Whenever medication is prescribed for accute or chronic pain, the instructions are to wait until you know how your body reacts to medication, before driving. Millions of individuals depend on such treatment just to be able to function with their daily routings.
One important factor to remember is that just because it's legal and given to you does not mean that it's legal to drive with it. The law here in Arizona, for instance, is more stringently prosecuted involving, pain, antidepressants, anxiety medications than even alcohol.
While a breath test is usually administered to see how much alcohol is in one's system before prosecuting one for a DUI, that is not the case with prescription drugs. All it takes is an law officer to suspect something's in ones system to get trial to begin. It takes just a little amount of medication to get one sentenced for a DUI. Impoundment of vehicle, going to jail, license terminated, and the cost of legal fees are all involved.
Something seems totally wrong with the law regarding this. Why doesn't the law, and prosecutors take in consideration why the drugs are in your system to begin with? Shouldn't there be some test to read if one is above or below their prescribed dosage?
Another factor is that alcohol takes far less time to escape the body than pain meds. That means one doesn't have to have taken that medication on that day, or several days prior, to be found guilty of a DUI in the court of law.
I'm saying enough is enough! Let's do some brain storming and see what we can come up with to change this nonsense. One possibility is to bring this up to congress, or the AMA committee. It's our health that should be the number one priority to address, in all issues involved. If the law is going to be so harsh, then they should have the tests, and a responsible reason before slapping the hand cuffs on and prosecuting. DUI is not just a light sentence, it's one that will stick on one's record like super glue, and, in some cases, even threaten a career.
Got any ideas? I would love to hear from you.
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Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Belief System and Health
Psychologists generally list one of the most important factors in physical health as BELIEF. Belief influences all voluntary behavior. The only usual difference between the winner and the loser (in life), for instance, is what exists "between the ears"–the belief system. Hence, the adage, "It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog."
A patient’s attitude is so important to surgeons that many of them will delay a major operation until they become convinced that the patient is reasonably optimistic about the outcome. At the same time, it is important to note that patients can jeopardize their own health care by becoming too optimistic about their health status, which can lead to neglecting that care.
Optimism can be divided into two types, each having differing health implications. The more positive type relates to an individual’s sense of the ability to overcome any obstacle, any challenge that may arise. While this may seem a good start, the more extreme variety may lead to a form of denial, the inability to acknowledge symptoms or threats to well-being.
The other type, the defensive type, not only lacks benefit, but can actually enhance a health risk. Coming from the sense of helplessness, its most severe form can lead to tragic consequences, such as the phenomena of "unexplained" deaths of people who believed themselves in hopeless circumstances. In some cases, for example, persons died after ingesting toxic substances, of which the amounts were often too small even to make them sick.
In addition, numerous studies have shown a marked correspondence between increased health problems and the amount of stress from multiple life changes, such as joblessness, relocation, bereavement, divorce, death in the family, and so forth.
Health effects are much more prominent among persons already having low self-esteem. However, even dramatic events on the good side can have harmful effects on people not expecting them.
The point is that the individual does not always have a realistic grasp in the actual physical condition. Therefore, people generally consider four components in their decision-making process in seeking medical help and following advice: identity, time line, consequences, and cause of the disease. Their perceptions can actually be skewed by existent psychological factors and, principally, their belief systems.
Therefore, beliefs comprise the most influential factors on health. The problem is, the belief system comes from within, and an individual cannot just simply choose to believe. This is where it may become necessary to seek help. At this point, it may be advisable to do so.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
A patient’s attitude is so important to surgeons that many of them will delay a major operation until they become convinced that the patient is reasonably optimistic about the outcome. At the same time, it is important to note that patients can jeopardize their own health care by becoming too optimistic about their health status, which can lead to neglecting that care.
Optimism can be divided into two types, each having differing health implications. The more positive type relates to an individual’s sense of the ability to overcome any obstacle, any challenge that may arise. While this may seem a good start, the more extreme variety may lead to a form of denial, the inability to acknowledge symptoms or threats to well-being.
