The Silent Killer

It is said that Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a silent killer because it causes damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart, and brain, and in most cases this occurs without any symptoms.  Elevated blood pressure is many times discovered during a routine medical office visit.  Well, there is another silent killer and it's called Sleep Apnea.  Sleep apnea occurs when there is an obstruction in your airway due to relaxation of the soft tissue in the back of your throat. This obstruction causes your breathing to start and stop repeatedly. When this happens, you may have a dip in your oxygen level which then causes you to have less oxygen being sent to your organs such as your heart and brain.

Over the years, research has shown untreated sleep apnea is linked to many health problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, heart failure, diabetes, stroke, depression and obesity. One of these possible effects of untreated sleep apnea is atrial fibrillation. This is an irregular and fast heart beat that causes poor blood flow to your body. Atrial fibrillation can also lead to blood clots forming in the heart which may travel to other parts of the body.

There have been many cases where someone dies in their sleep due to cardiac arrest. What you don't hear about is that it was most likely untreated sleep apnea causing this cardiac arrest.  The scenario is this: the untreated sleep apnea caused an arrhythmia (such as atrial fibrillation), a clot formed, this clot travels to the heart causing ischemia, then a heart attack occurs. The patient dies in their sleep.

This is why I tell you sleep apnea is a silent killer. The symptoms associated with sleep apnea are excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, snoring, headaches, abrupt awakenings, and attention problems. But some patients report not having any symptoms yet when they are tested due to having high blood pressure, for example, they do have sleep apnea despite not having symptoms.

If you have high blood pressure, that in itself is a reason to get screened for sleep apnea, even if you don't have symptoms. It's better to know if you have sleep apnea and it is treatable. I and our team in our clinic want to help as many patients with sleep apnea get treated and go on to live their lives as fully and healthy as possible. Let's stop this silent killer sleep apnea. Get screened.

Thanks for reading this months blog and we look forward to serving you.

Compassion

Everyone has their own struggles.  You have yours.  Your next door neighbor has theirs.  I have mine.  On a daily basis, we interact with so many people.  Usually these interactions go fairly smoothly.  Sometimes you meet people you don't really understand though.  Years ago I learned that you never know what someone else is going through.  You don't know if they just lost a loved one, if they got let go from a job.  They may have been diagnosed with an illness, or may be getting separated or divorced.

I remember having a patient years ago that I dreaded seeing in clinic.  He was always impatient and made snarky comments every visit.  But remembering that my job was not to judge, I knew that my job was to take care of his medical problems and help him as much as was in my power.  So every visit I tried to keep my cool and just do my best.  One day, he told me that he had lost his wife one year earlier.  He got very quiet and started crying.  All of these memories and sadness overcame him.  It made sense why he was always so bitter and angry.  He was a man who had lost his love.  We talked about his wife and he shared some stories with me.

So, again, I don't always remember, but I try.  I try to keep in mind:

1. We all have our struggles.
2. We are all human (so don't be so hard on yourself and others).
3. We need to have compassion and help one another.

Thank you for reading my post.  Hugs and peace.....Aloha! ;-)

Here's a great song from Mercy Me....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GXI0B4iMLuU

Resolution

A resolution is defined as "a firm decision to do or not do something".  It's important for millions of people across the globe.  An annual effort or attempt to make a change in your life.  The intent is a positive one.  I like to partake in this ritual every year.  I figure wether it's attainable or not is besides the point.  At least we're trying to make a positive change, and that's what counts.

I've been thinking about what my resolution would be.  I was going to do my standard lose weight resolution that I say every year.  Then I had an epiphany!  What is it we all need that makes life so much better?  Something that if we didn't have, life would be a bore.  Ok, some of you are thinking sex.  That's true too.  But what I'm talking about is humor.

Humor is one of the most important ways to make your days brighter, fuller, through laughter.  Helpguide.com says laughter is good for your health.  Laughter relaxes the whole body, relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.  It boosts the immune system, decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, which improves your resistance to disease.  Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.  Laughter can even protect the heart by improving the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

So, with this in mind, I wish you a wonderful 2014 filled with great new memories made and lots of humor through laughter.  So loosen up a little, release your inhibitions, and count your blessings. Find the humor in situations.  You'll be more relaxed, enjoy life more, and all while smiling.  

Hugs and love,
Laura

Here's a funny clip from Ellen:

Ellen tries to find a mate for Loni Love

Game Changer

Chase Oaks Pastor Jack Warren gave an insightful, thought provoking sermon and the topic was Game Changing Events.  He spoke about an event in his life that involved his kids who were involved in a car accident.  Thankfully they were fine and no one was badly injured but it definitely served as a reminder to him about how precious life is.  He asked us to define our own game changing moment.  Here's mine....

Raj and I were married about 5 years before we had children.  I have to admit I was pretty selfish and had no idea what having kids was like.  If there's one thing I can do is be honest with myself and I can honestly say I was immature and self-centered at that time.  Then came the day I found out I was pregnant.  I experienced dizziness one morning and told Raj, "I feel dizzy and nauseous.  I think I have vertigo." Raj laughed and said, "Are you sure you're not pregnant?"  I laughed and said, "No. Wait...maybe?!" I quickly did a pregnancy test and low and behold there it was that cross sign on the test stick telling me it wasn't vertigo.
Having my 2 girls has been my life changing event.  No longer was it just Raj and me.  I went from worrying about silly stuff like my clothes and hair (well I still fret about my hair) and instead cared more about what kind of Mom I was going to be and what lessons and values I wanted my kids to learn.  I finally, by the Grace of God, knew what true love is and what it is to put others before myself.  What's your game changer?

