Winter weather and your health

Why is it important to dress accordingly? Simply wearing a hat on your head will keep you warm as most of your body heat escapes through the top of your head. Cold air is an irritant to mucous linings. When cold air irritates the mucous lining there is an increase of mucus secretion. Runny nose and phlegm are the result of an irritated mucous lining. This compromise within the mucous lining places you at risk for lower and upper respiratory illness.

Cold air also constricts the blood vessels. When blood vessels constrict, the heart will beat harder and faster to maintain blood flow throughout the body. As a result blood pressure increases, a blood clot may form and the risk for stroke increases. This can be devastating to individuals who have a cardiac history, such as high blood pressure or cardiac stents. Diabetics are also vulnerable to cold air crisis'. Blood vessels in diabetes are damaged due to the break down of the interior lining of the blood vessel wall. People with asthma are at risk. The bronchial tree in asthma is irritated and inflamed with increased fluid production. The sudden swallow of cold air could trigger a respiratory constriction.

Going from a warm home to the cold outside is just enough to create a health problem. The sudden extreme flip-flop in temperature is a shock to the human body. Take caution and dress to prevent cold air health crisis.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

How are Diabetes and Stroke Related?

Undiagnosed, untreated and/or poorly controlled diabetes causes damage to both large and small blood vessels. This damage then increases your risk for having a stroke, a poor prognosis, a longer recovery period and sets you up for additional complications.

Excess sugars circulating in the blood stream that occur in diabetes adhere to red blood cells and travel everywhere blood is circulated. From your feet to the top of your head and everything in between. This excess sugar irritates blood vessel linings causing scarring. This scarring acts as a road block and narrows the passage of free flowing blood. The narrowed blood vessel can now be blocked by a blood clot. This reaction also will create high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force exerted by the heart within your vascular system. And, having high cholesterol just aggravates the situation more. These 3 conditions, diabetes, high b/p, and high lipids are common in diabetes and all 3 contribute to blood vessel damage.

The risk of diabetes and stroke can be lowered by adopting  healthy eating habits, avoid smoking, exercising and regular visits to your doctor. If diagnosed with high b/p, diabetes or high cholesterol, treating these conditions early and aggressively will greatly reduce your risk of suffering from a stroke. If you have a family history of these conditions, you are already at risk. Be pro-active and choose a healthy lifestyle.

Good Health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsgant.com

Why is maintaining gum health important?

First and foremost, gum disease can lead to higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Common, chronic bacterial infections including gum disease, urinary tract and lung infections may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a build of fatty plaque in the arteries. This build up of fat in the carotid arteries; which are located in the neck, increases the risk of stroke by reducing blood flow to the brain, as well as by promoting formation of a blood clots that lead to a stroke.

Periodontal disease is caused by a chronic. low grade infection which can lead to inflammation and it is believed that inflammation plays an important role in stokes and heart disease. You can best reduce your risk by simply flossing, brushing your teeth at least twice a day, using a fluoride rinse and follow scheduled visits with your dentist. Be pro-active and take of yourself.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

Breast health: When yearly mammograms aren't enough

Most women know that by the time they reach 40, it is time to start getting an annual mammogram. But how would you know if you fall into the high-risk population and are 1 of the women who should get a breast MRI? As medical technology advances, it is ALWAYS good practice to ask questions and discuss new options with your physician. You may not recognize subtle changes in your health. Be pro-active in your health and bring a list of questions with you when you go for your annual exam.

Mammography is still the most widely used screening tool for breast cancer. However, breast MRI is an excellent tool that enable physicians to view tumors that may be difficult to see with mammography, The first breast MRI product received FDA clearance in the early 1990's as an adjunct to mammography. The American Cancer Society recommends that women who are at high risk to augment their annual mammos with an annual breast MRI. Women greater than a 20-25% risk bracket and women with a strong family history of breast and/or ovarian CA should augment with a breast MRI.

