Category: Health

The Five Medicines to Stock Up If You Have Children at Home

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health, Paracetamol for Children

These days, it is a must to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet, especially if you have children at home. Since illnesses and injuries are inevitable with the young, you need to be prepared for them by having these five medicines on stock all the time:

 

Wound care

Kids easily get hurt and bruised, so it’s vital to have some wound care basics in your medicine cabinet. Petroleum jelly tops the list because it can do the job of treating diaper rash and eczema or just helping with dry skin, especially during the summer. It also helps to have some hydrocortisone and antibiotic ointment for skin irritations, burns, scratches and cuts.

Pain medications

Pain relievers are another essential to any medicine cabinet if you have a child, and some pain medications can also treat fever. If you have younger kids at home, it is best to have liquid paracetamol on hand all the time. You also need to stock up on pain relievers for older children and adults since fever and pain are common ailments at home.

Antacids

Kids and even adults can easily get heartburn and indigestion because of their very diverse diets. It’s important to have some antacids like magnesium hydroxide and magnesium trisilicate on hand that can help neutralise the acid in your stomach. You can also ask your doctor for prescription antacids if you have family members who need to use them regularly or those with digestive problems.

Antihistamines

These medications are essential, especially if you have kids with allergies. Antihistamines are great for easing the symptoms of allergies and hay fever like runny nose, sneezing, rashes and itching. They can also help reduce swelling and pain from bee stings. If your child has asthma or more serious allergies, it’s also best to have an EpiPen on hand in case of any adverse reactions. You can even ask your kids’ doctor for any recommended antihistamines based on their age.

Cold medications

Cough and colds could happen any time, especially when the weather is cold, and kids are the most prone to them. For starters, you’ll need cough and cold medications, but you should be careful about giving them to children under four years old. To be sure about proper dosage and timing, you should ask your pediatrician for advice. It’s also good to have menthol rub, honey and other cough and cold remedies handy in case one of your children gets them.

 

With such uncertain times, it’s always best to be prepared with the things that you need at home to make sure that you can address common ailments quickly. Stocking up will not only save you time and money since you won’t need to go out of the house, but it will also make things convenient for your household, especially these days when you can’t just go out to buy medications whenever you want to.

 

What Happens When a UTI Gets Complicated?

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health

Urinary tract infections are some of the most common ailments among Australians, accounting for 1.2% of all general practice consultations. Although UTIs are fairly easy to treat, many people still choose to ignore the signs and symptoms thinking that they would go away on their own. 

 

Unfortunately, UTIs can progress to more serious complications when left untreated. Here’s what happens when a UTI gets complicated:

  • UTI in people with diabetes. According to studies, women with diabetes have a higher risk for UTI complications which is why it’s crucial to diagnose and treat UTIs right away before they progress into more serious kidney infections and even kidney failure in the long run.

 

  • Sepsis. If a UTI is left untreated, the infection could spread to the kidneys and even progress into a deadly infection of the blood called sepsis. This happens when the body’s natural defences cannot fight the severe infection anymore, causing the organs to shut down and eventually lead to death. Sepsis is one of the worst UTI complications, but those affected can prevent it with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

 

  • Permanent kidney damage. A UTI can be treated easily, even when you’re at home. On the first signs of an infection, take medications that you can buy OTC. UTI tablets are effective in keeping the problem from getting worse. If you don’t do anything about it, the infection could cause long-term damage to your kidneys, leading to scarring, hypertension, and other complications. 

 

  • UTIs in men. Although men have a much lower risk of getting a UTI than women, an infection is usually a sign of a more serious problem like a urinary stone or enlarged prostate. A trip to the doctor is necessary if you’re experiencing one or more of the signs and symptoms of a UTI to rule out possible medical conditions. Long-term treatment is required for prostate-based infections, but you’ll have a better prognosis if you start treatment right away.

 

  • UTIs in pregnant women. It’s not uncommon for pregnant women to develop UTIs during their pregnancy. The infection should be treated right away to prevent serious complications to both the mother and baby, including the risk for premature birth, hypertension, anemia, and low birth weight. 

 

If you’re pregnant and you’ve been experiencing the signs and symptoms of UTI, make sure to have yourself checked as soon as possible to prevent the problem from getting worse.

 

While UTIs can lead to serious complications if not addressed right away, you can always stock up on some essential medications to ensure that you have them when someone at home experiences an infection. It’s also highly recommended to switch to a healthier lifestyle so that you can keep your kidneys healthy for a longer time. A good diet includes eating healthy, drinking lots of water, exercising regularly, and making sure that you avoid food and drinks that cause damage to your kidneys and urinary tract.

Sleep Deprivation: What It Does to Your Body

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health, Lifestyle

With one in five Australians being affected by a major sleep disorder, it is now considered a major health issue in the country. Although we all lose sleep on some days due to stress, fatigue, and a whole lot of other factors, consistent sleep deprivation often leads to more serious health conditions in the long run. Here’s what happens to your body when you don’t get enough sleep:

 

  1. You’re at a higher risk for heart problems. According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, getting less than five hours of sleep or more than nine hours of sleep per night can harm your heart health. But if you consistently lack sleep, you put yourself at a higher risk for getting a stroke or developing coronary heart disease. 

 

  1. You tend to have memory issues. Your brain benefits most when you get enough sleep because it has the opportunity to form connections that allow you to remember and process information easily. But when you lack sleep, you’ll start to notice that it’s harder to understand information and remember things. 

 

  1. You easily get sick. Lack of sleep depletes your immune system’s ability to fight off illness. This means you can easily get sick if you don’t get enough shut-eye. A study even revealed the link between sleep and your immune system. 

 

  1. You have a hard time concentrating. Sleep deprivation can mess up your brain’s ability to function. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll notice that it’s harder for you to be creative, solve problems, make decisions, and think straight. When this happens often, your lack of sleep will begin to affect your ability to perform daily activities at work and home.

 

  1. You have a higher risk for cancer. Lack of sleep is a contributing factor to a lot of other health conditions, including cancer. According to some studies, not getting enough shut-eye could increase your risk of getting breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

 

  1. You’re moodier and emotional. This is a very common consequence of lack of sleep. When you’re deprived of rest, you easily get angry and emotional, and you might not even want to talk to anyone. If sleep deprivation continues, you could also experience anxiety and depression, which could escalate into serious mental health issues.

 

  1. Your sex drive diminishes. When you lack sleep, you also lose your interest in sex. According to a study, young men who didn’t get enough sleep over one week showed a significant decline in testosterone levels. It also revealed that sleeping for only five hours or less can reduce sex hormone levels by as much as 15%.

Sleep deprivation can be caused by several things. So, if you’re having a hard time getting some shut-eye, you could use some sleeping aids like Circadin to help you get that much-needed rest that will help you avoid these serious health consequences. If you are experiencing difficulty sleeping, consider speaking to your healthcare provider as they can help you understand the cause of these symptoms.

Are You Always Wearing High Heels? You Should Know These Tricks

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health, Lifestyle

High heels are the ultimate definition of womanhood. They give you extra height, arch your feet to make them look sexy, and add that hint of glamour to any outfit that you wear. But let’s also be honest—wearing high heels has its disadvantages aside from hurting your feet a lot. That’s why they say that you have to suffer sometimes in the name of fashion. 

 

But do you need to? We think not because here are some tricks that you can follow to make wearing high heels painless and more comfortable:

 

  • Tape your third and fourth toes together. If you like to wear pumps that hurt your feet, try taping your third and fourth toes together to relieve the strain on the nerve between those toes that cause the pain on your feet. This makes wearing your favourite pumps a lot more comfortable.

 

  • Place cotton balls under your toes. A lot of models do this trick because it helps them feel comfortable while walking on those high heels for hours. Cotton balls will provide some cushion under your toes and the balls of your feet so you can last on those Louboutins or Blahniks for a longer time.

 

  • Break-in your new heels. As exciting as it is to wear a new pair of high heels for the first time, it can also be very excruciating. But you don’t need to suffer because you can always break in your new pair by wearing it first with a thick pair of socks and aiming your blow dryer on all the tight corners. This will help stretch the material to make wearing your heels more comfortable, and you can also avoid those blisters.

 

  • Use lip balm. Your trusted lip balm is not only good for your lips, but it can also help you prevent those ugly blisters on your feet when wearing high heels for a long time. By applying a little lip balm to the back of your feet, you can prevent friction that causes blisters to form.

 

  • Use dry shampoo. If you have a problem with sweaty feet, you can try spraying a layer of dry shampoo on your feet to keep them from sweating. This allows you to wear your high heels more comfortable and keep your feet smelling great.

 

Finally, there’s the magic trick that almost every model and fashion icon use—Emla. This skin numbing lignocaine patch is every fashionista’s best friend because it helps numb those parts of the feet that usually get most painful when you wear high heels for a long time. This will allow you to strut in those Louboutins for hours and not feel the pain. And Emla is very safe to use as long as you don’t apply it on any open wounds. 

 

Are you one of the many women around the world who love to wear high heels? Make sure that you have these tricks handy all the time.

