Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Final Letter from Mom

Monday, September 5th, 2011

If you don’t like to read tragic, heart wrenching stories, turn your attention to some other matter… now! This post is about Alzheimer’s Disease. It isn’t just a random ailment. It wears a face. That face could be that of your grandmother, your mother, or some other loved one who leaves you to pick up the pieces after their mind has been shattered and they no longer make sense to themselves or anyone else. It is a disease of frustration. On some level, the patient knows and feels their loss of clarity and cognition. On yet another level, they lose their faculty for things that once came so easily. The letter I am going to post here (page 1 of 2 pages) is the final letter my mom ever wrote. When she was unable to speak, she simply handed me this note that has only a hint of her former beautiful penmanship and has misspelled and crossed out words as well as jumbled thoughts.

final letter from Mom
This is the final letter ever written to me by “Mom.”

Today, I started to make a quilt with these words, and what you see here is a photo transfer with a patch of Forget-me-not flowers added, a photo by James Cummings. I am not sure I can continue and actually finish this page into a quilt. After all these years, the memory of her final illness is still painful. She begged for help, a doctor who could “fix” her and make her whole again and give her back her mind. Yet, there was no one who could possibly help as she sunk into the personal isolation of the disease, the anger that accompanied loss of herself, and the alienation that the disease created in relationships with others. Only God had a remedy and in his own sweet time, he took her “home,” an end to a long life of 92 years that I am afraid included more days of trials than days of sunshine.

I would like to be able to make a quilt for Ami Simm’s Alzheimer’s Quilts Initiative program - http://www.alzquilts.org/ – but my personal experience is getting in the way. I just can’t bring myself to make cute or cheerful little quilts that someone would actually buy to support the cause. For now, all I can do is to lend my verbal support to her program and tell you that it is a good thing to raise awareness of this disease and to raise money for research into possible cures or treatments.

God Bless us all,

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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A Little Ration of Rum

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

This little essay is an historical view on the subject of drinking alcohol. This week, my dear husband revealed that there were more deaths from tainted water during the Civil War than the Revolutionary War. Why? During the earlier war, the soldiers were given a ration of rum that was added directly to their drinking water in canteens. The rum sterilized the water, killing any harmful contaminants before they could cause disease! Moderation seems to be the key to keep the use of alcohol beneficial.

NH foliage photo -by Jim Cummings
“Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink” was a little saying I learned as a child and repeated, over and over again, to my parents as we rode along in the car, much to their chagrin. Oh, my!

To drink or not to drink has been the subject of many a saying, many a law, many a jest, and many a song! During the 19th century, troubadours who supported the Temperance movement went about the countryside singing songs that decry the dangers of drinking alcoholic beverages. The lyrics of an English folksong are about child battering by a drunken father and eventually buying him a brewery. We have all known people who could not “hold their liquor.” We have all been aware of individuals who would sell their soul for another drink, who have plunged their families into despair and poverty because of their habit of imbibing, and whose lives have been overtaken because are addicted.

The dangers of drinking are well-known, yet constantly promoted in society. On television and in movies, drinking is romanticized. The elite are depicted as spending their time pouring cocktails and sipping on martinis. Televised sports events always seem to have many commercials for beer, as if drinking beer makes one “a real man.” Drinking, as a social event, is far removed from that glass of red wine some doctors recommend daily. (Of course, physicians don’t warn you that taking an aspirin a day or drinking even one glass of wine per day can cause a build-up of uric acid and arthritis of the joints called gout, a painful condition that involves swelling of toes, wrists, etc.).

The effects of out-of-control drinking (by “loved ones”) have been so disagreeable, many folks today like to avoid drinking alcohol altogether. Considering potential ill-effects of drinking, refraining is probably an ideal choice, and also a good idea for the preservation of the contents of one’s wallet. However, in another age, far from us time-wise, a little ration of rum stood between health and disease even though those of the time period had no sophisticated knowledge of the solid medical reasons for its use. As always History has lessons to teach us that are only learned in the long term, and, as always, there are two sides to any given issue.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Water is often contaminated and can cause various diseases, sometimes with fatal results. Even that “clear mountain stream” may contain Giardia or other microorganisms that can cause severe GI symptoms. When I lived in Spain, I mostly drank wine, Coca-cola (with lemon), or milk. It is a wonder I did not become dehydrated or toothless. Pure water remains the best substance anyone could drink.

