Continue reading »]]> According to the CDC, someone in the U.S.A. has a stroke every 40 seconds . In 2008 one person died every four minutes from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in this country. These are shocking statistics and Remobility wants to help educate the community about this disease.

Remember to join us at the East Cobb Senior Center on Wednesday May 29th at 1:00 p.m., where Roel will be giving a presentation on Stroke Prevention and Recovery.

 We found the infographic below at www.stroke.org, illustrating the most important fact about stroke. Please review and let us know if you have any questions. We will gladly provide you with an answer.

Continue reading »]]> Of the many health observances during the month of May, we wanted to focus on Stroke Awareness because our staff is specialized in treatment of stroke patients.

We have published information about strokes on this website before, but it’s our opinion to keep educating and reminding our visitors and clients of the importance of preventing stroke or, in case it already occurred, how to deal with this disease.

Stroke

When blood flow to the brain is interrupted or when blood vessels in the brain rupture, it causes an unexpected loss of brain function because the brain cells in the affected area die, which can lead to long-term damage.

Prevention

Know and manage the risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, history of stroke, and diabetes. Find out if you are at risk and read more about the heart disease risk factors for women, which also may also apply to men.

 Four major signs of stroke are:

1. Weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg
2. Speech or comprehension trouble, vision problems
3. Headache
4. Dizziness

Act FAST

Knowing how to recognize the symptoms, can help save a life. But how do you know if someone is suffering a stroke? Here are some helpful guidelines:

• F- Face. Ask the person to smile and notice if one side has ‘fallen’
• A- Arms. Can he or she lift and hold up their arms? Weakness in one arm may be a sign.
• S- Speech. Does the person slur when trying to repeat a sentence?
• T- Time. There is a 3-hour window to have medication ministered which may slow or stop the effects of stroke. Call 911, to get help quickly.

Stroke recovery

Important for stroke recovery:

• Balance to avoid falls
• Improve range of motion and strength
• Safety at home
• How to cope with different problems after stroke
• Advice to family members how to assist.

Do you want more information of have any questions? Come to the East Cobb Senior Center in Marietta and learn more about Stroke Prevention and Recovery. See details under Upcoming Events, the right of your screen. You may also contact us by email or telephone (770-578-4343). We will gladly answer your questions.

Continue reading »]]> World Health Day

This year the theme for World Health Day is high blood pressure or hypertension.

April 7th marks the anniversary of the WHO foundation in 1948 and is celebrated each year as World Health Day by selecting a theme to highlight a priority area of public health concern in the world.
 

Consequences of hypertension

Hypertension can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and premature death and disability. Did you know that 1 in 3 adults suffer from hypertension? That 1 in 3 adults don’t know they have the disease? Do you have hypertension?

High blood pressure treatment

Fortunately high blood pressure can be prevented and treated. Steps you can take include: consuming less salt, follow a healthy and balanced diet, avoid the harmful use of alcohol, maintain a physically active lifestyle, and a healthy body weight. Also follow your doctor’s recommendations for successful treatment of hypertension.

All of this is not new, but the fact that the World Health Organization recognizes it as a global public health concern is an indication of the importance of controlling high blood pressure.

Please make your contribution to improve global health and check your blood pressure today! Or, next time you are at the Remobility office, ask for a blood pressure screening. It’s free!

Once you know what your numbers are, follow up by taking steps toward prevention or treatment.

Read more about World Health Day.

Stay healthy!

Continue reading »]]> With National Diabetes Alert Day around the corner (March 26th), we wanted to highlight the importance of taking care of your feet and legs.

Photo by Marcos Santos

Why the feet and legs?

Because diabetes can cause serious problems in feet and legs, affecting the way people walk and even lead to amputation. As research has shown, more than half of amputations in diabetic patients are of legs or feet.

How can diabetes hurt your feet?

• Reduced blood flow to limbs and legs make it harder for injuries to heal.
• Damaged nerves may result in not feeling pain and being aware of wounds in need of treatment.

How can you avoid serious problems?

• Manage your diabetes and keep your glucose and cholesterol at safe levels
• Don’t smoke; it reduces blood flow to your feet
• Stay at a healthy weight
• Eat healthy
• Exercise regularly
• Check your feet daily for sores and injuries.

