Burn injuries can be a painful and traumatic experience that can leave you with physical and emotional scars. Whether you suffered a burn injury at home, at work, or in a public place, it’s essential to know what medical and legal steps to take to protect yourself and ensure that you receive the appropriate care and compensation for your injuries.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the most important medical and legal steps you should follow in case of burn injuries.

Seek Medical Attention

The first and most important step in treating a burn injury is to seek immediate medical attention. Burns can range from minor to severe, and the appropriate treatment will depend on the extent and severity of the injury. If the burn is deep, covers a large area, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, fever, or severe pain, you may need emergency medical care.

If your burn is minor, you can clean the affected area with cool running water for at least 10-15 minutes. Avoid using ice or very cold water, as this can further damage the skin. After washing, cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage to prevent infection and reduce pain.

Clean and Cool the Burn

In addition to seeking medical attention, it’s important to clean and cool the burn as soon as possible. This can help reduce pain and prevent further damage to the skin. Use cool running water to clean the affected area for at least 10-15 minutes. Avoid using ice or very cold water, as this can cause further damage to the skin. After washing, cover the burn with a sterile, non-stick bandage to prevent infection and reduce pain.

Take Pain Medications

Burn injuries can be incredibly painful, and taking over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help alleviate discomfort. If the pain is severe or does not subside, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications.

Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan

Following your doctor’s treatment plan is crucial in ensuring proper healing and recovery from a burn injury. This may include regularly cleaning and changing bandages, taking medications as prescribed, and attending follow-up appointments. It’s important to communicate any concerns or questions you may have with your doctor to ensure that you receive the appropriate care.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help you determine whether you have a viable legal claim and guide you through the legal process. An attorney can also help you negotiate with insurance companies, file a lawsuit, and represent you in court if necessary. It’s important to choose an attorney with experience in burn injury cases to ensure that you receive the best possible representation.

If you live in Houston or the Greater Houston area, finding a local lawyer should be a priority. Not only will working with a Houston personal injury attorney can help you get the most out of your claim, but they can also help you navigate through the complicated Texas laws and paperwork associated with filing a claim. Just make sure that you take the time to research your options and choose a personal injury lawyer who is experienced in handling burn injury cases.

Document the Incident

If you suffered a burn injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, it’s important to document the incident as soon as possible. This may include taking photos of the burn injury, collecting witness statements, and obtaining any relevant medical records. Documenting the incident can help provide evidence to support your legal claim and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Keep Detailed Records

Keeping detailed records of your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages can help you build a strong legal case and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Be sure to keep receipts, invoices, and any other relevant documents. This can include documentation of any missed work due to your injury, as well as any expenses related to your medical treatment. If you are able to, take photos of the scene where your burn injury occurred and keep copies of all correspondence related to your case. This can help strengthen your legal claim and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Be Mindful of Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations refers to the time limit within which a legal claim must be filed. In the case of burn injuries, the statute of limitations varies by state, but it’s typically between one and three years. It’s important to be mindful of this time limit and take legal action before it expires. Failing to file a claim within the statute of limitations can result in your case being dismissed and you may be unable to recover compensation for your injuries.

Burn injuries can be painful and take time to heal. Taking steps such as taking pain medications, following your doctor’s treatment plan, documenting the incident, contacting a personal injury attorney, and keeping detailed records can help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Be sure to keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations for filing legal claims related to burn injuries, so it’s important to take action promptly. With the right approach and guidance from an experienced lawyer, you may be able to successfully recover damages for your burn injury.

If you’re a therapist looking to upgrade your practice’s efficiency and improve patients’ healthcare quality, then you need to choose the right EHR for your needs. During the selection process, list your top priorities and needs. This will help the account executive show you how your goals can be met with the EHR. Choosing the right system can ensure you save time and money.

