A Healthy America Starts from Us

Health Promotion, Maintenance and Disease Prevention in the Community

 While life is a gift and health is a privilege, both is a human right of which we have a responsibility. As nurses, one of our greatest challenges, is to promote and maintain health as a first single step to disease prevention in the community through Health Education. We will feature a comprehensive listing of diseases and health education.

Nursing the most beautiful hands

Skin care is one of the priorities in the care of patients. We should make it a priority for the care-givers as well.

The constant hand washing practice as well the multiple tasks associated with traditional bedside nursing predispose the nurses’ hands to the dangers of frequent contact with soap, alcohol-based solutions, water and other chemicals in the workplace. Conditions like dry, chapped hands, brittle nails, accidental cuts, roughening and calluses are frequently seen among nurses. Allergies from latex gloves are common as well.

To prevent these conditions, nurses should apply petrolatum-based creams and lotion after work and should be repeated before going to bed to stay overnight, paying particular attention over nails; inter digital spaces and the whole areas of the hands and palm to replace the lost natural oil of the skin. You may don on cloth gloves to keep the cream in your skin and not on your beddings.

Protect your hands as much as possible, wear on gloves if necessary. You work hard all these times, your hands deserve to be pampered after all, as nurses hands are one of the most beautiful hands in the world, for all the goodness and healing hands  you lay upon your patients.

February: American Heart Month

Fight Heart Disease through heart, health and wellness promotion

Know your symptoms by Heart: Take note that symptoms can be different for men and women

·         Chest Discomfort -discomfort in the middle of the chest that lasts more than few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

·         Discomfort or pain in the upper body - in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

·         Shortness of breath- with or without chest discomfort.

·         Cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Note: Women may experience some symptoms more often than men, such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Taking care of your heart

·         Exercise three times a week. Keep an active lifestyle. Be sure to talk to your doctor when starting a new exercise program.

·         Follow a healthy nutrition plan.

·         Know your numbers and get the right tests: Cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure.

·         Follow your doctor’s direction for your medication and exercise recommendation.

What to do if you feel any of the signs and symptoms:

·         Stop from what you are doing.

·         Take yourself to safety, sit or lie down.

·         Take a deep breath few times.

·         Take one baby aspirin, chew if you can.

·         Make sure you have somebody who is aware of what you are feeling.

·         Call for help; let somebody take you to the doctor or hospital.

Reference:American Heart Association

Cardiovascular Health: Stroke Risk Factors

·         High Blood Pressure

·         Heart Disease (especially irregular heart beat as in Atrial Fibrillation)

·         Smoking

·         Diabetes

·         High Cholesterol

·         Obesity/poor diet

·         Over Age 50

Stroke Warning Signs

·         Sudden numbness or weakness in face, arm, or leg

·         Sudden difficulty speaking

·         Sudden severe dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

·         Sudden dimness, loss of vision

·         Sudden intense headache

·         Brief loss of consciousness