World Radiography Day

Private Home Health Care is trying to imagine a world without x-rays.  Can you imagine that too?  We know that there are few of you who have never had this easy test. 

On this day we are thinking about a physicist from Wurzburg Germany who was the first person to accidentally learn about the process in a lab.

In 1895, Wilhelm Rontgen’s testing of cathode rays through glass led him to notice a glow coming from a chemically treated screen.  He coined the term X-ray because they were unknown.

Now of course his discovery took a lot of testing and studying before it was actually used on humans.  It wasn’t until 1897 that this important procedure was used in the Balkan War.  

Curiously, Mr. Rontgen received the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901 but he never created a patent.

Today, radiography is used in dental offices, doctor’s offices, urgent care and hospitals.  You and I know how beneficial an x-ray can be to a diagnosis.

We have learned with time that there are risks to too many x-rays so you need to be aware of having too many at one time.  Along with radiography there are other ways to make medical diagnoses.  

On this day we recognize the radiographers and radiologists who use this painless and quick process to help us.  We are grateful to Wilhelm Rontgen for his timely discovery.

Almonds and Chocolate

Today, Private Home Health Care would like to talk about a guilty pleasure that might not actually have too much guilt involved.

Bittersweet or Dark Chocolate and Almonds.  A delicious snack that can also help if you are craving a bit of sweetness.

Now you might say that you often find almonds in candy bars and with 40% of almonds being found there you would not be far from the truth.

Almonds give you great nutrients.  They supply you with fiber, protein, 14 grams of fat with 9 of those monounsaturated so good fat, Vitamin E, Manganese and Magnesium.  Not bad for a small nut.

Additionally, dark or bittersweet chocolate contain antioxidants that are a benefit.  The key is having these slightly different chocolates in moderation.

When you combine this chocolate and almonds you then get health benefits and then a bit of yumminess.  

For those of us who grew up over the last thirty years, many of us used to not worry too much about our intake of some foods, including sugar.  Now that there is much more information about the good, the bad and the ugly about some foods we pay more attention to what we eat.

If you add an increase in the cases of diabetes over the years, food becomes more of a focus and you definitely need to watch your sugar intake.  For some of you that can feel daunting.

Eating an almond in a bittersweet or dark chocolate can be a good thing, especially if you can find a combination that is low in sugar (and added sugar.)  Just remember the word “moderation.”

We would like to share one package that passes the test for us.  It is Trader Joe’s Slightly Coated Dark Chocolate Almonds.  The ingredient list is not long and they supply filber, a small amount of carbs, low sugar and protein.  A few can take care of your sweet tooth.

We should tell you that plain almonds are the best for you but if you need a little bit of a cheat, dark or bittersweet chocolate covered almonds could be your little not so guilty pleasure.

#privatehomehealthcare

Easy-Bake Ovens

Did any of you have an Easy-Bake Oven growing up?  If so then you should know that today is National Easy-Bake Oven day.

Private Home Health Care thinks it’s time for a bit of nostalgia.  

You might recall getting that shiny oven as a present as a child.  It was just the right size.   

Along with the oven you got powdered mixes to make small cakes or cookies.  There were small bowls for mixing and little tins that fit perfectly into the oven.

Your parents would need to help you plug it into the outlet for safety.  After that it was up to you to do the mixing and the extra heat from light bulbs to do the cooking.  

You’d need mitts of course to take the hot tins out of the oven and then it would be time to taste what you created.

Your memory could be like ours of a delicious treat to be enjoyed with a nice glass of milk.  Joy and pride were the feelings of the day. 

It was such fun that you couldn’t wait to do it again!

The Easy-Bake oven was such a great way to spend an afternoon as a child.  In 1963, it was so well received that during its first year it sold more than 500,000 ovens!

Today the Easy-Bake ovens look a bit different but they still come with mixes and tools for baking so if you have any children, we hope you let the baking fun begin!

Bon appetit!

National Author’s Day

The month of November begins with National Author’s Day.  A day to appreciate the authors of books you and I have read and enjoyed.

A book can take you to a foreign land, relax you and give you an escape or perhaps help you learn about someone you were interested in.  Books are a great pastime for all ages.

We have the people who are clever enough to write the books to thank.  To write a book, you get an idea. Next, depending on the type of book you are writing, you may use your imagination to create the story.  

If you are a nonfiction writer, you do a lot of research from many references to learn about the person or situation and then you put pen to paper or these days, fingers to keyboards.

When you come across a well written book, how do you figure out if you’d like to read it?  Is the author’s name the key?  Do you read the inside jacket of the book to get a sense of the storyline?  Are you hooked by reading the first couple of pages?

To get a book written and printed it takes a lot of work and building a relationship with a publishing house.  Some authors use a smaller amount of time to write and review a book.  Others take longer either due to the research involved or for one author, a very difficult disease.  

Laura Hilldebrand developed chronic fatigue syndrome so it took her a very long time to write her books Seabiscuit: An American Legend and Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption.

Her illness required her to do many phone interviews over time and then she had to pace herself when she did her writing.  She exemplifies the dedication of writing that makes a true author.

This weekend Private Home Health Care hopes that you find and curl up with a good book to enjoy.  When you do think about sending a note to your author to show them your appreciation.

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Did you know that here in the United States there are biannual days when you can pass in your leftover prescription drugs?  

It happens in April and in October so time to save any drugs that you don’t use up so that you can safely dispose of them.  You may also find other times when this is available.

The United States, Australia and New Zealand are the only countries that coordinate this.  Most countries throw them in the trash.  The problem with this is that it causes pollution, harms the environment and causes accidental deaths.

There are some medicines that need special attention to help stem the opioid crisis in this country.

According to the CDC there are approximately 6 times more people that died from a drug overdose from 1999 to 2022.  Almost 76% of those deaths involved an opioid.

There has been much discussion around the opioid crisis so you may know someone who has been affected.  It’s a very sad situation so this program works to help.

Many groups are collaborating to improve the situation.  This includes medical personnel, substance abuse counselors, first responders and public health people. 

If you have leftover prescription drugs and you want to check where to turn them in you can check the link below provided by the FDA.  

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know/drug-disposal-drug-take-back-locations

Private Home Health Care understands how many prescription drugs are in our communities and we look to a better future with the opioid crisis. 

Grandparent’s Week

In New Zealand they celebrate Grandparent’s Week until November 1.  We decided this year that we would join them because we love and respect grandparents.

How many of you remember your grandmother or grandfather?  If you were lucky your grandparents lived a long life so that you could grow up and get to know them.  

Our grandparents lived at a different time and experienced many different things along the way.  Many came to the United States from a different country.  Some were born in the city and others in the country.

Listening to stories from their lives can be very enlightening and you may even appreciate the times we live in.  All have a story to tell.

Another common factor with all grandparents is that they are a key part of our family and we should respect them as they age. 

Many grandparents watch over their grandchildren to help their children. Grandparents take time and energy to do activities with their grandchildren.  We can remember sleepovers at our grandparents house or apartment and trips to Friendly’s too.  What a treat!

Additionally, grandparents can help us to slow down a bit and look at life from a different perspective.

This coming week Private Home Health Care hopes that if you have a living grandparent you can take time to talk to them and spend time with them to show your appreciation.  

After years of raising children and then watching grandchildren grow up it can bring a smile to a grandparent’s face.

Frankenstein Friday

Yes, today is Frankenstein Friday, celebrated just a week before Halloween!

What do you think about when you think of Frankenstein??

Can you picture what he looks like?  Is he scary?

Is he pale or is he a green hue?  Does he have scars and bolts in his head?

Did you have a Frankenstein Halloween costume as a child?

Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of her book back in 1816.  She was in Switzerland with her husband, Lord Byron and a physician named John Polidorin and the weather was terrible, with days upon days of thunder and rain.

Lord Byron challenged them to see who could write the best ghost story to pass the time and Mary’s Frankenstein was the blockbuster book.  

