Health Tips and Health Education

Depending on the level of your blood pressure, you may need to take medication to get it under control.

Once high blood pressure (HBP) is under control with medication, you can try using lifestyle techniques to lower your blood pressure and reduce your need for the medication.

A medical professional can check your blood pressure.

Blood pressure is usually divided into categories, which include:

• Normal blood pressure: below 120/80
• Pre-hypertension blood pressure: 120-139/80-89
• First stage hypertension: 140-159/90-99
• Second stage hypertension: 160/100 and above

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

This is a medically designed and studied diet plan focusing on reducing blood pressure.

It was shown the significantly lower both numbers measured with your blood pressures.

The diet is high in vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean proteins.

It is also low in sodium, added sugars, and fats.

#1: Don’t add excess salt to your foods.

Avoid adding more than a pinch of salt to your food when you cook it and don’t add salt once you are getting ready to eat.

Salt makes your body retain fluid, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

#2: Avoid eating processed foods to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Processed foods are typically loaded with salt and other additives, such as the preservative sodium benzoate

Read labels and buy low-salt, low-sodium, or unsalted foods.

Foods that commonly have a ton of salt in them are prepared, canned, and bottled foods.

Also, avoid prepared condiments, such as prepared mustard, salsa, chile sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and other sauces.

#3: Eat a moderate, lean diet to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Focus on moderation and eating a balanced diet.

Try eating a plant-based diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.

Try to have at least 1 meal each day that mainly consists of fruits and vegetables.

#4: Reduce foods that are high in sugar

This means you should avoid candy bars and processed carbs.

Eat healthier meats like chicken or fish.

If you have a craving for sugar, eat a piece of fruit instead of a piece of candy.

#5: Increase your fiber intake.

Fiber won’t lower your blood pressure on its own, but it helps to regulate your digestion and keep you healthy in general.

Most vegetables are high in fiber, especially those with leafy greens.

Many fruits, nuts, and legumes (beans and peas) are also rich in fiber, as are whole-grain products.

#6: Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Consume fish twice a week or more, as they will provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, lower fats called triglycerides, and promote overall heart health.

Fish is high in protein, and many types of fish, including salmon, mackerel, and herring, also have high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

The omega-3 fatty acids are highest in the oils of the fish, so if you eat canned fish, don’t discard the oil.

Eat it along with the fish!

#7: Increase your intake of dietary potassium.

Too much potassium can be harmful, but some are necessary.

You may need more potassium if you are active, and less if you are elderly or sick.

Some foods that are naturally high in potassium include:

• Bananas
• Tomatoes/tomato juice
• Potatoes
• Beans
• Onions
• Oranges
• Fresh and dried fruits

#8: Talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your diet.

Many natural remedies have scientific evidence to show that they can lower high blood pressure, but you should never attempt to replace your blood pressure medication without talking with your doctor.

The top supplements that may assist in lowering blood pressure are coenzyme Q10, omega-3, fish oil, garlic, curcumin (from turmeric), ginger, cayenne, olive oil, nuts, black cohosh, hawthorn, magnesium, and chromium.

Ask your doctor if these are safe for you to take.

#9: Stop smoking to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Stimulants in cigarette smoke, like nicotine, can increase blood pressure.

If you stop smoking, you may be able to lower your blood pressure, help your heart to become healthier and reduce your chances of getting other diseases, including lung cancer.

#10: Consume less caffeine.

Stopping drinking coffee, soda, and other caffeinated beverages will lower your blood pressure.

Even 1 or 2 cups of coffee can raise blood pressure to an unhealthy level, so it’s best to cut it out completely.

If you are a person who drinks a lot of caffeine (more than 4 caffeinated drinks a day), you may need to taper yourself off caffeine to prevent withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches.

#11: Lose weight to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Carrying around extra weight causes your heart to work harder all the time and this increases your blood pressure.

