Tag: New Jersey Heart and Lung Center

Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects the Entire Body

Posted on by Judah

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is usually associated with pain and swelling in the joints. However, it can cause long-term damage throughout the body.

Unlike osteoarthritis, which is a wear-and-tear disease, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that RA causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue as though it were diseased tissue. RA is also an inflammatory disease, meaning that it causes inflammation in healthy tissue. Finally, RA is a systemic disease, meaning that the inflammation it causes can wreak havoc throughout the body, particularly if the disease is untreated.

The inflammation of RA can affect different parts of the body in a variety of ways.

The Joints

Although RA is usually associated with the joints in the hands and feet, it can also affect joints throughout the body, including the spine, the neck, the shoulders, the hips, the knees, and the ankles.

RA usually targets the synovium, the lining of the joints, inflaming it and causing it to swell. This leads to pain and stiffness in the affected joint. The inflammation also causes the cartilage between the bones to break down, causing severe pain and permanent damage in those with advanced RA.

The Nerves

The inflammation of RA can compress nerves, particularly in the hands or feet. If RA attacks the wrist, it can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Brain

Psychological and neurological symptoms, such as depression, brain fog, and behavioral or cognitive changes, can occur with RA. These are sometimes a result of nerve compression due to inflammation in the joints, or may result from systemic inflammation throughout the body. Medications for RA may also lead to cognitive issues.

The Heart

RA can cause life-threatening inflammation in the heart and blood vessels. Untreated, RA can lead to anemia, headaches, and fatigue. RA’s inflammation can damage the blood vessels, allowing plaque to build up more easily inside the arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The lining of the heart can also become inflamed, causing chest pain.

The Lungs

RA affects the lungs 80% of the time, though it is not usually severe enough to cause symptoms. Some people, however, have enough lung inflammation to develop pulmonary fibrosis, a scarring of the lung tissue which can cause breathing difficulties.

The Bones

RA can cause osteoporosis, which is a loss of bone density and increase in bone brittleness. As is common with osteoporosis, it can lead to an increased risk of bone fracture.

RA is a progressive disease, and if left untreated, the symptoms will increase in severity, spread to other parts of the body, or both.

The most important action someone with RA can take is to see a doctor who will tailor a treatment plan for their symptoms. The plan should maximize the person’s mobility, while minimizing their pain and slowing the progression of their disease.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.

What is the A1c Test? (Diabetes)

Posted on by Judah

Since diabetes is defined by its abnormal blood sugar levels, it makes sense that tests for diabetes measure the amount of sugar in the blood. However, blood glucose tests have a downside: they offer only a snapshot of blood glucose levels at the moment the blood is drawn, not broader information about longer-term blood sugar control. Today, a new test is displacing the blood glucose test as the standard for blood sugar measurement and control: the A1c test.

The A1c test measures the HgbA1c level in the blood. What is HgbA1c? Let’s break it down:

Hgb stands for hemoglobin, the component of red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the cells in the body.

A stands for Adult, but that term is used rather loosely. With hemoglobin, an adult is anyone over the age of six months. There are other types of hemoglobin in the blood, but in anyone older than six months, virtually all of it is Type A.

1 refers to the type of HgbA in the blood. There are several types of HgbA in the blood, but 98% of it is Type 1.

c is a sub-type of HgbA1. Here is where blood sugar enters the picture. Glucose attaches itself to hemoglobin, in particular to type c hemoglobin. In fact, two-thirds of a person’s glycated hemoglobin is HgbA1c, making this particular sub type of hemoglobin the best marker for blood glucose levels.

The more HgbA1c in the blood, the more sugar in the blood.

Advantages of the A1c test

The A1c test:

  1. Reports how well blood sugar has been controlled over the last three months, not just at the moment of the blood test.
  2. Does not require fasting, so it can be given at any time.
  3. Is not as likely as a fasting glucose test to be affected by stress or illness.
  4. Reveals prediabetes, not just diabetes, which makes it an especially useful diagnostic tool.

Like other glucose tests, home kits are available for the A1c test.

A1c Test Results

An A1c level below 5.7% is normal.

An A1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates prediabetes.

An A1c level above 6.5% indicates high blood sugar.

An A1c level above 6.5% on two separate tests is diagnostic of diabetes.

Like all tests, the A1c is not foolproof. A variety of conditions, including excessive alcohol intake or anemia, can yield inaccurate results. Moreover, there are times when a diabetic needs to see a snapshot of their blood glucose level, and not just a three-month average. However, for long-term blood sugar management, the A1c has become an invaluable tool in the diabetic toolkit.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.

Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.

Dangerous Myths about Senior Falls

Posted on by Judah

The leading cause of fatal injury in older people? A fall. The leading cause of nonfatal injury in older people? A fall. The most common way for a senior to lose their independence? You guessed it: a fall.

The statistics on falls among older people are sobering:

One in every four senior citizens falls every year in the US.
Every eleven seconds, a senior goes to the emergency room because of a fall.
Every nineteen minutes, a senior dies as the result of a fall.

Yet, many seniors are reluctant to consider the possibility of falling.
If there is a senior in your life, make sure they do not fall prey to one of these 3 dangerous, but all-too-common, myths about falling.

“I’m not at risk of falling because I don’t do anything dangerous. I just stay at home.”
More than half of all senior falls occur in the home, while the person is doing a task no more dangerous than getting out of a chair or going to the bathroom.
It is important to do a falls risk assessment in the home of every older person. Simple steps such as increasing the lighting, especially in the bathroom and on the way to the bathroom; removing throw rugs; and installing grab bars can dramatically decrease the risk of falling.
“Getting weaker is normal. There’s nothing to do about it.”
A senior might feel that loss of strength is a natural part of aging. While it’s true that strength generally decreases with age, exercise — particularly exercise that focuses on fall prevention — can help a senior keep the strength, balance, and flexibility they need to prevent a fall.
“I don’t want to use a cane because I will become dependent on it.”
Surprisingly, even when advised by a doctor to use a cane, many seniors refuse. They may be afraid that using a cane will lead them on the path to needing more and more intensive support, like a walker or wheelchair.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

If a senior uses a cane when advised to, they are more likely to avoid falling. But if they ignore the suggestion, they become more prone to a fall. And once they fall, they are likely to need much more support than a mere cane.

If your older loved one believes any of these dangerous myths, it is crucially important to change their thinking. Doing so can save their independence, and even their life.

At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities.

Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.