The Seven Stages of Alzheimer's Disease

It's quite normal, though perhaps a bit jarring, to see your grandma or grandpa begin to have memory problems. They might forget your phone number, or have to think twice while recalling a childhood memory. But when should you worry? When do the memory troubles signify something more disturbing, like Alzheimer's disease?

It's important to understand and educate yourself about so many things in life, but particularly something as devastating as watching a loved one succumb to Alzheimer's. Knowing what to expect at each stage of the disease can go a long way toward making it easier for you and other family members to contend with.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are seven stages of Alzheimer's, but not every person with Alzheimer's will exhibit all the signs and some of the signs might be missed by friends and family who chalk them up to simple aging, senile dementia, or grandpa being grandpa.

Here are the seven stages and what to look for in each stage.

The first stage is really not a stage at all. This is when grandma or grandpa has no signs of memory loss or any other signs of Alzheimer's.

The second stage of Alzheimer's might look to family members like normal signs of aging. Since we all lose a little of our memory as we get older, this stage really looks like nothing more than normal aging.

The third stage of Alzheimer's is characterized by what the Alzheimer's Association calls mild cognitive decline. It's at this stage that a doctor might see some signs of Alzheimer's and, depending on the patient, might even be able to diagnose early-stage Alzheimer's. In this stage, your grandma or grandpa might have trouble remembering the name of someone they just met, or read something and retain very little of what they've read. They might struggle for words or names in a way that's obvious to others. But generally in this stage, it might still seem that your loved one is just suffering normal effects of aging.

It's really in the fourth stage of Alzheimer's that family and friends, and doctors, might begin calling what looked like basic aging memory complaints something more, and it's when the classic signs of Alzheimer's become apparent. These symptoms or signs include forgetting current events or recent experiences; an impaired memory of childhood, personal experiences and the like; and having trouble with basic daily tasks like paying bills, planning menus or completing an errand list.

It can be hard to distinguish between the fifth and sixth stages of Alzheimer's. In these later stages of the disease, simple daily tasks become extremely difficult to perform. In the former stage (the fifth stage), a patient might have a hard time recalling for a doctor their address, schools they attended, or even their phone number. They might choose the wrong clothing for the season or occasion they are dressing for, or they will be confused about the date, season, or day of the week. It's easy at this stage to consider these problems normal relative to aging, but experts say it's important to consider they might be signs of Alzheimer's.

In the sixth stage of Alzheimer's much more cognitive ability is lost. It's hard for grandma or grandpa to recall their personal history (though they will usually know their name at this point); they might have difficulty recalling their spouse's name (but they will generally still recognize faces); they need help with toileting and other bathroom and personal care duties and will experience disruption in sleep and wake cycles. It's also in this stage that there's a risk of your loved one wandering off and becoming lost and there's the potential of them becoming delusional or having hallucinations.

Finally, the seventh stage of Alzheimer's is arguably the most difficult for everyone involved. In this stage, your loved one might lose the ability to speak, or respond to their environment. You might think to bring grandma's favorite ice cream to her, but she could likely forget she even likes ice cream.

Alzheimer's disease can be a frightening thing for you and your loved one. But knowing and being able to identify the stages of Alzheimer's is important.

About the Author: Dr. Beth Paxton is a general health practictioner providing helpful information for families and patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

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Natural Health Supplement

Although ideally we should be able to get all of our essential nutrients from a balanced diet, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do this in reality. Busy lifestyles, overly processed foods, and other factors all contribute to the need for a natural health supplement in order to keep yourself in top health.

Even a diet full of fruits and vegetables will not necessarily deliver optimal levels of essential nutrients, as some of the most vital nutrients are destroyed by the cooking process. The foods we eat are also becoming less nutritious due to the use of artificial fertilizers and other changes in the way food is grown, shipped great distances, and stored.

More Essential Nutrients Needed

To combat these nutritional deficiencies, we can eat more organic produce, take natural health supplements, and look for other natural sources that have retained their healthy food value and essential nutrients. One such discovery is a fruit called the Mangosteen from Southeast Asia. Rich in antioxidants, the juice from this fruit can be taken as a natural health supplement to replenish some of the vital nutrients our bodies need to stay in optimal health.

Antioxidants promote natural growth and regeneration at the cellular level, and fight the damage that can lead to serious illnesses including cancer. In this way, our bodies are better able to heal themselves, and prevent problems from developing in the future.

Mangosteen Juice, The Hottest New Vital Nutrient

Mangosteen is just one example of an anti-aging natural health supplement that can be researched and purchased online. With all the natural health supplements available now, it is worth doing some investigating to discover the latest research findings, find out what health supplements are recommended for your specific ailments, as well as improve your understanding of how holistic medicine works and what it can do for you.

Your health is the product of your lifestyle, including your diet, exercise routine, adequate rest, and includes your mental state as well. As you learn more about natural medicine and natural health supplements, you will also likely discover ways to improve your ability to relax and take better care of yourself in more ways than one.

Do some reading and explore your options for better health using natural health supplements, vital nutrients and healing methods that have been derived from centuries of use in a variety of cultures. Decreasing your dependence on medications for pain, sleep problems, depression, stomach ailments, and more, are just some of the potential rewards for pursuing more natural approaches to health and wellness.

Make your health a priority now, and improve your chances of avoiding more costly and complicated problems down the road. Look for ways to include essential nutrients in your diet. The steps you can take are well worth the investment, and will help you create and maintain a better quality of life for years to come.

About the Author
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Threat Associated with Bird Flu

Influenza virus is usually of two types- A and B. Type A can cause more severe illness than the type B. Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds and caused by type A strains of the influenza virus.

Avian influenza occurs naturally among birds. They are of different subtypes like H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 according to the protein type they combine with. But the circulating avian flu is caused by the subtype identified as H5N1, and it has crossed the species barrier and has infected humans as well.

Although the risk from avian influenza is generally low to most people, there continues to be a number of confirmed cases of bird-to-human transmissions of avian influenza. Most cases of avian influenza infection in humans have resulted from contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated with secretion or excretions from infected birds.

Till now, there is no evidence that the bird flu can be easily transmitted between humans, but there is some evidence that the virus is mutating in ways that will lead it to become a worldwide threat.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans cause similar symptoms to other types of influenza like, fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications. The fatality of the infection will depend mostly on the state of the immune system of an infected person.

Till date, a specific anti-avian influenza vaccine for humans is not readily available. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. have suggested that the anti-viral drug Tamiflu or Oseltamivir Phosphate is the effective one for the treatment of H5N1 infection. It belongs to a group of medicines called Neuraminidase inhibitors, and it attacks the influenza virus and prevents it from spreading inside the body.

Generally, Tamiflu is highly effective in treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 1year of age and older with the flu, whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two. It can be taken to reduce the chances of getting the flu in people aged 13 and older who have spend time with the infected person.

Since flu is a viral infection, it should be treated with anti-viral medicine and Tamiflu is one of them. Being Neuraminidase inhibitors, Tamiflu treats the cause of influenza infection by inhibiting the critical neuraminidase protein on the surface of the virus. With online buying option, you can buy Tamiflu online, as it is safe, time and money saving method. Online pharmacy will give you free online consultation and discount on cost price so that you can save up to $80 when you order this drug in bulk amount.

Apart from Tamiflu, another widely prescribed anti-viral drug is amantadine. It is used to treat the infection caused by type A strain of influenza virus. Relenza is another anti-viral drug which is used to treat the cases of H5N1 infection. These are the medicine that attack the virus and prevent it from spreading inside the body. Since the virus has mutating capability, no one knows when the virus will become resistant to the existed anti-viral drugs. In this prevailing condition of uncertainty over the availability of effective anti-viral drugs, warrants a search for alternative preventive measures to mitigate the intensity of the bird flu pandemic.



About the Author
Emily Purles is an associated editor to the website http://www.checkflu.com, a Roche Tamiflu Online site, is committed to provide visitors with complete information on Roche Tamiflu, Treatment of Influenza, Tamiflu, Influenza, Avian Influenza,H5N1 Virus, Human Transmission, Bird Flu, Mutating Virus, Neuraminidase Inhibitors, Oseltamivir Phosphate, Treatment of Flu, Types of Influenza virus and other related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at Emily.purles@gmail.com

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Lower Diabetes Risk

Fiber from Whole Grains May Lower Diabetes Risk

The type of fiber found in whole grains and many vegetables -- called insoluble fiber -- may help prevent diabetes by improving the body's use of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin, a small study suggests. The findings, published in Diabetes Care, add to evidence linking cereal fiber to a lower diabetes risk.

