6 Aspects of Patient Safety in Hospitals

Patient safety in any hospital or medical treatment facility is one of the greatest concerns around the world and yet there are many facilities who default on their safety promises to their patients.

Some of the things which contribute to patient safety are:

• Fire Safety
• Hygiene
• Security
• Waste Management
• Equipment
• Positive Patient Identification

Fire Safety

As some hospitals are very large facilities, it is necessary to have a properly functioning fire system in place that meets industry standards and is up-to-date on inspections. Patients at a hospital cannot confront a greater risk to their health than a fire occurring while they are incapacitated in a hospital bed. Fire escape exits also need to be clearly marked and the procedures for a fire-risk emergency displayed to the public.

Hygiene

At any one moment, at least 1.4 million people globally are suffering from infections caused by improper hygiene in a hospital, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Proper hygiene would consist of making sure that all surfaces such as walls, floors and counter/table-tops are always clean and sterile, that fresh linen of hospital beds are used frequently and all medical staff sterilise their hands in the proper manner, before and after seeing to each and every patient.

Security

Security safety is important for various reasons. Things such as secure-area intrusions, theft, fighting and kidnapping are not uncommon and occur due to poor security measures. Locked doors to sensitive areas, personnel identification, secured medical supplies and properly trained security staff is necessary in order to avoid such mishaps as mentioned above.

Waste Management

Disposing of dangerous waste material is crucial to ensure no patients or any unsuspecting person in a medical facility comes into contact with it. Contact with a used needle could transfer diseases such as aids to someone who is accidentally pricked for example. Disposal of medical waste needs to be handled on a daily basis and according to a strict procedure. All medical waste should be destroyed at once.

Equipment

Hospital equipment needs to be properly functioning and those who are operating the equipment need to be properly trained and certified to work with it. Many a time there has been an occasion where death or injury due to medical negligence has happened as a result of alleged equipment "malfunction", only to find out that the staff member operating it had not received the correct training.

Positive Patient Identification

Patients at any hospital need to be correctly marked and have their full patient file on hand in the hospital should any procedure be undertaken or drug administered. It is not uncommon that people have had unnecessary surgeries performed on them or an incorrect drug administered as a result of mistaken identity.

My Experience With Tria Hair Removal

Today I will be reviewing one of my absolute favorite products on the market currently: the Tria home hair removal system. I do reviews for many different products, but this one really stands out in my eyes as one of the most innovative products in the beauty industry in the last several years. The Tria lets consumers get the exact same results that you would expect to get from a salon quality laser hair removal center, only in the privacy and comfort of your own home. I personally have been using the Tria for around 7 months, and am beyond pleased. Today I'll give you some information about the product as well as give you my personal experience with this beautiful little piece of machinery.

First off, I happen to be a man, and have been looking for a practical solution to hair removal for many years now. I had been shaving my chest, stomach, and arms pretty much my entire life, mostly because of aesthetics, and to cut down on heat during the summer. Shaving is time consuming, costly, and causes nasty side effects like razor burn and ingrown hairs (both of which I happened to experience quite frequently). Eventually, I decided I wanted something that would at least cut down on the frequency at which I had to remove hair, so I switched to waxing. This was better on the time issue, but happens to be beyond painful, quite expensive, and not permanent. I still did it out of necessity, but always longed for another option. I had briefly explored the idea of going to a salon for laser hair removal, but never did it simply because of the fact that it would have been so incredibly expensive for me based on the thickness of my hair and the large amount of areas that would have required treatment.

I then saw a television commercial about a year ago for the Tria. Tria is a laser hair removal gun that is FDA approved for home use. It is a one time fee, and can be used indefinitely until the desired result has been achieved.

So far, I have used the Tria on my chest and stomach for a period of about 6 months. I started noticing a thinning of the hair and slower grow back at around the 3 month mark. Now at 6 months, the hair is nearly gone completely, which is fantastic to say the least. Keep in mind that I have unusually thick and course hair, which means it's possible others will see results even quicker than I did (even though Tria's website says to expect results in 6 to 8 months).

Overall, I am very pleased with the Tria, and would highly recommend it to anyone who has a need for permanent hair removal. I personally have not had a problem with the device at all, but it does come with a 1 year warranty to provide some extra peace of mind.

I hope this review helped, and thank you for reading!

Getting Back To the Basics Of Health/Wellness

I will bet you can't turn on your television for more than five minutes before you see an ad for the latest and great fitness routine or product you can buy to take your fitness to the next level. There are so many programs, products and gadgets out there, that it's enough to make your head spin. You have something that is insane, another one you do for 90 days, and yet another that combines a bunch of things into cross training and getting fit in a big warehouse of sorts! Well it's all fine and these marketing machines do work. However, I sometimes have to sit back and observe this event that takes place between the consumer and the supplier, where you take some basic routines that have been here since the beginning of time, package it up, call it something fancy and create the frenzy behind it and, BOOM, you have a product, some people who want it and someone laughing all the way to the back!

Today I am simply want to share what I observe between commercialism and the consumer, but I do offer my advice that you can use to IMPROVE your life for the better so all is not a waste of time! Let's continue this conversation.

You know what I am talking about and you probably have fallen victim to this marketing monster yourself. We all probably have some product we saw on TV and after watching the infomercial, we felt this product would IMPROVE our lives for the better. Only to find out that it worked great for the first 30 days then it ended up in the closet somewhere or being used as a closet for your clothes! Been there done that- but now I know better! So here is my question. What ever happened to the basics?

I guess I am just a bit old fashioned, and believe if you stick to the basics of health and wellness and develop good habits that you can keep for the rest of your life, it will help you live a long and healthy life and your body will thank you for it later in life! Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these extreme programs if that is what you like to do. If that is you, then more power to you. However, I can't help but to think how long will one be able to keep up such heavy demands on the body!

For example, did you know that skipping rope for 10 minutes, even at a moderate pace can be equivalent to jogging 30 minutes at a moderate pace? Most people see the nice fancy, shiny object in front of them and opt to try it out much like a child is easily distracted by the next toy that makes noise or has flashing lights! We have all been there.

My fear is that these fad workouts, programs, pills and potions will fade like the tides of the sea and we will be left with the good old fashioned basics of health and wellness that never left us in the first place! Now you can always change things up with your routines by adding a few things here and there or taking some things out, but at the end of the day, nothing will work for you if you don't work for it!

As I bring this plane in for a landing, allow me to share some tips that will help you start your own path to becoming a well rounded healthy person.

• Stay hydrated - our body is made of mostly water, and we can solve most of our problems by getting the proper amount of daily H20.
• Commit to staying active - I don't care if it's walking, running, or one of my favorites, jumping rope, we have to keep it moving in order to stay healthy.
• Stick to the more wholesome foods - foods like bean, legumes, and brown rice can keep you fuller longer and supply the body with fiber as well. Be sure to use plenty of spices too for some anti-oxidant protection and better taste.
• Resistance training - lifting weight or using your body weight are great ways to fight bone disease and keep the body looking good!
• Stay positive - there are people who seem happy with bringing you down. I would encourage you to keep them at a distance and concentrate on those who add value to your life and lift you up instead of bring you down!

Well there you have it, and thank you for allowing me to vent a bit and share some tips with you that will help IMPROVE your life for the better! Feel free to share with your friends!

4 Major Dry Cough Causes to Watch Out For

Experiencing dry cough is a common health problem. Everyday, millions of people across the globe develop this condition. As a matter of fact, in the United States alone, cough is the top reason for visiting a physician because of the irritating symptoms associated with it. Despite being a simple disease, persistent and long-term cough can have great effects on your life. One of the best ways to avoid it is by learning as much as you can about its causes and steer clear of them.

Classifications of Cough

Many physicians will tell you that coughing is a natural reflex of the body. It can be likened to clearing one's throat. The problem is that unlike clearing your throat, you cannot control coughing and neither can you stop it from happening.

