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Tag: eating out

Choking

First Aid: Choking/ Blocked Airway by Famhealth

Choking is a blockage of the upper airway/throat by food or other objects, which prevents a person from breathing effectively. Choking can cause a simple coughing fit, but complete blockage of the airway may lead to death.

Choking is a true medical emergency that requires fast, appropriate action by anyone available. Emergency medical teams may not arrive in time to save a choking person’s life.

In adults, choking most often occurs when food is not chewed properly. Talking or laughing while eating may cause a piece of food to “go down the wrong pipe.” Normal swallowing mechanisms may be slowed if a person has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs, and if the person has certain illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease.

Choking Symptoms

If an adult is choking, you may observe the following behaviours:

  • Coughing or gagging
  • Hand signals and panic (sometimes pointing to the throat)
  • Sudden inability to talk
  • Clutching the throat: The natural response to choking is to grab the throat with one or both hands. This is the universal choking sign and a way of telling people around you that you are choking.
  • Wheezing
  • Passing out
  • Turning blue: Cyanosis, a blue colouring to the skin, can be seen earliest around the face, lips, and fingernail beds. You may see this, but other critical choking signs would appear first.
  • If an infant is choking, more attention must be paid to an infant’s behaviour. They cannot be taught the universal choking sign.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Weak cry, weak cough, or both

How to help someone who is choking?

Do not hesitate to call for emergency help if you believe a person is choking. Do not attempt to drive a choking person to a hospital emergency department.

What to do if a person is choking:

  • It is best not to do anything if the person is coughing forcefully and not turning a bluish colour. Ask, “Are you choking?” If the person is able to answer you by speaking, it is a partial airway obstruction. Stay with the person and encourage him or her to cough until the obstruction is cleared.
  • Do not give the person anything to drink because fluids may take up space needed for the passage of air
  • If the material is not yet removed, then follow Heimlich manever.

Heimlich maneuver steps

  • Comfort the victim. A person will start to panic when they are choking. Go to the victim and reassure them that you know the Heimlich manure and begin assistance. Let the sufferer know that he must remain calm, and should follow your instructions. Then get working!! 
  • Have the choking victim stand. For the Heimlich maneuver to work successfully, the choking victim must be up on their feet. If the victim is unstable or panicking you can help support them
  • Get behind the person who is choking. For the next phase of the Heimlich maneuver you need to put yourself in the right position. Get behind the person who is choking. 
  • Carefully hug the choking victim. Place your hands around the victim’s chest when you are standing behind the victim. The victim’s arms should be up and away from yours. You have to get a good hold on the person’s trunk. 
  • Close your hand in a fist. As you are hugging from behind, put your hand exactly in the middle of the person’s chest in the form of a fist. Do not tuck your thumb into your hand; it needs to be on the outside, pointed up. Place your fist above the area of the navel (belly button). There is no time to be modest and it may be required that any heavy clothing worn by the victim be removed to find the proper first placement. Whatever needs to be done in order to keep the victim from choking to death must be done. 
  • Take a hold of your fist. Create the perfect circle when you grab your fist with your free hand. Do not release your grip on your fist. 
  • Begin to thrust. Hold your arms closely; with the one hand still closed tight, push inward and up in one motion. You need to thrust hard on the victim’s abdomen. To dislodge the object blocking the victim’s airways, do the strong fisted thrust five times squeezing stronger each time. A firm thrust will also bring air from the person’s airways, making them cough. To do it right, you have to go deep, although it may hurt the victim. Don’t let this worry you! He will always be thankful for your forceful methods when he can breathe once again. Keep doing this until the item they were choking on is expelled. 

  
Through out the Heimlich maneuver, it is vital to keep a good hold of the victim in case becomes unconscious. If the maneuver is successful, sit the victim down again and don’t leave him until his breathing gets back to normal.
 

To read more on First Aid, click on the link below.

https://famhealth.in/infocus-detail/first-aid

FOOD INDISCIPLINE

The Importance And Essentials
Of Healthy Diet

Good nutrition is extremely important as it is the fuel that
keeps the body healthy. Good food discipline includes not just eating the
right kind of food but also at the right time. It also includes good
habits with regard to buying, cleaning and storing food, correct
preparation of food to maximize the health benefits. A big part of
food discipline is avoiding foods that harm the body, like preserved
foods which have added salt and preservatives. Avoiding addicting
substances like alcohol is also a part of good food discipline.

FOOD INDISCIPLINE

Why is it important to have a healthy diet?

  • A well balanced diet can help in preventing obesity, reduce diseases like arthritis, heart diseases, type two diabetes, certain cancers and also prevent mood swings.
  • Our diet also provides certain vital nutrients likevitamins and minerals which are required in small quantities for good health.Lack of minerals like iron can cause anaemia. Lack of vitamins can cause diseases like night blindness, weakness of bones, bleeding problems and nerve pains.

What are the essentials of a good diet?

  • A good diet should provide energy in the form of calories. These depend on lifestyle and gender. Most women need between 1500-2000 Kcal per day and men might require 2500-3500 Kcal per day.
  • A well balanced diet should consist of protein (meat, eggs, legumes), carbohydrates (bread, cereal, potato), fats (oils, butter) as well as minerals (milk, meat, green leafy vegetables), vitamins (fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs) and water.

How can I prevent food indiscipline?

Keeping in mind some simple lifestyle habits can help in avoiding food indiscipline.

  • Avoid temptation- Avoid keeping junk food like chips and colas at home. That way, even if temptation strikes, you’ll be forced to choose healthier options like fresh fruits and salads.
  • Stock up on fresh produce and cook from scratch at home- Making food from scratch at home and carrying the same as lunch to office or school helps to develop the taste of fresh food. It is also healthier as you can avoid harmful preservatives in tinned and canned foods, like nitrates and excess salt.
  • Keep water at hand- Many a time, we mistake thirst for hunger pangs or food cravings. Keeping a glass of water handy can help us remember to keep sipping through the day.
  • Avoid excess dieting- Many people indulge in crash dieting or avoid food groups. This can be unhealthy in the long run. It’s best to have a balanced diet with all food groups in moderation. One can avoid fried foods and keep a check on portion sizes to control weight.
  • Healthy plating- A healthy plate should have protein like meat, fish, eggs or pulses on one fourth, one fourth should have whole grains and the balance should have healthy salads with low calorie dressings like olive oil or lemon.
  • Keep one meal as a cheat meal every week- This helps to prevent bingeing through the week.
  • Shop healthy- It’s always better to avoid food shopping if you’re hungry- you’ll be more likely to buy unhealthy foods. Plan your meals in advance, make a grocery list and shop accordingly. This way you’ll always have the ingredients for healthy meals at hand and there will be enough variety to avoid boredom
  • Use technology- There are many smart devices that can help to make food tastier and healthier. From air fryers to popcorn makers, technology can help in preparing healthy, delicious meals.
  • Indulge in healthy snacking- The urge to snack between meals is commonly seen in children. Keep carrot sticks, fruits and popcorn along with lemonade ready to avoid unhealthy snacking.
  • Eating out- To avoid bingeing at parties and while eating out, have a light snack, like soup or a salad, before attending the event. Opt for roasted and grilled food along with healthy salads and choose fruits for dessert.
  • Correct storage of food is also important. It’s always advisable to refrigerate perishables like milk, eggs and freeze meats as these can otherwise transmit bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Source

https://www.webmd.com/children/kids-healthy-eating-habits

https://www.livestrong.com/article/545644-self-discipline-in-eating-and-exercising

https://www.medscape.com