keep track of bills and pay them on time. These difficulties may progress to inability to recognize and
deal with numbers.
Making judgments and decisions
Responding effectively to everyday problems, such as food burning on the stove or unexpected driving
situations, becomes increasingly challenging.
Planning and performing familiar tasks
Once-routine activities that require sequential steps, such as planning and cooking a meal or playing a
favorite game, become a struggle as the disease progresses. Eventually, people with advanced
Alzheimer's may forget how to perform basic tasks such as dressing and bathing.
Changes in personality and behavior
Brain changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease can affect the way you act and how you feel. People
with Alzheimer's may experience:
Depression
Anxiety
Social withdrawal
Mood swings
Distrust in others
Increased stubbornness
Wandering
CAUSES
Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer's disease results from a combination of genetic,
lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain over time.
Less than 5 percent of the time, Alzheimer's is caused by specific genetic changes that guarantee a
person will develop the disease.
While the causes of Alzheimer's are not yet fully understood, its effect on the brain is clear.
Alzheimer's disease damages and kills brain cells. A brain affected by Alzheimer's disease has many
fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain.
As more and more brain cells die, Alzheimer's leads to significant brain shrinkage. When doctors
examine Alzheimer's brain tissue under the microscope, they see two types of abnormalities that are
considered hallmarks of the disease:
Plaques. These clumps of a protein called beta-amyloid may damage and destroy brain cells
in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Although the ultimate cause of
brain-cell death in Alzheimer's isn't known, abnormal processing of beta-amyloid is a prime suspect.
Tangles. Brain cells depend on an internal support and transport system to carry nutrients
and other essential materials throughout their long extensions. This system requires the normal
structure and functioning of a protein called tau. In Alzheimer's, threads of tau protein twist into
abnormal tangles, leading to failure of the transport system. This failure is also strongly implicated
in the decline and death of brain cells.
RISK FACTOR
Age
Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal
aging, but your risk increases greatly as you grow older. After you reach age 65, your risk of
developing the disease doubles about every five years. Nearly half of those over age 85 have
Alzheimer's.
People with rare genetic changes that guarantee they'll develop Alzheimer's often begin experiencing
symptoms in their 40s or 50s.
Family history and genetics
Your risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be somewhat higher if a first-degree relative your
parent, sibling or child has the disease. Scientists have identified rare changes (mutations) in three
genes that guarantee a person who inherits them will develop Alzheimer's. But these mutations
account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimer's disease. Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's
among families remain largely unexplained. The strongest risk gene researchers have found so far is
apolipoprotein e4 (APOE-e4). Other risk genes have been identified but not conclusively confirmed.
Sex
Women may be more likely than are men to develop Alzheimer's disease, in part because they live
longer.
Mild cognitive impairment
People with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have memory problems or other symptoms of cognitive
decline that are worse than might be expected for their age, but not severe enough to be diagnosed
as dementia. Those with MCI have an increased risk but not a certainty of later developing
dementia.
Lifestyle and heart health
There's no lifestyle factor that's been conclusively shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease.
However, some evidence suggests that the same factors that put you at risk of heart disease may also
increase the chance that you'll develop Alzheimer's. Examples include:
Lack of exercise
Smoking
High cholesterol
A stimulating job
Mentally challenging leisure activities, such as reading, playing games or playing a musical
instrument
COMPLICATION
Memory loss, impaired judgment and other cognitive changes caused by Alzheimer's can complicate
treatment for other health conditions. A person with Alzheimer's disease may not be able to:
Communicate that he or she is experiencing pain for example, from a dental problem
Pneumonia and other infections. Difficulty swallowing may cause people with Alzheimer's
to inhale (aspirate) food or liquid into their airways and lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.
Inability to control emptying of the bladder (urinary incontinence) may require placement of a tube
to drain and collect urine (urinary catheter). Having a catheter increases your risk of urinary tract
infections, which can lead to more-serious, life-threatening infections.
Injuries from falls. People with Alzheimer's become increasingly vulnerable to falling. Falls
can lead to fractures. In addition, falls are a common cause of serious head injuries, such as
concussion or bleeding in the brain.
