National Therapeutic Recreation Week: 5 Ways to Get Involved

Posted on: July 9th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger

National Therapeutic Recreation; what is it and how do you help spread the message about it? Medi-Rents and Sales is glad you asked.  The National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) sets aside one week every year in July to raise awareness of therapeutic recreation programs and services for individuals with all kinds of disabilities. Therapeutic Recreation works with clients in Geriatric, Pediatric, Physical Therapy fields, and more.

Talk with your local adult daycare provider, assisted living or nursing home facility, or special needs provider about “therapeutic rec” and what they offer. You may consider volunteering with them or leading a project of your own.  Contact your local college. Many of them have therapeutic rec programs and people who would make great speakers at a meeting or group.

Have someone aid you with exercising. They'll be able to help!

Have someone aid you with exercising. They’ll be able to help!

What can you do to promote the cause of Therapeutic Recreation this month and all year long? Here are some ideas:

  • Address your city council about accessible recreation needs. It’s a great thing for a city to promote and really benefits the whole community.
  • Call your local paper and ask them cover a story about Therapeutic Recreation.  Better yet, help plan a community disability awareness event and invite the press.
  • Hold an “Olympics Day.” Invite seniors, people with physical challenges or intellectual disabilities. Events can include speed walking (or rolling), shuffleboard, a softball throw, a golf putt, Frisbee toss, basketball shoot-out and many other activities.
  • Talk to local coaches about recreational inclusion in sports for youth with disabilities.
  • If you’re tech savvy, use Facebook or Twitter to start a discussion about therapeutic recreation in your area. Use these avenues to put together an event for a panel discussion in which people who have benefited from therapeutic recreation may share their success stories.

One person can do more than you think and our efforts may be the start of something great. Medi-Rents and Sales carries a wide assortment of manual wheelchairs and power wheelchairs and accessories to keep wheelchairs more active and involved. See us today.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Recreation | Comments Off on National Therapeutic Recreation Week: 5 Ways to Get Involved

Stroke – Do You Know the Risks?

Posted on: June 21st, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Nobody thinks about stroke and preventing a stroke until it happens to them or someone close to them. Then it may be too late. Every year, morestroke risks than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke and 130,000 die. Medi-Rents and Sales wants you to think about stroke now and do what you can to lower your stroke chances.

Stroke is not 100 percent preventable. Anyone at any age can have a stroke, but there are many known risk factors that can be managed to reduce the risk of stroke. Medical experts do say that 80 percent of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes.

There are three major stroke factors that put almost half of Americans at risk. Those factors are high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking.  High blood pressure and high cholesterol are the direct result of the unhealthy American lifestyle of too much food and not enough exercise. There are other risk factors including diabetes, being overweight and obese, poor diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use. Most of these are also the result of the American lifestyle.

What are some of the effects of stroke? The physical effects include vision loss and vision problems, seizures, incontinence of bladder and bowel, paralysis on various parts of the body and often half of the person’s body, trouble eating and swallowing, muscle spasticity. Drop foot and walking issues, pain and fatigue.

Those are the physical issues, but there are also many cognitive issues too. Many stroke patients have a loss of cognitive function and a form of dementia, loss of short term memory (depending on the part of the brain affected), loss of communication and reading skills, depression and uncontrolled bouts of crying and laughing.

If you or someone in your life is recovering from a stroke, Medi-Rents and Sales has a wide variety of home medical equipment and bathroom safety equipment to make their recovery easier. Please see us today.

Sources: Stroke.org and the CDC

Tags:
Posted in Stroke | Comments Off on Stroke – Do You Know the Risks?

The Biggest Threats to a Man’s Health

Posted on: June 12th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger

Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day June 10-16. This week draws attention to many of men's health threatsthe unique health issues that men experience. Medi-Rent and Sales wants to make men and the people that care about them more aware of these problems and open a dialogue about keeping men healthy and around longer.

Did you know that on average, men in the United States live more than five years less than women?  What is causing men to die younger? Some of the major factors include:

Heart disease- Heart disease is the leading men’s health threat.

Cancer- One and one-half times more men than woman die from cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for males. Lung cancer alone kills two and one-half times more men than woman.

Accidents – Men are more than one and one-half times as likely to die from accidental deaths. Accidents are the number one cause of death for males under age 44. Men are also 5 times as likely to drown as women.

