Touch On Sehat Home Care

The elderly population is the most vulnerable segment in the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear, anxiety, and unpredictability in a lockdown situation can make them feel confused and powerless. Whether it's our parents staying with us or away in another city, or an elderly couple in the neighbourhood, it’s our responsibility to take care and protect all elders with love, respect, and dignity. Younger Generation has to Step forward – Need of the hour Older people are at significant risk of contracting a severe disease from COVID-19 owing to their weak immune system and the presence of comorbid conditions such as Hypertension, Diabetes, etc. A news report analysed that 71% of elderly patients who succumbed to COVID-19 disease had one or other comorbidity. 5 Tips to support the older generation and keep them safe 1. Social distancing is not optional Senior citizens should be explained how social distancing is the only way to avoid exposure to the virus and thus preventing illnes...

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Treatment The most common symptoms of COVID-19 Coronavirus are fever, coughing, and breathing problems. Unless you have severe symptoms, you can mostly treat COVID-19 at home, the way you treat cold and flu. Most people recover from coronavirus COVID-19 without the need for hospital care.  Scientists are trying to make new medicines and test some existing drugs to see whether they can treat COVID-19. In the meantime, there are a number of things that can relieve symptoms, both at home and at the hospital.  What experts say treat yourself at home if you have mild symptoms  Experts say there are a number of supplies you can buy now to prepare to take care of yourself at home if you have mild symptoms for COVID-19 Among your grocery items should be fresh fruit and vegetables as well as canned goods with long shelf lives  Among the medical supplies should be a thermometer, cough medicine, tissue,zinc, and vitamin c. Cleaning products as well as ext...

During the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic, keeping hand clean is especially important to help prevent the virus from spreading  Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy. Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacterial and viral illness  As we are aware through the day, hands accumulate germs and dirt as they touch objects and other people. Individual can then transfer these substances to others, or infect themselves when touching their face. Regular hand washing can limit the transfer of microbes, such as bacteria and viruses however many people do not wash their hands properly or for long enough to get rid of germs.  Why hand washing ?  Proper hand washing is necessary to reduce the risk of  Coronavirus COVID-19 Colds and flu  Transferring dirt and microbes to surface and other people  Viral infection...

विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन ( WHO ) ने कहा है कि कोरोना पॉजिटिव मां ( Covid-19 Positive Mother ) के दूध से बच्चे को कोई खतरा नहीं है, बल्कि उसके कई सारे फायदे होंगे। इसलिए मां बच्चे को स्तनपान करा सकती है। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के प्रमुख डॉक्टर टेड्रोस एडहॉनम गीब्रिएसुस ने कहा कि मां अपने नवजात शिशु को स्तनपान कराना जारी रखें। गीब्रिएसुस ने कहा कि कोरोना का खतरा बच्चों के मुकाबले बुजुर्गों में ज्यादा होता हैं। स्तनपान के होंगे फायदे डॉक्टर टेड्रोस ने कहा, कोरोना के अलावा कई अन्य बीमारियां नवजात शुश को घेर सकती हैं, लेकिन स्तनपान से इन बीमारियों से बचा जा सकता है। कोरोना संक्रमित मांओं को स्तनपान के लिए प्रेरित किया जाना चाहिए और बच्चे को मां से दूर नहीं करना चाहिए। मां के दूध में नहीं है वायरस विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन के डॉक्टर अंशु बनर्जी ने कहा है, मां के दूध में हमें अब तक किसी तरह का वायरस नहीं मिला है। ऐसे में मां से बच्चे में कोरोना संक्रमण फैलने का खतरा नहीं कहा जा सकता। खतरा कम फायदे ज्यादा अमरीका के सेंटर ऑफ डिजीज कंट्रोल एंड प्रीवेन्शव (सीडीसी) ने भी कहा है कि नवजात बच्चे...

What is clean intermittent catheterization? Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is a procedure for people who have trouble urinating the “normal” way. In a CIC procedure, you insert a catheter, a thin, hollow tube, into your bladder to help you urinate. People who need to perform CIC include those who have certain medical conditions, including: Stroke Parkinson's disease Multiple sclerosis Spinal cord injuries Spinal surgeries Erectile dysfunction Trauma/accidents Central nervous system tumors Cerebral palsy Heavy metal poisoning If you have to perform CIC, you will be inserting and removing the catheter several times a day; your doctor will tell you how many times. By performing this procedure every day, you will not have to wear a catheter all the time. In addition, you will help prevent kidney infection and keep your bladder from stretching. Key points Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is a technique that your loved one will have to do several times a day...

