Immunizations Are for Everyone

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. With the importance of this month comes also comes the responsibility of getting yourself and your children vaccinated.

Why get vaccinated? Here are some important reasons:

• Vaccines can save lives. Vaccine-preventable diseases can cause long-term illness, hospitalization and even death.
• Reduce the chance of spreading disease. Many of these vaccine-preventable diseases are contagious. Getting the vaccination can reduce the risk that you’ll get sick and spread the disease. For young children or others who may not be able to get certain vaccinations due to their age, health or other factors, you are helping to protect them by getting your vaccinations.
• People with chronic conditions are more vulnerable to complications. Adults who smoke, have weakened immune systems or have a chronic health condition (such as asthma, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes are more vulnerable to complications including long-term illness, hospitalization and death.
• Being non-vaccinated can make you sick and it costs money. Medical visits and treatment cost money. Work is missed, co-pays and lots of out-of-pocket expenses can add up. Children may have to stay home from school and day care, and you may have to find alternative child care arrangements. Getting vaccinations can avoid unnecessary expenses to your household.
• Vaccinations protect your health when you travel. International travel may expose us to illnesses that aren’t circulating in the United States. Check the CDC website before you travel to other countries. https://www.cdc.gov/features/adultvaccinations/index.html

During this National Immunization Awareness Month, I would be remiss not mentioning the measles outbreaks that have occurred in many parts of the United States. This is not something to take lightly. The number of cases continue to jump each year due to people being unvaccinated and the prevalence of international travel.

Measles used to be common when I was a kid. I had it. The only thing I remember is being moved to my parent’s bedroom to isolate me to protect my younger sister with whom I shared a room. I had a high fever and light hurt my eyes so bad that my mother had to keep the shade down in the room. I was lucky not to have any lasting effects and, thankfully, my sister didn’t catch them from me.

For many years we had widespread immunity in the United States, but due to reduced vaccination rates, the incidence of measles has increased significantly. Measles is highly contagious virus in the nose and throat of an infected person that can cause many complications. If you haven’t received the vaccination, you’re more likely to get the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children and adults receive the measles vaccine to prevent measles. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html

The CDC has recommended vaccination schedules for all age groups.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html. Get up to date on your immunizations now and tell your family and friends. Please. We all thank you.

Youth Sports and Physical Activity

Most of the time this blog promotes physical activity for adults as one of the main ways to ward off a chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes. But since National Youth Sports Week of July 15-21 is nearing, it is also important to discuss how sports and physical activity can help our youth.

Statistics say that 70% of young people drop out of organized sports by age 13 for many reasons:

• Not having fun
• Ineffective coaches
• Overbearing parents
• Can’t afford to play

Unfortunately, organized sports in schools do cost quite a bit of money to participate, which many families can’t afford. Some schools are also reducing or eliminating sports programs. Many sports are now done as extracurricular activities with parents signing up their kids for the sport they choose and can afford through community sports and activity classes.

We already know how important physical activity is for all ages. It’s especially important for our youth as health consequences related to obesity is a definite predictor of chronic disease and is starting younger all the time. It’s important to instill a love for sports and activity early to carry our youth over into the adult years.

If you want your kids to stay active, not only to have fun, but to help with their health, there are also things you can do:

• Make fitness a part of their (and your) day. Walk, run, bike or swim together. Be an active role model!
• Have your kids help with household chores both inside and outside the house. Seriously, it is still physical activity. (I remind myself of that every time I clean the house or cut the grass. It makes me feel good AND I can claim the activity minutes.)
• Organize active play at home such as dodge ball, jump rope, frisbee, badminton and volleyball. 
• Try ice skating or skiing in the winter or swimming at the community pool in the summer. Mix it up according to the season. So many other activities such as martial arts or bowling can be done year-round.
• Help them find a sport they enjoy and provide the equipment needed. Drive them to the sport and be an active parent on the sidelines.
• Reward, encourage and praise your kids’ physical activity. 

Physical activity is proven to help a child’s growth and development and boost their thinking skills. We can all do our part as a parent or grandparent to instill the importance of being active into their lives. Exercise can make you happy, along with all the other wonderful things it does for our health.

