“She couldn’t remember names, where she’d been or what she’d done that day,” Ms. Atkins recalled in an interview. “Initially, I was not too worried. I thought it was part of normal aging. But over time, the confusion and memory problems became more severe and more frequent.”
Her mother couldn’t remember the names of close relatives or what day it was. She thought she was going to work or needed to go downtown, which she never did. And she was often agitated.
A workup at a memory clinic resulted in a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's Disease, and Ms. Katz was prescribed Aricept, which Ms. Atkins said seemed to make matters worse. But the clinic also tested Ms. Katz’s blood level of vitamin B12. It was well below normal, and her doctor thought that could be contributing to her symptoms.
Weekly B12 injections were begun. “Soon afterward, she became less agitated, less confused and her memory was much better,” said Ms. Atkins. “I felt I had my mother back, and she feels a lot better, too.”
Now 87, Ms. Katz still lives alone in Manhattan and feels well enough to refuse outside assistance.
Still, her daughter wondered, “Why aren’t B12 levels checked routinely, particularly in older people?”
It is an important question. As we age, our ability to absorb B12 from food declines, and often so does our consumption of foods rich in this vitamin. A B12 deficiency can creep up without warning and cause a host of confusing symptoms that are likely to be misdiagnosed or ascribed to aging.
A Vital Nutrient
B12 is an essential vitamin with roles throughout the body. It is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy nervous system, the production of DNA and formation of red blood cells.
A severe B12 deficiency results in anemia which can be picked up by an ordinary blood test. But the less dramatic symptoms of a B12 deficiency may include muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, unsteady gait, incontinence, low blood pressure, depression and other mood disorders, and cognitive problems like poor memory.
Labs differ in what they consider normal, but most authorities say a deficiency occurs when B12 levels in adults fall below 250 picograms per milliliter of blood serum. Like all B vitamins, B12 is water-soluble, but the body stores extra B12 in the liver and other tissues. Even if dietary sources are inadequate for some time, a serum deficiency may not show up for years.
If the amount of B12 in storage is low to begin with, a deficiency can develop within a year, even more quickly in infants.
Recommended dietary amounts of B12 vary: 2.4 micrograms daily for those age 14 and older, 2.6 micrograms for pregnant women and 2.8 micrograms for nursing women. Barring circumstances that impair B12 absorption, these are levels easily obtained from a well-balanced diet containing animal protein.
In its natural form, B12 is present in significant amounts only in animal foods, most prominently in liver (83 micrograms in a 3.5-ounce serving). Good food sources include other red meats, turkey, fish and shellfish. Lesser amounts of the vitamin are present in dairy products, eggs and chicken.
Those at Risk
Natural plant sources are meager at best in B12, and the vitamin is poorly absorbed from them. Many strict vegetarians and all vegans, as well as infants they breast-feed, must consume supplements or fortified breakfast cereals to get adequate amounts.
Certain organisms, like the bacterium Spirulina and some algae, contain a pseudo-B12 that the body cannot use but may result in a false reading of a normal B12 level on a blood test. Despite claims to the contrary, laver, a seaweed, and barley grass are not reliable sources of B12.
In animal foods, B12 is combined with protein and must be released by stomach acid and an enzyme to be absorbed. Thus, chronic users of acid-suppressing drugs like Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, as well as ulcer medications like Pepcid and Tagamet, are at risk of developing a B12 deficiency and often require a daily B12 supplement.
Stomach acid levels decline with age. As many as 30 percent of older people may lack sufficient stomach acid to absorb adequate amounts of B12 from natural sources. Therefore, regular consumption of fortified foods or supplementation with 25 to 100 micrograms of B12 daily is recommended for people over 50.
Synthetic B12, found in supplements and fortified foods, does not depend on stomach acid to be absorbed. But whether natural or synthetic, only some of the B12 consumed gets into the body. Treatment to correct a B12 deficiency typically involves much larger doses than the body actually requires.
Free B12 from both natural and synthetic sources must be combined with a substance in the stomach called intrinsic factor to be absorbed through the gut. This factor is lacking in people with an autoimmune disorder called pernicious anemia; the resulting vitamin deficiency is commonly treated with injections of B12.
