Back in 2019, at least 45 million people above the age of 65 were licensed drivers and this was a considerable increase from the previous year. Senior citizens tend to find driving challenging, however, they can prevent accidents if they follow certain safety tips. Various statistics have claimed that senior citizens do have a tough time driving compared with the younger generation. The reason for this is simple. With age, one does start developing muscular and joint problems that act as a barrier for senior citizens to drive. This situation then leads to multiple mishaps, including accidents and even deaths.

Injuries in elderly victims can be even more server than those of a younger person. According to The Accident Guys Temecula Webpage the common injuries from a car accident are neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, whiplash, burns, and wrong deaths.

In this blog, we discuss why senior citizens have a more challenging time driving and the current stats that support the above statement. Older drivers tend to find driving challenging due to many reasons. Here we have stated a few reasons why it becomes challenging for them to drive:

Stiff Joints Or Muscles – As one starts aging, joints and muscles also weaken. Often, arthritis is one of the most common issues which seniors face and it tends to affect their driving ability. These physical changes also make it challenging for seniors to turn their heads and look behind and also turn the steering wheel in no time.

The seniors cannot risk hurting themselves or even others. They need to consult their health professionals about their health concerns. If possible, the seniors must drive automatic cars and check with the doctor if their joint problems may affect their driving. Seniors also need to be active physically or should try and exercise every day.

Trouble Seeing – Additionally, eyesight tends to change as one starts aging. It is challenging to see things and people if they aren’t within a certain range. Seniors might even take a while to read some headboards or recognize the places around them. They also tend to find it challenging to see things during the night because of the glare from the oncoming traffic or street lights. This can also pose some issues. During the day, the sun can also be blinding during certain hours.

Certain eye diseases, including glaucoma and cataract, tend to pose problems if not treated or medicated. If one is above 65, it is recommended to consult an eye specialist once a year and look for any deterioration in the eyesight. They also need to ensure that their prescription is in place if they wear glasses or contact lenses. Seniors should also avoid or minimize driving at night.

Trouble Hearing – As one starts getting older, their hearing is also affected significantly. This can make it challenging to listen to horns or other street noises. Hearing loss can pose a challenge for seniors as they cannot do much about it and at times they aren’t even aware that they have this problem. This is why it is essential to get the ears checked after the age of 50. They also need to discuss their hearing concerns with the medical professional.

Slow Reflexes – As one starts aging, their reflexes also tend to get slower and they cannot react as quickly as needed. Additionally, they find it challenging to do two things at a time. Stiff joints don’t even allow them to move soon. One cannot drive it if they have Parkinson’s or any other severe ailments. To counter this, they need to leave some space between their car and the one ahead. They also need to start braking whenever they feel it is the right time to stop. Senior citizens should also avoid heavy traffic areas.

Above all, certain medications make people drowsy so elders should avoid taking them. Seniors should drive safely and adhere to certain tips mentioned here to stay safe on the road.

The picturesque snowfalls in Texas in the spring of 2021 initially provided delight for residents and their children, but the severity and longevity of the storms soon proved to become one of the costliest events in the state’s history. The storms caused massive power outages throughout Texas, which combined with record low temperatures to produce a dangerous situation for those exposed to the cold without access to heat. Helping Texans manage this crisis was nonprofit organization BCFS Health and Human Services, a leader in emergency response and disaster management. The organization provided multiple capabilities to Texans, including power generation, food and water, and blankets, cots, and other materials to help them survive.

The aided cities and sites throughout Texas due to the widespread impacts of the colossal storms. For example, it provided aid to Breckenridge Village of Tyler (BVT), a nonprofit facility offering care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. BVT lost power during one of the storms, and residents were evacuated due to falling indoor temperatures. They were moved to the nearby Robert M. Rogers Chapel, where BCFS Health and Human Services provided generators, cots, and blankets to ensure the residents were comfortable and could survive the few days until power and stability was restored.

