The focus of this speciality is on comfort and quality of life, and it is gradually expanding into cardiac care. What does heart failure palliative care entail?
Many individuals assume that palliative care is only for those with terminal cancer when they first hear the word. Or they think hospice care and palliative care are interchangeable. Both are untrue. Palliative care is beneficial for those who have heart failure, a condition in which a weak heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Palliative care is a method of treating people with life-threatening illnesses that puts their quality of life first. Palliative care aims to keep patients free of pain and other uncomfortable symptoms like nausea and dyspnea. Additionally, it involves discussing the person's values and personal objectives with them and their family to help guide any additional treatments or interventions they could have (see "Advanced Care Planning").
Hospice is a care arrangement that includes palliative care for people who are expected to live for six months or fewer. However, palliative care itself can start as soon as a serious illness, particularly one that isn't likely to be treated, first manifests itself.
Planned care in advance
A document that would direct their medical care if they were unable to convey their preferences is absent from about two-thirds of American people. Filling out a health decision worksheet is a smart place to start because it will force you to think about and elaborate on your healthcare objectives. It asks you about the things in your life that are most important to you, your concerns over your prognosis, and specifics like whether you want to be put on a breathing machine or get tube-fed. You can use it as a benchmark for the following stage, which entails selecting a medical decision-maker (health care proxy) to represent your interests in the event of your incapacitation.
Visit /ADforms to download a free copy of a health decision worksheet and a health care proxy form. Advance Care Planning: A Handbook to Advance Directives, Living Wills, and Other Ways for Conveying Health Care Choices, published by Harvard Health Publishing, is available for purchase at /lw.
Review these documents every few years, or sooner if you receive a new diagnosis or experience other significant changes in your life, as your wishes and priorities will probably change as you age.
Palliative care is a method of treating people with life-threatening illnesses that puts their quality of life first. Palliative care aims to keep patients free of pain and other uncomfortable symptoms like nausea and dyspnea. Additionally, it involves discussing the person's values and personal objectives with them and their family to help guide any additional treatments or interventions they could have (see "Advanced Care Planning").
Hospice is a care arrangement that includes palliative care for people who are expected to live for six months or fewer. However, palliative care itself can start as soon as a serious illness, particularly one that isn't likely to be treated, first manifests itself.
Planned care in advance
A document that would direct their medical care if they were unable to convey their preferences is absent from about two-thirds of American people. Filling out a health decision worksheet is a smart place to start because it will force you to think about and elaborate on your healthcare objectives. It asks you about the things in your life that are most important to you, your concerns over your prognosis, and specifics like whether you want to be put on a breathing machine or get tube-fed. You can use it as a benchmark for the following stage, which entails selecting a medical decision-maker (health care proxy) to represent your interests in the event of your incapacitation.
Visit /ADforms to download a free copy of a health decision worksheet and a health care proxy form. Advance Care Planning: A Handbook to Advance Directives, Living Wills, and Other Ways for Conveying Health Care Choices, published by Harvard Health Publishing, is available for purchase at /lw.
Review these documents every few years, or sooner if you receive a new diagnosis or experience other significant changes in your life, as your wishes and priorities will probably change as you age.
Knowing how to accurately measure your blood pressure at home can be beneficial for your doctor to diagnose and treat high blood pressure, a condition that can have negative effects on the heart, kidneys, and brain.
Regularly having your blood pressure checked is important for adults and should be done at least once a year.
If your blood pressure reading at the doctor's office is higher than the healthy range, it is recommended to repeat the measurement outside of a clinic setting before starting treatment, according to guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force. However, there are other reasons why your doctor may advise you to regularly monitor your blood pressure at home.
Home monitoring is useful in the following situations:
- To determine if your blood pressure is truly higher than normal, as some people may experience elevated blood pressure only at the doctor's office, known as white-coat hypertension.
- If your doctor asks you to track your readings to help decide if medication is necessary to lower your blood pressure.
- If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and need to adjust your medications to reach your blood pressure target.
- If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, and your healthcare team is concerned about preeclampsia, a severe form of high blood pressure that can cause harm to vital organs.
When choosing a home blood pressure monitor, it is important to select a validated device that has been independently reviewed for accuracy. Avoid using monitors with wrist or fingertip cuffs, as they are not as accurate as upper-arm cuffs. Additionally, ensure that you choose the right size cuff for your upper arm, as using a cuff that is too small or too loose can result in incorrect readings.
While basic models can cost as little as $25, more expensive models ranging from $50 to $100 may offer added convenience, such as storing multiple readings and sending data to your computer or smartphone, or directly to your doctor's office patient portal.
Here are three key points to remember about blood pressure readings:
1. Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, so one isolated reading is not sufficient for an accurate assessment.
2. Checking your blood pressure when you are upset or stressed can lead to higher readings. Taking multiple readings consistently provides a more reliable assessment.
3. Consult with your doctor about how often and at what time of day you should take your blood pressure. The gold standard for home monitoring is to take 28 separate measurements over seven consecutive days and average them. However, even 12 measurements over three days, including a weekend day, can be reasonable.
To obtain an accurate blood pressure reading, it is important to avoid common mistakes. Wait at least 30 minutes after smoking, consuming caffeine or alcohol, or exercising before measuring your blood pressure. These activities can affect your heart rate and blood vessels, potentially leading to inaccurate readings. Additionally, empty your bladder before measuring your blood pressure, as a full bladder can put pressure on your kidneys and raise blood pressure.
When measuring your blood pressure, sit comfortably with your arm supported near heart height. Avoid crossing your legs, as this can temporarily raise blood pressure. Sit quietly and undistracted for a few minutes before taking a reading. Make sure to wrap the cuff around your bare arm, about an inch above the crook of your elbow, and start the machine to measure your blood pressure.
Diagnosing and treating high blood pressure is crucial, as nearly half of all adults have this condition, and many are unaware of it. High blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and cognitive decline. It is often referred to as the silent killer because its effects are not felt or experienced until it is too late.
Remember to consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice on monitoring your blood pressure at home and managing your overall health.
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Creating magical moments and cherishing blessings
Hey everyone! I hope you all had an amazing weekend. First things first, I want to give a thanks to God Almighty for blessing us with a fantastic weekend.
So, guess what? My partner's birthday was on Saturday, and I had a super cool surprise planned for him. I ordered this awesome package from Temu, and I was a little worried that it wouldn't arrive in time. But, being the proactive person I am, I ordered it well in advance and even reached out to
Temu to see if they could speed up the delivery. And you know what? They totally came through! They assured me that my package would be treated as a top priority, and that made me really happy.
A big shoutout to the amazing team at Temu for coming through and delivering my parcel early, just in time for his birthday. Seriously, they saved the day! By the way, if you haven't checked out my Temu Babie finds on YouTube, you totally should. They have some awesome stuff that might come in handy for you too.
So, two days before the big day, I went to the card factory and grabbed two happy birthday balloons, filled with helium because, well, who doesn't love those floating balloons? I also picked up a card and a cute decorative bow to attach to the cake table knife to jazz up the presentation and make it look extra special.
I've gotta admit, I was pretty excited because it was my first time planning a surprise birthday. I really didn't want to mess it up, you know? I wanted to make sure everything was just right. About 5 hours before he was due to come back from work, I rushed out to get him some gifts. I was a bit confused about what to get, but I also made a quick pit stop at my favorite karaoke bar and booked a table for two.
Let me tell you about the whole decoration situation. I thought it would take me like an hour, but oh boy was I wrong! It ended up taking me over three hours. Turns out that decorating and pulling off a surprise like this is no joke. Shoutout to all those talented and brilliant people who offer decorative services. I have a newfound respect for them!
I had ordered an electric balloon pump to make things easier, but guess what? It totally failed me. The first balloon I tried to blow up with the pump just burst. The same thing happened with the second one because I wasn't doing it right or it wasn't the right type of balloon. So, I said, forget it and decided to blow them all up with my own mouth. Surprisingly, it was faster and more efficient. I was on a mission to finish everything before he got home, and I somehow managed to pull it off.
By listening to these educational programs, you can learn more about medicine and how to keep your health in check.
Podcasts, which may be accessed online or through mobile apps, are, for many people, the soundtrack of contemporary life. You can listen to them while getting ready in the morning, working out, cooking, traveling, or just relaxing. Podcasts start and stop when you want them to, just like streaming movies. Listening to podcasts that are specifically focused on health can help you learn more about the most recent medical advancements, lifestyle trends, and ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle or manage chronic conditions. Ensure that the podcasts are only from reputable sources.
Since anyone can host a podcast, you should exercise caution. Look for reputable hosts, such as qualified medical professionals or health journalists, who provide scientific material in an impartial manner as opposed to one that is biased. Avoid programs that advocate poorly investigated or medically unsupported diets or therapies, advises Dr. Edward Phillips, director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.
Basics of podcasts
Initially emerging in the early 2000s, podcasts have progressively established themselves as a prominent medium. What, then, are they? Podcasts are previously aired audio shows with numerous episodes that may be accessed on demand online or through podcast apps like Spotify (www.spotify.com) or Stitcher (www.stitcher.com). The broadcasts could be newscasts, interview shows, or just shows with a few people chit-chatting about a specific topic. Typically, an episode lasts 15 to 60 minutes.
Since anyone can host a podcast, you should exercise caution. Look for reputable hosts, such as qualified medical professionals or health journalists, who provide scientific material in an impartial manner as opposed to one that is biased. Avoid programs that advocate poorly investigated or medically unsupported diets or therapies, advises Dr. Edward Phillips, director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.
Basics of podcasts
Initially emerging in the early 2000s, podcasts have progressively established themselves as a prominent medium. What, then, are they? Podcasts are previously aired audio shows with numerous episodes that may be accessed on demand online or through podcast apps like Spotify (www.spotify.com) or Stitcher (www.stitcher.com). The broadcasts could be newscasts, interview shows, or just shows with a few people chit-chatting about a specific topic. Typically, an episode lasts 15 to 60 minutes.
The recent media attention surrounding a case of leprosy in central Florida has raised concerns about the disease and its potential spread. However, it's important to understand the facts and dispel any misconceptions about leprosy.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. It affects the skin, nerves, and linings of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. Although leprosy has been documented in human writings dating back to ancient times, it remains a rare disease in the United States.
The case in central Florida gained attention because the man diagnosed with leprosy had no identifiable risk factors for the disease. He had not traveled to a region where leprosy is common, nor had he come into contact with anyone who had the disease. Past research has suggested that the bacteria that causes leprosy can survive in soil, leading to speculation that the man's work as a landscaper put him at risk.
Typically, leprosy spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets shared during prolonged, close contact. Coughing or sneezing can release these droplets, which can then be inhaled by individuals in close proximity. Some cases of leprosy have also been linked to animal contact, such as with armadillos or red squirrels. However, in about a third of cases, no clear risk factor can be identified.
In the United States, leprosy is not a major health concern for most people. The country sees approximately 180 cases diagnosed annually, which is a slight increase from previous years. However, compared to the global scale, where more than 200,000 cases are diagnosed each year in 120 countries, leprosy remains rare in the US. The countries with the highest number of cases are Brazil, India, and Indonesia.
In Florida, there have been roughly 20 cases per year since 2015, with about 80% of those cases occurring in central Florida. Some experts speculate that leprosy may now be endemic in this region, meaning that there are enough sources of infection to sustain the disease's spread even without new cases being introduced from elsewhere. However, this theory has yet to be proven.
You can become more adept at managing challenging conversations by cultivating the ability to listen to others and recognize their experiences and perspectives.
Validation is a way to make people feel heard and understood, especially in emotionally charged situations. Even if you disagree with someone, validating them means you acknowledge their feelings and perspective. This builds trust and makes the other person feel supported, making it easier to find solutions together.
But many people struggle with validation. They might try to validate someone but then immediately jump into problem-solving or giving advice. This doesn't allow the validation to sink in. It's like putting on anti-itch cream and immediately washing it off.
Here are some tips for offering validation:
1. Give your full attention.
2. Make eye contact and show interest with nods and "uh huh."
3. Repeat what you've heard to show that you understand.
4. Verbalize their unspoken feelings or frustrations.
5. Give it time to sink in before trying to solve the problem.
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