Health Decode

🌊 PHYSICS | WAVES
G-Core Learning

🔹 What is a Wave?
A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.

🔹 Examples of Waves
• Water waves
• Sound waves
• Light waves
• Radio waves

🔹 Types of Waves

1️⃣ Transverse waves – vibrations are perpendicular to the direction of movement

Example: Water waves, light waves
2️⃣ Longitudinal waves – vibrations are parallel to the direction of movement

Example: Sound waves
🔹 Key Terms to Know
• Wavelength (λ): distance between two crests
• Frequency (f): number of waves per second (Hz)
• Amplitude: maximum height of a wave
• Wave speed (v):
👉 v = fλ

*🧠 Think About This:*
Why can sound travel through air but not through a vacuum?

📌 Decode. Discover. Understand.
Core subjects today, more tomorrow.
— G-Core Learning

Humans depend on four vital necessities for survival: air, water, sleep, and food. While all are essential, the body can withstand their absence for different periods. Oxygen is the most urgent, as the brain and organs require it constantly to function. Water comes next, critical for hydration, circulation, and temperature regulation. Sleep is essential for mental clarity, physical recovery, and overall health, and lack of it quickly affects cognitive and bodily functions. Food provides energy and nutrients, allowing survival for several weeks if water is available. Examining how long humans can survive without each and the physiological consequences highlights both the incredible resilience and the limits of the human body, emphasizing the delicate balance required to sustain life.

1. Air (Oxygen):�Oxygen is the most vital element for survival. The human brain and body cells need a continuous supply of oxygen to function properly. Without air, humans can survive only about 3–6 minutes before serious brain damage begins. After around 10 minutes without oxygen, survival becomes extremely unlikely. Initially, the body tries to compensate by increasing heart rate and breathing to get more oxygen. Prolonged deprivation causes unconsciousness, organ failure, and eventually pass away. Even brief oxygen loss can result in lasting neurological damage, which is why air is the most urgent need.

2. Water:�Water is essential for hydration, blood circulation, temperature regulation, and cellular function. Humans can survive 3–7 days without water, although in extremely hot conditions, this may reduce to 1–3 days. Without water, the body becomes dehydrated, leading to dizziness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and kidney failure. Severe dehydration disrupts electrolyte balance, affecting muscles and the nervous system, and can ultimately be fatal if not addressed.

3. Sleep:�Sleep is crucial for physical recovery, mental clarity, and overall health. While total sleep deprivation is rarely immediately fatal, it causes severe effects over time. The longest recorded period without sleep is 11 days, after which individuals experienced extreme confusion, hallucinations, weakened immunity, and cognitive dysfunction. Chronic sleep loss can contribute to heart problems, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. Though rare, complete deprivation over weeks could be fatal indirectly due to these complications.

4. Food:�Food provides energy and nutrients required for bodily functions. Humans can survive 30–40 days without food, depending on fat reserves, hydration, and health. During starvation, the body first uses stored carbohydrates and fat, then begins consuming muscle tissue. Prolonged lack of food leads to organ failure, weakened immunity, and eventually pass away. Hydration is crucial here, as survival without food is impossible without 💦 water

❤️ Today’s Health Decode Post: Understanding Stroke FAST

A stroke happens when the brain’s blood supply is cut off — every second counts.
To save a life, remember F.A.S.T:

F – Face: Is one side drooping?
A – Arm: Can they raise both arms?
S – Speech: Is it slurred or strange?
T – Time: Rush to the hospital immediately.

Stroke is treatable — but only if you act FAST.

There are different types of headache and different medications... Read below

Types of Headaches

Here are the most common ones:

1. Tension Headache

Feels like pressure or tightness around the head.

Often caused by stress, lack of sleep, or long screen time.

2. Migraine

Strong, throbbing pain on one side of the head.

May come with nausea, sensitivity to light or sound.

Can last hours to days.

3. Cluster Headache

Intense pain around one eye.

Comes in “clusters,” meaning repeated attacks.

4. Sinus Headache

Pain around the forehead, cheeks, or nose area.

Happens when sinuses are blocked or infected.

5. Rebound Headache

Happens when someone overuses headache medicine too often.

Common Medications for Headaches

1. Pain relievers

Paracetamol (Panadol) usually first choice.

Ibuprofen (Brufen) helps with pain and inflammation.

Aspirin — used for some headaches (not usually recommended for minors).

2. Migraine-specific medicines

Triptans (e.g., sumatriptan) — for moderate to severe migraines.

Anti-nausea medicines may be added.

3. Preventive medicines

For people with frequent migraines:

Some blood pressure medicines

Some antiepileptic medicines

Some antidepressants

4. For sinus headaches

Decongestants (short-term only)

Antibiotics (only if it's a bacterial infection, decided by a doctor)