Smokeless Tobacco: Tips on how to stop

Why is it hard to quit using smokeless tobacco?

Like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) contains nicotine, a very addictive substance that causes changes in the way you think and act. If you are addicted to nicotine, you crave the “buzz” you get from using smokeless tobacco, and you have to use more and more to get the effect you want. Smokeless tobacco puts more nicotine into your bloodstream than cigarettes do. This is one reason why people who chew or dip tobacco regularly may think that quitting smokeless tobacco is even harder than quitting cigarette smoking. Using smokeless tobacco might also be a habit for you when you’re in certain situations or with certain people. For example, you may always chew tobacco when you go to a sporting event or when you watch TV. It can be hard to break this pattern of behavior. However, many smokeless tobacco users have quit successfully – and so can you. Your family doctor can help you quit.

Why is it important for me to quit using smokeless tobacco?

The use of any tobacco product has both immediate and long-term effects on your health and overall well-being. Smokeless tobacco stains and wears down your teeth, causes your gums to recede (peel back) and produces mouth sores. Bad breath is also a common problem. Over time, the use of smokeless tobacco can cause mouth cancer. Nicotine from smokeless tobacco also raises blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and can increase your risk of having a heart attack. List your own reasons for wanting to quit using smokeless tobacco. In addition to the effects of smokeless tobacco on your health, you may be concerned about saving money or setting a good example for family members and friends. Write down your reasons for wanting to quit. Then keep your list in places where you can see it often.

What can I do to get ready to quit using smokeless tobacco?

Set a date to quit and stick to it. Choose a date 2 to 4 weeks from today. Quitting can be hard, so develop a plan that works for you. Prepare yourself for quitting by identifying the times when you will want smokeless tobacco the most. Plan to avoid those situations or to have tobacco substitutes with you (such as sunflower seeds or chewing gum). Get rid of all your chewing tobacco or snuff before your quit date. Start cutting down now on the amount you chew or dip. Get support from your family, friends and doctor. Even better, have a friend or family member who uses smokeless tobacco stop chewing or dipping at the same time that you do. Studies have shown that people who have the support of family and friends are more successful at quitting. Your doctor may also be able to recommend a support program that might help you quit.

What can I use to replace smokeless tobacco?

Talk to your doctor about whether nicotine gum or another nicotine replacement product is right for you. Generally, people who use 3 or more tins or pouches a week, people who use smokeless tobacco within 30 minutes after they wake up, and people who usually swallow tobacco juice when they chew or dip benefit most from nicotine replacement. Find an oral substitute for smokeless tobacco that you enjoy. This may be sugarless gum, hard candy, beef jerky or sunflower seeds. Don’t substitute cigarette smoking for smokeless tobacco. Stop using all tobacco products. Find activities to do when you want to chew or dip. Many people chew or dip when they are bored. Instead, take a walk or a quick jog, lift weights, take a hot shower to relax, or do any activity you enjoy that will keep your mind off smokeless tobacco.

What if I slip up and start using smokeless tobacco again?

This is normal. Learn from your slip! Think about what you can do to avoid that situation next time. Plan ways to handle things without going back to using smokeless tobacco. Once you quit, congratulate yourself. You’ve worked hard! Celebrate beating the habit by using the money you would have spent on smokeless tobacco to buy yourself a present or do something that you enjoy.

Care in Cough or Cold

Non-medication treatment for your cough or cold

• Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• Try to breathe moist air. Use a humidifier or take a steamy shower.
• Consume warm fluids (soup or tea) to provide relief for a stuffy nose and to loosen phlegm.
• For nasal stuffiness, try saline nasal spray or a Neti Pot.
• For sore throat pain relief: suck on throat lozenges, hard candy or popsicles; gargle with warm salt water (1/4 tsp. salt per 8 oz. of water); and eat soft, bland foods.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. If you cannot, ensure you are getting enough nutrients by taking a daily multivitamin.
• Avoid dairy products, as they can thicken phlegm.
• Avoid alcohol, as it impairs your body’s immune system

 

 

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

• High fever
• Ear pain
• Sinus-type headache
• Unusually severe cold symptoms
• Cough that gets worse while other cold symptoms improve
• Flare up of any chronic lung problem, such as asthma

RECOMMENDED NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BY SYMPTOM

Contact the SHCC Pharmacy with any questions or concerns about medications: (352) 392-1760.

