Bariatric Supplies – Find Your Size

Obesity is a problem for many people, many times due to an illness or injury that makes it impossible to get the exercise that they need. Obesity in and of itself is a problem, but finding the everyday items that make life bearable is also a bigger difficulty for many. Here are some of the common items that people who are obese find that they need.

• Bariatriac Wheelchairs – Because many obese people have trouble with walking due to illness or injury, they find that they have to buy a wheelchair that will be comfortable for them. A popular bariatric wheelchair is the Drive 22 Inch Sentra Bariatric Full
  Reclining Dual Axle Wheelchair.

• Bathroom Items – Another item that obese people might require is specialized bathroom items. Whether they require a commode that suits their size or they simply need a larger toilet seat, finding a commode or a toilet seat that will comfortably hold them can be difficult, but one of the most popular items that obese people find to be comfortable is the Big John Bariatric Toilet Seat with open front which is made to fit either elongated or round toilets.

• Shower Seats – The third thing that obese people might have need of is a shower seat so that they are able to sit down while they are in the shower. These are created to comfortably hold someone who is heavier and  to allow them to shower safely. One of the most popular shower seats is the Heavy Duty Bariatric Transfer Shower Bath Bench by Drive, which holds up to 500 pounds.

If you are obese because of an illness or injury, chances are that you are embarrassed shopping for medical items like these at a regular store. The Internet is a great place to shop for bariatric items because it protects your privacy and lets you shop from your own home in peace.

Respiratory Choices

Many people have breathing problems and for those people, usually one of two things is prescribed by their doctor – a nebulizer or an oxygen concentrator. But what are these two items? What are the differences between them? Here are explanations of these two respiratory choices and what makes them different.

Nebulizer

A nebulizer is a device that changes a prescribed medication from liquid to mist form to make it easier to inhale into a patient’s lungs. They are very effective when an infant or a small child has asthma, or for someone that has a hard time using the regular asthma inhaler. Nebulizers are also great for when there’s a particularly large dose of medication needs to be inhaled.
There are two kinds of nebulizers – those that are kept at home which run using electricity and portable ones, which run using batteries. The latter nebulizers can even be plugged into a cigarette lighter of a car.

Oxygen Concentrator

Oxygen concentrators are devices that filter ambient air. Ambient air has just 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen, with the final 1% being made up of other gases.  The concentrator provides a user with a flow of oxygen that is highly concentrated and uninterrupted. The person who is using the oxygen concentrator has a steady flow of air that is almost pure oxygen.
Oxygen concentrators come in two kinds.

The first kind is kept at home, weighs about 50 pounds, and is plugged into an AC outlet for its power. The second kind is portable and only weighs about 5-10 pounds. Unlike the stationary concentrator, the portable concentrators deliver the oxygen in pulses, whereas the stationary ones delivery a steady flow.
Even though these two respiratory choices are different since one delivers medicine in a mist and the other delivers oxygen, they both have one thing in common. They both need a doctor’s prescription to be able to order one.
If you have breathing problems, talk to your doctor and see what he or she recommends.

Why You Should Buy Medical Supplies Online

Shopping online is becoming more popular, more convenient, and safer all the time. With the choice of products increasing and information freely available from companion websites, people are realizing the great benefits of comparison shopping from the comfort of their own home.

Shopping for Medical Supplies online has the added advantage of preserving privacy and personal dignity for your intimate purchases, making it a safe and confidential experience. Online stores give consistent good quality and service to their customers, as competition is a constant spur and only those providing good value will do well in today’s economic environment.

Because there is so much competition, prices of Medical Supplies are kept down. On the internet, a customer can browse and compare any number of online stores in a way impossible by car or phone. Online stores keep a good inventory and bulk buying means they can offer substantial discounts to their customers. Quality assurance can be verified by comparing brands and feedback from customers who send in comments on blog sites.

Good online medical supply stores back up their products with information and detailed instructions about the use of their products and guarantee that their customers’ needs will be respected. This reliability inspires customer goodwill and an assurance that the products and service will continue to be top quality.

The biggest concern with online buying is internet security. In order to protect their customers, online stores offer secure payment gateways, where your credit card information is encrypted for security. The online store Vitality Medical for example, uses VeriSign, whose seal is the most trusted mark on the Internet, displayed over 250 million times each day.

This Secure Sockets Layer or SSL assures customers that they can trust the link, trust the site, and trust the transaction.
Your sensitive private information including password and bank or credit card details are sent over the internet via 128 bit SSL encryption, ensuring that no hacker could intercept this data. No sensitive information will ever be sent to you by email and if you do forget your password, a temporary one will be sent instead. Only the distributor from whom you purchase the products will have access to your information and none of your personal data will ever be used outside the scope of the commercial operation of the business.

Vitality Medical does not store your credit card information and when you are shopping on their website you can double check by looking at the URL line of your browser. When accessing the credit card entry page or customer data form you will notice the first characters of the site address change from “http” to “https”. The “https” denotes a secure IP address.
Users of the website may opt out of receiving mailings and promotions if they wish, but often a customer appreciates receiving News of a new product or service related to previous purchases. If you have questions concerning the privacy and security policy of Vitality Medical, you can send an email to question@vitalitymedical.com or by telephone at 1-800-397-5899 (outside USA 801-733-4449 or 801-733-5758). For more information visit the website www.vitalitymedical.com.

Achieving More Mobility

Many people, both old and young, have mobility issues. If you have mobility problems, choosing the right mobility item is important. Most people have their first experience with their mobility device in the hospital. But here is some of the information about common kinds of mobility devices:

• Cane – This is one of the most common kinds of mobility devices available. They come in different heights and they come in straight canes and in the 4-piont, quad cane style. This latter style comes with four feet on the bottom instead of just one and it is sturdier than the straight cane. Canes also come with a regular or an offset handle.

• Walker – When most people think of a walker, they usually think of the walker that has wheels and gliders. But walkers have changed. One of the most popular walkers is the one that is known as the knee walker. This kind of walker allows a person who has an injured leg to get around without having to worry about slipping because they are not comfortable using crutches.

Another thing that’s important to have when it comes to mobility devices are accessories. These are things such as cane tips to help walking on ice or other surfaces. These kinds of accessories can help your life be safer and can also make life much easier. They are also something that you may need once you have had your mobility device for a while to replace things that have worn out on your cane or your walker.

Knowing what kind of mobility device is right for you will depend on your situation and what kind of injury or condition you have.  Your doctor and your therapist will give you suggestions on what kind of mobility device is best for you.

When you have your mobility device, you will want to find out what kinds of accessories will work well with you. Then you will be able to get started with your new life and adjusting to your situation.

Living With Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a big problem for a lot of people.  It can happen because of an illness or because of surgery.  But when you are living with lymphedema, you are going to find that you have to make some adjustments.  Here are some things to know about living with lymphedema and what you need to know about it.

When you have to reduce an area that is swollen back to the regular size, you are going to find that it can take some time. There are different ways that it can be accomplished, such as drainage. This is a lot like massage. It pushes fluids through the person’s blood vessels so that the patient’s lymphatic system can circulate them properly.

It doesn’t require medication, it’s not painful, and gives results that are immediate. When the treatment is done, it’s followed by wrapping the area with bandages that are for compression. These bandages will prevent fluids from accumulating again. They will also help to break down the scar tissue. These bandages need to be put on all the time, except during treatment and cleaning.

One thing to remember when you have lymphedema is that you have to take good care of your skin. Your affected area is going to be prone to trauma and infection, so cuts, dryness, and bruising should be avoided by having a care program that is preventative. You should use cleanser that has a pH level that is low. It shouldn’t be antibacterial and it shouldn’t have any perfumes.

Make sure that you moisturize your skin after a bath or shower. You can also use lotion as suggested by your doctor. Speicial lotions can be purchased at medical supply companies. Your skin should be dried gently and completely after bathing. Be careful not to irritate or bruise the area. Anything can bring infection, so you should be careful.