A warning has been issued about the popular cough and cold treatment Vicks VapoRub. It contains camphor which is toxic if swallowed or absorbed into the body and the manufacturers do in fact warn that VapoRub should not be applied in or near the nostrils and not used on children under 2 years of age.
Vicks has been reported to cause inflammation in the eyes, mental status changes, lung inflammation, liver damage, constriction of airways and allergic reactions.
The average time reported by Vicks advocates to see significant hair growth is around 30-60 days. Menthol is a compound known to clear pores of irritants so that hair can grow easily while eucalyptus and camphor are both essential oil that stimulate the hair follicles and improve circulation when applied topically.
Vicks VapoRub is made from natural ingredients. However, even natural chemicals can be toxic if you get too much of them or use them incorrectly. Also, children and adults of any age should not place Vicks VapoRub under their nose or in their nostrils.
“Excessive amounts of camphor can cause irritation in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Agitation and seizures have also been described as a sign of menthol and camphor poisoning,” he said.
According to Manway, Vicks VapoRub “isn't appropriate to be used on the face due to the thick, greasy vehicle that can easily clog pores and promote the cascade of further acne.” So, while using Vicks on a pimple likely isn't dangerous to your health, it could actually backfire and cause more acne.
The menthol in VapoRub gives your skin a refreshing cool down, and it can help to improve blood circulation, leading to less sore muscles.
Seizures take on many different forms and have a beginning (prodrome and aura), middle (ictal) and end (post-ictal) stage.
Tonic, Clonic and Tonic-Clonic (Formerly called Grand Mal) Seizures.
Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body's metabolism. Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. white flour) also seem to trigger seizures in their children.
Many medications are used in the treatment of epilepsy and seizures, including:
- Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, others)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
- Valproic acid (Depakene)
- Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar, Trileptal)
- Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- Gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin)
- Topiramate (Topamax)
- Phenobarbital.
These are general steps to help someone who is having any type seizure:
- Stay with the person until the seizure ends and he or she is fully awake.
- Comfort the person and speak calmly.
- Check to see if the person is wearing a medical bracelet or other emergency information.
- Keep yourself and other people calm.
Research Shows Anxiety-Induced Seizures Can Resemble Epilepsy. Although epilepsy is one of the most common causes of seizures, it's not the only cause. Extreme emotional states can give rise to seizures.
While many forms of epilepsy require lifelong treatment to control the seizures, for some people the seizures eventually go away. The odds of becoming seizure-free are not as good for adults or for children with severe epilepsy syndromes, but it is possible that seizures may decrease or even stop over time.
white bread; non-wholegrain cereals; biscuits and cakes; honey; high-sugar drinks and foods; fruit juices; chips; mashed potatoes; parsnips; dates and watermelon. In general, processed or overcooked foods and over-ripe fruits.
Can sleep deprivation trigger a seizure? Yes, it can. Seizures are very sensitive to sleep patterns. Some people have their first and only seizures after an "all-nighter" at college or after not sleeping well for long periods.
Isolated brief seizures probably do not kill neurons; however, severe and repetitive seizures (i.e., status epilepticus) certainly do. Because status epilepticus both kills neurons and also leads to chronic epilepsy, neuronal death has been proposed to be an integral part of acquired epileptogenesis.
During a convulsive or tonic-clonic seizure, it may look like the person has stopped breathing. This happens when the chest muscles tighten during the tonic phase of a seizure. As this part of a seizure ends, the muscles will relax and breathing will resume normally.
A seizure (also called a fit, spell, convulsion, or attack) is the visible sign of a problem in the electrical system of the brain. A single seizure can have many causes, such as a high fever, lack of oxygen, poisoning, trauma, a tumor, infection, or after brain surgery. Most seizures are controlled with medication.
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that aren't brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy.
Usually, a seizure does not cause any lasting damage to the brain. However, having many seizures, or having seizures that are particularly severe, may cause a person to become more forgetful or find it difficult to concentrate. People with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing depression.
Stage 3: Ending (Postictal)The length of this stage will depend on the type of seizure you had and the parts of your brain that were involved. Some people start to feel better very quickly. For others, it can be a few hours before they feel back to their normal selves.
Sometimes severe seizure can cause brain damage, but most seizures do not seem to have a detrimental effect on the brain. Epilepsy has many possible causes, from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development.
First Aid
- Keep other people out of the way.
- Clear hard or sharp objects away from the person.
- Don't try to hold them down or stop the movements.
- Place them on their side, to help keep their airway clear.
- Look at your watch at the start of the seizure, to time its length.
- Don't put anything in their mouth.
In cases where the aura is a smell, some people are able to fight off seizures by sniffing a strong odor, such as garlic or roses. When the preliminary signs include depression, irritability, or headache, an extra dose of medication (with a doctor's approval) may help prevent an attack.
Some patients may have a feeling of having lived a certain experience in the past, known as “déjà vu.” Other warning signs preceding seizures include daydreaming, jerking movements of an arm, leg, or body, feeling fuzzy or confused, having periods of forgetfulness, feeling tingling or numbness in a part of the body,
Among different foods which may trigger the seizure occurrence, dairy products are major concerns because of excess use of a variety of them in dairy diet and several studies demonstrated cow's milk protein allergy which may induce epilepsy [7].
Part or all of the body may become limp. The eyelids may droop, the head may nod or drop forward, and the person may drop things. If standing, the person often falls to the ground. These seizures typically last less than 15 seconds.
Most often, seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in your brain — these are called epileptic seizures. Call 911 or seek emergency medical help for seizures if: A seizure lasts more than five minutes. Someone experiences a seizure for the first time.
Becoming extremely dehydrated — defined by the World Health Organization as losing more than 10 percent of your body weight in fluid — can lead to injury or fatal complications, and it requires an ER visit. Seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypovolemic shock can occur because your blood volume is too low.
Caffeine: This stimulant is found in a variety of foods and beverages, such as soda, tea, coffee, and chocolate. It can alter your brain's electrical signals and cause a seizure. Nicotine: This addictive chemical, found in tobacco, can also increase your risk of seizures.
