Let our men and women come home now!

If you snore, this may be a signal that a bigger problem exists.  Approximately 80% of men snore and 30% of women snore. Snoring can cause an obstruction in the airway. This can happen many times through the night. The person will typically take a deep gasping breath. The deep breath was triggered by apnea (The cessation of breathing).

Obese people are at higher risk to develop sleep apnea. The diagnosis of sleep apnea will include, but is not limited to, complete or partial breathing blockage occurring more than 5 times an hour and up to over hundreds of times through the night. This causes dramatic day time fatigue, and the increased risk for high blood pressure.

Sleep apnea is usually caused by excess tissue in the throat that sags and obstructs the flow of air. The condition primarily affects over weight men and women. Men have a larger neck size than women usually and are at greater risk for developing the condition. Both snoring and sleep apnea can be significantly improved when the obese men and women lose weight.

There is help. Your dentist can make a mouth guard which juts the jaw forward to keep the airway open.

A CPAP machine is often used after a diagnostic sleep study. This machine produces continuous positive airway pressure. With CPAP, air is forced through the airway preventing the airway from collapse. It must be used nightly for the best results.

Another way to help prevent snoring or sleep apnea is to sleep on your side. This takes the weight off your airway.

Sometimes surgery is preformed to reduce the amount of soft tissue around your airway.

Somnoplasty is the use of radio waves to shrink the soft palate or other enlarged tissues. This is preformed in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Usually people need about 5 treatments. Some think this is safer than surgery.

The consumption of alcohol will depress your central nervous system, thus causing snoring and sleep apnea worse.

Allergies, deviated septum, and nasal polyps can cause snoring and sleep apnea. All can be treated.

There you have it. Take snoring and sleep apnea seriously.

Many people in America today are taking antipsychotic medications to help reduce psychiatric symptoms. Family practice doctors and psychiatrists are using stronger medications for psychiatric and somatic complaints. For example, doctors are giving Abilify for mood stabilization. (Before the FDA approved this treatment) Abilify is an antipsychotic drug. A similar example is that many doctors are giving antipsychotic medications for sleep. As you can see from these examples, antipsychotics are given to the general population; these meds are not limited to just psych patients anymore.

Examples of antipsychotic medication are: Haldol, Thorazine, Sparine, Prolixin, Mellaril, Serentil, Trilafon, Stelazine, Taractan, Navane, Moban, and Loxitane. These medications are about 40 years old. Some of these medications are still used today, mostly in emergencies instead of long term treatment due to their heavy and dangerous side effect panel.

Examples of Atypical Antipsychotics are Clozaril approved by the FDA in 1990, Risperdal approved by the FDA in 1994, Zyprexa was approved by the FDA in 1996, Seroquel was approved by the FDA in 1997, Geodon was approved by the FDA about 8 years ago, and Abilify was placed on the market about 5 years ago. While some side effects to these newer drugs can be severe they are generally better tolerated for long term care.

While the list of the side effects is long, I will focus on summer time precautions. For the entire list see the article entitled  “Antipsychotic Medication.”

Photo-sensitivity. Use sun block and wear a big floppy hat! You can get a sun burn very easily. That coupled with the potential inability to perspire you got yourself a death stew. Plan outside events carefully. Protect your eyes by wearing sun glasses.

Decreased perspiration. Stay cool in the summer time. Drink plenty of fluids. This can be a very dangerous side effect which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Note while on antipsychotic medication the body does not cool itself properly. You must keep this in mind while planning outdoor activities

WARNING! As stated above if you are on an antipsychotic you are more susceptible for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. You have to be doubly careful during hot summer days.

Heat exhaustion happens if the body gets too hot and hydration is not adequate. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are: heavy sweating, loss of color in the face, lethargy, weakness, muscle cramps nausea and vomiting, and fainting. The skin will be cool and moist. The pulse will be elevated and breathing will be fast and shallow.

Treatment for heat exhaustion is to cool the body. Drink water, lot’s of it. Get into some shade or air conditioning. The immediate goal is to cool the body.  One should rest after an episode of heat exhaustion. If this condition is left untreated one can progress into heat stroke which is completely life threatening.

Heat stroke is an elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Put in simple terms, the body is unable to cool itself.  Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

Common signs and symptoms of heat stroke include, high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, problems breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma.

People who experience heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent damage to the internal organs. First and foremost, cool the person. Get the person to a shady area, remove or loosen clothing, apply cool water to the skin for example, spray the person with cool water from a garden hose. Fan the person to help promote sweating and evaporation. Place ice packs under armpits and on the upper thighs close to the groin. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Notify emergency services (911) immediately. They can give you further instructions for treatment of the person. Don’t forget to help the affected person to drink lots of water and then something like Gatorade to replace the loss of electrolytes.

