Saturday, April 27, 2013

Cardiac Ablation

Ablation uses a catheter inserted through a vein in the groin which is then guided through the vasculature to the area of problematic cardiac tissue. At this point, radiographic frequency is used to destroy the tissue that are causing electrical disturbances {arrhythmias}.

There are many risks associated with ablation. Such as bleeding, sudden cardiac arrest, damage to the heart's electrical system, blood clots leading to stroke or heart attack, narrowing of the vein and kidney damage from the dyes used in the procedure. Therefore, it is not the first line of treatment. Typically, the physician must have used less invasive treatment options first to correct the arrhythmia. Patients who have not responded to cardiac medication or who have had serious side effects from the medications are candidates for ablation. For these patients, ablation will be the next treatment option.

Cardiac ablation may take up to 6 hours to complete. Procedural complications may make the procedure run longer. It is important to make lifestyle changes post-procedure to keep your heart healthy. Avoid caffeine. Decrease sodium intake. Exercise. Lose weight. Eat heart healthy foods. Quite smoking. Continue to take medications as prescribed. You have just been given a lease on life.

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

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a soapy, greasy material found in your body and in foods such as egg yolks, cheese and meats. Cholesterol is also made by your liver. It is an important substance that is used by your body to help make hormones and bile. Bile is needed to help digest food. When there is too much cholesterol in the blood, it begins to build up on the inside of your blood vessels thereby making them narrow and blocking the flow of blood. This is one cause of increased blood pressure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists risk factors of high cholesterol. Unhealthy eating habits. Eating a high fat diet on a regular basis will not only increase bad cholesterol levels but will cause increased weight. An unhealthy diet will cause known chronic illness problems.

Genetic factors. If you are genetically prone to have increased cholesterol levels, it is all more important you limit the amount of cholesterol ingested. Smoking. There are thousands of medical study material that link smoking to chronic illness. Smoking has been scientifically proven that it is a root cause for many catastrophic illness.
There is no scientific data stating smoking is healthy.
Medications. There are certain medications that will elevate cholesterol levels. It is wise to discuss treatment plans with your doctor. Be pro-active. Prepare a list of well thought out questions prior to seeing your doctor.

Get your blood cholesterol level checked annually. More often if your doctor requests to. Blood contains different types of lipids, also known as blood fats. Your doctor will will be able to get a general idea of your risk of cardiovascular disease by comparing the different levels of fats. The lipid panel consists of total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol) and triglycerides.

We know we cannot change intrinsic factors. But we can change extrinsic factors.
You are the catalyst to change. First and foremost change bad dietary habits. Choose fish, lean meats, chicken. Choose grilling and broiling over frying. Cook with olive oil instead of butter. Avoid trans fats found in chips, cookies, fries. Increase fiber. Choose whole grain and brown rice over white rice and white breads. Choose foods high in Vitamins B, C, and E. Found in green leafy vegetables, fruits and carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. Nutrition plays an important role in staying healthy or in some case staying unhealthy.

Exercise regularly. Exercising is very simple and easy to do. Simply incorporate 30 minutes everyday into your activities of daily living. Walk. Bike. Jog. Hike. Swim. Aerobic dance. Walk stairs. Run in place. Do whatever physical activity you enjoy. The idea here is strengthen your heart. The above listed do not require expensive gym memberships. Stop smoking. Keep alcohol comsumption moderate. Limit yourself to 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day. Bottom line, when it comes to keeping your heart healthy, why so many excuses?

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

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The value of life insurance

Final expense life insurance is designed for a specific need. The face value of a life insurance policy is paid to the policyholder's beneficiaries at the time of death. In most cases, the money is received by the beneficiaries on a tax-free basis, and no additional fees need to be paid. The beneficiaries can use the money to pay the policyholder's final expenses such as funeral costs.

By covering funeral related costs the financial burden is removed from the equation and guarantees expenses will be paid without any money coming out of your loved ones' pocket. The average cost of funerals today are higher than $9,000. For just pennies on the dollar, life insurance is affordable for everyone.

To put the cost of life insurance in perspective, anyone who has cable or satellite TV your paying more for entertainment than you would for life insurance. If you have a car payment you have car insurance, those costs are higher than that of life insurance. If you have a cell phone, your monthly phone charge is higher than that of life insurance. The money spent on holidays: candy, meals, gifts, decorations over time are much higher than the cost of life insurance.

With the price of food, fuel, utilities increasing and our budgets shrinking, life insurance is proven to be the financial comfort needed the most. If you are an individual who is on a fixed budget and living paycheck to paycheck, chances are your next-of-kin will be. Placing that multi-thousand dollar bill on your family could catapult them into financial ruin. Experiencing the death of a loved one is highly emotional. Worrying about how to pay for the funeral and end of life costs should not take precedence. Without a financial plan in place decisions are made that are not exactly how you or your family would have wanted if a plan had been in place.

There are many reasons to benefit from owning a life insurance policy but not 1 reason not to have a policy. The application process takes lesser amount of time than it does to grocery shop. In a just a few minutes you can be qualified and enrolled. Coverage begins after 1 monthly premium.


Respectfully,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Blood sugar and Diabetes Type 2

Some of the foods we ingest get converted to a type of sugar called glucose. The glucose then enters the bloodstream and is carried to all parts of the body. This is called  blood sugar. Insulin is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is a necessary vehicle to drive blood sugar i.e. glucose into the cells. Every cell in the human body must have glucose to properly function.

Diabetes develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin. An imbalance between glucose and insulin occurs. The abundance of glucose circulating in the blood stream deprives the cells throughout the body of much needed glucose. When this occurs, you become at risk for illnesses related to diabetes such as but not limited to neuropathy, high blood pressure, proteinuria and vision problems.

The increased levels of glucose in the blood stream clogs the smaller vessels and nerves. It is this "clog" that diminishes pain signals to the brain. It is important for diabetics to check their feet regularly as they are at risk for ulcers. The delicate blood vessels in the eyes may become damaged by glucose clogs.

Type 2 diabetes may be controlled through a diabetic diet and exercise on a daily and consistent basis. Taking oral medications in addition to diet and exercise will help maintain proper blood sugar levels. Take control of your diabetes. Call your doctor any time you notice changes in your health.

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

Sunday, February 17, 2013

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. Dress to prevent cold air health crisis.

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

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Life insurance: a must have for everyone

Final expense life insurance is designed for a specific need. The face value of a life insurance policy is paid to the policyholder's beneficiary at the time of death. In most cases, the money is received by the beneficiary on a tax-free basis, and no additional fees need to be paid. The beneficiary can use the money to pay the policyholder's final expenses such as funeral costs.

By covering funeral related costs the financial burden is removed from the equation and guarantees expenses will be paid without any money coming out of your loved ones' pocket. The average cost of funerals today are higher than $9,000. For just pennies on the dollar, life insurance is affordable for everyone.

To put the cost of life insurance in perspective, anyone who has TV can afford life insurance. If you drive a car, you can afford life insurance. If you have a cell phone, you can afford life insurance. If you have children, you can afford life insurance. The money spent on holidays: candy, meals, gifts, decorations over time are much higher than the cost of life insurance. Are you a smoker? If yes, you can afford life insurance.

While the price of food, fuel, utilities increasing and our budgets shrinking, life insurance premium is guaranteed to remain the same. Final expense insurance will give you peace of mind knowing the most expensive bill you are leaving behind for your family will be paid. If you live paycheck to paycheck, chances are your next of kin will be too. Where are they to get the money to pay for death expenses?

Placing that multi-thousand dollar bill on your family could catapult them into financial ruin. Experiencing the death of a loved one is highly emotional. Without a financial plan in place decisions are made that are not exactly how you or your family would have wanted if a plan had been in place initially.

There are many reasons to benefit from owning a life insurance policy. I cannot think of 1 logical reason not to have a policy. The application process takes lesser amount of time than it does to grocery shop or watch a movie. In a just a few minutes you can be qualified and enrolled. Its that simple and that smart.

So why aren't you covered?

Respectfully,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Prevent passing disease causing germs..IT'S EASY


The winter season has officially begun. With that in mind, so is flu and cold season. If you have been vaccinated by the flu vaccine, you may still contract the flu virus but suffer lesser symptoms. The flu and cold virus have a strong exterior membrane that allows the virus to survive for a long period of time on dry surfaces and still be virulent enough to cause illness.

The first and proven line of defense of preventing the spread of germs is to simply wash your hands.  To ensure you have washed the germs from your hands sing the "Happy Birthday" song. In the time it takes to sing the song you will have thoroughly cleansed your hands. Remember to scrub under the fingernails.

Our hands pick up any germs the skin comes in contact with; an object or handshake. By touching any surface with your hands you have now picked up micro-organisms  lining the surface of that object. Your eyes, mouth, and nose are lined with fragile mucous membranes. They are an easy way for microbes to enter the human body and cause infection. Mucous membranes are like a dry sponge soaking up water. The microbes I am referring to are viruses and bacterium.

The power behind the human sneeze has been recorded at greater than 100 mph.  An uncovered sneeze can propel mucus membranes saturated with disease causing germs clear across a room. The ventilation within the room will aid in further spreading of the mucous membranes and microbes.  Any one around will then be exposed to your germs. Either by inhalation or by touching an object the germs has settled upon.

Always, always cover your sneeze with your the bend of your arm: sneezing into your elbow.

Be cognizant of your actions. Wash your hands frequently. Carry hand sanitizer. Cover your cough. Cover your sneeze. Practicing these very simple acts of hygiene will keep yourself and fellow human  counterparts healthy!

Good health,
Trisha M. Pacenti RN,BSN
www.nurseinsagent.com
drugstore.com, inc.