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1801 2nd Avenue Des Moines, IA 50314 Phone: (515) 243-2886 Fax: (515) 243-2621
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Think F-A-S-T When Looking for Stroke Signs

Written on May 9th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 130,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 of stroke signs hammer medical iowaevery 19 deaths. As part of creating awareness this month, Hammer Medical wants you to be aware of stroke signs and know what to do if you think someone is having a stroke.

If you think someone around you may be having a stroke, you need to act. Even if you don’t know the person, many of these steps will not be so obvious as to draw unwanted attention to the person. Remember that some illness or injuries like a previous stroke or brain injury can look like a stroke.

What should you do? Remember the acronym FAST!

F-A-S-T =

Face- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms- Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downwards?

Speech- Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred?

Time- If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately!

Stay with the person or have someone else stay with them if possible. Have the person sit, lie down or stay seated to avoid falling.

Note the time of the symptoms first appeared or that you noticed them. If given within three hours of the first symptom, there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. There are also two other types of stroke treatment available that might help reduce the effects of stroke.

Remember, it’s better to call in a false alarm than to let a stroke go untreated and risk further damage or death.

Hammer Medical sees people recovering from strokes every day. We understand the equipment that can assist the person as they recover and learn new ways of living after the stroke. See us for walkers, canes, wheelchairs, bathroom safety equipment and many other products that can make recovery from a stroke better.

Stay tuned to our blog as we’ll be going over more stroke-related information soon as part of Stroke Awareness Month.

 

Sources: Stroke.org and the CDC

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Preventing Injuries Should Be On Your List This Spring

Written on April 18th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

It looks like spring has finally arrived in Iowa and it’s time to tackle those spring projects we’ve planned for.  But before you jump into these big projects, Hammer Medical wants you to think ahead and use a little bit of prevention to stay safe and healthy.

If you have been sitting most of the winter, your body probably isn’t ready to tackle the big projects.  There are several simple ways to prevent injuries.

If you’re working outside, be sure to wear a hat that protects you from the sun and the proper gloves and attire like this man.

Warm up stretches are a simple and essential step to a busy day.  Stretching is not just for runners, it’s a way to prepare the body to use the muscle groups that may be a bit underused. Take a look at these stretching techniques from Function Fitness Facts. Do as much as you can carefully.

Take a walk. Walking is a great way to wake your body up, warm up and loosen up before your tasks. Don’t overdo it; you may want to walk after your chores too as a cool down.

Schedule a short day. One or two hours may be plenty to start with. If you can do half of a day comfortably that’s great; don’t push it.

Take breaks. A few short breaks will let your body keep up with can-do spirit.

Eat a light meal before you start your projects. No big meals that may weigh you down, just enough to give your body fuel. Save the big meal or restaurant as a reward for a job well-done.

Stay hydrated. Keep water with you or close by as you work. Dry muscles are sore muscles, and that goes for your brain too.

Is it time to “spring clean” your home medical equipment? If you’ve been waiting for a time to replace worn out equipment or supplies, or to have your wheelchair inspected, spring is a great time! Hammer Medical has an online catalog full of new equipment and we can help you with any questions or concerns.

Remember that a little prevention goes a long way. Happy Spring, Iowa!

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Public Health Week and Prevention the Whole Year

Written on April 2nd, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

April 1-7 2013 is National Public Health Week, but Hammer Medicalis putting a focus on preventative care for Iowans all month long.

Regular visits to the doctor and taking advantage of free screenings are easy ways to keep your health in good shape all year round.

The theme for the 2013 observance is “ROI: Save Lives, Save Money.” The theme highlights prevention of many kinds of illnesses and health conditions through preventative screenings, eating healthier and getting regular exercise, and recognizes the contributions of public health.

Hammer Medical wants you and your families to be as healthy as possible, no matter your age or medical conditions. Here a few simple preventative tips:

  • The right products like a properly fitted wheelchair, seat cushions and the specialty mattresses can help prevent pressure sores.
  • Keeping tabs on your hypertension with a blood pressure monitor or oximeter can prevent a host of related health problems.

