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HƯỚNG DẪN SƠ CỨU (FIRST AID)
KHI BỊ CÔN TRÙNG, ĐỘNG VẬT VÀ NGƯỜI CẮN TRONG LÚC SINH HOẠT NGOÀI TRỜI Lynn Ly phỏng dịch theo "The Everything First Aid"


Những hoạt động ngoài trời như làm việc, vui chơi, giải trí, du ngoạn ở trong một số hoàn cảnh , khí hậu , và thời tiết . Khí hậu nóng và lạnh đều có thể gây ra những hệ quả đối lập (adverse consequences), và những sinh vật (critters) sống bên ngoài thỉnh thoảng gây dị ứng (ngứa ngáy khó chịu) hoặc tổn thương . Cơ thể bị thiếu nước hoặc ở cao độ (thí dụ lên đỉnh núi) và ở trong một số điều kiện ngoài trời khác cũng có thể làm bạn cảm thấy suy yếu đi .

Cho dù không có vấn đề gì khi bạn hoạt động ngoài trời, nhưng thật quan trọng bạn biết làm gì để chăm sóc hoặc trợ giúp những người bị chấn thương, bị bệnh tật bất ngờ .

I) BỊ CÔN TRÙNG, LOÀI VẬT VÀ NGƯỜI CẮN

Nhiều loại côn trùng và các sinh vật khác, bao gồm cả con người, gây ra các vết cắn và vết châm chích có thể cho cảm giác không thoải mái hoặc đe dọa tính mạng từ nhẹ nhẹ đến trung bình. Điều quan trọng là biết làm gì, làm thế nào để trị liệu, và khi nào thì cần tìm kiếm đến trợ giúp từ chuyên gia y tế để trị liệu bất kỳ thương tổn tàng ẩn bên trong.

1) BÒ CẠP CẮN (SCORPION BITES)

Bò cạp là loại côn trùng nhiều chân có hình dạng giống tôm hùm (lobster-like arthoropods) nằm trong xếp loại côn trùng có nọc độc (arcahnid class, cùng loài nhền nhện = spider class), có một ngòi / kim xoăn ở phần cuối nơi đuôi, và chúng thường được tìm thấy ở vùng sa mạc phía Tây Nam của Mexico (nước Mễ Tây Cơ). Những vết chích / đốt của bọ cạp dường như không có khả năng gây tử vong và dễ dàng điều trị, nhưng lại nguy hiểm cho trẻ nhỏ và người già hơn . Những triệu chứng bao gồm đau nhức ngay lập tức (immediate pain), nóng rát (burning), sưng tấy chút chút (minor swelling) và cảm giác tê (numb) hoặc ngứa ran (tingling sensation).

Những buớc sau đây cần nên thực hiện để trị liệu vết bò cạp cắn:
1. Rửa vùng bị bò cạp cắn bằng xà phòng / xà bông và nước

2. Dùng túi trườm lạnh đặt lên vùng bị bò cạp cắn trong vòng 10 phút , nếu cần thiết thì lập đi lập lại việc trườm lạnh vùng bị cắn với khoảng cách giữa các lần trườm lạnh là 10 phút .

3. Gọi điện thoại đến trung tâm kiểm soát chất độc (the Poison Control Center), hay đi bệnh viện khi có bất kỳ triệu chứng nghiêm trọng gì

2) BỌ VE CẮN (TICK BITES)

Những người sống vùng rừng cây hay đồng cỏ, hay những người dành thời gian vui chơi giải trí ở những khu vực này thì dễ bị bọ ve cắn . Loài côn trùng nho nhỏ này sống bằng cách hút máu các loài động vật có vú (mammals) thí dụ như hươu nai (deer), loài gậm nhấm (rodents), thỏ (rabbits) và có thể truyền bệnh từ động vật sang người .

