04:30 PM

Sunday, April 16, 2023

I wrote – Yasmine El Sawy:

High blood sugar is considered one of the health problems that may result in many unwanted complications, and sometimes, it may threaten the patient’s life.

In the following lines, the “Consulto” reviews quick and simple ways that lower blood sugar immediately and clearly, according to the “Very Well Health” website.

1- Taking overdue medications

Not taking the doses on time can lead to a significant rise in blood sugar, and in this case, the medicine must be taken quickly as soon as the sugar rises and remember the dose time.

2- Walking and physical activity

Walking is one of the fastest ways that contribute to lowering blood sugar without the need to take medications, because physical activity in general reduces insulin resistance and helps the body convert glucose into energy, and then the sugar decreases immediately, and this lasts for 24 hours or more.

3- Drink plenty of water

Drinking a large amount of water helps to enhance the ability of the kidneys to expel sugars through the urine, so that blood sugar levels drop once more, knowing that this method takes a relatively longer time compared to walking and taking missed doses of the drug.

Also read: High blood sugar during sleep – what are its causes?

When do you go to the emergency room immediately?

You must go to the emergency room immediately if some signs appear that require this, and they include the following:

Feeling very tired or having abdominal pain.

Breathing faster than normal.

– Increased heart rate than normal.

Difficulty concentrating and paying attention.

The appearance of a fruity mouth odor.

High blood sugar readings of more than 300 mg/dL.

Blood sugar readings of more than 180 mg/dl for a week.

– Frequent urination than normal.

Two drugs with serious adverse effects

One of ANSES’s missions is to control the quality of water intended for human consumption, alongside the regular checks carried out by the Regional Health Agencies (ARS). In a recent report, ANSES drew up an inventory of the presence of chemical pollutants present in tap water. Results.

More than 200 chemical pollutants researched in tap water

The last campaign to measure the presence of chemical compounds in water intended for human consumption conducted by ANSES was initiated in 2019 and focused on three main classes of pollutants:

• 157 pesticides and pesticide metabolites;
• 54 explosive residue;
• And solvent1,4-dioxane.

To know ! Phytosanitary products, including pesticides, are found following their application on crops, in the environment and in particular in water. Depending on their physical and chemical characteristics, they can remain intact or be transformed into metabolites. These compounds can be present in soils, sediments, water (surface or underground) or in ambient air. They can therefore be present in varying concentrations in tap water intended for human consumption.

This campaign to monitor water intended for human consumption has made it possible to collect more than 136,000 data, collected throughout France, including overseas territories. Of the 157 pesticides and pesticide metabolites searched for, 89 were found at least once in the raw water and 77 times in treated waterthat is to say those which arrive at the taps of the French.

Seven pesticides under surveillance in water intended for human consumption

Of all these pesticides and pesticide derivatives, 7 are considered by experts to be emerging compounds, exceeding the quality limits for water intended for human consumption (0.1 µg/litre). Among these compounds, one has particularly attracted the attention of experts, the metabolite of chlorothalonil R471811. This pesticide metabolite was the most frequently found (at least 50% of the samples) and was often detected at doses above the authorized limits (at least 1 third of the samples).

This pesticide metabolite had already been singled out in Switzerland in 2019. It is the metabolite of a fungicide (compound destroying fungi), which has been banned in France since 2020. These data confirm that pesticides and their metabolites can contaminate the environment years following they are banned. Other pesticide metabolites seem to require increased monitoring, in particular the metolachlor metabolite ESA found in more than half of the samples.

Tap water contains explosive residues and a solvent!

In parallel with the pesticides, the water collected and analyzed revealed the presence of explosive residue and a solvent, 1,4-dioxane. More than 10% of the samples contained explosive residues, most often linked to First World War armament sites or sites of industrial armament activities. The compounds found were mainly metabolites of TNT (TriNitroToluene) and other substances used more recently in the explosives industry.

As for 1,4-dioxane, a solvent widely used in the chemical industry, it was found in 8% of the samples. widely suspected to be carcinogenic in humans, it is a proven carcinogen in rats. This new inventory makes it possible to know the water quality intended for human consumption in France and to define the list of compounds to be monitored during regular water health checks. Specific measures can also be taken for substances whose concentration exceeds the quality limits defined by the public authorities.

Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy

Sources