June is National Migraine and Headache Month

Headaches. We all get them, but unfortunately some people experience them more often or worse than others. Some have headaches that are easily dealt with by using over-the-counter medications. Natural treatments such as avoiding alcohol, using essential oils, taking specific vitamins, going to sleep and using cool compresses can be used for certain headaches. Some people have headaches that require medical evaluation with ongoing treatment. Other headaches can be a true medical emergency. Whatever type of headache you have, it is important to recognize that many different types exist and treatment can vary for each one.

There are over twenty different kinds of headaches. It’s hard to believe that so many exist. Some that you may or may not have heard of include:

• Allergy headaches
• Aneurysm
• Arthritis headaches
• Caffeine withdrawal headaches
• Chronic daily headaches
• Cluster headaches
• Depression and headaches
• Eyestrain headaches
• Exertional headaches
• Fever headaches
• Hangover headaches
• Hunger headaches
• Hypertension headaches
• Menstrual headaches
• Migraine with aura
• Migraine without aura
• Post-traumatic headaches
• Sinus headaches
• Tension headaches

With so many different kind of headaches, knowing what kind you have is extremely important. Symptoms, precipitating factors, treatment and prevention are located here for each headache listed and many others: https://headaches.org/resources/the-complete-headache-chart/ It’s important to have medical evaluation if you are concerned about any symptoms you are having. Seek medical attention as soon as possible for the following:

• Severe headaches that come on quickly
• Headaches that include vomiting, confusion, shortness of breath, slurred speech, dizziness, weakness, vision loss
• Headaches that won’t go away
• Headaches that interfere with your activities of daily living
• Headaches symptoms that change
• If over-the-counter medication isn’t helping or you are taking it more than two days a week 

Education is of the upmost importance for headache sufferers. The National Headache Foundation wants to raise awareness through education and by supporting research. For more information about headaches visit https://headaches.org/ to find resources, tools, publications and the latest studies.

Gimme Some ZZZs

Sleep is something we all need. It’s important to our health and quality of life and it just feels good to lay down to rest. But quite a few people have trouble sleeping. Some just occasionally, some all the time. Whether it’s tossing and turning, mattress uncomfortable, pillow uncomfortable, too hot, too cold, pets taking up too much room, partner taking up too much room, sinus problems, eating too late, drinking too much, worried about something. How many things can we come up with that disrupt our sleep? Unfortunately, it looks like quite a few.

What can we do to maximize our amount of sleep every night? Let’s discuss!

• Seriously, aim for 8 hours of sleep every night. It’s true what has always been said. Most people get the most benefit out of 8 hours. Plan for that 8 hours, just like you plan a vacation, plan a work meeting or plan a hair appointment. Think of it as a sleep appointment with yourself to help with your health and quality of life. Create a bedtime routine that works for you, just like you may do for your kids.

• Don’t hit the snooze, even though you want to. Besides making yourself late, you get no extra benefit from those few extra minutes. It’s proven. This is a bad habit for some people who can’t seem to stop hitting that snooze. If you must hit it, only hit it once. Focus and make changes to get up when you’re supposed to.

• Watch the eating and drinking. Don’t eat, drink alcohol or have anything with caffeine 2-3 hours before going to bed. All three can disrupt your sleep.

• Avoid that workout at least 2 hours before bed. Exercise is important for us to get our bodies ready to rest, but try to complete your workout at least 2 hours before bed. Some people are energized after working out and you sure don’t want that at midnight when your alarm says to get up at 6 AM for work. Your body needs to be ready to relax in order to sleep.

• Check that mattress. What is the age and condition of your mattress? Mattresses break down. The single most important item for a good night’s sleep is your mattress. Maybe you need a new one to maximize sleep.

• Size matters. Make sure you’re getting a mattress that meets your size needs. The size of your room, how much you move around at night and how many people and pets sleep in your bed are all important. A king is certainly the best choice for couples who want maximum sleeping space, but measure your room to make sure you have the room.

• Type matters. Do your homework. Do you want a latex, airbed, innerspring, waterbed, pillowtop, hybrid, foam, gel, adjustable or memory foam? I had no idea there were so many options.

• Do you need a new pillow? Just like mattresses, make sure your pillow isn’t 20 years old or your sister’s hand-me-down. Check out the many different kinds on the market and take a leap for a new one. Some of the best ones don’t cost that much.

• Nap if you can during the day. Maybe it’s the brief time you are waiting in the car to pick up your daughter from dance class after school or a few minutes Saturday or Sunday afternoon. A short nap can do wonders and don’t you forget it. A quick 10-30 minutes can help you gain extra energy to continue the day and not disrupt your sleep at night.

