PUT HOLIDAY STRESS TO WORK!

Here we are, approaching Christmas, and some of us are stressing out already about gifts to buy, baking, preparing the house for guests and all the many details involved. For believers, the joy and significance of Christ’s birth make a great difference in how we look at the season. Our radio preacher friend Steve Brown once pointed out that, when you go to the mall to shop in the crowds, even non-believers are there for unselfish reasons—to buy presents for other people!
I found an article on the Canadian Health Network that gave a different approach—use holiday stress to work for you! The truth is that stress gives you a certain amount of energy. The trick is not to let the stress take over. So…

• Be realistic in your planning. Don’t try to pack so many tasks, activities and stuff into your schedule. After all, you still have all of your day-to-day things to accomplish.
• Try project management. Have a look at all the steps involved in your plans for a party, decorating, etc. before you jump in.
• Involve the family in planning and make it clear to each person what their responsibilities are—picking up certain gifts, helping with housecleaning, etc. If someone offers to bring a dessert to the dinner, take them up on it.
• Are there a couple of small things you could accomplish today that would lighten the load? Take care of them, and then congratulate yourself!
• Stick to a budget! Going over just ads to stress.
• Reach out to others—needy, lonely, especially those who may be spending their first Christmas without a loved one.
• Count your blessings.
• Keep a positive attitude and don’t wring your hands about what could go wrong.
• Do something nice for yourself! Take a break and enjoy a little pampering or something you’d enjoy doing.

NOVEMBER IS FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH

The National Family Caregivers Association (website http://www.nfcacares.org) tells us that more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member. Stress and the toll on the caregiver’s health are high. This website includes a wealth of information and resources for caregivers.

It is important for caregivers to reach out for help. Friends and other family members might assist by:
Running errands
Helping with household chores
Providing a meal
Carpooling young children or babysitting
Caregivers may feel guilty asking for help, so if you know a caregiver, see what you might be able to do for them. Sometimes just having someone to talk with and receive emotional support from is helpful. The caregiver should be encouraged to look after his or her own health, getting regular checkups and sufficient rest. Respite care, having someone come and stay with the ill family member for a few hours, may be available through a county agency. The caregiver who works should check out the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Most everyone in our Arizona church family is retired. In many cases, there are caregiver situations in which the caregiver is elderly and may have his or her own health problems. We must be alert to these situations so that we can offer support and encouragement as we can.

October is Organize Your Medical Information Month

When we saw our primary physician in June, I picked up a couple of little cards at the desk. These had places for name, allergies, medications, and physician name and phone number. We carry them in our wallets. In case of emergency, we’ve got that information with us. We keep it with our medical insurance card. It’s also useful when we go to the doctor since we’ll have a list of our medicines with us.

A more “high tech” device involves a USB flash drive for your keychain containing your medical information. Two of these are available. See http://www.medictag.com/ or http://www.medicalert.com/E-Health/.

It’s useful to have a record at home as well. This should include:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Allergies
• Prescription medicines with dose and schedule
• Medical problems
• Doctor’s name and telephone number
• Preferred hospital
• Health insurance information

One way make this available in case of emergency is through the Vial of Life program. A form can be printed out and stored in the refrigerator; a decal is ordered to be placed on the refrigerator so emergency responders will know where to look for the information. Details, printable forms, and ordering instructions for decals are found at http://www.vialoflife.com.

Another consideration is finding a next of kin in case of emergency. If you have a cell phone, try ICE. In your contact list, list ICE (in case of emergency) with the number of your next of kin. A sticker on your phone would assist emergency responders as well.

Take care to protect your identity—do not include a social security number in any of these places. Emergency responders do not need this information.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Although more women have mammograms today than ever before, breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45 and 55. It is the most common cancer in women. Finding the cancer early leads to early treatment and a better outcome.

Most breast cancers are found with mammograms, but some are discovered when women examine their breasts on a monthly basis. The American Cancer Society recommends woman start breast self-exam at the age of 20. Instructions are found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-self-exam/WO00026/UPDATEAPP=0.

There are some signs women can look for as they examine their breasts:

• Changes in how the breast or nipple feels.
• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or under the arm.
• Tenderness of the nipple.
• Changes in how the breast or nipple looks.
• Changes in the size and shape of the breast.
• Changes in the skin of the breast, such as scaly skin, redness, swelling, ridges, or pitting.
• Any fluid coming from the nipple.

