Spring is a coming! The weather is warming up and First Care of New York has already made several commitments to be a part of a variety of events across New York City this coming Spring and Summer in a community near you. We have events that will cover the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Areas including Long Island City!
In May, we will be part of the Bronx Health Conference on East 149th St, beginning at 9am, with the purpose of presenting and educating the community on our wide range of services including Live in Care. On May 18th, we will be in Long Island City for a Health Fair Event beginning at 10 am, where we will talk about our Personal Care services and our unique Private Care option for homecare services for residents of the area. On May 21st, we are thrilled to be participating in the Spring Community Fair in Queens, New York, this is an event geared for residents of the five Boroughs who want information and are interested in learning about services such as our Home Health and Companionship programs.
On June 26th, First Care of New York will be a part of the “Hope and Possibilities” 5K Walk/Run and we will be there front and center participating in the race and raising money for Cancer research. We are currently raising money for the event through a fundraiser and are accepting donations 100% of which will be donated to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for Cancer research. These are just a few of the events that we plan on participating in during the warm months to come and if you wish to have us be a part of your event, or to participate in our Fundraiser raffle, please feel free to contact Rina at 718-364-7251.
Community Health Fair
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 from 10am-3pm
36-11 21st Street, Long Island City, New York
Spring Health Fair
Saturday, May 21st, 2011 from 11am- 5pm
57-02 Hoffman Drive, Queens, NY 11373
Hope & Possibilities 5K Walk/Run
Sunday, June 26th, 2011 from 8am- 1pm
If you wish to donate money or for more information please click here.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Private care services
We are proud to introduce a new division of services dedicated to the private pay community. At First Care of New York we are the caring company that individuals and families rely upon for home care services. As a home care provider we are able to help those that are required to pay for home care services out of pocket. Home care is not as costly as it was once thought to be. Being at home, one can continue to enjoy the same lifestyle that one is accustomed to.
We provide private pay home care services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience a nurse can be scheduled to visit you or your loved one at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost for you. They will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. We can provide as much care as is needed from a couple of hours a week to 24 hour live-in care and everything in between. We have highly trained home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, and nursing care. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients.
While considering care for yourself or a loved one we must look very carefully at our options. Some might consider a nursing facility or some type of senior living facility if they are elderly. This might sound like a good idea but it can be costly, disruptive to yourself or loved one and you might not be able to know the exact level of care your loved one is receiving if they are away at a facility.
Nursing facilities can accumulate cost at an alarming rate as most services as separated and attached to a different cost. Secondly, you would have to move or have your loved one moved to the facility which we all know moving is always a hassle, things are broken and we lose our beloved neighbors and neighborhoods. At a facility less people will be able to visit you as you or your loved one might be moved to a distant location.
We all enjoy the comforts and safety of our own home especially when we are worried about our health and physical condition. Lastly, not knowing the type of care that is being provided is always an added stress to us. The only easy and realistic solution to all these options would be to get home care services.
We are regulated by the NYS department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. We do a thorough background check and training of all our aides to ensure your level of care is being met by the appropriate personnel. We also consider confidentiality a major priority for all our clients. If you would like to receive more information please feel free to contact us for a free consultation at 718-741-5950 or visit us on the web at http://www.1st-care.org/.
We provide private pay home care services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience a nurse can be scheduled to visit you or your loved one at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost for you. They will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. We can provide as much care as is needed from a couple of hours a week to 24 hour live-in care and everything in between. We have highly trained home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, and nursing care. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients.
While considering care for yourself or a loved one we must look very carefully at our options. Some might consider a nursing facility or some type of senior living facility if they are elderly. This might sound like a good idea but it can be costly, disruptive to yourself or loved one and you might not be able to know the exact level of care your loved one is receiving if they are away at a facility.
Nursing facilities can accumulate cost at an alarming rate as most services as separated and attached to a different cost. Secondly, you would have to move or have your loved one moved to the facility which we all know moving is always a hassle, things are broken and we lose our beloved neighbors and neighborhoods. At a facility less people will be able to visit you as you or your loved one might be moved to a distant location.
We all enjoy the comforts and safety of our own home especially when we are worried about our health and physical condition. Lastly, not knowing the type of care that is being provided is always an added stress to us. The only easy and realistic solution to all these options would be to get home care services.
We are regulated by the NYS department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. We do a thorough background check and training of all our aides to ensure your level of care is being met by the appropriate personnel. We also consider confidentiality a major priority for all our clients. If you would like to receive more information please feel free to contact us for a free consultation at 718-741-5950 or visit us on the web at http://www.1st-care.org/.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Depression: The Signs and Symptoms
At First Care of New York, Inc, we are here to help out with emotional and health concerns like depression. Our staff is trained to recognize and handle clients’ who may be dealing with depression when visiting patients’ homes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan areas. Our home health aides and personal care aides are trained to help you; they serve as companions during those hard and dark times, we also have Live-in care for those of you who may need 24 hour support. No matter the time, day or place, we want to brighten your day with care. But what is depression? What signs of depression exist? How can I come out of it?
