Category: Educational

~by Carol Vartuli

High-Fives for Hand Hygiene

According to the CDC, “Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.”

It’s not just the problem of your own personal germs. “Germs get on your hands if you touch any object that someone has coughed or sneezed on, or was touched by another contaminated object.”

During the COVID pandemic, we were advised to wash, wash, wash our hands. Many of us complied with diligence. In fact, before we learned that the coronavirus wasn’t transmitted by touching objects, quite a few individuals were swabbing off food packages from the grocery store, and opening their mail with rubber gloves. Tedious?

How far we’ve come. Or have we?

May 5, 2023 is World Hand Hygiene Day, and it’s clear the world could benefit from a lot more soap and water.

Germs are Invisible—but Real

Hand washing remains key in preventing infections, especially those that can ravage community-living facilities and hospitals.

Germs spread by human and animal feces cause salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus, and are spread by lack of hand washing after using the toilet, or changing a baby’s diaper. You can make yourself sick by touching your eyes or nose, and you transfer the same germs to tabletops, railings, and toys– making anyone who touches them susceptible to illness.

The simple act of washing hands with soap and running water can decrease diarrheal illnesses by 24 – 58 percent and can prevent respiratory illnesses, including colds.

While we may not be terrified of a salmonella bout, nearly two million children around the world die from diarrheal disease and pneumonia. Handwashing in many parts of the world is done solely with water. In fact, studies show that the global rate of hand washing after toileting is just 19 percent.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hand hygiene is a worldwide concern, for ever-more complex reasons. 

Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), are increasing globally, especially in hospitals and health care facilities. MDROs are bacteria that have become resistant to many antibiotics. The illnesses they cause are then hard to treat, and easy to spread. MDROs can cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, blood infections, and wound infections.

The overuse of antibiotics enables certain bacteria to develop resistance to them, so judicious use of antibiotics (they do NOT work on viruses!) is necessary to help prevent creating more MDROs.

Hand hygiene among health care workers, patients, and their visitors is a first-line defense to prevent the spread of illnesses caused by MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and other MDROs.

Lather Up and Fight Back

The routine for effective germ-killing calls for a good lather, while humming “Twinkle-twinkle, Little Star” or “Happy Birthday.”

Spending those 20 seconds with a dollop of soap and clean running water is an easy-enough habit to adopt–and not just on Hand Hygiene Day.

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

You are headed for fresh, new surroundings, where you’ll be free from the care of a house and yard.  Yet, the transition can be bittersweet. You’ll need to shed belongings, and the task may seem overwhelming. In fact, according to Forbes Magazine, getting ready for a move is one of the least favorite things you will do! The process is more manageable when you divide it into stages; here are some tips to guide you through it:

The De-clutter Stage

 Even if you haven’t made a final decision on where you’ll be living, (we hope you choose The Osborn) you can begin planning for your move as early as a year before.  Start de-cluttering your current home well before you think about furnishings and cherished possessions. 

• Ask your grown children to remove belongings they have been storing in your basement or attic. This includes childhood treasures, as well as large items, like bicycles, sporting equipment and furniture.
• Aggregate all your important papers (passports, wills, deeds, medical records, etc.) in one place, and tell a close family member where they are. Discard unnecessary paperwork, but ask an accountant or attorney if you are unsure about what you must keep. 
• Go through your closets and drawers, because a smaller home may have less closet space. Move items that you have not worn in six months or longer to a separate space. Periodically donate what’s in good condition to donation centers, like Goodwill or charity thrift stores. 
• Determine which accumulated household items you don’t actually Since you’ll no longer be doing home repairs and yard work, lawn mowers are obviously “no need” items; they and other tools can be given away or donated. Put kitchen tools and gadgets in a box and return them to their normal places only after you’ve used them. Use the same ‘test’ for small appliances, like waffle irons and ice cream makers.           

Limit de-cluttering efforts to monthly or weekly sessions, working no more than two hours at a time. Dividing these tasks into small chunks makes them less onerous.       

The Planning Stage

 Once you have chosen a new independent living home, you can decide which major household items to take with you. 

