Alzheimers Disease

Known by many as "the long goodbye," Alzheimer's disease is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. An estimated 5 million people in the United States are now living with Alzheimer's, and someone is diagnosed with the disease every 72 seconds.

Most people with Alzheimer's are age 65 or older, but at least 200,000 people under the age of 65 are also living with an early-onset form of the disease. By the year 2030, the number of individuals with Alzheimer's could approach 8 million; if scientists can't find a way to cure or prevent Alzheimer's, this number could range between 11 million and 16 million by the year 2050.


Alzheimer's versus Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain that results in dementia. The terms Alzheimer's and dementia are often used interchangeably, but there's a distinct difference between them.

Dementia is a broader term than Alzheimer's and refers to any brain syndrome resulting in problems with memory, orientation, judgment, executive functioning, and communication. The consequences of Alzheimer's is dementia.



Causes of Dementia
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia -- according to the Alzheimer's Association, 60% to 70% of dementia cases are due to Alzheimer's. However, many other diseases can cause dementia, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Some infectious diseases can also result in dementia, such as HIV or the extremely rare Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.When individuals are diagnosed with mixed dementia, more than one disease process is causing the dementia. For example, a person might have dementia due to both Alzheimer's and a stroke.

Causes
There are at least 10 Conditions That Can Cause Dementia to be considered.


Reversible Conditions that Resemble Alzheimer's
Sometimes symptoms that look like Alzheimer's are actually due to a reversible medical condition, such as depression or delirium. These conditions aren't types of dementia -- they're reversible problems that mimic Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that leads to personality changes, memory loss, intellectual slowing, and other Alzheimer's symptoms. Although each person with Alzheimer's is different, most progress through a series of stages, each of which is characterized by more serious Alzheimer's symptoms.

The following seven stages were developed by researchers and physicians to describe how you or your loved one will change over time. Your doctor might collapse the seven stages into early/middle/late or mild/moderate/severe, so these classifications are provided as well.

Stage 1 (Absence of Impairment)
There are no problems with memory, orientation, judgment, communication, or daily activities. You or your loved one is a normally functioning adult.

Stage 2 (Minimal Impairment)
You or your loved one might be experiencing some lapses in memory or other cognitive problems, but neither family nor friends are able to detect any changes. A medical exam would not reveal any problems either.

Stage 3 (Noticeable Cognitive Decline)
Family members and friends recognize mild changes in memory, communication patterns, or behavior. A visit to the doctor might result in a diagnosis of early-stage or mild Alzheimer's disease, but not always. Common symptoms in this stage include:


1)Problems producing people's names or the right words for objects
2)Noticeable difficulty functioning in employment or social settings
3)Forgetting material that has just been read
4)Misplacing important objects with increasing frequency
5)Decrease in planning or organizational skills

Stage 4 (Early-Stage/Mild Alzheimer's)
Cognitive decline is more evident. You or your loved one may become more forgetful of recent events or personal details. Other problems include impaired mathematical ability (for instance, difficulty counting backwards from 100 by 9s), a diminished ability to carry out complex tasks like throwing a party or managing finances, moodiness, and social withdrawal.

Stage 5 (Middle-Stage/Moderate Alzheimer's)
Some assistance with daily tasks is required. Problems with memory and thinking are quite noticeable, including symptoms such as:

1)An inability to recall one's own contact information or key details about one's history .
2)Disorientation to time and/or place
3)Decreased judgment and skills in regard to personal care

Even though symptoms are worsening, people in this stage usually still know their own name and the names of key family members and can eat and use the bathroom without assistance.

Stage 6 (Middle-Stage/Moderate to Late-Stage/Severe Alzheimer's)
This is often the most difficult stage for caregivers because it's characterized by personality and behavior changes. In addition, memory continues to decline, and assistance is required for most daily activities. The most common symptoms associated with this stage include:


1)Reduced awareness of one's surroundings and of recent events
2)Problems recognizing one's spouse and other close family members, although faces are still distinguished between familiar and unfamiliar.
3)Sundowning, which is increased restlessness and agitation in the late afternoon and evening
4)Difficulty using the bathroom independently
5)Bowel and bladder incontinence
6)Suspicion
7)Repetitive behavior (verbal and/or nonverbal)
8)Wandering


Stage 7 (Late-Stage/Severe Alzheimer's)
In the final stage, it is usually no longer possible to respond to the surrounding environment. You or your loved one may be able to speak words or short phrases, but communication is extremely limited. Basic functions begin to shut down, such as motor coordination and the ability to swallow. Total care is required around the clock.

Although the stages provide a blueprint for the progression of Alzheimer's symptoms, not everyone advances through the stages similarly. Caregivers report that their loved ones sometimes seem to be in two or more stages at once, and the rate at which people advance through the stages is highly individual. Still, the stages help us understand Alzheimer's symptoms and prepare for their accompanying challenges.


Diagnosis

There is no singular test that can definitively diagnose Alzheimer's disease, although imaging technology designed to detect Alzheimer's plaques and tangles is rapidly becoming more powerful and precise. Still, a comprehensive, competent diagnostic workup by a skilled physician can pinpoint the cause of Alzheimer's-like symptoms with over 90% accuracy. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease should include the following:

Medical history -- This should include questions about past illnesses, prior injuries and surgeries, and current chronic conditions in order to identify other possible causes for Alzheimer's-like symptoms. For instance, if you suffered a serious head injury any time in your past, it could account for the problems with memory or concentration that you're currently experiencing. If your loved one has heart disease, that could be reducing blood flow to the brain and causing forgetfulness.

Medication history -- This should include allergies, experienced side effects from past medications, and a list of current medications and dosages. Not only will this inform any future prescription decisions; it also might reveal a medication interaction or overdosage that accounts for your or your loved one's confusion and other symptoms.

Mood evaluation -- The evaluation should include an assessment for anxiety or depression, which can create Alzheimer's-like symptoms in older people as well as occur concurrently with Alzheimer's or another dementia. Depression, in particular, can result in a set of symptoms collectively known as pseudodementia. If a mood disorder is detected, it can be treated alongside other disorders, such as Alzheimer's.

Mental status exam -- To assess memory, concentration, and other cognitive skills. The mental status exam is a research-based set of questions that results in a score that indicates a general level of impairment. If you or your loved one scores high on a mental status exam, there is less of a chance that Alzheimer's is the culprit; another (possibly treatable) condition may be responsible for the symptoms. However, highly educated individuals have scored high on mental status exams even though they do have Alzheimer's disease.

Complete physical exam -- To assess hearing, vision, blood pressure, pulse, and other basic indicators of health and disease. A current physical exam can detect acute medical conditions such as an infection that might be causing Alzheimer's-like symptoms.

Appropriate laboratory tests -- These will vary according to your or your loved one's medical history and current symptoms. Blood tests are the most common laboratory tests ordered. For example, if you are exhibiting pre-diabetic symptoms, a blood glucose test would be ordered. Aside from blood tests, if your loved one's symptoms came on suddenly and include severe confusion, a urinalysis would probably be conducted to rule out a urinary tract infection.

Neurological exam -- This should include an examination of the motor system (movement), reflexes, gait (walking), sensory functioning, and coordination in order to detect problems with the nervous system that may be causing problems with thinking and behavior.


Imaging procedures -- Detailed pictures of the brain, such as a CT scan (computed tomography), an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or a PET scan (positron emission tomography) to identify changes in brain structure or size indicative of Alzheimer's, or to look for brain tumors, blood clots, strokes, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), or other abnormalities that might account for Alzheimer's-like symptoms.

There is no particular kind of physician that specializes in Alzheimer’s disease. Many people first seek help from their primary care physician, who may oversee the total diagnostic process or refer the individual to any of the following specialists:


Neurologist -- Specializes in diseases of the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and stroke.
Psychiatrist -- Specializes in mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
Neuropsychologist -- Specializes in the brain-behavior relationship and can conduct neuropsychological testing to determine the type and level of impairment due to Alzheimer's, head injury, stroke, or other conditions.
The goal of a diagnostic workup is to explore every possible cause for the person's symptoms and to address any reversible condition or treatable problem. If a cause is not reversible or treatable, then the goal is to help the individual manage the symptoms through medical treatments or behavior management.

