June 2009 [Volume 8, Issue 6]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Alzheimer's Patients Respond to Massage Therapy
• Sinusitis Solutions
• Relevant Research: Early Antibiotic Use Linked to Asthma

Alzheimer's Patients Respond to Massage Therapy

With more than 30 years experience working with older adults, Ann Catlin, LMT, OTR, brings to light the unique relationship between Alzheimer's patients and massage therapy (by referencing Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs).

Massage therapists can bring a unique perspective to the care of elders living with Alzheimer's disease by highlighting the role of compassionate human touch in satisfying human needs on all levels. The needs of the body, mind and spirit remain intact regardless of the condition of the body or mind. The person living with Alzheimer's disease continues to relate to his or her world based upon whether or not these needs are being met. To explore the relationship between Alzheimer's disease, human needs, and touch I invite you to consider the following example of Faye, a woman with Alzheimer's disease who lived in a skilled nursing facility. I saw her for Compassionate Touch sessions twice a month for about a year.

The need for physical survival. Touch is as essential as breath for humans to survive and thrive. The sensory stimulation of massage awakened Faye's awareness of her own body; physical discomfort was eased; and the quality of her sleep improved.

The need to have personal security and to feel safe. The massage and focused attention seemed reassuring to Faye and she appeared less anxious. She seemed more grounded in the present moment, which allowed her to enjoy our interaction.

The need for a sense of belonging and connection to others. The touch became a form of communication of its own as Faye's ability to verbally express herself declined. Our sessions were a time of social interaction that seemed to give her pleasure, decreasing feelings of loneliness and boredom.

The need to give to others and to be treated with respect. Faye enjoyed the one-to-one focused attention and would often look for ways to do something for me. She would offer me food or sometimes would put lotion on my hands. I noticed that if I would accept her gifts that she sat up just a little bit straighter in her wheelchair and her facial expression was brighter.

The need for a sense of self and a connection to spirit. My experience has shown that although memory and cognition become severely impaired, it appears that the person living with dementia seems to retain a sense of self – the essence of whom he or she really is. When the essence of the individual is acknowledged through the gift of touch and mindful presence it seems to allow it to shine through the fog of Alzheimer's disease.

Read Catlin's full article.

Sinusitis Solutions

If you think sinus problems are limited to the winter months, think again. Sinusitis - inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose, sinuses and throat, eventually leading to blocked sinuses and potential infection - can be triggered by a number of things, from viral or bacterial infection to allergies or hay fever. Regardless of the cause, sinusitis is a common problem with frustrating symptoms: congestion, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, pain and pressure around the eyes, cheeks nose or forehead, and sinus drainage in the form of a thick yellow/green discharge.

What can you do to prevent sinusitis? Harvard Women's Health Watch offers a few simple suggestions for reducing your risk or relieving early symptoms of the condition. First, keeping your nasal membranes moist is a great way to avoid/reduce sinus symptoms. Stir 1 teaspoon salt into 2 cups of lukewarm water; use a squeeze bottle to stream the solution through your nose. Do this 1-2 times daily to keep your nasal passages from drying out and clear excess mucus before it has a chance to cause congestion and/or infection. Drinking lots of water every day is another great way to keep mucus from building up; water keeps mucus thin, loose and easy to dissipate with the saltwater solution or simply by blowing your nose.

If you have sinus symptoms, inhaling steam also can help to reduce congestion and other symptoms. You can do this several ways: by spending a little extra time in a hot shower or steam room; or by boiling water in a pan and then inhaling the steam. (Place a towel over your head to maximize the effect.)

Finally, sleeping with your head elevated helps prevent mucus from pooling. When mucus builds up in your nasal passages, it's a veritable breeding ground for infection. It might mean you spend a few days and nights with a runny nose, but it's better in the long run than the alternative - congestion and infection.

Remember, always consult with your health care provider to make sure your symptoms aren't indicative of something more serious. Your doctor can also recommend these and other natural methods of treating your sinus problems without having to rely on decongestants or other over-the-counter medications.

Relevant Research: Early Antibiotic Use Linked to Asthma

Asthma is the most common cause of chronic illness in childhood, affecting up to 12 percent of children in the U.S. Most children experience initial symptoms such as chronic cough, intermittent rapid breathing, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or weakness, or feelings of tightness in the chest by the age of 5. Nasal allergies, family history, frequent respiratory infections and exposure to tobacco smoke (pre- or postnatal) are risk factors - as is antibiotic use during the first year of life, according to a recent study published in the March issue of the peer-reviewed medical journal Pediatrics.

The study evaluated antibiotic exposure in more than 250,000 infants, looking for a potential association between antibiotic use during infants' first 12 months and the development of asthma during their first 24 months. Results showed a small risk that increased with the number of antibiotic courses prescribed; the risk was highest in children treated with more than four courses during their first year. Findings were adjusted to exclude other potential factors that could have contributed to asthma onset, including birth weight, acute bronchitis, delivery method, socioeconomic status, gestational age and other variables. Even when considering these factors, an independent association between antibiotic use and asthma remained.

Of course, reducing the chances your child will develop asthma is just one reason to limit their exposure to antibiotics and other medications whenever possible, particularly when they're young. Excessive antibiotic use can reduce their effectiveness over time, meaning they're progressively less likely to work the more often they're prescribed. And along with over-the-counter and prescription medications, antibiotics come with a variety of potential side effects - some that are relatively minor, but others that can be life-threatening. To learn more about antibiotic resistance, talk to your doctor and visit www.cdc.gov/resistance.

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