All Things Health and Wellness

A heat stroke can be fatal. Being in extreme temperature can be deadly. Fainting maybe the first sign, as a result of the core body temperature being to high.

Some of the signs and symptoms include the following:

“Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures — usually in combination with dehydration — which leads to failure of the body’s temperature control system. The medical definition of heat stroke is a core body temperature greater than 104 F, with complications involving the central nervous system that occur after exposure to high temperatures. Other common symptoms include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.” (WebMD, 2023),

The national weather service has put out this advisory

• Symptoms: Throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperature above 103°F, hot, red, dry or damp skin, rapid and strong pulse, fainting, loss of consciousness.
• First Aid: Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloths or bath. Use fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90s. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do NOT give fluids.

References:

Ansorge, R. (2021). Heat Stroke: Symptoms and Treatment. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/heat-stroke-symptoms-and-treatment

National Weather Service, Heat Cramps, Exhaustion, Strokes. https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness

Stay hydrated!

Changing your eating your habits can be challenging for most, especially if you love to eat. Reduce your intake gradually and give up one thing at a time to make the transition easier.

A friend of mind was having difficulty giving up soft drinks. I suggested she reduce her soda intake by one every day until she was no longer consuming large amounts of her favorite soft drink every day. Small steps can help you achieve your goal and ensure your success.

During your transition do not put yourself in situations where you know there will be an abundant choices of food and drink. I stopped going to brunch until I was sure I was strong enough to stay on my program.

Making thoughtful decisions regarding your food and drink choices is essential when you decide you are going to make healthy diet choices. No longer can you make hasty decisions about your diet if you want to ensure your success.

This is the beginning of summer, and fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful, unless you are a diabetic then the choices have to be deliberate to ensure you remain healthy.

Bon Appetit!

Time is precious. When I was a child, time seemed to drag but as an adult, days and weeks are moving so fast that everything becomes a blur. Before you know it, life would have passed you by and left you will be wondering where did the time go.

With that said, dance like no one is watching and enjoy yourself everyday. Learn to live in the moment, so you can enjoy your family and friends. Eat in moderation, exercise and mind your own business. Take care of your own needs first so you will have the energy and stamina to take care of others.

Remember to dance like no one is watching, because most likely no one is watching and if they are maybe they will join you.

Nursing is an art, and providing care and comfort to others can be challenging. Nurses experience both the highs and lows of life with patients and their families. We are an intricate part of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care for all that utilize the healthcare system.

As we celebrate another nurses week, take time and thank the nurses in your circle. The past few years has been tough for all healthcare professionals, especially those who work at the bedside. So many nurses have left the profession due to stress and feeling unappreciated.

Nurses, be encouraged, although many of the task you perform can be duplicated by others, remember you also provide the human touch of empathy and compassion for those utilizing the healthcare system. As younger nurses enter the nursing profession, it is essential that seasoned nurses assist them in developing strong critical thinking skills so they can be an effective member of the healthcare team.

Enjoy the week and know every day is nurses day in healthcare because you make the difference!

This year’s theme is “There is More to the Story. ” The library is a wonderful way to promote reading for all ages. It is a free service and it may not be used as frequently by many due to the internet but it has a place in society. If you are of a certain age group you may remember going to the library to study, for field trips and or story hour.

A reporter S.Benen, (March, 2023) recently published a story about a Republican member of Congress suggest that the nation’s public libraries be replaced with “church-owned” alternatives. Consider this missive Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana published on Twitter:

“Over time, American communities will build beautiful, church owned public-access libraries. I’m going to help these churches get funding. We will change the whole public library paradigm. The libraries regular Americans recall are gone. They’ve become liberal grooming centers.”

You may or may not agree with the Congressmen but public libraries serve their purpose. Although many of us do not utilize the library as often as we once did there are still households in this country that do not have access to a computer or the internet.

Support your local library. Stay informed and get active in your community, especially if you care about public libraries and books.

Just keeping you informed!

April is stress awareness month. We all have experienced stress at sometime in our life but the issue becomes crucial when the stress interferes with our well being. We can maintain our mental and physical health by managing the stress with activities that bring you joy, and or communicating with others about your stress and anxiety.

Managing stress is an essential tool to maintain your health and well being. Stress can cause mental and physical illness if it isn’t handled appropriately.

Take care of yourself and your family. It is also imperative to recognize stress in your children, so you can teach them healthy outlets for managing their stress and anxiety. Currently, healthcare facilities are seeing more children and adolescents with mental health issues than in the past. Many cities have a shortage of mental practitioners and mental health beds.

Seek assistance so you can have well adjusted children, and take care of yourself.

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.

Public health professionals conduct scientific research, education, and setting health standards for the communities where we work and live. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.

Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seat-belts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems.

Check out one of the videos above to get a better understanding of public health and do what you can do to remain healthy and well.

References

What is Public Health? (2022). https://www.apha.org/What-is-Public-Health

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that’s truly stood the test of time. First originating in the Vedic culture of India, it’s actually considered by many to be the oldest healing science there is.

What is meant by “Ayurvedic medicine”? This system is based on the premise that there are three doshas, or body types, and depends on body composition, metabolism, digestion and other factors. Ayurvedic medicine addresses this components.

According to a report published by University of Maryland Medical Center, Ayurvedic medicine and an appropriate Ayurvedic diet can help treat inflammatory, hormonal, digestive and autoimmune problems.

Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population report using it. Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia. Therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils (Ayurvedic Medicine, 2019).

Reference:

Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. (2019). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth

https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/know-yourself-by-knowing-your-ayurvedic-body-type/

Miller, K. (2019). What is Ayurveda? https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments