Skin Rashes

By Nurse Diane

It’s a beautiful day; you are taking a nice stroll.... The grass is green, the trees are green, and there are green leaves everywhere!  But beware!  Leaves of 3 let it be!  Yes folks, I’m talking about poison ivy and poison oak.    This is a real problem in the southern states and I’m sure other area as well.  I am highly allergic, just writing is is making me itch!  There was a large oak tree across the street from my school.  I would stand by it after school to wait for my mother to pick me up.  It didn't take too long for me to learn that it was covered with those nasty green leaves.   I touched it and swole up like that blueberry girl on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I had to go to the doctor and get what must have been a steroid shot back then my mother covered the rash with that pink calamine lotion.  Not only was I miserable with itchy seeping blisters all over my swollen face pink colored face, but also I looked like a circus clown.

When my father gets around it, he immediately starts a steroid dose pack to keep from getting a bad case of it.  Not only can you get a reaction from touching the leaves, but also if the leaves are burning and the smoke gets near you, you can get the rash, and also if you touch someone who has it you can get it.

I recently read another article about a new plant that is making its way across the country.  Its called Giant hogweed and it is a plant that looks like a supersized version of Queen Anne’s lace and a touch can cause blisters, burns and blindness.to see a short video about this plant, click here:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/innocent-looking-plant-poses-serious-151214291.html

Symptoms of the rash or contact dermatitis as it is more formally known as include:

Itching at the site

Redness at the site

Heat at the site

Localized swelling or tenderness

Blisters or rash

Treatment

If you come in contact with poison ivy or any poisonous plant, wash immediately with soap and water.  If a rash develops use corticosteroid creams and ointments if the condition becomes unbearable, however sometimes the best treatment is no treatment.  Over treatment of skin rashes may cause you to develop reactions to other irritants.  However, you may need corticosteroid medication if it worsens.  It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks before the symptoms disappear.

Prevention

As my daddy will tell you, if it is green and has leaves, stay away from it!

(Photos from Google) 

National Stroke Awareness Month

By Nurse Diane

I recently found out my blood pressure is seriously high.  The first thing I thought about was I could have a stroke.  I immediately started steps to lower my blood pressure, such as taking blood pressure medication prescribed by my doctor, taking fish oil pills and garlic pills.  The garlic was recommended by a friend of mine who has had high blood pressure for many years, and had kept it under control.   I have been walking nearly every day along with other exercising at the gym, and in general trying to lower my stress.  Watching what you eat is also important.  I have been eating oatmeal regularly as it is known to lower cholesterol, and I have almonds and walnuts on hand to munch on.  Im trying to drink more liquids, and I never add salt when cooking, only to flavor after food is cooked if needed.

A Stroke is when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain.  This causes brain cells to die, or be damaged. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.  Some people recover completely, and around 2/3 will have some sort of disability.  Strokes can be treated with a drug called Activase if given within the first 3 hours.  This drug will work to quickly dissolve the clot so that minimal damage is done.

To determine if someone has had a stroke, look for these symptoms:

• SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body;
• SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
• SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
• SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination;
• SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.

An easy way to remember things to check for if a stroke has occurred is the work FAST

F: Face -is there any drooping or change to one side of the facial expression

A:  Arms - are they able to raise their arms over their head

S:  Speech - Are they able to speak and answer simple questions

T: Time - check the time that the stroke occurred, and call 911 immediately to get the necessary medications to break up the clot.

Strokes can occur at any time, to any one.  Be aware of the symptoms, and how to get the necessary help.  For more information, visit this site: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageNavigator/HOME

(All images from Google) 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

By Nurse Diane

I was talking with my aunt the other day and she was telling me about her concern for her friend, a lady she has known since high school.  Several years ago her friend was performing her normal routine tasks, when all of a sudden she had some sort of attack, my aunt described it as a type of electric shock.  Following this attack she began having several problems such as muscle pain, insomnia weakness.  She went to several doctors, and specialists trying to determine what was going on with her body, and why she was feeling the way she was.  She was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  She finally had a name for her condition, but explaining it to friends and family proved to be another difficult challenge.  Many thought she was just too lazy to want to do anything, while others thought that if she could do one thing, she should be able to do other things too.

Chronic fatigue syndrome refers to severe, continued tiredness that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.  These symptoms must last for over 6 months before a diagnosis is made.