TEST?EXAM
There's no specific test today that confirms you have Alzheimer's disease. Your doctor will make a
judgment about whether Alzheimer's is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the
information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.
Doctors can nearly always determine whether you have dementia, and they can accurately identify
whether your dementia is due to Alzheimer's disease about 90 percent of the time. Alzheimer's
disease can be diagnosed with complete accuracy only after death, when microscopic examination of
the brain reveals the characteristic plaques and tangles.
To help distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other causes of memory loss, doctors now typically rely
on the following types of tests.
Physical and neurological exam
Your doctor will perform a physical exam, and is likely to check your overall neurological health by
testing your:
Reflexes
Coordination
Balance
Lab tests
Blood tests may help your doctor rule out other potential causes of memory loss and confusion, such
as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.
Mental status testing
Your doctor may conduct a brief mental status test to assess your memory and other thinking skills.
Short forms of mental status testing can be done in about 10 minutes. Commonly used tests include
the following tasks and questions:
Draw a clock face with the hands showing a time specified by the examiner.
New imaging applications currently used primarily in major medical centers or in clinical trials
may enable doctors to detect specific brain changes caused by Alzheimer's.
Brain-imaging technologies include:
Computerized tomography (CT). For a CT scan, you'll lie on a narrow table that slides into
a small chamber. X-rays pass through your body from various angles, and a computer uses this
information to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of your brain. This test is painless and takes
about 20 minutes. It's currently used chiefly to rule out tumors, strokes and head injuries.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field
to produce detailed images of your brain. You lie on a narrow table that slides into a tube-shaped
MRI machine, which makes loud banging noises while it produces images. The entire procedure can
take an hour or more. MRIs are painless, but some people feel claustrophobic inside the machine
and are disturbed by the noise. MRIs are currently used primarily to rule out other conditions that
may account for cognitive symptoms. In the future, they may be used to measure the volume of
your brain tissue and whether shrinkage in brain regions implicated in Alzheimer's disease has
occurred.
Positron emission tomography (PET). During a PET scan, you'll be injected in a vein with a
low-level radioactive tracer. You'll lie on a table while an overhead scanner tracks the tracer's flow
through your brain. The tracer may be a special form of glucose (sugar) that shows overall activity
in various brain regions. This can show which parts of your brain aren't functioning well. New PET
techniques may be able to detect your brain level of plaques one hallmark abnormality linked to
Alzheimer's.
Future diagnostic tools
Researchers are working with doctors to develop new diagnostic tools to help clinch the diagnosis of
Alzheimer's. Another important goal is to detect the disease before it causes the symptoms targeted
by current diagnostic techniques at the stage when Alzheimer's may be most treatable as new
drugs are discovered. New tools under investigation include:
TREATMENT
Drugs
Current Alzheimer's medications can help for a time with memory symptoms and other cognitive
changes. Two types of drugs are currently used to treat cognitive symptoms:
sometimes used in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Memantine's most common side
effect is dizziness.
Creating a safe and supportive environment
Adapting the living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer's is an important part of any
treatment plan. You can take these steps to support a person's sense of well-being and continued
ability to function:
Ensure that shoes and slippers are comfortable and provide good traction.
Reduce the number of mirrors. People with Alzheimer's may find images in mirrors confusing
or frightening.
Exercise
Regular exercise is an important part of everybody's wellness plan and those with Alzheimer's are
no exception. Activities like a daily 30-minute walk can help improve mood and maintain the health of
joints, muscles and your heart. Exercise can also promote restful sleep and prevent constipation. Make
sure that the person with Alzheimer's carries identification if she or he walks unaccompanied.
People with Alzheimer's who develop trouble walking may still be able to use a stationary bike or enjoy
chair exercises. You may be able to find exercise programs geared to older adults on TV or on DVDs.
Nutrition
People with Alzheimer's may forget to eat, lose interest in preparing meals or not eat a healthy
combination of foods. They may also forget to drink enough, leading to dehydration and constipation.
Offer:
High-calorie, healthy shakes and smoothies. You can supplement milkshakes with protein
powders (available at grocery stores, drugstores and discount retailers) or use your blender to
make smoothies featuring your favorite ingredients.
