Non-pharmacological Interventions Series
I feel like I focus on medication A LOT on here. Most of that comes from the fact that during nursing school, we’re often not taught as much about the things that are not pharmaceutical. We hear it in passing, but we don’t go into much detail.
So I’m going to do a series on these non-pharmacological interventions. Its important that we tell our residents/patients that there is more than “drugs” that fix their problems. In fact, most doctors and physicians will want you to try these interventions first before prescribing medications.
Here’s my list I came up with. Let me know if there’s more you would like me to cover:
1) Yoga
2) Meditation
3) Essential Oils: Peppermint
4) Essential Oils: Lavender
5) Essential Oils: Lemongrass
6) Essential Oils: Eucalyptus
7) “Medicinal Teas” (Still should speak to a doctor.)
8) Dietary Modifications
7 notes
·
View notes
Wear A Mask
So. *deep breath* As we all know, there is a worldwide pandemic going on. Coronavirus is... A whole different monster than what I, or any of us, could anticipate. What the heck happened? We were supposed to have a summer break from this disease. Lets analyze this together..
Wearing a mask is apparently controversial. I find this hilarious, as a nurse. However, I understand that masks are uncomfortable. I do. Every time I have a patient or resident that requires PPE, of course I groan. All nurses groan. Its hot, makes you sweat, its more difficult to breathe. I get it...
But then again, I don’t. This is not a matter of comfort-ability. This is a matter of life and death for many lives. I know many people would say that I am a “fear monger”. Frankly, I’d like to drop some facts. I don’t believe that I am a fear monger.
In the US, as of today, there are 134k deaths caused by coronavirus. That’s 134k deaths since January 20, 2020, the first recorded case in the US. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/us-cases-deaths.html)
Influenza accrued roughly 24,000 – 62,000. Those are preliminary results as of April 2020, from our Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm)
Lung cancer accounts for 135k deaths, according to NIH. (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html)
Strokes account for 140k. CDC.
Heart attacks account for 647k. CDC.
As of recently, I’ve seen many people say that they won’t wear a mask because of the death rate of coronavirus being minute compared to other diseases (like cancer, strokes, etc)
So, here’s the thing... Death of any kind of cause is horrible. Its absolutely horrible. There’s no sugarcoating a death. However, I feel like I need to say this.
Cancer, heart issues, and a variety of other abnormalities in the body are HORRIBLE. This, though, is not an excuse not to wear a mask.
Wearing a Mask Won’t Prevent Me from Getting Coronavirus (FALSE)
A mask won’t prevent you from spreading cancer. A mask won’t prevent you from spreading strokes. A mask won’t prevent you from spreading heart attacks. These sentences are so simple.. but let me spell it out for those who don’t understand. Wearing a mask won’t prevent you from spreading those diseases because they’re NONCOMMUNICABLE. You can’t spread them.
The mask is not to prevent YOU from getting it. The mask is to prevent you, a possible/probable asymptomatic carrier, from spreading it to others. These others include your friends and family that you may see at the grocery store. No, it does not prevent you from getting the disease. It prevents you from spreading it. However, if two people wear masks, there’s an increased chance that neither of you will spread it.
https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/what-to-know/symptoms-prevention/masks/wearing-mask
Wearing a Mask Will Cause CO2 Poisoning (FALSE)
That, my dears, is from the World Health Organization.
Antibodies After Having Coronavirus (True...Kinda? Basically false.)
Well, yes, technically you will gain antibodies. However, most patients are showing that two months after you’re taken off isolation from coronavirus, your antibodies are disappearing.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/06/chinese-study-antibodies-covid-19-patients-fade-quickly
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/health/coronavirus-antibodies.html
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/how-long-do-covid19-antibodies-last-new-research-weighs-in/
So PLEASE. Wear a mask.
5 notes
·
View notes