Natural Progression Of Memory Loss

Memory loss is considered to be a natural process of aging. No matter how natural it's said to be, it can be extremely frustrating for not only those dealing with it directly, but for their love ones as well. As the body ages, so does the brain. Therefore, a decline in cognitive skills is a normal part of growing old.

It usually starts with forgetfulness. You can't remember where you put your keys or wallet. Maybe you can't remember a name or two or a particular event that took place recently. We all have experienced this type of "fuzziness" at some point in our lives. So, just because you have a momentary "brain cramp," that's no reason to press the panic button yet. Although there's a natural progression of memory decline that's normal that comes with aging, be aware that there are other causes that could intensify this natural progression.

Other Causes of Memory Loss:

• High blood pressure: Hypertension can cause damage to blood vessels by causing a build-up inside the blood vessels, making them narrow. If the amount of blood flow is less than it should be, the brain cannot work efficiently. This can lead to loss of memory and other symptoms.

• Medication side affects: As a result of side effects from their medication, some individuals could experience memory loss. These side effects are normally rare, however, they still occur with some patients. Before taking any medication, you should always discuss any potential side effects with your doctor.

• Hypothyroidism: Some individuals find that once they're diagnosed with hypothyrodism (when the thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormones) they begin to experience a significant decline in their memory and concentration levels. The thyroid plays a significant role in the body's metabolism. With thyroid hormone levels being low due to hypothyroidism, the metabolism is therefore slow and individuals could experience memory loss problems or experience trouble concentrating.

• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Vitamin B12 plays a significant role in the metabolism of every cell in the body, particularly affecting the brain and nervous system. According to a BBC report, people who are older are six times more likely to experience brain shrinkage, which could to associated with the development of Dementia. The effects of vitamin B12 deficiency can mimic those of Alzheimer's Disease.

• Depression: Memory loss or the inability to focus may not appear to be obvious signs of depression, but actually, memory loss is the most prominent sign of depression. People who are depressed have a decrease in seratonin. Sertonin is a hormone found in the human brain, which largely influences a state of overall "well-being." Being considered the "happy" hormone, seratonin regulates moods and relieves depression. So, when depression arises, it's stemming from abnormal functioning of the area of the brain that's important to memory.

• Diabetes: Being that the brain's most important fuel is glucose, when diabetes is poorly controlled, memory loss may occur. Memory loss has been closely linked to diabetes. The brain runs on glucose, so in order to maintain normal brain functioning, people with diabetes need to regulate the transport of glucose into the brain. This type of regulation is normally done with what's called the blood brain barrier.

• Environmental toxins: According to researchers, being exposed to chemicals at work or through other sources has been known to cause early onset of mild cases of memory loss. Studies show that pesticides and solvents can also cause mild memory loss.

Dementia

Dementia is not considered a particular disease, but instead is said to be a group of symtoms affecting thinking and social abilities. Despite the fact that memory loss occurs in Dementia, this alone doesn't mean you have Dementia. There are several symptoms of Dementia with the most common being memory loss.

Alzheimer's Disease

Millions in the world are living with Alzheimer's Disease, which is the slow decline of memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Alzheimer's Disease has many symptoms, but one of the most common symptoms is when the loss of memory begins to disrupt everyday life.

Prevention or Solution

In order to stave off memory loss, you need to stay active. Stay involved in your community so you can continue to socialize and meet new people and learn new names. Read books, exercise, do yoga, meditate, play board games, challenge your mind with crossword puzzles, and write to keep your mind sharp.

There may not be much we can do to prevent diseases such as Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) from robbing us of our memory, but there are things we can do to slow down or prevent memory loss. You should see your doctor to determine whether or not your memory loss is simply a natural progression of aging or if it's something more serious.

Beat That Stress - 6 Ways to Pamper Yourself

Even if you love doing what you do, there are times when everyday stress can bring you down. If life is getting the better of you and nothing you do seems to snap you out of the blue zone, it is time you indulge yourself in some much-needed pampering. It is time to kill the routine before it kills you. Here are 6 easy ways by which you can recharge your batteries.

Light Up Some Candles

Dim down the lights, put on some music and light up some fragrant candles. The flickering glow of a burning candle and its subtle aroma signals the body to slow down and relax. To make your evening extra special, soak yourself in a warm bath with luxurious sea salts. It will remove the stiffness in your muscles, moisturize your skin and soothe your mind. What more do you want? Hit the bathtub, now!

Retail Therapy

Believe it or not, retail therapy can do a wondrous job when it comes to beating stress. Go ahead and grab that Louis Vuitton dress you have been eyeing on for so long or splurge big on a pair of wedges; a trendy Armani bag is a good choice too. It is alright if your budget goes into chaotic mode temporarily; we all deserve to pamper ourselves once in a while.

Take a Mini-Vacation

Work-related stress does not just take toll on your mind, but also your personal relationship. If you have been guilty of not spending enough time with your beau, this is the chance you have been waiting for. Pack your bags and go to some exotic location. If your work commitments do not allow you to go for a real vacation, you can always visit some tourist attractions, museums or go hiking. Whatever you choose to do, remember to strictly follow "no smartphones, no email" rule, so you truly get a chance to connect with each other.

Spa Day

Nothing is like a relaxing spa when you are feeling down in the dumps. Indulging in a spa not just helps you unwind and relax, but also does a world of good for your overall wellbeing. If you can afford to splurge big, go for an entire body treatment. If not, you can always go for those little treats that make you feel like a princess.

Chocolates and Wine

Treat your senses to luscious assortments of chocolates, especially the dark ones that are loaded with antioxidants. Chocolates help distress and boost your mood. Of course, you do not need to restrict yourself to just dark chocolates. Get yourself miniature confections of chocolates - white, dark or caramel infused with nuts. And what better way to wash down the delicious taste of chocolate than with wine.

Dress to Impress

Don the most glamorous dress you own and walk out to impress. Nothing beats a few compliments, as they are bound to make your day special. If you are too tired to go out, you can always put on your sexy dressing robe after bath and feel beautiful.

These little things are guaranteed to perk up your mood.

5 Ways to Relieve Office Pain With Ergonomics

Remember Geometry Class

Don't worry, there's no formulas to memorize here. Ergonomic design is just aided by proper posture. While most ergonomic office chairs are predesigned to subtly improve posture in order to alleviate pain, users can always help things along by remembering to shift the way they sit. Proper posture is based on a series of right angles. In order to enhance the effects of your office chair, make sure you sit with your back straight, at a right angle to your legs. Scoot as closely comfortable to your desk as you can and check if your arms form right angles as well when you type. If not, adjust the height and armrests of your chair until they do. Also, try to keep your legs at 90-degree angles as well. Those with poor circulation or knee joint pain however, may angle tilt their seats to degrees greater than 90, or opt for a chair with a waterfall seat instead. Over time, when consciously corrected repetitively, keeping this improved posture will relieve most or all of a user's back pain, joint pain, strain, and discomfort!

Get Your Head Out of the Clouds

What we mean by this is don't sit too high. One critical mistake most office chair users make is adjusting their chair so that they must hunch over in order to type or see a keyboard. This is detrimental to the spine because it forces all of your weight down on one set of bones. The human body is really better designed to stand, not to sit, and standing naturally straightens and alleviates stress on the spine. People who stand more tend to have better posture and less back pain because their legs and abdominal muscles help to support the weight of the body. However, if you'd rather not purchase ergonomic desks with height adjustment for standing, adjusting the height of chairs can help. Remember the right angle rules listed above, and keep your back as straight as possible.

Keep Your Feet on the Ground

If your desk or chair is too high that your feet hover over the ground, you are putting yourself at serious risk for foot and joint pain. Even if the thighs are heavier than the lower part of the leg, just letting them dangle freely is terrible for circulation. When the feet aren't resting on the ground, it puts stress on the knees, which now bear all the weight of the rest of the leg. This contributes to poor circulation, which can cause terrible joint pain and potential blood clots over time in those with the propensity for it. In athletes, dangling feet can weaken the achilles tendon, putting them at risk. Instead of leaving legs hanging, adjustable foot rests can relieve the majority of these problems. Most can tilt to help stretch the achilles tendon and nearly all are height adjustable to better support the leg.