The Five Items You Need in Your Home Pharmacy

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health, Health & Pharma

These days, it’s vital to be prepared for anything that could happen. That includes making sure that your home pharmacy is well-stocked, especially if you have children. From antipyretics to pain relievers, it pays to have medicines ready whenever someone in the family gets sick, and you can’t rush to the hospital due to the pandemic. Here are five items that you need to stock in your home pharmacy:

 

  • Antipyretics/Analgesics. With pain and fever being the most common ailments that family members experience, you need a well-stocked pharmacy with antipyretics and analgesics for both adults and kids. Choose a brand that’s been tried and tested to reduce fever within just 15 minutes. Liquid paracetamol, such as Dymadon, is among those medications ideal for pain and fever caused by flu, headache, and teething.

 

  • Antacids and Intestinal medications. You’ll never know when someone in the family experiences a sudden bout of diarrhoea or constipation, so you need to keep stool softeners, antacids, laxatives, and other intestinal medications at home. This could include Omeprazole, Milk of Magnesia, or Cimetidine.

 

  • Decongestants. With such drastic weather changes in Australia, it’s not uncommon for the household to catch a cold, especially during the cooler months. This is why you need to stock up on decongestants that will help deal with stuffy noses to help family members sleep well at night.

 

  • Antihistamines. Chances are, someone in the family has allergies, or you might have a visitor who suddenly develops an allergy after eating seafood that you served. That’s why it pays to have antihistamines in your home pharmacy all the time. It could be the short-acting Benadryl or Claritin that lasts for 24 hours and is non-sedating. Make sure that you have both kid and adult formulations because you’ll never know who needs them in your house. 

 

  • Antifungals. Whether it’s diaper rash, vaginal yeast infections, or Athlete’s foot, you can benefit from having antifungal medications like Miconazole in your home pharmacy. This will help you deal with the itchiness before you consult your doctor for more proper medications.

 

Of course, you also need to stock up on other home pharmacy essentials like gauze dressings, paper tapes, antiseptics, Band-aids, alcohol, and other first-aid products that will surely come in handy at some point. You should also look at the individual needs of your family members to make it easier to choose the medications that you should have on hand at all times. 

 

For instance, if your husband always experiences itchy eyes, then it would be smart to have some eye drops on hand. If family members have sinusitis and other allergies, you need to purchase nasal sprays and creams.

 

A well-stocked home pharmacy is a must these days when things could change very drastically, and you can’t just go out to purchase your needs. You can also feel more secure knowing that you have the things that you need within reach at all times.

The Four Things You Need to Know About Allergies

by Susan Gregory, posted in Health, Lifestyle

Allergies and anaphylaxis continue to be a growing problem in Australia. According to research, more than four million Australians suffer from a form of allergic disease, and that number continues to rise every year. With such common prevalence, it’s very important to learn these four things about allergies and what you can do to treat them. Here’s everything you need to know about allergies.

 

What causes allergies?

Allergens are the primary culprits of allergies, and they can come from different substances in the environment. It could be from mould, dander, pollen or dust that causes your immune system to initiate a reaction through inflammation in your skin, airways, sinuses and even digestive system. This is then manifested by symptoms such as itching, wheezing, and sneezing, and it could range from mild to severe depending on the number of allergens in your system.

 

What are the most common symptoms of allergies?

The symptoms of allergies depend on which part of your body is exposed to the allergen. For instance, food allergies are commonly manifested by rashes, hives, and swelling that could start showing within minutes after ingesting the allergen. In some cases, food allergies could lead to anaphylactic shock if not addressed right away. If you’re experiencing crashes caused by allergies, you need to have Sigmacort cream on hand every time to treat the rashes right away. If you inhale the allergens, your allergy could manifest through nasal congestion, sneezing, and, eventually, breathing difficulties.

 

Who is at risk for developing allergies?

Anyone is at risk for developing allergies, and you can experience them at any time in your life. Some people may even be surprised that they’re suddenly allergic to shrimps when it didn’t bother them before. However, people who have a family history of allergies are more likely to develop them than those who don’t. This means that if you’re allergic, there’s a good chance that your children will develop it too. 

 

How do you diagnose an allergy?

If you start noticing that you develop rashes when you eat seafood or you sneeze a lot when your pet is around, you could be experiencing an allergy. The best way to know if you have one or not is to seek medical consultation because allergies can vary from person to person, and you’ll need different tests to diagnose allergies and, more importantly, what triggers them. But it would be wise to take note of your symptoms and the times they appear. You should also observe some things that trigger an allergic reaction like a new skincare product, a new pet in the house, or a new perfume.

 

Allergies can take a toll on you, especially if you don’t know how to address them right. So if you’re experiencing any form of allergies, make sure to consult with a doctor right away. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s causing your allergies and what types of medications you need to have on hand to treat them whenever they appear.