It seems the body knows its needs at a subconscious level and can reorganize itself from its silence within. The next morning my memory gradually came back and I could recall the events of the previous day. My grandson had taken me to the emergency hospital and I was placed with others already in the emergency overload section. After five days I was rolled from my spot and another bed rolled in immediately.
I’m taking a bit of time off from blogging. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and I am supposed to try to regain my weight and according to the doctor it will take a few weeks for me to heal. At five foot seven I should weigh more than a hundred pounds so I am working at it. The ladies in my condo building here have brought me soup and other gifts and I appreciate their kindness so much. Some even phone and ask if I need anything at the store, bought groceries and picked up my antiobiotic prescription for me. We have a certain family feeling here and I am so grateful. A friend from Alberta is coming tomorrow to be with me.
Later: Indeed my "Borrowed daughter" from Alberta arrived on Sunday and will stay with me for two weeks. She is cooking great meals for me and I am gaining strength. Her husband is the manager of a hardware store in Alberta so he had to hurry back.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
THE END OF A PERFECT DAY
My two sisters from Kamloops and the husband of the younger one arrived near noon. They had already eaten on the way so I laid out fruit as we shared a little catch-up time on family news as they prepared to leave for the farewell good-bye service of a mutual friend. “I understand it wouldn’t be wise for you to go to the service with that bronchial cough to dispense throughout the area but since your doctor’s on vacation until the l2th of July, your choice is a walk-in clinic or the emergency and I’ll drive you to the door of either one since the B.C. Nurse Line has given this advice.” said my sister’s husband. In earlier years I once asked him why he found time to include us two extras at various gatherings and he replied that he had no sisters and considered us his as well and knew that we three enjoyed each other as good friends. My husband died of Parkinson’s disease after our marriage of 54 years during which his job required using chemicals that are now banned. My older sister had decided to spend her life in a needy area of Africa. Before leaving by ship she took a brief course in dentistry to use along with her missionary work during her more than 50 years in Ivory Coast. She relieved many hundreds of people in the outback of this country who had no other recourse for painful dental problems. The only anesthetic she used was a gargle of salt water. One man was so delighted to get rid of his aching tooth, he rushed from the little stool that was Helen’s dental chair, always placed under a shady tree, gave her a big multi coloured wet hug as he wished her every blessing in the Koran which included many children.
I decided to take the opportunity to go to the walk-in clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza so Lloyd dropped me off where I asked near a safe lighted corner as a steam of traffic thundered on. There were walk signals ahead where I crossed this main highway. At the walk in clinic I told Dr. Clark my tummy didn’t want to keep food down leaving me with a feeling of weakness although my cough seemed better to me. He did a push test of the lungs and pinpointed the area where I may have slipped a gear while coughing and set up an x-ray for me “Your body is sick, lacking fuel and needs fixing and is calling for help. Healing takes time and will occur as you take more care about eating basic foods more often. Dr. van Zyl works too hard and I’m glad to see she is vacationing. She can read the x-rays next week.” added Dr. Clark. After arriving home I found myself four hours later still dressed and in bed with the phone ringing and calls waiting on the answering machine. More tomorrow as I tell you about my lost hours.
I decided to take the opportunity to go to the walk-in clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza so Lloyd dropped me off where I asked near a safe lighted corner as a steam of traffic thundered on. There were walk signals ahead where I crossed this main highway. At the walk in clinic I told Dr. Clark my tummy didn’t want to keep food down leaving me with a feeling of weakness although my cough seemed better to me. He did a push test of the lungs and pinpointed the area where I may have slipped a gear while coughing and set up an x-ray for me “Your body is sick, lacking fuel and needs fixing and is calling for help. Healing takes time and will occur as you take more care about eating basic foods more often. Dr. van Zyl works too hard and I’m glad to see she is vacationing. She can read the x-rays next week.” added Dr. Clark. After arriving home I found myself four hours later still dressed and in bed with the phone ringing and calls waiting on the answering machine. More tomorrow as I tell you about my lost hours.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
START ANYTIME ON ANTI-AGING
Growing research suggests that adopting healthy habits can significantly alter the course of aging even if you’re older than middle age. Many of the same benefits as people who have been active all their lives, according to a recent Swedish study of over 2,000 men. “The older you are, the more important lifestyle choices become,” says Robert Palmer, M.D., clinical director of geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
As more people live into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, researchers are asking what it takes not just to survive but to thrive. In the Journal of Gerontology explored the secrets of successful aging by following 2,432 older men and women for a decade. Those who aged with little disability tended to have a moderate-to-high income. Their lifestyle choices also helped set them apart. They didn’t smoke, drank in moderation, maintained a positive outlook, and reported less stress.
