Kims Nursing Assistance

There are thousands of people around the world who have to deal with the effects of a stroke at some point. This is something which is going to be very difficult to deal with, but with help and an understanding of the symptoms of stroke they will get through it. Stroke is a disease which affects the blood vessels and the supply of blood to the brain.

A stroke usually happens when a blood vessel which brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain ruptures or is clogged by a blood clot. This prevents the essential blood and oxygen getting to the brain. This is very dangerous and a very frightening time for the sufferer. Not only is this frightening for the person who is having the stroke, it is also frightening and stressful for those around at the time.

When there is not enough oxygen reaching the nerve cells of the brain that part of the brain will cease to work.. This will cause the part of the body that this part of the brain controls to stop working also. This is very hard for the sufferer to deal with, especially after a severe stroke has occurred. Stroke can cause permanent damage to brain cells, these damaged cells cannot be replaced.

There are two types of stroke. One is the Ischemic stroke which is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels. The other is called a Hemorrhagic stroke, this type of stroke is caused by bleeding. Bleeding strokes usually have a much higher death rate than those caused by clots.

It is estimated that around 83 percent of stroke cases are Ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes are caused by an obstruction in a blood vessel which supplies blood to the brain. The cause of this type of obstruction is the build up of fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessel. This condition is called atherosclerosis. The fatty deposits I mention here cause two types of obstruction: Cerebral thrombosis, this refers to a thrombus, which is a blood clot that develops at the clogged part of the blood vessel. Cerebral embolism, this is generally a blood clot which forms at some other location in the circulatory system, this is usually the heart and large arteries of the upper chest and neck. A portion of this blood clot will break away, enter the bloodstream and travel into the brain’s blood vessels until it eventually reaches a vessel which is too small to let it pass. Another very important cause of an embolism is an irregular heartbeat, this is known as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation will create a condition where a blood clot will form in the heart, become dislodged and travel to the brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for around 17 percent of stroke cases. Hemorrhagic stroke is a hemorrhage which occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and the skull. A cerebral hemorrhage will occur when a defective artery in the brain breaks, and this will fill the surrounding tissue with blood.

When a blood vessel in the brain ruptures it will create a build up of pressure and compress part of the brain. If the person is lucky enough to live through this ordeal, the pressure will eventually subside. It is possible that the brain will regain some of its former function again. It is vitally important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible when a stroke occurs. This way a person can get the help and the treatment that they need to recover and survive through this devastating ordeal. A stroke can cause a great deal of damage to a person’s physical and mental well being.

All of us have probably suffered from food poisoning at some time in our lives. However not all of us have suffered from a severe form of food poisoning. Food poisoning can and does kill. I myself have almost died when I contracted a form of food poisoning called (Campylobactor). I hope that this article can go a long way to educating people on the causes and effects of the various strains of food poisoning.

Food poisoning is an acute gastroenteritis caused by consuming a food or a drink which contains the pathogenic micro organism or their toxins or poisonous chemicals. Food poisoning is common in many catering establishments including, hostels, hotels, communal feeding areas, and during festival seasons.

A group of people can be affected with the same symptoms, each of the group would have consumed the same food product and show the same or similar symptoms. These symptoms usually start to surface after around twelve hours of consuming the infected food stuff.

The different types of food poisoning.

1) Bacterial food poisoning:

Here the micro organisms called bacteria are responsible. The food material may contain the pathogenic bacteriae or their toxin and will be ingested along with the food.

2) Non bacterial food poisoning:

Due to the presence of toxic chemicals like fertilizers, insecticides, heavy metals etc..

Since bacterial food poisoning is the most common it will be discussed here.

Bacterial food poisoning:

Not all bacteria are harmful. There are some pathogenic bacteria which secrete toxins and cause clinical manifestations. These organisms enter the human body through food stuffs and or drinks.

How food poisoning occurs:

1) A presence of bacteria found in the drinking water.

2) The raw materials for the food may contain toxins.

3) Premises where the food is prepared may contain micro organisms or toxins.

4) Food handlers may carry some infectious diseases, or perhaps their hygiene leaves a lot to be desired.

5) Some animals like dogs and or rodents may contaminate the food.

6) If prepared food is kept at room temperature for a long period of time and then reheated, this can create severe food poisoning. 7) Purposely some body mixing toxins in the food.

Some common bacterial food poisonings.

1) Salmonella food poisoning:

There are three different varieties of salmonella bacteria.(salmonella typhimurium, salmonella cholera suis, salmonella enteritidis) These bacteria are present in milk, milk products and eggs. Symptoms of this food poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Fever is also common.

2) Botulism:

This is a very dangerous type of food poisoning caused by clostridium botulinum. The spores of these organisms are seen in the soil and enter the human body through pickles and canned fish etc.. Compared to other food poisonings here vomiting and diarrhoea are rare Mainly, it is the nervous system which is affected. The symptoms starts with double vision, numbness with weakness. Later there will be paralysis with cardiac and respiratory failure ending in death.

3) Staphylococcal food poisoning:

It is caused by staphylococcus aureus. These organisms usually cause skin troubles like boils and eruptions. It causes mastitis in cattle. Through the milk and milk products it enters and causes gastroenteritis. There will be vomiting,abdominal cramps with diarrhoea.

