Month: August 2016

Donate to Change the World

Illustration of hands up in the air
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

With open hearts and open hands, we gave what we could, and a little became a lot”, said Wendy Smith in her book Give a little: “How your small donations can transform our world”.

People donate money to different causes for a variety of reasons. These include personal satisfaction, tax deductions, and social reasons that can bring change in our society for the better.

Philanthropy on a Personal Level

Although Howard Fensterman donates to a variety of causes, he has chosen two major organizations on which he mainly focuses. One is the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. A non-profit organization devoted to finding the cures for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis and to improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by this disease.

Advancing the quality of life of all communities is of primary importance to Howard and as such, he is a contributor to his local Chabad, which is an organization that assists folks by uplifting their social environments in locations all over the world.

How You Can Help

Group of Hardworking Volunteers Preparing Donated Free Food Rations

Depending on the reason for donating to charity, people may choose different ways to help. Volunteering to work for a charitable organization is a great way to be directly involved in helping others.

If you want to contribute funds, you will find many organizations to choose from. Many people make choices by keeping in mind how their money will be utilized and the impact it will have in the area they are concerned about, as well as potential tax deductions.

Many individuals do feel compelled to donate to organizations for a cause that is likely to bring social change,* but they end up giving money to establishments, like hospitals and universities, whenever they can make donations. According to research, only 20% of big donors follow their desire to donate to organizations that are working to bring social change.

This may be because of two major reasons, as identified by the same research.

    1. People do not know about such organizations and second, they do not find it rewarding to donate to small organizations.
    2. There could be a lack of trust. Established and traditional recipients of donations enjoy a certain level of people’s trust because of a history of using donations for the intended purposes. Also, making big donations to established organizations and big names is a way to earn respect and admiration in society.

But, there are folks, especially philanthropists, who do not follow the traditional route. In order to satisfy their strong desires to help bring in social change, they make non-traditional choices and look for organizations that are working on innovative projects to change society’s practices, and norms or to address real problems of society.      

Some philanthropists believe that organizations that may be small but are at the forefront of research are the most worthy recipients of their donations. 

Additionally, you may want to consider going beyond donating to medical research and consider contributing directly to hospitals and other organizations. St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital which was founded by Danny Thomas, is a cancer center for children and is a great place to donate, as well as the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Hungry children in Africia
Hunger is an area that we must all consider lending a helping hand. No one should ever go hungry anywhere in the world. Whether that be physically volunteering or sending money. Save the Children is just one of many charities we highly recommend considering.

You may also want to consider helping our veterans and first responders. Tunnel to Towers provides state of the art housing for injured soldiers and first responders. It was founded by Frank Siller, who lost his brother, a firefighter in the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in NYC. Wounded Warrior Project is another charity that assists our veterans.

How We Help

This website is devoted to bringing awareness to many illnesses, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as discussing mental health issues and domestic lone-wolf shooting attacks.

In addition to learning what these diseases are, we offer suggestions, based on the studies from researchers in the fields, on how you can use preventative measures to stay healthy, and what to do if you feel you may be at risk.

We provide charitable organizations you can contact but we obviously can’t list all the charities here. We do have a plethora of information available with links to sources that you can follow up on. Forbes provides the top 100 charitable organizations and you can use their guide as well.

When you see the impact your money is bringing to society, it gives you the satisfaction that you have played your part in making this world a better place.  

*Social change in this article refers to anything that benefits society, including medical advances as well as social ones.

Please note: This website does not ask for any financial contributions directly or provide any forms to donate to a cause. Please refer to the sources provided and/or you can find them on the Web via Google or other resources.

Coronary Artery Disease

Described as the deadliest disease out there by some, Coronary Artery Disease is the most common heart disease in United States. Men and women both are victims to this disease. It is the leading cause of death in USA. If the blood vessels that are responsible for supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart are damaged or diseased, it eventually leads to development of Coronary Artery Disease.

Often, plaque (deposits made up of cholesterol) builds up in these blood vessels and blocks coronary arteries. This decreases the flow of blood to the heart and in turn one experiences chest pain, shortness in breath and many other symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease. In worst case, a complete blockage of blood flow can occur which can cause a heart attack and permanent heart damage.

Causes of CAD

As discussed above, plaque that eventually builds up due to accumulation of cholesterol deposits, leads to Coronary Artery Disease. This process can take years, and one may not even notice unless symptoms like chest pain, etc, start to surface. This process of plaque being built up on the insides of arteries is termed as atherosclerosis. The most common causes of having a coronary heart condition include smoking, continuously having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and resistance diabetes or insulin, and a laid-back daily routine. The dietary habits are also great contributors to this disease.

The risk of having coronary heart disease increases with time. If someone has a family history of this disease, the likelihood of inheriting it increases substantially. People who have a habit of smoking or have high blood pressure, higher levels of blood cholesterol, or have been diagnosed with obesity or diabetes, are prone to Coronary Artery Disease. Similarly, sedentary lifestyle and stressful life conditions are also strong triggers.

Symptoms

Over time, symptoms of Coronary Artery disease start to show up.

  • The most common is angina, or chest pain. Though it is felt for a few minutes when doing a stressful task, one feels discomfort or pressure in the middle or left side of the chest.
  • Shortness of breath is another symptom which occurs during an exertive task. It may also be accompanied with fatigue.
  • Many people also have a heart attack, which is severe pain in the chest extending till the left arm, and till neck and jaw line in case of women.

Treatment

Coronary Artery disease is diagnosed through a physical exam, considering medical and family history, evaluating the risk factors, and performing diagnostic tests like electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization, etc.

Treatment is usually done through medication and considering the factors which have caused the disease to occur in the first place. Measures are taken to remove those risk factors. In much complicated cases, surgeries and other procedures are also done. Other options include Angiogenesis and Enhanced External Counterpulsation.

The risk of developing complexities in this disease is very high, hence the high death toll. Therefore, doctors usually suggest keeping a healthy and active lifestyle to patients who show the earliest symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease: Medical Facts

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder which has affected 60,000 Americans and approximately 10,000 million people globally. The famous boxing legend Muhammad Ali who passed away recently was a victim of this illness. The disease affects the nervous system and makes physical body movement very difficult.

If you are a victim of this disease or know someone who has been diagnosed with it, here are some facts that you need to know: 

  • Not Only for Old People

According to Rachel Dolhun (VP of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research), the Parkinson’s disease is not just for the old people. It may be mostly diagnosed in people aged 60 or above but it can also affect the younger generation. She gives the example of the famous Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29. When the disease is diagnosed at a younger age, it means that it is a young-onset Parkinson’s disease.

  • A lot More than Outward Symptoms and Tremors

Usually, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed on the basis of outward symptoms. But according to Dolhun, the condition has much more to it that the doctors are unable to see. There are other symptoms like constipation, sleeping habits, mood problems, slurred speeches and depression issues that can point towards a possible case of Parkinson’s.  

  • Diagnosing Parkinson is Difficult

When it comes to diagnosing the Parkinson’s disease, there is no specific test for it making it difficult to diagnose. Usually, doctors look for cardinal features of movement disorder. They have their own way of diagnosing the disease in the following four ways.

  • Analyzing the tremor and shaking of body parts such as the arm, chin, entire hand, thumb, feet, and lips.
  • Inspecting the rigidity on rotating the wrist or elbow of the patients.
  • Checking the movement of the arm i.e. Akinesia
  • Looking through the postural instability while holding onto something to maintain balance.

On the basis of these four elements, doctors diagnose the disease. Also, they ask the patient if they feel shaky, stiff or slow while doing daily tasks to evaluate their condition. At times, this becomes difficult as these symptoms are common with some other diseases but competent doctors try best to diagnose the issue.

Common Symptoms

If you or anyone you know is suffering from any of the following symptoms, then it is time you visit a doctor before things go out of hands.

  • Slowed movement
  • Tremors
  • Loss of automatic movements
  • Rigid muscles
  • Impaired posture and balance
  • Writing changes
  • Speech changes

Is There a Cure for Parkinson Disease?

According to researches, there is no standard cure, but there is treatment available.  The common treatments include surgical therapy and medication. The most important cure for this disease is to incorporate permanent lifestyle changes in the patient’s life.

 

 

Caring For a Person with Dementia

Dementia PatientCaring for people suffering from dementia, a broad term for a variety of mental health conditions that include loss of memory, impaired reasoning, personality changes and cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia can be challenging and difficult both for caregivers and patient’s families. The inability of people suffering from any form of dementia to remember things, to communicate effectively with others and to take care of themselves, as well as their mood swings can be disconcerting. However, if such people are not taken care of, they may get injured, harm themselves or become depressed due to the feelings of loneliness.  To help caregivers and families assist senior citizens who suffer from dementia, we have listed down some ways to help them cope.

Ensure effective communication

People suffering from dementia often find it hard to effectively communicate with other people due an array of reasons. This may be due to the inability to find suitable words, speak fluently, to recognize and remember a person, to understand what the other person is saying, and the inability to read and write. They may also repeat sentences or stories several times. Following are some tips to overcome these communication barriers:

  • Get the person’s attention by limiting as many distractions as possible
  • Always introduce yourself first and address the person by his/her name
  • Communicate slowly in simple language using short sentences
  • Be patient if they do not understand you and slowly repeat your message or question
  • Give them time to process and understand your words
  • Do not get agitated and/or raise your voice
  • Listen carefully to them and try to understand what they are saying
  • Try not to argue with them or force them for anything. Instead, try to convince them by using compassionate behavior.   

Take care of their diet

While dementia affects a person’s memory, people who are losing their memory cannot take care of their diet and nutrition needs. Therefore, the family, friends and/or caregivers of such people need to make sure they are taking regular healthy meals, since the lack of nutrition can lead to several other health problems. To ensure this, provide them with multiple small meals throughout the day, opt for finger food if they have difficulty in handling the food, eat with them so that they do not feel alone and can also see and copy you.   

Monitoring their Medicine

Dementia patients many times will forget to take their meds. It is imperative that you make sure that your caretaker or other guardian is aware and prepared to assist the patient in taking their prescription medicine at the appropriate time.

Dealing with aggressiveness and troubling behaviors

The behavioral and personality changes that come with dementia are most difficult to handle. Patients can have sudden outbursts and get really aggressive at times, which makes it really difficult for the family and caregivers to handle them.   To deal with such issues, the foremost step should be to find out their causes and triggers and try to avoid such situations as much as possible. Consult the patient’s doctor in case of fierce behavior or reactions. Also, make sure nothing is within the patient’s access where they can use to harm themselves or others in case of a sudden anger attack.

Following the above-mentioned suggestions may help you be able to take care of dementia patients easier, but it is also highly suggested that you stay in touch with a doctor or other medical professional to confirm what you are doing with this particular person is the correct action to take.