The Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

You’re in your home of many years, walking down the hall to a bedroom, but before your reach your destination you realize that you don’t remember where you are or where you’re going. You suddenly lose your feelings of safety and security, and your life no longer feels like your own. You become a victim of an unknown force. What is it? It is the first terrifying sign of Alzheimer’s disease. This disease has become a part of my grandmother’s life and coping through the different stages has been a difficult situation. Although it is an endless battle, there is help available.

Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist, first described Alzheimer’s disease or A.D. in 1906. A.D. is the most common cause of the progressive loss of intellectual abilities, know as dementia. It is a devastating and incurable disease that chiefly affects the elderly. It is already a major public health problem and it will become an even greater problem as the number and proportion of the elderly population increases.

My grandmother was diagnosed with A.D. in 1993. Prior to her diagnosis, we noticed that her memory was deteriorating quite rapidly. She would forget names of family member, the proper names for things, such as the mail box, which she would call the post office, and she would forget her normal every day tasks.

“I wish someone would help me with my memory,” my grandmother said when she became frustrated one day. It was heart breaking because there was nothing we could do to help her. Finally when her memory became really bad and she started having terrible mood swings we decided to take her to the doctor. The diagnosis wasn’t a total shock because in the back of our minds we expected it, but it was still a pretty hard blow to all of us. Now it was time to prepare for a very long battle.

As my grandmother entered the moderate stage, the battle had truly begun. Her mental state worsened, and it was clear that A.D. was taking over her life. It was eerie how the disease progressed and how it changed this loveable and caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend into a confused, hateful and temperamental woman.

This brave woman became terrified of everything. Holiday socials with the family could no longer be held at her house because large numbers of people set her off into a frenzy. By this time she had forgotten who some of our family members were, such as the ones she only saw a few times a month. It was a hard situation because we knew that someday when would forget us all.

Besides the deterioration of her memory, confusion was the most noticeable symptom, during this stage. One day as I was sitting with my grandmother in her home she began saying, “When are we going home? I want to go home.” I tried to tell her that she was home, but she looked at me angrily and said, “This isn’t my home.”

With the confusion, came the inability to make decisions of any kind, and handling the finances were out of the question. She simply became a child allover again, and it was sad because you could see the fear and uncertainty in the eyes of someone who used to be so strong and brave.
Although the pain and the hurt ruled our lives, we knew that we couldn’t give up so we continued to put our faith in God and we prepared ourselves, as she entered into the advanced stage.

A few years had passed, and she was now showing signs of the advanced stage. Mental disabilities were obvious. By this time we had put my grandmother in a nursing home because she needed more care than we could provide.

Then the day came that we prayed would never come. She forgot who everyone was, even my grandfather. Now and then she would remember, but for the most part she only knew that we were family.

What scared me the most was when I noticed she had gone back to what seemed to be her early childhood. She acted like a defenseless five-year-old. My mom was talking to her and she said, “I want my mommy. I want to be with the kids.

Physical changes began to take place with my grandmother. She, at times was unable to control her bodily functions and she was sleepy all the time.

All we could do was watch her fade away into the oblivion of this disease. We couldn’t help her mentally and there was only so much we could do physically.

My grandmother had remained in the advanced stage for quite some time when she leaped right into the Latter Stage seemingly right before our eyes in 2003. Severe cognitive decline is the hallmark of the latter stage. My grandmother’s sense of confidence and dignity were lost. Depression over took her and communication grew impossible. She had trouble breathing and was put on oxygen. Soon after, she stopped eating and a feeding tube was put in. Then one night she drifted off to an endless slumber.

Alzheimer’s disease is devastating for everyone involved but you don’t have to face it alone. There are support groups, financial help, and it’s amazing how far a simple hug can go when your nerves have reached the end. For more information about this disease contact the Alzheimer’s association in your area or go to your local library. By doing this you will find that you are not alone in the endless battle.

The Emotions Behind Cutting

S. Hein said, “I don’t think anyone wants to cut when they’re being listened to.”  There is so much truth to this.  A person cuts because there is an underlying problem such as abuse or self-esteem issues or a combination of issues.  Cutting becomes an outlet to release these negative feelings and emotions.  If someone reaches out to them then that becomes their outlet instead of cutting.

Cutting is defined as making scratches or cuts on the skin with a sharp object that are deep enough to break the skin and cause bleeding. Approximately 2 to 3 million people in the United States self-harm.  This includes eating disorders and the numbers continue to increase.  READ MORE...

Don't Give Up On Us

Accept the fact that I am sick and I will show you that I’m still capable of many things despite my illness.  Ignore my illness and treat me as if I’m simply crazy or lazy and I will disappoint you countless times.  In the lives of those who are chronically sick acceptance and understanding means hope for a better tomorrow.  We’re not asking for you to throw us a pity party and we’re not looking to be saved.  All we want is to not be shunned for having an illness that we have no control over.  No one in their right mind would ask to have a chronic illness especially an invisible one like Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME or Lupus.  The only thing worse than having an incurable disease is having one that no one believes is real.  Not to mention one that has no effective treatment.  We didn’t choose these lives, but it’s what we were given and we’re learning to accept our fate and live our lives as best as we can.  Our goal is to keep living…keep surviving even though we’re faced with the thoughts of wanting to die on a regular basis.  We don’t want to give up, so please don’t give up on us. 

Cure Insomnia by Relaxation

Cure Insomnia By Relaxation

By: Philip Jubb

Insomnia cures by relaxation have been popular since before man invented fire. We can trace them back, certainly in the case of China, for many thousands of years. It has only been in the last few years that we have been able to confirm the efficiency or otherwise of the Insomnia cure by relaxation.

Insomnia itself is a pernicious affliction bringing with it misery and despondancy. Many sufferers of Insomnia and other sleep disorders lay there night after night staring into the dark checking the alarm clock every five minutes and worring about the effects of sleep loss on their performance during the coming day. Getting more and more tense and finding relaxation ever more difficult.

How can we use relaxation to help to cure insomnia? One of the first stops for the sufferer looking to cure Insomnia by relaxation or any other way is the doctors surgery. This is an excellent idea as a physical checkup will reveal wether or not there is a physical reason for the Insomnia or just the need to relax. The drawback is that if the doctor finds no physical reason for the Insomnia he is likely to reach for his prescription pad.

The drawbacks here are well known. Unbeliveably simply to cure insomnia you could also suffer addiction, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, personality changes, memory impairment, impaired concentration, poor judgment, mood disturbances, and in extreme cases irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure. The list goes on and on. A safer insomnia cure may well lie in the direction of lerning relaxation, a more natural remedy.

This is the reason why drug companies can afford large scale advertising such as TV ads and big internet ad campaigns. They know if they can get a hold of you once, they will trap you and continue to make money off of you for years to come. Their mission is to program you. Whenever you have sleep problems, they want you to think about their products.

Used to cure insomnia and many other ailments for thousands of years relaxation rechniques are becoming more and more popular with main stream health care professionals to cure insomnia. As a cure for insomnia you need to practice relaxation regularly , notice the experience of the sounds of the simple things in life.

Look into what causes your need for relaxation. When you discover the ways you create stress, you can look for ways you to relax and avoid these stress creators.

Plan to cure your insomnia - You need to consider the timing of your relaxation. It should be daily. Perhaps a weekend is better suited to a night out so that you don't have to wake early the next morning for work or during the night for the bathroom.

Try relaxing music. Keep your favorite relaxation CD at the office, in the car, or wherever you'll need it most. Certainly by the bedside.

Walk a while. If you have at least ten minutes to spare, walking is one of the best relaxation techniques. I have a dog and we walk as often as we can. Pounding the streets or woodland paths is an excellent way of getting rid of frustrations, relaxing, and ultimately, when gently tired, I can can think much more productively.

Exercise - Find a form of exercise you will enjoy - yoga and tai chi are great for relaxation. Schedule in relaxation time every day - This could be for as little as 30 minutes a day or one hour away from the office during lunch time.

Get into yoga. This type of exercise puts an emphasis on relaxation and breath control. Could have been designed to cure insomnia by relaxation. Practise this at least twice a day, perhaps on waking and when you go to bed. This will train your unconscious mind to be able to quickly take you into abdominal breathing and hence relaxation.

A massage is also a great way to relieve stress from the body and ease insomnia. Its great fun and as long as its not your partner doing it :) It's very conducive to relaxation.

I will make a bold promise to you right off the bat: I will change the way you think about sleep forever.

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Author Bio

Philip Jubb

THE Insomnia Solution

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Hair Loss in Women, Could Stress Be the Culprit?

Hair Loss in Women, Could Stress Be The Culprit?

By: Melanie Vonzabuesnig

Have you ever noticed that when a person feels stressed-out, their hair often looks frazzled and fried? Or that a depressed persons' hair often looks dull and lifeless, as if to match the way they feel. This is no coincidence. Our hair reflects our emotional state. There is no denying that stress affects the condition of our hair and can ultimately lead to hair loss.

Stress causes actual physiological changes in our body. These changes throw off our entire equilibrium, and affect every system of our body. Hair is very sensitive to any disturbances or changes within our body. If the disturbance is severe or prolonged the hair growth cycle becomes disrupted, causing excessive hair loss and delaying new growth.

