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At the Radiological Society of North America 93rd Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting (that was a mouthful) there was a discussion on a link between Hypertension and Alzheimer's.

Philip O. Alderson, MD, of Columbia University in New York easily discussed the connection between these two by explaining in layman's terms, "Since Alzheimer's disease is marked by abnormal metabolism in an area of the brain associated with memory, you could imagine that poor delivery of nutrients to that part of the brain would make you more susceptible to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease."

Makes sense to me.

Any sort of inflammation of nerves and or veins can slow down the process of sending signals and/or blood to the brain. When this happens you can imagine the effects whether immediately or overtime. So if someone has high blood pressure then it is imperative to have it treated successfully and as early as possible in an effort to thwart a stronger possibility of having Alzheimer's disease later in life.

SOURCE

Labels: Alzheimer Disease, high blood pressure

WebMD always in the know..."Three times since the 1970s, the FDA has rejected the idea of adding a new "behind the counter" class of drugs to existing prescription-only and over-the-counter medication, which can be bought with no professional supervision."

Would you feel comfortable taking medicine given to you after having been screened by a pharmacist. Granted they know all about the drugs, but do they know how to evaluate and diagnose?

My husband always reads the boxes and/or bottles of medicine I buy when I'm not feeling well. Most of the time he doesn't agree with my purchase. He knows that Sudafed will help me far more than DayQuil Sinus medicine because they put a lesser amount of the ingredient that I really need. So I know working in a pharmacy setting definitely makes you familiar with what ingredients do in medication and what the proper dosage would be.

Canada and the U.K., have "behind-the-counter" drug classes. The idea is to give consumers easier access to medications deemed safe enough that they do not require close supervision by a doctor. It would be nice I suppose, but I wonder if co-pays at doctor's offices would end up going up due to such a change.

We shall see...after all the healthcare in this country definitely needs an overhaul.

SOURCE

Labels: healthcare, medicine

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is currently drawing attention to the need for memory screening. Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month is November and so the National Memory Screening Day is November 13, 2007. It is a day when the promotion of early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses is heightened. There will be 2,000 sites in 46 states will offer confidential memory screenings, education about Alzheimer's disease and successful aging, and access to local resources.

Screenings are not just important for those experiencing memory loss. Those who really don't have a concern at the moment should still consider having a screening done so they have a basis to compare future results of screens.

In addition to having a memory screening done, the AFA explains how important it is to find out early on how to best optimize your memory. One can improve their memory overtime, but they need to have a starting point to keep track of progress.

Last year, about 21,000 people participated in memory screenings at more
than 700 sites nationwide on National Memory Screening Day. An estimated 10
percent of those screened were advised to follow up with a health care
professional for further evaluation.

I encourage you to participate on November 13th, but I also implore you to share this knowledge with your loved ones. Word of mouth can go a long way!

Labels: Alzheimer Disease, memory