The Health Corner: Nursing and Sepsis

Helping Patients Survive

Sepsis has become one of the most devastating conditions causing serious implications on healthcare worldwide. For this reason, nurses need to be knowledgeable about the clinical presentations for prompt intervention.

What Is Sepsis?

A condition of an infection caused by a response to any germ (bacterial, fungal or vial) that has entered and spread throughout the body. This can be potentially life threatening as it causes severe inflammation in response to chemicals released into the bloodstream. It occurs anywhere in the body but more commonly the brain, bloodstream, heart, kidneys, and lungs.

Risk Factors

·         immunosuppressive diseases (HIV and cancer patients)

·         chronic illness (diabetes and cardiovascular disease)

·         children and the elderly

·         persons who have undergone invasive procedures (intravenous line, surgery)

·         drug -resistant bacteria (bacteria resistant to antibiotics)

·         wound and injuries

·          ICU patients

Signs and Symptoms

Sepsis is categorized into three categories. Treating the condition in its earliest stage helps to prevent progression of the infection.

 Sepsis

Diagnosis is made when at least two of the following symptoms are present:

Fever above 101F or below 96.8 F

Rapid heartbeat greater than 90beats/ minute

Rapid breathing greater than 20breaths/ minute

Possible or confirmed infection

Severe Sepsis

Diagnosis is made when there is an indication of organ failure and presents with one of the following:

Chills

Weakness

Confusion

Significant decrease in urine output

Difficulty breathing

Unconsciousness

Septic Shock

Diagnosis is made with any of the signs and symptoms of severe sepsis along with extremely low blood pressure.

How Nurses Can Help Prevent Sepsis

Early detection and intervention can improve a patient’s chances of survival.  With careful nursing assessment, nurses can quickly identify signs and symptoms, initiate a plan of care and adjust according to the effectiveness of interventions.

The following are recommended:

            Know signs and symptoms

            Assess patients at risk of developing sepsis (post operatives, open wounds)

Clean or change IV lines, catheters and breathing tubes as required to prohibit growth of microorganisms

Maintain aseptic techniques

Meticulous hand washing

Administer antibiotic treatment as ordered

Teach patient to recognize complications

The Health Corner: Women and Heart Disease

Compared to breast cancer, heart disease, also known as Coronary Heart Disease, is the leading cause of death of women in the United States. It affects all ethnicities, but is more prevalent in African Americans and whites,

Prevalence

Statistics have shown that since 1984, more women than men have died from heart disease. It accounts for 1 in 3 female deaths each year, that is, one woman succumbing to the disease approximately every minute. Data has revealed that an estimated 43 million women in the U.S are affected and that 90 percent has one or two risk factors that will lead to developing this. Even with an increase in awareness in the past 30years, only 54 percent of women acknowledge this disease to be their number one killer, and for that, many women will die suddenly with no prior symptoms.

Cause of Heart Disease

Heart disease is caused by narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries by the build up of plague, a process known as atherosclerosis. Over time, it impedes or stops blood flow, causing tissue death, resulting in heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmia, and stroke.

           

Risk Factors

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Overweight or obesity

Depression or stress

Diabetes

Family history of heart disease

You are also at risk if you:

Smoke

Have Poor diet and nutrition

Drink alcohol excessively

Being physically inactive

Reducing the Chances of Heart Disease

In reducing the chances of getting heart disease, women need to be more proactive about their health. Regular doctor visits allow for early diagnoses and treatment. Other preventative measures include:

-controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels

            -quit smoking

-eating healthy

-exercising

-weight control

-limit alcohol intake

-lower stress levels

-know your family health history

ItsMelissaKay: "YOU"

ItsMelissaKay: "YOU": Today I saw "YOU" for the first time imprinted on a black and white card A face, not yet recognizable but to me it was the...

"YOU"

Today I saw "YOU" for the first time
imprinted on a black and white card
A face, not yet recognizable
but to me it was the perfect start.