4) Closteridium food poisoning:

This is caused by closteridium perfringens. These are present in stool’s, soil and water. They enter the body through, meat, meat dishes and egg etc.. If food stuffs are cooked and kept at room temperature for a long period of time and then reheated, this can then result in this type of food poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting ,diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

5) Bacillus cereus:

The spores of these organisms can survive cooking and causes enteritis. Diarrhoea and vomiting is common in this infection.

How to investigate food poisoning?

1) Closely examine each and every person affected.

2) Water samples should be taken and tested.

3) Kitchen, store room and food samples should be examined.

4) The cook and food handlers should be questioned and examined.

5) Samples of the infected peoples vomit and stool’s should be tested to identify the bacteria.

How to prevent food poisoning:-

1) One should only use purified water.

2) Hygiene should be maintained by all people who are in contact with food.

3) Workers should use masks, cap and gloves during cooking and serving.

4) Sick individuals should not come into contact with food materials.

5) Kitchen and premises should be neat, clean and regularly inspected.

5) Vessels should be washed with soap and hot water.

6) Prepared food should not be kept for a long time at room temperature.

7) All food materials should be kept in closed containers.

Animals like dog’s, cat’s, rodents etc. should not come into contact with food materials.

9) Vegetables should be washed before cooking.

10) Meat should be fresh and should be purchased from a recognised slaughter house or butcher.

Having a high cholesterol level has become a very serious problem for many people today. This has been credited to a majority of the population getting accustomed to a diet rich in fats, bad habits such as smoking and leading a sedentary lifestyle. And because of high cholesterol levels, more and more people are finding themselves at an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease as well as stroke and heart attack.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for most people in the developed countries around the world. Having a high level of blood cholesterol has been linked to the increase of the incidence of heart disease and has become a grave cause of concern.

The only good news to this fact is that developing heart disease is highly preventable. All it takes is for one to be able to follow a healthier lifestyle. The path to such a lifestyle is trying to lower one’s cholesterol level. Although there are already several drugs available that will help an individual reduce body cholesterol levels, this is usually reserved for more high risk patients in need of drastic decreases in their cholesterol levels. There are also natural ways readily available for anyone looking forward to lowering their own cholesterol to normal and healthy levels.

One of the natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels is through diet. Following a low cholesterol diet day in and day out can be very effective in trying to control and maintain a normal cholesterol level. This would mean eating low cholesterol foods such as soy products, vegetables and fruits.

High fibre foods are also known to help in the fight to lower cholesterol. Regular exercise is also a good habit to develop if you are really intent in trying to lower your cholesterol levels. Exercise helps in increasing HDL or “good” cholesterol in the body as well as strengthens your heart muscle, helps keep your blood pressure at normal and even helps you in shedding of those excess pounds.

There are also several natural supplements that will be able to help you lower your cholesterol levels. Taking B-complex vitamins, specifically Niacin, has been known to help lower blood cholesterol in the body. supplements fortified with Lecithin can also help in lowering your cholesterol as it enables excess fat and cholesterol to be dispersed in the water instead of building up in the arteries.

There are other natural ways of lowering cholesterol levels available today. All it will take is some research and talking to your doctor about how to effectively follow a lifestyle that will enable you to lower cholesterol the natural way.

Employment as a Nursing Assistant offers you a unique opportunity to explore many avenues of the medical field. You will primarily be working with the patients, their families, and the Nursing staff. However, it is not uncommon that you will have interactions with many other areas including physicians, X-Ray, surgery, specialists, and emergency staff.

Since you will be working with so many types of individuals, having quality communication skills is a vital quality to have for being an effective Nursing Assistant. You will be responsible for meeting the basic needs of your patients including feedings, bathing, and dressing. They level of care with vary depending on the individual needs of the patient. In addition, you will be providing them and their family with emotional support.

Your position will involve working closely with the Nursing staff on a daily basis. This will be the medical professionals you deal with the most. From providing vitals for all patients to offering assistance with whatever comes up, the nursing staff needs to know they can rely on you. This means showing up as scheduled, completing your tasks to the best of your ability, paying attention to detail, and being willing to work as part of a time.

Depending on the type of medical facility you work in, physicians of the patients may be stopping in to check on them. They often as questions of the Nursing Assistant. For some, this is intimidating. If a physician is asking you for information on a patient, take it as a compliment. Physicians often recognize Nursing Assistants as having more one on one interactions with the patients. Therefore, things that you observe can help them with treating the patient.

For example, a doctor may prescribe a new medication. You will be able to let the physician know if the appetite of the patient has changed as well as if the patient’s level of being coherent has changed.

Working in the medical profession, you will be exposed to a variety of other staff from different medical fields. This is because of the changes in the needs of your patients. You may be asked to take patients to X-Rays or to help get them prepared to be moved to the surgery unit. There will be an array of specialists checking on patients, again based on the individual needs of those you are serving.

Working with emergency staff is very important. Their interactions can make all the different in some situations. It is vital that you are trained on when emergency staff should be called. You need to have detailed information of where to call, who to call, and what information to give them. This should all be secured prior to any event actually happening.

In this type of situation, you will need to work with emergency staff to provide information. Anything you can tell them about the events that occurred as well as the events before the incident took place can be of importance.

The role of a Nursing Assistant is one of many hats. You will have the opportunity to provide quality care for patients as well as be exposed to many other arenas of the medical field. The more you are able to effectively communicate with these other professionals, the better service you will be providing to those in your care.