Archive for the ‘Disease’ Category
March 16th, 2010 | 
Author: Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel disease that attacks individuals at a time
in their lives when life should be “good”. Alzheimer’s sinister advancement
in the human brain reduces a loving, caring grandma or grandpa into
a person who does not recognize the people they love the most.
The duration of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from as little as 3
years to 20 years. Memory and reasoning skills are usually the
first sign of the disease. But the disease will continue to
progress and other cells die in different regions of the brain.
The person who is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s will need complete
care. The cruel results of this disease is that even though an
individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function
result in death.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease
in that the individuals retain their memory. The memory is
affected in these disorders but not to the level of those
patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. Patients who are diagnosed
with frontotemporal dementia retain their ability to carry out motor
performance activities.
For example: If a patient who has Frontotemporal dementia is a house painter
They may very well retain their ability to paint. The problem that is associated with
this dementia is primarily personality problems. However manual dexterity
remains in tact. The person with this disorder very seldom will get lost
or wander off as is the case with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the most commonly diagnosed form of progressive dementia. As in Alzheimer’s, there is a progressive decline in brain functioning. There are however additional features that are observed:
- Changes in alertness and attention
- Lethargy, such as frequent drowsiness
- Parkinson’s motor skill
The build-up of Lewy bodies which are bits of alpha-synuclein protein is considered the
cause of this disease. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein accumulation is also linked to Parkinson’s disease. There is a similarity between the symptoms of DLB ,Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The similarities that exist between the different forms of dementia can make it difficult for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
This disease is a rare degenerative disease that is always fatal. This disease affects about one person in every one million people worldwide. Symptoms usually start around the age of 60. Ninety percent of people who have this disease die within 1 year of diagnosis. Memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination and visual problems are early symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia disease after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is also a chronic, progressive disease that results when nerve cells in a part of the midbrain die or are impaired. These disturbances in the control centers of the brain cause the symptoms of PD.
Some of the same types of alpha-synuclein protein that is found in patients diagnosed with Lewy bodies are also found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. These findings suggest to researchers and Doctors that either DLB is related to these other causes of dementia or that it is possible for an individual to have both diseases at the same time.
For more Alzheimer’s Disease information Treatment Options, and support resources. Please visit http://www.alzheimersdiseasetips.com for helpful tips. Be sure to read the article on Alzheimers and stem cell research
Author: Linda J Bruton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rates
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There is growing concern about the link between cosmetic sun bed use and the rising incidence of skin cancer in Scotland. This issue was highlighted at the Scotland Against Cancer conference last year at which a case was made for thorough regulation of sun bed operators. It was felt that tighter controls could have a positive impact on skin cancer prevention efforts.
Individuals and organisations with an interest in skin cancer prevention have continued to express concern about rising sun bed use and the effect this may have on levels of skin cancer which is the fastest rising cancer in Scotland, and a particular problem in the West of Scotland. The risk of skin cancer is related to lifetime exposure to ultraviolet light and intense exposure to such light is the most dangerous to the skin. For example, too much time spent in the sun on holidays abroad or excessive time spent in the sun on the occasional hot day in Scotland, constitutes this type of exposure.
Sun bed use also provides a form of intense exposure to ultraviolet light. Just one session a month will double the average individual’s annual dose of ultraviolet radiation. Sun bed use is on the rise in Scotland and there is now a significant body of evidence to suggest that the sunbed industry suffers from a lack of regulation. Cases of malpractice by operators have been documented in a survey by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS). In particular there is evidence that children, who are especially sensitive to ultraviolet light, are now regularly using sunbeds. Just one day of burning as a child increases the risk of getting skin cancer as an adult.
Tanning in General
Tanning is your body’s natural protection against sunburn; it’s what your body is designed to do. Developing a tan is your body’s natural way of protecting against the dangers of sunburn and further exposure.