Although most doctors are quick to recommend injections to correct a B12 deficiency, considerable evidence indicates that, in large enough doses, sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablets or skin patches of B12 may work as well as injections for people with absorption problems, even for those with pernicious anemia.
Most often, a daily supplement of 2,000 micrograms is recommended for about a month, then lowered to 1,000 micrograms daily for another month, then lowered again to 1,000 micrograms weekly. Sublingual B12 or B12 patches, or even B12 lollipops, can be helpful for people who require a supplement but cannot swallow pills.
Others at risk of developing a B12 deficiency include heavy drinkers (alcohol diminishes B12 absorption), those who have had stomach surgery for weight loss or ulcers, and people who take aminosalicylic acid (for inflammatory bowel disease or tuberculosis) or the diabetes drug metformin (sold as Glucophage and other brands). Patients who take the anticonvulsants phenytoin, phenobarbital or primidone are also at risk.
Large doses of folic acid can mask a B12 deficiency and cause permanent neurological damage if normal levels of B12 are not maintained. Supplements of potassium impair B12 absorption in some people.
Although a B12 deficiency can raise blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, supplements of B12 have not reduced cardiovascular risk.
And while high homocysteine levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, lowering them with B12 supplements has not been shown to improve cognitive function. However, in one study, among women with a poor dietary intake of B12, supplements of the vitamin significantly slowed the rate of cognitive decline.
For a good quality B Complex, B Complex Plus
An Easy Way to Improve Blood Circulation
One question we often hear is "How can I improve my circulation?"
The good news is that there is a simple way to improve circulation in the body. It's called Contrast Showers also called hot and cold hydrotherapy.”
A hot-cold shower improves circulation by stimulating blood flow. This opens up and promotes detoxification of the body. And since many diseases are caused or triggered by toxins, a morning contrast shower may be the most important health habit to have.
Besides helping to heal the body, these showers also give you a boost of energy, a focused mind, and a better mood (cold showers help fight depression, a 2008 study found).
Here's how it's done:
1. You stand in the shower and turn the water on as hot as you are able to stand it. Run the hot water over your body for a minute or two.
2. Then change the temperature of the water to as cold as you are able to stand it. Continue running the cold water on your body for about a minute or so.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 about 4 to 8 times.
4. End off with the cold water.
Do this several times a day for the most benefit.
Finally, it is best to buy a shower filtration system before taking hot and cold showers (or any showers) to filter out chlorine, fluoride or other toxic chemicals from the water.
When you begin, you may only be able to tolerate warm water then slightly cool water. This is okay because you don't want to scald yourself. As you do it more often, you'll gradually be able to withstand hotter as well as colder water and this will make it even more effective.
The hot water causes the blood to flow towards the surface of the body. The cold water makes the blood flow towards the center of the body.
Here are some reported benefits of Contrast Showers in addition to better blood circulation:
*Boosts the immune system
*Revitalizes the skin
*Reduces muscle soreness
*Temporary relief of aching, pains and stiff joints from arthritis
*It helps the body to reduce toxins. (Medications are very toxic to the body.)
*Better digestion and nutrient assimilation
*Can help to improve mobility
*Improves production of digestive enzymes
*Improves the oxygen to the internal organs
*Better metabolism
*Helps prevent colds
Poor circulation can also reduce the absorption of nutrients that you're taking.
Improving your circulation can help your body to get better results from the nutrients that you're taking.
It's not recommended that you take a Contrast Shower if:
*You are asthmatic
*Have an active autoimmune disease
*Inflammation
*Cardiovascular problems
*Are pregnant
Consult your health care provider if you have any questions about the safety of this procedure.
Nerve Damage from Chemotherapy
What is CIPN? (Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy)
How to get relief.
Cancer treatment drugs are called chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are toxic chemicals (poisons) that attack fast growing cells (rapidly dividing cells). The theory behind using these toxins is that it will destroy the fast growing cancer cells before it does too much damage to normal cells.
Hair is a quickly dividing, fast growing cell and this is the reason that hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy.
