World Psoriasis Day

(Google Image) 

By Nurse Diane

There is a commercial on TV where a man is serving food from a mobile trailer.  As he is handing out the order, the sleeve on his shirt raises up and you can notice red patches on his skin.  He is embarrassed, and then it cuts away to a medication to cure the condition.  Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales.  It can occur with anyone, but it is usually more common if other family members have it.  People get it from the ages of 15 to 35 years of age, and it is not contagious.

Treatment is to control the symptoms, and this is usually done with topical creams, and in more severe cases, pills or injections.  Psoriasis is a life-long condition that can be controlled with treatment. It may go away for a long time and then return. With appropriate treatment, it usually does not affect your general physical health.

(Google Image) 

Today is World Psoriasis Day.  According to http://www.worldpsoriasisday.com/ it is an annual day specially dedicated to people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. Conceived by patients for patients, World Psoriasis Day is a truly global event that sets out to give an international voice to the 125 million people with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. The goals for the day include:

• Raising awareness: to let people with psoriasis know that they are not alone and to raise the profile of this devastating skin disease and the misery it can cause. To dispel myths about the condition, such as the mistaken view that psoriasis is contagious.
• Improving access to treatment: to encourage healthcare systems, governments, physicians, careers and all those responsible for psoriasis care to allow psoriasis sufferers access to optimum therapy. For too long, psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis has been low priority. They are debilitating diseases and must move up the healthcare agenda.
• Increasing understanding: to provide information to those who are affected by the condition as well as the general public in order to educate people about the condition so that they can discuss it more openly and confidently.

Building unity among the psoriasis community: to provide a platform from which patient voices from around the world can speak as one and be heard by key decision makers.

(Google Image) 

For more information visit the site: http://www.worldpsoriasisday.com/

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest, RN

Juvenile arthritis affects children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. About 294,000 American children under age 18 have arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.  The most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap. Other signs include:

• Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee
• Excessive clumsiness
• High fever and skin rash
• Swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body
• Most children with arthritis have times when the symptoms get better or go away (remission) and other times when they get worse (flare).
• Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems. It also can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.

(Google Image) 

There is no easy way a doctor can tell if your child has juvenile arthritis. Doctors usually suspect arthritis when a child has constant joint pain or swelling, as well as skin rashes that can’t be explained and a fever along with swelling of lymph nodes or inflammation in the body’s organs. To be sure that it is juvenile arthritis, doctors depend on many things, which may include:

• Physical exam
• Symptoms
• Family history
• Lab tests
• X rays.

A team approach is the best way to treat juvenile arthritis. It is best if a doctor trained to treat these types of diseases in children (a pediatric rheumatologist) manages your child’s care. However, many children’s doctors and “adult” rheumatologists also treat children with arthritis.

Other members of your child’s health care team may include:

• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Counselor or psychologist
• Eye doctor
• Dentist and orthodontist
• Bone surgeon
• Dietitian
• Pharmacist
• Social worker
• Rheumatology nurse
• School nurse.

(Google Image) 

Doctors who treat arthritis in children will try to make sure your child can remain physically active. They also try to make sure your child can stay involved in social activities and have an overall good quality of life. Doctors can prescribe treatments to reduce swelling, maintain joint movement, and relieve pain. They also try to prevent, identify, and treat problems that result from the arthritis. Most children with arthritis need a blend of treatments – some treatments include drugs, and others do not.

(Google Image) 

Juvenile arthritis affects the whole family. It can strain your child’s ability to take part in social and after-school activities, and it can make schoolwork more difficult. Family members can help the child both physically and emotionally by doing the following:

• Get the best care possible.
• Learn as much as you can about your child’s disease and its treatment.
• Insist that your child take the treatment.
• Consider joining a support group.
• Treat your child as normally as possible.
• Encourage exercise and physical therapy for your child.
• Work closely with your child’s school.
• Talk with your child.
• Work with therapists or social workers

(Google Image) 

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.  To learn more about it and ways you can help, visit this site: http://www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis.php

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

By Vivian Takafuji CMT, MQT, PhD

Arthritis describes a chronic inflammation of the joints of the body. Not just a disease afflicting the elderly, children can develop arthritis as well! Juvenile arthritis (JA) refers to any arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers less than 18 years of age. According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 294,000 children are affected by some form of JA in the United States today. Localized pain and limited range of motion and flexibility in the joints are indications of JA progression. As a parent, if you notice a change in gait, the favoring of a limb over time, or persistent back or joint pain, a physician’s consultation will help determine a proper diagnosis and treatment for your child.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is an arthritic condition in children (usually before the age of 16) that is characterized by long-standing joint pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling. JRA is considered to be an autoimmune disorder in which the child’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy joint tissue. Body-wide symptoms can also be present, including high fever, rash of the trunk and extremities, and swollen lymph glands.

Treatment of JA should be conservative. When a few joints are involved, rest, gentle movement, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory supplements may be sufficient to control low-level pain and discomfort. Children who suffer with body-wide (rheumatologic) arthritis may require further medication such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs to decrease inflammation in the body. Natural supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin may also help to lower overall inflammation levels and to improve joint function.

Arthritis - Time to Take Control

Oh, my aching pain!”