By losing this extra weight, through changes to your diet and exercising more often, your heart won’t have to beat as hard and you’ll lower your blood pressure.

#12: Avoid recreational use of drugs and alcohol.

Excessive use of drugs and alcohol can damage many organs in the body, including the liver and the kidneys. This may contribute to high blood pressure.

#13: Reduce chronic stress to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

If you are under chronic stress where you produce that stress hormone every day, then your cardiovascular system will naturally go into a state where it is overworking.

This overworking happens because the stress hormone increases your pulse, respiration, and heart rate.

Your body thinks you need to either fight or run and is naturally getting your body ready to do one of those things.

#14: Meditate to calm yourself and reduce your blood pressure.

Take time every day to calm yourself, as this can reduce your overall stress.

Simply observing and slowing the respiration rate produces a significant reduction in blood pressure.

When you are meditating, you can simply focus on breathing deeply and slowly.

Do this until you fall asleep or you feel relaxed.

#15: Take a walk or do some other type of exercise every day.

Walk every day for at least 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate speed of about 3.0 mph (4.8 km/h).

Study after study has demonstrated that the mere act of walking has a suppression effect on hypertension.

Can’t walk outside? Use a treadmill inside.

#16: Supplement diet with some plant remedies.

Although not scientifically verified, there are several remedies which are thought to help hypertension:

Taking garlic extract is supposed to help prevent heart disease.

High BP and cholesterol are also said to be affected by garlic.

Hibiscus can act as a diuretic and may have actions that mimic medications such as ACE inhibitors and hypertension medications.

You can also try ginger tea, which is used in India to naturally reduce BP.

Drinking coconut water, which contains potassium and magnesium, can help with normal muscle function.

Taking Fish oil, which is a concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, may help with fat metabolism and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• If your BP stays at or above 140 mmHg over 90 mmHg (140/90) while watching your pressure and using these tips, you should see your doctor.
• Recognize the need for medication.
• Frequently, lifestyle changes are not enough to reduce BP to healthy levels.
• In many cases, prescription medications must be used. In this situation, the most effective anti-hypertensive regimen is a combination of both lifestyle changes and medication.

Take charge of your Health and Happiness!

Dr. Malik Haruna King

Coronavirus (COVID 19) Meaning: Coronavirus Is NOT the Deadliest Virus Known to Man!

Although Coronavirus (COVID-19) does appear to be more serious, it is not the deadliest virus that people have faced.

Others, such as Ebola, have higher mortality rates.

From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather.

The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze.

It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.

To date, there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.

All age groups can become infected.

Most cases, so far, have been in adults, but children are not immune.

In fact, preliminary evidence shows that children are just as likely to become infected, but their symptoms tend to be less severe.

The virus cannot survive on letters or packages for an extended time.

The CDC explained that “because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures.”

There’s currently no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Scientists have already begun working on one, but developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many months.

Despite several internet rumors, there is no evidence that this virus originated in a laboratory in China.

COVID 19 Symptoms and Signs: How to Know If You Already Have This Coronavirus?

COVID-19 is only deadly for a small percentage of people.

People may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms.

The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.

Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.

More rarely, the disease can be serious and even fatal.

Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), maybe more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.

People may experience:

• Dry cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (severe cases)
• The new coronavirus is viable up to 72 hours after being placed on stainless steel and plastic.

It was viable up to four hours after being placed on copper, and up to 24 hours after being put on cardboard.

In aerosols, it remained viable for three hours.

COVID 19 Prevention: How to Protect Yourself & Family from Catching It!

Disposable face masks are unlikely to provide any significant protection.

As these masks do not fit neatly against the face, droplets can still enter the mouth and nose.

Also, tiny viral particles can penetrate directly through the material.

For the general public without respiratory illness, wearing lightweight disposable surgical masks is not recommended.

Certain models of professional, tight-fitting respirators (such as the N95) can protect health care workers as they care for infected patients.