Women who find any of these changes should see their physician.

The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms beginning at the age of 40. Women who have a mother, sister or daughter with breast or ovarian cancer (or both) or a male relative with breast cancer, especially before age 50, run a higher risk. About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are related to two defective genes. Women with these risks should discuss with their physician whether they need to begin yearly mammograms at a younger age.

Some other risk factors for breast cancer include:

• Age older than 50.
• Radiation exposure.
• Excess weight, especially if the weight was gained in the teen years or after menopause, or if there is more body fat in the upper body.
• Early start of menstruation.
• Menopause after age 55.
• First pregnancy after 30.
• White women are more likely to have breast cancer, but black women are more likely to die of it.
• Use of hormones for symptoms of menopause.
• Use of birth control pills.
• Smoking
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Pre-cancerous changes in the breast.
• Dense breast tissue may hide tumors and may also be a cause of increased risk.

Excellent information is found at http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm

SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Of all the cancers, ovarian cancer is the fifth highest cause of death in women. Usually, by the time the cancer is identified, it has spread beyond the ovary. Pap smears do not detect this cancer. The chance of surviving the cancer is much higher when it is found early.

Recently some symptoms of early ovarian cancer have been identified. These include a feeling of pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating in the abdomen; an urgent need to urinate; and pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. As you can see, these symptoms are common to a lot of problems.

Certain women are more likely to get ovarian cancer: Those who have a family history of breast cancer with inherited breast cancer genes, family history of ovarian cancer, women past menopause (although it does occur in younger women as well), women who did not have children, those who had difficulty getting pregnant, and those who took hormones after menopause. Also, young women who were overweight by the age of 18 seem to have a higher risk of ovarian cancer before menopause.

Women who are at risk of ovarian cancer would be wise to see a gynecologist who is familiar with ovarian cancer regularly. Women who develop the symptoms listed above should see a doctor. If treatment advised by the doctor doesn’t help the symptoms, a visit to the gynecologist and pelvic examination would be advised.
More information on ovarian cancer can be found at http://www.ovarian.org/ or at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian/

August is Cataract Awareness Month

A cataract is a cloudiness of the lens in your eye. The lens, just like one in binoculars, focuses on what you see, giving a clear image. As we age, cataracts develop. Eventually it's difficult to see clearly, to read and to drive. It's especially hard to drive at night because the glare of headlights makes the problem worse. Think of driving through fog with high beam headlights.

The problem starts slowly. Early on, bright lights for reading and an eyeglass prescription change may help. Cataracts effect seeing things at a distance.

Signs and symptoms of cataract include:

• Cloudy, blurry, or dim vision
• Problems with night vision
• Light and glare sensitivity
• Halos around lights
• Needing bright lights in order to read
• Needing new glasses more often
• Colors appear yellow or faded
• Double vision in one eye

You are more likely to develop cataracts if you're diabetic, smoke, have taken steroids, have had an eye injury, or others in your family have them.

Most folks need regular eye exams, especially as we get older. An opthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in the eyes. He or she will be able to test for cataracts and advise on treatment.

The only treatment for cataracts is an operation to remove the lens. Usually an artificial lens is put in its place. If not, glasses or contact lenses are used. This surgery is a common one--risks should be discussed with your opthalmologist.

July is Herbal/Prescription Awareness Month

Herbs are just plants, so they’re safe to take with my medicines, right?

Wrong—sometimes deadly wrong.

Thousands of Americans use herbs for various purposes—memory, energy, sleep, digestion, weight loss. They’re in every drug store, supermarket, and fitness magazine. They’re available without prescription, so most people consider them benign.

The truth is some drug/herb combinations are dangerous. The effect of the drug might be stronger, weaker, or eliminated altogether. Here are some examples:
If you’re taking Coumadin (Warfarin), a blood thinner, use of ginkgo, garlic, dong quai, and several other herbs may cause bleeding.
Taking St. John’s Wort with certain antidepressants may interfere with the action of Digoxin, taken to help the heart contract, or Theophylline, taken for breathing conditions.
Taking ginseng with Digoxin will make it difficult to measure blood levels of the Digoxin, causing problems for the physician in properly prescribing the drug. Digoxin is effective at certain levels and toxic at others.
Licorice, used for indigestion, interferes with Digoxin and with Spirinolactone, a drug for high blood pressure, making them less effective.
It is very important to tell your physician about everything you’re taking. That includes herbs, over-the-counter remedies, and medications ordered by other physicians. Your pharmacist is an excellent source of information about herb and medicine combinations, too. A good place for information on the web is found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DrugHerbIndex.