Symptoms of CFS include:

• Feeling extremely tired for more than 24 hours after exercise that would normally be considered easy
• Feeling unrefreshed after sleeping for a proper amount of time
• Forgetfulness
• Concentration problems
• Confusion
• Joint pain but no swelling or redness
• Headaches that differ from those you have had in the past
• Irritability
• Mild fever (101 degrees F or less)
• Muscle aches
• Muscle weakness, all over or multiple locations, not explained by any known disorder
• Sore throat
• Sore lymph nodes in the neck or under the arms

Diagnosing CFS is not an easy task.  There are no x-rays or blood tests that confirm the diagnosis; the only way is to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.  There is no treatment for CFS, however there are treatments for the symptoms such as medication for pain, depression and anxiety.  Also a healthy diet and sleep management actions are helpful.  Patients may also benefit from working with health care providers to determine a safe type of exercise regime as well as trying to maintain social activities.  The expected outcome for this condition also varies.  Some people may recover in 6 months to a year, while some may never get back to their previous state before CFS.  Long-term effects include depression, isolation, and side effects from medications.

Today is National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness day.  For more information about CFS, click here: http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/

(All images from Google) 

Anxiety and Depression Awareness

By Nurse Diane

The other day we told you that it was Mental Health Awareness Month.  This week the focus is on Anxiety and Depression, two of many Mental Health disorders.  These subjects really hit home with me.  Since the death of my husband my life has been filled with anxiety and depression:  Anxiety over the legal issues and depression over my loss of him.  With all the turmoil surrounding his death, I have not even had a chance to stop and grieve.  I recently went to an after hours clinic for a sore on my leg that wouldn't heal.  Feeling I was in need of an antibiotic, I went to be examined.  During the course of my examination I discovered that my blood pressure was unusually high, 225/110.  This discovery really frightened me and I followed up with a complete physical exam with my doctor.  He prescribed some blood pressure medication along with some antidepressant.   I immediately began taking the blood pressure meds and I also purchased some garlic pills and fish oil pills to help lower it.  I was wary about the anti depressant, I have some court cases that I have to attend, and I wanted to be on top of my game.  However, one of the symptoms of anxiety and depression is elevated blood pressure.

Some other symptoms include:

Low or irritable mood most of the time

A loss of pleasure in usual activities

Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

A big change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss

Tiredness and lack of energy

Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt

Difficulty concentrating

Slow or fast movements

Lack of activity and avoiding usual activities

Feeling hopeless or helpless

Repeated thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms of stress and anxiety include:

A faster heart rate

Skipped heartbeats

Rapid breathing

Sweating

Trembling

Dizziness

Other symptoms include:

Loose stools

Frequent need to pee

Dry mouth

Problems swallowing

Many things can cause you to have these disorders, some include:

Alcohol or drug abuse

Medical conditions and treatments, such as:

Certain types of cancer

Long-term pain

Sleeping problems

Steroid medications

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Stressful life events, such as:

Abuse or neglect

Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend

Certain types of cancer

Death of a relative or friend

Divorce, including a parent's divorce

Failing a class

Illness in the family

Job loss

Long-term pain

Social isolation (common cause of depression in the elderly)

Ways to treat depression include first visiting your doctor, letting him/her know your symptoms and things that have been going on in your life. Things you can do at home include:

Get enough sleep.

Follow a healthy, nutritious diet.

Exercise regularly.

Avoid alcohol, marijuana, and other recreational drugs.

Get involved in activities that make you happy.

Spend time with family and friends.

If you are a religious or spiritual person, talk to a clergy member or spiritual advisor.

Consider meditation, tai chi, or other relaxation methods.

Add omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. You can get them from over-the-counter supplements or by eating fish such as tuna, salmon, or mackerel

During National Anxiety and Depression Awareness week, take some time to examine your own life.  If you notice any of these symptoms, or feel you need some help, call your doctor, family or friend, talk things over and see what they advise.  Take time for yourself, drink some wine or eat chocolate, and find ways to relax and distress.  For more information check this site http://www.lifebridgeblogs.org/

(All images from google) 

Brain Tumor

By Nurse Diane

Years ago, when you heard about someone having a brain tumor, the information was usually passed in hushed tones.  Prognosis for this type of condition was not very good, however, research, surgery and medications have helped to control even erase tumors of the brain.

There are two types of brain tumors.  Brain tumors are either primary or metastatic tumors. Primary brain tumors are those, which originate in the brain. Metastatic brain tumors are those, which originate from cancerous cells that have migrated from other areas of the body.

Metastatic brain tumors are also known as secondary brain tumors. Not all brain tumors are cancerous – benign brain tumors are non-cancerous tissue and are harmful only when they grow to a size that affects adjacent areas of the brain. Benign brain tumors tend to grow more slowly than malignant (cancerous) brain tumors.

Signs of a brain tumor include:

• Seizures;
• Headaches;
• Fatigue, tiredness and drowsiness;
• Impaired speech;
• Difficulties when swallowing;
• In infants, an increase in head size;
• Impaired vision;
• Vomiting;
• Poor body coordination;
• Behavioral and mood changes;
• Weakness in a limb or on one side of the body;
• Difficulties with balance; and or
• Tingling sensations and/or weakness in the arms or legs.

This week is Brain Tumor Action week. Each year over 190,000 people are diagnosed, mostly children.  Brain Tumor Action Week seeks to raise awareness about brain tumors, including raising awareness about incidence, diagnosis, treatment and care of people suffering from brain tumors. Specialty care and follow up care, rehabilitative services and clinical trials are activities, which can enhance the quality of life of people living with brain tumors.  For More information visit: http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/braintumour.html

(All images from Google) 

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Every 70 seconds, another American family is affected by Alzheimer’s.

By Nurse Diane

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I was recently talking with a friend of mine who has been dealing with some heart issues.  He had a pacemaker installed, and was put on a cardiac diet.  He exercise regularly, and I was letting him know how proud I was that he was taking care of his health so well, letting him know that he would live to be 100.  The he said, why would anyone want to live that long?  The first thing he thought about was getting Alzheimer's and not being able to remember anything, or take care of himself.

I tried to explain to him that not everyone gets Alzheimer’s, and to prove my point I went about trying to gather more information about this life ending disease.

Many of us know people who have suffered from Alzheimer's.  One of the more famous is President Ronald Reagan.  I had a neighbor who moved to the house behind me.  She had Alzheimer’s when she moved in.  Her son, an instructor at the local collage moved her there alone.  This lady would wander around the neighborhood, and out in the streets, and was in danger of getting lost, and being hit by a car.  I was always finding her and bringing her home to stay with me until her son could arrive and take care of her.  Once when I had to leave to get some medication for my husband, I left him in the shower.  When I returned, he was white as a ghost, and visibly shaken.  He told me the neighbor had walked into our home and yelled at him to get out of her house.  She had a habit of entering other neighbor's homes as well.  Later we were able to laugh about this intrusion, but it was a serious problem that needed to be resolved by her family.

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Alzheimer's is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.  It affects older people; however it is not a normal process of aging.  There is no cure for it, and no real way of diagnosing it until an autopsy can be performed.  If you have close family members who had been diagnosed with it, or certain genes, or a history of head trauma, you may be more susceptible.  There are two types, early onset Alzheimer’s which appears before the age of 60 and progresses very quickly, and this is usually more involved with genetic material.  Late onset Alzheimer’s occurs later in life.

The first symptom to appear is forgetfulness.  Other symptoms include:

• Difficulty performing tasks that take some thought, but used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing complex games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines;
• Getting lost on familiar routes;
• Language problems, such as trouble finding the name of familiar objects;
• Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood;
• Misplacing items;
• Personality changes and loss of social skills
• As the disease progresses you will notice these symptoms start to occur;
• Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night;
• Delusions, depression, agitation;
• Difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, and driving;
• Difficulty reading or writing;
• Forgetting details about current events;
• Forgetting events in your own life history, losing awareness of who you are;
• Hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior;
• Poor judgment and loss of ability to recognize danger;
• Using the wrong word, mispronouncing words, speaking in confusing sentences; and
• Withdrawing from social contact.

Those with sever Alzheimer's can no longer understand language, recognize people or perform basic activities such as eating, dressing, bathing.

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There is no treatment at this time for Alzheimer’s…there are several studies and research all across the country.  I was just reading an article the other day where aspirin once a day will help improve cognitive thinking, however do not take it unless you have spoken with your doctor.  Click here to read more about that study:  http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/aspirin-may-reduce-cognitive-decline

As I mentioned, Alzheimer's is NOT a normal part of aging, and other ways you can keep your mind sharp is to remain active and social, work on crossword puzzles or other thinking games.  Keep informed by reading the newspaper or other sources of reading material.  Eat a healthy diet; fish twice a week is also beneficial.  Many people as they get older have a tendency to forget things.  Many younger people forget things as well.  It is important to know that this is normal, however if symptoms get worse as mentioned above, see your doctor and let him know of your concerns.  The best things you can do is remain active and social, eat right and exercise and have regular checkups with your doctor.

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World Menopause Month

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Nurse Diane

Almost every afternoon I got to visit my father and sit in his workshop and watch television.  Lately it’s been very cool in the northern states, but here in the south, a cool spell starts at 75 degrees.  Last week I show up at my father's wearing my usual attire of shorts, when it seems really warm in his shop.  He had just installed an air condition unit, so I know that was working ok.  As I sat down in my normal seat, it hit me.  There was a heater on right in front of me!!!  I asked my father if he was cold …and he said I get hot, then cold, and back and forth...so I told him he must be going through the change.