Việc sơ cứu (first aid) những vết bọ ve cắn bao gồm loại bỏ con bọ ve đang bu bám ngay lập tức để tránh những phản ứng từ vết cắn và giảm thiểu tối đa các loại bệnh nhiễm trùng do bọ ve gây ra thí dụ bệnh Lyme, bệnh nóng sốt Colorado bọ ve (Colorado tick fever), bệnh nóng sốt được phát hiện ở núi đá (Rocky Mountain Spotted fever)

Để tháo bỏ con bọ ve bu bám trên người , hãy làm như sau:
1. Dùng cây nhíp (tweezers) hay cây kẹp nhỏ nhỏ cong cong hay thẳng thẳng (small curl or flat forcepts) kẹp lấy đầu con bọ ve và càng cận sát nơi da đang bị con bọ ve cắn càng tốt, rồi nhẹ nhàng kéo ra, đừng bóp nát hay xoay vặn con bọ ve

2. Rửa vùng bị bọ ve cắn bằng xà phòng / xà bông và nước.

3. Bôi thuốc Antihistamine hoặc loại 1% hydrocortisone cream (loại kem chứa 1% chất hydrocortisone)


Cần phải có sự chăm sóc y tế chuyên nghiệp , nếu con bọ ve cắn quá sâu và bạn không thể tháo gỡ nó ra được, hoặc bạn đang ở trong khu vực được thông báo là có nhiều nguy cơ bị bệnh lyme, hoặc bạn có triệu chứng nóng sốt hay triệu chứng cảm cúm , hoặc bạn có trải nghiệm bắp thịt trở lên suy nhược, tê liệt (paralysis) , hoặc nổi vết tròn đỏ trên da gọi là "phát ban mắt bò" (the bull's eye rash) là đặc chưng của bệnh Lyme .

CẢNH BÁO !!!
Đừng bao giờ bôi petroleum jelly (vaseline), rượu cồn ( alcohol ) ahy ammonia lên con bọ ve - chúng sẽ cắn chặt sâu vào da hơn. Nếu bạn đang ở trong vùng cảnh báo có nhiều nguy cơ bệnh Lyme mà bị bọ ve cắn, bạn nhất định phải phone báo bác sĩ để được tư vấn và ngay lập tức được chăm sóc và điều tri bao gồm việc sử dụng thuốc kháng sinh

Stay young with saa, taa, naa, and maa

Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD, president and medical director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, has spent many years studying the meditative tradition called Kirtan Kriya and has found that daily 12-minute sessions of the practice can improve blood flow to the brain and possibly even increase levels of telomerase, an enzyme that slows cell aging. The practice is simple: While breathing deeply, chant the Sanskrit words saa, taa, naa, maa (which mean “my divine self”) while moving your thumb to touch your index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers with each new sound. Like any meditation, it may help to lift anxiety and fatigue. Here are other compelling health benefits of meditation.

Protect your mind from your heart

Scientists surveyed volunteers on seven familiar heart-health factors and tested their cognitive performance at two points over eight years. The results found that the more heart-healthy habits people had, the less cognitive decline they exhibited. A stronger cardiovascular system means a stronger pipeline of nutrients to the brain, says lead author Hannah Gardener, ScD, an epidemiologist in the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami. The seven heart-health ideals to strive for may be familiar (if they seem overwhelming, Gardener points out that “each one helps”): Not smoking; healthy body mass index (under 25); physically active (for at least 150 minutes a week); healthy total cholesterol (under 200 mg/dL); healthy blood pressure (under 120/80 mmHg); healthy blood sugar (under 100 mg/dL); and balanced diet (rich in fruits, veggies, and whole grains; low in sodium and sweets).

Lift the quality of your white matter

As the brain ages, its white matter often develops small lesions because of disrupted blood flow, leading to impaired cognitive function and mobility. Researchers at the University of British Columbia wanted to determine whether strength training might offer protection. Women ages 65 to 75 who already had lesions were divided into three groups: once-a-week strength trainers, twice-a-week strength trainers, and those who did other types of exercise. The results: Women who strength trained twice a week showed significantly less progression of white matter lesions than the other two groups did. Key moves you can try at home (using soup cans for weight): biceps curls, triceps extensions, calf raises, mini squats, mini lunges, and lunge walks; aim for 45 minutes a session. Here are some more brain facts that will blow your mind.

Make moves directly against Alzheimer’s

Exercise benefits the brain by improving vascular health—but newly published research suggests it also combats the chronic neuroinflammation observed in Alzheimer’s, depression, and other brain diseases. In such neurological conditions, the inflammation that normally clears tissue damage doesn’t shut off and starts to interfere with communication between neurons. Exercise has proven anti-inflammatory effects against diseases like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, so that could be why exercise protects brain health as well, says assistant professor Jonathan Little, PhD, in a review article in Brain Research Bulletin. “Any type of moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, cycling, and swimming, can have anti-inflammatory effects,” says Little. Aim for about 30 minutes a day.

Get your blood pumping

Although any exercise is good, aerobic workouts may be the best for brain health. A study from Wake Forest School of Medicine showed that the brain volume was higher in elderly people who participated in aerobic exercise than in people who just stretched. The aerobic exercisers also saw their cognitive function improve over a six-month period. “Research shows that aerobic exercise increases blood flow in the hippocampus, the memory region of the brain,” says neuroscientist Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas. “This is also the area most affected by Alzheimer’s, so you are strengthening a vulnerable part of the brain.” Check out more ways exercise makes your brain better.

Think deep thoughts

The brain relies on connections between neurons to function well; in Alzheimer’s, these connections begin to die off. Doing all you can now to help strengthen your neural connections will help protect your brain as you age. So use any opportunity in your daily routine for critical thought and analysis. “The strongest mental habit is to pursue deeper level thinking,” Dr. Chapman says. “This can happen in your everyday life, for instance abstracting themes from shows you see or books you read. Deeper-level thinking is like push-ups and sit-ups for the brain.” Joining a book club or even discussing last week’s episode of Game of Thrones with your partner is an excellent place to start. Read more on why your brain needs you to read every single day

Keep your mind working

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock

Another way to keep those neurons strong is to encourage neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to rewire itself and form new connections. Studies have shown that cognitive stimulation actually helps improve brain plasticity. Any new tasks you embark on can help keep your brain active, motivated, and inspired. “The brain is quickly jaded on routine and goes to auto-pilot when it gets bored,” Dr. Chapman says. “Doing new things—and improving things you’re already doing—can help your brain gain ground.” Here are more things to do to keep your brain sharp and healthy later in life.

Get brain circuits singing

Listening to or playing music can activate the motor cortex (touching a piano key or guitar string), the auditory cortex (hearing the notes you make), and the emotional center, or limbic system (feeling moved by a beautiful passage). “Circuits and networks are stimulated by these activities, which help keep the brain healthy,” says Dr. Kosik. Older adults who had at least ten years of musical experience did better on cognitive tests, according to a 2011 Emory University study.

As Jon Lovitz would say, “Acting!”





Learning lines for a production or an acting class engages the hippocampus, the temporal cortex, and the frontal lobe, says Dr. Kosik. So follow the lead of one of Jon Lovitz’s Saturday Night Live characters, Master Thespian: In one study, those who went to acting classes twice a week for four weeks boosted their ability to remember words, numbers, and short stories. A follow-up study found they improved word fluency by 12 percent and word recall by 19 percent

Draw out your neural connections

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

golubovystock/Shutterstock

When you draw, paint, or sculpt, you have to make spatial calculations and focus attention on details, Dr. Kosik says. Engaging in these activities (even doodling has health benefits!) helps protect octogenarians from mild cognitive impairment, according to a 2015 Mayo Clinic study. Also, 60- and 70-year-old art-class participants boosted scores on psychological resilience tests; MRI images showed their synapses had formed new connections. Here are more science-backed reasons adults should use coloring books.

MIND your eating habits



Research from Rush University found that combining the Mediterranean diet and the heart-healthy DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is good for your brain. Adhering to the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), as it’s called, was found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s up to 50 percent. “The food you eat provides the fuel for your brain, and the MIND diet produces the best kind of fuel,” Dr. Chapman says. “It includes such things as whole grains, leafy green vegetables, nuts, fish, berries, olive oil, beans, as well as limited amounts of cheese, wine, and dark chocolate.” Here are more of the best foods to eat to boost your brain health.

Skip the fat

40 Genius Habits Your 80-Year-Old Brain Will Thank You for Doing Today

Yulia Grigoryeva/Shutterstock

There has been debate over the role of dietary fat in Alzheimer’s. According to Dr. Chapman, “Fried foods and foods high in saturated fat should be avoided.” We already know these foods aren’t good for your health in general, so that’s another good reason to give them a pass. A high-fat diet can also cause weight gain, which is a risk factor for diabetes—and diabetes, in turn, is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Although scientists aren’t sure exactly how diabetes and Alzheimer’s are linked, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests diabetes damages blood vessels in the brain, alters brain chemistry, and contributes to inflammation that harms brain cells. These are the foods that are secretly hurting your brain.

