Health & Pharma – East River Vet

July 14, 2022 / by Leah Oliver / Health & Pharma, Medication / No Comments

Important Things to Know About Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection of the vagina. It is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection. However, it is more common in women who have multiple sexual partners or who have sex with women.

Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis can cause symptoms such as vaginal discharge, vaginal odour, and vaginal itching.

If you have bacterial vaginosis, you may notice a vaginal discharge that is white or grey in colour. The discharge may have a fishy odour. You may also experience vaginal itching, burning, or redness. These symptoms are usually mild and resolve on their own. However, if they are severe or persist, you should see your doctor for treatment.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Bacterial vaginosis is diagnosed using a pelvic exam and a sample of the vaginal discharge. Your doctor will look for signs of inflammation and an overgrowth of bacteria.

Bacterial Vaginosis treatment usually includes antibiotics. There are, however, many ways to treat bacterial vaginosis.

Home Remedies

Yoghurt: Eating yoghurt or applying it directly to the vagina can help reduce inflammation and itching.
Garlic: Garlic has natural antibacterial properties that can help fight the infection. You can eat garlic or insert a peeled clove into the vagina.
Apple cider vinegar: This acidic liquid can help restore the pH balance in the vagina and kill off the bad bacteria. You can drink it, apply it topically, or take a bath in apple cider vinegar.
Tea tree oil: This essential oil has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. You can mix it with water and apply it to the vagina with a cotton swab or add a few drops to your bathwater.

Over-The-Counter & Prescribed Medications

If home remedies don’t work, you may need prescription medications or other medical treatments. These include:

Antibiotics: These are typically prescribed for 7-10 days and can be taken orally or vaginally.
Probiotics: These supplements help restore the good bacteria in the vagina and are often used alongside antibiotics.
Vaginal gels or creams: These are applied directly to the vagina and can help reduce symptoms like itching and burning.
Steroids: These can be used to reduce inflammation caused by bacterial vaginosis.

If you’re pregnant, it’s important to get treatment for bacterial vaginosis as soon as possible. Untreated bacterial vaginosis can lead to premature labour and delivery. Your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, but it’s important to get treatment if you have symptoms. Home remedies can help relieve mild symptoms, but more severe cases may require prescription medications or other medical treatments. If you’re pregnant, it’s especially important to get treatment to reduce the risk of complications.

If you think you have bacterial vaginosis, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Treatment is important to prevent the spread of the infection and to relieve symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection, but it can be treated effectively with antibiotics.

July 14, 2022 / by Leah Oliver / Health & Pharma / No Comments

Recovery After a Heart Attack

Recovering from a heart attack is no easy feat. Sometimes, the process can take several months before you start feeling like yourself again. You will most likely need to undertake some serious lifestyle changes, which can be difficult in and of itself. Follow these tips on recovery after a heart attack to make the transition as seamless and easy as possible.

Adopt a Heart-Healthy Diet

One of the biggest lifestyle changes you can make to prevent another heart attack is to change your diet. Eating a heart-healthy diet means staying away from excessive saturated fats, salt, and cholesterol.

Good options to start incorporating into your diet following a heart attack include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, legumes, and nuts.

A Mediterranean-style diet works well for patients recovering from a heart attack.

Get Sufficient Exercise

Another lifestyle change that proves to be challenging (although very beneficial) to patients post-heart attack is an increase in daily movement or exercise. You’ll start slowly, and you’ll be monitored by healthcare professionals to determine what your capacity for exercise is. Gradually, you’ll want to increase your exercise to 30 minutes per day, most days of the week.

Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure

If you’ve suffered a heart attack, chances are that your doctor will want you to take action in order to reduce your blood pressure. Thankfully, the two aforementioned lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) naturally lower blood pressure.

If you are able to follow a heart-healthy diet and get enough exercise, your blood pressure will lower on its own.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Similar to achieving and maintaining a healthy blood pressure, your weight will also adjust following the lifestyle changes recommended for heart attack patients. With the right diet and enough exercise, you’ll more-than-likely be able to shed some extra weight that puts you at increased risk for another heart attack.

If you’re following the recommendations of your doctor but have not seen an improvement in blood pressure or weight, let your doctor know. Additional testing may be required.

Manage Your Mental Health

Stress and mental health play an important role in cardiac health. Stress can sometimes be a trigger for heart attack patients, whereas people who have suffered a heart attack in the past are more prone to depression.

Keep an eye on how you are feeling, stay mindful, and let your doctor know immediately if you feel you’d benefit from extra help.