Arthritis Awareness Month, May 2011

By Vivian Takafuji, CMT, MQT, PhD

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease of the joints of the body of which over 100 types have been identified. Although not life-threatening, it is the number one cause of disability in the United States and can have a dramatic effect on one’s quality of life (Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org). Affecting 350 million people worldwide and over 40 million in the US, it’s a general misconception that arthritis affects only older adults. The most common form, osteoarthritis, is a wearing-and-tearing of the cartilage of the joint surfaces that can be exacerbated by injury, poor posture, or uneven weight distribution. Rheumatoid arthritis is distinguished by inflammation of the soft tissues of the joint and is linked to an abnormal immune response and may have a genetic component.

What are the symptoms?

Regardless of the type, the common symptoms of arthritis are pain, limited function of joints, and some degree of inflammation which can result in swelling, reddening, and heat. Chronic inflammation, as seen with the rheumatic forms of arthritis, can result in deformity of the joints and even affect various organs of the body such as the lungs, heart, and kidneys.

How is arthritis treated and managed?

Appropriate treatments depend on the form, location, and severity of the condition, which should be individually customized with the consult of a physician or a health care provider. Rest, heat/cold applications, and topical pain creams (capsaicin, salycin, methyl salicylate, menthol) can assist in the management of mild symptoms. For moderate arthritis, nonprescription (NSAIDs) and prescription pain medications may be helpful. Only in severe cases, joint injections (cortisone, hyaluronic acid), and surgery may be necessary. Arthritis characterized by an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis) may require medication that suppresses the immune system.

The emphasis for arthritic pain management is to relieve excessive stress on the afflicted joints and restore range of motion. Weight reduction programs and adopting gentle, light-impact activities that improve joint function can be greatly beneficial (such as swimming and easy-paced walking). Qigong/Tai Chi (http://www.nqa.org/) and gentle stretching of tendons/ligaments, if performed regularly, can help to preserve the proper function of the joints. Physical and occupational therapy may provide structural devices or suggest additional gentle strengthening techniques to help patients at work and home for pain management.

For osteoarthritis, food supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin have helped to relieve symptoms for some patients, although controversy abounds in the medical community for its efficacy. Fish oils (omega-3s) have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help arthritic conditions.

Coming this week on Keeping it Simple (KISBYTO)…

A new month, May is full of many events, activities, observance and other interesting things to share with our beloved readers.  It is also the week prior to our family cruise which will depart on Sunday, May 8^th for a week in the Atlantic. Granddaughter, daughter, son-in-law, grandma and I are all mentally sync for this trip.  So let us share with you what we have planned for this week – knowing things can changes, but this is what on our plate to deliver.

Mother Goose an all time favorite with young and old – stories to share and to tell over and over.

May Day is celebrated all over and in many different ways – but a lot of us it’s the blooming of the flowers that gets our juices flowing.

Melanoma Monday:  The number one form of cancer is skin cancer.  There are over 1 million new cases every year!  It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

 National Truffle Day: Delicious dessert made with a chocolate gouache center that is then coated in chocolate powder. Talk about a piece of chocolate heaven!

World & National Asthma Day is both celebrated this week and our team will cover these observances.  This year’s theme, of World Asthma Day 2011 will be "You Can Control Your Asthma."

National Teacher Day is also celebrated this week and time to break out the soap box for these brave men and women who put forth a tremendous effort to teach our children (and grandchildren) who are grossly under paid and many lack the tools they desperately need to carry out their jobs.

  

International Firefighters Day to honor and support firefighters who risk their lives every day to help their communities.  As many of you know, my son-in-law Darrin in Seattle is a fireman. It is a special day that I take pride in recognizing and give my sincere thanks to all the men and women do this job.

 Cinco de Mayo has been a celebrated holiday since May 5, 1862 after the unexpected victory over the French army.

National Nurses Week begins on the 6^th of May and is also Nurses Day that ends on the 12^th.  Like other important dates in life, birthday, anniversary, when you first met your spouse and where, this celebration is also high on my dates to remember.  My wife is a nurse.  Diane is a nurse and several other friends are nurses or in the process of becoming one.  We will do our best to help celebrate!

Mothers Day – A very special day and we all give thanks to our mothers.

Did you know?

Brothers and Sisters Day is a day to cherish your siblings that is celebrated on May 2. Sure, there's times when you love your brothers and sisters. And, there's times when you want to disown them. All in all, having a brother and/or a sister or two is invaluable. The older you get, the more you learn to appreciate them.

National Hoagie Day is celebrated every May 5^th and was created to give us a special day to enjoy and celebrate a big, tasty hoagie. You know of this big sandwich as a hoagie, a sub or a hero. And, it's a regular on most diets in America. People eat them for lunch, dinner, and even as a late night snack. It's a quick meal or people on the go.

National Train Day is celebrated on May 9^th. The year 1869 was a really exciting time in America. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads were speeding across the wild, American frontier, laying tracks for what would soon become the first Transcontinental rail line.

Other things going on in the Month of May are:

·       Date Your Mate Month

·       Foster Care Month

·       National Barbecue Month

·       National Bike Month

·       National Hamburger Month

·       National Photograph Month

·       Older Americans Month

·       First Newspaper Cartoon was in 1754

·       Butterscotch Brownie on May 9

·       Fruit Cocktail on May 13

·       Friday 13 on May 13

·       First Nickel Day on May 16, 1866 and was called ‘Shield Nickel’

·       Also on the 16^th is Sea Monkey Day

·       Cheese Soufflé on May 18

·       Visit Your Relatives Day on May 18

·       Strawberries and Cream on May 21

·       Lucky Penny on May 23^r

·       Escargot day is May 24^t

·       Wine Day on May 25^t

·       Blueberry Cheesecake on May 26

·       Grape Popsicle on May 27