The signs of drug addiction are quite clearly divided into physiological, psychological and indirect. Let's consider them separately.
Pay attention to eyes, nose, hands, and speech
Eyes
If you have noticed, then representatives of law enforcement agencies often look into the eyes when inspecting citizens. Sometimes they ask to be allowed to test the pupil response with a flashlight. The eyes can be red, cloudy, yellowish, or glassy. This does not necessarily mean that the person has used the drug, but it may be one of the signs.
The behavior of the pupils can confirm or disprove the guesses. Excessive dilation or constriction of the pupil in response to light (even to ambient light) directly indicates a person's intoxication. In a normal sober state, the pupil is not afraid of light. Its dimensions change smoothly and do not go to extremes. If the pupil does not react to light at all, this also indicates an intoxication of the body.
Nose
A squelching nose is a constant companion for most addicted people. If a person suddenly has a chronic runny nose, and he constantly blows his nose or sniffs, then his immunity is weakened. A runny nose is often accompanied by a cough. These symptoms accompany drug addiction, but they can be easily confused with the common cold. Therefore, such signs should be considered auxiliary, and conclusions should be drawn on the basis of several signs.
Arms
Fact - tremors can be observed in most drug addicts. This is when the hands are shaking uncontrollably. Tremors are mild and severe. Most often it is caused by overwork of the nervous system and stress. Less commonly, diseases such as Parkinson's syndrome, which is considered age-related. But in addicted people, it is also a sign of thyroid disease. So watch your hands.
Speech
In drug addiction, a transformation of speech is noted: it can become constrained, as if a person has problems with the maxillofacial region or he has experienced a stroke, or it suddenly becomes exaggeratedly expressive, relaxed and stretched - "close". All this is a consequence of a colossal blow to the nervous system.
Leather
Gradually, the skin of a drug addict fades and turns pale and dry. An additional signal is its blue tint. Direct evidence of injecting drug use, of course, is the injection marks and hidden veins on the arms, legs, neck and abdomen.
Hair
Addicted people do not monitor their appearance, therefore they look untidy and their hair is dirty and greasy. But since the body does not receive enough nutrients and is transferred to an emergency mode, the hair of drug addicts is most often brittle and falls out profusely.
Watch for oddities in a person's behavior and mood
Lethargy
People who use drugs are characterized by lethargy, which can be mistaken for overwork or banal laziness. But this lethargy has a painful color. Inertia and passivity can be considered the types of lethargy. In fact, this is a "bell" that something is wrong with the person.
Coordination problems
Under drugs or in between, the patient finds it difficult to navigate in the external space. This is manifested in shaking hands, general awkwardness, he can drop objects or knock them on his way, miss a door or a chair. In general, a person gives the impression of a slowed-down elephant in a china shop.
Loss of interest
Drug addicts tend to forget about all their previous hobbies and interests. A sharp cooling to the previous objects of interest, a closure on one's own painful state or a constant absence from home and non-attendance at school, work and hobby clubs - all this speaks of drug addiction. Addicts are focused on one thing and are indifferent to the rest of the world.
Psychological imbalance
Drugs are the cause of increased nervousness, for which there are no prerequisites in external circumstances. If a person's nervousness and irritability are not motivated, this is a reason to think about its true causes. Also, drug addicts are prone to unreasonable aggression. But at the same time, the behavior of patients is characterized by isolation. They prefer to be alone with their problem.
Violation of the daily routine
The first question psychiatrists ask patients is, "How do you sleep?" Patients with drug addiction face sleep disturbance. Accordingly, the daily rhythm and the change of sleep and wakefulness change. If you notice that a person close to you spends nights in insomnia and chronically does not get enough sleep, then the reason may be drugs that have disrupted the natural cycle.
Appetite
Loss or, conversely, severe hunger in drug addicts occurs all the time. Again, the usual eating habits are disrupted. A person can literally starve or overeat. From this, he may have problems with the chair. This can be understood by the amount of time spent in the toilet and the frequency of visits to the latrine.
