Health Node - Your Health, Nutrition, and Weight Loss Portal

The Salk SnapWrap Deluxe Adult Reusable Convalescent Gown is a very useful clothing wear for patients who are in the hospital and even in clinics or home health facilities. However, they can be pretty depressing for patients who are constantly reminded of their hospital stay because of the dull prints of the gowns. It’s a good thing that this hoem medical equipment comes in different designs that are not at all dreary but creates a cheerful atmosphere.

The gowns are styled as a wrap around wear so that the patient gets the most comfort especially when he has to be examined. The 50-50 poly-cotton cloth is also cooler and more comfortable for the wearer and the shoulder snaps easily secures the gown even without the help of a health aide.

The gowns are 41 inches long and comes in a size that is expected to fit all. Those who are scheduled or have just undergone surgery can benefit from this gown since the IV tubes can easily slid in the armholes so they are easily changed for the patient’s comfort.

Tagged with: 41 inches long • 50-50 poly-cotton cloth • Home Medical Equipment • one size fits all • Salk SnapWrap Deluxe Adult Reusable Convalescent Gown

New mothers and evne those giving birth to their babies for the nth time can benefit from the Hollister Purely Yours Professional Breast Pump with Carry All.  Breastfeeding has always been recommended by health authorities and if you’e doing just that you are probably suffering from ovr supply of milk from your breasts making it hurt like hell. 

With a professional breast pump such as this you can easily pump the extra milk that comes out after your baby is satiated milking straight from your breast adn you can then put it in sanitized baby bottles so he can drink it up later on when you need to go on errands and he needs to feed. You can even donate your extra milk to milk banks for babies who need breastmilk but whose mothers can’t provide them for one reason or another.

This home medical equipment comes with a pump with an adjustable settings for suction so that you can adjust it to stimulate your baby’s nursing pattern. This gadget can maximize milk production while ensuring your comfort. It works with AA batteries or you can use the AC adapter when you’re near a port. The best thing about this home medical equipment is that it can all be lugged around in one pack that keeps the stored milk cool for up to 10 hours. The pumps ae very hygienic and you can be sure that the milk is safe from contaminants due to the closed milk collection system. You can even operate the pump right from the tote bag for more privacy.

The microfiber Carry All Bag contains the breast pump, AC Power adapter, dual HygieniKit, milk storage gudie magnet and the Cool’N Carry tote bag which is insulated.

Tagged with: Hollister Purely Yours Professional Breast Pump with Ca • Home Medical Equipment

The Advantage Digital Wrist BP Monitor is a necessary gadget even for those who have already bought the bigger digital blood pressure monitors. This home medical equipment is the most logical solution for those who have hypertension specifically for those whose blood pressures can easily shot up and down. Even hypertensive patients in hospitals can wear this so they do not need to wait for the nurses and other health practitioners to monitor their conditions.

This home medical equipment is very handy so you can wear it even while doing your daily chores. The best thing about this is that it feels like the ordinary wristwatch but it allows you to monitor your pulse, systolic and diastolic pressure in an instant. It has awrist cuff that can fit wrists from 5 to 7 inches plus an auto off feature so you don’t waste batteries.

It can recall up to the last 90 readings so you can easily monitor your blood pessure reading for certain periods and evaluate your health condition for that period. When you are nto usign this gadget you can easily slid it in its compact case. At $53 this is a very good buy.

Tagged with: ADvantage Digital Wrist BP Monitor • compact case • diastolic • Home Medical Equipment • pulse • systolic

Research proves that yogurt is not just a diet food. Evidence is growing that it is packed with microscopic warriors - beneficial bacteria that are a must for good health.

The National Institute of Nutrition states a cup of yogurt (250 mg) contains 370 mg of calcium. This is 30 - 40 % of most adults’ daily needs. As well, at eight grams of protein per cup, yogurt meets 20 - 25 % of the average daily needs of an adult and is a good source of the B vitamins. And, a cup of yogurt contains 250 mg of potassium - almost as much as a banana does.

Yogurt sets up an efficient little factory in the intestinal tract and manufactures B vitamins for you and also provides lactic acid, which aids protein, calcium and iron assimilation.

For those on a low calorie diet, yogurt is a great food in any case. It is easily available anywhere, is a snack that tastes great at any time of the day; it is low in calories and can be sufficiently filling when eaten combined with a high-fiber vegetable or fruit.

Yogurt may just be the perfect food.

Tagged with: B vitamins • beneficial bacteria • calcium • potassium • protein • yogurt

Quinoa tastes great, and it is one of the most nutritious whole grains available on the planet. Ostrich complements the robust flavors of quinoa, tomatoes, and spices. Ostrich is a red meat closer in taste and texture to beef than chicken. If you can’t find it, ground turkey will do in a pinch. When you toss in a heap of veggies, you’re left with a stand-alone hearty, delicious, and highly nutritious meal that will satisfy the appetite of two hungry people. This recipe is easy, and can be completed in 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground ostrich, or ground turkey
½ cup dry quinoa
3 cups water
1 small can (6 oz) tomato paste
½ medium onion
½ cup corn kernels
pepper strips
½ tsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
½ tsp salt
Tabasco sauce, to taste

Instructions

1. Bring the quinoa to a boil in 3 cups water and a pinch of salt. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Set a timer for 30 minutes.
2. Brown the ground ostrich and onions in a nonstick skillet. Add the corn and peppers and toss over high heat until vegetables are thoroughly thawed and start to brown.
3. After 10-15 minutes remove the lid from the quinoa and stir-in the tomato paste until mixed. Add the browned ostrich and vegetables, stir, and then add the spices. Mix completely, cover, and simmer on low heat for the remainder of the time, or until you have the desired consistency (should be fairly thick).

Makes 2 servings.

