Showing posts with label Health tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health tips. Show all posts

Food in Focus

What’s your favorite food? Do you include fresh fruits regularly on your diet? Somehow, I noticed that some filipinos aren't really fun of fresh fruits or eating like fresh salad. They like sweets and fruits with sweets which are not really beneficial to health. For me, one of my favorite foods that I like to prepare is fresh salad. In preparing it, all you need are lettuce or any salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, whole corn pieces and slices of ripe mango. Combine or arrange them together and put cheese on top of it and that's really perfect! You may prepare your own salad dressing with garlic taste or prepare something little sour taste, which depends on what you prefer. You can also prepare salad in the olive oil. But what you can do is to cut the lettuce or the leaves and all other ingredients into square pieces. Mixed the olive oil, little iodized salt and pepper on it and that’s it.

But of course I like to discuss here another food you need to focus that contains almost all the nutrients we need for our body. That is Papaya fruit. Papaya is called a “miracle fruit” because of its rumored medicinal properties. It is said to treat ringworm and high blood pressure and acts as an anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, analgesic and anti-fungal. Papaya is also touted as weight-loss aid and some say that it increases metabolism and helps digestion. Whether or not the rumors are true, papaya is a fat-free fruit that contains only 55 calories in one cup. It also very high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C and contains iron, calcium and B Vitamins.

I also love eating papaya. I usually put honey on top of it and put some drop of lemon juice. That taste really good. I heard and I knew a lot about Papaya. It is a fruit that has a lot of nutritional benefits. Eating papaya helps to prevent cancer. Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants that the body needs to fight against cancer-causing cells. Vitamin C, E and beta-carotene are antioxidants that prevent all kinds of cancers. So adding a daily serving of papaya to your
diet may lessen your risk of developing cancer. So have your Papaya now. Enjoy and treat yourself on this real sumptuous food!

What's there in Life? (Part I)


For a long time, I have kept this small notebook of mine on my shelf. I was thinking to put up my notes on that notebook to my computer files for keep sake. I also thought I would need this in the future and would serve as reminder for me when I had my rigid training in a hospital.

On the other hand, I decided to write these notes on my web page blog for my compilations. Also for others who would have a chance to read could have at least ideas about what is in this training.

Yes, I do have three to four months caregiver training in one of the prestigious hospital here in the Philippines. I had finished a short training program in a caregiver school. I studied hard and I even got the “Duty Award” the highest grade earned from duty on my batch in our school. I remembered the night shift duty from eleven in the evening until six in the morning and each night, our Nurse trainer would give us quiz in our 30 minutes break, which is always after each student finish reporting the research done about the illness of the patients assigned to him/her on the duty. So of course, I better listen to the reporter or else I don't have anything to write on my paper. We usually assigned to a different patients each day, definitely I was exposed to different patients with atypical health conditions. I felt a little good about myself every time I do my job for the patients. I thought this is what I like to do. For the mean time I will stop here and will continue on Part II.

The following reports written below are just my notes from training. It only serves as a reminder and a guide. You may consult to a medical books or your doctor about the illness.
So don't get panic when you're reading this post...hope you just enjoy being informed. God bless you all!

*CEREBRO VASCULAR ACCIDENT – stroke or brain attack. The three important parts are:
Cerebro – having to do with the brain
Vascular – having to do with the blood vessels
Accident – something unpredictable and unexpected.

Stroke or brain attack is when brain cells in the area affected and do not get oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells or tissue die and the brain damage occur. The functions controlled by that part of the brain are lost or impaired.

Manifestation:
CVA occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is stopped due to a blocked blood vessel.


The four main causes are:

1. A blood clot can form elsewhere in the body, travel to the brain and lodge in a small vessel. This is called embolus – or wandering embolus. Embolus is a clot carried by the circulatory system from its place of formation to another site, usually causing an obstruction.

Embolism – wandering air or blood clot – could be air embolism

2. A blood clot can form in the brain itself and remain there. This is called thrombus.

A plaque can accumulate in the blood vessels and eventually close them. Plaque or the Atherosclerosis – accumulation of fatty deposits within the blood vessels attached to the vessel walls or arteries.

Arteriosclerosis – hardening of fatty deposits

3. A blood vessel can burst causing a hemorrhage. This is most common in people who have hypertension.

Signs and Symptoms or Disorder of CVA
- Transient Ischemic Accident (TSI) – temporary interruption of blood supply in the brain.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of one side of the body which they call hemi paresis or Hemiplegic
- Nausea, vomiting and memory loss
- Unconsciousness or noisy breathing
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Difficulty in speaking
- Loss of speech or aphasia
- Problem with balance
- Sight disorder in one or both eye
- Loss of sensitivity

Results of CVA:
Cerebral hemorrhage – bleeding. Bleeds often result of arteriosclerosis, hypertension, aneurysm. Bleeds within the arteries that burst or dilatation of arteries.
Cerebral infarction – death of brain tissue due to lack of blood supply in the brain.