Since a decline in insulin sensitivity precedes type 2 diabetes, people may help lower their diabetes risk by getting more insoluble fiber, Dr. Martin Weickert, a researcher at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal who led the study told Reuters Health.

There are two main types of fiber -- soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material, and it's believed to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. Foods like oatmeal and beans, as well as apples, berries and certain other fruits are high in soluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve, passing through the digestive system largely intact. It's been unclear why, in some studies, diets high in insoluble fiber have been linked to lower diabetes risk, Weickert said.

To investigate, his team had 17 overweight women spend three days on a diet that included a bread enriched with insoluble fiber, and another three days eating a similar, but low-fiber, bread.

After a few days on the fiber-rich bread, the women's measures of insulin sensitivity improved, the researchers found.

It's best, Weickert noted, to get fiber from its natural sources, namely plant-based foods. But since most people fall far short of the recommended fiber intake -- 20 to 35 grams per day -- fiber supplements might be a reasonable "second choice," he added.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, April 2006.

Noni Juice Might Lower Smokers' Cholesterol

Claims that it can ward off any number of ailments have helped boost annual sales of Tahitian noni juice into the billions, and now a new study suggests the drink may, in fact, help lower cholesterol.
But skeptics note that the small study -- like most others looking at the product -- was funded by the maker of the juice, and they are calling for a larger, independent clinical trial.

The findings were to be presented Thursday at the American Heart Association (AHA) annual conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, in Phoenix.

"Are the findings a reason for people to drink noni juice? I don't think that there is an answer to that," said Dr. Stephen Barrett, a retired psychiatrist and founder of Quackwatch, which has investigated the unfounded claims of noni juice distributors in the past.

While not dismissing the idea that the juice, made from the bumpy fruit of the Polynesian noni plant, might have some heart-healthy effects, Barrett added, "You'd want to have someone who's independent, at some point, do the study."

The study's lead researcher, Dr. Mian-Ying Wang of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, defended her team's work. She pointed out that the study was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled effort that met the standards of the college's Institutional Review Board.

Wang drinks noni juice daily. She claims it helps her feel more energized and concentrate better, and has even thickened her hair. "I do recommend it," she said, "and several of my coworkers drink noni juice for their cholesterol -- it controls it very well."

Noni Juice does have an ancient history among the peoples of the South Pacific, where Wang said, "it has been used for over 2,000 years as a traditional medicine." She said her previous research has found the juice does contain a very high level of disease-fighting antioxidants.

However, the bitter-tasting beverage has had a more checkered history in the United States, with some distributors having claimed it cured everything from arthritis to cancer to AIDS. In 1998, unsubstantiated claims led attorney generals in Arizona, California, New Jersey and Texas to levy a $100,000 fine against one major noni juice maker, Utah-based Morinda Inc., ordering it to cease making such claims.

Morinda owns Tahitian Noni International (TNI), which funded Wang's study. However, according to the company's Web site, the company now claims only that the juice is "rich in antioxidants that promote wellness." They go on to say that "TNI and its distributors do not claim that noni cures cancer or any other ailments." In a statement, TNI said its global sales had reached $3 billion by 2005.

In the Illinois study, Wang's team compared blood levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) in 132 smokers. Twenty-six of the participants drank a harmless placebo mixture while 106 drank one ounce to four ounces daily of TNI's brand of noni juice (mixed with grape and blueberry juice for palatability).

Wang said the study focused on smokers because their cholesterol levels tend to be higher than those of nonsmokers, and they are at higher risk for heart disease.

At the end of the month-long study, noni drinkers saw their total cholesterol drop from an average of 235.2 mg/dL to 190.2 mg/dL, while their triglycerides declined from 242.5 mg/dL to 193.5 mg/dL.

Although the data was not included in the heart association meeting data, Wang said levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol showed a "trend toward decreasing" in noni drinkers, while levels of HDL "good" cholesterol rose 17 percent to 20 percent.

However, not everyone was impressed with the findings. Dr. Jeffrey Galpin is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles who has investigated claims made by noni juice distributors in the past.

Like Barrett, he said that the remedy "may well have benefits, but somebody -- and not the company -- is going to have to do studies that are well-controlled with no conflict of interest."

He also pointed to one small, independent study that found that overindulgence in the juice could actually be dangerous. "A couple of people used this juice for a few months and drank a ton of it -- one of them ended up needing a liver transplant and the other had some kind of related hepatitis," he said.

He and Barrett also noted that the four-week study says little about the juice's ability to benefit users over the long term.

Then there's the juice's expense.

"If there are antioxidants in noni juice, prove to me that it's worth $35 for 24 ounces -- instead of just eating some [antioxidant-rich] blueberries," Galpin said.

Barrett agreed, noting that drinking three to four ounces of noni juice a day would cost consumers the same as taking a prescription statin medication, "which we know works." Beyond that, Barrett said, "we know that if you simply eat a healthy low-fat diet, your cholesterol level drops really fast."

Galpin also questioned the AHA's decision to promote the small, company-funded study in its press kit for this week's meeting. "That shocked me," he said.

But Dr. Barbara Howard, vice chairwoman of the AHA's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism Council, defended the association's choice. "There's a huge focus on these kinds of supplements nowadays, and the AHA has made it clear that these are all basically unproven and need a lot more research," she said. "This [choice] doesn't in any way reflect our judgment of the quality of the study."

According to Wang, skeptics may soon get what they wish for, anyway.

"Based on this data," she said, "I'm going to submit a [proposal for a] bigger clinical trial to the AHA, to try and get funding." At the same time, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is currently recruiting participants for its own federally funded, phase 1 clinical trial focused on the juice's effectiveness against cancer.

By E.J. Mundell
HealthDay Reporter

Cancer Diet - Minerals

A cancer diet needs a good balance of minerals because minerals are needed by all cells for proper function. Patients are often found to be mineral deficient, so this is an area of the diet that needs particular attention.

There are two classes of minerals. Macrominerals, such as the well known calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and phosphorus, and microminerals, such as boron, chromium, copper, iron, iodine, germanium, sulfur, silicon, vanadium, zinc, manganese and molybdenum.

The good news is we will get most of the minerals we need, provided we are eating a diet based on a wide variety of fruits and veggies, with the addition of nuts, seeds and grains.

Where we can get in to trouble is that minerals are washed out of soils with constant rain, and modern fertilizers don't usually contain the wide variety of minerals we need. Organic gardeners usually use rock minerals on their soils and this results in organic produce have a much higher and broader range of minerals.

Germanium is one micromineral that cancer patients are often low on. It is essential for immune function and is critical to tissue oxygenation. Cancer grows rapidly where there is low oxygenation of cells. Germanium is found in broccoli, celery, garlic, onions, rhubarb, sauerkraut and tomato juice as well as aloevera and ginseng.

Iodine deficiency has been linked to breast cancer in more than one study. Seasalt contains iodine and a variety of minerals rather than the isolated highly processed iodine additive in table salt. Asparagus, garlic, lima beans, soybeans, sesame seeds all contain natural iodine along with the nutrients needed for good absorption.

Large amounts of brassicas eg brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower, along with peaches, pears and spinach can block absorption of iodine, so ensure there is a balance of iodine rich foods in your diet.

Selenium has been linked to cancer. Selenium and Vitamin E work together to attack free radicals. Selenium is critical for pancreatic function, and pancreatic enzymes are critical to the bodies ability to fight tumour activity. This mineral is generally found in meat and grains, however countries such as New Zealand and much of America is known to have selenium deficient soils.

As there have been several studies showing that good selenium levels have significantly reduced the risk of cancer, this is one mineral you want to have enough of.

Food sources that should be included frequently in a cancer diet are: brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, brewers yeast, chicken, kelp, onions, salmon, seafood, tuna, wheatgerm and whole grains. Garlic, chamomile, ginseng and parsley are all easy to use concentrated forms that can be added to the diet daily.

A couple of warnings:

Be very careful about self-dosing with minerals as several of them will block absorption of others if the dose is too high.

Again, eating a variety of foods, with particular notice taken of those that have high mineral levels is the safest way to go. If you wish to explore mineral supplementation further, talk to your naturopath or nutritionist. But whatever you do, don't ignore the importance of these vital elements to your well being.

Article by: Marilyn Bennett

Diabetic Recipes

Have Diabetes, But Enjoy Quality Food? Try Diabetic Recipes!

Having diabetes certainly limits some of the food you can eat, but with the right diabetic recipes you can still enjoy fine food. Sometimes, it is hard to know what foods are safe for you to eat. For your safety, you and your dietitian should work together to design a meal plan that's right for you and includes foods that you enjoy. A diabetes diet meal plan is a guide that tells you how much and what kinds of food you can choose to eat at meals and snack times. A good meal plan should fit in with your schedule and eating habits.

Keep in mind that while many diabetic recipes are fairly simple and fast to make, some diabetic recipes may be more complex and take longer. The right meal plan will also help keep your weight where it should be. It is important to gather the right diabetic supplies when planning your diabetic recipes. Whether you need to lose weight, gain weight, or stay where you are, your diabetic recipes will be sure to help.

Some tips on finding tasty Diabetic Recipes.

Fortunately, there is almost certainly to be a diabetic recipe of your favorite food. For example, because of the high sugar content of most desserts, many diabetics felt that they would have to give them up. However, there are many diabetic recipes for desserts that will be safe for people with diabetes to eat. There are also many diabetic safe breads, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and any other food category you can think of. If you have diabetes and don't want to give up your favorite foods, try a safe diabetic recipes instead such as a diabetic cake recipe, free diabetic recipe or diabetic cookie recipe.

About The Author

Mike Yeager
Publisher

http://www.a1-recipes-4u.com/

Foods to Fight Disease

When it comes to food, we can't ignore the facts - or the science. You need a healthy diet for a healthy life.

Research shows a healthy diet could help or prevent a number of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. And that number keeps growing as researchers learn more about how nutrition affects your health.

What You Should Know

Adopting a disease-fighting diet is easier than you think. When you shop, choose fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Avoid foods high in sugar and fat.

Here are some tips for arming yourself against disease with good-for-you foods:

Follow the Food Guide Pyramid

This guide tells you what foods to include in your diet each day and in what portions. It shows you how to have a balanced diet by eating foods from all the basic food groups: milk, yogurt and cheese (two to three servings; one cup of milk or yogurt would be one serving) meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts (two to three servings; one serving would be two eggs, ½ cup of tuna fish, or about ½ of a skinless, cooked chicken breast) fruit (two to four servings; one serving would be a medium-sized apple or banana, ½ cup of canned fruit, or ¼ cup of dried fruit) vegetable (three to five servings; one serving would be ½ cup of raw or cooked vegetables or one cup of raw, leafy vegetables, such as spinach or lettuce) bread, cereal, rice, and pasta (six to 11 servings; a slice of bread, ½ bagel or English muffin, or ½ cup of pasta would be a serving)

Think colour

When it comes to fruit and vegetables, eat lots of deep-coloured produce. Oranges and dark berries, like blueberries and cranberries, are especially rich in natural plant chemicals that can protect you against diseases like cancer and heart disease. Orange and dark green vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach are also rich in these plant chemicals.

Remember fibre

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables will give your body extra water and fibre, which will help keep your digestive tract clean and healthy. Beans, bran, whole-grain breads and brown rice, and high-fibre cereals are also good sources of fibre.

Make good bacteria your friend

Fermented foods like yogurt are especially good for you as you get older because they contain "good" bacteria that keep your digestive tract healthy. Check food labels for these bacteria.. The good bacteria in these foods also fight the bad bacteria that can enter your body through spoiled food and make you sick.

Eat fatty fish

Your body needs some fats to stay healthy, and the fats found in fish like salmon and tuna are good for your heart. Fish also provides a rich source of protein without the large amount of unhealthy fat you get from red meat.

Try soya

Eating about one to two ounces of soya protein daily can help lower cholesterol and unhealthy fat in your diet and protect you from heart disease. You can find many different soya products, which come from soyabeans, in your food store. The most popular are tofu, soya milk (in different flavours), soya burgers and hot dogs, soya ice cream, soya nut butter, and soya flour.

Drink plenty of water

To stay healthy, drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Pay special attention to drinking enough because your thirst decision dulls with age, and remember that if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.

Don't abstain if you don't have to

Beer and red wine, in moderation, are another rich source of plant chemicals. This means no more than one glass of beer or red wine a day for women, two for men.

Following a healthy diet, along with regular exercise, will prevent you from gaining weight, which is important for good health. Losing 10 percent of your body weight, for instance, could be enough to lower your cholesterol. Choose healthy foods for a longer and healthier life!

Don't lose out, watch this space for regular updates!

About the Author

Jon Wickham is the owner of Mabels…Maintaining Bygone Times, containing numerous articles thoughtfully researched mainly for the older person. You may access these articles by visiting http://www.mabels.org.uk/ - You will learn about the best tips to improve your health, fitness, finances, safety as well as information on nostalgic topics, places to visit & leisure & lifestyle.