Water, juice and other healthy beverages. Try to ensure that a person with Alzheimer's
drinks at least several full glasses of liquids every day. Avoid beverages with caffeine, which can
increase restlessness, interfere with sleep and trigger frequent need to urinate.
Certain nutritional supplements are marketed as "medical foods" specifically to treat Alzheimer's
disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve products marketed as medical
foods. Despite marketing claims, there's no definitive data showing that any of these supplements is
beneficial or safe.
HOME REMEDIES
Study results have been mixed about whether diet, exercise or other healthy lifestyle choices can
prevent or reverse cognitive decline. But these healthy choices promote good overall health and may
play a role in maintaining cognitive health, so there's no harm in including these strategies in your
general wellness plan:
Regular exercise has known benefits for heart health and may also help prevent cognitive
decline. There's also some evidence that exercise may help improve mood in those with
Alzheimer's.
A diet low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables is another heart-healthy choice that
cognitive health uses fish consumption as a yardstick for the amount of omega-3 fatty acids eaten.
Social engagement and intellectual stimulation may make life more satisfying and help
COPING
People with Alzheimer's disease experience a mixture of emotions confusion, frustration, anger,
fear, uncertainty, grief and depression.
You can help a person cope with the disease by being there to listen, reassuring the person that life
can still be enjoyed, providing support, and doing your best to help the person retain dignity and selfrespect.
A calm and stable home environment can help reduce behavior problems. New situations, noise, large
groups of people, being rushed or pressed to remember, or being asked to do complicated tasks can
cause anxiety. As a person with Alzheimer's becomes upset, the ability to think clearly declines even
more.
Caring for the caregiver
Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is physically and emotionally demanding. Feelings of
anger and guilt, frustration and discouragement, worry and grief, and social isolation are common. But
paying attention to your own needs and well-being is one of the most important things you can do for
yourself and for the person with Alzheimer's. If you're a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer's, you
can help yourself by:
Asking questions of doctors, social workers and others involved in the care of your loved one
Calling on friends or other family members for help when you need it
Taking care of your health by seeing your own doctors on schedule, eating healthy meals and
getting exercise
A stooped posture
A woman older than age 65 or a man older than age 70, regardless of risk factors
A man between age 50 and 70 who has at least one osteoporosis risk factor
Take medications, such as prednisone, aromatase inhibitors or anti-seizure drugs, that are
associated with osteoporosis
Low calcium intake. A lifelong lack of calcium plays a major role in the development of
osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an
increased risk of fractures.
Tobacco use. The exact role tobacco plays in osteoporosis isn't clearly understood, but
researchers do know that tobacco use contributes to weak bones.
Eating disorders. Women and men with anorexia nervosa or bulimia are at higher risk of
lower bone density.
Sedentary lifestyle. People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis
than their more-active counterparts. Any weight-bearing exercise is beneficial for your bones, but
walking, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful for creating healthy
bones.
Excessive alcohol consumption. Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a
day increases your risk of osteoporosis, possibly because alcohol can interfere with the body's
ability to absorb calcium.
Other medications. Long-term use of aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer, the
antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the cancer
treatment drug methotrexate, some anti-seizure medications, the acid-blocking drugs called proton
pump inhibitors and aluminum-containing antacids are all associated with an increased risk of
osteoporosis.
Risk factors you can't change
Being a woman. Fractures from osteoporosis are almost twice as common in women as they
are in men.
Getting older. The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
Family history. Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk,
especially if you also have a family history of fractures.
Frame size. Men and women who are exceptionally thin (with a body mass index of 19 or
less) or have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass
to draw from as they age.
Thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone also can cause bone loss. This can occur either
because your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or because you take excess amounts of
thyroid hormone medication to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Medical conditions and procedures that affect bone health. Stomach surgery
(gastrectomy) and weight-loss surgery can affect your body's ability to absorb calcium. So can
conditions such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, hyperparathyroidism and Cushing's disease a
rare disorder in which your adrenal glands produce excessive corticosteroid hormones.
COMPLICATION
Fractures are the most frequent and serious complication of osteoporosis. They often occur in your
spine or hip bones that directly support your weight. Hip fractures often result from a fall. Although
most people do relatively well with modern surgical treatment, hip fractures can result in disability and
even death from postoperative complications, especially in older adults. Wrist fractures from falls also
are common.
In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen or injured yourself. The bones in
your back (vertebrae) can simply become so weakened that they begin to compress or collapse.
Compression fractures can cause severe pain and require a long recovery. If you have many such
fractures, you can lose height as your posture becomes stooped.
TEST
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
The best screening test is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This procedure is quick, simple
and gives accurate results. It measures the density of bones in your spine, hip and wrist the areas
most likely to be affected by osteoporosis and it's used to accurately follow changes in these bones
over time.
Other tests that can accurately measure bone density include:
Ultrasound
Single-photon absorptiometry
Medications
A number of medications are available to help slow bone loss and maintain bone mass, including:
Bisphosphonates. Much like estrogen, this group of drugs can inhibit bone breakdown,
preserve bone mass, and even increase bone density in your spine and hip, reducing the risk of
fractures. Examples of these medications include alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva),
risedronate (Actonel) and zoledronic acid (Reclast).
Bisphosphonates may be especially beneficial for men, young adults and people with steroid-induced
osteoporosis. They're also used to prevent osteoporosis in people who require long-term steroid
treatment for a disease such as asthma or arthritis.
Side effects, which can be severe, include nausea, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and the risk of
an inflamed esophagus or esophageal ulcers. Bisphosphonates that can be taken once a week or once
a month may cause fewer stomach problems. If you can't tolerate oral bisphosphonates, your doctor
may recommend periodic intravenous infusions of bisphosphonate preparations.
There have also been reports of serious side effects with bisphosphonates, such as osteonecrosis of
the jaw, a rare type of thigh fracture, irregular heartbeats and visual disturbances. Discuss the
potentials risks and benefits of these medications with your doctor, and let your dentist know if you're
taking any medications prior to any dental surgery.
Raloxifene (Evista). This medication belongs to a class of drugs called selective estrogen
receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene mimics estrogen's beneficial effects on bone density in
postmenopausal women, without some of the risks associated with estrogen, such as increased risk
of uterine cancer and, possibly, breast cancer. Hot flashes are a common side effect of raloxifene,
and you shouldn't use this drug if you have a history of blood clots. This drug isn't currently
recommended for use in men, though a small study found that it may also be helpful for preserving
bone density in men.
Calcitonin. A hormone produced by your thyroid gland, calcitonin reduces bone resorption
and may slow bone loss. It may also prevent spine fractures, and may even provide some pain relief
from compression fractures. It's usually administered as a nasal spray and may cause nasal
irritation in some people who use it, but it's also available as an injection. Because calcitonin isn't as
potent as bisphosphonates, it's normally reserved for people who can't take other drugs.
Maintain good posture. Good posture which involves keeping your head held high, chin
in, shoulders back, upper back flat and lower spine arched helps you avoid stress on your spine.
When you sit or drive, place a rolled towel in the small of your back. Don't lean over while reading
or doing handwork. When lifting, bend at your knees, not your waist, and lift with your legs,
keeping your upper back straight.
Prevent falls. Wear low-heeled shoes with nonslip soles and check your house for electrical
cords, area rugs and slippery surfaces that might cause you to trip or fall. Keep rooms brightly lit,
install grab bars just inside and outside your shower door, and make sure you can get in and out of
your bed easily.
Manage pain. Discuss pain management strategies with your doctor. Don't ignore chronic
pain. Left untreated, it can limit your mobility and cause even more pain.
PREVENTION
Three factors essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life are:
Regular exercise
Calcium
The amount of calcium you need to stay healthy changes over your lifetime. The Institute of Medicine
(IOM) recommends the following amounts of daily calcium from food and supplements:
Vitamin D
Getting enough vitamin D is just as important to your bone health as getting adequate amounts of
calcium. Scientists don't yet know the optimal daily dose of vitamin D, but it's safe for anyone older
than 1 year to take up to 2,000 international units (IU) a day.
Experts generally recommend that adults get between 400 and 1,000 IUs daily.
Although many people get adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight, this may not be a good
source if you live in high latitudes, if you're housebound, or if you regularly use sunscreen or you
avoid the sun entirely because of the risk of skin cancer. Although vitamin D is present in oily fish,
such as tuna and sardines, and in egg yolks, you probably don't eat these on a daily basis. Vitamin D
supplements or calcium supplements with added vitamin D are a good alternative.
Exercise
Exercise can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no
matter when you start, but you'll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you're
young and continue to exercise throughout your life. Combine strength training exercises with weightbearing exercises. Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper
spine, and weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping
rope, skiing and impact-producing sports mainly affect the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine.
Swimming, cycling and exercising on machines such as elliptical trainers can provide a good
cardiovascular workout, but because such exercises are low impact, they're not as helpful for
improving bone health as weight-bearing exercises are.
Other tips for prevention
These measures also may help you prevent bone loss:
Don't smoke. Smoking increases bone loss, perhaps by decreasing the amount of estrogen a
woman's body makes and by reducing the absorption of calcium in your intestine.
Avoid excessive alcohol. Consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day may decrease
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts,
seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.
Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car especially
at night or see the expression on a friend's face.
Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time,
cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.
At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired
vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately,
cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.
CAUSES
Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye's lens. Some
cataracts are caused by inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems and increase
your risk of cataracts.
How a cataract forms
The lens, where cataracts form, is positioned behind the colored part of your eye (iris). The lens
focuses light that passes into your eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina the lightsensitive membrane on the back inside wall of your eyeball that functions like the film of a camera. A
cataract scatters the light as it passes through the lens, preventing a sharply defined image from
reaching your retina. As a result, your vision becomes blurred.
As you age, the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Aging-related
changes to the lens cause tissues to break down and to clump together, clouding small areas of the
lens. As the cataract continues to develop, the clouding becomes denser and involves a greater part of
the lens.
A cataract can develop in one or both of your eyes.
Types of cataracts
Cataract types include:
Cataracts that affect the center of the lens (nuclear cataracts). A nuclear cataract may
at first cause you to become more nearsighted or even experience a temporary improvement in
your reading vision. But with time, the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and further clouds
your vision. Nuclear cataracts sometimes cause you to see double or multiple images. As the
cataract progresses, the lens may even turn brown. Advanced yellowing or browning of the lens can
lead to difficulty distinguishing between shades of color.
Cataracts that affect the edges of the lens (cortical cataracts). A cortical cataract
begins as whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it
slowly progresses, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the
center of the lens. Problems with glare are common for people with this type of cataract.
Cataracts that affect the back of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataracts). A
posterior subcapsular cataract starts as a small, opaque area that usually forms near the back of
the lens, right in the path of light on its way to the retina. A subcapsular cataract often interferes
with your reading vision, reduces your vision in bright light and causes glare or halos around lights
at night.
Cataracts you're born with (congenital cataracts). Some people are born with cataracts
or develop them during childhood. Such cataracts may be the result of the mother having
contracted an infection during pregnancy. They may also be due to certain inherited syndromes,
such as Alport's syndrome, Fabry's disease and galactosemia. Congenital cataracts, as they're
called, don't always affect vision, but if they do they're usually removed soon after detection.
RISK FACTOR
Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:
Increasing age
Diabetes
Exposure to ionizing radiation, such as that used in X-rays and cancer radiation therapy
Obesity
Smoking
DX
To determine whether you have a cataract, your doctor will perform an eye exam that may include:
Asking you to read an eye chart (visual acuity test). A visual acuity test uses an eye
chart to measure how well you can read a series of letters. Your eyes are tested one at a time, while
the other eye is covered. Using a chart or a viewing device with progressively smaller letters, your
eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or if your vision shows signs of impairment.
Using a light and magnification to examine your eye (slit-lamp examination). A slit
lamp allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye under magnification. The
microscope is called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light a slit to illuminate your
cornea, iris, lens, and the space between your iris and cornea. The slit allows your doctor to view
these structures in small sections, which makes it easier to detect any tiny abnormalities.
