Indigestion
This common eating -related condition involves pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Typical triggers are overeating, eating too fast, spicy or fatty foods, smoking, alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, painkillers or other medications and stress or anxiety.
(see also Heartburn on previous.)
Medications
A stomachache usually goes away in an hour or two.
When to call the doctor
While annoying and painful, insect and spider bites and bee stings are usually harmless. But in susceptible people, stings can provoke an allergic reaction so severe that the person goes into extreme, life-threatening shock.
Medications
When to call the doctor
Medications
- Your doctor may prescribe medication if there's a problem with the digestive squeezing action of the stomach.
- Antacids are not recommended, because excess stomach acid does not usually cause indigestion, or result from it.
- Most indigestion can be solved by eating sensibly and slowly, staying away from known triggers and
- taking time to relax.
- Drinking camomile or fresh ginger tea may help settle your stomach.
- Walking after eating is good for the digestive process. Don't exercise vigorously, however, until 3 hours after a heavy metal.
A stomachache usually goes away in an hour or two.
When to call the doctor
- If a stomachache lasts longer than 6 hours or you have frequent digestion.
- If you have vomiting a change in bowel movements, weight loss or appetite loss.
- If you suspect medication is causing the indigestion.
- If indigestion is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating or pain radiating to the jaw, neck or arm. This could be a heart attack.
While annoying and painful, insect and spider bites and bee stings are usually harmless. But in susceptible people, stings can provoke an allergic reaction so severe that the person goes into extreme, life-threatening shock.
Medications
- Nonprescription anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, can help relieve pain.
- To reduce pain and itching, use an ointment with a combination of an antihistamine, analgesic and corticosteroid or a spray containing a topical analgesic (Stingose).
- If you've had an allergic reaction before, carry an emergency kit (a syringe with adrenaline, Epipen) whenever you are outdoors.
Self help strategies
- Remove a bee stinger at once by scraping it out with a clean, sharp blade, a credit card or long fingermail (don't pull the stinger, as that releases more venom). wash the area with soap and water.
- Run the sting or bite under cold water or apply an ice pack to it.
- Apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda, crushed aspirin and water to relieve the pain.
Swelling usually susbidies within 48 hours; ithcing may need to be treated over a somewhat longer peroid.
When to call the doctor
- If there's any unusual reaction (such as trouble breathing or swallowing), call 000 (Australia) or 111 (New Zealand) or go to a hospital emergency room immediately.
- If localised redness or swelling doesn't subside within 72 hours or if a fever develops.
Motion sickness
Uncomfortable, and sometimes debilitating, motion sickness is the loss of equilibrium that results from riding in cars, boats, planes or on amusement park rides. Dizziness, headache, nausea and sometimes vomiting result.
Medications
The best treatment comes before you travel.
The best treatment comes before you travel.
- Nonprescription antihistamines such as promethazine (Avomine, Phenergan), dimen-hydrinate (Dramamine) and the antivertigo agent pro-chlorperazine (Stemetil) relieve symptoms of motion sickness; take them 30 to 60 minutes before travelling.
- A sedative or transquilliser may help air sickness.
- Your doctor may prescribe the antinausea drug scopolamine, which is delivered by a patch behind your ear; it lasts 72 hours.
- Special acupressure wrist bands that apply pressure to the inside of the wrist reduce symptoms in some people.
- Ginger tablets or capsules may prevent or relieve nausea. you can also try drinking fresh ginger tea.
- To maintain your equilibrium in a car or on a boat, focus on the horizon or some fixed, distant point.
- In a plane or car, lean back, relax and don't read.
- Before travel, eat only small amounts and avoid alcohol.
- Don't sit in smoky spaces.
- Dry biscuits and a non-carbonated drink can help settle your stomach.
Some people adapt to the motion, others feel sick for as long as the trip lasts.
When to call the doctor
- If you're often bothered by motion sickness, get advice on prevention.
Mouth Ulcers
These tiny, craterlike, and painful lesions usually appear on the tongue or inside the lips or cheeks. They can be triggered by irritation--as well as by emotional stress and hormonal changes.
Medications
- For pain, apply an ice cube, rinse your mouth with salt water, use an oral anaesthetic with benzocaine or take a pain reliever.
- To aid healing, dab ulcers with a solution of 1 part hyrogen peroixide and 1 part water, or apply a liquid bandage (there are several brands).
- For severe ulcers, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory steroid gel, oral drops with nystatin or a tetra-cylcine antibiotic mouthwash.
- Avoid acidic, spicy or other foods that can irritate the tissues of the mouth.
- Brush your teeth after every meal, floss daily and get regular professional cleanings.
- Reduce stress.
Duration of treatment
Mouth ulcers usually heal in 5 to 15 days.
When to call the doctor
- If ulcers cause severe pain or persist for longer than two weeks or so.
