Five Signs of Stress to Watch Out For

I read an intriguing article this morning discussing several reactions your body has to stress. Some most of us are probably familiar with, but there were a few others that caught my attention. Knowing the following five symptoms can help you maintain a better watch over your health:

1. Sneezing or sniffling: It may be the common cold, or a weakened immune system. Thus, your sensitivity to various allergens has heightened.

Solution: Exercise. Taking a brisk walk every day for at least 20 minutes gets your blood pumping and your heart rate up. Both are important for your immune system to rebound, as well as bring your stress level down.
2. Breaking out: A stressful situation causes your body to emit adrenaline, which can help you act quickly physically if needed. Unfortunately, it can also prompt an excess amount of sebum, the oil found in facial pores.

Solution: Keep your face cleansed twice a day. Purchasing a new cleanser for medium to high oily skin can further help combat your pimple outbreaks.

3. Patchy scalp: With high anxiety, stress hormones tend to affect hair follicles, interfering with hair growth.

Solution: Up your mineral and vitamin intake to jump start hair growth. Omega-3 fatty acids like those found in salmon and vitamin B12 all provide nourishment for healthy hair.

4. Painful jaw movements: Some people tend to grind their teeth when stressed-out, even during sleep.

Solution: Relaxing your muscles before bed may also naturally keep your jaw relaxed. Using a warm compress on your jaw can also help. If the grinding persists, your dentist can provide a specialized mouth guard to keep your teeth from being damaged.

5. Strong appetite for junk food: In addition to adrenaline, your body also pumps out cortisol, a hormone responsible for craving sweets and other unhealthy foods for energy purposes.

Solution: Tying these random cravings to any stressful moments you may have recently experienced can help you resist the bag of chips and instead turn to a healthier alternative like Wheat Thins or sugar-less gum until the craving subsides.

These five symptoms are only a few of the many reactions our bodies have to high anxiety. Stress can harmfully affect all aspects of our lives, from eating habits and appearance, to mental wellness. It is important to identify how your body changes during and after stressful situations so that you can begin to develop better reactions to stress, and therefore, a better state of living.

Source: Home Care Blog

Understanding medication side effects

What causes medication side effects?
Most side effects are manageable, and serious side effects from cholesterol medication are rare. When side effects do happen, it’s because no medication is a magic bullet. In order to produce the desired effects (lowering cholesterol), the medication interacts with your body in a complex way, affecting a variety of different body systems, which can cause side effects (possible side effects include muscle soreness, headaches, headaches, bloating, or flushing).
What is the link between dosing and side effects?
In general, lower doses of medication cause fewer side effects. This is because at higher doses, there is more medication in the body, which increases all of the medication’s effects, both desirable (lowering cholesterol) and undesirable (causing side effects).
What can I do to reduce my risk of side effects?
Side effects are generally mild and not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are rare. However, it’s important to take these steps to reduce the chances that you’ll experience side effects:

• Ask your doctor if you’re on the most appropriate dose of your medication. Lower doses usually cause fewer side effects. Your doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different medication that is effective at a lower dose. Talk to your doctor to learn more.
• Know your risk. Ask your doctor which side effects to watch for and what to do if they occur.
• Use your medication exactly as directed. Accidentally taking a double dose (for example, taking an extra dose because you’re not sure if you remembered to take your medication) can increase your risk of side effects. If you often forget whether you took your medication, ask your pharmacist for ways to make it easier to remember (such as alarms or dosettes).
• Watch for side effects when starting a new medication or after your dose is increased. These are the times when side effects often start.

When should I worry about a side effect?
Many side effects are generally mild, not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are rare, but it’s important to know how to recognize them. You should be concerned if a side effect:

• is severe (such as a severe headache)
• is sudden (such as sudden face swelling or difficulty breathing)
• is unexpected (i.e., it was not one of the side effects that your doctor or pharmacist warned you about)
• could be a sign of a serious health problem (such as muscle pain, discoloured urine, or a general feeling of weakness) – ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain which side effects of your medication could be serious
• interferes with your daily activities

Check with your doctor if you notice any side effects like this. You should also contact your doctor about any side effects that worry you. Your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose or switch to a different medication.
What should I do if I’m concerned about side effects?
When learning about the side effects your medication may cause, it’s important to keep a couple of things in mind. First, most side effects are mild, not very common, and may go away on their own. Serious side effects are usually rare.
Second, not all unwanted effects experienced by people taking a medication are actually due to the medication itself. Studies comparing cholesterol medications to a placebo (a “dummy pill” with no active ingredients) often find that people taking the placebo have unwanted effects, too. This shows that unwanted effects may be due to factors other than your medication, such as your medical conditions.
The Canadian Pharmacists Association reviewed side effect risks for some common cholesterol medications and found that the average risk of stomach-related side effects such as abdominal cramps and pain, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, gas, heartburn, nausea, and taste changes was 0.8% to 4.5%, and the risk of other side effects such as dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, rash, and unusual burning or prickling sensations on the body was 1.0% to 7.7%. It’s important to note that these are average values among many different medications. Some medications may have higher or lower risks of these side effects, and may cause other side effects not listed here.

Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about side effects. Cholesterol medication side effects can usually be managed. In most cases, reducing the medication dose can reduce side effects. But don’t change the dose on your own – check with your doctor first. Your doctor may also recommend that you switch to a different medication that is effective at a lower dose. Talk to your doctor to learn more.

Source: C-Health

Aging & the nervous system - Seniors' Health - C-Health

Aging & the nervous system

There are 3 major neurodegenerative disorders: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. These disorders appear to be related to the aging nervous system. At present, the only clearly recognized risk factor for all three conditions is increasing age. With increasing longevity of the population, they will become more common.
Even though the features of the neurodegenerative disorders appear quite different, there are similarities regarding the way in which the different parts of the nervous system degenerate. Most likely, a cure for one will result in great benefits for the others.

What are the features of neurodegenerative disorders?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

• muscle wasting
• weakness of arms, face, tongue, chest wall muscles (due to loss of neurons in one part of the brain - the cortex), and the spine
• vision, bladder and bowel functions, and thought processes are usually not affected

Death usually occurs within 3 to 4 years after symptoms appear.

Parkinson's disease

• tremor and stiffness
• difficulty with arm and leg movement and speech, mainly due to loss of neurons in one part of the brain (the basal ganglia)
• thought processes are usually affected

The disease often lasts more than 10 years, ending in death.

Alzheimer's disease

• impaired memory and thought process
• difficulty with movement and walking may eventually occur
• seizures may occur

The disease lasts about 8 years, ending in death.

The cause of neurodegenerative disorders

The cause of these disorders is unknown. As a result, no treatments, as yet, have been shown to significantly postpone the onset of these illnesses, nor slow down their progression. Many researchers think that there are probably several factors, likely environmental, that trigger the onset of these diseases. It is thought that a series of biochemical events then occur in the body, due to the aging nerve cells (neurons), that results in the recognizable features of disease. Once the genetics of these mechanisms are understood, it may become possible to control them through gene therapy.

 Andrew Eisen , MD
in association with the MediResource Clinical Team
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=1166&channel_id=10&relation_id=3931

When and how to take away the car keys

Overall, many older adults are capable of driving safely, even into their seventies and eighties. But people age differently. Several factors place seniors at much greater risk for road accidents. More important, a person 70 or older who is involved in a car accident is more likely to be seriously hurt, more likely to require hospitalization and much more likely to die than a young person involved in the same crash. Knowing the risk factors and warning signs of an older loved one who has become unable to safely operate a vehicle will help you gauge when it’s time to take away the keys. There are also strategies to help you talk to seniors sensitively about giving up driving and present them with

practical transportation alternatives.

Risk factors that impair driving

Many of the changes that often come with age can adversely affect driving ability. These include:

• Visual decline—including poor depth perception, narrowed peripheral vision, poor judgment of speed and poor night vision, along with increased sensitivity to bright sunlight, headlights and glare.

• Hearing loss—especially the ability to hear important warning sounds while driving.

• Limited mobility and decreased flexibility—which increases response time slows pedal selection and steering control, and limits the ability to turn one’s head to look for hazards.

• Chronic conditions—such as rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, heart disease or diabetes can impair driving skills, even suddenly.

• Medications—as older people often take more medications, which, in combination or taken with alcohol, can result in risky, unpredictable and dangerous side-effects and drug interactions.

• Drowsiness—is often due to medication side-effects or sleep difficulties that come with age, resulting in daytime tiredness and an increased tendency to doze off during the day (or while driving).

• Dementia or brain impairment—makes driving more dangerous and more frustrating. It can also cause delayed reactions and confusion on the road.

Warning signs that say stay off the road

According to the National Institute on Aging, there are several critical indications that a senior may be losing the judgment or ability to drive.

• Incompetent driving at night, even if competent during the day.

• Drastically reduced peripheral vision, even if 20/20 with corrective lenses.

