The most common type of cancer is that which affects the lungs, known as lung cancer. This type of cancer is the leading cause of deaths in the united states and can affect both men and women. Smokers are at higher risk of having this type of cancer. Some of the symptoms of lung cancer are coughs that do not go away, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain. Some treatment methods are PALS and chemotherapy which is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. There is radiation therapy which is the use of radiation to kill the cancerous cells. There are other ways to cope with some of the complications associated with lung cancer. Among these are Yoga, meditation, and massage.

Other types of cancer are leukemia which is the least of the dangerous diseases. Some of the other types are colon/rectal, kidney, bladder, breast, pancreatic, prostate, and thyroid. Most cancers have their own distinctive signs and symptoms where as some of the signs and symptoms may be similar. For this reason it is a good idea to have a properly trained professional perform an examination to determine if in fact you do have cancer and if so the type.

Some cancers are not preventable such as if you received the disease through heredity, but some can be avoided in ways as avoiding risk factors, such as not smoking, take measures to assist in reducing air pollution, do not drink alcohol, regular exercise and eat right. These are just some of the risk factors. There are by far many more. Avoiding all of these risk factors is not a definite method of never getting cancer. If you maintain regular check ups with your doctor and follow his/her instructions if cancer is found, determining on the type you can still lead a long life. Being pro active is the main thing in dealing with this and any other medical problem that can occur. As the old saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Strokes can affect men and women who are typically 55 years and older. Other risk factors that can increase chances of having a stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of stroke, cigarette smoking (and exposure to second hand smoke), diabetes, being overweight, lack of exercise, using birth control pills, heavy (or binge) drinking, head injury, using drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines. African Americans are also more likely to have strokes than other races. Lastly, because the risk of stroke increases with age and women tend to have a longer life span than men, more women die from stroke each year.

There are two categories of stroke—ischemic and hemorrhagic. The most common is ischemic strokes as it affects 90% of stroke victims. Narrow or blocked arteries cause blood flow to be drastically reduced and cause the brain to be oxygen deprived. Two types of ischemic strokes occur. Thrombotic stroke is a type of ischemic stroke that happens when a blood clot (thrombus) forms within one of the arteries that take oxygenated blood to the brain. Embolic stroke happens when a blot clot forms in a blood vessel away from your brain (most times in the heart). The clot travels through the blood stream and lodges in a narrow brain artery.

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a hemorrhage (bleeding) occurs from leaking or rupturing of a brain blood vessel. In an intracerebral hemorrhage, a blood vessel within the brain bursts and spills into the surrounding brain tissue. Brain cells are damaged due to oxygen deprivation. High blood pressure typically causes this type of brain bleed. Subarachnoid hemorrhages happen when a bleed starts in an artery near the surface of the brain and spills into the space between the patient’s skull and brain. This type of bleed is signaled by a severe “thunderclap” headache and is typically caused by the bursting of an aneurysm which may have been lying dormant in the patient since birth.

A key component to surviving a stroke is to recognize the symptoms associated with stroke. One or more of the following symptoms may be a caution to seek medical attention: trouble with walking (stumbling or loss of balance), difficulty swallowing, trouble speaking and understanding, paralysis or numbness on one side of the body or face, trouble seeing out of one or both of your eyes, or a severe headache (accompanied with vomiting, dizziness, or loss of consciousness). The patient should contain 911 or go straight to the hospital without delay. The longer the patient waits the more danger or damage could be occurring. Early detection and preventative measures are what save lives with regards to stroke.

Health care professionals have been raising awareness of CAD for years now and how patients can prevent and manage this disease that effects millions of people every year that also leads to heart attacks.  If you are a medical professional consider taking an ACLS course, especially if you work in areas like Emergency Department, ICU, or PACU.  This course helps in increasing the knowledge of heart arrhythmias and how to intervene with the appropriate treatments.

