What is frostbite? Frostbite is a injury caused to tissue by extreme cold. This type of cold injury causes the tissue to freeze which means that fluid within the tissue crystallizes. Frostbite is preceded by a milder reversible tissue injury known as frostnip. As this worsens, frostbite sets in. Depending on the severity, >> Read More ...
Water contaminated with lead is not a new phenomenon. It has gained widespread attention in recent years due to various health scares often associated with water pollution by industries, aging water systems, lead-based paints, cosmetics and gasoline. Despite rigrous controls in the United States, lead exposure cannot be >> Read More ...
With the increasing use of ecstasy (MDMA) as a recreational drug, overdosing is fairly common. Ecstasy is an illicit drug, often used in combination with other drugs, which greatly increases the risk of toxicity. There is no such thing as a safe dose of the drug and even a minimum amount can produce toxicity and death. It >> Read More ...
Heat stroke is a common condition especially during the summer months and when a heatwave strikes. Every year it accounts for over 300 deaths in the United States. Almost half of all these deaths occurred in people older than 65 years who are more prone to heat-related illnesses, as are babies. Without spotting the early >> Read More ...
Alcohol poisoning claims over 2,000 lives a year in the United States. Everyday almost 6 people die from alcohol poisoning and contrary to popular belief it is not in younger age groups. About 3 in 4 deaths from alcohol poisoning occurs in the 35 to 64 year age group although children and teens are at a greater risk of >> Read More ...
A number of different food products undergo a bleaching process for several reasons, such as enhancing the color of the food. In recent times there has been widespread debate about the saftey and potential health risks of bleaching foods. For example, white flour is known to undergo a stringent bleaching process to ensure >> Read More ...
What is heat illness? Heat illness or more correctly heat-related illness is a broad term to describe any disturbance that arises in the body as a result of heat. It is commonly known as excessive body heat or hyperthermia. As the temperature rises there are various symptoms that will be seen as a result of the heat. There >> Read More ...
Chemical weapons are a serious concern as some of these agents can be deadly in very small doses and do not need to be dispersed with specialized equipment. One such chemical weapon that has gained recent public attention is the VX nerve agent. It should not be confused with another well known chemical agent, sarin, which >> Read More ...
Natural disasters like floods have significant health consequences, even in the long term. It is not just the immediate danger of drowning, injuries or hypothermia that are a concern. Flooding increases the risk of various diseases that may not have otherwise been a major health problem in an affected area. While a flood >> Read More ...
The human body has to main the internal temperature at a relatively constant rate to sustain life. This ideal temperature for the body is approximately 37ºC (100.4ºF) but can be as low as 36ºC (97ºF) for adults. Any temperature from 38ºC (100.5ºF) and higher is considered to be a temperature. On the other extreme >> Read More ...
