adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Health

Recovering from stroke harder for women, report shows. Why? – Global News

Published

 on


Diane Baronette’s stroke symptoms in 2021 were initially misdiagnosed at a local emergency room, which resulted in serious mobility issues she’s dealing with to this day.

“My whole arm is numb but my fingers and my feet are the worst,” Baronette said of her ongoing symptoms, which forced her to leave a management job she loved.

Navigating health care and dealing with expectations has been tough as she tries to cope with how her life has changed, similar to the experiences of other women who take on the majority of caregiving responsibilities — an issue highlighted in a report released Thursday by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

She had to wait nearly two months to get rehabilitation in the community near Cache Bay, Ont., to help her walk and get the strength back in her arm and leg before she could transition to exercises at home for the stiffness in her foot and hand.

“It was difficult,” said Baronette, who’d been the sole caregiver for her husband due to his lung disease, heart issues and inability to work.

“The tables kind of turned and he had to take care of me,” said Baronette, who suffered through depression after losing her independence and the ability to befully active with her two young grandchildren. She also lamented not having the strength to help out, “as a mother,” at her two children’s upcoming weddings.


Click to play video: 'Provincial leaders urged to curb smoking in tobacco negotiations'

1:24
Provincial leaders urged to curb smoking in tobacco negotiations


It was also tough for Baronette to accept she had a stroke at age 52, something she believed would happen to an older person. Now, she wants other women to know they should get help for their symptoms as soon as possible, ditch the guilt of no longer being able to do so much for their families and “put yourself first.”

Women already have higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders than men, putting them at greater risk of developing depression, the Heart and Stroke Foundation said in its report.

While people of any age can have a stroke, women are disproportionately affected. Their risk triples during pregnancy and is also higher after menopause and when they’re elderly because strokes can be more severe then, putting them at risk of dying, it says.

It adds that in 2019, almost a third more women died of stroke than men. When they survive a stroke, their outcomes are worse, including the toll on their mental health.

More on Health

Patrice Lindsay, director of health systems for the foundation, said women are up to 60 per cent less likely to fully recover from a stroke compared with men, depending on which part of the brain was affected, how fast they get to hospital and the treatment they get.

Women are also less likely to access post-stroke rehabilitation because they feel pressured to resume their caretaker roles, whether that’s caring for children, aging parents or others, Lindsay said.

As for outpatient services, women are more likely to be in jobs without benefits that include physiotherapy and often can’t afford to pay out of pocket or take time offto go toappointments, she said.

“A lot of those factors also contribute to your mental health and how well you are able to adjust to this life, after having had this major physical insult to your brain,” said Lindsay, adding that along with a weak arm or speech difficulties, for example, some people have emotional challenges depending on which part of their brain was affected.


Click to play video: 'Heart attack survivor becomes advocate for women’s health'

4:58
Heart attack survivor becomes advocate for women’s health


According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s best practice guidelines, people should be assessed within 48 hours of entering hospital for the type of rehabilitation they need there and assessed again before they are discharged for whether they should get ongoing rehab in hospital or in the community.

But not every hospital has inpatient rehab beds or services in clinics or in patients’ homes, which is particularly concerning for Indigenous communities, Lindsay said.

Older women who have strokes face greater challenges.

Dr. Mark Bayley, a Heart and Stroke-funded researcher, said they have a higher incidence of stroke, typically in their 70s, when they may be widowed and without a nearby family member to take them to rehabilitation appointments.

Those who have had severe strokes are also not as optimistic about their recovery if they know they will be returning to a home where they live alone and have to climb stairs with weakness on one side of their body, said Bayley, also program medical director at the University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

“It gets worse when people are in vulnerable groups, like for example, when English is not their first language or they have lower socioeconomic means.”


Click to play video: 'Health Matters: Report finds inequities put women’s heart and brain health at risk'

5:56
Health Matters: Report finds inequities put women’s heart and brain health at risk


However, Bayley said there is now more of an effort to monitor those types of differences to accessing rehabilitation and providing some programs virtually.

Community support for the most vulnerable people, especially women who are accustomed to being the caregivers, is essential because they will need ongoing care in their home from nurses, physiotherapists and perhaps occupational therapists, he said.

When it comes to clinical trials, fewer women than men generally enrol in them, but for studies on stroke, less than a third of the participants are women, Bayley said.

“We know that there are more women than men who are having stroke. And this is very concerning to us because if the research doesn’t involve enough women and they have a different response to treatment, then we may not be providing the best practice guidelines, which maybe need to be adapted.”

One project currently underway, and partly funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, is trying to determine through surveys and interviews why so few women participate in the research, he said.

Adblock test (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Continue Reading

Health

What’s the greatest holiday gift: lips, hair, skin? Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Published

 on

Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting

Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.

In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.

“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.

There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.

Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.

Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.

In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.

 

Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Continue Reading

Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

 on

 

LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

X

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

Source link

Continue Reading

Health

Pediatric group says doctors should regularly screen kids for reading difficulties

Published

 on

 

The Canadian Paediatric Society says doctors should regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, with lifelong consequences.

New guidance issued Wednesday says family doctors, nurses, pediatricians and other medical professionals who care for school-aged kids are in a unique position to help struggling readers access educational and specialty supports, noting that identifying problems early couldhelp kids sooner — when it’s more effective — as well as reveal other possible learning or developmental issues.

The 10 recommendations include regular screening for kids aged four to seven, especially if they belong to groups at higher risk of low literacy, including newcomers to Canada, racialized Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. The society says this can be done in a two-to-three-minute office-based assessment.

Other tips encourage doctors to look for conditions often seen among poor readers such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; to advocate for early literacy training for pediatric and family medicine residents; to liaise with schools on behalf of families seeking help; and to push provincial and territorial education ministries to integrate evidence-based phonics instruction into curriculums, starting in kindergarten.

Dr. Scott McLeod, one of the authors and chair of the society’s mental health and developmental disabilities committee, said a key goal is to catch kids who may be falling through the cracks and to better connect families to resources, including quicker targeted help from schools.

“Collaboration in this area is so key because we need to move away from the silos of: everything educational must exist within the educational portfolio,” McLeod said in an interview from Calgary, where he is a developmental pediatrician at Alberta Children’s Hospital.

“Reading, yes, it’s education, but it’s also health because we know that literacy impacts health. So I think that a statement like this opens the window to say: Yes, parents can come to their health-care provider to get advice, get recommendations, hopefully start a collaboration with school teachers.”

McLeod noted that pediatricians already look for signs of low literacy in young children by way of a commonly used tool known as the Rourke Baby Record, which offers a checklist of key topics, such as nutrition and developmental benchmarks, to cover in a well-child appointment.

But he said questions about reading could be “a standing item” in checkups and he hoped the society’s statement to medical professionals who care for children “enhances their confidence in being a strong advocate for the child” while spurring partnerships with others involved in a child’s life such as teachers and psychologists.

The guidance said pediatricians also play a key role in detecting and monitoring conditions that often coexist with difficulty reading such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, but McLeod noted that getting such specific diagnoses typically involves a referral to a specialist, during which time a child continues to struggle.

He also acknowledged that some schools can be slow to act without a specific diagnosis from a specialist, and even then a child may end up on a wait list for school interventions.

“Evidence-based reading instruction shouldn’t have to wait for some of that access to specialized assessments to occur,” he said.

“My hope is that (by) having an existing statement or document written by the Canadian Paediatric Society … we’re able to skip a few steps or have some of the early interventions present,” he said.

McLeod added that obtaining specific assessments from medical specialists is “definitely beneficial and advantageous” to know where a child is at, “but having that sort of clear, thorough assessment shouldn’t be a barrier to intervention starting.”

McLeod said the society was partly spurred to act by 2022’s “Right to Read Inquiry Report” from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which made 157 recommendations to address inequities related to reading instruction in that province.

He called the new guidelines “a big reminder” to pediatric providers, family doctors, school teachers and psychologists of the importance of literacy.

“Early identification of reading difficulty can truly change the trajectory of a child’s life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending