"You who bring good tidings... lift your voice with a shout... do not be afraid... 'Here is your God!'" (Isa. 40:9)

Fighting the Flu

Posted on November 10th, 2009 in Health News by Jonnie Wright

I came across this doctor’s website and found helpful articles on a variety of topics. As this year’s flu season ramps up here’s some good advice to help hold those germs at bay.

Fighting the Flu

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD  

http://www.arlenetaylor.org/

“I ache so badly I can hardly move,” Jed moaned.

Julee sniffed. Of all the nerve, she thought to herself. What makes him think he has an edge on feeling miserable? Females have a lower pain threshold so I’m sure I must feel worse than he does! She took a deep breath, which triggered another coughing spell.

 “Stay home from work to avoid exposing others to the virus,” the doctor had warned. “Expect fever, chills, a bad cough, and joint pain. There’s no magic cure! Get plenty of bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, and dig up lots of patience.” Digging up patience was becoming a problem. Fortunately, Julee recalled reading an article by Dr. Joyce Brothers, who had written that males may actually suffer more from being ill with the flu. So instead of making a rather pointed comment, Julee replied, “It’s the pits, isn’t it? Maybe we’ll both feel better tomorrow.” Jed’s response was another groan. Indeed, they were a pitiful pair!  

The flu, also known as influenza, is as predictable as the rain in Spain or the sun in Palm Desert. It will likely be a long time before the flu season becomes a relic of the past. There may be no place on the planet that is completely free of this scourge. Flu viruses move around the world in a pattern that is very similar to that of migrating birds. In fact, wild birds such as ducks, geese, and seagulls may transport the virus from place to place even though the birds themselves do not become sick. The bug surfaces about the same time every winter season, usually in December. It will repeat a similar pattern when the winter season arrives in the southern hemisphere.

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Managing the Mighty Migraine — With Cocoa?

Posted on November 7th, 2009 in Life Issues by Jonnie Wright

Migraine is a biological disease more common than asthma, diabetes or congestive heart failure. More than a bad headache, migraine attacks are characterized by severe, throbbing head pain, usually on one side of the head, that can be disabling. Sometimes people with migraines also experience nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. And migraines can last anywhere from four hours to 72 hours. These attacks affect family, work and people’s social lives — and rob people of quality of life.

One of the most frustrating traits about migraines is that just about anything can trigger them and the triggers are different for everyone. Common triggers include hormonal changes, stress, bright lights and loud sounds, smoke, sleep patterns, weather changes and certain foods and drinks. It’s hard to pinpoint specifically what will bring on a migraine, and in some instances, it takes a “perfect storm” of various triggers to cause a migraine.

Nutritional Treatments Show PromiseSeveral medications are available to prevent or treat a migraine attack. Like all medications, some are effective, some are not, and some have unpleasant side effects like drowsiness or nausea. The good news is growing research is showing other ways to prevent or treat migraines. Most popular on the list? Cocoa!

A new study presented at the International Headache Society’s 14th International Headache Congress offers evidence that cocoa (specifically Theobroma cacao) may repress inflammatory responses that are associated with the pain in migraines.

These study results are not a license to gobble your way through a bag of Hersheys® Kisses. Processed chocolate doesn’t count because the cocoa content usually isn’t high enough and other unhealthy ingredients come into play. And in those cases, chocolate may trigger a migraine, rather than prevent it. Only pure cocoa has been shown to have positive effects on health. This cocoa also has anti-depressant properties and can cause the brain to release pain-fighting chemicals.

Other nutrients that may help migraines include magnesium, feverfew, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), CoQ10 and butterbur.

Get MovingOne easy, no-cost natural treatment for migraines is exercise. Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce the frequency of headaches, the intensity and the amount of medication needed. It could be due to exercise’s ability to reduce stress, which is often a factor in migraines.