When her book was published in 1818 it was published anonymously and it wasn’t until the second edition in 1821 when Mary was listed as the author and the rest is history.

Frankenstein has been in movies, comics and cartoons.  The movies go back to a silent movie in 1910 with the latest versions in 2021.  There have been countless Frankenstein costumes and we are sure you will see him this year out trick or treating too.

Frankenstein is immortal thanks to Mary Shelley.

Private Home Health Care especially enjoys the Mel Brooks’ movie version of Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein.  If you want to laugh rather than be scared watch this treasure of a story this Halloween.

Lung Health Day

Today is set aside as Lung Health Day.  

You and I take breathing for granted for the most part.  It is a very natural part of our body functioning and we don’t often think much about it.  It just happens.

As with all other parts of your body, your lungs age as well.  There are however some steps you can take that will help keep your lungs as healthy as possible over the years.

1. Don’t smoke or stop smoking.  This is really a well known benefit so we don’t need to linger on this one.
2. Start exercising.  By walking or doing aerobic exercises you increase your lung span.  Get and keep moving.
3. Avoid exposure to pollutants.  We all try to do this but some ideas include avoiding secondhand smoke, using natural cleaners and dusting and vacuuming regularly.
4. Watch out for infections.  Wash your hands regularly, drink lots of water and add fruits and vegetables to your diet.
5. Try taking time to breathe deeply through your nose and out through your mouth.  We normally take shallow breaths so deeper breaths can help expand your lungs.

Many of the steps listed to help your lungs are common ways to help your body overall as well.  We often speak of getting enough exercise and eating more fruits and vegetables.  That’s good news really. 

Private Home Health Care works with people who have COPD, a chronic obstruction to the lungs and asthma.  Breathing can be very difficult so any changes you can make to help your lungs is important.  

Tips on Managing Medications

As you age you can often find that your list of medications has grown over the years.  What is the best way to manage your medications?  

Here are some tips to help you:

Make sure you and your pharmacist have the same information. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or get any additional information you might need.

Write down a schedule of when you are to take your pills and be sure to make updates when anything changes.

Keep your list in an obvious place, on the wall or on your fridge or a table that you always go by.

Your bottles most likely look the same.  Add colored labels to each one for the different medicines.  This can help you keep them straight.

It’s important to work your pill taking into a schedule so that it becomes part of your daily routine.

You can also get a pill organizer if that makes it easier for you.  There are many easily available at your pharmacy or online.

Make a list that you can carry in your wallet or pocket book for when you have doctor’s visits.  Much of this information is online and shared among doctors but it’s good to have just available.

If you are digitally minded you can set up reminders on your phone or on any digital watches you might have.  (We get that this could feel overwhelming to you!)

Finally, review your medications with your doctor annually or as needed.  It’s important for you to feel good about any medicine you are taking.

Private Home Health Care understands that it can get harder to manage everything in your life as you get older.  Keep the faith and try not to get discouraged.  Hopefully every little bit of information you get will help.

The Mighty Sloth?

Saturday, October 19 is International Sloth Day.   How much do you know about the sloth other than it moves very slowly and sleeps a lot?

The Sloth Conservation Foundation has some interesting facts about this mammal that was first described in 1749.

Avocados – The now extinct giant ground sloth feasted on avocados, seed and all.  They were large enough to digest the seed and after they spread the seeds hither and yon.  Without these extinct sloths we might not enjoy avocados today.

Strength – the sloth has 30% less muscle but can lift its entire weight from birth with one arm.  If you are an average human, the sloth is three times stronger than you so beware.

Digestive System – unlike you and I a sloth only goes to the bathroom once a week but when they do they lose a third of their body weight! For those looking to lose weight that could be a dream come true.

Vision – we humans have one advantage over the sloth and it’s our sight.  Sloths are color-blind and can only see in dim light.  Bright daylight blinds them.  Good thing their sense of smell is phenomenal.

Speed – while sloths are not known for speed they can swim three times faster in water than they can move on land. Too bad they spend most of their time on land.

Private Home Health Care hopes you can share this information the next time someone talks about a sloth!