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Saturday, March 8, 2014

First aid for burns

Dr Mohammad Sayem n
To distinguish a minor burn from a serious burn, the first step is to determine the extent of damage to body tissues. The three burn health classifications of firstflash degree burn, seconddegree burn and third-degree burn will help you determine whether you need emergency care.

Aburnis a type ofinjurytofleshorskincaused byheat,electricity,chemicals,friction, orradiation. The most common causes of burns are fire or flames. Globally, about 11million people seek medical treatment, and 300,000 die from burns each year. The characteristics of a burn depend upon its depth, and the treatment depends on the severity of the burn. Superficial burns may be managed easily while large burns can be fatal
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, among others), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol or equivalent). Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 2, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Minor burns usually heal without further treatment. They may heal with pigment changes, meaning the healed area may be a different color from the surrounding skin. Watch for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, fever, swelling or oozing. If infection develops, seek medical help. Avoid re-injuring or tanning if the burns are less than a year old doing so may cause more extensive pigmentation changes. Use sunscreen on the area for at least a year. tissue damage. Fat, muscle and even bone may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear dry and white. Difficulty inhaling and exhaling, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other toxic effects may occur if smoke inhalation accompanies the burn.

QuicK TIPS Avoid green papaya during pregnancy

For major burns

Seek emergency medical help. Until an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps: l Dont remove burned clothing: However, do make sure the victim is no longer in contact with smoldering materials or exposed to smoke or heat. l Dont immerse large severe burns in cold water: Doing so could cause a drop in body temperature (hypothermia) and deterioration of blood pressure and circulation (shock). l Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement): If there is no breathing or other sign of circulation, apply CPR. l Elevate the burned body part or parts: Raise above heart level, when possible. l Cover the area of the burn: Use a cool, moist, sterile bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist cloth towels. l Get a tetanus shot: Burns are susceptible to tetanus. Doctors recommend you get a tetanus shot every 10 years. If your last shot was more than five years ago, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot booster. l

1st-degree burn
The least serious burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned, but not all the way through. In first-degree burns: l The skin is usually red l Often there is swelling l Pain sometimes is present Treat a first-degree burn as a minor burn unless it involves substantial portions of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint, which requires emergency medical attention.

2nd-degree burn
When the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin (dermis) is also burned, the injury is called a second-degree burn. In second-degree burns: l Blisters develop l Skin takes on an intensely reddened, splotchy appearance l There is severe pain and swelling. If the second-degree burn is no larger

than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, treat it as a minor burn. If the burned area is larger or if the burn is on the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint, treat it as a major burn and get medical help immediately.

How to manage minor burns?

For minor burns, including first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to an area no larger than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter, take the following steps: l Cool the burn: Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 or 15 minutes or until

the pain subsides. If this is impractical, immerse the burn in cool water or cool it with a cold compress. Cooling the burn reduces swelling by conducting heat away from the skin. Dont put ice on the burn. l Cover the burn with a sterile gauze bandage: Dont use fluffy cotton, or other material that may get lint in the wound. Wrap the gauze loosely to avoid putting pressure on burned skin. Bandaging keeps air off the burn, reduces pain and protects blistered skin. l Take an over-the-counter pain reliever: These include aspirin,

Cautions
Dont use ice. Putting ice directly on a burn can cause a persons body to become too cold and cause further damage to the wound. l Dont apply egg whites, butter or ointments to the burn. This could cause infection. l Dont break blisters. Broken blisters are more vulnerable to infection.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, avoid eating papaya or using papaya-based products. Papaya is sometimes recommended for soothing indigestion, which is a common ailment during pregnancy. Although a fully ripe papaya is not considered dangerous, a papaya that is at all unripe contains a latex substance that triggers uterine contractions and may cause a miscarriage. The papaya enzyme that helps soothe indigestion is called papain, or vegetable pepsin. Papain is found in the fruits latex and leaves.Unripe papaya latex may act like prostaglandin and oxytocin, which the body makes to start labor. Synthetic prostaglandin and oxytocin are commonly used to start or strengthen labor contractions. l

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Dont clean your ears

3rd-degree burn
The most serious burns involve all layers of the skin and cause permanent

health News

Take multi-vitamins, get smarter

Many people consider vitamin supplements a waste of money, but a new study has found they can actually make you smarter. Research from British scientists, published in not one, but three prestigious journals the British Journal of Nutrition, Psychopharmacology, and Human Psychopharmacology concluded that popping a daily multivitamin supplement boosted brain power and reduced tiredness. The researchers found that adults and children taking multivitamins show significant improvement in their ability to pay at-

The sooner the better

Dr Kazi Mahbuba Akhtar n
Diagnosing a disease at its early stage always gives a better result. Regular self examination helps to identify many dis10 TIPS eases at its very early stages and thus may be life-saving.

tention, remember facts, be accurate in their recall, and also to multi-task. The improvements were noted after just four weeks of taking the vitamin supplements, and the bonus benefits of being less mentally and physically tired were also reported. l

These 10 safe and painless health checks could save your life.
1. Know your breasts: Look at your breasts in the mirror and feel them with soapy hands while youre in the shower. Check for changes (lump, nipple retraction, discharging nipple etc.) at least once a month. This may help diagnose breast cancer at an early and treatable stage. 2. Be aware of constipation: Check for blood in stool it can signal bowel disease and the colour of your urine. The darker it is, the more dehydrated you are. Take adequate fibre in diet & drink at least 2 litres of water daily. 3. Bone up: A bone density test can assess the status, and taking calcium can help prevent, or at least slow, the progression of osteoporosis. 4. Calculate body mass index (BMI): Calculate your body mass index (BMI) by dividing the weight in Kg by the height in square metres: A score between 25 and 30, is an alarming sign for heart disease, high blood presbigstocK

