Robin Williams Adams| Ledger correspondent

A safe place to go and socialize with like-minded people.

A relaxed, yet structured, setting with a program encompassing a little art and music, conversation, reading, light exercise and faith.

Thats what Vicky Pitner and volunteers who assist her provide Monday mornings at First United Methodist Church of Lakelands Memory Cafe.

Its not a cafe in the traditional sense, although coffee, tea and often refreshments are available.

For people whose cognitive issues increasingly create barriers, its an alternative place to go with a family member, partner or friend without fear of judgment or embarrassment.

The Memory Cafe is designed for supporting individuals living with memory challenges, said Pitner, a certified dementia practitioner and therapeutic recreation specialist.

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Memory cafes were introduced in the late 1990s in the Netherlands as a way of breaking through stigma sometimes associated with various forms of dementia and to better include families.

We help these families learn how to engage and communicate, Pitner said.

Its hands-on training for families to learn how to get more out of that person (who has memory issues). They often realize the person can do more than they realized.

Memory cafes have formed around the United States and in other countries. People can locate cafes near them and learn more onwww.memorycafedirectory.com.

At First United Methodist, the program is part of the churchs congregational care ministry. Its open to people who attend other churches, as are some of its other memory-related services.

This is how we show love to our congregation and community, said the Rev. Andy Whitaker Smith, associate pastor.

We dont want people to feel theyre alone in these situations.

A growing number of families have members who have severe memory issues, he said, and they need to know Its OK to talk about it.

It gives us something to do thats fun, said Megan McDonald, who has been attending with her mother, Carol McDonald.

A lot of people feel they cant take their loved ones anywhere if their behavior changes, she said, adding that some people became uncomfortable if her mother, who taught elementary school for years, kept looking at their children.

She doesnt mean anything by it, Megan McDonald said.

Her mother, participating intently in activities at the cafe one Monday in mid-March, mentioned frequently how much she loved teaching young children, even though they frequently had to be told to hush.

Kathy Leahy, who comes with her husband, Dave, said the cafe is anopportunity for them to socialize.

It also gives her good ideas on games they still may be able to play now that his rummy playing skills have deteriorated.

Dave Leahy was a criminal research specialist for Homeland Securitywhen he became aware he was having memory problems. He was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago, his wife said.

Both he and Carol McDonald were about the same age, in their mid-60s, when each was diagnosed.

The Leahys learned of the Memory Cafe from a home-health social worker. They enjoy it and said the time frame, 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, works well for them.

We are fortunate to also have good neighbors and a good church, Kathy Leahy said, mentioning friends from St. Stephens Episcopal with whom they go to lunch regularly. Dave had been an usher there.

It lets you know youre not alone dealing with this, said Megan McDonald, who attends First United Methodist.

You meet other families going through similar things.

She and her mother, who recently entered a local assisted care facility, lived together for several years after the diagnosis.

Families also connect at caregiver support groups, of which the Alzheimers Association offers many.Several are in Polk County.

Those typically dont have the person with memory issues in the same group as families or friends providing care, although some do, particularly with early Alzheimers.

Pitner avoids using the term caregiver. Instead, she would identify Megan as her mothers daughter and Kathy as her husbands wife.

The elements this memory cafe offers social, physical exercise, cognitive exercise, expressive arts and spiritual werent chosen at random. All are components of therapeutic recreation, Pitner said.

Drumming, one of the activities Dave Leahy enjoys there, is a very good means of self expression, Pitner said. It also provides group interaction and non-verbal communication.

Other memory cafes may put more focus on one or two approaches.

In her part-time employment with First United Methodist, Pitner also leads a weekly online family support group. Its open to people outside the church, as are family trainings on Zoom or in live presentations.

Contact Pitner about those activities by emailingvpitner@firstumc.org.

The church received a grant that can let it cover several hours of home care a week at no cost to families participating in the memory cafe.

Smith encourages other churches to find ways of helping people and families in this situation, which includes both joy and challenges.

At the very least, any church can listen, he said.

Source: Alzheimer's Association

Robin Williams Adams can be reached at robinwadams99@yahoo.com.

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A safe place: Memory Cafe offers activities for people with dementia ... - The Ledger

The study showed that the highest levels of tau, a protein involved in Alzheimer`s, were only observed in hormone therapy users who reported a long delay between age at menopause onset and their initiation of the therapy

Those who were prescribed hormone therapy around the age of menopause onset did not show increased risk, Image Courtesy: iStock

A new study has found that women who have early menopause may be at high risk of developing Alzheimer*s disease, but those who were prescribed hormone therapy around the age of menopause onset did not show increased risk.

Premature menopause, defined as menopause that occurs spontaneously before the age of 40 or due to surgical intervention before the age of 45, has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer*s disease. Hormone therapy improves many severe symptoms related to menopause and has been hypothesised to also prevent cognitive impairment.

The study, published in JAMA Neurology, showed that the highest levels of tau -- a protein involved in Alzheimer*s -- were only observed in hormone therapy users who reported a long delay between age at menopause onset and their initiation of the therapy.

Administering hormone therapy close to menopause onset provided better cognition.

"When it comes to hormone therapy, timing is everything," said JoAnn Manson, chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women*s Hospital.

"Our previous findings suggested that starting hormone therapy early in menopause, rather than late initiation, provides better outcomes for heart disease, cognitive function, and all-cause mortality -- and this study suggests that the same is true for tau deposition," Manson said.

In the study, the team used positron emission tomography (PET) neuroimaging scans from 292 people to study how the presence of two proteins involved in Alzheimer*s, beta-amyloid and tau, related to age at menopause and hormone therapy use. Tau is known to be present in greater quantities in women compared to men.

The PET scan results also showed that women had greater levels of tau compared to men of the same age, especially in cases where they also had elevated beta-amyloid.

But the researchers also found that the association between abnormal levels of beta-amyloid and tau was much stronger in women who had earlier menopause onset, even after adjusting for known causes of premature menopause, such as smoking and oophorectomy, and even genetic risk factors for Alzheimer*s.

Notably, tau levels were high in the entorhinal and inferior temporal regions, which are located close to the memory-centre of the brain and are known to be involved in the progression of Alzheimer*s.

"Hormone therapy is the most reliable way to ameliorate severe menopause symptoms, but over the last few decades, there has been a lack of clarity on how hormone therapy affects the brain," said Rachel Buckley, from the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

"The idea that tau deposition may underlie the association between late hormone therapy intervention and Alzheimer*s was a huge finding, something that hadn*t been seen before," Buckley added.

Also Read: Finding it hard to balance love, life and work? Experts share helpful tips

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

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Coconut water health benefits. Pic Credit: Pexels

In India, heat waves are a frequent occurrence. To inform people of the severe weather conditions and advise them to take the appropriate measures, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issues heatwave warnings. A heatwave is defined as a period of time when the highest temperature is between 40 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius, with some locations experiencing temperatures that are higher.

Varun Khurana, Founder and CEO of Agritech start-up Otipy shares some of the benefits of coconut water to stay hydrated and cool during these prevailing conditions including:

1) Electrolytes

Coconut water is an excellent source of electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium. These minerals help to maintain fluid balance in the body, which is essential for hydration.

2) Hydration

Coconut water is a natural source of hydration, and it can help to replenish lost fluids due to sweating. It is an excellent alternative to sugary or high-calorie drinks, which can contribute to dehydration.

3) Cooling properties

Coconut water has natural cooling properties that can help regulate body temperature and reduce heat stress.

4) Nutrients

Coconut water is rich in nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin C, which can help to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. This can be particularly important during a heatwave, as the body may be more susceptible to illness and infection due to the stress of the heat.

5) Low in calories

Coconut water is a low-calorie drink, making it an excellent alternative to sugary or high-calorie drinks that can contribute to dehydration.

You can enjoy tender coconut in a variety of ways in addition to the different types, such as by blending it into smoothies or using it as the foundation for cocktails like mojitos. So, beat the summer heat while still enjoying the cooling flavour and health advantages of tender coconut!

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Expert Shares The Wondrous Health Benefits of Drinking Tender ... - Zoom TV

Are you working hard to maintain your weight loss goals? Prepare these healthy salad recipes that are not only delicious but also aid in losing weight.

Updated Apr 3, 2023 | 08:45 PM IST

Weight loss salad recipes. Pic Credit: Pexels

In the present day and age of social media where there is an abundance of weight loss tips, tricks, hacks, fads, and diets, choosing a diet plan and committing to it can prove arduous.

Instead of going the extra mile to procure expensive foods, drinks or equipment, you can effectively lose weight at home by preparing simple foods made with natural and accessible ingredients.

If you are a salad fan, and even if you aren't, just try making these healthy recipes and soon you will find yourself whipping a bowl during each meal and enjoying to your heart's content. With that being said, take a look at these four salad recipes that can help you lose weight, according to an article in Times Of India.

1) Black chana salad

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Soak some chana and cook them in a pressure cooker. Let it cool and add some chopped vegetables like cucumber, carrot, and onion. Sprinkle some lemon juice or garnish with coriander leaves. Add salt and black pepper a per your taste. You can also add peanuts if preferred.

2) Sweet corn salad

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Remove the seeds from the corn and place them in a small pan of boiling water for two to three minutes. Drain the water, then let the corn cool for a while. Mix 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise with 2 teaspoons of tomato ketchup and season this with salt and black pepper. Add corn to the mixture after some time.

3) Cucumber salad

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Chop one bowl of cucumbers and add lime juice, salt, sugar, peanuts, chili pepper, and pepper flakes. Mix all the ingredients and consume it immediately to enjoy its crunchiness.

4) Moon dal sprouts salad

INGREDIENTS

Mix a cup of sprouted moong dal, diced cucumber, green chilies, lemon juice, and other veggies of your choice in a bowl and season with salt and black pepper. Consume it right away to enjoy its natural flavour and crunch.

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Weight Loss: 4 Healthy And Delicious Salad Recipes To Help You Lose Weight - Zoom TV

This is a cute optical illusion which is doing rounds on optical illusion. In this picture, there are three cats hidden among the group of tigers.The image shared by an Instagram user "thedudolf" has seen a good participation among social media users."Found all took time to find the 4th orange cat," one user wrote; "Found them all! So cute and tricky!," wrote another."Found 'em all less than 1 minute 3 orange cats, 1 white cat," another user has dropped the biggest hint on the optical illusion.

"This might be the easiest so far. I found them within 30 seconds. Thani you for creating and sharing!," wrote another.

The picture has a group of tigers with their characteristic stripes and since cats have similar stripes it is difficult to tell them apart from the bigger cats.

Optical illusions as such test the general knowledge of the user. It would assess the user's knowledge about cats and their behaviour.

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Can you spot FOUR cats hidden among the tigers? - Times of India

Start-stop or Edging is the technique of preventing orgasm when you're on the verge of experiencing it. You reverse yourself from the proverbial "edge" just before you plunge headfirst into sexual pleasure. However, this method necessitates a hands-off pause. Once the sensation is gone, you'll stop all sexual activity before starting it up again. Until you're ready to experience an orgasm, you can continue this procedure a few times.This procedure, which has gained popularity in sexual health discourse as a way to get "better orgasms," has actually been used for treating premature ejaculation for more than 50 years.Start the sexual action with your partner, whether it be oral, anal, vaginal, or another type of stimulation. Attempt oral sex, activating their G-spot, licking, flicking, sucking, or doing anything else that gets them in the mood. Make sure they are outspoken or give indications of when they will arrive.After the climax is reached, stop pushing or stroking, and step back. Pause for a few moments or seconds.Once the sensation has passed and you no longer feel as though you are about to reach climax, you can resume sexual activity.Stop-squeeze technique:The stop-squeeze method is an ejaculatory control technique just like edging. By holding the penis' tip until the sensation passes, you can get close to the climax and then abruptly back off. You have the option of performing the stop-squeeze repeatedly or just once. You can postpone a climax in the middle of sexual play by using this technique.If your partner is unaware of your plans, edging will delay your orgasm and may even intensify it, but it can be a laborious or time-consuming procedure. Talk about it before you start edging during sex.

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Start stop technique: An interesting way to last longer in bed - Times of India

Dr. Erika Kube| Special to The Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK

Amber came to the emergency department via ambulance with complaints of a severe headache that started the day before.

She wasn't sleeping much because she recently had a baby and was waking up numerous times each night to feed her son. She also cut back on caffeine because she was breast feeding.

Her headache worsened significantly in the early morning, when her husband ended up calling 911 to bring her to the emergency department.

Her husband started getting worried about Amber earlier that day because she never complained about anything and was generally never sick. She also wasn't herself. He figured her lack of sleep was the main issue. He told her he would get up with the baby, feed him and get him back to sleep. She woke up at 2 a.m. with her headache worsening and started to feel nauseated. She took some ibuprofen but vomited shortly afterward, which made her headache even more intense.

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When the paramedics arrived, they hooked Amber up to a monitor to check her vital signs. Her heart rate was normal, but her blood pressure was high. The paramedic repositioned the cuff, presuming it was a bad reading. Ambers husband was rocking their baby in his arms and looked over at the monitor with concern. Her repeat blood pressure was still high even higher than the first. Amber did not have a history of high blood pressure, so this was concerning.

