A Few Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

September 22nd, 2008 by Juliane Anders
by Juliane Anders

While aging gracefully can result in a loss and concentration and difficult recalling where one has left certain items, it may be a sign of a much greater problem. Alzheimer’s disease can affect a person’s daily life and the life of their loved ones negatively, and it is important to recognize the signs of this illness in order to better treat it. Alzheimer’s requires treatment early on by a medical professional, and it is important to recognize the warning signs that it may be time to visit a doctor.

Senior moments are a common fact of life as we age; however, if one has problem with basic tasks and ends up missing important appointments, it may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. The behavioral signs vary depending on whether one lives a passive or active lifestyle, with the latter being easier to identify, as Alzheimer’s will slowly cause a loss of social function.

Unusual dress can be an obvious sign of Alzheimer’s disease where one may wear improper clothing for the season, such as a winter coat during a summer day.

Being desensitized to hot and cold can be dangerous when a person takes a shower, as they may accidentally scald themselves.

Persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may also show signs of the illness by forgetting to pay their bills. In addition, these individuals may make irrational purchasing decisions and have a lack of self control regarding their finances.

Another common sign of this illness is when one sits in from a television set for hours on end, just staring blankly at the screen. Listlessness will result in someone suffering from Alzheimer’s to engage themselves in non-demanding endeavors such as staring out a window.

Common in Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss can also be a problem. One forgets tasks more and more frequently as time progresses. They also may forget names or appointments on a regular basis, and persons with severe Alzheimer’s disease can become disoriented and not remember how they got to a place or where they are going.

If a loved one suffers from these symptoms, then it may be for them to get checked out by a medical professional. Even if they do not have Alzheimer’s, there are a number of other neurological illnesses that can mimic the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Management of this illness is possible if it is detected early, so one should not delay in setting up an appointment if they recognize the signs.

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Several Common Misconceptions About Alzheimer’s Disease

September 19th, 2008 by Juliane Anders
by Juliane Anders

Surprisingly, there are still a sufficient number of misconceptions regarding the causes of Alzheimer’s disease that need to be resolved. In the past two decades, many of these myths have been debunked; however, there are three common falsehoods about this disease that must be corrected in order that one can receive proper treatment. Accurate information is essential to the proper treatment of this disorder.

Many individuals have believed in the 1990’s that Aspartame, which also goes under the names Saccharin, caused the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The idea that this common sweetener caused memory loss persisted until the Food and Drug Administration conducted ten years worth of testing in order to set the public’s fear at ease. By 2006, there had been over a hundred studies conducted and there was no causative link shown between Aspartame and Alzheimer’s disease.

A myth over forty years old is that aluminum found in common household products such as pots, pans, and cans can factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. As there were a great number of health concerns regarding this issue, many government studies were conducted to investigate any possible health risks. The US government found that in every day uses aluminum does not pose a health risk to humans, and there exists no increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s as a result of its use.

Another concern was that flu shots increased the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, an idea initially proposed by a doctor who had had his medical license suspended by South Carolina. In addition, there were several mainstream medical studies that linked flu shots with a slightly higher risk of Alzheimer’s.

In the past six years, it has been found that these tests were conducted improperly or had an inadequate sample size, and flu shots can actually reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. In 2001, it was found by the Canadian medical journal that elderly individuals who had received vaccinations had a much lower risk of developing the disorder than those who did not.

In fact, the study showed that those who had obtained their yearly shots had a decreased risk of dying from all causes.

With a wide variety of myths out there such as aluminum, flu shots, or NutraSweet causing the onset of Alzheimer’s, it is important to stay informed of the latest developments in the search for a cure for this disease.

If there are ever any questions regarding Alzheimer’s that one is unsure about, a medical professional will be happy to answer them in an educated and informative manner, in order that effective treatment can be had.

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Avoid Illness By Avoiding Mosquitoes

September 15th, 2008 by Aazdak Alisimo
by John Grimmes

It is the rare individual that loves mosquitoes. Not only is that buzzing noise and subsequent bite annoying, it can lead to far more than just an itchy bite. Yes, mosquitoes carry some very nasty, deadly diseases that can even kill you.

Mosquitoes have a unique ability to carry many of the most vicious and nasty diseases without actually being effected. Instead, they inject you with them. This occurs when the mosquito pierces your skin and injects saliva that numbs the bite area.

Malaria is probably the illness most associated with mosquitoes. Malaria is a prevalent in Asia, Africa and South America although it can be found in other areas of the world as well. As many as 300 million people catch it from mosquitoes a year.

As the mosquito bites you, the Malaria parasite enters your blood stream and heads to the liver where it reproduces. Dehydration can lead to death, but symptoms usually stop with fever, fatigue, diarrhea and shaking.

Mosquitoes also spread the feared Dengue Fever. It used to be found in a few locations, but has now spread throughout Africa and Asia on the mosquito transport system. Dengue Fever can cause misery and a horrible death.

Dengue Fever carries a scary reputation because of the worst case scenario that can arise. You get a fever, the shakes and sweats. Then, you bleed out from just about everywhere including your gums.

Encephalitis is our next mosquito borne horror. A virus input through the mosquito bite, it cause swelling in the brain. The brain literally tries to swell beyond the skull. It can’t and brain damage and death can result.

Yellow Fever is yet another wicked disease carried by mosquitoes. It is a virus transferred during the mosquito bite. In most cases, it results in fever and vomiting for a three to four day period and that is all. In roughly 15 percent of the cases, it can be much worse.

For the unlucky people that fall within this percentage, Yellow Fever is horrific. High temperatures do not go away. The body literally turns yellow and you bleed from orifices including the eyes. Half of those with this version die within two weeks.

There are a bevy of other diseases that are also carried by mosquitoes. Given this fact, major mosquito eradication programs have been initiated around the world and have been successful.

Is there any way to control mosquitoes around your property? Yep. They need standing water to breed. Make sure there is no standing water around your house and you will have few mosquito problems.

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