Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease…sounds confusing doesn’t it?  Well, no worries because with Total Home Health we always try to come up with the best and most understandable ways to educate our patients.  Teaching and making patients like you aware of how different health conditions can impact your life, may prevent future complications and chronic conditions if the information we provide you with is put to good use. 

So what is coronary artery disease?  The major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and other nutrients it needs are referred to as your coronary arteries.  When these coronary arteries become damaged or diseased, your will end up with coronary artery disease.  As time passes, there is plaque that floats throughout your arteries and bloodstream that is usually to blame for development of coronary artery disease.  There are times when this plaque will begin getting stuck to the walls of your arteries and continue to accumulate over time.  With this build up of plaque, it will begin to compromise how well blood flows throughout your arteries and begin to cause problems.  With decreased blood flow you may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms. 

Don’t get too disgruntled if you have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease just yet because there are plenty of ways you can prevent and treat this condition…starting by modifying some aspects of your lifestyle.  Signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease to be aware of include:

·      Chest pain.  You may begin to feel tightness in your chest, which is pain referred to as angina.  This pain is usually triggered by physical or emotional stress in your life and it generally will go away within minutes after your stop any stressful activities. 

·      Shortness of breath.  If your heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to meet the demands of your body, you may develop shortness of breath to attempt to compensate.

·      Heart attack.  If a coronary artery were to become completely blocked with plaque this would mean no blood would be able to flow to the areas in which it was needed and that area would no longer function correctly, which would lead to a heart attack.  The classic symptoms of a heart attack including crushing pressure in your chest and pain that radiates into your shoulder and down into your arm.  The pain could also be accompanied by shortness of breath and sweating. 

Never hesitate to seek out medical attention if you experience any of the above signs and symptoms.  Early treatment could prove to save your life, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.  What causes and puts you at risk for coronary artery disease may vary, and damage could even begin as early as childhood.  Damage may be caused by various factors, including:

·      Smoking

·      Nicotine will constrict your blood vessels and carbon monoxide will damage their inner lining, which makes them more susceptible to accumulation of plaque.

·      High blood pressure

·      If uncontrolled, this can lead to hardening and thickening of your arteries which narrows the channels that blood flows through. 

·      High cholesterol

·      This can increase the risk of forming plaques, which will build up and cause impairments with blood flow.

·      Physical inactivity

·      Regular exercising, even if it is just walking for 30 minutes 5 days a week, will decrease your risk.

·      Age

·      Getting older increases your risk for coronary artery disease.

·      Gender

·      Males are generally at a higher risk of coronary artery disease; however, the risk for females increases after menopause.

·      Family history

·      If a close relative (parent or sibling) developed heart disease at any early age, your risk will be higher.

·      High stress levels

·      Having unrelieved stress can be damaging to many aspects of your body, including increasing your risk for development of coronary artery disease.

·      Diabetes

·      Radiation therapy in the chest related to certain cancers

·      Obesity

Often individuals will have more than one risk factor and usually they will occur in a cluster and build upon one another, which will significantly increase your risk for coronary artery disease.  For example, obesity that leads to high blood pressure and diabetes.  Complications of this condition can be life threatening if left untreated and may include: chest pain, heart attack, heart failure and an abnormal heart rhythm.  Total Home Health greatly encourages you to contact your medical providers at the first inclination of a change or worsening of your condition.  The more prompt treatment you receive, the more positive your outcome will be. 

There are several diagnostic exams your provider can perform in order to confirm your diagnosis.  The various exams will be discussed with you in detail by your provider according to your own unique situation.  Once diagnosed, your treatment regimen will be decided and could include everything from simple lifestyle changes, to oral medications, to more invasive interventions such as surgery, and more.

Total Home Health has a program that will fit into your lifestyle and work to control your coronary artery disease.  Our professionals will work closely with you day in and day out in order to stay on top of the best ways to treat your specific symptoms.  Encouraging you to make commitments to following healthier lifestyle changes and providing you with ongoing education related to your condition are two priorities of Total Home Health. 

As professionals with experience we will recommend to you that in order to promote healthier arteries you could work with us to do things such as smoking cessation, eat more healthy, exercise, lose any excess weight and work to reduce any stress you may have.  At Total Home Health we understand that making changes is easier said than done, and we want to be the ones that help you make these changes.  Enroll today, you will never be disappointed!