Take a probiotic



Scientists are just beginning to understand how the collection of good bacteria in your GI tract, known as the gut microbiome, influences your brain. “Feedback signals from the gut tell the brain about gastric and intestinal motility, gut hormone secretion, and gut inflammation,” says Linda Rinaman, PhD, a psychology professor at Florida State University who’s studied the gut-brain connection. Much of the research on the “gut-brain axis” in relation to the development of Alzheimer’s has been observed in rodents. But new studies in humans are also revealing a connection between the type of bacteria in the gut and the likelihood of Alzheimer’s. Although probiotics, which aim to balance your gut bacteria, haven’t yet been proven to protect brain health, it’s may be worth giving them a try—or eating probiotic foods like yogurt or sauerkraut—just in case.

Get your zzz’s on





You know what a bad night’s sleep can do to your focus the next day. Over the years, regular sleep deprivation can raise your risk of dementia, suggests research. “During sleep, your brain literally cleans out some of the toxicity that has built up from stress or agitation,” Dr. Chapman says. “Without good sleep, we see increased anxiety and stress. Sleep is restorative, helping you be more mentally energetic and productive. Even a quick nap helps.” Just keep daytime snoozing to about an hour, as longer than an hour and a half may be detrimental to your noggin, according to some studies. Here’s another scary thing that happens to your brain when you don’t get enough sleep.

Accentuate the positive

Doctors have long known there’s a connection between depression and Alzheimer’s; now, research is suggesting that depression is actually a risk factor for the disease. In addition, stress and stress hormones in the brain also been linked with dementia. On the other hand, research has found that a positive attitude about aging is actually associated with a lesser chance of developing dementia, even in the presence of other risk factors. If you’re depressed, it’s best to get help now. “Positivity always helps, but it’s just as important to embrace mistakes to learn from them and not be stuck,” Dr. Chapman says.

Make new friends, and keep old ones



Brain researchers have found that socializing and maintaining friendships can protect against cognitive decline. “One of the most powerful things for brain health is relating to others—a shared sense of community is one of the top three factors associated with brain health as we age,” Dr. Chapman says. “Socialization also requires some of the most complex cognition because it requires us to constantly negotiate an understanding with those around us. For the brain, it’s like constantly solving a puzzle.” It’s not the number of friends you have, she says, but rather the quality and depth of your connections

Don’t multitask

Trying to focus on several things at once puts a strain on the brain and studies have shown it negatively impacts memory, especially as we age. “Multitasking is as toxic to the brain as cigarette smoking is to the lungs, but the effects become apparent much more quickly,” Dr. Chapman says. “Multitasking, which is really the brain constantly switching between tasks, decreases memory function and reduces hippocampal size. It fatigues the system and breaks down your immune system.” All of these things combined make avoiding multitasking the number one thing people should do to maintain and enhance their brain health, she says

Skip sugar

muddy your thinking and your memory. You don’t have to be diabetic to have high blood sugar level speed your brain’s cognitive decline, find several studies. “Although the brain relies on sugar for its main source of energy, too much sugar flooding into the brain at once from a high-sugar diet can overload the brain and cause negative effects such as lapses in concentration, learning, and even advanced aging of the cells,” says certified diabetes educator Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet. “By eating a diet low in added sugars, you can help to prevent spikes in blood glucose levels that may cause these damaging effects while making sure the brain still gets the energy it needs to function at its peak

Limit alcohol



Recent research published in The Lancet suggests that having more than three drinks a day for women—more than four a day for men—substantially raises the risk for dementia, and particularly early-onset dementia. “Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can have a negative impact on the brain—another study found excessive drinking may accelerate memory loss as we age,” Palinski-Wade says. The jury is still out on moderate drinking: Although some research suggests it may be detrimental for your brain, the harm might be balanced by its heart benefits, according to Harvard Medical School. If you do drink alcohol, stick to the recommended one drink a day for women, two for men. Watch for the signs your brain is aging faster than you are.

Load up on fruits and veggies



You can get antioxidant compounds called flavonoids in most brightly colored fruits and vegetables—and they can help keep your brain healthy. “Antioxidants fight against damage to cells caused by free radicals,” explains Palinski-Wade. “When free radicals are present, they can harm cells, including brain cells, causing premature aging and raising your risk of disease. A high level of antioxidants in your diet can help fight against free radical damage and offer protective benefits to cells.” A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that women who had a higher consumption of berries had a slower rate of cognitive decline. A daily dose of this one veggie can boost your brain, science says.