Category Archives: Medical Situations

One Hour After Drinking Coca Cola

The following article, minus the pictures (I found them myself), was emailed to me by a friend. I thought the information was worth sharing.

One Can Of Coca-Cola, One Hour: What Happens To Your Body After Drinking A Can Of Coke
By Rina Marie Doctor, Tech Times | August 1, 9:37 AM

An infographic about the effects of Coca-Cola after one hour of consumption is trending on social media. The said post contains information regarding the minute-by-minute actions happening inside the body the moment the famed fizzy beverage enters the human system.

The infographic was based on an article by health writer Wade Meredith. Without further ado, here are the mechanisms that happen to the body after drinking a can of coke:

10 minutes after consumption

Drinking a can of coke is equivalent to 10 heaping tablespoons of sugar, which is 100 percent more than the recommended daily intake. At the 10-minute mark, the body has welcomed the full amount of sugar mentioned. Wondering why vomiting, or even feeling nauseous, is not typically experienced despite the massive amounts of sugar consumed? This is because phosphoric acid tames down the flavor, preventing consumers from becoming sick of the overwhelming sweetness.

20 minutes after consumption

Sugar levels inside the body shoot up, causing a hormone called insulin to fire up. The liver reacts to this increase by turning excess sugar, which is quite abundant at this time, to fats.

40 minutes after consumption

Caffeine is absorbed into the body at this time. The body responds to this through pupil dilation and blood pressure elevation, which prompts the liver to release more sugar into the blood. The brain also becomes affected since the gates or receptors that receive adenosine, a central nervous system depressant, gets blocked. The said blockage causes individuals to stay “high.”

45 minutes after consumption

The dopamine levels inside the body increase, activating areas of the brain responsible for feelings of “pleasure.” The effect is said to be similar to that of heroin.

After 60 minutes of consumption

Multiple reactions happen within the body after an hour of consumption. The metabolism of the body shoots up as phosphoric acid attaches to calcium, magnesium and zinc found in the large intestine. Calcium levels within the body are then decreased as the elevated amounts of sugar boost its excretion via the urine.

Further diuresis will also take place, making people urinate more. The frequent urination or plentier amounts of urine excreted mean that water and electrolytes, which should head to the different parts of the body for nutrition, get dumped out of the body.

Sugar crash then follows as the elevated bodily actions start to wane. Individuals at this point become irritable, and all the water contained in the Coke also gets depleted, bringing with it all the electrolytes that should have been used by the body for nutrition.

Based on estimates, 1.6 billion servings of Coke are consumed all around the world daily. It is time to think about how much Coke has affected health worldwide.

8 Warning Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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This was on my Facebook today July 28, 2015. I thought that this information could help a lot of people so I copied here on my website. I am not responsible for any of it’s contents or pictures. I just slightly rearranged where the pictures were. ********************************************************

8 Warning Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis

1 month ago

by Angie Finlay

Photo Credit: Alice Day / Shutterstock.com

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an uncertain disease: it can resemble other conditions, symptoms will fluctuate, and it’s often difficult to predict how it will progress. For some people, it hits early and follows a distinct pattern of pain, swelling and stiffness, but others struggle for years with misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments.

In any case, RA is more than just a joint problem, and it warrants a different plan of attack than other types of arthritis. Don’t wait for your body to break down to call your doctor – if you notice any of these suspicious symptoms, consult with a rheumatologist to check for RA.

1. Fatigue

Feeling sleepy is one thing, but an exhaustion that’s difficult to overcome is another issue altogether. Fatigue is one of the first signs that your autoimmune response is kicking into overdrive, and it can last for weeks or months before any other symptoms begin to pop up.

You may also notice a feeling of general malaise, and that physical discomfort can turn into an emotional burden. When does fatigue demand a visit to the doctor? If it goes on for more than two weeks, despite your efforts to get more rest and reduce stress, it’s time investigate further.

2. Swelling in the Knuckle Joints

Typically, RA causes the knuckles at the base of your fingers, and those in the middle of your fingers, to swell. While the swelling tends to happen in both hands, not every finger is necessarily affected, and it’s not always painful.

However, unlike other arthritic conditions, the swollen joints tend to be rosy and warm to the touch – a sign of the inflammation caused by RA – and they will be soft and tender rather than firm. Larger knuckles (knees, ankles, shoulders, elbows) can begin to swell, too; your doctor will consider an RA diagnosis if two or more joints are swollen and painful.

3. Pain in the Balls of the Feet

If you’re experiencing the strange and uncomfortable sensation of walking on hard bumps, your feet may be showing signs of RA inflammation. Swelling on the ball of the foot – that is, the cushioned part beneath the base of the toes – can hit as suddenly as knuckle swelling, but often is worse right after you get out of bed in the morning.

This pain on the soles of the feet isn’t quite like bunion pain (which often comes at the base of the big toe), or corns or blisters. Instead, it feels deep and continues whether or not you wear comfortable shoes.

4. Tingling in the Hands and Fingers

RA is directly related to carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition that affects the nerve pathways in the arms and wrists. The most common symptom is tingling or a numb sensation – similar to the feeling of “pins and needles,” or when you hit your funny bone.

The RA causes swelling in the hand and wrist joints, which then puts pressure on the nerves, making it uncomfortable to write, type or grip things. Though the sensation is often worse at night, it could hit at any time, and justifies a visit to the doctor. Be sure to explain any other suspicious symptoms that may point to RA, too.

5. Symmetrical Pain

RA pain can come on fast, disappear, and then reappear in an entirely different place. However, in most cases, it hits both sides of the body simultaneously: each wrist may begin to ache, both ankles may be sore, or the knuckles on both your right and left hand may swell.
In contrast to the “wear and tear” of osteoarthritis that tends to affect a particularly stressed joint, RA joint pain stems from an autoimmune response that doesn’t align with overuse or trauma to the site.

6. Slow Healing

If you’re an active person, you’re probably used to feeling some aches and pains, but a sore wrist or ankle that goes on for weeks may be something more than a simple strain.

In fact, many younger people – who would never expect arthritis – experience sudden tenderness and swelling after an activity that leads to other sports therapy and even surgical treatment. Unfortunately, that could be a lot of pain, effort, and recovery for nothing if RA is at the root of the problem.

If you can’t trace your ache or swelling to a specific injury, or if it’s been a couple of weeks without improvement, ask your doctor about an arthritis test.

7. Morning Stiffness

Waking up stiff and achy could mean you’re getting sick or you’ve strained some muscles, but if it strikes the top of your wrists, elbows, or fingers, it may point to a deeper problem.

Morning stiffness is common in a few conditions, and though it can be a mild inconvenience, it tends to be more severe in those with RA. For instance, some gentle range of motion exercises can help stretch out the joints when osteoarthritis, but the morning stiffness in RA is generally more prominent and prolonged, often lasting longer than an hour.

Generally, the joints in your extremities will suffer the most; hip stiffness is more often associated with osteoarthritis.

8. Flu-Like Symptoms

Fatigue, low-grade fever and a vague feeling of discomfort are not uncommon in the early stages of RA. You may feel weak and unmotivated, and your mouth and eyes may feel dry, too. Sometimes these symptoms will come and go, or they could hang around for an extended period of time – signs that your body is in a state of inflammation.

If your fever is under 100°F and you also notice some pain and swelling in your joints, an RA flare may be right around the corner, and you should consult with a rheumatologist. On the other hand, a fever above 100°F typically points to an illness or infection, so track your symptoms closely in order to help your doctor reach the right diagnosis.

While an early diagnosis is important for any type of arthritis, it’s especially crucial for RA to be confirmed and treated as soon as possible. The longer you go without targeted treatment, the more harm your autoimmune response will cause – some aggressive forms of RA can permanently damage joints within one year. When you know what to look for, you stand a much better chance of catching the disease early and your rheumatologist can help you slow the progression of the disease.

Read more about rheumatoid arthritis symptoms over at NewLifeOutlook.

Tattoo Ink Gives A False Postive On Mom’s Cancer Scan

****************************************************************************** This article, like many others is from Little budha. I felt that it was important enough to copy and share here. This is a great preventative article in that it can warn people with tattoos ahead of time to beware of the false positive cancer diagnosis. That way they can ask for further diagnostic tests be done to either confirm or negate (rule out) the diagnosis of cancer.

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Tattoo Ink Gives A False Positive On Mom’s Cancer Scan

By Caroline Bayard

It doesn’t get much more terrifying than learning that you’ve been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

For many people, learning of a cancer diagnosis can be completely debilitating, just like many of life’s curveballs. During these difficult times, you trust what a doctor tells you, but what happens when even the best doctor is mistaken? A California woman learned the hard way that sometimes a false positive can be the best thing to happen to you.

The mother of four was probably devastated when she went for a recent PET scan to learn that her cervical cancer had spread to her pelvis. She was scheduled to have her reproductive organs removed, when the scan left doctors concerned that the cancer cells were spreading so quickly. The doctors went through with the surgery, but were shocked to find that the cells that were shown to be cancerous during the scan were actually completely normal.

The cells near her pelvis that lit up on the imaging machine were actually ink deposits from the multiple tattoos that covered her legs. The woman’s doctor, Dr. Ramez Eskander, told CBS in the following video, “What we wanted to do is educate physicians, patients, families. When there is a PET scan that shows a bright lymph node, if a patient has significant tattoos or body art, than you have to be cognizant that these might be false positives.”

If you know someone who has multiple tattoos, this is an interesting story to share with them, but either way, it’s completely shocking.

To watch the the video please go to: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/womans-tattoos-cause-false-alarm-over-cancer

When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions.

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There is some important information in this article from hitthenews.com. I have copied it and only taken out the advertisements. This is not my work.

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By: Courtney

24-05-2015

What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions.

This simple guide is based on his ideas and will help you to identify your nails’ shapes, as well as describe what Mangin believes they could reveal about your health, personality and emotions. Read on and see if you agree with what your nail shape says about you. Will all be revealed? We can bet that you are peering at your fingernails with anxiety or expectation right now!

13. Very Long Nail

Do you have overly long nails, despite the fact that you don’t seem to deliberately cultivate their growth? We’re not talking about artificially enhanced fingernails, either! Mangin believes that an overly long nail is linked to low energy conditions such as depression and lethargy. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions He also says in these cases there may be a loss of muscle tone which in turn can cause weakness, wasting or digestive problems. Mangin also describes how more severe and genetic neuro-muscular conditions such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis could have an association with this nail condition.

12. Very Short Nail

Very short nails, on the other hand, reflect a person with naturally high energy levels. Perhaps you are a can’t sit still, always on the go, fidgety nail biter! You’re definitely a chatterbox, as this nail type would show in your personality through a lively and outgoing nature. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions This nail type is commonly found on a person who loves to communicate and especially to debate controversial issues. You adore a lively discussion, would not be afraid to contradict another person and could even be known for pronouncing judgement on each and every issue!

11. Square, Flat Nails

Mangin says that this nail shape could be a warning sign of heart disease, whether age-related or in a younger person. It could also show a tendency to conditions of the nervous system such as cramps, spasms or weakness in the tendons. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions Perhaps you are a runner, wondering why you often get cramp attacks half way through your excercise cycle. Or maybe annoying leg cramps wake you up in the night? If you’re a woman with this nail shape, you may suffer with particularly bad menstrual pain and cramping and it could even be a sign of other problems in the reproductive system, particularly the ovaries and maybe therefore fertility issues.

10. Wide Nail Surface

Is the nail especially wide, such as the width greater than the height? Oh dear! Mangin says this can be a sign of an innately lazy person who may not be particularly interested in socialising with others. Would you laugh at anyone who described you as the natural life and soul of e dry party? Or do you subscribe to the belief that you’re not antisocial, just selectively social? What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions Perhaps, looking at it from a more humorous point of view, you would class yourself as a bit of an Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh scheme of life. Mangin believes this nail shape shows an inclination to have an overly gloomy outlook on life. In health terms, there could be some tendency to weakness in the lungs. You might therefore find that you suffer with frequent minor breathing problems, coughs or just don’t seem to have much ‘wind’ and get easily puffed out when exercising.

9. Triangular Shaped Nails

Nails that have an extremely narrow base so that they are almost triangular in appearance can be a sign of hypothyroidism caused by a hormone deficiency. This condition can cause a wide range of health problems such as tiredness and fatigue, depression, feeling cold, weight gain, delayed reflexes and sensory issues as well as a distinctive difficulty in concentrating which is known as ‘thyroid fog’. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions The character trait of the triangular nail is that of a rather nervous and critical personality, perhaps a person who lacks confidence and over compensates by finding fault in others. This kind of personality might also have a tendency to blaming all kind of circumstances instead of taking responsibility for the things that go wrong.
Mangin says that a triangular nail which is also sunken and unnaturally pale in colour might be a sign of cerebrospinal conditions that could affect the spine and brain.

8. Trapezoid Shaped Nails.

This nail shape can be recognised by a wider base and a narrower tip. It’s a strong looking and distinctive shape, but unfortunately Mangin believes that this nail shape is particularly linked to a psychological condition known as mythomania, otherwise known as pathological or compulsive lying. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions These people have a need to make up elaborate fantasies which seem to serve no real purpose contrary to the conventional ‘white lie’. They may be aware they are doing it or could even genuinely believe the fantastical though not completely implausible things that they say. The condition tends to come and go, apparently being brought on by episodes of severe stress. We do bandy the phrase ‘compulsive liar’ around freely as an insult, but it’s rare that a sufferer will use their condition for benefit. If anything, a sufferer may have a background of abuse which the syndrome can be related to. It has also been suggested that the condition has links to false memory syndrome.

7. Spatula Shaped Fingertip with Wide Nail

This is a rather awkward looking finger shape, where the tip of the finger resembles a spade or a spatula and also features a very wide nail. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions It should be easy enough to identify however, as Mangin believes that where this is seen on the thumb it is a sign of a particularly observant person! Otherwise, there are no particular characteristics of note and fortunately no health areas of concern.

6. Narrow and Tight Nails

A narrow nail, almost resembling a small slit or sliver of nail on the nail bed, is said to be a sign of a predisposition to skeletal weakness and in particular age and dietary related conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions So you might want to look carefully at your diet if this is your nail shape, as it’s well known that a healthy diet and specific dietary supplements can have a protective benefit. On the other hand however (no pun intended! this is a fortunate nail shape for character traits, as this person would tend towards a well balanced nature with plenty of natural nervous energy and vigour!

5. Concave and Convex Nails

I. Concave

The concave shape is an inwardly curved nail, like the bowl of a spoon. At the milder end of the scale, this nail shape could have an link with nervous disorders. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions However, if the shape is especially exaggerated, Mangin believes it could show a genetic predisposition to alcoholism or other mental disorders causing a breakdown of the ability to function well and productively in society.

II. Convex

What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions Convex nails, curved outwards like the underside of a spoon, are believed to show a person who has a delicate respiratory system. If your nails are especially convex you might, for example, have a tendency to suffer more frequent coughs, colds and sore throats than other people, especially in the winter months. Mangin suggests that these people should take particular care of themselves in cold, damp weather.

4. Olive Pit Nails

This is an unusual nail shape. The nails are oval with with narrow bases and tips that look like the shape of an olive pit or stone. This nail shape could be a sign of a weak cardiovascular system and poor arterial health. You might have circulatory problems such as blue tinged fingers, lips and toes or puffy, swollen ankles. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions In terms of feelings and emotions people with olive pit nails may have a nervous character and personality type – so best not to jump out and surprise them! Unfortunately for the owner of this nail shape, Mangin also links it with type II diabetes.

3. Sharp Curve and Point to Nail Tip

A sharply curved and pointed nail tip is not perhaps the look that most people would want to cultivate – unless you are a nocturnal blood-seeking personality! What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions This type of nail, Mangin believes, is linked to chronic health conditions such as asthma. It could also show a tendency to chronic kidney or lung conditions or even heart disease. Mangin doesn’t however have any personality characteristics that he links to this nail shape.

2. Ball Shaped Nail

This unusual kind of hemispherical nail shape resembles the curved glass dome covering a clock face and is very uncommon. What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions Mangin believes that, as with the curved, sharply pointed nail tip shape above, it also has a link to kidney and lung conditions, although in this case with an inherited genetic basis. Perhaps the toxins that the kidneys clear from the body are not well processed, leading to blockages that cause abnormal blood flow to the nail bed and affect nail growth.

1. Brittle, Flaking Nail Tips

What Your Nails Say About You: When Nails Reveal Your Feelings And Emotions This final condition is not linked to the shape of the nail itself and can be found in any nail shape. In many cases, dry and flaking nails may have an environmental cause, for example, reflecting excessive use of detergent products which remove the nails’ natural oils or frequent application and removal of nail polishes. It’s a good idea to wear protective gloves when gardening or washing up, if you suffer from this condition. You could also try a good quality hand cream, remembering to apply it frequently such as after hand washing and before bed when it has a good opportunity to sink in and work overnight. You could also try an olive oil soak to help with the condition of dry nails, as well as considering your diet. Supplements such as cod liver oil can be especially beneficial to both nails and hair.

Alternatively, it could be a sign of problems with the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of the body’s vital hormones such as those which regulate the production of oils in the skin and nail bed. Nails that are brittle and break easily could, Mangin believes, be also a sign of health issues in the cardiovascular or reproductive system.

When She Woke Up , She Noticed A Strange Mark On Her Arm.

chaosmosnews.com Posted this on June 14, 2015 I am unable to find the actual author.

When She Woke Up From Sleeping, She Noticed A Strange Mark On Her Arm. What It Ended Up Being…

When a young woman in England woke up one morning, she discovered a huge spider bite which quickly formed into a large blister and open wound.

It was March 24, when Carelle Mowatt, 24, woke up to find a large blister a spider bite on her leg.

At first the country singer decided not to go to the doctor and self-medicated herself with antihistamines. But the blister continued to grow. Then it suddenly burst wide open.

As it continued to get worse, she finally decided to visit a doctor and get her leg checked out.

“The next day, I plucked up the courage to see a doctor who told me it looked like a spider bite and was infected,” Mowatt wrote in her blog. “I started a course of antibiotics and had it bandaged every day.”

“The pain was absolutely unbelievable. I became nervous about anyone going near my leg. I wasn’t sleeping as I associated my bed with the bite.”

Two weeks after the bite, she was rushed to the hospital where she was loaded up with antibiotics and injected with morphine to ease her pain.

“We put my pain down to a bad allergic reaction to a regular house spider bite,” she said.

But a month later, her condition continued to worsen. Doctors were baffled.

“I had an actual hole in the side of my leg,” Mowatt said. “The bite had become necrotic. This is when your body can’t recover a trauma, when there is inadequate blood supply and the cells have totally died.”

That’s when a dermatologist scraped away the dead skin so new skin could grow in its place.

“The pain was unbearable,” Mowatt said. “I had five people pinning me down. Unfortunately, the necrotic tissue was firmly glued to my leg. I was facing surgery.”

But a spider bite specialist and plastic surgeon told her that the wound was healing and any surgery might risk further infection.

“A week later, the surgeon contacted me to say I should start letting air get to the bite and start showering too,” Mowatt said.

“This felt like Christmas – an actual shower!” she added.

But the doctor did need to perform surgery to remove the dead tissue.

“The pain was crazy,” she said. “Then, my superhero alter ego kicked in. ‘Take it off now!’ I said. All I recall is the intense pain. But the necrosis was gone.”

She was likely bitten by a venomous spider and now urges anyone with similar symptoms to see a doctor right away.

SHARE this story with your Facebook friends today!

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Since it says to share it on Facebook, I am taking it for granted that I can share it here on my website as long as I don’t take credit for it as if it was my work. It is not my work. I have given the credit to the website where it originated.

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When a young woman in England woke up one morning, she discovered a huge spider bite which quickly formed into a large blister and open wound.

It was March 24, when Carelle Mowatt, 24, woke up to find a large blister from a spider bite on her leg.

At first the country singer decided not to go to the doctor and self-medicated herself with antihistamines. But the blister continued to grow. Then it suddenly burst wide open.

As it continued to get worse, she finally decided to visit a doctor and get her leg checked out.

“The pain was absolutely unbelievable. I became nervous about anyone going near my leg. I wasn’t sleeping as I associated my bed with the bite.”

Two weeks after the bite, she was rushed to the hospital where she was loaded up with antibiotics and injected with morphine to ease her pain.

“We put my pain down to a bad allergic reaction to a regular house spider bite,” she said.

But a month later, her condition continued to worsen. Doctors were baffled.

“I had an actual hole in the side of my leg,” Mowatt said. “The bite had become necrotic. This is when your body can’t recover from a trauma, when there is inadequate blood supply and the cells have totally died.”

That’s when a dermatologist scraped away the dead skin so new skin could grow in its place.

“The pain was unbearable,” Mowatt said. “I had five people pinning me down. Unfortunately, the necrotic tissue was firmly glued to my leg. I was facing surgery.”

But a spider bite specialist and plastic surgeon told her that the wound was healing and any surgery might risk further infection.

“A week later, the surgeon contacted me to say I should start letting air get to the bite and start showering too,” Mowatt said.

“This felt like Christmas – an actual shower!” she added.

But the doctor did need to perform surgery to remove the dead tissue.

“The pain was crazy,” she said. “Then, my superhero alter ego kicked in. ‘Take it off now!’ I said. All I recall is the intense pain. But the necrosis was gone.”

She was likely bitten by a venomous spider and now urges anyone with similar symptoms to see a doctor right away.

Sleep Apnea May Cause Memory Loss and Alzheimer’s Disease

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I will put this notice on my post from now on, every time that I copy a post from Facebook, so all of my readers will know that this is not my work, but that of someone else. This, like so many of my posts have, came from Facebook. This posts and pictures are both from http://www.easybreathe.com

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Study Shows That Sleep Apnea May Increase Risk for Dementia

February 11, 2015

Some people suffer from temporary brain fogginess and chalk it up to a passing annoyance. It happens to everyone, right? – But imagine if you went into a brain fog and never came out again? Dementia affects the brain in myriad ways and it can slowly get worse with age, which means it one of the most debilitating and life altering diseases. Dementia affects the brain’s ability to process information, to recall memories and even to complete basic motor functions. Now a new study shows that disordered breathing – obstructive sleep apnea – may actually increase your risk of suffering from dementia.

In the medical field, the process of memory and cognition is still a bit of a mystery. You can’t necessarily see – with the naked eye – the part of the brain that gives us the ability to remember and process information. In recent years, however, researchers and doctors have been able to use magnetic resonance imaging to see this part of the brain – it literally lights up when it’s active. Using these tools has also allowed researchers to measure the negative affect of sleep apnea and its ability to cut off oxygen flow to the brain, which can have deleterious consequences.

Just recently, a study was released that got a closer look at the sleepless brain. Researchers at the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study followed around 167 Japanese-American men – with a mean age of 84 – until they died. The scientists had the men undergo polysomnographic sleep tests to test for obstructive sleep apnea and measure its severity. After the men passed away, the doctors then examined the patients’ brains.

What they saw in these brains was a real live glimpse of what low oxygen can flow can to do the brain’s physiology. According to the study, the men with the lowest blood oxygen levels at night were four times more likely to have brain damage caused by mini strokes. These mini strokes are usually a precursor to dementia. Although many people aren’t even aware of these strokes – they can be very serious and damaging. Also, the studied showed that men who spend the least amount of time in REM sleep were more likely to suffer from loss of brain cells and brain atrophy.

In the end, this study should be a wake up call to all sleep apnea suffers out there who are still on the fence aboutCPAP treatment. Just because you can’t see the effect your sleep apnea is having on your brain, it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. There could be a storm of activity going on that could one day lead to dementia. While the researchers note that more studies will have to been done – on a wider demographic of people – they are still fairly confident that sleep apnea can have extremely damaging affects on the brain. In the end, simply sticking to CPAP may be the secret to staying sharp and focused well into your golden years.

Source: Neurology. 2015 Jan 20;84(3):296-303. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000001163. Epub 2014 Dec 10. “Associations of brain lesions at autopsy with polysomnography features before death.”

CPAP Study: CPAP Slows Cognitive Deterioration

January 4, 2014

You don’t need a medical study to tell you that completely forgetting what you were going to say mid-sentence is alarming – it just is. Age seems to ravage us in ways that are less than becoming. Whether you are experiencing it yourself or whether a loved one is going through it, it isn’t a pretty disease. Right now, there are millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease – a degenerative neurocognitive disorder that causes moderate to severe memory loss, decreased cognition and other intellectual inabilities. The worst part is that it gets worse – a lot worse – with age. Did you know that it is also the sixth leading cause of death? But maybe the worst part isn’t that it gets worse, or that it kills you – maybe the worst part is that the disease doesn’t have a cure.

After only three weeks of CPAP use patients showed “significant improvement” in cognition and increased intellectual functionality.

– Kathy C. Richards, PhD

However, a study, which was published in the esteemed Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, offers hope – a lot of hope. The study shows that persistent, long term CPAP treatment resulted in “lasting improvements” in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease, which was named after the mustachioed, pince-nez wearing German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer, goes hand in hand with sleep apnea. It seems that between 50% and 90% of patients with Alzheimer’s have sleep apnea. Researchers and doctors don’t exactly know why Alzheimer’s and sleep apnea are so inextricably linked in some patients, but they do know that the worse the sleep apnea, the worse the Alzheimer’s – and vice versa.

This ‘what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ scenario is what led researchers to find out if treatment of obstructive sleep apnea can also treat Alzheimer’s disease. Namely, researchers wanted to find out if the treatment of sleep apnea using continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, could improve cognitive functioning in patients with Alzheimer’s. What the researchers from the Department of Medicine at UC San Diego found was that indeed their hunch was right. In fact, after only three weeks of CPAP use patients showed “significant improvement” in cognition and increased intellectual functionality. After six weeks, it got even better.

Researchers also found that the changes in cognition as a result of CPAP treatments were not that far off from the changes seen in patients who were put on cognition-enhancing medication. In other words, CPAP treatments can not only give you a much better night’s sleep, but they can also clear the proverbial fog in the tunnel. What does this mean for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease? It means a possible chance to fight off the imminence of mental decline. And it also means that through the fog, there is a light at the end of the tunnel – for people with Alzheimer’s disease and sleep apnea.

On the more severe end of the spectrum, obstructive sleep apnea is found in more than 40% of people institutionalized as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. Many of these individuals can barely function without assistance – let alone remember what they ate for breakfast or even remember their own names, which is the sadder and much darker side of the disease. However, if this revolutionary study shows that CPAP treatments can improve cognitive functions, what does it mean for those more severe cases? And if in less than fifty years the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease more than doubles, does this give us hope for our future selves?

When it comes to it, if sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s disease are more linked than we think, it’s probably worth further exploring. If sleep apnea can literally wreak havoc on a person’s cognitive abilities – even in people who aren’t diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease – perhaps preventative measures using a CPAP machine should be customary to prevent deterioration from happening in the first place. Yet, what this amazing study does tell us is that if you do use a CPAP machine, you should keep using it, especially if you have the early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia. While this landmark study is only preliminary, it is still a promising benchmark to investigate the relationship between a mysterious sleep disorder and an equally mysterious neurocognitive disorder. I’m sure if Alois Alzheimer were alive today, he’d definitely be stroking his impressively coiffed mustache in agreement.

Cooke JR; Ayalon L; Palmer BW; Loredo JS; Corey-Bloom J; Natarajan L; Liu L; Ancoli-Israel S. Sustained use of CPAP slows deterioration of cognition, sleep, and mood in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and obstructive sleep apnea: a preliminary study. J Clin Sleep Med 2009;5(4):305-309.

This Is Good To Know

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I will put this notice on my post from now on, every time that I copy a post from Facebook, so all of my readers will know that this is not my work, but that of someone else. This, like so many of my posts have, came from Facebook. This is from a post by Dr David B Samadi. I agree with the comment that what is in the picture is good to know. The location of the pain is the best indicator of what the problem is.

****************************************************************************** Dr David B Samadi‘s photo.

Good to know

Dr David B Samadi

When it comes to abdominal pain, location is an important clue to finding the problem.

9 Symptoms of MS Most People Ignore

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Tingling/Unusual Sensations in the Limbs About half of the people with MS have a ‘pins and needles’ or tingling sensation in their arms and legs. They may also experience numbness, itching, burning, stabbing, or tearing pains.

Treatment Can Help However uncomfortable these symptoms may be, they are manageable and treatable.

Optic Neuritis Problems with vision tends to be one of the first symptoms to occur with MS.