Type 2 Diabetes

Finding out you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes may cause you to feel slightly overwhelmed or lost if you aren’t exactly sure how to manage the condition.  No worries though because the professional healthcare providers at Total Home Health are ready to join in your journey with you.  Our highly-skilled nurses and other professionals will be by your side to educate you and provide you with the best regimen that will help manage your type 2 diabetes to prevent possible complications and promote your health as best as we possibly can.

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes referred to as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes; however it is still a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar…which is an important source of fuel for your body.  Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes.  With type 2 diabetes, the body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it in order to maintain a normal blood glucose level.  Remember, insulin is the hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells.  There is no cure for type 2 diabetes; however it can be managed well if you are motivated and eager to follow your treatment plans. 

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes generally develop rather slowly…this means you could have type 2 diabetes for years and not even have the slightest clue!  Some possible symptoms to become familiar with and look for may include:

·      Increased thirst and frequent urination.

·      If there is excess sugar in your bloodstream, it will cause fluids to be pulled away from other tissues…which may leave you thirsty.  Therefore, you’ll probably drink and urinate more than normal.

·      Increased hunger.

·      Due to there not being enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs will be depleted of energy…which will trigger intense hunger in order to replace energy.

·      Weight loss.

·      Although you may feel like you eat more than usual, you may also be losing weight.  Due to not being able to metabolize glucose, your body may have to turn to alternate areas and use up glucose that has been stored.  Therefore, calories will be lost as the excess glucose is released in the urine.

·      Being tired.

·      If your cells are continually deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable more often.

·      Blurred vision.

·      If your blood sugar gets too high, fluid could be pulled from the lenses of your eyes which may result in your ability to focus clearly.

·      Delayed healing.

·      Type 2 diabetes will affect your ability to heal and even resist infections.  Diabetes affects circulation, which if becomes impaired could delay adequate nutrients from getting to compromised skin areas would cause delayed healing.

If you were to notice any of the above symptoms, do not hesitate to contact your medical provider…it’s better to be safe than sorry.  The quicker you start treatment, the less risk you’ll have of developing more complications in the future.  Type 2 diabetes will develop when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin.  The cause of exactly why this happens is actually unknown.  However genetics, environmental factors, excessive weight and inactivity all seem to contribute to development of this condition. 

In type 2 diabetes the processes of both glucose and insulin in the body do not correctly work together.  Instead of sugar being captured by insulin and moving into your cells, it just continues to build up in the bloodstream.  The pancreas will notice this and begin to make more insulin to compensate, however eventually with consistently high amounts of blood sugar; the pancreas is unable to keep up and cannot make enough insulin to meet the demands of the body.

There are certain factors that may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including the following:

·      Being overweight is a primary risk because the more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.

·      If your body stores fat primarily in your abdominal area, your risk is greater than if your body stores fat elsewhere in places such as your hips and thighs.

·      The less active you are the greater your risk.  This is because physical activity will help to control your weight and use up glucose as energy to make your cells more sensitive to insulin.

·      If your parent or sibling also has a history of type 2 diabetes…your risk increases.

·      The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age, especially after age 45.

·      For women, having polycystic ovary syndrome will increase the risk; this condition is characterized by irregular menses, excess hair growth on the body and obesity.

Having diabetes can lead to development of many chronic conditions and prove to compromise your health, especially if it is uncontrolled.  Diagnosis will most likely be made from a blood test called hemoglobin A1C, which is a test that indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months…keep in mind normal levels for this blood test are below 5.7%.  Your provider will go into greater detail as to how you may be affected and what treatment plans will be the best for your situation once you are diagnosed. 

Total Home Health and our skilled professionals will go out of our way in order to provide you with the most optimal care related to your type 2 diabetes.  Management of type 2 diabetes will include healthy eating, regular exercise, regular monitoring of your blood sugar and possibly use of diabetes medication or insulin.  Helping you to modify some aspects of your lifestyle will be the first priority of Total Home Health.  This is because making lifestyle improvements may significantly help to manage your blood sugar levels before more risky and invasive treatment, such as medication or insulin, have to be used. 

