I lost a good friend in my life, Fran Mazza. and I dedicate this article to you.  Fran I know you went through a challenge with cancer (Gleoblastoma) for about 4 plus years but you I know are in heaven, at peace, and without question in a place of beauty!  You are in a place of ecstasy that so many can and can’t relate to. Most importantly you are out of misery and no longer fighting this terrible diagnosis of cancer.  Rest in peace my friend till we meet again!  For me goodbyes are not forever; goodbyes are not an end.  It simply means you will be missed greatly but I will remember the great times I and Chris had with you and the family till we meet again. I know you are watching over family and friends right now which we need in going through this time; you were and still are a beautiful person to me.

Anyone out their who has had a loss recently I can relate to the feelings you might be experiencing and my deepest condolences to you but know you can cope with this in time.  All who pass on are in a better world and both are so much happier out of misery especially if it was fight in staying alive but maybe harder for those who could not prepare for it over some time.  Know it is us on earth in misery but it will heal in time like a wound.  The other thing to know is that individual or individuals have never left us.  They are both with old and new loved ones that they saw all the time and some rarely when they were living on earth but left years or months ago before the significant one you just lost.  They will never leave us and help us get through this rough time just like my father did in the late 1990’s when he died of cancer but never left me.  I know my deceased family and friends are so much happier, no longer ill and they are with family now  and friends they missed terribly with others that they have not seen for a long time.  Know this, those who where terribly ill are no longer fighting to stay alive or to breath to their last breath.  Instead now they are keeping a close eye on you and all loved ones they had in their life.  As long as that person in my life who left me from earth is better off I know that is for the best which overrides my misery.  My faith and being a RN over over 37 years seeing so many types of patients and some who may have passed on all types of units including oncology, burn units, all types of med surg, telemetry (cardiac), stroke, hospice and more might make it easier for me in dealing with death than some but trust me I still have feelings like everyone else in this world.  God has his reasons for taking those significant in our life to leave this world and we may not understand why but we will in time whether it be in this world or the next.   I am very thankful I had the time to see my loved ones significant in my life during my lifetime on earth and I put myself in that person’s shoes who struggled to stay alive and now is gone.  I ask myself would you want the people down here on earth hurting and in misery for a long time, if you died and I say no to myself and you probably would say the same.  So if you do agree with this apply this positive attitude for when you loose someone significant in your life it may just help you get through the struggle your going through.

Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one—which is often the cause of the most intense type of grief—but any loss can cause grief, including: divorce, loss of health, loss of a job, loss of financial stability, retirement, loss of a friendship, loss of a cherished dream (ex. spouses in their own business, planning to get married that never happens, loss of a mortgage on a new home, a loss of a baby, etc…).

The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief. However, even subtle losses can lead to grief. For example, you might experience grief after moving away from home, graduating from college, changing jobs, selling your family home, or retiring from a career you loved.

Grieving is a personal and highly individual experience. How you grieve depends on many factors, including your personality and coping style, your life experience, your faith, and the nature of the loss. The grieving process takes time. Healing happens gradually; it can’t be forced or hurried—and there is no “normal” timetable for grieving.  Some people start to feel better in weeks or months. For others, the grieving process is measured in years. Whatever your grief experience, it’s important to be patient with yourself and allow the process to naturally unfold.

Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross pioneered methods in the support and counselling of personal trauma, grief and grieving, associated with death and dying. She also dramatically improved the understanding and practices in relation to bereavement and hospice care. This is quite aside from the validity of her theoretical work itself, on which point see the note, right.

Her ideas, notably the five stages of grief model, the model was first introduced by American Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, and was inspired by her work with terminally ill patients but simply a significant loss can experience these steps as well.  They are: 1.) Denial 2.) Anger 3.) Bargaining 4.) Depression 5.) Acceptance .  You go through all these steps in a loss and repeat them and not in order for all.   Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to go through each stage in order to heal.   In fact, some people resolve their grief without going through any of these stages. And if you do go through these stages of grief, you probably won’t experience them in a neat, sequential order, so don’t worry about what you “should” be feeling or which stage you’re supposed to be in.Kübler-Ross herself never intended for these stages to be a rigid framework that applies to everyone who mourns. In her last book before her death in 2004, she said of the five stages of grief: “They were never meant to help tuck messy emotions into neat packages. They are responses to loss that many people have, but there is not a typical response to loss, as there is no typical loss. Our grieving is as individual as our lives.”

While loss affects people in different ways, many experience the following symptoms when they’re grieving. Just remember that almost anything that you experience in the early stages of grief is normal—including feeling like you’re going crazy, feeling like you’re in a bad dream, or questioning your religious beliefs.

Symptoms of Grief:  Shock and disbelief – Right after a loss, it can be hard to accept what happened.  Sadness – Profound sadness is probably the most universally experienced.  Guilt – You may regret or feel guilty about things you did or didn’t say or do. Anger – Even if the loss was nobody’s fault, you may feel angry and resentful. If you lost a loved one, you may be angry with yourself, God, the doctors, or even the person who died for abandoning you.  You may feel injustice has been done to you.  Fear – A significant loss can trigger a host of worries and fears. You may feel anxious, helpless, or insecure. You may even have panic attacks.  You may feel fears of how do  I live without this person.  Physical Symptoms – We often think of grief as a strictly emotional process, but grief often involves physical problems, including fatigue, nausea, lowered immunity, weight loss or weight gain, aches and pains, and insomnia.

Coping with grief and loss is one get support.                                                        

The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. do not grieve alone. Connecting to others will help you heal.

Here are some recommendations when finding support after a loss:

• Turn to friends and family members
• Draw comfort from your faith
• Join a support group – To find a bereavement support group in your area.
• Talk to a therapist or grief counselor – If your grief feels like too much to bear, call a mental health professional with experience in grief counseling.Face your feelings, express your feelings in a  tangible and creative way (I am writing about it in my blog for example).  Take care of your health (especially not on alcohol or drugs to numb the pain for it will be only temporary and unhealthy).  Don’t have people inform you how to feel and when you will be better.  Don’t tell yourself how you should feel.  This is YOUR grief no one elses and when its time to move on or that you have gotten over the grief you will know.  It is ok to be angry, ask why God did you do this to me, not understand why this took place,  laugh at moments of good time memories
• When you’re grieving, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself. If you don’t care for yourself you can’t take care of others.  The stress of a major loss can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves.
• Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either. Your grief is your own, and no one else can tell you when it’s time to “move on” or “get over it.” Let yourself feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgement.   It’s okay to be angry, to yell at the heavens, to cry or not to cry. It’s also okay to laugh, to find moments of joy, and to let go when you’re ready.  As time passes, these emotions should become less intense as you accept the loss and start to move forward.The sadness of losing someone you love never goes away completely, but it shouldn’t remain center stage. If the pain of the loss is so constant and severe that it keeps you from resuming your life, you may be suffering from a condition known as complicated grief .  Unable to get rid of the intense grieving loss feelings and move on with your life.  Still in intense mourning and unable to accept the death or loss you have had after a long period of time.  A loss can effect you weeks to months to a year and if you move on at that point it is therapeutically dealing with it.  Your feeling can still be present till you die but in less intensity since the occurrence of the loss.
• Contact a grief counselor or professional therapist if you:- Experiencing complicated grief, feel like life isn’t worth living, wish you had died with your loved one, blame yourself for the loss or for failing to prevent it, feel numb or disconnected from others for more than a few weeks, are having difficulty trusting others since your loss, are unable to perform your normal daily activities!

REFERENCES TO THIS ARTICLE:

1. Block SD. Grief and bereavement. http://www.uptodate.com /index. Accessed Aug. 31, 2012.
2. Dealing with the effects of trauma — A self-help guide. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA-3717/SMA-3717.pdf. Accessed Aug. 31, 2012.
3. Holtslander L, et al. An inner struggle for hope: Insights from the diaries of bereaved family caregivers. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 2008;14:478.
4. Vale-Taylor P. “We will remember them”: A mixed-method study to explore which post-funeral remembrance activities are most significant and important to bereaved people living with loss, and why those particular activities are chosen. Palliative Medicine. 2009;23:537.
5. Benkel I, et al. Managing grief and relationship roles influence which forms of social support the bereaved needs. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 2009;26:241.
6. Reminders of trauma: Anniversaries. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/anniversary-reactions.asp. Accessed Aug. 31, 2012.

      7. MAYO CLINIC 2012

“To relieve chronic pain, healthcare providers first try to identify and treat the cause. But sometimes they can’t find the source. If so, they turn to treating, or managing, the pain.

Healthcare providers treat chronic pain in many different ways. The approach depends on many factors, including:

• The type of pain you have.
• The cause of your pain, if known.
• Your age and overall health.

The best treatment plans use a variety of strategies, including medications, lifestyle changes and therapies.

If you have chronic pain and depression and/or anxiety, it’s important to seek treatment for your mental health condition(s) as well. Having depression or anxiety can make your chronic pain worse. For example, if you have depression, the fatigue, sleep changes and decreased activity it may cause can make your chronic pain worse.

Your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications to relieve chronic pain, including:

• Anticonvulsants (medications that prevent seizures) for nerve pain.
• Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants.
• Corticosteroid.
• Muscle relaxers.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen.
• Topical products (applied to the skin) that contain pain relievers or ingredients that create soothing heat or cold.
• Opioids (narcotics). Opioids can be addictive, and you can build up a tolerance to them over time. Because of this, healthcare providers usually try other pain treatment options before prescribing opioids.
• Sedatives to help with anxiety or insomnia.
• Medical marijuana.

Other medical treatments your healthcare provider may have you try include:

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): This procedure delivers small shocks through patches on your skin. The electrical impulses can relieve pain.
• Nerve blocks: For this treatment, your healthcare provider injects an anesthetic near the site of your pain to reduce feeling in the area. Nerve blocks can also sometimes provide diagnostic information and locate the source of your pain.
• Epidural steroid injections: This procedure is an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine — a steroid or corticosteroid — into the space around your spinal nerves known as the epidural space to treat chronic pain caused by irritation and inflammation of spinal nerve roots.

The key is through PREVENTION of pain through the following:

Four major lifestyle factors can affect your chronic pain and help minimize it. Healthcare providers sometimes call them the four pillars of chronic pain. They include:

• Stress: Stress can play a major role in chronic pain, so it’s important to try to reduce your stress as much as possible. Everyone has different techniques for managing their stress, but some techniques include meditation, mindfulness and deep breathing. Try different options until you find what works best for you.
• Exercise: Participating in low-intensity exercises, such as walking or light swimming, for 30 minutes every day may help reduce your pain. Exercise can also be a stress reliever for some people, which is important to manage when you have chronic pain.
• Diet: It’s important to eat a healthy diet to boost your overall health. Your healthcare provider may suggest trying an anti-inflammatory diet by eliminating foods that cause inflammation, such as red meat and refined carbohydrates.
• Sleep: Getting enough quality sleep is important for your overall health. A lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight, which could make your chronic pain worse. Getting quality sleep is also important for stress management.”

Cleveland Clinic (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4798-chronic-pain)

“Leading causes of death regarding Mortality:

Mortality was caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, self-harm (suicide), hypertensive heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and liver cancer have shown the largest percentage change from 2000 to 2019; this was for both male and female.”

Pan American Health Organization (https://www.paho.org/en/enlace/leading-causes-death-and-disability)

2- “Suicide is a major public health concern. Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States. Based on recent mortality data, suicide in some populations is on the rise according to the CDC; which states for 2021:

• Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 48,100 people.
• Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34 , the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15-24, and the fifth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44.
• There were nearly two times as many suicides (48,183) in the United States as there were homicides (26,031).”

National Institute of Mental Health – NIH (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide)

9- Kidney Disease

• Deaths: 48,146
• Rate: 15.1
• Age-adjusted rate: 13.2
• Percentage of total deaths: 1.8 percent

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis are all conditions, disorders, or diseases of the kidneys.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as healthy kidneys. Because of this, waste from the blood remains in the body and may cause other health problems.

An estimated 10 percent of adults in the U.S. – more than 20 million people – are thought to have CKD to some degree. The chances of developing CKD increase with age, especially after the age of 50, and the condition is most common among adults older than 70.

Awareness and understanding about kidney disease is critically low, with an estimated 26 million Americans having chronic kidney disease. Among those with severe (stage 4) kidney disease, fewer than half realize that they have damaged kidneys.

Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms. Chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired.

Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of the kidney damage, usually by controlling the underlying cause. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time if kidney damage progresses slowly. Signs and symptoms of kidney disease may include: Nausea/ Vomiting/Loss of appetite/Fatigue and weakness/Sleep problems/Changes in how much you urinate/Decreased mental sharpness/Muscle twitches and cramps/Swelling of feet and ankles/Persistent itching/Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart/Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs/High blood pressure (hypertension) that’s difficult to control.

Remember, signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by other illnesses. Because your kidneys are highly adaptable and able to compensate for lost function, signs and symptoms may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.

In how to help prevent this condition:

• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Get active. Physical activity helps control blood sugar levels.
• Quit smoking.
• Getting a checkup? Make sure to get your kidneys checked too.
• Take medications as directed.
• Keep your blood pressure below 140/90, or ask your doctor what the best blood pressure target is for you.
• If you have diabetes, stay in your target blood sugar range as much as possible.
• Stay in your target cholesterol range.
• Eat foods lower in salt.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.

10. Suicide

Suicide is a Leading Cause of Death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2016: Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 45,000 people.

Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54.  There were more than twice as many suicides (44,965) in the United States as there were homicides (19,362).

American facts on statistics with suicide in the U.S.:

• The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals.
• Men die by suicide 3.53x more often than women.
• On average, there are 123 suicides per day.
• White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2016.
• Firearms account for 51% of all suicides in 2016.
• The rate of suicide is highest in middle age — white men in particular.

We have a rising toll of suicides in our world today. This is an extremely disturbing fact, the tenth-leading cause of death. The suicide rate has gone up nearly 30% in the past 18 years in the U.S. This is a complicated issue without simple causes or solutions. We have internet bullying. We have loneliness and isolation. We have families in dissolution. We have a preponderance of psychiatric treatments that ignore the heart and soul of what it is to be human. Life is difficult, and requires struggle and resilience and caring to carry on.

There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.

Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.

What to do if somone appears suicidal:

1- Contact emergency services immediately if someone is about to commit suicide. You need emergency responders, especially first-aid, to be there as soon as humanly possible. If you need to be with someone and they won’t let you call, try to get someone else to call. If someone is on a bridge, holding a weapon, or otherwise threatening their own life, your first move needs to be to 911. You should never try and handle this on your own.

• Mental health professionals, such as therapists or counselors, should be notified as soon as possible.
• If someone is adamant that you don’t call the police, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

“If you are thinking about suicide pick up the phone and call someone who can help you:

• Crisis Call Center
  Phone: (800) 273-8255
• Hopeline Network
  Phone: (800) 422-HOPE (1-800-422-4673)
• National Runaway Safeline
  Phone: (800) RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline
  Phone: (800) 273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
• Befrienders Worldwide
  Resources and numbers by states and countries
• Boys Town Hotline
  Phone: (800) 448-3000
• The Trevor Project
  Phone: (866) 488-7386
• Veterans Crisis Line
  Phone: (800) 273-8255 Press 1
• The Samaritans
  Phone (In the UK and ROI): 116 123

“The top global causes of death, in order of total number of lives lost, are associated with two broad topics: cardiovascular (ischaemic heart disease, stroke) and respiratory (COVID-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections).   Lower respiratory infections remained the world’s most deadly communicable disease other than COVID-19, ranked as the fifth leading cause of death. However, the number of deaths has gone down substantially: in 2021 it claimed 2.5 million lives, 370 000 fewer than in 2000.

The number of people with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. Prevalence has been rising more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.  Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.  Between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in diabetes mortality rates by age.  In 2019, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused an estimated 2 million deaths.  A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use are ways to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.  Diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.

World Health Organization – WHO

(https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death2-https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death

2=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes)

7: Diabetes (diabetes mellitus)

• Deaths: 73,831
• Males: 38,324
• Females: 35,507
• Rate: 23.7
• Age-adjusted rate: 21.6
• Percentage of total deaths: 2.93%.

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When a person has diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in the blood.

Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

Type 1 diabetes, which was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes, may account for about 5% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes, may account for about 90-95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

The estimated costs of diabetes in the US in 2012 was $245 billion. Direct medical costs accounted for $176 billion of that total and indirect costs such as disability, work loss and premature death accounted for $69 billion.

Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes

People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for diagnosis. They may have some or none of the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Extreme hunger
• Sudden vision changes
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• Feeling very tired much of the time
• Very dry skin
• Sores that are slow to heal
• More infections than usual.

Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in the abrupt onset of insulin-dependent diabetes, now called type 1 diabetes.

Can diabetes be prevented?

Researchers are making progress in identifying the exact genetics and “triggers” that predispose some individuals to develop type 1 diabetes, but prevention remains elusive.

A number of studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity.

There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Several clinical trials for preventing type 1 diabetes are currently in progress with additional studies being planned.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large prevention study of people at high risk for diabetes, showed that lifestyle intervention that resulted in weight loss and increased physical activity in this population can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and in some cases return blood glucose levels to within the normal range. Other international studies have shown similar results.

Recent developments on diabetes from MNT news

Diabetes rates in the US ‘leveling off’

A new study from the CDC finds that between 2008 and 2012, diabetes prevalence and incidence rates plateaued, possibly because of slowing obesity rates.

Could a single injection stop diabetes?

Researchers who gave mice with type 2 diabetes the growth factor FGF1, found it reversed diabetes and kept blood glucose within a safe range for 2 days with just one injection.

8: Influenza and pneumonia

• Deaths: 53,826
• Males: 25,401
• Females: 28,425
• Rate: 17.3
• Age-adjusted rate: 15.7
• Percentage of total deaths: 2.13%.

Influenza accounts for 1,532 deaths annually and pneumonia 52,294.

Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that is one of the most severe illnesses of the winter season. The reason influenza is more prevalent in the winter is not known; however, data suggest the virus survives and is transmitted better in cold temperatures. Influenza is spread easily from person to person, usually when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Influenza and pneumonia are the eighth leading cause of death in the US with around 53,826 deaths each year.

A person can have the flu more than once because the virus that causes the disease may belong to different strains of one of three different influenza virus families: A, B or C. Type A viruses tend to have a greater effect on adults, while type B viruses are a greater problem in children.

Influenza can be complicated by pneumonia, which is a serious infection or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs fill with pus and other liquid, blocking oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body’s cells cannot work properly, which can lead to death.

Pneumonia can have over 30 different causes, including various chemicals, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasmas and other infectious agents such as pneumocystis (fungi).

Together, pneumonia and influenza cost the US economy more than $40.2 billion in 2005. This figure includes more than $6 billion due to indirect costs (such as time lost from work) and $34.2 billion due to direct costs (such as medical expenses).

Warning signs and symptoms of influenza and pneumonia

Signs and symptoms of influenza include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Cough
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include:

• Fever
• Wheezing
• Cough
• Chills
• Rapid breathing
• Chest pains
• Loss of appetite
• Malaise
• Feeling of weakness or ill health.

Can influenza and pneumonia be prevented?

We basically know what pneumonia is right?  If not, on problem it is this:  Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus or mucus (color-yellow to green), fatigue, sweating, fever, chills, nausea or vomiting and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.  Treatment is antibiotics.

Most important, methods of prevention with influenza and pneumonia include:

• Flu shot every year to prevent seasonal influenza
• Vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia if you are at high risk of getting this type of pneumonia
• Wash hands frequently, especially after blowing nose, going to the bathroom, diapering, and before eating or preparing foods
• Do not smoke. Tobacco damages the lungs’ ability to fight off infection, and smokers have been found to be at a higher risk of getting pneumonia.
• Since pneumonia often follows respiratory infections, be aware of any symptoms that linger for more than a few days
• Good health habits – a healthy diet, rest, regular exercise, etc. – help prevent viruses and respiratory illnesses
• Hib vaccine prevents pneumonia in children from Haemophilus influenzae type B
• A drug called Synagis (palivizumab) can be given to some children younger than 24 months to prevent pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus
• With cancer or HIV patients, a doctor should be consulted about additional ways to prevent pneumonia and other infections.

Recent developments on influenza and pneumonia from MNT news

Goji berries protect against the flu in new study

A study in older mice suggests that, when coupled with the flu vaccine, goji berries offer extra protection against the flu by boosting the immune system and diminishing symptoms.

New vaccine protects against staph-induced pneumonia

A vaccine that targeted surface proteins increased disease severity, whereas one that targeted toxins secreted by the bacteria protected against staph-induced pneumonia.

“This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer’s disease, including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report examines the patient journey from awareness of cognitive changes to potential treatment with drugs that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, and Alzheimer’s disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer’s was the seventh-leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in 2022. ”

Alzheimer’s Association(https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13016)

4: Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases)

• Deaths: 128,932
• Males: 52,335
• Females: 76,597
• Rate: 41.4
• Age-adjusted rate: 37.9
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.12%.

Cerebrovascular diseases are conditions that develop as a result of problems with the blood vessels that supply the brain. Four of the most common types of cerebrovascular disease are:

• • Stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage that highly leads into a stroke, depending on how quick the hemorrhage is detected with how bad of a hemorrhage it is  When a pt comes in the ER and shows symptoms of a TIA or stroke the first thing the MD does within 10 minutes by law is order a CT of the head to see if its a clot or a hemorrhage in the brain that is causing the stroke or TIA to decide his or her pathway of treatment.  It would tell the MD decide whether to decide as surgery for a hemorrhage or if a clot start rTPA a con-         tinuous IV infusion to treat the clot if the stroke symptoms started in the past 6 (using a vein) or to 8 hours (using an artery) or another treatment would be decided if it was a clot with s/s that past.

• Vascular dementia.

Every year more than 795,000 people in the US have a stroke; risk of having a stroke varies with race, ethnicity, age and geography. Risk of stroke increases with age, yet in 2009 34% of people hospitalized for stroke were younger than 65 years.

The highest death rates from stroke in the US occur in the southeast.

 Major warning signs and symptoms of stroke

During a stroke, every second counts. Fast treatment can reduce the brain damage that stroke can cause.

Signs and symptoms of stroke include sudden:¹³

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of the above symptoms are experienced.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following simple test:

• F – Face: ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A – Arms: ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S – Speech: ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T – Time: if you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Note the time when any symptoms first appear. Some treatments for stroke only work if given within the first 3 hours after symptoms appear.

Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

How can stroke be prevented?

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are major risk factors for stroke. About half of Americans (49%) have at least one of these three risk factors. Several other medical conditions and unhealthy lifestyle choices can increase your risk for stroke.

Although you cannot control all of your risk factors for stroke, you can take steps to prevent stroke and its complications.¹²

Stroke prevention measures may include:^14,15

• Eating a healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting enough exercise
• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol use
• Checking cholesterol
• Controlling blood pressure
• Managing diabetes
• Managing heart disease
• Taking medicine correctly
• Talking with a health care team.

Recent developments on stroke from MNT news:

Potassium-rich foods could lower stroke risk in older women

Researchers have found that older women whose diets involve potassium-rich foods may be at a reduced risk of stroke and have a greater life expectancy than women consuming less potassium-rich foods.

Stroke risk lowered with a high-protein diet

A diet higher in protein may reduce stroke risk by 20%, while every additional 20 grams of protein consumed each day could reduce stroke risk by 26%, according to new research.

5: Accidents (unintentional injuries)

• Deaths: 126,438
• Males: 79,257
• Females: 47,181
• Rate: 40.6
• Age-adjusted rate: 39.1
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.02%.

Accidents, also referred to as unintentional injuries, are at present the 5th leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of death for those between the ages 1 to 44. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that highway crashes alone have an annual price tag of around $871 billion in economic loss and social harm, with speeding accounting for $210 billion of that figure.

Data for accidents include the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Other land transport accidents
• Water, air and space accidents
• Accidental discharge of firearms
• Accidental drowning and submersion
• Falls
• Accidental exposure to smoke, fire and flames
• Accidental poisoning and exposure to noxious substances.

Possible prevention measures

Accidents cause loss and suffering to the victims and their loved ones. Methods of safety and prevention can help toward avoiding some forms of unintentional death.

Seat belts have saved an estimated 255,000 lives between 1975 and 2008.

In 2010, 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the US.¹ In 2010, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.³ That is 1% of the 112 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among US adults each year.⁴

Information on saving lives and protecting people from violence and injuries can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Some facts or statistics show:

Violence or injury ‘responsible for almost 80% of deaths in Americans under 30’

More Americans between the ages 1-30 die due to preventable causes such as car crashes, falls and firearm-related injuries, according to a new report.

How a smartphone could prevent falls

Purdue University researchers have created a smartphone tool – called SmartGait – that can measure a person’s walking gait, which they say could prevent falls.

6: Alzheimer’s disease

• Deaths: 84,974
• Males: 25,677
• Females: 59,297
• Rate: 27.3
• Age-adjusted rate: 24.7
• Percentage of total deaths: 3.37%.

Dementia is an overall term for diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory or other thinking skills that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Dementia is caused by damage to nerve cells in the brain which are called neurons. As a result of the damage, neurons can no longer function normally and may die. This, in turn, can lead to changes in memory, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the US with around 84,974 deaths each year.

For people with Alzheimer’s disease, the damage and death of neurons eventually impair the ability to carry out basic bodily functions such as walking and swallowing.

People in the final stages of the disease are bed-bound and require around-the-clock care. Alzheimer’s is ultimately fatal. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.

An estimated 5.2 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.

Almost two-thirds of American seniors living with Alzheimer’s are women. Of the 5 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the US, 3.2 million are women, and 1.8 million are men.

In 2013, 15.5 million family and friends provided 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias – care valued at $220.2 billion, which is nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2012.

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most expensive conditions in the nation. In 2014, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s will total an estimated $214 billion, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Despite these staggering figures, Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) in 2050.

A woman’s estimated lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s at age 65 is 1 in 6, compared with nearly 1 in 11 for a man. As real a concern as breast cancer is to women’s health, women in their 60s are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s during the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer.

Warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

The following are common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work or in leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality, including apathy and depression.

Can Alzheimer’s be prevented?

As the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, there is no way to prevent the condition. However, there are some steps you can take that may help to delay the onset of dementia.²⁶

Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart or blood vessels) has been connected with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as well as stroke and heart attacks, may be reduced by improving cardiovascular health using steps such as:

• Stopping smoking
• Avoiding large quantities of alcohol
• Eating a healthy balanced diet
• Exercising for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) every week by doing moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking), which improve both your physical and mental health
• Check blood pressure through regular health tests
• If you have diabetes, make sure you keep to the diet and take your medicine.

Staying mentally active

Evidence suggests rates of dementia are lower in mentally, physically and socially active people. It may be possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by:

• Reading
• Writing for pleasure
• Learning foreign languages
• Playing musical instruments
• Taking part in adult education courses
• Playing tennis
• Playing golf
• Swimming
• Group sports, such as bowling
• Walking.

Future research

Other methods to treat or prevent Alzheimer’s may be revealed as research into the condition continues. At present, there is no evidence to support using the following to prevent dementia:

• Statins (cholesterol-lowering medicines)
• Hormone replacement therapy (when powerful chemicals are taken to replace those that your body no longer produces)
• Vitamin E (found in a variety of foods, such as olive oil, nuts and seeds)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Learn more about Alzheimer’s

Recent developments on Alzheimer’s from MNT news

Impaired brain signaling pathway ‘may be a cause of Alzheimer’s’

Mayo Clinic researchers say a brain signaling defect in the Wnt pathway may be a cause of Alzheimer’s, and boosting Wnt signaling could prevent the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease: are we close to finding a cure?

There seems to be more focus than ever on Alzheimer’s research. But how close are scientists to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for the disease?

“Heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. Though there’s no guarantee, making healthy choices can lower your chance of being affected by these and other leading causes of death.

For over a decade, heart disease and cancer have claimed the first and second spots, respectively, as the leading causes of deaths in America. Together, the two causes are responsible for 37.5 percentTrusted Source of deaths in the United States.

For more than 30 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been collecting and examining causes of death. This information helps researchers and doctors understand if they need to address growing epidemics in healthcare.

The numbers also help them understand how preventive measures may help people live longer and healthier lives.

The top 10 causes of death in the United States account for more than 75 percent of all deaths and this includes Cancer and COPD/Respiratory Infections.”

Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/leading-causes-of-death#cancer)

2.”Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and despite its undeniable impact on our nation, the disease often remains in the shadows. While there are many misconceptions about lung cancer, the fact is that anyone can get it and no one deserves it. About every two minutes, someone in the U.S. learns they have the disease, and every day, lung cancer takes the lives of more than 342 of our friends, neighbors and loved ones.  We are making a difference for the more than 600,000 people in the U.S. impacted by lung cancer.”

American Lung Association  (https://www.lung.org/lung-force/lung-health-barometer)

COPD includes Asthma,Bronchitis, especially Emphysema!

2: Cancer (malignant neoplasms)

• Deaths: 576,691
• Males: 302,231
• Females: 274,460
• Rate: 185.1
• Age-adjusted rate: 169.0
• Percentage of total deaths: 22.92%.

Cancer affects men and woman of all ages, races and ethnicities.⁵ The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate the total costs of cancer in 2009 were $216.6 billion: $86.6 billion for direct medical costs and $130.0 billion for indirect mortality costs.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If the spread is not controlled, it can result in death.

In 2014, about 585,720 American are expected to die of cancer – almost 1,600 people per day.

Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in both men and women. Deaths from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung stand at 157,017 annually with this figure expected to rise to 159,260 in 2014.

Estimated cancer-related deaths for 2014

Leading causes of death from cancer for males:

1. Lung and bronchus – 86,930 (28%)
2. Prostate – 29,480 (10%)
3. Colon and rectum – 26,270 (8%)
4. Pancreas – 20,170 (7%)
5. Liver and intrahepatic bile duct – 15,870 (5%)
6. Leukemia – 14,040 (5%)
7. Esophagus – 12,450 (4%)
8. Urinary bladder – 11,170 (4%)
9. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – 10,470 (3%)
10. Kidney and renal pelvis – 8,900 (3%).

Leading causes of death from cancer for females:

1. Lung and bronchus – 72,330 (26%)
2. Breast – 40,000 (15%)
3. Colon and rectum – 24,040 (9%)
4. Pancreas – 19,420 (7%)
5. Ovary – 14,270 (5%)
6. Leukemia – 10,050 (4%)
7. Uterine corpus – 8,590 (3%)
8. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma – 8,520 (3%)
9. Liver and intrahepatic bile duct – 7,130 (3%)
10. Brain and other nervous system – 6,230 (2%).

Can cancer be prevented?

A substantial proportion of cancers could be prevented. All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely. In 2014, almost 176,000 of the estimated 585,720 deaths will be caused by tobacco use.

The World Cancer Research Fund has estimated that up to one-third of cancer cases that occur in economically developed countries like the US are related to being overweight, obese, inactive or having poor nutrition. These are all potentially preventable.

Particular cancers are related to infectious agents such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – these may be prevented through behavioral changes and use of protective vaccinations or antibiotic treatments.

Many of the more than 3 million skin cancer cases that are diagnosed annually could be prevented by protecting skin from excessive sun exposure and avoiding indoor tanning.

Screening offers the ability for secondary prevention by detecting cancer early, before symptoms appear. Early detection usually results in less extensive treatment and better outcomes.

Screening for colorectal and cervical cancers can prevent cancer by allowing for detection and removal of pre-cancerous lesions.

Awareness about changes in the body to breasts, skin or testicles may result in detection of tumors at an earlier stage.

Learn more about cancer at the American Cancer Society or Caner treatment.com with so many other places on the internet, to our library, to our MD and much more.   All you have to do is research, take the time.

3: Chronic lower respiratory disease

• Deaths: 142,943
• Males: 67,521
• Females: 75,422
• Rate: 45.9
• Age-adjusted rate: 42.5
• Percentage of total deaths: 5.68%.

Chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) is a collection of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related issues, including primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but also bronchitis, emphysema (is due to alot of smokers) and asthma.

Bronchitis (chronic) has active and inactive stages where most get it through their lifetime.  How often has depending factors.  Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.   Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common.

*Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking.

*Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention.

A study released by The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) estimated that 16.4 million days of work were lost annually because of COPD, and total absenteeism costs were $3.9 billion. Of the medical costs, 18% was paid for by private insurance, 51% by Medicare, and 25% by Medicaid. National medical costs are projected to increase from $32.1 billion in 2010 to $49.0 billion in 2020.^8,9

Major warning signs and symptoms of COPD

Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:

• Increased breathlessness when active
• A persistent cough with phlegm
• Frequent chest infections.

How can COPD be prevented?

In the US, tobacco smoke is a KEY FACTOR in the development and progression of COPD=EMPHYSEMA, although exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace, genetic factors, and respiratory infections also play a role.⁷

Smoking is a primary risk factor of COPD since it causes primarily emphysema, and approximately 80% of COPD deaths can be attributed to smoking.   Emphysema damages the tissue of the lung called alveoli causing them to expand and not have the elasticity they need to exchange 0xygen for carbon dioxide when we breath.  Most importantly when the alveoli looses the elasticity it can’t be fixed unless you need a new lung and are a candidate for one.   So regular daily smokers why don’t you just drink poison?  Best is to not smoke at all but at least do it once in a awhile.  Abusing anything usually turns into injury (For example take alcohol to simply verbally or physically abusing and doing it over and over again which makes it easier to do which isn’t right to do at all.  Abuse is just used as an exampte not that it is right at all, I reenforce)

To prevent COPD:

• Quit smoking
• Avoid secondhand smoke
• Avoid air pollution
• Avoid chemical fumes
• Avoid dust

The FDA have approved the once-daily inhaled drug olodaterol (brand name Striverdi Respimat), a long-acting beta-agonist, for the treatment of airflow obstruction in COPD patients.

Doctors are missing chances to diagnose COPD early in up to 85% of cases

COPD is a progressive disease that causes irreversible damage to the lungs. Now, a new study reveals that doctors are missing chances to diagnose the condition early.

If this correct than that gives us as people not to depend just on the MD but to take care of ourselves in particular on preventative measures to give you higher odds that you will not even have to deal with the diagnosis at all.