Tagged with: most nutritious whole grain • Ostrich • quinoa • recipe

Our kids are eating more sugar and getting fatter; with the average yearly consumption per person being approximately 135 pounds! As well, research indicates an over-consumption of white, refined sugar weakens the immune system, can trigger violent behavior and other behavioral problems in children, causes dental decay and robs precious vitamins and minerals from a child’s body.

Don’t despair. You can still satisfy the youngster’s sweet tooth with natural sweeteners that are more nutritionally sound with the following:

Organic maple syrup: Substitute 2/3 to 1/4 cup maple syrup for 1 cup white sugar. Maple syrup is a good source of potassium and calcium.

Maple sugar: Maple sugar can be used in a variety of baked goods. Substitute 1 cup of maple sugar for 1 cup of white sugar.

Sucanat: Sucanat contains more vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients than white sugar. It is an all-purpose sweetener for baking, cooking and hot drinks and should be used in a 1 to 1 replacement for white sugar.

Barley malt syrup: Barley malt syrup is half as sweet as white sugar and is best used in combination with other sweeteners. Barley malt syrup contains a variety of trace minerals and vitamins. 1½ cup of barley malt is equal to ½ cup of white sugar.

Date sugar: It is high in fiber and contains folic acid. It can be used to make toppings for pies and fruit crisps or for baking breads, cakes and muffins. Date sugar can be used in a 1 to 1 replacement for white sugar.

Tagged with: Barley malt syrup • behavioral problems • Date sugar • Maple sugar • Organic maple syrup • Sucanat

People of all ages live such hectic lifestyles, that eating nutritious meals is seen as something of a luxury to. However, this healthy eating dilemma is greater for the typical business traveler.

The second biggest source of unhealthy food for a typical business traveler is at the airport. They offer travelers a selection of fast foods or snack foods that are usually very high in carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, and high in calories.

So if the airport is the second largest source of unhealthy food, then what is the first? Without doubt, it is on the airplane itself.

Indeed, according to a recent study, the average meal served by airlines in all service classes tops 1000 calories. But this problem goes beyond calories. Almost 45% of the 1000+ calories in an airline meal come from fat.

Some awareness is happening in the world of business traveler nutrition; however this awareness is not happening fast enough. Business travelers need more nutritious food.

A few nutritionally sound products are generating positive feedback from business travelers. Taken as either a supplement or a meal on its own, these nutritional products, which offer a complete range of essential vitamins, can help business travelers stay healthy in ways that fit into their busy, time-conscious lives.

You can find these products on the internet, but be sure to check for airline restrictions.

Tagged with: business traveler • Carbohydrates • high in calories • unhealthy food • unsaturated fats

Proteins are the natural choice when a patient is faced with diabetes. If diabetes is uncontrolled, muscle protein is broken down into amino acids and converted into glucose by the liver. Proteins have to supply enough energy to substitute for carbohydrates and proteins are broken down faster than they are made. If this happens the body ends up with a protein deficit which affects normal body functions.

A protein deficit has been shown to impair resistance to infections in diabetics.

Nutrition therapy for diabetes has progressed from prevention of obesity or weight gain to improving the effectiveness of insulin. With this new approach, a high protein diet (30% of total food energy) is a very pertinent part of nutrition therapy.

It is speculated that a high protein diet has a favorable effect in diabetes due to the ability of proteins and amino acids to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas.

As well, dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein come highly recommended. A protein supplement containing casein can increase the amount of energy manufactured from every meal and, at the same time, reduce the need for pharmacological insulin.

Ask your health care professional about your dietary protein needs if you have diabetes.

Tagged with: diabetes • diabetics • protein deficit • proteins

Blood pressure is defined as the force that is pushed along the arteries every time the heart beats. Therefore, blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart has to work to pump blood.

The pumping action is known as systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats and the blood pressure falls, is known as diastolic pressure. Blood pressure is measured using a blood pressure cuff and recorded as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. The top number indicates the systolic pressure and the bottom indicates the diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure is lower than 120/80. Blood pressure in children is much lower than in the adults since pressure rises as a person ages.

The systolic and diastolic reading of 140/90 or higher indicates high blood pressure. This can result in a faster heartbeat as the heart tries to pump the blood. This could lead to stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems.

Severe medical problems can cause blood pressure to rise. Arteries may become hardened and narrowed with cholesterol plaque and calcium, resulting in the heart having to pump harder.

Blood pressure is important to pay attention to as high blood pressure is linked to hypertension, which leads to heart attack.

Ask your doctor about your blood pressure.

Tagged with: blood pressure • diastolic pressure • heart attack • hypertension • systolic pressure

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a device designed for individuals with certain forms of heart disease or defects that put them at recurring risk of sustained ventricular fibrillation, or cardiac arrest. They are a sort of pacemaker. The device is implanted either within the chest itself, or more recently, within the blood vessels which eliminates the need for open chest surgery.

An implantable defibrillator, or ICD, uses leads positioned near the heart to deliver electronic pulses when it is detected that a cardiac rhythm is out of sync. The device can also, if necessary, stimulate a consistent pace or beat if the heart is unable to do so on its own.

Internal defibrillators are only used in cases where a patient has shown consistent, recurring risk of cardiac arrest or attack do to fibrillation. As with any invasive surgery, an ICD is not to be taken lightly, but they have been extraordinarily useful in preventing sudden deaths among patients who elect to have them implanted.

If you are wondering if you are a candidate for an ICD, check with your regular doctor or cardiologist. Only they can determine whether you are in need of an internal defibrillator. However, if you have been found to be at recurring risk for rhythm interruptions, an ICD may be a treatment option for you.

Consult your doctor for more information about whether an ICD is right for you.

Tagged with: ICD • implantable cardioverter defibrillator • internal defibrillator • pacemaker