National Don’t Fry Day

This day highlights the need for all of us to be aware of the importance of being aware of harmful effects of overexposure to the sun..

You and I need the sun not only for vitamin D but for your mood and spirit too.  The sun can make you feel happy and energetic no matter your age.  You just need to be careful when you are enjoying it.

The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that there are 9,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer each day.  

There are three basic skin cancers:

• Basal which is non-life threatening
• Squamous is the next level and also treatable.  
• Melanoma is the skin cancer to be concerned about as left untreated it can be deadly.

Preventive Measures.

Wherever you live and when there is sun it’s important for you and your family to use sunscreen  (SPF 30 or higher) each and every day.  Likewise, sun glasses are key to keeping your eyes safe.

Furthermore, clothing in summer months can act as good protection from the sun.  Dark or bright colors help to absorb the sun’s rays.  

Densely woven cloth like denim can mitigate your risks as well as unbleached cotton, shiny silks and polyesters.

You should find some shade when you are at a park or at the beach or outside for an extended period of time..

Between 1801 and 1804 both UV rays and melanoma were identified but it has taken us many years to learn about how strong and destructive the sun can be.

Today, you can find so much information about skin cancer and safety measures either through your doctor or online.  Teaching at a young age can turn around the statistics on skin cancer.

Private Home Health Care also believes in yearly check ups with a dermatologist because early detection is key to avoiding a more serious skin cancer.

Asparagus

Do you like asparagus?  It is a wonderfully tasty vegetable and it’s full of health benefits for you!

You’ll find that asparagus is low in calories, great for maintaining or losing weight.  It also supplies protein and fiber which helps with digestion.  

Additionally, asparagus contains vitamins A, C and K (K helps with blood clotting and bone health.) Wait, there’s more!  This green vegetable also fortifies our bodies with potassium, phosphorus, folate and small amounts of iron, zinc and riboflavin.

As you can see there are many health benefits to your body in addition to the taste.

Asparagus has been around for a long time.  Europeans brought it to the United States in 1655 but it was in diets long before that around the world.

In the United States you will find asparagus being grown mainly in three states:  California, Michigan and Washington.  It is labor-intensive to grow with each stock needing to be handpicked.

In order to buy the freshest asparagus you should look for plump and straight stocks.  The stems should not be dry, split or excessively woody.

Once you get the asparagus home, it’s important to store it so that it stays fresh.  It is recommended that you keep the rubber band on to keep the stocks together.  

Then you cut an inch or two off of each stem and place them in a jar or glass with an inch or two of cold water.  Finally, cover them loosely with a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator.  The asparagus should last about a week.

Private Home Health Care loves the versatility of asparagus. We basically like to prepare it steamed, grilled, or baked with olive oil, lemon or parmesan cheese.  Mangiare!

National Vanilla Pudding Day

Today it’s all about sweetness.  National Vanilla Pudding Day.  A wonderfully delicious dessert.

Vanilla pudding wasn’t always sweet.  If you lived in the Middle ages your pudding would have included meat or fish.  Thankfully, pudding has evolved over the years into the sweet pudding we know today.

You can buy packaged vanilla puddings for a quick mix, instant without cooking or a “slower” version made with milk on the stove.

Likewise you can make your own vanilla pudding from scratch.  It’s easy to do.  You need milk, sugar, some cornstarch and a bit of time on the stove until it thickens.  Top it with whipped cream for a delectable treat.

Are you diabetic or watching your sugar intake?  Not a problem.  Use almond milk and monk fruit sweetener for a healthier choice.  

Monk Fruit is sweeter than sugar but without fructose and glucose so check the label for the sugar to monk fruit ratio. 

For an alternative to cornstarch you can use rice flour (2:1 ratio rice flour to cornstarch) or arrowroot powder (1:1 ratio).  It seems everyone can enjoy vanilla pudding.

Try some variations on vanilla pudding like Flan, Creme brulee, rice or tapioca pudding. It’s a nice way to finish a meal so enjoy some today!