Management:
- Position the patient in recovery positions
- Loosen slight the clothing
- Turning the patient every two hours
- Elevate the head without flexing the neck the neck (semi- fowlers)
- Safety
*ISCHEMIA – Insufficient blood supply to an organ or tissue. A condition in which the blood flow is restricted to a part of the body.

Cardiac Ischemia – occurs when there is lack of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle (myocardium)

Silent Ischemia– people have ischemia without pain and they may have a heart attack with no prior warning.

Angina pectoris – chest pain, may have silent ischemia

Arythmia – difficulty in breathing

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (MI) – obstruction, death of part of the heart due to a blockage in a blood vessel as a result of a lack supply of oxygen and other nutrients.

Infarction - means the death of tissue due to lack of blood supply or lack of oxygen supply.

Myocardial refers to heart muscle.

Symptoms of Cardiac Ischemia:
- Chest Pain
- Neck or jaw pain
- Arm and shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Shortness breath
- Nausea and vomiting

Doctor diagnosis of cardiac ischemia:
- Medical history
- Physical examination
- Stress test
- X-ray of coronary arteries (coronary angiogram)

Treatment:
- Medication
- Exercise
- Angioplasty – heart operation, putting a small tube to dilate arteries in the heart
- Bypass Surgery
- Coronary Artery Bypass
- Pacemaker – electronic device use to get of the impulse of the heart
- Open Heart Surgery – use cardio pulmonary machine, due to congenital defects
- Closed Surgery – bloody surgery in which invaded big vessels or arteries

Management:
Apical pulse – two fingers below your nipple from left of the heart, to check if there is heart problem

Apical Radical Pulse Deficit – Usually apical is higher than radical pulse


*CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD) – is a chronic disease in which coronary arteries are hardened and narrowed (atherosclerosis) or lack of blood supply to coronary arteries.

Causes:
- Fatty plaque narrows the coronary arteries
- Plaque calcifies causing the arteries to become harder and suffer

Symptoms:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting

Prevention:
- Learning family medical history
- Eating heart healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Controlling diabetes
- Control high blood (hypertension)

*Untreated CAD usually continues to worsen and can eventually lead to a heart attack or over cardiac arrest in which the heart stops beating.

Prevention:
- Aspirin a day (with Doctor’s prescription)


*ATRIAL FIBRILATION (AF) – is a disorder found in the hearts of two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively, the blood isn’t pumped completely out of them, so it may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, the result is stroke.

Aorta – left and right coronary artery

Treatment:
- Medication
- Electrical cardio version
- Drugs
- Radio frequently oblation
- Surgery
- Atrial pacemakers

Medication: Warfarin, Aspirin


*ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION – is the cause of cardiovascular disease and associated with an increase risk of stroke and heart attack.

Risk
- Coronary Artery Disease 33%
- Stroke 10%
- Renal Failure 15%

HYPERTENSION – a condition in which blood pressure is consistently above 140/90, which means systolic (heart beat) is consistently above to diastolic (heart at rest)

Systolic – heart beat
Diastolic – heart at rest

Types of Hypertension:

1. Essential hypertension – 95% common. It could be genetic factor or environmental factor due to food intake.

2. Secondary hypertension
Causes:
- Adrenal gland tumor
- Cushing’s syndrome – patient with DM
- Kidney disorder
- Glomerulonephritis – inflammation of kidney
- Who take medication
- Oral contraceptives

Factors/Causes of Hypertension:
- Volume of water
- Salt content of the body
- Condition of kidney nervous
- Blood pressure

Prevention:
- Lifestyle changes
- Lose weight if overweight
- Exercise improve cardiac fitness
- Dietary adjustments

NOSOCOMIAL PNEUMONIA - is an infection acquired during hospitalization. The major cause of these infections is gram negative bacteria or bacteria in blood stream.

Mostly affected:
- Patient with weak immune system
- Blood dyscrasia (development disorder of blood)
- Burn
- Trauma

Prevention:
- Awareness of the possible risk of infection among hospital patients.
- Correct hand washing


PNEUMONIA - Inflammation of alveoli damage and excessive accumulation of fluids in the lungs

PNEUMOCOCCUS – causes over 50% of bacterial pneumonia

Ways in which Pneumonia are classified:
- Acuity : acute, sub acute or chronic
- Transmission: infections or non- infection
- Acquisition: community acquired or hospital acquired
- Agent : Bacterial (aerobic or anaerobic)
- Distribution : Lobular (Bronchopneumonia or interstitial)

Risk Factor:
- Chronic illness
- Debility (condition of feebleness, weakness and lack of physical ton)
- Immobility
- Alcoholic & drug users

Signs and Symptoms:
- Cough productive spectrum
- Leukocytosis – presence of bacteria
- Fever

Management:
- Management of antibiotics
- Adequate ventilation
- Appropriate treatment of any underlying or pre-existing disease
- Adequate nutrition
- Hand washing to prevent spreading the infection

CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE - disease that cause irreversible damage to the lungs over a period of time. This cause permanent damage to the lung tissue.

Causes:
- Cigarette smoking
- Air pollution, infection and allergies

Signs and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Chest discomfort
- Ankle, feet and leg swelling

Treatment:
- Limit your exposure to pollution
- Vaccination
- Exercises
- Medication
- Nebulizer
- Good nutrition

DIABETES MELLITUS or DM – disease in which the pancreas produce little or no insulin. The glucose level builds up in the blood and urine causing excessive urination, thirst and hunger.

Insulin – hormone that absorbs glucose in our body

Vasopressin – hormone that controls the amount of urine secreted

Types:
INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS IDDM (Type I) – the body doesn’t produce insulin. Occurs under 20 years of age, occurs on puberty like 10 to 12 years old in girls and 12 – 14 years old in boys.

NON INSULIN DEPENDENT (Type II) – not functioning pancreas or pancreas can’t produce insulin.

HYPERGLYCEMIA
- Secondary to DM and contribute micro vascular complication like kidney and eye disease. Micro vascular complication could be Myocardial Infarction and stroke.
- Increase in glucose, decrease in sugar

HYPOGLYCEMIA
- Decrease in glucose and increase in sugar.
- Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia can lead to coma or death chronic

Management:
- Oral medication
- Exercise
- Balance diet
- Monitoring
- Awareness and education


HYPONATREMIA – water content of the body is greater

HYPERNATREMIA – water content of body fluid is deficit

CHRONIC HYPERNATREMIA – organic osmolytes start appearing inside the neurons.

Causes of Hypernatremia:
- Decrease cellular volume of water due to little water intake
- Too much salt

Types:
- Hypovolemic hypernatremia – water deficit, sodium deficit
- Hypervolemic hypernatremia – sodium gains, water gains
- Euvolemic hypernatremia – water loss is from intracellular and interstitial

General Symptoms:
- Irritability
- High pitched cry
- Seizures
- Fever

Pathophysiology occurs in the following 3 ways:
1. Pure water depletion
2. Sodium excess (salt poisoning)
3. Water depletion exceeding sodium

DERMATITIES OR ECZEMA – Inflammation of the skin. Outermost skin layer appear thickened and the skin may take on leathery appearance.

Forms:
Atopic Dermatitis – Allergic condition involves activation of cells of the immune system whose job is to protect against invaders.


SCABIES – a microscopic tiny 8 legged mice that attached to the skin – attracted to warm site of the body.

Main Cause: Poor hygiene

Signs and Symptoms:
- Redness
- Itching
- Swelling
- Blistering
- Skin is crusty or scaly

Treatment:
- Application of moisturizers and emollients
- Oral antihistamines – relief from itching

HYPOKALAEMIA – serum potassium concentration is less than 3.5 ml.

HYPERKALAEMIA – excess of potassium

Clinical Features:
- Weakness
- Muscle Fatigue
- Respiratory paralysis

Clinical & Monitoring
- Cardiac Rhythm
- Continues monitoring of potassium


PARAPLEGIA/QUADRIPLEGIA – result from injury or trauma to spinal cord.

Paraplegic – damage is lower extremities to a person.

Quadriplegic – person’s damage is in upper and lower extremities.

Autonomic hyper reflexia – severe paraplegic

Causes:
- Motor accident
- Diving mishap
- Fall
- House accident
- Sports accident

Symptoms:
- Pain
- Loss of sensation

Problems occurred:
- Frequent urinary track infection
- Kidney stones
- Muscle spasm
- Pressure Sores
- Wide & rapid fluctuation in body temperature

CATARACT – loss of vision

Types:
1.Senile
– develop in the elderly because of change in the chemical state of lens protein
2.Congenital – new born or genetic due to maternal rebulla
3.Traumatic – develop after a foreign body injures, the lens with sufficient force to allow aqueous or vitreous humor to enter the lens
4.Complicated Cataract – detached retina of the eye, occur secondary to glaucoma
5.Toxic Cataract – due to chemicals of medicine intake, result from drug or chemical toxity

Signs and Symptoms:
- Gradual blurring
- Loss of vision
- Black pupil turns to milky white
- Poor reading vision
- Poor vision in bright sunlight


GLAUCOMA – the most preventable cause of blindness, abnormally increase intra ocular pressure which may produce severe and permanent vision defects obstruction of ducts.

