COVID -19
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Heading to the Hospital? Get Better. Don't Get a Blood Clot. (Statepoint)
S
pending time in the hospital can be a challenge, and the last thing you need is another setback on your road to recovery. This is why it is so important to know that being in the hospital -- particularly if you are dealing with surgery, a physical trauma, or a serious illness like cancer -- places you at increased risk for the development of a deadly blood clot. Each year, blood clots affect about 900,000 people in the U.S., and about half of all blood clots occur during a hospital stay or within three months of a hospital stay or surgery. Many blood clots occurring during or after hospitalization can be prevented, but fewer than half of hospital patients receive proper prevention measures. This is why the Centers for Disease
PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com
Control and Prevention and the National Blood Clot Alliance advise that you have a blood clot prevention plan
when headed to and home from the hospital. Your Blood Clot Prevention Plan
Follow these steps to help prevent blood clots: • Before entering the hospital, discuss all of your
risk factors with your doctor, including your personal and family history of blood clots. • Ask if you will need prevention measures for blood clots while in the hospital. • Before leaving the hospital, ask your doctor what to do at home to prevent blood clots. • Ask about the signs or symptoms of a blood clot and what to do if you experience them. Signs and Symptoms of a Blood Clot Blood clots occur most often in the legs or arms, and symptoms include: • Swelling • Pain or tenderness • Skin that may be warm to the touch, red, or discolored Blood clots in your legs or arms can travel to your lungs, which can be deadly. Symptoms of blood clots in your lungs include:
• Difficulty breathing • Chest pain that worsens with a deep breath • Coughing up blood • Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat When released from the hospital and you return home, follow all instructions and take medications as prescribed. Get up and move around as often as possible. If confined to bed or unable to move, ask a family member or friend to help you move. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience signs or symptoms. For more information, visit www.stoptheclot.org/ spreadtheword/hospitalization. After a hospital stay, protect yourself. Understand your risk for blood clots and pay attention to signs and symptoms.
Parents Guide to Screen Time During COVID-19 Harlem Community Newspapers | May 14. 2020
(Statepoint)
8
A
fter years of hearing study after study about the
negative effects of excessive screen time, parents are now being told to set aside any concerns about limiting device time. If you’re confused, you aren’t alone.
ing platforms, and with
scheduling app that al-
stay-at-home orders in
lows parents to manage
effect around the world,
what kids are doing on-
screens have proven es-
line, create daily screen
sential components of
time
household
Even
filters on browsers and
still, establishing consis-
block certain applica-
tent and clear structure
tions at certain times of
around screen time rules
day. To learn more, visit
is as important as ever.
OurPact.com. With a new reliance
through the noise, con-
on digital devices, par-
laxing your screen time
sider the latest research,
ents can continue to take
rules is an inevitability.
expert advice and tips
steps to ensure kids are
Most kids are transi-
from OurPact a screen
striking a healthy online
tioning to digital learn-
time
and offline balance.
has taken a 180 and re-
help
you
set
cut
Life as we know it
To
life.
allowances,
monitoring
and
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