Clinical care – Here for Life

Vocabulary lesson: What is a doula?

March 2, 2020

Having a baby is one of the most exciting, scary, and vulnerable times in a mom’s life. You have never been more exposed or had so many questions flying around your brain. Births can be quick or slow, vaginal or surgical, calm and collected, or wild and crazy. Whether you’ve done it before or not, you can be sure that support is essential.

A doula is a labor support person. The term “doula” comes from the Greek for “woman’s servant.” Doulas come when called by the birthing person (or by the nurse upon the request of the birthing person) and remain until after baby is born. They provide continuous care for mom and anyone else mom decides to allow into her space. They provide a constant presence amid the staffing changes at the hospital, an encouraging voice, a reminder of your worth and agency. (more…)

98% artery blockage took him by surprise

February 28, 2020

Eric, a security guard at Hennepin Healthcare, had been dealing with chest pains for about a week, but only when he bent over to do something like tie his shoes. “Heart attack symptoms were different than that,” he thought, “like major chest pains all the time or a shooting pain down your arm.” As an overall healthy man, he passed it off as something else. But one Sunday in January, 2019, he decided to stop ignoring it and went to the emergency department. Blood tests and an EKG were normal, but there was more to come.

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The healthy woman’s heart attack

February 27, 2020

Have you ever heard of SCAD? AKA spontaneous coronary artery dissection? Bobbijo, who works in the Comprehensive Cancer Center, had never heard of it either. Early in January 2017, Bobbijo felt something was wrong, and passed it off as acid reflux, thinking it would go away. One week later with shooting pain from her sternum through to her back, she ended up in the emergency room. (more…)

Want a healthy heart?

February 26, 2020

We all have heard the things we should be doing to have a healthy heart. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise.

What we’d like to do is compile some tips that may be more specifically helpful, and debunk some myths about what is good and not good for your heart and overall wellbeing! We hope you find this helpful. (more…)

ECMO: Improving chances for survival when heart, lungs fail

January 13, 2020

A knock on his neighbor’s door may have saved Ahmed Warfa’s life. On November 11, the 49-year-old was experiencing chest pain when he went to his neighbor for help.

“That’s the last thing I remember,” he said. “Until I woke up in the hospital.”

Warfa doesn’t recall making the initial 911 call before he passed out, but thankfully his neighbor picked up the phone and called 911 again to make sure help was on the way.

When Hennepin EMS paramedics arrived, they found him with a weak pulse and a shallow breathing pattern. As Warfa was being placed in the ambulance he went into full cardiac arrest. Paramedics gave him several shocks to restart his heart but those were unsuccessful. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed throughout the entire trip to HCMC, but when he arrived at the emergency department he still had no pulse and his heart was quivering, a life-threatening cardiac arrest rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. Warfa’s best chance for survival was Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation life support – otherwise known as ECMO. (more…)

Hospice care is palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice care

January 10, 2020

Confused? The terms “palliative care” and “hospice care” are often used interchangeably when, in fact, they are not the same thing. Each has a different focus but they both share the same goal: bring comfort and relief to the patient and family.

Palliative care: comfort care for illness

This type of care uses an interdisciplinary team approach in order to improve the quality of life for the patient and family. The approach is holistic, caring for the physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, legal and advance care planning needs of the patient. This team is specially trained in palliative care and consist of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specialists. They will work with the patient’s primary doctors to provide this “extra layer of support” as the patient faces serious or life-threatening diseases. Everyone will work to manage the symptoms of the illness to keep the patient comfortable. (more…)

Gratitude is good for you!

December 31, 2019

Holidays and changing seasons can be difficult times of year for some. There is often pressure around expectations, additional stress and feelings of loss or loneliness. One tool that can help lift your spirit and provide grounding is practicing gratitude.

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1 in 10 Women: Endometriosis

December 13, 2019

If you have actually heard about endometriosis then you are already more informed than most about this devastating condition that effects roughly 10% of reproductive age females. This means approximately 200 hundred million women’s lives around the world are impacted by this potentially disabling condition. According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, “Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) migrates outside of the womb, where tissue should not be.” This results in inflammation, which produces pain and sometimes infertility.

I want to focus more on what endometriosis is not, as opposed to what it is. This approach brings about a more interesting discussion by revealing the immense opportunity we have as health practitioners (and as a society) to intervene early, potentially effecting the trajectory of a young person’s life. (more…)