No one wishes to have brain damage, of course – but you can never really say. There are just some instances when accidents and unfortunate circumstances lead to bodily injury causing painful, permanent and incapacitating damage. TBI or traumatic brain injury is a very broad term that encompasses all traumatic injuries to the brain. Traumatic injury, in this sense simply means serious injury; but this condition is anything but simple. TBI is also known as head injury or intracranial injury, which can affect (or in extreme cases, destroy) the normal functions of the brain stem, the cerebellum and the cerebral hemispheres.
There are three classifications of TBI, and these classifications are dictated by the extent of brain damage in an individual. These classifications are: mild, moderate and severe. For mild cases, medication and intensive care and therapy can lead to a patient’s complete recovery. In some cases, a person returns to about 90% of his or her normal daily activities. Moderate and severe cases are trickier. There are some individuals who still manage to recover from such conditions, but often suffering from a host of cognitive, emotional and physical effects. However, there are those who are physically and permanently incapacitated; and these individuals would have to rely in the care of machines and other people for the rest of their lives. The worse case scenario often leads to death.
Preventing TBI
TBI is almost always caused by outside factors. Brain damage due to sickness or disease cannot be avoided without the eradication of the affliction itself. However, in the case of TBI due to accidents or simply unfortunate circumstances, prevention can be achieved by being more careful with our health. The CDC or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the following:
1. Take vehicular precautions seriously.
When the government issued the seatbelt law, there is a very good reason for it. Abrupt and sudden stops in a car can send your head right through the windshield, cracking your head on it like an egg. Or worse, the pavement can scramble your brain if you happen to fly out of the car. So yes, you need to wear your seatbelt.
Also, make sure that the rest of the people inside your vehicle wear their own seat belts; especially if you have children sitting in the car with you. For very young children, buying a booster seat with seatbelt attachments or a child safety seat is a worthy investment, so don’t scrimp on it.
Wearing helmets for bicycles, motor bikes and even sports is essential. So if you or anyone else you know is particularly active, buying them protective gear is one of the greatest ways of preventing TBI.
2. Precautions against firearms must be met.
Many people keep firearms as a form of protection; but every year, unattended children and adolescents are getting their hands on firearms stored carelessly at home. One accidental misfire is all it takes to send someone to the hospital. In most cases of bullet wounds to the head, very few survive the trauma to lead normal lives.
3. Watch yourself at home.
It is true that most accidents happen at home. We tend to think that since we are in a place where we feel safe, then we must indeed be safe; but that is often not the case. When you need to do repairs in your home, make sure you use the proper instruments and tools. A stack of stools one on top of the other is never a good replacement for a sturdy ladder. Place window guards on your window and safety gates for your stair in case you have toddlers in the house.
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A new study suggests that the average computer keyboard can host dozens of species of harmful bacteria; even potentially life-threatening bacteria such as E. Coli and Staph can live quite happily in an average computer keyboard, according to a new UK study.
ABC news is reporting that a recent consumer advocacy group study in England revealed that the average office keyboard had bacteria and germ levels up to five times higher than commonly found on a toilet seat. The study, headed up by Dr. James Francis, a British microbiologist, took culture samples from 33 office keyboards in London, and compared these samples to swabs taken from toilet seats in the same office buildings. The results were, frankly, a bit scary.
On average, Francis found that the samples taken from office computer keyboards contained more bacteria and germs than the toilet seats. Of the 33 keyboards tested, four were classified as potential health hazards. The study is being taken seriously in both the UK and the US, and gives a whole new meaning to the concept of a “computer virus.”
In January of this year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a viral outbreak at a Washington, DC school last year was likely spread by students using shared computer equipment. Overall, over 100 students were made ill by the “norovirus” outbreak, which is similar in symptoms and appearance to the stomach flu.
The outbreak in DC was the first known report of a viral infection spreading by means of computer keyboard and mouse equipment, and has shed light on the importance of routinely disinfecting shared computer equipment, especially in school environments.
But critics say the problem is being blown out of proportion. More than 100 million people in the United States use a computer keyboard on a daily basis; it is little surprise that bacteria sometimes find a breeding ground between the keys. But is this a real threat to the general population?
Critics like Dr. Aaron Glatt, of New Island Hospital in New York contend that computer keyboards are not likely to be a serious threat to the public, even in shared computer situations such as libraries or universities. When one considers the number of computer keyboards in use in American offices on a daily basis, and the relatively minuscule number of viral outbreaks, it seems unreasonable to blame keyboards for contamination any more than one would blame doorknobs or currency.
