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INTERVIEW BY DR RASHIDA TABASSUM
You have seen as to how worried the family has been about the happenings around. Let me tell you something on this count. All of us may forget something occasionally. But when this forgetfulness becomes a regular feature and intense then we have to think about its causes. Let me share with you some of the other causes of forgetfulness. If you are disappointed, anxious or if you are suffering from physical ailment like urine or chest infection or lungs problem or if you drink excessively then all these factors can adversely affect your memory. Head injury may also contribute to this problem. There are a number of factors which can be held responsible for affecting your memory. Nonetheless if you start forgetting things too much then there must be something wrong. It does not mean, however that you have been afflicted with any mental disease. So you must not be shy of sharing it with other family members. If an individual start forgetting the things in daily routine life too often then we call this disease as ‘Dementia’. Some of its symptoms are to lose daily-use things or to leave them somewhere and then worry as to where they are. Its patient may repeat the same thing again and again. The problem may effect a personality change in the individual; a person may become irritable out of it or may not take proper care of his own self; he forgets to take his meals in time; he does not know as to where he is, or what the time or date is. At times he may forget the names of his kiths and kens which may cause serious trouble.
The person suffering from the disease may not exactly know as to what he is up to, and that he is forgetting things too frequently. But the people around do know that he is suffering from forgetfulness. So the foremost requirement is to understand and appreciate the exact symptoms of the disease. In the extreme case, the patients start visualizing things and faces which are not seen by normal people. They may fantasize and talk to the nears and dears already passed away. Then the disease may heighten the distrustfulness and cynicism in the patient; the patient may drop something, forgets it and then apprehends that it has been stolen by someone else. At times, in the severe cases, the patient can move but with much difficulty; he cannot attend toilets on his own nor, can he recognize, and be confused about familiar people He is almost dependent on his family members for his day-to-day needs.
Now let me tell you that there are a number of forms of dementia. One of them is known is Alzheimer’s Dementia which is commonly found among the white. 5 percent of the people above 65 years of age suffer from dementia, and the percentage increases as the age grows. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. The second form of dementia is known is vascular dementia which prevails among the Asians. Vascular dementia means that the brain receives abridged supply of blood which may in turn be caused by diabetics, high blood pressure, taking tranquilizers, lack of exercise, obesity, excessive smoking and paralytic strokes. All these factors increase the possibility of dementia being afflicted. So the foremost imperative is to appreciate these symptoms and to know as to wherefrom can the succor be found. We will tell you something about such places of succor later. So please seek help in time so that it may not get out of control. Different centers may cater for different categories of dementia patients. So the foremost imperative for you is to appreciate the symptoms of your patient and take him to the proper place.
INTERVIEW BY DR IFTIKHAR AHMAD
You need not to worry if you are suffering from forgetfulness or related problems; just consult your GP. He will thoroughly examine you and will investigate the case on the bases of the results of your urine and blood tests. Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist as well. Initially he will carry out your detailed physical and psychological examination; he may also advice a brain-scan besides getting some more blood and urine tests. These investigations would help trace the causes owing to which you suffer from these problems. Medicines are also available for the people suffering from dementia which may prove quite helpful. Moreover Social Services Department may also provide various facilities to the people affected by dementia which also include day care and daytime meal facility. If one lives all alone or if it is hard for him to live alone, then the Social Services Department may arrange for him a substitute abode as well which may include Residential Care, Nursing Home and other similar facilities. Voluntary sector associations such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age Concern may also offer very useful consultancy to the patients suffering from dementia which may help them dealing with the related problems effectively.
INTERVIEW BY DR SAMINA AZEEM
Dementia is a disease that affects people above the 65 years of age. As the age grows, the chances of its afflicting the patients increase. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. You may well understand that it is directly proportional to the increase in the age of the individuals. In the outset, let me tell you as to how can we recognize this disease. Initially the patient or his family members may observe that his or her memory is not that good as it used to be. It starts with forgetting very small things; for instance forgetting the names of persons and things, forgetting to take the keys and locking the house. Later on with the passage of time, it may reach a stage when the affected individual losing his way back home. A further increase in the disease would make the individual recalling the events of his childhood. However, he is in no position to tell you as to what has happened just two minutes ago. At this stage people usually contact the doctor. Why does dementia occur? It can have a number of causes. The very primary form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s dementia is a hereditary disease. This disease is not very common among us ( the Asians); the disease that is common prevails among us is known as Vascular Dementia which can be caused by a large number of factors. High Blood Pressure, diabetics, excessive smoking or drinking, high cholesterol level, your daily life habits e.g. lack of exercise, taking too mush fats in your diet, obesity etc are some of the factors responsible for reducing the blood supply/flow to your brain. And as soon as the supply of blood reduces, the chances of receiving paralytic attacks increase. Paralytic attacks are not always major; they may be minor as well in that they may last for a two or three seconds as well. However, in the wake of each and every stroke, the memory of the individual is further depleted. It is really hard to prevent Alzheimer’s Dementia, but Vascular Dementia can be limited in the sense that we can abstain from the factors causing it. Dementia is sometime caused by certain physical problems like anxiety, depression, thyroid glands disorders; we can treat such form of dementia. There is proper treatment available for it and it can be cured.
INTERVIEW BY DR NARINDAR SAHOTA
You need not to worry if you think you may be developing dementia, or that someone you know may be affected; it's best to see your GP in case you are worried about your memory. He may do your urine and blood tests to rule out other conditions. That will help him investigating the case. Subject to the outcome of the tests, your GP will find ways and means of treating that disease. You will either have medical problem or mental problem, but it is not to be worried about. However, if there is any related disease then you will be referred to any specialist doctor, neurologist, or psychiatrist for the old age people or any Psychologist. In UK all the major places have the facilities of psychologists for the elderly people. There are enough facilities, support and memory clinics for people above 65 who are suffering from forgetfulness. In order to further investigate the problem, these clinics may take more urine and blood tests and even may suggest a brain scan. If the patient is reluctant to visit the Doctor then a doctor or psychologist may be invited to his home as well. There are a number of medicines that can help control the disease. Social Services Department may also help and take measures for taking care of the Dementia patients. Such patients can get help in their own homes. ‘Home Health’, ‘Meals-on-Wheels’ may provide meals and day care facilities to them in their own homes. However, if dementia patients cannot live in their homes independently, then they can live in nursing homes or residential shelters. Social Security assists those who are disable and cannot live in their homes. It may also offer you very useful pieces of advice regarding hiring any counsel to take care of your property. Charity associations like Alzheimer’s Society can also offer support and counseling in this regard.
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