Coughing can be clearly classified into two. One is the cough with phlegm. This usually comes after a cold or flu episode. The other type is the dry cough. Out of the two forms, the latter is more annoying and persistent.

What Causes Dry Cough?

There are lots of reasons for developing this. Knowing all about the different causes of it will help you in avoiding the said condition. Some of the top causes include the following:

1. Viral Infections

Dry and irritating cough can be an impending sign of a viral infection. If your cough is accompanied by other symptoms such as headache, fever, and body ache, it is safe to say that virus is the cause of it. In cases like this, it is important that you call your doctor as soon as possible.

2. Asthma

Asthma is one of its major causes. People who have this particular condition suffer chronic unproductive coughs that are usually accompanied by shortness of breath and chest tightness. Undergoing medical tests will allow you to determine and detect asthma symptoms.

3. Weather Conditions

Another contributing factor in developing this is the extreme weather conditions. Too much humidity in the air can dry the mucous membranes. This can cause throat irritation that can lead to cough.

4. Medications

Meanwhile, there are some physicians who claim that too much intake of certain medicines can cause persistent dry cough. The medicines that you need to watch out for include blood-pressure drugs.

There are other causes that you need to watch out for. The above mentioned are just some of the common ones that doctors usually detect. Try your best to understand each cause. Through that way, you know what risk factors you need to protect yourself from.

How to Stop Runny Nose in 4 Effective Approaches

Anyone can be affected by runny nose. You are bound to experience it from time to time, regardless of your age and gender. It is not as painful as other conditions. Also, it is not a real health threat. But the problem with runny nose is that it is bothersome. Moreover, there are other symptoms that are associated with it such as fever, flu, coughing, sinusitis, and even earaches. Learning how to stop runny nose can help you a lot.

Natural remedies can provide you with instant relief. Many people prefer to look for alternative medicines because they believe that they are safer to use. If you have children, natural remedies are very ideal to administer. They have fewer side effects. Best of all, they are more reasonably priced than over-the-counter drugs.

Below are some tips on how to stop runny nose. These recommendations are easy to prepare and proven safe.

1. Saltwater Solution - Saltwater solution is literally a mixture of salt and water. Some people refer to this as saline water. It is an effective way to clear your nostrils of mucus. All you need to do is to get at least eight ounces of lukewarm water. Add a teaspoon of salt, and mix. Get a medicine dropper and collect some of the solution. After you have dropped it into your nostrils, you can then blow your nose to clear the pathway.

2. Herbal Tea - If you are wondering how to stop runny nose fast, one effective way is to drink herbal tea. To make your own tea at home, add a teaspoon of the following ingredients - fresh mint, yarrow root, cayenne pepper, and elder berry - to water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Drink this at least twice a day. Herbal teas work by loosening up the clogged mucus in your nasal passages. This can resolve your problem fast.

3. Watercress - Watercress is a plant that can help address your problem. It can be prepared in two different ways. First, you can eat it fresh thrice a day. And second, you can purchase it in powder or dried form. Add three to four teaspoons of it in a glass of water, and drink.

4. Honey and Lime Juice- Another way on to stop it fast is by drinking honey and lime juice. Both ingredients have the ability to heal runny nose. Also, honey and lime juice is very effective in treating cough.

Why suffer if there are methods on how to stop runny nose fast? If you suffer from this condition every now and then, try any of the given remedies for instant relief. However, if the condition continues, visit your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Any disease which turns chronic must be addressed properly by a medical expert.

4 Major Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms

Chronic bronchitis is considered as a kind of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While it is curable, it is a long-term condition which hardly ever goes away completely. People having this condition may experience discomforts for two or three months in a year. So as to identify this ailment, doctors make use of a chest x-ray, stethoscope, blood test and lung function test. Chronic bronchitis can also be diagnosed by simply paying attention to the symptoms which are linked to the condition.

Cough

Cough is a very common manifestation of chronic bronchitis. Coughing generates a heavy mucus which is brought up through your lungs. When your bronchitis gets worse, your coughing gets to be more serious and may develop huge amounts of mucus. In the course of a flare-up, affected individuals can get an intense coughing that may continue all through the day and night, disturbing their sleep. Any person having a consistent mucus-producing coughing may easily get chronic bronchitis.

