News From the Nurse
Celeste Kopech, RN Provides Blood Pressure checks and answers medication
and general health questions here at the Senior Center on Mondays and
Wednesdays. She also contributes an article to our newsletter each month.
We will provide these here for future reference.
REDUCING FALLS IN THE HOME
There are many changes you can make that will help you avoid falls. Place
night lights in your bedroom, bathroom, and hallways. Keep a flashlight
by your bed in case the power goes out. Mount bars near toilets and on
both sides or shower and tub. If necessary, use a sturdy plastic seat for the
shower or tub and a hand-held shower nozzle for bathing sitting down.
Keep your walkways tidy. Carpets should be fixed firmly to the floor, don’t
use throw rugs or small area rugs. Keep electric cords and telephone
wires away from walking paths. Don’t stand on a chair or table to reach
something that’s too high. Use a stable step stool or a “reach stick” which
can be purchased at hardware or medical supply stores. Know where
your pet is when you are walking. Immediately clean spilled liquids,
grease, or food. Wear sensible shoes which have nonskid soles. Physical
activity can go a long way to prevent falls by improving strength, balance,
coordination, and flexibility. If you are concerned about falling, think of
getting a response system such as Lifeline. If necessary, ask your health
care provider for a referral to an occupational therapist who can help you
with fall prevention strategies. STAY SAFE!
TICKS ARE OUT
Ticks are generally found in brush, wooded, or grassy areas. Ticks do
not fly or drop from trees or high bushes. They attach themselves to
animals and people that come in direct contact with them. Deer ticks
are the size of a poppy seed while dog ticks are the size of a watermelon seed.
Ticks can spread Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia
and Rocky spotted fever. Symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle
and joint pain, headaches, tiredness, skin rash that may look like a bull’s
eye and itching and irritation.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic. Use fine point
tweezers to grip the tick as close as possible and pull straight out with
steady, gentle pressure. Do not squeeze or twist the tick. Wash the
area with alcohol or an iodine scrub and soap and water. Do not apply
kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match tip to remove the tick.
Save the tick and notify your health care provider that you have been
bitten by a tick and any symptoms you may have.
The best way to prevent tick borne diseases is to check yourself, your
children and dogs once a day if you have been outdoors. Favorite
places that ticks like are on your legs, behind your knees, between
your toes, groin, armpits, along your hairline and behind or inside your
ears. Stick to main pathways and center of trails when hiking. Keep
grass cut short and prune low-lying bushes. Wear light colored
clothing and long-sleeved shirts and pants and tuck them into your
socks. Use repellents that contain no more than 30% DEET on your
skin and 10-15% DEET on children. Never use insect relents on infants.
Talk to your veterinarian about the best way to protect your pets.
Note that all ticks carry disease and being bitten by a tick does NOT mean
you will always get a disease. The longer the tick is attached, the more
likely an infection can be transmitted.
Stay safe and have a great summer!
Celeste Kopech RN
with stress and difficulty (adversity) in your life. Managing stress can help
you lead a more balanced, healthier life. Stress is an automatic physical,
mental and emotional response to a challenging event. It's a normal part
of everyone’s life.
But many challenges daily, such as sitting in traffic, meeting deadlines,
and paying bills, can push you beyond your ability to cope.
and expectations mean that some people's alarm systems rarely shut off.
Over time, chronic stress can lead to serious health problems.
To identify these sources, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses
and try to incorporate some of the following tips:
- Learn how to say no, know your limits and stick to them.
- Pare down your to do list.
- Express your feelings instead of keeping them bottled up.
- Be willing to compromise.
- Try not to control the uncontrollable.
- Set aside leisure time.
- Include physical activity in your day.
- Do something you enjoy each day.
- Keep your sense of humor.
- Take up a relaxation practice.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Reduce caffeine and sugar.
- Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. The relief they provide from stress is only temporary.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Take a deep breath.
because most people don’t have symptoms. Blood pressure is the force that a person’s blood exerts
against the walls of their blood vessels. Normal BP should be 120-130/70-80, High BP is above 140/90.
It’s important to have your BP checked regularly and speak to your MD as to what is a normal BP for you
as it may be different due to your medical condition.
Hypertension is a primary risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attack, heart failure and aneurysm.
Lifestyle changes are the first line treatment for HTN.
Please check with your physician as to which exercise is best for you.
Decrease your sodium intake (salt) to less than 2,300 mg per day and if you have HTN decrease
to less than 1,500 mg per day per the American Heart Association.
eat more fruits and vegetables and less fat.
your medication for any reason without asking your doctor. Carry a list of your medications and how
often you take them and update as needed. Organize your medicine in a pillbox marked with the days of
the week so you can remember to take them as part of your routine.
Call your physician if you experience side effects. Don’t take over the counter medicines or herbal
supplements without asking your doctor as it may interfere with your medicine.