- If ulcers recur frequently which may signal an allergic reaction, poor immune function or a vitmain deficiency.
- If you have a fever of more than 38.5 degrees C or swollen glands.
Sore throat
The scratchy, burning sensation and redness of a sore throat is most often caused by a cold or flu virus. It may also be the result of a bacterial infection (most commonly 'strep throat'), which must be treated with antibiotics.
Medications
- To ease sore throat discomfort, take a painkiller.
- If a bacterial infection is suspected, your doctor will take a culture, and if it's strep, prescribe an antibiotic such as penicillin or erythromycin.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially hot or very cold drinks.
- Gargle with a solution made by mixing 1/2 teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water.
- Suck on a lozenge or hard lolly, or chew sugarless gum, to stimulate saliva.
- Avoid tobacco smoke and don't drink any alcohol.
- Rest your voice at every opportunity.
Duration of treatment
Most viral infections clear up in a few days or a week. For strep throat, be sure to take the antibiotic for the prescribed time (10 days, usually), even if your symptoms have subsided.
When to call the doctor
Most viral infections clear up in a few days or a week. For strep throat, be sure to take the antibiotic for the prescribed time (10 days, usually), even if your symptoms have subsided.
When to call the doctor
- If the sore throat is severe and you have a fever that is over 38.5 degrees C.
- If any kind of throat discomfort lasts more than two weeks.
- Seek emergency care immediately if you have trouble swallowing liquids or difficulty breathing.
Toenail fungus
The fungus may first appear as a small white or yellow spot on a nail. Eventually the nail becomes dry, thickened or discoloured, and there may be scaliness and the surrounding skin.
Medications
See your doctor at the first sign of infection: a lab culture helps determine the best treatment.- Amorolfine, sold as Loceryl Nail Lacquer, may be applied for up to 48 weeks.
- Oral antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil) are usually effective, but have to be taken over three to four months.
- The best defence is prevention: follow the self-help strategies for Athlete's foot (see on previous). In addition:
- Don't share socks, shoes, nail clippers or nail files with other people.
- Use shower shoes or sandals in spas or pool areas used by others.
- Don't attempt to dig out an ingrown toenail.
- Disinfect pedicure tools with alcohol after every use, and air-dry for 1 1/2 hours.
Duration of treatment
When to call the doctor
These benign skin growths are caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV). They usually appear on hands and fingers, but also can grow on the bottoms of the feet (plantar warts), where they can be painful. As people grow older, they usually develop an immunity to the virus.
Even if treatment is effective, infection may recur and will need to be treated again.
When to call the doctor
- If you have an ingrown toenail, or any portion of a toenail has become discoloured or abnormally thick.
- If any problem with your feet makes walking painful.
These benign skin growths are caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV). They usually appear on hands and fingers, but also can grow on the bottoms of the feet (plantar warts), where they can be painful. As people grow older, they usually develop an immunity to the virus.
Medications
- Try a nonprescription sali-cylic acid treatment to remove a wart; just be sure to protect the surrounding skin with a smear of petroleum jelly or a corn pad.
- Your doctor may recommend seeing a dermatologist to remove bothersome or painful warts. Methods include: freezing with liquid nitrogen, burning off with a laser, cutting off with a scalpel or electrosurgery.
Self-help strategies
- One popular remedy is to tape a wart with waterproof or silver duct tape. Leave it on for a week and remove; repeat until the wart disappears.
- With salicylic acid, it can take many weeks before you see results.
- Even when warts go away, they may recur.
When to call the doctor
- If you or your sexual partner have warts around the genital/anal area.
- If you have warts on your face.
- If you are over age 45 and develop a wart, or if you have a weakened immune system and develop any unusual skin growth.
Yeast infection
Most women, at some point, will experience the itching and burning of a yeast infection, which is an overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus that normally lives in the vagina. Anything that upsets the balance of vaginal organisms--taking antibiotics or steroid medications, pregnancy, a weakend immune system, fatigue or stress or poor hygiene--can trigger a yeast infection.
Medications
- Treatment with a nonprescription anti-yeast preparation inserted into the vagina is usually effective, but only if you actually have a yeast infection and not another form of vaginitis. See your doctor if nonprescription drugs don't help.
- An antifungal pill called ketoconazole (Nizoral) is now prescribed if topical treatments fail.
Self-help strategies
- Do not douche or use feminine sprays.
- Wear 'breathable' underwear, and avoid wearing tight pants or sitting in a wet bathing suit.
Duration of treatment
Vaginal medications are taken over several days; a ketoconazole pill usually clears symptoms in 24 to 48 hours, but needs to be continued to prevent recurrences.
When to call the doctor
- If you are pregnant and have symptoms of vaginal infection.
- If you have recurring vaginal infections.
- If your 'yeast infection' does not respond to a nonprescription antifungal medication in three to four days.
- If you develop any abdominal pain or a fever higher than 38.5 degrees C.
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