May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke, also known more recently as "brain attack," is a very serious issue in America. A stroke is caused by a blood clot that clogs an artery or blood vessel and disrupts the blood flow to part or parts of the brain. It is the third leading cause of death and the No. 1 cause of adult disability, according to the National Stroke Association.

http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HOME

It is important to become educated about strokes because up to 80% of them are preventable, and if hospital treatment is received within 3 hours of having a stroke, some symptoms may be reversable.
I read a poster in a local hospital recently that coincides with information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke. The poster was designed to give non-medically trained individuals some basic information that might help to recognize a stroke. Instructions were given in the information to have a suspected stroke victim follow a simple set of tasks that would be difficult for someone having a stroke to follow. Those instructions are:

• Ask the individual to smile.
• Ask the individual to raise both arms and keep them raised.
• Ask the individual to speak a simple sentence (coherently). For example, "It is sunny out today."

There is a great deal of information about strokes on both of these sites, as well as across the internet. Please take the time to read more about this topic. When it comes to strokes, time matters. The more time it takes a person to receive medical care, the less chance of brain restoration or survival there is for that individual.

Earning the Grade

There are several different choices available for medical transcription schools. Deciding on the right school might seem like a daunting task at first. However, with some careful research, hard work, and determination, you can be well on your way to earning a degree and working hard to become a successful medical transcriptionist.

Not only are there several different schools to choose from, but there are several different opinions about which school is the right one to choose. The internet is filled with advertisements and advice in regards to today's topic. Regardless, there are still some basic guidelines that might make the decision making process a little easier.

Some things to consider when looking for a medical transcription school are the course curriculum, requirements, and costs. Not all programs are created equally. However, it is important to have a good foundation in medical terminology, anatomy & physicology, and the human body in both health and illness. Also, a thorough training in actual practice of transcribing reports is useful to have. There is a difference in learning information from a text book and actually being able to apply that knowledge afterwards. With some careful research and thought, the right school can be found for medical transcription. It pays to do your homework and look before you leap.

Food for Thought

Children emulate what they observe their parents doing. Parents can set a good example for their children by making healthier food selections. One place to start is by speaking with a dietician at your local hospital. He or she can help to create a healthy diet plan for the individual needs of your family. There is also a wealth of information and tips at: http://mypyramid.gov/. Also worth noting is the "MyPyramid for Kids" section of the site. It includes a PDF explaining the key concepts behind it in addition to educational activities for children and tips for families about nutrition and exercise.

Obesity is a growing topic in the news as more research is uncovering health issues related to obesity. Education about nutrition and exercise might help to alleviate this health issue. If children observe their parents establishing healthy eating practices, they too will begin to eat better foods. This, in turn, would produce another generation of more health-conscious individuals as the cycle of healthy eating habits was taught to the next generation of children.

Smallpox Vaccine

Today is the anniversary of the invention of the smallpox vaccine. It was reported to be the first successful vaccine to be developed, and was invented by an English rural doctor by the name of Dr. Edward Jenner on May 14, 1796. Dr. Jenner was also the originator of the term "vaccine."

Thanks to the amazing discovery of the smallpox vaccine, the total number of deaths in England related to this disease had dropped by two thirds within just 18 months. During that 18 months, 12,000 people had been vaccinated against the illness. Within one year, smallpox was nearly completely wiped out with the help of the World Health Organization. Thanks to Dr. Jenner's contribution to the medical field, countless lives have been saved by these vaccinations.