SAS Urban Survival Handbook (120 page)

TONSILLITIS

Infection of the tonsils, causing throat and tonsils to become sore and visibly inflamed.

SYMPTOMS
Difficulty swallowing, fever, earache, headache, swollen and sore lymph nodes in the neck, and a bad taste in the mouth. Temporary deafness may occur, or an abcess beside the tonsils (quinsy).

ACTION
If the symptoms do not clear in a day or so, or there is a severe infection, seek medical attention. Antibiotics may be necessary. Ensure plenty of rest in bed, lots of drinks. Low doses of paracetamol (NOT aspirin) may relieve the fever.

HEART DISEASE

In many countries, heart disease is the leading cause of death among adult males—the incidence among women is increasing. About eight babies in 1000 are born with a heart defect, usually as a result of the mother contracting German measles (rubella) during pregnancy (see
Childhood diseases
) or as a complication of Down’s syndrome.

The most common form is ischaemic heart disease, leading to a narrowing or obstruction of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart muscle. Chest pain (angina pectoris) —caused by lack of blood supply to the heart muscle—is brought on by severe stress or exertion, but may be relieved by rest. Unremitting chest pain may not be due to angina, but to a myocardial infarction (‘heart attack’).

See a doctor immediately if you suspect any sort of heart trouble. Early treatment is VITAL. Prevention and treatment of heart disease include improving the diet—eating less animal fat and salt—exercising and stopping smoking/drinking.

HEART ATTACK

When a section of heart muscle ‘dies’, it is known as a myocardial infarction.
SYMPTOMS
Overpowering, relentless pain in the chest, shortness of breath, giddiness, profuse sweating, irregular pulse, blue skin and lips, vomiting and possibly collapse and unconsciousness.

Cardiac arrest means that the heart has stopped pumping. It may be caused by myocardial infarction, hypothermia (dramatic heat loss), drug overdose, electrocution, severe blood/fluid loss, or anaphylactic shock (acute allergic reaction).

SYMPTOMS
Sudden collapse, unconsciousness, no pulse, but initially would still be breathing. Monitor breathing closely and be prepared to apply artifical respiration.

WARNING The response to both a myocardial infarction and a cardiac arrest should be to CALL AN AMBULANCE. It is VITAL to act quickly to avoid the risk of possible brain damage. While you are waiting for medical help to arrive, give cardiac compression and artificial respiration (see Save a life!).

HYPERTENSION

Unusually high blood pressure (measured in the main arteries), even when resting. Most people’s blood pressure is increased as a response to exercise and in times of stress, but decreases when they are resting.

SYMPTOMS
There may be no symptoms. If the hypertension is severe, there could be shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and problems with the eyesight. Antihypertensive drugs can be used for severe cases or as a last resort, but self-help measures are the preferable option.

PREVENTION
Many people have hypertension without knowing it. For this reason, it is important to have regular medical check-ups. The condition affects up to 20 per cent of adults, particularly middle-aged men. To some extent it can be avoided by stopping smoking, stopping drinking, losing weight (if overweight), decreasing animal fat and salt intake, and exercising regularly. Unchecked, hypertension may lead to heart failure, heart disease, damage to the kidneys or the eye retinae (retinopathy).

CANCER

Over one in four people are affected by cancer during their lifetime. It is known to cause over 140,000 deaths every year, in the UK alone, and (after heart disease) is the second most common cause of death in the Western world.

An abnormal growth or lump in the body is not necessarily cancerous (malignant)—most growths are benign. When cancerous cells in organs or tissues do occur, they may destroy or disturb circulation, bones, nerves and tissues. Cancerous cells sometimes travel rapidly through the system to form new tumours elsewhere in the body.

Whether or not a person develops cancer is largely determined by their genetic make-up. Cancer-causing agents may trigger the disease. Cancer has been linked to many factors, including diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, occupational hazards and the use of food additives. Sexual/reproductive history can also prove an influencing factor in the incidence of cancer in women. Cervical cancer has been linked to number of sexual partners, for example, whereas motherhood whilst comparatively young may lessen the likelihood of breast cancer.

Australia has a high incidence of people with skin cancer. Those most at risk in the northern hemisphere are pale-skinned holiday makers, who expose themselves to the sun in short bursts (see IN TRANSIT).

What to watch for

The earlier the diagnosis, the higher the chance of a cure—80 per cent of breast lumps turn out to be benign. The cure rate for testicular cancer in its early stages is between 95 and 100 per cent. Cancer produces a range of symptoms. Any of the following signs should be reported to a doctor immediately, if they persist for several days or more.

• ◑ Changes in breast shape or ‘lumps’.
  
• ◑ Unexplained nipple discharge.
  
• ◑ Menstrual bleeding, unrelated to periods or menopause.
  
• ◑ Development of lumps or changes in the scrotum.
  
• ◑ Constant unremitting pain in the abdomen.
  
• ◑ Bleeding (painless) during urination.
  
• ◑ Persistent problems with bowels/defecation.
  
• ◑ Throat problems (especially when swallowing).
  
• ◑ Unexplained grating or husky voice.
  
• ◑ Heavy cough with blood in the phlegm.
  
• ◑ Regular headaches.
  
• ◑ Mysterious and swift loss of weight.
  
• ◑ Sores or ulcers which do not heal.
  
• ◑ Moles which grow or constantly itch.
  
• ◑ Lumps or patchy changes in skin condition.
  

In recent years, the means of diagnosing cancer at an early stage and the range of treatments available have dramatically improved. Screening tests, microscopic examination of cells by biopsy, scanning and imaging techniques all give VITAL diagnostic information and cause little discomfort to the patient. Almost half of all cancers may now be cured. The survival rate, for the years after diagnosis, continues to increase—although it does depend on the part of the body affected.

LEUKAEMIA

Name for forms of cancer in which there is an overproduction of white blood cells from the bone marrow. This inhibits or disturbs the manufacture of normal red and white blood cells. As these invade various organs in the body, other problems may develop—especially in the spleen, lymphatic system, liver or brain.

SYMPTOMS
‘Sore’ bones, bleeding gums, recurrent headaches, unexplained bruising, pale complexion, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (in groin, neck and armpits), recurrent infections (including coughs and sore throats).

ACTION
Seek urgent medical attention. Depending on the type of leukaemia, antibiotic or anticancer drugs, radiotherapy, or bone marrow transplant may be used.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)

A progressive disease which affects the central nervous system, causing the destruction of areas of the covering (myelin) of the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord.

MS has an enormous variety of symptoms, ranging from numbness and tingling in the limbs, to paralysis and incontinence. General symptoms include fatigue, apparent clumsiness, ‘loss of balance’, visual disturbances and muscle weakness. There are often dramatic and unpredictable improvements and relapses—a patient may be severely disabled one week and seem normal the next.

Relapses are more common after injury, infection and physical or emotional stress. The patient may be left with mild symptoms for long periods of time, or even no symptoms at all. Tragically, some people may be severely disabled or even paralysed in their first year of illness.

Research to find a cure continues. Some people with MS believe that changes in their diets, including reducing the intake of starch and increasing sunflower or evening primrose oils, can help. As yet, no drug has been found to help all MS victims, although some drugs alleviate specific symptoms. Perhaps the most beneficial treatment is physiotherapy, which strengthens muscles and restores mobility and independence.

EPILEPSY

A disorder which can lead to occasional losses of consciousness. Convulsions may occur. The condition may be ‘inheritable’. Seizures may be triggered (for instance) by injury or severe illness. There are two main types of epileptic seizure—general (grand mal) and absence (petit mal).

GENERAL SEIZURE

SYMPTOMS
Having fallen to the ground unconscious, the victim will firstly go rigid, then start to twitch involuntarily. Their breathing may be erratic or stop totally. After the victim’s muscles relax—bladder and bowel control may be lost. He/she may be confused, may feel very drowsy, and usually cannot remember the event.

ACTION
Carefully loosen tight clothing around the neck. Move anything which might cause harm—especially to the victim’s head. NEVER restrain the victim or place anything in the mouth. NEVER attempt to move the victim unless in danger of injury. When the attack is over, place the victim in the recovery position (see SAFETY FIRST) and allow him or her to regain consciousness.

WARNING Seek urgent medical attention. CALL AN AMBULANCE if seizure continues for more than five minutes, if another seizure follows or if consciousness is not regained a few minutes after the seizure has ended. Prolonged seizures can be fatal without immediate emergency treatment.

REMEMBER
Epileptics should advise their colleagues on what to do if a seizure occurs and carry a special card or bracelet stating that they have epilepsy. Statistics suggest that the condition may be worse in childhood and adolescence. Many people ‘grow out’ of the condition, or find that medication helps to keep it under control.

ABSENCE SEIZURES

A temporary loss of consciousness for up to thirty seconds during which the epileptic is oblivious to his/her surroundings, appearing to be daydreaming. The attack may even pass without anyone noticing. There may be many ‘attacks’ in a day, especially in children, and schoolwork could suffer.

DIABETES MELLITUS

A disorder in which the body does not manufacture the hormone insulin in sufficient quantities, if at all. Insulin controls the way the body regulates sugar levels in the blood. This condition may be present from birth, although it may manifest itself at any time during a diabetic’s life.

SYMPTOMS
Excessive thirst. Constant need to pass urine. Weight loss, fatigue and hunger, caused by the body’s inability to use or store energy-giving glucose. Blurred vision, muscle weakness, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet. Recurrent skin infections, candidiasis (thrush), and urinary tract infections such as cystisis. Most diagnosed diabetics can usually treat themselves—but may need help.

WARNING If a ‘diabetic’ or someone suspected of having diabetes seems in distress and unable to help themselves, seek urgent medical attention or CALL AN AMBULANCE. Without regular insulin injections, the sufferer may lapse into a coma and die.

DIABETIC EMERGENCY

Two main conditions can occur. Hypoglycaemia—too little sugar in the blood—can rapidly cause a life-threatening condition. Hyperglycaemio—too much sugar in the blood—normally develops slowly and the diabetic is prepared for the problem.

SYMPTOMS
Low blood sugar may cause the diabetic to appear dizzy or drunk and aggressive. He/she may look pale and sweating. Breathing is shallow. There may be trembling and a rapid pulse, possibly with rapid loss of consciousness. The diabetic may or may not be aware of the problem.

ACTION
If you are quick, it may only be necessary to give the casualty a sweet drink, sugar or chocolate to raise the blood sugar level. If the diabetic lapses into unconsciousness, seek urgent medical assistance.

WARNING Diabetics who have been taking insulin for quite a few years may have few warning symptoms that they are

slipping into hypoglycaemia. An overdose of insulin may be extremely dangerous. Diabetics should not miss meals or eat only tiny snacks. Low blood sugar levels, if allowed to persist, can cause brain damage. It is possible for the condition to lead to coma and death. If you know a diabetic, discuss the situation so that you will know how to help if a problem arises.

GENETIC DISORDERS

There are many diseases and disorders which are passed on from generation to generation through families. Some genetic defects may not be apparent until the person is mature—others may be evident at birth. Some traits, such as colour blindness, do not usually cause any real disability. Others, including haemophilia or sickle-cell anaemia, may be life-threatening.