The Bethlen Home Messenger, 1991-1992 (1-4. szám)
1991-12-01 / 1. szám
Sadly we give note about our mother returning to Hungary after being fifteen years with us, and one and a half years spent in the Bethlen Home as a resident. Since she had a stroke, her character changed and became very unhappy. We could do nothing more to make her more satisfied and come to peace with herself. It saddened me that, in her opinion, we were simply not good in any way. We all loved her and wished her a happier permanency and blessed life in Hungary. Edith Kovács "Thanksgiving" is near. We are ordering our turkeys to prepare for this festive holiday. Thanksgiving is especially meaningful for my family, because it was at this time we arrived to America with our five small children as pioneers, in 1970. God blessed us richly in our work,especially in our staff members and in our employees. There is no other institution where employees are more dedicated and work in more harmony and friendly collaboration than in ours. May God give for each of us a happy, blessed and prosperous Thanksgiving when we count our blessings and give thanks for the Lord. E.K. Pásttal tOjtrapp Comer By Jody West AMERICAN HEART MONTH Feb. 1-28 is designated American Heart Month. This event was designed to give information to the public about cardiovascular disease and stroke. This article attempts to explain some of the more common types of heart disease and the treatments that physical therapy is involved with during the rehabilitation process. There are many heart diseases, but two of the most prominent are CAD (coronary artery disease) and CVA (cerebral vascular accident). Some of the risk factors of CAD and CVA are: high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, obesity, inactivity, stress, and diabetes. These risk factors can be modified to help decrease the risk of CAD and CVA. Some of the risk factors that cannot be changed are: age, sex, family history of CAD or CVA, and previous medical history. CAD has 4 clinical manifestations: Angina pectoris, myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and sudden death. Angina pectoris is a "strangling of the chest" - a temporary inability of the coronary artery to supply oxygen to the heart. Myocardial infarction is an acute occlusion of the coronary arteries from plaque, coronary artery thrombus (blood clot), spasm of the heart muscle, or shock from hemorrhaging. Congestive heart failure is the inability of the heart to maintain adequate cardiac output. Sudden death is a sudden occlusion of a major coronary artery. CVA (stroke) is also one of the most prominent diseases related to the heart. Even though a stroke affects the brain, most often times a stroke is associated with CAD. A portion of the plaque in the coronary artery can become dislodged and flow to the brain causing an occlusion of one of the brain arteries. This can cause a number of symptoms depending on the part of the brain the CVA affects. There are many ways to help decrease the risks of heart disease and stroke such as proper diet, weight loss, stop smoking, decrease high blood pressure, control of diabetes, and exercise. Exercise is an important part of the rehabilitation for patients who already have heart disease or who are at risk for heart disease.This is where physical therapy intervenes. This following exercise protocol is mainly for CAD patients but can be applied, in some instances, to other heart disease patients and patients who are at risk for heart disease. Phase I (mostly when patient is in the hospital) Objectives - To prevent hazards of bedrest, reduce orthostatic hypotension, and maintain joint mobility. Types of exercise - Low-level starting in the lying down position and progressing to sitting and then to standing. Progressive ambulation and stair climbing. Phase I (begins mostly after discharge from hospital) Objectives - Begin to improve the functional capacity, to promote early return to normal activity, and to promote positive life-style changes. Same exercises as in Phase I but with increased frequency and duration of sessions. Phase HI Objectives - Maintenance of function, compliance with an exercise program, and risk factor education and modification. Patients have education about their signs and symptoms and have an established exercise prescription in this phase. Also the patient has the ability to self-regulate their exercise program in this phase. Phases of exercise taken from the book, Physical Therapy by Scully, Rosemary M. and MaryLou R. Barnes; J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia; cl989; Pg. 771.