Sunglasses and clothing
The typical image of a drug addict is a person wearing sunglasses, regardless of the season. Drug addicts hide their eyes behind glasses, both outdoors and indoors. A sudden addiction to glasses is definitely a suspicious signal that cannot be ignored. Clothes are no less important - even in the summer, the addict will wear a long-sleeved T-shirt and be afraid to wear shorts. The reason is obvious: punctured limbs. Addiction patients choose clothes that are discreet, gray or black. It is often worn, unkempt and needs to be washed immediately.
Medicines in pockets and at home
As a rule, drug addicts become frequent visitors to pharmacies and use a large number of medicines. Naturally, cold drops or headache pills cannot help with addiction. But packages for syringes and tablets, tubes and jars of drops are direct evidence of drug addiction.
Need for money
Even if the drug is not expensive, to use it constantly requires money. An increased need for money, theft of money or the loss of valuable items from home - drug addiction cannot do without this. Therefore, as soon as something like this happens, immediately sound the alarm.
Summary
In general, I recommend relying on three or more attributes listed above. Judging by one or two, it would be wrong - there is a risk of confusing drug addiction with other diseases. But if three or more signs converge, then you need to talk frankly with a loved one and discuss the prospect of treatment.
Why is mucus produced in the nose? How to properly remove nasal discharge? With nasal congestion, drip vasoconstrictor or breathe through the mouth? - these and other questions are answered by a therapist of the first category medical centers "Medisvit" Anna Bubyreva.
Anna Nikolaevna, when does a runny nose occur, and what function does it perform?
A runny nose is one of the typical symptoms of ARVI. As a result of damage to the nasal mucosa by the virus, its inflammatory edema develops, and the production of nasal mucus increases. You can consider a runny nose as a protective function of the body, since in this way the movement of viruses deeper is inhibited. respiratory tract... The mucus that forms in the nose and ensures the constant flushing of viral particles includes various substances that neutralize viruses. The main negative aspects of the common cold are that it leads to swelling of the mucous membrane and difficulty in breathing.
What should be the correct actions in case of a cold?
The patient needs to strive to maintain the correct consistency of mucus in the nose and prevent it from drying out. For the mucus to effectively wash away viruses, its consistency should not be thick. Thickened or dry mucus is a convenient breeding ground for microorganisms. It is also necessary to preserve nasal breathing.
Drinking plenty of fluids and periodically moisturizing the nasal mucosa will help maintain the desired consistency of mucus. To do this, use a weak salt solution (saline) or saline drops and sprays, which include the same saline with the addition of additional components. Moisturizing the nasal mucosa should be generous, do not be afraid of waterlogging - with ARVI this is impossible.
How to properly remove mucus from the nose?
To remove mucus, it is customary to blow your nose, but it is important not to overdo it. To effectively remove mucus, the air in the nose must move quickly, without excessive inflation. Then a negative pressure arises, which carries the mucus behind the air stream. If you, blowing your nose, apply increased efforts, then in the nasal cavity, on the contrary, a high pressure, which pushes mucus into the openings of the paranasal sinuses, thereby increasing the likelihood of complications. Removing mucus from the nasal cavity into the oropharynx, often referred to as sniffing, is perfectly acceptable. It is generally believed that this is wrong, but in fact it is simply not very aesthetically pleasing, but in all other respects the method is very effective and completely safe. The main advantage of sniffing is that using this method, it is impossible to create positive pressure in the nasal cavity. It is also worth noting that swallowing mucus with ARVI is completely safe.