•  Know exactly how much space you have in your new domain, whether it’s one room, or five. Measure accurately, noting windows, doors, shelving, and closets, and make a floor plan. Visit your new place several times, so you can envision which pieces of furniture are essential.  Some furniture may serve multiple purposes, such as a decorative chest that doubles as a TV stand.
•  Measure larger pieces to determine how they might fit into your new floor plan. Furniture for apartments and small homes is designed on a smaller scale. So, if your current sofa is too wide or bulky, you may want to shop for a new look and some just-right pieces. 
• Find new homes for furniture that you cannot keep. Give it to friends or family, donate it to charity, or try selling it locally through ads or websites. Even the priciest furniture is worth only pennies on the dollar once it’s used. If you have valuable antiques or artwork, consult with an appraiser, or an estate auction house. 

The Sorting Stage

Sorting your remaining belongings and personal mementos may be the most difficult stage of transitioning to your new home.

•  Photograph large items you must part with, like grandmother’s big brass clock. You can retain memories of the place these items had in your life. 
• Eliminate items you definitely do not want, but don’t sort exhaustively through remaining photographs and small collectibles. These are easily stored, and you may choose to display some of them once you are in your new home.
•  Invite family and friends to participate in sorting and sharing sessions. Mementos evoke memories, and memories are most precious when shared.

If you have a brief time to complete all these stages before your move, and finances permit, you may want to consider hiring a move manager or professional organizer who can help you trim down belongings and cut through some of the emotional red tape we experience when we try to downsize. The Osborn’s Sales Department can recommend local professionals to help in this area if you would like. Help and advice is just a call or click away. Asking for help during a later in life move can make all the difference.

Babies don’t worry about their bladders, and we don’t expect them to. In the first few years of life, a complex interplay between muscles, brain, and nervous system develops, so toddlers are eventually able to shed their Pampers.

It’s ironic that adults who have been diaperless for decades can experience difficulty with bladder control. Hence, the plethora of ads about adult-sized, disposable drawers.

Urinary incontinence is just one aspect of bladder health that health care professionals highlight in November — National Bladder Health Month.

According to studies at Johns Hopkins University, “More than 25 million Americans experience urinary incontinence, and interstitial cystitis affects up to 12 million adults in the United States.”

“It is estimated that more than 81,000 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2022. And with treatment for UTIs costing more than $1.5 billion a year, it’s clear that the effects of bladder health are wide-ranging.” AAPC

A Humble Organ?

You may not think the bladder ranks high in the hierarchy of bodily organs. It’s like a water pitcher that you fill, empty, and refill throughout the day.

But the bladder is more than a holding tank. It’s integral to the urinary tract–a system including kidneys, ureters, urethra, and sphincter muscles. The job of this system is to filter waste and eliminate it from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood pH. The bladder is lined with special muscles that enable you to expel wastes.

Keeping Your Bladder Healthy

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers 15 tips to keep your bladder healthy as you age. Several of the tips are identical to recommendations for preventing most health issues and diseases:

• Quit smoking
• Limit alcohol and caffeine
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise regularly (such as walking and swimming)

Every system in the body is reliant on those keys to good health. A diet low in fiber, for example, can lead to chronic constipation. When the colon puts pressure on the bladder, it can’t expand properly.

Constipation, along with infections and certain medications, can cause temporary urine leakage.

Leaks Happen!

The stresses that millions of Americans experience urinary incontinence, or ‘overactive bladder.’ While prevalent in the older population, involuntary leaking occurs in younger people, too. It has various causes.

Diseases that damage nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, Diabetes, and Multiple Sclerosis) affect bladder function.

In women, pelvic organs, including the uterus, sometimes shift out of shape, or prolapse; this impacts normal bladder function. In men, urinary incontinence is commonly associated with prostate gland inflammation or enlargement, or with nerves and muscles that have been damaged by surgery.

Aging also reduces bladder tissue elasticity, making it unable to hold as much urine as it once did. The ability of nerves and muscles to signal the bladder declines, and weaker bladder walls and pelvic muscles can make it more difficult to empty the bladder completely, resulting in leaks.

