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Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!
Focus on health observances throughout the year.
Timely Topics:
Here's how to fight the "flu"...
Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...
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Grout
Description: A defect in metabolism causes uric acid to build up in the blood leading to deposits in the joints that result in pain, swelling, and redness similar to arthritis; often occurs in the big toe, through any joints may be affected.
Incidence: 100 cases per 100,000 in the US; increases with age
Prevalence: Males much more than females
Signs and symptoms:
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Redness (looking like an infection in the joint)
- Warmth
- Can flare up and then disappear
Risk factors:
- Family history
- Certain medications
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Kidney problems
- Blood or skin disorders
- Polynesian descent
- Excessive use of alcohol
Usual treatment:
- Determination of the underlying cause
- Medication for the acute attack (to reduce inflammation and remove uric acid)
- Lifestyle changes (decrease fat in diet; decrease drinking alcohol; where possible, decrease medications that cause arthritis
Usual course: Good prognosis and hope for full recovery if treated early; can have recurrent attacks that make treatment more challenging if the underlying cause of the buildup of uric acid is not addressed; frequency of attacks can be reduced by the use of medications that prevent the formation of uric acid-the metabolic by-product that accumulates in the joints and causes grout.
Spiritual considerations:
While not life-threatening disorder, grout is painful and requires resting of the joint during flare-ups. Home visits may be necessary as the person may be unable to attend worship services.
The cause for most older people is the medications they have been taking (diuretic, also known as “water pills” are a common cause). The doctor may be switching their medications around to prevent grout, and this may be upsetting both physically and emotionally to the older person. Provide comfort, reassurance, Understanding, and prayer.
Suggested scriptures: Psalms 37:23-24
Resources:
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
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Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.
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