Helmets - Don't be Part of the Brain Drain!

Do you have any idea how valuable your brain is? By protecting your head, you are caring for your brain today and in the future.

Did you know that for every dollar spent on a helmet it saves society $30 in direct medical costs. If 85 percent of all child cyclists wore bicycle helmets, in one year, the lifetime medical cost savings could total between $109 million and $142 million. What a good way to save all of us money and enjoy a happier, healthier life.

Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent. They also offer substantial protection to the forehead and mid face. Why take a risk? They are relatively cheap and very stylish these days. It is estimated that anywhere from 45 to 88 percent of brain injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing a helmet.

Here are 3 steps to Take Action to protect your head:

1. While driving a dirt bike, ATV, go-kart or any power sport vehicle, wear an approved helmet when engaging in sporting activities. We set a good example as adults when we wear a helmet, too.

2. Drive safely and always take precautions to reduce injuries or an accident.

3. Exercising improves your strength, balance and flexibility so becoming active and healthy is a good way to enjoy life and live longer.

Research is finding that there is an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease among those who have experienced brain injuries. Although we are all at risk for head injuries, young people tend to suffer more head traumas. Therefore, it is vitally important to protect your head, at any age, for lifelong brain health.

Your helmet is probably the most important piece of sporting equipment you need when driving any power sport vehicle. A helmet is comprised of an outer shell, the inner protective liner, the comfort padding and the face shield. The outer shell can be made from a variety of materials, including polycarbonates (plastic), Lexan (also plastic), fiberglass, Kevlar, and carbon fiber. The fiberglass or carbon fiber shells are more expensive to produce than plastics but usually make for lighter, stronger helmets, although it has been recommended to stay away from plastic helmets and buy something more durable.

It is very important that your helmet fit you well so that you will be properly protected at all times. It needs to fit you snug on your head and not be able to move around. You should not be able to pull it off once it has been securely strapped on. Different sizes of helmets are available both for children, youth, and adults.

Last, by not least, the face shield is very important to protect you from the wind, bugs, dirt or any flying object. Most manufacturers also put a UV-coat on the shield to protect your eyes and skin from the sun.

Remember if you have had a crash or damaged your helmet, it will need to be replaced as the EPS liner will no longer be good. The recommended service life of a helmet is 3 to 5 years under normal conditions.

Recently the style, design and safety factors of helmets have been dramatically improved. There are many different types of helmets such as flip-up helmets, full face, open face, motocross and novelty helmets. Each type also comes in many different styles. Find one you like and ride away in style today.

Written by Sharon Wittmeier
For more information on helmets visit http://www.allstarsportvehicles.com February 16, 2008

Alzheimer's Disease
KPBS
27 min - Jul 27, 2006

Alzheimer's Disease- We'll look at a local art program that aims to help people with Alzheimers deal with the disease, and find out more about how to recognize symptoms and how to support those with the Alzheimer's. Guests: Roberto Velasquez, Director Of Family Services, Alzheimers Association-San Diego Chapter and Douglas Galasko, M.D., Professor Of Neurosciences, UCSD School Of Medicine. Karen Rostodha visits with an Alzheimers patient and her family and takes part in the art program in a video package.

Caring For An Aggressive Alzheimer's Patient

As your loved ones Alzheimer's progresses, you may notice that they become more aggressive and tend to shout and become physical with you and your family members. Seen more often in men with Alzheimer's than women, this behavior often occurs suddenly, with little warning and no apparent reason. Because it is probably difficult to understand where your loved one is coming from, it's easy to become frustrated, but patience and understanding is necessary to calm him or her down and find out why they are so upset.

Aggression can be caused by several factors including physical discomfort, poor communication or an uncomfortable environment. When your loved one becomes aggressive, try to get to the source of their anger to see if you can make them more comfortable and less upset. Are they tired because they haven't been sleeping well? Are the medications they're taking causing side effects that make them angry or ill? Does it seem like they're experiencing physical discomfort and pain?

