Water is a necessity of life. It is the only substance that humans can drink and not have to worry about getting sick or dying.
But what if the water in your area is contaminated? What if it’s not safe to drink?
According to the estimates by WHO, only 2.2 billion individuals have access to safe drinking water, while roughly 50% of the global population lives in water-stressed areas. This leads to the forceful consumption of contaminated water, which can lead to different types of diseases in the future.
You may have heard about the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In this case, the water supplies at the camp were found to have been contaminated by industrial solvents and other chemicals for more than 30 years. The contamination occurred due to a faulty water treatment system, and many soldiers and their families were affected by severe diseases, including cancer and birth defects.
To get back on their feet, affected individuals filed a Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit to get their compensation which helped them sustain and survive after an episode of massive suffering.
If you’ve been affected by a similar situation or are just looking for ways to improve your health after drinking contaminated water, here are four steps you can take:
Table of Contents
Seek Medical Attention
You may have heard that unsafe drinking water is a global issue. But you might be surprised to learn that the numbers don’t lie: every year, roughly 1 million people die from illnesses related to water, sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases, as revealed by water.org.
The good news is that there are things you can do to lower your risk of exposure to harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins and improve your health after consuming contaminated water.
First and foremost: seek medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics or other medications to fight off infection until it has passed through your system. And if the illness does not pass quickly enough on its own, doctors may recommend hospitalization for intravenous fluids and other treatments.
If you or someone in your family consumed contaminated water and started experiencing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, or headaches, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Switch to Safe Sources of Drinking Water
Water contamination is extremely prevalent across countries. Consuming contaminated water can lead to various diseases or even death in some cases. Women, children, and older are more vulnerable to developing diseases or even death. According to the estimates from water.org, a water-related disease kills a child every 2 minutes.
One of the best ways to get yourself back on track after consuming contaminated water is to switch to safe sources of drinking water. This is because the bacteria and viruses found in contaminated water can lead to many diseases, such as cholera, salmonella, and shigellosis. These infections are more likely to occur if the water has been stored for a long time or if it has been improperly treated before you drink it.
In order to reduce your chances of contracting these diseases, make sure that you only drink from safe sources of drinking water. Safe sources include bottled water from approved brands, purified water, distilled water, boiled water, and spring water.
Consume Some Antioxidants
When you consume contaminated water, the microorganisms that are in the water can cause damage to your body and your health. However, there are some ways to improve your health after consuming contaminated water.
One of these ways is by consuming antioxidants. Antioxidants help reduce the damage caused by free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are cells that have become unstable and cause damage to other healthy cells in our bodies.
The best way to get these antioxidants into your system is through food sources like fruits and vegetables. Some examples include blueberries, broccoli, kale, and spinach. The bottom line is that antioxidants can help protect against illness after consuming contaminated water by fighting off harmful toxins before they can make you sick.
Do Some Exercise
As a survivor of the contaminated water crisis, you may be feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. You may have had a hard time sleeping and eating, or you might be dealing with psychological issues like anxiety and depression. One way to improve your health after consuming contaminated water is by doing some exercise.
Exercise has many benefits for your body, including improved circulation and increased blood flow to all areas of your body. This helps your body heal more quickly from anything it’s been exposed to, such as contaminated water. Exercise also releases endorphins, which help reduce anxiety levels and improve moods.
Exercise can also help you sleep better because it tires out your muscles so they don’t keep contracting during sleep. This makes it easier for you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that improving your health after consuming contaminated water doesn’t have to be daunting. It can be as simple as making sure you seek medical attention, use a clean source of drinking water, consume antioxidants, and exercise.
