FAYETTEVILLE--The Islamic call to prayer echoed through the parish hall of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville....
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Despite the fact it is the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s currently has no cure. Named for German physician, Alois Alzheimer, the disease was described first by him in 1906. The number of people with this brain disorder is growing rapidly.
Since Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, it causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior that are severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Added to that is the fact this disease isn’t just about losing your memory. It’s also a progressive and fatal disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is so prevalent these days that it has surpassed diabetes to become the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
Even more chilling facts about Alzheimer’s:
The fact that people are getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at much earlier ages now if perhaps most surprising. Last year over 500,000 people under 65 years of age were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Even more shocking, some of those were in their 20’s and 30’s.
Alzheimer’s Disease – The Causes
Though our brains naturally change as we get older, aging like the rest of our body, the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s shows far greater changes than usual.
To begin with, consider that the brain has 100 billion neurons (nerve cells). Every nerve cell communicates with a lot of other nerve cells to form networks. These networks each have special jobs to do. There are networks for thinking. Some are used for remembering and learning. Some networks work to help us hear, see and smell, while still other networks control our muscle movement.
The nerve cell networks can each be compared to a tiny factory in the sense they need to take in supplies and generate energy. They need to do construction and get rid of waste. They also need to process and store information.
In people with Alzheimer’s the nerve networks cell factories quit working correctly for some reason. When one section of the system breaks down, it produces a cascade effect and soon other parts have problems as well. The cells eventually can no longer do their job and die.
Two prime suspects are thought to cause these problems, even though scientists don’t completely understand the process.
While most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more than is usual. Starting with areas important in learning and memory and then spreading to other regions, the plaques and tangles tend to form in a predictable pattern.Somehow, it’s believed, these plaques and tangles block communication among nerve cells and disrupt activities that cells need to survive.
Alzheimer’s Disease Warning Signs
The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a list of warning signs for Alzheimer’s Disease. They include the following:
For a more complete explanation of the warning signs, visit The Alzheimer’s Association’s website.
It’s important part of caring for your health to learn about Alzheimer’s, what signs to look for and how it affects people and keep up with the latest health news. Considering the fact that younger people are getting this disease, it’s never too early to learn about Alzheimer’s!
If you notice that you are unable to work as long as you did previously, or if the cost of doing shift work is finally starting to wear on your health, you could be experiencing shift work sleep disorder or SWSD. This complaint might mean that you are increasingly sleepy-eyed through the daytime but unable to sleep while fighting the urge to sleep on the job when working the night shift. Here are some things that you can do in order to treat the symptoms.
The most obvious remedy is to try to change your work schedule to hours that are more sociable. By working at night, you are upsetting your body’s internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, which regulates itself with the rising and setting of the sun to recognize when it is time to wake and sleep respectively. Shift work pushes your body into an abnormal state of working when it should be asleep and sleeping when it would ordinarily be awake. This is the reason that you feel sleepy during the night and then are unable to drop off during the day although you are extremely tired. Therefore, if feasible, it is in your best interests to have a chat with your work supervisor to see if shift changes can be made.
Here are some sleep strategies for shift workers that you may like to try. If you are unable to alter your working schedule, there are several other actions you can take to minimize the effects on your body. When you are working, avoid drinking the likes of tea, coffee and other caffeinated beverages to keep yourself awake. Even though the caffeine can behave as a stimulant to some folks, the effects are short lived and you will in all probability feel even more tired and lethargic after the original buzz has worn off. Caffeine also dries out the airways, which could lead to sleep apnea syndrome and snoring when you finally try getting some sleep. As an alternative, try to drink natural fruit juices or even plain water. Additionally, ask your physician about any natural supplements you could take while working to keep yourself alert.
Shift work sleep disorder may additionally mean that you are sleepy-eyed during the day, even if you use this time for relaxation before your work shift. If you have narcolepsy, which is believed to be caused by the brains inability to adapt to normal sleep wake cycles, you may notice that you are doing things without remembering, or having vivid daydreams while you are not in sleep mode. Your body may also be in a slight state of paralysis when you are trying to waken, which is an indication that shift work sleep disorder may be your problem.
Maintaining a record of your work schedules and sleep patterns is ordinarily enough information for your doctor to make a correct diagnosis. Nevertheless, for ongoing sleep issues or if an underlying sleep disorder is suspected, you might be asked to maintain a sleep diary in which you keep a record of your sleeping habits. You should additionally try to maintain a regular sleep schedule, even on your days off or at weekends. If you believe they may be helpful, ask your doctor about medications such as Ritalin or Melotonin. It is important that you do not try and self diagnose your problem as it might be something more than a shift work sleep disorder.
Stretching exercises are recognized as a necessary part of any fitness training and physical activity; many muscle and joint injuries have been prevented this way. This is not the only thing that it is important to remember if you intend to carry our fitness programs.
Ok so none of what I have said so far is a secret but you would be amazed how many people do not do it but were you aware that you should also continue this stretching at the end of a workout as the muscles are warm and more flexible.
Although a twenty second stretch is sufficient before a routine, if this increased to a minute per movement there is a considerable increase in the flexibility of the muscles and limbs.
Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position; and, do it repeatedly which is more appropriately termed bouncing while in a position. Some people have injured themselves because they extend beyond their limits and do not hold the stretched position for a few seconds before returning slowly. Always start with the easiest exercises first until you have warmed up sufficiently to carry out the more difficult ones and ensure that all the muscle groups are warmed before you start training.
A neck workout is as important as the rest of your body and is quite easy, only requiring pressure from the palm of the hand as it rests against the forehead which can then be repeated at the side of the head and the back. If you carry out regular stretching prior to fitness training you will be surprised just how flexible your body becomes and it will increase your ability to perform certain training. Workout only to your capabilities and not that of others so do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it; increase your limits slowly and listen to your body. Remember there will be days when your body will perform better than others; this is quite normal and should be expected as even top sportsmen have good and bad days so why should you be any different. Fitness training everyday can be punishing for the muscles and does not allow them to heal and grow so try to leave a day between workouts. Aerobic exercises are the best for you because they will improve you cardiovascular system, improve your stamina, lung capacity and overall fitness; exercises like skipping running, rowing, swimming, stepping machines etc.
If you are someone that likes aerobic exercise then you should listen to music if possible as it helps to have a regular beat. If you are someone who has trouble relaxing or sleeping then you may want to consider stretching exercises as it is good for you even if you are not working out. Stretching is good for you even if you are not performing it before exercise and many people use it for relaxation purposes prior to sleep.
To get more info on stretching exercises go to Rowing Exercise Machine as well as Fitness Instructor Courses