Rabu, 30 Desember 2009

Understanding Alzheimers Better

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Alzheimers information is important for individuals who may be at the first stages of this disease. However, it is also very important for friends, family and caregivers of people with Alzheimers disease to have enough Alzheimers information to be able to understand the process of the progression of the disease as well as what to expect and what is the best care and treatment for this. To understand Alzheimers more, we need to look at and understand dementia. Dementia is a mental disorder characterized by the loss of cognitive abilities. It is an extremely debilitating disease that afflicts some individuals in their old age. Alzheimers information shows that Alzheimers disease is the most common form of this disorder that greatly impairs normal mental operations. There is no certain prevention or cure for Alzheimers disease right now but continuous studies and tests are being made toward this endeavor because according to Alzheimers information, this disease is irreversible. The disease also continues to progress into different stages and symptoms of this worsen over time. One of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimers is short term memory loss. It then progresses into a gradual decline of other cognitive abilities. After the disease has progressed further, one may notice a marked change in the sufferer's behavior and at the very last stages of the disease, the individual with Alzheimers will have to depend on others for simple activities such as eating and mobility. Alzheimers information tells us that the course of the disease varies from person to person with a range of five to twenty years. Alzheimers eventually ends in death due to complications and infections. Although more and more Alzheimers information has been collated and researched throughout the years, the progress has been steady but slow. For instance, the Alzheimers information on what causes the disease is still uncertain. There are some major hypotheses that seem to revolve around two factors: genetic or hereditary and a complex environmental interaction. Alzheimers information shows us that it is primarily a disease that affects the brain. It is in the abnormalities in the brain that result in massive atrophy of the brain's neurotransmitters, nerves and neurons. From these stem the malfunctions that begin with short term memory loss to sever impairment to memory and the loss of motor skills and other normal bodily functions. An abnormally large deposit of protein in the brain causes the massive atrophy. The absolute detection of Alzheimers can only really be done post mortem through an autopsy where the brain is examined and it shows a significant amount of shrinkage and a smoothening of the usual brain wrinkles. However, one need not wait for an autopsy to find out whether one is suffering from Alzheimers disease or not. With modern Alzheimers information, one can have an 85 % to 90% accuracy in the diagnosis of the disease. No laboratory tests are done. Instead, there will be some cognitive tests and with a series of exercises and questions that are crossed checked against other possible sources of dementia. These mental tests done to be able to diagnose Alzheimers help also by letting the physician know at which stage of progression the sufferer may be at. Individuals with the age of 65 and above are most likely to be at risk of Alzheimers.

Dont Be Blown Off By A Typhoon

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Wherever part of the world you may live, you are likely to encounter a typhoon of some kind from time to time. Of course, there are specific places more prone to typhoons. There are also typhoons which are deadly and could cause great damage, not only to crops and infrastructures but also to human beings. If meteorologists forecast that a strong typhoon is coming, it is not enough for us to just sit at home and watch TV. If the typhoon is strong enough, you wont even be able to watch TV because of electricity blackouts. Typhoons are just one of the ways nature demonstrates its power, you should take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents during the typhoon. Although different kinds of typhoons in different places may bring different kinds of danger, there are some basic emergency preparations that you can do. To ensure your safety, familiarize yourself with the kinds of typhoons that hit the area where you live or are visiting and with the local governments safety rules and regulations. Once the National Weather Service have broadcasted that a typhoon will possibly hit your area, immediately start your emergency typhoon preparations. Here are a few things you can do before a typhoon arrives. 1. Fix any broken doors and windows. Make sure that there are no objects which could obstruct the entrance, just in case you may need to evacuate. Tape your big glass windows which can be potentially shattered by road signs, tree branches and other things. 2. If the place where you live always had problems with floods and a great typhoon is expected, move to an evacuation center in a higher ground even before the water levels reach a meter high. You should also park your car in a higher ground. Do not leave it in your garage because it can be carried by strong floods and cause bigger disasters. 3. Since it wouldnt be wise to be loitering around during typhoons and convenience shops are possibly closed, store enough food and water for a few days. Power and water connections might also stop, so you might as well prepare a lot of candles, batteries, rain coats and thick blankets to keep you warm. 4. Make sure that all items in your backyard or balcony are fixed. If any of those items can possibly be flown by strong winds, better store them inside for the meantime. Also, remove rooftop construction accessories, if any, as these can be detached and may break other peoples windows. 5. Ensure that all water drains in your home are clean to avoid clogged drainage systems which can cause a lot of water problems. 6. Listen to news about the typhoon. If the power is down, make sure that you have a battery-powered radio so you are still updated on what is happening, and know if in case there is an emergency evacuation program. Listening to the news will also keep you informed when the typhoon is expected to stop. Even if it already seems clear outside, do not leave you home unless you have confirmed that the typhoon is not coming back. It is possible that your area is just experiencing the eye of the typhoon. When the eye of typhoon passes, there are no rains or strong winds. After the typhoon, do not forget to fix whatever has been damaged. Check that no water is leaking into your home. There are still a lot of accidents which can happen because of not taking enough responsibilities of the effects of the typhoon.

Tsunami Emergency Preparation

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In 2004, a tsunami swept over certain parts of Southeast Asia, which extended up to Africa. More than 200,000 people perished with some bodies never identified or recovered. The incident is not the first but one of many that have happened over the centuries. It is not only in the Pacific but also in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, which makes it everyones concern. History shows that tsunamis have occurred dating from 1600 B.C until the present with the latest in July that killed more than 600 people in the island of Indonesia. Until now, the exact location where tsunamis will strike cannot yet be predicted. Once an underground earthquake occurs, an alert is sent to coastal communities that something could go in that direction. Since the Pacific is known throughout the world as the ring of fire due to the numerous underwater volcanoes, it is only right that a tsunami emergency alert system is in place to prepare people for the worse. The tragic event that took place almost two years ago never had such a system. It was only after that regional governments decided to come up with one to prevent it from happening again. The alert system is made up of four things. This is namely information, advisory, watch and warning. When an underground earthquake has been detected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii will issue the news to the countries in the region. Since the impact is not yet known, an advisory will be sent about possible areas that will be hit. There is a saying that goes, it is better to be safe than sorry. The prediction may not happen but this is better than having a lot of casualties because the no warning was reported. The after effects of the underwater earthquake may take hours but everyone knows that the tsunami is coming. This is the time that people in the coastal communities should watch over the water. If it recedes, then a warning will be given to everyone that a mandatory evacuation must begin. A siren is usually used to inform everyone. This will sound at different times starting from three hours before impact until half an hour before the tidal waves are supposed to hit the beach. During this time, residents should already begin moving out of the danger zone. People can go deeper inland or run to the hills. It will be a good idea to bring water, food and clothing. Packing a light transistor radio will also be helpful to be able to stay informed when it is safe to come down. The tsunami emergency preparation does not end when the reports predict that it is on the way. People will still be there monitoring the situation to issue a warning cancellation if nothing happened or if it is safe to return. Countries that live in the Pacific Rim of Fire must coordinate with each other to minimize the loss of life. This is because it is much easier to rebuild and impossible to replace someone who died. Community leaders should hold exercises to time how long it takes to evacuate the area so that everyone will be ready when the real thing hits the shores. A headcount can be done to find out if there are any people still missing should the inevitable strike.