Health Highlight

Anaphylaxis

            In the news in recent weeks has been the story of Mylan Pharmaceutical who is the sole manufacturer of a life-saving devise called the Epipen which is the first line of defense against anaphylaxis, sometimes called anaphylactic shock.  This condition which is brought on by an allergic reaction that causes several of the bodies systems to shut down and if not treated promptly (within minutes) it could lead to death.  Most people (including myself) associate anaphylaxis with food allergies and by most accounts they would be correct but in doing some research on anaphylaxis it seems that almost 59% of all allergy related deaths occur from an adverse reaction to medication.  Researchers at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University published their findings in 2014 that stated that medication was the leading cause of deaths caused by anaphylaxis.  The study examined the 2,458 deaths from anaphylaxis between 1999 and 2010 and found that only 6.7% were victims of food allergies (15.2% were from venoms-stings and bites).  According to various websites, roughly 200,000 to 300,000 cases of anaphylactic shock require emergency room visits with the number of deaths from anaphylaxis ranging from 150 to 400 deaths a year. 

It is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis and then understand how important it is to seek medical attention right away.  The early signs may be a runny nose or skin rash but within 30 minutes more serious symptoms could show such as:

Ø  Coughing; wheezing; and pain, itching, or tightness in your chest

Ø  Fainting, dizziness, confusion, or weakness

Ø  Hives; a rash; and itchy, swollen, or red skin

Ø  Runny or stuffy nose and sneezing

Ø  Shortness of breath or trouble breathing and rapid heartbeat

Ø  Swollen or itchy lips or tongue

Ø  Swollen or itchy throat, hoarse voice, trouble swallowing, tightness in your throat

Ø  Vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps

Ø  Weak pulse, paleness

The first line of defense against anaphylaxis is a drug called epinephrine which helps stall out the symptoms until the patient can get to the hospital for a more vigorous treatment.  Estimates are that one in fifty have the potential to be effected by anaphylaxis some even say that number is too low and is really closer to one in twenty but without further data it is hard to put a solid number on it.  Studies have also shown that people who suffer from food allergies tend to grow out of those allergies or become less sensitive to those allergies as they get older.  The most common foods that people are allergic to and thus susceptible to anaphylactic shock are: peanuts, fish, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish and tree nuts (walnuts, hazel nuts, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, and almonds).  Some of these items are in a large number of the foods we buy at the grocery store so people who are sensitive to these foods must learn to be excellent readers of food packaging.  The most common drug that cause a reaction are drugs in the penicillin family of medication.  The important thing to remember is to listen to your body, if you start to feel like you’re not quite right take a moment and look to see if there is any swelling or rashes starting to break out like hives.  Once upon a time when I was a young man, I ate a fresh mango that I peeled on my lunch break at work.  By the time the meal was over my lips had gone numb and I had hives breaking out all over my body (all in about 20 minutes).  I ended up in the emergency department of our local hospital with anaphylaxis…there was a pesticide on the peel of the fruit that was transferred to the mango as I was peeling it…lessons learned.  Anaphylaxis is a serious issue and not to be taken lightly, we should all be aware of our needs and those of our family members and take the appropriate precautions.  Thanks for reading, have a good week and take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

Don’t Be a Helicopter

“It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” ~Unknown

            One of the new entries into the modern dictionary (2011) is the term “helicopter parent” which according to Merriam-Webster is a noun defined as, “…a parent who is overly involved in the life of his or her child.”  As a parent of three children, I understand the feelings of wanting to protect your child from danger, from failure, from all the hard knocks that life can sometimes throw at them.  I love my kids and I ache every time they feel anxiety about school or the kid down the street or how badly they get thumped playing soccer.  We all love our children want to see our kids succeed and grow up happy and therein lies the trap.  When we as parents are always there to catch them before they fall or find scapegoats for them when they fail, we are creating a world which is not realistic and ultimately set our children up for failure as adults rather than prepare them for success.

            The old saying of, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day…teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime,” is a simple example of what I’m talking about here.  The idea is that we as parents should be teaching our children how to be self-sufficient and the only way to do that is to let them do for themselves and not do it for them.  A toddler learns not to walk in Legos by the pain they feel on their little feet, not by the parents rushing in and scooping the child out of the way of the Legos and then cleaning the building blocks out of the way.  Why then do parents hover so closely over their children?  According to Parents Magazine, the four biggest reasons parents hover over their children are fear of dire consequences (like poor grades or not making the team roster), feelings of anxiety (fear of our children getting hurt or failure), over-compensation (for lack of feeling love from their own childhood) and peer pressure from other parents (feeling guilt for not acting like other helicopter parents).  The consequences of being overly involved in every moment of your child’s life are decreased confidence and self-esteem, underdeveloped coping skills, increased anxiety, a sense of entitlement, and underdeveloped life skills.

