selfcareguide.readsh101.comSelf-care Guide - Self-Care Guide

CampusWell CCH Frontpage CampusWellMobile App Contest winners Email registration Enter to win this month’s drawing Faculty email registration Monthly archive Self-care Guide Supporters email registration Terms and conditions Addictions Body Bonemuscle conditions Coronavirus Digestive and Abdominal Conditions Emergencies and injuries Exercise Eye conditions Headaches Learn Mental health Mononucleosis Move Physical Health Primary Respiratory conditions Sexual health Skin conditions Sleep Staying healthy Urinary conditions Women's health Select Page Self-care Guide A quick reference for common health questions and emergencies facing students today. Keep this handy! You’ll be able to use this site on multiple occasions throughout the school year as a reference for common questions you and your friends may have about ailments, emergencies, addictions, etc. It has been written for students by a staff of multi-disciplined, board-certified physicians who practice medicine throughout the United States. Also look for the CampusWell magazine, the monthly publication dedicated to improving the health and wellness of students. Your school is distributing this information to its students to inform them about health issues. Your school is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed in this publication. This health guide is for your information only. Part of maintaining your health is knowing when to seek professional guidance. The staff of physicians who wrote this guide researched and compiled it with the utmost care; however, it is no substitute for a diagnosis and treatment plan obtained via consultation with a qualified professional medical provider. Each individual has a unique history, environment and body. This site provides high quality general guidance, but is tailored to a broad audience. If your provider’s advice conflicts with information in this publication, always follow your provider’s recommendations. 7 Search for: EMERGENCIESINJURIES Bleeding (Severe) Blood Under the Nail Bruises Burns Chest Pain / Heart Attack Choking Cuts and Scrapes Fever Frostbite Heat Stroke / Exhaustion Nosebleeds Stings and Bites ADDICTIONS Smoking / Vaping Alcohol Abuse Gambling Addiction Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction BONEMUSCLE CONDITIONS Back Pain Strains, Sprains and Fractures DIGESTIVEABDOMINAL CONDITIONS Abdominal Pain Constipation Dehydration Diarrhea Heartburn Hemorrhoids Nausea and Vomiting EYE CONDITIONS Eye Injuries Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) EXERCISE Exercise HEADACHES Tension Headaches Migraine Headaches MENTAL HEALTH Depression Anxiety Eating Disorders MONONUCLEOSIS Mononucleosis RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS Allergic Rhinitis (Allergies / Hay Fever) Colds Flu (Influenza) Laryngitis (Hoarse Voice) Shortness of Breath Sinusitis SEXUAL HEALTH Contraception Infertility Sexual Assault Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s or STD’s) SKIN CONDITIONS Acne Blisters Canker Sores Cold Sores Hives Ingrown Toenails Lice Poison Oak / Ivy / Sumac Scabies Sunburn SLEEP Sleep URINARY CONDITIONS Urinary Tract / Bladder Infections WOMEN’S HEALTH Breast Cancer Pap Smears and Pelvic Exams Pelvic Pain Pregnancy Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Uterine Bleeding Vaginal Infections (Vaginitis) BROWSE TOPICS: EmergenciesInjuries It is a good idea to have a first aid guide on hand. Here’s one from the American Red Cross . The American Red Cross also publishes First Aid phone apps . Stings and Bites Jump to: Animal Bites | Insect Bites and Stings | Tick Bites Animal Bites Dogs and cats are the most common perpetrators of animal bites. Bites from wild animals that may carry rabies, such as skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes, are less common, but... Nosebleeds Nose bleeds generally respond well to home treatment. The most common causes are nasal trauma, nose picking, cold and allergies, dry air, and medications. Prevention Humidify your room/home if you live in a dry climate, especially during dry winter months. Spray nasal... Heat Stroke / Exhaustion Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that strikes when your body’s cooling mechanism fails. Signs of heat stroke include a very high body temperature; hot, dry skin; the absence of sweating, and confusion or loss of consciousness. Heat exhaustion is... Frostbite Frostbite is a freezing of the skin or underlying tissue that occurs as a result of exposure to cold temperatures. It can occur quickly in very cold weather or in conditions where wind chill speeds up body heat loss. Frostbite generally affects the toes, feet,... Fever A fever is a body temperature greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C) when taken by mouth. It is a symptom, but not a disease. A fever is usually a sign that your body is fighting infection, most often a viral infection. Most healthy adults tolerate fever without any long-term... Cuts and Scrapes CUTS A cut, or laceration, occurs when the skin is sliced open. Home Care Assess the degree of bleeding Attempt to stop the bleeding To stop minor bleeding: Apply direct pressure over the wound for ten to 15 minutes. Wash the cut well with soap and water once the... Choking Choking occurs when an object (usually food) blocks the flow of air through the windpipe. Someone who is choking cannot talk, cough, or breathe. They typically signal this by clutching their hands to their throat.. The victim may turn blue and/or lose consciousness.... Chest Pain / Heart Attack Chest pain is a symptom of a variety of medical conditions, including cardiac conditions, muscle strain (usually from coughing or sneezing), indigestion, pneumonia, or rib injuries. Chest pain from a heart attack is usually felt as a crushing or squeezing sensation.... Burns Heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation can cause burns. A burn is classified by its depth. A first-degree burn, such as mild sunburn, affects only the outer skin layer, and causes it to become dry, red, and painful without blistering. Long-term tissue damage is... Bruises Bruises, or contusions, are caused by direct trauma to the small blood vessels under the skin. Bleeding in these tissues causes the black and blue coloration of a bruise. Treatment Home Care Apply ice or cold packs to the area for 15 to 20 minutes,... Blood Under the Nail Bleeding under a nail after any injury to a finger or toe can be very painful. Common causes are single traumas, such as shutting a finger in a door, and repetitive trauma such as toes pounding the front of overly tight shoes or cleats. Trauma to the tissue under the... Bleeding (severe) Severe lacerations, or cuts, can cause severe or brisk bleeding, especially if an artery is involved. Professional Care Call 911 immediately. Promptly have the victim lie down. Elevate the site that is bleeding and apply firm, direct pressure to the site... Addictions According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction Drug abuse is the use of a substance, be it a street” or prescription drug, to get high or gain pleasure or benefit. This is distinct from a usual prescription plan formed with a medical provider, which involves taking a specified dose of a medicine on a... Gambling Addiction Some people enjoy gambling as...