June is Cancer from the Sun Month

As a teenager living in Southern California (a long time ago), my favorite activity was going to the beach—any beach. I had hopes that all my freckles would blend into a beautiful tan. Never happened—but I had some unforgettable sunburns. Now I have some big regrets.

Basically I have a one in three chance of developing skin cancer. All those sunburn episodes increase the risk. A light complexion is another factor. Young people who use tanning beds are more prone to develop skin cancer as well.

Skin cancer is a widespread problem—more than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with it every year and more than 20 die each year, mostly from melanoma.

The best treatment is prevention! A young child’s skin is especially sensitive. Babies need complete protection from direct sunlight; sunscreen should not be used on a baby younger than 6 months old.

Cream-type sunscreens are better for children to prevent drying of the skin. Usually not enough is applied. Although a sunscreen of SPF 15 may be the usual recommendation, a higher SPF may be more effective, even if you’re not using enough. Put it on before exposure to the sun—it takes a few minutes to start working. And check the expiration date on your sunscreen. It’s probably best to buy a new container every year. If you don’t like the cream, try a spray or gel. Your ears and the tops of your feet need a coating. And don’t forget your lips—lip balm with SPF 15 protection might prevent a skin cancer. Most experts advise re-applying sunscreen every couple of hours. Water-resistant sunscreen is necessary on the beach or in the water—sand and water reflect sunlight and intensify the burn.

Dress for protection with wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, loose cotton clothing and shoes or sandals.

Some other pointers:
Exposure to the sun before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. is less likely to burn.
A teen who wants a beautiful tan might try one of the newer self-tanning lotions—they don’t turn your skin orange like they used to!
A cloudy day doesn’t provide protection—those rays get through.
Don’t think you’re safe if you’re dark complected or African-American—the sun can still do damage.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a yearly skin exam by your doctor and a monthly self-exam—to learn how to do this, see http://www.skincancer.org/self_exam/spot_skin_cancer.php. Early diagnosis and treatment greatly reduce the risk of death.

May is Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month

Have you ever felt sore all over? So tired it’s difficult to move around? Full of tender spots that hurt whenever anything comes in contact with your skin? These are some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a chronic condition. A person with these symptoms that last longer than several months should see a doctor. It’s not easy to diagnose fibromyalgia; the doctor will do a thorough examination and tests to be sure it’s not another problem.

People with fibromyalgia have a chronic pain problem; pain affects many parts of the body and is worse at some times than others. They may seem to sleep well but don’t wake up rested at all and are often tired. They have many areas that are tender to touch.

Fibromyalgia is more frequent in women and tends to show up in your 30’s and 40’s—but it may affect younger or older people as well. People with rheumatic disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc) and who have the condition in their families are more susceptible.

The good news is the problem won’t get steadily worse or be life-threatening. There are medications that help symptoms. Regular exercise will cause more pain at first but often reduces the symptoms.

Some great information can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079

April is National Parkinson's Awareness Month

As you may know, Billy Graham has Parkinson’s Disease, as does Michael J. Fox. This disease usually affects people over 60, but occasionally occurs in people under 40. In 2004, it was estimated that more than 500,000 Americans had this condition. It’s a brain disorder—there is a loss of the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical which allows the body to move in a smooth, coordinated way.

The most common symptoms are tremor or shaking, slow movement, stiffness, and balance problems. Other symptoms include small, cramped handwriting, shuffling walk, muffled speech, and depression. The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease grow worse over time and may eventually be disabling, but this is a slow process.

Doctors may use various tests to make sure the symptoms aren’t from some other condition, but there are no tests to make a diagnosis of this disease. The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the symptoms, examining the patient, and checking reflexes and brain function.

Men are more likely to develop this condition than women. If you have a close relative with Parkinson’s, there is a very small chance you may eventually have it, too. People who work with herbicides and pesticides over a long period are susceptible as well.

There are medications available to ease the symptoms and new ones being studied which may slow the progress of the disease. Some combinations of drugs work with fewer side effects. Usually the medicines are quite effective at first but grow less so over time. Exercise and physical therapy help to keep the person mobile and keep muscles strong. Some operations have been found to improve the tremors and other symptoms.