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Vitamin D

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

When I was growing up, my mother was a firm believer in giving the children Cod Liver Oil, particularly if they were sick. I am not sure what that was supposed to do, other than taste horrible and make a kid cringe and wish he/ she were already dead. My mother was obsessed with potions and notions for keeping children and adults well. She thought that eating red meat was one of the keys, thus the endless rounds of hamburger, fixed in relatively few creative ways. Iron pills were a part of the regimen. Her focus on vitamins and essential minerals were based on doctor’s advice and advertisements at the time. Yes, Wonder Bread with 12 minerals and vitamins was touted as the answer to health. That was before a more recent notion that whole grain breads are superior came into place.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet, or not, but Vitamin D is now being promoted widely. Someone realized that most people spend time indoors, on computers, and not outside, gardening. When they do go outside, they smear themselves with sun block, good for blocking UV rays; not good for the natural absorption of Vitamin D that traditionally comes from sun exposure. Today, one can buy Vitamin D supplements, over the counter.

Why is Vitamin D so important? We are told that it can help to elevate feelings of depression, can prevent up to 50% of heart attacks and strokes, and can help to prevent cancer. It can counteract auto-immune deficiency responses. I have heard other claims, as well.

Why is this news not more widespread? It may seem like a sinister conclusion, but an opinion was expressed on TV this morning that points to pharmaceutical companies and their desire to make more money from unhealthy people. They benefit from selling highly overpriced “drugs,” that are marked up as much as 157,000 % (yes, that is the figure!). They make more money annually than the federal government. They have powerful lobbies, and it is insinuated that they would rather people have to take “drugs,” than to be able to prevent problems, in the first place. It was intimated that some of the studies about the benefits of Vitamin D have been hushed up, on purpose. Whether or not those are true statements is not something that anyone can prove, but they are thought-provoking.

These days, I take most of what I hear on the news with a grain of salt. It seems that everyone has their own ax to grind. That said, I have been following a new personal regimen of supplements and would have to say that I feel a lot better. I take a multivitamin for women over 50, an Omega Fish Oil tablet, Biotin, an Evening Primrose capsule, Sustenex (a pro-biotic), and a Cranberry pill, all recommended by my doctor, and yes, a Vitamin D pill. It seems that other cultures have used herbal supplements, like Evening Primrose, for centuries and we are just becoming more aware of their benefits.

Vitamin D, an over the counter, non-drug, health enhancer “could save your life,” in the words of one reporter. Like any ingested substance, one should check with a doctor before taking Vitamin D. A simple blood test can determine whether or not a person has a Vitamin D deficiency. That test should be included in every annual health exam. It seems that taking Vitamin D pills could prevent a lot of misery. Although this post is not directly quilt related, I share this information in the interest of keeping you well… so you can make more quilts, if you are a quilter!

Stay well!

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Bedbugs

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

In the area of trivia, I wonder who the first person was to say, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” when tucking a child into bed. Certainly, bedbugs have been a problem for centuries. Recently, they were in the news, the “Nightly News” to be exact. There is a major infestation of bedbugs in hotels in New England, New York, and across the country. These little brats live and breed in your bed and attack you while you are sleeping, feeding on human blood when they can find no other food. The result is raised, itchy welts when one awakes.

This morning, a friend of mine who works in the medical department of a university, sent along word that any new clothing or bedding should be placed in a clothes dryer for 20 minutes before storing in a clothes. That includes accessory items such as scarves. Apparently, bedbugs are hitching a ride from foreign ports by being present in shipping cartons of apparel. Of course, that is just one manner of introduction to your household. Once established, infestations are very difficult to eradicate.

For more information about these “bugs,” a curse on military bases during World War II, please visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug

Knowledge is Power!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Recalled Tylenol Products

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

I should have known that something was up when I went to the pharmacy the other day to buy more Tylenol, a product my doctor recommends for the pain of arthritis. After taking the pills for three days, I’ve noticed a very strange and sudden metallic taste in my mouth that nothing alleviates. This product did not smell bad like the last recalled bottle I returned to the grocery store, or should I say, sent Jim as my emissary to return it. He told me that the clerk was surly and acted like she was taking money out of her own pocket to provide a refund. Poor guy!

Looking on a list online for recalled Tylenol products, I now see that this new bottle is one of the ones at the top of the list. It will go back tomorrow, and perhaps I can recoup my $9.99. Not only has the Tylenol given me odd symptoms, I seem to have more pain after taking it than before.

In looking at the mostly bare shelves where Tylenol had been stocked, I see that Rite Aid has stepped up to the plate and now are offering more of their store-brand Acetaminophen. I guess I’ll try that next, in the hope of finding something that I can take. Tylenol has a lot of work to do, if they are to regain the trust of the public. In this case, everyone loses.

