Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated the month of November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and it is still recognized today as such. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there were less than two million people with the disease at the time of that designation, and that number has grown to more than five million in past years.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

While there is still no cure, no drugs or treatments for Alzheimer's, researchers continue looking for ways to help with this disease, which is a type of dementia leading to problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Accounting for 60 to 80 percent of all cases, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, and the sixth leading cause of death in the US.

While people ages 65 and old are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, there are still many under the age of 65 who experience early-onset Alzheimer's.

Memory issues may be mild in the early stages, but the disease tends to progress to levels where patients lack awareness of their environment and may no longer even be able to communicate. This disease worsens over time, eventually reaching the stage where accomplishing daily tasks can be too much for the patient.

Symptoms:

Knowing the symptoms of Alzheimer's may help you determine if a loved one may be developing the disease. Discuss any symptoms with their physician...

Memory Loss – Forgetting things already known / learned, as well as dates and/or events. Asking for the same information over and over again may also be a cause for concern.

Trouble Planning or Solving Problems – Taking longer to finish tasks which were previously accomplished more quickly. Following directions (even a simple recipe) may become too difficult.

Confusion with Time or Place – Losing track of time, or patients forgetting where they are or even how they got there.

Misplacing Objects – Retracing steps, which would have been possible in the past to find missing items, becomes a challenge. Forgetting objects, along with dates and events may lead to accusatory behavior, thinking that others may have stolen what can no longer be found.

Changes in Mood or Personality – Shifting moods and personality become evident as change may create confusion, suspicion, or even depression.

How to help...

While Alzheimer’s has no cure, there are still ways to help a loved one with this disease.

Keep a Daily Routine – Alzheimer’s patients like consistency. Avoid confusion with clear expectations.

Don’t Overstimulate – Keep things simple. Say one thing at a time. Present only one idea so that the patient can understand it the best they are able.

Be Reassuring – Strive to make the patient feel safe and comfortable. Simply saying the words, “You are safe with me” can sometimes be enough to put them at ease.

Don’t Yell or Argue – As frustrated as you may become, imagine how the patient feels. They can no longer grasp what is going on inside their own heads. Don’t let frustration lead to yelling or arguing. Patients need you to remain a calming voice for them.

Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient can become more challenging as the disease progresses. Be aware that patients may sometimes present a danger to themselves by forgetting to turn off the stove or wandering.

An important thing to remember is that you can seek help for yourself and the person with Alzheimer's. Being a caregiver may feel overwhelming at times. By reaching out, you can help yourself AND your loved one.

If you have questions or concerns related to Alzheimer's disease, or any other medical condition, please alert us. Medical Associates of the Shoals is here to help.

Primary Care & Women’s Health - by Courtney Bowen, MD

Dr. Courtney Bowen

Being female brings with it a unique set of healthcare concerns. Menstrual cycles begin in the early teen years; a Pap smear may be recommended as early as age 21; birth control methods should be discussed and managed, and of course, childbirth. While these issues are important to a woman’s health, for a complete and accurate assessment of overall well-being, they should be considered in conjunction with many other factors. The body is a complex system with each component linked to, and in many ways, dependent on the others. Factor in family history and an individual’s personal medical history, and each person’s plan of care becomes unique to say the least.

For these reasons, all females should visit their primary care physician at least once a year. Your PCP will conduct an annual exam that looks at vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respiration rate), as well as blood and urine samples to assess the function of major organs and systems. At certain ages, they may order tests, such as colonoscopies and mammograms. This visit is when you should share family medical history and any troubling symptoms you might be experiencing. Should it become necessary, your PCP will coordinate care among other specialists, including OBGYN’s, cardiologists, pulmonologists and others.

Here are some examples of healthcare concerns that are particularly troubling for women and that might be avoided, or at least lessened, with early primary care:

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States, accounting for about one in four female deaths. Contributing factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. The detrimental impact of these conditions doesn’t happen suddenly but rather over time. That’s why it is vitally important to begin seeing a PCP at a young age, so that these conditions, which typically have few if any symptoms, can be detected and treated before they become life threatening.

Cancer is exceeded only by heart disease as a cause of death. Every year cancer claims the lives of more than 250,000 women in America. The most common kinds of cancer among women in the U.S. are skin, breast, lung, colorectal, and uterine.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In Alabama, about 10.8% of women and 8.3% of men are diagnosed with COPD. What should you do to prevent COPD? First, and foremost, don’t smoke. If you are currently a smoker, your PCP can help you with a smoking cessation plan.

Good tips to follow:

Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.

Stay up-to-date on screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer.

Protect your skin from the sun when outdoors, and avoid indoor tanning beds.

Stay active, keep a healthy weight, and limit alcohol consumption.

By being an active participant with your PCP, you can be assured that your family history, medical history, gynecological issues, family planning, and troubling symptoms are being viewed in totality. To schedule an appointment, just call our new patient line at 256-383-4447 ext. 124, visit www.medshoals.com and click on “New Patients,” or email us at talktous@medshoals.com. We see patients who are 14 and older. We’ll get you scheduled as quickly as possible.

Saying Thank You

This week Medical Associates of the Shoals, along with Express Care of the Shoals and AtLast Medical Weight Loss, have been delivering bags filled with classroom supplies to every school in the Muscle Shoals Educational System. But we hope there is something even more important being delivered - a message of gratitude to all teachers.

We appreciate teachers for everything they do for their students. Their efforts build a stronger and healthier community, which benefits everyone. They are on the front lines daily, and they work behind the scenes daily. Their impact can be felt in every area of our society.

So we wanted to once again say “THANK YOU” to these tireless and selfless heroes - local teachers - and to put some helpful classroom supplies into their hands, because we know they’ll put them to good use while serving others. Join us today, and tell a teacher thank you for ALL they do!