Alzheimer’s Disease is a group disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Alzheimer’s disease is becoming tragically common. It is estimated that there are currently 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a disease of the nervous system characterized by loss of certain mental abilities. This loss is severe enough to interfere with normal activities and lasts at least six months. Dementia is the term for the deterioration of brain function that results in loss of memory, reduced language skills, impaired reasoning and behavioural and emotional problems. As the disease develops, a person loses the ability to carry out familiar tasks, to reason, and to exercise judgment. Moods, personality, and ability to communicate may also be affected. People with AD typically die within eight years of their diagnosis. Some individuals may die within a year of diagnosis, others may live as long as twenty years.

Alzheimers Disease is progressive, which means that symptoms worsen over time. Language difficulties also are common in people with Alzheimer’s disease. People with Alzheimer’s can lose their sense of time and place – they may, for example, get dressed in the middle of the night or walk off and get lost. New surroundings and new people may be confusing. The disease typically progresses to the stage where it is difficult for the patient to be understood by others or to understand others, and in the final stages, the patient is bedridden. Free radicals are another factor in the formation of tangles and plaques. Free radicals are very active chemicals that form in the brain and damage brain cells. Chemicals known as antioxidants react with and destroy free radicals. Unfortunately there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, drugs can help to slow down the progression or relieve some symptoms and delay the need for residential care. Other therapies and support are available.

Causes of Alzheimers Disease

The exect causes of alzheimers disease are currently not known. Alzheimer’s is caused by a loss of brain cells, as well as changes in the cerebral cortex. Free radicals are another factor in the formation of tangles and plaques. Free radicals are very active chemicals that form in the brain and damage brain cells. Chemicals known as antioxidants react with and destroy free radicals. Another risk factor is heredity. People whose family members have had AD are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those whose families do not have this history. People who have hypothyroidism or have experienced head injuries are also at relatively high risk for AD. Environmental factors have sometimes been proposed as possible causes for Alzheimers disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease

The earliest symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. Memory loss by itself is not an indication that a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Some memory loss is a natural part of growing old. People with Alzheimer’s can lose their sense of time and place – they may, for example, get dressed in the middle of the night or walk off and get lost. In early stages of the disease, family or friends may notice changes in behaviour. As the disease progresses, memory loss gets worse and some people have difficulty in learning new skills. Changes in behaviour may become more obvious, with people saying or doing things that are out of character. Some people become depressed because they realise what is happening to them. During the late stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer’s may become totally dependent on others for their care. Walking can become difficult and urinary incontinence may develop.

Treatment of Alzheimers Disease

There is currently no cure and virtually no medical treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. However, drugs can help to slow down the progression or relieve some symptoms and delay the need for residential care. A type of drug called cholinesterase inhibitors are used for people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease. They work by reducing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, levels of which are low in Alzheimer’s. There are three such drugs available: donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine and galantamine. Another drug, memantine, was launched for people in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes anti-depressant medicines are prescribed to help treat the depression that can be associated with Alzheimers Disease. Some people may benefit from anti-psychotic medicines.

Acid reflux disease, also known as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is an established condition for many residents of developed countries. 20% or more of the whole population of developed countries has to endure some of the typical symptoms of acid reflux at least once per week. Only a few people suspect their medical condition and the unpleasant dangers, yet well-being and quality of life is negatively impacted for most acid reflux patients.

It is essential to know how to recognize the symptoms for fast diagnosis and cure, because acid reflux can result in a high level of discomfort and serious complications for patients. Acid reflux diagnostics made using typical acid reflux symptoms observed are accurate to 70%. The majority of physicians and medical paraprofessionals agree that the first diagnosis of acid reflux, for the most part using a questionnaire on typical symptoms, is essential for treating this condition in the quickest and most effective way.

Painful and unpleasant, the most noticeable symptom of gastro esophageal reflux disease manifests itself in the area of the esophagus as a persistent burning sensation (heartburn). Other typical symptoms of GERD are:

1. Dysphagia, meaning problems in swallowing or the sensation as if food were stuck in the throat.

2. Odynophagia, meaning pain when swallowing.

3. Gastric matter leading to complications in breathing in certain situations, because of regurgitation of gastric contents, in other words the uncontrolled backwards flux of stomach or esophageal contents into the throat.

About 50% of all sufferers from gastro esophageal reflux disease also note that they get concurrent sinonasal symptoms (meaning symptoms manifesting themselves in the sinuses and the nose), as well as the symptoms above.

Intense chest pain may be felt, not unlike that of a myocardial infarction and can mistakenly be construed as a heart attack. Unlike the symptoms of GERD however, cardiovascular chest pain is usually heightened by physical exercise. Abnormal symptoms concerning acid reflux include chest pain that is spasmodic but non-cardiac, chronic wheezing and coughing (also known as acid reflux related asthma, the result of stomach or esophagus content being sucked into the area of the lungs), and lung damage, with concomitant breathing ailments such as asthma and pneumonia.

Further problems can affect the teeth (decay of the enamel) and the ears (otitis media) as well as damage to the vocal cords (hoarseness, laryngitis, cancer).

Moreover, neglect of an acid reflux condition can mean high physical discomfort with the possibility of recurring conditions that can put your health in danger, such as pneumonia. Long-standing reflux into the lower part of the esophagus can cause changes in the appearance of the lining cells, a condition called Barrett’s esophagus that can turn into esophageal cancer in about 1 of every 200 cases. If the reflux reaches the upper parts of the esophagus, it can irritate adjacent structures and cause coughing, wheezing, chronic sore throat or hoarseness, which often leads to misdiagnoses, especially when the usual reflux symptoms are minimal or absent.

GERD symptoms can indicate a serious general lack of internal balance. The ability to see those symptoms as relating to acid reflux is critical to your health and well being in general as well as for avoiding potential complications.

When one or several of the acid reflux symptoms above has been identified, an appointment should be made with a certified physician for a full checkup. Luckily, anyone can identify typical acid reflux symptoms on his or her own, and thus justify an appointment to see the family physician.

While a professional doctor can diagnose correctly initially and often proposes relief as drugs and antacids, remember that medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, only treats the surface aspects of your acid reflux situation. In addition, some drugs like antacids result in various secondary effects.

The cures for the problem that is at the root of the gastro esophageal reflux disease, to finally remedy the issue much more effectively, safely and for the long-term will come from a holistic approach that treats the internal causes that are behind acid reflux in the first place.

Jeff Martin is a medical researcher, certified nutritionist, health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, “Heartburn No More- Open The Door To an Acid Reflux Free Life”. Jeff has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

To Learn More About Jeff Martin´s Unique 5-Step Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Heartburn No More. To Learn More About Acid Reflux Symptoms Visit: Acid Reflux Symptoms

By
Jeff Martin
Published: 5/1/2008

Dementia is a disorder associated with brain, which causes loss of mental ability and cognitive functions. It affects an ability of thinking, memory, decision-making, concentration, verbal communication, memory and problem solving. Dementia results from damage in parts of the brain or death of brain cells that are associated with thought process. These changes in the brain may be due to certain diseases or traumatic brain injury. Dementia may also cause behavioral and personality changes, depending on the affected area of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease, one of the forms of dementia, is a degenerative disorder. Vascular dementia is a non-degenerative type disease. Dementia is considered as a normal part of aging and more commonly found in the elderly people. Let’s take an overview of dementia and know about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Types of Dementia

Dementia is classified into various types on the basis of which part of the brain is affected and the particular features of the disorder. The major types of dementia are cortical dementia, subcortical dementia, progressive dementia, primary dementia and secondary dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is considered as cortical, progressive dementia. Vascular dementia results from brain damage due to cerebrovascular or cardiovascular problems. Some other forms of dementia are Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, HIV-associated dementia, Huntington’s disease, dementia pugilistica, corticobasal degeneration and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Causes of Dementia

Dementia is due to various causes such as different diseases and infections, head injuries, stroke, certain drugs and nutritional deficiencies. All types of dementia result from dysfunction in the brain tissue or cerebral cortex. Some diseases cause damage to the cortex, while others affect the subcortical areas. Some of the major causes of dementia are head injuries, infection such as AIDS, inadequate blood or oxygen supply to the brain, pressure on the brain due to brain tumors, hydrocephalus (fluid accumulation between the brain and brain lining), vitamin deficiency and excessive alcohol intake for a long period.

Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia mainly affects the cognitive abilities of a person. Memory loss is one of the significant signs of dementia. In early dementia, a person may find a difficulty in finding the words. It can be compensated by using the synonyms. A person may forget the names, his work or appointments. It may be difficult for him to perform the familiar tasks such as cooking, driving or household chores. Some other symptoms of early dementia are mood swings, poor judgment, uncharacteristic behavior, confusion and behavior disorders such as paranoia and suspiciousness.

In intermediate dementia, symptoms are found to be worsening. A person is not able to carry out daily activities such as dressing, bathing, feeding, etc. Some other signs are disrupted sleep, increasing confusion, agitation, aggressiveness, hallucinations, poor concentration, poor judgment, abnormal moods such as depression and anxiety. There may be increased risk of falls and accidents because of confusion and poor judgment.

In case of severe dementia, the symptoms become the worst. The person becomes completely dependent on others for daily activities. Due to disability of other movements such as swallowing, there may be increased risk of choking, malnutrition and aspiration. There may be complete short-term or long-term memory loss. Some other complications of severe dementia are problems with bladder control, malnutrition, pressure sores, dehydration, seizures and injuries due to falls or accidents.

Diagnosis of Dementia

Early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is very essential to seek an adequate medical treatment. Patient’s history is very important for a correct diagnosis. Physical examination is done to identify the signs of stroke or other disorders that can cause dementia. It is also done to identify the signs of other diseases such as kidney failure or heart disease. Some other investigations done for the diagnosis are cognitive and neuropsychological tests such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), brain scan such as CT scan and MRI scan and electroencephalogram (EEG). Some laboratory investigations such as complete blood count, urinalysis, blood glucose test, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and toxicology screening are performed to diagnose dementia as well as to rule out other conditions that can contribute to dementia.

Treatment for Dementia

The treatment of dementia focuses on improving the symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. It helps improve the quality of life of the patient. Many adults need ongoing medications for some chronic disorders such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes and prostate enlargement. Certain medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors can be effectively used to slow the progression of dementia. As depression is common in people suffering from dementia, it can be treated using antidepressants. Therapies such as occupational therapy or physical therapy are found to be effective in treating the people with dementia. These therapies help improve mobility and activities of the patient.

In a nutshell, dementia is a very serious disorder of brain that can affect your entire lifestyle. However, you can prevent it by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes having a balanced diet, doing regular exercises, by quitting smoking and overcoming alcoholism.

By Reshma Jirage
Published: 11/27/2008