Health Articles

Following a traumatic brain injury, the survivor may become dependent upon those close to them. The dependencies may be emotional in nature or based on a substance abuse. Whatever dependency is involved, it can lead to difficulties in recovering from the injury.

Some of the emotional problems that can lead to dependency are a result of lack of initiative; lack of motivation; planning and problem solving difficulties and lack of self-esteem. All of these things can lead to feelings of powerlessness. And for this reason they will often become emotionally dependent upon someone close to them. There is another type of dependency called learned helplessness or learned dependency which will sometimes come about when someone helps beyond the point where help is actually needed.

With frontal lobe injuries there may also be a difference in emotional intelligence post-injury versus pre-injury. This is quite different from intellectual intelligence. Emotional intelligence relates to emotional self-awareness, the ability to recognize others’ emotions, taking responsibility for their own feelings, empathy, self-confidence, self-control, feelings of independence, and getting along with others. Difficulty in these areas can lead to dependency on others, particularly a caregiver.

Another dependency may be that of substance abuse. Sixty-seven percent of those with brain injuries have a history of substance abuse pre-injury and fifty percent of those will return to using alcohol and drugs following their injuries. However, substance abuse can often be a result of boredom and loneliness also. With the use of alcohol and drugs after a brain injury, there is an increased risk of seizures as well as the risk of sustaining further brain injuries.

But there are many others who will fight for their independence. i.e.: they will drive before they have been given the ‘go ahead’ to drive; will refuse to go to therapy appointments; will feel increased anger if they are personally, socially or financially limited, as well as if they are deprived of privacy. Also those who need help physically may resent the help they receive if they think they should be able to do it themselves.

Regardless of whether they have become dependent or are fighting for their independence, it is important to remember that there are no two brain injuries that are the same and each person will react differently to their circumstances.

Blood glucose levels are very important to a diabetic and their physician. This is a way of determining how much insulin or medication one should take, how their diet needs to be adjusted and how their body is reacting to the changes. As a diabetic, you will monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis so that you are able to maintain a healthy life.

A majority of the time, it is said that normal blood glucose levels are between 80 and 120, depending upon where you look. Other guides state between 70 and 110 or 90 and 130. Listen to your physician as they will tell you what your specific target range is. With children, usually physicians will give a leeway for a specific target range and then work towards the above listed blood glucose levels.
Blood glucose levels tesing
Your diet helps you to maintain your blood glucose levels. If you eat excessive amounts, your blood glucose levels will rise. If you don’t eat enough, your blood glucose levels will fall. They will also fall because of exercise or activity and even because of heat in the summer time. You will want to keep accurate records of your blood glucose levels so that you will learn how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, environments and learn to adjust accordingly. Blood sugar levels will rise usually when you are sick; have an infection. Now you can see why it is so important to monitor your blood glucose levels on a regular basis.

Hyperglycemia
When blood sugar levels are high, it is considered hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a serious condition that if not taken care of can lead to a Diabetic coma, diabetic retinopathy, ketones in the urine and so on. These are just some of the very serious conditions that can result from hyperglycemia.

To get your blood sugar levels to drop, usually insulin is required. It also helps to drink plenty of water which will also flush out ketones if present. You do not want to drop your blood sugar levels too fast; a slow, steady fall is preferred. Taking small insulin dosages every few hours until the levels have returned to normal, is preferred.

Hypoglycemia
When blood sugar levels are low, it is considered hypoglycemia. This is also extremely dangerous. One can pass out from hypoglycemia and if not corrected promptly, they could pass away. There are many different signs of hypoglycemia and as you begin to learn how your own body reacts, you will see that maybe how you are affected is not the same as another diabetic. This is why regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is extremely important.

As a diabetic, it would be extremely advisable to carry around some sort of “low blood sugar kit”. This could be a tube of gel glucose which can be purchased at the pharmacy or glucagon pen (has to prescribed), a candy bar or so on. Teach loved ones how to administer and/or use and where it is located, just in case you do pass out and cannot administer the sugar yourself.

Nail fungus infections are caused by tiny organisms that infect fingernails and toenails. Our fingernails and toenails are very resistant to outside infections. Hence it is difficult for an outside infection to invade the nail, but once they invade, then it becomes hard to remove infections inside the nail.

It is observed that a fungus of the nail develops more often in the toenails than fingernails because toenails reside under your socks and shoes and are thus kept dark, warm and moist. This is the reason why toenails are about seven times more prone to fungal infection than fingernails.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 35 million people in the country get fungal nail infections. The fungus lives and grows underneath your nail easily because it provides a dark, damp and safe place for ideal growth of a fungus. That is why it is difficult to treat infections of nails easily.

Although fungal nail infections are painful to you, they are not so dangerous as other human diseases like cancer, heart attack, blood pressure, diabetes and other such diseases as there is no danger of your life due to nail fungus infection. Also many US insurance companies do not cover the cost of nail fungus cures because it is not a necessary treatment

Your nails always tell a lot about your own internal health. Healthy nails are often a sign of good health and bad nails are often a sign of illness of your body. You look ugly and lose your self confidence due to your infected and deformed nails. You feel ashamed to show your deformed nails to others.