A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head or upper body leading to loss of balance, concentration, memory, loss of consciousness and severe headaches. Notably, concussions are common in people who play contact sports such as soccer.

Concussion

Symptoms

Symptoms of concussive traumatic brain injury may be subtle from the onset but gradually worsens over time. They include temporary loss of consciousness, confusion, fatigue, appearing dazed, ringing in the ears, vomiting, nausea, and amnesia surrounding the trauma, headache, dizziness and delayed response to questions.

Moreover, symptoms of concussions may be experienced immediately or delayed in onset by hours after injury such as psychological adjustment problems and gloominess, sleep troubles, seizures, sensitivity to light and noise, concentration and memory complaints and irritability.

Causes

A violent blow to one's head or neck causes the brain to slide back and forth forcefully against the inner walls of the skull. Besides, brain injury that affect brain functioning occurs when there is a sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head due to events such as violent shaking or car accidents. Bleeding in or around the brain is imminent after such brain injury which can be fatal leading to symptoms like prolonged drowsiness and confusion.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of a concussion in individuals may include involvement in motor vehicle collision, falling especially in infants and the elderly, a history a history of concussion, being a victim of physical abuse, involvement in combat especially by soldiers, bicycle and pedestrian accidents; and participation in high risk sporting activities like soccer, hockey, boxing and rugby without proper safety equipment.

Complications

Individuals who have had concussions stand a double risk of developing epilepsy within the first five years of the injury. Further, complications such as post-traumatic headaches, post-traumatic vertigo that is, a sense of spinning or dizziness; post concussion syndrome such as headaches, thinking difficulties and dizziness and cumulative effects of multiple brain injuries like impairments that limits the ability to function. Experiencing a subsequent concussion before resolving the signs and symptoms of the first may lead to rapid and fatal brain swelling. This is because the levels of brain chemicals are altered after a concussion and it requires about a week to stabilize.

Treatment

In order for the brain to recover from concussion, it is advisable for a victim to take plenty of rest. Avoid general physical exertion like sports until the symptoms stop, limit activities that require mental concentration such as playing games, schoolwork, watching television or using computer until you recover from concussion. For headaches, seek the attention of a general practitioner for pain relievers that may not increase the risk of bleeding. The general practitioner may also advise on when to resume playing competitive sports.

It has been proven that some individuals who have had many concussions as they grow up are more likely to develop lasting, and even progressive, injury that restricts their functioning capability.  Therefore, it is advisable not to return to vigorous activity when symptoms of a concussion are still there.

Prevention

Wear protective gear when engaged in sports or any other recreational activities that may cause concussion, buckle the seat belt as this may prevent serious injury to the head in case of a traffic accident. In addition, keeping the home well-lit and floors free from things that may make one to fall as unsafe homes is the leading cause of concussions due to falling, exercise regularly to strengthen leg muscles thus improving balance. It is also necessary to educate others about concussions and to protect the children by blocking off the stairways and installing window guards.

References

https://books.google.co.il/books?id=B01qwcnzDrQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=concussion+symptoms&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ecJDU6WBI4OAhAeG-4D4BA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=concussion%20symptoms&f=false

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/basics/definition/con-20019272

Puncture Wounds

A puncture wound refers to a powerful damage to the skin caused by a bristly and pointed object penetrating the skin deeper. When sharp objects cause puncture wounds, the risk of infection becomes high as such wounds are hard to clean. Other punctures are done for individual wellbeing purposes; such may also raise the risk of blood bone illnesses. Home treatment is what is often required to treat puncture wounds.

In case one has a puncture wound, he or she should find out if any piece of the object is still in the wound for instance a splinter.  A pencil lead puncture wound is not more worrisome so it is not obligatory to check blood levels for lead or worry about poisoning. In addition, check whether the basic tissues like blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, or internal organs, have been hurt by that object. Ensure you clean the wound to remove dirt and prevent both tetanus and bacterial infections.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms and signs of puncture wounds may be identified by the following: bleeding, decreased blood flow at or near the wound, swelling or bruising next to the puncture wound and pain.

Home remedies

Minor puncture wounds do not require tetanus shot to treat or any general practitioner but can be treated effectively at home. However, make sure you do get a tetanus shot if you haven't gotten one in the last 10 years or get a booster shot if you haven't had a shot in the last 5 years.

