Post-intensive care syndrome
Post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS, is when someone gets sick and has to stay in the hospital's intensive care unit, which is a special part of the hospital where they take care of very sick people. After they leave the ICU and go home, they might still have some problems and not feel like they did before they got sick.
PICS is like when you have a big puzzle with many pieces and you put it together. When you take the puzzle apart, sometimes the pieces get a little bit broken or don't fit together perfectly anymore. That's what happens to our bodies when we go to the ICU and then go home. Our body parts might not work as well as they did before because they got a little bit broken or need some time to fit together again.
There are three parts of PICS that can happen to people after they leave the ICU: physical, mental, and emotional problems. Let's talk about each one.
First, there are physical problems. Our muscles might become weak, and it might be difficult to move our arms or legs like we used to. It's like when you don't use your bicycle for a long time, and then your legs feel a little bit wobbly when you try to ride it again. Some people might also have trouble breathing or problems with their heart because being very sick can make those parts not work as well.
Next, there are mental problems. Sometimes when we are in the ICU, we might need help to breathe or fall asleep, and these can affect our thinking and memory. It's like when you try to remember what you had for breakfast yesterday, but you just can't remember. It might also be hard to think quickly or understand things that are easy for you before. This can be very frustrating and make it difficult to do everyday things.
Lastly, there are emotional problems. Being in the ICU can be a very scary and confusing time. We might feel sad, anxious, or even have nightmares about what happened. It's like when you have a bad dream and wake up feeling scared. Some people might also feel very tired or have trouble sleeping, which can make them feel even more upset.
The good news is that most people with PICS get better over time with the help of doctors, nurses, and therapists. They can help us do exercises to make our muscles stronger, give us medicines to help our breathing or heart, and even talk to us to help us feel less scared or unhappy. Sometimes it takes a lot of time and patience, but eventually, our bodies and minds can fit together again, just like a puzzle.
PICS is like when you have a big puzzle with many pieces and you put it together. When you take the puzzle apart, sometimes the pieces get a little bit broken or don't fit together perfectly anymore. That's what happens to our bodies when we go to the ICU and then go home. Our body parts might not work as well as they did before because they got a little bit broken or need some time to fit together again.
There are three parts of PICS that can happen to people after they leave the ICU: physical, mental, and emotional problems. Let's talk about each one.
First, there are physical problems. Our muscles might become weak, and it might be difficult to move our arms or legs like we used to. It's like when you don't use your bicycle for a long time, and then your legs feel a little bit wobbly when you try to ride it again. Some people might also have trouble breathing or problems with their heart because being very sick can make those parts not work as well.
Next, there are mental problems. Sometimes when we are in the ICU, we might need help to breathe or fall asleep, and these can affect our thinking and memory. It's like when you try to remember what you had for breakfast yesterday, but you just can't remember. It might also be hard to think quickly or understand things that are easy for you before. This can be very frustrating and make it difficult to do everyday things.
Lastly, there are emotional problems. Being in the ICU can be a very scary and confusing time. We might feel sad, anxious, or even have nightmares about what happened. It's like when you have a bad dream and wake up feeling scared. Some people might also feel very tired or have trouble sleeping, which can make them feel even more upset.
The good news is that most people with PICS get better over time with the help of doctors, nurses, and therapists. They can help us do exercises to make our muscles stronger, give us medicines to help our breathing or heart, and even talk to us to help us feel less scared or unhappy. Sometimes it takes a lot of time and patience, but eventually, our bodies and minds can fit together again, just like a puzzle.