• Struggling to drive at high speed even if he or she drives well locally at slow speeds.

• Erratic driving, such as abrupt lane changes, braking or acceleration, hitting curbs, missing turns or scaring pedestrians.

• Getting lost frequently, even while driving on familiar roads. Trouble reading street signs or navigating directions.

• Frequently startled, claiming that cars or pedestrians seem to appear out of nowhere.

• At-fault accidents or more frequent near-crashes or dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs, etc.

• Failing to use turn signals or keeping them on without changing lanes.

• Drifting into other lanes or driving on the wrong side of the road.

• Range-of-motion issues, such as failing to look over the shoulder, trouble shifting gears or confusing gas and brake pedals.

• Increased traffic tickets or “warnings” by traffic or law enforcement officers.

When it’s time to hang up the keys

Talking to a relative about his or her need to stop driving is one of the most difficult discussions you may ever face. However, it’s better if it comes in the form of advice from you or someone he or she knows rather than by an order from a judge or the DMV.

One of the main reasons seniors are reluctant to give up driving is that it is one of the few ways they can continue to feel self-sufficient. The discussion becomes even more difficult when the person still maintains most of his or her faculties, just not those that enable safe driving.

Preparation is the key

Before you even broach the subject, it’s best to have a thorough and sensitive plan in place.

• Build a case—by keeping a record of traffic tickets, fender-benders or other incidents that worry you. Be specific.

• Calculate the monetary savings that will benefit the senior by giving up driving, such as costs of insurance, gasoline, maintenance, repairs and registration fees.

• Get others to back the decision—such as a physician, pastor or another authority figure your relative trusts. You might even ask the elderly driver’s doctor to write a prescription stating “no driving.”

• Research and arrange transportation plans. Many seniors find it demeaning to have to ask for help. The more you can do in advance to have alternative means in place, the easier the transition will be.

√ Offer rides or find others who can drive, including the senior’s friends.

√ Investigate ride services offered by churches, senior centers and other nonprofit groups to the elderly.

√ Plan bus or other public transit routes or research local taxi services.

√ Purchase alternative means of mobility, such as a power chair or a 3-wheeled adult tricycle.

√ Enlist the services of a Home Care Assistance caregiver to drive your relative to run errands, go to appointments, visit friends, etc.

January 2011 was Alzheimer Awareness Month in Canada

The Alzheimer Society Of York Region held  a “ Walk For Memories” on Sunday 30^th January  at the Vellore Community Centre In Woodbridge ( just north of Toronto)The “Walk” also included ice skating and swimming.  All activities were in-doors as it was quite cool -7c.

Home Care Assistance York Region was one of the two major sponsors. 200 T-Shirts with our name & logo on the back were handed out at registration. Not many were actually worn, but all were taken home. These to be worn,  hopefully, in the summer.

We had a booth well situated. ( photo attached) Our literature was well presented on the table and there was a lot  of interest. Before the walk took place the MC gave the major sponsors a fair amount of airtime and came over to the booth introducing both Brian and myself and of course asking people to  support  the sponsors.

AS a method of attracting names for our data base, we had people fill in a form with their name and email address. They would be entered into a draw for a $100.00 gift voucher to the Keg. The draw to take place at the Alzheimer Society Offices in Newmarket.

There was a lot interest in our booth and we spoke directly to a number of people who wanted to know more about what we do and how we can help with their particular needs.

We made some good contacts with people involved in health care in general.

All in all it was a fantastic experience to be involved with such a worthy cause.

When is it time to seek home care for my parents?

Modern day advances in the medical world have resulted in the population living much longer than we did 15 years ago. Technology has succeeded in prolonging our lives, and as a result raising the demand for elder care.

At what age do we decide that our loved ones require daily living assistance? That is the tough question that burdens children and families as they witness their relatives becoming less independent. Ask yourself if home care will make your aging parents lives easier. Will it prevent them from injuring themselves at home? Will it ensure that that are taking their medication properly? Will it free up some of your own time to possibly tend to your own children? There are so many factors we face when making this decision.

Often times guilt overcomes us and we attempt to take on the task of home care ourselves. As generous as this gesture may seem, it is quite possible we could be causing more damage than good. The average person is not properly trained to handle and care for the disabled or elderly. By attempting to take on this role, you may injure yourself or your loved one. And the added stress of this new responsibility may cause tension in your relationship. If you are considering home care, we recommend a free in-home assessment. This assessment will give you and your family the opportunity to hear the options you have, and how they will help improve the quality of life for you and your entire family.

Contact us today at Tel: 905-597-5825