Health

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: The Fundamentals

When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it can affect an entire family. Caring for a loved one with dementia is extremely challenging and it comes with a lot of stress associated with seeing a loved one go down this path. When you are tasked with taking care of a loved one with dementia, educating yourself about the condition is only the first step in learning how best to take care of them. Below, we will look at other factors that can help you approach caring for a loved one with dementia better.

Empathize Actively

Empathy and compassion will make you a better caregiver. By understanding what your loved one is going through, you will not get as frustrated with them because you understand why they may be acting a certain way. Forgetfulness is a common symptom and reality of dementia, and it is one of the more frustrating things about being a caregiver. By being empathetic and compassionate, you will be able to understand forgetfulness and have the capacity to help your loved one remember something or orient themselves with the physical world.

Accept Help and Support

Taking care of a loved one with dementia can be frustrating and overwhelming. When taking care of a family member with dementia, do not be afraid to ask for help and support. Family caregivers can benefit immensely from joining support groups, especially when they are still new to taking care of someone with dementia.

Support groups give caregivers space to vent and talk about the challenges they may be facing taking care of a loved one. Support groups also help caregivers get in touch with other caregivers to learn how to better cope and take care of their loved ones.

Help with Everyday Tasks

Depending on the stage of their dementia, your loved one might resent you taking over their life. Instead of doing this, try to be as helpful as you can in the early stages. You can then increase your level of help as the condition progresses. For example, you can let your loved one go shopping, lay the table, or take the dog out for a walk with a little help from you in the early stages. You can also help them remember things by using markers and labels around the house.

As their symptoms worsen, you can increase the level of help you offer, all the while trying to ensure they maintain their dignity, individuality, and some sense of independence.

Be Realistic

Dementia is a progressive disease. You should define and be realistic about what a successful day as a caregiver will entail. Your loved one will have good and bad days. It is important to try to get them to have as many good days as possible, but do not try to force it. Try to also minimize the bad days and put them behind you as fast as possible because not doing so might lead you to be stuck in one place.

It is also important to be realistic about the diseases itself. Dementia is progressive and there is no known cure. Because of these two reasons, your bad one will get progressively worse. It is important to understand and be realistic about what this means for you and your loved one. Being realistic about the disease will also make it easier to know when the care you provide is not enough and when your loved one would benefit a lot more from having professional help or moving to dementia care or assisted living community.

Understand the Different Dimensions of Dementia

While the most common symptom of dementia is memory loss, there are many dimensions to the disease. For some, it will manifest in personality changes, while others become more aggressive. The way it presents as well as its symptoms depend on the regions of the brain that are affected.

Some of the other issues people with dementia have include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, inability to take care of themselves, inability to recognize loved ones, and in later stages, the inability to move.

Create Calming Environments and Avoid Stress

It is important to create calming environments and situations, especially if your loved one is aggressive. For example, if they become agitated due to a certain environment and situation, do your best to try to avoid those environments and situations. You can also create calming environments by eliminating strong lights and reducing noise in the living environment.

If a loved one becomes aggressive, try to be calm, supportive, and positive. Remember that in many cases, a person with dementia will react the same way you do. In situations where they become angry or frustrated, ask them if they would like help or support in a calming manner. If that does not work, a redirection might. Ask them if they would like to do something different or move to a different environment.

Plan for the Future

The uncertainty of the progression of dementia means that you can never be comfortable with the way things are at the moment. This means that you need to prepare a time when your loved one may need specialized dementia care. Facilities that cater to loved ones with dementia will be able to handle your loved one better than you could, especially at the later stages. Many dementia care facilities also act as assisted living facilities, which is an added advantage for your loved one.

Remember that moving your loved one to a dementia care facility will require some financial planning as well as some research to find the best facilities for the level of care they need.

While caring for a loved one with dementia can be difficult and heart-breaking, it is still important to learn how to deal with the new reality. That may require that you learn about dementia and how to deal with a loved one who might become more aggressive or even have a personality change that makes them unrecognizable. At the end of the day, understanding, patience, compassion, and empathy will go a long way.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP