July 2018 Newsletter
Happy Independence Day! God Bless the USA!
Happy 4th of July to everyone celebrating our country’s independence but don’t forget to honor our veterans and current military who have served to ensure our FREEDOM! We know that freedom does not come free… there is a cost, as some gave all! LET FREEDOM RING!
History of Independence Day – Each year on July 4, cities and people across the country celebrate Independence Day by lighting off fireworks. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, Americans spend more than $420,000,000 a year on fireworks. The figure doesn't include the amount of money private and government organizations buy for public shows. As we look toward this weekend and honor our country’s 242th birthday on Independence Day, now is the perfect time to learn how exactly Independence Day was formed and how our country was able to break free from the British. Jefferson presented the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress with some minor changes that overlapped on July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4. The declaration was then officially adopted. On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock's signed his name "with a great flourish" so England's "King George can read that without spectacles!
DiagnosTEX will be closed Wednesday July 4th to celebrate our precious freedom. DiagnosTEX will operate vans on Friday July 6th to make up for the holiday in the middle of the week.
Other things in July worth acknowledging:
Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days (7/3 to 8/15) – We truly appreciate our AC all summer long in Texas
Cell Phone Courtesy Month - A lost manner in our society
Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month –there is very little awareness of this
National Blueberries Month – prevent Alzheimer’s by eating your blueberries daily!
National Grilling Month – You can grill on the hot sidewalk!
National Ice Cream Month – I think this should be June, July and August!
National Hot Dog Month – this is just the American way!
National Honey Month - the bees are active this time of year! Honey in iced tea is the best!
National Make a Difference to Children Month – they are all out of school, spend some quality time!
National Parks & Recreation Month – It’s Picnic time!
National Vacation Rental Month – Ready, set, ………………..Let’s go!
National Watermelon Month – This definitely belongs in July!
National Wheelchair Beautification Month – Woohooo! Let’s decorate those chairs!!!
Upcoming July CEU opportunities for dysphagia
Charleston Swallowing Conference in Evanston, IL – July 12-14 (look for Ampcare there!)
The Charleston Swallowing Conference is a multidisciplinary conference designed for practicing clinicians across all patient care settings and ages.
Upcoming Ampcare ESP July Conferences
July 10 – Oklahoma City, OK
July 27 – Dallas, Texas – get a DiagnosTEX discount by entering diagnostex when you register
August 3 – Tampa, Florida
July is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month (NCCAPM). However, NCCAPM and its partner organizations maintain a variety of programs throughout the year offering support and education services for patients and families, and promoting public awareness. Cleft and craniofacial conditions affect thousands of infants, children, teens and adults in the United States each year. Some are born with congenital anomalies like cleft lip and palate, others with more complex, life-threatening craniofacial conditions. Some are burned; others are injured in accidents and animal attacks, or diagnosed with various oral/head/neck and skin diseases. The problems with feeding and swallowing that occur as a result of clefts and craniofacial anomalies range in severity. The extent of clefting, as well as other structural, airway, and neurologic issues, are factors that contribute to potential difficulty with oral feeding mechanics and with the integrity of airway protection during swallowing. Oral motor dysfunction in conjunction with obstruction in the upper airway secondary to anatomic or physiologic anomalies has the potential to cause serious disruption to the necessary coordination of respiration and swallowing. Timely identification of problems is necessary to address threats to nutritional status and/or respiratory health. Awareness of the factors that impact upon the success of feeding and the efficacy of compensatory feeding strategies is key to best practice and successful patient outcomes.
(PDF) Feeding and Swallowing Issues in Infants With Craniofacial Anomalies. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304032310_Feeding and_Swallowing_Issues_in_Infants_With_Craniofacial_Anomalies [accessed Jun 18 2018].
Dysphagia Tidbit – Myofascial Release in HNC - While many patients develop dysphagia during or immediately following a medical condition, patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) often develop dysphagia due to late-effect complications months or years after radiation treatment (XRT). Patients post-radiation may swallow adequately immediately following their cancer treatment but then slowly start to complain that they can’t eat their usual diet. This change is often due to increasing scar-like tissue called fibrosis in the radiated area. Thus far, there has been limited research about the use of MFR/MT in dysphagia treatment. Evidence has primarily consisted of anecdotal reports of positive outcomes from clinicians and patients, but evidence in the form of research trials is emerging. Myofascial release (MFR) involves a low load, long duration stretch to the myofascial complex to mobilize adhesive tissue to restore optimal length, decrease pain, break up adhesions, and improve function. Fascia is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, nerves, and organs, and it tightens and hardens over time in response to trauma (such as radiation treatment) (Kelly 2008). Manual therapy (MT) involves skilled passive movement of joints and soft tissue to restore range of motion. Myofascial release and manual therapy are promising modalities to help restore range of motion in the swallowing mechanism after HNC treatment to allow for more effective dysphagia treatment. While more details are still needed about the most effective protocol and techniques, expected outcomes, and the potential long-term benefits, there is optimism in the dysphagia field that MFR/MT may be the key element that increases the effectiveness of swallowing therapy with this population. Jen Carter, M.Ed, CCC-SLP, BCS-S - April 22, 2018, Dysphagia Café