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Health
Here are a few common insect bite signs and symptoms
Read MoreIdentifying insect bites is the first step towards taking preventive measures. However, knowing about the various symptoms from different insect bites can help alleviate the discomfort and pain caused by an insect bite.
Let’s take a look at some of the common signs and symptoms that may appear after an insect bite and what you need to be aware of.
Brown recluse spider bites
Identifying insect bites such as the brown recluse spider bites can be tricky since they often go undetected. These insect bites are followed by a sharp sting accompanied by intense pain. Symptoms may start showing in the four to eight-hour window after the insect bite. There could be blisters, and the skin might turn purple-blue. Other symptoms include sweating, itching, seizures, nausea, fever, chills, and in the most extreme of cases, kidney failure and coma.Tick bites
Tick bites can carry Lyme disease and are characterized by initial symptoms such as the appearance of ring-like patterns of skin rashes that can last for a month. Not identifying insect bites like these can lead to the further development of symptoms such as headaches, muscle ache, joint pain, uneven heart beats, memory loss and failing autoimmune responses. Some tick bites can carry the rocky mountain fever, which can lead to rashes developing throughout the body with time.Other common symptoms
When identifying insect bites, knowledge about the various common symptoms can help in getting the right treatment at the right time.For poisonous insect bites, intense pain near wound sites is a red flag. Other common signs that can manifest after the initial symptoms include muscle cramps or spasms, pain in the abdomen, fever, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty in ingesting foods and liquids. This can be accompanied by failing lung function characterized by difficulty in breathing, slurring of the speech, headaches, dizziness, convulsions, cramps in the stomach, sudden blackouts, coma, wheezing, numbness in different areas of the body, and finally rapid inflammations.
If your case is severe or the symptoms listed above appear too suddenly, don’t hesitate to use countermeasure medications or auto-injector pens after careful consultation with your doctor.
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Health
Oral health issues and their diagnosis and prevention
Read MoreOral health indicates overall health, so regular oral hygiene is important to prevent cavities, bad breath, gum diseases, and other mouth and teeth issues. Also, oral health is important at every stage of life, and it should not be taken lightly as oral diseases can also spread to the rest of the body. Let’s take a look at the basics of oral health issues and how to prevent them.
Common oral health problems
Oral health problems can affect people at different stages of lives:- Infants
A routine to help children maintain oral hygiene. When a child starts getting their first teeth, parents should wipe their gums with a clean, moist washcloth. Gradually, they can change this washcloth to a toothbrush for kids. Also, a child must be taken for their first dental visit within 6 months of the first tooth erupting, which should be not later than a kid’s first birthday. Additionally, parents should always stop children from sucking their thumbs as it can affect their tooth alignment. Also, never let them sleep with a bottle in their mouth as this can cause tooth decay. - Children and teenagers
Many who have crooked teeth start showing signs between the ages of 6 and 12. Also, people may start getting wisdom teeth in their late teens, which may have to be removed as they often cause pain and develop infections. - Adults
Among adults, gum diseases are the most common oral health issues. Also, many adults grind their teeth while sleeping, which is a serious health concern as it affects their teeth and jaws. Many do not take care properly for their mouth and teeth, which is the leading cause of cavities. Once a person’s cavity gets too deep, a root canal is the only way to treat it. - Senior citizens
Medications are common among seniors for various reasons, and this often causes dry mouth, which can lead to a tooth decay. The risk for gum diseases and mouth cancer also increases with age, so seniors should take special care to maintain oral hygiene.
Diagnosis of oral health problems
A simple dental examination is used for diagnosing most oral diseases. This exam includes the dentist examining an individual’s tongue, throat, jaw, cheeks, neck, and mouth and teeth. Also, dentists use several tools and instruments for the measurement of a person’s gum pockets. With the measurement of this small scale, a dentist will be able to tell whether the person has receding gums or any other gum disease. Usually, the pockets between the teeth should measure between 1 and 3mm, so if the measurement is beyond these numbers, the person is said to have a gum disease.In the case of oral cancer, dentists prescribe MRI scan, X-ray, CT scan, and an endoscopy in order to diagnose the spread of the cancer.
Prevention of oral health problems
Here are some tips to prevent mouth and teeth problems:- One should visit a dentist annually for a comprehensive check-up and cleaning
- It’s best to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride and brush twice a day
- The toothbrush should be changed every 3 to 4 months or as soon as it’s worn out
- Clean the tongue is also important while brushing
- Infants
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Health and Fitness
4 ways to treat deafness that you need to know now
Read MoreIf you find yourself frequently asking people to repeat themselves or lose track of a conversation because you can’t hear parts of it, you should get your hearing checked. Though deafness is typically associated with elderly people, it can affect men and women of all ages. Sadly, there is no cure for hearing loss or deafness. However, there are some forms of treatment that can improve you hearing.
These include:
Hearing aids
Hearing aids help improve hearing by amplifying sounds. There are many different types of hearing aids available nowadays. While some for fit inside the ear and are virtually invisible, others are fitted behind the ear. Some hearing aids simply amplify sounds while others help separate ambient noises from conversations. Only a doctor will be able to tell you which one would suit your needs the best. Hearing aids can take a little while to get used to, but the sooner you start wearing them, the smoother it will be to adapt to them.Cochlear implants
The cochlea is situated in the inner ear and is responsible for sending the vibrations created by the eardrum to the auditory nerves. Deafness caused by improper function of this part of the ear is known as sensorineural hearing loss. People suffering from moderate to severe deafness can benefit from cochlear implants. These implants help transfer vibrations to the auditory nerves, thus enabling you to hear better than before.Middle ear implants
People who suffer from low to moderate hearing loss and do not benefit from hearing aids may be advised to have middle ear implants. This involves fitting a small microphone piece just above the ear and implanting a digital device in the middle ear. The microphone captures sounds and transmits them to an implant, which then enhances the vibration of the bones and thus helps transmit sound to the inner ear.Stapedectomy
Deafness can also be caused by a build-up of tissue around the stape in the middle ear. This is also known as conductive hearing loss. A stapedectomy involves removing the stape and replacing it with an artificial part to restore hearing.Additionally, if you suffer from hearing loss, you should try and prevent it from worsening in any way. You can do this by avoiding your exposure to sounds that are higher than 90 decibels. If you work in a noisy environment, invest in a pair of protective ear muffs. Do not allow wax to build up in your ears and get them cleaned regularly with a home irrigation kit or at your doctor’s clinic. Lastly, get your hearing checked regularly to ensure that your hearing loss does not get worse unnoticed.