Cough, Non-productive (not coughing up phlegm)

• Cough suppressant containing dextromethorphan (Robitussin® DM or Delsym®)

Cough, Productive (coughing up phlegm)

• Cough suppressant (see above)
• Expectorant: Mucinex® tablets or plain guaifenesin syrup, also known as Robitussin®

Fever/Headache/Muscle Aches

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®)

Nasal Stuffiness

• Nasal steroid sprays: Flonase® or Nasacort®
• Decongestants:
  • Topical spray: Oxymetazoline (Afrin® Nasal Spray); limit to 3-4 days maximum
  • Oral medication: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) – MUST BE PURCHASED FROM PHARMACIST

Runny and/or Itchy Nose/Sneezing

• Nasal steroid sprays: Flonase® or Nasacort®
• Antihistamine: Benadryl®, which will likely cause drowsiness, or Loratadine (Alavert®), which is not as likely to cause drowsiness

Sore Throat Pain Relief

• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®).
• Try throat sprays (Chloraseptic®).

Tips for a Safe Diwali

Diwali

,the beautiful festival of lights, happiness and celebration is just around the corner. Enjoying the festivities with your family and friends is something everyone enjoys.

However, ensuring a safe celebration is a must. Read through for tips to celebrate this Diwali safely.

1. Clothes

Bursting firecrackers is something everyone including children and adults enjoy. To avoid any accident with fire it is recommended that you wear cotton clothes and stay away from synthetic material.

2. Quality of crackers

You must purchase firecrackers from legal manufacturers and ensure that you go through the instructions before actually bursting them. Good quality firecrackers reduce the risk of a dangerous mishap.

3. Instructing children

Before taking your children out in the open to burst crackers, it is highly important for you to instruct them about the usage of firecrackers and educate them about the appropriate ways to do so. Supervising them while they are having a fun time with crackers is of utmost importance.

4. Fire extinguisher

Having a fire extinguisher in close proximity to the area where you are bursting firecrackers is very essential. Even a bucket of water or sand would be useful to tackle an unexpected fire.

5. Closed areas

It is critical to note that you must never burst firecrackers in a closed area. Doing so can lead to a massive hazard in case of fire breaking.

6. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit should be a handy while you or your kids are enjoying the fireworks. In case there is a minor injury, it can be treated immediately at home.

7. Discarding used fireworks

Dispose of the used firecrackers immediately and carefully. You can either put it in a bucket full of water or put sand on them in order to put out its heat.

8. Candles and Diyas

Diwali is all about beautiful candles and diyas spreading their light and happiness. However, keeping lit candles and diyas at home can cost you dearly at times. You must make sure that there aren’t any curtains or inflammable materials close to them.

9. Pet Safety

Pets are a part of the family for animal lovers. But Diwali can be an agonizing time for the animals due to the extreme noise all around. Try to sensitize your pet to the noises by playing similar sounds beforehand. Also, try not to leave your pet alone and do keep they away from firecrackers.

10. Sensitivity

It is important to celebrate festivals with utmost sensitivity and care. Using firecrackers that do not create a lot of noise can be the first step towards being sensitive to your fellow neighbors and friends. Too much noise pollution can be harmful for everyone, especially senior citizens.

Spread happiness this Diwali and celebrate this beautiful festival joyously with your loved ones and keep them and yourself safe.

10 Essential Tips for a Safe Diwali

Diwali

, the beautiful festival of lights, happiness and celebration is just around the corner. Enjoying the festivities with your family and friends is something everyone enjoys.

However, ensuring a safe celebration is a must. Read through for tips to celebrate this Diwali safely.

1. Clothes

Bursting firecrackers is something everyone including children and adults enjoy. To avoid any accident with fire it is recommended that you wear cotton clothes and stay away from synthetic material.

2. Quality of crackers

You must purchase firecrackers from legal manufacturers and ensure that you go through the instructions before actually bursting them. Good quality firecrackers reduce the risk of a dangerous mishap.

3. Instructing children

Before taking your children out in the open to burst crackers, it is highly important for you to instruct them about the usage of firecrackers and educate them about the appropriate ways to do so. Supervising them while they are having a fun time with crackers is of utmost importance.

4. Fire extinguisher

Having a fire extinguisher in close proximity to the area where you are bursting firecrackers is very essential. Even a bucket of water or sand would be useful to tackle an unexpected fire.

5. Closed areas

It is critical to note that you must never burst firecrackers in a closed area. Doing so can lead to a massive hazard in case of fire breaking.

6. First Aid Kit

A first aid kit should be a handy while you or your kids are enjoying the fireworks. In case there is a minor injury, it can be treated immediately at home.

7. Discarding used fireworks

Dispose of the used firecrackers immediately and carefully. You can either put it in a bucket full of water or put sand on them in order to put out its heat.

8. Candles and Diyas

Diwali is all about beautiful candles and diyas spreading their light and happiness. However, keeping lit candles and diyas at home can cost you dearly at times. You must make sure that there aren’t any curtains or inflammable materials close to them.

