Sabtu, 30 September 2017

Things to Consider When Taking or Planning to Take Dietary Supplements

It's almost dizzying thinking about how many nutrients the human body needs, and naming them, to become perfectly healthy. Most people who want to maintain their health and shape jump on the commercial bandwagon and take a bottle or two of the dietary supplement that promises to give them the specific nourishment they lack.

Even with all such good intentions, mistakes are often waiting to be made. It must be noted that many of such golden promises of products and endorsements are neither true nor meant to address your specific health need. Apart from the obvious untrue claims, there are also other pitfalls you should be on the lookout for.

Here are some things you should remember when taking that route:

1.Let your doctor know about it.

We all have different nutritional needs. Regardless of how sure you are about yours following all the tests you underwent and the results they revealed, be sure to ask your physician or nutritionist about the supplement you will be taking. This is mostly advised to individuals who are undergoing medication or suffer from health conditions. Special needs or deficiencies need to be addressed by health professionals, who will be prescribing you with the right product and dosage.

2. Don't be too dependent on the pill.

Remember that a dietary supplement is not synonymous with an instant fix. You have to remain focused on healthy and regular eating, working out or exercising, getting enough sleep and refusing to be stressed out. These can aid you in attaining the right, specific nourishment for your body. Make sure you don't treat it like your primary source of nutrients.

3. Don't be the gullible customer.

We reiterate this common problem because it is becoming a topic of heated debates. Not all supplements can make it happen for you. Beware of counterfeits and unapproved pills which claim to be the best product you can get your hands on. Get to know the manufacturer or source of your product of choice, and patiently read the ingredients. Doing your homework through researching and finding reviews might just save you precious shopping time and money.

4. Make sure you can afford it for long-term use.

The most reliable food supplement products don't come cheap. They are often made from the finest, verified ingredients, nicely bottled and accurately labeled, and clinically proven to work. Consider if you have the financial capacity to purchase this product, which you will be taking each day or each week for as long as necessary. It's an investment you have to make, so be sure you do have the financial capacity for this purchase you might be making for a longer period of time.



Sabtu, 16 September 2017

Tips For Successful Transitioning From The Hospital To Home Health Care

During the transition from hospital to home health care, patients face a significant risk of adverse events which may negatively affect patient safety leading to readmission or even worsening of health and death. Events such as falls and missed doses come to mind. Ensuring that the patient's transition from home to health goes smoothly care is a collective responsibility for the medical staff, the patient and their intended caregiver. Below are some tips that could help to facilitate the process:

1. Proper information- it is important to get information about various aspects regarding the patient's condition. These include:

- A detailed listing of diagnosis and all the procedures that were performed. This comes in handy in case the patient has to be readmitted at a different hospital.

- An accurate guide on diet requirements and restrictions, treatments, post-discharge therapy.

- A list of key contacts including doctors, pharmacists and home care agency representatives among others. If possible collect their business cards for safe keeping.

- A realistic assessment of the patient's outlook- this should include expected recovery time and symptoms of relapses.

- A list of available community and hospital resources. Ensure you have information on all facilities that can handle the patient's illness.

It is vital that a high level of communication is maintained between the hospital staff and the patient even after they have been discharged.

2. Caregivers are very important- It is not safe for a patient who has just been discharged to be by themselves at home. When a patient returns home from hospital they tend to have lingering effects such as pain, dizziness and muscle weakness. This makes performing certain tasks difficult and they are especially vulnerable to falls. If you are the one being discharged ensure you have a caregiver. This can be a family member, friend or even a hired professional home care attendant. If you have a loved one coming home, consider getting caregiver training. Learn how to take care of them while they are still in the hospital so that you fit into the role seamlessly. Don't be afraid to ask hospital staff to demonstrate certain tasks and also ask their realistic expectation of what the future will be like.

3. Medication management- this is one of the most vital aspects of home health care. In most cases, once a patient is discharged the medication routine will change leaving room for errors. It is important that you verify medication by brand name before leaving the hospital so that there is no confusion in case you have to buy the medication. Ensure you understand why old medication has been stopped, what new medication does and the kinds of reactions and side effects to expect if any.

4. Prepare the patient's home and acquire the necessary home care equipment- various adaptations will need to be done to various aspects of the home to ensure the patient is as comfortable and as safe as possible. Remove excess clutter to allow easy passage and clear items such as cords and area rugs that increase the risk of falls. You may need to install a ramp in place of stairs to facilitate movement of a wheel chair. You may also need to bring in equipment such as a hospital bed, stethoscope and wheel chair among others.

5. Prepare for additional expenses- it is important to plan for how to raise additional funds required to sustain various aspects of home health care. Running out of money can be very risky since the patient may be unable to acquire required medication and other needs. Some services of home care are covered by medical insurance which may help to ease the financial burden.

6. Timing of the discharge- the patient should be discharged only when the doctor thinks they are ready to go home. Hasty discharging could prove fatal. Some patients insist on being discharged as soon as possible disregarding what is best for them. In such cases it is up to the doctor to be assertive and do what is in the best interest of the patient. In case of early discharge the hospital staff should take a keen interest in the patient's welfare. They should only be allowed to leave if there is a suitable post discharge place where they can go to and be assured of good care.