Macvics health tips

COVID19: Advising patients to increase fluid intake for treating acute respiratory infections

Water is recommend that people with acute respiratory infections drink extra fluids. Acute infections include colds, acute sinusitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza. This review intended to find out the benefit or harm from this recommendation. Potential benefits of fluids are replacing fluid lost because of fever or rapid breathing, treating dehydration and reducing the viscosity of mucus. In infections of the lower part of the respiratory tract, possible harmful effects of fluids might be a dilution of the blood sodium concentration, leading to headache, confusion and seizures. This review found no evidence for or against the use of increased fluids in acute respiratory infections. No randomised controlled trials have been conducted to determine the benefit or harm from extra fluids. It is important that further studies be done in order to determine the true effect of this very common medical advice Steer clear of sugary options, and “best to avoid drinks that act as diuretics because these will dehydrate you.” “Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda pop and alcohol are leading culprits.”

But don’t discount the power of a decaf or warm beverage that’s low in caffeine. “Hot liquids may feel more soothing on the throat than cold liquids,” Dass says. “The bonus is that the steam from the hot liquids may help relieve some congestion, too.” Try brewing a hot cup of green or chamomile tea, or, if you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, brew up a Theraflu-PowerPod, which houses powerful medicine to give you cold and flu symptom relief.

Of course, the rules are different when talking about chronic illnesses or children with gastrointestinal illness, in which cases it’s best to consult with a personal doctor or medical professional.

So the next time someone tells you to “drink lots of fluids” when you’re sick, now you know why. It’s all about restoring your moisture levels and flushing all the bad stuff out of your system.

Opera News Hub: Create. Share. Earn Share your stories, opinions and life with over 350 million global active users.

Prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminths among school children living in endemic area

Soil Transmitted Helminths are parasitic worms that feed on human tissue, blood or nutrients. These include hook worm, whip worm, thread worm and round worm that are transmitted through soil that is contaminated with their eggs of these worms due to open defecation and areas where sanitation is poor. Those at risk of this infection include preschool and school age children, women of childbearing age and men in some profession like mining. According to statistic about 1.5 billion people are infected with soil transmitted helminths (STH). Among which over 267 million are pre-school age children and over 568 million school-age children live in area where these parasites are intensively transmitted..

Ages affected:

0-2 Very rare

3-5 Rare

6-13 Common

14-18 Common

19-40 Rare

41-60 Very rare

60+ Extremely rare.

OBJECTIVE
• To improve children’s health and prevention large scale morbidity in children living in endemic area.

• To enlighten the children the importance of regular washing of their hands after playing and before or after eating.

Mode of transmission
STH are transmitted by eggs that are passed in the feaces of infected people. Adult worms live in the intestine where they produce thousands of eggs each day. These can happen in several ways:

• Eggs that are attached to vegetables are ingested when vegetables are not properly cooked, washed or peeled.

• Eggs are ingested from contaminated water

• Eggs are ingested by children who play in the contaminated soil and then put their hands in their mouth without washing them.

• Hook worm eggs hatch in the soil releasing larvae that mature into a form that can pe*****te the skin. People become infected with hookworm by walking barefoot on the soil.

Nutritional effects
• The worms feed on host tissues, including blood, which lead to a loss of iron and protein

• Hookworm cause chronic intestinal blood loss that can result in anemia

• They consume the nutrient and vitamins in the body which lead to malnutrition, low weight, loss of appetite which make children vulnerable to illnesses and damage of immune system

Symptoms of STH
• Intestinal manifestation (diarrhea and abdominal pain)

• Malnutrition

• General malaise

• Impaired growth and physical development

• Diarrhea

• Skin irritation

• Weakness and loss of appetite

Prevention
• Clean the house often and use a good disinfectant

• People should ensure to always relieve themselves in the toilet and avoid open defecation

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating

• Always put on slippers or shoes avoid walking barefoot

• Cutting of fingernails regularly

• Children shouldn't play with sand or dirty water

• Children should play in a clean and dry environment

• Children should wash hands with soap and water before food and after using the toilet.
The mebendazole and albendazole, are commonly used to remove these infections.

Opera News Hub: Create. Share. Earn Share your stories, opinions and life with over 350 million global active users.

Covid19: Strengthen Your Immune System with four Simple Strategies

From boosting foods to lifestyle changes to a healthy attitude, there are true ways to take your immunity superpowers up a notch. Get ready to boost your immune system, Let’s start with the basics: Wash your hands for 20 seconds, don’t touch your face and take social distancing seriously,” “If you only do these three things, you’ll be well on your way to staying healthy.” But there’s four stay-healthy strategies. “I believe in the power of immune-boosting foods, Choosing whole, unprocessed foods does wonders for overall health.”

These are immunity boosters:

Garlic: Allicin, a compound in garlic, is well-known for its ability to boost the immune system. The most benefit comes from eating one-half of a raw garlic clove daily. If you can’t stomach raw garlic, the next best thing is to roast it.

Prebiotics: Robust gut bacteria protect us against infection. Keep those bacteria healthy with prebiotics that contain fiber, specifically inulin fiber. Excellent sources of prebiotics are Jerusalem artichokes, green bananas or plantains, Jicama root and asparagus.

Vitamin C-rich foods: Vitamin C is known to boost immunity. One study found that older adults who ate kiwi every day for a month had a significant decrease in the severity and duration of upper respiratory infection symptoms. “People often reach for orange juice to get vitamin C, but juice has a lot of sugar,” “It’s better to get vitamin C from oranges, broccoli, kiwi or cantaloupe.”

Antioxidants: Stress can lead to lowered immunity and make you more prone to illness. Colorful fruits and vegetables including berries, carrots and spinach have antioxidants that protect you against oxidative stress, which translates to a stronger immune system.

Lifestyle improvements

Living under constant stress, even low-grade, that continues day in and out, causes the body to produce too much cortisol, the stress hormone. Over time, elevated cortisol lowers your resistance to fighting off infection and contributes to poor sleep and higher blood pressure.

Protect yourself from stress and bolster your immune system with a few lifestyle tweaks:

Sleep: Yes, it’s easier said than done (especially if you’re an insomniac). But here’s the deal — you need seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night to fight off infection. “Prioritize sleep. If you need help, choose a tried-and-true technique known as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I,” “Talk with your doctor to find a reputable therapist or download a CBT-I app.”

Meditation: Even five minutes a day of guided meditation, or simply sitting quietly and focusing on your breath, can make a difference. Meditation lowers your heart rate and blood pressure and reduces anxiety. Plus, it’s calming. So it’s not surprising that it also helps you sleep.

Exercise: “Exercise increases your resilience so you can fight off infection, “Our bodies function better when we’re physically active every day.” carving out at least 10 minutes a day, ideally 30 minutes, and doing a mixture of cardio and strength training.

Attitude is everything

A positive mindset is vital for health and well-being. Research shows that positive thoughts reduce stress and inflammation and increase resilience to infection — while negative emotions can make you more susceptible to the common cold and flu.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is scary, so it’s easy to spiral down in negative thoughts,” The story we tell ourselves is crucial. Change it from ‘It’s not going to be OK’ to ‘I am safe at home with the people I love.’ Start your day with a positive thought or even a mantra such as, ‘I am well.’”

Natural immunity aids

If you’re ready to give it all you got when it comes to avoiding the coronavirus, consider these extra measures:

Supplements: “A lot of people are deficient (or low) in vitamin D, and a deficiency may increase your susceptibility to infection,” “Get outside for fresh air and sunshine, but I also recommend taking a daily supplement of 1,000 to 2,000 IUs of vitamin D.”

Essential oils: Eucalyptus and tea tree oils have antiviral properties that may protect you against infection from viruses. Use in an oil diffuser to inhale them or make a hand sanitizer using tea tree oil mixed with aloe vera gel and isopropyl alcohol. Studies also show that lavender essential oil has a calming effect, so it can help ease anxiety and improve sleep. Add a few drops to a warm bath or use the oil in a diffuser while you work or sleep.

And sometimes, even with lots of sleep and vitamin C, superheroes get sick. It’s OK! The key is to take time off to recharge (and avoid getting others sick). In no time, you’ll be donning your cape again. But for your health and the health of those around you, make sure you’re fully supercharged before you do

Opera News Hub: Create. Share. Earn Share your stories, opinions and life with over 350 million global active users.