Your limbs so tiny outstretched in comfort 
as your body coil up to fit in mine
Oh how I felt such a deep rush of love
from my heart all the way down to my spine.

Your head, mighty larger than the rest
How on earth will that pass through the tunnel?
With such a narrow passage-way ahead
Cold sweat, please hand me that towel!

What a wonderful feeling to have 
knowing a life inside you grows
Not knowing what really lies ahead
Only God himself knows

I'm super excited to meet "YOU"
my little bundle of joy
So until then, keep growing fast 
My beautiful girl or handsome boy.

Benefits of Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a white, crystalline, odorless, powdery substance, that is alkaline in nature. It has properties ranging from antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Who knew something as simple as this, had so many benefits to it. Growing up I remember my mother putting an open box in the refrigerator as a medium for masking scents, but now new uses are in order.

Here are some of the most common uses of Baking Soda:


Make-up remover 

Mixing this into a paste with water makes for an easy way to wash make-up off  in just one rinse. Ensure to avoid the eyes when applying this.

Skin Exfoliator

Mix into a paste with water, honey, grapeseed or coconut oil. Add a drop of your favorite essential oil and gently massaging into circular motions (peppermint gives a cool refreshing feeling, try it!). This
rids dead skin cells and leaves your body feeling extremely soft and refined.


Acne and pimples

With its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it balances the ph of the face and aids in tackling these annoying little face creatures. Make a pasta, add honey (optional) and apply. Leave on for 2-5mins and rinse. Pat dry and tell me how your face feels. This also absorbs oil that is normally associated with acne problems.


Teeth whitener

Gets rid of coffee, curry and cigarette smoking stained teeth. Mix into a paste and add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and brush for 2mins. Rinse as usual. Do not use this for long periods as this can cause wearing of the enamel.

Hair care

No shampoo?... try mixing this into a paste and apply evenly throughout hair. One application will do. Also, persons transitioning to natural hair can use this to strip the hair. Follow through with your conditioner, style and go!


Itchy Skin/ Eczema

Need an itch reliever?... add some baking soda to warm bath water and soak. Do not rub, air dry instead. This remedy is even safe for the little ones.


Skin toner/ lightener

Add natural lemon juice to baking soda paste and apply daily. The baking soda exfoliates and the lemon juice lightens the skin. Great for uneven skin tones.

Deodorizer

Body: works by absorbing sweat and moisture that gives rise to body odor. This can be mixed into a paste with your favorite essential oil and add to underarms. Brush off excess and be on your way.

Refrigerator: Leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge, helps to mask scents. Last for a month.

Shoes: sprinkle in shoes overnight, in the morning, odorless shoes awaits you.



Sunburns

Its alkaline nature helps to soothe sunburn blisters. Make a paste with cold water and apply, no not rub. Leave on for 5min and rinse gently.



Hope these tips will be helpful to you. If you know of other ways to use baking soda, please feel free to comment with your suggestions below.

Check out my YouTube channel for this video:

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Transitioning to natural hair with 6 simple tips

This can be a scary process especially when you’ve had processed hair for as far back as you can remember and now you have to go back to your roots. I mean, it's been ages since you last saw the natural, untouched, virgin hair you were born with, so how would I look, a girl of 25years rocking a fro, in an era where hair is one of the defining factors of beauty. Don’t worry, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Don't chop. Trim

Nothing throws us off than looking in the mirror and seeing no hair!  It's a mental thing that you have to be prepared for unless you were actually going for the classic male look. Trim the ends little by little until you have rid all processed ends. This allows us for gradual adaptation to short hair and saves us from a nervous breakdown.

2. Braids and wigs

Wigs are the easiest way to switch between hairstyles. This minute you could be rocking a short and chic look and the next you could have long hair blowing in the wind. They are fun, manageable and cost effective, saving us many trips to the salon…and keeping some of that extra chi-ching ching in our pockets!

Braids… love them! They are flexible, long lasting and a good facilitator for transitioning. They allow you to grow the hair to the desired length, so that when you decide to embrace your natural side and rid the processed ends, it won't be as short.

3. Gelling

The very first time I rid my processed ends, gelling was my first method. My hair was short and it was super easy to just wash, gel and go. It gave me super cute curls that always had people asking what I used in my hair. Gelling is ideal for persons rocking really low cuts.

4. Eat right

Eating healthy is vital for hair growth. It’s like a garden of flowers, in order for it to flourish it needs nourishment and that only comes from the things we consume. So ensure to have a hearty balanced meal from all the foods from the food group, drink tons of water and take your vitamins.

5. Hair-Talk

Sounds weird right? But have to speak health and growth into being. We have to tell our hair we love it, commend it, and talk positively to and about it. Believe it or not, it works! Remember it’s a part of us, an entity by itself, therefore, it needs special attention too.

6. Stress-free

Whenever we are experiencing stress-phases, our hair feels it too. We can actually see and feel the difference then. It either sheds, thins, breaks or just stops growing for a while. I know life sometimes get the best of us and our hair have to suffer with it too, so try as best as possible to minimise those stressors until they are completely gone.


I hope these tips were helpful, and you’ll use or adjust them to suit your individuality. Just be expressive and colourful about this new look, and most of all, embrace the new you!

Things You Didn't Know About Essential Oils

Essential oils have been around from as early as the 1900’s and has now become a popular trend in its abundance of uses. Extracted from the flowers, stems, roots, bark and other parts of the plant, these oils have been used to enhance wellbeing through their medicinal and therapeutic effects.

This article will provide a few simple tips and tricks of the most commonly used essential oils.

                         

Health and Wellness

•    Massage the combination of nutmeg and grapeseed oil on areas of pain. This is great for persons with arthritis and menstrual cramps.

•    Apply peppermint or lavender oil on temples to reduce tension from migraine headaches.

•    Combine eucalyptus and lavender oil with coconut oil. Use as vapour rubs for stuffy nose and persons with asthma and bronchitis.

•    To treat a yeast infection, make a concoction of tea tree, lavender, and coconut oil. Soak tampon in the mixture, insert and leave overnight. Not only does it stop the itching, it helps rid the infection.

•    For sleeping disorders, put drops of lavender, roman chamomile or marjoram in your bathwater, diffuser, in laundry and on pillows when going to bed. Their fresh, light aroma provides a soothing and calming effect on the mind.

Beauty Care

•    Put a few drops of Tea Tree oil in your shampoo, or directly on the scalp and massage. This stops itching and controls dandruff.

•     Massage areas with cellulite or stretch marks with grapefruit and coconut oil daily. This reduces the appearance of marks while promoting circulation and softening the skin.

•    Reduce wrinkles by mixing frankincense in your lotion and applying just before bed. Its anti-aging properties tighten sagging skin and support regeneration of cell growth.

•    Put a drop of eucalyptus or peppermint oil under the tongue to freshen breath.

•    Make a paste with lemon, coconut oil, and fresh strawberries. Brush teeth for two minutes each day for two weeks and enjoy a whiter, brighter smile.

 Home Care

•    Dilute tea tree and lemon oil in water to clean countertops and floors. Not only does it disinfect, it also leaves a fresh clean scent.

•    A mixture of tea tree and eucalyptus oil with warm water rids mold and scum from tub and shower liner.

•    To ward off insects and rodents, put drops of lemongrass oil in draws and corners of rooms.

•    Eliminate scent from garbage bins by putting cinnamon oil on a piece of paper towel and placing it in the bin.

Sexual Enhancement

•    Combine one or more of these oils, ylang-ylang, rose or jasmine, with a carrier oil, to evoke the human senses of sensuality. Use for massage or place on pulse spots such as behind the ear, neck, wrist and behind the knees.

As time evolves, so will many more innovative ways of how to use essential oils. So let us continue to experiment and have fun with our favourite scents as we incorporate them in catering to our personal needs.