The other type, the defensive type, not only lacks benefit, but can actually enhance a health risk. Coming from the sense of helplessness, its most severe form can lead to tragic consequences, such as the phenomena of "unexplained" deaths of people who believed themselves in hopeless circumstances. In some cases, for example, persons died after ingesting toxic substances, of which the amounts were often too small even to make them sick.
In addition, numerous studies have shown a marked correspondence between increased health problems and the amount of stress from multiple life changes, such as joblessness, relocation, bereavement, divorce, death in the family, and so forth.
Health effects are much more prominent among persons already having low self-esteem. However, even dramatic events on the good side can have harmful effects on people not expecting them.
The point is that the individual does not always have a realistic grasp in the actual physical condition. Therefore, people generally consider four components in their decision-making process in seeking medical help and following advice: identity, time line, consequences, and cause of the disease. Their perceptions can actually be skewed by existent psychological factors and, principally, their belief systems.
Therefore, beliefs comprise the most influential factors on health. The problem is, the belief system comes from within, and an individual cannot just simply choose to believe. This is where it may become necessary to seek help. At this point, it may be advisable to do so.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Great News!
Hi everyone! After a number of health challenges of my own, I’m back.
Before I say anything, I want to express that I’m just horribly saddened and outraged by the tragedy suffered by our brethren in Norway. I sincerely pray that God be with the families of the victims there. What happened is just impossibly beyond reason. I suggest we all remember them in our prayers.
I do have a happy announcement. During my hiatus, I became certified as a Life Coach. A Life Coach helps people to develop plans of action so they can realize their goals and achieve their dreams in life.
I believing people already have abundant resources within themselves,and I can help them to identify the strategies than have helped them to become successful in other areas of their lives and to dig out and erase the hidden saboteurs that are keeping them from achieving their desires.
If given the proper guidance and direction, you can achieve that quality of empowerment over your talents and abilities, which you already have in abundance--I don't care who you are. I don't do anything with you that you can't do alone . . . IF you know how to do it. That's the key. And even if you do, acquiring trained assistance can enable you in leveraging your gifts and talents faster than you could ever do it alone.
Of course, I already have been doing much of that with my clients, but now more people can become aware of just what all I do.
I don't often use this blog just to advertise my services, but I am so excited about this I can barely contain myself. To tell the truth, nothing--but NOTHING--makes me happier than assisting people in achieving their dreams and experiencing the joy and fulfillment in their lives that many of my clients and I have achieved.
If you would like to find out more about what I'm all about and how I can work with you toward these wonderful objectives, give me a call at 520-495-4235. Or you can email me at Lora@fastmail.net.
Meanwhile, we're working on my new website. I'll be looking forward to your visit when we get it up!
Before I say anything, I want to express that I’m just horribly saddened and outraged by the tragedy suffered by our brethren in Norway. I sincerely pray that God be with the families of the victims there. What happened is just impossibly beyond reason. I suggest we all remember them in our prayers.
I do have a happy announcement. During my hiatus, I became certified as a Life Coach. A Life Coach helps people to develop plans of action so they can realize their goals and achieve their dreams in life.
I believing people already have abundant resources within themselves,and I can help them to identify the strategies than have helped them to become successful in other areas of their lives and to dig out and erase the hidden saboteurs that are keeping them from achieving their desires.
If given the proper guidance and direction, you can achieve that quality of empowerment over your talents and abilities, which you already have in abundance--I don't care who you are. I don't do anything with you that you can't do alone . . . IF you know how to do it. That's the key. And even if you do, acquiring trained assistance can enable you in leveraging your gifts and talents faster than you could ever do it alone.
Of course, I already have been doing much of that with my clients, but now more people can become aware of just what all I do.
I don't often use this blog just to advertise my services, but I am so excited about this I can barely contain myself. To tell the truth, nothing--but NOTHING--makes me happier than assisting people in achieving their dreams and experiencing the joy and fulfillment in their lives that many of my clients and I have achieved.