Treatment procedures in next blog.

Log Book to monitor and reduce the smoking habit

April one of our surfer have reveled ...
I have been battling to give up the cigarettes for a long time now and recently looked at a less conventional method online at Hypnotic tracks. I am still smoking but I do seem to have cut down, I just need to build up that will power to finally give up smoking once and for all.


DEAR APRIL,
AS WE HAVE DEALT WITH MANY CASES OF CHIAN SMOKING, KLUB PSYCHOLOGY WOULD SAY, " DONT SAY I WOULD QUIT SMOKING, SAY TO YOURSELF- I WOULD REDUCE MY SMOKING HABIT. DON'T REALLY LINGER YOUR SMOKING HABITS TO THE TWO EXTREMES i.e. I WILL QUIT SMOKING OR I WONT. THEY REALLY DONT GIVE YOU PERMANENT SOLUTION."

LET US GIVE YOU FEW STEPS TO MONITOR AND REDUCE YOUR MARGIN

1)MAKE A LOG BOOK OF ABOUT 1 MONTHS. START FROM TODAY. MAKE COLUMNS FOR YOUR PROBLEMS, TIME OF SMOKING, NO OF CIGARETTE PER DAY, REASON IF YOU KNOW BEHIND THE CARVINGS, AND PROBABALE SOLUTIONS.

2)WIRTE DOWN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAD EXTREME CARVINGS FOR SMOKING. MAINTAIN IT EVERY DAY.

3) WHAT COULD BE THE STRESSOR OR CAUSE BEHIND YOU WANTING TO SMOKE? - WIRITE IT DOWN A COLUMN.

4)IN THE NEXT COLUMN- WIRTE DOWN PROBABLE SOLUTIONS YOU HAVE GOT TO BATTLE YOUR SMOKING HABIT. ITS YOUR OWN APPRAOCHES, MIND IT. THESE APPRAOCHES MAY LEAD YOU TO THE INSIGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND PROBABLE SOLUTIONS.

5)TRY TO DEALY YOUR TIME TO LIT UP THE CIGARETTE. BUILD UP CERTAIN WILL POWER TO STOP IT FOR FEW MINUTES, THEN FEW HOURS AND THEN FEW DAYS. YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE IT. YOU NEED TO DEVOTE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS TASK. DELAYING THE TIME TO LIT UP MAY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CIGARETTES EVERY DAY.

6)TYR TO LIMIT YOUR SMOKING HABIT BY SETTING PARTICULAR TIME AND PLACE. IT MAY HELP YOU TO CONTROL YOUR HABIT A LOT. THIS METHOD IS VERY APPLICABLE TO MONITOR AND REDUCE THE SMOKING OF MARIJUANA AND OTHER NARCOTICS AND NON NARCOTICS INHALED IN THE FORM OF SMOKE.

6)USE THAT DEALYED TIME FOR CREATIVE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU ARE MOST FOND OF.

by: klub psychology, klubpsychology@gmail.com; Kathmandu, Nepal

25 ways to be happy: Use of Biofeedback

This is a technique where people are taught to consciously trigger the relaxation response and control involuntary stress responses from their autonomic nervous system. Through the use of electronic feedback (as Tread Mill attached with Biofeedback gadgets) measuring hand temperature and muscle tension; heartbeats and pulse rate et al. patients learn to monitor their physiological arousal levels and physically relax their bodies, actually changing their heart rate, brain waves, muscle contractions and more. Feedback is presented through beeps, graphs or a computer screen that can be seen and heart by the participant.

Though this is a very reliable method, it is very expensive, as we need to install these sophisticated gadgets at our home there is need of huge sum of money an time an effort on the part of the practitioner.

Progressive muscular relaxation

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a great technique for reducing overall body tension. As you practice tensing and relaxing all the muscle groups in your body, you can move to a shortened procedure, Deep Muscle Relaxation where you rapidly relax your whole body. As you reduce the tension you carry in your body, your whole being will feel less stress and you will enjoy increased physical and emotional health. Here’s how to get started:

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 Minutes

Here's How:
After finding a quiet place and several free minutes to practice progressive muscle relaxation, sit or lie down and make yourself comfortable.

Begin by tensing all the muscles in your face. Make a tight grimace, close your eyes as tightly as possible, clench your teeth, even move your ears up if you can. Hold this for the count of eight as you inhale.

Now exhale and relax completely. Let your face go completely relaxedl, as though you were sleeping. Feel the tension leak from your facial muscles, and enjoy the feeling.
Next, completely tense your neck and shoulders, again inhaling and counting to eight. Then exhale and relax.

Continue down your body, repeating the procedure with the following muscle groups:

chest
abdomen
entire right arm
right forearm and hand (making a fist)
right hand
entire left arm
left forearm and hand (again, making a fist)
left hand
buttocks
entire right leg
lower right leg and foot
right foot
entire left leg
lower left leg and foot
left foot
for the shortened version, which includes just four main muscle groups:
face
neck, shoulders and arms
abdomen and chest
buttocks, legs and feet

Quickly focusing on each group one after the other, with practice you can relax your body like ‘liquid relaxation’ poured on your head and it flowed down and completely covered you. You can use progressive muscle relaxation to quickly de-stress any time.

What You Need:
A comfortable place.
Some privacy.
A few minutes.

25 ways to be happy: Self hypnosis for stress management

Overview Of Hypnosis:

Hypnosis is perhaps one of the least understood therapeutic tools in use. While most people think of hypnosis as a way to get somebody to bark like a dog at the snap of your fingers or take off their clothes when you say the work ‘stupendous’, hypnosis can be a valuable tool in helping people overcome fears, withstand pain, or, yes, even reduce stress in their lives.Contrary to popular belief, you cannot be hypnotized without your consent or awareness. You can, however, be hypnotized by a trained professional whom you trust, to more easily achieve goals you set for yourself. Even better, you can save time and money and learn to hypnotize yourself using your own voice or even just your thoughts, a practice known as ‘self-hypnosis’.

How Does Hypnosis Work?: Hypnosis can be used for stress management in two ways:

First, you can use hypnosis to get into a deeply relaxed state, fighting tension and triggering your relaxation response. This will help to prevent health problems due to chronic stress.Second, hypnosis can also help you achieve various healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce the amount of stress you encounter in your life. For example, you can hypnotize yourself to stick to an exercise program, keep your home less cluttered, feel more confident setting boundaries with others, etc.In this same vein, you can also effectively use hypnosis to help overcome any negative habits you’ve been using to cope with stress, like smoking or compulsive eating.

What's Involved With Hypnosis?:

The process of hypnosis involves entering a trance, or a deeply relaxed, but focused state (like that of daydreaming or meditation), and making suggestions for your subconscious mind to accept. You can go to a trained professional for hypnotherapy, and they will talk you through it. Or, you can employ the use of books, videos, or even short articles to learn what’s involved, and achieve effective results at home.

What Are The Benefits Of Hypnosis?:

Hypnosis is an extremely versatile tool that can be used for everything from simple relaxation to pain management in childbirth. (I can personally attest to this!) It’s easy to do, can be quite inexpensive, and the results are lasting. There are no potential negative side effects, and it can give multiple benefits at the same time.

What Are the Drawbacks of Hypnosis?:

Hypnosis isn’t for everyone. Some people have trouble getting past their initial prejudices about the practice in general, and some have a more difficult time getting into the trancelike state required for hypnotic suggestions to become deeply embedded. Others find that they simply can’t find the time or the focus, and have an easier time with other stress-management techniques.

How Do Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis Compare To Other Stress Reduction Methods?:

Like meditation, hypnosis does require more focus and practice than techniques like simple exercise or the use of medications and herbal treatments, and hypnosis also requires some training, or the help of a trained professional. However, hypnosis may be a preferable option for those with physical limitations that make exercise like yoga more difficult. There are no potential negative side effects, like with some medications or herbal remedies. Also, few other techniques can offer such a wide variety of benefits.

With training and practice, virtually anyone can use hypnosis.

Guided Imagery for Stress Management

Guided imagery has been found to provide significant stress reduction benefits, including physically relaxing the body quickly and efficiently and even helping participants get in touch with deeper levels of wisdom (held on a subconscious level) that would help them better manage their lives in ways that would reduce stress. The studies demonstrating the health benefits of imagery are so numerous that many hospitals are incorporating imagery as an option to help with treatment.


What’s Involved?:
This is a simple technique which uses techniques as instructions from a therapist
or a professional helper. The client builds his imagination based on instruction, and try to be guided into a deeply relaxed state and envision. The instructions includes details relating to all of the senses, a relaxing scene. They may also imagine a wise ‘imagery guide’ with them or even a tape recorder instructing them. While they ponder into deep sense about their body parts they can ask questions to their instructor or even the self and could get a rationalised answer.Like in hypnosis this guide may help them to uncover their subconscious mind that they aren’t generally able to access.

What Are the Pros?:

Imagery can provide relaxation, insight and wisdom. It is a free stress relieving therapy and, with practice, can be done just about anywhere.

What Are the Cons?:

Like self-hypnosis, it can take some practice to master autonomous guided imagery. Working with a professional therapist or even tapes to get to that point can be somewhat slow in outcome and if therapist used may be costly.

How Does It Compare To Other Stress Reduction Methods?:

For the benefits it provides, it’s an excellent stress management option. It can be easier than exercise or even yoga for those with physical limitations. It has no risk of side effects like some medical and herbal therapies. Using it for simple relaxation is easy and can be done by just about anyone, but accessing an internal ‘guide’ takes more practice than other methods like progressive muscle relaxation or breathing exercises. It can be used along with Self Guided Internal Journey

25 ways to be happy

We all experience stress from time to time. When stress gets to be too much, it can take a toll on our health and wellbeing. That's why effective stress relievers are essential in restoring inner peace and physical health. Here is a growing list of stress relievers that can help you feel less affected by stress in your life.

1)Guided Imagery
2)Self-Hypnosis
3)Autogenics
4)Journaling
5)Meditation
6)PMR (Progressive Muscular Relaxation)
7)Yoga
8)Breathing techniques (Pranayam)
9)Playing Games
10)Sex
11)Laughter
12)Biofeedback
13)Music Therapy
14)Take a Walk
15)Plant a Garden
16)Time Management
17)Listen To Music
18)Eat a Balanced Diet
19)Learn Assertive Communication Skills
20)Enjoy Aromatherapy
21)Reduce Caffeine Intake
22)Drink in Moderation
23)Don’t Procrastinate
24)Drink Green Tea
25)Dont exclude perceptual stimuli from your cognition

Description about some of these techniques would be presented on upcoming posts.

Nepali folk dances

The folk dances of Nepal are the visible rhythmic expressions of joys and beliefs of Nepalese rural folks. For these simple people, living mostly in scattered villages, life continues to be something of a ritual, and dance is an integral part of it. Religious rituals influence and enrich folk songs and dances, and the Nepalese village folks sing and dance to please their deities.

Because of widely differing topographic and cultural influences, the folk dances of Nepal are both rich and varied and reflect the day to day activities of the rural inhabitants. Simplicity and spontaneity are the chief qualities -of Nepalese folk dances, steps which have sprung from the lives and activities of the rural folks, like sowing and harvesting. Peasants and frolicking shepherds enjoy dancing and singing mellifluous songs while working in the corn fields or herding the sheep and goats in the hills. Nature unobstrusively mould’s these dances: as the dancers from the mountains sway and bend they suggest the vast undulating ranges of the mighty Himalaya.

Each region of Nepal has its own typical ethnic dances. The regional coloring in dress and ornaments, in song and instruments make them rich and varied. Rural melas or fairs are the proper venues to witness the deep-rooted folk songs and dances of Nepal. But conveniently for the city visitors, some Nepalese folk songs and dances have now emerged on the modem stage in hotels and performance halls of Kathmandu and Pokhara.