Two days later I wrote, “This is horrible. B really wants to leave Lourdes’s house and go home, and I have no business taking her. How am I going to get through this? I can see how hard it is for Lourdes to care for her, and she’s only into her third week. It’s been six years for me. I have to rise above these thoughts. Otherwise, I will either be dead or take on the traits of the disease. Neither is acceptable.”

My emotions were all over the place.  My mother had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I was still reeling from the shock and the clarity that diagnosis brought. I loved my mother and I wanted to help her.

My journal was a lifesaver before and after the diagnosis. It let me vent, analyze, and find hope. It never argued or interrupted. It listened unconditionally, which gave me the space to process events and my reactions to them.

Why should caregivers journal? Writing gives perspective and restores sanity. Writing is a lifeline as well as a record. Writing saves lives. Do not underestimate its power.

What do you do if you have nothing to say?

Look around the room for an image or a sensory detail—the way the sun makes a path on the carpet, the way steam rises off a cup of coffee, carrying the aroma of morning with it. Listen to the high pitched whirring of an omnipresent machine, the tick of the kitchen’s black-and-white, kitty-cat clock—any image at all.

What do you do if you can’t get started? Sentence starts like those listed here can help.

Today I feel…

No one knows I worry about…

I don’t like to brag but…

I lust after…

Next time…

What if…

Pick a sentence start and finish it. Write another sentence. Voila! You are journaling.

Where can you find sentence starts?

There are over 200 in You Want Me to Do What? Journaling for Caregivers. I wrote the book once I realized how lucky I was to have a journal that helped me process my “stuff.”

You might be thinking that only writers can journal. Wrong! A writer is someone who writes. That can be you.

After she got her copy, Joanne Padley, writer and staff member at the State University of NY at Buffalo said, “What a good idea the book is.  I’m sure it will help me sort things out as well as serving as a good reference book and one day, a good remembrance.”

She’s right. According to Marilyn, who wrote in one of my workshops, “Writing from the heart seems to be all that is needed.”

Want to start right now? Finish the sentence, “Today I feel…” and keep going. Go wherever the writing takes you. Get your story, your nuances, your frustrations, your hopes, and your love on the page. Your story is buried treasure.

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B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com and the author of You Want Me to Do What? Journaling for Caregivers. Order it from Amazon or at http://www.writeradvice.com/ywmtdw.html. You’ll also find more information about journaling, workshops, and the author there.

H1N1 Influenza Virus

H1N1 influenza A virus, H1N1 Novel Virus, New H1N1 or Swine Flu is in every publication from newspapers, to magazines, to tiny 3-page newsletters. The theme is always the same; panic, but don’t really panic, count the number of fatalities and anticipate the worst. The media’s reactive headlines and body of words are the same, fear, fear, fear, a followed by a couple of suggestions as to what to do, then more fear, wear masks and hoard prescriptions of certain drugs just in case.

In France, the government is suggesting the long tradition of “la bise” (greetings of a kiss) may no longer be acceptable if we are to curb the potential increase of the H1N1 Virus. I’m getting the feeling of an International reactive state to something that we have the ability to control and manage.

There is a different approach to the issue and everything else that becomes pandemically oozing as headline news. Become a proactive warrior to all that ails.

What does it mean to be proactive? Taking preventative steps to your health, such as protecting yourself from H1N1 and other illness, before a pandemic.

H1N1  is not that much different than any other flu. Some people die from the flu. According to wrongdiagnosis.com:

“Deaths from Flu: An estimated 100,000 hospitalizations and about 20,000 deaths occur each year from the flu or its complications. (Source: excerpt from Focus On  The Flu: NIAID) … average of 20,000 to 40,000 deaths per year. (Source: excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health – Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID) … in the United States more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and more than 20,000 people die from the flu and its complications every year. (Source: excerpt from The Flu, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID).  In an average year, flu leads to about 20,000 deaths nationwide and many more hospitalizations. (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu – Age Page – Health Information: NIA)”

According to The Center For Disease Control, U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection (As of May 10, 2009, 11:00 AM ET) States* Laboratory confirmed cases Deaths TOTAL 44, 2532 cases 3 deaths including the District of Columbia. International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection,(see World Health Organization). During the week of August 30-September 5, 2009, a review of the key indicators found that influenza activity increased in the United States compared to prior weeks. This is expected as children return to school and naturally with the stress of a new regime and inadequate nutritious meals to boost the immune system, there will be a tendency for illness.

I recently conducted a webinar lecture on preventive measures to H1N1 by boosting the immune system. I had a few interested, which was great, but was surprised by the number of people who were not interested. It further engaged my thoughts and hypothesis of reactive as opposed to proactive. Most would rather sit around in actual hysteria, wear masks, bathe in Purell and live in fear waiting for the first symptom to strike us down rather than take a proactive approach of prevention. The actual proactive approach would be cost effective and would actually put you in a preventive state so that you would not have to buy into the mass hysteria of spending hundreds of dollars on just-in-case medications and over the counter relief aids.

How do we become proactive? Don’t live in fear waiting for the first symptom to appear. You have the cost effective tools to take a proactive approach. Sleep, good nutrition, stress management, avoiding excesses, hand washing and looking for natural alternatives to boost your immune system to provide extra support during the naturally occurring flu and cold season,

Not convinced? Getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night helps to assimilate nutrients that boosts your immune system. It is during our deepest sleep that immune cells are regenerated and natural killer cells are activated. Natural Killer cells are specialized to kill target cells that are infected with viruses, such as the H1N1.

The average American processed and refined diet is high in fats, refined sugars and sodium and devoid of immune system building nutrients. These foods produce free radicals that create toxicity and weaken the immune system. Choosing whole fruits and vegetables, grains and quality protein provide us with antioxidants and phytonutrients that destroy free radicals which foster a weakened immune system increasing susceptibility to illness. If there is vomiting, diarrhea and fever, dehydration will set in quickly, Water helps to transport nutrients to the cells and transports wastes out of cells and out of the body.

Omit alcohol caffeine and tobacco. Alcohol and caffeine rob your body of key nutrients needed for repair growth and a healthy immune system. If your immunity has been compromised it makes it tougher to combat viruses and other illness. Cigarette smoke damages the lining of the respiratory tract. There are minute hair-like organelles called cilia that beat in rhythmic waves that constantly sweep out germs inhaled. Any damage to these delicate hair-like substances results in the inability to combat viruses, germs and bacteria at the point of entry.

Did you know that many illnesses and diseases could be nonexistent from

simple hand washing?

The Center for Disease Control prescribes to wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. More effective; wet your hands, lather

Wash hands with soap

your hands with soap for 20 seconds, scrub your wrists, fingers, front and back of your hands and wash your rings (rings can contain bacteria in the settings and design). Under warm to hot water, wash your hands again for another 20 seconds; dry your hands with paper towel. If you are in a public restroom, take two pieces of paper towel; use one to turn on the tap, and the other to dry your hands, turn off the tap and to open the door.

Some Physicians (not all) are of the opinion that nutracueticals, natural herbs or, homeopathic have no effect on illness. As a Nutritional Functional Medicine Consultant I beg to differ and here is why; most medical physicians have no education in nutrition and supplements. However, I commend Dr. Mehmet Oz for his enlightened views of the importance of alternative and natural therapies and the integration into mainstream medicine. With that said, here are some over the counter natural remedies that may provide extra support and have been extensively studied. Vitamin D, is naturally made with 15 minutes of sun exposure and important for immune function. Studies suggest that the sunshine vitamin may significantly lower respiratory infections, colds and flus.

Vitamin C, offers cellular protection by stabilizing cell membranes. It acts as an immunostimulant in that it boosts immunity by actually activating neutrophils that are responsible for cleaning up viruses, bacteria and anything else that is not supposed to be in our blood. During illness, neutrophils are rapidly transported to sites of infection releasing interferon which combat viruses.  Numerous studies have shown people taking vitamin C can actually lessen the transmission of viruses.

Zinc supports mucosal integrity and boosts immune function by supporting white blood cells and natural killer cell protection. Zinc in lozenge form can actually battle viruses in the mouth, throat, palate and nasopharyngeal.

