Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2020

Understanding sepsis HEALTHY HOLIDAYS In any given year, around 1.7 million people in the U.S. will develop sepsis—a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s massive immune response to an infection. Sepsis starts with an infection, most often one caused by bacteria. The infection can start almost anywhere, such as in the lungs, stomach, kidneys, bladder or skin. Sepsis also can result from viral infections, like the coronavirus. To fight the infection, the body mounts a strong immune response. But this response is too aggressive. It triggers a cascade of inflammation, and it can damage organs throughout the body. Anyone can get sepsis. But it often occurs in older adults. Others at risk for sepsis include: » People with chronic health problems, such as diabetes, AIDS, cancer or lung disease. » Those with a weak immune system. » Babies. » People who have had sepsis in the past. Common symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, trouble breathing, confusion and a fast heart rate. Antibiotic medicines are used to try to cure the infection. Doctors also try to protect a sepsis patient’s vital organs and keep the person’s blood pressure from dropping too low. All of this care takes place in a hospital’s intensive care unit. To help protect against sepsis, follow your doctor’s advice about preventing infections. If you have an infection that isn’t getting better or is getting worse, call your doctor right away. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health It’s the holidays, and COVID-19 is still a presence in the U.S. What does that mean for holiday celebrations? Some parties may need to be called off. Buffet-style office parties, for instance, are probably not a good idea. And what about family gatherings— especially large ones? These may look very different from years past, if they happen at all. Still, you can enjoy the holidays while doing everything you can to stay safe from the virus. Here are some suggestions. » Weather permitting, dine outdoors. There’s less risk of virus spread when gathering outside. So take the party into the backyard if you can. » Wear masks. Ask everyone to wear a mask when gathering indoors and when outdoors if social distancing isn’t possible. Is there a creative crafter in the group? Maybe they could sew fun, holiday-themed masks for kids (2 years and older) and adults. » Ban the buffet. Assign people to be servers. It’s less risky than letting everyone serve themselves. » Arrange tables and chairs to accommodate social distancing. Group people from the same household together at smaller tables set 6 feet apart. » Avoid close contact. No matter how happy people are to see each other, discourage hugs and handshakes. » Hold a series of small gatherings. If your big family typically gets together on one day, could smaller groups get together over the course of several days? » Have a video celebration. Instead of gathering for dinner in person, gather virtually using a video chat app. Does someone in the family have a super-secret holiday recipe? Ask them to reveal it in advance this year so everyone can make it and enjoy it together virtually. » Tap into teens’ technology skills. Speaking of video celebrations, many teens are masters at using technology. They can teach less- savvy adults how to connect via video apps. Also ask your teens for help hosting a game or movie night. It’s another great way to share some fun when you can’t be physically together during the holidays. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Have a happy holiday — in spite of COVID-19 6 VITALITY Winter 2020