The loss of mental capacity and abilities is commonly known as dementia, and regularly affects anywhere between five to eight percent of men and women over the age of 65 and between an astounding 25 and 50 percent of men and women over the age of 80.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this mental disease, know that many patients have had success with several options for treatment for dementia .

Although there are different forms and severities of dementia, the most commonly known one is Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is usually brought on by mini-strokes or other problems that can dramatically constrict the blood vessels in the brain, thus preventing necessary oxygen from accessing the brain.

Once dementia has been recognized and diagnosed, ensure the patient is immediately started on a plan for treatment for dementia .

The most common treatment for dementia is to provide proper care for the individual in question.

Depending on the level of dementia, the patient may need more care than a spouse, child, or loved one can provide.

In many cases, adults with advanced stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s can potentially become dangerous to themselves if they are left to their own devices.

Quite often, adults with advances stages of dementia are harmed when they exit their homes to shop or exercise and are exposed to the elements when they cannot find their way home again.

This happens far too often and, although the family or loved ones are not to blame for these accidents, the immense task of caring for a patient with dementia is often too much for a person to handle. Read the rest of this entry »

Hi! As a nurse even I sometimes fall prey to a virus or bacterial infection. Today I’m fighting off the common cold. Achoo! So I thought I would take some time to share what works for me when I’m trying to get well again.

First, I wash my hands or use hand sanitizer if no soap and water is available. I do not want to spread the virus to anyone else! I also clean shared items like the phone, the computer key board, door knobs with disinfecting wipes. I open the windows and doors for a few minutes to let fresh air into the house and decrease the viral load.

Second, get plenty of rest. I slept in this morning and that felt really good. Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself.

Third, drink lots of water, the recommendation is six to eight, eight ounce glasses of water a day, unless you have a medical condition that precludes drinking a lot of water. Always consult your primary care provider.

Speaking of water, I use a humidifier. Be sure it is clean to prevent spreading bacteria or molds into the air. I use saline nasal spray, a hot shower, and I sniff water from the palm of my hand to moisturize the mucous membranes in my nose and sinus area.

Fourth, I take vitamin C to help get well quickly. I use vitamin C tablets and drinks with vitamin C, “cuties” are small oranges that are available in the grocery store right now so I eat several of them during the day as a healthy snack. Read the rest of this entry »

When you visit a doctor’s office and a nurse calls you to enter the exam room, this is just one of the many tasks that nurses are required to do. But nurses jobs are not always pleasant, sometimes requiring them to deal with angry patients; however, most of the time, a nurse will have a smile on their face. Nurses jobs do require a nurse to be a “people person” and have the ability to handle stress in the workplace.

A Growing Career Choice

Nurses jobs are one of the highly entered into fields. Each year nurses jobs will become more popular as a career choice. The medical field requires more nurses because the need for medical care continues to grow. Without nurses, doctors would not be able to see as many patients and they would be overworked from having to handle the job tasks usually taken care of by nurses.

Typical Duties

Nursing duties include gathering a patient’s medical history such as any previous injuries or surgeries as well as any drug allergies the patient suffers from. This duty is essential for protecting the patient as it ensures they are not given a drug that they are allergic to.

When the patient is done reciting their medical history, the nurse will take the patient’s blood pressure and record any symptoms he or she is experiencing. If the patient’s blood pressure is too high, the nurse will report their results to the doctor so that if needed, a medication can be given to lower the patient’s blood pressure. Read the rest of this entry »