The Croft Health and Fitness

Alzheimer’s disease is probably one of the commonest causes of Dementia. It is a degenerative disease of the brain that effectively starts in the cerebral cortex. It is mostly characterised by the gradual and progressive decline in a person’s mental abilities. It affects both sexes generally those who are over the age of 60, yet Alzheimer’s has been known to occur in people as early as age 40.

The earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are simple forgetfulness. This is mostly disregarded especially if the person is elderly, as it is commonly put down to their age, but it steadily progresses to more severe symptoms such as trouble in performing easy or regular tasks such as fastening buttons or tying shoelaces.

There is a progressive deterioration in both the person’s mental and bodily state and abilities additionally, also their recall. There is also a difference in the actions and personality of the person with Alzheimer’s, with their ordinary actions becoming a thing of the past. For example someone who has always been gentle and kind may begin to use filthy words and make inappropriate sexual advances or become violent and begin striking and lashing out at people.

In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, the person eventually becomes incapable of performing any task at all. They also become doubly incontinent, lose their power of speech, lose the ability to walk properly, suffer paralysis and lose their total memory.

If treatment is given early enough, it can slightly slow down the disease, but unfortunately it is incurable at the time of writing.

[added information]

I just heard something really strange - there is a terrible weed that grows everywhere called Japanese Knotweed. Its apparently almost impossible to kill and people spend a fortune trying to, but… it contains a compound called Resveratrol, which lowers levels of the amyloid-beta peptides that cause the plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimers. It seems amazing that a treatment migth come from such a hated plant!

(There is more where this came from … )

Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language and problem solving, although particularly in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time, not knowing what day, week, month or year it is, not knowing where they are not knowing who they are. Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Less than 10% of all dementias are reversible. Dementia is a non-specific term that encompasses many disease processes, just as fever is attributable to many etiologies.

Early symptoms of dementia often consist in changes in personality, or in behavior. Often dementia can be first evident during an episode of delirium. There is a higher prevalence of eventually developing dementia in individuals who experience an acute episode of confusion while hospitalized.

Dementia can affect language, comprehension, motor skills, short-term memory, ability to identify commonly used items, reaction time, personality traits, and executive functioning. Even without signs of general intellectual decline, delusions are common in dementia (15-56% incidence rate in Alzheimer’s type, and 27-60% incidence rate in multi-infarct dementia). Often these delusions take the form of monothematic delusions, like mirrored self-misidentification.

Elderly people can also react with dementia-like symptoms to surgery, infections, sleep deprivation, irregular food intake, dehydration, loneliness, change in domicile or personal crises. This is called delirium, and many if not most dementia patients also have a delirium on top of the physiologial dementia, adding to the symptoms. The delirium can go away or greatly improve when treated with tender care, improved food and sleeping habits, but this does not affect the alterations in the brain. Affected persons may also show signs of psychosis or depression. It is important to be able to differentiate between delirium and dementia.

Proper differential diagnosis between the types of dementia will require, at the least, referral to a specialist, e.g. a geriatric internist, geriatric psychiatrist or neurologist. However, there are some brief 5-15 minute tests that have good reliability and can be used in the office or other setting to evaluate cognitive status.

Except for the treatable types listed above, there is no cure to this illness, although scientists are progressing in making a type of medication that will slow down the process.

(There is more where this came from … )

Arthritis also is the leading cause of disability. Nearly 7 million people in the U.S., including 20% of people with arthritis, are unable to perform major life activities such as working or housekeeping because of this disease. Arthritis sufferers endure more days in severe pain, experience more days with limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more difficulty performing personal-care routines than people without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, arthritis has negative effects on mental health. Some forms of arthritis also make your RealAge older.

The Definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, known as Still’s disease when it affects children, is a condition that causes inflammation of joints and associated pain, swelling, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the body’s own immune system to attack joint tissue, breaking down collagen, cartilage, and sometimes bone or other organs. This chronic disease varies between people and fluctuates over time, often marked by symptoms that improve only to re-emerge later. In some cases rheumatoid arthritis is mild and lasts only a few months (this kind of rheumatoid arthritis is called type 1), while in others the disease becomes progressively complicated by disability and other health problems, lasting many years (this is called type 2 rheumatoid arthritis).

Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand, but can also affect joints in the feet and throughout the body. Anyone can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but women are more likely to develop symptoms, which most often begin between the ages of 20 and 30. The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not yet understood, but many effective strategies have been developed to manage its symptoms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Signs
The main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is joint stiffness in the morning, often in the hands or feet. Stiffness that persists for an hour or more, or swelling and pain that lasts for more than six weeks, may be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis. Joint discomfort is typically symmetrical, i.e. both hands will hurt or feel stiff, not just one. Early rheumatoid arthritis symptoms also may include fever, excessive tiredness, or pea-sized lumps called “nodules” that can be felt under the skin.

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There is a great deal of debate in the medical world about the effects of overall diet on arthritis and using diet toward alleviating the condition.

Doctors have known for a long time that diet affects gout, a specific type of arthritic condition, however the jury remained out for a long time on other common types of arthritis such as rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. However, overall dietary health is important and does come into play.

Being overweight can affect certain arthritic conditions, forcing some joints to carry more of a load. This added weight stresses the joints, causing overuse or more wear to components, and pain, especially in the knees. So making sure arthritic sufferers eat god foods and get help from healthcare providers to create and follow a well-balanced dietary plan is advised.

To begin, here is a look at some vitamins, minerals, nutrients / foods and some herbal applications to consider.

VITAMINS

Vitamin B5 – When grouped and tanked together, B vitamins work at their peak. They, and B5 specifically, are good for reducing swelling.

Vitamin B3 – This vitamin reduces tissue swelling and dilates small arteries, increasing blood flow. Note that Vitamin B3 is NOT advised for persons with high blood pressure, gout or sliver disorders.

Vitamin B6 – Another B that reduces tissue swelling.

Vitamin B12 – This vitamin aids in multiple functions. It helps with cell formation, digestion, myelin production, nerve protection.

Vitamin C - This vitamin acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieving pain, and rids the body of free radicals.

Vitamin E – This is a strong antioxidant that protects joints from free radicals while increases joint flexibility.

Vitamin K – This vitamin assists with mineral deposit into the bone matrix.

MINERALS

Boron – This trace mineral aids in bone health.

Calcium – This is a much-needed mineral for bone health.

Magnesium – Magnesium helps keep calcium in balance within the system.

Zinc – This mineral is necessary for bone growth, but is often lacking in arthritic patients.

Manganese – Manganese is also necessary for bone growth. However, do not ingest manganese with calcium because they can work against each other.

Copper – Copper helps to strengthen connective tissue.

Germanium – This antioxidant helps with pain relief.

Sulfur – A lack of sulfur can result in deterioration of ligaments, cartilage, collagen and tendons.

(There is more where this came from … )

A skin allergy, or what is correctly called contact dermatitis, occurs when your skin comes in contact with something it is allergic to. There are many things that can cause contact dermatitis such as latex, hair dye, perfumes, make ups, bath powders and some household cleaning products. Latex skin allergies are becoming more common as latex is used in many products such as condoms, rubber bands, bathing suits and some toys. It is extremely important if you are allergic to latex that you advise your physician, dentist or any other healthcare worker so they do not use any latex based products on you. The most common skin allergens are poison ivy and poison oak. We all know someone who has come in contact with these in the garden at some point who have developed the painful and itching weeping blisters that accompany it.

Eczema is also considered a skin allergy. Eczema is generally an inherited trait and it usually starts in childhood. A eczema sufferer will have skin that is dry and itchy. There is sometimes also flaking and scaling of the skin and weeping blisters. Children who suffer from eczema are usually found to suffer from hay fever and asthma too.

Hives are another form of contact dermatitis that can be brought on from an internal allergen, such as an allergy to food or medicine, or from an external allergen such as contact with an animal, some plants (poison ivy or poison oak) or soap products. For some foods like chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, and berries can cause hives. Most hives appear quickly but are gone within 24 to 48 hours.

As with other types of allergies such as seasonal pollen, animal allergy or food allergy there is no cure for skin allergies. Most outbreaks of contact dermatitis can be treated with over the counter antihistamines. The best way to avoid an outbreak is to avoid what is causing the outbreak. You can look for non allergenic and fragrance free make up and beauty products. Those who suffer from eczema should avoid extremes of heat and cold and use heavy moisturizers on their skin to help protect and heal it.

Disclaimer»

Whilst ‘The Croft Health and Fitness’ go to great lengths to ensure the knowledge, in the page “Information on Skin Allergies”, or in any other part on this internet site, is factual, we must disclaim any warranty or representation, of any sort on the matter of its exactness, exhaustiveness or applicability for a specific requirement. (There is more where this came from … ) Here is another article in our run of medical essays, this specific article is titled ‘Information on Skin Allergies’. We hope it helps to improve your knowledge of conventional complementary medicine. In spite of the fact that we take great care in writing these health information articles, we must still insist that you read and accept our legal disclaimer. We would not like you to act on the guidance offered in this essay and get in trouble as a result. Comments (0) What is the Cause of Food Allergies? Filed under: Allergies — admin at 1:50 am on Tuesday, January 13, 2009  Tagged allergic reactions, allergy management, food allergy, food intolerance, histamine summary» An allergy takes place when the immune system suddenly has an abnormal response to a certain material that is usually not detrimental to most individuals except those who have allergies. When an allergy is triggered by a substance or allergen, a person’s body recognizes this as a trespasser and subsequently releases chemicals to fight off the “trespasser” causing symptoms that can range from a simple irritation to a fatal reaction that may even lead to death. Food allergy is a reaction made by the immune system in which antibodies are produced by the body as a result of a negative effect to some foods. Though there are many individuals who claim that they have food allergies, there are only a few who really have certain allergic reactions to food. Most people confuse food allergy with food intolerance. Food intolerance and food allergy are both sensitivity reactions to food, but intolerance to certain types of food does not affect the immune system and isn’t really a life threatening incident. As of the present time, the medical world still has not found any cure for food allergies. Allergy management only involves the prevention of intake of food allergens and some diet modifications. Looking closely, during an allergic reaction, the body’s immune system releases antibodies, specifically immunoglobulin E. It subsequently causes the production of chemicals like histamine in the process of “protecting” the body. Now, these chemicals are the root cause of symptoms which may include an irritation in the eyes, skin, throat, lungs, and the gastrointestinal organs. These takes place whenever the individual is exposed to the allergen. Although any type of food can cause allergic reactions to different types of individuals, there are eight major foods out there that are often the main culprits of an allergic reaction. These eight major allergy-causing foods are: fish, soy, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. By and large, individuals afflicted with allergies react only to some allergy-causing foods. Sometimes, allergy to a certain type of food may also cause allergic reaction to foods that may be related with the allergen food. This incidence is known as cross-reaction. For instance, an allergic reaction to wheat may also cause a reaction to rye. Allergy to pollens subsequently causes an allergy to green apples, hazelnuts, almonds, and peaches. A reaction to goat’s milk may also be associated with an allergy to cow’s milk. And the list goes on and on. Moreover, individuals who have been afflicted with asthma and/or eczema may also be at risk of developing a food allergy. With bad luck, they would probably have a reaction that is more severe than those people who only have food allergy to worry about. This is due to the fact that when an allergy takes place the person will be under stress which then may lead to triggering their asthma and/or eczema which will aggravate the situation. (There is more where this came from … ) Welcome to another allergy information page from The Croft Health and Fitness, this specific article is titled ‘What is the Cause of Food Allergies?’