Vitamin D Blood Test – Is It Worth the Investment?

Monitoring vitamin D blood levels is a good idea given the importance of the vitamin to our health. Research has shown that sufficient levels are essential for calcium absorption (to prevent osteoporosis) and for maintaining a healthy immune system. But for most people it is unnecessary to test repeatedly if the correct strategy is applied.

Many health plans will no longer pay for vitamin D blood tests except under extraordinary circumstances. Surprisingly, many plans do not include osteoporosis and osteopenia within the exceptions despite the importance of vitamin D for calcium absorption.

The vitamin D blood test is well worth the investment of approximately $ you are using it to evaluate your supplement program rather than just to see how you are doing. Most people living in the northern regions of North America are deficient in the winter, so there is no reason to take a test to prove that you are part of the crowd.

So here is how to maximize your investment and save your time and money:

Get at least 15 minutes of sun daily in the spring, summer and Fall to build up your reserves.

Begin taking 5,000 IU daily in November.

Take your vitamin D test in late February or March when blood levels are usually the lowest.

Ask the doctor for your results and write them down!

The acceptable blood range is 75-200nmol (30-80ng/ml) you really don’t want to be at the bottom of the range. The Vitamin D Council suggests maintaining a level of 125 nmol/L (50 ng/ml) throughout the year. If you have succeeded in maintaining that level throughout the winter, you know that your supplement program is working. Paying for further tests should not be necessary…unless the doctor suggests that you do so.…

Why Rehabilitation is Important to Stroke Recovery

Not only is a stroke the number 3 killer in the world, but it is also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Many stroke survivors are left with mental and physical disabilities. Despite the fact that the most gains in recovery are made within the first 30 days following the stroke, rehabilitation is still important. Successful rehabilitation depends on a variety of different factors. Stroke rehabilitation that is successful depends on how early rehabilitation begins, the extent of the brain injury, and the survivor’s attitude. Success also depends on the rehabilitation team’s skill and the cooperation of family and friends.

The main goal of rehabilitation is to help stroke survivors regain independence and to be as productive as possible. A huge part of rehabilitation is improving physical abilities. Often, old skills are lost during a stroke. This means that old skills will have to be re-taught or new skills will have to be learned to help adapt to the survivor’s new disability. It is also important, when possible, to try to maintain and even improve the person’s physical condition. Stroke rehabilitation should begin early while the survivor is still in the hospital. Nurses and other hospital personnel should work together to prevent secondary problems such as stiff joints, falls, bedsores, and second stroke etc.

It is so important for family to be involved in the process of stroke rehabilitation. Family participation is a huge factor in the success of rehabilitation. If a family member has a positive attitude and knowledge it can make a huge difference. Family members need to understand what the stroke survivor has been through and how the disabilities will affect the person. The whole situation will be easier to handle if they can anticipate problems and now how to handle them when they arise.

There are many different places where stroke survivors can seek stroke rehabilitation. There are both impatient and outpatient units are usually part of larger hospitals. Skilled nursing facilities commonly offer stroke rehabilitation. Home-based rehabilitation programs are also available to stroke survivors and are beneficial because they allow the rehabilitation to revolve around their needs and schedules.

The duration of rehabilitation will depend on the severity of stroke a patient suffered. Usually, stroke victims stay inside rehabilitation facilities for around 16 days. After the brief in-house rehab, further rehabilitation follows in an outside facility for the following several weeks or months.

Stroke victims need to learn and re-learn new and old tasks for as long as you live. Therefore, it is important for stroke victims to continue with their own rehabilitation at home after they complete their therapy at rehabilitation center.…