health
Keeping your mind and body in check - popular topics in health and medicine to maintain a long and healthy life.
My Story
When I was in high school I was mostly always sad, everything would get on my nerves. I would always get these headaches that sometimes lasted for days. My junior year I was just mad that I would get the headaches and I would space out in class so I went to the doctor. I had like three MRI's and they found nothing! They said I got headaches because of my vision so I had to get glasses.
By Maritza Landeros8 years ago in Longevity
Living with an Invisible Disability
"Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing." - Little Elf Judy I look normal, that means I am normal. To most people today that is the general idea. What is on the outside must reflect the inside. In my case, I can tell you that I've come into contact with a lot of people who don't believe me when I show them the medical alert bracelet I wear or when I tell them that I can't partake in something because I know that it will instantly stimulate my heart rate. My favorite is when I say, "No thank you I'm a diabetic."
By Jacie Heard8 years ago in Longevity
Feeling Defeat
This past week has been a challenge for me. On Monday night I ended up getting a headache, which turned into a migraine. By Tuesday morning I couldn't even find the energy I needed to push myself out of bed that morning. I had to call in sick to work, which I hate doing, especially as I am trying to save my sick days for if my insurance ever approves the Spinraza treatment. The headache lasted off and on all week at different levels, but luckily I only missed the one day of work. With that, I overall just didn't feel that great throughout the week. I did start feeling better by the weekend, but still not to 100%. I was hoping it would only get better from there, as I had a big weekend coming up the following weekend. I wanted to finish all of my homework during the week. Unfortunately, that didn't happen and I was left with a project to finish and another paper to write by the end of today.
By Courtney Frazer8 years ago in Longevity
Fine, Thanks
Alright, abelists, as April is coming up and as it is Abelist Awareness month, I’m going to do quite a bit of fine ranting next month since I have stuff to say to everybody who has ever been an abelist in my life or an abettor to abelism. To expect disabled people to say “Thanks, I’m fine,” is ridiculous. We are fine only if we have enough spoons to appear to be fine. Sometimes “fine” is not the way we chronically ill feel, mmm k? Chronic illness is a drain. I don’t always sleep the whole night but for some reason I wake up feeling energy as well as rested.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Longevity
Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps That Actually Work
Essential oils have been used as a natural remedy for pain for centuries. So why wouldn't they work for some of the most painful, relentless conditions such as menstrual cramps? From lavender to eucalyptus, each of these oils will help relieve some of the worst PMS symptoms every woman has dealt with.
By Kelsey Lange8 years ago in Longevity
Spinraza
As I mentioned before, I am a 27-year-old living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Type 3. I consider myself really lucky looking at all the things I am able to do compared to all the things other people with the same disease as me are unable to do. I also consider myself really lucky compared to the things the doctors said I should not be able to do, like walk with extremely weak legs. Well, here I am, still walking and still able to jump. I guess I showed them. I work out too. Working out and stretching are some of the most important things for me to do in order to keep my strength up so that I can keep walking. I hope I am able to continue to walk forever! With that being said, the FDA did approve a treatment in December 2016 for SMA. This treatment is a drug known as Spinraza.
By Courtney Frazer8 years ago in Longevity
A Week in the Life
In order to fully give an insight into my life I will try to highlight my weeks throughout the year. I was working full-time and am currently looking for another full-time job. I am going to school full-time, while working a part-time job at the same time. SMA does cause fatigue and I am usually exhausted. A lot of the exhaustion has to do with how hard I push myself throughout the week, which is probably a little more than I should. Last January through April, I was working a full-time retail job, going to school full-time, and working an additional part-time job. The part-time job is seasonal and I will have more free time once that ends. I will try not to jump off topic too much, so I will jump right into my week.
By Courtney Frazer8 years ago in Longevity
My Life
I never imagined my life being what it is today. 27-years-old, still living with parents, and talking about what it's like to live with a neuromuscular disease. Let me give a little background and get back to my life later. When I began walking my parents noticed something different about the way I walked; how I walked on my toes constantly instead of heel-to-toe like most people walk. Knowing this was different from when my older brother started walking, my mom dragged me around to different doctors who told her the same thing every time. "There's nothing wrong with your daughter. She will grow out of it. Give it time. You're overreacting." These doctors left my mom feeling like she was crazy. Because of this, she didn't want to continue pushing for a diagnosis. She was also trying to protect me from feeling like something was wrong with me because I was "different."
By Courtney Frazer8 years ago in Longevity
Recognizing the Adverse Effects of Acetaminophen
Safety First Recognizing the adverse effects of acetaminophen is a critical component to ensuring your safety when taking this particular type of medication — whether through over-the-counter or by way of prescription. When an individual ingests this particular substance, it enters the body and actually changes the overall perception of the pain that is being experienced. It is referred to as an "analgesic" because of the fact that it works to reduce the effects of pain. In addition to this, it works to cool the body if fever is experienced. This makes it known as an "antipyretic" as well.
By Angela Shiflett8 years ago in Longevity
