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Tag: brain health

Brain Cancer Facts

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When cells in our brain grow out of control, they can form a solid mass. Because your brain has many types of cells, it can get many kinds of tumors. Some are cancer, and others aren’t. Some grow quickly, others slowly. But because the brain is our body’s control center, we have to take all of them seriously.
In adults, the most common tumors that start in the brain are meningiomas and gliomas.
Meningiomas make up more than 35% of all primary brain tumors. They don’t grow from brain tissue itself, but from cells in the brain’s covering. Their non-cancerous location and growth make them serious.
The most common cancerous brain tumors are glioblastomas, about one in five. They’re a type of glioma, tumors that start in your glial cells. They spread quickly and are often fatal.
There has been a noted increase in people being diagnosed with brain tumors. Technology makes them easier to see, but researchers are also looking into other possible causes, such as things in the environment, cell phones, etc.

BRAIN CANCER RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS

RISK FACTORS

  • Radiation. Radiation directed at your head to treat another medical condition, like leukemia, can raise your risk for brain cancer. 
  • Age. Adults over age 50
  • Other Health Issues. A weak immune system, organ transplant, or if brain tumors run in your family.

SYMPTOMS

Early diagnosis is critical. Symptoms depend on the kind of tumor you have and where it is, but you may:

  • Act in ways you normally wouldn’t
  • Feel sleepy throughout the day
  • Find it hard to express yourself, like you can’t find the right words or feel confused
  • Get bad headaches often, especially in the morning
  • Have problems seeing, like blurred or doubled vision
  • Lose your balance easily or have problems walking
  • Have seizures

It’s usually not clear what puts you at risk for a primary brain tumor — one that starts in your brain. But one known cause is radiation directed at your head to treat another medical condition, like leukemia. In most of these cases, the benefit of radiation outweighs the risk that it might cause cancer in the future.

What comes to mind when you hear the term “Mental Health”?

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health refers to “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Our mental health influences how we think, feel and behave in every day life. It also affects our ability to handle stress, face and overcome challenges, maintain and build relationships, and recover from difficulties and setbacks.

So how do we determine if we are “Mentally Healthy”? 

Here’s a simple checklist: Mentally healthy people……

  • Enjoy life and have the ability to laugh and have fun.
  • Are able to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.
  • Feel a sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships.
  • Are flexible and adaptable to change.
  • Are able to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.

We all experience disappointment, loss, and change. While a normal part of life, these emotions and experiences still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress. But just as those who are physically healthy are able to bounce back from an injury or illness quickly, people with strong mental resilience bounce back from adversity, trauma and stress. They remain focused, flexible and productive in the bad times as well as the good.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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Conditions That Change Your Brain 

Mental Health is a HUGE topic, and yet most don’t realize how many different conditions can impact your Brain Health.

  • Alcohol — Over time, drinking too much can damage your brain. Research shows that alcohol can shrink
    certain parts of your brain, too.
  • Migraines — Research shows that chronic migraines might cause you to lose some gray and white matter.
  • Concussions — With an impact to the head, the brain slides and bumps into the inside of the skull. This bruises the brain and tears nerve tissue. Concussions shake up the balance of chemicals in the brain, harming nerve cell function and triggering inflammation.
  • Meditation — One study found that meditating for two months increased gray matter in parts of the brain that control emotions and learning. It can reduce inflammation in the brain and protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Exercise — Exercise pumps blood to the brain, and that delivers oxygen and nutrients. It stimulates the release of proteins keeping brain cells healthy and help grow new ones.

The list goes on: PTSD, Depression, Strokes, Aneurysms, MS, ADHD, BiPolar Disorders and more. But knowing the impact helps us be more motivated to be proactive in taking care of our brain!

The body achieves what the mind believes.

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Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Being physically active can improve your

  • Brain Health
  • Weight Management 
  • Risk of disease
  • Strength of your bones and muscles 
  • Your mood and increase your energy
  • Ability to do everyday activities
  • Sleep

Sometimes we use “I don’t have time” as our excuse, but it’s really about priorities. As the saying goes, “if we don’t make time for exercise, we’ll probably have to make time for illness.”

If you find yourself having trouble staying committed to exercise, then grab a buddy and go out for a walk. Starting with a walk, early in the morning, during your lunch break, or after dinner is a great place to start!

Here’s what I do:

  • I swim or do water running nearly every day 
  • I work out on my Concept 2 Rower every morning
  • I have elastic bands for a quick set of reps while watching TV
  • I walk my dog twice a day, he’s not always thrilled, but it does us both good

What do YOU do for exercise? Post in the comments below.

Did you know of the day

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Our brain uses the same amount of power as a 10-watt light bulb!!

It Pays to Learn How to REALLY Read a Label.

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Have you noticed how Centrum has added these icons, suggesting that they the supplement helps with bone health, brain health, etc. They charge you more for this, by the way.

Take a  look at the label, has anything been added for these additional health benefits?

BRAIN HEALTH: If you want to protect your brain (or any other organ), it takes more than icons on a label. The supplement I take has an amazing ingredient, Phosphatidylserine, (which helps to prevent memory and cognitive decline), Ginkgo Biloba (which helps to promote serotonin and dopamine) and Bacopa (which protect brain cells from free radicals). It doesn’t appear that Centrum has added any of these to help with brain health.

EYE HEALTH: Lutein is amazing for the prevention of macular degeneration, and this label shows it has 300 mcgs. But research shows we  need a minimum of 6 mg’s per day of Lutein. Let’s do a little math…. One (1) mg = 1000 mcgs.
Six (6 )mg = 6000 mcgs. Centrum’s label shows it has 300 mcgs, less than one mg. Based on their technology, most of those 300 mcgs aren’t getting absorbed by the body. A person would need to take 20 Centrum tablets per day day to get the minimum Lutein requirement. That’s a lot of pills and expense!

My mother developed macular degeneration later in life and had what the doctors called “low vision”. She was able to prevent total blindness by taking a supplement rich in Lutein. I don’t want macular degeneratio to happen to me. So, to prevent it, I take the same  supplement she did with 10 mgs of Lutein, plus Zinc, and Zeaxathin— all noted for promoting eye health.

So don’t waste your money on store brand supplements. They have low absorption, synthetics, and they lack the necessary ingredients to make a difference with your health!