Health, Body & Soul

Archive for the ‘Health News’ Category

But the truth is to enlighten the fact that, no matter how much you try to keep up with your health, age and lifestyle will certainly trap you into some disease or illness, even if it’s a smaller one. And there’s no doubt about one thing that with changing time not only the number, but also the severity of disease also increases.

This is where health news comes to our rescue. Earlier we could receive health news only through news papers and health brochures, but with the cyber revolution we have so many health news blogs, websites, and discussion boards to give us latest information on different health issues.

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Adults in Later Life With Mental Health Problems

Most older people do not develop mental health problems, but a significant minority have dementia or experience problems such as depression.

Introduction

It is estimated that 18% of the general population in the UK are of pensionable age and that this figure will grow to 20% by 2025. As a society, we tend to assume that older people will develop mental health problems as a ‘normal’ aspect of ageing. Most older people do not develop mental health problems, although a significant minority does. For example:

about 25% of people over 85 have dementia.
between 10-15% of people over 65 have depression
between 4-23% of older adults seen by medical staff have an alcohol problem.

In addition to those older people who have an identifiable mental illness such as dementia, there are many who experience psychological or emotional distress associated with isolation, loneliness or loss. These problems are not recorded by the health or medical care system.

What problems affect people in later life?

Dementia

Dementia is a decline in mental ability which affects memory, thinking, problem solving, concentration, perception and behaviour. Some forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are degenerative. That is, they get worse over time. Other forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia, may be non-degenerative. That is, they may not get worse over time.

People with dementia can become confused. Some people also become restless or display repetitive behaviour. They may also seem irritable, tearful or agitated. This can be very distressing for both the person with dementia and their family and friends. Some people with dementia also develop other problems such as depression, disturbed sleep, aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviour and incontinence, although the latter issues tend to be associated with more advanced dementia.

About one in 20 people over the age of 65 are affected by dementia and this figure rises to one in four people over the age of 85 (Audit Commission, 2000). People under the age of 65 can develop dementia but this is rare and is known as early onset or pre-senile dementia.

What causes dementia?

Dementia occurs as a result of the death of brain cells or damage in parts of the brain that deal with our thought processes and functioning. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. We do not know what causes Alzheimer’s disease but we do know that ageing is the biggest risk factor. The second most common type of dementia is vascular or multi-infarct dementia. This occurs as a result of a series of mini-strokes which constrict blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Can dementia be prevented and is there a cure?

Most types of dementia cannot be cured but a number of psychological treatments and anti-dementia drugs can be very effective for those in the early stages of dementia. It is therefore very important to get a proper assessment of cognitive function from a medical practitioner as early as possible.

There are no guaranteed ways of preventing dementia, but you may find it helpful to follow a sensible diet and pursue a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical exercise and supplements like Gingko Biloba can help to ensure that there is always a good supply of blood to the brain. Please consult your GP before taking such medication. You can also help yourself by keeping your mind active, for example by doing crosswords or puzzles.

Depression

Depression describes a range of moods, from feeling a bit low to a severe problem, which interferes with everyday life and normal functioning. People with severe depression may experience a range of symptoms including low mood, loss of interest and pleasure as well as feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Depression can affect anyone, of any culture, age or background but it affects proportionally more older people than any other age group. It is estimated that around 10-15% of elderly people in the community exhibit depressive symptoms, with this proportion rising to about 40% of care home residents. That said, you will not necessarily become depressed just because you are getting older.

What causes depression?

There are a number of risk factors that play a role in increasing older people’s vulnerability to depression including:

being widowed, divorced or retired neurobiological changes associated with ageing use of medication for other conditions greater physical impairment and disease loneliness and isolation genetic susceptibility, which increases with age.

Can depression be prevented and is there a cure?

Depression in later life is a widely under recognised and under treated medical condition. Up until recently many health professionals – including GP’s – failed to offer the treatments and supports available to other age groups. Most forms of depression can be treated, using medication, talking treatments or other strategies.

It is can be difficult to diagnose depression in older people because it often occurs alongside other mental and physical illnesses, such as dementia, stroke, diabetes and cancer. In addition many older people do not seek help from their GP until they have a number of symptoms. As with dementia, it is important to seek help as early as possible.

Self-help strategies that can help reduce the risk of depression include:

taking regular exercise planning for critical transitions such as retirement
seeking support from family and friends following the loss of a long-term partner ensuring that you pursue a range of interests in later life.

Dementia and depression

The relationship between dementia and depression is complex. The symptoms of dementia and depression – including withdrawal from social activities and general apathy – are very similar. An elderly person with severe depression may occasionally be misdiagnosed as having dementia. A person with dementia may also become depressed.

Alcohol abuse

It is estimated that between 4%-23% of older adults seen by medical staff experience problems with alcohol. Figures also show that older men are currently between two and six times more likely than older women to be at risk of abusing alcohol.

Although alcohol abuse is a problem for people of all ages, it is more likely to go unrecognised among older people. Many older people use alcohol to deal with loss or loneliness. Approximately 10-30% of older people who abuse alcohol become depressed. They are also at greater risk of suicide.

Medication

Prescribed medications can cause mental health difficulties among older people. A 2001 Department of Health survey found that 79% of older people take prescribed medicines. Many older people take four or more medications at the same time. There are risks associated with taking multiple medications, including confusion.

More detailed information about medication and mental health problems can be found at the following sites:

Other mental health problems

There are a number of rarer mental health problems that affect older people, including delirium, anxiety and late-onset schizophrenia. The prevalence, nature, and course of these disorders are different in older people, as are the treatments that may be offered.

Capacity and older people with mental illness

People with dementia or severe mental illness may have difficulty in making and communicating decisions. Very few people are unable to be involved in making choices at all but some may have partial or fluctuating mental capacity and may need help with communication. Different approaches are also required to engage a person with dementia. They often need longer to make decisions, may need an advocate to speak on their behalf and their mental functioning may also vary by day, and time of day. Family members or carers are often useful sources of information but it is important to take account of the views of the person with dementia alongside those of their carer.

Help for carers

Caring for an older person with mental health problems can be very stressful, time consuming and emotionally and physically challenging. Caring for an older person with dementia is associated with higher levels of stress, with a third of carers suffering from depression.

The Health Care Crisis Statistics

The Health Care Crisis Statistics in today’s world shows a major increase in medicine and health. The insurance headlines in the news have skyrocketed among the top statistics over the past few years about how high the cost of insurance is in some parts of the world. There are some key factors that make up the health care crisis statistics in some parts of the world today. The key factors are legislation, capital, constitution, health insurance, industry, health care, health care system, news, and Medicaid. The legislation is one of the key factors of statistics in some parts of the world today. The reason why legislation is a key factor is because it controls the laws and marketplace that insurance companies have to abide by when providing care to people in some parts of the world.

Capital is another key factor because as the statistics in health care increases in some parts of the world the more people will have to pay to maintain their health insurance and care in some parts of the world. Therefore the capital in some parts of the world will always increase because of the growing statistics in the United States of Some parts of the world. The constitution is another factor in the growing statistics in the United States today. In order for the health care statistics to grow at the rate they are now in some parts of the world to have a significant effect on long-term health care is due to the constitution. Health insurance is one of the biggest key factors that continue to increase statistics in the world. Whether you have insurance or not you still are subject to the cost of inflation due to health insurance in some parts of the world. The ways that a different industry provides, or sells health insurance to companies is a major contributor to the statistics in some parts of the world.

Health News for health care is the number one hot spot in some parts of the world that consistently continues to raise the marketplace value up with the average annual premiums that are being charged to people in the United States. The health care system like the Health News in more ways than one are producing more astronomical premiums for individuals that pay for insurance coverage, and as a result more people fall into the slot of being uninsured in Some parts of the world. The Health News covers a great amount of detail in the health care field to uncover the national health insurance crisis in the world today. Medicaid alone accounts for about 20% of the statistics in some parts of the world. Let’s look at some more detail aspects of the health care crisis statistics in some parts of the world today. The US spends over four times as much on health care as it does on defense spending in some parts of the world. Health insurance and cost for medical treatment are escalating faster than any other segment of the economy. It has everyone worried such as employers, employees, retirees, and politicians in some parts of the world.

In 2006 alone, small employers’ premiums rose by 8.8 percent and companies with less than 24 employees saw an increase of over 10% for the year. The average annual premium charged by insurers for family coverage averaged ,500 in 2006. Employees paid out almost ,000 of that, amounting to 10 percent more than in the previous year. A full-time, minimum-wage employee makes just over ,000 a year, meaning that the total premium for health insurance coverage was more than the worker’s annual wage. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, employee’s insurance premiums increased by 73% from 2000-2005. Inflation over that same period was 14%. Wages rose 15%. Premiums are skyrocketing to the point that they’re close to going into orbit! As of October 2006, over 46 million people were uninsured. We’re not talking about deadbeats, either. The vast majority of the uninsured is working people with families. They may not be offered insurance through their employer, or they cannot afford the premiums.

Many self-employed people are uninsured, and the astronomical premiums for individual insurance put them off the playing field all together—or before existing conditions prevent them from getting insurance that will cover them for the very conditions they will most likely need care for. Many people have found that a home-based business is a very effective way to get the cash rolling into their medical-savings-account with money to spare. I have personally found out through many another people that a home based business is the way to go in some parts of the world today.

Few Americans Would Sign Up For Public Health Insurance Plan

The New York Times: “More and more, the Great Health Care Debate of 2009 is a numbers game. And the longer the debate goes on, the squishier the numbers seem to get. For months, many leading Democrats, including President Obama, have pushed for the creation of a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers. A main argument was that a public plan would save people money. It would not be under pressure to earn profits, pay high private-sector salaries or deny needed care.” After the release last Thursday of the House Democratic leaders’ health care bill, the Congressional Budget Office said “the public plan would cost more than private plans and only six million people would sign up” (Herszenhorn, 11/1).

The Associated Press: Coverage numbers regarding the Democrats’ legislative push “for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers are finally in: Two percent. That’s the estimated share of Americans younger than 65 who’d sign up for the public option plan.” That statistic “is raising questions about whether the government plan will be the iron-fisted competitor that private insurers warn will shut them down or a niche operator that becomes a haven for patients with health insurance horror stories.” The CBO also said the plan would likely attract a “less healthy pool of enrollees” and would likely have premiums higher than the average for private plans (Alonso-Zaldivar, 11/1).

Kaiser Health News: The actual figure estimated to enroll in the public  option would be about six million. “And that number could shrink because states may decide to opt out of a public insurance plan, an escape clause that’s likely to be included in the Senate plan. … The CBO reasoned that the plan may not be able to offer a price advantage — in part because the House bill requires a government-backed insurer to negotiate payment rates rather than dictate them to hospitals and doctors… If the number of people in the public plan turns out to be six million in 2019, that would work out to an average of 120,000 per state. But that number probably would be smaller in the smallest states, perhaps totaling just tens of thousands.”

“Predicting the states’ responses is tricky, even where Republicans and conservative Democrats predominate. Some say the consumer appeal of a public plan could trump criticism that government plans would eventually drive out competition and lead to the federalization of health care” (Pianin, Carey and Appleby, 11/1).

The Wall Street Journal reports that costs could be driven up in the public option because of increased utilization of services by public option enrollees and that the “payment rates the government negotiates with health-care providers would, on average, be comparable to those paid by private insurers, eliminating a cost-saving advantage many Democrats aimed to give the plan. The CBO says its findings aren’t conclusive” (Adamy, 10/31).

Omega 3′s – To Your Health

There has been a lot of health news lately regarding omega-3′s, and it seems like everywhere you turn, new foods are being enhanced with this essential fatty acid, or labeled as an excellent source. What people don’t know is that there are different types of omegas, and eating too much of one kind can actually be harmful to your body.

Omega-3s are so important to heart health and to our general holistic wellness that most longstanding recommendations have been to consume two to three servings of fish per week or to take a fish oil supplement if you don’t eat fish. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two fish meals a week. I personally eat fish often and also take 2-3 grams of supplemental fish oil a day.

Cod liver oil, and fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, albacore tuna, sardines, herring and salmon all containomega-3′s. Fish are the best sources because they are high in two particular fatty acids that are crucial to good health, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid).

However, fish is not the only source of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, flaxseed, leafy vegetables, hemp seed and some animal fat, especially from grass fed animals, provide alpha-linolenic acid, which the body converts to the omega-3 fatty acids it needs. The only problem with plant and animal sources of these nutrients is that some people may not be able to convert alpha-linolenic acid to the longer-chain forms, EPA and DHA that occur in fish (which are the ones the body needs).

Then there are omega-6s These fats are found in eggs, nuts, chicken, red meat and vegetable oils such as corn, soy, safflower, and sunflower oil. Omega-6s are high in LA (linoleic acid), which is converted by the body into GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), and then further broken down to AA (arachidonic acid).

The proper intake ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is 2:1 to 1:1. The typical western diet runs around 15:1 to 17:1. This high ingestion of omega-6 tends to promote the pathogenesis of many diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, inflammatory, macular degeneration (age-related blindness), arthritis and autoimmune disease whereas a more balanced ingestion with higher omega-3 exerts a suppression effect.

A 3-ounce serving of Alaskan salmon or herring contains about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, while 3 ounces of sardines has about 1.3 grams. Wild Alaskan salmon (which may have more omega-3s than farmed salmon) is the first choice because it’s both tasty and relatively free of the environmental toxins that contaminate many species of fish. If fresh salmon is not feasible for you, then canned salmon is an acceptable choice.

However, it’s difficult for vegans (vegetarians who eat no foods derived from animals, including eggs and milk) to get adequate omega-3 fatty acids from their diets, since the two essential omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA are most available in fish oil. You can substitute one ounce of walnuts for a serving of fish, or add a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseed, or hemp oil to your diet. Anyone who doesn’t eat oily fish at least twice a week should take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. The best available of these is fish oil at a dose of 2 to 3 grams per day. Fish oil provides both of the omega-3s: EPA and DHA our bodies need but vegans and others whose diets don’t include fish could substitute Neuromins DHA, a product which is extracted from carefully grown microalgae. Taking 400 to 600 mg a day of Neuromins DHA and relying on dietary sources of ALA is probably the best vegan strategy for getting omega-3s. A daily handful of walnuts or one to two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed per day provide ALA. I hope we will soon see products made from algae that provide both EPA and DHA.

Most of us take our health for granted, assuming what we eat will provide us with all our needed nutrients. Maybe if we take a more proactive role in our health and wellness, we will require less reactive care from our doctors.

health from fruits

Eating fruit is healthier than hitherto thought nutritionists

A team of scientists from the Institute of Food Research in Singapore, noted that until now, had underestimated the content and concentration of polyphenolic molecules in fruits. This compound is an effective antioxidant and this is another reason to increase the daily intake of fresh fruit.

Usually happens that the experts did the content analysis based on polyphenols “pull”, but a Spanish scientific discussed in detail the chemical composition of apple, pear and tangerine and discovered that there orta class of polyphenols, known as “no Removable, which outweigh the “pull” up to 5 times.

The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

“This family of polyphenols must be extracted from cell walls using a variety of fruit acids,” said Dr. Sara Arranz Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in Madrid.

He added: “If these compounds are not considered non-extractable is underestimating the true amount of material” healthy. “

For his part, Dr. Paul Kroon, professional of the same institute, also said that “in the human body these compounds activated fermented by bacteria that live in our digestive system, creating metabolites that may be beneficial, for example, by its activity antioxidant. “

The Spanish research team, led by Professor Fulgencio Saura-Calixto, has been working to prove that non-extractable polyphenols, that are beyond most of the analysis and are not generally considered in nutritional studies, are an important part of bioactive compounds diet.

“These polyphenols are important components of the diet and add important health properties. It is therefore necessary to reinforce the concept of eating plenty of fruits every day,” concluded Saura-Calixto.

Are Most Health Studies About Bad Health?

According to a study published in “Psychosomatic Medicine”, feeling lonely – even when surrounded by family and friends – is  linked to an  increase in the risk of heart disease. The study covered more than 3,000 people over 19 years. After having a physical and an extensive personal interview, all participants’ heart health was tracked. The women who were loneliest at the beginning of the study were 76% more likely to develop heart disease. Researchers hypothesize that loneliness affects only women in this way because women are more concerned about relationships. It seems men can have fulfilling relationships with remote controls.

According to a recent study, high and borderline-high cholesterol levels in midlife increase the risk of Alzheimer’s 30 years later. The cholesterol levels of 9,844 people ages 40-45 were determined between 1964 and 1973. When their medical records were reviewed between 1994 and 2007, the risk of Alzheimer’s was 57% higher for people who had cholesterol levels of 240 and above in midlife. Their risk of vascular dementia also increased. Even those who had  borderline-high cholesterol levels of 200-239 in midlife had an increased risk of 50%. Considering nearly 100 million Americans have high or borderline-high cholesterol levels, it’s time to level off.

According to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, severe sleep apnea increases the risk of early death by 46%. Severe sleep apnea causes sleepers’ airways to be blocked for 20-30 seconds, waking them about every 2 minutes. Of the 6,400 people in the 8-year study, 8.2% of the men had severe cases and 3% of the women. The NHLBI estimates that 12 million adult Americans have sleep apnea and recommends weight loss as the best treatment. Unfortunately, most people aren’t diagnosed or treated – in spite of their losing sleep over the problem nightly.

Nevertheless, in spite of all the bad health news, the National Center for Statistics reports that U.S. life expectancy has reached a new high. The average life expectancy for a baby born in 2007 is nearly 78. That’s almost 3 months more than for babies born in 2006. This increase is primarily due to the decreasing death rates in almost all leading causes of death. However, about 30 countries have longer estimated life spans, with Japan having the longest. The average life expectancy for Japanese babies born in 2007 is 83. Products made in Japan do seem to last longer.