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5 Ways to Get Nutritious During National Salad Month

Posted on: May 22nd, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Salads are a great way to get vital nutrients for a healthier you!

May is National Salad Month and with the warmer weather here, there’s no better time to give your oven a rest and enjoy a lighter meal. Medi-Rents encourages you to experiment with your salads this May and toss the boring old salad recipes.

It can be said that salads are bland and not filling unless you douse it with high-calorie dressings and put lots of toppings on it. This is partially true; salads can be boring, but with these helpful tips from Medi-Rents, your salads are about to take a turn for the better!

Medi-Rents wants you to enjoy salads, as they can be a nutritional powerhouse. Try implementing these ingredients into your salad this May, and change your thinking about salads.

Start with the greens- instead of using only iceberg lettuce, try mixing in spinach, kale or red leaf lettuce.
Add your favorite veggies for flavor and crunch- cucumber, tomato, shredded carrot, red onion, baby peas and olives are just a few options.
Have a sweet tooth? Fruits add sweetness to your salad. Mandarin oranges, grapefruit, blackberries and strawberries are great toppings to make any salad more flavorful and colorful.
Don’t forget the protein- low fat cheese, fish, chicken breast, black or pinto beans add protein, fiber and flavor to any salad.
If you’re looking for a crunch, try adding nuts and seeds like pistachios, walnuts or almonds.

Medi-Rents wants to encourage you to celebrate National Salad Month this May by implementing a salad into your weekly diet. Salads are easy to make and can give you natural energy, something we all need.

Enjoy National Salad Month and share with Medi-Rents your favorite salad recipe on our Facebook page. Good luck and happy eating!

De-Stress for National Stress Awareness Month

Posted on: April 29th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

De-Stress for National Stress Awareness Month

With every item you add to that to-do list, your stress level raises another notch. Your career, family, and community organizations are all demanding and it seems nearly impossible to keep up that balancing act.

Stress is a part of life, and even necessary, but what happens when it becomes overwhelming? Untreated stress can affect relationships, careers, and even your health. Health problems range from mild cases of acne, to severe depression, and can even inflict severe heart attacks on overworked individuals.

Medi-Rents encourages you kick back, relax, and read about the following five ways you can celebrate Stress Awareness Month. Decreasing the amount of stress in your life and focusing on positive ways to stay motivated and happy are essential to living a fulfilling life.

Professionals in the health care industry have named April as National Stress Awareness Month and created a campaign focused on informing the public about stress, and possible causes and cures for the modern-day endemic.

Adopt these stress-free initiatives and commit to making positive changes in your life.

Get Healthy: There is no better time than now to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Pick up a new hobby, adopt a natural diet, and put yourself back in control.
Talk to Yourself: Give yourself a positive pep talk. Spotlight positive experiences in your life and avoid the negatives.
Be Positive: Adopt a can-do policy in your daily life. Take on new experiences with a confident and decisive attitude.
Lend a Hand: Offering to help someone else is a positive way to take the focus off of your own life, all while making another feel significant.
Meditate: Take a deep breath, enjoy the quiet, and let your mind wander. Take a few minutes each day to ponder.

Medi-Rents has a complete line of products and information to keep your life stress-free, no matter what medical emergency life throws your way.

Tags: health, Healthy, healthy lifestyle, Relaxation, Stress Awareness
Posted in Health, Heart Health, Stress Awareness | Comments Off

Get Your Green Thumbs Dirty!

Posted on: April 22nd, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Get Your Green Thumbs Dirty!

Another nasty winter finally comes to an end, and spring has finally sprung bringing with it beautiful blossoming flowers and trees. It seems only fitting that April celebrates national Lawn and Garden Month.

Take a stroll and enjoy the beauty of the flowering trees, blooming tulips, daffodils, and magnolias. Medi-Rents encourages people to observe the bloom-filled Lawn and Garden Month by adopting a new project in their home or community.

