Summer Care - Sunstroke and First Aid

SUNSTROKE

Heatstroke (commonly known as sunstroke) is a serious life threatening medical emergency that requires immediate medical treatment. During heatstroke, the person suddenly becomes cold blooded. The person will not be sweating and the skin will be hot and dry. There will be a sudden rise in body temperature, the pulse may become rapid and strong and the victim may slip into unconsciousness. Heatstroke can also affect a person's behaviour. He starts acting strangely or inappropriately or belligerent. Heatstroke victims should receive immediate medical attention.

FIRST AID FOR SUNSTROKE:

• Move the victim to a coller place.
• Apply cold, wet compresses to the extremities and behind the neck.
• Fan the victim lightly; give small amounts of water.
• Watch for nausea and/or vomiting. If this occurs discontinue immediately. If tolerated increase the water intake.
• Avoid salt water solutions
• Make the victim lie down and rest raising his feet 8 to 12 inches above the ground.
• Get in touch with emergency medical service or a nearby hospital.

Summer Care - What to EAT?

Food and what you eat or drink can make or mar your summer. Always remember to carry a bottle of boiled water. Some in Kerala use herbs while boiling water. This has a cooling effect. You could also try adding a pinch of coriander seeds or cumins while boiling water. Avoid roadside fruit juices or sodas when you are not sure of the water that has been used. Do not take cut fruits or pavement food. Eat vitamin rich foods - large amounts of vitamin C and E seem to make skin more resistant to burning. So do carotenoids (found in green and yellow fruits and vegetables). Include plenty of foods that are rich in these nutrients in your diet. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Go easy on you diet. Replace spicy and oil food with lots of fruits and salads. You will feel and look fresher.

Summer Care - How to Avoid Heat Exhaustion

• Get out of the sun, drink plenty of water. Ideally you should have plenty of water atleast half an hour before you go out into the sun.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. This is because they have fairly high water content and good salt balance. Drink diluted electrolytes.
• People who sweat heavily tend to loose a lot of potassium and sodium. There are many over the counter electrolyte packs.
• Avoid salt tablets, alcohol, caffeine, smoking and do not bare your chest.
• Do not suddenly go out into the sun from an air-conditioned room or do the opposite. Learn to acclimatise slowly.
• Dousing your head and neck with cold water will help if it is hot and dry.
• Use a newspaper, handkerchief or a traditional hand held fan to keep yourself in cool breeze.
• Wear light and light coloured clothes. the preferred coloured is white because it reflects the heat. Use cotton or polyester blends because such cloth material can breathe.
• Use an umbrella or a hat, preferably one that also shades the neck and is well ventilated.

TIPS TO STAY FIT

FOOD: Maintain a balanced diet (which should contain all six tastes) at the correct time and in a moderate quantity. The concept of quantity of food to be taken is that only half of the stomach can be filled with solid food, quarter with fluids and the rest to be kept free for a proper assimilation.

WATER: Drink two to three litres of water everyday. Take it in moderate quantities at regular intervals. Too much water intake delays digestion as it dilutes the digestive juices and too little also delays the digestion as it affects the assimilation of food.

SLEEP: Sleep at least six hours a day. Early to bed and early rise is the best method. Ayurveda insists on getting up in the morning before sunrise as an important routine to keep the health. Avoid sleep during the day is it makes the person lethargic and regular daytime sleep leads to put on weight.

EXERCISE: Regular and moderate exercise is important to keep up the health. Moderate means, any physical movement like stretches, walking, jogging or any oter physical exertion till you sweat. Exercise beyond a limit deteriorates the health and causes emaciation.

SEX: The overall vital glow or ‘Ojus’ is the optimum presence of all seven body tissues including the reproductive fluids (semen for male and ovum and associated secretions in female). Over indulgence in sex causes excessive drainage of these fluids, which leads to deterioration of health and emaciation.