In addition to those risk patients listed above, women who fall into any of the following categories should check with their physicians about breast MRI:
1. known genetic mutation. BRCA1 and BRCA2
2. those who haven't been tested but whose mother, daughter or sister have a known mutation
3. those who received chest irradiation between the ages of 10 and 30.

To learn more about breast cancer risks and diagnostic tools please visit the National Cancer Institutes website:
www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool

Good Health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

Staying Active to Stay Healthy

Regular physical activity is one of the most important and inexpensive things you can do to improve your overall health. By simply going for a brisk walk every day will help:
1. weight control
2. reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
3. reduce your risk for Type 2 diabetes
4. reduce risk of osteoporosis by increasing your muscle strength and bones
5. improve physical maneuverability
6. overall help you feel better with increased energy


Does 150 minutes sound a lot to you? Remember:
1. you don't have to exercise all at once
2. spread activity out during the week
3. break it up in to smaller chunks of time during the day for at least 10 minutes at a time
4. if you can walk to do a chore rather than drive your car, than walk


Give it a try:
Go on a 10 minute brisk walk 3 times a day 5 days a week. This will give you a total of 150 minutes. If it sounds easy its because it is easy. If you can only go once a day, than walk for 30 minutes. If you make this a daily routine and make conscious effort to do so, you will soon see and feel an improvement in your overall physical and mental health.


Each day you wake up is another opportunity to live a healthier life.


Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

Flu Season

Cold and flu season has arrived. The most efficient way to minimize your risk of "catching" a cold or the flu is to prevent the spread of germs. Do this by washing your hands after touching a public surface such as a door knob or using a public restroom. Public surfaces are covered with a variety of germs. The surface may look clean to the naked eye but microscopically it is contaminated. Cover your mouth with a tissue or the bend of your arm when sneezing or coughing. Bacteria and viruses can spread by airborne mucous droplets. It is easy for an individual in the proximity of the droplets to inhale them. Typically, the germ inhaled will settle in the lower or upper respiratory tract.

Those who are immunocompromised, age 65 or older, in frequent contact with public areas, parents who have young children at home should be vaccinated. Minimize contact with people you know are sick. The influenza vaccine prescribed this year will provide protection against 3 influenza viruses:  A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in 2009 which caused a pandemic.

Know the symptoms that accompany a cold vs flu. A cold lasts 2-7 days with a runny nose, cough, sore throat. Flu symptoms are headache, muscle aches in legs and back, fever, chills, congestion lasting longer than 7 days.

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
http://www.nurseinsagent.com/

Funerals: one of the most expensive purchases to be made

Buying a home, automobile and funerals are the most expensive purchases people ever make. Many funerals run well over $6000 in upwards of $10,000. This can be a great cost burden on many families which is why it makes sense to have final expense insurance in place. It is possible to pay for your funeral with funds which would otherwise go toward the cost of retirement, living expenses and/or nursing home care. Failing to have proper planning in place, your funeral can unnecessarily shift a major expense to your family. If you have dependents, timing of the purchase can be critical. The earlier the better. Funeral insurance policies are becoming more and more common. There are definite advantages to having a policy that include:  •you are spending dollars for a specific need  •most funeral and burial purchases are made when buyers are vulnerable emotionally and lack the time and information to negotiate prices effectively. Having a policy in force greatly reduces this problem. •preplanning ensures that all of your final wishes will be fulfilled. Death is a difficult subject to discuss, often times your true wishes may not be known or fully understood by your family.  •preplanning provides you and your family with the peace-of-mind in knowing that everything has been taken care of  in the manner you specified.  You might think, "well, I can just set aside money for my funeral and burial." However, this type of preplanning does not offer the advantages listed above. There are too many questions left behind for the survivors, funeral director, and of course, the cost of the funeral and cemetery expenses.  Owning a final expense policy to pay for your funeral and burial plans gives you complete control of handling the funds. A preneed package primarily sold by funeral directors will pay for your funeral only with nothing left over for your survivors. The more expensive the funeral, the more money the funeral home makes.  Respectfully, Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN http://www.nurseinsagent.com/