ARE YOU A CARE GIVER?

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Here are some tips for a healthy lifestyle as you provide care for your loved one… 

If you are a caregiver to a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, remember that you need to be a caregiver to someone else as well – yourself. Do take good care of your own health. If it seems like there are not enough hours in the day to take care of your loved one, and yourself, don’t worry; perhaps you can come up with a strategy to do both at the same time. Here are some tips.

Exercise together

Physical activity is very beneficial, both physically and mentally, for people at all stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Exercising may improve memory and slow mental decline, improve sleep, improve strength and enhance confidence, among other benefits. The exercise can be as simple as a daily walk, gardening, or dancing.

Exercise is certainly just as beneficial to caregivers. Even though the exercise you do with your loved one may be slow-paced, it is still beneficial. For instance, taking a walk provides moderate exercise, fresh air, and the opportunity for social contacts out of the house.

Plan physical activities that you and your loved one can do together and consult your loved one’s healthcare professional if you have any concerns before you begin.The Alzheimer’s Society has  tips on exercise for people with Dementia.

Brain-healthy diet

The Alzheimer’s Association stresses the importance of proper nutrition for people with Alzheimer’s because poor nutrition may increase behavioral symptoms and cause weight loss. Plan nutritious brain-healthy food for your loved one and for yourself and enjoy your meals together.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have developed a diet plan, the MIND diet, which may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 53 percent. The MIND diet combines elements of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. It recommends 10 “brain healthy food groups” and identifies five “unhealthy food groups” to avoid.

Not all the recommended foods may be appropriate for your loved one, but you can enjoy those that are appropriate together.

The MIND Diet
10 foods to eat daily: green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil and wine 
5 foods to avoid: red meats, butter and stick margarine, cheese, pastries and sweets, and fried or fast food

Lift your Spirits with Music

Research has shown that music helps calm people with Alzheimer’s disease and may even reduce their eating and sleep difficulties. People with Alzheimer’s and other Dementia can enjoy music and can engage in rhythm playing and singing even in the late stages of the disease. Experts recommend playing music from early childhood, such as folk songs, in the language they were learned, for patients in later stages of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has more tips on music and its benefits to Alzheimer’s patients.

Caregivers too can get great benefits from music. Listening to music has a calming effect, can lift our spirits, and increase our work output. Research has also shown that listening to music may lessen pain, improve immune function and improve memory. Develop a play list of music that is beneficial and enjoyable to both yourself and your loved one. Play and enjoy the benefits together. Try singing songs together as well.

Enjoy activities with your loved one, but be sure to schedule some time just for yourself. Ask family and friends to help out at least once a week so you can go do something you enjoy, even for a short time. You will return rejuvenated.

Living Hopefully with Alzheimer’s

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Hardly a week goes by without some progress in the field of Alzheimer’s research. Although there is no cure yet, these study results give us hope. Here are some highlights from the most recent studies…

Music Magic
Music therapy has been used for decades to help patients with a variety of ailments. Research over the years has shown that music has profound effects on the brain. For instance, there is evidence that music can help reduce chronic pain, and help stroke patients regain speech. Music therapy has also been found to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers at University of British Columbia found that music therapy helps calm Alzheimer’s patients and reduces sleep and eating difficulties. The study measured the patients’ cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol are an indication of stress. They found that music therapy had calming effects almost equal to those of a tranquilizer. Follow-up studies are needed to rule out the possibility that the patients’ improvements were due to the attention they received, not the music, the researchers say.

Diet Matters
A decade-long study has shown that diet matters for Alzheimer’s prevention. The study revealed that those participants who most closely followed the MIND diet reduced their risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 53%. The MIND diet is a cross between the Mediterranean and DASH diets. It emphasizes ten foods to eat daily and five foods to avoid (see details in story on page 3). Study participants who tried but did not follow the diet perfectly still reduced their risk of getting Alzheimer’s, while those who followed the diet most consistently for the longest time derived the greatest benefit.

