Common Repetitive Strain Injuries

You may not be aware of it, but you may develop conditions due to your very busy lifestyle. If you are working so hard and engaged in extreme physical activities, you may develop repetitive strain injury or RSI. RSI is damage in the muscular system, skeletal system and nervous due to the following reasons:

· Repetitive tasks that requires thinking and energy

· Too much exertion of force

· Vibrations

· Pressing the body or parts of the body against hard surfaces

· Awkward positions

These activities require your body to stretch more and work harder than what the body normally does. However, most cases of RSI are found in the upper limbs or the arms. Studies show that RSI are linked to the jobs and recreational activities a person performs. Also, studies have figured out that RSI is lined to computer-related injuries that is why kids are more likely to get it as today's generation use most of their times online. Its symptoms are experienced longer than other injures and there are times that it would stop and come back again. There are some specific repetitive strain injuries like the following:

· Epicondylitis- this RSI is acquired from overusing of tendons and muscles in the body. Elbows are the most common parts being affected by this RSI. This is common to athletes including tennis players and golf players.

· Dupuytren's Contracture- this RSI affects the lower arm down to the fingers. However, this is a very rare case in which a person has his or her finger/s bending on his or her palm. This is due to exhaustion of the tissues found in the palm.

· Diffuse RSI- is an undiagnosed condition. You may feel pain and stiffness in parts of your body and complain it to a doctor. However, examination would not see anything wrong about that area of your body.

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS)- this RSI is a condition diagnosed in the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The nerves are being compressed in this area making it hard for the blood to flow to the hands and fingers. The person may experience total numbness and pain on his or her hand and fingers while having this kind of condition.

· Bursitis- an RSI condition dealing with the inflammation of the bursa, or the fluid filled sacs that serve as a cushion to the bones so it will move freely and smoothly. When a person has Bursitis, he or she may experience pain at the affected area.

Instill Good Eating Habits in Teens

Set a good example. Your teen pays attention to what you do and say. If you try to insist that they eat fruit while you eat a cupcake, they won't believe you think nutrition is important. Let them see you making healthy food choices and they are more likely to follow suit.
Don't bring unhealthy snack foods into the home. You may not be able to control what your teen does when you're not around, but having only healthy foods in your home will make healthy food choices easier for them.
Establish regular meal times and insist that each family member be present. Obviously this isn't going to work for everyone, but having regular meal times can be a great encouragement for your teen to choose healthy foods.
Encourage them to eat breakfast each day. Experts say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Do what you can to ensure they eat it each day.
Dieticians will recommend eating three small meals and three snacks per day to keep blood sugar levels stable. This is something that can be beneficial for everyone.
Make as many dishes from scratch as you can. Homemade meals are healthier than those created using pre-packaged items. You have more control over what goes into the meal as well as what doesn't.
Enlist your teen's help when preparing family meals. Once your child reaches their teenage years, it won't be long before they have to fend for themselves. Take time to teach your child about healthy eating. Have them help you plan family meals, go to the grocery store to purchase the necessary items and then come home to cook it. These skills will be so important once they move out, there's no time like the present to begin.
Keep healthy snacks on hand. Fresh fruits and vegetables, dried nuts, whole grain snacks and healthy drinks will give your teen the nutrients they need as well as keep them from empty calories from other snacks.
Experiment with new foods. Perhaps your family has never tried different ethnic foods. Perhaps you can try a different ethnic food once or twice a month. Encourage your family to try new foods and enlarge their palate.
Perhaps you weren't as concerned about what your teen ate as a child because there wasn't as much emphasis on healthy eating as there is now. Even if your teen hasn't always had good eating habits, you can start now to help them make healthier choices.

How First Aid Can Help Bleeding Victims

A person may get wounded in an accident, which may start the bleeding. Bleeding can either be external or internal. Excessive bleeding can be very dangerous as it may cause unconsciousness and even death as a result. Therefore, it is essential that bleeding be controlled first thing after an injury occurs. A first aid course will teach you how to control bleeding and stabilize the patient. Once the bleeding is controlled there is lesser chance of an infection to occur. First aid is a good skill to learn as it may come in handy at any time.
There are five ways how first aid can help bleeding victims. They are:
• Internal bleeding is dangerous as you cannot see it on the outside. However first aid is helpful as it teaches you to understand the signs of internal bleeding. Blood appearing in the vomit is a sign of internal bleeding and the victim should immediately be taken to your healthcare facility.
• When an artery is injured and bleeding occurs, it becomes essential to stop it immediately as an artery is an important blood vessel delivering pure blood to the heart. First aid teaches you to control the bleeding quickly and prevent the victim going into shock.
• In case of an injury to the head, it is essential to bandage the wound in a way that it doesn't cause more harm. Knowing first aid is important when you try to help a victim with a head injury. You must know that an unconscious patient must not be moved unless absolutely necessary. First aid teaches you to be calm in such situations and respond quickly as time is an important factor when dealing with critical cases.
• When administering first aid, you must be aware of certain hygiene practices in order to avoid spread of infection. Using gloves, cleaning agents to clean blood and other body fluids, and applying a bandage on any cuts on your body can prevent the spread on infections during first aid administration.
• When the bleeding occurs due to damage to capillaries, there is a greater chance of infection. A first aid course will teach you techniques that will help prevent the victim contracting an infection.
Minor injuries can be treated with bandages but a serious injury may be very harmful. Bleeding of wounds may even lead to brain damage, shock, heart damage and damage to any other organs in the body. The larger the open wound, the greater the blood loss and higher the chances of the injury becoming fatal. Immediate treatment given to control bleeding may greatly improve the victim's chances of survival and reduce the risk of infection. When the bleeding is due to avulsion injuries to parts like toe, finger or ear, administering first aid and then shifting the victim to the nearest hospital can stabilize him. Therefore a victim with excessive bleeding can be saved with the right aid given to him at the right time. First aid may actually save his life.