Health

1.4 million American’s in Long Term Care. Do your research!

Taking good care of our elderly. Making sure they feel secure in long term care.

As many of our parents are getting older. There is a higher potential for the need of long-term care. There are approximately 1.4 million folks in long term care in the US. This business is a 443-billion-dollar business in the US in 2019 and expected to reach 1.7 trillion by 2028. Every country helps their elders in different ways. I found a blog post looking at other wealthy countries and comparing the way they help their elders. Picking the right long term care facility is a critical decision for most. Look here for a list of states and rankings. Also, the decision is so tough. It can split families making the decision to place a family member in long term care. But, being a caregiver is also tough. What to do, is what we will discuss. October is long term care planning month.

hands, old, old age-2906458.jpg — Caring for our elderly

Many families go to the doctor when they start having issues with health. As the elderly become more fragile with health issues, we have to consider how to keep them safe. More than 6 million Americans suffer from dementia. Most of which will require long term care. Many families take on care giver support, meaning that someone in the family takes care of the elderly individual. This can start out as making sure they have groceries, making meals, taking to appointments. Then this progresses to needing help with showers, and getting dressed. It can move quickly from needing help with shopping to needing someone there all the time. This can be a daunting task for the individual who is the main caregiver.

hospice, care, patient-1821429.jpg — Caregiving can be tough.

It is very important to look at the long-term facilities in your area, to help determine if a loved one will stay in your area, or near another family member. Here is a site comparing states and long-term facilities. You want to look for cleanliness, how are the other residents being treated, what do the reviews say about the facility. Maybe even see if you can purchase a meal to see if you and your loved one like the food. Always listen to your gut when you are visiting different facilities. While this is no fun for the caregiver nor the elderly individual, it is better to be prepared in advance. When the time comes that the care is needed it will be difficult to make the decision. Even tougher if you have not researched the ones, you feel fits your loved ones needs. There is always the potential that the long-term facility will not have any beds available also. It is good to have a list of your top three.

Where do we look? This Medicare guide gives you a great resource for seeing where your state, long term facilities rank. Maybe you have family living in another state and those long-term facilities are higher ranked or you like them better. Remember, this is where your loved one will live. This decision needs to be what is best for them. NOT YOU! In many decisions in life, we often think of how it affects us. This is a decision that we cannot afford to be selfish. If the best place for our loved one is 4 hours away, then that is the best place and we have to make the time to go and check on them.

bed, bedroom, interior-644728.jpg — A homey room!

I really feel that it is always good to listen when other talk about the long-term facilities in the area. It is good to know the general reputation. However, the actual research is one that when you know that your loved one is starting to have some issues that may require long term care in the future. You may have absolutely no need to use the information that you learn. I hope that is the case. However, with 9% of our population being over the age of 65 and rising to an estimated 16% by 2050. 6.5% of those are living in long-term facility either on the nursing side or the assisted living side. It is a good chance you will need the information. There is almost 29,000 facilities in the US and rising. With this in mind, research is essential to find the right one.

Starting the research will mean to look online or local healthcare facilities to get a list of the nursing facilities in your area. This list can range from none to several, depending on the size of your community. Also, if you have family living in other areas (such as siblings) look there also. This just gives you and your loved ones more options. Many elderlies will prefer to stay either in their own community or near a hometown. Research each facility as to reviews online, remember to look at how many have reviewed this facility. Keep in mind that folks are quicker to make a bad review than a good one, no matter how good the service. So, when looking at the reviews look at both the good ones and bad ones. Then make your list of the ones you would like to visit. See my suggestions above regarding what to look at while there. Speak with the social worker who can give you the information for admission, financials you must be aware of and any paperwork that might need addressed.

todo-lists, tasks, tasks list-5238324.jpg — Research, Research, Research

Long term care is the one thing that is a tough decision, especially when family are at odds over it. The more prepared you are, for this, the better. These discussions need to take place as soon as there is a concern that it may be needed. Remember to be open to other family members opinions. Do not belittle opinions that differ from yours in making this decision. A split family is not good support for the loved one that needs care.

