Parkinson's Disease

6th of July, 2017


Parkinson's Disease:

Parkinson's Disease is a disease of the Central Nervous System and mostly occurs among the elderly.
As we age, our cells don't regenerate at the rapid rate they use to and cause a decline in mobility and memory.
Some of the symptoms of Parkinson's are tremors of the hands, stiffness, poor balance.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson's Disease but medications can be taken to alleviate the symptoms. Muscle rigidity is a very common symptom and can limit the range of motion in this case. Automatic movements such as chewing, blinking, and smiling can decline as well. In severe cases, slurred speech also occurs and makes talking very difficult.


There are several causes of Parkinson's:


Natural aging process where cells do not multiply rapidly enough to keep up with demand
Environmental Triggers. Constant exposure to environmental toxins can increase the risks for Parkinson's.
Genetics. Certain genetic mutations increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson's.
Lewy Bodies are clumps of proteins that collect inside nerve cells and increase the chances for Parkinson's as well.

Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease. This is possible because men do not reap the protective benefits of estrogen and they are more likely to hold jobs which leads to head injuries.

To diagnose Parkinson's Disease it is important to see a medical professional. They can conduct brain scans such as PET scans and MRIs. Levodopa is a popular medication that may be used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's.

What is Sleep Apnea?

28th of June, 2017

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep condition in which the flow of air is decreased while you are asleep because the airway is obstructed or narrowed.

On occasion, this can happen to anyone but when it is not a consistent issue, it is called a "sleep apnea episode."

Two types of sleep apnea exist:

• CSA (Central Sleep Apnea): This type of sleep apnea occurs when the brain and muscles are not in sync. The brain does not signal the muscles to breath and breathing can stop. It is less common than Obstructive sleep apnea.
• OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea): This type of sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked and air does not have free passage to the lungs. This is a more common type of sleep apnea. This often occurs when "soft tissue" obstructs the passage way. These muscles become more relaxed during sleep, and fall back and block the airway.

A common and annoying symptom of sleep apnea can be snoring. Snoring occurs when the area is trying to get past the obstruction and into the airway.

            Some characteristics that increase the likelihood for sleep apnea are:

• Unique shapes of the airway that cause the airway to be narrower or collapse 
• Large neck or collar size (17 inches or more in men and 16 inches or more in women)
• Large tongue, which may fall back and block the airway
• Being overweight, pregnant or obese
• Large tonsils and adenoids in children that can block the airway
• A lower jaw that is shorter than the upper jaw
  A narrow airway that is smaller than average
• 
  
• Tips for Preventing Sleep Apnea:
• 
  
• Losing weight if you are overweight.
• Do not sleep on your back.
• Decreasing or cutting out alcoholic drinks.
• Adjusting sleeping positions to open up airway.
• Quit Smoking Cigarettes. Smoking can increase the swelling in the nasal passage and increase the risks for apnea.

Preventing Arthritis

21st of June, 2017

Preventing Arthritis:

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints which causes stiffness, pain and limited range of motion. Arthritis is more likely to inflict people of older ages, from normal wear and tear of the joints. Genetics, excess wear

and tear, injury and the natural aging process can both increase the risk for arthritis. While arthritis can be painful, it is not life threatening. Here are some tips to prevent arthritis from afflicting you:

1. Keeping your weight at a healthy number can definitely reduce the likelihood of arthritis. When the body carries around excess weight, it puts extra stress on the skeletal system, joints, and muscles. keeping excess weight off will reduce stress on your joints and prevent deterioration.

2. Keeping a healthy diet and eating plenty of fish can help you keep your bones healthy. The healthy omega-3 fats in fish, help you keep a strong skeletal system, keep excess weight off and provide your body with much-needed nutrients.

3. Engage in low-impact exercise, which will help strengthen your muscles, keep the excess weight off the bones and joints. The best, low impact exercise is biking, swimming, yoga, pilates, walking.

4. Prevent injury during any activity by wearing the appropriate protective devices, cushioned shoes, and other safety gear. Preventing injury is the best way to diminish the likelihood of arthritis in people of all ages and genders.

5.  Keep your Vitamin D levels high by engaging in outdoor activities with sun exposure. Yes, you can take vitamins to ensure you have proper levels of Vitamin D. However, Vitamin D from the sun cannot be replaced by a pill and is necessary for proper calcium absorption and strong bones.

6. Stay Hydrated by drinking plenty of non-sugary water throughout the day. The cartilage in our joints largely consists of water and drinking water is necessary to replenish it. Not only that, drinking water helps keep off excess weight and helps the body function better overall.

Use these tips daily, check in with your doctor regularly and help prevent arthritis!

Rheumatoid Arthritis

19th of April, 2017

Rheumatoid Arthritis:


Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease of the joints and causes inflammation in major joints of the body such as knees, hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis is common in older adults and is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system confuses the healthy tissues for foreign invaders and begins to attack them. The body begins to attack and destroy joints, causing severe pain as well as other symptoms. Some other symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are tender and stiff joints, aches and pains, fatigue and on occasion fever.

Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Unfortunately, Rheumatoid Arthritis does not have any treatment that would reverse the progress of the disease. However, through physical therapy and medication, the progress can be slowed down significantly.  

Warm compresses and heating pads can be used to decrease pain. Physical therapy is important and can diminish the pain in the joints. A medical professional is likely to prescribe DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). These type of medication do not reverse arthritis but do slow down the progress. In severe cases, joint replacement surgery may be necessary to help one live a life of mobility. 

There are ways of decreasing the likelihood of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis:

If you feel swelling or inflammation in your joints, immediately see a healthcare professional. The earlier Rheumatoid Arthritis can be detected, the better. Treatment should be started early.

Exercise also helps prevent all types of arthritic diseases. Start exercising young to build better bone density.

Quit smoking and do not over use alcohol. This can be said for any disease though. If you want to decrease your risks, you need to avoid cigarettes and alcohol as much as possible.

Maintain a good diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and avoid junk food as much as possible. 

Osteoporosis in the Aging Population

11th of April, 2017

Osteoporosis in the Aging Population:


Osteoporosis is a condition of the skeletal system where bones become brittle, weak and porous. Osteoporosis is more common in women than men but can occur in both genders. It is more likely to develop in the aging population and in people 50 and older. The bones in people with osteoporosis become more brittle, soft and have a porous appearance.

Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people with Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies. The biggest danger of osteoporosis is the increased likelihood of broken bones. This can be extremely painful and irreversible because the bones are not able to repair very well.

Osteoporosis can also cause a decreased height in the individual and severe back pain. These are the primary and only signs of osteoporosis. Factors that can increase osteoporosis are aging, vitamin deficiency, lack of exercise, excess soda consumption and frequent tobacco and alcohol use.


There are ways to prevent osteoporosis:

Resistance exercise like walking, swimming and weight lifting. Exercise increases bone mass. The peak time to build bone mass is in your 20's. The higher your bone mass the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis.

A healthy and balanced diet. Most of us know what a healthy diet needs to consist of, but very few people can keep it up for long periods of time. Try to make it a lifestyle change. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink more water and less soda. Eat less processed foods and more fresh, whole foods. If it comes out of a box or a drive-through, it is not good for you.

Getting enough Vitamin D. Getting enough sunlight is important because vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption by the bones, making the bones stronger. Try exercising outside - it is a great way to get resistance training as well as sunlight.


Take all these factors into consideration and create a healthier lifestyle. Do it for the future you and to keep your bones strong and healthy for a long time!