Take note of environmental factors that could be making your loved one uncomfortable. Are there a lot of loud noises or people in the room? Do they look lost or confused? These feelings are enough to make anyone annoyed, but for a person with Alzheimer's it can be particularly overwhelming and cause an angry outburst. They may also be frustrated because of their lack of ability to communicate with you. Keep your instructions simple and don't ask too many questions or state too many things at once. Are you acting negatively to towards them or are you irritable yourself? Your loved one may be picking up on your own aggression.

The best way to respond to the aggression of a person with Alzheimer's is to remain calm, patient and understanding. Try to identify the cause and focus on their feelings, not the facts. They may not be able to distinguish between wrong and right and may be confused about what really happened. Don't take their behavior personally and try to remain positive and reassuring. Suggest a different, relaxing activity and limit their distractions so they can concentrate on remaining calm.

During an aggressive outburst, it's important to assess the situation and the danger involved, both for your loved one and yourself. If he or she is acting out physically, stand back and call for assistance. If they're trying to run away, be more assertive and make sure they remain in the house. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using force or restraint because your loved one may become more upset and physical. The anger does not normally last very long and will only be escalated by equally aggressive behavior.

Brian Willie is a Top Elder Law Attorney in Texas and California. His articles, and speaking engagements have been very popular and he is currently writing a book on the legal aspects of dealing with Alzheimer's.

For more information and additional on-going articles, head on over to http://www.alrconline.com

Brian T. Willie, J.D.

The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is often referred to as a diagnosis by exclusion,as there is no specific clinical test that is unique to Alzheimer's disease. This makes diagnosing Alzhei...

Honor Dementia Caregivers This Holiday Season

Because over 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, there are approximately 10 million caregivers attending to them. This is a hard job that they did not sign up for but was thrust upon them. Honor them this holiday season for all the difficult work they do.

The first reason to honor a caregiver is for the financial burden they incur when caring for a person with dementia. First the family has consulted an Elder law attorney to get all the finances in order. Most likely the caregiver had to cut back on the hours of paid employment. Despite using all the resources out there, all expenses for the care of a dementia person will not be covered. That means go without, or pay for necessary items out of pocket.

The second reason to pay tribute to ones caring for someone with dementia is their resourcefulness. Caregivers are good at coming up with unique strategies for managing and paying for the supervision of their loved one. They may get help from attending a support group in person or online. However, they are the ones ultimately responsible for a workable plan of care.

Third is recognizing that many perform physically demanding aspects of a dementia persons' care. Many do the bathing, feeding and toileting of their family member with dementia. These tasks are difficult because many with dementia are confused and combative.

Next, these caregivers should be honored for all the time they devote to all aspects of a dementia persons' life. As just mentioned, most caregivers are responsible for the physical aspects of care. But they also must engage their loved ones in meaningful activities throughout the day and sometimes well into the night. Fortunately many take advantage of adult day care to ease the burden. Unfortunately some dementia folks refuse to participate in or have behaviors that preclude them from attending these worthwhile programs.

The fifth reason for honoring those caring for a dementia person is all the time they devote to this job. The caregiver is most likely responsible for everything from cleaning to cooking to shopping to yard work. The list seems endless. These tasks are even more difficult because while the caregiver is doing them, he must also keep the dementia person safe.

According to a report published by the national Alzheimer's Association, ten million caregivers provided 83 billion dollars worth of care in 2005. So this holiday season while you are enjoying time with family and friends, think about those 10 million dementia caregivers and all the under appreciated hard work they do, everyday, seven days a week, sometimes 24 hours a day. If you know someone with this challenging task, call them, thank them and offer a helping hand.

Susan Berg is author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities... for the Memory Challenged, Loved Ones, and Professionals.

Author, Susan Berg has been a healthcare professional and educator for over 20 years. She is the, activity director, of many years, at Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danvers. While there, she has gained much dementia care and activity experience and knowledge. She has had special training in dementia care and dementia activities through the Alzheimer's Association and other educational forums. Berg is the author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals, a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals. You may visit her website at http://www.alzheimersideas.com or her blog at http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com

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