If you would like to find out more about what I'm all about and how I can work with you toward these wonderful objectives, give me a call at 520-495-4235. Or you can email me at Lora@fastmail.net.
Meanwhile, we're working on my new website. I'll be looking forward to your visit when we get it up!
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Successful Surgery May Depend on This . . .
A surgical patient’s attitude is so important to surgeons that many of them will delay a major operation until they become convinced that the patient is reasonably optimistic about the outcome. At the same time, it is important to note that the patients can jeopardize their own health care by becoming too optimistic about their health status, which can lead to neglecting that care.
It seems that perhaps the trait of optimism, regarding health issues, should be divided into two types, each having differing health implications. The more positive type relates to an individual’s sense of efficacy, or the ability to overcome any obstacle, any challenge that may arise. While this may seem a good start, the more extreme variety may lead to a form of denial, the inability to acknowledge symptoms or threats to well-being.
The more negative type, the defensive type, not only lacks benefit, but can actually enhance a health risk. This type would include optimistic bias, or the inability to apply a health risk to one’s self.
A deficit in the positive type, coming from the sense of helplessness, in its most severe forms, can lead to tragic consequences. Researchers all point to the phenomena of "unexplained" deaths of people who have believed themselves in hopeless circumstances. In some cases, for example, persons died after ingesting toxic substances, of which the amounts were often too small even to make them sick. Numerous other studies have shown a marked correspondence between increased health problems and the amount of stress from multiple life changes (for example, unemployment, relocation, bereavement, divorce, death in the family).
The point is that individuals do not always have a realistic grasp in their actual physical conditions. Their perceptions can actually be skewed by present psychological factors, which can alter their belief systems.
The moral of the story: Don’t undervalue the benefits of pre-surgical counseling. It has been known to be a matter of life and death.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
It seems that perhaps the trait of optimism, regarding health issues, should be divided into two types, each having differing health implications. The more positive type relates to an individual’s sense of efficacy, or the ability to overcome any obstacle, any challenge that may arise. While this may seem a good start, the more extreme variety may lead to a form of denial, the inability to acknowledge symptoms or threats to well-being.
The more negative type, the defensive type, not only lacks benefit, but can actually enhance a health risk. This type would include optimistic bias, or the inability to apply a health risk to one’s self.
A deficit in the positive type, coming from the sense of helplessness, in its most severe forms, can lead to tragic consequences. Researchers all point to the phenomena of "unexplained" deaths of people who have believed themselves in hopeless circumstances. In some cases, for example, persons died after ingesting toxic substances, of which the amounts were often too small even to make them sick. Numerous other studies have shown a marked correspondence between increased health problems and the amount of stress from multiple life changes (for example, unemployment, relocation, bereavement, divorce, death in the family).
The point is that individuals do not always have a realistic grasp in their actual physical conditions. Their perceptions can actually be skewed by present psychological factors, which can alter their belief systems.
The moral of the story: Don’t undervalue the benefits of pre-surgical counseling. It has been known to be a matter of life and death.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Precautions re Mammograms and Dental XRays: A Useful Warning . . .
I don’t watch a lot of TV. Really, it’s a waste of my time, and I don’t feel the need to be entertained all that much. Oh, it’s not that I don’t enjoy myself. I do. But I guess my tastes just go generally away from the boob tube.
However, one of the programs I watch regularly is Dr. Oz, which provides a great many tips on general health.
A month ago, for instance, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women: thyroid cancer. It was a very interesting program, and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the uses of dental x-rays and mammograms.
Dr. Oz demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck. Many dentists don't bother to use it. Also, there is something called a "thyroid guard" for use during mammograms.
By coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram. I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. I asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer: "I don't know. You have to ask for it."
Well, if I hadn't seen the show, how would I have known to ask? Let's keep our guard up, shall we?
However, one of the programs I watch regularly is Dr. Oz, which provides a great many tips on general health.
A month ago, for instance, Dr. Oz had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women: thyroid cancer. It was a very interesting program, and he mentioned that the increase could possibly be related to the uses of dental x-rays and mammograms.