. We hope to be releasing new reports on healthcare and allergy information frequently, and a few of them will be commissioned from well-established columnists who are specialists in the area of allergic reactions. However, it is very important that you read and comprehend our disclaimer before making the decision to take action based on the medical wisdom that you read in this article. Comments (0) Dealing With Food Allergies Filed under: Allergies — admin at 1:02 am on Tuesday, January 13, 2009  Tagged allergic reactions, food allergy, healthcare, histamine, types of allergies summary» An allergy can be described as a malfunction of the immune system, an exaggerated response to certain substances. Your body mistakenly believes that something it has touched, smelled or eaten is harmful to it and your body releases massive amounts of chemicals, such as histamine to protect itself. It is believed that 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies. These allergies are as varied as food itself is. Some people suffer from an allergy to one food, some to many. The most common food allergies are generally eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts), fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Symptoms of food allergies are varied and range from a tingling of the mouth to swelling of the tongue and throat to difficulty breathing to hives, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and in some instances death. There are ways to help you or your loved one manage your food allergies. First seek the help of an allergist. Your allergist will perform a patch test to determine the exact cause of allergic reactions. This will be the guideline you use as you develop a diet based around your food allergies. As with other types of allergies there is no cure for a food allergy. Some children do grow out of some food allergies as they age although allergies to peanuts, fish, shellfish and nuts are often considered lifetime allergies. You or your loved one must simply avoid the food that causes the allergy. This can be difficult, especially when eating out in a restaurant. Depending on the severity of allergy, even slight cross contamination of food products can cause reactions. If you liked this essay, “Dealing With Food Allergies”, then you might enjoy the following associated reports: What is the Cause of Food Allergies? Information on Skin Allergies A Diet to Help Arthritis Losing Weight to Fight Diabetes Risk Sleep Deprivation and Diabetes May Be Linked Food labeling is a very important component of avoiding foods that trigger allergies. Since 2000 the FDA has been presenting information on allergy risks and labeling requirements to manufacturers. They seek to have manufacturers change some labels to be easier to read, using plain language like “milk” on a label instead of “caseinate”. In the case of a milk or egg allergy there are alternatives that can be used when cooking or baking. There are many online sites dedicated to supplying information, education and support to those with food allergies. Disclaimer» Whilst ‘The Croft Health and Fitness’ take extreme care to confirm the intelligence, in the report “Dealing With Food Allergies”, or anywhere else on this web page, is correct, we must disclaim any warranty or representation, of any sort over its definitiveness, fullness or advisability for a specific circumstance. (There is more where this came from … ) This article, entitled ‘Dealing With Food Allergies’ is another in the program of healthcare essays published by The Croft Health and Fitness. The intention behind its publication, as with this whole series of health information articles, is to increase understanding amongst our readers on integrative medicine and first aid knoweldge, and to stimulate discussion. We hope that it is simple to absorb, and that the health information and material provided is helpful. Prior to making changes based on some of healthcare intelligence described in this essay, it is essential that you read and accept our legal disclaimer. Comments (0) Losing Weight to Fight Diabetes Risk Filed under: Diabetes — admin at 4:43 am on Friday, January 9, 2009  Tagged Diabetes, diabetes care, healthcare, losing weight, physical exercise It may be common knowledge that losing weight helps to reduce the risk of diabetes, but recent research appears to put that beyond any doubt. Recent research appears to prove that shedding weight is the most important factor in reducing diabetes risk for elevated-risk, severely obese individuals. In short, Weight Loss helps lower the risk of becoming a sufferer of Diabetes mellitus Those participating in the intensive lifestyle intervention part of the Diabetes mellitus Prevention Scheme, the aim of which was eliminating fat with the target of decreasing weight by 7%, decreased their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent a period of 36 months, stated Dr. Richard F. Hamman at the scheme’s control center at George Washington Uninversity, situated in Rockville, Maryland, USA.. On the first stages of the program all members of the study group were technically obese and had reduced ability to adequately process glucose, which left them with a elevated chance of becoming a sufferer of diabetes mellitus. Another target of the intervention was to get those participating to do a small amount of exercise for a duration of at least 2.5 hours each week, the diabetes specialists report in their article detailed in the September 2006 issue of Diabetes Care Publication. Doctor Hamman and his researchers were looking for factors that were the most helpful in reducing the risk of diabetes, losing weight, elevated physical exercise or lowered fat intake. Participants reduced their fat to less than 25 percent of their total calories injested, and diminished the total calorie consumption if they did not lose enough weight by just lowering the fat. Shedding weight was the most important factor in reducing risk of diabetes mellitus, whilst lowering the fat in the diet and increasing exercise helped those involved reduce weight, and physical exercise helped them keep the weight off, the diabetes experts stated. Comments (0) Sleep Deprivation and Diabetes May Be Linked Filed under: Diabetes — admin at 4:38 am on Friday, January 9, 2009  Tagged allergic reactions, Diabetes, diabetes care, losing weight Another somewhat alarming report seems to suggest that sleep deprivation and diabetes may be connected. It seems that a busy life style that causes you to lose sleep may also have you heading towards diabetes mellitus. But don’t be tempted to have too many ‘lie ins’, because excessive sleep could lead to just the same end result. This is the somewhat unusual outcome of a recent study that suggests too little or too much sleep may cause the blood sugar illness, at least for oldtimers. “This is one additional piece of information bolstering the common recommendation for sleeping seven to eight hours a night,” reported study co-producer Dr. Daniel Gottlieb, of Boston University. Dr.Gottlieb and his colleagues studied detailed stats covering the health of nearly 1500 members of a previous research that covered the cardiovascular effects of sleep disorders that also affected breathing. those participating were middle aged to elderly. The goal of the doctors was to see if they could find a factor that connected sleep issuesand impaired ability to metabolize blood sugar, a symptom of diabetes. They state their findings in this week’s issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Compared with the participants who slept seven to eight hours, the participants who had less than 5 hours sleep were 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes. The rate of diabetes was somewhat lower for those who achieved 6 hours sleep. The diabetes rate was also higher for the participants who slept for longer than 9 hours. Comments (0) Is There a Link Between Beta Blockers and Diabetes? Filed under: Diabetes — admin at 4:33 am on Friday, January 9, 2009  Tagged ace inhibitors, beta blockers, Diabetes, diabetes care, healthcare Is there a link between taking beta blockers and developing diabetes? It seems that there may be. Patients prescribed beta-blockers to control blood pressure have a 50 percent increased probability of becoming a sufferer of diabetes compared to being on newer medication, diabetes experts have discovered. In a major break through, a recent study illustrates the risks of using the traditional treatments which have fallen out of favor for use on raised blood pressure. Diabetes sufferers using beta-blockers and diuretics  (the standard prescribed drug for over 30 years) are at far higher risk of diabetes. It is not just that they are  less effective than more modern treatments, however they advance and, in a few circumstances, bring about the ailment in sufferers from high blood pressure who already are at elevated probability. As a result of this, many people taking the regular medications are contracting diabetes avoidably each year as a result. Until this year, around two million patients were taking beta-blocker type of medications. However newer guidelines to doctors says more modern ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers should be the first treatment of choice for the growing numbers of Britons given drugs for high blood pressure. This modified opinion came after detailed analysis which found the older drugs were only 50% as effectual at stopping strokes and coronary failures. Background Information on Diabetes: Diabetes is a affliction in which your body does not produce or make correct use of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is vital to convert sugar into energy vital for daily life. What causes diabetes are still not known, although both genetic and environment like excess weight and absence of exercise appear to be relevant factors. Symptoms of Diabetes: * The first symptom of diabetes might be terrible thirst (not connected with exercise, hot weather, or short-term illness) * Extreme hunger; (you know that you have eaten sufficiently, but you still feel hungry) * Needing to urinate often, (often noticed because you need to wake repeatedly in the nighttime) * Feeling tired and lacking energy (sometimes enough to make you fall asleep unexpectedly after dining). This is one of the most frequent symptoms of diabetes). * Unexpected and unusual weight loss (any surprise reduction in weight tells you to make an appointment with your doctor) Comments (0) Is There a Link Between Alzheimers and Diabetes? Filed under: Diabetes — admin at 4:20 am on Friday, January 9, 2009  Tagged Alzheimers, dementia, Diabetes, diabetes care, healthcare Diabetes and Alzheimers may be connected  - recent research suggests that there may be direct connection between how well blood sugar levels are controlled and the onset of Alzheimers. For almost half of her life, ever since her last pregnancy 40 years ago, Christine Miller has been a sufferer of Type-two diabetes. Because she was not insulin-dependent, Miller was able to tackle her ailment with pills. However just over 2 years ago, at nearly 80 years of age, Miller developed another problem — mental confusion. Her family took her to the medical center where she discovered to have The neurodegenerative disease, knoen as ‘alzheimers’. Was there a link between Miller’s four decades of diabetes mellitus and her alzheimers? Until relatively recently, medical experts might have disdained such a link as just coincidence. More recently, it is one of the most important areas of Research on alzheimers. It is also becoming an accepted view among some Alzheimer’s researchers Keep your blood sugar and insulin under control and you can reduce your probability of developing alzheimers disease. The link has been appearing more and more, both in the study of epidemics and clinical trials that use diabetes medication to treat suferrers from dementia. But the exact reason that elevated sugar or poorly controlled insulin can cause brain cell death still isn’t entirely clear. Currently, most of the effort in Research on alzheimers is on beta-amyloid, the protein that rises in the brains of suferrers from the affliction. Comments (0) How to Deal With a Diabetic Crisis Filed under: Diabetes — admin at 4:15 am on Friday, January 9, 2009  Tagged blood sugar level, Diabetes, diabetes care, first aid, healthcare, injecting insulin If you have someone in your family who is diabetic, and injecting insulin, you need to be aware of how to deal with a diabetic crisis should it arise. Here are a few guidelines adn bit of background information on diabetes. Food is your body’s fuel to provide enough energy to command a busy lifestyle. Healthy bodies create insulin to convert sugar into energy. Unfortunately, for diabetics, the body does not create satisfactory insulin, and glucose builds up instead of becoming energy. Folk with diabetes have to be careful with carbohydrate intake and exercise and may need to take insulin at regular intervals to control their affliction. Occasionally a diabetic person can suffer a medical crisis due to a surfit of insulin. This dangerous event takes place when the blood sugar level has fallen to dangerous low levels. This condition gets rapidly worse and is usually caused by administering too much insulin, not eating enough or doing more exercise than usual. Symptoms of insulin shock * The heart rate and breathing are shallow and rapid. * Skin is sweaty, pale in color and the temperature is low. * The sufferer is irrational, ill-tempered or very confrontational. * The diabetic might seem drunk, palpitate or have trouble with speech. Emergency medical treatment for insulin shock Awareness of how to react in a diabetic crisis might save a life. * Comfort the patient and ask someone to call for an ambulance. * Place an unconscious casualty in the recovery position and monitor pulse and breathing. * If a conscious casualty can tell you what they need, assist them to find and take their medication. * If the person is too confused to understand what is needed, give them something sweet to eat or drink - a drink rich in glucose may help. We hope you find that useful, but also hope that you never need to deal with it ‘for real’. Comments (0) Pages Home About The Croft My Categories Allergies Arthritis Diabetes Mental Health Health More Health Articles Recent Posts Basic Information on Alzheimers How To Tell if Someone Has Dementia What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? 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