Anti-Aging Articles

Can Medication interfere with your cognitive abilities?  

It has been proven that medication causes cognitive impairment. Drugs taken for common medical conditions such as insomnia, allergies, or incontinence negatively affect the brain, and causes long term cognitive impairment. These drugs, called anticholinergics, block acetylcholine, a nervous system neurotransmitter, and are widely-used medications. They are sold over the counter. The offending drugs are Benadryl®. Dramamine®, Excedrin PM®k Nytol ®, Sominex®, Tylenol PM®, and Unisom®, there are others that are available by prescription.

Findings

This isn’t another bombshell; it is just another finding than adds to the pile of profit generating prescriptions that have terrible side effects.

Aging Expert Speaks out:

“Simply put, we have confirmed that anticholinergics, something as seemingly benign as a medication for inability to get a good night’s sleep or for motion sickness, can cause or worsen cognitive impairment, specifically long-term mild cognitive impairment which involves gradual memory loss. As a geriatrician I tell my Wishard Healthy Aging Brain Center patients not to take these drugs and I encourage all older adults to talk with their physicians about each and every one of the medications they take,” said Malaz Boustani, M.D., IU School of Medicine associate professor of medicine, Regenstrief Institute investigator and IU Center for Aging Research center scientist.

Seniors

Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to the side effects of anticholinergic medication. These medications cause acute confusion, poor attention, disorientation, and short-term memory problems. Any medicine that has a sedating effect can impair memory.

Many of the drugs typically taken by people over 50 can cause subtle thinking problems by themselves, but when several are taken at once, significant Alzheimer’s-like problems can appear. These problems may include memory loss, absentmindedness, confusion, disorientation, and emotional outbursts.

Pharmaceuticals

The customer-centric focus of pharmaceutical companies centers around consumer spending not health. The drug industry is not looking for a safe or environmental friendly dynamic advancement in medicine, they want to maintain value for their portfolio.

The mass appeal is to the millions of people who need it now, and want instant help. The consumer preference for quick fixes is what gives continuing relevance to this brand of medicine.

Marketing Matters

The major pharmaceutical houses know how to create sustainable campaigns. The audience for most products they produce is huge, and full of opportunities. Each chronic condition represents areas of untapped growth for the company.

A thinking consumer is the drug companies biggest fear.

Iron transports oxygen from your lungs to the cells in your body. Iron is not only good but necessary for the human body to function. When iron becomes too much of a good thing it is downright dangerous.

High Iron Dangers

There are studies that show that blood donors exhibit lower rates of many diseases and experience better health. What this means is that by giving some blood you remove some of the circulation iron.

Iron is an important component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, and is required to transport oxygen, DNA synthesis and other processes. It also has a destructive side. In its free form, unbound from hemoglobin or other binding proteins, it accelerates oxidation or “rusting” of body tissue. Also iron-induced oxidation worsens the course of most diseases. Controlling iron is a way to prevent and treat some conditions. These would include heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

When this excess iron interacts with oxygen in the body, it produces the free radicals which damage cells and eventually lead to organ failure (like cirrhosis of the liver), heart attack, cancer and pancreatic damage.

Iron Load Increases With Age

Around the age of 18, excess iron begins to accumulate at 1 milligram per day;

Excess iron in the blood stream is called unbound iron, or free iron. The free iron can build up for years and be the instigator of health problems as people age.

This build up has been implicated in premature aging, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, liver damage, and heart disease.

When inflammation occurs in the body, free iron accumulates there and causes oxidation which then accelerates the inflammation.

Today’s Iron Source

The foods with the greatest amount of iron in the American diet today include fortified cereals, bread, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, and pasta. The more natural sources are beef, liver, beans, lentils, and poultry. Foods that have small amounts of iron are legumes, and dried fruit.

People are getting more than the recommended dietary level of iron from supplements and enriched foods. The consumption of red meet a rich source of iron has been dropping, while the consumption of processed foods has been rising.

There is some data that indicates that iron from natural sources doesn’t result in iron overload. Traditionally many people were carnivores and didn’t suffer from iron overload.

Inhaled tobacco smoke contains significant amounts of iron. Unbalanced estrogen (hormone replacement therapies) promote iron and copper uptake.

People who develop iron overload often take iron supplements. Iron also leaches from cast iron cookware and stainless steel pots. Cast iron and stainless steel are not foods: they contain an iron that is not from food and may cause imbalances.

What Accelerates Aging?

Phosphates

The newest research published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (FASEB) shows that high levels of phosphates in soda accelerates the signs of aging. High phosphate levels can increase the severity of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

“Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for healthy life and longevity,” stated M. Shawkat  Razzaque, M.D,, Ph.D. from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “Avoid Phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life.”

Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal said “This research suggests that our phosphorous balance influences the aging process, don’t tip it.”

We are a world in motion trying to innovate through technology to empower people. The only ones becoming empowered are the food manufactures, pharmaceutical companies, and medical industry. We wind up with the diet sodas to help keeps us slim, processed food devoid of life giving properties, chemical solutions, and medical procedures in the beauty business that do little to support our overall health.

Sugar

Sugar triggers a natural process called glycation, which is the same chemical reaction that turns meat brown when you cook it. The sugar bind with tissues to form harmful molecules, called advanced gycation end products (AGEs) good abbreviation for what it does. It damages the elastin and collagen, the two things your skin needs to stay supple and elastic. At the same time AGEs also damage the kidneys, brain and other essential organs.

A 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that sugar’s effects on the skin begin to show at about age 35 and become more pronounced as you get older. No wonder that cosmetic procedures are being used at younger and younger ages.

The obvious culprits like soda, pastry, cake, and candy cause damage, but so do foods with high glycemic index, like white bread, pasta, potatoes, and highly processed foods. These foods are quickly converted to sugar. AGEs make the skin more susceptible to sun damage, which then in turn accelerates the gycation process. Chips and french fries have been chemical damaged in the processing and will supply you with AGEs which will compound the problem.

Natural Anti-Aging

All natural anti-aging strategies will protect you from visible signs of aging, while keeping you healthy. There is overwhelming evidence that these methods protect you inside and outside.

The pros are that what is outlined here works; the cons are that it requires change. We have a beauty business in America that relies on solutions that are pharmaceutical, and medical. What that really says we are using technology for what we neglected to do naturally.

The ideal lift comes from inside and out, and it will do more than the visible face contour lifting. which is a sort after procedure. Back to basics means firming and remodeling the skin from within. That is a both a way to rejuvenate your outward appearance while energizing your body.

To achieve both health and a youthful appearance, it is essential to avoid certain substances, and add others. The ones you need are the foods that supple abundant vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. These counteract the damaging effects on tissues, and retard aging.

Plenty of vegetables, fruits, protein, and the right fats will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes while keeping you looking young. You reflect what you consume, in other words today’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner could be tomorrows look.