9. Pet Safety

Pets are a part of the family for animal lovers. But Diwali can be an agonizing time for the animals due to the extreme noise all around. Try to sensitize your pet to the noises by playing similar sounds beforehand. Also, try not to leave your pet alone and do keep they away from firecrackers.

10. Sensitivity

It is important to celebrate festivals with utmost sensitivity and care. Using firecrackers that do not create a lot of noise can be the first step towards being sensitive to your fellow neighbors and friends. Too much noise pollution can be harmful for everyone, especially senior citizens.

Spread happiness this Diwali and celebrate this beautiful festival joyously with your loved ones and keep them and yourself safe.

Useful tips for garba

Hairstyles you can opt for:
- Long hair, with cascading waves and curls is a trend in vogue. The entire look is soft and feminine, with big natural waves, especially in the lower half of the hair.
- Fringes are in. The side-swept fringe is popular, but if you are wearing a maang tikka, part the fringe in the centre. Oval and long faces look good with a fringe. A layered fringe can make a large or round face look slimmer. Short fringes suit small faces.
- Ponytails and side braids are in fashion. Use embellished hair accessories and clips, or ribbons that match your dress.

To prep your skin:


Tone your skin
Pour some rose water in a bowl. Place cotton wool pads in it and let it soak in the rose water. Keep the bowl in the fridge. After a while, remove the bowl and start with wiping your face with the soaked cotton pad. On the cheeks, wipe with outward and upward movements in such a way that each stroke ends at the temples. Apply gentle pressure. Lastly, pat the skin with the cotton wool pads and wipe it gently with a soft napkin.



Scrub your skin

Homemade scrubs can work wonders on the skin by removing the dead skin cells and making the skin brighter.

For the peel scrub: Mix ground almonds with yoghurt. Add dried and powdered lemon and orange peels. You can also add dried and powdered mint leaves. Apply the mixture on the face and leave it on for a few minutes. Rub gently, with small circular movements. Wash off with water.

For the walnut scrub: Make a facial scrub with walnut powder, honey and lemon juice. Apply it in the same way. Wash it off with water.

Mask is a must

A face mask completes the beauty regimen leaving your skin soft.

For the rose water pack: In a bowl, mix 1/2 tsp honey, 1 tsp rose water and 1 tsp dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes. For oily skin, replace milk powder with multani mitti for the same paste. After applying the face mask, take two of the cotton wool pads soaked in rose water and use them as eye pads.


For a fruit pack: Mix grated apples with ripe papaya pulp and mashed banana. Yoghurt or lemon juice can be added to the mixture. Apply it on the face and leave it on for half an hour. Wash it off.

Potatoes: Health Benefits, Risks & Nutrition Facts

Potatoes are the No. 1 vegetable crop in the United States and the fourth most consumed crop in the world, behind rice, wheat and corn, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Historically, Americans ate most of their potatoes fresh. Since the 1950s, however, processed potatoes — French fries and hash browns, for example — have grown more popular as the technology to freeze the vegetables has improved. According to the USDA, processed potatoes composed 64 percent of total U.S. potato use during the 2000s, compared to 35 percent in the 1960s. Americans, on average, eat 55 lbs. (35 kilograms) of frozen potatoes per year, 42 lbs. (19 kg) of fresh potatoes, 17 lbs. (8 kg) of potato chips and 14 lbs. (6 kg) of dehydrated potato products.

Potatoes are often thought of as a comfort food — richly mashed with butter and sour cream or crisply fried in vegetable oil. But when prepared in these ways, they can lead to weight gain, diabetes and heart disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. 

However, when prepared the right way — without butter, cheese or sour cream, for example — these vegetables are somewhat nutritious. Potatoes are low calorie, with a medium-sized baked potato containing only about 110 calories. They are a good source of vitamins C and B6, manganese, phosphorus, niacin and pantothenic acid.

Here are the nutrition facts for a potato, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates food labeling through the National Labeling and Education Act:

Nutrition Facts Serving size: 1 medium (5.3 oz / 148 g) Calories 110  Calories from Fat 0

How to Take Care of Dengue Patients

1

Be aware of the incubation period. It takes about a week for symptoms to appear after an individual is infected. The symptoms presented by those infected with dengue determine its severity and the treatment plan.^[3]

• After you've been bitten by a dengue-infected mosquito, symptoms will appear typically four to seven days later. These symptoms generally last about three to ten days.

2

Consider whether the person shows serious warning signs. There are two major classifications of dengue: without and without warning signs.