Caution, Plus Good Habits

National Bladder Health Month reminds everyone how important the bladder and entire urinary tract are. See your urologist if you have any of the following:

• Inability to hold urine; leaking
• Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently
• Cloudy urine; blood in the urine
• Pain before, during, or after urination
• Trouble starting to urinate; having a weak stream

Even if you have no issues, stay hydrated all day by drinking enough fluids, especially water; you should need to urinate at least every three to four hours. Take the time to empty your bladder fully; holding urine too long weakens bladder muscles and can lead to bladder infection.

Read More:

https://www.urologyhealth.org

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/15-tips-keep-your-bladder-healthy

https://www.augs.org/patient-services/bladder-health-month-resources

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. 

Reducing the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

November is Diabetes Awareness month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes and 90-95% of them are living with type 2 diabetes which often occurs as we age and can be brought on by our lifestyle rather than just genetics. In fact, according to Harvard University, nine out of 10 cases of Type 2 diabetes are preventable.

Although most people are aware that type 2 diabetes is a serious disease, many don’t know about prediabetes. This November, the medical community is focused on raising awareness about it. According to the CDC, 88 million Americans (one of every three adults) are living with prediabetes, and only a tiny fraction of them know it.

What is prediabetes?

People with prediabetes have higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

The CDC explains the cause of prediabetes this way: “Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road.”

Why focus on diabetes in its “pre” stage?

Prediabetes is reversible, and intervention can prevent its progression into type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, caused by the body’s inability to use insulin properly, is the most prevalent type of diabetes; it accounts for 95 percent of cases.

As we age, the chance of developing type 2 diabetes increases. It occurs mostly in people over age 45– although its prevalence is on the rise in young adults, teens, and children.

Although type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed with a healthy diet and exercise, it is a progressive disease. Over time, your pancreas may not produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at normal levels, requiring daily medication or insulin.

Diabetes is a serious disease. High blood glucose damages blood vessels and nerves that control your heart, making diabetic adults nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke than people without the disease. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.

Fortunately, type 2 diabetes usually starts with warning signs.  According to The Mayo Clinic, there are symptoms you should be aware of.

How will I know I have prediabetes?

Some of the risk factors for prediabetes include:

• Being overweight
• Being 45 years or older
• Having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
• Being physically active less than three times a week

Although prediabetes has no clear symptoms, you can take a simple, 60-second risk assessment from the National Diabetes Association. If you are in a moderate-to high-risk category, discuss it with your physician, who can monitor your blood glucose levels.

Can I prevent prediabetes?

YES. Changes in lifestyle and nutrition can help you lower your risk for, or even reverse prediabetes,. The CDC offers a free downloadable guide, called On Your Way to Preventing Type 2 Diabetes.

By being aware of prediabetes, or reversing it now, you can meaningfully lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Learn more about the benefits of walking for older adults and nutrition for healthy aging.

For online resources, please visit the following websites:

https://diabetes.org

https://diabetesfoundationinc.org/online-resources/

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

June is Men’s Health Awareness Month.  In recognition of this important annual initiative, it’s a good time to provide you with some helpful information and reminders related to men’s health. 

Things to Know about Men’s Health

According to an article featured in Everyday Health, when you look at the top 10 leading causes of death by gender, men lead in 9 out of the 10 categories. Understanding this should also make us realize that bringing awareness to men’s health concerns needs to continue to be a priority. It could save lives.

The key is not to let complacency and fear be excuses for not going to the doctor.  Forgoing annual check-ups can take a toll on our overall health.  By maintaining annual exams that include routine bloodwork, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and management of health issues, we can stay ahead of any potentially serious health issues like diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Men’s Mental Health

Although mental health has become a growing concern for men and women in recent years, men continue to battle the pressures of society when it comes to acknowledging the issue and managing it.  According to WebMD, men with depression often aren’t diagnosed for several reasons, including:

• Failure to recognize depression. You may think that feeling sad or emotional is always the main symptom of depression. But for many men, that isn’t the primary symptom. It can be headaches or body pain.

