Florida Elder Care | Home Companions | Advocates On Call LLC

Stroke time is of the essence

Paula — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:25:09 +0000

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Without blood and the oxygen it carries, part of the brain begins to die. The part of the body controlled by the damaged area of the brain can’t work properly. Brain damage can occur within minutes so it is important to know the symptoms of stroke and to act FAST.
The American Heart Assoc. reports that 795,000 people will suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year with roughly 600,000 of them being first time attacks. 1 in 17 deaths in the US are due to stroke.
There are 2 types of stroke. The first being an ischemic stroke. That is the more prevalent type. In the ischemic stroke, a clot stops circulation to a certain area of the brain. The second type is hemorrhagic stroke. That is when a blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into the brain. 87% of the strokes that occur are ischemic and the other 13% are hemorrhagic.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE WHEN IT COMES TO STROKE!

KNOW THE 7 WORNING SIGNS OF STROKE!

Dizziness – tripping or falling.
Headache – sudden, severe and feels different.
Blurred Vision – loss or blurring of vision then your vision comes back.
Double Vision – you see double for a while or have vision problems in both eyes.
Difficulty Understanding – you hear words but do not understand what they mean.
Numbness – numbness or weakness of the face, arm, hand, or leg usually one sided.
Difficulty Speaking – either the inability to say sounds correctly, may be slurred speech, or the inability or put words together to say something.

IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, CALL 911

F=Face- Smile is the face even? A=Arm-are both arms even when holding them straight out?
S=Speech- Does it sound strange? And T=Time-Every second counts, call 911

Hands Only CPR

Paula — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:09:15 +0000

All Americans should learn lifesaving hands only CPR.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
Everyone should know how to perform CPR in an emergency.
Immediate, effective CPR could more than double a victim’s chance of survival.

When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work, or in a public place get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse that’s why the American Heart Association has simplified things. Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help.

There are only 2 steps to Hands Only CPR.

Call 911
Push hard and fast in the center of the person’s chest about 100 beats per minute.

Push to the beat of “Stayin Alive” and you could save a life.

If you have any questions about “hands only CPR” you can call 1-877-AHA-4CPR 1-242-4277. If you have a computer you can go to www.handsonlyCPR.org.

Osteoporosis

Paula — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:10:59 +0000

I remember walking to and from school and playing “if you step on a crack you’ll break your Mother’s back.” What do you know about osteoporosis? Osteoporosis or “porous bone” is a disease of the skeletal system characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis leads to an increased risk of bone fractures typically in the wrist, hip and spine. We must have thought that all of our Mothers had osteoporosis.

There are some risk factors that may lead to some of us getting osteoporosis over others.

Female
White/Caucasian
Post-menopausal women
Older adults
Small body size
Low-calcium diet
Physical inactivity

Bone is not a hard and lifeless structure; rather it is complex, living tissue. Bones provide structural support for muscles, protect vital organs and store the calcium essential for bone density and strength. Until the age of about 30, you can build and store bone efficiently. Then, as part of the natural aging process, your bones begin to break down faster than new bone can be formed.

To determine if you are at risk for osteoporosis, your doctor will ask you a variety of questions about your lifestyle and medical/family history, including if anyone in your family has suffered from osteoporosis. After his examination, your Dr. may recommend a bone density test. One good thing about that is that the test is painless, noninvasive and safe.

Paula Mann RN
Advocates On Call

Flu Season

Paula — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:06:11 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Here are some reminders for you.

Flu symptoms are upper respiratory in nature: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some flues may cause a fever. Viruses cause the flu. The seasonal flu viruses actually change from year to year which is why there is a recommendation to get the vaccination every year.

Some folks get the “stomach bug” which will present with diarrhea, cramping – you know the routine. A bacteria or a virus can cause this. This is not the flu.

Don’t use the excuse to not get the flu shot because one year you got the shot and you got the flu. You do not get the FLU from the FLU SHOT. Really, you do not.

Your best defense is to wash your hands frequently. Get the annual flu shot and pneumoccal vaccine also if you’ve never had it. On the average, 20,000 Americans can be killed each year during the flu season.

Managing STRESS

Paula — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:12:32 +0000

Managing STRESS is all about taking charge; taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no ”one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

Some techniques to try:

Go for a walk Savor a warm cup of coffee or tea
Spend time in nature. Play with a pet
Call a good friend Work in your garden
Sweat out tension with a good Get a massage

Workout Curl up with a good book

Write in your journal Listen to music
Take a long bath Watch a comedy.
Light scented candles

Paula Mann
641-7590