Most experts admit that there have not been enough significant or large-scale research studies on computer keyboard contamination to come to a clear consensus, but it is obviously something the medical community and public health officials are looking into. When it comes to viral outbreaks — better safe than sorry.
The Government of Canada has begun the process of banning plastic polycarbonate baby bottles. The hard plastic bottles are the most popular type on store shelves in Canada and the United States, but the Canadian Ministry of Health has concluded that one of the ingredients in the plastic bottles is potentially toxic to infants.
The ingredient in question is known as BPA. It has been shown to produce hormonal changes in animals, and there is strong speculation that it can be a dangerous compound for humans as well. The Canadian government moved to immediately remove the polycarbonate infant bottles from shelves, and has begun the process of banning the import of the bottles as well.
On Friday, Senator Charles Schumer (D) of New York announced that he intends to introduce a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to ban many BPA-related products, particularly those used by children. Senator Schumer said he decided to take action after reviewing reports from the Canadian Ministry of Health and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, expressed strong concern about the long-term effects of BPA.
Polycarbonates are widely used to make baby bottles in North America, and revered for their light weight and shatter resistant consistency. But big-name retailers in Canada are already clearing the hard plastic infant bottles from the shelves, including American based Wal-Mart, which is also one of the largest retailers in Canada.
Canadian health Minister Tony Clement made the final decision to ban the BPA-based infant bottles after reviewing more than 150 independent research papers, as well as “in-house” studies carried out by the Canadian Ministry of Health. The Ministry’s conclusions determined that children 18 months and younger were at the highest risk from BPA exposure. Clement pointed out that extensive animal studies indicate that BPA exposure can cause “behavioral and neural symptoms later in life.”
In addition, the Canadian Ministry of health is currently carrying out a research study to determine if BPA exposure is dangerous to adults. The study, which will monitor approximately 5000 people exposed to the chemical, is expected to be completed sometime in 2009. The government has indicated that they will not hesitate to take additional action if the study suggests BPA exposure poses risks for otherwise healthy adults.
Unsurprisingly, lobbyist from the American Chemical Council disputed the results and actions being taken by the Canadian government, saying, “We do not think the bans on BPA are based on science.” The evidence continues to mount, however, that BPA is a serious risk to toddlers — and perhaps adults as well. With nearly 200 research studies on the subject, the evidence is overwhelming. Hopefully, the United States will soon follow Canada’s lead in banning BPA products.
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It’s a new world and one that is led by the modern conveniences provided by technology. The old cliché of the man refusing to stop and ask for directions as he drives aimlessly in circles is replaced by navigational satellite systems that can provide accurate latitudes and longitudes in the blink of an eye. Information and data navigates the globe as we live in a world that is governed by computers and satellite dishes. Now, in addition to finding cities, museums, and restaurants a revolutionary idea is being unveiled in London, texting for toilets.
Certainly, you can relate. You’ve been out on the town, dining, shopping, clubbing and realized that you needed a restroom but unfortunately you didn’t know where to turn. Now those who are in their greatest times of distress can simply text in the word, “toilet” and receive a listing of public toilets and restrooms in the vicinity. The new program is called, “SatLav.” The system is easy to use. Simply type in the word and you will have instant results. It is understandable that this service will be of great benefit to tourists and those who are unfamiliar with the local area. Currently, there are forty public facilities listed with the service.
However, what may surprise you is the reason why the service is being offered in the first place. It isn’t because they just want to offer a nice service to be friendly to travelers. The Westminster City Council spearheaded the program in an attempt to curb sidewalk urination. Too many travelers, tourists, and locals who have had one too many brews are using the public sidewalks and alleys to urinate. Estimations speculate that up to ten thousand gallons of urine are being emptied on London streets each year.
When it comes to public health and safety, there is no doubt that urinating in public is a great sanitary concern. It is very important that people utilize public restrooms and make sure that they practice the best hygiene and health practices at all times. One of the most important steps that people can take to reduce sickness, disease, and the spread of illness is to wash their hands after urinating, and chances are that if people are urinating outside, they are not washing their hands. There is no doubt that one of the basic premises of cleanliness and proper hygiene is hand washing and hand washing after using the restroom is of the utmost importance.
Unfortunately, I wonder if the Westminster City Council has really thought this issue through. I mean, most women will find a public restroom if they need to use one. It is a very strange and infrequent sighting to find women and children using public alleys instead of stopping in a local restaurant or store if they are in need of a restroom. Typically, the majority of people who are using sidewalks and public alleys for restrooms are people who have had too much to drink and frankly don’t care where they relieve themselves. I also foresee another problem. You see, if someone is too drunk to make their way to a local restroom, I doubt they have the wherewithal to pick up a cell phone, type in the word “toilet”, and follow the directions to the nearest restroom.
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The holiday season is here and many people will find that their delicious holiday meal was more harmful than healthy. American Airlines just announced that five employees became violently ill after eating a turkey dinner this Thanksgiving and many who enjoyed meals in the homes of friends and family will also suffer the same fate. When it comes to holiday cooking, there is no substitution for education and being properly advised on the best way to prepare your meal. This includes everything from roasting a turkey to serving eggnog.
Many people turn to the Internet for new recipes and last minute holiday meal ideas, however the information provided on the Internet, may not always be accurate. This is often commonly found when people submit their own recipes that may not have the correct temperature settings or may not recommend an adequate cooking length. One of the best ways to determine that you are cooking and preparing your holiday meal in a manner that will not promote food borne illness or sickness is to check with the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to find the best current standards and policies for preparing and handling food.
At first, it may seem as if you already have enough knowledge to ensure that the meals you prepare are safe. However, there are many aspects that can contribute to food borne sickness and illness after the holiday meal. For example, many people may prepare the meal correctly, yet they may not know the best way to freeze the leftovers. Additionally, they may not know how long to store the foods and then use them again. Therefore, it is vitally important to ensure that you are following proper safety handling cooking, freezing, and storage.
When it comes to the proper way to handle, thaw, cook, and store a turkey, you can find current and up to date information at the “Let’s Talk Turkey” fact sheet from Food Safety and Inspection Service website.
In addition to all of the tips and guidelines on the site, there is also a hotline that is run by the USDA that will answer any questions that you may have regarding food preparation and safe handling. It is always best to find the answer to any questions pertaining to safe handling, freezing, cooking, and storing food. The phone number is: 1-800- 535-4555. They also have a toll free number for the hearing impaired. It is: 1-800-256-7072
In addition to safe handling, cooking, and storing procedures for turkey, it is also important to understand that preordered meals may also contribute to food borne illnesses, as was experienced with the American Airlines crew. It is recommended to eat prepacked or previously prepared meals. It is advisable to eat any previously prepared meals within two hours of its arrival. Any time longer than two hours will give ample room for bacteria to develop and grow causing serious sickness and food borne illness.
When you were a child, you more than likely fell and scraped your knee. Your mother washed the wound, put some ointment on it, covered it with a band-aid, and with a magical kiss on the forehead you were on your way. You went back outside and continued playing with your friends. Today, the scenario has changed. What once could be treated with simple ointment and a band-aid is now turning into a potential life threatening illness. The super bug is Staphylococcus or Staph Infection.
Staph is a group of bacteria that when examined under a microscope resembles a cluster of grapes. Staph typically enters the body through a cut or wound, however it may also be acquired through contact with contaminated surfaces. Once prevalent in hospitals, Staph is beginning to spread throughout local communities at an alarming rate. The number of cases of Staph is of great concern, due to the fact that Staph is widely contagious and can prove to be fatal if left untreated.
The newest strain of Staph that is causing alarming concern is called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA. During the 1990’s, MRSA began to show up in hospitals. The drug, Methicillin was commonly prescribed to treat Staph infections, however the new strain is resistant to this treatment. MRSA has even proved fatal in some children. As MRSA began to spread, it continued to defy antibiotic treatments, and today it is the culprit behind many serious skin conditions.
It is important to realize that we come in contact with Staph every day. In fact, it is normally found inside of the nose as well as the skin. A strong immune system is the first line of defense against Staph and MRSA as well as good hygiene, however the super bug is appearing despite the best preventive methods. Typically, a person may think that they have an insect bite or a spider bite. They may begin to pick at it to try and make it go away. Before long, what was once believed to be an insect or spider bite grows into a large boil. At this point, it is imperative that you see your health care provider for treatment immediately. The boil will need to be lanced and drained, and while under your health care provider’s care, you should recover fine. The danger is when the Staph spreads to other parts of the body and causes damage to organs. Once internal, Staph is invasive and can prove fatal.
MRSA is not only found in hospitals. It is now being referred to as Community-Associated MRSA or CA-MRSA. This strain of Staph is found in hospitals, prisons, athletes, schools, and in the military. When in previous years Staph was associated with hospitals and nursing homes, the average age of the infected patient was 68. Today, CA-MRSA is infecting people in their twenties as well as infants and children.
