Use of Emergency Contraceptives:

Contraceptives are drugs used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. There are different forms of contraceptives: regular, emergency and permanent method. Here we are focusing more on emergency methods. Emergency contraceptives are the use of drugs or devices to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. People try to use it in the wrong way but its use in right time and right way can prevent further many complications. Complications such as mental tension, unwanted pregnancy and abortions can be prevented.

Emergency contraceptives should be used in cases of unprotected sex, sexual assault or when condom is broken to help prevent pregnancy. Even though none of the contraceptive methods we use are 100% protective, it’s still better using them then taking chances. Emergency contraceptive methods should not be used by the females who are sexually active as regular contraceptive methods (birth Control pills) are better. There are different types of emergency contraceptives which are in use. They are:

• Hormone containing Pills: It contains higher dose of same hormones that are used in regular birth control pills. It contains combination of Estrogen and Progesterone which is taken as 2 pills 12 hours apart. The first dose should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The other pill used is progesterone only pill, which can also be used within 72 hours of unprotected sex but more effective if used as soon as possible (0.75mg stat and 12 hrs. apart).
• Intrauterine device: The IUD used for emergency contraception is the Copper T 380A IUD. It can be inserted up to 5 days after unprotected sexual intercourse but should be inserted as soon as possible. The IUD can be removed after your next menstrual period, when it is confirmed that you are not pregnant.
• Anti-progesterone: It has not been used widely. The single dose of drug can be taken within 27days of cycle irrespective of days and numbers of intercourse.

Common side effects of emergency contraceptive pills are similar to those of birth control pills. They include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache,and menstrual changes. Breast tenderness, fluid retention, and dizziness may also occur. Many of these symptoms may be less severe with progestin-only or intrauterine forms of emergency contraception.

Emergency contraception is not as effective as ongoing birth control. It should not be used routinely instead of birth control. If you are sexually active and wish to avoid pregnancy, you may wish to consider using a consistent form of birth control.

Know When to Use the Hospital

The hospital is expensive. It is not home or hotel. Lives are saved and lost. The hospital must be used, and it must be avoided. To manage these contradictions, the need for hospitalization for you or a member of your family must be carefully considered in each instance.

Don’t use the hospital if services can be performed elsewhere. The acute (short-term) general hospital provides acute general medicine; it does not perform other functions well.

Don’t use the hospital for rest; it is not good place to go for rest. It is busy, noisy, unfamiliar and populated with unfamiliar roommates. Its nights are punctuated with interruptions, and it has an unusual time schedule. It has many employees, a few of whom will be less thoughtful than others.

Don’t use the hospital for the “inconvenience” of having a number of tests done in a few days. It does not provide tests in the most efficient manner; indeed, most laboratories and X-ray facilities are not open on the weekend, and special procedures may require several days just to be scheduled.

Many people have urged that we establish a system of “hoptels.” “Hoptels” would provide lodging at minimal cost, allow for efficient test performance, and be appropriate for periods of rest and minimal activity. A number of experiments along these lines are underway. Until more appropriate facilities are available,
however, use the acute hospital with great reluctance.

Over a century ago, the Hungarian physician Inaz Philipp Semmelweiss noted two events: (1) Mothers giving birth at home and their infants fared better than those in the hospital, and (2) the existence of the often fatal “childbed fever” was one of the risks of the hospital. This problem, due to poor hygiene in the deliver rooms, has long since been corrected. But in our present age, new evidence suggests that for many conditions home treatment may work better than the treatment in the hospital. For example, home treatment for minor heart attacks in the elderly has been reported as possibly better than hospital treatment. It is apparent to most hospital visitors that the crisis atmosphere of the short-term acute hospital does not promote the calmest state of mind for the patient. Many therapeutic features of the home cannot be duplicated in the hospital.

The hospice movement attempts to provide humane, caring, medically sound treatment with a minimum of the technological trappings of the hospital. Hospice and home-care programs are growing rapidly and are very worthwhile.

Eye Irritation Treatment

The tear mechanism normally soothes, cleans, and lubricates the eye. Occasionally, the environment can overwhelm this mechanism, or the tear flow may be insufficient. In these cases, the eye becomes “tired,” feels dry or gritty, and may itch. A number of compounds that may aid this problem are available.

1) Murine and Visine
There are two general types of eye preparations. One class contains compounds intended to sooth the eye (Murine). Added to the compounds may be substances that shrink blood vessels and thus “get the red out” (Visine); these substances are decongestants to get rid of a bloodshot appearance is totally cosmetic. It is possible that such preparations can actually interfere with the normal healing process, although this is unlikely.

