• Go to bed and get up around the same time each night, and get up around the same time each morning.
• Try not to take naps during the day.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants; alcohol can cause waking in the night.
• Exercise regularly, but not near bedtime. Allow at least three to four hours between exercise and sleep.
• Avoid heavy meals late in the day. However, a light snack before bed may actually promote a good night's sleep.
• Be comfortable. Make sure your environment is conducive to sleep.
• Relax before bed by reading, listening to music, or taking a bath.
• Don't use your bed for anything except sleep and sex.
• If you've been laying awake for more than 20 minutes, get up and do something else until you feel drowsy.
• If you sometimes lay awake thinking and worrying, try making a to-do list before bed.
Source:
www.webmd.com
Burns can damage not only the skin, but if severe enough, burns can affect muscle, nerve tissue and bone. In many instances, burn injuries can be accompanied by other serious injuries such as broken or fractured bones, smoke inhalation or other traumas. This is why burns should always be taken seriously and expert care should be sought as soon after the incident as possible. It is also important to care of open wounds as meticulously as possible, keeping all dressings clean to prevent infection and speed the healing process.
The depth of the burn can be classified in one of three ways: first degree, second degree or third degree. A first degree burn is the least damaging while a third degree is the most.
A first degree burn only affects the top layer of the skin, or the epidermis. The skin is tender and appears reddened initially, and then lightens when pressure is applied. The most common form of first degree burn is a sunburn. First degree burns will not make you sick and you do not need to be hospitalized for this type of burn. The burn will heal on its own within four or five days and no scarring should occur.
A second degree burn reaches the dermis layer of skin after burning through the epidermis layer. The skin will typically blister and the hair follicles and sweat glands can also be affected. This type of burn is the type that can result from picking up a pot that is too hot or from touching a hot light bulb.
Third degree burns are the most severe and burn all the way through to the hypodermis which is the third and final layer of your skin, while some third degree burns reach even below this layer. The skin will appear charred and have a white or translucent look to it. Numbness may occur in some areas, but pain will still be felt from the upper layers of burns. The danger of these burns is the nerve and tissue damage they can cause. Scarring will most likely take place with a third degree burn, and some patients may even require a skin graft or other sort of regenerative procedure.
If you feel you have received a first degree burn, the care is easy. Cover the burn with a cool, wet towel or soak the burned area in cold water for about five minutes. Contrary to popular belief, it is important not to ice the burn as ice can further damage your skin. Next, cover the burn with a clean, sterile cloth, but keep in mind that friction against the cloth can make the burn worse. Do not apply a band-aid or other adhesive, as you could run the risk of tearing away skin when removing the bandage. It is okay to take an anti-inflammatory pill or aspirin to help with any pain or discomfort. Your skin will probably feel tight and maybe even itchy over the next few days. It is okay to use burn cream, aloe or moisturizer to take care of it, and the burn should heal itself in a few days to a week.
If you feel you have received a more serious burn, then don't take chances and go straight to the hospital or doctor's office. Immediate action can prevent a lot of unnecessary damage and trained medical staff will assist you in the proper care. You will know if your burn is serious by seeing if any blisters result. If your burn involved clothing, do not try and remove the clothing if it is stuck to the burn. This could peel off important skin and/or tissue and make the situation much worse. If you must remove the clothing, cut it away.
One of the most common signs of a second or third degree burn is a blister. It is important that you resist the urge to pop the blisters as well apply any type of cream - even burn cream - to the blisters immediately after the incident occurs. The best type of immediate care is to apply a smooth, dampened fabric to cover the burn. Or, if nothing like this is available, run the burn under cool water. You will want to cool the burn down so that is does not do any more damage to your skin. Remember, do not apply ice to it.
If the burn is located on the face, be especially careful because the skin on the face is extremely sensitive. The skin here is very susceptible to scarring if it is damaged by a careless touch. If you are burned around your eyes or mouth and are have trouble opening them, stay as still as possible. Even if you as much as blow on blisters that appear on the face, they can break and make the area vulnerable to infection. Do not use band-aids, creams or oils - at this point these things can potentially make the burn worse. The best thing to do is cover the burn with a smooth, cool, damp cloth.
If possible, elevate the burned area so that it is higher than your heart. However, if it is your neck that is burned, do not elevate the head because the airway may collapse.
If you are witnessing a serious burn on another person, keep them conscious and talking to you. This will help prevent them from going into shock. Signs of shock include pale and clammy skin, loss of consciousness or a dropping pulse.
Scars will form from the burn because the body produces collagen after the wound has closed. This type of scar tends to be thick, tight, raised and red in color. The skin tightens over night because of the lack of movement, so when you wake up in the morning the burned area could be stiffer than it was when you went to bed. Massaging the skin, certain stretching and applying moisturizers can help this condition significantly. Moisturizers also help reduce itchiness of the healing skin.
Scar tissue does not mature for at least a year, so recovery times can vary from a couple of weeks to over a year.
Sources:
1. www.goodshepherdrehab.org
2. www.mythic-fire.com/burn-care.php
3. http://uuhsc.utah.edu/burncenter/emergencycare/index.html
There are people who should not be vaccinated without consulting a physician. This includes: people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, people who have reacted severely to influenza vaccinations in the past, people who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks after receiving a flu shot in the past, children less than 6 months of age, and people who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever. If you are unsure whether or not you should get a flu shot, consult your physician.
There are some side effects that can be associated with both forms of the influenza vaccination. The flu shot can cause some minor side effects including: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given; low-grade fever; or aches. These problems may occur soon after getting the shot and usually only last a day or two. The nasal-spray vaccine can also cause a few minor side effects. In children, side effects can include: runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. In adults, side effects can include: runny nose, headache, sore throat, or cough.
There are also several other ways to take care of yourself when you have the flu. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of liquids. Avoid the use of alcohol and tobacco. Taking medications such as acetaminophen can help reduce fevers and muscle aches associated with the flu.
References
http://www.cdc.gov