Whether you tan outdoors under the sun or indoors in a tanning facility, the tanning process is the same. This natural process takes place when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. Light is composed of energy waves that travel from the sun to the Earth. Each energy wave can be identified by its length in nanometres, (nm), which is one-billionth of a meter. Light can be broken into three general categories: infrared, visible and invisible. Ultraviolet light is in the invisible light spectrum. There are three kinds of ultraviolet light: UVA, UVB and UVC. Tanning itself takes place in the skin’s outermost layer, the epidermis. There are three major types of skin cells in your epidermis: basal cells, keratinocytes and melanocytes. All play different roles in the tanning process. Everyone has roughly the same number of melanocytes in their bodies–about 5 million. Your heredity determines how much pigment your melanocytes can produce. Melanocytes release extra melanosomes whenever ultraviolet light waves touch them. This produces a tan in your skin.
Skin Types
I. – Always burns; never tans, pale white skin; “Celtic”
II. – Burns easily; tans minimally; White skin
III. – Burns moderately; tans gradually to light brown average; Caucasian skin
IV. – Burns minimally, always tans well to moderately brown; Olive skin
V. – Rarely burns; tans profusely to dark; Brown skin
VI. – Never burns; deeply pigmented; Black skin
Effects of UV
There is a body of scientific research demonstrating that the production of the activated form of vitamin D is one of the most effective ways the body controls abnormal cell growth. Moderate exposure to sunlight is only way for the body to manufacture the vitamin D necessary for producing activated vitamin D.A 1997 report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU/day of vitamin D for women aged 50 years or younger, 400 IU/day for those aged 51-70 and 600 IU/day for those older than 70. Moderate exposure to sunlight helps the body manufacture vitamin D and eating salmon or mackerel and drinking fortified milk or juices is a step in the right direction. The amount of vitamin D formed in a given period of exposure depends on the colour of your skin–that is, how rich your skin is in melanin. Melanin absorbs UV radiation. Therefore it diminishes the production of vitamin D. The darker a person’s skin, the longer he or she has to be in the sun or exposed to UVB radiation to form a significant amount of vitamin D.
Like melanin, sunscreen also absorbs UV radiation and therefore greatly diminishes the skin’s vitamin D production. For example, sunscreen with a PDF of 8 diminishes a person’s ability to produce vitamin D by 95%. In addition, winter sunlight in the northern latitudes does not have enough UVB radiation to produce vitamin D in the skin leading to diminished vitamin D levels in winter.
Moderate exposure is the most responsible way to maximize the potential benefits of sun or UV exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight. Avoiding sunburns is critical to moderation. Experiencing painful sunburns before the age of 20–not lifetime exposure to the sun–is the factor associated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
History and Facts of Indoor Tanning
Europeans started tanning indoors with sunlamps that emitted ultraviolet (UV) light as a therapeutic exercise to harness the positive psychological and physiological effects of exposure to UV light. This practice became widespread in Europe, particularly in the sun-deprived northern countries by the 1970s–several years before the first indoor tanning facility was established in the UK. Although indoor tanning is considered a cosmetic exercise the roots are therapeutic and many people do in fact visit tanning facilities for that purpose.
The indoor tanning industry has grown substantially in 25 years. Today it is a strong part of the small business community. And each year about 10 percent of the public visits an indoor tanning facility. This business is estimated to be worth £3 billion worldwide.
The indoor tanning industry’s position is summed up in this declaration:
“Moderate tanning, for individuals who can develop a tan, is the smartest way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight.”
The indoor tanning salon industry claims to be part of the solution in the ongoing battle against sunburn by teaching people how to identify a proper and practical life-long skin care regimen. No legislation covers indoor tanning just the following government guidance:
“Like the sun, sun-beds give out UV rays that can increase the risk of skin cancer. The more you use sunbeds, the greater the risk is likely to be and when the tan fades, the skin damage remains. If you’re under 16 you should never use a sunbed, as young skin is more delicate and prone to damage than older skin. Even if you are over 16 you should be very careful if you choose to use one. You should also really avoid sunbeds altogether if you:
a. – have fair or freckly skin
b. – burn easily
c. – have a lot of moles
d. – have a family history of skin cancer
e. – use medication that increases your sensitivity to UV.
