Protect Yourself From Epidemic of Dementia and Diabetes

According to two Vancouver Sun features Canadians are getting ominously close to the brink of major dementia and diabetes epidemics – but there are two things you can do to protect yourself.
 
The first article , "Canada must act to reduce impact of dementia, study warns" by Andrew Duffy on January 4, 2010 warns right now some 500,000 Canadian are suffering with dementia. 

In the article Richard Nakoneczny, president of the Alzheimer Society of Canada, said, : If we do nothing dementia will have a crippling effect on Canadian families, our health care system and economy." It is already costing some A$18 billion a year according to Duffy. 

The governments are still struggling to formulate some country-wide plan of attack on this disease with doctors and doctors ill-trained to diagnose and treat the disease which slowly robs victims of brain function including memory, personality and independence. 

Eventually some form of national treatment plan will hopefully be created by the combined efforts of the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the different federal and provincial health agencies, but you can do much to protect yourself from becoming another Alzheimer statistic by becoming more active –especially if you are 65 or over. This builds brain health and could help protect you from this terrible disease in your retirement years.

The second Vancouver Sun health feature "Diabetes rising: the quiet disease is about to get much louder" by Margaret Munro on October 10, 2009 presents some disturbing statistics such as the fact that while the recent H1N1 epidemic killed 78 Canadian diabetes is responsible for 40,000 Canadian deaths every year.

Munro says, "....it tends to sneak up on people as it numbs nerves in the feet, damages retinal cells in the eyes, clogs the cardiovascular system, cuts circulation and destroys tiny filters in the kidneys." 

It is also sneaking up on the health care and economic systems; its currently costs some $17 billion each year and doctors fear it could get much worse as most Canadian continue with "sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits". 

As a result the epidemic is escalating has surged to 2.3 million in the past decade and each year 200,000 more persons succumb to this disease. 

But you do not have to be among this number if you just shun the fast foods in favour of nutritional organic foods and spend just 30 minutes a day doing some brisk walking; this would reduce the likelihood of you developing this disease by 50 per cent.

The key to building and protecting your health into old age is to find some physical activity that you really enjoy and will work at according to another Vancouver Sun Chantel Eustace in her feature on January 4, 2010 which featured the advice of Ironman triathlete and author of the book Thrive Fitness, Brendan Brazier. 

He stresses the importance of a sport or activity such as dancing that you love, and a good nutritious diet.