The paramedics put Amber on their cot and placed an IV in her arm. They gave her nausea medications through the IV as well as pain medications. Ambers husband put the baby in his car seat, packed his diaper bag and loaded him into the car to follow behind the ambulance.

Amber arrived in the ED a few minutes later and said her nausea was better, but she was still feeling terrible. The paramedics alerted us on the radio of their concerns that Amber may be experiencing a condition called preeclampsia, given her elevated blood pressure, headache and that she had a baby two weeks prior. I was concerned about this diagnosis as well. I started Amber on magnesium to prevent her from having a seizure and medications to quickly lower her blood pressure. I called our on-call OB physician to help manage Ambers care.

Preeclampsia refers to the onset of high blood pressure (hypertension) with signs of injury to other organs in the body such as the kidney and liver in a pregnant or postpartum woman who has previously not had hypertension. Preeclampsia usually begins after the 20th week of pregnancy but can occur any time, including up to six weeks after delivery.

Preeclampsia, left untreated, can progress to eclampsia, a rare but serious complication of preeclampsia, when the woman develops seizures. Eclampsia can be dangerous, both for the mother and the fetus, and often requires immediate delivery of the baby, even if the baby is premature.

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Preeclampsia during pregnancy is treated with oral blood pressure medications and close monitoring. The best treatment for preeclampsia is giving birth, but the OB physician must decide when the fetus is developed enough to induce delivery and balance that with the severity of the mothers symptoms from preeclampsia. The OB physician may give the mother steroids to help develop and strengthen the fetuss lungs to minimize their complications at birth if they need to be delivered early.

There are several risk factors for the development of preeclampsia: a history of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, being pregnant with more than one baby, a prior history of high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease and a history of autoimmune disorders. It is believed that preeclampsia is caused by the placenta not developing properly due to a problem with the blood vessels that supply its blood.

Postpartum preeclampsia is most common within the first seven days after delivery but can occur as late as six weeks after delivery. It is estimated that preeclampsia complicates about 5% of pregnancies, and postpartum preeclampsia complicates even fewer. Many women who experience postpartum preeclampsia do not show any symptoms during their pregnancy and have normal blood pressures until after delivery. It can be very hard to diagnose because the woman is recovering from childbirth and focusing on taking care of their newborn. It is important for women to closely monitor their health and follow up with their OB-GYN physician as recommended. Health care providers need to remain vigilant and consider this diagnosis.

Ambers headache, a result of her postpartum preeclampsia and very high blood pressures, was severe enough that she had to seek emergent medical attention. Her blood pressure came down quickly with the medications I gave her in the ED, and thankfully she did not develop seizures. She was admitted to the hospital and spent the next several days being closely monitored. She was able to continue breast feeding and was finally able to get some sleep as her headache subsided.

When Amber went home from the hospital, she was wearing a blue bracelet to indicate her risk of preeclampsia. Our hospital system recently started a Blue Band Initiative to have women at risk for preeclampsia/eclampsia wear a blue bracelet to help medical workers consider this diagnosis in women to quickly identify these patients so we can initiate treatment.

The United States has the highest maternal death rates among developed countries and unfortunately there was significant increase in maternal mortality rates over the past couple of years. While this is a complex problem with numerous factors, this spectrum of disease is important to be aware of as we need to be vigilant about caring for pregnant women, new moms and their babies and we must reverse these tragic trends.

Dr. Erika Kube is an emergency physician who works for Mid-Ohio Emergency Services and OhioHealth.drerikakubemd@gmail.com

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Preeclampsia dangers don't end with delivery for some new moms - The Columbus Dispatch

In a case of cryptic pregnancy, Brianna Blanton, an 18-year-old South Carolina woman who was admitted to the hospital due to concerns about kidney stones, gave birth to a baby girl.More astonishingly, she continued to show off her bikini body throughout, had normal monthly periods, and no baby bump. She also took a pregnancy test, which was negative, after experiencing nausea from meals. Even after her water broke, she thought she was bedwetting and mistook the agony of labour for kidney stones. Doctors informed her that she was in labour while she was still hospitalised. After that, Brianna gave birth to a 7 lb 4 oz. baby girl.The youngster thought she had kidney stones when she began to feel agonising pain in her ribs, so she went to the ER.

But the youngster discovered that she was actually already in labour, totally unaware of it.

