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Holistic Roads - October 2008

Air gives life. We can't live if we cease on breathing. We need fresh air in order to live healthy. Those who live in the countryside breath fresh air and enjoy the good benefits of living close to nature. Those who live in the city suffer from the harmful effects industrialization brings. Different air related chronic respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, allergies and many others endanger their lives. They have no choice though as this is where their homes are. This is the place where they earn their bread and butter and they just have to continue living a life like this, unless they move to the countryside and start their lives anew.


Air pollution has caused great disasters in different parts of the globe. In a killer five-day smog in an industrial town of Western Pennsylvania in 1948 (Chemistry by Mendoza and Religloso p. 202), almost 7,000 inhabitants became ill and while those who survived had permanent health impairment.

Children who live near factories have higher risk of developing asthma and acute respiratory infections and allergies. Some of these diseases are explained below.

Emphysema is also a deadly disease similar to lung cancer. Its victim experiences shortness of breath. The life-span of an emphysema sufferer is shortened as their breathing capacity is much less than that of a healthy person. This illness develops slowly as a result of the breaking down of the walls between the air sacs because of toxic chemicals breathed in the polluted air. This results to large holes in the lungs. Emphysema is a progressive disease which results to fatal outcome since the tissue changes cannot be reversed.

Asthma is one of the major causes of death in children. It is a disease that results from allergies and may be caused by air pollution. I have a friend who lives at the back of their own paper factory. Her children are suffering from regular asthma attacks. She suspects that the dust and fumes coming from the factory may be the cause but it is hard for them to transfer as they are the ones managing the business and they do supervise production.


In asthma, there is interference with the passage of air through the membrane-lined tubes that serve the lungs. The lining of the bronchi becomes congested and swollen, and an unusual amount of mucus is secreted within those tubes. One of the major causes of asthma is dust and air pollution.

Bronchitis maybe caused by infection and by certain gases and chemicals that pollute the air. It is an irritation of the smallest tubes of the lungs called bronchioles. Chlorine and other gases or fumes accidentally encountered in laboratories or factories can produce severe bronchitis.

Khassandra also shares health articles at HealthMad and Hubpages. She also makes an online diary of her journey to earning money online in her blog, "How To Earn Money Online".



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What It Takes To Be a Caregiver

October 2nd 2008 05:17
By: Beverly Mahone

Many baby boomers are finding themselves in a rather unique position these days. In addition to raising and taking care of our own children, many of us are now finding ourselves in the role of caregivers for our aging parents. For that reason, we are being labeled as the sandwich generation.

I am a baby boomer who is dealing with two aging parents. My 85-year-old mother is in a nursing home after suffering a stroke several years ago. My 88-year-old mother-in-law is also in a home care facility and in the latter stages of Alzheimers. On top of that, I am raising my teenage daughter.

Being a caregiver can be overwhelming at times because you may feel like you’re being pulled in many different directions. You may also feel like you have no time for yourself and no one appreciates what you’re doing.

Here are some statistics released by Eldercarelink:

* Female caregivers outnumber males by 6 to 1 and report more emotional and physical impact due to caregiving than their male counterparts, but in other ways male and female respondents are very similar.
* Forty-one percent of all caregivers actually live with the care recipient.
* Most caregivers are married with some college education and have children who are grown and no longer living at home.
* Nearly one third provide more than 40 hours of care per week, and 57% say they very rarely or never take time off from their caregiving duties.
* As a result of their responsibilities, some 60% of all caregivers report their health has deteriorated since they began providing care, and 69% describe feeling overwhelmed by caregiving.

Here are some tips on how to get through the tough times as a caregiver:

1. Have Patience: Caring for an aging, cantankerous parent can be a major challenge because there will be times when you want to pull your hair out. There will be times when you want to give up but if you can just keep remembering the fact that you are doing something good for others, that burden you feel will eventually subside.

2. Be Understanding: If you have the responsibility of taking care of an aging parent, remember this: You are doing the exact same things that your parents did when you were a baby. They clothed and fed you. They bathed you and changed your dirty diapers. They did this because they loved you. It is the same concept in reverse and even though they may not be able to express it, they appreciate it---just as you did.

3. Educate Yourself: Take the time to read up on the illness your family member is dealing with. A condition like Alzheimers is tough because you literally see your loved one deteriorate right before your eyes in a relatively short period of time. But you owe it to yourself to become educated on the symptoms so you will know how to react in the different circumstances. You should also be in close contact with the treating physician.

4. Give Hope: Even if the medical prognosis is not good for your loved one, it’s up to you to maintain a positive attitude and spirit. Give your loved one hope instead of doom and gloom. Make their remaining days/months/years memories that you can reflect back on with a smile.

5. Be a little selfish: Caring for aging parents can be both a difficult challenge and a rewarding experience, strengthening family bonds. But it's stressful. Emotions such as anger, guilt, grief and anxiety are normal. Don't forget to also take care of yourself. "Caregivers often let their own health deteriorate or their stress level becomes high," says Trudy Lieberman, author of Consumer Reports' Complete Guide to Health Services for Seniors. " Lieberman advises caregivers to ask for help or accept help when it's offered by friends or people in the church or community.

It is estimated that by 2030 the United States will need between 5.7 million and 6.6 million caregivers. Which side of the fence will you be on?

Article by:

Beverly Mahone is a veteran journalist and motivational speaker who writes and discusses issues affecting her baby boomer generation. She is also author of the book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age. To learn more about Ms. Mahone, visit her website at: www.enjoyyourmenopause.com

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