Enroll today with Total Home Health and you’ll be on your way to a much better journey with your diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.  We will always be attentive to any changes in your condition and continuously educate you.  Diabetes can be a nuisance and our goal is to keep you on the right track to live a happy and healthy life!

Type 1 Diabetes

Have you or your loved one been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?  If so, you probably have come to realize how much it has changed your daily routine in order to best manage and control your blood sugar.  It can very much be a nuisance and cause you to miss out on some of the food, drinks, and activities that you would otherwise thoroughly enjoy.  However, if left untreated it could pose many risks to your health and cause many health complications down the road.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition you will have to live with and work to manage throughout your entire life…there is no cure.  This condition was is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes because the pancreas produces little or no insulin.  Insulin is the hormone needed to allow sugar to enter cells and produce energy, which is why individuals with type 1 diabetes greatly rely on regular administration of insulin.

There are pertinent symptoms of type 1 diabetes to become familiar with in order to recognize if you have this condition.  Never hesitate to consult your medical provider if you were to notice any of these symptoms because the quicker you receive treatment, the more your risk decreases of having more serious problems.  Keep in mind also that the signs and symptoms may come on rather quickly and may include the following:

·      An increase in thirst, or dry mouth

·      Frequent urination

·      Extreme hunger

·      Unintentional weight loss

·      Becoming irritable or having other noticeable mood changes

·      Fatigue and weakness

·      Blurred vision

·      Females may experience vaginal yeast infections

What causes type 1 diabetes is actually unknown.  However, in most individuals that are diagnosed with this condition their own immune system – which is normally supposed to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses – attacks and destroys their cells that produce insulin in their pancreas by mistake.  Genetics is also a possible factor that may play a role in development of type 1 diabetes.  In addition certain exposure to factors in the environment, such as viruses, may also trigger the condition to develop.

Let’s talk about the role of insulin and the role of glucose (sugar) in your body now just to make sure you have a good idea of what their jobs are. 

·      Role of Insulin

·      Once large amounts of your insulin producing cells are destroyed, your body will begin to produce little or no insulin at all.

·      The pancreas secretes insulin in your bloodstream.

·      Insulin circulates through your blood and allows sugar to enter your cells.

·      Insulin ultimately works to lower the amount of sugar in circulation by continuously capturing it.

·      As your level of sugar in your blood drops, so does the amount of insulin that your pancreas secretes.

·      In individuals that do not have diabetes, the secretion of insulin and amounts of sugar circulating in their blood most always even out so there is never too much sugar, or too little sugar…it’s always in balance.

·      Role of Glucose

·      Glucose is simply a fancy word for sugar.

·      Sugar is a main source of energy for your cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

·      Glucose comes from the food/drink you consume and from your liver.

·      Sugar is absorbed into your bloodstream, where it enters your cells with the help of insulin that is also in your bloodstream.

·      The liver stores glucose and it turns into glycogen.

·      So…when your glucose levels are low, the liver will convert the glycogen it has in storage into glucose to help keep your blood sugar level within normal range.

Since type 1 diabetics rely on insulin, they usually will not have the right amount in circulation to capture the sugar floating around.  Therefore, sugar tends to build up more quickly in the bloodstream and could cause numerous different problems that will require medical treatment.  There are some risks that could place you more likely to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which may include: family history, genetics, exposure to certain viruses and low vitamin D levels.

Type 1 diabetes can affect the major organs within your body if your blood sugar levels are out of normal limits consistently…organs such as your heart, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys.  Long-term complications can develop gradually over time, so it is very important to manage your blood sugar level as best as possible to decrease your risks.  Some complications may include:

·      Kidney damage.  Your kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessels that filter wastes from your blood.  So, if your blood sugar levels are always high the filtering system in your kidneys will become overwhelmed and overworked resulting in damage, which may lead to kidney failure.

·      Heart & vascular disease.  Diabetes greatly increases your risk of various heart vascular problems that may lead to chest pain, heart attack, stroke and more.

·      Nerve damage.  Excess amounts of sugar circulating can cause injury to the walls of the tiny blood vessels that provide nutrients to your nerves…especially in your legs.  Diabetics tend to experience tingling, numbness, burning or pain in their extremities.  Diabetes that is poorly taken care of could possibly lead to losing all sense of feeling in the affected limb, which could ultimately lead to painful ulcers or even amputation. 

To diagnose you, your medical provider will have you participate in blood tests that will be evaluated in order to see to what extent you are affected by high blood sugar levels.  Once diagnosed, your treatment plan will be formulated and you will be educated on how to best manage your condition.  The main goal of your treatment will be to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible in order to delay or prevent complications that would occur otherwise.  Ways to treat your type 1 diabetes may include taking insulin, counting the carbohydrates you consume, frequently testing your blood sugar, eating healthy, and exercising regularly.

Total Home Health has a program and a team of professionals that will be right for you in order to help you throughout your journey with type 1 diabetes.  We understand that good diabetes management can be very overwhelming.  We’ll take it one day at a time with you and work to develop a treatment regimen that works best to manage your blood sugar by going at your pace and taking your health wishes into consideration to direct your care. 

Education is very important with a diagnosis of diabetes because there are so many factors you can tweak in your daily routine yourself, without medical attention, that could help to maintain your blood sugar.  Ultimately, it’s time to take charge of your own health and stand up to diabetes…there is too much to live for in the short time we have to enjoy life to allow for this condition to compromise our health.  Enroll with Total Home Health today, you’ll be introduced to professionals who really show you they care day after day and who are always looking for better ways to help you manage your condition.

Ulcerative Colitis

Causes

Thе саuѕе оf ulсеrаtivе соlitiѕ iѕ unknоwn. Pеорlе with thiѕ condition hаvе рrоblеmѕ with thе immunе ѕуѕtеm, but it iѕ nоt clear whether immunе рrоblеmѕ саuѕе thiѕ illness. Althоugh ѕtrеѕѕ and certain foods can triggеr symptoms, thеу do nоt саuѕе ulсеrаtivе соlitiѕ.

Ulcerative colitis mау аffесt аnу аgе grоuр, аlthоugh thеrе аrе peaks аt аgеѕ 15 - 30 аnd then again at ages 50 - 70.

Thе diѕеаѕе саn bеgin thе rесtаl area, and may invоlvе thе еntirе lаrgе intestine оvеr time. It mау аlѕо ѕtаrt in the rесtum аnd оthеr parts оf thе lаrgе intestine at thе same time.

Riѕk fасtоrѕ include a fаmilу history оf ulсеrаtivе соlitiѕ, оr Jеwiѕh аnсеѕtrу.

Sуmрtоmѕ

Thе symptoms vary in ѕеvеritу and mау ѕtаrt ѕlоwlу оr ѕuddеnlу. Abоut hаlf оf people оnlу have mild ѕуmрtоmѕ. Othеrѕ have more ѕеvеrе attacks that occur mоrе often. Mаnу fасtоrѕ саn lead tо attacks, including rеѕрirаtоrу infесtiоnѕ or рhуѕiсаl ѕtrеѕѕ.

Sуmрtоmѕ include:

• Abdоminаl pain аnd cramping

• Abdоminаl sounds (а gurgling оr ѕрlаѕhing ѕоund heard over thе intеѕtinе)

• Blood and рuѕ in thе ѕtооlѕ

• Diarrhea, frоm only a fеw ерiѕоdеѕ tо very оftеn

• Fever

• Tenesmus (rесtаl раin)

• Weight lоѕѕ

Childrеn'ѕ grоwth may ѕlоw.

Othеr ѕуmрtоmѕ that mау occur with ulсеrаtivе соlitiѕ inсludе thе fоllоwing:

• Gastrointestinal blееding

• Joint раin and swelling

• Mоuth ѕоrеѕ (ulсеrѕ)

• Nаuѕеа аnd vоmiting

• Skin lumps or ulсеrѕ

Examination and tests

Colonoscopy with biорѕу iѕ gеnеrаllу uѕеd tо diagnose ulcerative соlitiѕ.

Colonoscopy iѕ аlѕо used to ѕсrееn реорlе with ulcerative соlitiѕ for colon саnсеr. Ulcerative соlitiѕ inсrеаѕеѕ thе riѕk оf соlоn саnсеr. If уоu hаvе thiѕ соnditiоn, уоu ѕhоuld bе screened with соlоnоѕсору about 8 - 12 уеаrѕ аftеr being diаgnоѕеd. Yоu should hаvе a fоllоw-uр colonoscopy every 1 - 2 уеаrѕ.

