Health
Cold versus flu part 2. By Niki Medlock So how do we tell the difference?
Generally, for both the cold and flu, there is no cure, although anti-viral medication can shorten the duration and severity of the flu and prevent complications. Antibiotics do NOT work, as these diseases are not bacterial but viral.
disorders, such as leukaemia), this helps to create perfect conditions for opportunistic secondary viral or bacterial infections to take hold, ranging from ear and sinus infection to, last but not least, life threatening pneumonia! Also chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and lung or heart diseases, can become much worse due to this viral attack on the body – again possibly leading to life threatening conditions.
Treatment in both cases is usually rest and plenty of fluids with symptomatic over the counter medication such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for fever, sore throat, headache and muscle pain. If you are a healthy person then, whist it feels like you are dying at the time, your immune system can usually cope with this “viral onslaught” and eventually overcome it.
The best way to avoid infection by the flu virus is vaccination - when you are given a number of inactivated (dead) flu strains so that the body can create its own natural antibodies to fight the virus before it takes hold. Also keep your body in the best physical condition by eating healthily, exercising and getting enough sleep so it is able to fight off these infections.
But when there is a compromised immune system (as in the case of the very young, over 65s and patients with immune
If your symptoms continue to worsen or become severe then please see your doctor for advice and treatment.
quickly with mild symptoms whereas flu tends to come on suddenly and symptoms are more severe.
These are the symptoms that you can expect when you have a cold: a fever sometimes but generally mild; an occasional headache; slight aches and pains; occasional fatigue and weakness; a stuffy nose and sore throat are common and sneezing is usual; there’s also the chance of having a mild, hacking cough. When you have a flu the symptoms can include: a fever above 38 C which can last for three to four days; a headache is common; aches and pains can be severe; fatigue and weakness are usual and can last up to two to three weeks; extreme exhaustion is also usual particularly at the beginning of the illness. Sometimes you can sneeze, get a stuffy nose and sore throat and chest discomfort and a cough is common and can become severe. Colds usually develop slowly and resolve
Cardio Polumonary Resuscitation (CPR) - part 2 By John Clifford Compression only CPR Having checked the scene is safe, established that the casualty is not breathing and called 112 to activate the emergency services, you should begin cardio pulmonary resuscitation - that is doing chest compressions, which will force the blood to flow out of the heart. • •
Make sure that the patient is lying flat on their back The patient should be on a firm surface, so if in a bed, you must put them on the floor to make sure you are providing
effective chest compressions • Open or remove any heavy clothing such as coats, or jackets with zips. • Kneel at the patient’s side and trace a line between the 2 nipples and place the heel of one hand in the centre, over the breast bone. • Place the other hand over your first hand and interlock your fingers • Start to press down about 5 cms. • You need to press down about 100 – 120 times per minute • Keep your arms straight and your shoulders over the patient’s chest • Make sure you allow the chest to recoil
after each compression • If someone else is available, let them take over giving chest compressions every 2 minutes. • Keep giving compressions as long as you are able or until the emergency services arrive and take over, or the casualty starts breathing themselves. Infant CPR is different and will be covered next month. Our next course is planned for March/April next year. If you are interested in attending please email firstresponder@sapo.pt
Dementia awareness in the Algarve By Mkhululi Mpofu An increase in life expectancy caused by the improvement in healthcare provision in the developed world has directly led to a gradual increase in the older adult population. Unfortunately, so has dementia, a debilitating and degenerative disease. It is important to bring awareness about dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, as many people still believe it is an expected development in old age. Although dementia is considered as a disease that mainly affects older people it is
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not exclusively found in older people. At Mais Vida Healthcare we recognise that dementia sufferers experience the condition uniquely and differently from the next person and which is why we aim to practice person-centred care. The approach considers the individual as a whole rather than a set of symptoms they may be going through. Mais Vida provides domiciliary care services around the Algarve region where we assist people in their homes. We also help people suffering from depression, anxiety crisis and
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home treatment service. At Mais Vida healthcare we believe in getting fully involved in the community through participation which is why together with Tomorrow Algarve we plan to have a dementia talk early next year for all to attend. We also invite readers to suggest mental health promotion strategies that we can all engage in across the Algarve. Mais Vida Healthcare is based in Lagos admin@maisvidacare.com www.maisvidacare.com