Dilating your eyes (retinal examination). To prepare for a retinal examination, your eye
doctor puts dilating drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide. This makes it easier to examine
the back of your eyes (retina). Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, your
eye doctor can examine your lens for signs of a cataract.
TREATMENT
When to consider cataract surgery
Talk with your eye doctor about whether surgery is right for you. Most eye doctors suggest considering
cataract surgery when your cataracts begin to affect your quality of life or interfere with your ability to
perform normal daily activities, such as reading or driving at night.
It's up to you and your doctor to decide when cataract surgery is right for you. For most people, there
is no rush to remove cataracts because they usually don't harm the eye. Delaying the procedure won't
make it more likely that you won't recover your vision if you eventually decide to have cataract
surgery. Take time to consider the benefits and risks of cataract surgery with your doctor.
If you choose not to undergo cataract surgery for now, your eye doctor may recommend periodic
follow-up exams to see if your cataracts are progressing. How often you'll see your eye doctor
depends on your situation.
Make sure your eyeglasses or contact lenses are the most accurate prescription possible
When you go outside during the day, wear sunglasses or a broad-brimmed hat to reduce glare
PREVENTION
It's not clear what causes cataracts, but doctors think you may be able to reduce your risk of cataracts
if you:
Have regular eye exams. Eye exams can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at
their earliest stages. Ask your doctor how often you should have an eye exam.
Quit smoking. Ask your doctor for help to stop smoking. Medications, counseling and other
strategies are available to help you.
Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of
cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors.
Take care of other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or
other medical conditions that can increase your risk of cataracts.
Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is a healthy one, work to maintain it by
exercising most days of the week. If you're overweight or obese, work to lose weight slowly by
reducing your calorie intake and increasing the amount of exercise you get each day.
Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding a variety of
colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you're getting a lot of vitamins and nutrients.
Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants, which in theory could prevent damage to your eye's
lens. Studies haven't proven that antioxidants in pill form can prevent cataracts. But fruits and
vegetables have many proven health benefits and are a safe way to increase the amount of
vitamins in your diet.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are
joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The two most common types of
arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is usually caused by normal wear and tear, while rheumatoid arthritis is an
autoimmune disorder. Other types of arthritis can be caused by uric acid crystals, infections or
even an underlying disease such as psoriasis or lupus.
Treatments vary, depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are
to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of
arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include:
Pain
Stiffness
Swelling
Redness
CAUSES
The pain associated with arthritis is caused by joint damage. Joints are made up of the following
parts:
Cartilage. A hard, but slick, coating on the ends of bones, cartilage allows bones of the joint
to slide smoothly over each other.
Joint capsule. This tough membrane encloses all the joint parts.
Synovium. This thin membrane lines the joint capsule and secretes synovial fluid, which
grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricts movement. This wear and tear can occur
over many years, or it can be hastened by a joint injury or infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks joints and
inflames the synovium, causing swelling, redness and pain. The disease can eventually destroy
cartilage and bone within the joint.
RISK FCTOR
Risk factors for arthritis include:
Family history. Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop
arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you more susceptible to
environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.
Age. The risk of many types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and
COMPLICATION
Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to take care
of daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up
straight. In some cases, joints may become twisted and deformed.
DX
Laboratory tests
The analysis of different types of body fluids can help pinpoint the type of arthritis you may have.
Fluids commonly analyzed include:
Blood
Urine
Joint fluid
To obtain a sample of your joint fluid, your doctor will cleanse and numb the area before inserting a
needle in your joint space to withdraw some fluid.
Imaging
These types of tests can detect problems within your joint that may be causing your symptoms.
Examples include:
X-rays. Using low levels of radiation to visualize bone, X-rays can show cartilage loss, bone
damage and bone spurs. X-rays may not reveal early arthritic damage, but they are often used to
track progression of the disease.
Computerized tomography (CT). CT scanners take X-rays from many different angles and
combine the information to create cross-sectional views of internal structures. CTs can visualize
both bone and the surrounding soft tissues.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Combining radio waves with a strong magnetic field,
MRI can produce more-detailed cross-sectional images of soft tissues such as cartilage, tendons and
ligaments.
Ultrasound. Using sound waves to create images of both hard and soft tissues within the
body, ultrasound can help determine needle placement if your doctor wants to withdraw fluid from
your joint or inject medicine.
Arthroscopy
In some cases, your doctor may look for damage in your joint by inserting a small, flexible tube
called an arthroscope through an incision near your joint. The arthroscope transmits images from
inside the joint to a video screen.
TRTMENT
Arthritis treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. You may need to try
several different treatments, or combinations of treatments, before you determine what works best for
you.
Medications
The medications used to treat arthritis vary, depending on the type of arthritis. Commonly used
arthritis medications include:
Analgesics. These types of medications help reduce pain, but have no effect on inflammation.
Examples include acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), tramadol (Ultram, Ryzolt) and narcotics
containing oxycodone (Percocet, Oxycontin, others) or hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, others).
inflammation. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen
(Aleve). Some types of NSAIDs are available only by prescription. Oral NSAIDs can cause stomach
irritation, and some may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Some NSAIDs are also
available as creams or gels, which can be rubbed on joints.
Counterirritants. Some varieties of creams and ointments contain menthol or capsaicin, the
ingredient that makes hot peppers spicy. Rubbing these preparations on the skin over your aching
joint may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Often used to treat rheumatoid
arthritis, DMARDs slow or stop your immune system from attacking your joints. Examples include
methotrexate (Trexall) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).
Biologics. Typically used in conjunction with DMARDs, biologic response modifiers are
genetically engineered drugs that target various protein molecules that are involved in the immune
response. Examples include etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade).
Corticosteroids. This class of drug, which includes prednisone and cortisone, reduces
inflammation and suppresses the immune system. Corticosteroids can be taken orally or be injected
directly into the painful joint.
Therapy
Physical therapy can be helpful for some types of arthritis. Exercises can improve range of motion and
strengthen the muscles surrounding joints. In some cases, splints or braces may be warranted.
Surgery
If conservative measures don't help, your doctor may suggest surgery, such as:
Joint replacement. This procedure removes your damaged joint and replaces it with an
artificial one. Joints most commonly replaced are hips and knees.
Joint fusion. This procedure is more often used for smaller joints, such as those in the wrist,
ankle and fingers. It removes the ends of the two bones in the joint and then locks those ends
together until they heal into one rigid unit.
Weight loss. If you're obese, losing weight will reduce the stress on your weight-bearing
joints. This may increase your mobility and limit future joint injury.
Exercise. Regular exercise can help keep your joints flexible. Swimming or water aerobics is
often a good choice because the buoyancy of the water reduces stress on weight-bearing
joints.
Heat and cold. Heating pads or ice packs may help relieve arthritis pain.
Assistive devices. Using canes, walkers, raised toilet seats and other assistive devices can
help protect your joints and improve your ability to perform daily tasks.
Many people use alternative remedies for arthritis, but there is little reliable evidence to support the
use of many of these products. Some alternative remedies appear to reduce the symptoms of some
types of arthritis but not others. The most promising alternative remedies for arthritis include:
Acupuncture. This therapy uses fine needles inserted at specific points on the skin to reduce
works no better than placebo. However, glucosamine and the placebo both relieved arthritis pain
better than taking nothing, particularly in people who have moderate to severe pain.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Using a small device that produces
mild electrical pulses, TENS therapy stimulates nerves near the aching joint and may interfere with
the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
Yoga or tai chi. The slow, stretching movements associated with yoga and tai chi may help
improve joint flexibility and range of motion in people with some types of arthritis.
Glaucoma is not just one eye disease, but a group of eye conditions resulting in optic nerve
damage, which causes loss of vision. Abnormally high pressure inside your eye (intraocular
pressure) usually, but not always, causes this damage.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Sometimes called the silent thief of sight,
glaucoma can damage your vision so gradually you may not notice any loss of vision until the
disease is at an advanced stage. The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle
glaucoma, has no noticeable signs or symptoms except gradual vision loss.
Early diagnosis and treatment can minimize or prevent optic nerve damage and limit
glaucoma-related vision loss. It's important to get your eyes examined regularly, and make
sure your eye doctor measures your intraocular pressure.