What is depression?
As per medical inference of Depression, it is an interruption of a person’s regular mood, thought process, feelings, or behavior. During depression, there is a loss of interest in one’s every day pleasurable activities and functions of daily living. Unfortunately, there are symptoms’ other than emotional ones that are associated with depression.
Some signs and symptoms’ include:
Headaches
Muscle aches
Chest pain
Digestive problems
Exhaustion and Fatigue
Sleeping Problems
Change in weight/appetite
Dizziness and or Lightheadedness
Drug/ alcohol abuse
Loss of concentration, trouble thinking/ loss of memory
Thoughts of self hurt/pain/suicide
Crying excessively
Overly emotional/mood swings
Keep in mind everyone can react differently. Depression can lead to long term physical and mental health problems such as:
Relationship problems/family/friends
Eating disorders/Anorexia
Suicide
High blood pressure/heart problems
Work/ School conflict
There are steps you can take in order to overcome depression:
Improving your communication with friends or family
Keep yourself busy
Surround yourself with happy, influential, motivational people
Listen to inspirational music/ read inspirational books
Seeing a counselor/ social worker/ psycho-therapist
Anti-depressive medications
What is depression?
As per medical inference of Depression, it is an interruption of a person’s regular mood, thought process, feelings, or behavior. During depression, there is a loss of interest in one’s every day pleasurable activities and functions of daily living. Unfortunately, there are symptoms’ other than emotional ones that are associated with depression.
Some signs and symptoms’ include:
Headaches
Muscle aches
Chest pain
Digestive problems
Exhaustion and Fatigue
Sleeping Problems
Change in weight/appetite
Dizziness and or Lightheadedness
Drug/ alcohol abuse
Loss of concentration, trouble thinking/ loss of memory
Thoughts of self hurt/pain/suicide
Crying excessively
Overly emotional/mood swings
Keep in mind everyone can react differently. Depression can lead to long term physical and mental health problems such as:
Relationship problems/family/friends
Eating disorders/Anorexia
Suicide
High blood pressure/heart problems
Work/ School conflict
There are steps you can take in order to overcome depression:
Improving your communication with friends or family
Keep yourself busy
Surround yourself with happy, influential, motivational people
Listen to inspirational music/ read inspirational books
Seeing a counselor/ social worker/ psycho-therapist
Anti-depressive medications
Monday, March 28, 2011
Pain Management
This week First Care of New York is dedicating our weekly post to managing pain. A big part of our philosophy here is to minimize and if possible eliminate the chances of our clients experiencing physical pain. The topic of pain management can cover a wide-range of topics, but as a company that offers Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services; we are uniquely qualified to answer and discuss the subject from different angles. Some information used in this post is courtesy of medicinenet.com. Pain management can be simple or complex, depending on the cause of the pain. Many treatments exist for similar ailments, some ailments are less painful, but obstruct you or require using certain equipment to do everyday tasks. Other ailments obstruct a person more, primarily because of the actual pain involved. Many ailments are treated or alleviated using interventional procedures, medication management, physical or chiropractic therapy, psychological counseling and support, acupuncture and other alternative therapies; or referrals to other medical specialists or services…like First Care of New York!
We understand that pain does a lot more than limit a person; it can discourage, frustrate and even dissuade a person from trying to do things to get better. At First Care we help our clients from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens areas manage their pain. We help them with everything from medication, to physical movements to help them improve their mobility, and arrange to help them get to medical appointments and other services. Interventional and medicinal treatments are by far the most common, as physical and psychological treatments are more common for seniors. We are happy to be able to offer both the access and the means to you the client, by playing a small role in helping you overcome the pain and live on.
We understand that pain does a lot more than limit a person; it can discourage, frustrate and even dissuade a person from trying to do things to get better. At First Care we help our clients from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens areas manage their pain. We help them with everything from medication, to physical movements to help them improve their mobility, and arrange to help them get to medical appointments and other services. Interventional and medicinal treatments are by far the most common, as physical and psychological treatments are more common for seniors. We are happy to be able to offer both the access and the means to you the client, by playing a small role in helping you overcome the pain and live on.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Cancer Fundraiser
Since 2004, First Care of New York has operated with the singular purpose of providing service. Service is an important part of society and a very prominent fabric of the foundation for our company. We understand that there are people struggling to survive in our community, people that are battling hardship, struggle and illness. Sadly, many of those people that are battling today are those who served our country in previous years. Also they are innocent children who have to battle their disabilities just to have a chance at normalcy. Many of these people live right next door in the various communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens, and we are proud to be able to help these people one by one every day. While we are nowhere near satisfied with our accomplishments in service, we are proud to say that every day we are providing an outlet for more of our neighbors to live their lives.
We haven’t rested on our loins in terms of our communities. We want to impact the world and our fundraising efforts are part of this plan. First Care of New York has held a yearly fundraising event to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for Cancer research understanding that this is a disease that impacts all of us. Nearly everyone that reads this will know someone who is battling this disease, and First Care of New York is no different. Our fundraising efforts are year-round and in anticipation of the Road-Runners 5K Walk/Run even on June 26th, 2011, we are holding a raffle in an effort to raise more money. We will have not one but four possible winners for those of you that participate. The raffle prizes include a 40” Television, a Home Theater System and an I-Pod touch; in addition, the person that raises the most money will win a gaming system. First Care of New York is all about service, if it’s Home Health care for your parent who wants to continue to live independently, while giving you peace of mind or service for your child, who needs personal care while you are at work. Companionship, for your neighbor or loved one who still has so much they want to share about life and its experiences. And for the hero in your life who is battling Cancer, who will get an opportunity to surpass their own hopes and dreams all because of the contributions made to this raffle, this cause, and the vision of First Care of New York.
If you wish to buy or sell a raffle ticket call Rina at 718-364-7251, or if you wish to make a donation, Participate Today!
We haven’t rested on our loins in terms of our communities. We want to impact the world and our fundraising efforts are part of this plan. First Care of New York has held a yearly fundraising event to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for Cancer research understanding that this is a disease that impacts all of us. Nearly everyone that reads this will know someone who is battling this disease, and First Care of New York is no different. Our fundraising efforts are year-round and in anticipation of the Road-Runners 5K Walk/Run even on June 26th, 2011, we are holding a raffle in an effort to raise more money. We will have not one but four possible winners for those of you that participate. The raffle prizes include a 40” Television, a Home Theater System and an I-Pod touch; in addition, the person that raises the most money will win a gaming system. First Care of New York is all about service, if it’s Home Health care for your parent who wants to continue to live independently, while giving you peace of mind or service for your child, who needs personal care while you are at work. Companionship, for your neighbor or loved one who still has so much they want to share about life and its experiences. And for the hero in your life who is battling Cancer, who will get an opportunity to surpass their own hopes and dreams all because of the contributions made to this raffle, this cause, and the vision of First Care of New York.
If you wish to buy or sell a raffle ticket call Rina at 718-364-7251, or if you wish to make a donation, Participate Today!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
National Patient Safety Awareness Week
Happy Greetings to all of our First Care family in the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Westchester County, we celebrate National Patient Safety Awareness Week from March 6-12. As a society, we are in the planning stages of that wonderful time when we decide that we want the feeling of the sun on our faces, which means vacations and spring break. This is the time of year we start yearning to break free from our every day routine and travel; even if we only travel across the great boroughs of New York City or even Westchester County for just a few hours. The purpose of this week is to keep in mind that as the weather gets warmer and your outdoor activities increase, we need to keep safety in mind, in particular those who are traveling somewhere that requires an overnight stay or more. As seniors, safe and healthy travel is a necessity therefore we look to a blog titled Safe and Healthy Travel for seniors as provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on their website www.cdc.gov has some great advice.
The retirement years can be an exciting time to see the world, and travel is easier and safer than ever before for seniors. With a little planning and some caution, seniors can safely visit almost any destination. All travelers, including seniors, should see a doctor for a pre-travel visit, ideally 4–6 weeks before they travel, although even a last-minute visit can be helpful. The doctor should be told about illnesses the traveler has and medicines he or she is taking, since this will influence medical decisions. In addition to providing vaccines, medicine, and advice for keeping healthy, a doctor can conduct a physical exam to assess a senior's fitness for travel. Seniors should consider their physical limitations when planning a trip. Seniors with heart disease, for example, might choose an itinerary that does not involve strenuous activities. Seniors may also have a hard time recovering from jet lag and motion sickness, so they should take these factors into account when planning a trip. Before travel, seniors should have information about their destination that could affect their health, such as the altitude and climate. They should be aware of whether the destination is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, since seniors may have more problems in those extreme situations.
Vaccines
Before travel, seniors should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, such as measles/mumps/rubella and seasonal flu. Some of these may be considered "childhood" vaccines, but their protective effect decreases over time, and the diseases they protect against are often more common in other countries than in the United States. More than half of tetanus cases are in people over 65, so seniors should consider getting a tetanus booster before they travel. Seniors should also receive other vaccines recommended for the countries they are visiting. These may include vaccines for hepatitis, typhoid, polio, or yellow fever. Seniors should discuss their detailed travel plans with their doctors and, if necessary, alternatives to vaccination.
Medication
A doctor may prescribe medicine for malaria, altitude illness, or travelers' diarrhea; seniors should make sure the doctor knows any other medications they take, to watch out for possible drug interactions. In addition to medicine prescribed specifically for travel, seniors are likely to take other medicines regularly, such as medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis. They should plan to pack enough medicine for the duration of the trip, plus a few days' extra in case of travel delays. Prescription medicine should always be carried in its original container, along with a copy of the prescription, and all medicine should be packed in carry-on luggage, in case checked luggage gets lost.
Injury Prevention
Although exotic infections make the headlines, injury is the most common cause of preventable death among travelers. Seniors can minimize their risk of serious injury by following these guidelines:
• Always wear a seatbelt.
