Sample Articles: December-February 2003-2004

Partnering with Your Doctor:

A Workshop for Persons with Memory Problems & Their Care Partners

By Jennifer Westlund, MSW

Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter

Have you ever come away from an appointment with your doctor wanting more time to get your questions answered – or have you ever felt rushed, or been unsure of what was said? A nationwide survey, commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Association in May of 2001, revealed that 88% of physicians believed they were providing the necessary advice and recommendations to caregivers. However, only 33% of the caregivers surveyed felt that they were receiving the information they needed from their primary care physicians.

If you, or someone you care for has memory problems, developing a partnership with your physician and improving communication skills can result in increased knowledge of the situation and less stress. This can help you make informed decisions about care and services.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, will be introducing a new, two-hour workshop: Partnering with Your Doctor: A Workshop for Persons with Memory Problems and their Care Partners. Starting in 2004, this workshop will be offered as one of our many ongoing educational classes.

Workshop participants will learn strategies to make the best use of time with their doctors. The goal of the Alzheimer’s Association is to improve and enhance how patients, care partners, and physicians relate in the care setting. This seminar will help patients and care partners improve communication with their doctors, improve how patient and care partner work together, help you get organized and prepared for doctor visits, reduce stress, and help ensure the best health care possible for your loved one. Some change in memory is normal as we age, but Alzheimer’s disease is different. The more you know about the disease, the easier it is to deal with it.

Everyone should know the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can help themselves or someone else get the medical attention and support they will need. The Desert Southwest Chapter offers many classes (most at no charge) to caregivers, professionals, and other interested community members. The classes are presented in numerous locations, and dates and times vary according to community interest and needs.

For more information, please call the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline throughout the Desert Southwest Chapter toll-free at 1-800-272-3900 seven days a week, 24 hours a day for information, referrals, support, and educational materials. (Article adapted with permission from the Alzheimer’s Association – Western & Central Washington State Chapter)

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Dr. Art Mollen’s Corner

Dear Dr. Mollen:
I've heard that too much vitamin A may be dangerous. What are the latest recommendations for vitamin A?
Mark

Dear Mark:
The latest recommendations for vitamin A intake from the Institute of Medicine are 800 micrograms a day for men and 700 micrograms a day for women, with a safe upper limit of 3000 micrograms a day, according to a recent article in the “Journal of the American Medical Association”. Furthermore, an excess amount of vitamin A may be dangerous

Dear Dr. Mollen:
I'm wondering how much diet soda I can drink a day and how much caffeine do most soft drinks contain?
Elizabeth

Dear Elizabeth:
Rumors on the Internet about the health dangers of the artificial sweetener Aspartame are untrue. Many soft drinks contain caffeine, varying from 20 to 70 mg per serving, compared with 20 to 100 milligrams for a cup of brewed tea and 80 to 175 milligrams for a cup of brewed coffee. Diet drinks may contain slightly more. Twelve ounces of Coke has 34 mg and Diet Coke has 45 mg of caffeine. Although, caffeine is mildly habit forming, if you are accustomed to drinking a caffeinated beverage every day, you may get a headache if you suddenly stop.<

Dear Dr. Mollen:
My friend has multiple sclerosis and I'm wondering if there have been any breakthroughs in the treatment of this devastating and incapacitating illness.
Marlene

Dear Marlene:
The etiology of multiple sclerosis is largely unknown, but the evidence supports an autoimmune process triggered by an infection or other environmental factors. In fact, the Epstein Barr Virus, a herpes virus, may be linked to the cause. A recent study in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” suggested that the Epstein Barr Virus may increase the risk of MS, and that anti-viral drugs may be beneficial.

Dear Dr. Mollen:
My 83-year-old mother has lost 35 pounds and though this may be good for her, since she is still about 50 pounds overweight, I'm concerned that something is causing it. What could be the cause of her weight loss?
Judy

Dear Judy:
The most serious causes of unintentional weight loss in an older person include cancer, gastrointestinal problem (such as ulcers and bowel problems) and often depression. Although, loss of lean body mass is common with increased age, a significant weight loss normally does not occur. In fact, a loss of approximately 10% of body weight over the past 12 months should indicate a serious problem in an elderly person. Some of the more common causes of weight loss are the effects of medication, emotional problems, alcoholism, swallowing disorders, late-life paranoia, poorly fitting dentures, a thyroid condition, a decrease in sense of smell and taste, and most importantly; depression, according to a recent report in the “American Family Physician”.

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Taking Care of Mother Earth

By Dr. Glady McGary, M.D., M.D.(H),

For the last three years, I have been leasing a Honda Insight. I have never loved a car before, but my attachment and my feelings about this car are surprising to me.

Let me describe my little car. I have named her Sylvia, since her color is silver. She is sleek and beautifully designed. She starts with gas, and then runs on electricity. There is no plugging in or attaching her to electrical outlets. I drive up to a gas station like any other car and fill my tank with gas. Her pick-up is outstanding: she goes as fast as the law allows. I get between 53 and 57 miles per gallon. Last year I spent $186.63 for gas the whole year!

It now happens that my lease is running out so I am going to have to do something about another car. When I went to the Honda dealer, I found out that they were no longer building the Honda Insight. When I asked them why, they said because people were not buying her. This type of car is not advertised. I see advertisements for SUVs and vehicles which consume large amounts of gas, and I have yet to see an advertisement about this little car. Of course, people aren’t buying them – they don’t know they exist! I did find out that Honda is building a Honda Civic hybrid, which does not get quite as good mileage as the Insight, but is also an excellent car. My daughters both drive Toyota Priuses, which are also hybrids.

I am very much concerned about our lack of concern for the renewable fuels in our world. This idea that we can keep draining oil from the earth and that there is an endless supply is totally irresponsible and very dangerous.
As a physician, I am very aware of how important it is to take care of our physical bodies, that we really need to treat them with loving respect. We need to look at Mother Earth as a living body, which has a limited supply of energy. Just as within our own bodies, if we exhaust our energy supply, we can no longer function. If we exhaust the energy supply that is available to us from Mother Earth, we will destroy her.

Since these vehicles are available and hydrogen vehicles will be available in the near future, I feel it is our duty to Mother Earth, to us, to our children and our grandchildren and our great grandchildren, to be responsible citizens caring at a depth level for these resources.

Another aspect of the hybrid cars is that they do not waste fuel when stopped in traffic-the engine just stops. When you take your foot off of the clutch, it starts right up. I have never been left behind in traffic because of slow pick-up. 911 is a call for help and September eleventh was a call for help from the universe. For us to ignore this is, will be disastrous.

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DIABETES: What to Know Head to Toe

EYES:
Diabetes can lead to vision loss or even blindness. If you catch problems early, you can save your sight. However, you may not have any symptoms. That is why it is important to have an eye exam each year. To take good care of your eyes:

• Keep your blood sugar close to your goal.
• Bring high blood pressure down.
• Get a dilated eye exam by an eye doctor every year. Your eye doctor will use drops to enlarge your pupils to look inside your eyes.

See your eye doctor if:
• Your vision is blurry.
• You see double. You see spots or floaters.
• One or both eyes hurt.
• You feel pressure in your eye.
• You can’t see things at the sides like you used to.
• You have trouble reading.

HEART:
People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure than people without diabetes. If untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. It can also cause eye and kidney problems.

To have a healthy heart:
• Lose weight, if you are overweight. Talk to your health care provider.
• Become more physically active.
• Have your blood pressure checked at each health care provider visit.
• Ask your health care provider what your blood pressure goal should be. A blood pressure level less than 130/85 mm Hg is the goal for most people with diabetes.
• Don’t smoke.

FEET:
Diabetes can harm the blood vessels and nerves in your feet, when it does, you may not feel a cut or blister on your foot. Untreated, a cut or blister can lead to infection and possibly loss of a limb.

To keep your feet healthy:
• Keep your blood sugar close to your goal.
• Take off your shoes and socks and have your feet check at least once a year-more often if you have any foot problems.
• Wash your feet every day. Dry them, even between toes.
• Check daily for cuts, blisters, redness, and swelling. If you cannot see the bottom of your feet, use a mirror or ask someone for help. If you find anything, contact your health care provider-no matter how small the problem.
• Never walk barefoot.
• Wear shoes that fit well. If you have lost feeling in your feet, ask your health care provider for advice on proper shoes.
• Break in new shoes slowly.
• Wear clean padded socks that fit well. Make sure the sock seams are in the right place.
• Cut your nails straight across and file the edges.
• Don’t smoke.
• Shake out your shoes before putting them on. A small pebble can lead to problems.

For more information about diabetic products or information in this article you may call Troy Olhausen at Discount Diabetes (480) 314-0181 or The American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) or go to www.diabetes.org