Home remedies may prevent further infection and promote healing of the wound. Try and remove the object from the wound using a needle or a clean tweezers. This should be carefully done so as not to push the object farther into the wound.

Let the injury to bleed unreservedly for about five minutes to clean out then stop the bleeding with direct pressure to the wound. After the bleeding stops, check the symptoms to determine whether it is necessary to seek the attention of a general practitioner or not. Make sure the wound is clean to avoid any possibility of infection by washing it for 5 minutes with cool water plus soap. However, avoid rubbing alcohol, iodine or hydrogen peroxide as these may harm the tissues and slow down the healing process.

Consider applying a bandage to protect the puncture wound from dirt and irritation. Clean the wound thoroughly before applying the bandage to reduce the risk of infection occurring under the bandage. Puncture wounds less often require stitches, skin adhesives or staples.

Prevention

It is always imperative to practice safety while using sharp or blunt objects to avoid puncture wounds, paying close attention to whatever one does and in case of any distraction, set the object aside until you are able to pay attention to whatever one is doing. Besides, you ought to have the knowledge of use of the object that you are using, avoid using such objects in the dark and ensuring that you wear protective gloves, glasses or boots as appropriate. Hold a prickly item away from your body when using it and carry the object with a risky end far from you.

Switch off the power and use safety locks on the power tools while not in use; taking absolute care when using high-pressure equipment like paint sprayers. Ensure that the work area is clear of people and any other danger that may hinder the safe operation of the equipment. In addition, store hazardous objects in secure places and teach your children on safety while being a good role model. Above all, avoid alcohol and other drugs when handling sharp objects.

References

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEwQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fsymptom%2Fpuncture-wound&ei=oMlUU9SmDMOp0QW91oHwBA&usg=AFQjCNEDhKTccHOLZE3_NOicwL-O0hOwyQ&bvm=bv.65058239,d.Yms

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CFkQFjAH&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lakeviewhealth.org%2Fupload%2Fdocs%2FPuncture%2520Wounds.pdf&ei=oMlUU9SmDMOp0QW91oHwBA&usg=AFQjCNHYcIk9o-g9o6o78FvpfMBeyjTSjA&bvm=bv.65058239,d.Yms

Jaw Dislocation

A broken or dislocated jaw refers to an injury to the joints joining the lower jawbone to the skull commonly called the temporomandibular joints which break, crack and or happen to be unhinged from one's skull. This unhinging of the jaw joints is referred to as a dislocation. These fracturing, breaking or dislocation of jaws may create problems when eating or breathing therefore, immediate medical attention is necessary to reduce complications and speed healing process.

Causes

Experiencing damage to the face is the major cause of a dislocated or broken jaw. The jawbone lengthens from the cheek to the back the ear. Regular types of harm that can cause fractures or dislocations in the jawbone are physical assault in one's face, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, accidental falls at home and industrial or work place accidents.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of jaw fractures can be plentiful depending on how severe the displacement injury is and the duration the person is inflicted with the damage. Symptoms of a dislocated jaw include but are not limited to a bite that is not normal, problems when speaking or moving one's  jaw, inability to close mouth entirely, drooling as a result of not being able to close one's mouth wholly, teeth feel they are out of arrangement, and an unbearable pain. The instant symptom may be a deafening crunch noise happening right up next to the ear drum. This is immediately preceded with severe pain, mostly in the side where the dislocation had occurred.

Immediate signs and symptoms vary from gentle to chronic headaches, muscle strain or pain in the neck, jaw and face whereas long-term symptoms result in lethargy, sleep deprivation, frustration, anger bursts, hearing sensitivity, tinnitus and pain while seated while at a computer or while reading books from general pressure on the muscles of the jaw in instances when one tilts his head up or down.

Symptoms associated with fractured jaw are however harsh and include bleeding from the mouth, inability and pain when opening the mouth, swelling and bruising of the face, problems eating as a result of constant pain, loss of sensitivity of the face and lack of full movement of the jaw.

Prevention

Prevention of jaw fractures primarily entails avoiding trauma to the chin and lower face. This can be ensured through wearing of seat belts and shoulder harnesses when one is riding in a car, even if the car is fitted with airbags. This will assist in protecting the facial bones and upper body from impact on the dashboard and other injuries. In addition, wear headgear and a mouth guard when involved in contact sports. Apart from giving protection to the teeth from impacts, mouth guards offer substantial defense against jaw fractures.

