Are Kid's Growing Bellies Increasing Their Odds of Alzheimer's?

Are Kid's Growing Bellies Increasing Their Odds of Alzheimer's?
The title question may be a bit of a stretch, but you only
need to connect a couple of research dots to get from
childhood obesity to reduced brain fitness in older age.

Belly Fat and Brain Fitness are Related

First, a recent meta-analysis from researchers at Johns
Hopkins University verified that the odds of getting
Alzheimer's and other types of dementia increase as you
gain weight. A meta analysis takes all previous studies on
a particular topic and looks at them together to improve
the statistical power over any one study by itself. This
particular meta analysis looked at all studies that
evaluated whether or not risk for Alzheimer's or other
types of dementia is increased in obese individuals.

Some studies evaluated obesity status of people in their
mid-forties, others looked at people in their mid-sixties
or seventies. In any case, obesity in mid-life or late life
increased odds of getting Alzheimer's disease or other
dementias anywhere from 10 to 30 years later. Importantly,
researchers controlled for socio-economic status, lifestyle
choices, genetic factors and other illnesses so that the
condition of obesity itself, seemed to be the culprit.

Adolescent Weight Problems Lead to Adult Weight Problems

The second dot to connect is that being overweight in
childhood dramatically increases the odds of battling a
weight problem throughout adulthood. So giving in to your
kids' demands for cakes, cookies and sugared cereals now,
is not doing them any favors down the road.

There are really two ways to pack on the pounds. One is to
make more fat cells, and the second is to store more fat in
the fat cells you already have. An important study from the
Karolinska Institute in Sweden, discovered that the number
of fat cells you will carry throughout your adult life is
really set during your adolescent years. After the age of
20, your number of fat cells will stay about constant.

Obviously, this doesn't mean that your weight is set after
age 20. You can still lose weight or dramatically gain
weight. It's not uncommon to gain weight in your 30s and
40s, as your activity level and metabolism slow down,
especially if your food intake doesn't change. You can
always lose or gain fat in the cells that you already have.
However, if you gain too much weight in adolescence, when
you are actively making more fat cells, you are going to
set yourself up for a tough battle for the rest of your
life. So as parents, we should do everything possible to
regulate our kids weight while it's still somewhat in our
control. If you connect these two lines of research, you
can see that increased weight gain in childhood predicts
increased obesity in adulthood; and increased obesity in
adulthood boosts your odds of Alzheimer's and dementia in
your 70s and 80s. There have not been any research studies
following kids all the way from adolescence to old age to
look directly at the relationship between childhood weight
and dementia, but they will come eventually. Personally, I
won't be surprised if these studies find increased odds of
dementia with childhood obesity.

It's difficult to think of our kids as old people, but that
is who they will become. We must think proactively and do
everything we can to boost their odds of life-long
cognitive success. If you have concerns about your own
children's weight, work with your pediatrician to design a
diet and exercise program and get it under control while
you still can. If you struggle with a weight problem
yourself, don't give up. The more effort you put in to
bringing your weight under control, the better your odds of
a fit brain down the road. Even if you only drop some of
the weight you want to lose, every little bit helps boost
those odds.

References: Nature (2008) Jun, 453(7196):783-7 Obesity
Reviews (2008) May, 9(3):204-18

----------------------------------------------------
Learn to control stress, improve your metabolism and boost
your cognition with the four cornerstones of Brain Fitness.
Visit http://www.BrainFitForLife.com for FREE Brain Fitness
resources.

Do You Recognize the 7 Signs of Premature Aging?

Do You Recognize the 7 Signs of Premature Aging?
Do you know someone who is aging too fast? Not premature
aging caused by disease, but instead caused by aging more
rapidly than we really should or more rapidly than we have
to. Do you know what it looks like when someone is aging
too quickly? Why is it that some people live a healthy and
vibrant life right up until the end and others suffer, and
worse yet accept it as normal?

One of the major reasons this happens to so may people may
surprise you. Let's start with the 7 Symptoms of Premature
Aging.

Shortness of breath (reduced lung capacity) Cold hands and
feet (poor circulation) Bad balance (falling is one of the
leading causes of death for the elderly) Sick too often
(poorly functioning immune system) Waking up tired too
often in the morning (poor sleep quality) Can't bend over
or touch your toes, etc. (lack of flexibility) Feeling weak
and tired (decreased muscle strength & low energy) I
remember a day in biology class when I learned that a frog
will sit in a pot of water while boils. As long as it's
heated gradually enough, he will just sit there until he
dies. I think that slowly debilitating symptoms sneak up on
us in much the same way, because they are so gradual. We
don't seem to realize that all we have to do is get out of
the pot.

How many people do you know who suffer from these symptoms
and don't even seem to realize they're aging prematurely?
Why do so many people have to suffer a severe set-back or a
loss of physical independence before they even realize
they're aging? There are 2 main reasons for this type of
suffering: lack of exercise and improper exercise. Millions
of people are suffering from this right now. Do you know
someone who is suffering a little more every day? Are you?

How Old Should You Be Before You Begin To Age Gracefully?
How would you like to look when you're 40, when you're 50,
60, 70, how about 80 or 90? With very few exceptions we
slow down and become weaker as we age and maybe, just
maybe, there is something we can do about it.

My Chinese Master began studying tai chi at the ripe old
age of four. His grandfather, a senior disciple
(protégé) of the great Yang Chengfu, began
teaching his grandson as soon as he was old enough to pay
attention. As a result, Master Cui Zhongsan is now 60,
moves like someone in his twenties, and looks about 20
years younger than he really is. I'll tell you a little
more about this in a minute. It's an amusing story about
childhood motivation.

Most of us don't enjoy the advantage of having a master as
a grandfather. I started when I was 40. While I was blessed
with a baby face that always made me look younger than I
was, I also suffered knee injuries in my teens that
required surgery. I've always been pretty active while at
same time I've often suffered minor injuries along with
frequent knee pain.

Now, 7 years later, my knee pain is almost non-existent,
I'm much more flexible, I have more stamina, and I feel
great. These are only a few of the reasons why I practice
tai chi regularly. When I first started I didn't practice
much unless I was in class - once, maybe twice a week. I
still felt better, and I wasn't feeling that bad to begin
with.

A couple of years before I became a disciple
(protégé) of Master Cui Zhongsan I injured my
feet running and couldn't practice for about 6 months.
Although a number of my friends are marathon runners, my
body doesn't seem to want me to run that hard. I usually
only run a couple of months out of the year so I can get
ready for the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July here
in Atlanta, Georgia. Because I don't run regularly, and
wasn't paying attention to what my body was telling me, I
ended up with a severe injury.

Through tai chi I've learned how to really pay attention to
my body and to stop before I injure myself. I used to think
I was just sore because I was a weekend warrior. Tai Chi
has taught me how to really pay attention to my body, and
it does this for everyone. Sometimes I still get sore, but
I don't seem to injure myself anymore.

I've found tai chi to be addictive because of the way it
makes me feel. So give it try; you might find you feel the
same way.

----------------------------------------------------
posted by John Crewdson - http://www.beginningtaichi.net
Experience Free Bursts of Tai Chi(TM) click here -
http://tinyurl.com/3n9zj8

Do You Recognize the 7 Signs of Premature Aging?

Do You Recognize the 7 Signs of Premature Aging?
Do you know someone who is aging too fast? Not premature
aging caused by disease, but instead caused by aging more
rapidly than we really should or more rapidly than we have
to. Do you know what it looks like when someone is aging
too quickly? Why is it that some people live a healthy and
vibrant life right up until the end and others suffer, and
worse yet accept it as normal?

One of the major reasons this happens to so may people may
surprise you. Let's start with the 7 Symptoms of Premature
Aging.

Shortness of breath (reduced lung capacity) Cold hands and
feet (poor circulation) Bad balance (falling is one of the
leading causes of death for the elderly) Sick too often
(poorly functioning immune system) Waking up tired too
often in the morning (poor sleep quality) Can't bend over
or touch your toes, etc. (lack of flexibility) Feeling weak
and tired (decreased muscle strength & low energy) I
remember a day in biology class when I learned that a frog
will sit in a pot of water while boils. As long as it's
heated gradually enough, he will just sit there until he
dies. I think that slowly debilitating symptoms sneak up on
us in much the same way, because they are so gradual. We
don't seem to realize that all we have to do is get out of
the pot.

How many people do you know who suffer from these symptoms
and don't even seem to realize they're aging prematurely?
Why do so many people have to suffer a severe set-back or a
loss of physical independence before they even realize
they're aging? There are 2 main reasons for this type of
suffering: lack of exercise and improper exercise. Millions
of people are suffering from this right now. Do you know
someone who is suffering a little more every day? Are you?

