health alerts

health tips

2008-09-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

10 Ways To Get A Good Night's Sleep......

ten ways to get night sleep

	Listen to soothing music. Set up a routine. Go to bed at the same time every night. Read a book of your choice. Do some light exercise. Consider aromatherapy.
Shower before bed. Don’t eat sugar or caffeine before you sleep. Try to avoid heavy meals before bedtime. Don’t face the clock while you try to sleep so it doesn’t distract you. Use breathing exercises to relax you.

Avoiding and Treating Blisters:

Cause and Effect
Blisters form when the skin rubs against another surface, causing friction. First, a tear occurs within the upper layers of the skin, forming a space between the layers while leaving the surface intact. Then fluid seeps into the space.

Soles and palms are most commonly affected for several reasons. The hands and feet often rub against shoes, skates, rackets, or other equipment. Blister formation usually requires thick and rather immobile epidermis, as is found in these areas. In addition, blisters form more easily on moist skin than on dry or soaked skin, and warm conditions assist blister formation.

Blister Care
If you get a blister, you’ll want to relieve your pain, keep the blister from enlarging,

and stave off infection. Specific steps depend on the size of the blister and whether or not it is intact. You can treat the vast majority of blisters yourself and need to call a doctor only if blisters become infected, recur frequently, form in unusual locations, or are very severe. Signs of infection include pus draining from the blister, very red or warm skin around the blister, and red streaks leading away from the blister.

Small, intact blisters that don’t cause discomfort usually need no treatment. Nature’s best protection against infection is a blister’s own skin, or roof. To protect the roof, this type of blister can be covered with a small adhesive bandage if practical.

Larger or painful blisters that are intact should be drained without removing the roof. First clean the blister with rubbing alcohol or antibiotic soap and water. Then heat a straight pin or safety pin over a flame until the pin glows red, and allow it to cool before puncturing a small hole at the edge of the blister.

Drain the fluid with gentle pressure, then apply an antibiotic ointment such as bacitracin with polymyxin B (double antibiotic ointment) or bacitracin alone. Avoid ointments that contain neomycin because they are more likely to cause an allergic reaction.

Finally, cover the blister with a bandage. Change the dressing daily--more frequently if it becomes wet, soiled, or loose.

Blisters with small tears are treated the same as those that you have punctured. Blisters with larger tears should be "unroofed" carefully with fine scissors, and the base should be cleansed thoroughly with soap and water or an antibacterial cleanser. Apply antibiotic ointment and bandages as described above.

Additional padding may be necessary for exercise or sports. Ring-shaped pads made of felt will protect small blisters. Larger blisters may require dressings. Some of the many available dressing materials are DuoDerm (ConvaTec, Princeton, New Jersey), Spenco 2nd Skin (Spenco Medical Corporation, Waco, Texas), Vigilon (CR Bard Inc, Murray Hill, New Jersey), and Opsite (Smith & Nephew United, Largo, Florida). Additional, doughnutshaped padding made of felt or lamb’s wool may be applied over the area surrounding the blister. Then the entire dressing can be applied to help keep the dressing in place on sweaty skin.

Avoid Eye Strain When Using Computers.....

If you spend most of your weekday sitting in front of a video display terminal, you've probably noticed that using a computer can be a pain in the neck, the eyes and almost every other part of your body!

It's no wonder computers cause eye strain. Studies have shown that computer users tend to stare at a glowing screen without blinking for much longer periods than do people who use typewriters. This is why many people using computers experience dry eye problems. In addition, computer screens reflect a great deal of glare - from windows, overhead lights and even the user's own bright clothing. Finally, many computer users sit practically face-to-face with the monitor.

Whether you spend every day or only a few hours a week using a computer, there are steps you can (and should) take to reduce the physical strains from computer use.

Steps to follow, when using a computer:

Have a thorough eye examination. While everyone should have their eyes checked once a year, annual eye exams are especially important for computer users.
Follow the "20/20 rule." Keep your face at least 20 inches from the screen and pause every 20 minutes or so to look around the room, so your eyes can focus on distant objects. Regular eye exercise helps prevent eye strain.
Place all materials you are working with at the same distance as the screen. This reduces strain of your eyes and neck.
Make sure you have a glare screen, which should block glare without making the characters on the monitor appear fuzzy. Also if possible, move or adjust the computer screen to avoid reflections from windows or indoor lights.
Sit on a stable, comfortable, adjustable chair. If it is possible to put the keyboard a few inches below the desktop, for example, with an adjustable table, or by using a center drawer of a desk for a pullout keyboard rest, do so. This will keep your arms at a more comfortable angle.
Place computer monitor at a 35-degree angle below your eyes. This reduces incidence of Dry Eye.
Use preservative-free artificial tears intermittently when on the computer if your eyes get red and irritated. Much of computer fatigue is caused by Dry Eye.
Finally, take periodic breaks from the computer during the day, walk around and do some non-computer tasks for about 15 minutes every two or three hours.

Avoid back pain......

If you sit in front of a computer screen all day, make sure to sit up straight and keep your feet slightly raised off the floor on a footstool or other low object. Don't sit for long periods; get up and walk around the office or step outside for a break at least every half hour.
Wear flat, comfortable shoes. As your stomach grows and your balance shifts, a pair of high heels will only make your posture worse.
Always bend from your knees and lift objects and children from a crouching position to minimize the stress on your back. Let someone else lift heavy objects; this is not the time to risk throwing your back out completely.
Start an exercise programme early in pregnancy, one that includes stretches that strengthen and stretch muscles that support the back and legs. Don't worry if you're well past your first trimester; you can start a simple stretching routine at any time.
Swimming is a particularly good choice for pregnant women because it strengthens your lower back muscles, and the buoyancy of the water takes the strain off your joints and ligaments. Avoid doing breaststroke, though, as this can affect your lower back joint.

Stand up straight. This gets harder to do as your body changes, but try to keep your pelvis tucked in and your shoulders back. Pregnant women tend to lean back as their bump grows, which puts more strain on the spine.

Avoid sun, avoid skin cancer.....

Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer, and its incidence is increasing. The #1 defense against skin cancer is prevention. When you are outdoors, follow these guidelines:

Stay away from the midday sun and its intense rays. Try to schedule outdoor activities before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
Wear a T-shirt and a hat - use clothing to protect your face, arms and legs.
Use sunblock lotion with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher. Cover your skin thoroughly with the protective lotion and reapply after swimming or sweating.
Examine your skin for any abnormalities. Seek medical treatment if you notice any changes.

Sunscreen and melanoma:

Sunscreen prevents sunburn, which is the cause of basal cell and

squamous cell carcinomas, the most common forms of skin cancer. So you should wear sunscreen if you have to be outdoors.

However, don't rely on sunscreen to prevent melanoma. The only way to protect yourself against melanoma is to stay out of the sun's harmful rays. This is especially important if you have fair skin, light hair or eyes.

What you may not know?

Clouds will not protect you. Harmful rays still penetrate overcast skies. You can get sunburned, and you can damage your skin.
Water will not protect you. Even though your skin feels cool in the water, the sun's rays can penetrate up to three feet of water. You're still in danger.

Cooler temperatures will not protect you. Even in the winter, sunny days can cause sunburn.

The incidence of melanoma has more than doubled during the past 20 years. Protect yourself by recognizing the signs of disease, avoiding the sun and visiting a physician on a routine basis.

Ayurved Healthtips:

Headache:
5-10 leaves of holy basil + 10 black pepper + 1 teaspoon honey. Recommended thrice in day.
Hoarsness of voice:
1teaspoon piper longum + 1 teaspoon honey + 1 teaspoon ginger powder. Recommended thrice a day. This combination can also be used in Hiccough.
Insect bites:
A paste of 1 teaspoon powder of black pepper + 1 teaspoon ghee. Recommended twice or thrice daily.
Intestial worms:
1 teaspoon bishop seeds + 1 teaspoon castor oil. Recommended 1-2 times a day.
Malaria :
10 leaves of holy basil + 10 pieces of black pepper +1 teaspoon of honey. Recommended 3-4 times a day.
Piles :
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger powder + 1 teaspoon jaggery. Recommended two or three times a day.
Prevention of Malaria :
1/2 teaspoon of asofoetida powder once a day after lunch to prevent recurrent attacks of malaria.
Cough & Cold :
1 teaspoon. dried ginger powder + 1 teaspoon. black pepper + 5-10 leaves of holy basil in a cup of tea. Recommended 3 -4 times in day.
Dental pain :
10 pieces of clove + 1 piece of camphor in a cotton piece and place it over the area of pain as required.
Diabetes :
One teaspoon of powdered Emblic Myrobalans + one teaspoon of turmeric powder & honey. Recommended thrice in a day.