Quit Smoking

Plain and simple, you’ve got to quit smoking after you’ve had a heart attack. It’s imperative, and probably the most effective lifestyle change you can make. In addition to improving your heart health, quitting smoking also improves your breathing ability and overall quality of life.

Follow Doctors’ Orders

Your doctor may recommend you start a daily regimen of low-dose aspirin to act as a blood thinner following a heart attack. Try an enteric-coated aspirin if you are prone to gastrointestinal issues.

Follow any other recommendations made by your healthcare provider on the route to heart attack recovery.

September 18, 2020 / by Walter Clark / Health & Pharma / No Comments

Insect bites and stings prevention

Insect bites are such frustrating pains that sometimes ends up leaving their mark on you if care is not taken which leaves you with a burning question “do insects just wake up anytime and decide to be violent?” weird right? But do they?

Because I cannot begin to imagine how insect bites have ruined peoples’ days around the world. A very sad happening that we have little or no control over.

Venomous and non-venomous insects

Insect to look out for that bites can either be venomous or non-venomous. Venomous insect involves wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, all bees and fire ants. While non-venomous insects are; chiggers, ticks, bed bugs, mosquitoes, lice, scabies and fleas.

These insects are not similar in every aspects. While venomous insect stings and cause local reactions like pain, swelling and allergic reactions; non venomous insect bites and cause diseases like malaria and Lyme. Both category cause itching, depending on the individuals system.

In case of an insect bite or sting, it is advisable to not hit the insects on your skin in an attempt to kill it. Rather, blow it away with your mouth or use a blunt object to gently push it away. But never hit an insect against your skin. More details!

What can I do to protect myself from being bitten or stung?

First form of prevention is knowing the right thing when bitten or you find an insect on your skin. Do not panic in cases where stinging insects are involved. Move away from the insects quietly. Do not swat them or run away as they may feel threatened and still try to sting you.
Do not wear brightly colored clothes, use scented soaps, perfumes or cologne and hair sprays; as these things can attract insects. Avoid these things especially when going hiking in bushy areas or mount climb.
When going outdoors (hiking, mount climbing), avoid wearing loose fitted clothes as they tend to trap insects to themselves.
It is also advisable to iron clothes before wearing them. Especially when they were spread outside to sun dry them.
Avoid keeping dirty dishes and water as they are breeding zones for insects. If you are going to keep dirty dishes, make sure you rinse them of all left over food and stack them properly on the sink. Also, any stale dirty water should be disposed of immediately. Close all dirty bins properly, so that you don’t give these insects any breeding space.
Use insect repellants in places that are insect infested. Do not apply too much. Follow instructions on the packaging and adhere strictly to it. If you notice any side reaction to the cream, see a doctor and never use it again. My personal advice is staying away from places that likely to breed insects like still ponds.
Insect bite creams and corticosteroid tablets are advisable to use, especially when the damage has been done. The cream is topically applied to reduce itching, while the tablets should be taken after prescriptions by a doctor.

We have experienced painful insect bite at one point or the other in our life. The aforementioned tips to prevent it will go a long way to prevent being bitten. Insect bite cream should be used in case you notice any inflammation. For more information, visit: https://www.eastrivervet.com/does-paracetamol-in-pregnancy-cause-child-behavioral-problems/

June 9, 2020 / by Walter Clark / Health & Pharma, Medication / No Comments

Does Paracetamol In Pregnancy Cause Child Behavioral Problems?

Paracetamol for children is popular but it sparks a fiery debate among parents. Some parents say children should never be given paracetamol and those who say otherwise. Then, some expectant parents refuse to use paracetamol during pregnancy. It’s a controversial and confusing area to dissect. It’s actually possible to understand both points for and against the use of paracetamol during and after pregnancy but does it really cause behavior problems?

Paracetamol in Pregnancy

Paracetamol is used to deal with minor pains and help bring down a temperature. It’s widely used and many pregnant women use it as well. However, as with any medicine or drug, it should only be used as and when it’s actually needed. This means it shouldn’t be used every day and for no more than three to five days in a row. Usually, it deals with minor aches and pains and the problem goes away. When the pains are persistent, a consultation with a doctor might be necessary. Paracetamol for children can be safe, as long as it’s used correctly. For pregnant women, it’s generally considered to be safe.

