Артрит – Arthritis

Emetic

An emetic is used to induce vomiting in certain cases of swallowed poison. Every medicine chest should contain an emetic, and syrup of ipecac is recommended. It’s convenient to have two small bottles, each containing a single dose of two to three teaspoonfuls for immediate use. Note, however, that vomiting should not be induced automatically in a case of poisoning. If the poison is an item not normally edible – such as petrol, turpentine, cleaning fluid – you should not make the child vomit because the poison may do more harm on the way back.

Nose drops, nasal aspirator, and decongestant

Along with aspirin and paracetamol, these items are useful in treating the symptoms of common colds. Ask your doctor to recommend types and uses.

Thermometer and lubricant

A multipurpose, stubby-bulb thermometer, which can be used rectally, is most practical. Any lubricating ointment will serve to grease a thermometer for rectal use, but a water-soluble gel is superior because it readily washes off in cold water.

Additions

The following are useful for treating minor accidents: antiseptic solution, antibiotic ointment, sterile gauze pads (50 x 50 and 76 x 76 mm), rolls of knitted bandage (50 mm and 76 mm wide), adhesive tape (6 mm wide), steristrips, and adhesive bandages of assorted sizes.

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Anorexia nervosa means literally «nervous loss of appetite.» Actually, however, persons with this condition-almost always female from upper- and upper-middle-class homes-do not lose their appetites. Rather, they willfully suppress the urge to eat in an unhealthy desire to lose more and more weight. In short, they starve themselves because they mistakenly believe that they are fat and need to diet.

After a certain point, anorexia nervosa leads to the cessation of menstruation. It also causes the destruction of healthy muscle and organ tissue that the body must use as an energy source in the absence of food. Ultimately, anorexic patients may starve themselves to death.

Anorexia nervosa is considered to be principally caused by serious psychological problems. Anorexic youngsters are usually obedient, successful children who try to do everything expected of them by parents, teachers, and friends. As a result, the anorexic’s strenuous dieting and exercising may represent a desire to gain absolute control over at least one part of her life.

Anorexics may also try to deny the onset of adulthood by dieting away all the signs of mature femininity: breasts, curved hips, and rounded thighs. The lack of menstrual periods, too, is a reminder of childhood. In addition, the current preoccupation with thinness as the ideal of attractiveness fuels the anorexic’s desire to starve herself to the «perfect» weight. Frequently, the condition arises after a casual remark that the girl is slightly overweight.

The anorexic’s fear of becoming fat is accompanied by a distorted body image that makes it impossible for her to realize how unattractively thin she has become. Often when an anorexic looks in the mirror, she perceives herself as fat when in reality she is exceedingly thin.

The anorexic develops an aversion to eating which cannot be overcome by threats or appeals to reason. The dieting is accompanied by overly vigorous exercise to burn off the few calories that she does consume. Although she refuses to eat more than tiny amounts of certain foods, she is often obsessed with the subject of food and will prepare elaborate meals for others.

Often the anorexic may go on an eating binge after which she forces herself to vomit. Excessive use of laxatives is also common.

After a certain percentage of body fat is lost, menstruation will automatically cease. Fine, downy hair may begin to grow all over the patient’s body.

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Are there any special problems for people with diabetes who smoke?

Yes. People with diabetes of course run the same risk as anyone else from the harmful effects of smoking on the lungs and on the heart. In addition, cigarette smoking affects the same small blood vessels that can also be affected by diabetes. Smoking makes the effects of diabetes worse still, may hasten the process of damage to blood vessels to the eye, kidneys and heart.

There have been some research studies that have shown that young people with diabetes who smoke already have more damage to the kidneys than those who don’t.

For all these reasons, I urge people of all ages with diabetes – don’t smoke cigarettes.

What effect does alcohol have on diabetes?

This depends on how much you have. The dangers of excessive alcohol are well known and are the same for people with diabetes as anyone else. People with diabetes can have moderate amounts of alcohol, particularly with meals, without harm.

There are additional special problems for the person who has diabetes and who drinks to excess. Firstly, if he becomes intoxicated and vomits this will certainly upset diabetic control. Secondly, alcohol taken without carbohydrate can lead to hypoglycemia and this can even happen in someone who has not got diabetes. Thirdly, it can be hard to distinguish between someone who has been drinking and who is having a hypo, from someone who is just drunk. Thus the hypo may go unrecognized and untreated. Fourthly, many alcoholic drinks are mixed with soft drinks or have significant sugar content and thus very high blood glucose levels may develop.

Refer to the list of alcoholic drinks, check the carbohydrate value of common alcoholic drinks. If you do drink, do so in moderation and on social occasions, and have proper meals with the alcohol. Count the exchange value of the alcoholic drinks if they contain significant carbohydrate.

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