News of the Weird: Gigantic Insect Buffet

Our friends on the East Coast are enjoying an every 17-year emergence of extremely large insects called 'Cicadas.'

This invasion is being referred to as 'Swarmageddon.' Judging by how large they appear to be, I can see why.

Cicadas - formerly known as locusts - are huge insects that hibernate underground for years, eating the roots of trees, vegetables and shrubs. They emerge from their underground lairs to shed their skins and mate. Female cicadas lay eggs deep in tree branches, which scars the trees and causes damage. They are generally dreaded for this, and for the strange noise they make. Apparently the sound is quite loud and annoying.

However, for some, this emergence of gigantic insects is the perfect opportunity for a feast. According to a recent article published on NBC Philadelphia's website, cicadas are apparently quite nutritious: the "shrimp of the insect world."

Online, you can learn how to make Cicada German Chocolate Cake, and there is an actual cicada cookbook called, "Cicada-licious." Yikes.

Entomology professor Mike Raupp says, in the article, "Boiled they’re going to taste a lot like shrimp. If you eat them au naturel, raw, they’ve got a delicate nutty flavor; a buttery texture,” he said. “I like the soft-shelled ones.”

Entomologist Isa Betancourt suggests trying to grab them fresh from the ground before their shells harden to get the best flavor. *shudder.*

Say what they will about eating these protein-rich, low fat bugs, but I think I'll take a pass.  This story reminds me of how much I love living in the Northwest, where the insects are small, and therefore likely hard to find on any local menu.

Caring For The Caregiver

Being a caregiver to a family member in need can be stressful, lonely, and emotionally draining. It's very important if you are in that primary role to take good care of yourself in the process of caring for your ailing family member. Here are some tips for managing the role of caregiver:

1. You will likely feel a range of emotions throughout the time you are providing care. It's important to accept them and not beat yourself up over feelings of fear or resentment. Those feelings don't make you a bad person or mean that you don't love your family member, they simply make you human. Be gentle with yourself.

2. You won't be able to do it all. That's ok. Enlist the help of other family members, friends, and health professionals. Be clear about the needs of the person you are caring for by making a list. Often we can be pleasantly surprised by people's willingness to help, we simply need to ask.

3. Carve out time for yourself to relax, destress, and stay engaged in your social life. Exercise, stay in close touch with your friends, eat well and get plenty of sleep. It's also important to take breaks from your caregiving role to help maintain balance in your life.

4. Avail yourself of community services. It may come as a surprise, but community services are ready to help with transportation, support, and, like Pacific Medical Supply Salem, delivery of home care necessities. Call the local senior center in your area, the local Veteran's Administration, and search the web for specific services you may need to connect to. One that we recommend: Family Caregiver Alliance. The site is serachable by state, and you can find resources both for family member and yourself.

It's ok to include yourself on the long list of things that need to be taken care of.

Save Time. Save Money. Let Us Deliver!

We Deliver!

Did you know that gas prices are averaging $3.63 per gallon in Oregon?

Did you know that we also spend almost half of our leisure time in our cars running errands?

Running errands can be a drag, especially when your time is limited, or if you just want to enjoy yourself with a fun activity instead of driving around in your car from place to place, wasting gas. We've all been there - you make a list, drive to the store, get all the way home only to find that you forgot ONE thing. So frustrating!

Wouldn't we all love to cross at least one of those errands off our lists?

Enter: Pacific Medical Supply Salem. Make your list, give us a call, and if it's in stock we can put your order together and deliver it directly to you. No more hassle.

Take a look at some of the items we can deliver to you:

• Incontinence Supplies
• Wound Care Items
• Blood Pressure Cuffs - both Manual and Automatic
• Hydocolloidal Dressings
• Bath Equipment
• Transport and Wheelchairs
  
• Walkers
• Variety of other items, such as ADC Digital thermometers, ADC Finger-tip pulse-oximeters, Pocket masks, Bed wedges, 7", 10", 12", and various dressings and bandages.

If we don't have an item in stock available for quick delivery, give us a call with the details of the specific item you are interested in, and we will do our best to track it down for you so we CAN deliver it.

Count on us for all your home health care needs. We're here to help, and take some stress off your daily schedule. Call us today!

503-585-2027

You're Never Too Old. Take A Look:

I happened to stumble on this fantastic video last week of two 90 year old men running in a track meet. 90 year olds! Take a look:

 

I hope you found this as inspiring as we did. Have a wonderful week.

Beyond Floss: Taking Care of Your Dry Mouth

 

Mouth feel like a camel's?

Dry mouth is a common side effect of many of the medications we find ourselves taking in an effort to keep up our overall health. Chronic dry mouth, called xerostomia, can have serious implications for your oral health, so it's very important to manage it.

According to Dr. Eugene Kelley, Professor of Oral Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University, keeping saliva flowing in your mouth is a vital key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It helps break down your food and aid in digestion, but also can help wash away the bacteria from food that sits on your teeth, which can lead to cavities. Saliva also plays a key role in strengthening teeth and preventing infection.

Some common medications that can give you dry mouth include blood-pressure medications, bronchodilators, antidepressants, antihistamines, and common analgesics such as Advil. 

So, you can see that the dry mouth side effects of some of the most common medications we take can have far reach implications for your overall oral health. Here are some tips for making sure you keep your whistle wet: 

• Drink plenty of water. Keep a water bottle with you as often as possible, and drink water with meals and snacks
• Chew sugar-free gum (brands with Xylitol are recommended) or suck on ice chips after meals
• Keep caffeine, alcohol, and acidic fruit juices to a minimum. They can contribute to dry mouth
• Avoid commercial mouth rinses with alcohol or peroxide. These can also exacerbate dry mouth
• Use lip balm to keep your lips moist. 
• Invest in a humidifier to increase the humidity in your home, especially at night. 

There are also over-the-counter and prescription artificial saliva products available. Ask your doctor or dentist if you think they might be helpful for you.

Your mouth can truly be a window into your overall health. It deserves your attention, too!

News of the Weird: Imaginary Grenades and Chili Powder

I know, you're asking: what do those two things have to do with each other?

Well, technically they don't have anything to do with each other. Today, a clever writer for the Oregonian tied them together. Read on:

In Colorado, a little boy was suspended for throwing imaginary grenades on the play ground while having a rousing good time with the game he invented called, "Rescue The World." His superhero escapades earned him no grace with school administrators, and he was disciplined for use of an imaginary incendiary device. *head on desk*

Remember playing outside at recess without fear of getting suspended for using your imagination?

Now, onto the chili powder. A daring jail break was masterminded by some men in India who were attempting to free their friend from the custody of authorities. Their weapon of choice? Chili powder, which they threw in the faces of the police who held their friend.  This temporarily blinded the cops and they were (unfortunately) successful in breaking out their buddy.

Here's where I must give due to the Oregonian writer. The author of this quick little story writes: "This is all kinds of terrible, but we do salute them for their inginuity. Just imagine the havoc they could have wreaked had they been armed with the imaginary grenades so feared in Colorado."

Well done, Oregonian.

The Lighter Side: "You don't look so good, honey"

My dad had another episode of congestive heart failure. He was hospitalized. My parents weren't the best of friends, but they were always there for each other through their 40 years of marriage. This episode was at year 37.

My mom, dressed to the nines as usual to please my dad took her cheerful self to the recovery room after his surgery.

There were several 'stalls' and she came to his side, held his hand and was shocked at how he was doing and looking. She couldn't help herself - my never-very-tactful mother leaned into my dad, kissed his cheek and said, "Oh honey, you don't look so good." with tears brimming in her eyes.  From across the room she heard, "Josephine! I'm over HERE!"

Whooping Cough Is Making A Comeback. Protect Yourself.

 

Gram stain of pertussis bacteria

 

Whooping Cough, also known as Pertussis, has been creeping back into our lives in recent years, despite the fact that it is a disease that is routinely vaccinated against. According to the CDC, immunity from the disease can wane over time, and current recommendations are to get booster shots. Preteens, teens, and adults are included in this recommendation.

Pertussis is a bacterial infection that starts off with symptoms like that of a common cold: running nose, sneezing, etc. After one to two weeks, severe coughing can begin. The disease was nicknamed "Whooping Cough" because of the sound a person makes while coughing. The cough is rapid and often quite violent, and the sufferer is usually left gasping for air, causing a loud "whooping" sound.

Oregon's rate of infection as of November 2012 is 22.1%, while the national average is 11.6% per 100,000 persons. So, as you can see, pertussis is going around.

While not necessarily life threatening in most cases, infants under the age of three months are especially at risk for death if they contract the disease, because they are too young for the vaccine. If you are around babies or others with compromised immune systems, getting this vaccination, called the tDap, can not only protect you, but others around you.

The Cleaning Fairy Makes A Comeback, As A Snow Shoveling Fairy

Image: REUTERS/Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office/Handout

You may recall a story we mentioned recently about a woman in Ohio who took it upon herself to break into people's homes, clean for them, then leave them a bill for her services. She was arrested and charged with breaking and entering. She received one year of probation.

Susan Warren insisted throughout that the neighbors "overreacted" to her helping herself into their homes.

She was recently arrested for shoveling a neighbor's snowy driveway without permission. Here's hoping she took our advice on staying safe when walking on ice. It hasn't been determined whether this is considered a violation of her probation, but at this time no charges have been brought.

I have to give her some credit for her tenacity, however, I think this latest retirement plan may only work out to be seasonal. Unless, of course, she cleans pools without permission also.

The Flu And What You Can Do

News of this year's flu has been dominating the airwaves lately. It appears that this year's strain of flu is particularly virulent, and emergency rooms across the country have been overrun with sick patients in the last several weeks. Here are some tips for you as flu season reaches it's peak:

1. Get A Flu Shot. Rumors always seem to abound about the flu vaccine making people sick, but studies show that it is the most effective way to protect yourself from coming down with the flu. While the shot is recommended for everyone, people over the age of 65, or those with otherwise compromised immune systems benefit from the added protection.

2. Wash Your Hands. This seems rather obvious, but it is the single most effective method for stopping the spread of disease. Hand sanitizer will do in a pinch, but washing your hands with warm water and soap is the most effective way of killing germ hijackers and stopping the flu in it's tracks. Be sure to wash in between your fingers and under your fingernails.

3. Sneeze Into The Crook Of Your Elbow. You sneeze - we all do - but those little water droplets can carry those bad germs to the four corners on the wind. Contain them by sneezing into your arm instead of your hand to help keep those around you well also.

4. Natural Symptom Relief. If you do find yourself sick, here are few tips:

• Chicken soup, particularly when seasoned with a strong spice such as curry, pepper, or garlic, can help thin mucous and clear nasal passages
• A Warm-mist Humifier can keep the air around you moist while you try to sleep, keeping you more comfortable
• Nasal Strips help open up the nasal passage and can keep you breathing more comfortably
• Honey for your cough. Studies have shown that regular ol' honey can be an extremely effective cough reliever

Don't Know Where To Get A Flu Shot?

Flu Vaccine Finder is a website that allows you to input your zip code and find the nearest location with flu shots available.

Stay healthy this season. And remember - if you need supplies while you are under the weather, we deliver locally.