Happy American Heart Month!

By admin on February 1, 2012

When I was in elementary school, like most of my friends, I thought the ages of 20-25 were so cool, 30 was so sophisticated, 40 was old and anyone over the age of 50 was a grandma or grandpa. It’s funny how in the mind of a 7 or 8 year old, the previously listed ages seem life times away from happening. Well, I am now quickly approaching the big 3-0 and although I MIGHT be slightly cooler and more sophisticated (hehe), those days of skipping rope, slumber parties and sing-a-longs with my girl friends have fast-forwarded with the blink of an eye.

I am a grown-up now and have been for a while! The “real world” can be scary some times (okay, MOST times!) It seems as though my life is consumed by work, bills, family, keeping house (not playing house), yadda, yadda, yadda. I get it, most of you are thinking that I am SO young and that I am crazy for thinking that approaching 30 is “getting old”. However, I am getting to that age bracket where I need to start thinking about my health (oh yippie, another thing to add to my ever consuming list!) and how I can start preventing some major health issues!

Here is a startling fact. Did you know 630,000 Americans are killed each year from Heart Disease?? It is the leading cause of death in this country for both men and women.

You are at higher risk of Heart Disease if you:

*are a woman 55 years and older
*are a man 45 years and older
*have a family history of early Heart Disease

In the U.S., the most common type of heart disease is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack. You can greatly reduce your risk of CAD through lifestyle changes, and in some cases, medication. Controlling and preventing risk factors play a key role, even to those who already have heart disease.

*Watch your weight
*quit smoking
*control your cholesterol and blood pressure
*drink only in moderation
*get active
*eat healthy
*talk to your doctor about taking aspirin daily if you are a man 45 and older or a woman 55 and older
*manage stress

All month long, Western Health Home Care will be posting blogs about all things Cardiovascular and how San Diego can TAKE HOLD OF OUR HEALTH through out the month of February! If you can’t wait until the next blog to learn more about American Heart Month, visit The American Heart Association and learn about National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 3rd!!!

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Medicare Preventative Benefits

By admin on January 30, 2012

Many of our patients are 65 and older and qualify for Medicare health insurance. Did you know Medicare Preventative Benefits provide certain annual doctor appointments with no out of pocket costs? There are two types of visits…

Welcome to Medicare preventative visit - this visit is for those who have signed up for Medicare Part B and can be used within 12 months of signing up. It includes:

• A comprehensive review
of your medical and family health
history.
• Check your height, weight and
blood pressure.
• Calculate your body mass index.
• Do a simple vision test.
• Give you advice to help you
prevent disease, improve your
health and stay well.
• Make appropriate referrals when
necessary

When making this appointment you must ask if your physician will do any procedures that may result in a co-pay. You should also bring a list of all the doctors you see, personal medical records, and all of the medications you take.

 

Yearly Wellness visit -

• Complete a comprehensive review
of your medical and family health
history.
• Check your height, weight and blood
pressure.
• Review your current medicines.
• Schedule recommended shots and
screenings.
• Advise you on personal medical
issues and treatment options.

Your physician may also recommend that you receive a flu shot and other screenings. These screenings include Cardiovascular checks (no co-pay if MD accepts Medicare), Diabetes Checks (no co-copay if MD accepts Medicare), and Colorectal tests (you may have a co-pay if your physician finds a growth and removes it).

If you would like more information on this subject you can visit the American Medical Associations website and they have provided a handy brochure with more tips. Click here.

If you need help leaving your home to go to your doctor’s appointment, give us a call at (619) 656-4380 and we’ll set you up with one of our fantastic care attendants.

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Scams Targeting Seniors

By admin on January 27, 2012

Eric talks about scams that target seniors on San Diego Living.

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Thyroid Awareness Month Winds Down…

By admin on January 26, 2012

As Thyroid Awareness Month winds down, Western Health Home Care thought it would be helpful to recap the previous blogs relating to this health issue with a Thyroid Top Ten (courtesy of www.empoweryourhealth.org)

1. As many as 30 MILLION Americans may be affected by thyroid disorders, although more than half remain undiagnosed.

2. Thyroid disorders are more common amongst women.

3. Thyroid disorders tend to run in families.

4. Fatigue is a common complaint for under and overactive thyroid conditions.

5. TSH testing is the most useful test for thyroid screening.

6. Regular check-ups are the key to successfully managing a malfunctioning thyroid gland.

7. Changing formulations and dosage that affect thyroid hormone levels should be followed by retesting.

8. Do not change your dose of thyroid medication without guidance from your physician.

9. Thyroid conditions in pregnancy warrant close attention.

10. Thyroid cancer is on of the fastest growing cancers in America and of of the most CURABLE!

***Western Health has decided to make 2012 the year to take hold of our health! We are going to be posting health awareness blogs all year long by focusing on a particular issue each month. Be sure to check out February’s blogs as we feature American Heart Month!

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Thyroid Awareness Month Continues: Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism

By admin on January 11, 2012

Sometimes, in life, it takes a shocking dose of reality for individuals to realize how serious certain health conditions can be. Surely we all have that one stubborn family member (and if you can’t think of a family member, maybe it’s you) that hasn’t seen their doctor in X-amount of years for a check-up simply because they always say they feel “fine”. Well, here is a scary statistic: 30 Million Americans may be affected by thyroid disorders! That’s nearly 10% of our Nation’s population… Oh, and here’s that SHOCKING DOSE OF REALITY mentioned in line one: More than 15 Million Americans are walking around with some sort of Thyroid condition and they don’t even know it!