There are some people that swear by sticking a cotton swab into their ears to remove excess wax and debris. From punctured ear drums to super impacted wax, there are many negative consequences associated with cleaning of ears. It is important to understand that nothing should be placed inside the ear to remove dirt and debris. This is a dangerous practice that could leave a patient with hearing loss. In most cases, the ear canal does not need to be cleaned. During hair washing or showers, enough water enters into the ear canal to loosen the wax that has accumulated. Additionally, the skin in your ear canal naturally grows in an outward, spiral pattern. As it sloughs off, ear wax goes with it. Most of the time the wax will loosen and fall out on its own while you are asleep. The need for a cotton swab isnt really necessary. l High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, it can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt and alcohol intake. 9. Skin Changes: Look for unusual changes in skins texture or colour, and seek doctors help immediately if a mole bleeds, itches, or becomes ragged at the edges, or if any sore fails to heal. These may be an early sign of skin cancer. Wear sun block of SPF15+, and choose make-up that contains sunscreen. 10. Check your Thyroid profile: In case of unusual tiredness, fatigability, body ache, weight gain etc, this may help diagnose hypothyroidism at a clinical or subclinical stage and thus help avoid various life-threatening complications.l

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Do blueberries help cure hepatitis C?

Researchers from Japans University of Miyakazi have identified a chemical compound in blueberry leaves that may possibly stop the hepatitis C virus ability to reproduce. The compound is a proanthocyanadin, with antioxidant properties similar to those found in grapes. The study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, offers hope for patients with the disease because the present standard drug treatment is not effective in all cases. l

sure, stroke etc, so to avoid these lifethreatening diseases one needs to lose weight. 5. Open your mouth and inspect it regularly: White or red patches or painless ulcers could mean oral cancer, and swollen, bleeding, or inflamed gums can be an early warning sign of gingivitis. Regular checks are best done by a dentist. 6. Eye test: An eye test every two years may help detect any serious health disorders like diabetes, thyroid disorders, glaucoma, and high blood pressure. 7. Fight smear fear: Women between 20 and 64 should have a Pap smear done every two years. This will help identify cervical cancer at an early stage. 8. Check blood pressure regularly:

Get moving

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Married people likely to become fatter

Scientists from Salonica and Ioannina universities found that married women were twice as likely to have weight issues while married men were three times as likely to become fat. Married couples were found to be twice as likely to become fat or obese as their single counterparts, according to a new study. Studies have shown that married couples apparently spend more time eating together, watching TV and ordering takeaways and were therefore more likely to suffer from abdominal obesity, or belly fat than single people, who exercised more to stay in better shape in order to find a partner. Researchers found that the weight problems were directly related

Every morning,take a brisk 15 minute walk. Amazingly, you dont need a lot of exercise to make a difference to your blood pressure. When Japanese researchers asked 168 inactive volunteers with high blood pressure to exercise at a health club for varying amounts of time each week for eight weeks, blood pressure levels dropped almost as much in those who exercised for 30 to 90 minutes a week as in those who exercised for more than 90 minutes a week. l

| Compiled by: Shirsho Saaeadat

to changes in lifestyle after marriage when people let themselves go. Stress and anxiety is reduced in a good marriage. The study recommended that married couples should exercise more, snack less and follow more of a Mediterranean diet, which includes fruit, vegetables and olive oil. l

High ear piercing can ruin your pinna

Dr Sajol Ashfaq n
Over 90% of women (and a lot of men) have their earlobes pierced. Its safe and easy, and hardly few have a problem with earlobe piercing. But in the DID YOU last decade, women have KNOW? begun to pierce their ears up high, through the cartilage, especially young girls. Ear piercing is common among the adolescent population, and multiple piercing of the ear has become increasingly fashionable. Often this involves high piercing, which requires puncture through the cartilage of the upper third of the pinna. Infection at this site often leads to loss of cartilage and to an unsightly deformity known as cauliflower ear, which has a poor chance of good reconstruction- according to a study published in The British Medical Journal. Cauliflower ear is more likely to occur when ear piercings have been done through the cartilage, the firm part of the pinna. If cartilage is pierced then bacteria form and start eating through it. The entire ear can be destroyed in just a few days. The usual bacteria involved is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to which antibiotic resistance seems to be increasing. The vast majority of piercings are performed by non-medical practitioners, such as jewellers, hairdressers, or tattooists. These practitioners and their customers may not fully appreciate the implications of cartilage damage resulting from high piercing. In the initial phase of infection, pinna gets swollen and reddens. Patients feel severe pain are. Later there is a collection of pus in the pinna. Surgical intervention is required if there are any sign of abscess or pus formation but cosmetic deformity proved difficult to avoid. Piercing the cartilage in the upper portion of the ear is more dangerous than earlobe piercing. So, buck the trends and dont have the cartilage pierced. Pierce the earlobe once, twice, or more, but stay away from the upper part of yjr pinna. l

Frying steak increases cancer risk

than those produced from an electric hob. The findings suggest that it was harmful chemicals produced by heating oil on a gas hob, which reaches higher temperatures than electric that were the danger especially to chefs. But in a warning to barbecue lovers too, scientists also believe that eating overcooked or burnt red meat may increase the risk of cancer because of carcinogenic compounds called acrylamides. The Researchers found that meat cooked on gas exposed the cook to higher levels of toxic chemicals, which may cause cancer. l

According to new research frying meat on a gas hob can increase your risk of getting cancer. Researchers have found that the fumes produced by pan-frying steak on a gas hob contain more cancer-causing particles

| Dr Abdullah Shahriar

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