            How do we do it?  How do we show and express our love and concern for our children but not hover like a helicopter?  Backing off and giving our children room to grow involves some suffering, for our kids as well as for us.  “In practical terms, this means letting children struggle, allowing them to be disappointed, and when failure occurs, helping them to work through it. It means letting your children do tasks that they are physically and mentally capable of doing. Making your 3-year-old's bed isn't hovering. Making your 13-year-old's bed is…Remembering to look for opportunities to take one step back from solving our child's problems will help us build the reliant, self-confident kids we need," (http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/what-is-helicopter-parenting/ ).  As parents we want the world for our kids but in order for them to reach their potential and find the happiness we all wish for them, we as parents need to allow them to find it.  As always, thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great weekend.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me anytime.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re al in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Zika, What We Know

“Until people appreciated that it could cause birth defects, no one was interested in Zika”

~Unknown

            In keeping with my recent run on topics related to the Olympics, I would like to talk today about one of the more serious stories underlying the events of the XXXI Olympiad.  The Zika Virus is under investigation as a possible cause for serious birth defects to children born to women who became infected during pregnancy.  The virus is known to be carried by the Asian Tiger mosquito, a very aggressive little blighter that is active day or night and is recognizable by the stripes on the body of the insect.  As with any illness, education is a key link in the prevention of that disease and the Zika virus is no exception.  Many people think that the Zika virus is strictly a tropical illness and by in large it is but there have been confirmed cases not only here in Indiana but all throughout the Midwest.  So, what do we know?

            The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 and the first known case of human infection was seven years later in Nigeria, 1954.  Since then the spread of the virus has been primarily to tropical locations throughout the globe.  The symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain, headaches, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting.  Sounds like a party I would like to miss.  As I said, the virus is transmitted via Asian Tiger mosquito and it is also transmitted via sexual transmission.  The great danger of this virus is that pregnant women who become infected can pass the virus onto their unborn fetus which could lead to possible birth defects.  To compound the issue is that only 20% to 25 % of people who contract this virus actually exhibit the symptoms of carrying the virus so a person who is infected could pass it to their partner without ever realizing it.

            How to fight against Zika.  The best defense against the Zika virus is to not travel to known outbreak zones but if you are in an area that is known to have Zika virus active, take precaution against getting bitten by mosquitos.  Since the primary transmission is via mosquito, the use of mosquito repellents and the wearing of long sleeve shirts and pants are great deterrents against mosquitos.  For sexually active people who have been in known areas of activity of the Zika virus, a period of abstinence for 30 days after leaving the area of Zika activity or the use of condoms during sex can act as a preventative measure as well.  As the Olympics are held in Rio this year, thousands of healthy female athletes (not to mention the spectators) will be exposed to this virus and the question has been put forth what if someone gets the Zika virus and hopes to have children?  The CDC recommends that the women wait at least 8 weeks after visiting an area of known Zika activity before trying to conceive as well as discussing at length with your doctor your concerns. 

            As we enter this last week of the Olympic games and as the thousands of athletes and their families travel to all points of the planet back to their homes, there is sure to be a spike in Zika virus spreading to points unknown to the virus.  The best defense is to be aware and informed about the illness, there are dozens of excellent websites for further information if you are so inclined.  I hope everyone has a great week moving forward and for all those heading back to school this week, good luck.  As always, thanks for reading, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Autumn Injuries

“When something bad happens, you have three choices.  You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strengthen you.”  ~unknown

            In keeping with the recent theme of athletics, I would like to take time today to talk about youth athletics and the possibility of sports related injury as schools start up all across the region.  As kids go back to school this fall, a new season of athletic opportunity also starts.  Sports such as football, soccer, cross-country and cheer bring new excitement as a new season looms but these sports (along with a host of others) also bring the possibility for injury.  According to the Stanford’s Children’s Health report, there are about 30 million children who engage in some kind of athletics and a little over 10% of those children (ages 5-14) will get injured in the pursuit of playing.  “Obviously, some sports are more dangerous than others. For example, contact sports such as football can be expected to result in a higher number of injuries than a noncontact sport such as swimming. However, all types of sports have a potential for injury, whether from the trauma of contact with other players or from overuse or misuse of a body part,” (Stanford Children’s Health).

            As parents, we need to be cognizant of how our child is looking and feeling before, during and after practicing or playing their sport.  Common injuries are due to strains and sprains as well as bumps and bruises but there are more serious injuries as well such as broken bones and head trauma.  There are steps that a parent and child athlete can take to help prevent or minimize these injuries and allow the child to enjoy the sport for the entire season without missing any of the action due to injury.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has provided the following list of recommendations to help reduce or prevent injury:

•Take time off. Plan to have at least 1 day off per week and at least one month off per year from training for a particular sport to allow the body to recover.

•Wear the right gear.  Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, and shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will prevent all injuries while performing more dangerous or risky activities.

•Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises during practice strengthens muscles used in play.

•Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises after games or practice can increase flexibility. Stretching should also be incorporated into a daily fitness plan.

•Use the proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.

•Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.

•Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), and spearing (football), and checking in hockey should be enforced.

•Stop the activity if there is pain.

•Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing.

            As a parent, one of the great joys I experience is watching my children as they play the sports they love.  To see the look of joy on their face in the heat of competition is a special moment for me and I’m guessing for any parent who watches their child play.  I hope that everyone can take this information and use it to increase the opportunity for safety and reduce the risk of injury for the junior athlete(s) in our lives.  I hope everyone has a great weekend, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Olympic Note

A Golden Opportunity

“Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something.  It is our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.”  ~Mary Lou Retton Gold Medal Winner, 1984 Women’s All Around Gymnastics

            This year we all have a chance to see something really special this summer, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.  The opening ceremony was held on Friday and gave a stirring account of Brazil’s history and the hope for its future that ended with the lighting of the Olympic flame that will burn for the duration of the summer games.  One reason to celebrate this Olympics is the number of women participating in this summer’s sporting events…there are more women participating in competition this Olympics than ever before.  For the second straight Olympiad, Team USA has more women athletes then male athletes participating in the summer games, roughly 52% of the team.  The growth of the number of women participating in the summer games is a positive indicator of a growing recognition of women and how they should be seen as equals on and off the playing field.

            A brief history of the modern Olympic Games starts back in 1896 when the first modern Olympics where held in Athens, Greece with 280 athletes (all male) from 13 different countries.  In 1964 at the XVIII Summer Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan, women made up 13% of the 5,151 athletes from 93 different countries.  This summer marks the XXXI Summer Olympiad with 11,491 athletes with 207 flags represented (205 countries, the Independent Olympic Athletes and for the first time the Refugee Olympic Team), and this year 45% of the participants will be women.  As the participation of female athletes has come an incredibly long way, there is still much to be done in order for total equality to be gained in this, the pinnacle of athletic competition.  Women still lag behind men in the number of events available to them and even within the same sports, women are often delegated to shorter distances in certain sports such as swimming and cycling for no other reason other than the fact that they are women.  This past spring the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has outlined plans to bring total equality to the games as soon as possible.  The goal is to recognize and celebrate the abilities and athleticism of women from all over the globe in hopes of elevating equality on a global scale.  Humanity should see women not as weak or less capable but as equals who are capable of achieving anything they desire.  In order to help display this ideology and belief, the world’s international organizers should take the lead and let women prove to the world on the global stage how resilient the female athlete really is.

            I hope everyone has an inspiring week and I encourage you to take time and watch the world’s greatest athletes, male and female, shed blood, sweat and tears for the countries they represent and love.  As always, thanks for reading my post, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at wmreid@bhcshealth.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  We should celebrate all humanity this and every Olympics…take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Shots or Not Part II

“Vaccines saves lives; fear endangers them.  It’s a simple message parents need to keep hearing.”  ~Jeffery Kluger

            Welcome to part two of our discussion on whether to vaccinate or not.  In my posting Monday I presented a brief argument for both sides in order to let you think on it and or examine your own beliefs and thoughts on the matter.  In this posting, I will be presenting information regarding the outcomes of studies that might help you in your thought process.  As you have probable discerned from my opening quote, I am of the school of thought that the risks of vaccines outweigh the risks of not vaccinating.  At the end of the day, what this argument really boils down to is risk management…do I risk side effects of the various vaccines to inoculate my child against life threatening illnesses OR do I risk my child’s life by not taking pro-active steps to prevent life threatening illnesses?  Let’s take a look at some of the research.