Diabetes- Nearly one and one-half times more men than women also die from diabetes. Most of the deaths are attributed to Type 2 diabetes and the harmful affects it has on a person’s health.

Stroke -Although more women overall die from strokes, men are more likely to die at a younger age than women. Death rate for stokes in 2006 were almost 42 percent of white men and a staggering 68 percent of black/African American men.

Homicide – Overall,men are victims in 4 out of 5 homicides. African American men are victims 7 times more often than white men.

Cirrhosis- Or chronic liver disease, kills two and one-half times more men than women every year.

Medi-Rents and Sales cannot help you solve all of these problems, but we can offer medical equipment that can help men manage some of their health issues. From sleep apnea treatments to nutritional supplements, see us today.

Posted in Men's Health | Comments Off on The Biggest Threats to a Man’s Health

Arthritis- Impacting Young and Old

Posted on: May 24th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

May is National Arthritis Month and the perfect time to talk about Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and how it can impact young lives. Despite the persisting thought that arthritis is an “old person’s problem,” JA affects thousands of young lives every year and puts a damper on many activities and fun things for these children.

Children suffer from arthritis too

Children suffer from arthritis too

Here are some things you probably didn’t know about Juvenile Arthritis:

  • Children diagnosed with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions account for approximately  827,000 doctor visits each year, including an average of 83,000 emergency department room visits.
  • 294,000 U.S. children under age 18 (or 1 in 250 children) have been diagnosed with arthritis or other rheumatic conditions.
  • Childhood arthritis-related diagnoses range from a low of 500 children in Wyoming to a high of 38,000 children in California.

Living with arthritis can be hard at any age, but especially for young people and children. Children with JA will need to learn a language of terms most of their friends and even most adults will never have to learn.

Although there is no known cause for the disease and no known cure, there are many treatments available. Most treatment plans involve a combination of medication, physical activity, eye care and healthy eating. Medications used to treat JA can be divided into two groups:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, corticosteroids and analgesics that help relieve pain and inflammation
  • Disease-modifying (DMARDs) and a newer subset known as biologic response modifiers (biologics). These medicines can alter the course of the disease, put it into remission and prevent joint damage.

Medi-Rents and Sales supports young people with this debilitating condition and carries a wide variety of equipment and supplies for people of all ages living with arthritis in is many forms. If you are living with arthritis at any age, Medi-Rents and Sales has many products available to make life easier and more comfortable. From safety equipment and nutritional supplements to wheelchairs, we can find ways to make your life easier and as normal as possible.

We look forward to helping, and hope to hear from you sometime soon!

 

Sources: pediatriconcall.com, the CDC, the Arthritis Foundation

Tags: , ,
Posted in Juvenile Arthritis | No Comments »

Some Eye Opening Facts about Sleep

Posted on: May 15th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

It’s Better Sleep Month and Medi-Rents and Sales wants all of you to know why sleep is so important. We also want to provide a few tricks and techniques to getting the right amount of quality sleep.

The many benefits of sleep

The many benefits of sleep

Why does sleep matter? It’s important to make an overall commitment to healthy, restorative sleep as Health Magazine shared these proven benefits to getting good sleep:

  • It can improve memory
  • It can help you live longer
  • It  curbs inflammation
  • It  spurs creativity
  • It  helps athletic performance
  • It  can improve your school (and work) grades
  • It  sharpens your attention span
  • It  helps you maintain a healthy weight
  • It  lowers stress
  • It  can help you avoid accidents
  • It  reduces depression

 

Who would have thought that doing essentially nothing for 8 hours could be use important?

Now that you know how important sleep is, how can you get better sleep more of it? Here are some tips from the Better Sleep Council:

  • Make sleep a priority by keeping  a consistent bedtime and wake schedule, including weekends.
  • Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing. Experts recommend reading a book, listening to soothing music or soaking in a hot bath.
  • Avoid eating, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine close to bedtime. These can lead to poor sleep, keep you awake or disrupt sleep later in the night.
  • Create a room that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool for the best possible sleep.
  • Keep work materials, computers and televisions out of the bedroom.
  • Exercise regularly, but complete workouts at least one to two hours before bedtime.
  • Evaluate your mattress and pillow to ensure proper comfort and support. If your mattress is five to seven years old, it may be time for a new one. In general, pillows should be replaced every year.
  • If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should allow each of you enough space to move easily. A queen mattress is ideal for two people sharing a mattress.

Untreated sleep apnea may also be making getting a good night’s sleep impossible. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, talk to the experts at Medi-Rents and Sales and let us show you how the right CPAP machine can change your sleep and your life. We look forward to helping you live a healthy lifestyle any way we can!

 

Tags: ,
Posted in Sleep | No Comments »

Don’t Ruin Your Summer by Getting Hurt this Spring!

Posted on: April 17th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

We all have a built-in need to do things in the springtime that we are able ignore the rest of the year like deep cleaning our houses and sprucing up our yards. While the end result may be great, overdoing these tasks can wind up hurting you in the long run. Here are a few preventative tips from your friends at Medi-Rents and Sales.

Easing back into action this spring is the best way to prevent nagging injury.

Easing back into action this spring is the best way to prevent nagging injury.

  • Chairs are for sitting only. Don’t stand on a chair to reach the high cupboards or to paint the wall. Use a proper step stool with a handle and even then, only if your fully able to and have someone else there to assist you.
  • Chairs are for sitting, so sit down to do low projects like cleaning out drawers, cleaning the refrigerator or dusting. It will save your back and feet and it’s easier to get out of a chair then off of a floor.
  • Have a buddy system. Is there another friend that will be doing the same kind of projects?  You help them, they help you. Separate the days you’ll work together so you don’t overdo it.
  • Go easy on chemicals. Read the directions on cleaning supplies carefully and use fans or open windows for ventilation.
  • Hire it done or ask for help.  Ask friends for recommendations on people they have used to get their projects done. Could a cleaning service get your whole house deep cleaned in a day or two? Could a person from the neighborhood get your lawn or flowerbeds ready?
  • And lastly, ask yourself if it really needs to be done.  Many of us were raised to think we need to keep a spotless home and yard.  It’s okay if your second story windows don’t sparkle and your hedge isn’t perfect. You’re health and safety is more important.

Is it time to “spring clean” your home medical equipment? If you’ve been waiting for a time to replace worn out equipment or supplies, or to have your home medical equipment inspected, spring is a great time and Medi-Rents and Sales is a great place to do it. Our online catalog and showroom has hundreds of products waiting for you.

Remember: don’t ruin your summer by getting hurt this spring!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Injury Prevention | No Comments »

1 in 3 Adults have High Blood Pressure…Are You at Risk?

Posted on: April 5th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

How common is high blood pressure? Your friends at Medi-Rents and Sales want you to know that it’s more common than you think and more common than it should be. One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure. The numbers in the U.S. are pretty alarming too. The statistics of high blood pressure increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to a staggering 5 in 10 people in their 50s.

Your blood pressure depends a lot on what you eat and how much exercise you get.

Your blood pressure depends a lot on what you eat and how much exercise you get.

World Health Day is celebrated in April to bring awareness global health concerns. The focus for 2013 is high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common problem in the U.S. and around the world that leads to many other health related issues.

High blood pressure (also called raised blood pressure or hypertension) is both preventable and treatable. Education about sodium and other causes both here in the US and around the world is the key to making these positive changes. The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by:

  • Reducing salt intake
  • Eating a balanced diet
  • Avoiding harmful use of alcohol
  • Regular physical activity/exercise
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight
  • Avoiding tobacco use (all kinds)

Those are some of the ways of controlling high blood pressure, but do you really need to be concerned? How much do you know about this potentially deadly condition?

High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure in both men and women.

High blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregular heartbeat and heart failure if it is not properly diagnosed and treated. These risks of complications increase if there are other factors such as diabetes present. This makes diabetes diagnosis, treatment and management even more important and we want to help you with that.

Medi-Rents and Sales has many options for people dealing with high blood pressure. See our online catalog or store for diabetic supplies like glucose monitors and test strips and other products to keep you healthy. We encourage you to take care of your health and avoid high blood pressure like your life depends on it…because it just might.

Lean more about World Health Day at www.who.int , Source World Health Organization

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Blood Pressure | No Comments »

Brain Injury: Life Changing Injuries That Could Impact You

Posted on: March 20th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can affect individuals at any age and are caused by a variety of reasons. Medi-Rents & Sales wants very customer to be safe and healthy and offers many products and services for people living with brain injuries. RCC brainiStock_000002416929XSmall

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention, the leading causes of TBI are:

• Falls (35.2%)

• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (17.3%)

• Struck by/against events (16.5%)

• Assaults (10%)

How does the brain work? The brain is made of neurons (nerve cells). The neurons form tracts that route throughout the brain. These nerve tracts carry messages to various parts of the brain. The brain uses these messages to perform functions.

When a brain injury occurs, the functions of the neurons, nerve tracts, or sections of the brain can be affected. If the neurons and nerve tracts are affected, they can be unable or have difficulty carrying the messages that tell the brain what to do. This can change the way a person thinks, acts, feels, and moves the body. Brain injury can also change the complex internal functions of the body, such as regulating body temperature; blood pressure; bowel and bladder control. These changes can be temporary or permanent. They may cause impairment or a complete inability to perform a function.

Medi-Rents & Sales encourages safety and prevention of any kind of brain injury. Our online catalog features a wide range of home medical equipment to promote safety and prevention of injuries.

Learn more at the Brain Injury Association of America website or through our toll free National Brain Injury Information Center at 1.800.444.6443. You are not alone.

If you live in the Baltimore area and you or someone you care about is living with a brain injury, there are four support groups willing and able to help. Reach out today.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Brain Injury | No Comments »

Multiple Sclerosis – Understanding this Mysterious Disease

Posted on: March 15th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

March is Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. Medi-Rents and Sales carries many products that can make the lives of people with MS better and more comfortable.  If you or someone you care about is living with MS, see us today.

MS is a complicated disease that can affect many different systems in the body.

MS is a complicated disease that can affect many different systems in the body.

So what is MS? Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

How common is MS? Statistics indicate that there are currently 350,000 to 500,000 people in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with MS. Two hundred people are diagnosed with MS every week and over 2.5 million people are living with the disease worldwide.

Who is at risk for MS? MS does not discriminate by gender and can strike both men and women but is more common in women and appears more frequently in Caucasians than in Hispanics or African Americans. It is relatively rare among Asians and certain other ethnic groups. Although MS can develop in young children and teens as well as older adults, it is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50.

What are the symptoms of MS? There are common symptoms of MS, but not all people will share the same ones. Common symptoms of MS include fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, vision loss, tremors and depression. 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 is so important.

Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in the MS population than in the general population. Medi-Rents and Sales carries CPAP and BiPAP units to help alleviate symptoms. We carry canes, clutches and walkers to assist with balance and strength issues, and manual and power wheelchairs for people with more mobility needs. See our online catalogfor a full list of our products.

Please visit the www.nationalmssociety.org for more information on the disease.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Multiple Sclerosis | No Comments »

Eat Healthy, Feel Healthy

Posted on: February 20th, 2013 by Medi-RentsBlogger No Comments

Given that cardiovascular disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States, chances are you know someone or multiple people that are affected by heart conditions. Most of us could probably make some changes to live heart-healthy lives. February is celebrated as American Heart Month, a month for educating and promoting heart-healthy habits for life.

Fresh fish is a great exchange in place of red meat. The Omega-3s provided help keep plaque from building up in your heart and arteries.

Fresh fish is a great exchange in place of red meat. The Omega-3s provided help keep plaque from building up in your heart and arteries.

One characteristic of American Heart Month education is making the public aware of simple changes that can be made for a healthier heart. So, how can we show some our hearts a little love in return for doing so much for us day after day?

A simple answer that goes a long way is to change what you eat. Fat-heavy diets and the obesity that they cause leads to clogged arteries and other heart issues. Eliminating these foods is easy enough, but finding healthy replacements may be challenging.

Men can substitute fresh fish in place of red meat. Salmon, tuna and other fish provide the heart with Omega-3 fatty acids which decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats and prevent plaque in arteries. Almonds and tender green spinach are also wonderful additions to any diet because of the fiber and antioxidants found in both of these foods.

Berries are a great addition for female diets, especially blueberries and strawberries, according to a Harvard and British study. The study found that the naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins found in these berries dilate the arteries and reverse the growth of arterial plaque, allowing for better blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Making switches for a diet that promotes a healthy heart doesn’t have to be difficult. All it takes is a little will power and the willingness to try new foods. Medi-Rents & Sales encourages you and your loved ones to seek a lifestyle with your heart in mind during American Heart Month and throughout the year!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Heart Health | No Comments »