Vitamin D
In one study, researchers found a link between Vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer’s. The 1,658 study participants, all over the age of 65 years, had their Vitamin D levels checked and followed up over several years. During the course of the study, 171 participants developed dementia and 102 developed Alzheimer’s. The results showed that those with low levels of vitamin D were 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and those who were severely deficient were 120% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than the participants with no Vitamin D deficiency. Although the study does not prove that Vitamin D deficiency causes Alzheimer’s, it has provided direction for further studies on the effect of Vitamin D supplements and foods rich in Vitamin D. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of the U.S. population is deficient in Vitamin D. We get Vitamin D from the sun, as well as from eating eggs, milk, cheese and fatty fish.

Dairy does it
In a recent study conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center, older healthy adults who drink milk were found to have higher levels of glutathione, a naturally-occurring antioxidant, in the brain. This finding is important because glutathione could help to prevent damage caused by oxidative stress. The researchers compare this damage to that caused by rust building up on a car for a long time. The study participants who came close to eating the recommended three servings of dairy per day had higher levels of glutathione. More studies are needed to determine the precise effect of milk consumption on the brain, the researchers say.

Ultrasound
Australian researchers have come up with an ultrasound technology to clear the brain of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that cause clumps in the brain, resulting in memory loss and a decline in cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. The study, done on mice, fully restored the memory function of 75% of the mice, and did not cause any damage to their brain tissue. The sound waves activate the brain’s microglial cells. Microglial cells are waste-removal cells, so once activated, they clear out the toxic clumps in the brain. The research team from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland will next test their results with higher animal models, such as sheep, before they begin their human trials, which they hope to begin in 2017.

Tips to help you and your family prevent kidney disease

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Did you know that one in three Americans is at risk of kidney disease? Here are some tips on keeping your kidneys healthy. If you have kidney disease, these tips do not apply. For instance you may need to drink less water, depending on your kidney function and your doctor’s advice. This is because damaged kidneys do not get rid of extra fluid as well as they should.

Stay hydrated

Your kidneys work most efficiently if they have enough water flowing through to carry away the waste they filter. Therefore, it is very important to stay hydrated. Dehydration puts stress on your kidneys. Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. Drink more water on hot days and when you exercise than you would normally drink. How can you tell if you are hydrated? The color of your urine is a good indicator. If should be clear or straw colored. Any darker and you know you need to hydrate.

OTCs and kidney function

Avoid daily or regular use of over-the-counter analgesics. Analgesics are medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen, which help control pain and fever. Overuse of these medications for a long time, as well as of those that contain combinations of analgesics, can damage your kidneys. Read the warning label on your over-the-counter analgesics to see how long you may take them. If you still have pain or fever beyond that time, see your doctor. If you have reduced kidney function, do not take over-the-counter analgesics without the advice of your doctor.

Be kind to your kidney

Your lifestyle matters. When you exercise regularly, you keep your weight and blood pressure healthy, which is good for your kidneys. Combine exercise with foods rich in antioxidants. Cabbage, cauliflower, berries, garlic, and olive oil are all great foods for kidney health. Fish is also good for your kidneys. The American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association recommend two or three servings of fish a week. Salmon, rainbow trout, mackerel, herring and tuna, are excellent choices.

Becoming an organ donor

More than 96,000 people need a kidney each year, but only about 17,000 receive one. Every day 13 people die waiting for a kidney. To become an organ donor after death you can register online at donatelife.net/register-now or you can indicate your wish on your driver’s license. Don’t forget to let your family know your wishes. You can also make a donation to someone you know or to a stranger, while you are still alive, if you are healthy enough.

Useful Resources

Information on kidney disease and its prevention: The National Kidney Foundation: www.kidney.org

Information on becoming a kidney and other organ donor: Donate Life America: www.donatelife.net

Download free cookbooks featuring kidney-friendly recipes: http://www.davita.com/cookbook

ARIZONA EVENTS MARCH 2015

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Peoria Cactus Dash Trail Run: March 15, 9am. Lake Pleasant gives runners the opportunity to run off road while enjoying spectacular views of the Lake. Please note that this is not stroll in the park!  The course will challenge runners with climbs and downhills to create a thrilling experience. Cost $20. Lake Pleasant Harbor Marina. Peoria, AZ. To register or for more details call 623-773-7137 or visit www.peoriaaz.gov/running

Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection: March 28, 8am-11am. Bring household hazardous waste for proper disposal. Free. Proof of residency in Avondale, Goodyear or Tolleson is required in the form of a utility bill.  Materials should be tightly sealed in their original containers, if possible. Items with glass should be wrapped to avoid breakage. Materials should be transported in a cardboard box in the vehicle trunk or truck bed. Coldwater Park, 10 N. Eliseo C. Felix Way, Avondale, AZ. For list of acceptable items see www.avondale.org/DocumentCenter/View/35812

One for WATER 4-Mile Race: March 21, 7am -11am. How many professionally timed races are championed by a larger-than-life running toilet and an out-of- control irrigation sprinkler? Join us in chasing down the leaks! Rio Vista Community Park, 8886 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, AZ. Cost $25. Contact 623-333-4422.  www.fixaleakweekaz.com

39th Annual Dolly Sanchez Memorial Easter Egg Hunts: April 4, 8am-noon. Here’s your chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, so don’t forget your camera! Candy hunts, petting zoo, pony rides, train rides, make & take crafts, face painting, carnival games. Admission and parking free with canned food donation to benefit St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance. Some activities require a nominal fee. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria, AZ. http://www.peoriaaz.gov/specialevents

Gut bacteria byproduct linked to chronic kidney disease for the first time

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Cleveland Clinic researchers have, for the first time, linked trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) — a gut metabolite formed during the digestion of egg-, red meat- or dairy-derived nutrients choline and carnitine — to chronic kidney disease.

TMAO has been linked to heart disease already, with blood levels shown to be a powerful tool for predicting future heart attacks, stroke and death. TMAO forms in the gut during digestion of choline and carnitine, nutrients that are abundant in animal products such as red meat and liver. Choline is also abundant in egg yolk and high-fat dairy products.

The research team was led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine for the Lerner Research Institute and section head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic, and W.H. Wilson Tang, M.D., Department of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute and Lerner Research Institute. The research will be published online on January 29th and in the January 30th print edition of Circulation Research.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more that 20 million Americans are estimated to have chronic kidney disease, many of whom are undiagnosed. It is caused by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. As the disease worsens, waste products can accumulate in the blood and can be fatal without interventions. It has long been known that patients with chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but the exact mechanisms linking the two diseases are not known. This newly discovered TMAO link offers further insight into the relationship between cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

“It’s a triple whammy” said Dr Hazen. “Elevated plasma TMAO levels in subjects are linked to future cardiac risks, and in subjects with normal renal function, elevated levels predict long-term future risk for development of chronic kidney disease; animal model studies show that long-term exposure to higher levels of TMAO promotes renal functional impairment and atherosclerosis; and as the kidneys lose function, TMAO isn’t eliminated as easily, and levels further rise, increasing cardiovascular and kidney disease risks further.”

Drs. Hazen and Tang measured fasting TMAO levels in 521 patients with chronic kidney disease and in 3,166 subjects without chronic kidney disease, following all subjects over five years. They found that TMAO levels were higher in patients with chronic kidney disease, and elevated TMAO levels were associated with greater mortality risk in both subject groups. In animal models, the researchers also found that chronic dietary exposures to choline and TMAO were associated with development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Further studies are needed to determine if dietary interventions can delay disease progression of both chronic kidney disease and associated cardiovascular disease.

“Our studies raise the exciting prospects of nutritional interventions to help retard development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Regrettably, very little is known about diet and renal disease progression,” said Dr. Tang.

This research strongly implies the need to focus preventive efforts on dietary interventions and therapeutic targeting of gut microbiota-dependent TMAO pathways, potentially to halt development and progression of chronic kidney disease, as well as cardiovascular disease risks.

This article is based on materials provided by Cleveland Clinic. It may be edited for content and length

UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE:

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The numbers are alarming! More than 26 million Americans suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a disease that causes kidney failure if left untreated.

When the filters fail

CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and can therefore not perform their blood-filtering function adequately. The waste that should have been filtered and passed on to your bladder for elimination now builds up in your blood. This can cause you problems such as high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, and nerve damage. If your CKD continues untreated, you could suffer kidney failure. This means that your kidneys can no longer be relied on to filter your blood. Your risk for heart disease is also higher with uncontrolled CKD.

The grace period

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the main cause of CKD. Both of these conditions can damage the tiny, delicate filters in the kidneys and cause them not to function properly. This damage happens over the years, presenting us with a grace period; an opportunity to get it under control before the damage happens.

Keeping alert

Don’t allow kidney failure to take you by surprise. You may not have symptoms even when you have lost three-quarters of your kidney function. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting your kidney function tested. Also be aware of symptoms that could indicate poor kidney function, such as fatigue, trouble concentrating, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, swollen feet and ankles, and puffy eyes.

Two simple tests

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a blood test that measures your level of kidney function based on the level of creatinine in your blood and other factors such as your age, race and gender.

A simple urine testdi checks for blood or albumin (a type of protein) in the urine, which can be early signs of kidney disease.

CKD Risk factors

The National Kidney Foundation has identified the following as risk factors for CKD. If you have any of these risk factors it is a good idea to get a kidney health check:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Family history of kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease
  • African-American, Native American, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander heritage
  • Age 60 or older
  • Obesity
  • Low birth weight
  • Prolonged use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen
  • Lupus or other autoimmune disorders
  • Chronic urinary tract infections
  • Kidney stones

If you have CKD

If you have been diagnosed with CKD, here are six recommendations by the National Kidney Foundation for helpful lifestyle adjustments:

  • Lower your blood pressure if it is high
  • Keep blood-sugar levels under control if you are diabetic
  • Reduce salt intake
  • Avoid NSAID painkillers
  • Moderate protein consumption
  • Get an annual flu shot

Ten percent of heart patients may be inappropriately prescribed aspirin: Over the counter use may increase numbers

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WASHINGTON (Jan. 12, 2015) — More than 10 percent of patients treated with aspirin therapy for primary cardiovascular disease prevention were likely inappropriately prescribed medication, according to a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that examined practice variations in aspirin therapy. Accessing data from the National Cardiovascular Disease Registry Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) Registry, researchers examined a nationwide sample of 68,808 patients receiving aspirin for primary cardiovascular disease prevention. By evaluating aspirin guidelines by the American Heart Association, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, and other organizations, researchers determined aspirin use to be inappropriate in patients with a 10 year cardiovascular disease risk of less than 6 percent. Researchers identified patients from 119 practices who were prescribed aspirin between January 2008 and June 2013, excluding patients receiving aspirin as a secondary prevention due to history of cardiovascular disease such as myocardial infarction, prior stroke, and atrial fibrillation. The study found nearly 12 percent of the patients receiving aspirin for primary prevention were receiving it inappropriately. The frequency of inappropriate aspirin use was higher among women, at nearly 17 percent compared to men at 5 percent. Patients inappropriately receiving aspirin were, on average, 16 years younger than those receiving aspirin appropriately. Inappropriate aspirin use decreased from 14 percent in 2008 to 9 percent in 2013. In practices with more than 30 patients receiving aspirin for primary prevention, researchers found a median practice-level frequency of inappropriate use of 10 percent and varied significantly across practices at a range of 0 to 72 percent. Researchers used median rate ratio to suggest that between two “identical” patients treated at two random practices, one patient was 63 percent more likely to be prescribed aspirin inappropriately than a similar patients due to the practice where they receive care. Aspirin therapy is not shown to reduce adverse cardiovascular events in patients without cardiovascular disease and a low risk of developing disease. However, it is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes which often outweighs any potential benefits. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently denied a request to allow the marketing of aspirin for primary prevention, following that decision the FDA also issued a public advisory against the general use of aspirin for primary prevention. As aspirin is available over the counter, it is also possible inappropriate aspirin use is higher if patients are taking it by their own choosing. “Medical providers must consider whether the potential for bleeding outweighing the potential benefits of aspirin therapy in patients who don’t yet meet the guidelines for prescribing aspirin therapy,” said the study’s lead and senior author, Ravi S. Hira, M.D. and Salim S. Virani, M.D., Ph.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “Since aspirin is available over the counter, patient and public education against using aspirin without a medical provider’s recommendation will also play a key role in avoiding inappropriate use.” In an accompanying editorial, Freek W.A. Verheugt, M.D., of Onza Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in Amsterdam said, “Major coronary events are reduced 18 percent by aspirin, but at the cost of an increase of 54 percent of major extracranial bleeding. Each two major coronary events have shown to be prevented by prophylactic aspirin at the cost of one major extracranial bleed. Yet, primary prevention with aspirin is widely applied.” The above article is based on materials provided by American College of Cardiology. It may be edited for content and length.