• No electronics in the bedroom. People tend not to listen to this one. It’s hard to unplug for a lot of people, but to maximize sleep, no television, laptop or smartphone in the bedroom. Please. It’s for your own good. The electronic lighting stimulates the brain, so no sleep for you.

• Leave your worries outside the bedroom door. Put those worries in a box outside your door, close it, and don’t open it until you absolutely must. Never bring work inside your bedroom or think about work during the night if you wake up. We all need to figure out how to do that.

• Make your bedroom an oasis of comfort. If it isn’t an oasis, make it one. Get a new comforter, paint the room, put up pictures you love of sandy beaches with palm trees. Your bedroom needs to be a relaxing place and be quiet, cool, and cozy. A place you want to be 8 hours a night to catch those ZZZs, along with some good dreams.

Maybe one of these solutions will work for you. If so, here’s hoping you will soon wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day, instead of being groggy, foggy and crabby. Your family and coworkers will thank you.

Type 2 Diabetes Anyone? No, Thanks

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes continue to be an overwhelming threat to the health of the United States. Think about a big bad looming over you ready to pounce, but doing it in a secretive way. A way where you don’t see it coming because it takes place over months or years. You may not notice what’s happening to you because there may be no symptoms at all. Then one day your health care provider tells you at an office visit that you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Yikes! I certainly don’t like hearing that.

But what are type 2 diabetes and prediabetes?

• In type 2 diabetes, your cells no longer respond normally to insulin and become insulin resistant. You may be able to manage your type 2 diabetes with healthy eating and being active or you may need medication such as insulin or oral diabetes medication to help control your blood sugar and avoid complications. 
• Prediabetes is identified when a blood sugar level higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. You can prevent or reverse prediabetes. Eighty-six million adults in the United States have prediabetes with nine out of ten people not knowing they have it. Prediabetes can be stopped before it progresses into type 2 diabetes, but it takes a concentrated effort of changes in day-to-day living. 

The risk for prediabetes and diabetes is higher if the person is:

• Overweight or obese
• Has a family history of diabetes
• Age 45 or older
• Not physically active
• Had gestational diabetes
• Is African-American, American Indian, Hispanic, Asian-American or Pacific Islander

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention established the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The program is evidenced-based with research showing the lifestyle modifications can cut the risk of type 2 diabetes in half. This lifestyle change program consists of:

• A year-long commitment of participants to eat healthier, include physical activity into their daily lives, incorporate problem-solving strategies to maintain positive lifestyle changes
• A small group setting with others making the same achievable changes
• Sixteen sessions during the first 6 months to provide core learning, eight to ten sessions during the last 6 months to reinforce and build on content
• A lifestyle coach trained by an approved organization

The word is getting out about this program and pushing healthier lifestyles. Medicare and various insurance companies around the United States are paying for the DPP program. Insurance companies may have deductions in health premiums, discounts on gym memberships or reimbursements for being active. Some Medicare Advantage plans pay for Silver Sneakers, a program that encourages older adults to participate in physical activates such as land or water fitness classes.

What will it take for you to eat better and be active on this “Defeat Diabetes” month of April? Do you want not just to be present, but an energetic participant in family activities in the future? Whether it’s to see your kids grow up, relish the wonder of a grandchild or be up for travel, we can all find reasons to take better care of ourselves.

Unfortunately, it is cheaper to eat unhealthy rather than healthy. It’s easier to sit on the couch than go outside and be active. This is where that “concentrated effort” of making changes to our lives comes into play. You can do it, but it takes determination on your part. As I look outside at the blue sky and sun shining on this beautiful spring day, it makes me want to take a walk and breathe in the fresh air. And you know what? I’m going to do it. Right now.

Spring Clean Your Health!

Believe it or not, winter is almost over and spring will officially begin on Wednesday, March 20.  It can’t come soon enough for me and everyone else I know. We Michiganders persevered for yet another tough winter of cold, ice and snow and the end is now in sight. Let’s cross our fingers and hope we won’t have too many more harsh winter days and nights as we await the beginning of a new season.

As we look towards spring, many people see this time of year as one of renewal. The plants, flowers and trees start to bloom. The sun is starting to feel a bit warmer. We can be outside more and breathe in the fresh air. The days are getting longer and, thanks to Daylight Savings Time, we’ll get an additional hour of daylight starting March 10. Even writing about spring takes me out of the winter blahs. 

