Military Veterans: 22 Suicides a Day

When I was in Port Orchard, Washington, a grabbed a copy of the paper Northwest Navy Life at the restaurant we visited.  In its pages it had an article about people doing 22 pushups on the 22nd of the month at the local Navy hospital, to bring awareness to the 22 veterans who are committing suicide every day.  The article sparked awareness in my brain.  It also mentioned that on a recent survey fourteen percent of veterans reports having suicidal thoughts.  I was unclear if this was at any given time, or over the past few months or what.  However, still the truth is that veterans are committing suicide at an alarming rate.  The article also points out that too many suicides take place among active duty personnel as well.
The article further gives a task for those who may know someone who is depressed.  The call it ACTs of Kindness.  Using the acronym ACT Ask - someone if they are thinking of suicide.  Care - listen, offer hope, and not be judgmental.  Treat - don't leave a suicidal person alone and get assistance.  Other resources include, Nation Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK.  The Navy also offers this website for ideas.

**Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP)

This is an illness I had never heard of, and now I do as it has touched my family.  So for information purposes I offer a couple websites, because this illness is very strange, and we were really worried until we had some idea of what was going on.
HSP has some very different symptoms, swelling, arthritis and rash.  The pain is usually in joints in the extremities.  The rash is usually on the legs and butt.  Swelling is in the joints.
Who would think these things came together? It is the rash which makes diagnosis definite.  However it is not the usual type of rash.  It is sort of a cross between a rash an bruising.  It is caused by the capillaries leaking.  The illness usually effects children.  It is more common in boys than girls.  Adult onset of the illness can be much more severe.
It is relatively rare, and even though doctors know of this ailment, treatments a pretty much non existent other than to treat for pain.  there are some things to keep an eye on with this condition.  These are the kidneys and the intestines.  If the ailment effects these areas then it can cause long terms effects.
All symptoms seem to be caused by a weakening of the capillaries.  Although the cause of the ailment is not known, the best guess is that the body's immune system is over stimulated (as a reaction to an infection or a medication) and begins to attack the body.  It takes a while for the body to turn this off, 2-6 weeks.  It usually goes away.  However it can come back with other bouts, but usually not as severe.

Article Review: Women's Health: Which of These Women Has a Mental Illness?

This is a very intriguing article.  It appeared in the May 2016 Women's Health Magazine pages 174-185.  I think the intention of this article is to stamp out stigma with regards to mental illness, by showing women with mental illness from a great variety of careers and situations.  It also brings awareness to mental illness in general.  It lets us know that mental illness is much more common than we would believe.  It also indicates that treatment for mental illness is much less than it should be.  Only about 40 percent of people with mental illness get treatment.  In fact mental illness is hampered by poor care.  This is due to the stigma, and also due to a lack of resources.  Mental disorders come in many different types of disorders  Everyone is individual.  When someone reveals to you that they have a disorder, the article suggests hearing the person, and ask what you can do to support them.  It might also be well to check in later, watch your words and learn about the disorder.
The word "mental illness" conjures up different reactions.  A third of people react negatively,  "This person has brain disorder."  A third react positively, "this is a real condition.  Another few are neither positive or negative, and a few are really scared, "This is so serious and final."
We can all help stamp our stigma.  We can volunteer time to help our community.  We can use our vote that help mental illness gain parity with other illnesses.  You can stay informed of mental health issues.  We can donate time and money to worthy causes that promote mental health such as http://suicideispreventable.org/.  We can become more aware.  Women's Health is sponsoring conversations on their Youtube Website during May for May is Mental Health Month.  Another good website is the SAMSHA website which is the latest government information about mental illness.

**Things that Affect Blood Sugar Levels

This is a list from Everyday Health: Eight Things You Didn't Know Affected Your Blood Sugar:
Alcohol:  Alcohol comes with extra calories, and if you mix it with sugary substances comes with sugar.   At the same time too much alcohol can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels.
Stress: Stress can directly cause a spike in blood sugar levels.  When I burnt my back by blood levels went way up.  I attribute this to the added stress of healing.
Feeling Under the Weather:  At the same time as the burn, I came down with a bad cold (which may have been attributed to the stress of the burn as well.)  These two things spiked my sugar and I had a difficult time  getting it back down.
Medications and Supplements"  Who knows what you are taking may contribute to blood sugar levels.  Best to tell your doctor and or pharmacist everything you are taking.  SOme cold medicines have sugar in them.
Coffee:  Just the coffee itself can cause a spike, but then often sugar and creamers are added.
Extreme Exercise:  this time the worry is sugar that is too low.  Check blood level before exercise and have a high carb snack available if needed.
Diet Soda:  Even with no calories and no sugar, these things can spike sugar in other ways.
Hormones:  Hormones can effect blood sugar.  Not everyone is effected, but if you are a good journal may help.

**Urine Color and Health

I always thought the lighter your urine the better.  That is mostly true, but this article from Everyday Health points out urine can be too light if you are drinking too much.  It also highlights other colors which can point to a problem.  Such as a syrupy brown color could point to liver disease.  Red color could be something major, or could just reflect what you have been eating like beats.  Very good article so check it out.
Update Jan 2017: Grandpa has been having kidney problems.  He has been told to drink until his urine is clear. It doesn't matter what he drinks so much.  He drinks lots of juice.  But water is also good.
I hers the same from Stan Dye as he prepared the Scouts for a winter camp.  He said you should drink water with the same result, clear pea.  That has become my goal as well, although I do not always accomplish this.

**Get Health, Save Money: Kick Cigarettes

 This is a bulletin hanging at Mental Health Urgent Care.  Tobacco use is the leading contributor in premature death of individuals with mental illness.  The bulletin is very large and these are my pictures of it.

 Rinancial benefits of not smoking are determined by how much you smoke.  A pack a day is almost $2000 a year.  That is a big wow!

The Health benefits form not smoking are even greater.
Within 20 minutes of not smoking your blood pressure and heart rate lower.
Within 8 hour the level of oxygen in your blood rises to normal.
Within 24 hours your risk of having a heart attack starts to drop.
Within 2 weeks to 3 months your circulation and lung functions improve.
Within 1 to 9 months you will have more energy and less coughing, sinus problems and shortness of breath.

**Diabetes and Burnout

This article entitle "On the Rebound" in the Web MD Diabetes magazine for Winter 2015 by Erin O'Donnel is the basis for this blog.  This article deals with sliding in maintaining your diabetes regimen.  What with blood checking,  and controlling carbs, and exercising, and medications, it can be a bit daunting.  And nobody is perfect.  Thinks to remember:
1) Check in with your team.  Who is it that supports you in you diabetes management.  If you have a diabetes educator now is a good time to check in.  They can help with meal planning, or other modifications to get your diabetes under control.  Check-ins can lead to positive change.
2) Don't be too perfectionistic.  Perfect control does not exist.  Blood levels fluctuate, and won't always be in the perfect range.  It is part of diabetic life.
3) Focus on victories.  Victories are there.  maybe it is an evening walk, or avoiding a late night carbohydrate intensive snack.  By focusing on the victories, you can then add maybe an extra walk per week or some small step.