The change I was referring to is of course Menopause.  This causes me to wonder why all women's problems begin with MEN...menopause, menstruation, and mental illness.

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Menopause can lead to a variety of age-related diseases including heart disease and osteoporosis. Moreover, symptoms of menopause can have a truly negative impact on the quality of daily life. By tightening our reigns on these issues, we can keep them in check so we can continue living strong, meaningful and long lives. For World Menopause Month, learn what the biggest threats to your health are at menopause and ways to prevent them according to redhotmamas.org.

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It’s a woman’s world these days and we are fortunate to be living in a time where we no longer have to suffer from menopause in silence and alone. The old, negative, hushed attitudes of menopause have been thrown to the wayside. We are no longer are fed the line, “it’s all in your head”. Through public awareness and modern research, menopause symptoms are taken seriously and considered very real. Advanced and innovative treatments are now available that provide us with the quality healthcare we need to control symptoms and conditions related to menopause.

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Armed with knowledge from friends, family, menopause support groups like Red Hot Mamas and your healthcare provider, you can tackle the uneasiness of the transition.

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Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day

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Nurse Diane

Earlier this week we talked about Mental Illness Awareness week, included in that article was a mention of Bipolar Disorder.  2.3 million people suffer from Bipolar Disorder.  This is a condition that usually begins in the mid 40's through the 50's or it can start earlier, but it requires lifelong treatment.  A person with this illness goes through periods of mania then depression.  Episodes like extreme shopping to deep depression are characteristics.

A recent episode of Bipolar was notice with the public displays of Charlie Sheen.  He was partying and doing drugs and acting abnormal for a while, then sunk into a depression stage, and nobody heard from him.  The same bizarre behavior was also noticed in Brittany Spears.  If Bipolar is left untreated, the risk of suicide is great.  In fact, 25 to 50% of those suffering attempt suicide.

You don't have to be in the public eye to suffer from this disorder.  You may know someone who shares these same symptoms.  The purpose of Bipolar Awareness Day is to:

• Learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and mental illness and understand its impact on society;
• Participate in a free mental health screening held in many local communities; and
• Reach out people with bipolar disorder to seek treatment.

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This day was created in 1990 by Abbott Laboratories to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, promote early detection and accurate diagnosis, reduce stigma, and minimize the devastating impact on those who suffer from bipolar illness.

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Below is a quiz from psychcentral.com for you to take to see if you know anyone with these symptoms, or if you have them yourself.  If you do, please seek help and encourage those you may know to seek help as well.

http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolarquiz.htm

Psoriasis Awareness Month – 2012 Update

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By Nurse Diane

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.

Psoriasis is very common. Anyone can get it, but it most commonly begins between ages 15 and 35.  It is not contagious. You cannot spread it to others.

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Psoriasis seems to be passed down through families. Doctors think it probably occurs when the body's immune system mistakes healthy cells for dangerous substances.

The following may trigger an attack of psoriasis or make the condition more difficult to treat:

• Bacteria or viral infections, including strep throat and upper respiratory infections;
• Dry air or dry skin;
• Injury to the skin, including cuts, burns, and insect bites;
• Some medicines, including antimalarial drugs, beta-blockers, and lithium;
• Stress;
• Too little sunlight;
• Too much sunlight (sunburn);
• Too much alcohol; and
• Psoriasis can appear suddenly or slowly. Many times, it goes away and then comes back again and again.

Symptoms include:

• Irritated, red, flaky patches of skin;
• Most often seen on the elbows, knees, and middle of the body; and
• Red patches may appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp

The goal of treatment is to control your symptoms and prevent infection.

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Three treatment options are available:

• Skin lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoos. These are called topical treatments.
• Pills or injections that affect the body's immune response, not just the skin. There are called systemic, or body-wide, treatments.
• Photo-therapy, which uses light to treat psoriasis

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.  This month is Psoriasis Awareness month.  For More information about psoriasis click on this site: http://www.psoriasis.org/ and remember, it is a disease, and is not contagious.

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Psoriasis facts

• Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disease in the U.S., affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans.
• Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells, resulting in painful red, scaly patches on the body that bleed and itch.
• Psoriasis is not contagious.
• Psoriasis frequently occurs with a range of other health concerns including diabetes, hypertension, heart attack and depression.
• Psoriasis impacts the emotions. Nearly 70% of people with psoriasis say their disease makes them feel self-conscious, embarrassed and helpless.
• Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriasis arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints.
• There currently is no cure for psoriasis.