BCFS Health and Human Services also supported San Antonio residents through a variety of services. It furnished a warming center at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. This center offered cots, blankets, and emergency power generators for up to 500 people at a time. The organization also provided bottled 15 semi trucks of water to San Antonio.

BCFS Health and Human Services’ staff members also continued to provide medical care during the snowstorm which was enabled by the organization’s transportation services that safely and reliably brought staff to their essential jobs despite the challenging road conditions.

Several of the organization’s residential services facilities lost power and water during the storm. They were able to function due to BCFS’ proactive planning that included on-site generators along with adequate stores of food and water. This preparedness meant the organization’s staff could properly care for everyone at the facilities and ensure their safety during the historic storms.

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CBD or cannabidiol is recommended as an anti-inflammatory supplement and for treating epilepsy. The easiest way to take CBD is probably as gummies. They are easy to pop and tasty. Today, getting CBD gummies online is a simple and easy procedure.

However, if you haven’t tried CBD yet, please be aware that it is one of the best options to treat pain and anxiety disorders, though you need to know the basics before taking it. CBD is available as oil, tincture, and capsules though each version works differently.

Some versions take longer to take effect, and the effect of some lasts a bit longer. The dosages will vary based on the formulation, and there’s also the matter of individual preference.

Is CBD Legal?

Most people may not be aware that CBD is extracted from the marijuana plant and another product, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), among many other compounds. THC is psychoactive and provides you the high associated with cannabis.

However, while CBD doesn’t provide the high, it has good medicinal properties, especially to treat pain and depression. While CBD is illegal at the federal level, it is legal in most states; hence it is advisable to check the states where you can buy CBD gummies online.

How Safe Are CBD Gummies?

While most experts consider CBD safe to consume, the only issue is most CBD products are not regulated, and care needs to be exercised while choosing the product. If you are taking some prescription drugs already, you need to check with your doctor whether you can take CBD gummies with them.

Check this list before ordering your CBD gummies.

Are CBD Gummies Effective?

CBD gummies are as effective as other CBD products, though it is essential to buy a quality CBD product. Its efficacy in managing pain and inflammatory conditions is well established, and it is effective in treating pain and peripheral neuropathy, a condition people undergoing chemotherapy often develop. CBD gummies are also effective in treating cases of insomnia.

How long before CBD gummies start working?

CBD gummies indeed take longer to act when compared to CBD tincture or oil. CBD gummies have to get absorbed into your blood from your stomach, which can take more than an hour or two in some cases. However, CBD tincture and oil (vaping) work faster. But, the ease of consuming gummies beats this minor problem, and most people prefer to carry CBD gummies with them while they are on the go. When you take CBD gummies on an empty stomach, it works much faster than on a full stomach.

The advantage is the effect of gummies lasts longer than any other form of CBD. People with chronic conditions prefer gummies as the effect can linger for up to 12 hours, enough time to go to sleep and wake up. Moreover, taking gummies is safer than vaping, which can cause discomfort in your lungs.

The dosage also makes the difference. This area is more of trial and error, where you need to try small doses of gummies first and gradually increase the dosage until you get the desired effect.

The dosage also depends on our metabolism rates, and the gummies may act differently on different people. Going by numbers, you can take 1 or 2 gummies per day (25 to 50 mg), and it is advisable to go for CBD-infused gummies instead of coated ones.

Summing it Up

CBD gummies are easy to take, and the dosage can be increased slowly, depending on the condition you are treating and its effect on you. They are safe to consume and work well in managing pain and epilepsy. But, don’t forget to seek medical advice beforehand.

 

The best relationship is the one that you have with yourself!

In the hustle-bustle of worldly chores, we are all immersed in making our lives better. From a person who works nine to five to students struggling to earn a quality education for a fruitful career – we often fail to prioritize self-care amid all the chaos.

Hitting the gym once in a while but overlooking healthy eating habits does not count as a healthy lifestyle choice, let alone self-care. Similarly, attending mental health awareness conferences will not help you don’t implement what you learn. Taking out time for yourself every day is not selfish, neither is it a luxury. Instead, it is a basic necessity.