What equipment would help you have the best health possible? Visit any of the Hammer Medical locations and let our medical equipment experts help you find the right products.

Click on the links below for more information on the events that will be the focus of this year’s National Public Health Week. There are events for all ages. You may be retired or may not have kids in school, but please read these tips that may help other generations of your family and friends. We are all part of this bigger health community and we all need to work together. Click on the days below to learn more.

Monday, April 1: Ensuring a Safe, Healthy Home for Your Family

Tuesday, April 2: Providing a Safe Environment for Children at School

Wednesday, April 3: Creating a Healthy Workplace

Thursday, April 4: Protecting You While You’re on the Move:

Friday, April 5: Empowering a Healthy Community:

Learn more about public health and getting involved in your community at www.nphw.org.

  • Source National Public Health Week and the American Public Health Association
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Multiple Sclerosis; No Known Cause, No Known Cure, No Reason to Give Up

Written on March 19th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

March is Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month and Hammer Medical wants all of our customers and all Iowa residents to be aware of this mysterious disease.

What is it? Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

MS damages nerves by making the body’s immune system attack the protective covering on the nerve cells.

Things you may not know about MS:

  • MS can strike both men and women, but is more common in women
  • MS appears more frequently in Caucasians than in Hispanics or African Americans
  • MS is relatively rare among Asians and certain other ethnic groups
  • MS is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50
  • 350,000 to 500,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with MS
  • Two hundred people are diagnosed with MS every week
  • Over 2.5 million people are living with the disease worldwide

Do you know the symptoms of MS?  Common symptoms of MS include fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, vision loss, tremors and depression. Many of these symptoms are shared with other diseases and disorders as well, so it’s best to be tested.

How fast will MS progress? Even if you are diagnosed with MS, there is no certain timeline for the progression of the disease. The disease can progress quickly or slowly and even have times of remission. That’s why having the right medical care and the right medical equipment is so important. Please visit the www.nationalmssociety.org for more information on the disease and see your physician.

Hammer Medical carries canes, clutches and walkers to assist with balance and strength issues and manual and power wheelchairs for people with more mobility needs. We carry CPAP and BiPAP units to treat sleep apnea. See our online catalog for a full list of our products or if you’re in the vicinity of any of the Hammer Medical locations, stop in and see us today with more questions about beneficial equipment and supplies.

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Traumatic Brain Injury; A Life Changing, Equal Opportunity Injury

Written on March 7th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and Hammer Medical wants more people to be aware of this all-too-common injury and the impact it has on individuals, families and society.

The most common brain injuries are concussions, and most of those occur without a loss consciousness.

Who is at risk for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)? Everyone. Currently, more than 3.1 million children and adults in the U.S. live with a lifelong disability as a result of TBI.  There are certain groups who are at greater risk than others.

  • Males are about 1.5 times more likely than females to sustain a TBI.
  • The two highest risk age groups for TBI are 0 to 4 and 15 to 19 year olds.
  • Fall-related TBIs are the number one cause of death in people older than 65.
  • Certain military duties increase the risk of sustaining a TBI, and 19% of returning  active duty veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have TBIs from blasts, motor vehicle accidents, helicopter crashes or gunshot wounds.

Brain injuries range in severity from mild concussions all the way to long-term vegetative states to death. For those that survive and regain consciousness, there are many common problems after brain injury. Some of the most common problems after a brain injury include:

  • Problems with speech and language
  • Sensory distortion (smell, taste, vision, hearing)
  • Headaches/ head pain
  • Cognitive impairments
  • Short-term memory problems
  • Behavioral issues/problems controlling emotions
  • Balance/Unsteadiness
  • Depression

There is no “cure” for a brain injury; only time and rehabilitative treatment. Prevention is the key to brain injury. Some easy preventative tips include wearing helmets for certain sports and recreational activities, always wearing a helmet when riding or operating a motorcycle or moped, keeping small children safe around water (bathtubs, pools) and having older children and adults take swimming lessons. Other precautions include never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or riding with anyone who is and removing tripping hazards around the house. Using mobility aids and having bathroom safety equipment installed are two easy ways to prevent these types of injuries. Let Hammer Medical help you find these types of equipment that will keep you or a loved one safe.

Source : the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa

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Nutrition for Better Heart Health

Written on February 21st, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

It’s natural for hearts to be on our mind during the month of February. Valentine’s Day was just a short while ago, a day that is dedicated to showing our romantic love from our hearts. However, as far as hearts go, there is a more significant holiday that covers the entire month of February: American Heart Month. It is a month to celebrate the organ that gives us life, pumping blood through our bodies around 100,000 times every day.

Eliminating fatty foods and focusing on heart-healthy foods like avocados and nuts can help your heart immensely!

Given that cardiovascular disease is the number one leading cause of death in the United States, most of us could probably make some changes to live heart-healthy lives. Part of American Heart Month is making the public aware of simple changes that can be made in pursuit of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

One easy change is what we eat. Fat-heavy diets and the obesity they cause can lead to clogged arteries and other heart issues; that’s common knowledge at this point. But what should you replace them with?

Women should try adding a variety of berries to their diets, especially blueberries and strawberries. These bits of nature’s dessert contain naturally occurring compounds called anthocyanins that showed the ability to dilate arteries and counter the growth of arterial plaque in a Harvard study, allowing for better blood flow.

Men, put down the steaks and other red meat and go for fresh fish instead. It provides your heart with the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats and slow the growth rate of damaging plaque in arteries. Spinach should be another addition to male diets because of its fiber and antioxidants. It hasn’t been shown to give you muscles like Popeye, but over time it can definitely help you feel more energized and healthier.

Simple changes to your diet like these are an easy way to live a heart-healthy lifestyle and keep your body’s most important muscle going. Hammer Medical encourages you and your family to actively seek a lifestyle with your heart in mind during American Heart Month and throughout the year.

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Red Wine: Helping Heart Health

Written on February 14th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

Seeing as today is Valentine’s Day, it’s safe to say our focus is on our hearts and the hearts of the one we love. In order to celebrate this holiday dedicated to expressing your love, some of you may be heading out for a nice romantic dinner at your favorite restaurant.

The antioxidants found in your favorite red wine can give you a heart-healthy boost when drank in moderation.

Perhaps you will order some wine to accompany your intimate dinner. When given a chance to choose a wine, go for a red wine for one simple reason: while you’re drinking your favorite merlot or cabernet sauvignon, you are also doing your heart and the rest of your body a huge favor. Here’s how.

Free radicals are groups of atoms in the body that cause damage to DNA or cell membranes through a series of chain reactions. This damage can result in cancer or a variety of other medical conditions. When these atoms are present in the arteries at the same time as “bad” cholesterol, the reaction between them damages the walls of the arteries and heart.

Our bodies do have a defense mechanism for this: antioxidants. However, there are times when our body needs more antioxidants than it can produce. This is where red wine comes in.

Red wine contains vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, all of which are antioxidants.  When they are ingested and absorbed into the body, they help stop the domino effect of damage caused by free radicals.

While we would like to encourage you to pursue the health benefits of red wine, we are also recommending moderation; two to three small glasses per week is an adequate amount to reap the benefits. Hammer Medical hopes that you always seek a heart-healthy lifestyle, and there’s no better time than on Valentine ’s Day with a glass of your favorite red wine!

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Wellness in the New Year: Focus on Prevention

Written on January 29th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

The medical community has been no stranger to buzzwords or phrases over the years, more specifically when it comes to personal health. Every year there seems to be a new diet or proven way to stay healthier for longer, a new way to “cure” certain conditions or other special something that has amazing health benefits.

A full physical exam from a doctor should be your first step in the path to wellness.

A word you may hear a lot this year is “wellness.” True to its name, wellness is not about flashy science, techniques or products, but rather common sense and using the medical resources available to you. It is about total health for your body and mind to help you and your loved ones live a higher quality of life. And yes, it does involve going to the doctor regularly.

