Archive for the 'Well Being' Category
Abbreviated DVT, Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body. The leg is the most common origin. DVT is a serious condition. If fragments of a deep vein thrombosis break loose, they can be carried to the lungs, in doing so, they could block the flow of blood. This is called a pulmonary embolism; which can be fatal.
Common Symptoms - Leg pain is one of the symptoms; but DVT can and often does occur without any symptoms. This attributes to DVT being called a “silent killer.”
The contraction of leg muscles facilitates the re-circulation of blood back to your heart. Although it is working against gravity, this process keeps the blood in your legs from clotting. Keeping your legs inert for long periods of time denies your body this circulation boost and can lead to a thrombus. In 2008 more than 2,000 Americans died from travel-related DVT strokes.
Inheriting a blood-clotting disorder.
Unfortunately, some people inherit a disorder that makes their blood clot more easily. This inherited condition is more likely to cause problems when combined with one or more other risk factors.
Surgery or Injury
Prolonged bedrest or hospital stay
Pregnancy increases the pressure in the veins in your legs and pelvis. In which case, women with an inherited clotting disorder are especially at risk. The risk of blood clots from pregnancy can continue for up to six weeks after you give birth.
Smoking affects blood cell reproduction, blood clotting and circulation.
Overweight or obesity.
Being overweight increases the pressure in the veins in your legs and pelvis.
Ways to help prevent DVT
Stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol beverages, and take hourly breaks from sitting by walking around, where applicable. The extra legroom of an aisle or business-class seat may help with occasionally stretching legs. For those at a higher risk, below-the-knee compression stockings or medication may be needed. There are well-established guidelines for preventing DVT in many medical situations, particularly after surgery. Consult your physician. Making lifestyle changes may also be helpful:
Losing weight if you’re obese may help reduce your risk of DVT. 
With age may come wisdom and, all too frequently, a fall. Falls are common causes of serious injuries. One out of every three people over 65 falls annually in the U.S. Falls are the most common cause of injuries among senior citizens and the top reason for a hospital admission for trauma. Advanced age substantially increases the likelihood of hospitalization after a fall. Falls account for 87% of all fractures among people aged 65 years or older. For seniors, fractures are the most serious consequence of falls (short of death). The most common bones to fracture in falls are:
-
The hip, femur (thigh bone), pelvis, and vertebrae (spine);
-
The humerus (upper arm bone), forearm, and hand; and
-
The leg and ankle bones.
What medical factors increase the chance of a fall?
-
Visual impairment. Disorders of the nervous system. Joint and muscle problems. Difficulties in gait and balance. Medications which induce sleepiness.
How can falls be prevented?
Physical activity to improve strength, mobility and flexibility in seniors; Limiting sleep-inducing medications whenever possible; Appropriate treatment of underlying medical conditions; Environmental modifications such as installing grab bars, removing tripping obstacles, and maintaining sufficient lighting; And some common sense doesn’t hurt.
Pressure Sore Risk Factors:
The elderly and people with mobility problems are at a greater risk for pressure sores.
Incontinence is also a contributor, along with malnutrition and dehydration. Certain medications can also be an attributing factor.
Signs and Symptoms of Pressure Sore Development:
- Discoloration: In lighter-skin, the skin may turn red or dark purple. Darker-skinned the area may become darker than normal.
- There may be a bad smell from the area
- Redness or warmth around the sore
- Swelling around the sore
- Tenderness, pain around the sore
- Thick yellow or green pus
- Size of pressure sores are variable, they can go down into the muscle, or even to the bone.
- Further reduction in mobility
Pressure Sore Prevention:
Relieving pressure: Position must be changed on a regular basis, at least every two hours, and in the very frail at least every hour.
Good Diet: A good and balanced diet contributes to healing, as well as avoiding severe nutritional decline and 
loss of weight
Skin Care: Keep the skin clean. Moisture should be minimized. Skin care products should be used that moisturize the skin but do not make it wet or soggy.
Use continence aids if a person is unable to control their bladder or bowels. Pads, diapers, convenes or catheterizing.
Inspect the skin to see if any redness or breaks in the skin are developing.
Use products to relieve and treat pressure sores; airbeds, foam bed, bed and chair protectors, chair products, continence aids can all contribute to avoiding of bed sores.
Selecting a nursing home is one of the most important decisions you may be asked to make, either for yourself or for a family member. Ideally, this decision would be made far in advance. Nonetheless, it is often made during a crisis. Many people don’t have any idea of how to begin their search or what they are really looking for in a nursing facility. Here are some helpful questions you may want to consider on your visit.
Environment
* Do you feel welcome when you enter?
* Do all bedrooms have windows?
* Are there no more than four (4) beds in each room?
* Does each bed have a privacy curtain?
* Does each bed have a nurse call bell?
* Are the hallways and rooms hazard free?
* Are the bathrooms convenient to the bedrooms?
* Are there hand grips near the toilets?
* Do showers and tubs have non-slip surfaces and hand grips?
* Are visiting hours convenient?
* How are roommates selected?
Dining Room
* Is the dining room attractive?
* Are the tables and chairs comfortable?
* Is there adequate access for wheelchairs in the dining room?
* Is the food tasty and attractive?
* Are residents given enough time to eat?
* Do residents receive help eating if they need it?
* Are personal likes and dislikes taken into account when planning the menu?
Activities
* Is there an activities room?
* Are activities tailored to the individual’s needs and interests?
* Have arrangements been made for worship services?
* Are group and individual activities planned?
* Are outside trips available?
* Is there a social services worker available to assist residents and families?
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, or if your pressure is borderline and your doctor is just “watching it”, measure it yourself from time to time, away from the doctor’s office. Doing so is useful because some people suffer from white coat syndrome, in which they become anxious in the doctor’s office and their blood pressure rises. As a result, the doctor doesn’t get an accurate reading and can’t know how well the condition is being treated. Also, it’s useful to know your pressure in various situations, and how effectively your medication is working throughout the day.
The best way to monitor your pressure, in my opinion, is with a home blood pressure cuff. Most of these devices are inexpensive (under $100), automatic, and easy to use. To make sure the unit is accurate, take it with you to the doctor’s office and check it against the one there. Depending on the medical book you read, you’ll find a “normal blood pressure” to be beteen 120/70 to 130/80. Each person has their own “normal”, therefore these numbers are considered ideal or desirable.
Many drugstores and supermarkets now have blood pressure machines, providing a convenient, inexpensive, and easy way to measure your blood pressure. You simply slip your arm into a cuff and push a button. But are such machines acurate? Do the stores maintain their units, or do they set them up and forget about them? Frankly, I have always been a little leary of advising my patients to check their pressure this way, especially in a supermarket. Therefore, I recommend buying yourself a home unit so you can measure your pressure at home before and after taking medication, eating, or watching an exciting event on T.V. (all away from that terrifying white coat). In addition to these scenerios, whether you are sitting or standing will affect the readings. However, if you don’t have a personal home unit, it’s okay to use the public blood pressure monitors as long as you remember to do it three times. The last reading is the one that counts. If it seems out of line, double-check it with your doctor.
The holiday season is a time to share with family and friends. In many cases, this involves traveling. It is important to remember to always wear your seatbelt when traveling in an automobile. There are approximately 6.4 million automobile accidents each year. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the typical driver will be involved in an accident of some type on an average of every 6 years. Not many people believe they can become a statistic of spinal cord injury; however, it happens every day. It is important to know that spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at anytime. Buckling up is a simple protective measure you can take to avoid getting a spinal cord injury. Also, remember the little ones as you travel. No one is too small to be properly restrained. Here’s wishing you and yours happy and safe holidays!
It is also estimated that 110 people die annually from snowmobile-related injuries. Forty percent of the reported deaths were due to collisions with trees, wires, bridges, and other vehicles. A majority of snowmobile deaths and injuries involve the head and neck. Although most states do not have mandatory helmet laws, equipping yourself with head protection may reduce your risk of getting seriously hurt or killed.
Ways to Protect Yourself:
-
Always maintain your snowmobile and keep it in excellent driving condition
-
Always wear insulated boots and protective clothing including a helmet, gloves, and eye protection
-
Never ride alone
-
If possible, avoid crossing frozen bodies of water
-
Never operate in a single file when crossing frozen bodies of water
-
Always stay alert to driving conditions and obstacles, such as depressions in the snow
-
Never operate on a street or highway
-
Keep headlights and tail lights on at all times when operating your snowmobile
-
Always check the weather conditions before you depart
-
Always operate your snowmobile at safe speeds
-
Never operate your snowmobile if you’re intoxicated, tired, or on medication
For more information on United Spinal Association’s Motorsafe Program visit their Web site at www.unitedspinal.org
The FHAA prohibits a wide array of activities that discriminate against persons with disabilities and families with children in the sale or rental of housing. The following specifically outlines illegal actions:
• Refusal to sell or rent a dwelling unit when a bona fide offer has been made, where the refusal is based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
• Imposing different terms and conditions or treating people differently with the provision of service because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
• Discouraging an individual from living in a community or neighborhood, if the restriction is based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. This activity is frequently referred to as “steering.”
• Advertising, posting notices or making statements in such a way as to deny access to an individual if that denial is based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
• Misrepresenting the availability of a dwelling because of the applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.
• Blockbusting by encouraging the sale or rental of a dwelling by implying that people of a certain race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or origin are entering the community in large numbers.
Higher gas prices cause increased motorcycle use
Author: Scooters
In these times of high gas prices, many are opting to use motorcycles as their primary mode of transportation. Unfortunately motorcycles offer very little protection to the rider. Therefore, motorcycle accidents, especially at high rates of speed, can easily cause spinal cord injury, leading to paralysis, nursing care and a lifetime of wheelchair use and other assistive devices. In addition to this, motorcycle fatalities have been steadily increasing.
Almost half of the fatal motorcycle accidents show alcohol involvement. One out of four motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had an invalid license. Helmets saved approximately 1,158 lives in 2003; another 640 lives could have been saved if helmets were worn. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation motorcycle accident statistics, a motorcyclist is 16 times more likely to die in an accident than a motor vehicle occupant. Motorcyclists are also three times more likely to be injured than people in cars.
Wearing a helmet properly is mandatory under many state laws. These laws are subject to change, so it is a good idea to check with each state in which you intend to ride. State laws will apply to travelers as well as state residents. Don’t leave home without the information you need. Better yet, don’t leave home without wearing your helmet.
Some causes of Motorcycle Accidents
-
Lack of basic driving skills
-
Failure to appreciate the inherent operating characteristics
-
Failure to appreciate the limitations of the motorcycle
-
Failure to use special precautions while riding
-
Failure to use defensive driving techniques
-
Lack of specific braking and cornering skills
-
Failure to follow speed limit
-
Ways to Protect Yourself
-
Never ride without a certified motorcycle helmet and eye protection
-
Read your owner’s manual thoroughly
-
Attend motorcycle rider educational classes
-
Wear the proper shoes, gloves, and clothing
-
Purchase a bike you can handle safely
-
Consider the primary use of your bike
-
Don’t buy a “trail” bike for highway use
-
Similarly, don’t buy a “highway” bike if most of your riding will be off road
-
Follow the “rules of the road” and drive defensively.