Day: July 1, 2020

Diarrhea is a common medical condition and every person will likely experience diarrhea a few times in the year. Diarrhea is when you experience loose stools for more than 3 times in a day. Most diarrhea is caused by food poisoning and normally goes away on its own without treatment. Diarrhea can however complicate and become life-threatening and therefore requiring emergency treatment.

When you go to see a doctor having a complaint of diarrhea, the doctor will take a history and do a physical examination especially of the gastrointestinal system, then order laboratory tests. All these will help the doctor to come up with the differential diagnosis and narrow down to the exact cause of diarrhea. You should seek treatment for Cypress diarrhea when it persists for long or when the diarrhea is bloody.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Diarrhea can be caused by eating food that is contaminated with bacteria like vibrio cholera which causes cholera and E. coli which causes travelers’diarrhea. Diarrhea can also be caused by viral infections in the gastrointestinal system like Hepatitis A and Rotavirus which are the most common causes of diarrhea in kids. Some medications cause diarrhea like antimetabolites and some antibiotics and acid-lowering drugs. Food allergies, cancer, and malabsorption syndromes also cause diarrhea.

Some diseases present with diarrhea like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. In people who lack the enzyme that breaks down lactose and they can get diarrhea after eating food that contains lactose like milk. Fructose intolerance can also cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can also occur post abdominal surgery. Diarrhea can also occur after taking excess laxatives when treating constipation.

Symptoms that are commonly associated with diarrhea include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, mucoid stool, and nausea. Since water makes up 60% of the body weight, loss of water during episodes of diarrhea will lead to loss of weight.

How Do You Prevent Diarrhea?

The best way to prevent diarrhea is to maintain high standards of hygiene like washing hands after visiting the toilet and before preparing food and eating. You should also drink boiled or treated water because some bacteria that are found in water like Vibrio cholera can cause diarrhea. Increase your water intake to reduce the risk of dehydration after diarrhea. If you are allergic to lactose, avoid consuming products that contain lactose like milk.

When traveling to places where diarrheal diseases are endemic, ensure that you only eat clean and properly cooked food, and maintain high levels of hygiene. Do not take antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription or for no good reason because some of them can cause diarrhea. Always wash foods that are eaten raw to avoid diarrhea if they are contaminated with microorganisms.

What Are the Complications of Diarrhea?

The most common complication of prolonged or profuse diarrhea is dehydration. The symptoms that can show that you are dehydrated include dizziness, fatigue, dry mucous membranes, concentrated urine, lack of urine. Dehydration in children and infants presents with a lack of tears and urine, reduced activity, and sunken eyes.

Dehydration can further cause other problems like kidney failure and heart failure. You should seek medical attention when you have bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that does not resolve on its own, fever, abdominal pain, and any of the symptoms of dehydration.

Conclusion

Diarrhea is a common problem that is mostly caused by food poisoning and most times is self-limiting. If diarrhea persists for a long period or becomes bloody and you experience fatigue, dizziness and reduced or no urination, you should seek medical attention.

If you suffer a devastating and immobilizing injury or simply need personal help, then you can get help from a nurse practitioner in Humble, TX. They will help take care of your needs so you can recover and make your life much more comfortable than it would be on your own.

Choosing a nurse is a very challenging task especially if you have never had one before. Do not worry, I will help you choose one.

You should look for the following attributes in a nurse:

Patience

One attribute you should always look for in a nurse is patience. The ability to bear with a patient is one of the most sought after by patients and for good reason.

People who need nurses have plenty of needs some of which are difficult to provide. You should look for a nurse who will bear with you even when you are being stubborn to ensure you get all you need.

You can judge a person’s patience right from the interview, or you can simply design a test to judge their patience as you cannot have a nurse without it and if you do, it will be hell.

Diligence

We all show up at work every day but it is especially challenging if you’re a nurse. Cleaning after a medical patient even outside the hospital needs a great deal of diligence and you want a nurse who will be there for you whenever you need them.

You also need a diligent nurse because of the intricacies of your condition. You want a nurse who will take special care when giving you your medication, cleaning your medical aids, and wounds.

A lack of diligence in a nurse can be deadly since it only takes a single infected needle to ruin a whole body. There can be no greater nurse than one who takes pride in her work.

Proficiency

As with any other technical job, proficiency and skill are crucial in a nurse. A nurse takes care of the most complicated organism in the universe, the human body.

Therefore, you want a nurse who really knows her stuff. She will not harm you because the IV was set at a wrong rate or you fall because your wheelchair was ill-adjusted.

You should find some technical problems and ask the nurse how he/she would solve it. That should give you a good idea of how technically proficient they are.

Trustworthy

Above all else, you want a nurse who is honest and you can trust. A personal nurse who takes care of you essentially has your life in their hands.