Trouble Breathing

Trouble breathing is usually one of the chronic bronchitis symptoms. The soreness inside the lungs linked to bronchitis limits airways, which makes it hard to obtain sufficient oxygen. This could leave a feeling of shortness of breath. Difficulty breathing can result in a person to become exhausted right after minor actions. Airway constraint may possibly bring about wheezing, that is a sound created by a number of affected individuals whenever they inhale and exhale.

Poor Immune System

Individuals having this disease normally have a higher chance of getting consistent lung infections. An extreme cough which causes too much mucus that is greenish or yellowish in color shows that a person possesses an infection together with their persistent bronchitis. Antibiotics are not able to get rid of it but they could be useful to cure and acquire relief from an associated respiratory infection.

Heart Complications

Although not well-known, certain coronary diseases may also be an indication that the person has continual respiratory disease. Pulmonary hypertension as well as high blood pressure within the lungs can produce constricting blood veins which usually go with advanced conditions of chronic bronchitis. Because of this, the right part of your heart could subsequently become overstressed, making the patient susceptible to heart failure. Individuals experiencing chest pains must be brought to the doctor immediately because this is one of the symptoms which could be fatal.

The most prevalent root cause of chronic bronchitis symptoms is smoking cigarettes or tobacco. Smoking destroys the cilia, hair-like cells which cover the airways, which prevent bacteria from getting into your lungs. External toxins are yet another frequent reason for this condition. To avoid getting any kind of respiratory ailment such as bronchitis, live a healthy lifestyle and refrain from breathing in polluted air.

Top 10 Best Foods to Have in Your Diet

In order to be healthy you have to live a healthy lifestyle, and that starts with what you put into your body. If you want to avoid taking toxic pharmeuctical drugs there's no better time than to start now. Following is a list of foods that will really kick start your health and prevent health issues - foods that give you value.

Unpasteurized (raw) grass-fed milk - when milk is raw and organic it is highly nutritious, it contains beneficial fats and bacteria that boosts your immune system, along with vitamins, minerals and enzymes, get it from your local farmer or contact the 'campaign for real milk' in the UK to find your local farmer.

Whey protein - is a protein derived from milk, get a high quality one that is from the milk of grass-fed cows to get the health benefits. Whey protein is good for your immune system and your detoxification process because it contains beta-glucans and immunoglobulins.

Free-range organic eggs - are the best source for high-quality nutrients especially in protein and fat, eaten raw is even better as the nutrients are in a pure form and they don't alter through the heat of cooking.

Fermented foods - they balance your inner ecosystem and strengthen your immunity, these foods include, kefir, natto, kimchee, miso, tempeh, pickles, sauerkraut, and olives.

Grass-fed organic beef - is high in vitamin A, B12 and E, omega-3 fats, beta carotene, zinc and CLA (a fatty acid that is a powerful immune system enhancer). Be aware that even though it says organic it doesn't mean it is grass-fed, it could be fed on grains, which you don't want, grass-fed cattle are mostly raised organically.

Coconut oil - excellent for your metabolism and your thyroid, it is rich in lauric acid, this gets converted in your body into monolaurin - which is also found in breast milk and strengthens the baby's immune system. It also contains MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) which raise your metabolism and fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi. This oil has to be organic.

Berries - especially blueberries and raspberries are very high in antioxidants and are the lowest in fructose (a Sugar) than any other fruit. Antioxidants keep you young.

Broccoli - has the highest amounts of isothiocyanates which is a cancer fighting compound, research shows 5 servings a week make a massive difference to your health.

Chlorella - is an algae that is a detoxifier that binds to toxins and carries it out of your system. The chlorophyll in the chlorella helps you process more oxygen, cleanse your blood and promote the growth and repair of your tissues.

Tea - and I mean herbal tea, green tea such as matcha and is full of antioxidants in fact 17 the times of wild blueberries, these help with immune function and heart health.