Asthma
What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system. Its chief feature is
difficult breathing, often accompanied by a wheezing or whistling sound
during exhalation. Asthma attacks occur at varying intervals, and the
seriousness of the attacks can vary. Between attacks, asthmatics are
usually completely free of respiratory symptoms.
What happens during an
asthmatic attack?
During an asthmatic attack, the muscles of the smaller bronchi and lungs
go into a spasm. The airways narrow and it is more difficult for air
to get in and out of the lungs. The lining of the airways becomes congested
and swollen and secretes excess mucus, which adds to the breathing problem.
What causes an asthmatic
attack?
An asthma attack may be caused by many different things including allergies,
respiratory infections, and behavioral and environmental factors.
When allergic asthma occurs mostly in the spring and summer, usually
pollen or mold is the cause. When it does not follow a seasonal pattern,
it is usually caused by dust, animal dander, food, or drugs.
Respiratory infections are responsible for some asthmatic attacks. This
usually occurs in the winter when the largest number of respiratory
infections occurs.
Behavioral and environmental factors account for about one-third of
all asthmatic attacks. The factors include emotional stress, physical
activity, smoking or smoky rooms, and vapors from cleaning products,
paint, hair spray, and scents and perfumes.
How can an asthmatic
attack be prevented?
Asthmatic attacks can be reduced with medication and desensitization
injections, but it is more important to prevent the attacks. Some preventive
measures are:
1. If you are allergic to animal dander, pets should be removed
from the home. Get rid of feather or down pillows, mattresses, and
bed covers.
2. If dust triggers your asthma, make your home as dust free as possible.
Use smooth, not fuzzy, bed dressings and change bed linens frequently,
use plastic covers on the mattress and pillows.
3. If pollen triggers an asthma attack, use an air conditioner with
a filter for the bedroom or the entire house. In many cases,
desensitization injections are necessary.
4. If a particular food is the cause, it should not be eaten.
5. Some drugs trigger asthmatic attacks. The most common
triggers are aspirin and aspirin-containing compounds. Don't
take any medicine without telling your doctor.
6. Know how to use prescribed asthma medication, especially inhalers,
and use exactly as directed.
When should a doctor
be called?
A doctor should be notified if:
You need to increase a medication.
You have a respiratory infection.
Your temperature is more than 100 degrees.
You have chest pain or shortness of breath without
coughing or exercising.
You have persistent coughing.
What should be done if
a severe attack develops?
If a severe attack develops, you must get medical help immediately,
go to an emergency room, or call 911 for emergency transportation to
a hospital.
Common
Cold
The common cold is a contagious viral infection of the head and chest.
The nose, throat, sinuses, ears, eustachian tubes, trachea, larynx,
and bronchial tubes may be involved. There are over 200 viruses that
cause the common cold. Cold viruses are spread through the air from
coughing or sneezing or from person-to-person contact, especially handshaking.
Symptoms include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore Throat
- Hoarseness
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Watering Eyes
- Appetite Loss
Treatment:
• Avoid strenuous physical activity and get plenty of rest.
• Drink extra fluids, including water, fruit juice, tea, and carbonated
beverages.
• Use home-made nose drops for nasal congestion (1 teaspoon salt
to 1 quart of water).
• Use a cool-mist humidifier.
• Use non prescription medicine to relieve symptoms, acetaminophen
(Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), decongestants (Sudafed), cough remedies,
and throat lozenges.
Neither antibiotics nor nonprescription medicines will cure the common
cold.
Call the Student Health Center if you have any of these symptoms:
• Temperature of 101° F
• Shaking chills
• Skin rash
• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Earache or headache
• Pain in the teeth or sinuses
• Unusual fatigue
• White or yellow spots on tonsils or throat
• Severe cough, or a cough that lasts more than 10 days
First
Aid for Strains and Sprains
If you suffer a strain or sprain injury, think R-I-C-E (Rest,
Ice, Compress, Elevate):
REST. Stop using the injured part. The use of slings,
splints and crutches may be helpful.
ICE. Apply ice as soon as possible to ease pain and slow
internal bleeding and swelling. Never apply ice directly to the skin;
place a towel between the ice bag and skin.
COMPRESS. Wrap an elastic bandage (ACE) around the injured
limb to help control swelling. The bandage should be snug but not tight.
Remove ACE bandage while sleeping.
ELEVATE. Elevate an injured limb whenever possible to
decrease swelling and lessen pain. Pillows can be used.
Call the Student Health Center if you have:
- Loss of movement
- Severe pain or pain that lasts more than 24 hours
- No reduction in swelling after 24 hours
Influenza
Influenza is a serious virus disease affecting the ears, nose, throat,
sinuses, bronchial tubes, and lung tissue. Influenza has no specific
treatment. No antibiotic or medication will kill the virus which causes
the flu. Medicines prescribed are to help make you more comfortable
and to prevent complications.
Influenza starts suddenly with symptoms that may include: fever over
100.5 F degrees, weakness, a dry cough, aches and pains, headache, sore
eyes, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, congestion, and burning pain
in the chest.
Acute symptoms usually last two or three days . . . it may take five
or ten days for all symptoms to resolve. Weakness, sweating, and fatigue
may last for weeks. Last year's flu vaccination will not protect you
from this year's outbreak.
Self-Treatment
- Rest 24-48 hours after temperature returns to normal.
- Drink fluids. Avoid milk, dairy products, and cold drinks. Hot drinks
may help break up congestion.