However, if someone has a respiratory illness, wearing a mask can help protect others from becoming infected.

No home remedies have been proven to protect against COVID-19.

This includes vitamin C, herbal preparations, essential oils, garlic, ginger, alcohol, salt-water, and sipping water every 15 minutes.

Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19.

Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.

Actually, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can burn you

Garlic and ginger are healthy foods that may have some antimicrobial properties.

However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic or ginger has protected people from the new coronavirus.

There is no evidence that bathing or rinsing the nose with saline (salt and water) has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus.

There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold.

However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.

You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell.

DO THE FIVE:

1. HANDS: Wash them often
2. ELBOW: Cough into it
3. FACE: Don’t touch it
4. SPACE: Keep a safe distance
5. HOME: Stay if you can

• You can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:
• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub or sanitizer.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell.
• Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.

COVID 19 Treatment, Vaccine, and Cure? What to Do If You Already Have It!

There is no specific medicine to prevent or treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

People may need supportive care to help them breathe.

Drinking or spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body.

Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth).

Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but not for treatment.

Self-care:

If you have mild symptoms, stay at home until you’ve recovered.

You can relieve your symptoms if you:

• Rest and sleep
• Keep warm
• Drink plenty of liquids
• use a room humidifier or take a hot shower to help ease a sore throat and cough.

If you develop a fever, cough, and have difficulty breathing, promptly seek medical care.

Call in advance and tell your health provider of any recent travel or recent contact with travelers.

What if a child mistakenly drank “sniper” or any similar poisonous substance, pesticide, insecticide, herbicide or organophosphate?

Or, what if it was a situation of attempted suicide?

Or, what if you mistakenly inhaled it or drank it, or got poisoned by skin or eye contact?

What do you do?

How do you minimize pain, reduce damage, and preserve life?

Today we will look at First Aid for Organophosphate poisoning or “sniper” ingestion, after looking at the symptoms of danger!

I won’t bother you with any technical knowledge or fact that should only be known by medical professionals.

Instead, I will give only information that you need to know.

First SPEED!

Every second count because it is an emergency!

RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL!!!

There is not much that can be done at home, and even in the best of hospitals, after a while, there is almost nothing anyone can do to save the person!

So, the earlier and faster you get medical help, the better!

Organophosphates are a wide range of products meant for different purposes and under different company and product names.

“Sniper” is a common name in these parts of the world.

Whatever the name, provided its an organophosphate (used to control insects and pests in homes and farms), the First Aid and subsequent treatments are similar.

Just so you know, you could see names like Dichlorvos  or 2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate or DDVP written on the container.

Acetylcholine is a substance that controls the activities of many parts of the body.

The levels of acetylcholine regulated by acetylcholinesterase.

Organophosphates (like sniper) inhibit acetylcholinesterase thereby making acetylcholine work uncontrollably.

Well, that’s all the science you need to know!

Now, How Can One Be Poisoned By Organophosphates like Sniper Insecticide?

By Inhaling or breathing it in 

Skin contact and absorption

Drinking or swallowing it, and 

Eye contact

How Do You Know Someone Is Poisoned By Organophosphates (Like Sniper Insecticide)?

What are the signs and symptoms?

Symptoms of exposure include body weakness, headache, tightness in chest, blurred vision, salivation, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, eye and skin irritation, eye pupil constriction, eye pain, runny nose, difficulty in breathing, blue discoloration of body, twitching of muscles, paralysis, dizziness, movement problems, restlessness, confusion, convulsion, coma, cessation of breathing, etc.

That’s a long list!

Now, most importantly…

Sniper Insecticide Poisoning First Aid: What Do You Do To Help ?

1. Call for help

Start making arrangements to take the person to a hospital as soon as possible.

2. Protect yourself

As we earlier said, it can be inhaled and, also, can be absorbed through the eyes and skin.

Protect yourself

If it is a closed space, open the doors and windows. 

Handle containers carefully and discard carefully. 

If the person vomited, avoid contact with the vomit with bare skin.

When helping the person, reduce direct skin-to-skin contact as much as possible.

Protect yourself.

3. Place the person in the recovery position.

Let the person lie down, on his side, in a left lateral position while you wait for help to arrive.

4. Induce vomiting

Even though some experts do not agree with this point, others (including the producers of the products) advise that you make the person vomit.

So, if the person actually drank it, and it is within 2 hours after drinking and the person is FULLY CONSCIOUS, make the person to vomit.

If the person is conscious, give large quantities of water immediately.  

Try to get the person to vomit by touching the back of his throat with a finger. 

Do not give salt water as this may involve serious risk.

If you have liquid paraffin or activated charcoal in your first aid box, this is the best time to give the person. 

This is life saving!

Note: Activated charcoal is not an ordinary charcoal. It’s different. You can get one from a pharmacy.

Again, do not make an unconscious person vomit. 

Other Important Tips (Sniper Insecticide Poisoning)!

5. If the person is convulsing, let him convulse. 

Do not try to forcibly restrain him.

6. If it was poisoning by skin contact, remove contaminated clothing immediately.

Immediately wash the contaminated skin using soap or mild detergent and water.  

Get medical attention immediately.

7. If it was poisoning by inhalation, move the exposed person to fresh air at once.  

Keep the person warm and at rest.  

Get medical attention, and preferably, as soon as possible.

8. If it was poisoning by eye contact, wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water, for at least 10 minutes, lifting the lower and upper lids occasionally.

Get medical attention immediately.

Now, briefly…

For Medical Personnel (on Sniper Insecticide Poisoning)

Commence resuscitation using the ABC approach.

Atropine is the antidote of choice for treatment of this poisoning. 

It is life-saving.

However, atropine should never be administered unless warning signs of intoxication appear.

The atropine should be given at high doses, doubling dosage every 5 minutes, in a stepwise fashion, until stabilization.

Also, Diazepam and pralidoxime have been found to be super-helpful.

Finally, do not forget to get a mental health review especially if poisoning was deliberate and not accidental.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS!

Child Eye Care Tips: How to protect your child’s eyes from eye infections

First, why Child Eye Care Tips for monsoon?

Well…

Monsoons are eagerly awaited by one and all. The onset of monsoon brings fun and smiles on faces.

It brings a great sigh of relief from the scorching sun and timid heat. During childhood, rains bring a great sense of joy and are enjoyed to the fullest.

Getting drenched in the rains and playing in muddy pits during monsoon gives immense pleasure. But monsoon doesn’t come with rains and fun alone, it brings bacteria, viruses, seasonal diseases and ailments along with it.

Pains and discomfort in the eyes are the common signs of the emergence of the rainy season. The air transmitting with various viruses can affect the eyes and cause viral infections if proper hygiene is not taken.

Children are more prone to catch eye infection in monsoon quite quickly as they come in contact with various bacteria easily. Air and water-borne diseases that plague child’s eyes makes them sick and bedridden.

Child eye infection in monsoon is a major concern for mothers. They keep analyzing how to protect their child from certain diseases and ailments on the onset of the rainy season.

Does your child’s eye look red? Or he/she is irritated with a specific eye infection like conjunctivitis or stye?

Or a particular viral infection has made your child fall sick? Redness, burning eyes and swelling are the general symptoms of an infection during the rainy season.

If your child is facing any such issue, specific eye care tips are essential to follow to prevent eye infection. Slight negligence on personal hygiene can cause significant health concerns.

If a situation gets worse, don’t medicate yourself, consultation of a doctor is recommended. A quick guide to protect child eye infection in monsoon is a must for every parent to protect their child from further diseases and ailments.