Additional prevention and treatments for migraines include:

  • Muscle relaxation exercises, such as meditation and yoga. Or try to take at least 30 minutes a day doing something you find relaxing, such as reading, listening to music, gardening, or taking a hot bath.
  • Steady amounts of adequate sleep. Don’t skimp on or over-do sleep and keep your sleep schedule consistent.
  • Ice down. If you have an attack, put an ice pack on the back of your neck and apply pressure to painful areas on your head.
  • Massage. Massage offers many snowballing benefits to reduce the frequency of migraines. It relaxes you, which can relieve stress to prevent migraines.  And it can improve the quality of your sleep, which also can help prevent migraines.


For the latest updates on ways to enjoy a more active lifestyle and a healthier you, be sure to make Relìv’s Health & Wellness page your online guide to healthy living.

Contest that makes sense

Posted on November 7th, 2009 in Uncategorized by Jonnie Wright

Just ran across this contest and thought some of you creative folks might like to express your life through art. I only draw stick figures so I won’t enter. But I encourage any of you who are so inclined to do so.  

Contest Information

The Kakkis EveryLife Foundation invites artists to participate in the first annual EveryLife Art Contest.

PURPOSE: To empower artists affected by Rare Diseases to express their unique struggle with a rare disease.

PRIZES: Two Grand Prizes will be awarded in each age group.

Age Groups:   Children 5-11: $100 Visa Gift Card
Teens 12-17: $250 Visa Gift Card
Adults 18+: $500 Visa Gift Card

Each Grand Prize winner will also receive a Flip Video camera. Winners will use the Flip Video to record their story about being an artist affected by a rare disease. The artists’ video stories will be posted on the Kakkis EveryLife Foundations Website.

Awards for Outstanding Art: All contestants with works of outstanding art will receive $25 Visa Gift Card.

ELIGIBILITY: The EveryLife Art Competition is open to all artists affected by a Rare Disease ages 5 and older. Artists may have a Rare or Undiagnosed Disease or may be close friends, family members, or care takers of those with a Rare or Undiagnosed Disease. A Rare Disease is one that affects less than 200,000 people in the United State. For a list of Rare Diseases go to http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html. International entries are accepted. Employees or Board Members of the Kakkis EveryLife Foundation or their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

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Learning from Children

Posted on November 5th, 2009 in Life Issues by Jonnie Wright


NFA Expands Efforts to Reduce Healthcare Barriers

Posted on October 31st, 2009 in Health News by Jonnie Wright

It is good to know that there are folks out there who are rooting for getting pain relief to the masses. As one of the masses, I follow with interest what goes on in the healthcare business. Hope this article encourages you.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2009)—In addition to the PAINWeek 2009 conference held last month in Las Vegas, Nev., the National Fibromyalgia Association has been involved in other recent efforts designed to assist medical professionals with the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia.
“It often takes two to five years for fibromyalgia patients to receive a diagnosis and it is equally challenging for them to obtain appropriate treatment,” says NFA Executive Director Rae Marie Gleason. “Our goal is reduce these barriers to patient care through healthcare provider education.”

Below is an overview of recent efforts aimed at improving access to care for fibromyalgia patients.

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Disposal by Flushing of Certain Unused Medicines

Posted on October 31st, 2009 in Health News by Jonnie Wright

Found this article and wanted to pass it on to you. I have often had questions about disposing of medications and this information has been very helpful. 

What You Should Know

Medicines play an important role in treating certain conditions and diseases, but they must be taken with care. Unused portions of these medicines must be disposed of properly to avoid harm. Almost all medicines can be thrown away in the household trash after mixing them with some unpalatable substance (e.g., coffee grounds) and sealing them in a container.

However, certain medicines may be especially harmful and, in some cases, fatal in a single dose if they are used by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for. For this reason, a few medicines have special disposal directions that indicate they should be flushed down the sink or toilet after the medicine is no longer needed. If you dispose of these medicines down the sink or toilet, they cannot be accidently used by children, pets, or anybody else.  

You may have also received disposal directions for these medicines when you picked up your prescription. If your medicine is on this list, and you did not receive information on disposal with your prescription, you can find directions on how to dispose of the medicines at DailyMed. After you search on the drug name, the disposal information for these medicines can be found in one of the following sections of the prescribing information: 

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Posted on October 22nd, 2009 in Health News by Jonnie Wright


Simple Techniques Can Help Patients Take Control of Pain Issues

By Dr. John Nicholson, Walton Pain and Headache Center
Sep 23, 2009 - 9:38:16 AM
 

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Augusta, GA—When you’re struggling with chronic pain, sometimes it feels like your life is out of your control.

But you can take that control back. “Pain is a tough symptom, particularly chronic pain, and many patients feel their only recourse is chemical interventions,” said Dr. John Nicholson, Walton Pain and Headache Center, part of Walton Rehabilitation Health System. “However, there are a number of simple things that patients can do to take control and feel better, not just emotionally but also physically. It’s just a matter of taking that first step.”

Physical Fitness
Exercise is sometimes a catch-22. Some pain sufferers worry that working out will make their pain worse, while others who are feeling good worry about rocking the boat and bringing the pain back.

By working with a physician and physical therapist, pain patients can ease into an exercise routine designed for them and their needs. For example, an aquatic therapy program is gentle on the joints while providing a challenging workout. And as patients gradually grow stronger, they will reap benefits of improved flexibility, movement and posture, as well as higher energy levels. In addition, building strength can actually help decrease pain.

Healthy Eating
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“No Pain, No Gain” Rings False for Nurses

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 in Health News by Jonnie Wright

Released: 9/11/2009 2:30 PM EDT
Source: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Newswise — Pain, a frequent fellow traveler with both acute and chronic illnesses, can drive some people to the emergency room or doctor’s office. For others, pain, or fear of it, can keep them from seeking care in the first place. Because they are on the front lines of care, nurses are also in the forefront of pain management, working with patients at the bedside and at the research bench. At the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) and the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH), research and staff nurses strive to better understand what pain is all about, how it affects body and mind both in the short-term and over time, and how it can be reduced or prevented altogether. They understand that, contrary to the adage, pain actually gets in the way of gain, whether the gain is improved health or the quality of life as a whole.

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Why do we have to suffer?

Posted on October 8th, 2009 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

It doesn’t take a person long to realize that bad things are happening to good people. The economy’s downward plunge has affected many Christians as well as non-Christians. How can that be when we are committed to living godly lives and following Scriptural principles?

The answer, of course, is in God’s Word, the Bible:

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure.

4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

Our suffering is not meaningless. And because of this very truth, we Christians have hope. Maybe not hope in an improved economy, or a stimulus package, or a new retirement program, but hope in an unchanging, and therefore trustworthy, God. He has a plan for us, no matter what the condition of our pocketbook, or the deterioration of the rest of the world.


So should we be suffering in our circumstances? What’s the point of the lesson if we do not? We are not measured by our emotions or our feelings; we are not required to hold our heads high and appear undaunted; we are not called to declare Scripture in the hope that we sound as if we’re hanging in there.

Suffering is suffering. It’s a part of our walk. We are not “lesser” Christians because we are hurting, be it physical, emotional, or financial. Our suffering makes us stronger Christians! And this will become apparent once we’ve lived through our current situation.


Our joy, therefore, is found in spite of, not because of, what our circumstances looks like. Our hope is faith-based not situation-based. Prayer, church, and Scripture are our fuel. Jesus is our cornerstone. Be not downcast, oh saints of God. He has a plan for each of us, and we’re in the middle of it now… So hang on for the ride!

5 Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and 6 my God! Psalms 42:5-6 (NLT)

Posted on October 8th, 2009 in Devotional by Jonnie Wright

Just last week my chronic pain support group discussed how we might hear God speaking to us. We agreed that spending time in the Bible was obviously a place to start as well as memorizing His Word. And then I received Max Lucados weekly devotional and thought I would share it with you:

Learning to Listen
by Max LucadoEquipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.

A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day.

Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.

How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.

God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.

Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.

Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.

Just Like JesusWill I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.

Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.

There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 PHILLIPS).

We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.

Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:9 RSV).

If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.

From Just Like Jesus
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado

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