ACG Medical Supply is a small, family owned business in North Texas. When we see fellow Texans in need, we try our best to help out. On Friday, August 25th, ACG Medical Supply held a fun raiser to help support victims of Hurricane Harvey. We took 10% of the total sales from both our Rowlett, TX and Bedford, TX showrooms to help those in need.

We wanted to make sure that the money went to some of those that were hit hardest by the storm. We also wanted to make sure that the funds went to an organization that directly helped the cause and didn’t have a large overhead. We decided that the best thing that we could do was to help feed everyone that has been displaced by the storms. With your help, we were able to donate $404 to the Houston Food Bank. This donation will provide over 1200 meals! So we would like to thank everyone that came out last Friday and helped make a difference. We love to see Texans helping Texans!

For more information on the Houston Food Bank or to make a donation of your own, you can visit their website here: http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/

Golden’s exclusive MaxiComforter series is now available in six sizes, including the all-new Tall and Extra Wide! The MaxiComforters feature a plush, seamed backrest with lumbar support, a soft, comfortable seat and our unique “grip rite” arm design. Every MaxiComforter comes standard with our patented MaxiComfort Ultimate Recline Technology for possible spinal alignment, back pressure relief, and improved circulation.

The MaxiComforter comes  in several attractive fabric colors. You also have the option of a waterproof fabric or a puncture proof manufactured leather. If you are seeking even more luxury, you can even add a power lift pillow or heat and massage to your lift chair! There’s a chair to fit everyone with weight capacities ranging from 300 to 500 pounds.

Golden Technologies offers the best warranty in the business for their lift chairs. The lift chairs all have a limited lifetime warranty on the wood and metal portions of the chair. There’s also a 7 year warranty on the motor and electronics.

ACG Medical Supply offers a FREE white glove, in-home delivery for all of our lift chairs to residents in the DFW metro-plex area. Our technicians will bring the chair to your house, set it up, and make sure you know how to use all of the features that your recliner provides.

Call or stop by ACG Medical Supply today to try out the best lift chair on the market!

The month of June is National Safety Month. When we think safety, we think about ways to prevent accidents and injuries from occurring. Mishaps can occur at home, at work, while driving, regarding the weather, or even while having fun. Accidents are actually the number one cause of death for people ages 1-42 and the fifth leading cause of death for all age groups.

There are may ways to prevent accidents, if you just know how. Knowledge is power. You can find a wealth of resources and safety check lists at The National Safety Council’s website. They also have a Safety Calendar set up for the whole year with helpful information that’s relevant for every season, as well as activities through out the year.

The number one cause of accident related injuries and death in the home is due to falls. According to statistics from the CDC’s website, one out of five falls causes serious injury such as a broken bone or head trauma. One third of all injury related deaths, a staggering 25,000 lives a year, are due to falls. Falls are also the leading cause of death for seniors age 65 and older.

The good news is that there are many ways to prevent falls from occurring. The number one way to do this is by installing grab bars in the house, especially in the bathroom. Showers, in particular, are a good place for grab bars because they are slippery when wet and you fall onto a hard surface. ACG Medical Supply cares a wide variety of grab bars. Plus, they are on sale in recognition of National Safety Month! We can even recommend a contractor if you need to have them installed.

ACG Medical Supply wants you to always stay safe, so we have compiled a list of websites where you can find more safety information and safety checklists.

• National Safety Council’s National Safety Month
• Real Simple’s Home Safety Checklist
• A Place for Mom’s Home Safety Tips for Seniors
• AARP’s Home Safety Caregiving Checklist
• Senior Resources Checklist to Avoid Senior Falls
• Homeminders Preventing the Top 5 Most Fatal Home Accidents
• Stop Falls is a website dedicates to Fall Prevention
• Safe Kids Worldwide is dedicated to child safety.

