|
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer Hiatus
"I Just Didn't Feel Good About This Case"
Where are My Keys?
Lighter Notes
|
What's New at
Guardian Nurses
The Flame Flickers
In August
This e-newsletter will be the summer's last as we realize that no one wants to be reminded about healthcare in August! It'll be too hot, too humid and the Phillies should (hopefully) be making another run to the pennant. So enjoy this one and we'll "See you in September!" |
|
"I Just Didn't Feel Good About This Case"
Judy Mancini, RN has been one of our Nurse Advocates for many years. Plus, she's been a critical care nurse for more than 20 so she knows a little something about "intuition."
Judy was working with a young 32 year old woman who had been evaluated by a cardiologist for dizziness and passing out. She was cleared after testing, but the symptoms remained.
After reviewing her test results, Judy encouraged her to see another cardiologist because as she said, "I just didn't feel right about this case."
The patient was seen the next week, at a visit that Judy facilitated. The second physician recommended that she consider a pacemaker
because of the symptoms and what he saw on additional testing.
We applaud Judy for her 'sixth sense' and for staying with the case so that the patient got the care she needed.
|
|
Lighter Notes
Cleopatra, the last great pharaoh of Egypt before it succumbed to Roman opposition, lived from 69 - 30 B.C. She captivated two of the most powerful men of her day, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, as she attempted to restore Egypt to superpower status. To learn more about her, visit the Franklin Institute's world premiere exhibition, Cleopatra, The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt. |
|
|
Who among us has had moments when they've misplaced their keys, can't locate their wallets, or forget what they were going to say? Raise your hands....be honest. Yes, many of us.
Like millions of Americans, our lives are busy with our jobs, our families, and our kids. We may worry that maybe these "senior moments" are the precursors to Alzheimers' Disease--especially if there is a positive family history.
It's likely that your lapses are merely momentary, but this month we present information on Alzehimers' Disease so that---just in case---you can know the difference for yourself or for someone you love.
 Your brain is a muscle, exercise it!
Betty Long
Betty Long, RN, MHA, President and Founder
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, Inc. |
Where Are My Glasses?
and other memory lapses...
Brief memory lapses (Where are my glasses?) are the most common age-related memory change. People who experience this normal phenomenon usually remember what they've forgotten after a few minutes, or when reminded.
But people with Alzheimer's disease never have that, "Aha! I remember!" experience, and its absence is a hallmark of the disease, according to Johns Hopkins Professor of Neurology Marilyn Albert, Ph.D.
Until recently, Alzheimer's disease could only be confirmed after death by autopsy, if certain abnormal brain structures called plaques and tangles were present. Fortunately, Alzheimer's disease can now be diagnosed in the doctor's office, based primarily on clinical symptoms. In addition, new, highly accurate tests are currently being developed to confirm the diagnosis.
Confirming the diagnosis
If someone's symptoms suggest Alzheimer's disease, your healthcare provider can usually confirm the diagnosis with a brief psychological test called the Mini-Mental Status Exam. A complete physical exam, medical history, and non-invasive tests such as CT scans and MRIs can help exclude other causes of memory impairment, such as depression, strokes, brain tumors, and hydrocephalus.
New tests on the horizon
For situations where there is doubt, two promising new approaches may one day lead to reimburseable tests that can be used to confirm or rule out a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) measures how the brain metabolizes glucose or the amount of blood flow in a given area. PET focuses on a protein called beta-amyloid that accumulates to form hard plaques in an area of the brain where memory and cognitive functions are carried out.
- Beta-amyloid and tau, two protein fragments found in spinal fluid (obtained through a lumbar puncture), may be accurate markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a recent study, patients with AD had significantly lower levels of beta-amyloid, and significantly higher levels of tau, than those without AD.
Common warning signs of Alzheimer's disease
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks or using simple household appliances
- Disorientation, such as becoming lost on your own street
- Poor judgement, such as wearing several shirts on a warm day or very little clothing in cold weather
- Putting items in unusual places, such as a book in the refrigerator, and forgetting how they got there
- Problems with abstract thinking, such as difficulty in balancing a checkbook
- Changes in mood or behavior, such as rapidly going from calm to tearful to angry for no apparent reason
- Loss of initiative, marked by extreme passivity and lack of interest in normal activities
If you are concerned that someone you care about may have Alzheimer's disease, talk with your healthcare provider. In addition, if you have more questions about the symptoms of Alzheimer's, call the Alzheimer's Association anytime at 877-IS IT ALZ (877-474-8259).
 |
|
|