The first step in wellness is to schedule a physical exam with your doctor for yourself and your other family members. This will help to “set a baseline” or get an overall picture of your health to see what conditions you may already have or be at risk for. Since wellness is about prevention, your doctor can help you by suggesting simple lifestyle changes. These can be anything from a change in diet to getting more exercise to stimulating your mind every day by doing a crossword or Sudoku puzzle.

You can also take charge of your own health by using other medical resources provided to you and your community. Many local clinics put on various health-oriented events that are free or low cost, but can help give you a better picture of you or a your loved ones’ health. Be sure to take advantage of these.

The best part about the wellness approach to health is that it applies to anyone at any age. You have practically an entire year ahead of you, so join Hammer Medical in making the healthiest year you have had yet. If you need any mobility, respiratory or home modification products or services to make this happen, we will proudly help any way we can.

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The Grand Gland: Thyroid Awareness Month

Written on January 17th, 2013 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

We live in the Information Age where we can easily find out anything we want about, well, anything. This extends into the medical arena as well, allowing anyone to search for diseases based on their symptoms. One set of conditions, those dealing with the thyroid gland, are being searched more and more often as higher numbers of people are being diagnosed with one of a number of thyroid issues. As January is Thyroid Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to talk about this vital gland, the conditions affecting it and how you can tell if you have a thyroid condition.

The thyroid gland (in red) controls functions in many of our body’s most critical organs and systems.

The thyroid gland, positioned in the neck just under the larynx (voice box), influences the function of many of the body’s most important organs like the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Therefore, any condition impacting this gland can be damaging to your overall health. Around 35 million Americans already suffer from thyroid issues, and thyroid cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer diagnoses in the country.

There are several conditions affecting the thyroid besides thyroid cancer: hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, thyroid nodules and various conditions seen during pregnancy and infancy. So, how do you know if you have one of these conditions?

First, if your family has a history of thyroid issues, chances are you will have one as well. Another common warning sign is neck swelling and/or tenderness, as well as fatigue (even if you are getting adequate sleep every night). Also, sudden feelings of depression (hypothyroidism) or anxiety/panic (hyperthyroidism) are common warning signs as well. Your doctor can also perform a physical exam on your neck to feel for abnormalities as well.

Thyroid issues can lead to severe health consequences, so we at Hammer Medical encourage you to know the warning signs and seek professional medical help. A healthy thyroid means better overall health for you and your loved ones!

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Looking to the New Year: Healthy Resolutions

Written on December 28th, 2012 Posted by HammerMedBlogger No Comments

Not only are we in the middle of the holiday season, but we are quickly coming upon the new year, meaning it’s time to get your New Year’s resolution in order. Every year millions of Americans make resolutions, though only between one-third and a quarter of those that make resolutions are still sticking with them six months later.

Eating healthy is the easiest way to improve your overall health and lose weight.

The most common resolutions deal with improving health, and while this may conjure up images of lifting heavy weights or hitting the treadmill, “being healthy” can mean a lot of different things. We’ve assembled a short list of ways that you can improve your health this next year. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be one of the few that stick with their resolution.

Lose a little weight- or if you need it, a lot of weight. Study after study has shown that a lower body fat percentage equates to better overall health. Your risk for developing diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and heart issues decreases.

Eat healthier- this may be the single best thing you can do for your health. Giving your body the nutrients it needs is as easy as sticking to the edge of the grocery store when you visit. That’s where the fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meat and dairy products are found, and that’s what you want.

Get some exercise- from lifting light weights to going on walks to swimming. Any kind of exercise helps. Just make sure it’s at least 30 minutes in length and you’ll start improving your cardiovascular and muscular health.

Work your noodle- the brain is the central hub of our body, so don’t let it go to waste. Exercise it by solving the daily crossword, learning a new language or memorizing lists.

There are countless other ways to improve your overall health in simple ways this coming year. We hope you’ll join us at Hammer Medical in the quest for a healthier living in 2013. Happy holidays and we’ll see you in the New Year!

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