Sea Crest Health Care Center

File this in the “Support my Hypothesis” file:

“Women are more likely than men to give up sleep to care for children and others,” states Charity Brown in the Washington Post.

Women are 2 ½ times as likely as men to interrupt their sleep to care for others, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Michigan. And once they’re up, women are awake longer: 44 minutes, compared with 30 minutes for men.

For the study, which is slated to appear in the journal Social Forces, researchers analyzed data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau via the American Time Use Survey: more than 20,000 time diaries kept by working parents from 2003 to 2007.

Among dual-income couples with a child younger than 1, 32 percent of women reported sleep interruptions on a given 24-hour period, compared with 11 percent of men. For those with children ages 3 to 5, 3 percent of mothers and 1 percent of fathers experienced interrupted sleep. Overall, after controlling the data for differences in work commitment, partnership status and other factors, Burgard said, mothers took “the night shift of caretaking” about 21/2 times as often as fathers.

Previous research into women’s lack of sufficient sleep noted problems such as undiagnosed sleep apnea and depression, she said, but this study sheds light on another factor: gender-defined responsibilities.

Whether the woman was the “primary caregiver, primary breadwinner, it didn’t matter,” says Burgard. Among parents of children younger than 1, 28 percent of women who were the sole earner in the couple reported getting up in the middle of the night to take care of children, compared with 4 percent of men who were the sole breadwinner.

“The primary care responsibilities still belong to females regardless of other obligations,” says Burgard.

As Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords makes progress that seems to bode well for her recovery, her upturn has given the public a glimpse into the complex world of brain injury and healing.

The brain is an astonishingly intricate and malleable mass of tissue that continues to amaze and baffle doctors and scientists with its flexibile adaptability.

This organ consists of about 100 billion densely packed nerve cells, each of which is connected to 1,000 or so other nerve cells, called neurons. Those connections form circuits that are the foundation of the brain’s activity, and a traumatic injury damages neuron connections – disrupting function. Depending on what circuits have been affected, victims may have difficulty reasoning, finding words, remembering things, recognizing faces, understanding what’s said to them, or they could have problems walking, reaching, getting dressed or feeding themselves.

It’s an open book that scientists are still unraveling, but one thing that’s clear is that the brain has the astounding ability to rewire itself, bypassing damaged circuits and strengthening existing connections. Guided by doctors and therapists, patients undergo neurological rehabilitation where they learn compensation strategies to reclaim their cognitive abilities. The road to recovery is a long haul and most people with such injuries have some level of impairment for the rest of their lives. However the most dramatic recovery usually takes place within the first year, with approximately a third of patients who survive severe injuries showing improvement by the end of that time.

As Gabby Giffords regains her voice, we wish her well and a complete recovery.

You gotta LOL!

Just trying to do the right thing and checking the page ranking of clients. I log in, and am summarily stopped. Nothing doing before I successfully copy the hieroglyphics squashed in this tiny box below.

Despite myself, my heart beats a little faster; I’m stymied by a tricky squiggle that looks like a stylized Seven, but I’m just not sure.

I’m starting to wonder why I’m having such difficulty…ostensibly this stuff is easy enough for any Human, or they would be a Bot, wouldn’t they?

With trepidation I submit my best attempt at humanity. Enter

I fail. This Bot is relegated to the trash heap of humanity, as the following appears:

ERROR: You submitted a wrong anti-bot code from the verification image on the previous page. Please make sure to submit a correct code to verify that you are a human, but not a bot.

Please click here to go back and try again.

Oh, no! Not me…I’m going elsewhere. This Bot can take no more abuse!

The first Baby Boomer turned 65 recently.  With so many advances in medical science, life expectancy is getting longer by the day. At the same time, cancer seems to impact everyone in one way or another.  So, it’s no wonder, then, that there is an entire industry devoted to anti-aging and healthy living.  Vitamins now take up multiple aisles in grocery stores, organic foods are becoming more accessible, sunscreen and rash guards are in every toddler’s vocabulary, and where Oil of Olay used to be the lone product line devoted to younger looking skin, now there are dozens alongside.  Let’s face it, we all would love to find that elusive fountain of youth and be one of those who extends the limits of life expectancy, still living a healthy, active life.

As we grow older, we also grow wiser, however.  So we realize that things that seem too good to be true, usually are. Unfortunately, anti-aging creams now seem to fall into this infamous category.  This week, in an article published by MedPage Today, we learned that the most popular anti-aging creams do not contain much, if any, protection from UV-A1 rays–rays that, in addition to UV-B, have been directly linked to photoaging and skin cancer.

The article points out that unlike UV-B rays, UV-A can penetrate windows.  So, protection from UV-A becomes even more important for those who are indoors or driving a lot.   Just looking at SPF isn’t enough because there currently are no label laws specific to how much UV-A protection is in the product. In other words, an SPF of 50 may simply apply to UV-B rays and provide no coverage from UV-A, leaving your skin susceptible to damage whether you are indoors or out!

So, ladies…before spending upwards of $50 on your favorite anti-aging cream, it may pay to do a little research first.  If you do, you just might be one step closer to that fountain we’re all searching for.  Happy hunting!

