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Archive for the ‘Stroke’ Category

Pen Stroke, Key Stroke

This year, after being separated from my computer for a ridiculous amount of time; I decided to go back to writing, in the pursuit of happiness. This year I decided to master keyboard composition. This has given me mixed results so far.

For many years, I wrote long hand on paper first, then edited, and then copied it by hand. When I was older, I processed it on a typewriter.

I remember watching movies with news reporters as characters in them. I watched amazed that they composed as they typed. The perceived speed, in which their fingers flew across the keyboard, amazed me further.

When I was first learning to type, my speed jumped from 10 words per minute to 35. I assumed that with more use and practise that this speed would naturally climb.

I was wrong.

Years later, when I entered college, as a mature student, I had an electric typewriter. For most of our assignments, I continued to produce them in my usual way, unless I was fortunate enough to beat the line up in the computer room.

As the editor for most of my team writing assignments, it was sometimes necessary to rewrite portions of a report. Occasionally, I had the opportunity to compose a portion when the deadline was approaching and I had to fill in something that was missing.

In the years since college, I have returned to secretarial work. Even with all the business correspondence I have written over the years, my keystroke speed has not increased, nor has it offered much opportunity to compose. Word processing is a function that was relegated to perfecting work, after it was created, not part of the creation processes itself.

I did notice that email has been helpful in learning keyboard composition.

Maybe that’s because of the source of the relationships; family and friends are usually easier to talk to. Sometimes, in order to maintain these relationships, the writing requires a great deal of editing. Instant messaging is still a challenge for me.I try not to use all the short cuts available.

One method I’m experimenting with is auto writing, this is interesting but it is difficult to do when others are present. I have resorted to closing my eyes,in order to focus.I’ve noticed that typos have increased.

I haven’t given up writing longhand of course. I still use journals, or napkins; whatever usable writing surface is handy when I’m away from my computer.

I guess in the pursuit of happiness, I shouldn’t be debating whether it’s pen stroke or keystroke I should be pleased that I am writing again, and I am.

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STROKE RECOVERY

A stroke is an disruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. Stroke is the leading cause of disability among adults in the United States. It is the country’s third leading cause of death.

This article discusses recovery from stroke. How well a person does after a stroke depends on the severity of the stroke and the area affected, and how quickly treatment is received.

The treatment goals after a stroke are: 1) To help the patient re-learn as many skills as possible, 2) prevent future strokes, and 3) prevent any complications from a stroke.

The recuperation time and need for long-term treatment differs from person to person. Problems related to moving, thinking, and talking often improve in days to several months after a stroke. Numerous people who have had a stroke will still continue to improve in the months or years after a stroke. Many, sadly, will not recover completely.

GOING HOME AFTER STROKE REHABILITATION

After suffering a stroke, many patients have stroke rehabilitation so they recover more fully. Participating in stroke rehabilitation helps the patient regain the ability to take care of his or her self; what we call Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Most types of, therapies can be provided wherever you or your loved one live, including in the home. Therapy may be done in a special part of a hospital or in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility. Those who have been released from the hospital might go to stroke rehabilitation therapy at a special clinic or have someone come to their home.

It can be difficult to decide whether the person who has the stroke will be able to return to their home after rehabilitation. Being able to stay in the home depends on how severe the stroke was and whether the person can take care of his or her self. It may also depend how much help there will be at home and whether the home is safe for them.

Sometimes, new living situations such as boarding homes or convalescent homes may be needed to provide a safe environment for a stroke patient.

For those being cared for at home:
Changes in the home may be needed to keep a loved one safe from falling or wandering, as well as making the home easier to use. This involves making sure the bed and bathroom are easy to get to and removing items (such as throw rugs) that may cause a fall.
A number of assistive devices are available to help with activities such as cooking or eating, bathing or showering, moving around the home or elsewhere, dressing and grooming, writing and using a computer, and many more activities.
Family counseling may help in coping with the changes required for home care. Visiting nurses or aides, volunteer services, homemakers, adult protective services, adult day care, and other community resources may be helpful.
Legal advice may be appropriate. Advance directives, power of attorney, and other legal actions may make it easier to make ethical decisions regarding the care of a person who has had a stroke.