The good news is that most thyroid conditions are very common and treatable. That is why it is time to put that age-old quote, “knowledge is power” to good use. Two of the most common thyroid conditions are Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. Two very big, very similar words with huge differences.

HypOthyroidism (the more common of the two) is when the thyroid gland is not active enough and does not produce the proper amount of thyroid hormones necessary for your body. Hypothyroidism can cause you to gain weight, feel fatigued and have difficulty dealing with cold temperatures. HypERthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is over active and produces more thyroid hormones than necessary. These extra thyroid hormones can cause you to lose weight, speed up your heart rate and make you very sensitive to heat.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms, a simple blood test from your doctor to check thyroid hormone levels can diagnose either condition. It’s the new year…why not schedule that doctor’s appointment today?

For more information about Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism or any other Thyroid Awareness tid-bits, visit www.empoweryourhealth.org or www.healia.com

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Become a bone marrow donor

By admin on January 6, 2012

Many of our patients young and old suffer from various forms of leukemia and anemia. These diseases affect the cells in our bodies that produces our red blood. Our red blood cells flow through our arteries and veins to feed the rest of our body’s cells with oxygen and nutrients. Under normal circumstances our bone marrow is the stuff that produces our red blood cells so that we can live healthy lives.

Unfortunately leukemia and other like diseases disturb our marrow’s ability to produce red blood cells. Medical science has found that if a person is matched with another person’s marrow who has a similar HLA tissue type, they can perform a successful marrow transplant which can help produce the much needed red blood cells the sick person needs. The only problem is that it can be very difficult to match a sick person with a healthy person who has a similar HLA type.

Luckily the National Marrow Donor Program can help match folks who need donations with other folks that can provide tissue that won’t be rejected in the body. Donating marrow is a little more involved than donating blood. It requires a small surgical procedure and this may turn a lot of people off. However, unlike giving blood, not every one who registers may donate marrow. I registered 4 years ago and have not been called yet. But if I am called to donate, I’d be more than happy to do so. Just think - you are giving away something in your own body that can help save another life. The best part is that your body will regenerate the marrow that you gave!

The process is very simple:

Step 1. Go to marrow.org and click on the Join Now tab

Step 2. Wait for your free match-kit in the mail

Step 3. Once you receive the match-kit, take the sterilized cotton swabs that are provided and swab the saliva in your mouth.

Step 4. Place the swab in the sterilized enveloped provided

Step 5. Drop the envelope in the mail.

Step 6. Save a life!!!!

It’s that easy. I encourage everyone to sign up for this program. It is completely anonymous and it can save many lives.

marrow.org

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Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Benefit

By admin on January 5, 2012

Did you know that veterans and surviving spouses of veterans may be eligible to receive a special benefit from the VA for Home Care and Assisted Living?

This benefit is called the Aid and Attendance benefit and it can provide up to $1,704 per month for a veteran, $1,094 per month to a surviving spouse, or $2,020 per month to a couple. This is a little known program and we really need to spread the word. At Western Health we believe that all veterans deserve to age in comfort.

If you would like more information about this program please visit the following links:

www.veteranaid.org

www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/pension/vetpen.htm

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January is Thyroid Awareness Month!

By admin on December 30, 2011

Before I began researching about Thyroid Awareness month, I gave myself 3 guesses as to which part of the body this tiny little gland is located in. I wrote my answers down on a piece of paper: 1)brain, 2)throat, 3)heart. Now, if this were a gameshow question worth $1million, I would have sadly gone home empty handed!

The thyroid is a small bow-tie shaped gland located in front of your wind pipe in the lower part of your neck. It’s main function is to release hormones called Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These hormones deliver energy to cells in your body which help control your metabolism. The thyroid thrives on iodine, which is most commonly ingested into your body through diet, in order to produce then proper amounts of T3 and T4. Cases when thyroids receive a lack of iodine could possibly lead to Iodine Deficiency, which could in turn contribute to other health issues that affect the thyroid gland.

Although Thyroid Disease affects men, Unfortunately, women over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for Thyroid Disease. There are many risk factors involved with Thyroid Disease. SOME risk factors include: autoimmune disease, a family history of Thyroid Disease, smoking, overconsumption of raw and soy foods, recent neck trauma or surgery, radiation exposure and stress.

There are also many obvious sides and symptoms that can help detect Thyroid Disease: low body temperatures, unusually low or high pulse rates, high blood pressure, enlarged or sensitive lump in neck, extreme hunger or thirst, noticeable weight change while keeping a consistent diet, swollen hands and feet, hair loss, and lesions on lower legs or feet.

In honor of Thyroid Awareness month, Western Health Home Care will be visiting doctors offices all over San Diego during the month of January to partner and discuss more tips on how to prevent Thyroid Disease. Keep checking our blog site for new posts!

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor for a thorough medical evaluation for Thyroid Disease. You can also read more about Thyroid Disease risk factors, symptoms and testing at the Thyroid Awareness Month website

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