A sweet reward after your workout.....

Have you ever felt the "wind go out of your sails" halfway into your workout? Glycogen stored in the liver and muscle tissue is a primary fuel for exercise. During exercise, glycogen is quickly depleted, leaving one feeling fatigued.

To increase your body's capacity for glycogen storage, give yourself a "sweet reward" within 15-20 minutes after your workout. While simple carbohydrate (sugar) consumption is usually not recommended as part of an optimal diet, this is the one time when simple sugars can give you the most benefit.

So go ahead and have a (small) treat! You deserve it, and your body can use it!

Aerobics: Are your really at your Target Heart Rate?

If you've been eating a low-fat, balanced diet consistently, and have been doing aerobics 3-4 times per week, but you still aren't getting the results you'd expect, you may want to check the intensity of your aerobic sessions. For maximum benefits, you must train continuously for 20-60 minutes per aerobic session in your target heart rate zone.

The activity can be anything you choose that raises and maintains your heart rate to the training zone for 20-60 minutes. But you should check your heart rate periodically to make sure you are in your training zone. Don't cheat by "taking it easy" for 10 minutes, then sprinting for 30 yards and then taking your heart rate! Your heart rate should be steadily maintained in the zone for the entire 20-60 minute aerobic session for maximum effectiveness.

Are you drinking enough water during your workouts?....

Staying hydrated is a must to ensure endurance, coordination and safety during exercise. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. If exercising aerobically for longer than 45 minutes, you

may want to include a sports drink (Gatorade® et al) containing 6-8% carbohydrate to improve performance and enhance fat-burning. Try following the guidelines below:

Drink 8-16 ounces of water 30-60 minutes before exercise

Drink 4-10 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes during your workout

Drink 8-16 ounces of water after exercise

Getting Rid Of Existing Acne....

Here are some great tips and home remedies on getting rid of acne you already have.

Keeping the skin of the face as dry and clean as possible.
Washing the face carefully and gently twice a day with an anti-bacteria soap.
Using a light, non oil-based moisturizer on the face after each washing.
Avoiding cosmetics that contain synthetic chemicals and vegetable oils.
Keeping hair clean and off the face.
Avoiding picking at or touching blemishes.
Avoiding pressure on irritated skin from tight collars or head-gear.
And using over-the-counter products that contain sulfur plus resorcinol that can be applied to the skin to unclog pores and heal acne.
To dry out a pimple overnight, try using toothpaste (not gel) directly on the zit. This should help dry it out overnight.
A great face mask is to use the white part of an egg and apply it to your face for about 15 minutes. The vitamin A in the whites is also good for your skin.
The egg white is also a great overnight remedy, but just use a Q-tip to dab on the egg-white directly to the pimple.
To rid redness from an inflamed zit, use visine eyedrops and apply to the red spots.
Another way to get rid of redness: try hydrocortisone cream or pop two Advil.

Add fish to your weight loss regimen...

Add fish to your weight loss regimen. Overweight people who are on a weight loss diet may be able to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, cod and mackerel every day, according to a study in the November 1999 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Fatty fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to protect against heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing high blood pressure.

Avoid Cancer ..


Fight Cancer with America's Favorite Summertime Drink. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) conducted a research study that turned up some surprising results. Tea contains antioxidants which neutralize "free radicals" that are thought to cause cancer. Next time you order refreshing iced tea, enjoy and know you may be fighting cancer.

Avoid Excessive Drinking....