Learn more about living with diabetes at the CDC website.

Continue reading »]]> What is Senior Independence Month? February has been dedicated as National Senior Independence Month,  bringing awareness to the importance of independence for seniors.

Being able to live on their own and take care of themselves is important to make seniors feel more confident. As we get older this may become a little bit more challenging than it used to be and the chances of suffering from a fall increase.  Depending on the severity of a fall, this may impede the independent lifestyle of seniors.

Some falls can cause minor disability, while others can have more serious consequences. Did you know that 1 in 3 seniors above age 65, and nearly 1 in 2 seniors over age 80, will fall at least once a year, leading to disability? This is just an estimate but an indication that falls and it’s consequences should be taken seriously.

Here’s the good news. Once you identify risk of falls for yourself or seniors you care for, there are steps you can take to prevent falls. Remobility wants to help you recognize these risks and teach you how to prevent falls.

Come by our office in Marietta to learn more at our upcoming presentation this Friday February 22nd at 10 am.

You can also download a copy of our earlier newsletter on Fall Prevention here soon.

We hope to see you there!

Continue reading »]]> February 1st is National Go Red Day! 

Join us and wear red this Friday to help bring awareness to heart disease. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women? 

Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and being overweight. One of these risk factor can increases your risk of developing heart disease, but that risk is multiplied with each added risk factor! That’s why it is important to control these and take good care of your heart.

Go Red Day is also an opportunity to celebrate (with) women who are taking action to protect their heart. Let’s GO RED!

We found some interesting visual facts we want to share on this page about Risk Factors for Heart Disease.

 Find more informationa at the Go Red for Women website or The Heart Truth website.

Continue reading »]]>

It was unexpected, but we are proud to announce that we have been selected by Kudzu as one of the top 10 physical therapy providers in  Metro Atlanta for 2012! This selection was based on user votes and reviews.

We want to thank YOU, our client, once again for taking your time to write a review about Remobility. We could not have done this without you!

Roel

Continue reading »]]> If you are injured, just underwent joint surgery or suffered a stroke, you will most likely need a physical therapist who can help you return to your previous level of functioning.

Here are some tips to consider when choosing one:

1. Understand what physical therapy is all about

Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation and treatment of joint, muscle, nerve and bone problems, resulting from an illness or injury. This approach will help you to improve your range of motion, strength, balance and coordination. Before treatment, the therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best plan of care for you.

2. Choosing your therapist

• Your therapist must be licensed in the state where you live (go to the Secretary of State website to verify).
• Make sure that your therapist has the education and experience in the specialization that will fit your needs, e.g. if you suffered a stroke, you would like to see a therapist who is an expert in stroke rehabilitation. The same applies to sports injuries or rehab after a joint replacement.

3. The clinic

This is a matter of personal choice and you decide if you prefer a corporate franchise or a smaller, privately owned clinic. The size and service of the clinic will determine the level of personal attention from the therapy and office staff. Most clients prefer personal attention in a smaller setting and don’t want to be seen by different therapists at each visit. Privacy during a treatment session is important to some people and can be vital to the healing process.

4. Participation

Regardless of which therapist you choose, it is very important to be an active participant in your recovery process and stay in compliance with the instructions of your doctor and therapist. Make sure to communicate your findings and needs to your doctor or therapist, since they are part of your rehab team.

Remember that rehabilitation is a process that does not happen overnight; sometimes it will take a while to have noticeable results. Overall, your determination, cooperation and willingness to improve are the key elements to your healing.

Still have questions? Please contact us and we will be glad to provide more information.

Continue reading »]]>

Now that the holidays are upon us, we would like for you to be safe on the road and have a pleasant stay wherever you are headed.

Here are a few last minutes tips to help avoid strains on your back and neck while driving.

• Check and adjust the position of your mirrors before driving
• Adjust your seat to the proper height and distance to the pedals
• For long distance drivers: it may alleviate muscle spasms in your arms, legs, back and neck if you simply adjust your seat or back rest one notch ( forward or backward.)
• Do not lean on the steering wheel – it makes quick maneuvering difficult. Just sit relaxed with your head against the head rest.
• Set your back rest at an angle greater than 90 degrees to avoid stress on your lower back.

So again, take care of yourself on the road and enjoy your holidays!

Roel