Gardening acts as a therapeutic activity for people who have recently suffered a stroke or other serious medical emergency. Container gardening or raised garden beds are great for people who are in wheelchairs, as it makes it easy to water and give attention to plants at waist level. Working with the soil, mulch, plants, and watering the seedlings is also an active therapy for working on eye-hand coordination.

In addition to the benefit of beautifying spaces, gardening is also an enjoyable way to sneak in exercise. Pulling grass, trimming bushes, and carrying away piles of debris are quick ways to burn a few extra calories. Spending time in the sunshine, soaking up vitamin D is another health benefit to working outside.

10 Ways to Celebrate Lawn and Garden Month:

Plant a plot for the hungry.
Organize a plant swap: think garage sale for plants.
Create a community cleanup day.
Initiate a garden club.
Visit a farmers market.
Start a compost pile.
Plant a bird-bee-butterfly friendly garden
Plant a raised garden bed.
Repurpose household items into garden décor.
Plant container gardens.

No matter what your skill level or ability, there is a type of garden that will fit your need. If you need assistance, you can look to local gardening clubs for advice, or visit your local library for resources.

Medi-Rents hopes to grow community spirit by inspiring organizations and individuals to celebrate Lawn and Garden month and make American a greener, cleaner place.

Tags: Gardening, health, Lawn and Garden Month
Posted in Health, Heart Health, Recreation | Comments Off

Concussion: A Mild Brain Injury That Can Cause Serious Problems

Posted on: March 25th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and everyone at Medi-Rents & Sales want you to be aware of the most common and most overlooked brain injury; the concussion.

There are an estimated 1.7 million people who sustain a TBI annually in the United States alone. Of those injured, almost 80 percent are treated and released from an emergency department and most of those are for concussions.

What is a concussion? We have all heard of concussion and many of us (or our kids) have had one. A concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. A concussion means that there has been change in the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth as seen in car accidents, falls and sports.

Even a mild bump or blow to the head can be dangerous and should be taken seriously. Concussions affect people of every age and can be very dangerous to children and older people. Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness. Even if the concussion seems harmless, they need to be taken seriously.

How do you know if you or someone else has suffered a concussion? Some of the most common signs are:

Headache or “pressure” in head
Nausea or vomiting
Balance problems or dizziness
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light and/or noise
Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy,
Concentration or memory problems,
Confusion and not “feeling right”
Just because you can’t see a concussion or because someone doesn’t report the symptoms doesn’t mean that it’s not serious. Remember that while having one concussion may not be huge concern, concussions are cumulative and add up to more danger with each one.

If you are living with any kind of brain injury and home medical equipment, see Medi-Rents & Sales today. We are your home for everything from walkers and wheelchairs to CPAP and respiratory supplies.

Tags: brain injury, Injury
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Multiple Sclerosis – Understanding this Mysterious Disease

Posted on: March 11th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

March is Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. Medi-Rents & Sales understands that MS is not a new disease, but many of us know little about it.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. The nervous system affects the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. Many researchers see it as an autoimmune disorder because the body is attacking healthy tissue. There is no known cause and there is no known cure.

Multiple sclerosis is common in this country and around the world. Statistics show that there are currently 350,000 to 500,000 people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with MS, but experts say that the numbers could be much higher.

Worldwide there are over 2.5 million people are living with the disease. Two hundred people are diagnosed with MS every week and those are just the ones who have their diagnosis submitted.

While anyone can de diagnosed with MS, certain groups are more at risk.

Most individuals are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50
MS is more common in women than men
MS appears more frequently in Caucasians than in Hispanics or African Americans
MS is relatively rare among Asians

What are the symptoms of MS? While here are common symptoms of MS, different people will have different symptoms at different times.

Common symptoms of MS include:

fatigue
weakness
muscle spasticity
walking and balance problems
bladder and bowel problems
numbness and tingling
sporadic vision loss
tremors

Many of these symptoms are shared with other diseases and disorders as well, so it’s best to be tested. Even if you are diagnosed with MS, there is no certain timeline for the progression of the disease. The disease can progress quickly or slowly and have times of remission. That’s why having the right medical care and the right medical equipment from Medi-Rents & Sales is so important. From walkers to wheelchairs to CPAP and respiratory supplies, see Medi-Rents & Sales today.

Tags: MS, multiple sclerosis
Posted in Multiple Sclerosis | Comments Off

February; a Short, Busy Month at Medi-Rents and Sales

Posted on: February 25th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

There are a lot of things going on in the short month of February.

Medi-Rents and Sales in the Mid-Atlantic area is interested in your health and your life. There are many things happening this month that we want to bring to your attention.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. While there are many months that focus on certain types of cancers, February looks at the prevention of all cancers. There are many behaviors and common links to many of the most common cancers. February is the month to look at many of the behaviors and common links between cancers and the wide spread effects of cancer.

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease and heart-related conditions are the leading killer of men and women in the United States. Heart/Cardiovascular disease costs the United States $312.6 billion each year!

National Wear Red for Women Day is also in February. Did you know that 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease in the United States? Some of the biggest risk factors for heart disease include smoking and secondhand smoke, having a diet that is high in bad fats, untreated high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, and plaque build-up that causes blood vessel inflammation.

National Random Act of Kindness Day is February 22^nd. What random acts of kindness can you do for a person on this day? You could pay for the food or coffee for the person behind you in line or consider sending a gift card to someone who is having a bad time right now. Consider sending a thank-you note to a former teacher or thanking them for what they taught you. The possibilities are endless! These random acts of kindness bless the person who receives them, but they also are good for the givers heart and spirit.

Medi-Rents and Sales in Baltimore is your home for bathroom safety equipment, CPAP equipment and enteral nutrition. What can we do for you today?

Tags: Daily Living, February, Holidays
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February is Senior Independence Month

Posted on: February 11th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

February is Senior Independence Month and Medi-Rents & Sales wants all seniors to live happy, safe and independent lives as long possible. Here are some suggestions from Medi-Rents and Sales to make that happen.

Turn on the lights! Avoid the dark rooms and turn on more lights in the house. Poorly lit areas can lead to falls that can cause a senior to lose their independence. Never walk down dark stairs or through a dark room.
Use a walker or cane if you need it. Using a walker, rolling walker or cane does not make you look old; they make you look smart and safe. Having walker or cane will give you more independence too.
Look into senior services in your area. There are many programs for seniors including senior meal sites, visiting nurses, senior chore services and Meals-on-Wheels. Having good nutrition is often a problem for seniors and not being able to drive can create isolation and reduce the quality of health and independence. These services can help and even at a fee, these options are much cheaper than moving or going to a care facility.
Be extra careful in the bathroom! Bathrooms are one of the biggest areas of injuries in a senior’s home. Slick floors, hard surfaces, and cramped spaces can add up to trouble and can discourage good hygiene and personal care. But having the right pieces of bath safety equipment can help. Ask the experts atMedical Department Store about how a shower chair, bathtub handle or a raised toilet seat can make the bathroom safer.
Stay in control of your medications with a med-minder. Medication errors, forgetting to take medications or taking too many of a medication can lead to health problems and loss of your independence. Look into getting a daily or weekly med-minder. Talk to your local pharmacy about having your medications in a med-minder soon.

Medi-Rents and Sales would love to hear the ways you stay safe during Senior Independence Month and all year. Let our experts help you find the equipment need today.

Tags: Independence, Senior Citizens, Senior Independence Month
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Staying Active During Maryland Winters

Posted on: January 21st, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

In our last blog, we discussed how to be a little safer in your bathroom by installing safety equipment to reduce falling. Today, Medi-Rents & Sales would like to help you stay active during the long Maryland winters. If you have been sitting most of the winter, your body probably isn’t quite ready to tackle the list of big projects you want to accomplish during 2014.

Medi-Rents & Sales want you and your loved ones to be safe and healthy as you head into 2014. Here are several simple ways to prevent injuries this spring:

Take a walk – Walking is a great way to wake your body up and get it warmed up before your tasks. Don’t overdo it; you may want to walk after your chores too as a cool down.
Warm up stretches – are a simple and essential step to a busy day. Stretching is not just for runners, it’s a way to prepare the body to use the muscle groups that may be underused.
Eat before you start your projects – Eat a decent breakfast and be sure you stop and eat lunch. No big meals that may weigh you down, just enough to give your body fuel.
Wear the proper clothing for the job – If you start a project early when it’s chilly, you may heat up as you work and as the day warms. If you get too hot, you may get dizzy and fall. Dress in comfortable layers that you can add or remove as needed.
Dry muscles are sore muscles and that goes for your brain too, so stay hydrated. Keep water with you or close by as you work.
Take breaks – A few short breaks will let your body keep up with can-do spirit.

Is it time to replace your home medical equipment and supplies? If you’ve been waiting for a time to replace worn out equipment or supplies, 2014 is your year. See Medi-Rents & Sales online catalog or visit us at our showroom today to see new medical equipment

Tags: Active, exercise, health, Winter
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Safety in your Bathroom

Posted on: January 14th, 2014 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Statistically, the bathroom is the most dangerous place for seniors age 65 and older. The Center for Disease Control found that seniors were most likely to receive injuries like contusions and broken bones from falling in the bathroom. Since many of the customers Medi-Rents interact with are older, we thought it would be appropriate to discuss the concept of bathroom safety and how you can make your bathroom a safer place. Remember, January is National Bathroom Safety Month.

The first thing in evaluating the safety of your bathroom is to identify the problem areas, or the areas you feel most vulnerable to an accident. The most common places are in the shower, getting in or out of the shower or bath tub, or getting on or off the toilet.

For help with getting in and out of your shower there are grab bars that can be suctioned to the side of your shower or securely bolted into the wall. There are also shower chairs and benches that can put you in a safer seated position as you shower. This greatly reduces the chances of a slip and fall in the shower leading to further injury.

Grab bars can also be used if you prefer to use a bath tub. Whereas grab rails attach to the wall, tub rails attach to the side of your tub without damaging it to help you ease yourself in. For those with less mobility, a transfer bench allows you scoot towards the tub, swing your legs over the edge of the tub and slide into your tub.

The toilet can also be made safer with a raised toilet that allows you an easier on-and-off. There are also handrails made to fit around your toilet to help you ease yourself on and lift yourself off the toilet.

See the experts at Medi-Rents & Sales today with your questions about bathroom safety and equipment to help you or a loved one.

Tags: Bathroom, Bathroom Safety, safety
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Staying Healthy through the Holidays Part 2

Posted on: December 19th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Medi-Rents & Sales loves the holidays and we are talking about ways for you to have fun and stay healthy so you can enjoy 2014. Here are some more tips from us to you!

Keep up with your regular health and diet regimens. If you walk, work out, or swim the rest of the year, keep doing it. It’s easy to let all of the excitement of the holidays take over and let our exercise slide. Allow for a little more time before or after a gathering to walk or whatever you normally do. You’ll feel better in the long run.

Holiday parties can be diet
nightmare! Trays of homemade goodies, eggnog or a steaming pot of appetizers? Yes please; but in moderation. It’s easy to overdo it, so practice saying “It all looks so good, but no thank you.” Keep a glass of something in your hand or a small plate of something with you so they host doesn’t think you look hungry and underserved.

Remember that you are there for the people, not just the food. The more you are talking to people, the less time you have to eat. Don’t stand near the food, it’s too much temptation. Find a spot where the people are far away from the food and strike up a conversation.

Booze and medication do not mix. Just because it’s the holidays and you’re at a party does not mean that that you should over do the bubbly. Many medications mixed with alcohol can make you sleepy, dizzy or quite sick. If you are diabetic, alcohol can really mess up your blood sugars. Keep water, juice, cider or a sugar free soda with you to avoid temptation.

Don’t forget to have fun! Sometimes the best thing you can do for your health is to be with people. See Medi-Rents & Sales for you diabetic glucose monitors, enteral nutrition supplies, and bath safety needs.

Tags: health, Holidays
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