• Don't ride in cars after dark in developing countries.
• Avoid small, local planes.
• Don't travel at night in questionable areas.
In addition, seniors should consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance in case of injury or illness overseas. Many health plans, including Medicare, will not pay for services received outside the United States. Seniors who are planning travel to remote areas should consider purchasing evacuation insurance, which will pay for emergency transportation to a qualified hospital.
First Care of New York wants to keep you safe. When traveling for a doctor’s visit or somewhere else with one of our aides, know that you are traveling with someone who is trained and certified to provide great care for all your needs. All of our Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services are performed with care efficiency and flexibility to help you and yours enjoy the warm light of the sun.
The retirement years can be an exciting time to see the world, and travel is easier and safer than ever before for seniors. With a little planning and some caution, seniors can safely visit almost any destination. All travelers, including seniors, should see a doctor for a pre-travel visit, ideally 4–6 weeks before they travel, although even a last-minute visit can be helpful. The doctor should be told about illnesses the traveler has and medicines he or she is taking, since this will influence medical decisions. In addition to providing vaccines, medicine, and advice for keeping healthy, a doctor can conduct a physical exam to assess a senior's fitness for travel. Seniors should consider their physical limitations when planning a trip. Seniors with heart disease, for example, might choose an itinerary that does not involve strenuous activities. Seniors may also have a hard time recovering from jet lag and motion sickness, so they should take these factors into account when planning a trip. Before travel, seniors should have information about their destination that could affect their health, such as the altitude and climate. They should be aware of whether the destination is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, since seniors may have more problems in those extreme situations.
Vaccines
Before travel, seniors should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, such as measles/mumps/rubella and seasonal flu. Some of these may be considered "childhood" vaccines, but their protective effect decreases over time, and the diseases they protect against are often more common in other countries than in the United States. More than half of tetanus cases are in people over 65, so seniors should consider getting a tetanus booster before they travel. Seniors should also receive other vaccines recommended for the countries they are visiting. These may include vaccines for hepatitis, typhoid, polio, or yellow fever. Seniors should discuss their detailed travel plans with their doctors and, if necessary, alternatives to vaccination.
Medication
A doctor may prescribe medicine for malaria, altitude illness, or travelers' diarrhea; seniors should make sure the doctor knows any other medications they take, to watch out for possible drug interactions. In addition to medicine prescribed specifically for travel, seniors are likely to take other medicines regularly, such as medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis. They should plan to pack enough medicine for the duration of the trip, plus a few days' extra in case of travel delays. Prescription medicine should always be carried in its original container, along with a copy of the prescription, and all medicine should be packed in carry-on luggage, in case checked luggage gets lost.
Injury Prevention
Although exotic infections make the headlines, injury is the most common cause of preventable death among travelers. Seniors can minimize their risk of serious injury by following these guidelines:
• Always wear a seatbelt.
• Don't ride in cars after dark in developing countries.
• Avoid small, local planes.
• Don't travel at night in questionable areas.
In addition, seniors should consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance in case of injury or illness overseas. Many health plans, including Medicare, will not pay for services received outside the United States. Seniors who are planning travel to remote areas should consider purchasing evacuation insurance, which will pay for emergency transportation to a qualified hospital.
First Care of New York wants to keep you safe. When traveling for a doctor’s visit or somewhere else with one of our aides, know that you are traveling with someone who is trained and certified to provide great care for all your needs. All of our Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services are performed with care efficiency and flexibility to help you and yours enjoy the warm light of the sun.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
National Healthy Heart Month Finale
To commemorate the final week of National Healthy Heart month, First Care of New York has written a series of blogs and articles concerning the heart and raising awareness, while providing information and tips to strengthen one of your most powerful organs in the human body. All of our clients all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens areas, with varying types of heart illnesses or heart related conditions, have received this information through our many different aides. Most of these ailments have distinctive causes and require different treatments, our Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services help our clients on the road to recovery with a variety of needs that are vital to helping a person regain their health and strength. In the first part, we spoke about what our heart does, and what causes heart failure. We then discussed 7 signs of an impending heart attack that are often overlooked: what they were, the methods to prevent them and their different effects on gender. This blog asks a different question. I want to protect my heart, what foods can I eat that will help me accomplish this goal? Last week, you read about foods 10-6, so this week we finish our month-long post for National Healthy Heart month with the top 5 as written by health.com
Berries
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries—whatever berry you like best—are full of anti-inflammatories, which reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. "Blackberries and blueberries are especially great," says Sinatra. "But all berries are great for your vascular health."
Legumes
Fill up on fiber with lentils, chickpeas, and black and kidney beans. They're packed with omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and soluble fiber.
Spinach
Spinach can help keep your ticker in top shape thanks to its stores of lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber.
But upping your servings of any veggies is sure to give your heart a boost. The Physicians' Health Study examined more than 15,000 men without heart disease for a period of 12 years. Those who ate at least two-and-a-half servings of vegetables each day cut their risk of heart disease by about 25%, compared with those who didn't eat the veggies. Each additional serving reduced risk by another 17%.