Your brain needs a workout just as much as your arms and legs. Education and an active work life when younger can help ward off dementia later building a cognitive so that small losses in function are not as noticeable. A recent study found that while career success in midlife boosted, so did staying motivated, working hard and being dependable. A 2009 study in 2009 of 500 men and women 75 and older, and published in the Journal of Neurology found that they could delay cognitive decline by participating in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, doing puzzles and participating in group discussions, and playing games or music.
As more people live into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, researchers are asking what it takes not just to survive but to thrive. In the Journal of Gerontology explored the secrets of successful aging by following 2,432 older men and women for a decade. Those who aged with little disability tended to have a moderate-to-high income. Their lifestyle choices also helped set them apart. They didn’t smoke, drank in moderation, maintained a positive outlook, and reported less stress.
Your brain needs a workout just as much as your arms and legs. Education and an active work life when younger can help ward off dementia later building a cognitive so that small losses in function are not as noticeable. A recent study found that while career success in midlife boosted, so did staying motivated, working hard and being dependable. A 2009 study in 2009 of 500 men and women 75 and older, and published in the Journal of Neurology found that they could delay cognitive decline by participating in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, writing, doing puzzles and participating in group discussions, and playing games or music.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
THE BEST WAY TO RELAX MUSCLES
According to Consumer Reports on Health, March, 2010 the answer is not a muscle-relaxant pill. Recent analysis showed those drugs are relatively ineffective and potentially dangerous. Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith, for example, both reportedly abused the muscle-relaxant carisoprodol (Soma and generic), in a combination with other drugs, before they died. Most muscle-relaxants can cause sedation, which increases the risk of car crashes, falls and other accidents.
Instead, people with tight muscles generally opt for safer, more effective treatments. Spasms stemming from back or neck pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, or other forms of musculo-skeletal pain often respond to heating pads or hands-on therapies such as massage or spinal manipulation. For lower-back pain, Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of more than 14,000 people published in 2009, chiropractic was the most effective treatment. Other research suggests that acupuncture, biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga may help some people. If the non-drug measures do not work for you (Tylenol and generic) works as well as muscle relaxants. Avoid carisoprodol, because it may be more likely than other muscle-relaxants to lead to addiction and abuse. More free reports at ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Instead, people with tight muscles generally opt for safer, more effective treatments. Spasms stemming from back or neck pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, or other forms of musculo-skeletal pain often respond to heating pads or hands-on therapies such as massage or spinal manipulation. For lower-back pain, Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of more than 14,000 people published in 2009, chiropractic was the most effective treatment. Other research suggests that acupuncture, biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga may help some people. If the non-drug measures do not work for you (Tylenol and generic) works as well as muscle relaxants. Avoid carisoprodol, because it may be more likely than other muscle-relaxants to lead to addiction and abuse. More free reports at ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
HEALTH TIPS
CLEAN THE AIR WITH PLANTS:
Researchers from Georgia and South Korea took 28 plants and put them in jars with pollutants from building and cleaning products, fragrances, paints, and tobacco. After six hours, all the plants improved the air somewhat. The top four were the asparagus fern, the English ivy, the purple waffle plant, and the variegated wax plant.
BETTER BODY IMAGE, WITHOUT WEIGHT LOSS:
Men and women who start exercising are happier about their bodies even when they don’t lose weight, according to a study published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Health Psychology. Improved body image depended more on how often people exercised than on how long or hard they worked out, according to researchers at the University of Florida.
EAT SLOWLY, FEEL FULL:
European researchers had 17 men eat the same amount of ice cream in either 5 minutes or 30 minutes, then took blood measurements every 30 minutes for 3 ½ hours. The study, published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that the 30-minute snackers had higher concentrations of several hormones that help make people feel full.
Researchers from Georgia and South Korea took 28 plants and put them in jars with pollutants from building and cleaning products, fragrances, paints, and tobacco. After six hours, all the plants improved the air somewhat. The top four were the asparagus fern, the English ivy, the purple waffle plant, and the variegated wax plant.
BETTER BODY IMAGE, WITHOUT WEIGHT LOSS:
Men and women who start exercising are happier about their bodies even when they don’t lose weight, according to a study published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Health Psychology. Improved body image depended more on how often people exercised than on how long or hard they worked out, according to researchers at the University of Florida.
EAT SLOWLY, FEEL FULL:
European researchers had 17 men eat the same amount of ice cream in either 5 minutes or 30 minutes, then took blood measurements every 30 minutes for 3 ½ hours. The study, published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that the 30-minute snackers had higher concentrations of several hormones that help make people feel full.
