Blog #4: The Common Cold/Flu and its effects on the Elderly

For many of us the common cold is a nuisance, it’s a nasty viral infection that can stay with us for only a day or last up to a week or more. Influenza, or as most people call it the Flu, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs. Even though both the cold and flu have similar symptoms the flu is much worse for your body.

As stated on webmd.com, “There are more than 100 types of cold viruses and new strains of the flu evolve every few years. Since both diseases are viral, antibiotics cannot conquer cold or flu.”

As healthy young adults we are able to better battle the common cold. But when it comes to the elderly it becomes harder to fight such an infection.  

Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make it harder for the elderly to fight a common cold. This puts them at a higher risk for upper respiratory tract infections and other severe complications.

There are many ways in which a person can spread these viruses to someone else. Some common ways are as follows:

·         Coughing and or sneezing without covering your face.

·         Kissing

·         Shaking hands with someone who has the flu

Be sure to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, carry tissues and hand sanitizer, wash your hands whenever possible.

So as this cold/flu season approaches let’s all take extra precautions to protect our elderly population. Be sure to continuously wash your hands, if you are sick stay home and away from anyone who may be easily susceptible to this virus. You may also want to consider getting vaccinated against the flu to also help prevent the transmission of the flu to others besides the elderly.

 

Thank you for reading again this week. I do not yet have a topic planned for my next blog so if it’s early enough send me a comment or message if you have a particular topic you would like discussed. Until then have a fabulous week and stay healthy.

 

~Chrissy~

Blog #3- Breast Cancer

 

Today’s topic hits close to home for me. Not only because I am a woman but because I am a woman who has a family history of Breast Cancer.

Let me start off with a semi funny story….. When I was younger we would help my grandmother move at least once a year (or so it seemed). That woman could never live in one place for too long. On her final move my siblings and I had started to help her unpack boxes and get organized. This is when my step brother came across a silicone "bubble" as he called it. As he was throwing it around and playing with it he asked my dad what it was. With a very straight face my father answered, "that is your grandmothers other boob", and my stepbrother freaked out and dropped it quickly. Due to Breast Cancer my grandmother had to have a partial mastectomy.

*A little fact that most people don’t know is that men can also get breast cancer. But they account for 1% of all breast cancer cases. *

"Breast Cancer develops in the breast tissue, primarily in the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or glands (lobular carcinoma). The cancer is still called breast cancer and treated as breast cancer even if it is first discovered after traveling to other areas of the body. In those cases, the cancer is referred to as metastatic or advanced breast cancer. (WebMD.com)

Two different forms of cancer are, benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). The only safe way to distinguish between the two is to have your doctor do a biopsy, in which case they remove a piece of the tissue to be tested.

There are various stages of breast cancer much like any other form of cancer. And go as follows:
· The early stage also known as state 0 is when the disease is localized to the breast and it appears that there is no evidence of spread to the lymph nodes.
· Stage 1 is when the cancer is two centimeters or less in size and it hasn’t spread anywhere.
· Stage 2A is a tumor less than two centimeters across with lymph node involvement or a tumor that is larger than two but less than 5 centimeters across without underarm lymph node involvement.
· Stage 2B is a tumor that is greater than five centimeters across without lymph node involvement or a tumor that is larger than two but less than five centimeters across with lymph node involvement.
· Stage 3A is also called locally advanced breast cancer. The tumor is larger than five centimeters and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, or a tumor that is any size with the involvement of 4-9 axillary lymph nodes.
· Stage 3B is a tumor of any size that has spread to the skin, chest wall, or internal mammary lymph nodes (located beneath the breast and inside the chest). Inflammatory breast cancer falls into this category.
· Stage 3C is a tumor of any size that has spread to more than 10 axillary lymph nodes.
· Sate 4 is defined as a tumor, regardless of size, that has spread to places far away from the breast, such as bones, lungs, liver, brain or distant lymph nodes.

For women who are going in to visit their doctors and need to know what to ask here are a list of question provided by the Mayo Clinic:
 · What type of breast cancer do I have?

· What is the stage of my cancer?

· Can you explain my pathology report to me? Can I have a copy for my records?

· Do I need any more tests?

· What treatment options are available for me?

· What are the benefits from each treatment you recommend?

· What are the side effects of each treatment option?

· Will treatment cause menopause?

· How will each treatment affect my daily life? Can I continue working?

· Is there one treatment you recommend over the others?

· How do you know that these treatments will benefit me?

· What would you recommend to a friend or family member in my situation?

· How quickly do I need to make a decision about cancer treatment?

· What happens if I don't want cancer treatment?

· What will cancer treatment cost?

· Does my insurance plan cover the tests and treatment you're recommending?

· Should I seek a second opinion? Will my insurance cover it?

· Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites or books do you recommend?



It is important for woman to get tested regularly for breast cancer. There are many different ways that you can do it, they are as followed (also provided by the Mayo Clinic):
 · Breast exam. Your doctor will check both of your breasts, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities.

· Mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are commonly used to screen for breast cancer. If an abnormality is detected on a screening mammogram, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic mammogram to further evaluate that abnormality.

· Breast ultrasound. Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures deep within the body. Ultrasound may help distinguish between a solid mass and a fluid-filled cyst.

· Removing a sample of breast cells for testing (biopsy). Biopsy samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis where experts determine whether the cells are cancerous. A biopsy sample is also analyzed to determine the type of cells involved in the breast cancer, the aggressiveness (grade) of the cancer, and whether the cancer cells have hormone receptors or other receptors that may influence your treatment options.

· Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI machine uses a magnet and radio waves to create pictures of the interior of your breast. Before a breast MRI, you receive an injection of dye.




Having breast cancer or any form of cancer for that matter can be extremely stressful on not only your body but your mind and those who are caring for you. After a diagnosis of breast cancer your doctor will advise you on the best course of treatment for your case.

Below you will find a few website that you can visit to help support those with breast cancer, cancer research and over all education on the matter. 
· http://www.pink-link.org/
· http://ww5.komen.org/Default.aspx
· http://bcsupport.org/
　
　

Thank you so much for reading today and I hope to have back next week for my blog on The Common Flu and how it affects the Elderly.


Thanks-

Chrissy  

Alzheimer's

 

Welcome to Christine’s Blogging Zone, topic of discussion today is Alzheimer’s. Going along in life we hear people mention Alzheimer’s disease but many of us may not know what it is or even know the effects it may have on a person and their family or the caregivers that take care of them.

 

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys the memory and other important mental functions, connections between brain cells and the brain cells themselves degenerate and die which in turn causes a steady decline in one’s mental function as well as their memory.  There unfortunately is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time.

 

How to spot the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Many people start off with increasing forgetfulness and or a mild case of confusion but over time Alzheimer’s causes a person to lose their memory, more so recent memories. As the disease progresses people are faced with disorientation, forgetting what day it is, where they are or even their current life circumstances. Many people with Alzheimer’s also find it difficult to identify objects or even take part in a simple conversation, writing their own name becomes a challenge and reading becomes harder. Concentrating or thinking about advanced concepts becomes increasingly difficult. One may be unable to track and manage their own finances or pay their bills. Everyday decisions become troublesome and unable to differentiate between situations causes an increasing challenge for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s. You may notice a change in your loved ones mood, personality, and or behavior. People with Alzheimer’s often experience some of the following:

 

·         Depression

·         Social withdraw

·         Mood swings

·         Distrust in people around them

·         Changes in sleeping patterns

·         Irritability and aggressiveness

·         Loss of inhibitions/Wandering

 

 

As a family member, friend or caregiver of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s it is important to remember not to take it personally if they act different towards you. It is hard to sometimes accept the fact that someone we have loved for so long all of a sudden forgets who we are or their mood changes rapidly and they become angry or withdrawn. As a close person in their life we need to have the ability to support them in any situation and be the one constant non changing factor for them.

 

 

Here are a few tips on how to help a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s, it is important to remember to have patience when assisting them in any way.  When communicating it is always important to choose simple words, keep sentences short and speak in a calm and gentle tone so that the person you are speaking with does not feel threatened. Making eye contact and using their name frequently is also important. It is always a good idea to establish a routine that will help make each day predictable to the person suffering from Alzheimer’s. It is important to take your time while completing tasks, give fewer options so there is less of a chance of getting confused or agitated.

 

 

Alzheimer’s is not an easy disease to deal with, but if you become educated on the topic it makes handling it as a caregiver a bit easier. If you are interested in obtaining more information I encourage you to look at following link: Alzheimer's Association.

 

 

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, be sure to wear Purple in support of those who suffer from this unfortunate Disease and for those who care for them.

 

 

Thank you again for reading and I hope to have you return next week for a Blog addressing Breast Cancer which is a  topic that is near and dear to my heart.

 

Signing Off-

 

Chrissy

 

*Certain information referenced came from http://www.mayoclinic.com/

Who am I and why am I deciding to Blog……

A blog that relates to my life through My Career, Living, Exploring and loving. 

As a first time blogger I truly have no idea what I am doing, just that I enjoy writing. Some of this writing I will choose to share as others will just sit in my drafts box. I have grown up with quite the story and every rocky road I have walked has lead me to where I am today. I learn from the past and try to bring it forth positively in my future. 

I have always had a passion for helping others and especially the medical field. For the last 4 years my career path has been based in Elderly/Adult Disabled Home Care where I am not only the Staffing Coordinator/Operations Manager but I have taken on the role of caregiver for many of our clients. 

One of my Favorite quotes: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart" ~Helen Keller

It is so easy for people to disregard others and yet when we make a connection it can be explosive.

Here is to the adventures that we shall create, the love we shall manifest and the life we will lead.

Thank you for reading and hope to have you return again.

Xo ~ Chrissy