Parents should also not allow children to take part in amateur boxing for their child's safety.

Treatment

Broken, dislocated or even fractured jaws may develop complications during eating and inhalation and exhalation. Urgent health check should be sought to reduce complications and speed up healing process. Simple treatments involving self-care techniques, therapies aimed at removing muscle tremors and ensuring exact harmonization, is all that is needed.

Most dislocated jaws can usually be successfully restored into its normal place by a qualified general practitioner and attempts to readjust the jaw without seeking the assistance of such a professional may worsen the injury. Numbing drugs which include common anesthetics muscle relaxants and sedation may be applied to relax the strong jaw muscle. Severe cases may require surgical procedure to relocate the jaw, principally if continuous jaw dislocations have taken place.

References

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CH4QFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fa-to-z-guides%2Fcholera-faq&ei=aatbU-OXPMbg4QT714FI&usg=AFQjCNF0fuWbViUXe0ZkYCd76E6IC2dsEQ&bvm=bv.65397613,d.bGE

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth%2Fbroken-or-dislocated-jaw&ei=tqtbU7iWMerm4QSymIB4&usg=AFQjCNFQT3VIAa_SPRirp1uR2Yio_LFbDQ&bvm=bv.65397613,d.bGE

Migraine

Migraine is an intense throbbing or pulsing sensation in one area of the brain commonly accompanied by nausea, tremendous sensitivity to light and sound, vomiting and aura such as flashes of light, blind spots and tingling in the limbs. This attack may be so severe and cause intense pain for days that it may prompt the victim to think about finding a dark and quiet place to lie down.

Medications approved by a general practitioner can assist in lessening the regularity and severity of migraines and should such medications fail to work, a different migraine headache medication should be given. The correct medicine and home remedies and lifestyle changes may bring significant difference in the victims of migraine.

Symptoms

Migraine headaches habitually start during infancy, puberty or early adulthood. Migraines can develop in four phases although one may not experience all of them. They include prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. Subtle changes like constipation, depression, food cravings, hyperactivity, irritability, neck stiffness and uncontrollable yawning may be noticed days before a migraine.

Aura may occur prior to or during migraine headaches and may a times be sensory, motor or verbal disturbances. Each of these symptoms generally start slowly, builds up and then lasts for 20 minutes to an hour. Examples of aura are visual phenomena like seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light, vision loss, pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg and aphasia. Migraine also comes with pain on one or both sides of the head, pain that has a pulsating, throbbing quality, sensitivity to light, sounds and sometimes smells, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, lightheadedness, sometimes followed by fainting

Causes

Notwithstanding the exact method of the headaches, a number of things may trigger migraine. General migraine triggers include hormonal changes in women, certain foods, food additives, drinks, stress and sensory stimuli. Besides, other triggers like changes in wake “ sleep system, certain medications like oral contraceptives, changes in environment and physical factors may provoke migraines.

Risk factors

Several factors make one more vulnerable to having migraines. These include age, family history, hormonal changes like after the onset of menstruation and sex “ women having higher chances than men. The change may also be during pregnancy or menopause, as migraines get better after menopause.

Complications

Sometimes your efforts to control your pain cause abdominal problems, medication over use headaches, serotonin syndrome, chronic migraine, status migrainosus, persistent aura without infarction and migrainous infraction.

Treatment

Migraines can’t be cured, but general practitioners can work to assist one control the condition. A range of medications have been explicitly designed to care for migraines. Also, some drugs used in treating other illnesses also may prevent migraines. Medications used to contain this condition are divided into pain relieving and preventive medications.

Prevention

One qualifies to be a candidate for preventive therapy if she or he experiences four or more debilitating attacks in a month, or if the attacks last more than 12 hours, if the pain relieving medicines do not help or if the symptoms involve a prolonged aura or numbness and weaknesses. These preventive medications should be recommended by a general practitioner to reduce the severity, length and frequency of migraines thereby increasing the effectiveness of symptom relieving drugs. Migraine headaches may result from stress as well. If you feel that your life may be too stressful, finding a way to alleviate stress may help reduce symptoms of migraine headaches as well. Practice calming techniques to soothe your body, mind and soul. Some helpful examples include, exercise, meditation, effective breathing techniques, tai chi and yoga. Aromatherapy and taking warm baths infused with essential oils and Epsom salt may cause short-term relief.