9 Child Eye Care Tips To Prevent Eye Infections

1. Wash your eyes at short intervals

You must ensure your child washes their eyes with cold water after short duration at regular intervals in monsoon. He/she should develop a habit of washing eyes after playing in the rain once they reach home.

If they don’t do it on their own, you must ensure they are following the rules of playing in the rain. Dust particles and bacteria surrounding eyes are washed once you wash their eyes with cold water and prevent them from causing any further eye ailments.

2. Make a habit of washing hands after playing

Kids play in the dirty delves during monsoon and come home with dirty hands and germs. As soon as the child gets in the home after playing, the mom cooked food is served to them, and they pounce on it.

Ask them to make a habit of washing hands as soon as they reach home. Hands must be washed properly to stay safe and germ-free.

Ask them to avoid touching their eyes and eat food with dirty hands. A little precaution can make you, and your kids enjoy the season to the fullest.

3. Sharing towels and napkins are a big No

Eye infections are easily communicated from one person to another and when the season is monsoon the case becomes even worse. Sharing personal belongings increases the risk of any eye infection.

In order to maintain personal hygiene towels, napkins, handkerchiefs should be used separately. It can transmit bacteria and viruses from infected member to another. 

4. Avoid waterlogged areas and swimming

Avoiding swimming and waterlogged areas in monsoon is a great idea to prevent eye infections. Kids love to swim and when there is water all around their fun gets doubled.

Their ongoing swimming classes should be restricted for a few weeks as water contains viruses and bacteria which can make your kids fall sick. During monsoon, the pool gets polluted with dirty water which can lead to further ailments and eye infections.

Child eye infection in monsoon can be easily caused as kids love to play in dirty puddles. They are high bacteria prone areas during the rainy season. They get in the pool with germs and infect the whole pool. Swimming can blow up the problem even further.

5. Street food must be avoided

Avoiding street food during monsoons helps in preventing various diseases. Rainy season increases the craving of street food as we see many stalls when we pass by the street.

The aroma and the deliciousness of the food make your kids stop and grab their sight. Avoid giving them street food in the rainy season as unhealthy eating habits enhance the risk of developing eye problems.

A healthy diet should be given to your kids, which is rich in essential nutrients that are necessary for healthy eyes. Ensure your kids eat healthy homemade food in the rainy season. 

6. Keep home clean and dry

It’s all wet and muddy outside. But you must take measures to keep your home clean and dry to avoid attracting insects and germs. Insects may irritate the eye as some very tiny particles can enter the eye, causing further itching and redness in the eyes. 

As kids tend to play on the floor, dirty footwear should be removed before entering the house, and the floor should be wiped with an antiseptic liquid that kills the germs present on the floor preventing any sort of infection.

7. Try to avoid the first shower in monsoons

Kids love to enjoy in the rain, but avoiding the first shower in the rainy season helps them in preventing from various infections. Try your best that your kid doesn’t get wet in the first rain of the monsoon as it contains mild acid in it and their body temperature tends to fall.

8. Use Sunglasses to prevent dust storms

Dust particles are the major cause of various eye infections. Dust particles tend to irritate eyes making it red and swollen up. Kids play outside where the risk of dust particle entering eyes is higher.

You can’t lock kids inside without allowing them to play. That’s not done. Sunglasses can prevent their eyes from dust and dirt and they can take full advantage of the season without hampering their happiness.

9. Prevent the breeding of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Make it a habit of keep changing water in refills and air coolers during monsoon.

The usage of mosquito nets or mosquito repellent prevents your child from mosquito attacks which can cause various infections and if enter eyes trigger itchiness. The condition can turn worse if prevention measures are not taken.

Conclusion on Child Eye Care Tips

Certain eye infections are caused due to external factors in the monsoon. Corneal ulcer, dry eye, conjunctivitis are some very common eye infections in this season.

Little precautions at your end will prevent your child from certain eye infections. Consult a doctor immediately when you notice any redness in your child’s eyes. 

 Take Charge of your Health and Happiness!