No Known Links

A lot of expectant mothers are worried about paracetamol and its use during pregnancy. Some believe it can cause behavior problems for the child in later life; however, as yet, there doesn’t seem to be any concrete links. Studies are still in their infancy when it comes to pain medication and its infrequent use during pregnancy. Of course, the development of babies and children can take different routes with prolonged or constant drug abuse and prescription misuse. If paracetamol is used the way it’s intended for, (properly) then there shouldn’t be any cause for concern. Every expectant mother will have an opinion over this. Paracetamol for children can generally be safe, even in pregnancy.Read more

A Personal Choice for Paracetamol for Children

There will be some mothers who say children should never be given paracetamol (or indeed any painkiller) until they turn eighteen. Then, there will be other mothers who say they’re happy to give their child paracetamol. The truth is that every expectant mother has an opinion over the use of paracetamol and paracetamol for children. If you aren’t sure or worried about using paracetamol during your pregnancy (or giving liquid paracetamol to a child) contact your doctor and speak with them. They may be the best professionals to get advice from.

Seek Advice

This argument or debate will rage on because everyone has an opinion over the use of paracetamol during pregnancy. The trouble is that if you’re unsure, the mess leaves you more confused than anything else and it’s a problem. However, if you need more clarity, it’s best to talk to your long-term doctor and they may help clear the matter up for you. You can read all sorts of opinions online and hear from people you know but sometimes, it’s best to talk to a qualified physician. Paracetamol for children and the debate during pregnancy will continue, so seek help from someone in the know.

February 23, 2020 / by Leah Oliver / Health & Pharma, Medication / No Comments

Is long-term paracetamol use not as safe as we thought?

Paracetamol is still considered universally as the safest pain medication. This pain reliever works great for people who suffer-normal headaches and more than half of muscle aches and pains. It helps with chronic pain management, making sure that the pain does not progress to a more serious condition.

Most people choose to self-medicate. This means that using over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms without the first consultation with a doctor or pharmacist. Economics is an important factor since consultations can be a bit costly. In addition to the costs and inconvenience, there is the fear of medical diagnosis also that causes one to self-medicate. Click here for safe use of paracetamol in children.

While it helps relieve pain, self-medication can have serious long-term health consequences. Is it okay to continue taking paracetamol as often as necessary or will it cause more harm than good?

What is paracetamol used for?

Paracetamol is generally used by children and adults alike. Pediatricians generally recommend paracetamol for children because it reduces not only fever but also joint pain that accompanies common colds. After taking the medication, it could provide children up to three hours of relief and take effect within two hours. The recommended dose of paracetamol for children from 2 months to 12 years is based on ideal body weight. It is 15 mg or up to a maximum of 1000 mg for people with lean body weight, every four to six hours, with no more than four doses in 24 hours.

For adults and children over 12 years, every four to six hours, the maximum daily oral dose of paracetamol is 1-2 tablets or 500-1000 mg. In addition, the maximum daily dose of 4000 mg (4 g) in any 24-hour period should not be exceeded.

Is taking paracetamol as safe as we think?

Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous just like any type of medication. All prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers have potential risks, especially when taken in high doses or for a prolonged period. And one of the main concerns for paracetamol is how excessive doses of analgesics can cause liver and kidney damage that can be fatal and hard to treat.

Paracetamol overdose is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States: it accounts for approximately 45% of all cases with a 30% mortality rate. Health authorities in Australia and New Zealand expressed concern about a large number of children, most of whom were 5 years old or younger, who developed acute liver failure following medication errors with paracetamol.

Long-term use of paracetamol can cause heart problems as well. The systematic review of 8 observational studies showed that four found a higher risk, ranging from 19-68%, of cardiovascular problems. According to another study, Higher doses of paracetamol were also associated with a heart attack and stroke. Learn more about recommended paracetamol doses.

In addition, the systematic review linked the long-term use of paracetamol with an increased risk of renal failure. Four studies revealed renal effects, while three found that increasing the dose of paracetamol results in poorer renal function. In all cases, the risk depended on the dose: the higher the dose, the greater the risk.

Avoid self-medication

Paracetamol is a safe and over-the-counter pain reliever when used properly and within the correct dose. However, it should be seen as a serious medicine and not as a sweet that you can take daily.

When it comes to using over-the-counter medications or any health-related issue, asking a doctor or pharmacist is still the safest solution. The best way to avoid any health risk is to obtain an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.

February 11, 2020 / by Leah Oliver / Health & Pharma, Medication / No Comments

Does Paracetamol Do You More Harm Than Good?

Paracetamol is a fever reducer and a pain reliever medicine. The exact mechanism of action is unknown. Paracetamol is used to treat several conditions such as headache, arthritis, muscle aches, toothache, back pain, colds, and fevers. It also relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the original inflammation as well as swelling of the joint. Paracetamol can be used for many other purposes not listed in this prescription guide. Learn more about uses of paracetamol.

