NOVEMBER IS ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS MONTH
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ovember marks the beginning of National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia – a severe loss of cognitive abilities beyond expectations of normal aging. The disease, discovered by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, is known to worsen as time progresses. As of 2012, there is no known cure to this destructive disease. As research has intensified on Alzheimer’s disease, its cause has yet to be determined and there has been no specific pattern among its victims. In its history, the origin of the disease remains a mystery to researchers. Since Alzheimer’s disease becomes progressively worse, care for those afflicted is generally given by a close relative or spouse. According to the
Alzheimer’s Association, the leading global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care and support, more than 60 percent of caregivers report their stress levels as very high; about one-third of caregivers have reported depression. The disease is diagnosed through a complete medical assessment, generally those 65 years of age or older. Assessments include thorough mental, physical and neurological testing in addition to increasingly sophisticated brain scans. Experts estimate skilled physicians can diagnose patients with more than 90 percent accuracy.
Despite the fact that a cure has yet to be discovered, recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s and early treatment of the disease is beneficial for caregivers and those afflicted to plan for the future. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to
End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research of the disease. The Alzheimer’s Walk is held in 600 communities nationwide and spans two to three miles. The Association welcomes all to attend the event. Each community has its own chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association; the New York City Chapter offers a variety of programs and support groups to its populace. There is an African American Outreach program of the NYC Chapter, due to the fact that African Americans are at high risk of the disease, and a Living with Alzheimer’s in NYC Program which offers legal, financial and caregiving consultation to the community. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 5.4 million Americans are living
Seawanhaka Press | www.SeawanhakaPress.com | NOVEMBER 8, 2012
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH
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Photo Credit: www.prediabetescenters.com
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s the holiday season approaches and you gather with your family and friends, it is imperative that you should recognize and acknowledge the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin. The levels of sugar in the blood vary normally throughout the day. They rise after a meal and return to normal within about 2 hours after eating. Once the levels of sugar in the blood return to normal, insulin production decreases. The variation in blood sugar levels is usually within a narrow range, about 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. In type 1 diabetes (formerly called
insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenileonset diabetes), more than 90% of the insulin producing cells of the pancreas are permanently destroyed. The pancreas, therefore, produces little to no insulin. Only about 10% of all people with diabetes have this type 1 disease. Most people who have type 1 diabetes develop the disease before age 30. In type 2 diabetes (formerly called noninsulin-dependent diabetes or adulton-set diabetes), the pancreas continues to produce insulin, sometimes even at higher-than-normal levels. However, the body develops resistance to the effects of insulin, so there is not enough insulin to meet the body’s needs. Type 2 diabetes usually begins in people older than 30 and becomes progressively more common with age. About 15% of people older than 70 have type 2 diabetes. Obesity is the chief risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, and 80% to 90% of people with this disease are obese. Because obesity causes insulin resistance, obese people need very large amounts of insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes often see their symptoms begin abruptly and
BY: MICHAEL GARCIA
with the disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. – it is particularly lethal because is cannot be prevented, delayed or cured. Every 68 seconds another American will develop this disease. Tax-deductible donations are welcomed at the website of the Alzheimer’s Association in the vital research and essential support services section. Visit www.alz.org for more information or to donate directly to Alzheimer’s research.
Photo Credit: www.alz.com
BY: RALPHNIE EDMOND AND KEELEY IBRAHIM
dramatically, and a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis may quickly develop. The initial symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and particularly in children abdominal pain. Breathing tends to become deep and rapid as the body attempts to correct the blood’s acidity. The person’s breathe smells like nail polish remover, the smell of the ketones escaping into the breath. Without treatment, diabetic ketoacidosis can progress to coma and death, sometimes within a few hours. People with type 2 diabetes may not have any symptoms for years or decades before they are diagnosed. Symptoms may be subtle. Increased urination and thirst are mild at first and gradually worsen over weeks or months. Eventually, the person feels extremely fatigued, is likely to develop blurred vision, and may become dehydrated. Complications that some people with diabetes may experience can be serious and long-term. Some of these complications begin within months of the onset of diabetes, although most tend to develop after a few years. Most
of the complications are progressive. The more tightly a person with diabetes is able to control the levels of sugar in the blood, the less likely it is that these complications will develop or become worse. The diagnosis of diabetes is made when a person has abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood. Blood sugar levels are often checked during a routine physical examination. Checking the levels of sugar in the blood annually is particularly important in older people, because diabetes is so common in later life. Someone may have diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, and not know it. A doctor may also check blood sugar levels if a person has increased thirst, urination, hunger; frequent infections, or signs of any of the complications associated with diabetes. Eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medicine can help with controlling your diabetes, and may even prevent it from happening. Make sure to discuss the preventions and symptoms of diabetes with your loved ones before you carve up the turkey this November. Source: The Merck Manual of Medical Information by: Mark H. Beers, MD