Latest articles on symptom management. Click on Read More for more information about each article. The article information includes ways to ease and cope with your symptoms.
Description
Parkinson's Disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain, which results in increasing physical and memory deficits. These deficits include increasing tremors and rigidity, walking abnormalities, swallowing difficulties, loss of fine muscle control, along with changes in thought processes and mental abilities. Care needs will naturally increase as these deficits increase.
Description
Strokes can occur in different parts of the brain which will result in different physical, emotional, and/or cognitive (mental) deficits. Caregivers will face different challenges based upon that person's specific set of needs for comfort and safety.
Dementia is a family of diseases, with many causes (forms or types). The most common is Alzheimer's disease (also called Senile Dementia). Also common is Vascular Dementia (or Stroke Related Dementia). Features of this Dementia may include an inability of a person to express themselves while retaining their ability to understand (expressive aphasia), or the person may have lost both the ability to express and understand words (global aphasia).
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is one of the most frequent causes of recurrent hospitalizations in the United States. Because the heart is a pump, it pumps fluid out of the heart into the rest of your circulatory system. When fluid builds up in the lungs it causes shortness of breath. When fluid backs up into the veins, it causes fluid retention in the extremities (edema.) When the heart is really weak, extra fluid will accumulate in the abdominal cavity (ascites) or into the chest cavity (pleural effusion.)
Chest pain has many causes. You will need to see your medical provider to determine the cause (diagnosis) of your chest pain. Some causes of chest pain carry the potential for sudden death or rapid decompensation such as angina (coronary artery disease), heart attack (myocardial infarction), thoracic aneurysms, blood clot to the lung (pulmonary embolism) or any recent prior traumas (car accident or falls with the potential of puncturing the lung).
Pain is the most under reported and under treated symptom. Even after a thorough medical evaluation and a well developed treatment plan, pain can be a persistent and/or recurrent problem. Having a clear understanding from your doctor or medical provider as to what to expect and when to seek further help is essential.
Description
Managing your diabetes better, depends upon you and your caregivers ability to recognize your bodies reaction to changing blood sugar levels. Early signs of low blood sugar is nature’s way of alerting you and your caregiver that something is wrong. Depending on the type of diabetes and treatment, signs of low blood sugar may be present for some time, may gradually worsen or may rapidly escalate into true emergencies.
Description
Managing your diabetes better, depends upon you and your caregivers ability to recognize your bodies reaction to changing blood sugar levels. Early signs of high blood sugar is nature’s way of alerting you and your caregiver that something is wrong. Depending on the type of diabetes and treatment, signs of high blood sugar may be present for some time, may gradually worsen or may rapidly escalate into true emergencies.
Description
Even after a thorough medical evaluation and a well developed treatment plan, dizziness can be a persistent and/or recurrent problem. You must have a clear understanding from your doctor or medical provider as to what to expect and when to seek further help. Make sure you know how to use the medications prescribed for this problem and what the expected side effects are. The following are helpful tips in learning how to live with your dizziness.
Description
Multiple disease states can either singly or in combination result in shortness of breath. Even after a thorough medical evaluation and a well developed treatment plan, shortness of breath can be a persistent and/or recurrent problem. You must have a clear understanding from your doctor or medical provider as to what to expect and when to seek further help. Make sure you know how to use the medications prescribed for this problem and what the expected side effects are. The following are helpful tips in learning how to live with your shortness of breath.