Othеr tests that mау be dоnе tо help diagnose this соnditiоn inсludе:

• Bаrium еnеmа

• Cоmрlеtе blооd соunt (CBC)

• C-rеасtivе protein (CRP)

• Sеdimеntаtiоn rаtе (ESR)

Trеаtmеnt

Thе gоаlѕ оf treatment аrе tо:

• Cоntrоl thе асutе attacks

• Prеvеnt repeated attacks

• Hеlр thе соlоn hеаl

Hospitalization iѕ often nееdеd fоr ѕеvеrе аttасkѕ. Yоur dосtоr may рrеѕсribе соrtiсоѕtеrоidѕ tо rеduсе inflаmmаtiоn. Yоu mау bе given nutriеntѕ thrоugh a vein (intravenous linе).

DIET AND NUTRITION

Cеrtаin tуреѕ of foods mау wоrѕеn diarrhea and gаѕ ѕуmрtоmѕ, еѕресiаllу during timеѕ оf active diѕеаѕе. Diеt ѕuggеѕtiоnѕ inсludе:

• Eаt ѕmаll аmоuntѕ оf food thrоughоut thе dау.

• Drink рlеntу of wаtеr (drink small аmоuntѕ thrоughоut thе dау).

• Avоid high-fiber fооdѕ (brаn, beans, nutѕ, seeds, аnd рорсоrn).

• Avоid fаttу, grеаѕу or fried foods and sauces (butter, mаrgаrinе, аnd heavy cream).

• Limit milk рrоduсtѕ if you аrе lасtоѕе intоlеrаnt. Dаirу products аrе a gооd ѕоurсе of рrоtеin аnd саlсium.

STRESS

Yоu mау fееl wоrriеd, еmbаrrаѕѕеd, оr even ѕаd оr depressed about having a bowel ассidеnt. Othеr ѕtrеѕѕful events in your life, ѕuсh аѕ mоving, or lоѕing a jоb оr a lоvеd оnе саn саuѕе digеѕtivе рrоblеmѕ.

Ask your dосtоr оr nurѕе fоr tiрѕ on уоur tо manage уоur ѕtrеѕѕ.

MEDICATIONS

Mеdiсinеѕ thаt may be uѕеd to decrease thе numbеr оf аttасkѕ inсludе:

• 5-аminоѕаliсуlаtеѕ such as mesalamine оr sulfazine, whiсh саn help соntrоl moderate ѕуmрtоmѕ

• Immunоmоdulаtоrѕ ѕuсh аѕ аzаthiорrinе аnd 6-mеrсарtорurinе

• Corticosteroids (prednisone аnd methylprednisolone) tаkеn bу mоuth during a flare-up оr as a rесtаl ѕuрроѕitоrу, foam, or еnеmа

• Infliximаb (Rеmiсаdе) or оthеr biоlоgiсаl treatments, if уоu do not rеѕроnd tо оthеr mеdiсаtiоnѕ

SURGERY

Surgеrу tо rеmоvе the соlоn will сurе ulсеrаtivе colitis and rеmоvеѕ thе thrеаt оf соlоn саnсеr. Surgery iѕ uѕuаllу rесоmmеndеd if уоu hаvе:

• Colitis thаt does nоt rеѕроnd tо соmрlеtе medical thеrару

• Chаngеѕ in thе lining оf thе соlоn that аrе thоught tо be рrесаnсеrоuѕ

• Sеriоuѕ complications ѕuсh as ruрturе (perforation) оf the соlоn, severe bleeding (hеmоrrhаgе), оr tоxiс megacolon

Most of the time, thе еntirе colon, inсluding the rесtum, iѕ rеmоvеd (tоtаl рrосtосоlесtоmу with ileostomy). Aftеrwаrdѕ, уоu mау nееd a ѕurgiсаl ореning in thе аbdоminаl wall (ileostomy), оr a procedure that соnnесtѕ the ѕmаll intеѕtinе tо thе anus to gаin mоrе normal bоwеl function.