How to Treat Dog Bites?

• You must always stay safe. Secure the victim or the dog. Take one away from the other. Ask the dog owner to secure the dog, if he is around. Else, move the victim to a safe location. Dogs bite if their territory is threatened. Do not start treatment till you expect that the dog will not attack once again.
• If you’re not the victim, follow universal measures and if possible, wear protective equipment.
• Follow appropriate steps to control bleeding. Do not use tourniquet until there is heavy bleeding which can’t be controlled by other measures.
• As the bleeding stops, use soap and warm water to clean the wound. Do not be scared to clean the wound. Ensure that you rinse the soap totally, else it causes irritation.
• Later, cover the wound with the dry and clean dressing. You can also apply antibiotic ointment on wound prior to covering. Look for infection symptoms:
  • Weeping pus
  • Heat
  • Swelling
  • Redness
• Consult a physician for antibiotics. Certain dog bites require antibiotics, especially if they are deep wounds. In addition, most municipalities have rules to report the dog bites and to monitor the dogs, which is initiated by contacting a doctor.
• If you cannot identify the dog or if it dies of any disease, you are at risk of rabies. If you cannot identify the dog and the owner can’t show the proof of rabies vaccination, the victim should consult the physician. If left untreated, rabies is a dangerous condition to humans.
• Sometimes wound may require stitches. If you cannot touch the edges of the laceration or any avulsions are present, the wound needs immediate medical attention. Wounds on hands or face must be seen by a doctor because there are chances of scarring and also loss of function.

Suggested Treatment :

When it is a minor bite such as from an ant, a mosquito, a bee or a wasp, the best remedy is to :
1) Squeeze the area a little in order to get out as much as possible of the substance injected by the insect.
2) Apply a little bit of ice to reduce inflammation.
3) Soak a cotton ball in Aloe Vera activator extract, or a mixture of this product with aloe vera gelatin. Or apply the first aid mixture as this will have a triple effect, reducing inflammation, disinfecting and healing. If you don’t have any of these products on hand, you can use propolis cream or a lip ointment of aloe vera and jojoba.
4) Since the poison produces allergic reactions it is recommended to drink aloe vera juice and a lot of water.
5) Apply a clay or mud pack on the bite. Better yet if you have a facial mask with kaolin, it will absorb poison while drying.

Snake Bite

In case of a snake bite , check to see if it left two fang punctures or several teeth marks. If there are two punctures, the snake is poisonous and you should do the following :
1) Remain motionless, quiet, and do not move the bitten part. Don’t walk.
2) Tie a tourniquet or apply pressure(not too hard) above the bitten part. Loosen it a little every 15 minutes.
3) Sterilize a sharp blade or knife with fire.
4) Make a cut ½” in length and ¼ ” in depth on each bite.
5) Suck the bitten part strongly and spit out the poison. Do this for around 15 minutes.
6) A half an hour after the bite was received don’t suck any more.

Caution :

Immediately find a doctor who can inject an anti venom serum .

Sources of caffeine

There are various sources of caffeine. Some of them are

• Coffee
• Tea
• Cola soft drinks
• Chocolates
• Cocoa
• Energy drinks
• Some medications like aspirin

How caffeine works on the body

When caffeine is consumed by a person, it is readily absorbed by the blood stream. Caffeine stimulates the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It affects the brain such that it becomes more active and is able to work harder.

Caffeine also increases the heart rate, rate of blood flow, respiratory rate and rate of metabolism. It also relaxes the muscles.

Caffeine can also affect the sleep pattern if taken close to the time of sleep.

Side effects of caffeine

Caffeine has also been found to have many side effects on our bodies. Here are some of them.

• Caffeine tends to take out calcium from the bones. This results in poor bone health and an increases risk of osteoporosis.
• Caffeine is mildly addictive. If you are used to caffeine and stop it for some time, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include headache, fatigue, depression and poor concentration. These symptoms reduce after a week of non-consumption of caffeine.
• Frequent use of caffeine leads to tolerance, which leads to over consumption. This results in conditions such as nervousness, sweating, stomach upset, tenseness, anxiety and insomnia.
• Caffeine can increase the blood pressure.
• Caffeine gives an initial lift in the blood sugar levels, resulting in higher energy. But this soon paves way for a low blood sugar, and the body immediately feels fatigued.

The effect of caffeine is not the same in all individuals. It depends on many factors like age, gender, height, weight, whether one smokes, etc.

It has been found that consuming caffeine upto 300mg per day will not result in any side effects.

Some nutritionists suggest that eating an apple in the morning will perform the same function as caffeine, but without the risk of any side effects.

The cuts, cracks or sores resulting out of angular cheilitis are not only unattractive to look at, but also can be painful and irritating for the patient.

Causes of angular cheilitis

The exact cause of angular cheilitis is not known. But there are various factors which stimulate angular cheilitis.

Nutritional deficiency

: Lack of some nutrients like Vitamin B2, Zinc and Iron has been found to initiate the development of angular cheilitis.

Microbes:

Once the cuts or cracks appear at the corners of the mouth, fungus or bacteria may make their home there. This increases the problem.

Old age:

In old people, angular cheilitis may occur due to loss of vertical dimension. Old people lose teeth, which leads to the mouth closing a lot closer than earlier. When they try to open their mouths wide, it puts pressure on the corners of the mouth. Over a period of time, it leads to angular cheilitis.

Winter time:

The skin becomes dry during winter. This leads to cracks and may result in angular cheilitis.

Other diseases:

Angular cheilitis may occur as a symptom of other diseases.

Treatment of angular cheilitis

The treatment for angular cheilitis depends on the cause.