2) Methylcellulose Eyedrops
The second group of preparations makes no claims of special soothing effect and contains no decongestants. They are solutions with concentrations like those of the body so that no irritation occurs.  Their purpose is to lubricate the eye, to be “artificial tears.” These are preparations preferred by ophthalmologists for minor eye irritation. Methylcellulose eye drops are an example of this type.

3) Prefrin
Prefrin is a substance that lies somewhere between the two types of eye preparations discussed above; it contains both substances that soothe and lubricate the eye and a decongestant.

Dosage
Use as frequently as needed in the quantity required. You can’t use too much, although usually a few drops give just as much relief as a bottleful. If your problem of dry eyes is constant, you should check it out with the doctor because an underlying problem could be present. Usually, the symptom of dry eyes lasts only a few hours and is readily relieved. Too much sun, wind, or dust usually causes the minor irritation.

Side Effects
No serious side effects have been reported. Visine and other drugs containing decongestants tend to sting a bit. None of these drugs treat eye infections or injuries or remove foreign bodies from the eye.

Insect bite and its treatment:

Even though there are several insects which can inflict poison by bite or sting, the common ones which cause medical problems are bees, wasps and ants which are found near us. They belong to group Hymenoptera. As, these species live in groups if one stings you theirs more chance of you stinging by others. Mostly Bees and wasps inject poisonous venom by stinging into your skin.

The injury is mostly confined to the area close to the stings but may also result in severe bodily dysfunction as kidney failure. Most common presentation is local allergic reaction to and near the sting site as pain, swelling and itching. Sometimes larger zone of bacterial infection may also result within 12-36 hours of bite. Systemic Symptoms resulting in swelling of whole body, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, decrease urine output etc. in severe cases unconsciousness and death may occur.

One recent case which I came across was a person who was sting by more than 100 wasps came with complain of decrease urine output and swelling of whole body. Vitals (Pulse, BP, Temp, Respiratory rate) were stable and on examination he had swelling of whole body, with difficulty in breathing and added sounds in chest. Urine output was nil. Blood test revealed acute renal failure for which he had to undergo hemodialysis for 5-6 episodes with other medical treatment. At end the patient symptoms resolved and he went back home at good health.

Treatment of wasp bite mostly depends on the severity of the condition. Many of the complications from an allergic reaction respond well to various medications-when given in time. Simple allergic bite in non allergic person doesn’t need more than first aid. Avoid bites by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent. Remove any stingers present in the body; wash whole body with soap; apply ice to the sting site as frequent as possible; use of antibiotic cream to sting site; antihistaminic medicine for itching and painkillers for pain relief. If symptoms are severe seek the medical attention immediately which can help in preventing your life, as death can occur sometimes.

Insomnia

Insomnia:

Insomnia is defined as “difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep”. Nearly 30-50% people have sleepless nights, it may be due to improper sleep habit. It may be either due to inadequate quantity or quality of sleep. Insomnia is not a disease itself it’s a symptom which can vary from people to people. It can be seen in all age groups. If it lasts for more than 3 weeks one should visit the doctor as it may be due to some disease process and also may interfere with one’s daily activity.

It is classified according to the duration of symptoms presented:

• Transient Insomnia- less than one week

• Short-term Insomnia- lasting 1-3 weeks

• Chronic Insomnia- more than 3 weeks.

Causes of Insomnia: May be due to situational factor, medical or psychiatric causes or sleep problems.

• Transient or short term: jet lag, changes in shift work, Stress, acute illness, withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, sedatives or other medicines.

• Chronic may be due to psychiatric causes or physiological.

• Psychiatric: anxiety, Mood Disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia

• Physiological (medical causes): Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic pain syndrome, Acid peptic disease,Asthma,Obstructive sleep Apnea, Tumors, Strokes, Parkinson’s disease and many more.

• Drugs related: Blood pressure medicines, Medicines for depression, anxiety; some over the counter cold or asthma medicines.

Treatment:

It depends on identifying the cause factor and treating one. Generally treatment includes both non-medical and medical aspect.

• Non-medical treatment and Behavioral Therapy: Maintaining sleep hygiene (regular bed time; no drinks, coffee at bed time; no smoke; no TV or worries and Relaxation therapy. These methods work most of the time not requiring medication.

• Medicine: Drugs according to the medical causes such as antidepressant for Depression. Antihistamines, Sedatives etc.