How Old Should You Be Before You Begin To Age Gracefully?
How would you like to look when you're 40, when you're 50,
60, 70, how about 80 or 90? With very few exceptions we
slow down and become weaker as we age and maybe, just
maybe, there is something we can do about it.

My Chinese Master began studying tai chi at the ripe old
age of four. His grandfather, a senior disciple
(protégé) of the great Yang Chengfu, began
teaching his grandson as soon as he was old enough to pay
attention. As a result, Master Cui Zhongsan is now 60,
moves like someone in his twenties, and looks about 20
years younger than he really is. I'll tell you a little
more about this in a minute. It's an amusing story about
childhood motivation.

Most of us don't enjoy the advantage of having a master as
a grandfather. I started when I was 40. While I was blessed
with a baby face that always made me look younger than I
was, I also suffered knee injuries in my teens that
required surgery. I've always been pretty active while at
same time I've often suffered minor injuries along with
frequent knee pain.

Now, 7 years later, my knee pain is almost non-existent,
I'm much more flexible, I have more stamina, and I feel
great. These are only a few of the reasons why I practice
tai chi regularly. When I first started I didn't practice
much unless I was in class - once, maybe twice a week. I
still felt better, and I wasn't feeling that bad to begin
with.

A couple of years before I became a disciple
(protégé) of Master Cui Zhongsan I injured my
feet running and couldn't practice for about 6 months.
Although a number of my friends are marathon runners, my
body doesn't seem to want me to run that hard. I usually
only run a couple of months out of the year so I can get
ready for the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July here
in Atlanta, Georgia. Because I don't run regularly, and
wasn't paying attention to what my body was telling me, I
ended up with a severe injury.

Through tai chi I've learned how to really pay attention to
my body and to stop before I injure myself. I used to think
I was just sore because I was a weekend warrior. Tai Chi
has taught me how to really pay attention to my body, and
it does this for everyone. Sometimes I still get sore, but
I don't seem to injure myself anymore.

I've found tai chi to be addictive because of the way it
makes me feel. So give it try; you might find you feel the
same way.

----------------------------------------------------
posted by John Crewdson - http://www.beginningtaichi.net
Experience Free Bursts of Tai Chi(TM) click here -
http://tinyurl.com/3n9zj8

Pregnancy and Your Feet: Adding Insult to Injury!

Pregnancy and Your Feet: Adding Insult to Injury!
I don't care if you are a size 2 or 12 when you get
pregnant, by the sixth month most woman are complaining of
some kind of foot and ankle pain. As a mother of three, I
can attest that every pregnancy was unique in its own way,
but one constant through them all was "Oh! My aching feet!"
and this is from a podiatrist. Let me share with you some
of the tricks of the trenches and recommendation from the
American Podiatric Medical Association that I learned which
helped me survive the pregnancy trauma to my feet.

As your waistline expands, that weight gain alters your
center of gravity and causes lordosis, also known as a sway
back posture. This change in posture puts abnormal stress
on your knees, legs and feet. The most common ailments seen
in pregnant woman are swollen feet (more like feeling like
they will explode), over pronation (flattening of your
arches), arch fatigue, ingrown toenails, and cramps in your
feet. Let's look at all of these a little closer and
discuss the causes and the remedies.

1. Swollen feet: Excess fluid accumulates in your feet due
to the weight and position of the baby in the womb. This
usually occurs in the third trimester. Tips for prevention
of swollen feet include: putting your feet up whenever
possible, uncross your legs when sitting, stretch your legs
frequently while sitting, wear wide comfortable shoes
(Crocs were my favorite), and measure your feet every month
and wear the appropriate size shoes. Foot size usually
increases at least a half a size per pregnancy and is
usually permanent after the first two. When edema is a
problem, try waist high maternity pantyhose. These saved my
life while I was still working and pregnant. Put them on
first thing in the morning so blood doesn't have a chance
to pool around your ankles.

2. Over Pronation: Your arch is flattening and rolling
inward while walking due to increased body weight and
hormonal ligament laxity. This can cause back, knee and
ankle pain as well as chronic arch fatigue. Tips for
prevention of excessive pronation include: choose
comfortable and supportive shoe gear that provide extra
support and shock absorption, avoid high heels especially
stilettos, and make your running shoes your best friend. If
this doesn't cure your pronation, over-the-counter arch
supports like Aetrex Lyncos can help support your arch and
get you through your pregnancy.

3. Arch Fatigue: Extreme stress or inflammation on the
plantar fascia, the ligament that holds up your arch occurs
due to excessive pronation and a pre-pregnancy flexible
flat foot. Ouch! Your arch is on fire and your heel feels
like someone stabbed it hen you get up in the morning. Tips
for prevention of plantar fasciitis: stretch before and
after any exercise, stretch daily when you get up in the
morning, do not go barefoot, and wear supportive low heeled
shoes. If this doesn't alleviate your arch pain, roll a
frozen water bottle in your arch twice a day and wear arch
supports mentioned above. If this does not do it, you may
need physical therapy to decrease your ligament
inflammation.

4. Ingrown Toenails: These are caused by excessive stress
from ill-fitting shoes. Face it, your feet are expanding
and so should your shoes. I wore my Crocs for the last
trimester of my pregnancy with everything. Comfort rules
and fashion goes out the window! Crocs Rx have enough arch
support to help with your arch fatigue and enough room to
avoid most ingrown toenails. If your toenail discomfort
does not subside with wider shoes, seek your podiatrist.
They can help! Remember that a pedicurist can give you an
infection, so better left to the professionals.

5. Cramps in your feet: These are caused by increased blood
volume during pregnancy and the high progesterone levels
which relax your blood vessels to prevent high blood
pressure. Relaxed and slack vessels can slow down your
circulation. Increased weight in your pelvis can compress
the veins reducing circulation to your feet. Tips for
prevention of cramps: increase circulation by rotating your
ankles and walking your cramps out. Stretch your calves
daily make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins to
ward off any electrolyte imbalances, and exercise. A walk
around the block can help even if your legs hurt!

While the joys of motherhood may be one of life's most
precious gifts, expectant mothers have to endure the rigors
of pregnancy before they can experience baby bliss.
Hopefully these tips from the trenches will help you
survive your pregnancy as they did mine.

----------------------------------------------------
Dr Marybeth Crane is a board certified podiatric foot and
ankle surgeon. Your feet should last a lifetime! For more
foot health tips, a copy of her FREE BOOK and
doctor-approved foot care products, visit
http://www.faant.com or read her blog at
http://www.myrundoc.com

Two Ridiculously Simple Ways to Catapult Your Energy Levels

Two Ridiculously Simple Ways to Catapult Your Energy Levels
As a health researcher and health activist, as well as the
host of the T.V. show Balanced Health, I get hundreds of
questions from people every month. Not surprisingly, the
most common question I get is "How can I have more energy?"

It is the biggest outcry of the adult generation "I WANT
MORE ENERGY!" That is understandable. Many infomercials
have approached the subject. So have the pharmaceutical
industry, designer coffee chains and specialty drink
companies.

What exactly is energy and where does it come from?

Webster's defines energy as the capacity of doing work.
Energy can be obtained "externally" or produced
"internally". Energy from the outside, or "external
energy", is what we add to our body to create a feeling
that allows us to "do work" as Webster's definition would
suggest. Some examples of external energy would be caffeine
or the herb Ephedra or Ephedrine. These substances work by
stimulating hormone glands, kicking them into high gear to
produce adrenaline. The adrenaline provides a window of
increased "work capacity."

Unfortunately, external energy provides a short adrenaline
rush that peaks and quickly dissipates. Many Americans
suffer this decline around mid-morning when their coffee
wears off. Caffeine restricts blood vessels, increases the
work load on the heart and decreases breathing efficiency.
It is also highly addictive. We have found that caffeine
affects some people more than others. It can make folks
jumpy and nervous, can impair focus and even cause
autonomic nervous system impairment. Ephedra or Ephedrine,
found in over-the-counter dietary supplements, works much
the same way but is a higher concentration, therefore
lasting longer. The abuse of Ephedra has caused many
heart-related deaths in the U.S.

There are external energy boosters that are healthy, like
Bee Pollen and Green Tea. But while healthy, they still do
not address the root of the problem and therefore are not
the final answer for energy. Herbs like Guarana, Cola Nut
and others are much like Ephedra and should be avoided as
these also stimulate the hormonal glands producing
adrenaline.

The second type of energy is "internal" energy -energy
produced inside your body. How is energy created in our
body? Energy in our bodies is catalyzed on a cellular
level, or simply put -created by our cells. In short, our
cells have two functions, to create energy and remove waste.

The reason why people have a lack of energy is because they
have too much waste and toxins in their cells and not
enough energy to remove it. As you may have already
surmised, the more waste and toxins in our cells the more
energy that is needed to remove them. Since we have a
finite number of cells, waste and toxins can win the war
and demand more energy than we have available in our body.
The result of this is we become toxic from the inability to
remove waste, and because of the overload, we are sapped of
energy as our cells work overtime to remove the waste
overload. It is a compounding problem and soon symptoms
arise like fatigue, congestion, irritability, dizziness,
mood swings, inability to focus and more. Ultimately, the
toxic build-up lends way to wayward cells that can colonize
and form the likes of cancer and other degenerative
diseases.

So How Do We Create More Energy?

For the vast majority of people the "dual-approach" will
work wonders on improving energy levels. The dual approach
is actually quite simple: remove toxins and deliver high
frequency units of energy to the cells. Yes, you can help
your cells do their job and return them to a wonderfully
healthy state and feel rejuvenated by the dramatic increase
in energy.

So how do we implement the "dual-approach"? One way, and
perhaps not for everyone, is to go on a dietary fast.
Fasting is an amazing way to rid toxins of the body. But
wait! Before you give up on this article give me a chance.
I will give some other simple solutions if you are
resistant to fasting.

If you fast, a great way to continue to put high frequency
energy units into the cells is by juicing dark-green, leafy
vegetables or berries. Typically, the first day or two of a
fast are the most difficult. Your body tends to get into a
rhythm after that and fasting becomes much easier. When you
end your fast, for the first few days eat only raw and
living food like vegetables, cold Avocado soup and the
like. For some people, fasting is a great solution. For the
rest of us, we have a simple alternative.

As mentioned earlier, the "dual approach" to increasing
energy is to rid the cells of toxic waste and to feed the
cells high frequency energy units. High frequency energy
units can also be described as nutrient-dense calories, or
calories that contain high levels of nutrition. I recommend
that you definitely engage in a high-quality cleansing and
detoxification program. There are many, many excellent
choices in the marketplace. But beware. There are also a
lot of market-driven, low-quality cleansing programs as
well. Visit my website below to find out more information
about how to choose cleansing programs wisely.

Secondly, if you can't juice dark-green, organic, leafy
vegetables on a daily basis, we recommend you take a high
quality super-food supplement every single day. The
nutrient-dense food that comes from juicing vegetables is a
tremendous source of cell-food and a source of abundant
internal energy. Again, there are many super-food
supplements in the marketplace. Look for those that use
organic produce and that use juice-extracts as opposed to
just vegetable powders. The juice is where the
phytonutrients are found. Visit my website below to find
out more information about how to choose super-food
formulas wisely.

Keep in mind, abundant energy does not necessarily happen
overnight. By cleansing and detoxifying and by ingesting
nutrient-dense food, your body will be removing waste at a
much higher rate and receiving more nutrition than what it
was used to. You will notice some changes in your body as
it relates to cleansing and some of these may not be
pleasant 'but they are necessary changes.

The vast majority of people who contact me ask me how they
can achieve higher energy levels. Energy deficiency is
rampant and is a symptom of a greater and far more
dangerous problem. Remember the "dual approach" to
increasing your energy levels. Remove waste from your cells
and feed the cells nutrient-dense foods.

----------------------------------------------------
Joe Costello founded Kylea Health in 1995. Kylea is a
well-respected nutritional company providing cutting edge
nutritional formulas servicing hundreds of thousands of
people. Joe is a health researcher, author, and hosts a
weekly health Television show. For more information about
Joe Costello and Kylea Health and Energy, visit
http://www.kylea.com

The Best Diet Plan with Low Cholesterol

The Best Diet Plan with Low Cholesterol
Your body is a result of what you eat; hence, it is always
emphasized on the importance of a healthy and nutritious
diet. The food stuffs are made of essential nutrients
responsible for the functioning of human body. Along with
them, certain other substances like cholesterol are present
which might have a detrimental effect on the body.

Cholesterol is a major factor for all modern day diseases
especially cardiac disorders. If an individual has an
advanced and elevated cholesterol level, he will be more
susceptible to heart complications. A higher concentration
of cholesterol in the blood sugar also threatens a danger
of heart attack. So, it is constantly advertised to lower
down the cholesterol and fat content in your diet which can
significantly reduce the danger.

There are certain medications available in the markets
which help to lessen the effects of cholesterol and
decrease the intensity. Still, your diet is the most
important aspect. According to research, a strict
vegetarian food pattern drops the cholesterol level by
almost one-third in a month. Fruits and vegetables have no
fat content and are low cholesterol foods whereas
consumption of meats and non-vegetarian foods increase the
blood cholesterol.

A substantial portion of vegetables like broccoli and red
peppers will be the best medication for a high cholesterol
level. In addition, a plethora of fruits and nuts along
with food items like soy milk, soy sausages, oat bran
cereals and bread constitute a healthy, low cholesterol
diet. These food products are good in taste and also
nutritious. Fruits are rich fiber sources and have multiple
functions in the body.

Fats are one of the major food groups and consist of
saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Nutritionists
suggest that if you are on a low cholesterol diet, your aim
should be to reduce the ingestion of hydrogenated fats by
7%. Also, you would need to cut down oil and other fatty
substances by 25-35%. For the best results, consume the
unrefined and crude form which would be greatly effective
compared to the pure and processed forms. Fish and fish oil
are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which leads to a
glowing skin along with lowering cholesterol levels. Sodium
intake in the form of salt should be narrowed down to
2400mg daily in a well planned diet.

Plan all the major meals of your day in advance to induce a
low cholesterol diet. Your breakfast should comprise of
oatmeal bread, fruits minced into small bits, soymilk,
vegetable margarine and jam. The breakfast should be
sufficient in quantity as it fulfils the major calorie
requirement throughout the day. Your lunch should be light
with a variety of choices like a fruit or a dessert and oat
bran bread. A low cholesterol dinner is ideal with fruits,
almonds, tofu and stir-fry vegetables. It is astonishing
but if one religiously follows a healthy food habit
consistently for a prolonged period, there can be
significant decrease in the cholesterol level which can be
around 29% in a single month.

----------------------------------------------------
Catherine Tyler is the professional freelance writer and
also the webmaster of http://www.lowcalorie-recipes.com .
Learn and enjoy the basics of Low calorie recipes for
weight loss including free weight loss recipe and healthy
tips.

Mom Thinks That Dad is Alive: Should We Correct Her? Alzheimer's and Memory Regression

Mom Thinks That Dad is Alive: Should We Correct Her? Alzheimer's and Memory Regression
As difficult as is to believe, much less accept, your loved
one has Alzheimer's. Between the diagnosis and the end of
the battle, will be endless puzzles, challenges, heartaches
and decisions. I have worked with numerous Alzheimer
patients, and my heart aches for you. That's why I want to
share some vital information with you. I know you want to
give the best care possible, and I also know that you will
not be able to resist correcting your loved one when they
say something that seems out of touch with your reality.

Resist it. Little by little, your loved one's memories
will be eroded. Literally, the last memory in will be the
first memory out; once that memory is gone, it's as if it
never happened. To be brutally honest, trying to correct a
statement that doesn't jive with your reality is cruel and
chips away at their dignity.

Before you decide to quit reading, let me explain.

Here is a very common example: Mom says, "I must get
dinner ready because your dad will be home from work soon."
Since your dad has been deceased for a number of years,
you instinctively remind your mom that dad is dead.

Let me pause here and say that response is normal because
we mistakenly believe that if we correct mom's
misconception, then she will snap back to reality.

That's our misconception no matter how good our intentions
are. Without realizing it, you have potentially done the
following harm:

At the least, you have embarrassed her. If her memory of
his death is gone, then it's as if she is hearing this news
for the first time. Imagine your devastation, if you
received the news that your mother died. Each time you
tell her that dad is dead then you are putting her through
the same emotions you would be feeling if you received the
news for the first time.

One of the most important things you can do is to preserve
her dignity. Her memory has regressed to a time when her
husband was alive. It's her truth. Since she has no
memory of her husband's death, it's as if you are not
telling the truth, even though it's your truth.

Okay, so what do you do? First you acknowledge (validate)
her feelings. You might say, "Yes, mom, we need to be
thinking about dinner." Then you redirect her attention.
"Don't worry about dinner, mom, we are going out to dinner
as soon as dad gets home. Why don't you go freshen up? Do
you still have that nice mauve lipstick? By the way, where
did you get that lipstick - I would like to get some for
myself. Do you think that shade would look okay on me, or
should I wear red lipstick?"