It is important to realize that there are still antibiotics that are used to treat CA-MRSA and other forms of super bugs. Therefore, it is imperative to get proper medical attention if you have a wound, boil, or cut that fails to heal properly.
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It’s early morning, you wake up, and you’ve got that splitting headache that just won’t go away. Added to that, the world seems to spin a lot faster than normal and you remember the night of revelry that you just had. You wish you could just bring back the time. Sometimes, you just wish that you didn’t have to guzzle that much beer and be so sorry for it the very next day. You’ve just got yourself a hangover. As a young adult or anyone who just loves drinking, there was or will be a time that you will get drunk and get those splitting headaches the following day. Even after you promised yourself not to do it again, you just can’t resist the fun of drinking with your buddies without giving any thought of tomorrow.
We all know the bad effects of alcohol in our body. But in this post we’ll take a look at hangovers. We’ll see what we can do to avoid this and what we can do to remove the pain as fast as possible.
If you know you are going on a drinking spree, be sure to have something in your stomach. An empty stomach is not only bad for your health per se since the acid in those drinks will practically burn your stomach, but the splitting headache will also be there definitely. You must have lots and lots of water before you drink. Water will dissolve the alcohol faster and reduce the chances of having the effects of it.
When your drinking session is already in place, nothing beats the hangover better than to avoid drinking altogether. If you really can’t, be sure to eat in between drinks. You can also alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to lessen the effects of alcohol in your body. Remember that the body can dissolve a bottle of beers worth of alcohol per hour. Anything beyond that will affect your body the next day. Peeing a lot during your drinking session also helps with flushing out as much alcohol as possible. That’s why most people who pee more during their drinking sessions tend to have a longer staying power than their non-peeing counterparts. You too can pee a lot if you just drink a lot of non-alcoholic beverages or water.
If you’ve done these things but still have the hangover, the best thing to do is not do anything. If you just stay there in your bed and rest, it could be for the best. Most of the time, those who force themselves to work will just experience something worst. If you have to go to work, stay away from coffee or any drinks with caffeine or it will worsen your condition. Just drink lots and lots of water or Gatorade to replenish the lost water in your body. There are no known cures for having a hangover, but you can always get something done by drinking lots of water and preventing yourself from experiencing one.
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Our ears are very important part of our body. With them, we are able to enjoy the music, sound conversation, and even though we don’t like it, be annoyed with the incessant barking of our neighbor’s dogs. Without them, we’ll be constricted in a world where everything might have a visual but there’s just no sound to complement of everything that we experience. There are plenty of reasons why we have to take care of our ears constantly. Even though the next best thing that we have done to our ears is to add holes in it, there are things that you should do to protect your ear.
Earphones
With the popularity of iPods and other portable media players, earphones have become a must in every busy traveler. With earphones, we are able to enjoy the music and movies privately without intrusion. Whether in a subway, a long bus travel or a private moment, we’ll be able to enjoy the things that we can do. However, earphones could single-handedly destroy our ears. Our ears are able to hear because of the fine line in our eardrum. Shocking it will destroy the eardrum and we won’t be able to hear permanently. When listening using the earphone, it doesn’t really matter how much load it is. You have to make sure you increase the volume slowly. If the ears can adjust to the volume then there’s won’t be any problem. Most of the companies that create MP3 players recommend the volume should be at 20; most of the MP3 players have the volume range.
Cleaning the Ears
Ear cleaning is a must – only in some areas. Some people see earwax as annoying but earwax has a purpose in our ear. As a wax, they are able to control particles from coming in. The earwax in our ears is only lodged in the “alleys” in our ears, that’s why we just wanted to clean them anytime. And we must clean them only in the outer areas. With soft ear buds, just clean the outer part and a little bit of the middle part of your ear. Don’t lodge them too deep or you’ll be able to puncture your ears. Puncturing your ear will be the last thing you want to happen.
If Anything Happens
Our ears are a simple but really sensitive area. Anything that happens in your ears should be directed to a professional immediately. Doctors will be able to take a look at your ears closely with simple but very effective tools. If worst comes to worst, such as hearing loss, prepare for medication that will not only require ear drops but you should also protect your ears from loud noises at all times.
So always protect your ears and clean them. It’s one thing that you should be able to enjoy the great music, and another thing if you won’t hear a thing. Prevention is always better than cure, so get your ears cleaned and keep it that way.
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