Important friendly intestinal bacteria Lactobaccillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus faecieum are the facets of a healthy immune system. Your immune system is your gut health. Acidophilis acts as a natural antibiotic and has antibacterial activity. With regular use it may replace harmful bacteria in the colon and improve immunity. Bifidobacterium bifidim inhibits the growth of coliform bacteria and possibly pathogenic bacteria. If you are thinking about yogurt-forget it, there is not enough in yogurt to re-inoculate your bowel health and it is high in sugar, which suppresses the immune system.

Garlic’s active ingredient allicin is responsible for its name, the Stinking Rose. Allicin is the essential oil released that studies have shown to protect against flu viruses and enhance antibody production.

Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic remedy that, when taken with the first onset of symptoms, may reduce the severity and length of flu.  Homeopathy works on principles of dilution of similar; taking minute doses of the actual substance causing illness stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself.

Reactivity is to do nothing and to live in fear of contraction. Be proactive; educate yourself for the prevention of flu and illness. There are many options out there to protect you from this year’s pandemic and many years after.  The choice is yours. Which do you prefer? A reactive approach or a proactive approach to your health?

Karen Langston is a Chief Body Reorganizer

Does Diabetes Increase Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease?
In a study at Uppsala University in Sweden, Diabetes in mid-life was found to be associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s in later life. The study tested more than 2,000 men for blood glucose levels at age 50 and then tested them again approximately 32 years later. Those with insulin problems at age 50 were almost 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not have insulin problems, even when factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, education level and body mass index, were controlled. The association was strongest among those who did not carry the ApoE 4 gene variant that has been associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s.

Links have been found between Diabetes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well. In a study by the Mayo Clinic, rates of Diabetes were similar among people with MCI and people with no cognitive impairment; however, those with MCI were more likely to have developed Diabetes before age 65, had Diabetes for 10 years or more and had insulin treatment and/or diabetic complications.

In a study by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, researchers tried to identify a molecular basis for the interaction between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Their conclusion was that blood glucose levels and levels of beta amyloid in the brain interacted in such a way that damaged the brain’s blood vessels.

Can Preventing Diabetes Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk?
Maybe. Researchers at Columbia University found that keeping blood sugar levels in check can lessen or possibly stave off even normal age-related cognitive decline in those that have Diabetes and those who do not. Their theory is that blood glucose levels affect the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with memory, emotion and motor skills.

Although more research needs to be conducted to further clarify the relationship between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s, it seems clear that preventing or controlling Diabetes could be very good for your brain. How does one go about reducing the risk for Diabetes? Interestingly, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are essential components of a Diabetes prevention or management program — two lifestyle factors that have also been shown to be good for the brain.

Source: http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/a/diabetesandad.htm

Before you consider long-term care as a solution, there are things you can do to keep your loved ones in their homes.

According to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), nearly 20 percent of those who are 55 years and older have mental disorders that are not part of normal aging. Some of the most common illnesses are anxiety, severe cognitive impairment and mood disorders.

Jeffery Lafferman, M.D., a psychiatrist at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital’s Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services, says that too often mental health illnesses are underreported. “As people age, their health needs become more complicated. Medical problems, such as high blood pressure and arthritis, are common and can mask the emotional challenges that the elderly face, until it has reached a critical stage.”

But there is help and hope available. One of the ways to keep an elderly loved one at home for as long as possible when they are experiencing depression, dementia, agitation and other emotional challenges is through day treatment programs.

“Some adult day services programs are specifically designed to help elders relearn how to again be a useful part of their communities. The programs have group and individual therapy sessions in a stimulating environment. In addition, participants can reminisce with people their own age, take part in activities designed to renew their enthusiasm for life and be in their own homes in the evening,” says Dr. Lafferman.

Many people do not understand that clinical  elderly depression and other mental illnesses are treatable. Some of the symptoms to look for are a change in personality, a decline in memory, isolation from friends and family, excessive feelings of guilt or hopelessness, frequent crying, sleep problems, unexplained physical illnesses, loss of function, changes in appetite, loss of interest in personal hygiene and irritability, and anxiety.

However, Dr. Lafferman advises, “Before you entrust your loved one to any program, try to visit to see with your own eyes what the program is like. Although your elder loved one needs supervision, his or her dignity must be preserved. In addition, check to see if there are medical professionals on site, and if there are different therapies to engage them.”

When a loved one is experiencing emotional issues, it can also affect the whole family, so giving caregivers a break during the day is also important.

Source: LifeBridge Health