- Keep warm and dry.
- Use a non aspirin pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
(Advil or Tylenol).
DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN
Patients complaining of body aches associated with flu symptoms of
fever, dry cough, fatigue and nasal congestion may benefit from alternating
doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). Patients may
take three 200 mg Advil tablets alternating the dose every three hours
with two Extra Strength or regular Tylenol tablets resulting in six
hours between like doses of medication.
Contraindications to taking Advil include allergies to aspirin and non
steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), asthma, peptic ulcer disease
or history of GI bleeding and chronic renal disease. (Examples of NSAIDs:
Toradol, Ansaid, Medipren, Midol-200, Motrin, Motrin IB, Nuprin, Indocin,
Anaprox/Naprosyn, Butazolidin, Feldene, Tolectin)
Take pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) 2 tablets every 4-6 hours (no more than
4 doses in 24 hrs) as needed for nasal/sinus congestion.
Take Guiatuss DM (Robitussin) 2 teaspoons every 4 hours (no more that
12 teaspoons in 24 hours) as needed for cough.
Notify the Health Center is any of the following happens:
• Temperature over 103 F degrees
• Shortness of breath, chest pain, or blood-tinged sputum
• Change in color under fingernails and toenails to dusky blue
or purple
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, sinuses, or ears
Pink
Eye (Conjunctivitis)
What is Conjunctivitis?
There are two main types of conjunctivitis, acute bacterial conjunctivitis
and viral conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis has a duration of 10-14 days.
What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis?
The symptoms of conjunctivitis include:
1. Itching and burning eyes
2. Copious tearing
3. Sensation of foreign body in eye
4. Mucopurulent drainage
5. Enlargement of lymph nodes in front of ear
6. Eyes very sensitive to light
What should I do?
In general you should wash your hands frequently. Do not rub your
eyes, as this will aggravate your condition. Do not share washcloths
or pillows. Use a clean washcloth. Change your pillowcase
daily. Do not wear contact lens. Discard your eye make-up,
because it is probably contaminated. Resume wearing eye make-up
only after the conjunctivitis has resolved.
Go to the Student Health Center for an evaluation. If you are
prescribed eye drops, do not share them. To instill the eye drops,
depress the lower lid to form a sac. Instill drops into the lower
part of the eye nearest the nose. Avoid touching the bottle tip
to the eye.
Sinus
Infection
Sinus Infection vs. the Common Cold
Common Cold
1. Lasts 7-10 days and clears up on its own.
2. Nasal congestion responds well to over-the-counter decongestants.
Sinus Infection
1. Lasts more than 7-10 days.
2. At least three of the following symptoms are present:
• Nasal congestion with poor response to over-the-counter
decongestants
• Fever
• Malaise
• Cough
• Toothache
• Headache
• Facial pain that is worse when you lower your
head
What should you do?
At the first signs of cold or congestion:
- Drink lots of fluid--10-12 glasses a day. This helps to thin secretions
and makes it easier for you to get rid of them.
- If stuffiness is your only symptom, use a decongestant such as Sudafed.
This will not cause drowsiness. Take only the recommended dosage or
it may cause insomnia.
- If headache or facial pain is a problem, take Tylenol or Advil. Be
sure to take Advil with food.
- If you have allergies, take an antihistamine. (It decreases the releases
of histamine, which can contribute to sinus inflammation). If you have
sinusitis and do not have allergies, antihistamines can dry out the
sinuses and prevent them from draining properly.
- If you have a cough, use an expectorant-suppressant such as Robitussin.
When should I see the doctor?
If symptoms last beyond 1-2 weeks or if you have three or more symptoms
listed under sinus infection, see your doctor.
What are your sinuses?
The sinuses are a labyrinth of air pockets throughout the bones
of the face--two pockets in the forehead, one at the back of the nose,
one between each eye and the nose, and one in each cheek. They produce
secretions that wash away dust particles, bacteria, and other pollutants
from the air we breathe. When the mucous lining of these sinuses becomes
inflamed, you’re going to suffer.
Is it a cold or a sinus infection? A recent study found that nearly
90 percent of cold sufferers have some sinus inflammation caused by
a viral infection. But with a cold, the inflammation generally clears
up on its own; with a sinus infection, it won’t.
Urinary
Tract Infection
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
A urinary tract infection is caused by an invasion of bacteria in the
urethra and bladder, usually from the rectum or genital area including
the vagina.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
The symptoms may include:
- strong urge to urinate
- burning or discomfort with urinating
- sensation of incomplete voiding
- lower abdominal pain or discomfort
- fever
- cloudy urine
- urine with a strong odor
How can I prevent UTI?
The preventive measures include:
• Drink 8 glasses or more of fluids a day to dilute and flush out
bacteria.
• Urinate often. Waiting too long can cause bacteria to multiply.
• Practice careful hygiene. Always wipe front to back.
• Empty bladder before and after intercourse.
• Wear cotton underwear. Cotton breathes and allows air to circulate.
• Take Vitamin C. This acidifies the urine making it more difficult
for bacteria to grow.
What is the treatment for UTI?
If a laboratory inspection of the urine shows evidence of infection,
the doctor will prescribe a medication. Even though the symptoms may
soon disappear, it is very important to take the entire course of medication.
Return to the Student Health Center for a follow-up urinalysis 1 week
after completing the prescribed medicine.
If symptoms do not improve while taking the prescribed medication, contact
the Student Health Center.
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