Love is good for your health

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This year, don’t let Valentine’s Day just go by; celebrate the ones you love.
Love is good for your health. Truly! And not just romantic love – all kinds of love. Parents and children, friends and siblings. Here are a few ways that loving relationships are great for you.

Love is good for your heart
A study from Finland showed that married people, both men and women, were much less likely than single people to have a heart attack; and if they did they were less likely to die from it. Another study showed that our disposition in a relationship affects our heart health. The results of that study showed that women who had hostility towards their spouse had increased risk of heart disease, and men who had dominant or controlling behavior towards their spouse had increased risk of heart disease as well.

Blood pressure
One study found that happily married couples had lower blood pressure levels than single people. However, unhappily married couples had higher blood pressure than both their happily married counterparts and single people. This benefit applies to loving friendships as well. Another study found that people in quality relationships of any kind had lower blood pressure, while the loneliest people in the study had up to a 14.4-point rise in systolic blood pressure.

A loving hand
According to a study published in Psychological Science, holding hands with someone you love reduces stress and anxiety. High stress and anxiety can cause blood pressure to rise, increase heart rate, and make you vulnerable to heart disease. The study participants were happily married couples. The women were told they would receive a mild shock to the ankle. Waiting for the shock made the women anxious, but when their husbands held their hands, the women’s anxious brain activity (measured by MRI scan) reduced. A stranger’s touch was also comforting, but less so than the spouse’s touch.

Loving prose, lower cholesterol
In a study published in Human Communication Research, college students spent 20 minutes writing about their love for friends, relatives or romantic partners. They experienced significant drops in total cholesterol (the mean cholesterol levels reduced from 170 mg/dL to 159 mg/dL). Students in the control group wrote about random topics unrelated to love and did not experience the same health benefit. You might want to consider writing a paragraph in the Valentine cards you send out this year!

Remember though, great relationships aren’t built in a day. Great relationships are built daily – on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Keep loving!

Arizona Events February 2015

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Fools: Feb 6 – 28. Brelby Theatre Company. Leon has landed in an idyllic Russian hamlet, but he finds people sweeping dust back into their houses and milking upside down for more cream; the town has been cursed with Chronic Stupidity and Leon’s job is to break the curse. No one tells him that if he stays over 24 hours and fails to break the curse, he too becomes Stupid… Brelby Studio, 6835 N 58th Ave. Glendale, AZ. http://brelby.com

LEGO KidsFest: Feb 27 – March 1. University of Phoenix Stadium. All of the hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experience. An activity-filled event for all ages and builders of all skills. Features life-sized models, live demonstrations, build and race a custom car. Children and Seniors $19.50, Adults $22.50. 1 Cardinals Dr., Glendale, AZ http://www.LEGOKidsFest.com

Small World Miniature Doll House Show & Sale: Feb 28, 10am -5pm and March 1, 11am- 4pm – ASU West, exhibits from AZ residents, sale of furniture, accessories, dolls from artisans from throughout the U.S. & Canada, door prizes, make and take miniature projects, raffle for local charities. Children under 12 $2, Others $5, 480-488-7074 or http://www.phoenixminiatures.com

The Peoria Greekfest: Feb 6, 7, and 8, Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 11am-10 pm, Sun noon-8pm St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church. Children’s Rides & Games, Delicious Greek Food & Pastries, Authentic Dancers, Loukoumades Eating Contest, Art, Jewelry, and Clothing, Church Tours. Admission $3, 12 & under free, students & active military free. 7950 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Peoria, AZ. 623-486-8665 or www.peoriagreekfest.com

Surprisingly… Good for your heart

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Popcorn
A study by the University of Scranton found that popcorn contains healthy antioxidants called polyphenols, which are good for your heart. Popcorn actually contains more polyphenols than fruits and vegetables (though you still need to eat your fruits and veggies for other nutrients). Keep your popcorn healthy by popping it yourself at home – in a pot, not the microwave. Remember, too much butter and salt takes away from the health benefit.

Dark Chocolate
According to a review published in the British Medical Journal, people who ate more chocolate benefited from a reduction in cardiovascular disease and stroke. Of course, not any old chocolate will do. Chose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa. Flavonol, the flavonoid found in cocoa, helps lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and reduce free radical damage.