Customizable Forms

Customizable Forms are one of the top features to look for when choosing a therapist EHR. They make it easier to create intake forms and progress notes. For example, if you want to know your client’s age or occupation, you can add fields for those details. Or, you can set up conditions, so the system will pre-determine which questions to show based on your client’s answers. You can create a customized form that meets your practice’s and client’s needs using these conditions.

Patient Portal

Patient portals provide patients with secure and convenient online access to their health records, lab results, medication refills, and more. They can also communicate with their care providers in real-time, allowing them to schedule appointments or send automatic reminders for upcoming visits. Many of these features can improve a patient’s overall healthcare experience. For example, a portal with telemedicine tools can help physicians check if patients are experiencing drug-to-drug or drug-to-allergy interactions based on their current medications and diagnoses. However, choosing a patient portal that’s easy to use and has the functionality your practice needs is essential. This will help you save time and effort in the long run.

Integrations

A Therapist’s EHR should be able to seamlessly connect all aspects of the practice, from patient scheduling and communication to healthcare data storage and access. It should also have robust security features and be compliant with HIPAA regulations. Software integrations streamline processes and automate them to make your business more efficient. They unify your systems and databases by sharing data, reducing the risk of error in operations. Disjointed systems create data silos, where separate departments use their tools to keep lists of contacts or customers.

Ease of Insurance Billing

One of the essential features therapists need in their EHR system is an easy way to submit medical claims online. This feature helps therapists eliminate errors that can occur when submitting handwritten claims. As a therapist, it’s only natural that you want to avoid costly mistakes when handling insurance billing. Thankfully, many EHR systems now offer online billing features to simplify the process and ensure accuracy. For therapists, an EHR is essential to streamline workflow processes, save time on administrative tasks, and improve patient care quality. However, it’s vital to choose the best EHR for therapists that is the right fit for their practices.

Secure Communication

One of the most important features that should be present in any therapist’s EHR is secure communication. This is crucial as it helps protect sensitive information from being hacked by unauthorized individuals. In addition, secure communications help maintain the privacy and integrity of digital assets such as intellectual property rights and trade secrets. When evaluating different EHR solutions, finding one that offers security features like encryption and mutual authentication is essential. Choosing a communications service that is interoperable with other security services used by your partners is also necessary. This will reduce your dependency on a single vendor and make it easier to keep your data safe.

If you’re interested in maximizing your lifespan, reducing your susceptibility to various illnesses and conditions, and just feeling better in general, one of your best options is to regularly physically exercise. For most people, that means playing sports or working out at the gym (or both) several times per week.

Unfortunately, sports injuries are common. When you’re pushing your body to its limit and using heavy machinery to work out your muscles, it’s only natural to occasionally experience a significant injury.

But what are the most common injuries at the gym and how do you avoid them?

The Most Common Injuries at the Gym

These are some of the most common injuries you’ll see at the gym:

1.       Muscle pulls and strains. If you attempt to lift too much weight, or if you use your muscles in ways they weren’t intended to be used, you could experience a muscle pull or strain. These are usually minor injuries that go away on their own, but they can be downright painful and take you out of commission for several days.
2.       Shin splints. If you run frequently or push yourself too hard on leg day, you could end up with shin splints – essentially, hairline fractures in your shins. The best way to treat shin splints is with rest and patience.
3.       Sprained ankles. Sprained ankles usually result from misplacing your feet when running or moving. They range from mild to severe; accordingly, you may fully recover after just a few days or after several months of rest and treatment.
4.       Knee (and other joint) injuries. Your knees, along with the other major joints of your body, bear the weight of your exercises. If you overuse them, or if you don’t use them properly, they may become damaged. In extreme cases, you may experience a blown-out joint, which is extremely painful and leads to a long, challenging recovery.
5.       Tendinitis. Tendinitis occurs when your tendons become inflamed. This is usually attributable to overworking, and it’s a sign you’re not resting enough. If you experience tendinitis, the treatment usually starts with rest and ends with physical therapy and a gradual onramp to resume your previous activity.
6.       Wrist sprains (and dislocations). If you’re using your hands, arms, and wrists, you may be at risk of experiencing a wrist sprain or dislocation. Again, these range from mild to severe, and are usually treated with rest and physical therapy.
7.       Equipment-related injuries. According to the data, treadmills are the most dangerous piece of equipment at the gym. That’s partially because they’re used so commonly – and most people believe them to be perfectly safe. Still, you can experience injuries from using almost any piece of equipment if you’re not careful. Always make sure you’re using equipment properly.

Getting Treatment for a Gym Injury

If you find yourself injured at the gym, get yourself to safety as soon as possible if you can. Remove yourself from the dangerous area and contact a gym attendant. They may help you file an injury report with the gym. If you need emergency medical attention, contact emergency services; otherwise, your best option is to head to an urgent care facility. Urgent care is a step down from emergency care, providing you with urgent attention at a lower cost.

Preventing Gym Injuries

Fortunately, nearly all of the injuries above and other conceivable sports injuries can be prevented by following these strategies:

•       Follow the rules. The rules in the gym and rules for casual sports matches are there for a reason. Make sure you understand these rules thoroughly and follow them as closely as possible.
•       Read the instructions. Similarly, before using any piece of machinery, you should take the time to read the instructions for that machine. How is this supposed to be used? What’s the proper form for this machine? If you have any questions, ask a gym attendant; they’ll be glad to help you.
•       Warm up properly. Always take the time to warm up properly. If you dive into a sport without warming up, you’ll be more likely to strain a muscle or experience an even more significant injury. Go for a light jog, do some light exercises across all your muscle groups, and try to limber up.
•       Stretch. Similarly, you should take the time to stretch. While stretching before vigorous activity can be beneficial, you must be warmed up first. Stretching after vigorous activity is an absolute must.
•       Avoid pushing past your limits. Understand your personal limits and avoid pushing past them. While it’s beneficial to push yourself and strive for greatness in the gym, it’s also foolish to attempt more than you can reasonably handle. Lifting too much weight, running too fast, or attempting a dangerous trick can all lead to injury. 
•       Rest. Resting is just as important as working out. After heavy workouts, take a rest day. And if you’re experiencing a minor injury, take some time off until you fully recover; if you keep playing through the pain, you could end up making it worse.

Thankfully, the vast majority of gym injuries are completely avoidable with the right strategies. A bit of proactive preparation and attention to your surroundings can take your risk close to zero, even if you can never fully eliminate that risk.

We all know the feeling – deadlines catching up with you, late nights revising for exams, and an endless juggling act between studies and social life. It can all get a bit overwhelming.

But did you know that meditation can actually improve your grades and help eliminate stress from your uni life?

If you think that sounds too good to be true, don’t just take it from us.

A recent study of students at George Mason University in California shows that meditation before classes might help university students to focus better and retain information. 

The way the study was undertaken was by taking a random selection of students and comparing quiz results of those who meditated before the lecture with those who didn’t.

And indeed, the students who meditated before the lecture scored better on a quiz that followed than students who did not meditate. Using this method, it was even possible to predict which students would pass and which would fail the quiz!

The study, which was published in the journal Mindfulness, shows that mindfulness can improve mental clarity, focus and self-discipline, and meditation could be useful in a variety of settings.

So what is mindfulness?

It’s basically a form of active meditation which teaches you to slow down your thoughts, let go of negativity, and focus on your feelings and surrounding environment. The outcome is that you calm both your mind and body. 

The researchers that carried out the experiment – Professor Robert Youmans and University of Illinois doctoral student Jared Ramsburg – suggested that other forms of active self-reflection like prayer, long walks, or quietly organising your day in the morning, could have some of the same positive effects as meditation. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways in which meditation can improve your grades.

Better concentration and focus

One of the best things about meditation if you’re studying at uni is that it can improve short-and long-term memory, which can only be a good thing for your exam grades!

Practising mindfulness helps to improve mental clarity and focus, so that when you’re taking in information you’re actually absorbing it, rather than zoning out and reading the same line a million times.

This level of concentration can be particularly helpful to people with shorter attention spans, or those who have ADHD and struggle to focus on longer tasks.

And, of course, if you’re more focused on your university work, the chances are that you’ll achieve higher grades.

Improved working memory

One of the cognitive benefits of meditation is an improvement in working memory.

Working memory, simply put, refers to the amount of information the brain can hold at any one moment in time. It’s a bit like RAM on a computer, which determines how many tabs we can have open at once without the computer crashing. (And no-one wants your working memory to crash!)

So how can meditation improve your grades and working memory?

Well, meditation, if practised consistently, can lead to a more developed prefrontal cortex, which handles processes like planning and problem-solving, which of course would have an impact on how your mind organises information. Meditation also leads to a higher density of grey matter in brain regions associated with learning and memory.

A study in Consciousness and Cognition revealed that participants who meditated for 20 minutes for four days experienced lower levels of stress and performed ten times better on a working memory task.

If you find that you can be quite impulsive when it comes to rushing answers on exam papers, then meditation can help you. It’s been found that meditation improves response inhibition and metacognition – how we think about our thoughts. That is, meditation helps us to plan, monitor and evaluate our learning, or our feelings. 

Less stress, anxiety and depression

Another bonus related to regular meditation is that it can reduce your stress levels.

When stress isn’t managed properly, it can have a direct impact on how well you perform academically. Cognitive development and other brain functions such as short- and long-term memory can be impeded by stress, as the brain is already working at full capacity to combat the stress. 

Meditation decreases cortisol levels, which help with stress management, and can help to beat exam anxiety!

Aside from the normal stress that comes with exam pressures and test days, some of the more on-going mental health problems like anxiety and depression can also be alleviated with the help of meditation.

Numerous studies have shown that meditation can substantially reduce anxiety. According to Harvard researchers, our minds wander around 47% of the time (that’s nearly half!), usually ruminating on the past or worrying about the future.

As anxiety is usually generated by worrying about the future, it makes sense that a practice which focuses on the present moment is the key to lowering anxiety.

Depression, which is often triggered by dwelling on the past, is also often alleviated by mindful zooming in on the present moment.

It’s even been suggested that meditation could bolster your resilience, making you better equipped to cope with stressful situations.

Of course, if you find that you’re experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety or depression, make sure you speak to the university counsellor or a trusted family member or friend who can point you in the right direction.

Improved self-esteem and wellbeing

One thing that’s not easy to control in today’s hyped up social media-influenced world, is a healthy sense of self-esteem. When you’re feeling bogged down by peer pressure, uni stress, or homesickness, it can be easy to scroll through your Insta feed and believe that everyone else is having a better time than you.

First of all, remember that that is just an illusion. Usually people only post about the positive aspects of their lives, leaving out the trickier bits that might be similar to stuff you’re going through. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy!

Secondly, it’s good to get a sense of perspective so that you don’t buy into the hype and start to think negatively about yourself. By meditating, you can start to refocus and get that perspective by concentrating on the present moment. You can also rid yourself of negative thoughts by focusing on positive emotions, which will help your overall wellbeing.

A healthy, happy mind is a much more productive mind – which means more academic success! (1)

Improved sleep quality

The key to crystal-clear focus and concentration is usually just a question of getting a good night’s sleep, but for so many uni students a restful sleep is something that eludes them.

The good news is that by incorporating meditation into your daily routine, you’ll probably find that you enter into a more profound and restful sleep pattern. Studies have discovered that meditation causes favourable brainwave activity during sleep.

If you can master your sleep pattern, you’ll see improvements in every aspect of your life – reduced stress, more energy, good general physical and mental health, and better academic results! (2)

Where to begin with meditation

So now that you know about how meditation can improve your grades, how do you get started?

Well, there are many different ways. You could join a meditation class and get started alongside other people, combining meditation with a social aspect. 

Your student accommodation provider may even host mindfulness classes where you live. Here at our Novel student accommodation in Cork, for example, we have dedicated wellness spaces and wellbeing events, including mindfulness, meditation and yoga. It’s worth enquiring about such activities, and what’s more, they’re a great way to get to know people in your student residence building!

You could also use some of the guided meditation channels that are out there on YouTube. There are even apps to help you get started, one of the most popular being Headspace. Apps like this are great because they help you to track your progress and send you reminders so that you don’t forget to get in your daily mindfulness session.

There are loads of other ways to get started, such as books and audio recordings. The important thing is to make a start, and to stick with the habit. As with physical exercise, mental practice also requires a consistent routine in order to see results.

Practising meditation is like a muscle; it gets stronger with practice.

If you do decide to meditate by yourself, make sure you start by going to a quiet place with no distractions. As time goes on, you’ll be able to incorporate mindfulness practices into any setting or circumstance, but a quiet space will set the foundation for your practice.

With mindfulness, the most important thing is to allow thoughts to come and go; not to change them but to acknowledge them, while focusing on your breathing pattern.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 11.3% of the US population (a total of 37.3 million people) are diabetic, and 38% of the US adult population (96 million people) suffer from prediabetes. 

Diabetes is of two types: type 1 and type 2. Both types of diabetes are severe medical conditions that affect the body’s ability to produce and utilize insulin – a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. The excessive amount of glucose in the blood can lead to elevated sugar levels, which, if left untreated over time, can cause severe health complications. The number of diabetes patients is growing rapidly in New York State. People in the state are experiencing various consequences, such as leg pain due to diabetes. Luckily, diabetes leg pain specialists in NY are readily available to help the patients.

In this article, we will discuss four of the major health complications caused by untreated diabetes. 

4 common Health complications caused by untreated Diabetes

1. Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy happens when the nerves (usually of the legs and feet) get damaged because a high level of sugar is present in the blood. Diabetic neuropathy can lead to a range of symptoms, from urinary incontinence to numbness, pain, and tingling in the limbs. 

The treatment usually comprises a combination of insulin and nerve pain medication. In severe cases, amputation of the affected limb may be necessary.  

2. Cardiovascular Disease

Statistics from the National Heart Association in 2012 put the mortality rate of cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes at 65%. Cardiovascular disease is quite common among people living with diabetes because the presence of high amounts of sugar in the blood can damage the vessels and nerves around the heart. The nerve damage can trigger conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and stroke.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy: 

Similar to the heart and limbs, diabetes can also affect your eyes. The underlying cause of this condition is damage to the blood vessels that support the function of the retina. Mild cases may be treated with modifications to diet and regular shots of insulin. However, more complicated cases may require surgery or laser treatment. 

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults with diabetes, and symptoms include color blindness, blurred vision, and seeing floaters. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause a permanent loss of vision. (1)

4. Kidney Disease: 

Diabetes may also damage the blood vessels in the kidneys. This is a condition called diabetic nephropathy, and it can have serious consequences if left untreated. Since the kidneys of an individual with diabetic nephropathy do not filter waste from the blood, the condition can lead to a buildup of toxins in the bloodstream, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and death.

There is no cause for alarm if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. These conditions usually occur in cases where a patient’s health is frequently neglected, and fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing them. 

The first step is to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels through regular tests. Making lifestyle changes through your diet and exercise routine can also help to keep your blood sugar in check. 

In addition to monitoring your blood sugar and making important lifestyle changes, it is crucial to schedule regular appointments with your healthcare provider. Regular medical checkups can detect health abnormalities early on before they get too advanced to treat. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are also crucial in the management of diabetes; you should also take your medications exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can have far-reaching consequences if left untreated. Nevertheless, people living with diabetes can still enjoy a happy life and reduce their risk of developing complications by prioritizing their health and making a few lifestyle choices. (2)