The power of a positive mental attitude

Whenever you or a loved one are facing hospitalization, long term care, entry into a nursing facility, or other significant interaction with the medical system, several factors are important to the continued well-being of the patient.

Probably uppermost in importance is finding a health care provider that will provide you with the type of care you desire. Some health care professionals are more open to working in conjunction with alternative therapies, for example. We have had clients who visit us seeking to embark on alternative treatment while at the same time seeing a physician who was not supportive of their decision. Often this results in the patient not sharing information with his health care provider in fear of it not being well-received. In truth, this can be very dangerous to the patient, especially if the chosen treatments are incompatible. You need to be comfortable enough with your health care provider to be willing to openly discuss any aspect of your health.

Once you are comfortable with your health care provider and the treatment options, the importance of everyone who may deal with the patient knowing the full history and treatment plan becomes an issue. Electronic health records can provide a clear and concise platform that keeps all of the patient’s information readily accessible to everyone who interacts with the patient.  Many mistakes and oversights can be prevented if the facility has medical records software in place that allows caregivers to accurately report the patient’s condition, health care providers to follow-up on treatments and enter any orders, pharmacy workers to accurately access exactly what is to be filled, and so on.

These factors can help the individual to have a greater degree of trust in his health care provider and enjoy a greater peace of mind regarding the handling of his needs. Having confidence and being comfortable with the process go a long way toward creating the positive mental attitude that can mean the difference between a positive outcome from treatment, and a not-so-favorable one. Clients should always do everything possible to help to ensure a good morale, no matter what health situation they may be facing.

Take charge of your own health - Educate yourself!

I’m sure you’ve seen commercials featuring a mesothelioma law firm giving contact information to speak with a mesothelioma lawyer, and there has been a great deal of public attention on this disease for several years now. Because of that, I was all the more surprised when I learned the husband of one of our employees was given the task of covering areas right after being stripped of  asbestos without the benefit of any protective gear or even a briefing on the dangers involved.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the lining of the chest (pleura), abdomen, or in rare cases, around the heart.   The main risk factor is exposure to asbestos. While most of the people diagnosed with mesothelioma are people who are exposed to asbestos as part of their work over a period of time, it is possible for a much lesser exposure to cause cancer as well (such as family members who are exposed to particles that may be carried home from the job on a worker’s clothing). What we typically find in almost all cancers are that while high levels trigger the disease in many people, there are some who are apparently sensitive enough to develop cancer from much lower concentrations of the substance in question, which usually means that there is no real safe level of exposure to any known carcinogenic material.

The crew stripping the material was from a special hazard team, and worked in full body protection suits removing the material from the building. However, as soon as their team moved into the next room and before the cleanup, our employee’s husband was sent into the room to apply material over the stripped area and seal it up. I’m glad he came to me and described the situation, because asbestos fibers are particularly dangerous when they have been disturbed and are airborne.  Frankly I was shocked that his employer did not value the safety of his employees more highly, and it would seem that mesothelioma lawyers are going to be busy for decades to come.

The take-away lesson is – never let anyone else make health decisions for you. Don’t assume that your employer or anyone else won’t take risks with your health. Educate yourself about the dangers of any situation, and take appropriate measures to safeguard your well-being.

Organic make-up

While we often hear about the importance of eating fresh organic produce, it is important to remember that chemicals enter the body in ways other than through what we eat. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and can also absorb whatever is placed in contact with it. Because of this, we caution all of our clients to be aware of the ingredients included in their personal grooming and beauty products. One way to treat your body kindly is by using organic makeup.

Some of the chemical ingredients that go into making mainstream make-up, including foundation, eye shadow, and especially nail polish can be potential toxins. Instead, opt for  organic makeup and protect your health.

Chocolate good for you?

photo credit: Dreamstime

Chocolate. The stuff of many Valentine's gifts, and a favorite indulgence this time of year. But surely something that tastes so good MUST be bad for you, right? Of course you've heard by now that some chocolates can be good for you. But do you know what kinds, and why?

Chocolate (most of it at least) is made from cocoa, derived from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans are some of the richest sources of several classes of plant-produced protective substances called polyphenols. These are the same protective substances that have made red wine and green tea so famous in health news, and are found in comparable quantities in cocoa.

Polyphenols can help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it sticks to artery walls and builds up plaques, narrowing the arteries and increasing blood pressure. Chocolate helps prevent this process from happening. Not only that, but the polyphenols in chocolate cause the platelets in blood to be less sticky, so they are less likely to form clots. Blood flow is enhanced to the brain and heart, and the risk of atherosclerosis is decreased. Chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as 10 percent, further reducing your risks for various heart-related conditions.

The antioxidant action of chocolate may also provide some anti-cancer benefits. Antioxidants help protect cells against damage that happens naturally through oxidation. Tumors sometimes grow in response to the cellular damage, so to the degree that the antioxidant effects reduce cellular damage, they may be helping to prevent growth of tumors, which could otherwise lead to cancer. Antioxidants are some of our most powerful agents against all sort of disease processes, and chocolate can contain as much as eight times the level of antioxidants found in strawberries (berries are natural antioxidant powerhouses, so that's saying something!).

Chocolate can also help you feel better. Not only because it tastes good (although that certainly doesn't hurt!), but it contains other substances that help boost mood.  Among these are serotonin, which helps combat depression, and theobromine. The brain produces endorphins in response to eating chocolate, which further enhances pleasure and can help block pain receptors. The flavenoids in chocolate can also help balance out some hormones within the body.

But even with all of that going for it, chocolate does contain fat. So ... do the risks of consuming fat in chocolate cancel out the benefits?

Not at all. The fat in cocoa beans is made up of three types of fat. One of these is oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat also found in the heart-healthy olive oil. Stearic acid is another type of fat present in chocolate, and while it is a saturated fat, studies show that it does not affect cholesterol one way or another, but is considered a neutral fat. Only one of the fats in chocolate - palmitic acid - has been associated with an increase in cholesterol. However, it balances with the others, and the overall effect in the diet has been found to be a lowering of cholesterol in those who consume a small amount of dark chocolate daily.

So, are you ready to run right out and grab a bunch of candy bars? Not so fast ... not all chocolate is created equal, and there are a few things you should keep in mind.

All of the benefits mentioned are found in DARK chocolate, which is chocolate containing 65% or more cocoa. Milk chocolate has few, if any of these benefits, and most white chocolate does not contain any cocoa at all.

Choose either plain dark chocolate, or that with added ingredients that have their own health benefits. Nuts, cherries, cocoa nibs, orange peel, dried berries, and similar ingredients are all good. Steer clear of chocolate with added caramel, nougat, buttercreams, or other empty calories.

Also, don't drink milk along with your chocolate. Some research has found that milk may coat your digestive tract and prevent you from being able to absorb the antioxidants.

If you want the absolute highest level of benefits possible from your chocolate, look for that which is minimally processed, since some processing methods can decrease the level of flavenols. Your best bet is chocolate made from high concentrations of cocoa powder that is NOT Dutch processed. Dutch cocoa has been processed with alkaline substances to decrease the level of acidity, but the same process also destroys natural flavenols.

So this Valentine's Day, don't feel guilty about chocolate indulgences, just make sure it's the right kind of chocolate. Eaten in moderation (maybe an ounce per day), you will reap health benefits in the end.

VISITING MY SISTER

Guest post from: Kent Lara

Last weekend, when I was visiting my sister, the weather ended up being terrible. We were planning on getting outside and working in her garden. It is that time that we are getting everything ready for veggies that we will get in the summer. My sister lives four hours away from me, but I love to visit her and help her with her house. She recently bought her first house and lives alone. It is the cutest little place and she has it decorated really nicely. When we were confined to the house all weekend with nothing to do outside, I thought that we would just be able to hang out on her plush sofas and watch television. Boy was I wrong! She had basic cable and NO movie channels. Before I left, I made her log onto www.CannonSatellite.com and schedule an appointment to get a satellite dish. I told her that I would not be coming back until she upgraded her television package. I mean that was ridiculous! She had all these other cool things around the house, but terrible TV!