• Downplaying signs and symptoms. You may not recognize how much your symptoms affect you, or you may not want to admit to yourself or to anyone else that you’re depressed. But ignoring, suppressing, or masking depression with unhealthy behaviors will only worsen the situation.
• Reluctance to discuss depression symptoms. You may not be open to talking about your feelings with family or friends, let alone with a doctor or therapist. Like many men, you may have learned to suppress your feelings.  
• Resisting mental health treatment. Even if you suspect you have depression, you may avoid diagnosis or refuse treatment. Many men avoid getting help because they are worried about the stigma.

Stay Active & Practice Good Nutritional Habits

Maintaining a balanced diet and staying active can help you lower your risk for things like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. As mentioned above, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, so making heart-healthy choices like eating right and exercising can only help! Not only can they help keep your heart strong, they will improve your mental health as well. 

When it comes to a balanced and healthy diet, Healthline.com says you should avoid processed foods as much as possible. Stick with natural foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat (like skinless chicken breast, lean ground meat (like turkey), or even fish).

Being active doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym several times a week. You can bike, walk on your lunch hour, or play a game of pickleball with a friend. The key is to do a healthy mix of aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activities.  Remember, always take the stairs – the little changes you make add up, too!

Don’t Forget about Your Prostate

The second leading cancer diagnosis for men is prostate cancer, as reported by the American Cancer Society. If you have trouble urinating, experience pain when you urinate, or notice blood in your urine, it may be a sign of prostate problems.  Newer advances in blood tests can screen for prostate issues like cancer and, if necessary, can help guide treatment.

The key is to stay in control of your mental and physical health by being an active participant in your healthcare. Don’t be silent about issues and hope they just go away – they won’t. Speak up when something doesn’t seem right either physically or mentally.  

Your health is important for a good quality of life. Don’t be caught up in old, outdated stereotypes that keep you from asking for and seeking help. Strong men do take care of themselves because by doing so, they help take care of those they love as well.

Resources:

Men’s Health Month
MensHealthMonth.org

Men’s Health Network
MensHealthNetwork.org

Men’s Health Resource Center
MensHealthResourceCenter.com

A brain injury occurs in the United States every 9 seconds. We’ve all heard the stories about how untreated brain injuries can be tragic – like in the cases of actress Natasha Richardson and, most recently, actor/comedian Bob Saget. More than 3.5 million children and adults sustain a brain injury each year, but the total incidence is not known as many go unreported.

Brain Injury Awareness Month is an annual awareness campaign and a three decade-long tradition led by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). Each March, the BIAA conducts a public awareness campaign designed to educate the general public about brain injuries and the needs of individuals who have sustained them. Some of the goals of the BIAA’s public awareness campaign include:

• De-stigmatizing brain injury through outreach within the brain injury community
• Empowering those who have survived brain injury and their caregivers
• Promoting the many types of support that are available to people living with brain injury

What is considered a Brain Injury?

There are basically two types of brain injury according to the Brain Injury Association of America. They are;

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. Essentially, this type of brain injury is one that has occurred after birth. The injury results in a change to the brain’s neuronal activity, which affects the physical integrity, metabolic activity, or functional ability of nerve cells in the brain. These can include:

• Stroke
• Drowning
• Aneurysm
• Brain Tumor
• Infectious Disease

There are two types of acquired brain injury: traumatic and non-traumatic.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. Traumatic impact injuries can be defined as closed (or non-penetrating) or open (penetrating). These can include:

• Falls
• Assaults
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Sports Injuries
• Combat Injuries

According to the BIAA, no two brain injuries are the same (no matter how similar they may appear). Loved ones and caregivers should always keep in mind that:

• A person with a brain injury is a person first.
• No two brain injuries are exactly the same.
• The effects of a brain injury are complex and vary from person to person.
• The effects of a brain injury depend on factors such as cause, location, and severity.

Below are some of the common cognitive and communication functions that may be affected with a brain injury. Cognitive:                     

• Attention  
• Memory
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Thought Processing Speed
• Perception
• Comprehension
• Difficulty following conversations
• Inability to following directions
• Word Retrieval
• Inhibition Issues
• Slurred Speech and Aphasia
• Writing Issues

Common Sensory or Physical Repercussions may include changes in:                 

• Balance 
• Walking/Gait
• Fine Motor Control
• Sense of Smell
• Sense of Taste
• Hearing
• Vision

What to do when someone has a head injury?