Important measures to prevent heat stroke are to avoid becoming dehydrated, to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot humid weather, and to plan ahead. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids such as, water and Gatorade, but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, light colored and loose fitting clothing. Do what it takes to stay cool!

These prayer beads are for sale. You can choose the gem, color, crystals, and the medallion.  The cross is the most popular, however I have angels, saints, and mother earth medallions. I can also make a handmade rosary if you prefer.

The beads can provide comfort in these uncomfortable times. 

The price varies on your choice of gem.

If you are interested send me an email and we will get it done.

Julie@Juliern.com

Peace!

1002

U.S. Military Wounded (Afghanistan) 5725

U.S. Military Deaths (Iraq) 4399

U.S. Military Wounded (Iraq) 31822

Excess Iraqi Deaths 655000

Printable Representations:

• U.S. Military Deaths (Afghanistan)
• U.S. Military Wounded (Afghanistan)
• U.S. Military Deaths (Iraq)
• U.S. Military Wounded (Iraq)
• Excess Iraqi Deaths

Reprint from Michael Moore web page.

While change, hardship, and need are ever present, American people will rise to each and every occasion. History has shown us this time after time.

Behave with the intention to share love. We will be better individuals for it, a better community, and a better country.

If you are in the hospital for a physical or mental illness you will have 3 different nurses a day. Sometimes if the nurses are working 12 hour shifts you will then have two nurses a day.

At the beginning of each shift each patient is assessed. This assessment includes, but not limited to:

• Vital signs
• Blood sugar reading (if necessary)
• Oxygen saturation reading
• A nervous system assessment
• A cardiac assessment
• A pulmonary assessment
• A gastric assessment
• A urinary assessment
• An assessment for pain

This may sound fairly basic, but if these assessments are not done; the patient could die.

Let me give you an example of a true story.

A man was admitted into a psychiatric hospital. He was psychotic. He was placed on an antipsychotic medication. Days and weeks passed, but he did not get better. He was gaining weight because of the antipsychotic medication. The man’s abdomen was distended. The man only spoke when spoken to. He did not complain.

As the weeks turned into months the man’s condition did not change with the exception that he slept a lot.

One day he began to have a seizure. The psychiatric nurses shipped him off the a medical hospital. The doctors at the medical hospital found that the man had an impacted bowel and it had opened up spilling poisonous waste into the abdominal cavity. The man went to emergency surgery only to die on the table.

The error the psychiatric doctors and nurses made was that NO GASTRIC assessment was done. The gastric assessment consists of listening to bowel sounds with a stethoscope in 4 quadrants of the abdomen. The patient is asked, when was the last time their bowels moved and if they are passing gas. Weight is monitored too. That’s it! If the psychiatric nurses or doctors had assessed this man every day as they were taught in college this death would not have occurred. His problem was PREVENTABLE. 

If you find yourself in the hospital make sure the nurses and doctors are paying close attention to all of your body systems. It is basic, but you life literally depends on it.

Here is a list of famous people who have suffered from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression.

1. Abraham Lincoln- American President

2. Winston Churchill- Statesmen

3. Virginia Woolf-Author

4. Eugene O’Neill-Author

5. Robert Schumann-Composer

6. John Keats-Poet

7. Tennessee Williams-Author

8. Vincent Van Gogh-Painter, Artist

9. Ernest Hemingway-Author

10. Sylvia Plath-Poet

11. Vivian Leigh-Actress

12. Jimmy Piersall-Shortstop for the Boston Red Socks in 1950’s

13. Patty Duke-Actor

14. Gustav Mahler-Composer

15. Anne Sexton-Poet

16. George Gordon, Lord Byron-Poet

17. William Blake-English Poet

18. William Wordsworth-English Poet

19. Victor Hugo-Author

20. Robert Lowell-American Poet

21. Boris Pastemak-Russian Writer

22. T.S. Elliott-American Poet

23. Emily Dickinson-American Poet

24. Edgar Allan Poe-Author

25. Walt Whitman-American Poet

26. Alfred Lord Tennyson-English Poet

27. Hans Christian Anderson-Author

28. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

31. Charles Dickens-English Poet

32. William Faulkner- American Author

33. Peter Tchaikovsky- Composer

34. Irving Berlin- Composer

35. Noel Coward-Composer

36. Georgia O’Keefe-Artist

37. Jackson Pollock-Artist

38. Michelangelo-Artist

39. Mike Wallace-TV Personality

40. Art Buchwald-Columnist

41. Bert Yancey-Golfer

44. Pete Harnish- Ball player for the Reds

45. Margo Kidder-Actress (superman’s girlfriend)

46. Sheryl Crow-Pop Singer

47. Meriwether Lewis-Explorer

48. Charlie Parker-Musician

49. Robert Louis Stevenson-Author

50. Leo Tolstoy-Author

51. Thomas Eagleton-Senator from Missouri: Brief VP candidate

52. Lawton Chiles-Late Florida Governor

53. Tipper Gore-Wife of Vice President of the United States

54. Carrie Fisher-Actor (Princess Leila in Star Wars)

55. Rosie O’Donnell-TV Host

56. Martha Manning-Reporter

57. Rosemary Clooney-Singer

58. Meri Danguah- Author, Willow Weep for Me  

59. Ben Stiller-Actor

60. Jane Pauley-TV Personality

Famous people who have suffered from Schizophrenia

1. John Forbes Nash- Economist, Nobel Prize winner 1994.

2. Lionel Aldridge- A defensive end for Vince Lombardi’s legendary Green Bay Packers of the 1960’s, Aldridge played in two Super Bowls.  

In the 1970’s he suffered from schizophrenia and was homeless for 2 1/2 years. He now gives inspirational talks on his battle against paranoid schizophrenia. His story is the subject of numerous newspaper articles.

3. Leo Tolstoy-Author of War and Peace, Tolstoy shared the extent of his own mental illness in My Confession. His experience is also discussed in Dynamics of Creation by Anthony Storr and Inner World of Madness by Bert Kaplan.

This is just a sampling of people who suffered with various mental illnesses. Some have gone undocumented and some under documented. A list would never be complete.

People just like you and me, who happen to be famous, can experience a mental illness.

We, as a people, walk a very fine line between mental wellness and mental illness.

Information  Source: NAMI National.

Examples of antipsychotic medication are: Haldol, Thorazine, Sparine, Prolixin, Mellaril, Serentil, Trilafon, Stelazine, Taractan, Navane, Moban, and Loxitane. These medications are about 40 years old. Some of these medications are still used today, mostly in emergencies instead of long term treatment due to their heavy and dangerous side effect panel.

Examples of Atypical Antipsychotics are Clozaril approved by the FDA in 1990, Risperdal approved by the FDA in 1994, Zyprexa was approved by the FDA in 1996, Seroquel was approved by the FDA in 1997, Geodon was approved by the FDA about 8 years ago, and Abilify was placed on the market about 5 years ago. While some side effects to these newer drugs can be severe they are generally better tolerated for long term care.

While the list of the side effects is long, I will focus on summer time precautions. For the entire list see the article entitled  “Antipsychotic Medication.”

Photo-sensitivity. Use sun block and wear a big floppy hat! You can get a sun burn very easily. That coupled with the potential inability to perspire you got yourself a death stew. Plan outside events carefully. Protect your eyes by wearing sun glasses.

Decreased perspiration. Stay cool in the summer time. Drink plenty of fluids. This can be a very dangerous side effect which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Note while on antipsychotic medication the body does not cool itself properly. You must keep this in mind while planning outdoor activities

WARNING! As stated above if you are on an antipsychotic you are more susceptible for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. You have to be doubly careful during hot summer days.

Heat exhaustion happens if the body gets too hot and hydration is not adequate. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are: heavy sweating, loss of color in the face, lethargy, weakness, muscle cramps nausea and vomiting, and fainting. The skin will be cool and moist. The pulse will be elevated and breathing will be fast and shallow.

Treatment for heat exhaustion is to cool the body. Drink water, lot’s of it. Get into some shade or air conditioning. The immediate goal is to cool the body.  One should rest after an episode of heat exhaustion. If this condition is left untreated one can progress into heat stroke which is completely life threatening.

Heat stroke is an elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Put in simple terms, the body is unable to cool itself.  Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

Common signs and symptoms of heat stroke include, high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, problems breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma.

People who experience heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent damage to the internal organs. First and foremost, cool the person. Get the person to a shady area, remove or loosen clothing, apply cool water to the skin for example, spray the person with cool water from a garden hose. Fan the person to help promote sweating and evaporation. Place ice packs under armpits and on the upper thighs close to the groin. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Notify emergency services (911) immediately. They can give you further instructions for treatment of the person. Don’t forget to help the affected person to drink lots of water and then something like Gatorade to replace the loss of electrolytes.

Important measures to prevent heat stroke are to avoid becoming dehydrated, to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot humid weather, and to plan ahead. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids such as, water and Gatorade, but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, light colored and loose fitting clothing. Do what it takes to stay cool!

Janssen Ortho Assistance Foundation Program- 1-800-652-6227

RX-Assist-1-401-729-3284 also you can reach them on the web at www.RXassist.org.

www.needymeds.com

Drug card of America- 1-888-299-5383

Esun-1-866-662-1351 or on the web, www.esunhealth.net

Free drug card- 1-866-410-4225

Your RX card-1-866-561-1926

www.truerxsavings.com

1-800-886-8412

Also, most drug companies have programs which will help you obtain free or a reduced priced medication. They typically go by your yearly income. If you have no income you will receive your meds with little problem.

I hope this helps!