Now is the Time to Quit Smoking

We can only hope that my generation will be the last one who grows up in a culture where smoking was cool and acceptable.  The health passion of baby boomers that comes out of their dislike of anything that accelerates the ageing process is one of the reasons the anti-smoking movement has gained strength in the last decade.  The reasons for quitting smoke are well known to anyone who has paid attention to the issue at all. Over the next few days, I will post some ideas for tools that you can use to help you stop.

Smoking reduces the lifespan.  For the baby boomer generation, living a long and healthy life is a way of staying young.  Smoking not only shortens the lifespan but it is a plague to your health in every era of life.

Smoking destroys the quality of life.  Simple pleasures like breathing and enjoying a fine meal are damaged because smoking dominates the lungs and taste buds.  The pleasures that make life worthwhile are rendered neutral by smoking.

Smoking hurts the innocent.  Secondary smoke hurts the ones you love and it plants in children the desire to smoke in their adult lives.

Smoking brings on dire diseases such as cancer and lung disease.  These diseases are deadly and they can make life in your retirement years miserable.

Smoking makes you ugly.  This may be the worst crime there is to a baby boomer.  Smoking causes wrinkles and dries the skin making you look decades older than you really are.

The good news is that even for baby boomers who may have been smoking for decades, it’s always possible to quit.  Sometimes it’s easy to decide you can never beat this addiction.  You may have tried the patches and pills and even hypnotism and the desire for the nicotine poison lingers on.  But it is possible to do it.  There are some steps to getting it done which will take a while but they are proven to work.

Get plenty of support.  Get your family on your side and educate them on your program.  If you commit to them you are going to do it, they can love that habit out of your system.

Catalogue your smoking.  Make a precise journal of exactly how many cigarettes you have every day when you have them and even who you are with when you have them. Here are some ideas to start on your quest to quit.

·       Stabilize your usage.  Now select the 10 or 20 times each day you will have a cigarette and only let yourself have one at those allotted times.  Do this for about 2 weeks.  If you want a cigarette at another time, just promise yourself you will wait for it.

·       Starting with week one of the quit smoking campaign, eliminate one cigarette from your routine.  Pick the easiest time not to have one.  Pick the time that is least social so you feel less pressure to go ahead and light up.  So, where you may have smoked 20 cigarettes a day before, now you smoke 19 a day.  Do that for 2 weeks.  If you want a cigarette during that eliminated time, just promise yourself you can have one at the next allowed smoke break.

·       Eliminate one cigarette from your schedule every do week. 18 cigarettes a day for 2 weeks, then 17, then 16 and on and on.  Keep notes.  Go from easiest time to quit to hardest.

·       With each successful phase, have a little celebration with your friends and family.

Finally, you will down to one a day.  You will have scaled your dependency down to this one tiny smoke break.  You will come to that moment when you say, “Oh what’s the point of having the one?”  Then you can crumple up your last pack and throw it way. 

The great thing about this approach is its free and you just slowly reduce your dependence by promising yourself that cigarette at the next allowed smoke time.  Stay with the same brand so your level of nicotine remains constant.  And by staying at each level for a couple of weeks, you give your body a chance to slowly get used to each reduced level until you have weaned yourself off of the dreaded weed entirely.  And when you throw that final pack away, its time for a big party. Congratulate yourself because you have quit smoking and just added years of fun and happiness and joy to your family to your life.

More information on Alzheimers',

Risk factors

According to the Alzheimer's Association, age is the primary risk factor for developing Alzheimer's.

From the age of 65, the risk of developing Alzheimer's doubles every 5 years. By age 85, a person has a 50 percent chance of developing Alzheimer's.

Another risk factor is family history or genetics. A person is more likely to develop Alzheimer's if they have an immediate family member with the disease. If more than one person in the family has had Alzheimer's, the genetic risk increases.

Researchers are still unsure why Alzheimer's develops at an early age in some people. However, they have identified rare genes in some people who experience Alzheimer's in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.

If a person experiences one or more of the symptoms listed above, they should speak to their doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis might help slow the progression of the disease.

There is no standard test to diagnose Alzheimer's, so a doctor will make a diagnosis based on several factors.

A doctor will ask a person about the symptoms and concerns. The doctor will also review a person's family history, specifically looking for a history of Alzheimer's and dementia. It may help to bring a loved one to the doctor's office for support.

After an initial review of the person's symptoms and family history, a doctor may order medical tests, including a neurological exam and brain imaging.

Treatment

Treatment focuses on managing symptoms, as there is still no cure for Alzheimer's disease.

There are some medications available that may help with memory loss. These are most effective if started early on in the disease's progression.

Doctors can also provide recommendations and medications to help a person who is experiencing related health issues, such as insomnia, which may be contributing to memory problems.

A person may also benefit from talking to a counselor about any behavioural changes they experience. Also, some medications are available to help with symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Supporting a loved one

A person can support a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's in many different ways. Some recommendations include:

·               Learning about Alzheimer's disease to understand the symptoms better.

·               Participating in activities with the person as often as possible.

·               Discussing the changing relationship with a counsellor or other trusted person.

·               Talking to the person about concrete ways to help, such as by preparing meals or driving them to appointments.

·               Connecting with other people through support networks.

 Outlook

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but treatment can help in some ways. Early detection may help slow the progression of the disease but will not prevent it.

A person is most at risk of developing Alzheimer's as they age, especially if they have a family history of the disease. If a person suspects they or a loved one is developing Alzheimer's, they should speak to a doctor.

What are the signs of early-onset Alzheimer's?

Published in Medical News Today on Fri 22 June 2018 and written by Jenna Fletcher, and reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP

This article is of interest to me because I had two close friends who were inflicted with early-onset Alzheimer’s and they died within 3 years of contracting this disease. It was devastating to their friends and families, and if we had known the signs perhaps they could have received help earlier than they did.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia typically associated with older adults. However, early-onset Alzheimer's disease occurs before the age of 65. Alzheimer's causes memory problems and a variety of related symptoms. It is a degenerative disease, which means the symptoms will get worse over time.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all known dementia cases. Though there is no cure, there are some treatments available to ease symptoms and slow the disease's progression.

Signs and symptoms

There are several distinct signs and symptoms of memory loss that may indicate Alzheimer's. If a person experiences one or more of the following signs or symptoms, they should speak to their doctor.

  

1. Memory loss that impedes daily activities

Reliance on memory aids may be a sign of early-onset Alzheimer's.

The most common symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss. A person experiencing memory loss may:

·     forget recently learned information

·     ask for same information repeatedly

·     have a higher reliance on memory aids, such as calendars and notes

·     forget important events or dates

 As a person ages, it is not uncommon to forget things from time to time. Typical, non-Alzheimer's memory loss may include forgetting an acquaintance's name but remembering it later on. A person with early-onset Alzheimer's will have more noticeable memory loss and may repeatedly forget the same information.

2. Trouble completing everyday tasks

Another common early sign of Alzheimer's is when a person has difficulty completing an otherwise familiar task. A person with early-onset Alzheimer's may:

·     forget how to get to a grocery store, restaurant, or place of employment

·     have problems balancing a home or work budget

·     forget the rules of a familiar game

Sometimes, natural ageing may cause a person to need help with new or unfamiliar things. For example, helping an older loved one figure out the settings on their new phone is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate a problem. By contrast, if a person has used the same phone for years and suddenly cannot remember how to make a phone call, they may be experiencing Alzheimer's-related memory loss.

3. Problem-solving or planning difficulties

Some people with early-onset Alzheimer's find they have trouble following directions, solving problems, and focusing. It may be hard for a person to follow a recipe or directions written on a product. They may also have trouble keeping track of monthly bills or expenses.

4. Problems with vision and spatial awareness

Alzheimer's can sometimes cause vision problems, which may make it difficult for a person to judge distances between objects. It may also cause a person to have difficulty distinguishing contrast and colours. These vision problems combined can make it difficult or impossible to drive. Normal ageing also affects eyesight, so it is essential to have regular checkups with an eye doctor.

5. Confusion about location and time

Another common sign of early-onset Alzheimer's is getting confused about places or time. A person may have trouble keeping track of seasons, months, or time of day. A person may occasionally be unable to recognize where they are or have no memory of how they got there.

6. Frequently misplacing items and not being able to retrace steps

misplaced items may be due to early-onset Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's may cause a person to forget where they placed an item. Most people will lose items at some time but are usually able to locate them again by searching in logical locations and retracing their steps. A person with Alzheimer's may forget where they placed an item, especially if they put it in an unusual place.

Alzheimer's also makes it difficult for a person to retrace their steps to find the missing item. This can be distressing and may cause the person to believe someone is stealing from them.

7. Problems writing or speaking

A person may have trouble keeping up in a conversation or may repeat themselves. A person may also have trouble writing down their thoughts.  The person may stop in the middle of a conversation, unable to figure out what to say next. They may struggle to find the right word or label things incorrectly.

It is not uncommon for a person to occasionally struggle to find the right word. Typically, they eventually remember it and do not experience the problem frequently.

8. Showing signs of poor judgment

Everyone makes bad decisions at times. People with early-onset Alzheimer's, however, may display a marked change in their ability to make good decisions. Signs of poor judgment include:

·   spending too much on unnecessary items

·   showing inattention to personal grooming

·   not showering or cleaning themselves regularly

9. Mood or personality changes

A person with Alzheimer's may start to become confused, anxious, suspicious, or depressed. They may show these signs in a variety of settings, including at work, at home, and in unfamiliar places. They may become frustrated with their symptoms or feel unable to understand the changes taking place. This may present as aggression or irritability towards others.

10. Stepping away from social or work activities

As Alzheimer's develops, a person may stop participating in the social or work activities they used to enjoy.

Pandemic Flu 100 years ago

The ‘greatest pandemic in history’ was 100 years ago – but many of us still get the basic facts wrong, so starts the story at the Conversation.com  written by Richard Gunderman,  Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University.

I like many of my generation was dimly aware of the great Pandemic of 1918-1919 and had put it out of my mind. In school, we studied the Black Plague (the 1300's) which devastated Europe, but we did not spend much time on the Pandemic of 1918. Perhaps we should have studied it to see if there are any lessons we can learn to protect ourselves from the influences attacking us today. 

In his article, Professor Gunderman lists the top ten myths and goes into details about why they are wrong.  In his introduction, he says,  "By correcting these 10 myths, we can better understand what actually happened and learn how to prevent and mitigate such disasters in the future."

I am listing the Myths below for more information go to his article, here.

1. The pandemic originated in Spain
No one believes the so-called “Spanish flu” originated in Spain. The pandemic likely acquired this nickname because of World War I, which was in full swing at the time. 

2. The pandemic was the work of a ‘super-virus’
The 1918 flu spread rapidly, killing 25 million people in just the first six months. However, more recent study suggests that the virus itself, though more lethal than other strains, was not fundamentally different from those that caused epidemics in other years.

3. The first wave of the pandemic was most lethal
Actually, the initial wave of deaths from the pandemic in the first half of 1918 was relatively low. It was in the second wave, from October through December of that year, that the highest death rates were observed. 

4. The virus killed most people who were infected with it
In fact, the vast majority of the people who contracted the 1918 flu survived. National death rates among the infected generally did not exceed 20 percent. Of course, even a 20 percent death rate vastly exceeds the typical flu, which kills less than one percent of those infected.

5. Therapies of the day had little impact on the disease
No specific anti-viral therapies were available during the 1918 flu. That’s still largely true today, where most medical care for the flu aims to support patients, rather than cure them.

6. The pandemic dominated the day’s news
Public health officials, law enforcement officers, and politicians had reasons to underplay the severity of the 1918 flu, which resulted in less coverage in the press. 

7. The pandemic changed the course of World War I
It’s unlikely that the flu changed the outcome of World War I because combatants on both sides of the battlefield were relatively equally affected.

8. Widespread immunization ended the pandemic
Immunization against the flu as we know it today was not practiced in 1918 and thus played no role in ending the pandemic. In addition, the rapidly mutating virus likely evolved over time into less lethal strains. 

9. The genes of the virus have never been sequenced
In 2005, researchers announced that they had successfully determined the gene sequence of the 1918 influenza virus. The virus was recovered from the body of a flu victim buried in the permafrost of Alaska, as well as from samples of American soldiers who fell ill at the time.

10. The 1918 pandemic offers few lessons for 2018
Severe influenza epidemics tend to occur every few decades. Experts believe that the next one is a question not of “if” but “when.”  While few living people can recall the great flu pandemic of 1918, we can continue to learn its lessons, which range from the commonsense value of handwashing and immunizations to the potential of anti-viral drugs.