            One of the biggest concerns parents have is a fear of a “reported side effect” of the MMR vaccine.  This “reported side effect” is that by receiving the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, the child is at a higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder.  According to Autism Speaks, an organization that advocates for those who are on the spectrum and for the families who deal with autism, reports “In the largest-ever study of its kind, researchers again found that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine did not increase risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This proved true even among children already considered at high risk for the disorder,” (https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/no-mmr-autism-link-large-study-vaccinated-vs-unvaccinated-kids).  They also state, “Consistent with studies in other populations, we observed no association between MMR vaccination and increased ASD risk…We also found no evidence that receipt of either one or two doses of MMR vaccination was associated with an increased risk of ASD among children who had older siblings with ASD.”  According to the Autism Society, there are no know causes of autism but researchers strongly suspect that genetics plays a large role in this condition.

            Other arguments against vaccinations are more related to the objections of the ingredients of the vaccine and a strong dystopian view of the government or the manufacturers of vaccines.  Some people object because of the cost vaccines and the discomfort the child feels during and after the vaccination process has occurred.  I’m not one to tread on any moral or religious beliefs that prevent a child from being vaccinated…if that is a core belief then that is a risk you must take on behalf of your child.  If you distrust the government or the pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines, again, that is your viewpoint but it is your responsibility for assuming the risk involved in not getting vaccines for your child.  To add to the complexity of this issue is the sad story of a family where the parents are on trial for not seeking proper medical treatment for their son who passed away from a preventable illness because he wasn’t vaccinated against the illness.  The legal ramifications from the outcome of this case will have a far reaching effect on all parenting choices.

            There is no parenting manual that is distributed with the birth of each child…maybe there should be but I’m sure not everyone would agree with the content.  Each child is different and each parent has learned how to do it through trial and error, by reading or observing, by loving or ignoring.  Every parent is different, every child is different but there are general trends that have shown successful outcomes…kindness, love and nurturing behavior have shown to develop happier children than abuse and neglect and along those lines of thinking, the trend shows that the risk of vaccinating children far outweighs the risks of not…but these are just my opinions.  I thank you for reading and I hope you have a great weekend (try and stay cool out there!).  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Time to get Shot(s) or Not

“Believing myths about vaccines is not the same as getting the facts. That is the core problem.”

~Unknown

              August is National Immunization Awareness Month and there continues to be a raging national debate as to the validity and necessity of getting vaccinations for the safety of our children.  The idea of children getting vaccines for various illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella seems to be like a no brainer for sake of health and safety for kids.  Diseases like polio have all but been extinguished by aggressive vaccination efforts on a global scale and yet not all illnesses have been eradicated.  Why?  There are two very different camps when it comes to the need to vaccinate children in the year 2016.  There are those who feel the need to not subject their children to vaccines for a long list of reasons and then there are those who feel that vaccinations are the responsible thing to do for their children.  Today will be the first part of this debate and I will offer up information from both camps as to let you decide for yourself (I will do my level best to keep a voice of bias out of the article to keep it as objective as possible). 

            The Anti-vaxxers are a group of parents and doctors who hold reservations as to the necessity of vaccines and their effectiveness against illness versus the potential side effects that could arise from vaccines.  The arguments against vaccines include but are not limited to

1)  The serious side effects of vaccines

2)  The nature and safety of the ingredients of the vaccines/ not natural

3)  Government intervention on personal healthcare choices/ infringements on rights

4)  Immoral or objectionable ingredients

5)  Lack of trust of pharmaceutical companies/ lack of trust of government agencies

             The pro side of getting vaccinations argue that the benefits of getting vaccines for kids is not only better for our children but is the responsible thing to do for society as a whole. The following reason for vaccination include but are not limited to;

1)  Vaccinations saves lives

2)  Vaccines ingredients are safe in the amounts used

3)  Major medical organizations (CDC, FDA, WHO…etc.) state that vaccines are safe

4)  Adverse reactions to vaccines are extremely rare

5)  Helps to eradicate diseases/ protect future generations/ long term economic benefits to society

            As I said there are many more reasons for both side of the debate and in my Friday posting I hope to bring some concrete data into the picture.  Some information that I do have readily handy today is that vaccinations have all but eradicated certain illness that were very prevalent not so long ago and that thousands of lives have been saved.  In that same time frame there has been an increase in ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) in children across the country but there has been no studies that I have found that link vaccines with ASD.  The personal choice to vaccinate or not to vaccinate is a very personal one that each parent much make and the responsibility of those choices lay squarely on the shoulders of the parent.  An infant cannot advocate for itself and thus the parent holds that responsibility.  I am not here to judge, I am here to share information and I will continue this discussion on Friday, my daughter’s birthday.  As always thanks for reading, I hope everyone has a great week and if you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to drop me a line and share your thoughts at wmreid@bhcshealth.comTake care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Wellness in the Woods

“Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad whatever is done and suffered by her creatures.  All scars are she heals whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts.”