References

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fdiseases-conditions%2Fmigraine-headache%2Fbasics%2Fdefinition%2Fcon-20026358&ei=3KxbU6amJMX07AaCg4CADQ&usg=AFQjCNG7YJpKbFhukDYbv_fS_fZm_aUdmA&bvm=bv.65397613,d.bGE

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CD0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fmigraines-headaches%2Fdefault.htm%3Fnames-dropdown%3DID&ei=3KxbU6amJMX07AaCg4CADQ&usg=AFQjCNGLbtxBj7ehcBG3XyKDnuS1sREq3A&bvm=bv.65397613,d.bGE

stye

Also known as hordeolum or chalazion, stye refers to minor, short-term bacterial illnesses that affect the edge of one's eye, clogging the glands around the eyelid thereby making it swollen with sores like pimples or boils. The sore causes pain in the eye and temporarily becomes filled with pus. This condition may worsen and develop deeper inside the eyelid making it swell until it requires the attention of a general practitioner.

Signs and symptoms

From the onset, stye manifests itself through small, yellowish spot at the centre of the bump that develops as pus expanding in the area, a lump at the bottom or top of the eyelid. This comes with some restricted swelling and pain of the same eyelid, redness, tenderness, crusting in the margins of the eyelid, burning, droopiness of the eyelid, itching, blurred vision, mucous discharge, irritation, tearing, light sensitivity, feeling of a foreign body in the eye and distress during blinking.

Risk factors

Your risk of eyelid infection increases if:

• You maintain poor hygiene. Chances are that you will touch your contact lenses without washing your hands, thus contaminating them and increasing your risk
• You do not disinfect your contact lenses prior to use
• You do not wash your makeup when not needed, especially before sleeping
• You use expired or old cosmetics. Usually mascaras have a short shelf-life (about 6 months) and can get contaminated easily
• You share your towels and soap with others – it is best to use liquid cleansers to avoid contamination

Causes

Styes are usually experienced by people of all ages though they are particularly frequent in teenagers. This condition may last for two weeks with no treatment or as little as four days if properly treated. It is therefore, necessary to avoid sharing things like face towels to prevent its spread between individuals. Triggers of stye include but not limited to sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, insufficient water, poor hygiene and rubbing of one's eyes.

Prevention

Proper hygiene is a key factor in stye prevention. To reduce the risks of developing styes and other infections in individuals, people should at all time practice proper hand washing. It is highly advisable  not share cosmetic eye tools with other people, always keep the eye tools clean and practice general eye hygiene. Before one goes to sleep every night, it is recommended to remove makeup and dispose of contaminated ones. More importantly, avoid stress at all costs.

Treatment

The principal mode of treating stye is the application of warm compress, then the performance of incision and drainage. As a home remedy, one ought to gently cleanse the eyelid affected with stye with tap water and a shampoo in order to remove crusted discharge. A general practitioner may sometimes pierce a mainly unrelenting stye with a needle to speed up its draining. Consequently, he may also treat styes with specific antibiotics. Care must always be taken to cleanse the wound in order to prevent re-infection incase stye bursts; one should also not lance the stye to avoid infection and spread to surrounding areas. In addition, sufferers should avoid eye makeup, lotions and wearing of contact lenses as these may worsen the condition.

Complications

Common complications of stye are corneal irritation and cosmetic deformity that may require surgical removal, complications from improper surgical lancing and lid fistula. Too large styes may also interfere with one's vision. Besides, infection of the eyelid may result into eyelid cellulites which may permanently seal the eye due to the damage from infection.

References

https://www.medicinenet.com/sty_stye/article.htm

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001009.htm

Our bodies need many vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients to thrive though few are as well-known and recognized as Vitamin C.  This water-soluble vitamin also known as Ascorbic Acid plays a huge role in protecting our bodies and keeping our cellular structure intact, therefore making it important to include in everyone’s dietary regimen.

Why Do We Need Vitamin C?

A huge part of what makes Vitamin C such a powerful protective vitamin is its rich antioxidant content.  Antioxidants are compounds that help eliminate the presence of free radicals responsible for cellular damage that cause illness and aging.   The antioxidant content of Vitamin C is what strengthens your defenses against infections and protects you from certain diseases including stroke, heart attack and certain cancer.  Antioxidants can also protect your body’s stores of fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A and E.  In fact, many people have taken to increasing their Vitamin C intake whenever they’re stuck with colds”not as a cure (most colds go away on their own eventually) but as a safeguard from more serious manifestations and complications.

Aside from acting as our shield, Vitamin C is also considered an important skin vitamin.  It is essential in collagen production necessary to keep our skin well formed and durable as well as for supporting nerves, tissues and organ structures.  This makes Vitamin C important in rebuilding broken tissues and has been associated with speedier wound healing.  In fact, because of its importance in keeping tissue connectivity, lack of Vitamin C will cause several structural problems such as poor wound healing, loose teeth, bleeding gums, easy bruising and general muscle weakness.  Thankfully, it is rare nowadays to contract scurvy because of the wide availability of Vitamin C sources.

Also, recent studies show that Vitamin C can also help break down some oxidized fats which can give it a more prominent role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune diseases and vascular diseases.

Where can I get Vitamin C?

Most doctors recommend an intake of at least 500 mg of Vitamin C a day though depending on your nutritional status and your health level, you may actually need more.  There are several fruits and vegetables available that contain a good amount of Vitamin C per serving.   Foods rich in Vitamin C include members of the citrus fruits category such as oranges, limes and lemons, kiwis, tomatoes, cantaloupe and in vegetables like potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and bell peppers. However, despite its wide availability, many find it challenging to consume the required amount of food needed to meet dietary requirements and are turning to oral supplements.

Lastly, while Vitamin C is associated with many benefits, having too much of it is naturally bad news.  The safe upper limit for Vitamin C intake is around 2000 mg though some who have exceeded 1000 mg dietary intake report experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloating.  This can be avoided by sticking to the traditional 500 mg Ascorbic Acid supplement and adding extra Vitamin C via increased intake of its fruit and vegetable rich sources.

Make sure you add your intake from natural foods such as citrus fruits into your daily vitamin C count too. Remember that despite how good something may be, too much of anything can be bad for you. Try your best to consume vitamin C foods so that you do not have to worry about taking supplements. If you believe you may not be taking enough vitamin C or may be experiencing some symptoms of deficiency such as unhealthy gums, poor skin etc., your primary target should be to include fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C into your diet as much as possible, if you can’t, supplements will do.

References

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm

You probably must have heard about the five or six meal per day diet plan . If you are wondering what is it about, then read on. In simple words this meal plan suggests that eating food frequently and in small portions throughout the day. Studies reveal that there are some clear benefits of eating more frequently versus eating less frequently. In fact, it is seen that following such a meal plan is particularly helpful for people who are struggling with their weight loss. Let's delve a bit deeper into it.

Eating more frequently doesn't necessarily mean eating full stomach each and every time. The goal of this meal plan is to distribute your nutrition to smaller portions throughout the day. Simply put frequent meals will curb your appetite as the more frequently you eat, the less prone to hunger you will be. It is a common thing to feel sluggish after having a full meal. Also if you stay too long without eating, you may feel tired. By frequently, eating you get avoid getting the extremes on both ends and your energy levels will significantly improve.

Smaller meals and weight loss

It is seen that eating several small meals is more effective for weight loss than eating three regular meals. By eating more frequently and cutting down on the portion size, one can ensure that he eats fewer calories, less of fat and sugar per sitting. This method ensures that you stay fuller longer and that reduces your chances of overeating. A study also reveals that snacking at frequent intervals rather than gulping down large meals can also help in stimulating the metabolism. In fact having large meals can have detrimental effects on your weight loss goals. It is possible that after having a large meal, you will feel tempted to skip your next meal and that is not a good thing.

Studies reveal that by consuming smaller meals at regular intervals can help in boosting people's efficiency, productivity and energy. In case you have an irregular meal pattern, then you make experience periods of energy spikes and crashes. On the other hand, if you feel energetic all your waking hours then you will be more active and that is very important for one's overall good health.

Smaller and frequent meals can also help you in fighting chronic illnesses. It is seen that by having small meals at regular intervals you will have reduced cholesterol and a greater control over your sugar levels. Such meal plan gives one a better regulation on the blood glucose levels and prevents spikes.

How to derive the maximum benefit from such a meal plan?

There are clear benefits of having food frequently in small portions but one may need to understand that it doesn't work like magic. It is advisable to have smaller frequent meals, boosting the consumption of fruits and vegetables and eating things that are low on calories but are filling and nutritious. It is also important that you include complex carbohydrates in your diet to derive maximum energy and for a feeling of fullness.

Snacking

Between three meals, you can allow room for tiny snacks to keep your metabolism steady. You still have to ensure that you have small meals for your main meals and low-calorie snacks for your snack time.
Choose snacks that:
¢ High in fiber. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans are excellent examples.
¢ Carbs with low glycemic indexes. These include fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains
¢ Are balanced with healthy fats and small amounts of proteins. Such snacks need to be satiating so choose bulky food items with low amounts of calories. These may include nuts and seeds, soy foods, olive oil or canola oil for your healthy fat and for flavor, and avocados.

To learn more weight loss tips and tricks, read: https://www.doctortipster.com/18873-ten-ways-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain.html

Advantages of eating more frequently

References

https://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1144
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/increase-your-metabolism-start-losing-fat?page=2

Broken Rib

A broken or fractured rib is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. The most common cause of broken rib is trauma to the chest, such as from a fall, motor vehicle accident or impact during contact sports. Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren’t as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken. In these situations, a jagged piece of bone could damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lungs. In most cases, broken ribs heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that a person can continue to inhale and exhale deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a broken rib may include pain when one takes a deep breath, this pain normally gets worse when the victim presses on the injured area, or when he or she bends or twists his or her body. Therefore, It is advisable to see a doctor if one has a very gentle spot in the rib area that occurs after shock, is present with deep breaths or if it prevents one's breathing.

Nonetheless, should one experience pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, pain that extends beyond the chest to one's shoulder or arm, and increasing episodes of chest pain, get medical attention immediately. These symptoms may indicate the possibility of a heart attack.

Causes

Causes of direct impact include motor vehicle accidents, child abuse, contact sports like soccer and rugby; and falls. In addition, broken ribs emanating from repetitive trauma include sports such as golf or rowing and severe and prolonged coughing spells.

Risk factors

The following factors can increase the risk of breaking a rib:

• Having osteoporosis which is a disease in which one's bones lose their density, making him more vulnerable to a bone fracture
• Participating in contact sports like hockey or football also increases the risk of pain to a person's chest
• Trauma increases the risk of rib fractures
• A cancerous lesion in victims can also weaken the bone to make it more prone to breaks.

Complications

Distinct from a fractured rib, a totally broken rib can injure blood vessels and internal organs which increase with the number of broken ribs. Complications thus, vary depending on which ribs have been broken in the body. Possible complications include torn or punctured aorta, punctured lung and lacerated spleen, liver or kidneys “ all being life threatening conditions.

Prevention

In order to help prevent a broken rib in individuals, immediate measures should be adhered to when participating in sports always. These include, but are not limited to, protection of oneself from athletic injuries and wearing protective equipment when playing contact sports. In addition to this, one ought to ensure he or she takes appropriate steps to decrease the risk of household falls and decreasing the chances of getting osteoporosis like getting enough calcium in the diet.

A broken rib thus, arises from a trauma to the chest causing soreness which is felt more when the victim presses the injured part or during bending or twisting. An individual who has rib fracture has a high chance of injuring blood vessels such as capillaries and veins; and other body's internal organs. People who are involved in contact sports like rugby and even soccer, unfortunate motor vehicle accidents and people who experience child abuse most often cause broken rib. Caution is key to avoidance of this condition during contact sports.

References

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fdiseases-conditions%2Fbroken-ribs%2Fbasics%2Fdefinition%2Fcon-20029574&ei=SMNDU-HHJIq47Aa0_4HwCQ&usg=AFQjCNEsHq0S5wGsg2nV5-TZGjDWRSdSpg&bvm=bv.64367178,d.ZWU

https://books.google.com/books?id=PND1dqeKNyIC&pg=PA348&dq=broken+ribs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6MRDU6jANq_b7Aa-nYGICg&ved=0CFUQ6AEwBw

https://books.google.com/books?id=3W1VAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA188&dq=broken+ribs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6MRDU6jANq_b7Aa-nYGICg&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBQ