Caregiving in America: The Next Chronic Disease!
40 million Americans devote their lives to taking care of their loved ones at an estimated 37 billion hours of unpaid caregiving worth an estimated $470 billion dollars (AARP report, “Valuing the Invaluable”).
In my medical practice over the last 10 years, especially the last 5 years, I have seen two parts to this problem: 1) More chronic diseases with people living longer requiring more caregiving (for: heart disease, dementia, eye disorders, bone loss and fractures, strokes, diabetes, etc). 2) More caregivers at a wider range of ages (from spouses/parents taking care of a wounded veteran; grandchild taking care a grandparent; a married couple taking care of an aging parent or their spouses parent; a spouse taking care of their lifelong partner; or a grandparent taking care of their grand children, etc.)
THE PROBLEM:
“Caregiving in America, 2015: An invisible army of 40 million heroes sacrifice their days and nights to care for loved ones. It’s time the nation recognized their work.” AARP Bulletin/Real Possibilities, November, 2015, page 6.”
THE SOLUTIONS:
Brain Health
The Mind Diet for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention (Martha Clare Morris, PhD) “Mind Diet Associated with a Reduced Incidence of Alzheimer’s Disease,” Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 2015, Volume 11, Issue 9, Pages 1007–1014
“Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s“
The MIND diet: 10 foods that fight Alzheimer’s (and 5 to avoid)
Dale Bredesen, MD (Reversal of Cognitive Decline: A Novel Approach, AGING, Vol 6, No 9 , pp 707-717)
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Heart and Blood Vessel Disease Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease
Macular Degeneration (Eye Disorders)
Non-pharmacologic therapy of age-related macular degeneration, based on the etiopathogenesis of the disease
Non-Pharmacologic preventive strategies for macular degeneration which have been shown to be generally successful which include: (1) smoking cessation; (2) reduction of body weight (slimming); (3) regular,appropriate physical activity; (4) prescribing a low glycemic, phytochemically rich diet which includes: (a) flavonoids, (b) polyphenols (c) omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid); (d) carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin); (e) management of dietary glycemic index (GI); (5) caloric restriction (CR); (6) elimination/discontinuance of the stressful lifestyle which is/are of indispensable importance.
Lifestyle Solutions that are time and cost effective:
Kirk’s 21 Day Healthy Living Program for Busy People
Be and Stay Well,
Kirk
You may call Kirk Monday thru Friday 8-9 a.m. PST at 916-489-4400 for quick medical questions at Health Associates Medical Group.
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