See where I'm going with this? You are being where she is,
and you have preserved her dignity while distracting her
from her worry. You might even say that dad has to work
late and is going to grab something at the diner. Whatever
you say to ease her concern or agitation has done no harm,
and in fact, has kept her from being traumatized. Chances
are, she won't even mention it again.....at least that day.

If your loved one insists on running to the store for
groceries, please don't remind her that she can't drive
anymore. In her world, she is perfectly capable of
driving. Either tell her the car is being serviced, or
tell her that the car has a mechanical problem that will be
fixed tomorrow. If worse comes to worse, there is a device
that you can use to temporarily disable the car, in case
she tries to drive it. (See the link to the Alzheimer's
Store)

Remember that they are in a different time and place; if
not now, it's a fact that they will be soon. Be where they
are, validate and re-direct, and you will preserve your
loved one's dignity. God bless you, each and every
caregiver, for everything you do, and for all that you go
through to keep your loved one at home. It's often a
thankless job, and nobody can truly understand what it's
like unless they go through it themselves.

----------------------------------------------------
Brenda Dapkus, Co-founder of Alzheimer's Family Help in
Asheville, NC. We provide solutions to behaviors common to
Alzheimer's and dementia.
http://www.alzheimersfamilyhelp.com
For more tips visit us at the above link.

Emotional and Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

Emotional and Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks
With the stress in life becoming more intense than ever,
anxiety and panic are affecting more and more people
including the teenagers. If you are currently coping with
a stressful situation in life, it is likely that you will
be struck by an anxiety attack. Mind you, though, having
anxiety attack does not necessarily mean that you have an
anxiety disorder or you should seek medications, but it is
enough sign for you to pay attention to. Then, how do you
know what you are suffering is an anxiety attack? Let us
now look into the emotional and physical symptoms of
anxiety attacks.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

There are numerous emotional symptoms accompanying an
anxiety attack, and the most common ones include:

- having ungrounded fear and excessive worry
- feeling of losing control of life
- being uneasy wherever you go as if you need an escape
- feeling insecure and unguarded - becoming restless and
edgy
- being over self-conscious and hyper-vigilant
- feeling confused and lacking concentration

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

There are also numerous physical symptoms for you to look
out for. These include:

- Heart Palpitations

This is a sensation of skipped or stopped heart beats, and
you feel as though you are suffering an heart attack. This
unpleasant palpitation often accompany emotional symptoms
such as excessive fear, worry and excitement.

- Chest Pain

In the case of an anxiety attack, the chest pain can be as
severe as the case with heart attacks. What you feel is a
heaviness, pressure, or extreme discomfort in the chest
area.

- Shortness of Breath

Short breath is usually associated with lack of oxygen in
the brain, muscle or other organs in the body. Sometimes,
emotional disorder will also lead to this symptom, and you
will suffer difficulty in breathing as though all the air
is taken away from you.

- Chills or Hot Flashes

This is a short period of hot or cold sensations in your
upper body caused by emotional distress.

- Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can all be triggered by a
host of emotional conditions such as pain, panic, worries
and irritations.

- Sweating

Yes, sweating is not just a natural response to high
temperature or exercise. It can also be caused by
emotional disorders including anger, embarrassment,
nervousness, fear or anxiety.

- Dizzy Spells and Tremors

If you often feel light-headed without any other symptoms,
the symptom is more likely to be emotion-related. Taking
anti-anxiety medications can help reduce severe dizziness.

Apart from what was mentioned above, other common physical
symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, headaches and muscle
aches.

If you have concerns over whether you are suffering
anxiety, check yourself against these emotional and
physical symptoms of anxiety attacks first. When you go to
the doctor, it is likely that you will first be screened
against any possible physical problems before being
referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist. The possible
solutions that will be recommended include traditional
medications, behavioral therapy, or simply self-help if
your condition is only minor.

----------------------------------------------------
If you are serious about treating your anxiety, you may
like to check out the highly-regarded Linden Method at:
http://www.treating-anxiety.net . Apart from its
effectiveness, you will be amazed at its simplicity and
unusual steps.

Templar Arthritis Explained

Templar Arthritis Explained
You may hear someone complain of being diagnosed with
templar arthritis and have wondered how this is possible.
After all, the only joint in the temple itself is the fused
type composed of skull bones. Most likely, this person is
complaining of a condition called "temporal arthritis"
which affects blood vessels, not the bones and joints. The
other possibility is that their arthritis may have affected
the TMJ or temporal-mandibular joint. These are very
different conditions and have different treatments and
symptoms.

True templar arthritis would better be called temporal
arthritis or most likely TMJ arthritis. The TMJ is where
the large lower jaw attaches to the skull with a hinge-like
joint. The main symptom would be jaw pain and evidence on
x-rays of degenerative changes in that joint. TMJ syndrome
can also exist with pain but no degenerative changes. This
is treated with surgery or dental appliances, physical
therapy, analgesics and sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs.
With TMJ arthritis, the type of arthritis needs to be
diagnosed to arrive at a treatment plan. TMJ arthritis can
result from infection, injury or a systemic arthritic
process.

Temporal arthritis (TA) is a more serious condition because
it can progress to vision loss in some cases. Some estimate
as many as half of TA patients will have vision loss
eventually. The condition is also called giant cell
arthritis from the appearance of the cells that infiltrate
the walls of medium sized blood vessels throughout the
circulatory system. The temporal artery is such a vessel
and in TA it and surrounding vessels become swollen and
very painful. Headache is the most common symptom, but
there can also be symptoms such as low grade fever,
claudication of the jaw, and even signs of meningitis.

TA is four to six times more common in women that in men
and more common in Caucasians than in other races. It also
occurs more often in colder climates. Along with pain and
the high risk of vision loss is the associated risk of
aneurysms elsewhere in the body. People with TA have 17
times the risk of chest aneurysms and double the risk of
abdominal aneurysms. This condition is normally seen after
the age of 50 with the average age of onset being closer to
70 years old.

Treatment is usually successful if started as soon as
possible and consists of the use of steroids such as
prednisone or Medrol or immune suppressants like
azathioprine and methotrexate. Maintenance therapy is
usually needed for at least a year or two. For some reason,
the condition usually goes away after a couple of years.
Prompt treatment relieves the pain and helps to prevent
blindness.

----------------------------------------------------
For more information on arthritis and the many treatments,
go to:
http://www.arthritiscures.us/ .

You want great abs? Quit being lazy!

You want great abs? Quit being lazy!
It's obvious that many people are eager to get in shape and
improve their physical appearance. If this weren't true,
you wouldn't see so many advertisements on TV for the
latest weight loss pill or exercise machine. These
companies do well because people are always looking out for
the easiest way to get in shape.

When it comes to being in great physical shape, one of the
first things that many people think of is having a six
pack. Folks are always on the lookout for the simplest and
easiest way to get those great looking muscles. But
whether you're trying to get six pack abs or just build a
great muscular appearance in general, there are a couple
things you need to keep in mind.

First of all, if you want to be extraordinary when it comes
to building muscle, you have to do some extraordinary
things. That sounds pretty obvious, right? Well,
unfortunately many people are really lazy, especially when
it comes to exercising. However, sooner or later you must
realize that building great abs (or a better physique in
general), is going to take some diligence on your part. If
you're like most people, you probably want all the benefits
without doing any of the work. Unfortunately, this is
rarely the way that life works.

It should be obvious to most people, but apparently it's
still strikes people as a novel idea. Or maybe it's just
that most people choose to ignore the idea. In any case,
if you want to have a better physique, you're going to have
to break out of the crowd and do more work than most people
are willing to do.

One of the main reasons why this concept is so critical, is
that building great abs is not an isolated problem. If you
want the truly impressive result, you're not going to
simply do some sit ups here and there. You'll have to work
on your entire body in order to build lean muscle mass and
cut your body fat. These two things are, after all, what
determine whether or not you have great looking abdominal
muscles. This is why all those exercise gadgets you see on
TV are not as effective as you might think. They do not
address your entire body as a whole, and this inevitably
leads to disappointing results.

Bigger muscles and less fat are the keys to success, and
these will require a consistent and step by step muscle
building program.

----------------------------------------------------
If you would like to learn more about bodybuilding workouts
, visit Jon Cardozo's Web site at
http://maximum-muscle-gain.com . Learn the secrets to
building a muscular physique and avoid the myths of the
bodybuilding industry. Brought to you by Jcardozium.