WHY YOUR MEMORY MAY BE SLIPPING

Head Trip: Why Your Memory May Be Slipping
Mild brain injuries from an old fall may show up years later.
By Tim Jarvis
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the June 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Do you remember?

If that's starting to be a touchy, frustrating, panicky question, dementia is not necessarily nipping at your heels. "Many times when I'm dealing with patients who fear they have Alzheimer's, I find they have a history of head injuries," says Jonathan Canick, PhD, a neuropsychologist and the codirector of the Memory Clinic at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. In fact, researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City have been investigating the effects of unidentified traumatic brain injuries (TBI)—long-forgotten falls, sports injuries, or any accident that resulted in a blow to the head—since the early 1990s. One of their recent studies referred to TBI as a hidden epidemic, because often the symptoms, which can include both cognitive and behavioral problems, are attributed to other causes. Even mild TBIs cause noticeable brain tissue loss, according to a study in Neurology. Normal aging, Canick stresses, is not a process of mental decline, but changes in the brain can unmask the effects of prior injuries.

It's time for a brain check...

Red Flags

Are you easily able to multitask? Can you cope with everyday chores, like balancing a checkbook, without making elementary mistakes? Are you able to keep track of information? If you answer no to any of these, think back to whether you've ever had a hard knock to your head that left you disoriented, suggests Wayne A. Gordon, PhD, professor of rehabilitation medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Diagnosis

"Patients go misdiagnosed because their practitioners often rely on a test like the Mini Mental State Exam that may miss more subtle and vexing problems," Canick says. The best specialists are neuropsychologists (the National Academy of Neuropsychologists at www.nanonline.org has a directory).

Treatment

Options include stimulants (such as Ritalin and Provigil), dementia drugs (Aricept, Exelon), and cognitive rehabilitation programs. None of these treatments are cure-alls, says Canick; nor do they work for everyone. But with a proper diagnosis, he says, "they can either significantly improve a person's cognition or increase mental functioning in general."

MY THOUGHTS

The key is, probably, to exercise your mind. Go for mind games. Watch shows that will make you think. Read things of value. Get into blogging. (check out my tutorial)  Have 'thinking' sessions with friends and family. Be aware of your stress levels. Stress can be a contributor to forgetfulness. So, relax and free your mind of anything that will bog it down.

When you do reach that point where you become forgetful, don't just accept it. Find ways around it. Organize yourself.  Live with routines. Organize your things. Keep them labeled. Color code them. Whatever. What I'm saying is don't let memory loss cripple you. And don't make an excuse out of it. If you do, one day, you won't even be able to remember what you can't remember.

WORRISOME EFFECTS OF EVERYDAY DRUGS

Everyday Drugs, Worrisome Side Effects
By Catherine Guthrie
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the April 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

This is a grim trend: A recent report in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine uncovered a nearly threefold surge—between 1998 and 2005—in the number of serious injuries, disabilities, and deaths linked to prescription drugs. Thomas Moore, a senior scientist at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and the report's lead author, says neither doctors nor patients want to think about the downside of drug treatment: "People don't want to look at the risks, and physicians don't want to think they may be hurting their patients instead of helping them." But a little awareness could help you avoid troublesome side effects and even save your life, especially with these three frequently prescribed classes of drugs.

Painkillers: To soothe arthritis, headaches, and muscle pain, more than 30 million Americans reach for NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) every day. But these medicine cabinet mainstays, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, pack serious perils. Namely, they can weaken the stomach's defenses against digestive juices, leaving it vulnerable to damage. Every year NSAID-related ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding send upwards of 100,000 people racing to the hospital; the pills contribute to up to as many as 20,000 deaths annually. If you regularly pop NSAIDS, tell your doctor so she can help you minimize the risks; the biggest is a peptic ulcer. If you have a burning pain in your gut that comes and goes, see a doctor.

Antidepressants: The number of Americans on these drugs—roughly 8 percent of adults—has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The class of medications most often used to lift mood are called SSRIs (short for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and act on the brain's chemical messengers. But they can sidetrack these messengers from their other duties, namely sexual arousal. Up to two-thirds of all users report signs of sexual dysfunction, such as low libido, inability to sustain an erection, and difficulty reaching orgasm. "Don't be embarrassed to talk to your doctor about sexual side effects," says Moore. "Changing the drug or the dose might take care of the problem." A switch to bupropion (Wellbutrin) may help; both male and female patients have also reported that Viagra can boost sensation and performance.

Statins: These cholesterol busters are lifesavers for many of the 26 million Americans who live with heart disease, but they aren't risk-free. The drugs can interfere with proteins that help sustain muscle, leaving users feeling sore and achy. In a small percentage of people, those muscle pains indicate rhabdomyolysis, a potentially deadly condition in which muscle tissue is rapidly destroyed. If you experience muscle pain or weakness on statins, talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose or switching to a different brand—both can alleviate symptoms. You may need to be persistent. A recent survey in the journal Drug Safety found that of the 650 statin users who had reported muscle-related symptoms to their doctors, nearly half had their concerns dismissed. Beatrice Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, led the study and says she was flabbergasted by how many doctors failed to take patients' complaints seriously. "That troubled me a lot," she says.


MY THOUGHTS

i practically inhale pain relievers. i get migraines so often, some of them awfully painful, i gulp down mefenamic acid at the very first sign of a headache. i guess i'm lucky i'm not having any stomach troubles- as this article warns.

CHANGES TO MAKE FOR HEALTHY BONES

CHANGES TO MAKE FOR HEALTHY BONES

from the article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"
By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

What changes can I make to improve my bone health?

If you recognize some of these signs in yourself, the best thing you can do is make your diet more healthful. That includes consuming enough calories to support your activity level.

If you’ve missed periods, it’s best to check with a doctor to make sure it’s not a sign of some other problem, and get your doctor’s help as you work toward a more healthy balance of food and exercise. Also, a doctor can help you take steps to protect your bones from further damage.

My friend drinks a lot of diet sodas. She says this helps keep her trim. Is that true?

Girls and women who may be dieting often drink diet sodas rather than milk. Yet milk and other dairy products are a good source of calcium, an essential ingredient for healthy bones. Drinking sodas instead of milk can be a problem, especially during the teen years when rapid bone growth occurs.

If you (or your friend) find yourself drinking a lot of sodas, try drinking half as many sodas each day, and gradually add more milk and dairy products to your diet. A frozen yogurt shake can be an occasional low-fat, tasty treat. Or try a fruit smoothie made with frozen yogurt, fruit or calcium-enriched orange juice.

My coach and I think I should lose just a little more weight. I want to be able to excel at my sport!

Years ago, it was not unusual for coaches to encourage athletes to be as thin as possible for many sports (e.g., dancing, gymnastics, figure skating, swimming, diving and running). However, many coaches now realize that being too thin is unhealthy and can negatively affect performance.

It’s important to exercise and watch what you eat. However, it’s also important to develop and maintain healthy bones and bodies. Without these, it won't matter how fast you can run, how thin you are, or how long you exercise each day.

MY THOUGHTS

milk instead of soda? that doesn't sound like fun. but osteoporosis will take the fun out of your life. so, better think this over.

WHO'S LIKELY TO GET WEAK BONES?

WHO'S AT RISK FOR WEAK BONES

from the article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"
By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Who’s at risk for these problems?

Girls and women who engage in rigorous exercise regimens or who try to lose weight by restricting their eating are at risk for these health problems. They may include serious athletes, “gym rats” (who spend considerable time and energy working out), and girls and women who believe “you can never be too thin.”

How can I tell if someone I know, train with, or coach may be at risk for bone loss, fracture, and other health problems?
Here are some signs to look for:

* Missed or irregular menstrual periods

* Extreme or “unhealthy-looking” thinness

* Extreme or rapid weight loss

* Behaviors that reflect frequent dieting, such as eating very little, not eating in front of others, trips to the bathroom following meals, preoccupation with thinness or weight, focus on low-calorie and diet foods, possible increase in the consumption of water and other no- and low-calorie foods and beverages, possible increase in gum chewing, limiting diet to one food group, or eliminating a food group

* Frequent intense bouts of exercise (e.g., taking an aerobics class, then running 5 miles, then swimming for an hour, followed by weight-lifting)

* An “I can’t miss a day of exercise/practice” attitude

* An overly anxious preoccupation with an injury

* Exercising despite illness, inclement weather, injury and other conditions that might lead someone else to take the day off

* An unusual amount of self-criticism or self-dissatisfaction

* Indications of significant psychological or physical stress, including depression, anxiety or nervousness, inability to concentrate, low levels of self-esteem, feeling cold all the time, problems sleeping, fatigue, injuries, and constantly talking about weight

MY THOUGHTS

4-5 hours of exercise seem to be overboard, right? our bones will definitely crack, especially if there's not enough healthy bone food to mend the bones.

