Lymphedema: Smoking makes the condition worse!

Maintaining healthy skin is essential for those with lymphedema because intact skin, with no scrapes or cuts, prevents bacteria from entering and causing infection.
 
The swelling of lymphedema stretches the skin and disrupts the skin’s basic protective mechanisms. Also, as lymphedema increases in severity the skin loses its elasticity, becomes thicker and scaly, and is increasingly [...]

Gardening Tips

Gardening is a popular pastime this time of year, and while most of the time it’s fairly safe there is the possibility of injury.  Aches, pains and other injuries occur every once in a while, but luckily can be easily avoided if you go out prepared.
            Sunscreen, long clothing and sunglasses should be your first [...]

Camp of Champs

Last week (June 11, 12 & 13) SLIERS, The Boise Burn and Project Filter presented the Camp of Champs. This was the second year of the camp and every bit as successful as the first.  Each day held a morning and an afternoon session.  The ages of the athletes ranged from 6-12 years-old, with the first sessions of [...]

Summertime Parenting Tips

Now that summer time is upon us, it is important to remember that all children will continue to need structure, as well as time to play and be a child!  Now that you are spending more time at home with your child it can be easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated.  Remembering to use a [...]

Lymphedema: Infections Related to Lymphedema

Infections that can develop within the affected tissues are a serious complication associated with lymphedema. The risk of infection increases when lymphedema is not controlled by proper treatment and appropriate precautions.
The risks of lymphedema related infections are due to:

The swelling of lymphedema compromises the health of the skin.
Protein-rich stagnant lymph within these swollen tissues creates an environment that pathogens [...]