Prevention manual: Alzheimer's Disease.

in #projectmilkbox7 years ago


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Project Milkbox is not an approved or certified medical entity, our objective is to inform, therefore all the content expressed in this publication is verified information, in the end bibliographic references will be available.



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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to be consumed (degenerated) and die, is the most common cause of dementia, a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that alters a person's ability to work independently. source: Clinic Mayo

According to the Alzheimer's Association, one in three adults dies due to this disease, even outnumbering the number of people suffering from breast and prostate cancer, and by 2018, in the United States, a person was diagnosed approximately every minute, it is noticed that the average age of suffering from it is going down, even the term of childhood Alzheimer's has been used; unfortunately, we are in the presence of a disease that currently does not have a definitive cure, but preventive medical treatments that allow to stop the progress of the disease.

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Which specialist confirms this disease?

  • If a child is suspected of having it, the pediatrician along with the child neurologist will be able to determine if it is Alzheimer's disease.
  • If you are a teenager or adult, you should visit the internist and the neurologist.
  • If the person is older than 60 years, the correct thing is going to a geriatrician or to a neurologist able to examine the patient.

Is there a way to prevent Alzheimer's?

The way to prevent it is by being alert to the risk factors:

  • Genetic factors, it means, it can be hereditary. If you have a close relative diagnosed with this pathology, you should be checked with the specialist for an early diagnosis.
  • The age, is more likely to suffer from this disease if you are older than 65 years, if at this age you see that you have any of the symptoms described above, you should make a check with the specialist.
  • Cranial trauma, having received blows or a strong impact on the head can trigger Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, maintaining the following habits helps prevention:

  • Performing physical exercises periodically.
  • Eating a diet rich in fresh products, healthy oils and foods low in saturated fat.
  • Doing logic and math exercises.
  • Controlling high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
  • Avoiding the consumption of cigarettes and drugs, and excess alcoholic beverages.
  • Learning a new language.

In cases of emergency, what to do with people who have Alzheimer's disease?

  • Having personal documentation and medical treatment information at hand.
  • If the person suffers from a case of advanced Alzheimer's, it would be appropriate to use a pendant or bracelet, which contains the name, surname, telephone number of the caregiver or the patient's representative.
  • If there are several members at home, make a program to take care of the patient in case of emergency.
  • In any case, that due to the emergency you have to be in a collection center, notify the authorities and responsible for the patient's condition.

What are the risk prevention measures for families who have a member with Alzheimer's who tend to run away from home?

  • Even if they tend to forget things, repeat to the patients every day the security measures and why they should not leave the house alone.
  • Inform the community and neighbors of the patient's condition, so that they inform promptly if they see him or her running away from home.
  • Desing an action plan, in case the patient escapes, what to do, who to call, which routes to look for, emergency telephone numbers to request help and support.
  • It should be taken into account that caregivers suffer severe emotional exhaustion, therefore, families should rotate the responsibility of patient care. If the patient is in an intense or aggressive phase, it should be considered to increase the care with two or more people.

Contributions from our authors:

UserComment
@mdavila26El Alzheimer se puede prevenir a través de ejercicios físicos y mentales, lo cual es muy importante puesto que el uso de elementos que permitan tener el cerebro activo hace que el riesgo de padecerla disminuya.
@matucaEs una enfermedad degenerativa y evolutiva, pero por sobre todo "injusta". Mi abuela llego al punto de no reconocerme, lo cual en su momento anímicamente me hizo muy mal. Quizás parezca egoísta lo que digo, pero creo que es una enfermedad que sufren más los que acompañan que los que la padecen. Ellos están en su mundo. A pesar de los adelantos médicos aun hoy en día no tiene cura y lo único que se puede hacer, y es lo que hice con mi abuela, es demostrar tres cosas: respeto, cariño y paciencia por todo el amor que nos dieron cuando no tenían la enfermedad. Estoy seguro que si hubiese sido yo el que sufriera una enfermedad como esa mi abuela no se hubiese separado de mi lado.
@leonardomUn tema sumamente importante y creo (como en el caso de todas las enfermedades) que manejar la mayor cantidad de información posible hará mucho mejor la calidad de vida de las personas que la padecen y les dará herramientas a los familiares para hacer de la misma una condición más llevadera. Lo primero que debemos saber es que el Alzheimer es una enfermedad degenerativa que afecta principalmente nuestro cerebro y se manifiesta con el deterioro cognitivo y trastornos conductuales.
@oizaguirresEl Alemán (Alzheimer) y Yo
@darruizLOS PRIMEROS INDICIOS DEL ALZHEIMER
@benie111Awareness Space: Alzheimer's Disease

Remember: Although Alzheimer's is a disease that currently has no cure, it does have preventive treatment, and if we are well informed about the issue and we consult with adoctor we can give the patient a normal and pleasant life.

Bibliographic references:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2019). Alzheimer's disease, available online: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=abstract&utm_content=Alzheimers-disease&utm_campaign=Knowledge-panel

Alzheimer’s Association (2018), Data and figures about Alzheimer's disease of 2018, available at: https://www.alz.org/alzheimer-demencia/datos-y-cifras?lang=es-MX