Bone marrow produces fast growing cells. Normally, when blood cells wear out in the body, they are replaced by new ones from the bone marrow. When the chemotherapy drugs damage these fast growing cells, it can cause a low blood count, which can result in other side effects such as fatigue, headaches, and chills. It is sometimes even necessary to do a blood transfusion.
Nerve damage from chemotherapy drugs
Chemotherapy is hardest on the nervous system due to the fact that nerve cells are more sensitive than other cells.
The nervous system transmits information between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body. It is designed to transmit feeling such as touch and temperature. It delivers messages from sight; it delivers messages to the muscles to get them to move.
Because nerve cells are more sensitive to these toxins then other cells, they are often affected and can be damaged easily. This may also be the reason for cognitive problems following chemotherapy, also known as "chemo fog" or "chemo-brain".
After exposure to the chemotherapy drugs, the cells that responsible for producing myelin, the fatty substance that helps insulate and protect nerve conducting fibers, can become damaged.
Nervous system changes in chemotherapy patients can develop months or years after treatment. The onset of these symptoms is variable. Some drugs may cause symptoms during or immediately after the first dose, and some have a delayed onset of symptoms, up to several weeks, months, or even years after the last dose.
The severity of these symptoms is related to the amount of chemotherapy drug given. The higher or more frequent the dose of the drug the greater the chance that it will damage the coverings of the nerve and cause nerve damage (neuropathy).
Additionally, someone with pre-existing neuropathy (no matter what the cause) may be at risk for more severe and long lasting neuropathy.
Symptoms of Post Chemotherapy Neuropathy
Chemo (chemotherapy drugs) travels through the whole body, thus can damage different nerves. Symptoms tend to start farthest away from the head, but move in closer over time.
Chemotherapy drugs often strip the coverings from the nerves, damaging the nerves, particularly those of the hands, feet, arms and legs.
Loss of feeling in the hands and feet can make it hard to pick up small objects and cause clumsiness and difficulty walking. Some people with nerve damage first notice a "pins and needles" feeling, not unlike when an arm or leg "falls asleep". Foot nerve damage after chemo is very common which results in stabbing pain and numbness.
As motor nerves are the most sensitive to toxins, this nerve damage may make you feel clumsy and cause difficulty in daily activities such as opening jars, fastening buttons, or even squeezing toothpaste tubes. Loss of balance and coordination is also due to this damage.
Per the American Cancer Society, "Chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is caused by the chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment." (Neuropathy is also sometimes called paraesthesia or even myalgia.)
"The symptoms or signs of CIPN depend mostly on which nerves are involved. The most common symptoms are:
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pain
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burning
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tingling (or a "pins and needles" feeling)
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muscle shrinkage
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weakness
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balance problems
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trouble with tripping and stumbling while walking
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loss of feeling (numbness)
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decreased or no reflexes
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increased sensitivity to temperature (usually cold) or pressure, so that things hurt more than usual
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constipation
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trouble passing urine
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blood pressure changes
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trouble swallowing"
"CIPN often affects both sides of the body the same way; for example, the toes of both feet. It can cause severe pain and can affect your ability to do everyday things like walk, write, button your shirt, or pick up a coin. If it gets very bad it can cause very serious problems like changes in your heart rate, trouble breathing, paralysis, or organ failure"
This is the reason that medical doctors have to keep close watch over their patients when receiving chemotherapy.
Are these long-term side effects of chemotherapy?
When a person develops neuropathy due to chemotherapy, the oncologist will prescribe drugs to cover up the symptoms and the patient will get a pamphlet entitled “Living with Neuropathy”. There is hope that it will get better after the chemo is finished. However, quite often, the damaged cell will continue to deteriorate and the symptoms will get worse. The only way to correctly manage this chronic neuropathy is to address the real causes, not the symptoms.
Is CIPN permanent? Can this be Reversed?
There are many different treatments for Neuropathy. Making sure that anything might be contributing to the neuropathy needs to be addressed.
