MERCEREAU REPORT #9 – Stay Healthy in Today’s World, Medical Errors, Hearing Aids & Cognitive Decline
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Karen Mercereau, RN, RN Patient Advocate
karen@patientadvocates.com
Table of Contents:
- Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) – Where is it most concentrated and what does it have to do with inflammation and…hearing aids?
- Diabetic Ulcers – new approach to healing them!
- PFAS – We keep hearing about these, but what are they? Why do we need to understand how they can affect us? Do they impact our health? Are they in your water?
- Covid – again? More masks in stores now and …what is actually going on and how do we protect ourselves?
- Leaky Gut?!? Yes, this is actually a thing and the more we know about it, the better we can protect ourselves. Also, learn what questions we can ask our doctors about this.
- Low dose aspirin. Well, we’ve been told that this is really healthy for us and now? Maybe not so much.
- High heat temperatures. Aside from driving up electricity costs, what does this do to our bodies?
- Misdiagnosis. Has this happened to you? Apparently,it has happened to millions of us and led to some very poor health outcomes, even death. It pays to understand how to avoid this for you and your family.
- Warning signs of a possible stroke. If you are elderly with high blood pressure, read this one first.
The Latest News on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Prevalence of Alzheimer’s is higher in some areas of the US:
The Alzheimer’s Association has an article explaining this:
“A higher prevalence of AD was estimated in the east and southeastern regions of the United States, with the highest in Maryland (12.9%), New York (12.7%), and Mississippi (12.5%). US states with the highest number of people with AD were California, Florida, and Texas. Among larger counties, those with the highest prevalence of AD were Miami-Dade County in Florida, Baltimore city in Maryland, and Bronx County in New York.” Read more here: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13081
Oh, an one other thing – good news! – if you have hearing loss, wear those hearing aids!
Hearing Aids May Cut Risk Of Cognitive Decline By Nearly Half
Hearing Aids May Cut Risk Of Cognitive Decline By Nearly HalfA large study showed that older adults with a higher risk of dementia may be able to reduce their cognitive decline risk by almost 50 percent by using hearing aids.
https://apple.news/AHLJoJgHOSieQlKMH1SPNTA
Do You Or Someone You Know Have A Diabetic Ulcer On Your Leg Or Foot?
Here is a good approach to healing them!
There is an FDA approved method that has a high success rate to heal those painful ulcers: Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBOT) treatments. Since it is FDA approved, your insurance will likely pay for it.
Here is a good article that will explain more about this technique:
Healing Diabetic ulcers: HBOT –
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-for-diabetic-foot-ulcers
Many hospitals have HBOT chambers and there may be one near you. Certainly would be a good idea to ask your doctor.
PFAS – We keep hearing about these, but what are they?
Why do we need to understand how they can affect us? Do they impact our health? Are they in your water?
Here is a good article from the Environmental Protection Agency
https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
Also, here is a short review of potential health hazards associated with PFAS:
https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/health-impacts
Drinking water of millions of Americans may be contaminated with these PFAS or as they are frequently called: ‘forever chemicals’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/pfas-us-drinking-water-contaminated-forever-chemicals-epa
https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/health-impacts
What to do? How to protect ourselves?
Well, fortunately, there is a foundation where you can find out what toxins may be in your own water: The Environmental Working Group or EWG.org. Learning this may help to protect you and your loved ones. Here’s how to find out: tap on this link: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
And then put in your zip code to see what toxins might be in your water. You may be surprised. If you have toxins, there are many companies who make filters to clean your water and keep you safe. The best ones are called RO or Reverse Osmosis.
Covid – Again? More masks in stores now and …what is actually going on and how do we protect ourselves?
All signs point to a late summer COVID wave.
If you’ve noticed a sudden rise in the number of people wearing masks while you’re out and about lately, here’s why: COVID-19 is on the upswing once again, according to closely watched metrics.
Hospitalization rates are rising the fastest in Mississippi (+73% month over month), Alabama (+66%) and Louisiana (+66%).
Please note: this is not like the situation when COVID was in full swing, but, best to be on the safe side, especially if you are elderly or immune compromised with chronic illness.
We will keep you posted here in the Mercereau Reports!
Read in Axios: https://apple.news/AuTPpmNHTQRiokmv7sjkE8Q
Leaky Gut?!? Yes, this is actually a thing and the more we know about it, the better we can protect ourselves.
What is this? Why might 80% of us have it and not know it? Also, you can learn what questions we can ask our doctors about this.
The more you know, the better you can protect your health and that of your family.
Let’s take a look: Normally the lining of our small intestines have openings where the nutrients from our digested food goes into our blood stream to be delivered to our cells. If that lining is damaged or inflamed for some reason, this creates a problem: not only nutrients can pass through, but bacteria and toxins from our intestine can as well. This is what is called Leaky Gut condition.
Why does this happen? Well, there can be many causes: too much processed food, certain medications (an example here is ibuprofen ) which can erode that protective lining or chronic illness.
What can it look like? Well, the National Institute of Health explains it this way: “The leakage in leaky gut may be responsible for a huge variety of health issues, ranging from minor (bloating, cramps, fatigue, food allergies and sensitivities, gas, and headaches) to “bigger things”: autoimmune conditions, depression and other mood disorders, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis”.
Certainly, this is something that you should ask your doctors about, particularly if you have some bowel issues.
Here is an interesting article about this. It includes a short YouTube video explaining this illness. See what you think……..
https://draxe.com/health/7-signs-symptoms-you-have-leaky-gut/
There are many ways to heal this, but first find out if you actually have it by asking your doctors. We will look into the various therapies that can heal Leaky Gut in the next Mercereau Report.
Low dose aspirin. Well, we’ve been told that this is really healthy for us and now? Maybe not so much.
Low dose aspirin may carry an extra risk if you have not had a previous heart attack or stroke.
New research shows that daily low dose aspirin may increase the risk of brain bleeding in older adults, which could lead to hemorrhagic stroke. The findings also indicate that low dose aspirin did not significantly lower the risk of ischemic stroke.
The study, published July 26 in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source (this is the publication of the American Medical Association), adds to growing evidence that routine aspirin use for older adults with no previous stroke carries more risk than benefit.
Daily low dose aspirin is a common and effective strategy. for preventing a heart attack or stroke in people with a previous heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular disease event.
But some people without cardiovascular disease take a daily aspirin, thinking it will prevent a first heart attack or stroke — in 2017, approximately 29 million AmericansTrusted Source fell into this category. Nearly 7 million did so without their doctor’s recommendation.
You can learn more in this article:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/daily-low-dose-aspirin-can-increase-risk-of-brain-bleeding-what-to-know
High heat temperatures. Aside from driving up electricity costs, what does this do to our bodies?
With so many parts of our country experiencing very high daily temperatures, our bodies are having to adjust to increasing internal temperatures. What does this mean for our health?
Let’s take a look:
“Heat stress means that the body is experiencing a deep buildup of heat – more than it can release,” said Uwe Reischl, professor in the school of public and population health at Boise State University.
The ‘optimum’ body temperature
The “optimum” internal temperature at which our bodies comfortably function is about 98.6F (36.8C). While it varies slightly from person to person, the core body temperature needs to stay within a narrow range of 97-99F (36-37C) to protect organs, and for cells to function best.
When the body becomes too hot, blood vessels in the skin dilate, and sweat is released. Heat is dissipated via the evaporation of sweat, which cools the surface of the skin, liberating heat transferred from the core.
High humidity can hinder this natural cooling process. And when the heat index – a combined metric of air temperature and humidity – reaches 90F, the risk of heat-related illness starts to rise.
The next stage is heat exhaustion – a more serious condition that occurs when the body still cannot get rid of excess heat. The signs can include:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Vomiting
“Not everyone is going to show the same symptoms,” said Gredia Huerta-Montañez, a pediatrician and environmental health researcher at Northeastern University. “It’s easy to ignore them, so we need to continue educating communities.”
If you or one of your loved ones are experiencing any of these symptoms, please go to the nearest Emergency Room!Here is an interesting article that explains this well:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/17/heat-stress-heatstroke-temperatures
Misdiagnosis. Has this happened to you?
Apparently, it has happened to millions of us and led to some very poor health outcomes, even death. It pays to understand how to avoid this for you and your family.
Misdiagnosis: about 1 in 18 ED patients receiving an incorrect diagnosis, 1 in 50 suffering an adverse event, and 1 in 350 suffering permanent disability or death. These rates are comparable to those seen in primary care and hospital inpatient care. (AHRQ – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – a government agency that is part of the Health and Human Services Department)
Cancer is the most frequently misdiagnosed disease in the medical field. It is considered one of the “Big 3” diagnostic errors, together with infections and vascular events. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer are some of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions.
Some of the most commonly misdiagnosed diseases include strokes, heart attacks and Lyme Disease.
You can learn more here:
https://www.damoreinjurylaw.com/blog/common-misdiagnosis/#:~:text=Cancer%20is%20the%20most%20common,the%20most%20commonly%20misdiagnosed%20conditions.
Warning signs of a possible stroke:
Courtesy of MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine
This Is One Of The Biggest Warning Signs You May Experience A Stroke
Many people who experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) will go on to have a stroke within 90 days. Here are the red flags.
Here is a simple way to figure out if this is happening to you or one of your loved ones: “BE FAST” as a widely accepted mnemonic device detailing the signs of stroke. These symptoms typically come on quickly.
Here’s what it means:
Balance — changes in balance or a loss of balance.
Eyesight — changes in vision, like blurriness, loss of sight or double vision.
Facial droop — drooping of the face or an uneven smile.
Arm — arm weakness on one side of the body.
Speech — changes in speech, like slurring words or speaking gibberish.
Time — it’s time to call emergency services. According to Willey, the “t” can also stand for the terrible headache that comes on fast.
“You could have all of those symptoms, or you could have one of those symptoms or any mixture in between.” So, don’t wait around for more than one sign. If you notice any of these issues, go to the emergency room immediately. Call 911 if you do not have someone to drive you.
https://apple.news/A6EvjpHy0Tu-dshNn4rbjgQ
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