• If angular cheilitis has occurred due to dry skin, applying petroleum jelly or white paraffin at night will heal it in some days.
• If there is microbial infection in the area, it is a very bad idea to apply any moisturizer. Applying moisturizer will help the fungus or the bacteria to grow. In that case, you need to dry the infected are by using a non-moisturizing soap. Actually, non-toxic liquid dish soap works best. Then apply petroleum jelly, as this would lock out new moisture. The area could then be covered with a bandage. It is very important to have clean hands while doing all this. You should see improvement in three days.
• Over the counter medications like athlete’s foot creams also seem to work well for fungal or bacterial angular cheilitis. Just apply a little on the affected area twice a day.
• Look for angular cheilitis-specific over the counter medications in the market.
• Improve your diet. Include deficient nutrients.

Taking some simple steps will guard you against tick bites. Ticks are always on the lookout for blood. Their victims include birds, mammals and humans.

Diseases spread by ticks

• Babesiosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Lyme disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Southern tick-associated rash illness
• Tick-borne relapsing fever
• Tularemia
• Anaplasmosis
• Colorado tick fever
• Powassan encephalitis

You may not know what most of these diseases are. But believe me, you don’t wanna get them.

Take these steps to prevent tick bites

and with them, the diseases.

• Know where ticks live. Ticks like moist environments, especially in and around woods and grassy areas. Ticks cling on to you when you are walking through the woods or shrubs. Always walk in the middle of the path, to avoid ticks.
• Wear light colored clothing when you are out camping, hiking or gardening. You can spot ticks on your clothes easily.
• Tuck your pants into your socks while in the woods to prevent ticks from crawling in to your pants.
• Use tick repellents on your skin and clothing. Permethrin repellents are used on clothes and repellents containing 20% or more DEET are used on the skin. But carefully follow the instructions on the product. Adults should apply the repellents on children. Avoid the hands, eyes and mouth while applying.
• Mow your lawn appropriately. Tall grass will invite ticks over.
• Use chemical tick control agents in your home. You may hire professionals to do this for you.
• Clear debris like dead leaves and twigs around your home.
• Discourage deer around your home.
• If you have a play area, don’t include too much vegetation in it.
• Protect your animals from ticks. Put tick medicine on them or use tick collars. Ask you vet what else you could do.

Perform body checks for ticks

Perform body checks for ticks after you have been outdoors in the nature. Use a mirror for checking and removing ticks in the following body parts

• Under arms
• Inside belly button
• In and around ears
• In and around the hair
• Back of the knees
• Between the legs
• Around the waist

Do the check on your children if they have been out.

What to do if you have a tick bite

Remove the tick if it is still attached. Watch for any disturbances in your health. Go to a doctor immediately if you notice something.

Pregnant women need to take extra care of their teeth. During pregnancy, the gums and teeth undergo several changes due to the hormonal flow. And, there is an increased blood flow throughout the body that causes the gums to become swollen and tender. Getting a routine dental cleaning can help the gums to remain healthy and reduce irritation from swelling. Follow these tips to take care of your teeth:

1. Visit a dentist regularly to see whether there’s any problem with your teeth.
2. Consume more fruits and vegetables to maintain the health of your teeth. Eat enough citrus fruits like oranges, lemon, mango etc.
3. Brush your teeth twice a day using gentle, circular stokes, in order to avoid bleeding.
4. Floss gently and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
5. Apply some ice to soothe sensitive gums.
6. If morning sickness causes vomiting, brush your teeth soon after.
7. Do not consume colas, alcohol and other agents of tooth decay. And cut down on your intake of chocolates and other sweets.
8. Do not smoke during pregnancy as this can be bad for the mother and the baby. Smoking is bad for your teeth too.
9. Vitamin D and Calcium and intake should be monitored by a doctor.
10. Get some healthy amount of sunlight, but do not overexpose.
11. Irregular and frequent snacking may also cause dental problems. So eat healthy food at regular intervals.
12. Rinse your mouth with water thoroughly after eating and remove any bits and particles stuck between your teeth.
13. If you need to take X-Rays of your teeth during pregnancy, inform your doctor of your pregnancy.

Find more tips at  10 Ways To Take Care Of Your Teeth.

• Always consult your physician before proceeding with any kind of massage.
• Don’t apply direct and sustained pressure to the area between the ankle bone and heel. Because this area is connected to the uterus and vagina, it is thought that heavy pressure to this area could result in early labor.
• when looking for a pregnancy or postpartum massage therapist, make sure that the therapist is certified in pregnancy massage. The therapist should have special training and know exactly what is safe for mother and baby. Just being a massage therapist does not mean that he/she is qualified enough to give massage to pregnant and postpartum women. So look for a trained pregnancy massage therapist.
• Positioning of the pregnant woman during a massage is critical to the safety and wellbeing of the mother and the baby. And the same applies to which parts of the body should be massaged and which not.
• Do not perform massage of any kind during the first three months of pregnancy.
• Avoid massaging on the abdomen or lower back. Or do it very gently.
• Do not massage near the varicose veins. This rule is followed by most massage therapists.
• Do not use certain oils during pregnancy. Some oils are harmful during pregnancy, so check with your physician.
• Be very gentle when massaging a pregnant woman. Never use deep pressure and percussive strokes.
• Avoid certain forms of massage therapy, if your doctor recommends one. Some massages may suit some women while some may not. And adhere to those limitations set by your doctor.
• Although it has its benefits, it is important to remember that massage can also lead to miscarriage if done incorrectly. It is important for massage therapists to know how to massage a pregnant woman properly. If prenatal massage is done improperly, the risk of miscarriage is very high.