How to manage problems with bodily functions

2021 ◽  
pp. 141-156
Author(s):  
Andrew E. Budson ◽  
Maureen K. O’Connor

Although dementia can disrupt many bodily functions, there are ways you can help your loved one and yourself. Determine the cause of any falls and work proactively to prevent future ones. If their walking is impaired, work with a physical therapist to improve it. To reduce incontinence, use a toileting schedule, decrease fluid intake before bed, and plan ahead when you go on outings. Make meals more enticing by increasing the flavor and spice of food. Use heavy silverware and mugs to dampen tremors. Improve swallowing and reduce choking by altering the consistency of solid foods and liquids and consider a swallowing evaluation. Reduce the difficulties inherent in activities requiring skilled or complicated movements to the extent possible. Lessen scratching and picking by treating medical problems and dry skin; cover the arms if needed.

Author(s):  
Andrew E. Budson ◽  
Maureen K. O’Connor

Although dementia can disrupt many bodily functions, there are ways you can help your loved one and yourself. Determine the cause of any falls and work proactively to prevent future ones. If their walking is impaired, work with a physical therapist to improve it. To reduce incontinence, use a toileting schedule, decrease fluid intake before bed, and plan ahead when you go on outings. Make meals more enticing by increasing the flavor and spice of food. Use heavy silverware and mugs to dampen tremors. Improve swallowing and reduce choking by altering the consistency of solid foods and liquids and consider a swallowing evaluation. Reduce the difficulties inherent in activities requiring skilled or complicated movements to the extent possible. Lessen scratching and picking by treating medical problems and dry skin; cover the arms if needed.


10.2196/15905 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e15905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Neville Merchant ◽  
Navraj Chima ◽  
Olle Ljungqvist ◽  
Juliana Nai Jia Kok

Background Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is recognized as a complication of anesthesia. To minimize that risk, anesthesiologists advised fasting for solid foods and liquids for an often prolonged period of time. However, 30 years ago, evidence was promulgated that fasting for clear liquids was unnecessary to ensure an empty stomach. Despite a strong evidence base and the knowledge that fasting may be physiologically harmful and unpleasant for patients, the adoption of society guidelines recommending short fasting periods for clear fluids into clinical practice is uncertain. Objective This study aimed to determine the current practices of anesthetists with respect to fasting guidelines. Methods An electronic internet survey was distributed to anesthetists in Canada (CAN), Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and Europe (EUR) during April 2014 to February 2015. The anesthetists were asked about fasting guidelines, their recommendations to patients for the consumption of clear fluids and solid foods, and the reasons and consequences if these guidelines were not followed. Results A total of 971 anesthetists completed the survey (CAN, n=679; ANZ, n=185; and EUR, n=107). Although 85.0% (818/962) of these participants claimed that their advice to patients followed current society guidelines, approximately 50.4% (476/945) enforced strict fasting and did not allow clear fluids after midnight. The primary reasons given were with regard to problems with a variable operating room schedule (255/476, 53.6%) and safety issues surrounding the implementation of clear fluid drinking guidelines (182/476, 38.2%). Conclusions Many anesthetists continue to follow outdated practices. The current interest in further liberalizing preoperative fluid intake will require more change in anesthesia culture.


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy A Clopton ◽  
Tonya Duvall ◽  
Brent Ellis ◽  
Melissa Musser ◽  
Simmi Varghese

Abstract Background and Purpose. Physical therapist examination of pediatric clients or clients with neurological conditions often includes the observation of stereotypical movement patterns such as the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex and righting reactions. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether extremity and trunk responses to passive head turning could be documented in newborn infants. Subjects and Methods. Forty-two newborns with no known medical problems were videotaped within 5 days of birth while an investigator turned their heads left and right. Videotapes were stopped at 5-second intervals to record the direction of head turn with the rest of the body obscured. A second investigator recorded trunk and extremity position with the head obscured. Results. The direction of head turning affected upper-and lower-extremity position, with extension stronger on the face side. The direction of trunk convexity was also affected by head position, with the trunk convex to the side to which the face was turned. Conclusion and Discussion. Extremity responses and trunk responses to passive head turning can be documented corresponding to patterns reported for the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex and righting reflexes in neonates with no known medical problems more frequently than would occur by chance.


Author(s):  
R. R. Warner

Keratinocytes undergo maturation during their transit through the viable layers of skin, and then abruptly transform into flattened, anuclear corneocytes that constitute the cellular component of the skin barrier, the stratum corneum (SC). The SC is generally considered to be homogeneous in its structure and barrier properties, and is often shown schematically as a featureless brick wall, the “bricks” being the corneocytes, the “mortar” being intercellular lipid. Previously we showed the outer SC was not homogeneous in its composition, but contained steep gradients of the physiological inorganic elements Na, K and Cl, likely originating from sweat salts. Here we show the innermost corneocytes in human skin are also heterogeneous in composition, undergoing systematic changes in intracellular element concentration during transit into the interior of the SC.Human skin biopsies were taken from the lower leg of individuals with both “good” and “dry” skin and plunge-frozen in a stirred, cooled isopentane/propane mixture.


Author(s):  
H. M. Sagara ◽  
S. A. Schliebe ◽  
M. C. Kong

Particle analysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x- ray analysis is one of the current methods used in crime laboratories to aid law enforcement in identifying individuals who have recently fired or handled a firearm. During the discharge of a firearm, the high pressure caused by the detonation of the cartridge materials forces a portion of the generated gases through leaks in the firing mechanism of the weapon. These gases contain residues of smokeless powder, primer mixture, and contributions from the projectile itself. The condensation of these hot gases form discrete, micrometer-sized particles, which can be collected, along with dry skin cells, salts, and other hand debris, from the hands of a shooter by a simple adhesive lift technique. The examination of the carbon-coated adhesive lifts consist of time consuming systematic searches for high contrast particles of spherical morphology with the characteristic elemental composition of antimony, barium and lead. A detailed list of the elemental compositions which match the criteria for gunshot residue are discussed in the Aerospace report.


JAMA ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 197 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Gelfand

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
Jaume Fatjó ◽  
Jonathan Bowen
Keyword(s):  

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin F. Ward-Ciesielski ◽  
Madeline D. Wielgus ◽  
Connor B. Jones

Background: Suicide-bereaved individuals represent an important group impacted by suicide. Understanding their experiences following the suicide of a loved one is an important research domain, despite receiving limited attention. Although suicide-bereaved individuals may benefit from mental health treatment, their attitudes toward therapy and therapists are poorly understood. Aims: The present study aimed to understand the extent to which bereaved individuals’ attitudes toward therapy and therapists are impacted by whether their loved one was in therapy at the time of death. Method: Suicide-bereaved individuals (N = 243) from the United States were recruited to complete an online survey about their experience with and attitudes toward therapy and therapists following the suicide of a loved one. Results: Bereaved individuals whose loved one was in therapy at the time of death (N = 48, 19.8%) reported more negative and less positive attitudes toward the treating therapist than those whose loved one was not in therapy at the time of death (N = 81, 33.3%) or whose loved one was never in therapy/the deceased’s therapy status was unknown (N = 114, 46.9%). Conclusion: The deceased’s involvement with a therapist appears to be an important factor impacting the experience of bereaved individuals and should be considered when attempting to engage these individuals in postvention.


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