“There are many causes of gastroparesis. Diabetes is one of the most common causes for gastroparesis. Other causes include infections, endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism, connective tissue disorders like scleroderma, autoimmune conditions, neuromuscular diseases, idiopathic (unknown) causes, psychological conditions, eating disorders, certain cancers, radiation treatment applied over the chest or abdomen, some chemotherapy agents, and surgery of the upper intestinal tract.”

American College of Gastroenterology

“Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained. ”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC

“ The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses. The brain is made up of many specialized areas that work together: • The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells.”

WebMD

“There’s a difference between “being stuck” and “living in the moment.” Unfortunately, for some of us, life stressors and unexpected challenges can knock us off our feet and leave us feeling stuck in that “normal reaction” to an “abnormal situation.” There’s also a difference between “being in the moment” and “moving towards the future” and these two states are not necessarily mutually exclusive and, ideally, they should not be. We must accept the circumstances with which we are faced before we can begin moving from this moment into the future that we want to create for ourselves.”

1. Drift Syndrome. Do you feel lost some times? We all do at one time or another but stop, it’s can be a temporary moment in life on what you do about it or consider it a challenge. How strong are you in fighting back in resolving it whether it be just with yourself or with another too.

2. Too Busy for Passion. 

If you’re passionate about your main job, that’s great. But for many people, their job is a means to pay the bills, not an outlet for their deeply felt passions. But if we always think we’re too busy with our jobs and other parts of our daily routines to pursue anything we’re passionate about, or were passionate with and leave the other behind or in the dark then feeling incredibly bland, if not lost, is inevitable for you or just the other party involved and even both.  When it’s both lost it can be that you let this passion you both shared for each other, in your jobs, in your dreams just evaporate in the air.   I’m a firm believer that every schedule needs some time carved away for passionate pursuits, whatever they may be (keeping love in the air for a couple to music, art, writing, movies, careers, to volunteering, etc).  If you’re always too busy for passion, the proverbial “rut” awaits you.  So either get out of the rut and prevent the rut from happening b taking action and pursue some of those passions with moving on to make your life and even the others involved in your life happier to make an overall happy place (both in the environment and to be around).

3. Can’t Locate a Purpose.

Right alongside passion is the necessity of perceiving that what you do has a purpose, a meaningful reason for being to you alone and than to others included in that passion (ex Superiors in your job). One of the side effects of the knowledge worker revolution has been that many people work on discreet tasks that appear detached from a larger sense of purpose, and their supervisors feel no obligation to connect the dots (if they even know where all of the dots are and what they mean themselves).  It’s hard to get motivated about the meaningfulness of your position when you have only a shallow sense of why what you’re doing contributes to the big picture.  This may be one more reason to seek out a passionate sidebar, because it may also offer the sense of purpose you’re missing.  Don’t let your job drown you where you let it make you feel like your nothing or in a rut.  You look at the pros and cons of it and see if it pays off to stay and if not start searching a new journey of employment.  Now of course you can’t leave the job till better opportunities start calling you in but it won’t come knocking at your door you need to get off your butt and apply yourself.  Put out resumes, go to places for new job opportunities and even planning a new business if its possibly for you.  Life is short and to live it to the fullest you have to make a choice.

4. Social Support is Vacant.

How many of us are plugged into social networks that offer real, substantial support?  More frequently we’re socially organized around hobbies and sports.  Those networks may be great for talking over the specifics of our pass times, but they don’t offer vital connections between people who come to rely on one another.  We live our lives largely untethered from others except for very specific needs, and this is contributing to a sense of isolation — one that’s ironically growing at the same time online social networks are exploding.

5. Cognitive Overload.

This is probably the easiest on the list to describe, because it affects all of us, and with increasing intensity. We simply have too much on our mental plates day-in and day-out to manage effectively. Without a quality external system for helping to manage it all, we can’t help but feel overloaded, and that contributes to a feeling of being out of sorts with the responsibilities and demands we face endlessly. Our brains didn’t evolve for nonstop information-driven, consumerism-driven, technology-laden societies, so we have to find tools to offload our cognitive load, or sink.

6. Distractions Fragment Focus.

About once a day I look at my Verizon Wireless Cell Phone IG 6 and seriously consider throwing it into the garbage.  We have an abundance of ways to stay “connected” at our disposal,  but hyper-connection invariably leads to attention fragmentation.   Don’t you hate it when you go to a diner or a party (small or large) at someone’s home and constantly on the phone with texting back to others.  It makes me with many others like ignorance and why did you invite me with it being out right rude.   Do that at a diner to someone it’s like putting the newspaper up in front of the other person’s face who came out to meet you to communicate not just sit there. When we can’t focus our time and energy on any one project without being distracted by our smart phones, email, news alerts, TV and everything else that’s barreling at us, then it’s natural to feel detached from the project and, quite possibly, lost about how to get it completed. We’ve got to lasso in the distractions to get quality work or quality time spent with others accomplished; there’s simply no other way to consistently get work done and feel good about the outcomes or have quality time with someone or people with constant distractions by a cell phone, texting, or checking your emails.  My niece comes to my house for Easter and sits in the living room on or I-pad; real quality time with your family at my house and how rude.  This is where you have to think before doing something with a bad effect since what did happen is in time parents who thought this way put the white flag up and allow this behavior finding it acceptable.  Remember parents are the key mentors to their children not children are mentors to the parents.

7. Bad Diets Fog the Mind.

By now we’re all well aware that our cultural obsession with fast food is leading to an obesity epidemic, and a slew of related health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. But there’s also ample evidence to suggest that the amount of saturated fat, sodium and simple carbohydrates we’re ingesting is taking a toll on our ability to think clearly. Over time, deficits in speed of thought and memory can become major contributors to feeling lost, particularly if we look back on a time when those abilities were so much sharper than they are now. One more reason to stay away from the drive-thru and start making food at home.

8. Media Representations Create False Expectations.

We always seem to fall for whatever “perfect” and “ideal” representations are produced by ever-opportunistic media minds. Whether it’s the supermodel look, or the Mercedes/BMW everyone deserves to have waiting for them in their driveways at Christmas — pick your poison — it’s all commercialized fantasy. When you find yourself trying to measure up to the fantasy and, of course, fall far short, it’s depressing. Remember it is all how you look at life.  One this is all materialistic and won’t last forever.  Two it is how you look at life, what are your priorities—a family, single life and live crazy (which is short for most unless a famous actor abusing drugs or alcohol and dies early still in life like Michael Jackson, John Belushi, etc…)  We think, “If that’s what ‘success’ looks like, then what am I?” Note that the effect is so insidious we’re usually processing that question in our minds without even consciously thinking it through. Over time those questions can lead to feeling lost. But they don’t have to if we can remind ourselves that “selling” is the prime mover of every commercialized fantasy we see.  Without a buyer, the craftiest ploys of the seller are meaningless.

Than let us look at this LOCKDOWN in areas of America especially poor New Yorker’s with this Governor Cuomo who was most definitely correct with the lock down in the beginning but now really questionable.  Than these resources as references we here from in the media, You Tube,  etc… telling us Covid is the worst Pandemic we ever had.  NOT TRUE YET, we had alone H1N1 in 1918 to 1919 called the “Swine Flu” that effected 1/3 of the world’s population (that was not even close with today’s population) causing 500 million people effected, and 50 million deaths. NO COMPARISON and I could go on with other pandemics.

So ending line don’t PANIC since it only makes you not think logically and blow things out of proportion.  You will always get through a crisis in your life but you need people, pets, exercise and other resources to help you get through the hard times of life .  The key to resolving this is the strength with the resources you have in helping you to fight back to the reasons you are lost, or dealing with a change of some type in your life, and if you know what you have to do to start making you feel better than get off your butt and take the first step.

Now if its cause you lost someone dearly in your life you need time for healing and after that 6mth to a year or sooner for others start taking action in what you need to do in making your life happier.  Remember life is short and time is precious so don’t wait till you regret that you never did anything or took action to make your life a better one.  Live your life to its fullest.

“Opioid Legislation: On December 27, 2017, State of Michigan staff drafted eight pieces of legislation aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic crisis. This legislation may have an impact on the type of pain management care you receive in the future, and how that care will be delivered. (Posted March 9, 2018).”

Michigan Medicine/University of Michigan

In 2013, America’s 55 poison centers received over 3.1 million calls. Of those, about 2.2 million were calls about poison exposures ranging from carbon monoxide to snake bites to food poisoning. The rest were calls for information.

Chemicals in and around the home can poison people or pets and can cause long-term health effects. Every 13 seconds, a poison control center in the United States answers a call about a possible poisoning. More than 90% of these exposures occur in the home. Poisoning can result from medicines, pesticides, household cleaning products, carbon monoxide, and lead.

The major source of lead poisoning among U.S. children is lead-based paint and dust with lead. All houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead in the paint. However, it is the flaking, peeling paint that causes a problem. Other sources of lead in the home may include traditional home remedies, ceramics, toys and toy jewelry, lead-contaminated soil, lead water pipes, and lead solder used in plumbing. Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children under the age of 6 are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. While treatment is available for lead poisoning, taking some simple precautions can help protect yourself and your family.

Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, water and soil. Adults who work with batteries, do home renovations or work in auto repair shops also may be exposed to lead. It couldn’t hurt to ask you MD if you should get a lead level taken yearly or less for people who live around lead or the area having a history of it or adults in the work force working need lead products.

Lead poisoning symptoms in children

The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children may include:

Developmental delay-Learning difficulties-Irritability-Loss of appetite-Weight loss-Sluggishness and fatigue-Abdominal pain-Vomiting-Constipation-Hearing loss

Lead poisoning symptoms in newborns

Babies who are exposed to lead before birth may experience:

Learning difficulties & Slowed growth

Lead poisoning symptoms in adults

Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous for adults. Signs and symptoms in adults may include:

High blood pressure-Abdominal pain-Constipation-Joint pains-Muscle pain-Declines in mental functioning-Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities -Headache-Memory loss-Mood disorders-Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm-Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women.

ENDING LINE is knowing how to prevent leading causes of child injury, like poisoning, helps keep our children safe and secure and helps them live to their full potential.

We all want to keep our children safe and secure and help them live to their full potential. Knowing how to prevent leading causes of child injury, like poisoning, is a step toward this goal.

Every day, over 300 children in the United States ages 0 to 19 are treated in an emergency department, and two children die, as a result of being poisoned. It’s not just chemicals in your home marked with clear warning labels that can be dangerous to children.

Everyday items in your home, such as household cleaners and medicines, can be poisonous to children as well. Active, curious children will often investigate—and sometimes try to eat or drink—anything that they can get into.

Thankfully, there are ways you can help poison-proof your home and protect the children you love.

Prevention Tips

Lock them up. Keep medicines and toxic products, such cleaning solutions, in their original packaging where children can’t see or get them.

Know the number. Put the nationwide poison control center phone number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every telephone in your home and program it into your cell phone. Call the poison control center if you think a child has been poisoned but they are awake and alert; they can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and your child has collapsed or is not breathing.

Read the label. Follow label directions and read all warnings when giving medicines to children.

Don’t keep it if you don’t need it. Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements. To dispose of medicines, mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw them away. You can also turn them in at a local take-back program or during National Drug Take-Back events.

In general, Health and Safety Tips

Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.

Use and store chemicals, household cleaning products, and pesticides according to label instructions and out of reach of children

Have gas appliances professionally installed, vented outside, and checked annually for carbon monoxide leaks.

Take all medicines as directed and store out of reach of children.

Turn on fans and open windows to help ventilate the area when using household cleaners and chemicals.

Deaths from drug overdose have been rising steadily over the past two decades and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States.

The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, more than any year on record. At least half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. More people died from drug overdoses in 2014 than in any year on record. The majority of drug overdose deaths (more than six out of ten) involved an opioid. Opioids include opiates, an older term that refers to such drugs derived from opium, including morphine itself. Other opioids are semi-synthetic and synthetic drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl; antagonist drugs such as naloxone and endogenous peptides such as the endorphins. Opioid drugs are predominantly central nervous system agents, most often used medically to relieve pain.   So again its restated to take meds as prescribed and keep out of reach for children especially (babies/children out of reach to locked up-Better safe than sorry).

“The liver is your largest internal organ. About the size of a football, it’s located mainly in the upper right portion of your abdomen — beneath the diaphragm and above your stomach — but a small portion extends into the upper left quadrant. Liver disease doesn’t always cause noticeable signs and symptoms.”

MAYO CLINIC

“Anemia results from a lack of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body’s organs.”

CDC

Anemia develops when you don’t have enough robust, healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. The blood cells may lack enough hemoglobin, the protein that gives blood its red color. Anemia affects one in 10 teen girls and women. It also develops in men and children and is linked to some illnesses.  Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia — like fatigue — occur because organs aren’t getting what they need to function properly.

Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S. It affects about 3.5 million Americans. Women, young children, and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia.

There types of different anemia’s but today’s we’ll look more into is Iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.

As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can’t produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath.

You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation. Sometimes additional tests or treatments for iron deficiency anemia are necessary, especially if your doctor suspects that you’re bleeding internally.

Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify.

Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include:

• Extreme fatigue, Pale skin, Weakness, Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Frequent infections
• Headache, Dizziness or lightheadedness, Cold hands and feet, Inflammation or soreness of your tongue, Brittle nails, and Fast heartbeat.
• Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch.
• Poor appetite, especially in infants and children with iron deficiency anemia.
• An uncomfortable tingling or crawling feeling in your legs (restless legs syndrome).

Causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

• Blood loss. Blood contains iron within red blood cells. So if you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women with heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because they lose blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss within the body — such as from a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp or colorectal cancer — can cause iron deficiency anemia. Gastrointestinal bleeding can result from regular use of some over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin.
• A lack of iron in your diet. Your body regularly gets iron from the foods you eat. If you consume too little iron, over time your body can become iron deficient. Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and iron-fortified foods. For proper growth and development, infants and children need iron from their diet, too.
• An inability to absorb iron. Iron from food is absorbed into your bloodstream in your small intestine. An intestinal disorder, such as celiac disease, which affects your intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from digested food, can lead to iron deficiency anemia. If part of your small intestine has been bypassed or removed surgically, that may affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.
• Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia occurs in many pregnant women because their iron stores need to serve their own increased blood volume as well as be a source of hemoglobin for the growing fetus.

Those at risk for anemia:

Anemia is a common condition. It occurs in all age, racial, and ethnic groups. Both men and women can have anemia. However, women of childbearing age are at higher risk for the condition because of blood loss from menstruation.

Anemia can develop during pregnancy due to low levels of iron and folic acid (folate) and changes in the blood. During the first 6 months of pregnancy, the fluid portion of a woman’s blood (the plasma) increases faster than the number of red blood cells. This dilutes the blood and can lead to anemia.

During the first year of life, some babies are at risk for anemia because of iron deficiency. At-risk infants include those who are born too early and infants who are fed breast milk only or formula that isn’t fortified with iron. These infants can develop iron deficiency by 6 months of age.

Infants between 1 and 2 years of age also are at risk for anemia. They may not get enough iron in their diets, especially if they drink a lot of cow’s milk. Cow’s milk is low in the iron needed for growth.

Drinking too much cow’s milk may keep an infant or toddler from eating enough iron-rich foods or absorbing enough iron from foods.

Older adults also are at increased risk for anemia. Researchers continue to study how the condition affects older adults. Many of these people have other medical conditions as well.

Major Risk Factors for anemia:

• A diet that is low in iron, vitamins, or minerals
• Blood loss from surgery or an injury
• Long-term or serious illnesses, such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease), liver disease, heart failure, and thyroid disease
• Long-term infections
• A family history of inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.

Complications of Anemia

Some people who have anemia may have arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Over time, arrhythmias can damage your heart and possibly lead to heart failure.

Anemia also can damage other organs in your body because your blood can’t get enough oxygen to them.

Anemia can weaken people who have cancer or HIV/AIDS. This can make their treatments not work as well.

Anemia also can cause many other health problems. People who have kidney disease and anemia are more likely to have heart problems. With some types of anemia, too little fluid intake or too much loss of fluid in the blood and body can occur. Severe loss of fluid can be life threatening.

Stayed tune tomorrow for part 2 on Anemia on treatment and how a MD diagnoses what treatment to use.