If you hire a dishonest individual, it is only a matter of time before disaster strikes. You want a nurse who can be trusted even when she has all the opportunity to be dishonest.

You can also devise a test to determine if a nurse is trustworthy or not. When dealing with such important matters, you can never be too careful.

As they say, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Due to busy schedules, it is easy for you to forget about getting a wellness exam. Annual wellness exams play a vital part in your health care plan. Regardless of whether you have scheduled your wellness exam or not, it is time to reconsider their importance. Harbor Community Health Centers is a leader in Primary Care Practice in San Pedro. We provide preventive screenings to help you be at prime health at every stage in your life. Why get wellness exams?

Read on!

1. You get preventive screenings

Wellness exams are vital in promoting proactive health care. Regular health tests are crucial in establishing your vulnerability to disease and informing a treatment plan to help avert the risk. It is easier and less costly to prevent a health condition than to treat one. You become more susceptible to health conditions as you advance in age, making it crucial to visit us for screening. Common preventive screenings include blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes checks.

2. It makes it easier for you to maintain your best health

Your wellness exams are comprised of vital organs assessment and a complete physical examination. Through these tests, our team gets a better understanding of your health status to help advise you on the best ways to achieve your health goals. Your doctor will help you keep a check on your weight through diet and physical exercise going from the BMI readings. You can also get vaccinated against existing diseases to help you remain in optimum health.

3. You can make informed health care decisions 

You require professional advice to help make decisions about your lifestyle goals. Our doctors can recommend lifestyle and nutritional changes to help improve your health if you are living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. This can also be the best time to ask your doctor about the wellness tests which are covered by your insurer.

4. You Get Time to ask questions

It is easy for you to not adhere to your health care needs due to busy schedules caused by family and career life. Giving wellness exams priority provides you with an opportunity to have your health concerns answered by your doctor. No question is off-limit: You should not feel embarrassed to ask anything about your body.

5. Helps Establish a Strong Relationship With your Doctor

Regular health checks are a great way to help you build close relationships with your doctor. Your doctor has a clear understanding of your health history, risk of other health conditions, and existing medical conditions. It helps to have a close working relationship with your doctor if you suffer from chronic conditions, since you may require guidance in times of emergency when away from the hospital.

We help you manage your health in every stage of life by offering customized health care to help achieve your goals. We help you understand what to expect as your health needs change through life. Visit us today to learn more about the benefits of regular health exams.

Your child’s mouth undergoes a fair share of changes from the time their first tooth starts to show to when their last permanent tooth develops. It is important for you to be vigilant during your child’s development if you want to set them on the path to stellar dental health. At Academy Dental East Orange Orthodontics, we believe that your child’s journey to a great smile starts when their first tooth comes out of the gum. We provide comprehensive dental care to enable your child to grow with superb oral health.

We now look at five common mistakes that parents make when looking after their kid’s oral health, and the measures you can take to avoid them.

1. Waiting Too Long Before Starting to Brush Regularly

Many parents disregard starting to brush their kid’s teeth regularly until they have a full set of teeth. The right time to start brushing should be when the first tooth erupts. Regular brushing when your kid’s teeth are developing is a sure way to avoid cavities. You should ensure to use a toothbrush that has been specially designed for kids. Help your kid brush their teeth until they are able to do it on their own without requiring supervision.

2. Failure to use the Right Kind of Toothpaste

You should brush your kid’s teeth using fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps in the retention of vital minerals required to keep your teeth strong. It is also essential in the repair of parts of the tooth which have been affected by bacteria.  Most times, “kid-friendly” toothpastes may not be the right choice for boosting your child’s oral health. Dr.Navleen may also recommend the use of fluoride supplements.

3. Waiting Too Long Before Introducing Kids to Dental Floss

Did you know that regular brushing only helps clean about half of your kid’s teeth surface area? Flossing helps clean hard-to-reach spots including the area between your teeth. There can be plenty of spaces between your child’s teeth during development, which can be easily cleaned by flossing. Your child can easily learn how to floss during this time.

4. Failure to Ensure Kids Brush and Floss after Snacks

Most parents believe that it is enough to brush and floss twice a day. However, it is important to teach your kids to brush and floss after having a snack to help get rid of food particles between the teeth. Sugary, warm, and moist environments provide a perfect breeding ground for bacteria that cause cavities. You should also discourage your kids from consuming sugary snacks.

5. Long Waits before Starting Regular Dental Care

According to the American Dental Association, children should start making visits to the dentist after their first birthday. Regular dental exams are essential since your dentist gets to provide cavity-prevention measures such as topical fluoride and sealants. Routine dental care also helps reduce your child’s fear for a dentist, which can be a stumbling block to their oral health.

Visit us today to learn more tips on how to cultivate good oral health practices for your kid.