Some of us also see this as a good time to change something in our lives. A change of season can be a cue to re-evaluate. Perhaps we resolve to take better care of ourselves by eating better and getting outside for physical activity. Maybe we want to get our yearly physical and health screenings completed so we know where we stand.

National Health Observances for March cover quite a few items to keep us healthy:

• March is National Nutrition Month and emphasizes the importance of making better food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Eatright.org is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website that has many great articles to help you make these informed choices with food, health and fitness information. Healthy eating and increasing physical activity are also the two prime things a person can do to prevent type 2 diabetes! https://www.eatright.org/.
• March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable. Current guidelines recommend screening for colorectal cancer using fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy in adults beginning at age 50. Colonoscopy continues to be the gold standard. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/index.htm 
• March is Save Your Vision Month which reminds us to get a yearly eye exam from an optometrist. The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams every two years for adults 18-60 and yearly for people 61 and older. https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/ 
• March is National Kidney Month with the goal of helping us understand how important our kidneys are to our health. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading risk factors of kidney disease. Learn more about how you can preserve your kidney health at https://www.kidney.org/prevention.

Evidenced-based Clinical Practice Guidelines such as the ones provided by the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC) are a good place for a deep dive. The aim of the Adult Preventive Services below are to recommend to the health care provider and adult patient appropriate recommendations and screenings to consider for their age group. Let your provider know any concerns or complaints you have about your health and be honest.

http://mqic.org/pdf/mqic_adult_preventive_services_ages_18_to_49_cpg.pdf

http://mqic.org/pdf/mqic_adult_preventive_services_ages_50_to_65plus_cpg.pdf 

There is always more we can do for our health. Sometimes it can be overwhelming where to start. For some people, biting off a little piece at a time is the way to go. Focus on what is important to you. Reading some of these links could be helpful. Bring up screenings to your health care provider if they don’t bring them up to you. With spring on the way, take some time to focus on health and consider making a change or get a needed physical or health screening. Spring clean your health! Ready, set, go!

What is Macular Degeneration?

You may have heard the term used before, but are unsure what it means. Perhaps an older relative mentioned that they had it or were afraid of getting it. With February being Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, it is good time to learn about a subject in which most of us are not familiar.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans, even more than cataracts and glaucoma combined. It is a problem with the retina when a part of the retina – called the macula – is damaged or deteriorates in the central portion. In the early stages, there won’t be any vision problems. Sometimes vision will become blurry or wavy. But once the disease progresses, a person with AMD loses their central vision. This means you can’t see details in the center of your vision area whether you are looking at something close or far. You don’t have any problem with your peripheral or side vision; it will still be normal. If you were looking at a traditional clock, you might see the numbers on the clock, but not the hands in the center. Whatever you are looking at, you won’t see what is in the very center of your vision; that part will be a grey or a black area of non-vision or what some people call “blind spots.” AMD is diagnosed as either “wet” or “dry” with most people having the dry form; the wet form leads to greater vision loss.

Some of the symptoms can develop slowly over time and include:

• Visual distortions, such as straight lines seeming to be bent
• Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
• The need for a brighter light when reading or doing close work
• Increased difficulty adapting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant or movie theater
• Increased blurriness of printed words
• Decreased intensity or brightness of colors
• Difficulty recognizing faces

The causes of AMD can be due to a variety of things. Most often, the risk increases with age. Other risk factors include:

• Heredity (people with a family history are at a higher risk)
• High blood pressure (studies have shown it is associated with the development of AMD)
• Smoking (reduces the amount of oxygen that goes to your eyes and doubles your risk)
• Being a Caucasian female (followed by Chinese and Hispanic/Latino females)
• Side effects of certain anti-psychotic and anti-malarial drugs
• Obesity and inactivity (high levels of dietary fat may be a risk factor)

Treatment varies depending on the type of AMD. There is currently no cure. A healthy diet with a focus on antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, along with vitamin and mineral supplements have been shown to help in some studies. Wearing sunglasses when outside to protect your eyes against the sun’s harmful ultraviolent rays is also recommended. There are drugs and a combination of drugs/laser treatments for the wet AMD that has shown good results to delay or prevent worsening AMD, but unfortunately it can still reoccur down the road. It is important to note that new treatments are making AMD more manageable on a day-to-day basis, but there is limited funding for research on this disease.