• Dengue without warning signs is usually identified by the presence of a fever (40 degrees Celsius/104 degrees Fahrenheit) and two or more of the following: nausea or vomiting; a rash that causes the face to redden and red patches to develop on arms, legs, chest, and back; body ache and pain; low white blood cell count; swelling of glands in the neck and behind the ear.
• Dengue with warning signs is classified similarly to dengue without warning signs, but patients in this category exhibited one or more of the following: abdominal pain; persistent vomiting; fluid accumulation in abdomen and lungs; bleeding from gums, eyes, nose; lethargy or restlessness; enlarged liver.
• Such warning signs indicate that the dengue infection may be serious and could progress to associated bleeding and organ failure, or what is called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). If one or more of the above symptoms are present, the subsequent 24-48 hours of dengue infection could be lethal without proper hospital care.

3

Determine whether the patient has severe dengue. Severe dengue includes symptoms from both of the above classifications along with any of the following:

• Severe bleeding or blood in urine
• Severe fluid accumulation in abdomen, lung
• Loss of consciousness
• Involvement of other organs, such as heart, leading to further fluid accumulation, low pressure, high pulse rate
• If any of these symptoms are present, take the person immediately to the nearest hospital.

4  Visit the hospital for a checkup. All patients with severe dengue or dengue that presents with warning signs should go to the hospital as soon as possible. Those who present without warning signs should also visit the hospital for a thorough check-up and confirmation of diagnosis.

5

Determine where treatment and care will occur. Treatment can take place either at home or in hospital. For severe cases or those that exhibit warning signs, dengue must be treated in hospital.

• Home care is an an option only if the patient meets the following three requirements: 1) there are no warning signs present; 2) the patient can tolerate adequate fluids orally; 3) the patient can pass urine at least every six hours.
• Note that there is no specific medication or cure for dengue. Treatment mostly focuses on treating the symptoms of dengue.

Treating Dengue at Home

1

Maintain a clean and mosquito-free environment. While treating dengue patients at home, it's important to prevent further contact with mosquitoes because the infection can spread from person-to-person via mosquitoes. In other words, controlling mosquitoes is key to preventing others from becoming ill.^[11]

• Use window and door screens at home to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
• Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
• Wear clothes that minimize skin exposure to mosquitoes.
• Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin. Repellants like DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus are effective. Children should not handle repellents. Adults should apply repellents to their own hands first and spread them on the child’s skin. Do not use repellents on children under two months old.
• Prevent the breeding of mosquitoes by draining stagnant water around the house and cleaning water storage containers frequently.

2

Take dengue patients to the hospital daily. Dengue patients must go to the hospital every day to have their fever and blood count assessed. These daily visits must occur as long as the patient exhibits a fever of more than 37.5 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). This monitoring at the hospital can cease after there has been no fever over a 48-hour period.

3

Ensure the patient gets sufficient bed rest. Permit the patient to slowly resume his previous activities, particularly during the long period of convalescence.

• Because dengue often causes significant tiredness and lethargy, it's important that patients get plenty of rest and progress back into their daily routines with caution.

4

Give the patient Acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol®). This medication will help treat the fever. Give one tablet of 325 to 500 mg. A total of four tablets can be given to the patient in one day.^[14]

• Do not give the patient aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These can increase the risk of bleeding in those with dengue.

5

Encourage the patient to drink a lot of fluids. Patients should be encouraged to drink water, fruit juice, and oral rehydration solutions to prevent dehydration from fever or vomiting.^[16]

• Adequate fluid intake decreases the chance that a patient with dengue will have to be hospitalized.
• Men and women (ages 19 to 30 years) should aim to drink three liters and 2.7 liters of water per day, respectively. Boys and girls should have 2.7 and 2.2 liters of water daily, respectively. For infants, the intake is 0.7-0.8 liters/day.
• You can also prepare a juice using papaya leaves for dengue patients. Papaya leaf extract has been reported to increase platelet count in dengue patients., although there is not yet firm clinical research to support this.

Keep a daily record of symptoms. Maintaining a daily record will help you observe any worsening of symptoms. It's important to monitor children and babies closely since they are more likely to develop more serious cases of dengue. Keep clear notes on the following:

• The patient's temperature. Since temperature varies during the day, it is preferable to record it at same time daily. This will make your daily reading reliable and valid.
• Fluid intake. Ask the patient to dr same cup each time; this will make it easier for you to remember and keep track of the total volume consumed.
• Urine output. Ask the patient to ur container. Measure and record the amount of urine each time. These containers are commonly used at hospitals to measure 24-hour urine output. You will be provided with one or can inquire about it at the hospital.

Take the patient to the hospital if her symptoms worsen. Head to the hospital immediately if the patient exhibits any of the following signs:^[19]

• High fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Cold and clammy extremities (could hydration or blood loss)
• Lethargy
• Confusion (as a result of poor wateblood loss)
• Inability to pass urine regularly (ry 6 hours)
• Bleeding (vaginal and/or bleeding, m nose, eyes or gums, red spots or patches on skin)
• Difficulty in breathing (due to flun in lungs)