Dementia, simply put, is the deterioration of one’s mental faculties. The symptoms include a progressive memory loss that increases in frequency, confusion, and a progressive decline in the ability to perform regular tasks.
Dementia, however, can have symptoms very similar to depression, vitamin
and hormone deficiencies, infections, medication interactions, overmedication,
and even brain tumors. This is why it is important for a patient to have the
right diagnosis before a treatment plan is put into motion.
Dementia is an “umbrella term” used to define the syndrome of overall
mental decline. Alzheimer’s disease, which is often confused with Dementia, is
but one of the diagnoses that can fall under Dementia. The good news is that
both Alzheimer’s and Dementia can be managed properly, especially with early
detection. In fact, there are cases where some patients
have made a full recovery. In some other cases, a vitamin deficiency
was isolated, and after
the right treatments, a full recovery was also experienced. If you note
in both of the cases cited in the links, catching the disease in time was the
key to proper management.
In the Philippines, it is a common notion that as soon as a person hits
the senior years, a mental decline is to be expected. The literature
regarding Dementia, however, states that mental decline is NOT something
that a senior citizen has to expect. It is a disease, and it has to be managed
appropriately.
Thankfully, there are fully equipped hospitals and diagnostic centers
available for the needed lab and imaging tests to determine dementia. For
example, the Asian
Hospital and Medical Center’s Brain Wellness Center is fully-equipped
to provide a comprehensive set of tests to determine the existence and type of
Dementia in a patient. If the Asian Hospital’s rates are too high, these pages on
medical
Imaging, CT Scans,
and MRI Scans
on health-tourism.com point to which hospitals can provide you and your patient
with the tests you need.
Dementia
and Alzheimer’s are treatable conditions. Some patients were able to
enjoy a great quality of life with their spouses, such as in these stories:
- Six years after my wife's Alzheimer's diagnosis, we still live a very happy life together
- How I coped with my wife's early onset dementia
Indeed, there is no need to suffer an acute expression of your patient’s
disease. The moment you see the
symptoms, head on over to a neurologist, find out where to get the most
affordable imaging tests, and cooperate with the doctor for the best treatment
plan for your patient.
Prevention is better than cure, but when the disease has started, early
diagnosis and proper management are key.
--------------------------------------------
Post a Comment