The first line of defense is seeing your eye care professional on a regular basis and getting a comprehensive, dilated eye exam. Sometimes AMD can be detected before symptoms start. An early diagnosis may delay vision loss.

https://www.macular.org/what-macular-degeneration

https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd.htm

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-macular-degeneration/symptoms-causes/syc-20350375

Go Red in January!

January 2019 is here! Let’s ring in the new year! Perhaps you’ve received some nice gifts or had extra time off from work over the holidays. Maybe you even managed to go somewhere warm. That’s great! Now it’s time to get back to business. Let’s start the new year off right by doing something good, something noble for other people. Let’s ring in 2019 by holding out our arms and giving blood.

Blood is usually in short supply in the winter months, especially in the month of January. Weather has had some severe turns the last couple of months in many areas of the United States and blood drives have been cancelled. People are exhausted from the holidays and are getting back to work and school. Some may have New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise and focus on their health. All these things create a reduction in blood donor turnout causing a blood shortage around our country.

Maybe you have some questions on blood donation, for example, who can be a donor or the different types of blood donations. Most people do have questions, especially if they’ve never given blood before.

Donors must meet certain requirements regarding age, weight and last donation date. A donor must be in good health and feeling well at the time of the donation. Other criteria that may affect donor eligibility can be:

• Certain medical conditions
• Medical treatments
• Medications/vaccinations
• Exposure to certain illnesses
• Lifestyle and life events
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Travel outside the United States

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html

There are different types of blood donations:

• Whole Blood – The most flexible of donations. Whole blood is what flows through your blood vessels and can be donated every 56 days.
• Power Red Donation – A special machine allows you to safely donate 2 units of red blood cells. Can be done 2-3 times a year.
• Platelet Donation – Uses a machine that collects only platelets and returns the rest of your blood to you. Can be done every 7 days, up to 24 times a year.
• AB Elite Plasma Donation – A plasma only donation with type AB blood donors being the best candidates. Uses a high-tech machine that removes the plasma from your blood and returns your red blood cells and platelets back to you. Can be done every 28 days, up to 13 times a year.

https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations.html

Who can you help by donating blood?

•      Cancer patients
•      Trauma patients
•      Sickle cell patients
•      Burn patients
•      Chronic disease patients

January is National Blood Donor Month to encourage people to give blood or pledge to give blood in the new year. So why give blood? It feels good to give. You’ve helped someone in need. It’s a wonderful thing to do for another human being. It can help save a life or make a life better. It’s fun. Okay, maybe not fun, but it’s not that bad. Once you make that first donation you’ll see the process is easy. Whatever reason you can come up with for giving blood is a good one. Let’s make giving blood a New Year’s resolution by going red in January. https://www.redcrossblood.org/

Seasonal Flu Vaccination: Put It On Your List and Check It Twice

Winter is here! With an earlier than expected winter season upon us in Michigan, it’s important to keep preventive health care at the top of your list. This list starts with thinking about the seasonal flu. Millions of people get the flu each year. It can be mild or severe and can even kill you.

Flu is listed as an immunization that should be received annually on preventive care lists for children, adolescents and adults. Children younger than 5 years old, adults over 65, pregnant women, chronic disease patients, people who are immunocompromised, nursing home residents and long-term care facilities are especially vulnerable.

The flu is linked to between 3000 and 49,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalization each year in the United States. Pretty scary statistics. The flu vaccine was created to try and stop this epidemic.

There are 3 types of flu with Influenza A being the one constantly changing from year to year and being the worse. Different strains of the flu mutate over time and that’s why there is a different vaccination every year so your body can develop immunity to the most recent strain of the virus.

It can sometimes be hard to distinguish between the cold and the flu because they share many of the same symptoms. See the chart below to compare.

But one thing is certain and that is the flu can be a lot worse than having a simple cold. It comes on fast and furious and can cause serious health problems.

Like a cold, the flu is spread by tiny droplets when people sneeze, talk or cough. It is also spread by touching a surface or object with the flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Complications of the flu can include:

·        Bacterial pneumonia

·        Sinus infections

·        Worsening of chronic medical conditions (congestive heart failure, heart disease, diabetes)

The key to preventing seasonal flu is to get an annual flu shot each year. Getting the flu vaccine has been shown to reduce flu-related illnesses and helps reduce the risk of serious complications that can result in hospitalization or even death. Work on using preventive care in your everyday life such as staying away from people who are sick, covering mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing, and the mainstay of preventive action - frequent handwashing to help stop or slow the spread of germs.