You can learn more about Neuropathy
Treatments for Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathy
CIPN Treatments - most have to do with pain management
Medications:
Pros: There are several drug treatments for neuropathy. There are medications such as Lyrica and Cymbalta that are given cover up or block the pain. Lyrica, is an anti-seizure medication. It is used for neuropathy as it stops the nerves from talking to each other so you don't feel the pain. Cymbalta is an anti-depressant which is used because it lowers a person's awareness and thus their awareness of the pain. One drug occasionally used is Prednisone and also Elavil.
Cons: You have to continue to take the drugs to get relief.
Prednisone depletes the body of vital nutrients and there is a problem withdrawing from it (see Prednisone)
Amitriptyline (Elavil) it lowers the awareness of the nerve damage but as with all medications, they have side effects that don't enhance your health.
Additionally, Cymbalta as an anti-depressant can very often be difficult to get off without side effects. For info on Cymbalta & Neuropathy
Long term these drugs can cause more damage due to side effects and deficiencies it can create.
For side effects of the different drugs go to www.drugs.com or www.rxlist.com
If you are taking any mediation that has a side effect of neuropathy, you should talk to your doctor to see if there is an alternative medication.
Marijuana (Cannabis):
Pros: This is a drug and like all drugs has side-effects. Medical marijuana is talked about a lot recently with legalization. Up into the 70s, a medical doctor's "okay to prescribe drugs license" listed marijuana. This went out of favor but is now back. Benefits are decreased awareness of pain, relief of pain. As in any drug prescribed for neuropathy, marijuana covers up the symptoms of neuropathy.
Cons:
There is increased tolerance to the effects of marijuana, meaning that more marijuana is needed to get the same effect.
A big problem with marijuana is that it strips the body of Glutathione, the body's master anti-oxidant that is found in every cell of the body. Thus, marijuana creates nutritional deficiencies. This is the reason for the 60s image of a "druggie" who looks emancipated and out of touch with reality.
Recent studies said that 17% of uses found it was addictive and hard to stop without side effects. Side effects included Anxiety/nervousness; Reduced appetite; Irritability/restlessness; Sleep difficulties including strange dreams. Studies said that users are 4X as likely to develop depression and manic-depression (bipolar) symptoms.
Some of the problems with evaluating this drug are the inconsistent dosing and quality-control issues.
Rebuilder:
Pros: Combines a footbath with an electrical current. Claims to open up nerve channels and stimulate circulation to the affected area. It claims to stimulate the nearby calf muscles to contract and relax, enhancing the local blood flow to bring fresh nutrients to the nerves and help remove accumulated toxins. No information on how it would address neuropathy in other areas of the body. It also states that it will rebuild nerves, but not how. See Rebuilder
Cons: Cost. The cheapest model is $550. They now recommend going to a doctor to have them use the Rebuilder on you. Inconclusive if this works for everyone or why electric current will "rebuild" nerves except for increasing circulation There are many anti-oxidants which will also increase circulation.. It also states it sends electric current up the foot through the sciatic nerve and down again so it apparently addresses foot neuropathy only.
Acupuncture:
Pros: The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been known to help with the symptoms of neuropathy. There is apparently an ability to improve circulation with this method that would give similar relief. There is also acupressure which works on the same principles as acupuncture. For more information go to Acupuncture
Cons: Acupuncture sometimes does not help with neuropathy. You also have to continue to get treatments.
Alpha lipoic acid:
Pros: This is as an anti-oxidant which will help protect the nerves so no further damage is done to the body. It can help with the symptoms. In order to help it needs to be taken with Acetyl l-carnitine. There is evidence that they work together well in helping the body use nutrients to repair the nerves, but the vital B vitamins need to be taken with it.
Cons: None.
Herbs:
Pros: They will cover up the symptoms of neuropathy similar to drugs and can make you temporarily feel better; you must continue to take them. The body doesn't use them to build healthy nerves.
Cons: There are problems with herbs. They can interact with any other medications that you are taking. They can have side effects. Herbs are similar to drugs in so far as (in therapeutic dosages as found in the herbs that you can buy) they make the body do what it wouldn't normally do. While you can use herbs in your salad and in tea without problems, when you take herbs in a supplement, they are extracts which are far stronger dosages. Herbs should be taken separately as if there is a problem, you can isolate what herb is causing the problem. The combination of herbs found in some supplements prohibits you from doing that.