PERSONAL HYGIENE: Keeping the body and the surrounding clean is very important to prevent possible diseases and to keep up the health.

BAD HABITS: Avoid smoking, alcohol, tobacco, gudkas, etc., as they not only affect that individual’s health but are also injurious to his family and society.

NATURAL URGES: Never hold back naural urges such as flatus, urine, sneeze, thirst, hunger, sleep, cough, yawning, vomiting and semen. Hold back mental urges of greed, envy, hatred, jealousy, love (desire), etc.

ATTITUDE: Be positive always. It enhances the mental and physical well being. Note that mind and body are not two nits. Any mild problem affecting the mind affects the physical health and vice versa.

Life after Tsunami - Pure Water; Source of Sustenance

The deadly and devastating tsunami has struck and gone leaving behind its scrawling signature of death and maimed lives across the southern east coast of India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In one swoosh, the sky-scraping death waves on December 26 last year piled up a mountain of dead bodies and grief. The post-tsunami days are going to be more deadly than the killer waves. Health hazards are likely to bring another wave of death unless precautionary steps are taken. Those in the tsunami hit areas and people going to the region need to be extremely careful about their health. Here are some lurking hazards and steps to prevent an outbreak of disease and death.

3 Agents of Death – Cholera, Diarrhoea and Malaria

Most areas in the tsunami hit regions do not have pure drinking water. Standing water can be as deadly as moving water or waves.

• Ensure that you take only your drinking water. Avoid all surface water. If you are going to the region, take a load of bottled drinking water.
• Any natural disaster will activate the three agents of death: cholera, diarrhea and malaria. (See below on the agents of death)
• Beware of respiratory-tract infection
• Avoid taking non-vegetarian food, especially fish.
• Look out for fever or a churning in your stomach.
• Many, especially children, may suffer from phobias. They would need proper counseling (See below on the phobias)
• Many may suffer from post-traumatic Stress Disorder (See Below)

Agents of Death

DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea involves frequent and loose motions. The major cause is infection. Fever (high temperature) occurs with the diarrhea. Initial first aid approaches to this involve fluid replacement, with electrolyte solutions and sponging down with tepid water. Paracetamol may be tolerated, but might possible irritate the bowel more.

CHOLERA
Cholera is usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. Patients with cholera typically develop acute, watery diarrhea and dehydration. Cholera can be successfully treated by rapid oral or intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement.

It can be prevented by educating the public about food and water safety, the importance of hand washing, and the need to use latrines or toilets. Because cholera can spread swiftly through a population particularly when you are in a relief camp. Early detection of cases is necessary in order to start education and sanitation activities rapidly and to identify possible sources of infection. Foods which can tansmit cholera include raw or under cooked seafood, particularly shellfish, and raw fruits and vegetables. Acidifying foods with lemons, tomatoes, yogurt, or fermented milk helps to inhibit vibrio cholerae growth.

MALARIA
Malaria epidemics tend to occur in areas of unstable malaria, where communities have little acquired immunity, leading to widespread morbidity and mortality. Malaria epidemics cause suffering to displaced populations and refugees. Prevention is based on: evaluating the risk of exposure to infection preventing mosquito bites by using DEET mosquito repellent, bed nets, and clothing that covers most of the body.

PHOBIAS

General situational phobias involve specific kinds of anxious feelings triggered in situations with common physical or environmental elements.

AGORAPHOBIA: Agoraphobics feel unnerving pre-panic-attack sensations and anxieties when they perceive they are cut off from exits, sources of safety, or when alone.

CLAUSTROPHOBICS react similarly in situations that appear physically confining or crowded.

NECREPHOBIA: Fear of death

HYDROPHOBIA: Fear of water

SUBASTONOPHOBIA: Fear of sound

THALASSPHOBIA: Fear of the sea

POST –TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flash-backs, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be sever enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life. PTSD IS marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms.

PTSD occurs in conjunction with related disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health.