If you do decide to use one, limit yourself to two sessions a week, over a period of 30 weeks, every year. But remember that if you don’t tan in the sun, you won’t tan any more easily on a sunbeds.”
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer has a 20- to 30-year latency period. The rates of skin cancer we are seeing today are most likely the result of bad habits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s that were based on ignorance and misinformation about sun tanning. In those days, many people still considered sunburns an inconvenient right of spring, a precursor to developing a summer tan. People believed that sunburns would “fade” into tans, and so tanners hit the beaches with baby oil and reflectors. Severe burns were commonplace. Today we know how reckless and uninformed that approach was. What’s more, the photobiology research community has determined that most skin cancers are related to a strong pattern of intermittent exposure to ultraviolet light in people who are genetically predisposed to skin cancer. These skin cancers are not simply the result of cumulative exposure. Once again, this suggests that heredity and a pattern of repeated sun burning are the primary factors associated with skin cancer.
Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes). An increased risk of melanoma has been associated with people who have moles or repeated sunburn experiences as a child or young adult. Most melanomas occur on non-sun-exposed parts of the body. For example, melanoma is infrequently found on the face. Although melanoma accounts for only 5% of all newly diagnosed skin cancer cases each year, it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity.
Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one’s body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this disease. As a nation high in Celtic heredity Scotland needs to consider these facts.
Scotland’s Skin Cancer Epidemic
Scotland may be experiencing a skin cancer epidemic with the incidence of skin cancer tripling in the last thirty years. There were over 7,000 cases of skin cancer diagnosed in 2001, up from 2,200 in 1975 and higher rates of melanoma incidence have been reported in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.
In the age group 20-39 years, malignant melanoma is the second most common cancer in the UK. This is an unusually young age distribution for an adult cancer and emphasises the importance of its prevention and early treatment to avert the potential loss of many years of life.
On average, about 20 years of life are lost for each melanoma death in the UK.
The NHS and a number of cancer charities have most clearly linked the steep rise in incidence to changing cultural perceptions of a tan as desirable and the steep rise in the number of people taking holidays in the sun.
Tanning grew significantly in popularity through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and as skin cancer may take 20 or more years to develop; the high rates of skin cancer can be expected to continue for many years to come.
Mortality from skin cancer, particularly melanoma, it’s most aggressive form, has not fallen despite major public health initiatives to raise awareness of sun protection and skin cancer. Attempts are being made by health promotion agencies to tackle this growing problem through encouraging people to change their behaviour on holiday and convincing Scots to take care on sunny days at home.
Another source of ultraviolet light is that derived from sunbed use and medical evidence on the risk of sunbeds to health is increasing. Sunbeds have been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including eye damage, photodermatosis, photosensitivity, premature skin ageing and skin cancer.
Ultraviolet rays from sunbeds have been classified as Group 2A carcinogens by the International Association for Research into Cancer (IARC) that is, “probably causing cancer in humans.” Recent analyses from studies in different countries over the last ten years have shown that the use of sunbeds increased the risk of cancer and the risk appears to be higher if use begins early in life.
Furthermore, in the UK a significant study from the British Medical Association found that sunbed users were 2.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer. The risks appear to be higher in the young.
A model has been developed to estimate human ultraviolet exposure to both sunlight and sunbeds, and this information was used to predict the contribution of sunbeds to melanoma mortality in the UK. The results of this study indicate that sunbeds cause 100 deaths from melanomas each year in the UK
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended in 2005 that no one under 18 should use a sunbed and that there is a need for guidelines or legislation to reduce the risks associated with sunbed use. WHO argues that growth in the use of sunbeds, combined with the desire and fashion to have a tan, are considered to be the prime reasons behind the fast growth in skin cancers in developed countries. The highest rates are found predominantly in those countries where people are fairest-skinned and where the sun tanning culture is strongest: Australia, New Zealand, North America and northern Europe. The people of Scotland are particularly fair-skinned and therefore at relatively high risk of developing skin cancer.
Risk Associated with Sunbeds Use
Despite common claims, radiation from sunbeds is no safer than exposure to the sun itself. The emission from many sunbeds is greater than that from the midday sun in the Mediterranean. The UVA portion of the emission spectrum can be 10-15 times higher than that of the midday sun.
A 1986 survey found that people believed that sunbeds cause less damage to skin than outdoor tanning. This is partly because of the marketing of sunbeds as a way of getting a ’safer’, ‘controlled’ tan. Positive health claims are still being used to market cosmetic sunbeds.
In 2005 the action of ultraviolet light on skin to synthesise Vitamin D in the body was used in an advertisement funded by The Sunbed Association to promote the use of sunbeds as healthy. When a consumer complained about the inference, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld the complaint, in recognition of the fact that health professionals do not recommend sunbeds as the main source of Vitamin D, because of the risk associated with skin damage and cancer.
This was also the conclusion of the recent American Academy of Dermatology conference in May 2005. This conference reviewed evidence and recommended that Vitamin D supplements are a safer, cheaper and better alternative to raise Vitamin D levels than ultraviolet light, especially for the frail elderly and possibly for dark-skinned people with low sun exposure. Because of the documented causal relationship between skin cancer and sunbeds, many international and UK health organizations have publicly recommended that sunbeds should not be used, or their use should be limited and regulated to protect public health.
Lack of Regulation
There exists no relevant legislation other than the general Health and Safety guidance, mentioned earlier, to control the use of sunbeds.
The HSE has issued guidelines and cosmetic sunbed premises and machines are subject to the requirements of health and safety legislation in Scotland. Control of exposure is governed by the general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation 1999.
To comply with this legislation, duty holders are required to assess the health and safety risks caused by their work activities which will include the risks to employees and customers from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and put in place measures to control these risks as far as is reasonably practicable.
Specific guidance has been issued by the HSE on Controlling the Risks from the Use of Ultraviolet Tanning Equipment and can be found at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg209.pdf
Some businesses operate under a voluntary code of conduct agreed by the Sunbed Association. The Sunbed Association claims 20-25% of cosmetic sunbed premises are in membership. Consequently, with those numbers, voluntary arrangements can only have limited effect.
Although the Sunbed Association provides training schedules, there appears to be no requirement for training associated with the use of non-therapeutic UV radiation. The responsibility is on the provider to supply appropriate information that will allow potential clients to make an informed decision about whether or not sunbeds are suitable for their use. International legislation is diverse but it is significant that the need for regulation is recognized in France, Belgium, Sweden, Canada and the USA. European standards exist to regulate ultraviolet lamp emission strength and sunbed products.
The Case for Sunbed Salon Licensing
It is only within the last decade that public health authorities in Scotland have begun to highlight the health risks associated with sunbed use and in particular, the increased risk of developing skin cancer. In the past, many local authorities provided tanning facilities within their own leisure centres. The association of sunbeds with leisure facilities reinforced the perception that a tan is a sign of good health. Fortunately, over the last decade most sunbeds have been removed from local authority premises. In the main, this has been done because local authorities perceive this to be an action they can take to discourage the use of sunbeds for cosmetic tanning purposes, and to highlight the dangers associated with use.
In addition, the problem of skin cancer has often been viewed as a local community issue, with the subsequent onus on local authorities to take action. However, while the provision of sunbeds in local authority facilities has decreased, the number of commercial sunbed premises has increased.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns that some cosmetic sunbed premises are poorly run and offer little advice on the health risks associated with sunbed use.
A 2003 REHIS survey of 794 cosmetic sunbed premises in all 32 Scottish local authority areas identified a number of un-staffed and unsupervised premises and salons that were failing to check the age of customers or enquire about skin type or medical conditions which may deem sunbed use particularly ill advisable. In addition, the survey highlighted a number of salons that were failing to offer customers adequate eye protection.
Surveys in the UK and North America show that tanning salon operators typically show ignorance of sunbed risks and fail to enforce rules for using sunbeds.
The University of Dundee and Perth and Kinross Council in a joint study of privately operated premises in Tayside revealed the following major incidences of poor practice:
o 89% exercised no administrative control on the number of sessions/customer
o 81% failed to give adequate advice to customers
o 59% maintained no customer records
o 33% displayed no guidance to users
The recent change by many commercial operators to adopt more powerful UV lamps using shorter wavelengths has led to even greater concern amongst health professionals. An assessment by the Photobiology Unit at the University of Dundee Ninewells Hospital concluded that “all tanning units are potentially harmful and that the newer stand-up type has a much greater risk than has been generally appreciated.
Scottish Executive Proposal
Compel local authorities to issue licences regulating cosmetic sunbeds premises. Require providers of cosmetic tanning facilities, or equipment, to obtain a licence to operate from the local authority. The licensing conditions would be set so that local authorities could:
o Prevent the use of sunbeds by children
o Protect adults from over-exposure
o Ensure that sunbed users are supervised
o End the use of coin-operated machines
o Ensure that sunbed sessions are monitored and limited
o Provide health risk information in sunbed parlours
o Inspect premises
The proposal seeks to achieve a number of objectives. By providing health risk information it aims to ensure adults are equipped to make informed choices about the risks of sunbed use. The conditions of licensing would require staff to be on premises, which would help to prevent overexposure to ultraviolet light, especially by those who are more sensitive such as users with fair skins. Reduce the number of burns and accidents currently attributed to the misuse of unsupervised equipment and would drive up standards amongst operators. Premises not holding a licence would not be permitted to trade.
The lack of sunbed regulation in commercial premises and the damaging impact this can have, is best illustrated by example.
In the summer of 2004, two young boys aged 11 and 13 years old used unsupervised sunbeds in Stirling and were so badly burnt, they had to be admitted to hospital. Stirling Council environmental health officers were alerted to investigate the incident but because there was no legislation covering the regulation of sunbeds, action could not be taken against the salon for being un-staffed or for allowing young people under the age of 16 years to use a sunbed.
Impact of Licensing Scheme
It is anticipated that those businesses which could not meet a licensing requirement would be required to either invest in their businesses or be forced to cease trading. This would also eliminate the existence of coin-operated sunbed machines as well as the presence of un-staffed locations.
The cost of a licensing scheme must be balanced against the cost of reducing the harm caused by sunbeds. Although there would also be an administrative charge to operators of premises, in the long run the regulations would reduce the number of Scots – presently around 7,000 per year – who are being treated for skin cancer by the National Health Service.
Conclusion
Scotland needs to take action to tackle skin cancer and the public health message that sunbeds are potentially dangerous needs to be heard loud and clear. A system of licensing for sunbed salons could do for skin cancer what the health warning on packs of cigarettes has done for lung cancer.
It would introduce health controls in an otherwise very unregulated area, it would protect our young people and children from harm and it would raise public awareness of the dangers of skin cancer.
It is suggested that the voluntary regulation scheme is ineffective, and there may be a need for formal regulation in this area. Regulating sunbeds to ensure that children do not use them and to ensure that all users are aware of the risks associated with sunbed use, could be a major step forwards in the drive to control Scotland’s skin cancer epidemic.
Reference Material: (If you have a deeper interest)
1. Statistical Information Team Cancer Research UK (2006) ‘CancerStats, Malignant Melanoma-UK’Information available online at http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/
2. Spencer, J. & Amonette, R. Indoor tanning: risks, benefits, and future trends.
3. Solar and ultraviolet radiation. (IARCPress, Lyon, 1992)
4. Gallagher RP, Spinelli JJ, Lee TK. Tanning beds, sunlamps and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma,Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2005;14:562
5. Young AR, Tanning devices – fast track to skin cancer? Pigment Cell Res 2004;17:2-9
6. Karagas MR, Stannard VA, Mott LA, et al. (2002) Use of tanning devices and risk of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 94:224-6.
7. Westerdahl J, Olsson H, Masback A et al. (1994) “Use of sunbeds or sunlamps and malignant melanoma in Southern Sweden”.American Journal of Eepidemiology 140:691-9.
8. Diffey, B. A quantitative estimate of melanoma mortality from ultraviolet A sunbed use in the U.K.Br J Dermatol 149, 578-81 (2003).
9. WHO fact sheet : Sunbeds, tanning and UV exposure, March 2005, at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs287/en/
10. Gerber, B., Mathys, P. Moser, M., Bressoud, D. & Braun-Fahrlander, C. Ultraviolet emission spectra of sunbeds. Photochem Photobiol 76, 664-8 (2002).
11. Wester, U., Boldemann, C., Jansson, B. & Ullen, H. Population UV-dose and skin area–do sunbeds rival the sun? Health Phys 77, 436-40 (1999)
12. Autier, P. Perspectives in melanoma prevention: the case of sunbeds. Eur J Cancer 40, 2367-2376 (2004). Advertising Standards Authority- non-broadcast adjudication, 7September 2005, http://www.asa.org.uk
13. Lim HW, Sunlight, tanning booths and Vitamin D, J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52;868-76
14. British Medical Association- http://www.bma.org.uk
15. REHIS calls for Executive Action on Sunbeds, poor standards putting Scots at risk,November 2003
16. Ross, R. & Phillips, B. Twenty questions for tanning facility operators: a survey of operator knowledge. Can J Public Health 85, 393-6 (1994)
17. Moseley, H., Davidson, M. & Ferguson, J. A hazard assessment of artificial tanning units. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 14, 79-87 (1998).
18. Culley, C. et al. Compliance with federal and state legislation by indoor tanning facilities in San Diego. J Am Acad Dermatol 44, 53-60 (2001).
19. Moseley, H, MDavidson and J Ferguson. (1999) “Sunbeds and the need to know” British Journal of Dermatology. 141: 573-609
20. Royal Environmental Health Institute survey, November 2003 [cited in note 2].
21. NHS Scotland – Survey of Sunbed Salons in Scotland. Information collated by Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, 3 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7DH, November 2003.
Author: Colin Muir
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card
Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel disease that attacks individuals at a time
in their lives when life should be “good”. Alzheimer’s sinister advancement
in the human brain reduces a loving, caring grandma or grandpa into
a person who does not recognize the people they love the most.
The duration of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from as little as 3
years to 20 years. Memory and reasoning skills are usually the
first sign of the disease. But the disease will continue to
progress and other cells die in different regions of the brain.
The person who is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s will need complete
care. The cruel results of this disease is that even though an
individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function
result in death.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease
in that the individuals retain their memory. The memory is
affected in these disorders but not to the level of those
patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. Patients who are diagnosed
with frontotemporal dementia retain their ability to carry out motor
performance activities.
For example: If a patient who has Frontotemporal dementia is a house painter
They may very well retain their ability to paint. The problem that is associated with
this dementia is primarily personality problems. However manual dexterity
remains in tact. The person with this disorder very seldom will get lost
or wander off as is the case with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the most commonly diagnosed form of progressive dementia. As in Alzheimer’s, there is a progressive decline in brain functioning. There are however additional features that are observed:
- Changes in alertness and attention
- Lethargy, such as frequent drowsiness
- Parkinson’s motor skill
The build-up of Lewy bodies which are bits of alpha-synuclein protein is considered the
cause of this disease. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein accumulation is also linked to Parkinson’s disease. There is a similarity between the symptoms of DLB ,Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The similarities that exist between the different forms of dementia can make it difficult for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
This disease is a rare degenerative disease that is always fatal. This disease affects about one person in every one million people worldwide. Symptoms usually start around the age of 60. Ninety percent of people who have this disease die within 1 year of diagnosis. Memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination and visual problems are early symptoms.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia disease after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is also a chronic, progressive disease that results when nerve cells in a part of the midbrain die or are impaired. These disturbances in the control centers of the brain cause the symptoms of PD.
Some of the same types of alpha-synuclein protein that is found in patients diagnosed with Lewy bodies are also found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. These findings suggest to researchers and Doctors that either DLB is related to these other causes of dementia or that it is possible for an individual to have both diseases at the same time.
For more Alzheimer’s Disease information Treatment Options, and support resources. Please visit http://www.alzheimersdiseasetips.com for helpful tips. Be sure to read the article on Alzheimers and stem cell research
Author: Linda J Bruton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Credit card currency-exchange fees
When you find yourself living with pain every minute of every hour of every day, just getting up in the morning can seem like too much to ask. When you find it hard to remember the last time you weren’t in pain, it’s not unusual for fear and depression to take hold and drag you into a downward spiral that makes the pain even worse. Even on good days, exercising can still be the last thing you feel like doing.
There’s evidence, however, that exercise may be one of the best things you can do to help manage chronic pain. A recent (2000) study by Martin Hoffman found that moderate exercise reduced the amount of pain people suffering from chronic back-ache perceived they felt. Other anecdotal studies and reports have confirmed that sometimes, activity can work wonders.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE & PAIN RELIEF
Experts have suggested four possible reasons for the pain-reducing effect of activity. The first has to do with endorphins. These are chemicals your body produces naturally during exercise, which have the same kind of effect as opiates like morphine and codeine. Endorphins actually block the perception of pain, and create a general feeling of wellness, both of which are invaluable to someone with chronic pain.
A second reason is that regular activity helps to improve both the ease with which we fall asleep, and the quality of our rest once we do. Pain, can become more or less difficult to deal with depending on our resource levels. Most sufferers experience difficulty sleeping when the pain is bad, which can prompt another downward spiral. Something that helps us sleep better, means more energy and resources, which in turn, allows us to cope better with the pain we experience.
A third is that exercise helps release tension (see Exercise & Stress for an explanation of why). Tension, stress and frustration, as any sufferer of chronic pain will attest, increase pain levels. This means that anything that helps relax the body will also usually help reduce pain levels.
Finally, if the chronic pain occurs after an injury, targeted exercise can strengthen the muscles around the injury site, taking pressure off the injured tissue. Of course, the wrong kind of exercise can actually re-injure the area too, so it’s important to get professional guidance from a physiotherapist, or a personal trainer who specialises in rehabilitation work, rather than trying to go it alone.
USING EXERCISE TO HELP YOU MANAGE PAIN
An important disclaimer: this article is written assuming that, if you’re experiencing chronic pain, you’re already working with a healthcare professional to manage it (and if not, you need to be!) Check any suggestions you want to try with that professional, and follow their recommendations. Also, if an activity increases your pain levels, don’t do it. It’s OK to have muscles that are tired and slightly sore the day after. It’s not OK to experience any joint pain or sharp, stabbing pain during or after exercise, or anything that makes your chronic pain worse. If you experience any of these, seek advice from your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
That said, the most beneficial kind of exercise depends very much on the individual. One of Optimum Life’s key principles is that activity will always do more good if it’s something you enjoy. This is even more important when you experience chronic pain, when something you start dreading or tensing up about can quickly make your condition worse. Additionally, it helps if you choose activities that give you a good range of aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises. Good potential choices to start with include walking, swimming, stationary cycling, yoga or t’ai chi.
Finally, be aware that exercise will be most helpful for pain management if it’s one out of many tools you use. Medication, diet, visualisation, relaxation, acupuncture and biofeedback have all been shown to have positive effects on pain individually – but the best effects seem to come from taking a multi-disciplinary approach. Take time to research the different therapies available to you. There are a number of excellent pain management sites online – two of the more popular ones include The Chronic Pain Haven or The Mayo Clinic.
Chronic pain will never be fun to live with, but there are options available that make it more manageable. Give yourself the gift of being willing to try out different options until you find the combination that’s right for you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Meanwhile, until the next issue, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.
If you have any questions about this week’s article, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Otherwise, until next time, may every day bring you closer to your Optimum Life.
Copyright 2005 Tanja Gardner
Optimum Life’s Tanja Gardner is a Personal Trainer and Stress Management Coach whose articles on holistic health and relaxation have appeared in various media since 1999. Optimum Life is dedicated to providing fitness and stress management services to help clients all over the world achieve their optimum lives. To read more articles like this one, please subscribe to Optimum Fitness News at [http://optimumlife.co.nz/Newsletter]. To find out more about how you could benefit from online personal training, please visit http://www.trainerforce.com/optimumlife/ . To find out more about holistic fitness and stress management please visit [http://optimumlife.co.nz], or contact Tanja on tanja@optimumlife.co.nz.
Author: Tanja Gardner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty
The agony of finding out that you may be suffering from some form of heart disease is usually traumatic. Your doctor has just received the laboratory test results for the battery of tests that you have completed during your recent checkup. From what the results indicate, if you do not stop eating all those fatty foods that you love so much, you are going to require bypass surgery very soon. Do not worry that your quality of life will get worse since there are modern treatment plans that get you on to the road of recovery as long as certain lifestyle changes are made.
Living With Heart Disease
The first consideration is the type of heart disease you are suffering from. Is your doctor tracking your cholesterol levels? Or, is it something a lot more serious? The severity of your heart condition will shed a great deal of light on the kind of lifestyle you can have and how it actually affects you.
If the type of heart disease is currently a very mild form, you should be able to keep a lid on it with medication. But for many people in a state of denial, they will refuse to or do not like taking their medication since they would be admitting to the fact that they are handling with their heart problems well.
So if you have heart medication to take for your condition and you are too stubborn to take it, understand the consequences of this action. Is it better to take a couple of pills on a daily basis or would you prefer to have to go to the extent of requiring heart surgery? Surely no one wants to undergo heart surgery. So think carefully before rejecting medication. It is a lot easier to deal with than other more complicated treatment methods.
Getting adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis is another facet of living with heart disease. If the heart disease in your case is of the more serious kind, you may not want to overtax yourself. If you sit still all day long you have a higher risk of getting blood clots. So get off your butt and get some exercise. Start with brisk walking over short distances and gradually build up.
There are some more difficult aspects to having heart problems. One of them is giving up delicious fatty food and desserts. But then again it all boils down to whether or not you would like to prolong your life. There are trade offs in all situations. Nowadays there are so many more options though. Just a few years ago we could not obtain half the low fat option foods that are available today. Not only are they delicious, they are also healthier options.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about heart diseases and the Internet has many reputable websites. Some of the heart health websites host forums where you can communicate with other people suffering from heart diseases.
Living with heart disease is really just about taking your prescribed medication, ensuring that you eat in a healthy manner and remaining active. With research you will find all the information you ever need to know to manage your condition better.
The Progress Of Heart Research
Due to the debilitating effects of various forms of heart diseases, medical technologists around the world are working towards developing more effective treatment methods through heart research.The search for knowledge about what heart problem really is and the pursuit of solutions to use to prevent and treat the disease is extremely vital. There are many companies and organizations that either conduct a research, or support the cause for heart research.
Heart Disease Research Organizations
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of and find solutions for prevention of stroke and heart diseases. Its reach is worldwide and it concerns itself with all types of heart disease and stroke. The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease designs, implements and evaluates projects that educate people with regards to the risk factors for these illnesses and motivates them to practice good habits in the quest for reducing them.
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease operates from Buffalo General Hospital. There are several full-time and part-time staff members and they make use of contractors who have a background in communications, health care management and computer programming for heart research. During the past ten years of their existence the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease has built a very good reputation.
Another heart research organization is the British Heart Foundation. This organization is considered to be the British nation’s heart charity. The British Heart Foundation focuses in particular on three very important issues. They invest in pioneering heart disease research, support and care for heart patients and they provide essential information to assist people to reduce their risk of premature death from heart or circulatory related disease.
Harvard Medical School should also be mentioned. It is a center that concentrates its efforts on heart disease research. Harvard Medical School has been in the heart research arena for several decades. They have a vast amount to offer in terms of information and education regarding heart diseases: what it is, what its causes are, up-to-date research findings and many statistics.
Research into heart disease is the only solution that will help to clarify this disease throughout the world today. There is always hope that sometime, preferably in the near future, such research will show the way to completely avoid heart disease for everyone.
Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit heart disease cure to learn more about exercise and heart disease and other facts about heart disease.
Author: Cindy Heller
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax