Alzheimer’s disease is a physical condition that affects the brain and is the most common form of dementia worldwide. A German neurologist by the name of Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in the early 1900’s and was he who the condition was named after.

Alzheimer

When the disease is present in the brain, types of “tangles” develop in the brains structure which kills brain cells. Disease sufferers also have a shortage of a chemical in the brain which is responsible for the transmission of messages. As the disease progresses over time, more areas of the brain are damaged and any symptoms then become more severe.

Early stage symptoms include memory lapses and difficulty in finding the right words to speak or describe something. The progression of the disease brings confusion, forgetfulness, mood swings and frustration and withdrawal due to communication and confidence issues.

Up to the present time, no one has been able to pinpoint one particular factor that contributes to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease but it is widely agreed that it is probably a combination of factors including age, genetic makeup, diet, environmental factors and general health. Some people may even have the disease for years before any symptoms appear.

Unfortunately, presently there is no known cure for the condition, but certain drugs have been produced that can help alleviate some of the symptoms or slow down the diseases progression.

Motion sickness can also be referred to as travel sickness and is caused by recurring movements when traveling.  Symptoms of motion sickness include, feeling sick, headaches, light headedness or perspiration.  The reason for these symptoms occurring is down to the brain receiving mixed messages from what your eyes are seeing outside the mode of transport compared to the messages being sent by the inner ear when these bumps are felt.  Motion sickness can also occur when trying to read while traveling.

Motion sickness can be quite frequent in children but luckily many find this can disappear as they get older. Some people are more prone to motion sickness and can also develop similar symptoms on fairground attractions, particularly those which involve spinning around.  Most sufferers find that the symptoms will disappear once they have completed their journey or finished their fairground ride; for the unlucky few, symptoms can last for a few hours or even longer.

There are some ways to avoid motion sickness symptoms such as sitting in the front of a car or if in the back usually sitting by the window with the window open can help.  It can also help to sleep or just keep eyes closed.  It can also help to keep to simple foods before traveling to avoid nausea.  There are also over the counter medicines which can help to prevent or reduce the symptoms of motion sickness.  These types of medicines are best taken before traveling but can also help if taken during the journey.  Some medicines for motion sickness can cause drowsiness so it is recommended not to drive or work with heavy machines.

Restless legs can affect movement and sleep.  A person with restless legs has an uncontrollable urge to move their legs; the condition is more common in women and it is also known to affect people more as they age.

The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person.  Symptoms can be quite mild or very debilitating although it is not life threatening. These can include an urge to move the legs, disturbed sleep or trouble getting to sleep, uncontrolled jerking of the legs or unpleasant feelings deep in the legs.

Symptoms usually occur at night when the body is at rest.  People have described feelings like prickling itching or tingling which can be relieved momentarily by movement.

The two types of restless legs syndrome are primary restless syndrome and secondary restless leg syndrome.  Primary restless legs syndrome can begin at any age but usually occurs in early adulthood.  It occurs naturally and is usually mild to begin with but symptoms can increase and become more severe in later life.

Secondary restless legs syndrome is normally a result of another condition such as kidney failure, alcoholism, pregnancy or iron deficiency anemia.  Antidepressants and antipsychotics have also been known to worsen the symptoms.

Restless Legs

Lifestyle changes can help with mild cases of restless legs syndrome but for more severe cases this can be treated with a mixture of lifestyle changes and medication. Lifestyle changes can include avoiding caffeine, tobacco and alcohol, increasing exercise early in the day, creating a regular sleeping pattern and avoiding any medication which can increase symptoms. Taking a hot bath in the evening can also help to relieve symptoms as can stretching the limbs.