Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog » General health

SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT ABUSE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:36:18 +0000

What can we do about this growing area of concern? Carers were asked what their requirements were, using this as a starting point. They not unreasonably wanted assessments at regular intervals of their dependent sufferer. New problems could then be referred to the correct agency and appropriate back-up provided. Medical treatment was seen as very important, especially of the intercurrent problems that many frail handicapped elderly people develop, e.g. constipation, incontinence, hearing and sight problems, as well as dental disorders and foot trouble. Information, advice and counseling on the major underlying medical problem was seen as vital, be it Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or whatever. Practical help was necessary as well as regular breaks. It was interesting to note, however, that breaks did not bring down the stress levels by very much; this was only achieved by long-term residential care. Financial support was also necessary. Residential care was seen as needed and necessary by many carers.

Institutions need a different set of solutions. One area of change is in the designing of patterns of care, and not their imposition. Much, however, is dependent on resource allocation. The provision of small units with single rooms and bathrooms, adequate numbers of care assistants – paid well and trained for the job -allowing choice and privacy, does not come cheaply.

Interest in the problem of abuse of elderly people is undergoing a marked resurgence of interest. A new charity – Action on Elder Abuse – has been formed with the mission statement: to prevent abuse in old age by promoting changes in policy and practice through raising awareness, education, promoting research and providing information. This organization is initially aimed at educating and informing professionals working in the field as to the importance of the topic and where to go for research information. Hopefully it will develop further into a major pressure group, aimed at establishing interest at local and central government level. Elder abuse is not yet identified as a social problem. To achieve this status it must be recognized as a problem by society which in turn puts pressure on government to achieve change. Society is becoming increasingly better informed about the topic and as professionals become aware more and more cases are being discovered.

Guidelines have been mentioned. They are in place in only a minority of health authorities but in an increasing number of local authorities. The major obstacle to full scale reform is the lack of legislation. Hopefully this too will change as elder abuse becomes a bona fide social problem on a par with child abuse and other forms of family violence. Currently most authorities use the case conference format for dissemination and discussion of information. A multidisciplinary group of people (social worker, GP, district nurse, hospital doctor, home help organizer, etc.) try to resolve the issues to the best of their ability. Some cases may need the involvement of the police but legal or other specialist help may also be needed. The client should be present (for at least part of the proceedings) as well as the alleged abuser (this obviously has to be handled sensitively). Many groups such as Action on Elder Abuse and Age Concern are putting this issue on the political and media agenda. They feel, quite rightly, that the interests of the elderly person are paramount. The vulnerable old person in the community currently has no rights to ensure that they are protected against abuse in its widest sense. The alarming paradox that there is a legal duty to protect children from abuse but that there is no such legal duty to protect equally vulnerable adults has to be laid at the politicians’ door.

The law needs to be changed so that this particularly vulnerable group is protected and their human rights upheld. Age Concern feel that this may involve a Charter of Rights which is legally binding and could extend to institutions; that there should be a proper complaints procedure such as an ombudsman, guardian or advocate system and that this concept of advocacy would allow the frail person’s views to be expressed. The problem is complex but there is now no doubt that it is here to stay and we should act now.

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ROLE OF LITHIUM IN OUR LIFE

admin — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:31:35 +0000

Lithium Carbonate is the mainstay in the management of manic depressive psychosis. It shifts the mood of a very depressed person or the mood of a very manic person back to the middle ground. Lithium also acts to prevent recurrent attacks.

The down side of Lithium therapy relates to the fact that the therapeutic dose lies in close proximity to the dose required to produce toxicity. Early signs of Lithium toxicity include nausea and mild diarrhea.

As serum levels of Lithium rise tremor, drowsiness, giddiness, clumsiness, ringing in the ears, blurred vision and difficulty with speech, all begin to occur. A severely toxic patient becomes unconscious and dangerous irregularities of the cardiac rhythm quickly eventuate.

The use of Lithium beyond three to five years can cause thyroid disease and kidney damage. Toxicity is exaggerated by excessive perspiration, fluid tablets, diarrhea, vomiting and kidney disease.

Home Remedies

Regular serum Lithium tests are very important. With a change of season from winter to summer, close scrutiny of the effects of perspiration are indicated. Annual measurements of thyroid and kidney function are also obligatory when Lithium is taken perennially. Aspirin like arthritis tablets (NSAIDs), Fluid Tablets and other major tranquillizers enhance the effect of Lithium and doctors should be carefully quizzed as to the necessity for taking these medications in combination with Lithium.

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CHILD’S HEALTH: HAY FEVER (ALLERGIC RHINITIS)

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:12:25 +0000

In Australia at least 15% of the general population suffers from hay fever, and amongst children, adolescents are the most frequent victims.

Hay fever can have effects that range from mild to quite disabling and can burden a child’s daily life, particularly becoming a problem for teenagers around exam time.

Cause

Children who get hay fever suffer most during the season when the pollen count in the air reaches its peak just before summer. Rye grass pollen in particular seems to be the worst offender. These pollens are tiny particles which are breathed in and cause irritation or the delicate lining of the eyes, sinuses and nasal passages. Children of parents who suffer from allergy have a greater chance of developing hay fever themselves.

Clinical features

Sniffling, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, nose, roof of the mouth and back of the throat are the commonest complaints of hay fever sufferers. Eyes may also water profusely and become red and sore.

While hay fever is usually considered a minor complaint, those children with it are highly sensitive to pollens and can develop other allergic conditions, such as hives, rashes and asthma.

Investigations

Sometimes specific allergy testing may be useful to identify the substances which are causing the hay fever and which need to be avoided. These tests are performed by an allergist. However, they are often of limited usefulness because the results rarely influence the treatment that is given.

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NEWBORN’S APPEARANCE: BIRTH WEIGHT, LENGTH AND HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:31:43 +0000

Although he may appear fragile, your healthy newborn baby is actually quite robust – do not be scared to pick him up and cuddle him! Each baby is an individual, and appearances vary widely. Keep in mind that most babies come out looking a little ‘squashed’ after their struggle down the birth canal! It takes a few days for them to take on their real appearance. If you have any questions or worries about your baby’s appearance, do not be afraid to discuss them with your doctor or nurse.

Birth weight, length and head circumference

There is a wide variation in babies’ measurements. The averages are given here.

Consult your doctor or maternal and child health nurse if you have any concerns about your own baby’s weight, length or head circumference.

Average birth weight 3-3 1/2 kg

Average birth length 50 cm

Average birth head circumference 37 cm

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YOUR MARITAL HEALTH/THE MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTION: HE THINKS I’M TOO FAT. CAN I EVER BE SEXUALLY ATTRACTIVE TO HIM LIKE THIS?

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:00:02 +0000

“He thinks I’m too fat. Can I ever be sexually attractive to him like this? I just don’t think I can ever keep much of this weight off.”

ANSWER: The range of healthy weight seems to be much wider than once thought, and general health, not sexual attractiveness, should be the determinant of weight. One important super marital sex rule is that arousal comes from within, not without. We are all responsible for our own arousal and appearance. To. blame our partner for our own sexual feelings only blocks progress toward total personal and sexual health. A rose is a prickly, thorny, smelly, red thing that blooms only sometimes and is overpriced in flower stores. It can also be a symbol of love, a beautiful, soft, perfumed living symbol to be purchased for what it means, not just for what it costs. As has been said, all perception is mere hypothesis. Super marriage provides the opportunity for developing a hypothesis beyond the physical appearance. The more we look at bodies, the less we see the interaction and the system itself. It is important in super marital sex to be the partner you would like to be married to, and to be that partner in every way, including but not limited to the physical appearance.

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TRUE HEALING – PRACTICAL ADVICE /DIET – MINIMISING THE INTAKE OF TOXINS: WHY SHOULDN’T YOU EAT MEET?

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 09:26:21 +0000

Humans have a very long intestinal tract, typical to all plant eating creatures. All meat eaters have several times shorter intestines. What does this have to do with poisoning? Quite a bit. Meat in a long intestine spends a long time, before it is excreted. Too long. Not only is it more difficult to digest and more toxic to start with, but because it spends too much time inside us, it actually clogs the system and starts to rot. When the system is even partially constipated, the waste prepared for excretion is actually absorbed back into the bloodstream.

I am sure that you agree, that in-view of the above, eating meat is just asking for trouble.

Summarising, we should not eat any food, which is not optimal from the point of view of the design of our body.

Suppose that you add some water and/or sugar to your car petrol tank, just because you like it. Clearly the performance of the car will be severely compromised, and if you keep adding those ingredients to your petrol, the engine will eventually stop altogether, requiring a major service. The car engine has not been designed to run on water and sugar added to petrol, even in small quantities.

Similarly, if your computer expects 110VAC and you plug it into 240VAC (I have tried that one) you will hear a loud crack, see a big flash and a cloud of aromatic smoke will come out to indicate the end of computations.

If you do not provide koala with pure eucalyptus leaves (its natural food source), no matter how much “medical” and other attention you give to it, how “nutritious” (in your opinion) food you provide, it will get sick and die quickly.

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INFLUENZA – “SWINE FLU”

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:34:29 +0000

Every so often, perhaps at 10 or more year intervals, the virus may undergo a major change and antibodies from previous infections or immunisation with vaccine will be totally ineffective.

The virus is usually named from the year and location of the laboratory where it is first isolated.

The great influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 was thought to be due to a strain commonly called “swine flu” because it occurs in pigs as well as man.

The New Jersey strain, first noted when a small outbreak occurred at an army camp, Fort Dix, in New Jersey caused health authorities a lot of worry for it appeared to be the same “swine flu” which caused widespread infection just after World War I.

Fearing another pandemic, the U.S. Government mounted a mass immunisation campaign.

More than 50 million people were immunised and the outbreak was confined to a small area. The feared epidemic did not eventuate.

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APPENDICITIS – ANOREXIA (LOSS OF APPETITE)

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:47:11 +0000

Pain is the usual obvious symptom. It is initially rather vague, centred around the umbilicus (navel), usually intermittent in character and associated with nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Anorexia or loss of appetite is a constant feature and characteristic of this condition. There may be either diarrhoea or constipation.

If the inflammation progresses and the outside of the appendix becomes involved, the character of the pain changes. It moves to the right lower abdomen and becomes constant.

When the doctor examines the patient, he may find a slight elevation of temperature, the tongue is often furred and the breath is offensive.

Examination of the abdomen usually reveals some tightness of the muscles over the appendix in the right lower side and, if the peritoneum or covering of the organs and the inside wall of the abdomen is inflamed, rebound tenderness is present — when the abdomen is pressed and then let go suddenly, there is a sharp stab of pain.

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POISONING: FISH POISONING

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:29:30 +0000

Common in Florida from early February through late August every year, outbreaks of ciguatera fish poisoning occur after ingestion of certain types of ocean fish, especially grouper and snapper. Beginning two to 30 hours after a meal, this illness usually starts with diarrhea and vomiting, which may cause such severe dehydration that hospitalization for intravenous fluid treatment becomes necessary. Some victims first complain of itching, with weakness and aching of the legs and thighs. Sooner or later, nearly everyone experiences reversal of temperature sensations (cold fluids in the mouth feel hot), hypersensitivity of the teeth, and sensations of burning in the palms and soles. Although many ciguatera fish poisoning victims may continue to feel weakfor many months, fatalities have not been reported.

The larger and more mature fish, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (244:254) are more likely to cause ciguatera poisoning. For this reason, Floridians have learned to avoid big specimens of grouper and snapper during the season of risk. Since frozen fish can be stored for many months and is trucked all over the country, avoid grouper or snapper unless you are in Florida and can be certain that it has been freshly caught during safe months of the year.

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CHILDREN’S HEPATITIS: SYMPTOMS, HOME CARE, ETC

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:35:14 +0000

Signs and symptoms

First symptoms are fever, malaise (body discomfort), headache, and sometimes signs of a common cold. The key symptoms are a marked loss of appetite (often with nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain) and the onset of jaundice (yellowed skin, yellowed whites of eyes, dark amber urine, and light-colored stools).

Jaundice lasts two to four weeks, followed by one to two months of diminishing fatigue. The liver often is enlarged and tender. Specific diagnosis (A type or Â type) depends upon blood tests and must be made by a doctor.

Home care

If symptoms of hepatitis appear, isolate your child from friends, school, or work to lessen the chance of spreading the disease. Then call your doctor. Hepatitis must be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for caring for the child at home and will probably recommend rest, liquids, and a low-fat diet that is easy to digest.

Precautions

• If your child is exposed to hepatitis, call your doctor. The child and other family members should be given preventive gamma globulin or hepatitis Â immune globulin injections as soon after exposure as is practical and before symptoms appear.

• If you are caring for a child with hepatitis B, remember that this form is now known to be contagious (contrary to past beliefs). Practice good hygiene, particularly careful hand washing, to avoid spreading the disease.

Medical treatment

Your doctor may hospitalize your child for treatment. Tests are also available to determine when hepatitis Â is no longer contagious.

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