It’s important for the person with this disease to learn as much as he/she can about it and take an active part in decisions about treatment. Support from family and friends is most helpful. Being open about what’s going on is important for everyone in the family.

Some excellent information on Parkinson’s Disease can be found at:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295/DSECTION=1

http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=201&srcid=226

http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/neuroscience/body.cfm?id=142

In Case of Illness—Communicate!

Communication is a sharing of ideas, thoughts, concerns, feelings. It’s an important tool in your “medicine chest.” Illness, especially chronic illness, can be discouraging and frustrating for all involved. So it’s essential to:

· Communicate with your doctor. Learn all you can about your condition and what to expect. Discuss your symptoms, how medicines are affecting you, the effects on your life. Be active in the process—don’t let others make important decisions for you, but be sure you have all the information you need. And listen! Be sure you understand the doctor’s instructions and explanations. If you don’t, tell him or her. Don’t be embarrassed because you don’t speak “medicalese.” Misunderstanding a doctor’s words can be quite dangerous.
· Communicate with others. Develop a “support group” of folks who will encourage and understand. This might include friends, people at your church, your family certainly, and perhaps an actual support group of people experiencing the same problem as you.
· Communicate with your spouse. Don’t be a lone ranger. Your illness and changes in your life have profound effects on those closest to you. You may not be able to work or to physically care for yourself. Talk honestly about feelings and concerns. And listen—communication involves more than letting your own feelings be heard. This is a high stress issue for you both and not the time to be super-sensitive about what is said. Put yourself in your spouse’s place and make an effort to understand his/her concerns. It’s my belief that all couples ought to share their preferences about end-of-life treatments with each other as well.*
· Communicate with your children. Don’t try to hide the truth from them. Not knowing is often more frightening than whatever the truth might be.

Keep the channels open to those around you. Isolating yourself increases the depression and anxiety that may come with illness.


*For information on these decisions, I recommend http://wings.buffalo.edu/faculty/research/bioethics/lwill.html. While some of the information may be out-of-date, the article presents a clear discussion of the issues involved.

March is National Kidney Month

You probably haven't thought about your kidneys lately--that is, unless you have a problem with them. So what's the big deal about kidneys, you ask.

Your kidneys filter your blood and remove some waste products from your body as well as excess fluid. These are the most familiar functions of kidneys to most folks. But that's not all...

• Kidneys have some control over your blood pressure
• Kidneys balance the fluids and electrolytes in your body
• Kidneys produce active vitamin D to help keep your bones healthy
• Kidneys help in producing red blood cells--the ones that carry oxygen to all the cells of your body

One in nine Americans has chronic kidney disease, meaning their kidneys don't work as well as they should. These folks feel sick because waste products and excess water aren't being filtered out. They may have high blood pressure, weakened bones, or anemia. They are at higher risk to develop heart disease. If chronic kidney disease isn't diagnosed early and treated, the kidneys can fail so that a person has to have dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.

Dialysis means that your blood has to be filtered in some other way. The most common is to spend four hours a day, three days a week, connected to a dialysis machine. I've personally known a lot of people on dialysis, and for many of them, it's not very pleasant. They cope with upset stomachs, blood pressure problems, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and itching. They have to severely limit how much liquid they drink and the kinds of food they eat.

Kidney transplant is another way to treat kidney failure. Right now there are more than 70,000 Americans on the national waiting list to receive a kidney transplant. If a person has a relative or friend who is willing to donate a kidney to them, they must be healthy and matched with them in several ways. This donor can function with one kidney but may run some risks to his/her health. Kidney transplant patients take a number of medicines, mostly with side effects, for as long as their transplanted kidney continues to function. There are increased problems related to infection and cancer that go along with kidney transplant.

So doesn't it make sense to take good care of your kidneys?

Some people are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease. These include:

• Diabetics
• People with high blood pressure
• Older people
• People with a family history of kidney disease

If you're in one or more of these categories, talk to your doctor. There are some simple tests to check how well your kidneys are functioning. Work with your doctor to keep your diabetes and/or high blood pressure under good control.

For everyone--you may have kidney disease and have no symptoms at all. The earlier your doctor finds the problem, the more likely that something can be done about it.

For more information, here are some helpful websites:

http://www.kidney.org/kidneyDisease National Kidney Foundation website.

http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/resources/kidney_problems.htm National Kidney Disease Education Program home page

http://www.transplantliving.org Organ donation and transplant information for patients and families.

Copyright © 2007 Jane Benjey