Your doctor can let you know what illnesses you need to be screened for and when, but here is a quick rundown. (Of course, this list doesn't take into account your family history or current health.)
Heart Disease: 55 years old and regularly after that, or with the presence of any symptoms or risk factors
Colon Cancer: 50 years old, for men and women done every 10 years
Male Cancers: regularly between the ages of 40 and 75
Female Cancers: Breast cancer- every 2 years between the ages of 50 and 74, Cervical cancer- every year after age 21
Diabetes: age 45, but sooner with the presence of symptoms or risk factors
Osteoporosis: women age 60 and then every 5 years
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
How to stop the Flu
You don't want to get sick and I don't want to get sick so I'm gonna tell you how to best avoid the flu. I've numbered these in order of importance.
1. Get a flu shot. This is the greatest step in flu prevention, but it is not the only one and does not guarantee that you will not catch the flu. This step is especially important if you have a weak immune system, have long term breathing problems, or are a senior citizen.
2. Wash your hands often. Wash before you eat and after you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose. Use a Kleenex and throw it away right after you are done. Even if it is only allergies act as though you are contagious. If there is not soap and water available then use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
3. Stay home if you are sick. Stay home until your temperature has been normal for 24 hours without taking Tylenol or other fever reducers. You can spread the flu from 1 day before you have symptoms to 5 days after. If your child is sick, then you are carrying the germs with you. Be considerate of others and keep the germs confined.
4. Be mindful of what you touch, in fact, don't touch it if possible. Try not to touch your face (that's especially hard to do when you're thinking about it) because that is the easiest place for flu germs to infect. Handrails, door knobs, money, counter tops, and shopping carts- they are all very, very dirty. If you do touch a public surface, go back to #2.
For more info about how to tell if you have the flu and what to do about it visit the Centers for Disease Control's flu page.
1. Get a flu shot. This is the greatest step in flu prevention, but it is not the only one and does not guarantee that you will not catch the flu. This step is especially important if you have a weak immune system, have long term breathing problems, or are a senior citizen.
2. Wash your hands often. Wash before you eat and after you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose. Use a Kleenex and throw it away right after you are done. Even if it is only allergies act as though you are contagious. If there is not soap and water available then use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
3. Stay home if you are sick. Stay home until your temperature has been normal for 24 hours without taking Tylenol or other fever reducers. You can spread the flu from 1 day before you have symptoms to 5 days after. If your child is sick, then you are carrying the germs with you. Be considerate of others and keep the germs confined.
4. Be mindful of what you touch, in fact, don't touch it if possible. Try not to touch your face (that's especially hard to do when you're thinking about it) because that is the easiest place for flu germs to infect. Handrails, door knobs, money, counter tops, and shopping carts- they are all very, very dirty. If you do touch a public surface, go back to #2.
For more info about how to tell if you have the flu and what to do about it visit the Centers for Disease Control's flu page.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday Tips- Safe chemicals
1. Use hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect. It kills germs on contact and doesn't leave any residue behind since it breaks down into hydrogen and water. It is great to clean shallow wounds or scratches as it does not sting. It will also clear up any sores in your mouth if you swish and spit a tablespoon. Do not swallow. It is a wonderful cleaning solution that does not require any scrubbing, the bubbles do it for you. Just soak items in a bowl of it to sanitize them.
2. Boric acid is a wonderful insecticide. It is not nearly as dangerous as commercialized insect killers and it remains active for many years! It kills many bugs including ants and roaches and prevents mold growth and wood rot. The best way to treat for roaches with it is to drill a hole between each stud in your walls and put several tablespoons in each hole then spackle the walls back up. The roaches will not come back for 8 years, even if your neighbors have an infestation. It should not be inhaled or eaten so put it out of the way of children and pets. I put it under my dishwasher and fridge and behind my washer and dryer.
3. Baking soda is a great cleaner as well. It is completely safe (you can eat it), it has whitening and abrasive powers, and it pulls out odors. Besides that, it is super cheap! You can use it everywhere- clothes, carpets, bathtubs, hair, sink drains, barbecue grills, pets- it's amazing. Baking soda has many heath uses too; as an antacid, sports drink, cure for diaper rash, bug bites, and poison ivy. Look here for more uses!
4. Vinegar is great for cleaning and several health issues as well. It is completely safe, but doesn't always smell so great. It is safe for almost every surface in your house in diluted solutions. A comprehensive list of vinegar uses is here. It can be used to clean bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, and cars. It has many health and beauty uses, and will repel bugs.
