Planning your future health care involves several important documents to ensure your wishes are known and honored. Here are the key documents you should consider:
Advance Directive (Living Will)
This document outlines your preferences for medical treatment if you become unable to communicate your wishes. It typically includes decisions about life-sustaining treatments such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition.
Health Care Power of Attorney (Health Care Proxy)
This legal document appoints someone you trust (your healthcare agent or proxy) to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This person should be familiar with your wishes and values.
Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Order
If you do not wish to be resuscitated if your heart stops beating or you stop breathing, a DNR order communicates this preference to medical personnel. This is often part of your advance directive.
Medical Information Release Form
This form authorizes healthcare providers to share your medical information with designated individuals, such as family members or caregivers. It ensures that those involved in your care have access to important information.
Personal Information Document
This includes details such as your medical history, current medications, allergies, and contact information for your healthcare providers. It helps ensure that all relevant information is readily available in case of emergencies.
HIPAA Authorization Form
This document allows healthcare providers to disclose your protected health information to individuals or organizations that you specify. It's particularly useful for ensuring your chosen decision-makers have access to your medical records.
Organ and Tissue Donation Form
If you wish to donate organs or tissues after death, you can specify your preferences in this form. This decision can also be included in your advance directive.
Funeral and Burial Instructions
Though not strictly a healthcare document, specifying your funeral and burial preferences can relieve your loved ones of making difficult decisions during an emotional time.
These documents are crucial for ensuring that your wishes regarding medical care are respected, and they provide clarity and guidance to your loved ones and healthcare providers. It's important to discuss your decisions with your chosen healthcare agent and family members so that everyone understands your preferences.
Staying Hydrated
Drinking enough water keeps the body hydrated, which helps the heart more easily pump blood through the body. It also helps muscles work efficiently. If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.
Dehydration means your body doesn't have enough water, which can make you feel really thirsty and cause other problems such as dizziness, feeling tired, swollen feet, a headache or even life-threatening illnesses, such as heat stroke.
For most people, water is the best thing to drink to stay hydrated. Some foods can be a source of water, such as fruits and vegetables. Sports drinks with electrolytes may be useful for people doing high-intensity, vigorous exercise in very hot weather, though they tend to be high in added sugars and calories.
Tip adapted from heart.org
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