Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Choosing A Home Health Care Agency Should Be Done Carefully

By Jen Parsens

When you have a loved one that is ready for some extra care, yet you do not feel right placing them in a nursing home, you might want to find them a home care agency that can come out and evaluate their needs.

Finding the right home care agency isn't always easy. You have to meet with the organizations staff and figure out what kind of services are offered by the agency, and what kinds of services your loved one needs.

For instance, if your loved one is capable of being by themselves for part of the day, yet cannot be alone at night, you may need a home care agency that provide a nurse's aide or nurse to stay the night with your loved one. If your loved one is capable of being by there selves at night yet need help during the day, a nurse's aide during the day might be reasonable.

Sometimes you might find that a persons needs are more than a nurse's aide can provide. Perhaps they get IM injections of medications or need specialized care for a G-tube or an IV. In this case, a registered nurse might be required to come in daily and take care of them so they can remain in their own home yet get the medical care necessary to carry on.

Most of the time, a home care agency can give you a list of the services they can provide, depending on the type of staff they have, and you can decide if they are right for the job. Once you find that you have an agency in mind, you need to check the licensing and make sure everything is in order. Your insurance has to be accepted, and most of the time if the person they will be caring for is elderly, it is.

A good home care agency will be willing to discuss everything with you in detail without withholding any information. This is a good thing because you are going to be entrusting the care of someone you hold close to your heart to these essential strangers, and you should be aware of any problems that might arise.

Choosing the right home care agency is definitely not a decision to be taken lightly or done quickly. There are plenty of agencies out there, all of whom provide some of the same services and different services at the same time. Just choose carefully and wisely, and your loved one should be well taken care of.

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