Acid Reflux Drugs increases the risk of Dementia and Neuropathy

Do you know a loved one experiencing memory loss lately? Are they complaining about unexplained weakness, pain, numbness or some tingling especially in the arms or legs? Have they been using reflux drugs such as Nexium, Prevacid or others for several years? Then they could be victims of the side effects reflux drugs.

Acid reflux drugs

Acid reflux drugs are used to treat acid reflux, and they are sold over the counter. The problem starts when acid leaks and gets into the esophagus. Unlike the stomach, the esophagus does not have any protective lining. It means that when the stomach acid gets into contact with the delicate part, its causes a scorching effect known as acid reflux. The body has a big valve known as Lower Esophageal Sphincter that is located between the stomach and the esophagus. This valve is designed to prevent acid reflux. Acid reflux is as a result of the dysfunctioning of the LES muscles.
People who are experiencing acid reflux need to understand the cause before buying any acid reflux drugs. It is easier to cure the disorder by focusing on the causes as opposed to symptoms. .Taking acid reflux drugs to block the natural secretion of the acid results in severe side effects.

Acid Reflux Drugs have been linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Some acid reflux drugs such as Nexium have a history of causing some serious side effects to the patients. People using this medication have high chances of getting anemia, osteoporosis, heart problems and more digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. Experts say that the drugs used to treat acid reflux do not treat the condition but only the symptoms. These medications are not made to deal with the problem. Due to this, the condition worsens as the patient continues taking them. As the drug treatment is prolonged, the drug side effects continue to deteriorate.
New research has brought more clarity to this problem. It shows that individuals taking some acid reflux medication will experience vitaminB12 deficiency. The research indicates that proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Prilosec, and some histamine two receptor antagonists like Pepcid and Zantac have serious side effects to the consumers. Proton pump inhibitors were proven to be the worst.
According to the study, patients using these drugs should not stop using them. They should, however, get their vitamin B12 levels checked. If the patient realizes that their levels are not enough, then that should be treated as a symptom. It is impossible to treat Vitamin B12 deficiency if the cause is not addressed, and the acid reflux drug might be the cause.

Vitamin B12 deficiency effects on the body

If the issues are not addressed immediately, a patient will experience fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, anemia, dementia, hypertension, depression and even neuropathy. It can be dangerous and costly to keep on treating symptoms of a medical condition rather than treating the cause. Patients may opt for natural remedies for the condition and avoid the drugs. This way, the body heals naturally, and the patient avoids these serious side effects.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Dementia Patients Rehab: Back To Basics

Dementia is a serious neurodegenerative, progressively deteriorating and terminal clinical condition. Dementia is characterized by the loss or decline of a patient's memory or any other cognitive abilities. Research shows that dementia can be because of several diseases and conditions. Over 27.7million, people in the world suffer from this medical condition. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, and it accounts for almost 80% of all the dementia cases in the world today. Other types include mixed dementia, vascular dementia, and Parkinson dementia among others.

Dementia management

Now, there is no cure for dementia, but some promising experimental treatments are being tested on animals and human beings. Experts in the medical field say that the specific treatment to either slow or arrest the disease progression will take many years to be discovered. It has led to the developing and implementing of none- pharmacological approaches in clinical settings to help manage the condition. These methods support and enhance the quality of life for the people suffering from dementia together with their families.

Rehabilitation for dementia patients

The primary purpose of rehabilitating patients is to ensure that they achieve their optimal level of function. In 1986, Cohen and Eisdorfer suggested that dementia rehabilitation is the only way to help patients suffering from this condition. The primary focus of dementia rehabilitation is to use facilitative, compensatory and none- pharmacological approaches that can modify behaviors or the social and physical environment to help people suffering from the condition to cope with it and participate in their daily activities as usual. Dementia rehabilitation will enable the patient to live for a longer time without getting too many problems.
The focus in dementia rehabilitation is strength based, and it concentrates of the capabilities of the patient to help them achieve the best life they can regardless of the level of the condition.
It is quite different from the traditional therapies used in rehabilitation that mainly focused on addressing, curing, or decreasing impairment, or sometimes addressing the underlying pathophysiological or the neurological level to get the improvements in status.

Challenges facing dementia rehabilitation

Dementia has always been considered a terminal condition, and this has made many healthcare providers not to consider the patients as appropriate candidates for rehabilitation. In fact, many health professionals are still unaware on how to support people suffering from the condition.

Communication strategies for dementia rehabilitation

People suffering from dementia should be handled with a lot of care during rehabilitation. The health care provider taking care of this population must be very patient and understanding. When talking, they should maintain a lot of calm. The verbal instructions given to the patients must be simple, and each should be paid at a time. It is not advisable to rush when dealing with these patients. Dementia rehabilitation should be conducted in places with no distraction or noise so that they cannot concentrate. The caregiver should always assure them that they are doing well. It is also advisable always to express some affection when around the patients.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.

Top Lessons You Need To Learn About Dementia & Benzodiazepines

Dementia is a common term referring to a group of symptoms that affects the brain capacity. The condition emanates from brain cells damage often caused by diseases, physical injuries, and strokes. The medical disorder impairs the ability to make sound judgments and conduct daily activities. While dementia remains prevalent at the ages beyond 65 years, it's not a common occurrence amongst the elderly as it occurs in people in their 40s and 50s.
Diagnosing dementia
Despite the disorder having noticeable symptoms, several health conditions are bearing similar symptoms. They include hormone deficiencies, brain tumors, depression, medication clashes and bacterial infections. Once the symptoms appear, it's vital to diagnose at an early age to ensure early treatment for those with treatable disorders. The initial signs are the personality change, gradual loss of memory, withdrawal, confusion and partial to full physical disability.
There are many causes of Dementia as there are many forms of the disorder. The most prevalent types of the illness are vascular dementia, Huntington's disorder, FTLD, Korsakoff's syndrome, Parkinson's disease and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disorder. Unlike other chronic illness, dementia is not a hereditary disease.
Managing the condition
Visit a doctor when you notice the signs above in your relatives or a colleague to determine the ultimate cause. Several types of the disorder such as Alzheimer's disease deteriorates one's health over time. Currently, there are no preventive and curative medicines for most types of the illness. However, some drugs have tested positive for reducing the symptoms. The victims need moral support to manage the condition positively.
Does Benzodiazepines increase the risk of Dementia?
Most of the commonly used drugs for chronic illnesses comes with undesirable side effects. According to recent studies, close to 19% of the adults at the age of 50 and above uses drugs that cause anticholinergic activity. Previous surveys have shown several people using the drugs for years leading to severe withdrawal signs. The drugs contain a chemical acetylcholine that causes low blood pressure, agitation, memory problems, dry mouths and confusion.
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs commonly known as tranquilizers, often prescribed for people suffering from insomnia, fatigue, alcoholism, anxiety and as anesthesia before surgeries. They are usually administered for few weeks as they are highly addictive when used for prolonged periods. Benzodiazepines works on the central nervous system, triggers muscle relaxation, produces sedation while lowering the level of anxiety.
A group study conducted on about 1000 French elderly people showed increased risk of up to 50% among those that used the drugs in a span of 15 years, compared to those that had not taken the medicine. An independent research conducted in Quebec, Canada identified increased risk of contracting Alzheimer's disorder for people with increased exposure to benzodiazepine. Strong links were found in people with more than six months. Also, those with a half-life of more than 20 hours showed higher risk than the short acting medications.
Despite the medical advances that have seen the development of more than 2000 brands of benzodiazepine, only 15 are currently approved for use. However, the past studies have failed to establish whether the cognitive effects are permanent and or can be reversed with counter prescriptions.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.