Dr. Oz demonstrated that on the apron the dentist puts on you for your dental x-rays there is a little flap that can be lifted up and wrapped around your neck. Many dentists don't bother to use it. Also, there is something called a "thyroid guard" for use during mammograms.
By coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram. I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer. I asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer: "I don't know. You have to ask for it."
Well, if I hadn't seen the show, how would I have known to ask? Let's keep our guard up, shall we?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saving Up Gratefulness . . .
Here is a little anecdote I ran across in my email. I thought it fitting:
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room," replied the nurse. "Just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
"Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and a new beginning. And I've stored away, just for this time in my life.
"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
"I am still depositing."
Lora's seven simple rules to be happy:
1. Pray to God that your heart be cleansed to free your heart from hatred.
2. Pray to God that your mind be cleansed to free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply. Appreciate the blessings that have been given.
4. Give more. Do at least three good deeds a day.
5. Expect less. Give from the goodness of your heart.
6. Don't forget to feed the most important feeding, from the Holy Spirit through God's word.
7. Be grateful for your blessings. If you cannot find something to be grateful for, think on those who are not as blessed as you are. The world is filled with them.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
- Lora
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room," replied the nurse. "Just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.
"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
"Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and a new beginning. And I've stored away, just for this time in my life.
"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
"I am still depositing."
Lora's seven simple rules to be happy:
1. Pray to God that your heart be cleansed to free your heart from hatred.
2. Pray to God that your mind be cleansed to free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply. Appreciate the blessings that have been given.
4. Give more. Do at least three good deeds a day.
5. Expect less. Give from the goodness of your heart.
6. Don't forget to feed the most important feeding, from the Holy Spirit through God's word.
7. Be grateful for your blessings. If you cannot find something to be grateful for, think on those who are not as blessed as you are. The world is filled with them.
Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.
- Lora
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Stress and Time Management
Health behaviors are actions taken by people to enhance or maintain their health. Good health behaviors can be defined by listing seven behaviors: (1) sufficient sleep, (2) abstinence from smoking, (3) eating breakfast every day, (4) moderation in alcohol consumption, (5) regular exercise, (6) foregoing snacks between meals, and (7) being no more than 10 percent overweight. Although most people practice some health behaviors, most omit at least a few others. One such is time management.
Time Management
Time management is an integral part of stress management. It includes planning, setting, and prioritizing goals. One of the most useful and effective tools for time management that I have seen and used is the maintenance of an individual, daily "to do" list. If I list everything I can think of, there is no way, of course, that I can get to it all. However, if I prioritize that list, then go down it in that order, then I can be sure I will accomplish the most important tasks. This takes a substantial amount of stress off me.
What I do is to sit down the evening before and list everything I can think of that I would like to do, or should do, the next day. Then I prioritize the first five items from the most important or urgent down to the last. I find that if I get through all five items, I have usually put in a full day. If I don’t get through them all, however, I have achieved the items that are first on priority.
It is amazing what a relief from stress this can achieve. It is certainly worth a try, wouldn’t you say?
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Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
Time Management
Time management is an integral part of stress management. It includes planning, setting, and prioritizing goals. One of the most useful and effective tools for time management that I have seen and used is the maintenance of an individual, daily "to do" list. If I list everything I can think of, there is no way, of course, that I can get to it all. However, if I prioritize that list, then go down it in that order, then I can be sure I will accomplish the most important tasks. This takes a substantial amount of stress off me.
What I do is to sit down the evening before and list everything I can think of that I would like to do, or should do, the next day. Then I prioritize the first five items from the most important or urgent down to the last. I find that if I get through all five items, I have usually put in a full day. If I don’t get through them all, however, I have achieved the items that are first on priority.
It is amazing what a relief from stress this can achieve. It is certainly worth a try, wouldn’t you say?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, don't leave me in the dark! Leave a little comment here for me. Did you like it? Hate it? Do you have anything else in mind? Let me know, right here. It's very easy: just click on the "comments" link immediately below. I would love to hear from you. :)
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