Ever heard of the piriformis muscle? It is situated partly within the pelvis, and partly at the back of the hip-joint and helps stabilize the hip, leg and pelvic area. Inflammation can result from too much sitting or outward rotation of the leg – causing sciatica pain that radiates from buttocks down through the leg and can be felt at times in the lower back as well.

Ice, heat, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, physical therapy and corticosteroid injections are different means of attaining pain relief. Surgery is usually not required.

The Arthritis Foundation suggests incorporating stretching exercises to your daily routine to prevent future spasms.

Recent studies have shown that any device on the foot, ie. a short leg cast or controlled ankle-motion boot, poses an obstacle to braking.

Orthopedic surgeons know that their patients are eager to return to the driver’s seat as soon as possible, but they advise them to wait it out until they resume wearing normal footwear due to safety.

Upon measuring emergency braking time in people using a brake adapted for use by the left foot, or wearing a short leg cast, a controlled ankle-motion boot, or normal footwear – only the normal footwear didn’t impair the drivers’ ability to brake quickly.

According to CPT Thomas Dowd, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, “We only tested emergency braking situations, but it’s reasonable to assume that if a person cannot stop quickly in an emergency, it may not be safe for that person to be driving.”

Landmark Rehab™ at Sea Crest specializes in post-operative rehabilitation, and boasts an on-site orthopedic clinic where patients regain their independence and relearn the skills previously taken for granted.

As weight loss surgery is becoming more and more popular, we’re seeing a greater number of Bariatric Patients in our Landmark Rehab™ Department here at Sea Crest Healthcare Center. This is a direct result of the steadily rising obesity rates in the U.S. The number of bariatric operations performed in the United States rose 804 percent from 1998 to 2004.

Whether one has undergone lap-band surgery or a gastric bypass, the procedure and all the unexpected expenses that arise (a new wardrobe included) is extremely costly. To ensure the best possible outcomes – achieving one’s rehabilitation goals and maintaining one’s new body – Sea Crest offers a multidisciplinary approach to the Rehab of Bariatric Patients.

Having the correct equipment and a well-trained staff is essential. Physical, occupational, and recreational therapists; psychologists; nutritionists; case managers; respiratory therapists; and nurses, work together to develop a treatment plans tailored to meet the specific needs of this special population.

Therapists focus on strengthening, range of motion, and standing – working with patients to build their strength until they essentially are able to bear their weight with support, like standing at the parallel bars. They also address bed mobility, sitting bedside, extension, and inflection on muscles—especially the legs.

The road to recovery may not be easy, but it’s well worth it!

Bet you didn’t know that! Laughing works up an appetite just like a workout does.

Seems there are two hormones that regulate appetite: leptin and ghrelin.
Increased ghrelin means increased appetite, and decreased leptin also results in greater appetite. After a basic exercise routine, one usually has more ghrelin and less leptin.

In a recent study conducted by Loma Linda University in California, participants watched an array of videos ranging from tear jerkers to comedies. Hormones were measured well before and immediately after viewing. After enjoying Bill Cosby, Will Ferrell and the like, the viewers showed a 15% decrease in leptin and a 9% increase in ghrelin.

These findings can be helpful for those caring for elderly who have reduced appetites and are losing weight. It can also make a significant difference to those who can’t really partake in physical activity ie. the physically handicapped or elderly.

Hearty laughter provides many benefits and has already already been linked with stress reduction and lower risk of heart disease, as well as an enhanced immune system and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Go ahead! Laugh as if your life depends on it!

When Mother Nature wreaks havoc with her snow, snowblowers are the tool of the trade for many, while others stick to their trusty shovel and do it the old fashioned way.

According to a government safety agency, snowblowers cause hundreds of finger amputations every winter season. While newer models have better safety features, older ones don’t offer any protection to those who try to clear snow or debris from the blades.

Get out there and enjoy your snow cleanup but make sure to heed the following tips from the experts at Sea Crest’s Landmark Rehab Department:

– Never put your hand down the chute or around the blades of a snowblower.

– Use a stick or broom handle to clear impacted snow.

– Keep all shields in place and keep hands and feet away from moving parts.

Well, if you weigh 200 pounds you can burn over 400 calories if you shovel heavy snow for 30 minutes. Although shoveling snow can be good exercise if done right, there are health concerns and risks of injury.

A high-intensity exercise, snow shoveling is quite demanding on the cardiovascular system. For some people, it is more demanding than running on a treadmill at maximum speed.

Below are some smart shoveling techniques and safety precautions to keep in mind from the Rehab Experts at Sea Crest’s Landmark Rehab™ Department:

• Stay away from caffeine or smoking if you know you will soon be going outside to shovel snow. Stimulants may cause blood vessels to contract and pulse to increase.

• Layer up and drink plenty of water beforehand.

• Make sure to stretch out your back, arm, and leg muscles before clearing snow from driveways and sidewalks. March in place for a little while or do some kind of warm up exercise to loosen your muscles.

• It is important to stand with your feet spaced shoulder width apart and facing the direction in which you are shoveling.

• Lift and bend at the knees. If you feel any pain, stop shoveling immediately.

• Don’t twist at the waist or try to bend when moving snow. Instead, move and turn towards the place where the snow is supposed to go, and drop it there.

• Shovel in small sections and don’t overload your shovel.