Eyes on the Computer

Those that work with computers all day may notice an uncomfortable strain in their necks. This could be because your computer is not directly in front of you. Few people understand that neck vertebrae are attached to and considered part of the spine. When the computer screen is not directly in front of the user, and that person must keep their head turned to the same side day after day, it can alter the muscles that are attached to the vertebrae, making them uneven. In extreme cases, the painful effect can be felt throughout the entire upper back. If you experience neck pain because of your computer screen's placement or height, adjustable computer monitor arms are great ways of remedying the problem. Just mount one to a wall or desk, attack the computer, and adjust the screen until it's centered in front of your face.

Consider Your Surroundings

When buying an office chair for your workplace, it is important to consider your environment. Is your workplace a bit too hot for you? To cold? Believe it or not, ergonomics can remedy this as well. Chairs for those with extreme back pain exist that have electric heaters built into the surface, but they're also wonderful for those working in cold environments. Far-infared heat keeps the user nice and toasty while simultaneously penetrating through tissue to loosen tight muscles and relieve pain. On the opposite end of the spectrum, ergonomic mesh back chairs allow air flow to reach the occupant, effectively cooling them. The fabric can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth or wipe, so mesh chairs are incredibly sanitary, which is one reason why mesh guest chairs are so common in waiting areas. Because ergonomic furniture is so versatile, there is always a chair or desk that is optimally suited for a particular purpose. Choosing what is best for you and your environment will bring harmony to your workspace.

Self Defence Habits

The Habit of Self Defence

Extensive research has been undertaken on habits, a very interesting observation is that once formed, they require little focus or energy to run as they effectively run on autopilot.

By developing just a couple of safety habits you can enhance your self defence by making sure your are staying safe on autopilot. leaving your energy for better things/ 

Two Habits worth developing are

Trusting your Instincts

Millions of years of evolution have worked very hard to get you to this point

A key of our evolution past was our ability to spot and react to danger. Cues are picked up in your brain and processed by your survival instincts, they communicate through feelings such as uneasiness or anxiety, we give them name such as Intuition or gut instinct.

One of the great things about modern life is these instincts are not needed as much, but this can lead to a dulling effect, as our survival instincts fail to differentiate between an angry boss or customer and a charging bear, in their simple view of the world these situations are life threstening

Running away from an awkward customer or fighting back against an angry boss isn't an option so we have learned to suppress and dampen these feelings, this may keep you in your job but can mean you fail to pick up on real threats of harm

Silent Alarm System

Practice the habit of treating your instincts as a silent alarm system, sometimes the alarm might be a little oversensitive but just once it could save your life.

Assess the feeling in the context of your situation and take action if necessary, for example if you think you are being followed, look directly at the person, let them know you see them or stop and take a taxi, anything that changes the pattern.

Start listening to and trusting your instincts, they might be a little sensitive but you are around because of them and they know and see more than you.

Colour code your day

The Military have spent an enormous of time energy and money to improve awareness and alertness. One of the methods they have used to develop awareness is the concept of color coding your state of readiness.

The colour codes used are

White

Unaware and unprepared, We are preoccupied and on autopilot oblivious to our surroundings.

This is the state of readiness and awareness that tends to attract predators as they can most likely overpower us with surprise and aggression before we can react.

Yellow

Calmly alert, there is no specific threat or danger, but the possibility that you might have to act in your own defense exists. This is the state you should strive for when outside of the safety of your home and especially if in unknown place or with people you don't know.

In this state you are monitoring your environment and prepared to defend yourself if necessary

Orange

Condition orange is when a possible threat has been identified, you identify a potential threat and accept that you may have to act in your own defence, This can mean anything from simply leaving as quickly as possible to physical action. You have set the key decision point for you actions

Red

Your are engaged in physical actions to protect self. You focus must be escape as soon as possible or disablement of the attacker if necessary, you will do whatever isnecessary to ensure you safety

Black

Represents a a breakdown in you ability to operate, this may show up as freezing, panic or irrational behavior. This is typically associated with heart rates of greater than 175 per minute and when the state goes directly from white or yellow to red.

Evolution developed habits to allow us take care of life's essential functions on autopilot, so we could focus on greater things.

Start to develop Safety Habits so you can concentrate on the better things in life.