Swelling of the nasal mucosa is fought with vasoconstrictor drugs... Nowadays, pharmacies offer a wide range of such products. Using them for self-medication is not entirely correct, but due to their excessive popularity, it is worth saying a few words about them. Such funds quickly and effectively narrow the vessels of the mucous membrane by reducing the blood supply. This results in less mucosal edema and less mucus production in the nose. However, this dries up the mucous membrane, making it more susceptible to damage. This state of affairs can lead to a delay in the recovery period and complications. One should strive to maintain a reasonable balance between comfortable breathing and maintaining a sufficient amount of mucus of the correct consistency. Another negative property of vasoconstrictor drops and sprays is the development of addiction of the nasal mucosa to the drug, the so-called rhinitis medicamentosa. Long-term use of the drug causes a violation of the regulation of vascular tone, the vessels of the mucous membrane expand, and as soon as the effect of the drug stops, swelling and nasal congestion return. The patient again needs to use drops, and so on ad infinitum.
Is it possible to avoid the unpleasant consequences of using vasoconstrictors?
If you cannot breathe through your nose with ARVI, then the use of vasoconstrictor sprays is justified and necessary. During illness, it is important to breathe through the nose; if you breathe through your mouth, especially when elevated temperature, it is harmful to the body. The most rational use vasoconstrictor drops at night, since disturbed nasal breathing and accumulation of mucus are more likely during sleep. Use drops as needed, you should not drip vasoconstrictors if 6-8 hours have passed after the previous instillation and the nose is breathing normally. Remember that the longer and more often you use vasoconstrictors, the higher the likelihood of addiction and the occurrence of various side effects... A course lasting 3-4 days will not lead to the development of addiction, but if you use vasoconstrictor drugs for more than 5 days, then you are guaranteed trouble. In addition, if the disease does not go away in 5 days, then this is no longer ARVI, but something more serious, and you need to see a doctor.
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In fact, there can be a lot of reasons why a child is constantly sniffing. In this article, we will look at the most common ones.
Colds.
If a child is constantly sniffing, but outwardly healthy, he does not have a fever, cough and runny nose, he may still have a cold, but the disease is imperceptible and asymptomatic. Parents quite often come across such a picture when a child for a long time: a month or even two, simply sniffs, then begins to cough, and then becomes completely ill. The fact is that at the onset of the disease, small discharge from the nose can drain along back wall nasopharynx, while the child, feeling some discomfort in the nose, and can sniff for a long time, trying to get rid of these secretions. Not even noticing for himself, the baby swallows this discharge, and after a while begins to cough. Most often, the cough in this case begins at night or in the morning, because the child is lying down for a long time during sleep and the mucus, flowing down inside, gets into the lungs and begins to irritate them. In this case, any pediatrician, asking the child to simply open his mouth, will see this discharge and recommend treatment. In such a situation, it is necessary as soon as possible to ensure that these secretions do not flow down the back wall of the nasopharynx, but go out through the nasal sinuses. The best option for this is the use of salt solutions and seawater, for example, such drugs as: "Aquamaris", "Salin", "Dolphin" or "Aqualor-baby".
The same effect of the desire to constantly sniff in a child can cause prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drugs for the common cold. If you dripped "Naphtizin" or "Nazivin" for a child some time ago, keep in mind that such agents dry out the nasal mucosa and sometimes even provoke physiological changes in the nasopharynx. Therefore, children are prescribed such drugs only for severe colds, at the same time it is recommended to drip oil-containing drops or rinse the nose with sea water and use the same drug for no longer than 5 days.
The most dangerous situation is if the reason that the child is sniffing is the adenoid. it chronic illness, the meaning of which is that the nasopharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) become inflamed, increase in volume and make it difficult for the child to breathe. Outwardly, the child may be healthy and not have nasal discharge. But if the child is constantly sniffing or sniffing, and at the same time: he often does not have enough air; he wakes up at night from the fact that he suffocates; breathes through the mouth even during the day and his hearing deteriorates - refer to the ENT, most likely, your child has inflammation of the adenoids. This is a dangerous disease, because the nasopharynx at this time becomes an ideal breeding ground for a variety of bacteria and viruses, which causes the child to catch colds often, his ears may hurt and he may partially lose hearing.
