Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates. It can affect people of any age. It is the leading cause of irreversible kidney disease, non-work related lower extremity amputations, and onset of blindness in people 20–74 years of age. Diabetes also increases a person's chance for a heart attack and stroke two to four times over a non-diabetic person. Diabetic people are also three times more likely to die from flu complications.
Parkinson's disease is the second most diagnosed neurodegenerative disease. It typically develops later in life and slowly progresses resulting from a deficiency in the brain of dopamine, one of many chemical messengers in the brain permitting nerve cells to communicate with each other. Without it, messages from the brain to the muscles are disrupted.
"Rehabilitation is a lifetime commitment and an important part of recovering from a stroke. Through rehabilitation, you relearn basic skills such as talking, eating, dressing, and walking. Rehabilitation can also improve your strength, flexibility, and endurance. The goal is to regain as much independence as possible." —National Stroke Association
First response is critical when an incident on the farm causes severe injury. The first rule is to keep calm. Adrenalin can take over and a series of emotions such as panic, fear, and anxiety can be overwhelming when a severely injured person, possibly a family member, is discovered. Remaining calm and taking the appropriate actions can prevent putting you or the victim in further danger and provide emergency assistance that may save the life of the injured person. The appropriate action isn't always apparent, and each emergency may require a different response.
Amputations are all too common, accounting for 11% of all agricultural related injuries. On the farm, injuries resulting in an amputation are typically caused by entanglement, entrapment, crushing injuries, or infection from a traumatic injury. Upper extremity amputations can include finger amputations, hand amputations, and arm amputations either below-elbow or above-elbow. Other limitations due to traumatic injury to the upper extremities include decreased strength, reduced range of motion or limited function due to tendon, muscle, nerve, or joint damage.
Farming with physical limitations increases risk in an already dangerous occupation and can lead to secondary injuries. Often these secondary injuries occur because the farmer may attempt work tasks that exceed his/her abilities. Secondary injuries caused by repetitive motion can be prevented by always considering the body's limitations.
The causes of repetitive motion injuries can be classified in the following ways:
Concussions are a mild form of traumatic brain injury, however, they are the most common traumatic injury to the brain. Concussions are usually caused by a bump or blow to the head. Most people associate concussions with athletics or sporting events, but due to the nature of the work, farmers are at a high risk of this form of traumatic brain injury. Slips, trips, and falls are a common hazard that can cause a concussion.
Amputations are all too common, accounting for 11% of all agricultural related injuries. On the farm, injuries resulting in an amputation are typically caused by entanglement, entrapment, crushing injuries, or infection from a traumatic injury. Lower extremity amputations can include toe amputations, foot amputations, and leg amputations either below-knee or above-knee. Other limitations due to traumatic injury to the lower extremities include decreased strength or function due to tendon, muscle, nerve, or joint damage.
You may not consider yourself a family caregiver; in fact, individuals view themselves as just "doing the right thing." However, anyone who provides physical and/or emotional care for a family member with limitations is considered a family caregiver. The "family" in family caregiver is deceiving because a family caregiver is anyone who shows up to help, biological family or not. Caregivers can experience an extreme range of emotions, over an extended period of time.
For some farmers, completion of daily chores and the rigors of planting or harvest season take higher priority than their own health. Unfortunately, these farm activities can come to an abrupt stop because of a heart attack and one's health becomes the priority. The good news is heart disease is preventable.