Healthy hair growth is dependent on an intricately balanced hormonal system. An over or under production of certain hormones is a common cause of hair loss. When our body perceives stress, our glandular system responds by producing additional stress hormones.

Our body is well equipped to handle stress as long as there is plenty of time to recover between incidents. Unfortunately our busy hectic lifestyles provide little, if any recovery time between stressful events. This type of chronic, cumulative stress causes harmful effects to the body. Hair loss is often the first symptom.

Cortisol is one of the main hormones involved in combating stress. Too much or too little cortisol can cause hair loss. Cortisol is produced from the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands can become dysfunctional trying to keep up with the demands of stress. Any adrenal gland disorder can lead to hair loss.

Another stress hormone involved in hair loss is corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). When stress is perceived, CRH signals the sebaceous glands to produce excessive oil. This oil called sebum creates a waxy substance on the scalp, making it difficult for new growing hairs to permeate. Excess sebum can create weak, thin, slow growing hair and hair loss.

Long-term, chronic stress weakens the entire immune system. When the immune system is suppressed the body is less able to fight off bacteria, yeasts, parasites, viruses, and other invading pathogens. This produces a hazardous environment within the body. Under these conditions the hair often responds by falling out.

Stress can also cause the immune system to lose its ability to turn off when it is no longer needed to fight off invasions. An over-activated immune system can trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions and inflammatory conditions. Hair loss is a symptom of many of these types of conditions.

Stress is known to decrease the release of acid in the stomach and to impair digestion. Hair loss is a symptom of gastrointestinal disorders such as Chrons and Celiac. When the digestive system is not functioning properly we may not absorb the nutrients needed to support hair growth. Large amounts of vitamins, minerals and proteins are secreted in the urine before they have a chance to reach our scalp. Extreme stress depletes important nutrients such as selenium and zinc. A deficiency of these nutrients can lead to hair loss.

Stress hinders proper circulation. Muscles become tense and stiff, restricting blood from flowing to the scalp. The scalp depends on blood flow to bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, and to remove toxins and environmental pollutants from the scalp.

Cumulative stress can cause cells to age faster and to eventually stop dividing. Hair is formed from cells at the base of each follicle. These cells multiply and differentiate to form each individual strand of hair. Cellular regeneration must occur in order for new hair to form.

Stress is a major factor in many of the medical conditions in which hair loss is a symptom.

Acute stress, when dealt with effectively has no negative effects on hair growth. It is the chronic, cumulative, prolonged stress that is so destructive to our system. This type of stress causes hopelessness, anxiety, depression, insomnia and bad habits. Often the first place this harmful stress shows up is in our hair. Significant changes in hair can be a warning sign of stress that has gone out of control. Hair loss caused by stress responds well to natural therapies such as massage, aromatherapy or reflexology.

Author Bio

Melanie Vonzabuesnig is the author of
Hair Loss in Women... Getting to the Root of the Problem. She is passionate about empowering women with information and solutions involving female hair loss

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Living and Coping with Arthritis-How to Stay Active and Independent by Richard Clement

Living And Coping With Arthritis - How To Stay Active And Independent

By: Richard Clement

Arthritis pain can be frustrating. Nagging and crippling arthritis pain can continue day after day. How much happier would you be if you could stop your arthritis pain right now and feel great all day? Knowing the nature of the disease can really bring you the right answers.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions. The word arthritis means "joint inflammation". When joints are inflamed, it causes pain and usually also limits movement of the joints that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain has a large impact on their life. Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 16 million Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000 hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Arthritis is not just an old person's disease. Nearly two-thirds of people with arthritis are younger than 65 years including nearly 300,000 children. Arthritis affects children and people of all racial and ethnic groups but is more common among women and older adults.
The disease can affect different parts of the body. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body's immune system activity. RA is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of RA differ from person to person but can generally include:

• Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling.
• Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning or after a long rest.
• Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand.
• Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not feeling well.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. OA commonly affects the joints of the fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more common in older people because they have been using their joints longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse. Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that require the same movement over and over are also at risk. Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in the joint later on. Excess weight can accelerate arthritis in the knees, hips and spine. The most common symptom of Osteoarthritis is pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling, warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of OA may greatly vary. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent.
These 2 forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, yet they often share a common symptom - persistent joint pain.

What are the causes of arthritis?

Primary OA is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then, years after the knee has apparently healed, he might get arthritis in his knee joint.
RA is an autoimmune disease. This means the body's natural immune system does not operate as it should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of inflammation and joint damage. RA is a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands, wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from other types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most frequently in the 30-50 age group, although can start at any age. It is strongly associated with the HLA marker DR4 - hence Family history is an important risk factor. The disease affects Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio.

Other conditions can also cause arthritis. Some include:

• Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually affects the big toe.
• Lupus , in which the body's defense system can harm the joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.
• Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of the liver can cause arthritis.

What can you do about it?

Some people may worry that arthritis means they won't be able to work or take care of their children and their family. Others think that you just have to accept things like arthritis.
While there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much can be done today to reduce pain and boost joint function. Learning how to manage pain over the long term is essential to maintaining a good quality of life. There are things you can do to keep the damage from getting worse. They might also make you feel better.Here are some simple things to do:

• Lose weight if you're overweight
• Exercise regularly for short periods. Going for a walk every day will help, too.
• Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.
• Avoid lifting heavy things.
• Don't pull on objects to move them-push them instead
• Use heat or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

The pain and disability that accompany arthritis can be decreased through early diagnosis and appropriate management.So if you have persistent symptoms lasting more than several days - go see your doctor. The doctor will examine you and may take x rays (pictures) of your bones or joints to decide if you have arthritis and what kind you have.
After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will help with the pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

The good news is that now there is a way to stop your pain with a medication. Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling (inflammation). It represents a huge breakthrough in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis. Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach.Celebrex doesn't cause the stomach bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might.

You always can visit my site, www.e-drugstore.ws/arthritis.html to find all the information about coping with arthritis burden.

Author Bio

Richard Clement is an online publisher dedicated in helping online users getting appropriate and effective medical care. Visit my site www.e-drugstore.ws/arthritis.html for more info.

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The Walk to Freedom by Sarah Manners

The Walk to Freedom

By: Sarah Manners

This is the moment four-year-old Reece Wilks dreamed of. His mother Jan arrived to walk him home from school for the first time since pioneering treatment meant she could leave her wheelchair at home.

The mother-of-two, Jan Wilks was once crippled by Multiple Sclerosis. Thanks to a revolutionary stem cell treatment she is now able to walk Reece to his classroom door.

This summer Mrs Wilks, of Stockbridge Lane, Page Moss, had a controversial medical procedure in a private clinic in a desperate attempt to keep her MS at bay. Within hours she was on her feet and free from pain. Three months on, Mrs Wilks's health is going from strength to strength and she can do the school trip to Beechwood Primary School with Reece unaided.

The Benefits

Of the treatment Mrs Wilks, 45, said: "I am feeling great. Everything about my health seems to have improved so much. It is the small things that mean so much to me - the little victories. My legs aren't perfect but I can stand for longer and hang out my own washing on the line. I am not in pain, I feel stronger and I am not sleeping all the time. I can play games with the children. I have more patience and energy. Sometimes I catch myself walking upstairs and can't believe the treatment has worked so well. The kids are made up with me. I feel normal again. I am back at work and everyone says how well I look because all the pain in my face has gone."

One of the highlights of the summer was a family holiday in Cornwall where Mrs Wilks was able to build sandcastles with her sons Reece and Daniel, 12, sit on the beach and go out for the evening with husband Paul.

Treating Multiple Sclerosis

When Jan Wilks was diagnosed with MS in 2000, her condition had no treatment or cure and doctors said it would eventually cripple and then kill her. Her husband, Paul Wilks, 40, spent hours on the internet searching for alternative treatments and discoveredstem cell therapy was being used elsewhere in the world to help slow the progress of diseases such as Parkinson's, cancer and MS. But the expensive procedure was unfortunately not yet available in the UK.

The Wilks family were preparing to sell their home to pay for treatment in Holland when colleagues at the Asda store in Huyton stepped in to help, raising more than £13,000.

Stem Cells - A Controversial Therapy

Stem cells are the building blocks for every tissue and organ in the body. They have the ability to grow outside the body and can be transplanted to produce tissue regrowth in patients with tissue degenerating diseases.

The cells can be taken from a variety of sources, including unborn foetuses - but this makes stem cell therapy controversial because it raises medical ethics issues. Stem cells used to treat Jan came from umbilical cords which would have otherwise been destroyed. Her treatment - which took just a few hours - saw cells put into her body via a drip, and an injection into the spine to repair damage.

This treatment has increased the quality of Jan's life dramatically, not only is she able to walk unaided but has gone back to work and has been able to spend more quality time with her family thereby increasing the quality of their lives as well.


Author Bio

Advanced Cell Therapeutics Ltd. (ACT) is a biotech company specializing in providing safe, easy and ethical access to the latest in Stem Cell Therapies. Based in Zurich, ACTs mission is to provide access to safe and ethical treatments which target the causes as well as the symptoms of degenerative disease and aging.

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