Flaxseed
Full of fiber and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, a little sprinkling of flaxseed can go a long way for your heart. Top a bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal with a smidgen of ground flaxseed for the ultimate heart-healthy breakfast.
Soy
Soy may lower cholesterol, and since it is low in saturated fat, it's still a great source of lean protein in a heart-healthy diet.
Look for natural sources of soy, like edamame, tempeh, or organic silken tofu. And soy milk is a great addition to a bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal. But watch the amount of salt in your soy: some processed varieties like soy dogs can contain added sodium, which boosts blood pressure.
Our aides are very good and are capable of preparing meals and dishes with these kinds of ingredients and measures that will help you retain your health and strengthen your heart as we give you first class service. We at First Care of New York are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens Areas.
Berries
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries—whatever berry you like best—are full of anti-inflammatories, which reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. "Blackberries and blueberries are especially great," says Sinatra. "But all berries are great for your vascular health."
Legumes
Fill up on fiber with lentils, chickpeas, and black and kidney beans. They're packed with omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and soluble fiber.
Spinach
Spinach can help keep your ticker in top shape thanks to its stores of lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber.
But upping your servings of any veggies is sure to give your heart a boost. The Physicians' Health Study examined more than 15,000 men without heart disease for a period of 12 years. Those who ate at least two-and-a-half servings of vegetables each day cut their risk of heart disease by about 25%, compared with those who didn't eat the veggies. Each additional serving reduced risk by another 17%.
Flaxseed
Full of fiber and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, a little sprinkling of flaxseed can go a long way for your heart. Top a bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal with a smidgen of ground flaxseed for the ultimate heart-healthy breakfast.
Soy
Soy may lower cholesterol, and since it is low in saturated fat, it's still a great source of lean protein in a heart-healthy diet.
Look for natural sources of soy, like edamame, tempeh, or organic silken tofu. And soy milk is a great addition to a bowl of oatmeal or whole-grain cereal. But watch the amount of salt in your soy: some processed varieties like soy dogs can contain added sodium, which boosts blood pressure.
Our aides are very good and are capable of preparing meals and dishes with these kinds of ingredients and measures that will help you retain your health and strengthen your heart as we give you first class service. We at First Care of New York are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens Areas.
Friday, February 18, 2011
National Healthy Heart Month III
This month, First Care of New York is joining in the celebration of National Healthy Heart month. Many of you reading this know someone, or have some kind of heart ailment that requires a lot of attention and care. As part of National Healthy Heart month, First Care of New York will be providing a series of blogs and articles concerning the heart and raising awareness, while providing information and tips to strengthen one of your most powerful organs in the human body. If you have missed the first two entries you can read Part I and Part II here. At First Care of New York we have treated clients all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens areas, with varying types of heart illnesses or heart related conditions. Most of these ailments have distinctive causes and require different treatments, our Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services help our clients on the road to recovery with a variety of needs that are vital to helping a person regain their health and strength. In the first part, we spoke about what our heart does, and what causes heart failure. We then discussed 7 signs of an impending heart attack that are often overlooked: what they were, the methods to prevent them and their different effects on gender. This blog asks a different question: I want to protect my heart, what foods can I eat that will help me accomplish this goal? In honor of Letterman, here are this week’s top 10 heart healthy foods. Today’s blog will feature foods 10-6 as written by health.com.
Oatmeal
Start your day with a steaming bowl of oats, which are full of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. This fiber-rich superfood can lower levels of LDL (or bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. Opt for coarse or steel-cut oats over instant varieties—which contain more fiber—and top your bowl off with a banana for another 4 grams of fiber.
Salmon
Super-rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can effectively reduce blood pressure and keep clotting at bay. Aim for two servings per week, which may reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack by up to one-third. "Salmon contains the carotenoid astaxanthin, which is a very powerful antioxidant," says cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, the author of Lower Your Blood Pressure In Eight Weeks. But be sure to choose wild salmon over farm-raised fish, which can be packed with insecticides, pesticides, and heavy metals. Not a fan of salmon? Other oily fish like mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines will give your heart the same boost.
Avocado
Add a bit of avocado to a sandwich or spinach salad to up the amount of heart-healthy fats in your diet. Packed with monounsaturated fat, avocados can help lower LDL levels while raising the amount of HDL cholesterol in your body. "Avocados are awesome," says Dr. Sinatra. "They allow for the absorption of other carotenoids—especially beta-carotene and lycopene—which are essential for heart health."
Olive oil
Full of monounsaturated fats, olive oil lowers bad LDL cholesterol and reduces your risk of developing heart disease. Results from the Seven Countries Study, which looked at cardiovascular disease incidences across the globe, showed that while men in Crete had a predisposition for high cholesterol levels, relatively few died of heart disease because their diet focused on heart-healthy fats found in olive oil. Look for extra-virgin or virgin varieties—they're the least processed—and use them instead of butter when cooking.
Nuts
Walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids and, along with almonds and macadamia nuts, are loaded with mono- and polyunsaturated fat. Plus, nuts increase fiber in the diet, says Dr. Sinatra. "And like olive oil, they are a great source of healthy fat."
Our aides are very good and are capable of preparing meals and dishes with these kinds of ingredients and measures that will help you retain your health and strengthen your heart as we give you first class service. We at First Care of New York are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens Areas.
Oatmeal
Start your day with a steaming bowl of oats, which are full of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium. This fiber-rich superfood can lower levels of LDL (or bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. Opt for coarse or steel-cut oats over instant varieties—which contain more fiber—and top your bowl off with a banana for another 4 grams of fiber.
Salmon
Super-rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can effectively reduce blood pressure and keep clotting at bay. Aim for two servings per week, which may reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack by up to one-third. "Salmon contains the carotenoid astaxanthin, which is a very powerful antioxidant," says cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, the author of Lower Your Blood Pressure In Eight Weeks. But be sure to choose wild salmon over farm-raised fish, which can be packed with insecticides, pesticides, and heavy metals. Not a fan of salmon? Other oily fish like mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines will give your heart the same boost.
Avocado
Add a bit of avocado to a sandwich or spinach salad to up the amount of heart-healthy fats in your diet. Packed with monounsaturated fat, avocados can help lower LDL levels while raising the amount of HDL cholesterol in your body. "Avocados are awesome," says Dr. Sinatra. "They allow for the absorption of other carotenoids—especially beta-carotene and lycopene—which are essential for heart health."
Olive oil
Full of monounsaturated fats, olive oil lowers bad LDL cholesterol and reduces your risk of developing heart disease. Results from the Seven Countries Study, which looked at cardiovascular disease incidences across the globe, showed that while men in Crete had a predisposition for high cholesterol levels, relatively few died of heart disease because their diet focused on heart-healthy fats found in olive oil. Look for extra-virgin or virgin varieties—they're the least processed—and use them instead of butter when cooking.
Nuts
Walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids and, along with almonds and macadamia nuts, are loaded with mono- and polyunsaturated fat. Plus, nuts increase fiber in the diet, says Dr. Sinatra. "And like olive oil, they are a great source of healthy fat."
Our aides are very good and are capable of preparing meals and dishes with these kinds of ingredients and measures that will help you retain your health and strengthen your heart as we give you first class service. We at First Care of New York are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens Areas.
Friday, February 11, 2011
National Healthy Heart Month Part II
This month, First Care of New York is joining in the celebration of National Healthy Heart month. Many of you reading this know someone, or have some kind of heart ailment that requires a lot of attention and care. As part of National Healthy Heart month, First Care of New York will be providing a series of blogs and articles concerning the heart and raising awareness, while providing information and tips to strengthen one of your most powerful organs in the human body. At First Care of New York we have treated clients all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens Areas, with varying types of heart illnesses or heart related conditions. Most of these ailments have distinctive causes and require different treatments, our Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services help our clients on the road to recovery with a variety of needs that are vital to helping a person regain their health and strength. In the first part, we spoke about what our heart does, and what causes heart failure. In this blog, we discuss 7 signs of an impending heart attack that are often overlooked. What are they? How can you prevent them? Are these signs gender specific? The article written by Melanie Haiken will answer these questions and more.
Conventional wisdom has it that heart attacks come out of the blue. We're also trained to expect a heart attack to happen a certain way: The victim clutches his chest, writhes in pain, and collapses. But for women, it often doesn't happen that way. Study after study shows heart attacks and heart disease are under-diagnosed in women, with the explanation being that they didn't have symptoms. But research shows that's not the case. Women who've had heart attacks realize, looking back, that they experienced significant symptoms -- they just didn't recognize them as such. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 95 percent of women (that's almost all!) who'd had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms that were decidedly new or different from their previous experience a month or more before their attacks. Even when a heart attack is occurring, women are often slow to realize what's happening and call a doctor. The reason? Women's heart attack symptoms are different than men's. This failure to recognize heart attack signs in women has led to a grim statistic: Women are more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than men are, and two thirds of women who have a heart attack don't recover completely.
To prevent a heart attack from sneaking up on you, watch for these 7 little-known signs of heart attacks:
Fatigue. More than 70 percent of women in the NIH study reported extreme fatigue in the month or months prior to their heart attacks. This was not just your run-of-the-mill tiredness -- the kind you can power through -- this was an overwhelming fatigue that sidelined them from their usual schedules for a few days at a time.
Sleeplessness or Insomnia. Despite their fatigue, women who've had heart attacks remember experiencing unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month before their heart attacks.
Anxiety and Stress. Stress has long been known to up the risk of heart attack. But what women report is the emotional experience; before their heart attacks they felt anxious, stressed, and keyed up, noticeably more than usual. Moments before or during a heart attack, many women report a feeling they describe as "impending doom;" they're aware that something's drastically wrong and they can't cope, but they're not sure what's going on.