I challenge you to pick up the phone book or computer and look up what is available in your area. Also, if you have any information that would make this decision better for others please comment below.

What are 5 Stages of Grief?

A brief explanation about stages of grief.

Grief is one of those things we never want to think about. Then one day, out of the blue, we get a phone call, someone has passed away. We find out that our beloved animal is going to be dying soon. We start the process of grief. Most sources state that grief has 5 stages. Is there a specific timeline for each specific stage? Am I grieving like I should be? Am I weak because I cry a lot? These are all questions that we will look into in this post.

While we talk about 5 stages of grief. Know that when one is going through a grieving time, it does not mean that they will go through each stage in order. There may be some mixing of stages at anyone time. It is however, good to have an understanding so, that when this happens you are able to recognize what they are going through.

banner, header, cross-949932.jpg — Looking for answers

The 5 stages of grief.

Denial: They may act or talk as if the person is still alive. It may be that they expect them to be home at 5 or have make coffee. They soon realize that this is not the case. This will come in waves for them. They may avoid places or activities that they enjoyed together. There may be some fear of what it to come, or how they will move forward.

coffee, coffee pot, coffee beans-400049.jpg — No prepared coffee.

Anger: As days go on there may be some frustration of having to do all the chores. Irritability in having to do things alone, that they may have enjoyed with their loved one. Anxiety about trying to get everything completed.

girl, sad, portrait-6059889.jpg — Sad and irritable being alone.

Bargaining: Telling the stories of the loved one, to make sure they are remembered. Struggling to make sense of why they have passed.

heart, love, puzzle-1745300.jpg — Telling stories to fill the missing piece.

Depression: Sleepless nights, feeling that things will never feel normal again. Feeling a “black cloud” over them. Feeling that they need to go….but need to stay.

weather, sky, cloudy-2241577.jpg — Black cloud lingering over head.

Acceptance: Finally, things start to turn a corner. They start to see that the future is brighter. They can start to see living life again even without the person who passed away.

clock, time, pocket watch-623170.jpg — Time………

How long should I grieve?

Grieving is different for every person. Some will be shorter and some longer. Most areas have support groups that can help with this. You can ask at your doctor’s office, look it up on the internet, hospice services, your local hospital or church. Please consider these groups as they are very beneficial for most people.

Am I weak because I cry? NO! is the simple and short answer. Crying is a way that we all use to help “get it out”. It is your body’s normal reaction to sadness. Let it flow. It will come in waves and at times you least expect it.

How am I going to go on with my life, now that my loved one has gone? YES! This could take some time. You will never forget the one who is no longer here. However, you will learn to do things again, and how to do them without your loved one. Holidays are normally difficult. Things that may help is having several pictures of your loved one. Leaving their chair open during events that you attended together. Grieve is a part of life. We either have, or will experience it during our life. I have written about grieving of a loved one. However, grief can be felt through many other losses. Loss of an animal, job, home, body part, finances and many other things. What can you think of that could help someone going through a loss? Comment below

Cancer, that 6 letter word NO ONE wants to hear.

The 5 goals to help control cancer.

April is national cancer control month. According, to medical news today, the 5 goals of the program of national cancer control month:

Cancer prevention
Early detection
Improving treatments
Increasing survival rates
Improving quality of life

Learn more by visiting the ACS the national cancer the national foundation for cancer research have also created a free cancer prevention kit.

cancer, newspaper, word — The word no one wants to hear!

Have you ever heard those words? Those words of we need to check this out; or we need to recheck; or we have found… These are words that none of us are ready for or happy to hear. I work in health care, I have to give these talks to patients. I monitor and do several follow up tests for things that are questionable. One of the worst conversations that you can have with the patient, is any conversation that starts with the above.

