Health Information

Scott Schwab:
There are a variety of reasons why a person stays in shape and pays attention to their health. Specifically it becomes increasingly important to keep our mental, physical, and emotional health in check. I was reading an article lately about two diseases that are getting more prominent and have serious consequences. My biggest horror is not being able to be physically able to walk and run and have fun with my kids and grandkids. The other is not being mentally capable of taking care of myself. These statistics helped me and I hope that they help you. The point is, find a way to stimulate your mind and work your body.

Alzheimer's- is a disease that is characterized by a build up of protein in the brain. The build up manifests itself in two ways; Plaques are deposits of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulate in the spaces between nerve cells, while Tangles are deposits of the protein tau that accumulate inside of nerve cells.

Although there is more risk if their is family history, it is not definitive that everyone will get it who has a family history of Alzheimer's. Here are a couple of statistics and interesting facts, followed by some ways to avoid the disease.

Facts
-25% of stroke victims will also have Alzheimer's
-The probability of developing the disease after age 65 nearly doubles every 5 years
-Two main genes that have been found with the family connection "risk" and "deterministic" genes. There could be dozens more awaiting to be discovered.
-Head injuries seem to have a direct link to Alzheimer's
-Hearth Disease, Keep your heart healthy because there is a strong link between the brain and the heart.

Steps to take now
-exercise- It has been proven that the release of endorphins on a consistent basis empowers the mind through the body.
-Healthy Diet- You are what you eat! Food is your fuel so make sure you are giving yourself the best there is. Remember you are a high performance vehicle and cannot waste time with fuel that is average or below.
-Avoid Tobacco- There are many chemicals within a cigarette that are harmful to the brain and obviously the body.
-Alcohol consumption- Drinking high amounts of alcohol damages the body and takes away from mental control that a person has.
-Socially Active- Having friends, associations, and a life outside your own is such a positive thing for your overall health.
-Intellectual Stimulation- You cannot get enough stimulation for the brain. Learn new things, memorize things, test yourself, play games, etc. Memorization is the mother of all learning!