Senior Care Partners

Archive for January, 2011

More than 1.6 million U.S. adults are estimated to use complementary and alternative therapies to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping, according to the results of a national survey published in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a theme issue on sleep.

There are different kinds of insomnia:

Sleep Onset Insomnia (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome): A disorder in which the major sleep episode is delayed in relation to the desired clock time that results in symptoms of sleep onset insomnia or difficulty in awakening at the desired time.

Idiopathic Insomnia: A lifelong inability to obtain adequate sleep that is presumably due to an abnormality of the neurological control of the sleep-wake system. The insomnia is long-standing, commonly beginning in early childhood, sometimes since birth.

Psychophysiological Insomnia: A disorder of somatized tension (conversion of anxiety into physical symptoms) and learned sleep-preventing association that results in a complaint of insomnia and associated decreased functioning during wakefulness.

Childhood Insomnia (Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder): Primarily a childhood disorder that is characterized by the inadequate enforcement of bedtimes by a caretaker with resultant stalling or refusal to go to bed at the appropriate time.

Another kind of insomnia that generally affects children is called Sleep-Onset Association Disorder. This disorder occurs when sleep onset is impaired by the absence of a certain object or set of circumstances, such as being held, rocked or nursed; television watching, radio listening, etc.

Food Allergy Insomnia: A disorder of initiating and maintaining sleep due to an allergic response to food allergens. It is typically associated with the introduction of a new food or drink, i.e., cow’s milk.

Environmental Insomnia (Environmental Sleep Disorder): A sleep disturbance due to a disturbing environmental factor that causes a complaint of either insomnia or excessive sleepiness. (How about the garbage man or the leaf blower early in the morning!?)

Transient Insomnia (Adjustment Sleep Disorder): Represents sleep disturbance temporally related to acute stress, conflict or environmental change causing emotional agitation.

Periodic Insomnia (Non 24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome): Consists of a chronic (lasting a long time) steady pattern consisting of 1-2 hour daily delays in sleep onset and wake times in an individual living in society.

Altitude Insomnia: An acute (short and sharp course, not chronic) insomnia usually accompanied by headaches, loss of appetite, and fatigue, that occurs following ascent to high altitudes.

Hypnotic-Dependency Insomnia (Hypnotic-Dependent Sleep Disorder): Characterized by insomnia or excessive sleepiness that is associated with tolerance to or withdrawal from hypnotic medications.

Stimulant-Dependent Sleep Disorder: Charcterized by a reduction of sleepiness or suppression of sleep by central stimulants, and resultant alterations in wakefulness following drug abstinence.

Alcohol-Dependent Insomnia (Alcohol-Dependent Sleep Disorder): Characterized by the assisted initiation of sleep onset by the sustained ingestion of alcohol that is used for its hypnotic effect.

Toxin-Induced Sleep Disorder: Characterized by either insomnia or excessive sleepiness produced by poisoning with heavy metals or organic toxins.
How is insomnia treated?

Each case of insomnia is tailored for that particular person’s needs. Methods used for treatment include behavioral modification, following good sleep hygiene practices, light therapy, and occasionally medication is prescribed for a short period of time.

Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety-and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. If your doctor pronounces you a “healthy” insomniac, he might suggest some of the techniques provided here. Or she might prescribe drugs to help you get to sleep.

Play some soft, soothing music that will lull you to sleep. There are even cassettes and records designed for that very purpose. Some are specially composed music, others simply have sounds of waves rhythmically breaking, or the steady pattern of a heartbeat.

Of course if you don’t have a record, cassette or CD player that will automatically turn off, we don’t suggest this. If you have to get up and turn it off at the end, you’ve obviously lost its effect.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis often was thought to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. Osteoporosis leads to literally abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone leading to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). A broken bone can really affect a woman’s life. It can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make it harder to do daily activities without help, such as walking. If you have osteoporosis, you have an increased risk for fractured bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. In most cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in your bones. The process of bone remodelling from resorption to matrix synthesis to mineralization normally takes about 8 months–a slow but constant process. The disease is “silent” because there are no symptoms when you have osteoporosis, and the condition may come to attention only after you break a bone. Osteoporosis can also accompany endocrine disorders or result from excessive use of drugs such as corticosteroids.

Osteoporosis can cause a person to stoop forward and appear to have a hump on his or her spine. The most serious and debilitating osteoporotic fracture is the hip fracture. The goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent such fractures in the first place. People with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Most hip fracture patients who previously lived independently will require help from their family or home care. In the United States, nearly 10 million people already have osteoporosis. Another 18 million people have low bone mass that places them at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. One out of every two women and one in four men over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can fracture with only a minor fall or injury that normally would not cause a bone fracture.

Causes of Osteoporosis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osteoporosis include the following:

Family history of osteoporosis.

Smoking.

Anorexia nervosa.

Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones.

Small, thin women are at greater risk.

Certain medications eg steroids.

Drinking alcohol.

Lack of dietary calcium.

Inactive lifestyle.

Low testosterone levels in men.

Longer postmenopausal interval.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Some sign and symptoms related to Osteoporosis are as follows:

Back pain, which can be severe if you have a fractured or collapsed vertebra.

Broken bones.

Loss of height over time, with an accompanying stooped posture.

Dull pain in the bones or muscles.

Neck pain.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

Here is list of the methods for treating Osteoporosis:

A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.

Alendronate (Fosamax

The most common cause of joint and muscle pain is a disease called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Most of the patients suffering from SLE experience muscle and joint pains during course of the illness.

The pain is mainly caused by the inflammation of joints and muscles. Sometimes the symptoms resemble that of viral flu, as an acute pain in joints and muscles can make someone feel really sick. The symptoms at times may resemble those of arthritis, as the joints, which have an aching pain also, get swollen and become tender. In some patients the joint pain might not be so acute, but intense muscle inflammation may result in loss of strength.

Sometimes, joint and muscle pains precede SLE. In some extreme cases, a person may feel joint and muscle pain even at rest. Most of the patients suffering from muscle and joint pain are advised by doctors to have the right mix of rest and exercise. They have to be extremely careful while doing any activity, so that they do not put additional stress on already-affected muscles and joints.

Though muscle and joint pain can occur in any part of the body, hips, shoulders and knees are more prone to this ailment. Excess body weight adds to the woes of patients suffering from these pains.

However, SLE is not the only cause of muscle and joint pains. They could be caused by a combination of ailments, such as arthritis and muscle injury. So before one reaches a conclusion about the cause of joint and muscle pain, it is important to consult a doctor.

Muscle and joint pains can be cured when detected at an early stage. In some cases, though, a permanent cure may not be possible. In other cases the patient may have to undergo surgery to replace certain joints. Muscle and joint pain can seriously affect the activity level of any individual. So one should try to avoid it by doing regular exercises, eating a balanced diet and consulting a doctor whenever one feels such pain.

Sleeping disorders have become very common these days especially among the young generation. It is due to a number of factors such as lack of sleep, increasing stress level, improper diet, excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol, wrong cycle of eating foods, irregular meals and so on. To put succinctly, we can say that it is the result of unhealthy lifestyle that we all are living today. It is here that relaxation comes to play a vital role in keeping mind and body fit and rejuvenated.

When we say relaxation, it relates to both mind as well as body. It means complete relaxation and to achieve that, there are plenty of techniques and activities you can indulge in; first and foremost being meditation. Restless mind always keeps wandering and such a person often fails to get even a wink. To ensure that your mind remains cool and calm, there is nothing like meditation.

Yoga is another relaxation therapy that can prove to be of great value in curing various forms of sleeping disorders. It maintains your physical as well as mental soundness. There are different asana for toning your muscles that help in alleviating pains. Deep breathing is known to work wonders for an average person.

Indulge in your favourite hobby, listen to music or play some sport or do anything that you feel like pursuing. All these activities will restore your energy and you won’t feel lethargic anymore. It is necessary to take some form of relaxation therapy especially in today’s time when life has become so tough and stressful, giving rise to a host of medical problems. To keep your mind sound and body healthy, it is necessary to pursue relaxation therapy.

To relax tired aching body, another thing that you need to do is to replace your old mattress with a more advanced mattress that can comfort your body. Memory foam mattresses have the capability to adjust themselves according to the contour of your body and this gives immense support and comfort to the body. The pressure is spread evenly and this contributes in keeping away various kinds of pains. Thus, memory foam bedding products are now perceived as one of the best solutions for relaxing the body and curing sleeping disorders.

Vitamin D is likely your best bet to prevent the flu. Let me explain. Research has shown that supplementing with Vitamin D reduced the flu dramatically. In fact doctors now believe that the reason the flu is seasonal (in the winter time) is that our Vitamin D levels drop during the winter due to lowered levels of sunlight.

Did you ever wonder why there is a flu season? That is, “Why do flu viruses cause a problem only in the winter time?” Our friends in public health would say that in the winter time (in northern climates) humans tend to be closer together in the winter. We’re huddled together inside because its cold outside. Being in closer proximity allows the flu, which is communicated primarily by touch and sneeze, to travel from one person to another more readily. It makes sense that being in closer proximity would increase flu incidence a bit.

But does it explain the fact that the flu is seasonal? Researchers have found another more viable explanation which involves vitamin D. It is only recently that the medical community has come to appreciate the prime importance of vitamin D in our health. My first exposure to Vitamin D in high school biology (or was it nutrition?) was that vitamin D deficiency caused rickets. When vitamin D was deficient calcium could not be absorbed and the bones got weak. We now know that Vitamin D does much more than promote calcium absorption. Vitamin D has been found to impact the expression of over 200 genes in the human body. Among other things Vitamin D enhances your immunity to infection. It does so by stimulating the production of a substance called cathelicidin in white cells. Cathelicidin is anti-microbial. It helps the white cells to kill invaders, be they a virus or bacteria.

Okay, so what if Vitamin D helps stimulate our immunity? What’s that got to do with the flu?

That still doesn’t explain anything about the flu happening in the winter time. But yes it does, and here’s why. Vitamin D is synthesized when sunlight hits our skin. In northern climates there is less sunlight during winter (November through February in most places). There is also a corresponding drop in the population’s vitamin D levels during the winter time. According to John Cannell, M.D. roughly 70% of the US population has Vitamin D levels that are too low (below 35 ng/ml). Lack of sunlight in the winter time further aggravates this deficiency. How important is sunlight for Vitamin D production? A young white adult will manufacture 20,000 IU of Vitamin D within minutes of full body exposure to sunlight. And again, in the winter time we have less sun light, and consequently our body makes less Vitamin D.

But this still doesn’t prove the Vitamin D – flu virus connection, does it? Here’s where the researchers come in with what they believe is the beginning of the proof of a Vitamin D-seasonal flu connection. John Aloia and Melissa Li-ng published their research in an article entitled “Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D” in the journal Epidemiology and Infection (October, 2007). The authors studied 208 women over the course of three years. The women were randomly divided into two groups of 104 each. One group received 800 IU of Vitamin D and the other received none (a placebo). The groups were followed for two years to see how many women got the flu. The group taking Vitamin D had 8 cases of the flu. The group not taking Vitamin D had 26 cases, or more than 3 times the number. During the final year of the experiment the women who had been taking 800 IU of Vitamin D had their daily dose increased to 2000 IU. The third year there was only once case of the flu in the group receiving the Vitamin D.

Another group of researchers published their findings in an article that appeared in the medical journal Nature Medicine in April, 2006. The article was entitled “Fighting Infections With Vitamin D”. The authors begin by noting that in 1903 Niels Finsen received the Nobel Prize for discovering that sunlight cured tuberculosis. This sunlight therapy cured and/or improved 95% of cases. The reason was unknown at the time. Now we know that Vitamin D stimulates the immune systems production of anti-microbial substances. The authors go on to say that our current recommendations for Vitamin D intake are based on what is required for bone health. Research findings suggest that the optimum Vitamin D intake to insure a strong and healthy immune system is more than that.

How much Vitamin D should you take for a strong immune system?

There are two answers. The first is that ideally you should have your Vitamin D levels tested. The ideal range for Vitamin D (calcidiol) is 35 to 50 ng/ml. Many commercial labs report a “normal” Vitamin D level as being anywhere between 8 to 72 ng/ml. So rather than getting a “normal” back from the lab, you need to see that the number is between 35-50 ng/ml. If you don’t want to test your Vitamin D level, and you do not get a lot of sun exposure, take 800-2000 IU of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) per day. Vitamin D3 is found only in animal sources. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is available from plants. Be careful that your Vitamin D supplement does not contain too much Vitamin A. For instance cod liver oil contains 1,200 IU of Vitamin D and 14,000 IU of Vitamin A per tablespoon. Taking a 2000 IU dose of cod liver oil per day gives you too much Vitamin A, and Vitamin A can be toxic.

What about Vitamin D toxicity? What is the danger?

Vitamin D toxicity is not common. The best way to assure against toxicity is to have your Vitamin D levels checked periodically. Joh Cannell, M.D. of The Vitamin D Council reports that it would take 100,000 capsules of 1,000 IU Vitamin D to approach the lethal dose of Vitamin D in a 150 pound man. Research has demonstrated that taking 4,000 IU of Vitamin D for up to six months has no ill effects. If you make a concerted effort to get sunshine exposure, you can drop your intake of supplemental Vitamin D to 800 IU daily.

Early menopause occurs most often in women who are 30 to 40 years of age. It may occur in women younger than that with underlying causes. It very important that if you are suffering the signs of early menopause that you consult a doctor to rule out anything else that may be happening or a consequence of other health conditions. This is especially important if you have lupus and are experiencing signs of early menopause.

Lupus Symptoms

There are a few types of lupus including Discoid Lupus and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Discoid Lupus most often affects the skin. It will present as a red rash that could have raised edges. It commonly occurs on the face and scalp. The rash is not itchy but scarring on the scalp can cause irreversible hair loss. Up to approximately 10% of those who have Discoid Lupus will develop Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The most common complaints of those who suffer with systemic lupus erythematosus include fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle pain, arthritis and mouth/ nose ulcerations.

A facial rash (butterfly rash), photosensitivity and inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart-pleuritis and the heart-pericarditis are also symptoms of lupus. Problems with circulation to the fingers and toes when it is really cold are also called Raynaud’s phenomenon. Inflammation of the brain, liver, and kidneys also occur in SLE. There may be a decrease in white blood cells and clotting factors. This increases the risk of infections and bleeding.

More than 50% of those with SLE will develop the flat red butterfly rash. Most SLE sufferers will develop a type of arthritis that is very similar to rheumatoid arthritis. The small joints of the hands, the wrists, and feet may swell, become painful, stiff and sometimes deformed. Inflammation of the blood vessels especially those that supply oxygen to tissues can cause nerve injury, injury to the skin, or injury to an internal organ.

These are some of the major and most common symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus. Within each symptom is a set of sub-symptoms that result from the main symptoms. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can be very treatable. It may also cause death depending on which body organs are affected.

The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus is determined if a patient has four or more of eleven criteria. They are: malar-butterfly rash, discoid rash with patchy redness, photosensitivity (sensitivity to light), mucus membrane ulcers, arthritis, pleuritis and pericaridits-inflammations of the linings of the heart lungs along with pain when breathing, kidney abnormalities including an abnormal quantity of urine protein or clusters of cellular elements (casts), brain irritation, blood count abnormalities, immunological disorders-abnormal results of such tests as Anti-DNA, or anti-Sm, testing positive for antinuclear antibody.

Other tests could include a Sedimentation Rate, blood chemistry and evaluation of body fluids, as well as tissue biopsies. SLE can also cause one to enter early menopause

Treatments of systemic lupus erythematosus include get more rest during the active phases of the disease. Inadequate sleep is key in the progression of fatigue in SLE patients. A doctor must focus on poor sleep and the effects of depression, insufficient exercise and patient’s personal care coping abilities on their over-all health. Drugs that are used to relieve symptoms of SLE include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that help muscle, joint and other body tissue pain.

Corticosteroids are stronger in lessening inflammation and restoring the ability to function when SLE is active and they are helpful when internal organs are involved. They can be delivered in a number of forms but they have some serious side effects in long-term use at high doses. Thinning skin and bones, weight gain, infections, diabetes, facial puffiness, cataracts and even death (necrosis) of large joints are also possible. There is a wide variety of types of drugs used to treat mild to severe cases of SLE.

Symptoms of Early Menopause

Lupus and early menopause have some common symptoms. Sleep problems, heart palpitations, headaches and hot flashes that can occur in lupus and the patient not are menopausal. Irregular periods and bleeding are classic signs of beginning menopause. If you are a woman with lupus menstruation can continue but as has been mentioned become irregular and cease altogether catapulting you into early menopause. Other symptoms of it include appetite changes, weight gain, body aches, and mood swings all of which can also occur in lupus.

Early menopause in lupus can occur as a result of the disease itself. It can also be a result of the medications used to treat lupus. It can also be a result of heredity as opposed the disease or treatments of the disease.

Treatment of these symptoms can be HRT- hormone replacement therapy, anti-depressants, and anti-inflammatories. These treatments can have some very serious side effects such as increased risk for heart attack and some cancers. Most women seek to avoid these side effects and turn to natural treatments such as herbal supplementation.

Herbal supplements may also include vitamins such as B-complex and C vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and zinc. In order to get the highest quality supplement there should be no fillers or preservatives. The ingredients will have had the molecular path tested at the molecular level and their interactions evaluated as well. Only standardized herbal extracts are used and they are made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This all helps to guarantee top quality and consistent dosing from capsule to capsule.

Conclusion

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can attack the skin discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus that affects the joints and internal organs. It is a connective tissue disease. Either the disease itself or the medications that are used to treat lupus can put a woman into early menopause. A doctor’s examination will help to determine the best course of treatment including the possible benefits of herbal supplementation.