Monday, June 14, 2010
MANUFACTURING A DISEASE TO PROVIDE A CURE
The moderator of the science program on CBC Radio called Quirks and Quarks brings the latest in science and is broadcast every Saturday immediately after the noon news. Its host, Bob McDonald was absent this week to receive two prodigious awards for his diligence for his research in the field of Science. Listen for a repeat of the Saturday noon radio broadcast every Monday evening at ll:30 pm. In his absence this week Alison Molluk hosted the program for him. It explained how 50 million Americans as well as uncounted millions of Canadians were prescribed a newly minted disease known as Depression. Double blind tests for Depression were conducted with mixed results.
“Any kind of suffering is a target for creating a drug for pharmaceuticals to offer doctors to prescribe for a possible chemical cure for an imbalance in the system,” says Dr. Greenberg who has written a book on the subject called: Manufacturing Depression, A Secret History of a Modern Disease.
Through time immemorial people have felt anxiety, proven by the fact that students study before writing examinations as I noted in my blog dated June l2, 2010, called “Worried sick.” According to this medical doctor, millions of people have become addicted to this prescription for Depression that has become habit forming for many with great difficulties overcoming it.
The details are so well set forth in the repeat of this program and other science programs hosted by Bob McDonald Monday evening at ll:30 pm.
Set your alarm to be sure you don’t miss it. Another well documented science presentation by this host is presented every Saturday noon from CBC radio.
“Any kind of suffering is a target for creating a drug for pharmaceuticals to offer doctors to prescribe for a possible chemical cure for an imbalance in the system,” says Dr. Greenberg who has written a book on the subject called: Manufacturing Depression, A Secret History of a Modern Disease.
Through time immemorial people have felt anxiety, proven by the fact that students study before writing examinations as I noted in my blog dated June l2, 2010, called “Worried sick.” According to this medical doctor, millions of people have become addicted to this prescription for Depression that has become habit forming for many with great difficulties overcoming it.
The details are so well set forth in the repeat of this program and other science programs hosted by Bob McDonald Monday evening at ll:30 pm.
Set your alarm to be sure you don’t miss it. Another well documented science presentation by this host is presented every Saturday noon from CBC radio.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
WORRIED SICK
Anxiety is the most common form of mental illness. Everyone worries sometimes, and there’s certainly a lot to fret about these days, but how do you differentiate mental, even healthy fears from those that are irrational or destructive?
In small doses, “worry and anxiety are adaptive,” says Michael First, M.D., Columbia University’s college of Physicians and Surgeons. “Nobody would study for a test if it weren’t for anxiety. But when it goes from something that motivates you to something that interferes with your life so you can’t concentrate or make you avoid social situations – that’s when you might need help. The good news is that there are many effective treatments for anxiety. No solution works for everyone and often requires trial and error, and more than a little patience.
The psychology sections of bookstores are filled with titles like “From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life, and, yes, “Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies.”
Anxiety often triggers depression, and it appears to increase the risk of other health problems like asthma, chronic pain, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, overactive thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and even death.
The best-studied method is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing thoughts and behaviours that contribute to anxiety. The specifics often vary depending on the type of anxiety. For example, people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder can benefit from exposure therapy, in which they repeatedly encounter the situations or objects they most fear in order to become desensitized to them. Group training in problem-solving skills, relaxation and sleep hygiene can help. Finding a therapist through a friend or relative or a recommendation from their doctor had better outcomes than those who picked someone from the phone book or health plan’s provider list.
In small doses, “worry and anxiety are adaptive,” says Michael First, M.D., Columbia University’s college of Physicians and Surgeons. “Nobody would study for a test if it weren’t for anxiety. But when it goes from something that motivates you to something that interferes with your life so you can’t concentrate or make you avoid social situations – that’s when you might need help. The good news is that there are many effective treatments for anxiety. No solution works for everyone and often requires trial and error, and more than a little patience.
The psychology sections of bookstores are filled with titles like “From Panic to Power: Proven Techniques to Calm Your Anxieties, Conquer Your Fears, and Put You in Control of Your Life, and, yes, “Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies.”
Anxiety often triggers depression, and it appears to increase the risk of other health problems like asthma, chronic pain, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, overactive thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and even death.
The best-studied method is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing thoughts and behaviours that contribute to anxiety. The specifics often vary depending on the type of anxiety. For example, people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder can benefit from exposure therapy, in which they repeatedly encounter the situations or objects they most fear in order to become desensitized to them. Group training in problem-solving skills, relaxation and sleep hygiene can help. Finding a therapist through a friend or relative or a recommendation from their doctor had better outcomes than those who picked someone from the phone book or health plan’s provider list.
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