WEAKENING BONES

EXERCISE CAN WEAKEN YOUR BONES

from the Article "Is Exercise Weakening Your Bones?"

By the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center
Published January 24, 2011

Working out and dieting can get you in shape, but overdoing it puts bones at risk. Read on to learn how to stay fit without causing fractures…

Are you exercising too much? Eating too little? Have your menstrual periods stopped or become irregular? If so, you may be putting yourself at high risk for several serious problems that could affect your health, your ability to remain active, and your risk for injuries.

You also may be putting yourself at risk for developing osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density is decreased, leaving bones vulnerable to fracture (breaking).

Why is missing my period such a big deal?

Some athletes see amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods) as a sign of successful training. Others see it as a great answer to a monthly inconvenience. And some young women accept it blindly, not stopping to think of the consequences.

But missing your periods is often a sign of decreased estrogen levels. And lower estrogen levels can lead to osteoporosis, a disease in which your bones become brittle and more likely to break.

Usually, this doesn't happen until women are much older. But some young women, especially those who exercise so much their periods stop, develop brittle bones and may start to have fractures at a very early age. Some 20-year-old female athletes have been said to have the bones of an 80-year-old woman.

Even if bones don’t break when you’re young, low estrogen levels during the peak years of bone-building – the preteen and teen years – can affect bone density for the rest of your life. And studies show that bone growth lost during these years may never be regained.

Broken bones don’t just hurt – they can cause lasting physical malformations. Have you noticed that some older women and men have stooped postures? This is not a normal sign of aging. Fractures from osteoporosis have left their spines permanently altered.

Overtraining can cause other problems besides missed periods. If you don’t take in enough calcium and vitamin D (among other nutrients), bone loss may result. This may lead to decreased athletic performance, decreased ability to exercise or train at desired levels of intensity or duration, and increased risk of injury.

MY THOUGHTS

anything excessive is never good. and it pays to take heed while you still can. osteoporosis is,indeed,a debilitating illness. never mind that you look deformed. i know some people suffering from osteoporosis and they claim that the pain is indescribable.

Sugar on your Fingers Affect Blood Tests

Fruit salad and blood sugar meters don't mix
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/hOOp3B Diabetes Care, online January 31, 2011.
Published February 09, 2011

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Listen up, diabetics: invisible bits of fruit on your hands can mess up your finger-prick blood tests, making your blood sugar level look higher than it really is.

That's because sugars from fruit will stay on your fingers until you wash them with tap water, a new study shows.

Even alcohol swabs don't solve the problem.

The researchers say that peeling fruit right before you use a blood sugar meter, or eating some juicy fruit with your hands, could lead to an inaccurate reading even if you rub your finger with alcohol first.

Blood sugar meters work by taking a drop of blood from the tip of the finger and testing the sample for how much sugar is in the blood. Many people with diabetes have to use these meters a few times a day to monitor their blood sugar levels and determine how much insulin to take.

Getting an inaccurate reading from sugar on the outside of the finger "could lead somebody to take insulin when they don't need it," Cohen said. "They could run the risk of running a low sugar from having misleading data."

The message, the authors say, is to wash your hands before using a blood sugar meter and not rely on alcohol swabs, especially if you've been handling any fruit.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/hOOp3B Diabetes Care, online January 31, 2011.

MY THOUGHTS

this is very important information. if you want confirmation, check the website. the research is described in the full article.

WHAT CAUSES FEVER?

WHAT CAUSES FEVER?

from the article 'Check Your Symptoms - What to do for Fever Symptoms'
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide

Updated October 19, 2009

Causes of Fever

Once you have decided that you don't need to see a doctor, you may want to know what could be causing the fever. First, you should check your other symptoms.

Do you have a cough, chills, congestion and exhaustion?

Do you have a severe sore throat?

* It May be Strep Throat
* It Could be Tonsillitis

Have you had a cough for a few weeks that is painful?

* It May be Bronchitis
* It Could be Pneumonia

Do you have ear pain or is your child tugging on his or her ears and not sleeping well?

* It Could be an Ear Infection

Do you have pain and pressure around your eyes, congestion and a headache?

* It May be Sinusitis

It is important to note that if you think you have any of these illnesses, you should contact your doctor and see if you need to be seen. This is information is not intended to diagnose any disease or condition.

MY THOUGHTS

that's clear enough! and convincing enough. some fevers cannot be treated at home. bronchitis? pneumonia? ear infection? i wouldn't risk it. i will make that trip to the doctor no matter how much i hate doing it.

WHEN DO YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR FEVER?

WHEN DO YOU GO TO YOUR DOCTOR FOR FEVER

from the article "Check Your Symptoms - What to do for Fever Symptoms"
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide
Updated October 19, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

When Should You Go to a Doctor For Your Fever?

# In general, adults should go to a doctor for a fever if your temperature goes above 103 F and will not come down with medication or stays that high for more than 24 hours.

# If a child over 6 months old has a temperature over 101 degrees F that lasts for three days, you should call the pediatrician.

# A child between 3 and 6 months old that has a temperature over 101 F should be taken to the doctor.

# A child under 3 months old with a temperature over 100.4 F should be taken to the doctor.

MY THOUGHTS

i've never gone to the doctor for fever. because i hate going top the doctor.

HOW TO REDUCE FEVER WITHOUT MEDICATION

HOW TO REDUCE FEVER WITHOUT MEDICATION
from the article: Check Your Symptoms - What to do for Fever Symptoms

By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide

Updated October 19, 2009

How to Reduce a Fever Without Medication

There are a few options if you would prefer to try to reduce a fever without medication. These may also help if medication is not reducing the fever quickly enough.

* Taking a bath in lukewarm water -- be sure the water is not cold, if it causes shivering, that may cause the body temperature to increase.

* Cool packs or cool rags under the arms, on the forehead and in the groin area -- be sure the packs are not too cold.

* Be sure not to wrap the person with a fever in blankets or warm clothes. Although they may feel cold, added layers will only prevent the body temperature from dropping like it should. Dress the person in one layer of comfortable clothes, provided the environmental temperature is comfortable.

MY THOUGHTS

funny how we used to do exactly the opposite. windows closed, no ventilation. wearing the thickest of clothes. with socks. wrapped in layers and layers of the heaviest blanket. now, we know better, don't we? i hope so.

MEDICATION FOR FEVER

Medication for Fever
Check Your Symptoms - What to do for Fever Symptoms
By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide

Updated October 19, 2009

How Often Should You Take Medication for Your Fever?

Acetaminophen

* Adults - every 4 hours as needed
* Children - every 4 hours as needed


Ibuprofen

* Adults - every 4 to 6 hours as needed
* Children - every 6 to 8 hours as needed


Aspirin

* Adults - every 4 hours as needed
* Children - should not be given to children unless instructed to do so by the child's doctor

MY THOUGHTS

fever seems to be such a common illness. but with all the health issues right now, we worry a lot when body temperature is beyond normal. hope this helps.

How Can You Tell if you Have FEVER?

When Do You Have Fever?
from the article - Check Your Symptoms - What to do for Fever Symptoms

By Kristina Duda, R.N., About.com Guide

Updated October 19, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

The most important step when determining what to do about fever symptoms, is to check your temperature with an accurate thermometer. Several types of thermometers are available and they work in different ways.

1. Oral (digital or manual)
2. Axillary (digital or manual)
3. Rectal (digital or manual)
4. Tympanic (digital) - scans ear temperature
5. Temporal (digital) - scans skin on forehead

* Check Your Temperature the Right Way

Once you have accurately taken your temperature, evaluate whether or not you need to take action to bring it down.

* In adults, a temperature over about 100 F is considered a fever.

* In children over 6 months old, a temperature over 101 F generally needs treatment. It is important to consider how your child is acting when deciding the course of action for a fever. If the child is lethargic and eating or drinking poorly, you should treat the fever more aggressively than if the child is playful and active.

* In children 3 to 6 months old, a temperature over 101 degrees F requires a call to the pediatrician.

* In children 0 to 3 months old, a rectal temperature over 100.4 F requires a call to the pediatrician.


Once you have decided that you actually have a fever and need to treat it, you should consider your medication options. The most common medications to treat fever are:

* Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
* Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
* Aspirin

If your child is younger than 2 months old and has a fever, you should call your pediatrician before giving him or her any medication.

Tylenol is safe for children over 2 months old.

Advil and Motrin are safe for children over 6 months old.

Aspirin should not be given to children under 18 years old unless instructed to by a doctor. It should never be given to a child with cold or flu symptoms because it can cause a serious disease called Reye's Syndrome.

MY THOUGHTS

in case you've forgotten, 100F is 37.7 centigrade. take note that aspirin should not be given to kids below 18 months. According to health.yahoo.com, "Reye's syndrome is a disorder principally affecting the liver and brain, marked by rapid development of life-threatening neurological symptoms".

SIMPLE LIFE CHANGES COULD PREVENT CANCER

Simple life changes could stop millions of cancers
Published February 04, 2011
http://www.lifescript.com/Health/News/Reuters/2011/02/04/Simple_life_changes_could_stop_millions_of_cancers.aspx

LONDON (Reuters) - About a third of all common cancers in the United States, China and Britain could be prevented each year if people ate healthier food, drank less alcohol and exercised more, health experts said on Friday.

Estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) suggest that making simple lifestyle changes could prevent some 40 percent of breast cancers alone in Britain and the United States, as well as tens of thousands of colon, stomach and prostate cancers.

"It is distressing that even in 2011, people are dying unnecessarily from cancers that could be prevented through maintaining a healthy weight, diet, physical activity and other lifestyle factors," Martin Wiseman, a WCRF medical and scientific adviser, said in statement.

In China, 620,000 cases, or 27 percent are preventable, the WCRF said, as are about 35 percent, or 340,000, in the United States and 37 percent in Britain. Healthier lifestyles could prevent 61,000 cancers in Brazil and 79,000 in Britain.

The WCRF findings are backed by World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which say regular exercise can prevent many diseases such as cancers, heart diseases and diabetes.

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world and its incidence is rising. Each year around 12.7 million people discover they have cancer and 7.6 million people die from some form of the disease. There are about 200 known types of cancer.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cancer will kill more than 13.2 million people a year by 2030, almost double the number it killed in 2008 -- and the vast majority of deaths will be in poorer countries.

In a separate statement, the Geneva-based WHO said low levels of physical inactivity are the main cause of an estimated 21 to 25 percent of breast and colon cancers, 27 percent of diabetes cases and 30 percent of heart disease cases worldwide.

Rachel Thompson, the WCRF's deputy head of science, said that while the message was simple -- that not smoking, eating good food and being a healthy weight can help ward off many cancers -- it was still a difficult one to get across.

"It's all very well us saying 'this is what you need to eat and this is how much physical activity you need to do', but we need to make it easier for people to make those changes," she said. "Everybody has a role in that -- from international organizations, to governments, to people themselves."

The WHO says adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. This could be done by walking for 30 minutes five times per week or by cycling to work every day.

Peter Baldini, head of the World Lung Foundation, also called on all governments to introduce smoke-free laws and raise the price of cigarettes.

Tobacco kills millions of smokers every year, and tobacco-related lung cancers also kill hundreds of thousands of people who don't smoke but have been exposed to it second-hand.

"There isn't a magic bullet to cure all forms of cancer, but we have the opportunity and the obligation to protect people from developing cancer wherever possible," Baldini said.

MY THOUGHTS

30 minutes of walking 5 times a week. that doesn't seem very hard. the harder part would be the change in eating and other habits. our busy lifestyles makes it difficult to avoid processed foods, oily take-outs and dinners from a can. but something has to give. it's not even an issue of living longer. it's an issue of what cancer can do to us and our loved ones.