Goodbye July...Hellooooo August!
National Psoriasis Month!
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According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Psoriasis (suh-rye-ah-sis) is a condition that causes for the body to produce new skin cells in days instead of weeks, causing the cells to pile on the surface of the skin, which may then show thick, scaly patches. No matter the size, plaques tend to be itchy. Without treatment, the itch can become intense. Some people notice that their skin stings, burns, or feels painful and tight.
Plaque Psoriasis is known to be the most common type and can appear anywhere on the skin; most of the time appearing on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. The National Psoriasis Foundation stated that there are over 7 million people living with with this illness. |
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Believe it or not, Skin disease is very real and common but many people are still unaware of this illness and its impact.
August is National Psoriasis Month and all it take is a moment to read more about it and how warriors are living with this illness. Please visit https://www.psoriasis.org/ and get educated.
August is National Psoriasis Month and all it take is a moment to read more about it and how warriors are living with this illness. Please visit https://www.psoriasis.org/ and get educated.
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May is Lupus
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April is Autism Awareness Month!
I never knew too much about autism until my little brother was diagnosed with it.
However, I still didn't understand at the time how serious and real Autism is. It took reading and learning behaviors for me to understand.
For the month of April, I want to recognize all of those living with Autism--a child or Adult and to the parents who work hard as an advocate for their child's health, I SALUTE YOU! To those who have loved ones living with Autism, you know it's not easy but you still support and help and for that I SALUTE YOU! Believe it or not, those with Autism may experience high sensitivity as well as even pain.
However, I still didn't understand at the time how serious and real Autism is. It took reading and learning behaviors for me to understand.
For the month of April, I want to recognize all of those living with Autism--a child or Adult and to the parents who work hard as an advocate for their child's health, I SALUTE YOU! To those who have loved ones living with Autism, you know it's not easy but you still support and help and for that I SALUTE YOU! Believe it or not, those with Autism may experience high sensitivity as well as even pain.
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According to Autismspeaks (2019), "Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in the United States today. |
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It is also said that many factors influence autism development which may be accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues (Autismspeaks, 2019).
"Symptoms of autism typically appears during the first three years of life. Some children show signs from birth. Others seem to develop normally at first, only to slip suddenly into symptoms when they are 18 to 36 months old. However, it is now recognized that some individuals may not show symptoms of a communication disorder until demands of the environment exceed their capabilities. Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls. It knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, or educational levels do not affect a child's chance of being autistic (webMD, 2019)."
"Symptoms of autism typically appears during the first three years of life. Some children show signs from birth. Others seem to develop normally at first, only to slip suddenly into symptoms when they are 18 to 36 months old. However, it is now recognized that some individuals may not show symptoms of a communication disorder until demands of the environment exceed their capabilities. Autism is four times more common in boys than in girls. It knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, or educational levels do not affect a child's chance of being autistic (webMD, 2019)."
Please, take a moment and check out the sites that speak more about Autism
In the Month of March, we recognize Andrea who lives with
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)(Orthostatic Intolerance)
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There are so many battles that we all, with and without chronic illnesses, face each and every day. However, we put forth that effort to get up and live our lives everyday and that is what counts. Through all bad days there are better days and through better days, there are good days. Despite her circumstances, Andrea is beautiful, strong and still giving every day a chance to get better.
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Living with POTS Syndrome
At one point in life, I was a mother on skates. With 4 kids, you just never know which way to turn. Between skate practice, basketball games, a business and running a medical department at a treatment facility I had no time for self-care. On January 25, 2018, my life changed. It started out to be a normal day until around 1 pm, as I exited the garage at Wellington Hospital I made a complete stop at the stop sign. I sat at the stop sign for a moment because I felt faint and nauseated. I proceeded to continue to cross the intersection and became flushed/sweating, dizzy, short of breathe and having palpitations. I felt as if I was having a panic attack. My first thought was I needed to rest. My plan was to go home and get as much rest as I needed, which I did. The very next day around 5:30am I was so dizzy it woke me up. The room wasn’t spinning, I just had a falling sensation. While trying to stand my pulse increased, I became flushed and nauseated. I laid down and told myself I will just rest until I felt better. About a week later I was admitted into the hospital with a pulse of 210, swollen feet and shortness of breath. I was released from the hospital after a week stay with no diagnosis. Unfortunately, in 2018 I was admitted into the hospital 14 times due to my symptoms. I've had every test known to man performed and was told all test results were normal. At this point, I was losing faith because I thought no one believed that I was not myself and truly something was wrong. After seeing several providers with no diagnosis, I met a Cardiologist in Jupiter Florida, who had finally diagnosed me and gave me hope again. I was told that no one knows how we get POTS Syndrome but it’s rare. I was also told you either get a mild case or a severe case. Unfortunately, my case is severe. Ninety percent of my day I don’t feel well. The only thing that makes me feel better is laying down. I was told that the form of POTS I had was Orthostatic Intolerance. So pretty much any change in position is challenging for me. After my diagnosis and current treatment, I still can’t walk long distances or sit for more than 10 minutes. When going shopping I have to ride a motorized scooter to get around, if one isn’t available I have to leave. I am unable to go on family outings and if I do attempt to go my time is limited. The worst part is having an event come up and not knowing if I would be able to function. Overall, I am learning to live with POTS Syndrome (Orthostatic Intolerance). It’s a challenge everyday but I will get better. What is POTS?