In general, the habit of sniffing during any colds can be very dangerous, because it can cause the development of such serious diseases as: sinusitis, otitis media or even sinusitis. The fact is that the mucus secreted in the nasopharynx serves as a natural defense reaction of the body, which, running out, removes pathogenic microbes from the body. If a child, instead of blowing his nose, sniffs and pushes the secretions back, and even swallows them, the microbes get inside the body and begin to actively act, destroying the child's body from the inside. Therefore, even an imperceptible runny nose must be treated as quickly as possible.
Allergy.
If a child is constantly sniffing and you pay attention to what he is doing, mainly in spring, when the buds swell and plants and herbs begin to bloom, or, for example, at a party where there is a cat, or after eating a lot of sweets, it is , the reason for this is allergies. In general, a runny nose and allergies are quite often accompanying phenomena, and very often people confuse them with a cold. However, one has only to carefully follow the child, remove allergens from his life or start using antiallergic drugs, and he will immediately stop sniffing.
Foreign object.
It's no secret that young children love to study their bodies and often stuff small parts everywhere: bolts, wheels from cars, parts from a designer, small balls, beads, whatever. If suddenly the child starts sniffing, check for a foreign object in his nose.
Dry air.
Strongly dry air in a child's room or in kindergarten - in a word, where he spends most of his time, can also cause the child to constantly sniff. The fact is that dry air dries the mucous membrane and in order to somehow moisten it, the body begins to release a little moisture, which the baby feels and tries to drive it back. For this reason, parents should never forget to control the humidity in the room where the child is.
Congenital and acquired changes in the nasopharynx.
Curvature of the nasal septum is probably the most common occurrence among children who constantly make sniffing sounds with their nose, because their air exchange is impaired.
Polyps and cysts. The formation of polyps in the nose is accompanied by sniffling, nasal sounds, difficulty breathing, decreased sense of smell, discomfort in the cheeks and forehead, and often headaches.
An otolaryngologist can confirm this or that change in the nasopharynx, who will refer you to rhinoscopy, diagnostic endoscopy or computed tomography and then recommend a further course of action. Basically, this is the removal of one or another neoplasm by surgery.
Caries.
Don't be surprised, but a child who constantly sniffles may indeed have dental problems. The reason for the habit of sniffing can be carious 6th and 7th upper teeth, the roots of which are in the maxillary sinuses. According to otolaryngologists, any inflammatory processes can cause nasal congestion, and in combination with a runny nose, even become dangerous phenomenon not only for a child, but for any adult.
Neuroses.
If your child is constantly sniffling, but you have not found any signs of a cold or an untreated rhinitis; allergies and physiological changes; the humidity in the room is optimal and there are no foreign objects in his nose - consult a pediatric neurologist. Neuropathologists and neurologists refer to the habit of sniffing, along with the habit of grinding teeth, involuntarily winking, twitching the nose or other parts of the body, as nervous tics, the presence of which indicates neurological and psychological disorders of the child. The reason for this may be a negative atmosphere in the family, a sudden change in the environment, stress, congenital problems or other unfavorable conditions.
In any case, if a child is constantly sniffing, do not scold him in any way, it is better to observe him, check his health and just analyze at what time he starts to do it. Perhaps the reason that he makes sneaking sounds is quite serious and dangerous for the health and even for the life of the child, or perhaps this is just a habit adopted from someone from the close environment.
Many parents often complain that their child is constantly sniffing. Someone blames it on residual effects after a cold, someone blames the dry air in the apartment for this, for someone the cause becomes an allergy, and someone even perceives it as a bad habit. It is one thing when a child is sick, he has a fever and a runny nose, and quite another thing when he is absolutely healthy, cheerful and vigorous, but still continues to sniff and sniff unpleasantly. So what is it? Why a child constantly sniffles, what can mean this unpleasant for others, and sometimes for the child himself, an action and how to deal with it - in more detail in this article.
In fact, there can be a lot of reasons why a child is constantly sniffing. In this article, we will look at the most common ones.
Colds.
If a child is constantly sniffling, but outwardly healthy, he does not have a fever, cough and runny nose, it is possible that he still has a cold, but the disease proceeds imperceptibly and without symptoms. Parents quite often encounter such a picture when a child for a long time: a month or even two, simply sniffs, then begins to cough, and then becomes completely ill. The fact is that at the onset of the disease, small discharge from the nose can drain along the back wall of the nasopharynx, while the child, feeling some discomfort in the nose, and for a long time can sniff out, trying to get rid of these secretions. Not even noticing for himself, the baby swallows this discharge, and after a while begins to cough. Most often, the cough in this case begins at night or in the morning, because the child is lying down for a long time during sleep and the mucus, flowing into the inside, penetrates into the lungs and begins to irritate them. In this case, any pediatrician asking the child
The child is constantly sniffing but there is no snot
Child sniffs, but no snot
Many mothers are most afraid that their child will not get sick, so they anxiously monitor any change in his condition. Often there are complaints that the child is sniffing, but there is no snot in the nose. Often a similar phenomenon is observed at night, practically not revealing itself during the day.
In young children, when the nose makes suspicious sounds, in many cases the disease is not to blame. In newly born children, this phenomenon is most often associated with the fact that the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity adapts to the surrounding conditions, and the nasal passages are narrow, therefore the passage of air through them is accompanied by appropriate sounds. Over time, usually by the age of one year, everything will return to normal.
If a child is sniffling during sleep, this may be due to swelling of the mucous membrane or the accumulation of thick, dry mucus in the back of the nose. In the cold season, this often happens after turning on central heating in houses. Warm and excessively dry indoor air, dust accumulation in traditional places ( upholstered furniture, carpets, books) lead to drying out of the nasal mucosa and the accumulation of mucus with the formation of so-called "crusts". In such cases, you should ventilate the room more often, do wet cleaning and, if possible, use a humidifier.
Often mothers, just in case, fill the baby's nose with various washes. At the same time, the mucous membrane begins to swell, as a protective reaction to the ingress of fluid into the sinuses, and squelching sounds appear.
In some cases, the reason that a child is sniffling may indeed lie in diseases and pathological processes. First of all, these are congenital anomalies in the structure of the nasal passages, formed during the period
Spout
My baby (2 months old) sniffs with his nose, there are nozzles, but there are far away, I cannot reach them with cotton swabs .. Girls, tell me how you clean the noses of your children ...
This lasted for almost a month. Started at 1.5 months. I began to panic at once, I slept badly at night, my nose was constantly squelching. They diligently sucked the nozzles with an aspirator, dripped nat. solution. Then I read an article about physiological rhinitis and realized that it is better to use an aspirator when the nose is really not breathing. Abruptly gave up this occupation, left only physical. solution, and then somehow everything went abruptly. So you need to approach everything competently. An aspirator, of course, is a good thing, but in moderation.
thank you for the article! now we are calm. we have apparently begun the stage of "wet mucous". Sloshes occasionally, but nothing is sucked off.
If the child is under 2.5 months old, then a squelching nose does not necessarily indicate a disease. It's just that in infants, the mucous membrane begins to work immediately after childbirth only partially. Only at the age of up to 10 weeks does the "turn on" the work of the nasal mucosa and nasopharynx in full force. The body is conducting a test. First, the "dry" condition in the nose is checked (usually it goes unnoticed for mothers), and then the "wet" condition. It is here that they get scared and begin to treat the basically normal stage of the child's development. The body knows it has produced a probable excess of moisture. He must realize it - and here they can intervene from the outside, start "blowing his nose" the child, rinsing the nasopharynx or dripping medications. The test is incomplete. And after a while, moisture will appear again, but in even greater quantities (after all, it was not enough last time! Everything went somewhere). It turns out to be a vicious circle.
That is why, if your child is under 2.5 months old and has a runny nose "suddenly" and there are no additional symptoms of any disease - most likely you have a "physiological rhinitis".