CAD effects the vessels of the heart.  It damages the vessels and causes blockages to occur that restricts blood flow to the muscle of the heart, leading to heart attack or even death.  Diet, Exercise and Medications can help in managing CAD.  Although the ACLS course does not include CAD in it’s algorithms, it certainly includes heart attacks and how to intervene quickly and provide the appropriate treatments.  Diet is important in preventing or helping the disease.  Low fat and increase in vegetables are highly recommended.  Also, eliminate saturated fats.  These types of fats are very harmful for your vessels.

Exercise helps strengthen the heart’s muscle.  It is recommended to perform at least 30 minutes a day three times a week.  The ACLS course is approved by the American Heart Association and most medical professionals should consider taking this course and the certification is valid for 2 years.  Exercise also helps with the cholesterol portion to help keep the vessels from clogging with plaque.

It is important to keep follow up appointments with your primary care doctor for recommendations in medications that may be needed to help with CAD.  Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor are all medications that may be needed to help with CAD in preventing plaque from building up inside the vessels.  The ACLS course will teach you how to recognize heart related problems and how you should follow the algorithm for each particular arrhythmia.  Medications will not cure CAD, but will help in prevention.  Blood work will also need to be done on a regular basis to help regulate medicine and monitor cholesterol levels.

Valleys are where two roof planes intersect. This area is where a lot of rain may run down the roof in this area. Some roofers use roll roofing to seal this area, others use ice and water shield barrier and also lace the shingles together for extra protection. Sometimes the water will run under the shingles and cause leaks if not properly installed or if the leak barrier is worn down due to a lot of storm weather, sun, and humidity.

Step flashing may be causing a leak. The step flashing is located where a roof climbs along a vertical wall. If the flashing is not properly installed under the shingles and sealed with caulking it will cause leaks and begin to rust.

Shingles must be properly installed for they will have a lot of wear and tear on them thru the years. Shingles may become loose or even missing after a large rain or hail storm. This can cause leaking in that area.

Nail holes may be small but can cause a BIG leak. After several years, nails may become loose and after time rust. Some nails even pop out all together and leave these tiny holes. Over time the rain will start to make its way into the hole and cause problems.

Plumbing flashings are also known to leak after time. These plumbing flashings may need to be replaced. But some plumbing flashings may only need to be sealed.

Then there is Chimney leaks. These are prone to leak around flashing at the base of the chimney You may also need a new chimney cap . Chimney caps can become loose over time and rust causing leaks as well. Sometimes a ice and water shield barrier may need to be applied to the brick of the chimney to stop the leak. A roofing contractor can usually detect where the leak is coming in.

If a new roof has been installed and a leak becomes present, you should contact the roofing company that installed the roof and they should come out and inspect your roof for you. In come cases it may be detected that it is not something that was actually anything they could have done different so a service charge may apply. Always make sure to ask if there will be a service charge for a return visit. When a roof repair is completed and payment is made you should receive a warranty for the work preformed and if there is any issue with the same leak the roofing contractor should come back out free of charge in the warranty time frame you ahve been given.

It is very important for everyone to learn CPR.  There is training available to learn to save a life other than medical personnel.  CPR stands for Cardio (meaning the heart), Pulmonary (meaning the lungs) and Resuscitation (meaning to revive).  The skills can be utilized by everyone.  Mothers, people at church, daycare centers,etc.  could learn the skills to intervene in saving a life.  The majority of the time a cardiac arrest will be witnessed by friends or relatives, and knowing what to do can provide a healthy outcome.  Moms can learn the skills to save their child/children’s lives, especially around swimming pools, or if the child gets hurt while riding a bike or four wheeler.

Learn the skills of CPR by attending a class.  The Medical Academy offers classes in CPR, ACLS, and PALS.  The courses are approved by the American Heart Association.  Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certification card.  Most classes are 1-2 days of training.  There is a written exam and a hands on station for you to demonstrate the skills to pass the course.  You never know when you will be the one that witnesses a person in cardiac arrest, will you know what to do?