According to the National Institute of Health, "Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition characterized by too little blood returning to the heart when moving from a lying down to a standing up position (orthostatic intolerance). Orthostatic Intolerance causes lightheadedness or fainting that can be eased by lying back down. In people with POTS, these symptoms are also accompanied by a rapid increase in heart rate. Although POTS can affect men and women of all ages, most cases are diagnosed in women between the ages of 15 and 50. The cause of POTS is unknown." For more information about POTS, including treatment and etc., please visit https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9597/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome
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February is Heart Health Month
Is Your Heart Healthy?
According to the CDC, over 600,000 people die of Heart Disease every year in the U.S.
It is crucially important to make sure that your heart is healthy because there are so many factors that can cause the heart to become unhealthy, which can lead to serious complications. One things that many of us do that can affect our heart is stress. We stress from jobs, relationships, finances, etc. and we sometimes don't think about how stress can be a factor to our heart health.
I did a little research and found very good information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). So below, I added the links. Take a moment and check it out.
I did a little research and found very good information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). So below, I added the links. Take a moment and check it out.
November is...
National Epilepsy Awareness Month!!!
There is a warrior that battles Epilepsy every day and here is her story!
De’Ja McCray is a beautiful, intelligent and phenomenal woman, who currently studies at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. By studying Film Production for the past 5 years, soon to graduate with her B.S degree, she is now ready to focus on her career! Being involved at her school and posting her work on YouTube (@De’Ja McCray) has helped with the process. She serves on all four chapel teams, two production teams, and a team known as SpeakThat where she recites her poetry. However, she has struggled with a chronic illness since the age of 10: Epilepsy, an illness which causes seizures. In the 5th grade, De'Ja had a seizure episode and notified her parents. Every since her first encounter, she’s taken a multitude of medications prescribed by several neurologists to see if, by any chance, would be a solution to stopping the seizures, which hasn’t happened yet.
Since the age of 11, De'Ja has recognized film as her passion. One day, De'Ja was asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "A movie director and writer", she replied. The group that was supposed to feel like family began laughing, doubting her. However, she ignored them and said to herself, “one day I’ll prove them wrong.”
Throughout her life, having epilepsy would sometimes make her feel depressed because it prevented her from doing things like driving a car and she felt as if her parents worried too much. Being high in faith, De’Ja knows that God is always with her and never fears that anything bad will happen to her. De'Ja is just as active and involved on campus as a person who doesn't have Epilepsy. No day is never just relaxing in the dorm; she's usually with friends but feels less of an adult when she has to notifies her parents that she is okay.
Most people that do not have Epilepsy are quick to assume that the people who have it cant't do what they want and accomplish their dream. De’Ja never chose to believe that epilepsy would be her end. What she does believe is that God gave EVERYONE talents and we are supposed to use them. With it being her senior year in college, De’Ja was encouraged by a friend to start a club on campus at her school which is known as Epilepsy Warriors, led by both De'Ja and another student, Yasmine Mobley. The goal is to not only educate others about Epilepsy, but to encourage all the other students that have it! Mainly to never let fear stop you from doing what you love! Also, God has great plans in her future!
Please don't forget to check out her YouTube Page @De'Ja McCray!!
Since the age of 11, De'Ja has recognized film as her passion. One day, De'Ja was asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "A movie director and writer", she replied. The group that was supposed to feel like family began laughing, doubting her. However, she ignored them and said to herself, “one day I’ll prove them wrong.”
Throughout her life, having epilepsy would sometimes make her feel depressed because it prevented her from doing things like driving a car and she felt as if her parents worried too much. Being high in faith, De’Ja knows that God is always with her and never fears that anything bad will happen to her. De'Ja is just as active and involved on campus as a person who doesn't have Epilepsy. No day is never just relaxing in the dorm; she's usually with friends but feels less of an adult when she has to notifies her parents that she is okay.
Most people that do not have Epilepsy are quick to assume that the people who have it cant't do what they want and accomplish their dream. De’Ja never chose to believe that epilepsy would be her end. What she does believe is that God gave EVERYONE talents and we are supposed to use them. With it being her senior year in college, De’Ja was encouraged by a friend to start a club on campus at her school which is known as Epilepsy Warriors, led by both De'Ja and another student, Yasmine Mobley. The goal is to not only educate others about Epilepsy, but to encourage all the other students that have it! Mainly to never let fear stop you from doing what you love! Also, God has great plans in her future!
Please don't forget to check out her YouTube Page @De'Ja McCray!!
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What is Epilepsy?
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"Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, the hallmark of which is recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Many people with Epilepsy have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well. Sometimes EEG (electroencephalogram) testing, clinical history, family history, and outlook are similar among a group of people with Epilepsy. Although symptoms of a seizure may affect any part of the body, the electrical events that produce the symptoms occur in the brain. The location of the event, how it spreads, and how long it lasts all have profound effects. These factors determine the character of a seizure and its impact on the individual."
-Epilepsy Foundation, 2018 |
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How are you diagnosed?
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"A person is diagnosed with Epilepsy if they have two unprovoked seizures (or one unprovoked with the likelihood of more) that were not caused by some known and reversible medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar."
-Epilepsy Foundation, 2018 |
To learn more about Epilepsy and how individuals are affected, click button to be directed to the
Epilepsy Foundation Page.
Epilepsy Foundation Page.