February is American Heart Month. ACG is trying to do our part to help educate about heart health. The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions, the most common type in the United States being coronary artery disease. This affects the blood flow to the heart. Decreased blood flow can lead to a heart attack. Heart disease is the number once cause of death for men and women. Around 610,000 deaths in America every year are due to heart disease, that’s 1 in every four deaths. One of the leading causes of stroke and heart disease is due to high blood pressure. 20% of people living with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it. According to the CDC, over 40% of all African Americans have high blood pressure. African American men living in the southeast region of the United States are at the greatest risk for heart disease.

Knowing what causes elevated chances of heart problems is important to reducing the likelihood of being diagnosed with heart disease. Some of the risk factors that can lead to poor heart heath are smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, and alcohol abuse.

The good news is that 80% of  heart disease and stroke can be prevented. Your first step is to start by talking to your doctor about improving your heart health. Eating a diet that is low in sodium is important. Reducing the amount of salt intake by swapping out for other fresh or dried spices can help lower your chances as well. Start a regular exercise routine with as little as 15 minutes of walking 3 times a week and gradually increase your time to 30 minutes. Your doctor may also prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. If you know you have high blood pressure and are at risk of heart disease, you should check your blood pressure on a regular basis. Get a good quality blood pressure monitor, and make sure you are using proper cuff placement with your feet flat on the ground. If you think you have gotten a bad reading, try waiting 15 minutes and take your blood pressure again. If you have a portable monitor, you can take it in with you to the doctor to test it against their machine to see how accurate of a reading you are getting. You are welcome in come into the store at ACG, and our staff can assist you with a free blood pressure reading.

If you are unable to come in to the store, the staff at ACG made a video demonstrating how to properly take your blood pressure and make sure you get an accurate reading.

At ACG we think heart health is important. In recognition of American Heart Month, we are offering a 10% offspecial on all of our blood pressure monitors for the month of February.

There are many different websites that have a wealth of information on heart health. There are additional articles published for American Heart Month. Some of the websites are the American Heart Association, the CDC‘s page on heart disease, and Health Finder.

ACG Medical Supply has recently expanded our Bedford location to better serve you. We have moved one space over into Suite 128 and have gone from 1400 square feet to 3000 square feet. With more room, we now have a larger inventory of products.

Expanded selection of respiratory care and medical grade compression socks.

Larger selection of wound care and braces.

Greater selection of bathroom aids.

More rehabilitation aids, pillows, and cushions.

New rollators, transport chairs, and reachers.

More braces, orthotics and foot care products.

Expanded selection of lift chairs and scooters.

In celebration of the larger store and expanded inventory, we are offering $100 off all in stock scooters and lift chairs! Stop by the new location and see all that we have to offer.

The month of November is American Diabetes Month. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects 25.8 million people. Every year, 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 , and gestational. These can also cause further complications such as visual impairments, kidney damage, nerve damage, and problems with the heart and vascular system.

Type 1 diabetes is usually referred to as juvenile diabetes, because mostly children and young adults are determined to have it. Only 5% of diabetic patients have type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body is not capable of producing insulin. Insulin is a hormone created in the pancreas to pull glucose from the blood stream and into the body’s cells to produce energy. Genetics and exposure to certain types of viruses may leave the child more susceptible to type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is also known as hyperglycemia. With type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not use insulin properly. The body may produce a small amount of insulin but not enough that all of the organs need to function properly, or it resists the effects of insulin altogether. Many times, type 2 diabetes goes undiagnosed for years until other complications arise from having unbalanced glucose levels for a long period of time. Type 2 diabetes is thought to be genetic. It can also occur as a result of obesity. There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but with treatment, proper blood glucose levels can be maintained.

The third, and less common, type of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This occurs in pregnant women, usually around the 24th week of pregnancy, when the mother develops high blood glucose levels. Women may not have diabetes before becoming pregnant or after delivering the baby. With gestational diabetes, the pancreas is constantly producing insulin, but the insulin does not lower blood glucose levels. If not treated properly, the baby’s pancreas makes extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose that the mother’s body is producing. Since the baby’s body is receiving more energy than it needs to develop, it stores in the baby’s body as fat. With gestational diabetes, the mother’s blood sugar level usually returns to normal shortly after delivery.

The good news is that there are ways to help maintain your blood glucose levels. It is important to check your blood glucose levels on a regular basis with a glucometer. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise can help combat the symptoms as well.

Diabetes can affect the circulation of blood flow to your feet, so it’s important to keep your feet clean and taken care of.  ACG wants to help you maintain your foot health. We are offering a 10% discount on our SensiFoot diabetic socks. These are made of a special yarn that wick moisture away from the skin. They have a non-irritating seam in the toe that reduces friction and irritation. They also have an antibacterial, antifungal finish that prevents odor and inhibits growth of bacteria on the sock. Finally, they have a light compression that helps promote proper circulation.

We also have an in-store coupon for $1.50 off of Topricin. Topricin is an all natural, pain relieving cream that works by draining the toxins and fluids in an injured area and pushing oxygen into cells and increasing proper blood flow so that the area can heal. Topricin Foot Therapy Cream is one of the few products on the market that has been shown to be affective in treating neuropathy.

For more information on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association. You can also share your stories about living with diabetes on social media using the hashtag #ThisIsDiabetes.

November generally brings in the cooler weather. In most parts of the country, the heaters and fire places start cranking out the warmth and drying out the air. November is National Healthy Skin Month. It’s important to make sure that you keep your skin healthy. There are many skin care products that can help. We carry several different moisturizers here at ACG to prevent dry skin. We even have a cream called Topricin that nourishes the skin as well as relieving pain.

November is also American Diabetes Month. ACG Medical Supply also carries a multitude of diabetic supplies. We have everything from diabetic organizers  to glucose meters and supplies. We even carry diabetic socks. Drop in our store or visit our website to see everything we have to offer.

In recognition of National Healthy Skin Month, we have a $1.50 off coupon for Topricin. We are also offering a 10% discount on all of our SensiFoot diabetic socks.

For more information on skin health, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.

To learn more about American Diabetes Month, visit the American Diabetes Association.

Last month we talked about pain awareness and the different ways to find relief. This National Physical Therapy month and ACG Medical Supply has joined in the campaign. Physical therapy is a great way to help your speed up the recovery process and ensure that your body heals properly. It can be a natural, opioid free pain reliever as well.

Physical therapy can take many forms including: operative care, cardiovascular, neurologic rehabilitation, or pulmonary rehab. The abundance of physical therapists select one area to specialize in. Most common forms include massage, heat treatment, and exercise. You can do physical therapy at a rehabilitation center or at home.

While researching the benefits of physical therapy, I found these little known facts over at Classic Rehabilitation, Inc.

• Physical therapy as a profession originated during World War I. Many people do not realize this, but physical therapy was actually created to treat American soldiers who were injured in war.
• Physical therapists were originally known as “reconstruction aides”. When physical therapy as a profession first came about during World War I, those working in the field did so under a different title than they have today.
• Physical therapists can work in many different settings. One of the benefits of working as a physical therapist is that you can choose to work in a variety of settings, such as outpatient clinics, private clinics, hospitals, schools, and the emergency room.
• There are many different types of therapy that a physical therapist can do. Physical therapy is a very broad field and includes a wide range of therapies, such as orthopedic, postoperative care, cardiovascular, neurologic rehabilitation, and pulmonary rehab.
• Physical therapists can treat vertigo. Many people suffer from positional vertigo, which can wreak havoc on overall quality of life. Because this ailment is a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear, it can actually be successfully treated in as little as one setting with a physical therapist.
• The field of physical therapy was a female dominant profession initially. Unlike many other professions, the majority of physical therapists were women in the beginning. In fact, the first president of the American Women’s Physical Therapy Association was Mary McMillan.
• The demand for physical therapy increased in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Schools actually had trouble graduating physical therapists fast enough during this time period, which is when the physical therapy assistant position was created.
• Initially, you only needed a bachelor’s degree to work as a physical therapist. In the 1990s this changed, requiring anyone interested in working as a physical therapist to enroll in a Master of Science program. In the 21st century, the profession once again advanced and is now at a doctoral level.

ACG Medical Supply has joined in the observance of Nation Physical Therapy Month. For the month of October, we are giving all physical therapists 10% off their purchases. We are also having a sale on a few items that can help with physical therapy. All of our Theraputty products and Can-Do Exercise therapy balls will by 10%off for everyone else as well.

The Can-Do exercise balls can be heated in the microwave or stored in the freezer as a form of heat or cold therapy. The Theraputty can be used in several different forms, especially in conjunction wit several forms of hand therapy.

For more information on physical therapy, you can visit the American Physical Therapy Association or at Move Forward PT . You can join in the campaign for National Physical Therapy month by using the hashtag #ChoosePT.

Millions of people suffer from many forms of pain. These can be categorized into acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is short duration and usually lasts under 6 months. It’s a soft tissue injury that can result from things such as a sprain, growing pains, or even a paper cut. Chronic pain can last anywhere from weeks to years and can range from mild to excruciating. There are many chronic health conditions such as arthritis, neuropathic diseases, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, nerve damage, joint pain, and tendonitis.

What ever your pain may be, there are many ways to find relief. Americans spend up to $635 million a year on chronic pain management. This adds up to more than the cost of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The most well-known method of treatment would be pain medication. With dependency on these drugs growing, more people are looking for alternatives to find relief.

The American Chronic Pain Association has researched new ways of coping with pain. They have found that relaxation and redirecting your thoughts from the pain helps. Doing things that you enjoy, or even playing can be helpful. Different forms of art can be great purposeful activities. They suggest playing with play dough, painting by numbers, coloring, board games, jigsaw puzzles, crafting, light gardening, or even listening to and singing along to your favorite songs can be helpful in redirecting your thoughts from the pain. Using your imagination and being happy can help you feel as though you have regained control over a portion of your life again.

Another study done by PainEDU has discovered that different forms of exercise can help as well. Physical activity has been shown to improve body functions, decrease fatigue, and decrease side effects from sedimentary lifestyles. Aerobic activities increase the levels of serotonin and endorphins. Both of these boost your mood, help regulate sleep cycles, and block the pain receptors. It can also decrease the level of inflammation by strengthening the weakened joints and muscles for better support and balance. You can reduce health complications by participating in your favorite activity, whether you prefer swimming, yoga, hiking, or walking. If you suffer from extreme chronic pain, you may need a physical therapist to help put a tailored exercise program in place and monitor your improvement.

Whatever form of pain relief you seek, the staff at ACG is here to support your journey to a healthier, pain free lifestyle!

We spoke earlier this month about some of the pain management products at ACG Medical Supply and how they can help. ACG has so many more options to choose from.  We have therapy  devices such as ice systems and TENS units. We also have cold packs, and even some that can be used for cold or hot therapy. The dual use packs are the Core DualComfort therapy packs. Try the Therall products if you’re suffering from arthritis pain.

If you’re loking for a topical pain reliever, you can try products such as Biofreeze, Topricin, and Sombra. They each help in a different manner. Sombra is one of the leading topical analgesics on the market. It is a warm therapy pain reliever that is all natural, alcohol free, absorbs quickly, and is made in the USA. ACG carries the roll-on and jar in store.

Topricin is an all natural cream that works on a cellular level. You can’t build up a tolerance to it, and your body can’t become addicted to it. It works by putting oxygen into the cells so they can actually help repair themselves. We carry the traditional Topricin, the Fibro cream, and the foot cream. The foot cream is one of the few products on the market that actually relieves pain from neuropathy. We have them tube or a jar in store.

Biofreeze is the number one clinically recommended topical pain reliever on the market! This year is their 25th anniversary, and they have improved their product to celebrate. The pain relief now is stronger and lasts longer. The gel now has a smoother consistency too. It uses the cooling effect of menthol, which is also a natural pain reliever. It can also be combined with chiropractic, podiatric, massage, and physical therapies. ACG  carries the Biofreeze in a gel, roll-on, and spay form in the store.

ACG is celebrating with Biofreeze on their anniversary this month. We are offering all of our guests  5% off one product or 10% off of two or more products for the month of September. Come in today and get some relief from your pain while saving some money!