While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

Fever

2008-09-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Symptom/Sign: **Fever**
*Classifications and external resources*

An analog medical thermometer showing the temperature of 38.7 °C
ICD-10	R50.
ICD-9	780.6
DiseasesDB	18924
eMedicine	med/785
MeSH	D005334

Fever (also known as pyrexia, from the Greek pyretos meaning fire, or a febrile response, from the Latin word febris, meaning fever, and archaically known as ague) is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body's thermoregulatory set-point, usually by about 1–2 °C.

Fever differs from hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature over the body's thermoregulatory set-point, due to excessive heat production or insufficient thermoregulation, or both. Carl Wunderlich discovered that fever is not a disease but a symptom of disease.

The elevation in thermoregulatory set-point means that the previous "normal body temperature" is considered hypothermic, and effector mechanisms kick in. The person who is developing the fever has a cold sensation, and an increase in heart rate, muscle tone and shivering attempt to counteract the perceived hypothermia, thereby reaching the new thermoregulatory set-point. A fever is one of the body's mechanisms to try to neutralize the perceived threat inside the body, be it bacterial or viral.

Measurement and normal variation

Normally, a fever is when body temperature is at or over 38 °C (100.4°F).

When a patient has or is suspected of having a fever, that person's body temperature is measured using a thermometer.

At a first glance, fever is present if:

Temperature in the anus (rectum/rectal) or in the ear (otic) is at or over 38.0°C (100.4°F)
Temperature in the mouth (oral) is at or over 37.5 °C (99.5 °F)
Temperature under the arm (axillary) is at or over 37.2 °C (99.0 °F)

The common oral measurement of normal human body temperature is 36.8±0.7 °C (98.2±1.3 °F). This means that any oral temperature between 36.1 and 37.5 °C (96.9 and 99.5 °F) is likely to be normal.

However, there are many variations in normal body temperature, and this needs to be considered when measuring for fever. The values given are for an otherwise healthy, non-fasting adult, dressed comfortably, indoors, in a room that is kept at a normal room temperature (22.7 to 24.4°C or 73 to 76 °F ) , during the morning, but not shortly after arising from sleep. Furthermore, for oral temperatures, the subject must not have eaten, drunk, or smoked anything in at least the previous fifteen to twenty minutes.

Body temperature normally fluctuates over the day, with the lowest levels around 4 a.m. and the highest around 6 p.m. ^[1] (assuming the subject follow the prevalent pattern, i.e, sleeping at nighttime and staying awake during daytime). Therefore, an oral temperature of 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) would strictly be a fever in the morning, but not in the afternoon. An oral body temperature reading up to 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in the early/late afternoon or early/late evening also wouldn't be a fever. Normal body temperature may differ as much as 1.0 °F between individuals or from day to day. In women, temperature differs at various points in the menstrual cycle, and this can be used for family planning (although temperature is only one of the variables). Temperature is increased after eating, and psychological factors also influence body temperature.

There are different locations where temperature can be measured, and these differ in temperature variability. Tympanic membrane thermometers measure radiant heat energy from the tympanic membrane (infrared). These may be very convenient, but may also show more variability.

Children develop higher temperatures with activities like playing, but this is not fever because their set-point is normal. Elderly patients may have a decreased ability to generate body heat during a fever, so even a low-grade fever can have serious underlying causes in geriatrics.

Mechanism

Temperature is regulated in the hypothalamus, in response to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PGE2 release, in turn, comes from a trigger, a pyrogen. The hypothalamus generates a response back to the rest of the body, making it increase the temperature set-point.

Hyperthermia: Characterized on the left. Normal body temperature (thermoregulatory set-point) is shown in green, while the hyperthermic temperature is shown in red. As can be seen, hyperthermia can be conceptualized as an increase above the thermoregulatory set-point.
Hypothermia: Characterized in the center: Normal body temperature is shown in green, while the hypothermic temperature is shown in blue. As can be seen, hypothermia can be conceptualized as a decrease below the thermoregulatory set-point.
Fever: Characterized on the right: Normal body temperature is shown in green. It reads "New Normal" because the thermoregulatory set-point has risen. This has caused what was the normal body temperature (in blue) to be considered hypothermic.

Pyrogens

A pyrogen is a substance that induces fever. These can be either internal (endogenous) or external (exogenous). The bacterial substance lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an example of an exogenous pyrogen. Because exposure to exogenous pyrogens can cause a dangerous reaction, the FDA has set limits on the amount of permissible endotoxin in drugs. Depyrogenation may be achieved through filtration, distillation, chromatography, or inactivation.

Endogenous

The cytokines (such as interleukin 1) are a part of the innate immune system, produced by phagocytic cells, and cause the increase in the thermoregulatory set-point in the hypothalamus. Other examples of endogenous pyrogens are interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

These cytokine factors are released into general circulation where they migrate to the circumventricular organs of the brain, where the blood-brain barrier is reduced. The cytokine factors bind with endothelial receptors on vessel walls, or interact with local microglial cells. When these cytokine factors bind, they activate the arachidonic acid pathway.

Exogenous

One model for the mechanism of fever caused by exogenous pyrogens includes LPS, which is a cell wall component of gram-negative bacteria. An immunological protein called lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) binds to LPS. The LBP–LPS complex then binds to the CD14 receptor of a nearby macrophage. This binding results in the synthesis and release of various endogenous cytokine factors, such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In other words, exogenous factors cause release of endogenous factors, which, in turn, activate the arachidonic acid pathway.

PGE2 release

PGE2 release comes from the arachidonic acid pathway. This pathway (as it relates to fever), is mediated by the enzymes phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E2 synthase. These enzymes ultimately mediate the synthesis and release of PGE2.

PGE2 is the ultimate mediator of the febrile response. The set-point temperature of the body will remain elevated until PGE2 is no longer present. PGE2 acts on neurons in the preoptic area (POA) through the prostaglandin E receptor 3 (EP3). EP3-expressing neurons in the POA innervate the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), the rostral raphe pallidus nucleus in the medulla oblongata (rRPa) and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Fever signals sent to the DMH and rRPa lead to stimulation of the sympathetic output system, which evokes non-shivering thermogenesis to produce body heat and skin vasoconstriction to decrease heat loss from the body surface. It is presumed that the innervation from the POA to the PVN mediates the neuroendocrine effects of fever through the pathway involving pituitary gland and various endocrine organs.

Hypothalamus response

The brain ultimately orchestrates heat effector mechanisms via the autonomic nervous system. These may be:

Increased heat production by increased muscle tone, shivering and hormones like epinephrine.
Prevention of heat loss, such as vasoconstriction.

The autonomic nervous system may also activate brown adipose tissue to produce heat (non-exercise-associated thermogenesis, also known as non-shivering thermogenesis), but this seems mostly important for babies. Increased heart rate and vasoconstriction contribute to increased blood pressure in fever.

Types

According to one common rule of thumb, fever is generally classified for convenience as:

Fever classification
Grade	°C	°F
low grade	38–39	100.4–102.2
moderate	39–40	102.2–104.0
high-grade	40–42	104.0–107.6
hyperpyrexia	>42	>107.6

The last is a medical emergency because it approaches the upper limit compatible with human life.

Most of the time, fever types can not be used to find the underlying cause. However, there are specific fever patterns that may occasionally hint the diagnosis:

Pel-Ebstein fever: A specific kind of fever associated with Hodgkin's lymphoma, being high for one week and low for the next week and so on. However, there is some debate as to whether this pattern truly exists.^[2]
Continuous fever: Temperature remains above normal throughout the day and does not fluctuate more than 1°C in 24 hours, e.g. lobar pneumonia, typhoid, urinary tract infection, brucellosis, or typhus. Typhoid fever may show a specific fever pattern, with a slow stepwise increase and a high plateau.
Intermittent fever: Elevated temperature is present only for some hours of the day and becomes normal for remaining hours, e.g. malaria, kala-azar, pyaemia, or septicemia. In malaria, there may be a fever with a periodicity of 24 hours (quotidian), 48 hours (tertian fever), or 72 hours (quartan fever, indicating Plasmodium malariae). These patterns may be less clear in travelers.
Remittent fever: Temperature remains above normal throughout the day and fluctuates more than 1°C in 24 hours, e.g. infective endocarditis.

A neutropenic fever, also called febrile neutropenia, is a fever in the absence of normal immune system function. Because of the lack of infection-fighting neutrophils, a bacterial infection can spread rapidly and this fever is therefore usually considered a medical emergency. This kind of fever is more commonly seen in people receiving immune-suppressing chemotherapy than in apparently healthy people.

Febricula^[3] is a mild fever of short duration, of indefinite origin, and without any distinctive pathology.

Causes

Fever is a common symptom of many medical conditions:

Infectious disease, e.g. influenza, common cold, HIV, malaria, infectious mononucleosis, or gastroenteritis
Various skin inflammations, e.g. boils, pimples, acne, or abscess
Immunological diseases, e.g. lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, inflammatory bowel diseases
Tissue destruction, which can occur in hemolysis, surgery, infarction, crush syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, cerebral hemorrhage, etc.
Drug fever
- directly caused by the drug, e.g. lamictal, progesterone, or chemotherapeutics causing tumor necrosis
- as an adverse reaction to drugs, e.g. antibiotics or sulfa drugs.
- after drug discontinuation, e.g. heroin or fentanyl withdrawal
Cancers, most commonly renal cancer and leukemia and lymphomas
Metabolic disorders, e.g. gout or porphyria
Thrombo-embolic processes, e.g. pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis

Persistent fever which cannot be explained after repeated routine clinical inquiries, is called fever of unknown origin.

Usefulness of fever

"Give me a fever, and I can cure any illness." -- Hippocrates (ca. 400 BC)

There are arguments for and against the usefulness of fever, and the issue is controversial.^[4]^[5] There are studies using warm-blooded vertebrates^[6] and humans^[7] in vivo, with some suggesting that they recover more rapidly from infections or critical illness due to fever.

Theoretically, fever can aid in host defense.^[4] There are certainly some important immunological reactions that are sped up by temperature, and some pathogens with strict temperature preferences could be hindered.^[8] The overall conclusion seems to be that both aggressive treatment of fever^[7] and too little fever control^[4] can be detrimental. This depends on the clinical situation, so careful assessment is needed.

Fevers may be useful to some extent since they allow the body to reach high temperatures, causing an unbearable environment for some pathogens. White blood cells also rapidly proliferate due to the suitable environment and can also help fight off the harmful pathogens and microbes that invaded the body.

has demonstrated that fever has several important functions in the healing process:

increased mobility of leukocytes
enhanced leukocytes phagocytosis
endotoxin effects decreased
increased proliferation of T Cells
enhanced activity of interferon

Treatment

Fever should not necessarily be treated. Fever is an important signal that there's something wrong in the body, and it can be used to govern medical treatment and gauge its effectiveness. Moreover, not all fevers are of infectious origin.

Even when treatment is not indicated, however, febrile patients are generally advised to keep themselves adequately hydrated, as the dehydration produced by a mild fever can be more dangerous than the fever itself. Water is generally used for this purpose, but there is always a small risk of hyponatremia if the patient drinks too much water. For this reason, some patients drink sports drinks or electrolyte-replacing products designed specifically for this purpose.

Most people take medication against fever because the symptoms cause discomfort. Fever increases heart rate and metabolism, thus potentially putting an additional strain on elderly patients, patients with heart disease, etc. This may even cause delirium. Therefore, potential benefits must be weighed against risks in these patients. In any case, fever must be brought under control in instances when fever escalates to hyperpyrexia and tissue damage is imminent.

Treatment of fever is normally done by lowering the set-point, but facilitating heat loss may also be effective. The former is accomplished with antipyretics such as ibuprofen or acetominophen (aspirin can be given to adults, but can cause Reye's Syndrome in children). Heat removal is generally by wet cloth or pads, usually applied to the forehead,^[11] but also through bathing the body in tepid water. This is particularly important for babies, where drugs should be avoided. However, using water that is too cold can induce vasoconstriction, and reduce effective heat loss.

Heat loss may also be accomplished by heat conduction, convection, radiation, or evaporation (sweating, perspiration), or a combination of these.

Fever in domestic animals

Fever is also an important feature for the diagnosis of disease in domestic animals. The body temperature of animals, which is always taken rectally, is different from one species to another. For example, a horse is said to have a fever at 38.5°C, while a cow is said to have a fever at 39.6°C.

In species that allow the body to have a wide range of "normal" temperatures, such as camels, it is sometimes difficult to determine a febrile stage.

Diseases called "fever"

As fever is a prominent symptom of many diseases, in man and animals, it will often appear in the common appellation of diseases.

in humans

Ebola fever
Puerperal fever
Yellow fever
Scarlet fever

asthma

2008-09-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

Asthma

» Asthma symptoms can range from persistent coughing to the full-blown manifestations of respiratory failure.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Acute asthma is one of the most common acute illnesses that primary care physicians are called upon to manage, either in their office or often at night in the emergency room.

Symptoms

Wheezing
Cough
Shortness of Breath
Sense of impending doom
Anxiety

Symptoms can range from persistent coughing to the full-blown manifestations of respiratory failure. Asthma is the leading cause of missed school, account for 17% of pediatric emergency care, and are the leading cause of hospitalization among children, accounting for 11 to 17% of pediatric admissions in major US cities.

Asthma Facts

Afflicts 15 to 21 million Americans and up to 9 million American children <>
Over 5000 Americans died from Asthma in 1996.
Asthma is the 7th most common illness in the U.S.A.
Deaths from Asthma increased 150% from 1977 to 1991.
Direct costs to treat Asthma exceeded $ 6 BILLION in 1996.
There were 500,000 hospitalizations due to Asthma in 1996.
The incidence of Asthma has increased 30% over the last decade.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Bronchial asthma is usually intrinsic (no cause can be demonstrated), but is occasionally caused by a specific allergy (such as allergy to mold, dander, dust). Although most individuals with asthma will have some positive allergy tests, the allergy is not necessarily the cause of the asthma symptoms.Symptoms can occur spontaneously or can be triggered by respiratory infections, exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke or other pollutants, stress or anxiety, food allergies or drug allergies. The first step in an acute asthma attack is inflammation of the lining of the lungs and the small airways leading into and through the lung. In response to the inflammation, the muscles of the bronchial tree become tight and the lining of the air passages become swollen, reducing airflow and producing the typical wheezing sound. Mucus production is increased in response to the inflammation.Most asthma sufferers have periodic attacks followed by periods of normal breathing. Asthma attacks can last minutes to days, and can become dangerous if not deadly if airflow becomes severely restricted. Asthma affects 1 in 20 of the overall population, but the incidence is 1 in 10 in children. Asthma can develop at any age, but some children seem to outgrow the illness. Risk factors include self or family history of eczema, allergies or family history of asthma.

Diagnosis

Asthma should be considered in the presence of the following clinical presentations:

recurrent or chronic lower respiratory wheezing
recurrent or chronic coughing
repeated diagnoses of bronchitis (in children and nonsmokers)
repeated diagnoses of pneumonia

The diagnosis is most efficiently confirmed by demonstrating the complete response of acute symptoms, when present, to an inhaled bronchodi lator and/or a 5 to 10 day course of high-dose oral corticosteroids.Example products: Proventil® (albuterol, USP), Ventolin® (albuterol, USP) and generic equivalents, Maxair® (pirbuterol acetate), and Brethaire® (terbutaline sulfate).

Treatment

» Patients with seasonal allergic disease may require maintenance medication only seasonally, and patients with chronic disease may require seasonal increases in their maintenance medication.

Therapeutic strategies fall into two categories:
Intervention - measures to stop acute symptoms.
Maintenance - measures to prevent symptoms.
All patients require availability of efficient and effective intervention measures. These should be available at home and the patient/families should be taught when and how to apply them. Patients with chronic disease additionally need maintenance medication to prevent their daily symptoms. Patients with seasonal allergic disease may require maintenance medication only seasonally, and patients with chronic disease may require seasonal increases in their maintenance medication. A variety of medications for treatment of asthma are available and include:

anti-inflammatory medications

inhaled corticosteroids (Azmacort, Flovent, Vanceril, AeroBid)
oral or intravenous corticosteroids (such as prednisone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone)
cromolyn sodium (Intal) or nedocromil sodium (Tilade)
zarfirlukast (Accolade) and montelukast (Singulair)

bronchodilators

Immediate acting agents - for acute attacks:

inhaled or oral (Proventil, Alupent, Maxaire, Brethaire)

Long-Acting agents (NOT FOR ACUTE ATTACKS - Maintenance only):

inhaled salmeterol (Serevent)

aminophylline or theophylline

People with mild asthma (infrequent attacks) may use inhalers on an as-needed basis. Persons with significant asthma (symptoms occur at least every week) are usually treated with anti-inflammatory medications, preferably inhaled corticosteroids, and then with bronchodilators such as inhaled Alupent or Vanceril. Acute severe asthma may require hospitalization, oxygen, and intravenous medications.

Home Monitoring of Lung Function

A peak flow meter, a simple device to measure lung volume, can be used at home to check on lung functions on a daily basis. This often helps determine when medication is needed or can be tapered in the case of an exacerbation of symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

Asthma is a disease that has no cure. With proper self management and medical treatment, most people with asthma can lead normal lives.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or your child experience mild asthma symptoms (to discuss treatment options). Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if severe chest pain develops, an attack requires more intensive use of medication than usual or requires more medication than recommended in the prescription, or if shortness of breath occurs at rest.Call your health care provider if symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment or if new symptoms develop.

Prevention

Decrease or control exposure to known allergens by staying away from cigarette smoke, removing animals from bedrooms or entire houses, and avoiding foods that cause symptoms.Asthma can dramatically impair quality of life and can be fatal. Most patients can be effectively managed with carefully designed therapies and full patient compliance to prescribed care. If you or a loved one suffers from asthma help is available through asthma specialists throughout the country. Visit our physician locator for network asthma specialists in your area.

2008-09-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're driving home (alone of course) after an unusually hard day on the job.

You're really tired, and frustrated……

YOU ARE REALLY STRESSED AND UPSET ….

Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw.

You are only five miles from the hospital nearest your home.

Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far

WHAT TO DO ???

YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN CPR, BUT THE GUY THAT CONDUCTED THE COURSE DID NOT TELL YOU HOW TO PERFORM IT ON YOURSELF !!!

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE?

SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE ALONE WHEN THEY SUFFER A HEART ATTACK, WITHOUT HELP, THE PERSON WHOSE HEART IS BEATING IMPROPERLY AND WHO BEGINS TO FEEL FAINT, HAS ONLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS LEFT BEFORE LOSING CONSCIOUS

WHAT TO DO ??

ANSWER:

DO NOT PANIC, BUT START COUGHING REPEATEDLY AND VERY VIGOROUSLY.

A DEEP BREATH SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE EACH COUGH, THE COUGH MUST BE DEEP AND PROLONGED, AS WHEN PRODUCING SPUTUM FROM DEEP INSIDE THE CHEST.

A BREATH AND A COUGH MUST BE REPEATED ABOUT EVERY TWO SECONDS WITHOUT LET-UP UNTIL HELP ARRIVES, OR UNTIL THE HEART IS FELT TO BE BEATING NORMALLY AGAIN.

DEEP BREATHS GET OXYGEN INTO THE LUNGS AND COUGHING MOVEMENTS SQUEEZE THE HEART AND KEEP THE BLOOD CIRCULATING. THE SQUEEZING PRESSURE ON THE HEART ALSO HELPS IT REGAIN NORMAL RHYTHM. IN THIS WAY, HEART ATTACK VICTIMS CAN GET TO A HOSPITAL

ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON N.º 240 OF JOURNAL OF GENERAL HOSPITAL ROCHESTER

TELL AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THIS.

IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES !!! DON'T EVER THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT PRONE TO HEART ATTACK AS YOUR AGE IS LESS THAN 25 OR 30. NOWADAYS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE

LIFE STYLE, HEARTATTACK IS FOUND AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGE GROUPS.

BE A FRIEND AND PLEASE SEND THIS ARTICLE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE