by admin | Apr 27, 2022 | Health Awareness
Traveling should be a time for relaxation and enjoyment, but for people with chronic illnesses, it can bring stress and uncertainty. From ensuring you’ve packed necessary medications to managing your symptoms in changing environments, exploring new places isn’t always easy when you have a chronic condition. Here, we discuss some tactics for navigating the challenges of traveling with success.
Check-In With Your Doctor
Prior to your trip, schedule a visit with your doctor to discuss any pre-vacation medical arrangements to be made. Some people with chronic illnesses like to travel with a note from their doctor that details all of their prescriptions and dosages. If you should find yourself without medications or needing an unexpected refill, this information will be helpful to have on hand.
Another good practice is to ask your doctor if there are any preventive medications you should consider bringing on your trip. Some chronic illnesses make individuals more prone to developing infections, so having antibiotics at your disposal could also help you ensure a healthy, stress-free trip.
Set Medication Reminders
Your medications may be some of the last items you pack, so set a reminder on your phone or put a note on your door to make sure you’ve packed these critical essentials. Also, because your daily routine will be altered when you’re in transit and at your destination, you should set a daily medication reminder on your phone to avoid missing any doses.
Here’s another helpful tip for packing medications: put some in your carry-on and some in your checked luggage. Should either get lost, you won’t be entirely without your supply.
Take Breaks as Needed
When planning a trip, it can be tempting to jam-pack an itinerary with sightseeing and other activities. Just be sure to pencil in some break times to prevent exhaustion. Consider making restaurant reservations to hit pause during your adventures, or map out excursions strategically so you can take breaks at nearby restrooms, benches, and other facilities. If you’re feeling great and don’t need to take breaks, that’s fine – but knowing they’re scheduled if you need them can give you peace of mind.
Research Your Destination
Some chronic illnesses require certain accommodations that restaurants and hotels may or may not have. If you have celiac disease or another condition with dietary restrictions, for instance, you’ll want to do a little research on the local eateries to ensure there are menu options available for you to enjoy. Likewise, if you have any medical or mobility equipment which may require special accommodations, make sure your public transportation options and hotel are able to accommodate your needs.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Unforeseen circumstances can derail anyone’s travel plans. For individuals with chronic illnesses, however, flare-ups and fluctuations could increase the likelihood of last-minute changes in plan. Luckily, trip insurance can help you recover some of the costs should you need to cancel your trip, or provide you with the option of rescheduling for a better time.
Whether you’re planning a relaxing beachside getaway or an adventurous outdoor retreat, these tips can help prepare you for whatever could come your way on vacation. Although it may require a bit more planning upfront, people living with chronic illnesses can have an enjoyable travel experience, too.
For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by Stemedix | Apr 25, 2022 | Pain Management
You may not have heard of “text neck,” even if you have it. Text neck isn’t a formal diagnosis but a slang term for a condition caused by the repetitive stress of excessive texting. Holding the neck in a constant downward position when using a mobile device can cause pain and inflammation in the neck and shoulders. A personalized pain management plan can be highly effective in relieving symptoms. Here we will talk about text neck symptoms and how you can help relieve the pain associated with it.
Common Text Neck Symptoms
The symptoms associated with mobile device overuse may be constant or intermittent and mild or severe.
1. Pain
Pain in the shoulders, upper back, or neck is the most common complaint associated with text neck. Those affected may feel a deep ache, stabbing or burning pain in a specific spot, or general achiness throughout the region. It is not unusual for pain to emanate from the base of the head into the upper back.
2. Poor Posture
A prolonged forward head posture may cause muscles to become imbalanced, potentially making it difficult to maintain good posture with the ears aligned directly over the shoulders. Muscle structures in the chest, neck and upper back can end up pulling the head forward, even when one is not engaged in texting or using a device.
3. Headache
Misalignment of the cervical spine, as well as tight, strained muscles at the base of the neck, can spasm or cause headache pain. Long periods of looking at a screen can increase the risk of headache and eyestrain.
4. Limited Mobility
When the muscles in the neck and upper back become tight, they may experience a loss of mobility. The normal range of motion of a person’s neck can become limited, and they may feel like their shoulders are “stuck” and don’t move as freely as they once did.
5. Unable to Flex the Neck
Once the symptoms of text neck progress, even holding the neck in the forward position may become uncomfortable. Looking downward to text or read may cause pain that worsens each time you try to use your mobile device.
6. Uncommon Symptoms
Feeling electrical shock pain or pins-and-needles sensations radiating down the neck into the arms and hands can also occur. Balance issues caused by prolonged periods of holding a forward posture and jaw pain may also indicate you’re spending too much time looking at a mobile device.
What Can Help with Text Neck?
First, limit your screen time. Be aware of your posture while texting or reading on a mobile device. If simple habit changes don’t improve the condition, it may be time to see a health care professional to explore natural, non-invasive treatments that may be able to reduce pain and inflammation and treat musculoskeletal conditions.
For more health awareness blogs, please visit www.stemedix.com/blog.
by admin | Apr 20, 2022 | Health Awareness
Fibromyalgia affects up to four million adults in the U.S. alone. Unfortunately, fibromyalgia has no cure, and those who suffer from this chronic condition are only offered treatments that work to reduce symptoms to improve their quality of life.
As researchers continue to study this perplexing condition, they discover new connections between fibromyalgia and the immune system.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that healthcare providers still struggle to understand. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to many other illnesses and include:
- Muscle and bone pain
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity and tenderness
- Sleep disruptions
- Brain fog
There are no tests to diagnose fibromyalgia definitively, so the condition is often misdiagnosed.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
While the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers are getting closer to understanding the condition through its connection to the immune system.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, both autoimmune diseases, are more likely to have fibromyalgia. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body mistakenly unleashes its immune response against the healthy cells of organs and tissues.
Fibromyalgia can occur in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases. Additionally, fibromyalgia symptoms like fatigue and brain fog often overlap with autoimmune disorders.
These factors led researchers to theorize that fibromyalgia may be an autoimmune disorder, even though it doesn’t cause inflammation, a common symptom of autoimmune diseases.
In a recent study, mice injected with auto-antibodies from people with fibromyalgia began to experience fibromyalgia-like symptoms. This new development may lead to new tests to diagnose fibromyalgia and new treatments for those suffering from the condition.
Living with Fibromyalgia
Patients with fibromyalgia suffer from the pain, fatigue, and other symptoms associated with the condition, in addition to common social misconceptions. While fibromyalgia doesn’t have a cure, symptoms are often well-managed through diet and exercise, medications, alternative therapies, and stress relief.
Patients are exploring regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, to help manage their symptoms experienced with fibromyalgia or an autoimmune condition. Stem cells are the building blocks and, specifically, mesenchymal stem cells have the regenerative properties to differentiate into any cell type while also addressing pain and inflammation within the body.
by Shoot To Thrill Media | Apr 18, 2022
Ketamine IV Infusion Therapy What Is Ketamine? Ketamine IV Infusion Therapy has shown positive results in treating patients with Major Depressive Disorder in which antidepressant medication has not provided them with any relief of their symptoms. Patients with chronic...
by Stemedix | Apr 18, 2022 | Pain Management
People often overlook their diet when trying to prevent or manage physical pain. Most people understand that maintaining a healthy weight reduces the amount of stress their joints must endure every day, but did you know that some specific foods may help naturally decrease joint pain? Here we talk about the foods that could improve joint pain (and Ones to Avoid).
Berries and Cherries
The anthocyanin in cherries and berries not only gives them a beautiful purple/red color, but it’s also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Inflammation is a major cause of joint pain and other osteoarthritis conditions. Eating red and purple fruits will help reduce inflammation and may also protect you from gout, another source of joint pain.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Brussel’s sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables contain the antioxidant sulforaphane, known to reduce inflammation throughout the body. These vegetables are also recommended for anyone living with autoimmune issues, as sulforaphane also supports a healthy immune system.
Fish
Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, and tuna, both reduce joint inflammation and help joints stay lubricated. If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just not a big fan of fish, you can incorporate more nuts, nut oils, and soy into your diet to obtain the same benefits.
Whole Grains
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation, and whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, and cereals help to reduce CRP levels in the body. High CRP levels are associated with several serious conditions such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and inflammation of the circulatory system.
Green Tea
Switch your cup of morning coffee to a cup of green tea to benefit from powerful anti-inflammatories known as polyphenols. Polyphenols ward off several diseases, among them rheumatoid arthritis.
Foods to Avoid
Don’t worry, preventing joint pain doesn’t require you to give up all of your favorite foods. However, reducing your intake of the following items will help:
- Canned goods
- Deep-fried foods
- Pre-cooked frozen meals
- Corn oil
- Salt and salty foods
Processed foods typically contain the toxin known as “advanced glycation end product,” which causes inflammation. They also contain large amounts of salt, which increases inflammation levels.
If you’re already following an anti-inflammatory diet and have eliminated problematic foods but are still experiencing pain from degenerative disk disease or other joint issues, there is help.
Regenerative medicine, also known as stem cell therapy, has been shown to improve many orthopedic conditions as well as neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions. Stem cell therapy is not guaranteed to help everyone, and each person should consider the available information before making this important medical decision. If you would like to learn more about foods that could improve joint pain or any of the services we offer here at Stemedix, contact a care coordinator today!
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