Take action now to prevent the flu by getting your immunization. Don’t wait any longer. It’s time. Get your annual flu shot at your local pharmacy, your health care provider’s office or health department. With December 2-8 being National Influenza Vaccination Week, put it on your list and check it twice.

PTI wishes you and your family a healthy, happy and flu-free holiday season.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

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National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

By Carla Irvin, RN, BSN

I recently had a death in my family. My dear mother-in-law, Marilyn, had dementia and lived in an assisted living facility for the last four years. Marilyn was in a wheelchair and required 24-hour care from the staff. She had been placed on hospice once she was found to be in multiple organ failure due to numerous medical problems and, thus, was considered terminal.

But what does hospice care do if she was already getting 24-hour care in a facility? My mother-in-law’s assisted living facility had a contract with a southeastern Michigan hospice. The hospice had nurses who came to visit, did physical assessments, made recommendations, and answered questions from both the staff and the family on how to best meet Marilyn’s, the family’s, and the staff’s needs at this difficult time. There was a chaplain who was available to our family and the facility staff for support as the end grew near. The chaplain and one of the hospice nurses were even there with the family when Marilyn passed. In the days afterward, we received calls and a letter offering services of a bereavement coordinator and referrals to support groups if needed. They told us that we’ll continue to receive informational mailings on grief and loss, and they’ll be available to us for questions or support for a year.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month where awareness is raised about caring for people who have an advanced or life-limiting illness. Providing quality, compassionate end-of-life care is what a hospice does. Every single day. What an amazing group of people with a noble goal. Hospices give that care to people not only in their homes, but in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals and free-standing hospice facilities. They are committed to enhancing the quality of life. Services are available to people of any race, religion, age or illness with a team oriented approach. The cost is covered by private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid (in most states) for people who meet certain criteria. Care can be available after hours if needed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Hospices and palliative care programs provide:

·         Regular visits and consultations for medical care

·         Pain management

·         Symptom control

·         Psychosocial support

·         Spiritual and emotional support to patients and their families

·         Education

The statistics say that every year in the United States more than 1.6 million people receive care from a hospice. Hospice care is a tough job. I’m thankful there are people out there who want to be in that line of work.

For further information, check out the website for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Their mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life. Their vision is a world where individuals and families facing serious illness, death, and grief will experience the best that humankind can offer.

https://www.nhpco.org/

Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month

With the month of October being Patient-Centered Care Awareness Month, this is the perfect time to remind all healthcare stakeholders to keep advancing patient-centered approaches to care. PTI’s Michigan partners have been working hard on this for years and patients have already benefited from the hard work and accomplishments in these offices. We want to continue to deepen the skills and strengthen the partnerships offices have with patients and their families.

How can offices do this? The answer is to take PTI’s outstanding Care Coordination and Care Management Training. This training is designed to educate care team members with a knowledge base and skill set to enable high quality chronic disease care. There are a variety of topics that will boost self-management skills of the entire team with two onsite training days and eight on-demand training courses. This is the most comprehensive course out there!

The training has nursing, dietetic and social work continuing education credits available. PTI is also an approved State Innovation Model (SIM) vendor and SIM PCMH will fund training for those who are eligible and are providing services to SIM PCMH patients.

With our November onsite training already full, there is still time to register for January 16-17, 2019. Don’t delay as classes fill up fast. See our website for more information at http://www.transformcoach.org and contact Yang Yang at (248) 475-4839 or yyang@transformcoach.org.

Is It Too Heavy To Carry?

How safe is your child’s backpack? As we run around getting our children ready for another school year, sometimes there are items we don’t think about through no fault of our own. The hustle and bustle of getting school schedules, sports decisions, physicals and clothes ready can take a giant dent out of our free time, especially if we work outside the home. But think about this for a moment. Is your child’s backpack too heavy? If it’s too heavy for you, it’s too heavy for them. School Backpack Awareness Day is September 19 and chances are that the backpack is more than the recommended 10 percent of his or her body weight. It’s not just the young kids. How about the high school or college-aged ones? They are probably carrying even heavier back packs.

This overweight issue isn’t just for backpacks. Purses, briefcases/laptop cases and suitcases also qualify. Let’s discuss those other items where we pack too much.

• Purse. Ever pick up your purse and have trouble lifting it? What do you have in there? A brick, half the stuff from your makeup drawer or your entire life? A purse contains our daily load of what we can’t do without. Purses come in many sizes and some of us buy the largest one we can. But the future awaits and with it comes back, shoulder and neck problems if we persist on this path. 
• Briefcase/laptop case. Is it ever so heavy that you feel your shoulder being weighted down on the side you’re carrying it on? That you can barely walk out to the car to throw it in the back seat? It may contain a computer, documents, files and books that are improperly packed. It might be heavier on one side of the case than the other. Not good for your shoulders, back and neck as you lean over to one side and use poor body mechanics to protect yourself. 
• Suitcase. Have you ever dragged a suitcase around an airport wondering what the heck was in it as you get ready to depart home? You slog it over to the check-in counter and can barely lift it onto the scale as you await the news. Yes. You’ve gone over on the allotted suitcase weight allowance and are now forced to pay an extra $100. Ugh! But I’ll never be to Hawaii again you whine at the check-in counter, as you reluctantly hand over your credit card for processing. That suitcase was too heavy and the airline suitably punished you in the way they know best. You’re also lucky you didn’t lose your balance and fall.

The point of all of this is to be more careful. Choose, lift, pack and carry wisely. These are some of the decisions we make now that could affect our body for the rest of our lives.

• Figure out how your kids don’t have to carry around so much and stick with the essentials. If your child weighs 100 pounds, they should not be carrying more than 10 pounds in their backpack. Place heavier items in the back center and lighter ones out front. Secure items in their allotted compartments so they don’t move around. Use both straps to even out posture. You could always get the kids a wheeled book bag, too. 
• Leave some of those heavy purse items at home. You don’t need to carry a pound of makeup, five hair brushes, a computer and that brick in your purse. 
• Use a rolling briefcase/laptop case instead of one that goes over your shoulder. It is so much easier as the weight is evenly distributed. 
• Take a carry-on along with that suitcase to check-in at the airport. Lift with your legs and not with your back as you pull suitcases out of the car or set them on the weight scale. 

Warning signs of problems are not only pain, but tingling, numbness, strap marks, posture changes and muscle strains. Take care of yourself and your family to prevent future pain and injury that might have long-lasting effects. A little precaution before a crisis occurs is always preferable.

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

I certainly love Michigan’s whole three months of summer - June, July and August - where we can count on warm weather almost every day and aim for fun in the sun. In fact, I’m always wishing for more summer weather than we usually get. It’s nice not to wear a coat or boots and have the glorious opportunity to get out our summer clothes.

This year we’ve already gotten our share of the hot, sticky days of summer for more than the usual amount. These days seem to have continued in a cooling down, then extreme heat kind of pattern for 2018. The “dog days” of summer have hit us earlier than usual. With the intense heat we’ve been experiencing, it’s important to remember how to take care of ourselves and our families. Too much heat can make us sick if we’re not careful. 

As we sweat in the warm weather, our body naturally cools itself as the sweat evaporates. When the weather is extreme, it’s difficult for the sweat to evaporate very well. This can cause our bodies to get too hot. 

There are four different types of heat-related illnesses:

• Sunburn – red, painful and warm skin. Sunburn can damage the skin and cause a loss of fluids.
• Heat cramps – muscle spasms are from the loss of salt and fluids from our body. This can also be one of the signs of heat exhaustion. Rest right away and hydrate with water or electrolyte sports beverages, but not anything with caffeine or alcohol.
• Heat exhaustion – can be a milder form of heat-related illness. This can develop after a few days of being in the high temperatures without drinking enough fluids. 
• Heat stroke – this is the most severe and occurs when the body temperature rises quickly to over 103 degrees and our body fails to cool itself. Symptoms can include hot/dry skin, headache, dizziness, fast pulse, confusion and unconsciousness. This is a medical emergency, so call 911 or get the person to the hospital immediately.

Some people may be at greater risk for high temperature illness. These include:

• Babies and children
• Older adults
• People who have chronic illness such as respiratory conditions, diabetes and heart disease
• People who overexert themselves
• People who are overweight 

Ways to stay healthy when it’s hot include:

• Drinking lots of fluids
• Avoid exercising and being outside during the hottest time of the day
• If you must be outside, make sure to take breaks and sit in the shade
• Wear loose, light-weight, light-colored clothing
• Stay as cool as possible. Use an air conditioner, take a cool bath or shower, use cool wet cloths, hang out in the basement or at the mall.
• Our pets need to be taken care of, too. Make sure they’re not in the sun too much and always have cool water to drink. Don’t let them stay outside during the extreme days.
• NEVER, EVER leave a child or pet in a parked car even with the windows cracked for a short period of time. Cars get hot quickly and we’ve all heard the horrific stories. 

When we hear yet again that the weather might be extreme for the next couple of days, remember that hot fun in the summertime will only happen during our brief three months in Michigan. Embrace 2018 for all its worth. It will be September soon.

Cord Blood Awareness Month

Many people have no idea how important a newborn’s umbilical cord blood can be due to the stem cells the blood contains. These young, immature stem cells are found in the blood of the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of the baby. Most of the time the cord and placenta are discarded as medical waste after a baby’s birth. But, in fact, the medical value and potential of the stem cells is a true medical frontier.

Cord blood stem cells are similar to the cells found in bone marrow where human blood is produced. These cells can grow into blood and immune system cells, as well as other kinds of cells. They have been found to help cure certain diseases of the blood and immune system in children and adults. Cord blood stem cells are now often used as a substitute for bone marrow stem cells in stem cell transplants. Cord blood doesn’t need to be a 100% match as bone marrow does.

Currently over 80 diseases can be cured by cord blood transplant, including certain leukemias, lymphomas, anemias and inherited disorders. New clinical trials are done all the time which bring more hope for the future for autoimmune disorders (such as Crohn’s Disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), cardiovascular (such as heart attack, cardiomyopathy, heart failure), diabetes, and many other diagnoses in the fields of orthopedics, genetics and neurological disorders.

How is the umbilical cord blood collected? After delivery of the baby and the cord has been clamped and cut, the blood is taken from the cord. Remember that this is blood that is normally disposed of after the birth and doesn’t hurt the mother or the baby. The blood is shipped to a cord blood bank to be cryopreserved for later use.

The cord blood can be stored in a private or public cord blood bank.

• Private cord blood bank 
• The stem cells could be used for the child, siblings, parents or other relatives of the baby for future medical purposes 
• There is a collection fee and yearly fee associated with a private cord blood blank 
• Public cord blood bank 
• The stem cells are donated and would be listed in a registry for people who may need stem cell transplant and are a close match 
• Donor is anonymous 

The choice to do nothing and let the cord blood be discarded after birth or save it is for the parents of the baby to make. However, this decision can’t be made at the last-minute before the baby is born. It needs to be looked at ahead of time as the mother needs to meet certain eligibility criteria, such as a health history screening, be registered between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy, and already discussed with the cord blood bank.

Cord blood has the power to save lives and is readily available. More people need to know about the potential of this for their families or public donation. With education and accurate information being out in the public domain, hopefully, they will.

https://parentsguidecordblood.org

https://parentsguidecordblood.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/pgcb_brochure_usa.pdf

https://www.cordbloodbanking.com




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Back from Atlanta and Emory University!

My coworker, Harmony, and I had the wonderful opportunity to fly to Atlanta in May to the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC) at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

What were we doing at Emory? We were picked to attend the two-day Master Trainer Select Program for the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Meeting the list of eligibility criteria that included already being a Lifestyle Coach with direct experience leading the year-long program, we were selected along with other qualified national candidates from a variety of organizations.

What does being a Master Trainer Select mean? The training we attended is for organizations who want to be able to increase their capacity and sustainability in implementing the National Diabetes Prevention Program while maintaining a high standard of quality assurance. We can now provide in-person Lifestyle Coach Training for the National Diabetes Prevention Program within our organization and network.

What did we learn? Over the two training days, we learned what we needed to do to be an effective Master Trainer Select along with having to demonstrate specific competencies. We studied the Lifestyle Change Program Guiding Principles and went over the DTTAC training materials. As a Master Trainer Select, we will participate in ongoing quality assurance managed by DTTAC.

This was a great learning experience for us as we discovered many tools and techniques that can be implemented in the future. We enjoyed the opportunity of meeting other professionals from around the country and look forward to rolling out this evidence-based program as Master Trainers.

If you have any questions about the National Diabetes Prevention Program or any other programs that PTI has to offer, please send us an email or give us a call.

Have a wonderful summer! ~Carla Irvin, RN, BSN