Private Home Health Care follows the 17th century proverb that “The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating” meaning you have to try out food to know if it’s good.  Bon Appetit!!

National EMS Week

This third week in May is set aside for all of the dedicated EMS workers around us.

The men and women who respond to medical emergencies sign up to help those who have smaller medical issues along with those in crisis.  

Basically, on any given day you or a loved one could need medical attention quickly and it is the emergency medical practitioner that will come to your aid.  

Every time you call 911, the police, firefighter department and ambulance arrive.

It’s those people in the ambulance that take over and do their best to stabilize the patient and get them to the closest medical facility.

The main jobs are medical technicians and paramedics. Requirements are strict.  Initially you need to be a minimum age of 18 and you must be BLS (Basic Life Support)-CPR certified.  

In addition, you must pass an EMT training course and two exams, one cognitive and the other psychomotor.

You must also have National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NMERT) certification and a driving license.

The EMS training lasts between 4 and 6 months depending on the state and you will learn how to use medical equipment and how to respond to different kinds of medical emergencies.

The life of the EMS practitioner is highly important, never dull and requires the ability to handle stressful situations.  It is very rewarding and gives a strong sense of community.

Private Home Health Care is so appreciative of the work of EMS practitioners.  We honor and respect them this week and we are thankful for the times they have responded to our needs.

Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common diagnosis across the world.  It is basically when the blood flowing through your veins is more forceful than it should be. The force can damage the inner walls of your arteries and make your heart beat too hard.

A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80.

The top number is for systolic pressure.  This measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The bottom is for diastolic pressure. This measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.

Due to genetics, you are at a higher risk to develop hypertension if a family member has it.  High blood pressure affects both men and women and it can occur at any age.

Some other risk factors include:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• High sodium diet
• Little or no physical activity
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Stress
• Insufficient sleep

Consequently, hypertension, if left untreated, can lead to a stroke as well as chronic kidney problems and of course other health problems.

The good news is that there are medications and treatments available to help. Likewise, we all need to do our part to lead a healthy lifestyle with a heart healthy diet and exercise.

Private Home Health Care knows that high blood pressure can appear without any symptoms.  We hope that you have health care professionals that can help you monitor this risky condition. 

#health

International Day of Light

Tomorrow is the International Day of Light.  You may wonder what this day is all about?

The sponsors say it is to promote an awareness for the appreciation of light.  Likewise, light plays a part in science, art and education and it has many natural benefits.

If you look up the definition for light it says, “something that makes vision possible.”  It also mentions electromagnetic radiation and another is “a particular illumination.”

All of these definitions are accurate.  Light truly helps you and I view and understand the world around us.

Light in the form of the sun can lift our feelings.  After many cloudy days you begin to miss that shining ball in the sky because there is not much light.  When the light comes back we can feel an almost immediate turnaround.

Additionally, light is not just the sun.  Other forms of light include gamma rays, infrared ways, ultraviolet light and gamma rays.  Our understanding of light has led us to scientific discoveries and technological progress.  Many uses we take for granted.

• Lights are in our homes and offices.
• UV lights treat certain illnesses and eliminate bacteria and viruses from the air and water.
• We transmit information by using the light found in optical fiber networks.
• We stay safe with headlights in our cars and traffic lights in our towns and cities.

As you can see we have learned a lot about light.  We must however continue to learn more so that we can make progress in our use in the future.

Private Home Health Care hopes you have a chance to share something involving light tomorrow.  You can watch great videos online that talk about the science of light.  You can also look around and find the sources of light in your world.

#InternationalDayOfLight

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that has been around for centuries but only named in 1981.  As late as 1990 it was defined as a musculoskeletal disease within the family of arthritis.

The word “myalgia” means pain within the muscles.  Fibro refers to fibrous tissues.  

Fibromyalgia is caused by abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system.  If you have this disease you experience most commonly a sense of fatigue, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, irritable bowel syndrome and often headaches.

Your pain will be on both sides and the top and bottom of your body.  People all over the world suffer from this, all ages and either sex.  Reports do say however, that women are seven times more likely to come down with it.  It is chronic in nature.

Unfortunately you will not find a cure for Fibromyalgia but there are ways to manage the pain.  You should check with your medical professional to see what is best for you.  

There are medications, exercises, relaxation techniques and antidepressants.  Antidepressants can help you relieve pain and promote better sleep. 

An early sufferer of this disease is believed to be Florence Nightingale!  

Private Home Health Care wants to help to share awareness of this difficult disease so that you are aware that you are not alone and there is help available.

#healthcare

National Student Nurse Day

This week in May is designated as National Nurses Week.  In recognition of this, today is National Student Nurse Day.

You and I have most likely dealt with nurses in some situation before.  It may have been at a doctor’s office or a hospital, a burn facility or a mental health hospital.  Nurses actually work in many different places.

Florence Nightingale or the “Lady with the Lamp” is credited with beginning the nursing field.  She came from the higher echelons of England but her calling was the care of the sick.

Florence began nursing during the Crimean War which ended in 1856.  Because of her work during the war and her documenting the excellent nursing given under trying conditions, Florence was given money once she was back in England.

In 1860 the Nightingale School of Nursing was opened at St. Thomas Hospital in London.  This was a huge step for women and the field of nursing.

Today there are many options if your calling is to be a nurse.  You will find it a very challenging and competitive field but with many rewards.  

There are nursing schools in just about every state in the US.  Your courses would include theoretical learning as well as practical learning.  You would have practical experiences in nursing activities including administering medications, charting and patient assignments.

Your specialty could be burn care nursing, clinical nursing, and mental health.  You could also become a nurse practitioner or a midwife.  There are many options depending on your interest.

Once your schooling is done you then pass a certification exam and once passed you are a registered nurse.

Private Home Health Care understands the work involved and we salute the men and women who study and learn how to become a registered nurse.  Best of luck to you.

Herb Day

In 2006, a group of five nonprofit organizations began Herb Day. The purpose of the day is for us to celebrate and become aware of the awesomeness of herbs.

You probably have herbs in your house, maybe fresh or dried.

Your recipes most likely call for many of the familiar herbs, like thyme, rosemary, parsley and sage (or was that parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme from the song Scarborough Fair!).

Seriously, there are so many herbs to choose from to add to your food but they aren’t just for recipes.  The organizers of this day also want you to learn that herbs are also for health and beauty.

For health benefits sage can improve brain function and memory.  Peppermint can help your abdominal pain and nausea and basil helps fight infection and increases your immunity.

Rosemary is an herb that could help you with your skin.  The antioxidants are known to help tighten and tone your skin.  It has hydrating properties to moisten your skin.  In addition, if you have eczema it’s anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce redness.

These are just a few benefits of herbs and now is the perfect time to think about planting herbs.  You can start some in your kitchen, use pots, flower boxes or a garden.  There are many websites to help guide you.

Private Home Health Care is sharing this website that you might find helpful.  Herbs are versatile and have so many uses we hope you give some a try!   ​​https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a43329616/how-to-start-a-herb-garden/

National Hospitals Week

Hospitals are on our minds this first week in May as it’s National Hospitals Week.

The American Hospitals Association estimates that there are 6,000 hospitals in the United States.  We all know that medical care has its challenges and the cost of healthcare has been increasing over time. Hospitals however, strive to continue to provide top quality healthcare. 

We in Boston are very lucky to have so many renowned hospitals that are just a drive away.

Furthermore, hospitals provide vital care in many different areas.  

You can go to a hospital for an emergency, to have a baby or for surgery.  You’ll also be able to have appointments with family doctors or specialists located in hospitals. Additionally, you can discover doctors for all parts of your body in this one location.

There are hospitals that are long-term, short-term, for children and for our veterans and for those with mental health issues. 

This week was created in order to recognize the care and support given by the hospital workers across all these different types of hospitals.

Private Home Health Care has worked with many hospitals over the years.  We understand the hard work involved but we also know how satisfying the work can be. This week we take a moment to thank the many wonderful hospital workers for their expert care.

#NationalHospitalWeek