Optic Neuritis The individual may experience sight that is blurry, gray, or has a dark spot in the center. Temporary vision loss or eye pain is also possible with optic neuritis.

Fatigue Fatigue usually comes on in the afternoon causing muscle weakness, slowed thinking, or sleepiness.

Sleepy Many people with MS say they often feel tired even after a good night’s sleep.

Spasticity An early symptom of MS, spasticity causes tight or stiff muscles and an inability to control those muscles. As MS progresses, muscle spasms may develop; some often quite painful.

Poor Coordination/Muscle Weakness Coordination can be hindered by muscle weakness or spasms. Problems with balance, numbness in the feet, and fatigue can make walking difficult.

Stability Help Many sufferers of MS need a cane or walker to help them with stability.

Lhermitte’s Sign Lhermitte’s sign is a syndrome that creates an electric-like sensation in the neck and back. This ‘spark of electricity,’ a strange symptom of MS, travels to the arms, legs, fingers, and toes.

Incontinence Incontinence, the urgent need to urinate, is another symptom of MS. Often individuals need to go in the middle of the night or have trouble emptying their bladder fully.

Speech Problems Difficulty with speech is a tertiary symptom of MS. The effects of this disease can cause a long pause in between words or slurred speech.

Nasal Voice Some people suffering from this disease may develop nasal-sounding speech.

Cognitive Changes MS can bring on cognitive changes in the brain. These changes can affect the ability to learn and retain information, cause slow thinking, and make memory fuzzy.

Focus Troubles It can also affect organizational and problem-solving skills. Also compromised is the focus on attention and the ability to accurately perceive the environment.

How Daughter With Down Syndrome Changed Dad’s Life For The Best

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I will put this notice on my post from now on, every time that I copy a post from Facebook, so all of my readers will know that this is not my work, but that of someone else. This, like so many of my posts have, came from Facebook. This article is from San Francisco Globe. The URL is http://fbarticle.sfglobe.com/2014/12/18/hYr/?

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How Daughter With Down Syndrome Changed Dad’s Life For The Best

December 19, 2014

The San Francisco Globe

This story is so touching.

Her Husband Was Repulsed By Their Newborn Daughter, And It’s Tear-Welling

Heath White has always been a perfectionist. The marathon running, FBI Special Agent has never settled for anything less than perfect.

Heath White has always been a perfectionist. The marathon-running FBI Special Agent has never settled for anything less than perfect. After earning a scholarship to Northwestern State in Louisiana, White earned a 4.0 GPA and went on to law school. After a brief semester studying law, White was accepted into pilot training with the United States Air Force. Promptly after graduating at the top of his class at the Air Force, Heath got down on one knee and proposed to the woman of his dreams.

When Heath and his wife were pregnant with a second child, doctors delivered them some troubling news – their daughter had Down syndrome. The news was especially difficult for Heath to swallow. “My main concern was what people would think about me…What weakness inside me caused that?” While Heath was adamant about aborting their unborn daughter, his wife took a different stance, “I contemplated it for maybe an hour, he did for months.”

On March 16, 2007, Paisley White was born. Heath still struggled to come to terms with what had happened, and for several months he stopped running, completely uncharacteristic of him. But one night, while holding and tickling his daughter, Paisley’s smile and laugh triggered something deep inside Heath. He realized that he’d been wrong all along, and that his daughter was just like any other child. He vowed to repent for his selfishness and close-mindedness. He wanted to show the world how much he cared for and loved his daughter.

The video below tells the story of Heath and his journey to finding inner peace. For a man who seemed so shallow from the onset, he’s come a long way. It’s a brief documentary with a running time of about 15 minutes – but it’s unquestionably worth the watch. What did you think of Heath’s story? Was he able to redeem himself? Sound off in the comments section below and share this beautiful story.

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I hope this article was as touching to you as it was to me. It goes to show that every life has great significance, no matter what challenges have to be met. Also, a parent’s love can help conquer most of the obstacles a child has to face.

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Is It A Cold Or The Flu?

******************************************************************************I will put this notice on my post from now on, every time that I copy a post from Facebook, so all of my readers will know that this is not my work, but that of someone else. This, like so many of my posts have, came from Facebook.

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Kelly Bagnasco