It’s very hard as a medical provider to tell a patient that there is a concerning nodule, that there’s some lab result that is not quite right. Saying it, being empathetic, and knowing they are scared and worried. Always, trying to make sure that you give good information. Giving the information that is clear and in terms they can understand. Along, with being very conscious of getting them their results as soon as possible. Has to be high on any providers list.

laboratory, medical, medicine — Ask How long it will take to get results.

Please as a patient also be proactive, if you haven’t heard results in 48 to 72 hours after you have finished with a test, call your provider. Leave a message if you need. Let them know that you wish to know the results. There are occasions, where it takes longer to get results back, but your provider should let you know this time period. They should tell you “we should know something in a week” or “we should know something in 2 weeks”. Again, if you have not heard. Call your provider and ask for the results.

Be Proactive, If you have not heard……Call your provider to get results.

There are many screening tools and test out there. Many that look for cancers to try to control cancers. Control I mean try to catch them early, so that we can do as much as possible to keep them from metastasizing or spreading to other parts of the body. Please see my blog on health care screenings for MEN and Women.

We have made great strides in treating cancers but more importantly we’ve made great strides in early detection, over the last several years. We have noticed that in doing more screenings, we have had more false, positives than in the past. However, even with more false positives, we are catching more true positives, therefore treating earlier. Having more success in treating.

We also have made great strides in quality of life and more days. As time goes on the screenings and treatments continue to advance. Getting the word out and continuing to do our part is very important. I recommend getting your screenings. Be proactive. Live your best life!! Please share my blog with your friends. Sign up for our emails so you know when a new post comes out, and/or join us on our Facebook page.

This is not to be used as medical advice but to be used as knowledge to help you in your family or those you share with in your health care journey.

Cervical Health (not your cervical spine)

January cervical cancer month.

January is cervical health month. Yes, it is relevant after 50 also. What is the cervix? Why is this important? What is the purpose of our cervix? I will share several important facts in the blog about your cervix.

The female anatomy is made up of several organs. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus. When a female reaches monarchy (begins to have her menstrual), her cervix work begins. Each month when the menstrual cycle starts the shedding process of the uterus. The cervix opens up to allow the lining to leave the uterus. This process takes between 3-7 days for most females. Once this process is complete the cervix will close. This process continues throughout child bearing years (or until the uterus and cervix are removed).

So why is the cervix so important? The shedding of the uterus monthly provides a healthy place for an embryo to implant. The longer the baby is in the uterus the healthier (usually) the baby. A healthy cervix will usually preform these jobs well.

Cervical health begins when a female is in her early teens. The vaccine Gardasil, can help with decreasing the chance of cervical cancer. Gardasil protects from a sexually transmitted virus called HPV. This virus does not cause any symptoms normally, but can cause cervical and other cancers. If you are interested in Gardasil you can go here to find more information. PDF from Merck on Gardasil.

ribbon, awareness, support — Teal for cervical cancers. Purple is for cancer of any type.

It is recommended that pap smears are preformed to get cells from the cervix on a regular schedule. If abnormal cells are found then treatment can be started. Not all abnormal cells are cancer, so going to see a specialist is recommended so that further testing can be performed if needed.

Pap recommendations: According to the American Cancer society guidelines pap testing should start at age 25, having a pap every 3-5 years until age 65.

U.S. Preventive services task force recommendations are here https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/cervical-cancer-screening

CDC guidelines https://cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening.htm

The cervix is vital part of our uterus. Is opens during the menstrual cycle to allow lining to shed from the uterus. It stays closed to keep the fetus in the uterus when there is a pregnancy. It opens up to allow for a baby to be born.

When an embryo is implanted in the uterus, the cervix will stay closed, to allow the contents of the pregnancy to remain in the uterus throughout pregnancy (around 40 weeks). As the pregnancy progresses, the cervix will begin to open slightly. Around 40 week it will open to 10cm, allowing for the fetus and contents of the pregnancy to be able to leave the uterus. Normally around 40 weeks a healthy baby is born.

Cervical health is important and I would suggest that you follow the guidelines for screenings. While most of the cervix’s work is finished after menopause, screenings are still important. Please make sure to follow your primary care providers or GYN providers recommendations. This is not medical advice. This is information for you to help you with asking your medical provider for recommendations.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Better sleep equals better health.

Do you snore? Does your spouse/significant other say that you stop breathing in the night? Do you not feel rested in the morning? Do you wake yourself snorting or gasping for air? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider talking to your healthcare provider about a sleep study.

What is OSA? Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition where the back of the airway collapses when you sleep. Most people who do notice issues, feel it when lying on their backs. They do not tend to notice when lying on sides or stomach. When this happens, it makes it harder for you to breathe, so your subconscious, causes an arousal. Not enough for you to wake completely, just enough that you start breathing, again. When this happens several times a night, you can see why you don’t feel rested. You do not get enough restful sleep. Also, called REM sleep.

Who are at higher risk for OSA?

Men

folks with neck size over 17inches

overweight individuals especially if large abdomen

Narrowed airway

Smokers

Family history of OSA

Chronic nasal congestion

High Blood Pressure

Diabetes

and more…….

There is test that can be done to see if you have sleep apnea. Some providers will start with an overnight pulse ox. This is a machine that you wear on your finger while sleeping one night. This will monitor your oxygen levels in your blood while sleeping. If this shows that you most likely have some spells where you stop breathing in the night(by evidence of low oxygen in the blood), a formal sleep study may be ordered.

Sleep studies are often done one two separate appointments. Night one, to see if you stop breathing, in the night. If you do, how many times and how severe is your sleep apnea. The second night, to put you on a cpap and see what settings you need. There are many types of mask they will find what works best for you. Do not fright, if you do not like it later you can try another type of mask.

Things that you can do to help if you have symptoms:

Call your doctor to make an appointment to discuss your symptoms.

Try sleeping on your side or stomach

Avoid alcohol-it can make it worse

Lose weight if you are overweight

Untreated OSA, meaning that you have it and not using a CPAP can worsen health conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugars, cause heart arrhythmias, and so on. So, if you snore, if you spouse notices you stop breathing in the night, talk to your healthcare provider to see if you need further testing. This information is for your information only. It is not intended to be medical advise. If you have questions please contact your primary care provider.

Mammogram

Self breast exams monthly and mammograms yearly are important steps to healthier you.

“Ok, go in here, put on the gown with the front open. When you are done come out and we will get started.” You may or may not have heard these words. If you have you know you are about to have a mammogram.

mammography, bless you, mammogram machine — Mammogram machine.

Mammograms in the beginning were general purpose x rays with no compression, in the 1960’s. We have progressed to now having digital mammograms. See Advances in Breast Imaging for a great history of mammography.

According to UpToDate, 2020, Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women. This is why early detection is so important. I recently had a post on self breast exams. You should do your self breast exam once a month. Mammograms are the next thing to complete. It is a yearly exam that we have all heard the horror stories about. Being a women is hard work. But I would not have it any other way!

Mammograms are an x ray technique that allows the radiologist to see, if any areas look like they need further evaluation. They will compare your exam from year to year. If there is an area of concern they will do further testing. Normally that includes spot compression mammogram. This is looking at a specific area more closely. I had this call one time, and man was that enough. I went for my routine exam. The following day they called to say I needed another view. When I got there, they had me get into a gown. The technician looked and found the spot of concern on my mammogram. Marked my breast and took the x ray. She then sent the picture to the radiologist and he cleared me. I was one of the blessed ones.

It is best to get your mammogram at the same place each year. The radiologist can compare your exams easier. These comparisons could mean the difference between having to repeat an exam or not. My compression exam was the first time I had a mammogram at that hospital. They did not have any previous exams to compare. Had they had them, chances are I would not have needed the second images.

While there are reported cases of false positives, those are less with the advances in technology. Digital mammograms are the most recent which gives a clearer picture. When a spot is found the next step as mentioned about is compression views. Then the decision is made to move to either ultrasound or biopsy. Those topics are for another day.

When it is your turn to go into the room, put on that gown, open to the front. Know that all the hassle is worth it. Not only to save the tata’s but to save your life. Early detection is a key to treatment. I challenge you to share with a friend the information you have learned about the importance of self breast exams and mammograms. Share my post with them.

Depression

Many folks suffer from Depression. Especially now with all the social distancing. Get them help!

We hear the word depression a lot. Just saying the word can make you feel down, low, gloomy, hopeless. Most people are able to say the word and feel or get a visual of what depression looks like. STOP!!! That is not even close, for those who deal with it daily. It is described as a black cloud hanging over one’s head. The motivation to get up and do something, is just not there. Sleeping 12-18 hours a day. Not being able to get to sleep, laying in bed for hours. They say “my mind will not shut off”. A sense of doom, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. A heaviness on them. So many ways that it is described.

According to DSM 5 : Depression is diagnosed when an individual experiences five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and one should either be a depressed mood and or loss of interest or pleasure.

*Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.

*Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activates most of the day, nearly every day.

*Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.

*A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).

*Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.

*Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.

*Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

*Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

If you or someone you know has these symptoms, what are you to do? There are numerous websites that you can take online quizzes that will give you a score. My go to is https://www.mdcalc.com/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9. This site allows you to answer the questions on the PHQ9. It will give you a score. You can also make an appointment with your primary care provider. They can talk with you, discussing symptoms and what if any treatment is needed. I will discuss some general treatment options.

Walking is a simple way to get in daily exercise. Try to be better today than yesterday.

Exercise: I know we all have an excuse to not exercise. It is too hot, too cold, uphill both ways, I have kids…..you get the idea. The cold hard facts are you have to make it a priority. You do not have to have any equipment; you do not need to join a gym. You need to get out of your chair and do something. Heck if you can’t get out of your chair, you can still do some type of exercise. Exercise releases endorphins and endorphins make us happier. While you may still need to consider other treatment options, exercise can be added to any of them. There is a program called silver sneakers, here is a blog post with 4 simple chair exercises. You can add others as you are able.

mental health, mental, health — Evidenced based therapies help you put the pieces back together.

Therapy: many folks with depression can do evidenced based therapy by a licensed therapist. These therapies are normally a scheduled sequence of visits. You and the therapist discuss things you can do to help with symptoms. You will normally have homework from these sessions. Most folks who choose therapy do GREAT! It is a commitment in your health. These tools unlike medication work even after you are finished with the therapy protocol. You will learn many tools that you can look back on years from now.

jar, pills, medicine — Please do not take anyone else’s medications. Only take medications that are prescribed to you from your healthcare provider.

Medications: There are many medications that can help with depression. Each class works in a different way. Actually, each medication within a class can work a little differently. Medications work well for about 33%, work somewhat about 33% and do not work for 33%. There is always a chance of developing side effects when taking any medication. Your primary care provider or mental health provider will discuss these with you. Medications can be a life changing option for some people.

Depression is a real thing; it affects approximately 7% of American’s each year according to National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml. With the highest percentage seen in ages 18-25 at 13.1 percent.

Found on Nat’l Institute for Mental Health site above.

One of our biggest issues that happen for many people with depression is feeling they would be better off dead. National suicide rates in the US in 2017 were 47173 individuals. Suicide was the second leading cause of death ages 10 and 34 and the fourth among individuals between ages 35 and 54. According to www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml .

If you or someone you know is needing help, call the national suicide hotline.

1-800-273-8255

Depression is a serious mental health disease. Many do not wish to be treated. However, for those who seek treatment, can find what works best for them. If you or someone you know, has symptoms of depression, please make an appointment with your primary care provider or mental health provider to discuss. Please do not try to deal with it on your own.

If you have found things that work for you, or have a success story please comment below. Share this post if you know someone it might help.

This is not medical advice. This is informational purposes only and does NOT constitute a visit with your health care provider. You need to make an appointment with your healthcare provider for treatment.

We still need to be washing our hands!

Reminder to wash your hands. We are getting back to somewhat normal life. Please keep the habit of washing your hands.

Several months ago when Covid 19 was just starting in the US, we were all washing our hands. We were counting to 20, or singing the ABCs, or happy birthday (hopefully in our heads). We were using hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. We were being clean. Are you still doing these things or have you given away back to old habits.

It seems that Covid 19 is still rising in some areas. Is this because we are testing more? Is this because we are getting back to business as usual? Is this because we are not wearing mask in public? Is this because we are not washing our hands as much? Whatever the cause or combination of the causes, we are only able to control what we do. Here is my last post on hand washing and which is still relevant today.

Have you ever wished there was a big sign outside the restroom that flashed “DID NOT WASH HANDS”? Most of us think of hand washing after using the restroom. However, do you wash them correctly? Most people do not! I have read up to 95% of people, wash their hands incorrectly. What is proper technique? Here is a video to watch.

Unfortunately, it takes a major health scare, like coronavirus, to encourage us to WASH OUR HANDS. Since we were little, we have heard wash your hands. All through elementary school, middle school, high school we were told to wash our hands. We taught our children the same thing. So now let’s get to the reason behind washing our hands.

Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is a way to scrub germs off of your hands. You should wash your hands:

Before and after eating
After using the restroom
Before and after cooking (especially raw meat)
After changing a baby diaper
After petting animals
When visibly soiled
Visiting elderly family either at their home or the hospital
Any other time you think to wash your hands.
Pretty much after any activity.

Hand washing is the most effective form of staying healthy. It helps prevent spreading infections such as diarrheal illnesses and respiratory illness. There have been many studies about hand washing and found that most people do not take the time to wash hands properly. Most give the reason “I don’t have time to spend 20 secs washing my hands”. Especially caregivers who go from one patient to another. This prompted the invention of hand sanitizers as they can be used in place of soap and water, during most situations. Hand sanitizers are hanging on the walls in most public areas. You wave your hand, and a palm full of sanitizer is released. You then can rub hands together until it is dried. Read the recommendations, as most say that you should still use soap and water every so many times of using sanitizer.

The coronavirus is among us and most likely a large percentage of us will get exposed. The best practices to help stop the spread is social isolation and hand washing. The CDC has this information about hand washing in PDF forms, PDF handouts you can print to use at home and office to help with education and remind others to wash hands.

I found a great article from the Minnesota Department of Health about what type of soap to use, plain or antibacterial, liquid or bar, and when should you use hand sanitizer. These are a little different from what the CDC states in the above video, but both offer great information.

Thanks for taking time to read or reread about hand washing. I challenge you to WASH THOSE HANDS FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS with soap and water. In all the scenarios listed above and any other time you think of it. Let’s stay clean! Whether Covid, flu or any other illness, clean hands are a main habit of defense.

Bipolar, What????

Mental health is misunderstood by many people. General information about bipolar.

Bipolar is a mental health condition that affects 2.8 million Americans, per Dr. Legg’s artical. It is normally diagnosed when people are in their early 20’s, but can be diagnosed in children. There are different types, but I will be general in this post. Bipolar is treated based on the type you have. The NIMH(National Institute of Mental Health has a great overview of the three types. You will need to be evaluated by a medical professional for diagnoses. This is an overview for informational purposes only. It is not and should not be considered medical advise. You should always see your healthcare professional with your health concerns.