~John Muir

            To sit in the woods, quiet and removed from all the noise and bustle of mankind is a healing tonic for mind, body and spirit.  The healing power of nature and the beauty the natural world possesses is not fully understood but there is a healing factor here that is fact and indisputable.  I have always been a lover of the woods, or the open fields full of wild flowers and tall swaying grasses dancing in the wind.  My heart has a deep connection with the outdoors void of the signs of humanity and fill with the singing of the songs of the birds and the laughter of the water as it bubbles across rocks in the streams.  As a child growing up in the country, I spent many an hour wondering the fields and woods of our homestead in quiet solitude, it was my escape, my playground, my place to contemplate my role in the greater universe.

          Getting out into the woods, so to speak, has many different benefits for not only our physical being but for our mental wellbeing as well. This is why so many communities are becoming more and more invested in incorporating “green space” into community development.  We all have that secret place that we would love to go and get away from the daily grind of life.  For some it is a hideaway in the mountains or maybe a place by azure waters of some tropical paradise.  To live in the deep woods surrounded by the ancient giants that have guarded the lands for a hundred years or the wide open plains under an ocean of stars but always in a moment of quietness away from the troubles of the modern world.  I think we all have these fantasies, we all feel the calling to get away, and there is a reason for this call, we are all hardwired to heal in this serenity.  Roger Ulrich, director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M University, found that just being in a green space reduced stress levels and blood pressure within three minutes.  Being in the woods for as little as twenty minutes provides many physiological benefits to our body including easier breathing due to the oxygen rich environment but studies have shown that the stress hormone cortisol can be reduced by about 13% in those twenty minutes.  So, walking in the woods reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and helps our breathing but as new studies are showing, walking in the woods (green spaces) also improves our mental health too.  The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which describes the feeling of satisfaction and of being peaceful and grounded.

          I can personally attest for this feeling of shinrin-yoku.  I have recently returned from a brief trip out to the Pacific Northwest where I traveled to the Olympic National Park/Forrest.  The feeling of awe in walking amongst the giant timbers with my family in the woods is not one I’ll soon forget.  The feeling of peace and serenity while walking in the woods is not easily replicated while walking through the grocery store or the mall…I know that the heat of summer can make things uncomfortable but I highly recommend getting out and getting into the woods for some restorative physical and mental healing.  As always thanks for reading, I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Take care of yourselves and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Please, let me off this ride!

“Anxiety can paralyze a person, make them physically ill, can cause ailments that no one can see but that doesn’t mean it’s not real.”  ~Unknown

            Anxiety, we have all felt its icy cold grip on us at one time or another throughout our lives.  Some of you may recall a time when you were called upon to perform a task outside your comfort zone and those little butterflies where just swirling away in the pit of your stomach, that is anxiety.  For most Americans, these little blips of anxiety come and then more importantly, they go.  For over forty million Americans, that feeling of anxiety stays and at times grows stronger.  Anxiety and anxiety related disorders are the leading cause of mental health issues in the U.S. according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.  According to the ADAA, most anxiety issues are very treatable but only about one in three seek treatment for their anxiety.  The root cause for a person’s anxiety varies as it can develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

            Anxiety is very prolific in our society and it manifests itself in many different ways, think of these add on issues as tagging along with anxiety to compound and deepen the feelings felt by the individual.  These additional co-sponsorees with anxiety include but are not limited to Depression, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Eating Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Chronic Pain Disorders, and a whole host of phobias…the list goes on and on.  No one is immune from the suffering of anxiety as it affects men, women and children of all races and eco-socio backgrounds.  Anxiety tends to be more prevalent in women than in men but this could be due to the fact that men are less likely to seek help with or accept the possibility that they suffer from this illness.  One other odd thing about people suffering from anxiety is that there have been studies done that have shown that individuals with higher intelligence quotients tend to suffer more from anxiety than those with lower IQ’s.  People who suffer from anxiety, not surprisingly, also have a shorter life expectancy than those who do not suffer from added stress and worry.  Studies have shown that anxiety sufferers have a shorter lifespan by up to six years though the National Institute of Mental Health puts that number between 14 and 36 years (but they are including all mental health issues).  Ok, what does it all mean?

            For a better quality of life, it is recommended that those who suffer from anxiety to GET HELP!  Anxiety is very treatable and many times is a matter of seeking a professional, qualified therapist who will help guide the individual towards the life skills to manage their anxiety.  There are many ways of finding balance and bringing happiness and joy back into the lives of millions and the first step on that path is seeking help.  Many people fear that if it is found out that they suffer from anxiety it makes them a lesser person or somehow damaged or defective…this is just not true.  The human brain is a complex organism and we all need a little help now and then to help keep us on our feet and in the game (of life).  I strongly encourage you to share this article, you may have friends or loved ones who may have always felt a bit left of center but never understood why…or if you suffer from dark sensation of constant worry, please seek help and give yourself the gift of freedom and happiness from the confines of anxiety.  As always, thanks for reading, I hope everyone has a good week.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Historical Highlight

Harry T Burn

“Don't forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the "rat" in ratification.  Your Mother.”

~ Mrs. J. L. Burn of Niota, Tennessee.  Mother of Harry T Burn

            The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution is the article that gave women the long overdue right to vote.  The history of women’s suffrage for the right to vote is a story that started long before Civil War and who’s banner was carried by such notable heroines such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott.  These brave women were the pathfinders for those who followed and fought for all women to have seemingly simple right to vote.  The first recognized organizational effort to bring the right to vote to the nation’s attention occurred in Seneca, New York in 1848.  Under the constitution, voting laws were the responsibilities of the individual states and in doing research for this article, I was amazed to see how different voting standards varied even for white males from state to state.  Even though most of the New England states had the most liberal voting policies at the time of the Civil War, it was the western states that were the first to reach out towards women when it came to voting rights.  Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote in 1869 but it would be another 51 years before the nation would grant the same privilege.

            President Woodrow Wilson was initially against women’s suffrage but under the influence of persuasion from Carrie Chapman Catt, leader of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, in 1918 Wilson presented the 19th Amendment to congress.  When the measure failed to pass the senate (by two votes) the motion was put off until 1919 when on May 21st it passed in the House of Representatives 304-89 and on June 4th it cleared the Senate 56-25, two votes over the two thirds number needed.  After passing through congress, the amendment required 36 of the 48 states to ratify the amendment in order for it to become the law of the land.  By March of 1920, 35 of the 36 states needed had signed off on the amendment and of the thirteen remaining states ten had outright rejected the notion (all southern and two Mid-Atlantic States).  Tennessee held their vote just before the ratification deadline with a special session to settle the matter once and for all.  It was not believed that Tennessee would carry the amendment as almost all the Southern Democrats rejected the idea.  In Tennessee, the vote was tied 45 delegates for the amendment and 45 against and the vote came down to a young man who was serving his first term in the legislature, Harry T Burn.  Burn, 23 years old and the youngest state legislature, was against the motion but changed his mind after receiving a letter from his mother urging him to change his mind from a no vote to a yes vote.  Clutching the letter from his mother in his hand, young Mr. Burn cast the deciding vote that would help change the lives of millions of women of the United States.  The 19th Amendment providing the provision for women to vote in the United States was finally ratified by two thirds of the states on August 18th, 1920 thanks to Harry T Burn listening to what his mother always taught him, "a good boy always does what his mother asks him to do."

            On November 2nd, 1920, over eight million women took to the polls to vote for the very first time.  It took over 60 years for the remaining twelve states to ratify the 19th Amendment, the last being the state of Mississippi in 1984. It took over 70 years of struggle for women to have the right to vote as equals with men and even longer for fair voting practices to be extended to all who live in this land of ours.  The right to vote is a process that is guaranteed by the laws of our government and as we head forwards towards this next election, there are those who feel like it makes no difference if they vote or not.  I’m old school, I believe that voting is our civic duty and a privilege.  Please, I beg of you to exercise this gift and make your voice heard, vote because at one time in our history, many of us would not have been allowed to do so.  Thanks for reading, you can learn more about the history of the 19th amendment on numerous websites, I encourage you to read more about this and the struggles for all of us (men, women and all ethnic backgrounds) to receive the right to vote.  Have a great weekend and take care of yourselves and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

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