About a week ago it was announced that Secretary of State Clinton had the “stomach flu.” It was also mentioned that she had fallen, hit her head and had a slight concussion. This was supposed to have been caused by dizziness due to the flu. She apparently did not go to the hospital for treatment. Probably a doctor came to her and made the diagnosis.
Standard advice in that situation (flu) is to be sure to take a lot fluids. Since the body is losing fluids its important to replace them. Evidently Hillary did not adequately replace the lost fluids for it was announced that she had become dehydrated.
One of the things that can happen with dehydration is the formation of a blood clot. So, unsurprisingly, Hillary is now in the hospital being treated for a blood clot. She will be given blood thinning drugs along with hydration and should make a full recovery. Except. Except for one thing.
As I write this, no mention has been made as to where the clot formed.
Clots form almost anywhere: a leg, the heart, the brain. All are dangerous of course. If you have a good memory you will recall my pointing out that most heart attacks are caused by thick, sludgy blood; like thick ketchup.
The fact that just days ago she received a concussion, a blow to the head with dizziness is worrisome. She (and any one of us) should have promptly gone to the hospital. I do not know that her clot formed on the brain risking a stroke. But the location certainly should have been promptly identified.
We often associate the issue of hydration with the hot summer months. But good hydration is needed 365 days a year. It is the most basic means of keeping our blood on the thin side. Unless our work or sports activity brings us out doors for many hours in the sun it is not necessary to spend our lives attached to a water bottle. Some argue that thirst indicates when water is needed. Others say by the time one experiences thirst dehydration has already occurred. Barring extreme or prolonged stress the body does not become so easily dehydrated. The old statement that we must drink 8 glasses of water a day has no scientific basis. Much of our hydration should be coming from our food.
Official portrait of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
However, I have noticed that seniors often fail to take adequate fluids (or nourishment as well). They need to be encouraged to do so. I do encourage them (and all of us) to begin the day with a large (8oz.) glass of water. That single act will go far to keeping our bodies well lubricated and our blood thin.
A few final points. -A stroke can occur at any age; its not just something that happens to older people.
-Any blow to the head should be assumed to be serious until proven otherwise. (Even a person who is up and about and talking fluently may be in the process of dying after a blow to the head.)
-The instant you think that you or another are having a stroke call an ambulance. Hurry. The clock is running. In the first hour or two, recovery can seem miraculous. After 3 hours recovery will be prolonged.
[The best way to keep your blood young and smoothly flowing is to regularly donate blood. Your body will keep producing fresh flexible blood cells.]
Just this minute as I am finishing, the news says that the clot was due to the concussion Hillary experienced. But no confirmation as to where the clot developed. However she has not been seen or heard from for 3 weeks. Time will tell.
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