Injury to the brain can occur from a blow to the head or by rapid movements of the head that force the brain to bounce around within the skull. Significant swelling or bleeding inside the skull can result in increased pressure that damages delicate brain tissue. If you suspect that a serious brain injury has occurred and results in a diminished level of responsiveness, the first thing you should do is call 911.

The repercussions of brain injury can have a lasting impact on the survivor’s ability to participate in daily activities, including school, work, socializing, and spending time with their family. The patient’s caregivers and friends are often directly impacted as well. Imagine having difficulty with any number of the repercussions listed above and how it would impact a person on a day-to-day basis.

When it comes to a brain injury, the severity is measured based upon loss of consciousness, the presence of an infarct on a scan of the brain and pre/post injury memory loss.

However, the severity of the injury itself does not indicate the severity of the lingering effects.

Treatment of Brain Injury

Mild brain injuries such as mild concussions may not require any treatment at all and can resolve with time and rest. Severe brain injuries may require extensive medical care and rehabilitation.  People with mild to moderate TBIs may only need minimal treatment. Your care may involve a short period of rest from sports, school, or work. Symptoms should improve within a few weeks.

For severe TBI, people often need hospital care and more intense treatments.

For all TBI grades, treatments may include:

• Counseling for emotional support. Many individuals experience stress and worries about their recovery. They may find that it is more difficult to get back to their work and hobbies than anticipated. Therefore, counseling is often very helpful in conjunction with other medical treatments.
• Surgery to treat a brain bleed (intracranial hemorrhage) or reduce pressure from brain swelling.
• Rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• Rest. Depending on the type of TBI, some may need to rest for 1 to 2 days before going back to their typical activities. More severe head injuries may require longer periods of rest.

Brain injury is often referred to as the “invisible injury”. Many survivors exhibit minimal physically visible injuries yet struggle with everyday tasks. The “invisible injury” can lead to a lack of understanding and awareness of the population and all the more reason to recognize Brain Injury Awareness Month.

For additional resources on brain injuries, please contact The Brain Injury Association of America or locally, The Brain Injury Association of New York State

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Giving the Blood of Life

Blood supplies in the United States are dangerously low– so low that the American Red Cross is offering a chance to win Super Bowl tickets if you donate by the end of January. 

“This is the biggest challenge that I’ve seen in my 30 years in the business,” Chris Hrouda, president of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, told The New York Times in December. “We simply like to keep three days of inventory,” he said. “We’re struggling to keep one day.”

Demand and supply

Each year, 4.5 million Americans require blood transfusions. Daily, 45,000 pints of blood are used because someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. Meeting such need requires a steady flow of blood donations–about 33,000 per day.

Why are blood supplies now at their lowest level in a decade?

According to Jim McIntyre, Red Cross of Northern Ohio, “During the first half of 2021, there was a surge in hospital demand for blood because of an increase of trauma patients, the number of transplant patients, and elective surgeries that had been put off during the first part of the pandemic.” He added that in the second half of 2021, donors were prevented from turning out in sufficient numbers by the Delta and Omicron variants and other issues caused by Covid-19.

Who needs donated blood?

“Most likely, your blood would be used for a medical patient who’s suffering a disease or it could be used for a patient that’s having surgery,” says Justin D. Kreuter, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program.

Cancer treatments, transplants, open heart surgery, anemia, and sickle cell disease rely heavily on donated blood. People with sickle cell disease, for example, may receive up to four pints of blood every month to sustain their lives.  About a third of heart surgery patients will need a transfusion.

One pint of blood can save three lives

Blood is made up of several components, the major ones being red blood cells, platelets and plasma.

Sometimes, a pint of (whole) blood is used in its entirety for transfusion, but each component can be used separately for different patients.

• Red blood cells make up 40 percent of blood. They transport oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues, where it turns into energy. Red blood cells also carry the waste (carbon dioxide) from that process back to the lungs to be expelled.
• Platelets “are the cells that circulate within our blood and bind together when they recognize damaged blood vessels,” says Marlene Williams, M.D., director of the Coronary Care Unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. “When you get a cut, for example, the platelets bind to the site of the damaged vessel, causing a blood clot.”
• Plasma, about 55 percent of whole blood, is mostly composed of water. White blood cells and platelets are suspended within it. Plasma helps maintain blood pressure and volume, and ensures proper Ph balance in the body.

Each of these components can be used separately for different patient needs. Platelets are most often given to cancer patients, organ recipients, and those undergoing heart surgery, while plasma is used to treat bleeding disorders, liver failure, or major traumatic injuries. Red blood cells are used for anemia, and they improve levels of oxygen in the body.

Who can donate and where?

Anyone over 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent in some states) and in good health can make a simple blood donation. The fastest way to make an appointment is online at the American Red Cross website, where you can find blood drive locations in your community. You can also check for certain restrictions (medications you take, or health conditions) to donating blood.

Keeping America’s blood banks stocked depends on the altruism of everyday people. Most non-donors say they simply have never thought about it. January, a time for fresh resolutions, is also National Blood Donor Month.

If you care about helping others, but haven’t yet considered blood donation, this is your chance to make a critical difference.

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Live Well, With a Healthy Liver

Tucked under your right ribcage, on top of your stomach, is your largest internal organ–the liver. It’s one of your hardest-working, but least understood organs. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, more than 500 body functions are identified with the liver. The most critical of those include regulating chemical levels in the blood; producing bile, to help carry away waste and breaks down fats in the small intestine; making immune factors; and removing bacteria from the bloodstream to resist infections.

Even when damaged, the liver continues to function, so people with liver disease are usually unaware of a problem. That’s noteworthy, because liver cancer rates have tripled in the United States over the last 30 years.  Bluntly speaking, “some 30,230 people are expected to die of primary adult liver cancer in 2021. The five-year survival rate is just 20.3 percent” (American Association for Cancer Research). While survival rates for most other common cancers have improved significantly during those decades, liver cancer deaths have doubled.

October is National Liver Awareness month; knowing what harms your liver could ultimately save your life.

The American Liver Foundation stresses that early detection of liver disease is critical, because     if you are treated successfully in early stages, your liver has a chance to recover. The liver is capable of repairing and even regenerating itself.

The Progression of Liver Disease

Liver disease progresses in stages:

Inflammation (hepatitis) (Stage 0 -1)

Inflammation of the liver occurs when the liver detects something dangerous in the body. Causes can be viral hepatitis (types A, B, or C), indulging in too much alcohol or fatty foods, or having an immune system that triggers a continual inflammatory response in the liver. About 4.5 million people in the United States are living with Hepatitis B or C, and most don’t even know. An estimated 20-30 percent of American adults live with excessive fat in the liver.

If the liver is inflamed, its repair mechanism is to deposit collagen that stiffens around inflamed liver tissue, allowing it to heal.

Fibrosis (stage 1 -3)

If the underlying cause of inflammation remains, the liver will repeatedly try to repair itself and continually release collagen. Excess collagen kills healthy liver cells, and becomes scar tissue. This is fibrosis of the liver; it progresses from mild, to moderate, to severe stages.

Even if your liver has some scar tissue, treatments may allow it to repair, or regenerate itself.

But at some point, fibrosis will lead to severe scarring, called cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis (stage 4)

Cirrhosis means the liver is permanently damaged. It shrinks and becomes hard, which makes it difficult for the liver to process the large amounts of blood it handles. This leads to problems with blood flow and fluid retention, and inability to clear impurities that affect the kidneys, brain, and other organs.

Although commonly associated with alcohol-induced liver disease, cirrhosis is caused by many forms of liver disease. There’s no treatment to cure it, although preventing further damage may help avoid liver failure.

As cirrhosis advances, the liver will begin to fail. Most people who develop liver cancer already have cirrhosis.

What Can You Do for Your Liver?

Learn what can harm your liver, even if you think your liver is healthy.

• Be proactive; even end-stage liver disease may not present symptoms.
• Ask your doctor if you should be tested for or vaccinated against Hepatitis A, B, or C.
• Inform your doctor about any hereditary liver diseases in your family.
• Discuss all the medications you take, or that may be prescribed, with your healthcare providers.
• Honestly assess your overall health and lifestyle. Do you have type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or obesity? The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is growing rapidly, even among children. Currently, six million American children suffer from it. NAFLD is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children and adults in the United States.
• Appreciate this hardworking organ for all it does to keep you healthy.

 The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Psoriasis Explained

Psoriasis (pronounced Sor-eye-ah-sis) comes from the ancient Greek word psora — meaning itch. Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease. Its most prevalent form, plaque psoriasis, is characterized by raised, scaly patches of skin that can be itchy and painful. Psoriasis commonly occurs on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp, but it can also appear on the face or genitals. Since August is National Psoriasis Awareness month, we want to share information about it because it is often a misunderstood medical issue.

On white skin, psoriasis plaques appear as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells (scale). On skin of color, plaques may appear darker and thicker and a purple or grayish color, or darker brown.

Psoriasis tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission. It can be limited to one or two patches that are hidden under clothing, or it can cover half to three-quarters of a person’s body. It is not contagious, but observers can confuse it with herpes or other transmissible skin diseases. This stigmatizes those with psoriasis, often resulting in anxiety or depression.

 Called the “Heartbreak of Psoriasis” in advertisements for medications, “these mood problems may go deeper than simply being unhappy about having an unsightly skin disease” says Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. She explains that psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, and that “people with psoriasis are more likely to have other conditions linked to inflammation, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.”

Risk Factors and Psoriasis Triggers

While it is an autoimmune disease, the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown. As in all autoimmune disorders, parts of the body’s immune system become overactive and attack normal tissues.

Research indicates that genetics and environmental factors play a role in psoriasis.  If your parent or parents have psoriasis, for example, your chances of developing it are greatly increased. About one-third of cases begin in childhood.

But anyone can develop psoriasis.  According to a 2021 JAMA Dermatology study, more than 7.5 million American adults have psoriasis.

High stress levels can make one more susceptible to psoriasis, because stress is known to affect the immune system. Smoking tobacco also increases the risk of developing psoriasis, and can increase its severity.

People who are more likely to develop psoriasis may be symptom free until the disease is activated.  According to the Mayo Clinic, common environmental ‘triggers’ include:

• Infections, like strep throat or skin infection
• Weather, especially cold and dryness
• Skin injuries: scrapes, cuts, bug bites, severe sunburn
• Smoking, and second-hand smoke exposure
• Heavy alcohol use
• Lithium, blood-pressure, and anti-malarial medications
• Rapid withdrawal of corticosteroids

Complications

About one-third of psoriasis sufferers develop psoriatic arthritis, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints. It can also occur in people without skin eruptions, especially if they have relatives with psoriasis. Since this condition can cause permanent joint destruction, it’s important to consult a rheumatologist to determine treatment.

Treatments

Treatment for psoriasis begins with a correct diagnosis by a dermatologist. In early stages, psoriatic lesions may be confused with other skin conditions. Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment may be as simple as topical creams or ointments, over-the-counter, or prescription.

Phototherapy treatments (exposing the skin to ultraviolet light) may be prescribed by a dermatologist. Light therapy can be tailored to small surface areas, like hands or feet, or to full body. To be effective, light therapy must be consistent.

Oral, systemic medications work throughout the body to treat moderate-to-severe psoriasis. They are also used by those for whom topical medications or light therapy are not effective.

Biologics are drugs administered by injection or infusion that target specific immune cells or proteins. Biologics present an option for people who do not respond to, or have had harmful side effects from other treatments.

In addition to these therapies, people with psoriasis can stay abreast of the latest research and coping strategies at the National Psoriasis Foundation’s website. The site includes a one-on-one peer support program, and an official online community of 90,000 people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is a medical issue that is often misinterpreted by those who experience it and by those who see it on others. Knowing the facts about it can help all of us deal with it a little more effectively.

The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.