Important Information

There are several forms and brands of paracetamol available now and not all brands are listed in this booklet. An overdose of paracetamol can cause serious damage, so don’t use more of this medication than recommended. The maximum amount of paracetamol for adults is 1000 mg per dose and 4000 mg daily. Taking more paracetamol could damage your liver and kidney. Talk to your doctor before taking paracetamol If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day and never use more than 2000 mg per day.

Before Taking Paracetamol

If you are allergic to acetaminophen or paracetamol, do not use this medication. Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to take paracetamol if you have “liver disease” or “a history of alcoholism”. It is unknown whether paracetamol can harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant, tell your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication. This medicine can pass into breast milk, as well as may harm a nursing baby. If you are breast-feeding a baby, do not use paracetamol without telling your doctor.

What Happens If I Miss a Dose?

You may not have a dosing schedule since paracetamol is generally used only when necessary. If you use the medicine on a regular basis, use the missed dose as soon as you consider it. Skip the missed dose and use the next dose as directed if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose. Don’t use additional medications to make up for the forgotten dose.

What Happens If I Overdose?

If you think you have used too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention. The first signs of an overdose of paracetamol include loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, sweating and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms can include upper stomach pain, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. Click here for overdose effect of paracetamol.

What Should I Avoid?

Do not use any other over-the-counter medicine for cough, cold, allergy or pain without first consulting your doctor. Paracetamol is generally contained in several combination medicines. When you use certain products at the same time, you can accidentally use too much paracetamol. Check the label of any other medications you use to see if it contains paracetamol. While taking paracetamol, always avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol can enhance your risk of liver and kidney damage while taking this medication.

Do not use this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you have had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to use paracetamol for this. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease or a history of alcoholism before using paracetamol.

January 28, 2020 / by Leah Oliver / Health & Pharma, Medication / No Comments

Safe Use of Paracetamol in Children

Pain is common in various injuries and illnesses in children and after having an operation. Your child may need an analgesic medication like paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help reduce or control his pain. Paracetamol for children does not treat the reason for your child’s pain; the medication only relieves the sensation of pain.

It is essential to administer the right dose of medication to relieve pain. Provide the dose that is written on the bottle or package consistent with your child’s weight. Any baby or child who is not well or has moderate to severe pain must be seen by a doctor to detect the reason.

Signs That Your Child Has Pain

Several children can usually tell you that they have pain, though several children may not be able to tell you accurately where their pain is, click here for more information. Younger children can show you that they have pain by:

crying or screaming
grimacing
changes in your eating or sleep patterns
becoming quiet and withdrawn
Refusing to move or not be comfortable.

Care at Home

When you can’t relieve your child’s pain by comforting him and helping him relax, distracting him or giving a cold compress, providing him pain-relieving medications can help. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be used for mild to moderate pain in infants older than one month, children, adolescents, and adults. But if too much paracetamol is provided to a child for too long, it can injure the child. Ibuprofen should not be used in children under three months of age or given to children with bleeding disorders.

If they are under 12 years old, never give aspirin for the pain to your child, unless your doctor recommends it. It can cause a rare but serious illness. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can make your child’s pain less intense and help him feel more comfortable, but none of the medications will cause the cause of the pain to go away. Paracetamol can help your child sleep more easily if he has a painful condition, such as a sore throat, an ear infection, a stomach ache or a broken bone.

Giving Paracetamol

How Much to Give

Paracetamol comes in some different strengths: such as for babies, for young children and for older children. Paracetamol is produced and sold by several different companies, and various brands may have different names.

Always give the dose of paracetamol that is written on the package or bottle consistent with your child’s weight. If your baby is taking any other medication, verify that the medication does not contain paracetamol. Do not give paracetamol more if your child has taken another medication. Checkout https://www.eastrivervet.com/does-paracetamol-do-you-more-harm-than-good/ for does paracetamol do you more harm than good?

How Often Can It Be Given?

Paracetamol for children can be given every 4-6 hours, no more than 4 times in a day. You should take him to see a doctor if you need to give your child paracetamol for more than 48 hours.

Give Your Child Both Paracetamol and Ibuprofen

It is okay to alternate the administration of paracetamol and ibuprofen so that your child’s pain is well controlled, or even give both at the same time. If you do this, it may be easy to unintentionally administer too much medication. Keep a diary of when you administer each dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen so as not to give your child too much medication.