A family consists of people of different ages. Due to the differences in age and physical constitution, health issues may also differ. However, if you pay close attention, it's not hard to find that common diseases in daily life are usually limited to a few types: colds, coughs, diarrhea, etc. Therefore, the variety of medicines in a home first-aid kit does not need to be all-encompassing. It is sufficient to prepare medicines targeting the common health problems encountered by family members.
Five Common Diseases in Families
Fever - In certain conditions such as colds or acute gastroenteritis, our body temperature can exceed the normal standard. This is because white blood cells rapidly increase to engulf bacteria, leading to increased oxygen consumption. Taking armpit temperature as an example, fever is generally classified into low-grade fever (below 38°C), moderate fever (38°C to 39°C), high fever (39°C to 40°C). Fever itself is not a disease but a symptom. If someone in your family has a fever, you can use physical cooling methods such as cold compress on the head, ice packs, alcohol baths, etc. At the same time, it is important to replenish fluids and keep warm. Generally, fever patients should consume more than 3000 milliliters of water daily, either plain boiled water or sugar-salt water. When sweating occurs, it is necessary to prevent catching a cold and flu, using dry or wet towels to wipe the body.
Cough - Whether it's a dry cough or cough with phlegm, these are common respiratory infections such as influenza, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Coughing tends to worsen in the morning upon waking or after prolonged talking. During coughing, patients should drink more warm water, quit smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid eating stimulating foods, and preferably avoid spicy, stimulating, overly sweet or salty foods, carbonated beverages. Eating more silver ear fungus, tangerine peel, honey, lily bulb, pear, etc., can help relieve cough and expel phlegm.
Diarrhea - Diarrhea can be caused by various viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections in the intestine, which lead to infectious diarrhea. Such infectious diarrhea requires anti-infective treatment. If there is a case of acute diarrhea in the family, dietary management is crucial. Typically, food intake needs to be temporarily stopped, followed by gradual resumption of liquid and semi-liquid diets until normal diet is restored. Additionally, due to dysbiosis, some cases of non-infectious diarrhea may occur, causing loss of appetite, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea. For this type of non-infectious diarrhea, it is essential to maintain good dietary hygiene, follow a regular lifestyle, be cautious about sudden climate changes, and take some digestive aids.
Hypertension - Hypertension is a common disease among middle-aged and elderly people. There might be one hypertensive patient in every three households. Once someone in the family is diagnosed with hypertension, they must strictly follow medical advice for medication, without any negligence. Hypertensive patients should eat more potassium and calcium-rich but sodium-low foods such as potatoes, taro, eggplant, seaweed, lettuce, etc., more green vegetables and fresh fruits like spinach, seaweed, wood ear mushroom, kelp, etc. It is also important to control salt intake, consuming less than 6 grams of salt daily.
Trauma - Contusions, sprains, open mechanical injuries, burns, frostbite, etc., are common traumas in the household. Severe trauma should be immediately sent to the hospital, while milder cases still require emergency treatment. The basic handling method is to stop bleeding, clean around the wound, and bandage the wound before applying medication. Remove foreign objects, clean the wound with clear water, dry with a clean towel, rinse the wound with disinfectant to prevent infection.
Common Medicines for Home First-Aid Kits
Antipyretic Analgesics: Aspirin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen. Other options include Anpainding, Sanlitong, Xiaoyantong, etc.
Cold Medications: Western medicine antiviral cold medications include Amphen pseudoephedrine tablets, Phenylephrine hydrochloride tablets, Dual pseudoephedrine tablets, etc.; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) cold medications include Yin Chiao Jie Du Pian, Vitamin C Yin Chiao Pian, Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan, Shen Su Wan, Biao Xu Cold Granules, etc.
Cough Suppressants and Expectorants: Cough suppressants include Ke Bi Qing, Compound Phosphate Codeine Solution, Dextromethorphan Tablets, etc.; Cough suppressants and expectorants include Compound Licorice Tablets, Expectorant Tablets, Cold Cough Syrup, etc. TCM options include Tong Xuan Li Fei Wan and Zhen Ke Ning Syrup for treating cold-induced cough; Ji Zhi Syrup, Heat-clearing Lung-soothing Syrup, Powerful Loquat Dew for heat-induced cough; Honey-fried Sichuan Fritillary Loquat Dew and Cough-relieving Sichuan Fritillary Loquat Dew for dryness-induced cough.
Heat-clearing Medicines: Niu Huang Jie Du Pian, Niu Huang Shang Qing Pian, Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan for clearing heat and purging fire; Heat-clearing and detoxifying granules, Ban Lan Gen Granules, Antivirus Oral Liquid, Kǒuyánqīng Granules for clearing heat and detoxifying; Bao Ji Wan, Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan, Ten Drops Water for clearing heat and dispelling summer heat.
Gastrointestinal Medications: Digestive aids include Multi Enzyme Tablets, Motilium Tablets, Hawthorn Pills, Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets, etc.; Laxatives include Rhubarb Soda Tablets, Glycerin Suppositories, Tongbianling Capsules, etc.; Anti-diarrheal drugs include Stop-Diarrhea Peace, Coptis Tablets, Huoxiang Zhengqi Wan, Chenxiang Huazhi Pills, etc.
External Anti-inflammatory and Disinfectant Medicines: Alcohol, Iodine Tincture, Red Mercurochrome, Band-Aids, etc.
External Pain Relievers and Plasters: Hong Hua Oil, Huo Luo Oil, Die Da Wan Hua Oil, Muscle Relaxing Oil, Musk Wind-Chasing Plaster, etc.
Medicines for Mosquito Bites: Cooling Oil, Wind-Relief Oil, Flower Dew Water, etc.