Drink adequate water in Covid times

In a special bulletin released for the employees and people living in peripheral areas of coalfields on auspicious occasion of Mahalaya today, Chief of Medical Services/HoD, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Dr Debashish Gupta, MD, said, “Sickle cell disease is a very common and unique congenital disorder prevalent in both the coalfields – Talcher and Ib Valley – of the company.

 

“While the patients with sickle cell disease have low immune status, they also suffer from recurrent attacks of join pain, jaundice, chest pain (acute chest syndrome). These patients should stay properly hydrated by drinking adequate water and avoid exertion which can precipitate a crisis in COVID19 times,” Dr Gupta said.

 

 “The only way to prevent life threatening crisis is to consume medicine called hydroxyurea and void dehydration, fever, acidosis,”  he added, advised people to keep proper stock of medicine prescribed by their doctors to avoid other risk factor for COVID19.

 

Asserting that the people working in coalfields and nearby areas are exposed to dust and other hazards to respiratory system, Dr Gupta said, “They frequently suffer from infections of lungs and airways, like chronic bronchitis emphysema, and should keep good stocks medicines.”

He advised patients with comorbidities to keep some simple medical gadgets, like oxymeter, thermometer and nebulizers. In case of deviation from normal parameters, like oxygen saturation in body dropping below 95%, consult the doctors immediately.