2. Boric acid is a wonderful insecticide. It is not nearly as dangerous as commercialized insect killers and it remains active for many years! It kills many bugs including ants and roaches and prevents mold growth and wood rot. The best way to treat for roaches with it is to drill a hole between each stud in your walls and put several tablespoons in each hole then spackle the walls back up. The roaches will not come back for 8 years, even if your neighbors have an infestation. It should not be inhaled or eaten so put it out of the way of children and pets. I put it under my dishwasher and fridge and behind my washer and dryer.
3. Baking soda is a great cleaner as well. It is completely safe (you can eat it), it has whitening and abrasive powers, and it pulls out odors. Besides that, it is super cheap! You can use it everywhere- clothes, carpets, bathtubs, hair, sink drains, barbecue grills, pets- it's amazing. Baking soda has many heath uses too; as an antacid, sports drink, cure for diaper rash, bug bites, and poison ivy. Look here for more uses!
4. Vinegar is great for cleaning and several health issues as well. It is completely safe, but doesn't always smell so great. It is safe for almost every surface in your house in diluted solutions. A comprehensive list of vinegar uses is here. It can be used to clean bathrooms, kitchens, laundry, and cars. It has many health and beauty uses, and will repel bugs.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday Stories
I enjoy working with neurologic (brain) patients, specifically head injuries. I enjoy it because their condition changes rapidly, often for the better. I like to see the change- the difference I am making. They are often also very entertaining. : )
One such patient I had while I was working my way through college as a nurse's aid. She had been found unconscious on the side of the road by an ambulance. I still don't know how she got there. It was my job to bathe her and check her vital signs every two hours and report to the nurse. They had placed a small tube through her nose into her stomach to feed her. For a day and a half she just slept there, then she began to come around. At first she only moaned when I moved her, but soon she was moving on her own. At that point she started to pull on her IV and other tubes so I was assigned to sit with her in her room all day and keep her out of trouble. It takes a lot of patience to work with someone with a brain injury because they are very forgetful. I'm quite sure that I said, "Don't pull that!" every two minutes for a couple of hours...
Once she began to talk I had a constant stream of amusement: "Look at all those pretty fishes out the window!" We were on the ninth floor in Tulsa, but she told me this was a wonderful cruise. Every two hours we would go over who she was and what day it was and where we were and who was president. She didn't remember any of it for about three days. Every so often she would sit up and say, "There goes that pretty kitty cat again!"
Once she began to swallow without choking I was allowed to pull the tube out of her nose. I let her have the satisfaction since she had been trying for two days. Then began the adventure that was meal time. She hadn't quite got her balance and coordination back yet, so she made a big mess and every little while she would just fall over in a random direction. I always stood very close.
Then the day came when she was well enough to not need to be watched every minute. The maintenance department brought up a "mesh bed". It was basically a large play pen that fit over the bed frame and zipped close from the outside. This would prevent her from getting out of bed on her own and falling. I knew that sometimes patients did not like this confinement, and believing that perception is a big part of a person's reality; I said in an eager voice, "You're going to get a new bed today! It is a very pretty blue bed!"
"Ooohh!" she was entranced when they brought it in. Mission accomplished. I took care of her for a couple more days and she was ready to go home. I had very much enjoyed helping her to recover and was happy-sad to see her go.
One such patient I had while I was working my way through college as a nurse's aid. She had been found unconscious on the side of the road by an ambulance. I still don't know how she got there. It was my job to bathe her and check her vital signs every two hours and report to the nurse. They had placed a small tube through her nose into her stomach to feed her. For a day and a half she just slept there, then she began to come around. At first she only moaned when I moved her, but soon she was moving on her own. At that point she started to pull on her IV and other tubes so I was assigned to sit with her in her room all day and keep her out of trouble. It takes a lot of patience to work with someone with a brain injury because they are very forgetful. I'm quite sure that I said, "Don't pull that!" every two minutes for a couple of hours...
Once she began to talk I had a constant stream of amusement: "Look at all those pretty fishes out the window!" We were on the ninth floor in Tulsa, but she told me this was a wonderful cruise. Every two hours we would go over who she was and what day it was and where we were and who was president. She didn't remember any of it for about three days. Every so often she would sit up and say, "There goes that pretty kitty cat again!"
Once she began to swallow without choking I was allowed to pull the tube out of her nose. I let her have the satisfaction since she had been trying for two days. Then began the adventure that was meal time. She hadn't quite got her balance and coordination back yet, so she made a big mess and every little while she would just fall over in a random direction. I always stood very close.
Then the day came when she was well enough to not need to be watched every minute. The maintenance department brought up a "mesh bed". It was basically a large play pen that fit over the bed frame and zipped close from the outside. This would prevent her from getting out of bed on her own and falling. I knew that sometimes patients did not like this confinement, and believing that perception is a big part of a person's reality; I said in an eager voice, "You're going to get a new bed today! It is a very pretty blue bed!"
"Ooohh!" she was entranced when they brought it in. Mission accomplished. I took care of her for a couple more days and she was ready to go home. I had very much enjoyed helping her to recover and was happy-sad to see her go.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Home Health Nurse
I have just started a new job as a part time home health nurse. I am, of course, learning much and reviewing more. I enjoy change and am so thankful that the nursing profession offers a myriad of opportunities.
The home health nurse visits patients in their homes after they are released from the hospital. The goal is to prevent the patient from going back to the hospital because they didn't take care of themselves, or to provide basic nursing services (such as dressing changes) outside of the hospital because it is much cheaper than staying in the hospital. This service is often paid for completely by Medicare.
I am looking forward to this type of nursing because seeing the patient in their home provides a complete picture of the issues and problems that they must overcome to heal and stay healthy. I will have the chance to assess their home environment and get them whatever type of assistance will best benefit them. This includes physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, house cleaning, meal assistance, grooming assistance, or social assistance. I will be able to sit down with the patient and discuss their medications and their illness and teach them how to take good care of themselves. I know that this job will often be frustrating because many people don't want to do what it takes to take good care of their bodies; but perhaps I can bless a few lives by spreading Love around.
The home health nurse visits patients in their homes after they are released from the hospital. The goal is to prevent the patient from going back to the hospital because they didn't take care of themselves, or to provide basic nursing services (such as dressing changes) outside of the hospital because it is much cheaper than staying in the hospital. This service is often paid for completely by Medicare.
I am looking forward to this type of nursing because seeing the patient in their home provides a complete picture of the issues and problems that they must overcome to heal and stay healthy. I will have the chance to assess their home environment and get them whatever type of assistance will best benefit them. This includes physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, house cleaning, meal assistance, grooming assistance, or social assistance. I will be able to sit down with the patient and discuss their medications and their illness and teach them how to take good care of themselves. I know that this job will often be frustrating because many people don't want to do what it takes to take good care of their bodies; but perhaps I can bless a few lives by spreading Love around.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday Tips
One of the main reasons that I became a nurse was to help my family avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor. Now, I know if one of us truly needs medical care or if we can "wait it out" (my husband's favorite option). Sometimes it is difficult to decide, and if you're not sure then go ahead and see your doctor. However, there are some general guidelines that I follow at my house:
-fever in adults higher than 101.
-vomiting and/or diarrhea for more than 3 days
-sick for more than 7 days
-any infection that is worsening (swelling, redness, pain, puss, fever)
Of course, if you have any symptoms of a medical emergency you need to go to an urgent care center or emergency room right away (please call 911):
-chest pain/heaviness/pressure, especially with single arm numbness/tingling/pain
-sudden and unusually severe pain or headache
-any muscle weakness or fainting
-trouble talking or walking
-uncontrollable bleeding
-difficulty breathing or swelling of the throat
-sudden changes in vision
If you have a question about a specific situation (clearly not an emergency), just ask me and I will be glad to give you my advice (I am not a doctor) about what I would do if I were you.
-fever in adults higher than 101.
-vomiting and/or diarrhea for more than 3 days
-sick for more than 7 days
-any infection that is worsening (swelling, redness, pain, puss, fever)
Of course, if you have any symptoms of a medical emergency you need to go to an urgent care center or emergency room right away (please call 911):
-chest pain/heaviness/pressure, especially with single arm numbness/tingling/pain
-sudden and unusually severe pain or headache
-any muscle weakness or fainting
-trouble talking or walking
-uncontrollable bleeding
-difficulty breathing or swelling of the throat
-sudden changes in vision
If you have a question about a specific situation (clearly not an emergency), just ask me and I will be glad to give you my advice (I am not a doctor) about what I would do if I were you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)