What is the symptoms of Covid 19. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear  2-14 days after exposure   to the virus.  People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea This list does not include all possible symptoms. WHO will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention Look for  emergency warning signs*  for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs,  seek emergency medical care   immediately Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Bluish lips or face *This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your...

The Need For Supplemental Oxygen. Why did my doctor prescribe oxygen for me? Every body needs oxygen. In fact, every tissue and every cell in the body needs a constant supply of oxygen to work properly. Oxygen gets into our cells and tissues via the lungs. The lungs breathe in oxygen from the air, then pass the oxygen into the bloodstream through millions of tiny air sacs called alveoli. Hemoglobin in the red blood cells then picks up the oxygen and carries it off to the body's tissues and cells. Interstitial lung disease can cause inflammation and/or scarring (aka fibrosis) in the part of the lung tissue where oxygen passes into the bloodstream — the alveoli. This inflammation and/or scarring make it difficult for oxygen to move into the bloodstream. Therefore, the amount of oxygen in the blood drops, and the body's tissues and cells may not receive enough oxygen to keep functioning properly. Not enough oxygen in the bloodstream is called  hypoxemia . How did my d...

Traveling With Oxygen Traveling with oxygen has become much easier with the development of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). These devices run on a battery pack, can be recharged, plugged into the wall or a cigarette lighter in a car, and can be taken on airplanes. There are several makes and models, with widely differing features, so it is important to choose the one that is best for you, that delivers enough oxygen to keep your saturation 90 percent or greater at rest and with activity. POCs can be rented or purchased from various oxygen suppliers. Oxygen Needs at High Elevation Some people may become hypoxemic while traveling to or living at high elevations. A simple pulse oximeter reading while you are at high altitude, at rest and during activity, can determine if oxygen is needed at altitude. Alternatively, some pulmonary function labs can perform an altitude simulation test to determine your oxygen saturation at altitude. This test involves breathing a mixture of...

How do I choose the right oxygen equipment for me? You, your health care provider and your oxygen supplier should all work together to choose the oxygen system that is right for you — one that takes into account your lifestyle and activities, as well as the amount of oxygen you need. The goal is to have oxygen equipment that you can and will wear, so you can keep enjoying your usual activities. Some of the factors to consider when choosing your system and equipment are listed below: The amount of oxygen your doctor has prescribed for you (written as liter flow of oxygen per minute, such as 2 liters/min) How often and for how long you leave your house What activities you do while you are out Your size, strength and endurance versus the weight of the equipment The size and layout of your home (for instance, whether your house has two or more stories) Whether you breathe through your nose or your mouth Your dexterity Your personal preferences What type of equipment is availabl...

What is oxygen? Oxygen is a gas that your body needs to work properly. Your cells need oxygen to make energy. Your lungs absorb oxygen from the air you breathe. The oxygen enters your blood from your lungs and travels to your organs and body tissues. Certain medical conditions can cause your blood oxygen levels to be too low. Low blood oxygen may make you feel  short of breath , tired, or confused. It can also damage your body. Oxygen therapy can help you get more oxygen. What is oxygen therapy? Oxygen therapy is a treatment that provides you with extra oxygen to breathe in. It is also called supplemental oxygen. It is only available through a prescription from your health care provider. You may get it in the hospital, another medical setting, or at home. Some people only need it for a short period of time. Others will need long-term oxygen therapy. There are different types of devices that can give you oxygen. Some use tanks of liquid or gas oxygen. Others use an oxygen concentrat...

Benefits of Oxygen Therapy Oxygen therapy is beneficial to people with frequent low oxygen levels due to an underlying disease. It provides a more active lifestyle by decreasing shortness of breath.  Oxygen therapy can save lives in case of emergencies and also increases life expectancy. It is beneficial in symptoms like headaches, irritability, confusion, fatigue and swollen ankles. These symptoms may be due to low oxygen levels in the body. Oxygen therapy is also helpful to children with congenital chronic lung diseases thereby improving their quality of life. What are the symptoms of Low Blood Oxygen? Coughing or wheezing Rapid breaths Confusion Sweat Changes in skin color Short breath Increased heart rate You must seek for immediate medical help if you experience these symptoms. Medical professionals use pulse oximetry to determine whether a person qualifies for an oxygen therapy treatment or not. Some people require to be oxygenated all the time while others need i...