Stroke has several symptoms which may not be immediately noticable to a person suffering from a stroke. If you see a person experiencing the following symptoms seek medical help immediately.Headache: A stroke victim may have an extremely sudden and massive headache. They may also experiencing dizzyness or vomiting.Trouble Walking: A stroke may cause a person to stumble or lose their ability to walk normally.Slurred Speech: A person who has had a stroke may be unable to speak normally, slur their speech or speak in a confused manner (called Aphasia).Numbness or Paralysis: A person having a stroke may feel numb on be unable to move one side of their body or their face. A person may be unable to smile without one side of their face drooping or raise both of their arms above their head in a consistent manner.Loss of Vision: Someone experiencing a stroke may have a loss of vision or blackened vision often in one or both eyes.Every second counts. If you or someone you know begins experiencing these symptoms seek emergency medical attention. Do not wait to see if these symptoms go away on their own. Quick treatment within the hour may significantly improve a stroke victim’s quality of life and prevent death.There are risk factors for stroke that are controllable and uncontrollable. Some of these factors are genetic and some happen a result of naturally occurring proccesses within the body. However, most strokes (80% or more) can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle and educating yourself about the risk factors that are controllable.Let’s first talk about uncontrollable risk factors.Age: The risk of stroke doubles itself every 10 years for individuals who are 55 and older.Gender: Men are slightly more likely to have a stroke then women. However, more women than men will die as a result of stroke each year accross all age groups.Ethnicity: Latino, Hispanic, and African ethnicities are at a higher risk of stroke as a result of having naturally higher blood pressure and dietary differences.Heredity: People who have had a history of stroke in their family are more likely to have a stroke.Previous Stroke/TIA/Silent Stroke: A person who has had a stroke, is having TIA, silent stroke, or stroke-like symptoms are ten times more likely to have a stroke as someone else who isn’t/hasn’t in the same age group. If you’ve had a heart attack you are also at a much higher risk for potentially having a stroke.Now let’s talk about factors that are controllable.Hypertension: Getting high blood pressure under control is the single most important step you can take towards preventing stroke.High Cholesterol: Having high LDL and low HDL cholesterol is a stroke risk factor.Diet: A diet high in trans fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol as commonly found in greasy or fried foods can raise cholesterol levels and lead to atherosclerosis and plaque build-up in your circulatory system.Physical Inactivity: Lack of exercise and inactivity puts you at a higher risk for stroke.Smoking: Nictone and Carbon Monoxide from smoking has shown to increase risk factors for stroke.Alcohol Use: Abusing alcohol can lead to many health complications. Increased risk of stroke is one of those complications.Drug Abuse: Drug abuse is an often chronic and reoccurring disorder and has been known to cause strokes in younger adults.Diabetes: Many people with Diabetes are obese and suffer from hypertension and high cholesterol. Diabetics are at a higher risk of having a stroke.Irregular Heartbeat: An irregular heartbeat also known as Atrial Fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke. Irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clotting which can clot in arteries around your heart. These clots can break up and become lodges at narrow blood vessels that transport blood to the brain, resulting in stroke.

Strokes are considered the third most common cause of death in the US. There are two types of strokes as “ischemic stroke” and “hemorrhagic stroke”. Each type is dangerous on its own accord and can be life threatening. However, with proper medication, strokes can be avoided. Plavix is a platelet aggregation inhibitor prescription medication that can be purchased from Big Mountain Pharmacy, that can reduce stroke risks to a great extent. This is an accredited Canada online pharmacy that enables patients to purchase quality prescription medication at affordable prices.

Two Types of StrokeAs mentioned above, there are two types of stroke. “Ischemic stroke” is the most common and more than 83% of adults will encounter an “ischemic stroke”. An “ischemic stroke” occurs when a blood vessel or artery is clogged due to a blood clot. This usually occurs with the excess of fat and cholesterol levels. An excess of fat and cholesterol levels is known as atherosclerosis. “Ischemic stroke” will affect the brain due to the inability of blood to travel to the brain. This disables the nutrients and oxygen from travelling to the brain cells. “Ischemic stroke” can be divided into two categories. These are thrombotic strokes and embolic strokes. When a blood vessel is blocked in the brain, it causes a thrombotic stroke. When blood clots form anywhere else in the body and block any vein, this will cause an embolic stroke.

A ruptured blood vessel in the brain causes a hemorrhagic stroke. Bleeding in the brain is a result of the rupturing of the blood vessel. The two main causes of hemorrhagic stroke include high blood pressure and aneurysms. This stroke is more life threatening than an “ischemic stroke”.

