January 31, 2018 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

Go Red: February is National Heart Month

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Mind, Body and Spirit

February is a Big Month for ‘Heart Health’ Awareness –

Women’s Heart Week – First week of February.
‘Wear Red’ Day – Friday. February 2nd. #GoRedWearRed
National Heart Month – the entire month of February

‘Get Your Red On’ and Help Spread the Word – Heart Disease is the #1 Cause of Death for Men and Women. (Deaths from cancer, a close second.)

Prevention, symptom awareness, early intervention and treatment of heart disease helps save lives.

Dreamtime Wellness™ is offering FREE Blood Pressure Screening and Simple Relaxation Technique during the month of February. Contact us to set up an appointment. Healthy lifestyle management and decreased cardiac risk factors lead to healthier hearts and lives.

Continue Reading for ‘Steps to a Healthier Heart’ – Continue reading →

November 18, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE-OUT is November 19th

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

Thursday. November 19th. Great American Smoke-Out. STOP NOW!I know, you have heard it all before… But for those of you still smoking, maybe this time it will sink in! You Deserve to be Healthy!

And if you want to Stop Smoking, Help is Available to Make It Easier.

STOP SMOKING TODAY

Know the Risks of Tobacco Use and Smoking –

A set of lungs before, and after a lifetime of smoking

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body
Smoking Causes Coronary Artery Disease and Stroke
Lung Cancer is the most preventable cause of cancer death.
80% of lung cancer deaths are related to smoking
Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also increases the risk for other cancers; the mouth, lips, nose and sinuses, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix, colon/rectum, ovary (mucinous), and acute myeloid leukemia. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014)
In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths; this equals about 480,000 early deaths each year. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014; and US Surgeon General Report 2014)
Tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, causing 87% of lung cancer deaths in men, and 70% of lung cancer deaths in women. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014)
Smoking causes 8 out 0f 10 cases of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.) * 1 in 4 people with COPD never smoked.
Smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke
Smokeless/Chewing Tobacco can cause heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer of the mouth, tongue, cheek, gum, and pancreas.
Second-hand smoke can harm others and increases your risk of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Second-Hand Smoke Harms Others

THE GOOD NEWS – STOP SMOKING and –

Decrease your risk of heart disease; benefits begin immediately after stopping!
2-5 yeas after smoking, your risk for stroke is decreased.
5 years after you stop, your risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder drop by half
10 years after you stop smoking, your risk for lung cancer decreases by half

Sources, More Information and Help to Stop Smoking –

Continue reading →

November 11, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

NON-Smokers Get Lung Cancer Too – Know the Risks

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

Lung Cancer Affects Non-Smokers as Well as Smokers

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 80% of the cases of lung cancer deaths are linked to smoking cigarettes; that leaves 20% not linked to smoking.

Cigarette Smoking Remains the # 1 Cause of Lung Cancer.

Smoking is the #1 Cause of PREVENTABLE Death.

STOP SMOKING

There are different types of lung cancer. Smoking remains the main cause of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/lung-cancer-fact-sheet.html

Risks by Gender – While the risk of lung cancer deaths are higher in men that smoke (85%) than woman that smoke (70%), the risks for Lung Cancers in NON-Smokers is higher for women (20%) than men (8%.)

According to a report by the American Cancer Society (written by Stacey Simon,October 30th 2015,) “as many as 20% of the people who die from lung cancer in the United States every year do not smoke or use any other form of tobacco.”

Some Risk Factors for Lung Cancer in NON-Smokers –

Radon gas. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers is radon gas. Like carbon monoxide, radon gas is odorless and colorless, and can’t be seen or smelled. You can easily test your home for radon.
Secondhand smoke.
Cancer-causing agents at work. (Eg. asbestos, chromium, diesel exhaust, and more.)
Air pollution.

Gene mutation –

According to the American Cancer Society –

“Gene changes related to lung cancer are usually acquired during life rather than inherited.”
A particular kind of gene mutation is much more common in lung cancer in non-smokers than smokers.
“Acquired changes in certain genes, such as the TP53 or p16 tumor suppressor genes and the K-RAS or ALKoncogenes, are thought to be important in the development of non-small cell lung cancer.(http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-what-causes and http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/geneticsandcancer/genesandcancer/genes-and-cancer-gene-changes)
Gene changes related to lung cancer are usually acquired during life rather than inherited.
Acquired mutations in lung cells often result from exposure to factors in the environment, such as cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Some gene changes may just be random events.

Talk to your doctor about risks of lung cancer, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.

Sources and For More Information –

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/features/why-lung-cancer-strikes-nonsmokers

http://www.dana-farber.org/Adult-Care/Treatment-and-Support/Treatment-Centers-and-Clinical-Services/Thoracic-Cancer-Treatment-Center/Understanding-lung-cancer-risk-in-patients-with-inherited-EGFR-T790M-mutations.aspx

http://journals.lww.com/jto/Abstract/2014/04000/Hereditary_Lung_Cancer_Syndrome_Targets_Never.9.aspx

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women.

Prevention and Early Diagnosis and Treatment Saves Lives. Talk to your doctor about your risks, prevention, diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer. If you are ‘at risk’ for lung cancer, ask your doctor about available screening tests.

If you smoke, Stop Now. Ask your doctor about smoking cessation. Feel free to contact me for information. Stay tuned for more information on lung cancer and smoking cessation to be posted in the coming days.

Awareness is power. For better health, take an active role in your healthcare. ~ Karen

Karen Pischke B.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N. Alumnus. Owner/Founder of Dreamtime Wellness™ Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind & Spirit www.DreamtimeWellness.com. Find us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreamtime-Wellness-/348619611849199

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussion about health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care worker. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which the authors are affiliated.

November 6, 2015 by Karen Pischke BSN, RN

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Are You at Risk?

Promoting Optimal Wellness for Body, Mind and Spirit

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Here are Some Facts:

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women
More people die each year from lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined
Smoking is the # 1 Risk for Lung Cancer (80%–90% of lung cancers are attributed to cigarette smoking!)
Non-smokers can get lung cancer too!

Risk Factors for Lung Cancer –

Smoking Cigarettes
Second Hand-Smoke
Radon (2nd leading cause of lung cancer.)
Other Chemicals (asbestos, arsenic, diesel, exhaust, nickel, tar, soot, some forms of silica and chromium.)
Personal or Family History of Lung Cancer
HIV infection
Radiation Therapy to the Chest
Beta-carotene supplements.
Arsenic in drinking water (primarily from private wells) can increase the risk of lung cancer. For more information, visit the EPA’s Arsenic in Drinking Water.

How to Prevent Lung Cancer – For information visit Lung Cancer Prevention.

Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Saves Lives!

Here is a Cancer Survivor’s Story – http://www.lungcancer.org/find_support/stories/23

Free Lung Cancer CT Screening – At Lahey Burlington and Peabody. Call 855.CT.CHEST to find out if you qualify or log onto = http://www.lahey.org/lungscreening/