Excessive consumption of alcohol often leads to several health problems, including liver damage, stomach problems, and impaired cognitive function. If the time period in which large quantities are consumed is relatively short, many of the alcohol-related health problems can be treated and cured by quitting drinking and getting special treatments. However, if alcohol consumption is abused over several years, it not only leads to severe health issues, such as cirrhosis of the liver, but it may also lead to a condition known as alcoholic dementia. This condition can cause problems with learning, memory, and a wide range of other cognitive skills. The alcoholic dementia symptoms vary from person-to-person, but there are two factors that influence the symptoms: Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome.

Symptoms of Alcoholic Dementia-The Progression

Alcoholic dementia can occur in people of all ages and is generally the result of regularly abusing alcohol over several years. The progression of alcoholic dementia symptoms usually starts with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which then progresses into Korsakoff Syndrome, which causes extremely serious memory problems that lead to alcoholic dementia. It takes time for the process to fully develop, but the disease is incurable. There are several symptoms that indicate the onset of alcoholic dementia, including:

• Headaches
• Frequent outbursts of anger
• Mood swings
• Slurred speech
• Gaps in memory loss

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Alcohol dementia is also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is a group of neurological conditions that are caused by a thiamine deficiency. When the body is deficient in thiamine (vitamin B1), the brain struggles with processing sugar into energy, which is necessary for brain functioning. In turn, the deficiency leads to the development of dementia symptoms, such as confusion and memory loss. The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is comprised of two separate conditions; Wernicke encephalopathy (develops first) and Korsakoff syndrome, which often begins as the Wernicke encephalopathy symptoms are ending. Although alcoholic dementia is a combination of both conditions, each condition has its own unique set of symptoms, including:

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (acute phase)

• Staggering gait
• Difficulty swallowing
• Problems with speech
• Abnormal back and forth eye movements
• Double vision
• Eyelid drooping
• Confusion
• Leg tremors
• Decreased muscle coordination
• Mental confusion

Korsakoff Syndrome (chronic phase)

• Memory loss, including the ability to form new memories or retrieve old memories
• Hallucinations
• Confabulation, which means making up stories to fill in the gaps of memory loss relating to stories of the past
• Repeating questions numerous times within a short period of time
• Noticeable changes in personality

One of the first and earliest signs of the potential development of alcoholic dementia is having regular alcohol-related “blackouts”, which are extremely dangerous for the human brain and the blackouts are a contributing factor to alcoholic dementia. Early treatment is critical for the successful treatment of alcoholic dementia. If the condition is caught and treated early enough, those with the general and early onset of alcoholic dementia symptoms may show vast improvement. The best treatment for early-onset is to quit drinking alcohol and by improving their diet to include vitamin-enriched foods. If early symptoms are ignored and the person continues to consume alcohol, the stages of alcoholic dementia will continue to progress until the point of it being incurable.

Most of us have at least one doctor. We can picture her or him and if we run into them in the grocery store, we know their names and frequently personal details of their lives. Often, we recognize the nurses who work in their offices in the same way, too. These are the people who are the front line of every person’s healthcare. If you stop and think about all those involved in the healthcare industry, you may extend your line of vision to include hospital case managers, emergency medical technicians or the janitorial staff who keeps the offices and facilities clean. Have you ever stopped to think about all the equipment in those offices and facilities, though? Where does it all come from? What does it all do?

I Can Hear Your Heartbeat

One of the most common pieces of medical equipment found seemingly everywhere these days is the defibrillator. While you may not know that Brendan Wetzel of Yardley, PA has a business that supplies these, he’s one of many people who make sure these life-saving instruments are widely available. Why, though? Why are defibrillators so important? It’s all about your heartbeat. An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a portable device that can check to see if your heartbeat is normal and then provide an electric shock to regulate it if it’s not. These are life-saving in cases of cardiac arrest. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) are placed inside your body through surgery and regulate your heartbeat on a continuous basis. The last type, a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) is worn outside the body but also monitors and assists your heartbeat regularly.

Pump It Up

Medical technology can’t get away from the variety of pumps it requires to help the human body function under certain circumstances. One major category of pumps, the infusion pump, has three different types to help patients. Each type has multiple examples of its uses in medicine. Mobility pumps are grouped by whether they move or not and are used on patients whose mobility needs require one type or the other. Bedridden patients don’t need the same type as a patient who requires physical therapy. The fluid volume each pump delivers is another category of definition. A small amount of medication doesn’t require a large pump. The last type of pump is classified by the patient’s need for the fluid delivered. A diabetic’s insulin pump is one example.

Mirror Image

Imaging is a massive category in medical technology. Basically, it refers to the process of looking inside the human body using radiology. X-rays are a prime example. These produce black and white pictures of the insides of your body depending on the density of what’s being x-rayed. Bones show up very well on x-rays. Another common type of image is the MRI or magnetic resonance image; this uses magnets and radio waves to look at your organs and other tissues. PET scans (positron emission tomography) are a test that uses radioactive tracer drugs to show how your organs and tissues are working. PET scans frequently pick up diseased tissues before other tests.

Your body is a wonderland and your doctors and nurses need a variety of medical equipment to help keep you healthy.

There are so many different options when it comes to senior housing that making a choice can be overwhelming. Some people think that their only option is a nursing facility, but there are other options as well, including assisted living facilities and residential care facilities, also known as bord and care facility for the elderly. Residential care facilities are also sometimes referred to as adult foster care homes, personal residential care homes, or adult family homes. These facilities offer similar services and care as a continuing care retirement community, except they are often smaller and house fewer residents than a retirement community.  If a board and care facility for the elderly is the best option for your loved one’s needs, there are some things to keep in mind that will help you choose the ideal facility. Here are a few things to keep in mind when touring facilities and questions you’ll need to ask to help with your decision.

The appearance of Facility, Staff, and Residents

If possible, it’s important to tour more than one facility. Touring a few different places will not only give you options, but it will allow you to have a better understanding of what a good board and care facility for the elderly should look and feel like. It is essential that the potential care facility be clean and organized. Not only should the facility itself be clean, but the residents should also have a good appearance because this will give you an idea of how well the staff cares for the residents. For instance, if you tour the facility in the late afternoon and the residents are still in their nightclothes. Also, take note of how the staff interacts with the residents. For instance, is staff interacting with residents, and do they simply barge in the resident’s room without warning?

Questions to Ask

First, it’s important to not judge the exterior of the facility before touring the inside. It’s common for residential care facilities to appear “run down” or unkempt on the outside, but the inside could be a completely different story. In fact, the worse looking building may be the place that provides the most services and gives their residents the best care. Also, keep in mind that the only right answer is the one that is best suited for your elderly loved one. Some questions that you’ll want to ask include:

• How much are the monthly fees, including housing, meals, and activities? Following up with this question, you should ask about insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare and what if any are the out-of-pocket fees.
• Is transportation provided for medical appointments and outside activities?
• Are the residents responsible for medication reminders or does the staff administer all medications? Who is responsible for prescription refills?
• Does the facility offer different meal options or does everyone eat the same thing and at the same time?
• Are caregivers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
• Is there sufficient security available for dementia? For instance, do the doors have alarms, or are their security cameras installed in populated areas.
• Are pets allowed?
• Is there an activity calendar? If so, ask to view it. Is there a variety of planned activities?
• Is assistance available for daily living care, such as toileting and showering?
• How are the health issues addressed? For instance, is there medical staff available round the clock?
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio?

The main thing to be aware of is how much experience the caregivers have and their backgrounds. It’s also essential that the residents appear happy and well cared for. Take note of how communication is between staff and the residents. For instance, their questions and concerns should be addressed in a timely manner and with concern from the staff.

Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. As an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis can eventually damage the intestinal tract. The condition affects more than 750,000 people in the U.S.  Although there are medications available to control symptoms, these vary in effectiveness, and many people experience pronounced discomfort when ulcers and sores develop in the gastrointestinal tract.

Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms & Causes

Ulcerative colitis can be challenging to diagnose, as it bears many of the same symptoms as Crohn’s disease, another IBD. These symptoms include:

• Abdominal discomfort, including pain and cramping
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stools
• Rectal pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Appetite and weight loss
• Fatigue

The key difference between these conditions is that ulcerative colitis targets the large intestine and rectum, while Crohn’s can appear anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

In general, IBD is believed to be caused by immune system defects. In a healthy immune system, bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders trigger a reaction. Yet, in individuals with IBD, even non-threatening conditions cause an inflammatory reaction in the intestines.

Long-term intestinal issues can also impact health in other ways. For instance, people with IBD may experience nutrient deficiencies, anemia, and inflammation which appears in other areas of the body, such as the joints, eyes, liver, and kidney.

Stem Cell Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis

There are several treatments available to control the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. For example, steroids may be used to control severe inflammation. In certain cases, surgeries may be needed to remove particularly damaged sections of the intestines.

However, there is another alternative treatment option emerging in the field of regenerative medicine.  Stem cell therapy has been reviewed and used to help reduce the need for surgery for IBD and Crohn’s disease, and can also help to control symptoms.

Stem cells can reproduce and differentiate into specialized cell types, including certain types of tissue. Because patients already have a wealth of these cells within the bone marrow and fat tissue, there is no challenge when it comes to sourcing them. There are also umbilical cord-derived tissue stem cells that are actively being researched as another source option. Stem cells have the potential to aid in cellular repair and restoration, thus minimizing discomfort and symptoms overall. While stem cell therapy is still in its early stage as an ulcerative colitis treatment, it holds the potential as an alternative treatment option for symptom improvements for ideal and approved candidates.

This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in Tampa. Regenerative medicine seeks to replace tissue or organs that have been damaged by disease, trauma, or congenital issues.

The old adage “four eyes see more than two” also applies to dentistry. Patients of statutory health insurances are now entitled to a second dental opinion. Many private insurers also support the initiative. And so does others in the Gainesville dental community. If you are looking for a Gainesville dentist, it is OK for you to seek a second opinion if the first one does not meet your requirements. After all, this is ultimately going to be your decision. Your dental health should be focused on getting the best care from the most experienced professional.

Can I Get a Second Opinion?

The second opinion on dental treatment actually does not fall within the scope of your own obligations and responsibility. If you have an upcoming major surgical procedure or extensive dental treatment to be done, it often creates uncertainty among patients. In the first case, they are primarily concerned with medical risks or the question of alternatives. There is also the cost aspect as the patients might have to pay a larger portion of the cost, even with insurance. The opinion of a second dentist can give you certainty or suggest an alternative for more affordable treatment and therapy.

The Second Opinion is Valuable

Some special features in the dental field make the second dental opinion valuable for patients in the truest sense of the word. The health insurers pay fixed amounts for the insured. This means that the insured person has to find the co-pay or out of pocket cost, which could be a considerable amount; depending on the type of dental insurance. This is especially true if the insured is having major dental surgery.

What To Consider

So the question for patients is always whether the result and costs of the planned treatment are worth it. In addition, the prices for dental procedures differ significantly. Some dentists charge on the basis for additional lab time, surgery techniques and equipment used; among other things. But, you should be aware that good quality doesn’t always have to cost a lot.

Have a Discussion

It is best to first discuss your decision with your health insurance company. In this way, you can be certain that the costs will be covered or you will already receive the best advice needed from specialized dentists in order to move forward. A good dentist will inspect your patient file and request copies of past procedural results from a previous dentist. The documents initially serve as an orientation for a second dentist. Together with his own findings, he will then discuss the planned treatment with you, clarify questions, provide information, show alternatives, and, if you wish, draw up his own non-binding treatment and cost plan for you. That is when you can decide.

Conclusion

In many cases, you can get a second dental opinion online and free consultation. Feel free to use one of these many options for a second dental opinion. This gives you more security and saves costs in a wide range of dental treatments.