"My mouth fell to the floor. I couldnt even cry. I was in a total state of shock, she said.

Blanton claimed she took numerous pregnancy tests, all of which came back negative, but she didn't experience any of the traditional pregnant symptoms.

She added, "I was in crop tops and bikinis, but I never gained any weight or had any other symptoms.

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Woman thought she had kidney stones but she was delivering a baby - Indiatimes.com

Set aside a time to check your messages, then block your apps

In 1974, the average person was completing about 20 tasks a day; now, that has risen to 33. Instead of getting into a race with yourself to do as much as you can in a minimal amount of time, write down a to-do list, accept that you are unlikely to complete the least important, then take the rest one by one with a break in between. Keep your concentration high with an app like Pomodoro and allow yourself a half-hour break at lunch to look at social media the rest of the time, use an app blocker, says Tang. At work, try not to start the day by answering emails but by doing your biggest task of the day; then set aside an hour later to plough through your inbox (and try to break the habit of checking your email while working on something else as it ruins any chance of getting into what youre doing properly).

Just as having a tan once denoted status as it meant you could afford foreign holidays, now being overwhelmed is a badge of honour for middle-class professionals. But ask yourself whether you enjoy living in a debilitating whirlwind of activity. If you dont, then say no to the extra task youve been asked to do at work, to the neighbourhood drinks that mean youll be out three nights in a row and the exercise class you dont really need. As for housework, research seems to say that doing just enough makes us happier and more content than having a spotless house.

Treadwell says that after spending months researching this paper, she realised that the solution to feeling happier and healthier was quite simple: dont carry your phone with you all the time. The key difference between the 1970s and now is that mobile phones didnt exist they have massively changed things and put so much pressure on us, she says. While its all but impossible to live a smartphone-free life, on weekends go for a walk or run or to the shops without any technology and try, where possible, to leave your phone in another room when youre not using it at home.

I honestly believe that a huge factor in why people have burnout is that they bring work into the bedroom the most intimate place in the house, says Tang. I work with a lot of very stressed students and I know part of the problem is that they work in their rooms and associate their bed with high stress and adrenaline. The Onward study also highlighted how using a phone in the hour before bed leads to disrupted sleep, which in turn leaves us feeling more frazzled the next day. Its such an easy fix but it makes such a big difference, says Tang.

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Why you're constantly burnt out and what to do about it - The Telegraph

Almost everyone is aware about the various hair and skin benefits of consuming or applying curry leaves. However, today we are going to know about the various health benefits of curry leaves like treating mouth ulcers, getting rid of bad breath, and others.

Updated Apr 3, 2023 | 08:38 AM IST

Curry Leaves Benefits For Health (Image credit - Unsplash)

Curry Leaves Benefits

Dr Dixa Bhavsar Savaliya took to her social media recently and shared the various health benefits of consuming curry leaves. She wrote while sharing, I add curry leaves in my morning herbal tea Ghat I drink daily for my hair, thyroid, skin & gut care.

Curry Leaves Benefits For Health

Nausea: Fry them (6 fresh curry leaves, washed, dried and then fried with teaspoon ghee), cooled and eat (chew them).

Bad breath: Fresh curry leaves (5 curry leaves), Chew for 5 minutes, then rinse mouth with water.

Diarrhoea: Curry-leaf paste (30 leaves- grind into a paste), mix in buttermilk & have it.

Diabetes: Make a Chutney from curry leaves, which can be eaten with food, in a roti roll or mixed in anything.

Mouth Ulcers: Curry leaf powder is mixed with honey and applied over the mouth ulcer. 2-3 days medication relieves stomatitis.

Curry Leaves Benefits For Hair

Curry leaves help in reducing hair fall, prevents grey hair & improves hair growth. It helps in relieving migraine headache, lowers blood sugar levels, promotes weight loss and even balances hormones.

How to consume: You could either chew a few leaves and then drink some water or just boil the leaves in a cup of water for 5-7 mins, strain and drink while its luke warm.

Curry leaves for Grey Hair, Hair-loss Treatment: Curry leaves help with dandruff, hairfall, alopecia, reverse pre-mature greying and improve hair-growth.

Curry leaves for head lice: Fine paste of curry leaves is made, and it is mixed with sour buttermilk. This is applied to the scalp and retained till it dries up. Later this is washed thoroughly. Doing it twice or thrice a week with a gap of 1-2 days in between gives good relief.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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Get Rid Of Bad Breath, Mouth Ulcers And Other Health Issues With Curry Leaves - Zoom TV