Home oxygen therapy Home oxygen therapy involves breathing in air that contains more oxygen than normal from a cylinder or machine in your home. It may be prescribed if you have a heart or lung condition that causes low oxygen levels in your blood. You can take oxygen in a number of ways using a: tube positioned under your nose (nasal cannula) face mask placed over your nose and mouth tube placed into your mouth and down your windpipe The tube or mask is attached to a ventilator machine. How home oxygen therapy can help ? If you have a health condition that causes low levels of oxygen in your blood, you may feel breathless and tired, particularly after walking or coughing. Fluid may also build up around your ankles. Breathing air with oxygen increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. This makes it easier to carry out activities that might otherwise be difficult, and helps reduce your symptoms. Oxygen therapy also helps prevent damage t...

Safety advice during oxigen therapy at Home Oxygen is a fire hazard, so you need to take precautions if you're using oxygen at home. For example: Never let anyone smoke while you're using oxygen keep oxygen at least six feet away from flames or heat sources, such as gas cookers and gas heaters don't use flammable liquids, such as cleaning fluid, paint thinner or aerosols, while using oxygen don't use oil-based emollients, such as Vaseline, when using oxygen install fire alarms and smoke detectors in your home and make sure they're working inform your local fire brigade that you have oxygen at home keep oxygen cylinders upright to prevent them being damaged.

When oxygen therapy shouldn't be used Oxygen therapy shouldn't be used to relieve breathlessness if your oxygen levels are normal. This is because it can decrease your fitness level and cause a delay in finding out what's making you breathless. Oxygen therapy assessment If you have a long-term condition and your doctor thinks oxygen therapy might be helpful, you'll be asked to visit your nearest oxygen clinic for an assessment. The amount of oxygen in your blood will be measured by taking a blood sample from your earlobe or wrist, or by attaching a sensor to your finger (a pulse oximetry test). You may also be asked to breathe into a device called a spirometer during a lung function test. Regular oxygen treatment may be recommended if your blood oxygen level is low. If you decide to have oxygen treatment at home, a healthcare professional at the clinic will help you work out how much oxygen you'll need and for how long. They'll also discuss the diffe...

Home Oxygen Therapy: What to Know Your body can’t live without the oxygen you breathe in from the air. But if you have lung disease or other medical conditions, you may not get enough of it. That can leave you short of breath and cause problems with your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Oxygen therapy  can help. It’s a way to get extra oxygen for you to breathe. Oxygen is a prescription medication. Do I Need It? Home oxygen therapy can help with many conditions, including: Asthma Chronic bronchitis Congestive heart failure COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Cystic fibrosis  Emphysema  Lung cancer  Pneumonia  Pulmonary fibrosis  Sleep apnea How Much Will I Need? Your doctor will give you a prescription that spells out how much oxygen you need per minute and when you need to get it. Some people may need oxygen therapy only when they exercise or sleep. Others may need it all day long. Your doctor will...

Continuous Care For Patients On occasion, a medical crisis can occur which requires close medical supervision. Touch On Sehat has the ability to provide continuous, around-the-clock licensed nursing care for a ill patient so they can avoid hospitalization. Once the medical crisis is over, the patient can return to routine home care. A patient can receive continuous nursing care if they have symptoms that are uncontrolled and choose to stay in their home. Continuous Home Care  is similar to inpatient care, except for the fact that the patient remains in their home instead of being admitted to an inpatient care facility. Continuous care for patients is offered only during periods of “crisis” to maintain a patient in their home. This advanced level of care is necessary when symptoms are not well controlled and the patient requires sustained nursing care to achieve symptom control. When Is Continuous Care Considered? If a patient develops physical or emotional s...

Respite Care Respite care is available to the primary caregivers and family in need of rest from caring for the patient. There are several local nursing facilities, as well as private respite homes available for respite care. The patient is able to stay in one of the facilities or homes for up to five (5) days per episode, according to Medicare guidelines. Medicare covers respite care costs as part of the Hospice benefit. Ask your home care team for more information regarding places that provide respite care. Palliative care differs from curative care in that it is not intended to cure the disease. As a result, routine IV’s, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery would only be appropriate if the physician and the home care staff determine these procedures in some way enhance the patient’s quality of life. There may come a time during the course of your family member’s illness that you, as a caregiver, may need some time away from the day...