Hope Parkinson Program Offers New Teleconference Support Groups

Can dance classes help manage the symptoms of those with Parkinsons?Many diseases seem to manifest in older individuals, and one of them is Parkinsons disease (PD), which is a chronic degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impacts both the motor system and non-motor systems. Early symptoms are typically tremors, slow movement, rigidity, and difficulty while walking. As the disease progresses, cognition, behavior, sleep, and sensory systems may be affected. In the advanced stages of the disease, dementia often develops.Parkinsons disease generally appears in individuals over the age of 60. The average life expectancy once diagnosed is between 7 and 15 years. No cure is known, and treatment is designed to mitigate symptoms rather than cure them. Initial treatment includes medications and may eventually necessitate surgery to implant microelectrodes for deep brain stimulation.While all of this may seem dire, there are alternative techniques that seem to be helping those with Parkinsons and other related conditions. One of the more surprising (and joyful) revelations is that music and dancing may be providing relief to those with PD. Whether to help the body, strengthen cognition, or elevate quality of life, dancing is incorporated into many assisted living programs. While studies are sparse on the subject, those participating in these types of programs report excellent results. Dance for Parkinsons is a group based in Brooklyn that has seen success with PD patients.One participant stated The dance class has made a huge difference in my symptoms I am walking better, feel more balanced and stronger. The class provides an inspiration to move. Another shared, When I am in dance class, I feel like I dont have Parkinsons anymore.How Can Dance Help Those with Parkinsons?Dance develops flexibility and supports mobility: Most people understand that as we grow older, a lack of movement can become increasingly detrimental. This is why seniors are always encouraged to walk or develop an appropriate exercise routine. Dance can keep muscles more flexible and promote movement and mobility.Dancing improves cognition and connects mind to body: Although a physical activity, dancing requires that the participant thinks about the moves and communicates those moves to their body. This mind-to-body connection helps Parkinsons patients to regain control of their body in the moment.Dancing concentrates on movement and balance: When someone is living with a condition that attacks their stability and movement, they may be tempted to avoid activities that cause them to be on their feet. However, dancing can help PD patients protect and regain some of the stength and balance they have lost, as well as encourage range of movement. Not only that, but they learn to better control their movement through space, which can help with everyday activities.Dance classes destroy loneliness and isolation: One of the primary concerns for those who live with a chronic disease is that they tend to isolate themselves. This can lead to loneliness and depression that can make their physical condition more pronounced. When a PD patient attends a dance class, they engage with others in a joyful and fun expression that they can share with one another as they make new friends.Dancing builds confidence: Those who are suffering from physical and cognitive challenges often lose their confidence and are self-conscious around others. When a Parkinsons patient learns to dance, they understand that they can still learn new things, have fun, and build their self-esteem and confidence.Overall, dancing inspires joy, creativity, and happiness and everyone deserves more of that.Find the Right Senior Residence for Your Loved OneAt My Care Finders, we work with families to find the right assisted living or memory care center for their senior loved one. Call today to learn more about the communities providing the lifestyle and activities to ensure they enjoy the best quality of life.

You can have celiac disease with no apparent symptoms. The technical term is asymptomatic, but silent is also commonly used. Its caused when a protein found in wheat and wheat-similar grains, known as gluten, triggers an autoimmune response in your body. Your antibodies start attacking your small intestines in an attempt to eradicate the gluten.Typically, this immune reaction causes symptoms like fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a long list of other possible symptoms, including iron deficiency and other nutrient deficiencies. Lets take a more detailed look at silent celiac disease, why its still a serious health condition, and how its diagnosed and treated.Typical Celiac Disease and SymptomsAbout 1% of the population has celiac disease, according to research. But only about 30% have been diagnosed. Even though the condition is undiagnosed or without symptoms, continuing to consume gluten still damages your intestines.What are those symptoms youre not having with silent celiac? It turns out, you might have some of them and not even realize it. Celiac effects are so widespread and differ so much with each person, that your celiac might not be so silent. But in any case, it might not be as obvious as the disease is in others.Digestive SymptomsDiarrheaConstipationAbdominal painBloatingHeartburnFlatulenceNon-Digestive SymptomsFatigueWeight lossIron-deficiency (anemia)Bone lossBone or joint painMouth ulcersHeadaches/migrainesIrregular menstrual cycleNutrient deficienciesMood swingsAnxiety/depressionYou might be surprised to see that the list of non-digestive symptoms is longer. This is due to the auto-immune nature of the disease. The inflammation and immune response thats triggered within your body can create a host of effects, not to mention the lack of nutrient absorption.When gluten triggers your immune system to attack your small intestines, damage is done. The damage to your small intestines prevents proper or complete nutrient absorption. And the severity of this depends upon how much damage has been done. This lack of nutrition is another reason you see so many possible celiac symptoms.But if you have hidden or silent symptoms, you might have no digestive problems or have become so accustomed to them that you dont know its a problem.How Is Silent Celiac Diagnosed?The medical community has been diagnosing more silent celiac cases. This is often due to the increased awareness of celiac and its varying symptoms or lack of them. Its also because general awareness of celiac disease has made screenings more prevalent. For instance, people with unexplainable low iron levels are now being screened for celiac since it is one of the symptoms.But silent celiac comes to light with a diagnosis when people are screened for other diseases, especially autoimmune diseases or thyroid-related problems. Often, people with one autoimmune disease are prone to have another.Link Between Celiac Disease and Other Autoimmune DisordersOther autoimmune diseases that can develop alongside celiac disease are Hashimotos disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Youre more likely to develop these conditions if your celiac is silent or not. In fact, some research suggests that continuing to eat gluten will make you more likely to develop these conditions.For instance, celiac disease and Hashimotos thyroiditis commonly coexist. Some experts think that undiagnosed celiac disease may be a trigger for other autoimmune conditions. These healthcare providers will advise their Hashimotos patients to stop eating gluten whether its been officially diagnosed or not, believing they will flare up their immune system and intensify Hashimotos.Even though research is sparse, some evidence suggests that eating a gluten-free diet could help treat or prevent these autoimmune conditions, especially for those who are prone to them through genetics.Celiac Prescription: Gluten-Free DietA strict gluten-free diet can improve your health dramatically. As you heal, you might discover that you were experiencing more symptoms than you realized. Sometimes, its only noticeable when the symptoms are gone and you notice an improvement in how you feel.Even with silent celiac, a gluten-free diet will slowly heal your small intestines, allowing you to absorb nutrients properly again. This can restore general health and prevent other autoimmune diseases, according to the research mentioned.If you have already been diagnosed with other autoimmune conditions, eating gluten free can improve the symptoms or prevent progression of the disease.Take Celiac Disease SeriouslySure, some people still dont understand how a grain that has existed for thousands of years could cause such problems today. And thats a valid question with a long answer. But just like there are allergic reactions to natural foods, there are autoimmune reactions to some of them. Endoscopies reveal literal damage to the small intestines that reverse when gluten is eliminated from the diet. So, its real even though its sometimes silent or symptoms are mild.If you have celiac or think its possible, take it seriously. Protect your small intestines and your ability to absorb nutrients from food. In doing so, youre also protecting yourself from developing additional autoimmune diseases, or at least preventing them from progressing.TYE Medical offers premium incontinence products in a range of sizes and absorbencies. Shop our online store for free, discreet shipping on all orders. 

Ready for summer? For many, it means more daylight hours, vacations, road trips, and a more active lifestyle. While this is often a time of year to look forward to, all the travel and activities can stir anxiety if youre living with incontinence. Its hard to enjoy your day when youre concerned about having an accident at highly inconvenient times. And the lighter clothing you wear in the summer makes it a challenge to wear incontinence products discreetly. But you can implement these tips to help you enjoy your active months despite bladder leaks.1. Focus On Diet and ExerciseMaintaining a healthy weight is key to relieving bladder symptoms. As summer approaches, do your best to trim some extra pounds. These put additional pressure on your bladder, increasing frequency, urgency, and leaks.Try following an eating plan like the Mediterranean Diet or the Anti Inflammatory Diet. Both focus on getting more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Spring and summer are a great time to adjust your menu and incorporate fresh produce.Exercise keeps you healthy, manages weight, and improves incontinence symptoms. You might shy away from most exercise because it often intensifies bladder leaks. If this is a concern, you can try low-impact workouts that minimize symptoms and help keep off the pounds.2. Eat More FiberWhat does fiber have to do with urinary incontinence? Constipation. It triggers incontinence because when your bowels are full, they can push against your bladder. This generates excess pressure and promotes leaks. And this can be a serious inconvenience for your summer plans.Additionally, constipation can cause straining when you use the bathroom. Over time, this weakens the pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder. These sagging muscles also turn up the pressure, making it more difficult to control urination.The USDA recommends about 25 grams of fiber daily for women and 38 grams for men. Here are a few simple ways to add more fiber to your diet:Eat beans at least three times weekly.Snack on fresh fruit or vegetables.Replace mayo with fresh avocado on sandwiches.Add fruit and chia seeds to oatmeal.Use whole grain or chickpea pasta.Eat brown or wild rice instead of white.3. Drink Plenty of Hydrating FluidsIt might seem logical to reduce water intake to avoid bladder leaks. But dehydration aggravates incontinence symptoms, and this can be a major problem during the hot summer months. When you dont drink enough hydrating fluids, it can irritate your bladder, triggering discomfort and leaks. Dehydration also causes constipation which, as already noted, causes incontinence.Rather than avoiding water and fluids while engaging in summer activities, its best to consistently sip hydrating beverages. Gulping a lot of fluid at once isnt a good plan. It all hits your bladder at the same time, increasing urgency and challenging bladder control. Instead, keep sipping to stay hydrated while also managing incontinence symptoms.Another tip: avoid or limit coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol during the summer months. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that draw water from your bodily tissues and into your bladder. They naturally increase urination frequency and sometimes urgency. During the summer, this can also contribute to dehydration. None of these factors help manage incontinence.4. Plan AheadNo need to avoid road trips or excursions in the summer. A little planning can curb the worry and help you enjoy some adventure. You can plan for road trips by identifying bathroom stops in advance. If you pinpoint rest stops and convenience service stations, you can ensure youre not stranded without a place to go or change incontinence products. You can also try scheduling bathroom breaks to coincide with the locations youve mapped out.Also, be sure to take a few minutes to determine what incontinence supplies youll need for the day. Include an extra set of clothes to be safe. It may take a few minutes of planning, but the peace of mind is worth the time.5. Choose the Right Incontinence ProductsNot all incontinence products are as absorbent, leak-resistant, or discreet as you need them to be. And its not always easy to find proper-fitting products that prevent leaks while maintaining comfort.The final tip for managing incontinence during the summer is to choose the best products for you. The right fit thats discreet and comfortable with the right absorbency can be key to an enjoyable summer thats free from the stress of leak concerns.TYE Medical offers premium incontinence products in a variety of sizes and absorbencies. Our products are designed for optimal discretion and comfort while promising maximum protection. Check out our line of products and get free, discreet shipping on all orders when you shop our online store.