February 2014 - LA Medical Archive

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Archive for February, 2014

American Heart Health Month 2

Posted on: February 27th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Welcome back to LA Medical’s tips on how you can have a healthier heart during American Heart Month. What have you learned so far? Let’s get to it and continue to talk about more ways for a healthy heart!

Sleep, but don’t sleep in – The recommended amount of sleep average men and women should get every night should be between six and eight hours. People who suffer from insomnia face almost a 50 percent risk of having a heart attack. Remember though, too much sleep can be a disadvantage to heart health as well. Snoozing too much could link to added weight gain and poor mental health.

Control your LDL – Stay on top of your cholesterol by knowing your LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels. If your numbers are high, speak with your doctor on how you can lower your LDL. Try eating eggs for breakfast as it may help clear your coronary arteries and they’re a good source of protein.

Watch your weight – Drinking more water and eating healthy is always a plus when it comes to having a healthy heart. Take control this month and eat and drink healthier; you may be surprised on how much better you feel and how much energy you have.

Talk to your Doctor – Many people have the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality when it comes to their health and bodies. Unlike material objects, you only have one body and you should do everything you can to keep it healthy. Don’t just see the doctor in a crisis! Try scheduling regular meetings with your doctor to discuss your health such as blood pressure readings, glucose levels, hearing and eyesight. Get an official weight check and ask questions. You can never be too sure about your health and what you need to work on.

LA Medical wants you to have healthy hearts and healthy bodies. As always, see LA Medical for home wheelchair ramps and hospital beds.

American Heart Health Month 1

Posted on: February 25th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

LA Medical wants you to Go Red! Go Red means to promote the awareness of women’s heart health and women’s heart disease in February. Heart disease and heart attacks are not just a male issue. Did you know that 1 in 4 women die from heart disease in the United States? The leading killer of both men and women in the United States is coronary heart disease. Heart disease is a real danger, but there are steps for men and women to take to reduce your risks.

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Check your blood pressure – Did you know that training your hand grip can lower your blood pressure around 10 percent? Researchers from the Journal of Hypertension suggest gripping your hands creates “shear stress” which improves blood vessel function. If you would like to try, grip your hands for two minutes for four times. Rest for a minute in-between each hand.

Monkey business – The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found consuming an extra 1,000 milligrams of potassium every day can reduce systolic blood pressure. How do you do this? Eat bananas! Bananas hold 420 milligrams of potassium. You can also find this great mineral in sweet potatoes (boasting 540 milligrams per serving) along with tuna, holding 450 milligrams. Looks like you have your afternoon snack and dinner figured out for today!

Sing your heart out – Take your singing talents to a local karaoke hotspot. Sweden researchers have found people who sing together have a better heart-rate by singing to their favorite songs. Singing in your car or while you’re in the shower helps your heart rate too!

Go the distance – The current health situation we all live in isn’t getting any better with the obese rate among children and adults getting worse by the day. Everyone can always use more exercise, but it’s hard to get started and stick with it. Try parking farther away at the grocery store or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Get a start now!

Make sure to read LA Medical’s next part continuing the discussion on ways you can have a healthier heart in February.

How Canned Foods Can Affect your Heart

Posted on: February 20th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

In February, the experts at LA Medical want you to know the good, the bad and the not-really-attractive parts of canned foods and how what you’re eating can affect your health.

First of all, there is really nothing wrong with canned food. Canned food revolutionized how we eat along with the food safety in this country and around the world. The downside is that canned foods are often very high in sodium, or salt, and high sodium can be a real danger to people who have issues including heart issues, high blood pressure, kidney problems and edema. These are some of the medical problems that LA Medical see’s every day.

We know that the average recommended sodium intake is between 1500 and 2400 mg of sodium per day and that the American Heart Association recommends that people with high blood pressure eat less than1500mg per day. We also know that most of us eat way more than that and we may not even know it.

Juices are very popular now, what about the sodium in vegetables juices? One cup of the average vegetable juice cocktail, like a V8, contains 479 milligrams of sodium. That’s 33 percent of your daily recommended sodium. Most of the glasses we use are at least 2 cups. Look for low-sodium versions of vegetable juice.

Another good and quick meal is a bowl of soup. But those canned soups can be loaded with sodium. Just 1 cup of canned chicken noodle soup contains as much as 744 milligrams of sodium.

Try adding a sandwich to that bowl of soup and get more sodium. Two slices of beef or pork dry salami can have as much as 362 milligrams of sodium. The bread that you have the sandwich is also usually high (328 mg per slice) in sodium and so is the American cheese (468 mgs) on the sandwich. Sorry if we ruined your appetite.

LA Medical wants you to be the best and healthiest you can be. See us today for incontinence and mobility ramps and lifts.

Celebrating Senior Independence Month

Posted on: February 18th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Staying independent as we age is a concern for many people. Losses in strength, mobility, coordination and memory can all put a senior’s independence at risk. LA Medical carries many products that help a senior stay safe and independent and offers these ideas.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in seniors. Once a senior has fallen, they often become scared to fall again and often avoid the situations or places where they have previously fallen. That place is their bathroom.

Getting in and out of a tub can be less dangerous with a few adaptions. Ask the folks at LA Medical about bathtub handrails. These handrails are secured right onto the tub and give a person something to hang onto as they enter or exit the tub. They are easy to install or remove.

Another common item is the bath chair or shower chair. These sturdy water proof chairs require no installation; just set them in the tub! LA Medical carries versions with and without backs. The non-slip feet on the chairs means that they will stay put and so will you.

New styles of walkers are not the kind that most of us saw our grandparents use. These new rolling walkers have 3 or 4 wheels, handbrakes and basket to keep your hands and arms free. They also have a seat and a basket that gives you a place to sit wherever and whenever you need one. Rollators are lightweight but strong and are easy to transport. They provide added balance and stability and help with balance, especially on uneven surfaces.

Safety and falls are a big concern for seniors and their families. There are many common things that can help reduce falls in the home. See LA Medical for all of your bathroom safety and mobility equipment today. Don’t hesitate to ask questions!

Fire Safety 101: Evacuation

Posted on: February 13th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Even though National Preparedness Month is in September, it’s a great idea to discuss how you and your family can be prepared for an evacuation during a forest fire. You can always be prepared for the worst and it helps to test yourself to be ready in case of natural disaster or emergency. LA Medical would like to educate you and your family on how you can become prepared and what you or a loved one can do to be ready with their home medical equipment.

The National Preparedness Coalition Community is based online and they connect on emergency preparedness. The focus is to get you, your family, your friends and your neighborhood prepared to live in or evacuate your homes in the event of a natural disaster.

Since you may have home medical equipment such as power wheelchairs or manual wheelchairs, it may take additional time to gather things in case you have to evacuate your home. Have some supplies ready in case of emergency so you don’t have to rush getting out of your home. The National Preparedness Coalition Community is here to help you understand to have things ready just in case or have back up medical supplies ready to go. In case the power goes out, consider having back up power by getting a gas powered, portable generator that sits outside. This will at least get your wheelchair batteries charged.

There are four guidelines to follow to prepare for any emergency:

Get a kit – Have enough non-perishable food, water and other supplies like batteries, toiletries, cellular phone and flashlights or candles. Utilities may be shut off for days or weeks, depending on the situation.
Make a plan – It’s important to plan ahead. When a disaster may strike, it’s important to know how you and your family will stay in touch and get back together.
Be informed – Make sure to follow up with current weather conditions and local authorities with the current situations and natural disasters. You may need to stay in your home or evacuate and local authorities will be able to direct you.
Get involved – Volunteer to support disaster efforts in your community.

LA Medical anticipates you’ll talk with your family about how you’ll prepare for any emergency. In case you have to stay in your home during an emergency, look at LA Medical’s aids to daily living and orthopedic aids today!

Fire Safety 101

Posted on: February 11th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Our last blog of the month will focus on fire safety and the wildfires that have gone on here in California. Across California, it is typically dry and it only rains between December and April, but will get worse through these winter months if it doesn’t rain. Did you know that home fires can injure 16,000 people every year? Today, LA Medical would like to educate you and your family about common fire safety tips and what you can do.

Smoke alarms are a great resource to have in your home to detect smoke and alarm you to get out of your home. A downside many people have with smoke alarms is the high-pitched beeping noise it makes when the batteries are dying. As much as you want to take the battery out and unplug it, try replacing the battery. People forget to put batteries back in, resulting in no warning with a fire in the house. Replace smoke alarms every ten years for best results.

The United States Fire Administration wants you and your family to plan and practice fire escape plans. In-case of a fire, smoke and flames can spread into other rooms of your home within seconds. Always have two ways out of a room and make sure all doors and windows open. If you or a loved one has a disability, make sure to plan a specific escape route for them. Practice your fire escape plan twice a year and make sure all doors and windows open easily throughout the year. When all individuals are outside the home, meet at a spot away from the home like the mailbox or a tree.

If there is smoke in your home, get low and go. Crawling will allow you to not breathe in all the harmful smoke and chemicals from the fire and provide you with a clearer line of sight to find an exit. If you happen to catch fire from your clothes, remember to stop, drop and roll, if possible, outside of your home to eliminate the fire from spreading.

See LA Medical today for mobility equipment to help you or a loved one be more prepared in-case of a fire in California.

Only You Can Prevent Wildfires

Posted on: February 6th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Our great state of California is the home to about 33 million acres of public and private forest area. Wildfires can start up here just like the fires in states like Washington. Wildfires don’t only destroy our forests, but they also can kill the animals that live there and they can affect your health. Today, LA Medical would like to educate you on how to stay safe and prevent forest fires from starting.

Wildfires release smoke and other mixtures of fine particles and gases that go into the air. Smoke from wildfires can affect your eyes, your breathing and can cause chronic heart or lung disease. Smoke can cause you to cough, have shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches and asthma complications. Even if the reported wildfire is miles away, smoke and other particles still travel in the air and you still will need to protect yourself.

The most common human-caused igniter of wildfires is campfires. You may think having rocks surrounding the fire will be fine, but that doesn’t mean embers from the fire can’t travel by air and start somewhere else. Here are some ideas to plan, build and maintain, and take out your campfire:

Do not build a fire in dry conditions
If you’re staying at a campground, see if they have existing fire pits or rings
Make sure fire is at least 15 feet away from flammable objects and watch out for branches above
If you’re setting up a new fire site, make sure to dig a hole at least a foot deep
Circle the pit with rocks or a steel wheel
Keep a bucket of water or dirt nearby
Allow contents to burn to ash before extinguishing the fire with water
Stir contents around until no embers are noticeable

“Only you can prevent forest fires,” was said by the iconic childhood mascot Smokey the Bear. Being around and just turning 69 years old, Smokey is still promoting how to prevent forest fires. In 2011, more than 8.7 million acres burned due to wildfires in the United States and more than 5.4 million acres were burned due to human-caused wildfires, said by Smokey Bear himself.

LA Medical wants you to be safe while having a peaceful night outside by the fire. Take a look at our online catalog for a full list of home medical products we offer!

How to Avoid a Fire in your Home

Posted on: February 4th, 2014 by LAMedicalBlogger

Recently, California has seen an increase in forest fires due to drought. Even in colder weather, fires can still ignite and spread creating havoc for firefighters and home owners. At LA Medical, we care about your health and independence and hope that either of those is not comprised due to a house fire. Today, we’ll talk about how you can avoid a fire in your home and keep your safety intact.

According to the United States Fire Administration, you’re most likely to get hurt or die in a fire between December and March, when temperatures drop and Christmas trees go up. Be aware of these common house fire igniters:

Space heaters – These great electronic devices help heat a space when your furnace may not reach a certain area of your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, just over 80 percent of heating-related fire deaths in the home involve space heaters. Take note to have the space heater in the open and at least three feet away from furniture, clothing or even garbage. Regardless if your heater has a thermostat, make sure to shut it off before you go to bed; because that would be a rude awakening.
Christmas Trees – Some people keep their Christmas trees and other holiday decorations up until winter is over. Real Christmas trees can be a large fire hazard with or without gifts underneath. Dried out pine needles can ignite and spread like wildfire, no pun intended. Water it often, keep it away from heat vents and keep it away from doors or windows.
Candles – Candles help make your home smell great and add a decorative touch. Fires started from candles kill 166 people a year, especially around the holiday season. Never, ever leave a candle unattended or near a combustible object, according to the USFA. If you enjoy the smell, consider getting a safer-to-use candle warmer you plug in and reduce igniting a fire altogether.

Stay safe around any wildfires and make sure to listen or do anything your local fire department asks you to do. LA Medical is here to help you or a loved one get new home medical equipment; see us today.

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