Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Longevity.
Chasing Zero's
Since 1999 more than 100,000 American’s die every year due to medical harm. This number quickly doubles if you include hospital incurred infections. The goal of Chasing zero’s is simple, to bring deaths due to medical error to zero. Medical errors can ultimately be prevented if taken seriously. Safety of the patient is and should be our top priority as medical staff. How has safety changed over the years? It begins with the last 10-12 years of talking about safety, but not actually doing anything to implement it. As of more recently things have been implemented in order to protect the safety of our patients. These include the empowerment of staff members, a check list, and new technology. These three things if taken into consideration and implemented by the healthcare systems could change the safety of patients all over America.
By Mary ODonnell5 years ago in Longevity
My Faces of Pain
My name is not important. However, my PAIN is very important.I am but one face in pain out of millions.A accident (cut of my left hand) triggered the monster that lives in me now. It has crippled my entire body.CRPS, also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a pain disease with no cure and is very misunderstood. Almost allof my "faces of pain", were treated with alternative treatment modalities before being placed on medications only.All the faces of pain share pain from diseases and injuries we never heard of and certainly never wanted. My pain was treated by: 50 plus stellate ganglion blocks( a needle injection into your neck),physical/occupational/aqua therapy,hypnosis,acupuncture and psychological visits. Before my accident to my hand that caused this burning, terrible beast of a disease, I was 100% healthy and was not taking any prescription medications or developed any mental disorders. I have now over 20 plus diagnosis from the disease and take over 15 prescription medications to this day since August of 2009.For me, all I underwent caused my disease to spread from my left hand to now encompass my whole body in just over three years! ( I have had it for now 12 years with no signs of remission)It is all very well documented in my medical records. My disease has crippled my body horribly. For all of my faces of pain, I suffer even more now because I functioned and functioned well on often high-dose opioid pain medication.Do I want all my faces of pain dead? That's a stupid question. So what has daily life been like since my diagnosis?I cried, took pain medicine, slept and cried some more.Weeks went by and the pain progressively got worse: pins and needles, burning sensation, color and temperature changes, and atrophy. As the months passed, the nerve damage spread up my left side from head to toe. I went to numerous pain specialists and underwent multiple nerve blocks (stellate ganglion blocks) over the next 3 to 5 years. I was literally exhausted from being in pain every day. The thought of having to wake up day after day in pain made me feel hopeless.Nerve pain is hard to explain. It is like pins and needles times one thousand 24/7. It’s like coming inside after being out in the snow when you were little and experiencing that burning/re-warming feeling 24/7. It’s the feeling of having rubber bands cutting off circulation 24/7. It’s exhausting and it’s exhausting being exhausted 24/7. So what advice would I give to newly diagnosed RSDS/CRPS (reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome) positive people?Do not give up! If one doctor does not listen or understand, go to a second. If thirteen doctors do not listen, go to the fourteenth. Do your own research and listen to your body! So what is one thing I wish those without CRPS/RSD could understand?When I would go to doctor’s appointments and try to explain the pain and frustrations, I would often hear “well you look great, just keep doing what you are doing.” The biggest misconception one can have is thinking that just because someone looks great means they feel great. Just because I tried to hide my pain and actually get dressed and do my hair and throw a little mascara on does not mean I felt great. Just because I looked great does not mean my body was not screaming for help.So what encouragement would I give to "Warriors",who have had CRPS/RSD for many years?I would put it this way....RSD continues to be studied and is becoming more recognized in the medical field. With more knowledge comes more treatments and the possibility of a cure. What I also would like to add is this..I hope that each and every one of you "warriors", is you can find something that provides relief! Do not give up! You are a Warrior for a reason!
By Jenny Hudson5 years ago in Longevity
10 Tips For Sleeping Well And Regaining Good Sleep Hygiene
How to sleep well? To sleep better, you need to know a few tips to get rid of certain bad habits, improve your sleeping environment, and tame the leep: "ruminations" caused by stress or anxiety factors. Here are our 10 tips for sleeping well and improving the quality of your sleep!
By Pujan Mukherjee5 years ago in Longevity
Most Thankful for My Health
At 71 last Thursday, 19th November 2020 managed to run and walk around and over the Pentland Hills just south of Edinburgh and completed 13 Miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes. Burned a lot of calories, since my younger brother remarked I looked shattered.
By Eric Sutherland5 years ago in Longevity
LUPUS
During my teen years, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome. Therefore, I got a hold of every book of knowledge as possible. I couldn't understand why this was happening to me. We always thought my arthritis was growing pains. It wasn't. Therefore, I started a low carb diet without ingesting nightshade foods. Nightshade foods refer to mushrooms, white potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. They come from the plant family Solanaceae. This diet worked until I got into a car accident at the age of nineteen. I developed high blood pressure and a form of Lupus called Systemic Vasculitis. Basically, the wind can almost trigger inflammation from my Lupus. Some of the most common drugs to treat a flare-up from Lupus are steroids, muscle relaxers, pain pills, nerve pills, and biologics. At forty-three years of age, I have only been treated with one anti-viral or biologic. I had no choice, but to learn about herbal medicine. The steroid only made my Bipolar worse, and I gained a lot of weight. So here is what I do to stay healthy with Lupus.
By Fatma M Robinson5 years ago in Longevity
How are spiritual guides received?
As I got older, I realized guides could enter your life in different ways, and they all have their personalities. They all don't look the same from my experience, but you can tell they're guides and not spirit when you see or sense a guide. It's like they're vibrating at a higher frequency, which is radiating from them. It's the best way I can describe this feeling. My first guide appeared to me when I was five, and I think it was the best thing that could've ever happen to me. Because I came to slowly but surely embrace that I am not alone, and I do have loving guidance.
By GuidedUniverse5 years ago in Longevity
What are spiritual guides?
A spiritual guide can assist you throughout your life. There are different spirit guides, but the right spirit guide will help you throughout your life. Some people have had their spiritual guides since they were born. There are times you can call upon your ancestors for guidance. Guidance can also come from angels, spirit animals, mother earth, the universe. The list can go on and on. We all have an unlimited amount of guidance. You have to quiet your mind and tap into that frequency to understand the message that is right in front of you.
By GuidedUniverse5 years ago in Longevity
Top 5 Tips To Have Whiter Teeth
Top 5 Tips To Have Whiter Teeth Your little bad habits every day may be preventing you from having white teeth. And unfortunately, besides good dental hygiene, it is unknown if natural remedies are good for tooth enamel as a supplement. Indeed, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, or even vegetable activated charcoal do not necessarily have a good reputation. As for whitening toothpaste or commercial whitening kit, we know that they effectively whiten teeth and weaken teeth. Fortunately, to have beautiful whiter teeth, a few adjustments in your daily habits will be more than enough!
By Pujan Mukherjee5 years ago in Longevity
