Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Sailors and Scurvy Disease
'Health is
Wealth' is a most famous proverb we all know. There is nothing in our life that
is more valuable than good health. Good health is always the most important
asset than any other wealth we own. Knowing how to make money is important but
with poor health, everything is to no purpose.
The choice to
work on a ship has many perks, but we also know the fact that working at sea is
one of the most hazardous occupations, in regards to personal health and safety
concerns of seafarers. Moreover, it is so hard to maintain a healthy diet far
from fresh supplies, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Good nutrition is the key to
getting the best performance of the seafarers which is fine if they are in
their own homes and can choose what is on their table – but at sea, it gets a
bit more complicated and difficult. In consequence, many seafarers suffered
from a disease called scurvy.
What is
scurvy?
Scurvy is a
condition characterized by general weakness, anemia, gingivitis (gum disease),
and skin hemorrhages caused by a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet.
The early symptoms of scurvy include spongy gums, feeling tired, pain in the
joints, and blood spots appearing under the skin. As the disease worsens, there
is a change to hair, personality changes, the teeth would become loose, extreme
halitosis (bad breath) would develop, the afflicted would become too weak to
walk or work, be in too much pain to eat, and finally death from infection or
bleeding often from a burst blood vessel.
Signs and
symptoms:
Vitamin C is
a necessary nutrient that helps the body absorb iron and produce collagen. If
the body does not produce enough collagen, tissues will start to break down.
Early
symptoms include;
• Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort,
uneasiness or pain, often the first indication of an infection or other
diseases
• Lethargy is a state of tiredness,
weariness, fatigue, or lack of energy. It can be accompanied by depression,
decreased motivation, or apathy.
• Pain in the section of the gums which
interferes with digestion
After 1–3
months, patients develop shortness of breath and bone pain. Other symptoms include skin changes with
roughness, easy bruising and petechiae, gum disease, loosening of teeth, poor
wound healing, and emotional changes (which may appear before any physical
changes). Dry mouth and dry eyes similar to Sjögren's syndrome may occur. In
the late stages, jaundice, generalized edema, oliguria, neuropathy, fever,
convulsions, and eventual death are frequently seen.
Why scurvy affect sailors?
Sailors on
long trips were at one-time frequent victims of scurvy. Scurvy occurred when
sailors without access to foods containing vitamin C. When the sailors began
their voyage they had fresh fruits and vegetables on their ship. But after a long sea voyages made, people at
sea were not able to access that much-needed fresh food for months at a time.
Preserved meats and carbohydrates contained no vitamin C, and unlike most
animals, the human body is not able to create vitamin C on its own.
Prevention and Treatment:
Scurvy can be
prevented by a diet that includes vitamin C-rich foods such as broccoli, bell
peppers (sweet peppers), guava, blackcurrants, chile peppers, kiwifruit, and
parsley. Other sources rich in vitamin C are fruits such as lemons, oranges,
papaya, and strawberries. It is also found in vegetables, such as brussels
sprouts, cabbage, potatoes, and spinach.
Some animal
products, including liver, Muktuk (whale skin), oysters, and parts of the
central nervous system, including the adrenal medulla, brain, and spinal cord,
contain large amounts of vitamin C, and can even be used to treat scurvy. Fresh
meat from animals which make their own vitamin C (which most animals do)
contains enough vitamin C to prevent scurvy, and even partly treat it. In some
cases (notably French soldiers eating fresh horse meat), it was discovered that
meat alone, even partly cooked meat, could alleviate scurvy. Conversely, in
other cases, a meat-only diet could cause scurvy.
Treatment
involves administering vitamin C supplements by mouth or by injection.
Within 24
hours, patients can expect to see an improvement in fatigue, lethargy, pain,
anorexia, and confusion. Bruising, bleeding, and weakness starts to resolve
within 1 to 2 weeks.
After 3
months, a complete recovery is possible. Long-term effects are unlikely, except
in the case of severe dental damage.
To conclude,
it is important that throughout the voyage, all crew members have access to
healthy food choices that will enable them to do their best performance in
their job while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It is important to remember
that vessels are not only a crew’s workplace but, for the set periods of the year
of their contract, they also consider the ship/on-board environment their home.
Our body is a
gift from God. It is our responsibility to manage it well. Love your body with
the same affection we do to our loved ones, we’d live healthier and happier
lives. Isn’t it about time we turn that favor to ourselves?
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Coping with Seasickness: Seafarer
Seasickness or motion sickness is a major nuisance among diligent seafarers. Seasickness is the reaction of your body's inner ear that is caused by repeated motion. The movement of the ship causes stress on the balancing portion of the brain. Suffering from seasickness is the most draining and exhausting incident most seafarer face.
What are symptoms of seasickness?
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pale skin
- Cold sweat
- Headache
- Weak
Things to help with motion sickness:
Seasickness can be a horrible malady, but there are ways to lessen its severity or prevent it.
• Add some distractions- Staying busy and keeping your mind occupied are the best ways to avoid motion sickness, the more you stress the worse it is going to get. Listen to music, for example, is a one way to divert one’s attention. Isolate yourself from others who may be suffering from seasickness. One sure-fire way to get seasick is to watch other people getting sick. Hearing others talk about motion sickness can sometimes make you feel ill yourself.
• Find a better spot where you will experience the least motion- Those in lower level cabins near the center of a ship generally experience less motion than passengers in higher or outer cabins. Or it is best to spend to stay outside on the deck in the fresh air and focus on anything other than the moving ship. When on deck, facing forward seems to help most people.
• Watch what you eat, avoid key triggers.- One of the reasons people get seasick is that they over-eat. It is a good idea to avoid fatty foods or those high in salt and sugar. You should try and keep well hydrated by drinking water. Avoiding strong food odors may also help prevent nausea.
• Lay Down or shut your eyes. Lying down prevents histamine from reaching the brain, decreasing nausea.
Medication:
Most remedies need to be taken a couple of hours before your ship sails. The over-the-counter medication- Bonine, Dramamine. These are available over-the-counter at most drug stores and contain antihistamines which make some people drowsy so, if you're at sea to work, make sure to look for the non-drowsy versions.
The other well-known drug used to keep motion sickness under control is scopolamine. This patches are
Seafarer: How Can I Prevent Gallstones?
Obesity is a dominant factor in a person's health and increases the risk of stone formation. If you are overweight or obese, the best thing you can do for your health and to prevent gallstones is to lose weight.
How do you develop gallstones?
Gallstones are hard particles that develop in the gallbladder. Imbalances in the substances that make up bile cause gallstones. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol, too much bilirubin, or not enough bile salts.
Preventing Gallstones:
Control Your Weight
Eat Healthfully
Exercise
Avoid Certain Medications


















