Diabetes is a disease that causes sugar to remain in the blood rather than entering the body’s cells to be used for energy. Over time, high blood sugar can damage many of the body’s systems, leading to kidney disease, eye problems, nerve or vessel damage, problems with teeth or skin, foot pain, or other chronic health conditions. What’s more, diabetes medications are costly. If you have diabetes you may be taking several oral medications in addition to insulin injections to control your blood … [Read more...] about Managing Your Diabetes
Confusion
Mental Health Symptoms and Resources
Looking after mental health can preserve a person’s ability to enjoy life. And if you’re experiencing persistent or severe mental health challenges, it’s time to get help. (WebMD, 2020) When should you get help? Here is a list of symptoms which can be signs of an underlying mental health condition: Thoughts of hurting yourself or othersFrequent or persistent feelings of sadness, anger, fear, worry, or anxietyFrequent emotional outbursts or mood swingsConfusion or unexplained memory … [Read more...] about Mental Health Symptoms and Resources
Asymptomatic or Mild COVID-19
Many people who catch COVID-19 -- maybe as many as 40%, by some estimates -- never develop noticeable symptoms. They don’t run a fever. They don’t cough or feel short of breath, and they don’t get the strange and numerous other symptoms that can be a sign of infection like frostbite-like bumps on the skin, diarrhea, or the loss of smell or taste. Asymptomatic COVID-19 Even though you may feel fine, or asymptomatic, COVID-19 is affecting lungs and lung function of asymptomatic COVID-19 … [Read more...] about Asymptomatic or Mild COVID-19
First Aid For Stroke
A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency. The sooner treatment begins, the higher the chances of controlling further damage. Every moment counts. A blood vessel carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain. A stroke occurs when a clot or any rupture blocks the blood vessel. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood the oxygen it needs; therefore, the blood vessel and brain cells die. Women have a higher lifetime risk of having a stroke than men. While some stroke signs … [Read more...] about First Aid For Stroke
Medical Emergency Protocol
Today, we live in an unpredictable world, and it appears to be getting even more unpredictable. We can’t know in advance when we will get sick or have an accidental injury. Most serious health problems take us by surprise. In a life or death emergency, are you prepared to know what to do until help arrives? Most people don’t preplan for emergencies other than to know how to dial 911. Sometimes, medical emergencies require immediate intervention. Knowing what to do in a medical emergency can … [Read more...] about Medical Emergency Protocol
Heart Palpitations: When To Visit The ER
Ideally, many people barely notice their hearts beating, which is natural. However, any noticeable change in the heartbeat should be concerning, be it slow or fast. Chances are, you're experiencing what's usually known as "heart palpitations," a term for feeling your heart is beating hard, fast or erratically. Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they are usually harmless. In rare cases, they can be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat … [Read more...] about Heart Palpitations: When To Visit The ER
Traumatic Brain Injury
National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month For decades, the Brain Injury Association of America has raised consciousness in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month by conducting an engaging public campaign each March. The current campaign we’re observing is “CHANGE YOUR MIND” (BIAA 2020). If we talk about the facts according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, traumatic brain injuries accounted for nearly 2.2 million emergency department visits, 280,000 … [Read more...] about Traumatic Brain Injury
When Is a Sports Injury and Emergency?
We Texans love our sports. We love to watch them and cheer on our favorite teams and players. But we also love to play them ourselves. And sometimes on the field, on the court, or in the rink, accidents happen. Sports-related injuries range from very minor bruises to potentially life-threatening accidents. When an injury is serious enough to require emergency medical treatment it’s imperative that you know that it’s time to go. Should We Go To The ER? There are 5 major types of … [Read more...] about When Is a Sports Injury and Emergency?
Blood Pressure Emergencies
Countless Americans deal with high blood pressure every day. But, when do the effects of hypertension require a visit to the emergency room? Extremely high blood pressure can cause severe life-threatening issues including stroke, aneurysms, heart attacks, and heart failure. Causes of Hypertension Situations that can cause hypertensive emergencies include: Forgetting to take your blood pressure medication Worsening kidney failure An interaction between medications or supplements … [Read more...] about Blood Pressure Emergencies