant fatigue or exhibit a variety of physical complaints, usually minor in character or difficult to identify. The individual may lose all interest in sex activity. He may no longer have an appetite for food, with a resulting sharp loss in weight: or he may overeat compulsively. Sleeping difficulties and fits of weeping are common.

Help for the Depressed: Getting a depressed person to talk our his problem is often helpful. Although the listener should lend an understanding ear, it is a mistake to be over sympathetic; encouraging the individual to feel pity for himself may do more harm than good.

It might be pointed out to the depressed person that the situation is best met in a realistic, unemotional way. The individual should be assisted to recognize his own value and make the most of his resources.

A doctor can prescribe medicines to fight depression and to help the depressed person sleep if he has difficulty in doing so. When the condition is very severe, a Psychiatrist should be consulted.

CHILDREN SWALLOWED OBJECT

2009-08-31T16:01:00.000+06:00

All small children and babies tend to put things into their mouths and, in some cases, they swallow them accidentally. Little round objects such as marbles, beads, coins, or buttons usually pass harmlessly through the digestive system and are eliminated. Do not give laxatives or insist that the child eat bulky or pasty foods. Of course, if there is stomach pain or if the object seems to be lodged in the esophagus, call a doctor immediately. Sharp foreign bodies, such as bobby pins, opes safety pins, and chicken or fish bones, are dangerous. Summon a doctor or take the child to a hospital, since special instruments may be required to locate and remove the object.

CHILDREN HEAD INJURY

2009-08-31T15:46:00.000+06:00

Children often bang their heads against things or bump them in falling. Because the skull of a child is less hard and is thinner than that of an adult, there is sometimes more danger of brain damage. To be on the safe side as far as potentially serious concussions and fractures of the skull are concerned, be sure to observe the following precautions after any head injury:

Do not let the child get up and walk around. If he is dazed or unconscious, do not slap or shake him to bring him to complete consciousness.
If the child is knocked out, that is, if he has been rendered unconscious for even a moment, call a doctor, or take the child to a hospital.
If the child remains conscious and cries promptly, watch him for the next 12 hours. Call a doctor if he vomits, because drowsy, or cannot be aroused easily when sleeping.

HEADACHE

2009-08-31T15:41:00.000+06:00

The blood vessels in the brain are interlaced with many nerves, and it is in these nerves that headache pain originates.
The brain tissues itself and most of the brain covering are incapable of feeling pain, but the blood-vessel nerves are especially sensitive to changes of pressure and to abnormal pressure within the skull.
Tension headaches, are the commonest kind of headaches. They occur without any other symptoms, and are due to conscious or unconscious emotional stress. They are usually temporary and disappear if one or two tablets of aspirin are taken. Stronger medication should be avoided except under a doctor's order.
Migraine headaches, Like tension headaches, cannot be traced to any general bodily disorder. They are much more severe and disabling than ordinary tension headaches. There is intense, throbbing pain in the front and top part of the head, usually on one side only. There may also be flickering vision, nausea, and vomiting. It is not known why migraine headaches occur repeatedly in some persons, or why some families to be especially susceptible to them.
Relaxation in a warm bath followed by quiet bed rest may help to relieve a migraine headache. Aspirin is not effective in soothing the pain. It is advisable to consult a doctor, who may prescribe a more potent pain-killer (ANALGESIC). Pentobarbital-a BARBITURATE- and certain other prescription medicines, such as Cafergot, are usually helpful.
Other Types of Headaches, Sometimes the origin of a headache can be traced to other parts of the body. Almost any disease may be accompanied b a headache. Such headaches can only be treated effectively by getting at the cause. A doctor should be consulted without delay for a headache that will not go away or one accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, and disturbed vision.