ASK THE DOCTOR - Blood Pressure Meds & depression

Question: “I feel like my blood pressure medicine is making me feel depressed, but my wife says I’m crazy to think that?”

Answer:  Please allow me to offer some free advice:  don’t ever argue with your wife. I say this for two reasons:  first of all arguing will raise your blood pressure and, secondly, wives are usually right.    

     High blood pressure is a condition well worth treating as it increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and heart failure. Diuretics (water pills) and medications known as “beta-blockers” are often used to treat hypertension.  

     Some examples of beta blockers include atenolol (Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®), and propranolol (Inderal®). These medications are commonly associated with side effects including depression.  If you’re taking these medications and feel depressed or lethargic, you should discuss this with your doctor and consider alternative medications. 

     So, my answer is yes, blood pressure medications can cause depression.   Just in case you are tempted to tell your wife: “see, I told you so!”  …remember that she might ask the doctor for a new prescription that causes decreased libido.   

National Nurses Week

Carol Wood, R.N., CEO

National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.  National Nurses Week is one of the nation's largest health care events, recognizing the contributions and commitments nurses make and educating the public about the significant work they perform.  

Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers. Nurses have many roles – from clinical nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and serve all of them with passion for the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety. 

ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR said “Today’s nurses must have the strength to care for patients during times of disaster and crisis; the commitment to remain involved in continuing education throughout their careers; and the compassion to provide hands-on patient care at the bedside – as they have done throughout the centuries. Moreover, at 2.9 million strong, nurses represent the largest group of health care workers in America, and we have the power to achieve much-needed reform in nursing and in health care. That is why it is important to take time out during National Nurses Week to thank nurses for what they do and to remind the public just how vital our nation’s nurses are to patients, their families and society.” 

Here at Ramona Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, we are fortunate to have the highest compliment of the highest caliber nurses in our valley as part of our family.  I am pleased to offer my thanks to each of our nurses for their contributions to the patients and their families.

ASK THE DOCTOR - Medicare or HMO?

Question:  I am about to retire and will be eligible for Medicare insurance; but I am very confused about all the choices. Could you explain the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Health Plans?

     

Understanding Medicare is a lot like understanding the tax code; just when you think you are beginning to understand it they change the rules again. Here is some general Medicare information provided by  Medicare :

     Original Medicare- This fee-for-service plan covers many health care services. You can go to any doctor or supplier that is enrolled and accepts Medicare and is accepting new Medicare patients, or to any hospital or other facility.

     Medicare Health Plans (like HMOs and PPOs) - These plans are approved by Medicare and run by private companies. When you join one of these plans, you are still in Medicare. Some of these plans require referrals to see specialists. They provide all of your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) coverage. They generally offer extra benefits, and many include prescription drug coverage. These plans often have networks, which mean you may have to see doctors who belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get covered services. In many cases, your costs for services can be lower than in Original Medicare, but it is important to check with the plan because the costs for services will vary.

     Selecting the right Medicare plan is an important decision and I suggest that you go our homepage at Ramonavna.org and click on the “Podcasts” tab and listen to an extremely informative  podcast by Ann Kasper from HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program.  HICAP is funded through grants provided by Riverside County and their services are free of charge. They are able to  provide information and assistance with Medicare, managed care (HMOs), long-term care insurance and other related health insurance issues. Their trained volunteer counselors offer objective information to help seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries make good health care decisions. When you have insurance questions or problems, HICAP counselors can help resolve them.  If you don’t have internet access, you can contact HICAP by calling 1-800-434-0222.  

     It is important to remember that Medicare allows the patient, not the doctor or health plan, to select the Hospice of their choice. This is true regardless of whether you select traditional Medicare, or a Medicare PPO or HMO Plan.