Download November Healthy Tips Hello my fellow citizens, I am sorry for being

November Healthy Tips
Hello my fellow citizens, I am sorry for being so late with November’s healthy tips but as you all
know we had a storm, OK several storms. We the Health Department was busy setting up a
shelter for our citizens that were displace because of the storms. I hope everyone fared well
and are now on the road of recovery. Let us keep in pray all New Jersey residents that are still in
need.
This month there are again a few issues that I want everyone to be aware of. This month
observances are Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, COPD, Cancer and the Great American
Smokeout.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a major public health problem in the United State. The prevalence of Type 2
diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) , increases with age. Living with diabetes
can be tough at times, but can be managed effectively. Every day there can be hurdles and
challenges and as you get older getting over those hurdles can become more challenging,
but not impossible. Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or
respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of
the body and be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce
enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. When you eat food, the body breaks down all
of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body.
Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood
instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications . If glucose cannot be
absorbed by the cells, it builds up in the bloodstream instead, and high blood sugar is the
result. The pancreas keeps increasing insulin production in an effort to keep up the rising
blood sugar levels, and high circulating levels of insulin develop. Eventually, they may cause
damage to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, reducing insulin output. Over
time the high blood glucose levels from uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious long-term
health problems with virtually every system in your body. Diabetes falls into two main
categories:
 Type 1, which usually occurs during childhood or adolescence.
 Type 2, the most common form of the disease, which usually occurs after age 45.
 Type 2 is also known as adult –onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes
mellitus (IDDM)
Type 1 diabetes accounts for between 5 and 10% of all diagnosed diabetes in the US. Type 2
diabetes is more common in the adults aged 50 and older but can occur in children and
adolescents as well. Diabetes is a unique condition for women. When compared with men,
women have a 50 % greater risk of diabetic coma, a condition brought on by poorly
controlled diabetes and lack of insulin. Women with diabetes have heart disease rates
similar to men, but more women with diabetes die from a first heart attack than do men
with diabetes. People of African-American, American Indian, Asian American, Latino and
Pacific Islander background are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes Diabetes often goes
undiagnosed because manly because its symptoms seem so harmless. People with diabetes
with help from their health care providers can reduce their risk for complications through
education about their disease. Early diagnosis is very important to prevent some of the
other more serious complications of diabetes which include heart disease, high blood
pressure, nerve damage, kidney failure and death.
Alzheimer’s Disease
5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s. 360,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year.
Hundreds of thousands of people will die from the disease this year. By 2050, between 11.2 and
16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's disease. Tens of millions more Americans are
affected as caregivers and family. AD is a slow disease, the course the disease takes and how
fast changes occur vary from person to person. On average, AD patients live from 8 to 10 years
after they are diagnosed, though some people may live with AD for as many as 20 years. AD is a
progressive disease, but its course can vary from 5 to 20 years. The most common cause of
death in AD patients is infection. The cruelty of Alzheimer’s disease is that it attacks the brain,
profoundly altering who we are. It steals from us our most basic functions and fundamentals
pleasures at the very time when we should be enjoying the fruits of life-long labor. The most
common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially
involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Age is the most
important risk factor for AD; the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years
beyond age 65. Three genes have been discovered that cause early onset (familial) AD.
Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they still do not know what causes
AD, and there is no cure. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease
characterized in the brain by abnormal clumps (amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers
(neurofibrillary tangles) composed of misplaced proteins. Eventually AD destroys cognition,
personality, and the ability to function. The disease usually begins after age 60, and risk goes
up with age. While younger people also may get AD, it is much less common. About 5 percent
of men and women ages 65 to 74 have AD, and nearly half of those age 85 and older may have
the disease. It is important to note, that AD is not a normal part of aging. Age is the most
important known risk factor for AD. The number of people with the disease doubles every 5
years beyond age 65. The more common form of AD is known as late-onset. It occurs later in
life, and no obvious inheritance pattern is seen in most families. The risk increases if more than
one family member has the illness. When diseases tend to run in families, either heredity
(genetics) or environmental factors or both may play a role. Scientists are studying education,
diet, and environment to learn what role they might play in the development of this disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association has chapters nationwide that provide educational programs and
support groups for caregivers and family members of people with AD. Alzheimer's Association
225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor,Chicago, IL 60601,[email protected]://www.alz.org
Tel: 312-335-8700 TDD: 312-335-5886, Fax: 866.699.1246 if you want more information.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) disease, is a progressive disease that
makes it hard to breathe. "Progressive" means the disease gets worse over time.
COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus (a slimy substance), wheezing,
shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. Cigarette smoking is the leading
cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. Long-term exposure to
other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust—also may contribute to
COPD, is Chronic obstructive airways disease; Chronic obstructive lung disease; Chronic
bronchitis; Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main
forms of COPD: Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus and
Emphysema, which involves destruction of the lungs over time. Most people with COPD have a
combination of both conditions. The more a person smokes, the more likely that person will
develop COPD. However, some people smoke for years and never get COPD. In rare cases,
nonsmokers who lack a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin can develop emphysema. Other risk
factors for COPD are: Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace, exposure to heavy
amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution, frequent use of cooking fire without proper
ventilation. Symptoms are cough, with or without mucus, fatigue, many respiratory infections,
shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity, trouble catching one's breath
and wheezing. Because the symptoms of COPD develop slowly, some people may not know that
they are sick. There is no cure for COPD. However, there are many things you can do to relieve
symptoms and keep the disease from getting worst. Ask your doctor or health care provider
about quit-smoking programs. Medicines are also available to help kick the smoking habit. The
medicines are most effective if you are motivated to quit. Go to the emergency room or call the
local emergency number (such as 911) if you have a rapid increase in shortness of breath.
Cancer
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100
different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of
tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood
function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the
digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter body
function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally
considered to be benign. More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:
a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems,
destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion that cell manages to divide and grow,
making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis. When a tumor
successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other
healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the
result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat. Cancer is ultimately the result of cells
that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of
growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process
breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience
programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal
cells that grows out of control. Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is
inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a
fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life. Cancer
treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread),
age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for
cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments
usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy,
immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy. Cancers that are closely linked to certain
behaviors are the easiest to prevent, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol
significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and
liver cancer. Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a
hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer
prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that
are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Some cancer prevention
is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as
possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms,
testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various
cancers. Discuss questions and concerns with you medical provider.
Remember the American Great Smokeout is this month, quit smoking today
Until next month
Gwendolyn Carter MSN RN