Coughing

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Scenario: Long week, waiting on the jet bridge to board your flight and get home. Then it happens, someone starts coughing. Everyone turns and stares at this poor person who is coughing uncontrollably. This lasts for several minutes, everyone praying this person isn’t seated next to them on the flight. Several people pull out facemasks, others wish they had one!  …

Okay – Ewe!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Remember the good old days when mom taught you not to sit on a public toilet seat? Yep, we basically wrapped the seat in toilet paper so that there was no contact with our skin because germs lived on toilet seats. Well, mom wasn’t wrong, however a new study identified that the aerosolization of viruses from toilets during flushing raises …

Whose Rights; What Risk?

Kasie CousinoNews

A rarely discussed side-effect of “tough on crime” policies from the 1980’s and 1990’s is the number of felons now aging in federal and state prisons.  At either state or federal level, our incarceration system is not equipped to manage the health needs of geriatric prisoners.  There are very few nurses, no certified nurse aides, and nobody to handle the …

Oh Boy!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

We are now moving past the fear and anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic, hopefully. So, of course, now we are hearing of researchers dissecting what we did, what worked, what didn’t work and of course, how we could do better. We are grateful, of course, but at the same time, a little disillusioned as everything we did was directed by …

Cover Your Cough or Cover Up?

Angie SzumlinskiNews

A recent study published in Psychological Science is scary stuff! The study found that of 4,110 participants in the study, 75% said they had either hidden an infectious illness from others at least once or might do so in the future. Many of these participants boarded airplanes, went on dates, and engaged in other social interactions. What is even more …

CDC Warning – MOLD!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Per the CDC, mold can cause many adverse health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. There is always mold around and molds have been on earth for millions of years. Mold will grow …

Close up of clear water and bubbles

Dehydration Not Just a Summer Thing!

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Older adults are more susceptible to dehydration. There are many reasons for this, including:  A decline in totally body fluid,  Lowered thirst response,  Decreased kidney function,  Health conditions and medications.  Recognizing the symptoms of dehydration is important so you can assist your residents in replacing lost fluids. Some of the signs and symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, fatigue, new …

Early Detection

Angie SzumlinskiNews

We know the drill; Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain, approximately 32 million people have this form of dementia and about 69 million are in the early stages (prodromal) experiencing mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease impacts brain functions such as memory, spatial awareness, speaking, and writing, but less is known about the changes that may impact the eyes.   In a new …

Hepatitis C

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and can lead to serious liver damage. Hepatitis C (HCV) spreads through contact with blood that has the virus in it. What makes it even more dangerous is that many people with this disease don’t know they have it because symptoms can take decades to appear. The U.S. Preventive Services …

Sepsis and AI

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Sepsis remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. What exactly is sepsis? It is a dysregulated host response to infection, and it is estimated to afflict over 48.9 million people a year worldwide, leading to death in approximately 11 million. We all know that the early detection of sepsis is critical since interventions such as fluid resuscitation, antibiotic …