According to the US Department of Health and Services Office on Women’s Health, experts say that one million people currently suffer from the condition, although fewer than 20 percent of these cases have been diagnosed.  Women are four times more likely to have disease, which most commonly presents between the ages of 40 – 59.

Symptoms of CFS vary widely and can include feeling extreme tiredness or weakness, as well as the following:
•    Feeling very tired for more than a day after physical or mental exercise
•    Forgetting things or having a hard time focusing
•    Feeling tired even after sleeping
•    Muscle pain or aches
•    Pain or aches in joints without swelling or redness
•    Headaches of a new type, pattern, or strength
•    Tender lymph nodes in the neck or under the arm
•    Sore throat

Recently, research has uncovered a possible connection between CFS and a virus called gammaretrovirus.  Even with this new information, the jury is still out on the cause and treatment for the syndrome.  Dr. Joseph Mercola believes that the various potential causes boil down to one thing:  an improperly functioning immune system.  Here are some of his thoughts on steps patients with CFS can take to reduce symptoms:

1.    Bio Energetic Normalization:  Dr. Mercola describes this as acupuncture without the needles that alleviates energy blockages in your system that can affect overall health.  Read more about this technique on Dr. Mercola’s website.
2.    Dietary Changes:  To offset a range of health concerns, look into your nutritional type.  Discover yours here.
3.    Exercise:  Dr. Mercola advises that a combination of aerobic activity and strength training can relieve fatigue symptoms.  Even gentle exercise, like yoga, can help.
4.    Avoidance of Toxic Substances:  Do this by limiting processed foods and other chemicals in your diet.
5.    Sleep:  Ensure that you get restorative, quality sleep each and every night.

If you feel you’re experiencing extreme fatigue or any of the other possible symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, discuss them with your doctor.  If you’ve already been diagnosed, consider adding some of Dr. Mercola’s complimentary measures to your treatment regime.  And rest assured, there are steps you can take to relieve your symptoms.

Medical Disclaimer

The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

“My career has focused on supporting people with various challenges to attain and/or maintain their highest level of functioning, whether at home or in a facility,” says Kenny, who joined Freedom this May.  “I consider myself to be an advocate for client autonomy.”

Louise will conduct in-depth assessments of clients to determine their strengths and deficits related to physical, cognitive, emotional and functional well-being.  She will collaborate with clients to create care plans and coordinate services that support both the client and family.  She’ll also provide clients with ongoing monitoring of all needs, re-evaluating and adjusting client care plans and provide support and training to caregivers when necessary.

A skilled healthcare professional like Louise Kenny is just one example of the Freedom specialists that help clients achieve their very highest level of independence.  For more information about Louise, or to learn how Freedom Home Care can help with your in-home needs, please call us at 847. 433.5788.

Freedom Home Care is a leading home care organization serving the North Shore and northern Illinois and now expanded the company to provide services throughout the Chicagoland area.

“We have lots of clients throughout the entire Chicago area but a large percentage is concentrated in the western suburbs,” said Jacqueline Lotzof, Director of Business Development at Freedom Home Care. “We felt that opening an office in Hinsdale would be a great way to expand our business, provide more exposure to our company and make it easier on local team members.”

Freedom Home Care is licensed as both a home services company and a home nursing agency to provide consistency with one agency providing the care to clients throughout their spectrum of care. Freedom Home Care provides a multitude of home nursing services that range from post-hospital care, day surgery companion care and supportive care, to daily home visits for meal preparation, personal care, companionship and other needs right in the comfort of your own home.

“We have been extremely fortunate growing our business,” continued Lotzof. “Our process of employing the right caretakers and providing the right services at affordable prices has been a winning formula. Coupled with our aging population and need for in-home care giving, there are people that need the services that we provide.”

Freedom Home Care is headquartered in Highland Park and has other locations in the Chicago market. The company plans on opening additional locations.

Meat
Look into this article by Dr. Joseph Mercola, to learn why not all red meat is created equal.  Grass fed, organic red meat, eaten in moderation, can actually be good for you and decrease your risk of disease.  As for non-organic meat raised in confinement, it’s best to remove it from your diet, especially if you’re already at risk of stroke.  According to Dr. Mercola, these two types of meat are drastically different foods.

When selecting meat of any type, be sure to avoid smoked or processed meats that can contain chemicals like sodium nitrate, which can increase stroke risk as well.  Meats that fall into this category include certain sausages, hot dogs and cured meats like salami.

Salt
Just like other foods, this mineral comes in processed and unprocessed forms.  Table salt and salt found within processed foods is processed and you should limit your intake to reduce your stroke risk.  Unprocessed salt, such as Himalayan salt, offers many benefits according to Dr. Mercola, such as assisting the lining of your blood vessels regulate blood pressure.  Find out more about how good salts can help you, here.

Diet Soda
At a recent American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference, experts presented research showing an increase in stroke risk for diet soda drinkers.  In fact, according to this article in Prevention, the increased risk of adverse vascular events is likely attributed to artificial sweeteners.  Limit your consumption of diet soda and any other processed foods or drinks that contain artificial sweeteners.

When it comes to stroke prevention, there are many things we can do to reduce our risk.  Look to Freedom Home Care for more information on this topic in future months, including what supplements can reduce your risk and how stepping up your exercise regime can help as well.

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Medical Disclaimer
The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

Many people are unknowingly deficient in vitamin B12 as it’s not a component of a standard blood workup and even people who test in the low range of “normal” may experience memory loss symptoms.  But recent studies have shown that for those of us who are, it may likely lead to cognitive impairment.  I personally supplement with monthly B12 injections received at my doctor’s office and with Super Sublingual B12 by TriVita.  For me, the product delivers on its claims of increasing vitality, mood, focus and mental energy, as well as decreasing the effects of daily stress.

Dr. David Brownstein believes that the current testing methods for B12 levels are wildly inaccurate, resulting in many people believing they’re fine, even when they’re not.  He recommends B12 supplementation for multiple reasons, including reducing your cancer and heart disease risk, increasing your energy level and improving memory function.  Follow his blog and newsletters to learn more about his B12 patient experiences; most notably an elderly woman with a history dementia.  After beginning B12 supplementation, her memory loss symptoms disappeared.  Talk with your doctor soon about how B12 supplements might benefit you or your loved ones.

In a 2010 report from the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.3 million Americans were said to be living with the disease.  With studies showing that healthy choices like physical activity and low fat diets lower Alzheimer’s risk, make sure you also incorporate those into your health plan to ensure optimum brain health.  Dr. Joseph Mercola, one of my favorite leaders on the complimentary medicine front, firmly believes that we can make life choices that reduce our risk of memory function decline or Alzheimer’s, most successfully through diet, exercise and normalizing our blood pressure. Read his Expert Guide for Reducing Dementia Risk for more information.

Finally, there is much buzz about the positive effect that coconut oil supplements can have on patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and I believe it.  Causing the body to create higher ketone levels, coconut oil helps give the brain an alternative to glucose as energy, and it’s a known fact that, for anyone with dementia, the brain has a very hard time metabolizing glucose.  By adding coconut oil to your diet, the brain uses the newly produced ketones.  Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) produce ketones and coconut oil is about 63 percent MCTs.  Reach out to your doctor to learn more about whether a coconut oil supplement might benefit you or your loved ones.  I’m so convinced of its preventative benefits that I cook with it all the time!

Before making any changes in your healthcare regime, talk to your doctor about the advice given here and to find out what you can do to reduce your risk for memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s.

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Medical Disclaimer
The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

Anti-aging and resveratrol
The anti-aging properties of resveratrol have been linked to its use in Eastern medicines, and also to the relatively low incidence of heart disease in France, where, on average, the population consumes a larger amount of red wine.  Studies show that resveratrol possesses a property that can activate a class of longevity genes in the body known as sirtuins.  Sirutins reduce cellular decay and act as a catalyst for cellular repair.  This cellular repair has potential benefits not only for your skin and hair, but for all the cells in your body, including a recent report that it can assist with retinal regeneration.

Cancer and resveratrol
Recent studies also show that resveratrol has cancer–killing properties that do not harm the DNA in healthy cells, something that traditional chemotherapy cannot claim.  While it has yet to be approved as a cancer cure, according to health care writer, Bill Sardi, who also acts as managing partner for Longevinex, a resveratrol-based dietary supplement, no other cancer cures have been approved either.  Ask your doctor about adding resveratrol to your diet to ward off or fight against cancer.

Weight loss and resveratrol
Claims that resveratrol can benefit those looking to lose weight seem to be gaining ground, as recent studies suggest that the antioxidant activates the SiRT1 gene.  This gene comes to life when a person restricts calories and allows them to more easily break down stored fat in the body, possibly leading users to their weight loss goals more quickly.

Are you interested in learning more about resveratrol and how it might benefit you?  Research it further with the help of Bill Sardi’s blog, www.knowledgeofhealth.com.  Then discuss the many benefits with your doctor before adding resveratrol to your healthcare regimen.

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Medical Disclaimer
The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

You do have some control as to whether or not you’ll suffer from this common pain, by managing factors like weight, the amount of physical activity you get and enlisting the help of your doctor.  In addition, there are many nutraceuticals that can be added to your health regime, weather you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis, or you just feel occasional joint-related aches and pains.  Read on for two of the latest nutraceuticals making headway in joint health.  If you decide you’d like to try these supplements, discuss them with your medical doctor first.

According to TriVita, the manufacturer of Nopalea, the wellness drink is sourced from the fruit of the Nopal cactus, which grows in Mexico.  Its anti-inflammatory properties have been used by native peoples and have been effective in easing joint-related inflammation, as well as respiratory, arterial, digestive tract and other body inflammation.

I’ve experienced Nopalea results firsthand and recommend drinking it daily to help your body neutralize inner toxins and reduce inflammation.  Visit the Nopalea website to learn more about the amazing results people are having, with their joint pain and beyond.

In my experience, Krill Oil can be extremely helpful in the elimination of joint inflammation and pain. It’s making headlines these days as a more effective and safer alternative to traditional fish oil, with claims that it’s 48 times more powerful in neutralizing free radicals, cells that are known to play a central role in many diseases.  The benefits of Krill Oil are numerous, but for joint pain sufferers, it can be a potent aid in the elimination of discomfort.  Discuss the head-to-toe benefits of a Krill Oil supplement with your doctor and look for future posts with more information on easing your joint-related pain.

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Medical Disclaimer

The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

Through her many years in the healthcare industry as well as her own journey in the world of complimentary healthcare, Sharon has amassed a wealth of experience and information.  Her blog, Health Notes from Sharon, will touch on the most common issues experienced by our family of clients and also share her thoughts on cutting-edge, traditional and complementary medicine, with hopes of providing new ways to heal from common health concerns.

Sharon’s deep and broad background as a healthcare professional began as a licensed occupational therapist.  Her interest in cost-effective healthcare and rehabilitation led her to her former position as the president of Excellcare, a rehabilitation company boasting a twenty-year history of providing physical, speech and occupational therapies to schools, hospitals and clinics throughout Illinois.  She was also one of the founders of The Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.

Sharon, a mother of four, developed an interest in complementary healthcare through her own experience with various illnesses, as well as the experiences of her family and friends.  She’s become a point of contact for many people searching for information on complementary healthcare and looks forward to sharing her years of discovery and knowledge with you through her posts.

Upcoming posts will cover important topics such as:

• The benefits of coconut oil
• Measures for dealing with joint pain
• Overcoming fatigue
• Meditation
• Nutrition
• Decreasing Alzheimer’s risk
• The health benefits of vitamin D
• Thoughts on healthcare-related decision making
• Crohn’s Disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome
• Possible side effects of statins

The effective and powerful steps that you can take to live and feel better every day are just a post away.  Follow Health Notes from Sharon for information that can make a real difference in your life.

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Medical Disclaimer

The information included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

“We give our staff the tools to provide the best possible care for our clients,” said Jacqueline Lotzof, Director of Business Development at Freedom Home Care. “We realize that our promise is only as good as our delivery. So having nurturing skilled, knowledgeable caregivers is a foundation block at Freedom Home Care.”

Freedom Home Care has partnered with aQuire Training Solutions to help build a more skilled workforce, and create a vital engaged team. The continuous training will provide the team important training in caregiving, providing personal care, Alzheimer’s and memory care, client rights and elder abuse, medication management, basic first aid, fall and wandering prevention and more.

“The training is written and conducted by experts in the field of quality senior care specifically for caregivers,” Lotzof continued. “Because we have unlimited access to training, there is never any “skimping” on training for any of our team members. We believe that having the best trained team is what sets Freedom Home Care apart from other home care providers.”

When choosing a care provider for your family or loved one, having a trained versatile staff makes all the difference. A person that is specifically trained will provide a consistent higher level of skilled care. Freedom Home Care believes training is vital to the success of their business and requires office staff to participate as well as all caregivers.