Kinds:
1. Chronic Open Angle – Over production of aqueous humor or obstruction to its outflow through the orbicular network

2. Acute or Chronic Closed Angle – obstruction to the outflow of aqueous humor due to anatomically narrow angle

Signs and Symptoms:
- Mild aching in the eyes
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Seeing halos around the light
- Reduced visual acuity, especially at night


SCHIZOPHRENIA – is personality disorganization.

Four Types:
1.
Paranoid – shows less regression of mental faculties’ emotional response.
2. Catatonic – most outstanding characteristics is his overwhelming of will, usually obedient
3. Hebephrenic – most severely disorganized personality and has no contact with reality
4. Simple – lacks of the irrational thoughts, begins in early childhood

Causes:
- Biochemical
- Sociologic
- Physiologic

Treatment: Therapist theory

Signs and Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Headache




101 Ways to keep up your energy




Many people have been searching for the ways to staying young and healthy. For the women they would try different beauty secrets just to maintain their radiance of youthful skin and good shape. Hundreds or thousands of different kinds or brands of dietary supplement came up in the market claiming the good benefits of their product in human health. Men simply go to the gym as their form of exercise, a way to burn excess fats, because most of them became overweight or obese because of their habit of eating. This can cause greater health risk on their part so they are recommended to eat more fruits and vegetables. Men should have nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day than women to aim seven servings a day. Nevertheless, many have figured out different means on how to maintain good and healthy lifestyle but sometimes this is really depending on how the person perceived their needs and of course their life perspective.

For me, health really matter. I knew I got easily drained and stressed out, especially when I do a lot of work load in a day or staying longer hours in the office. So I got interested reading a lot about health therapy. From there, my point of view in life has changed. I learned that the key to a successful and happy life is being fit in health, mind and body. I should take care of myself first, so I can take care of others. Taking good care of myself makes me feel good and confident. This kind of lifestyle makes me more productive each day and gives me more option to do what I want. Here are my 101 ways health tips to stay you healthy and keep up your energy:

1. Have enough sleep – Sleep is one way to rest our body. It’s a way of refueling and rebuilding damaged cells and renewing itself during your time of sleeping. Making sure each day you have 6 to 8 hours sleep, is a healthy habit. This regimen keeps you refresh and even gives you rested skin texture.

2. Drink lots of water - Water is one of the best ways to keep our skin healthy. The body needs at least eight to ten glasses of water daily in order for the skin renew itself, for the brain function properly and for the body eliminate waste. In the morning, when I wake the first thing I do, is take one or two pieces of banana and take 1 full glass of water to start my day right.

3. Eat less meat, more vegetables and fruits – Fruits and vegetables contain fiber that facilitate the digestive process. A diet high fiber rich vegetables and fruits are good for the skin and can reduce cancer, heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.

4. Take Vitamins and Minerals everyday - Find dietary supplement with at least 1000mg amount of Vitamin C and combined with B complex for your anti- stress formula. This helps you recuperate in each day pressure and work load.

5. Exercise - A 20 to 30 minutes exercise or walking is a good compliment for the intake food. Daily exercise activity is essential for one’s health. It reduces cardio vascular diseases, diabetes and other health risk. Find each day to go on walking like going to the market, walking while talking with your friends or going to a nearby street.Also have a sports day activity.

6. Meditate – Through meditation, the mind can throw out impure thoughts that can release bad toxins in the body. It is also through meditation that the body becomes open for positive ideas and makes the body and emotions responsive to change. Try reading a good book and make it a goal to finish it also update yourself with different journals and learned from it.

7. Avoid junk food – Eating junk foods is not good for our health. Too much of this can cause major harms of our body and can even slow down some of the basic functions of the body system because of the impurities brought by unsafe ingredients of this junk food. So be aware of it.

8. Avoid too much exposure in the sun – Sun rays is a good source of vitamin D in our bodies but too much exposure to the sun is harmful to our skin that can lead to skin cancer. Use sun block products in your body especially on your face.

9. Plan your day ahead – Planning your day ahead is a way to have less stress and avoiding some conflicts of your schedule and can ease your work load. You may take time to sit down, think and write down your “things to do” for each day.

10. Smile – Smiling can make a person look pleasant and adorable. A person who smiles regularly can have opportunity to gain more friends and even keeps the person looking young and does slow process of aging. Smiling and laughing is also the best exercise of the brain. It is the most effective way to supply oxygen to the brain that gives more health benefits.