Treatment and Prevention of StrokesWhen a person has a stroke, treatment should be obtained through emergency care at a hospital. As the worst damage of a stroke occurs during the first few hours, it is vital that strokes are treated without fail. Failure to treat strokes on time will have dire repercussions. Upon discharge from the hospital, considerable care needs to be taken in order to avoid a recurrence of a stroke. This requires lowering high blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, ensuring diabetes is treated among others. Persons at risk of stroke will most often be prescribed anticoagulant medication or antiplatelet medication. Asprin is the most common medication prescribed to those at higher risk of stroke. However, some persons may be unable to take Asprin. These persons may tolerate Plavix or Clopidogrel, the generic version much better than Asprin.

Using Clopidogrel in Treating Stroke RisksThis medication can be used with or without Asprin. It is a platelet aggregation inhibitor that prevents the forming or “clumping” of platelets that form clots and block the arteries. This medication is available at any accredited Canadian online pharmacy. The standard dose prescribed for a person is 75mg. This medication is available in 75mg at cheap prices at bigmountaindrugs.com. However, the dosage will depend upon the prescription. Therefore, increasing or reducing medication without prior approval from a health care provider is not advised.

As with other medication, Clopidogrel may cause some side effects. Out of these, the most common are cough, dizziness, constipation, headaches, abdominal pain, heartburn etc. Severe side effects such as jaundice, fever, confusion, seizures, allergic reactions etc should be attended to as soon as possible. When prescribed with Plavix, it is recommended to question a health care provider regarding any concerns about side effects and drug interactions.

Strokes can be fatal. Therefore, avoiding strokes will require lifestyle changes, dietary changes as well as proper medication. Taking Clopidogrel as prescribed by a health care provider will reduce the risks of stroke.

Now that summer time is right here we need getting cautious to shield ourselves and pets away from your heat. Some breeds for example chihuahuas just adore warm weather. Other breeds with heavier coats may nicely be at a increased opportunity for heat stroke. Heat stroke requires place when whole body temperatures reaches greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Pets with heat stroke could have glassy-looking eyes, plus they could have trouble walking or standing up.

My Labrador Retriever utilized to dig an enormous hole for herself beneath a bush within our top backyard to sustain cool. these times although so many new homes don’t have large trees or bushes for pets to think about shelter under. as well as typically avid gardeners don’t like pets digging within their gardens. how can you sustain your puppy awesome and safe within your warm times of summer?

Just like children, canines must not be out be out all through the hottest element using the day. Also, you need to slow your pace jointly with your canines within your summer. Don’t make them run so an amazing offer which they get overheated. shifting progressively keeps the body’s fat burning ability from increasing and keeps pets inside temperatures down. Also, make sure your puppy consistently has entry to water. possess a bowl that is heavy enough to not hint greater than or provide an additional bowl in circumstance your puppy rules greater compared to very first one.

There are also some all natural remedies for assisting canines stay cool. right here some advised over the holistic vets composing within your publication New options in all natural Healing for canines and Cats by Amy Shojai as well as the editors of Prevention for Pets:

Encourage your puppy to consume – Pets that take place to be delicate to heat need to consume lots of consuming water however the body’s thirst mechanism isn’t consistently as delicate since it must be. Give your puppy ice chips or ice cubes all through the day. I can inform you that genuinely does work. My puppy just loved actively playing using the ice cubes after which crunching on them. Get your puppy wet by letting them lie straight down within of a kiddie swimming pool or spritzing them using the hose.

Replace electrolytes – When canines and cats lose fluids, in addition they lose electrolytes. Give your puppy an electrolyte alternative like Pedialyte or Gatorade to replace lost minerals. You can include many tablespoons for the pet’s consuming water everyday.

Mist with essences – Use Bach’s Rescue treat (you can locate this at wellness foods stores and sometime supermarkets within your wellness foods section). founded 5 drops within of a cup of spring consuming water and mist your puppy when he receives warm.

Use Belladonna (a homeopathic remedy) – Give pets below 15 pounds one pellet of Belladonna 30C every one 30 mins until they start sensation better. bigger pets can consider two pellets every one 30 minutes. If your puppy is not an amazing offer better over the 3rd dose – phone call the vet.