March 2010 Blog

March has been a very busy month in Parish Nurse Ministry.

We began with our Seniors’ getting together for the first time this year because of all the cancellations due to snow. We were able to celebrate winter birthdays and catch up on our health spots on Shingles and Heart Emergencies. Our time of prayer is always fruitful and we had much to catch up on with each other. Later on March 17th our Family Caregivers got together in our luncheon/support group and we welcomed a couple of new members. We also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.

Virginia Mullin conducted a Vision and Hearing Screening which was very successful as we screened 80 individuals. Several individuals were referred for follow-up for glaucoma and other hearing and vision problems. That same day we sponsored a fund raiser for our Dental Care for the poor program and raised $1200 to be added to the $1520 from the Rice Bowl Grant we received earlier. We will be able to cost share up to 4 appointments at the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic for 34 people.

This month we also sponsored a Women’s Health Program. Twenty five women received clinical breast exams and education on how to examine their breasts monthly. Twenty four women received mammograms and one received a chit for a mammogram in a month. Each woman had to have a medical home to receive the mammogram so that the event also resulted in 5 women having a medical home for future health needs.

As I write this we are entering Holy Week. May you and your family experience the Joy and the Peace of Christ’s Resurrection next Sunday. Georgine Redmond, RN, Ed.D, Parish Nurse

Ron Vincoli Memorial Healthy Heart Fair

On Sunday, February 21 the Parish Nurse Ministry held the Healthy Heart Fair in memory of a dedicated parishioner, Ron Vincoli, who not only was a great volunteer for the Parish Nurse Ministry, but also for many other parish activities. 

The Fair served almost 100 individuals by providing screenings, information, and referrals.  Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross dropped by to meet the organizers, Parish Nurses Virginia Mullin and Georgine Redmond, and to tour the event.

February is Heart Month

Dear Friends,

February is Heart month.  To celebrate this month Parish Nurse Ministry is sponsoring the Ron Vincoli Memorial Heart Healthy Fair on Valentine’s Day, February 14 from noon to 4pm in the school gymnasium.  (Due to the snow, we had to reschedule to Sunday, February 21.)  


The event is FREE and includes cardiac risk assessment, cholesterol and glucose screening, height, weight, body mass calculation, nutrition counseling, blood pressure screening and health education in hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, smoking cessation, exercise and stress management. 


Participants needing referral to medical care will be helped to enroll for appointments.  Participation prizes will be awarded every half hour.  I hope you will come and enjoy our fair.

I am including the following information on stroke and heart attack  and important guidelines for emergency treatment. 

Check our blog for pictures of our heart healthy fair.

                                                                     

Keep your heart healthy,
Georgine Redmond

HEART ATTACK AND STROKE SYMPTOMS

                                                       HEART ATTACK

·        Chest discomfort- including discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few moments or that comes and goes away and comes back.  It could feel like a squeezing pressure or pain.

·        Discomfort in other parts of the upper body.  Could occur in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

·        Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

·        Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea and lightheadedness. (Women are somewhat more likely to have the latter 2 symptoms along with chest discomfort).

Emergency Treatment- even if you are not sure it’s a heart attack don’t wait more than 5 minutes to call 9-1-1.  It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.  Carry 10 grains of aspirin 2 (5 grain tablets) in your wallet.  When you call 9-1-1 you are frequently told to take and chew 2 aspirins.

STROKE

·        Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

·        Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

·        Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

·        Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

·        Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Emergency Treatment- Immediately call 9-1-1.

Note the time symptoms began and record.   A clot busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can prevent long term disability for the most common cause of stroke which is a clot.  This drug must be given within 3 hours of stroke symptoms onset. Don’t take aspirin after a stroke as it could be caused by a brain bleed and aspirin would cause additional additional damage.  

January 2010 Blog: Have a Wonderful New Year!

Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!

In this blog I would like to update you on the current state of the H1N1 epidemic and immunization and talk about resolutions as we enter the New Year. Virginia is one of 4 states that is still experiencing widespread disease, although the cases reported are diminishing each week. The vaccine is now widely available for all ages and they are predicting that we may have another outbreak of the disease in the spring. You can get the immunization on a walk-in basis in all the Fairfax County District offices and it is free (this is per their WEB site). Our nearest office is in Falls Church , 6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500,Falls Church VA 22044. This is close to St. Anthony’s near the Sears store. I suggest you call, however,703-534-8343. Walgreen’s is offering the immunization for $18 and CVS Minute Clinics are advertising that their Minute Clinics are offering this immunization but I could not verify the cost or that this was happening in Virginia. . The INOVA System hospitals are holding clinics by appointment and the fee for the immunization is $23, check their WEB site for specific information.

You have probably heard a lot about resolutions in the last week. Perhaps you are not even interested in making them. Most of us have heard that the most popular resolutions are losing weight, exercise, stop smoking and drinking cessation, or spending more time with family, learning a new skill, get organized, get out of debt, and help others. Catholics often make more spiritual resolutions like, reading and meditating on Scripture daily or frequent reception of the Sacraments. I’d like to offer some practical suggestions for success (we know that only 10% of the people who make resolutions keep them).

1. If you choose to make a resolution, make a list.  Review your list. Take it to prayer .asking God for Wisdom and choose one change that you will implement in the New Year.

2. Start wherever you are and make a specific, achievable plan to accomplish your goal. Acknowledge how difficult change is and affirm your strengths. Get the support of others.

3. Don’t focus on perfection. If you have a set back, immediately begin again. Reward yourself and celebrate the small successes.

4. Most of all, don’t take yourself too seriously, keep your sense of humor and HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!!

Watch the bulletin for Parish Nurse Ministry activities this winter. Remember if our parish school is closed (they follow Fairfax County closures for inclement weather), our activities are cancelled as well.

Peace to you and your family,

Georgine Redmond