ABCD - First Aid: Injuries, Poisoning Archives - Healthhype

Alcohol Poisoning and Toxicity with Different Types of Alcohols

Dr. Chris — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:42:58 +0000

What is alcohol poisoning? Alcohol poisoning is a serious problem that can occur with drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages in a short period of time. The quantity of the alcohol consumed and its byproducts after being metabolized may be toxic to the body. It can therefore result in several systems in the body shutting down and eventually failing, sometimes even leading to death. There are several different types of alcohol which should be differentiated from each other as some are not fit for human consumption. These other types of alcohol can be toxic in even small doses. Types of Alcohol The term alcohol can sometimes be confusing because it is a group of substances that are chemically similar. Ethanol is one type of alcohol and is usually found in alcoholic beverages. Although humans can consume ethanol, in large doses especially if this is ingested over a short period of time, it can be toxic. The other types of alcohol may not be meant to be consumed, but may be ingested accidentally or intentionally. The more common types of alcohol that may be consumed by humans, other than ethanol, is methanol, isopropanol or ethyl glycol. Alcoholic beverages (above) and ethyl [...]

The post Alcohol Poisoning and Toxicity with Different Types of Alcohols appeared first on Healthhype.

Argyria (Silver Toxicity)

Dr. Chris — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:23:12 +0000

What is argyria? Argyria is a condition caused by prolonged contact with silver or consuming silver in food and fluids. Less commonly, excessive and prolonged use of drugs containing small amounts of silver may also lead to agyria, as well as the use of silver during certain surgical and dental procedures. The exposure to silver can be seen as discolored patches on the skin blue-gray to gray-black in color. The mucous membranes lining the eyes (conjunctiva) and inside of the mouth (oral mucosa) may also have this discoloration. Overall argyria is a rare condition in this day and age and usually does not have any serious health effects beyond the skin discoloration. It is nevertheless important to understand that in very large doses, silver ingestion can be fatal. Argyria Meaning Silver is a naturally occurring element in the body but is present at levels of approximately 1 milligram (mg). Argyria can be localized or generalized. Localized argyria is where the effects of the silver are isolated to the point of contact. Generalized argyria is where the silver is distributed throughout most of the body and then affect several areas or the entire body simultaneously. It usually takes between 5 to [...]

The post Argyria (Silver Toxicity) appeared first on Healthhype.

Foreign Body Aspiration (Object Blocking the Airways)

Dr. Chris — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 23:42:08 +0000

What is foreign body aspiration? Foreign body aspiration is a medical emergency that arises when an object enters the airways. Depending on the size of the object, either a solid or semi-solid, it may obstruct the airways. A significant or complete obstruction can be life-threatening within minutes. Smaller objects may lodge in the tract, causing inflammation and increasing the chances of infection. Although children are the highest risk group, foreign body aspiration can affect any age group. Foreign body aspiration in young children is largely due to purposely swallowing large or inedible objects, whereas with adults it primarily due to throat problems, use of sedatives and an impaired gag reflex. Location of Foreign Body A foreign body may be lodged in the larynx, trachea or bronchi. Fluid or semi-solid material may pass into the lungs. The bronchi are a common site where a foreign body may lodge. In children it can lodge in either bronchi. In adults, however, the right bronchi is more commonly affected because the angle difference between both the right and left bronchi differs. The path between the trachea and lung is straighter down the right bronchus and it is therefore a more commonly affected site. The [...]

The post Foreign Body Aspiration (Object Blocking the Airways) appeared first on Healthhype.

Do’s and Don’ts For Injuries From A Fall

Dr. Chris — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 23:33:11 +0000

We all fall at some time or the other. For children it is a common occurrence but in most cases the consequences are not severe. Not only do children have more flexible bones that can withstand the impact, they also tend to recover faster. However, a fall can be much more serious for adults, especially as they get older. Most of the time we get back onto our feet and continue with daily activities after a fall unless there is an open wound of fractured bone. But sometimes the most unassuming of fall injuries can be serious. If you think that a fall is a big deal about nothing, here are some facts about falls among older adults (aged 65 years and older) from the Center for Disease Control (CDC.gov): Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults. Most fractures in older adults are from falls. The most common cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults is a fall. Death from falls is 40% higher among older men than older women. Older women are twice as more likely to have fall-related fractures than older men. But do not be misled into thinking that a fall [...]

The post Do’s and Don’ts For Injuries From A Fall appeared first on Healthhype.

How To Treat Insect Bites And Stings

Dr. Chris — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 22:54:04 +0000

Insect bites and stings are undoubtedly going to occur many times in the course of human life. For some people living in more rural areas, insect bites and stings may be an almost daily occurrence and can be serious. However, in the more developed areas these bites and stings are usually harmless as the more venomous insects would have been eradicated to a large extent. Therefore the vast majority of insect bites and stings can be managed at home. The more common bites or stings in urban areas that are not usually serious occurs with some species of: Ants Bed bugs Bees Fleas Lice Mites Mosquitoes Scabies Spiders Ticks It is not always possible to identify the insect responsible for the bite or sting. The general measures adopted in managing an insect bite or sting at home, provided that it is not serious, is largely the same for any insect. Remember that first and foremost you should move away from the area where you were bitten or try to find and remove the bug from your living quarters to prevent further bites. How serious is a bite or sting? The seriousness of a bite or sting largely depends on the [...]

The post How To Treat Insect Bites And Stings appeared first on Healthhype.

Headaches After An Accident – Causes and Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Sun, 11 May 2014 23:46:06 +0000

Headaches are one of the most common complaints among adults and the cause is not always clearly identifiable. When headaches arise after an accident, be it an injury sustained during a car crash or from a fall, it has to be assessed more closely. Sometimes a person who always suffered with headaches finds that it worsens after an accident. There are several reasons why headaches may arise after an injury. But sometimes the cause is not always obvious and can continue for months or years for no discernible medical reason. Post-Traumatic Headache The term post-traumatic headache refers to head pain that arises after a injury to the head and neck. It may include neck pain which radiates or is referred to the head and experienced as a headache. The trauma to the head and neck may occur after an assault, fall, sporting injury or with a car accident. The headache typically starts within hours to days after the injury. However, the onset may sometimes be delayed. It is considered to be post-traumatic headache if the pain starts anywhere within 2 weeks after the head and neck trauma. Chronic headaches and migraines Although these headaches usually resolve within a few days [...]

The post Headaches After An Accident – Causes and Symptoms appeared first on Healthhype.

First Aid in Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)

Jan Modric — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:24:14 +0000

What Is Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)? Sudden cardiac death is an unexpected death due to cardiac causes occurring within 1 hour of symptom onset in a person in whom no previously life threatening heart condition was diagnosed. Typical SCD victim is an adult, collapsing without obvious reason during regular activity and dying in few minutes from a heart failure. Over 300,000 persons dye in US each year from SCD. More than half of all heart deaths are due to SCD. SCD has a peak at 45-75 years of age, children are rarely affected (1). Most cases of SCD are related to ventricular fibrillation or other types of arrhythmia. Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) In a healthy heart, stimulus for a contraction originates from the wall of the right upper heart chamber (atrium) and propagates through the conducting system toward the apex of the heart. This electric flow triggers repeated and organized contractions of the heart muscle, normally at 60-100/min at rest. In ventricular fibrillation (VF), heart excitation starts in lower heart chambers (ventricles) and causes non-organized heart contraction at rate beyond 300/min (2). Ventricles thus do not have time to fill completely before the next contraction, so they can not push enough blood [...]

The post First Aid in Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) appeared first on Healthhype.

Typical Indian Foods – Nutrition Facts, Pictures

Jan Modric — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:10:47 +0000

Traditional South and North Indian Food Some typical south and north Indian foods and their nutrient content – either beneficial or harmful – are described below. 1. Cooked White Rice White rice is a cereal grain with the husk, bran and germ removed. It is one of the staple (basic) foods of a north Indian diet. It is a good source of carbohydrates, especially for gluten-sensitive individuals and diabetics. It is low in fiber, so it may cause constipation. Nutrition facts: One cup of cooked rice (158 grams) contains: 205 calories 45 g carbohydrates (starch) 4 g proteins Less than 1 g fat Less than 1 g fiber Vitamins, minerals: folate and manganese Other typical Indian foods from rice: Idli is a south Indian cake from fermented and steamed white rice and black lentils Dosa is a south Indian pancake from fermented and baked rice and black lentils Pulao is steamed rice with vegetables, meat or fish (like risotto) Khichari is cooked rice with lentils Biryani is rice with meat and spices 2. Indian Bread (Roti) Roti (Picture 1) is unleavened (without yeast) Indian bread made from wheat flour, usually baked on the Indian butter – ghee. It is a staple [...]

The post Typical Indian Foods – Nutrition Facts, Pictures appeared first on Healthhype.

Toluene Inhalation, Toxicity and “Glue Sniffing” Addiction

Dr. Chris — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 01:44:28 +0000

What is toluene? Toluene (methyl benzene) is a chemical that is widely used in various substances within the home such as glue, paint and paint removers, and polish. It is also widely used for various industrial purposes. Toluene is volatile meaning that it disperses into the air and can thereby be inhaled. In high doses, it can be toxic. Due to its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and affect the central nervous system, it is an important chemical in everyday substances that can induce as sense of euphoria among other neurological disruption. What is glue sniffing? Glue sniffing is a global problem mainly among children. It involves voluntarily inhalation of glue or a rag soaked in glue to induce a sense of euphoria. Glue sniffing is a form of addiction largely due to the effects of the substance toluene within these preparations. Other toluene-containing substances could be used for a similar purpose. However, glue is often the preferred substance because it is easy to access and cheap. In the long term, glue sniffing has a host of serious effects on every system of the body and can ultimately lead to death. It is not only toluene that has [...]

The post Toluene Inhalation, Toxicity and “Glue Sniffing” Addiction appeared first on Healthhype.

Pancreas Injury (Trauma to the Pancreatic Gland)

Dr. Chris — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:19:18 +0000

Pancreatic Trauma Definition The term pancreatic trauma refers to injury of the pancreas, the elongated gland that sits in the upper middle quadrant of the abdomen. This can occur with blunt force trauma or sharp penetrating injuries. The pancreas is among the more commonly injured organ as it has very limited protection from the ribcage and is therefore quite exposed in the abdomen. A car accident injury or assault are two of the most common causes of pancreatic trauma. It is difficult to identify pancreatic trauma when it is very minor. Treatment in these cases of minimal injury is much easier. However, with moderate the severe trauma, it is very difficult to treat and manage the injured pancreas. Pancreatic Trauma Effects Normal Functioning Pancreas There are many reasons why injury to the pancreas can be very serious and even life threatening in some instances. The pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine gland. Its endocrine hormones like insulin enter the bloodstream directly where it helps to, among other activities, control the blood glucose levels. The pancreatic gland’s exocrine functions are to release digestive enzymes into ducts that then empty into the duodenum of the small intestine. These powerful digestive enzymes [...]

The post Pancreas Injury (Trauma to the Pancreatic Gland) appeared first on Healthhype.