Indigestion or Nausea. Stomach pain, intestinal cramps, nausea, and digestive disruptions are another sign reported by women heart attack patients. Become familiar with your own digestive habits, and pay attention when anything seems out of whack. Note especially if your system seems upset and you haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary.
Shortness of Breath. Of the women in the NIH study, more than 40 percent remembered experiencing this symptom. One of the comments the women made is that they noticed they couldn't catch their breath while walking up the stairs or doing other daily tasks.
Flu-Like Symptoms. Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling lightheaded and weak, can lead women to wonder if they have the flu when, in fact, they're having a heart attack.
Jaw, Ear, Neck, or Shoulder Pain. While pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is a common sign of heart attack (at least, among men), women often don't experience the pain this way. Instead, many women say they felt pain and a sensation of tightness running along their jaw and down the neck, and sometimes up to the ear, as well. The pain may extend down to the shoulder and arm--particularly on the left side--or it may feel like a backache or pulled muscle in the neck and back.
What You Can do to Protect Yourself?
In addition to the symptoms they do have, women differ from men in another significant way -- they may not experience many of the symptoms we traditionally associate with heart attacks. This, experts say, is a major reason why women's heart attacks go unrecognized and untreated. Almost half of all women in the NIH study felt no chest pain, even during the heart attack itself. Numbness is another symptom women may not experience, experts say. If your body is doing unusual things and you just don't feel "right," don't wait. Go see your doctor and ask for a thorough work-up. And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, mention these to the doctor. Time is of the essence, so don't count on medical staff to know your background or read your chart -- tell them your risk factors right away, so your condition can be evaluated fully and completely.
But you can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens.
Conventional wisdom has it that heart attacks come out of the blue. We're also trained to expect a heart attack to happen a certain way: The victim clutches his chest, writhes in pain, and collapses. But for women, it often doesn't happen that way. Study after study shows heart attacks and heart disease are under-diagnosed in women, with the explanation being that they didn't have symptoms. But research shows that's not the case. Women who've had heart attacks realize, looking back, that they experienced significant symptoms -- they just didn't recognize them as such. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 95 percent of women (that's almost all!) who'd had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms that were decidedly new or different from their previous experience a month or more before their attacks. Even when a heart attack is occurring, women are often slow to realize what's happening and call a doctor. The reason? Women's heart attack symptoms are different than men's. This failure to recognize heart attack signs in women has led to a grim statistic: Women are more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than men are, and two thirds of women who have a heart attack don't recover completely.
To prevent a heart attack from sneaking up on you, watch for these 7 little-known signs of heart attacks:
Fatigue. More than 70 percent of women in the NIH study reported extreme fatigue in the month or months prior to their heart attacks. This was not just your run-of-the-mill tiredness -- the kind you can power through -- this was an overwhelming fatigue that sidelined them from their usual schedules for a few days at a time.
Sleeplessness or Insomnia. Despite their fatigue, women who've had heart attacks remember experiencing unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month before their heart attacks.
Anxiety and Stress. Stress has long been known to up the risk of heart attack. But what women report is the emotional experience; before their heart attacks they felt anxious, stressed, and keyed up, noticeably more than usual. Moments before or during a heart attack, many women report a feeling they describe as "impending doom;" they're aware that something's drastically wrong and they can't cope, but they're not sure what's going on.
Indigestion or Nausea. Stomach pain, intestinal cramps, nausea, and digestive disruptions are another sign reported by women heart attack patients. Become familiar with your own digestive habits, and pay attention when anything seems out of whack. Note especially if your system seems upset and you haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary.
Shortness of Breath. Of the women in the NIH study, more than 40 percent remembered experiencing this symptom. One of the comments the women made is that they noticed they couldn't catch their breath while walking up the stairs or doing other daily tasks.
Flu-Like Symptoms. Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling lightheaded and weak, can lead women to wonder if they have the flu when, in fact, they're having a heart attack.
Jaw, Ear, Neck, or Shoulder Pain. While pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is a common sign of heart attack (at least, among men), women often don't experience the pain this way. Instead, many women say they felt pain and a sensation of tightness running along their jaw and down the neck, and sometimes up to the ear, as well. The pain may extend down to the shoulder and arm--particularly on the left side--or it may feel like a backache or pulled muscle in the neck and back.
What You Can do to Protect Yourself?
In addition to the symptoms they do have, women differ from men in another significant way -- they may not experience many of the symptoms we traditionally associate with heart attacks. This, experts say, is a major reason why women's heart attacks go unrecognized and untreated. Almost half of all women in the NIH study felt no chest pain, even during the heart attack itself. Numbness is another symptom women may not experience, experts say. If your body is doing unusual things and you just don't feel "right," don't wait. Go see your doctor and ask for a thorough work-up. And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, mention these to the doctor. Time is of the essence, so don't count on medical staff to know your background or read your chart -- tell them your risk factors right away, so your condition can be evaluated fully and completely.
But you can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship. We can offer these services all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Westchester and Queens.
A First Care Plan.
All year First Care of New York has presented our plans for our clients, aides and their families. Our new training aides, staff advancements and fundraiser efforts are all well underway. For this post we wanted to take the time to write about you. Specifically, your plans for life down the line. You know about our great services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens Areas and you know about the Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services that we can offer.
We at First Care want to ask you about you! The following article by Erin Schmidt asks you, how prepared you may or may not be for the unexpected occurrence.
If something sudden happened - a fall, a stroke, a heart attack, an accident - would you and your family be prepared? If the answer is "no," you're not alone. According to a 2009 study by Avalere Health, a research and consulting firm, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, only about 10 percent of seniors have insurance coverage for nursing home care or assisted living.
That's why, although difficult, it is so imperative to have a plan. Here are five steps to help you start planning with ease: Talk to your family. Something as simple as having a family meeting can pay dividends later. Socialize the issue of planning and play the "what if" game because you and your family will be more effective and ready to act if/when a need arises.
1. Mobilize your support system, or the support system of a loved one. According to msn.com, for many people, that's going to mean patching together a safety net that consists of savings, caregiver help from friends and family, support from local community services and perhaps long-term-care insurance.
2. Think about your family, friends and loved ones. Who is nearby? Who lives furthest away? Then, consider everyone’s strengths and roles those close to you may play, i.e. who might be able to help with finances versus looking after belongings, etc.
3. Then, consider your own strengths and weaknesses, both physically and mentally. For example, are you a worrier? Try to establish a fitness routine to manage your stress that you can adapt as you age. Another example: if you're 35 and your eyesight is already poor, consider your needs down the road if it progressively worsens. Or maybe you've got an existing medical condition that you manage - talk to your doctor about ways to manage it as you age.
4. Know what resources you have locally. Is there an elder care attorney you could speak with? Are there special programs for seniors? Talk to a local homecare agency and/or your doctor. They will be able to point you in the right direction.
5. And finally, evaluate what you enjoy doing. What gives your life meaning and purpose? Exercise? Cooking? Going to the movies? Gardening? Sports? Fishing? Whatever it is, hold on to these things, and make sure that, no matter where you are in life or whatever your abilities are, you are able to keep them up as long as you can. Even if you and/or your loved one(s) need assistance someday, be sure to find a provider that will help see this through.
These are some great first steps toward planning for an unknown future. Thinking about it is the first step, but in the grand scheme of things, one step is better than none at all. Have you or has a loved one done some planning?
First Care of New York is available Monday- Friday from 9am-5pm to help you initiate your plans as this article advises. We can help you with all kinds of services and in some cases arrange for you to apply for missing services that you may need to properly address your homecare needs.
We at First Care want to ask you about you! The following article by Erin Schmidt asks you, how prepared you may or may not be for the unexpected occurrence.
If something sudden happened - a fall, a stroke, a heart attack, an accident - would you and your family be prepared? If the answer is "no," you're not alone. According to a 2009 study by Avalere Health, a research and consulting firm, and the Kaiser Family Foundation, only about 10 percent of seniors have insurance coverage for nursing home care or assisted living.
That's why, although difficult, it is so imperative to have a plan. Here are five steps to help you start planning with ease: Talk to your family. Something as simple as having a family meeting can pay dividends later. Socialize the issue of planning and play the "what if" game because you and your family will be more effective and ready to act if/when a need arises.
1. Mobilize your support system, or the support system of a loved one. According to msn.com, for many people, that's going to mean patching together a safety net that consists of savings, caregiver help from friends and family, support from local community services and perhaps long-term-care insurance.
2. Think about your family, friends and loved ones. Who is nearby? Who lives furthest away? Then, consider everyone’s strengths and roles those close to you may play, i.e. who might be able to help with finances versus looking after belongings, etc.
3. Then, consider your own strengths and weaknesses, both physically and mentally. For example, are you a worrier? Try to establish a fitness routine to manage your stress that you can adapt as you age. Another example: if you're 35 and your eyesight is already poor, consider your needs down the road if it progressively worsens. Or maybe you've got an existing medical condition that you manage - talk to your doctor about ways to manage it as you age.
4. Know what resources you have locally. Is there an elder care attorney you could speak with? Are there special programs for seniors? Talk to a local homecare agency and/or your doctor. They will be able to point you in the right direction.
5. And finally, evaluate what you enjoy doing. What gives your life meaning and purpose? Exercise? Cooking? Going to the movies? Gardening? Sports? Fishing? Whatever it is, hold on to these things, and make sure that, no matter where you are in life or whatever your abilities are, you are able to keep them up as long as you can. Even if you and/or your loved one(s) need assistance someday, be sure to find a provider that will help see this through.
These are some great first steps toward planning for an unknown future. Thinking about it is the first step, but in the grand scheme of things, one step is better than none at all. Have you or has a loved one done some planning?
First Care of New York is available Monday- Friday from 9am-5pm to help you initiate your plans as this article advises. We can help you with all kinds of services and in some cases arrange for you to apply for missing services that you may need to properly address your homecare needs.
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