Self-Care – Why Should You?

Some people have a natural inclination to look after others before prioritizing their well-being, like our parents. One can argue that this is unhealthy because if one is not physically and mentally fit, how will they ensure good health for others?

Self-care has many forms. It encompasses taking care of your emotional, social, spiritual, mental, and physical health. When you do things that make you happy and healthy inside out, you take care of yourself. Ensuring your well-being empowers you to care for others, which is why you should prioritize self-care.

A Sneak-Peek Into Your Self-Care Habits:

Imagine yourself as a successful entrepreneur constantly traveling and hopping from one location to the other. Or as a nurse working round the clock in an understaffed hospital while simultaneously enrolled in an MSN to DNP online program trying to up-skill for a better career opportunity. One fine day, your body gives up on you, and you fall sick. All of this, just because you took self-care for granted.

We know that a hectic schedule can make sticking to a healthy routine even more challenging. Do not worry because we have summed up the seven easiest self-care habits you can incorporate into your daily routine. Let’s go.

• Watch your diet, and eat what is right

Although people are navigating their lives to a more healthy routine, many people do not have time or are just lazy to look out for what they eat or cook. Ready-to-eat canned food and junk food are their go-to options after a busy day. This makes their body prone to health problems such as obesity, heart diseases, diabetes, etc.

According to studies, otherwise healthy young people have sudden heart attacks; the sole reason is their questionable eating habits. The first step to self-care is to cleanse your body of all the unhealthy, oily junk food. Because the first wealth is your health, and health begins with food.

Staying hydrated should also be a part of your diet. Without enough water, your body cannot function properly. Drinking water does not require a lot of effort, so do not neglect it.

Breathe freely and get enough sleep

You can be following a strict healthy diet, even doing proper exercise and yoga, yet your body might not feel right. Due to a lack of sleep, you can have a problem concentrating on work or studies or even experience mood swings. You might also feel tired all the time. Such conditions indicate that it is high time to check your sleep pattern. Even for full-time working adults, it is best to get 6-8 hours of sleep daily.

If you have trouble falling asleep, try to practice deep breathing. Deep breathing is good for sleep, but it also improves cardiovascular health and reduces stress. It increases blood circulation and oxygen content, providing more energy to your body parts. As a result, you feel more energetic after a good night’s sleep.

Pay your doctors and dentists regular visits

One significant aspect of self-care is acquiring timely medical assistance when it is required. Physical wellness and good oral hygiene are essential to living a healthy life. Do not stretch your body to the point where you fall ill and visiting the doctor becomes unavoidable. Instead, plan regular visits to stay disease-free and be informed about what is going on with your body at all times.

Many people are diagnosed with diseases at such late stages that they become untreatable. This is avoidable if you make timely visits to your health specialist.

Keep a check on your mental well-being

To ensure good self-care, start eliminating stress-causing agents from your life. You can achieve this by setting personal and professional boundaries. Do not take workloads that you cannot manage on the job, and distance yourself from toxic people. If you feel depressed, overwhelmed, or unhappy, get therapy, there is no shame in talking about it. If your mental health is not stable, it is only a matter of time before your body gives up on you.

Spend time with family and friends

Social self-care is undeniably as crucial as the physical aspect of it. Make it a point to sit, eat and talk with your family every day. Spend time with your spouse or partner. A romantic talk and physical intimacy can be a great way to de-stress yourself. Go out with family and friends once in a while. Changing your environment and getting out to meet people can nurture your mental and physical well-being.

Focus on personal growth and take breaks when needed

Traveling, taking holidays, taking a break from work are all integral to self-care. They work as a relaxing therapy for your mind and soul. It would be best if you traveled not to escape life but for life not to elude you.

Take yourself to a spa, treat yourself to relaxing facials once in a month or two. To feel good, you need to look good as well. Try getting a make-over or just a new haircut; you will see how happy it makes you.

Never neglect your emotional needs

Get some “me-time,” talk to yourself if need be. Take a break from relations if exhausted, get out of toxic relationships, and prioritize yourself. If you crave love, affection, or companionship, do not be shy; talk about it with the person you want. For good self-care, take great care of your emotional needs. A good companion can cure all your pain and loneliness.

Conclusion

Everything works better if unplugged for some time, including you!

All in all, self-care varies from person to person. And it would help if you made a check-list for yourself as per your needs to take good self-care. Adapting to self-care is easier done than said – yes, read that again!

 

Whenever we come across the word ‘health,’ we often associate it with personal medical matters. Whereas public health mainly focuses on the health, well-being, and prevention of diseases among people in the public sphere. With the rapid increase in global population over the years and lack of environmental measures, the spread of new viruses and illnesses has become easier. The ongoing pandemic is a good example. It has caused distress and fear in everyone and has affected almost every aspect of our daily lives and business practices.

Anything as little as a virus is harmful to us. Hence doctors, nurses, and other public healthcare professionals invest their time to figure out ways to protect the environment and people. This includes the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

However, not all public health issues are caused by a virus. Some are caused by a general lack of awareness and ignorance towards healthy lifestyle choices. The good part is that people are now becoming more aware of these issues actively taking steps to counter their adverse effects. Educational facilities now offer diverse and flexible degrees such as this online MPA (Master’s in Public Administration) to equip motivated individuals with the necessary skills to address growing public health concerns. With that said, here are some of the significant public health issues that deserve more attention than ever.

Cardiovascular Issues:

Cardiovascular diseases are the class of diseases that involve heart and blood circulation-related issues. Heart attacks and strokes are some of the leading causes of death in the present time.

Cardiovascular diseases can arise due to various reasons. Some people are genetically more prone to them, while others fall ill due to personal habits. People who experience a stroke sometimes also have to face physical immobility due to their health conditions. Most people have high risks of reviving cardiovascular issues back even after going through surgeries within a certain period.

Many healthcare professionals fear that cardiovascular health might increase over time due to people making bad lifestyle choices such as eating unhealthy, not staying physically fit, and smoking. This is why it is essential to prioritize raising awareness about good habits to prevent this public health issue from going out of control. Individuals who are at risk should regularly get their blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked.

Obesity

Obesity is not just being overweight. People become obese when they consume more than the daily required amount of calories their body needs to function correctly. The excess fat gets stored in your body and causes weight gain in an unhealthy way. And just like cardiovascular diseases, some individuals have a genetic predisposition to the condition, while others just love to consume way too many calories and not burn them off.

Obesity has caused many premature deaths in the past years. What causes these deaths are several health issues triggered by excessive weight gain, such as the increased risk of clogged blood vessels, diminished organ function, and sometimes even fatal fractures. Diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, and strokes are examples of the problems that cause obesity.

Treating obesity as a public health concern isn’t straightforward as it may seem. Parents and teachers should ensure determining a healthy lifestyle for children followed by healthy meal plans. For adults, various campaigns can provide required exposure. That can educate them about living a healthy and physically active lifestyle and what being obese can do to them in the long run.

Use Of Intoxicants And Tobacco

Intoxicants like alcohol and tobacco are a literal cancer to public health and social well-being! People who frequently consume them get addicted without realizing it. Over usage has several long-term impacts on personal health, such as the increased risk of heart diseases, cancer, a weak immune system, and even poor mental health.

Not to mention drunk drivers wreak havoc on the roads and contribute to several deaths in road accidents every year. The consumption of intoxicants also has substantial adverse effects on social and family interactions leading to violence, abuse, and crime.

One solution to limit the use of intoxicants is to restrict their accessibility by jacking up their prices. They should not be easily accessible and affordable for everyone at all times. An increment in taxes on such items may result in people buying them less. However, this is not as straightforward as it sounds. Governments need to play their role in policy-making, whereas public healthcare professionals need to educate people about side-effects continually.

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are disorders known to cause by organisms like viruses, bacteria, etc. Some of them live within our bodies and are harmless. Still, under certain conditions, they can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening. The novel coronavirus is a perfect example of the latter. Since its outbreak, healthcare providers have been tirelessly working to develop a suitable vaccine to counter the viral infection.

Viral infections can be very threatening as no immediate and determined solution is available for them. Such viruses transmit from person-to-person via physical contact or air droplets.

Due to their potential to bring social activity to a complete standstill, viral infections and public hygiene are arguably the most significant public health concern – well, at least in current times. The solution to this is timely identification before the spread gets out of hand and regularly enforcing public awareness regarding personal and general hygiene. While opting for herd immunity may not always be an option, it is safer to take individual measures and amplify their impact to control the spread of viral infections.

HIV Transmission

AIDS is a life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. However, unlike the covid-19 virus, HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, blood exchange, or mother-to-child during pregnancy. Research has shown that most people don’t even know that they are affected by this virus until signs start showing, by which time it is already too late.

The rate of HIV infections is declining, but it still remains among the top public healthcare concerns in specific groups of people and underdeveloped countries. Measures that can help avoid the spread of this issue include launching more awareness campaigns and inculcating proper knowledge about STIs and STDs among students from an early age.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is an overall global public health concern. A common cause of air pollution is everyday mundane activities, including commuting to work and back home. The burning of fossil fuels is one of the most significant environmental challenges we have yet to overcome.

Air pollution can be a cause of many severe health conditions. One of the most common ones is lung cancer and increased breathing difficulty, leading up to cardiovascular diseases. The solution to air pollution is to avoid the burning of excessive fossil fuels. Growing plantations globally can also facilitate the rapid reduction of air pollution making it more breathable.

Summing It All Up

Many healthcare providers put in effort and time in dealing with issues related to public health every day. Many lives have been lost due to a lack of knowledge and exposure to make the right choices. The population is multiplying, which exposes more people to numerous public health concerns as time goes by. It is imperative that we take strict measures to spread awareness about the concerns mentioned above. Only by creating awareness and collectively working together can we improve the overall state of our public health and social well-being.

 

Medical malpractice is a tough area of the law and it deals with issues which have taken place in the medical field as a result of negligence and foul play. Attorneys who work in this field like Dr. Bruce G. Fagel have a very difficult task in getting clients who have a genuine case, and that is because not every mistake in the hospital or operating theater warrants malpractice.

This again is where malpractice suits can be tricky because an error is not malpractice unless it is brought about through that negligence. For example missing the cancer diagnosis of a patient could certainly result in them losing their lives in less time than if they had been diagnosed. Given that doctors and nurses are not perfect, we cannot begin to hit them with court cases because of such an incident. Naturally patients will still try to bring cases about for this situation, but this is not malpractice, just a risk of the job.

Despite this, malpractice is very important and here is why.

Preventative

It is absolutely essential that cases are brought against those who commit medical malpractice and that is to avoid things like this from happening again. What we so often find with surgeons or doctors who have been found guilty of medical malpractice is that it isn’t the first time that something has happened. For example if a surgeon is found to have a prescription drug addiction and has then been seen to be making a number of mistakes as a result, this should be nipped in the bud as soon as possible. Through swift action further issues can be easily prevented.

Damages

Anyone who has lost a loved one or who has had their body permanently damaged because of medical malpractice is absolutely deserving of being paid damages. There may be a stigma attached to receiving damages but ultimately this is about the loss of income and the compensation which the person deserves as a result of what has happened. Damage cannot be undone, deaths cannot be reversed, the best case scenario is that there are financial reparations paid to the person who has fallen victim to the malpractice. Another reason why financial payments are so important is that it hits the hospital hard in the pocket which acts as a measure to prevent things happening going forward.

Increasing The Focus of Professionals

No medical professional wants to be hit with this kind of case, and the more that they occur, the more likely these professionals are going to be in improving their professionalism. The reason why systems in hospitals work as well as they do, and the reason why malpractice cases have reduced in recent years, is because of the cases of the past and the changes which have been made as a result of those cases.

These are the clear reasons as to why medical malpractice is so important and why it continues to be.