Thanks for reading my post this month and May God illuminate your heart.  One last thing I'll leave you with is the new prescription for life my friends and I have been playing around with.
To enjoy your life more, you should:
1. Relax - take time for yourself, wether it's getting a massage, having a glass of wine, or taking 10 minutes to just close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
2. Enjoy - spend more time with your friends or spouse on a date night, take a weekend trip to get away, or as my friend Martin Ortega advocates "Go to more concerts!!" :)
3. Sleep - we need to get enough sleep and quality sleep so we can take on our days at full strength.  In the future I'll be writing a few posts about sleep since it's a critical topic in health and so many have problems with sleep.

Hugs and love,
Laura

Hope and Humanity

If you watch as things occur around you, you see and sense all that is good and wrong with this world.  You see trajedies unfolding.  Your heart breaks causing doubt to stir up within.  On the other side, you can also see the beauty that still exists and is very much alive.  Such is life.  It's bittersweet.  But, something in my heart tells me that this is not all there is.  I will not lose hope for a better tomorrow or even a better today.  There have been times when my life seemed to be falling apart.  Times when my faith may have been shaken.  God always saw me through each trial.  I can't and won't give up or give in.  You mustn't lose hope either.  We all need encouragement and we need to raise each other up as much as possible.  

Psalm 31:24
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Psalm 33:20-22
"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you."

Romans 15:4-6
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:11-12 says:
"And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!  Therefore, since we have such a hope we are very bold."


By the Grace of God, let us keep our faith and hope alive.  Let us be bold.  

Love,
Laura


Gungor, Beautiful Things
http://youtu.be/oyPBtExE4W0

 

Reinventing

I had the pleasure of hearing Seth Godin speak at a Leadership Conference at my Church a few years ago.  He is the master of reinventing one’s self.  I remember him saying that a person reinvents themselves an average of five times in their lifetime.  At the time I hadn’t really thought much about it before.  Although listening to his lecture, it made perfect sense.  Why not reinvent yourself?  Whether it is personally or in business, reinventing one's self could be healthy and much needed.  Some people are quite content with their current lives and that’s great.  But some are always searching to learn more, understand more about others and themselves, and to discover more truth and knowledge.  I have been reading Seth’s blog and recently he published a manuscript called, Brainwashed.  You can download it for free.  I’ll post the link at the end.  He talks about 7 ways to help reinvent yourself.  I’ll talk on each point briefly.

1. Connect – He makes a great point reminding us that today we’re able to connect to anyone in the world.  When I was a little girl, there were no cell phones till I was in middle school and I only knew one person who had one.  My cousin looked like he was holding a brick to his ear.  Today, technology has us connected through social media (facebook, twitter, linkedin, etc.)  You have the ability to not only connect with your friends and family, but to connect with others in the world and to have a greater impact than you’ve ever had before. 
2. Be Generous – Being generous is not only about donating to charity (although that is important also).  It’s about being generous to those who ask you for help.  Helping a fellow colleague, being a mentor, giving your gift of knowledge, compassion or help to someone else and not expecting anything in return.  Godin says, “The generosity economy rewards people who create and participate in circles of gifts. Not the direct I-gave-you-this-you-give-me-that giving and get of a traditional economy, but instead the tribal economy of individuals supporting one another."  I couldn't agree more.
3. Create Art- The art he’s talking about is not traditional art as we know it.  He is talking about making something new, ideas, relationships, connections.  It’s art because it is a new creation and may or may not be enjoyed by everyone.  It’s risky, but it’s art. 
4. Acknowledge the Lizard – He is referring to the prehistoric brain stem we have.  The human brain stem has evolved over millions of years but it is much like the reptilian lizard brain.  I never knew that until I read his article.  But he also goes on to say, that acknowledging the lizard means that we all have the underlying fear of being laughed at.  Again, since creating something new is risky, some may not understand, ridicule or insult it.  We must get beyond that fear and realize risk is there regardless, and creating something new is integral and important. 
5. Ship– This is another way to say that humans loves convenience and simplicity.  So in business, if you’re able to create something that’s a commodity and can ship it out the door almost effortlessly, then you’re on to something very successful. So many will pay for convenience.  So don't let opportunities pass you by in your career or business to attract more customers by making your products available very easily. 
6. Fail – Failing is a part of life.  In order to take risks, failure is inevitable sometimes.  Don’t be afraid to fail.  We’ve all done it.  Keep going.  Rewards are there for those willing to take risks.  
7. Learn – This is probably the most important of all the steps because it makes the other steps possible.  We must learn, keep open minds and pursue knowledge at every stage of life.  Learning is essential to life, and life is essential to learning.   

Thanks for reading my post and here's the link to Seth's manuscript:
http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/docs/brainwash.pdf 

Love and hugs,
Laura 

Work in Progress

This month I am recuperating from a surgery I had last week.  I had a tummy tuck and yes, I am happy to have done it.  I am after all all about reinventing one's self.  So, this month I will simply post a video of one my favorite songs by Big Daddy Weave.  I had wanted to write a more thought provoking post about the act of reinventing yourself but I'll finish it and save it for next month.

Have a great rest of this hot summer month.  Hugs and peace,
Laura

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave