Acute radiation syndrome is the acute onset of symptoms after being exposed to high amounts of ionizing radiation. It is also known as radiation sickness or radiation poisoning.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- CAUSES OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- TREATMENTS FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- PROGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- HOME REMEDIES FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- YOGA FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Skin changes
- Fever
- Dizziness
CAUSES OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Accidental or intentional exposure to large amounts of ionizing radiation over a short period
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
Exposure to high doses of radiation cause the generation of high amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROSs directly damage the cells. Damage to DNA also occurs along with unrepaired chromosomal aberrations. It also affects the whole system of the body. Hemopoietic functions are also hampered, finally, symptoms are manifested.
DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Proper history taking to find out the duration of radiation exposure
- Physical examination
- Laboratory tests
- Absolute lymphocyte count
TREATMENTS FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Antimicrobials
- Stem cell transplantation
- Supportive care
- Symptomatic treatment
PROGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Prognosis is based on the dose of exposure and condition of the patient
COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Cellular and genetic damage leads to cancer
ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME AND AYURVEDA
- Ayurvedic medicine provides preventive, curative, and supportive management for acute radiation syndrome.
- The acute radiation exposure vitiates the tridoshas and saptadhatus
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
Exposure to radiation causes,
- Excessive aggravation of doshas
- Vitiation of dhatus and upadhatus
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Premonitory signs and symptoms based on the degree of radiation exposure. Generally, headache (shirasula), dizziness (tantra) manifested.
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- The aggravated doshas further vitiate the dhatus such as rakta, mamsa etc leads to the development of symptoms of radiation exposure.
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Shirasula – headache
- Chardi – vomiting
- Udara sula – abdominal pain
- Moha – fainting
- Twak vikara – skin changes
- Dagdha – burns
- Ojakshaya
- Dhatukshaya
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Krichra sadhya in early stages and asadhya in late stages
- The major complication of radiation exposure is the development of cancer (arbuda)
- Three forms of metastasis according to Sushruta
- Raktarbuda: When a tumour is surrounded by smaller tumours
- Adhyarbuda: Development of another tumour over the first tumour. Or when a tumour arises on a pre-existing site or near a primary tumour.
- Dviarbuda: When two tumours arise at the same time.
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
Ayurvedic local treatment for acute radiation syndrome
- Treatment for radiation burns – application of shatadhouta ghrita on the affected area, dhara with murivenna
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Chyavanaprasa
- Drakshadi kashaya
- Guluchyadi kashaya
- Brahmi ghrita
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Panchakarma therapies are effective for relieving symptoms.
- Panchakarma includes vamana(emesis), virechana (purgation), vasthi (medicated enema), nasya (nasal drops).
- If the patient is very weak then samana chikilsa only needed. Panchakarma therapies administrated only after regaining strength.
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
Internal administration
- Chyavanaprasa
- Drakshadi kashaya
- Guluchyadi kashaya
- Brahmi ghrita
HOME REMEDIES FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Intake of a balanced diet
- Drinking an adequate quantity of water
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Avoid food items that produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items, cow’s milk
- Take proper rest.
- Avoid junk foods
- Avoid smoking and tobacco
YOGA FOR ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROME
- Efficacy of Rasayana Avaleha as adjuvant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in reducing adverse effects