Imagine being told that someone you love is suffering with end-stage kidney failure but you had an opportunity to give that person a better quality of life?
The choice to donate a kidney to a loved one is growing. In fact, in the first quarter of 2010, more than 1,500 people in the U.S. received a kidney from a living donor, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.
By: Kim Richard
Each day, approximately 77 people receive a second chance at life thanks to an organ transplant.
At Mayo Clinic, there is a dedicated team of people who make transplants possible. In addition to the physicians, surgeons, nurses, social workers, therapists and other healthcare workers, Mayo Clinic’s team includes several specialists who help determine whether available organs are viable for our patients.
You can become an organ and tissue donor by joining Florida’s state registry or by carrying a donor card in your wallet. Join Florida’s donor registry by signing up at your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Talk to your family and loved ones about your decision to donate and how important it is for them to carry out your request. There are no age restrictions for organ donors, and there is no cost to the donor’s family.
For more information, visit these helpful sites:
www.optn.org (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network)
www.UNOS.org (United Network for Organ Sharing)
By Brittney Head, Special to Healthsource
Summer is in full swing and that means the pool and beach are beckoning. But if you’re a parent, water safety is even more important.
An alarming number of children die every day as a result of drowning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years. Approximately three children a day are victims of the water; up to four more may receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
By Kimberly Richard
Well, that’s what I thought before… May is Stroke Awareness Month, and most young people will not think about their personal risk for stroke during the next 30 days. And why should they? About 700,000 people have a stroke annually in the United States and most are over age 50.
I was surprised to learn that stroke can strike at any age and just because I’m young, doesn’t mean I’m immune.
The biggest risk factors, regardless of age, include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and heart disease.
Nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke annually – that’s approximately one person every 45 seconds!
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and can affect men, women and even children. It is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. The key to surviving a stroke is awareness and prompt medical attention. Learn more at a free stroke education event offered by
Mayo Clinic’s Comprehensive Stroke Center .
Join us anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, May 7 for a free stroke education seminar and free stroke risk assessments.
Asthma is a serious health issue. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, children ages five to 17 missed about 13 million school days due to asthma. Asthma also accounts for about ten million missed work days for adults annually. A former Wake Forest medical school faculty member with a background in medical education and a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology, Dr. Raquel Watkins’ own research has focused on asthma related quality of life and her recent review in World Asthma Organization highlights that, with appropriate preventive strategies, asthma can be controlled in many patients. Partnering with an allergist can help.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, in addition to partnering with your allergist, for children in particular it is also important to communicate with your child’s school. Keeping your child safe at school is a team effort. School nurses, teachers and other school personnel need to know as much about your child’s asthma or allergies as possible. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your child stays healthy throughout the school year. Here are a few of those steps from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website.
• Schedule a meeting with teachers and the school nurse to discuss your child’s condition.
• Teach your child how to correctly take his or her medications.
• Review your child’s triggers. Encourage him or her to ask a teacher for help when symptoms worsen.
• Make sure physical education teachers and coaches know about your child’s asthma. Let them know the warning signs of an asthma attack.
• Make sure your child has his or her medications (especially a quick-relief inhaler or autoinjectable epinephrine) with them at school. Talk to school personnel about letting your child carry these medications with them throughout the day.
For more information on asthma in children, visit www.WatkinsClinic.com. Join us again next Friday for additional information on Allergy and Asthma diagnosis and treatment.
Reducing the Risk of Contracting Cancer through Prevention and Education
Knowing When it’s Time to See an Allergist
As we begin Asthma and Allergy season, one of the most common questions that people ask themselves is whether they need to be tested for allergies. Sometimes taking over the counter temporary remedies isn’t enough to stave off the irritating effects of seasonal allergies, and for those suffering with animal and food allergies, the threat of illness is year round.
Did you know, at least one out of every 5 Americans suffers from allergies? April is Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month, and the physicians and staff at Watkins Allergy & Asthma Clinic want to educate HealthSource readers on important issues related to these potentially serious conditions.
Allergies are often associated with specific times of year, but for many people, dealing with the effects of allergies can be a daily occurrence. Many things can cause allergic reactions, but there are several common causes of allergy symptoms.