Bipolar is a mood disorder that can have episodes of mania, a hyper sense of security. It can also have very deep depressive symptoms. “It is characterized by a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable moods. Increased activity or energy lasting at least one week and , present most of the day nearly every day.” (Uptodate).

Bipolar disrupts mood, energy, activity, sleep, cognition, and behavior. Many with bipolar struggle to maintain what we would consider a normal life. They have trouble with keeping a job and with interpersonal relationships.

There are many potential symptoms which include inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, but not feeling tired, more pressure to talk or being more talkative than normal. Flights of ideas, being easily distracted. The opposite is being down, depressed, unable to get up in the morning. They can have symptoms in between the sudden ups or downs. While the ups and downs can hit quickly, they normally do not leave as quickly. These swings are normally around a week or longer.

Bipolar type symptoms can be from other substances and or medical conditions. They can include substances such as alcohol, illegal drugs, psychiatric treatments, and some general medical treatments. Neurological, endocrine, and infectious disease conditions can also cause symptoms similar to bipolar. Before making the diagnosis, it is important to rule out any of these causes. Therefore, blood is drawn and urine checked. Once these are found to be normal, the provider may consider a diagnoses of bipolar.

The good news is that there is help for folks who have bipolar. There have been several newer medications to help with the symptoms. The issues with side effects are a little better with the newer drugs. Some of the older medications had stricter guidelines for blood testing and monitoring. They also had higher incidences of intolerance.

Do you or someone you know have bipolar? What are some of the things you do to help with symptoms? Do you take a medication that has done wonders for you? Please comment below if you have information you would like to share!

This is not medical advice nor will any of the comments below be considered medical advice. This is for information purposes only. This is not treatment or to be considered treatment for you or your family. If you feel you have some of these symptoms, see your primary care provider to have further evaluation for your specific needs. Thanks

Fight for life, do your self breast exam!

Learning about self breast exams. They can save your life.

Ladies and gentlemen, do you do monthly self-breast exams? Yes, the guys have it easier. Early detection is a big key to beating breast cancer. A while back I had a post about preventive healthcare for men ,and for women. Today we will talk breast self-exams.

According to Cancer.org last revised Jan 2020 “The American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2020 are:

About 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

About 48,530 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

About 42,170 women will die from breast cancer.”

Men also can have breast cancer and Cancer.org has information about breast cancer in Men. According to cancer.net “An estimated 2,620 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer.”

The basics,if you do a self-exam every month, you will learn the feel of your breast. You will notice, if something, just does not feel right. If this happens make an appointment with your primary care provider, to discuss further evaluation. According to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc offers The free resource, 3 Steps to Early Detection. They also offer information on how to do you self breast exam. Breastcancer.org has great information on self breast exams and what to do if you find something that concerns you.

There are many ways to remind yourself. Set an appointment on your phone calendar, for the same date each month. A sticker on your wall calendar(printable here). Always, do it the second Sunday, or if female after your menses. You get the idea, just figure out what will remind you and do your self exam. You could be saving your own life.

Here are some great tools for learning to do your exams. You should start doing these exams around age 20, according to most experts. Clinical exams are completed when you have yearly well women exams. These guidelines change with time, however, there is no cost and no harm in doing your self exam so consider doing them.

Now for the how to do a self breast exam. There are many sites that have handouts (some of the links, listed above also, have them). There are you tube videos(like the one below) you can watch. It is a matter of remembering to do them and being consistent with doing them. Our local TV network runs a campaign called “buddy check 3” you sign up with a friend to remind each other to do their self exam on the 3rd day of the month.

Breast cancer kills both women and men every year. To increase your chances complete your self exam monthly. Do you have a story to share? Did you find something concerning during your self exam? Do you and a buddy remind each other? Feel free to share in comments below.

This is not medical advise, this is for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for seeing your primary care provider. If you have concerns make an appointment with your primary care provider to address them.