COMMUNITY
CHIROPRATIC
Kenneth P. Gonoud D.C.
of Throggs Neck
2019 New Year’s
Resolutions for
Caregivers
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, DECEMBER 2 BTR 1-27, 2018 77
If you care for someone with
Alzheimer’s or dementia, we
haven’t forgotten your needs.
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Taking care of a loved one is
difficult, time-consuming, and often
heartbreaking labor. It takes a
physical and also emotional toll on
those providing care. For this reason,
caregivers often feel they cannot
take time, especially around the
holidays, to work on their wellness.
“More than half of the caregivers
we serve report high or very
high levels of emotional stress,”
says Sheila Williams, Program Director
for Sunnyside Community
Services. The program Ms. Williams’
directs, CARE NYC, focuses
on caregivers whose loved ones
have Alzheimer’s or dementia—
an estimated 390,000 New Yorkers
care for a loved one with these conditions.
Caregivers: In 2019, make a resolution
that helps you reduce this
stress.
1) Resolve to make sure you share
one fun activity with the person
you’re caring for each week. Make
sure you balance stressful caregiving
tasks with enjoyable ones.
2) Make time for the doctor’s appointment
for yourself that you’ve
been putting off. Remember: you
need to be physically well to ensure
the person you care for is, too.
3) Join a support group or seek
out other caregivers in your community.
Finding others who share
similar experiences can provide
comfort.
4) Ask for help. There are organizations
across New York City that
exist to serve caregivers, including
Sunnyside Community Services,
which assists caregivers of loved
ones with Alzheimer’s and other
forms of dementia in all five boroughs.
You can learn more about
this free program by calling 877-
577-9337.
noring may seem
like a pesky yet minor
problem, but it
can be much more serious
than some people know.
Although snoring is a
common problem among
all ages and genders, the
National Sleep Foundation
says that men are
twice as likely to snore as
women, and snoring can
worsen with age.
The aging process can
lead to a relaxation of the
throat muscles, resulting in snoring.
Furthermore, the Foundation says anatomical
abnormalities of the nose and
throat, illness, and other factors may
also contribute to snoring. Drinking alcohol,
which can have an effect similar
to muscle relaxants, in the evening can
make snoring worse.
While many people may think snoring
is a mere nuisance, it actually may
be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.
Over time, apnea can be associated with
high blood pressure and increased risks
of heart attack, stroke, or death, advises
WebMD.
Now there is new evidence that those
with obstructive sleep apnea may be at
a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease as well. A new study published
in the journal Neurology
found that people with
sleep apnea tended to develop
memory problems
and other signs of cognitive
impairment earlier
than people without such
sleep disorders. Dr. Richard
Osorio, a research
assistant professor of
psychiatry at the NYU
Center for Brain Health,
found that, among 2,000
people studied, those who
reported having sleep apnea
or snoring tended to develop signs
of mild cognitive impairment, including
memory lapses and slower speed on
cognitive skills, about 12 years earlier
on average than those who didn’t report
any sleep-related breathing issues. Mild
cognitive impairment often precedes dementia
related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Some researchers believe snoring
and sleep apnea may contribute to a
buildup of the toxic protein in the brain
called beta-amyloid, which is a hallmark
of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
If snoring has become problematic,
men are urged to visit a doctor or sleep
specialist to see which therapies can
be instituted to help improve sleep and
overall health.