Remember, herbs are not vitamins. They are natural substances, but they aren't the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids & amino acids that the body needs to function, create energy and to repair itself.
Herbs can make your neuropathy feel better, but aren't used by the body to repair the nerves. Thus, you need to keep taking them to continue the relief. There are some herbs which shouldn't be taken more than a few months like Feverfew or Ashwagandha.
When taking any herbs, check with your pharmacist. Pharmacies have databases where they can check for interactions and side effects.
Anodyne Therapy:
Pros: Infrared light to increase circulation and stimulate production of nitric acid. It is supposed to relax the arteries and eliminate free radicals. Pads are put over the injured areas. Pain is supposed to be relieved with increased circulation and more nitric oxide in the blood. Can treat common injuries.
Cons: Relieves the symptoms but needs to be continued for relief.
Homeopathic Formula: Homeopathy can give temporary neuropathic pain relief without side effects or interactions with drugs. What is homeopathy
Cons: They relieve the symptoms but don't address the cause of the problem, the damaged nerves.
Topical creams: There are many different creams available that will bring relief from neuropathy pain. They can be applied as needed. Capsaicin is a common ingredient. It is used to relieve pain for arthritis, muscle pain, joint pain, as well as nerve pain. It can address the inflammation.
Cons: They relieve the symptoms but you must continue to use it for relief. Doesn't work for everyone.
Cold Laser Treatment or Low Level Laser Therapy: It will give relief from pain. It is non-thermal and won't burn the surrounding area. It is trying to increase cellular activity. The laser delivers electric pulses to the target area which delivers a jolt that matches the pulse at which the body perceives pain. It claims to create a reduction in pain by causing the production of natural pain killer endorphins.
Cons: Again doesn't address the actual cause of the pain, so is relief only.
Various blends of B vitamins and other supplements:
Addressing different "nerve support" vitamins that are brought out from time to time including those supposedly formulated by a medical doctor. There are lots of different ideas about relieving the symptoms of neuropathy. There are many formulations. A lot of them are putting different vitamins together and even do include B1 in the form of benfotiamine and B12 as methyl B12. They even will give mega doses to try and help the nerves. Some have small amounts of B1 & B12 - which are the most important B vitamins for nerve health.
B1 & B12 are important for nerve health. Check that the amount in the formula is not low. One formula even had B12 listed as 1 mg. Not sure what they think that would do for your nerves.
The body needs specific B vitamins working together to build nerves. For instance, folic acid is needed to activate the B12. B6, B9 (folic acid) and B2 are needed for B1 to be absorbed. Some of these blends include both B vitamins and alpha lipoic acid when one needs to be taken with food and the other on an empty stomach. It is valuable to understand why each ingredient was put in the formula and whether it will help or just cover up symptoms, is missing ingredients or are good to take together.
Here is an article on what creates healthy nerves
B Vitamins - Liquid Delivery
Some brands will tell you that their formula is better because they are in liquid form. Liquid is NOT better. Liquid is variable. When you measure it out its variable and you don't get the exact formula each time you take it.
You want the same dosage every time you take it.
Tablet or capsule is very specific and is a superior delivery for building nerves.
If the problem is taking a pill, get capsules which can be emptied into food or drink.
Other treatments Listed above will not build healthy nerves. These other treatments are attempting to manage the nerve damage. You can cover up the symptoms and you can increase circulation and you can make a person feel less pain, etc., but you want to restore nerve health.
We always recommend building health and nerves are no different.
Restoring Nerve Health:
Pros: Healthy sensory nerves mean that they are not painful. Healthy nerves means that they communicate and don't send wrong signals such as burning, hot and cold, tingling when there is no reason for it. Healthy motor nerves mean that they relay messages from the brain to the muscle so that they move correctly. Nerves need to be healthy to function properly.
The body needs specific nutrients (vitamins) to be able to build healthy nerves.
Cons: It occasionally doesn't give immediate relief, but it does address the actual problem and creates healthy nerves.
(For temporary relief while building healthy nerves, go to Pain Relief Formula )
Success in building healthy nerves after Chemo
Restoring Nerve Health : Find out what is needed to build healthy nerves
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