Patricia Cummings

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What You Don’t Know Could Kill You

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Human life is fraught with built-in perils. Most of us go along our merry way, either never thinking about “the end” or trying not to do so.

This morning, I woke up to a very kind invitation to join Facebook’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Syndrome group, as a Fan. This heart condition is genetically-based and can affect athletes, children, and others. No one is immune from it, and it can strike at any time.

In my family, it took the lives of my two brothers, at ages 50 and 53. Then, it hit my only sister, who was resuscitated immediately but, with other complications, was in treatment for months. She is still living.

What happens? Unlike a standard heart attack per se, in a sudden cardiac arrest the “electrical wiring of the body stops working.” That is how the condition was explained to me. In other words, the brains forgets to send a message to the heart to keep on pumping.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney is one who suffers from this malady. He has had a defibrillator installed, a small device that triggers the heart to begin beating again.

This heart condition can be determined by an EKG to see if a person has “Long Q-T,” a medical term that refers to arrythmia, or an irregular heart beat. Some cardiologists will prescribe Beta Blocker pills, that is, unless the patient is taking other medications that contraindicate that choice.

On the news, we often hear of children athletes who literally drop dead while running or playing a sport. It was reported that a full 50% of people who suffer from this syndrome are not treated until after their first attack, and 50% will not survive their first attack.

For those of us who cannot take preventive medications, like pills, every day is like lying on a bed with the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads by a thin piece of thread.

Why am I telling you this? As with anything else, “Knowledge is power.” Addressing this potential situation with your physician, during your next visit, could save your life. People with Sudden Cardiac Arrest Syndrome are most at risk when at work, or exercising. We hear of many policemen and fireman who succumb to this disease. That is related to having to jolt into action on a moment’s notice.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month, as well as the “Awareness Month” for several other organizations/causes of which I cannot recall their names, at the moment. Heart Health should be in our awareness, every month, and for that reason, I share this message.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications – Won’t you join us on Facebook?

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Lecture about New England Food

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Edie Clark, long time writer for Yankee Magazine, gave a wonderful talk about New England foods tonight. The lecture was sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and the meeting in the Congregational Church Hall in Hopkinton, New Hampshire attracted many people. She discussed Fanny Farmer and her famous cooking school in Boston; Julia Child of PBS fame and author of books about French cooking; and Hayden Pearson, an early New Hampshire writer of cookbooks. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about typical New England dishes, and at least one of them was new to me: the fish, Shad. These series of lectures are free to the public and very worthwhile.

Baked Beans and Brown Bread

Jim’s baked beans and brown bread, typical New England fare.

On the way home, we saw tiny goslings with their two Canadian Geese parents, finding food on a Hopkinton lawn.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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“It Takes Less Than a Minute”

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on ‘donating a mammogram’ for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn’t cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here’s the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Thanks to Mindy, for sending along this information to help disadvantaged women stay healthy!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Pigs

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

On the news tonight, there was an image of curly-tailed pigs and then the message that they will all be slaughtered in (Egypt?). Swine flu has crossed international boundaries and as you have heard, it has everyone in a panic. Those who are wearing masks are downright silly. The virus is so small, it can easily infiltrate a mask. We don’t stop to realize how co-dependent we are, as nations of the world, until something like this happens. In tandem with that thought is another one: how fragile human life really is.

The four year old boy in a remote mountain village of La Gloria, who reported the first symptoms, is totally recovered and happily playing. Children can be more resilient than we would expect. As the news reporter stated, diseases such as the flu, seem to attack those with pre-existing medical problems, or older adults.

This situation is not unlike the bovine disease that struck a few years ago, and just about every cow in England was killed, and the meat, wasted. I feel very bad for these animals, one moment happily living, and the next minute declared an enemy of the people!

Pigs are particularly intelligent, in spite of their reputation for rolling in the mud, eating babies that fall into their pens, and being outlawed as food, by certain religions. I have known people who have owned Pot-bellied pigs, and they claim that they are really good pets. Piglets are the cutest little animals, and thinking of animations, who among us did not love “Miss Piggie” of Sesame Street.

Every day, there is a new wrinkle. Sigh.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Folk Art from South Africa – “The Grandmother to Grandmother” Campaign

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

Facebook, an interactive social network online, is more than what it might appear to be, at first glance. People connect there, in meaningful ways. It is on Facebook that I first became aware of a landscape quilt artist named Valerie Hearder. One can see Valerie’s beautiful work on her website. She travels the world to teach, as well she should, being so talented, and she has written several books. Her first one is already out of print. Valerie currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada and has been quilting since 1972.

When I saw some intriguing folk art textiles from South Africa, on Facebook, I had to know more. I contacted Valerie and in so doing, was able to purchase a small, embroidered piece to help support the “Grandmother to Grandmother” Campaign. You see, due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in that country, the parents of children are dying, and grandmothers are left to care for not only their own grandchildren, but sometimes the children of neighbors. It is a dire situation. Valerie’s video on her Facebook page explains what is happening. The grandmothers are impoverished and sometimes very ill, but struggling to care for up to 20 children, in some cases.

Design area of South African textile

This scan shows the design area only of a 10 1/2 x 11 embroidered textile on a black background. The black borders (not shown) extend about an inch (unevenly) all around. As you can see, the colors are vibrant. The word “Rose” is present, but whether or not that is the name of the artist remains to be seen. Very few different types of stitches were employed in this work that relies heavily on chain stitch. It is a pleasure to think that the purchase of this work may help to feed some children.

She reports that Canadian grandmothers have responded well to this textile initiative to help. She can barely fill the demand there, let alone supply these wonderful embroideries to all who would like to help. Fifteen per cent of sales goes to the Stephen Lewis Foundation that (presumably) filters financial resources back to the South African communities.

If you want to purchase one of these pieces from Valerie, keep in mind that her prices are listed in Canadian currency. You can adjust Paypal payments to pay the seller, in any other currency. If you “Google” Valerie’s name, you will see that she runs a yahoo group about Landscape Quilts. She is one busy lady, and I am so happy to have made her acquaintance, online.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Do You Want That “Super Sized?”

Monday, February 19th, 2007

If you have gone to a restaurant recently, you will have seen the temptations that lurk there. The high fat content in many foods, such as French fries, and rich, deep fried desserts, etc. has health professionals worried, and with good reason. Doctors are concerned about “plaque,” the kind that can build up along arterial walls and eventually lead to heart attacks.

If you have had a physical exam recently, with blood work, you will have heard about HDL and LDL, the “good” and “bad” cholesterols. The goal is to keep the “bad” ones at bay, and also to keep blood pressure in an optimal range. For adults, a healthy blood pressure is 120/60.

On a PBS program yesterday, I learned that some people have high cholesterol due to uncontrollable genetic factors. I also heard the scary fact that more women than ever are developing heart disease and dying from it. Being overweight and/or being diabetic contribute to this growing problem.
Scientists have discovered a way to look inside arteries now, to find out what is going on. This is pretty amazing, since heart arteries are no larger than the lead of a pencil, if I understood correctly. White blood cells race to the arterial walls when plaque becomes attached and the result is inflammation that can lead to a dangerous situation.

Heart disease is something we hear about so often, we are almost immune to the words. That is becoming problematic. Many people who have a heart attack die suddenly. They do not get a second chance.

I was in and out of the room when the program aired, therefore, I don’t know if the condition called long Q T was mentioned. This is a genetically predisposed state. It is an irregularity of heart rhythm can be seen readily, on an EKG. Long Q T is linked to “Sudden Death Syndrome.”

Both of my brothers died from this condition, and my sister also collapsed from it, but was in a medical establishment at the time. With CPR done immediately, she lived to tell the tale.

The simple explanation is that Long Q T is like an electrical shortage. The brain simply stops telling the heart to beat. This comes on suddenly, and if there is no medical intervention, the person dies within six to seven minutes, not even time enough to get to a hospital. I have been tested, and was told that I, too, have long Q T. My mother had angina and arrythmia and died of a sudden heart attack, but had lived to be 92, so that is encouraging.

Sometimes, Beta Blockers are prescribed as a preventative measure. In my case, due to other medications already in place, they are not appropriate. A defibrillator can be installed, but generally one of those units, that electrically re-charges the heart, is not added unless a person has had a heart stoppage.

So, I am on my own, just trying to live each day to its fullest measure, and knowing that this medical issue is hanging over my head, like a dagger on a thread poised over a bed.

Why am I sharing this with you? I just want to make you aware that some heart disease can be prevented. If you smoke, give it up! Smoking can lead not only to cancer, but to congestive heart failure, a situation in which one slowly suffocates to death.

Walk whenever possible. Eat at home whenever possible, and cook healthy, nutritious foods like soups. Eat more vegetables and fruits, and less meat and sweets. Attempt to reach a reasonable weight.

Please don’t become a statistic. The time has come for us all to take charge of our lives. We owe it to ourselves, and also to those who love us and would like to see us around a bit longer. Of course, there are those genetic issues. All we can do is to stay as healthy as we can, and that includes adopting a cheerful outlook. Being calm, and being able to laugh, if only at ourselves, goes a long way toward maintaining health.

Long life!

Patricia

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